Tuesday 29 March 2016

First Christmas card for 2016

Yes... I've made a start on my Christmas cards for 2016.  


I was trying out a swing card technique for an upcoming Design team card and this was one of my samples.  I used the directions from a magazine to make it.  The magazine had some basic designs that you could cut, but I decided to try using some dies to cut the swing part.  I used some PP on one side of my card, Spellbinders Label one for the die cuts, Spellbinders Poinsettia in red and green to make my flowers and a Cherry Lyn die for the holly.  The sentiment is from Bo Bunny.

I have entered this into the challenge at Christmas Card Challenge and am happy to say I got a mention on their facebook page (here)

I am happy with how this one turned out and I will be trying out a few more.  I've found a tutorial that makes a 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 card.  This one is 5 x 5.  

Thanks for stopping by today.  Hope you had a great Easter break and got lots of crafting done. 

Sunday 27 March 2016

Happy Easter

It's Easter Sunday and I am wishing you all a Happy Easter.

I was asked to make a religious Easter card for a friend to send to her elderly aunt.  I made up two cards for her to choose from.

First card used some PP from Couture Creations as the base layer.  I the then stamped the cross by Inkadinkado onto some watercolour paper and cut out with a stitched oval die.  I coloured the stamping with Watercolour pencils.  I added some water to the background colouring. 



My second card also used stamps from the Inkadinkado set.  The embossing folder and the diffusser I used are by Inside Out Embossing plates and folder.  I used Copics to colour the image. 

My friend chose the first card and I gave the second on to the woman I sit next to.  She is very religious so loved it.  

Thanks for stopping by today. 

Friday 25 March 2016

MFT Sketch #273

I follow My Favorite Things and get notification about their challenges.  This week's sketch challenge is a great sketch 

 

I don't have many MFT stamps, but do have a few older dies.  So pulled out some of them and a stamp set that I've had for years but never used!

I bought a paper pack yesterday as it was on special ($3.45 for a pad of sheets of  81/2" x 11 " paper)  It is yellow/orange base so I decided to use layers of different papers


I used a creamy coloured card base and then used MFT stitched and rounded rectangle dies to cut different PP.  I stamped the sentiment onto the smallest die cut from the same card as the base.  I stamped the butterfly onto the die and then onto some PP and fussy cut it.  Add a few sequins to finish

Hope you all have a lovely Easter.  
 

Tuesday 22 March 2016

Lasting Hearts Card Drive




Some of the team at A2Z Scrapbooking are doing a blog hop for the Lasting Hearts card drive.

What is Lasting Hearts card drive, I hear you ask.  You can read all about it on Jennifer McGuire's blog post  HERE
 
Her friend Kimberly is hoping to have copies of her helpful book along with handmade cards available for doctors to give to parents who lose their babies. What an amazing idea!

As I personally have lost a child, my first being still born, I can appreciate the difference this will make to the grieving parents.

If you are interesting in creating a card to be given to these parents when they get a book, here is the info. It is simple:
  • You can send as many cards as you would like.
  • Please use a sentiment such as: thinking of you, in my prayers, in my thoughts, sending hugs, sorry for your loss.
  • For the inside of the card, you can either leave it blank or hand-write a simple message. Not much – just simple and kind. The message can be something listed above, along with your first name and hometown. (Such as: “Sending lots of prayers from Jennifer in Cincinnati.”)
  • Please send cards in unsealed envelopes to:
          Lasting Hearts Card Drive
          2892 N Bellflower Blvd Ste 216
          Long Beach Ca 90815

 Of course the girls at A2Z are using Hero Arts products to make our cards.


 I have used the Antique Rose Stem stamp (K6136)  to emboss onto vellum.  I coloured the back with some Gelatos and then fussy cut.  I added to the PP from Rosie;s studio.  The sentiment is from Hero Arts Butterfly Pair stamp and cut (DC182)      These popular stamps are out of stock currently at A2Z Scrapbooking but you can order them by using the request custom order button on the site.


Check out our blog hop participants and comment by March 25 at 11:59 pm EDT on all the blogs for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to a2z Scrapbooking.


We would love you to make a card (or three) to send to the drive (see above for the details)

Don't forget to use the code "Dawn15" at the Az2Scrapbooking store to get 15% off your orders of $25 or more (they have the Lasting Hearts campaign stamps in stock - and many other Hero Arts goodies)

Thanks




Sunday 20 March 2016

Scramble # - Inside Out

Over at the Hero Arts Flickr group Cindy is running a  90 minute scramble - over a 24hr period.  So still time enter.  Anyway I got up at 8.00am for the start of the scramble.  Cindy's challenge was to do “Inside Out”. Some part of the inside of your card must show even when the card is closed, whether it is thru a window/die cut or smaller/different shape front panel.



My card was inspired by cards from Jennifer McGuire and Ilina Crouse.  I used Jennifer's idea of window and Ilina's colourful rainbow butterflies. I used the butterflies in the Butterfly Pair Stamp and cut set and a variety of Kaleidacolor inks and Brilliance Twilight ink.  The Brilliance ink is very shimmery and I used it to stamp the front of the card.   Originally I stamped the sentiment straight across the card and acetate but it smudged so I stamped in onto white card and covered up the boo boo.   Got the whole card done in under one hour.   As I used rainbow colours I'm entering it into the Rainbow challenge at A Blog named Hero

After I did the card, hubby and I went to a Bathroom sale - just to look.  We are getting our ensuite bathroom done over.  Our son is going to project manage it for us.  Boy I didn't realise there were so many different types and styles of tapware, vanity units, towel rails not to mention shower heads and sliders and toilets.  We are looking at getting it tiled floor walls and shower so there's tiles to choose as well... Narrowing it down a bit and in a couple of weeks will go with our son to order everything.   So an interesting morning - now have a stack about 6 inches high of books and pamphlets.  

Thanks for stopping by... and don't forget there is still under 12 hours if you want to have a go at the Hero Arts Flickr scramble.

Saturday 19 March 2016

Easter Bunny is coming.

Easter is not too far away now... I don't make many Easter cards but just did one last night that I thought turned out rather cute...

 Doesn't he look adorable.  This is a digi image from "From the Heart"   I came across this site after seeing a card made by Carol (see it here)  There are some cute as images.

I have gone CAS as usual.  I printed the bunny onto the card then again onto another piece of card.  I sponged the first one with green and blue and yellow distress inks.  I did the colouring on the second print and fussy cut out the bunny and the eggs.   I also printed the sentiment that came with the digi stamp and used a MFT banner die to cut it out.  Love the fact I can resize the images and sentiments to fit my card. My only embellishment is some Secptrum Noir sparkle pen on the eggs , sun and the butterflies. 

I'm entering this into the following challenges:
Whimsy Stamps - Spring colours or Easter
Simon Says stamp - Cute and cuddly
Digitally "Sweet" Challenge - Spring is in the Air 
Cute card Thursday - Easter

Thanks for stopping by.  Enjoy your weekend. 


Wednesday 16 March 2016

National Craft Month Hop

Nicole at Right at Home is having a blog hop to celebrate National Craft Month and as well as following the hop, she wants us to add a card using our favourite items.   I'm  really enjoying using my StampNation Young at Heart Collection and I've made a card using them together with the latest trend of Plaid.  Over at StampNation,  Kristie did a Trends Article about Plaid.  She also showed how to make some of your own.  Some one on the forum also suggest a way to use your computer to make some of the lines.  And that's what I did.... combined some hand made plaid with SOA stamps and dies


My double lines are done on the computer and the rest of the lines are done with Copics.  The cake was stamped in pale blue  VersaMagic and overstamped with Memento ink then die cut.  Stamped the sentiment and stars and added a die cut 30.   This is for my son-in-law who turns 30 on Sunday.  

Enjoy National Crafting Month!

Monday 14 March 2016

March Birthdays

There are a few birthday's in March that I've made cards for.

First up, my great-niece turns 10 on the 15th March. 


I used a cute little Tiddly Inks digi image.  I added a few extra hearts die cut with a Simon Says Stamps heart dies.   The sentiment is from Hero Arts.  

My second card is for a guy I work with.


My colleague is a fun guy and I'm sure he'll appreciate the idea behind this one.  I CASE'd a card from Linda Lucas (here)  Love the design and colours she used, so I've copied them.  I used my computer to type the sentiment.    Inside it says "Happy Birthday to you"

and number three is for a friend with a birthday later in the month. 


This is another one using Stamp of Approval dies and stamps and my handmade plaid.    

thanks for stopping by today. 

Sunday 13 March 2016

Warm Spring Wishes

It's my day to share at Die Cut Divas.  Our sponsors are:





I used this cute little birdie together with some PP and a sentiment from Gina K.   I used a Simon Says Stamp die circle but there are lots of possible dies available at DiesRUs.   Finished with some pearls.   

It's been a lovely weekend here in Auckland.  So nice that I even went for a swim today.  Any who knows me well, will know that it has to be warm water for me to swim... quite unusual for me still to be swimming this late in the season!

 

I'm so lucky to live in such a beautiful country.  

Thanks for stopping by.


Tuesday 8 March 2016

Meeting new friends

Today I had the great pleasure of spending some time meeting with one of my online friends... Kim  and I "meet" on the Hero Art Flickr group  over 3 years ago.  She lives in Mandurah in Western Australia.  This past weekend, hubby was taking part in the New Zealand Ironman in Taupo and they are having a few days R&R before heading back to Australia.  I was thrilled when she contacted me a few months ago to see if we could meet up.  Of course, I said YES... and invited them to come to my house for morning tea.

There we are... the blondies from Down Under!

Kim came bearing gifts as well... a beautiful tea towel from her home town, some coasters and a gorgeous Aboriginal canvas plus a lovely set of cards inspired by Jennifer McGuire's Kindness sets as well as a beautiful card that's sitting on my bookcase.  And a fabulous bottle of wine.  She really spoilt me.    Mandurah is about 45 minutes south of Perth where my daughter lives so when I go over in May to visit, I'm going to catch up with her again.  She told me there is a Craft and Quilt Fair on while I'm there so we will try and meet there.

I took the day off to meet with Kim and her hubby so got some time to play in the afternoon

 I made this card for the Tag It game at StampNation.  You CASE the card of the  person before you.  I CASEd a card from Melissa.  I used her colours but mine are much brighter.  I also used her idea of a circle with the sentiment and my butterfly is black and hers was white.  I used a Hero Arts background with some distress inks, spritzed and stamped onto watercolour card.   The circle sentiments are from the StampNation Young at Heart collection. 

Thanks for stopping by

Monday 7 March 2016

Double embossing

It's my posting day again at A2Z Scrapbooking.  Our challenge for March is embossing.... any sort you want-

I chose to do some dry embossing using some of my folders.  I also used a diffuser to do some double embossing.  I made my embossing the focus of my card and finished with a Hero Arts sentiment.

IMG_1503W

I used the difuser to emboss the swirl background and then again for the second frame folder by Inside Out by Teapaper Crafts. I stamped the sentiment from CL738 "Messages with a Flourish".

Please note this stamp set is no longer available, but check out some of the fabulous sentiment stamps available at the A2Z Scrapbooking Esty store (here)  I finished off my card with some daisies and a dragonfly brad.

Remember if you are in need of any items from the a2z Scrapbooking store  you can use code Dawn15 at checkout to receive 15% off your purchase of $25 or more. (before tax and shipping)  And don’t forget that we are on TwitterInstagram and Facebook.  Follow us on these different social media outlets so you won’t miss out on any fun promotions!   Also, the a2z Store now has the latest Hero Arts release in stock. So now there’s even more reason to go shopping!!!!!!

And don't forget to join us in the Embossing challenge this month.  Please be sure that your project contains at least ONE main HERO ART stamp, stencil or die cut as the focal element!

Dawn

Sunday 6 March 2016

A good morning's work

Hi there,  Hope your weekend is going well.  This Sunday morning at 8.00am was the start of a 24hr Hero Arts Flickr Group 90 mins challenge.  As I was awake early with hubby leaving to go man his work's tent at the end of the "Round The Bays' fun run/walk, I got up.  Barb set the challenge "Create a card with an angle"  She shared some great inspiration.   I started creating and just kept on going!

In all three cards were made in less than 4 hrs
First one took one hour to make, photograph and post


Some new Hero Arts stamps arrived yesterday including this one called Antique Rose stem.  I white embossed it and then used Zig watercolour markers to colour.  Cut on the angle and added to a Hero Arts pink card base after using some bright pink card to mat.  The sentiment is from another new set, DC 182 Butterfly Pair

Next one took 55mins


This is a combination of older and new Hero Arts stamps.  The background is an older cling stamp, the sentiment from last year and the partial cut butterfly from the new DC 182 Butterfly Pair.  I used a Spellbinders die to cut the shape and my MISTI to help shape the sentiment. 

and finally I spend 20 mins on this last one


This one was inspired by Linda W's card in the Scramble.  I used a MFT stencil and some Squeezed Lemonade and Wild Honey distress inks and then stamped and embossed Hero Arts F6068 sentiment.  As my ink in the centre was still a little wet, the powder stuck.  Ended up look quite good.

I get my Hero Arts goodies from A2Z Scrapbooking.... and if you go there and buy, you can used my discount code  DAWN15 to get 15% off when you spend $25 or more (prior to packaging and postage)


Friday 4 March 2016

More birthday cards from SOA Young at Heart

Two more cards using the StampNation Young at Heart box.  I really want to get my money's worth from the box

First up


A fun card using the Winnie & Walter stamps for most of the stamping and the little stars from the Sugar Pea set.   Used Hero Arts Ombre inks to stamp each circle.   I used the scalloped die from the kit as well.  Entering into the Words challenge at Southern Girls Challenge

2nd card


I ended up ruining this one by spritzing too heavily with Sparkle spray.  I might just have to redo it.  The background was four distress inks (just got the set 15 - Wilted Violet, Candied Apple, Lucky Clover and Carved Pumpkin) and then used Texture paste through the stencil.  The ink wasn't quite dry so picked up some of the ink colour.  Coloured the seam binding with the same inks.  Sentiment is the Winnie & Walter set I used on the other one.   Was disappointed that I didn't just leave it as it was!

Thanks for stopping by.  

Tuesday 1 March 2016

Of course elephants wear nail polish!!!!!!!!!!!

Well did that get your attention?  I hope so.....


My elephant is definitely looking forward to spring with her painted nails.

It's all about Spring  over at Die Cut Divas this month.   What makes you think of spring?  Flowers, bunnies, whatever we would love you to join us.  Just remember to use your die cutting machine. 

Our sponsors this month are


I used this gorgeous image from Bugaboo and cut with Spellbinders dies.  There are so many gorgeous images over at Bugaboo and heaps of great dies available at DiesRUs.   I coloured this with Copic markers and used some Chalks to do the sky  (so look out for this card over at Chalk'n'Stock  later this week) 
I hope you will join us.