Grandparents Day at Sweet Stampin' challenge

Hi there.  I'm so happy and excited to announce I've joined Team Susan over at Sweet Stampin'

And today is my first DT post.   Our theme is time around is "Grandparents Day"   In the USA this day is celebrate Sunday 8th September.  We don't celebrate a special day for Grandparents but of course they are celebrate all the time.... or at least I think so whenever I spend time with my grandchildren.

So here is a little card I made to celebrate Grandparents

I took a Mo Manning image (available here at Mo's Digital Pencil) and printed it onto some cream card stock and onto some patterned paper so I could paper piece the dress.  The sentiment came with the digi image.  I used a variety of Copics and Altenew Markers to colour.  I used a rectangle die to cut out the image and matted it onto some darker cream card.  I used the same Patterned paper to add to the card base before adding the focal panel.

Thanks for stopping by.  Would love to have you join us at Sweet Stampin'

Summer Birthday card at Die Cut Divas

It's the last day of the month so it's a Thank you to our sponsor over at Die Cut Divas.  Our lovely sponsor was Elizabeth Craft Designs - and the team have been using their products for the month.

I chose to make a "Hot" Summer card using ECD Flower Power stamps and dies

I started by making a background piece using some watercolour paper and some green Zig Marker.  I used lots of water to move around the marker.  Once the panel had dried, I used an Altenew stencil and some Bamboo ink to add a bit of texture.  I added some black watercolour splatters.   For my flowers I used more watercolour paper and stamped the flowers with some soft brown inks.  I used Zig markers and water to colour them in and used the matching dies to cut them out.  I stamped the sentiment from an ECD stamp set - Build you own sentiments #1.  I added the main flower with dimensional tape and the rest I stuck directly to base. 

You still have today to join us.  Our challenge closes at 9.00pm August 31st.

August CCC for Jeanne

I heard from Jeanne today letting me know the card I made her as part of the August Card Chain Challenge had arrived. 

Each month there are a variety of thing you can do as part of the challenge...

Theme Options: Water / Balloons / Friendship

Product / Technique Options: Foil / Twine

I decided that I want to use all four options..

1) Used the sketch
2) Used the colour palette
3) Used the theme options: Friendship and Balloons
4) Used the Products option: Twine

The die cut edging is from Spellbinders and the die cut balloons are an Elizabeth Crafts Design die. Incorporated the colours in the balloons, bow and little heart.  Used the twine for the balloon strings and finished with a Friendship sentiment.

It's always fun to take part in the Card Chain Challenge.  You can find out all about it HERE and there is still time to sign up for the September challenge. 

WWC 236 Heidi's "All About Occasions" challenge

Hello there, it’s time for another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  Heidi is our hostess this week with an "All About Occasions" challenge.

 

 I've made a Birthday card today to share with you.  I decided to challenge myself to use up some of the ephemera and stickers I seem to be hoarding.  

I started with a square panel and added some embossed lines and then edged the panel with some red ink.  I took some of the beautiful watercoloured flowers from a Cocoa Vanilla Ephemera pack and added it with some dimensional tape to one corner.  I then added a sticker from Mbellish - packs of stickers and other embellishments produced for a local stationery company (Paper Plus).  The little enamel dots I used were from the same company.  I was happy to use up some of my stash.

I'm entering this into the Wednesday Simon Says Stamp challenge - Anything Goes. 

Come join in the fun.  Check out the projects that the artists at Watercooler Wednesday Challenges have created then take the challenge and link your creation to the challenge post. We’d love to have you join us.  You have until Mondays at 5 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (Tuesdays at 11.00am NZ time) to link up your project.

Runway Inspired - Homework Day 3 ~ Prints

I've have thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the Altenew Academy class, Runway Inspired Card Making.  I haven't had a chance to try out all of the lessons yet, but today was home sick (got sent home after an hour as I was coughing so much) and took some time to play with Day 3 lesson.  It was all about Prints. 

I have a pretty summer shirt that was my inspiration for my card today

 I love the colours and pattern on my shirt.  

I used Altenew Wallpaper Art stamps and did some masking. The leaves from the set were stamped with Evergreen Altenew ink.   I used Altenew Alcohol Markers - R217 Velvet and R206 Crimson to do some very basic colouring.  I used a sentiment from More Than Words stamped in Obsidian Ink.
I did the stamping and colouring on a layer the same size as my card base to give the impression of a one layer card.

Still got lots of ideas based on Jen's class.

Thanks for stopping by. 

Hello Lovely Ellie

Hi.  It's my day to share over at Die Cut Divas. 

Our sponsor this month is Elizabeth Craft Designs and our theme is "HOT"

For my card I used ECD - Elephant die and Party Accessories die .  Elephants live in HOT climates... a bit of push... but here you go.

I used some grey and pink card to die cut out the pieces of the elephant die.  I decided I need to give her some arms.  I edged the pieces with some ink - dark grey on the grey card and some pink on the ears.  I used a piece of gold ink gelli print paper that I had made a while back to make my background.  I added some green card to make my grass with a Fiskers punch.  I added my little Elephant and gave her a crown.    The sentiment is from a Concord and Ninth set.

So do come and join us this month at Die Cut Divas

Runway Inspired - Altenew Academy Class Day 1

I was intrigued with the promos for Jen Razza's latest class at Altenew Academy so decided I need to take the class... and I'm happy I have.  Day 1 is all about LINES.... Jen had some incredible inspiration in the video with lots of couture photos - with lots of ways that Lines can be used in design.

So onto my card.

 I saw some great outfits with lines that inspired this piece.  I did some ombre triangles in different sizes.  I used the inks from the Tea Party set - Pink Pearl, Coral Bliss, Heart Beat and Vineyard Berry and the stamps from Sohcahtoa stamp set.  The sentiment is from More Than Words set.  I finished with some 3D liquid pearls in a crimson colour. 

Day two theme is COLOUR and I've got lots of ideas - but not enough time to get something done... I'm way for the weekend at the beach, but haven't brought my craft stuff, other than my knitting.  A relaxing weekend is in order.  Just what I need as I had a check up today and my blood pressure was a tad high.   A restful weekend is call for. 

thanks for stopping by.

WWC235 Marsha's Masculine "Anything Goes" challenge

Hello there, it’s time for another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  Marsha is our hostess this week with a Masculine "Anything Goes"  challenge.

A simple and fun card.  My background is one I made a few weeks back as part of my Altenew Academy class - Monoprinting Made Easy.  I inked up my Gelli plate with some Parrot and Olive Altenew inks, and then using the base layer of the leaf from the Beautiful Day set I pulled off some of the ink and stamped it onto some white card.  I added some extra leaves by using the Olive ink, stamping off twice before adding it onto panel.  It gives a great subtle colour.  To keep the card masculine I didn't add anything more than the sentiment.  It's from CAS-ual Fridays - Whole Shebang set.   Perfect for those guy cards.

Come join in the fun.  Check out the projects that the artists at Watercooler Wednesday Challenges have created then take the challenge and link your creation to the challenge post. We’d love to have you join us.  You have until Mondays at 5 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (Tuesdays at 11.00am NZ time) to link up your project

 Thanks for stopping by today.  

Life is better with friends

My NZ swap group theme this month was set by my friend Suna.  Stenciling was what she decided on... use a stencil or make on yourself to use.    And Suna was my partner this month.  She lives not too far from me - and used to work in the same office as me till she retired.

For my card I made my own stencil with an Altenew cover die.

I started by using my homemade stencil to blend the blue inks from Lapis Lazuli inks to make my background.  I stamped the leaves from Altenew's Wallpaper Art set in Obsidian black ink. OMG this ink is stunning.  The coverage is incredible.  I also added some fine splatters with black ink. I stamped one of the flowers from the Wallpaper Art set onto some watercolour paper and used the inks to colour it.  I deepen the shadows with a Prismacolor pencil.  I fussy cut the flower and added it over the leaves.  The sentiment is from Altenew's Leaf Canopy set.   A few blue enamel dots finished the card.  I heard from Suna to say she got the card and loved it.  Always a bonus when the recipient likes your card.

Off to see my little one later today.  Can't wait.

Puppy Christmas - Dachshund through the snow!

My blog friend Jo's Christmas Kickstart this fortnight has the theme.... Dachshund Through the Snow... a play on words - so she and Elfen helper Cat want to see canines on the cards.

I knew what digi stamp I was going to use straight away, but didn't get time to create till this colder Saturday afternoon.

I started by making my own background using the Newton's Nook two part stencil.  I used some cream cardstock and used Altenew Enchanted Gold pigment ink and then added the red dashes with Catherine Poolr Design Rockin' Red ink.   I printed the Bugaboo image - Puppy - enough Reindeer and used Alcohol markers to colour it in. Plus a little gold gel pen for the bells.   I used some rectangle dies to cut it out and then used the same size die and one two bigger to die cut the frame.    A bit of Kindyglitz for the snow and the fluffy hat.

And another lovely surprise to see I made the Top Picks for my tree cards in the last challenge

 Thanks Jo and Darnell for picking me.

I got a few other cards done today(getting ahead with some design team work) as it was a bit wintery and staying in my craft room was a great way to spend the time.

Got a message from my son to say they are home from Hawaii and that little Grace was a great traveler.  Slept  90% of the flight over and coming home today didn't cry at all.  Getting a seasoned traveler.  They had a great time there... including my son proposing - so came back an engaged couple.

WWW234 Dawn's All About Occasions Challenge

Hello there, it’s time for another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  It's my turn to be the hostess this week with an All About Occasions challenge.

My card today is a celebration of new baby.  Next month one of my work colleagues is a baby boy so I've made this for her. 

  

Isn't this just so sweet...  The Mama and baby giraffe are from a stamp set called Hey Mama - Critter Cuddles.  It's by an Australian company called Uniquely Creative.  I used a mixture of Altenew, Spectrum Noir and Copic makers. I used the matching dies to cut out the stamp. The background is another seconds stencil from Faith Pocock Crafts.  As long as you tape the stencils down well, they work perfectly.  I used Iceberg ink from Altenew to blend through the stencil.  The sentiment is a white embossed from Little One by Kaisercraft onto some soft grey card.  I finished with a little heart die from a Catherine Pooler Designs die set cut from red card and with glossy accents.

Come join in the fun.  Check out the projects that the artists at Watercooler Wednesday Challenges have created then take the challenge and link your creation to the challenge post. We’d love to have you join us.  You have until Mondays at 5 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (Tuesdays at 11.00am NZ time) to link up your project.

No line watercolouring.

Well I've never had much success with no line colouring - usually with Copics or pencils but today I decided to try it out with watercolouring.   During the week I watched a video on the Altenew Blog where Erum did some no line watercolouring and she made it looked very easy.  So I brought my Zig Markers and the Altenew watercolour paints with me to Mangawhai.   After a busy start to the morning, I sat down and tried the technique out following how Erum did it.

Here is my first attempt for the day

Was pleased how it turned out.  I stamped one of the roses from the Wallpaper Art set onto some Canson XL watercolour paper with Sand Dunes inks before using the Zig Marker to colour.  I ended up making a mess of trying to add some leaves, so I fussy cutting it.  I then changed my mind on how my design would look.  I took some cream plain card and trimmed it to just less than a card front.

I stamped one of the leaves from the set with Limestone ink and then added the rose with some dimensional tape.  I used the Limestone ink to run around the edge of the panel before mounting it to the base card.  The sentiment was stamped with my new favourite black ink (Obsidian from Altenew)  It's from the Leaf Canopy set.  

I am entering this into

The Flower Challenge - Your favourite flower.  (I have lots of favourites but roses is right up there!)   

For my second go, I used another of the roses from the Wallpaper Art set.  I stamped the rose and two of the leaves from the set with the Sand Dunes ink and again used the Zig markers to colour

I used an orange marker to colour the flower with a dark grey for the centre and a dark green one for the leaves.  I coloured directly on to the paper for the really dark leaves and used water to shade the lighter leaves.  The sentiment for this one is from Sophisticated Wreath set.

This one is for Virginia's Show and Share - trying out a new technique



All in all a very happy crafty afternoon for me with my very limited supplies.

Last night our wee precious called around with her Daddy while Mummy was out getting a Mani-Ped done.  She was a bit upset for a bit but Nanny got her to sleep and then Pop had the magic touch when she woke after only 45 mins.   She is now three months old!  And this evening is winging her way to Hawaii for her first overseas trip!

thanks for stopping by. 

Father's Day/Masculine challenge at Southern Girls Challenge blog.

Check out my Watercooler Wednesday Challenge post HERE.
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 Hi there.... It's Team Trace's turn to inspire you over at Southern Girls Challenge.  Our challenge this time is Father's Day/Masculine.  Our lovely sponsor is Newton's Nook Designs.

 

I have made a Father's Day card using a cute little set from Newton's Nook Designs

I made my own background card by using a Newton's Nook Design stencil called Argyle.  It's a two step stencil.  I started by using Altenew Parrot ink to blend over the white card.  Then I used Olive ink with the diamond stencil and then Moss ink for the dotted lines.  It really made an awesome background.  I used a Lil' Inkers die to cut a white panel.  I edged it with some of the Olive ink.  I stamped the Bear and BBQ with Gina K Amalgam ink and then the #1 Dad sentiment with Versamark and white embossed.  I then did a bit of a resist technique with the Olive ink before using a little Spellbinders die to cut it out.   I used Altenew makers and Copics to colour the beer and BBQ after using my Scan'n'Cut to cut them out. I used dimensional tape to pop up Daddy Bear. 

Newton's Nook Designs kindly provided the team a discount to purchase some of their products  so I got two stamps sets. I have made a second card with the other set I bought.

Once again I used the Argyle stencil.  This time on kraft paper with Altenew Sand Dunes and Mocha inks.  The wine bottle and glass are from a Newton's Nook Designs stamp called "Wine a Little".  The sentiment is from the BBQ stamp set.  

Do come and join us at Southern Girls Challenge.

WWC233 Karen's Feminine "Anything Goes" Challenge

Hello there, it’s time for another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  Karen is our hostess this week with an Feminine "Anything Goes".

Today I chose to use some soft yellow/orange colours.    I recently got a new set of Altenew inks - Golden Sunset.  I used the two lightest colours - Sunray and Chamomile.  The stencil I used was one I purchased as a second from Faith Pocock Craft Studio.    I masked around the edge of the card and used my blending brushes to add the colour through the stencil.  I used a yellow gel pen to draw around the edge.  I die cut the Catherine Pooler Design Hello die twice, one out of gold matt card and one black one.  I offset the two dies so the gold would pop.  I used a sentiment from Simply the Best from Catherine Pooler Designs to finish my card. I decided not to add any other embellishments.  

Come join in the fun.  Check out the projects that the artists at Watercooler Wednesday Challenges have created then take the challenge and link your creation to the challenge post. We’d love to have you join us.  You have until Mondays at 5 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (Tuesdays at 11.00am NZ time) to link up your project

I'm entering this into the challenge at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - Add a die cut.  

Christmas Twofer - Christmas Kickstart #16

Over at Jo's Christmas Kickstart this fortnight she has the lovely Darnell as her elfin helper.... and as Darnell runs her own challenge - Twofer Card Challenge... that's what its all about.  Create two Christmas cards using two different designs but only one stamp/die with the prompt being Christmas Tree.   

 

I did have to think a bit about this one... then it came to me that I could practice my Gelli plate backgrounds and make that my twofer.   So off I went and inked by the Gelli plate, lifted off some trees and stamped onto card... then realised I had two similar backgrounds...and the idea was to use two different designs.  Oh well, at least I had one card done...and then the second one came quickly to mind... CAS as is my want!  So here they are:

  

For my Gelli plate background I used some Altenew Parrot and Olive inks to add the colour to my plate and then a quick spritz of water and used my Hero Arts "Merry Merry Christmas Tree" stamp to pull off some of the ink.  Because it's not a full solid stamp, it was hard to see where it came off the plate but I got some awesome stamping onto my other card.   Once my print had dried, I use the olive ink to add some of the trees back onto the background.  I the took a Catherine Pooler stamp "Wonderful Time of the Year" to add a sentiment.  Just a few gold faceted gems and it was done.   And the bonus is I still have this background to use

My second twofer card uses an embossing folder for it's background with the tree stamped in the centre panel.  I found the sentiment in a Me to You Carte Blanche set (from 2014) - I used just the fist tree words from the sentiment.

And as I went over to link this up at Christmas Kickstart I was nicely surprised to see my Angel card made a Star on the top of the Tree for the last challenge... Thanks for choosing me Jo.

It's a cold winter's day here today, so was fun to spend some time in the crafting room with the heater on.  Later today Miss Grace is coming to visit Nanny (and Pop) when her parents come for dinner.  They are off to Hawaii next weekend for a week.  Big trip with a 3 month old but I'm sure she'll take it in her stride.   I haven't seen her for two weeks so looking forward to all the smiles I've been seeing on her mummy's Instagram and Facebook.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Happy crafting this weekend.

WWC 232 "Anything Goes" Challenge.

Hello there, it’s time for another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  As it's the 5th Wednesday of the month, it's an "Anything Goes" challenge.

My project today is a lovely gift box.

I saw the tutorial for this box over at Pootles.co.uk.  My base box was made with a soft sage/grey card and used a vintage looking patterned paper.  I made the flowers with a Couture Creations die and some pink textured card inked on the edges with some pink ink.  I added some gems in the centres.

Come join in the fun.  Check out the projects that the artists at Watercooler Wednesday Challenges have created then take the challenge and link your creation to the challenge post. We’d love to have you join us.  You have until Mondays at 5 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (Tuesdays at 11.00am NZ time) to link up your project