Anything Goes at Southern Girls Challenge.

Hi.  Another challenge at Southern Girls...

As usual it's an Anything Goes Challenge
        


I used an image from Star Jam Lines called Fairy in a Branch.

I used some pretty patterned paper for the background.  My sentiment is from Clearly Besotted. 

Do come and join us at Southern Girls for this fortnight's challenge. 

WWC 269 - Fifth Week - Anything Goes Challenge

Hi there... it's time for our weekly challenge at Watercooler Wednesday... And as this is the 5th week of the month - bonus time - It's an Anything Goes....

Today I'm sharing a bit of a Shabby Chic card.... I have been watching a NZ craft company who have been doing card class on Facebook.  This card is one of the classes.

It's a bit of a fancy fold card.  The ribbon keeps it closed.  I chose to use some patterned papers from a Die Cuts With a View pad called "Spring Fling"  I took three different patterns to make each of the layers.  My base is some vanilla cream card to match the colour on the papers.  For my centre panel I used two the same papers so I could cut out the flowers to layer.  The only stamping on this is the little sentiment stripe from an Altenew stamp set called "Hello Gorgeous"    As the paper has glitter on it, I only needed a few Lucy's Little Things - Ice Cube gems.  to finish it off.

I've sent this to my Dad and Ngaire in Upper Hutt - just to give them a big hug.  I ring Dad every week, but I think he'll love getting this from me. 

All about Animals at Die Cut Divas

 Hi.  It's time to share my card at Die Cut Divas. 

April's sponsor is Di's Digis and it's All about Animals.

I chose to use a sweet little digi called "Daisy Fun" I printed it onto some watercolour card.

 I used my Zig Markers to watercolour these cuties. I decided yellow daisies would suit them. I added some gold Sparkle pen to the centres and a few little dabs onto my hedgie. I used Craft Creations Mega rectangle dies to cut out the watercolour panel and to make the black frame for around the image. Added a Sentiment from Clearly Besotted and it was done. 

Utterly Distressed at Sweet Stampin' Challenge

Hi there. Time for a new challenge at Sweet Stampin' and this week our theme is Utterly Distressed....

However before I start, I just want to remember ANZAC Day today... to celebrate the servicemen and women who fought during the wars... in particular WW1.  Our world is the better for their sacrifices.

 

So back to the card I made for this challenge.   I've gone shabby chic again... not really in my comfort zone, but doing a few of these lately. 

 I took some pretty patterned paper and after trimming it to size, I tore around the edges.  I added the chiffon ribbon and black cord around the middle and then built up the other elements.  Half a torn doily, the little elephant charm, the chiffon ribbon bow, the pearl embellishment in one corner and three pearls in the opposite corner and the butterfly.  Finished with two sentiments from Altenew's Watercolor Halftone stamp set.  

Do come and join us at Sweet Stampin' Challenge this week.  We would love to see your Utterly Distressed projects. 

Flowers two ways

I haven't been doing much crafting this week.  Working full time from home and exercising every day - time seems to have gotten away with me.  But I did get two cards made.  Two quite different floral cards.

My first card

A little out of my comfort zone but I'm getting interested in making my own flowers.  I have a few dies that make flowers and over the years I've made a few.  Recently I've been following Heartfelt Creations and once lockdown is over, should get the stamps and dies of theirs that I've ordered.  Meanwhile, I made these Dogwood flowers using a Sizzix die and used the Heartfelt Creations 3D flower mold to give them some dimension.  I used a Tim Holtz die to cut a branch.  My white background is embossed with a Spellbinders die cut on top. 

Card two

This card uses stamps to make my flowers.  I downloaded the sentiment from Catherine Pooler Designs and printed it at 75% - I trimmed the sentiment and temporarily adhered it to the card base.  Then I took lots of the flowers from Catherine Pooler's Tilly's Garden stamps and using both Altenew and Catherine Pooler inks, stamped my flower layers.  Of course I had to use my favourite colour, Purple.  Once I had stamped all the flowers and leaves, I took the panel and added the layer before putting it back onto the base.    A few clear faceted gems to finish ( and covering a few boo boos)

NZ is on the last legs of a 4 1/2 week lock-down - down to Level 3 which is still basically a lock-down with a little bit more freedom.  Shops and mall still closed, cafes can do takeaway with no contact, fast food also click and collect.   Weddings and Funerals - up to 10 people but with social distancing... not receptions or wakes.  Stay in your bubble and stay home is still the the norm.   Seems like I'll be working from home for quite awhile longer.  My bubble of one has grown as my husband and I have reconciled and are going to give our marriage another go.  Faults on both parts so we are working to spend more time doing things together.  Hence less time working on my own in my craft room. 

WWC 268 Dawn's Challenge: All About Occasions

Hi there - time for another challenge at Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  I am the hostess this week, with an All About Occasions challenge.

Today I have a Sympathy card to share.  Recently I bought a Simply Cards and Papercraft magazine that had a beautiful Clearly Besotted stamp and die set.

It's a Snowdrop set.  I used the sentiment stamp to make the background.  I stamped and die cut the large flowers and three of the smaller flowers.  I used some very pale green and grey to colour the flowers and green to colour the leaves.  Once the die cutting was done I added the smaller flowers to the main flower bunch.  I used an Altenew sentiment stripe to finish the card.

Come and join in the fun at  Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and check out the project from the other designers.  Then take our challenge and link up your project to the challenge post.    We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday at 5 pm Mountain Standard Time (Tuesday at 12.00 noon NZ time ) to link up your project.

As Snowdrops are a Spring Flower, so I am entering this into The Flower Challenge  - Spring/Autumn  

Classic Beauty in Blue.

Hi there.  This month it was my turn to chose the technique/challenge for my little NZ group.   So I chose the idea to use Gladwrap (plastic food wrap) to make your card.... I chose scrunching the Gladwrap to use as my "stamp" to give a rag roll look to my card background.

I made my panel by using the mid blues of the Lapis Lazuli set of Altenew inks and then dabbed on some Iridescent Medium for a pearly look.  I stamped the stem of the rose directly on the background and then used the Blue inks to stamp the Classic Rose which I die cut.  The leaves were stamped in greys from the Gentleman's Gray set and also die cut.  I added dabs of the iridescent medium on the rose as well.  I used the sentiment from the Classic Rose set stamped in the Azurite blue ink.  My card base is a shimmery pale blue as well.    This one went to my friend, Suna.  She is a lover of Altenew products like me.  We are waiting at the moment for our Altenew order to arrive.  Suna ordered for the two of us and has had notification that the parcel has arrived in NZ.... but when it will be delivered is another story!

Well another week done and dusted.  Short work week - 2days but super busy days.  We will hear on Monday, if our 4 week lockdown is being extended or whether we move to Level 3 - still working from home for a lot of people but business who can safely social distance can go back.  It's just a little easing of the restrictions... no restaurants, coffee shops etc... but some takeaway shops can open.  Weddings of no more than 10 people but not receptions, funerals with 10 people but no wakes.  And our "bubbles" can get a bit wider but still need to be very wary.   Life has changed considerably 

WWC 267 Karen's Challenge: Anything Goes with a Masculine Twist

Hi there - time for another challenge at Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  Karen is our hostess with an Anything Goes with a Masculine Twist.  

I have a very simple card to share today - using some very old Patterned Paper from Graphic 45 

 This paper is really fabulous for masculine cards.  I added a simple embossed sentiment to finish the card.

Come and join in the fun at  Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and check out the project from the other designers.  Then take our challenge and link up your project to the challenge post.    We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday at 5 pm Mountain Standard Time (Tuesday at 12.00 noon NZ time ) to link up your project.

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Rip and Flip.

Today I watched a replay of a FB live from Jacque Williams - a Stampin' Up demonstrator - it was called Rip and Flip.  It uses double sided Designer Papers - but as I don't have any SU papers I used what I have in my stash.  I had a pack of Double Sided Christmas papers waiting to be put away, so decided to do some Christmas cards.

For my first one, I made my tear across the centre of the panel. I added some baker's twine and a little sentiment from Penny Black punched with an oval punch.  Finished with some purple sequins.

For my second card I did my tearing vertically.

This time I used a soft grey ribbon and cut my sentiment with a Spellbinders circle die and matted it on a black scalloped circle.  A few pearls finished it off.    And my stash of Christmas cards has started.

My Easter break finishes today and it's back to getting up to work in the morning.   Not sure how I'll do that after 6 mornings of sleeping in.   It's going to be interesting as over the break our systems changed... and the government has made more tax changes that need to be implemented asap to help businesses and peoples with their taxes.

Hope you are coping with quarantine/lock-down and social distancing.   

Winter Wonderland at Christmas Kickstart.

Well I've finally got around to getting started on my Christmas cards and get a card for the Christmas Kickstart challenge done.   The theme is Winter Wonderland - Create a scene

I had fun making this little scene.

I used a freebie stamp set from several years ago that hadn't been used before.  I made my little snow banks so I could mask the trees.  I then added the front trees.  I used a variety of the other stamps to make a frame around the panel.  I die cut the little Robin from brown and red and pieced together.  I added some Stickles along the snow banks and on the trees.

I'm pleased to have got this one done.

I had a fun day to making cards today... I got two more done for upcoming design team work so I'm now a head.  

Easter card for Archie

Hi there. I'm sharing my card for Archie...  I sent it early, but even so, with the COVID 19 it sill hasn't arrived.   I'm sure it will get there sometime.

I printed out the Bunny image (not 100% sure who produced this one) that I have in my files. I added the sentiment with the computer.  I used Prismacolor pencils to colour the image.  Then some simple layering and it was all done.

I saw some little videos Archie made, thanking me for getting the Easter Bunny to come from NZ to drop off an Easter Egg in a mug for him.  He was supposed to be here to celebrate Easter with me and next weekend have a birthday party with Nanny and Pop, Uncle Kieran and Aunty Erin and baby Grace.  He turns 4 on the 20th so was going to celebrate his birthday here in NZ.  But alas, COVID-19 stuck and we have to  just have a virtual party for him. 

I also got to have a wee video call with my son and Grace.  She is now 11 months old and taking a few steps.  Was nice to see her on the call.  She kept trying to touch me on the screen.  So precious.

Hope you have all had a safe Easter and been able to connect with family via the internet if you are quarantined/in lockdown and can't be with them.

Inspired by Virginia...

My crafty bloggy friend, Virginia, was up on the Altenew website yesterday with a great idea for using nesting dies to create a frame.  Of course, she used an Altenew die to make her frames, but as I don't have any, but have a LOT of Spellbinders nesting dies, I was inspired to make a frame.   I wanted to try some challenging colours for me as well.... Green and orange!

 I found a Heartfelt Creations Classic Rose stamp set that I hadn't opened.... I've had it for a year or more, but it was tucked away with some other stamping stuff and hadn't seen the light of day!  For some reason, orange roses came to mind... so I stamped the flower ad leaf layers with some Catherine Pooler Orange Twist ink and Eucalyptus ink.   I used my Scan'n'Cut to cut out the flowers and the leaves.  (since ordered the matching die as I'm sure it will be easier to use). I used a dauber to colour them all in in the same inks. I have the Heartfelt Creations basic 3D shaping mold so used that to add the texture to the petals.  I used the smaller dies to make my rose.

You can see the dimension of the rose in this picture.

Once the rose had dried I rubbed on soem Opal Dust (gel glitter).  I cut my frame from Spellbinders Labels Four nestibilities from some green watercoloured looking patterned paper and then used the Eucalyptus ink to sponge around the edges to give it some dimension.  I did the same with the panel it was mounted on.  I also used the same ink to add some interest in the centre of the card using a TCW stencil called Mini Beaded Curtain.  I added a sentiment from Altenew's Sincere Sentiments set and finished with some flat gold sequins topped with a dot of Ivory Seashell Nuvo drops.

Big thanks to Virginia for reminding me about making frames with nesting dies.  And because Virginia inspired me I'm adding this to her Show and Share for April.

Wishing you all a very Happy Easter Sunday

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - The Great Crafty Bake-Off

Hi there... time for another challenge at Sweet Stampin' Challenge  and it's a good one.. 
THE GREAT CRAFTY BAKE-OFF.  - we want to see your food related projects.

Today I have a birthday card to share.... with a great birthday cake.

This uses one of my earliest Hero Arts Stamp sets - Fabulous Birthday - circa 2007.  I found the card and patterned paper in my stash...an old kit I bought around the same time...and never used.  I added the purple circle cut with a Simon Say Stamp stitched Circle die - and curved the sentiment around the bottom.  I stamped the cake and fussy cut it adding some Rock Candy Stickles to give it some shine.  Added a bit of ribbon and some white enamel dots. 

Do come and join us at Sweet Stampin' with your foodie project

Blessings

Happy Easter to you all..

I'm looking forward to to having a quiet Easter.  We are half way through our four week lock-down here in NZ - it seems to be working as yesterday we had the least number of new cases.  The number has been going down over the past days.   Being home alone might not be easy, but it does save lives.

Over the past couple of evenings  I have been working on a card.  It's another one the I did following a tutorial by Paula from Craftables.   As I've said before, Paula's cards are shabby chic.  I really wanted to try out some different techniques so challenged myself to make this one.

I found some grey wood like paper to make my background.  For the brown woodgrain paper I took some kraft card and ran Vintage Photo distress ink down it.  Really happy how it turned out.  For my flowers I used two pink and and three purple flowers that I had made using Foamarin.   I die cut some green card with a Spellbinders rose leave die and sprayed them with water and scrunched them.  Once they dried, I unfolded them to add to my arrangement.  I had added muslin and thread directly to the brown card layers and then the flowers and leaves.  I stamped the sentiment from an old Stamp It! set onto some white card and trimmed it before mounting to black card.

This is my Easter card to you all..

WWC 266 Heidi's Challenge: All About Occasions

Hi there - time for another challenge at Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  Heidi is our hostess with an All About Occasions.

Today I have a card with a new die I recently got.  I was at Spotlight and Kaisercraft dies were on sale.  The one I got was down to $8 from $30.

The die is called Posy Circle. I cut it from white card and used markers to colour it.  The main circle was coloured with a bronze Marvy Metallic marker and the rest were Alcohol makers.  The card is 10.5cm square.  I used a piece of patterned paper from a Uniti pack (Urban Retreat)  The sentiment is from Altenew Classic Beauty.   I finished off the card with a few maroon coloured sequins.


Come and join in the fun at  Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and check out the project from the other designers.  Then take our challenge and link up your project to the challenge post.    We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday at 5 pm Mountain Standard Time (Tuesday at 12.00 noon NZ time ) to link up your project.

Playing the Piano...

Hi there... well I wish I could play the piano.... I know the notes and keys but I simply can't read music smoothly... Anyway today's card I'm sharing is a Piano Card.   This came about as a NZ based craft store - Craftables has been having a bit of an online card classes and has provided the instructions for some of it's kits - not the full kit, just the instructions for around $5 each.  I have been watching some of Paula's classes and decided I wanted to try the Piano Kit - so purchased it.  As it did not have all the papers etc, I improvised with what I could find in my stash.  (Believe me I have TONS of patterned papers so wasn't hard to find something suitable)

So here it is....

I found some flocked PP from a Die Cuts With A View pad.  I used the template to cut the 5" x 5" black card to size and then added the flocking to the top panel.  I added the white and black keys below the top bit.   Next I did the inside

I printed off some vintage music paper I had in my computer and trimmed it to fit inside.  Added a white piece on the other side of the lid so you can write your message.  Then I added the little leg that held it open.  Once all that was done, it was time to decorate the top. I found some flowers in my drawer and added with some die cut stems and leaves.  Added a ribbon and the little clef trinket.   Not my usual CAS style but nice to challenge myself with something a bit different.   Paula's classes are very chabby chic - both her card classes and her scrapbook layout classes.  You'll probably see a few more of these shabby chic cards coming up. 

Thanks for stopping by.   I'm getting a few cards done for upcoming DT work, so enjoying some crafting today 

March CCC reveal

Hi there.  I'm here today to share the card I made as part of the March CCC.  I send a card off to Jo in England.

The themes in March's challenge were:



                               

or use the theme options: Things with Wings/Flowers or Friendship  - Products/Technique -  Embossing/Design Paper.

I chose to use the colour scheme, embossing, design paper and flowers.

I used the recessed panel card technique I learnt last month.   I did some embossing on the white panel, used some blue design patterned paper and made some flowers with a Stampin' Up punch.   The sentiment is an Altenew one which I silver embossed on black card.

10 days of lockdown done and dusted.... Work has been really busy with lots of  online contact from people to be answered.   Today my gardener (the ex) came around and mowed my lawns and did the gardens.  We have been having an Indian summer, with lots of sunshine and no rain for some time.   Have to say it's been hard working and not spending time in the craft room or outside sitting on the deck.   Looking forward to spending Easter relaxing. reading and crafting.  I don't start back till Thursday 16th - so nice to not have to sit and look at a small screen all day.

Anything Goes at Southern Girls

Second post of the day... check out my Watercooler Wednesday post below:
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Hi there.  Time for Team Trace to share with you at Southern Girls Challenge   As usual it's an Anything Goes challenge.  Our sponsors are:

I Am Roses

Colour of Love

Lia Stampz

I got to work with a super cute image from Lia Stampz called "Pregnant Girl"

Once I had printed the image I used a Cottage Cutz stitched oval die to cut it out.  I kept it CAS - then added some pretty patterned paper to the dark rose card base.  I stamped the Simon Says Stamp sentiment onto white card and trimmed it, layering onto some more of the rose card.

Do come and join us at Southern Girls this fortnight. 

WWC 265 - Marsha's Challenge: Anything Goes with a Feminine Twist.

Hi there - time for another challenge at Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  Marsha is our hostess with an Anything Goes with a Feminine Twist. 

For my card today I used a new to me technique.   Using Cling Wrap as a stamp!

I masked around the card panel with some post it tape.  I then took Coral Bliss ink from Altenew and my scrunched up cling wrap to stamp the background texture.  I then smooshed some Couture Creations Hot Pink Glitzin' Glamour (glitter glue) onto my glass mat and used the cling wrap to stamp some of this onto the panel.  It gave lovely texture with the glitter.  I stamped the dancing lady from Stampin' Up! "Beautiful You" set.  I coloured her with Altenew Alcohol marker and then fussy cut her.  I added a shadow from the set in grey ink before adding the girl.  I stamped the sentiment  onto a scrap of white card, trimmed and edged in with some black ink.  I added some doodling around the masked off area. 

Come and join in the fun at  Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and check out the project from the other designers.  Then take our challenge and link up your project to the challenge post.    We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday at 5 pm Mountain Standard Time (Tuesday at 12.00 noon NZ time ) to link up your project.