Coffee with Love

It's the last day of the month at Die Cut Divas.  Our theme for the month was ""Make it a Beverage".

Prize: $20 gift code

It's also been the Coffee Lovers Spring/Summer blog hop - I managed to sneak my card in a bit earlier than this post to get it included! 

My team mate Arlene sent me some of these coffee cups and Coffee sentiment die from CAS-ual Fridays. I finished off my coffee sentiment with a very old Hero Arts sentiment from one of the 2x3" sets. My background was a digital image I found on Pinterest. 

I also made another card for the Blog hop...

I recently saw the technique of using a used teabag to stamp on, over at Splitcoaststampers.  I drink Peppermint tea and the teabags I use have cute sayings on the tag.   So I dried the teabag, removed the tea leaves and then stamped on the bag.  I used Catherine Pooler Designs stamp set called Tilly's Garden.  I used CP inks in Grass Green and Royal Treatment and Versafine Onyx Black to stamp the design.  I added some red Nuvo Drops for the flower centres and berries.    To add some texture to my design I used an embossing folder strip.  I did a little stamp surgery to make part of the sentiment.  It was a longer sentiment from an Altenew set. 

It's Queens Birthday weekend here in New Zealand this weekend - Monday is a public holiday.  I decided to take today off as well.  We had an appointment with one of our kitchen designers at lunch time so it made sense to take the whole day off and go look at the design and price up the appliances.  We had seen one design earlier in the week which I liked most parts of and today - liked some parts and definitely didn't like other parts.  So still lots of decisions to be made like bench top colours, what sort of splashback and what sort of pantry we want.

Thanks for stopping by.  

Twofer at Southern Girls Challenge

Hi there, it's time for another challenge at Southern Girls Challenge...

Our theme is Anything Goes.... and we have two sponsors

Krafters Cart

Oddball Art

I chose to use some Altenew products available from Krafters Cart.  Meetu who owns Krafters Cart has a large array of products and I love using a NZ based shop to get my supplies. 

My cards today uses Fabulous Florets, that I got from Krafters Cart, which arrived just after lock-down. I love this set as it has two different sized flowers.   And yes I have two cards to share with you.  Earlier this month, one of Jennifer McGuire's blog post was about Split Card Tricks which is a technique where you do stamping down the middle of a half sheet of card and then cut in into two pieces to make cards.

I used the smaller of the two flowers on the stamp set.  I stamped the flowers and masked them to add the leaves.  I wanted to do some pale flowers so used grey tones to colour the flowers. 

 

For my first card I added some thin black washi down the left hand side.  I added some splatters with the darkest grey ink (Pure Graphite)  The sentiment is from Sentiment Strips 2 (also purchased from Kraters Cart) and is white embossed on black card.  A few silver sequins finished the card. 

My second card is more CAS - I simply added a sentiment from Hello Gorgeous stamp set and a few black gems.   I mounted the panel onto black card and then added to a white base.  

So from one stamping of three flowers down the centre of the of an A5 panel I got two cards.  I just added an extra flower on each panel to balance the design. 

So come and join us at Southern Girls challenge

WWC 273 Marsha's Challenge: All About Occasions

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

 

Today I am sharing a Birthday card with you.

I have used an large Altenew stamp called Happy Bloom which I stamped onto some Bristol smooth card.  I then used some Zig Real Clean brushes to add the colour.  I did some very pale blue around the flowers and leaves.   Added some clear faceted gem to finish.

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.

Jennifer McGuire's Stencil and baby wipe technique.

If you are every feeling a lack of mojo, just go visit Jennifer McGuire's blog and you will be enthused and inspired... there are so many awesome ideas.  Yesterday I saw her do a technique she calls Stencils and baby wipes.  It's really the coolest thing ever....

I made two panels today - using two colours of Distress Oxide inks

the light blue ink is Broken China with a stencil made by a local NZ company and the greener one is Evergreen Bough with an Altenew Roses Bouquet stencil.  I put it at an angle on my card which is why I ended up with a bit of a muntted corner piece.  Basically you use your stencil to emboss onto the inked card - layer is embossing mat, oxide coloured panel, stencil and then a wet baby wipe over the top and passed through you die cutting machine a few times.  The moisture of the baby wipe lightens the stenciling.  It looks and feels like velvet.    I made the green one into a card

It's a bit smaller than an A5 size in length. I matted it onto black card and then onto a white base.  I took some light green card and die cut the Catherine Pooler designs die and again die cut it from some black fun foam.  Added the sub-sentiment from Altenew Hello Gorgeous set in white embossing.  A few clear gems finished off the card.  So happy with the results of this technique.

I am entering this one into the Monochromatic Challenge at The Flower Challenge

Peace love and Serendipi-tea

It's my day for sharing at Die Cut Divas today.... Our Sponsor is Cas-ual Fridays Stamps and our theme is "Make A Beverage"

Prize: $20 gift code

Also during May is the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop for spring/summer so check out when you can can enter your coffee & hot chocolate projects into the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop too.  - Mine is there!

I am using some images from Cas-ual Fridays that my teamie, Cindy, had stamped and die cut for me. They are this set 

  

Cindy had stamped them on some sweet patterned paper.  I added Copic markers to the hearts,  I die cut a doily from Catherine Pooler Designs, to sit the teapot and cups on.  I used some fabulous grey and white coloured patterned paper which I used a Lil'Inker  die to cut out.  I took the stamped image and trimmed it with a fish tail banner, and layered onto some black card .  

Do come and join us with your Beverage project. 

Anything but Square at Sweet Stampin' Challenge

It's time for another challenge at Sweet Stampin' Challenge.  Our theme this week is "Anything but Square"

So my card today is a big 5"x 7" rectangle card. 

I made a 5"x 7" card base from two pieces of card.  I used Spellbinders 5x7 Elegant Labels 4 to cut out the two layers of the frames.  On the smaller label I used a Kaisercraft sentiment.  My flowers are home made - using Heartfelt Creations Wild Rose Small stamps and die plus the matching flower mold.  I had stamped the flowers onto cream card stock with some Altenew pale brown ink.  I added some red in the centre and after they were molded, I used some stamens and glued them together.  The leaves are a Couture Creations die.

Do come and join us at Sweet Stampin' Challenge blog and check out the rest of the design team.

WWC 272 Helen's Challenge: Anything Goes with a Masculine Twist.

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

I have been struggling to do masculine cards so I went back through my Flickr photosteam to get some ideas.  This technique was one I saw over at Jennifer McGuire's blog in 2015 which she called Faux Textured Metal Paper.  I remember enjoying making the faux metal paper back then and again today.   It's done by using Perfect Pearls over distress inking.  For this one I masked the centre of the white card and then sponged on Fossilized Amber Distress ink and added Bronze Perfect Pearls.    It really gives it a metallic shine which when you emboss it, makes it really pop.  I used a WRMK 3D embossing folder .   I added the big Happy Birthday die from Elizabeth Craft Designs cut from black cards stock.   I added some black pearls to finish.   

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 5pm Mountain Standard Time (Tuesday at 12.00 NZ time) to link up your project.

Spring Card Camp 2 - Day 6 Homework

Warning: Photo heavy post

I'm back today to share five cards I made for Day 6's homework.  Day 6 was all about Colour Blocking.   The idea was to take three different colours of cardstock and emboss a background stamp then cut up the card to make some cards. 

I used a Hero Arts background stamp (Antique Background circa 2009) and pale purple, pale green, pale blue pearlescent card..  I white embossed the background.  

Card 1

I cut the three panels and mounted onto to black and then a light cream card.  This was then mounted onto a darker cream base.  I used a sentiment from Altenew Sentiment Strips 2.  Added some silver sequins to finish.  

Card 2

I took two of the panels and laid them on my card base.  I die cut a white butterfly with a Memory Box die - Chloe Butterfly and laid it over the top of the panels.  The white embossed sentiment is  from the Altenew Sentiment Strips 2.

Card 3

I layered the strips of coloured pieces at different levels.  Add some blue and white strips.  The You die cut is from Catherine Pooler Designs.  And the sub sentiment is part of one of the Altenew Sentiment Strips 2.  I masked the word you before stamping with some Obsidian ink.   I added some blue and green sequins to finish. 

Card 4

 For this one, I used only blue and green panels layered onto some black card.  I added to a white base which was trimmed to a bit narrower than a normal base.  I added a printed sentiment from Catherine Pooler Designs.  A few green gems finished it off. 

and finally Card 5

I trimmed the colour blocks to squares of 1 3/4" and added to the black mat.  The base is a square of light grey card.  The sentiment is from an older Penny Black set (circa 2012) called Wishes.  I stamped in Catherine Pooler ink - It's a Boy. I die cut the stamped circle and also a Spellbinders Scalloped die.

So from three pieces of card I got 5 cards and had some tiny pieces left over.  Not quite enough for another one. 

Thanks for stopping by today.  It's been a fun weekend making these and also finally spending some time with my son and his family.  Little Grace has grown so much in the last 9 weeks since I last saw her.  She is walking all the time now and has 4 teeth.   I was so happy that she came to be straight away and gave me a big hug.  

 Here I am reading her book to her.  I was sitting on the floor playing and she came over with her book and plonked her little bottom on my leg.  So cute.

WWC 271 - Kath's Challenge: All About Occasions

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

This is a cute little 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" card.  I recently was inspired by my blog friend, Virginia Lu, to use nesting dies to create a frame.  For the frame on this one, I used some Spellbinders Hexagon dies and some textured silver card.   I did some stenciling behind the frame using a Faith Pocock Studio's Bubble stencil and some Sea Breeze Altenew ink.  I then stamped some Altenew Painted Roses in Altenew Wisteria and Hydrangea inks, and Grass Field ink for the leaves.  I fussy cut the flowers and added to the  frame.  I added a sentiment from Altenew Beautiful Day set.  I added some 3D Liquid Pearls in dark purple as my final embellishment. 


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 5pm Mountain Standard Time (Tuesday at 12.00 NZ time) to link up your project.

Spring Card Camp 2 - Day 3 Homework

I have watched Day 3 - 6 of the Spring Card Camp but only had time to do Day 3's homework.

Day 3- Dry embossing with Stencils.
This is a technique which I really like.

I took a Penny Black stencil and using my Cuttlebug sandwich to emboss.  It turned out really good.  I then took a Distress Oxide  - Worn Lipstick and blended all over the the card.  I added some gold Spectrum Noir sparkle pen to dots on the flowers. I added the panel to some gold paper to mat it.   I used a Sizzix stamp and die set to make the Hello sentiment.  I added a sentiment stamped with the Distress Oxide using a little Altenew stamp. 

I am entering this into the monochromatic challenge at The Flower Challenge.

 

Happy Birthday Grace

Yes, One year ago today, our little granddaughter Grace was born.

Unbelievable how quickly this year has gone.  We have not been able to see her for nearly 8 weeks... how she has grown in that time is incredible.  She walks everywhere now and is very focal.  We had a video chat with us and her other grandparents to see her get her cake and walk around the room.  Can not wait till we can get real cuddles.

Her Mum posted this funny pic this morning on her instragram page.

 Quite amusing!  

She is a real cutie

We haven't been able to give her our present or card yet.

Here's her card - Using Gracie Giraffe digi stamp from CuteNCrafty Mommy.

I made a subtle background with some Heartfelt Creations wild rose stamps and added my little printed, coloured and fussy cut Gracie Giraffe.  Added a die cut 1 and a Peelcraft sentiment.   Very simple little card.

Spring Stamp Camp 2 - Homework Days 1 and 2

I'm taking part in the Spring Card Camp 2.  20 days of classes.  Jennifer McGuire and Kristina Werner have organised a whole lot of artists to inspire us.

Here's my home work for Day 1 and Day 2

DAY 1 -MASKING

I made two cards for Day 1

I used a the negative potion of a circle die as a mask to start by blending Distress Oxides in Evergree, Broken China and Cracked Pistachio.  I then used some Emerald Altenew ink to stamp the little images from Winnie and Walter "Big Bang Bling"   I decided to trim it down to fit a 4.5" square card.  The die sentiment is from Winner and Walter as well.  I finished with a white embossed sentiment from Say Something by Clearly Besotted and some silver sequins.

My second card was totally inspire by Kristina - where she used her computer to print out a letter and cut around it to make a mask.   I used a G - for Grace.

I added the mask to my card and blended the background with Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide.  I then used Altenew Coral Bliss and Heartbeat for the roses and Lagoon and Emerald for the leaves.    I added the rest of Grace's name and the Happy Birthday from two different Rosie's Studio sets.  

DAY 2 - STRIPES

Day two Jennifer used masking to make stripes on her cards - one of which was diagonal stripes and Angelica Conrad used stamps to make her striped backgrounds.   I made a card that combined the two ideas... diagonal stamping

To make my stripes I used a Winnie and Walter set "Scenery - Stripes" It has a lot of different sizes and styles of stripes.  I used 8 different inks from Altenew's Enchanted Garden and Shades of Purple  inks sets to make my striped background.   I CASE'd Jennifer's idea of stamping a line art flower in the corner.  I used the smaller of the flowers in Altenew's Hello Gorgeous set.   The sentiment was made up of the die and sentiment from a Catherine Pooler/Casual Friday set called All About You.    A few clear gems from Lucy's Little Things finished off the card,

Now it's time to check out Day 3 - Dry Embossing with Stencils. 

A bit of Humour

It time for another challenge at Sweet Stampin'.   A fun challenge this week.... Humorous - (excuse the pun)

I struggled a bit to come up with a card for this theme.  Then I remembered I had a couple of Art Impressions stamps sets that are a little humorous.

 These two are having a bit of a giggle.  I have the stamp but not the sentiments that go with it so chose to use a sentiment from other AI set.    I stamped the "girls" and using the stamp set and used Altenew Alcohol markers and Copic markers to colour them in.   The stamp set has a coloured sample giving great ideas for shading.  I chose some pretty patterned paper from a Rosie's Studios pack called Forever.  I added a flourish of pearls (didn't show well in the photo but gorgeous in real life.) 

Do come and join us at Sweet Stampin' challenge with your take on "Humorous" 

WWC 270 - Tristan's Challenge: Anything Goes with a Feminine Twist

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

My card today is a tall card - 18cm tall by 10cm across.

Flowers are always perfect for a feminine card and I love the simplicity of this Altenew Hyacinth stamp.  Plus the sentiment is so awesome.  I use three purple inks (Altenew Lavender Fields, Deep  Iris and Midnight Violet) and two greens (Altenew Bamboo and Parrot)  I added some Heart Beat ink for the flower centres and finished with some Morning Dew Crystal Nuvo Drops on the centres.   I used a Spellbinders long rectangle die before matting with some dark purple card and popping on the white base.

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 5pm Mountain Standard Time (Tuesday at 12.00 NZ time) to link up your project.

Red Fabulous Florets

Another Fabulous Floret card.  I was really keen to try the flowers in a red colour scheme so pulled out some red Altenew inks.

For my flowers I used Heartbeat and Vineyard Berry inks. I used Charcoal Suit grey ink for my flower outlines.  The centres were stamped in Jet Black and Maple Yellow inks.  For the leaves, I left the outline stamp off and used Forest Glades and  Evergreen inks. The sentiment was stamped in Obsidian black ink using a sentiment from More than Words set.   I added a few black faceted gems. 

Another weekend done and dusted and New Zealand had NO Covid 19 cases today... 9 weeks from the first case.  Hope it may continue - we are still on Level 3 alert with still a lot of restrictions.  Little Grace turns one on Sunday and her birthday party has been cancelled.  I'm hoping we might be able to drop off her present and see her, albeit from a distance. 

Take care and be safe.

April CCC reveal.

It's time for a reveal of April's CCC cards... You can see them here.

My card made it's way to Helen G in the USA.  I chose to use the colour scheme

 

I used an Altenew stamp set called "Leaf Canopy"  I used a variety of watercolour paints (Altenew's 36pan watercolour set) to colour the leaves and add some paint splatters.  I was really happy with the results.  

I'm still waiting for my partner's card to arrive.  Covid-19 really is affecting of mail.  I sent a parcel to Perth on 20th March - and it still hasn't arrived.  My friend did an order from USA company that left there 7 April but still hasn't got here yet.   Very frustrating.  

CCC is a cool way to get and send a card to someone else.   I've already signed up for the May challenge.  Why don't you too  - here.

Fabulous Florets

I had done an order with Krafters Cart at the beginning of April which finally got delivered on Thursday now that New Zealand is at Level 3 and it had Altenew's Fabulous Florets with it's matching die, some Altenew patterned paper, some Heartfelt Creations stamps and dies and a matching mold.   Friday afternoon I opened up the Fabulous Florets.  I love that Altenew has a load of inspiration on their stamp set backing sheets.   I was inspired by one of the design there. 

I used Pinkalicous and Rubalite inks to stamps some of the flowers along the bottom of  my card.  I added some dark green splatters.  I then stamped one flower on a scrap of white card together with some leaves using Forest Glades and Evergreen inks.  I die cut the single flowers and the leaves.  I added the sentiment to some black card with white embossing powder.  I matted the panel with dark pink card before adding to my white base, 

Doughnuts and Sprinkles

Hi there.   I'm sharing my card for Die Cut Divas  - the last day of the month in the USA -

Di's Digi Stamps is our sponsor this month and our theme is Animals.

I used a cute little image called "Doughnuts and Sprinkles"

I used a Spellbinder's die to cut out my printed image and used some Prismacolour pencils to colour it in.  I cut a Catherine Pooler Doily die out of black card to frame my image.  I found some pretty paper in my stash and made a 13.5cm square card.   The little sentiment stamp is from a NZ company called Hastings Rubber Stamps - it was the perfect size to add to my circle.

Thanks for stopping by today.  I'm still working from home and think I will be for some time to come despite New Zealand moving to Level 3 on our alert system.  Still social distancing and sticking mainly to you own "bubble" - stay home if you can, work from home and keep your kids home if you can.  More businesses can open, construction has restarted and you can get takeaways provided it can be contact-less.