More Sunshine Daises

Hi there.  It's the last day of the month for our challenge at Die Cut Divas.  This month we have the wonder Rachel Vass Designs as our sponsor and our theme is Flowers.   Rachel Vass Designs specialized in beautiful floral hand drawn digital stamps.

I used her  Sunshine Daisies  - this is the same image I used HERE.... but check out the difference.

I printed out the image larger this time around and used a Spellbinders die to cut it out.    I used some Zig Markers to colour it up.  There are two sentiments with the Daises digital download so this time I used the simpler one.   Being able to change up the sizes really makes using Digi stamps so much fun to use.   I added a a few clear gems to finish. 

Come and join us at Die Cut Divas and show us your Flower projects.

Paper Piecing at Sweet Stampin' Challenge.

Hi there.  Time for me to share my card for the latest challenge at Sweet Stampin' Challenge blog.  Our theme this week is Paper Piecing. 

I have a huge hoard of Patterned Paper and this was a good way to use some up.  I took this sweet stamp from Stampin' Up (Beautiful You set) and stamped it in the middle of my white panel.  I then layered it onto two different patterned paper from My Mind's Eye - Happy Day pack.  I then stamped the image onto the same papers and fussy cut out Umbrella from one and the dress from the other.   I decided that no embellishments were needed on this CAS card.

Do come and join us with your paper pieced projects...

Christmas Crazy Bird

Hi there.  I really wanted to take part in Jo's Christmas Kickstart Challenge.

As you can see the challenge is Christmas Birds.  I wanted to try something a bit crazy............ using Tim Holtz Crazy Birds

 I don't have the accessories stamps but my friend Suna does, so I got her to stamp the hat and send me it to me. I coloured and  add to the bird.  I used the pine branches and sentiment from Sunny Studios Holiday Style stamps,  I stamped the TH Bird and coloured him with Copics.  I had added some Kindyglitz to the hat and added it to the bird.  I added just a few flat gold sequins and some dark red sequins to the tree.

It's been a busy week. Still working from home - will be working from home again next week then it's back to three days in the office and two at home.    And very excited that on Thursday our new kitchen installation started.  The installer was here today as well and is back on Monday to finish the first part.  Then Tues the bench people come to make the template for the bench-top.  That should take about  days,  Once that's in, the kitchen installer is back to to the overbench pantry and the rangehood cupboard

Here are all the bits starting to go in and below is the detailing on our drawers.

 No handles - just recessed with a wood melamine trim.

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great weekend

WWC 286 - Marsha's Challenge - All About Occasions

Welcome to my blog today.  It's time for the weekly challenge at Watercooler Wednesday and this week Marsha is our hostess with an All About Occasions challenge.

Today I am sharing the card I've made for my Dad for Father's Day.  It's not till the 6th of September.

I used a new to me stencil from Altenew called Feathered Leaves.  I use some Distress Oxides - Mowed Lawn, Evergreen Bough, and Broken China - to blend through the stencil and then I used some of the same inks to blend over the whole piece.   I used a sentiment from Clearly Besotted's All Occasion Sentiments.  The feathers are from Catherine Pooler's Birds of a Feather stamped with Fiesta Blue, Eucalyptus and Grass Skirt CP inks.  I blended some of the DO over the whole lot before fussy cutting them out.

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 11.00 am NZ time ) to link up your project.

Sunshine Daisies at Die Cut Divas

Hi there.  It's my day to share a card at Die Cut Divas.  Our sponsor this month is a new one to to the Divas

Rachel Vass Designs 

The theme for August is all about the FLOWERS.

Rachel Vass Designs specialized in beautiful floral hand drawn digital stamps.

My card uses "Sunshine Daisies" a sweet little image. 

I used a variety of Alcohol markers to colour the flowers.  A very pale blue has been used to go around the image.   The sentiment is part of the digi download.  

Rachel has a number of very beautiful floral images.  I have brought a few of them as I love flower images.  

Do come and join our challenge and share your flower projects 

Dotty colouring

I recently saw a tutorial by Jennifer McGuire doing a colouring technique called Dot colouring.  In art this is called Pointillism.  I have seen a few examples throughout the internet.  

Here is my take on this technique.  

I took Altenew Nature Blossoms and stamped the outline layer of both flowers and leaves.  I used the matching stencil/mask and using the stencil sponged on Chamomile and Coral Bliss inks for the flowers and Frayed Leaf for the leaves.  Next I took Altenew Alcohol markers for the flowers and did my dots in three tones of the pinks and yellows and two browns for the centres.  I used Spectrum Noir markers for the leaves.  I then die cut them all with the matching dies.  The pink striped paper is from Altenew A Love for Stripes Pack A.  I added two thin stripes of a darker red card.  I added a sentiment from Fresh Fressia stamp set before added the flowers and leaves.   I have to say I enjoyed this way of colouring.  

Well a full week of working from home is done.  This morning I had to shut myself in my space as the workmen were here to lay the wooden flooring.  Luckily under Alert Level 3 lockdown, construction can still take place.  So we kept our distance while they were here.  The flooring looks amazing and we are really happy with the results.  Next Thursday the kitchen installation begins.  Hope in another 2-3 weeks it will all be finished.  The stone bench takes a bit longer to get in. 

Take care all.

WWC 285- Karen's Challenge: Anything Goes with a Masculine Twist

Time for the latest challenge at Watercooler Wednesday Challenge blog.  Karen is our hostess with An Anything Goes with a Masculine Twist.

My card today is one that I was commissioned to make for a work colleague.  Her son was 40 last month.  She wanted 40 on it with his name.  And told me he likes golf.

So pulled out my go-to stamp set "For the Boys" which was a freebie a few years back with Issue 26 of Cardmaking in Easy Steps.  It was published in 2018 and the stamp set is full of good masculine cards and the magazine is full of ideas.   There were also a few pages of papers too.  I took some of the papers to make the circles with a Spellbinders die.  I used the Happy Birthday stamp and cut it in half so I could insert the little 40 die cut (from a Mama Elephant die set).  I then selectively inked the "th" in the birthday sentiment to add the "th" to the number. I also used the Mama Elephant dies to cut out the letters for his name.  I stamped the golf bag and then used my Scan'N'Cut to cut it out. 

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 11.00 am NZ time ) to link up your project.

A fun embossed resist technique

NOTE: Photo heavy post!

My NZ swap group this month had a challenge to use an iron off embossed resist technique that Jennifer McGuire did a tutorial on a while back.    I had tried Jennifer's transfer part of the technique with not a lot of success in the past but re-watched the video tutorial and realised I had not in the past not used watercolour paper.  So over the last couple of days I made two backgrounds and got four cards..... At the moment I still haven't decided which one I will send to my swap partner - Pip

so here they all are

#1

For this one, I used Hero Arts Wavy Leaf background and a variety of Catherine Pooler inks and spritzed with Perfect Pearls water.  Once I had ironed off the embossing onto another card I added a Memory Box die (Bella Bouquet) cut from white card.  I used two Altenew stamp sets to make my sentiment panel.  I stamped the largest label from Apothercary Labels in CP Pixie Dust ink and once it was dry, white embossed the sentiment from Sophisticated Wreath.  I added the panel to a white card.

I am entering this into the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - Midsummer Blues 

#1A

This is the transferred EP card after ironing off the watercoloured one.  I added the same ink colours on it.  I used an Altenew border die to cut out the pretty panel.  I added it to a white card base, added a thin purple strip at each end and added a die cut sentiment.  The die is from Couture Creations. I cut it from black, purple and white card.

#2

For this card I used another Hero Arts background stamp called Outline Flowers.  I used much softer colours of Distress Oxides to colour up this one.  Once it was spritzed with the Pearlised water and dried, I again ironed off the embossing onto another card. I used the Altenew Apothecary labels nesting dies in two sizes to make my sentiment label.  The sentiment is from the Sophisticated Wreath set.  Added some Nuvo Drops in white  and some clear gems.  My die cuts are a Simon Says Stamp Daisy die.

#2A

The embossing powder didn't transfer as well on this one, but I ran with it anyway.  I used some Altenew purple inks to blend over the card.  I decided to try a new to me set from Altenew called Line Art.  I stamped it in Altenew Obsidian in, doing a bit of masking.  I got a really cool effect as there was just enough embossing transfer that caused the black ink to resist the stamping.   I had stamped two of the Pixie Dust Apothecary Labels.  I added another sentiment from the Sophisticated Wreath set.  I ended up getting a few finger prints on some part of the card...hence the black pearls on the label.

If you have made it to here... thank you for visiting.   I'll be working from home for the next 10 days... on Friday the government kept Auckland in Level 3 lockdown and the rest of the country in Level 2 lockdown.  The cluster in Auckland keeps growing... about 49 now from the four on Tuesday.    Hopefully we can get over this too.

My Favourite Colour scheme - Sweet Stampin' Challenge

Hi.  It's time for an new challenge at Sweet Stampin' Challenge Blog... and our theme is "Favourite Colour Combination"

Anyone who follows me knows my favourite colour combo is PURPLE with PURPLE!!!!!  

Yes I love PURPLE

I recently took part in an Exploring Watercolour Mediums class.  One of the days was to use masks so that's what I did with the Nature Blossom stamps from Altenew.  I kept the masks in place while I use watercolour paints (Altenew 36 pan set) to make the background.  My card was some watercolour paper.  I used a different shade of purples to colour up the flowers.   I used one of my prestamped sentiment stipes and then to give a really awesome textured look, I spritzed the entire card generously with some Shimmer Sprtiz spray.  So amazing in real life.

So come and join us at Sweet Stampin' challenge blog this week with you favourite colour combos

I'm entering this into the Sparkle Challenge at The Flower Challenge. 

WWC 284 - Dawn's Challenge - All About Occasions

Hi there.  Challenge time at Watercooler Wednesday again... And today I am the hostess with an All About Occasions challenge. 

I have made a Friendship card for today. 

Last month I picked up Simply Cards and Papercrafts magazine - Vol 203.  It had this beautiful layered Peony stamp and die set.  I CASE'd a card from the magazine.  I stamped the flowers in Altenew inks from the Rose Petal set and used the matching die to cut them out.  I trimmed some white card to 13cm x 13cm and using some acetate to make a circle mask/stencil.  I used the lightest ink in the set (Rose Quartz) to blend on the base.  I took some Grey Denim Altenew ink and stamped the leaves around where I added the flowers with dimentional tape. I stamped the sentiment onto some white card and cut it with my trimer and scissors to make a flag end.  I used a sponge dauber to ink around the edge of the sentiment and the panel.  I cut a card base 14cm x 14cm and added my panel. 

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 11.00 am NZ time ) to link up your project.

July CCC

Hi there.  Last month I took part in the Card Chain Challenge and sent off a card to Nathalie in Canada.   I haven't heard if she got the card despite sending it on 16 July. 

Our options this time around were:

or themes;

Under the Sea/Cogs/Friendship

or

Product/Technique Options: Twine/Stencil

Here is my card 

My card loosely based on the sketch and the colours, and uses a stencil.  Iblended on some purple and blue/grey inks and then used a use the Tim Holtz stencil to do a reverse stencil technique by using black ink.   I used an Altenew Hello Circle die to cut the centre panel.  I added some faux stitching around the edge. 

Hope you are all keeping safe.  Covid-19 doesn't seem to be loosening it's hold on the world.  Here in NZ there has been no community transmitted cases for over 100- oh boy - just as I am writing this the Government has called an emergency press conference - First community transmission in 102 days... just waiting to hear what is going to happen.   4 cases in one family with no unknown source.  Back to 2 metres social distancing.  Use the Covid tracer app and a mask if you can not keep 2 metres apart...   Auckland will be moving to Level 3 lockdown for 3 days - Stay home in bubble- work from home - gatherings less than 10 with social distancing.   Rest of the country at Level 2.  Restricted number at gatherings - only 100 - social distancing.   

WOW - luckily I have been bringing my work laptop home each night so I will just work from home for the next three days. 

Love you Slimline Card

Hello all.

It's been an interesting week - we have started demolishing the kitchen.  And then yesterday our son and his mate came to finish off and get the electricals done.  So now NO KITCHEN....until the 26th.   The floor go down on the 22nd. 

While the guys were doing the work,  I had a bit of time in the craft room.  I watched some You Tube videos and made this slimline card.  Time to join the bandwagon. 

I cut my A4 sheet into a 20cm piece and a 10cm.  I folded the 20cm piece in half to make the base and trimmed the smaller panel for the front of the card.   On the panel stamped one of the leaves from "A Study in Watercolour" set by Altenew twice in Blush ink,  My flowers are Altenew 3D - the large flower from Fantasy Floral   and the buds from Floral Virginia Rose using Paint chips again.  I splattered some darker pink ink over the background and finished with a stamped sentiment in black from the Happy Birthday to You set and added a dark pink Paint chip die sentiment from the Treble Love die set.

This morning dawned crisp and clear.  A mere 9 degrees C at 8.30 as we headed out for a lovely walk.  7.1 kms and 1 hour 25 mins latter it 12 degrees and feeling balmy when we got home.  

A stunning early Spring morning...  being positive here!  Look this about 2/3rd of the way round the walk after all the hard uphill bits were done.  

Enjoy your weekend.

WWC 283 - Tristan's Challenge Anything Goes with a Feminine Twist

Hi there.  Time for the Watercooler Wednesday challenge.  Tristan is our hostess with an Anything Goes with a Feminine Twist challenge.

 Today I am sharing a card I made using some Pearlescent paints.  They are super creamy and pigmented. 

I used two colours of paint of my leaves.  They are from "Leafy Canopy" by Altenew and are embossed with Altenew Antique Silver EP.  I chose not to add any embellishments on this one as the leaves are so vibrant in real life. 

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 11.00 am NZ time ) to link up your project.

Paint Chip flowers.

Hi there... Yesterday I shared a card with flowers made with Paint Chips...and today hubby has to visit the hardware store and I tagged along and got some more paint chips.  This time I gathered some Valspar chips.  Not as big as the British Paints ones, but large enough to get two flowers/leaves with each one.  Of course as soon as I got home I went into the craft room and created this card.

I CASE'd a card that Therese Calvird made.  I used her idea to use stripes and to use a sentiment with the line between the two words.  Therese used a stamp from Trendy Circles Stamp set, but I made my own by taking words from the Sentiment Stripe and masking and stamping them one over another and drawing a line between.  I cut some plain leaves from Virginia Rose 3D dies.   The striped paper is from an Altenew paper pad.   I finished with a few white enamel dots and some pearls for the flower centres.

Our kitchen reno has started.... Hubby has started to demolish the current one.  So I'll be without cooking facilities for a few weeks as our son is helping us to the reno and can only do it in the weekends.  Before the new kitchen is ready to be put in (26th) we have to remove the old one, re-gib some of the walls and put down the new wooden floor in the dining and kitchen.   Can't wait to get it finished. 

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope your weekend is going well.

Wedding/Anniversary at Sweet Stampin' challenge.

It time for a new challenge at Sweet Stampin'.  Our challenge this week is Anniversary/Wedding.  We would love to see you projects.

I have made an Anniversary card. 

I starred by using an embossing folder to create the textured background.  The Altenew 3D flowers were die cut from paint colour samples. 

I used some dark green card to cut the leaves.  I finished with a sentiment from Altenew's Sentiment Stripes.  It was in my mug of sentiments that I made a while back after one of my Altenew classes.
I'm loving the British Paints sample chips as they are such a good size.  And they worked perfectly with this die.