Double Z-Fold Floral

 Final day of August, so time to share my card for Die Cut Divas.  Our sponsor this month - Altenew

Our challenge - Z-fold cards.   

My card today is a Double Z-fold.   

I have never made a double Z-fold before, so did some googling - and found many, many video's and tutorials.   This was a fun card to make.  I chose some PP from Rosie's Studio Forever paper pad. Used Altenew's Hello Beautiful Craft Your Life stamp, stencil and die kit.  I used some Grey Denim ink to stamp the largest of the floral images and then used the colouring stencils to add a variety of Altenew pink and green inks.   Die cut the floral bouquet and added to the front of the card.   Die cut the sentiment from Altenew Scripty Sentiment for the front of the card and used a sentiment from Morning Asters stamp set inside. 

I also stamped on the inside panel with the mid-size flower from the Hello Beautiful stamp set.  Used a 2HB black pencil and a blending stump to add a bit of shading.  

Our challenge finishes at 9.00pm Pacific Time on the 31st.  Do come and join us. 

Play date - crafting with a friend.

 I've had the most awesome day... My friend, Suna, came to visit today.   This year has been very busy for both of us, and we haven't meet up since Oct last year!!!!  So this Saturday was the day - we both were free and Suna drove the 25kms from her place to mine.   She arrived around 11.00am and left around 3.30ish.   Lots of chatting, crafting and had a lovely lunch - we were able to sit outside on the deck before the weather pack up and the rain started.  

The last picture is of Suna's drawing.  She had blended some blue ink onto her card and then hand drew the gorgeous flower.    Isn't she so talented.  

Suna got three backgrounds done -

Her hand-drawn flower, a new stencil I had gifted her and an older stencil of hers.  Just love what she did with the middle one... such interesting colours. 

I managed two cards.

This one used the Papertrey Ink stencil - In the Meadow - this time with more purple inks.  I cut the panel with a Pinkfresh Die- Folk Edge Rectangle.   Added a big two-tone purple die sentiment with a vellum shadow layer.   Added some iridescent dots for embellishment. 

My second card used a Waffle Flower die and stencil set I've had for about a month now, but hadn't opened.  

I made a little 4.25" square card for this one.   I die cut all the parts of the die and then used the stencil to add the colour.  I die cut all the extra flowers and berries and layered them over the first die cut.  Spritzed it liberally with some Frost Shimmer Spray. I took some Tim Holtz Distress Spritz Fossilised Amber and splattered it over the base before adding the die cut.   Sentiment is from Waffle Flower - Star Snowflake stamp set. 

As this was the first outing for this die and stencil set, I'm adding to the NBUS challenge for August. 

Really enjoyed crafting with someone who understands what card making is all about!  

Feel better soon and a Christmas card

 Been a very busy week at work and as we had been away last weekend... not much crafting done this week.   Today I'm sharing a scrappy Christmas card and a Feel better soon card I made. 

First up the feel better card....

Another card of encouragement for my SIL who has just had her second round of chemo.

I recently purchased a gorgeous layering stencil from Papertrey Ink- In The Meadow - which I paired with a Waffle Flower Postage collage die and masking stencil.  I used Altenew purples/pinks  and greens inks with some soft blue to make background.  I used a sentiment from my stash - from Altenew Build a Flower  Grand Carnation stamp and die set.  

And my Scrappy Christmas card 

The patterned paper stripe was left over from a previous card.  Matted it onto a white panel and added to my card base.  The bells (Couture Creations) were already stamped and in a baggie with other Christmas bits and pieces.  I just added some colour with my Tri-blends from Spectrum Noir.   The circle die was in the bits pile, already embossed with Altenew's Organic Linen 3D folder. The little banner was already cut from a freebie from Natasha Foote.  I'd printed a few and cut with my Scan'n'Cut.  All I did for this one, was to use my dotty die to cut some dark red glitter card to make the embellishments.   

Looking forward to tomorrow as my crafty friend, Suna, is coming for a play date!   We haven't got together for a long time.... and this year I'm away for the craft fair we usually go to.   We finally found a Saturday we were both free and she is coming over.   I've been saving up ideas to do while she is here!

Hope you all get some crafty time this weekend.  

Z fold floral

 Time to share the Z fold card I've made as my DT sample for Die Cut Divas - our challenge this month is to make a Z fold card..   

Our sponsor this month, is Altenew who very generously will be giving our August winner a $20 gift card. Thank you to Altenew for their generosity.

There are lots of different types of Z fold cards - I've gone with a Z fold Flip card. 

I used a Sizzix Framelits Flit-It die to cut my base.  I found an old DCWV Matstack called The Chateau Lavender.   It has gorgeous card with glitter.   It's simply gorgeous.  The die set has the dies to cut the panels so all in all, very easy to make.  I chose a little Altenew stamp and die set - Mini Delight Adore You Add on.   I stamped and used the Woodless Watercolor pencils from Altenew to add colour.  I then sprayed them with some Shimmer Spray in Frost.   The sentiment is from the same stamp set. 

This is what the inside looks like.    It was fun to pull this die set out and make this card... It's been a while since I last used it.   

So came and join us with you Z-fold card.  

Two more Christmas cards

I've got a couple of Christmas cards to share.   Didn't get a lot done over the weekend as we took a trip to visit hubby's sister in Tauranga.   A 3 and bit hours south of us.   Took her and her hubby out for lunch.   She has done her first round of chemo and other than losing her beautiful flowing locks... she said she is feeling good.  She starts round number 2 this coming Thursday.    Then it was back home.   A pretty full on day.  Sunday was spend doing ironing, shopping and finally a bit of crafting time. 

My first card used a negative scrap - when I die cut some white JOY sentiment for dimension for another card, I made sure they were all cut one below the other with the thought of using the negative space - and it turned out perfect. 

This is a 4.25" x 6.25" card.  I took a poinsettia patterned paper 6" square and put it behind the negative space and added the centre of the O back in place.  I used my computer to generate the sub-sentiment and used an Altenew die to cut it out. 

And my second card is for the Christmas Kickstart challenge - theme this month "Let's Wreath it Up"

I printed some tartan paper from a PNGwing image and trimmed it to a square.  Matted it onto some white card with some gold pen added around the edge.   Used a holly berry die to cut three times from dark green card and made the wreath.  I used a dotty die to cut a pile of red dots to add for the berries.  The sentiment banner is an old unnamed woodblock stamp.  I had purchased it about 8 years ago from a reject shop in Australia for just a few dollars.  I stamped and clear embossed it before fussy cutting it.   Added some 3D tape in the middle and glued the edges directly to the card.   

Slowly building up the Christmas cards.  

Animals at Sweet Stampin' Challenge.

 It's time to share my card for Sweet Stampin' Challenge.  Our challenge this fortnight is "Animals"

Took me a while to choose what Animal I wanted to use.   Went through my stamp sets and came across a couple of Crafter's Companion sets - and chose to use Simply Wild About You.  

Went with a very simple card...  die cut a Gina K Master Layouts 2 stitched rectangle and stamped the zebra  and sentiment.   Added some green and blue ink blending and then used a Tim Holtz spritzer tool (see below) - and some green watercolour markers to make some grass. 

Finished with some black dots. 

Do come and join us at Sweet Stampin' Challenge 

National Lighthouse Day - 7th August.

 Today I'm sharing a card I send to my friend, Carol, as part of our little monthly swap group.   Carol set our challenge... All things August!   Part of my freebies from the Card Maker Success Summit... list of 365 Reasons to Make a Card.... so checked out August and 7th was National Lighthouse Day!   I recently got a new stamp and die set that had a lighthouse so decided that I would make an encouragment card. 

I started by die cutting a panel and added some ink blending  using a stencil from Altenew.  Stamped and coloured the lighthouse before die cutting it.  Added the sentiment directly to the panel and some birds (from an Altenew set) and then added the lighthouse with some 3D tape.  Added some pale blue striped paper as a mat and then onto a white card base. 

It's my turn to set the challenge for next month, so got my thinking hat on!  

Easy Embossing technique - Step up your embossing!

 I've seen this technique all over the internet... but I recently saw it done by Jo Simons (see her video Here) - this technique is all about enhancing your 3D embossing with white ink!

 

Jo used patterned paper to do her embossing on and then used white pigment ink pounced onto the raised areas.   I found I had a pack of Anko Marble paper (from KMart) I first did a grey and white piece, but there wasn't enough contrast, so tried this pink/blue/purple piece.   I used Altenew 3D Decorative Floral folder and then used HA Unicorn White ink.  (Need to get a refill for my Altenew Cloud White ink)  Added a white embossed on black sentiment from a LDRS Anytime Stack and the co-ordinating Flag Tail die.  Just trimmed the flag ends off. Added some silver dots to finish.  

With Sympathy

 Last weekend my team lead at work, lost her Mum.   She had been ill for a while but it is still sad when your Mum passes.   The team wanted a card for all of our team and the other team (both teams work together) to all sign.  

I decided I needed to make a slightly bigger card - 5.5" x 8" card so there was space for all the expressions of sympathy and condolences.

I made the card very CAS - using Altenew Fairy Tale Floras which I stamped and black embossed.  I used the matching simple colouring stencils with some pink and green inks.   The sentiment is from a Hero Arts set which is my favourite to use for sympathy cards.   Ran a gold paint pen around the edge of the panel.   

Always sad to have to make this sort of card. 

Clean and Simple Birthday card.

 It's one of my colleagues birthday today so I made a card for her.  Inspired by a video I watched by Christine Stokes on YouTube (you can watch it here)   I loved the idea she used to make her butterfly from printed paper using a background from PNGwing.   I have a few backgrounds in my saved files... so printed off one of them onto some off white cardstock and away I went....

Christine often makes square cards, so that's what I did today.   I cut my card base at 5" square, next layer was 4.5" and the main panel 4" - I used a Kaisercraft stamp - Botanical to partially stamp on the background.  I used Altenew's Petite Mountain Aven die to cut the paper I printed.  Love how all the different colours look on the flower and leaves.  Add the sentiment from Altenew Label Love set.  Added some little pinky handmade enamel dots and some glossy accents on the flower centre.  

Flash Back - an old technique with Colour Bursts

 In my Facebook memories this week - a card I made 9 years ago!

It used a technique that used layered stamps and Colour Bursts and it was from a You Tube by Maureen Wong (see it here)    I decided that it was time I gave it another try!

I chose to use a butterfly stamp this time around, 

I used Altenew Dovetail Butterflies.  I add Nuvo Shimmer powders onto the base layer of the stamp and lightly spritzed with water before stamping onto my card.   Dried with my heat tool before stamping the top layer in Altenew Cloudy Night ink before die cutting the butterfly.   Used Altenew Starburst Debossing Cover Die for the background panel.  Added a stamped sentiment (in the Cloudy Night ink) from the Classic Greetings stamp set.   Matted onto some purple card before adding to my white base. 

Card Maker Success Summit - Inspired by Nicki Baxley

 Well the best made plans of mice and men..... My idea to watch more sessions last night were scuttled by the internet doing down last night-  No wifi in the house and no service from the local cell tower... so I had to wait till today to re-watch Nicki Baxley's Easel card session and have a go.   It was a labour of love... made a few mistakes and had to redo my embossed panels a couple of times...but in the end made it!

Nicki's Easel card is a bit different from how I've done them before, but turned out awesome.  Looks like a normal card till it's opened.    I liked her use of green and red card I went with the same colour scheme.  I took an Altenew embossing folder - Beautiful Begonia for my background.   I added some Altenew Vineyard Berry and Berrylicious inks to the edges.  My floral focus is a Hero Arts Vintage Poinsettia stamp and it's matching die. I stamped it with Versafine Onyx Black ink and clear embossed.  I used an idea I saw on a video by Jo Simmons, made my own stencils for adding some ink blending.  Stamped it twice and cut out the whole image and then just the cut out the flower part.  Used that as a mask to ink up the leaves and then used the second negative piece to ink blend the flower before die cutting out the coloured image.  Added some gold pen around the edge and added some Zig Glue and added some gold foil in the centre of the poinsettia.  The stopper is made with a Joy die from Chloes Creative Cards - a freebie from a magazine. I added a little sub-sentiment  from a Kaisercraft stamp set. 

As I used a Woodblock stamp for this card, I'm entering it into the Woodblock Wednesday Challenge...

Will be working on more of the sessions over the next few weeks.  Slowly building up the Christmas cards.  

Card Maker Success Summit July-Aug 2025

 The CMSS free classes have started but I got a slight head start by purchasing the VIP pass... and I had great plans to get started early... but live sort of took over!   I did however a couple of weeks ago - watch Ardyth's tutorial - using a Gel Plate to make some backgrounds.... and managed to make a few panels I liked.  (Here's my first card that was made over two weeks ago).

I got home from work early on Wednesday and had a play using one of the backgrounds I had saved.  I made two cards inspired by Ardyth.  

For this first one I made a 5" square card.  The background was a blue gel background that I embossed with an unknown brand folder (suspect it was from a magazine from years ago)  I then rubbed Catherine Pooler Juniper ink over the embossed area.  The gold and red panel was the panel I made using a stencil and red and gold paint.  I die cut with an ornament die I picked up at my local stationary store - came from a magazine.  I then stamped the matching stamp set in black and clear embossed. Added a silver die cut topper before double mounting on white and red panels.    Turned out a bit busier than I would have preferred. 

Next up is a smaller 4.25" square card.  This time I use a red card panel embossed with Gina K Tapestry folder and rubbed Delicata Gold ink over it.   Die cut the ornament and added a gold embossed sentiment from a Waffle Flower set called Star Snowflake.  Added some gold dots to embellishment.  

Hoping that I get some time over the weekend to watch some more videos and get a few more cards made.   We are heading out early in the morning to watch Grace play netball and then coffee before doing our grocery shopping... so then the afternoon for crafting.