CAS birthday with new supplies.

 Today didn’t start off quite as planned. I woke up with a bad headache and spent the morning resting, unsure whether I’d feel up to doing very much at all. Thankfully, after taking it easy, I started to feel much better—and that gave me the perfect excuse to spend some quiet time crafting,

A package of new crafting supplies had arrived, so couldn’t resist pulling out a few bits to play with. I decided to create a clean and simple (CAS) card.

I began by die‑cutting squares and a circle from white cardstock, then cut floral shapes from green and purple scraps of patterned paper. For a little extra detail, I added subtle texture by embossing  lines across the middle of the card using my scoreboard. Once that was done, I glued the circle into the centre and balanced the design by placing the squares in opposite corners.

The sentiment was silver embossed and is from a magazine freebie that’s been in my stash for at least 12 years! It had never been opened or used before. To finish off the card, I layered the leaves and flowers over the centre circle, bringing the whole design together perfectly.

All in all, it turned into a calming and creative way to end the day—proof that even a slow start can lead to something lovely.

I'm entering this into Darnell's NBUS challenge as this is the first time using all the elements. 

A Cut Above - Anything Goes using a die cut.

AAA Birthday - Anything Goes.

CAS at Sweet Stampin' Challenge.

 It's time to share my latest card for our challenge at Sweet Stampin' Challenge   Our challenge this fortnight is CAS (Clean and Simple)

I had fun making this CAS (albeit two layers) card.   I used some linen look card and trimmed to just smaller than my A2(5.5"x 4.25") base.  I used my new Couture Creations score-board to add some embossed lines.   I used some of the printed vellum I made earlier this month, to die cut Birch Press Prime Peony Duo Contour Layers die.  I used my new Sticky Specks micro dot adhesive to layer together.  I'm loving this new to me adhesive.  Makes it easy to stick things together.   I used an older Hero Arts stamp set - All Occasion sentiments to stamp the sentiment with some Altenew Grey Denim Crisp ink.   

Do come and join us with your CAS projects. 

Happy Birthday Dad

 Today is my Dad's 87th birthday.   He was a young dad - only 20 when I was born....so I'm very lucky to still have him my life. 

Here's the card I made and sent to him. 

I made myself a little stencil to do some colour blocking using Altenew inks and then over stamped with Stampin' Up Wetlands stamp set.  Part of the sentiment is from the same set and the DAD is from a Newton's Nook set.  A CAS card.  

Happy Birthday Dad 💖

CAS Florals for The Flower Challenge.

 Hi - I decided to make a card for The Flower Challenge.  The challenge them is CAS.   I wanted to use my new Altenew Build a Garden - Morning Asters.  I love the look of these flowers. 

I stamped the floral directly to the front of my card base and then using a variety of Altenew inks and the matching stencils to colour the image.  One of my purchases at the Craft Fair was the Waffleflower sticky mat (got two - the 8.5" x 6.5" one and the 4.75" x 6" )  - what amazing mats.  I put them into my Misti and Mini Misti and take them out to use when stenciling.   Hold everything beautifully.   I used a ruler and a "B" Faber Castell Black Pitt Pen to make the faux matting frame.   The sentiment is from another new set  - Altenew Elegant Sentiments. 

I've been very busy with all my new stuff.   Two more cards made and photographed ready to blog over the next few days.   And lots of backgrounds done and still more Postage Collage stamped images to use.  

Feeling Blue....

 No I'm not feeling "blue" but had fun making some blue cards today.    It was a wet and windy day so decided to finish work a little early so I could spend some time in my craft room.  I knew we were going out for a curry dinner, so didn't have to prep a dinner so spent time playing.   

I thought I'd do a card for Less is More - butterfly - but didn't get my card done in time.... I knew I wanted to try a technique I saw on Gina K's 5-minute You Tube video a couple of weeks ago.  

This card used older Hero Arts stamps.  The butterflies from Antique Engravings (2010) the sentiment from Share Laughter (2008)   I stamped the butterflies onto some white card and then coloured with some white Prismacolor pencils.  I then took some blue and purple Altenew inks and blended over them.  I tore the panel and inked the edges with some Walnut Stain Distress inks before adding to the white die cut panel.  I added the sentiment and some clear sequins.    I looked at it and realised it was not quite as CAS as I had wanted - but love it anyway!   Believe it or not... I messed up this card 

I ended up getting some blue ink onto the card.... but due to my trusty sand eraser... I managed to get it off.  

So the latest challenge at "Less is More" is One Layer Card - Favourite Flower.   This I can do! 

I took a piece of mixed media paper to make my card.  I have taken a stamp from Altenew's Craft Your Life Hello Beautiful and white embossed it onto the card front.  I then took some Altenew Turquoise ink and blended over and around the embossed flower.   I then used Turquoise and Tide Blue inks to watercolour the flower.  The leaves were painted with Evening Grey and Lava Rock inks.  A few splatters of the grey inks were added.  The sentiment from the same stamp set was inked in black ink and embossed with clear powder. 

CAS at Let's Squash it....

 Just sneaking in with a last minute entry into the July's Let's Squash It challenge - 

 I was looking through my Facebook feed and saw a lovely CAS card... which got me thinking I had better hurry up if I wanted to enter the July challenge... it closes in a couple of days.  

In the end my card was nothing like the one I saw...

I had some lovely cream card - hard to get the colour right in the photo.... I took a strip and used a Darice embossing folder - Daisies.  I took some metallic paste and rubbed it over the panel.  I matted it on to black and added to the same colour base.  Took a sweet sentiment white embossed onto black - this one is from a LDRS set.  A few sparkle enamel dots finished it beautifully.  

Thanks for stopping by... I'll be back shortly with my Sweet Stampin' Challenge card. 

KISS - Keep It Sweet and Simple...

 Hi there.  It's my time to share my sample card for Sweet Stampin' Challenge.   Our theme for this fortnight is KISS - Keep It Sweet and Simple  

I had fun making this quick and fun card. 

I'm using a sweet little stamp from Sunny Studios - Miss Moo.  It's super cute.  I made this little 4.25" x 4.25" card.  I cut the smaller panel with a Gina K die from Master Layouts.  Stamped the image and sentiment and used some Prismacolor pencils to colour it.   

Come and join us at Sweet Stampin' Challenge with your KISS cards.

Floral Frenzy at Altenew Fan Group.

 Hi there.  Today is my last day of sick leave and I have been doing some more crafting.  Over at the Altenew Fan Group on Facebook, there is a new challenge taking place.  Each month there will be a two week challenge.   The first one is this month and it's "Floral Frenzy"  I made a couple of cards today...

First up -

For this one I used Altenew's "Natures Blossoms" set as my main flower.   I used Martian Terrain inks - Pastel Sunrise, Sunrise Burst, Red Canyon Clay and Mahogany Bark and Nature's Wonders - Misty Moon, Marshland, Sea Forest.  I also added some Almond Butter, Milk Chocolate and Expresso inks for the centre.  I used the simple colouring stencil to add the Pastel Sunrise as a base layer.   I decided I want a frame so I cut a simple frame with some layering rectangle dies.  I trimmed the bits where the frame would have covered the flower.  I added a sentiment from "Our Friendship Blooms" and added some black gems.  I layered the panel onto a black layer and onto a leather textured base. 

I'm adding this to The Flower Challenge - CAS

and my second card is a slimline one

 My main floral is from "Our Friendship Blooms" and I used a total of 12 different inks  from Altenew to stamp my layers. I used the co-ordindating die to cut out the floral.  When I added the Coral Berry to the lily, I forgot to condition the stamp and I ended with a little spot that didn't get coloured, so I fixed it by adding some white gel pen dots and was really pleased with the outcome.  I die cut a panel from white card with a Sunny Studio die and used a Tim Holtz Burlap with some Hazelnut ink.  I then lightly blended Vanilla Cream over the whole panel before adding a black layer behind it. The sentiment is from the same stamp set.  To make my vase I took the tall vase from "Mod Vases" and stamped in onto the back of some patterned paper and fussy cut it out.  I added some white gel pen around the edge.  I stuck this to the base card and then after trimming off the stems, added dimensional tape to the back of the floral.  I added 4 layers of card behind the panel to give it some extra dimension onto a white base. 

I really enjoy playing with my Altenew florals....and loved today's cards.   I'm much better today, but still not 100%, however it's off to work again tomorrow.  With annual leave and sick leave I have been off for 2 1/2 weeks.  It's going to be a long day! 

WWC 313: Tristan's Challenge - All Things Masculine

Hello there, it’s time for another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  Tristan is our hostess this week with All Things Masculine challenge.

My card today is a Birthday card.  

This is a mini slim line - just a little bit smaller.  Mini's are usually 3 1/2" x 6 1/2" - but I accidently cut this one to 3 1/2" x 6" -  Just perfect to showcase this cute Tim Holtz Blueprint stamp.  It was part of Simon Says Stamp Stamptember - way back in 2015 and believe it or not... this is the first time this one has been inked up!  I stamped it directly on the case base and used Copic markers to colour it.  The sentiment is from another Tim Holtz set.   A truly CAS card. 

Rainbow flowers.

 I struggled with this month's challenge at my NZ Swap group - Rainbows.   I finally came up with a very CAS idea. 

I used a Stampin' Up punch to cut a rainbow of flowers.  I do have a match stamp somewhere in my stash - but I couldn't find it.  Need to do a tidy up for sure!.  I decided to add the pearl centres for some texture.   I used a Kaisercarft sentiment which I really like. 

Thanks for stopping by - the weekend is starting for me and I'm hoping to get some  time in the craft room.  Hope you all have a great weekend 

WWC 306- Michelle's Challenge: All About Occasions

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

Today I am sharing a Birthday card I made.  

This is a very CAS card.  I used Gina K Master Layouts to cut my panel and the layer.  It's a dark grey layer.  I had stamped the Altenew "A Gift for You" set to have a practise at using grey Copics to colour.  As it turned out okay, I cut out the panel.  I added a sentiment from another Altenew set (Happy Bloom) and a few pearls to finish the card. 

Come and join in the fun at  Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and check out the projects 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.

Take care out there people.

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Clean and Simple.

Hi there people.  Welcome to my post for the latest Sweet Stampin' Challenge.   Our theme this week is CAS (Clean and Simple)

My card is a Christmas one

This is  digital image from Whimsy Stamps called Penguin Elf  I stamped it onto some white card and coloured with Copics and Prismacolour pencils.    I added a sentiment that I have in my stash (not sure who it is made by) I added some embossed edging to add texture. 

I am entering this into the Christmas Kickstart challenge - theme: "Hatty Christmas" 

Do come and join us at Sweet Stampin' Challenge with your CAS project. 

Perfectly CAS - Birthday

Hi I'm back to enter the Perfectly CAS challenge - this time the theme is "Birthday"

This CAS challenge asks you to only use a third or less on your card.   I was lucky enough to be chosen as one of the Top Picks for the first challenge.. so had to join in again.

Once again I chose to do the bottom third of my card for my focal point.  I used a stamp set that was a freebie with a magazine. (note to self:  write the magazine it came from on the back of the stamp set!) I decided to leave it black and white and only add the pop of colour with the bright pink Happy Birthday die from Elizabeth Craft Designs.   Really happy how it turned out.  I added a scored line all around but not other embellishments.

I am also enter this into the Addicted to CAS - code word "Birthday" 

Thanks for stopping by today.  Hope the weekend was fun for you.  I did get a bit of stamping in and on Sunday did a 6 garden, Garden Ramble in Coatesville (about a 25 min drive from our place in the countryside)  It did rain a bit, but we saw some beautiful gardens from a sweet "Bumpkin" garden to "Mincher" a very elegant and large, well know garden.  Had a great time.  And got to see our little princess on the way home.  She was 6 months old yesterday

This is so typically "her" - full of smiles.  The last 6 months have simply flown by.

Perfectly CAS - Flowers

I came across a new challenge via my friend Angie... she a designer team member on Perfectly CAS challenge.  Their first challenge is Flowers....

The rules are to use only one third or less on you card.  I like CAS but even I struggled with keeping my focal point to one third or less but here's what I came up with

I decided to stick to the bottom third of my card.  I used a layering flower from a Freebie set.  I did a bit of masking and layering.  I stamped the sentiment over the flower.  I struggled to keep it simple so added the little embossed lines around the edge.  Hope that counts for the rules.

Do come and support this challenge.  

Cards for Boys...

I have two boy cards to share today.

First up is a card I made for my grandson, Archie.  I like to send him cards every now and then.  This one was inspired by one of the cards in the May Making Cards magazine.  There were papers and images that came with the magazine.

I used the papers and images to layer on the card and the front.  I generated the sentiment on the computer.

My second card was a commissioned card for a 2 year old who loves diggers.

I found the image on the internet and printed it twice... I fussy cut the second image and added it with pop dots over the main image.  I added some glossy accents to parts of the digger.  Loved how I kept it CAS. 

Thanks for stopping by today.  I appreciated everyone's visits.

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.

CAS(E) this Sketch # 253 and Altenew Inspiration Jan 2018

I have finally set up my new ScanNCut machine... and am starting to play.

Today I saw a sketch over at CAS(E) this Sketch that looked so nice and easy to do.

 

Just love the simplicity of the sketch.  Right up my alley for sure.   I decided I wanted to do a sort of wallpaper look to the top portion.   So out came some Altenew flowers (Amazing You set) and some masking tape.... 

I also stamped one flower and two leaves onto some card and coloured in with Prismacolor pencils.  My new machine got a try out, cutting them out.  Made the border a tad too large, but that was okay.  All in all - awesome! I popped the cut out flower and leaves on some mounting tape.   I really like how this turned out. 

The colours are taken from the Altenew Inspiration for Jan 2018

 

As this is an encouragement card I am also adding it to the challenge at CASology - cue word Encouragement 

 

And also the "Something New" Challenge at Simon Says Stamp.  - using my new ScanNCut is my something new!

 Off to try some more stamping, colouring and cutting...

Thanks for stopping by

Nordic Christmas....

Hi.  I've been MIA for nearly a week.... all because I've got a bad bout of bronchitis.  Been coughing and feeling lethargic since Thursday last week.   Over the weekend, I went to the Chocolate and Coffee show (Son's partner Erin, was exhibiting her little biscuit,  XoBites) and other than that, didn't feel like doing much.  Wasn't sleeping well with waking every hour or so with coughing.  So took myself off to the doctors on Monday to find I had a really bad bronchitis and needed to stay home for 3 days!  Great I thought, lots of crafting.... but oh no, simply have had the energy till late yesterday and even today, I haven't been that enthused - so know I AM sick!  

I did manage to make a little set of 4 cards I've called my Nordic Christmas collection.  I took some Nordic patterned paper fro Sugar and Spice Studio and made a simple set of cards.

 

The PP takes centre stage with sentiment stamps from Altenew's Lyrical Script set.  The snow flakes are from a Hero Arts set. 

Just what I needed.... simple but effective.  And the Christmas stash grows quickly with these CAS cards.

I'm off for a quiet walk, hoping to help clear the lungs.    Take care

Sending Hugs and kisses

A very CAS card today that was inspired by a FB live by Lydia Evans for Altenew.  It was a couple of weeks ago when Altenew had their summer sale on.  One of the cards Lydia made used the Watercolor Frames set and I just had to order it.  I was so inspired to CASE her card.  Well today the stamp arrived.  Added to that, I had ordered the yellow inks and they had arrived earlier this week.   I got some time this afternoon to play with them.

The watercolour frames where stamped in Limestone and Silverstone Grey inks.  The sentiment from Wishing You set was stamped in Pure Graphite.    I used Painted Flowers to make my roses.  I used the new yellows - Fresh Lemon and Honey Drizzle.   I used some of the Tropical Forest Green inks for the leaves.  The background leaves are from the Beautiful Day set.   I wasn't sure if I needed something more on the card, but love the simplicity of the card.

My poor hubby has had the 'flu this week.   He didn't have a cough or a runny nose but had the hot and cold shivers and feeling lethargic and headachy.   He really did get a bad bout.  Finally feeling a bit better.  Just hope he hasn't passed it on to me!

Thanks for stopping by.  Enjoy your weekend and hope you get to be crafty

CAS Pink and Yellow

Over the past couple of days I have made a couple of cards for CAS challenges.

The first card was for Addicted to CAS - Pink.  

It is a Stampin' Up set called Beautiful You.  I used some Stampin' Up kraft card

And I did a Yellow version

This one has been entered into the CASology Challenge - Cue word WARM.   The lovely yellow colour spells Summer to me - warm weather and sunshine.
EDITED:  was lucky enough to be an Honorable Mention for this yellow card

My intention is to make a few more in different colours to make a set to give to a friend.  I love the Prismacolor pencils on kraft card... it really pops.

Thanks for stopping by.