Woodblock Wednesday - January 2026

 I started this card yesterday but had to wait for the Glossy Accents to dry. 

I have used two Hero Arts woodblock stamps (retired) from 2009 and 2010 - Raindrop Background and Dogwood.   I have quite a few Hero Arts woodblock stamps as when I first started stamping they were my go to company.  Woodblock stamps were what you mostly purchased.

I started by stamping the Raindrop background in Catherine Pooler Eucalyptus ink and then stamped the Dogwood in a combination of the Eucalyptus and Green Tea.  I used Prismacolor pencils to add colour.  Then stamped in with CP Sweet Sixteen ink and again used some pencils before fussy cutting and piecing over the green flowers,   Added the sentiment from an Altenew stamp set (Silk Art) stamped in the Green Tea and fussy cut.  The glossy accents is on the green centres.  

It is always such fun to remember to pull out these stamps 

World Card Making Day/weekend.. Part 1

 Hi there.   I get to have a whole weekend of WCMD action as it's Saturday here. (7.40pm as I write this.) I also like taking part in some of the challenge that are on Saturday US time.... so Sunday for me.   Luckily the spring weather is VERY WET here in Auckland so I got to spend a bit of time in the craft room this afternoon after a quick but wet trip to the Mall for some new jeans.  

I had a friend ring me yesterday to ask if I had any Sympathy cards on hand - as she needed one.  Looked and only had one... so after work yesterday I made one and this afternoon did two more. 

Here's Friday's card 

I was inspired by a card I saw on Pinterest.  It used leaves for it's focal image.   I decided to use an unusual colour - because I had the maroon coloured card sitting on my desk.   I found a colour of ink that worked with it - Catherine Pooler's Peppermint Scrub ink.  I found some leaves in an Altenew Wallpaper Art that would work for what I wanted.  I die cut the panel with a Gina K Master Layouts before stamping.  I also took a very old wooden stamp from a local NZ company - Rubbadubbadoo that was an Old Script stamp.  I masked a little off each side and stamped it in second generation stamping as a subtle background.   The sentiment is from Hero Arts - With Sympathy set (from 2011) .  Matted with the maroon card.  For added texture I embossed the bigger panel with Gina K Tapestry folder before layering that onto a maroon panel.  

Next up are the two cards I did this afternoon

This one was inspired by a number of cards I have seen using torn edge masking and ink blending.  I chose to use Distress inks - Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade and Ripe Persimmon.   I used a variety of silhouette stamps from Hero Arts - With Sympathy and Catherine Pooler - Wild Garden to add the flowers.   The sentiment is from Winnie & Walter - A Tree for All Seasons.   A few little yellow gems finished this one.

A very simple card to finish.  I have an embossing folder which embosses the sentiment only.   I then used a Hero Arts cling stamp (from 2010) called Garden Bouquet.   I stamped it twice and then clear embossed it.  Trimmed it down and added to a white card base.  

I also had a bit of a play with making bubble backgrounds.  It was my turn to choose the challenge for my local NZ swap group and I chose Bubble backgrounds.   You add water and liquid soap with a colour medium and blow bubbles and pounce your paper onto the bubbles.   One of the video tutorial I saw used instant coffee granules - so I had a try 

The brown used the coffee and the blue was Distress Paint.  Such cool backgrounds.   

Thanks for stopping by today.  Hope you get to spend some time crafting over the weekend. 

A Green Christmas and a Rainbow card

 Over the weekend, I managed to get a few cards done.  My NZ swap group this month is Rainbow  -  I've been in a bit of a slump lately... so did a bit of Pinterest viewing to get some ideas.   I ended up making two cards.... here's the one that didn't get sent to Carol -

I used a rainbow of stripes to make the background behind the die cut from Altenew.  I die cut the Hello circle from white card and then run it through an embossing folder.  Added the small sentiment from an Altenew set.   I'll share the card I did send once it's been received 

My next two cards are for the Christmas Kickstart challenge. 

I used an embossing folder and some ink to make two similar cards.

I took Catherine Pooler's Grass Skirt ink and using a brayer added it the embossing folder.  This came out fabulously.  I had cut out the square from Gina K Master Layouts 3 prior to the embossing.  I added the Christmas Bells - left over from Christmas last year.... I had cut a number of these.  I used Copic markers to colour up the bell. 

My other card used Altenew's Green Feilds ink.  I didn't get such a good embossing from it but still liked the results. 

To this one I added a little gnome - also from a few I had pre-stamped and cut out.   A few more cards for my Christmas stash. 

I had a lovely visit from Grace yesterday....

She is growing so quickly.   She'll be two in around 2 months time.  I really don't know where the time has gone.  

Hope you all have a great weekend. 

WWC 295 Karen's All About Occasions Challenge

 Hi there.  It's time for the new challenge at Watercooler Wednesday and Karen is our hostess with an All About Occasions challenge.

My card today started as a card for an Embossing challenge... but I didn't read the theme correctly - It was use Metallic with a Geometric embossing folder. - I didn't use a Geometric folder but used a floral folder.  

I made my metallic centre by making the edges and using Catherine Pooler Sauna ink and gold Perfect Pearls. I then used a an Altenew 3D Embossing folder Beautiful Bergenia.  I matted the panel onto a piece of gold paper and then added to a white card base.   Added a Catherine Pooler die cut Hello and finished with a sentiment from an Altenew set. 

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.

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

Celebrate at Perfectly CAS challenge

I  saw the latest challenge was underway and knew I had to have a play.  CAS is my favourite style but using a third or less is still quite challenging

I used two little candles from a Catherine Pooler stamp set together with CP Design inks.  I stamped in a bit of a rainbow colour scheme.  The sentiment is from the same stamp set.  I messed up one little bit so I had to trim the panel down and add to a base. 

Thanks for visiting.  Hope your festive season is going well.  I'm getting organised.  Hubby won a ham in a raffle on Friday so I got it glazed yesterday and also had a little visit from our princess

She is crawling everywhere now and doesn't stop!  Can't wait for Christmas Day

WWC215 -Donna's Feminine "Anything Goes" Challenge.

Back again for another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  Donna is our hostess this week with an "anything goes " feminine challenge.

My card today was inspired by my friend Greta.   She made a stunning card - adapting a technique from a My Favourite Things video.  I took it up another level with my card.

I started by stamping and embossing the Darling Lily stamp (Altenew).  Next I used Rustic Linen (Altenew) and added Catherine Pooler inks in All that Jazz, Lime Rickey, Sauna, Tiki Torch and Rockin' Red.  Once I stamped, it look a bit sparse so I added the extra step and used my blending brush to add the same colours onto my card.  I used a die to trim the panel, but it was a shade short, so added a stripe of washi to some white card and trimmed it to fit at the bottom of the card.  I die cut a "hello" (Catherine Pooler Designs) and added it to the top of the card.  The little you sentiment is part of a stamp in Altenew's Sweetest Peas set.  I masked off the Thank part and stamped just the You.   Happy with my very colourful results.

Come join in the fun.  Check out the projects that the artists at Watercooler Wednesday Challenges have created then take the challenge and link your creation to the challenge post. We’d love to have you join us.  You have until Mondays at 5 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (Tuesdays at 1pm NZ time) to link up your project.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

Febraury CCC reveal

I missed a few months of taking part in the CCC swaps.. but joined in for February.  And got to send a card to my good friend Arlene. 

I chose to use the sketch

 

Here is my card

I started with a background piece that was in my "stuff" box.  I had made it by dropping alcohol inks onto a water bath and dunking my card.  It dried very soft and pretty. For my stripes and dots I used a Winnie and Walter Scenery Stripes stamped with Catherine Pooler's Juniper Mist ink.  I had some of the Altenew Hennah Element flowers stamped out and just had to do a few more.  I used a mixture of Altenew Markers and Copic Markers to colour the flowers and leaves.  The sentiment is from Altenew's Engraved Flowers set.

Thanks for checking in today. 

Yellow Rose

Hi

It's my turn to share a card for our challenge at Die Cut Divas...

I used Big Rose from our sponsor

I printed my image onto my card and then used some Frisker gum to mask the rose.  I then used some Catherine Pooler Sauna ink to sponge through a die cut circle window.    Once it was all dried, I removed the masking gum and added some touches of yellow pencils around the rose.  I added a Hero Arts sentiment.  Added some sequins with a touch of 3D drops.

Peachy Keen - Swap cards

During May I took part in two swaps - one being the Sursee Swap over StampNation and one being the Card Chain Challenge..  The theme for the Sursee Swap was Peachy....

I used a letterpress technique with an embossing folder and some Catherine Pooler Bellini ink.  Added some die cut flowers and leaves.  The folder and the dies were a freebie with a magazine recently.  My card went to Michelle in Melbourne Australia.  The Sursee swap is where you send an encouragement card to your recipient.  You might not receive on in return this month, but sometime when you least expect it a beautiful encouraging card will arrive in your letterbox.

My CCC card went to Dee who lives in Kenya, but gets her CCC cards sent to her sister in England.   I used the same technique and ink colours

 I used the sketch from the CCC challenge for May.  I stamped the flowers from Altenew, used a stitched oval die and a Winnie & Walter digital SVG cut with my ScanNCut.

This weekend is a long weekend here in NZ... to celebrate the Queen's Birthday.  And with being off sick last week, I had done the housework and hubby was helping our friend with his renovations on Sat and today.... I got lots of time in my craft space.... lots of cards to share over the next few days.  And a little drama this morning when we had a couple of hours heavy rain that caused some flooding in our backyard, some leaks upstairs in our big windows - water pouring through the seals - but once the rain eased, all went back to normal... luckily I got buckets in place quickly to catch the drips.


Here's a peek at some colouring I did today

One card made with one of these cuties.  My ScanNCut had a bit of a work out.

Hope you all are having a fun fulled weekend and maybe taking part in Kathy Racoosin's 30 Day colouring challenge.

Beautiful Day roses and some colouring.

I finally managed to get some crafty time on Friday evening and today.    Yesterday I watched a video on FB by Sharon White.  She had used  Oxide inks on her background, added a few other stamps then added the Beautiful Day stamp from Altenew.   I don't have many Oxides - in fact only 4 colours, but decided to give it a go.  When I went to stamp the roses, I wanted a really vibrant ink so as to stand out from the multi coloured and stamped background... so my handy dandy Catherine Pooler inks came to the fore....

I used all four of my oxides on the background... smooshing them directly to the card and spritzing the life out of the card..  As it's not watercolour paper I was surprise how well it stood up to that.   Dried it then used the oxide to stamp a crackle stamp, a line of music and a harlequin background stamp all over.   Dried that and added the rose outline in Versafine and then added the 2nd and 3rd layers in the CP inks....same with the leaves. These inks are so vibrant and saturated in colour.    Added a sentiment from another Altenew set - double layered in white card.   My base card looks black but is in fact a very dark grey.    I was very happy with the results.   I also did some Altenew stamping inspired by Yana Smakula - did background stamping on a 15cm x 21cm piece of card and cut into two panels.... still have to finish off so will share once I decide how to complete them..

I'm adding this card to the Floral Frenzy over at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge 

Today I was home alone as my Dad and hubby were off helping a friend put in some windows.  So what's a girl to do when she home alone and the weather isn't great..... colour of course.  I should have been doing some more of my Altenew homework and a couple of DT cards that need doing, but decided to take part in Kit and Clowder's Confidence challenge.... Alyce challenged us to make a start of a class... I saw a super cute La La Land Marcie Cupcake free class and went and purchased the digi image and made a start..... of course once I started I had to finish... so a couple of hours later I did!  And made it into a card

The class video showed Alyce colouring this in Copic markers.  I didn't have the colours in my Copics so used the Prismacolors conversion that was provided with the class and coloured away.  I'm so happy with the result I achieved.  I added the grounding which wasn't shown in the class and added a little sentiment from Altenew.    Now I must finish off February's flowers and make a start of March's seaside scene.   And of course do the card I NEED to do for my teams!

Hope you all have a great weekend and get your craft on too!

Magical Dragon - MFT Sketch challenge

I can finally enter the MFT sketch challenge as I now have two sets of MFT stamps.  I have a few of the older dies but finally got some stamps.  I stamped and coloured a few of the dragons from the Magical Dragon set and cut them with my ScanNCut.  This weeks sketch looked such fun I had to use one of them

 

 I started by embossing my panel with a folder and used a Tim Holtz diffuser so I kept the centre circle free of the embossing.  Next I sponged on some green ink (Catherine Pooler Grass Skirt)  I die cut some green PP with two circle dies (one Spellbinders and one Simon Says Stamp)  I added some splatters of Gold Spectrum Noir glitter pen  for some added texture.  My little dragon is sitting on the sentiment strip.   Finished with some green sequins from Pretty Pink Posh. 

 I'm off for a mini break over the next 5 days.... I'm off work till Wednesday 31st, then again from after work Friday next week till Wednesday 7th.  There is a public holiday on Monday  29th so I've taken a days leave each side and then there is another public holiday on Tues 6th so I've taken the Monday on leave.... I like these mini breaks.  And then on Friday 23rd Feb, it's another day off for a Mystery Weekend away.   We have to be at the airport at 2.00 and only then will be find out where we are going in NZ.  Two nights away - flights, accommodation and car hire inclusive.  It was a gift from a company my husband has had dealing with over the years, as a farewell when he finished working.   A really nice treat that I'm looking forward to.  

Hope you all have a great crafty weekend.  Hoping to get some more colouring done while I'm at the beach.    Thanks for stopping by

Rainbow cards....

I've been taking part in the OCC Rainbow marker class - or at least watching the videos.  I did manage to get one card done for my homework.  As part of the Altenew sale, I purchased the Simple Flowers stamps and dies and had an idea to stamp the flowers in different rainbow colours.  I decided to use Catherine Pooler inks as they are so vibrant and will make the flowers pop.  

And I was super pleased with the result.  I added lots of Spectrum Noir glitter pen on the flowers to give it a shimmery shine.  

And here's a bit of a sneak peek of the latest Challenge at StampNation... it's all about using your border stamps and I did a rainbow card

Full reveal is over at StampNation.  Do come and join.  It is well worth it. 

Thanks for stopping by.

Weekend stamping and a Christmas Tag

Hi all.  Hope you have all had a great weekend.  I did some stamping... a few cards for my design teams and some just for fun. 

Sunday morning I took part in Hero Arts Flickr group 90 mins scramble.  I really had a struggle.  The challenge was to use a frame on your card.   I decided I'd use some oxide inks for a background, smooshing on a stamping block ... but oh my goodness....what a mess!  After several goes, I gave that a miss.... and then decided to use an older HA stamp called Flower Box.  Started by stamping and colouring and then added my sentiment with Versafine Onyx black.   But I forgot that this ink takes time to dry - so don't go and trim it up too soon....

ARRRG... by this time it I flagged it and came back half an hour later and started again!

Still not 100% happy but it got finished.

My next project was a tag to enter into the current Christmas challenge at StampNation. 

I used a tag die cut with a Catherine Pooler SOA die, and used a Sunny Studio stamp set.  The branches were stamped with Altenew Evergreen ink.  The bells are stamped with Catherine Pooler inks in Garden Party, Lime Rickey and Grass Skirt   They really look shiny

I did some testing of different inks for the bells

I'll be sure to be trying out some different colour schemes for my Christmas cards this year.

Summer Time over at StampNation

Yes it's time for my first card as part of the StampNation Challenge design team.   And our challenge is Summer....

Are you a member of StampNation?   If not, please check it out... it's a great place to hang out and craft with friends all over the world.   

Thanks for stopping by.

White on White...... and a few bright colours

Sharing today some of my weekend cards..... first up is the card I made for the Altenew monthly challenge

 The theme is White on White focus point.  

I used an embossing folder and an Inside Out Diffuser to make my background.   I then used Altenew inks in the Warm Gray shades - Morning Frost, Moon Rock and Evening Gray to stamp the flowers and leaves (from a Freebie called Christmas Rose) and the sentiment in the Lava Rock.   I added some extra dots in a gray Metallic gel pen.  

And now for a couple of more colourful cards.

This is using Catherine Pooler inks and stamps.  The banners are from one of latest stamp sets from the Naturally Inspired box paired with a sentiment from an earlier SOA box.   

and here are two I made using Gelatos.  There is a Masterclass over at StampNation -Creative Mediums for Card Making- by Faber Castel.  The first video was about using Gelatos.  I have had mine since 2012 - but don't use them nearly enough.   

For the first one I used watercolour card and spread a variety of Gelato colours.  I blended with a damp baby wipe.  Once I laid the stencil over it, I used the baby wipe to remove some of the Gelatos, leaving the bold colours beneath.   I used the feather from the SOA box with three CP inks (thanks to MISTI for doing my blending) and fussy cut.  I also added a die cut BEST cut from some more Gelatos on watercolour paper.  To make it stand out, I off set it against a black die cut. 

And the second one, used the left over Gelatos on the stencil, which was spritzed and laid onto the watercolour card.   This gives a much more subtle background.   I added a flourish down one side and after colouring some yellow and orange Gelatos onto card and punched some butterflies.   The sentiment is from Kaisercraft.  

I also managed a couple more cards for some upcoming design work so all in all... a very creative weekend. 

Thanks for stopping by and visiting me.

Stamp of Approval Box has arrived.....

I decided to give myself a birthday present and purchased the latest Stamp of Approval box.   And it arrived Friday.  I had ordered on for my friend as well but when she arrived to pick it up -  2 dies weren't in the box ... however the support team advised me that they will get them in the post Monday...

Anyway I got a couple of cards done over the weekend...

there is a bit of a story about this first one.  It started life as single layer card.... made for a challenge at StampNation - black, white and a colour.  The blue is the new All That Jazz colour in the box.  Such a pretty teal colour.   I had done my masking and stamped the wild flowers - first and second generation stamping and then stamped the script along the bottom... I didn't check the orientation of the stamping and realised it was upside down.   I had put too much effort into it so a change of design...and a layered card.  I cut off the bottom piece and put it up the correct way and layered onto some black card.   

My second card is a bit more graphic

I used a small stamp from the Medallions set and stamped it in various colours of Catherine Pooler Inks.  I then die cut the Spirograph die from spotty vellum, embossed the wishes and added a die cut best.   Very simple but effective. 

I did another one late this afternoon, but still have to photograph.    The box is AMAZING with so much in it... 3 4x6 stamp sets, 1 bigger one, three dies, a glitter embossing powder and an ink pad...  so many different ideas. 

Hope you all had a great weekend.  I celebrated  my birthday with a family dinner out at a very up market restaurant.  Sails is very nice.... Hubby had organised a cake and we took some photos of us before we left for dinner.

thanks for visiting today