Interactive birthday card with pop up surprise

 Last Friday was my son-in-law’s 40^th birthday, so I made him an interactive card inspired by a class from Therese Calvid at the Card Maker Success Summit. Therese used a Spellbinders car, but I used what I had: a Couture Creations Holden Commodore Ute.

I die-cut and assembled the car, then ink-blended a sunny background using a circle mask (and the negative mask for the glow), finishing with a few clouds and birds. The fun part is the folding mechanism—when the card slides out of the envelope, the car pops up from the base.

It arrived right on his birthday (thanks, NZ and Aussie Post!), and my daughter said Andrew was delighted—especially that I’d actually written a message inside. It’s a running family joke after the year I sent him a completely blank card.

Thanks for stopping by.  

New Baby cards

 One of my friends recently became a Grammy for the first time.   So I thought I'd make her a card and one for her son and daughter-in-law.

First up the card I made for Pearl, my friend

I die cut the Vintage Stroller from Couture Creations from dark blue and light blue card and added some silver sequins and dot.  I did some google searching and found the sentiments.  Printed them and added to them to the soft blue background.  Loved how it turned out. 

And for Jared and Sophie, the new parents

Such a sweet image.  This is a digital image from Mo's Digital Pencil called "Hush"  I printed the image and then die cut with a Spellbinders Oval.  I used some watercolour pencils to colour it.  Little Teddy has lots of lovely dark hair so did that.  I used my computer to print the sentiment. The font I used is Yessy.  Die cut a Bow with a Poppy Stamps die.   I must admit I love this digital image and have used it a lot over the years for new baby cards.    

Poppy Stamps Die at Die Cut Divas

Can you believe it's the last day of June... over 6 months of the year done!   

As it's the last day of the month, it's time to share my card at Die Cut Divas. 

Our sponsor

for the month is Poppy Stamps

and our challenge is a colour board. 

I've used an older die called Adriana Square Frame.  

I die cut the frame from white card and used three Altenew inks - Pink Crystal, Mauve and Berrylicious to add colour.   I made a background panel by adding some Catherine Pooler Garden Party ink to a Gina K embossing folder (Tapestry).  I cut it to a square and added to a white base.   Added a stamped and die cut a Couture Creations sentiment.  

Come and join us - you have to 9.00pm US Pacific time to share your project.

Love is in the air... at Sweet Stampin' Challenge.

 I completely forgot that I was due to post my card for Sweet Stampin' Challenge.    So I had to run into the craft room about an hour or so ago.  I already had an idea in my mind, thinking it was next Saturday that I needed my card for.   I was child minding again yesterday - spending time crafting again!!  Stenciling was the order of the day.  Grace really loved doing this.  And made a beautiful card - which I forgot to take a photo of - she has a great eye for colours. 

Anyhoo.... here is the card I made.

I had been to Kmart this afternoon and picked up a pack of red and pink card bases.   I trimmed the front of a red one and used a Couture Creations embossing folder - Peacock Fans,   I die cut lots of hearts from a Lawn Fawn set called Candy Hearts.  I made a little envelope using my WRMK envelope board.  I added the hearts coming out of it.  Added a die cut bow and a little sentiment from a Gina K stamp and die set - Blooming Butterfly.   

Do come and join us at Sweet Stampin' Challenge 

Christmas inspired by Stress Free Cardmaking Summit

 It's been a busy weekend.  Had a lovely lunch with my friend, Yvonne, and all her family to celebrate her 70th on Saturday.  Got home around 4pm and hit the computer to watch some of the presentations from the Stress Free Cardmaking Summit.   OMG - what amazing presenters and their projects.... Quick, easy and stress free!  I started with Ardyth Percy-Robb and her stenciling ideas.   

This one was inspired by Ardyth's idea of masking off part of a stencil to use it differently.   I took a Tim Holtz stencil (Festive) and masked off one of the Holly Leaves.  I used Distress Oxide inks to add the colour and added some red Nuvo Drops.  To keep it CAS I just added a sentiment.  It's a Woodblock stamp from Paper Inspirations (circa 2005) called Favorite Things Calligraphy - stamped in Altenew Charcoal Suit grey ink.  To give the look of matting, I did a faux matting by masking off the edges and using a Copic marker. 

My next card utilised the ink left on the stencil - I sprayed with water and used it to "print" a panel.  I then took inspiration from Julia - used an embossing folder. 

Once I dried the background (you can just make out the stenciled pattern) I ran it through my machine with a Couture Creations folder (Joyful Wishes).   It's only a 2D folder so rather than inking up the folder, I swiped some Mowed Lawn Distress Oxide across it.  Was really happy with the results.  To finish I took a Couture Creations Ringing Bells stamp that I had cut with my Scan'n'Cut.  I used some Tri-blends to colour with a touch of silver pen.  I also added some Spectrum Noir Sparkle pen to it as well.   Mounted on a silver glitter circle. 

And my final card was inspired by Joy's alcohol ink backgrounds.   Must say I can't even remember when I last used my alcohol inks!  I used the matt side of some photo paper like Joy used, and used a half a large sheet to get two backgrounds.  

When with the green theme again... used three different green inks, lots of blending solution and added some gold foil. I trimmed it and added to a card base.  I used a Concord & 9th sentiment from Big on Christmas stamp and die set.   Black stamping and clear embossing on vellum before doing the die cut.  The snowflakes are from a magazine freebie set cut with white paper and added some Nuvo iridescent flat sequins. 

And I still have a panel of green ink to use 

Big thanks if you made it this far.  I appreciate your visit.   

 

Spring Daffodils at Die Cut Divas

Today I'm here to share a card for the Die Cut Divas challenge. 

This month's sponsor is SheepSki Designs. Our random winner from eligible August entries can chose 3 images from SheepSki!

For our August Challenge we're doing embossing - wet or dry; I chose to do dry.

I've used a delightful Spring image (Jo's Daffodils) for my card, with a dry embossed background 

Used some Momento Toffee Crunch to add colour to the Tim Holtz Alterations folder before running it through my machine.  Love the grungy look with the elegance of the focal image.   I printed and then used a variety of alcohol markers to add the colour.  Die cut with Spellbinders Nestibilites - Petite Ovals and Petite Scalloped Ovals.  The sentiment from Couture Creations was die cut and then stamped with Altenew Honey Drizzle ink.   

Thanks for stopping by. 

A little Blue Bird.

 Well I couldn't not make another card using the Memory Box Backyard Wren die today.  It has been a bit of a dismal day... woke to no power, so read for a bit, before heading to two suburbs north to have breakfast before doing our grocery shopping.  By the time we got home it was raining but the power was back on!  It kept raining on and off so headed to the craft room for the afternoon. 

And yeah, this time I made a blue bird.   My card was inspired by this beautiful card from Lin  

I loved the design Lin used, so I cased it.  I die cut an arch (Hero Arts Infinity Arches die) and used Gina K Tapestry embossing folder.   I still had my Distress Oxides out... The background panel was made with Speckled Egg spritzed with some Shimmer Spary - Frost.  In real life it is so shimmery. I stamped the Couture Creations sentiment directly to the panel. I die cut the bird and used Evergreen Bough, Salty Ocean to colour up the bird.  The beak and eye were done with Altenew Charcoal Suit grey ink.  I die cut Pinkfresh Studio Curvy leaves and blended Mowed Lawn Distress Oxide.  I used only part of the biggest die.  I used some Scrapbook.com 3D adhesive strips to add dimension to the frame and used some 3D dimensionals to pop up the bird.  Some little blue gems from my stash finished the card. 

I'm entering this into the Time Out Challenge and Just Us Girls collaboration challenge - Birds of a Feather.   

Hope there is some crafting in your weekend.   

 

Pink Star Flowers

 I was in my craft room today as I had a design team card to make.   Once it was done, I got to play with a new die set that arrived last week.   

The die set is Star Flowers from Birch Press.  I have paired it with some Orchard Leaves from Poppy Stamps.  I cut them all from white card and used Altenew inks blended onto them.  I add some lines to left hand side with my Scor-Buddy.  I added the flowers flowing down the page.  The sentiment is from Couture Creations - a stamp and die set.   A few Lucy Little Things - Ice Cube jewels finished the card.

I made this in mind for The Flower Challenge #84 - the theme is Use a Die

Later this year, Birch Press is sponsoring Die Cut Divas, so I'm sure that you will see the Star Flowers in actions again.  

And as I opened the die package today and it was it's first use, I'm adding to Darnell's NBUS Challenge. 

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you get some time to craft over the weekend.   It's the start of Daylight Savings overnight, so one hour less sleep or one hour less to craft!   But the weather is not going to be spring-like with heavy rain forecast.   Great to spend time crafting!

Festive Fancy Folds at Christmas Kickstart Challenge.

My second parcel has now arrived!  And other cold wintery day so what better to do than play with my stamps, inks, pencils, dies and having fun.    Hubby was helping a friend move this morning and I headed off to look for knitting patterns.  Well.... it's been years since I bought patterns and boy are they hard to find... mostly books of patterns at around the $30-35 range... so instead I look in the crafting section.  Picked up a new lightbox - was around $70 - down to $30 and only $18 at checkout!   Has three different light tones and up to 10 different strengths.   

Anyhoo.. decided that I wanted to try out the Bridge card design that Jennifer McGuire did a couple of weeks ago.   And as the challenge at Christmas Kickstart Challenge this month is Festive Fancy Folds...thought I make a Christmas card. 

I used my new Altenew Dotty Circles 3D embossing folder and some blue and white card to make the panels to add to the card.   I decided on using a die cut panel for the bridge.  This is the largest of the Spellbinder Labels Four set.  I keep the panel in the die and used whatever blue was on my Altenew blending brush to add some colour.  Love how this gives a little white border.   I had the stamped Couture Creations Ringing Bells and the Spellbinder's Yana's Christmas Sentiments (hot foiled in red) in my baggie of Christmas bits and bobs.... so a quick colouring with Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol and it was done!  

You can see the dimension here....

I also got to use one the new stamps from the latest parcel for my swap card....Here's a sneak peek

Once my partner gets it... I'll share.

Been a good day!

Boho Vases

When I got home from work this afternoon, I took some time to play with some of my new stuff... a die set from Altenew and a sentiment stamp and die set by Couture Creations.  I had been wanting the Boho Vases for some time, but they have been out of stock at Altenew for a while so when I saw it at Scrapbook.com I had to get it. 

For it's first outing I die cut all three vases from kraft cart and used some Altenew Almond Butter ink to add a bit of colour around the edges and over the embossed bits.  I added some glitter card in silver, bronze and gold behind the vases.  Really pleased how that turned out.   The leaves were cut from some paint chips.  I masked off the bottom of the card panel and using some green ink left on my blending brush (Hunter Green ink) and a Stampmatt stencil added the green.  I softly inked the background as well.  Two of the vases were glued directly to the panel and the middle one and leaves was added with dimensional tape.  I stamped the sentiment in Versafine black ink and clear embossed it.  This cute set has matching dies, but I decided to stamp directly onto the card.

I'm adding this to the NBUS challenge as both the dies and the stamp were used for the first time.  Thanks Darnell for this fabulous challenge.  

Thanks for stopping by.  

Optical Illusion background

 I was inspired by Natasha Foote's optical illusion background in her video the other day -  (see it Here) and decided I needed to try it out.   

My first sheet... I did my drawing a little small - ended up only doing part of a panel and die cut it out

I did change it a bit by colouring in some of the spaces rather then add more lines.  I die cut out a circle.  I used a Couture Creations scalloped die to layer behind my circle.   Added some sticker flowers around the edge.   I added a love die cut word.  It was an unbranded die I got for $2.99.  I cut it once from black card and one out of some foiled card.  I cut the heart part out and layered it over the black.   Added a little part of a pre-printed sentiment. 

For my second card I did my drawing larger and used a purple gel pen.  

I did some partial die cutting to make my panel a little narrower and matted with some black.  It looked a bit stark on the white card so added some texture with an Altenew 3D folder.  Added the panel and an ephemera butterfly. The sentiment is one from LDRS - It's one stamp with lots of sentiments that you then die cut.  

I'm entering this into the Wednesday challenge at Simon Says Stamp - anything goes...

Had lots of fun doing this technique. Nice to try something new.  

Jingle Bells

 A quick Christmas card I made for using some pre-stamped images I had sitting on my desk. 

I made a similar card a couple of years ago and at the time stamped the bells a few extra times and had the vintage music printed out.  So it was an easy colouring using Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol.  I added the music print onto some dark blue card, and added the bells in the corner.  I had the hotfoil sentiment in my baggie of pre foiled and die cuts.  They are a Spellbinders sentiment.  To make it stand out a bit more, I layered it onto some blue card.  

I took my Christmas cards up north with me and my friend chose a number so she could send to her family and in-laws who live overseas, so I need to stock up again.    Postage being as it is, I will need to get my own ones posted off by the end of this week.  

WWC 324 Kath's Challenge: All About Occasions

 Hi there.  It's time for another challenge at Watercooler Wednesday Challenge. Our hostess is Kath with an All About Occasions Challenge.

Last Sunday was Father's Day here in New Zealand and this is the card I send to my Dad. 

I was struggling for ideas for Dad's card.  I  did some Pinterest searching and was inspired by several different cards to come up with the final result.  I took some heavy weight kraft paper and ran it through my machine with an Altnew 3D folder (Organic Linen)  I then took another piece and using a Striped folder inked up with Catherine Pooler Juniper Mist inks to give a letterpress look.  My focal image is a little stamp from Couture Creations called Whiskey.  I coloured it with some Prismacolour pencils and die cut it with a circle die from Simon Says Stamp.   I used a Kaisercraft stamp (Occasions) to white emboss the sentiment.  I die cut with a flag banner die from Gina K.    Three small black gems finished off the card.  

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 20th Sept at 5 pm Mountain Standard Time (Tuesday at 11.00am  NZ time ) to link up your project.

 

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. 

Christmas in July at Die Cut Divas

Hi there.  It's time for me to share my card for Die Cut Divas - our theme for month is Christmas in July.   We have an awesome sponsor this month -

Cheapo Dies has increased their inventory with the addition of well known die brands like Elizabeth Craft Designs, Memory Box, Sizzix, Hero Arts, PoppyStamps, Lawn Fawn and a whole lot more. Be sure to check Cheapo Dies out here.

Cheapo Dies offers a $15 gift certificate as the prize for our winner of the July challenge,

so get started on the Christmas cards!

Today I have a CAS card.  

I embossed the background with a Couture Creations folder.  My poinsettia is by Spellbinders.  I die cut the three inside petals in red card and used the rubber mat to emboss.  I cut the largest layer in green card to simulate the leaves.  I added a little pearl embellishment to the centre.  

Do come and join the challenge this month.  And don't forget to check out all the goodies at  Cheapo Dies here. 

Care to Tag Along?

The new challenge is up at Christmas Kickstart Challenge and I need to get a start on my Christmas cards and tags!  This month the challenge is "Care to Tag Along" - yes make a tag...

It's a cold wet wintery afternoon and after finishing work a bit earlier, I hit the craft room for a bit. 

I had fun with this one.  My tag is from a Catherine Pooler set.  I took a Tim Holtz Stencil - Holly Branches- and using an Altenew dark green ink, used my blending brushes to stencil it.  Added some dark crimson marker to the berries.  I had some of the Couture Creations Christmas Bells stamped and cut out so used some Alcohol Markers to colour it up.  Added with some 3D tape to the bell.  I stamped the sentiment which was on a freebie set in my stash.  I finished with some seam binding ribbon.

Thanks Jo for the kickstart I need!

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.

Hero Arts Flowers

It's the last day of February so it's the final day for the challenge at Die Cut Divas.   Our theme is month has been Hearts and/or Flowers.  And our wonderful sponsor is 

I have a lot of older Hero Arts stamps and dies and for today I am using a Color Layering Hibiscus set.

I used both the bigger and smaller Hibiscus flowers and both the bigger and smaller leaves.  I used Altenew inks as they come in sets of matching colours.  For the flowers I used Coral Bliss, Heartbeat and Vineyard Berry with Andromeda for the stamen.  The leaves are a mixture of Firefly and Green Fields.  I took a piece of teal textured card and a Hibiscus Embossing Folder to make the background.  Added a piece of green and a stripe of yellow across the card.   I added the flowers with some dimensionals and the leaves were glue straight onto the base.  I die cut the Couture Creations Hello Friend from dark blue card.  

You have till 9.00pm Pacific Time to join us with your Flowers/Hearts.

Use a die as a stencil... Die Cut Divas

Hi all

It's the last day of the month so the current challenge at Die Cut Divas is finishing today.

Kat Scrappiness is our sponsor this month at Die Cut Divas.

This month's Challenge is NEW THINGS

(new stamps, dies, stencils, embossing powders or folders, papers, digital images)

 

Today I am using a die cut as a stencil.... I was colouring up a white Mandala die cut to use of my earlier Die Cut Divas sample card HERE - so decided to use a sheet of white card behind the die cut and hey presto it was like using the die cut as a stencil.  

I used a Couture Creations die "Anastasia"  To make it really pop I layered onto some black card and then onto the white square card base.  The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp "Tiny Words Encouragement" embossed in white onto some black card.  Finished with some dark magenta sequins. 

Kat Scrapiness has a lot of wonderful dies as well as stamps = both their own brand as well as many other companies goodies.  

Come and join us at Die Cut Divas.

CASEing Betty

Hi there.  Today I am sharing a card I made after being inspired by a card made by my bloggy friend Betty...You can see her card here.  Betty was inspired by a card from Michelle Lupton
Michelle used some Alcohol ink to make some flowers.   My card is more of a CASE of Betty's  - loved her idea of the pop of colour of the flowers on a black base.

 I had this piece if  alcohol inked Yupo paper sitting on my desk from a while back.  I recently brought a stamp and die set from Couture Creations (Peaceful Peony) I stamped the big flower onto the Yupo piece with some pigment ink (Obsidian from Altenew) and then wiped it off.  This is a way to do an alcohol lift process.  I then used the matching die to cut it out.  I added to the side of my card, and added some stripes of dark magenta card and some silver washi tape. A few white enamel dots.  

Thanks Betty for inspiring me to use up some of my alcohol ink backgrounds and to CASE your card.