Bright and Cheerful Stenciled Card

This month, Maxine set a fun challenge for our NZ Swap group: “Use a stencil.” It was such a great prompt, and I decided to make something bright, cheerful, and full of colour. For my card, I created a bold, stenciled background that really became the feature of the design.

The background stencil is a large one from Kmart, and while I didn’t quite manage to fit every rainbow colour onto the panel, I loved the colours that made it in. The bright rainbow blend gave the card such a happy feel. To add a little extra interest, I stamped some black sparkle details using the Big Bang Bling stamp set from Walter and Winnie.

For the focal point, I used the Perfect Gift stamp, die, stencil, and embossing folder combo from Altenew. I stamped the flower, added colour with the coordinating stencils, die cut it, and then ran it through the embossing folder for extra texture. To finish the card, I added a sentiment from the Simon Hurley/Spellbinders Must-Have Sentiments hot foil set. I used silver foil on white cardstock, then ink blended over it with black ink so it would tie in beautifully with the sparkle details.

After two weeks the card finally made it's way south to Jude.   Happy it finally arrived. 

Can't wait to see what Carol comes up with for July's challenge!

Baby wipe ink-lift technique (with a stencil)

I can finally share the card I made for my NZ swap group—Suna’s card arrived on Saturday, 10 days after posting (and it only had about 25 km to travel up the road!). This project is also where my recent “baby wipe” inspiration came from, because our challenge technique for the month was to use a baby wipe in some way.

Here it is!

For the background, I blended Distress Oxide in Mowed Lawn as my base colour, then layered on a Gelli Art Leaves stencil. Next came the fun part: I placed a (slightly damp) baby wipe over the stencil, added a piece of scrap paper on top to absorb any extra moisture, and ran the whole sandwich through my Sizzix Platinum 6 with the rubber mat underneath.

Because Distress Oxides react so well with moisture, the baby wipe lifts the ink through the stencil and creates a soft, textured pattern.

I cut the dragonfly, grid and sentiment from black cardstock. To add colour to the dragonfly, I rubbed on metallic wax in gold and blue, with a touch of silver on the body. For extra sparkle, I finished with a light spritz of Frost Shimmer Spray and a few black shiny dots.

I'm entering this into the Stencil Challenge at Just Us Girls...

It’s been a long weekend here in NZ for ANZAC Day—our time of remembrance for those who served (and continue to serve). Even longer for me, since I don’t work Fridays! I’ve been busy crafting and spending time with family, and it’s been just what I needed.

Embrace the simple joys of Nature

 Well… it’s Friday again! It feels like one of those weeks where I’ve been busy creating, but nothing has quite been ready to share publicly—until now.

My latest card for my local swap group has safely arrived with Maxine, so I can finally show it to you all. This month’s challenge was set by Carol, with the theme “Animals Framed.”

I chose to work with some sweet little birdies—because birds definitely count as animals in my book! For the framed element, I used my Tim Holtz diffuser with a Swiss Dot embossing folder to create a soft oval window. I really love how this technique adds interest while still keeping the focus on the centre of the card.

The birds were stamped using a Mangocraft set, then die‑cut and coloured with Prismacolor pencils. A sentiment from another Mangocraft stamp set tied everything together, and I added a touch of soft ink blending around the centre to give the design a little extra depth.

To finish, I popped the die‑cut birds up on 3D tape for some subtle dimension—simple, but effective.

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope your creative week has treated you kindly. 

Curves Challenge.

 My little NZ swap group challenge was set by Jude - a card with some sort of curve on it.   My card went Maxine... and she has let me know it arrived.

I used a Spellbinders A2 curved borders One die set to make the two curved panels on my card.  I took the stunning paper from Franceville Luxe Illusions pack.  I fussy cut three of the leaves from PP and added them in the lower left hand side with a twin bow with a gold dot in the centre.   Added some little gold hearts cut from Simon Says Stamp Falling Hearts die.    Sentiment from Altenew Silk Art Craft Your Life kit.  Matted the panel with black card and added to a 5 1/2" card base.   

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!  

Mosaic Tiled card.

 I have been a bit unwell over the past week....a bad head cold that has ended up on my chest. I had last Friday and Monday off work, went back on Tuesday and only lasted till lunch time... and been coughing since.  Today I had the day off... my day before the birthday day off!  I had a hair appointment set for midday and then a visit to the optometrist in the afternoon, so decided easier to just take the day off!  My hair appointment got moved 3/4 hr earlier ( suited me better ) so did some shopping and had lunch at the Mall.  Got a new winter vest, a lovely pink sweater and picked up some old magazine freebies that my local stationery store was selling for between $2.99 to $6.99.  Also got my granddaughter's birthday present - ready for the 1st of July.   The trip to the optometrist was a bit expensive as I need to replace my frames and lenses - been 6 years with the same frames and prescription.   A couple of weeks till the new ones will be ready.  

Anyhoo.... Today I am sharing a card I made a while back to send to my friend Suna as part of our NZ swap group.  It was Suna's turn to set the challenge - and she chose "Mosaic card" - you can do this a number of different ways, I chose a tiled mosaic design.   Suna has let me know the card arrived....

I started with a stenciled panel I had made a few weeks ago.  It's an Altenew stencil - Floral Garden.  It was one of Altenew's earliest stencils - I took it and sliced it into 1 1/2" by 1" rectangles and added to a brown card panel.  I added some twine around the panel and then stamped the sentiment from Altenew's Our Friendship Blooms stamp set and cut it with a circle stitched die and a matting circle from a Gina K Master Layouts set.  Added some of my handmade dot embellishments.  

Suna let me know she has sent her card to me over a week ago but it still hasn't arrived.  She also sent me a birthday card that was post 2 days ago, that arrived today.  She lives about a 25k's from me (about a 20 min drive) but sometimes the post takes weeks to get between us.  

It's been a successful week for me with card challenges - won Jen Rzasa's challenge with my no black card (here) and Star on the top of the Tree at Christmas Kickstart Challenge with this one. 

Hopefully I'll get some time to play over the weekend... Going out to dinner tomorrow night with our friends and catching up with the Junior Turley's on Sunday lunch.    Take care all. 

Easy Zentangles

The challenge at my local swap group for May was Easy Zentangles - as seen on this video from Natasha Foote - a New Zealand crafter.  My card basically CASE'd Natasha's card.   I did used different colours but the basic design was very similar. 

I drew my squares and then added the lines and made the "stones"  - at least that's what the looked like to me!  I used Spectrum Noir Tri-blends to colour in and backed onto some purple card and then onto my white card base.  My sentiment is from Altenew. I made stripe of the Zentangle for the envelope.   

This card had quite the journey to get to it's recipient -  Maxine - who lives about 3 hours south of me.  I posted it off early as I knew is was away for a couple of weeks on holiday... so it should have been there for her when she got back.... but no, it made it's way down to Tokoroa but came back as I had so carefully posted it - without putting a stamp on it!!!!!  So duly stamped it made it's way back to Tokoroa - and she finally got it! 

This is a great card idea if you need something a bit different,

Pop up Elephant Box

 I can now share the Pop up box I made for my local swap group.   Our challenge was to make an interactive card.  I chose the pop up box. 

I had seen a Lawn Fawn die that made a long box - so decided to make a similar one by cutting my own template.  Took a few goes but finally got it to work with the scalloped edging the right way around!

I used a Lawn Fawn edge die to cut the scallops.  My little Elephants came from a stamp set I got from my daughter and grandsons.  They are super cute.  I stamped and fussy cut the Elephants and the puddles.  I used some lovely oriental style patterned paper with umbrellas.    This went to Suze - and she told me she didn't know how to make it work!  

Here's it folded up

Happy with how it turned out.   

Use your scraps....

 The January challenge at my local swap group was to use up some of that pile of scraps. 

I decided to use a Simply Scored technique that I learnt at a Cardmaking Summit last year.  It involved using squares of scrap patterned paper and scoring on a card panel.   I had a strip of 12"x12" Christmas paper in blue tones and though it would look elegant using this technique.

The technique was designed by Wendy Lee and can be adapted to different sized squares of Patterned paper.   Mine are 7/8" in size.  I love the elegance of this one in the blue tones.  The sentiment is from Paper Rose All Occasions pre-printed sheets.   I foiled it with some silver deco foil and my laminator. 

Christmas card and tag.

 For my NZ swap group this month, my friend, Suna, set us a challenge - make an unusual card and add a tag!

My unusual element on this is using some fabric - some calico, that I had used some 49th and Market rub-ons to decorate.  I embossed a panel with snow flakes and added to my white card.   

And here it is with the tag I made

I made this tag with an Altenew stamp and die set.  Too cute!

I have been ultra busy with the family here.   Chaotic at times... but loving the hugs from my two little grandsons and also my two granddaughters who have been around lots as well!  Managed to find a little time tonight to share this. 

Here are the four of them.... keeping me on my toes for sure!

Fabric Flowers

 Our local swap group challenge for November was to use Fabric on your project.  My card took quite a while to reach Jude in Timaru, but finally made it...

I used some cotton fabric I had and made a glue wash to stiffen it.   I used a Spellbinders layering flower die to cut some layers.  I added a green ribbon and some gauze and then added the flowers to a base I had embossed with Altenew Masonry 3D folder that I then swiped with white ink.   I added a button and a gem.   Definitely outside my comfort zone, but I  was happy with the result.  

The family arrive early tomorrow so not much crafting will get done over the next little while.  I have a few posts scheduled.   

The secret ingredient is always Love!

 This month's theme at our local swap group was to make a kitchen themed card with a pocket and include a summer recipe. 

My recipient was Carol and I got to hand deliver this one to her on Saturday when Suna and I visited her. 

I don't have any kitchen theme papers so a quick trip on Pinterest and Google, I found this gorgeous image.  I printed it onto some Fabriano 160gms card - it gave a really soft feel to the paper.  I also Googled the sentiment quote.  I printed it and used some Prismacolor pencils to add colour.  

My pocket is on the inside left hand side of the card.... and I included a recipe for Watermelon and Feta Salad.  A nice refreshing salad for summer. 

Was really pleased with how this turned out.   Hybrid digital card making can be such fun.  

Monochromatic card - Hi, you're a great friend

My little group of New Zealand crafters have a monthly challenge.  We all take turns to choose the theme or challenge.  Carol chose this month - Monochrome (one colour family) plus stamp plus stencil.  

My card made it's way to Suna 

I chose green as my monochromatic colour scheme.  I stared by using Altenew Feathered Leaves stencil using Mowed Lawn Distress Oxide ink.  I then stamped Altenew Monstera leaves - outline in Altenew Forest Fern Fresh Dye ink and then used the matching stencils with Parrot and Evergreen Crisp Dye inks.  I die cut all the leaves and added to the background.  Added some green enamel dots. The sentiment is from Pinkfresh Studio - Perfect sentiments stamped in Onyx Black Versafine and clear embossed before die cutting. 

A Blue Kitty...

 My local swap group had a fun challenge this month... sketch with the image to be an animal and should be coloured in colours they normally are not!

I followed the sketch closely and used a Blue Kitty 

I used a pink panel from my stash - think it's the "mop up" of some pink ink.  I die cut it with a Gina K Master Layout dies.  I die cut a white circle and embossed it with a folder called Kitchen Weave from Cuttlebug.  Used two Spellbinders petite circles to cut the frame.  My blue kitty is a a Tim Holtz stamp, as is the matching sentiment.  The cat is from Crazy Cats and the sentiment from Snarky Cats.  Added some blue glitter to the die cut heart for some sparkle. 

It is always fun to see what everyone comes up with each month.  

Fractured card technique - Hello sweet friend

 Well the best laid plans of mice and men!..  My yesterday did not go as I planned... happily though!

I did watch a couple of the sessions from Card Makers Success Summit.... one in particular from Tiffany Solorio using Distress Sprays.   I only have two distress sprays - brushed pewter and tarnished brass .  Tiffany used all sorts of pretty colours and did heaps of layers.  I pull out my Lindy's Stamp Gang sprays - but they are all very muted colours - added a splotch of an Adirondack Color Wash in Purple Twilight - but my panel of mixed media paper was very pale and blah looking.   Watch out for another post with what I did with it!     Any who I had great plans to try out some more cards from some of the sessions..... 

But... my son texted to say he and the girls were on their way over to visit.... so my Saturday afternoon was spend playing in the craft room with Grace and on the floor with Florence...

I did get a message from Suna - to whom I sent a card in my NZ swap group.   It was my turn to chose a challenge - and Fractured Cards was what I chose.   Here is the card I made and sent to her.  

I started with some papers from DCWV= Ba;; & Bloom paper.  I picked it up recently on sale.  Just love the touches of foil on it.   I used some white card for my centre square.  I then used cream card and gold peelcraft lines for the fracture lines.   I used some of the flowers from Spellbinders Geo Floral Frame die set - cut with some pink card from Scrapbook.com Sprinkles paper pack,   I die cut the leaves from some 160gm Fabricano paper and used a varied of Altenew green inks to blend over them. Fussy cut the butterfly from some of the same paper pack.  The sentiment is from Altenew Engraved Flowers stamp set.  And a few metallic gems finished the card.   Suna has let me know she got it and loved it.  

And here's why not much got done yesterday 

Grace - playing with some Hero Arts Rub-ons

Florence exploring Nanny and Pop's house.

Mixed media textured card

 Our local swap group has a fun challenge this month. Touchy-Feely - include at least three different textures/surfaces on your card.  

I sent to Maxine and she let me know it had arrived. 

So my textures - Simon Hurley's Lunar paste (Minty Fresh) through a stencil, some netting, a die cut and embossed heart with some gold paste on it and .  The bow is some glitter card - that was sent to me by a friend,  Lastly I added a hand made 3D flower with a touch of glitter paste on it.  Even the sentiment has some texture being embossed with gold powder and two layers thick.  

Steampunk Woman

 Our NZ swap group challenge this month was set by Maxine...Steampunk.  Way outside my comfort zone but did some Pinterest searching, found some Steampunk images - from Dreamy Paper Art on Etsy.  And did a bit of searching around my stash and found a metal clock face and some cogs. 

They images I purchased were in colour so I used Word on my computer to change the colour to Sepia.   I trimmed it onto some lightweight off white card and trimmed it.  Add Walnut stain ink around the edges.  The background is a 3 D embossing folder from Spellbinders called Creative Cogs.  Lots of Walnut Stain ink and gold ink. Found a metal clock face and some cogs in my stash.  Had them gifted to me about 10 years ago - glad to finally found a use for them.  Used Walnut Stain ink of some of the cogs and gold ink for some.  I found the sentiment on the internet and printed it on my computer.  Added the ink across it.   Used a little grey Prismacolor pencil for added details on the focal image.   Was really pleased with the results.  In fact I didn't want to sent it to my swap partner as I would have like to have kept it for display at home.   Might try more of this look in the future. 

Had a great Saturday with my Big Princess... lots of crafting and walked down to the beach where she spend time splashing in the shallows with her Poppa.   Boy was I tired by the end of the day!  

Double Z fold card.

 Hi there.  Today I'm sharing a Double Z fold card.  The theme for my NZ swap group this month was a card with more than 2 folds!  

Here it is closed with it's belly band.  I used a sheet of Deluxe Heartfelt Creations card to make the fold.  I had a lovely pack of patterned paper that I got from a $2 store.  It has beautiful papers that coordinated perfectly.  I trimmed and glued and it turned out so pretty.  But I did missed part of the brief... I was supposed to add an animal!  I missed that completely.   

Here are some more photos of the card 

Suna was my recipient.  It took a week and a half to get to her - only about 15kms from were I live.  

Stand Tall and Shine

 For my NZ card swap group this month, my friend, Suna, set us a challenge to used torn paper to ink blend sky or hills etc.  She did say to make it monochromatic... but I struggled with that and just used the torn paper technique.  

I tore my paper and used it as a mask to add the blue and green inks to symbolise  the clouds and sky. I had used tape to mask the edges.  I had been waiting weeks for my new stamps to arrive.  This set is Crafter's Companion - Reach for the Sky.  I saw it over on Natasha Foote's You Tube and after some searching found it at Simon Says Stamp.   I stamped the giraffe onto some white card with black ink and clear embossed it to get the shiny look for the sunnies. I coloured it with Spectrum Noir Tri-blends and some other alcohol markers.  I then fussy cut it and added to the card.  

As it was the first outing for the Giraffe set, I'm adding this to the NBUS challenge that Darnell runs. 

Mini Moo card - what is this?

So what is a Mini Moo?   Over at Splitcoaststampers recently one of the CAS techniques was a card using a little scrapling - called a mini moo -  it's a card that is 1.125" X 2.75" - half of a business card lengthwise.  Great for scaps. 

This was the challenge set by Maxine in our NZ swap group.  I have tons of scraps of card, patterned papers and backgrounds I've made.  So I had a look and came up with this CAS card.

My mini moo was a scrap of foiled and stenciled card.  It was an experiment background I had made with an Altenew foil background.  I over-stamped it with a Hero Arts stamp - Old French writing and then run a brown ink pad around the edges.  I made my little floral element next.  I took an Altenew mini stamp and die set - Adorable Anthurium.  I stamped the image and used my Spectrum Noir tri-blends to colour before die cutting it out.  Next was to make the panel.  I used Gina K Master Layouts to cut the bigger panel and then used a smaller narrow die to emboss the centre panel. I stamped the sentiment from the stamp set.   Added the mini moo and then the floral image.  A few sequins finished my card.    The card was going to my friend, Suna, who lives around 15 kilometres  (9 miles) from my place.   I posted the card and it took 10 days to get to her!  I would have been quicker to drive and drop it off!  

I'm adding this card to Darnell's NBUS challenge. - First outing for my Altenew stamp and die set.  Plus first time doing a mini moo card.  And adding to "Less is More" - Anything Goes 

We've had a lovely weekend away at our friend's in Mangawhai.  First trip north this year due to our friend's having family living with them since January.   The family were away for the weekend so their was room for us.   Very relaxing weekend.