Craft Roulette #322: A 1970s-Inspired Postcard Card

It’s my second week in a row joining in with Craft Roulette, and I’m really enjoying the challenge. I watched the replay on Sunday and immediately felt inspired by the parameters the wheel spun this week.

As soon as I saw the challenge, I knew exactly which stamp I wanted to use: the Hero Arts Big Postcard woodblock stamp. I’ve had this stamp in my stash for such a long time, so it felt good to pull it out and give it some love again.

For the colour palette, I searched for 1970s colours and found plenty of inspiration in warm, earthy tones. I settled on browns, burnt orange, maroon, and avocado green — such a classic retro combination.

The card came together really well. I embossed a kraft-coloured panel with Altenew’s Organic folder, which added the texture I wanted and worked perfectly with the 70s feel. I then used the Simon Says Stamp Circle Loops die to cut a kraft circle for the wreath. The flowers and leaves were cut from different coloured cardstock using the Sizzix Spring Foliage set, and I added Copper Penny and Rhubarb Crumble Nuvo Drops for a little extra detail. For the pre-printed element, I used a sentiment from Paper Rose.

I actually finished the card on Tuesday, but Wednesday threw me a bit of a curve ball, so I didn’t get a chance to photograph and submit it until this morning. I’m glad I still managed to get it entered — and even happier to have another much-loved stamp back in use.

A Masculine Mixed Media Card for Sweet Stampin' Challenge

If I’m honest, masculine cards are probably one of the hardest things for me to make. I always seem to drift toward flowers, pretty layers, and all the softer details, so coming up with something for a guy usually takes me a bit longer! But this fortnight’s Sweet Stampin’ Challenge gave me the perfect excuse to step out of my comfort zone and have a play with a more textured, mixed media look.

I’ve been watching quite a few mixed media videos on YouTube lately, and they’ve inspired me. All those grungy layers, bits of texture and slightly industrial details had me wanting to try something a little different. It also gave me the chance to use one of my newer buys—an All & Create stamp set called Dynamics—which felt just right for this kind of project.

So here’s how the finished card came together.

I started with a mid-grey square card base and blended Evergreen Bough and Lost Shadow Distress Oxide inks over the background. From there, I built up the texture by stamping with the Dynamics set in black ink, Lost Shadow, and Vintage Photo Distress Oxide, which gave it that nicely worn, layered look without making it feel too busy. After that, I added some texture paste through Tim Holtz’s Clockwork stencil, and I loved how it picked up hints of the green and brown underneath. To finish it all off I added a dark grey die-cut clocks (another new purchase from my local bookstore) and splattered on some grey and white Dina Wakely acrylic paint for a bit more grunge, then added a pre-printed sentiment from Paper Roses.

I’m really happy with how this one turned out, and it’ll soon be heading off to a friend for his birthday. It’s always nice when a challenge pushes me to try a style I wouldn’t normally go for, and this card certainly did that. I’m sure it won’t be my last.

Tone on Tone Birthday Wishes

 It's my turn to share at Die Cut Divas. Our sponsor this month is Birch Press Design who will be giving our winner a $20 gift certificate. 

I was lucky that my Teamie, Arlene, send me some Birch Press die cuts - String Art Frame.  Today I have a Twofer using one the frames..

Card 1

I started by jnking up my card base - using all four inks in the Altenew Warm and Cozy set.  I then took the frame die and using the darkest ink (Firebrick) used my mini blending brush to colour it up.  I did this over some white card and got a bonus background.  I added the frame over my card base, and then used a circle stamp and sentiment from Gina K's Wreath Builder set.  A few little gold gems finished my card....

Card 2

This is how I used my bonus background

Loved the look of the background.  I stamped one of the Dovetail Butterflies from Altenew in the Firebrick ink and Obsidan black ink.  I used the matching die cut and added it with some 3D tape to the card.    I used the same orange as my card base to die cut the Birthday sentiment from Paper Roses.  I used vellum for it's shadow layer and then did a bit of stamp surgery on a sentiment from Altenew's Sentiment Strip set.   A few little black gems and it's done.

Our challenge goes on until the 31 July - come and join us at Die Cut Divas.