Warm Spring Wishes

 Hi friends! Today it’s my turn to share over at Die Cut Divas, and I had fun playing along with our March challenge: “Spring Is Coming.”

Our fabulous sponsor this month is Gina K Designs.

For this challenge, we’re looking for projects that give us those lovely spring vibes and include either dry embossing or die cutting.

For my card, I pulled out two Gina K Designs stamp sets: Music to My Soul and Warm Spring Wishes (both retired). I die cut a square panel using Gina K Master Layout 3, and while the die was still in place, I softly blended some pink ink for a gentle pop of colour.

I stamped the guitar image from Music to My Soul, cut it out with my Scan’N’Cut, and coloured it with Prismacolor pencils. The sentiment comes from the Warm Spring Wishes set, and everything was mounted onto a 5-inch square card base to finish it off.

We’d absolutely love for you to join us! Head over to DieCut Divas, and share your own spring-inspired project. I can’t wait to see what you create!

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. 

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 

Christmas Lilies.

One of the items I got at the Craft Show last week was an embossing folder from Altenew - Starry Patterns.   I did a bit of playing around with it - inking up the folder and getting different backgrounds.

For this one I inked up my folder with some Catherine Pooler It's a Boy ink.  I decided that I would make a frame with the panel - so cut with some square dies from Gina K Master Layouts #3.  I embossed a panel to layer behind with the folder.  I added the panel to a dark navy background and then onto a " square card.  I wanted to add a Christmas flower - so decided red lilies would look like a Christmas Lily.  This is an Altenew mini set called Calla Lily.  I stamped and cut with the matching die.  I used some red ink and green Alcohol pens. The sentiment is a pre-printed one - I'm not sure where it came from.  I trimmed and layered it onto some dark navy card.

As I used the folder to make a frame I'm adding this to the challenge at Christmas Kickstart - where the challenge is Festive Frames

And as this was the first outing for the embossing folder I'm adding it to Darnell's NBUS 

We had a lovely weekend, hubby and I headed up to our friends place in Mangawhai.  We haven't been up for awhile.  And our friends are travelling around England, Scotland and Europe.   We upgraded our car on Thursday - a 2013 Toyota Auris, so took it on a road trip.  The car drove beautifully and the weather over the weekend was very spring like.. I had a lovely afternoon sitting outside on the deck doing some colouring in a Zen Mindless colouring book.  

Used mostly greens and blues Prismacolor pencils to do this one.  I couldn't believe how relaxing it was... 3 hours just disappeared.    

Thanks for stopping by.   

Summer at the Beach

It time for my share for Die Cut Divas - in our Summer Days Challenge.   Our sponsor is Sheepski Designs

I took the image  Beach Hut Holiday - image #158 and added it twice to my card, flipping the second one to be the mirror image.  I did this as I wanted to make a mini slimline card.   I used a Gina K Master Layout to cut out the panel.  I used Prismacolor pencils to colour them huts.  I then used my Scan'n'Cut to die cut the Summer sentiment.  

Hope this inspires you to join us with your Summer Days projects. 

Music for the Soul

 Continuing with the music theme... I've got a card I made about a week ago after I got my Simon Says Stamp order in the post.  I had ordered Gina K Designs - "Music for the Soul" and here's the card I made. 

It's a great stamp set.  The main image is big... fits an A2 US card base.  I used some Prisamcolor pencils and mineral spirits (Gamsol)  I really love how it turned out.  I decided it didn't need any more embellishments. 

Yesterday I had a bit of a play with some acrylic paint and my gel press.... 

 My NZ swap group this month has a theme of paint or ink... So I thought I'd play with paint.  Some look good and some a bit naff... but I've used one of the panels to make my card to send to Suna - will share when she's received it.  And made two other cards so far.  

Hope all the Mother's had a great day... I had a visit from my son and Grace with some lovely chocolates for me.  

Thanks for stopping by.  

The Card Chain Challenge.... March reveal.

Hi there.   I had a play again in March with The Card Chain Challenge and I got to send a card to my blogger friend, Greta.  

The challenge gives us the name of who we send a card to... really awesome as everyone will get a card in the post.   We have a number of different options... colours, sketch, theme or technique so easy for anyone to participate.  

I chose the Friendship theme - and patterned paper - albeit that I made my own!

I started by using an older Hero Arts wooden stamp called Old French Writing to stamp repeatedly on some light kraft card which I then cut with Scalloped die from Gina K Designs ML.  My little centre panel was stamped with an Altenew mini stamp (Dainty Calla Lilly)  I used Prismacolor pencils to colour it in. I framed it with a silver glitter pen.    Added some Altenew Enamel dots to embellish.

I was lucky to received a beautiful tri fold card from Brenda in the UK

If you love getting cards and sending them - do join the challenge.  April sign up is still open...HERE 

By this time next week, I'll be in the air on my way to visit my daughter and her family in Perth, Australia.  I fly out at 12.50pm  and it's a 7 hour fight.  Can't say I'm looking forward to having to wear a mask for that length of time.  But that's what's needed to keep safe.  I am getting excited to see Archie...he's growing so quickly.  I will be there for his sixth birthday..so that's going to be fun.  

Take care 

Die Cut Divas September Challenge - Anything Goes

Welcome to another challenge at Die Cut Divas! The challenge this month is "Anything Goes" for both Die Cut Divas and Morgan's Artworld.

To purchase images, please visit their website at Creative Art Design Studio.

Visit Morgan's ArtWorld Facebook Group HERE!

        

My card today uses the sweet image called Nora - (available Here)

I was inspired by the card shown on the website.  I started by printing my image on to white card and used Gina K Master Layout 2 to cut and mat it.  I used Prismacolour Pencils to colour it.  Added some Glossy Accents to the flower centres and on the heart and butterfly.  I added a little sentiment from Altenew that was embossed onto black card with white EP.  I used the layering die to trim it so it had the stitching lines.   Next I worked on the card base.  I took some of the same card and used Altenew's Leafy Border die to cut the white edges.  I matted them onto some purple card and added to each side of my 5 1/2" square base.  I then added the coloured panel over the top.  

Do come and join us.  It's Anything Goes - you don't have to use Morgan's ArtWorld images but if you have any, we would love to see them.  

Christmas in July.

 It's winter here in New Zealand and today which started nice and then turned to rain, so I managed to get a few hours in my craft room.  I saw a fabulous tutorial on Facebook - one the Simply, Sweet Poppy Stencils page.  It was done by Susan Bradney using Sweet Poppy's Christmas Bauble stencil.  I recently got the Bauble stencil and decided I would try it out following the tutorial.  I CASE'd the card Susan made. 

Making this card involved making a mask, stencilling in a pale ink, using the mask and doing some ink blending.  I used some stamps from my stash (freebies from magazines)  One of my purchases on Friday was a white Posca fineliner pen.  Used it to make my snow flakes and add some to my snow banks. To add colour to the stencilling, I used Prismacolor pencils. I matted the panel onto some gold mirror card and then onto a Pearlised card base.  It's a lovely bit card 6" square.

After spending most of the afternoon making this first card my second one for the day was much quicker.   I bought Gina K's Holiday Tapestry  stamp set a while back and only opened it today.  

This one started with some patterned paper from a Uniti pack.  I die cut it with a Sunny Studio's slimline Scalloped Frame die and then embossed the big floral image at each end of the panel in silver embossing powder.  I then stamped and embossed the sentiment in gold powder.  Add some Pink Fresh gold and silver metallic pearls.  Slowly building up my Christmas card stash.  I'm entering this one into Darnell's NBUS (Never Before Uses Schtuff) as it's the first time inking up this one. 

Thanks for stopping by. 

Altenew Flower of the Month.... Lily

 Hi there.... I made this card for the May Flower of the Month - Lily for Altenew.... but think I've missed the deadline.  It's the 1st of June here but think I missed the deadline for USA.   Oh well.... I had fun making it anyway. 

This is a mini card.  I stamped and embossed the lily stamp with Rose Gold powder onto the little Kraft card.  I used Prismacolor pencils and some Gamsol to colour it.   I used a gold pen to added a little ink around the edge before adding it to the base card.   I stamped the sentiment onto some white card and fussy cut it before adding over the flower.  

Today I took my visitors to the Chelsea Sugar Cafe for morning tea.  It was awesome.  The food is stunning and we took Archie to the playground outside the cafe. 

A bit of a collage of our time there. 

2021 SPRING | SUMMER COFFEE LOVERS BLOG HOP!

 

Yes the Spring Summer Coffee Lovers Hop has started.  Now I'll just let you know I'm not a coffee lover - a Hot Chocolate Girl here.... but apparently I make a good cup of Joe... according to my hubby anyway!  

But I digress.... today I am sharing a card I've made for the Hop.  It's Iced Coffee - seeing it's a Spring/Summer Hop and because it's still very warm here in NZ.  Our temperature today has been up to 24C  (75F) ... currently 21C (70F) at 5.20pm - so Iced Coffee is suitable. 

I had forgotten I had this Tim Holtz Blueprint stamp until I had the set out the other day making a card.  This was one of 6 stamps in a Tim Holtz set made for Simon Says Stamptember in 2015!  I think I've used it once before...  I stamped it in Memento Black ink as I thought I was going to use Copics but decided instead to use Prismacolor and Jasart pencils. I also added some 2B graphic pencil smudged with a tortillon a la Nicole Watt.   I had masked off the sentiment in the first stamping and then just stamped it onto another piece of white card.  I used Gina K Master Layouts 2 to cut both the panel and my layers.  I used the bigger of the small panel dies and then used my Perfect Layers rule at 1/16th inch to cut the layer.  Somehow the die has now disappeared!   I'm sure it will turn up.  I used some kraft card to make the card base.  

Here's another view

I'm #196 on the hop.... so thanks if you have come to visit me.... thanks also to my regular viewers.  I much appreciate you stopping by.

Do go and have a look at the Hop.  It's amazing with some fabulous sponsors and prizes.  Who knows if you join in, you could be a winner!

WWC304 - Kath's Challenge: All About Occasions

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

My card today is for my friend's daughter who gave birth to a sweet little boy, on the 2nd January.  

I used my favourite digital image for baby cards.  It's an image from Mo's Digital Pencil called "Hush"  I printed it onto some white card and used coloured pencils (Prismacolor and Jasart) to colour it up.  I added a sentiment stamp from Quietfire Designs.  I couldn't find the one I wanted to add.... it's somewhere in my stash - so went for this rather sweet quote from AA Milne.  I wanted to keep the card clean and simple so just added some scored lines for texture.  

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 12.00 noon NZ time) to link up your project.

Purple Flowers.

Hi there.... I love Purple and today I'm sharing another iteration of Rachel Vass Designs Springtime Backgrounds - again in Purple but quite different to my first one (see it here)

This time I used Prismacolor pencils to colour up my flowers.  I did some that went from light to dark to colour the background.  The sentiment is one of the stripes I made the the other day with an Altenew set.  I trimmed it and backed it with the same green I used to matt the panel. 

I am so enjoying using these digi stamps.  Check out Rachel's designs here 

Hoping all my blog followers are keeping safe.  Things are really ramping up all round the world especially in the USA.  Even here in NZ we have 22 new cases - but all are returning New Zealanders in managed isolation/quarantine.  Everyone returning home has to go into managed isolation for 14 days - they get tested twice during this time.   Hoping and praying this does not get out into the community again. 

Anything Goes at Southern Girls Challenge.

Hi It's Team Trace's turn to share at Southern Girls this month.... and it's an Anything Goes challenge
Ours sponsors this challenge....

Sponsors:

3 Button Studio

Colour Of Love by Heather Valentin

 I have used Rory's Marigolds  from Colour of Love and ephemera from 3 Buttons

 I coloured my image with Prismacolor pencils and then added the ephemera from Cocoa Vanilla that I bought from 3 Buttons.   I finished with layering the image and frame onto some cream card that was dry embossed with Peacock Fan folder from Couture Creations and adding to a pink card base.   Added some Copper Penny Nuvo drops to the centre of the flowers.

Do come and join us at Southern Girls Challenge. 

WWC #256 Kath's Challenge - All about Occasions

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

 Today I'm sharing a card with you that is for my friend's son and his partner.  Their little girl arrived early on the 25 January.  Her name is Beatrix.

I used a Whimsy digital stamp called Baby Ellie.  I printed her out and used my Scan'N'Cut to cut around the image.  I coloured using my Prismacolor pencils.  I added the image to a dark pink panel and stamped the two sentiments from a Kaisercraft set.

Come and join the fun.  Check out the projects that the other artists at  Watercooler Wednesday challenge have created.  Then take our challenge and link your creation 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

Poinsettia on Kraft

I had some fun with colouring a Uniko digital stamp I printed onto kraft card.   I shared the WIP over the weekend on my FB page.

 Here is the finished card

Although in the main, I am happy with the colouring - but used too dark a grey to shadow the poinsettia and then tried to soften it with white without much success.  I embossed the sentiment in Rose Gold EP but think I really needed to do it in black.    I did enjoy the process of colouring.  It really is a relaxing pastime.

I'm entering this into the challenge at Winter Wonderland - use Holly or Ivy on your card.
Only 4 weeks and 1 day till Christmas.  I have done most of my cards now - just need to get them addressed and in the post.

Thanks for stopping by.

Santa Bear

Hi there.  Just a quick post tonight with a little Santa Bear.   I printed out a Di's Digi stamp onto some very lightweight watercolour paper (I've run out of Mi Teintes paper) and used my Prismacolor pencils

 I added lots of Sparkle pen to the ribbons and Santa's hat.  I die cut the image with a Spellbinders large Label eight die.  My background is a Concord & 9th plaid stamp stamped with Catherine Pooler Peppermint Scrub ink and some Versafine Onyx Black ink for the black stripes.  A simple little sentiment finished it off.

I'm entering this into the Christmas Kickstart challenge.... Jo wants us to Show our Santas.   I hope this one is ok... Not a true Santa.... but my Santa Bear. 

Summer is here this weekend.  The whole weekend has been lovely weather... nice and warm and sunny.  Hard to come inside and craft but it did get a bit too warm this afternoon.

Have a great weekend

Versatile Vases

It's my day to share at Die Cut Divas again... Our sponsor is the amazing Altenew

if you have been a follower of mine for anytime, you will know that I adore Altenew stamps,dies, inks, stencils etc. so I'm super happy that they are our sponsor this month. 

I recently got the Versatile Vases stamp and stencil set.   I knew it would be perfect for our theme this month  "water"

I started by stamping, masking, and some ink blending on my vase and the flower from Fresh Freesia set.  My original idea was to have the vase on a single layer but of course, a spludge of colour happened.  So change of plans... after colouring with a mixture of watercolour markers, Alcohol markers and Prismacolor pencils, I fussy cut the image and added to an embossed background.   I used Evening Grey ink to stamp the images and the sentiment and a brick folder from Sizzix. 

Thanks for stopping by today.  No baby yet!  Today is due day but I'm betting that maybe Thurs or Friday. 

Christmas Owls

Merry Christmas my friends.... It's Christmas Day and it's my turn to share my card for Die Cut Divas.  Our sponsor this month is

I have used Christmas Owls to make a Winter card.

I printed the image onto some Mi Tentes paper and used my Prismacolor pencils to colour.  I die cut with a Spellbinders oval die and layered onto a Scallop die cut.  The white panel is embossed with a plaid folder.    I didn't add any sentiment at this point... will put something inside.

Hoping you all have a great Holiday Season  and Blessing to you all.

Critter challenge at Southern Girls.

I'm back with my DT card for Southern Girls Challenge...

I used a sweet little image from All Dressed Up called Christmas Penguins

 

I printed the image onto some Canson Mi-teintes paper and used my Prismacolour pencils to colour.  I die cut with Lil Inkers stitched rectangle dies.    

Do come along and join our challenge with your Critter cards...