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.

Things with Wings: A Shimmery Dragonfly Card for the Sweet Stampin’ Challenge

It’s time for the Sweet Stampin’ Challenge again, and this fortnight’s theme is Things with Wings—so I couldn’t resist pulling out a dragonfly and building my card around it.

I actually had this dragonfly sitting on my desk from a crafty session a while back—Grace and I made it during the school holidays, and we coloured it with Nuvo Shimmer Powders for that gorgeous sparkle. 

I started by blending a soft blue circle using a Penny Black stencil and a few pale blue inks from Altenew. Once the background was in place, I die cut a mix of leaves from a Sizzix set in green and gold cardstock, then cut a few coneflowers from yellow card and added a touch of gold pen to the centres.

From there it was all about arranging- I popped the dragonfly into the spotlight and built up the florals and foliage around the edge of the circle to frame it nicely. To finish, I stamped a sentiment from an Andy Skinner set directly onto the card, before matting in some soft blue. 

If you’re playing along with the Sweet Stampin’ Challenge, I’d love to see what you create for Things with Wings—butterflies, birds, bees, dragonflies… anything goes!

Just for You: A Blue-Themed Farewell Card

 

Last week, one of the ladies at my hubby’s workplace was heading off to a new job, and I was asked to create a handmade card for her send‑off. I wanted something thoughtful and elegant, so I settled on a simple but heartfelt theme: Just a note… to say you will be missed.

I chose a blue colour palette for this card. To start, I used some beautiful watercolour‑style patterned paper from Scrapbook.com. I die‑cut an arch from the paper and created a coordinating frame, then embossed it with a woodgrain folder to add subtle texture and interest. This was mounted onto a crisp white card base, letting the blue tones really shine.

For the focal point, I chose the Altenew Petite Mountain Aven dies. I cut three sets of the florals and blended Persian Blue ink over them to build depth and variation in the colour. A small touch of yellow in the centres brought the flowers to life and added just the right amount of contrast.

I added delicate gold leaves cut from the Sizzix Geo Floral Frame die set. The metallic accents worked beautifully with the blue palette and added a hint of elegance without overwhelming the card.

The sentiment was created using the Altenew Scripty Sentiments die, cut from a dark blue cardstock to tie everything together. To finish, I scattered a few small gold dots around the design for a subtle sparkle.

This card was fun to make and a lovely way to say goodbye while wishing someone well on their next adventure.

 

Pink Plaid Birthday

 There's a new challenge at Sweet Stampin' Challenge today - and the challenge is to use Gingham/Plaid. 

I did a couple of cards in different colours.  This first one is the one that will be on the blog today.

The background was stamped with the Catherine Pooler Plaid Background using It’s a Girl ink, with fine black pen details added. A die-cut panel (Gina K Master Layout 2) features a large Elizabeth Craft Designs sentiment, which was  placed ear the top to allow for a small bouquet of Sizzix and Spellbinders flowers with gem centres. The panel was matted in dark pink and mounted on a white card base.

For the second card I used Concord and 9^th Plaid background stamp with Catherine Pooler Fiesta Blue ink and used the stripes stamp in black ink.  Die cut the oval from Gina K Master Layout 1 to highlight the focal floral.  Used the rosebud from Elizabeth Craft Design to cut some Scrapbbok.com watercolour patterned paper.  Happy Birthday sentiment by Memory Box was foiled in black and die cut. Finished with some gold dots.

Do come and join us at Sweet Stampin' Challenge

Sunbird Spark - two different cards

 Hi - last day of the month, so time to share my projects for Die Cut Divas.... Two quite different cards using products from Sunbird Spark - our sponsor this month 

Sunbird Spark is a Vancouver (Canada) based paper craft supply company and the creator of the patented Stencils 360°™ stenciling tool. Formerly known as Penguin Palace, the brand is known for its innovative tools, high-quality photopolymer stamps, and its specially curated ink collection inspired by color psychology. Sunbird Spark is dedicated to inspiring creativity through bold color, versatile designs, and a passion for exceptional customer care, helping makers of all levels craft with confidence and joy.

First card using the Frame die called Bellezza Frame from Sunbird Spark and paired it with Sizzix Layered Summer Florals.  

I took the base layer of the Bellezza Frame and used a floral embossing folder for a bit of texture and then layered the outer frame on top.  I die cut the Sizzix  floral layers from a variety of coloured cards and layered together and added to the frame.   The sentiment is from Sunbird Spark Magnolia Beauty stamp and die set.   A big thanks to my teamie, Cindy, who sent me the stamped and die cut images, sentiments and die cut frames.  

Sunbird Spark also has a few digital stamps   So I purchased a cute little images to make a card for my grandson's birthday later this year. 

I printed the crane onto some card after adding this name and the number 3 to the image.  It's his 3rd birthday in June this year.   I used my Scan'n'Cut to cut it out and then used alcohol markers to colour it.   It used AI to find the background construction scene. I printed it and die cut with a Gina K die.  

More Stress Free Cardmaking Summit projects.

 I had some fun on Friday and Saturday playing with inspiration from the summit.  I really love getting the VIP classes.. so I can take my time to watch the classes and play along.

First card I did was inspired by Erin Reed's mixed media class. 

Erin provided a sheet with butterflies and sentiments to print out.  The butterflies are stunning and I chose this one.  I used some paints for my background - Dina Wakely, Reeves and Tim Holtz Distress Paint and a variety of stencils.    Did some pen scribbling on the background as well and added some splatters of the black paint.  Fussy cut the butterfly and trimmed the sentiment.  Just loved the results and will definitely be trying the background again. 

Next up are some cards I made inspired by Therese Calvid's embossing technique.   It's one I've tried before but it's an awesome one.   

 This was my first try but, I chose a patterned paper that was just a bit pale.   I embossed with a Christmas 3D folder and used Hero Arts Unicorn ink to blend over the top.   Added some sparkle pen on the flowers.   I wasn't sure about it, but made it into a card.   Sentiment was stamped in Catherine Pooler Icing on the Cake ink with a Kaisercraft sentiment.  

Card two turned out much better -

This time my patterned paper that was darker and the white ink really made the embossing pop.  I added a preprinted banner I had in my stash and added some off white homemade enamel dots.

And while I was playing finished off a green card I had embossed with the free folder I got when I was away.  It's a normal embossing folder and I wondered what it would look like if I inked it with the white.  Turns out it looks great. 

I decided to make it into a Christmas card.  I had some printed sentiments from last years summit and I die cut one and matted with some of the dark green card. I used a Sizzix die set to cut the leaves and red flowers.

Today didn't get any time to play but hopefully tomorrow - as it's a public holiday here in New Zealand.   A few more sessions to check out and try. 

Die Cuts at Sweet Stampin' Challenge.

 Time to share my sample for Sweet Stampin' Challenge.   Our challenge is to use Die Cuts....something that is right up my alley!

For this card I used a Sizzix die set called Geo Frames.  I got it a while ago from Spotlight here in NZ.  I die cut from a variety of card stock.  The frames are very narrow and most difficult to get on straight.  I off-set two of the frames and then added the flowers around the frame.   I used a little sentiment from Altenew's Summer Wishes.  Added splatters of Distress Spritz in Fossilised Amber.   

Use up those backgrounds....

 I have a lot of backgrounds sitting around... lots of blended, painted, smooshed etc.   It's been another cold and wet day, so after lunch I headed into the craft room and pulled out some of the of my backgrounds and decided what ones I could make into a card.  

I took a panel with greens and orange Distress paints on it.  I had been playing with the paints a few weeks ago.  I took a Stampin' Up wooden stamp from the Background Builder set and some Grey Denim ink from Altenew and added some subtle writing on the background.   I die cut the oval and it's layer with dies from Gina K Master Layouts 1.   I had picked up a Uniti stamp set from the Warehouse here in NZ - they were very cheap and cheerful but stamped lovely.  I used Hero Arts Navy ink to match the navy card used for the layer on the oval.  Next I took a piece of card that had orange paint on it and using the flowers from Sizzix Geo Floral Frames die set, cut two bigger and one smaller flowers.  Layered together and added the centre from the navy card.   Found a scrap of card with some green paint and together with two other shades of green, and die cut the four different leaves.   Added the flowers with 3D tape and then added the leaves directly to the card.   Layered the panel to navy card and then to a white base.  As this is not a colour combo I used much, I was thrilled at how it turned out.  

Entering this one into Darnell's NBUS challenge - first outing for the sentiment.