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!

Let it Snow - Christmas Kickstart October challenge

 Just popping in to share my last minute card for Christmas Kickstart Challenge for October - Snow Alert.

I got my order from Scrapbook.com yesterday and included was a TCW (The Crafters Workshop) layering stencil - Toasty Snowman.  It was a freebie with my order. Once the housework was done, I found a few moments to give it a go.

Isn't he cute!  There are three layers and a fourth with 2 large sentiments.   I just did the three layers with a variety of Altenew inks.   I then coloured his hat with a black marker and added some glossy accents to his eyes and nose.   A little Waffle Flower sentiment finished this quick card.   

I also got a free snowflake stamp so can't wait to use that the snowflake dies I purchased.

Happy crafting everyone

Craft Roulette #225

 Episode #225 - my 19th submission.   I watched the replay in the weekend and yesterday I made my card.  

An A2 card - with tea party colours - inspired by pretty floral tea cups.  House pet is my little kitty cat and stripes - embossed stripes on the base layer, kitty has grey stripes and the sunshine stripes shining down.  The cat stamp is an older cling from Penny Black - called You are the Bestest.  I stamped with Versafine Onxy Black ink and clear embossed it.  I painted it with Zig Markers.  I added the grass with a Copic marker, and used Distress Oxides to stencil the sunshine stripes.   Finished with a little pre-printed sentiment from Creative Expressions.  

Stencilled Leaves - Two ways

 Hi there.... Here in Auckland, we have gained a little bit more freedom... we can now visit shops but still no cafes or hospitality.  I had to go to the Post Shop to get some envelopes to send my overseas cards and I came across a crafting magazine.  It's over 9 months old but it was so good to get one.  It had two stamp sets and a stencil with it.   I love that there is always so much inspiration on how to use the goodies. 

I managed to get a couple of cards done... inspired by three different cards in the magazine.  I took ideas from them all to make these.

First up is one using a stencilling technique shown.... 

 For this technique, I blended Distress Oxide ink over my white card base.  With the stencil still in place I placed a wet wipe over it and ran it through my cuttlebug. Once you heat dry it, the leaves get more and more bleached looking.   Plus it feels like velvet.  I changed up the centre panel from inspiration card from a rectangle to an oval.  I stamped the leaves and fussy card some little buds - both from the stamp sets with the magazine.  

Second card was again inspired by one in the magazine.  That one was a larger 5" x 7" card - where I used an A2 US sized card.  

I used the stencil to make my two panels.  All my glitter gels had dried up so I thought I would try with some Kindyglitz glitter glue - and yes it worked.... It take a while to dry but loved how it turned out... just a little grungy.   I took the large leave stem and gold embossed it onto cream pearl card, white pearl card and heavy weight vellum.  I fussy cut - trimming the bottom 4 leaves so I could add them as a brunch onto a little bit of card before adding to the blue panel.  Added a gold bow.  I added the sentiment onto a blue circle with the gold embossing powder and added a vellum circle behind it. 

I had such fun trying out these different ways to use the stencil.  There were a couple more different techniques I want to try out as well.  

Tomorrow I'm off for a hair cut... first one since end of June...I have to show my Vaccine Pass to confirm I am double vaccinated, I have to sign in with the Covid Tracer and wear a mask, although I can take it off once I'm in the chair.  I can't wait to get it tidied up.  I want to keep it a bit longer but it does need shaping.  

Take care everyone.  

Butterfly Floating Panel card.

 Happy Saturday... To quote Jennifer McGuire... "Today is a good day"

The sun was shining and we are in level 3 so a bit more freedom.  Hubby and I went crusin' this afternoon.  Recently he bought himself a 1977 MG soft top convertible . A super cute little red cruiser and we took a drive with the hood down... and had a beer and coffee - takeaway and contactless pickup before heading over the Harbour Bridge and back...

Prior to leaving I had been watching a video tutorial from a New Zealand stamper - Her name is Natasha and she lives in my home town of Dunedin.  Her channel on You Tube is HERE  Today her video was called Floating Panel cards.  So after we got back I headed to the craft room and came up with this card

I decided to use this fantastic Altenew Dovetail Butterfly.  I stamped it towards the bottome of my card panel.  I did a bit of googling to find out what colours this butterfly is.  I then took my Woodless Watercolour Pencils to add the colour.  I then did the cutting and fussy cutting around the butterfly and chose to make my panel turquoise to match the blues in the butterfly.  I used a TWC stencil and Altenew Turquoise ink to add some interest to the panel.  I used a sentiment from the stamp set - love that it has favourite spelt the way we use it here in NZ - I finished with a few little silver gems. 

Trying to find the missing Mojo!

 Hi there.... well after a week away and a busy week back at work.... the old Mojo has been missing.  So I decided to just play around today.  I pulled out some of my pre-made backgrounds and found one I liked. To be honest, I not sure how I did it, but know it was a stencilled one. 

I think it's a type of Joseph's Coat technique using a stencil.  I die cut it and added a white border and then added to a black base.  I used a Gina K flag die with a bit of extending done.  The sentiment is also from Gina K.  Love the sentiments in the Wreath Builder set.  Added the little flourish from the set as well. 

Next up I thought I'd make a card for the Christmas Kickstart Challenge...

I had some Christmas images stamped and die cut in my stash - so again pulled them out and did some colouring.

This is a mini slimline.  I used an embossing folder to add the holly and berries to a red panel that I layered onto a gold panel.  The middle sentiment circle was popped up.  I added some glossy accents to the reindeer's nose. 

We had a lovely week away and enjoyed great weather - apart from one afternoon.  It was cold and raining the afternoon we got to Gisborne.   And now only three and a half weeks till the wedding and another week off to spend time with the family. 

CAS stencil with Foiling

I saw that the latest CAS Stencil challenge has been posted and this time the key word is "Foil"

This week I bought myself the WRMK Foil Quill set for my Scan'n'Cut and also the medium freestyle pen.  I haven't tried the machine yet, but thought this challenge would help me get started with the freestyle pen.

I chose to try it out with an Altenew Stencil (Flowing Hearts)

I used the pen to colour in the stencil... a few missing bits and pieces but overall I was very happy with the results.    I've added a sentiment strip from the Altenew Sentiments strips set.  I trimmed the panel and layered it onto some red card.  Added a few gold sequins to finish.  Even though there are a few layers and some sequins I think it is still CAS enough.

I've had a lovely day today... Yesterday was Waitangi Day (New Zealand's national day) so I took the day off today to make a 4 day weekend.  Hubby had to do his job in the morning and afternoon - He drives a mini van to take Special Needs children to and from school.  So once he was home this morning we did the housework and then the grocery shopping.  After lunch he headed back to do the afternoon run and I made this card before heading to the beach for a swim and sunbathe.  We've been having some super warm days over the last three weeks or so.

Thanks for stopping by today. 

AECP - Impressive Heat Embossing.

I have been a bit slack at doing my Level 2 classes at the Altenew Academy - so yesterday and today I worked on Impressive Heat Embossing.  This awesome class was lead by Svetlana Marchenko and challenge you with ways to use Heat Embossing.  The classes covered a number of different ways to use Heat Embossing. I learnt a lot taking this class when I first did it back in 2017.  I spend some time over the weekend reacquainting myself with the class.

My first idea was to use layering on vellum and I decided to use my Peony Bouquet set.  I got this set back in 2016 when it came out and have to say it is very well used - so well used I struggled to see through the staining to line up my layers...

 

I tried so many times, then asked advice from the Facebook page - Altenew Fan Group... Tried out what was suggest but still had not success.  Think I'll have to purchase a new set!   However I will be trying out the technique I was using with a newer set in the near future.

So onto idea number two.  This was using a stencil to do some embossing.  I ended up doing a very simple embossing and then used embossing powder to make a die sentiment embellishment. 

 I started my blending Baby Pink and Firefly inks through the Floral Garden stencils.  Once it had dried I used the stencil and a Versamark pen to added some dots of Altenew Rose Gold embossing powder.   I die cut the Mega Hello die and added versamark all over it and sprinkled the Rose Gold powder twice to get a lovely smooth die cut element.    I finished with a sentiment from Versatile Vases set, stamped with Obsidian Black ink (best ink EVER!) 

I really enjoyed re doing the class this weekend.   Svetlana was an awesome tutor and showed us 6 great ways to use Heat embossing on our cards.  

Thanks for stopping by today...

For the Guys

I  have been working on my Altenew Educator Certification this week.

I have been taking the For the Guys class.  Lots of great ideas for making cards for the men/boys in your life.   I love the ideas provided by Jennifer.  I was inspired by the geometric cards she did...

I used the Cube Builder stencil to make my background.  Love the geometric look it makes.  I added the fabulous sentiment from Birthday Bash Stamp set.  I die cut the sentiment with a Spellbinders die which I kept on the die cut and sponged with blue and green inks. 

This will be heading it's way to Perth for my son-in-law's birthday later this month. 

Thanks for stopping by. 

Two for One technique piece with Marching Leaves

My Stamp of Approval, Counting Blessing box finally arrived at my place on Friday evening and come Sunday I got some time to play.  I have some lovely Cosmic Shimmer Glitter Kiss in Golden Sand and decided it might look good through the Marching Leaves stencil..... and it did!

I took the technique piece and made two cards out of it.

 

I cut the panel into two with a Spellbinders edge die and then cut a matching scallop from Kraft card.  The sentiment was embossed with Platinum powder and I added the panel with pop dots

And for this one, I used the other half of the panel.  I die cut a strip of bronze glitter paper and then another Spellbinders edge die.  This time I white embossed the sentiment. 

I'm loving the Stamp of Approval box and can't wait to get a few more cards made, although, I'm taking a break for a few days....I'm going away from Thurs to Monday evening... 

Summer Time over at StampNation

Yes it's time for my first card as part of the StampNation Challenge design team.   And our challenge is Summer....

Are you a member of StampNation?   If not, please check it out... it's a great place to hang out and craft with friends all over the world.   

Thanks for stopping by.