Use a Die: A Festive Christmas Card for Sweet Stampin’ Challenge

It’s my team’s turn to share some inspiration at SweetStampin’ Challenge, and this fortnight’s theme is one I always enjoy: “Use a Die.” I absolutely love dies and die cutting. I’ll admit I probably have far more dies than I need, but somehow, I still can’t resist adding more to my collection.

For today’s card, I used a die set I picked up from my local stationery store. They carry a small range of dies at very reasonable prices, and over the past few months I’ve collected a few Christmas designs. This card gave me the perfect excuse to use one of them.

I started by cutting the full die from red card. Then I cut the smaller pieces —the trees, stars, and topper — from green card and gold glitter card, before piecing everything together. To keep the die cut as the focal point, I created a simple background using white card embossed with the Altenew Dotty Circles 3D embossing folder.

The sentiment comes from an LDRS Christmas Stack and coordinating all-in-one die. I had already stamped and die cut the full stack, so I now have plenty of extra sentiments ready to use on future festive projects. To finish the design, I added a few red glitter dot embellishments for a touch of sparkle.

Once the main panel was complete, I cut it into a square, matted it with red card, and added it to a top-fold card base. The result is a bright, textured Christmas card with the die cut taking centre stage.

I hope this inspires you to get out your favourite dies and join us at Sweet Stampin’ Challenge. We’d love to see what you create!

Sweet Stampin’ Challenge: Stripes or Chevrons

Hi there! Can you believe it’s already the 1st of August? This year is absolutely flying by. Today I’m sharing my latest card for the Sweet Stampin’ Challenge, where this month’s theme is “Stripes or Chevrons.”

I started by looking through my patterned paper stash for something that would suit the theme, and I found a chevron paper that immediately sparked the idea for this card.

To build the design, I trimmed a panel of the chevron paper and placed it across the centre of the card front. From there, I chose the focal image and sentiment. Lucy from Peanuts was the perfect fit, and the sentiment from the Peanuts stamp set finished everything off beautifully.

I stamped Lucy onto white card, die cut her with an oval shape, and coloured the image with alcohol markers. I added a black lacy mat for contrast, then white embossed the sentiment directly onto the patterned paper. I love how the bold chevrons work with the classic character image to create a fun, cheerful card.

Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you’ll join us at Sweet Stampin’ and share your own striped or chevron-inspired creation!

Christmas in July with Sweet Stampin’ Challenge

I must confess: I completely forgot to make my card for the latest Sweet Stampin’ Challenge theme — Christmas in July!

To make things a little more interesting, I was away all weekend too, which meant I only had this afternoon to pull together something quick and easy. I had headed down to Tauranga, about a three-and-a-bit-hour drive south, for the Craft and Create event. I managed a quick half-hour visit on Friday after arriving, then went back on Sunday for another few hours.

Let’s just say I spent far too much — but came home with some amazing goodies, so I’m not complaining!

For this card, I used some gorgeous AALL & Create washi tape called Purry Christmas Surprise. I added the tape to white card -   cut it into strips and layered them together to create a panel. It is such a fun and easy product to work with, and it made the card come together really quickly.
Once the panel was finished, I trimmed it down and matted it with red card before adding it to a white panel and then onto the card base. To finish, I stamped a Rosie’s Studio sentiment from the Hearth and Home stamp set.

I hope you’ll come and join us at Sweet Stampin’ Challenge with your own Christmas projects. 

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.

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!

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

Red for Remembrance at Sweet Stampin' Challenge.

 Time to share my card for Sweet Stampin' Challenge.  Our theme this fortnight is Red for Remembrance.   We'd love to see you join us with your RED projects. 

I did a bit of mixed media for my background.   I'm enjoying trying out this technique at the moment. 

My background is some linen like cardstock and I did ink smooshing, and stenciling with some Altenew Coral Bliss ink, some stamping and stenciling using Altenew Cloudy Night and Silver Lake.  Used two different Kaisercraft inks.   Added some little bits of a napkin and added some stenciling with Nuvo Shimmer Paste for some texture.  For my flowers I used two dies... the flowerheads are Altenew Petite Mountain Aven Layering dies cut from red card and the stems from Birch Press Peony Duo Contour layers cut from green card.  I added some Altenew dark purple ink for the flowers shadow areas.   I added the flowers to the card and added a pre-printed sentiment.  Finished with some gold splatters of watered down Slippery when Wet Lunar paste.  

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.   

Animals at Sweet Stampin' Challenge.

 It's time to share my card for Sweet Stampin' Challenge.  Our challenge this fortnight is "Animals"

Took me a while to choose what Animal I wanted to use.   Went through my stamp sets and came across a couple of Crafter's Companion sets - and chose to use Simply Wild About You.  

Went with a very simple card...  die cut a Gina K Master Layouts 2 stitched rectangle and stamped the zebra  and sentiment.   Added some green and blue ink blending and then used a Tim Holtz spritzer tool (see below) - and some green watercolour markers to make some grass. 

Finished with some black dots. 

Do come and join us at Sweet Stampin' Challenge 

Anything but a Square.... at Sweet Stampin' Challenge

 Time for my team to share our inspiration for the latest challenge at Sweet Stampin' Challenge.   Our challenge this time is "Anything but a Square"

I could have done a rectangle card but decided to try out making a Rocker Card. 

I cut a 6" circle from white card using my Scan'N'Cut and then cut a 5.5" circle from some patterned paper.  Layered them together.  I stamp this cutie from Penny Black Tiny Wishes (discontinued)   It's from 2009 so been in my stash for a long time!  Used some watercolour Aqua Spectrum Noir pens to colour her.  I stamped on some more patterned paper and paper pieced her hat and dress.  I cut her out with a Spellbinders Nestibilities oval and scallop oval dies.  Finished with a pre-printed sentiment. 

Adding this to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes 

Summer cards at Sweet Stampin' Challenge

 Time to share my card for the challenge at Sweet Stampin' Challenge.  Our theme this fortnight is "You are my Sunshine - shows us your summer cards. 

It's winter time here in NZ - but summer to me, means spending time at the beach....

We live very close to a couple of beaches... and spend a bit of time there in the summer time.   My card is made using stamps and dies from Altenew. - Summer Wishes and Be Like a Lighthouse.   The card was inspired by the sample on the packaging.   I used a Penny Black mask/stencil for my sun and a combination of orange inks.   The water was from the Be Like a Lighthouse set, stamped in Starlight ink and then a bit of pale blue blended over it.  The shells and starfish are from Summer Wishes together with the sentiment.  The shells and starfish were stamped and then ink blended using the matching stencils before die cutting.  

Do come and join us with your summer projects 

One for the Boys at Sweet Stampin' Challenge

 Time for me to share my card sample for Sweet Stampin' Challenge - our challenge this time is 

FOR THE BOYS

I have decided to get the card made for my little Grandson - Finlay who turns 2 on the 23rd of June.  My card was inspired by a couple of cards I saw on Pinterest.   

I used dies, punches and freehand cutting to make my tractor and trailer.   Took ages to make, but so happy with how it turned out.  All my wheels and the clouds used Spellbinders circle and scalloped circle dies.  The steering wheel was a little tab die from Stampin' Up and the trailer was from a rounded rectangle die.  The smoke stack was a die from Altenew's Featured Sentiment die set.  The balloons are from an Elizabeth Craft Design set and the 2 from a Mama Elephant set.  Punch some mini circles from silver card with a handheld punch.   The sentiment is from a Gina K stamp set.

Do come join us Here with your projects for Boys!

CAS at Sweet Stampin' Challenge.

 It's time to share my latest card for our challenge at Sweet Stampin' Challenge   Our challenge this fortnight is CAS (Clean and Simple)

I had fun making this CAS (albeit two layers) card.   I used some linen look card and trimmed to just smaller than my A2(5.5"x 4.25") base.  I used my new Couture Creations score-board to add some embossed lines.   I used some of the printed vellum I made earlier this month, to die cut Birch Press Prime Peony Duo Contour Layers die.  I used my new Sticky Specks micro dot adhesive to layer together.  I'm loving this new to me adhesive.  Makes it easy to stick things together.   I used an older Hero Arts stamp set - All Occasion sentiments to stamp the sentiment with some Altenew Grey Denim Crisp ink.   

Do come and join us with your CAS projects. 

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Transport

 It's time to share my sample card for the latest challenge at Sweet Stampin' Challenge... Transport. 

I decided to upcycle a Christmas card I received a few years ago and had kept... I used a Gina K Master Layouts mini slimline die.  Summer holiday in a V-Dub van. The sentiment is a Craft Creations one- Merry Christmas in Māori.  Perfect as we recently had  Te Wiki o te Reo Māori - Māori Language Week.    

Choose a Country at Sweet Stampin' Challenge

We have a great challenge at Sweet Stampin' Challenge -  Choose a Country - (be inspired by the colours of the flag, the culture, the food.... the world is literally your oyster!)

I chose Japan for my country and was inspired by Cherry Blossom and Geishas

    

My Cherry Blossoms are Spellbinders Layered Cherry Blossom dies cut from some off-white card and using some Altenew inks (Dried Petals Fresh Dye ink set) to do a little ink blending in the centres.  I used some kraft card for the branches.  I used the same off white card to cut a panel and used Spellbinders Hemstitch Rectangles.  My little Geisha is an ancient (circa 2009) Hero Arts stamps - Four Dolls.  I used some of the Altenew pink inks to paint her and her matching fan, which I had fussy cut. The little sentiment is from a Catherine Pooler set - Birds of a Feather.  

Do come and join us at Sweet Stampin' Challenge.

Happy Earth Day - 22 April

 Hi there... It's time for my Sweet Stampin' challenge card.   I'm away from home so have scheduled this one.  As you read this, I'll heading back to Perth from our trip to Shark Bay - 8 hours or so north of Perth.  We were camping with the family... I should say that they are camping and we are sharing an AirBnB with the other parents... 

Anyway our challenge this fortnight is Earth Day/something recycled.  I manage to get both parts...

The strip of pattern down the left hand side is from a Tissue Box...I added some strips of dark green card down each side of it.   I found the Earth Day Logo on their internet page (here) and printed it out.  I used some dies from a Pinkfresh Studio mini slimline die.  Added some die cut Curvy leaves from Pinkfresh Studio.  Finished with three different colours of Altenew Enamel dots. 

Do come and join us at Sweet Stampin' Challenge.

Always Look On The Bright Side of Life

 Time for a new challenge at Sweet Stampin' Challenge.  Our challenge this fortnight is- Always Look on the Bright Side of Life - Use bright colours.

This one used my favourite Altenew Leafy Canopy and used a rainbow of Distress Oxides.  - Picked Raspberry, Ripe Permission, Fossilised Amber, Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean and Wilted Voilet.   Added some Distress Mica spray in Antique Bronze splatters.  The sentiment is from the same stamp set. Added a few multi coloured gems to finish.   

Come and join us at Sweet Stampin' Challenge.

Time for a tag at Sweet Stampin' Challenge

 Time for another challenge at Sweet Stampin' Challenge.   Our challenge is Tags...

I've been on roll with my Penny Black Snowy stamp.  And had one left from my watercolouring the other week.  So I decided to use it to make my tag for the challenge.  

The Cuttlebug Snowflake embossing folder makes the perfect pairing for this stamp.  I had Snowy coloured with Altenew watercolour paint.  Before doing the embossing, I stamped the sentiment onto the tag.  The tag was die cut from a Catherine Pooler set.  The background was lightly smeared with Nuvo Glimmer paste and once Snowy was added, a few Nuvo iridescent flat sequins.  

I am entering this one into the Penny Black Saturday Challenge - for September. 

Do come and join us at Sweet Stampin' Challenge. 

Weddings/Anniversaries at Sweet Stampin' Challenge

 Time for another challenge at Sweet Stampin' Challenge blog... and our theme is Weddings / Anniversaries.  

I chose to use the Anniversaries theme. 

I started by stamping the gorgeous Protea stamp from Rosie's Studio - Natures Gift.  I used my Spectrum Noir Tri-blends.  Added some soft blue blending around it.   The sentiment is from a New Zealand company called Montarga Stamps.  I picked this one up at the Craft Fair last month.  

I've scheduled this post as I will be most likely sitting in the airport in Perth, Australia, waiting for my flight home after spending 3 weeks with my daughter, her hubby and my grandsons.  

No Designer Paper - Sweet Stampin' Challenge.

 Hi - it's time for a new challenge at Sweet Stampin' Challenge.   Our challenge this time is "No Designer Paper/No Patterned Paper"

Although I have a lot of patterned paper in my stash, I still prefer just using stamping or die cutting...

 Today I have a "twofer" to share inspired by Natasha Foote (here)

I used a Woodware stamp - Floral Wonder.  I cut two panels from light and dark blue card -both 4" x 5.25" and then using my MISTI I stamped with Versamark and embossed with Altenew Silver EP.  Next I stacked the two panels together and used an Impress 3 in 1 nesting circle die, cut out the centre of the panels.  I added some double sided paper to the back and swapped the circles - matching up the embossing.   I then used some of the same blue card to cut out the Love You So die from Concord & 9th and used some vellum behind the dies.  

Do come and join us at Sweet Stampin' Challenge with your projects.

PS... our beautiful grandson Finlay George Dunning made his presence know rather quickly, early on Friday morning ... surprising Mummy and Daddy by being born at home!  Thank goodness, the paramedics arrived in time to deliver him.   Big brother Archie was very happy to meet him so soon after he was born.  Happy Nanny and Pop here in NZ.  Can't wait till 28 July when we will get our cuddles.