Altenew Live Challenge - Ombre

 I watched Jen's Live Challenge on replay over the weekend and had some fun making an ombre background and some ombre florals.

I started by ink blending the four colours from Lapis Lazuli Crisp Dye inks.  I took a Tim Holtz stencil - Doily and then used the darkest of the colours to add the stenciling.   I trimmed the panel and matted with a die cut from Gina K Master Layout 2.  Love how this leaves a good sized border on the card base.  To make my flowers I used Altenew Zero-Waste 3D Floral cover plate and die cut from white card.  Used the Lapis Lazuli inks and Deep Blue Seas inks to add the blues - in a gradient way.  Also used some greens for the leaves in a gradient as well.    Added a sentiment with the Scripty Sentiment die.  I had some pearlescent Charcoal acrylic ink on a scrap from some over paint on my gelli plate and once it dry was a lovely shimmery colour and was perfect for this sentiment.  Used white for the shadow layer.   This one has lots of dimension so will need to make a box envelope for it. 

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope your weekend has been as crafty as mine.  

Christmas inspired by Stress Free Cardmaking Summit

 It's been a busy weekend.  Had a lovely lunch with my friend, Yvonne, and all her family to celebrate her 70th on Saturday.  Got home around 4pm and hit the computer to watch some of the presentations from the Stress Free Cardmaking Summit.   OMG - what amazing presenters and their projects.... Quick, easy and stress free!  I started with Ardyth Percy-Robb and her stenciling ideas.   

This one was inspired by Ardyth's idea of masking off part of a stencil to use it differently.   I took a Tim Holtz stencil (Festive) and masked off one of the Holly Leaves.  I used Distress Oxide inks to add the colour and added some red Nuvo Drops.  To keep it CAS I just added a sentiment.  It's a Woodblock stamp from Paper Inspirations (circa 2005) called Favorite Things Calligraphy - stamped in Altenew Charcoal Suit grey ink.  To give the look of matting, I did a faux matting by masking off the edges and using a Copic marker. 

My next card utilised the ink left on the stencil - I sprayed with water and used it to "print" a panel.  I then took inspiration from Julia - used an embossing folder. 

Once I dried the background (you can just make out the stenciled pattern) I ran it through my machine with a Couture Creations folder (Joyful Wishes).   It's only a 2D folder so rather than inking up the folder, I swiped some Mowed Lawn Distress Oxide across it.  Was really happy with the results.  To finish I took a Couture Creations Ringing Bells stamp that I had cut with my Scan'n'Cut.  I used some Tri-blends to colour with a touch of silver pen.  I also added some Spectrum Noir Sparkle pen to it as well.   Mounted on a silver glitter circle. 

And my final card was inspired by Joy's alcohol ink backgrounds.   Must say I can't even remember when I last used my alcohol inks!  I used the matt side of some photo paper like Joy used, and used a half a large sheet to get two backgrounds.  

When with the green theme again... used three different green inks, lots of blending solution and added some gold foil. I trimmed it and added to a card base.  I used a Concord & 9th sentiment from Big on Christmas stamp and die set.   Black stamping and clear embossing on vellum before doing the die cut.  The snowflakes are from a magazine freebie set cut with white paper and added some Nuvo iridescent flat sequins. 

And I still have a panel of green ink to use 

Big thanks if you made it this far.  I appreciate your visit.   

 

A Blue Kitty...

 My local swap group had a fun challenge this month... sketch with the image to be an animal and should be coloured in colours they normally are not!

I followed the sketch closely and used a Blue Kitty 

I used a pink panel from my stash - think it's the "mop up" of some pink ink.  I die cut it with a Gina K Master Layout dies.  I die cut a white circle and embossed it with a folder called Kitchen Weave from Cuttlebug.  Used two Spellbinders petite circles to cut the frame.  My blue kitty is a a Tim Holtz stamp, as is the matching sentiment.  The cat is from Crazy Cats and the sentiment from Snarky Cats.  Added some blue glitter to the die cut heart for some sparkle. 

It is always fun to see what everyone comes up with each month.  

Happy World Card Making Day

 I made the most of this being a weekend of card making for me... Today - Sunday 8th is still WCMD on the other side of the world. 

Some of these were made on Saturday 7th and finished today. 

First up is another cat card for Christmas Kickstart - Cat Lovers Challenge.

Some of one of my new patterned paper with a Tim Holtz - Snarky Christmas Cat.  Sentiment from a now defunct NZ coy called Kiwistamping. 

Next a card inspired by Jess Crafts (from the SFCS)  - again using some of one of the new paper packs.

I also was inspired by Crafty Al... using ephemera.   I used Jess's design.  My paper was double sided - patterned on one side and plain on the other. So I used two sheets to get what I needed.   I used the reverse side for the focal panel and used some Anko ephemera (Floral set).  The little stamp is from a NZ company called Hastings Stamps.  

Third one - again inspired by Crafty Al from the Stress Free Cardmaking Summit. 

For this one, I took Al's design and stepped it up.  She provided a video with a lot of ways to step up the original design.  For this one, I use a Gina K embossing folder after I had done the soft green inking.  Added the ephemera from a Kaisercraft pack.  The sentiment was a freebie from Crafty Al which I printed and trimmed.  

I had a lovely visit from my son and his two girls....

Our Princesses  

Video call this afternoon - cousins  together!  

thanks for stopping by - hope you managed to get some card making done this World Card Making Day.  

Day 2 at SENZ - back for more fun.

 Today I went back to SENZ for another class.... actually ended up doing two classes.    I was already booked into a mini class with Krafter's Cart - using Pinkfresh Studios.  Patricia was teaching this one and we did three cards.... however I messed up one so ended up keeping the focal panel and I'll try the fancy fold again. 

Here are the two I finished.  

This first one is a interactive one... The circle spins.. It's a super easy design - the base and then the circle is attached with a brad.   They all use washi tape and the matching dies from Pinkfresh Studios.  

The second one is a variation on the trellis card technique.  The inside has a die cut panel.  The focal panel is a square panel with the florals added.  The florals are added with some dimensional tape.  The sentiment is heat embossed and die cut. 

The third card I messed up has a similar square panel but had a 3D column look which was supposed to fold flat... but somehow mine didn't! 

I had done a quick make'n'take with Chick from Scrapbook Central just before doing the above class... and Chick said she has space on her Distress Oxide stamping class at 11.30 - so I signed up.   We did one card and got bonus instructions for another using the same products 

This card is so simple but so effective.   Stamping with Distress Oxide inks.  The bottom layer is sprayed with water and then stamped and sprayed again.. this time with some Frost Sparkle spray.  Once this was dried, stamped with a darker blue DO and dried again... then the top layer stamped with Versamark ink and white embossed.   All the floral stamps are from a Tim Holtz stamp set.   The Memory Box birthday die was 2 white layers and the top layer in gold glitter card.   Added some little gold die cut butterflies.    The bonus card uses the DO to ink a panel and then using the shimmer spray to ink the stamps.   Haven't tried it yet.  Of course, I needed to get some more DO inks... a couple of colours I didn't have and some more Sparkle spray   - and some more of  the Waffleflower stencils to match the Postage Collage die!    That's my crafting budget for the rest of the year!!!!

I got home and as hubby was out... had a bit more of a play with some of my new stuff.   Happy, happy Dawn for sure!!!!

Paper Piecing - inspired by Michelle Short.

 I realised I didn't share this card when I made it a couple of weeks ago.  

I was inspired by a video from Michelle Short (https://tinyurl.com/y89azccx) - where she did some paper piecing using Altenew's Paint a Flower Chamomile set.   It was a delightful card and I CASE'd it 

 I stamped the image onto some white card and onto some brown patterned paper. I fussy cut the pitcher from the brown patterned paper and layered it onto the white image.   I added some brown makers to give it dimension.  I added some colour to the flowers and then fussy cut the whole image.  Michelle does the most amazing tags so I also added my image onto a tag.  I trimmed some green gingham to added to the bottom of the tag,  Added a little stripe of black to edge it.  I added the fussy cut image with dimensional tape.  For my background I die cut a panel with a Gina K Master Layout and used a Tim Holtz Sizzix brick die, layered onto a black layer before adding to a white card base.  Added a little stamped sentiment. 

Hope you all had or are having a great weekend.   I got to spend a bit of time in the craft room working on some DT work and also having a play with Grace  - she did some brayering, swinking, and using some punches.  Now I have three or four panels of solid Distress Oxide colours waiting to be used as well as some multi coloured smooshed panels. 

Poinsettia and Pinecones

 Hi there.   I saw the latest Christmas Kickstart Challenge is "Poinsettias and Posies"   I LOVE my Poinsettia stamps and dies.... I have a few!    But recently my friend Arlene gifted me a fabulous Elizabeth Craft Designs die set called Christmas Accents.... 

The die set is two Poinsettias and two pinecones.   I made a very simple posy of the flowers and cones. 

 I die cut the pieces in a variety of coloured card stock and layer together.   I added a green enamel dot (Altenew) to the centre of each one.   To give my background a bit of texture, I used a Tim Holtz stencil (Holly Bough) to emboss the panel.  My all time favourite Gina K master layouts 2 was used for the panel and it's layer.   The finishing touch was a red foiled sentiment from Spellbinder's Yana's Christmas Sentiments hot foil and die set.  

I'm also entering this into Darnell's NBUS (Never before used Schtuff) as it was the first outing for the Elizabeth Crafts dies and also the Spellbinders foiling & die set.   

and also entering into The Flower Challenge # 73 - Use a sentiment.

After almost a week of wet weather we've had two quite nice days.  Cold mornings but warmer in the afternoons.   Hubby is praying for NO rain for the next few days so he can get the deck stained/oiled.  

Faux Torn Mosaic technique.

 This month's technique challenge at my NZ swap group was chosen by Jude.  She chose a technique called Faux Torn Mosaic - based on a tutorial she had seen on Splitcoaststampers... you can see it here.  Jude also said she wanted to see a card that would put a smile on the swappee's face. 

So here's what I did for Suze.  

I took some patterned paper and tore into stripes and then into little bits. It was a bit messy using Distress ink to add colour around the edges of each piece but got there in the end.  I then glued them onto a piece of card  I used some Ranger Multi Medium so I was able to coat the entire page.  I added script stamping  in the corners.  I had this little Tim Holtz Snarky cat already stamped so coloured with some pencils before fussy cutting.   I stamped the sentiment and doodled around it.  

I had fun doing this one even though it was messy.

Use Numbers at Sweet Stampin' Challenge

 Hi there.  It's time for my team to shine at Sweet Stampin' Challenge.  Our theme this month is Use Numbers.   I chose to make a piece of home decor 

I used some Tim Holtz stamps from a set called Persective.   I stamped the numbers background twice in Catherine Pooler Black Jack ink.   I stamped the Butterfly from the set onto some dotted vellum and coloured the back with green alcohol pens - hard to photographic so looking a bit black.   I stamped the the sentiment onto white card and then trimmed it out in each line.   I added it to some black card and cut it to size for my frame.  

Humorous Card for our NZ swap group.

Our NZ swap group this month has a challenge - to use a funny image or an animal stamp with a funny saying to cheer us all up.  My card this month went to Maxine.  

 I used one of the Tim Holtz Snarky Cats - with one of the sentiments.   I kept the card simple.  The sentiment is so relatable for me this week - my first week back after 4 weeks on leave.   Some of my colleagues really made drove me nuts!  

NZ has now got Omicron in the community and from midnight we are tightening and adding some restriction.  You need to have your vaccine pass to get into places, limiting numbers in restaurants and cafes.  Masks are to be worn at all times inside.  At work we will be moving to working in two bubbles on alternative days most likely to minimise the risk of infection.  

Take care out there people.   

World Cardmaking Day - October 2nd

 Hi there... Saturday 2nd October is World Cardmaking Day....As we here in NZ get to play a bit earlier than the other half of the world... I did get some time to play today (and am planning to play tomorrow with some of the wonderful challenges coming up)

I made three cards today.... one A2 sized, one tiny note card and one mini slimline.  

My first card is made for a new to me challenge.  One of my design teamies (Tristan) is now desiging for Just Add Ink  Their latest challenge is Choose Two

I chose Sunshine and Silhouette.

I cut my panel with Gina K Master Layouts 2 and used some washi to mask a frame aound it.  I used a Tim Holtz stencil to add my sunshine using inks from Altenew.  Once I finsihed I took three sides of the washi off, leaving the bottom piece.  I took some stamps from Catherine Pooler's Wild Garden stamp set for my my silhouette stamping.  The sentiment is from an Altenew stamp set.  

Next up is a mini note card.  The base came about when I cut down a pre folded base to a mini slimline size.  This one is 2.25" X 3" size. (although it looks bigger in my photo)

I used a little die rectangle from one of Gina K's Master Layouts.  I had some ink of my blending tool from my first card so I used a Hero Arts stencil (Crossing Waves) that Karren send me.  The leaf is from an Altenew mini stamp set called Bitty Botanicals and the Thank You from the mini set called Best Sentiments.   I'm giving this note card to a friend who ordered two masks from me.  I had the fabric cut out, so earlier today I sewed them.  Plus another one for both hubby and myself.  

And my third card for the day - using new dies that arrived yesterday.   I am loving the 3.25" x 6.25" mini slimline size and had ordered the Pink Fresh Studio Mini Slimline Essential Bundle.  Plus I got Altenew Itty Bitty Flowers die set.  

I cut a white frame using one of the Pink Fresh Studio dies. For my flowers I took a scrap of white card and used my blending tool and Altenew's Wisteria, Hydrangea and Ultramarine inks to make my own coloured card.  I cut the layers and glue them.  Used some dark brown card to cut the branch.  Added the flowers and then added a little gold gem in the centre of some of the flowers.  The sentiment is from Altenew Engraved Flowers set.  I just couldn't get a good photo.  Even struggled to edit it.  

Enjoy spending some time crafting over the weekend and Happy World Cardmaking Day 

Funny, Ho Ho.

 Love the theme of this months challenge at Christmas Kickstart.   They want  to see comical, amusing, funny Christmas cards. I immediately thought of my Tim Holtz Snarky Christmas Cats.

I love this snarky set.   I stamped the cat wrapped in his scraf and pair it with this humorous sentiment.  I used Gina k Master Layouts to do my layers.  I love using all the sets I have to make my cards.    

This was a quick card and I managed to get it done in my lunch break today.   I give myself 45 minutes for a lunch break, enough time for a sandwich and a bit of crafting time!  

Take care

I went shopping....at the Craft Fair

 Today was the first day of SENZ.... the Scrapbooking Expo NZ.  After being cancelled last year due to COVID.... it was great to get back to having a Craft Fair.  There weren't as many exhibitors as in the past but I still had a good spend up.  My friend Suna and I went together and ended up in the photo that went up on the SENZ Facebook page....

I bought a few things.... some stuff on my list and some not!

Suna and I spent around 3 hours at the Craft Fair then headed back over to the Shore and had lunch in Takapuna.  I was home by 2.30 so headed straight into the craft room to have a play!

I've been wanting to get Tim Holtz's Snarky Cats since last year and finally found them today as well as the Christmas Snarky Cats...and so I made a card.  

This was isnpired by a card I saw on Pinterest.  I had a lovely piece of foiled paper that was white but I used some dark red inks to blend over it.  I stamped the cat onto some Bristol card and use some Zig Markers and added some ink blending around the cat.  The sentiment was stamped on a strip of black to imitate Santa's belt.   I'm adding this into this month's challege at Christams Kickstart is "Woolly, Fluffy or Furry" 

I got one other cardalmost  made before the family arrived to spend some time with us.  Grace is growing so quickly so was happy to see her and my son and daughter-in-law.  

Next Saturday night she is coming for her first sleepover.  So looking forward to having her stay.  

I'm going to be busy crafting over the next little while after this big haul. 

WWC 313: Tristan's Challenge - All Things Masculine

Hello there, it’s time for another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  Tristan is our hostess this week with All Things Masculine challenge.

My card today is a Birthday card.  

This is a mini slim line - just a little bit smaller.  Mini's are usually 3 1/2" x 6 1/2" - but I accidently cut this one to 3 1/2" x 6" -  Just perfect to showcase this cute Tim Holtz Blueprint stamp.  It was part of Simon Says Stamp Stamptember - way back in 2015 and believe it or not... this is the first time this one has been inked up!  I stamped it directly on the case base and used Copic markers to colour it.  The sentiment is from another Tim Holtz set.   A truly CAS card. 

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!

WWC - Dawns Challenge: Anything Masculine Goes

 Hello there, it’s time for another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  I'm the hostess this week with an Anything Goes Masculine Challenge.

My friend, Carol, stamped off some Tim Holtz Snarky cats stamps for me -  I haven't been able to get my hands on the stamp set yet!  

I coloured the kitty with some Prismacolor pencils and fussy cut it.  I used Gina K Master Layouts 2 to cut my PP and the centre panel.  I used an Altenew mini stamp "Coffee Ring" with some Hazelnut ink to add to the white panel.  I trimmed out the sentiment and added it and the kitty to the centre panel. 

Come and join in the fun at  Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and check out the projects 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.

Using wrapping paper on your card

 Hi there.  Since lockdown I have been watching Gina K doing her FB and You Tube lives.  She is very inspiring.  I don't have many Gina K products but managed to get her Master Layouts  1,2 & 3.   Yesterday Gina made cards using Christmas Wrapping paper.  I thought I'd give it a go as I have some scrappy pieces of paper left from wrapping presents. 

I used Spellbinders dies to cut out the Santa from the paper and added it to a scalloped red circle.  I used Master Layouts 3 to make the white and red layers.  Gina used her score board to add texture and I did the same.  The flag die cut is also from the same die set.  The sentiment is from a Tim Holtz set.   I wish I had thought to do this earlier!  

I am entering this at Christmas Kickstart challenge - If it's Christmmasy - link it up 

Today was my last day at work for the next 2 and bit weeks.  Back to the office on the 11th January.  Totally need a break after the tumultuous year that has been 2020.  Take care all my friends.  

WWC292 - Dawn's Challenge: Anything Goes With a Feminine Twist

 Hi there.  Today it's my turn to be the hostess at Watercooler Wednesday and I have an Anything Goes With a Feminine Twist.  

I love making floral cards and nothing says Feminine than flowers.   Today my card is using a new to me stamp from Altenew - Paint a Flower Calla Lily.

My neighbour has some white Calla Lilies in her garden which inspired me to have a go at doing some white ones.  I did make a bit of a boo boo with one of the leaves... colouring in an area that really wasn't a leaf!  However I think it turned out ok. I used Zig Markers to colour in the image.  I added a very CAS sentiment from a Tim Holtz set.  I decided to keep it simple and did not add any embellishments.  I trimmed the panel and added to a white card base.  I'll be sending this to my Dad's partner for her birthday in a couple of weeks. 

Come and join in the fun at Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and check out the projects 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 5pm Mountain Standard Time (Tuesday at 11.00am NZ time) to link up your project. 

Thanks for stopping by.  Your visit is appreciated and I would love if you want to leave me a message with your thoughts. 

Christmas Crazy Bird

Hi there.  I really wanted to take part in Jo's Christmas Kickstart Challenge.

As you can see the challenge is Christmas Birds.  I wanted to try something a bit crazy............ using Tim Holtz Crazy Birds

 I don't have the accessories stamps but my friend Suna does, so I got her to stamp the hat and send me it to me. I coloured and  add to the bird.  I used the pine branches and sentiment from Sunny Studios Holiday Style stamps,  I stamped the TH Bird and coloured him with Copics.  I had added some Kindyglitz to the hat and added it to the bird.  I added just a few flat gold sequins and some dark red sequins to the tree.

It's been a busy week. Still working from home - will be working from home again next week then it's back to three days in the office and two at home.    And very excited that on Thursday our new kitchen installation started.  The installer was here today as well and is back on Monday to finish the first part.  Then Tues the bench people come to make the template for the bench-top.  That should take about  days,  Once that's in, the kitchen installer is back to to the overbench pantry and the rangehood cupboard

Here are all the bits starting to go in and below is the detailing on our drawers.

 No handles - just recessed with a wood melamine trim.

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great weekend