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. 

Change HOW you use your Supplies....

 On Saturday I was browsing through my You Tube subscriptions and saw Natasha Foote had her latest video up  - Change How you use your SUPPLIES...  It give an idea to use with some of those cover dies - to stretch the look. 

I decided straight away on what die would be awesome to use.  Interlocking cover die from Penny Black... and I was right!

I used a couple of Spellbinders dies (Petite Mini Circles and Petite Mini Scallops) to cut the hole in the coverplate and to make my masks for stamping and stenciling.  I masked off the circle and then used Altenew Coral Bliss and Rubellite inks to blend over the background.   Then I used the reverse mask to stamp the Woodware Floral Wonder stamp and the sentiment from Altenew - Sweetest Peas set.  I then added the cover die cut and the scalloped circle to the panel.  The stamping was coloured with my Spectrum Noir Tri-blends.  A few Pinkfresh Irridescent clear drops finished the card.   So happy with the results. 

Today is a public holiday here in New Zealand.   Celebrating Waitangi Day - it marks the anniversary of the initial signing – on 6 February 1840 – of the Treaty of Waitangi, which is regarded as the founding document of the nation.   It started of a wet sort of day, but now the sun is shining and it's very humid so I headed indoors to do some crafting.   More on that in another post - 

Happy crafting everyone.

OCC Spring Card Camp 2022 - Day 3 & 4

Note: Photo heavy post 

Hi there.   After feeling really blah on Friday - and not doing anything other than watching my class videos, I had a better day on Saturday and got a lot of backgrounds made with the techniques.  And today, was feeling even better so got 4 cards made...

Day 3 - 2 for 1 inked backgrounds.   Our tutors were Kristina Werner and Jenny Colacicco.  Kristina showed us techniques using a Gel Plate or even stamps and Jenny did a stencil technique using watercolour paper with ink and water.   I didn't get get around to doing any of Jenny's techniques so my first three cards are using Kristina's technique with the Gel Press. 

Kristina used a 6" round gel plate - I used a rectangle plate but liked the look of a circle so cut out a circle from card to make a mask.  I only have a few Distress Oxide inks - mainly in soft colours so had a go.  First go used some Wilted Violet DO and Broken China.  I used a Memory Box stencil (Raymelle) and added a layer with a touch of Worn Lipstick.  I got a bit of ink where I didn't want it... so trimmed the panel down and added a lilac card backing and some purple metallic washi.  Kristina did a bit of faux stitching on her cards so I tried it too.  The sentiment is from Kaisercraft and I die cut some little hearts from different die sets..

I tried again with some more of the Worn Lipstick and Wilted Violet.  

I did added some of the blue ink as well.  For this one, I trimmed the panel down and added a frame I had in my "stuff to be used" bowls.  I added two layers of thin stripes of card for dimension. I did the same for the sentiment... it's the centre of Altenew's Circled Greetings - hello.  Just cut out the sentiment bit.  Added a sub-sentiment from Hero Arts Stamp and Cut Hello set.   Finished with a few pearls.

My third cards is the Twofer bit of the above ones...  As I was using the brayer to add the ink to the gel plate, I brayer-ed the extra ink onto a card to get some lovely interesting patterns. This is what I made with that panel 

I trimmed the panel down and using Altenew's Antique Silver powder, embossed the Woodware set - Floral Wonder by Jane Gill.  I added a sentiment from the LDRS set.  The panel was matted onto Lilac card and then onto a dark grey card base. I added some pink sequins to finish.  This one was hard to photograph.

Day 4 -  Embossed resist with a Twist.   Heather Hoffman and Mindy Egan were the tutors and had two awesome techniques.  Heather used embossing and then used a layering stencil to to the resist.  I still have to try this one.  Got a new Altenew layering stencil this week so it's on my to make list!  Mindy's twist used embossed background and a Gel Plate and Shimmer powders.   So I pulled out an older Hero Arts background stamp and some Cosmic Shimmer Pixie Powders.  

The background stamp is Flower Medley (circa 2012)   I stamped in Hero Arts Unicorn ink and embossed with white powder.  I then used the Gel Plate with Aqua Lagoon, Purple Violet, Candy Pink and Peacock Green powders.  I spritzed the powers and the card and pressed it onto the plate.   The colours diluted a bit more than I thought they would, but love the soft look I obtained.  I was inspired by a Jennifer McGuire video for the card design.  I used Gina K ML 4 flag - modified to increase the length.  The sentiment is from Kaisercraft - Best Friend set.   The butterfly is 2 layers I had in my little bowls. 

Thanks for getting this far.  I'm back to working tomorrow - but will still work from home as I'm still coughing.   I have to stay isolating till I'm symptom free for 24 hrs.  All in all, I got off quite lightly... so pays to be fully vaccinated and boosted.    

Floral Occasion - Take 2 at the Flower Challenge.

 Today I made another card for the latest challenge at The Flower Challenge.  

Today I was working from home.... and took a bit of a longer lunch break to have a play.  The call of the craft room is hard to deny...  It was a quick card as I had a pre-foiled panel.  I had made a few panels when I first got my Go Press and Foil machine.  

The sentiment is a Hot Foil stamp from Spellbinders.  The floral stamp is by Woodware.  I stamped it with Versafine Onyx Black ink and clear embossed it.  I took some Altenew inks and blenders and added colour to the flowers and leaves.. I added some little Pretty Pink Posh gold baubles.   It's hard to get a good photo of the foil... 

Back into the office tomorrow... and will find out if we are going to a two team work roster... one week home and one week in the office - with no contact between the two teams.  This means if someone gets COVID or is a close contact, only half of our area will need to isolate.    

Thanks for stopping by.  I appreciate your visit.  Please leave me a comment so I know you've been here. 

Woodgrain Background - Floral card

 Hi there.  It was a public holiday yesterday here in Auckland for Auckland Anniversary Day.  It was hot and breezy so I spend some time in my craft room as it was nice and cool in there.  

About a month ago I watched a video by Natasha Foote on making woodgrain backgrounds (here) and have been meaning to to give it a go.  I did an order from Scrapbook.com as this is where Natasha gets lots of her products from - and got a Woodware floral stamp to try out.   They are very reasonably priced.

 I made my background by swiping some Distress ink cubes down my card.  I used Rusty Hinge, Weathered Wood and Gathered Twigs, leaving some white showing as well.  I stamped the Woodware stamp (Floral Wonder) onto the wood panel and again onto white card.  I used Zig markers to colour the leaves directly on the panel and then fussy cut around the flowers after colouring with inks and Zigs.  I used my Spectrum Noir glitter pen to move the colour around so the flowers have a great shimmer to them. The bud was stuck directly to the panel and the other flowers added with some 3D tape.  Love this large floral stamp and boy are they reasonably price via Scrapbook.com.  Took a sentiment from an Altenew set and drew a frame around it before trimming it out.  It's been awhile since I did a background like this. 

Omicron is now out and about in the community but still reasonably low numbers...for now!  I'm taking advantage of the ability to work from home - 3 days in the office and 2 at home...depending on our roster for manning the Front of House - where people can come in and get their tax queries answered.  Some weeks I have to work 4 or 5 days in the office, others I can do the 3/2 ratio.  Today is an at home day... currently taking a break.   Take care out there people.