Playing with Plaid at Christmas Kickstart Challenge

Loving the latest challenge at Christmas Kickstart Challenge.   I love Plaid on Christmas cards.  So I pulled out a Plaid Background stamp and stamped some backgrounds.   And made two cards. 

For this one I stamped Catherine Pooler's Plaid Background stamp with Peppermint Scrub ink and die cut with Gina K Master Layout 2.  Used a  Navy mat and to cut the oval from Master Layout 1.  The little deer is from a Magazine Freebie (mag purchased in 2017!) I took some light brown inks and swinked it onto some white card.  I die cut the deer and then stamped the deer in a darker brown using the negative pieces as a jig.  Makes it easy to get the stamp lined up so well.   Stamped the sentiment from the same free stamp set, in Versafine Onyx Black ink.  Added the panel to a kraft card base. 

For this one, my Plaid Background was stamped wth Catherine Pooler's Rockin' Red ink.  I trimmed the panel and added some navy card mat.  My focal image is a digital image from Mo's Digital Pencil called Shall I Play for You   I've had it for over 12 years!   Great to print and colour again.  I used Zig Markers this time around and fussy cut it out.  My sentiment is from a Kaisercraft set called Christmas Quotes... an other older set although this was the first time I used this sentiment from the set.    

So two more Christmas cards for my stash.  Happy about that.  

Just Add Ink - Choose Two!

 I decided I wanted to entry the latest challenge at Just Add Ink - Challenge #653 - Choose Two 

For my card I actually did all three... but mainly Banner and Baby.

I started by choosing some pretty pink gingham paper.   I found a Kaisercraft stamp with the banner so stamped it directly onto the paper and used alcohol markers to add some colour.   I stamped the Mama and baby elephant (Uniquely Creative)  and coloured with my Tri-blends.  I used a Gina K Master Layout oval and it's matching frame.  I found a freebie stamp set that had some baby sentiments.  Not sure where it came.  In fact I can't even remember getting it.  

This one will most probably be for my son and daughter in law as they are expecting a girl - within the next 6-8 weeks.  

WWC334 - Helen's Challenge: All About Occasions

 Hi there.  It's time for the latest challenge at Watercooler Wednesday.   Helen is our hostess with an All About Occasions challenge.  

Today I have a birthday cars to share with you.  

This card was inspired by one I saw in the magazine I recently purchased.  The stamps came as a freebie with them.  The background was made by masking off a little bit at the bottom of the front of the card and then ink blended the top portion.  I then spritzed some water drops onto the background.  The daises were stamped and fussy cut with minimal colouring.  I stamped the sentiment at the bottom. 

Come and join in the fun at  Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and check out the project 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 Monday14th February at 5 pm Mountain Standard Time (Tuesday  15th February at 12.00 noon NZ time) to link up your project.

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.  

WWC322 - - Marsha's Challenge: All About Occasions

 Hi there, time for a new challenge at Watercooler Wednesday Challenge. Marsha is our hostess with an  All About Occasions challenge.  

Today, I'm sharing a Christmas card.    I've recently purchased some Sweet Poppy stencils.  

These are beautiful large stencils.  I just managed to get this one onto an A2 US sized card.  They are metal stencils so I used a new magnetic embossing plate to keep the die on my paper.  I saw some ideas on the web showing people using magnetic sheets and I knew I had a new unsued plate and thought I'd try it and it worked so well.  I started by taking some Altenew Eastern Sky and Sunkissed inks to colour the centre of the Bauble stencil. I then used Crimson for the ribbons and bow plus the Holly berries, and Hunter Green and Seas Forest inks for the holly and pine branches.  My next step was to stamp some trees in the greens.  Both trees used came from old freebie sets as did the sentiment.  Added some white nuvo drops, some Stickles and a bit of gel pen to create the snow.  

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

Baubles in Blue

 I've been playing with my Sweet Poppy Bauble stencil.  I decided to stick with a single colour and chose Blue.  I made two cards.

First card -

I used a magentic sheet to put my paper and then the stencil on,  The stencil is metal so this is a great way to keep it from moving.  This was sthe first one I inked up using Altenew blue inks.  The ligher shades on tne bauble and the darker shades for the rest.  I didn't mask it well and got a smudge of ink in the top corner, so trimmed panel and added a bit of the soft blue in each corner to disguise the oops... I then used the darkest inks to stamp the sentiments.  The Merry Christmas from a freebie set and the sub sentiment from an other freebie set.   I added a few silver gems, layered onto dark blue card and then added to a white card base.

This one is being entered into the Challenge at Simon Says Stamp - Summertime Blues - great for me as Christmas here in NZ in the summer. 

Second card.

This time I masked my panel better so was able to trimmed the card a bit wider and just added it to a dark blue card base.  I used an Altenew sentiment on this one.  I added snow with a Posca pen.  There are some clear gems on the snowflakes. 

This one is being entered into the CAS Christmas - Decorations 

I am defineatly going to be trying some different colours like this. 

Grown with Love

The lastest challenge is on at Let's Squash It....

I'n not sure if my card really fits the challenge as my folder is not a nature one - other than it is a  weave pattern and my card is the Nature theme.  I used some watercolour pencils to colour it in.    So I am pushing the bountries a bit. 

My stamps come from a freebie set with Simply Cards and Papercraft #214.   The background panel is coloured by smooshing Old Paper distress ink onto my glass mat and spritzed with water and dipping my panel through the watery mixture.  I added the burlap and added the embossed panel over the top then added the pots of herbs.  My panel is added to a dark green card base. 

So ladies, if this doesn't fit the challenge... just let me know. 

Update on my health:  Still coughing a lot and stuffed up.  Doctor's advised me to stay home till Wednesday.  So more time resting up and reading and crafting. 

Last minute Christmas Cards

 Hi there.... I have got a few overseas Christmas cards sent off this year.  Postage went up this year, so I had to cut back a little bit.   However I had good sales at work and need a few extra cards to send to my NZ family and friends.   So over the weekend I made a few multiples

Over the years I've collected a lot of Christmas paper packs so together with my new Gina K Master Layouts I've manage to make a few cards quickly. Also used an embossing folder for one of the backgrounds.  My stamps are from two different freebie sets from last year.  I used some Altenew gold ink and stamped it a few times in the MISTI to get a good coverage.  

I also used the embossing folder background to make another Gnome card 

Another CAS card. 

I have had my Dad and his partner stay for a few days.  They drove up from Lower Hutt - did it in one and a half days.  Not too bad for an 83 year old.  But I think from now on, they may just fly up to see us.   I'm sharing a beautiful photo of Dad and his great-grand daughter. 

Thanks for stopping by today.  Hope your Christmas crafting is going well 

WWC 284 - Dawn's Challenge - All About Occasions

Hi there.  Challenge time at Watercooler Wednesday again... And today I am the hostess with an All About Occasions challenge. 

I have made a Friendship card for today. 

Last month I picked up Simply Cards and Papercrafts magazine - Vol 203.  It had this beautiful layered Peony stamp and die set.  I CASE'd a card from the magazine.  I stamped the flowers in Altenew inks from the Rose Petal set and used the matching die to cut them out.  I trimmed some white card to 13cm x 13cm and using some acetate to make a circle mask/stencil.  I used the lightest ink in the set (Rose Quartz) to blend on the base.  I took some Grey Denim Altenew ink and stamped the leaves around where I added the flowers with dimentional tape. I stamped the sentiment onto some white card and cut it with my trimer and scissors to make a flag end.  I used a sponge dauber to ink around the edge of the sentiment and the panel.  I cut a card base 14cm x 14cm and added my panel. 

Come and join in the fun at  Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and check out the project 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 11.00 am NZ time ) to link up your project.

WWC 279- Helen's Challenge: All About Occasions.

Hi there - time for another challenge at Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  Helen is our hostess with an All About Occasions.  

 I'm back today with another Fern card using the Freebie stamp and die set from Issue 202 of Simply Cards & Papercraft.   I used the small leaves to stamp the background with some green Distress ink and sponged on the same ink.  I die cut the dark green fern and one from the same paper I made.  I used the outer die to partially cut the fern on the white card.  Added the other two ferns.  The sentiment was stamped onto white card and cut with a flag end.  Did the same with the bronze card.  Added a a green button and some white twine.

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

WWC #277 Tristan's Challenge: All About Occasions

Hi there - time for another challenge at Watercooler Wednesday Challenge. Tristan is our hostess with an All About Occasions Challenge.

 

Earlier this month I bought a crafting magazine... the first one in over 12 weeks.  It was Issue 202 of Simply Cards & Papercraft.  It was February's issue but due to lock-down it was only just in the stores.  It had a free stamp and die set from Bright Rosa.  I was inspired by some of the great samples in the magazine.    For this one I used the fern die and the outline dies (one for each side of the fern).  I used some Ranger Gold Embossing powder to emboss the ferns, added them to the the outline.  One was stuck directly to the die cut panel and the other one was added with some dimensionals.  The sentiment is a die cut from Rosie's Studio.

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

Masculine Cards at Sweet Stampin' Challenge

It's time for a new challenge at Sweet Stampin' Challenge.   Our theme is Masculine/Father's Day.
As Fathers Day here in NZ isn't till September, my card is just an every day Masculine card.

I used a freebie stamp set I had in my stash, unopened for a number of years!  I stamped the boating scene in Obsidian black ink onto some kraft card stock and cut it with a Spellbinders Eyelet circle die.   I found the blue stripey paper that I though carried on the beachy/sea theme.  I used one of the sentiments from the stamp set together with the little anchors.  The centre panel was matted with some kraft and then onto a blue base. 

Do come and share your masculine projects with us at Sweet Stampin' Challenge blog.

WWC 274 Dawn's Challenge: Anything Goes with a Feminine Twist

Hi there - time for another challenge at Watercooler Wednesday Challenge. It's my turn to be the  hostess with an Anything Goes with a Feminine Twist.  

 This card was inspired by all the wonderful cards I saw on the 2020 Spring/Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop.  I had this freebie set that came with a magazine that I had not even opened.  It was the stamps and the embossing folder.  I used white card to make the embossed panel.  I then stamped the cups and sentiment onto more white card and fussy cut them out.  I used Altenew and Spectrum Noir alcohol makers to colour the cups 

Come and join in the fun at  Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and check out the project 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 11am NZ time ) to link up your project.

ATC challenge ,,, well sort of.

Today I am sharing the swap card I made for May for my NZ swap group.  A couple of months ago as part of our swap we had to make an ATC and sent it with our card to our swap partner.  Mine came from Carol.  For may we had to take that ATC and had two options.... One to made part of it a lid and the other to just use it on a card. 

I decided to try and make a lid...

Carol's ATC had some embossing at bottom.  I have the same folder so after trimming off some of the top I embossed it.  I embossed a background panel with the same folder and used some Altenew Firefly ink to swipe over the panel.   I used a free stamp set called Giant Tropical Stamp set and stamped the flowers and leaves and fussy cut them.   I coloured the flowers and leaves with Zig Markers.  I added some purple 3D liquid pearls.  I was really happy with the results.  Thanks to Carol for the sweet ATC to use.

Winter Wonderland at Christmas Kickstart.

Well I've finally got around to getting started on my Christmas cards and get a card for the Christmas Kickstart challenge done.   The theme is Winter Wonderland - Create a scene

I had fun making this little scene.

I used a freebie stamp set from several years ago that hadn't been used before.  I made my little snow banks so I could mask the trees.  I then added the front trees.  I used a variety of the other stamps to make a frame around the panel.  I die cut the little Robin from brown and red and pieced together.  I added some Stickles along the snow banks and on the trees.

I'm pleased to have got this one done.

I had a fun day to making cards today... I got two more done for upcoming design team work so I'm now a head.  

Black Background

I saw that the challenge theme over at Just Us Girls is "Black Background"

I was part way through making a card with a black background when I saw the challenge, so once I finished, I'm adding it.

I had  been playing last weekend with my Scan'n'Cut and the WRMK Foil quill pens together with a USB from WRMK's.  It's a Kelly Creates one and has this lovely double line sentiments.  I used some silver foil on the black card.  So today I finished off the card.  I added three flowers from an Altenew freebie from a year or so ago.  I used some white card and stamped with Catherine Pooler Rockin' Red and Grass Skirt inks.  I added some darker ink to the centres.  Two of the flowers are glued directly to the card base and one is on some dimensional tape.   

It was a lovely weekend for me as I got to spend some time with my son and grand-daughter.  Kieran was on Daddy duty while Mummy was away for the day and night at a Hen's party.  Grace had her 10 month photo done first thing Saturday morning.  She was a little champ as we had to wake her up.  She had fallen asleep in the car on the way to the hall where the photos are taken.  Still managed a smile!  Then we went up to the local Mall and had a bit of early lunch... sushi for little Miss and avocado on toast for Nanny and Daddy

She is growing so quickly now.  Got her first tooth on her 10 month anniversary... and is now an independent stander.... so won't be long till she works out that she can walk.

I am feeling a bit sad, though as it seems my daughter, son in law and grandson won't be able to come at Easter as NZ has put in place a 14 day self isolating for all people coming into NZ from midnight Sunday.  It's initially for 16 days but will see what happens after that.  At this stage, it's a bit of wait and see if they will make it or whether they will postpone till later in the year.  I know Archie will be very disappointed as he is already talking about coming to see me.  

Well that's it for today.  Hope your weekend is going well.  

Take a Leap at Sweet Stampin' Challenge

This year is a leap year so today our challenge at Sweet Stampin' is "Take A Leap"

This is a very open theme...(interpret it how you want - use kangaroos, frogs, leaping in puddles, proposals of marriage, something that only happens every 4 years....you get the idea!)

So how did I interpret this theme?

 Yes... I chose to use a frog jumping out of the lake....

I used a stamp, stencil and die set that came with a magazine a couple of years ago.... I used the stencil with some blue inks to make a background, added some reeds and lightly sponged the lake.  Used some blue card to cut out splash and sponged some darker ink around the edges.  I did the same with the little splashes.  I stamped the frog onto some green cards and used some green markers to add some shading.  I stamped the sentiment onto white card and fussy cut it out

I thought my little grandson would love this card so I've sent it off to him. 

Over at Daring Cardmakers the challenge is also "Take a Flying Leap" so I'm entering this there.

I'm also entering this into the Anything Goes at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge.

WWC 257 Heidi's Challenge : Anything Goes with a Feminine Twist

Hello there, it’s time for another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  Heidi is our hostess this week with an Anything Goes with a Feminine Twist challenge.

Today I am sharing a little gift bag I made a couple of weeks ago to give some bottles of Couture Creations Glitzin' Glamour (similar to Stickles) to my friend.  I purchased a Mystery Box from an Australian company and it came with 2 sets of 3 colours so I decided to gift three to Suna.  I had seen a gorgeous Valentine's Treat Box over at Chic'n'Sratch's You Tube (here) that I decided to try.

This is face on... I used some red textured card for the gift holder and some gorgeous patterned paper from Rosie's Studio - Bows and Bells 12"x12" papers.  The hole is made with a Stampin' Up oval punch and the cute label on the front was from a freebie set a couple of years ago.  The set came with the sentiments and the label dies.   I finished with some gold sequins that came in the mystery box.

Here's a view from the side.

You can just see the little box inside that holds the bottles of Glitzin' Glamour.

Come and join the fun.  Check out the projects that the other artists at Watercooler Wednesday

Challenge have created.  Then take our challenge and link your creation 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.

WWC#248 Kath's "Masculine Anything Goes" challenge

Hello there, it’s time for another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  Kath is our hostess this week with a Masculine Anything Goes  challenge.

I had fun making this card....

I had two little helpers who turned my Cuttlebug handle to help die cut the car.  It's made from Dark Blue and Yellow card.  The die came with a Magazine I got a few weeks ago.  I die cut a brown circle for the background and some brown woodgrain paper.   I added a happy birthday sentiment as a finishing touch.

Come and join the fun.  Check out the projects that the other artists at Watercooler Wednesday

Challenge have created.  Then take our challenge ant link your creation to the challenge post.  We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday at 5 pm Mountain Standard Time (Tuesday at 11.00am NZ time ) to link up your project.

WWC#247 Marsha's "All About Ocassions" challenge

Hello there, it’s time for another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  Marsha  is our hostess this week with "All About Ocassions" challenge.

My little Christmas card uses a sweet Santa that was in a freebie set of stamps from several years ago.  I coloured him up a couple of weeks ago while I was away for a long weekend at the beach.   I took some stamping supplies and when I got there I realised I hadn't added my colouring pencils or markers.  So luckily the local stationery store in Mangawhai Heads had some pencils and markers.  Both are from a company called Jasart.  The pencils coloured well and I was happy with the results I got.  I had some patterned papers with me so managed to put it all together quickly.

Come and join the fun.  Check out the projects that the other artists at Watercooler Wednesday

Challenge have created.  Then take our challenge ant link your creation to the challenge post.  We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday at 5 pm Mountain Standard Time (Tuesday at 11.00am NZ time ) to link up your project.