Celebrating With Poppy Stamps: My May Challenge Card

 I’m back with another inspiration piece for this month’s challenge over at Die Cut Divas. Our May sponsor is Poppy Stamps, and the theme is Celebrate—a wonderfully open prompt with so many directions to explore. Birthdays, weddings, milestones, holidays… you name it.

For my project today, I decided to lean into a warm, seasonal vibe and create a Thanksgiving card.

I pulled out a few of my older Poppy Stamps dies—always fun to revisit—and paired them with a leftover piece from a recent gesso resist panel I created (you can see that project in my earlier post). That little scrap was just waiting to become something, so I used it with the Orchard Leaves die to cut a handful of textured leaves. I also cut additional leaves from a rich mahogany patterned paper to bring in more depth and contrast.

For the background, I spritzed a panel with Distress Spray Stains and Distress Oxide Spray in Tarnished Brass and Picked Raspberry. Once it dried, I trimmed it down to fit one an “Ardyth-style” 4.25" square card base.

To build the focal point, I die cut an orange ribbon and bow using the Poppy Stamps Grosgrain Ribbon and Grosgrain Bow dies. I adhered the ribbon across the background panel, then tucked the leaves on either side to create a full, autumnal cluster.

A Spellbinders hot-foiled sentiment, die cut and added over the ribbon, finished the card beautifully.

Another celebration card complete—and a lovely way to use up those special little scraps we all hang onto.

Come and join us at Die Cut Divas with you Celebration card - just remember to use your die cut machine

Craft Roulette # 212.

 Managed to watch most of this week's live Craft Roulette episode. Interesting parameters 

This was my 12th submission.  Mary's guest this week was Nina from Waffle Flower so I used the same Postage Collage Die Nina used,.. just a little bit differently 

Parameters 

Project - For a Co-worker.  This is for a co-worker's upcoming birthday

Colour- Kites in the sky.  Red kites

Element - April, Poppies for ANZAC Day 25th April - It commemorates the landing of Australian and New Zealand troops at Gallipoli, Turkey, during World War I. On this day, people wear poppies as a symbol of respect and remembrance for the fallen soldiers.

Random - Sparkles.  Glitter on my ephemera and foiled sentiments

Yesterday I popped out to Spotlight as my heat tool was shorting so needed replacing.  So a new tool, a lovely paper pack and some wooden embellishments found their way into my basket.  And then a quick call into Crackerjack (an all sorts of things shop) to pick up a Little Birdie paper pack and ephemera pack - Poppies and Roses.  

This is actually the second card I made, but I didn't like the first one.  I took a sheet of the poppies paper and die cut with the Waffle Flower die.  I added the ephemera poppies (already glittered) and added some glitter to the wings of the butterfly.   This week I had received my Krafter's card order - which included the latest Waffle Flower Postage Collage stencil - Wild Flowers and Spellbinder's Curved Everday Sentiments hot foil and die set.  I used some silver foil.  It's a great set with a lot of sentiments together so a few in my stash for whenever I need one. 

As it was the first time I used the Spellbinder foil and die set, I'm adding this to Darnell's NBUS challenge 

Here's the one that didn't make the grade

It will go in my box of cards.... might get used sometime!  

Fractured card tryout.

 I've been seeing a few Fractured cards around the traps.... and I know that I need to make on for an upcoming swap.... so decided to have a bit of a play to see how it goes. 

Another card using some patterned papers - from the Sunshine Floral Uniti pack.   I used two different papers.   The matting layer is black card as it the stripes.  I used a Just a Note sentiment foiled embossed with sparkly gold.  I am happy with my practice piece and looking forward to try out a rectangle card with this look.

De-stressing colouring.

 Hi there.   I'm here today to share a card I made over the weekend.   At last weekend's craft fair I picked up an Altenew Foil stamp at 30% off (Delightful Flowers) and then ordered the matching stencil from my local online shop - Krafter's Cart.  It arrived this week.  And on Friday afternoon I showed my Dad how I hot foiled it.   It's was our long weekend for Labour Day and my Dad and his partner came up from Wellington to visit.... 

So why did I say that this was sharing a card I made to de-stress?  Well on Friday overnight, Dad's partner Ngaire tumbled down the stairs in the middle of the night.  She got up to go to the bathroom and got a bit disorientated in a strange house and tumbled down 6 steps to the landing... She said she was okay - bruised and her neck was sore and went back to bed.   At 6.00am Dad came down and said she was having trouble swallowing and best that we head to the Emergency Dept.. Things got critical as Ngaire had burst a blood vessel and it had a huge hematoma pushing against the windpipe.  She ended up having an emergency tracheotomy and during that had a cardiac arrest..  And had to be transferred to the Auckland Hospital (a much bigger one) By this time things were getting critical so we rang her children who live in Wellington.  Her son and daughter arranged a flight for the afternoon.   Dad and I drove up over to Auckland Hospital.  Ngaire went straight to theatre where two lots of action took place - that was about 2.00pm.  Her children arrived around 5.00 and we finally got to see her in the Critical Care Unit around 5.20.  She was still fully sedated with a tracheotomy done.   Hubby and I took Dad home as he was shattered (as way I).  I let my car for Mark and Melinda to come back to my place.  They got home around midnight. -Sunday morning Ngaire had been weaned off the sedation and was responsive.  She is still in a serious condition - and today she has improved even more.  She can write notes - can't talk due to the traceotomy.  And before Dad, Mark and Melinda went back after dinner - she's been moved to the Trauma ward.   So it's been a hard few days.    So yesterday I de-stressed by colouring the foiled piece I did.  

I have used the colours from Altenew's October Challenge

Back to work tomorrow for me.  Can't say it's been a good long weekend.   Now I have a houseful of people - tonight Mark and Melinda made tea as a thank you for putting them up.  Not sure how long it will be as hopefully Ngaire will eventually be able to transfer to Wellington Hospital. I have to say that all the doctors and nurses at both Hospitals have been amazing.  When things went pear shaped everyone swung into action. 

Well, thanks for letting me share. 

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.  

One Hot Foil plate - 3 cards

 Hi there from a cold wintery night here in NZ.   I recently got a new hot foil plate from Altenew called Vibrant Florals and it's co ordinating stencil.  It's a beauty  - quite large too.... so I pulled out the Go Press and Foil machine on Monday and some WRMK's Rose Gold Foil and put it through it's paces...I managed to make three cards -

I placed the Hot foil plate in the middle of a half sheet of 8.5" x 11" card - foiled and then used the stencil to colour.  I then cut the panel in half to get two panels 4.25" x 5"  

This panel had the larger amount of the foiling which I trimmed down and matted onto some black card.  I then took some blue card and die cut the hello from Altenew's All About You word die set.  I then add a sentiment strip from Sentiment Strips 3.  Finished with a few rose gold sequins.

The second one used the smaller portion of the foiling.  The one was trimmed slightly and matted onto blue card.   The sentiement used was from Altenew's Just a Number stamp set.   I then added lots of Navy blue ink splatters.

And of course, I could not waste the foil left over.  I have the Pinkfresh solid foil plate and heated it up and added the foil to some card. 

I trimmed the panel down and matted onto some off white card before adding to a white base.  I used a Spellbinders foiled sentiment die cut with a Spellbinders oval die.  Have to say it's very difficult to photograph foiled cards especially on a winter's afternoon.  

Thanks for visiting today.  

Watercoloured Dies.

 Recently I watched a Gina K Facebook Live (here) where Gina made watercolour backgrounds with her Zig Markers and then die cut them to use on cards.   Over the weekend, I tried it out.  My Zigs are getting a bit dry so didn't get the same bright colour ways.   I still managed to get some fun backgrounds that I used for a couple of cards.  I recently bought some Mixed Media paper - and it's perfect for watercolouring on.  

First up - using some of the pink and orange watercolour papers.    I was inspired by the cards Gina made but using Altenew Itty Bitty Branches die cuts.  

I used Gina K Master Layouts #2 to cut my centre panel.  I cut a circle die and stamped my sentiment and then added the die cuts.   I had an issue with my glue going everywhere.  I still like how it turned out - not as noticeable in real life.  

My next card I die cut some more of the pinky watercolour and some of the green one I did,

 For this card I cut the layers of the Wild Rose 3D die  and added extra ink blending over the other layers.  I made my background panel with some Marble patterned paper.  The sentiment is from a Pinkfresh studios hotfoil and die set.   You get a lot of sentiments at once... 

I'm going to make a few more backgrounds to have on hand.  

Tomorrow is my birthday - officially an Old Aged Pensioner.... 65 years old.  NZ'ers get the pension at 65 so my holiday fund will get an extra boost every two weeks!   

April Card Chain Challenge Reveal.

 It's time to reveal the card I sent to Elle in Illinois USA as part of the CCC for April.   You can see all the cards HERE 

I chose to use Spring for my theme - with this Spring Wreath.  I used the stencils from Pinkfresh Daisy Fresh Hot Foil set and die cut it out.  Coloured with Altenew inks.  I used a foiled sentiment from Pinkfresh Perfect sentiments hotfoil.  Love this one as it makes a variety of sentiments all at once. 

You can still sign up for May's CCC on the blog here  -it's such fun to make and get a card as well.  

The Gentleman Crafter Sketch #11

 Hi there... back with new card inspired by Gentleman Crafter Sketch #11

I decided to make a mini slimline card with the sketch - using landscape orientation

The little butterflies are a very old Hero Arts set (circa 2007)  They are a trio of small wood mounted stamps.  I was looking for some stamps in my box of wooden stamps and came this set and it called to me to be used for this card.  I have gone monochromatic.  I used some dark blue patterned paper for the top half of the card.  The die cut panel is cut with a Pinkfresh Studio Essentials die as were the circle layers.  I had stamped the butterflies with Altenew inks  in blues and purples. and then used some Wink of Stella which caused the ink to move.  I added a Pinkfresh Studio foiled sentiment to finish.  

We had a storm come through yesterday morning... the worst rain for years... there was flooding all over the place, but as quick as it came, it passed and things dried out pretty quickly.   Our place was ok.  

Take care  people.