Retiform Card

This month's swap on my NZ card group was to use the Retiform technique.  Suna set the theme after seeing Gina K doing this technique recently.   She gave us a number of different You Tube tutorials.

Here's the card I sent to Maxine

I started by stamping the flowers in the centre of my card and then using post it notes I made the different retiform shapes.  I used some purple inks to do my inking and stamping.  The images around the retiform are all from a Pink Paislee set that I've had for a very long time.  It has lots of different images.  I was really happy how this turned out.  I like the focal floral image that really stood out on the card. 

Thanks for stopping by.  Day one back in the office was manic.  We had over 200 customers coming into our counter which kept us super busy.  A normal pre-Covid day was around the 80 mark.  Hopefully it will settle down over the next few days.  After 3 months of no contact with Inland Revenue in a face to face basis, people were happy to have someone to see.  The contact/call centres are very busy as well. 

Card Chain Challenge.... May 2020

I took part in May's CCC and the was a bit of a blog hop for the reveal.  However I had to wait for my card to reach it's recipient as I had forgotten to take a photo.   Did you know that the Card Chain Challenge started in October 2009 - and I was there for the first challenge.  I've missed a few months over the years.  In fact, I realised that it has been going so long when I check out the first reveal Here
I'll share my first card after the May one

I made this one using a freebie from Catherine Pooler Designs. It is a digital image that Catherine made.  I stamped with Catherine Pooler's Tilly's Garden stamp set.  I cut out the centre part and matted it with the purple card and popped it back in the space.

And here is the very first card I sent to my dear bloggy friend, Arlene.

My goodness, my card making has progressed a lot since Oct 2009.  At that stage I had only been crafting for a year or so.

So here I am over 10 years later I still as enthused with card making as I was then - just with many dollars worth of supplies more!

Today this my birthday.  I've had a great weekend away with friends at Mangawhai and on our way home we stop off to visit with Grace. She is growing so quickly.   Tomorrow will be my first time back in the office in 12 weeks.  Started working on Monday  23rd March and NZ went into Lock-down Level 4 on the 25th March.  It will be strange going back into the office.  I got to enjoy working from home.... no commute, starting early and finishing early so I could get my exercise done.   This coming week I am rostered to work at our Front of House - seeing anyone who comes into our office for tax assistance.  It's from 8.45 to 4.00pm so a bit latter than I have been used to.

Stippled Flowers

Yesterday I managed to catch Jen Rzasa's Facebook Live and was so inspired by her cards I had to CASE one of them.  Jen used Peaceful Reverie and made 4 cards using the same design and colours.  I have had this stamp set for some time but struggled with ideas so was super stocked to watch and be inspired.

My card uses Jen's first idea of just using the stippling layer of the stamp set.

Jen used the matching masks but as I don't have them, I used some Simon Says Stamp masking paper to make my own.  I used Coral Bliss and Hydrangea inks to stamp my flowers and bamboo to stamp my leaves.   I used some Alcohol markers to colour the stamen and used some black gems for the centres.  I used a sentiment from the Sincere Sentiment set.  I used the masks over the flowers and splattered some black watercolour paint.  I matted my panel onto some dark pink card and then onto my white card base.

I really was glad I was able to watch the FB live and was inspired to use this set.  I can see myself using different colour combinations with just this soft stippling layer. 

WWC 275 Karen's challenge: All About Ocassions

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

 

Today I am sharing a Christmas card I made for Jo's Christmas Kickstart as well.

I used Gina K wreath builder stencil and used Catherine Pooler Designs Tilly's Gardent to make my wreath with a variety of Altenew green inks.  I found a little sticker in my stash that is a foiled Merry Christmas and added it to the centre of my wreath.  I added a little double die cut bow from a Couture Creations die I picked up for $5 the other day. 

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 11.00am 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.

Care to Tag Along?

The new challenge is up at Christmas Kickstart Challenge and I need to get a start on my Christmas cards and tags!  This month the challenge is "Care to Tag Along" - yes make a tag...

It's a cold wet wintery afternoon and after finishing work a bit earlier, I hit the craft room for a bit. 

I had fun with this one.  My tag is from a Catherine Pooler set.  I took a Tim Holtz Stencil - Holly Branches- and using an Altenew dark green ink, used my blending brushes to stencil it.  Added some dark crimson marker to the berries.  I had some of the Couture Creations Christmas Bells stamped and cut out so used some Alcohol Markers to colour it up.  Added with some 3D tape to the bell.  I stamped the sentiment which was on a freebie set in my stash.  I finished with some seam binding ribbon.

Thanks Jo for the kickstart I need!

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.