happy birthday

 hello crafters!

I came across the just add ink challenge which I haven't entered before I don't think. They have a great sketch challenge this week, so thought I'd join in!

I used a paper piece of wood texture from my stash which was black and white, so I ink blended it with a grey blue. A square was made up from 1" die cuts of design paper, which were adhered together then embossed with a random circle embossing folder to make it look like quilting. The circle theme was echoed with the die cut word circles and chocolate brown circle. Lastly I added little die cuts from my stash and stamped a sentiment to match.

Thanks for stopping by today :)

happy birthday

 hello crafters!

I'm trying to build up my stash of cards, so I've decided to join in a couple challenges on a more regular basis. One I've recently joined in with is colorhues challenge - a great challenge using 2 colours, but I can leave my typical CAS style behind if I choose :)  The colours this fortnight are peach and teal.

The whole card was made using just the 2 colours. Ink smooshing gives lovely variations of the colours! The background was splattered, then the stamps were die cut from ink smooshed card, with the border stacked 3 times for dimension. The tiny MFT and Spellbinders leaf and sprig dies were die cut from ink smooshed card and adhered. The sentiment was stamped, die cut and popped up on foam squares.

Thanks for spending some time with me today :)

CAS Colours & Sketches challenge #579 sketch

 hello crafters!

This month's sketch challenge at CAS colours and sketches was designed by Amanda. She wants you to put a shape off the edge at the top and the bottom! Of course I couldn't go the easy route and chose to flip the sketch to landscape so the images went off the left and the right!

I used a favourite die with a cityscape and watercoloured the individual buildings, masking the ones on either side. The little trees were die cut and ink blended. Sentiment was die cut from watercoloured card.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. We'd love to see your card in the gallery!

• dies: Kaisercraft buildings, Gummiapan trees, sentiment, Hero Arts infinity rectangles
• inks: lots! :) antique linen, bundled sage, tea dye, rustic wilderness, milled lavender, scattered straw, stormy sky, tumbled glass, hickory smoke distress oxides

love

 hello stampers

I'm joining in today with a couple of challenges: the Color Hues challenge has the colours red and pink and Timeout challenges have a 'pick 2' theme. I picked red, pink, heart, and aperture.

I used some tiny fimo hearts which come in red, pink and white, and couldn't resist making a shaker card! Some bold red and white striped paper was die cut for the surround, while the sentiment was die cut in white, stacked twice and adhered over the top. The tiny flowers and butterfly were die cut from matching pink card.

Thanks so much for spending some time with me today!

   

CAS Colours & Sketches challenge #578 colours

 hello stampers!

Our latest challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches  is a gorgeous palette of colours put together by Amanda. It reminded me of the sea so I used a favourite sailboat die. 

The waves were stencilled and the sentiment stamped with the same ink. The sailboat was die cut twice, and paper pieced with the sails, then popped up on foam squares.

Thanks so much for stopping by - we'd love to see your card in our gallery.

• dies: Gummiapan compass, sailboat, MFT skinny strips, Hero Arts infinity rectangles
• stamps: Stampendous birthday splash sentiment
• stencil: scrap matts ST 9074
• inks: SU soft sea foam, uncharted mariner, pine needles distress oxides

hello lovely

 Hello stampers!

I'm joining in today with 2 challenges - both request using blue hues. My favourite colours, I seem to make quite a few blue cards! Inkspirational challenges has a 'shades of blue' theme and color hues has the colours 'blue and white'.

I wanted to use a new stencil I got from Stamperia - I am so fascinated by the golden spiral and its beautiful form. The background was watercoloured, then stencilled using texture paste, and the edges ink blended. The die cuts were all stamped or ink blended with shades of blue with the seahorse and jellyfish given a sparkle with wink of Stella. 

Thanks for stopping by today!

   

• dies: Gummiapan seahorse, jellyfish, Hero Arts infinity rectangles, MFT skinny strips, Paper Rose little branches
• stamps: Darkroom Door seaside inchies, Honey Bee Stamps bitty buzzwords
• stencil: Stamperia golden spiral
• inks: stormy sky, faded jeans, prize ribbon, chipped sapphire, blueprint sketch distress oxides

CAS Colours & Sketches challenge #577 sketch

 hello crafters!

This month's sketch challenge at CAS colours and sketches was designed by Nancy. So lovely and CAS, so don't forget to leave all that gorgeous white space!

I used a stencil for the stripes - the lines of writing fitted the sketch perfectly! The little cotton branch was die cut twice for depth, and the sentiment was stamped, fussy cut and adhered with foam squares.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. We'd love to see your card in the gallery!

• dies: MFT infinity rectangles
• stamps: Altenew under the cherry blossom tree
• inks: stormy sky distress oxide
• stencil: Stamperia handwriting

CAS Colours & Sketches challenge #576 colours

hello crafters!

Welcome back to our first challenge of the year. Hope you had a lovely holiday season and a happy new year! Our first colour challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches was put together by Nancy.

I decided to make the background white to show off the colours in our palette. A white background gives a beautiful clean look, and lets the chosen colours jump off the page.

Thanks so much for stopping by - we'd love to see your card in our gallery.

• dies: Kaisercraft buildings, Gummiapan trees, buildings, Paper Rose birdie, MFT clouds
• stamps: Honey Bee stamps bitty buzzwords
• inks: black soot, chipped sapphire distress oxides

CAS Colours & Sketches challenge #575 seasonal

 hello crafters!

To celebrate this month's festivities, we have a seasonal challenge at CAS colours and sketches. The challenge will go for 3 weeks (till 29 Dec) so you'll have time to make all those christmas and holiday cards and show us in the gallery! 

You'll need to go back to our challenges from this year and choose one you like - either sketch or colours - and make a seasonal card based on the prompt. Make sure to let us know which challenge you've based your card on!

I chose challenge #560 designed by Laura. I love making square cards and this design really lends itself to so many possibilities. I used some design paper to die cut squares and lined then up on a die cut white square card panel. The little trees were die cut, subtly ink blended and adhered. The sentiment was stamped and heat embossed for a bit of bling, then it was die cut as a tag. I also die cut a couple more of those teeny stars to put on the tree.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. We'd love to see your card in the gallery! Hope you have a lovely christmas time with friends and family. See you in the new year on 6 Jan with our new challenge!  

     


• dies: Gummiapan tag with a star, trees, Hero Arts infinity squares
• inks: lumberjack plaid, lost shadow distress oxides

CAS Colours & Sketches challenge #574 sketch

hello crafters!

This month's sketch challenge at CAS colours and sketches was proposed by Deborah. A beautiful CAS design, so don't forget to leave all that gorgeous white space!

The trees were stamped using a little stamp and just moving the card with repeated stamping to create the row of trees in the required shape. Then touched up with a little ink blending around the edge. The little houses were die cut from stamped card in log cabin colours! How much do I feel like a holiday right now? A little place in the woods away from civilisation would be perfect!

Thanks so much for stopping by today. We'd love to see your card in the gallery!

• dies: Gummiapan houses, MFT skinny strips
• stamps: Paper Rose tiny forest, Taylored Expressions simple strips snarky
• inks: rustic wilderness, ground espresso, dried marigold, vintage photo distress oxides

why

 hello stampers!

I'm joining in today with the sisterhood at snarkystampers where their challenge is D is for Drink.

I haven't used this Gummiapan stamp before even though it's been lurking in my little stamp box for a while. Who knew it would be so hard to find an excuse to make a card with a drink? Well thankfully the sisters have come to my (and the stamp's) rescue so it finally got inked! Actually it was stamped on a piece of reverse stencilled card which also has been in my stash for aaages. So...it's been a good day for new old things :)  On that note I'll have to also post this one to Darnell's fabulous blog, NBUS. Sending hugs Darnell!

Thanks for stopping by!

   

thanks

 hi stampers!

I'm joining in today with the talented team at freshlymadesketches where the sketch they have this week is so beautiful and simple!

I wanted to use an inked panel previously made with distress oxide spray - I so love the colour!  The black and white theme sort of evolved while trying many different die cuts from my stash - most were too pale coloured to face up to the boldness of the background! And of course I had to add a whittle bird - one of my faves!

Thanks for stopping by and spending some time with me today!

CAS Colours & Sketches challenge #573 colours

 hello crafters!

Our latest colour challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches  is here and this time Deborah has put together the palette. She has included the metallic gold colour. Of course christmas comes to mind, but you can use these colours with other celebration cards too!

I decided to make a christmas card with a minimal use of the colours. The little bear was stamped, and a die cut snowbank of white card was adhered with foam squares. The stars were die cut from gold card. The sentiment was stamped and die cut then adhered.

Thanks so much for stopping by - we'd love to see your card in our gallery.

• dies: MFT ewe are the best, Sizzix arctic bear star, Gummiapan tag with a star, MFT skinny strips 
• stamps: Colorado Craft Company sweater bears, MFT bitty holiday wishes
• inks: lumberjack plaid, pine needles, weathered wood distress oxides

enjoy the little things

 hello crafters!

I'm joining in today with the clever sketch at freshlymadesketches. Their design is perfect for creating a little scene, and that is right up my alley!

I strayed from my usual CAS style today and had some fun! The background is a mixture of watercolouring, stencilling and stamping. Had some fun with ink smooshing for the trees and fence. The lambs were paper pieced with ink smooshed card.  Lots of threes on my card - but aren't those lambs the sweetest?

Thanks for sharing some time with me today!

• dies: MFT ewe are the best, petite clouds, Gummiapan tiny flowers
• stamps: MFT ewe are the best, Gummiapan sentiment
• stencil: MFT radiating rays
• inks: evergreen bough, pine needles, bundled sage, vintage photo, salvaged patina, tumbled glass, squeezed lemonade distress oxides

CAS Colours & Sketches challenge #572 sketch

hello crafters!

Our latest sketch challenge at CAS colours and sketches was designed by Suzy.  Cards always look so fun with a banner I think! 

I ended up flipping the sketch so the mailbox faced the right way. The banner was trimmed to shape and stamped randomly. The mailbox was die cut and coloured. Kitty and the envelopes were die cut and gently ink blended. Sentiment was stamped, die cut and popped up on foam squares. I just love this lil kitty with his curly tail, and he’s getting so many birthday cards! lol

Thanks so much for stopping by today. We'd love to see your card in the gallery!

• dies: Gummiapan cats, tickets, mailbox, letters
• stamps: Kaisercraft script, Gummiapan happy birthday 
• inks: candied apple, dried marigold, ground espresso distress oxides

CAS Colours & Sketches challenge #571 colours

  hello crafters!

We have a new colour challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches and this time Suzy has chosen the colour palette. While they may look like similar colours, it very cleverly combines coral with orange and deep yellow. Flowers? sunshine? autumn leaves? so many possibilities!

I decided to use a new to me stencil from Simon Hurley with such a gorgeous sunset scene, and create all the colours with inks. I know! How long has it been since I did a card with no die cutting? Eons. Such a fun stencil, with all the masks also provided to make it easy to produce the layers. Finished off with some wise advice - I mean a sassy sentiment from Tim Holtz small talk, and we're done!

Thanks so much for stopping by - we'd love to see your card in our gallery.

• stencil: Simon Hurley Sedona scene maker 
• inks: abandoned coral, carved pumpkin, ripe persimmon, mustard seed, black soot distress oxides

CAS Colours & Sketches challenge #570 sketch

 hello stampers!

This month's second sketch challenge at CAS colours and sketches was designed by Nancy. Such a clever CAS design giving all that gorgeous white space!

For the background, I used a watercoloured piece, and also die cut some for the sentiment. The lamb was stamped, watercoloured and fussy cut. Birdie was die cut from ink smooshed card.

**Don't forget to add your entry to our challenge and add "DT" after your name if you're interested in joining our DT. We'd love to have you on the team!

Thanks so much for stopping by today. We'd love to see your card in the gallery!

• dies: Gummiapan birdie, MFT itty bitty strips
• stamps: Honey Bee stamps bitty buzzwords, MFT ewe are the best
• inks: abandoned coral, stormy sky, salvaged patina, salty ocean distress oxides

CAS Colours & Sketches challenge #569 colours

 hello crafters!

We have a new colour challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches and this time Nancy has chosen the colour palette for you to use.  The colours remind me of autumn going into winter, warm and cosy colours!

I decided to do a super simple card. I ink smooshed 2 of the colours onto card then die cut the leaves. The sentiment was die cut from the final colour, popped up on foam squares, and paired with a single strip as background.

**In other news, we are looking for some more talented crafters to join the CC&S Design Team. The full details are in the challenge post but you'll need to enter this challenge (colours) and the next challenge (sketch) so we can see your crafty cards. Just put "DT" after your name on your challenge entry if you're interested. Best of luck!

Thanks so much for stopping by - we'd love to see your card in our gallery.

• dies: Gummiapan leaves, Honey Bee Stamps bitty buzzwords
• inks: vintage photo, black soot, chipped sapphire distress oxides

CAS Colours & Sketches challenge #568 sketch

  hello stampers!

There's a new sketch challenge at CAS colours and sketches and this one was designed by Nancy. 

I used an ink smooshed background, made with watercolour card. The herbs were die cut from ink smooshed card, and ink blended with the same green as the watercolour. The sentiment was stamped right on the panel.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. We'd love to see your card in the gallery!

• dies: Gummiapan herbs, butterflies
• inks: bundled sage, salvaged patina, squeezed lemonade distress oxides
• stamps: Penny Black grown for you

CAS Colours & Sketches challenge #567 colours

 hello crafters!

We have a new colour challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches and Deborah has put together a lovely subtle colour palette for you to use.

I decided to create a square card - I really like the central square within the square look. The background was stamped with the challenge colours, then the little dandelions were stamped and white heat embossed. A single dandelion was die cut and adhered. The sentiment was stamped and die cut.

Thanks so much for stopping by - we'd love to see your card in our gallery.

• dies: Gummiapan dandelion, MFT itty bitty strips, Hero Arts infinity squares
• inks: victorian velvet, salvaged patina, evergreen bough distress oxides
• stamps: Lavinia stamps mini seed head, Gummiapan sentiment