seasons greetings

 hello stampers!

I'm joining in today with the challenge at addicted to cas where the code word is: present

I wanted to do a pile of presents and found some lovely paper that I used to cut out the presents and stack them.  I die cut a square in the card front using Hero Arts Infinity Squares and adhered a backing of white dotted silver paper then stacked the presents in front and over the cutout. The sentiment was also cut from the paper and mounted on some foam squares for dimension.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Perfectly CAS November challenge #33

 hello crafty stampers!

Thanks for joining us in our new Perfectly CAS monthly challenge where the theme is: snowflakes. I just love snowflakes and have always loved them all sparkly at night!

Two snowflakes were die cut from a black panel using a Gummiapan snowflake die set. Then some inked card was adhered to the back of the panel so it showed through the negative space. Another snowflake was die cut from the inked panel, stacked 3 times and adhered on top of the snowflake cutouts. The sentiment was white heat embossed and adhered with tiny foam squares.

We'd love to see your snowflakes creation in our gallery. Thanks so much for stopping by!

• dies: gummiapan snowflake 
• stamps: hero arts color layering snowflake bundle
• inks: versamark, salvaged patina, mowed lawn, abandoned coral, tumbled glass, salty ocean distress oxides

one little baby

 hello lovely stampers!

I'm joining in today with the sketch challenge at CAS colours & sketches #495 drawn by the talented Cécile. 

I wanted to do a baby card for my cousin who is expecting in the new year as I realised I haven't any baby cards! who knew? The giraffe from Gummiapan was die cut from kraft, and layered on a couple of hexagons from Hero Arts Infinity Hexagon die set. One was cut from kraft and embossed with Kaisercraft Mountains embossing folder. The other was die cut from inked card, embossed by hand using the Fiskars Hearts texture plate and popped up on foam squares. The sentiment stamp from Gummiapan was inked directly onto the card panel. Such a cute sentiment!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

christmas tag

 hello stampers!

I'm joining in today with the team at justusgirls where they are having #656 wild card week and have asked for a holiday gift tag.  I usually need about a gazillion of these each year so any chance to create one is a bonus for me!

I die cut the tag using Recollections tags die set from inked card. I think it has 3 different distress oxide blues watered and swirled onto the card.  Dies are from Gummiapan: merry christmas circle, thin pine trees and the centre star of a snowflake die. The star was die cut from silver card to match the silver in the tag ribbon, the second tree was mounted on tiny foam squares.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Perfectly CAS August challenge #30

 hello stampers!

This month at Perfectly CAS, we have a new challenge. We want to see you using embossing on your perfectly cas cards.

I recently purchased this lovely mini embossing folder with snowflakes and wanted to use it since it's been freezing here lately! The snowflakes were made by die cutting white card then dabbing them in various coloured inks sprayed with water, drying between each colour.

The sentiment was inked in salvaged patina distress oxide then clear heat embossed for shine. So I've used heat embossing and dry embossing! A few shiny gems were added to finish.

We can't wait to see your lovely embossed cards in our gallery! Thanks for stopping by!

• stamps: hero arts color layering snowflake bundle
• inks: salvaged patina, scattered straw, spun sugar, speckled egg, tumbled glass, shaded lilac distress oxides
• dies: hero arts large snowflakes and swirls
• embossing folder: unbranded snowflake mini

Perfectly CAS June challenge #28

 hello there crafters!

It's time for the next challenge at Perfectly CAS and for this month the theme is: one quarter. 

This means we want you to make a card that has just 1/4 of the card panel covered, with 3/4 as blank space. Sounds easy, doesn't it?

I decided to use a square card base - something different for me, but I guess I reasoned using 1/4 should be easier on a square shape 😉. To begin I calculated 1/4 of my 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 inch card base. I cut out this size which was 2 3/4 in square, from white card. This square I scored in 1/8 inch lines then splattered with black ink diagonally through the centre. Another square the same size was stamped with background writing and was die cut to get a picture frame effect. Then I embossed it with a subtle design. This was popped up on thin foam to allow some room for the leaf sprays. 

Some ink smooshed card was die cut with leaf sprays and adhered in one corner, under the frame. The 'happy' was die cut from black card and adhered towards the top, and the 'birthday' word was stamped, trimmed and edged in black, then adhered with foam to sit over the frame.

All of the components sit within the 2 3/4 inch square which is perfect because it keeps it all inside 1/4 of the card base.

Thanks so much for stopping by - we can't wait to see your creations in our gallery!

• stamps: kaisercraft script, altenew sentiment strips
• dies: hero arts infinity squares, mft in focus florals, mft fab foliage, newtons nook holiday greetings
• inks: salvaged patina distress oxide, memento tuxedo black, versafine clair nocturne
• embossing: SU subtle 3D embossing folder

merry Christmas

 hello lovely stampers!

Today I started on Christmas cards which is certainly not something I usually do ahead of time, but I'm trying to be a bit organised this year! I'm playing along with the card concept who have an inspiration pic that certainly doesn't say Christmas at first glance, but I've always liked the pairing of a Christmas theme with non traditional colours.

 For my cas card, I was inspired by the colours. I began by stamping and clear heat embossing the sentiment. Using hero arts infinity squares, I die cut 3 squares. 1 was stamped with red dots, one was die cut to make a frame and the last was embossed using the Filigree texture plate. The trees were die cut using Sizzix Arctic Bear then ink blended using distress oxide inks.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

thank you

 hello lovely stampers!

I have been trying out a new to me technique I learnt from Chris Stokes on my cards lately and thought I'd change it up a little for this card made for the card concept challenge #175. The talented team chose such a gorgeous pic for inspiration!

The inspiration pic reminded me of some scraps of glossy paper I had left from a previous project. Aren't the soft and romantic colours just to die for? I was inspired by the colours, the rose, the circle shapes and the twine to make my cas card.

I die cut a circle from the paper using Hero Arts Infinity Circles, and then fussy cut a couple of the central rose. The circle was adhered to the card base so that the main rose was in the exact centre of the card panel, then I adhered one of the roses to the circle so it peeked out the side. The final rose was adhered to scrap card and I die cut the leaf sprays using MFT In Focus Florals die set.  The die cuts were adhered (perfectly) in place over the rose. The sentiment was stamped using SU Loyal Leaves with 2 colours of distress oxide ink. To finish, some linen twine and a few dew drops were added.

Thanks so much for spending some time with me today!

hello

 hello stampers!

I have been inspired lately by the cas cards of Shayne Eddie and Chris Stokes and have been trying out some of their techniques on my cards recently. This weeks cas colours and sketches challenge #469 provided the perfect opportunity to practise some more.

I began by die cutting a square from a panel I had from a previous project where I used the leftover ink on the stencil, sprayed it and smooshed it onto a card. This gives such wonderful, soft forms and gentle colours. The seahorse was stamped in my Misti 3 times - onto scrap card, onto the inked square and onto the card panel. The scrap card was die cut with the coral shape.

The edges of the square were inked then it was adhered in place over the seahorse, the die cut was popped up on thin foam squares to allow the shape to sit up over the twine, with the other die cut tucked under the twine. The sentiment was stamped in a coordinating colour and the panel was finished with a few droplets.

I do love this Chris Stokes eclipse technique where the die cut is stamped and laid in place - it gives such interest and dimension!

Thanks so much for spending some time with me today! 

• stencil: paper rose small drops
• stamps: darkroom door under the sea, altenew ornamental bliss
• dies: mft flower silhouettes, hero arts infinity squares
• inks: tumbled glass, blueprint sketch, shaded lilac distress oxides

live it up

 hello crafty stampers!

I'm thrilled to be the guest star stamper for this week at the color throwdown. I was lucky to be chosen as featured stamper with this card, so I have done a card for challenge #687 with the colours lime green, aqua and gold.

I began by doing some ink smooshing onto white cards with twisted citron and salvaged patina distress oxide inks. Then I die cut from them using Hero Arts Hexagon Infinity die set. I also die cut from some gold card. I stamped using Carabelle Studio Citron stamp with twisted citron distress oxide ink onto some white card and clear heat embossed it for shine. This was then die cut into a hexagon. I applied a mask to the stamping and ink blended the lower portion using salvaged patina distress oxide ink and splattered water. Here's a closeup of the shiny citron.

The card base was ink splattered with twisted citron distress oxide ink on the upper portion, then the hexagons were adhered some with glue, some with foam squares. The sentiment from Stampendous Birthday Splash stamp set was stamped in memento tuxedo black.

Thanks ladies for the shout out! I had such fun making this card, the colours were inspired!

We can't wait to see what creations will be in the gallery this week. Thanks for stopping by!

donut

 hello crafty stampers!

I'm playing along with the paper players challenge for this week PP585 where the theme is 'laughter is the best medicine'.

I'm always one for a witty line and couldn't resist this challenge. I toned down the snark and made a very sweet card (get the pun there?) lol

I began by masking off a section of the card panel and ink blending with dye ink, then used Paper Rose Stripes stencil to ink blend the top part. Using the donut stamp from Stampabilities Trendsetter stamp set and scraps of coloured card, I stamped many donuts in coordinating ink colours. They were die cut using Hero Arts Circle Infinity die set and the centre punched out. The mug was paper pieced using MFT Cool Day stamp and matching die, some ink blended for a shadow, and popped up on foam squares. The sentiment from Tim Holtz small talk stickers was adhered to a pink card scrap. Lastly some white gelly roll pen was used for the shine on the donuts and mug.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

meow's it going

 hello stampers!

I was thrilled to see the addicted to cas challenge has my favourite theme this month - Feline! So many ideas in my head, I couldn't wait to get started!

I chose the feline image from iCrafter Purrfect Birthday stamp set. Stamped the cat and the mouse and then watercolored and fussy cut them. For the background, I used the Darkroom Door Brick Wall stencil and lightly blended with distress oxide ink, roughly bigger than the cat image. The cat was adhered on his feet and has foam squares under his head. The bush was die cut twice using Hero Arts Succulent die set, cut down to the size I wanted, and glued in place just along the bottom so it would stand up a little. The sentiment from the same stamp set was stamped on the card panel. 

Just before I go, I wanted to share a quick pic I took just a couple of days ago of another cheeky feline! This is my cat, Sox who had spotted a kookaburra sitting on our balcony railing. Luckily the screen door was closed or he would have been a-huntin'!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

happy bee-day

 hello stampers!

The team at freshlymadesketches have a new challenge this fortnight with a super simple sketch:

I wanted to use some recently arrived paper from Paper Rose and I felt this sketch would work well with different papers. I'm usually not a big paper user, but this pack is just so gorgeous and being a gardener, I have a lot of respect for the bees! 

The first paper layer was trimmed to suit the sketch and adhered, then the second layer was trimmed and then die cut with several hexagon shapes to reveal the first paper layer with the bees! One hexagon was turned over to reveal the other side of the paper with a little daisy. The second layer was mounted on foam squares. The sentiment is from the same paper pack, mounted on white card. The card is finished with a little bow of black & white twine.

I'm also sending this one to Paper Rose for their monthly giveaway - this month the theme is to use Paper Rose paper packs.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Supplies: Paper Rose Bee Hive paper pack, Hero Arts Hexagon Infinity dies, black & white twine

warm blessings

 hello crafty stampers!

I'm joining in with the addicted to cas challenge this fortnight where the theme is a code word: snowflake.

I used several colours of distress oxide inks to create some ink smooshed panels, then used the Hero Arts Large Snowflake and Swirls dies to die cut and assemble the snowflakes. Some wink of stella was added to the outside points of the snowflakes (although it's hard to capture in the pic).

The sentiment from Altenew Warm Blessings is stamped in distress oxide then clear heat embossed. Finished it off with a tiny blue jewel in the centre of the snowflake.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

birthday

 hello crafters!

This week the lovely Cecile from freshly made sketches has a sketch for challenge #524

I am a big fan of Cecile's work and can only aspire to have a fraction of the elegance and subtlety she puts in her cards. I had to join in this challenge!

I began by stencilling using Paper Rose Leaves stencil with pine needles distress oxide ink, and then die cut a square using Hero Arts Square Infinity die set. The bird house was die cut twice using Paper Rose Bird Houses die set in yellow and white and the yellow roof and heart were given a wink of Stella for shine. The birds were die cut from the same set, the blue ones using a scrap of ink blended card. The sentiment from Paper Rose Tiny Forest stamp set was stamped directly on the white card base with mustard seed distress oxide ink.

I love this bird houses die set and since it just arrived in the mail this week, I'll enter this card in Darnell's NBUS blog!

Thanks for stopping by!

hey succa

 hello again stampers!

I thought I'd play along with the talented team at justusgirls challenge #620 colour week. I felt the colours lent themselves to a masculine card and who doesn't need more of those?

The background was ink blended using Darkroom Door Brick Wall stencil and distress oxide vintage photo ink. The succulents were stamped using Hero Arts Floral Succulent stamp & cut set and watercolored (!) using Altenew Teal Cave and distress oxide vintage photo inks. They were die cut and popped up on foam squares over 3 die cut rectangles using Paper Rose stitched rectangles die, cut from orange card. The sentiment was stamped in vintage photo using Altenew Ornamental Bliss and the little sentiment from the Succulent stamp set stamped in teal. A scrap of vintage photo blended card was adhered under the sentiment. The panel was mounted on a white card base.

Thanks for stopping by!

spread your wings

 hello lovely stampers!

Today I'm playing along with the justusgirls challenge with trend week #619. 

It's an interesting idea to use a die cut as a stencil and it certainly took me a couple of tries with different dies before I settled on something that I liked (and that worked!). It seems simple is key here.

I began with a Hero Arts Nesting Rectangle Infinity die cut as a stencil and ink blended it with yellow thru orange to red distress oxide inks. I used Paper Rose Flying Birds die cut and stencilled the birds over the top of the rectangle. I stamped the sentiments from Darkroom Door Wildflowers Vol 1 in the same yellow and heat embossed them in clear for some shine. Lastly the panel was adhered to a red card base.

I'm thinking this is the perfect technique for a 1 layer card - I'll have to keep it in mind for next time. Thanks for stopping by!

especially for you

 hello stampers!

I'm outdoing myself, I know - 2 posts in as many days! I might have to lie down for a bit! I've done a lovely little card for the addicted to CAS challenge #213 Hearts.

I'll give it to hubby who loves my cooking 😉 so a warm steaming bowl of love is on the menu for Valentines Day! lol

The bowl was stamped on red card using Hero Arts DC236 stamp and cut, and fussy cut. The hearts were die cut using a Recollections tiny heart die from strips of card adhered together in a rainbow design and also red card. The sentiment from Penny Black Grown with Love was stamped and white heat embossed on a scrap of dark grey card ink blended with distress oxide Black Soot. This was then die cut using Paper Rose Stitched Rectangle die. A white gelly roll pen was added for some interest and the card panel was popped up on foam strips on a white card base.

Thanks for stopping by!

snowflake wishes

 hello there crafty stampers!

Among my new year's resolutions this year was to start a new blog with a new name, and post at least twice weekly. Doesn't sound too hard does it? I have had so much fun over the last 12 months creating cards, entering challenges and generally getting inky fingers, so I thought I would try and step it up a notch. 

Today I have a lovely card for the just us girls challenge #615

They are the most beautiful colours and even though here it's mid summer and 28o outside, I couldn't resist channelling some snowflakes!

Some white pigment ink was splattered over a black card panel. Then I used Hero Arts Color Layering Snowflake stamps and die set as well as the Hero Arts Large Snowflakes and Swirls die. The snowflakes were stamped in pale blue and 1 was heat embossed in silver. These were all arranged on the panel with foam squares to look like snowflake flurries! The sentiment from the same set was stamped on white scrap and adhered to the panel with foam squares, and the design was finished off with some sparkly rhinestones.

Thanks for stopping by!