Ladies' Night

Two cards today for two people celebrating the end of their year as Chairmen at a formal 'Ladies' Night' dinner dance on Saturday.  I needed one masculine and one feminine card, so I decided to make the cards the same just changing the colours.

I bought this Tonic 'Ladies Night' die last year, with these cards in mind and this is its first outing.  The background dies are from the Sue Wilson 'Ornate Pierced Rectangles' set of dies.  I attached the layered die cuts onto a 7" square card blank and trimmed of the excess white card to keep the octagonal shape.

I am joining in the following challenges:

Win and Tonic January 2017 - Take Your Pick ~ Colour/Technique

Darnell's NBUS Challenge #10 ~ NBUS Ladies Night die

Allsorts Challenge Week 400 ~ Let's Celebrate

Let It Snow

Welcome to my new follower, Anne the Cobnut Crafter.  Thank you for following me. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your lovely creations on your blog.

Another Christmas card today.

The card blank is 6" x 4" with the fold at the side.  I used a Poppystamps 'Snowflake Channel' die near the bottom of the card.  I added pieces of LOTV  'Frosty Christmas' patterned paper, which unfortunately has been discontinued.  The sentiment is a Poppystamps 'Let it Snow Channel' die cut, which I've layered on dark blue card.  The snowflake in the corner is a Memory Box 'Twilight Snowflake' die cut and is raised up on foam pads.  To finish off my card, clear gems were added to the centres of the single snowflake and the snowflake in the sentiment.  

 This photo shows the card open, revealing the lovely snowflake channel. 

The 'Snowflake Channel' is a NBUS die, so I'll be popping over to Darnell's blog with my third entry this week.

I am joining in the following challenges:

PSC#28 ~ Silent Snowflakes

Darnell's NBUS Challenge #9
HLS January Challenge ~ Anything Goes With Dies
HLS January Christmas Challenge ~ Anything Goes
Country View January 2017 Challenge ~ Anything Goes

Thank You

I was delighted to win a pre-loved set of Stampin' Up stamps and dies over on Sarn's blog recently.  

I used the one of the heart stamps and the heart die from the sets and I used Versafine 'Satin Red' for the stamping.  The letters are from the MB 'Alphabet Soup' set of dies.  I used a NBUS embossing folder by Couture Creations 'Chain Link' and the flower was made with punches.  Apart from the card blank, everything else was made with snippets, so I'll be off to share my card in the Playground.  I'll also be popping over the Darnell's blog with my second card this week for the NBUS Challenge #9. 

I am joining in the following challenges:

Darnell's NBUS Challenge #9

Pixie's Snippets Playground - Week 265 and 266

HLS January Anything Goes With Dies

Steganography

Darnell's NBUS Challenge #9 started on Monday, the second of three weekly challenges to use your 'Never-Before-Used Schtuff'.  There are two optional additional themes this week and I decided to try 'Steganography' or 'Hidden/Camouflaged Word' on a fairly CAS card.  Instructions are over on Darnell's blog.  This is a new technique for me and is actually much easier than it looks. 

I didn't think I had any suitable word dies, then I remembered a NBUS set of Sweet Dixie word dies I bought in a pre-season Christmas sale.  The patterned paper is from a Trimcraft paper pad, 'The Night Before Christmas'.  The snowflakes on the paper are glittered, although it doesn't show up very well in the photo above.  The white MB 'Twilight Snowflake' die cut was covered with a clear Wink of Stella glitter brush.  I left the star in the middle in the snowflake as I wanted to raised the snowflake up on foam pads and this gave me a good area to attach the pads.

The glitter shows up a little better in this photo.

The first of the 2017 Rudolph Days Challenge starts today. 
It runs from the 25th until the end of each month, so get out your Christmas crafty stash, join in the fun and make a start on your cards for Christmas 2017. 

I am joining in the following challenges:
Darnell's NBUS Challenge #9
Rudolph Days January Challenge
HLS January Anything Goes With Dies

Triple Layer - no stamping

This is the second Triple Layer card I've made this week.  Di, of Pixie's Crafty Workshop, left me a comment on the Triple Layer Stamped card I posted yesterday, to say that she had made a post using this technique, but with patterned paper.  A few minutes on Google resulted in me finding the instructions on Di's post HERE.  I decided to make a square card this time using this ' new to me' technique.

The white base card is 7" square.  The patterned paper is from an old 8 x 8 paper stack I bought for £1 at a craft fair.  The yellow circle is die cut with a MB 'Stitched  Circle' die and the pink die cut is a NBUS - MB 'Amana Circle'.  I bought the Amana Circle die a couple of years ago in a 60% off sale and it seemed too good a bargain not to pop in my basket.  I had no idea what I was going to do with it, which is why it's been sat in my box of dies, unused, until now.  It always seemed the wrong size for the project I was working on.  As Darnell has her NBUS #8 Challenge still open, I'll be popping over to her blog to link up my third card this week.  If you haven't joined in the challenge yet, Challenge #8 ends soon, but there are two new NBUS Challenges coming.  The first one starts tomorrow, so visit Darnell's blog to find out all about it.

I am joining in the following challenges:

Darnell's NBUS Challenge #8

Triple Layer Stamping

I've been meaning to try the Triple Mat/Triple Layer Stamping technique for a while and when I saw a card this week on Jane's blog HERE, I decided to make this card.

Darnell's NBUS Challenge #8  ends tomorrow, so this is my second entry.  I found a tutorial on YouTube and adjusted the measurement to fit a 7" x 5" card. I used a NBUS set of stamps which came as part of a free gift with a magazine.  The flowers were stamped with Memento 'Tuxedo Black' and coloured with Promarkers - Berry Red, Tulip Yellow, Violet, Azure and Mint Green and the sentiment was stamped with Versafine 'Onyx'. The layers are attached on foam tape.  This card is actually the second card I made this week with this set of stamps, so I hope is still counts for the NBUS Challenge.  After I'd finished the first card, I opened a black fineliner pen and didn't realise is was leaking.  A lovely blob of ink landed on my finished card!  

I am joining in the following challenges.

  Darnell's NBUS Challenge #8

Kraft and Coloured Pencils

Darnell has a new NBUS Challenge starting this week HERE.  If you've never heard the term NBUS before, it stands for 'never-before-used-schtuff'.  Pop over to Darnell's blog to find out more and join in this fun challenge.

So..... onto my card. The optional theme this week is 'Use Colored Pencils on Kraft' (or 'coloured' pencils if you are in the UK, like me. LOL!)  Hmmm.... I think I've only used Kraft card once,  a long time ago, and I only possess a small box of cheap, children's, coloured pencils which definitely don't blend, so not a good start.  However not wanting to be beaten by a challenge, I managed to find my pack of Kraft card and coloured pencils and here's what I came up with.

The image is a NBUS stamp from the Sweet Dixie 'Zendoodle RTG Flowers' set, stamped on Kraft card and coloured with my cheapy pencils.  The image is attached with foam tape to raise it up. The result turned out to be not too bad, but luckily I got away without needing to blend the colours with this particular image.    I used an old wood mounted Hobby Art stamp for the sentiment.  The background is Kraft card, embossed with an Embossalicious e/f.  I've had the folder for quite a while and I think it might be discontinued now,

I am joining in the following challenges:
Darnell's NBUS Challenge #8 ~ with the optional theme of 'Use Colored Pencils on Kraft'
Penny Black and More January Challenge ~ Anything Goes
Country View Crafts January 2017 Challenge - Anything Goes

Hot Chocolate

The Less is More Challenge this week is a One Layer Card with the theme of 'Favourite Drink/Beverage'.  What better drink on a cold and damp winter's evening than a mug of hot chocolate!

 

Going through my stamps, looking for inspiration, I came across this Woodware hot chocolate stamp which is part of a set called 'Take it Easy'.  The image and the 'hot chocolate' text came as part of the same stamp, which I stamped with Memento 'Tuxedo Black'.  The image is coloured with Promarkers.  The rest of the quote and the sentiment are computer generated, leaving enough space to stamp the image.  

I am joining in the following challenges:

Less is More Challenge #311 - One Layer ~ Favourite Drink/ Beverage

Jade and Jewels

The Butterfly Challenge this fortnight is 'Butterflies + J is for Jewels and/or Jade', so I decided to go with both.

The patterned paper is layered on squares of jade pearlised card.  I die cut a white mat using a MB 'Stitched Scalloped Circle' die and attached it to the card using foam pads.  I've used the same jade pearlised card for the butterfly with another MB die,  'Vivienne Butterfly'.  It's attached just by the body so that the wings can stand up.  Four clear jewels in the corners finished off my card.  I decided not to add a sentiment, so that it can be used for any occasion.

I am joining in the following challenges:

Butterfly Challenge #70 ~ Butterflies + J is for Jewels and/or Jade

Allsorts Challenge Week 398 ~ Wings on things  

Inkspirational Challenge 126 ~ Word Prompt "Flutter" 

Let's Craft and Create Challenge #121 ~ Things With Wings 

Slider card

Welcome to my new follower, Soncee L.  Thank you for following me.  If you have a blog, please leave me a comment and I'll make a link to it in my next post.  

A simple CAS slider card today, so I could play with a new die. I can share it now I know the recipient has received it. 

I won a set of  Die-namics 'Surf and Turf' dies and 'Spin and Slide' discs as part of prize over in Pixie's Snippets Playground recently.  As making a slider card has been on my 'to do' list for ages, I couldn't wait to have a play. I used one of the dies to cut a channel in a stiff piece of white card, before embossing the corner with an embossing folder which came as a freebie with a magazine.  The wooden ladybird  was attached to one of the discs and it twists and turns as it goes along the channel.  The white card was attached to a red card blank with foam tape, so the ladybird moves freely.  I added green Tonic Nuvo Crystal Drops to the centre of each flower to match the green on the sentiment mat.

I am joining in the following challenges:
Allsorts Challenge Week 398 ~ Wings on things (ladybird)
Inkspirational Challenge 126 ~ Word Prompt "Flutter" (ladybird)
Let's Craft and Create Challenge #121 ~ Things With Wings (ladybird)

Ombre Sky

The Less is More Challenge this week is a colour challenge, 'Ombre'. My first thought was to use inks, but I decided to  use shades of blue card to make an ombre sky.

The sky is made from strips of card, die cut with one of the dies from the Lawn Fawn 'Puffy Clouds Border Dies' set.  I made a frame using the two of the dies from the Memory Box 'Stitched Squares'.  The frame and the Memory Box 'Hot Air Balloon' die cut are attached with foam tape.  The sentiment is an old wood mounted 'Funstamp', stamped in Versafine 'Majestic Blue'.  

I am joining in the following challenges:

Less is More #310 - Colour ~ Ombre

Memory Box Challenge #20 ~ Winter Blues
HLS January Anything Goes With Dies
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge ~ Be Square (Square frame)
Country View Challenge - January 2017 ~ Anything Goes

Firey Dragon

I made this card for my great-nephew.

I used a Sweet Dixie 'Dragon' die with green holographic card and snippets of red holographic card for the flame.  The red corners are from the same red card, die cut with an old Sizzlits photo corner die.  The image is mounted on a Creative Expressions 'Pierced Circle' die cut.  I used a SB 'Dainty Dots' embossing folder for the background. The computer generated background is layered on the green holographic card.

I am joining in the following challenges:
Die Cuttin' Divas Challenge #299 ~ Dragons
HLS January Anything Goes With Dies
Cardz 4 Guyz Challenge # 152 ~ Happy Birthday
Fab 'n' Funky Challenge #333 ~ Birthday with a Number
Pixie's Snippets Playground - Week 263 and 264 ~ Use snippets
Country View Challenge - January 2017 ~ Anything Goes
Simon Says Monday Challenge ~ Be Square

Cats

A change from cards today, a framed picture. (Oops! I shouldn't have taken the photo on a wood background the same colour as the frame!)

The image is a digi stamp from the Beccy's Place 'Catitude' set and the sentiment is computer generated.  The black text looks more grey in the photo - bad light and reflection on the glass is not a good combination!   I die cut an aperture in the green card using a Creative Expressions 'Double Pierced Square' die.  I used a paw print border punch with green card, which I layered on black card to make panels for the top and bottom.  There isn't a thick black line across the top of the picture either, that's the shadow!  I think I need a lesson on taking photos of framed pictures! LOL!

I am joining in the following challenges:

Beccy's Place  January Challenge

Allsorts Challenge Week 397 ~ Cats and/or Dogs

Butterfly Challenge

My third entry for the Butterfly Challenge, which this fortnight is 'Butterflies +Z is for Zero and/or Zucchini'.  I didn't manage to include 'Zero' this time, so went with just the shades of 'Zucchini'.  

The tree is from the Creative Expression 'Family Tree' set of dies, a Christmas present from a crafty friend.  I die cut the tree from black card, attaching a piece of rainbow card behind with the green and yellow colours showing through where the leaves are.  I die cut the tree again in white and inlaid the white die cut in the black card.  The sentiment is a peeloff,  attached to a Creative Expressions 'Stitched Flag' die cut.  I punched a tiny butterfly from the rainbow card and added it to the sentiment panel.

I am joining in the following challenges:

Butterfly Challenge #69 ~ Butterflies +Z is for Zero and/or Zucchini
HLS January Anything Goes With Dies
Bizzy Bec's January Challenge ~ Anything Goes

Butterfly

The Butterly Challenge this fortnight is 'Butterflies +Z is for Zero and/or Zucchini' which interpreted mean 'Zero and shades of green or yellow'.  As I needed to make a 70th birthday card this week, my card has a zero as well as green and yellow.

The stamp is an old wood mounted Funstamp, 'Stitched Butterfly', which I stamped with Memento 'Tuxedo Black' and coloured with three shades of green and three shades of yellow Promarkers.   The image and sentiment are matted and layered using MB 'Stitched Squares and Circles'. The sentiment is raised up on foam pads.  For the embossed background I used an Xcut 'Tartan Background' embossing folder.  I added a Creative Expressions 'String Flower' die cut and used Tonic Nuvo Crystal Drops for the centre of the flower and also for the tips of the butterfly's antennae.

I am joining in the following challenges:

Butterfly Challenge #69 ~ Butterflies +Z is for Zero and/or Zucchini

Penny Black and More January Challenge ~ Anything Goes

Country View January Challenge ~ Anything Goes
Bizzy Bec's January Challenge ~ Anything Goes

A New Grandson

A congratulations card for a friend who recently became a grandmother.

I used Creative Expressions 'Stitched Lattice Frames' dies and blue pearlised card for the background.  The Tonic 'Baby Balloons' die cut is matted and layered on Memory Box 'Stitched Ovals'. 

I am joining in the following challenges:

Dies R Us Challenge #64 ~ Anything Goes Using Dies

Allsorts Challenge Week 396 ~  New (new grandmother)
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge ~ Something new
Win and Tonic  December 2016 ~ Take Your Pick (Theme)

102 Years Young

Followers of my blog may remember that two years ago I made a 100th birthday card for an amazing lady I've known for about 30 years.  Last year I made her a card for her 101st birthday.  Well.....today is Kitty's 102nd birthday and I still see her regularly, watching our favourite football team.  I usually make her a football themed card, however this year I thought I'd have a change, but still keep the theme of blue and white, the team colours.  As usual, I've added lots of texture as unfortunately her eyesight is not what it was.

I used this beautiful blue, textured, pearlised card which looks even better IRL. The background is a Creative Expressions die cut from the Belgium collection.  The flower is made from white snippets using Creative Expressions 'Faux Quilled Blooms' dies.  The centre of the flower is a 'pearl' made with Nuvo Midnight Blue Crystal Drops.  These must be my favourite discovery of 2016 - they make a perfect dome shape every time, in whatever size is needed and so much easier than sticking on pearls. I used  Memory Box 'Pippi Butterfly' and 'Isabella Butterfly' die cuts, using up a couple more snippets.   A little of the Nuvo Crystal drops was added to the tip of the antennae.  The butterfly is attached just in the middle with glue and the wings raised up on foam pads.

I am joining in the following challenges:
Pixie's Snippets Playground - Week 262 ~ Use snippets
Memory Box Challenge #20- Winter Blues
Dies R Us Challenge #64 ~ Anything Goes Using Dies
Butterfly Challenge #69 ~ Butterflies +Z is for Zero and/or Zucchini (Just the butterfly and zero on this card)
Allsorts Challenge Week 396 ~ Something New (used two new sets of Creative Expressions dies)
Country View Challenges ~ Anything Goes

Baby Shower

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wishing all visitors to my blog a happy, healthy and creative 2017.

A CAS baby shower card I made for a friend today.

All the dies used on this card are Memory Box dies. I used one of the 'Puffy Clouds' dies and raised it up on foam pads to add dimension.  The heart raindrops are the waste from a 'Heart of Hearts' die cut.  I used 'Stitched Squares' for matting and layering and 'Alphabet Soup' dies for the letters.

I am joining in the following challenges:
Memory Box Challenge #20- Winter Blues
Less is More Challenge #309 ~ Dimension
Dies R Us Challenge #64 ~ Anything Goes Using Dies