Spirelli Framed Butterfly

A card made today to enter a few challenges.


The butterfly is die cut with Poppystamps 'Elsa Butterfly' and 'Lyndon Butterfly', a lovely giveaway I won on Kath's Blog last year.  I used one of the SB Nestabilities 'Pinked Circle' dies with a snippet of white card.  While the die cut was in still in the die, I used the die as a guide to pierce holes with a piercing tool,  just inside each point.  I haven't done any Spirelli for a long time, but used this technique with a needle and crochet cotton through the holes, instead of winding round the die cut.  This left a lovely white jagged border round the edge.  

I am joining in the following challenges:
1.Less is More Challenge Challenge #339 - Pierce Your Project

2.Butterfly Challenge #83 ~ Butterflies + J is for Jagged Edge and/or the colour of Kiwi

3.Country View July Challenge ~ Things with wings
4.City Crafter Challenge Blog Week 372 ~ Something beginning with S (Spirelli)
5.Shopping Our Stash # 313 ~ Butterflies, Bees & Bugs

BBQ Season

My DH and I were invited to a barbecue yesterday.  Well.... it turned out to be the wettest evening of the year, with heavy rain starting just as we were walking round to our friends' house and it didn't stop all evening.  Thank goodness for gazebos!!  They were certainly needed for the twenty four of us there.  This is the Thank You card I made today for the hosts.

I printed the DigiStamp Boutique image 'BBQ Alf' and coloured it with Promarkers a couple of days ago.  My intention was to make a summery card, but after the weather we had yesterday evening, I thought this design was more appropriate.  The image was die cut with a MB 'Stitched Rectangle' die, which I layered on navy blue, leaving a thin border.  For the background I used a MB 'A Little Rain' die with a square of blue card.  I backed the die cut raindrops with white, before layering on a slightly bigger square of navy blue card.  To finish my card, I added a Poppystamps 'Heart Showers Umbrella' die cut.

I am joining in the following challenges:
DigiStamp Boutique July Challenge
City Crafter Challenge Blog Week 372 ~ Something beginning with S (Sausages)
I Love Promarkers Challenge #340 ~ One for the Boys
HLS July Anything Goes with Dies Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge ~ Anything Goes

Birthday Balloons

CASology are celebrating their 5th Anniversary this week with a Balloon Blog Hop, so why don't you hop over to their blog to join in the fun!  

The dies are all from a Trimcraft set of dies, 'Birthday Party'.   I die cut the banner three times, attached the pink one to a piece of a double sided adhesive sheet and inlaid the letters from the two other die cuts.  I wanted to balloons to shine, but my bottle Glossy Accents was running low.   I had a light bulb moment and attached a piece of clear sticky back plastic the snippets of card, before dies cutting the balloons.  The shine on the balloons doesn't show up in the photograph, but look fine IRL.  The balloon dies come with 'string' as part of the die cut, but I snipped it off and added some yellow crochet cotton.  (One day I will get round to learning how to crochet! LOL!)  The balloons and banner were attached with foam pads to add dimension.  I added three drops of Nuvo Glow Drops to the corner.

I am joining in the following challenges:

CASology 5th Anniversary Challenge ~ Balloon

Daring Cardmakers ~ String Theory
HLS July CAS Challenge ~ Birthday
Less is More Challenge #338 - NO Stamps!

Color Throwdown Challenge #453 ~ Raspberry Pink, Yellow and Green

Orange Butterfly

I don't usually post twice in one day, but I suddenly remembered that the Butterfly Challenge closes today, and not next Tuesday, and I hadn't made a card for the challenge.  The main reason for this is the theme is 'Butterflies + M is for Matching pairs and/or the colour of Orange peel' and I'd been putting off making a card.  Firstly, I seldom use orange on my cards.  Don't ask me why, but I didn't ever use orange on my classroom displays when I was teaching full time either.  Secondly, I usually add things in odd numbers, so adding two of something made me put on my thinking cap.  So, this afternoon I got out some snippets of orange card and some orange Promarkers and set to work. 

The image is an old wood mounted Francoise Read stamp, 'Glasgow Butterfly', which I stamped with Momento 'Tuxedo Black' and coloured with Promarkers.  All the stitched dies I used are from The Works.  The layered image is attached with foam tape to add dimension.  I used a Creative Expression embossing folder, 'Checkpoint' for the background.  I didn't have any orange pearls, so I coloured two white ones with one of the orange Promarkers I used - so that's my matching pair.

I am joining in the following challenges:

Butterfly Challenge #82 ~ Butterflies + M is for Matching pairs and/or the colour of Orange peel

Country View July Challenge ~ Things with wings

Shopping Our Stash # 313 - Butterflies, Bees & Bugs
Make My Monday Challenge # 51 ~ Monochromatic

Christmas Penguins

Time for another Rudolph Days challenge, which runs from the 25th until the end of each month.  

For my card I used an old wood mounted Stampendous 'Penguin Pals' stamp, which I stamped in Memento 'Tuxedo Black' and coloured with Promarkers.  The sentiment is from Papermania set of Christmas stamps, stamped in Versafine 'Black Onyx'.  I added a clear gem to the star in the sentiment to add a little sparkle.  The image and sentiment was die cut with a stitched rectangle die from The Works.  I wasn't going to buy this set, even though it's very inexpensive, as I already have MB stitched rectangles.  However, when saw it IRL, I realised that the rectangles are longer and thinner and the smallest ones will be perfect for die cutting longer sentiments.   The Christmas lights patterned paper is from a Docrafts paper stack and five Card Candi finished off my card.

I am joining in the following challenges:

Rudolph Days July Challenge
A Gem of a Challenge #199 ~ Christmas in July
Die Cut Divas July Challenge ~ Christmas in July
ABC Christmas Challenge ~ N is for New & O is for Old (Old stamp, New Stitched Rectangle die)
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper July 2017 challenge
CHNC Challenge #343 ~ Anything Goes as long as it's Christmas 
CHNC Challenge Extra for July 2017
Little Red Wagon Challenge # 403 ~ Christmas In July

Hello

A card today with a few challenges in mind.  The Color Throwdown Challenge this week is to use the colours green, yellow, red, and aqua.  The Less is More Challenge is 'NO Stamps!' so I've just used dies.  

The frame is one I saw recently on another blog and after a little detective work, I managed to find one on eBay.  I die cut it twice to make it stand out.  The flowers are Sue Wilson's 'String Flowers' dies, which I cut in red and yellow.  I added a drop of aqua coloured Nuvo Crystal Drops, 'Caribbean Ocean',  to the centres.  The green letters are MB 'Parker Upper Alphabet' die cuts.  

This photo shows more clearly how the petals of the flowers can be pulled up to make them 3D.  Everything apart from the card blank was made with snippets, so I'll be off to play in The Playground.

I am joining in the following challenges:
Less is More Challenge #338 - NO Stamps!
Pixie's Snippets Playground - Week 291 and 292 ~ Use Snippets
HLS July Anything Goes with Dies Challenge
Color Throwdown Countdown #452

A Trip to the Cinema

Welcome to my new follower, Cheryl S of Card and Clutter.

A Gift Card Holder today for a 50th Wedding Anniversary present to give to a couple who enjoy going to the cinema.  As well as a gift card for the cinema, I wrapped up a bag of gourmet popcorn!

The patterned paper is from a Docrafts paper pad and the 'ticket' is a SB 'That's the Ticket' die cut.

This shows the gift card holder open.  I made a tutorial last year as I couldn't find the measurements to make this style anywhere online.  You can see it HERE. 

I am joining in the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge Week 425 ~ Fancy Folds

Simon Says Monday Challenge ~ Get in Shape

Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper July 2017 challenge

40th Birthday - How did that happen???

Welcome to my new follower, Sharon Gibb.  If you have a blog, please leave me a comment and I'll add a link to it in my next post.

It's my daughter's 40th Birthday today, how did that happen? It seems like only yesterday that I was a young mum looking down at her newborn daughter!  This is the card I made for her.  She has a beautiful cat called Pudding, so I wanted to include a cat.

The image and bottom sentiment are digi stamps from a set from Beccy's Place called 'Catitude'.  The top sentiment is computer generated to personalise the card.  The image is pre-coloured and I picked out the brown and white for the rest of the card.  The frame is made with Sue Wilson 'Ornate Pierced Rectangle' dies and the largest pierced die cut was layered on a 7" white linen card blank, trimming off the excess to match the die, leaving a small border.  For the flowers and leaves I used Sue Wilson 'Finishing Touches - Faux Quilled Blooms' dies.

I am joining in the following challenges:

Beccy's Place July Challenge

That's Crafty Anything Goes Challenge

HLS July Anything Goes with Dies Challenge
Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #193 ~ Lots of Layers
A Gem of a Challenge  #198 ~ Animals

Noteworthy Neutrals

The Memory Box challenge this month is 'Noteworthy Neutrals' (cream, white, black, brown, grey), so I decided to use just brown and cream on my card.

I started with a square, cream card blank and die cut a brown and a cream Memory Box 'Fairytale Flower Border', adding the brown die cut to the right hand side.  The e/f I used is Couture Creations 'Chain Link'. I snipped off the top half of the cream die cut and attached it over the embossing.   A strip of striped ribbon, in shades of brown and cream, was attached between the embossed side and the plain side.  The computer generated sentiment was die cut using  a Memory Box 'Stitched Rectangle' die.  

I am joining in the following challenges:

Memory Box Challenge #26 ~ Noteworthy Neutrals

HLS July Anything Goes with Dies Challenge

Gone Fishing

A masculine card today with a summery feel as it's for a summer birthday.

The Little Claire 'Silhouette Boat' and sentiment stamps were stamped in Versafine 'Onyx Black' and the image was die cut with a Sizzix 'Stitched Rectangle'. (I think this particular stamp is only available as a digi now.)  I rarely use yellow on masculine card, but pale yellow kept the card looking light and summery.  For the background I used a Creative Expression Mask 'Wavy',  applying Adirondack 'Stream' and 'Sailboat Blue' ink with an Ink Duster.

I am joining in the following challenges:
Penny Black and More July Challenge ~ For the Boys
Crafty Friends Challenge #61 ~ Man/Boy
Cardz 4 Guyz Challenge # 173 ~ Beside The Sea

One turned into three!

The Less is More Challenge is joining forces this time with  the AAA CAS Cards Challenge, which is a 'One Layer -  Coloured Cardbase' challenge.  I had in idea in my head to used a green card blank with a black MB 'Chloe Stem' die cut inlaid (keeping the one layer) and a black stamped  sentiment.  However, the finished card didn't look quite right, as the die cut in the green card was too low, leaving too much space above.  So I chopped off the front of the card, trimmed it down to make it look more balanced and attached it to a black card blank.

I am joining in the following challenges with this card:

HLS July CAS Challenge ~ Birthday

 As my green card was no longer a One Layer, I started again with a bright pink card blank, inlaying the black die cut.  

I am joining in the following challenges with this card:

Less is More Challenges #336 & #337 - OLC Coloured Cardbase

AAA CAS Game #94 - A Collaboration with Less Is More

These two cards left me with green and pink MB 'Chloe Stem' die cuts.  Rather than put them in my box of unused shapes, where they would probably get unused and forgotten for quite a long time, I made them into a third CAS card.  

I am joining in the following challenges with this card:
City Crafter Challenge Blog Week 370 ~ Two Colors Only
HLS July Anything Goes with Dies Challenge
CAS on Friday Challenge #111 ~ Flowers
SOS Challenge #311 ~ CAS for Simplicity Day!

Inlaid Butterfly

A month or so ago, I saw a card on Carol of Our Little Inspirations blog HERE where Carol had inlaid one of the Memory Box intricate butterflies.  I loved the effect, so I played around with a butterfly and tag die cut and some coloured snippets of card and the result has been sat on my craft table for about six weeks, waiting for some inspiration of what to do with it!  So today, after seeing that the current Color Throwdown Challenge is red, yellow, blue and white, I decided to turn it into a card.

The Memory Box butterfly is called 'Vivienne', which I die cut in black and attached to a white Poppystamps 'Stitched Main Street Tag', matted on a slightly larger black tag. I used the butterfly die again with snippets of red, yellow and blue, inlaying the pieces into the black butterfly.  I put small red and black circles at the top of the tag and five clear gems to add a bit of bling. 

I am joining in the following challenges:

Country View July Challenge ~ Things with wings

Pixie's Snippets Playground - Week 287 and 288 ~ Use Snippets
Alphabet Challenge ~ I for Insects
HLS Anything Goes with Dies July Challenge
Butterfly Challenge #81 ~ Butterflies +K is for Key and/or the colour Vermillion (no key this time and I hope the red it bright enough.  It's much redder in IRL)
Cardz 4 Galz Challenge #51 ~ Butterflies
Dies R US Challenge #76 ~ Layers
That's Crafty Challenge ~ Anything Goes
Poppystamps Challenge #34 ~ Just Bling It!

Color Throwdown #450

A Magical Day

Another Joy Fold card today, using freebie stamps and freebie patterned paper.

The fairy and sentiment stamps and patterned paper all came as part of the free gift with this month's Quick Cards Made Easy magazine.  The silhouette fairy, stamped with Versafine 'Onyx Black', was holding a star, so I added a punched silver glitter star over the top to add a bit of sparkle.  I used a Creative Expressions 'Sparkle Squares' embossing folder for the background. A flower brad keeps the card closed. 

This photo shows the card open, with a space to write a message. 

I am joining in the following challenges: 
Allsorts Challenge ~ Week 423 - Magical and Mythical
Country View Crafts July Challenge ~ Things with wings
Deep Ocean Challenge #158 ~ Lots of Layers
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper July 2017 Challenge
That's Crafty Challenge ~ Anything Goes

Two cards

The Allsorts Challenge this week is 'A Question of Sport'.  I make lots of football related cards,  so I thought I'd make something different this time.  My hubby went out running today, I know......who would choose to go out running in this heat!  However, it gave me the inspiration to dig out an old wood mounted stamp with a runner. 

The image is a Paper Nation stamp, 'Running Man', which I stamped with Memento 'Tuxedo Black' and coloured with Promarkers.  For the embossed background I used a Creative Expression 'Textured Linen' e/f.  I think black embossed card card be even more tricky to photograph sometime than metallic card!  I cut a scalloped strip across the middle so I could add the sentiment.  I was tempted to add a little embellishment in the top right-hand corner, but decided to leave it as it is so I can add an age if needed, or just send it as it is.

I am joining in the following challenges with this card: 

Allsorts Challenge - Week 422 ~ A question of sport

Penny Black and More July Challenge ~ For the Boys

Onto my second card for today, which I can post on my blog as I know it's been received.  I was lucky enough to win a voucher for the Happy Little Stampers shop and I used an image and a sentiment on my second card from one of the stamp sets I chose.

I started with a square, black card blank.  The Happy Little Stampers set of stamps I used is called 'Wish you were here'.  I stamped the London skyline image and sentiment with Versafine 'Black Onyx'.  I love all the detail in the image.  For the embossed background I used a Couture Creations folder, 'Jo Jo'.

I am joining in the following challenges with this card:

City Crafter Challenge Blog Week 369 ~ Black and White
Addicted to Stamps and More! Challenge #249 ~ CAS
The Artistic Stamper - July's Creative Team Challenge ~ Black and White
4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #358 ~ Stamping -No Digis

New Home

A CAS card today with a few challenges in mind.  After making a several cards in red, white and blue this week, the colour of the UK flag, I thought I'd have a change and make a card in red and white, the colours of the English flag.

The Butterfly Challenge this fortnight is 'Butterflies + K is for Key and/or the colour Vermillion' (bright red or scarlet). I thought a key would be perfect for a New Home card.  The embossing folder is a Sizzix one which I've had for a long time, but I think it might be discontinued now.  I added a flat, punched flower to extend the pattern in the embossed design, added a little punched butterfly and corner rounded the corners of the embossed card.  I used a little white Nuvo Crystal Drops for the butterfly's body.  The key is a die cut from the set of Spellbinders 'Lace Heart' dies, cut in scarlet pearlised card. I used snippets of the same card for the butterfly and the centre of the flower.  The front of the card blank was covered in matching scarlet, pearlised paper.

I am joining in the following challenges:

Butterfly Challenge #81 ~ Butterflies + K is for Key and/or the colour Vermillion

Less is More Challenge #335 ~ Colours of Your Country's Flag (England)

Simon Says Monday Challenge ~ Red, White and/or Blue
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #310 ~ Flag Day (England)

That's Crafty Challenge ~ Keep it Simple

Red, white and blue

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY 

TO ALL MY AMERICAN FRIENDS!

Welcome to my two new followers, Loll of Stamping with Loll and Faith of Daffodil Cards.  Please pop over to their blogs to see their beautiful creations. 

Two red, white and blue CAS cards today.

The corner die cut was made with one of the MB 'Distressed Baptista Collage' dies in a piece of royal blue hammer card.  I backed the die cut with red card before attaching it to the card blank.  I used the die again with white card to make the card below and used the waste to inlay circles/part circles randomly in some of the apertures on this card.  I put a tiny dot of glue where I wanted the white pieces to go and then just popped them in.

This is my second card of a similar design. (Oops, just noticed the shadow of the camera on the bottom of the card!)

 

I am joining in the following challenges:

Less is More Challenge #335 ~ Colours of Your Country's Flag (UK)

Cards In Envy Card Challenge ~ Red, White & Blue

Simon Says Monday Challenge ~ Red, White and/or Blue
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #310 ~ Flag Day (UK)

Swans a-swimming

A birthday card today for a friend who loves anything swans related. It's her birthday tomorrow, but I know she won't see this card on my blog.

I used a Sizzix 'Triple Circle Flip-Its' die for the base card.  This set of dies includes 10 dies and all the dies I used for my card were from this set.  For the embossed background I used a Sheena Douglass 'Water Ripple' e/f.  The swans are punched and I added an eye to each one with a fineliner pen.

This photo shows the card turned round to reveal the back of the circles.  I embossed the die cut circles with the same embossing folder and added three smaller punched swans.  

I am joining in the following challenges: 

Country View Crafts July Challenge ~ Things with wings
Cards In Envy Card Challenge ~ Red, White & Blue

Simon Says Monday Challenge ~ Red, White and/or Blue
Little Red Wagon Challenge #400 ~ Three of a Kind (3 red circles)
4 Crafty Chicks #357 ~ Crazy Egg/Anything Goes

Stained Glass Hummingbird

Today's card is a birthday card for the lovely Darnell, known to many crafty bloggers, which managed to cross The Pond in time for her birthday today.  I was excited to see my first hummingbird in her garden when I visited her earlier this year, so this seemed an appropriate design. 

I used a Creative Expressions, Sue Wilson 'Hummingbird' die from the Stained Glass Collection.  I die cut the frame in black and  inlaid all the coloured pieces of card. This is the second stained glass card I've made and the instructions of how I made it can be found HERE on my previous post. 

I am joining in the following challenges:

Country View Crafts July Challenge ~ Things with wings

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge ~ Anything Goes