Monday 27 February 2023

Cheers!

The Memory Box Challenge ends today so I'm sneaking in a last minute entry with a Kir Royale cocktail for the theme "I'll drink to that!".  I've never tried a Kir Royale cocktail, but crème de cassis (blackcurrant liqueur) and champagne sounds like a delicious combination!

I used an MFT 'Cross-Stitch Tag' die and chopped off the top of the tag to make a rectangle.  The cross stitching was done with crochet cotton. For the background I used a Memory Box 'Bubble Burst' die and the deep red mats are pearlised paper.  A Woodware sentiment was stamped using a Stampin' Up 'Cherry Cobbler' inkpad. 

I am joining in the following challenges:





Saturday 25 February 2023

Christmas Embossing

A short month for the Rudolph Days February Challenge which begins today..... just four days.  

I bought this Crafter's Companion 'Follow the Star' cut and emboss folder on a recent trip to their Evesham store and it's getting it's first outing.  Another bargain buy, which I thought would be good for batch making a few Christmas cards.  I tried it using a few different colourways and I think my favourite is the last one.  The navy paper is pearlised and gives the embossing a lovely sheen.



   I am joining in the following challenges:




Friday 24 February 2023

Triple Stamping

A Triple Stamping card today.... it's been quite a while since I last made one.  Another card to join in the Uniko 11th Birthday Celebrations.

The stamps are all from the Uniko ' Decorative Doilies - The Hands of Time' set.  I used Versafine Clair 'Paradise', 'Charming Pink' and 'Cheerful' ink pads for stamping.  The sentiment is from the Uniko 'Simply Said Clear Stamps' set.

I am joining in the following challenges:
As You Like It Challenge ~ Favourite Stencil or Freestyle Background (and Why) - Freestyle background because it's unique every time

Time Out are celebrating their 9th Birthday, so I'll be joining in their celebrations too.




Wednesday 22 February 2023

Three Cards

I haven't made a CAS for a while, so I thought I'd make one today to join in with the Uniko 11th Birthday celebrations.

I inked up a Uniko Stamp from the 'Decorative Doilies - The Hands of Time' for the first time using  a Versafine Clair 'Charming Pink' ink pad.  The sentiment was a stamp from a the Uniko 'Simply Said Clear Stamps'.  I found a circle frame in my 'bits' box, used it to frame the lovely doily image and added a tiny white pearl to the middle. 

I am joining in the following challenges:


My second card is a Three Panel Card which I made after seeing a tutorial HERE.

The patterned papers and green card were all Stampin' Up snippets left over from projects from a few years ago.  The back panel is plain for the message and I fussy cut three flowers from the patterned paper to add some added interest. The sentiment was a stamp from the Stampin' Up 'Humming Along' set, stamped with Versafine Clair 'Verdant'.


I am joining in the following challenge with this card:



My third card is very quick and easy Thank You card.
I attached the purple card, embossed with a Sizzix thank you embossing folder to the card blank.  I added three tiny clear gems to the embossed flower and the card was finished.




Monday 20 February 2023

Corner Pop Up Cards

The Butterfly Challenge this time is 'C for Corner Pop Up Card'.  The elements for this challenge are 'Corner Pop Up Card, Checks, Coral, Citron, Crimson, Camel + a Butterfly'.  Mrs A. has put the instructions for the fold HERE.

 A friend recently gave me a Papermania paper pad she no longer wanted called 'Happy Days'. It had a stripy sheet which included Crimson, Camel and Citron coloured stripes.  There was also a sheet with Crimson and white checks, so these were perfect for the challenge.  No Coral though, so just three out of the four colours on my card.  The butterfly is a Simply Creative 'Butterfly' die cut which I cut in white.  I attached it to a piece of green card and fussy cut around the edge of the butterfly.  The flowers were made with punches.  I die cut the sentiment and red mat with Sizzix dies.


I am joining in the following challenges with this card:


This really is an easy fold, so I made a second card.  This time I made a card that would be good for a masculine card.
The papers are from a paper pad I bought from The Range.  I use the leopard patterned paper on all the panels, except the one with sentiment.  I used one with just leaves on for this panel.


I am joining in the following challenges with this card:



Friday 17 February 2023

80th Birthday Card

Welcome to my two latest followers, Ellie and Barbara.  I hope you stop by my blog again soon.

Anyone else still getting genuine comments going into their Blogger spam folder? I get a few most weeks, but today one appeared for the first time written in August 2020!

A friend celebrated a big birthday today and this is the card I made for her.  I knew she wouldn't want her age on the card, so I tactfully left it off.  😉
The cross stitching was done on a Marianne Design 'Cross Stitch' die cut and cut into a square with a Memory Box 'Stitched Square Layers' die.  The other layers are Lisa Horton's 'Scalloped Layered Squares' die cuts.  I die cut a pink strip to go across the bottom with a Memory Box 'Stitched  Country Borders' die.

I am joining in the following challenges:




Wednesday 15 February 2023

With Sympathy

Our friends lovely dog sadly passed away at the weekend and this is the card I made for them.  I decided not to add a sentiment on the front of the card, but write a message of sympathy inside.

The background was embossed with a Creative Expressions 'Pawprint Lattice' embossing folder. The heart is a die from the Spellbinders 'Pawing Around (Dog)' set with plain cream card behind.  I didn't have a slightly larger heart die, so I cut the green heart by hand.  The ribbon in layered on a green strip of card.  

I am joining in the following challenges:




Tuesday 14 February 2023

Valentine's Day Card

Happy Valentine’s Day ❤️

A Valentine card for my hubby.   As we will be having a romantic evening watching our football team,  I made the card in the team colours of blue and white.  If I'm really lucky, I may be treated to a pasty or a bag of chips! 😂

I rarely use stitching on a masculine card, but I thought this stitched design wouldn't look too feminine if I kept the rest of the card fairly plain. I used a Marianne Designs 'Cross Stitch Heart' die set and the cross stitching was done with crochet cotton. I made the easel card with two dies from the Lisa Horton 'Nested Hearts' die set.   The layered sentiment is raised up on foam pads and I added a small punched white heart.

I am joining in the following challenges:


Especially for anyone missing a loved one today. 



A couple of CAS 'Thank You' cards, I hope one has arrived at its destination.
The sentiment is a Memory Box ' Grand Thank You' die cut.  I punched the bottom edge with a butterfly border punch kindly given to me by Mia (Craftartista).  I used the border punch again in a snippet of yellow card and inlaid the butterflies in the apertures.  I added three more butterflies in the top corner and and drew flight paths with a fine liner pen.  I actually put the card to one side planning to bin it because I felt the words were too high, but the following day I added a yellow strip which gave it a more balanced look.

The second card has a more simple look.  I positioned the 'thank you' lower down and decided not to inlay the butterflies this time.  I saved the butterflies from the first card and positioned them flitting around the top of the card.

I am joining in the following challenges:
Creative Fingers Challenge #248 ~ Anything Goes






Monday 13 February 2023

Anniversary Card

An anniversary card I made for friends celebrating their wedding anniversary.

The background was embossed with a Sue Wilson 'Hearts on a String' embossing folder.  The heart is from the Spellbinders 'Lace Hearts' die set.  I backed the heart with a plain piece of white card and raised the heart up with foam tape.  I punched a small red heart to put in the middle of the larger one.  I added two strips of ribbon, layered on red card and put a layered sentiment, raised up with foam pads.

I am joining in the following challenges:






Sunday 12 February 2023

Double Slider Card

The Butterfly Challenge this time is 'D for Double Slider Card'.  It's a card style I haven't tried before, but I wanted to give it a go.  Mrs A has put the instructions HERE.  I should have paid more attention to the instructions as my slider parts were too near the double-sided tape on my first card and wouldn't slide.... so it went in the bin.  This is my second attempt using the card shape, die cut, dandelion (pearls), denim and a butterfly.

The butterfly is a Sue Wilson 'Majestic Monarch' die cut and is layer on a white piece of card embossed with a Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' embossing folder.  I added a few tiny yellow pearls in the corners.

The card stands up as a tent fold.

When the ribbon is pulled, both panels appear.

This little video shows how the card opens.

I am joining in the following challenges:
Butterfly Challenge #177 ~ D for Double Slider Card (Card Shape, Denim, Dandelion, Die Cut and Butterfly)





Saturday 11 February 2023

Special Birthday

I made this card a little while ago and I have been saving it until this week for a special birthday.  One of the neighbours in our Close celebrated her 90th birthday yesterday.  As she said she didn't want a fuss for her birthday, I decided not to put an age on the front but wished her a Happy 90th Birthday in the message inside instead.

I made the card with a variety Sue Wilson dies and the purple card is pearlised.

I am joining in the following challenges:





Tuesday 7 February 2023

With Love

A card I made for a young lady who loves horses.

I used a Marianne Designs 'Cross Stitch Heart' die set and the cross stitching was done with crochet cotton.  The background was embossed with a Lisa Horton 'Padded Quilt' embossing folder. I layered a strip of stripy ribbon over a purple mat and attached the finished heart with foam pads.  The horseshoe was punched and tiny grey pearls added.

I am joining in the following challenges:
As You Like It Challenge ~ Favourite Colour and Why..... Purple is such a bright and cheerful colour and there are so many beautiful shades.




Monday 6 February 2023

Two Gift Card Holders

Welcome to Dena of Stampin' Mim, thank you for being my latest follower.

Two friends are celebrating special big birthdays.  As part of a group of friends we are giving a joint present of vouchers.  I was asked to make two cards to put the gift cards in.

The first one is for a friend who loves gardening so I decided on a floral theme.  The patterned paper in from an old Papermania paper pad.  The flower was made with dies from the Sue Wilson 'Passion Flower' set and I added a few lilac gems.

The front splits in two and the bottom half is attached to the back of the card to create a pocket.  We put a garden centre voucher in the pocket.

I am joining in the following challenges with this card:


The same style was used for my second gift card holder.  This time the gift card will be given to the birthday girl when we all go for Afternoon Tea to celebrate her birthday.
The patterned paper was from a Dovecraft paper pad 'Cupcake Boutique'.  The cupcake was made with a Stampin' Up punch using snippets and layered on a white die cut circle, another snippet.  I embossed the 'icing' with a Cuttlebug 'Tiny Bubbles' embossing folder, raised it up on foam pads and added a red pearl 'cherry'. 

Before making the pocket ready for the gift card, I decorated the inside back panel with red card embosssed using a Cuttlebug cupcake embossing folder.

I am joining in the following challenges with this card:


Last week my hubby and I enjoyed a few days away in beautiful Stratford upon Avon, the home of William Shakespeare.

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare's birthplace.

Royal Shakespeare Theatre