Saturday 27 May 2023

Allsorts Challenge ~ Use a Stencil

A new Allsorts Challenge begins today and Lorraine has chosen the optional theme of 'Use a Stencil'.  I decided to use a Dreamweaver owl stencil for my DT card.

I used a black fineliner pen with the stencil to draw the shape of the owl, then created Zentangle patterns in all the different sections.  After matting the image and the sentiment, I doodled a pattern to create a frame.


We have some wonderful prizes this month from SizzixAALL and CreateAldridge CraftsLavinia and Ruth Hamilton Design.


 Please pop over to the Allsorts Challenge blog to see all the wonderful cards the DT have made for inspiration.

I am joining in the following challenges:





Thursday 25 May 2023

Recycling

The Rudolph Days May Challenge begins today and runs until the end of the month.  For my card I recycled one of the shop bought cards we received last Christmas.  I made a note of who sent it, so I might send it back to them. 🙂

I die cut the card with a die from the Lisa Horton's 'Scallop Layered Squares' set and cut a gold mirror card mat with a die from the same set.  I added some tiny clear gems to the middle of the larger snowflakes for extra sparkle. (They look white in the photo and they were as difficult to photograph as the mirror card!)

I am joining in the following challenges:




Sunday 21 May 2023

Corner Pop-up Anniversary Card

I came home yesterday from a week in beautiful Cornwall, where the sun was shining everyday.  My hubby and I went with five other couples and we stayed in a large house near the Lizard, the most southerly point of the British mainland.  We've been going on holiday together in different parts of the UK once a year since 1990, except for when Covid put a stop to us holidaying together for a couple of years.  One of the  couples celebrated their 49th Wedding Anniversary while we were away and this is the card I made for them.  We realised that between us we have been married to our partners for over 300 years!  (I'm the baby of the group. 🤣)

You can find the instructions for the fold HERE.  The patterned paper was all snippets from a 12" x 12" paper pad from The Range.  I die cut a heart with a scalloped Spellbinders Nestabilities die.  My pile of red card snippets was slightly reduced too, although it's so big with different shades of red, I didn't make much of a dent in the pile.


I am joining in the following challenges:


A few photos taken on our holiday.
St. Michael's Mount.  As the tide was out we walked across the causeway.  At high tide, the water covers the causeway, so we came back by boat.

View from the top.





A visit to the Seal Sanctuary.





Saturday 20 May 2023

Allsorts 14th Birthday Challenge

The Allsorts Challenge is celebrating its 14th Birthday and there are lots of special prizes to be won.  The theme is Anything Goes and I've made Floating Book Fold Easel Card for my DT card.  It's the first time I've made this style of card and I followed the instructions HERE

The papers are from a paper pad from The Works.  I die cut the Memory Box 'Splendid Poppy Stems' in white and coloured them with Promarkers. I put a strip of card as a stopper for the easel and added two brads for added interest. 

The card folds flat for posting.

These are the fablous prizes from AALL and Create: A4 stamp set Blooming Field and coordination die, 2 A5 stamp sets, 2 DL stamp sets plus stencils and A6 stamp sets.

There is a lot of inspiration from the DT on the Allsorts Challenge blog, so please pop over to see the wonderful cards my teamies have made.  Looking forward to seeing all your wonderful creations.

I am joining in the following challenges:




Saturday 13 May 2023

Allsorts Challenge ~ Add Embellishments

The Allsorts Challenge has the optional theme this week of 'Embellish It'.

I used a MFT 'Cross-Stitch Flower Frame' die with black card and used white crochet cotton for the stitching.  I layered it on Memory Box 'Stitched Circle Layers' die cuts. The background was embossed with a Spellbinders 'Dainty Dots' embossing folders.  I used clear flower gems to embellish the card and added a sentiment.

There are lots of  wonderful prizes from our sponsors this month - WOWVOWOakwood Direct and Craft Stash.

The DT have made some wonderful cards for inspiration HERE.

As I had all my stash out, I made a second card, reversing the colours.

I am joining in the following challenges with the first card:

Now for some exciting news.  Next Saturday the Allsorts Challenge will be celebrating its 14th Birthday and as you would expect, it will be special week with lots of fabulous prizes to be won.  So put the date in your diary and join in the fun! 




Tuesday 9 May 2023

Celebrating the Coronation

It has been a historical weekend in the UK with the coronation of King Charles III on Saturday.  For most of us, it was the first coronation in our life time, as the last one was in June 1953.  We held our street party yesterday, which I organised with one of the neighbours.  Unfortunately, we couldn't plan the weather, but we had several gazebos erected so we could keep dry when the heavy rain came late afternoon.  The ages ranged from 2 years to 90 years and it was good to get together with all the neighbours and share a fabulous buffet washed down with a glass or two.

As it was a special weekend,  I thought I'd make a card to mark the occasion.
The card base was made with a Spellbinders 'Happy Days' die.  I used a  Sue Wilson 'Shimmering Stars' embossing folder.  The stars were made with punches.

I am joining in the following challenges:




Saturday 6 May 2023

Crafty Calendar Challenge ~ Anything But Square

This is my second post today, so please scroll down to see my previous post.

The Crafty Calendar Challenge begins today with the theme 'Anything but Square'.   My DT project is a Pocket Card which I made for a friend's birthday.

The patterned paper is from a paper pad from The Range.  The flower and leaves are from the Sue Wilson 'Passion Flower' set.  I made a matching tag with a Poppystamps 'Main Street Tags' die.  The sentiment and mat were punched with oval Stampin' Up punches.  The back of the tag is plain for the written message and the tag fits into the pocket on the card. 

The random winner of the Crafty Calendar Challenge will win a super prize of four Polkadoodles Stamps and Paper Pad.  The DT will also choose Top 3.  You have until 28th May to join in the challenge and the DT have made some fabulous cards for inspiration.

I am joining in the following challenges:




Allsorts Challenge ~ April showers bring May flowers

The Allsorts Challenge optional theme is 'April Showers Bring May Flowers'.  As usual, you can also join in the challenge with the Anything Goes theme.

I made an easel card for my DT card.  The image is a Little Claire's 'Rainy Days' stamp, stamped with Memento 'Tuxedo Black' and coloured with Promarkers.  I add Glossy Accents to the hat, boots and puddles to add some shine.  The backgrounds are embossed with an Embossalicious 'Floral Frenzy' e/f.  I added two punched flowers and a sentiment from the Stampin' Up 'Positive Thought' stamp set. 


There are some lovely prizes to be won from WOWVOWOakwood Direct and Craft Stash this month.

Pop over to the Allsorts Challenge to see all the wonderful cards the DT have made. 

I am joining in the following challenges:



Friday 5 May 2023

Purple & Gold

It's been a while since I did any Spirelli, so I thought I'd include some on this card.  I've got quite a few reels of metallic thread that I've had for ages, so you might see some more in the weeks ahead.

The background was made with Lisa Horton's 'Stitched Scalloped Layered Squares' dies, using snippets of gold mirror and purple card.   I used a Spellbinders 'Small Pinking Circles' die with thick, white card and wound the gold thread around.  I used an smaller die from the same set and stamped a sentiment in the middle with Versafine Clair 'Purple Delight' and attached it with foam pads. The stamp was a cover gift with a magazine.  All the card, except for the card blank was snippets, so I'll be sharing my card over in the Playground.

I am joining in the following challenges:


Monday 1 May 2023

Challenge Up Your Life Challenge ~ CAS

I was delighted to be invited to be a Guest Designer for the Challenge Up Your Life Challenge, where the theme this month is 'Clean and Simple'.

I used a Poppystamps 'Atessa Collage' die in a piece of white card and layered it on an orange mat.  I put a Memory Box 'Prim Poppy' on top and stamped a sentiment from the Stampin' Up 'Best Year' set.