Allsorts Challenge ~ Embossing, heat or dry

A new Allsorts Challenge begins today and Lynne has chosen the theme 'Embossing - heat or dry'.

Adding texture using an embossing folder is one of my favourite ways of adding texture.  For my card I've used Lisa Horton 3D 'Sunflower' embossing folder.  The strip of ribbon was bought ages ago...... I couldn't resist it as it has sunflowers on it.  I had no idea what I was going to use it for, but it seemed perfect for this card.  The sentiment is raised up on foam pads to add some more dimension.

There is a prize of a die, embossing folder and layering stencil bundle from Lisa Horton Crafts for the lucky randomly chosen winner.

I am joining in the following challenges:

Triple B August Challenge ~ Birds, Butterflies and Blooms

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge #44 ~ Anything Florals Goes 

Can You Handle the Pressure? Challenge ~ Anything Goes With A Twist of Tie It Up

AAA Birthday Card Game #8 ~ Flowers

Inspiration Station August Challenge #88 ~ Inspiration Photo

Paper Hug

I spent Saturday and Sunday at a craft weekend with a group of friends. Most of the others there were scrapbookers, but I spent the weekend making cards that I need for this month.  I made a masculine card for someone special who is going through chemotherapy.  They live in a different country and as I can't give them a big hug, this card is the next best thing.

I cut off the front of card diagonally.  The patterned and plain light blue paper is from a paper pad from The Range.  The mats are navy blue card.  I die cut the sentiment with Stamp Market 'Paper Hug' dies.

The sentiment panel is attached to a smaller card, with the back of the card attached to the base card.  When the sentiment is lifted up, it reveals the written message inside.

I am joining in the following challenges:

Crafting Uncles Challenge #79 ~ No Stamping

Love Those Pretty Papers August Challenge

Creative Creases Creative Creases #118 ~ Use a Fancy Fold

Creative Knockouts Challenge #576 ~ Fun Fold Card

Word Power August Challenge ~ Words as a Focus

Barbecue

We returned today from a few days in our caravan in North Devon and we had some rain!  Not just a light shower, but a couple of heavy downpours.  After all the hot weather we've had recently, I've never enjoyed walking in the rain so much! 🤣

Last Saturday we went a barbecue.  The men cooked all the meat and the ladies provided all the salads and homemade desserts.... for all 55 of us!  It was a fabulous evening and I made this card to thank the hosts for holding it in their garden.

I used dies from the Sue Wilson 'King of the Grill' with black, yellow and silver snippets, adding a little red ink to the flames.  A Cuttlebug 'Diamond Plate' embossing folder was used for the embossed panel.  It's at least ten years old and I can't remember the last time I used it, so it deserved to have an outing. The sentiment is a stamp from the Happy Little Stampers 'Whimsical Friends' set, using Versafine Clair 'Nocturne'.  Three small black pearls finished off my card.  Everything, apart from the card base, was snippets so I'll be sharing my card over in the Snippets Playground. 

I am joining in the following challenges:

Snippets Playground Challenge #538 ~ Use Snippets

Cardz 4 Guyz Challenge #388 ~ Summer

Try It On Tuesday Challenge ~ Make it Colourful

Can You Handle the Pressure? Challenge ~ Use an embossing folder

Neglected Stuff August Challenge ~ Embossing folder

Allsorts Challenge ~ Colours of Summer

A new Allsorts Challenge begins today and Sarah has chosen the theme of 'Colours of Summer'.  There is also the usual option of Anything Goes.

I haven't made a card with cross stitching on for quite a while, so I thought I would include stitching on this card.  I decided on a colourful summer bloom.  I'm not a flower expert, but I guess this might be a hibiscus.  I used a Marianne Designs 'Cross Stitch Circle' die and die cut into a larger circle.  The stitching was down with crochet cotton.  I used a free Marianne Designs pattern which you can download HERE.  I layered the completed stitched pattern on a pink Memory Box 'Stitched Scalloped Circle' die cut.  The background was embossed with a Spellbinders 'Dainty Dots' embossing folder.

There is a fabulous prize of a butterfly stamp and stencil from Visible Image for the randomly drawn winner.

I am joining in the following challenges:

Sisterhood of Flowers July Challenge ~ Flowers

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge #43 ~ Anything Florals Goes

Simon Says Monday Challenge ~ Stitch It

Try It On Tuesday Challenge ~ Summer Blooms

Time Out Challenge #318 ~ Mother Nature

Pink Hexagonal Snippets

A Thank You card I can post now that I know it's been received.

This is the second card I've made using this punch, but this time I made it in shades of pink.  I started by punching a hexagon aperture out of a rectangle of white card using a Stampin' Up 'Heartfelt Hexagon Punch'.  I used lots of pink snippets from a paper pad from The Range with the punch, arranging the hexagons using the aperture hexagon as a guide.  The completed pattern was layered over a pink mat.  I stamped the sentiment on the white hexagon with a stamp from the Happy Little Stampers 'Whimsical Friends' set, using Versafine Clair 'Morning Mist'. I replaced the sentiment hexagon over the aperture using foam pads to add some dimension.  It looked a little plain, so I added two tiny punched flowers.

I am joining in the following challenges:

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge #43 ~ Anything Florals Goes

Triple B July Challenge ~ Birds, Butterflies and Blooms

Love Those Pretty Paper July Challenge 

The Sisterhood of Crafters July Challenge  ~ Flowers

Cut and Emboss

Is anyone else finding it frustrating that lots of new posts on blogs they follow are not appearing in their Reading List and the ones that are, aren't in chronological order? It seems to be a glitch with Blogger, which hopefully will be fixed soon.

Onto my cards, a quick and easy design today

 

I used Cuttlebug 'Blooming Bouquet' die which cut and embosses at the same time.  It's a perfect die for making a really quick card and the bonus was I bought it in a 'discontinued' sale for £2.  The sentiment is raised up on foam pads to add some dimension.

I am joining in the following challenges with this card:

Can You Handle The Pressure? Challenge ~ Anything Goes with a Twist of CELEBRATION

Cut it Up Challenge #361 ~ Emboss It!

I made a few cards in different colourways.

My last card is a Christmas card using patterned paper with tiny white Christmas trees on.  The embossing shows up more in real life.

I am joining in the following challenges with my Christmas card:

Rudolph Days July Challenge

CRAFT Challenge #785 ~ Christmas

Little Red Wagon Challenge #868 ~ Christmas in July

Make My Monday Challenge#282 ~ Christmas in July

Inkspirational Challenge #372 ~ Christmas in July

Fancy Fold Birthday Card

It was my daughter's birthday on Sunday and this is the card I made for her.  It's a really easy fold to make, just four score lines and three cuts with scissors.

I used a Creative Expressions "Wild Rose Edger" on the first panel, which had its first outing for this card. The white panels were embossed with an old Cuttlebug embossing folder.  I used punches for the two-tone flowers and the leaves.  The pink card was from my snippets drawer, so I'll be sharing my card over in the Playground.

The card folds flat for posting.

I am joining in the following challenges:

Snippets Playground Challenge #537 ~ Use Snippets

NBUS Challenge #88 ~ Use Never-Before-Used-Schtuff (Edger  die)

A Cut Above July 2 Year Anniversary Challenge ~ Use at least 1 die cut

Creative Creases Challenge #117 ~ Use a Fun Fold

Triple B July Challenge ~ Birds, Butterflies and Blooms

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge ~ Anything Florals Goes

AAA Birthday Game #87 ~ For Girls

Allsorts Challenge ~ At the Seaside

A new Allsorts Challenge begins today and Val has chosen the theme 'At the Seaside'.  As always, there is also the option of Anything Goes.  I love the beaches in North Devon, where there are many beach huts and plenty of seagulls, so this was my starting point for my DT card.

 

The image is an old stamp from Little Claire, which I coloured with Promarkers.  The sentiment is a stamp from the Stampin' Up 'Best Year' set, stamped with Versafine Clair 'Warm Breeze'.  The patterned paper is from The Works and I added a strip of seagull ribbon to finish off my card.

The lucky winner of the Allsorts Challenge will receive a collection of stamps from Stamp Addicts.

I am joining in the following challenges:

We Love Stamping July Challenge ~ Summertime

Love Those Pretty Papers July Challenge ~ Coastal

Daisy Chain Challenge #109 ~ Birthday

Let's Craft and Create Challenge #233 ~ AG + Fun in the Sun

The Paper Funday Challenge #89 ~ Anything Goes with Optional Twist: Summer Splash

Tic Tac Toe Challenge #297 ~ Summer Theme, Free, Layers

Crafting with Brownies

I was asked to organise a couple of craft activities for a Brownie Sleepover my daughter was running for 16 girls last Saturday.  I bought some inexpensive notebooks for the Brownies to decorate and I made up a sample.  After choosing the colour of notebook and doily they  wanted, they assembled the punched out pieces of the owl. I taught them how to fold and tuck the die cut doilies and they decorated the label with their name.  These are some of the finished notebooks.  I also took along my Big Shot and Puzzle Maker and the girls enjoyed making a double sided puzzle. 

These are some of the finished notebooks.  I also took along my Big Shot and Puzzle Maker and the girls enjoyed making a double sided puzzle. 

I used snippets for everything to decorate the notebooks, so I'll be sharing my decorated notebook over in the Playground.

I am joining in the following challenges:

Snippets Playground Challenge #536 ~ Use Snippets

Allsorts Challenge ~ Use Stencils

This is my second post today, please scroll down to see my Crafty Calendar Challenge DT card.

A new Allsorts Challenge begins today and Donna has chosen the theme of 'Use Stencils'.  For my DT card I used a Dreamweaver Brass Stencil.  I have several brass stencils, but rarely think to use them.  I used the largest owl one HERE several years ago, so I decided to use the smaller owl on this card.

I used a black fineliner pen to draw around the shapes of the owl in the stencil.  I then Zentangled patterns in all the parts of the owl with the same fineliner pen.  I drew a Zentangle border and added a sentiment to finish off my card.

Two lucky winners will each receive three random stencils/sets.

I am joining in the following challenges:

Craft Rocket Challenge #138 ~ Animals

Krafty Chicks Challenge #827 ~ Birthday

Stencil Fun Challenge ~ Use a Stencil

Triple B July Challenge ~ Birds, Butterflies and Blooms

Crafty Calendar Challenge ~ Happy Birthday

The July Crafty Calendar Challenge begins today with the theme 'Happy Birthday'.  I recently watched an Iced Images video HERE to make a Twin Peaks Card.  This is my version, a masculine card for my hubby's uncle who recently celebrated his 80th birthday. 

The patterned paper is from Anna Marie Designs. I used Memory Box 'Stitched Circle Layers' dies and the numbers were die from The Works.

The card folds flat for posting.

The Crafty Calendar Challenge ends on 28th July, so please hop over to the challenge blog to see all the creations the DT have made for inspiration.

I am joining in the following challenges:

Creative Creases Challenge #117 ~ Use a Fun Fold

Krafty Chicks Challenge #827 ~ Birthday

You've passed!

After 12 weeks, I've finally been discharged by the hospital physiotherapist today, following my fall in April.  I still have to keep doing the exercises with my hand and wrist to ensure that my fingers bend like they are supposed to do and to strengthen my wrist.  The good news is that I can easily use my right hand again to turn the handle on my Big Shot, cut fairly accurately with scissors and my writing is legible again. 🤣

My 17 year old great niece passed her driving test last Friday and this is the card I made for her.

I used a Cuttlebug 'Spots and Dots' embossing folder for the embossed panel.  A black snippet was used with a Tattered Lace '1960’s Car' die.  The red L was die cut from a tiny red snippet using a Trimcraft 'Alphabet' die.  I layered it on a white square and a black mat (more snippets), before cutting it into two pieces.  A 'Congratulations' strip of ribbon finished off my card.

I am joining in the following challenges:

Snippets Playground Challenge #535 ~ Use Snippets 

Can You Handle the Pressure? Challenge ~ Anything Embossed Goes

Alphabet Challenge ~ E is for Embossing Wet or Dry

 Die Cut Divas June Challenge ~ Anything Goes

Crafty Catz Challenge #716 ~ Anything Goes

Craftlandia Challenge #27 ~ Sea Animals

I returned from a relaxing holiday in Lake Garda, Italy on Saturday.  Wall to wall sunshine, plenty of places to visit and a delicious Italian food. I'll be playing catchup with my blog visiting this week.

The Craftlandia Challenge #27 begins today and Ayla has chosen the theme 'Sea animals' (or Anything Goes).

 

I have a folder with lots of backgrounds, some made years ago and never used.  I found this background made with alcohol inks that has been sat in the folder for a long time, but I thought it would be suitable for an underwater scene. I layered it on a navy blue mat.  I was looking through my dies and came across this Memory Box 'Deep Sea Corner' die.  It's a preloved die I bought quite a while ago and forgot about, so I thought it was about time I used it for the first time.  I punched out the sentiment and mat with Stampin' Up punches.  To finish off my card I added a few clear dewdrops. 

Prizes (given by Mia):

1st prize: Mintay papers

2nd prize: Cotton fabric (one yard)

The Craftlandia Challenge ends on 30th June.  Please hop over to the challenge blog to see all the beautiful creations the DT have made for inspiration. 

I am joining in the following challenges:

NBUS Challenge #87 ~ Use Never-Before-Used-Schtuff

Cardz 4 Galz Challenge #278 ~ Seaside/Coast

The Sisterhood of Crafters June Challenge ~ Fish / Sea Creatures

Allsorts Challenge ~ Blooms, Birds and/or Bees

Ellie has chosen the theme of Blooms, Birds and/or Bees for the new Allsorts Challenge.  There is also the option of Anything Goes.

I saw this style of card demonstrated on the Nifty Noodle  Crafting Facebook page a while ago.  I'm not sure if the fold has a name.  The patterned papers are from The Works.  I used a Poppystamps 'Fritillaria Bouquet' die and the sentiment is a die from the Sue Wilson 'Birthday Candles' set.  

The leaves are dies from the Sue Wilson 'Pinwheel Floral' set.  The card folds flat for posting.

The Allsorts Challenge prize is a Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Glorious Bouquet stamp set available from Buddly Crafts.

I am joining in the following challenges:

Creative Creases Challenge #116 ~ Use a Fun Fold

Ellibelle's Garden Party No. 16 ~ Anything in (or from) a Garden

Fab 'n' Funky Challenge #639 ~ Summer Flowers

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge #42 ~ Anything Florals Goes

Crafter's Cafe Challenge ~ Anything Goes + Optional Blooms

Triple B June Challenge ~ Birds, Butterflies and Blooms

Hexagon Snippets Card and a Big Lunch

I made this card for a card swap which hopefully should arrive any day.  I've seen a few cards recently using a similar design and this is my version.

All the patterned paper was snippets from a paper pad from The Works. I used a new Stampin' Up 'Heartfelt Hexagon Punch' I bought recently.  The punch was being discontinued, so I got it for a good price.  I punched a hexagon with a snippet of white card and stamped the greeting with a stamp from the Happy Little Stampers 'Whimsical Friends' set using a Versafine Clair 'Warm Breeze'.  I doodled a pattern around the greeting with a fineliner pen.  The greeting was attached with foam pads to add some dimension.

I am joining in the following challenges:

Snippets Playground Challenge #534 ~ Use Snippets

We Love Stamping June Challenge ~ Anything Goes

NBUS Challenge #87 ~ Use Never-Before-Used-Schtuff

Every June since 2012 our street has held a 'Big Lunch' street party, organised by me and a friend. It's a time to get together with all the neighbours who live in the street.  (During Covid we all sat in our front gardens with our own picnics.)   These are the invitations I made for everyone this year, with all the details of the event inside.  

We live in a cul-de-sac with a green at the closed end, opposite our house.  Gazebos were erected, tables and chairs arrived and everyone brought food and drink to share.  There were about thirty of us of all ages.  Fortunately we held it yesterday, when it was dry until early evening.