It's mid week and downhill to the weekend!

Morning readers,

I trust your week is coming along nicely? As mine is. Nice catch up with a pal on Monday, some time at the Table of Craftiness too - all is right in my world!

Recently, the Simply Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine came out with some fabulous free stamps and stencils and I was by no means the only person (in a private group I belong to) who thought so. Turns out there's about half a dozen of us with the same magazine freebies so, at the weekend, I CHALLENGED them all to make (and post photos) something using one or more of the free goodies. Here's mine below, it uses one stencil and no fewer than five stamps from the set. I had a bit of a catastrophe ... those sentiments are awfully small (making them PERFECT for ATCoins) and one slipped off the acrylic block and on to the floor where I was convinced it would remain, undiscovered, until the vacuum sucked it up ..... enter one husband (my own, I'm pleased to say) and a flashlight and now I have a full set once again! THANK YOU hubby!

My Artist Trading Coin

Materials used:

• Snippets of card in white and fuchsia mirri!
• Nesting circular dies to cut the 2½" and 2¼" circles
• This Artist Trading Coin was made using ONLY images and stencils from issue 186 of Simply cardmaking and Papercraft
• I applied Memento tangelo and rosebud through the stencil and then, having removed the stencil, applied dandelion to fill in the "white space"
• The female image was stamped using Versafine onyx black ink and the three words using Memento tuxedo black ink
• I inked up the star image using the rosebud ink

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Challenge Up Your Life - challenge No. 103 - ALL NEW ... in my case new stamps and stencils
2. Pammie's Inky Pinkies - challenge No. 1902 - ANYTHING GOES
3. Crafting From The Heart - challenge No. 234 - ANYTHING GOES
4. Dream Valley - challenge No. 193 - ANYTHING GOES
5. Through The Craft Room Door - January 15th challenge - ANYTHING GOES

And now .... just for a change and because Christmas is coming!!! (that's a scary thought, isn't it?)

My card

And a closer view of the sparkle! Christmas can NEVER have too much sparkle!

 

The front, back and inside of my card along with the front and back of my envelope

Materials used:

• White A2/C6, 250gsm, card and matching sized envelope
• Two pieces of white card cut to fit
• One piece of navy card, cut to mat
• Snippets of card in white and navy
• Full coverage adhesive "post-It" - used as a mask for my bear image
• MFT bear image (BB-40 "Polar Bear Pals") stamped using Memento tuxedo black ink
• With my post it mask in place I applied Memento Paris dusk ink through my Memory Box stencil (88517) using my Aldo stencil brush
• Mask still in place I stamped my splatter image (Paper Artsy HTPX01) using Memento London fog ink
• Copic markers to colour image
• Hero Arts sentiment (CL343) stamped using Memento tuxedo black
• Diamond stickles to add some festive "bling"

I'll be entering the above for the following challenges:-

1. ABC Christmas - January 2nd challenge - "A" is for ANYTHING CHRISTMAS or "B" is for BERRIES - I think you can see I went with "A"!
2. Sparkles Christmas Challenge - challenge No. 96 - ADD SOME SPARKLE
3. Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - January challenge - ANYTHING CHRISTMAS GOES
4. Crazy For CAS - challenge No. 13 - ANIMAL
5. Cutie Pie - challenge No. 131 - CUTE, CLEAN AND SIMPLE

Found out that I was "spotlighted" (or should that be spotlit?) over at More Mixed Media, thanks peeps - naturally, I'm delighted you liked  my work - it was the journal page below, for me  it was an experiment with white space - not something I usually do with my journal pages. Great to know it went down well!

 

Monday and here comes another week - I just HOPE I'm ready!

Morning readers,

Hope you all enjoyed a splendid weekend .. we got a bit more exercise than usual as we were dog sitting/walking the lovely Riddick and he's full of energy! I definitely think he was in charge for the most part, we're so out of the habit of dog ownership as it's around 11 years since we've had a dog, sadly. Yesterday? Well, that was super sociable with lots of visitors which was really nice too, set us up for the week ... just as well since I'm meeting a pal for coffee this morning, there will be more chat than coffee though!

Anyhoo, managed a little time at the Table of Craftiness and came up with this citrus-y yet kind of grungey ATCoin ...... and I'm really liking the result.

My Artist Trading Coin

Materials used:

• Snippets of card in white and pearlescent gold
• Nesting circle dies used to cut the 2½" and 2¼" circles
• Brush stroke circle stamped using Memento tangelo ink and "graffiti" stamped using Memento Mediterranean blue ink - both from Hero Arts AC026 Brush Strokes
• Background text (Carabelle SA60150) stamped using Memento rosebud ink
• Sheena Douglas circles (LBS-GBAND) stamped using Ranger Distress Archival palette, hickory smoke
• Faber Castell "S" thickness black pitt pen and Posca white paint pen used to doodle border

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Kraftin' Kimmie - January 12th challenge - ANYTHING GOES
2. Crafters Castle - January challenge - ANYTHING GOES + option of FUN TECHNIQUE .. I love to layer ink/stamps - does this count as the optional twist?
3. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - challenge No. 97 - ANYTHING GOES
4. QKR Stampede - challenge No. 330 - ANYTHING GOES
5. CardzTV - challenge No. 80 - ANYTHING GOES - 3rd entry

And now, for a change, a Christmas card! I got on pretty well with my Christmas cards in 2018 and actually have some for 2019 ... doesn't do to get complacent so I'm planning on continuing to make a couple each month to make that last minute push easier in 2019. Thought I'd make an easel card, for a change - this may well end up being a hand delivery because of the dimensional base but hey ...

My easel card

And a closer view of my image panel

Materials used:

• White 12½cm square, 250gsm, card and matching sized envelope
• Snippets of card in white and funky foam (to add dimension to the sentiment)
• Dies: circular nesting die, Spellbinders fancy nesting dies, MFT faux stitched nesting rectangles
• Memory Box squares stencil (88517( through which I brushed Memento Paris dusk ink, on to the fancy die
• Happy Little Stampers (Let It Snow) snowflake and sentiment stamped using Memento Paris Dusk ink
• Diamond stickles

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Crafty  Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge - challenge No. 420 - ANYTHING GOES + optional FEATURE A CREATURE
2. Addicted to CAS - challenge No. 150 - SNOWFLAKE
3. Simply Less Is More - challenge No. 386 - WATER, which is what snowflakes are made of! - 2nd entry
4. Happy Little Stampers - January Christmas challenge - ANYTHING GOES + option of REINDEER
5. Pixie's Crafty Workshop - challenge No. 343 - USE SNIPPETS

 

Saturday, it's the weekend!

Morning readers,

As if we hadn't eaten our own bodyweight in turkey and chocolate over Christmas we were out to lunch with friends yesterday ... we simply couldn't co-ordinate our diaries before now. We tried a new (to all of us) restaurant - the last time I was in this pub was around the time I gave up under age drinking so that should tell you, IT'S BEEN A WHILE! It's always lovely to catch up with friends.

Made it to the Table of Craftiness though I initially wasn't sure whether I should bother .. the last few sessions resulted in a lot of recycled card! HOWEVER, I have to say that I'm really rather pleased with the results and the colouring on this card, designed to accompany a RAK and to cheer up a pal whilst managing to deploy a prize which only arrived the same day as I made the card! I'm also happy to have used some funky foam and a die that's been gathering dust for quite some while too - YAY!

My card

And a closer view of the image and colouring

Materials used:

• One piece of cream 300gsm card cut, tent fold, in to a C6 card and the remaining half of the sheet of card die cut in to the fancy rectangles for the image panel and insert
• Funky foam also die cut in to the smaller size of fancy rectangle to give dimension to my card
• Paper Artsy image (ZN28) and sentiment (CardzTV "Just Saying") stamped using Memento tuxedo black ink .... the CardzTV stamp set was the prize and the "need a hug" is the first sentiment of the set to see ink - AND before I put it away in the drawer too ... yee haa!
• Faber Castell polychromos pencils used to colour, blending with gamsol and a paper stump, where necessary

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Crafty Creations - challenge No. 382 - ANYTHING GOES
2. Cute Card Thursday - challenge No. 564 - WHAT'S NEW .... that would be the sentiment
3. Crafting With An Attitude - challenge No. 47 - ANYTHING GOES
4. CardzTV - challenge No. 80 - ANYTHING GOES
5. Colour Crazy - challenge No. 1 - ANYTHING (hand coloured) GOES

TGIF!

Morning readers,

Ever had one of those days when nothing seems to go your way? Earlier in the week I acquired a magazine that came with some fab freebies. 2019 is going to be the year when I TRY to use new stash BEFORE I put it away (and risk forgetting about it! - ever done THAT?) Anyhoo, in my head I had the picture of a birthday card I wanted to make ..... only to see an anniversary card emerging ... whatttt! OK, so, seconds out - round two. I stamped and heat embossed a rather lovely sounding purple two tone embossing powder, only to discover - it looks BLACK!!! If I wanted a black image then I wouldn't have bothered heat embossing! Scrap mark I and on to mark II (seem to be doing this a lot lately) where I took the wondrous Adirondack watermelon and stamped again ..... something bizarre appears to have happened to the pad! It's still juicy but uneven and bitty! Scrap mark II - but, I used it to die cut a shape to use on mark III, and the original scrap piece? Well I stamped my sentiment on that and die cut in to a banner shape ... seemed like sensible recycling.

My card

 

The front, back and inside of my card along with the front and back of my envelope

Materials used:

• Cream A2/C6, 250gsm, card and matching sized envelope
• Two pieces of cream card, die cut using MFT faux stitched nesting rectangle dies
• One piece of funky foam, cut using the smaller MFT die
• Ranger Letter-It sentiment stamped using Versafine onyx black ink - in the centre of a previously "mucked up" panel! .. see top of post
• WRMK die used to cut a banner shape around the sentiment
• Oval die (I want to say Create-It but I no longer have the packaging) used to cut a shape from a panel previously mucked up (see start of the post) and taped over my card front panel as a mask
• Distress Ink squeezed lemonade applied to masked area and, once dry, one of the stencils from issue No 186 of Simply Cardmaking and Papercraft taped in place and mustard seed ink sponged through it
• Once both inks were dry I stamped the woman image (same freebie) using Versafine onyx black ink and then, with the mask still in place, applied a coating of Crafters Companion Spray and Shine - to protect the water based inks
• Having assembled my card (base/foam/card front) I attached my banner sentiment and then embellished with stardust stickles

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Dream Valley Challenges - challenge No. 193 - ANYTHING GOES
2. Get Creative - challenge No. 76 - ANYTHING GOES
3. Happy Little Stampers - January challenge - ANYTHING GOES WITH DIES (4 dies used)
4. WaterCooler Wednesday - challenge No. 203 - ALL ABOUT OCCASIONS
5. Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday challenge - MAKE A CARD AND MATCHING ENVELOPE

  

And then .. I needed a thank you card .... for my (male) accountant - aka my hubby!

My card

And a better view of the colouring

Materials used:

• One sheet of cream 110lb, 8½" x 11" card stock cut (tent fold) in to an A2 card blank
• The snippets used to die cut a panel for the front and insert using MFT faux stitched nesting rectangle dies
• A snippet of funky foam used to cut a matting panel to give my card front dimension
• Sentiment stamped using Versafine onyx black ink (NEW "thanks" from the Ranger freebie with issue #186 of Simply Cardmaking and Papercraft and the "so much" from Stamplorations "Big Greetings")
• Rat image (OLD from Katzelkraft KTZ179) stamped using Memento tuxedo black ink
• Faber Castell polychromos pencils used to colour and blended using gamsol and a paper stump
• Diamond stickles and Anita's dimensional gloss to add some glamour

I'll be entering the above for the following challenges:-

1. Little Red Wagon - challenge No. 479 - THANK YOU
2. Crafty Creations - challenge No. 382 - ANYTHING GOES
3. The Male Room - challenge No. 102 - ANYTHING GOES + optional BEVERAGES
4. Through The Craft Room Door - January 8th challenge - ANYTHING GOES
5. Try It On Tuesday - January 8th challenge - SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW ( Focal image stamp-OLD July 2017, sentiment stamp-NEW Jan 2019)

It's Wednesday and that means it's not long till the weekend!

Morning readers,

I recently acquired issue No. 186 of the Simply Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine and thought I would try making an anniversary card using the bird image. My first attempt didn't work at all well, for two reasons: 1) it was too close to the original so I wasn't comfortable, and, 2) I stamped and heat embossed using Black sparkle embossing powder and, when blending with gamsol, found the embossing powder ran ... much like it does with alcohol markers - don't know why I didn't think of it before so ... nothing for it but to have another go!

My card

And a closer view of the image

 

The front, back and inside of my card along with the front and back of my envelope

Materials used:

• Cream A2,C6, 250gsm card (cut tent fold) and matching sized envelope
• Two pieces of cream card die cut (using MFT faux stitched nesting rectangles)
• One piece of pink funky foam die cut slightly smaller than my card front panel
• Image and sentiment (free with issue No. 186 of Simply Cardmaking and Papercraft) stamped using Versafine onyx black ink - including one image on to a piece of post it which I then fussy cut out and placed over my stamped birds
• Using a piece of scrap paper I hand cut a heart shape to use as a mask which I then placed over my masked birds
• Using a Tim Holtz mini stencil (from set ) I applied Memento rosebud ink using an Aldi stencil brush
• Removing the stencil and masks I then coloured the birds using Faber Castell polychromos pencils, blending with gamsol and a paper stump
• Stardust stickles used to trace the large font of the sentiment

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Simon Says Stamp - Monday challenge - USE SOMETHING NEW (magazine freebie's are new - 1st inking)
2. Crazy For CAS - challenge No. 13 - ANIMAL .... as the DT used a butterfly I'm hoping my birds will qualify too
3. Pammie's Inky Pinkies - challenge No. 1901 - ANYTHING GOES
4. The Cats Pyjamas - challenge No. 353 - LOVE

And the Mark I version I wasn't happy with? Here it is .... nothing wrong with it I just wasn't comfortable with it being such a close representation of the original AND the muddying of my colouring by the embossing