Leftovers Playtime

Hi everyone, today’s card is one I made using a leftover background from a previous project, and I also used my new birthday dies, as I already had them out on my desk during the week for this card. Two cards in succession using the same dies, but this one is a very different look I think. It is also very unusual for me in that this card is a totally stamping free zone!

I die cut a stitched square of stamping card and created the background by randomly blending Distress Oxide inks through a Lavinia stencil. I didn’t know what I would use it for, but when I was playing with my new birthday dies during the week it struck me that they would look pretty cut from some pastel ombré glitter card stock I have in my stash … so that’s what I did. I cut the shadow die from white card along with an old neglected Magnolia Doohickeys butterfly, which I painted with my Spectrum Noir sparkle pen to add some shimmer. I assembled the card and matted onto a glitter card border (I managed to use up the piece of card from which I had cut the sentiments!) and my card blank. To finish I added a scattering of crystal gems.

Stamps: None!

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks (Kitsch Flamingo, Tumbled Glass, Squeezed Lemonade, Salvaged Patina, Shaded Lilac); Spectrum Noir sparkle pen (clear);

Papers: Crafter’s Companion Ombré Glitter Card;

Tools: Lavinia Honeycomb stencil; Julia Hickey ‘You’ and ‘Birthday’ dies; Magnolia Doohickey swirly butterfly die; Hunkydory Moonstone Duo-Stitched square die.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Addicted to Stamps and More #505 - Die Cuts and/or Stencils (3rd entry)

Ally’s Angels #100 - Anything Goes

Creative Crafters #94 - Anything Goes

Creative Moments #276 - Add Some Sparkle (3rd entry)

Die Cuts Divas (November) - Critters and Use a Die Cut (2nd entry)

Dragonfly Dreams (November) - Feminine (3rd entry)

Girlz Rebel #46 - Something Beginning With B (2nd entry)

(Birthday, bling)

Heart’s Quest Celebrations of Love #11 2025 - Birthday (3rd entry)

Love to Craft #89 - Anything Goes

Outlawz Twisted Thursdays (November) - All About Words (2nd entry)

Word Art Wednesday #724/725 - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

Hope you’re all having a sparkling weekend, whatever you’re doing.

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Total Eclipse

Hi everyone, today I would like to share a birthday card I made, which is my first attempt at the ‘eclipse’ technique. I have admired eclipse cards for a long time, and was particularly inspired by this card made by my bloggy friend Sarn. I never really had a suitable sentiment die and have coveted the Julie Hickey birthday die for a while, so when I saw it at Port Sunlight craft fair it just had to be mine! Here is my first attempt, using a different stamp from the same set as Sarn used on her gorgeous eclipse card.

I die cut a stitched square of white card and stamped the floral image using Hawthorn Rose Versafine Clair. I then die cut the sentiment from the stamped panel, plus three more birthday die cuts from white card. I attached the die cuts, stacking them up in the aperture created by the first die cut, with the inked one on top. I stamped the word ‘HAPPY’ then matted the panel onto a card blank and added a few teeny scattered gems. This technique is actually really easy once you get the hang of it, and I do think this is the perfect die to execute it. I also bought the matching ‘happy’ die so have already had a play with that too! 

Stamps: AALL & Create #985 Flower Smudge; Uniko Christmas Sentiments (the word ‘happy’);

Media: Versafine Clair (Hawthorn Rose, Nocturne);

Tools: Julie Hickey Birthday die; Hunkydory Moonstone Duo-Stitched square die;

Other:  clear crystal gems from my stash.

Challenges I would like to enter:

AAA Cards Challenge #303 - 1 + 1

(Birthday + flowers)

A Place to Start (November) - Anything Goes with option Something New (2nd entry)

As You Like It - Favourite Embellishment (and why)

(I love crystal gems as they are easy to use and just add a little sparkle)

Crafts Galore Encore # 141 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Creations In Pink #86 - Anything Goes in Mainly Pink

Dragonfly Dreams (November) - Feminine (2nd entry)

Fab ‘n’ Funky #625 - Clean and Simple (2nd entry)

Girlz Rebel #46 - Something Beginning With B

(Birthday, bloom)

Heart’s Quest Celebrations of Love #11 2025 - Birthday (2nd entry)

Make My Monday #264 - Birthday Card with at least one flower

Outlawz Twisted Thursdays (November) - All About Words

Word Art Wednesday #724/725 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

That’s all for today. Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Simon Says (Monday) Guest Designer week 2 - Thinking of You

Hi everyone,

The past week has flown by, and it's time already for my second week as Guest Designer for the  

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.

This week the theme is

*** Thinking of You ***

The lovely folks over at Simon Says Stamp are generously giving away a FABULOUS $25 voucher to shop at the  Simon Says Stamp Store! All you have to do is take out your crafty supplies, make something following this week’s prompt, and add a link in the Inlinkz  on the challenge blog post!  You can enter 5 times so that's 5 possible chances to win! All winners are chosen randomly, so everyone has an equal chance - good luck everyone!

Here's my card for this week (links to my supplies are below the description).

I always prefer ‘thinking of you’ cards not to be too fussy, so I kept this one relatively simple. I die cut a stitched square of white card, and created the background by blending various shades of Distress Oxide ink through a Lavinia Honeycomb stencil then spritzed lightly with water to give a softer look. I die cut the lovely Simon Says ‘Fresh Daisies’ from purple glitter card stock, a white butterfly from the AALL & Create ‘Papyrus Essence’ die set, and the Simon Says ‘You’ from silver mirror card. I stamped the rest of the sentiment from the matching stamp set onto a snippet of black card stock using Versamark, heat embossed white, then cut out. I assembled the pieces onto the background and matted onto a 6” square card blank, and finished off with a scattering of teeny purple gems.

Here are links to what I used (* or nearest equivalent)

Stamps: Simon Says Stamp You Matter;

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks (Shaded Lilac, Spun Sugar, Stormy Sky, Wilted Violet); Versamark; WOW Opaque Bright White super fine embossing powder;

Tools: Lavinia Honeycomb stencil; Simon Says Stamp Fresh Daisies and You wafer dies; AALL & Create #42 Papyrus Essence dies;

Other: Altenew Amethyst Gem Sparkles (*)

Don’t forget to visit the challenge blog to see the amazing inspiration from the rest of the Design Team.

You have until Monday 8am Ohio time (EST), 1pm UK time (GMT), 2 pm CET to join in.

Challenges I would like to enter:

A Place to Start (November) - Anything Goes with option Something New

(Sentiment stamp and die)

Addicted to Stamps and More!  #505 - Diecuts and/or Stencils (2nd entry)

Crazy Is Our Fame, Stencils are our Game (November) - Use a Stencil (2nd entry)

Creative Moments #276 - Add Some Sparkle (2nd entry)

Die Cut Divas (November) - Critters and Use a Die Cut

Just Us Girls #800 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Thinking of You

Snippets Playground #519 - Use Snippets 

(everything apart from the base layer)

Triple B (November) - Birds, Butterflies and/or Blooms

Word Art Wednesday #724/725 - Anything Goes

Take care, and thanks for visiting my blog today.

Hugs,

Cabin Fever!

Hi everyone, I’m still playing with all sorts of Christmas combos using my recently acquired Christmas stamps, stencil and inks - here are a couple of cards I made with my winter cabins.

I blended Morning Mist VFC around a circle mask, then stamped a twiggy wreath in 1st and second generation Nocturne. I stamped the cabin scene in Morning Mist, masked, then created the sky using blended Versacolor inks I added some inky snowdrifts and a wee faun to the foreground, then added Posca highlights and snow, and Stickles and Spectrum Noir sparkle pen for sparkle. I stamped the sentiment then edged the finished piece in black and matted onto silver mirror card and a card blank.

Stamps: Inkylicious Winter Cabin (small), Stag/Deer set 1; Card-io Oriental Blossom;

Media: Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Morning Mist, Blue Belle); Versacolor (Atlantic, Peony, Canary, Green Tea); Posca pen (white); Spectrum Noir sparkle pen (clear); Stickles (Stardust).

Challenges I would like to enter:

12 Months of Christmas #128 - Anything Goes Christmas

C.R.A.F.T. #767 - Christmas (2nd entry)

Craft Rocket #131 - Christmas/Winter

Creative Artiste #121 - Anything Mixed Media Goes

Creative Inspirations (November) - Wrapped Up in Winter

Creative Moments #276 - Add Some Sparkle

FarmQuest Country Christmas #26 - Anything Farm or Country Christmas Goes

FarmQuest General Store #34 - Anything Farm or Country Goes

The Holly and Ivy #195 - Anything Christmas Goes

Just Us Girls #800 - Anything Goes

Merry Little Christmas #65 - Anything Christmas Goes

Moving Along with the Times #183 - Winter Wonderland (2nd entry)

Paper Funday #82 - Anything Goes with option Merry and Bright

Peace On Earth #99 - Anything Christmas Goes

My second card today is a simple one layer card which features the larger cabin inside a bauble, but this time I tried a different colouring technique for the sky.

I created a card blank suitable for stamping onto directly by simply scoring a 30cm x 15cm piece of Pink Frog super smooth card. I stamped the cabin using Morning Mist VFC and extended the scene with a few small Card-io trees, then masked the cabin and snow line, and created the sky by blending Distress Oxide inks and Memento, working outwards from light to dark. I also blended ink to define the bottom of the bauble and created snowdrifts with torn paper. I painted the cabin roof and added accents to the scene plus snowfall with white Posca pen, then outlined the bauble with a Sakura Stardust pen. I stamped the pine branches and sentiment, then added Stickles and Spectrum Noir sparkle pen for sparkle. This card is much sparklier than the picture suggests! 

Stamps: Inkylicious Winter Cabin (medium), Stag/Deer set 1; Card-io Small Pine Trees; AALL & Create #806 Fallen Leaves; Tracy Evans Boutique Designs TE18 Decorations;

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks (Tumbled Glass, Blueprint Sketch); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Morning Mist); Memento (Paris Dusk); Posca pen (white); Sakura Stardust pen (clear); Spectrum Noir sparkle pen (clear); Stickles (Stardust);

Tools: Card-io stencil - Vintage Bauble.

 

Challenges I would like to enter:

ABC Christmas (October) - U is for Uncluttered (2nd entry)

Addicted to Stamps and More #505 - Diecuts and/or Stencils

Aud Sentiments #331 - Glitter and/or Christmas plus a sentiment

Crafter’s Cafe #324 - Anything Goes with option Christmas (4th entry)

Crazy Is Our Fame, Stencils are our Game (November) - Use a Stencil

Daisy Chain #102 - Christmas/Winter

Fab ‘n’ Funky #625 - Clean and Simple

Girlz Creative Christmas #149 - Anything Christmas Goes

Heart’s Quest Celebrations of Love #11 2025 - Christmas

Outlawz Festive Friday (November) - Christmas

Outlawz Monthly (November) - Project entered into Outlawz challenges

Simply Clean & Simple (November) - Holidays/Winter

Tic Tac Toe #283 - Tic Tac Toe

(Ornament / Free / Snow)

Unicorn #115 - Christmas/Winter

That’s all for today. Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Simon Says (Monday) Guest Designer week 1 - Masculine - Featuring Tim Holtz

I'm feeling really excited today, as I can finally share what I have been bursting to tell everyone since the summer - I have been asked to be the Guest Designer again on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge for November.

I was previously a Guest Designer back in January this year and March 2023, so am absolutely thrilled to be asked back for a third time, and to have the opportunity to showcase some cards for the next 4 weeks alongside the immensely talented regular members of the Design Team.

This week the theme is

*** Masculine ***

As it’s the first Monday of the month we are showcasing a brand/company, and this week it is the fabulous Tim Holtz. You don’t have to use them to join in with the challenge, but if you have them we would love to see them on your creation.

The lovely folks over at Simon Says Stamp are generously giving away a FABULOUS $25 voucher to shop at the  Simon Says Stamp Store! All you have to do is take out your crafty supplies, make something following this week’s prompt, and add a link in the Inlinkz  on the challenge blog post!  You can enter 5 times so that's 5 possible chances to win! All winners are chosen randomly, so everyone has an equal chance - good luck everyone!

Here's my first Guest Designer card, using a “new to me” Tim Holtz stamp set along with a couple of Idea-ology ephemera and my Distress Oxide inks (links to my supplies are below the description).

I created a smooshed background onto cream stamping card using Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks in Antique Linen, Old Paper and Frayed Burlap, then stamped the map from Tim Holtz ‘Road Trip’ set, using Morning Mist Versafine Clair. I die cut a portion of the stamped image into a deckle rectangle, edged with Black Soot DOX and set aside. 

I die cut a square of white card using AALL & Create Papyrus Essence die set, and a matching matting layer from black card stock. I created a smooshed background on the white layer using Frayed Burlap, Vintage Photo, Scorched Timber and Black Soot DOX, then added background stamping using Tracy Evans Garden Elements and Background Elements, stamped in Morning Mist VFC. I edged the panel with blended Black Soot DOX and set aside.

I stamped the car onto cream card and fussy cut out, and stamped the sentiment onto another small piece of cream smooshed card, which I die cut into a small rectangle and edged with Black Soot DOX. I added a small amount of stencilling to the background and sentiment panels using Tim Holtz Dot Fade Layering Stencil with Black Soot DOX.

To assemble the card I layered up the background die cuts, map, car and sentiment, along with a cog from Tim Holtz Idea-ology Mini Gears, a small tag from Ephemera pack ‘Memoir’, and a Small Talk sticker. Finally I added a few white Posca accents to the background, and Glossy Accents to the car windows. 

Here are links to what I used:

Stamps: Tim Holtz Road Trip; Tracy Evans Boutique Designs TE11 Background Elements, TE30 Garden Elements);

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks (Antique Linen, Old Paper, Frayed Burlap, Vintage Photo, Scorched Timber, Black Soot); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Morning Mist); white Posca pen; Ranger Glossy Accents;

Tools: AALL & Create #42 Papyrus Essence dies; Tim Holtz Dot Fade Layering Stencil:

Other: Tim Holtz Idea-ology Mini Gears, Small Talk Stickers, Ephemera Pack - Memoir.

Don’t forget to visit the challenge blog to see the amazing inspiration from the rest of the Design Team.

You have until Monday 8am Ohio time (EST), 1pm UK time (GMT), 2 pm CET to join in.

Challenges I would like to enter:

A Place to Start (November) - Anything Goes with option Something New

Crafts Galore Encore #141 - Anything Goes

Creative Fingers #311 - Anything Goes

Girlz & the Art of Letters #13 - M is for … (2nd entry)

(Masculine, map, Mini Gears)

Love to Craft #89 - Anything Goes

Love to Scrap #176 - Anything Goes

Mix It Up #80 - Anything Goes

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Word Art Wednesday #722/723 - Anything Goes (6th entry)

Take care, and thanks for visiting my blog today.

Hugs,

Season’s Greetings

Hi everyone, I’m back today with another Christmas card, still working my way through my  new stash from Port Sunlight. This card was broadly inspired by a recent video tutorial by Heidi the Yorkshire Crafter. It’s my first attempt at using masking fluid as I’ve had some for ages, but have always felt a bit nervous about using it as I know some crafters report they don’t get on with it! 

I already had a die cut 6” x 4” stitched rectangle of white card to hand, so I decided to use that for my base layer. I stamped the Inkylicious tree in Morning Mist VFC then masked it with masking fluid and allowed to dry. I masked the edges of the rectangle with low tack tape and used a circle mask for the moon and torn paper for the snow line, then created the sky by blending a mix of Distress Oxide and Memento inks. I removed the snow line mask and blended ink lightly around the bottom edges to define the rectangle, then used the edge of the paper to create a couple more snowdrifts and wispy clouds across the moon. I stamped the stag using Nocturne VFC, and extended the grass at the base of the tree in grey. I outlined the moon and snowdrifts using a Sakura Stardust pen, then removed the mask from the trees and coloured the trunks with Spectrum Noir sparkle pen, which I also added to the moon and snow. I added some white Posca spatters for snow, then removed the low tack tape round the borders. When dry I matted onto a dark blue border and 7” x 5” card blank, and added a stamped sentiment.

I did have a bit of an issue with the masking fluid - although I let it dry, when I started to blend my inks the blending brush rubbed a bit of the fluid off so I later had to touch up with a white pen! I guess I need more practice! 

Stamps: Inkylicious Elegant Birch Trees, Island Trees (small grass extension), Stag/Deer Set 1; Uniko Christmas Sentiments;

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks (Tumbled Glass, Blueprint Sketch); Memento (Paris Dusk, Nautical Blue); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Morning Mist); Sakura Stardust pen (clear); Spectrum Noir sparkle pen (clear);  Posca pen (white);

Tools: Hunkydory Moonstone Duo-Stitched Rectangle die.

Challenges I would like to enter:

ABC Christmas - V is for Vertical

As You Like It - Favourite Critter (and why)

(I don’t have a real favourite, but I do like a stag on Christmas cards)

C.R.A.F.T. #767 - Christmas - TOP 3

Christmas Crafts All Year Round. (November) - Run, Rudolph, Run

Crafter’s Cafe #324 - Anything Goes with option Christmas (3rd entry)

Die Cut Divas (November) - Critters

FarmQuest Country Christmas #10 2025 - Anything Country Christmas Goes (4th entry)

FarmQuest General Store #10 2025 - Anything Farm or Country Goes (4th entry)

Girlz & the Art of Letters #13 - M is for …

(Moonlight)

Jingle Belles - Dashing Through the Snow (2nd entry)

Little Red Wagon #831 - Candle in the Wind (light source)

Moving Along With the Times #183 - Winter Wonderland

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday #722/723 - Anything Goes (5th entry)

I’m trying to really get a move on with my Christmas cards now, so I reckon they will be the main focus of my blog posts over the next few weeks.

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Sending Hugs

Hi everyone, today’s card is a complete u-turn from yesterday, from a sepia vintage vibe to a vibrant and bold contemporary card! I’d like to share my first make with a gorgeous new-to-me stamp set by  Julie Hickey, which I bought at Port Sunlight. I’ve admired this vibrant large floral stamp for a long time, so when I saw it on a stall along with some sample cards, I just had to have it! It strikes me as really versatile.

I die cut a stitched square of white card and stamped different parts of the stamp in opposite corners, then coloured it with my Zig pens. I applied some white Posca accents to the flower centres and added sparkle to the larger flowers with Wink of Stella, then stamped the sentiment. To finish I added some gold Posca accents and spatter, then attached the finished panel to a card blank. This is another very sparkly card which sadly the picture doesn’t pick up at all!

Stamps: Julie Hickey - Julie’s Handpicked Blossom & Blooms; Uniko Simply Said Blocks II;

Media: Versafine Clair (Nocturne); Kuretake Zig Clean Color watercolour pens; Wink of Stella (clear); Posca pens (white, gold);

Tools: Hunkydory Moonstone Duo-Stitched Square die.

Challenges I would like to enter:

613 Avenue Create (October) - Anything Goes

Addicted to Stamps & More! #504 -  Any Occasion (2nd entry)

Ally’s Angels #99 - Anything Goes 

Beautiful Blossoms #34 - Anything Floral Goes 

Crafts Galore Encore #140 - Anything Goes 

Creative Aunts #106 - Anything Goes

Creative Fingers #310 - Anything Goes

Ellibelle’s Garden Party (October) - Anything In or From a Garden 

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Clean and Simple 

Triple B (October) - Birds, Blooms and/or Butterflies (3rd entry)

Word Art Wednesday #722/723 - Anything Goes (4th entry)

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,