SORRY BIRD

Hello.
Just a quick card to share with you today, using one of my favourite stamp sets.

I found this heat embossed background in my scraps box,
so I just had to add some stamped blooms and my happy bird.
Usually I give this bird a much bolder, graphic look, but I tried to soften it here - I think it works.

Challenge

Inspired By

I was inspired by the bird with florals
and the colour scheme

background stamp - mft lace, white heat embossed on blue card
avery elle - postage stamp die
wplus9 - happy birds (coloured with copics), feathers and florals, and unforgettable
inks - altenew, rouge, crimson, blush, turqoise, tide blue

SENDING RAINBOW HUGS

Hello.
I dream of having a rainbow of gorgeous cardstock.
You know the type - where each and every colour has a pretty name - 
like bubblegum, or chocolate chip, or pickled onion   :o)
But it's kind of hard to get hold of here in the uk, and a little beyond my budget
(unless you know different).
So, for now, I'm using cheap multi-coloured packs and trying hard to match the colours.
This combo was a rare win.

I got a load of tips from watching this video from the amazing Jennifer McGuire.
And, whilst I don't have a stand alone strip die, I managed to use a diagonal sentiment coverplate die. 

Challenge

Freshly Made Sketches

the stamp market - hi die and florally fun
sentiment - altenew, hug me
mft - stitched scallop edge rectangle die

LAYERED BOUQUET

Hello.
Usually, after the holidays, my crafting mojo takes a nose dive,
and I struggle to create anything.
But right now I'm having fun in my craft room, and trying some new (to me) techniques.

I love this colour combo of turquoise and purple, from the Inkspirational challenge photo.
I've used my new blending brushes with a striped stencil for the background,
Then added the blooms - no need for me to try and create a bouquet here - it's all done for me with this Pink Fresh Studio set.

I was going to add a sympathy sentiment, but someone swiped the stamp from my craft table and gave it a good chew!

As acetate was on my table, from making an ink blending mat a couple of days ago, I decided to try and stamp and heat emboss it, with black embossing powder.
Wow! It creates a beautiful raised, super glossy sentiment, that you can add anywhere on your card. I'll definitely be doing this again.

Hmmm - those stamps must be tasty.
Does he look sufficiently guilty?

Challenge

Inkspirational

PinkFresh Studio - layered bouquet, stamped with distress ink wilted violet, altenew ultra violet, versacolo celadon and green leaf
Clearly Besotted striped stencil, inked with distress ink peacock feathers
Sentiment - simon says stamp thoughtful messages
mft - stitched rectangle scallop edge dies

ALL MY HEARTS

Hello.
I'm going bold and bright today, for the Inspired By Challenge

I finally got round to buying some cheap ink blending brushes - 

oh hello - now I know what all the fuss is about!
This was my first attempt with one, and I found it so easy to use, the ink just glided more smoothly onto the paper.

I also cobbled together a makeshift ink blending mat, by taping a piece of acetate to a craft mat.
This makes it easy to wipe off excess ink, and pick it up later if you need to.
I'm sure i'll discover other ways to use it too - spritzing with water etc.

Question : Do you clean your brushes? How do you do that?
For now, I brushed left over ink onto scrap card! 

Of course, I couldn't make a {heart} card, without including my favourite bear,
along with a few gems.

Challenge

Inspired By 

I was inspired by the hearts and the way some of them are cropped off

SugarPeaDesigns - Hey Winter, coloured with Copics
DoCrafts nested heart die
Mft - stitched scallop rectangle die
Distress Ink - Festive Berries

BAND ON THE RUN

Hello.
I am so delighted to be joining you today,
as a Guest Designer for one of my all time favourite challenges                                                           Less Is More 
Can you believe that this year is their 10th Birthday? Wow!

This fortnight is a recipe challenge, with the theme In A Row

I went with an obvious choice for my card... these little band mice, marching in a row.
They got a 2021 upgrade though - I used my zig markers to colour them and went for a slimline card.

This slimline style seems to be increasingly popular, but I have to say,
it's a bugger to photograph!!

I can't wait to see all your entries for the challenge.
Have fun and remember to keep it CAS :-)

                                

mft - strike up the band
zig, clean colour real brush markers
sentiment - mft, party penguins

YOU CAN DO IT

Hello.
Today I'm playing along at the 
                    Inkspirational Challenge
where the cue word is 'Mask' - 
a word that we're all too familiar with right now!

It all seems a bit doom and gloom here right now,
so I was in the mood for a cheerful, positive card.
I made a rainbow style background from  circle nesties and some scrap papers,
then I popped up my little ninja and added the perfect, upbeat sentiment.

Challenge

Inksprirational

mama elephant - tiny ninjas
circle nestabilities
mft stamps - stitched scallop edge border die

JANUARY BOUQUET

Hello.
This year I want to concentrate on adding more colour to my cards.
and that means getting to grips with my zigs.

For this card I've attempted 2 of my least favourite things - 
flowers and water colouring!

I think one of the reasons I struggle with flowers and leaves, is that I find it tricky to pull all those elements together and form a bouquet.
It takes me forever to decide where every piece should go.
I'm going to try one of those sets where the die is a complete bouquet, and the elements are stamped onto it!!
I live in hope :-)

Inspired By Challenges

I took my inspiration from the flowers and the colour palette

wplus9 - modern anemones coloured with zig clean color real brush markers
background stamp - the stamp market, criss cross
avery elle postage stamp die
sentiment - my favorite things, fish tail die and party animals stamp

HOORAY

Hello.
Who knew that we would would still be celebrating lockdown birthdays in January?!
This is for my SIL
Strictly no visiting allowed, but we can't wait for the mahoosive party when all this is over.

Of course, I've opted for my favourite stamp from last year - this adorable bear,
and I've matched him with a rainbow HOORAY.

I die cut the HOORAY, which includes a shadow piece, and coloured the letters with my zigs. Then for added pop, I die cut it from foam, so it's nice and raised. Too much?

Challenge

How could I resist this week's Inspired By Challenge?

SugarPea Designs, Hey Winter, coloured with Copics
Stamp Market Hooray Dies
Small Sentiment, Mama Elephant, Birthday Messages
Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers

 

ALL THE COLOURS

Hello.
How's your 2021 going so far?
It's now illegal here, to leave your home without a permitted reason!
I'm lucky that I can go out for a walk with the dog,
but I'm definitely feeling the stress of not seeing our daughters'.

A great way to calm my mind, is to indulge in some mindless colouring...

I used white embossing powder to heat emboss this gorgeous peacock design stamp.
Then I set about colouring it with a rainbow selection of zig markers.
I got so engrossed in this, that I lost all track of time.
It took a little pawing at my knee to remind me that it was tea time :-)

When the colouring was finished, I die cut the piece and then added a simple sentiment.

Challenge

Addicted to CAS

mft stamps - peacock pattern background
zig clean color real brush markers
mama elephant - labeled messages
avery elle - postage stamp dies