Yeehaw Birthday Girl!

Hello...  or howdy! :o)

Today I'm sharing this birthday card with a bit of cowgirl charm, and a sprinkling of pretty blooms.

I could definitely stomp around the dance floor in these boots :o)

This is for the MAWTT Challenge - where they want to see your favourite stamp, die or tool.

I've gone for tool - and my sizzix big shot. I've had my machine since I started blogging (2008) and it's never let me down - touch wood.
Wow! That makes it 18 years old!!!
It definitely gets a lot of use too - I think I use it on every card I make, even the simplest ones. So I couldn't do without it.

Challenge

Moving Along With The Times

Use your favourite stamp, die or tool.

• concord & 9th - bootcut and coloured cardstock
• pinkfresh studio - diagonal stitch rectangle 

Sweet Sprinkles

Hello.
I had so much fun making this card.
I think the recipient is going to love it.

It's a wrapped shaker - so the shaker bit is made with some scrap, plastic packaging, 
wrapped around the card, and secured with DS tape. So easy!

The shaker confetti was the fun bit. I didn't have much in the way of pretty sprinkles,
so I made some of my own...

large and small cherries - die cut and coloured with copics

ice creams - die cut from coloured cardstock and pieced together

ice lollies - I put a strip of ds tape onto white card and made sure the 'lolly' part was cut from that piece - then I peeled off the tape and pressed the die cut into some glitter. IRL it's very sparkly.

This is definitely something I'll be trying again.
I'm already thinking of gingerbread men sprinkles, and tiny Christmas trees!!

Challenge

Just Us Girls

Nothing says summer like ice-lollies and cherries :o)

• concord & 9th - celebration squad / charmed (small cherries die)
• time for tea designs - cool critters - sentiment and ice lolly die
• sugar pea designs - summer scoops - large cherry die
• spellbinders - camp days - ice cream die

Adventure Awaits!

Hello.

Anyone else stuck to their craft room chair! :o)
It's a bit warm here in Yorkshire - definitely a picky tea tonight.

With this heat my brain seems to be operating at half speed - so I kept this card nice and simple.

Just a cute skunk, ready to go on a birthday adventure.

I followed along at Freshly Made Sketches - just turning the sketch for my landscape design.

I dug out an old bird branch stamp that worked great for the dashed lines on the sketch - then I added my die cut canoe, and popped up the skunk, his backpack and oar with foam tape.
The sentiment came from a different die cut set, but I thought it worked here.

Challenge

Freshly Made Sketches 

• spellbinders - trailside trio / splash days / camp days
• wplus9 - happy birds (bird branch stamp)
• concord & 9th - silly goose - happy birthday stamp and die
• memento ink - danube blue
• pinkfresh studio - diagonal stitch rectangle
• 
  

Soaking Up Some Sunshine

Hello.
I hope you're enjoying the long weekend.
Today's card feels very fitting for the lovely weather we're having right now!
A group of sunbathers, stretched out on their towels, making the most of every bit of sunshine.

This was fun to put together, but boy, are those die cuts tiny!
I started off by making up all those sunbathers in their swimwear. Then attached them to their towels.

For the frame I used a 3d embossing folder, because it made me think of the tiles around the pool.

Challenge

Freshly Made Sketches

I'm missing the sentiment, cos I just couldn't decide what to use.

• concord and 9th - poolside dies
• altenew 3d embossing folder - diamond stars

Bullseye Birthday Wishes

Hello.
Today I'm sharing this cute, straight shooter with you.

I made this fox with lots of little die cuts, then I added his backpack - obviously full of the good snacks! - his bow and arrow, and the target.

Yes, the target is floating a bit... but we're ignoring that because I wanted to stick to a cleaner background, and it was too cute not to use.

Challenge

AAA Birthday

Anything Birthday Goes

🥳 Congrats on your 7th Birthday 🥳

spellbinders - trailside trio / camp days

concord & 9th - cardstock

sentiment - lawn fawn scootin' by

Wild About Relaxing

Hello.

Well, I blew my budget last month, because I couldn't resist the 'Trailside Trio' from Spellbinders.
It comes with a fox, a raccoon and a skunk.

Here is the first outing for Mr Fox.

Mr Fox is die cut, and put together with the 'splash days' set that includes his clothing, fishing rod, oar and canoe.

I've chosen bold, bright colours for his day in the sun.

Challenge

As You Like It

Do you Prefer Brights, Or Pastels?

This year I have definitely gone for a more 'brights' look to my cards.
For ages I used coloured card from cheap, high street stores, but

I've recently invested in some good cardstock from Concord & 9th
and I love how the colours match up and really pop.

•  spellbinders - trailside trio and splash days
•  concord & 9th - sentiments - poolside stamp set

Life's Too Short... Jump In Puddles.

 Hello.

Today I'm sharing this little goose, in the rain with his wellies on.
Sometimes you just have to get in there, splash about, and make the most of a rainy day.

My grandsons are 4 and 5 years old - so every puddle is fair game!

My silly goose, is die cut and popped up with foam tape.
The sentiment is made from an alphabet stamp set - I almost made it without an error - then a letter dropped off my acrylic block just at the end. I managed to cover up the worst with a large raindrop.

My eureka moment was the raindrops :o)

They are flames from a birthday candle die set.

Challenge

Inskspirational

concord and 9th - silly goose / make a wish

my favorite things - well connected alphabet

pinkfresh studio - diagonal stitch rectangle

Berry Blooms (And A Rare Floral Win)

Hello.
Today I'm sharing a rare, floral card. 
I always find them really tricky to put together, but I'm happy with how this one turned out.

I went for a mix of berry shades, through to soft, light pink, for the blooms and added in the fresh green leaves to pull everything together.

I kept the background simple, so I didn't distract from the blooms, but added that little extra detail, using the scoring blade on my paper trimmer to create the subtle horizontal lines. 

Challenge

Inspired By

I was inspired by the mix of flowers and leaves
with berry shades, to light pink and a touch of green.

• altenew - garden picks 3d dies
• sentiment - colorado craft co - citrus berry cupcake
• pinkfresh studio - diagonal stitch rectangle
• coloured cardstock - concord & 9th

Wobble On Silly Goose

 Hello.

I couldn't resist adding a wobble to this silly goose -
for a cute, spring birthday card.

This was a fun, die-cut card, to put together for my daughter's birthday.
For some reason a goose seems to be a popular spring thing, but in our house 'goose' is a standing joke.

*long story* :o)  so this set was perfect for us.

Today's annoying mistake - adding a little cheek blush to my geese, with a new Copic marker.

Argh! It just flooded colour the second it touched the card!

 

Challenge

Moving Along With The Times

Challenge #188 Anything Spring

• concord and 9th - silly goose
• spellbinders - landscape edges
• pinkfresh studio - diagonal stitch rectangle

Coffee, Books and Cosy Vibes

Hello.
The new Inspired By Challenge caught my eye today - Cocoa Café.
I loved the pink and green colour combo and could just imagine sitting there
with a hot drink and a good book.

Rummaging around in my stash, I came across this old die set, and created a cosy, reading nook.

I finally got round to buying one of those little applicator bottles, with a fine tip, for my glue.
Honestly, it's a game changer for these tiny die cuts.
Why did it take me so long to get one!

The background wallpaper was made with some pink distress ink and a cute little stamp that has 4 columns of hearts.

Challenge

Inspired By 

I was inspired by the green and pink combo - 
and the idea of sitting down and relaxing with a nice drink

my favorite things - décor and more dies/couch potato sentiments

concord and 9th - heart stamp - celebration squad

pinkfresh studio - diagonal stitch rectangle

ranger distress ink - kitsch flamingo

A Silly Goose To Keep Your Page

 Hello.

Today I'm sharing something a little different - a bookmark.
Now, I'm not going to win any awards for my stitching, but this was a fun, little project.

I die cut my pieces from felt, and stitched them onto a green felt panel. 

Then I blanket stitched another green piece of felt for backing.
Just to make this a little sturdier, I added a piece of card in between the green felt, secured with DS tape.

This is just your everyday, cheap felt from Hobbycraft, so the tiny pieces - the beak and legs of the goose - did fall apart on me and I had to do some creative stitching! 

Maybe the good quality wool felt would work better.

I stamped the silly goose sentiment with versafine ink, but it didn't really show up too well, so I went over it with some black thread.

So - not perfect - but definitely cute!

Try It On Tuesday

Make It Cute

• concord and 9th - silly goose
• wplus9 - feathers and florals
• cheap felt and embroidery floss

Silly Goose Says Happy Birthday

Hello and Happy Easter.
Not great weather here in Yorkshire, but we'll be making the most of the 4 day break.
Bring on the chocolate eggs and hot cross buns :o)

I am seeing geese everywhere!

How does it work when two similar releases, from different companies,  pop up at the same time?
Is it industrial espionage in the crafting world! :o)

For this card I used the silly goose set from Concord & 9th

I always find the stamp sets with these dies very versatile - this one has a striped stamp that I think will be used a lot. 

Challenge

Allsorts

🌷It's Springtime🐣

or Anything Goes

• concord and 9th - silly goose stamps and dies
• ranger distress ink - salvaged patina
• avery elle - postage stamp die

Honk If You Like Crafting!

 Hello.

Today I finally found some time to play along at the Inspired By Challenge.
They have some gorgeous mood boards right now and the inspiration from the DT just blows me away.
It's amazing.

This week the mood board had some beautifully painted eggs, in shades of soft green, for a calm, nature inspired theme.
I opted to use the green colour tones, but went more playful with this silly goose cameo.

I used the stripes stamp (from the matching set) to create a gingham style background.
Then layered my goose onto some die cut ovals. 
I love how this one turned out.

Challenge

Inspired By

• concord & 9th - silly goose dies and stamp set
• versa color ink - celadon
• spellbinders nested ovals and scalloped edge ovals
• tiny bow from concord & 9th handmade holidays

Silly Goose

Hello.
I may have blown my March budget on these silly goose dies, but..   no regrets!

After seeing all the gorgeous, flowery Mother's Day gifts in the shops, I may have got a bit carried away with the blooms and bright colours on this card. But, I had fun stamping that background, and that's all that counts, right?

Challenge

Freshly Made Sketches

• concord & 9th - silly goose dies 
• wplus9 - feathers and florals
• distress inks - carved pumpkin/twisted citron/pickled raspberry/spiced marmalade
• squeezed lemonade/festive berries/walnut stain
• altenew ink - fresh leaf
• avery elle - postage stamp die

Special Delivery... From The Dog

Hello.
I'm excited today, to be a Guest Designer over at the 

AAA Birthday Challenge

where the theme is 'die cuts'

This was right up my street. I LOVE using die cuts.

For my card I've used this cute pup. Yes, he's supposed to have skis, but I had other plans.
Instead of the ski poles, I've got him to carry this birthday present.

I wanted to use some more die cuts for the background, but still keep the overall look pretty simple.
So I went with cloud and grass dies, and a couple of extra presents - one is never enough!  :o)

You've got a whole month to play along and show us your die cuts.
Do you alter yours?
I'm always looking for ideas to stretch my supplies,
so I'd be interested to know how you do it.

Thanks to AAA Birthday for letting me guest design this month.
It's been fun  xxx

• waffle flower - cool pup
• spellbinders - landscape edges dies / handmade holidays (presents)
• pinkfresh studio - diagonal stitched rectangle
• distress ink - tumbled glass / twisted citron
• concord & 9th - poolside (sentiment)

Celebrate With A Cupcake

 Hello.

I'm sticking with die-cuts again today, for this simple birthday card of a girl and a cupcake.
Hmm.. is one cupcake ever enough?

I kept the background subtle, with this pretty, pierced line texture die, and then had fun stamping her top with shades of pink, orange and green.
I should have moved the sentiment over to the left a touch, but by the time I noticed my girl was stuck fast.

Challenge

Freshly Made Sketches

• concord and 9th - celebration squad
• waffle flower crafts - piercing lines texture die
• ranger distress ink - spiced pumpkin, pickled raspberry, twisted citron, mowed lawn.

***************************************************************************

You're Simply The Best

 Hello.

I hope you're all well rested and raring to go for another crafty year.
It's a slow start for me. I always seem to forget how to do anything and struggle with my mojo.
Time to hit up the card challenges :o)

This first card is for the Moving Along With The Times Challenge
where the theme, chosen by Fiona, is to use stencils and/or dies.

I stamped and die-cut some of the smaller records for a background, then added a record sleeve on top, with a larger disc to tuck inside.  Sliding it out reveals the message.
Very simple - but kinda cute!

• concord and 9th - greatest hits stamps and dies
• ranger distress ink - carved pumpkin, cracked pistachio, pickled raspberry

*********************************************************

Everybody Join The Conga Line

Hello.
Who doesn't love a versatile stamp?
These guys were bought for birthdays, but here they are, having fun with a Christmas conga line :o)

This was a simple card to put together. Just a quick stamp and some Copic colouring.

Then, I added the die-cut fairy lights for some extra festive fun.
Yeah - I'm not sure about the lights. I think I'll make another card without them.

Challenge

We Love Stamping

Anything Christmas

colorado craft company - conga line

concord and 9th - handmade holiday dies

concord and 9th sentiment - tiny trees turnabout

copic markers / white gel pen