Strike Up The Band for New Year

Hello.
I'm excited today, to be joining the amazing team at CAS on Friday, as a Guest Designer.
This is such a great blog, and my 'go to' for CAS inspiration and a fun challenge.
I know it's a busy time right now, but I hope you'll manage to carve out some crafting time
and play along with the Happy New Year theme.

Here are my band bunnies, playing in the New Year. I love these guys and they have been such a versatile stamp set. They're getting a bit yellow, and have lost their sticky now, so I need to take extra care of them. Have you ever had to replace a much loved stamp set?

I know it's supposed to be CAS, but it is for New Year, so I couldn't resist some tiny stars, with a touch of stickles glitter.

CAS On Friday

Big thanks to Janneke and the rest of the DT for the chance to join them  xxx

Theme this week - Happy New Year

• my favorite things - strike up the band
• my favorite things rectangle scallop edge die
• copics
• winnie and walter big bang confetti stamp
• stickles glitter
• avery elle - merriest sentiments

Happy Candle Blowing Day

Hello.
It's been a busy week here,  and when time in my craft room is limited,  I like to jump start my creativity with a good sketch - which means a quick visit to Freshly Made Sketches.

When I saw this week's sketch, I instantly thought of candles, which meant rotating the sketch 90 degrees. The candles were die-cut, coloured with my new Ecoline pens, with a touch of glitter on the flames,  and popped up with foam tape.  
I tried to be artsy with the background (and I really wanted to play with those new pens) so I drew some quick stripes. It's a bit rough - I didn't really think it through - but hey, that's handmade for you :o)

Freshly Made Sketches

concord and 9th - make a wish
ecoline brush pens

pinkfresh studio - diagonal stitch rectangle
winnie and walter - big bang confetti

HAPPY ROBINS

Hello.
I've been stretching my stash today and using these non Christmassy Happy Birds
for a holiday card.
With a patch of deep red I've, hopefully, transformed them into robins.

To keep things simple I've opted for no shading, just adding a few highlights with a white gel pen, and a grey shadow.
Also, the birds have been stamped rather than my usual die-cutting to keep the card postage friendly.

Challenge

52 Christmas Card Throwdown

wplus9 -  happy birds
small leaf and sentiment - lawn fawn, winter sparrows
red dots - winnie and walter, big bang confetti, stamped in distress ink festive berries

copics

HELLO DEER

Hello.
I dug deep into my stash for this card,
and came up with this neglected deer.

Despite the simple look of this card, it does have a few easy techniques in there:

stamping and heat embossing for the snow,
paper-piecing on the reindeer,
and an inlaid die (yes, I forgot to use blue background in the e,y and a !)

Challenge

Inspired By...

Hero Arts Reindeer
Mft Merry Christmas Die
Winnie & Walter Big Bang Confetti
Wow White Embossing Powder
Copics

BOKEH CHRISTMAS

Hello.
I had fun today playing with my inks,
trying to create a bokeh effect.

I started by inking up a piece of card with Distress Ink tumbled glass, then I used small round stamps to add some different blues.
The white and silver didn't stamp too well, so for them, I created a stencil using a hole punch.

My first attempt was the 'sweet winter wishes' one.
It didn't really turn out like I wanted - I kept adding too many dots   :-)
For the second card I reined it in a bit, and I think the effect looks better.
IRL the silver adds a lovely shimmer.

Challenge

Less Is More - 

Sentiment - mft snow globe sentiments
circle stamps - winnie & walter, big bang confetti

THE DRINKS ARE ON ME

Hello

Here's my card for this week's CAS(E) this Sketch Challenge.

A simple card, right? 
But my brain was elsewhere and I managed to make several annoying, little mistakes.
First off, after I stuck down the cocktails, I realised they were way off centre - I tried to fix it by trimming the panel down a little, but it's still what my eye is drawn to.
Then I dropped the star stamp, so ended up having to stamp a few more than I wanted.
Finally, I stuck my panel down a little to the left. I definitely have a habit of doing that though.
Hey ho!

CAS(E) this Sketch

clearly besotted - raise a glass

sentiment - mama elephant, labeled messages

stars - winnie and walter, big bang confetti

inks - altenew, fuchsia, baby pink, lime, fresh lemon.tide blue

A FLOCK OF BALLOONS

Hello

It's another wet and wild, weekend, here in Yorkshire - 
even the dog doesn't want to brave the elements.
So, I ramped up the heating, shut myself in my craft room,
and got out some colourful inks.

Some of my balloons hadn't stamped too well so, at the last minute,  I covered them with a crisper die-cut, popped up with foam tape.

I think this made the card look much better - giving it more depth and a bit of interest.

Challenge

CAS(E) this Sketch

supplies

clearly besotted - make a wish

distress inks - tumbled glass, pickled raspberry, peacock feathers, mustard seed, twisted citron

winnie and walter - big bang confetti

SKETCHY FLOWERS

Hello.

Yay! I think I've done it.
I may have finally found a set of blooms I can work with  :o)

I get myself into a pickle with those 2/3 step stamping flowers,
but the easy, sketchy style of this set seems to suit me more.

This is my entry for this week's MUSE card club challenge.

I found that, when I stamped my black outline over the colour, my black ink bled a little.
This might be resolved if I allowed the coloured ink to dry first, but I'm too impatient for that.
So, I simply clear embossed the black outline before adding colour  ;o)

The blooms and leaves were then die-cut and popped up with foam tape.

MUSE

I took inspiration from Bunny's dimensional, die cut blooms and leaves, on a black background.

Supplies.
MFT - Sketch Flowers.
Various Distress Inks.
Sentiment from Winnie & Walter, Big, Bold & Party.

PARTY ON

Hello.
I know what you're thinking -
how can I start with Jenni's wonderful Muse card, and end up with this.
The link seems tenuous at best - but I can explain ...

When I looked at Jenni's card on Monday I took away

• a sentiment background
• yellow, pink, green and blue
• a touch of sparkle

and those things rattled around in my head until I produced this.

My sentiments were stamped and embossed in white, then inked over with distress oxides.

I die-cut the fox and his balloon, coloured them with Copics and popped them up with foam tape.

MUSE Card Challenge from Jenni Murray

This is Jenni's last week on the Muse DT,

so I'd like to say thanks for all your inspiration Jenni,

and good luck with your new endeavours.

Supplies

Altenew - Hug Me

Winnie & Walter - Big, Bold & Party

My Favorite Things - Stitched, Scalloped Rectangle

Distress Oxide Inks - Worn Lipstick, Fossilized Amber, Cracked Pistachio, Broken China

Dream BIg

Don't let the simplicity of this card fool you.

It took me forEVA !

The Less Is More theme this week is 

Dreams

and it's also the dreaded one layer challenge.

I practiced stamping this design on scrap paper before

holding my breath and stamping straight onto my card blank.

Looking at it now, I wish I'd stamped the elephant a little higher.

Next time :-)

Supplies.

Lawn Fawn ABCs - Violet's and Smitty's

Elephant - SSS Elephant Love, coloured with Copics.

Stars - Winnie & Walter Big Bang Confetti

Leaf element - WPlus9 Heartfelt Holidays

Ink - Hero Arts Color Lights.

If in doubt, add more glitter

  Marching bunnies, in little red blazers

with a glitter background and scattered stars.

What's not to love?

I started by stamping my sentiment onto a die-cut panel,

and then die-cutting the 'YOU'.

Bunnies were die-cut and coloured with Copics

(red is not my strong suit) before being attached with foam pads.

Then I fixed the panel to some glitter card and added some tiny stars.

If you want to see how beautifully sparkly this glitter card

really is, pop over to my Instagram (link in side bar)

Challenges

Addicted to Stamps - Make Your Mark

Stamping Sensations - Feature A Creature

CAS on Sunday - Sparkle

MFT - zig zag rectangle die + strike up the band

Copics.   American Crafts Glitter Paper

Sentiment - Winnie&Walter, Big, Bold & Party.  Memory Box Alpha Dies

Feeling Blue

Hello.

Today I'm playing along with the Seven Hills Challenge,

which gives you the option of 3 different colour palettes.

No being great at 'floral' cards these roses are a revelation to me.

I still haven't got them exactly right, but I'm having so much fun with them.

I came across a couple of great tips for using them.

1. Don't worry if - like me - you have a limited ink stash. 

You can use 1 ink pad to create at least 2 shades.

Ink up your rose piece and stamp. 

Then ink up again, stamp on scrap and then on your rose.

Voila - 2 shades!

( You all knew this already didn't you? :-)  )

2. The roses and leaves can be tricky to line up,

but if you start with the darkest colour first it makes it a little easier.

I've used the colour palette below for my card.

Matching up as best I can with the inks I have.

Blue for the roses, green for the leaves and the bottom grey/vanilla colour

as little sprinkled dots.

Altenew Vintage Roses.   Winnie&Walter Big, Bang Confetti

Inks - Memento -  Danube Blue / Bahama Blue  /Summer Sky.

Versacolor - Celadon / Vanilla.  A green from Hero Arts Lia Colour Lights.

Sequins 

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig

Playing along today with the 

CAS(E) this Sketch Challenge.

(I just rotated the sketch)

As I was making this, I was reminded of  the pretty, blue and white

bird house that I put up at my last house.

It was up for a year and a half, and the birds moved in

2 weeks before we moved out.

Of course they did.

I couldn't evict them, so I guess I need a new bird house.

I'd like to say the idea for the 'roof' was mine,

 but I saw it on a card by the wonderfully talented Yana Smakula

Unlike hers though, my scallops are on the top edge

 - 'cos them's the dies I've got   :-)

Challenges.

CAS(E) This Sketch.

DP - Echo Park, Bundle of Joy.  MFT Zig Zag Rectangle Die.  Scalloped Nestie Die.

Mama Elephant, Just Hatched.   Sentiment - Avery Elle, Home Sweet Home.

Circles - Winnie & Walter, Big Bang Confetti. 

Ink - ColorBox, Glacier Ice.   

Three Little Birds

Another bird card.

Happy birds are die-cut, coloured with Copics and

popped up on foam pads.

Here's another angle, to show you the embossed 'wishes' sentiment.

Challenges.

Colour Throwdown

Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

WPlus9 Happy Birds, coloured with Copics.

MFT zig-zag rectangle die

'Wishes' - Winnie & Walter, Big Bold & Party, stamped in Versacolor fresh green

and clear embossed

DP - Lawn Fawn, Let's Polka Mon Amie

Don't Stop The Party

Balloons are my go-to stamps for 'guy' cards.

What do you reach for?

Here, I stamped the 'party' sentiment and embossed with clear powder.

(Next time I won't be so lazy and I will dig out the black embossing powder,

for a crisper finish, with more shine).

The balloons were then stamped in various colours.

Challenges.

Always Playing With Paper - Sketch

Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes (but  must stamp)

Clearly Besotted, Make A Wish.  Winnie & Walter, Big Bold & Party.

Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangle Die.  DP - Echo Park, Dots & Stripes.

Inks - Versacolor, Lime/Mint/Lagoon Blue/Turquoise

Celebrate Good Times

Shhhh...   I'm  not supposed to be buying any new craft supplies,

but I just couldn't resist these 'Amigos'.

I thought they would be great for hubby's birthday card,

and, with all the sentiments they come with, they are super versatile.

 1. Cover base card with dp.

2. Die-cut stitched rectangle.

3. Stamp 'celebrate' sentiment and heat emboss with clear powder.

4. Add stitched hillside border.

5. Stamp and die-cut three amigos, colour with Copics and white gel pen,

and attach with foam pads.

6. Add glitter dots and attach the panel to the base card with foam pads.

Challenges
Sweet Stampin' - Inspired by a book or film.
These critters definitely remind me of 'Over the Hedge'. One of those 'kids' movies that just cracks me up!
4 Crafty Chicks - Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday - Use A Sentiment
Addicted to Stamps -  Make your Mark

Supplies.

Mama Elephant - Three Amigos

DP - Echo Park, Dots & Stripes 'Girl'

Stitched Rectangle and Hillside Border - Lawn Fawn

'Celebrate - Winnie & Walter, Big, Bold & Party - stamped in Versacolor Celadon

Glitter Dots

La Di Da Birthday

Morning everyone.

I have just about recovered from the long weekend,

and my daughter's birthday celebrations.

Here's the card I made her.

I went for bright and girly, with plenty of glitter.

I love this big, bold sentiment stamp from Winnie & Walter,

which I stamped  in lime green and embossed with clear powder.

Then I die-cut, and coloured those cute elephants, and popped them up on foam pads.

I mounted the panel onto some gorgeous, glittery paper.

I was a little worried about adding those stars in black ink,

but I think they turned out perfectly. 

With all that glitter and the bright colours anything else would have been just too much.

Challenges.

Penny Black & More - Birthdays

The Paper Players - To Die For

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Supplies.

DP -  Kaiser Craft - La Di Da

WPlus9 Unforgettable (elephant coloured with Copics and a touch of a glitter pen)

Winnie & Walter - Big, Bold & Party

VersaColor Inks - Orchid, Lime, Heliotrope

Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangle Die

Robots Need Love Too

It seems to me that cards have their own little personalities.

Some are careful and easy going, some are clever and witty,

and some are just plain obstinate and grumpy - I get a LOT of those!

This card was definitely, lively and cheerful, and I had fun making it.

I began by stamping my 'birthday sentiment' 

( it looks a bit washed out on these pics but, irl it's a bright, lime green)

and embossed it with clear powder.

I die-cut my robots, cupcake and bow ties, coloured them with Copics

and popped them up on foam pads.

Then, I stamped some random nuts and bolts, echoing the colours of my dp.

Finally, I fixed the panel (with foam pads) onto my dp covered, card base.

 

Challenges.

Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes

Addicted To Stamps- Make Your Mark ( I used Copics, inks and embossing to make my mark)

Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes + A Sentiment

Supplies.

Lawn Fawn, Beep Boop Birthday & Stitched Rectangles.

Winnie & Walter, Big Bold & Party

VersaColor Ink - Lime, Cyan, Orange

DP - Paper Cellar, Celebrations.

Party Elephant

Yay! It's the weekend.

I'm struggling to find time to get into my craft room at the moment.

But, with 5 minutes here, and 10 minutes there, I finally finished a card...

here's another cute, little elephant.

 

 I started off by stamping the 'party' sentiment and embossing it.

Then I added my die-cut, elephant and party balloon.

I love seeing how you artists out there, colour these little, elephants

 and I was a little scared about how I would shade mine - colouring NOT being my strong suit.

But, I'm starting to get to grips with my own style elephant - 

a little shading and dotting with various grey Copics, a hint of blush pink,

and some white dots from a gel pen (tricky for the camera to pick up).

 With a quick glance, you would almost think I knew what I was doing!   ;-)

As for the balloon - I totally chickened out of colouring it - and paper-pieced it instead :-)

 

Challenges.

Seize the Birthday - Focus on the Sentiment

Addicted To Stamps -  Anything Goes

Sister Act - Cards Only

Fussy & Fancy - Girly

Supplies.

WPlus9 Unforgettable.   Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangles.

Winnie & Walter, Big Bold & Party.  DP - GCD Tea Time.  

Versa Colour Ink, Magenta.   Copics, White Gel Pen, Sequins, Pearls.

With A Little Help From My Friends

Hey there.

2 posts without penguins and I'm already having withdrawal symptoms.

So, here's a whole gang of them :-)

 These penguins are so easy to die cut, that this card took no time at all to make.

They don't even need much colouring - just a hint of pink cheeks, a little yellow belly

and a grey outline (which the camera hasn't picked up today).

My penguins are popped up on foam pads underneath my sentiment.

Then I added a couple of party balloons and some'confetti'

Challenges.

ABC Challenge - D is for Die Cuts

Paper Players - CAS Feathered Friends

Sweet Stampin' - Inspired by a Song  - With A Little Help From My Friends

Supplies.

Mama Elephant - Arctic Penguins.   Clearly Besotted -  Make A Wish

Lawn Fawn - Beep Boop Birthday (Balloon Strings).    Winnie & Walter, Big Bang Confetti.

Clearly Besotted - Say It In Style.   Memento Ink -  Rose Bud

VersaColor Inks - Turquoise, Canary    DP -  Lawn Fawn, Let's Polka