Clearly Besotted Penguins

I recently received an order for some stamps and dies from Clearly Besotted.  Not only did the parcel arrive quickly but it was beautifully wrapped and there was a 'thank you' card with my order too.  The penguins on the card were far too cute to go into the recycling bin so I made a notecard with them.  I found a suitable snippet of paper which was trimmed and attached to the card.  I trimmed the front of the upcycled penguin card to remove the sentiment and then attached it to the centre of the card with a layer of thin foam.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     Upcycled thank you card
     Snippet of yellow/gold paper

I'm not entering any challenges, I just wanted to share these cute penguins!

If you would like to share your views on ink and also have a chance to win two Clearly Besotted stamp sets - please see my Questions about Ink and Giveaway post.

Kath x

Happy Birthday

I made this CAS birthday card for a few challenges - the idea seemed quite simple but it actually took a lot longer than I had anticipated to die cut the strip and get the stitching all around the edge of the strip.  On a more positive note, it did use up a lot of snippets from my box!

To start I die cut the sentiment from white hammer card and set it aside.  I attached a snippet of very dark green floral paper to thin white card and using a rectangle die I die cut a strip placing the dies so I had stitching on the short edges as well as the stitching along the long edges.  I did this by running the strip through my Cuttlebug four times - the first pass cut the short edge and half way down one long edge, the second cut the rest of the long edge and the other short edge, then lined it up again twice to die cut the other long edge - as I said, it took longer than I had anticipated!  I then die cut the sentiment from the right side and attached the strip along the lower edge of the card before inlaying the sentiment.  I punched a large and small daisy from white hammer card and attached them to the left of the sentiment and added an upcycled yellow gem for the flower centre..

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white hammer card blank
     My Favourite Things  'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' and Creative Expressions 'Mini Happy Birthday' dies
     Woodware 'Large Daisy' and 'Regular Daisy' punches
     Small hole punch
     Snippets of white hammer card, thin white matt card and Lili of the Valley 'Enchantment' paper
     Small yellow sparkly gem (upcycled from a birthday card)

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Cards - Up to One Third + Inlaid Die
     Perfectly CAS - Flowers
     Pixie's Snippets Playground - Challenge 361
     Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes

If you would like to share your views on ink and also have a chance to win two Clearly Besotted stamp sets - please see my Questions about Ink and Giveaway post.

Kath x

Christmas Wishes

I love this stylish reindeer stamp and always think it looks better stamped in black than any other colour.  It's also not too fussy so is great for male cards too.

Using my MISTI I placed the die on top of the card and then laid the reindeer and sentiment into the square.  I removed the die and stamped the image and sentiment several times to ensure a good dense black colour.  I then die cut and embossed the square.  This panel was layered onto a slightly larger square of black card before being attached to the centre of the card blank.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white hammer card blank
     Hot off the Press 'Reindeer' stamps (these had been a cover gift with a magazine ages ago)
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
     Kars tan embossing mat
     Versafine Onyx Black ink
     Matt black card and white hammer card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Alphabet Challenge - M for Masculine     
     Christmas Card Throwdown - Black & White
     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes

If you would like to share your views on ink and also have a chance to win two Clearly Besotted stamp sets - please see my Questions about Ink and Giveaway post.

Kath x 

Snowman Snowy

I love this cute snowman stamp and as there's not much colouring needed he's great for making quick cards.  I've fallen behind with my Christmas card tally this year, so I've made a selection of these cards with different colour scarves to send to the younger members of our families.

I resized the digi and added the computer generated sentiment before printing onto white card.  I die cut the image and coloured the snowman with Promarkers.  This panel was layered onto a slightly larger piece of purple card and attached to the card front.  To finish I added a Wink of Stella.

To make this card I used:
     5.5" x 4.25" white matt tent fold card blank
     Kinda Cute 'Snowman Snowy' digi stamp
     My Favourite Things 'Inside and Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die'namics' die
     Promarkers
     Purple pearlescent and white matt card
     Computer generated sentiment 'AR Christy' font
     Wink of Stella

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Goes     
     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
     Tales from the Craft Room - For the Kids

If you would like to share your views on ink and also have a chance to win two Clearly Besotted stamp sets - please see my Questions about Ink and Giveaway post.

Kath x

Just a Note

My final post today is a set of three notecards.  To make the leaves I stamped the outer image with the dark brown ink and then stamped the rest of the leaf with the lighter ink.  I used the coordinating dies to die cut them.  I used my MISTI to stamp the sentiment in the lower corner and then attached the larger leaf with double sided tape.  The smaller leaf was attached with Pinflair glue to give some dimension.

To make these notecards I used:
     5" x 5" off white hammer card blanks
     Clearly Besotted 'Fall Flowers' stamps and coordinating dies and Clearly Besotted 'Fancy Sayings stamp
     Versafine Vintage Sepia and Toffee inks

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Autumn     
     Dies R Us - Nature
     Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies - September challenge

If you would like to share your views on ink and also have a chance to win two Clearly Besotted stamp sets - please see my Questions about Ink and Giveaway post.

Kath x

Upcycled Christmas Hare

This lovely image was the front of a Christmas card I received last year and thought it was far too lovely to pop in the recyling bin.  The image has lots of blue and silver glitter, which unfortunately  doesn't show up too well in the photograph.

The card was quite big as there were trees on both sides of the hare, but I die cut a smaller square framing the hare and moon.  This was then inlaid into a silver mirri frame to make another quick Christmas card.

To make this card I used:

     6 x 6" white hajmmer card blank

     Upcycled Christmas card

     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' dies

I am entering the following challenges:

     ABC Christmas Challenge - S for Sparkle     

     Merry Little Christmas Challenge ' Anything Christmas Goes

If you would like to share your views on ink and also have a chance to win two Clearly Besotted stamp sets - please see my Questions about Ink and Giveaway post.

Kath x

More Gingerbread Wishes

This lovely precoloured topper is the last one from the sheet I used for my Gingerbread Wishes card I made last week.

For this card I layered pale green snowflake paper onto red mirri and attached it to the card.  Although the topper was already die cut, I used a square die to trim the edges and to add the embossed border.  This topper was then layered it onto a red lacy square before attaching it to the centre of the card with a square of foam.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     The  Hobby House 'Gingerbread Wishes' precoloured topper
     Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Classic Squares Large' and 'Lacy Squares' dies
     Kars tan embossing mat
     Wild Rose Studio 'Annabelle's Christmas' paper
     Red mirri card

I am entering the following challewnges:
     Christmas Crafts All Year Round - Christmas/Winter Food or Drink
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Add Lots of Layers
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

If you would like to share your views on ink and also have a chance to win two Clearly Besotted stamp sets - please see my Questions about Ink and Giveaway post.

Kath x

Winter Wonderland Border

I've almost finished tidying my craft area which means that my box of snippets and assorted toppers has grown, so today's cards are all made with snippets and oddments.

This card uses snippets of blue and gold pearlescent card and a snippet of paper that I think was from Making Cards magazine.  I trimmed the paper and attached it to the card front with the darker area at the top.  I die cut the border from blue pearlescent card and attached it to the lower edge of the paper.  I then die cut the windows from gold card and inlaid them into the buildings.  The die cut sentiment was one from my snippets box so that was ready to attach to the top of the card.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 4" white matt tent fold card blank
     Cottage Cutz Scrapping Cottage 'Winter Wonderland Border' and Creative Expressions 'Festive Mini Expressions - Stacked Happy Christmas' dies
     Snippets of dark blue and gold pearlescent card, blue snow paper

I am entering the following challenges:
     Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes With Dies - September challenge
     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes

If you would like to share your views on ink and also have a chance to win two Clearly Besotted stamp sets - please see my Questions about Ink and Giveaway post.

Kath x

Creative People Don't Have a Mess .....

Before putting my dies away after making my Gingerbread Wishes card, I made my final card today incorporating a card a friend sent to me with a fabulous (and very apt) sentiment.  I made this into a card to send to another friend.

I die cut the topper and layered it onto a slightly larger piece of black card to frame the image.  This was then layered onto the red card and attached to the card blank.

To make this card I used:

     5.5" x 4.25" cream hammer tent card blank

     Upcycled image (sorry, I don't know the name of it)

     My Favourite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' dies

     Snippets of matt black and red pearlescent card

I'm not entering any challenges with this notecard, I just wanted to share this super sentiment with all of you creative people (especially any messy ones!).

Kath x

Gingerbread Wishes

I'm still on a mission to use all my bits 'n' bobs before buying any new products so there will be plenty of cards using old toppers in the near future.  This is one of the toppers from the bottom of my box - it's a lovely Elisabeth Bell design.

I die cut a frame from red mirri card and attached it to the card.  Although the topper was already die cut, I used one of my stitched dies to trim the shape of it before inlaying it into the frame - another quick and easy card for my box.

To make this card I used:
     5.5" x 4.25" tent told white silk card
     The Hobby House 'Gingerbread Wishes' precoloured topper
     My Favourite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' dies
     Red mirri card

I am entering the following challenges:
     CAS Christmas - Holiday Treats
     Christmas Crafts All Year Round - Christmas/Winter Food or Drink
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Kath x

Heart of Hearts

I made this card to send to friends on their wedding anniversary, using the colours for the HLS CAS Challenge.  I love this 'Heart of Hearts' die as it always looks so different depending on the colours I've used.

To make this card I die cut a square of white card and die cut the heart from the centre. This panel was layered onto grey card and a pink stitched die cut square before being attached to the centre of the card.  I die cut the heart from both grey and pink card and inlaid the pieces.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white hammer card blank
     Impression Obsession 'Heart of Heart' and Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' dies
     Snippets of white hammer, pink textured and grey pearlescent card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge - Pink and Grey
     Pixie's Snippets Playground - Challenge 360

Kath x

Questions about Ink and Giveaway

I was overwhelmed by the number of responses I received to last month's question about card blanks and thank you to everyone who commented on my post.

This month my questions are about ink and, of course, there is another Giveaway.  There are so many different types of ink on the market and I'm sure everyone has their favourite for different uses.  Here are a few questions to start you off:

  - What types of ink do you use?
  - Do you have a favourite brand?
  - What is your favourite ink for stamping?
  - What is your favourite ink for heat embossing ?
  - What is your favourite ink for using with stencils?
  - What is your favourite ink for using with different colouring mediums - alcohol pens, coloured pencils?
  - Please feel free to add any other comments or advice you would like to share.

All comments will be entered for the giveaway, unless you specifically say that you don't want to be included.  This month I'm giving away two Clearly Besotted mini stamp sets - 'Bye Bye Butterfly' and Elegant Butterflies'.

I've had a couple of requests to give more time for responses, so please leave all comments by 08:00 BST on Tuesday 24 September.  I'll announce the winner of the stamp sets the following day.

Kath x

Summer Fun

My final card today is a super quick card to send to a friend who has a sports card and loves driving in the summer with the roof down.  To make the card I attached a snippet of brown spot paper to the front leaving a small white margin around the edge.  I die cut and embossed the precoloured image before attaching it to the centre of the card - another quick and easy card!

To make this card I used:
     5.5" x 4.25" tent fold white matt card
     Lili of the Valley Art Sheet 'Toot, Toot' (post updated to thank Jules for letting me know the name of the  image)
     My Favourite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Oval STAX Die-namics' die
     Lili of the Valley 'Country Gent' paper

I am entering the following challenges:
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Anything Goes 
    Tales from the Craft Room - Summer Fun

Kath x

Snowy Friends

I made this card for the Christmas Kickstart challenge using a cute Bugaboo digi stamp (one from my drawer of printed but not yet coloured images).  I die cut the image and then coloured it with Promarkers using the colours from the Christmas Kickstart banner.  A piece of turquoise paper was attached to the card front and the snowman image added to the the centre.  To finish I edged the snowman's hat with Fun Flock and highlighted the snow with Stickles.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     Bugaboo 'Snowy Friends' digi stamp
     My Favourite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics' dies
     Promarkers
     Lili of the Valley 'Beach Bliss' paper
     White matt card
     Stampendous White Fun Flock
     Diamond Stickles

I am entering the following challenges:
     Bugaboo Weekly Challenge - Photo Inspiration (I have used the colours blue, red with a little bit of brown and green)     
     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - Get a Head-er Start (I have used the snowman and colours as my inspiration)
     Christmas with the Cuties - Let's Build a Snowman
     I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes
   
Kath x

Wishing you Happiness

I made this card to send to Cat for the August Card Chain Challenge (I can post the card as Cat has emailed to say she's received it).  I have chosen the Colour Option (Sunshine, Sea Green & Flamingo) and the Theme Option (Friendship).

I cut a piece of card slightly smaller than my card blank, before stamping and embossing the flower and sentiment.  This panel was then attached to the card blank.  I also stamped the leaves onto snippets of green paper, these were fussy cut and attached to the card.  I added Card Candi to the larger circles and coloured the smaller ones with a yellow Promarker and Glossy Accents.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Woodware 'Bubble Bloom - Clarissa' and Clearly Besotted 'Dandelion Dreams' stamps
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Stampendous clear embossing powder
     Promarkers
     Card candi
     Glossy Accents
     White matt card
     Snippets of sea green paper

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Feminine      
     Alphabet Challenge 'K for Kind Thoughts'

This is the lovely card I received from Dee in Kenya, who also included two bead medallions which are handmade by the Maasai women.

Kath x