Hello & Card Chain Challenge Blog Hop

The Card Chain Challenge is a simple idea - sign up and send a handmade card to the person above you on the list and receive one from the person who signed up after you.  Each month there is a Colour Option, Sketch Option, Theme Option or Product/Technique Option - the card has to be made using at least one of the options. 

Gail, who runs the CCC had decided to have a celebration when 3,000 people had signed up for the challenge and last month I was the 3,000 person to sign up! To celebrate Gail and Jo are running a blog hop from today until 28 June - all the details can be found on the Card Chain Challenge May Reveal post - there will be lots of prizes for people who leave comments. There will also be some games on the CCC blog during June, so keep popping back and have a look - there will be prizes for the games too!  All winners will be announced at the end of June and there will be a few extra prizes as everyone loves happy mail in these difficult times.

This is the card I made to send to Linda in Michigan for the May Challenge using the Colour Option (Raspberry, Rose & Cream).  Linda is the next person on the blog hop - so why not pop over to see her card.

I die cut the flowers (using a die that I've had for ages and never used) from raspberry, rose and cream textured card and set them aside.  I stamped 'hello' in the lower corner of the card and then laid one of the flowers onto the card so I could see where to emboss the two lines - one above and one below the flowers.  I embossed the lines and then attached the flowers to the card.  To finish I added a Wink of Stella to the flower centres.

To make this card I used:
     DL white matt card blank
     Creative Dies 'Flower' die
     Ultimate Crafts ''L'aquarelle Designs' stamps
     Brilliance Orchid ink
     Snippets of raspberry, rose and cream textured card
     Wink of Stella

I am entering the following challenges:
     NBUS - Challenge 15
     Pixie's Snippets Playground - Challenge 379

This is the lovely card that Dee in Kenya has sent me:

Kath x

Christmas Tree Ornament

A friend recently sent me some cross stitch kits, one of which was this Christmas tree.  It was a perfect fit for a gold coloured frame that was amongst a box of cross stitch items I purchased a while ago.

Kath x

Celebrate in Style

I'm still working my way though my 'oddments and snippets' box and came across some papers I'd trimmed but not used - perfect for making a quick card for a friend's birthday.  I had wanted to add a 'Happy Birthday' sentiment but as the card is only 5" x 5" the 'Best Wishes' sentiment looked better on the smaller card.

I layered the 'Celebrate in Style' paper onto the black paper and placed them onto the card front to see how they would fit.  I then attached the papers and trimmed around the edge of the card.  A simple stamped sentiment in the lower corner finished the card.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blan
     Clearly Besotted 'Fancy Sayings' stamp
     Versafine Onyx Black ink
     Wild Rose Studio 'Man About Town' papers

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Cards - Happy Birthday
     Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - May challenge
     Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes

Kath x

Folksy Friday - Key Rings

It's Friday again and time for another Folksy Friday - this week my theme is 'Key Rings'.   Here are some of my favourite items from other Folksy sellers.

From top left:
Sailing Boat Key Ring by Ellie's Treasures and Hand Sewn Accessories
Silver Heart and Key Charms and Multi Coloured Crystal Bead Key Ring by Oswestry Jewels
Rustic Pyrography Key Ring by Sarah Designs
Garden Key Ring Embroidered and Felted by Lynwoodcrafts
Volkswagen Campervan Key Ring by SewHooliboo
Bee Embroidered Key Ring by Tickle and Thread
Upcycled Embroidered Leaf Key Ring by Seven Hands
Multi Coloured Harris Tweed Metal Key Ring by Printedfresh

Why not pop over to their shop?  Like the item, favourite their shop or, better still, buy something from them!

Kath x

We Three Kings

Whilst looking through my box of upcycled images I came upon this card (one of the Christmas cards we received last year) which is perfect for the current ABC Christmas Challenge.

I die cut a stitched square from a snippet of gold mirri card and then die cut a circle from the centre before attaching it to the card front.  I die cut the crowns and sentiment into a circle and inlaid it into the frame.  A quick and simple card using an ucpcled Christmas card and a snippet of mirri.

To make this card I used:
     4" x 4" white matt card blank
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' and My Favourite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX' dies
     Upcycled Christmas card
     Snippet of gold mirri card

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge - K is for King
     Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes

Kath x

May Rudolph Day

It's time for another Rudolph Day and another of my embossed cards - this card used both wet and dry embossing.  I'm using a wreath stamp set that I bought ages ago and have never used - perfect for Darnell's NBUS challenge too.

I stamped the wreath in green ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I used lilac pearlescent ink to stamp the extra small snowflakes.  I die cut the square and used my embossing mat to emboss a line around the square.  As I didn't have any lilac card for my matt layer I cut a piece of white card slightly larger than the embossed square and inked the edges with the lilac pearlescent ink.  I then layered the wreath panel onto the matt layer and attached it to the card.

To make this card I used:
     4" x 4" white matt card blank
     Clearly Besotted 'Happy Holidays' stamp set
     Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Classic Squares Large' die
     Kars tan embossing mat
     Versafine Olympia Green ink and Brilliance Pearlescent Purple inks
     Stampendous clear embossing powder
     Snippets of white matt card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Christmas Card Throwdown - Embossing
     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - Wreathed in Christmas Smiles
     Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
     NBUS - Challenge 14
     Rudolph Day - May challenge

Kath x

Cross Stitch Picture

I made this picture over twenty years ago but haven't displayed it in our current home, so had forgotten where it was stored. I found it a few days ago whilst looking through a box of old photographs - I'mnot sure why it was in there!

I recall the cross stitch taking ages to complete as it was stitched with two strands of thread on 18 count aida - I think my eyesight must have been a lot better when I stitched the picture.

Kath x

Rainbow Daisies

I've now made and sold several Rainbow Butterflies cards so have made some Rainbow Daisies birthday cards, which are proving equally as popular.

I trimmed a piece of card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank and stamped the sentiment in black ink.  I punched seven daisies in rainbow colours and placed one of them onto the card so I could see where to make the embossed lines - one above and one below the daisies and then used my Hougie board to score the lines.  I attached the panel to the card blank and attached the daisies across the card.  To finish I added black nail heads to the centre of the daisies.

To make this card I used:
     DL white matt card blank
     Hobby Art 'General Greetings' stamps
     Woodware 'Regular Daisy' punch
     Versafine Onyx Black ink
     Snippets of white matt card, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet textured card
     Black nail heads

I am entering the following challenges:
     Addicted to CAS - Rainbow
     Moving Along With The Times - Flowers
     Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes

Kath x

Folksy Friday - Turquoise

I've recently purchased a paper pad with some beautiful turquoise papers which I'm enjoying using, so have chosen 'Turquoise' as this week's Folksy Friday theme.  Here are some of my favourite items from other Folksy sellers.

From top left:

Cowl in Turquoise Aran Wool by More Tea, Vicar?
Turquoise Mushroom Money Box by Laura Lee Designs
Turquoise Teal Tree Ring Bling Drum Lampsade by Painted Horse Design
Turquoise Fused Glass Soap Dish by Glass by Debbie
Lightweight Pram Blanket by Pretty Hand Craft
Crochet Coasters by Rainbows'n'More
Turquoise Forget-me-Not Flower Tea Cosy by Hook and Loop
Turquoise Multi Strand Beaded Necklace by Anna King Jewellery

Why not pop over to their shop?  Like the item, favourite their shop or, better still, buy something from them!

Kath x

Happy Birthday

Another birthday card today, this one uses snippets and oddments from my 'stamped and die-cut but not used' box!

I trimmed the floral paper, layered it onto green card and attached it to the card front.  The 'happy' die cut was in my box of bits.  I die cut another 'happy', layered them and attached them to the card front.  The sentiment had already been stamped, so I trimmed around 'birthday', layered it onto green card and attached it below 'happy'.  Another quick and simple card.

To make this card I used:

     6" x 6" white matt card blank

     Lawn Fawn 'Scripty Happy' die

     Clearly Besotted 'Fancy Sayings' stamps

     Versafine Spanish Moss ink

     Snippets of pink floral paper, green textured card and white matt card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - May Challenge
     Moving Along With The Times - Flowers

Kath x

Happy Birthday to You

I've been asked to make some more male cards, which is always a challenge for me!  This card is made with card and paper from my snippets box.

I covered the front of the card blank with blue paper leaving a border around the edge.  I die cut the waves from both blue textured card and white matt card, layering the blue onto the white to create the white tops of the waves. I used my MISTI to stamp the sentiment onto the wave, stamping it several times to get a good depth of colour as I was stamping onto textured card.  These strips were trimmed and attached to the card - the top layer was only attached along the bottom so I could slip the boat between the waves.  I stamped and embossed the boat before using the coordinating die to cut it.  After colouring the boat with Promarkers I attached it to the card with a foam pad behind the sails.  I die cut three clouds,  the largest and smallest were attached to the card with glue and the medium cloud attached with a foam pad.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 4" white matt card blank
     Clearly Besotted 'Sail Away' stamp and die set, Impression Obsession 'Ocean Border' and 'Clouds' dies
     Hobby Art 'General Greetings' stamp
     Versafine Majestic Blue ink
     Promarkers
     Snippets of pale blue paper, blue textured card, white matt card and white hammer card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes With Dies - May challenge
     Pixies' Snippets Playground - Challenge 378

Kath x

Garden Delights Notebook

A while ago I bought two small Framecraft notebooks which had an aperture in the front for cross stitch.  I used one for a Cross Stitch Notebook but used the second with a Lili of the Valley image to make a quick gift for a friend.  The precoloured image was trimmed and inserted behind the aperture before assembling the notebook.

Kath x

Happy 90th Birthday!

One of my neighbours is 90 next week - sadly he can't have visitors to celebrate with him and neither can he visit his wife in a local care home.  Another neighbour has arranged a fish and chip supper for him and we're all sending cards - celebrations will have to wait for a while.

I covered the top of the card blank with blue paper leaving a border around the edge.  I die cut the sentiment from white card and attached it to the lower edge, lining it up with the paper.  I attached the wood effect paper to white card to make it more robust before die cutting a hot air balloon, the inlaid pieces for the sentiment and a '90'.  I die cut another hot air balloon from green patterned card.    The brown balloon was attached above the sentiment with the green one attached above it with foam pads.  I inlaid the pieces into the sentiment and attached '90' to the green balloon.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white hammer card blank
     Memory Box 'Grand Happy Birthday', 'Beautiful Balloon' and 'Classic Numbers' dies
     Snippets of Lili of the Valley 'Shabby Shack' and Papermania Capsule Elements 'Wood' papers, green pattered card and white hammer card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - May Challenge
     Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies - May Challenge
     Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes

Kath x

Folksy Friday - Upcycled

I enjoy upcycling and making things from items that other people no longer want.  I'm always interested to see what other people make, so have chosen 'Upcycled' as my Folksy Friday theme this week.

From top left:

Pincusion made from upcyled King George V Silverl Jubilee Mug by From Rags to Bags
Rainbow Bullet Journal made with upcycled postage stamps by Tangle Crafts
Cross Stitch Cushion made from upcycled demin by Tickle & Thread
Neckwarmer Scarf made from upcyled jumpers by Quilting Demon
Zipped Pouch made from upcycled vintage embroidery by Petra Bradley Designs
Be There Dreckly Bell made from upcycled gas bottle by Just Cornwall
Cat Bed made from upcycled vintage suitcase by The Sherbert Patch
Crochet Basket made from upcycled t shirt yarn by Clare Gets Crafty

Why not pop over to their shop?  Like the item, favourite their shop, or better still, buy something from them!

Kath x

To My Lovely Friend

I made this card to send to Linda for the April Card Chain Challenge using the Colour Option (Black, Plum and Lilac) and the Theme Option (Friendship).

I trimmed a piece of pale lilac paper and layered it onto black card before stamping the sentiment in the lower corner.  The panel was then attached to the front of the card blank.  I die cut a branch from black card and attached it across the card, trimming the end so it was level with the black mat layer.  I die cut the birds from lilac and plum card and attached them with Pinflair glue so they sat on top of the branch.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 4" white matt card blank
     Memory Box 'Woodland Branch' and 'Resting Birds' dies
     Clearly Besotted 'Lovely Lilies' sentiment stamp
     Versafine Onyx Black ink
     Snippets of Lili of the Valley 'Timeless Victorian' paper, black textured card, plum and lilac pearlescent card

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - Anything Goes
     Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes With Dies

This is the lovely card I received from Lucille:

Kath x