Happy Birthday Hedgehog

I made this birthday card for a friend who loves hedgehogs - the cute stamp was a magazine cover gift ages ago.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     Immediate Media 'Make Special Cards' hedgehog and Hobby Art 'General Greetings' stamps
     Versafine Onyx Black ink
     Cosmic Shimmer clear detail embossing powder
     Promarkers 
     White matt card
     Wink of Stella

I cut a piece of card slightly smaller than my card blank and placed into my MISTI.  I stamped the hedgehog and sentiment along the lower edge of the card, stamping a couple of times to get a clear outline, before embossing them with clear embossing powder.  I coloured the hedgehog and balloon with Promarkers before attaching the panel to the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Happy Little Stampers Birthday Challenge - Anything Goes
     Seize the Birthday - Balloons  
     We Love Stamping - Real Birds and/or Animals

Kath x

April Rudolph Day

It's time for the fourth Rudolph Day of the year and another cross stitch Christmas card (cross stitch is my RD theme this year).  I've recently bought a Vervaco cross stitch kit to make three Christmas cards - I love the colours of the cards (shades of red, blue and brown on oatmeal colour aida).  Also the main picture on the packet was Rudolph, which I thought was perfect for the RD challenge!

To make this card I used:
     6" x 4" white hammer card blank
     Vervaco Christmas card kit (PN-0154080)
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' die
     Snippet of white hammer card

The kit contained everything to make the three cards, including the card blanks.  However, I thought the card blanks were quite flimsy and not the same quality as the card blanks I use so decided to make my own cards.  I didn't have the right size die to cut the aperture, so used a rectangle die that was the correct width but a little too short.  I cut three quarters of the aperture, then moved the die down the card to elongate the aperture and cut the remainder.  I trimmed around the edge of the panel so it was slightly smaller than the card blank.  After completing the stitching I fastened it behind the frame and then attached it to the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Rudolph Day - April Challenge

Kath x

Cross Stitch Rose

This is another cross stitch card I've recently made using another lovely Carolyn's Garden cross stitch kit.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white hammer card blank
     Carolyn's Garden 'Rose' cross stitch kit
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
     Snippet of white hammer card

After completing the stitching I mounted the design behind a stitched square aperture that had been die cut in the centre of the card blank.  A piece of the same card was attached to the inside to cover the back of the stitching.

Kath x

Cross Stitch Sunflower

We decided on a last minute trip to Cornwall, so no papercrafting this week but I did take my cross stitch with me - this is one of the cards I made.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white hammer card blank
     Carolyn's Garden 'Sunflower' cross stitch kit
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
     Snippet of white hammer card

After completing the stitching I mounted the design behind a stitched square aperture that had been die cut in the centre of the card blank.  A piece of the same card was attached to the inside to cover the back of the stitching.

Kath x

Upcycled and Snippets Notecard

I've recently won an Easter giveaway from Sarn and my gift was beautifully wrapped in some of Sarn's lovely artwork.  The paper was far too good to find its way into the recycling bin so I carefully opened the packet and used the paper to make this card.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" cream hammer card blank
     Lil'inker Designs 'Modern Mehndi' stamps and coordinating dies
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics' die
     Versafine Onyx black ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder 
     Wink of Stella
     Snippets of  cream hammer card, purple and turquoise textured card and, of course, Sarn's paper

I trimmed the cream hammer card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank and cut the stitched circle from the centre.  I ironed the back of Sarn's paper with a cool iron to remove the creases, cut a square from the corner (saving the rest in my snippets drawer) and attached it to the rear of the aperture.  The panel was then attached to the front of the card.  I stamped the flower onto purple card and the leaves onto turquoise card using black ink.  These were embossed with clear embossing powder and cut with the coordinating dies.  I used a Wink of Stella to highlight the centre of the flower before attaching it to the lower corner of the card.   The leaves were then tucked under the flower around the edge of the aperture.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Die Cuts
     Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes With Dies - Anything Goes
     Snippets Playground - Challenge 452
     
Kath x

Turned 21

I have recently bought this 'Turned 21' stamp to make a card for a forthcoming special birthday.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white hammer card blank
     Woodware 'Turned 21' stamp
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Three small orange sequins
     Wink of Stella
     Snippets of Lili of the Valley 'Antebellum' paper, brown pearlescent card and thin white card

I attached a snippet of paper onto a piece of white card and placed it in my MISTI so I could position the stamps as there are two separate stamps in this set.  I stamped the image several times with brown ink to get a good depth of colour and embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I then cut the image with the largest stitched die.  I layered the card onto a snippet of brown pearlescent card and attached it to the front of the card.  To finish I highlighted the small '21' with a Wink of Stella and added three small orange sequins.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Happy Little Stampers Birthday Challenge - Anything Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
     NBUS - Challenge 49 (my new 'Turned 21' stamp)
     We Love Stamping - Anything Stamped

Kath x

Everyone Needs a Friend Like You

I made this card to send to Mia for the March Card Chain Challenge using the Colour Option (Carrot, Shamrock & Spice), the Theme Option (Friendship) and the Product Option (Stamps). 

At first I was unsure how to use the colours and then decided 'Carrot' would be perfect for my new (preloved but new to me!) French Marigold dies.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white hammer card blank
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-Namics', Creative Expressions 'Finishing Touches - French Marigold', 'Finishing
          Touches - Pierced Summer Blooms' and Tattered Lace 'Mini Butterfly' dies
     Practical Publishing 'Stamps for All Occasions' sentiment stamp
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Sakura orange coloured pencil
     Snippets of orange, green and brown textured card
     Wink of Stella

I used the largest stitched circle die to emboss a circle in the centre of the card blank and set it aside.  I die cut the three different size French Marigold flowers from orange card and used an dark orange coloured pencil to colour the centres of the petals before layering them.  I cut three different size leaves from green card and the smallest circle from the Pierced Summer Blooms set from brown card.  I placed the card blank into my MISTI and laid the flower and leaves onto it so I could see where the place the sentiment.  I removed the flower and leaves before stamping the sentiment a couple of times with brown ink ensuring a good depth of colour.  I used the orange pencil to colour 'YOU' before attaching the flower and leaves above the sentiment.  I die cut a small butterfly from brown card and attached it above the sentiment.  To finish I highlighted 'YOU' and the centre of the flower with a Wink of Stella.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Die Cuts
     Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
     NBUS - Challenge 49 (my French Marigold dies)
     Snippets Playground - Challenge 451

This is the lovely card I received from Marga - 

Kath x