Birthday Fox

When I made my 'Grateful for You' card I had stamped the fox onto different papers to see which best suited the monochromatic challenge.  This is one of the 'rejects' for that challenge but it's perfect for a birthday card for my eldest great nephew.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     IndigoBlu 'Mixed-media Special 11' magazine box kit
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Polkadoodles 'Fourini' brown and cream paper
     Snippets of white matt and brown matt card 

I trimmed the paper to a 5" square before using brown ink to stamp the fox in the centre. This was layered onto a slightly larger piece of brown card and attached to the front of the card.  I stamped the sentiment onto another snippet of white matt card, fussy cut it and attached it to the front of the card with foam tape.

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Birthday Challenge - For the Boys
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - Masculine
     Little Red Wagon - Feather, Fur or Fin
     Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes
     Sparkles Monthly Challenge - Masculine

Kath x

More Big Birthday Wishes

I made this card for my youngest great nephew, using lots of snippets and one of my favourite 'go to' dies for male cards.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     My Favorite Things 'Big Birthday Wishes', Memory Box 'Classic Numbers' and Xcut 'Nesting Stars' dies
     Snippets of white matt card, bright green textured card and Lily of the Valley 'Galaxy Stars' paper

I cut the large sentiment from white matt card and trimmed down each side before attaching it to the centre of the card blank.  I glued a snippet of star paper onto thin card to make it the same thickness as the panel, before die cutting 'BIG' from it.  The letters were then inlaid into the card.  The rest of the sentiment was die cut from a snippet of bright green card and inlaid into the panel.  I trimmed two narrow strips of green textured card and attached them down the side of the panel before trimming the ends at the top and bottom of the card.  I die cut two small stars from green textured card and one larger star from the star paper, as well as die cutting the numbers from green textured card.  The numbers were glued to the centre of the larger star before the stars were attached to the front of the card.  

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Birthday Card Challenge - For Boys     
     Addicted to Stamps & More - Die Cuts and/or Stencils (I have opted for die cuts on this card)
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - Masculine
     Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes
     Sparkles Monthly Challenge - Masculine

Kath x

Christmas Birds

I'm so pleased to see the CAS Christmas Card Challenge has restarted this month.  Their first challenge is 'Birds' and I have used a Rare Earth stamp set that I was given a while ago and is perfect for a CAS Christmas card.

To make this card I used:
     5.5" x 4.25" white matt card blank
     Rare Earth 'Winter Floral Collection' and Clearly Besotted 'Cheerful Christmas' stamps
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' die
     Versafine Onyx Black ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail Embossing Powder
     Copics - C-1, E31, E33 & R27
     Diamond Stickles
     Snippet of white matt card

I placed the white card into my MISTI and used black ink to stamp the birds and sentiment before embossing them with clear embossing powder.  I then used the largest stitched die to cut the panel.  I used Copics to colour the image - E31 and E33 for the birds, R27 for the hat and C-1 to ground the image.  I attached the panel to the front of the card blank before adding Diamond Stickles to the hat band and pompom.

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge - J for Just Enough (CAS)
     Addicted to CAS - Critter
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     As You Like It Challenge - Favourite Season (I enjoy making cards for all seasons, but Christmas is my favourite as I love making cards and presents for family and friends)
     CAS Christmas Card Challenge - Birds
     Sparkles Monthly Challenge - Trios (my card has three birds)
     Triple B Challenge - Birds, Butterflies and Blooms 

Kath x

Easter Blessings

I've not had much time for crafting this week but have used a few Hunkydory oddments to make a quick Easter card.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Hunkydory 'Easter Wishes Card Collection - Easter Blessings' card and topper

     Snippet of gold mirri

I attached the yellow frame onto the pink backing card using foam tape ensuring the squares were lined up.  I then trimmed around the edge of the frame, layered the panel onto gold mirri and attached it to the card blank.  The cute topper was attached to the centre of the frame with foam tape.  Quick and easy!

I am entering the following challenges:
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Spring
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Little Red Wagon - Signs of Spring
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Sparkles Monthly Challenge - It's Springtime
     Try It On Tuesday - Spring

Kath x

Cross Stitch Poppy Card

I took some cross stitching with me when we went to Anglesey, and this is one of the designs I completed.  I made it into a birthday card for a friend who loves poppies.  

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

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

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Sparkles Monthly Challenge - Flowers

Kath x

Christmas Clarissa Bubble Bloom

When I posted my Clarissa Bubble Bloom birthday card a few days ago, Colleen commented it could be made Christmassy.  I've used the stamp many times over the years, but never for a Christmas card so I've changed the colours and sentiment to make a card for the CAS on Friday 'Christmas with Non-Holiday Items' challenge.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Woodware 'Bubble Bloom - Clarissa' and 'Festive Verse' stamps
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Card Candi
     Gold metallic pen
     Glossy Accents
     Lili of the Valley 'Classic Christmas' paper 
     Snippet of white matt card

I used brown ink to stamp the flower and sentiment onto a snippet of white matt card before embossing them with clear embossing powder.  The panel was trimmed, layered onto dark green paper and attached to the centre of the card blank.  I stamped the leaves onto another piece of green paper, fussy cut them and attached them to the card.  I attached red and gold Card Candi to the larger flower circles.  I coloured the smaller circles with a gold metallic pen before adding Glossy Accents.  

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Cards - Christmas/Winter
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     CAS on Friday - Christmas with Non-Holiday Items (I've used my birthday stamp)
     Daisy Chain Challenge - Christmas and/or Winter
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - CAS
     Sparkles Monthly Challenge - Christmas Florals
     Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes
     We Love Stamping - Christmas

Kath x

Autumn Magic

My Genetian cross stitch card was a Top 5 on the Try It On Tuesday 'Things With Wings' challenge and I have been invited to be Guest Designer on the 'Autumn Magic' challenge.  As my Top 5 was a cross stitch card, I've decided to use cross stitch for my GD card.  This card uses a lovely autumnal design by Durene Jones and was a chart in Cross Stitch Crazy magazine.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Durene Jones 'Autumn Wonder' cross stitch chart
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
     14 count white aida
     DMC threads 
     Snippet of brown textured card

I stitched the design using the chart from the magazine and set it aside.  I cut the brown textured card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank and die cut the stitched square from the middle.  I placed the frame over the completed cross stitch and found the green base was a few stitches short on each side so I added a couple few more green stitches so the grass fitted inside the brown stitched frame.  I trimmed the aida so it was slightly smaller than the frame and used strong double sided tape to attach it to to the back of the frame and then to the centre of the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Sparkles Monthly Challenge - Autumn/Fall

Kath x

Sister

I found some lovely Hunkydory 'Florabunda' toppers and card in a charity shop bundle and have made this card for my sister's birthday.

To make this card I used:
     7" x 7" white matt card blank
     Hunkydory 'Florabunda' backing card and toppers
     Creative Expressions 'From the Heart - Female Relations' and 'Finishing Touches - Dainty Butterflies' dies
     Snippet of gold mirri card

I trimmed the kraft card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank and attached it to the centre.  To raise the topper from the card I attached it with a foam pad, setting it to the left side of the card.  I die cut 'Sister' from both gold mirri and another Florabunda topper which was the same colouring as the main topper.  I layered the floral topper onto the gold mirri, offsetting it slightly to give a gold shadow and then attached it to the top of the card.  I die cut two small butterflies from another small Florabunda topper and attached them to the lower corner of the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     Cardz 4 Galz - It's Hip to be Square
     Sparkles Monthly Challenge - Use One or More Butterflies
     Triple B Challenge - September Challenge (I have used Blooms and Butterflies)

Kath x

Easter Blessings

This is another quick Easter card made with card and toppers from my 'Hunkydory' oddments drawer.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Hunkydory 'Sweet Treats' toppers and card
     Snippet of gold mirri

I trimmed the snippet of card, layered it onto gold mirri and attached it to the front of the card blank.  I attached the cake topper to the centre of the card and then used small foam pads to attach the 'Easter Blessings' topper to the lower edge of the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Keep it Simple
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Sparkles Monthly Challenge - Sweet Treats

Kath x

Pink and Red Heart

This lovely heart stamp was a cover gift with Craft Stamper magazine several years ago and is perfect for a CAS anniversary card.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     Craft Stamper 'Heart' stamp
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
     Versafine Satin Red ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Pink Promarker
     Wink of Stella
     Snippets of white matt card and red sparkle card

I put a snippet of white card into my MISTI and stamped the heart several times with red ink to ensure a good depth of colour.  I then embossed the image with clear embossing powder before colouring the heart with a pink Promarker.  I die cut the panel, layered it onto a snippet of red sparkle card and attached it to the centre of the card blank.  To finish I added lots of Wink of Stella to the pink heart.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Pink
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Add a Heart
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - CAS
     Moving Along With The Times - Love Hearts
     Pearly Sparkles Challenge - Love/Have a Heart
     Sparkles Monthly Challenge - Hearts and Flowers
     We Love Stamping - Romance

Kath x 

Thank You

I was lucky to win the latest Stamps by Chloe Cardmaking Collection from Liz's blog - thank you Liz - and have used the stamps, dies and paper from the collection to make this Thank You card.

I'm entering the Sparkles Monthly Challenge 'The Colour Purple', Die Cut Divas 'Flowers' challenge and Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes With Dies challenge.   I also used a couple of snippets for the card so am also heading into the playground at Pixie's Crafty Workshop.

6" x 6" cream speckled card blank
Dies, stamps and paper from the 'Stamps by Chloe Cardmaking Collection 3'
Stampendous 'Cling Thank You' stamp
Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
Kars tan embossing mat
Versafine Imperial Purple ink
Snippets of cream speckled and purple pearlescent card
Papermania Transparent Shimmering Dots
Wink of Stella

I die cut the flowers from cream speckled card before die cutting and embossing the largest Stitched Square.  Using my MISTI I lined up the flower stamps and over-stamped them onto the die cut flowers.  I also stamped the sentiment into the top corner.  I covered the back of the panel with a piece of paper from the Collection before layering the panel onto purple pearlescent card and attaching it to the card front.  To finish I added a Wink of Stella to the flowers and sentiment and Shimmering Dots to the flower centres.

Kath x

Hello

I made this card for the Cardz 4 Galz  'New Year, New Stash' challenge and the Sparkles Monthly Challenge 'New Year, New Stash challenge (all the dies I've used are new).  I'm also using my new dies to enter the Cuttlebug Mania 'New' challenge, the Dies R Us challenge 'Anything New' and the Die Cut Divas 'Something New'. The ribbon and card are from my snippets drawer so I'm also heading into the playground at Pixie's Crafty Workshop.

5" x 5" white matt card blank
Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Squares Stackables, Die-Cutting Essential Magazine 'Hello Spring' dies
Dark red nailheads
Snippets of self-adhesive ribbon, brown matt and white matt card

I die cut a square in the middle of the card blank and cut a snippet of white card so it was slightly larger than the aperture.  I attached the self-adhesive ribbon to this square.  When the card was covered with ribbon, I trimmed the edges and attached it to the rear of the aperture with double sided tape.  To make the inside of the card look tidier, I attached a thin strip of foam tape around the edge and covered the inside of the card front with another snippet of white card.  I die cut 'Hello' twice from brown card, layered them and attached them to the lower edge of the card.  I die cut three flowers from brown card and attached them around the edge of the card, adding a red nailhead to the centre of each.

Kath x

Happy Birthday

I made this card for the Seize the Birthday 'Travel' challenge.  I'm also entering Sparkles Monthly Challenge 'Use Dies or Punches', the Dies R Us' Anything Goes challenge, Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge 'Anything Goes' and Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge.

Card blank: 6" x 4" white matt
Die: Memory Box 'Grand Happy Birthday'
Card: Rust texture, white matt
Paper: First Edition 'Man Made'

I trimmed the paper, layered it onto rust card and attached it to the card front.  I die cut 'Happy Birthday' from white card, trimmed the edges and attached it to the lower edge of the card leaving an equal border around the edge.  I then die cut 'Happy Birthday' from rust card and inlaid the die cut pieces.

Kath x

September Rudolph Day

It's time for another Rudolph Day and another of my 4" x 4" cards using snippets and freebies.  I'm also entering the Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies challenge and the Sparkles Monthly Challenge 'Dies or Punches'.   All the card was from my snippets drawer to I'm heading into the playground at Pixie's Crafty Workshop.

Card blank: 4" x 4" white matt
Dies: Creative Expressions 'Contemporary Happy Christmas', All Occasion Dies 'Small Poinsettia' , Memory Box 'Mini Holly Leaves' and  Festive Wishes Holly Sprig (magazine freebie)
Embossing: Festive Wishes (magazine freebie)
Snippets: Gold mirri, red matt, green matt and white matt card

I embossed a square of white card before layering it onto gold mirri and attaching it to the centre of the card blank.  I die cut the sentiment from gold mirri and attached it to the lower part of the card.  I die cut and embossed two large poinsettias from red card and one from green card.  I shaped the die cuts before gluing them together.  I die cut the holly berries from gold mirri and glued them to the centre of the poinsettia.  I die cut two holly sprigs from dark green card and snipped the ends from both sprigs.  The snipped ends were then glued to the back of the poinsettia flower before being attached to the top corner of the card.

Kath x

Birthday Wishes

I made this quick card for a friend's birthday next week.  I'm entering the Allsorts 'Sweet Treats' challenge, Sparkles Monthly Challenge 'Let's Be Pretty', Seize the Birthday 'Anything Goes' challenge and Ally's Angels 'Anything Goes' challenge.

Card blank: 6" x 6" white matt
Image: Lili of the Valley ''English Charm' Art Pad
Card: Light brown pearlescent
Paper: Lili of the Valley 'Shabby Shack' and Hot off the Press 'Ultimate Floral Pack'
Other: Wink of Stella

I layered the blue paper onto brown card and attached it to the card front.  I trimmed the precoloured Art Pad image to a square, layered it onto brown card and attached it to the centre.  The sentiment was from the HOTP paper pad, this was trimmed, layered onto brown card and attached with foam tape.  To finish I highlighted the image with a Wink of Stella.

Kath x

Spring Bunny with Eggs

I made this Easter card for my niece and her family.  I'm entering Sparkles Monthly Challenge 'Spring is in the Air', Cuttlebug Mania 'Springtime' and Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge 'Anything Goes'.

Card blank: 6" x 6" white matt

Image: Lili of the Valley 'Spring Bunny with Eggs'

Dies: Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Classic Squares Large' and Lacy Squares

Embossing: Kars tan embossong mat

Card: Dark blue pearlescent

Paper: Lili of the Valley 'Sunnyside Up'

I trimmed the yellow paper, layered it onto dark blue card and attached it to the card front.  The precoloured image was already die cut, but I placed it into the Classic Square Die and ran it through my Cuttlebug with the embossing mat to emboss the edges.  This was then layered onto a dark blue die cue and embossed Lacy Square and attached to the centre of the card.

Kath x

My heart belongs to you

I made this card for Steve for our forthcoming wedding anniversary and am entering the Less is More 'Dry Embossing' Challenge.  I'm also entering the Alphabet Challenge 'Y for You Choose' (I've chosen die cutting and embossing to make an anniversary card) and Sparkles Monthly Challenge 'Clean and Simple'.

Card blank: 6" x 6" white silk
Stamp: Hannelie's 'My heart belongs to you' digi (freebie from Hannelie's blog)
Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Classic Heart'
Embossing: Xcut 'Small Polka Hearts folder
Card: Dark red embossed, white silk
Paper: White silk

I trimmed white card to a square, layered it onto red card and attached it to the centre of the card blank.  I die cut the largest Classic Heart and embossed it with the heart embossing folder.  This was attached to the centre with Pinflair glue so I could easily wriggle it to the centre of the card.  I printed Hannelie's sentiment onto white paper (frustratingly my printer is refusing to print onto the white card I've always used!) which was then glued onto white card, trimmed and attached it across the heart with foam tape.

For those who haven't seen Hannelie's blog, there are loads of fabulous sentiments you can download.

Kath x

Celebrate

I made this anniversary card for The Flower Challenge 'Use your Favourite Flower' 1st birthday challenge.  I love all flowers, but roses are one of my favourites and I have used a roses die and heart paper for my card.  There are some fabulous prizes this month at the Flower Challenge and I would love to win a 'Dies to Die For' voucher if I'm one of the lucky winners.

I'm also entering Sparkles Monthly Challenge 'Die Cuts or Punches', As You Like It Challenge 'Choose Ribbons or Flowers and tell us why' (I've obviously used both on my card - flowers are my all time favourite but I also like to use ribbon to make small bows, especially around the flower stems on this card) and Crafty Friends challenge Anything Goes'.

Card blank: 6" x 6" white silk
Dies: Wild Rose Studio 'Rose Bunch, Poppy Stamps 'Celebrate'
Card: Dark green mat
Paper: Lili of the Valley 'Heartfelt', Making Cards magazine 'Dino-mite for Boys' (magazine freebie)
Other: White ribbon, Wink of Stella

I trimmed the heart paper ensuring the hearts were along the left side and bottom of the paper, layered it onto green card and attached it to the card front.  I die cute the Rose Bunch and Celebrate from dark green card and attached them with Stick and Stay.  I die cut the rose flowers from the darker sections of the Dino-mite paper and attached them to the green die cut.  I covered the roses with Wink of Stella and also highlighted the hearts on the backing paper.  To finish I made a small bow from white ribbon and attached it around the rose stems.

Kath x

Happy Birthday Josh

I made this card for my eldest great-nephew for his 15th birthday.  I'm entering Sparkles Monthly Challenge 'Birthday', Seize the Birthday 'Anything Goes' challenge, Crafty Friends 'Anything Goes' challenge and Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge.

Card blank: 6" x 6" white silk
Stamp: Lili of the Valley 'Oliver - Texting' digi
Card: White silk, dark grey matt
Paper: Hot off the Press 'Floral Ultimate Pack'
Other: Computer generated sentiment 'Tempus Sans ITC' font

I trimmed the denim blue paper, layered it onto grey card and attached it to the card front.  I then added a strip of spotty paper across the lower section.  I resized the digi and printed it onto white card before colouring it to match the colours in the paper.  The image was trimmed, layered onto grey card and attached to the left side of the card.  I printed the sentiment, trimmed it, layered it onto grey card and attached it to the right of the image with Pinflair glue.

Kath x

Red and Green Christmas

A big thank you to Lisa for inviting me to be a Guest Designer for Christmas with the Cuties  The theme of this challenge is 'Red and Green' and I've used a cute Lili of the Valley precoloured image for my card and the remainder of the green check paper that I used for my Rudolph Day card.

I'm entering Die-cut Divas 'For the Love of Animals/Pets', Sparkles Monthly Challenge 'Let's Go Green', Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge 'Anything Goes', Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge 'Anything Goes' and Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra.

Card blank: 6" x 6" white silk
Image: Lili of the Valley 'Christmas Mix' precoloured image
Dies: Cheery Lynn 'Snowflake Set 2', Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Lacy Squares'
Card: Red matt, white glitter
Paper: Lili of the Valley 'Twas the Night'
Other: Red nailhead, Stampendous Fun Flock, Wink of Stella

I trimmed the green checked paper, layered it onto red card and attached it to the card.  The precoloured image was layered onto green paper and a red Lacy Square die cut, before being attached to the centre of the card.  I die cut a snowflake from white glitter card and attached it to the top of the topper, adding a red nailhead to the centre. To finish I added Fun Flock to the dog's hat and highlighted the image with a Wink of Stella.

Kath x