Kool Kitty Musings

Twelve days of Christmas card countdown - Day 2

For my next card it's back to my Crate Paper Merry Days collection that we go.

I really love the illustration of the papers and embellishments, they remind me of one of my all-time favourite companies that designs paper party products and decorations: Meri-Meri.

 

Paper and ephemera: Crate Paper - Merry Days

It's such a simple card in terms of assembly, but I think it's pretty effective. The grey paper for the sky is an off-cut I had left over from last year when I used some Basic Grey paper on my Christmas cards for a snowy sky.

The perfect finishing touch was to add a Wink of Stella to the windows and dot on each of those fairy light bulbs. :D Also with the extra sparkle I added I'm including this as my December card challenge entry. ;)

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PTI - In the Meadow snow dies Shop at: MISC	Bazzill Cardshoppe - Marshmallow Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Crate Paper - Merry Days - Frosty Days paper Shop at: SBC	Crate Paper - Merry Days - Ephemera Shop at: SBC
Zig - Wink of Stella glitter brush pen - Clear Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SHC	Ranger - Multi-Medium Matte adhesive Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	3M Scotch double-sided foam tape Shop at: AZ | EH	Sizzix - Big Shot machine Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC
Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (small) Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC

2018 card challenge - December prompt

Well folks, it's here...

We've officially reached the final prompt of the 2018 card challenge!

Well done to all those who have kept up so far, just one more card to go. :D

In a tribute to the season, this month's challenge is all about adding...

Sparkle!

{Pinterest pin}

Yep, glitter, sequins, gems galore... take your pick!

You can be as subtle or OTT as you like. :D

And if you still have festive or cards to make, this is definitely the challenge for you!

Happy crafting one and all. :D

2018 card challenge - June and July cards plus bonus card

Well before I enter Christmas mode completely I thought I'd best share the rest of my non-festive makes from 2018 - not that there have been many, but I am feeling more crafty now that I've got 40+ Christmas cards made in the last month or so! Phew!

So first up we have my car for the June prompt: borders.

It features a wreath as a border to my sentiment, the first outing of my Turnabout Wreath stamp set from Concord & 9th!

Paper: Lawn Fawn
Stamps: Concord & 9th - Wreath Turnabout; PTI - Graceful Greetings
Other: Misti

I must confess that my friend and I did have a bit of a mathematical moment when we used the Wreath Turnabout stamps for the first time,trying to work out which colours to use together and where they'd be.

But it all worked out ok in the end. Hopefully we'll be faster next time! lol

Here are the supplies for that card:

 

Concord & 9th - Wreath Turnabout stamps Shop at: EH | MISC | SBC | SHC	PTI - Graceful Greetings stamps Shop at: MISC	Lawn Fawn - Large cross-stitched square stackables Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC | SSS	Lawn Fawn - Cilantro ink pad Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC
Lawn Fawn - Manatee ink pad Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC | SSS	Lawn Fawn - Mermaid ink pad Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC | SSS	Lawn Fawn - Peachy Keen ink pad Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC | SSS	Versafine - Onyx Black ink pad Shop at: AZ | EH | SSS
Neenah Classic Crest 110 lb smooth Solar White cardstock Shop at: EH | SSS	Lawn Fawn - Really Rainbow 6x6 pad Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC	Lawn Fawn - Stamp shammy cleaner Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SHC | SSS	MISTI precision stamping tool Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS
Sizzix - Big Shot machine Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (small) Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS

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And onto the next card.

Thie one uses the Wreath Turnabout stamps again but for a different look as the background to a focal sentiment.

I borrowed the greeting stamp from my friend so I'm not sure who designed it:

Paper: Simple Stories
Stamps: Concord & 9th - Wreath Turnabout
Other: Misti

This time I wanted a summery colour scheme with some hot pinks and teal tones that reflected the background paper I used.

Here are the supplies for this one:

 

Concord & 9th - Wreath Turnabout stamps Shop at: EH | MISC | SBC | SHC	Lawn Fawn - Large cross-stitched square stackables Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC | SSS	PTI - Harvest Gold ink pad Shop at: MISC	PTI - Hibiscus Burst ink pad Shop at: MISC
PTI - Lemon Tart ink pad Shop at: MISC	PTI - Simply Chartreuse ink pad Shop at: MISC	PTI - Soft Stone ink pad Shop at: MISC	PTI - Summer Sunrise ink pad Shop at: MISC
PTI - Sweet Blush ink pad Shop at: MISC	Versafine - Onyx Black ink pad Shop at: AZ | EH | SSS	Neenah Classic Crest 110 lb smooth Solar White cardstock Shop at: EH | SSS	Lawn Fawn - Stamp shammy cleaner Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SHC | SSS
MISTI precision stamping tool Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Sizzix - Big Shot machine Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (small) Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS

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And finally I had fun with my Distress Oxides creating this watercolour background for my July "Celebration" card, once again with borrowed stamps for the sentiment:

Die: Mama Elephant - All Prettied Up
Other: Misti, Distress Oxides

Lots of drying with the heat gun between layers to create this pastel rainbow effect. Once I was happy with the final background I dried it then flicked contrasting ink over for extra pop, and finally cut the watercolour cardstock with my trusty scalloped die from Mama Elephant's All Prettied Up set and mounted it with foam tape on a light grey card blank. :)

Here are the supplies for this card (minus the sentiment stamps which I wish I had! lol):

Mama Elephant - All Prettied Up dies Shop at: EH | SHC	Distress Oxide ink pad - Dried Marigold Shop at: EH | SBC	Distress Oxide ink pad - Fossilized Amber Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Distress Oxide ink pad - Mermaid Lagoon Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC
Distress Oxide ink pad - Tumbled Glass Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Distress Oxide ink pad - Wilted Violet Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Distress Oxide ink pad - Worn Lipstick Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Versamark ink pad Shop at: AZ | EH | SHC | SSS
PTI - Soft Stone cardstock Shop at: MISC	Tim Holtz - 4.25 x 5.5 Distress Watercolor Cardstock Shop at: AZ | SSS	Hero Arts - White embossing powder Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SHC | SSS	3M Scotch double-sided foam tape Shop at: AZ | EH | SSS
EK Success powder tool Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS	MISTI precision stamping tool Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS	Ranger - Artist brush set Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Tim Holtz - Distress Sprayer Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS
Sizzix - Big Shot machine Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (small) Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS

2018 card challenge - August card

Today's card project was inspired by the August card challenge prompt: pattern!

I made my own patterned paper using a great stamp set from Concord & 9th.

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Blooms Fill-in, Mama Elephant - Scripty Bday
Dies: Mama Elephant - All Prettied Up
Other: Misti, 3D foam tape

So before this ever became a card, I had a little session stamping different backgrounds from the Blooms Fill-in stamp set using different colour combos. I was particularly happy with the results using a buttery yellow as the main colour and using various greys for the flowers and foliage. I've listed all the ink colours below.

Again, I don't think I'd have managed to get such a solid background impression without using my Misti to stamp it a few times.

Once the background was dry I cut a panel with the lovely scallop die from Mama Elephant and worked out how I was going to include a greeting without covering up the stamped background.

In the end I borrowed a window die from a friend and hey presto, it was perfect to add this embossed birthday greeting in white on grey cardstock. :)

Hurrah! 

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Concord & 9th - Blooms Fill-In stamps Shop at: EH | MISC | SBC | SHC	Mama Elephant - Scripty Bday stamps Shop at: EH | SHC	Mama Elephant - All Prettied Up dies Shop at: EH | SHC	Altenew - Buttercream dye ink Shop at: SSS
Altenew - Evening Gray dye ink Shop at: EH | SSS	Altenew - Industrial Diamond dye ink Shop at: EH | MISC	Altenew - Limestone dye ink Shop at: EH | MISC	Altenew - Morning Frost dye ink Shop at: EH | SSS
Altenew - Pure Graphite dye ink Shop at: EH | MISC	Altenew - Silver Stone dye ink Shop at: EH | MISC	Lawn Fawn - Black Licorice ink pad Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC | SSS	Versamark ink pad Shop at: AZ | EH | SHC | SSS
Altenew - Rock Collection ink cube set Shop at: EH | MISC | SHC	Altenew - Summer Afternoon ink cube set Shop at: EH | SHC | SSS	Altenew - Warm Gray ink cube set Shop at: EH | SHC	Bazzill Cardshoppe - Alpaca Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS
Neenah Classic Crest 80 lb smooth Solar White cardstock Shop at: AZ | EH | SSS	Hero Arts - White embossing powder Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SHC | SSS	3M Scotch double-sided foam tape Shop at: AZ | EH | SSS	EK Success powder tool Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS
Lawn Fawn - Stamp shammy cleaner Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SHC | SSS	MISTI precision stamping tool Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS	Sizzix - Big Shot machine Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (small) Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS

 

2018 card challenge - April card

One way or another I'm going to get my cards made for this year's card challenge.

I'm woefully behind, but here's my interpretation of the "Nature" theme from way back in April.

The perfect excuse to use my rainbow stamp set from Concord & 9th:

Paper: Lawn Fawn - Really Rainbow
Stamps: Concord & 9th - Rainbow Wishes
Dies: Lawn Fawn - Mini Pop-Up Butterflies
Other: Misti 

I tried to pick ink colours to go with the striped rainbow paper from Lawn Fawn and have to say I wouldn't have managed to get the sentiment lined up so neatly without the aid of my Misti, that's for sure!

These little pop-up butterflies from Lawn Fawn are also a great little addition to add some pop to flat cards. :)

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Concord & 9th - Rainbow Wishes stamps Shop at: EH | MISC | SBC | SHC	Lawn Fawn - Mini Pop-Up Butterflies dies Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC	Altenew - Mango Smoothie dye ink Shop at: EH | SSS	Lawn Fawn - Carrot ink pad Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC | SSS
Lawn Fawn - Cilantro ink pad Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC	Lawn Fawn - Grape Soda ink pad Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC	Lawn Fawn - Guava ink pad Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC | SSS	Lawn Fawn - Mermaid ink pad Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC | SSS
Versafine - Onyx Black ink pad Shop at: AZ | EH | SSS	Altenew - Four Scoops ink cube set Shop at: EH | SHC | SSS	Neenah Classic Crest 110 lb smooth Solar White cardstock Shop at: EH | SSS	Lawn Fawn - Really Rainbow 6x6 pad Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC
Ranger - Multi-Medium Matte adhesive Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS	Lawn Fawn - Stamp shammy cleaner Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SHC | SSS	MISTI precision stamping tool Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS	Sizzix - Big Shot machine Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC
Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (small) Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS

 

2018 card challenge - November prompt

Well good morning November!

You've certainly set the scene for the season ahead.

Cold, wet and grey. :(

With Halloween out the way, I'm sure many of you are looking to get productive with your Christmas and winter crafting projects.

So this month's challenge is all about...

Setting the scene

This is one of my favourite styles for Christmas cards so I'm definitely going to employ it in my 2018 Christmas card production series.

If you don't have border dies or stencils that will help you create a landscape scene, you can always make your own masks from post-its to create rolling hills and make dramatic skies with ink blending.

A snow globe is also a great way to make a scene your focal point.

But remember it can be any scene, not just a wintry landscape.

There are lots of great ideas out there from the design teams for companies like Lawn Fawn, My Favorite Things and Mama Elephant showing ways to make character images really stand out.

In the meantime, here's one of my "scene" cards from a previous year for wintry inspiration:

Happy crafting!

2018 card challenge - October card

This month's card challenge is all about pen and ink and here's my take:

Paper: My Mind's Eye
Stamp: Lil' Inker Designs - Have a Nice Day
Die: MFT - Wonky Stitched Squares
Other: Distress Oxide inks, rose gold embossing powder

For this card I had the opportunity to borrow some lovely product from my crafty friend's stash - the wonderful Have a Nice Day greeting is from Lil' Inker Designs, and I just love the hand-lettered style of it.

It looks even more glorious in real life with the rose gold embossing powder (also a borrowed item for this project). ;)

It's such a simple combo for creating custom card designs: just some neutral background paper (my stash of this design by MME is slowly dwindling, but it has been so versatile and the perfect warm grey for lots of projects), a square cut from white cardstock, a few Distress Oxide inks to paint that watercolour background and the heat-embossed greeting.

Oh and a few splatters of Lawn Fawn bubblegum pink ink for good measure!

Clean and simple! :D

Whatever your plans this weekend, have a great one!

I'm hoping to get crafty again!

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MFT - Wonky Stitched Square STAX dies Shop at: EH | SHC | SSS	Distress Oxide ink pad - Fossilized Amber Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS	Distress Oxide ink pad - Tattered Rose Shop at: AZ | SBC	Distress Oxide ink pad - Worn Lipstick Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS
Lawn Fawn - Bubblegum ink pad Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC	Neenah Classic Crest 110 lb smooth Solar White cardstock Shop at: EH | SSS	My Mind's Eye - Find Your Wings & Fly - Sky's the Limit - Layered Ephemera paper (r) Shop at: SBC	EK Success powder tool Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS
MISTI precision stamping tool Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS	Ranger - Artist brush set Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Tim Holtz - Distress Sprayer Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS	Sizzix - Big Shot machine Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC

 

2018 card challenge - October prompt

Good morning all!

Well, it's officially October so it's time for a new prompt.

This month I'm challenging you to look to your colouring supplies.

The theme is:

Pen and ink

You don't need to use both together but consider how you can showcase these humble supplies on your cards.

• First up, colouring with markers - it can be a really quick way to bring drawn images to life, or you can add detail by incorporating blending and shading techniques.
• What about hand-drawing/hand-lettering with pen?
• There are loads of techniques out there on YouTube for using different pens in crafting, whether Distress Markers (for stamped watercolouring techniques), Copic markers, Promarkers, Zig Clean Colour pens... Perhaps you've had your eye on one, but haven't had chance to give it a go!
• Ink... well, what is there to say? I'd be totally lost without my ink collection. First stop: stamping solid images. Try and see if you can give the black ink a rest and use other colours for sentiments as well.
• Ink blending techniques for backgrounds or to make die-cut elements really pop.
• Dye inks like Distress Inks can be used like watercolours for colouring and background washes.
• Ombre ink pads from Hero Arts are very popular, do you have one in your stash? If so why not use it in combination with some stand-out sentiment stamps.
• Ink layering - another great way to really put your ink pads to use is to combine different shades with ink layering techniques. You don't necessarily need 2-step stamp sets for this.

I hope you enjoy crafting for this month's challenge!

2018 card challenge - September card

Just popping in to share the birthday card I made in response to this month's card challenge.

My niece turned 2 this month so it was definitely time to go cute!

Paper: Lawn Fawn, Elle's Studio
Ephemera: Crate Paper - Little You
Dies: Mama Elephant - Madison Avenue; PTI - By the Numbers; Lawn Fawn - Grassy border; Lawn Fawn - A Birdie Told Me
Other: 3D foam tape, typewriter

I even dusted off the typewriter to make this card as I just didn't have a greeting that would fit neatly on the front and still leave room for a number.

Typewritten notes are kind of a theme with my niece I realised.

The inside was also stamped with a greeting from the PTI Big Birthday Wishes stamp set:

I'm happy to report she had a lovely birthday. :D

And now that we're almost into October, I really need to get started on my Christmas card making! :oO

 

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PTI - Big Birthday Wishes stamps Shop at: MISC	Lawn Fawn - A Birdie Told Me dies Shop at: AZ | EH | SHC	PTI - By the Numbers dies Shop at: MISC	Lawn Fawn - Grassy border die Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SHC
Mama Elephant - Framed Tags - Madison Avenue Shop at: EH | SHC | SSS	Versafine - Onyx Black ink pad Shop at: AZ | EH | SSS	Neenah Classic Crest 110 lb smooth Solar White cardstock Shop at: EH | SSS	Lawn Fawn - Really Rainbow 6x6 pad Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC
Crate Paper - Little You - Ephemera - Girl (r) Shop at: AZ | SBC	3M Scotch double-sided foam tape Shop at: AZ | EH | SSS	Ranger - Multi-Medium Matte adhesive Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS	MISTI precision stamping tool Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS
Sizzix - Big Shot machine Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS

2018 card challenge - September prompt

I can hardly believe that we're now in the last throws of summer. Boo!

The time has passed very quickly and there has been plenty of sunshine to enjoy this year.

I'm sad to say I'm not missing crafting just at the moment, I've enjoyed rekindling my love of reading again and well, there's also been some TV binge watching.

However, there is the looming prospect of Christmas just around the corner, and I don't believe I've made a single Christmas card since January and I have about 40 or so I need to make.

Gulp!

This year could be the year I finally deploy the assembly line method. :oS

But anyway, before I start contemplating all that, it's time to share this month's prompt.

We're focussing on all things cute (and possibly cuddly):

{Pinterest pin}

A perfect opportunity to use any cute and punny stamp sets you may have from manufacturers like Lawn Fawn, Mama Elephant, MFT, WPlus9 and a host of others.

Also if you need to make any baby cards or cards for kids this is the perfect time.

And I'm sure I can't be the only one considering Christmas makes - there's plenty of scope there for festive cute characters.

Happy crafting!

2018 card challenge - August prompt

If you are a fan (or secret hoarder) of patterned papers, you are going to love this month's challenge!

Because August is all about focussing on...

Pattern

Yes, when it comes to patterned paper we either love it or hate it.

Or we love it so much we don't want to cut into it and actually use it on a project!

But patterned papers are one of my favourite things to use in crafting. It can be a challenge to combine more than one pattern on the same project but you'll get extra gold stars if you manage it. :D

However, pattern comes in many forms - it can be as simple as you like.

You can create your own patterns with cover plates, stamps, pen lines, dies, and all manner of things.

You can even give ready-made patterns a boost, such as this lovely sheet of paper I still have in my stash:

This paper is perfect for hand-stitching with matching thread. It really brings the background to life and all you need to do is add a sentiment.

Otherwise, look at your patterned paper scraps, just punching or die-cutting shapes from various patterns enables you to create a fun look like this:

I'm sure you have plenty of papers in your craft stash that are patiently waiting to be selected!

Happy crafting!

 

2018 card challenge - March card

Hello, long time no post!

Back in April I went away for a crafty weekend with friends, and actually made a nice stack of cards that I've yet to share.

Since I'm currently in a crafting no-go zone and just enjoying other things right now (like my redecorated and blissfully cool lounge on an evening + Mad Men on Netflix) I thought it was time to get some of these cards posted before I end up sending them!

So, if you cast your mind back, the prompt for March was rainbow colours, and I made this very simple flat card in response:

Paper: Lawn Fawn - Really Rainbow
Stamps: Concord & 9th - Rainbow Wishes, Mama Elephant - Scripty Bday
Die: Mama Elephant - All Prettied Up
Other: Stamp positioner

While on my crafty weekend I got to play with another friend's stamp and die stash, including the lovely Scripty Bday stamps from Mama Elephant and the All Prettied Up die set - both of which are now on my wishlist.

The new Concord & 9th Rainbow Wishes stamp set also had its first outing. I do love a good rainbow and I really liked the idea of building it with different ink colours.

And there we have it, until the next card!

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Concord & 9th - Rainbow Wishes stamps Shop at: EH | MISC | SBC | SHC	Altenew - Mango Smoothie dye ink Shop at: EH | SSS	Lawn Fawn - Bubblegum ink pad Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC	Lawn Fawn - Carrot ink pad Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC | SSS
Lawn Fawn - Cilantro ink pad Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC	Lawn Fawn - Grape Soda ink pad Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC	Lawn Fawn - Guava ink pad Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC | SSS	Lawn Fawn - Mermaid ink pad Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC | SSS
Versafine - Onyx Black ink pad Shop at: AZ | EH | SSS	Neenah Classic Crest 110 lb smooth Solar White cardstock Shop at: EH | SSS	Lawn Fawn - Really Rainbow 6x6 pad Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC	Lawn Fawn - Stamp shammy cleaner Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SHC | SSS
MISTI precision stamping tool Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS	Sizzix - Big Shot machine Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS

2018 card challenge - July prompt

As you can tell from my blog feed and Instagram, I'm currently taking a crafting hiatus and enjoying this lovely weather and other things on an evening/weekend.

I'm sure I'll get the crafting bug again, but for the moment I'm not forcing it and just taking pleasure in other things. :)

In the meantime, here's this month's prompt for the challenge.

July is all about:

Celebration!

A fitting theme for a personal greeting card. :D

{Pinterest pin}

There's no doubt many an occasion to celebrate:

• Birthdays
• Weddings, anniversaries, engagements
• Babies, pregnancy announcements
• Graduation
• New job
• New home
• Congratulating someone on a particular achievement or a dream come true

Whatever you choose to celebrate, have fun crafting!

2018 card challenge - June prompt

Morning all!

This month's challenge is a nice easy one and can be interpreted in various media.

We're focusing on...

Borders

...this month!

• The perfect opportunity to take a look at your punch drawer again, see what you have that you've not used for a while
• Look to your dies to make intricate borders to contrast over another piece of paper, or even to create a shaped edge to your actual card base
• Don't forget you can create a custom border of images using those small elements in stamp sets, you can even add some lovely corner details this way
• Subtle borders can be created by scoring lines for an embossed or de-bossed edge
• Then there's always doodling with a pen
• And last but not least, when was the last time you sewed on a project? My sewing machine hasn't been put to much use in papercraft for a while, and I do love some of the more decorative stitches on there.

For such a simple design element, there are definitely plenty of options to consider! :D

Happy crafting!

2018 card challenge - May prompt

Morning all!

It's hard to believe, but we've entered a brand new month so it's time for a new prompt for this year's card challenge.

This month we're focussing on all things texture!

{Pinterest pin}

I am sure we all have lots of embossing folders or texture plates in our collections, but texture comes in many forms that you can explore:

• Heat embossing provides a lovely raised texture and can also be used in resist techniques with water colours and inks
• Cardstock can come ready embossed - I know I have quite a few Swiss dot sheets of Bazzill hanging about from back in the day! Even watercolour cardstock can add just the right amount of texture to your project.
• Real stitching, whether by hand or machine, adds a lovely finishing touch to any project or could be the main focus of your card
• Stencils and texture paste can be a great way to introduce patterns and mixed media effects
• Fabric, felt, lace, and jute can be the perfect contrast to smooth paper and card

There are lots of options to choose from and I'm sure there will be some that haven't even entered my head!

Happy crafting!

2018 card challenge - April prompt

It may be April 1st, but it's no joke that I'm actually posting on my blog after a lengthy absence. I've not disappeared completely from cardmaking, just not had the creative get up and go of late. I've managed to make a handful of Easter cards for family and will share them at some point but I have a list of projects I still want to catch up on when the creative inspiration is back in full force. :)

One of them will be this month's card challenge which is on the theme of:

Nature

This prompt can take many forms, after all nature is all around us and it offers up some stunning sights:

{Pinterest pin}

You can go big and create a landscape scene with dies and ink blending or focus on individual elements:

• Florals, leaves and boughs
• Cute critters
• Bees and butterflies
• The seaside, shells and marine creatures
• Feathered friends
• Take inspiration from the colours found in nature photographs or paintings
• Incorporate weather elements: sunshine, clouds, rainbows, rain

The nice thing about this theme is that it will work for any occasion. :)

Happy crafting!

2018 card challenge - March prompt

Well, the Beast from the East has made it clear we're not quite ready for spring, but this month we're ushering in the colour to combat the cold!

The design element for this month is:

Colours of the rainbow

{Pinterest pin}

So many fun possibilities with this - but the most obvious of course is featuring an actual rainbow on your card.

Otherwise simply interpret the colours of the rainbow in a creative way - whether with stripes, dots, punched/die cut elements, repeat stamping, different coloured letters making up a greeting, rainbow bunting, it's basically all about colour!

There are some great ideas to get you started over here on Pinterest, I'm especially liking how creative people have been with punches and dies. This board also has a nice collection of ideas.

Here's to a colourful March!

Happy crafting!

 

2018 card challenge - February card

I suppose it's quite apt that despite having made this card weeks ago, it's taken the Beast from the East to make it seasonally appropriate!

Because my take on the February geometric shape prompt has taken a festive turn, and I made my first Christmas card of 2018!

Die: Concord & 9th - Joy
Stamp: Altenew - Socahtoa
Other: Misti

I wanted to make a very clean and simple stamped background using just one triangle stamp - with the aid of the Misti I managed to make it more evenly spaced and straighter than I would have done freehand! And to keep that clean and simple look, I used my favourite festive word die from Concord and 9th which I cut several times from red cardstock to layer up. Also the little triangles are almost Christmas tree-like.

There's always something very appealing about aqua tones combined with a pop of red.

It's time for a new challenge tomorrow!

 

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Altenew - Socahtoa stamps Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC	Concord & 9th - Joy die Shop at: EH | MISC | SBC | SHC | SSS	Lawn Fawn - Mermaid ink pad Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC | SSS	Lawn Fawn - Merman ink pad Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC | SSS
Neenah Classic Crest 110 lb smooth Solar White cardstock Shop at: EH | SSS	Ranger - Multi-Medium Matte adhesive Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS	Lawn Fawn - Stamp shammy cleaner Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SHC | SSS	MISTI precision stamping tool Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS
Sizzix - Big Shot machine Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS

 

2018 card challenge - February prompt

Morning everyone!

Hard to believe we've survived January and are now into a brand new month.

This month's design element is:

Geometric shapes

Shapes that have never really gone out of fashion - in fact triangles and really geometric designs are so on trend at the moment.

{Pinterest pin}

So think about:

• Circles
• Triangles
• Squares
• Hexagons
• Mosaic effects
• Apertures
• Creating geometric patterns
• Using ready-made geometric prints in the form of patterned paper
• Geometric borders
• Using masking tape to create random geometric shapes for a blended background

Happy crafting!

2018 card challenge - January card

I finally had chance to play along with this month's January card challenge prompt where the focus is on wording.

I also managed to combine some "old" and "new" product on this project:

Stamps: PTI - Phrase Play #6, WPlus9 - Big Top Background
Dies: PTI - Phrase Play #6, Lil' Inker Designs - Stitched Rectangles
Other: Nuvo drops, 3D foam tape

With these gloomy January days I really wanted something sunny to work on, so I had to employ some rainbow colours! The Phrase Play #6 die has been a little underused simply because it takes a little time for me to cut the various elements I want.

I think my favourite way of using this die is to use contrasting colours together plus it fills most of a card front. But now that I have the Big Top background stamp from WPlus9 to use with it, I think I'll feature it more on cards in future. :)

This card marks the first outing for the Big Top stamp which I bought last year. It's really easy to use so I stamped a few more backgrounds to use on future cards while I was at it!

The yellow I used was Lawn Fawn Sunflower ink - perfect for some sunny rays!

Here's to more crafty times. :)

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PTI - Phrase Play #6 stamps Shop at: MISC	WPlus9 - Big Top background stamp Shop at: EH | SHC | SSS	PTI - Phrase Play #6 die Shop at: MISC	Lil' Inker Designs - Stitched Mats: Rectangles dies Shop at: MISC | SHC
Lawn Fawn - Black Licorice ink pad Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC | SSS	Lawn Fawn - Sunflower ink pad Shop at: EH | SBC | SSS	Neenah Classic Crest 110 lb smooth Solar White cardstock Shop at: EH | SSS	Tonic Studios Nuvo Crystal Drops - Bubblegum Blush Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SHC | SSS
3M Scotch double-sided foam tape Shop at: AZ | EH | SSS	Lawn Fawn - Stamp shammy cleaner Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SHC | SSS	MISTI precision stamping tool Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS	Sizzix - Big Shot machine Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC
Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC | SSS

2018 card challenge

Happy New Year!

I hope 2018 will be a wonderful and creative year for you.

I must admit 2017 was not my most creative and crafty year as my head and heart just weren't in it for a number of months. However with the big push to make Christmas cards towards the end of 2017 I started to get back into the swing of things.

I also came to the realisation that I had gone more than a year without purchasing new papers and embellishments save that one lone 6x6 pad of Knit Picky from Lawn Fawn. Birthday money and a few treats earlier in 2017 led to some great stamp and die purchases, however, and I really enjoyed putting these new items to good use, especially on my Christmas cards when old and new stash were happily combined. That whole experience gave me the idea for this year's challenge.

Something old – Something new

• The Old:
  The whole purpose of this challenge will be trying to show some love for your past purchases, whether cutting into papers you have hoarded for that one perfect project that never got made, reacquainting yourself with some stamps you bought years ago, or trying to find a new use for something that has been left behind as design trends have changed over the years like eyelets, brads and more lumpy embellishments - I can see so many buttons, ribbons and other "must have" items that I accumulated over the years that would look nicer on a card than gathering dust on a shelf.
• The New:
  The flip side will be putting new purchases to immediate use before they have time to languish in a drawer or on a shelf.
• The best of both worlds:
  What could be better than making a project where you marry the old and new together?

Here's how the 2018 challenge will work:

• On the 1st of the month, I will post a prompt here on my blog.
• The prompts will focus on a specific design element. They may or may not include a Pinterest image for added inspiration.
• What about Christmas cards? The elements chosen will allow you to be as productive as you like, in fact you will be able to start on your Christmas cardmaking now if you so wish!
• How many cards you make is totally up to you, but the more the merrier! In fact check out the extra little challenge later down this post!
• All prompts past and present for this challenge can be found here on my blog and you can find them easily by clicking on the 2018 card challenge tag over there on the left.
• Speaking of tags, if you're also on Instagram then I'll be using the hashtag #2018handmadecardchallenge for any posts related to this challenge, feel free to use this tag on Instagram too!
• You can share your cards by linking them up here on my blog - just add a comment to the relevant monthly prompt - or by sharing them in the dedicated challenge thread over in the UK Scrappers card forum.
• If you are ever stumped about the layout of your card, then definitely check out the sketches I pin to my Pinterest board here, hopefully there will be something there to inspire you!
• What if you don't have time to start now or play along every month? No problem! Just dive in and out of the challenge when you feel like it. :D Do as much as you want or as little. It's always lovely to have lots of people sharing their makes, but real life doesn't always allow for crafty time as we well know!

An extra challenge for those who want to really get ahead with their crafting:

• I set a personal challenge to myself late last year when the panic set in of trying to make multiples of a Christmas card design in one sitting.
• I have never been a fan of assembly line production for crafting as my brain just can't take it and it's just not the way I enjoy creating. But I found that making 4 or 5 of the same card when I had everything out really helped me catch up.
• I'm hoping to employ this approach for a few crafting sessions this year - especially as I found using a stamp positioning tool and also stamp masking paper with dies really helped me out with this.
• You don't need to share all your multiple makes, but this might be a personal challenge you will enjoy and find rewarding – especially come December if you do your Christmas cards this way or want to make sets of cards to give as presents.

So all that's left for me to do is share our first prompt of 2018 – the January design element is...

Fancy Words

{Pinterest pin}

Fancy words means focusing on text in any of the following ways:

• Pretty fonts
• Stand out words
• Word art
• Extraordinary sentiments
• Inspiring quotes and sayings
• Hand lettering
• Making words the focal point

And on that note I wish you happy crafting in 2018!