52 CCT Sketch Challenge

Here is my DT card for the last challenge of January over at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown.

As there are five Saturdays in the month, it is a 'Pick a Previous'.

  

I have chosen this sketch from July 2014 as my inspiration.

 

I have used SU's chevron embossing folder to create the background. I inked the folder with Old Olive and Pistachio Pudding inks and spritzed it with Tattered Angels Pearl Glimmer Mist. I then placed a piece of watercolour paper on top. The tree and pine needle stamps are from Gossamer Blue's Get Happy set, but I have added a couple of little birds from SU's White Christmas. There are also touches of Cosmic Shimmer and tiny stars of silver Glimmer Paper on the branches. I do hope that you will join us over at 52 CCT! April x

CHNC Joy to the World

Here is my entry for CHNC Challenge 213.

The Joy to the World stamp came free with a magazine and I stamped the wreath twice with Pistachio Pudding and Old Olive. I then embossed a piece of Crumb Cake cardstock with the SU Argyle embossing folder and added a bow made from Cherry Cobbler chevron ribbon. I hope you like it! April x

Some Spring Creations

I have been so taken up with making Christmas cards recently that I thought some springy creations may be an idea. This card has an attachment made using the scallop tag topper punch. I got the instructions from HERE. I have used the Petal Potpourri set from the new SU Spring catalogue to stamp the flowers and then used the co-ordinating Flower Medallion punch. The leaves are from the Choose Happiness stamp set and the colours used are Daffodil Delight, Sahara Sand and Chocolate Chip. I have entered this card into the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge.

Here's a mini flip album I've made using Best Year Ever dsp. You can get this lovely set of papers free with any order of £45, as part of Sale-a-bration.

Finally, here's the new Mini Treat Bag die, also from the Spring catalogue. I've used the Best Year Ever dsp again here. Happy Crafting! April x

52 C.C.T. Technique Challenge

 

Here is my DT card for this week's challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown.

I absolutely love this technique. You die-cut a shape, repeat with a contrasting colour and then fit it back into the sheet of paper or card that you cut the original from. A little bit fiddly with the 'Merry' from Stampin' Up's Expressions Thinlits, but I love the flush effect that you get. I have kept this card very simple because I think this technique can really stand on its own. I have also inlaid a couple of stars in silver Glimmer Paper that I cut with the Stars Framelits and the dsp used is from the Trim the Tree stack. I do hope that you will give this great technique a go and I hope to see you soon over at 52 CCT! April x

Creating with Gesso

This is a stamped panel that I have made for Craft Stamper magazine's Take It Make It Challenge. It started off as a square of coaster board and I have added layers of gesso, sponged inks and stamping.

I started off by covering the background in gesso that I applied with a plastic knife. I then sponged inks on the panel and stamped the ink splatters with Stampin' Up's Gorgeous Grunge. The flowers are from SU's Peaceful Petals set and the writing is from a stamp that came free with the magazine last year. The flowers were stamped on tissue paper and brushed on the background with Crystal Effects. I think that the ripped edges of the tissue add to the overall effect and I really enjoyed the gradual process of building up the layers. Of course, I was completely covered in gesso and ink at the end of it! April x

CHNC Challenge

Here is my entry for CHNC Challenge 212 - upcycle, recycle, re-purpose or use something free.

 The very cute Father Christmas (followed by an even cuter bunny) has been snaffled from an old Christmas card and the bow has been retrieved from a pulled cracker. I used scraps of DSP and cardstock left over from other projects. I added a bit of stamping using Stampin' Up's Gorgeous Grunge and stuck it all together with a mini clothes peg, a button and a couple of snowflakes. I just love the image - he looks so purposeful with his wheelbarrow! Have a great week, April x

52 C.C.T. Theme Challenge

The challenge over at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown this week is to make a card using the theme of bells.


                                    

The retired Stampin' Up set Bells and Boughs is perfect for this challenge and I decided to make a suitably vintage style card to complement these lovely stamps. I have used a Crumb Cake card base with the Thinlit Circle Card die. I coloured the bell design with markers and added champagne Glimmer Paper stars and rhinestones coloured with Cherry Cobbler Blendabilities. I do hope that you like my card and that you will join us over at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown for lots of festive inspiration! April x

Embossing Folder Technique

This is my entry for The Friday Mashup. This week you can use a 'stamping with embossing folder' technique which I loved! For this card, I inked my Stampin' Up Chevron embossing folder with Sahara Sand and Crisp Cantaloupe inkpads. Then I added a few random blobs with a Pistachio Pudding re-inker. I misted all the inkiness with water and then placed a piece of watercolour paper on top. I love the effects you can achieve with this technique.

I then added flowers from the Petal Potpourri stamp set that had been stamped in Sahara Sand. I've added a few In-Colour sequins and two rhinestones coloured with Crumb Cake Blendabilities. Hope you like it! April x

52 C.C.T. Colour Challenge

This week's challenge for 52 Christmas Card Throwdown is to make a card using shades of blue. I hope this little penguin isn't feeling too blue. I think he is looking a bit pensive though. Lots of shades of blue here - Soft Sky, Midnight Muse, Night of Navy and some Island Indigo Baker's Twine. The background is stamped with snowflakes from Gossamer Blue's Get Happy set and the cute penguin is from Avery Elle's More Stories. The sentiment is Stampin' Up's White Christmas.

Mr Penguin is stamped in Midnight Muse and then clear embossed. His beak and feet have been given a touch of sparkle with a Sakura Gelly Roll pen and I have added a couple of snowflakes from Stampin' Up's Frosted Sequins. I chose the SU Sweet Taffy DSP because it reminded me of an ice floe!

Hope to see you over at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown! April x

52CCT Sketch Challenge

Happy New Year!
I am delighted to have joined the Design Team of 52 (Christmas) Card Throwdown!
If you join in with the weekly challenges, the idea is that you will end up with a tidy pile of Christmas cards all ready to send for next Christmas. This is great for me, as I'm always scrabbling around at the very last minute looking for cards. I am very excited to be joining such a great team and I hope that you will play along with us.

Here is my card for the first challenge of the New Year. You don't actually have to stick to a star with this sketch, but I decided to use Stampin' Up's Many Merry Stars stamp set. I have stamped the image on Lost Lagoon cardstock using Versamark and then embossed it with Iridescent Ice embossing powder. The sentiment is from the Bright and Beautiful Stars set. The background comprises All Abloom and All is Calm DSP, and I have added a bow of Island Indigo Baker's Twine with a sequin coloured with a Blendabilities marker.

I hope you like it! April x