Watering Can flowers...

 As promised, I'm back with a new creation to share! This time, I'm back on the floral bandwagon with a Spring inspired card using Spellbinders Sprinkle and Grow die set...

 

I cut the watering can twice from grey pearl cardstock, snipping away the main body from one so that I could ink the edges to give more dimension. I assembled the can and elements, then cut multiples of the flowers and stems before arranging them in the watering can and mounting onto a scalloped rectangle panel with a white centre. I added the teabag label and heart from the Sizzix Tea Cups die set and a couple of tiny butterflies (I can't for the life of me think which brand the set was from)...

I cut the bottom of the card front with a scalloped rectangle die and added some strips of patterned and coloured cardstock in coordinating colours then finished with a stamped sentiment and some enamel dots...just because!

Thanks for popping in to see me and I'll be back again with another floral make tomorrow!

Crafty hugs,

 

Dies - Spellbinders Sprinkle and Grow

Craftstash Stitched Scallop Nesting Rectangles

Sentiment stamp - Cardmaking Magic Layered Florals 

Spellbinders Badges of Honor...

 Hey there, crafty friends! I have been having a play with the new dies that I got in the Spellbinders Spring Clearance (and there's me not spending on craft supplies and trying to use what I've got!...But I can't resist a bargain!)...

 I decided to go with a masculine make and cut out and assembled these cool "Badges of Honor" dies. As it's Father's Day next month, I thought that these would make a great card for the occasion, especially for those Dads that serve either in the forces or Police...although I chose the 'You're my Hero' sentiment thinking that it could be for any Dad who is there child's hero...

Thanks for dropping by today and I'll be back with some more makes soon...honest! ;)

 Crafty hugs,

 

Dies - Spellbinders Badges of Honor

Generic Stitched Square Nesting dies

Sizzix Hand Drawn Alphabet 665182

Star dies 

Floral Heart...

 

 And just like that, I'm back again! This time to share a pretty floral creation which was inspired by the cards I made case-ing Mindy Farmer's creations...

 I started by inking up this pretty Waffle Flower layered stencil using Tattered Rose, Abandoned Coral, Speckled Egg, Iced Spruce and Broken China Distress Oxides. I decided to go with a heart shaped aperture and cut this before attaching the panel using foam tape for dimension. I added a narrow strip of green pinstripe to ground the floral elements, then layered up my flowers and foliage dies in a corsage...

 

 I love the tulip style flowers that are from the Sizzix Tea Cups die set and think I will be turning to these quite a lot. The little flower sprays are a berry sprig with flowers cut from the hydrangea style flower of Tim Holtz Funky Florals #2. I finished with some small enamel dots (my latest obsession thanks to Marianne) and a few pearls...

Hope you like my floral creation and I may even be back with another masculine make tomorrow?!...

Crafty hugs,

 

 

Open Road card...

It's me again! I said that I'd been busy at my crafty table!...

Today's make is a more masculine one using Spellbinders Open Road die set...

 I decided to go with a 6x6 inch square card base for this one and created  a circular aperture in a piece of map paper from First Edition Bon Voyage paper pad and added a hand drawn doodle border. I used a cloud stencil to ink the background layer and a strip of pearl grey card embossed with a chevron folder and mat onto dark navy pearl cardstock.

I made up the car die and added a piece of red card behind to cover the apertures, then added the balloons with some string. A couple of die cut clouds, inked with Broken China and a simple stamped sentiment, mat onto brown card, finished with a few grey pearls...

I'm still a little unsure on this one - I feel that it's missing something, so it will probably sit on my desk and have all sorts of stuff tried on it before I give in and leave it alone...but we'll see! 

Thanks for dropping by to see me and guess what?....there's more to come! I'll be back tomorrow with a pretty floral creation, inspired by the cards that I made casing Mindy Farmer's creations...

Crafty hugs,

 

Masculine and Feminine...

 Good morning, Blogger buddies! I'm back to share a couple of makes using one of my latest and fast becoming favourite die sets - Sizzix Tea Cups by Jennifer Ogborn...

 I started with a 5x7 inch card base and randomly stamped some script text in Tuxedo Black Memento. I then added a book page fishtail flag, mat onto a pale blue paper and a couple of strips of coordinating patterned paper from my scrap stash. I cut out the book template and embossed the top layer with Cuttlebug Script embossing folder and inking the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink, before assembling using glue along the centre spine and foam pads behind the pages. I used one of the cup dies and the little tea bag tag, creating a collage group including a glasses die, backed with vellum, small tag die as a bookmark and flower and foliage dies.

I found the sentiment in a set from a magazine which I thought was just perfect for the theme and then added my Yana Smakula Script sentiment die and a stamped 'Happy'...

 I then decided to have a go at making the same card but with a masculine theme...

 ...I don't know if it's just me, but I felt this card turned out a little Harry Potter-esque?! I mean, the pastel one is still my favourite because it's...well, pastel!?! 

And there we have it, two cards, same design, different colour schemes...

I hope I've inspired you to have a go at changing up your colour schemes to completely change the look of your creation...

Crafty hugs,

 

Postal collage card...

Good morning, crafty friends! I'm back to share a pretty postal collage card that I created using Sizzix Snail Mail by Eileen Hull...

I created a stencil for the stamp sections using Mylar (which still need a bit of tweaking!?) and inked with Broken China Distress Ink. I picked out some botanical stamps and stamped through the windows with Memento Tuxedo Black and coloured with my Spectrum Noir pens, then added a couple of layered elements with the postage stamp images. I stamped some of the franking style stamps across the sections and die cut some small numbers in a dusky pink cardstock...

I started with a 5x7 inch card base and layered up some mats in blue and then pink woodgrain effect, adding a green polka dot strip across the bottom third. I inked the edges of the postage panel with Black and popped it up onto a slightly larger white mat using foam tape, then finished with a touch of glitter and some enamel dots and pearls...

Thanks for popping in to see my simple creation and in the words of Mr Schwarzenegger...I'll be back!

Crafty hugs,

 

Stencil cards....

 Hey there, crafty friends! I've been MIA as the weather here in North Wales has been too good to be sat inside at my crafty table, but we're back to the usual wet, Welsh weather, so I thought I would have a play...

I decided to get out some stencils from my stash and just colour them up to see what I liked. This pretty Lou Collins Art Style Flowers Stencil made the cut and I began with my favourite pastel colour palette - Tattered Rose, Abandoned Coral, Squeezed Lemonade, Wild Honey, Cracked Pistachio, Peeled Paint and a touch of Ripe Persimmon to create this simple panel card...

 I then tried to push myself out of my pastel comfort zone and used a bolder colour combination - Wilted Violet, Seedless Preserves, Chipped Sapphire, Abandoned Coral, Squeezed Lemonade, Wild Honey, Speckled Egg, Spruced Pine...

It doesn't seem to matter how hard I try, but I never manage to get a true bold colour scheme - I always seem to chicken out and end up with something a little darker than my usual...but I tried!

I added a torn, vellum strip with a polka dot band over the top and used my absolute favourite sentiment dies - Yana's Layered Script Sentiments with a combination of other sentiment stamps from my stash. I finished with some gem and enamel dot sprinkles...et voila!

Hope you like my floral stenciled creations and I'll be back with some more crafty inspiration over the weekend as I have been a busy bee at my crafty table!

Crafty hugs,

 

Bloom cards...

 Good morning, crafty friends! Yes, it's me again! All I can think is that this spell of brighter weather and the lengthening days has given me the motivation to play in my craft room!...

Today's make was inspired by an extremely talented crafter, Mindy Farmer, who I found through the Share Handmade Kindness Facebook group and THIS was the card that inspired to create these pretty floral cards...

 And this is what I came up with...

 I picked out a combination of dies to create the flower spray and used one of my favourite sentiment stamps which is from Crafters Companion May Your Day Bloom stamp and die set...

 I started with the same blue and pink combination that Mindy used and mounted everything onto one of the last note cards that I got from The Works at a silly price. I have to say, I love the way this card turned out, so much so that I had to make it up in another colour way...

 And I have a feeling there may be more?!...

 I hope you like my die cut floral cards and if you do, can you please take a look at Mindy's Facebook and Instagram accounts @mindycraftscards - if nothing else, her pretty creations will make you smile!

Thanks for dropping by! Crafty hugs,

 Card Making Magic - Christina Griffiths Layered Florals, Sweet Dixie Christmas Rose SDD202, Sweet Dixie Daisy (think it may be discontinued), Sweet Dixie SDD102 Delicate Blossoms, Sizzix #665898 Teacups, Sizzix #663322 Rain Boot Planter, Crafter's Companion May Your Day Bloom

 

Pocket Pals - Part Three!...

 It's me again! Wow! Can't quite believe how much crafting I have been doing lately...I mean, the housework isn't getting done, but what the heck?!...

Before I could put away my Sizzix Pocket Pals die set, I though it would be rude not to make an Easter card with the cute little bunny (not that I normally make Easter cards) being that it's getting near to that time of year!...

 I made up the bunny in mainly white card and coloured the ears, nose and eyes with alcohol markers. I don't have an egg die (seeing as I don't make Easter cards?!) but used a Spellbinders nesting oval set and then used another oval die to create the curve for the pink ribbon. The bow was a mix of die sets that I have in my stash and the grass (which would have been my icicle/grass die, but I can't find it anywhere) was the large cloud die from Sizzix - Emily Tootle's Build a Landscape die set and I drew in some grass with three different green marker pens...

 I used Sizzix Hand Drawn Alphabet to cut out the Easter word and added a small stamped 'wishes' to finish the sentiment. I embellished with some handmade blossoms and leaves and clouds (of course!) to give an outdoor feel...

I quite like the way this card turned out, if a little cutsie..but don't think I'll be making more Easter cards in a hurry...

Thanks for dropping by and I'm sure I'll be back soon with more creativity...

Crafty hugs,

Sizzix #665813 Pocket Pals, Sizzix 665182 Jennar Hand Drawn Alphabet, Sizzix #662839 Emily Tootle Build a Landscape, Sweet Dixie SDD102 Delicate Blossoms

 

Simple floral cards...

Good morning, my crafty buddies! I'm back to share a couple of simple floral cards that I created for my sending box. I often dither over sending out cards that I have spent a long time creating, especially if I feel that the recipient 'isn't bothered about cards'...there are some people that appreciate and cherish a handmade card (be it for a week or years) and then there are others that you know will put it up for a day or two and then it's going in the bin! I know that we can't expect everyone to keep our creations forever, so decided to create some more simple cards that still have the same handmade feel but without the long creation time...

I stamped some of the flowers from Christina Griffiths Spring - Summer stamp and die set and coloured them with  Distress Inks and Oxides, using stencils that I cut by hand (as the dies cut out leaving a white border). I used Carved Pumpkin, Abandoned Coral and a hint of Festive Berries on the California poppy style flower and Tattered Rose, Abandoned Coral and Festive Berries on the gerbera style flower, colouring the stems with a couple of different green alcohol markers. For the leaf I used Peeled Paint and Forest Moss...

I lightly inked the card front in an area where the flower would sit, then randomly stamped portions of script and added a hand doodled border. I tore a strip of patterned paper and attached across the bottom third of the card, placing the flowers and attaching with glue/foam pads. I used my favourite Yana Smakula sentiment dies and added a second stamped part to the sentiment, mat onto black to tie everything together. I finished off with some gem/enamel dot sprinkles and a touch of gold glitter on the poppy...

I really liked the way they turned out and need to come up with some more simple designs to send - my first one has been sent out to it's recipient already! Hope you like them too...

Crafty hugs,

 

Pocket Pals part Two...

 It's me again! I'm rather enjoying playing at my crafty table at the moment (and long may it last) so decided to create another card, this time using the fox from the Sizzix Pocket Pals by Olivia Rose die set...

 

Now I have to admit that I don't know how fox-like my fox looks, but he's cute anyway! (I think these type of dies can look very different depending on the eye and ear placement)...

 

I went completely different with this make and created a fun, collage style card using scraps of patterned paper from my scrap drawers and photo themed dies that I got in a set from Amazon (another set that has maybe been used once!) I added some paint splatters and a hand drawn doodle border, to keep the card quite modern and finished with some diamante stars, gems and pearls...

Hope you like my cute card and thanks for popping by to see me...

Crafty hugs,

 

Pocket Pals...

 Hey there! I'm back with another Sizzix creation today and I must confess to having had this die set in my drawer for well over 12 months now and not done anything with it! (Bad crafter!) But thanks to a little shove from a lady in the Cardmaking with Sizzix Facebook group, who was looking for inspiration using this cute Pocket Pals set ( #665813), I decided it was about time to see the light of day, never mind the Big Shot!...

 I went with the pocket theme for this card and created a 5x7" gatefold card as a pair of jeans/trousers. I originally made the front of the card in the plain blue, but it was a bit much, so decided to add the pretty patterned paper for a bit of interest. I made belt loops with a 4x1cm strip of card, scored at 1cm on each end and attached to the top of the blue panels. I then cut two 1.7cm strips of brown for the belt, creating the point on one end and punching holes...

...I made up the bear and rabbit pockets and attached these to the front of my panels, adding the "happy" sentiment to one side and the "birthday" part to the other. I used the flowers from the set to decorate the bunny pocket and found a couple of fun dies in the speech bubble, belt hanger and hearts. All edges were inked with Distress Inks/Oxides and I finished with my signature pearls...

Hope you find inspiration in my cute make and thanks for dropping by...

Crafty hugs,

 

Sizzix You've Got Mail...

 Hey there, crafty friends! I've been playing around with the Sizzix 'You've got Mail' die set that I picked up in my January sale haul and made a pretty 'whatever' card...because the sentiment is "Just a note", I figure that it could be used for any occasion by adding "to say" and whatever the event inside...

 I started by die cutting the typewrite in a grey pearl cardstock, then added a black strip behind the keys and some gold details by cutting the top of the typewriter a second time in gold cardstock and snipping off the details that I wanted. I printed off some vintage postcard and label ephemera from The Art Scavenger (via Pinterest) and fussy cut them out, inking the edges and adding some stamped marks and paint spatters...

 The stamp set that I used for the postage stamps and typewriter message was an Amazon find (when I was still doing workshops) and I used a Memory box die to cut out the stamp shapes. The little envelope, flowers and leaves all belong to the 'You've Got Mail' die set and I layered everything onto a white panel embossed with Cuttlebug Script Textures folder, lightly inked with Salty Ocean and Vintage Photo Distress Inks. I added the "Just a Note" sentiment onto a piece of vellum and finished with some small, grey pearls...

 I hope you like my collage style card and thanks for popping by for a closer look!

Crafty hugs,

 

Josh Griffiths Forest Animals...

Hey there, crafty friends! I'm back to share a couple of cards made with the Josh Griffiths Forest Animal dies that I got in my recent Sizzix haul...

First up is the Valentine's card I made for hubby using the ever so sweet Bear die - he is so easy to layer up and turns out SO CUTE!...

Then I decided to make up the deer die and create a card...

The little rocks came from another Josh Griffiths set that I got in the sale called Twilight Animals...

And then, because you have to cut multiple layers for each animal, I couldn't waste the other layers, so ended up with a whole menagerie of animals!...

 

I have to say, that cute bear has to be my favourite and I can see me using him for quite a few Christmas cards this year! I still have the little raccoon to play with, but that's for another day...

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you like my die cut creations...

Crafty hugs, 

Tiddly Dogs...

 Hey there, crafty buddies! So it seems that I forgot to post the card that I made for my eldest son's birthday earlier this year and thought it would be good to play along with Lorraine's 'Use Red and/or Pink' challenge over at Passion for Markers...

 I made this sweet A6 card (not a size I make very often but should try and do more of, if only for storage space?!) using Tiddly Inks Flying high stamp set - which is now available as a digital download from their Etsy store HERE...

 I kept my card clean and simple, just stenciling a cloud background with some simple mats and layers, a few cloud die cuts and my favourite script sentiment dies....

 I finished with a few gem sprinkles and decorated the inside to match with one of the balloon stamps fussy cut with a white border...

Colour List :

Dogs - Cappuccino, Umber

Balloons - Pale Pink, Cocktail Pink, watermelon, Red, Berry, Burgundy, Dolphin Blue, Cornflower, Storm Cloud, Tea Green, Pebble Blue, Blender 

I'd like to enter my card into the Passion for Markers #775 Use Red and/or Pink challenge 

and I Love Promarkers challenge #576 Anything goes with optional Down on the Farm

 

Thanks for dropping by and I may be back soon with some creations from my crafty Sizzix haul....