Spring chicken...

 Hey there crafty buddies! Today's make is another little scene card...yep, not bored of them yet!?!...

This one uses the chicken from Spellbinders Spring Chicken as she is, along with the nest, eggs and little chicks...

Dies used -

Spellbinders Spring Chicken SDS-197

Sizzix Build a Landscape 662839 by Emily Tootle

Sizzix Script Sentiments 665089

Hero Arts You Lift Me Up Frame cuts DI789

Generic Postage Stamp dies

Thanks for dropping by to see me and I'll hopefully be back with some more crafty inspiration soon...

Crafty hugs,

 

Is it Autumn already?...

 Good evening, crafty friends! Today's make is rather Autumnal and a bit maximalist too - I feel like I have chucked the kitchen sink at this one!...

 I have used the barrel from Spellbinders Rustic Garden (I knew that this die set would be a firm favourite!) and teamed it up with a collection of Autumnal flowers and foliage that I made up last year and have been sat in a box waiting to be used...because of which, this card actually came together quite quickly (for a change!)...and I even finished the inside!...

Dies used - 

Spellbinders Rustic Garden S5-578

Spellbinders Fall Label Motifs S5-519 

Sweet Dixie Stylised Daisy SDD103 (for the sunflowers)

Sizzix Rain Boot Planter 663322 (for the sunflower centre) 

Sweet Dixie Delicate Blossoms SDD102

Generic postage stamp dies 

We seem to be having an early Autumn here in the UK after such dry weather over the Summer period - it's as if the trees have all gone into shock and are in shut down mode already, losing their vibrant green hues... 

Thanks for dropping by and I hope you like my seasonal creation - I'm hoping that Summer hasn't completely finished with us yet, although the rain has been very welcome after months of drought!...

Crafty hugs,

 

How does your garden grow?...

 Good morning, crafty friends! I am on a roll with posting as I scheduled these makes to share when I had an hour to spare on the weekend - it's amazing how long it takes to upload, edit and blog my makes, plus I've had the fun bit of creating them, so don't really feel like spending an hour in front of the computer, but needs must! My recent flurry of creating also means that I now have the tedious task of finishing the cards off with inserts or sentiment panels inside...I should learn to do them at the time!?!...

Anyhow, today's make is another little scene card but this time with more of a gardening feel...

 I used a lot of the same elements that I have in my recent previous cards, but added in the birdhouse and a couple of tree dies. Once again, I tried to keep the colours more neutral and generic, adding in a couple of patterned paper banners and a bold sentiment from Crafter's Companion...

Dies used - 

Spellbinders Rustic dies from the Country Garden Collection S5-578

Creative Expressions Rustic Western Elements (retired)

Marianne Design Creatables Wheelbarrow and Watering Can

Crafter's Companion Enjoy Your Special Day stamp and die set 

Thanks for dropping by and I hope to be back soon with some more crafty inspiration...

Hugs,

 

When is a chicken not a chicken?...

 When is a chicken not a chicken?...when it's a rooster!...

Hello again, Blogger buddies! Today's make is another little scene created using the  Spellbinders On the Farm Collection, only this time, I played around with the Spring Chicken die to create a rooster...

 ...Once again I used the barrel and windmill dies like my last card, but tried to keep the overall feel a touch more masculine, or less feminine at least. I also used a plant pot, wheelbarrow and watering can die that I picked up from the lovely Marianne's destash. The background was inked with a cloud stencil and Peeled Paint Distress Ink for the lower half and I added some extra die cut clouds and an inked sentiment...

This is another one that I am rather pleased with, so I hope you like ti too!

Dies used - 

Spellbinders On the Farm Collection Spring Chicken SDS-197

Spellbinders Rustic dies from the Country Garden Collection S5-578

Creative Expressions Rustic Western Elements (retired)

Marianne Design Creatables Wheelbarrow and Watering Can

Sizzix Daily Sentiments 666519

Thanks for calling by to see me and I hope you like my countryside inspired creation...

Crafty hugs,

 

Animal farm...

 Hey crafty friends, I'm back with another paper creation to share with you all...

When I haven't had much time at my crafty desk, I have been cutting and assembling some of the fabulous layering dies that I have acquired from Spellbinders, including the cute farm animals from the On the Farm collection...

I decided to put them together in a little farm scene, using the fence and windmill from Creative Expressions Rustic Western Elements (sadly retired) and the barrel from Spellbinders Rustic dies. I did change the windmill slightly, by cutting off the paddle and adding in a new one cut using a clock hand die that I had in my stash. I inked the background with a cloud stencil and splattered the die cuts with black ink and white acrylic paint.

For a change, I must admit that I really liked the way that this one turned out - so much so that I made a couple more! 

Dies used -

Spellbinders On the Farm Counting Sheep SDS-200

Ham it Up SDS-199

Spring Chicken SDS-197

Spellbinders Rustic dies from the Country Garden Collection S5-578 

Creative Expressions Rustic Western Elements

Lawn Fawn Puffy Cloud Border for the cloud stencil 

Thanks for dropping by to see me and I'll be back again soon with another crafty make!...

Crafty hugs,

 

 

Rainbow bridge...

 Hey there, crafty buddies! I'm back with a card that's a little different today...

 I picked up this die set in the Spellbinders sale with an idea to create a pet bereavement card - I had a vision of what I thought it would look like...

 ...This is how it turned out, and although it is similar to what I had envisioned, I can't help feeling that there is something missing?! I have been doing a lot of splatters and inking lately and am not sure if it is just the cleanness of it that is throwing me, but it's quite nice!...

 I made the paw print using a small heart die and the petals from a couple of flower dies that I re-homed from the lovely Marianne (as shown in the picture above). I always try to look at dies as shapes rather than the intended use and often rifle through my stash to cobble different die cuts together to create something new!...

Dies used -

Spellbinders Over the Rainbow #S4-1354

Spellbinders Nesting Hearts

Flower dies (unsure of make)

Sizzix Daily Sentiments 666519

Thanks for popping in to have a look at my latest creation and I'll be back with some more crafty inspiration soon...

Crafty hugs,

 

Field notes...

 Good afternoon, Blogger buddies! I have a new crafty creation to share with you today and this one uses Spellbinders Field Notes Tools and Wildflowers...

 I went with a collage style, splattering everything in sight with white acrylic paint, Vintage Photo and Broken China Distress inks! I added my all time favourite sentiment dies and accompanying words from an all occasions stamp set. The butterflies were cut from a scrapbook paper and I finished with a bulldog clip die and some cream self adhesive pearls...

Dies used -

Spellbinders Field Notes Tools S2-411

Spellbinders Field Notes Wildflowers S4-1369

Spellbinders Yana's Layered Script Sentiments S5-496

Thanks for dropping by today and I'll be back with some more crafty makes in the near future...

Crafty hugs,

 

 

Ooops!...

 ...I dropped off the earth again! Crafting time is pretty sporadic at the moment as I am picking up some relief shifts at work...and then there was that heat- no inclination to do anything other than melt!!...

...But I do have some crafty makes to share. These first two, which are a variation on a theme, are made using the pretty water barrel turned into a planter!...

 

I used the same layout, just changing up the background layers and not adding the water pump to the second one. Think they turned out rather nice, but now looking at the first one, I may have to do a little tweaking!

Thanks for dropping in to have a look at my crafty makes today and I'll be back with some more inspiration soon.

Crafty hugs,

PS - I'll upload dies used if I get chance, but I know the main one is Spellbinders Rustic dies from the Garden Collection  S5-578...
 

Counting Sheep again...

 Good afternoon, crafty friends! So, as predicted, I had to have another play with the sweet sheep from Spellbinders Counting Sheep and I'm much happier with the outcome for this one!...

 Inspired by this card that I found on Pinterest, I cut out some cloud die cuts from a piece of brown cardstock, inked the edges with Vintage Photo, then mat onto my card blank using foam tape, positioning the blue polka dot paper where needed underneath. I made up the sheep, inking him with Speckled Egg Distress Oxide and cut out multiples of the grass and fence. I cut one of the posts from the fence die and attached them together to make a longer fence, positioning them over the green gingham banner die. A couple of sentiments and some flat back pearls finished everything off. ..a really simple card, which I feel shows off this sweet little sheep to his full potential...but that's just me!

Dies used - 

Spellbinders Counting Sheep SDS-200

Spellbinders On Cloud Nine S3-432

Thanks for popping by and I'll be back soon with another card using the pretty Rustic Country Garden die set...

Crafty hugs,

 

Counting Sheep...

 Hey there, crafty friends, it's me again! I'm back to share a little card I made using my latest addition to Spellbinders On the Farm collection and this one's Counting Sheep...

 I decided to go with a postage stamp collage style, like I did with the Ham it Up card...I think it turned out okay, but not sure if with the sheep being white it gets a little lost? Anyhow, better than horrible!...

I used the plank die from Rustic Country Garden and peel off borders to create the fence which is attached to a cloud inked background, with some die cut clouds too...just because I love clouds!

Dies used - 

 Spellbinders Counting Sheep SDS-200

Spellbinders Simon Hurley Handwritten Sentiments S5-630 

Planks - Spellbinders Rustic Garden S5-578 

Generic Postage Stamp dies 

I'm not 100% on the result of this card and think I'll have another go with this sweet sheep in a simpler style...but thanks anyway for dropping by to see me and I'll hopefully be back with more inspiration soon...

Crafty hugs,

 

Water barrel tag card...

 Hey there, crafty buddies! Today's make is inspired by one of my favourite crafters - Emilia Sierazdan...I love her use of florals, layers and pretty collage style - if you aren't familiar with her work, please go and take a look, I'm sure you'll find inspiration like I do!...

 I picked up this pretty die set after browsing through the Spellbinders clearance sale (again!) and have to say, I absolutely love the way it comes together -  I think it will become a well used addition to my crafty stash and can be adapted for multiple uses!

I inked the tag with Broken China and Peeled Paint, splattered with awter, then Vintage Photo ink and then randomly stamped with text and postage style stamps to add texture. I kept the rest of the card pretty plain, letting the die cuts be the star of the show, just adding in some sisal and more ink splatters for interest...

Dies used - 

 Spellbinders Rustic dies from the Country Garden Collection S5-578

Flowers -  Sizzix Teacups 665898

Butterflies - Spellbinders Finley the Fox S4-1379

I hope you like my Rustic Garden creation as much as I do and I'll be back soon with some more makes from my Spellbinders sale haul!

Crafty hugs,

 

 

Swinging among the Stars...

 Good afternoon, crafty buddies! Today's make features a sweet Spellbinders die called Swinging among the Stars and I used it to create a first birthday card...

 I kept the card relatively simple with an inked cloud background in Chipped Sapphire Distress Oxide, splattered with water and the 'swinging' focal element from the die set...

I added in some hanging stars, extra cloud (of course!), gold number one and a couple of gold colured gems to finish off...

Dies used -

Spellbinders Swinging among the Stars S5-669

Lawn Fawn Puffy Cloud Borders

Memory Box Puffy Clouds

Memory Box Precious Stars

(The card is interactive as the elephant in the basket swings back and forth on a hanger hidden under the large star)

Thanks for dropping by to see my crafty creation and I'll hopefully be back soon with some more inspiration, as I did a thing!...yep, I browsed the Spellbinders sale again and a 'few' die sets fell into my basket, so watch this space! 

Crafty hugs,

 

Sympathy cards...

 Good evening, crafty friends, from a hot and sticky North Wales! It was hubby's birthday over the weekend, so we decided to take a much needed break and get away from it all for the weekend. We had a lovely time in North Yorkshire staying in a little cottage at Old Byland, visiting family and exploring the surrounding area - hence the lack of crafting!

I have been enjoying my crafty time recently and find that it is back to being something I do to switch off and unwind, which is nice...

I am determined to try and use my crafty stash more (as I have a LOT of dies especially) - so today's make uses an old XCut cross die and an embossing folder that is literally being held together with a piece of Duck tape it's that old!...

 I very rarely make sympathy cards, but sadly they're one that often people ask for and I thought that this pretty filigree cross would pair perfectly with the arch die from Spellbinders Fall Label Motifs.

I inked the embossing folder with Antique Linen Distress Ink before passing through my Big Shot to get the delicate effect and inked the edges with black ink. I also inked the grey mat for the arch die cut with black to allow the cross to stand out more, which was also mat in the grey cardstock by drawing around the die and fussy cutting. I inked and splattered some green card to get the variation on the leaves and inked the centre of the large flowers with Chipped Sapphire. I kept everything quite muted and simple, adding in some photo corners and some pearls, along with a black sentiment strip..

 I liked the way this one turned out so much that I created another one with a Welsh sentiment too! I may even sell some of my handmade cards one of these days, maybe once the Chr...Chris...no, I can't bring myself to say it, craft fair season starts...

Dies used -

 XCut Mini Die - Cross

Spellbinders Fall Label Motifs

Embossalicious Floral Frenzy Embossing folder

Sweet Dixie Delicate Blossoms

Sweet Dixie Christmas Rose by Sue Dix

Thanks for popping by to see me and I hope that you're all coping in this heat (if you have it)!

Crafty hugs,

 

Cockatoo...

 Hey there, crafty buddies! Today's make features the ever so sweet Cockatoo from Spellbinders Flying High set and the second yellow background from  my making session...

 I have been inspired by the lovely Denise from Crafty Den to try and use yellow more in my carfting, as it's a colour I always admire on other people's creations but just don't naturally reach for myself...and I don't know why, as I tend to love the results!...

I made up the pretty bird to look like a 'traditional' cockatoo and sat him on a postage stamp die inked with Broken China Distress Oxide. I decided to be bold and use a black card blank and then found some scrap paper in my stash to  use for the strips. I used the foliage from the bird die set, but changed it up with some flowers that I previously made and a sentiment stamp which came in a magazine set that was just perfect for the card...

I do love the way this card turned out, it's so bright and cheery and not a bit of pink in sight!

Dies used - 

Darice Chevron embossing folder

Spellbinders Flying High S4-1407 

Thanks again for coming along to have a look at my crafty makes, it really is appreciated and I hope I can inspire you in some way...

Crafty hugs,

 

Playing with backgrounds...

 Hello there, crafty friends! I had some time to sit and play at my crafty desk yesterday, after work and decided to have a go at some background techniques...

 I wanted to try the blackout technique but with different folders and colours and inspired by the lovely Denise's make, picked out a colour that I don't use enough - yellow...

The first one was the cog background and because there was a clock element on it, I couldn't use the debossed side (as the numbers would have been reversed), so inked the background between the cogs with Rusty Hinge and Vintage Photo Distress Inks, with a touch of Cracked Pistachio Distress Oxide, in order to try and get an old metal look. I then swiped over the top with Versafine Black Onyx and splattered with some duck egg blue acrylic paint....

Secondly, I tried inking a piece of white cardstock with Squeezed Lemonade and Mustard Seed Distress inks, embossing with a chevron folder and then brayering white acrylic over the top. I found that the paint picked up some of the ink, so this was more of a tonal look. ..

The third is inking the embossing folder technique (inking the deboss side of the folder), which creates more of a contrast in colour with the white emboss...

And fourthly, I embossed a leaf background design, inked the debossed side with Cracked Pistachio and Peeled paint Distress inks, then swiped over the top with a brown pigment ink pad....

I don't normally sit and make backgrounds, often plumping for patterned paper for speed and ease, but thoroughly enjoyed the process and will try to  make an effort to sit and create more....I even went on to make cards with them all, the first of which I'm sharing here today...

 To the original background I added some antique gold generic cog die cuts and the speedometer from Spellbinders mat onto a circle of the same antique gold. The finger of the 'clock' is on a brad, so that the age can be set for the recipient and I added a couple of sentiments from my stash, finishing with some gold flat back pearls.

I really liked the way this one turned out and will probably use it as hubby's birthday card next week, as they're all car nuts in our house!

Dies used -

 Cuttlebug 5x7 Clockworks embossing folder

Spellbinders Speedometer die S5-689 

Thanks for dropping by and I'll be back to share the other makes with you over the next few days...

Crafty hugs,

 

Say cheese!...

 Well, it seems like I'm on a roll! I'm back today to share another collage style card but this time using the fun Spellbinders Say Cheese camera die. I love these layering dies from both Spellbinders and Sizzix as they give so much detail to your die cuts...

 I layered my card with some paper scraps, a doodled border, ink splatters and a generic photo strip die that I picked up from Amazon. I created a polaroid type picture using the letter die from Sizzix You've Got Mail to cut out the aperture and used the mountain from Hero Arts You Lift Me Up framecuts, along with the treescape die from Clearly Besotted. I added a bulldog clip die cut and some sprinkles and a couple of sentiments...

  I decided to do two cards at once and added Welsh sentiments to the second...

Dies used -

 Spellbinders Say Cheese S4-1383

Sizzix You've Got Mail 665820

Generic Film frame strip die and bulldog clip 

Thanks for dropping by and who knows, I may even be back soon with some more inspiration...or I could fall off the face of the earth and it could be months before posting again!

Crafty hugs,

 

Sky's the Limit...

 How about this? Back so soon?!...

Today's make uses the Sky's the Limit #2 die set from Sizzx and Catherine Pooler Designs...

I've have to admit that I've made these kites up a couple of times and not been sure of them...and am still not! I don't know if it's that the black is too heavy or what, but I'm just not feeling it! I wanted to try and make a more masculine card instead of the rainbow tones that I have seen on the internet but am not 100% how it turned out...oh, well, it'll go in the box!

Dies used - 

Sizzix Catherine Pooler Designs Sky's the Limit #2 666832

 Spellbinders On Cloud Nine S3-432

Spellbinders Happy Birthday Wishes S3-514

Spellbinders Fall Label Motifs S5-519 

Thanks for dropping by and I hope you like my card more than I do!

Crafty hugs,

 

Ham it up...

 Hey there, crafty friends! How cute is this little piggy??!...

 This is Ham it Up from Spellbinders and I think he is just adorable! I created a collage style card with postage and countryside elements, and what would make me happier than a pig in mud?...clouds, of course!...

Dies used -

 Spellbinders Ham it Up SDS-199

Generic nesting postage stamp dies 

Hero Arts You Lift Me Up Frame cuts DI789

Also Marianne Designs Tab with Text die COL1315 & Creative Expressions Rustic Western Elemenets HCD721 (retired)

I think the tree landscape die is from Clearly Besotted, but can't find it's name

 

Thanks for popping in to have a look at my latest creation and I hope to be back soon with some more crafty inspiration...

 

Crafty hugs,