Fusion Card Challenge - Chalkboard...

Hey,

Welcome to the last-ever Fusion Card Challenge.

It has been a privilege to work with Karren and the team, some of them are my OG cardmaking heroines and it was so amazing to be in a team with them.

This time we have 'Chalkboard' for you! As always both the sketch and the inspiration image are awesome.

Which will you try?

I loved both, so I fused them!

I was inspired by the chalkboard effect and wanted to recreate that.

I cut a circle using a die and then cut it in half. I stamped lots of the icons and sentiments from the Tim Holtz 'Merry & Bright' mini set for Joann's - using the special ink for perfect pearls. Then I dusted silver perfect pearls over it to create a chalky look.

I always love how this turns out.

It looked a tiny bit flat, so I stamped some stars around the half-circle and it really added a little flair that I like!

Make sure you check out all the rest of the inspiration by the DT over at the Fusion challenge blog, and play along with your own creation! When playing along you may use the sketch OR the photo to inspire your makes. OR, if you are feeling adventurous, you can fuse them together (see what I did there!).

Can't wait to see your makes. 

Challenge ends on December 13th.

Cx

Retro Rubber Challenge #113.. Anything Goes...

Hey,

Welcome to another fun Retro Rubber challenge.

The theme this time is everyone's fave -

I thought this was a great opportunity to bring out a set by CAS-ual Friday 'Ka-boom' (no longer available) that I have had since 2016 and to be honest it has had barely any use.

I also decided to use a fun technique that involves Pearl-ex powders (Perfect Pearls are the same). First I die-cut my black panel to size, then I dusted over part of the black panel using an embossing powder tool thingy (technical term).

Then I stamped the sentiment and the bomb from the set using embossing ink and dusted the gold Pearl-ex powder over the top to get that gorgeous shimmery gold stamping you see.

I tried to explain the steps here, but it kept sounding super complicated and it really isn't. I love this tutorial if you are interested.

I really like the look you get when using Pearl-ex or Perfect Pearls powders, give it a go if you have some of these.

Can't wait to see what you choose to make, also don't forget to pop over to Retro Rubber and get inspired by the things the DT have made.

Challenge ends June 28th.

Don't forget to tell us the age of your stamp, that is part of the fun of our challenge and please only enter 10 challenges including Retro Rubber.

Cx

Hip Hippo Anniversary..

Hey,

Only 5 more days of work for me before the Christmas break - I literally cannot wait.

December is the hardest month in my job, it's so intense getting everything delivered pre-Christmas and then planning for January, but it also feels pretty satisfying too, getting that much work done in such a short space of time.

I have good friends who celebrate their wedding anniversary in December, they got married the same year as Hubby and I and their wedding was one of my all time faves..

I bought this great Waffle Flower set 'Hip Hip Hooray' a while back and I hadn't used it, so I thought it would make a fun anniversary card for my friends - in part because they do a lot of things together and I thought these cute Hippos working out together summed them up.

I stamped, coloured and die-cut the hippos. I stamped hearts all over a mini kraft tag (I buy these from eBay 2x3.5inch and you get 100 for $2) using embossing ink and then dusted perfect pearls over them to create a fun background.

I stuck with the purple theme and mounted the tag onto a purple card blank, add the hippos and stamped the sentiment in a deep violet.

A slightly different anniversary card, but I love making things that are a bit personal for the recipients.

Cx

Christmas Card 2018: For the parents..

Hey,

To round of this week of Christmas Card fun (and a birthday card..), I wanted to show you the Christmas card to end all Christmas cards!

Ever since I was a little girl, my parents have given me a Christmas card from them and one of each of them individually, I am sure this is something to do with me being an only child..

So now I give them a joint card from Hubby and I and individual ones for each of them from me.

Today's card is the one I made as their joint card.

Isn't he gorgeous?!

I literally discovered perfect pearls a couple of weeks ago and I happened to have a purple pot of them and so I had a play and decided I liked them enough to invest in other colours. BUT then I realised how pricey they are and researched alternatives and came up with Jacquard Pearl Ex.

Pearl Ex need a fixative and Perfect Pearls do not, but Pearl Ex come in a large container for the same price as the teeny tiny Perfect Pearls ones..

So I bought x2 colours of Pearl Ex - Gold and Blue - I mean come on, my 3 fave colours are gold, purple and blue, so all good.

For this card, I stamped the Sizzix large snowflake stamp using versamark embossing ink and then dusted the gold Pearl Ex over the top, the result is just stunning. I've always been a bit meh about that snowflake stamp..no longer!

The large snowflake die is a set by Penny Black and I die-cut it from a shimmery red cardstock scrap I found in my red paper drawer. I used the smaller die from the set for the gold snowflake.

Then I die-cut a label and stamped my sentiment in versamark and dusted some Pearl Ex over it, so it matched the background. Cue approx 35 mins of ridiculous butter finger bow tying.. and the card was finished.

I can't stop staring at it, its so shimmery and feels super Christmassy.

I think my parents will love it.

Tonight we are heading back to London from Porto. Hubby and I fly home tomorrow, so I will tell you all about the trip next week.

Cx