4 from 1: Paper Smooches Space Cadet..

Hey,

During my period without the Big Shot, I decided to play with a smaller format.

I think the US size is 4bar - it's one I use mainly for my Christmas cards - smaller surface area is handy when you are making a ton of cards.

I created my own mask (see my Saturday 9th May post about this) and blended distress oxides through the aperture. I used Twisted Citron, Picked Raspberry, Carved Pumpkin and Peacock Feathers.

I haven't pulled out my Paper Smooches 'Space Cadet' set in a while, but it is one of my all-time faves and I have had it a very long time.

I used the little Alien from the set and I added sentiments from Unity Stamp Co, Hero Arts, Concord & 9th and Ellen Hutson. The little dots are by Simon Says Stamp and are a flower centre - way to stretch my stamps!

So simple and a lot of fun!

Cx

Masking Flower Thanks...

Hey,

I am trying to use the lockdown period to post cards that have been sitting in my 'to be blogged' folder for a LONG time.

This card is 18months old!!

I love Helen Dardik and I was so excited when she released a stamp collection with Waffle Flower. I think I have most of it now..but I am always on the hunt for the missing pieces :)

This card was one of a series I made, using the Helen Dardik stamps and a mix of Simon Says Stamp and MFT flower stamps.

First I created a circle mask and stamped the main girl image (Enveloper Birthday), then I masked off the girl and stamped the sentiment. Cue much more masking so I could stamp all the flowers.

I coloured everything and them die-cut it as a circle.

It looks so pretty on the square card blank.

This is a time consuming but a fun technique that I use a lot to stretch my stamps.

Cx

Fab Friday: Happy Easter!

Hey,

Happy Monday!

Hope you managed to stay sane, whilst on lockdown this weekend.

I was ridiculously prolific at my craft desk..

Including my card for the Fab Friday challenge.

I love a sketch and I was so happy at how my card came out, I made another one!

I stamped the Concord & 9th 'Confetti Turnabout' stamp, I am totally obsessed with their turnabout stamps (now that I understand how to use them!

I then die-cut it out using a square stitched die and I used a slightly bigger size to cut out the other square. I cut a coordinating panel using a stitched rectangle die and layered up my squares, adding a bit of gold glitter washi tape and a small sentiment banner, that I stamped onto.

The bunny sticker is hilarious and from a set from Hema that I believe JT gave me at least 2 years ago. It was so nice to use them and make these quirky cards.

Hubby thinks the bunnies look guilty about something! What do you think?

Cx

Sketch Saturday #570 Paper Nest Dolls...

Hey,

Happy Saturday to you and welcome to the Sketch Saturday challenge.

Our sponsor this week is The Paper Nest Dolls and they are offering 3 digi's from their site.

As it is 5 week month, we get to choose which sketch we would like to use. I loved sketch #294

I thought it would work really well with the Mermaid Ellie w/Seahorse image.

I decided I would create a square card and I used an ancient piece of sparkly DCWV paper for the bottom half of my card and used a plain blue piece of scrap paper for the top. I stenciled in some dots to cover a tear that happened as I affixed it to the card blank. But I think that just improved my card :)

I coloured Ellie using Copics and Nuvo shimmer pens and die-cut her out using a rounded stitched rectangle die.

To match the sketch, I added a middle strip of paper - which is super shimmery and also ancient DCWV and I used two sets of bling instead of semi-circle's and I like how that came out.

The sentiment is by Market Street Stamps (no longer in business) and it was already on my desk as I had used another one from the set.

Love how sparkly and shimmery the card is in real life.

I can't wait to see which sketch you choose, but first check out what the rest of the DT have made over at Sketch Saturday.

Challenge ends July 5th 7pm GMT / 2pm EST

Cx

Sketch Saturday #524.. Crafty Sentiments..

Hey,

Happy Saturday to you and welcome to the latest sketch for the Sketch Saturday challenge.

Our sponsor this week is Crafty Sentiments and they are offering a prize of 3 digis from their store.

Here's the sketch...

I like the Fifi stamps by Crafty Sentiments, so I chose Fifi Bubbles for my card this time.

My card is a large 6x6 card - JT gave me these card blanks and I love them, they are great for cards like this with lots of background elements.

All my papers are ancient and from my 'purple paper drawer' no new papers harmed here. I coloured Fifi and cut out the white panel and the smaller purple squares using Simon Says Stamp stitched square rectangle dies.

I couldn't believe my luck when I searched my online stamp library (GEEEEEK alert) and found that I had this great relax sentiment stamp by Jillibean Soup..

I can't wait to see what you do with the sketch, but first check out what the rest of the DT have made over at Sketch Saturday.

Challenge ends Aug 3rd 7pm GMT / 2pm EST

Cx

More piggies...

Hey,

So I am feeling a bit jaded today :)..one too many Planet Claire's last night..yes I was drinking something that has the same name as me..

On Saturday I got a big batch of booty from Ellen Hutson and MFT..

The Lovely Piggies set by Mama Elephant was in there and I stamped and coloured four of the Piggies, one I used for a challenge entry.

I made x3 mini cards with the other three Piggies.

I followed a little formula.. die-cut the Piggies using stitched squares or circles, use the new MFT chevron paper I bought as a background and add a simple sentiment.

I love how they came out, I might have to make a fourth one, so they are a set that I can give to someone.

Cx

Bugaboo Birthday Bash: Day 7...

Hey,

So I literally just got back from class at the Inkpad! Taught by Cheiron..

Fun to unexpectedly see the Craftgang, but sad as our friend Ava is not well at all, hence my last minute place. I am sending her positive vibes for a speedy recovery.

I wanted to post my Day 7 card today, as the rules are they have to be up by 7am tomorrow!!

I was overjoyed with the colour palette - so my colours and I decided to use the stamp shown in the image above (Birthday Bird 1).

Sprinkles threw me a bit, so I added a little bit of red bling - does that count as sprinkles?

Simple 'recipe' for my card, I printed and coloured the stamp using Promarkers,stamped the sentiment, die-cut it and the background paper using Simon Says Stamp stitched square dies.

Add a mini kraft card blank and some bling and voila! a pretty, colourful card.

Again, this has been oodles of fun..back to normal posts from tomorrow.

Cx

Bugaboo Birthday Bash: Day 5..

Hey,

Two posts today, as I managed to make the Day 5 card in a timely fashion!

This week I am playing along with the Bugaboo 8th Birthday Bash.

For Day 5 you have to feature a cupcake on your card..

I remembered that I had the Cupcake Tag stamp and I thought this would make a perfect mini square card.

I die-cut the stamp out and coloured it using Promarkers and Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pens.

I used a scrap of a beloved piece of paper, it works so well here against the mini kraft card blank.

A super simple card.

Cx

CASology: Square Anniversary..

Hey,

Happy Friday.

This is my last working day before the annual Mexico vacay with Hubby! Yay!

I haven't played along with CASology in a while and as I love Squares, this week's cue card was right up my street.

I decided to make an anniversary card for friends that got married the same year as I did, so this is their 8th Anniversary.

I used the square heart stamp from the awesome Simon Says Stamp 'Square Sayings' set for my 'square' (I don't think it is available anymore) -

I added a die-cut number for their anniversary and stamped the sentiment under the hearts to keep that CAS feel.

Super simple, but so lovely. The male half of the couple that this is for, is a designer and I think he will like the clean lines.

My posts will be scheduled for the next week, but if you follow me on Instagram you will no doubt see photos of me sunning myself!

Cx

Hola! Cactus Friends..

Hola!

Welcome to the first day of May..given the way the weather is going, it feels like Summer is not far away.

I haven't seen a couple of friends in a while and I thought I would send them a cheery little Hola! card.

The backgrounds I created by smooshing 3 different green distress inks and then I die-cut them out using my new from London stitched, scalloped mini square dies.

The Cacti are by Jillibean soup and I coloured them with Zigs.

I love them, they are so cute and the mini kraft blanks work so well here (thanks JT).

Cx

Ohmygawsh you're on fire...

Hey,

My Auntie Connie LOVES Dragons and I mean LOVES them...

So when she saw one of my Instagram posts announcing the arrival of the MFT Magical Dragons set, she was all 'when am I getting one' LOL.

To throw her off the scent, I sent her another Dragon card using a Bugaboo stamp..

Last weekend I had a play with the MFT Dragons and created this card for her.

I coloured the Dragon and the flame using Zigs.

I die-cut the stitched square panel first, then I used a Dutchdoobadoo cloud stencil and distress ink to create the background.

The 'Ohmygawsh' is by CASual Friday stamps and I recently bought the set that it comes in second hand, mainly because it had 'AH-Mazing' in it and I say that all the time!

The second part of the sentiment came with the Dragon set.

Once I had put the card together, I added glossy accents to the flame.

I hope she loves it, it should arrive any minute now..

Cx