Inkyfingeredcat

My Mum turned 80 last year and there are loads of photos still to scrap so perfect to use these number balloons for a scrapbook page.

I did break from tradition and went with an 8×8 size page rather than my usual 12×12 but I wanted something to pop into my 8×8 album for a change!

My Mums favourite colour is yellow so I started with the yellow base and then found this SU paper I bought last year and haven’t got around to using yet so cut a 7×7 square and then ruffled the edges with my distressing tool.

Then I found this aqua colour worked well with the paper and the photo and a lovely contrast with the yellow so decided to mat the photo with it and cut the balloons from it too.

I raised the photo up on foam adhesive but kept the balloons flat. Then used some waxed thread to add strings for the balloons and loop it round.

I did add dots of glue to keep the loops in place but then when I added the journalling strips this did the job nicely of also securing them.

I cut the title from one of the My Diamond Press everyday word border dies and tucked it round the photo panel. I love how this looks.

Just a bit of coordinating ribbon scrap for the edge of the photo and some gems for added texture and decided this page was perfect!

Of course I’ve now realised I need to add the date so will go and add it! (Aug 2025)

These balloons have got me wanting to go and print out lots of birthday pics now … maybe one for every birthday M has had and make a special album for her 21st? Hmmmm… too many ideas, not enough time – think there are not enough days left before her birthday to add this to my task list! Plus I also have all the 80th birthday pics from Dads birthday this year to do too!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Back with another Festive Friday where I went simple by grabbing the Christmas Tags and More speciality dsp once again.

A couple of simple layers of the patterned paper and a panel with some of the laser cut elements.

I punched holes above the baubles to thread the string through and then added a bow to the top of one.

Next I added a sentiment and some gems! Simple!

Inside a couple of strips of the paper and then the sentiment stamped.

Happy crafting!

Catherine

I decided to make a more clean and simple card with the patterned papers than I normally do – and so I added to a card blank a panel of the pale aqua solid from the stack of Holly Jolly slimline papers. I did some very subtle blending of blue in the centre of the card to add depth but it is very subtle and you can’t really see it in the final card!

Then I die cut trees from three of the different green coloured papers. This gave me six trees in total – five for the front and one for the inside.

I layered them up on the front and then went to town with clear glitter glue … perfect for making them frosty!

Then I added the sentiment to the front on foam adhesive to give it some dimension over the layered trees.

I just added the final tree inside the card keeping it really simple!

Love this more simple but effective looking card!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Today I am sharing the other samples I made using the stamps and dies from the K-Cup holder as it’s definitely not just about the 3D project!

I started with this lovely gentle image of the house plant and embossed in white. Then I ink blended over the top.

I added a little extra colour to the image too.

I added a mat layer and then a tab of ribbon. Then on the base I added the large background stamp.

I then put the top panel on with foam adhesive layer to give dimension.

Next went with a coffee themed card.

I love the chalkboard A frame sign and perfect for adding the little sentiments to it with white embossing.

I coloured the edge of the frame with promarkers in light grey to just add some shading.

Then I added foam to the back of it. The base of the card I made from grey card and for the smaller panel I added the coffee cup with versamark and clear embossing powder.

I then inked it with hickory smoke distress ink to just darken slightly.

A fun card – can imagine that A frame will come in handy for many cards!

Next I wanted to use one of the cute animals – I chose dog!

I mean he is just the cutest!

I stamped and die cut him and coloured him with alcohol markers.

Then I created a tag. This I added the circle stamp for the sentiment.

Next added the scalloped frame stamp direct to the base of the card. I then added the little paw prints.

I then added the panel with the red embossed card stock and then a black mat – this gives a lovely grounding panel to the tag and dog.

Added the little ribbon tag too!

Ok final card and this time I went back to the leaves and berries stamp as I love the art style of these …

… I went with very pink!

I used pink cardstock for the base, the background panel and the focal elements.

I embossed with white and made a full size panel of the stamping and then added the splatter and white embossed everything!

Then I added the vellum layer. Next I added the images to another piece and after embossing I then added dark pink ink to darken it slightly.

I added these pieces to the light grey panel. Then I added the sentiment to the circle I die cut using the K-Cup holder die.

Such a different set of cards – although I was clearly in an embossing frame of mind as so many involved the embossing!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

I was surprised that they sent this product to us in the UK as we don’t really have Keurig machines – but then I thought of the possibilities for this little basket and decided on a basket of flowers … with room for one of my Dolce Gusto pods … just to make sure I was covering all the bases! 🤣

You could obviously add more flowers and leaves to the inside to fill the basket – I just went with three flowers and left room to slot a coffee pod in.

I decorated the panels for making the holder with the stamps from the set and some shimmer watercolour paint and then used the poinsettia dies to make the flowers and the leaves – again lots of shimmer paint to finish them off!

The tag came with the K-cup holder set and then I embossed it with the Christmas embossing folder.

I then added this to the top with the waxed thread bow.

It was easy to put together the holder and you can skip the die with the holes if you just want it to be a basket and you don’t have to glue the inside part in if you want it as a lid and use as a shallow box – lots of ideas!

I think this is a fun and unique way of gifting something – and of course I chose Christmas themed although the set isn’t specifically for a season it sort of lends itself for autumn – and I also think the berries and leaves stamps I interpreted as Christmas are actually coffee! 🤣

But hey that’s the fun of being creative and choosing a different path!

I have four other samples I made with this set – it comes with so many stamps – but will save those for another post!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

The final five cards in my Indigo Blu magazine set using #kcc23 … really loved making these cards once the original cutting session was done (I didn’t enjoy that as much as so many fiddly elements!).

Card 11 I added a bit of extra fun with the embossed foiled panel.

I also added the glitter to the butterfly – after all sparkle is fun!

And brought in the sentiment from the stash!

Ok card 12 … this time I went wonky with the rectangles and I think this is really fun!

I added a vellum layer for under the focal point.

This is definitely my favourite of the cards out of the whole batch!

I think the mix of the papers and colours worked so well.

So pretty!

Card 13 …

This one I replaced one of the circles in the sketch with the flower stamped image – that was a fun change.

Plus I added stencilling to the left hand side panel.

Card 14 I went with a different cardstock layer with the black!

I added black stamping to the patterned panel and then lots of shimmer splatter across the panel.

Really love this art journaling style which the indigo Blu papers and stamps really lend themselves to!

My second favourite card from the set!

Ok final card!

Such a pretty finish!

I liked the diagonal element but then covered quite a bit with the focal image but hey you can still see some of it!

Love the added gems for sparkle to compliment the shimmer paint used on the lavender stamped image.

So I enjoyed this whole set! Hope you did too!

Also good to get a good set of cards made from the magazine kit for that series!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

I love Christmas decorations (might be insane but we have four full size 6 or 7 ft trees in our house every year plus a smaller one for our bedroom) – so being able to make Christmas trees is fabulous! And you can then make them any style you want!

So I made a start with this one initially using cardstock and a few pieces of patterned cardstock … I did add stamps and a bit of ink and started the construction … this was how it looked.

I was already loving the construction at this point but knew that a full on painty tree might be more what I wanted to make … so the tree above transformed into …

I pulled it apart again (I hadn’t actually glued the tiers at this point … and went to town on each layer with four paint colours from my fresco finish paints. Then I spritzed with two of the shimmer spritzes and left them to dry overnight.

This gave them a lovely finish with the mica and resin in the spritzes giving the pieces strength.

Then once dry I adhered them back together in their rings and then adhered them to the central cone.

And here it is! I absolutely love it!

The view from the top is fun … but I just love it on my shelf!

I don’t think the photos capture the shimmer as much as you can see in real life … but I think it is great!

Hope you like this big 3d item … the grand marquise cutting machine is the size you need for this but that’s just for the cone element – the rest are fine for smaller machines.

And this finally launched on Hobbymaker yesterday evening so it was good to see both mine and Sarah’s trees on the TV! Sarah’s with the lights is so cute!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

I knew that I wanted to play with all the fab word type chipboards in the kit to go with this photo from back in 2006 of my daughter’s first Christmas!

I grabbed the lovely dark green cardstock from the Christmas paper pad from last years Kingston Crafts range and then chose three of the Holly Jolly slimline papers to create a central vertical panel of patterned paper down the page.

I trimmed the original photo down a bit and then mounted it on the plain cream coloured slimline paper (it works great as a mount and for adding journaling strips too!)

Then I started grabbing the chipboard elements I liked most and adding those around the photo. I particularly liked the circle one of the santas nice list which paired well with Santa checking the list and the gift pile!

Some of them I adhered to the papers and then some overlapping the photo. I used a wet glue to adhere them all so I was sure they would survive travelling through the post to Martin!

I added some little strips of journaling to finish but decided it didn’t need additional embellishment as the chipboard did all the work!

I have realised as I look at the pictures now that I totally got the year wrong when I added the date tab – how could I get the year my daughter was born wrong I will never know – so will have to try and correct that in the future! Doh! 🙊

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Back to playing with scraps and this card is leftover bits of patterned paper and a leftover die cut from the design team work I’ve been doing! It’s a very small sneak peek for something that hasn’t been released yet so shhhh don’t tell anyone you saw it here first! 🤣

I then added the wooden embellishment and the acetate sentiment.

I then added the gems and called it done! So cute!

Just love the texture and the different patterns!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

I went full on cute for this card because the gingerbread vellum is super cute!

I decided to tear the vellum into a panel and mount it on to coordinating red from the slimline papers.

Then I created two tags – the solid red and the striped vellum.

I then created a cluster of ribbon scraps to add to the top of the tag. This is a lovely way to add texture. I added the tags on foam adhesive to give dimension.

Then I grabbed one of the gingerbread men chipboard shapes and one of the motion springs (aka Boingers!) and added that to the tag.

Just love those motion springs for adding movement!

I finished the card with some card candi and then the foiled and die cut sentiments already made in my stash!

So a card full of cuteness – love this!

Happy crafting!

Catherine