Author: Catherine

Today I have a new home card that I have made for friends of ours who have recently moved home. I decided to use a new to me Paperartsy stamp as the main focal image but then used an Art Journey stamp for the sentiment on the front.

I decided I wanted to play with distress crayons as I hadn’t used them in quite a while and I am trying to play more with my stash rather than just use the same old items. So I grabbed a few colours of crayon and laid some colour down and blended it with my fingers.

I then chose a brown and added some splatters of that to finish off the panel.

I used my stamping platform to stamp the image so I could intensify the black ink by stamping multiple times until I was happy with the image.

Next the sentiment I stamped twice … once on white in black ink and the second time embossed in white onto black card.

I chopped up the sentiment and then chose to ‘highlight’ the words Heart and Home before choosing how to add them to the card.

I outlined each of the white strips with a black pen to frame it too.

Next I needed some hearts but the only hearts I could find that were the right size were from a Alice in wonderland themed white rabbit die so after some fiddling managed to get them cut and stuck down. I then added black wink of Stella to them to give them a bit of shimmer!

I added this panel to the front of the card with foam behind to give it dimension.

The inside I also did on a separate panel and stuck in. I did the same thing with the distress crayons and then stamped the sentiments using some Clarity letter stamps. The two hearts I adhered were the ones I had tried for the front originally but they had been too wide … but inside they work fine!

The envelope I did a bit of masking and added the crayon to three sides and then added the splatters and some doodled lines to finish off.

Love how this came out.

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Hello! Back with another design team project … this time my Mother’s day card which I can share as my Mum doesn’t read my blog! Lol!

This is for the Anything Goes with Dies challenge over at Happy Little Stampers.

I actually used the paper left on my desk from the projects I shared the other day using the cover die with the little blocks. But went extra special with this card because of course my mum deserves extra special!

So the cover die I die cut from the patterned paper and mounted it on white. I think it looks like a pretty trellis. Then the focal image I mounted onto Mint Macaron that teams perfectly with the papers. I then grabbed my Butterfly wings dies and cut the two layers for the butterfly and some flourishes using the Crafters Companion dies.

I then grabbed the Playful Alphabets dies and cut mum out 3 times to stack them up.

Next I stamped and embossed the sentiment from itty Bitty sentiments and punched out the banners as two layers.

I also punched three hearts from the remaining pink cardstock. I added glossy accents to the hearts and wink of Stella to the sentiment.

I found some white seam binding and added a bow to the bouquet.

Inside the card I added the panel of paper, another embossed greeting and a small butterfly.

I am sure my mum will like this pretty card with all the details on it!

I’ve actually made up another of those cover panels from the leftover bits from this project but not sure what to use it for just yet so sealed it in an envelope to keep it safe with the other leftover bits of paper.

Hope you like what I made and you join us at Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies challenge blog.

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Hello! A new challenge is starting over at Happy Little Stampers today for Clean and Simple with the theme of water.

So I decided to interpret that in two ways… with water splashes and with a boat on the water image!

Now let’s start with a reminder of the rules…

Clean and Simple design with one focal point, lots of white (or open) space and minimal layers and embellishments

So I went a little more complicated than I perhaps needed to but went for a die cut oval aperture with a frame and the image laid on the top, with the inking through the aperture.

Then the card looked too plain so I added texture by sanding some areas and the splashing water and ink.

I think even with the grungy finish it goes with the CAS feel though as I left enough white space.

The envelope I again did a bit of ink blending for the background and then stamped the image off the side.

Hope you like what I made. Something a little different anyway! The image and the sentiment were from a very old Creative Stamping magazine and I often use that image for masculine cards.

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Hello readers. Hope you are well. It is the first of the month and so it is time to play with patterned paper again for my design team contribution for Craftyhazelnuts patterned paper challenge.

At the beginning of the year I decided to get a bit organised and have put aside specific papers from the old Making Cards magazine stash. I had too many still hanging around so have decided to just get things made… and to decrease the decision making I’ve put specific papers aside for each month… let’s see how that goes shall we?

This month it was these delicate floral papers and images.

Once again I created two cards… both with one piece of the patterned paper and two of the focal images.

I used a die I have had for a long time and rarely used which is a cover die that cits out lots of little rectangles and squares.

I die cut it from both the patterned paper and some lilac cardstock and created the backgrounds in reverse.

I love this two in one effect and may well use it again to create some more from this set of papers before the end of the month if I get a chance. I then created the toppers using different dies from the stash, including the flourish dies from Crafters Companion.

I also added a piece of the lace as an added texture underneath the focal images.

I finished with sentiments from Picture Perfect Birthday which I die cut and some pretty lilac sequins

I also added banner strips to the envelope fronts and the inside of the cards. I also added some more flourish die cuts and a sentiment to each of them inside.

Really pretty finished cards. Love the texture and the die cut elements.

Happy crafting!

Catherine

So I did a bit of an odd thing and used wallpaper to make this years Valentines card for my hubby. But it meant something so I suppose that makes sense!

The green wallpaper is the paper that has been on our lounge wall since we moved into the house. I have never loved it. Don’t get me wrong, it is nice paper, clearly expensive and good quality. But not something I would have ever chosen. Its always gotten nice compliments and I know my hubby liked it.

But after 11 years it was time to say goodbye and replace it (with the purple one that I used for the heart). It came off the wall in almost complete sheets and my hubby even joked about reusing it and putting it up in our bedroom! So I decided to keep a portion for his Valentines card… that way he can keep the paper in some way!

I decided on a 7×7 card and used a nice 6×6 piece for the main background. Then cut a few hearts from the new paper leftovers, layered and mounted them, and decided to use leaf and heart die cuts to decorate.

The main heart and little hearts were from the Wreath Builder die set, the leaves from Forever Flourishing set and the YOU letters from Playful Alphabets which is fast becoming an essential die set in my cardmaking for personalising and making statement sentiments.

I did add wink of Stella to the you letters for a bit of shimmer but otherwise didn’t go mad on bling and bits and pieces.

I added a sentiment strip with an old sentiment I’ve had for ages!

Inside the card I added another strip of the wallpaper and some leftover die cut bits.

On the envelope again strips of wallpaper and die cuts and some punched hearts.

Hope you like my fun valentines card and the story behind the wallpaper themed card!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

This month I joined in the UK Stampers Forum tag swap and used the remaining papers I had pulled out for the Craftyhazelnuts patterned paper challenge design team contribution.

This time after adding the papers for the background I grabbed my Tim Holtz stamps to add a stamped cocktail.

After stamping it, I coloured it in and cut it to size, mounting it on to some peach coloured card.

I added stitch effect doodles around the edges of panels and added the die cut circles and leaves I had in my little box of die cuts. This just added some extra zing to the whole thing.

Next I stamped and cut out the Happy from the Biggest Wish stamp set and stamped hour using little alphas.

I added some card candi to the top and some snippets of lace and ribbon.

Then I decided the glass needed to have something else to finish it off… glossy accents! Perfect!

A fun and bright tag for this months swap! Hope the recipient enjoys the fruity cocktail vibe!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Hello! How is it already the 8th of the month? Well that means it is a design contribution day for Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies challenge blog.

I am actually a little ahead of time for this as James’s birthday isn’t until the 13th but he is very unlikely so be following my blog so should be fine! Lol!

I started with the star cover die which I forgot I owned until I had a sort out of my dies box and when I saw it I knew I had to use it immediately!

I cut it from white cardstock and then played with my distress inks to create a splotchy effect in greens and blues.

Then I mounted it onto black cardstock.

Next I added a panel across the front and stamped the Biggest Wish stamps. I then die cut using the Tidings and Trimmings set the black and white star shapes.

Then I die cut James from black 4 times and stacked them up to create some dimension to his name and added those.

I added the panel to a Pacific Point 5.5×5.5 size card blank.

Inside I added a strip of black and added the white stars down the strip as embellishment. Then stamped and embossed the sentiment from Picture Perfect Birthday.

The envelope I added some faint stencilling using a Star stencil from the stash.

Hopefully James will like his star themed card when he gets it in a few days… until then… if you know James don’t show him this blog! 🤣🤣🤣

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Here I go again with another design team contribution… this time for Happy Little Stampers CAS challenge. This month Kylie has given us the theme Inky to work with… well given my blog name you know I am good with this one.

So remembering the rules for the CAS challenge….

Clean and Simple design with one focal point, lots of white (or open) space and minimal layers and embellishments

Here goes…

I decided to add a panel of gelliprinting using distress oxides and the mini rectangle Gelli plate. I love love this technique as it creates really fun little watercolour effects with very little effort.

I then added the embossed silver heart and the sentiment below… perfect little card topper which I kept to just that … one topper for the finished card, no additional layers.

I did find it hard to resist adding more bling if I am honest but remembered the whole less is more phrase (usually I am a more is more kind of girl!).

Hope you like it. I must admit I love the Gelli plate and oxides ink technique. Could happily make lots of backgrounds using this technique!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Hello! Wow its the first of Feb already! Of course first of the month means design team time for another monthly challenge for Craftyhazelnuts patterned paper challenge blog.

This year I decided to get a bit organised and have put aside specific papers from the old Making Cards magazine stash. I had too many still hanging around so have decided to just get things made… and to decrease the decision making I’ve put specific papers aside for each month… let’s see how that goes shall we?

This month I had bright cocktail themed papers and images to play with. Wow these are certainly bright and cheery!

As per last month I also used papers to decorate the envelopes and a little inside the cards too. It seems silly to eek out the paper when I have so much of it so making an effort to be generous with the paper from now on!

I decided to use bold big Happy sentiment stamps and embossed them using some old jewel coloured powders I have had in my stash for ages and fussy cut round quite a few of the images to create fun cards.

I also added the spellbinders circle die cut under the sentiment.

Both cards I also added card candi in the similar colours to the patterns and papers. Thought they were the perfect addition!

Inside I created little banners of different lengths from the papers and added another fussy cut image to go with them.

Love how these came together. Perfect and very cute bright and cheery cards.

Pleased that my get organised plan is working at making me get these papers used up! Off to check out the blog now to see what everyone else has been up to.

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Not sure whether I will manage to make a set of Christmas cards every month… but in the hope I might, I’ve optimistically named this post Christmas in … January so I can amend each month accordingly!

These four book bind fold cards I made using some Indigo Blu papers from a magazine kit I bought last year. I also added some die cut stars and the SU laser cut snowflakes as additional embellishments.

I kept them all quite simple as the fold itself makes them quite special but did add additional paper inside the cards plus a strip on the envelope too!

Also there was wink of Stella and white posca pen added too!

For those who wonder why I make so many Christmas cards, I gift those I’ve made to my parents to send as well as sending them myself!

Happy crafting!

Catherine