Author: Catherine

Today I actually have 4 cards I made using the same stamp and die set from Avery Elle called Loads of Hello. It reminded of the Peace and Joy stamp set from SU at Christmas that I loved!

This is my design team contribution for Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies challenge.

So I started by stamping the hello four times in Purple ink and then die cut it, and die cut a few extra in white so I could stack them and make the die cut have more dimension for some.

Then I decided to Team the die cuts with stencils as I wanted to try the new stencil brushes out.

The first one I went pink and kept it pretty simple with stencilling and punched hearts which I added the glossy accents to. I also added a pink mat to the word friend.

The next one I went simple with too. I actually created the boxes for the background from post it notes so I could adjust the size of the rectangles. I kept the whole card with blue tones with punched flowers, sequins and some pearl accents for the centre. This was probably the least involved of the cards.

The next one had the most amount of effort with a bit of colour added and then texture paste through the stencil and I did the whole front of the card. Love this funky alpha stencil. Then I die cut the oval stitched shapes and added flowers die cut from scraps using the Pierced Blooms dies. These are my go to dies for embellishments that’s for certain!

I also had a hunt through the gems stash and found these pale green gems for the centre of the flowers.

The final one I went delicate again and added just the light pink stencilling on the top right hand corner. The blending brushes are perfect for this kind of delicate finish.

Then I die cut the Butterfly shape from white and the filigree version in pink and layered them and the sentiment. I decided it needed something else so added some splatter using pink and purple inks. Then the gems to finish.

A lovely way to use the hello die and add different effects. Wonder which is your favourite… I am torn between the Butterfly and the hearts one… although the texture one and the rectangles I love too… ooohh I can’t decide.

OK off to see what the rest of the dt did for the blog, and looking forward to seeing all those that join in the blog too!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

This month the theme for my ATCoin swap is PINK.

I decided to just start layering up pink colours on my coins and see where I got to with it… no plan!

As you can see I also added black and white to my pink themed coins.

I started with coins cut from packaging so gave them a coat of gesso. Then added neocolours and water, followed by stamping in a different shade of pink. Then patterned paper which I added the neocolours to. I punched part of a circle out of cardstock I had coloured with dylusions inks in pink and purple.

I had a hunt in the box of used foreign stamps and found three in different shades of pink. I also added washi strips too. I didn’t mind that I was mixing different shades and tones of pink… it all worked together.

I hunted in the box where I keep die cut scraps and found flowers and leaves I could also use.

Then I finished off with the hugs die cut (lawn fawn) and the friend stamp (avery elle) and the pink coloured pearls.

Super happy with these pink coins!

Hope that the recipients like them too.

Happy crafting!

Catherine

As promised last week there is a second collaged masterboard to share with you… this time a neutrally coloured one …

This time I went for straight edges and lots of book print before adding the stamps and some images.

I videoed the process again if you want to see how it came together here is the link.

Love how this came together and how different it is from the other one I created.

They’ve both been received by the swap recipient and we have now been informed that we have to chop up one and make it into at least 4 different things… wonder what Dianne will choose to make and which she will use and send back to me. I’ve been busy cutting up and using one of hers this weekend which I will share with you what I do with it once I’ve sent the finished items back to Dianne.

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Today I have another You Tube video for you. This time making a collage masterboard for a swap. For this one I used fun bright papers, mixed with bookprint and then stamping and stencilling to finish off.

There is another one to share but made it separately so you’ll have to wait to see that one! 😉

Also the ones I have received are great. Amazing how everyone approaches it differently and you can learn from others art.

I have no idea what we will be using these for so looking forward to find out! Got to wait to the end of the month to find out though!

Edit… actually I do know what we used one for… chopping up and making some bits from it and sending back to the artist… such fun!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Today is a little similar to last week in that I am sharing a butterfly themed tag (well three of them) … and they are very similar to last weeks in design but are actually the tags I made for three friends who joined me for an online craftalong last week….

Crumb Cake base, Butterfly Brilliance stamps, Butterfly Bijou dsp, Gorgeous Grunge stamping and washi tape… perfect fun and slightly grungy tags. Didn’t go full on Grunge as the idea is they can go in their journals and so may not fit with their style if I went too far to grungy in the design of these. Love them!

Really need to play with the stamps and dies more for this set. Unfortunately the dsp sold out so almost wishing I had hoarded it more!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Today for Tag Thursday I have the tag I made for this months swap at UK stampers forum.

I used the lovely Butterfly Bouquet suite… and made my tag from a few layers of the Crumb Cake cardstock.

I was actually making a few things using these papers and stamps at the time so it seemed sensible to make this tag at the same time.

I used the stamp on the background along with Vintage photo distress ink. Then added some splatters using the Gorgeous Grunge stamps and Calypso Coral ink. Next a little bit of stencilling using an old Tim Holtz stencil.

Them I added the strips of the paper and the bookprint and stitched it with my sewing machine… to be honest my sewing machine started having a little hissy fit making this tag so it’s a good job I was going for the grungey look!

I then added the washi tape and the stamped and die cut butterfly, before sewing round the edge, and inking the edges.

I then adhered it to another piece of Crumb Cake that I cut to size and also inked.

Finally a bit of ribbon from the scraps basket and called this done!

Entering this into the Wi ged things challenge at International art and soul

Happy crafting!

Catherine

I decided to make some cute ATC flipbooks for my raggy doll sisters as a little treat to send through the post. It took me a few different sessions to put these together so bear with me with the many pics of the process.

Session 1…

I started with ATC cut from amazon packaging and made lots of layers of paint, paper and stamping.

I used a lot of different supplies and had lots of fun creating these (there are 8 of us in the group so I made one for me to keep too!).

Next I made page two …

Side one (awaiting finishing touches) and side two…

Again it was fun to just play with supplies I had to hand and make some cute ATCs.

Next session I played with alcohol inks on slightly shiny card and created these cards… after playing with the alcohol ink, I stamped and embossed a grungy background stamp from the stash, added back washi and then stamped the Bee onto some French bookprint.

The reverse I used the same alcohol ink but more of a blended finish and added some stamped leaves, die cut flowers and a sentiment with a fun resin centre for each of the flowers.

I also worked on the back card which I also made from corrugated card and added more of the neon pink paint.

This time I added it after adding some Tim Holtz tissue wrap with matt medium and also added some black gesso round the edge. I then used some art alchemy paint in black for some sparkle (it doesn’t really show in the photos unfortunately). I then used black gesso to paint the wooden Love word and glued them into place and added a sparkly gem and some dots of black enamel to finish off. They were still drying in the picture so not the best pics but you get the idea.

I kept the back really simple with scrapbook scrap paper and a stamped and sticker date. I later signed my name but that didn’t make it to the photo archive! Also the odd one out here was the one for me as I ran out of the paper I had been using for the rest!

I did add a couple more pages but didn’t photo them whilst unattached … plus included little messages for my friends. I did however make a little flip through video and share it on YouTube.

Then I punched the top of each card with my cropadile and used a colourful book ring to fix them together.

I then went mad with ribbon scraps adding little colourful bits of trim to each of them… here they all are on my floor ready for packing.

I hope you liked this little project, I certainly had lots of fun making them and thinking lovely thoughts about my friends, whom I got to know 10 years ago this year.

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Today I have another Design Team contribution for Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies challenge. I made three mixed media tags and added the Wreath Builder die cut wreath and flowers and the die cut butterflies.

The tags were made from collaged bookpages using a technique I saw from Joie de Fi on YouTube. There was lots of sewing and then after cutting them to size, more seeing round the edges too.

I then added gelatos to the three tags in three different primary colours and added water and smudged them with my fingers.

Next I die cut three wreaths and flowers and some additional leaves from scraps of cardstock, and three butterflies from the Butterfly Bijou dsp.

I then layered them us and stuck them down and chose a quote sticker for each which I outlined with pen to help it show up against the book print.

I then splattered a glimmer ink to add shimmer all over the tag.

Absolutely delighted with these and the technique Joie has introduced me to. Absolutely going to be doing this again!

Hope you like my mixed media tags for this months die cut challenge… certainly a different way to use your die cuts against this simple to make and fun background.

Happy crafting!

Catherine

This week one of my friends at work left our team for a superb promotion. It’s been an emotional week, as whilst I am really proud of her and wish her well, I am going to miss working with her on a daily basis.

This is the card I made for her.

I decided to stamp the Butterfly Brilliance stamp onto some of the Butterfly dsp and die cut it. Then I used four of the butterflies to make this card.

I created a frame with the Petal Pink cardstock and the background using some very old embossed speciality paper I stumbled across in my stash. I then had two butterflies inside the frame and two on the top.

I gave the frame panel some splatters of white gesso and some shimmer ink to add some fun arty splashes and also inked up the edges using my distress oxides.

I chose a Crafters Companion stamp set for the sentiment and embossed it in gold and punched one end into a pennant. I then added the frame panel to a card made from soft sea foam which I had lightly inked around the edges.

Inside the card I added some strips of the dsp and cardstock I had cut into little pennants and inked and added a little die cut butterfly to finish off.

Really happy with how it came out.

Wishing Abbie all the best and know however much I will miss her, she is doing the right thing.

Entering this card into the feature a creature challenge at Dragonfly dreams challenge

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Today I have the rabbit themed postcard I made at the weekend for the Facebook postcard art swap. Love how it came out.

I actually filmed the process and here is the link to the video.

Used Art by Marlene collage papers and die cuts and sewing and Tim Holtz stickers and had lots of fun making it… even if it did give me smurf fingers!

Happy crafting!

Catherine