Author: Catherine

Told you I had more things made with the Big World stamps and dies … here you go!

I grabbed the Big World stamps and dies and some Making Cards magazine papers to make some coordinating notecards to give to my daughters friends as they all embark on new adventures post college.

I popped the camera on to record the process so please pop over to my YouTube channel to see that.

Of course I didn’t really have a plan as such – just to make some notecards using these supplies. I started by stamping six world images but when I went to make two into globes the die cutting went wonky so I only ended up with five focal images so have put the other background panel I had made to one side for another project.

I added black waxed string and the card Candi to each card as embellishment.

I mounted each card topper onto either blue or green card bases.

I did end swapping out the sentiment on one card because I lost the one I stamped and cut out somewhere along the way!

Inside the cards I used the mini atlas stamp and then leftover scraps of the patterned paper.

But the one I like the most is definitely the one where I made up the globe.

Definitely need to be careful die cutting the stamped image so you don’t offset it by accident – but that globe is just so cool!

Love it!

So five cards in total and it took about 90 mins to do which I don’t think is too bad!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Yesterday was our wedding anniversary (17 years!) but our focus was on moving our daughter into her university accommodation so not exactly romantic! So we decided to pause and celebrate a little late – in fact we won’t be celebrating until next week! However rather than pause the blog I’m doing it today as he doesn’t read my blog anyway!

Because I’ve been very focussed on the big move I didn’t get round to making the anniversary card until Friday night – hence the bad light for the photos!

Anyway the card I made was fun to do and turned out quite well!

I used the Altenew Big World stamps and dies I’ve been loving using recently (some more projects coming up on the blog in a few days) and I made an interactive card.

I decided the world would be a perfect stamp to make a spinner card. I saw Jennifer Maguire make one recently on a live she did with Kristina Werner (whose new line of stamps, stencils and dies I adore and am longing to buy but can’t quite justify the spend at the moment!) and really wanted to have a go at it!

I added a bit of stencilling for framing the world and also a little extra stamping with the little hearts and the anniversary sentiment.

I added a panel to the inside with the same stencilling too and some more of the stamped hearts.

The world stamp is so great as it has two different views so makes it perfect for this spinner!

I loved making the card and I know that with the world stamp it is perfect for my hubby as he loves globes so even though I didn’t use the globe element to the set I know the interactivity will amuse him!

I did do a few things slightly wrong making it (the string isn’t quite central to the hole in the card for example and you can see one of the black stamped hearts through the hole by accidentally stamping too far to the left) so look forward to trying it again with other elements as a fun different card to make!

So happy anniversary to me and him – especially as we have become empty nesters and start the next phase of our lives together!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Today’s Festive Friday was my first make using the Spellbinders stamp set I got in the sale a while ago.

I kept the card so simple with the image stamped twice and coloured with alcohol panes and then the sentiment stamped onto the same panel.

I did add the little stitched type lines with a pen as I felt like it needed something to connect the two stamped images.

I added this to a card blank I made from some speciality cardstock I found which has embossed music paper design on it.

I added a panel for the inside in white and then some gems for embellishment and decided it was done!

Sometimes simple is all that is needed!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Today at Creative Knockouts our challenge is embossing fun – well I ended up with two different types of embossing for me card. I chose to use the Geisha Girl image from SheepSki designs for my card and they are sponsoring this challenge.

I decided to colour my image with promarkers and stampin blends. Then I fussy cut her out ready to add to the card once I’d sorted the background.

I chose the gelli print background that looked like it would work with the image colours I had chosen and the pattern looked fun too.

I then used a Japanese stamp I’ve had in the stash a long time (no idea what it says so I hope it’s nothing offensive!) and embossed that in the background with a green powder.

Then I cut a strip of white cardstock to run through the embossing folder with some ink for a stripe down one side.

Next I added the girl and decided she needed a flower to add to the card.

I know the die I chose isn’t a cherry blossom but I think it looks nice regardless!

I die cut it from white but then used stampin blends to colour the pieces to create something that was the same colours as her outfit and parasol.

Next I stamped the friend from a cut mini Altenew set and decided it needed a border so I embossed a piece of scrap with the same green powder and used that as a mat for the sentiment.

I tucked some linen thread behind the sentiment just to add a different texture.

I added the panel to the crumb cake card blank I made which is a slimmer card than normal. This worked well with the feel of the card I thought.

Inside I used another print out (this one has less detail on it than the one I used on the front) and cut the panel so the girl was to the side of the inside. I used a bit of the cut off gelli print at the bottom and stamped the sentiment at the top in distress oxide to finish off.

So three types of embossing – dry with a folder, heat embossing stamping and heat embossing for a background mat panel. Challenge completed!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Yes I did more cards like the one I shared yesterday but even more simple!

Gelli print, embossed stamping of the two cards, a mat and a card blank! Jobs a good’un!

Each of the gelli prints has its own thing going on so its own personality and with the bold black stamping and mat they each look fab!

Well I think so anyway!

This time I used the Biggest Wish for the sentiment and stamped and embossed directly onto the gelli print.

Some of the gelliprints have some gold paint in them too so that makes them shiny already – I love tilting them in the light to see the shine!

Just gorgeous!

Seriously why have I not been using this stamp set until now? It’s so simple and so pretty! And perfect for grungy funky backgrounds like these gelliprints!

Linking these cards up with the triple B challenge

Happy crafting !

Catherine

This was a really simple card to put together and I can’t believe I have not used this stamp set before as it’s gorgeous!

I took one of the gelli prints in the stash and embossed the image using black versafine and clear embossing powder.

Then I added the little circles and line stamp to the edges and then trimmed the panel down. I added the sentiment onto white and hand cut to follow the wonky lines.

I mat the panel with white and then black to keep it classy and then added to a white card blank.

I used white card Candi to embellish and called it done!

Just love the pattern and texture of the background with the artsy image and how simple this was!

Hope you like it. I did video the process of putting this together for those who prefer a visual explanation!

And let this be a reminder to you to look through old stash to see if there is something in there you’ve not used yet or used in a while – it might spark your mojo!

Linking to the anything mixed media challenge at We love 2 create

Happy crafting!

Catherine

I decided to grab the pumpkin stamps again but also I had an idea for using up scraps and wanted to try it out … so I stuck the camera on and recorded the process of making these cards.

I started with strips of white cardstock from the scraps box and coloured them with different colours using my promarkers then adhered them to a piece of cardstock. I then die cut it to create the circle and cut down the remaining to create the frame for the second card.

I stamped the pumpkins using different colours of ink and then added the stem stamps with the green and fussy cut them out.

I decided to keep this one with the circle simple adding the circle to the crumb cake card blank and then adding some black die cut leaves to add contrast. I embellished with the thread bow and some black gems.

I used a Concord & 9th set for the sentiments on both cards matting them with a scrap of Calypso Coral cardstock.

This one was a bit more involved with the cut out from the soft sea foam card which is trimmed to be slightly smaller than the card base. I added some scrap cardstock underneath to raise it up slightly from the base panel.

I added inking and some splatters of the shimmer ink to the base too which added some fun contrast to the front. I also added the white and gold leaves for this one.

I added a nest of the thread behind the sentiment for this one and some glittery gems for embellishment.

Love how they both came out and loved playing with those cute pumpkin stamps. I also am pretty chuffed with how my idea translated for using scraps of cardstock – I think it worked pretty well!

Entering the first card for the autumn colours challenge at Allsorts challenge

Happy crafting!

Catherine

My lovely friends Helen, Sarah and Jackie run a Facebook group where they give us a sketch to play with for the month with their three takes on the sketch. This morning I decided to join in for the September sketch!

This was the sketch that they used from Pagemaps.

I decided on these three photos and then picked out the single piece of patterned paper because it worked with the colour of my cap in the photos. I did have to immediately vary the sketch by having one pic slightly larger to keep us all in frame!

I turned the sketch to the right when I started with the sewing deciding on the vertical for the photos rather than the horizontal. Just felt more right with the pics that I had!

I then added the hand sewing based on the sketch (but also added a little more in a few other places too).

I chose a Bramble Fox acrylic for my title and some other Bramble Fox bits and pieces from the stash.

I decided to use one of the stencils in the background with some tattered rose distress ink – I thought it worked with the beach vibe!

I love those sparkly starfish elements and the cute shells.

My final embellishment was the sequins from the stash which just added some extra texture.

Love how this came out and it was good to get a scrapbook page done as the mojo has been missing for scrapping a little the past couple of weeks.

I did video the process so you can check this out on my YouTube channel.

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Hello! Had a moment where I decided to use some scraps up to create these cute little ATCs and joined in with the swap over at UK Stampers Forum!

Not often I go for cute stamps but these Alpaca Pals stamps make me smile and they are perfectly sized for the ATC.

I added some ink round the outside of the ATC and then added this slightly smaller panel for the topper using the scraps onto black cardstock. I stamped the stars using white craft ink and then added the little alien and the title on top.

I added the little sequin stars to finish off and add sparkle!

Fun! It was great to also make something totally different from normal and of course to use up scraps that were otherwise destined for the bin!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Hello! I actually made this card towards the beginning of August as I wanted to use the Waffle flower poinsettia background stencil that I had bought but not used during the Christmas in July series.

I decided to stencil onto the cream cardstock and for the first one I kept it simple with just the ink.

This creates such a beautiful panel of paper.

I decided for the second card panel that I would add in the versamark after the initial inking of the red and then clear embossing.

This gives the red petals some shine and texture.

I did add gold pen to the centre of the flowers of the first card but it doesn’t show so well on the finished card.

I decided to add the red frame that I die cut and then I used the leftover red to create the mat for the panel.

For each I added the Tim Holtz moose which were already die cut and inked up ready from when I used them a while ago for the Christmas in July- I die cut a few whilst I had the die out so there were some ready to go!

I also added the die cut sentiments that were made in a batch earlier that day.

I added some die cut holly leaves just behind the sentiment cut from inked cardstock so they match the inking on the background panel.

I chose to use green as a card blank for one and red for the other. The red one I added some foam behind the panel so it’s a raised dimensional card.

Inside both cards I added a cream panel and the scrap cut off the stencilled panel as a strip.

This helps link the inside with the outside.

Once again the process was captured on camera so please check out my YouTube channel.

Happy crafting!

Catherine