Category: Playful Alphabet

Biggest Wish, Dylusions paints, Dylusions spray inks, Forever Flourishing, Masks/Stencils, Playful Alphabet, Stampin Blends alcohol pens

Dylusions birthday

Catherine

I decided to once again grab a Dylusions background … but this time it is the last one so there won’t be more of these bright and funky backgrounds to share unless I have a fun inky session! This time I went for a pretty and fun birthday card.

After trimming the green background down I added it to some yellow card to give it a frame and then using foam I added it to the card blank.

Next I die cut some foliage from some Cinnamon Cider and Petal Pink cardstock. Next I stamped and fussy cut a large floral image from an old Creative Stamping magazine set. I’ve not really used this set much and it is beautiful so may have to put it to good use again soon.

I coloured it quite loosely using my Stampin Blends in Petal Pink, Granny Apple Green, Just Jade and So Saffron.

Next I die cut the letters for Happy from the Cinnamon Cider and stacked them up three times to give more dimension. I then stamped the Birthday from Biggest Wish using More Mustard.

I added foam under the floral stamped image and also under the birthday part of the sentiment so this really has a lot of dimension.

I finished off with the gold flower embellishments from the stash.

It feels so good to have finally used up all those backgrounds made so long ago. So pleased I could find a use for them and could find a way to mix up my crafting a little.

Happy crafting!

Catherine

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Christmas Season, Cottage Rose, Forever Fern, Playful Alphabet, Ribbons, Splendid Stems, Splendid Thoughts, Stampendous, Stampin Blends alcohol pens

Happy birthday Mum

Catherine

Yesterday was my Mum’s birthday and I wanted to share the labour of love that was her birthday card with you.

I had the idea that I wanted to do a wreath design as the main part of the card so I started by stamping lots of leaves from different sets in all the greens. I kept to mainly lighter coloured greens rather than very dark ones after all it is August not winter and wanted it to be bright!

I decided, even though these could be die cut, to fussy cut instead…. after all that is more relaxing and cam be done sat on the sofa…

Then I put together some on a circle to decide if the different styles and types of leaves went OK together… and decided as there were so many types and styles it did…. oh I also coloured in the images from Splendid Thoughts as they were outline images so used stampin blends to colour them.

I decided I wanted more but this time the die cuts from Splendid Stems as something to break up the images…

I decided this was a good mix of the delicate die cuts in solid colour and the stamped or coloured images.

Next to decide how to finish the card and I had a couple of ideas I tried out. By this time I had stuck the leaves together onto a thin ring of scrap paper so that was complete but all other elements are just placed in half finished form to give me an idea of how they look.

I was torn between keeping it green and white and adding in bright colours… bit went for the yellow as it is my Mum’s favourite colour.

So I found some yellow ribbon in the stash for a bow, fussy cut the Stampendous sentiment that I had stamped with blended yellow and coral inks, cut some more Playful Alphabets and coloured them with So Saffron stampin blends and added the little flowers I had bought in a pack from Hobbycraft many years ago.

Then to decide on the background … I went with a Kraft card base in 8×8 as I had one in my stash and the originally planned white 7×7 was a bit too small … but actually I think it frames it nicely.

Then I added a mount of the So Saffron cardstock.

The white base I decided to blend some So Saffron on and do some splatters of green and coral ink to complement the colours in the rest of the card.

I added a foam panel behind this to raise it off the So Saffron and then put foam behind the wreath and a double layer under the middle of the sentiment to support it.

This gives the whole card so much dimension. I love it!

Inside I added a panel of whisper white with some more blending and splatters with a panel of So Saffron on the edge. Then I added a little cluster of the leaves I had left over and added the little sentiment strip.

I decided to add wink of Stella to the mum letters to give them some sparkle and then called it finished!

A real labour of love… but my Mum is worth it!

Hope you like it too!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Banner Pick a Punch, Biggest Wish, For My Family, Oh So Ombre, Picture perfect birthday, Playful Alphabet, Tidings and Trimmings

Happy Birthday Dad

Catherine

Frustratingly my Dad’s birthday is always very close to Fathers Day and so I always try to make a completely different style of card for his birthday than I made for Fathers Day. Fathers day this year was all wood and brown elements… so for his birthday I went bright and colourful with dramatic black elements instead!

I found this very old dsp lurking in my box of papers and I am trying really hard to use up old stash when I find it… so the paper with candles and the yellow is from the same sheet of 12×12 (the joys of double sided dsp) but I had no other papers from whatever set it was from so decided to add in pieces of the 6×6 Oh So Ombre I had left in my stash too.

I decided to pick up on the black in the candle paper to add some black elements… the stamped Dad, the die cut stars and the die cut Happy.

The Birthday and the candles though I wanted bright and cheery so did those in Daffodil yellow… in fact I also heat embossed in clear over the yellow for the birthday so it also had some shine!

I cut panels of the paper, mounted the main central panel and then stuck everything down, raising the central panel a little for dimension.

The stars I added wink of Stella to so they had lots of shimmer.

Inside the card I cut some banners and added more die cut stars but smaller this time and then added the sentiment with heat embossing.

The envelope I used up some of the pieces of paper I had left to layer some banners and that was my card finished!

Definitely a very different style to his fathers day card… and very cheerful for his birthday!

Now having a contrasting card became even more important as I’ve not been able to give him either card yet and will be giving them both on Sunday as a result of delaying our plans thanks to C19. Ah well at least we are all on the mend now and just me to get a negative test result… Fingers crossed for tomorrow!

Happy birthday Dad!

Entering this into the layers challenge at The sisterhood of crafters

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Biggest Wish, Papermania, Pinewood planks, Playful Alphabet

Happy Fathers Day

Catherine

Today I am sharing the card I made for my Dad for Father’s day even though I’ve not been able to give it to him as a result of our Covid filled household.

I made the card a few weeks ago, and would have posted it if i had known we wouldnt be soending the day together, but that wasnt the plan!

Anyways … I was hunting through my stash for the components for this card as I knew I had bought a Papermania kit many moons ago that was for Fathers Day and had barely used it. For some reason it felt like 2022 was the year to use some of it!

So the kit included 12×12 papers and some of those papers had sentiments and words on and some had various elements like tags and frames. So I decided to collage them together and also add in some textures and die cuts and stamping. The kit had also included the metal tool charms so I also added those.

I set to on fussy cutting everything out and then when I had enough elements I decided to add panels of cardstock I had embossed. I love the effect of embossing so much and rarely remember to use my folders.

Once everything was cut out (including the die cut letters for Dad which I had stacked 3 deep) I inked all the edges and the embossed panels using Vintage Photo.

Then I started sticking things down, adding foam layers to sime parts for dimension. I then took some brads and attached the charms and then added some larger brads as ‘nail heads’ on two of the frames.

I added a tiny scrap of string to the tag too.

I decided rather than use the Happy that was in the patterned paper to go with a stamped one from the Biggest Wish set.

Inside the card I created a little cluster of the paper and cut out elements with a stamped Dad. I also added some of the paper and a little panel with a cut out element to the envelope too!

Love how this came out. Lots and lots of fussy cutting and inking … but my Dad is definitely worth the effort!

Happy fathers day to my Dad, to my hubby and to all the Dad’s out there!

Wishing I was spending today with my Dad but as a result of our little run in with Covid this past week we have postponed our plans for another week to be on the safe side!

Entering this into the challenge of Masculine/Fathers Day at Moving along with the times blog

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Design Team, Gorgeous Grunge, In Bloom, Masks/Stencils, Oh So Ombre, Pierced Blooms, Playful Alphabet, Ribbons, Very Versailles

DT: Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies challenge

Catherine

Hello!

Today I have a Happy Little Stampers Design Team contribution to share with you. I will admit I made this quite some time ago but stored it ready to post now as it was such a special card I didn’t want to just blog it on its own.

So the card is for the Anything Goes with Dies challenge and boy did I use a lot of dies!

So the card is one I made for my cousin to celebrate receiving her OBE. She was awarded it quite a while ago but as a result of Covid restrictions had to wait quite some time for the actual ceremony. Again due to restrictions (maybe they have always done this though I am not sure) only one guest was allowed to accompany her and my Uncle was the one who picked the name out of the hat so he got to go with her.

Anyway, the weekend after it happened I made this card, inspired by her pink and navy outfit.

Now the card came together after I had sat and turned lots of scraps of cardstock into pretty flowers and leaves. I do this quite often, save my scraps up and then have a massive die cutting session. This time I concentrated on the Pierced Blooms die set as these flowers and leaves always come in handy as embellishments. I ended up (after 2+ hours diecutting) with a big pile and a sore arm!

So I chose from the pile a selection of pink and purple flowers and pale green leaves that I could use to make a special card. I knew I wanted a bigger card so I chose a 7×7 card blank from the stash.

I cut a piece of white linen cardstock into a 6.25″ square and started creating a background. I used the gorgeous text stamp from Very Versailles, some of the splatter stamps from Gorgeous Grunge and also splashed some ink too. I then grabbed a leaf stencil, masked off some areas and added some leaf images to the background with the fabulous blending brush. I also edged the panel with the blending brush too.

Next I started inking the die cut leaves and flowers to add some depth to the colour. I also added some stamped splatters to the green.

Then started adhering them so that there would be a less populated area for me to add the sentiment.

The sentiment I went for the Playful Alphabets dies and die cut CONGRATS out twice from each colour. I stacked the dies and then using a ruler to line them up I added them so they were off the edge of the strip of cardstock I had prepared. I also added a very thin strip of Oh So Ombre paper to the panel. I stacked a few layers of cardstock behind the panel to lift it up and then added the navy ribbon behind it to frame the sentiment. I added wink of Stella to each of the letters to give them some shimmer.

When I stuck this in place I thought the background needed a little blue so added some splashes of ink. I also added the pink ribbon bow to finish off to sentiment strip.

I decided to go a bit mad with lots of pearls dotted around … but hey… it was a very special card after all!

Inside I took the sentiment from the In Bloom stamp set and added some panels of the Oh So Ombre paper to create some interest. I also added a flower and leaf cluster… after all I had got LOTS already die cut. This finished off the inside of the card.

I know I normally do something with the envelope too but this time I didn’t remember to do it, plus it was being posted to Scotland so I didn’t want loose bits getting caught in the post office machinery.

So there you go… my special OTT card for my cousin. So proud her achievements have been recognised.

Now off to see what everyone else has been up to for the Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies challenge.

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Artistic, Banner Year, Biggest Wish, Christmas Greetings, Design Team, Playful Alphabet, Ribbons, Venetian Romance

DT: Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies challenge

Catherine

Good morning! Time for another design team contribution… this time the Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies challenge.

I decided to make a thank you card for my parents and went for bright and cheery and the gorgeous Artistically Inked dies.

When I bought these I thought I would be using the floral bouquet all the time, but have only used it occasionally so far… so it seemed a good idea to grab it and get it used!

I teamed it with some lovely bright dsp I’ve had in the stash a long time (I used it a few months ago for a birthday card for my friend so I figured I would use some more again now!

And kept it light and easy with white die cutting etc.

I added some twine and gems to embellishments but made the card a little more fun by decorating the front, and the inside with a fold back.

I die cut the YOU from playful Alphabets three times and stacked them to give dimension.

Then added a panel back in of white so I had somewhere to write my message.

I used an strip of the paper leftover to decorate the envelope and one of the remaining leaves for the decoration!

Love how this turned out… I especially like anchoring the die cut in the panel of white… I think that works well.

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Christmas Greetings, Design Team, Emma Godfrey, Playful Alphabet

DT: Craftyhazelnuts patterned paper challenge

Catherine

How is it the beginning of May already? This year is whizzing past!

So as it’s the start of the month that means it is design team contribution time for Craftyhazelnuts patterned paper challenge blog. Once again I delved into the old Making Cards magazine papers I have had for ages and wanted to get used this year… and this time it was full of tropical toucans!

I had so much fun putting these together. Lots of fussy cutting was needed but I think it was totally worth it!

I cut more images out than I needed but ended up using 6 in total as I went to town on these cards. There wasn’t actually much patterned paper in the kit I had put aside, just the triangle one and the leaf one but it was enough to make the two cards and decorate inside and the envelopes but really the images take centre stage!

I decided that orange was the best colour to use with the patterns and images and also a little bit of green. I decided both needed to be cheerful birthday cards and so cut out Happy using Playful Alphabets dies and embossed the birthday in white onto scraps of green. A few of the images seemed circular so I went with some die cut stitched shape circles and used these to frame the images.

But then I wanted more greenery for my tropical birds to be nesting in… so I grabbed Christmas Season stamps and dies because three of the elements seem perfectly fine as tropical greenery to me even though they are meant for Christmas foliage!

I stamped them using different green inks from the stash … blending the coloured together by using my stamp platform then die cut them. Again I thought I had done more than I needed but I ended up using them all!

I finished them both slightly differently … glossy accents for one on the Happy and wink of Stella on the other.

I used up the papers and the images inside and on the envelopes…

… so some pretty fun and heavily decorated cards this month. Love them!

Those toucans make me smile!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Birds and More, Design Team, Forever Flourishing, Playful Alphabet, Wreath Builder

DT: Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies

Catherine

Another month has passed and we are back to DT time for Happy Little Stampers.

And this month I have two Easter cards I’ve made.

So I started with some papers I had been gifted in a swap. As they had eggs and bunnies on them they clearly needed to be used for a specific season so I just went with it.

I started with the idea of a back panel and a smaller rectangle but then went a bit off piste and went for angled panels. It’s not often I do this so it was fun to play with different angles and layouts.

I decided to use the Playful Alphabets dies to create the main sentiment and use the Banner punch too.

I also added the Happy from Biggest Wish for this first one. Then I grabbed some of the flower die cuts I had already got in my box of bits (I have a session every so often cutting flowers and leaves and small die cuts from scraps so I have things like these to hand and I make use of my smaller scraps!). The flowers are from Arrange a Wreath and the leaves are from Forever Fern.

Next I added the small gems to the centre of the flowers.

The next card I only added the one small flower and leaf but also added the bird from Birds and Branches, and changed the colour of the die cut letters.

I love the funky bright feel to these cards, and am grateful that the gifted papers inspired me to create.

Now off to see what the gang have been up to at Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies challenge blog… please do go and join the challenge.

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Banner Pick a Punch, Brilliant Wings, Crafters Companion dies, Design Team, Itty Bitty Greetings, Playful Alphabet, Ribbons

DT: Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with dies

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

Forever Flourishing, Playful Alphabet, Wreath Builder

Valentines wallpaper card

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