Inkyfingeredcat

I’ve had a bit of a break from blogging this week – well I did say at the beginning of the year I wouldn’t blog daily this year (but pretty much have for most months!) – anyway this weekend I have a crop to go to so might get a few projects done and ready to blog about in coming weeks – so maybe I’ll be back more routinely – but sure you’ll forgive me for being a little more absent this past week!

Today I have an interesting project that is similar to cards I made a few months ago using rub ons. On the previous projects I used the white rub ons … well this time it was the black ones and I used the full sheet across four different inky/painty backgrounds in one session.

Aren’t they lovely?

Well I didn’t have time to make four cards but I did manage to make this one using the panel in the top right…

By putting rub ons in different parts of the background (this one is a gelli print) it leads the eye around the panel and then that white die cut deer stands out in contrast.

Love how this worked.

I kept the actual card very simple… mounted on white and black to frame and wrapped some floss for a bow for the area that seemed like it needed something. Then added some enamel accents to create ‘gems’ as embellishments.

Love this moody looking artsy card and looking forward to using the other backgrounds when I get time to do something with them.

Happy crafting!

Catherine

So I said I probably wouldn’t blog my #dyicad2024 all the time but thought I would share the first three days as I don’t actually have another project to share today!

Day one

Day two

For all three I basically am just grabbing a card that already has something on it and then adding random bits and bobs from either the box of collage materials I have, or things I’ve previously stamped or die cut and having fun adding colour or doodles.

Absolutely no planning going on – just doing whatever I feel like at the time.

At the moment the only connection they have are the old stamps I’ve added to all three so far but not feeling the pressure to keep that up – we will see!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Yesterday I promised you other projects using the True Love papers that I made at the crop back in early April.

Well here is one of them … rainbow of flowers with some pieces of the reverse of the dsp and a sentiment! Done and dusted! And perfect for Pride month don’t you think?

With having chosen the mix of colours I kept the background neutral with just the black and white and then the large expanse of white. I did bring in a colour for the card base but with such a small amount visible it didn’t dominate the card and allows the flowers to be the focal point.

Used a Waffleflower sentiment and a single black gem for embellishment!

Two more True Love dsp flower cards to come – watch out over the next couple of weeks!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

It’s the first of the month so time to play with patterned paper and this time I cheated and actually made these months ago at a crop where I took along the pouch that had a few remaining pieces of the True Love dsp along with a few other bits of paper from the Expressions in ink papers.

I had fun colouring in the flowers with the Stampin Blends and then made up several card fronts using the stash I had to hand. Will share others later this month as they had a different thing going on!

Because I had the flowers already cut out and the panels I kept quite simple these were easy cards to make. I’d also die cut and stamped all the sentiments already too so that made those really simple to pick out and adhere!

I liked keeping it simple at the time because of the fact that I had very few supplies to hand (although I had packed a lot of stuff to take with me!).

When I got home I finished them off with gems and adding them to card bases.

I’ve loved this paper and although it is sad to see the final pieces of it being used it is also good news —- means I might eventually get around to buying new papers because I am making a small inroad into using up what I have!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Today I have two cards I made using up those backgrounds I made in a big session of crafting whilst watching the fabulous Tim Holtz on YouTube. During the session I made lots of colourful background panels …

But those two black and grey ones on the top were the ones I actually chose to play with.

The one on the left hand side was a background made using Hickory Smoke and black soot direct to paper and then used the greetery stencil to add the pattern with more black soot distress ink. The one on the right hand side was using the ink left on the stencil and making a print with it onto white cardstock! So a two for one type of effect!

I trimmed down the panel and edged it with more black soot to create the frame and then used a black sticker that I found a stack of in my bits and bobs box to make the label for the sentiment.

I had a few of the rub ons left in the Christmas stash box in the white and used them to embellish around the panel and also near where I added the sentiment.

The white rub ons are quite subtle but work well in adding another element to the card.

The sentiment is a Tim Holtz Sizzix die and I already had them die cut and glued together ready so perfect for these cards. Whilst a white card blank might have worked better for the black and white theme I decided to make it a little different with the cream card base instead.

The second card with the print of the stencil I teamed with purple colours.

The two purple colours create both the card blank and the mat and also the panel for the sentiment to sit on.

I then added the purple sequins to embellish.

Really pleased with both of these and also these were the last panels I made in that crafting session of making backgrounds but the only ones I made specifically thinking of Christmas cards so it was good to make them into something at last!

Of course still plenty of backgrounds left to play with so who knows how many more will turn into Festive Friday projects?!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

I’ve made the decision to join in with Daisy Yellow Index Card a Day again … I’ve managed to complete it twice before but had at least three failed attempts to finish previously … let’s see how 2024 goes.

Don’t think I will follow the prompts but rather just make a pledge to create an index card daily. I was definitely inspired by @craftytrog to join in (thanks Alison)

Here is my cover card done and dusted. Probably won’t blog most (maybe do a round up every week or so) so please do check out my instagram @inkyfingeredcat_crafting

Who else is joining me for ICAD?

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Had a play with distress inks and new stencils to create this card for my friend who has recently moved home.

Yes I bought two circle themed stencils at the same time … Tim Holtz and Aall and Create.

Made a blue and green panel and then a red, orange and blue panel and played with the stencils on both and then stamped the little house out of the red panel before using my stampin blends to add some definition to the image.

The stamp itself is a Craft Stamper magazine one and it’s so cute and quirky!

I also added some stamping to the blue panel with black for the cup stain to add something a little different in the background.

I edged panels and doodled round edges and then added the sentiment and gem after adding it to a green card blank.

Pretty sure my arty friend enjoyed this bright and fun card I made.

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Hello! Here is my DT contribution for the Any Occasion challenge over at Addicted to Stamps and More.

I decided to make up another Spellbinders stitching die flower focal point. I die cut the main flower from orange and added extra ink to give it dimension but decided not to sew that part. I decided instead to stitch the base of the flower element instead.

I made two flowers and I cut off the leaf on one stem to make it different and then had to decide how to use them.

I went with one of the less patterned gelli prints where I used torn paper to just print part of the panel.

The greens on this worked well with the flowers and I just glued them straight down. The sewing makes the die cut pieces quite bulky already so didn’t need much dimension.

I decided a hand drawn border would work well with the handmade look of the card.

I added the sentiment with thread sandwiched beneath (really like this effect) and then the card Candi to finish off.

Inside I added a white panel with another hand drawn border but otherwise kept it plain.

Love how the sentiment means it can be used for Any Occasion – so perfect for this challenge!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

As the title says last card using the papers I pulled out for the challenge at the beginning of the month.

This time I added over the top of the patterned paper a die cut cover plate using the purple cardstock I had left over. Then a panel of white to ground the big focal feature of the stitched floral die.

The purple die cut adds interest but also tones out the pattern on the pink so it becomes less of a feature. The eye is then drawn to the flower because of the white panel.

I die cut the leaves from the left over dark grey and then the flower from the pink paper.

I then die cut the stem from black.

For the leaves I decided against the stitching and instead added glossy accents to the holes. For the flower I actually added the stitching using purple for the thread.

Love how this flower immediately finishes off the front of the card and makes it special!

I added a white embossed sentiment which I fussy cut and some card Candi to finish off!

I think this is the first time I’ve die cut these stitching dies from patterned paper – it won’t be the last though as I think it worked well!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Happy bank holiday weekend everyone. I’ve got a busy day ahead with a non-BBQ with the parents (typical bank holiday weather means I’m not cooking outside!) so no crafting planned. Instead I’ve got a post from a project I did a while ago.

I had a scrap of wallpaper sample that I had been hoarding … so you know the score … must use or ditch it! So notecards made!

Kept them really simple with the embellishment of roses cut from another piece of dsp and then some stamped, embossed and die cut sentiments.

Oh and also some white sequins to embellish!

Love the texture of the wallpaper and the torn edges with those beautiful watercolour floral images.

Simple project … feel satisfied I put the wallpaper sample to use … and no longer hoarding it! I mean how ridiculous was it to hoard it in the first place? But if you are a crafter I am sure you are just like me in having lots of random stuff around that just needs using or binning!

Happy crafting!

Catherine