Even though this background ended up being a bit busier than I expected I still quite like it. I used a technique found here but I didn’t get quite the same effect. Once it was done I couldn’t think what to do with it although the colours fit the JUG’s challenge. Then I remembered a Memory Box die called Splashing puddles and had a go at cutting it through the watercolour paper. I had to run it through a few times but it did cut nicely in the end. Using my latest SSS kit with the frogs etc. I stamped the simplest frog and fussy cut him once he was coloured. To colour him I used InkTense pencils. I added glossy accents to the splashes, raindrops and the eyes of the frog. I also used some of the fall outs to add a puddle under the frog and some splashes to the inside. I used the sentiment only on the inside as the front is too busy to add anything else. The card stock is from GKD and I made it into a square card for a change. Initially I wasn’t sure if this was going to work, but I quite like the end result and I have another piece to use for a 2nd card.

Since putting my stuff into my new craft room, still in progress actually, I’ve come across many items I had forgotten I had. The red corrugated paper is one such as is the kraft coloured handmade paper. I shall have to label my drawers and cupboards so I can find it all. Lately I pull open all the drawers looking for something that I know is there but can’t remember exactly where I put it.

I’m trying to get Christmas cards done and it is a slow process although I did manage to finish 7 this past week. Another 100 to go based on my recent count. I figured the Color Hue challenge was a perfect one for another Christmas card and this is what I came up with. The red and white letters are die cut from an Origami set of papers and I used some scrap bits for the punched foliage. Using a red glitter Sakura pen I added glitter to the foliage and to the stripes of red on the letters as well as a few tiny dots here and there. The die used is from Dee’s Distinctively.

We are experiencing what the weather people called an atmospheric river and the amount of rain coming down is immense. It is almost continuous so is very dreary outside. Our view is nothing but cloud and mist.

Sometimes we receive a store bought card that is too pretty to throw away and a challenge to cut up and use in a different way. This card is made from one of those I received last year. Initially I couldn’t decide on how to use it but found a video by Lisa Curcio on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68iuUR-TmtA and that made me wonder if doing a tunnel card would work out. I’ve never done one before although always like the way they look. After reviewing the video I took the plunge and die cut the center pieces from the card front. Then I reassembled them as shown by Lisa. I used infinity dies from HeroArts to get my circles. I added everything to a new card front and think it is a good way to reuse a store bought card. I may do more of them.

And just so everyone is aware, I don’t cheat and add my name to any repurposed cards. They aren’t my creations and I won’t claim them as such even though I change them a lot. It is just a great way to recycle something which is why I do it.

Products used come from Divinity Designs, SSS and GKD. Firstly I die cut the lamp and the small embellishments using scraps. Then I dry embossed the white panel and added it to the card front. I added the lamp chain next, then the candle before adding the lamp on top. After which I added the leaves, bow and berries. I couldn’t decide on a greeting initially but found the Ho Ho one in the stamp set I had been using on another project and thought it a good choice. After stamping it I added the piece to a bit of sparkly paper to give a border. Added a bit of Sakura glitter to the words but it doesn’t show on the photo. It reminds me of an old fashioned Christmas card – the kind we used to get years ago.

The colour hues challenge requires orange and green and Double Trouble requires some kind of fall project so I combined the 2 and made this card. The card was inspired by one seen on Pinterest and this is my take on that card: http://iminhaven.blogspot.com/2016/03/mini-flowers-and-leaves.html. I don’t have nesting square dies so I used a diamond set from Spellbinders. PP is from MFT and I had to go through my box to find the pad which took forever as I kept missing it. After adding the PP to the card front I cut the white piece to the size I needed and played with die placement before cutting the openings. Stamps used were all from the Triple Play Holidays from GKD. After stamping I fussy cut the wreath and the tiny leaves. Inks used were Rusty Hinge and Peeled paint. Once dry I added some coppery glitter using a Sakura pen and I also added frames around the diamond shapes. I added foam tape to the back and popped this panel up on the PP. With a green Sakura pen I added a touch of green to the small orange leaves. I kept the card CAS and hubby said he liked it so I’m happy.

When I did a recent card as a guest designer for the Make the Card challenge site, I was left with a small piece to use on a different project. It was on my desk waiting for ideas. While playing yesterday I found these dragonflies that I’ve had forever and only used one or two in the past. Firstly, I decided to use the edge of some paper ribbon down the side of the stamped panel. Very hard to attach but I managed it and then added it all to the card front. I had the stamped sentiment already done so I added the tiny dragonfly to that and popped it on top. Then I added the larger dragonfly above. I wasn’t making it for any challenge at the time but this morning saw the latest one at Make the Cards and realized the colours worked. I finished the card by adding a few gems and am posting it for the challenge.

My last card for today because it is almost time for me to begin meal preparation although I would prefer to stay in my craft room. Its my first entry for Double D since early this year and I was determined to participate this week. While on Pinterest I came across a very pretty leaf card and this is my take on the one I viewed – mystampspaperandink.blogspot.com. I used various Distress Oxides, squeezed lemonade, rusty hinge, scattered straw, dried marigold and finally a few dabs of frayed burlap. Initially I just the 2 lightest inks to get my panel covered. Then I randomly stamped leaves using VersaMark ink and a GKD set called Stitched Leaves which I clear embossed. I added more leaves and a florish from the same set along with a tiny leaf from SSS set. Once happy with the result I went over it all again with the darker shades of inks. Added some ink spatters and water drops then dried it. I also had some paper ribbon strips on my desk so I added them to the sides before adding the main panel on top. Using VersaMark and Cosmic shimmer powder I heat embossed the word on vellum. Original intention was to wrap this around the main piece but I forgot so it was added at the end. During my unpacking I came across the popped up leaves, purchased a long time ago, and these are the last two. Decided to use them as shown and am happy with the result. I think this is leafy enough for this challenge don’t you?

Well I know they said they weren’t expecting perfection, but I’m sure they would prefer a project that didn’t have ink smears all over it. LOL! After thinking about what to make and laying out the idea so I could see if it would work, I gathered all my supplies, set out the timer and began. First I cut the frame a mixed edge rectangle set by Essentials. Then I cut my PP (a 6×6″ origami paper) to the correct size and glued it to the card front. I then glued the frame leaving the center piece ready for stamping. The larger sentiment was stamped on a scrap piece, heat embossed then cut and added underneath. So far so good and I am way ahead of my time schedule. Easy peasie, Ha – famous last words actually. So I stamped and heat embossed my dog and the small sentiment even remembering to use my eb buddy which I, oh so often, forget to use. I still managed to get powder where I didn’t want it and no time to fix properly. Still ahead of schedule and thinking this is going well … I managed to colour in the little dog and pizza slice using pencils and Sakura Glaze and I’m well within the time frame. Here is where it went wrong – I stamped 3 tiny hearts on one side of the pup and 2 more on the other side. Completely forgot to dry the ink, turned it over to add glue started to add it inside the frame and OMG, horrified to see I had smudged the ink. 1 minute left to go and I can’t get rid of the smudges so I stamped a few more hearts to try to cover it up. I also added 2 hearts to the bottom sentiment. 43 seconds left on the clock and I decided to leave well enough alone as, for sure, I would have ended up with rubbish had I tried to erase any marks. If the card isn’t humorous my efforts certainly are!

For this card I went through a box of scraps and pulled out the 2 layer pieces. I cut them to the size I wanted and added to the card front. Using a skeleton leaf set by GKD and another scrap piece, I stamped the 2 biggest leaves with rusty hinge and scattered straw, mixing them together as I inked the stamps. After clear heat embossing, I fussy cut them out and added to the card front. I then stamped two sentiments together in vintage photo and fussy cut that before adding in the middle. It is a struggle for me to not add more, but I am resisting the temptation. A really quick card to pull together.

With purple being one of my favorite colours you would think doing a card would be easy, but it wasn’t. And try as I might I could not get a nice photo of this card either. I think that there is so much going on in the house all the time that I am not truly settled into creativity, but I’m getting there slowly.

I had the dry embossed piece on my desk and decided on a small slimline for it. I cut the pink CS and added the panel. Using a stencil I added the hearts down the side along with the small gems. Now what? Originally I thought of die cutting several hearts in different shades of the purple and pink and adding those, but I couldn’t find the dies. While looking for them I found the poinsettia Editions by Creative Expressions and thought okay, a Christmas card it will be. Took forever to get a good die cut of the top section of the flower and I had to try 3 times before it cut and came out of the die intact. I used a paper pad called floral fantasy for this and a scrap piece of the pinky purple solid die cut underneath. The PP had a silver stripe in it which I thought added interest. As I also have a stamp and die set on my desk by Lawn Fawn I used the sentiment from this set. I heat embossed in black then used the matching die to cut it out. I do like the font of this word.