Not having much crafting time this month and the fact that we are going to be away quite soon has meant I’m not doing Valentines cards this year. That said I received my new Bestie stamp set from SSS and another critter set from Divinity Designs that included this Triple step die along with a paper pack and this card was born.

In a few moments I have the sad task of creating Sympathy cards as my uncle passed away 2 days ago and just a few moments ago we learned that a well loved member from hubby’s photo group succumbed to his very serious illness as of yesterday night. It has left us a bit shell shocked if I’m honest so I’m trying to cheer myself up by posting this card.

When doing this card late yesterday afternoon, I first cut the step card base and then used pp from the Divinity designs stack and cut the add on’s. I like this pp because it isn’t too busy and adds to, rather than dominating the rest. The rest are all from SSS and I find these are really cute and fun images. All were coloured with my inktense pencils used very lightly to get the more pastel shades and I added the red hearts after colouring with a red glitter pen.

This cheeky card just wouldn’t let me ignore it so I made it. Using a template I’ve had for a long time I traced and fussy cut the corset image first. Using a different colour for the collar I popped it up for some dimension. And I also popped up the entire corset with pop dots. I hand wrote the Cool Chick on the white waist parts and used a border punch to give some lace at the bottom. The background pp was found on line and is actually wrapping paper. I saw this snarky saying a long time ago and saved it. I used my computer to print it out. I couldn’t resist it and I took a leave out of our stampin buddy Gerry’s book to do some snark.

I started this card – got so far and realized I had gone about it a bit backwards. Nevertheless the end result is still okay and works. Initially I stenciled the side butterflies, using a stencil gifted by a loved stamp buddy. I used Distress Oxides in Dusty Concord, festive berries and Victorian Velvet to get a slight ombre look. Once this was done I decided that some dry embossing was required (should have done this first) so I used a folder by Darice as close to the other side of the stenciled part as possible. It still needed something so I used a couple of butterfly dies to add on as shown. I am not adding a sentiment as yet as I think this card will work for several things and will wait until the right occasion shows itself.

First I used a die that makes stripes out of a scrap piece so that I could use it as a stencil. I proceeded to ink each stripe in the rainbow colours. Then I cut down the result to make a tidy and smaller panel. My inking left a lot to be desired on the edges. A dear friend had given me a small kit last year that included punch out words. I decided to use them as shown just because I like the words. Added the two hearts left over from another project. Adhered this all to some sparkle card stock and then onto the card front. Added a strip of bling at the bottom.

I chose another digi stamp I’ve had for a long time, probably a freebie found on Pinterest but I’m not sure. I coloured it with a mix of Ink Pencils and some Sakura sparkle pens. I hand cut the image on one side and also around the heart center so it is partially cut but not with a die. (Hopefully it still qualifies for the challenge.) I added foam tape to the back to pop it up from the card front. I used a sentiment from Gina K called Wreath Builder and heat set it with Cosmic Shimmer powder.

Using a digi stamp I won a long time ago and forget who by, I created a fashion card for Paper Players.

I found the background PP on the internet and after cutting it to size used a gold pen around the edges. After colouring in the digi stamp image using my new Derwent Inktense pencils I fussy cut it out and mounted some foam to the back so I could pop it up. I also added some Nuvo Crystal Glaze to the beads, eye and beak for some additional dimension. The sentiment is from Gina K set called border bling. It seemed the perfect sentiment for this challenge and card.

Made for the Mod Squad challenge requiring stencil, stamp and interactive.

Started with a stencil called Mini Bamboo and some clear gesso that I coloured with Distress Oxide spray in Peeled paint and mixed until desired shade was achieved. I left that to dry and began the rest. Using my Lawn Fawn Flippin Awesome die I started with die cutting all the pieces. I then stamped all the images from an MFT set I’ve had for a while and only used a few times. I assembled the card onto a card front in the portrait position. I enjoy playing with the Flippin Awesome die as one can do so many different things with it. The clear gesso doesn’t make a bulky impression but I can assure you it is a stenciled back piece.

Saw a new stamp set with a stamp looking something like this card and also one of my stamping buddies made a card along the same idea.

This is my third attempt at an entry for the Perfectly CAS challenge as I somehow managed to ruin 2 other tries. As it also has balloons I decided to enter the DoubleD challenge with a 2nd card.

Stamped the greeting, from GKD Grand Greetings, first and then drew a line above it before masking it off. The I took the balloon stamp and stamped it along the line after which I coloured with Prisma pencils and gamsol. Stamp is from a SSS as is the little star image I also used.

Splitcoast stampers had a tutorial for a get well card care package that I thought very creative and I decided to try creating one along a similar vein. My hubby’s brother is unwell at the moment after a stem cell transplant and this is for him.

I followed the tutorial found here: (https://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/getwellkit/)mostly, but made a few adjustments as I went along due to the different shaped items I picked to add to it. I added two types of chocolate goodies at the front and a package of Japanese tea for the back. Forgot to take photo of the back sorry. Also because I am hopeless at arithmetic and cannot think in numbers my sizing is not perfect. Added the sentiment from the GKD snow birds stamp and die set as it seemed more appropriate for someone experiencing cancer. I did add a get well sentiment on the back. Used some Simon Says and spellbinders feather dies too. It will go with another small gift that gives him something to do as he recuperates.

As annoying as it may sound – right now I’m congratulating myself on how this card turned out. As well it fits 2 challenges which is even more amazing. Shouldn’t blow my own trumpet but on occasion it is really hard to resist.

It is funny how an idea pops into your head when you least expect it. I was looking at a card on Simon Says that featured balloons and I thought I wonder if I can create something on the same lines. In the example the DT had used stamps and then added a shaker down the middle on a tall style card. I decided to use mostly die cuts and a balloon shape as the card base to which I then added all the die cuts. I used my Simon Says balloon dies for some and my Layered Birthday Spellbinders set for a few smaller ones. To cut the card base I used the largest balloon die and left it slightly off the card base so I would have a side folded card. I used a layering weight CS because I didn’t think the thicker weight wouldn’t cut through properly. I glued and popped up the various balloons until I was happy with the design. Using a GKD sentiment from the Massive messages set and versamark I heat set it in the cosmic shimmer powder I love. I then fussy cut it out to make it thinner so it wouldn’t detract from all the balloons. I added a small bow at the bottom which I dipped in gold stickles so it would sparkle a bit. Hands are not capable of making bows today and this one was already tied but the wrong colour. The only downside to the card is that it won’t stand up due to shape and weight.