My new Concord & 9th turnabout stamps arrived and I just couldn’t wait to try them out. Created this marbled background first using different Distress Oxides to get the effect. Using a fine glue pen I added some glue here and there and then burnished some gold foil in those areas. Cut it down to the right size and added to a small piece of black paper for a border.

Added some Gina K ribbon about two thirds down and then added the Koi die cut on top. I also used the same foiling technique on him for added interest. Added some tiny gems for bubbles and a sentiment hello. Decided to enter it into the following challenge even though it doesn’t follow the sketch exactly:
https://freshlymadesketches.blogspot.com/2019/04/freshly-made-sketches-383-sketch-by-jen.html . For once I can honestly say I love the result.

Started out wanting to try a foiled grunge type finish and I used some Mirri card to accomplish it using a new 3D Texture fade embossing folder. Added some copper, silver and gold EB and heat embossed after which I swiped black stazon. Didn’t quite achieve the look I wanted but I know practice makes perfect so will try again soon. Panel was too big for a card front so I cut it in half using a wavy line die. Got 2 cards out of it. This one’s for this weeks Modsquad challenge:
http://modsquadchallenge.com/3s-company/

I’m needing some masculine cards so the folder works for that and I added the other images by stamping and masking onto another small piece of card stock. I used Distress Oxides for the different colours. Stamped sentiment at the bottom, added a silvered edge using a pen and also cut the corners for interest. Popped up at bottom of main card and I added a bit of twine as well. It looks crooked in the photo but actually is quite straight. Not sure I like it but am not really in a creative mood so it will have to do.

Inspired by two things, firstly this sketch challenge at:
https://freshlymadesketches.blogspot.com/ and secondly by Susie Moore a member of the Gina K. Design team.

I don’t follow sketches very often and rarely do a CAS card so both are challenges for me. When I showed this to my hubby he said too much white space and couldn’t understand that this is exactly the look I was going for. Anyway I did a side fold card and cut off approximately an inch of the card front. I then added that inch back with the chosen PP. Because I am not always confident of a design when using masks I actually did a test piece on a separate bit of card stock and decided that it would work. I then basically stamped the exact same way directly onto the card front. I used Prisma colour pencils and gamsol to colour the eggs and did the test piece as well, as I can use it another way. Stamps are from a set called Springtime Baskets by Claire Brennan. I like that this card can be used as an Easter theme or a thank you card as the sentiment works for either.

Intended as an Easter card and a thank you in one, I also realized this may fit the challenge at the Modsquad this week as it is also all pastels.
http://modsquadchallenge.com/pastel-fun-pink-main/ It fits the following challenge as well:
http://sundaystamps.blogspot.com/2019/03/ssc201-easter-hues.html

I love this daffodil stamp from a set at GKD called Sending Love so I stamped the image with an ink by Delicata called Golden Glitz and hoped that it wouldn’t smudge if I used watercolours. Success, as it worked. I used watercolour pencils and a water brush (very sparingly) to blend but wasn’t happy with the white space so I also added a bit of lavender from ColorArte called Icy Iris to fill in the background. Then I fussy cut without worrying too much about accuracy. Using up some scrap pieces of PP I added the layers leaving a small border on side edge and then I popped up the flower on top. I also added a bow from a set called Springtime Baskets and a sentiment from that set too. I used the same watercolour on the sentiment strip and then added it at an angle. The gold and the ColourArte paint has a shimmer to it which isn’t evident in the photo but adds a lovely softness in RL. Personally I am really happy with how this card turned out and hope my friend likes it too.

This is my second Mother’s Day card and for this one I used a Hot off the Press template that I’ve had for a while and only used once or twice.

Using a piece of CS colour Plum Punch and another 2 pieces of CS in different pink hues, I cut the large and smaller bases afterwards scored and folded in the indicated places. I then cut 3 hearts in graduating sizes decorating each piece with some pretty PP and Washi glitter paper. A friend had sent me a gift of some clear vinyl painted gold stickers and I used some of these to decorate the largest heart adding a few bling strips around edges of the main heart and the vinyl gold one. For the glitter heart I added the word mom in Portuguese along with a small strip of flowers to which I added jeweled centers. The smallest heart was decorated with a bit of pp and another 3D sticker. Each layer is designed to hold the previous one in position but I found the largest heart wouldn’t stay down so I improvised a slightly different support which seems to work better. The smallest heart is held up by a foam mounted decorated strip. The card folds flat for mailing but is bulky so requires a bit more postage for sure.

I know it is early to be creating mother’s day cards but my two boarders asked me to do one each so they can mail them to Brazil. Lately the mail has been slow so I thought getting them done early would be better. Using a new die set from Spellbinders called Grand Cabinet 3D card, I cut the pieces in different card stocks. Then I set about decorating and assembling it.

This is my first attempt at this style of card and while it wasn’t difficult, it was very fiddly and took quite some time to do. I am thinking that the next one will be easier as I know what to expect. I used some pretty floral PP for the very back panel and then added a couple more layers. The card will normally hold 6 layers but I decided to only use 2 in the middle and the front and back as it allowed more space. I had the letters already cut from a Cheapo die I just bought. Added them to a plastic strip and glued it in front of the background panel. The next layer I added some stickers in a few places without obscuring the word and on the front mirror panel I added a 3D heart sticker in the bottom left corner. I also added some mirror card to the sides to cover up the tabs which I didn’t like sticking out. The whole thing folds flat and there is room to write a greeting on the back.

I really wanted to try a scene card even though I am generally not good at creating scenes particularly with sponging backgrounds. This is my effort and while it isn’t a great card in my mind, it isn’t a truly bad one either so I am using it for a masculine birthday card.

I had already created the stenciled background using a gift created by a stamping buddy. I used silver embossing paste and sponged in the colour once it was dry. Added it to the striped background, after placing some ribbon in the middle, so it would have a border. Using a die cut oval and some masking I sponged in the background to give a sky and some clouds around the distant mountains. Coloured in the balcony railing, the table top, and the wine on top. Fussy cut out the sentiment strip as I wanted curves not straight edges.

Using a new stencil and Distress Oxides I created the back panel which I adhered to Jelly Bean Green GKD CS. Using my Spellbinders Layered Birthday dies I cut out each layer. I popped up each layer with foam tape. The final layer I added Nuvo Crystal Glaze for both shine and dimension.

Another birthday card to add to my stash.

Made for the challenge here:
http://seizethebirthday.blogspot.com/2019/03/seize-birthday-161-spring.html

Began by stamping and colouring the image using Prisma Colour pencils and a stamp from Simon Says Showers and Flowers set. I fussy cut this out. I used a sentiment from GKD Massive Messages and hand cut this out too. I had the stitched frame already cut from another project and this was from an unbranded die set which I added using fun foam on the sides. Striped PP is an MFT product and I like this paper because it has a kind of faded look. Adhered all to a white card front.

I went over the sentiment with a sparkly pen and added a touch of gold to the flowers. Unfortunately the camera has made the gold look like white splotches.

The inspiration for this post came from 2 places, Double D Blog Spot Gingham challenge and the Modsquad One or More Metal Die challenge: http://modsquadchallenge.com/one-or-more-die-cut/. I’m not a big fan of gingham but I did have PP from a StampTV kit purchased a few years ago and decided to use it. I also used a rectangle swing card base from Hot of the Press that I’ve had for so long I had forgotten about them. First I decorated the card base with the PP.

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Using a GKD stamp and die set called Happy Spring I stamped the various images, coloured them and die cut the ones I wanted. Using dimensionals I added the bunny and the balloon to the back side panel. I added the yellow swing rectangle after stamping the greeting and the branch and popped up the little bird here. The inside rectangle I just stamped and hand coloured a little before adhering it.