This particular speed challenge was especially challenging for me as punches are almost impossible for me to use lately. That said, I never give up, so yesterday I went through all my old and not very good punches to see what if any I might be able to use. I tested a few – realized there was no way, so turfed them into the trash. Had a chat with my hubby to see if any could be adapted to make it easier but unless they are a lever type my hands cannot cope. Even the lever type are challenging but I can use both hands together with some of them. I found a corner style punch that is smooth in operation and big enough for me to use both hands, and this little snowflake punch that was also not too difficult. Running out of time I decided to think about a design and come back today.

This morning I had an idea I thought might work so sorted out all the bits I would need and set them ready. Starting the timer I punched the decorative corners on the layer underneath the lacy piece. Then I added the leftover lace piece to this. The strip, StampinUp DSP, behind was cut into two pieces and glued to the 4 X 4 card front and the other was added on top. I quickly punched the snowflakes from silver CS and added them randomly. Sentiment is from Divinity Designs and in my hurry I smudged it, but speed challenges aren’t about perfection thankfully. Card completed with one second to spare!

Challenge #343 – Peppy Punches at As You See It.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you have a great week.

The challenge at Just Add Ink is about an elegant yet simple card and this is my take on the challenge. Just Add Ink #741…Simple & Elegant!

Taking a Sizzix lace die and some white CS I die cut the piece, added some shimmer and then cut it down to what you see here. Cutting it created some jagged edges so I used some thin silver strips along the edges. I found a PP from Scrapbook.com that gave me a pattern that was similar in tone to the card front and die cut a circle using an old shaped die set. It is most likely from either Sizzix or Spellbinders, but in those days I didn’t keep brand information as I do now.

Using my Crafters Companion stamping kit, I chose the flowers and the sentiment and stamped them, one directly onto the die cut PP and the other onto scrap CS. I added some silver ribbon and foam tape behind the die cut before placing it onto the lace. The flowers were coloured with Inktense pencils and then fussy cut before I added them on top. I thought about adding some gems but decided against for now.

Its a very feminine card and I quite like how it turned out. It does look nicer in reality than on the photo.

Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate your time and any comments you may leave.

Needing a masculine style birthday card and wanting to participate in two challenges meant a little bit of thinking was required. I decided to be inspired by Stamp Buddy Gayle’s recent entry into a challenge and pulled out a Gnome stamp set from SSS. Taking a piece of card stock I used Distress Oxide inks in 3 different greens and sponged on an angle until I was happy with the end result. Then I used a Darice EF and got my background. To this I added a few spatters of darker green and then attached to the card front. After stamping my images and sentiment, I coloured them using Inktense pencils mostly. I did the hat freehand with pencils so my lines are wonky. As I had a piece of vellum on my desk I took a Sizzix scalloped edge die and cut a circle. I felt this needed more definition so I took a Posca pen and went around the edges of the scallops and then used a gold sparkle Nuvo pen to create some spatters on this. I used foam tape behind the images and placed them as you see. When the circle was added I also placed some sparkle green tape across the bottom and added the sentiment to this. Because my hand slipped when edging the sentiment I used some gems to hide the mess. A couple of shamrock stickers finished the card.

I am entering it into the challenges at: Going Green Challenge and at: Anything Goes With A Twist of Lucky/St Patrick’s Day

Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it and I hope your day goes really well.

Caz has chosen the theme for our current #245 challenge here at https://cardz4galz.blogspot.com/. In the U.K. it is Mothers day March 30, but your card can be for a special lady or friend in your life. In my case mine and my hubby’s mom are deceased, so I no longer make Mothers day cards unless requested by a friend. Instead I created a card that can be used for any event, although I do have a close friend who would no doubt appreciate it.

I saw a video by Lisa Curcio who did a card this way and I’ve basically CASE’d her design. My sentiment is a freebie from Scrapbook.com. DSP is from StampinUP and the larger flower is fussy cut from a matching piece of DSP. The gold oval is a scrap leftover and I found some scrap CS in the darker green of the butterflies to make a background oval. Dies used are from Hero Arts. The little embellishments are from Waffle Flower.

This is probably one of the quickest cards I’ve made and it truly was easy to do. We hope to see your creations in our gallery and wish you joy in creating. Thanks for stopping by, it is appreciated.

Inside Banner fold

For quite some time I have wanted to try this style of fold and finally I have actually done so. I followed a tutorial found at DaisyChain fun using my own supplies and ideas. My card features StampinUP DSP as well as some scrap CS Two butterflies are fromStampinUp’s latest bundle release along with a couple of butterflies from Scrapbook.com. My sentiments are from Crafters Companion and Hampton Arts and a tag die from MFT to which I added some fine elastic ribbon. I did change the measurements slightly as I wanted a quarter inch more on the banner and die cut squares.

This card works for the Fun Fold blog Creative Creases so I am entering it there. Thanks so much for stopping by, I appreciate you and your time.

Seize the Birthday #300 – No Stamping is the current challenge and I came up with this. I have to say it is my second try as the first one was truly terrible. First I used a scrap teal piece and an MFT die to cut the center circle. As I wanted it to stand alone I used a Hero Arts infinity circle to cut the outer circle completely. I had a teal card front ready and played around with a layer that I thought would work, but until I tried this glossy CS I wasn’t happy. To add more interest and dimension I used a new EF by Memory Box Open Studio. With some peacock feathers ink I swiped the ink pad lightly over the top and when dry added it to the card front. This folder came with matching dies so I embossed another piece of glossy CS and die cut the flower. This too was swiped with some ink, but I also added some bundled sage ink to the leaves underneath and some gold Sakura pen to the flower center and veins. This was then popped on top with some foam tape. I thought about adding a few gem embellishments but it is already busy so decided against it. I quite like how this turned out, which as you know isn’t always the norm for me.

Thanks for stopping by, your time and comments are always appreciated.

This card was done as a kind of test as I was curious about using a photo my hubby had trouble with in printing. The end result may not meet his standards for framing, but it was too good for me to throw away. And just in case you are wondering, the photo is of a local frozen lake edge with the dried reeds and other plants sticking out of it. He did a few and has some lovely minimalist photos that look great. I cut it to fit a regular card front and adhered it. Initially I thought about stamping directly to it, but realized that if I didn’t get it exactly right I would end up ruining it as the photo inks pull off if one isn’t careful. Instead I used some heavy weight vellum and stamped the two images in black which I then heat embossed with more black. After fussy cutting around them I added them as you see. I felt that it needed a reason for the two animals to be conversing so I added the speech bubble with a computer generated sentence. Even with the speech bubble it is still very CAS so I’m adding it to the challenge at Allsorts CAS, just for fun.

A quick update to my post as I completely forgot to add the stamp brands and it has been pointed out to me by the DT’s. The larger of the two is from Lavinia Stamps and the smaller is from a kit by Crafter’s Companion.

I’m not at all sure how I will use this card, but it will get used at some point I hope. Thanks for joining me today, I appreciate it very much.

There is a colour challenge at Just Add Ink – Just Add Ink #740…Colour! and I used a small stamp from A.I. to create mine.

It is a challenge on its own, of matching as close as possible the inks, but using Distress Oxides in, Chipped Sapphire, Victorian Velvet and Barn Door, I think I came close enough. I stamped onto a small square of watercolour CS and clear heat embossed the outline. Then using the inks with a little water I coloured in the image. The leaves were kept white but to make them more defined I used a Sakura Glaze white pen along with a hint of sparkle. I also added some white highlights here and there on the image. I didn’t have the right pink paper so I used the stamp pad on some scrap to get the background layer. This was in turn, added to the navy card base using some foam tape. Before I did that I felt the image needed a little more so I used a border die to make a stencil and added the hearts at the bottom. The sentiment is a die from MFT and because the letters didn’t fall out when cut I was able to add glue and attach them without worrying about placement because I used the piece as a guide. I quite like how the letters standout against the navy background.

Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate you, your time and any comments you may leave.

Inkspirational Challenge #336 – CAS (Optional Twist – Use Stickers, Rub Ons or Ephemera) To make this card I used some Hero Arts infinity oval dies and a leftover scrap of striped glitter CS. My rub on transfer is from a Taperology set I’ve had for a while and only began to use this past Christmas. Rub On’s sure make it easy to do a few cards quickly and I did a few on clear Acetate backgrounds last December. I’ve since bought a few more through Scrapbook.com and shall have fun using them later this year.

Once I had my soldier finished on the white layer I added a few more layers behind for dimension and interest. Sentiment is from YNS. I did a couple more in a similar fashion so have a small selection ready for the season when it is here.

Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate your time and any comments you leave for me.

I’ve managed to surprise myself in doing this card, because it works for three challenges and as a bonus I have a Christmas card done for later this year. I’ll list and link the challenges below.

I still had a stamp set out on my desk and I only used the main image in a previous (not posted yet) card but wanted to use the frame as well. Stamp set is from the Netherlands and is by Marianne Designs. Using a leftover scrap square I added the frame first, although I did check to ensure the bird image was going to fit before stamping. I heat embossed in clear and did this on each element I used. Once the frame was cool I added the bird and then coloured it using Inktense pencils and some water. When it was dry I also added some Posca pen to parts of the wing which changes the colour just slightly so it is a more realistic looking bird. The focal image and sentiment are from a very old CTMH set that I’ve used fairly often over the years. I fussy cut (very challenging today) around the sentiment before adding it using foam tape for dimension. My red layer is from my stash and I honestly can’t remember where it came from. Most likely is StampinUP but it could also be CTMH as I still have some old CS from them. Size of the card ends up being 5″ by 5″.

The card will be entered to the following:

The Color RED Challenge , https://www.asyouseeitchallenge.com/, https://alphabetchallengeblog.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate you and any comments you may leave.