Another one for the Modsquad challenge of using multiple images. http://modsquadchallenge.com/pinkmain_circus/

The harlequin pattern came from a lovely stencil that a great and treasured friend made for me recently. I had such fun using it with my new ink brushes as they work great with stencils. The larger hearts down the side came from another stencil (can’t remember where I got this one). The tiny hearts and sentiment are from the same Simon Says set mentioned in my other post today. I used Distress Oxides for the inks. Inked the edges of the sentiment panel to match the tiny red stripe separating the hearts and diamond shapes and I bent the sentiment strip so it would pop up in the middle. Used dimensionals to hold it in place but I glued down the ends so it stays bent. It still needed something so I added Nuvo Crystal glaze to all the hearts and was then satisfied with the look. This is my first Valentine of the year now to the rest.

Made for the Modsquad challenge – using multiple images, this week, one of two I managed to finish and am happy with. http://modsquadchallenge.com/pinkmain_circus/

Had no clue where I was going with this card when I started it, but am happy that I stuck with it as I quite like how it came about. Started with the die cut background and glued onto Gina K. ocean mist card stock. Dug out the Simon Says Showers and Flowers set and stamped the duckling image, fussy cut out and then coloured with Prisma Pencils and Gamsol. Placed this image to look as if splashing in a puddle but it still needed more so I used the Pelican image from a set by Inspired by stamping called Seaside. Also used the little piper bird from that set. The sentiment stamp in upper left corner came from a GKD set called Happy Spring but the word Sing was created on the computer. I also added the following to the inside: “go splash in puddles”.

Finding inspiration was also a challenge and in the end I decided to try my hand at a twist and pop card using instructions found here: http://www.kaisercraft.com.au/blog/twist-pop-this-christmas-with-collette/. Initially I took a photograph of our dog and cut her out of the photo. Then I stamped a party hat, glasses from my Tim Holtz Crazy things stamp set. Die cut them out and coloured them with Prisma Colour pencils and added Nuvo Crystel glaze to the glasses. I had a frame left from another project and I added this to some PP then added the photo to one corner. Added the stamped pieces and a cord bow. I stamped the sentiment onto a small die cut piece and coloured in a border around the piece. Added that to the opposite corner.  For the inside, I created the pop up mechanism and the panel for decoration. I added precut pieces of card stock to each section and then decorated each section. Images were all from either the crazy things set or from the Crazy cats and dogs set except for the balloon die cut which came from Spellbinders. I used a couple of word dies for the inside as well. Added some more Nuvo Crystal glaze over the word die cuts for additional dimension and shine.

Trying to make a birthday card for a hubby who is now retired and home most of the time is a challenge. Add in the fact that he required my help with a project of his own, meaning he has been in and out of my craft space on and off for several days and you get the picture.

I am pretty happy with how it turned out and think it is a good card for a first attempt. I already know what I would change when I make another one.

Looking back in time challenge at Double D challenges blog spot: http://daranddiane.blogspot.com/ asked that we use their mood board as inspiration for a card. I came up with this one. Don’t think it is one of my best cards but it has grown on me since yesterday. The little book has these words inside “keep breathing as long as possible” and came from a store bought card that I received one birthday. I kept it and was going to throw it away but as you can see didn’t. Used PP from my stash and added a frame to it and then adhered to Gina K kraft card stock. Stamped the typewriter twice in distress Vintage Photo ink. Fussy cut both out and popped one on top of the other. Don’t know where the stamp came from – had it for ages and never used till now. The design still needed something so I used some small alphabet stamps from Hero Arts and created two strips – one just lettering for behind the book and the other a word for the typewriter. Didn’t like the stamping so went over it with a gold pen. One I figured out placement of the images and glued them it still needed another touch. Added the key -because the word can denote the typewriter keys – and a little bit of bling which seemed to finish the card.

Made for the ModSquad challenge to use patterned paper and also for a friend whose daughter has had twins. I cut out a large heart for the background and then using a Spellbinder die called Layered Happy Birthday, I cut out some balloons from other PP and added them to the heart. Using an unbranded double stitch rectangular die I cut the main panel and added a small scrap of marbled paper on top. I fussy cut two matching little bears from another small piece of PP, after stamping them and colouring in certain parts. I popped them up onto this and added a small fussy cut fairy above. Stamped the sentiment which I also fussy cut out. Added a few small gems here and there. Stamps and card stock all from Gina K. Designs my main go to place for ideas and purchases.

• 

Used another of my gifted stencils to create this one. First brushed colour in circles using distress oxides. Sprinkled a bit of water and let dry. Using Mowed lawn I sponged through stencil to get design. When dry I added nuvo glimmer paste through stencil. I used a versamark pen and ruler to draw a line around edge of card stock and then added an old glitter embossing powder on top. heat embossed to give the shine at edge. Added sentiment to a piece of vellum and heat embossed in black. Two black gems added to each end. added entire piece to turquoise sea card stock.

I’ve been thinking about creating a blog for over a year now and am finally getting around to actually doing it. In order to showcase some of my cards I needed a place to upload them and display them for others to see so here is my first card for the year.

This card has been created for the monthly challenge at Gina K. Designs. We have to showcase a sentiment and cannot use others stamps on the card.

I stenciled Distress Oxides in several pinks using a lovely hand made heart stencil given to me by a great on line friend. I first masked off the area where the sentiment heart is. I stenciled the butterflies using another stencil from the same friend. I stamped the sentiment onto the die cut heart and traced over it with a gelly roll pen to add a bit of sparkle. I popped it up slightly offset over a black heart which I then glued in the masked off space. Added a few tiny bling gems in places. I added main panel to a black piece of card stock and then adhered it to the card front.