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.

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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.

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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.

Our challenge theme as chosen by Pamela, here at Cardz4galz is all about embellishments. You can choose sequins/ribbons/buttons etc. In my card I chose to use some tiny gems and a red bow. After dry embossing my background piece using a StampinUp folder I decided to use the debossed side and attached it to my card front. Using a scrap piece of StampinUP DSP, and Hero Arts infinity dies I cut the 2 ovals and the frame for the sentiment oval. The dressmaker form is a die I’ve had for a long time but didn’t keep information on. I suspect it is one of the big three, Sizzix, Spellbinders or Memory Box as those were all I purchased initially. I die cut two, one in the shiny gold and one with silvery glitter CS. Fitted the 2 together and using foam tape popped it up onto the oval. Sentiment is from an old red rubber GKD stamp set. I added the red gems as a necklace and a red twine bow to finish it. A fun card to make and I like the sassiness of it.

We look forward to seeing you in our gallery and hope you have a lot of fun making your own creations. Thanks for stopping by.

Seize the Birthday #299-Add a Heart is their latest challenge and I’m also adding it to the Neglected Stuff Blog! Using a small square scrap CS I cut the border around it using an unbranded die that I’ve had for a while and never used. Then I scored the lines across the front before die cutting my heart shape with a Hero Arts Infinity Die. I had the dry embossed piece leftover and decided to use it behind the white layer. Taking another unbranded die which I’ve had for a while, but not used lately, I cut the stemmed hearts in different papers. Added them as you see then tied a small silver bow. The sentiment is from a SSS, which I received as a gift, but hadn’t used till today. Embellishments are from my stash.

This is a small square card and will need a handmade envelope as I just realized I don’t have any square ones left. Easy to do, but it is better if I reorder a few ready made ones for the future. It was fun to make it fit the 2 challenges.

Thanks for stopping by, your time is appreciated.

It seems as if many of the current challenges are featuring pinks and reds this month. I don’t often play in the Colorful Options challenge, but this card seems to fit there quite well. In addition, I shall add it to the challenge at Double Trouble which is a recipe challenge with a twist of adding a heart. The recipe is as follows: 3-2-1 Recipe – Love is in the Air 

Servings – Unlimited Portions of Fun Ingredients:  

     3  Patterned Papers or Washi Tapes,      2  Shapes ,      1  Image or Sentiment .

And because there is a butterfly and a floral sprig it is being entered into the Triple B challenge as well.

When I did my previous card with the cake made from patterned papers it started as a card with a layout of different papers but I messed up measurements and cutting much to my frustration. In the end I set everything aside and began again to make that specific card. However, I still had this white layer partly done with some cut pieces already glued. I decided to use it yesterday and played with the cut pieces until I had worked out a layout I could live with and use. I finished gluing the additional bits and then pulled out some new Simple Stories ephemera to finish the card. The floral sprig and butterfly fit with my colours so they were popped up with foam tape. To disguise a measuring mistake I added the 3 hearts and used another piece as a sentiment. I’m tickled that I managed to fix the mess and use up most of the cut bits and pieces in the process. I quite like the finished card, which as you know, isn’t always the case.

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