When die cutting the outline for the ornament for another project I messed it up trying to get it out of the die. I had to cut a second one and still had this piece on my desk. I fixed it a bit and glued it on top of the red solid shape. Then to hide the torn bits I added gems. It sat on my desk for about 10 days as I wasn’t inspired to use it immediately. I had the ribbon also on my desk and was about to put it away when I thought of adding a bow to the ornament. Then it sat around for a days more. The frame was another scrap that I was thinking about trying to use and by accident it slid underneath the ornament. My mind said Hmmm … I wonder if … I found the scrap green cs and dry embossed it. Added it to the red card front and after stamping the sentiment to the frame I added that on top of the green panel. The tiny poinsettia is a fussy cut bit from a scrap of dsp. Sentiment is from a GKD set, the folder is from CTMH but I cannot remember who made the die set and have had it for ages.

I saw a tutorial recently on a blog and stupidly I forgot to bookmark it so cannot give credit to the person. Anyway it inspired me to make this card which folds flat for mailing but weighs nothing. I had already made the sea portion and this was a small torn off piece that I didn’t want to throw away. This design was the perfect way to use it. I added it to a small piece of cream cs and then added the fussy cut beach chair. Stamp from Inspired by stamping, Seaside set. I embossed the darker blue piece for going underneath and embossed two strips of cream cs for the sides. The large shell came from a Hero Arts set and the smaller shells from a GKD set and all of those I fussy cut before gluing on. I used some opal blaze on all the shells so they have shine and sparkle. The larger shell is popped up so that the easel part will stand properly. Sentiment is from another GKD set. It looks better in reality than on the photo and I am quite happy with the end result.

One can interpret the word Sketch in so many ways but I chose to make a window card. I had been wanting to make one of these type cards for a while and figured it would work for the challenge. A few weeks ago I made a background piece based on a book cover I had seen and I had a strip left over. Instead of stamping the part seen through the window I used this left over strip and added a fish and a turtle to it. These stamps came from GKD one called Wetlands and one Under the Sea. I coloured them and fussy cut so I could glue them on top. I created the acetate window by cutting the card front adding the see through behind. To give it some strength I added 2 strips on the outer edge. I stamped the sentiment and heat set it clear. The I stamped the pelican and wooden posts on a scrap piece using an Inspired by Stamping Seaside set and a bit of masking. After colouring him in with pencils I fussy cut this piece and added it to the card front. I also cut another one to glue behind to keep the inside looking tidy. I added a few cattails and grasses as well. Didn’t get quite the effect I imagined here unfortunately and because I didn’t use my Misti I can’t really fix it. I may play a bit more before actually sending this to anyone, but for now I’m leaving it alone because I know if I do anything right now I’m likely to spoil it altogether.

I found this purple piece of fabric in a box the other day along with a couple of pretty paper bits in the same size. I remember getting it years ago in a small kit I purchased through Readers Digest. For some reason I never used these pieces. Anyway I die cut the background using a set purchased in a garage sale. Not sure of brand, but I think possibly Spellbinders, and added the fabric to the center. Using an Altenew stamp set called Sunlit Flowers I stamped the flowers and leaves, fussy cut them. My ink layers need work but the flowers are good enough to use. I popped them on top using dimensionals. Added the sentiment from a GKD set that I fussy cut out and a few sequins to finish it off. My hubby really likes this card, I just think it is okay. I’m never sure why I am not happy with the ink layers on these multi step stamps but mine never look as good as those done by others.

This is the first card I’ve done in a few day due to several reasons, one being busy with our boat and the other a lack of motivation. In my recent order from MFT this cute little stamp was included as a freebie and I bought the die that goes with it. Tried to create some movement in my stamping but I really need to practice the technique a bit more. I coloured it with pencils and added the BOING by hand. Followed the sketch using some gift wrap left over from a long time ago, stamped and cut out the sentiment to go at the top and added some metallic copper to the edges as it matched the copper layer. Added a few gems at the bottom and called it finished.

I am amazed at how quickly my stamp order from MFT arrived and decided to use one of them for the AAA challenge. I didn’t do the optional twist for this card. I did however, try to use some of the tips from an AI water colour video to add the colour to it. To cut out my panel I used a die set from Spellbinders. The sentiment is from a GKD set. To get the colour I used Tombow markers and an almost wet paintbrush which helped to spread out the colour to the rest of the flower. Once the flowers were done I used a shimmer water colour paint to add the wash behind the flowers. I need a lot of practice before I can say my water coloring is decent, but even so, I’m not unhappy with this card.

My hubby has been taking photographs of ferns recently and then in post production he changes the photo a little. The background for my sketch effort is one of those changed photographs. The photo here doesn’t do it justice as there are a lot of colours in it but they show up quite dark for some reason. That said I pulled some of the colour from the background into my focal pieces as well as into the layered borders.

The die cut hexagon is one of the rescued pieces from a project I did some days ago. The inchies are also from previous projects and the die cut flower is using up the last of a water coloured piece I did some time ago. Die used for flower is from GKD and the hexagon is from a set that came with my Gemini. The stamps used are from CTMH and I stamped with Distress Oxide ink Mermaid lagoon to try to match the turquoise blue elsewhere. The pink glitter strip is also a left over piece. I am happy with how it turned out.

With one challenge requiring the use of stencils and the other stitches I came up with this card. Stamps, dies and sentiment are from Hero Arts with the exception of the ribbon die which is from GKD. The cable knit background is a Bonnie created stencil which I thought perfect for both challenges. Thanks Bonnie. I inked the stencil twice as the first colour I chose (yellow) wasn’t right and I went over it with Fired Brick. I let a bit of the yellow still show to give a tweed look. Cut it down to the size I required and added to card front. Added the ribbon strip also Fired Brick down the side. After I had stamped the images I die cut them, coloured them and glued them in place. I fussy cut the sentiment after heat embossing it before gluing it at the top. Another Christmas card to add to the few I’ve done so far.

The mood board at Double D is all about stitches and I had fun figuring out what I wanted to create. The first thing I did was to create the background piece so using Distress Oxide inks I sponged on a whole lot of colour. Taking a scrap piece of real lace I soaked it with water and laid it flat pressing it down with a cloth. It left an impression of the lace pattern on the inked piece. I did this several times to get the whole piece with some lace texture. Let it dry overnight before cutting it to size for the card front. Using the last rescued hexagon piece and a glitter pen I inked the edges of the hexagon. Stamped the splash from a GKD set called Tiny Textures and then stamped the knitting from another GKD set called Art from the Heart on top. Adhered this to background. Sentiment is from the same set and I stamped it and then cut it into 2 pieces as shown. I also added the pink glitter pen around the edges of these. Using a ribbon die set I cut two pieces out of white cs and coloured the bottom one with the same glitter pen. Glued this piece across the card and then added the white bit on top so it too looks stitched. I’m really happy with how this one turned out.

Even with the style explanations I still have some trouble defining a style. That said, this card has a lot of layers so to me it is more Clean and layered and the photo is nautical so a perfect theme for me. I found a nautical chart on line and sized it in my graphic program so I could make the background piece. Layered this onto some dark blue. Did the tiled background and layered this onto the same blue. Did the same thing with the sentiment which is from a GKD set. The image is actually repurposed from a store bought birthday card. I fussy cut it and popped it up onto the tiled layer. Then I added a sponged piece to give the illusion of ocean waves.