Favourite Turnabout Stamp

When I saw that the theme at Allsorts this week is CAS, I thought that I must take part, so knowing I didn't have time to make a new card I had a look in my folder of finished but un posted cards and found this:

My go to stamp for making age cards is this Concord & 9th turnabout stamp. I just love it and love how the number looks when cut from the centre of the circle. When it is a big number it is quite good to camouflage it a little, I think. I generally also use Catherine Pooler inks as the colours are so lovely and vibrant. You can see other examples made with this stamp here and here.

This time I decided to use the circle off the edge and used another turnabout for the splatters that I heat embossed in gold and silver. the sentiment was also heat embossed in white. I used the splatter turnabout and the negatives from the numbers to decorate the insert. I decided to use the dark brown for the panel base because the card was for a man and I thought it added drama. What do you think?

The numbers are mounted on craft foam just to add a little dimension.

I am sharing this at:

Allsorts week 639 - CAS

Crafters Castle #44 - Anything Goes

Avenue 613 Challenge 8 - Optional Twist Choose your palette. I choose palette #3 (I have added green)

A Place to Start - what's your style. My style is CAS

Supplies:

Cardstock: Adorable scorable coated card; white stamping card

Ink: Catherine Pooler, mandarin spice, eucalyptus, sauna and daydream

Stamps: Concord & 9th, all season turnabout, bitty burst turnabout

Dies: create a smile stitched rectangle A6; Waffle Flower nested circle; Concord & 9th, double cut numbers

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog today, I really appreciate it. 

WLCB August Reminder

Today is the 18th of August so time for a reminder about the current challenge over at we love Chocolate Baroque where the theme is:

** Favourite Stamps **

As I am still quite new to Chocolate Baroque I don't yet have any stand out favourites but this stamp called baroque meadow is definitely going to end up in that category as I have used it several times already.

This is actually a one layer card, I started by masking a strip on the side and bottom of the card then I inked with DI until I was happy (the sun was done with a piece of post it note).  Once I was happy I took away the masking tape from the left side and stamped the image with Versafine Clair twilight ink. 

When I removed the masking tape from the bottom the edge was a little ragged so I fixed it with a black marker pen and a ruler.

This was really very simple to do and I am pleased with it. I hope you like it too.

I do hope I have inspired you to take part in our challenge this month. 

I am looking forward to seeing you in the gallery.

I am also sharing this at:

Hand Stamped Sentiments #370 - photo inspiration (the butterflies, silhouette and the mauve flowers)

Supplies:

Cardstock: Smooth stamping card

Ink: Distress ink, wilted violet, victorian velvet; Versafine Clair, Twilight

Stamps: Chocolate Baroque, Baroque Meadow

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog today, I really appreciate it. 

Christmas Kickstarter #53 Reminder

Today I have a reminder post for the current Christmas Kickstarter challenge where I am honoured to be guest elf this month. 

I have made a second card, inspired by the amazing inspirational photo (see below). Nothing fussy here, just a simple bauble highlighted with some sparkle.

         

I have wanted to use this stamp set as it is quite new and I haven't used it before. I really like these bubble baubles, the set contains 3 of different shapes. I decided to heat emboss the image and used gold pearl powder. I then coloured in the bubbles with a metallic pen. The bow and sentiment are also part of the same set. The bow was heat embossed in poppy red and the sentiment in hot gossip which is a sparkle powder. I added a few little spots of the sparkle powder on the bauble and bow just to spread the sparkle around a bit. You can see it a little bit on my final photo.

The panel was cut and mounted on craft foam before attaching to a gold card base. It looks like kraft in the photo but it is actually gold.

I was inspired by the baubles on the tree and the red ribbons above the mantelpiece.

I have been really enjoying visiting all the entries this month. There is still plenty of time to join us as you have until the end of the month. I hope to see you in the gallery.

Also sharing this at:

CAS Christmas - Decorations

Merry Little Christmas - #37 August Anything Christmas Goes

Supplies:

Cardstock: White smooth stamping card; Gold card

Ink: Versamark; Spectrum Noir metallic pen, jade green

Stamps: Woodware, bubble mini baubles

Dies: Stitched rectangle, Create a Smile

Embossing Powder: Wow, gold pearl and hot gossip

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog today, I really appreciate it. 

August CAS Mix Up Reminder

Today is 15th of the August so time for a reminder for the current  challenge over at Cas Mix Up. This month we are using stencils and Jenny is our host. She wants us to stamp through a stencil.

We also have 2 amazing guest designers this month Bobby of bits and pieces and Michele of I card everyone so it will be well worth visiting them.

I was a bit late making my reminder card because I just couldn't find any inspiration, but that eventually changed and I was able to come up with this card. Very unusually for me it is square. I can't remember when I last made a square card!

I took a panel of Bristol board and used distress inks to give me my background colour, then I placed the inked panel with the stencil still in place, in my misti and repeatedly stamped the image until I was happy. It takes a while and quite a lot of pressure to get the image into the corners. Once I was happy with it I cut a square from the panel.

When I was at the Festival of Quilts last week I bought a whole load of May Arts fine coloured twine, which I thought might work as an embellishment on this card. I just took a length and wrapped it around a few times using the frame to secure it. 

I really like this cute little heart leaf and luckily it is a die that cuts well but the pieces don't fall out straight away so I was able to colour the base layer and then stack it up. I added glossy accents to the inlaid bits to give some shine (sorry the photo doesn't show that) and once it was dry attached the final layer and just hooked it into the twine.

My square was a bit too big to fit nicely on an A6 card base so hence the square. I added a tiny bit of extra interest by mounting my square on a white panel and inking the edges before mounting the whole thing on the card base.

It was quite hard for me to do a messy inked edge, so I am pleased with myself for leaving it like that. Normally I would want it to be perfectly clean and even, but not today!

I did a very simple sentiment to avoid any further compromise to its CAS status. I hope I have enough white space left.

You have until 24th to join us and don't forget to visit the blog to get more inspiration and some links to technique videos to help.

I am looking forward to seeing you in the gallery.

Supplies:

Cardstock: Bristol board; 6inch square card base

Ink: Distress, victorian velvet, candied apple; Catherine Pooler, peppermint scrub

Stencil: Sharon Callis, gridlock

Stamps: My Favourite Things; Uniko, simply said

Dies: square and frame, Lawn Fawn; heart leaf, Concord & 9th

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog today, I really appreciate it. 

Thinking of you

Today I have a sympathy card that I made for my brother in law. He recently very sadly lost a family member to motor neurone disease. She was only 55 and had 2 teenage children, such a horrible thing.

This is a one layer card, I started by masking the circle and blending distress inks. I left the mask in place and splattered black paint from a paint pen, then I stamped the flower spray. I just love this stamp. 

I added some colour with my polychromos to the open flowers that were over the inked circle, stamped the sentiment and added a few tiny black gems, one of which is a tiny heart (you can see it on the close up). As usual I stamped the envelope and insert too.

I am sharing this at:

CAS on Friday #211 - Favourite stamp

A Place to Start challenge 8 - August favourite style (CAS)

AAA Cards #195 - Along the edge

Supplies:

Cardstock: Smooth stamping card

Ink: Distress ink; Versafine

Stamps: Chocolate Baroque, Lords & Ladies; Uniko, simply said sentiments

Other: Derwent paint pen; Faber Castell polychromos

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog today, I really appreciate it. 

Christmas Kickstarter #53

Today is a very special day for me as I get to put on my Elf hat and join Jo over at Christmas Kickstarter for Challenge 53. What a surprise it was when Jo got in touch to invite me to join her as guest elf, I feel very honoured as I don't generally make many Christmas cards out of season. Although having said that I did post one recently! I am pleased to be getting into them a bit more these days as I used to find them a real chore, but Jo is helping me change that attitude. Thanks Jo.

It is a photo challenge this month and I have decided to show you my card before the inspiration photo.

Here is the inspiration photo, I have picked out the following elements: bauble wreath, red and white stripes and the merry Christmas. There is actually loads of inspiration to be had from this photo, the more you look the more you see.

       

I quickly decided that I wanted my focus to be the bauble wreath so I set about punching out loads of little circles from 3 different sized punches. I coloured the circles with alcohol markers and then coated them in glossy accents. I also cut a few from silver and gold card. Once they were all dry I laid out the largest circles onto a circle frame that I die cut for the base. I then arranged all the circles onto the base with foam squares and built up the wreath. I was quite pleased with the result but found that the colours weren't as vibrant once I had put on the glossy accents, but that was offset by the shine. The merry Christmas was die cut from the same coated red card as the base. A little red and gold ribbon finished off the wreath.

        

In order to give the background a bit more interest and to reflect the stripes I dry embossed the white panel with a scoring board after die cutting it to size. You can see the shine on the following picture

       

I do hope that the inspiration picture succeeds in inspiring you and look forward to seeing you in the gallery and visiting your blog. You have until the end of August to join us.

Supplies:

Cardstock: White stamping card; adorable scorable coated card

Ink: Alcohol marker pens

Dies: Stitched rectangle A6 die from Create a Smile

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog today, I really appreciate it. 

July Card Chain Challenge

It is reveal time over at The Card Chain Challenge, my card this month is a very simple one that I sent to Joanne in the UK.

 I used the sketch and tried to use the colours but didn't match them terribly well.

I made the background by cutting strips and using double sided adhesive sheets to stick them onto copy paper. I made 3 sheets and die cut them with a stitched frame die. I enclosed the 2 that I didn't use in the card. I hope Joanne manages to find a use for them. I did add some sparkle to the sentiment, but of course it doesn't show in the picture.

I was lucky enough to receive a card from the lovely Cat this month and as you can see it is a beauty. Thanks so much Cat. The light wasn't very good when I took this photo so it doesn't really do justice to the colours, they are much more vibrant in real life.

If you would like to take part in the August chain you have until the 6th to sign up.

Supplies:

Cardstock: Linen textured card

Dies: Create a Smile stitched rectangle A6; Docrafts hello sunshine

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog today, I really appreciate it. 

CAS Mix Up August

Today is 1st of the month so time for a new challenge over at CAS Mix Up. This month we are using stencils and Jenny is our host. She wants us to stamp through a stencil. I have found this one hard for some reason and have had several failed attempts. I think I keep picking the wrong stencil or the wrong stamp and it just didn't work for me, but I stuck at it and have come up with this card:

Before I tell you any more about my card  let me say we are welcoming 2 guest designers this month. Michele from I card everyone and Bobby from bits and pieces, two wonderful card makers so we are very honoured, welcome to you both.

For my card I used a piece of Bristol Board and grey ink to ink through my stencil creating an ombre effect. Keeping the stencil in place I stamped the diamond shapes across two sides then I used a stitched rectangle die to cut the panel to size, mounted it onto some grey cardstock also cut with a stitched rectangle die. I stamped the hexagonal flower, die cut it and attached it to the corner and then tucked the sentiment into the space left under the small panel. After some agonising I decided to add a few silver hexagons to finish.

You have until 24th to join us and don't forget to visit the blog to get more inspiration and some links to technique videos to help.

Don't forget to keep it CAS

I am looking forward to seeing you in the gallery.

I am also sharing this at:

krafty Chicks #570 week 5, anything goes.

Supplies:

Cardstock: Bristol Board; Grey cardstock; White card base

Ink: Distress ink, speckled egg; Catherine Pooler, rocking red

Stamps: AALL & Create #208; Uniko background builder

Dies: Create a Smile, stitched rectangles A6; Hexagon die, free from magazine

Stencil: Carabelle Studio, hexagonal pattern

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog today, I really appreciate it. 

We Love Chocolate Baroque August Challenge

Today is the first Sunday of August so time for a new challenge over at we love Chocolate Baroque where the theme is

** Favourite Stamps **

Today is a busy day as I have 2 posts for my 2 design teams. I try not to post more than once a day but sometimes it can't be avoided. I am now back home and recovering (from exhaustion!) after having my grandchildren to stay and driving 2 of them home to Birmingham. I carefully timed it so I could visit the Festival of Quilts at the NEC and even though I told myself I really didn't need to buy anything, of course I did. I added to my (already large) collection of Liberty print tana lawn and added to my stash at the Artcuts stall. I really enjoyed looking at all the amazing quilts too. It was so nice to be out and about again.

As I am still relatively new to Chocolate Baroque stamps each new one I use is instantly my favourite as they are all fantastic. This is the first outing for celebration bouquet. I started by masking an oval shape on my panel and inking it with DI twisted citron and squeezed lemonade (love those colours). Once I was happy with that I stamped the image in versafine Clair green oasis. I let it completely dry and then coloured the image with my polychromo pencils.

The sentiment  (from the same stamp set) was stamped and clear heat embossed. I die cut it and then inked the edges before attaching to my panel with foam pads. The panel was propped up on some yellow craft foam to give a bit of dimension and to add a hint of yellow.

I always add an insert and decorate the envelope on my cards these days and you can see how they look in the picture above.

I hummed and harred for a while before finally deciding to add the orange enamel dots. I am still not entirely sure about them, but they are staying put now.

I actually made 2 cards, I started the one below first but smudged the green ink so abandoned it before realising that I could salvage it by the strategic placing of the sentiment. This one was made in the same way except I used toning alcohol markers to colour the flowers.

I can't choose between these 2, which is your favourite?

I do hope I have inspired you to take part in our challenge this month. don't forget there is always a prize and a chance to be a featured designer if you use a Chocolate Baroque stamp.

I am looking forward to seeing you in the gallery.

There will be two Chocolate Baroque shows on The Craft Store on Friday 6th August at 9am and 1pm, one show will feature two excitingly different A4 stamp sets from new artist Fiona Randall and the second some beautiful Christmas stamps and new seasonal sentiments. I hope you will be able to take a look.

I will be back at 18.00 with a new challenge at CAS Mix Up.

I am also sharing card 1 at:

Moving along with the times #133 -  Summer colours

I am also sharing card 2 at:

NBUS #29 - This is the first time I have used celebration bouquet

Supplies:

Cardstock: Bristol Board; Adorable scorable coated card; 160gsm paper

Ink: Versafine Clair green oasis; Distress ink, twisted citrine, squeezed lemonade

Stamps: Chocolate Baroque celebration bouquet

Dies: Create a Smile stitched rectangles A6

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog today, I really appreciate it.