Craftlandia Challenge 18

Today I am delighted to be joining the wonderful Mia as a DT on her Craftlandia challenge. I was very taken aback when she asked and, of course, it was impossible to refuse. So here is my inspirations for Craftlandia challenge 18.

The theme this month is Easter or anything goes.

I have made my Easter card with a stamp and die set by Concord & 9th called triple stamp blooming heart stamp and die set. It is the same set that I used for my we love stamping reminder card that you can find here. I have used the dies on the front of the card, but you can see the stamps on the insert and envelope.

I used the stained glass technique for this so I cut the heart die 4 times and on the bottom layer I coloured the little pieces and inlaid them back into the die cut. Then I stacked 2 more hearts on top and filled the reservoir with glossy accents. When it was dry I added the final layer. I do love the shine you get from this technique.

The plaid background is a Tim Holtz die that I cut from white card and inked with the same colours used in the heart - Catherine Pooler foundation colours of grass skirt, orange twist and rockin red.

Do head over to Mia's blog for more details and inspiration. I hope you will be able to join us. There are always prizes to be won.

Mia has very generously supplied the prizes for this challenge

Prizes (given by Mia):

Βραβεία (δοσμένα από τη Μία):

1st prize: / 1ο βραβείο:

Deco Star stencil

2nd prize: / 2ο βραβείο:

Tote bag with handmade bow

3rd prize: / 3ο βραβείο:

Handmade writing book cover

* * *

Challenge Info (UPDATED in December 2023):

A new challenge will be posted in March 22, June 22, September 22 and December 22 (4 times a year).

You have until the 30th of month, 10 pm Greek time (9 pm Spanish time) to enter your creations.

Winner and Top3 will be announced on the 12^th of the following month. Contact us within two weeks to claim your prize.

Winner will be picked through Random.org. Top3 will be selected by the design team.

Winner gets a prize and a badge. Top3 get a badge. All participants get a badge of participation.

You will not receive any comments for entering our challenge (not unless the members of the design team have time to).

All the details and the linky can be found here. I hope you will be able to join us, you have until the 30th of this month to enter.

I have been spending some time in the garden this week, unfortunately I haven't got very far with the work that needs doing, but I have been enjoying my tiny ornamental cherry tree and my camellia. I thought I would share some more pictures with you.

This one was taken in the sunshine a few days ago and the one below was taken yesterday under grey skies. It still looks amazing and is humming with bees.

My camellia is still going strong. I try to appreciate things when they are in flower as they are so fleeting.

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

Bird and Blooms

Today I thought I would pop in with a quick post to share a card that works for a couple of challenges. Of course, I should be using my time to catch up with other things. I am very good at doing things that aren't what I should be doing!

I got a BetterPress for Christmas and I think this is the first card I have shared using it. I was experimenting with different inks and this one was made using Versafine Clair rainforest pigment ink.

I think it worked pretty well.

The sentiment is foiled with green foil. I cut the panel with my current favourite die by Lisa Horton and used the same ink to ink the edges of the mat. It was then mounted onto a green cardbase. I decided to keep it simple with no colouring or embellishments.

I am sharing this at:

The Sisterhood of Crafters - March Challenge, use the colour green

Triple B March 24 - bird and blooms

NBUS #60 - this was the first outing for the Spellbinders BetterPress plate used on this card.

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

We Love Stamping March Reminder

Today is the 18th so time for a reminder for the current challenge over at We Love Stamping. The challenge where we love to see you using your stamps. 

I have been away for a couple of days and have therefore got a bit behind with my visits. I shall try to catch up over the next few days, but in the meantime, here is my reminder card for the we love stamping March challenge.

Cathy has chosen our theme this month:

** Feminine **

This is the triple-step blooming heart stamp set by Concord & 9th and I am pleased to say that it stamps well. I stamped it with Catherine Pooler inks (apricot, wintergreen and lilac) and cut it with the matching die. The background is an Altenew cover plate that I cut in white and mounted onto my white card base. The sentiment is from the same set. It is stamped in crushed violet and heat embossed.

I think this card has a very feminine feel and as it is just under 2 weeks until Easter I thought I would take this opportunity to wish you all a happy Easter holiday.

Don't forget there is always a prize to be won and this month there are two prizes from Lavinia Stamps. Why don't you head over to the challenge blog to check it out? The prize winner is selected randomly and in addition the DT will choose a top three for special mention. From now on any seasoned stampers (not digital) interested in being considered for a Guest Designer spot should add GD against their name when entering the challenge. We will select a guest designer form those names and the DT will still select their top 3.

I hope I have inspired you to join us this month, all you have to do is ensure stamping (including digi) is seen somewhere on your card front, it no longer needs to be the main focus. It would be great if you could join in with our theme, but anythings goes is always an option if you are out of ideas. The challenge will close at noon (UK time) on Wednesday 3rd April

I am looking forward to seeing you in the gallery.

I am also sharing this at:

Daring Card Makers - spring is in the air

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

Happy Mothers' Day

Today is Mothers' Day here in the Uk, so I thought I would share this card to wish all the mothers a very happy day. I hope it proves to be a day full of love and sunshine. I won't see my daughters, but I have heard from them both. They are both mothers now too.

I have surprised myself with this card because it is so very busy and bright. It also took quite a process to make.

The background is a Crafters Companion turnabout stamp and I heat embossed the yellow turn. The flower die was cut several times from white card, a few petals were coloured and inlaid and the base (the die has an outline as well) was coloured yellow. The flower die was then stacked and the yellow petals filled with glossy accents. A top layer was added that had been coloured with the do si do ink colour. Few, it took a while!

The sentiment was stamped and heat embossed. Unfortunately the happy ended up a bit wonky, but it had to do.

We have had some sunny weather today. I have really enjoyed it, and here is a picture of one of my camellia flowers. The plant is in a pot by my front door. It always cheers me up to see it in flower. Isn't it beautiful? Spring is definitely here.

I am sharing this at:

Cut it up #299 - colours of spring

The Flower Challenge #89 - make a square card

Before I go I have an added bonus. I made another one.

This one doesn't have any heat embossing or glossy accents - that proved to be too much!

I think I might like the colours better though.

I am sharing this one at:

Die Cut Divas - anything goes

Wishing you all a very happy day.

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

We Love Stamping March Challenge

Today is the first Sunday of the month so time for a new challenge over at We Love Stamping. 

Each month a member of the design team will be selecting a theme to reflect their own individual style of crafting or favourite themes. On the remaining months we will continue as before with a general theme along with an anything goes option, as previously.

Cathy has chosen our theme this month:

** Feminine **

We have a guest designer this month. I would like to welcome Helen

This two step stamp called 'hello wishes' by Concord & 9th came out to play for this one. Unfortunately it is one of those stamp sets that is extremely frustrating, as it really doesn't stamp very well. It doesn't seem to matter what ink or paper I use. It just ends up being all blotchy, but on the plus side, it is very easy to line up. After multiple impressions using my misti, I eventually came up with this. If you look closely you can see that the leaves aren't stamped evenly. The sentiment is positioned as it is because I was pressing so hard on the stamp that I got a smudge of ink from the non raised section of the stamp.

I decided it didn't look absolutely terrible and the colours were pretty and feminine to suite this months theme. I cut out the image with my hemstitch circle dies and mounted it on a circle that I had inked with the same green as the leaves. I should really have mounted it on a square cardbase to continue my drive to use up my supplies, but I decided that this coloured adorable scorable coated card was perfect for it. I also found the perfect enamel dots in my stash to match. That doesn't happen often.

The sentiment is from the same set and was stamped and heat embossed to give a little shine.

Don't forget there is always a prize to be won and this month there are two prizes from Lavinia. Why don't you head over to the challenge blog to check it out? The prize winner is selected randomly and in addition the DT will choose a top three for special mention. From now on any seasoned stampers (not digital) interested in being considered for a Guest Designer spot should add GD against their name when entering the challenge. We will select a guest designer form those names and the DT will still select their top 3.

I hope I have inspired you to join us this month, all you have to do is ensure stamping (including digi) is seen somewhere on your card front, it no longer needs to be the main focus. It would be great if you could join in with our theme, but anythings goes is always an option if you are out of ideas. The challenge will close at noon (UK time) on Wednesday 3rd April

I am looking forward to seeing you in the gallery.

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

February Card Chain Challenge Reveal

Today is 2nd of the month so time for the Card Chain Challenge big reveal. This month 32 card makers took part and I sent my card to Julia in USA.

 I used the theme option of flowers and friendship and the product options of stencil and twine.

I bought this set of layering stencils by Spellbinders in their December sale and have enjoyed using them, although you do need to do some masking if you want the leaves and stems to be green. There are 4 stencils in the set. I started out thinking I would also use the 3 colour options this month, but that went out of the window as I realised I was going to use more than 3 colours.

I used Catherine Pooler inks and coloured the edges of the mat in blue (something borrowed). I finished it off by adding two twine bows and some silver embellishments. 

I was very pleased to hear from Julia that it arrived within a week. That is so much quicker than my recent experience of sending mail to The States. This time I added the customs form to the back of the envelope. If there was only a card in the envelope I hadn't been including the form. I am wondering if that is a mistake, so I will be including it from now on and we will see if it speeds things up.

I was very lucky to receive this gorgeous card from Joanne in the UK

If you would like to take part in the next card chain challenge, you have until 6th to sign up here

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