Craftlandia 25

Today is the 22nd of December so time for the final Craftlandia Challenge of the year. It is also my final challenge as a member of the design team. I am finding it hard to believe that I joined the team 2 years ago. Doesn't time fly?

This time our theme is:

SNOWFLAKES

and our sponsor is:

Conjurer Of Dreams

Prize: 4 sets of your choice

That is a very easy theme for this time of year, so I hope you can find time to join us. I suspect that most of the Christmas preparations are done now, so plenty of time!

I thought these snowflake images were so wonderful that I didn't want to cover them up, hence my simple design. I printed the image onto glossy photo paper and then found 2 matching colours from my supply of Adorable Scorable coated card from Hunky Dory. I die cut a strip of the same card as the base and heat embossed the sentiment (Uniko) in white. I have used a snowflake stencil by Clarity for the insert and the envelope. I made it larger than my normal cards, just to help showcase the snowflakes. It is 7x5.

I liked the images we were given so much that I made another card from a second image. I made it in exactly the same way but heat embossed the sentiment directly onto the panel this time.

You can see that the card is glossy on the upright photos as there are reflections showing.

You can find all the details and the linky over on Mia's blog here.

I have enjoyed being part of the Craftlandia family for the last couple of years. It has helped me get out of my comfort zone and use digital images more. Guess what? They really aren't as scary as I thought they would be! Thanks Mia.

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

We Love Stamping December 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. 

Anesha has chosen our theme again this month:

**Red and Green**

OR

**Anything Goes**

Sadly this is my last post as a member of the We Love Stamping Design Team. After more than 4 years, I have decided that it is time to step back to give myself more time to explore other things. I shall still be making cards of course, but not as a member of a design team. I hope that it means I shall have more opportunity to take part in different challenges. It has been just a great journey and a lovely team to work with. Thanks Brenda for all your support and work in keeping the challenge going.

 

Back in the summer I bought a stamp, die and stencil set from The Greetery called bitty botanicals, well, they brought out another set called bitty holiday botanicals and I liked the original set so much I bought the Christmas one too. You can find the cards I made with the first set I bought here.

I used Catherine Pooler deck the halls dark green ink to stamp the little plants and cranberry fizz ink to stencil in the flowers and berries. I then used one of the stencils to add a little bit of colour to the background using melon ice ink. It is a lovely yellow/green colour. The triangular leaf pattern is created with a die. I used some pale green faux glitter paper, but unfortunately the photos don't show the glittery element. The tiny red flowers on the intersections are part of the die set and were cut with a red mat metallic paper. The sentiment is from a stamp set by Heffy Doodle. You can see on the insert that I have used the stencil that matches the die to add the border leaf decoration.

I did really enjoy making this and used the set again to make batches of Christmas cards. I also have the die that cuts out the individual little plants and here is a card I made using it. As you can see, I also used the cut out bits from the die. If you look carefully you can see the glitter effect on the paper.

Don't forget there is always a prize to be won and this month there are is  a stamp and die from Visible Image, plus a surprise second prize of an A4 stamp set. 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.

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. Please also mention the products used. 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 31st December.

I am looking forward to seeing you in the gallery.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

I am not sure if I will be able to post again before the New Year as there are a few challenges happening in my life at the moment. I know you will understand as we all go through challenging times.

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

Mica Powder and Stencils

Hello

I am just popping in quickly with a couple of stencilled cards. I bought this set of stencils by Uniko recently and have been meaning to use them. So when I saw that the group of cardmakers were using mica powders with stencils, I thought I would give it a go as I haven't used my perfect pearls for a very long time.

I made 2 cards in 2 colourways. I hope you like them.

Using Catherine Pooler inks in spruce, polished and seafoam with silver perfect pearls added over the seafoam ink. You can see the shine in the standing photo.

This rime I used seafoam, rose petals and shea butter, with gold perfect pearls over the shea butter. See the shine below. The tiny heart covers up an ink spot! I was pleased with the colour match.

I am way behind with my cards. I still have around 20 to make and that's despite the fact that I am not sending so many this year.

I am sharing these at:

Christmas Kickstarter #105 - if it's Christmassy link it up. Card 1

Stencil Fun December Challenge - Winter related. Card 2

Group of Cardmakers - Stencilling with mica powders. Card 2

Addicted to Stamps & More - Christmas Card 1

Inkspirationa Challenge #356 - Use Stencils. Card 2

NBUS #81 - The stencils are NBUS

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

We Love Stamping December Challenge

Today is the first Sunday of the month so time for a new challenge over at We Love Stamping. Where we love to see you showcase your stamping.

Anesha has chosen our theme again this month:

**Red and Green**

OR

**Anything Goes**

This waffle flower postage stamp die cut has been sitting on my desk waiting to be used for a while. It was a gift from a blogging friend. She sent several and this is the last one to be used. I recently bought a stamp set by Karine called 'collect moments' and thought the little flowers included with the lovely sentiment would work well.

 

I started by masking the die and then used a little melon ice ink to provide a little colour to my background. I then stamped and clear heat embossed the images and coloured the images with red and green felt pens. 

Unfortunately I made a little blunder with my masking and missed a bit. Of course I didn't realise until after I had inked it. Another new purchase is a set of tiny labels from Craft Addiction UK. The set includes little sentiments that are pressed into the labels with a die. I tied it to my panel with a piece of ribbon and it covers up the error perfectly. Does it look odd? I decided it looked OK. I found a tiny heart to add to the label and also a larger one that I cut from gold foiled card. After mounting the panel on green and then a red card base, I finished it with a few tiny red gems.

Don't forget there is always a prize to be won and this month there are is a stamp and die from Visible Image, plus a surprise second prize of an A4 stamp set. 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.

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. Please also mention the products used. 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 31st December.

I am looking forward to seeing you in the gallery.

I am also sharing this at:

NBUS 81 - The stamps and label die are NBUS

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

November Card Chain Challenge Reveal

Today is 2nd of the month so time for the Card Chain Challenge big reveal. This month 25 card makers took part and I sent my card to Ellie in IL. USA.

From all the options this month I have chosen to use the colours, friendship and abstract.

When I saw the abstract option I immediately thought of this stencil set by Uniko. I really like it and haven't used it in a while so the first challenge was to find it, as it wasn't with my other Uniko stencils. Sometime later after going through all my stamps and stencils more than once, I decided to go through my Uniko stamp collection packet by packet. Finally I found it in the packet with the Bauhaus Blocks stamp set!

I have used my Catherine Pooler inks in slate, drive in and cranberry fizz. The little flower stamp is from a set by Concord & 9th and the sentiment stamps are also Uniko. I had a little bleeding under the bottom edge of one of the stencils so I masked it by using a little strip of peel off. I haven't used that for a long long time, but am pleased how it worked, a little bit of extra interest and you are none the wiser about the error.

I was very lucky to receive this gorgeous card from Pia in Norway. Pia is very organised, it arrived on the 6th November. Isn't it beautifully autumnal? Thanks Pia.

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.