We Love Stamping April 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. I am so pleased that April is here so we are now properly into spring, don't you just love it?

Cathy has chosen our theme this month. It is Cathy's last month as part of our DT so I hope you get a chance to go and visit her:

**Favourite Stamps/Add Ribbon Or Lace**

OR

**Anything Goes** 

This is a background stamp by MFT called bundle of blossoms that I have had for a very long time. I got it out with the intension of using brusho paints to colour it, but once I had gold heat embossed it, I didn't want to add much else as I thought it looked great. I therefore trimmed the panel and heat embossed the mat and sentiment with the same embossing powder. I found this lovely daisy ribbon in my stash to add the colour and the card was done. The insert and the envelope were stamped using Delicata gold pigment ink. I love this ink, it gives a wonderful shine and dries quickly unlike other pigment or metallic inks. 

You can see the shine from the embossing a little better on this picture.

Don't forget there is always a prize to be won and this month it is a collection of stamps from Fairy Hugs. 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 30th April

I am looking forward to seeing you in the gallery.

Supplies:

Cardstock: Cass Art smooth water colour paper

Ink: Delicata golden glitz pigment ink; Versamark

Stamps: MFT Bundle of Blossoms background stamp; Concord & 9th Triple Step Blooming Heart Stamp Set (sentiment)

Other: Wow metallic gold rich superfine embossing powder

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

March 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 Pia in Norway.

Unfortunately it seems that it hasn’t arrived with Pia yet, despite it being posted in good time. So sorry about that Pia. I hope it arrives soon.

I always like to visit everyone in the chain if I can, but am going to be away for a few days when this post publishes, so it may be a few days before I get to everyone.

This time I have used the colours and the themes of stripes and friendship. In addition to the black and white, I have used gold. This is such a busy card, that if you are not careful your eyes go funny! I was looking through my dies, trying to come up with some inspiration and came across this zig zag striped die. It is one of 2 dies in the hexagon designer dies set by Concord & 9th. I cut it multiple times from white and black card and then used a sheet of double sided adhesive that I had stuck to a piece of copy paper. I used a scalloped die to cut the panel.

The sentiment is foiled in gold and matted onto black card and the flowers (old creative Expressions dies) were cut in black white and gold and stacked. They are slightly offset so you can see the layers and the flowers are not stuck down so they lift off the panel a bit. The panel is mounted onto a black card base. I found a load of ready made black cards that I must have bought years ago. I want to try and use them up. The insert is white with black die cuts used to decorate it.

I really can't make up my mind about this one. I think it really is a bit too busy and wonder if it would have been better if I only used the stripes on half the panel. What do you think?

I was very lucky to receive this gorgeous card from Gail in Norway. Thanks for the little gifts you enclosed too Gail. I love the pink and black and all the texture on this.

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. 

Craftlandia Challenge 22

Today it's time for another Craftlandia Challenge hosted by Mia on her blog. This is a quarterly challenge and now it is March the 22nd it is time for the 22nd Craftlandia Challenge. Today our theme is spring (or anything goes) and our sponsor is Gecko Galz. I have made 2 cards using some wonderful Gecko Galz images. The prize this month is a $25 voucher to spend at Gecko Gals Etsy Shop.

I do love lilac and hydrangeas, which is why I chose these images for my card. I sized the image for a 7x5 inch card and printed it onto glossy photo paper. I matted it onto white and then onto some mat metallic card and a white card base. I found the doily in my stash (it was a gift from Michaela in my January card chain challenge card) and thought the colour was a good match so attached it as a background for my thanks die, which is cut from a lovely blue metallic card.

You can see the shine a little better on this picture.

My second card uses just the lilac image. It was printed onto glossy photo paper and matted onto the same mat metallic card. I added a few tiny die cut butterflies and a die cut sentiment.

These are such lovely images. I don't often use digital images on my cards, so I am pleased to be trying something different for me.

I hope you will be able to find time to join us with the theme of spring. Head over to Mia's blog to find all the details and more inspiration for Craftlandia 22.

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. 

Lynn has chosen our theme this month:

**Welcome Spring**

OR

**Anything Goes**

I chose to use this stamp as the flowers look very spring like. I think they are pansies, which will often flower virtually all the time if you are lucky. The stamp is by Jeje Product and was a gift. I was not familiar with the brand so I have included a link to their website for info. It is a really pretty stamp and it stamped beautifully first time.

The trouble with open stamps like this is knowing what colours to use, so to save time and hassle, I just followed the illustration on the packaging and used my polychromos coloured pencils to colour it. I really enjoyed doing it and am very pleased with how it turned out. The hello sunshine sentiment is from the spring botanicals tulip stamp set by Uniko. I have used Concord & 9th double stripe card front die for the background.

Don't forget there is always a prize to be won and this month there are two Spring themed Penny Black stamp sets from Buddly Crafts. 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 that stamping (including digi) is featured somewhere your card. 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 2nd April.

I am looking forward to seeing you in the gallery.

I am also sharing this at:

Stamping Sensations March Challenge - Spring

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

Flowers and Circles

Hello

I was looking through my cards that I haven't yet shared on my blog, and came across this one.  I thought it would be perfect for this months Flower Challenge. They are celebrating their 100th challenge and are asking us to add circles. I realise I only have one circle, so I hope that is OK.

My embossing folder is called Sandie's Garden by Honey Bee Stamps. I started with a 7x5 inch piece of watercolour paper which I inked with different colours. Then I inked the embossing folder before embossing the card.

The circle and flower stamps are from the Altenew set called floral halos. I used matching dies to cut them out. The circle is backed with vellum and I am afraid I don't know the make of the thank you die.

I quite liked the dramatic look of this, and how the dark ink has helped highlight the flowers. I finished it off with a few little gems. The insert is decorated with some foil transfers that were a gift.

The Flower Challenge #100 - add circles. Congratulations on your 100th challenge

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

Loving Snowdrops

Hello

When I saw the current challenge over at Double D, I knew I had to join in. The challenge is called going green and anyone who knows me, knows that green is my favourite colour and, as luck would have it, I have a card that fits the bill perfectly.

With some Christmas money I bought 3 of these flower press plates by Spellbinders and this card is the result of my first play with them. Of course I foiled it. I did do some pressings too, but I will share those another time.

This is such a simple card, but I am very pleased with it. Mainly because it foiled perfectly and has a lovely shine. I used the plate like a stamp to place the image on the insert and it worked well. I do love snowdrops and am still enjoying the display in my garden, although they are just starting to go over now. The daffodils are taking their place. 

I also bought the lily of the valley, but unfortunately this time the foiling wasn't perfect, so I took a green spectrum noir metallic pen and coloured over the patchy foiling. I also used the metallic green pen to colour one of the matts. I think it worked. What do you think?

I bought the daffodil plate too, so watch this space. I hope I will get round to sharing that soon.

I am sharing the first card at:

Double D going green challenge

NBUS #72 - This was the first outing for both these plates. My second entry this month.

Triple B Challenge March '25

Simply clean and simple - shades of green

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

February Card Chain Challenge Reveal

This is the second month in a row that the first Sunday of the month has coincided with the 2nd day of the month, which means this is my second post today. Scroll down for my we love stamping post.

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 Marianne in Greece. Sadly, it is still on it's way. I hope it will look better in real life when it finally reaches Marianne.

From all the options this month I have used the colours, hearts and flowers, friendship and die cutting.

I used a press plate by Pinkfresh Studio called always smiling (I bought it recently along with the matching dies with a Christmas voucher), but I foiled it instead of pressing it. It was foiled onto a piece of Tim Holtz alcohol ink card, which I find brilliant for foiling. I didn't get the matching stencils, but coloured it with alcohol markers following the picture on the packaging. Using the alcohol markers on the glossy cardstock helped the ink blend - you have to be careful not to smudge it before it is dry though.

The little hearts cover plate die is by Sunny Studios and I coloured a panel underneath with the red marker used on the flower centres. The sentiment, from the same set, was also foiled in gold. Both the flowers and sentiment were stacked 3 times to add dimension, but not too much that it would cost more to post.

I was very lucky to receive this gorgeous card from Pia in Norway

I love the silver, black and white with the stamped background. Those colours would work well for the March challenge too.

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

I am sharing this at:

NBUS#72 - the flower spray and matching die are NBUS

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

We love Stamping March Chalenge

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. I am so pleased that we have had a bit more sun recently and the daffs are starting to cheer me up. Spring is coming - hooray.

Lynn has chosen our theme this month:

**Welcome Spring**

OR

**Anything Goes**

I can't tell you how happy I am to see the first signs of spring coming. I just love the way everything springs into life and the colours are really vibrant. I wanted to try and create that feeling with my card this month, and decided to use this Uniko stamp called spring botanicals to help me. This tulip stamp is quite large so I decided to make a 7x5 card so that I wouldn't have to crop it at all.

I started by stamping and heat embossing the tulip. I then masked it with drawing gum, (I really like how this works and it is much quicker than making masks) used some post it tape to mask the edges and blended Catherine Pooler ink (either fiesta blue or cummerbund, or even a bit of both. Funny how you can't remember even after a few days!) until I was happy. I wanted it to feel like a bright clear blue sky. Something I have missed so much this winter.

After rubbing off the drawing gum, I painted the tulips with my zig clean colour real brush pens. The sentiment (from the same stamp set) is stamped on vellum and heat embossed. I fussy cut the bottom edge and rounded the corners on the top edge and added the glue behind the lettering. The panel was mounted onto some blue card and a white base and a few little silvery gems were added to finish it off.

Don't forget there is always a prize to be won and this month there are two Spring themed Penny Black stamp sets from Buddly Crafts. 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 2nd April.

I am looking forward to seeing you in the gallery.

I am also sharing this at:

The four seasons challenge March '25 - Spring

Inkspirational #336 - CAS

Allsorts week 818 - CAS

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

Playing with Embossing Folders and Ink

Today I have some embossed cards to share. I always love the techniques that are showcased on the group of seven cardmakers blog, but I rarely get round to trying them. Not so this month, I didn't just make one card either. I made 5!

Card 1

I embossed my card insert and envelope flap on all my cards shown today, but only include a photo of this one.

7x5inch card using Honey Bee Sandie's Garden embossing folder. Panel inked with distress oxides before embossing, then swiped with delicata golden glitz pigment ink. Happy birthday die by The Greetery. The card for the butterfly was inked with DIs covered in clear packing tape and die cut with a die from The Works (sorry you can't see the shine. Finished with a few gold gems.

Sharing at:

Group of Seven Cardmakers - embossed highlights over ink blending.

Inspiration Station #70 - photo

Card 2

A6 (metric) card panel inked and embossed with Sizzix 3d textured impressions winter foliage embossing folder. Swiped with brilliance starlight silver pigment ink. Dies by Crafters Companion and Pinkfresh Studio. 3 gems to finish.

 Sharing this at:

Try it on Tuesday - Boss it

A cut above February Cahllenge - Anything Goes

Card 3

7x5inch card, this time it is a coloured panel embossed with the same folder as card 1 and swiped with the same delicata gold pigment ink. The sentiment is a foilplate by Spellbinders. Finished with many clear and tiny gold gems.

Sharing this at:

Cardz4galz #244 - Embellishments. I don't think I have ever used so many gems on one card before.

Card 4

7x5 inch card inked with distress oxides and embossed with Spellbinders flower frenzy 3d embossing folder. Swiped with Catherine Pooler flame ink and then again with Brilliance rocket red gold pigment ink. This ink has a love shine to it (just visible on the photo). The vellum is cut with Spellbinder hemstitch circle die and the tulip die by DecoTime was a gift (thanks Gundi).

Sharing at:

Addicted to Stamps #486 - Make your mark

Card 5

7x5 inch card base, the panel was inked with distress oxides and embossed with Spellbinders 3d embossing folder called mandala blooms. White pigment ink used to swipe over the design. The star dies are by Heffy Doodle. Not sure of the makes of the other dies. This card is for a gentleman that I see on my morning walks. He will be 90 in March. He can't walk far so he sits on a bench by the river and talks to anyone passing.

Sharing at:

Can you handle the pressure - masculine

The neglected stuff kick-off challenge - This ef hasn't been used in a long long time

I did enjoy making these. I hope you have enjoyed looking at them. I really like the larger embossing folders that Spellbinders do and am quite surprised that I liked making 7x5 cards, which is quite big for me. I am not a great fan of square embossing folders as square cards are not my go to, although I am trying to use up my stash of square card blanks.

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