A Technique I Love

This is just a quick post as I want to enter this weeks Allsorts Challenge, and it closes soon. They are celebrating a belated 11th birthday, that's very impressive and are giving away some amazing prizes so I though I must put in an entry. I don't know what I am doing with my time at the moment but I do know it just keeps disappearing and I don't feel as though I have achieved much. I do however, have a number of cards that were made a while ago and have been waiting for a suitable challenge to enter. I had a look through and found this. The challenge is all about something I love so I have chosen my favourite technique which is inlayed die cutting and have this card for you:

The Peacock die is from The Works (I think), I cut it from green metallic card and also white card. I coloured the pieces with alcohol markers and then inlaid them into the die cut. The background was created with an ALL & Create stencil and distress ink. I also cut the peacock from the background and inlaid the metallic one so the surface is flush.

I used the stencil to decorate the insert and the envelop.

I was quite pleased with the result, I hope you like it.

Happy Birthday Allsorts Challenge

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

Hilary 

xx

Sept CAS Mix Up Reminder

Hello, 

It is reminder time over at CAS Mix Up , so this is to let you know that you still have plenty of time to join us. This month it is mixed media and the theme, set by our host Jenny , is to emboss with dies. This is such a good technique and really helps you get more from your dies.

The die I have used for this one is by Joycrafts. To get this effect I dabbed versamark embossing ink on the die before running it through my die cut machine with the embossing matt. Then the red embossing powder was scattered on the impressions. You often get powder where you don't really want it so I used a dry paint brush to carefully brush it away, I then heat set it. The little hearts are from a set by Crafters Companion. I actually stamped these with a red die ink and then heat embossed with clear EP. The panel is mounted on craft foam.

I originally stamped and heat embossed the sentiment on a card strip and then cut the strip wrong, so I gave up with that and put the sentiment under the panel. At first I thought I had messed it up but actually it has grown on me. What do you think?

I do hope you will join us this month, I look forward to seeing you in the gallery.

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

xx

A Handcoloured Image

Todays card was made a while ago and I have been waiting for an appropriate time to share it:

The stamp is called charmed wildflowers by The Ton. I stamped it in a pale ink and then coloured it with Polychromos. I decorated the envelop and insert with the small flower that is part of the stamp set. you can see the envelop in the picture above.

I don't consider myself to be very good at colouring but I hope to improve with practice. I did quite like the soft look that the pencils gave the image. This one was sent to Jenny of My paper Epiphany for her birthday.

I am sharing it at:

Allsorts week 588 - use a hand coloured image

Just Us Girls week 552 - leaves

Colour crazy challenge week 35 - Anything goes colouring challenge

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

Hilary 

xx

August CCC Reveal

Hello, 

Today is the day for the August CCC reveal. I really love taking part in this challenge as you get to receive a wonderful handmade card which could come from anywhere in the world. This month I sent my card to the wonderful Cat. I have always loved Cat's cards so it is an honour to send her one of mine. Each month you get some options on the blog to inspire your cardmaking. This month I chose the colours, vellum and paper piecing.

This very intricate die is from Crafters Companion, I cut it 3 times in medium weight white card stock. The first layer was mounted onto some 'taupe' card stock (it is more of a sandy yellow than taupe but it was as close as I could get), then I inlaid the little pieces (frustrating and fiddly, which is why I only did 3) after colouring them with alcohol markers. The second layer was then attached and the coloured sections and the little squares were filled with glossy accents and left to dry. You can see the shine on the picture below. Once it was dry the final layer was attached.

The sentiment was originally cut from a shimmery gold card that was very similar to the base card and even with a vellum shadow, it didn't really show up so I found some teal card and added it on top. I use a waste diecut (this one can be a challenge to get a clean cut) as a stencil to decorate an insert and the envelope.

I hope take the time to visit the reveal post , as I can promise you that you will see some pretty amazing cards.

I was so thrilled to get this card from Janis in Idaho. I was so pleased because she saw that I love succulents and made me a specials succulent card. How great is that? Thank you Janis.

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

September CAS Mix Up Challenge

Hello, 

Didn't August just fly by? It is 1st September so time for a new challenge at CAS Mix Up. This month it is a mixed media challenge and our host is Jenny. She has chosen embossing with dies as our theme this month. There are a number of different ways that you can emboss with dies and there are some links to videos to help inspire you on the challenge blog.

Our very special guest designer is Mac who never fails to create the most wonderful cards. If you aren't yet familiar with her cards I urge you to check her out.

On to my card and after much to-do over the creation of my cards, nothing changes with that! I present you this card:

This was made with the succulent cover plate die by Neat & Tangled. My other hobby is growing succulents so you will see them appearing in my cards from time to time. I dry embossed the image onto some matt dull green card and then traced the succulent outline with a silver Gelly Roll sparkle pen.

The sentiment was stamped and heat embossed in silver, a few sequins added and the corners rounded. I love the sparkle from the sparkle pen.

Her's a close up:

I have actually made 4 cards using embossing with dies so I might share the others on separate posts as the month goes on. I hope I might have inspired you to take part this month as it is a great way to get more out of your dies. I shall look forward to seeing you in the gallery

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

 xx