Christmas Card Club - "Sentiment as Focus"

Good morning all.

Less than two months until the big day...must get my skates on and get some more cards made! Sylvie has challenged us to use the "Sentiment as Focus" this week at the Christmas Card Club, here is my effort!

I've gone White on White - better picture taken during daylight hours.

Dies are from Spellbinders, WPlus9 and STAMPlorations; embossing folder from Cuttlebug.

If you'd like to see what the other girls have made you'll find their links in my sidebar.

Christmas Card Club - "Non Traditional Colours"

Good morning all. I can't believe how quick the nights have come in this year and will be glad when the clocks change at the end of the month!

Finally got my computer up and running again so touch wood it stays that way! I've also started a new blog for photography....I've recently started a year long online course to learn how to use the controls on my camera (amongst other things), so this will chart my progress and I'll also be posting my holiday photographs too. My first post goes live this morning if you'd care to take a look.

I'm playing catch up at the Christmas Card Club again...sorry ladies and promise I'll get round you all in the next day or so to leave my comments,

Two weeks ago Val (aka Mrs A) asked us to "Make it Round", here is my card.

Don't know why navy always looks black in a photo! Using a new die from Crafters Companion, a nesties die from Spellbinders and a sentiment from Clearly Besotted. Not sure about these new dies from CC, they're a bit fiddly to use and line up although they do make nice cards.

This week it was my turn to set the theme and I asked for "Non Traditional Colours".

Kraft and white is one of my favourite non traditional colour combos. Using dies from Wplus9 and Spellbinders and a Typografia Christmas stamp from STAMPlorations...a quick and easy card ready for posting! Think I need a new pot of  white EP...mine is looking a bit yellow!

If you'd like to see what the other girls have made you'll find their links on my sidebar.

TYPOGRAFIA Motivate Blog Hop

Good afternoon all.

I'm Guest Designing over at STAMPlorations today, we have a blog hop going on and you won't want to miss it. You'll find all the details in this post.

Using the new TYPOGRAFIA Motivate stamps (you're going to love these!) here is my inspiration.

Using Persistence, I thought this stamp was the perfect addition to this canvas I created with a photo taken last year on our trip to New Zealand. I've had the kit to create the canvas for some time and now I know how easy it is I must do some more....although note to self - heat embossing on plastic canvas was not the best idea I've ever had!

My second project uses What You Get, this stamp reminded me of the WW11 posters Your Country Needs You so I wanted to create something simple and to the point. Using black card, gold mirri card and gold embossing and a few dies and I was happy with the result. This may be used for a card topper, or to decorate a notebook but would also make a good fridge magnet.

My final project is a small canvas which I coloured with gelatos to try to resemble a sunrise, then added features from the Clouds stencil with textured paste. The saying was stamped onto tissue and heat embossed then attached with medium gel.

Commenting closes on Monday, October 16.

Prize: One commenter will win her choice of 3 Typografia Motivate stamps. The winner will be randomly drawn from all comments left on the STAMP blog and participating designers' blogs.

Winner will be announced on Tuesday, October 17.

If you love STAMPlorations products or if you'd like to try them for the first time I have a discount code to share with you - STAMPGIRLCAROLD

This gives you a 20% discount (in addition to the 5% discount already offered on these stamps) on all stamps, stencils and dies...both regular and sale priced items. Please note this code can't be combined with any other code. It is valid for multiple uses whilst I'm a STAMPlorations Girl.

TYPOGRAFIA Christmas Blog Hop

Good afternoon all.

I've dropped by at STAMPlorations today to join in the TYPOGRAFIA Christmas blog hop. Do pop over to STAMPlorations to see what's what and check out what the other girls have made.

An upcycled coaster using Merry & Bright, stamped in versmark and heat embossed with gold detail EP.

Die from Spellbinders. Christmas in the Heart stamped with versamark and heat embossed with white EP.

Nativity Angel Stencil, Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies, Angels on High stamped in versamark and heat embossed with silver EP then I stencilled the angel with DI.

Commenting closes on Monday, September 25.

Prize: One commenter will win her choice of 3 Typografia Christmas stamps. The winner will be randomly drawn from all comments left on the STAMP blog and participating designers' blogs.

Winner will be announced on Tuesday, September 26.

STAMPlorations 4th Birthday Blog Hop

Good afternoon all.

It's day 2 of our 5 day Birthday Blog Hop and Wish List Link up over at STAMPlorations. Click over to the STAMPlorations blog to see how to join in and win up $50 worth of goods on your wish list or one of several other prizes for commenting.

 Here is my inspiration for you today.

A relatively simple birthday card for our former neighbour's little girl, which I messed up horribly!! As the Numbers is a plate die you can cut it easily from a background mat to use as a focus as I have here....just ensure when you stick it down you have it the right way up!! Luckily I was able to substitute the 9 in this instance.

I've used the largest of the Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies and cut the Number Plate Die from it's centre....then added several more number 9's to layer up. The image and half the sentiment is from Tweet Love with the image being die cut with the coordinating die. The other half of the sentiment is from Kathryn's Big Wishes stamp set.

And my second card using the same stamps and dies, this time for my little great nephew who was two a couple of days ago. Sentiment from the Party Time set.

If you love STAMPlorations products or if you'd like to try them for the first time I have a discount code to share with you - STAMPGIRLCAROLD

This gives you a 20% discount on all stamps, stencils and dies...both regular and sale priced items. Please note this code can't be combined with any other code. It is valid for multiple uses whilst I'm a STAMPlorations Girl.

Stencil Sunday #102

Good afternoon all.

This is my 2nd post today, if you wanted to see my card for the Christmas Card Club you'll find it here.

I'm up on the STAMPlorations blog today inspiring you once again to use your stencils. You still have a few days to get messy and join in our Mixed Media Challenge...just remember it's anything but a card and you must use a stencil.

Today I have a small canvas to share with you....this was started eons ago and has lain unfinished for months. It started life as a hessian coloured canvas and I'd added some texture to the top left and bottom right corners using the Foiled Again stencil and texture paste. It's now got so many layers of paint on it must be twice it's original weight!! Lots of white gesso then I used Distress Spray Stains to colour through the stencil. Lava texture paste was used through the Perched Bird stencil to create the focal, adding some liquid pearl for an eye. Background stamping used the Scribbly Splattery Grunge stamps with distress ink and the sentiments are from Trendy Birds 2 stamped onto tissue and adhered with gel medium.

If you love STAMPlorations products or if you'd like to try them for the first time I have a discount code to share with you - STAMPGIRLCAROLD

This gives you a 20% discount on all stamps, stencils and dies...both regular and sale priced items. Please note this code can't be combined with any other code. It is valid for multiple uses whilst I'm a STAMPlorations Girl.

{Mixed Media Tutorial} A Design by Default

Good evening all.

I'm up at STAMPlorations today with what will be my final tutorial for a while.
I'm taking a little break whilst we get the new sun room built and finished, do the final preparation for no 2 son's wedding in August then hopefully hubby and I will fit in some travelling....possibly back to New Zealand in the New Year but a definite trip to John O Groats combined with the North Coast 500 in late summer or early autumn.

Today's project is a remake of a small canvas board.
This was one of those projects which caused joy and despair in equal measures but finally came through! To see the processes pop over to STAMPlorations, I hope I've inspired you to use your stencils.

If you love STAMPlorations products or if you'd like to try them for the first time I have a discount code to share with you - STAMPGIRLCAROLD

This gives you a 20% discount on all stamps, stencils and dies...both regular and sale priced items. Please note this code can't be combined with any other code. It is valid for multiple uses whilst I'm a STAMPlorations Girl.

Stencil Sunday #99 + June Mixed Media Challenge

Good afternoon all.

Another month flown in and time once more to encourage you to partake in our Mixed Media challenge over at STAMPlorations.

I've made a gift tag for a little girl this month. Using one of the Luggage Tags Nesting dies cut from white linen card and randomly coloured with Distress Inks, I applied the Prisms stencil and sprayed with water to give a ghosting effect then decided to emboss it to enhance the effect. 

Using stamps from the Mixed Media Elements set I added some detail to the background. Image and sentiment are from the Tweet Love stamps and coordinating die set. Tag was finished with some stencilled stars using Oh My Stars and ribbon from my stash.

If you love STAMPlorations products or if you'd like to try them for the first time I have a discount code to share with you - STAMPGIRLCAROLD

This gives you a 20% discount on all stamps, stencils and dies...both regular and sale priced items. Please note this code can't be combined with any other code. It is valid for multiple uses whilst I'm a STAMPlorations Girl.

We do hope you can come and join us this month...remember it's anything but a card and you must use a stencil.

Stencil Sunday #96

Good afternoon all. 

My turn once more over at STAMPlorations to inspire you to use your stencils. Today I have a tag to share with you.

I started by using one of the new stencils Prisms as a stamp....I inked it up with embossing ink, flipped it onto my card stock and used my brayer to ensure a smooth transition of ink. The piece was then heat embossed with white EP which provided a resistance to the DI inks I used to colour it. I added some texture to the background using a stamp from the Mini Mixed Media Backgrounds set. I then cut a tag shape using Luggage Tags Nesting Dies. The bird and sing sentiment from Trendy Birds 2 were stamped onto tissue paper and heat embossed before being adhered with gel medium. Hello Sunshine was added along with a pearl and some raffia to finish things off.

You've still got plenty of time to join our May Mixed Media challenge...just remember it's anything but a card and you must use a stencil.

If you love STAMPlorations products or if you'd like to try them for the first time I have a discount code to share with you - STAMPGIRLCAROLD

This gives you a 20% discount on all stamps, stencils and dies...both regular and sale priced items. Please note this code can't be combined with any other code. It is valid for multiple uses whilst I'm a STAMPlorations Girl.

Stencil Sunday #95 + May Mixed Media Challenge

Good afternoon all.

Another month flown by so time once more to inspire you use your stencils and join our Mixed Media Challenge at STAMPlorations. I have a couple of upcycled boxes to share today which I filled with some crafting goodies to give to our former neighbours two little girls for Easter.

Both boxes are slightly larger than A4 in size and after painting the lid I've added some backing papers which I've had for ages...gorgeous papers but A4 isn't much good for cardmaking!

The first box uses an edging stamp from the Scribbly Splattery Grunge set, then I used Sparkle Medium through the Flutters and Splatters (large) stencil...the box was finished with the top layer of the Flutter Zen 2 layering die and some gold liquid pearls.

The second box uses the same stencil and die as the first but this time I have used texture paste and stickles.

If you love STAMPlorations products or if you'd like to try them for the first time I have a discount code to share with you - STAMPGIRLCAROLD

This gives you a 20% discount on all stamps, stencils and dies...both regular and sale priced items. Please note this code can't be combined with any other code. It is valid for multiple uses whilst I'm a STAMPlorations Girl.

We do hope you can come and join us this month...remember it's anything but a card and you must use a stencil.

Card Chain Challenge April Reveal

Good morning all.

Today sees the reveal of the April Card Chain Challenge. Click on the link to find out more information and to see all the cards which were exchanged last month.

I sent this card to NanaConnie in California and in return received one back from Sara in Missouri.

Dies from Winnie and Walter, Spellbinders, Lawn Fawn and STAMPlorations. Sentiment if also from STAMPlorations.

{Mixed Media Tutorial}

Good evening all.

My turn today to share a Mixed Media Tutorial over at STAMPlorations...and inspire you get get those stencils out and put them to good use. Today I'm sharing an altered bottle with you all...I hope you enjoy!

If you love STAMPlorations products or if you'd like to try them for the first time I have a discount code to share with you - STAMPGIRLCAROLD

This gives you a 20% discount on all stamps, stencils and dies...both regular and sale priced items. Please note this code can't be combined with any other code. It is valid for multiple uses whilst I'm a STAMPlorations Girl.

Stencil Sunday #94

Good afternoon all.

This is my second post today, you'll find my Christmas Card Club post here.

I'm up on the STAMPlorations blog today with some inspiration to help you put your stencils to good use.

I'm sharing a small canvas board today.

I started by sticking a page from a book to my blank canvas then gave it a quick wash of gesso. Using the Bloom Boldly stencil and texture paste I added the design and once completely dry I reapplied the stencil and used Gelatos to add some colour. Bloom & Grow Phrase die finishes it off.

A close up to show the page in the background.

If you love STAMPlorations products or if you'd like to try them for the first time I have a discount code to share with you - STAMPGIRLCAROLD

This gives you a 20% discount on all stamps, stencils and dies...both regular and sale priced items. Please note this code can't be combined with any other code. It is valid for multiple uses whilst I'm a STAMPlorations Girl.

We do hope you can come and join us this month...remember it's anything but a card and you must use a stencil.

STAMPlorations Things with Wings Spring Blog Hop & Linky Party - Reminder Post

Good afternoon all.

Just a quick reminder of our linky party over at STAMPlorations, lots of new inspiration on the blog today. To link up your own projects see the post here.

A card made for a friendly exchange...mat layers made with dies from Spellbinders and Lawn Fawn and the Hi die from Winnie and Walter is inlaid to the upper mat.

The Flutter Zen 2 layering die was used to make the butterfly and the sentiment is from the Trendy Butterflies 2 stamp set.

If you love STAMPlorations products or if you'd like to try them for the first time I have a discount code to share with you - STAMPGIRLCAROLD

This gives you a 20% discount on all stamps, stencils and dies...both regular and sale priced items. Please note this code can't be combined with any other code. It is valid for multiple uses whilst I'm a STAMPlorations Girl.

STAMPlorations Things with Wings Spring Blog Hop & Linky Party - Reminder Post

Good afternoon all.

Just a quick reminder of our linky party over at STAMPlorations, lots of new inspiration on the blog today. To link up your own projects see the post here.

Trying to get ahead with some birthday cards here...background is made with DI Oxides, mat dies from Spellbinders and Lawn Fawn. I've used the Spring Flower layering die...cut from the mat then re-inserted and the Dragonfly layering die...using some waste background to cut the solid layer. Sentiment is from the Party Time stamp set.

If you love STAMPlorations products or if you'd like to try them for the first time I have a discount code to share with you - STAMPGIRLCAROLD

This gives you a 20% discount on all stamps, stencils and dies...both regular and sale priced items. Please note this code can't be combined with any other code. It is valid for multiple uses whilst I'm a STAMPlorations Girl.

STAMPlorations Things with Wings Spring Blog Hop & Linky Party - Reminder Post

Good afternoon all.

Just a quick reminder of our linky party over at STAMPlorations, lots of new inspiration on the blog today. To link up your own projects see the post here.

A birthday card to share today. I made a smooshed background with three shades of DI Oxides and die cut the base of the Flutter Zen 2 Layering die from it. Mat dies are from Spellbinders and Lawn Fawn. I stamped part of the Butterfly Row and the sentiment from Celebrate Artsy using one of the background colours.

If you love STAMPlorations products or if you'd like to try them for the first time I have a discount code to share with you - STAMPGIRLCAROLD

This gives you a 20% discount on all stamps, stencils and dies...both regular and sale priced items. Please note this code can't be combined with any other code. It is valid for multiple uses whilst I'm a STAMPlorations Girl.