Poinsettia

I have this new Quadrant foiling plate from Pink Fresh and I spent some time creating some backgrounds with it.  I decided to make another Christmas card as the design is perfect to show off other images.

This poinsettia stamp is an old woodblock stamp with dies from Hero Arts,  which I inked and embossed 3 images in rose gold to match the background foiling, I then coloured with Zig Brush markers and die cut the layers.  I also die cut the leafy sprig to layer up under my flower. Again this is an older die and I am not even sure where its from. The sentiment is also foiled, I then just added some sparkly gems.
 

I shall add this card to the monthly challenge over at the Pink Fresh blog.

Unfortunately I have caught a nasty cold and am keeping warm indoors, I should be out getting my last minute shopping but thats going to have to wait till next week now.

Hugs

Sally

Let's Squash It!

 

The "Lets's Squash it "Challenge this month is "Nature and Watercolouring", so I decided to make a Christmas card using my Simon Says Forest Border die. First I inked the embossing folder with Mowed Grass and Salty Ocean Distress inks , spritzed with water and ran through  my Sizzix machine using water colour cardstock.  I then used these colours on my acrylic block added water and coloured the background to make the colours richer.

I then added the Christmas tree from a really old Hero Arts stamp set raised on pop dots for dimension. I added some gem stones for a little sparkle and the gold sentiment is cut from the "Holiday Frames" die also Simon Says. 

Its cold and wet here today, not like summer at all so I am in my craft room creating and wishing for the sun to return soon!

Hugs

Sally

CAS Christmas!!

The CAS Christmas challenge for this month is "Foliage and Berries" and lurking in a box I found this really old Hero Arts holly stamp.  I stamped and embossed in gold onto my base card and water coloured with Zig markers.

I then added some red crystals for the berries for extra sparkle.  The sentiment is also Hero Arts and I embossed it in gold onto some vellum before attaching to the base.  I then layered it all up on a red card . 

 Another card to add to my Christmas stash, its a steadily growing pile which makes me happy!!

At last we have reached another stage out of lockdown and we will be able to have visitors at home!  I am really looking forward to my kids joining us as they haven't been able to visit since last October.  We are going to celebrate Christmas in May lol!!

Have a great week

Hugs

Sally

Background making.

 I recently watched this Jennifer McGuire video about making lots of backgrounds with a distress ink transfer technique.  Yesterday was a dull day so I got to work and made some backgrounds using this fun technique.

I used distressed oxides for the base  of Pickled Raspberry, Spiced Marmalade and Squeezed Lemonade

applying them thickly to the base card, drying really well before stamping with a really old Hero Arts background stamp called "Leaf and Floral Background" and embossing in clear. I then spritzed with water and place a blank piece of card on top and ran through my embossing machine.

 

This background is the resulting print, I will show the other piece later as I haven't made it into a card yet. I really liked the soft look of this piece. Just then added some butterflies made with the SSS Adeline die also coloured with the same inks. and the thanks sentiment.

This was a great technique to do and now I have a set of backgrounds in my stash ready to use.

I will add this card to both  the current SSS Flickr challenge and SSS Wednesday Challenge both "Anything Goes"

Its a lovely morning here so I am off to the garden with a coffee.  Have a great week.

Hugs

Sally

Tropical Flower!

Its been a very dull couple of days here in Dorset so needed some colour in my life!! I found this older Hero Arts set "Layering Hibiscus and knew I had to ink it up again.  For the background I used I used Picked Raspberry, Squeezed Lemonade and Cracked Pistachio Oxide inks and a corner embossing folder from Crafters Companion.

I then stamped the flowers and leaves using similar colours and die cut. 

 I layered all up onto a Simon Says Square  cut and added the computer generated sentiment.

I will add this card to the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge "A Bit of Green " and the Love handmade cards Flickr Group "Anything Goes" Challenge.

Hugs

Sally

Festive Florals

The theme for the challenge over at The Christmas Kickstart Challenge this time is "Festive Florals" so I just had to play along.  This poinsettia stamp is an old Hero Arts one but its still one of my favourite's. I stamped and embossed in gold and the die cut with the matching dies. The backing paper is some beautiful gold wallpaper given to me by my neighbour. After layering up the die I added some Gems and the gold embossed sentiment.

 Really pleased with this card as its so shiny. and Christmassy. 

We are having major computer issues at the moment and wasn't sure I could get this on in time, we are also in lockdown again so just hoping we can limp along with the computer till the end of November.

Have a great weekend

Hugs

Sally

Christmas Kickstart Challenge

This months Christmas Kickstart Challenge is "Create a Scene"  so I dragged outs lots of different stamp sets to create this little winters scene.  The tree is from a very old Hero Arts set and the reindeer is part of the Clearly Besotted set "Lets Prance"  the snowman and penguin are Heffy Doodle.  Sometimes its good to mix your stamps up!!

They are all stamped and coloured with Zig Brush markers.

Had fun with this and its another Christmas card in my stash.

Hope you are all enjoying your Easter weekend even if you are in Lockdown.

Hugs
Sally

Its still raining here!!

The weather here is still awful so I am back in my craft room making cards :0) .  This first one is a new home card for a friend who is moving to Dorset soon.  I used and older Hero Arts stamp called " Row of Houses" I stamped onto a piece of distressed cardstock in Altenew "Volcano Lake" highlighting one of the houses with a red Zig marker.  The sentiment is computer generated and I have layered up on some patterned paper.

My next card is another snowflake Christmas card,  I have used this gorgeous Aquamarine cardstock from Papermill Direct, love the colour and the slight rib texture.

I then used the SSS "Falling Snow" stencil and some Cracked Pistachio and Salty Ocean Distress Oxide ink. Next I added the glittery snowflakes cut using SSS dies, the sentiment is also Simon Says.

I shall be adding this card to the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge "Christmas" and also the Simon Says Flickr Challenge "Stencils". 

Hopefully we have better weather forecast for later in the week so I can get in my garden.

Have a great week

Hugs
Sally

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #2

I had time to make another glittery Christmas card for the Christmas Kickstart Challenge #13 again using my Simon Says Snowflake dies.

I cut the large "Alicia" snowflake in gold glitter card and also twice in white card , then layered up,  The Christmas words stamp is an oldie from Hero Arts called "International Christmas Script".  I stamped this in gold then added lots of gold splatters.  Pleased with this card and it will be a great one to produce multiples of.

Also adding this card to the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge "Anything Goes".

Hugs
Sally

Gift Boxes!

Now my Christmas cards are all but finished I needed to make some little gift boxes, the pillow box is such an easy make and you can jazz it up in so many ways.  The box was cut using my Silhouette machine and some Kraft card.  I then used the older Hero Arts stamp "Winter Town to create the stamped panel, also adding the village die cut.  Also stamped the tag and added a Simon Says snowflake and some bells and string to finish.

I shall add this to the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge "Wrap it up".  Had fun with this so am off to make a few more.

Have a great weekend.

Hugs
Sally

Lots of Snowflakes!!

As predicted my DD visited this weekend and raided my Christmas card box so I need to make lots more LOL!!

 I did lots of die cutting last week, mainly snowflakes so have made these two cards. This first one uses and older Hero Arts Background stamp called "Merry Background"  I stamped this in white on Kraft card for the vintage looking strip then added the sentiment cut from the SSS "Holiday Frames" die.  I then added the layered snowflakes.

For my second card I wanted a bit more bling so stamped and embossed in silver the "Kaleidoscope Background" from Simon Says Stamp, then die cut with the "Stitched Square Die" adding the Glittery Snowflakes layered onto a square of white card.

I am adding these cards to both the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge "Baby its cold outside" and also the Simon Says Flickr Group challenge "Christmas cards".

Have a great week

Hugs
Sally

Winter Town

I dug out an old favourite stamp from Hero Arts to make these two cards, love this "Winter Town" stamp.  For my first card I have made a Shaker using the "Holiday Frames" die from Simon Says, then just added a couple of snowflakes.  Always love to make a shaker , particularly at Christmas.

For the second card I added some Nuvo paste with my SSS "Falling Snow" stencil and have also layered the image up on  card embossed with more snow. 

Two Christmassy scenes for the "Baby its Cold Outside " Wednesday challenge at Simon Says.

Have a great weekend and Happy Thanksgiving to all my American followers!

Hugs
Sally

Autumn Thanks!

After a couple of busy weeks with family and friends visiting I have found time to make a card for the Simon Says Stamp Flickr Challenge which is titled "Falling for Fall".

Well I don't have many Autumnal stamps but after rooting through my box I found this really old Hero Arts stamp called Autumn Leaf Boarder. I created the background by inking the stamp with Zig markers and stamping and then water brushing.  I have used three Simon Says dies The Stitch Squares, Wonky Rectangles and Thanks on a Line.  Love making shaker cards, love the shine and sparkle.

I shall also add this to the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge "Anything Goes"

 Have a great week.

Hugs

Sally

Flowery Birthday !!

Here is another card for the current "Anything Goes" challenge at the Simon Says Flickr Group.  This is based on this card I made back in December.   This time I have used the Altenew Beautiful Day stamp set, stamping the flower twice and gold embossing then fussy cutting and layering up for dimension.

The striped stamp is an older one but one of my favourites by Hero Arts called "Canvas Stripes".  All the background layers are cut with the Simon Says stamp "Stitched Square Dies" and the sentiment is computer generated.

Just a quick post today as I have cakes in the oven ready for our guests this weekend,

Hope you have a great weekend.

Hugs
Sally

Snowflake!

As the challenge at the Simon Says Flickr group is "Anything Goes" I decided to make another Christmas card to add to my box.

Used the Canvas Stripe stamp, an oldie from Hero Arts to create the background cutting with the SSS Wavy Stitched Scallop die and adding the Snowflake , also a SSS die.  Added some sequins for sparkle.

A CAS card , may have to make a few like this.

Looking forward to a Bank Holiday weekend here in the UK , we have friends visiting so hoping for good weather!!

Hugs
Sally

Found some old stamps!

I have been trying to play along with Kathy Racs 30 Day colouring challenge and looking through my older stamps to find images to colour I found these lovely Peeking Posie images from Hero Arts.  The date on these is 2006 definitely "oldies but goodies" I think!!

I coloured the images with Zig Brush Markers and then fussy cut , layering on some black card cut with the "Stitched Square dies from Simon Says.

I will add this to the Wednesday challenge at Simon Says "Bright and Cheerful" and also the challenge at A Blog Named Hero "Summertime Fun"

Have a great day

Hugs
Sally

Crafty weekend!

Luckily most of my Christmas prep is done so I have found time to do some crafting, first up is these tags, just needed a couple more for my gifts and these were super easy.  Just die cutting a little stamping and some Nuvo drops. I bases these on some cards I have made using the Simon Says Stitched Scallop Die and Hero Arts Canvas Stripe stamp.

I am adding these to the current Wednesday challenge at Simon Says "Stitch it". and also the Simon Says Flickr Group challenge "Anything Goes"

My second make is this wreath, I saw one very similar in a local shop and it was quite expensive so decided to make it myself.  I love the finished result.  

Lastly I made this Birthday card for a friend using a Hero Arts stamp and Zig Markers, just added the sequins for a little sparkle. Made a similar card a while back as a Thank You card and I loved the pretty colours so used the design again for a Birthday.

Hope you are enjoying your weekend .

Hugs
Sally

Another Quick Card.

After tidying my craft desk I found some extra snowflakes that I had die cut so decided to make another quick card.  I used the Simon Says "Stitched Square " dies to create a small card base then added the panel stamped with the Hero Arts "Canvas stripes" in red.  Added a corner of white also cut with the same dies and added my snowflakes and gems.  Quick and simple!!

I shall add this to the challenge at the Simon Says "Flickr Group.

Hugs
Sally

And More Boxes!!

I have been busy making more boxes, this time pillow boxes that I cut using my Silhouette Machine,  I have then simply decorated with die cuts and a stamped Christmas tree using a stamp set from Hero Arts.

I shall be putting a little money or a gift in these for Christmas gifts.

I am adding these to the Wednesday Challenge at Simon Says "Gift It".

Just a short post today as lots of jobs to do. Have a great week.

Hugs
Sally

Still more Christmas cards!!

At last I can see the end in sight, only a few more Christmas cards to make and I have enough for this year.  Here are three more from this years collection lol!!

This top one is using an old favourite "Antique Poinsettia " from Hero Arts, this time on Kraft card stock.  I have embossed the flower in gold and coloured with Zig markers, the sentiment is aslo Hero Arts.

A very simple card here using a snowflake die and the "Stitched Square die" from Simon Says, just added some gems for added sparkle.

lastly the poinsettia again this time embossed in gold on Vellam before fussy cutting and layering up, love it in the vellam.

We had a little snow here last night but its melted already, pretty while it lasted.

Have a great weekend.

Hugs
Sally