2023 In Review

Before the end of each year, I try to review the projects that I have completed over the past 12 months and create a post highlighting my favourite for each month.  This year some months haven't had much to choose from given the issues with my eyesight for much of 2023.    I have worked on this progressively over a few days as I really wanted to put this post out.

I have shared the love around a bit with a challenge appearing in one month only.  Naturally, since November is mainly creating for Beccy's Place Month of Holiday Cards, I had to choose a Beccy's Place card for that month.

I have linked each card to the original post (when I could find them)

January - card created for QKR Challenge (now closed)

February - DT card created for Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

March - card created for Butterfly Challenge

April - card created for Sheepski Challenge

May - DT card created for Jan's Digis Challenge (now closed)

June - card created for Card Chain Challenge

July  - card created for NZ Swap Group

August - DT card created for Scribbles Designs (on break)

September - card created for one of the Gecko Galz Challenges

October - DT card created for 12 Months of Christmas

November - card created for Beccy's Place Month of Holiday Cards

December -  card created for Ching-Chou Kuik (closing)

This will be my last post for 2023 as it is approaching midnight.
Happy New Year to all my followers.

Hi

The New Zealand Swap Group that I belong to had a theme of more than two folds for our October swap.  I possibly cheated a bit on my third fold.  I have a fold on the left of the larger card, right on the smaller card and also the butterfly wings fold on the top layer.

This is a few of the card partially opened which displays the two layers of the butterfly better:

and finally, the inside of the Joy Fold Card:

I would like to enter:

Butterfly Challenge - Monochromatic + Joy Fold + Butterfly
https://butterflyspotchallenge.blogspot.com/2023/10/188-spin-butterfly-wheel-with-going.html

My daughter recently bought me some paper pads and cardstock most of which are anko brand.  Fortunately she had bought me two of this marble pack as I needed three pages of the same colour.  The butterfly is a dimensional sticker and the stopper to hold the card closed is an embellishment with mount tape on the back.

I followed the tutorial for the Butterfly Challenge but amended the closure

 

Sunshine

 I have been struggling a bit with a persistant cough that is draining my energy.  I had a few things to post today and have tried to do a little bit at a time.  I just realised that I hadn't shared my NZ Card Group card for October which has now been received.

 

 

I would like to enter:

Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.com/2022/10/pennys-challenge-532.html

I followed a tutorial from Splitcoasters.  The tutorial said "drizzle in a little dish soap".  My first attempt resulted in the bubbles disappearing.  After consulting one of the other members of the group, I followed her suggestion and added quite a bit extra dishwashing liquid and it worked.

Sending A Cheery Hello

 I jusr found out that the recipient of my swap card for our little New Zealand swap group has received my card.  I just missed her letting me know it had arrived a few days ago and hadn't had a chance to check again since.

This month we were creating a Mini Miura Card following a tutorial by Sam Calcott.

I have used paper from a paper pad by Uniti along with some silver glitter cardstock which I think may also be from Uniti.  The butterflies were from an ephemera pack and I was pleasantly surprised at how well they matched as I think they may have been from a different brand.  The sentiment is from My PaperCrafting World.

I would like to enter:

Critter Crazy Challenge - Feature a Creature
https://2craftycrittercrazies.blogspot.com/2022/10/challenge-67-anything-goes-with.html

CHNC Patterned Paper - October Challenge
http://craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.com/2022/09/craftyhazelnuts-patterned-paper-october.html

Happiness looks gorgeous on you

In the process of blogging my August card for the NZ Swap Group, I found that the June one was still in Drafts, so here it is:

I followed a tutorial for a Die Cuts Background by Natasha Foote.

The base is white cardstock which I embossed using an embossing folder.  I then die-cut several dies using white cardstock and adhered them to the base.  The next step was adding the Distress Inks using the refill bottles.  It is probably much easier to follow Natasha's video than my description!  

To finish the card, I added a vellum sentiment which I tucked under the front panel.  I adhered the front panel to a card blank.

Hi

I am a member of a New Zealand Card Swap Group.  In August, we had a video technique to follow.  I was a bit sceptical as to how mine would turn out but in the end I am very pleased with the result and although this technique was very much on the messy side, it was fun to do.

I have used a paper from a paper pad.  The edges are inked with Distress Ink.  I diecut the floral scene using a Memory Box die and the lettering is a Tattered Lace die which came with one of their magazines.

I followed a tutorial for a Faux Torn Mosaic background.

I would like to enter:

CHNC Patterned Paper - August Challenge
http://craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.com/2022/07/craftyhazelnuts-patterned-paper-august.html

Hello

 I had a lot of difficulty with this card which I'll explain below.

I would like to enter:

The Outlawz Challenge - Monday Sentiment - Hello
https://theoutlawzchallenges-monday.blogspot.com/2022/08/monday-greetings-happy-hellos.html

The idea with this card was to die-cut the same image twice.  The first one was to be coloured on either the front or reverse and "printed" on to the card front.  The second one is coloured in the same materials and then added to the front of the card once dried.  There should be a shadowy print in the background.  The first time I did this I couldn't see the "printed" die cut at all.  This one is the second attempt and is only marginally better.  As we didn't have a video tutorial to follow and I'm a very visual learner, I couldn't figure out what I had done wrong.  I don't do well following written instructions as you can see.  If you look very very closely at the card you may be able to make out the "print".

I also added a sentiment from an adhesive chipboard sheet.

Especially For You

 This month, our swap group challenge was to use either inks or paints.  I started off trying to follow a tutorial using Distress Ink refills but I didn't have the correct paper for it and I wasn't happy with the result.

I then pulled out my Gelli plate, acrylic paints and some Fiskars Texture Plates that I haven't used for a long time.  I was happier with this background.  I made a number of backgrounds which was just as well as when I constructed the card, it looked good close up but the details got lost when I stepped back from it.  

The next card that I put together I used black on top of the background which was a much better contrast.

I used three colours of acrylic paints.  The dies are some Spellbinders ones that I bought some time ago (and were still unopened).  I added some black buttons as well as a sentiment which I matted with black cardstock.

I would like to enter:

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge - Anything Goes
http://cardsgalorechallenges.blogspot.com/2022/05/may-2022-crafts-galore-encore-challenge.html

Bokeh

 For our NZ card swap group this month, the theme chosen was bokeh.  I hadn't tried this technique before but despite the issues I had with it, I am keen to try it again.

I needed a white pigment pad to do the circles with.  I found mine but it was quite a bit on the dry side.  I then couldn't find my re-inker for it (I know I have one as I have re-inked it before).  I ended up going over and over each circle until I got enough ink on each one.  It was time consuming but at least it worked.

The coloured inks in the background are Distress Oxides.  The floral die is from Memory Box.

I followed a tutorial by Natasha Foote.

I would like to enter:

Outside the Box - Tickled Pink
https://davebrethauer.typepad.com/outsidethebox/2022/02/memory-box-challenge-81-tickled-pink.html

Hello

 The theme for our NZ Card Swap Group for November is to create an interactive card.  I had found one that I liked so decided to give it a try.  I had quite a few issues in creating this but I ran out of November to try a different fold so I had to try and get it to work.  

I have used papers from a paper pack by Uniti. 

I followed a tutorial for a Popping Flap Card by JanB Cards.

It's A Beautiful Life

This month, it was my turn to pick the Challenge theme for our NZ cardmakers group.    I chose Pinwheel Tower Cards and provided links to a couple of You Tube videos for inspiration:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrzkuwThUjk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_L0jSLb7nU

I hadn't tried the honeycomb one so decided on that option.  I did have to alter some of the measurements to that it fitted inside a C5 envelope.

This is my tae on the Honeycomb Pinwheel Tower Card:

I used papers from a paper pack by Uniti. 

This card is actually from our October Swap and somehow I omitted uploading it.

Hi

 This month for our NZ card swap group we were challenge to use up some of our scraps and were given links to various tutorials for ideas.   I was inspired by the You Tube video by Justine Hovey.

Update - I just realised that I hadn't added this card to one of the challenges it was intended for when it was created.  The link has been added today (30th Sept NZT)

I would like to enter:

CHNC Patterned Paper - September Challenge
http://craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.com/2021/09/craftyhazelnuts-patterned-paper.html

Memory Box - Stripes
https://davebrethauer.typepad.com/outsidethebox/2021/09/memory-box-challenge-76-stripes.html

I have used paper strips from various paper pads.  I know that a reasonable number of them are from Kaisercraft as I use alot of their paper pads but there are other ones there too that I know aren't from Kaisercraft.  I used three die from Memory Box - a cross stitch edged rectangle die, lettering dies and the flowers/leaves die.

Hello Friend!

The theme in our New Zealand Card Swap exchange for the month of July is to create a book binding card.  This is the card that I sent:

I followed a you tube video tutorial for a Book Binding Card.

I have used two digital papers from a set by Lozzy called Ashby.  The image is from Limited Runs and the sentiment is from Imagine That! Digis.  Colouring is with copic markers.  I also dotted some gems around.

I would like to enter:

A Bit More Time To Craft - Anything Goes
http://abitmoretimetocraft.blogspot.com/2021/07/a-bit-more-time-to-craft-challenge.html

A Bit More Time To Craft Extra - July Challenge
https://abitmoretimetocraftextra.blogspot.com/2021/07/abmttc-extra-july-challenge-anything.html

Just for You

 This month it was my turn to choose the theme for our NZ card swap group.  I had seen a few of these Pop Up Front Step Panel Cards when I was commenting.  I did a trial run and found that it fitted in an envelope nicely for posting too and was surprisingly easy to do (provided you followed the hints in the instructions).   I followed a tutorial which can be found here.

This is the card that I sent this month:

and this is a side view:

I would like to enter:

A Bit More Time To Craft - Anything Goes
http://abitmoretimetocraft.blogspot.com/2021/04/a-bit-more-time-to-craft-challenge.html

A Bit More Time To Craft Extra - April Challenge
https://abitmoretimetocraftextra.blogspot.com/2021/04/abmttc-extra-challenge-april-anything.html

I have used three different digital papers from a set of papers by Lozzy (which I won at A Bit More Time To Craft).  I inked the edges and folds of the two pieces of cardstock before constructing.  I also added a 3D butterfly sticker.

Handmade Background

For the New Zealand Card Makers January Challenge, we were asked to create our own background.  In mid-December, I bought some Brusho Powders and had a play with them.  Recently I got to thinking whether they would work over an acrylic paint Gelli Plate print so this was my chance to find out,

This is the result of my playing:

I also stencilled a stitched piece on using a stencil from Montarga Stamps and Black Soot Distress Ink.  You can see some of it in the lower right corner.

The white die is from Tattered Lace.  I was going to add a sentiment but I didn't like how it looked so added three little butterfly stickers instead.

I would like to enter:

Always Fun Challenges - Something New (Brusho Powders)
http://alwaysfunchallenges.blogspot.com/2021/01/challenge-196.html

Creative Sketchy Girls - Anything Goes
http://creativesketchygirls.blogspot.com/2020/05/chalenge-55-alles-mag-20-december.html

Celebrate The Season

This card is one that I sent in December but I have only just had confirmation yesterday that it reached the recipient.  It has taken me since then to find the link to the tutorial that I followed.

It is one for our New Zealand Card Swap Group.  Each month, we have a different theme and for December we were challenged to create a Layered Circle Die Card.

I would like to enter:

Beccy's Place - January Challenge
https://beccysplace.blogspot.com/2021/01/january-challenge.html

I have created a background using a Gelli Place and three or four colours of acrylic paint (I can't remember how many I used but I can see at least 3 there).  I die cut the circles using a stitched circle die from Memory Box.  The stitching gives a nice finish to the layers.  The image and sentiment are from Beccy's Place.  Colouring of the image is with copic markers.  I also added three orange stars which in the photo blend in to the background a bit.

NZ Card Swap Group Card

 Each month, our group of New Zealand cardmakers has a challenge and we mail a card using that challenge to another member of the group.  This month, our challenge was "Stamp Etching".  This is the card that I sent to my November partner:

I have used an image from Oak Pond Creations.  This technique works best with an open image but this one did have a few lines on it to start with.  I repeat printed the image and then coloured with copic markers.  I then grabbed two thickness of Pigment Liner to do the etching.  I started with the thicker one to add the initial lines out from the flower centre and at the tips of the petals.  I then went back in again and added further lines using the thinner one.  I also added a few lines to the leaves.  I matted the image and then added strips of the matting to the top and the bottom of the card.  

I would like to enter:

Always Fun Challenges - Anything Goes
http://alwaysfunchallenges.blogspot.com/2020/11/challenge-189.html

Classic Design Open Challenge - November Challenge
https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2020/11/classic-design-challenge-november-11.html

Hello

We had a new technique to try for our New Zealand card swap group.  This is the card that I sent in August which as at date of writing hasn't arrived yet - looks like our postal system is experiencing delays again!  I'm not a fan of this techniqe although that is partially because I didn't have any of the stuff I needed for it with the exception of Distress Ink and an iron!

I would like to enter:

Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.com/2020/09/pennys-challenge-479.html

I followed a video for the Iron-Off Technique. 

I have used several clear stamps to create the background as I didn't actually have a background stamp.  I found an old embossing pad that had seen better days but I managed to sort of get it to work with my also old embossing powder.  I tend to use digital stamps these days as I find them easier and cleaner.  This is the second print - the first is in the inside as i was less happy with the first take.   I die-cut a rose using a Tattered Lace die and added a digital sentiment from From The Heart Stamps which I fussy cut.

Hello Friend.

I am part of a New Zealand Card Swap Group and this is the card that I sent this month.  Back in March, we had to include a simple ATC card with our card.  This month, we had to use the ATC that we received as part of our card.  I left the ATC intact and added a matted sentiment and gems to it and then attached it to the background that I created:

I have used offcut pieces of papers from paper pads by Kaisercraft to create the background.  I used a scrap piece of cardstock behind the background.  The sentiment is from Desert Diva and was from my "Awaiting Crafting" box.  I matted it onto a die-cut that I had cut previously and not actually used. 


I have followed a tutorial for a Scrappy Strip Technique Card.

I would like to enter:
CHNC Patterned Paper - May Challenge
http://craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.com/2020/05/craftyhazelnuts-patterned-paper-may.html
Classic Design Challenge - May Challenge
https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2020/05/classic-design-challenge-may-2020.html

Cling Film Background

This month, our NZ card swap group had a theme of Cling Film Background.  We had links to two different ways of creating a cling film background.  I chose this one here.   Here is my card using this technique:

I would like to enter:
Always Fun Challenges - CAS
http://alwaysfunchallenges.blogspot.com/2020/04/challenge-158.html

I did a heavier application of the ink using three colours of Distress Ink and the cling wrap on the card blank.  I then did a lighter application on a piece of white cardstock.  I die-cut a Memory Box die in black cardstock and adhered that over the lighter panel.  Matting of the panel is also black cardstock.  I added some glitter gems to the corners of the top panel.