More kraftiness

I enjoyed colouring Sidoney the dog on a kraft card base a few days back so when I set out to make a card for cat-loving friends I decided to go the same way. The standing cat is coloured to look a bit like the all white one they have now, her curled up companion bears a passing resemblance to their previous cat. Neither of them would stand for the antics of that pesky rodent though!

I’ve used another of the fantastic Katzelkraft sets I bought recently. These are such fun to combine in different ways. I did have plans to use the wrapped gifts from the accessories set as my friend’s cat is an avid box fan, if there’s an open box, she will be sitting or standing in it without question. In the end though, I couldn’t resist a little scene with the cheeky mouse teasing his two opponents. 

I wanted a Christmas tree in the scene but didn’t have a suitably sized stamp in my stash so I decided to have a go at drawing my own. I sketched it on some scrap paper first to make sure my limited drawing skills were up to the task, then scribbled pencil on the back and transferred it to the card, drew over the faint pencil lines with a fineline marker and coloured with pencils. The garland (or string of tiny lights if you prefer to think of them that way) is just dots of paint pen. I think it turned out OK!

Stamps:
Les Chats Russe (Katzelkraft, no longer with us)
Sentiment from Foxy Christmas (Woodware)

Paper:
Kraft 

Ink:
Brilliance by Tsukineko (Graphite Black)

Other:
Coloured pencils
Posca paint pen (white)
Black fineliner
Corner Chomper

As my little mouse is definitely showing some sass, I’m playing for the first time at Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers where this month’s theme is “Cheeky Christmas” — click the image for challenge details!

Santa Sidoney

Another quick card for the pile of last minute Christmas cards (although the masking took much longer than it had any right to do, I’m out of practice!). 

Having only just got round to using these stamps, I ordered some more Katzelkraft in the That's Crafty Black Friday sale. I  subsequently discovered that Katzelkraft ceased trading in the spring so I went back and ordered a few more! I’m really sad, not only because I’ve not long started building a little collection of their stamps but because one of the reasons for the closure is the cheap knock-offs flooding some of the better known online shopping platforms  ☹️ If you know anyone tempted by such “bargains”, please try to talk them out of it, it’s killing genuine businesses, many of them small concerns run by passionately creative people who deserve to be properly rewarded for their time, energy and creativity.

So, with that off my chest — Santa hat from the accessories set stamped and masked, Sidoney stamped to suffer the ignominy of having to wear it and then everything coloured with pencils. Stamped sentiment with a few paint pen dots and my usual rounded corner to finish it off.

Stamps:
Chien Sidoney (Katzelkraft, no longer with us)
Les droles d’accessoire (Katzelkraft, no longer with us)
Sentiment from Foxy Christmas (Woodware)

Paper:
Kraft 

Ink:
Brilliance by Tsukineko (Graphite Black)

Other:
Coloured pencils
Posca paint pen
Corner Chomper

Why not join in at Christmas Kickstart if, like me, you’re playing catch up?! As Jo says — if it’s Christmassy, link it up!

Going gnome for Christmas

I’m gradually getting back into the swing of cardmaking as I increase the amount of usable worktop in my craft room! And I’ve found my two favourite black inks so things are looking up. I’m concentrating on getting a few Christmas cards made so at least a few folk will get a hand made card this year  

Lost Coast Designs has an “anything goes” challenge this month so I'm playing along there as Pointy Hat Gnome is doing his very best Santa impression — I even gave his hat a pompom topper! Jo is sticking to her December tradition at Christmas Kickstart of “if it’s Christmassy, link it up!” so PH Gnome is putting in an appearance there too. Links to both challenges at the bottom of this post.

I did start off colouring directly on the card base with pencils but I couldn’t get the colours quite as vivid as I wanted so I stamped and coloured on white cardstock then fussy cut and stuck him on. 

Stamps:
Pointy Hat Gnome (Lost Coast Designs)
Sparkle All the Way (Crafters Companion)

Paper:

Raven black
Bristol board 

Ink:
Brilliance by Tsukineko (Graphite Blac)

Other:
Detail embossing powder (silver)
Copic markers
Posca paint pen (white)
Corner Chomper

If you’re still in Christmas card mode, why not come and play?

One night only...

I'm sneaking in under the wire for November's Christmas Kickstart Challenge where the theme is Just Add Antlers. Jo and her seasonal elf always come up with something fun!

Rudy was quietly minding his own business, walking through town when he spotted this poster for his namesake and favourite band - Rudolph and the Reindeers! He stopped to gaze up, dreaming of being in the audience, perhaps even being picked out and invited up on stage... a guy can dream, right? If Courtney Cox got to join Bruce Springsteen, anything might happen.

That's one thing I love about these silhouette die cuts, you can imagine them facing either way!

There's a tiny bit of glitz on this, I use a red glitter pen over Rudolph's name, the snowflakes and the date. 

Stamps:
One Night Only (Woodware Stamps, no longer with us)

Paper:
Cryogen White 

Ink:
Tim Holtz Distress ink by Ranger (Vintage Photo)
Momento Love Letter

Other:
Reindeer Family dies (Paper Rose)
Spica glitter pen (red)

Only a few hours left but if you're quick, here's the challenge link!

 

Something silly!

Tap, tap, tap -  testing, testing, is this thing on? 

Hello! I'm dusting things off in here and seeing if I still remember how to do a post having just about established that I sort of remember how to make a card! I've been parted from my craft stuff for longer than I care to think about by a house move that got complicated, I won't bore you with the details.

To ease back in I thought I'd do a challenge - I've been keeping an eye on a few even while I couldn't make anything. Lost Coast Designs is always fun and the current challenge has a festive theme so I'm playing there as I've just managed to locate the box of Christmas supplies!

Albert is quite excited about the festive season, although he's still insisting that his breakthrough equation should take centre stage. He's chosen an oversized hat so he doesn't have to flatten his hair too much. Stamping, masking, colouring, a bit of fussy cutting and a die cut panel - see, I've remembered at least some of the fundamentals!

What I haven't done is found the camera or set up photo editing software (new computer as well as a house move!) so excuse the slightly rudimentary camera phone photo.

Stamps:
Einstein (Carmen's Veranda)
Ho Ho Ho (Visible Image)
Vintage Christmas Expressions (Cornish Heritage Farms, no longer with us)
It's My Type (Ma Vinci's Reliquary, no longer with us)

Paper:
Cryogen White 

Ink:
Hero Arts Soft Granite
Versafine Onyx Black
Momento Love Letter

Other:
Stitched Rectangles A6 size dies (Paper Rose)
Copic markers
Fineliner
Corner Chomper

If you're feeling festive with your stamps, why not pop over to Lost Coast and join in - you can use any manufacturer's rubber or clear stamps to play along if you don't have Lost Coast or Carmen's Veranda stamps to play with (see the rules page for full details).

So square

The lovely Shabneez is setting our challenge at Daring Cardmakers today. She’d like to see squares — square cards, lots of little squares as design elements, however you feel like incorporating squares!

I couldn’t really get going with anything this week so decided to add a Christmas card to the stash. Jo’s Christmas Kickstart has a green theme this month so I chose to play along there too. 

Santa’s dachshund has put on his best green sweater to deliver his Christmas greetings. He has lovely green trees in the background, too (dog masked before stamping trees). He’s on a square card with an inner square that looks surprisingly dimensional! I drew round a square die with a fineline marker then added some smudged charcoal pencil in the corners. His sweater has some squares in its pattern, too. 

This cute stamp was one of the Katzelkraft bargains I got ages ago but I’ve only just got round to using him — he made my hubby smile when he saw the card waiting to be photographed. There’s a lady in our village who has a dachshund that loves a fuss, Betty (the dog, not her owner!) has the softest ears you’ve ever felt, they’re like very expensive silk velvet!

Stamps:
Chien du Pere de Noel (Katzelkraft)
Lovely As a Tree  (Stampin’ Up)
Sentiment from an ancient set (MSE)

Paper:
Bristol board

Ink:
Brilliance by Tsukineko (Graphite Black)

Other:
Copic markers
Charcoal pencil
Pearl pen by Viva Decor (Ice White)

Thanks for stopping by!

Whatever the weather

Kirsty is setting our challenge at Daring Cardmakers this week and she'd like to see all things weather-related.

I'm hoping I’ve gone for something unseasonal as I’ve chosen snow! I know it’s been unseasonably mild just recently and I hope we’re not going to pay for it with the sort of weather we had with the “beast from the east” a few years back. That was late February…

My stash of Christmas cards was almost nonexistent for 2023 so I’m determined to try to make a few more throughout the year this year. With that in mind I’m also joining Jo’s Christmas Kickstart where Gail is this month’s elf and the theme is “out on a limb” — things you’d find on a tree. My little birdie is literally out on a limb. She has a coating of Spica glitter pen for subtle sparkle too. 

Stamps:
Merriest Christmas Wishes (Hero Arts)

Paper:
Bristol board

Ink:
Memento Luxe by Tsukineko (Bahama Blue, Love Letter)

Other:
Copic marker
Spic glitter pen (red)
Snowflake die (Waltzingmouse Stamps, no longer with us)

Thanks for stopping by!

Elements for August

It's my turn to set the challenge at Daring Cardmakers this week. As it’s the first Friday of the month, that means an “elemental” challenge — just choose at least three things from the inspiration picture to kick start your project  

I thought it might be fun to revisit the first ever August Elements picture. It turned out to be a very eclectic mix of stuff with lots of scope.

I chose the deer head, woodgrain, white text on black and a little pop of green and red and made a Christmas card. I die cut all the parts for the deer from white card, coloured most with Distress ink and just the antlers and inside the ears with Copics (also used for foliage and berries). I used a pearl pen for his eyes to give them a bit of sheen and put some Glossy Accents on the berries for the same reason  

Stamps:
Merriest Christmas Wishes (Hero Arts, retired)

Paper:
Bristol board
Black

Ink:
Tim Holtz Distress ink by Ranger (Antique Linen, Tea Dye, Vintage Photo)
Brilliance by Tsukineko (Graphite Black)

Other:
Cool Yule dies (Tim Holtz/Sizzix)
Festive Greenery strip die (Tim Holtz/Sizzix)
Pinewood Planks embossing folder (Stampin Up!)
Copic markers 
Glossy Accents
Pearl pen by Viva Decor (Anthracite)
Bright white detail embossing powder by Wow!

Stripy scarves!

Kathy has set our challenge at Daring Cardmakers this week — she wants to see spots and/or stripes. Mr Mojo has taken a holiday and I was feeling distinctly uninspired so went searching for extra inspiration (I often find that figuring out a way to combine a couple of challenges helps get things moving). 

I haven’t played in Jo’s Christmas Kickstarter for ages but I always look to see what the month’s challenge is. This time around it’s all wrapped up with scarves. That combined with the stripes theme in my head to steer me to use these adorable bears with their striped scarves. 

The bears are stamped and masked, edges of the card covered with low tack tape before blending in some blue Distress inks. A little Copic colouring and just a few dimensional paint dots along with a sentiment finish off a simple one layer creation.

The rest of the team have created a lovely spring vibe with their creations, it’s just me reflecting the weather outside the window at the moment! Do check out the DCM blog for a breath of something warmer (link from the graphic below) and why not get the stash of Christmas cards under way with a visit to Christmas Kickstart too?

Stamps:
Polar Bear Pals (MFT)
Sparkle All the Way (Crafter's Companion)

Paper:
Bristol board

Ink:
Brilliance by Tsukineko (Graphite Black)
Tim Holtz Distress ink by Ranger (Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, Blueprint Sketch)

Other:
Copic Markers
Pearl pen by Viva Decor ((Ice White)
Corner Chomper 

Link in the chain — December

Happy New Year! It’s reveal day at Card Chain Challenge and having forgotten to sign up for November’s I made sure I was early in the sign up list for December. It’s the month that departs from the usual pattern of sketch/colour palette/theme etc and gives us a tic-tac-toe board to play with. 

 It’s a five by five board and even though I’m usually up for extra challenge I find 25 options a bit too much! So I played the “regular” way and chose the penultimate horizontal line — squares, deer, emboss, splats, Santa. I hope Rudolph counts in the “deer” category!

I used a square card base and embossed with a die for more squares before stamping the image, masking it and using low tack tape to mask off the edges, blending three shades of blue ink and splattering with metallic watercolour. The image is coloured with Copics and then came the scary bit! I thought it should work to do an eclipse style sentiment using an embossing folder rather than cutting out and sticking back the lettering. It was still a bit nerve-wracking putting the carefully coloured card into the folder and squishing it through the Big Shot. It worked pretty well I think, just like a “traditional” eclipse sentiment, it shows more at some angles than others.

All that embossing and masking means I managed to stick to my one layer preference for CCC. It’s gone to Arlene in California, hope she likes it!

Stamps:
Holly Jolly (Penny Johnson/Stampavie)

Paper:
Bristol board

Ink:
Brilliance by Tsukineko (Graphite Black)
Tim Holtz Distress ink by Ranger (Salty Ocean, Blueprint Sketch, Chipped Sapphire)

Other:
Stitched square frame dies (Paper Rose)
Copic markers 
Sayings embossing folder (Darice)
Gansai Tambi Starry Colours watercolour paints

Believe

It’s Friday so it must be time for a new challenge at Daring Cardmakers — it’s our last before Christmas and follows our previous one word prompts. Today’s word is BELIEVE.

I couldn’t resist tying in with Let’s Squash It where the theme is snowflakes and stars. Sadly, LSI is calling it a day, at least for the time being. I’ve been really honoured to be chosen as Empress three times. Gail and Jo have been fabulous challenge hosts and all the regular players will be sad to wave farewell. Thank you Gail and Jo!

For today’s card I used a sentiment that includes the DCM word of the week, stamped and heat embossed on vellum with torn edges and laid over a background of sanded embossed snowflakes. The stars are die cut from silver card and I added glitter to the largest one for a bit extra festive pizzazz. I haven’t used the confetti die that produces the little stars for ages — it was nice to “rediscover” that!

It’s wintery and festive with plenty of die cut action so I’m linking up at Die Cut Divas, too.

Wishing you all a happy, healthy and peaceful festive season.

Stamps:
Sparkle All the Way (Crafter’s Companion)

Paper:
Bristol board
Textured blue (came with the folder)
Vellum
Silver mirri 

Ink:
Versamark  by Tsukineko

Other:
Glamour dust by DecoArt (Crystal)
Stitched rectangle dies, A6 size (Paper Rose)
Snowflakes embossing folder (Darice)
Stars Framelits (Sizzix)
Confetti die (Mama Elephant)
Bright white detail embossing powder (Wow!)

Shine on

It’s Friday so it must be time for a new challenge at Daring Cardmakers. Our one word prompt in the run up to Christmas this week is: SHINE.

I got this die set a while ago on a well known auction site from someone having a crafty clear out. I should really be doing the same rather than buying more stuff! As soon as I saw this week’s word I knew I wanted to give the bulbs their first outing.

I cut the base layer from silver mirri card and then the top layer is vellum for a frosted bulb kind of look. I used double sided tape sheet on the vellum to get round the "show through" problem. The central portion is inked after masking the edges and then splattered with water. The sentiment is embossed with white powder. 

As I've gone far more die cut oriented than usual, I feel justified in another entry to this month's Die Cut Divas challenge!

Stamps:
Sparkle All the Way (Crafter’s Companion)

Paper:
Bristol board
Silver mirri
Vellum

Ink:
Versamark by Tsukineko
Tim Holtz Distress ink (Dusty Concord) and Oxide (Wilted Violet) by Ranger

Other:
String of Lights dies (Lawn Fawn)
Bright white detail embossing powder (Wow)
Gel glue (Pinflair)
Double sided tape sheet

White out

It's time for a new challenge at Daring Cardmakers and we have another in the series of one word prompts in the run up to Christmas. This week’s word is WHITE. 

I’m combining again with Let’s Squash It (any embossing folder on a Christmas card) and Die Cut Divas (where this month anything goes with a die and/or embossing folder). 

My mostly white card features embossed snowflakes and Snowy Sophie who has just a touch of colour. I had some white on black computer-generated sentiments left on my desk from last week’s card so I used another one here. 

I've lent most of my Christmassy embossing folders to my dad but forgot about this one as it was in my pile of "not yet used stuff" rather than in the Christmas box - sorry Dad!

I ran a line of pearl paint pen round the outside of the die cut embossed rectangle and poured glitter on it. Sophie is cut out (I redrew her arms onto the card with a fineliner so I didn’t have to cut out the fiddly bits) and given a sparkly snowdrift to nestle into using the same paint and glitter. 

Stamps:
Snowy Sophie (Cornish Heritage Farms, no longer with us)

Paper:
Bristol board

Ink:
Brilliance by Tsukineko (Graphite Black)

Other:
Copic markers
Stitched rectangle dies, A6 size (Paper Rose)
Snowflakes embossing folder (Darice)
Glamour Dust by DecoArt (Crystal)
Pearl Pen by DecoArt (Ice White)
Black fineliner 

Holly jolly

It's time for a new challenge at Daring Cardmakers and we have a series of one word prompts in the run up to Christmas. This week’s word is HOLLY. 

I’ve combined with the new challenge at Let’s Squash It which is asking for any embossing folder on a Christmas card. I stamped the holly on a die cut square and then used the folder to emboss it so that all the grungy detail and the wording is on that layer. To get smooth leaves, I stamped again on a scrap of card, coloured the holly and cut it out. It’s stuck on with gel glue so the leaves are lifted off the embossed layer a bit. A wonky border doodled with a gold gel pen, some sparkle on the berries, a computer-generated seniment and some enamel dots finish it off.

The Die Cut Divas have an “anything goes” theme this month, I used an embossing folder and a die here so I’m linking up there too. I wanted a square that was bigger than the Nesties I have so I used a square frame die but placed my top plate so that I only cut one outer edge, then turned it to cut the next and so on — a bit fiddly but it worked! Of course I then obscured the stitching effect by embossing the piece so I should probably have just used a knife and ruler to cut a square!

Stamps:
Inked Holly (Visible Image)

Paper:
Bristol board

Ink:
Brilliance by Tsukineko (Graphite Black)

Other:
Copic markers
Stitched square frame dies (Paper Rose)
Pine planks embossing folder (Stampin Up)
Clear Wink of Stella pen
White Enamel Accents by Ranger
Gold gel pen 

November Elements

We're starting to gear up to Christmas at Daring Cardmakers so this month's “elemental” mood board lends itself to festive projects if that's the way the mood takes you. As ever, just choose at least three elements from the picture to kickstart your project.

I chose white text on a black background, a bauble (I chose the teal colour of the star rather than the more obvious pink) and a black and white pattern. I just drew the stripes with a marker and the bauble is cut out and popped up on a bit of scrap card. I used a hole punch to make an actual loop by taking the centre out of the stamped image and tied some silver thread through it. 

Stamps:
Christmas Joy (Crafty Secrets, no longer with us)
Sentiment from a magazine freebie set

Paper:
Bristol board
Black

Ink:
Brilliance by Tsukineko (Graphite Black)

Other:
Copic markers
Bright white detail embossing powder (Wow)
Stitched rectangle dies A6 size (Paper Rose)
Silver thread

Big on backgrounds

It’s Nat’s turn to set our challenge at Daring Cardmakers this week and she’d like us to bring backgrounds into focus — stamp it, stencil it, blend it, whatever takes your fancy. 

I remembered that the current challenge at Stay Crafty with a Blog Named Hero is “merry everything” and decided to play there too. I used a background stamp for a light and flat, easily mailed festive card. I stamped the stripes, added a double layered die cut “merry” and stamped again to get a sort of eclipse sentiment without cutting into the base layer. The stamp is square which gives the opportunity for a quick composition with interest on a standard rectangle card base. I did doodled lines to close off the top and bottom of the square. 

The completion of the sentiment is heat embossed in white then swiped with the red ink to match the stripes. A few of the stars from the set are heat embossed in gold for embellishments and I added some Glossy Accents on the die cut word and that’s about it.

Stamps:
Canvas stripes  (Hero Arts)
Merry Stamp n Cut (Hero Arts, retired)

Paper:
Bristol board 

Ink:
Memento Luxe by Tsukineko (Love Letter)
Versamark by Tsukineko 

Other:
Gold detail embossing powder
Glossy Accents
Stitched rectangle dies, A6 size (Paper Rose)
Fineline marker
Copic markers
Gel glue

Black, white and...

Shabneez is setting our challenge over at Daring Cardmakers this week and she’d like to see cards that are black and white with just one other colour.

Perhaps because there are lots of “Christmas in July” things happening in blogland, the first thing that popped in to my head for “black and white” was penguins. They’ve made the sartorial choice to colour coordinate their hats and scarves with their beaks and feet!

A fairly wide black mat and some Enamel Accents dots help to up the quota of black and I have another card to add to the Christmas stash. 

I’m also playing along with the lovely folk at the Lost Coast Challenge blog who have a Christmas in July event going on.

Stamps:
Bundled Penguins (Stampendous)
Sentiment from a magazine freebie set

Paper:
Bristol board
Black

Ink:
Brilliance by Tsukineko (Graphite Black)

Other:
Copic markers
Stitched rectangles A6 size (Paper Rose)
Enamel Accents by Ranger 

Clean and simple in the snow!

Enfys is setting our challenge over at Daring Cardmakers this week and she’d like to see clean and simple designs, lots of unpatterned, untextured white space. 

When I saw that the challenge this month at Let’s Squash It is “keep it CAS” I couldn’t resist combining. As I decided to cool off a little by imagining snow, I’m entering Jo’s Christmas Kickstart challenge too where snowfolk are the order of the day. 

I did start off with a (homemade) embossing diffuser to emboss the snowflakes directly onto the card base but things didn’t quite work out as intended so I ended up with a die cut circle that I embossed and stuck on. The little dancing snowman is stuck on with gel glue and his banner has the tiniest sliver of cardstock for an upright. I drew a silver gel pen circle round the embossed area, rounded a corner and called it done.

Stamps:
Dancing snowman (Cornish Heritage Farms, no longer with us)
Sentiment from a magazine freebie set

Paper:
Bristol board

Ink:
Brilliance by Tsukineko (Graphite Black)

Other:
Copic markers
Ice Crystals embossing folder (Cuttlebug)
Corner Chomper
Circle Nestabilites

Textured holly

Last day of the month and I'm just managing to squeak in with a card for the current challenge at Let's Squash It - emboss/deboss. Jo and Gail want us to use any embossing folder and use both sides of the pattern on our cards.

I cut a full cardfront and then die cut two smaller rectangles from the centre. I ran the big piece through to get the debossed texture, the smallest through to get the emobssed texture and left the skinny one as a frame in between. I've added a tiny bit of colour to a couple of embossed holly leaves and berries, a stamped sentiment strip and made my first Christmas card of the year!

Apologies that the photo's not great, bright sun and snow glare in Northumberland today! Being a last-minute-minnie I can't wait for better conditions, I'm afraid. I hope it's still possible to see the two sides at play!

Supplies:
Moonlit Berries embossing folder (Couture Creattions)
Bristol board
Stitched rectangle dies, A6 size (Paper Rose)
Vintage Christmas Expressions (Cornish Heritage Farms, no longer with us)
Brilliance by Tsukineko (Pearlescent Ivy)
Copic markers
Spica glitter pens (red and green)

The last link of 2021!

It’s time for the reveal of the last Card Chain Challenge of 2021 — Gail and Jo followed the pattern they set last year by giving us a tic-tac-toe board to play with for December but a five by five one this time (so no way was I even thinking about trying for a full house!)  

My card went to the lovely Jo and I played with the right-most vertical line of the board — white, merry, Santa, circle, red. I figured Santa’s hat would be enough of an indication that “Santa woz ’ere”. I somehow got it into my head that I was supposed to have silver as an element as well but that was actually on a completely different line. Never mind, it made the circles nice and festive!

The hat is stamped, coloured and cut out, sentiment and circles are die cut and there’s a doodled frame to finish it all off. 

Stamps:
Ho Ho Ho (Visible Image)
Noel (Waltzingmouse Stamps, no longer with us)

Paper:
Bristol board
Silver mirror card

Ink:
Brilliance by Tsukineko (Graphite Black)

Other:
Copic markers
Silver gel pen
Circle Nestabilities
Fine frames die, circle (Altenew)
Washi tape
Gel glue (Pinflair)
Corner Chomper