More Inspiration for Let's Squash It! Challenge #18 - Emboss/Deboss

 

It's time for the final Inspiration post over at Let's Squash It! where we're playing where we're playing Emboss/Deboss. 

I've really enjoyed this challenge and have loved trying different ways of combining both sides of my EFs on the same card. It appears that this technique has captured the imaginations of our participants as we've got some beautiful, really inspirational cards in the gallery.

During this challenge I've been especially interested in trying to use the small EFs that I seem to have acquired along the way. I was messing about with a piece of watercolour card and a small EF from Sizzix; just flipping the folder backwards and forwards and running it through my Cuttlebug. I came up with this panel and thought it was perfect as a background.

Here's the folder in comparison with the card.

I'm so pleased with the texture and the pattern made with just this little folder to play with. The flowers were sent to me by one of my Card Chain Challenge buddies, Lucille. Aren't they lovely? She sent them all coloured and ready to use, so putting my card together was just so quick and easy. The sentiment is from a cute set by Funky Fossil called Small Print #2.

You've still got until March 31st to come and play along, so why not break out those EFs and come join the fun! 

Show Us Your Pussycats Challenge #76 - Furrything Goes!

 

I do like the kitty on this badge, don't you? That expression is priceless.

I've not played along at Show Us Your Pussycats for ages and am delighted to be putting this right with a little kitty card...

I think this cat from MFT is one of my all time favourite stamps. For this card my feline friend is teamed with a very old Stampin' Up! speech bubble and a gorgeous MFT background stamp. 

The sun is shining and there's barely a cloud in the sky, so I think I'll go and grab a little time in the garden. Spring is such a lovely, hopeful time.

Happy crafting!

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge #206 - S is for Sister Chris and Stamplorations

For our new challenge, the Sisterhood are celebrating the sensation that is our beloved Sister Chris and her new snarky stamp sets made in collaboration with Stamplorations! Try saying that quickly, I dare you!

As you can see from our fabulous graphic, Sister Chris bears an uncanny resemblance to our mascot, Edna.

Yes, our sister has designed her first stamps sets and they are oh, soooo snarky and wonderful. The Sisterhood got to play with the sets ahead of the launch - how lucky are we! I just can't get enough of the new sayings/sentiments and would certainly pack both sets in my desert island emergency stamping kit! 

So, what have I made? 

Here's my first card. I loved this card Sister Barb created for Challenge #205 and just had to CASE it big time. I used one of the fabulous sentiments from Hot Mess to accompany this fun gal from AI and the background is one of my Gelli plate prints.

I also made this card below using another sentiment from the same set. I got the idea of using a Katzelkraft cat after seeing this card made by Sister Lindsey.

The other set that Chris has made is called Some Snark. This set has been created to accompany Retro Fashionistas ATC - Ephemera and Retro People ATC - Ephemera.

Stamplorations currently has a nice PRE-RELEASE SALE for these sets

Buy Some Snark together with Hot Mess at 25% off 

and receive a pack each of Retro Fashionistas ATC ($7 value) and Retro People ATC ($7 value) free!

This offer is available for shipping within the US only.

My final card teams a Technique Junkies cat (Coffee Kitty) with another sentiment from Hot Mess. I think this is a great double act!

For the next two weeks the sistahs would like to see Chris's new stamp sets on your cards OR cards made using products from Stamplorations. Hope to see you in the gallery!

Feline Fun!

Hi there, guess who has managed to find some time to do a little crafting!

My very good blogging buddy and fellow Snarky Sistah, Toni, is Hostess over at Addicted to CAS for Challenge #215 and I have to say I think she's chosen a great theme.

This is what I made.

 

I just love this kitty from All Night Media - Cats; unfortunately, I could only find a link to an eBay sale as this is such an old set. I especially like this stamp as this kitty cat looks so much like my cat Cleo who crossed the Rainbow Bridge several years ago. The sweet, fun sentiment is from MFT Cat-itude. There are some super cards in the gallery at Addicted to CAS, and I love what Toni and the DT have made for this challenge.

I knew that I very much wanted to play in the Snippets Playground Ruby's Memory Challenge #423. This is the final challenge in memory of a very special little dog called Ruby, who was the companion of my cardmaking buddy Lynne and her partner Greg. 

When she heard that Lynne and Greg had lost their much loved fur baby, Di from Snippets decided to do something rather wonderful. She started a monthly challenge in memory of Ruby and asked for prizes to be donated. In turn Di donated the value of each prize to the USPCA (The Ulster Society for the Prevention Cruelty to Animals), the organisation that rescued Ruby before she found her forever home with Lynne and Greg. Di has raised an amazing £300 and I'm sure you'll agree that she's done a brilliant job. Well done to everyone who donated prizes too, and thank you to Di for having such a kind heart.

My card uses snippets that I had on my table from making this card. This is such a pretty pad and I enjoyed using it again.

My hubby has just put a coffee in my hand, so I think I'll settle back and go visiting around my blogland buddies. Happy crafting, everyone!

Let's Squash It! #18 - Emboss/Deboss

 

If you're looking for a fun challenge and love embossing folders then please look no further than the new challenge over at Let's Squash It!

For the rest of March we're playing Emboss/Deboss and we'd like to see both techniques on your card. There's a Technique Time post for you to check out a few ideas to get you started over on the blog.

Here's what I created for the challenge. 

I started by using a Cuttlebug border folder an working my way up the front panel embossing and debossing as I went. The creamy, soft watercolour card took the embossing and debossing beautifully.

The small folder left a faint indentation in the card, so I decided to run with it and incorporate it into the design. I did this by scoring a deeper line with my paper scorer.

I left this card really CAS as I wanted the embossing/debossing to be the star of the show!

Gail and I really hope you'll come and play along with this fun challenge.

#Cards for Ukraine

 

The lovely folk at Color Hues are playing with the colours of the Ukrainian flag. Nancy has pulled-together her Colour Hues and Seize the Birthday teams for this very special and heartfelt challenge.

For my card I used a favourite Card Chain Challenge sketch and reworked the colour palette from my previous card by using a Teresa Collins pad called Every Day Moments. I don't think this pad is available any longer, which is a pity as the colours and papers are lovely.

I really cannot put into words how I feel about what is happening in Ukraine. I searched through my sentiment stamps and found a set from Pinkfresh called You Can Change the World. The sentiments are amazing and I could have chosen about three different messages from this set. How I wish that ordinary people could change the world; perhaps it would be a happier, better and safer place.

I'm sending love to everyone caught up in and affected by the current conflict. Please keep hope in your hearts.

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers #205 - V is for Vibrant

Welcome, welcome, welcome! Edna's got a great new look going on as The Sisterhood play V is for Vibrant! Yes, we want to see your bright, sparkling, vivacious, dazzling and radiant entries for this challenge, please.

I was so lucky to win some Unity stamps thanks to my buddy, Gail. I really like this image from Itty Bitty Stamp Queen of the Universe as she looks like a gal with attitude. I paper-pieced her shirt with a vibrant pink post-It note before dropping her onto a MFT stencil panel.

And will you please just look at that fab-u-lous sentiment! Huge congratulations to Sistah Chris as she launches her very first stamp range with Stamplorations! Bravo, Chris. I love the two new sets and know I'll be using them again and again.

We have a brilliant guest designer and a awesome selection of cards from the team, so please come over and get your vibrant on!

February 2022 Card Chain Challenge Reveal

Hello and welcome, it's time for the February 2022 Card Chain Challenge Reveal!

We had 28 participants who exchanged cards across the globe this month making our total number of cards exchanged thus far 3,560. Isn't that brilliant!

 

All the cards exchanged this month used at least one of the following options:

 

Colour Palette Option

(Exact matching is not required.)

Sketch Option

(Orient as desired.)

Theme Options: Hearts / Mushrooms / Friendship

Product / Technique Options: Paint / Shaped Card

 

My recipient for this month was Kath in the UK, so my card didn't have very far to travel. I came up with a very literal take on the sketch - it's such a great layout and I loved the idea of using hearts in place of the circles. Quite a few of our participants went in a similar direction with the sketch, which is really nice to see. 

The papers I picked are all from My Mind's Eye - Lost and Found: Blush and are some I've had for years. I really enjoyed using this pad as the colours are gorgeous together.

My sender for this month was Gail from Norway.

As you can see Gail grabbed the shaped card option and ran with it big time! Isn't he wonderful? Thanks, Gail, I love this card. I think elephant needs a name... Any suggestions?

If you'd like to join our chain of friendship, why not head on over and join the March Chain which is still open for sign-ups. This challenge is a real win-win as you make and send a beautiful handmade card and then receive a beautiful handmade card!

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #60 - Snowflakes are Winter's Butterflies

It's the first day of the month and therefore time to begin a new challenge over at Christmas Kickstart! We have a brand new elf and a new theme, and I'm so happy to be joined by the very talented Carol from Inky Fingers.

Our theme for this challenge is:

Challenge #60 - Snowflakes are Winter's Butterflies

Carol and I would love to see snowflakes on your cards throughout March - they can be part of a snowy scene, on their own or with a snowman! 

My card is pretty simple and quick too as I grabbed my favourite snowflake stamps and got busy with some teal and turquoise inks. I'd love to be able to share the stamp brand, but I lost the label years ago. I'm amazed that the stamps still work as well as they do as I must have bought this set when I first started stamping back in 2009.

In the centre of my card I placed this sweet little die-cut from Simon Says Stamp. I've just noticed an ink blob which will soon be hidden under a carefully placed sequin. Isn't it funny how a photograph highlights things that the naked eye often misses.

I'm just not sure about my second card. 

I wanted to make something really pretty, but it's a bit blah! I combined an Eliza Snowflake die with a Sizzix Circle Word die, but I just feel something is missing. I might add some wording in the top left to balance things out. 

And it wouldn't be Christmas Kickstart without the one and only Rudolph... for his Random Raffle Prize for this month he's chosen a very appropriate prize!

Carol and I very much hope you'll come on over and join the festive fun... there's only 300 days to Christmas!