Grateful for you

I was pleased to see my Birthday Hare was one of the Top 7 at the Allsorts 'Spring' challenge and the team invited me to join them as Guest Designer on their 'Monochromatic' challenge.  I've made this card with more stamps from the IndigoBlu magazine box kit - the same kit that I used for my 'Birthday Hare' card. There are two great prizes of stamps and stencil for the lucky winners of the challenge.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     IndigoBlu 'Mixed-media Special 11' magazine box kit
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Snippets of white matt card, brown matt card and brown patterned paper

I used brown ink to stamp the fox onto a snippet of brown paper before trimming it, layering it onto a slightly larger piece of brown card and attaching it to the front of the card blank. I was going to colour the fox, but as the detail on the fox was so good I decided to leave it as it is.  I stamped the sentiment onto another snippet of white matt card, fussy cut it and attached it to the front of the card with foam tape.

I am entering the following challengesl
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Cardz 4 Guyz - Clean and Simple
     CAS on Friday - Animals
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes
     We Love Stamping - All Creatures Great and Small

Kath x

April Rudolph Day

It's time for the fourth Rudolph Day of the year and another Christmas card with a main stamped image (stamping is my RD theme this year).  This card uses one of my favourite Funky Fossil stamps - perfect for masculine Christmas cards.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white card blank
     Funky Fossil 'Joy' stamps
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics' die
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Copics - E35
     Gold and silver gel pens
     Snippet of gold foiled kraft card

I trimmed the snippet of kraft card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank before attaching it to the front of the card.  I stamped the wreath with brown ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I then used the largest stitched circle die to cut around the image.  I coloured the pine cones with a light brown pen, the letters and berries with a gold gel pen and the snowflakes with a silver gel pen.  I attached the wreath topper to the centre of the card.  

I am entering the following challenges:
     Addicted to Stamps & More - Make Your Mark (I have used ink, a Copic and gell pens)
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Cardz 4 Guyz - Clean & Simple
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - Anything Goes + Colour an Image
     Rudolph Day Challenge - April Challenge

Kath x

To a Very Special Husband

I made this card for Steve as it's our wedding anniversary today.  I used more hearts from the John Next Door die set I won last year.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white linen card blank
     John Next Door 'Honesty Heart' dies  
     Clearly Besotted 'Happy Birthday All' stamps
     Versafine Crimson Red ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Snippets of white linen card, red pearlescent card and red mirri card (sorry, I forgot to take a photo of my snippets)

I trimmed a snippet of white linen card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank and die cut the stitched heart just above the centre before placing the panel into my MISTI.  I laid the two sentiment stamps onto the panel ensuring they were straight before stamping them with red ink and embossing them with clear embossing powder.  I placed the panel onto a slightly large square of red pearlescent card and placed the stitched heart between the two layers so I could see where to die cut the stitched heart on the backing panel - this was to ensure that the two layers that were to be inlaid would be flat on the front of the card.  I removed the white panel and die cut the stitched heart before layering the two panels and attaching them to the front of the card blank.  I die cut the stitched heart from red mirri and inlaid it into the front of the card, ensuring the edges were flat.  I die cut the fancy heart from red pearlescent card and inlaid in into the front of the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     A Cut Above - Anything Goes with a Die Cut
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Cardz 4 Guyz - Monochrome Colour Palette
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
     Simply Clean & Simple - Anything Goes
     Snippets Playground - Challenge 527

Kath x

Heartfelt Thanks

I spent some time today making a lot of autumnal leaves, some of which I've used to make this thank you card.

To make this card I used:
     C6 white matt card blank
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Oval STAX Die-namics' die
     Clearly Besotted 'Fall Flowers' stamps and coordinating dies
     Clearly Besotted 'Fancy Saying' stamps
     Versafine Crimson Red, Smoky Grey, Toffee & Vintage Sepia
     Distress Ink Ripe Persimmon
     Snippets of white hammer card

I stamped the leaf outlines onto snippets of white hammer card - stamping them several times in various shades of brown, red and orange inks.  The leaves were cut with the coordinating dies and set aside.  I then used the largest die to emboss an oval in the front of the card blank.  I placed the card into my MISTI and stamped the sentiment with dark and light brown ink to give the same shades as the leaves.  I attached the small leaves directly onto the front of the card and then attached the large leaf with a foam pad.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Addicted to Stamps & More - Make Your Mark (I have used inks)
     Allsorts - Trees, Leaves and Plants
     Alphabet Challenge - K for Keep it Simple
     Cardz 4 Guyz - Autumn/Fall
     CAS on Friday - Fall
     Simply Clean & Simple - Clean and Simple
     Stamping Sensations - CAS
    
Kath x

Big Birthday Wishes

I made this card for a friend's 'Special Birthday' using one of my 'go to' dies for male cards.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     My Favorite Things 'Big Birthday Wishes' , Memory Box 'Classic Numbers' and Xcut 'Star' dies
     Snippets of white matt card, dark, medium and pale blue textured card

I trimmed a snippet of white card to 6" x 4" and die cut the sentiment from the centre before attaching it to the card blank.  I cut two narrow strips of dark blue card and attached them down each side.  I die cut 'BIG' from dark blue card and inlaid the letters.  The rest of the sentiment was die cut from medium blue card and inlaid into the panel.  I die cut the stars from dark, medium and pale blue and attached them to the card.  To finish I die cut '70' from pale blue card and attached it to the dark blue star.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Shades of Blue
     Cardz 4 Guyz - Clean & Simple
     Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes
     Snippets Playground - Challenge 500 'Celebrate'
     The Male Room - Monochrome

Kath x

More Delightful Dangles

I've had this stamp set for many years and it's still one of my favourites - it's perfect for the current 52 Christmas Card Throwdown colour challenge.

To make this card I used:
     C6 white matt card blank
     Woodware 'Delightful Dangles' stamp
     Versafine Onyx Black ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Pentel Hybrid Dual Metallic gold pen
     Snippet of white matt card

I trimmed a snippet of white matt card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank before placing it into my MISTI.  I used black ink to stamp the tree in the centre, stamping a couple of times to get a good depth of colour.  I embossed the image with clear embossing powder before attaching the panel to the card blank.  To finish I used the gold pen to colour the 'dangles' on the tree.

I am entering the following challenges:
     52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Black, White and Gold
     As You Like It Challenge - Favourite Stamping or Digi (stamping is my favourite as I love to heat emboss images, plus my old printer doesn't print images well!)
     Cardz 4 Guyz - Clean & Simple
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - Christmas
     Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes
     We Love Stamping - CAS

Kath x

Flourish Reindeer

I've recently bought a collection of Impression Obsession dies (I do like IO dies as they always cut so well) and this lovely reindeer was amongst them.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Impression Obsession 'Flourish Reindeer' and Creative Expressions 'Festive Collection - Season's Greetings' dies
     Joy Crafts 'Earth Bloc' paper
     Snippets of brown pearlescent card and bright blue shiny card

I trimmed the paper, layered it onto brown card and attached it to the card blank.  I die cut the reindeer and sentiment from brown pearlescent card and attached them to the lower edge of the card.  To finish, I die cut the reindeer's eye from a tiny snippet of bright blue card and inlaid it.

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge - D for Die Cuts
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Cardz 4 Guyz - Clean & Simple
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     NBUS - Challenge 71 (my new Flourish Reindeer die)
     The Male Room - Monochrome

Kath x

Upcycled Pengins

As always, my final Christmas card of the year is the one I've made for Steve.  Whenever he buys me a card he chooses one that he knows I'll upcycle.   Last Christmas he sent me a lovely tunnel card with cute penguins.  I've made this Christmas card for him using the image from the card but inserted the layers into a die cut frame.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white hammer card blank
     Upcycled Christmas card
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' and Crafter's Companion 'Gemini Expressions - Husband' dies
     Snippet of white hammer card, thin white card and gold mirri

I cut the snippet of white hammer card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank and die cut the stitched square from the centre.   As I was going to insert two layers of card into the aperture and wanted the bottom layer flush with the front of the card, I cut a snippet of thin white card so it was slightly smaller than the panel and die cut a square from the centre.  These panels were layered and attached to the centre of the card.  I die cut the snow and sky panel from the original card and inlaid it into the aperture.  I then die cut the penguin image and inlaid it into the lower section of the aperture.  To finish I die cut 'husband' from a snippet of white hammer card and the frame from gold mirri.  These were layered and attached to the lower corner of the image.

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge - Z for Zoo Animals (my cute penguins)
     As You Like it Challenge - Anything Christmasssy
     Cardz for Guys - Christmas Card
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Christmas
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - Christmas
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     The Male Room - Anything Goes

Kath x

Rudolph Says Hello

I made this tiny Christmas card for one of my great nephews.  I made him a card last year using this cute Rudolph stamp - he thought Rudolph was funny so I've made this card to send him this year.  

To make this card I used:
     4.25" x 3" white matt card blank
     Clearly Besotted 'Let's Prance' stamp and coordinating die
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' die
     Crafts-Too 'Twinkle' embossing folder
     Versafine Onyx black ink
     Promarkers
     Snippets of white matt card and red pearlescent card
     Printed sentiment (make unknown - sent to me in a RAK)
     Glossy Accents

I die cut a snippet of white card with the stitched rectangle die and then embossed it with the stars embossing folder.  The panel was layered red pearlescent card and attached to the front of the card blank.  Rudolph was stamped onto a snippet of white card and cut with the coordinating die before being coloured with Promarkers.  The sentiment was on a sheet of printed Christmas sentiments - I trimmed it before attaching it to the lower corner of the card with foam tape.  Rudolph was attached above the sentiment with a foam pad.  To finish I added Glossy Accents to Rudolph's nose.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Alphabet Challenge - M for Masculine
     Cardz 4 Guyz - Embossing Wet or Dry (my card uses dry embossing)
     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - Embossing Folder Fun
     Stamping Sensations - ~Animal Magic

Kath x

Big Birthday Wishes

I made this card for a friend's birthday using my 'go to' die for male cards.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" kraft card blank
     My Favorite Things 'Big Birthday Wishes' and Xcut 'Nesting Stars' dies
     Snippets of kraft card, blue matt card and red sparkle card

I trimmed the snippet of kraft card so it was slightly wider than the die and cut the large sentiment from the centre before attaching the panel to the front of the card blank.  I die cut the sentiment from snippets of blue matt card and red sparkle card and inlaid them into the front of the panel.  I trimmed two narrow strips of red sparkle card and attached them down each side of the sentiment panel.  To finish I die cut three small stars and attached them to the front of the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Cardz 4 Guyz - Navy, Kraft & Red Colour Challenge
     CAS on Friday - Dies Only
     Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
     Pearly Sparkles Challenge - For a Man or Boy

Kath x

Lighthouse Collage

I spotted this preloved Stampendous 'Lighthouse Collage' stamp in a charity shop last week and couldn't resist buying it as it was a 20p bargain!  It was another wooden stamp but, like my Woodware stamps, I was able to peel the whole stamp from the rubber block so I can use it in my MISTI.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Stampendous 'Lighthouse Collage' and Practical Publishing 'Stamps for All Occasions' stamps
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Snippets of brown card and Marianne Design 'Watercolour' paper

As the foam was still on the back of the stamp I removed the foam pad from my MISTI before using brown ink to stamp the image onto a snippet of blue watercolour paper.  I replaced the foam pad into the MISTI and lined the 'Happy Birthday' sentiment to the right before stamping it a couple of times with brown ink to ensure it was the same depth of colour as the collage.  I trimmed the panel to 5" x 5", layered it onto dark brown card and attached it to the centre of the card blank.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Cardz 4 Guyz - Something New from Stash (I have used a 'new to me' stamp)
     Make My Monday - Happy Birthday
     Moving Along With The Times - New Craft Item (I have used my new Stampendous stamp)
     Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes

Kath x

Elegant Reindeer

I made this card for the CAS Christmas 'Deer' challenge.  I'm also entering the Christmas Kickstart Challenge 'Mooves on Hooves', the Cardz 4 Guyz 'To Die For' challenge and Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies Challenge.

5" x 5" white matt card blank
Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Standard Circles Large' and Creative Dies 'Elegant Reindeer' dies
Kars tan embossing mat
Making Cards magazine 'Contemporary Christmas' paper
Brown and white matt card, silver holographic card

I trimmed a piece of white card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank before die-cutting and embossing a circle from the centre.  I attached a piece of red paper behind the aperture and attached it to the centre of the card.  I die cut three reindeer bodies and two antlers from dark brown card and one swirl from silver holographic card.  I layered two bodies and two antlers and attached these to the front of the card.  I inlaid the silver swirl into the reindeer body and then attached the third brown body layer to give some depth to the reindeer.

Kath x

With Love on our Anniversary

I made this card for my OH for our wedding anniversary - which is today!  I'm entering the Imagine That Digistamp Challenge 'Anything Goes', the Cardz 4 Guyz 'Clean and Simple' challenge and the Bugaboo Weekly Challenge 'Anything Goes'.

7" x 5" white matt card blank
Imagine That Digistamp 'Love Swans' digi
Papermania deep pink and grey card, white matt card
Computer generated sentiment 'Colonna MT' font
Wink of Stella

I resized the coloured swan digi and added the sentiment below before printing onto white card.  I trimmed around the image, layered it onto deep pink and grey card before attaching it to the card front. As I had used the coloured image I added a Wink of Stella to the bow tie and flowers to lift the colour.

Kath x

Over the Hill

I made this card for my uncle's birthday and am entering the Seize the Birthday 'Make us Laugh' challenge.  I'm also entering the Dies R Us Challenge 'For the Men/Boys in our Life', the Cardz 4 Guyz 'Clean and Simple' challenge, The Male Room 'No Designer Paper' challenge and the Bugaboo Weekly Challenge 'Anything Goes'.

6" x 6" white matt card blank
Bugaboo 'Gus Birthday - Over the Hill' digi stamp
Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' die
Kars tan embossing mat
Promarkers
White and green matt card, dark blue textured card

I resized the digi and sentiment and used Word to merge them into one image.  This was printed onto white card before being die cut and embossed with the largest stitched die.  I then coloured the image with Promarkers.  The coloured panel was layered onto green matt and dark blue textured card before being attached to the card front.

Kath x

Fuzzy Wuzzy Christmas

It's time for a new challenge at Winter Wonderland and this month our theme is 'Fuzzy Wuzzy Christmas'.  We want to see something that is furry, frizzy, fluffy, puffy or fuzzy wuzzy - think of furry animals, fluffy hats or mittens, puffy coats or frizzy beards (like Santa).  We are sponsored by SheepSki Designs who are offering the lucky winner three digi stamps of their choice.

I'm entering the Cardz 4 Guyz 'Clean and Simple' challenge, the Imagine That Digistamp Challenge 'Anything Goes' and Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge 'Anything Goes'.

5" x 5" white matt card blank
SheepSki Designs 'Taking a Break' digi stamp
Desert Diva 'Free sentiment 700' digi
Promarkers
Black matt and red textured card
Wink of Stella

I resized the digi stamps and combined the images using Word before printing them onto white card.  I trimmed the image to a square and coloured it with Promarkers.  The panel was then layered onto black and red card before being attached to the card blank.  To finish I highlighted the fur on Santa's outfit with a Wink of Stella.

Kath x

T for Teenager

I made this card for one of my great-nephews and am entering the Cardz 4 Guyz 'Something Beginning with T' challenge (I have chosen teenager).  I'm also entering the Seize the Birthday 'Anything Goes' challenge and Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge 'Anything Goes..

6" x 6" white matt card blank
Lili of the Valley 'Lilli's Die-Cuts - Oliver'
Memory Box 'Grand Happy Birthday' die
Unbranded star punch
Hot off the Press 'Floral Ultimate Pack' paper
White and brown matt card

I trimmed the brown paper, layered it onto brown card and attached it to the card front.  I die cut Happy Birthday from both white and brown card.  The white die cut was trimmed and attached to the lower part of the card and I inlaid the brown letters.  The image was already die cut but I trimmed around the edge to reduce the white border around Oliver.  I then shaped the die cut and attached it with Pinflair glue.  To finish I punched three stars and attached them to the left of the card.

Kath x

Rudolph and Presents

I made this card for the Alphabet Challenge 'R is for Reindeer'.  I'm also entering the Allsorts challenge 'Inspired by a Song' (I've chosen Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer) and Cardz 4 Guyz 'Christmas Critters'.

Card blank: 7" x 5" white matt
Stamps: Bugaboo 'Rudolph Presents' and Imagine That 'Poinsettia' digis
Colouring: Promarkers
Card: Red mirri and white matt
Other: Glossy Accents

I resized Rudolph and the sentiment and merged them in a Word document before printing onto white card.  I trimmed the panel and coloured the image with Promarkers.  The panel was layered onto red mirri and attached to the card front.  To finish I highlighted Rudolph's eyes with Glossy Accents.

Kath x

Happy Birthday Josh

I made this card for my eldest great-nephew.  I'm entering the Seize the Birthday 'Stripes' challenge and Cardz 4 Guyz 'Men's Fashion' challenge,

Card blank: 6" x 6" kraft
Stamp: Lili of the Valley ' Oliver Cool' digi
Colouring: Promarkers
Card: Kraft, white silk
Paper: Docrafts Papermania 'Capsule Elements Wood'
Other: Computer generated sentiment 'Tempus Sans ITC' font

I cut a piece of wood effect paper slightly smaller than the card blank and attached it to the front.  I resized the digi and trimmed it to a square before colouring it with Promarkers.  This was layered onto kraft card and attached to the centre of the card front.

Kath x

Dad

I made this card for my father-in-law on Father's Day.  I'm entering Crafty Cardmakers 'For a Man/Boy' challenge and Cardz 4 Guyz 'Father's Day' challenge,  I'm also entering the Die Cuttin' Divas 'Masculine or Father's Day' challenge.

Card blank: 7" x 5" white matt
Image: Making Cards 'Landscapes'
Die: Creative Expressions 'From the Heart - Male Relations'
Card: Brown matt
Paper: Making Cards 'Landscapes'

I trimmed the orange paper, layered it onto brown card and attached it to the card front.  I trimmed the image slightly and layered it onto brown card before die cutting 'Dad' from the top corner.  The panel was then attached to the centre of the card.  I attached a small piece of brown card onto a piece of paper (to ensure the same thickness as the image paper and matting layer) before die cutting 'Dad' and inlaying it into the card.  To finish I rolled my brayer across the die cut to ensure it was secure.

Kath x

Rescue Squad

It's time for a new challenge at Winter Wonderland and our theme is 'Outdoor Fun.  We're sponsored by Dr Digi's House of Stamps who are offering the winner two digi stamps of their choice.

I'm entering the Cardz 4 Guyz 'Things with Tails' challenge, Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge 'Anything Christmas Goes' and The Merry Christmas Challenge 'Anything Goes + Christmas'.  I'm also heading over to the playground at Pixie's Crafty Workshop.

Card blank: 7" x 5" white silk
Image: Dr Digi's House of Stamps 'Rescue Squad'
Sentiment: Marianne Design 'Ice Skating Don' (magazine freebie)
Punch: Woodware Snowflake
Ink: Versafine Crimson Red
Colouring: Promarkers
Other: Stampendous White Fun Flock, Pearl Diamond Spray and Sparkle, Wink of Stella
Snippets: Tree background paper, red matt and white silk card

I trimmed the background paper, popped it into my MISTI and stamped the sentiment in the top corner - stamping it a couple of times to get a deep colour.  I layered the paper onto red card and attached it to the card blank.  I resized the digi and printed it onto white silk card.  This was fussy cut before being coloured with Promarkers.  I added Fun Flock to the edge of the hood and then attached the image to the lower corner of the card with foam tape.  I punched three snowflakes from white card and sprayed them with Spray and Sparkle before attaching them to the card.  To finish I highlighted the sentiment with a Wink of Stella.

Kath x