Birthday Hare

I've recently bought IndigoBlu's latest magazine box kit.  I don't normally buy these kits but this one had some lovely animal stamps - this hare was perfect for a birthday card for one of my nephews.

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
     Copics
     Snippets of white matt card, brown matt card and green paper

I used brown ink to stamp the hare onto a snippet of green 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 coloured the hare with several Copics in Earth shades.  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 challenges:
     Addicted to Stamps & More - Any Occasion
     Allsorts - It's Springtime
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - Birthday
     Little Red Wagon - M is for Masculine
     Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes

Kath x

Easter Blessings

I've not had much time for crafting this week but have used a few Hunkydory oddments to make a quick Easter card.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Hunkydory 'Easter Wishes Card Collection - Easter Blessings' card and topper

     Snippet of gold mirri

I attached the yellow frame onto the pink backing card using foam tape ensuring the squares were lined up.  I then trimmed around the edge of the frame, layered the panel onto gold mirri and attached it to the card blank.  The cute topper was attached to the centre of the frame with foam tape.  Quick and easy!

I am entering the following challenges:
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Spring
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Little Red Wagon - Signs of Spring
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Sparkles Monthly Challenge - It's Springtime
     Try It On Tuesday - Spring

Kath x

Hello Spring

I made this card with a 'new to me' stamp I've recently bought - perfect for a cute Spring card.

To make this card I used:
     4.25" x 3" white matt card blank
     Newton's Nook 'Hello Spring' stamp
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' die
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Copics - E11, RV10RV21, V12, Y08 & YG03
     Snippet of white matt card and purple textured card

I used brown ink to stamp the image onto a snippet of white card and then embossed it with clear embossing powder, before colouring it with Copics.  I used a stitched rectangle die to cut a panel which was layered onto a slightly larger snippet of purple textured card and attached to the card blank

I am entering the following challenges:
     AAA Cards - 1 + 1 Challenge (I added 'Colours' to my Spring card)
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Spring
     Little Red Wagon - Include an Animal
     Stamping Sensations - Spring
     We Love Stamping - Wildlife (I've a cute rabbit on my Spring card)

Kath x

January Rudolph Day Guest Designer

I was so pleased when my 'November Rudolph Day' card was chosen as one of the Top 3 in the Rudolph Day Challenge and Helen invited me to join her as Guest Designer on a future challenge.

In recent years I have had a theme for my Rudolph Day cards.  In 2017 I used images from a Lili of the Valley Art Pad, in 2018 my cards were 4" x 4", in 2019 all cards had a Christmas tree on them, in 2020 I used wet and/or dry embossing on my cards, in 2021 I used something that had been upcycled, in 2022 I used something that had been a cover gift with a magazine, in 2023 all my cards were cross stitch designs, in 2024 they were all white, green and gold and finally last year they all had at least one die cut on them.  My theme this year is stamping and each card will have one main stamped image.

This card uses a lovely Uniko background stamp - it had been out of stock before Christmas but I was able to buy it in Bev's New Year sale, so got myself a bargain!

To make this card I used:
     5.5" x 4.25 white matt card blank
     Uniko 'Background Blocks Christmas Scramble' stamp
     My Favorite Things ' Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics' die
     Versafine Onyx Black ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Copic Ciao - B05, B23, BG15, R17, RV21, V17, Y08, YG67 & YR07
     Wink of Stella
     Snippet of white matt card

I used black ink to stamp the image onto a snippet of white card and then embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I die cut the panel with the largest rectangle die and then used nine different coloured Copics to colour each letter.  The panel was then attached to the centre of the card.  To finish I applied a Wink of Stella to the letters.

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge B for Bright
     As You Like It Challenge - Favoiurite Occasion (my favourite occasion for crafting is definitely Christmas and I tend to make far more cards than I need for the occasion)
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Anything New (my new Uniko stamp)
     Little Red Wagon - K is for Keep it Simple
     Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes
     We Love Stamping - Something New (I have used my new Uniko stamp)

Kath x

Floral Tag

I made this tag for the Tag-along (and ATC's) 'Love and Romance' challenge using lots of snippets of card and ribbon.

To make this tag I used:
     Creative Expressions ''Pierced Tags', Creative Expressions 'Finishing Touches - French Marigold' and Sizzix 'Floral Hello' dies
     Snippets of white hammer card, white matt card, red glitter card and red ribbon

I die cut the largest tag from a snippet of white hammer card and used my embossing mat to emboss around the edge of the tag.  I die cut three different size flowers and two large leaves from white matt card.  The flowers were layered and attached to the lower edge of the tag with the leaves tucked underneath the flower.  I die cut a small heart from red glitter card and attached it to the centre of the flower.  To finish I attached a red ribbon bow to the top of the tag.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     Cut It Up Challenge - Anything Goes
     Little Red Wagon - Use the Force (I've used die cutting and embossing)
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
     Moving Along with the Times - Use Stencils and/or Dies (I have chosen dies)
     Snippets Playground - Challenge 552
     Tag-along (and ATCs) - Love and Romance

Kath x

Steve's Christmas Card

As always, the final Christmas card I post is the one I've made for Steve.  This card uses a pre-loved 'Mistletoe' stamp, die and stencil set I've recently bought to make his card.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white linen card blank
     Crafter's Companion 'Mistletoe' stamp, die and stencil set
     Lawn Fawn 'Outside In Stitched Square Stackables' and Crafter's Companion 'Gemini Expressions - Husband' dies
     Versafine Onyx Black ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Copics BG10, R27, R29 & YG67
     Glossy Accents
     Snippet of white matt card and red pearlescent card

I used black ink to stamp the mistletoe onto a snippet of white matt card before embossing it with clear embossing powder and cutting it with the coordinating die.  I used the red Copics to colour the bow and green to colour the mistletoe leaves.  I placed the stencil on top of the coloured image and used the pale blue Copic to colour the berries.  I removed the stencil and then added Glossy Accents to the berries and left it to dry.  I used the largest stitched square die to emboss the front of the card blank and die cut 'Husband' from a snippet of red card.  I attached the mistletoe with foam pads and placed 'Husband' in the corner of the embossed square.

I am entering the following challenges:
     52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Pick a Previous Colour Challenge (I have used the May colours - Red & Green)
     AAA Cards - Anything CAS Goes
     Addicted to CAS - Christmas
     Addicted to Stamps & More - Christmas
     Allsorts - New (I have used a 'New to Me' stamp, die and stencil set)
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - CAS
     Little Red Wagon - Christmas Card
     Simply Clean & Simple - Reds and Greens
     The Male Room - Christmas Colours (Red & Green)
     Tic Tac Toe - Challenge 285 (I have chosen the middle line across - white, free & square)

Kath x

Sailing Boat

This sailing cross stitch was another charity shop find and was originally a cover gift with Cross Stitcher magazine.  It was just the right size for this card blank that was among the craft items I've recently been gifted - a perfect birthday card for a friend who loves to sail.

To make this card I used:
     4.75" x 3.5" dark blue tri-fold card with circle aperture
     Cross Stitcher magazine 'Sailing' cross stitch kit

To took a while to stitch this design as it's a long time since I've stitched on evenweave, but I did enjoy the challenge!  After completing the stitching I placed the stitching behind the aperture.  As I didn't want the dark blue to show through the fabric I attached a piece of white paper to the inside of the card before folding it over the stitching.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - Masculine
     Little Red Wagon - G is for Gentleman
     Try It on Tuesday - Going Round in Circles

Kath x

Happy Christmas

I stitched this card for the Christmas Kickstart 'Let's Wreath It Up' challenge using a kit that had been a magazine cover gift.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white linen card blank
     Debra Page 'Happy Christmas' cross stitch kit (from Cross Stitch Card Shop magazine)
     White DMC thread
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics' die
     Snippet of white linen card

I stitched the wreath using the chart in the kit.  The white flowers should have been left unstitched, but I used some oddments of white thread to fill in the flowers .  It took a bit longer to finish the design but I thought it looked better.  I trimmed a snippet of white linen card so it was slightly small than the card blank and die cut a stitched circle from the centre.  The fabric was attached to the back of the aperture and the panel was then attached to the card blank.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     Christmas Kickstart Challenge - Let's Wreath It Up
     Little Red Wagon - Circle of Life
     Try It On Tuesday - Going Round in Circles (I have used a circle aperture and wreath)

Kath x

Rustic Christmas

We've been back from our latest travels for a couple of days and everything is now clean - ready for us to go away again in a couple of weeks. So, it's now crafting time!  

To make this card I used:
     C6 white card blank
     Uniko 'Rustic Christmas' stamps
     Versafine Olympia Green ink
     Red, pink and turquoise enamel dots

I placed the card into my MISTI and laid the tree and sentiment stamps onto it before stamping them with dark green ink, stamping a couple of times to get a good depth of colour.  I then added some small enamel dots to the tree.

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge - O for One Layer Card
     Addicted to CAS - Christmas
     CAS on Friday - Christmas in July
     Daisy Chain Challenge - Christmas in July
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - Christmas
     Little Red Wagon - Christmas in July
     Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
     Simply Clean & Simple - Clean and Simple
     Uniko  - 12 Days of Christmas

Kath x   

Cross Stitch Red Poppy

This lovely RTO cross stitch kit was another charity shop fine - a 75p bargain!   This is the first RTO kit I've bought but it was a joy to stitch as it was very good quality and contained Zweigart fabric, DMC threads and John James needle.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white hammer card blank
     RTO 'Poppy' cross stitch kit
     My Favorite Things 'Inside & Out Stitched Square STAX Die-namics die
     Snippet of white hammer card

After completing the stitching I washed it to remove the creases in the fabric and set it aside.  I used the stitched square die to cut an aperture in the front of the card blank.  I trimmed the fabric and attached it to the inside of the aperture.  To finish I used a snippet of white hammer card on the inside of the card front to cover the back of the stitching.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes
     Little Red Wagon - Make it Sew (I've used cross stitch and a stitched die)

Kath x

February Rudolph Day

I was so pleased when my January Rudolph Day card was a Top Pick in the January challenge and Helen invited me to be Guest Designer on the February Rudolph Day challenge.  My RD theme for this year is die cutting and I've used a Nativity Bauble die for my card.

To make this card I used:
     5" x 5" white matt card blank
     Memory Box 'Nativity Bauble' dies
     Snippets of white matt card card, dark blue pearlescent card, gold mirri and Funky Fossil 'In To The Blue' paper

I trimmed a piece of white matt card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank.  I die cut the Nativity Bauble from the centre of the panel before attaching it to the card.  I die cut the bauble from dark blue pearlescent card and inlaid it into the aperture.  I then die cut the Bauble again from the snippet of Funky Fossil paper and inlaid it into the bauble.  To finish I die cut the two stars from gold mirri, layered them and attached them to the top of the bauble.

I am entering the following challenges:
     ABC Christmas Challenge - D is for Die Cuts
     A Cut Above - Anything Goes with a Die Cut
     Allsorts - Shades of Blue
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - CAS
     Little Red Wagon - Winter Blues

Kath x

Darling Friends

I received a lovely card from Linda for the February Card Chain Challenge last year which had this cute cat in a hot air balloon and a sun.  After keeping the card for a year, I thought it was time someone else could enjoy Linda's lovely colouring so I carefully removed the hot air balloon and sun from the card to make this birthday card for my great niece.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Upcycled Simon Says Stamp 'Darling Friends' images from Linda's card (Linda had coloured the images with Copics and a white gel pen and added a gem decoration)
     Impression Obsession 'Hills' and 'Clouds' dies
     Clearly Besotted 'Modern Calligraphy' stamps and coordinating dies
     Versafine Smokey Gray ink
     Cosmic Shimmer Clear Detail embossing powder
     Snippets of blue and green textured card and white matt card

I trimmed the blue card so it was slightly smaller than the card blank and attached it to the front of the card.  I die cut two of the hills from green card, using darker green for the background hill and a brighter green for the front hill.  These were attached to bottom of the blue panel.  I attached the hot air balloon to the front of the card using foam pads behind the balloon to give some dimension to the card.  The sun was attached to the top corner of the sky.  I die cut the small and medium clouds from white card, the medium cloud was tucked behind the hot air balloon and the small one attached above the hills.  I used grey ink to stamp the sentiment onto a snippet of white card before cutting 'happy' with the coordinating die and trimming around 'birthday'.  These were then attached to the card.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - Anything Goes
     Little Red Wagon - A for Anything Goes
     Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes

Kath x

Decorative Cat

I made this card to send to Michaela for the January Card Chain Challenge.  I used the Colour Option (Walnut, Lavender & Jade) and the Theme Option (Cats & Friendship). 

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Woodware 'Decorative Cat' stamp
     Versafine Vintage Sepia ink
     Faber Castell coloured pencils
     Wild Rose Studio 'Bluebell' paper
     Wink of Stella
     Snippet of white matt card

I placed a snippet of white matt card into my MISTI and stamped the cat and 'meow' with dark brown ink.  I coloured the flowers and leaves with shades of walnut, lavender and jade.  The panel was trimmed, layered onto lavender paper and attached to the card blank.  To finish I highlighted the flowers with a Wink of Stella.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     Little Red Wagon - A is for Anything Goes
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - Anything Goes
     NBUS - Challenge 70 (I won the cat stamp in the Snippets Playground last year and this is the first time I've used it)
     Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes
     We Love Stamping - CAS

This is the lovely spinner card I received from Gail.

Kath x

Love

I've made another anniversary card for the AAA Cards 'Follow the Leader' challenge using some more white snippets.

To make this card I used:
     C6 white matt card blank
     Impression Obsession 'Love' die
     Snippets of white matt card and red glitter card

I die cut 'Love' three times from white matt card.  I layered the die cuts before attaching them to the bottom corner of the card.  The three small hearts that had been cut from the heart on the sentiment were attached to the card.  To finish I die cut another small heart from the red glitter card and inlaid it into the 'Love'.

I am entering the following challenges
     AAA Cards - Follow the Leader
     Crafty Calendar Challenge - Add a Die Cut
     Cut It Up - Have a Heart
     Litlle Red Wagon - Can You Feel the Love Tonight
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
     Simply Clean and Simple - Anything Goes

Kath x

Happy New Year

I made this card for the CAS on Friday 'New Year' challenge using an old Woodware stamp that was one of the first stamps I bought when I started to make cards many years ago!  I thought it would be perfect to give to Steve at the start of 2025.

To make this card I used:
     6" x 6" white matt card blank
     Woodware 'Champagne Celebration' and Clearly Besotted 'Cheerful Christmas' stamps
     Versafine Imperial Purple ink
     Promarkers
     Diamond Stickles
     Wink of Stella
     Snippets of white matt card and red mirri card

I stamped the champagne glasses onto a snippet of white card with purple ink and then added the sentiment to the bottom of the card.  I coloured the hearts and ribbon with a red Promarker and the champagne glasses with a cream Promarker.  The panel was trimmed, layered onto red mirri and attached to the card blank.  I added Diamond Stickles to the champagne bubbles and a Wink of Stella to the hearts.

I am entering the following challenges:
     Allsorts - Anything Goes
     Ally's Angels - Anything Goes
     CAS on Friday - New Year
     Krafty Chicks Challenge - All Occasions
     Little Red Wagon - New Beginnings
     Love to Craft - Anything Goes
     The Male Room - Clean and Simple

Kath x