SHC - Painted Roses ....

.... Morning! I'm here with my regular weekly post for Seven Hills Crafts. I've been watching Jennifer McGuire's video on her Gel Lift Technique. It was fab and I immediately had a go. My first attempt wasn't great. In fact I completely forgot to blend one of the ink layers all the way down the gel and ended up with a line across the images. I've put the photos at the end of this post. My first card was made using the waste card from cleaning off the brayer.

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Painted Rose; Lawn Fawn - Celebration Scripty Sayings; Hero Arts - Mod Pattern Background

Inks: Gina K - Lemon Drop, Wild Dandelion, Powder Blue, Blue Raspberry; Memento - Summer Skies, Danube Blue; Versafine - Onyx Black

Accessories: White Card; Clear Embossing Powder; Nuvo - Clear Aqua Shimmer Brush

I'm submitting this card to Color Hues - CH#13 where the colours are Yellow and Blue.

I stamped the large rose onto the yellow card, embossed it with clear powder and fussy cut it out. I did the same for the leaves. Next, I took a US A6 card and masked off the edges with ½" tape and stamped the background in soft blue ink. I removed the tape and adhered the complete rose. I finished the front by adding a scripty sentiment in dark blue and lots of shimmer to the rose with a clear aqua shimmer brush. On the inside, I cut a piece of white card slightly smaller than the base. I stamped the rose in pale yellow in the centre and finished by adding a sentiment in blue. I edged the panel with a blue marker and glued it in the card.

I was having such fun with this stamp set that I decide to decorate the envelope too.

This card is for my mother-in-law, and I'm perfectly safe sharing it here, as she doesn't do the Internet!!

My next card uses the soft negative image that I messed up, but I think I saved it okay.

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Painted Rose, Beautiful Words;  Hero Arts - Mod Pattern Background

Inks: Gina K - Lemon Drop, Wild Dandelion, Powder Blue, Jelly Bean Green

Dies: MFT - Zig-Zag Stitched Ovals Stax #5 

Accessories: White Card; Clear Embossing Powder; Nuvo - Clear Aqua Shimmer Brush; Gel Press

I'm submitting this card to the new Fusion challenge - FUSION#0521 - I've used the sketched and mostly the greens.

I used an fancy-edged oval die to cut out the rose. I positioned the just above the line the made in the image - it worked. I stamped a pale yellow background over the A2 card and added the oval towards the top of the card. I had a strip of the green card left and used that for the sentiment. I stamped the words in green ink and finished the sentiment inside the card. I stamped a pale yellow rose inside too.

Before I go, here are the two pages that I did first trying out Jennifer's technique. I would have been thrilled with them - but that line! So pleased that I was able to save the soft image. Still thinking about what I can do with the bold positive image.

That's it from me today - see you again soon.

SHC - Easter Bunnies ....

.... Morning! We've had a super weekend here in Northop Hall - it was sunny with bright blue skies, and warm over the weekend. A bit cooler since then. Mum has been in the garden putting in plants and I've been playing in my craft room - we've both been in our happy place!! Anyway, I'm here with my regular weekly post for Seven Hills Crafts. I've been trying to push myself out of my comfort zone and this first card is way out there:

Stamps: Lawn Fawn - Easter Before 'n' Afters, Celebration Scripty Sentiments, Blue Skies

Inks: Gina K - Key Lime, Jelly Bean Green, Grass Green; Distress - Tumbled Glass, Broken China; Versafine - Onyx Black; Kaleidacolor - Spectrum

Dies: Lawn Fawn - Easter Before 'n' Afters; Concord & 9th - Confetti Card Dies

Accessories: White Card; Copic Markers; Lawn Fawn Stencil - Grassy Hillsides; Clear Embossing Powder; Nuvo - Clear Aquashimmer Brush

I'm submitting this card to Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#24 - all new to me!!

I started with a top folding A2 white card and created the background using the grassy hillside stencils. I used several shades of green for the grass and two shades of blue for the sky. I then stamped various images on white card, coloured them with Copics, restamped with Versafine black ink and heat embossed with clear powder. I stamped the greeting in on of the large white clouds. I used matching dies to cut out the bunnies, basket and eggs, I fussy cut the clouds. Next, I adhered two of the clouds to the right hand side of the card and used the large scalloped edged rectangle die from Confetti cards to cut out my card. I then adhered the elements to the front of the card. I used dimensional pads for the Easter basket and the red egg. On the inside, I cut a piece of white card and stamped a greeting and added a few more of the Easter elements.

My next card is more my usual style - tending towards clean and simple:

Stamps: Lawn Fawn - Easter Before 'n' Afters, Celebration Scripty Sentiments, Simply Celebrate Spring

Inks: Gina K - Soft Stone; Versafine - Onyx Black

Dies: Lawn Fawn - Simply Celebrate Spring

Accessories: White Card; Copic Markers; Clear Embossing Powder; Nuvo - Clear Aquashimmer Brush

I'm submitting this card to Fusion - FUSION#0421 where I've taken the rainbow dress as my inspiration.

I stamped the row of eggs on white card, coloured them with Copic markers, restamped with black Versafine, heat embossed with clear powder and cut them out with the matching die. I worked out where I wanted the coloured eggs to be on the card and then stamped lots of eggs in soft grey ink all over the front. I used dimensional pads to add the coloured eggs. I added lots of sparkle to the eggs with a clear aquashimmer brush. I finished the front by adding a bold scripty Easter greeting. On the inside I've kept things really simple with no message, but I did add a cute bunny.

I had a few bunnies left over from my first card, so I made a final Easter card - this one is very clean and simple:

Stamps: Lawn Fawn - Easter Before 'n' Afters, Celebration Scripty Sentiments, Simply Celebrate

Inks: Gina K - Sweet Mango; Versafine - Onyx Black; Versmark

Dies: Lawn Fawn - Easter Before 'n' Afters

Accessories: White Card; Copic Markers; Clear and White Embossing Powder; Gina K Card - Sweet Mango; Nuvo - Clear Aquashimmer Brush

I cut a strip of black card an inch wide and stamped the scripty Easter greeting in Versamark and heat embossed it with white powder. I layered this piece on peach card and adhered the panel to the front of a top folding A2 card. I finished the front with the cute bunny holding the peach Easter egg - I've added sparkle, but you can't see it in the photo above. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of peach card and on the white card I stamped a greeting and added the Easter basket.

I had lots of fun making the first card - it is very much out of my comfort zone, but I did a few like that this weekend. I might not do it again for a while. That's all from me for today. See you soon.

Snowy Birthday ....

... Hello! I've got into a bad habit of not making enough cards and then having to rush to make them when I need one. So today, I'm sharing a snowy birthday card - I've lots of birthdays in the months from November to February - so this is perfect for my stash.

Stamps: MFT - Simply Snowflakes, Sassy Pants Birthday Greetings 2, Bitty Birthday Wishes

Inks: Stampin' Up! - Balmy Blue; Gina K - Powder Blue; Memento - Summer Sky, Paris Dusk; Hero Arts - Unicorn

Dies: MFT - Stylish Snowflakes

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Night of Navy, Balmy Blue; Holographic Card; Gem

I'm submitting this card to Just Us Girls - JUGS#567 (use blues), Fusion - FUSION#0121 (I used the sketch), and Cardz 4 Guyz - C4G#262 (where it's Let it Snow).

I randomly stamped some snowflake images on the background using three shades of blue ink. I cut two thin strips of blue card and stamped a birthday greeting in white on the navy strip. I adhered them flat to the card. I finished the front by die-cutting a silver holographic snowflake, adhered it to the blue strips and added a simple blue gem in the centre. I used the sketch from Fusion for the card. On the inside, I cut a panel of blue card for the mat layer and on the white layer added a fun birthday greeting in dark blue, along with several more blue snowflakes.

That was fun! I think I'm going to spend a bit more time today making a few more, much needed, birthday cards for my stash. That's all for now. See you again soon.

So Sweet ....

.... Good afternoon! We've had the most glorious weather for the past couple of days, but today it's a bit dull and grey, so I've been working in my craft room. I normally tend towards the clean and simple style, but today I've a card that is more!!

Stamps: Gina K - Petite Patisserie; Stampin' Up! - Bike Ride
Inks: Gina K - Dusty Rose, Kraft, Sandy Beach, Soft Stone, Jelly Bean Green, Black Amalgam; Distress Oxide - Tumbled Glass
Dies: SU - Build a Bike; Die-namics - Stitched Fishtail Flags STAX #1
Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Strawberry Slush; Copic Markers; Nuvo - Clear Aqua Shimmer Brush; Gems

I'm submitting this card to Inkspirational - INK#212 where it's a photo inspiration challenge, Your Next Stamp - YNS#138 where they want to see layers, and Fusion - FUSION#0920. I've taken the Thank you theme from the Fusion photo for my card.

I've had this card in mind ever since I saw the photo at Inkspirational. I had a great time building this scene. I stamped the bike on white card, die cut with the matching dies, assembled it and added some gems to the wheel nuts. I stamped the cake shop directly on the card, added the cake stands and coloured it with Copic markers. I drew in a cobbled road with Copic markers and created the sky by tearing a shape into paper and used distress oxide lightly blended over the top. I adhered the bike to the card front, using dimensional pads. I finished by adding the sentiment strip and patisserie shop sign with dimensional pads. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of dark pink card and on the white panel I stamped a larger display of cakes and a sentiment.

I also took a couple of close-up shots to show the dimension on the bike and shop sign:

That's all from me today - I've got another online class with Dyan Reaveley tonight - should be lots of fun and I'll share the pages soon. Bye for now.

Marbled Birthday ....

... Morning! I'm sharing another birthday card today - this was totally inspired by the photo and sketch on the current Fusion challenge - FUSION#0620:

Stamps: Gina K - Birthday Greetings, Peite Patisserie; Concord & 9th - Marbled Turnabout
Inks: Gina K - Sea Glass, Black Amalgam; Memento - Summer Sky; Stampin' Up! - Smoky Slate; Delicata - Golden Glitz
Dies: Lil Inkers - Long & Skinny Rectangles
Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Smoky Slate; Nuvo - Clear Aquashimmer Brush

I'm also playing along with Seize the Birthday - STB#186 where it's either Anything Goes or for the kids, I've gone for AG.

The inspiration photo shows a lovely tiered cake with pretty marbled hexagons. I decided to concentrate on the marbling and used my MISTI and the turnabout stamp to echo the colours in the picture. I die cut some strips of white card and on the longer portions stamped some gold tiered cakes - picking up on the gold in the picture. I added a simple, bold greeting. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of grey card and had fun on the white panel by adding a fun sentiment and lots of cakes. These are the best cakes for me as they are entirely visual!!

That's all from me for today. The sun has come out and I'm off for my daily walk. See you tomorrow.

Blooming Birthday ....

... Good afternoon from a rather dull, grey and cold Northop Hall.  It's a bit of a change, we've been fortunate to have some lovely weather over the past week, not so much today.  However, it does mean I don't feel at all guilty playing in my craft room this afternoon.  I had been doing really well making cards and posting them here, but I got a bit caught up with household stuff.  I've made a pretty floral birthday card which is going into the post this evening:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Pineapple Perfection; Gina K - Wealth of Wishes
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Gina K Amalgam - Black
Dies: Concord & 9th - Pineapple Perfection; Die-namics - A2 Stitched Rectangles S1 #8; Lil Inkers - Long & Skinny Rectangles
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Vellums; Zig Clean Colour Brushes; Clear Embossing Powder; Tim Holtz watercolour paper

I'm submitting this card to the following challenges:

• Colour Throwdown - CTD#577
• Fusion Card Challenge - FUSION#0220 - I used the sketch
• Seize the Birthday - STB#181 - Anything Goes
• Happy Little Stampers Watercolour Challenge - HLSWC#01 - I used a die cut

I've decided that this year I really must use more of my older stamps (rather than buying new!!) and I found this beautiful floral pineapple in my stash.  I used my MISTI to stamp the image on watercolour paper using amalgam ink.  I used my Zig Clean Colour brushes to add colour to the image, once dry I put the image back in the MISTI and restamped in Versafine black ink, added clear embossing powder and heat set it.  I cut the image with the co-ordinating die.  I cut a panel of shimmery gold vellum as a frame for the lovely image.  I finished the front with a fun sentiment from a Gina K set of stamps.  I've kept the inside of the card very simple for my message.

That's all for now, see you soon.