Party like a Pirate

Morning all.

It's time for a brand new challenge over at Cardz4Guyz. This time we would like to see your projects on the theme of:-

BY THE WATER

Lots of places to go withy that theme I think, rivers, sea, lakes and all the things you can do on or by them! For my card I was struck by the likeness of the latest MFT Sketch Challenge, which looked very much like rolling waves, so I looked out my Party Like a Pirate set and got going.

On a panel of white card, I inked in some clouds using my MFT cloud stencil and some Salty Ocean DI, which I carried down past the horizon. I used some vellum to create the sea, which I inked with the same Salty Ocean and then tore to get the effect of crests and cut some kraft for the beach. 

The fussy cut images were stamped and coloured with Copic markers before arranging in a little scene. A little white gel pen was added to the vellum and a sentiment die cut banner added to complete.

So where will you go with this theme? We'd love to see your take in our gallery. Check out the rest of the Cardz4Guyz team here for more inspiration.

We've had a good few days of dry sunny afternoons and the bulbs are looking fab as they raise their heads above the grass in the wild flower area and the blossom is looking its best, especially against the blue skies.

We planted this hedgerow between some v old oak and ash trees. The original hawthorn hedge was overgrown and neglected, like much of the hedgerows, so we added a variety of native species to reinvigorate it. We did too good a job it seems, as now the whips are getting too tall and threatening the overhead power lines! So. the OH has been thinning out silver birch and alder, leaving the smaller shrubs behind. 

Our latest residents are enjoying the dry, sunny weather too.

I'm joining in over at:-

Uniko New Release Blog Hop and Giveaway

 Good morning folks. Its time for a little blog hop featuring the latest release from Uniko. So grab yourself a cuppa and get hopping!

First off the block is a Twofer featuring Floral Vines.

This first card uses the bleaching technique and heat embossing.

I made a frame with the Floral Vines stamping it onto a panel of smooth white card with Versamark, then heat embossing with white EP. I then added DOx in Picked Raspberry and Seedless Preserve over the top, keeping the center paler and the edges darker, buffing of the excess from the embossing when dry. Using a fine brush I used water to remove the colour where I wanted and blotted with a dry paper towel to lift the colour. If it doesn't work first time, just go back in again until you get the result you want.

To complete, I added a white, heat embossed sentiment from the same set.

The second card featuring Floral Vines, uses fussy cutting and Copic colouring.

On a panel of linen effect card, I stamped the Floral Vines in green, removing the ink from the solid line at the bottom. On a separate piece of scrap white card, I stamped it again in black.

Using more Copic markers, I coloured the leaves and added more dots of colour both freehand and with the small stamp from the Floral Vines set.

My sentiment, again from the same set was stamped in matching green on an ancient Spellbinders die cut ribbon tag. Some matching pink grosgrain ribbon was threaded through the tag and the fussy cut blooms added so that they hung over the edge of the tag, the whole lot was then popped up on pads over the outline on the card.

This third card uses the Framed - Floral Vines stamp, which I stamped onto a white base card, masking off the top right corner.

I extended the frame and leaf with a black fine liner, coloured the leaves and flowers with Copic markers and added the large sentiment from Birthday Wishes. A simple OLC!

My final card uses the fab large gerbera stencil and Background Blocks Solid Wonky Stripes.

On a panel of white card I inked through the stencil with Picked Raspberry DI and Black Soot for the center. Once I removed the stencil I went back in to give the petals some definition with a matching Zig watercolour marker brush. The stencil is so large that it is easy to add extra details like this. To create the detail in the center, I added some Hickory Smoke DI to the stencil details.

On a scrap of white card, I stamped Background Blocks Solid Wonky Stripes in black to create the end panel. To finish I added a sentiment from Pure Florals Peony of white heat embossed on black.

So what do you think of the new release? There's lots more inspiration on the Uniko blog from the rest of the BAs as well as all the details about the hop.

So for a chance to win the whole release leave a comment here and then check out the rest of the team and leave some love there as well!

 Bev

Hannelie

Izzy

Jane 

Julie - that's me

Rahmat

For all the details and to get back on track if you get lost along the way, check out the Uniko blog here.

Happy hopping!

I'd like to join in over at:-

 

Uniko -March Challenge

Good morning folks, it's time for a new challenge over at Uniko.  

Here's my card based on this month's theme.

The day I made this card the sky was blue and the daffodils at the top of the drive by the road, were just showing a bit of colour, heralding the start of spring. So using Spring Botanicals - Daffodil, I created this little group in homage, by stamping, masking and heat embossing with white EP. I then went in and coloured the blooms with a mix of Mustard Seed and Wild Honey DIs, adding shadows with a blue grey Zig watercolour pen. Over the top of the yellow on the leaves, I added a wash of Salty Ocean to create the green stems. 

The sky is a mix of Salty Ocean and Blueprint Sketch, which I blended in with water past the yellow blooms. I mixed Mustard Seed with Salty Ocean that was left on my palette and washed that in between the stems, adding extra yellow for texture. I then masked all the blooms and over stamped with one of the Nature's Treasures (retired) foliage stamp with Salty Ocean and added a few flicks with the Zig pen. When dry I went in with the Zig pen and defined the shadows a bit more.

My white heat embossed sentiment from the same set completes. The finished panel was trimmed and then added to an A6 top fold card.

So where will you go, we'd love to see your interpretations in the gallery. There's more inspiration from the team over at Uniko, if you need it.

Color Hues #14

Afternoon peeps.

What did I say about March moving on a pace? Well it's already halfway so it's time for a brand new colour challenge over at Color Hues, here's my interpretation.

I had so many ideas for a card but decided to give this Creative Endeavours Signature Terrace stamp it's first inking. This is the second of their scene stamps I've used, Fisherman's Wharf was used here awhile back. 

I stamped a couple of the images onto black card with Versamark then used some white detail EP and heat set. The tall houses suggested a tall, slim card, so I trimmed one panel down and fussy cut the roof line. I repeated the process with the second but cut more away, adding a few extras from the cut away pieces to increase the height.

I found some black glitter card in my stash so decided to use this for the sky and added it to a piece of scrap copy paper that I had cut to size, layering the houses on top, the top layer I added some fun foam behind for extra dimension. To reflect the frosty sky, I added Wink of Stella to the rooves, sadly this doesn't show up in the pic! I left the sentiment off the front as I couldn't find the exact one I wanted. It could be a Christmas card or anything else I want really.

So that's all from for the moment but please check out the rest of the Color Hues team here for more black and white inspiration.

Joining in at:-

Embossing Wet or Dry

Monochromatic

STAMPlorations challenges, a reminder

 Have you joined in the latest Theme and Photo challenge over at STAMPlorations? There's still time and the teams have got together to give you some more inspiration here, to encourage you to join in, including my card below!

I used the theme of numbers for my anniversary card.

I used the fab large cake from Dee's Better Together and more of the digits from the Numbers Plate Die.

After stamping the cake on some white card in Altenew's Industrial Diamond, I used Copics to colour and then fussy cut it out. I prefer to fussy cut as it allows me to add the white 'iced' cake to the coloured background without loosing the intensity of the white. Fussy cutting even small images is worth the effort, I don't really like the white border you get from matching dies, when available, and it doesn't cost as much either! I do like to use die cut letters and numbers though!

On my slightly shimmery cream card base, I stamped the image again and then glued the fussy cut cake on top. I did this because I wanted to retain the fine spray above the large bloom but not have to fussy cut it! A bit of a cheat I know, but the overall effect is worth it.

Using a 1 and 5 cut from white card and the plate die, I repeated the cut with two more black numerals, which I then layered up and adhered to the largest tier. The sentiment from the same set was stamped in black and embossed with clear EP to complete.

For more inspiration from the team and for all Ts and Cs checkout the STAMPlorations blog here, then why not join us?

Joining in over at:-

Use a stamped image

Favourite way to cut your image

Printing with Die Cuts

Evening folks. Did you have a lovely Mother's Day? I know many of us can't be with our Mum's at the moment due to Covid but we are thinking of them just the same. I had a lovely couple of bouquets and plants from the kids, so they will remind me of them for quite awhile.

However, March is gathering pace, we are almost half way through the month so its time for a brand new challenge at Perfectly CAS.

Here is my card based on this month's theme.

When I was trying to come up with a design for this post, I had in mind the latest challenge at CAS Mix Up. They certainly challenge you to go outside the normal CAS structure and widen your horizons with new techniques, I can't believe its 5 years since they started! This month their theme is 'Printing with Die Cuts', not something you would immediately think of as CAS. Anyway I followed the link to the You Tube video supplied by Kathy Racoosin, then had a play!

I wasn't sure which of my MANY dies would work for this technique and originally I pulled out a MB Tulip die, but then remembered that I had the same die cut Joy! daisy that one of the DT, Viv, had used. 

I cut a trio of them out of MM paper, as I wasn't sure how it would pan out, but in the end I only used one and a half. I added some Zig watercolour marker to the die cuts, spritzed one with water and pressed it onto the rest of my MM panel. A little too much water and the colours ran so when it was dry I flipped it over and tried again. This time I tried adding the colours in two different phases, first the green stems and yellow centers, then the pink petals. Instead of adding water by spritzing, I painted over the die cuts with water before flipping over and printing. I got much more control over the colours but they still blended well. Sometimes I wasn't quick enough with my flipping and the colour didn't all transfer but I quite liked that effect too.

When the panel was dry, I added the die cuts, trimming off the small daisy from one of them. The subtle printing with coloured die cuts on top, gives the design a sense of depth, I think.

When I use MM paper I always struggle to find a base card colour that works, so to take the eye away from the slightly differently coloured panel, I inserted a die cut of it into a die cut frame made from the same card as the base, and mounted that on a simple off white A6 top folding card, if that makes sense!

A simple LOTV sentiment completes the design. A messy mixed media center but overall a CAS card I think.

For more CAS birthday inspiration check out the rest of the DT here.

I'm joining in over at:-

 

Spring

Kraft, Red and White - Uniko Brand Ambassador Inspiration

 Morning all. I'm over at Uniko with another Festive Friday post.

This month I've been inspired by the colours over at CAS Christmas, where they are also celebrating their 3rd birthday, can you believe it? Why don't you grab yourself a cuppa, then head over to the Uniko blog for some festive kraft and red inspiration and details on the makes.

This card uses the Christmas Pop trees as well as BB Falling Snow and a freebie snow stencil from a magazine. A trio of red gems and a scrap of matching NitWits DP complete. 

I've used Background Builders Christmas 2018 before to make a plaid pattern, here I've used a panel of kraft card, red ink, a white gel pen and a black fine liner to make a panel to cut my letters from.

You can't get much simpler than this card, Festive Sentiments Outlined and Framed - Holly stamped and embossed in white EP and 3 tiny red crystals for the red berries on an A6 kraft base card.

I'd like to join in over at:-

Oliver on his Gameboy

Good morning, hope I find you well. It's time for a new challenge over at Cardz4Guyz where we would like you to create a masculine card for-

A TEENAGER

My eldest grandson is just heading towards leaving primary school, so I have a couple of years to wait until he's officially a teenager but the image I used here fits him to a T already!

This image is another fab one from LOTV, featuring teen Oliver, this time on his Game Boy.

The background DP is from a NitWits collection which I glued straight onto an A6 top fold note card. I coloured the image of Oliver with Copic markers, taking my cue for the colours from the NitWits paper at the bottom of the design. When finished, I fussy cut him and added him on pads to a die cut linen effect panel. The texture is subtle but adds just enough interest to this CAS card. I used an Avery Elle die to cut the panel which I glued over the NitWits DP on some fun foam for dimension.

The sentiment is one of the fab set called Birthday Wishes from Uniko. I didn't add an age to the card but you could easily add one later using a couple of die cut numerals.

Talking of numbers, my youngest grandson is just learning his numbers and was proudly showing off to us over Facetime last weekend. He's changed such a lot since we last met up, hopefully it wont be too long before we can meet up again.

So, what ideas have you got? The DT would love to see your take on the challenge in the gallery over the next two weeks, check them out here for more teen inspiration.

Joining in over at:-

  

no topping this time                                                           

                   

Our first batch of lambs arrived back from the lambing sheds on Sunday to join the ewe that couldn't wait to have her lambs, so never left! It was a bit of a rugby scrum when they arrived, 12 ewes and 20 lambs all trying to find one another! Here are one lamb and three of the mums, the rest were rather camera shy!

         

  

Most of the lambs are in a ruck behind these four ewes.

Snowflakes in March

Evening all.

I know that March has only just started but I'm still trying to get my Christmas stash well up before it needs to be, to leave some time for other things once life is back to something that approaches normality!

So with this in mind I used the new challenge at HLS CAS, to create this simple and repeatable card.

My starting point was a card I saw on Pinterest a long time ago here.

I took a small panel of Yupo paper and added alcohol inks in blue and turquoise and mixed them up with a bit of blending solution and left it to dry whilst I die cut some snowflakes from silver glitter paper with an IO die. 

Once the panel was dry, I cut off a strip and added it to a white, side fold, A6 note card, adding the die cut snowflakes at jaunty angles. Finally, I stamped this Uniko sentiment in a matching ink. I've still got some of the Yupo panel left and plenty more glitter paper to make some more if I want to later.

So for more CAS inspiration featuring 3 of a kind, just pop over to the HLS blog and check out the rest of the DT and then why not join in.

I'm joining in over at:-

ANYTHING GOES using any brand of die that DRU sells

Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - #90 AG Christmas

 

Color Hues #13

Afternoon folks.

A new month so it's a new challenge over at Color Hues.

We've had a few dry days here with blue skies and sunshine for part of the day, just so lovely to feel the sun on your face when outside. I also noticed a few signs of yellow in the long grass by the house where I planted some early dwarf daffs, so I think it's appropriate to go with the theme of blue skies and yellow daffodils for the new challenge.

I saw the latest challenge over at Freshly Made Sketches and thought it was time to bring out an old favourite from STAMPlorations, Boxed Blooms - Daffodil, perfect for their sketch. 

So I simply stamped the image and heat embossed with white EP before colouring with DI in Mustard Seed, Wild Honey and Salty Ocean in a watercolour style.

After cutting the boxed bloom out using an MFT pierced square die, I mounted it on a scrap of daffodil yellow card from the stash. My strip of blue was a failed NitWits paper from the printer which I went over with Salty Ocean and then stamped some pattern with a Uniko graffiti block stamp in more Salty Ocean. Not sure what's wrong with my printer but this blue and yellow NitWits DP looked as though part of the printing was missing, so waste not want not!

On some linen effect card I cut a couple of panels, stamping the sentiment from Uniko Spring Botanicals- Tulip, along the bottom right of the largest and popped it over the blue stamped and inked DP with foam and then added the smaller one on foam as well. My finished panel was then added to a matching linen effect base card.

So where will these colours take you? You haven't disappointed us yet so we're hoping for a fab array in our gallery!

Don't forget to check out the rest of the team here for more yellow and blue inspiration.

I'm joining in over at:-

STAMPlorations, a new challenge

Good morning crafters.

A new month starts so its time for a brand new challenge at STAMPlorations.

Here is my take on this moth's theme.

I've used the following stamps and dies, A Snarky Birthday to You, Numbers Plate Die, and Balloons and Banners to create this numbered birthday card, based on the theme this month, Stamps and Numbers.

You could of course take your inspiration from the image or even a mix of the two

I think this card would suit a masculine recipient but equally a female one!

I used a black base card adding balloons and stars from A Snarky Birthday to you, coloured with Copics and fussy cut, some stars, a party hat and sentiment from Balloons and Banners again coloured and fussy cut. The die cut numbers are from the Numbers Plate Die, cut from silver glitter card and stacked on 2 more cut from white card stock scrap and the coloured fussy cut party hat added at a jaunty angle.The white heat embossed sentiment was similarly popped up with a couple of scrap card strips.

So, that's it from me, but how will you interpret this month's challenge, we'd love to see your take in our gallery. Foe more inspiration check out the rest of the DT here, where you'll also find all the Ts and Cs.