Allsorts Challenge #856

 The theme for the latest Allsorts Challenge has been chosen by Lynne who would like to see some embossing on your cards - either dry or using a heat gun with embossing powder.  Lots of scope, but if this doesn't appeal there's always the anything goes option.  Prize from Lisa Horton Crafts (full details on the Allsorts blog post).  For my card I've chosen to use a die to emboss into the background card panel for the brick wall effect, followed by colouring the bricks with watercolour.  I then die cut and coloured the window and shutters using Distress ink pads, adding some small flowers and a die cut bicycle for added interest.  Sentiment was stamped and die cut.

Dies used - mainly from Gummiapan
Bicycle - a die I've had for a long time but no idea of the source
Sentiment - from a Craft Addictions UK stamp set

Tag-along and ATC challenge

 There have been some great mid month reminders from the  Tag-along Design Team members and I realise I have a tag which I made some time ago but hadn't posted.  This one will be in the 'anything goes' category.  I'd been having a bit of a play with texture paste, stencils and the like and came up with three different tags at the time.  The kraft tags were cut and then inked, stencilled and some more ink smooshed around once the paste was dry.  I then used some Snippets of coloured card to die cut the abstract flowers, finally adding a little label made by stamping the word 'bloom'

Tag - cut using a Tim Holtz die set (quite old)
Stencil - from my collection, maker unknown
Flowers - die set by Sizzix Modern Floristry 

How Much ...

 is that doggie in the window?  Sorry, couldn't resist the pun.  I've used more cottage window dies for this card and popped a digital image of Rocky (coloured version).  Window frame, shutters etc coloured using Distress in pads and the flowers were stamped, die cut and coloured also with Distress inks.  Background paper was a Snippet which I thought looked like an old cottage wall.

Rocky - digital download from Craft Addiction UK
Window dies - also CAUK Cottage Windows
Flowers and sentiment - stamps and dies Pots of Joy from CAUK

Black Cat

 The black cat here is maybe not lucky - seems as if he's sitting on the windowsill asking to be let in ☺️.  For this card I used some dies from a fairly new set , whereas I've had the cat dies for more years than I care to think.  The flowers and foliage were stamped, coloured and die cut.  The cottage window and window box were die cut and coloured by sponging with Distress inks. Background was stencill3ed lightly to resemble a stone wall. There wasn't a die for the window blind so I trimmed a scrap of patterned paper to fit and die cut a fancy edge for the bottom. In fact I was somewhat surprised by the size of these dies - I really should take more care reading measurements before ordering items as I found the space available on my usual 6" card was a bit on the cramped side and I really don't want to launch into making larger cards.  Never mind, I'm sure I will manage some different layouts at some point and I do enjoy a challenge. I had a totally different layout in my head for this one but was unable to fit some of the other elements I intended 🙄

Cottage Window - die set from Craft Addiction UK
Wall Bracket - die from Gummiapan
Flowers and Foliage - stamps/dies Pots of Joy from CAUK
Cat - die set from Impression Obsession which I've had for many years
Brick Wall - unbranded stencil

Gone Fishing

 A birthday card to share today - made for a keen fisherman who had a 'big 0 ' birthday recently. He loved it and was amused by the wording which I printed onto the piece of card before trimming it to fit the card blank.

Dies used were all unbranded ones from a couple of different sets

Fashion

 I've made an ATC to match the Fashion theme for the current Tag-along and ATC challenge.  This time I've been a bit more conventional using a very old stamp which I've paper-pieced by stamping first onto white card, followed by using a scrap of patterned paper and fussy cutting it to fit.  The background was a Snippet of just the right size which I found in my box of sundry backgrounds, mostly made using Distress inks.  

Stamp - from a long retired Stampin' Up set Beautiful You
Words - from the same stamp set

Dedicated Follower of Fashion

 This song sort of popped into my head when I saw that Fashion is the theme for the latest Tag-along and ATC challenge.  It also reminded me of the set of dies I've used and for which I had to search as they've not been used for eons. As my tag is entirely made using Snippets I will also call in on the Playground to show them what I've made.  Both challenges have lovely prizes for lucky winners and you can see full details if you visit the links.

I started by die cutting the tag shape from a Snippet of text patterned paper which I backed using a cream snippet trimmed to fit.  Small snippets of coloured card were used to die cut the various elements and the idea which floated into my head has turned into a fun tag, covering two challenges along the way.  I think I also have some similar, smaller dies which could well fit the ATC format so another idea to pursue.

Tag - from a set of Tim Holtz tag dies from years back
Hat - from Snowmen die set X-cut build a snowman (won from the Playground challenge)
Facial Features - Sizzix die set Looking Dapper from 2016
Text Paper -  a Prima paper pad from years back