Curiosities

 I'm back again with one of my current favourite dies which is the very versatile postage stamp collage - so many possibilities.  Looking through some of my older stamps recently I came across four sets of mini stamps with curiosities, trees, scripts and mail art and I've used just a small selection for this card which I thought would be ideal for a masculine card although, to be fair, it would suit anyone.The die was cut using some script paper and there was another similar sheet in the same pad, part of which was used as a background.  A simple sentiment was all it needed.  I've had these stamps for many years but they've not seen ink for longer than I care to remember.

Stamps - Chocolate Baroque mini stamp sets designed by Glenda Waterworth
Papers - from a script pad by Prima
Postage stamp die - unbranded
Sentiment - stamps from Tim Holtz Sizzix (again from way back)

Blog Inspiration

 So many ideas and inspirations come from crafty blogs which often act ass a reminder of techniques and/or items we may own but have maybe not used in a while.  One such inspiration came from seeing a card posted by a friend using a Stickeroo which certainly brought to mind that I have a few of these loitering in my stash so I pulled them out and have produced a few varied cards.  For this one I mounted the sticker onto a piece of toning card, leaving a small margin and then set about finding matching background paper and other items which would make it into an interesting design. A 5" x 7" card.

For anyone who may not know  Stickeroos are sticky backed images of varying designs which come on A4 sheets, ready to peel off and use as required.  They also produce some beautiful Christmas images.

Image - Stickeroo from Penny Black (Buddly Crafts stock them I believe)
'Bubbles' border - an old die from Tattered Lace
Sentiment - Unbranded die
Butterfly - also from the Stickeroo sheet

Rudolph Days

 ... and the good news is that Rudolph Days is to continue with monthly challenges and is being overseen by Helen who has stepped in to keep things going.  This is a great opportunity to make at least one Christmas card per month during the year which should help to avoid a huge rush in December.  Full details can be seen on the new blog page.  My card was made using a stamped image with a die cut greeting. 

Image - from a retired Stampin' Up stamp set
Octagon dies - Daisy Mae
Sentiment - Julie Hickey
Background - printed from a Buddly Crafts download

Allsorts Challenge

 The theme for the current Allsorts challenge is **things that fly** and after having a bit of a ponder going through flying things in my mind I remembered that I had some stamps which have lain  on a shelf neglected for far too long so I took the set out for this card.  I needed a quick card to pop in the post for someone and despite having loads of cards made there didn't seem to be anything to suit as the majority were for particular occasions.  I started by stencilling a couple of colours directly onto the card front then stamped the image and a couple of random words from the stamp set.  Some colour was added to parts of the balloon using pencils; another stamp at the bottom and that was job done.  A card suitable for both the challenge and to pop into the post, two birds with one stone (no pun intended)😊

Stamps - Steampunkery from Chocolate Baroque - years old so possibly discontinued
Sentiment - from a Sizzix stamp set also years old