Travel

I'm back again, this time with a tag for the current Tag-Along (and ATCs) Challenge.  I've been a bit stuck with the theme which is *Travel* so I've been casting my mind back over stamps which I've had for many years to see if there was anything which would be suitable.  One or two possibilities turned out to be far too large to fit nicely onto a tag and in fact the one I've used here is a bit on the large side so I've ended up cutting the tag 'by hand' using a guillotine and punching out a hole for the ribbon.  I started by smooshing some ink onto the blank tag, then stamping and masking the hot air balloon before doing some random stamping as a background.  Once this was done I carefully removed the masking fluid and coloured the image using pencils.  This fun set of stamps includes several steampunk style images and a selection of suitable 'travel' words, some of which I stamped and cut out with scissors to adhere to the tag..  I know I've had these stamps for a long time, there is no date on the packaging but I've worked out that I think they probably date back some twelve years or so.

It may be that you have stamps or dies which suit the theme (or there is the anything goes option) so why not have a go at either a tag or an ATC (or both) - the challenge lasts until the end of the month. 

Balloon - from Steampunkery stamp set designed by Glenda Waterworth, Chocolate Baroque
Background Stamps - various magazine freebie stamp sets
Colouring - Derwent Inktense pencils and water brush

Allsorts Challenge #829

The theme for Allsorts Challenge #829 has been chosen by Helen who would like to see something featuring **Animals** or as usual there is the *Anything Goes* option.  There will be two prizes of Lavinia stamps, full details on the Allsorts blog. 

For my card this time I've chosen to use Lavinia stamps, a mix of old and new to build up this scene. I started by stamping the fairy pathway and the teapot which I then masked before sponging some inks for background colour..  At this point I stamped the hare, birds and the foliage, followed by more ink sponging to ground the scene and frame the whole design.  Finally the masking was carefully removed from the teapot which was coloured using pencils.

Stamping - all by Lavinia
Colouring - Inktense pencils and water brush
Inks - Versafine Clair, Elements and Distress

Tag-along (and ATCs)

 The theme for the month of August on the Tag-along (and ATCs) blog is **Travel** and no doubt many people are doing just that.  However it was a wonderful excuse for me to bring out a die which I just couldn't resist at the time but hasn't actually been used for quite a long time.  The two happy bunnies are certainly on their travels and I stamped a little scene on this ATC using a long-retired set of stamps (well a couple of them).  I also added some flying birds and a couple perched in the tree.  Final addition was a 'sticker' which I produced on the computer to suit the image.  Making my own so called 'stickers' means that I can choose whatever word or words which I feel are appropriate

Bunnies - unbranded die from a few years ago
Roadway and Tree - from Stampin' Up Sheltering Tree stamp set (long retired)
Birds - stamps from Card-I-o
'Sticker' - produced using MS Word

Chess

 I needed a card for my brother's birthday recently and came up with this design because the dies reminded me of an occasion many, many years ago when we were both still living at home.  He had decided to take up chess but absolutely refused to teach me how to play because with my quirky sense of humour I called the pawns 'prawns' which I'm afraid annoyed rather than amused him .  Funny how odd incidents from so long ago sometimes pop into my head - anyway he did like the card even though he didn't really stick with the chess.  In case you can't read it, the quote says 'when you see a good move, look for a better one'  and this was printed directly onto a piece of card using the computer.

 Chequerboard die - unbranded from Amazon
Chess pieces - also from Amazon
Quote - printed using MS Word, as was the birthday greeting

Eau de Parfum

A little while back I was lucky enough to win some great stamps and a stencil  from The Snippets Playground challenge and I made this card although at the moment it is awaiting a sentiment.  I started by stamping the clock stamp onto a square of white card using a light coloured ink and I also added some stencilling down the left hand side and in the bottom right corner; finally popping the two little hares into the left corner.  The perfume bottle and flowers were stamped onto a smaller piece of card and coloured using Inktense pencils.  Both of the pieces were then mounted onto some  grey card to tone with the stamping and stencilling. A shine was added to the bottle using Glossy Accents..  I will probably add a sentiment when I know who is to receive this card.  I can see lots of possibilities for these stamps, particularly the clock set so a happy dance here for my lucky win.

Stamps all from Aall & Create 
Stencil - also A & C

Rudolph Days Already??

Can it really be time for the Rudolph Days challenge and I guess the answer is yes so here is my card which was inspired by seeing one fairly recently from the lovely Di of Snippets Playground fame who does a great job of enabling other crafters to acquire new stash 🤣.  This little deer was so cute I just couldn't resist.  I also had inspiration here from Susan Hardy for  a way of using the circle die for a quick card.  I die cut the circle into a piece of white card and then used a smaller plain circle to cut out the aperture which I backed with a snippet of printed paper from my Christmas collection.  I then die cut the deer and a couple of tiny Christmas trees.  The nose on the deer was brushed with Wink of Stella for a bit of shine and a simple sentiment was added to what was a quick and easy card for the Rudolph challenge this time.  Happy Rudolph Days everyone ☺️

Circle die - Craft Addiction UK
Deer - die from Amazon
Trees - from a long retired Stampin' Up Christmas set
Snippet of Paper - printed from Craftylicious Season's Greetings CD from many years ago

Small Dwellings

I fancied a dabble with some stamping so, inspired by a video,  I sorted out some suitable stamps and a piece of water colour paper, trimmed to fit onto a DL card and came up with this.  The first thing I did was inked up my DL Gelli plate and pulled this background print then it was fairly straightforward to add the various stamps to build up the design.  The 'sticker' was one which I produced on the computer and glued in place.  Some sparkle was added here and there but sadly it doesn't show on the picture.  I do so enjoy building up inky scenes such as this.

Stamps - all Lavinia designs
'Sticker' - produced using MS Word and trimmed with scissors.

Snippets Challenge #511

 Time for another challenge in the Snippets Playground and as usual a lovely prize for the lucky person whose name is drawn at the end.  This card was made a short while ago so no photograph of the snippets this time but rest assured I reached for snippets to die cut the slatted squares and also the donkey was stamped onto a snippet before being fussy cut.  The blue layer also came from the snippets collection although the card blank was a purchased one and I needed to use a whole piece of a thinner white card so that I could print the words before trimming it down to fit nicely.  Sadly my current printer just refuses to take anything but the thinnest of card.  I've had the donkey stamp set for a few years but they are such fun and quite versatile.

Donkey - Darling Donkeys stamp set Stampin' Up (retired)
Slatted squares - Craft Addiction UK
Words - composed by me and printed using MS Word

Allsorts Challenge #828

 The theme for the latest Allsorts challenge has been chosen by Lynn and it is **Pretty Flowers** or of course you have the usual option of selecting the *anything goes* theme.. Prizes are from All & Create - more details on the Allsorts blog post if you follow the link.

This is the first time I've used this particular die set although I've had it for some time but as it incorporates flowers I thought it would be an ideal opportunity to use it here.  I cut out the various components from coloured card - the birdhouse was a piece of blue which I'd stamped using a wood grain stamp and the flowers were cut from a piece of white card smooshed with some Pixie powders which gives an interesting sheen.  The cream background piece was embossed with a floral embossing folder which I've had for more years than I care to remember.  Sentiment was produced on the computer and die cut.

Background - embossing folder from Sheena Douglass (from years back)
Woodgrain Stamp - Stampin' Up (long retired)
Birdhouse and Flowers - dies from Stampin' Up (also retired)
Sentiment - produced using MS Word, die cut with a retired SU die

Masculine Card

 One of the cards we sometimes find difficult to make to share today although I don't suppose that fly fishing is exclusively a male pursuit ☺️.  Anyway I'd spotted the dies and realised they were just right to make a card for the man I had in mind.  I looked through some of my designer papers and came across this piece which I thought would be ideal as a backdrop to show off the wording and the silhouette fisherman.. I also used one of the slatted circular dies for some added interest. There are quite a few other 'fishy' dies in the set for future cards as well. Although the wording came together as one die, each letter cut out individually so I made a template for lining them up  by die cutting it with some scrap card and laying the 'waste' over the area where the words were to go and then I could carefully adhere the individual letters into the spaces, finally carefully removing the template once they were in place.  Hopefully this card will be well received.

Background - DP from a retired Stampin' Up collection so no longer available
Slatted Circle - die from Craft Addiction UK
Fisherman and Words - Die set from Globeland (Amazon)

Bee Happy

 I made this card a little while ago when I first acquired the slatted hexagon dies but somehow I've not posted until now.  I started by doing some partial stencilling using a hexagonal stencil and then die cut three of the smaller hexagons using all three dies for each and then backed them with some yellow card before arranging onto the card panel.  Two die cut bees and a simple sentiment complete this card.  

Hexagon Stencil - from Lavinia Stamps
Slatted Hexagon dies - from Craft Addiction UK
Bees - a die from Sizzix which I've had for some years, no idea if it's still available

New Baby

 For a change I decided to make a Baby card, mainly just to fill a gap in my box of cards because I like to keep a selection ready for various occasions.  I started with a piece of blue background paper from my stash and then die cut the cute panda with a blue bow.  The next decision was to bring out these octagonal dies for a change and finally I added a banner with the wording.

I hear we're heading for yet another heatwave ... just when I thought the temperatures had become more bearable 🙄

Octagonal Dies - Set from Daisy Mae which I've had for some years
Panda die - Spellbinders
Banner - Dies from Creative Expressions, also years old
Words - Dies from Crafter's Companion

Snippets Playground Challenge #510

 Time for another opportunity to use up a few  more of my Snippets on a card for the latest Playground challenge.  This time I've brought my favourite bunny out to play and he's sitting beneath a floral tree enjoying the sunshine and hopefully a cool breeze.  I started with a square Snippet of cream card slightly smaller than the card blank and cut out the tree aperture, backing it with another snippet from my box of papers.  This is a left over piece from one I printed a while ago onto some textured paper.  I then die cut the bunny twice from a scrap of the same cream card so that I could layer him up for a bit of stability.  Next I pulled out a snippet of some card which I'd treated to some inking and, again, this was really a left over scrap which many people would have binned. I'm sure.  From this I cut a series of small flowers and then used another die to cut a few random cream 'dots' for the flower centres.  A simple sentiment tag and that's another card made although not much of a dent made in my Snippets mountain 🤪

Picture of the smaller snippets

Sentiment - dies from Craft Addiction UK Tiny Tags
Bunny, Tree Aperture and Flowers - unbranded dies (Amazon, Temu)

Allsorts Challenge #827

 The theme for Allsorts Challenge #827 has been chosen this time by Liz, who would like to see cards which would be suitable to send to a child or as usual there is also the anything goes option.  The prizes will be stamps from Saturated Canary (more details on the Allsorts Blog post.

For my card this time I went first to my box containing useful bits and pieces, including die cuts and/or stamped and coloured images left over from previous projects or from a colouring session which is one of the things I sometimes do when I need to craft but don't quite know what I want to make.  It so happens there were quite a few chicken images, probably dating from when the stamp sets were first issued, maybe a couple of years ago.  To form the background I used a piece of green card slightly smaller than the card blank and die cut it with a variation on the current trend for using slatted dies.  This piece was then backed with a darker green polka dot piece of paper to show through the gaps.  I then tried various arrangements of the henhouse and chicks until I was pleased with the layout, added a die cut sentiment and called it finished.  There is plenty of space on the card to add a die cut age number when it's about to be sent to probably one of the great grandchildren.

Background slatted die - an unbranded one I've had for some time
Chicken, henhouse and sentiment - stamps/dies from Stampin' Up (long retired)

In the Garden

 I've made an ATC for the current Tag-Along (and ATCs) Challenge where 'In the Garden' is the theme. This elf is working away in the garden and watering some of the plants - guess the fairies and elves have been having a heatwave too ☺️.  Some stencilling in the background and a bit of masking along with the stamped elf, bee and foliage.  An ATC doesn't take too long to make so why don't you have a go using the theme or the 'anything goes' option - a jolly handy prize on offer for a lucky winner.

  All stamps by Lavinia, some old, some more recent
Stencil and mask - also Lavinia

Tag-along (and ATC) challenge July

 Time for a new challenge at Tag-along (and ATCs) and the theme is 'In the Garden' or there is always the 'anything goes' option. .  For my tag I started with some partial stencilling and then stamped the Chinese lanterns and some foliage, finally adding some more ink around the edges and painting the lanterns themselves using Distress Oxide ink.  Finally a little 'sticker' which I produced on the computer. Some stickles and white pen used as highlights here and there.

 Stamps all from Lavinia
Stencil - also Lavinia
Tag - using a Sizzix Tim Holtz die set (largest size die)
Word sticker - produced using MS Word

Snippets Challenge #509

 I've just realised that I'd not made a card for the current Snippets Challenge.  No excuse really except that I'd been without a computer for a couple of days during the week and I'm afraid that being so out of touch really puts me all at 'sixes and sevens'.  Thankfully the update didn't take too long and it's all nicely back in place on my desk; also working more quickly which is great..   I did actually have to use some whole sheets of A4 card for this card because I've decided I will make my own card blanks for now and I also needed a couple of layers as well here.  All of the die cutting for this card was done using snippets of white card and I remembered to take a pic before throwing out the remnants.  

I started by die cutting the toadstools, colouring the caps with alcohol markers and then assembling them, popping the teeny tiny white dots back into the blank spaces.  This turned out to be very fiddly so I might have to rethink that procedure.  I lightly coloured the stems and some details on the little toadstool cottage. The next move was deciding how to design the layout and I settled for a slatted circle which was backed with a snippet of designer paper from my collection.  Tiny tags were used for the sentiment and a snippet of gold and white baker's twine used to attach them..

Picture of the scraps (snippets) left over after die cutting the toadstools and tags

Slatted Circle - Craft Addiction UK
Tiny Tags and Toadstools - Craft Addiction UK
Squares - Noble Pierced Square Nesting dies Creative Expressions

Rudolph Days Challenge

 The Rudolph Days challenge has caught me out yet again this month so it was a quick scramble to make a Christmas card before the end of month deadline.  I've chosen this time to make an eclipse style card using one of the slatted dies and an image from a pad of seasonal images which I've had for some years and is most likely now discontinued.  I selected two identical images and used one of the slatted dies to cut into the centre of one of them before layering them together for the effect.  A piece of toning card was used to cut a larger rectangle to back this and then it was adhered onto a 7" x 5" card blank.  A simple greeting was die cut and added and that's it - job done and my Rudolph Days card for June completed in no time.

Image from Lili of the Valley pad of seasonal images 
Greeting - dies from Britannia
Slatted dies - from Craft Addiction UK (squares)
Toning Card - Cherry Cobbler by Stampin' Up

Slatted Oval Background

 I got the idea for this card from watching a recent YouTube video by the talented Chrissie Stokes where she showed us a way of producing a slatted oval background without needing slatted dies (which I've not come across anyway).  This was achieved by using the largest of the square slatted dies (or the large circle would work as well)  and using the resulting piece to back a card design incorporating an oval cut out.  For my card I used an oval die with a floral design one one side where this actually cuts out the frame, which I was able to put back into the oval aperture before deciding what else to add.  I selected a dragonfly die which was cut from a piece of a Gelli print with a black layer for the body.  The sentiment was also cut from a scrap of the Gelli print.  Before it was assembled I decided to cut another layer of the oval frame to give the card a bit more dimension.  The dragonfly was brushed over with a glimmer pen for a bit of extra shine.  

Slatted squares die set - Craft Addiction UK
Oval Floral Frame - Gummiapan die from Easter Calendar 2025
Dragonfly - also Gummiapan die from Easter Calendar 2025
Sentiment - from Crafter's Companion (I've had this one a long time)

Allsorts Challenge #826

 Time for a new challenge at Allsorts and this time the theme has been chosen by Christine and it is either **The Beach** or the usual *Anything Goes*.  Prizes this time are from Grafton Crafts and you can see full details on the Allsorts Blog.

When I saw the theme this time I went straight to my collection of useful bits and pieces because I knew there were at least a couple of die cuts in there of some wooden posts, just waiting to be used and, as it happens I also came across a couple of seagulls and a handy clump of grass.  The seagulls and grass were already coloured and ready to go but the wooden posts were white so I set about colouring these with some Distress Oxide ink mixed with water. I then decided to go for a relatively CAS design using a couple of square dies and one of my slatted circles which I layered together, backing the circular area with a piece of a previously made Gelli print which is sea-coloured. Finally everything was adhered to a 6" square card - so far no sentiment has been added to the front of this card, which will probably be left blank because I find that people are often looking for cards in which they can write their own personal messages.

Slatted Circle Dies - from Craft Addictions UK
Wooden Posts and Gulls - dies from Gummiapan
Grass - from On the Horizon set Stampin' Up (long retired)

Inky Play

This card is the result of a bit of inky play and trying out the faux bleach or colour lift technique using a stencil and some water. First I smooshed some inks around onto a piece of white card which was slightly smaller than the card blank and once it was dry I used a damp sponge through the stencil in selected areas to lift some of the colour until I was happy with the result.  It was left to dry naturally although a heat gun could also be used if you are impatient (the results always seem to vary each time this technique is tried).  The stamped foliage was the final thing apart from a small die cut sentiment because I didn't want to cover up too much of the background.

Inks -Distress Oxides, Saltwater Taffy, Victorian Velvet and Wilted Violet
Stamp  and stencil - from Lavinia
Sentiment - a favourite free stamp, die from an ancient set of fancy dies by Sue Wilson 

Coffee Anyone?

I've made another drink related tag to take along to the Tag-along (and ATC) challenge. where the the theme is either Drinks or Anything Goes.  I don't have any small coffee or tea related stamps but a lovely blogging friend kindly stamped a few for me - thank you, you know who you are 😊.  This is quite a large tag so I was able to use one of my much larger set of stamps as a background.  I used a torn notebook die set to trim the edges of one of the smaller images I was sent and coloured and fussy cut the coffee cup from another to layer onto it, sponging the edges with brown ink.  The large tag was cut from an offcut (Snippet) of text printed paper.  Some toning baker's twine was used to tie through the hole in the tag and then everything was layered together.  I was inspired to come up with this design by the lovely prize this month.

Tag - Text printed paper from an old Prima pad, Tim Holtz tag die set with several sizes
Large Coffee Cup - from Caffeinated stamp set Aall & Create
Small Cup - from Tim Holtz small blueprint coffee cup stamp set
Torn Notebook Edges - unbranded die set

More Ducks

 I had a few die cut ducks left from a previous card so I rootled about amongst some of my older die sets and came up with the idea of using this gate, tree stump and some corn to build up a little scene.  I started by cutting a square of white card and brushed over lightly with some blue and green ink.  The ducks I already had and the die cut corn was found in my container of 'useful bits' so I just needed to cut the gate, tree stump, clouds and a couple of clumps of grass.  The sentiment was composed to fit one of my rectangular stitched dies using MS Word.    I find it interesting, and useful, to look back at older stamp and die sets to see just what can be pulled out to use with some of my more recent acquisitions - these dies came from several different sets 😉, all retired so no longer available.

 Ducks - unbranded die set
Gate - from Counting Sheep Stampin' Up
Corn and tree stump  - from Hey Chick also SU
Grass Clumps - from Elephant Parade also SU
Cloud - from Gummiapan (part of Easter Countdown special collection dies)
Sentiment - Stitched rectangle die set SU

Tag-along

 The theme for the current Tag-along (and |ATC) challenge is **Drinks**  so I've made a tag with wine glasses and a bottle. I started  by sponging some ink around the edges of the tag, adding a little stencilling, avoiding the area where I was going to place the wine bottle die cut.  There were also some faint fragments of text stamped near the top of the tag.  The wine bottle and glasses were die cut from some white pearl card and I also cut another one using red card, with the intention of placing all the red pieces back into the die.  Having tried that, I decided it was all too much so settled for just adding some 'wine' to the largest glass.

 

Stencil - came as a free gift from Craft Stash some time ago. Stencils  are rarely marked with a name
Wine Bottles and Glasses - unbranded die possibly from Temu
Text Stamp - came from a magazine gift set 

Naughty Step

 I reckon I may well be on the naughty step in the Snippets Playground because there is no picture of my left over snippets this time.  The main reason for this is that I've had a real flurry of making cards using my recently acquired slatted die sets which has entailed pulling out lots of my old stamps and/or dies in an effort to come up with a variety of ways to combine the old with the new..  Another dilemma was which card to choose to take along to the Playground for the current challenge and eventually these quirky birds won the day, closely followed by most of the remainder, which you will be seeing sooner or later.  Apart from the card blank, everything else came from my pile of snippets - mostly all white apart from the three little pieces used to back the circles to add a little colour. (pink, yellow and blue).  I die cut the three slatted circles from white card, using all three dies together so that I could back them with the coloured circles and then adhere to the main card background in a pleasing arrangement.  The birds were stamped, coloured and die cut, then placed onto their circle backgrounds.  A stamped sentiment from the set was added.

Slatted Circles - dies from Craft Addiction UK
Birds - Stamps with matching dies unbranded 
Colouring - Inktense Pencils with water Brush

Allsorts Challenge #825

 We are into another fortnight with a new challenge from Allsorts and the theme, which has been chosen by Gail is **What Makes You Happy** (stamps/dies/weather/flowers etc) so a wide choice and of course there is, as always *Anything Goes*. Two prizes this time of Penny Black stamps/dies. 

There are many, many things which make me happy so it was a difficult decision but eventually I decided that as I enjoy making cards, love nature and flowers, a floral card would be my choice.  I started by cutting a slatted circle into a square of white card and backed it with a Gelli print from my box of inky bits.  Next I die cut and coloured the cone flowers, cut the stem and leaves from green card and assembled everything, adding a simple sentiment.

Slatted Circle - dies from Craft Addiction UK
Flowers - a very old die, maker unknown
Sentiment - computer generated using MS Word

Butterflies

 It's taken me quite a while to get my hands on a set of the popular slatted square dies - I just couldn't keep up and missed the boat trying to order when I spotted they were back in stock.  However there is now a handy button on the website where you can request a notification email when 'sold out' items are back in stock.  This worked well and the dies arrived so I just had to have a quick play - this card is the result.  I die cut three butterflies from a snippet of inky card and the word from an even smaller snippet of purple cardstock.  I decided to add two of the smaller square dies in the corners to add a bit of extra interest. The large square was backed with a piece cut from a Gelli print.  There's some shimmer on the butterflies which, of course, doesn't show in the picture.

Butterflies - dies from Gummiapan (exclusive to their Easter Calendar 
Hello - die from Gummiapan
Slatted Squares - dies from Craft Addiction UK

Tag-along (and ATCs)

 The optional theme for the current challenge at Tag-along (and ATCs) is **DRINKS** and I was pretty sure I had nothing to use which would fit onto an ATC until I remembered I had a CD which came out back in 2010 containing images connected to wine.  I managed to resize one of the cartoons so here is what I've made - pretty simple really and not that much work once I'd fathomed out how to make the image fit the ATC.  The most difficult part was choosing which of the designs to use😊 

Image - CD 'The Wine Buffs' from Katy Sue Designs dated 2010. Images designed by Mike Payne.  I'm guessing this CD is no longer available

Masculine Card

 I don't often make cards which are specific to either male or female recipients but think this one would probably class as masculine.  A little while ago I was gifted a fun stamp which represents distressed corrugated cardboard and this is what I've used here.  Thank you, I love it and you know who you are 😍.  I've stamped it onto some kraft card and then fussy cut with scissors, combining this piece with a die cut clock face, some inking, stencilling and random background stamping.  There's also a die cut torn notebook effect which I like and some washi tape scraps which I don't especially like but when I tried to remove them, the surface of the background was being lifted so I had to stick them down again before the whole card was ruined 🙄🙄.

Stamp - Woodware FRS802 Torn Cardboard
Clock - die from a magazine boxed set from way back, Phill Martin
Torn Notebook die - unbranded
Stencil - Tim Holtz clock faces (quite an old stencil)
Background stamping - border stamp Aall & Create
Washi Tape - also A & C

Snippets Challenge #507

 Time to hand in my homework at the Snippets Playground and this time I decided to make what would probably be thought of as a masculine card although one of my granddaughters is into books in a big way so I know she would like it.  Everything on this card, apart from the kraft card blank and the large cream square, came from my Snippets mountain.  The large cream layer was embossed using an embossing folder featuring text and a smaller snippet of cream card was cut using a pierced square die.  Onto this I placed four fancy-edged text squares of  design paper.  These were from a box of such squares and other shapes which I came across recently at the back of a cupboard and which dates back to my very early days of card making.  It's a  large plastic storage box containing 2,000 fancy shapes in an assortment of designs and colours and to my shame I think most of them are still in the box, untouched 🤣.  I think it could take me a while to get through that many and I'm not sure if they count as snippets.  However more small snippets of kraft and cream card were used to die cut the books and the banner for the sentiment.  The actual sentiment was die cut from the last of a sheet of printed sentiments which I produced on the computer.

This pictures shows some of my snippets, not worth hanging onto these scraps

Embossed Layer - unbranded folder from Amazon
Smaller Square - Noble Pierced squares dies Creative Expressions
Small Squares - Large box of assorted shapes by Papermania from many years ago
Books - unbranded die
Sentiment - produced using Microsoft Word to tone with kraft card
Sentiment Banner - die from Creative Expressions 

Rudolph Days

We're moving through the year month by month and now it's time for the May Rudolph Days Challenge where the theme is Anything Goes just as long as it has something to do with Christmas.  I had an image in mind which I 'd decided to use but was unsure as to how; until I remembered that Jules (Always With a Heart) has a good selection of layout sketches on her blog so I decided to take a look.  I settled on using square sketch #2 and trimmed my image into a square and searched for some suitable background papers.  The two small white squares were cut and embossed with a snowflake pattern.  For the moment I've left the card without a sentiment as it speaks for itself and there will be one added to the insert anyway.  Taking part in this challenge is a good way of building up a stock of cards ahead of the end of the year so why not think about making something - you have until the end of the month to take part.

Image - from pad of seasonal images Lili of the Valley (dated 2013)
Designer Papers - by Stampin' Up (retired) dating back 3 or 4 years I believe
Snowflake die - Source unknown - it was just in the box with most of my Seasonal stash
Narrow strip of green card from my snippets box. 

Allsorts Challenge # 824

 Big celebrations at Allsorts Challenge this time because it is our 16th Birthday and the theme is *Anything Goes* or you might like to celebrate with us and make a Birthday card.  There are multiple prizes this time as well - details below.  Some for winners in the UK and some for entrants from 'across the pond'.  Full details can be seen on the Allsorts Blog post.

All & Create - several prizes 
Lawn Fawn - 25$ store voucher
Colorado Craft Company - three stamps
Gina K Designs - 25$ store voucher (Worldwide)

For my Design Team card I've chosen to make a birthday card and have stamped the image onto cream card as a change from using white which can sometimes be a bit stark.  Colouring was done using Inktense pencils with a water brush and the image was cut out using a square die with  pierced detail  - a  slightly larger square was used  to back it.  I added a small simple sentiment.  

Stamp - From a Coffee Themed set by A & C
Square Dies - Noble Pierced Squares from Creative Expressions (Sue Wilson)

Eclipse Style

 I've spotted a few different ways of using the popular slatted dies and one way seems to be using them to make eclipse style cards using two identical stamps or images - also spotted one which used plain black behind an image which had black as part of the design and I imagine this would also work if the slatted cut out was backed with whatever colour happened to be predominant in the picture.  Anyway I decided to have a go using my heart slatted dies with two images from an ancient pad of assorted designs because fortunately there were two or three of each  still remaining.  I centred the dies onto one image and cut them , adhering the resulting 'frame' onto the duplicate (uncut) one making sure it was lined up correctly..  Once the glue was dry I used a square die to cut out the whole thing, backing that with a slightly larger green square.  At this point I decided the slatted heart needed a bit of dimension so used the three dies together to cut another heart in white card so that I could glue it behind the patterned one before popping it carefully back into the aperture..  A die cut sentiment was added - job done!!

Image - from pad of images by Lily of the Valley dated 2014
Slatted Heart Dies - Craft Addiction UK
Square Dies - Pierced Noble Squares, Creative Expressions
Die Cut Sentiment - Britannia Dies 

...and Another Pair

 This time I have a pair of Artist Trading Coins to share, the making of which was triggered this morning by a number of things leading on from my usual Sunday morning visit to the Snippets Playground. Firstly I saw that Di had been busy making ATCs which you can see  HERE and on Sarn's post she'd used a long retired embossing die which I knew I had in my stash.  There was a Snippet of Gelli print on my desk which I thought would be sufficient to cut two 2.5 inch circles which is the size of the Coins - turned out I could only cut one full size and the other 1/4 inch smaller but that's fine as I glued it to a cream circle of the correct size.  I had a rummage in a box of dies and found the butterfly one I was looking for and with it was a similar one which cut and embossed a series of buttons so I thought 'why not?' and went ahead cutting the butterflies and buttons I needed along with a couple of little bows to go with the buttons because a song title had sprung to mind as soon as I saw the buttons 😉.  I decided to add some silhouette stamped foliage to one circle and some rows of stamped stitchery to the other before adhering the other components.  I turned to the computer to produce my own tiny text labels for one of the coins and that's an enjoyable Sunday morning done and dusted.

My original intention was to make a pair of AT Coins using the butterflies but that changed when I came across the button die although they do share the same Snippet of Gelli print background.  I'm popping along to  Tag-along (and ATC) Challenge blog where the theme for their very first challenge is 'Anything Goes'.  

Foliage Stamp - from a magazine gift set  dated 2015
Stitchery Stamp - from a magazine gift dated 2017
Butterfly and Button Dies - long retired Stampin' Up
Bow Dies - Gummiapan

A Pair of ATCs

 I have a pair of ATCs to share today for the new Tag-Along and ATC challenge which is just over half way through the first month.  It's amazing just how much detail can be incorporated in a small space and if you've not tried making these little pieces of art I'd certainly recommend having a go - you might be pleasantly surprised.  If you decide to go along with making tags, they can of course be larger, although there's nothing to say they can't be pretty small as well 😉. 

 For this pair I used a couple of images from a paper handkerchief - the packet was actually purchased not for blowing noses but because I'd thought the images would be ideal for ATCs or perhaps card toppers..  I carefully separated the layers of the tissue and used Mod Podge to apply the fashionistas to blank card (2.5 x 3.5 inches). The first one had some die cut 'sequins' and a bit of gilding added and the second  had some background text stamped carefully to add a bit of extra interest.  The words on both were produced on the computer and cut into little labels.

Images torn from tissue handkerchief, applied using Mod Podge
Words produced using Microsoft Word
Background Text stamp was a magazine freebie from a while back

Love a Duck!!

 There were a few ducks loitering on my desk, left over from a previous card so I brought out some of my snippets to cut a few more components to turn them into a card for the Playground challenge # 506.  I started with a fairly large snippet of patterned paper and added touches of green ink to turn it into more of a scene.  Dies from various sets were then used to cut items from some of my Snippets and there is a picture of a few of the left overs. As usual, apart from a card blank, everything else here came from my Snippets mountain.

In my head I rather imagined these ducks were maybe learning to fly by jumping off the bridge with the option of a safe landing into the water 🤣🤣.

                                                       

Ducks and Bulrushes - unbranded dies
Bridge, Tree trunk and Clouds - from Playing in the Rain Stampin' Up (retired)
Ripples in Water - die from Gummiapan Easter Calendar exclusive set

Why not have a rummage in your own Snippets collections to make a card for the challenge -

lovely prizes for the lucky winner

While we're talking challenges, I hope that the Playground management won't mind if I remind you that the next Allsorts challenge is a special Birthday Event with some great prizes to be won.

Allsorts Challenge # 823

The theme for the current Allsorts Challenge has been chosen by Lynne and is **Paper Piecing** with as usual the option of *Anything Goes*.  Prize this time  is  a voucher to spend at Personal Impressions. They stock a wide range of crafty goodies.

I really like this style of paper piecing and ended up making two cards because I was unable to choose between the two stamp sets which I pulled out as  being suitable for this technique..  In both cases the images were stamped onto the backgrounds and then again onto some Gelli prints using archival ink.  The Gelli print ones were carefully fussy cut using scissors and then adhered (paper pieced) in place to match parts of the stamping.

Acorn and Sentiment - Blueprint Sketch style stamp from Stampers Anonymous
Flowers - Abstract Florals by Stampers Anonymous collection
Sentiment - computer generated
Background on Second card - from a Prima paper pad (not recent)

Tag Along

 I have another project to share for the new Tag Along and ATC challenge which launched recently.  This time I've made a tag from a piece of corrugated pizza box which a kind friend let me have.  These were brand new pieces so no greasy remnants of cheese or tomato and they have nice fine corrugations.  I started by cutting the tag shape and then carefully peeled away some of the top layer to reveal the inside layer in places.  Distress Oxide was smooshed on and then a background texture stamp used to add some interest.  I then found scraps of cream card and stamped the chevrons, flowers, leaves and the word before cutting everything out with scissors ready to assemble into what I hope is a pleasing composition.  I'm quite enjoying this foray into making tags and ATCs as a change from the usual greetings cards.  Why not have a go yourselves - you might just discover a whole new interest.  After all variety is the spice of life, or so 'they' say 😂😂

Stamps - all from various Crafty Roo sets (sadly no longer trading)

Generosity

 Thanks to the generosity of a lovely crafting friend I now own a set of the hexagon slatted dies and my first card design is, I suppose, quite predictable in that I've chosen to use a bee die although there are many other ways in which these could be used - they come in varying sizes too which makes them very versatile..  I opted for a CAS style here, cutting the hexagon shape using all three dies taped together.  This was then backed with a yellow layer and adhered to a white card blank.  The bee was cut from yellow and black card, layered up and given some shine using Wink of Stella.  I deliberately used the slats on the diagonal as a change from either vertical or horizontal.  A simple computer generated sentiment has been added.

Hexagon Slatted Dies - Craft Addiction UK
Bee - Sizzix Bee #663852 (2 sizes)
Sentiment - produced using MS Word

Tag-Along Challenge

 A new challenge started yesterday and you can read all about it HERE.  This gives us an opportunity to make either Tags, AT Cards or AT Coins - all great ways of making Art, a change from greeting cards and, particularly in the case of the ATCs to work on a somewhat smaller scale.  Tags of course come in various sizes so plenty of scope there too.  

My share today is an ATC (measuring 3.5 x 2.5 inches) which I started by trimming a Gelli print to the correct size and adhering to the card blank to form the 'sky'.  A recent tidy-up and rummage amongst my pot(s) of useful bits and bobs came up with this city skyline just calling out to be brought into play.  I'd been racking my brains recently for ways of using the die cut drummer and the idea of a traditional marching band popped into my head.  This small die came along with a random selection of others when I purchased a 'mixed bag' of miscellaneous small dies with no idea of the contents.  I think I mentioned that I like the odd surprise even if it does tax my brain occasionally 🤣.  I simply stamped a few musical notes and added a 'sticker' phrase which I'd produced on the computer.  Time now methinks to work on some ideas for tags .

Cityscape - from a magazine give-away set ( from way back in 2018)
Drummers - mixed bag of small dies (unbranded)
'Sticker' - hand made by me using MS Word

Snippets Challenge #505

 I'm popping along to the Snippets Playground with the card made using the dies from Day 8 of the Gummiapan Easter calendar (the final instalment).  This was such a fun set of dies including a cat, a Vespa style scooter and a cloud.  Added to this there was a scarf and a really dinky crash helmet.  I delved into some of my older magazine give-away dies for a couple of bushes and a sun.  Also I remembered as I was stamping the sentiment that sometime in the past I'd received a mini scooter die as a gift from Gummiapan so brought that into play at the last minute.  Everything on this card came from my Snippets mountain and I must apologise for not thinking about saving the small remnants to take a photo before sweeping them into the bin.

Ovals - dies from Tonic which I use quite regularly
Sentiment - came with the magazine give away dies (bushes and sun)

Day 7

 I'm back today with day 7 of my Gummiapan Easter calendar.  There were three dies in this set and I've used two of them along with a technique which I'd not tried before.  This method was featured in a YouTube video by Lou Collins and it involves using copy paper to make delicate features such as flowers or butterflies etc.  Basically the image you require is either stamped and cut out or simply die cut and then embossed with clear embossing powder which gives a delicate appearance.  I die cut the butterfly and dragonfly in copy paper and then coloured before embossing.  The bodies were cut separately in white card and then coloured with a touch of Wink of Stella for shine.. I was lucky enough to have been gifted the hexagon slatted die set recently and two of the dies were used as a background.  Some waterlily leaves and bulrushes were added as a final touch.

Hexagon Dies - from Craft Addiction UK
Dragonfly and Butterfly - from Gummiapan Easter calendar 2025
Waterlilies and Bulrushes - unbranded dies
Background - a piece of patterned paper to show through the slats - paper from Clarity
Lou Collins Video link

Allsorts Challenge #822

 The theme for Allsorts Challenge #822 has been chosen by Sarah and she would like to see your designs **Inspired by a Song** or there is of course the anything goes option. Prizes this time are from In2Crafts

 I've gone back a good few years to 1945 with a song entitled 'Love Letters Straight from Your Heart' which featured in a film of the same name.  I really liked the look of the dies in the form of various letters and have used one of them for this card along with the slatted heart die set.  The letter die cut was easily snipped apart so that it could be layered and I sponged a little ink to give it the appearance of a bit of age. The pink backing to the heart was over stamped with some text and I added a die cut sentiment.

Slatted Heart - dies from Craft Addiction UK
Love Letters - unbranded die
Sentiment - die I've had a long time and I think it was a give-away with a magazine