Circles Revisited

 

When I tried the technique recently using some die cut circles I was left with two spare half circle motifs so I've put them together in a slightly different way and made another card straight away rather than popping them into an oddments box.  This time I've used some butterfly design paper and a fussy cut butterfly all in colours to tone with the circles.  Some Wink of Stella was applied to the butterfly but this doesn't show up too well in the picture.

Backgrounds and Butterfly - DSP from Stampin' Up,unfortunately now sold out

Request Card

 A while back I was asked if I could make a card featuring a steam train and as luck would have it I remembered I had just the right stamp somewhere in my collection.  It is one which I've had for many years and it does come out to play now and then.  Image was coloured using pencils.  I unearthed some suitable text background paper and embossed a scrap of card for another layer.  The word and number were also part of the request.

 

Image - stamp from Joanna Sheen
Dies -  layering rectangles from Tonic
Letters - from a Sizzix alphabet die set
Numbers - from a Crafter's Companion die set
Text background - paper pad from Prima

Baby Girl

A baby card today for a change, always like to keep a few in hand just in case one is requested.  The pink papers were the remains of some given away with a magazine probably a couple of years ago and I had some bits and pieces of toning card in the scrap boxes to die cut the hearts.  The kangaroo and baby were stamped, coloured using alcohol pens and then fussy cut. Words were stamped onto a scrap of card then cut using a small circle punch.

Background Papers - magazine gift from some years ago
Hearts - dies from Tonic and Crafter's Companion (small hearts punched)
Image - Kangaroo and Company set from Stampin' Up
Words - from same stamp set
Colouring - Copic alcohol pens

Inspiration

 Inspiration and ideas for cards come from many different sources and the idea used on this card was spotted while trawling through some YouTube crafty videos.  Often far more entertaining than watching TV in the evenings 🙂 I find.  This is also yet another good way of using up some of the scrap card mountain.  Circles were die cut from three colours of card and then each was cut in half before reassembling in whatever way you think fit.  The same thing could probably work with squares or other shapes but this is my first 'play' with the idea.  There was a stray donkey hiding amongst the bits and pieces on my desk so he has been used to complete this card  Sentiment was stamped onto a strip of card which has offset fishtail ends punched and I've added a few coloured sprinkles.

Edit - forgot to say the technique seems to be called 'layering Circles' and there are several videos to be found on YouTube

Circles - Stitched shape dies from Stampin' Up
Donkey and words - Darling Donkey stamp set Stampin' Up
Punch used - banner punch from Stampin' Up

Blue Floral

Shades of blue on today's card which is a floral birthday one.  Self explanatory really with a mixture of stamping and die cutting to make this arrangement.  The layout is based on a recent new sketch from Jules although I've turned it around a little and used it for a square card whereas hers was designed for a rectangle.  Some kraft card elements have been added because I felt what I did originally was a bit too 'blue' and needed a touch of contrast.  I always gather my components together and have a 'dry run' before I finally stick anything down.

Vases and Flowers and Background - Boho Indigo suite from Stampin' Up
Sentiment - download from Netty's Cards, resized to fit a punch
Die cut shapes - Stitched so Sweetly Stampin' Up
Kraft panel - embossed using a Cuttlebug embossing folder

Snippets Challenge #401

 There is a guest designer this time in the Playground - none other than the lovely Mrs A of Butterfly Challenge fame.  Well worth checking out her blog to see the tutorial explaining how she made her pretty card and to see the great prize on offer for a lucky winner.  It so happens that I've also used lots of snippets for my background this time - coincidence really and I can't  claim credit for the idea because I saw Julia Watts demonstrating something similar on The Craftstore channel and thought it would be just right for a Snippets challenge card.  I've cut a selection of squares from some of my snippets and arranged them Bargello style onto a piece of paper and glued them down before over stamping with several different stamps to make an interesting background effect..  I didn't really want to cover up too much of this background so simply added a couple of label shapes with a greeting.  This was a fun technique and one which I may well repeat in the hopes that my snippets mountain might diminish, although I imagine that is a vain hope 😀.  

If you've not heard of Bargello it is a patchwork technique where strips of fabric are stitched together before being cut into further strips and reassembled to form interesting pattern effects - lots of information to be found on the internet.

Stamps used - various freebies which came with a Phill Martin magazine some time ago
Sentiment - another freebie stamp from a magazine gift, again from a while back
Labels - Stitched so Sweetly dies Stampin' Up

A Touch of Gold

 I have a supply of gilding flakes but have to admit that it is a very long time since I actually used any of them so thought it was about time that was remedied.  Started out with a square of cream card and put a strip of double-sided tape down one edge before applying the flakes.  The whole piece was then run through the machine with an embossing folder. I then used another scrap of cream card and gilded that by applying some double-sided adhesive sheet so that I could die cut a couple of gold leaves. Next move was to find various scraps of card to cut some labels and a few green leaves; finally cutting a two layered butterfly from some DSP and cream pearlescent card.

Butterfly - dies from Sizzix
Labels - Stitched so Sweetly Stampin' Up
Words - from Hey Chick stamp set Stampin' Up
Embossing - Folder given away free with a magazine
Leaves - mix from Stampin' Up Forever Fern and Card Making Magic
Designer Paper - Butterfly Bouquet Stampin' Up