Allsorts Challenge #711

 The theme for the Allsorts Challenge this time is **A/G or Winter Blues** and I've decided to go along with the colour theme because I've just been making a bookmark for a friend who has a birthday later this month.  There is some reflection from the plastic sleeve which seems to be slightly wrinkled but I'm going to pop it under a heavy book which should flatten it out.  Also it has yet to have a ribbon added - I had nothing the right colour so I've coloured a piece using the same colour as I used for some of the inking, but leaving it to dry before I add it. I did think of taking the bookmark out of the sleeve and taking another picture (minus wrinkles) but I didn't want to risk creasing the piece of card which is a fairly tight fit in the sleeve.

All stamps from Lavinia Stamps
Distress ink and Versafine Claire for stamping

Stamping

 Looking through my file of cards made last year I see there are a few which I've not shared on my blog.  I do enjoy building up scenes with stamping onto backgrounds which I've made and this one used stamps from Lavinia - I can never have too many of them - so beautiful and very versatile as well. I started off by masking off a circle on the card, adding some small foliage stamps and applying some inks using a soft brush. the mystical boat (Liberty) was stamped and a mask was used to add the little passenger,  A bot of delicate colouring using pencils.  The stars were added as a final touch along with a sentiment.

Distress inks used and a selection of Lavinia stamps

Snippets Challenge #445

 Celebrations in the Playground because it is an Anniversary for the lovely Di who took over running this challenge 11 years ago - such dedication.  This time the challenge has been set by SaRn who has now joined Di  to lend a hand and there is an opportunity to be entered into the draw for another really generous prize this time.  As usual we have to rummage through our snippets to find something suitable for making a card and as an added extra, take a photo of said snippets.   I've had to be a bit more organised making my card this time, remembering to take pics of the snippets - I normally just 'wing it' using bits and pieces which come to hand 🤣.  

I started by deciding which stamps and dies I was planning to use and then sorted out a selection of greens and yellows/browns.  I actually had to cut into a whole piece of white card for the embossed background but of course that's left me with some white snippets for another project - always loads of small white/cream snippets around, handy for adding sentiments.  The embossing folder was inked using a brayer before running it through and then I set about stamping the dinosaurs and die cutting them along with a selection of rocks and leaves.  I then put everything together and that's it - my entry for the current Snippets Challenge and a card suitable for anyone who likes dinosaurs.

Background - Birch trees E/F Stampin Up (retired)
Dinosaurs - No Bones About it - Stampin' Up (also retired)
Leaves, grass and rocks - various Stampin' Up retired stamp/die sets

Sparkle

 The January challenge on Stamping Sensations is **add some sparkle**  and I've done this by adding some pale pink gems to this floral card.  The flowers have been stamped, coloured and die cut and the sentiment was stamped using Versamark and white embossed on black card.  A piece of landscape DSP was used behind the white die cut layer  Hopefully the floral theme will remind us that Spring is just around the corner, despite the grey, rainy weather this morning 😍

 Flowers - Hand Penned Petals stamp set - Stampin' Up
White Layer - die cut from Stampin' Up Aspen Trees set
Landscape background - DSP from New Horizons also SU (retired)

A Slow Start

 I've found it difficult to get back into making any cards so far this year - inspiration seems to be sadly lacking.  My first card of 2023 has been made in response to the return of the Butterfly Challenge which has been on a short break - thought this might spark my mojo into action.  You can see all the details HERE .  I decided not to try the special card style but have used the flower theme; the colours of forest  green, flax and fuchsia as well as including some butterflies of course.  If you want to try the four-fold card there is a tutorial available on the challenge post.  I die cut a scalloped shape in white and stamped the wisteria flowers, followed by a little stencilling for added interest.; stamped and die cut the sentiment, finally adding butterflies cut using a die which also embosses (from Stampin' Up but is no longer available)

Flowers - Wisteria Wishes stamp set from Stampin' Up
Scalloped Shape - die from Stampin' Up (possibly retired)
Butterflies - Embossing die from way back Stampin' Up (long retired)

Crafting

 Crafting here seems to have taken a bit of a back seat for a few days but I'm getting back into the swing - I have missed dabbling I must say.  I'm off to visit the Snippets Playground with my latest offering which this time has a theme **anything but Christmas** which is fine by me because I've packed away my Christmas craft 'bits' for the time being.  There is also a really fabulous prize for one lucky winner so good luck everyone.

My card this time has used up various snippets of papers which I'd printed using a USB and as usual I printed off more than I needed and after making a few cards I was left with quite a selection of snippets. I also found some larger snippets of plain card which I felt showed off these patterned papers nicely.  A large 'Happy Birthday' sentiment and its backing were die cut from black and white card snippets and added on top of the die cut circles.  Everything here came from my snippets collection apart of course from the card blank itself.

Papers printed from Paper Pantry USB collection

Christmas Greetings

Merry Christmas and Very Good Wishes for the Coming Year

Health, Wealth and Happiness to All of My Followers and Bloggy Friends 

I very much appreciate the time you all take to visit and leave comments - keep on crafting and blogging