The Gardener

Sharing a card today for which I've used one of the many digital images available and which are handy when you need a card themed in some way and don't have stamps which are suitable.  I've used some woody background paper which I thought was appropriate and added some twine along with a couple of die cut wellies and a watering can.  Not much gardening to be actually done today because it is far too wet - any excuse eh??

Image - Digital download from Lili of the Valley

Background paper - from The Works small pad of papers

Embellishments - from Robert Addams garden themed die set

Rectangles - die set from Tonic

Dangerous Occupation?

Who knew that following blogs could be a dangerous thing to do - for the bank balance!!  Seeing the cards which blogging friends post puts temptation in front of us every time we look and sometimes something is spotted which can't be resisted, like the cute stamp used on this card.  The lovely Jules - Always With a Heart posted a card recently showing a really super sheep image and very helpfully gave details so that I was able to order the same set which included a pig and some words as well.  Image was coloured with alcohol pens and I found some papers in a little freebie pad which I've had for ages and came from Sizzix with a Big Shot.  The words .were stamped onto some scraps of white  to complete this card which I think would raise a smile when received

Stamp - by Woodware (pig, words and also a sheep included)

Papers - from Sizzix

Layers - Wonky Squares dies from Spellbinders

Coloured with Copic pens

Angelic Cat??

This cat with the halo looks as if butter wouldn't melt, despite the evidence!!  This was an image which I'd printed a really long time ago and not used.  Often when images are printed from CD's you actually get four or sometimes six to a page and I for one don't really want to make that many cards all at once using the same image.  These were obviously stored away in a box for future use and needless to say I'd completely forgotten about them until I was looking through various boxes to remind myself of their contents.   An interesting exercise I must say, surprising what turns up!!  Anyway I cut the image and backing using circle dies.  Found some toning background paper and a strip of paper which obviously came on the CD to match the image.  Sentiment was stamped and added in a fancy tag shape.

Image and backing paper - from a CD with other cats - title forgotten I'm afraid

Sentiment Tag - Spellbinders fancy tag die set

Playground Challenge #380

Time to visit Pixie's Crafty Workshop for the new challenge and this card has used up quite a few snippets but of course the pile doesn't appear to have diminished.  The little bird and branch come as one die so I cut it out in four different snippets of card then set about chopping it up so that I could re-assemble it. Found a snippet of white and coloured that lightly by smooshing into some Distress Oxide ink and water, followed by stamping a few 'blobs' with matching ink.  This was cut into a circle and then another kraft circle was cut and made into a frame before attaching the branch. A snippet of pink card was embossed and layered with yet another snippet of kraft.  All in turn layered onto a stray piece of background paper from my stash.  Finally a punched sentiment and a couple of tiny corners were added.  Apart from the base card everything else here is from my snippets collection.

Do take a look at the super card which Di has made for us to showcase the prize - some unusual balloon stamps with matching dies - they look like a fun addition to anyone's stash.

Circles - Sizzix dies
Sentiment - computer generated, Stampin' Up punches
Corners - SU punch
Bird - die from Hunky Dory
Embossing Folder - from Hunky Dory

Christmas in June

 

I was amazed this week to spot that one of the Craft Channels is having a Christmas week and it is early June - I'm sure they get earlier every year.  It so happens that I was lucky enough to win a give-away from the lovely Christina's blog.  This arrived and as it is a Christmas magazine with stamps and a die I thought I'd have a play and make a quick card - very similar to one of the examples in the magazine. It did feel odd making a Christmas card so early and I've now put the items away into my Christmas crafty box until a bit closer to the time.

I used some of the background paper which was included and also one of the toppers which has been die cut so that the petals of the poinsettias will stand up when tweaked and yet be flat for posting.  The sentiment was also amongst the paper pack and I've added some Glamour Dust and Stickles to the flowers for a bit of glitz

.

Items used all from Stamps by Chloe magazine kit

Trio of Birds

More birds on a card today but very different from my previous one.  Looking through some boxes of stamps I came across this one which - again - hasn't seen ink for quite a long time.  Could this mean that I have too many stamps do you think???  Anyway I used some watercolour card and inks to make a background on which to stamp the birds. Once stamped the square was cut using a die with one slightly larger for a second toning layer.  A scrap of card in a tone similar to the image was embossed to pop behind.  Finally adding some patterned paper, a lace border and a sentiment.

Birds - stamp from Crafty Individuals
Squares - Noble Pierced Squares die set Creative Expressions
Embossed panel - Embossing Folder by Creative Expressions
Lace - Elegant Border Die from Crafter's Companion Downton Abbey Range
Background - Paper Printed from Artylicious Essence of Nature CD
Sentiment - Computer Generated, Stampin' Up punches used

Lovebirds

The stamp used for this card came with a magazine some time ago.  There were four little sets of stamps and stencils and I've often used the little stencils but the stamps remained uninked until now when I spotted these two little birds amongst them.  I added the hearts using a fine black pen and then coloured using pencils before die cutting the double pointed banners.  I tried several ways of using this without success until I suddenly thought of using a large heart behind the image and a couple of flowers and a leaf which were hanging around on my desk and now it has turned out as a 'congratulations' card for maybe an anniversary or engagement.

Paper - from my stash
Large Heart - Tonic dies
Birds and Wording - stamps from the freebie set given with a magazine
B\anners - Creative Expressions dies
Flowers and Foliage - Cardmaking Magic Spring/Summer Floral stamp and die set
Image coloured with Polychromos pencils
Flowers coloured with Inktense pencils