Allsorts #679

 The theme for the Allsorts Challenge this time is **anything goes, with an option of sun, sea and/or sand)**.  I've incorporated all three options on my card as well as a lighthouse.  I've die cut an oval and then stamped the various components, masking where necessary before putting it together into a fairly simple card. The stamps I've used are no longer available but the same company has some similar ones in their current catalogue. Great prize again this time and some lovely inspiration from the design team.

Stamps used - from High Tide set by Stampin' Up (retired).

Class in the Post

I do treat myself to the occasional class in the post if I like the look of the theme but as the cards are usually small in size I tend to rather do my own thing with the designs and make them into larger cards by adding matching papers or card from my stash.  The most recent class features the lovely Wisteria Wishes dies - such an attractive flower both in real life and on these cards.  The first card was extended to a 5" x 7" and the square one was designed as a gatefold but I adapted it to fit a 6" square.

 Class - from Jenny at Stamping Moments, Stampin' Up Demonstrator

More Toadstools

 I've made another card with toadstools but this is nothing like the one I made the other day.  This time I've rummaged into my smaller snippets and die cut a selection of toadstools and other bits and pieces because I wanted a card for the latest Snippets Playground Challenge.  Everything came from my snippets mountain apart from the base card blank.  I embossed the oval background to add a bit of interest and then built up the arrangement of ferns, berries, toadstools etc.  The ladybird was stamped onto a small snippet of red and clear embossed to give it a shine.

To celebrate the Jubilee there are double prizes this fortnight but you have to be quick to catch the first one as it ends on Saturday 4th - read all the details by following the link to the Playground and if you enter,  good luck!!

Toadstools and Ferns etc - Funky Foliage die set from Sizzix
Ladybird -  Bugs stamp and die set from Sizzix Tim Holtz
Ovals - from Tonic 

Allsorts Challenge #678

 Allsorts Challenge this week is **anything but birthdays** so I've made a cute Anniversary card using a pair of otters..  I stamped the otter twice and then masked them off to add the watery background.  I then used oval dies to cut them out, placing this onto a toning piece of background paper.  A sentiment, two punched hearts and a scattering of gems and there you have it an 'unbirthday' card 😉.  Lots of great inspiration from the design team and prizes to be won.  

Otters - Awesome Otters stamp set from Stampin' Up (retired)
Colouring - done using alcohol markers
Hearts - tiny heart punch Stampin' Up
Sentiment - from my favourite freebie sentiment stamp set
Ovals - dies from Tonic

Water Birds

 I said I'd be using a whole piece of the beautiful Horizons DSP and I've been inspired by seeing some of the cards made by Lesley HERE.  My card is a 'CASE' of one she posted a few days ago and if you visit her blog and scroll down four or five posts you will see her version.  I've used a different paper and added some stamped birds as well as a lady from a long retired stamp set, stamped coloured and fussy cut.  Thank you Lesley for this idea 😍.  Only one sheet of the paper was used here - I expect you know this trick of cutting a square from the middle and layering with a slightly larger piece of card.

Paper - New Horizons DSP Stampin' Up
Waterbirds - Wetlands stamp set Stampin' Up (long retired)
Girl - stamp from Beautiful You set Stampin' Up (again long retired)
Sentiment - stamped and fussy cut

New Horizons

 I managed to get my hands on some of the beautiful scenic designer papers which fall into the 'too nice to use' category but I have made myself use some of it at least 😉.  This DSP comes at 6" square and for a start and in the interests of making them last I cut one sheet into four smaller squares and have made some cards - this is just one of them and I will post the others at some point.  I've added some stamping and die cutting to these small landscapes using stamps and dies from various sets in my stash, finally finding papers and card to build them up onto larger card blanks (this one is 7" x 5"). I might even persuade myself to use some of the other designs in their entirety, watch this space.

DSP - New Horizons from Stampin' Up
Everything else - from my stash and/or scrap boxes 

SOS #471 - Make Mine a Tall One

 This title explains my card for today which I'm taking along to Shopping Our Stash for their current challenge which as always encourages the use of items already in the stash to make cards for their various themes. You may have guessed that the theme is **a tall slim card**.  I've been digging deep for this one and the tree stamp used dates back to 2009 from Elusive Images which is now known as Chocolate Baroque although I don't know if the set is still available. I produced the background piece using a geli plate and some Distress Ink pads which I've had for more years than I care to count - most of them still work too which is great. The sentiment stamp is not quite that old but, again I've had this set for a few years, also still going strong even though it was a freebie given with a magazine.. Why not go 'shopping your stash' - you could get a nice surprise at what you unearth 😉

Stamp - Tall Trees Set Elusive Images 2009 (now known as Chocolate Baroque
Sentiment - from my favourite freebie set