Thursday 31 December 2015

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: party!

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: party! with some sparkle

I've revisited a card I made a long time ago (about 700cards ago lol)
and used it as a starting point for my card.
Back then I didn't have the SSS celebration dies or the Paper Smooches balloons die, so those were hand drawn and watercolored with Distress inks on watercolor paper.

This card used the Same Distress ink, but sponged on with a darker side to give it shadow adn depth.
The colors are: peacock feathers, mermaid lagoon, twisted citron and seedless preserves.
I added matching glitter to some Wendy Vecchi translucent embossingpaste and applied it through the stencil.

the stencil was made with the dies, some heavy cardstock and gridded paper, which is optional, but useful to get things straight, which wasn't really important on this card.

For the card I made with the SSS feathers die, straightness (new word?) was important.


Let the embossing paste dry, meanwhile I punched some hearts in two sizes out of matching glitter paper and I diecut some puffy clouds from Memory box out of vellum.
At first I pulled out the Memorybox mini heart collection, but I figured just punching one or two was easier and I wouldn't end up with a lot of  extra glitter hearts.

I prepped a cardbase with foamtape, even pulled off the release paper, cleaned up the desk and went ot write some of this blog, all waiting for the paste to dry.
wondering if I can do a voice over with all the fireworks being lit...hmm.. turns out it is impossible to do one sentence without fireworks going off, although it's nowhere near midnight the kids been at it all day.


anway back to the card I posted the video without music and without voiceovers, I might try and redo it tomorrow if the noises ease up, but don't hold your breath!

Happy new year and be carefull if you must light fireworks, you need all 10 digits to craft! and eyes ;-) no seriously be carefull it's gun powder!


For more information on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, see this


Thursday 24 December 2015

Home spun

Less is more Challenge #255&256: Homespun.

I had to think about this challenge a while, I thought about using my sewingmachine to adhere diecuts, but I'm very worried about glue and  ruining my sewing machine, so I had to think of something else.

Been a bit busy last week, today as well actually, with all the preparations for tomorrow, was tidying and found a red embroidery thread entangled on a needle..needle...knittingneedle...hmmm...
So today I thumbled away at this little knitted jumper thingy.
I'm not very good at knitting with proper sized needles, but these were even harder!.managed it in the end ;-).Most of it I made on longer skewers and then transfered it onto these witht he last two runs.

I sponged some Spun sugar Distress ink on the cardbase, behind the knitwork, to make it stand out.

the sentiment is from Inkadinkado (welcome baby) and I stamped it with Versafine black onyx.
few dew drops to help the eye travel across the card.
Pretty much a one layer card. 

Merry Christmas everyone!

I'm sorry I haven't visited anyone yet this week's challenge, too busy, will resume the good work Sunday, promise ;-)

For more information on the Less is More Challenge, see this




edited January 10th: My card was showcased ;-)



make it sparkle


Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: make it sparkle with Technique Tuesday
and the Inkspirational challenge: anything but Christmas

Well I sure did! lol

I made a glitter only background with, well, glitter haha
I covered a panel of carstock with Elizabeth crafts double sided adhesive and then laid a stencil on top.
I sprinkled red glitter in the stenicl openings and rubbed it into the adhesive with my bone folder.
then wiped off excess and removed the stencil.
Do this carefully as this tape is super sticky!
I made a video of this technique and I used Versamark on the stencil, but I wasn't a fan of that as I got bald patches and I don't like bald patches lol, also heard talcum powder or cornstarch shoudl work, but they didn't for me. just be careful when you pull the stencil off or use lesser sticky stuff!
I stamped the sentiment from Techinque Tuesday (say it- love you by Ali Edwards) on vellum. this is the 3rd attempt,I used Stazon first and that usuall works well, but either it's too warm in here or my inkpad was dry but I didn't even get time to aligne the stamp properly and it was dry already.

So on this version I used Versafine black onyx and left it well alone until dry...

I went to prepare my shrimp cocktail for tomorrow in the meantime... you know you've got to sqeeuze in cardmaking and Christmas cooking and all, not sure which is more important ;-)

I've attached the vellum banner with sticky tape on the back and then mounted the panel with foamtape.

added 3 red rhinestones to tie it all together.


My other attempts, weren't so succesful, I mean I didn't like the look of the panels once finished.
I used the Simon Says Stamp Butteflies dies to make a stencil, the first one got ripped and I thought there was too much empty space, the second was much better, but then I used blue glitter and the butterflies dissapeared into the background :-(
I got the idea from the little butterfly in the stampset and I wanted to make a thank you card or you are fabulous, but it didn't work out that way...

I think it wil diecut them out again and use just the glittery butterflies on a card.

Still I thought I'd show you ;-)

For more information on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: make it sparkle, see this


For the Inkspirational challenge, see this


Merry Christmas everyone!





Tuesday 22 December 2015

Merry Christmas


I'd like to wish all my wonderfull readers and subscribers and followers a Merry Christmas and a happy new year!
I enjoy it immensely when you visit and comment and it keeps me going (at cardmaking I mean).

I'd like to enter this card into the 
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: winter wonderland 
and the
Lawnscaping challenge #120: Merry Christmas.


For my card I've used 300grams hot pressed smooth watercolor paper from Schut.
I've used Distress inks for the frosty banner (I used shaded lilac and a lot of blues) I can't remember exactly which ones as I started last night, I let is dry overnight and this morning I've heat embossed the snowflakes from the Lawn Fawn Winter Penguin and a snowflake from Leane creatief bv.
I've used Zing white embossing powder. The sentiment is part from winter penguin as well (happy) and the Christmas is from Simon Says Stamp Christmas set.
I've then placed a few droplets around the banner and mounted the panel onto a cardbase with foamtape.
The watercolor panels are slightly smaller than the card so I've used some blue glittery washi tape on the top to fill in that bit and to give the card some shimmer.
put a lot of weight on it to flatten it back.


Monday 21 December 2015

Sparkle & Shine Challenge #20


Sparkle & Shine Challenge #20

For my card I used the Simon Says Stamp set Merry trees.
I used the tree to make a stencil and mask, so I could sponge in all the rainbow trees with Distress inks.
Fore the one with the sentiment I used pigment inkpad.
the sentiment and wreath (circle) are also from the same set and stamped with pigment inkpads.
I adhered the sequins qith Aleene's fast grab tacky glue.
I'm not sure if they're Pretty Pink posh, I  haven't labeled, I have some PPP, I just don't knwo which ones...I shouldn't have taken them out of their baggies...

Anyway I'd like to wish everyone a Merry and Bright Christmas and a  happy new year!

For  more information on the Sparkle & Shine Challenge #20, see this


Thursday 17 December 2015

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: die crazy

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: die crazy

For my card I've used 3 Simon Says Stamp Dies: small hello, butterflies, and tri square.

I started with cutting the trio of squares out of a panel cardstock, slightly smaller than the cardbase.
I marked the position of the windows on the cardbase and sponged Distress inks (squeezed lemonade, spiced marmalade, and picked raspberry) .
I diecut three butterflies, with the smallest die of the set, from glitter paper that matched the background.
At first I thought of putting the butterflies in a different colored window, but I found that, whilst pretty, a little too busy. I positioned them so it looks like they're escaping from their little boxes.
The sentiment was diecut out of black cardstock I had adhered some Elizabeth Crafts  double sided tape onto, so it would become a sticker.
I made three enamel dots by using the same Distress inks and punching them out, then colored with clear Wink of stella and covered with glossy accents, when dry I mounted them on gluedots to attach them to the card. They help your eyes travel across the card.

I mounted the front panel with foam tape for a little dimension.

For more information on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: die crazy, see this




Tuesday 15 December 2015

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: just a pinch

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: just a pinch

For my card I started by sponging on Distress inks mermaid lagoon and tumbled glass and some broken china in between when I found the jump from dark to light was too big.
I used the  Simon Says Stamp falling snow stencil to make the snow with embossing paste. This is Wendy Vecchi white paste, whilst still wet I sprinkled some white iridescent glitter onto the paste for shimmery snowflakes, just a little sprinkling.
Let that dry.
Then I splattered on some distress spray  (also mermaid lagoon) to add depth, just a  few drops, or a pinch ;-)
I stamped my image from Hero Arts lil'hoot with Memento black ink on Neenah classic crest card and colored it with my Spectrum Noir markers.
Cut it out and then used the black marker on the edges, to neaten them up.
I've added googly eyes to them, I tried my new colored googly eyes, first green and light blue, but green looked weird and the blue was too similar to the rest of the card, so navy and black was what I decided on.
I made a snowy hill for the sentiment (Marianne design Eline's xmas ec0148)
Which I stamped with Versafine and mounted it with foamtape so I could slide the bears behind it.
Few (or a sprinkling) of clear blue sequins to make your eye travel across the card.

For more information on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: just a pinch, see this


Saturday 12 December 2015

Less is more Challenge #254: what's in my stocking?

Less is more Challenge #254: what's in my stocking?

For my one layer card I used Neenah classic crest cardstock and a  Stampies image from the Kerst set  St10009, sentiments also from that set and all stamped with Memento tuxedo black ink.
I coloured him with my Spectrum Noir markers.

I positioned the image a little to the top as I think images look better a little off centre, to the top makes the image "lighter" as if floating, to the bottom it makes them "heavy"...
It's a really simple card and image, but still took me 30 minutes orso to colour, fiddly little bits ;-)


Next Friday is my birthday and I probably should put a stocking up, shouldn't I? One can hope lol

For more information on the Less is more Challenge #254: what's in my stocking?, see this




Friday 11 December 2015

Cas Colours & Sketches Challenge #154

Cas Colours & Sketches Challenge #154

For my card I've used sketch #128, but I've rotated it for the sentiment.

To make the windows I've used the Simon Says Stamp tri square die.
For the sentiment i've also used a Simon Says stamp: presents and ornaments set.
I've diecut 3 snowflakes from white glitter paper.

For the background I've stuck a strip of double sided adhesive from Elizabeth crafts on the cardbase and poured 5 different colours of glitter, also different textures and sizes of glitter.
I tried to make an ombre effect.
I rubbed all the glitter into the sticky tape  with my bone folder and then mounted the panel with foamtape.

then attached the snowflakes with some taperunner and or a gluedot.

just diecutting 3 glittered papers might have been less messy, but also much less  fun! haha, you should see the state of my room, better yet...don't! Also I wanted the ombre effect.

For more information on the Cas Colours & Sketches Challenge #154, see this

update December 22nd:


Glitter, glorious glitter!

Glorious indeed, doesn't glitter make you happy?
It makes me smile from ear to ear...the clean up a little less though hahaha

I've tried something new for the Virginia's view challenge #21: it's all about glitter

So (this is my second entry) i've made a card entirely out of glitter, I went all out.



Let me tell you how:
I've used a snowflake stencil (i think it's Dutch Doo ba doo, but i'm not sure)
I've covered the whole cardbase with 2,5"inch tape from Elizabeth crafts, if you have a full sheet or bigger, that's even better, I laid two strips next to each other and pulled off the release paper.
then pressed the stencil onto it.
Warning: the adhesive from Elizabeth crafts is SUPER strong, I was worried it might not release the stencil, and I'd advice to use only  stencils with lots of blanc space, so no delicate intricate ones as I had to pull quite hard!.I had to throw out a stencil I made from acetate and snowflakes as that was stuck !
I had tried it first with some lace fabric and  a lace border which is somekind of vinyl and those worked great, so I felt confident ;-)

Anyway back to the card: once the stencil was on the sticky stuff i carefully dropped blue glitter in the openings and  rubbed it in with my bone folder, once everything was covered and pressed I brushed off excess.

Then I carefully removed the stencil and that exposed the rest of the sticky tape.
I poured on silver glitter and also pressed it in with my bone folder.
the result is fabulous!

For the sentiment I've heat embossed a sentiment from the Simon Says Stamp set merry trees.
I've used Papermania superfine silver on black card and raised it with a double layer of foamtape.

I've made other versions, one with roses, but that was very tricky as I had 3 colours.


For more information on the Virginia's View challenge, see this



Wednesday 9 December 2015

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Tag it! with Tim Holtz

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Tag it! with Tim Holtz

I made a tag from heavy weight hotpressed watercolor paper, I had to cut off one side anyway, it had little bite marks in it...lol one of my cats done that...but he's still cute ;-) 

I stampd the bird crazy with StazOn ink, this one with the quiff is my favourite of the set.
I've used Distress inks to colour it (wilted violet and peacock feathers is my new favourite blend).
the shadow underneath is iced spruce.

For the background I used the Tim Holtz Holiday knit stencil and Distress inks shabby shutters and peeled paint, for the shadow I've used mowed lawn.

I then cut off the seides to mae into a tag as well as punching a hole and adding some glitter ribbon.
The sentiment is also stamped in StazOn and is from Joy! crafts.




For more information on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Tag it! with Tim Holtz. see this



Monday 7 December 2015

Tic Tac gift tag



I'd like to enter this project into the Lawnscaping Challenge #119: tag it!
and the
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: holly Jolly Stamping (Christmas Themed project)


I've created these Tic Tac gift tags, double tags, gift bag...I dunno, you choose...lol

I've cased a creation from the lovely Sam Donald, over at Pootles.co.uk, but adapted it to my supplies.

Last week I made three with some Christmas patterned paper, to hand out at various occasions, one to a friend who drove us to a  Christmas fair, one to my mother with her Christmas card and one I still have to give away and, well you can see it in the photos.

But now for the Lawnscaping challenge I made a new one, form white cardstock and stamped it all over with the Winter Penguin stampset, the black is Memento tuxedo black and the blue is broken china from Distress inks.
I coloured the image with alcohol markers (Spectrum Noir and Copic)

I so wish I had some of the new Lawn Fawn, but at my Dutch online stores they´re still in back order and or are sold out and or waiting fof them too :-( so forgive me.
I started my project with a strip of paper 2 inches wide and 8 1/4" inches long.
I scored the paper at 3 3/4" from either side.
then snipped the edges to make it tag shaped ( I have no tag shaped dies) and I used my punch for the hole in the amiddle.
then threaded through some red and blue ribbon and tied it in a knot.
the Tic Tac is held in place with some tape runner.

It's so easy to make these and, I'll make more as soon as I  get more Tic Tacs, maybe as birthday treats, for the people attending the creative group I volunteer for,
it looks the part and isn't too expensive, and everyone needs a Tic Tac once in a while, right? ;-)  I might even use them as proper tags n gifts..ha there's an idea! will keep the back white and put names on it...should have thought about that earlier haha...

for the one with patterened paper I measured the paper and dived my three it's 1 7/8" and still fits, the 2"is for the tag topper punch Sam used I don't have, you can use corner punches too and punch four times.














Sunday 6 December 2015

CAS-ual Fridays CHallenge #cfc146

CAS-ual Fridays CHallenge #cfc146


For my first entry to the CAS-ual Frusays challenge blog I've used Lovely snowflake for the snowflake and sentiment.

I've stamped them in Versafine black onyx and sprinkled them with WOW! clear holographic sparkle embossing powder and heat set it.

I've diecut the 25 using Lawn Fawn's Finley's 123 and mounted this frontpanel with foamtape.
On the cardbase I've sponged Distress ink (barn door) to accentuate the 25.

For more information on the CAS-ual Fridays CHallenge #cfc146, see this



Technocolour snowflakes

I'd like to ento to the CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #153
 and the Inkspirational challenge #97: flakes

For the CAS colours & sketches the challenge is to use past colour challenge and I've chosen #114








For the Inkspirational challenge the code word is flakes, so I  thought snowflakes, also gold flakes and flaking paint passed by in my head, but I dismissed those, because of supplies.




I've used re-inkers from Distress inks to colour my background (peacock feathers, seedless preserves and mowed lawn).
But first I've heat embossed a bunch of snowflakes (CAS-ual Fridays must love snowflakes) with white embossing powder on some hot pressed smooth watercolouring paper from Schut (300grams)
I've then wetted the surface and started dabbing on the reinkers and spritzing it with water to make them flow, were they colours met, they made new colours, so I hope that's ok for the colour challenge, bit out of my control lol.

I chose reinkers for the intense colours, and it's really this dark..... I say moody ;-)
I spritzed also some perfect pearls to give it shimmer.

the watercolour paper is from a big sheet I cut up and they end up a little smaller, than a standard cardbase, which works out well for the sentiment, a little stuck out on the top, which I trimmed.
I like non traditional colours, usually pastels, for Christmas and Christmas cards, so I hope the recipient does too!





AAA Cards Challenge #54: Silent night, holy night Christmas Cards

AAA Cards Challenge #54: Silent night, holy night Christmas Cards

For my card I inked up a strip in night sky ish colors with Distress inks (chipped sapphire, dusty concord, and fossilized amber)
I used a white Sharpie marker for the stars.
I made a mask with a Memorybox die and used the negative to make the night city (with black soot), tidied the edges with a black marker.
I made a cityscape banner by tracing another portion of the die, colored it in with black and heat embossed the sentiment  with white embossing powder, stuck in on with foamtape for dimension. Never seen a banner with a cityscape on it, I kind of like it a lot..:-)

For more information on the AAA Cards Challenge #54: Silent night, holy night Christmas Cards, see this