Saturday 31 March 2018

Yay, it's your birthday!

The Less is More challenge this week is the lucky dip, to CASE a past winner's card. In this case Aileen's card.

I see blue flowers and diecut sentiment.
For my card I diecut the blue and placed them in a fan shape, much like Aileen's flowers, although much smaller and I stamped the sentiment.

The Yay is from My Favorite Things Happy Wonderful Christmas Die, and I diecut it from blue glittery card. In my head it was bigger, I must have confused it with their YAY die..lol..
anyway I think it works for a CAS card.

The sentiment is from Stampendous (Fran's Tweet chirps), so I can also enter it into the
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, anything goes, showcasing Stampendous products.
Also it rhymes, lucky coincidence lol.
I used Versafine Onyx black ink to stamp them and then added a few blue rhinestones as Aileen had sequins sprinkled on the card.

You're in my prayers

I didn't really like the card I made last night for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: anything goes, showcasing Stampendous products.

So I made this just now after work. It's purple so that helps lol..I love this one actually.
I don't have many  Stampendous products and this one is a bit older. The sentiment is from Encouraging words, and I stamped it with Versafine onyx black ink.
I diecut the opening using the Simon Says Stamp circle of leaves.
Then I traced the opening onto the cardbase and applied Versamagic inks (Spring pansy, Perfect hydrangea and Eggplant.
Applied glue to the panel and adhered a few enamel sprinkles.
For more information or to play along the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, see this.

Friday 30 March 2018

A little birdie told me...

It's a Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge. The theme is Anything goes, showcasing Stampendous products.

For my card I stamped the images from the Stampendous set called spring tweets, the sentiment from  Fran's tweet chirps with Versafine Onyx black ink onto watercolor cardstock.

I colored them with my Talens Ecoline and had the Scan n cut, cut them out.

On the cardbase I inkblended Distress inks Mermaid Lagoon and Versamagic inks Sea breeze and turquoise gem, then splattered water and sprayed Shimmer spritz on the base.


Arranged the images with foamtape onto the cardbase.


For more information or to play along the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, see this.

Thursday 29 March 2018

Maaike's card swaps

I've started a card swap group on Facebook, it's called Maaike's card swaps.

As there were lots of requests from members from another group. It's not a selling site, it's a swap site. so far only my cards are in the albums, but anyone can join and upload their creations. If someone would like to swap with you they can  leave a comment and then you can get intouch privately via messenger and exchange your details.
If you would like to join and send card only within your country because of postage, that's is OK but please add it to the photo comment, so please know.

I hope I've created the most common albums, if not you can add topical albums.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/346995059128954/




Leaded window look with Wow! embossing powders

I made a version with Nuvo drops, but today I;m making a card with Wow embossing powders, A lot more fiddly, but as I have many powders but not as many  enamel accents/Nuvo drops I thought  I would try and give you options in case you lack  the liquid ones too.

I started by diecutting a shape into black card, mine was a bit thin and warped with the heat, make sure yours is sturdy.
I traced the opening onto the cardbase and diecut it again. Now this  isn't a precise method and you may or may not have to cut the card panel, but that's ok, you'll have a nice border, just take this into account if  you don;t want a mat, make the panel bigger.

I used the Poppy Stamp/ Memory box cute caterpillar die, I also considered the Fiesta flowers. Any you have with a few open areas will work, the bigger the better though.

I used Stick it on the back to make applying the heat resistant acetate much easier.

Then I stamped the sentiment from Craft Emotions with Versamar ink and heat embossed it with opaque white  embossing powder from Wow!.

For the caterpillar I also used Wow! powders:  Cha Cha Cha  primary  apple red,primary lemon, primary chartreuse,primary lagoon, primary fuchsia fusion, eggplant and pacifi wave.

I used my sample book to see which ones are translucent, most if not all primaries are and some of the glittery ones too. the sample book really helps.

I used the Versamarker to apply ink on the openings/acetate and heat set it. I used as little heat as possible, just to be sure.
I've cut out a lot of the footage as it took about half and hour and the process is the same, just different colors.

Then I applied liquid glue on the back so I ouwld have a bit more wiggle time and matched it with the openings on the cardbase. Also here it  payes to use thicker card, I  must get some ;-)



Monday 19 March 2018

Don't ever change

The Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is: Easter inspired, showcasing Your Next Stamp Products.

I took the pretty colors from the moodboard as my inspiration. I used Distress inks: Shaded lilac, spun sugar, cracked pistachio and tumbled glass for the dots on the bottom of the moodboard.

I used the Your Next Stamp One in a  chameleon set and I stamped it with Simon Says Stamp Intense black on Crafter's Companion Neenah paper as I intended to color him.
But then I spotted the sentiment in the set: don't ever change and I thought I would use the colors on the background, showing the beast unaffected, as you know chameleons
like to change with their surroundings.
It's not strictly an Easter card, but I love the springlike colors anyway.

I made a panel slightly smaller than the cardbase and cut a circle out of it, big enough to house the chameleon. Then I traced the opening onto the cardbase and applied said Distress inks.

Mounted the panel and critter with foamtape and adhered it to the cardbase.

For more information or to play along the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, see this.

Sunday 18 March 2018

AAA cards challenge #111: use only 1/3, with video

This fortnight the Challenge is to use only one third of your card. It's our DT fellow Lucie that came up with this challenge and our sponsor is Winnie and Walter, so I used their Big Hugs set.

To determine 1/3 I used a bit of folder plastic, the right size for my card 10,5x15cm, so I measured thirds and ended with 9 rectangles. Three of those would be a third. Whether you use them horizontally, vertically, diagonally, the choice is yours.

At first I thought to make a small inkblended snowbank on the bottom, but I decided to use my 1/3 in the centre and stick the image on the inkblended bit so not to use up  more white space.

For the inkblending I used Distress inks shaded lilac, tumbled glass and peacock feathers, then water and bleach for droplets and Talens white ecoline. As I used the bendy coffee stirrer I got elongated droplets, so I switched to a rigid brush for the round ones. It looks to me like a blizzard now lol.

I stamped the image from Winnie and Walter onto Crafter's Companion Neenah paper, had the Scan N  Cut do the cutting and I colored the image with Spectrum Noir markers.

The sentiment is from Newton's Nook designs ( wild child) and I stamped it with Versafine Onyx black ink.

Mounted the bears with foamtape and adhered it to the cardbase.

For more information, more DT work or to play along int he challenge, see this

Saturday 17 March 2018

One layer stencilled Happy B-day

It's One Layer week at Less is More and the theme is use a stencil

For my card I used a Scrapberry Stencil, Versamagic ( Key Lime and Turqoise gem) and Distress Oxide (Mermaid Lagoon);

I used mini inkblending tools to apply these inks through the stencil.

The sentiment (Sizzix Happy Birthday by Stephanie Barnard) I stamped with Versafine Onyx black ink. Heat set it to be sure.

Added a few matching enamel dots.


For more information or to play along the
Less is More Challenge, see this.

Thursday 15 March 2018

6,5"square box and two more patterns, with video

Today's box was designed as 1"high for pretty necklaces we make and sell in our giftshop where I volunteer.
But in the video I made a 2" high one for a more versatile size, to keep or gift square card  for example.
If you don't any scraps you can make the box 6"square and 3"high and use the whole 12"x12"sheet.
I used pretty foiled papers from Craft Sensation, but any you have will work, of course.


Start with the bottom piece and add a scrap as a shim.

So for this exact box I show in the video, you need a piece of paper that is 10,5"square.
And you score at 2" and 8,5"inches on  both sides, or 2"on all 4 sides .
Burnish and reinforce the scorelines, then notch and if you want add a thumbnotch.
Glue as indicated. FOld the top piece around the bottom one, so it will fit exactly.

Add a pretty ribbon or diecuts, felt flowers etc, whatever you like.


Monday 12 March 2018

"Happy" Easter

The Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge is Easter inspiration. There's a moodboard and I took the bunny and the eggs from it with this digistamp from C.C. Designs (Grouchy bunny 2) and I printed it on the Crafter's Companion Neenah paper. I colored it with Spectrum Noir markers. Cut it slightly smaller and adhered it with tape runner.

Of course I had to color the grumpy cat like my own ;-). I used Nuvo shimmer pen on all the eggs and paint.

I love the expression of the cat...playing dress up is not a cat thing ;-)











For more information or to play along the Simon Say Stamp Monday Challenge, see this

Sunday 11 March 2018

Marianne design cute animals, with video

I just got these cute little animal stamps from Marianne design (EC0169 and EC0171). I thought the other stampset were donkey or horses, but on closer inspection there are zebra stripes in the set, but if you leave those out it's pretty much a donkey, which I also like for baby cards...so I'll be off to get those as well lol....
I stamp the images using my Stampers' friend,first on scrap printer paper, then on the Crafter's Companion Neenah paper, then back to the scrap paper, so I could position the paper, turns out I had to move the spots twice. I used Memento Espresso Truffle for the spots.
Simon Says Stamp Intense black for the outline, could also have been brown, but I have a thing for black outlines, I can't help it...
Colored the images with Spectrum Noir and Illustrator markers and then stamped the spots on top. I had to fix a few with a marker anyway, but I don;t think you can see it.
Had the Scan N Cut  do it's magic, but it cut off one nose, I think I zoomed in too much, but I hid the mistake underneath the other giraf. I could have made two cards, but hey...that's is kind of why I stamp, cut, then color, I thought it would be too difficult to do the spots on cut out images, or my paper moved as the white rim is a bit weird...
I diecut the star window with the spotty edge with Nellie Snellen Multi frames ((MFD050) and traced the opening onto the cardbase, masked the edges and inkblended more Memento inks (Lulu Lavender and Summer Sky).
The sentiment in from another Marianne Design set (Ec0171) and I stamped it with Versafine Onyx black ink.
Mounted the panel with foamtape and adhered it to the cardbase. I then placed the giraffes with taperunner and foamtape inside the window and so you can't see the chopped nose.
The enamel stars are called enamel treats and are from Create a smile, but any will do.


Thursday 8 March 2018

5x2 inch box for storing Washitape or tealights and more, with video


 I made this box for something else, it is a bit roomy for my washi tapes, but I already have 4 or 5 different sizes, width and height are also all different, so I think it's better if it's not a super snug fit as others might not fit.

For the box you need a piece of cardstock that is 9x10inches.
on the 9inch side you score at: 2 and 7 inches
on the 10inch side you score at: 2,4,6 and 8 inches.
Punch a thumb notch now as you can use it to see where you need to shorten the tabs easier, see pattern.
Cut away all the ||||| bits and glue with gluegun.



Tuesday 6 March 2018

Video Collab with Kathya Kalinine- Easter riddles

We decided on the Easter theme as that's coming up soon. And as Easter is on April Fools day I thought this set from Inky Antics would be so funny. I apparently got the wrong size scratch offs, I blame inches vs cm for that lol. I linked to the Simon Says Stamp shop so you can see there's plenty more options.

For the card I used the Simon Says Stamp TRI circle die and cut it out of a panel.
Traced the openings onto the cardbase and applies Versamagic inks ( Oasis green, Aspen mist,  turquoise gem, Aquatic splash, Sea breeze)
Then I stamped the sentiments with Versafine onyx black ink.
I used the Inky Antics Easter riddles set, combined with the Simon Says Stamp It's no secret set.
The Bunnies I stamped on the Crafter's Companion Neenah paper with Simon Says Stamp Intense black ink and had my Scan and Cut do the cutting.
Colored them with Spectrum Noirs (Bg1-2 and5) and Illustrator markers (fs1).

Applied the scratch off sticker to the answer,although it's not big enough I had to roll with it.
Mounted the panel with foamtape. and adhered it to the cardbase.  Tucked in the bunnies (sorry the camera was hungry and ate some footage) ,but basically I just applied taperunner or foam to support the critters.

For Katya's video, see this.

Sunday 4 March 2018

AAA cards challenge #110- Ombre, with video

This fortnight the challenge is Ombre.
Our sponsor is Happy Little Stampers, so join us and you could win a prize!

For my Ombre I used Distress inks (candied apple, abandoned coral and worn lipstick) but found it all a bit samey, so I also added Aged Mahogany at the top. My ombre turned out pretty much as the challenge badge and it wasn't meant to, I chose red to go behind my Heart sprinkle wreath from Simon Says Stamp.

I diecut it from 140lbs card and I also diecut the circle in the middle to  make a window.

For my critter I used  Gerda Steiner Valentine penguins, the sentiment also.
I don't really see this card as a Valentine lol.
card, more and encouragement card, or I might have to keep it for a year

I colored my penguin with Spectrum Noir and Spectrum Illustrator markers and I used a bit of Nuvo Shimmer pen on the balloon. The white Sharpie wasn't being nice, I added it for a shine on the balloon, but it didn't dry quickly enough so I smudged it. See video ;-)

Mounted the panel with foamtape and adhered it to the cardbase. I added foamtape to the penguin's head only and adhered the rest with tape runner.

For more information or to play along the challenge, and to see more design team work, click here

Saturday 3 March 2018

Hoppy day



The Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge is: in my garden. And I'd also like to enter it into the Simon Says Stamp craft month challenge.

I have a rented garden, a vegetable patch or an allotment if you like. It's 10mx15m and my happy place, away from my craftroom.
I have dug in big cement mix buckets and they hold about 100litres of water and home a few frogs...or toads. I'm not really sure, I can't tell...they also house water snails and bugs and also dragon flies larvae, a few newts, it's really a cool thing on such a small scale. I thought the bucket was enormous at the home improvement store and it got dwarfed once out in the open.

Anyway, for my card I stamped the Woodware unfrogettable stamp with Versafine onyx black ink and colored him with Talens Ecoline. Adhered the watercolored panel with tape runner to the cardbase. I've added some Nuvo Shimmer pen to the wings, no gems on this one, there are a few on my first one.


Gerda Steiner Monthly challenge: March

I got the new challenge image and printed it onto the Crafter's Companion Neenah's paper and added the cheesy sentiment whilst in Photoshop.
Colored the image with Spectrum Noir markers, added some wallpaper and mounted the panel with foamtape to adhere it to the cardbase.

For more information or to play along the Gerda Steiner Challenge, see this.

in my garden...




...is the Simon Says Stamp Monday  Challenge, and for it I made this little gift box.
It hold three tealights and I adorned it with all things "garden"...
The metal butterfly was yellow, I used nailpolish to color it up and splattered more nailpoilsh on top.

For more information or to play along the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, see this.

Less is More challenge #366: monochrome

I'm delighted to have been asked to be the Guest designer for this challenge, thank you ladies.

I made two cards, one with kitties and one with a chameleon.

The process is the same, just different stamps and colors.

I started by positioning my kitties (C.C. designs meowy) into my Stamper's Friend and inked them with Versafine Onyx black ink.
I added the sentiment from Simon Says Stamp (it's your birthday) and also used Versafine onyx black ink.

Then I chose three colors of brown ,  As I wanted to keep the card a one layer, I didn't want to use my markers and I thought this would look artsy ;-), something different. I contemplated black, and greys as well, but I felt this was more monochrome. Of course you could all do them the same color as well. I like how the coloring is not perfect and  the white bits look like spots on the cats :-D
Memento dewdrops ( rich cocoa, espresso truffle and toffee crunch) and I used one of the brush stroke stamps from Marianne designs (Eline's brush ec0161)line's brush ec0161)

No enamel dots for this card as I didn't have any browns.

The Chameleon card is done in the same manner, but different supplies:
Chameleon is Your Next Stamp- one in a chameleon
Brush is Marianne Designs- Eleine's Brush Ec0161
Memento inks- Pear tart, Bamboo leaves and cottage ivy.
Generic green and glittery enamel dots
Also Versafine onyx black ink for the sentiment and image.

For more information or to play along the Less is More Challenge, see this

Friday 2 March 2018

Green...

..is the challenge  at Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday and the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is: anyhting goes, showcasing Memory Box products.

For my card I sued the Circle branch die from Memory Box and diecut it from a panel. Stamped the sentiment from Simon Says Stamp it's your birthday with Versafine onyx black ink.
I stamped the Moody unicorn from Gerda Steiner with Simon Says Stamp intense black ink onto the Crafter's Companion Neenah paper and colored it with Spectrum Noir markers.

I traced the opening onto the cardbase and inkblended Versamagic inks (hint of peston, Aloë vera and Tea leaves).
Mounted the panel with foamtape and adhered it to the cardbase,then placed the unicorn behond the branches, attached him with tape runner.


Thursday 1 March 2018

Versamagic inkblending recipes

So far I've come up with these four sheets of recipes.
Hope you enjoy!
You can alsofind Memento inkblending recipes and Ranger Distress ink blending recipes on  my blog.




Leaded window look, with video

Today I made a card that reminds me of Church windows, the leaded windows and also a bit of Christmas because I used gold, silver and reds amongst other colors.
To start the card I used the Simon Says Stamp Heart sprinkle wreath die and a circle die for the centre. I used black cardstok to  make the colors pop and make it look more like a leaded window,
Then I placed acetate on the back and filled in some of the hearts and dots in the wreath with Nuvo drops and Ranger enamel accents.
I don't have many Nuvo drops, but  I like their transparent look.
My bottle of Deco art media Liquid glass gave me this idea. It's similar to Ranger glossy accents and I also pulled that, but didn't use it.

In the video you can see how the light shines through, very pretty, if you want to keep that look, make another circle window in the cardbase. I chose to make a shaker card as I just bought these  pretty heart shaped gems in a giftshop in my town. Came in the little bottle, no brand, but I'm sure you can find them online, I found some on Aliexpress and ordered a truck load haha...

I used white craftfoam ad I thought it would match my cardbase and I diecut the same size circle from it for my dimension and shaker wall.
I adhered everything with tape runner and gluedots in between  the hearts and dots, to preven the black card to lift up from the acetate, which would make the Nuvo Drops or enamel accents to seep under.
Let it dry overnight with a bowl on top as I have cats as you know...trying to keep the cat hair off and it worked lol.
If you don;t have any Nuvor drops or glossy/enamel accents you can try alcohol inks or makers on the back of the acetate as alcohol ink will color acetate.
You can mix some glitter in with glossy accents too.