It' s a Holiday Snap

I just love these new stamps, reminds me of visits to the beach, I thought they would great done as Polaroid's.

I stamped Wow 40-112 onto Clear Skies 10-002 Mix and Match card I then cut rectangles as the polaroids and then created the little scenes using the new transparent set Summer Fun 30-107. To get a realistic effect with the sand i used sandpaper, the images were then coloured with watercolours.

Here is looking forward to my next trip to the beach, hugs
Cathy
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One Layout Idea - Three Cards

I don't usually sketch out my card designs, I prefer to let things evolve as I create, but I thought it would be fun to try and see what would happen if I worked to a pre-designed sketch. Here is the card sketch that I have used and three different card designs made based on the sketch.

I have used Penny Black's Lace Trims 30-181, Versamark ink and Pan Pastels, tip cut a paper mask using Spellbinders Nesting Circles to create the circular shape. The sentiment has been stamped with Versamark Onyx Black ink using the transparent set Sentimental 30-176. The matts for the card were created using Spellbinders Matting Basics A S5-131 and B S5-132. 

Again using the circular mask, and matts cut using Spellbinders A2 Matting basics, I stamped Fancy Flowers 30-123 with Versamark ink and then coloured over with Pan Pastels.  The sentiment from the same set was then stamped using Versafine Vintage Sepia ink

This final card was created using the same matts and circle template, I then stamped flowers, leaves circles and crosses from Penny Black Transparent sets Bugsy and Owly 30-110, Sentiments 30-025 and Salutations 30-014  using Versamagic Aquatic Splash and Turquoise Gem Inks.

Having created these three cards, I think I prefer my  make as I go technique, but it was fun trying to do things a different way.

Hugs Cathy

x

Explore Beyond The Standard Card Shape

Hi Everyone, Wednesday is my day to host the Spellbinders Explore Beyond Blog Post, if you haven't visited this blog, it is worth a visit as it has some amazing craft projects and inspiration.  I wanted to explore beyond the traditional card shape and so want to share how to make this Z fold, spinning circle card. I have also created a little video to help understand how to put the card together.



Here is a step by step photo tutorial

Cut two circles from white card using Spellbinders 
3” Standard Circles SM S4-116. Stamp Penny Black’s Flower Poetry 4311K with Memento Bamboo Leaves ink, distress the edge with Tim Holtz Spun Sugar distress ink using a blending tool and colour the flowers and leaves using Copic Sketch Markers RV11 and G24. With the other circle still in the die, edge with Tim Holtz Spun Sugar and Victorian Velvet Ink and then stamp the sentiment from Penny Black’s Gratitude set 30-105 with Versafine Onyx Black ink. 

On a scrap piece of white card stamp Flower Poetry again with bamboo ink and colour leaves with Copic markers G24 (base colour), YG 17 feather out from the base for mid-tone and YG97 again feather from base for deepest shade. Cut out leaves.





On another piece of scrap paper stamp Flower Poetry using Memento London Fog ink and colour the flowers using Copic markers RV11 (base colour)
R83 (mid-tone) feather from the centre of the petal, and R39 for the deepest shade again shade from the base of the petal. Add highlights using Copic White and cut out.






Here you can see a close up of the shading on the flowers.













Shape leaves and petals using an embossing tool on a foam mat.







To make stamen, take some green cotton and dip into Beacon Stiffen Stuff, add a weight to the bottom and leave to dry. When dry squeeze a blob of Ranger White Opal Liquid Pearls on the ends of the thread and leave to dry.  Once dried pierce holes in the flower centres and thread stamen through.





Cut a matt using white cardstock and Spellbinders 3 ¹/₄” Standard Circles LG S4-114 and mount main stamped flower pattern on top.




Adhere the flowers and leaves to the main image using dimensional adhesive (I have used Pinflair Glue Gel, but Silicone glue will give the same result)





You can see the dimension created by popping the flowers and leaves up using this glue here.

Take some light and dark green card and cut and emboss several leaves using Spellbinders Foliage Two S5-129, colour the embossed areas with Le Plume Markers YG647 and YG642.








Take a separate piece of white cardstock (measuring at least 8” square) and cut and emboss with Spellbinders Fancy Lattice S5-152. Tip:- I line up the die to cut the larger area by inserting the last row of the cut paper in the first row of the die, that way I get a perfect match.

Repeat stamp Penny Black’s Bed of Roses 40-190 onto Fuchsia Fantasies Mix and Match Cardstock 13-001 using Tim Holtz Victorian Velvet distress ink . Cut and emboss using Spellbinders 5 ¹/₂” Grand Squares LF-126. Distress edges using Victorian Velvet ink and a blending tool.

Cut 3 Square frames using the 5 ¹/₂” and 5”  Grand Squares die and white card and 3 circle frames using 3 ¹/₂” and 3 ³/₄” Standard Circles LG and SM.



Take two strips of white card and cut and emboss borders using A2 Curved Borders One S5-180.





To make the front of the card, fold the trellis piece in half and attach to one of the square frames so that the edge is on the left side of the square and the fold is in the middle. (trim any excess trellis so that it fits within the square. Open out the trellis and cut out a circle in the centre using Spellbinders 
3 ¹/₂” Standard Circles SM. Fold back in half and attach one of your circle frames to the left front half.  Trim the curved border so that it fits above and below the circle, stitch the dotted line with green thread and then attach to the card.








Use the remaining circle and square frames to edge the inside of the folded card as can be seen in the picture here. You can then adhere the edge left inside edge to the front of the pink card to create a z shaped fold card.

Attach the leaves to the front of the card and then run a wire down the middle of the crease in the trellis, glue the wire in place and hide with the remaining piece of curved border.








Glue the front and back stamped panels to the wire so that they are suspended in the frame, add pearls to the curved border to finish.











Here is a view of the inside

I have been die-ing to share with you some other exciting news, for details of Penny Black's Latest release, don't forget to check out their blog all this week here.

Hugs Cathy

x

Mother, Daughter Time

I have always wanted my daughter to join me and craft when she is home from University and this week it finally happened.  She has so many friends with 21st birthdays that a lot of cards were needed.

She doesn't have a lot of confidence and so the first card she picked all the stamps how it was to be designed and the colours to use, but then on the second card she actually agreed to colour in the image...baby steps but it is a start!

Here is what we made.



She loved this stamp by Penny Black called La Soiree 4163L and chose the dress colours based on her friends actual dress colour for her party, and as she works for and loves Jack Wills clothes she chose the bag colours to match!  The Balloons were numbered using Penny Black's Charms 30-173 transparent set and the background stamped using Delicate Pattern cling stamp 40-047. The Matts for this card were created using Spellbinders 5 x 7 Matting Basics A S6-001 & B S6-002.



This one she chose the  Fashion Leader 40-235 cling stamp as her friend has a little dog and used Charms 30-173 and delicate pattern 40-047. The matts for this card were created using Spellbinders Grand Squares LF-126

Both designs were coloured using Copic markers and stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black ink.

I hope that she will want to craft again with me soon.

Hugs Cathy
x

Woo Hoo It's A Baby Girl

My lovely sister gave birth to a beautiful baby girl recently and I can't wait to go and have a cuddle!

Here is the card I sent my sister to celebrate the arrival of my newest little niece.



I cut a card using a Onesie template from 'the craftingcouchblogspot.com.au' and added stitched seams and metal accents.  I then stamped the sentiment from Penny Black's Bundle of Joy 30-043 using Rose Bud Memento ink and cut out peal pink leaves using Spellbinders Foliage Two S5-129 and the matting layers using Blossom Tags and Accents S5-072, Standard Circles Sm S4-116 and Standard Circles Lg S4-114. The hedgehog from Bundle of Joy 30-043 was then stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and coloured using Copic markers and the edge chalked in pink.

Looking forward to my first cuddle.
Hugs Cathy
x

Still Time To Make A Fathers Day Card

There is still time to make a card for Father's Day this Sunday, here is a really easy one...

• Cut and emboss a card blank using Blue Lagoon 09-002 Mix and Match Cardstock and Spellbinders A2 Matting Basics A S5-131
• Cut and emboss a piece of Storm 01-001 Mix and Match Card using Spellbinders A2 Matting Basics B S5-132.
• Cut a circle out of funky foam using the second smallest Spellbinders die from Standard Circles Lg S4-114 stick to a foam block and randomly stamp circles using Memento Summer Sky, Pear Tart and Bahama Blue inks.  Then stamp sentiments using Versafine Onyx Black ink from the transparent sets  Words Express 30-106 and Charms 30-173.
• On a separate piece of white card stamp the letters D,A and D using Penny Black's Transparent set Robust 30-001 and Versafine inks Spanish Moss and Deep Lagoon and cut out the letters and mount onto the main design.

I wish all fathers a wonderful fathers day this weekend.

Hugs Cathy

x

Beautiful Baby Girl

I was recently asked if I could make a new baby card, incorporating a photo.....when I saw the picture I just melted...how cute are these little guys.



I framed the photo using Spellbinders A2 Matting Basics A and B S5-131, S5-132 using Pearl White and Pale Pink card.

Several different sizes of Spellbinders Grand Squares LF-126 were cut from White Pearl card and mounted onto a white pearl square card blank. The Leaves from the Spellbinders Foliage Two S5-129 were cut out of the top square and pink card placed behind.  Extra Pink leaves were cut and added to the card.

The hedgehog from Bundle of Joy 30-043 was stamped with Versafine Onyx Black ink and embossed with clear powder and then coloured with Copic markers. The sentiment from the same set was then stamped and cut to make a small banner and added to the card with a few pink pearls to finish.

I think the use of the photo really personalises this card and makes it special.

Thanks for visiting me today
Hugs Cathy
x

Speckled Poppy

I have a quick card to share with you today, using the beautiful wood stamp Field of Poppies 4308K



I took a cream card blank and embossed a circle using the Grand Calibur GC-001 and Spellbinders Standard Circles Sm S4-116, I  then cut a mask using the same die out of a scrap of paper and placed over the embossed circle.

The Poppy was then coloured with  Tombow markers and stamped onto the card, the same markers were then used to colour in the image with a little water and also to create the speckles. The edge was then chalked to emphasise the circle.

To finish off I stamped the sentiment from the To You 30-067 transparent set using Versafine Onyx Black ink.

If you have time hop on over to the Penny Black Blog, there are exciting announcements all this week!

I am also very excited about this ..........

Shush, I cant tell you any more yet, but keep visiting for more sneak peaks!

Thank you for visiting me today.
Hugs Cathy
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Sign Up Free for Exclusive Ideas

Have you signed up for  free Penny Black membership? Sign up before Sunday June 9^th and receive exclusive Penny Black inspiration from designers Heather and and myself delivered directly to your inbox…FREE!

Don’t miss out! Click HERE to join.

Expecting Good Things

Today Therese and I are showcasing new stamps on the Penny Black blog here
This is the card I am sharing



I have created a Onsie card blank using a template from 'thecraftingcouch.blogspot.com.au' stitched round the seams, added metal accents and stamped with Dots in Space 40-144.

I then paper pieced Expecting 4332K and fussy cut.  A frame was created using Spellbinders Classic Ovals S4-110 to showcase the baby scan photo and the banner from  Sentimental 30-176 stamped.

Tip: If your stitching goes wonky, just go over several times making it more random, so it looks like you did it on purpose!

Hope you have a fun weekend,
hugs Cathy
x

Embroidered Sunshine Flower

I get so excited when new stamps land on my doorstep and this one is no exception.....the new cling set Floral Appliqué 40-238 has become a favourite of mine it is so easy to colour, this one was water-coloured using Inktense pencils Sienna Gold, Golden Yellow, Saddle Brown and Light Olive.



The Floral Appliqué stamp 40-238 was stamped with Versamark ink and embossed with white powder, this makes the paint stay in the lines easier.

A panel of Madison 80-001 paper was cut using Spellbinders Classic Scallop Edgeability E8-001 and added to the top with dimensional foam; the sentiment stamped using Edge to Edge 30-164 and Words Express 30-106 and Versafine Onyx Black ink onto fawn card and cut into a banner shape.  Some Hemptique twine and a Maya Road Sunshine button was added and the the whole panel was mounted onto Summer Sun Mix and Match card 17-001 to finish.

Thank you for visiting me today, if you would like to see more inspiration using the latest collection from Penny Black please hop on over to their blog here.

Hugs Cathy
x

Having a D-Liteful Day

Crafting is a great way to relieve stress and after a particularly stressful day recently, I needed to craft to avoid going mad!

Luckily my new Spellbinders D-Lites order arrived and I was able to play!!! This is the result, 3 cards.......



This card uses Spellbinders Blue Bells and Lily of the Valley D-Lite die S3-207 and Filigree Delight die S5-177 (one end has been trimmed off to create a vase shape) this was cut onto white card and coloured with alcohol pens.  The vase was shaded and stamped with Penny Black's new Lace Trims 30-181 and the sentiment is from Dahlias 30-159



This card uses the new  Spellbinders Aster and Poppies S3-206 and Filigree Vase S2-028 D-Lite dies and On The Edge Die S5-168.   The flowers were cut several times, scrunched and layered to create 3D flowers.  The sentiment is from Penny Black's transparent set Tweet Tweet 30-156.

On the inside of this card I used the waste from the Aster and Poppies S3-206 die to do a stencilled chalk image inside and stamped the sentiment from Penny Black's transparent set Friendship 30-160.



And finally



I created the card blank using Spellbinders Grand Squares LF-126 and cut the Poppies from Spellbinders new D-Lites die Asters and Poppies S3-206.  The gorgeous frame stamp from Penny Black; With Florish 40-241 was stamped with Memento London Fog ink and the edges sponged with the same ink. the sentiment from the transparent set Friendship 30-160 was stamped and red liquid pearls added to accent.

Feeling very chilled now!!!  If you want to be inspired on how to use the new Penny Black Stamp release, don't forget to hop on over to the Penny Black Blog here.

Hugs Cathy
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