52 cards - The Big Catch Up - week 31

The prompt for week 31 was to use banners.

The birthday card is almost the same as a vintage card I did a while ago, with a plain mat rather than punched edge this time.  The background stamp is from Just-rite and the balloon from Crafty Individuals.  I do like using banners for sentiments :-)

The Christmas card is made using papers from a freebie 6" paper pad - it came with a magazine and |I have no idea of the brand.  I die-cut the sentiment mats (Go Kreate) and hand-cut the banners .... then tore one of them as I positioned it on the card.  Eek!  Luckily the card needed something 'extra' anyway and so the ribbon and bow rescued it nicely :-)

52 cards - The Big Catch Up! - week 30

Somehow I have found myself 6 weeks behind on the 52 cards challenge - this real-life lark just gets in the way of  important stuff sometimes, doesn't it?  The prompt for week 30 was to use your favourite brand. 
For the Christmas card I have used Craft Creations paper, they have a lovely Christmas range.  I rounded the corners to reflect the scalloped card blank and the die-cut the candles (Memory Box) and letters (Hero Arts).  Nice and simple, though a bit fiddly to get all the letters stuck down in the right place!
DH's birthday card uses Bo Bunny's 'Timepiece' collection - no surprise there, eh! - a sheet from the 6" paper pad.  I stamped the heart (Technique Tuesday) and sentiment (Tinchies), then added the swirl to finish :-)

Stamped Background Birthday card

This is the card I made for DS2's birthday last month.  I haven't previously blogged it, because I am not sure I got it quite right!  I sent it anyway, though...... LOL.

I wanted to achieve a stamped collage-y background, with some text as a feature.  So I started with a distress inked card blank (Antique Linen and Tea Dye), used a crackle background stamp in places, then overstamped with various other designs.  The bottom right corner was a little too dark, so I added the ribbon and the strategically placed flower and die-cut, then the other flower for balance.  The sentiment didn't stamp very well, so I went over it with pen - gives that 'handwritten' touch, don't you think?!

It's not quite what I envisaged when I started it ..... but it's not too bad, I'll have to have another go at some point :-)

Beat the Christmas Rush - July

We might be in August now, but I did actually manage to make these in July - just never got around to taking the photo LOL.  These are for the BtCR challenge 25th July - 24th August.

If you are thinking they look familiar...... well, that's because I have done them before, but in a blue and white colourway.  The design is a great one for production line cardmaking, so I thought I would go for festive reds and greens this time :-)

The papers are from Craft Creations, the doily mat and border are Dienamics dies and the sentiment stamp is either Hero Arts or Hobby Art - I don't have the original packaging anymore.  The holly leaf snowflake is a Craft Stamper freebie.

Spring?

This is the page I made for the July sketch on the UKS Sketchy Scrappers group.
I used papers from Hot off the Press, their 'Winter Flannel' collection - I do find HOTP papers to be quite thin, so I used some white card as backing to the main background sheet - but the designs are gorgeous :-)
For the vertical 'strips' I punched out snowflakes from one of the papers and 'joined' them with pearls.  The doily circle is done with a Couture Creations die, title is made with Thickers.
This is probably the first page I have ever completely finished at a crop!  It came together really well and I am very happy with it :-)

ATC - Craft Stamper challenge 3

I have been dithering for a while about entering the Craft Stamper challenge, using the embossing powder background technique.  Tomorow is the closing date, so I have taken the plunge :-)

I swiped an ATC blank with versamark and applied embossing powder in four shades of blue and aqua.  Then I overstamped the bubbles background (Lost Coast Designs) using detail white embossing powder.  The Hero Arts tree stamp - used in sections - makes an interesting, almost seaweed-y effect, embossed in the darkest shade of blue.  Finally I stamped the Prima sentiment using black Stazon.

The ATC is actually straight along all sides - the photo has exaggerated the slight warping caused by the multiple embossing!

I like this technique, it's a little fiddly, but the results are very effective :-)

EDIT 5/8: Craft Stamper chose this project for the Top Three!!!!  I am so thrilled :-)