Twofer Card Challenge #38 – Cake/Cupcake

Hello … bonjour! Welcome to our yummy new Twofer challenge for May, where we’re inviting you to dig out your scrumptious stamps, dies and/or stencils and join us to enjoy some …

That yummy looking cake stamp (the common image on both cards) is from Reverse Confetti … it appears just as intended (along with one of it’s accompanying alligators) on my birthday card … and on the hello card, it’s been dressed up with the help of a little masking and subsequent doodling! How about a closer look at each one …

The central design here ensures the cake is the star of the show. It was masked and stamped onto some mixed media card stock, I doodled those extra layers of chocolate ganache and the cherry on the top … and coloured it with alcohol markers. There are lavish coatings of shimmer and shine on the ganache and cherry too … tricky to capture … and more visible on the first photo. The two word sentiment is shared between Simon Says Stamp and Winnie & Walter (sadly NLIB). The panel was mounted onto a couple of layers of vellum, popped up on craft foam and adhered to a mixed media card base that had been embossed with a Spellbinders die. You’ll notice that the vellum went a smidgy bit wobbly round the edges after it was dry … must be all that luscious ganache that did it … couldn’t have been anything to do with the wet adhesive I used!

My second card is clean, fun and whimsical …

Another simple design, with the heat embossed images and sentiment laid out along the bottom half of a watercolour card base. Everything was coloured with Zigs and a water brush … and I gave the alligator a dry embossed pathway to walk on … firstly to ground him … and secondly so he could advance on that birthday cake easily!

How about choosing a cake/cupcake image from your stash … to make two distinctly different designs … for two different occasions … we’d love to see you (and your cards) in our gallery!  All the details, rules and FAQs are over at the Twofer blog … together with heaps of delicious inspiration from the DT as well as from our super talented Guest Designer, Janet from Swanlady Impressions. Do go and have a gentle meander around Janet’s blog … there’s so much loveliness to enjoy and be inspired by … and you can always say hello while you’re there!

My piled high cupcake is going over to …

AAA Cards – Up To One Third … no Mystical Beasts option

Krafty Chicks – Stamp Act

MFT Color Challenge – Poppin’ Pink, Carribean Sea, Jalapeno Popper, Vintage Timber

NBUS – Anything Goes … a little win from Reverse Confetti!

Papercraft Challenges – Fruits, Food and Vegetables

… and that cake craving crocodile (or alligator if you prefer, though the alliteration isn’t as good!) will be celebrating at …

AAA Birthday – Happy Birthday … congratulations on your 2nd!

Addicted to Stamps and More – Any Occasion

Happy Little Stampers Watercolour – Anything Goes

Reverse Confetti Stock Your Stash – Birthday … congratulations on your 8th!

Seize The Birthday – Anything Goes … no Furry Friends topping

Thanks so much for coming by, your visits and comments are always a joy! Anita 🙂

A New Challenge At Time Out – #159 – Inspired By Words

Hello … bonjour!  Our wonderful new challenge has just started over at Time Out … for the next fortnight, we’d like you to be Inspired By Words … if you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.  Those who are regular visitors here will know of my love of flowers … and will understand what I was drawn to in Cicero’s words … a garden …

     

On the base card, I used a mask and blended a circle of soft Distress Ink colours, reminiscent of a warm gentle sunrise.  The die cuts are all from Simply Graphic (a gift from Judith, thanks, my friend!) … the flowery edged circle was cut into a panel that matches the card base … and the leafy additions were arranged along the right side of it.  Everything was adhered flat to the base … with the leaves left free at the top to wave gently in the breeze!  The sentiment (a little hello) is also from Simply Graphic.

Most of the time, I only share one card for Time Out … but today is a little different, as this will be my last post as a member of the Design Team.  After close to six years of being part of this warm, encouraging and artistic team, stepping down wasn’t an easy decision to make … and I will miss being closely involved with such a fabulous challenge and such a talented group of card makers.  I would like to say an enormous thank you to my lovely friend … our wonderful and inspirational leader, Sandie, for her confidence and faith in me as a new designer … and to all my teamies, past and present, for sharing freely their support, kindness and talent over the years.  Thanks to all of you too, friends and players … it’s been a delight to see so many fantastic cards in our gallery week after week.  My final Time Out DT card is a bit of fun … and I hope it might bring you a smile.  Here, there’s a little guy happily living in the ‘garden’ …

The greenery is from Concord & 9th, cut from Distress Ink smooshed card stock, which is growing right alongside the stamped gravel path (Annabelle Stamps – NLIB).  The friendly escargot came ready stamped from Michele (merci, my friend) … and is popping out from the greenery to wish the recipient a happy birthday (in French as he’s multi-lingual … he also speaks English … and Snail, of course).  As it’s spring, he’s developed a lovely shimmer … and shine (a description he much prefers, rather than the s**** word more commonly associated with snails) .  You can tell from the look on his face he’s quite rightly proud of it … take a peek …

     

Where will Cicero’s wise words take your creativity?  You can use any or all of them to inspire your card … we’d love it if you played along with us.  We’re sponsored this fortnight by Newton’s Nook … our winner, as voted for by the DT, will be offered a $25 store credit … and as usual, will be invited to Guest Design with the team in a future challenge.  All the details are over at Time Out, along with heaps of lovely inspiration from our splendid DT!

My first card will be joining in the fun at …

Inkspirational – Spring

Papercraft Challenges – Pastel Colours

Perfectly CAS – Die Cuts

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday – Mood Board … bottom left (below)

The Flower Challenge – Spring/Autumn

… and Monsieur Escargot will be shining at …

AAA Cards – Made in Minutes (just under 15 … ultra quick for me!)

AAA Birthday – Dots and/or Stripes (that dotty gravel!)

Addicted to Stamps And More – Clean And Simple

CAS on Friday – Black, White And One Colour

The Male Room – Make Me Laugh

I hope and pray that you’re all continuing to stay safe and well out there … keep crafting and keep smiling 🙂 .  Thanks so much for coming by, your visits and comments are always a joy!  Anita 🙂

           

             

          

     

Time Out Challenge #157 – A Reminder!

Hello … bonjour!  I’m popping in to remind you that we’re still celebrating our 6th birthday at Time Out … and to let you know there’s still almost a week to join us in our latest challenge.  Our theme this fortnight is (unsurprisingly!) Birthday … and there’s an optional twist of die cutting or fussy cutting.  I chose not to twist …

     

The floral bouquet is from WPlus9, stamped in Versafine Onyx Black onto a panel of mixed media card.  I coloured it with Zigs and a water brush, doodled some highlights on flower centres and tiny buds with a white gel pen … and added a sentiment from Simon.  The finished panel was edged top and bottom with slender strips of black … and was popped up on craft foam onto a matching base card.

        

How about making a birthday card and celebrating with us?  If you use our optional twist of die cutting or fussy cutting, you’ll be in with a random chance of winning a US$40 GC prize from our fabulous sponsor, STAMPlorations (thanks, Shery!).  Our overall winner will be chosen by the DT … and will be invited to guest design with us in a future challenge.  All the details are over at Time Out … along with heaps of delicious inspiration from our wonderful DT … and from our talented Guest Designer, Christine at Experiments In Craft.  Do go over for a visit with Christine … you won’t want to miss a gentle meander through her inspiring blog!

I’m playing along with …

AAA Birthday – Flowers

Happy Little Stampers Watercolour – Anything Goes … with the Flower option

The Flower Challenge – Anything Goes

The Paper Players – Clean And Simple Spring Flowers

I do hope you’re all staying safe and well out there.  Thanks so much for coming by, your visits and comments are always a joy!  Anita 🙂

       

      

Twofer Card Challenge #21 – Sweets

Hello … bonjour!  It’s the 10th of the month … and that means we have a delicious new challenge for you at Twofer!  This month we’re inviting you to enjoy …

… I chose a pie from Waltzingmouse Stamps (no longer in business) as my common sweets image.  On my CAS one layer autumn greetings card, it’s a pumpkin pie, set on a gingham table cloth, all ready to slice and share.  For my birthday card, I went unconventional this time around … and turned the pie into autumn blooming flowers.  Here’s a closer look at each card …  Here, my simple design puts the pumpkin pie centre stage.  Although it’s one single stamp, I used three different ink colours for it (bit tricky!) … one for the base, another for the crust and the third for the creamy filling (which was covered in Wink of Stella to mimic powdered sugar!).  The pie was masked, I stamped the table cloth (from Clearly Besotted) over it … and added the Pretty Pink Posh sentiment to finish it off.

My unconventional card was a little more involved …

… with the image taking up the lower left corner of my design.  The blooms are made up of Papertrey stems, with the pie flower heads ombré stamped in four colours.  I added the happy birthday sentiment (also Papertrey) and cut the panel with a Winnie & Walter scalloped, pierced die.  The base card was blended around the edges with Distress Ink and the panel was adhered over the top.  I added gems to the flower centres and finished off with a scattering of shimmery sequins topped with bronze Nuvo drops.

How would you like to join us with your two distinctly different takes on sweets … we’d love to see what you create in our gallery!  All the details about how to play along, including rules and FAQs are at the Twofer blog … together with heaps of brilliant ideas from the DT to inspire you.  We have two Guest Designers this month, both talented winners of our August challenge …. a warm welcome to Lisa from My Paper Tales and Marianne from Marianne’s Card ‘n Stuff.  If you haven’t met Lisa and Marianne yet, do go over and enjoy a wander through their blogs … you’ll have a splendid time!  Even if you are familiar with their work, why not pop along anyway … you can always say hello while you’re there!

My pie is going to be shared at …

AAA Cards – One Layer Card (Optional Autumn Twist)

Simon Says Stamp Monday – Fall/Autumn

Uniko – Anything Goes (Optional Autumn Twist)

… and my flowers will be blooming with …

AAA Birthday – Colour Palette

Happy Little Stampers Dies – Anything goes

Watercooler Wednesday – All About Occasions

Thanks so much for coming by, your visits and comments are always a joy!  Anita 🙂

                   

        

A New Challenge At Time Out – #140 – Home Sweet Home Inspiration

Hello … bonjour!  Welcome to our new challenge at Time Out … this fortnight, we have a delicious, beach house style image to inspire you (a little further down).  Here’s my take on it …

… and here’s the cool inspiration picture …

My focus was on the neutral colours, the framed photograph and flowers on the console table and the wavy edge along the bottom edge of the table.  The intricate rose image is from Craft Emotions via Topflight Stamps (Botanical Rose Garden 1 – retired I think), and was stamped onto a Winnie & Walter scalloped, pierced, die cut panel in CP Twilight ink.  I added the sentiment (from Simply Graphic – it translates as Happy Birthday) in the same ink and scored a double frame round the stamping to mimic the photo frame.  The finished panel was popped up on craft foam onto an oyster grey card base.

          

What draws your eye in our Home Sweet Home photo … the colours, shapes, beach house feel … or something else?  Wherever your creative imagination takes you, we’d love to see your card in our gallery!  This fortnight, we’re sponsored by Topflight Stamps … our winner, as chosen by the Design Team, will receive a $25 GC to the store, as well as being invited to guest design with us in a future challenge.  All the details are over at the Time Out blog, along with plenty of ideas from the DT to inspire you … it’s so worth a visit!

I’m playing along at …

AAA Cards – Maxi White Space … No Optional Twist of Christmas In July

AAA Birthday – For The Girls

Happy Little Stampers Dies – Anything Goes

Less is More – Celebrations

Thanks so much for coming by, your visits and comments are always a joy!  Anita 🙂

        

         

Twofer Card Challenge #18 – Garden

Hello … bonjour!   We’ve just planted our new challenge over at Twofer this morning … this month we’re inviting you to join us in the …

… here’s what grew in mine …

… a sweep of garden flowers to celebrate a birthday … and a bed full of blooms to say hello, both featuring a large image from Pinkfresh Studio’s Fleur 1 (now retired, though a similar style set is here).  Here’s a closer look at each one …

… first, a one layer card with the large image stamped slightly off the card in the bottom left corner.  I added some additional individual flowers and leaves (also Pinkfresh Studio) … and some doodling … to fill in gaps and create the sweep of garden plants down the folded edge and across the bottom of the card.  It was all loosely watercoloured with Zigs and a water brush.  The sentiment, from Winnie & Walter and Clearly Besotted, runs along the imaginary line at the top one third of the card and was stamped in Delicata Silver (to match the garden stamping).

My twofer is another conventional use of the image …

… this time stamped in Versafine black into the middle of a die cut, scalloped, pierced panel (from Winnie & Walter) … and grounded in the earth along the bottom on a simple, scripty sentiment from Technique Tuesday.  I coloured the image with Catherine Pooler and Distress Inks, added some little black gems to the larger flower centres and popped the panel up on craft foam onto the card base.

Voilà … my two distinctly different designs … for two distinctly different occasions … using the same stamp!

How might you interpret our ‘Garden’ prompt?  We’d love to see you in our gallery with your two distinctly different takes on it!  All the details you need, including rules and FAQs, are over at the Twofer blog … along with heaps of gorgeous ideas from the DT to help spark your imagination.  This month, we also have bitter-sweet news of some changes in the Team … as we bid a fond farewell to the inspirational Loll, who is stepping down as a Designer (though, we’re pleased to say, is staying on as Administrator) … and a happy hello and warm welcome to the very talented Cat from Cat Luvs Paper, who has joined us.  Our Guest Designers are our winners from May’s challenge … Kathy from My Asperations and Robyn from Waterlily Cards by Robyn … welcome ladies!  Do go and enjoy a visit with Kathy and Robyn … you’ll find lots of loveliness to explore … and you can always say hello while you’re there!

My sweep of garden flowers is heading to …

AAA Birthday – For The Girls

Happy Little Stampers Watercolour – Anything Goes, No Wings Option

Less Is More – Celebrations

Seize The Birthday – Anything Goes, No Sunshine Topping

The Flower Challenge – Pretty Pastels

… and my blooming flower bed is joining in at …

Happy Little Stampers Watercolour – Anything Goes, No Wings Option

Happy Little Stampers Dies – Anything Goes

The Flower Challenge – Pretty Pastels

Thanks so much for coming by, your visits and comments are always a joy!  Anita 🙂

                 

               

Twofer Card Challenge #17 – Bees

Hello … bonjour!  We’ve arrived at the 10th of the month … which means there’s a fabulous new challenge just started at Twofer!  This time we’re asking you to get busy with …

… here’s where I buzzed off to …

… a sweet anniversary card and a lush birthday card … with the common image on both from a retired WPlus9 set called Birds and Bees.  Here’s a closer look at each one …

Clean and simple … the bees, their heart shaped flight trail and the sentiment (Simon and Papertrey) were stamped and clear heat embossed.  The bees were coloured with alcohol markers, I added Spectrum Noir shimmer to the wings and the heart … and topped the heart with a layer of Glossy Accents.  The frame was cut using an irregular rectangle die from Simply Graphic and was popped up on craft foam.

My twofer is another conventional use of those cute bees …

         

… buzzing about in a verdant Pinkfresh Studio garden.  I stamped and watercoloured the two sets of Lush Greenery images … one direct onto the card base, the other on a separate piece of card.  The latter piece and some craft foam were cut with the matching die (thanks, Darnell!), I stacked the two together and adhered them to the base.  The bees flew in from their hive in the meadow at the end of the garden and are checking out the best places to find a tasty morsel … there must be lots to sample … just look at all that pollen floating through the air!  The main sentiment is from Pinkfresh Studio (Bird With Flowers) … can’t find it on the website so p’raps it’s retired … a similar one is here.   The supplementary sentiment (Simon) was heat embossed in white on a strip of black card and popped up on foam tape.

How about joining us with some bees of your own … we’d love to see you in our gallery!    All the details about how to play along are over at the Twofer blog … together with heaps of splendid inspiration from the DT.  We’re delighted to have the super talented Coni from Witch Craft? as our Guest Designer this month … welcome Coni!  If you haven’t met Coni yet, do go over and have a gentle meander through her blog … there’s so much to see and enjoy … and be inspired by!  Even if you are familiar with her work, why not pop along anyway … you can always say hello while you’re there!

My love struck bees are buzzing off to …

Addicted To Stamps And More – Clean and Simple

Simon Says Stamp Monday – Wedding/Anniversary

… and those busy bees are calling in at …

AAA Birthday – Use Watercolours

Happy Little Stampers Watercolour – Anything Goes (no love option)

Pinkfresh Studio – Mix and Match (Lush Greenery and Bird With Flowers)

Watercooler Wednesday – Feminine Anything Goes

Thanks so much for coming by, your visits and comments are always a joy!  Anita 🙂

          

          

 

Twofer Card Challenge #16 – Things With Wheels

Hello … bonjour!  We’re rolling out our May challenge at Twofer today … with a prompt that should get those imaginative cogs turning!  This month we’re playing with …

… here’s the spin my imagination took …

A missing you card for a sweet friend and a colourful happy birthday card, both featuring an image from The Cat’s Pajamas.  Here’s a closer look at each one …

A simple, one layer card with Long Eared Bunny driving away into the distance, having been visiting with a friend.  The road is from Essentials By Ellen, and LEB and his well loaded car are coloured with alcohol markers.  I doodled some puffs of exhaust smoke and added the Simon sentiment … and couldn’t leave him without a little shimmer (Spectrum Noir) on the chrome and shine (Glossy Accents) on those new tyres.  If you look closely, you’ll see a little moistness in his eyes … after all, he’s missing his far away friend already!

My twofer makes unconventional use of this image … I turned the wheels into an abstract, vibrant pattern …

It took rather a while to come up with this design and by the time I had, time was of the essence in getting it finished (deadline looming!).  So I threw caution to the wind, called on my creative guardian angel, pulled out my Memento Dew Drop ink pads and an acrylic block … and started inking and stamping onto a white card panel.  The points on the pads meant I could ink up just the wheel and wing part of the image precisely, doing away with the need to do any masking.  After a quick practice on some copy paper, I just eyeballed it … ink, stamp once, ink, invert the image, match up the wheel, stamp again … repeat in the next colour.  The little blocks created where the wings overlapped one another were filled in with the matching ink.  Isn’t it wonderful when winging it actually works first time … phew!  The main hugs sentiment (Papertrey) was cut into the wheel pattern and into black craft foam, I popped the panel up on craft foam on the card base, glued the two hugs together and added them back into their space.  The additional sentiment is from Simon, white heat embossed on black, trimmed to a strip and popped up on foam tape.  I finished off with a scattering of silver stars and irridescent sequins to add a little birthday magic.

How about rolling along with us with some wheels of your own … we’d love to see your cards in our gallery!  You can find out everything you need to know in the rules and FAQs over at the Twofer blog.  There’s a whole heap of wonderful inspiration to enjoy there too … from our talented Guest Designers, Hilary from Fiddling About and Cornelia from Stempel Spass … and from our fabulous DT.  Do go over for a visit with both Hilary and Cornelia … as well as their Twofer cards, you’ll find a whole load of fabulous cards and inspiration … you won’t want to miss it!

Long Eared Bunny is going to be stopping off at …

Inkspirational – Adventure

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday – For A Special Lady

The Paper Players – Life Is Better With Friends

… and hugs are going over to …

AAA Birthday – Anything Goes

Seize The Birthday – No Toppings

Simon Says Stamp Monday – Add Something Metallic (the stars)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday – For A Special Lady

Watercooler Wednesday – All About Occasions

Thanks so much for coming by, your visits and comments are always a joy!  Anita 🙂