A Spring Flower And A Butterfly

Hello … bonjour … and bon dimanche!  We’ve had spring sunshine for a few weeks now … and temperatures that have been gently rising … and they’ve brought flowers and butterflies out in abundance.  So, here I am with a couple of spring cards that might bring a little warm sunshine to your day …

This one was made in less than 10 minutes as I used some goodies received from sweet friends … thanks so much, ladies!  Rosemary sent me the background panel  (sorry, maker unknown) … and Judith provided the stacked framed daisy (Pink Fresh Studio).  The flower frame was inked, spritzed, dried and adhered to the panel … I stamped the Pink Fresh Studio sentiment … and attached the panel to a card base.  Voilà … spring prettiness!

This little lovely is heading to (badges below) …

Bastel-traum – Frühling/Spring (new to me)

Papercraft Challenges – Pastel Colours

Pink Fresh Studio – Frame It

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday – Anything Goes

Watercooler Wednesday – All About Occasions

The second card took a little more time …

The Uniko butterfly (my favourite) was stamped onto a mixed media panel and coloured with Zigs and a waterbrush.  To create a sense of movement, I added splatters in the same colours as the butterfly … and a sentiment from CAS-ual Fridays.  The panel was popped up on craft foam onto a matching mixed media card base that had been edged with washi tape.  I love that the butterfly looks almost stained glass like!

He’s fluttering off to …

Addicted To Stamps And More – Make Your Mark

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday – Anything Goes

Uniko – Stripes and Spots

Watercooler Wednesday – All About Occasions

I hope and continue to pray that you’re all staying 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 🙂

         

         

Twofer Card Challenge #19 – Nautical

Hello … bonjour!  We’re splashing into August’s Twofer this morning with a prompt that gives you so many options for your creativity!  This month we’re playing with all things related to …

Here’s where my imagination drifted off to …

… a fun shaker hello card and a celebratory birthday card … with two common images on each one, both from Julie Ebersole at Essentials By Ellen … Strands die for the oceans and Arctic Pals for the narwhal/whales.  Here’s a closer look at each card …

A simple design with a square panel in the top two thirds of the card, with the sentiment placed directly below it … which I made into a shaker. The base card was masked and ombré blended with Distress Inks (Blueprint Sketch, Mermaid Lagoon, Tumble Glass), then splattered/spritzed with shimmer spray.  So that I could have the two whales heading towards one another, one narwhal was stamped as usual, the other was reverse stamped.  They were both coloured with alcohol markers, trimmed out … and had their horns removed (painlessly!).  They were adhered to the blended ocean.  I die cut the ‘waves’ into a panel of white card, stamped the sentiment (from the same Arctic Pals set) and then it was just a matter of creating the shaker element with acetate, craft foam and a whole heap of sequins and seed beads.  How about a closer look at these pals amid all their watery shimmer …

My twofer is another conventional use of the ocean/image …

The design here consists of a strip along the bottom third of the card, an image overlapping it (or underlapping in this case) and the sentiment in the top right.  The narwhal and the main sentiment (from Pinkfresh Studio … thanks for the loan, Judith!) were stamped and silver heat embossed … and I stamped the secondary sentiment (from the same set) in blue.  The ocean was made from the previous card’s positive cuttings … they were coloured with alcohol markers in cool, watery colours and adhered flat to the base, over the narwhal.  I covered the waves and the narwhal with lots of shimmer … and added splatters … concentrated around the narwhal breaching … ’cause it would make a lot of splash!  As narwhals live in the Arctic, I wanted to keep the colours as icy as possible … looks chilly to me …

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

How about joining us with some nautical, ocean related images of your own … we’d love to see you in our gallery!  All the details about how to play along are over at Twofer … together with heaps of splendid inspiration from the DT.  We’re delighted to have the talented Natalie from Nat’s Hobby Corner (on Instagram) as our Guest Designer … welcome Natalie!  If you haven’t met Natalie yet, do go over … you’ll find heaps of fabulous, clean, fresh cards … and photo’s of beautiful blooms and all things nature to enjoy!  Even if you have met, why not pop over anyway … you can always say hello while you’re there (if you’re on Instagram that is … sorry, Natalie I’m not, so I’m saying hello here 🙂

My whale pals are swimming over to …

Happy Little Stampers Dies – Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday – Add A Die Cut

Watercooler Wednesday – Feminine Anything Goes

… and that breaching narhwal is splashing into …

Happy Little Stampers Dies – Anything Goes

Seize The Birthday – Anything Goes … No Toppings

Simon Says Stamp Monday – Happy Birthday … Congratulations on nine fabulous years, ladies!

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday – Add A Die Cut

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 🙂

          

          

 

A New Challenge At Time Out – #131 – Inspired By Words

Hello … bonjour!  Welcome to a very special Time Out … it’s our 5th birthday!  Congratulations to Sandie and to the whole Design Team … it’s an honour and a joy to have been on this wonderful journey with such a committed, talented and delightful group of crafters!  We have an ‘Inspired By Words’ theme for you this fortnight … hugs, kisses and a lot of birthday wishes.  Here’s where I went with it …

As you can tell from the Joyeux Anniversaire (Happy Birthday) sentiment, my focus was on the lots of birthday wishes part of our Inspired By Words phrase.  Those charming wildflowers are from Pink Fresh Studio, simply stamped into the corner of my card and loosely watercoloured with Zigs.  I did some splattering to create the sense of pollen drifting on the breeze over a summer meadow … and embossed the Simply Graphic sentiment onto a snippet of black card, which was popped up on foam tape.

        

Where will our words take your creativity?  You can use any or all of them to inspire your card … we’d love it if you played along and celebrated with us in the gallery.  We’re sponsored for our 5th birthday by STAMPlorations (thanks, Shery!)  … for this very special occasion, there’ll be a $50 GC for our winner … who, as usual, will also be invited to guest design with us in a future challenge.  All the details are over at the Time Out blog, along with heaps of lovely inspiration from our fabulous DT, and from our uber talented, colourist extra-ordinaire Guest Designer, Kara from Bright Hope Creations.  Do go and enjoy a mesmerising visit with the lovely Kara … you’ll find so much amazing creativity and wonderful videos to explore … and you can always say hello while you’re there!

I’m playing along at …

Addicted To Stamps And More – Make Your Mark

Happy Little Stampers Watercolour – No Optional Mist … though there are spatters!

Papercraft Challenges – Clean And Simple

Simon Says Stamp Monday – Feminine/Girlie

The Flower Challenge – Anything Goes

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

               

        

Twofer Card Challenge #11 – Wreath

Hello … bonjour!  Welcome to our November Twofer Card Challenge!  If you look closely at our challenge badge above, you’ll notice there’s a change … yep, from now on, we will be accepting the use of stencils for the prompt element on your cards.  Yay for all you stencil aficionado’s out there!  Our prompt this month lends itself to lots of year round designs … though as Christmas is galloping up on us at a pace, it may just have you thinking of something festive for one of your cards … it’s …

My creative mind certainly took me to Christmas for one of mine …

My common stamp here is the Wreath Turnabout from Concord & 9th … let’s take a closer look at each design.

Isn’t that such a delicious colour palette for this autumn wreath one layer card … I was inspired to use it by the lovely Bev (thanks, sweet friend!), who gathered together inks of similar colours for a play session we had at the Lake House.   After turnabout-ing, I added the sentiment to the centre (from the same C9 set), covered it with Spectrum Noir Clear Sparkle … and stamped the side borders (Essentials By Ellen Winterscapes).  They were all done in espresso ink (to tie in with the autumn feel), though it does look decidedly black in the photo.  I finished off with lots of tiny copper Nuvo Drop berries … holding my breath as I went!  Here’s a closer look at them … and the shimmer …

My Twofer …

For my Christmas card, the vellum panel was offset on my turnabout ‘turntable’ so that the wreath could be stamped off the edge.  I heat embossed each of the four turns in different metallic embossing powders, plus white … and then added in some extra elements on the inner part of the wreath, using smaller stamps from the same C9 set, along with one from Pink Fresh Studio‘s Bird With Flowers.  The WPlus9 sentiment was heat embossed under the wreath, I added a Lawn Fawn stitched border and adhered the panel to a dark grey base.  A scattering of stars was added around the sentiment and wreath … and I topped each star with a dot of white Enamel Accents to make it shine.

Where will our ‘Wreath’ prompt take you this month?  We’d love to see what you make in our gallery!  All the details are over at the Twofer blog … along with lots of lovely inspiration from our fabulous DT … it’s just a click away!  Our talented Guest Designers this time round are Carol from Our Little Inspirations and Sybrina from Chapter Three. Do go and have a visit with them both … you’ll find their terrific Twofer cards, plus plenty of other delicious projects to enjoy and be inspired by!

My autumn wreath is joining in at  …

CAS On Friday – Brighten Someone’s Day

CASology – Compliment

Watercooler Wednesday – Feminine Anything Goes

… and my Christmas card is heading to …

Happy Little Stampers Christmas – Anything Goes (No CAS Option)

The Cat’s Pajamas – Winter Holiday

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

                         

A New Challenge At Time Out – #121 – Inspired By Words

Hello … bonjour!  We’re starting a fresh new challenge at Time Out today … this fortnight we’re Inspired By Words … let us be grateful for what makes us happy.  Here’s where my imagination took me …

Top 3 Spot – Thank You!

I very recently discovered Pink Fresh Studio (such delicious, whimsical and delicate goodies!) … and used one of the stamps in a newly acquired set (Fleur 1) for my thanks card, picking out the let us be grateful part of our Inspired By Words phrase for my theme.  I masked off a panel on a mixed media card base and stamped the floral cluster several times, changing direction and height to avoid an obvious repeat pattern.  The stamped panel was loosely watercoloured (a new to me technique that has me just a smidge outside my oh so orderly comfort zone … eek) and I drew a fine black line along the top and bottom of it.  The SSS thanks was cut out of the card front and out of black craft foam, I lined the inside of the card, and the die cut was set back into place, popped up on the foam.  I added clear Stickles to the centres of a few of those sweet blooms … and Spectrum Noir Clear Sparkle, topped with Glossy Accents, to the sentiment.  As a finishing touch, some of the same colours in the flowers were splattered top and bottom of the floral panel.  How about a look at the detail …

         

Where will our words take your creativity?  You can use any or all of them to inspire your card … we’d love if it you joined us in the gallery.  We’re sponsored by STAMPlorations (thanks, Shery!) … our overall winner (as voted for by the DT) will win a $15GC … and there’ll be a random draw from all the entries for a goodie bag of stamps or dies.  As usual, our winner will also be invited to design with us in a future challenge.  All the details are over at Time Out, along with heaps of lovely inspiration from our fabulous DT.

I’m playing along at …

Pink Fresh Studio – Fussy Cutting/Die Cutting (see colour palette below)

Happy Little Stampers Watercolour – Anything Goes (No Gold Option)

SSS Work It Wednesday – Give Thanks

Uniko – Wonderful World (With Thanks Option)

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