Hi there, its finally Friday night for us here in New Zealand and boy has it been a busy week!! I've got so much to do this weekend like prune my roses, sort out some new furniture, do some painting and cleaning.....and in there somewhere I'd like to make a new card or two. I need a long weekend to get everything done as usual.
Its our last day of previews for the July New Release at Funky Fossil Designs and we've got one more stamp set to help with your Christmas cards. Introducing 'Festive Phrases':
This is another large 6x8 inch set which shows how big the sentiments are. Some are certainly big enough to be the stars of their own card but there are also some smaller ones to add a bit of style here and there. For my card I went with one of the small sentiments with beautiful swirly font to compliment my Christmas scene:
I'm still a newbie when it comes to using stencils so never quite sure when to use them but when I saw this one I knew it would be perfect for a snowy scene.
Using the 'Arched Window' stencil I placed it over a panel of white CS and blended Distress Inks 'Tumbled Glass', 'Salty Ocean' and 'Chipped Sapphire'. I wanted it to be darker at the top for a night sky and lighter at the bottom with the glow of the white snow. I trimmed the panel down and added to the card front on a piece of white foam.
I stamped images for the new 'Christmas Characters' set (the tree and holly) as well as presents from the 'Festive Penguins' set using Gina K Amalgam Black ink on white CS. I coloured them with Altenew Artist Markers and then fussy cut out. I had stamped the presents twice and cut up one set so I could have them sitting a bit differently. They were glued in front of the window with Gina K Connect Glue. I then white heat embossed the sentiment on black CS, put on foam tape and glued the holly to it. I added some Wink of Stella to the tree topper and holly berries, as well as some Glossy Accents. And to finish off I used a white gel pen to create the falling snow.
That's it for the new release and I'll be back here tomorrow to celebrate 'Release Day'. I also suggest going to the Funky Fossil Designs Blog so you can check out more Design Team cards using today's stamp set, and also tomorrow as there may be a chance to win some goodies......
Take care
Shona
Its been another gorgeous, sunny day today. If I'm not careful I will start getting used to all the warm sunshine and think its Springtime instead of the middle of Winter!!!!
We have another stamp set to share with you today for the Funky Fossil Designs New Release and we are still in Christmas mode. Introducing 'Elegant Ornaments':
This is another 6 x 8 inch set, so these ornaments are a fabulous size to be the star of their own card, and also big enough to show off all the intricate patterns they have. For my card I wanted to go simple so you could see all the detail on one of my favourite ornament patterns:
Please excuse this terrible photo. I've just started making slimline cards and I'm really struggling with taking a good photo. Lying them down seems to be the best way but then the light in my cheap 'lightbox' is really only lighting up one end. So there is a lot of experimenting to be done if I make more of these card shapes (which I do love.....).....
I started off by stamping the ornament with Waffle Flower 'New Fish in Pond' ink, which is a gorgeous soft aqua colour. Both of the ornaments were stamped with the same ink even though it doesn't look like it in the photo..... I fussy cut them both out and put foam tape on their backs.
I used some Pinkfresh Studio 'Slim Stitched Rectangles' dies with the larger one having the stitched edge. I blended the same ink over the larger die-cut and then adhered to the card base (which is 3 x 8 inches). I then put the smaller panel on a piece of white foam and the ornaments on top. For the sentiment I heat embossed it in silver, blended over the same ink, backed with some white CS and put on foam tape.
To add some shine to the design I glued on some silver pearls from Studio Katia. And for the ornaments themselves I added different sizes of clear jewels, also from Studio Katia. This would be a great card to mass produce in different colour combo's.
We have one more stamp set to share with you tomorrow and then all the products will be available to purchase on Saturday August 1st. If you pop over to the Funky Fossil Designs Blog you can see what the rest of the Design Team have made with this set and I'll see you back here tomorrow.
Take care
Shona
Hi everyone!! I'm in shock that there are only a few days of July left. Even though this year has really sucked big time, it seems to have gone by rather fast too. Maybe its all the worry about COVID that has our brains so filled up we don't notice time running by.....
I'm back today with my second card for July with CAS-ual Fridays Stamps and I seem to have finally caught the 'Slimline Card' bug. Its so nice to create a card with a different shape and you can fit so many other things on the front.....love it:
Now, I don't know about you but the only problem I find with these slimmer/longer cards is that they are rather hard to photograph. Laying them flat is the best option so far but my cheap little lightbox doesn't like it very much and there are shadows EVERYWHERE. So if you have any tips for dealing with this shape, please let me know!!
I decided I wanted to do just stamping and do it all with one stamp set only. So since I was in a 'Christmassy' mood, I grabbed my favourite 'Joy' stamp set. I cut a white card base 3x8 inches and then a smaller panel 2.5 x 7.5 inches. I silver heat embossed the 'Noel' in the middle of the small panel and then gathered up a huge amount of blue inks and my MISTI, and went to town with the snowflakes from that set around the outside edge. I tried to overlap here and there, and also make sure they weren't all stamped at the same depth too for interest.
Once I had finished, I adhered the panel to a piece of white foam and then to the card front. And to give it a little more shine I glued on some pearls from Studio Katia.
It was a great card to do in front of the tv and you could do many different ones with all your other inks too. Might do an all pink card next.....
This set is actually on sale at the moment and if you use my special code you can save yourself another 15% on top!!!!
Thanks so much for coming by. Enjoy the rest of your week and I'll be back here with more CFS goodness very soon.
Take care
Shona
Hello there!! Its been such a busy week gardening wise and nice to be doing it without some frosty mornings but I'm sure they will be back. And we haven't had any rain for a while, so no weeding amongst piles of mud. Although lately the worst thing has been all the cat and dog poo I come across. You can't do anything about cats but I've got one person who has suddenly decided it would be a great idea to throw all his dog poo into his garden. Which means I'm the one who has to try and weed around it. Its so gross and now I have to talk to him or I won't be doing his garden anymore.....
On a nicer note we are up to Day 3 of previews for this months New Release from Funky Fossil Designs. We have another stamp set to help you with your Christmas cards. Introducing 'Christmas Characters':
Aren't these images just the cutest!! I love the designs and this is a bigger 6x8 stamp set so more bang for your buck. I had so many ideas for this set so today's card is one of many:
Thought it would be nice to have a change from my blue/white Christmas cards and get some sweet colours in there.
I started by stamping the snowman with Gina K Amalgam Black ink on white CS, colouring with my Altenew Artist Markers and fussy cutting out. For the background I used the 'Birch Forest' stencil over a panel of white CS and blended Distress Inks 'Spun Sugar' and 'Picked Raspberry' to create an ombre effect and leaving white down the bottom for snow. To add some 'sparkle' I cut a piece of adhesive paper free-hand to be like hills and pressed on to the panel. I then poured over Simon Says Stamp 'Unicorn Dust' Glitter and pressed on to stick.
After sticking a panel of dark pink CS to the card front, I put the stenciled panel on some white foam. The snowman was popped up on foam tape, as well as the sentiment. And I finished off with some pearls from Studio Katia.
Hope your falling in love with this release as much as I have. If you pop over to the Funky Fossil Design Blog you can see what the rest of the Design Team have made with this new set. The release will be available to purchase this Saturday 1st August and I'll be back again tomorrow with another stamp set to tempt you.
Take care
Shona
Hi everyone. Its been another very cold start but a beautiful Winter's day with lots of sun. I'm very slowly catching up on all my gardening after having the flu and having lots of fun pruning roses, which is one of my favourite jobs to do. The thorns are horrible but its such a satisfying job!!
We have another stamp set to share with you today as part of the July New Release at Funky Fossil Designs. We are getting into Christmas mode with the new 'Filigree Flakes' set:
These snowflakes are so beautiful and I love that they come in so many different sizes, and can also be coloured. But wait, there's more!! We also have Christmas themed 6x6 papers called 'Let it Snow':
I love 'non-traditional' colours for my Christmas cards and the patterns are gorgeous. So of course I had to combine the two for my card today:
I love an aqua/turquoise and white colour combo and even found I had an ink that was a really good match!!
Using Catherine Pooler 'Aquatini' I stamped the snowflakes over the card front, making sure they would be seen well on the right-hand side. I cut a piece of patterned paper using a 'Chevron' die from The Stamp Market, adding white foam behind it and adhering to the card front.
I wanted a bit more 'pretty' for this design so I white heat embossed one of the snowflakes on plain vellum, fussy cut them out and used Gina K Connect Glue to adhere to the paper. The sentiment was stamped with the same ink, backed with a dark grey CS and popped on foam tape. To finish off I added some clear jewels from Studio Katia.
All of the new products will be available Saturday 1st August and if you pop over to the Funky Fossil Designs Blog you can see what the rest of the Design Team have created. I'll see you back here tomorrow with another product preview.
Take care
Shona
Hello there!! Its a very exciting day because we have another fantastic New Release to share with you from Funky Fossil Designs!!!
Today we have a stamp set for you that will be perfect for all those kids that spend all-day playing games in their bedroom (I have two of those.....). Introducing 'Gamer':
Phoebe is obsessed with playing Animal Crossing on her Switch but Max goes between his PS4 and computer. At the moment he plays his PS4 a lot as his friends have all gotten 2K which is the NBA (basketball). So he's either playing that or playing real basketball, so this stamp set couldn't be more appropriate for him!!
For my card I really wanted to use the 'space invaders' images as its one of the arcade games I remember from my teenage years. I was never very good at it but at least it wasn't too complicated:
This was kind of tricky as I wanted a black background behind the 'invader' images but couldn't work out how to do it without cutting them out individually.... I wanted to create a 'gamer set-up' with the table and screen and have the dark coloured background because Max is always sitting in the dark in his room...
I started off by cutting a panel of the 'Into the Blue' paper pad and adhered to the card front. I then cut a strip of wood veneer and glued to the bottom to be a table top. I stamped the controller a few times with Gina K Amalgam Black ink and fussy cut out. I coloured the buttons with Altenew Artist Markers and added Glossy Accents to the coloured buttons for shine and dimension. This was put on some foam tape.
For the screen I die-cut some black CS using two square dies from Uniquely Creative 'Square Stitched Nesting Dies'. I did it 3x and glued them together with a piece of clear acetate under the top layer. Using my MISTI and inks from Catherine Pooler I stamped the 'invaders' on white CS and then glued the black frame over top. This was then adhered to the card front.
I finished off by stamping the sentiment on white CS, backing with black CS and putting on foam tape, along with some Uniquely Creative enamel dots. I have an 11yr old nephew who is a gamer and think I might post it to him as a surprise....
I hope you love this new set and we will back here again tomorrow with some more new goodies to share with you. Don't forget to pop over to the Funky Fossil Design blog to see what the rest of the team created with this set. All of the new products will be available this Saturday August 1st!!!
Take care
Shona
Hi everyone!! The past week was not a good one but we got through it and a fresh week starts tomorrow, so that's a start. The weekend weather was glorious and sunny but with wicked overnight lows and frosty mornings, so it was nice not to have to race to get out of bed.....
We have a new Mini Kit to share with you this month at Uniquely Creative called 'My Platypus'. It has the cutest stamp images and the coolest 'Billabong Die' that you can purchase as an extra.
I wanted to create a card to show how well this set goes with the other Australian stamps and dies already available:
You can't get more Australian than koala's, kangaroo's and a platypus, and having them all together on one card is fabulous to send to one of my Aussie relatives.
I have a tutorial for this card on the Uniquely Creative Blog which shows all the different products I used, as well as all the colours too.
I'm going to go and jump into bed now with my electric blanket. I've been watching The Business of Drugs on Netflix and have found it fascinating. Who knew there was so much involved from the 'money-side' of things. I really recommend it.
Take care
Shona
Hi there, I missed making my card for the last TIME OUT challenge with being sick, so I'm glad I'm back in the saddle again!!
We have a really lovely theme for you this time 'Peaceful'. You could be inspired by the word itself or maybe go with how it makes you feel or somewhere that you feel at peace....its totally up to you!!
Our Sponsor for this challenge is Newton Nook Designs and they are giving a $25 gift voucher to the winner!!
For my card I decided to create a scene for somewhere that I would feel peaceful. I immediately thought of a Japanese garden, which I would love to recreate in my own backyard:
I really hope I'll get to visit Japan one day. The people seem so sweet and don't even get me started on the stationery, its so cute I would need 3 extra suitcases!!
I used my favourite Ellen Hutson set by Julie Ebersole 'So Matcha'. I stamped all the images with Gina K Amalgam black ink on white CS, coloured with my Altenew Artist Markers and then fussy cut out. I didn't get too carried away with designs on her kimono and fan as I think a more simple outfit is more peaceful in my mind.
Using Waffle Flower 'Chirp Chirp' ink I stamped the bamboo on a panel of white CS. I very gently blended some 'Salty Ocean' Distress Ink over top and then some 'Mowed Lawn' underneath so it looked like moss. I needed somewhere to put my teapot and cup, so I created a little wooden table with some wood veneer CS. I glued all the images in place with some Gina K Connect Glue and stamped the sentiment with Versafine Onyx ink. And no embellishments to stay with the peaceful feel.
You have until Wednesday 29th July to link your projects to the TIME OUT Challenge and I can't see what brings you peace in the Gallery.
Take care
Shona
Hi everybody!! I'm finally back crafting and couldn't be happier. After being sick with the flu I feel so much better and can now concentrate on some card designs. My brain is overloaded with ideas actually and I keep having to write them down. I'm rather behind with my gardening though so that will be keeping me busy over the next few weeks, although there is a lot of Winter rain forecast for the next week....
I'm on the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Blog today with my second 'Girl Friday' card for this month. I just finished making it as got back to gardening yesterday which had me exhausted by the time I got home but I was so excited about getting crafty again:
I haven't actually used this set very often, which is such a shame because its so good for colouring and reminds me of when I was little and we would visit my Aunty. I was allowed to have a cup of tea but I only liked it with LOTS of sugar. I felt so grown up drinking with the adults!! My love of tea didn't last long but its a memory that has always stayed with me.
I started by stamping the teapot and cup from the 'Serendipi-tea' stamp set with Gina K Amalgam black ink on white CS. I used my Faber Castell pencils to colour in the hearts and used greys to practice colouring white images. I fussy cut them out and popped to the side.
I wanted a pretty 'wallpaper-like' background so I die-cut some white CS with one of the 'Bubble-Box Fri-dies' and then gently blended Distress Ink 'Tumbled Glass' over the 'Tin Roof' stencil. This was then put on the card front with some white foam.
I needed to have some tea pouring from my pot, so after working out where the images would sit, I used some Altenew Artist Markers to draw the tea and then glued the images in place. I then added some Glossy Accents to the liquid and also the pink hearts on the cup and the top of the teapot. To finish off I white heat embossed the sentiment (from the same stamp set) on black CS and popped up on foam tape, along with some Studio Katia pearls.
I hope this has inspired you to do some colouring, make some cards or even have a cup of tea!! If you are wanting to buy any of the products I used today, don't forget to use my special code to save yourself 15%...even on already discounted products!!
Thank you so much for stopping by and fingers crossed I'll be back here very soon with lots and lots more cards. Its supposed to rain all weekend so that sounds like a card making session to me!
Take care
Shona
Hi there!! Sorry I've been so quiet of late. Last weekend I started coming down with what I thought was a head cold that the kids had the week before. Unfortunately it turned into more like the flu (not COVID thank goodness) and after a week I'm finally starting to get better. I felt absolutely terrible so can't imagine what it would have been like to have had COVID 19. I'm slowly on the mend and looking forward to having more energy to craft and garden!!
I wanted to share with you another card using the 'Uniquely Creative - June Mini Stamp and Colour Kit - Pawesome' which has been incredibly popular. The above photo shows the basic kit and there are lots of extra's you can add on too.
Dogs come in so many colours and patterns, so its quite fun colouring all these little pups in different ways. And these guys look so happy to be getting a treat too!
I started off by stamping the three doggies from the 'Pawesome' stamp set with Gina K Amalgam Black ink, colouring with my Altenew Artist Markers and then fussy cutting out (there are 'Pawesome Matching Dies' available). I cut a panel of white CS slightly smaller than the card base. I wanted to create a 'grassy' area so I blended Distress Oxide inks 'Twisted Citron' and 'Mowed Lawn', creating an ombre effect up the panel. I then flicked some water over the bottom part and dabbed with a tissue to add some texture and interest.
For some cuteness behind the panel I used a piece of the kit patterned paper and adhered to the card base. After working out where the puppies would go, I stamped three bones on the panel and used a ruler with a Uni Pin Fineline pen to do the string lines. I used grey markers to colour the bones and then put the puppies under them on foam tape. The panel was then put on the card base with a piece of white foam.
Both sentiments (from the same stamp set) were white heat embossed on black CS, the larger one fussy cut out and put on foam tape, along with some 'Mermaid Enamel Dots'.
With having been in lockdown for 4 weeks, then lots of social distancing/using hand sanitizer etc and everyone coming into the country being in lockdown for two weeks, it makes me wonder how I got sick?? Where did this virus come from?? It shows you that if nature wants to do something, it will make it succeed no matter what!
Look after yourselves
Shona
Hi everybody, hope life is treating you well and wherever you are, you are safe. Its so strange now with New Zealand carrying on as normal with regards to COVID (the only active cases are ones that arrive on planes and they are all immediately isolated for 14 days before they can roam the country) and to then see countries where the cases numbers are skyrocketing. It must be so frightening for you all in those area's, wish there was someway I could help. Please stay safe, wear those masks and if you live in the U.S.A. do the opposite of whatever Trump says!!!!
I wanted to let you know that I'm up on the Uniquely Creative Blog with a tutorial on how I created this card using the June Mini Kit 'Pawesome':
This Dalmatian mummy looks happy but exhausted with all those puppies to look after. I only had two children but even that was too much some days, so I know how she feels. My tutorial will share with you the products I used plus how I put it all together.
Today has gone from pouring with rain overnight/morning to now being sunny t-shirt weather. I'm off to take Bella for a walk in the sunshine and make the most of the warmth because according to the weather report, Wednesday is going to be the coldest, most horrible day ever!!!
Take care
Shona
Hi everyone!! Its been a very chilly week here, we've had a few -3 degree celcius frosts and I've had to wait until 10.30am to garden so that everything has thawed out (including my fingers....). The days have been gorgeous though and when the sun comes out its glorious!
Speaking of weather, our theme for this month at The Flower Challenge is 'Summer/Winter'. You could use the colours of those season's or maybe the flowers that are out at that time of year....its totally up to you!!
For my card I was of course in a 'Winter' state of mind and even got into the Christmas spirit:
I haven't had a chance to colour this Studio Katia image since purchasing months ago and thought it would be perfect for a 'non-traditional' Christmas wreath.
I stamped the 'Floral Wreath' on white CS using Gina K Amalgam black ink. I gave the flowers a basic quick colour with my Altenew Artist Markers in cooler colours with a hint of 'Christmas red'. I then had a play around with my Faber Castell pencils, adding some shading and depth here and there. I fussy cut the image out and then decided I wanted to cut out the middle as well. I actually found a circle die that fit perfectly from CAS-ual Fridays Stamps 'Ornament Tags'.
The wreath didn't look right on its own over the card base so I did the unthinkable and added a panel of vellum (something I hardly ever use) from Rosie's Studio which had spots of silver. I cut it the same size as the card front but didn't want to use glue/tape behind it because it would be seen. So I put the wreath on foam tape on the vellum, turned it over and added double-sided tape behind the shadow of the wreath. It does mean that the vellum isn't adhered at the edges but that's totally fine with me.
For the sentiment (from Studio Katia 'Origami Winter' which was my very first Studio Katia stamp set.....) I silver heat embossed on white CS, fussy cut around it and put on foam tape, along with some Silver Pearls, also from Studio Katia.
I'm going to link this to the Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge where their theme is 'Bright and Cheerful'.
You have until Saturday 25th July to link your projects to The Flower Challenge and if your needing any ideas, pop over to the blog to see what the rest of the Design Team and our fabulous Guest Designer Mac Mable of The Sweetest of Peas have created for you. We will be back with more card ideas on the 15th and I look forward to seeing your projects in the Gallery.
Take care
Shona
