DT 134 - Punny Doggies

 Welcome to Double Trouble Challenge 134! 

This week, it's all about soft and cuddly - animals, that is! The small graphic is below - please visit the Double Trouble Challenge Blog for detailed information. 

I have a few dog stamps and I wanted smaller stamps that would fit within the circles from the die cut. I die cut the circle frame in three shades of blue and also in white and pieced together the sections. I used the three white circles to stamp the doggies and colour them. The sentiments were heat embossed in white on two of the darker circles. I also stamped and fussy cut some bones to add to another circle. As an afterthought, I die cut a stitched border. In hindsight, I should have adhered that first as I realized that my circles weren't quite centred from top to bottom... such is life. 

Come and join us at Double Trouble and show us how you interpret this challenge. 

You have two weeks to link up your project. 

I am also linking up my card with the Use Your Stuff Challenge. 

And this is a picture of my little doggie. She is a monster at 6 pounds! 

We can’t wait to see what you create! 

Enjoy,

Alyson

Shaped "Oh Hey" Card

 This cute idea was from a recent video by Jennifer McGuire. Shaped cards are always fun to create. 

One of the product sets I received as part of the last Crop and Create event was this one from Concord and 9th. It included a stamp, set of layering stencils and dies. The die is large enough to use for a card on its own. I used the layering stencils and four shades of turquoise inks to create the sentiment. I added clear glitter gel over the last layer and let it dry. The banner sentiment was stamped and die cut and I also die cut some holographic hearts. I added one heart at the bottom to help the image stand up straight. There is more shine and glitter on this card in real life than what shows in the photo. 

Enjoy,

Alyson

You are So Loved

 This pretty card was inspired by one made by Debbie Reemtson. I liked the idea of the triangles coming out from the side of the card. 

I die cut triangles from yellow cardstock and smaller ones from various black and white patterned paper. The flowers and leaves were stamped, coloured and die cut. Once the triangles were arranged on the card, I stamped three small sentiments in the open spaces and then arranged the flowers around those sayings. Some clear dew drops were placed around the card to finish it off. 

Enjoy,

Alyson

Ewe Accordion Flap Card

 This card was created from a recent tutorial by Lynn Dunn. The card sides can be left open as I did or the sides can be glued closed so only the middle flap opens. 

I used some old spring papers plus two colours of cardstock for my card. Once the folds were made, I added the patterned paper and die cut a circle with a border for the front. I stamped, coloured and die cut a  ewe holding a balloon. Inside the flap, there is another ewe and a birthday message. Easy! 

Enjoy,

Alyson

MTTCC 56 - Reindeer in the Shadows

 

Welcome to My Time to Craft - Christmas Challenge 56!

This week, it's all about the letter R - choose something related to Christmas that begins with R and build your project around that. 

I chose reindeer. 

The base of my card was inked using three Distress Oxide inks and I created a sort of moonbeam shining down on the pair of reindeer. The ground was also lightly inked with a little more ink where the reindeer are standing. That entire background was splattered with white paint and then adhered to a black base. I die cut the two deer from both black and white cardstock and offset them slightly. The sentiment was die cut from black cardstock and adhered at the top. 

Come and join us at MTTCC and show us your Christmas projects that feature something that begins with the letter R. 

You have two weeks to link up your project. 

We can’t wait to see what you create! 

Enjoy,

Alyson

Great Friend Rose Card

This is such a pretty and soft card and I love all the details. 

The background was die cut with a blanket stitched rectangle and I added a very detailed lace die cut on top of that. A scalloped frame was placed on top and I arranged the floral images around that piece. The sentiment was hot foiled in silver and added with foam tape. Some silver metallic thread and silver gems finished off this pretty card. 

Enjoy,

Alyson

Rainbow Hello

 This was a fun card to create and I love rainbows! 

The floral frame was die cut and I used several Distress Oxide inks to blend rainbow colours onto the image. That piece was adhered to black cardstock and I coloured a few gems in the same colours to fill in some of the open flowers. 

The sentiment was die cut and added to black cardstock. The small sentiment was stamped and added under the "hello". Easy! 

Enjoy,

Alyson

TSOT 598 - Just Because Pink Flowers

 Welcome to Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge 598! 

The optional theme (in addition to the sketch) is weather. 

I chose to use only the sketch. I used my Cricut to cut a black frame and then sized a piece of white cardstock to fit behind it. That piece was stamped with the flowers and butterfly and coloured. I die cut a detailed floral border and adhered that to a light pink background and then a black card base. The frame was raised with foam tape and I added a silver foiled sentiment across the bottom and a few dark pink gems to finish off the card. 

Come and join us at TSOT and show us how you interpret the sketch shown above. 

You have two weeks to link up your project. 

We can’t wait to see what you create! 

Enjoy,

Alyson

AH 516 - Just a Little Hi Tulips

 Welcome to Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge 516!

The sketch calls for six panels in the background - I chose to use a single hot foiled image and cut it into six sections while still maintaining the pattern. 

I stamped some tulips and coloured them before die cutting the image. I also die cut a piece of light grey cardstock to fill in the white space at the bottom. The sentiment was stamped, die cut and adhered with foam tape just under the tulips. I added some dew drops on and around the tulips to finish the card. 

Come and join us at Atlantic Hearts and show us how you interpret the sketch shown above. 

You have two weeks to link up your project. 

We can’t wait to see what you create! 

Enjoy,

Alyson

More Magnolia Cards

These two cards are larger than what I usually make - they are 6x6 in size. I wanted to take advantage of the full size of the stamp, which is also 6x6. 

For the first card, I stamped and stencilled the image and on the final stencil layer, I added some clear glitter gel over the inked section. It created such a gorgeous shine. I die cut the large sentiment with both parts cut from glitter paper. I also added hot foiled "for you" just above the main sentiment and adhered the card front to dark blue glitter paper and then a white card base. Some silver gems finished off the card. 

The second card was stencilled the same way and had the glitter gel added on the last layer. I used hot foiled letters and coloured around the edges with a silver shimmer pen. I ink blended a piece of white cardstock before die cutting the word "friend" and I added some pink metallic thread and silver gems to finish off the second card. 

Enjoy,

Alyson

SS 721 - You're the Reason

 Welcome to Sketch Saturday Challenge 721!

The optional theme (in addition to the sketch) is to use an embossing folder. 

I chose a woodgrain embossing folder and embossed the card front. The flowers and stems were die cut and I inked them in shades of blue and green. I also die cut two small squares and lightly inked the edges of those pieces. A strip of dark yellow cardstock was placed behind the squares and I arrange the floral spray on top. A sentiment was stamped in three shades of blue to create an ombre appearance. That was added at the bottom, along with some blue metallic thread. I placed a handful of dark blue gems around the flowers. 

Come and join us at Sketch Saturday and show us how you interpret the sketch shown above. 

You have two weeks to link up your project. 

We can’t wait to see what you create! 

Enjoy,

Alyson

CD 539 - Inlay Thinking of You Card

 Welcome to Colour Dare Challenge 539!

It's another tic-tac-toe board this week - choose any row, column or diagonal. You may use other colours but ONLY if they are on the grid. I used the bottom row (Wisteria, Lagoon and Glacier).

I have made this kind of card before but it worked so perfectly for this challenge. The inlay technique is gorgeous when it is completed but it is a LOT of work! 

I die cut the same image in each of the colours I needed. The individual pieces were placed back into a black outline. I had to cut a couple of colours a second time as some of those tiny pieces mysteriously disappeared during the process... Once that was finished, I stamped two sentiment strips and adhered them to the bottom. I added a second black outline piece on top and adhered the inlaid piece to several mats (white, Lagoon, Wisteria and finally a white card base). Some gold Stickles were added in the centres of the flowers. 

Come and join us at Colour Dare and show us how you interpret the colour grid shown above. 

You have two weeks to link up your project. 

We can’t wait to see what you create!

Enjoy,

Alyson

MTTC 503 - Pop-Up Birthday Card

 Welcome to My Time To Craft Challenge 503!

The theme for this challenge is birthday - and who doesn't need birthday cards?

I made a card like this a couple of months ago and really liked the style. It folds flat for mailing but it pops up when it is opened. I chose to use four colours plus black and white. 

The images were stamped and coloured. I die cut some images and others were fussy cut (no dies for them). I placed a balloon border across the front of the box and stamped the word BIRTHDAY using the same four colours. The background was stencilled with a turnabout confetti stencil and the images were arranged on two inside panels. A message can be written on the back of the card. 

Come and join us at MTTC and show us your birthday projects. 

You have two weeks to link up your project. 

We can’t wait to see what you create! 

Enjoy,

Alyson

Magnolia Floral Cards

 I have been playing with the new Magnolia Pattern stamp and stencils from Pinkfresh Studio. I love that the stencils only colour some of the images and leave the rest blank. 

These ideas cane from a video done by Jennifer McGuire and the PFS website... always great ideas to be found! 

The first card was stencilled without stamping the background and I lightly stamped some butterflies and sentiments in the opening areas. The large sentiment was die cut and I stamped a smaller sentiment to go on top. 

The next two cards had the outline image stamped and coloured using the stencils. I used letters that are actually dies but I hot foiled them and then used shimmer brushes to colour around the white edges. A smaller sentiment was stamped, outlined and added to each card. I adhered the card fronts with craft foam and added gems to finish them off.

Enjoy,

Alyson

Daisy Wreath Cards

 I have had the Daisy Wreath products from Pinkfredh Studio for a long time and pulled them out to play a few days ago. 

I hot folded the wreath outline in gold and used the layering stencils to colour them in three colours. Each set was used to create a different card. 

For the first two cards, I cut the wreath apart into smaller sections. I angle cut a geometric coverplate image and the second halves were cut from an alcohol inked piece and a foiled leaf piece. The images were arranged along the angled line and I also added some white and vellum leaf images. Both sentiments were foiled and added to the cards. The last step was to add some gold gems. 

For the last card, I used the wreath as it was intended and adhered it to a stitched leaf background. The same white and vellum leaves were added around the wreath and the sentiment was placed on the right side. I used craft foam to adhere the top panel to a gold base. 

Enjoy,

Alyson

Wonderful Day

 I recently played with Lindy's Magical Powders for the first time and was so impressed with the results! The shine that these powders create is remarkable. The powder colour in the jar is not at all reflective of the actual colours that appear on the paper! 

I used only a teal powder for the background of this card - yes - ONLY teal. Look at the other colours that appeared - dark blue, green, yellow and gold. I wanted the background to be the focus for my card so I used a set of nesting dies for an ombre stamped sentiment and then aded a few flowers and leaves at the bottom. I added some twine across the card and tied a bow under the sentiment. The second photo shows a little better how shiny the background really is - I just love it! 

Enjoy,

Alyson

DT 133 - Birthday Plaid

 Welcome to Double Trouble Challenge 133!

This week, it's all about green and plaid. The small graphic is below - please visit the Double Trouble Challenge Blog for detailed information. 

I ink blended a background using three shades of green Distress Oxide inks and splattered it with water. A diagonal die was cut twice and one piece was flipped over to create a plaid pattern. That was adhered over the green background. I blended another green background and added a gold foiled diamond around that plus two more smaller gold foiled diamonds in the corners. The leaves were arranged to come out from around the larger diamond. The sentiment was die cut from two shades of green and I added some gold gems around the card to finish it off. 

Come and join us at Double Trouble and show us how you interpret this week's challenge. 

I am also linking up my card with the Inspiration Station challenge (see photo). 

You have two weeks to link up your project. 

We can’t wait to see what you create! 

Enjoy,

Alyson

DD - Just Because Deer

 Welcome to the March challenge for Dragonfly Dreams! 

The theme this month is outdoors. 

I began by ink bending a background with Distress Oxide inks. I also inked the edges of a piece of white cardstock with Mustard Seed ink to coordinate with the yellow in the sunset. I die cut two trees, a deer and a sentiment and then I manually cut a base. Those pieces were arranged on the inked background. Everything was adhered to the inked yellow piece and then to a black card base. Clean and simple! 

Come and join us at Dragonfly Dreams and show us how you interpret his month's challenge. 

You have until the end of the month to link up your project. 

We can't wait to see what you create!

Enjoy,

Alyson

HLS Christmas - Cool Holiday Greetings

 Welcome to Happy Little Stampers - Christmas Challenge. 

This is always an anything goes challenge although there is an optional element that can be included. This month, that element is to use a candy cane. 

I don't have any images of candy canes... so I chose to use red and white candy cane striped background paper. I also coloured the sled base in red and white to simulate a candy cane. 

The images were stamped, coloured and die cut and I also die cut two pieces of white cardstock for the snowbanks. The sentiment was stamped and die cut using stitched rectangles. This was a pretty easy card overall. 

Come and join us at Happy Little Stampers and show us your Christmas projects. 

You have until the end of the month to link up your project. 

We can't wait to see what you create! 

Enjoy,

Alyson

Mirror Fold Card - Hot Flashes

I made some cards in this style a long time ago and wanted to revisit the idea. 

The card fold isn't difficult - it's a matter of making the paper cooperate to fold in various directions. I chose a humorous theme for my card. 

I die cut a hexagon and inked the edges with yellow ink. The image was stamped, coloured and die cut and I also stamped two sentiments. One is under the front image and the other is on the back panel. When the card is closed, you can see both sentiments. There is an open panel in the centre to write a message. 

Enjoy,

Alyson

MTTCC 55 - Peace, Love, Joy Nativity Scene

Welcome to My Time To Craft - Christmas Challenge! 

This is another new design team for me and I am thrilled to be working alongside some very talented artists! 

The theme for this Christmas challenge is nativity. 

I love this nativity scene as a silhouette and chose to make that the focal point on my card. I used dark blue and white, choosing a variety of patterned papers. The nativity scene was stamped and die cut along with two circles for a border. I used an old Mojo Monday sketch for the design. The sentiment was embossed in white and added under the scene. A few dark blue gems were placed around the scene to finish off the card. 

Come and join us at MTTCC and show us how you interpret this week's theme. 

You have two weeks to link up your project. 

We can’t wait to see what you create! 

Enjoy,

Alyson

HLS Birthday - Blue and Turquoise Plaid with Vellum Leaves

 Welcome back to Happy Little Stampers - Birthday Challenge! After a two month break, it's good to be back and we hope you will join in our challenge. 

This is always an anything goes challenge but with a birthday theme. 

I always need masculine birthday cards and I find them so difficult to create... I chose a colour scheme of turquoise and blue for my card. The plaid background was stencilled and I die cut two stitched rectangle frames. One was used for the border of the card and I cut the other one into long strips and inked them using the same ink I used for the stencilling. Two angled frames were die cut and then cut in half. The inside of the circle die was inked with blue ink to provide more emphasis before I adhered the foiled sentiment on top. The leaves were die cut from vellum and adhered around the circle. I added a few sequins to finish off the card. 

Come and join us at Happy Little Stampers - Birthday and show us your birthday creations! 

You have until the end of the month to link up your project. 

We can’t wait to see what you create!

Enjoy,

Alyson

Tree Sympathy Card

 I don't enjoy making sympathy cards but sometimes it's necessary. 

This one was kept simple - I stamped the tree image on masking paper and again on a piece of white cardstock. The masking paper was cut along the ground line and I inked the top with orange and yellow to create the appearance of a sunset. The bottom was inked with brown ink to colour the ground. I stamped the sentiment in the corner and die cut that piece with a blanket stitched die. The same die (but larger) was used to die cut the base and I adhered the image piece on an angle. A few gold sequins were added to finish off the card. 

Enjoy,

Alyson

Blended Mountains

 I was watching a home renovation show recently and a beautiful feature wall was created with a mountain landscape. I thought I would try the same idea with inks. 

I chose three shades of the same colour and worked from bottom to top, gradually getting lighter toward the top of the card. I tore some masking paper and used that to create the hills and mountains. It surprised me just how easy this was to do! I added a sentiment to the bottom of each card and chose coordinating cardstock to border the scenes.

Enjoy,

Alyson

TSOT 596 - Hugs Card

 Welcome to Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge 594!

The optional theme (in addition to the sketch) is sweets. 

I didn't have anything related to sweets so I stuck with just the sketch. 

The background was die cut with a stitched coverplate die and I also die cut the flower, leaves and the circle. The circle was inked with Distress Oxide ink and the banner was adhered just under the top of the circle. The leaves were cut from vellum and adhered under the flower. The sentiment was hot foiled in gold and I added some gold Stickles to the flower and around the card. The centre of the flower was filled with Lilac Liquid Pearls. 

Come and join us at TSOT and us how you interpret this week's sketch.

You have two weeks to link up your project. 

We can’t wait to see what you create! 

Enjoy,

Alyson

AH 514 - Hello Bees

 Welcome to Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge 514!

The sketch is pretty straightforward so I did add some elements and I also placed the image on the left side instead of the right. 

The white background was lightly stencilled with a honeycomb stencil. I ink blended a piece in green and splattered it with water before die cutting that and a black border. The flowers and bees were stamped, coloured and die cut and added around the frame. I die cut a sentiment and also white heat embossed a smaller strip sentiment and those were placed at the bottom. The bees and the yellow flower centres were brushed with shimmer brushes and some gold gems were added around the card. 

Come and join us at Atlantic Hearts and show us how you interpret this week's sketch. 

You have until Sunday evening to link up your project. 

We can't wait to see what you create!

Enjoy,

Alyson