Blue Butterflies

 This card is another result of the 30 Minute Card Making Stash and Dash event. 

The parameters for this project were as follows: slimline card, use orange, inking, and use something that starts with the letter B. 

I used Distress Oxide inks to blend an orange background (and wow - it is ORANGE!) I splattered it with water but only the top section really changed... must be the result of a different ink pad as to why that wasn't so noticeable at the bottom). I die cut the slimline background and placed a piece of blue cardstock behind the openings. I die cut the orange circles from the larger openings in the background and put them back into place. The butterflies were embossed in silver and coloured in shades of blue. One was placed in each circle and the wings were turned up. I added an embossed sentiment with metallic thread and then some silver gems around the images. 

Enjoy,

Alyson

Pieced Squares - Version 2

 I posted a card like this for a recent challenge - since I taught this in my Facebook group, I decided to post the second card here. 

This one was done in a warmer colour scheme, starting with yellow and working toward blue. The individual squares were inked and cut to 3/4" x 3/4" and assembled on a piece of printer paper. That was adhered to a gold base and then to a white card base with craft foam. The rose was embossed in gold and I added a sentiment along the side. Some clear gems finished off this card. 

Enjoy,

Alyson

CD 581 - Hello Tulips

 Welcome to Colour Dare Challenge 581!

Chose at least three of the four colours on the graphic - black, white, neutrals and metallics are free to use. 

I chose Journey, Rosy and Peach - shock alert: NO Lagoon!

The pieces for the background were die cut from Journey cardstock, silver foil and white glitter foam and adhered on a white card base. The sentiment was hot foiled and I die cut all the flower pieces from white cardstock and inked them. They were added just under the sentiment and I coloured some clear sparkles in a peach colour and placed them on and around the flowers. 

Come and join us at Colour Dare and show us how you interpret this challenge. 

You have two weeks to link up your project. 

We can't wait to see what you create! 

Enjoy,

Alyson

MTTC 524 - With Heartfelt Sympathy

 Welcome to My Time to Craft Challenge 524!

The theme for this challenge is sympathy. 

Sympathy cards can be hard - usually we make them only when they are required, making that a difficult task in itself. I know many people want sympathy cards in muted colours... I prefer bolder colour schemes and I believe that can work for sympathy cards as well. 

I chose a bold colour scheme for my card. The image was stamped in black, stencilled using dark coral shades and then die cut. The image is designed to fit exactly on a card front. I lightly inked the background and also splattered it with mix of reinker, white paint and water. I die cut two additional floral images and stacked them together before adhering them and I added a white embossed sentiment that I fussy cut. Some clear heart gems were placed on and around the flowers and I used a white gel pen to add some details to the flowers.

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

You have two weeks to link up your project. 

We can't wait to see what you create! 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Stencilled Rainbow Card

 A friend of mine has a website where she sells a wide variety of SVG designs. This is one of them. 

I used the layering stencils to create the background of each section. I also added some clear glitter paste over some sections. The rainbow sentiment was die cut from a rainbow inked panel and added to the centre. I chose a bunch of coordinating enamel gems and placed them around the card. 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Chameleon Pull Tab Card

 I love this card style - it has such a cute feature on the front when the tab is pulled. 

I chose a plaid patterned paper for the background and that determined the colours I used for the chameleon image on the front. The lizard and the sentiment were coloured, as was the inside panel (just one word). When the tab is pulled, the front panel flips open to reveal the inside panel. This is also a standard card so it opens to allow a place inside to write a message. 

Enjoy,

Alyson

SS Extra - Special to Me

 Sketch Saturday is on a break over the holidays BUT we invite you to choose any sketch from the past and use it to create a project. There is nothing better to do during a break than CRAFT! 

I chose Sketch 731 from the past year. 

The images were stamped and stencilled on a diagonal using shades of green and purple. I dragged a green ink pad on some white cardstock to create the border and also the piece from which the sentiment was die cut. The sentiment shadow was cut from an inked blended piece of cardstock. The two smaller parts of the sentiment were stamped directly on the card front. I added a strip of purple glitter paper along the right side and placed some green gems in each of the circles. 

Join us for this extra crafty challenge at Sketch Saturday - the link up will remain open until January 12. 

Regular challenges will resume again on Saturday, January 13. 

Enjoy,

Alyson

Rainbow Christmas Card

 Merry Christmas to you! I hope this holiday allows you time to rest, relax and enjoy all the positive things about the season. 

Today's card was CASEd from one made by Laura Bassen for Concord and 9th. I recently purchased this gorgeous set of dies and checked the Concord and 9th site for ideas. 

The background was die cut into a piece of pale pink cardstock and adhered to a white card base. The strips of cardstock were arranged on the same diagonal line as the background. I die cut pieces for the flowers and branches and arranged them under the Noel sentiment. So pretty!

Enjoy,

Alyson

Penguin Trio Shaker Card

 This cute card idea was inspired by a card made by Kristina Werner. She described the problems she had on her video and I had the exact same problems (frames not lining up, card not closing properly, etc.) 

I stamped, coloured and die cut three penguins and a sled. The right panel is a full shaker, filled with artificial snow, clear and white sequins and iridescent stars. The penguins were arranged on that piece and I die cut a blank of each image and stamped something on the back to cover up the "messy work" when the card is opened. 

The front panel is also acetate and I stamped a sentiment with Staz-On ink so it would be a little "off" the penguin images. The centre panel is simply a piece of ombre glitter cardstock. There is a white panel on the back to write a message. I added a velcro dot at the side to hold the card together. 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Postage Collage Cards

 These were my first attempts using the Waffle Flower Postage Collage collection. 

The first card was scraplifted from the Waffle Flower site. I stencilled the images, added some glitter paste to some of them and then cut apart the sections. They were adhered to the card front with foam tape. A small sentiment was placed along the right side. 

For the second card, I inked the sections using six light shades of ink and added the details with a darker shade of the same colour. That piece was die cut and adhered to black cardstock. I stamped various mail images on the piece and then chose a pink mat and finally a purple card base. 

Enjoy,

Alyson

MTTCC 76 - Happy New Year Buds

Welcome to My Time to Craft Christmas Challenge 76!

The theme for this challenge is Happy New Year.

I stencilled a background of little buds using pink and red inks. That piece was die cut using a stitched scalloped border and I used the inside panels to create the card front and adhered that to a green card base with craft foam. I die cut another smaller stitched scalloped border for the centre. That piece was backed with vellum and I added the sentiment across a green strip along with some die cut buds. I added some silver Stickles to the buds to finish off the card. 

I did a second card with a Season's Greetings sentiment.

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

You have two weeks to link up your project. 

We can't wait to see what you create!

Enjoy,

Alyson

Overlap Fun Fold Cards

 These cards were inspired by a Jennifer McGuire video. I love the colour scheme of blue and purple! 

Each card folds flat and there is a panel on the back to write a message. The front folds down but when the card is removed from the envelope, it pops up. The centre panel has parts that hang over the two sides. 

One of these was made using a stamp, stencil and die set and the other was just stencilled and die cut. The white panels were lightly stencilled and I added some silver sequins to each card. 

Enjoy,

Alyson

Daisy Bookshelf Card

 I found this card on Pinterest and wanted to try it myself. 

I chose some daisy patterned paper and pulled my colours from that piece. A white base was cut and scored to form the card base and I decorated various panels with the front and back of the patterned paper. The sentiment was stamped and added to a hexagon die cut shape with three fussy cut daisies in the corner. There is a bookmark on the right side for the recipient to remove and use. 

Enjoy,

Alyson

Perfect Day to be Happy

 This card was inspired by one I saw on Pinterest. 

The background was embossed with a 3D tile embossing folder and adhered to a silver mat and then a dark blue base. The sentiment was stamped with the same shade of blue as the background and I die cut several leaves and branches from shades of blue cardstock. Those were arranged to the left of the sentiment. I added some tiny clear gems in the flowers to finish off this pretty card. 

Enjoy,

Alyson

AH 556 - Purple Flowers

Welcome to Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge 556!

The sketch is shown in vertical format but can easily be altered. 

I had some leftover purple flowers from a previous project that had been inked and splattered with water so those drove the colour choices for this card. The background paper is an ombre glitter paper that was embossed with a 3D leaf embossing folder. After I added the strips of cardstock (the lightest green one was stamped with a vine image), I decided to line up the embossing folder and emboss the paper again, leaving the imprint across all the cardstock as well. The flowers were arranged in the centre and top right and I added a hot foiled sentiment across the largest flower. Some gold gems were placed around the flowers to finish off this pretty card. 

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

You have until Sunday evening to link up your project. 

We can't wait to see what you create! 

Enjoy,

Alyson

LST Winter Activity Cards

 The most recent Let's Stamp Together package included a stamp, stencil and set of dies to make these super cute snow globe cards. The stamp features outdoor winter activities. 

The first card is a shaker but the shaker component is adhered to the inside of the card. The second one is a rotating card with the centre piece rotating in circles. The background was stencilled with texture paste and loose glitter was added on top to create shine. That's hard to see in the photo. 

The last card is a standard A2 card but the frame was traced. Since I accidentally stencilled into the scene area, I traced a second circle plus the base of the snow globe and coloured that in with black marker. It's yet another way to over up the mistakes that we all make, right?

Enjoy,

Alyson

SS 741 - Time to Celebrate

 Welcome to Sketch Saturday Challenge 741!

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

I always need birthday cards so I decided to make a birthday themed card. The colours I chose were based on the peacock feather patterned paper. The mosaic side is from a hot foiled background and I cut only the part that I needed. The sentiments were also hot foiled (all of them with turquoise foil) and I die cut some flowers and leaves to add under the sentiment as that area appeared kind of empty. The centres of the flowers were decorated with Stickles to finish off this pretty card. 

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 579 - Bold Birdies

 Welcome to Colour Dare Challenge 579!

The theme for this week's challenge is to use ONLY bold and bright colours. That's my kind of challenge! 

I used the most adorable little birdie stencils to create the nine bold coloured birdies on my card. The first stencil created the bodies and the second created the wings. There are three stamps that add all the other body parts like the feet, beaks, eyes, etc. I used 18 different inks for these birds - the lighter shades for the bodies and the darker shades for the wings. The sentiment was added along the right side and I adhered the card front to a black base. With such bold colours, I didn't add anything else to this card. 

Come and join us at Colour Dare and show us how you interpret this week's challenge. 

You have two weeks to link up your project. 

We can't wait to see what you create! 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

MTTC 523 - Holidays Around the World

Welcome to My Time to Craft Challenge 523!

The theme for this challenge is holidays around the world. 

I chose a Middle Eastern Christmas theme - still the Christian holiday but centred around the Holy Land. 

This card opens to a triple fold. The stamp is a slimline size (slightly smaller) and I used that for the front panel (coloured) and also for the right inside panel (heat embossed). The left inside panel was stencilled with stars and I added a sentiment there as well. The middle panel has a place to write a message. 

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

You have two weeks to link up your project. 

We can't wait to see what you create!

Enjoy,

Alyson

Triple Circle Fun Fold Card

 This is such an easy card to make but it is so cute! 

I chose a birthday theme in turquoise and purple. The images were stencilled and die cut and the stamped details were added afterward. I used an alcohol inked patterned paper for the panels and added the circles along the top. The circles are aligned so only the front one shows when the card is closed. Aside from some glitter paper strips along the bottom and a larger sentiment on the centre panel, no other elements were added to this card. 

Enjoy,

Alyson

Coloured Floral Card Set

 I made two sets of these cards - tons of colouring! 

The images were stamped and coloured based on the colour of cardstock behind. The main flowers were coloured using markers that were the same or similar to that cardstock colour. The remaining images were coloured in other shades. The time consuming part of this project was the colouring - once that was done, everyone else came together very quickly. 

Enjoy,

Alyson

CAS Striped Floral Card and Card Set

 This card was inspired by one made by Jennifer McGuire quite some time ago. 

The lines were created by using making paper strips and lightly inking the background. I stamped, stencilled and die cut the floral image and added it at the side. The sentiment was stamped and placed along one of the lines. For the single card, I added some clear gems as well. 

I also created 24 of these cards in various colour schemes to make 3 sets of 8 card each. The same process was followed but since these are gifts for others, I didn't add the embellishments to keep the cards flat for mailing. 

Enjoy,

Alyson

Rainbow Triangles Birthday Cards

 A friend of mine wanted birthday cards that could be used for males or females - what better option than to do something with a rainbow theme!

I die cut two sets of triangles in six colours and arranged them so each large triangle had all six colours. I decided on pairs of triangles and cut one set in half to use with another set - I know that's a little confusing... The sentiment was stamped on the card front and that piece was adhered to the base with craft foam. Easy! 

Enjoy,

Alyson

Critter Wishes

 These adorable lines of critters are from Lawn Fawn and can be used for almost any occasion. I chose to make most of them birthday cards and one is a general good wishes card. 

Each line of images was stamped, coloured and die cut. I kept the design the same for all the cards - a stencilled brick wall and clouds above. The sentiments were chosen based on the animals and I added another stamped sentiment at the bottom of each card. 

Enjoy,

Alyson

Stencilled and Embossed Sentiment Cards

 These two cards were designed the same way. I used a postage stencil die to ink the open sections using three shades of Distress Oxide inks. I then stamped over top of the stencil - one card was done with a large daisy stamp and the other required masking of each section as I used a 3x3 background stamp. The images were embossed in white and the card fronts were cut down so they could be adhered to coordinating mats. 

I die cut the large sentiments and stacked them with extra die cuts before using a shiny gel on top. Once those were dry, I stamped the smaller sentiments and then added the shiny sentiment across the centre. Love how these turned out! 

Enjoy,

Alyson

MTTCC 75 - Nice List

 Welcome to My Time to Craft Christmas Challenge 75! 

The theme for this challenge is something that begins with the letter S.

I chose Santa! I die cut a frame and stamped Santa, the reindeer (actually a reindog) and then masked the tree and presents on the right side. All of that was coloured and I adhered the frame to a black mat and then a red shimmery card base. I used various Stickles and Liquid Pearls to add shimmer to Santa's hat, the tree and also all around the frame, alternating colours. 

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

You have two weeks to link up your project. 

We can't wait to see what you create! 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Inked Blue Leaves Card

 This card was from last Tuesday's 30 Minute Card Making Stash and Dash - and I finished in 25 minutes!

The parameters for this challenge were as follows: Type of Card = must include squares, Colour = blue, Embellishment = sparkly and Technique = heat embossing. 

I inked a panel using three shades of blue ink and adhered a die cut burlap piece cut from gold glitter paper (squares). I inked another two panels with blue ink and die cut the leaf image and a circle for the sentiment. The sentiment was embossed in gold and adhered at the bottom of the leaves. I used a gold pen to add some detail to the leaves and added some gold glitter gems on the leaves. 

Enjoy,

Alyson

Large Birdie Card Set

 I posted a card with nine little birdies a few days ago - this is a set of cards using the same set of stamps and stencils from Concord and 9th except it features the larger birds. 

I stencilled two of each bird in four different colours and added wings to them. I chose various feet, beaks, eyes and details and also stamped some splatters at the edges. The card fronts were adhered to coloured cardstock and I drew a black line around the edge of each card. There are a total of eight cards in the set - four are shown here. 

Enjoy,

Alyson

AH 554 - Floral All Kinds of Wonderful

Welcome to Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge 554!

The sketch is shown in vertical format but it certainly can be rotated. I chose to made my card in the same orientation as the sketch. 

I stencilled a maze-like background using two shades of people Distress Oxide inks. The sentiment was stamped using dark purple ink on white cardstock and I placed a piece of bold green cardstock at the top. The flowers were die cut from white cardstock and inked to add colour. I used a white gel pen to add some details. The entire card front was adhered to dark purple cardstock and I added three green enamel gems next to the sentiment. 

Come and join us at Atlantic Hearts and show us your creations.

You have until Sunday evening to link up your project. 

We can't wait to see what you create!

Enjoy,

Alyson