A fun card making blog
This trio of cards was created as part of the Let's Stamp Together subscription program. The package this month was from Picket Fence Studio. There was a stamp set, stencils (we didn't use those) and dies.
Watercolouring has always been difficult for me so I really enjoyed this class. We used water based markers to create the painted effects on the tulip images. The Kraft card folds flat for mailing and opens into a V-shape.
Enjoy,
Alyson
I have had the Lawn Fawn Simply Celebrate Critters for a while and recently picked up the Hangouts stamps and dies (places for the critters to rest upon). It was time to play!
These are both full front shaker cards. The first one has a stencilled confetti background and I added multiple colours of sequins to the shaker. On top of the acetate, I created the scene with the dogs, their bench and the sentiments as well as the banners. Everything was adhered to a frame and then added to the front.
The second card has a stencilled background which was done with texture paste and reinkers. I added a gold sequin mix inside that shaker and placed the mice on the cheese and added the sentiments at the top. A punny sentiment was added at the bottom.
Enjoy,
Alyson
Welcome to Cut It Up Challenge 334!
The theme for this challenge is Christmas in July.
I make Christmas cards throughout the year since I send over 250 of them.
For this challenge, I pulled out my Better Press machine - it has been an a long time! I pressed a few of these poinsettia frames and decided on a black one. The images were stencilled and then the piece was die cut three times and stacked. I also pressed the sentiment and stacked that several times. The pink circle was ink blended and die cut. I added everything to a die cut background and placed some iridescent gems around the card.
Come and join us at Cut It Up and show us how you interpret this challenge.
You have until Monday, July 21 to link up your project.
We can't wait to see what you create!
Enjoy,
Alyson
Welcome to My Time to Craft Challenge 564!
The theme for this challenge is to use fibre (twine, fabric, ribbon, etc.)
I chose some old white twine/ribbon from my stash. On a piece of purple cardstock, I attached strips of the fibre using scor-tape. The white front was die cut and I cut a smaller rectangle using stitched dies. Several leaf images were die cut and stacked together to build strength. Those were adhered around the edge of the frame to allow them to show through on the front. Much foam tape later, the leafy front was adhered to purple cardstock so the fibre shows through. I adhered the front to a purple mat and then a white card base. The sentiment was embossed in white and adhered to the left of the rectangular opening.
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
I have made eclipse cards before - I wanted to try another one as it has been a while.
I stencilled the background and used a decorative stencil on top of the flowers to add a pattern. I die cut the letters for the word FRIEND from that piece and also die cut four additional pieces of each letter. Those were stacked and the stencilled pieces were placed on top. I also stamped a birthday sentiment before adhering the stencilled piece to a purple mat, a turquoise mat and then white card base. Some turquoise gems were added around the flowers. The letters were added back into the open spaces. It's a bit hard to see the dimension so I also photographed this card on an angle.
Enjoy,
Alyson
This is such a neat card and it folds open to reveal a hidden message panel. That message panel could also be used to hide a gift card or other surprise.
I chose white cardstock for the base of my card. The floral and leaf images were stamped, stencilled and die cut and two of them were placed on the front of the fame. The third image was cut down and placed on the back panel. A thin strip of acetate runs across the centre frame and I attached the hot foiled sentiment to that. Some silver gems were placed around the frame on the front.
Enjoy,
Alyson
Welcome to Try a Sketch on Tuesday Challenge 674!
This is an interesting sketch... so many possibilities!
I created a background using Lindy's Magical Powders and also splattered it with gold paint. When everything was dry, I found a script stamp and an open circle stamp and used those to stamp in black on the background. The sentiment was die cut and stacked three times before being added to a vellum oval. The card front was adhered to a black card base.
Come and join us at TSOT 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
Welcome to Double Trouble Challenge 195!
The small graphic is below - please visit the Double Trouble Challenge Blog for detailed information.
My 3-2-1 recipe is as follows: 3 colours (plus a few more), 2 hand stamped images (5 in total) and 1 sentiment. I also splattered the background with gold paint to meet Thing 3's requirement.
I used the sketch from Try a Sketch on Tuesday. I cannot link up this card for that challenge (back linking) but the sketch is provided for your inspiration.
The background was created by using Lindy's Magical Powders. They are shimmery on their own but I also splattered gold paint on the finished design. The images were stamped, coloured and die cut. They were somewhat lost on the background so I placed each of them on a vellum circle as per the sketch. The sentiment was added just under one of the flowers. I used a clear shimmer brush on parts of the images.
Come and join us at Double Trouble 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
Welcome to Dragonfly Dreams and our July challenge.
The theme for this challenge is to use polygons. A polygon is a closed shape with at least three sides, all of which are straight.
I chose a hexagon shape.
The background for my card was created using a hexagon die. I had to cut 20 of each layer (5 colours) and assemble each of them. Once they were together, I arranged them on white cardstock and cut away the pieces hanging over the edge. That piece was adhered to a white card base with craft foam. I die cut a birthday sentiment with a vellum shadow and placed that across the front. Some iridescent gems were added to the card.
Come and join us at Dragonfly Dreams and show us how you interpret this 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
I made two of each of the cards shown below for a set of eight. There are four colour schemes and eight different sentiments in the full set.
I did a lot of prep work for this set before taking it to a crop. All the stamping, stencilling and die cutting was done ahead of time so it was just the task of assembly while I was away from home.
Enjoy,
Alyson
Welcome to Colour Dare Challenge 659!
Every year, I dread the challenge for this design team that comes up for the first week of July. July 4 is Independence Day in the US so it is always a red and blue colour scheme. It's so difficult to make something with those colours that doesn't look US patriotic, especially for those of us who live in a different country.
This time, I added gold to my design. I stencilled the leaves and used a gold paste for the veins. I also splattered gold paint on the card front. The sentiment was die cut and stacked three times before being added to a vellum shadow. The card front was adhered to a dark blue card base.
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
Welcome to My Time to Craft Christmas Challenge 116!
The theme for this challenge is vintage style.
This is definitely not my usual style... I used to do a lot of vintage type cards but I strayed away from that several years ago. I really had to think about this challenge.
My card is based on one I found on Pinterest as I went there for inspiration. I downloaded and printed the sheet music and the cardinal images and added some light brown ink to those pieces. The postage front was split in two with a piece of lace running down the joined section. I inked a piece of white cardstock and gold foil and placed them behind the cardinal. The little flowers were die cut and added with a hot foiled sentiment. The Kraft paper behind the patterned paper was distressed along the edges and inked and I also inked the edges of the card base - that's a LOT of inking!
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
This cute wheelbarrow was filled with flowers and adhered to a die cut oval. I added some light yellow shading so the white pieces of the wheelbarrow didn't fade into the background. The sentiment was stamped at the bottom. The base panel was embossed and everything was added to a card base.
Enjoy,
Alyson
I borrowed a set of products from a friend of mine - this is the result of a recent play session.
The floral and butterfly image was die cut from white cardstock and I used a variety of inks to add colour and shading to the images. I die cut some flower centres and butterfly bodies and placed them in the appropriate spots. The front was adhered to green cardstock and then to a gold panel. The sentiment was kept simple - just stamped in black and cut into a strip.
Enjoy,
Alyson
Welcome to Pearly Sparkles and our July challenge.
The theme for this month is to make a shaped card.
I chose a horizontal oval. Aside from the sentiment, some light inking on the front and some inking on the birds, everything was die cut. The birds were assembled and placed on a swing with flowers and leaves in the background. I used a white gel pen to add details to the birds. The front oval was adhered to a yellow mat and a green card base. There is a white panel inside to write a message.
Come and join us at Pearly Sparkles and show us how you interpret this 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
Welcome to Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge 636!
I stayed pretty true to the sketch.
I used a background stamp to create the three sections. The stamp wasn't long enough to go all the way across the card so I stamped it twice and the centre section with the overlap was covered with the circle. I stamped and coloured some flowers and added a sentiment across the bottom. I also brushed the centres of the flower with a shimmer brush. The background was splattered with silver paint and I adhered the card front to a grey card base. Silver gems were placed around the circle.
Come and join us at Atlantic Hearts and show us how you interpret this challenge.
You have until Sunday evening to link up your project.
We can't wait to see what you create!
Enjoy,
Alyson
This card was inspired by one I saw on Pinterest. I love the scene visible through the window.
All the pieces were die cut and assembled. The background was stencilled to create a sun, sky and grass. The images were arranged so they show through the window and I stamped the sentiment at the bottom of the window. The frame was adhered with foam tape and I raised the purple background as well so the card sits flat.
Enjoy,
Alyson
This is such a cute idea for a gift card!
I die cut the decorative clutch panel from shimmery black cardstock. The back of this image is decorated as well. The base was cut from bright pink cardstock and the front was adhered to that. I added a few Liquid Pearls in silver to enhance the design. The zipper border, zipper pull and latch were all added to the front. The zipper and latch pieces were also added to the back so it is completely finished.
Inside the clutch is a place for a gift card and a message.
Enjoy,
Alyson
Welcome to Cut It Up Challenge 333!
The theme for this challenge is to use critters.
I pulled out one of my favourite critter stamps from Lawn Fawn. The little mice are truly adorable.
I stamped the images, coloured and die cut them. The postage background was die cut and lightly stencilled with a cloud stencil. The mice and paper airplane images were added and I used a white gel pen to draw additional details on the airplanes. The card front was adhered to a blue mat and then a white card base.
Come and join us at Cut It Up and show us how you interpret this challenge.
You have until July 7 to link up your project.
We can't wait to see what you create!
Enjoy,
Alyson
Welcome to My Time to Craft Challenge 563!
The theme for this challenge is to make a heart shaped card.
I made a very small card as I used dies and heart dies are only so big!
I stencilled the background and turned the heart into a shaker. The sentiment was added to the front and I used silver and clear sequins inside the heart. Easy! This could be used as a small card for a gift or the like.
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
The Honey Bee Stamps die and layering stencils for this lakeside scene are one of my favourite product combos for masculine cards.
I die cut the background and used the stencils to colour in the scene. I adde some details using markers and also used clear glitter gel on the lake to add shimmer. The cottage, canoe and paddle were die cut and assembled on the card to finish the scene. The sentiment was placed at the top and I matted the front on grey cardstock, white cardstock and then on a blue card base.
Enjoy,
Alyson
I had occasion to make a masculine thank you card.
I splattered a piece of peach cardstock with teal paint and also embossed it with a subtle embossing folder, just to add some texture. The scene pieces were cut to continue to scene across the card. I added a sailboat and a sentiment to the front and matted the background on white and then on teal cardstock. There is a sentiment inside the card as well.
Enjoy,
Alyson
Welcome to Try a Sketch on Tuesday Challenge 673!
The sketch is shown below.
I chose a teal and silver colour scheme for my card. The background panels were adhered to the card base and I used three die cut circles to back some silver snowflakes. The centre snowflake was die cut from both silver foil and silver glitter cardstock and rotated to fill in the gaps. I stamped and die cut a sentiment and added it with foam tape. Clear Stickles were added in the centre of the snowflakes (the one inside the main snowflake turned turquoise).
Come and join us at TSOT 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
Welcome to Double Trouble Challenge 194!
The small graphic is below - please visit the Double Trouble Challenge Blog for detailed information.
My 3-2-1 recipe includes red and white plus green and several other colours, 2 circles (plus a third) and 1 fun fold (Z fold card). I also used clear Stickles on several images for Thing 3.
I used the sketch from Try a Sketch on Tuesday - I cannot link this card for that design team as it is posted one day early but the sketch is here for your inspiration.
I stamped, coloured and die cut a few mice and related images plus a sentiment. The images were adhered to green plaid paper on red circles. The sentiment was placed across the middle circle. My card opens into a Z fold and there is a panel inside to write a message. Clear Stickles were added to several of the images.
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 Creative Creases challenge (fun folds).
We can't wait to see what you create!
Enjoy,
Alyson
This floral panel is just so pretty with the white background. I hot foiled several of them in gold. The stencils were used to apply colour and I made a set of eight cards with four colour schemes. The sentiments were also hot foiled but they were getting lost on the busy floral panel so I adhered each of them to a vellum oval and that really helped. Each card was adhered to green cardstock, white cardstock and finally a black card base.
Enjoy,
Alyson
This card was the result of the latest 30 Minute Cardmaking Stash Dash.
The parameters for this challenge were as follows: Type of Card: surprise inside, Colour(s): blue, Technique: dovetailing, Embellishment: metallic and Occasion: celebrate or thinking of you.
I pulled out some of my favourite old CTMH papers and created a pull up gift card holder. The top was attached with a hook and loop dot so it stays closed. Inside the card, I stencilled some streamers and confetti on the background and stamped a large sentiment.
Enjoy,
Alyson
Welcome to Colour Dare Challenge 657!
The graphic is below - be sure to add ONE colour to the two that are shown.
I chose to add purple.
I die cut a shaped card using an angled leaf die. I also cut two extra pieces - one for the inside to allow a place to write a message on the green piece and another to put on the reverse of the front section. The latter was done for two reasons - to add strength and to hide the ribbon backs.
I have to think ahead when I am making my cards... I decided to splatter the front with gold paint AFTER I had added the ribbon. I didn't want the back of the card nor the leaves to be splattered so I had to mask those. This isn't the first time I have done this! The flowers and leaves were die cut, as was the sentiment and everything was arranged on the front of the card. I added some of the images in the bottom corner as well. Gold Stickles were used to add some interest to the purple flowers and I used fine tip markers to draw details on the pink flowers and all the leaves.
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
Welcome to My Time to Craft Christmas Challenge 115!
The theme for this challenge is to make a vertical slimline card.
I die cut a large circle image from gold glitter paper. The small circles were filled with various red and green patterned papers. I die cut several ornaments, strings, tops and bows and assembled them. They were placed inside the larger circles and I drew a white shadow line on each. A hot foiled sentiment was placed across the centre and I placed gold gems around the card.
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
I saved a card picture like this because I just loved the rainbow clouds with the black image and sentiment.
I used a cloud stencil and several inks to created the background. The image and sentiment were stamped in black and I adhered the card front to a black mat and then a white card base. Simple but pretty!
Enjoy,
Alyson
