HQ Celebration of Love - Sympathy Flowers

 Welcome to Heart's Quest Celebration of Love and our December challenge!

I chose to make a sympathy card... seems like I never have one on hand when I need it. 

The background was stamped with a floral image and I stamped the image a second time and fussy cut the flowers. I inked them in shades of blue and grey and placed them back on the image. The card front was cut along the side and adhered to a white card base. I added a strip of silver foil and a grey and white ribbon along the left side. Silver gems were placed in the centres of the flowers and the sentiment was stamped at the bottom.

Come and join us at HQCOL 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

HQ for Shaped Cards and Tags - Peace and Joy Poinsettias

 Welcome to Heart's Quest for Shaped Cards and Tags Challenge!

This is always a shaped card or tag challenge. 

I used a poinsettia die to create my card. Once the base was cut, I cut a second panel, stamped and coloured it. The sentiment was embossed on black cardstock and added to the front. I used clear Stickles to add some shimmer to the centres of the flowers and the berries. 

Come and join us at HQFSCAT and show us your shaped 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

AH 658 - Peace, Love, Hope, Joy

Welcome to Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge 658!

The sketch is shown below. 

I followed the sketch very closely. I added a thin strip of gold cardstock between each of the patterned paper sections and chose a gold die cut sentiment for the focal point. Four gold gems were placed in the corners. Easy! 

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

PS December - JOY Stitched Card

Welcome to Pearly Sparkles and our December challenge. 

The theme for this challenge is "silver bells". You must use silver on your project. 

I have been working on some stitched cards for Christmas and I really like blue and silver. The background was die cut from dark blue cardstock and I stitched the flowers with medium blue embroidery floss and the leaves with light grey embroidery floss. The small flowers were stitched with a medium grey embroidery floss. The centre letters were die cut from silver glitter paper and I added some clear gems in the centres of the small flowers. The stitched front was added to a snowflake embossed background and then to a dark blue card base. 

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

You have until December 28th to link up your project.

We can't wait to see what you create!

Enjoy, 

Alyson 

JOY with Pink Poinsettias

 This card was CASEd from one made by a member of the Alex Syberia design team. I love the colour scheme (non-traditional for Christmas). 

I used a coverplate die to cut a pattern into the background. The letters and all the elements were die cut and inked in coordinating colours. I arranged everything on the front panel and then splattered it with both gold and white paint. The front was adhered to a white card base with craft foam. 

Enjoy,

Alyson

Stencilled Poinsettia Cards

 I recently purchased the Pinkfresh Studio Whispers of Poinsettia stencils and coordinating die set. I love how it creates and entire background on its own. I cut apart some of the pieces and created different cards and also used a variety of colour schemes. The sentiments were stamped in black or embossed with gold or silver, depending on the card. 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Cut It Up 344 - Snowman Triple Diamond Fold Over Card

 Welcome to Cut It Up Challenge 344! 

The theme for this challenge is to make a fun fold card. 

I revisited a card style that I have made before. It's amazing how different each card ends up looking with the choice of papers. 

I used blue cardstock and old patterned papers for the diamonds. I stamped several snowmen images, coloured and die cut them. Those pieces were adhered to the three panels and the sentiment was adhered to the front. I added some snowflake papers on the front inside panels and there are two white panels on the back for a message. I also used Stickles to add some shimmer to the snowmen images.

Come and join us at Cut It Up and show us how you interpret this challenge. 

You have until December 8 to link up your project. 

We can't wait to see what you create!

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Card Set with Alcohol Inked Papers

 This design is one that was easy to reproduce so I chose some alcohol inked patterned papers in eight different colours. I stamped and die cut several pieces and arranged them the same way on each card. There are eight different sentiments and I made two of each for two sets of eight cards each. 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Four Mistletoe Cards

 The Create in Quads stencils from Taylored Expressions make it so easy to create four backgrounds at once. I chose to use Kraft cardstock with green and white inks to create these mistletoe cards. 

The green inked parts were easy. I had to use pigment ink for the white parts and then heat set the ink to ensure it wouldn't smear. I used a clear glitter paste for the last layer which provided details on the berries. 

The pieces were all die cut using a stitched rectangle die and I stamped sentiments for each with nutmeg ink. Twine was used to add some interest to each card. 

Enjoy,

Alyson

TSOT 684 - Thinking of You

Welcome to Try a Sketch on Tuesday Challenge 684!

The sketch is shown below. 

I stayed true to the sketch. The white background was splattered with silver paint and adhered to silver cardstock. I chose some blue patterned papers for the panels and also matted them on silver cardstock. The circles were die cut from white and silver and I arranged the branches and the flower around the circle. I also added a ribbon under the circles. The sentiment was stamped inside the circle and a few blue glitter gems were placed around the card. 

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

DT 205 - Just for You Flowers

  Welcome to Double Trouble Challenge 205!

The small graphic is below. Pease visit the Double Trouble Challenge Blog for detailed information. 

I stamped a large floral image and die cut it with a stitched rectangle die. The floral spray was coloured and I added a thin strip of black diagonal paper along the side. I wrapped black twine around the bottom of the card and tied a bow at the side. The sentiment was stamped and added near the bow. The card front was adhered to the card base with foam tape.

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

Floral Card Sets

 These two sets of cards were created for gifts. Each set has the same design but the cards are in four different colour schemes. 

The first set was all about die cutting - each card has three window elements, two open frames, an embossed panel, the inked cloud background in addition to the floral elements, sentiment, black background and card base - whew! 

The second set has hot foiled images that were stencilled. I added each card front to a coloured card base and added a hot foiled sentiment on a vellum oval. 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Trio of Christmas Slimline Cards

 I pulled out an old stencil set that is not designed for Christmas and made three Chrismtas cards. I chose a traditional colour scheme of red and green. 

The images were embossed (two in gold and one in silver). I used red inks for the flowers, gradually getting darker with each card. Each piece was splattered with gold or silver paint and I die cut the front panel and adhered it to a gold or silver mat and then a white card base. Sentiments with metallic thread and gems were added to each card. 

Which is your favourite? 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

CD 679 - Sending a Hug

 Welcome to Colour Dare Challenge 679!

The graphic is below. 

I used all three colours plus black and white. 

The coloured background was ink blended using oxide inks. I die cut the image and created a circle opening with both black and white cardstock panels. The white panel was embossed and I arranged the image on the blended background to show through the circles. The sentiment was adhered to the bottom and I added some clear gems at the base of each flower. 

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

Leafy Birthday

 This card was inspired by one I found on Pinterest. 

I die cut the sentiment from gold foil and adhered it to a vellum shadow. I cut three leaves and arranged them across the top of the white cardstock. The card front was adhered to a gold mat and then a white card base. Some gold glitter gems were added around the card. 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Purple Flower Smiles

 This card is from the 30 Minute Cardmaking Stash Dash. 

The parameters were as follows: Type of Card: 5x7, Colour(s): green, Embellishment: metallic, Technique: painting and Sentiment: crafter's choice. 

Painting... ugh - definitely not my strength! I decided to paint an ombre panel in shades of green. Once that was dry, it was trimmed and added to the left side of the card. The flowers were stamped, stencilled and die cut. I splattered silver ink on the white background and the white inside frame. The flower image was placed on the frame and I embossed a sentiment to go across the image. Some silver gems were placed around the flowers. 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Joy, Joy, Joy

 A friend of mine posts a weekly sketch challenge and I really wanted to do this one. 

I die cut a pile of Christmas images - pinecones, leaves, branches and berries. Once they were all assembled, I created the multiple layers for the background and placed the elements where I wanted. I used Press 'n Seal to pick up everything and add glue to the pieces. That was all placed on the patterned paper. The sentiment was embossed in three shades of red and added to the centre with foam tape. I used a white gel pen to add details to the berries and a green marker to add details to some of the leaves. 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

I Smell a Birthday

 This cute card wasn't hard to make - but I did have to fussy cut the skunk image. 

I created the inked background using a light hand and three ink colours. That piece was adhered to the card base. I die cut a square from the front panel, then placed the next die size around the opening and embossed it onto the front. The skunk image was stamped, coloured, fussy cut and adhered to the back of the frame. I stamped the sentiment under the opening and adhered the front to the card base with foam tape. 

Enjoy, 

Alyson 

AH 656 - Ornament Trio

Welcome to Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge 656!

The sketch is shown below. 

I love non-traditional colours for Christmas so I chose a turquoise and purple colour scheme. 

The ornaments were die cut and arranged on a lightly inked oval. I did add a bit of shading to each of them along with a highlight line. The oval was adhered to gorgeous silver star patterned paper, a silver mat and the purple card base. The sentiment was embossed in white and placed across the oval. 

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

Peace and Noel Slimline Cards

 I have had this alphabet stamp for ages - I decided to use it for two Christmas cards.

The letters were stamped down the card front and I added a strip of patterned paper along the side of both cards. The flowers and leaves were coloured and I splattered the fronts with red paint. Some gold gems were placed around each card. Each card front was adhered to red glitter paper and then to white card bases.

Enjoy, 

Alyson

BB November - Angled Birthday Flowers

 Welcome to Beautiful Blossoms and our November challenge!

The theme for this challenge is always florals. The inspiration photo is below - it is optional to use that. 

I stencilled a card front on an angle with green ink and then splattered that piece with a black shimmer brush. The floral image was stamped, stencilled and die cut. I cut off a large portion of the image and used some of it inside the card. The angled piece was arranged on the same angle as the stencilled part and I added a birthday sentiment. The card front was adhered to the base with craft foam. 

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

You have until December 12 to link up your project. 

We can't wait to see what you create!

Enjoy,

Alyson

Cut It Up 343 - Standing Poinsettia Wreath Card

    Welcome to Cut It Up Challenge 343!

The theme for this challenge is to use your favourite colour. 

Turquoise /teal has been my favourite colour for many years. 

I created a base for the wreath frame from white cardstock and embossed a second piece of white cardstock with a snowball embossing folder. The sentiment was attached to acetate (between two circle outlines). The poinsettias, pine branches and berries were all die cut (poinsettias on my Cricut), inked and arranged around the frame. There is a place to write a message on the back. 

Come and join us at Cut It Up and show us how you interpret this challenge.

You have until Monday, November 24 to link up your project. 

We can't wait to see what you create!

Enjoy,

Alyson

Peace Present Card

 I saw an idea like this on Pinterest and wanted to try it myself. 

I die cut a panel of white cardstock with a square pattern die and wrapped two thin pieces of red cardstock around it to look like a present. The greenery and pinecones were die cut and arranged around the cross point and then I spattered everything with white paint. I added two bows and a sentiment and added some shimmer to the top bow. The entire card front was adhered to the base with craft foam. 

Enjoy,

Alyson

LST Class - Snack Attack

 The Let's Stamp Together subscription program provides a stamp, stencils and dies to make a few cards every second month. This month was the most adorable kit called Snack Attack. 

I honestly didn't think I would like this kit but I think these cards are so sweet! The bottom one is actually a shaker card.

Enjoy, 

Alyson

TSOT 683 - Birthday Silhouette

 Welcome to Try a Sketch on Tuesday Challenge 683!

The sketch is shown below. 

I made a mini slimline card for this challenge. I masked off a long rectangle and ink blended five shades of blue and turquoise to create an ombre effect down the card. The silhouette image was embossed in black and I also embossed a birthday sentiment as per the sketch. Three black dots were added in the top corner and 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

DT 204 - Hello There Slimline

 Welcome to Double Trouble Challenge 204! 

The small graphic is below - please visit the Double Trouble Challenge Blog for detailed information. 

I chose to make a slimline card for this challenge. I have 3+ colours (purple, pink, yellow and turquoise), 2+ images (tons of flowers and leaves) and 1 slimline card. My colour element starts with T - turquoise.

I created a lattice background and had everything cut and ready - and then realized I needed a slimline size... so I made a second lattice background. I joined the two of them with a cross piece. The flowers and leaves were all die cut and adhered to the lattice background above and below the centre strip. The sentiment was placed in the centre and I added clear gems around the card. I also used a shimmer brush to add shimmer to the centres of the flowers. 

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

Floral Card Set

 I have taken all the die cut pieces and stencilled backgrounds to three crops now and finally got around to completing these cards. 

Each card has the same design and sentiment - I just changed the colours. I made two of each colour for a set of eight. 

Which one is your favourite? I really like the purple and yellow card. 

Enjoy,

Alyson

Card Tote

 I found the instructions for this card tote on YouTube - Maymay Made It did an excellent tutorial. 

Some of my sizes were altered from the video but that's just what worked best for me. 

I chose a turquoise, red and plaid colour scheme. The main parts of the tote hold 24 cards in total - 12 standard A2 cards and 12 mini slimline cards along with envelopes for all of them. There are 4 pockets and all are gusseted so there is much more room in them than what you may think. I made very basic cards and chose to include 36 sentiments so the recipient can add them to the cards as desired. They are stored in the front pocket. 

Here is the tote with all the cards inside. 

Inside the tote, there is also a notebook and pen.

This was fun - time consuming, but fun! And what a wonderful gift for someone who loves to send cards. 

Enjoy,

Alyson

CD 677 - Autumn Greetings

Welcome to Colour Dare Challenge 677!

The graphic is below. Please check the information carefully to ensure you use the correct elements. 

In addition to green and orange, I added yellow plus black, gold and white. 

The black background was die cut, leaving an opening in the centre. I embossed the sentiment at the bottom and embossed a piece of gold foil (leaf embossing folder) to go behind the opening. The pumpkins and leaves were die cut from white cardstock, inked with Distress Oxide inks and splattered with water. Those images were arranged at the bottom of the arch. I added some orange-gold gems around the opening. 

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