A fun card making blog
I felt like I needed some bright spring colours today... it is dark by 430pm now and everything seems so dark and gloomy.
The tulips were embossed in black and coloured. I splattered a white background and lightly inked the edges with blue ink. The tulips were arranged on the front and I added a piece of woodgrain paper to look kind of like a box at the bottom. The sentiment was placed in the middle and I added a few silvery gems around the card.
Enjoy,
Alyson
This card is based on a sketch - a friend of mine posts a new sketch every Saturday.
I splattered the background with silver and blue and adhered it to two mats and then to the white card base. The diamonds were die cut and I trimmed some of them down so a few would have a border as per the sketch. The butterfly was die cut from two shades of blue glitter paper and vellum and I added a silver body. A hot foiled sentiment was placed under the butterfly and I added a few blue gems.
Enjoy,
Alyson
A friend recently lost her beloved doggie... I sent her this card.
The dog background was embossed in black and selectively coloured. I splattered a black panel with white paint and placed a piece of gold ribbon where the pieces met. The sentiment was embossed and adhered to a red border, the same as the border around the entire card. A small bow was added under the sentiment.
Enjoy,
Alyson
Welcome to Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge 662!
The sketch is shown below.
I created a 5x7 card to allow room for the floral events that I used. The sentiment was stamped and die cut using a stitched frame and outline die set. The floral elements were die cut, inked for dimension and placed in the corners as per the sketch. I added some clear gems around the card and used a clear shimmer brush on some of the pieces.
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
More of the fun animal ephemera was used on this card.
I chose three cat images and placed them inside hexagon frames on a woodgrain background. A sentiment was stamped, cut in two and placed at the bottom. Little peach hearts were added around the card. Easy!
Enjoy,
Alyson
I recently purchased some silly dog and cat ephemera and used one of the dog images for this card.
The card front is a patterned vellum panel that is outlined with a stitched frame. I die cut a light grey stitched piece for the dog and stamped a sentiment for the bottom. The back of the vellum panel also has a frame on it to cover the messy work on the reverse side.
How cute is that dog?
Enjoy,
Alyson
Welcome to Cut It Up Challenge 346!
This is the last challenge of the year and the theme is anything goes.
One of my favourite sets of dies is the Seasonal Frame set from Honey Bee Stamps. There are so many elements and a window can be made for any season. I chose a holiday theme for my card.
All the pieces were die cut and inked. I did use a second set of dies to supplement some of the images. I put a piece of star paper behind the window and adhered everything to a piece of woodgrain paper. The elements were arranged around the corners of the window and I used a white gel pen to add some details. The sentiment was placed in the bottom corner.
Come and join us at Cut It Up and show us how you interpret this challenge.
You have until Jan. 5 to link up your project.
We can't wait to see what you create!
Enjoy,
Alyson
Merry Christmas to you!
This isn't a holiday card as mine have all been posted already... this is just for fun!
This card was created using the Sweet Stems set from Concord and 9th.
I stencilled the images first and then die cut a black outline to fit on top. I stamped the centres of the flowers with a black detail stamp and then added a light blue gem in the centre of each. The sentiment was stamped on a lightly inked panel to match the background and I added a black border around each piece. Easy!
Enjoy,
Alyson
This card design is one that I like to revisit now and then - it's from Gina K and was from one of the Crop and Create events.
I chose four colours and created the same card - two of each colour. The flowers were "stamp kissed" to add another design on top of the solid image. The background of each card was created using a patterned background. I purposely kept them simple - no embellishments.
Enjoy,
Alyson
This is another Sketchy Saturday card... the last of them for a bit.
I chose teal, purple and pink for the colours. The cardstock pieces were woven as per the sketch and placed on a splattered piece of white cardstock. The sentiment was die cut from silver foil and vellum and placed on the right side. The card front was adhered to a teal mat and then a white card base. I added a few silver gems around the sentiment.
Enjoy,
Alyson
This is another Sketchy Saturday card... I'm playing catch up!
I had high hopes for this card but it didn't turn out the way I expected at all... it happens, right?
I stamped the tree with three shades of teal ink and then embossed it with clear embossing powder. A stencil was used to add more ink and then I covered that with glitter paste. Once it was dry, the tree was die cut. I created a silver glitter arch frame and placed the tree on a dark teal background. The hot foiled sentiment was placed across the tree and I added some glitter snowflakes as per the sketch.
Enjoy,
Alyson
This card is from the 30 Minute Card Making Stash Dash.
The parameters for this challenge were as follows: Type of Card: A2 landscape, Colours: crafter's choice, Embellishment: die cut or punch, Technique: stamping, Occasion: birthday or thank you.
I finished easily within the 30 minute time frame.
The floral outline was die cut from white cardstock and inked with Distress Oxide inks. While the inks were out, I also ink blended a piece of cardstock in the same rainbow pattern. The outline was adhered to a white card base and I stamped the sentiment in black and placed that on the ink blended background. I added three tiny flowers in the top corner with black enamel dots in the centres.
Enjoy,
Alyson
I like to do the Sketchy Saturday challenges from Monica Hayward although I often fall behind...
This is a recent sketch.
I die cut a circle background and trimmed it down so I could add a black mat before adhering it to a white card base. The circles were die cut from the same die and inserted back into place. I cut a gold sentiment and placed that on patterned vellum, along with a pair of holly leaves in the corner.
Enjoy,
Alyson
Sometimes, CASEing a great card is a lot of fun! This idea came from Gina from Gina K. Designs.
I didn't have the same inside border die so I used one with scalloped edges. The flowers were stamped, stencilled and die cut and arranged on the left side of the frame. I added a sentiment on the right side and some silver gems. The trademark element on Gina's cards is always a thin black mat and I included one on my card as well.
Enjoy,
Alyson
Welcome to Colour Dare Challenge 683!
This challenge is all about bold and bright colours.
I chose a piece of patterned paper with an alcohol ink design on it. This card is a fun fold card - a very simple one. The right panel was embossed and there is a blank panel for a message once the card is open. I die cut two circles and inked the white one with a dot stencil. The sentiment was placed on top of that and some gold gems were added around the circles.
Come and join us at Colour Dare and show us how you interpret this challenge.
You have until the end of the year to link up your project.
We can't wait to see what you create!
Enjoy,
Alyson
I saw a card like this on Facebook and simply had to make it!
The bodies of the birds were made from folded circles and I cut tiny hearts and beaks from the same papers. The legs were drawn by hand and I also drew the grass at the bottom. So easy but so cute!
Enjoy,
Alyson
I saw a card like this on Pinterest and recreated it in a smaller size.
The border pieces were die cut and I added a piece of gold cardstock between the two pieces. The berries and leaves were die cut and added in the corner. I embossed a sentiment at the bottom and adhered the die cut pieces with foam tape. I used Glossy Accents on the berries.
Enjoy,
Alyson
This is such a great idea for a window - make it into a full front shaker!
The window shape was die cut from the card base and another piece of white cardstock. I created a shaker with "snow" and some iridescent elements. The sentiment was stamped at the top and I added a poinsettia at the bottom. Inside the card, there is a piece of paper with stars so the message has to be written on the back.
Enjoy,
Alyson
Welcome to Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge 660!
The sketch is shown in horizontal format below.
I rotated the sketch to make a vertical card. The flower background was stencilled using eight shades of Distress Oxide inks and was cut down to fit on an A2 black panel. All the lemon pieces were die cut from white cardstock and inked. They were assembled on a triple layered background and I added an embossed sentiment under the image.
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
Welcome to Beautiful Blossoms and our December challenge!
The inspiration photo is below. It is not required to use it but your project must have florals as the focal point.
I loved the colours in the inspiration photo so that is where I took my inspiration. I used my BetterPress system to press the vase and the leaves and then used the coordinating stencils to colour in the leaves. I die cut several flowers and extra leaves and added them to the bouquet. That piece was cut down and matted on dark purple cardstock, green cardstock and then a medium purple card base. I used a purple marker to add dots around the flowers and placed a hot foiled sentiment at the bottom.
Come and join us at Beautiful Blossoms and show us how you interpret this challenge.
You have until January 12 to link up your project.
We can't wait to see what you create!
Enjoy,
Alyson
This card is from the 30 Minute Card Making Stash Dash. This is the second post today - both from the same event but different days.
The parameters for this challenge were as follows: Type of Card: crafter's choice, Colours: black and white, Embellishment: metallic, Technique: stencilling and Occasion: sympathy or just because.
I chose an A2 portrait card and I stencilled the base with black ink. The white rectangles were die cut and I added a black mat behind each of them. The leaf image was die cut and adhered to the top rectangle and I stamped a sentiment at the bottom. Some silver gems were placed around the image.
Enjoy,
Alyson
This card is from another 30 Minute Card Making Stash Dash.
The parameters were as follows: Card style: square, Colour: orange, Embellishment: circle, Technique: dovetailing, Occasion: birthday or sympathy.
I pulled out some old patterned paper with shades of orange in it. Cardstock in orange and light blue were a good complement to the papers. I masked the stamp and stamped the sentiment in 3 colours. A second sentiment (to meet the dovetail requirement) was added underneath. Some gold gems (circles) were placed around the card.
I did finish the inside of the card as well.
Enjoy,
Alyson
This is such a cute little gift idea. It holds three tea bags and the front closes with a small magnet.
I added a cup image to the front as I didn't have any smaller images that fit. This way, the cup itself is lifted to open the package. There is a circle on the back for a message.
Enjoy,
Alyson
Welcome to Cut It Up Challenge 345!
The theme for this challenge is an "oldie but a goodie"... using something old from your stash.
I chose an old stamp that I really like.
I die cut all the rectangles from a set of nesting rectangle dies and on the smallest rectangle, I stamped the floral images in the corners. They were coloured with markers and I used a splatter stamp to add black splatter on top. The sentiment was embossed in white on black cardstock and placed across the card. I purposely kept this simple.
Come and join us at Cut It Up and show us how you interpret this challenge.
You have until Monday, December 22 to link up your project.
We can't wait to see what you create!
Enjoy,
Alyson
I found this card on the Iced Images YT channel.
The finished size is 5x7 so it folds flat to be mailed but this card opens into a gorgeous star shape on the left side.
I chose a bird theme for my card. All the pieces were die cut to create a scene on the front. I added a small birthday sentiment at the bottom and there is a panel on the back to write a message.
I made a second card like this when I taught this in my Facebook group. I embossed the front panel before decorating it with the bird image. The papers are the same colours but I used a more muted design for the star component.
I like to complete the Sketchy Saturday challenges posted by Monica Hayward - just for fun.
The sketch is shown below. Although it is designed for a layout, I created a card instead.
I chose a small part of a scene for the centre of the card. The cardstock colours were pulled from the image and I added small flowers at the bottom (instead of snowflakes).
Enjoy,
Alyson
The berry branch on this card is so cute and I wanted to tie it in to some large letters.
The background was embossed with a holly and berry embossing folder and adhered to black cardstock. The NOEL was die cut from red and silver papers and I inked the branch image and assembled that. The image was placed above the letter O - I had to angle the word to fit it on the card. I added some red Stickles to the berries.
Enjoy,
Alyson
Welcome to Try a Sketch on Tuesday Challenge 685!
I pulled out some of my favourite paper to make my card.
I chose to layer every element three times. The background was embossed and I chose two patterned papers for the squares. The floral images were fussy cut from another piece of patterned paper and adhered to the largest square. The sentiment was stamped and placed at the bottom of the same square. I wrapped a gold ribbon around the card and tied a bow in the front. Easy!
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 206 - our final challenge of this calendar year!
This is a Something, Anything, Everything challenge. Choose your own 3-2-1 recipe.
The small graphic is below - please visit the Double Trouble Challenge Blog for detailed information.
I chose 3 colours, 2 die cuts and 1 sentiment.
The background was created using my BetterPress and the lights were coloured using co-ordinating stencils. I die cut several things - the frame, the lantern, the bow and the hot foiled sentiment. Some of them were inked and then arranged on the card front and I added a gold gem in the centre of the bow. The card front was adhered to a black card base.
Come and join us at Double Trouble 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 Dragonfly Dreams and our December challenge!
The theme for this challenge is to create a tag or a card with a tag.
I created a card with a tag that slips inside the front of the card. I used a floral pattern for the background of the card and coordinating paper to die cut the angled frame. I added a scalloped border and a stitched border to the angled piece. The tag was die cut from two arch dies and I lightly inked the edges of the white piece and added white twine at the top. The sentiment was stamped, die cut and added at the bottom and some coordinating gems were placed around the sentiment.
Come and join us at Dragonfly Dreams and show us how you interpret this challenge.
You have until January 2 to link up your project.
We can't wait to see what you create!
Enjoy,
Alyson
Welcome to Farm Quest Country Christmas and our December challenge!
I stencilled clouds in shades of grey and blue and then stamped lots of pine trees across the card base. The "ice" is holographic paper - although it looks pink in the photo, it can be angled to appear more of a green shade, resembling ice). That can be seen in the second photo. I added a white border just above the ice and added clear Stickles along that piece. The critters were stamped, coloured and die cut and added to the card. A small sentiment was placed in the corner.
Come and join us at FQCC and show us how you interpret this challenge.
You have until January 5 to link up your project.
We can't wait to see what you create!
Enjoy,
Alyson
