Just Because Stems Card(s)

 This card is from the 30 Minute Card Making Stash Dash.

The parameters for this challenge were as follows: Type of Card: A2 Portrait, Colour: orange, Embellishment: shiny, Technique: fussy cutting and Occasion: just because or get well soon. 

I lightly ink blended a background using shades of yellow, orange and red. The image was stamped across the card with black ink and I stamped the sentiment on one side. I fussy cut a piece of gold foil cardstock to cover the bottom of the stems and placed the card front on a gold foil mat and then a black card base. I finished in about 18 minutes - probably a record for me! 

After I had time to look at the card, I decided to colour the flowers and leaves as well.

Which is your favourite? 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

CD 689 - Birthday Embossed Leaves

  Welcome to Colour Dare Challenge 689!

The graphic is below. 

This colour scheme was a struggle for me... I finally decided to use all the colours as well as white and gold. 

I cut a strip of each of the colours and taped them together on the back. That was embossed with a leaf pattern. I split up the pieces and adhered them to a white card base, leaving a small space between each piece but continuing the embossed pattern across the card. The sentiment was die cut from gold cardstock and placed at the bottom along with some gold glitter gems. 

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

Warm Hugs Snowmen

 Although Christmas is over, it is definitely winter here! Snowmen are great for any winter card. 

This card was inspired by one made by Mindy Eggen. I sprayed the white background with solar spray and when it was dry, I embossed it with a cascading circle pattern. The snowmen were stamped, coloured and die cut. I also stamped several snowflakes and the sentiment and die cut those pieces. Everything was arranged on the white background and that was adhered to the blue base with foam tape. I use clear Stickles to add extra shimmer to the centres of the snowflakes and various embossed circles. 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Nice List

 This card is from the 30 Minute Card Making Stash Dash. 

The parameters for this challenge were as follows: Card Style: A2 landscape, Colour: red, Embellishment: 3 of a kind, Technique: stamping and Occasion: crafter's choice. 

All I could think of when red was announced was Santa... I stencilled the floor with a brick stencil and lightly inked the background with blue ink. The images were stamped, coloured and fussy cut. I arranged everything on the card font and stamped the sentiment at the top. The card front was adhered to two mats and I added some red gems (more than three) on the card. After I had photographed this, I added clear Stickles to the star, dog tags Santa's hat. 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Split Flowers Birthday

 This card was created for the Sketchy Saturday challenge post. The sketch is shown below. 

I flipped the sketch horizontally so the larger strips would be on the left side. I chose some gorgeous patterned paper and cut the strips but kept the image intact. They were arranged on green cardstock and I added that to a teal front and then a light blue card base. The sentiment was stamped on leftover paper and added to a teal circle. I placed a few gems around the sentiment. 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

AH 666 - Thinking of You

Welcome to Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge 666!

The sketch is shown below. 

I initially went to my Cricut to cut some wonky rectangles... decided it was easier to just draw them myself. I used a few markers in shades of green and drew the rectangles. I also splattered that piece with green reinkers and gold paint.The sentiment was stamped and placed over some leaves. I also added gold metallic thread and some gold gems to the card before adhering it to a peach card base. 

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

Inked Circles Card Set

 This set of cards was inspired by a recent video by Jennifer McGuire. 

The circles were masked and inked in various colour schemes. Some of the images were stamped within the circle (masking paper still in place) and others were stamped once the masking paper was removed. Texture was added by inking an adhesive eraser and stamping over the images and also embossing with a dot embossing folder. Some of the embossed images were sanded to highlight the white underneath. All the sentiments were angled along the circles. 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Birthday Acetate Card

 This is a card style I have made before but I made a few changes this time. 

The outer edge of the cut circle was embossed with a die. It left a pretty impression around the circle. I placed acetate between the top layer and the card base and the sentiment was stamped inside the card. The flower was die cut from white cardstock and I inked all the pieces. The rest of the greenery and berries were die cut from coloured cardstock and some of the pieces were flipped over because the reverse orientation worked better. Everything was arranged and picked up with Press 'n Seal. Before adhering anything down, I used a splatter stamp and purple ink to add some splatters at the top and bottom. The images were adhered around the circle and I added a few purple gems to finish off this pretty card. 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Cut It Up 348 - You're In My Heart

 Welcome to Cut It Up Challenge 348!

The theme for this challenge is "my heart". 

I made a card style that I haven't done for quite some time. The side of the card folds inward, leaving an area to add shaped cuts both on the outside and inside the folded card.

I used some old patterned paper from my stash with shades of magenta, sea glass and gold. I chose a black card base and cut the papers to fit the panels. Several heart images were die cut and I stamped on a few of them as well. Hearts were placed on the front and inside the card and the base panel has an oval for a place to write a message. The sentiment was added on the front and a few gold gems were placed on the heart above the sentiment. 

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

You have until Monday, February 2 to link up your project. 

We can't wait to see what you create!

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Purple Anemone Cards

 These two cards were inspired by a post I saw on Pinterest. 

I die cut the anemone and leaf pieces from white cardstock and inked them. One background was embossed with a woodgrain embossing folder and the other was lightly inked in yellow (I should have inked a larger section as the flower was larger than I anticipated) and a die cut background was placed on top. Both of those pieces were adhered to the card bases with craft foam. The flowers were arranged on the backgrounds and I stamped and added sentiments plus some iridescent gems to each.

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Friendship Coneflower

 This card was inspired by one made by Mari Clarke. I don't usually combine pink and orange but a friend of mine has made several cards with that colour scheme and it is growing on me. 

The flower and leaves were die cut from white cardstock and inked. I splattered the flower with white paint as well. The scalloped background was inked using yellow and pink, blending in the centre to make orange. A stitched oval was adhered with foam tape and the flower was placed on top. I inked a piece of white cardstock with pink ink and stamped the sentiment. That was added across the leaves and a few clear gems were placed around the card. 

Enjoy,

Alyson

TSOT 687 - Warm Winter Wishes

 Welcome to Try a Sketch on Tuesday Challenge 687! 

This can be a difficult sketch to follow... I struggled to add the elements at the bottom. I flipped the sketch over so the larger circles were on the left side. 

I have a set of dies and stencils that create this gorgeous mountain scene. Once the stencilling was complete, I added some texture paste and glitter paste to represent snow. The cottage was die cut and assembled and I also die cut the deer. Those images were placed at the bottom of the scene and I added more texture paste to the house. The sentiment was stamped in the top corner and the card front was adhered to a green mat and then a white 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 208 - You're So Cool

Welcome to Double Trouble Challenge 208!

The details are below - please visit the Double Trouble Challenge Blog for detailed information. 

The colours I chose were black, white, blue and yellow. 

I masked a section of the card front and applied light blue ink and then clear glitter paste to imitate a body of water. Above that, layers of white glitter paper were adhered and I added clear Stickles between each layer (hard to see in the photos). The igloos and penguin were stamped, coloured and fussy cut. I arranged the igloos on the "snow" and placed the penguin on his chunk of ice in the water. A stamped sentiment was added at the top. I adhered the card front to a light blue card base. 

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

Happy Hello Swing

 This card was created for a challenge that a friend of mine posts once a week. 

The sketch is shown below. 

I chose to use an oval instead of an arch shape. I die cut the oval from white cardstock and then embossed the rest of the white piece. The oval was ink blended and I stamped some greenery at the bottom and a girl on a swing. Everything was adhered to a black card base with foam tape. I added a sentiment and a small butterfly as per the sketch. 

Enjoy, 

Alyson 

Split Butterfly Card

 I love this card style - it's easy but so very pretty. 

The card base was cut diagonally and I moved the lower piece down. I adhered a purple glitter circle with a die cut butterfly across the opening and then cut off the remaining base piece. I coloured some clear gems with a purple marker and added them to the front. A hot foiled sentiment was placed across the butterfly. 

Enjoy, 

Alyson 

CD 687 - Friend Striped Circle Card

 Welcome to Colour Dare Challenge 687!

The graphic is below. 

I used the three colours in the form of strips of cardstock that form a circle. I die cut a scalloped circle and various flowers and leaves from white cardstock. The scalloped circle was placed around the coloured one and I used both silver and turquoise gel pens to draw lines on the leaves and flowers. They were arranged in two corners and I added silver gems to the centres of the flowers and around those images. The sentiment was die cut from silver paper and vellum and placed across the circle. 

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

BB January - Birthday Wishes Spotlight Card

Welcome to Beautiful Blossoms and our January challenge!

This challenge is always about florals - that must be the focal point of your project. 

The inspiration photo is below - it is optional to use that. 

I had my card created before I even thought about checking the inspiration photo... good thing any florals will work! 

I chose to create a spotlight card. I stamped a large floral image on two corners of white cardstock, The centre was cut out and I coloured only the images on the inside piece. The card was assembled with a pink base, a black mat and the outer stamped panel.The centre panel was adhered to a black mat and placed back on the image, lining up all the parts. I heat embossed a sentiment and placed that on the front. Some clear gems finished off this pretty card.

Come and join us at Beautiful Blossoms and show us your floral themed projects. 

You have until February 12 to link up your project. 

We can't wait to see what you create!

Enjoy,

Alyson

Green Strips Birthday Card

 This card is from the 30 Minute Card Making Stash Dash event. 

The parameters for this challenge were as follows: Type of Card: A2 landscape, Colour: green, Embellishment: circle, Technique: embossing and Occasion: crafter's choice.

I finished well before the 30 minute timer! 

I chose a variety of green patterned papers and cut them into strips. They were offset on a leaf embossed background that was also splattered with black paint. The sentiment was stamped in three shades of green ink and die cut with a circle. I adhered the card front to a black base and added a few black enamel dots around the sentiment. 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Rabbit with Glasses

 This adorable card was created using a rabbit die set. I have struggled with this set as the image is quite large... 

I die cut the pieces for the rabbit and added some inked and drawn details. The glasses were created by using circle dies and pieces from the whiskers. The rabbit was set inside a circle frame on an embossed background. I added a sentiment along the side and dotted each of the openings on the circle with blue Stickles. 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

AH 664 - Hello Friend Silhouette Leaves

Welcome to Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge 664!

The sketch is shown below. 

I used my Cricut to cut a large circle from masking paper. I ink blended the partial circle on the left side of the card and splattered the ink with water. Once the masking paper was removed, I added a black leaf image and matted the front on a black card base. The sentiment was placed along the edge and I added three black gems to finish off this card. 

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

Twisted Easel Birthday Card

 This card is from the 30 Minute Card Making Stash Dash event. 

The parameters for this challenge were as follows: Type of Card: fancy fold, Colour: blue, Embellishment: plant, Technique: colouring and Occasion: crafter's choice.

I finished right on the 30 minute timer! 

I chose old patterned papers and stamped two images and coloured them. The leaves were adhered to the front section of the fold and I added a bow where the stems meet. The sentiment was stamped, die cut and stacked several times to hold the fold in place. 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Winter Extended Gatefold Card

 For lack of a better name, I am calling this an extended gatefold card. It appears to be a regular gatefold card until the card is opened and WOW - the inside can be pulled forward to view a scene in 3D.

I used Memory Box dies for the inside frames. Each frame is progressively smaller and there is an ink blended panel on the back where I placed a silhouette deer image. I added a strip of glitter paper at the bottom to cover up the uneven edges (you didn't read that - it will remain our secret...) 

On the front of the card, there is a belly band with two deer silhouette images and a sentiment. I die cut a lace background piece and adhered half of it to each panel. 

This card is fairly bulky - probably one to hand deliver. There is a place on the back for a message. 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Cut It Up 347 - Sending You a Rainbow

 Welcome to Cut It Up Challenge 347!

The theme for this challenge is to use your favourite die set. 

I love rainbows so I chose one of my rainbow dies for my card. 

The pieces were cut in rainbow colours and I cut a black outline. I arranged the pieces inside the frame and adhered that to the card front. I ink blended a piece of white cardstock with oxide inks and die cut the word "rainbow" along with a black shadow. The smaller part of the sentiment was stamped at the top and I placed the rainbow sentiment underneath.

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

You have until Monday, January 19 to link up your project. 

We can't wait to see what you create!

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Purple Rose Quad Fun Fold Card

 This pretty card is not difficult to make and it folds flat to a standard A2 size. 

I chose a purple and green colour scheme. I embossed some of the white panels and used patterned paper for others. The rose image was stamped, coloured with markers and adhered across the four cross pieces. I brushed some sections of the flower with a clear shimmer brush and a few purple gems were placed around the image. There is a white panel on the back to write a message. 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

FQCC - Layered Winter Scene Card

 Welcome to Farm Quest Country Christmas and our January challenge!

Any holiday outdoor scene project is required for this challenge. 

I saw a card similar to this one and I wanted to try it myself. It was more difficult than I anticipated... 

I decided on a blue colour scheme. The circle pieces were partially die cut to allow a ground layer to be cut on each. I stamped the sentiment on the white card front before adhering anything together. I die cut the deer and several trees and arranged them on the pieces to show through to the front. The layers were adhered together with thin foam tape. I added a yellow moon and used a white gel pen to add stars to the sky. 

Come and join us a FQCC and show us how you interpret this challenge. 

You have until February 5 to link up your project. 

We can't wait to see what you create! 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

TSOT 686 - It's Your Day Rainbow Card

 Welcome to Try a Sketch on Tuesday Challenge 686!

The sketch is shown below. 

I changed the shapes to circles as they just looked better for my design. 

I used 24 Distress Oxide inks to stencil to lower part of my card. That was splattered with gold paint and I chose three patterned papers from an alcohol inked paper pad for the circles. Everything was matted on black cardstock and I added a hot foiled sentiment and some gold gems.

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 207 - Lemon Squeeze

 Welcome to Double Trouble Challenge 207!

This challenge is all about shapes and colours. The small graphic is below - please visit the Double Trouble Challenge Blog for detailed information. 

This card was my fourth attempt... I really struggled with the "square" element.

I settled on a fruit based paper pack and chose eight different patterns. They were arranged around the outside of the card on white cardstock. I matted that piece on dark green cardstock and the same green paper was used for the large square mat. I splattered the white piece with green ink and arranged the lemon image on top. An embossed sentiment was added just over the lemon. 

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

DD - You're in My Heart

   Welcome to Dragonfly Dreams and our January challenge!

The theme for this challenge is florals. 

I chose a large image that I foiled in silver and then used stencils to colour. I fussy cut the image and placed it on a detailed die cut background placed over green cardstock. I added a stitched frame around the edge and placed a sentiment in the lower corner. Gems were added to open sections on the background. 

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

You have until January 30 to link up your project. 

We can't wait to see what you create!

Enjoy, 

Alyson