HQFSCAT - You are Tea-rrific

 Welcome to Heart's Quest for Shaped Cards and Tags and our March challenge!

This is always a challenge for shaped cards or tags. 

I chose to create a teapot card. I used my Cricut to cut two bases and the blue border for the pot. The cup and flowers were masked and I coloured the images. The sentiment was stamped on the cup and I added a few heat lines above the cup. I added clear Stickles to the centres of the flowers.

Come and join us at HQFSCAT 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

DD March - Stream of Butterflies

 Welcome to Dragonfly Dreams and our March challenge!

The theme for this challenge is butterflies. 

This card was a labour of love! I die cut the butterfly outline from gold foil and then proceeded to inlay every little piece of those butterflies using various colours of cardstock. Once that was finished, I embossed the sentiment and drew dots with a white gel pen around some of the butterflies. The card front was adhered to a gold foil card base. 

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

You have until the first Friday in April to link up your project. 

We can't wait to see what you create!

Enjoy, 

Alyson

PS March - Kind Soul

 Welcome to Pearly Sparkles and our March challenge!

The theme for this challenge is multi-coloured florals. 

I chose an old stamp for my card. The image was embossed on a slight angle across the card front and coloured with markers. I also embossed the sentiment and used a black marker to draw lines around the card. I also added some black dots around some of the images. 

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

You have until March 28 to link up your project.

We can't wait to see what you create!

Enjoy,

Alyson

Fold Back Gift Card Holder

 I'm sure I have made this card style before but I love it and needed a gift card holder!

I chose a turquoise colour scheme with three patterned papers in that colour. The front image was stamped and stencilled. The card folds down flat for mailing and there is a place to insert a gift card inside, along with a place to write a message. 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

CD 693 - Lacy Floral Card

    Welcome to Colour Dare Challenge 693!

The chart is shown below. 

I used the closest colours I had to ink blend my floral piece although the green in the chart looks more blue on my card. That was set on a stitched rectangle and then a lace die cut. I added foam tape to the back of the rectangle piece and adhered that entire section onto a stitched card front. A few gems were placed around the image and a sentiment was added in the corner. 

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

Wild Birds Postage Collage Card

 I love the postage collage collection from Waffle Flower and I own several of the products from that set. 

I die cut the outline and ink blended each section with shades of orange and yellow. Using a lot of masking paper and a masking stencil, I embossed each of the images in the sections. The sentiment was embossed on black cardstock and adhered to the front. The postage panel was adhered to a black mat and then a white card base. 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Surrounded by Tulips

 I had an idea in mind for this card for a while... 

It's funny how things don't always work out as planned - this was one of those situations. 

The background was hot foiled with rainbow foil. I die cut all the tulip and leaf pieces, inked them and assembled the flowers. They were arranged around the edge of the card and I used Press 'n Seal to pick up all the pieces. They were adhered to the background and I added the stitched frame on top. After the flowers were in place, I thought I would lightly splatter the flowers with black paint - but I had to mask off the frame. In hindsight, I wish I had skipped the splatter - I think it makes the card look rather messy. The sentiment was added in the centre with foam tape. 

Enjoy,

Alyson

Open Oval Card

 I saw a card like this on Pinterest and wanted to try it myself. 

I chose dark Kraft cardstock and the oval was die cut from a card front. I stamped the images along the sides and I also stamped a sentiment on a separate piece. The butterfly was coloured and die cut. The card front was adhered to the Kraft base with a piece of patterned paper under the opening. The sentiment was placed across the bottom with foam tape and I added some gold thread and the butterfly. 

I like this so much that I have prepared all the pieces in different colour schemes to create 16 more cards at an upcoming crop! 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

AH 670 - Just a Note Shaker

Welcome to Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge 670!

The sketch is shown below.

I decided to create a shaker which was embedded into the card front. The shaker has an ombre background panel but that's hard to see with all the shaker filler. I embossed the background and added a floral stem along the left side (in place of the tag). A hot foiled sentiment was added near the bottom of the shaker and I used clear Stickles on the centres of the flowers.

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

Lucas the Giraffe 3

 This is the last card I made using the die set Lucas, the Giraffe. 

I ink blended a background with oxides and splattered it with white paint. That was die cut with a deckled edge die and I also die cut a black mat. The giraffe was assembled and added to the front. A few butterflies were placed around Lucas with trails drawn behind them. 

I expect to revisit this die set in the near future - I think Lucas is just so sweet!

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Lucas the Giraffe 2

 This is the second card made with the Lucas the Giraffe die set. 

I die cut and assembled the giraffe and I stencilled a background with clouds and grass. The fence was stamped, coloured and die cut and I joined two of them together to add some height. Lucas was placed behind the fence with his hooves sitting on top. I added a sun in the corner and a sentiment on the left side. 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Cut It Up 350 - Seas the Day

 Welcome to Cut It Up Challenge 350!

The theme for this challenge is "by the river" so anything ocean, sea or lake related works.

I love this lighthouse die and I also have the coordinating stencil set. I used the stencils to create the background and then die cut all the pieces to form the lighthouse and the rocks. The lighthouse has a tiny light behind it and there is a spot to press on the card front to make the light work. I stamped a sentiment on the front and aded a couple of birds in the sky. 

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

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

We can't wait to see what you create!

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Lucas the Giraffe 1

 Quite some time ago, I purchased a set of dies to make Lucas, the giraffe. I finally found some time to play with that set!

The giraffe was die cut from brown and black cardstock and assembled. I lightly inked a white piece of cardstock and added a blue frame around it. That was set on a leaf embossed background that was sanded to reveal the white core. The sentiment was placed at the right and I added a few blue gems. Isn't Lucas adorable? 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Open Lattice Card

 This is another card I found on Pinterest and loved it - I had to create it myself!

The lattice section in the centre of the card is open to the inside. I chose a blue and green colour scheme and pulled the yellow colour for the flowers from the tiny dots in the centre of the flowers on the patterned paper. There is a second frame adhered on the inside to cover the "working area". A heat embossed sentiment was added at the bottom. 

Enjoy,

Alyson

TSOT 689 - Tiny Deer

  Welcome to Try a Sketch on Tuesday Challenge 689!

The sketch is shown below. 

I chose a very soft, pastel colour scheme. The panels were adhered to a card base and I die cut all the (tiny!) pieces for the deer. The deer was assembled and I added details with brown and white markers and some ink. Before I adhered the deer, I lightly ink blended the inside frame with green ink. The sentiment was stamped and added under the image. 

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 210 - Stay Salty

  Welcome to Double Trouble Challenge 210!

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

I embossed a piece of blue foil and added it to a piece of lighter blue cardstock. The was placed slightly behind two pieces of patterned paper. The bag of chips image was die cut, inked for dimension and assembled with the sentiment in the centre. I also die cut several chips and added "salt" to some of them. That was adhered to the front and the entire blue card front was adhered to a yellow 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

BB February - Birthday Florals

  Welcome to Beautiful Blossoms and our February challenge!

The inspiration photo is below but that is optional, as long as your project features florals.

I used the colour scheme from the photo. 

The floral images were stamped at the top and bottom of the card front and coloured. I die cut the sentiments from green and purple cardstock and arranged them in the centre. I didn't add any embellishments or extras to the card to keep it clean and simple. 

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

You have until March 12 to link up your project. 

We can't wait to see what you create!

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Friend Accordion Box Card

 This was a labour of love, especially since I had to start a second time after messing up my first attempt! 

The two boxes on the ends anchor the accordion across the centre. This cannot be folded down flat so it is definitely a card to be given in person. 

The boxes on each side DO open, allowing small items to be placed inside. I die cut a lot of flowers and leaves and arranged them across the front. Some gold gems and gold Stickles were added around the card and the sentiment was placed at the top. I also stamped a secondary sentiment on the base of the card.

Enjoy, 

Alyson

CD 691 - Sweet Friend Butterfly

  Welcome to Colour Dare Challenge 691!

The colour grid is shown below. 

I used all three colours. 

I ink blended a background using Cracked Pistachio, Seedless Preserves and Mermaid Lagoon Distress Oxide inks and die cut the grid pattern from that piece. It was added to a piece of white cardstock and adhered to a card base with a black strip on the left side. I die cut a butterfly cross piece from black cardstock and silver glitter paper and placed it across the grid. The sentiment was embossed on black and added at the bottom. Three black gems were placed around the butterfly. 

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

Market Day Card Event

 I participated in an online card class last weekend, run by Scrapbook and Cards. If you are ever wanting to take a paper crafting class - cards, scrapbooks, mixed products - check them out! Here is the link to their site: Scrapbook and Cards Today. Their events are open to anyone worldwide!

I received an extensive package of stamps, dies (TONS of dies), stencils and cardstock. There were three classes, some with bonus cards. I completed all of them - and was exhausted at the end of the day! 

There is such a great variety of cards from this event - and I have the products to create more!

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Set of Cards - Gina K Style

 I work on sets of cards at crops and I finished 4 sets of 8 of these cards (32 cards in total). There are eight colour schemes. The cards are 5x7 and there was a ton of die cutting for each. I love how they turned out!

Which colour is your favourite? 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Postage Collage Animal Cards

 These two cards are for the ABC Alphabet Soup Challenge for the Papercrafter's Workshop store. These are my C and D cards for the month of February. 

C is for cats... I embossed blue cardstock with a paw print pattern and ink blended some postage shapes with an ombre blue blend. The images were embossed in black and I used a white gel pen to add details. I arranged them on the front and added a small stamped sentiment under one of the images. 

D is for dogs... I kept the postage collage frame intact and ink blended a blue and purple background. The dog images were die cut and arranged on the front. I used a white gel pen to add details and I heat embossed two sentiments as well. 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Side Pleat Card

 I purchased a paper pack a while ago - it's single sided but the patterns are gorgeous. I used one of the sheets for this card. 

The left side is pleat folded five times and over the last pleat line, I placed a thin ribbon. The pleated panel was adhered to a gold mat and then a teal card base. I have some ephemera from this kit and I used both an image and a sentiment on this card. I added some gold thread under the sentiment and placed a few gold gems around the image. 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

AH 668 - Square Florals

Welcome to Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge 668!

The sketch is shown below. 

I love this sketch - the concept of rotating the same image for the tiny squares and using the same (or a similar) image for the larger section is neat!

I chose a floral stamp and I stamped the same image on all eight small squares. They were coloured using shades of pink and green. A larger images from the same set was stamped in the biggest opening and coloured. I used a black marker to draw around the edges of the smaller pieces and arranged them as per the sketch The sentiment was embossed on black and added across the larger image. I used a black pen to draw dots around some of the flowers and leaves. 

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

Bee Mine

 This card was created for a year long challenge run by The Papercrafter's Workshop, a scrapbooking store. Every month, they post at least two letters from the alphabet and the projects must be focused around elements that begin with that letter. There are prizes each month and also a grand prize at the end of the year. 

January (although it was a late start) is A and B. We have until the end of February to complete the January projects as well as the two for February (C and D). This is my "B" project.

The focal "B" events on my card are bees, the colour blue and ink blending. 

I ink blended a background and splattered it with water. The flower and the bees were stamped, coloured and die cut and I added heart trails behind each of the bees. I used clear Stickles on the bees' wings and on the centres of the flowers. The sentiment was placed at the bottom and I added the front to white cardstock and then a blue card base. 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Amazing Butterfly Shaker

 I like to do the Sketchy Saturday challenge that is posted by a friend of mine. The sketch is shown below. 

I stayed true to the sketch as there were so many layers. I chose a teal, purple and light green colour scheme. The third layer was stencilled and I turned the small rectangles into shakers and inked a purple butterfly to go on top. The sentiment was placed across the butterfly. 

Enjoy, 

Alyson

FQCC February - Peace on Earth Scene

 Welcome to FarmQuest Country Christmas and our February challenge!

This is always a Christmas challenge with an outdoor theme. 

I used a set of stencils from Altenew to create the background. I wanted to stencil the trees but even my darkest green ink allowed the darker grey to show through so I did the stencilling on a separate sheet of white cardstock and fussy cut the trees. The church image was die cut and assembled and I placed that image on the trail. I added clear Stickles on various parts of the snow and coloured in the light on the lamp post. A white gel pen was used to add stars in the sky and the sentiment was placed at the top. I also added red and gold Stickles to the trees for some decoration. 

The same set of stencils (different parts) were used to create a second card, this one with winter trees. I created the layers in various shades of blue and stencilled the trees and added glitter paste on top. The house images were die cut, inked and assembled. I placed them along the trail and stamped the sentiment at the top. The hills were lined with clear Stickles. 

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

You have until March 5 to link up your project. 

We can't wait to see what you create!

Enjoy, 

Alyson

Cut It Up 349 - You are Amazing

 Welcome to Cut It Up Challenge 349!

The theme for this challenge is "this makes me happy". 

I love florals - and I also love sending unexpected cards to others, just to brighten their day. Both of those things make me happy!

I used a set of stencils to create the floral image, blending a mix of pink, yellow and orange for the flowers. I cut that piece with a stitched rectangle die and die cut a second, larger rectangle from black cardstock. The sentiment was stamped at the bottom and I added a die cut "you" just above that. The front was adhered to the mat layer with thin foam tape and the last layer was adhered to a white card base. Easy! 

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

You have until Monday, February 16 to link up your project. 

We can't wait to see what you create!

Enjoy,

Alyson