Big Butterfly

Today's card features an old favourite stamp of mine called 'Big Butterfly' by Indigo Blu. I stamped it on to a piece of patterned paper, from the 'Vintage Dreams' pad by Craft Sensations, using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using 'Vintage Peacock' embossing glitter from WOW. I added a sentiment, using a stamp from the 'Sketched Flowers' set by Simon Says Stamp, then distressed the edges a little before adding it to a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Fab 'N' Funky - Embossing
• I Spy With My Little Eye - Something with Wings
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday (Optional 'Off the Edge')
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Feminine
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

Guest Designer - AAA Birthday Challenge

Today I'm sharing some projects I made for a Guest Designer spot at this month's AAA Birthday Challenge!

The theme this month is to 'Add a Tag'...either feature a tag on your project, or make a matching tag.

I chose to make a matching Birthday card and tag for my Aunt's birthday. 

For the card, I used a mixture of butterfly stamps (Indigo Blu 'Big Butterfly' and the 'Butterflies' set from the Urban Stamps range by Papermania), stamping them on to watercolour paper using Versamark ink, then heat embossing them using gold embossing glitter from WOW. I then watercoloured the butterflies using Distress Inks (Scattered Straw, Spiced Marmalade, Fired Brick, Seedless Preserves, Chipped Sapphire, Broken China & Gathered Twigs), and added a heat embossed sentiment (in matallic gold this time), using a stamp from the 'Go To Words' set by Visible Image. I distressed the edges a little, then added it to card blank.

For the tag, I picked just the large butterfly, and again heat embossed in in gold glitter on watercolour paper, and coloured it using Distress Inks. I trimmed it down, distressed the edges, then added it to a kraft tag along with some coordinating twine.

For more inspiration from the fabulous Design Team, please pop over the AAA Birthday Challenge.

Big Butterfly

Today's card features an 'oldie, but a goodie' stamp from Indigo Blu called 'Big Butterfly'. I stamped it on to watercolour paper using Versamark Ink, then heat embossed it using 'Metallic Bronze Sparkle' embossing glitter from WOW. I watercoloured it using Distress Inks (Cracked Pistachio, Peacock Feathers, Uncharted Mariner & Gathered Twigs), then stamped a sentiment (from the 'Signature Greetings' set by Memory Box) in black ink, heat embossed it using clear embossing powder, before splattering some more of the Distress Inks over the top. I distressed the edges a little, then added it to a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goe (Optional 'Wings')
• Creative Knockouts - Birthday Wishes
• Dream Valley - Your Favourite Colours (My fvourite colour is blue...specifically 'Teal')
• Seize the Birtthday - Optional 'Use Your Initials' (Luckily my initials are HB for 'Happy Birthday'!)
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Embossing

Baubles Flourish

I have another one layer Christmas card to share today...this time I tried out a version of a technique I spotted on this fabulous card by Loll. She used gilding flakes, and I don't have any of those, but I do have lots of lovely metallic embossing glitters from WOW, so thought I'd see it I could do something similar with those. What a liked most about Loll's card was the mixture of different metals...not something I ever think to do, but on this card I managed to combine five different colours of the metallic sparkle embossing glitters (Gold, Fool's Gold, Silver, Platinum & Brass). The stamp I chose is called 'Baubles Flourish' by Indigo Blu. I stamped it on to a black card blank using Versamark Ink, then sprinkled a little of each of the embossing glitters over the image until it was all covered. I then did the same with the sentiment (from the 'Festive Phrases' set by Funky Fossil).

Rather disappointingly, all of the different colours of embossing glitter aren't showing up terribly well in the photographs...but I promise you, that in real life it does look really rather pretty - will definitely give it another go.

Challenges for this card:

• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Creative Knockouts - Celebrations
• Krafty Chicks - All Occasions
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations - Add Some Sparkle

ABC Christmas Challenge - J & K are for?

It's the second Wednesday of a new month, so that means it's time for a new ABC Christmas Challenge! Wei is the host, and the themes are:

'J is for Joke'

(Funny/Punny Sentiment or Humorous Image)

&

'K is for Kraft'

The prize on offer for this challenge is a $10 My Favorite Things gift card from Wei:

For my 'J is for Joke' card, I combined a few of the critters from a Lili of the Valley set of 'Carol Singers' stamps...masking the central mouse image...to create a little scene. I coloured them using watercolour pencils, then added a sentiment from the 'Caroling Chicks' set by Stamping Bella. I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen before adding the panel to a kraft card blank.

On my 'K is for Kraft' card, I used my 'Connor's Crown Jewels' stamp by IndigoBlu...stamping it on to kraft card using a white pigment ink pad, then heat embossed it in white. I made a simple background, using my 'Collage Music Background' stamp by Hero Arts...again stamping and embossing in white on more kraft, then distressed the edges a little before layering them on to a kraft card blank.

I'm also entering these cards into the foloowing challenges:

• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Optional 'Hand Coloured Image')
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Happy Little Stampers (Christmas) - Anything Christmas Goes
• Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Big Butterfly Notecards

I have another set of simple one layer notecards to share today. These ones feature the 'Big Butterfly' stamp by Indigo Blu. I stamped it on to kraft card blanks using Versamark Ink, then heat embossed the butterflies using WOW Vintage Amethyst, Midnight, Silent Night and Vintage Peacock embossing glitters. The sentiments are from the 'Big Messages' set by Paula Pascal.

Challenges for these cards:

• Corrosive - Anything Goes
• Cards Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Optional 'Sparkle & Shine')
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes

Collector's Edition Butterfly

I have a set of simple notecards to share today, featuring an Indigo Blu stamp I received for my birthday called 'Collector's Edition Butterfly', and some WOW embossing glitters 'Blue Moon' and 'Space Dust'.

I stamped the image on to squares of card to match the card blanks using Versamark Ink, then heat embossed the image with the embossing glitter...'Blue Moon' on these first three:

...and 'Space Dust' on the other two. I inked around the edges of the square, and heat embossed that too, adding matching heat embossed sentiments (stamps from the 'Go To Words' set by Visible Image) to the card blanks before adhering the butterfly squares.

Challenges for these cards:

• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations - Animals, Birds & Bugs

Big Blue Butterflies

Today's card features my 'Big Butterfly' stamp by Indigo Blu. I started by stamping my sentiment (from the 'Sketched Flowers' set by Simon Says Stamp) in the centre of my watercolour paper, then stamped the butterfly off the edge a couple of times using Versamark Ink, then heat embossed them using 'Metallic Gold Sparkle' embossing glitter by WOW. I watercoloured the butterflies using a few different shades of blue Distress Ink (Broken China, Mermaid Lagoon, Peacock Feathers & Chipped Sapphire), then distressed the edges a little before adding the panel to a teal card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Optional 'Embossing')
• Fab 'N' Funky - Embossing
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Clean & Simple

My Favourite Cards of 2020

Today I'm sharing my favourite five cards of the year...for more details of any of the projects, click on the photo to go to the original post.

Succulents

This first card was one of my first makes of the year, and features gifts I received last Christmas...it was alos my first attempt at no line colouring.

Sketched Flowers

This is similar to one of last year's favourite cards, but with a different layout & in a different colourway. This stamp is still a favourite, and I love how the colours of the flowers stand out against the burgundy background.

Big Butterfly

This stamp has featured of previous years favourite lists, but I still love it! I love the way the watercoloured rainbow background looks behind it on this card.

Cheesecake Parade

I of course had to pick some Penny Black critters...and I'm choosing this card to remind myself to use more washi tape on my cards!

Spooky

I had a lot of fun making this card. I don't usually send Halloween cards, but as I wasn't going to be able to hand deliver my usual treat boxes this year, I made a couple of cards to send instead. 

Thanks to all of my lovely blog visitors this year - I've loved reading all your comments, they're very much appreciated!

Wishing you all a Happy & Healthy New Year!

Snowflake Lace

I have a simple one layer Christmas card to share today, featuring a lovely snowflake stamp from Indigo Blu called 'Snowflake Lace', which I stamped off the top edge of my kraft card blank, using a white pigment ink, then heat embossed in white. The sentiment stamp is by Penny Black, and was also stamped and heat embossed in white.

Challenges for this card:

• AAA Cards - Along the Edge (Optional 'Snowflakes')
• CAS Christmas - Non-traditional Christmas Colours
• Less is More - One Layer Cards - Festive
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Christmas

Let it Snow

Today's card was inspired by the new challenge over at Less is More...CASE challenges are not usually my kind of thing, but I loved the layout of Sharon's card:

I decided to make a Christmas card, and started by stamping my Indigo Blu 'Snowflake Lace' stamp on to a kraft card blank using white pigment ink, then heat embossed it in white. I used my Lawn Fawn 'Stitched Hillside Border' dies to cut the over layers, and Tim Holtz 'Snowflakes' dies for the...um...snowflakes...all from snippets of kraft card. I coated the snowflakes using Versark Ink, then heat embossed them with 'Diamond White' embossing glitter by WOW. The sentiment stamp is by Penny Black, and is also heat embossed in white.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Winter Scene or Snow
• Crafty Friends - More than One Die
• Less is More - CASE Sharon's Card
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Make it Sparkle

Big Butterflies

I have a couple of cards to share today, inspired by the 'Butterflies' theme of this month's Twofer Challenge. I have several butterfly stamps and dies in my collection, but went with my favourite...'Big Butterfly' by IndigoBlu. 

On the first card, I used Distress Inks (Chipped Sapphire, Broken China, Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade and Festive Berries) to stamp an almost rainbow on to watercolour paper - I didn't really leave myself space for violet! I simply stamped a sentiment (from the 'Everyday Sentiments' set by Happy Little Stampers) over the top in black, then trimmed the edges of the panel so that it would fit on a DL card blank. I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

For my second card, I stamped the butterfly just once on to watercolour paper using Versamark Ink, then heat embossed it using 'Midnight Dream' embossing powder by WOW. I watercoloured the butterfly using 'Chipped Sapphire' and 'Black Soot' Distress Inks, then, once it had dried, splattered more of the same inks over the top. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Sketched Flowers' set by Simon Says Stamp, and is heat embossed in 'Metallic Gold Sparkle' embossing glitter from WOW.

Challenges for these cards:

• Allsorts - Something Beginning with B (Butterflies)
• Inkspirational - Colouring or Painting (just the second card)
• The Sisterhood of Crafters - Ink it Up!
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
• Twofer - Butterflies

Guest Designer - Stamping Sensations Challenge!

Today, I'm excited to be sharing with you a guest designer card for the Stamping Sensations Challenge! As the winner of February's challenge, I was invited to join them this month, where the theme is:

'Somewhere Over the Rainbow'

The prize for the lucky winner is a £25 voucher to Be Creative!

I started by masking off a strip across the middle of a square of watercolour paper using masking tape, then I painted a rainbow across it using watercolour paints. Leaving the masking tape in place, I stamped my 'Big Butterfly' stamp (by Indigo Blu) over the rainbow using black pigment ink, then heat embossed it using clear embossing powder. I then removed the masking tape, and stamped and heat embossed the sentiment (from the 'Go To Words' set by Visible Image), before distressing the edges of the watercolour paper and adding to a kraft card blank.

For more inspiration from the fabulous design team, please pop over to the Stamping Sensations Challenge.

ABC Christmas Challenge - E, F & G are for?

We have another fun ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...Carol is the host and the themes are:

'E is for Embossing'

'F is for Freebie'

&

'G is for Gold'

Carol has kindly donated a prize for the lucky winner of this challenge:

On my 'E is for Embossing' card, I used a stamp that I recently picked up in a charity shop...called 'Baubles Flourish' by Indigo Blu. I stamped it on to a navy card blank using Versamark ink, along with a sentiment made using words from the 'Everyday Messages' set by Happy Little Stampers, then heat embossed it all using 'High Heels' embossing glitter by WOW.

On my 'F is for Freebie' card, the 'freebie' element is some snowflake backing paper that came free with a craft magazine. I used it as a background for some sweet Penny Black hedgies from the 'Christmas Hugs' set. I tore a snippet of white card to make some snowy ground, then matted everything on to some silver glitter card.

On my 'G is for Gold' card, I dusted off an old Cuttlebug snowflake die, and cut a snowflake from some gold glitter card. I embossed a piece of white card using my Tim Holtz 'Falling Snow' folder for the background...heat embossing a Lili of the Valley sentiment along the bottom in gold. I matted it all on to some gold mirror card before adding it to my card blank.

I'm also entering these cards into the following challenges:

• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Creative Knockouts - Die Cuts/Punches (Just the third card)
• Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.