Krafty Chicks challenge #834 - CAS (clean and simple)

Good morning lovely friends and welcome to my little corner of blogland. It's time for a new challenge over at Krafty Chicks challenge and this week we are on Week 3; and as always the theme is 'CAS (clean and simple)' and Diane is our hostess. Now we know that CAS is subjective but generally it's lots of open space (doesn't have to be white), no embellishments (or very few) and an uncluttered design. It can be a difficult design to pull off but we hope you will take on the challenge and come over and join in the fun with us.

I created a fun stencil background and decided to cut it into strips so that I could make two cards this week; one birthday card and one get well card.  They turned out very clean and simple but perfect for mailing.  I hope you like them.

Here are my cards:

A closer look at the birthday card:

and the inside for this one:

A closer look at the get well card:

and the inside for this one:

I began by cutting a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and actually used the recently released Christmas star stencil from Uniko to create my background.  I masked off two of the sections and used one for the yellow ink and one for the lime green ink.  It was a bit time consuming and as I did it 'by eye' it has some imperfections but it shows how you can stretch your stencils to create something completely different.  When I cut down the card I didn't plan on making two cards so the strips are slightly different widths.  The birthday card strip is 1 5/8" x 5 1/4 and this was matted onto a black layer with just a tiny border of the black showing on the left side.  For the get well card the strip is 1 5/16" x 5 1/4" and again a black layer was added with a thin border on the right side.  I cut two more white panels 4" x 5 1/4" and adhered the strips with double sided tape.  I cut two stitched circles from white card and stamped the sentiments in black ink.  I also cut a black mat circle and adhered them together using liquid glue.  The sentiments were added over the strips with foam squares.  The panels were adhered to my card bases with double sided tape.  For the inside I cut the left over stencilled background into 1/2" strips and again added black mat layers.  I added them to the right side of my white panels using liquid glue and stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink.  The panels were adhered to the card base using double sided tape.  

I would like to enter my cards into the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps & More challenge - any occasion

Colorful Options challenge - lemongrass option 1 & 4

Creative Crafting Uncles challenge - ATG

Double D challenge - when life hands you lemons (inspired by the colours)

Papercraft challenges - back to basics

I hope you will be able to join us for our 'CAS' challenge and I cannot wait to see your creations in our linky. Please leave some love for my fellow chicks - Leanne, Diane and Lori. Thank you so much for stopping by; I appreciate your lovely comments.

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Uniko - Ink & Flip: Christmas star, star stencil 

Uniko - everyday sentiments stamp

Uniko - wonderful day stamp (retired)

Gina K Designs - master layouts 03 (for circle dies)

Gina K Designs - ink pads - wild dandelion and key lime

Limetree Craft - 280gsm silky smooth white card (not available but other options are here and here)

Limetree Craft - 300gsm smooth white card (for card base)

Limetree Craft - 220gsm black card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

I have an Affiliate Link for the Gina K Designs store. If you are considering making a purchase I would appreciate you using my links as it will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. 

Thank you x

Uniko's Christmas *almost* in July release - day 4 introductions

Good morning friends and welcome back to my blog. It's day four and the final day of introductions for Uniko's Christmas *almost* in July release. Today's introduction is another clear stamp set called 'Winter Garlands' and it contains 3 different gorgeous garlands that will fit vertically or horizontally on your A2 panel. This is another set that can be used for both Christmas and all year through. 

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I went very clean and simple for today's card.  I cut a white panel of alcohol marker friendly card to 4' x 5 1/4" and stamped the holly garland vertically more towards the left side of the panel.  I used my Promarkers to colour the holly and berries and stamped the sentiment in black ink.  I adhered the panel onto my card base using double sided tape.  Literally about 4 steps to make this card and it would be perfect to mass produce.  For the inside I cut another white panel and stamped the garland horizontally at the bottom of the panel and again coloured it with my Promarkers.  I stamped a strip sentiment below the garland using black ink and then adhered the panel onto my card base using double sided tape.  I didn't think my card needed anything else as I loved the CAS design. 

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

* to be updated *

Please check out what Bev and my fellow brand ambassadors have created by clicking the links below:

Bev

Izzy

Julie

Natalie

Vinita

It's release day tomorrow and all the products we've introduced this week will be available in the Uniko store at 9am.  There will also be a giveaway of a £20 e-gift card so check out the details on the Uniko blog tomorrow.  I will be back at the same time with one extra card so I hope you will come back and check it out.  

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Uniko - winter garlands clear stamp (releasing tomorrow)

Uniko - Christmas wishes clear stamp (for outside sentiment)

Uniko - pure florals: poinsettia (for inside sentiment)

Promarkers

Limetree Craft - 300gsm smooth white card (for card base)

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Memento - tuxedo black ink pad

Heffy Doodle - alcohol marker friendly card - store now closed

Krafty Chicks challenge #829 - CAS

Good morning lovely friends and welcome to my little corner of blogland. It's time for a new challenge over at Krafty Chicks challenge and this week we are on Week 3; and as always the theme is 'CAS (clean and simple)' and Diane is our hostess. Now we know that CAS is subjective but generally it's lots of open space (doesn't have to be white), no embellishments (or very few) and an uncluttered design. It can be a difficult design to pull off but we hope you will take on the challenge and come over and join in the fun with us.

When I was searching through my stash recently I came across this die set that I have had for years but never used and thought it was time to show it some love.  It has a retro, 60's vibe so went with bright and funky colours.  I think it turned out really fun and I hope you like it too. 

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by cutting a white panel 4" x 5 1/4".  I die cut the retro squares frames from black card and the inner pieces from yellow, orange and pink and adhered them together using liquid glue.  I added the strips vertically on the left side of the panel again using liquid glue.  I found a fun scripty 'hi' sentiment that fit the space to the right of the strips and stamped that using black ink.  The panel was adhered to the card base with double sided tape.  For the inside I cut another white panel and adhered the black frame using liquid glue and filled the gaps using a mix of the yellow, orange and pink inners.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre using black ink and adhered the panel to the card base with double sided tape.  Once the die cutting and glueing was done this was a super quick card to make.  

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

A Cut Above challenge - ATG with a die cut

Cardz 4 Galz challenge - for a friend or friendship

CAS on Friday challenge - only dies and word stamps

The Neglected Stuff challenge - the dies were released in 2012 and this is the first time I've used them!

Unicorn challenge - no design paper

I hope you will be able to join us for our 'CAS' challenge and I cannot wait to see your creations in our linky. Please leave some love for my fellow chicks - Leanne, Diane and Lori. Thank you so much for stopping by; I appreciate your lovely comments.

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

MFT - retro squares die-namics

MFT - winter wreath clear stamp (for 'hi')

MFT - everything wonderful clear stamp (for inside sentiment)

Limetree Craft - 280gsm silky smooth white card (not available but other options are here and here)

Limetree Craft - 300gsm smooth white card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

coloured card from my scraps bin

Krafty Chicks challenge #828 - Christmas

Good morning lovely friends, I appreciate you stopping by and I hope you're all doing ok. It's time for a new challenge over at Krafty Chicks challenge and this week we are on Week 2; as always the theme is 'Christmas' and I am your hostess. We are slowly adding to the Christmas pile, which really takes the stress off later in the year. We hope you will come over and join in the fun with us.

I recently bought some Penny Black wooden stamps from a friend who was de-stashing her craft room and had to use one of them on today's card (you know how much I love the PB hedgies!).  I was pushed for time when making my card so kept things very clean and simple, no dimension and it is a true SIP card this week. I think it turned super cute and I hope you like it too. 

Here is my card:

A closer look at the cute hedgie:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by cutting a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" from alcohol marker friendly card and stamped the image at the bottom.  I coloured the image with Promarkers and added some white gelly roll pen highlights. I stamped the sentiment in the upper left of the panel using black ink.  I added the panel onto a piece of red glitter card cut to 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" and then adhered it to my card base using double sided tape.  No dimension or embellishments but this makes it perfect for mailing!  For the inside I cut a white panel 3 3/4" x 5" and stamped the image in the bottom using black ink.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre and added the panel onto another red glitter card layer.  The panel was then adhered to the card base using double sided tape.  

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

613 Avenue Create challenge - ATG optional twist 'any holiday'

Craft Rocket challenge - animals

Crafty Animals challenge - ATG must include an animal

Creative Friday challenge - new (my stamp is new to me)

Critter Crazy challenge - ATG with a featured critter

Fab 'n' Funky challenge - Christmas in July 

Moving Along With The Times challenge - use a colouring medium (I used Promarkers)

Merry Little Christmas challenge - anything Christmas themed 

Peace on Earth Christmas challenge - anything Christmas themed

Pearly Sparkles challenge - Christmas in July

Penny Black Saturday challenge - ATG optional theme 'on the move'

Simple Clean & Simple challenge - ATG optional theme 'birthday'

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - 4 legged friends

Sweet Stampin' challenge - Christmas in July

The Dream Factory challenge - inspired by the Cleaner - CAS cards

Triple B challenge - birds, blooms or butterflies (hope my little robin is ok)

Try It On Tuesday challenge - animals: real or imaginary 

I hope you will be able to join us for our 'Christmas' challenge and I cannot wait to see your creations in our linky. Please leave some love for my fellow chicks - Leanne, Diane and Lori. 

Thank you so much for stopping by; I appreciate your lovely comments.

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Penny Black - wishes for kisses 1505H wooden stamp

Uniko - rustic Christmas stamp (for sentiments)

DCWV - holiday collection glitter mat stack 

Promarkers

Sakura - white no. 10 gelly roll pen

Sakura - black ballsign glaze pen (to darken eyes and nose)

Limetree Craft - 300gsm smooth white card (for card base)

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Memento - tuxedo black ink pad

Heffy Doodle - alcohol marker friendly card (store now closed)

Krafty Chicks challenge #823 - CAS

Good morning lovely friends and welcome back to my little corner of blogland. It's time for a new challenge over at Krafty Chicks challenge and this week we are on Week 3; and as always the theme is 'CAS (clean and simple)' and Diane is our hostess. Now we know that CAS is subjective but generally it's lots of white space, no embellishments (or very few) and an uncluttered design. It can be a difficult design to pull off but we hope you will take on the challenge and come over and join in the fun with us.

I recently purchased a whimsical ephemera book after being enabled by another crafter on Instagram.  The images are so cute and the colours are gorgeous but after colouring with markers for over 20 years I was a bit stuck with how to use them (silly I know as I can just treat them the same way).  I decided my CAS card was the perfect opportunity to christen the book.  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the sweet image:

Plus I decorated the inside (sort of):

I had the front panel left over from the sympathy card I made recently (I had cut this panel to use as a mask for the circle on that card here).  As it already had some sea glass ink around the cut edge I decided to lightly blend sea glass all over the panel.  I die cut the ephemera image with a slightly smaller circle than the opening and created a frame cut from teal card using two different sizes of circle dies.  I adhered the frame and image together with double sided tape and using the front panel as a guide adhered it directly onto the card base.  I stamped a birthday sentiment in coral reef ink (to match the image), added foam squares behind the front panel and added that onto the card base; so that the image was recessed below it.  I didn't add any embellishments this time as I thought it was cute as it was.  For the inside I cut a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and stamped the sentiment in the centre with the coral reef ink.  I ink blended at the bottom with the sea glass ink and then added the panel to the card base with double sided tape.  I may have to die cut a small flower or something to add to the inside as it looks a little bare.  

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

As You Like It challenge - favourite season (I love spring as everything is starting to come back to life and it's getting warmer but not too warm)

Cardz 4 Galz challenge - a circle card (one or more circles)

Classic Design challenge - ATG with optional twist anniversary or birthday

Crafty Animals challenge - ATG must include an animal

Critter Crazy challenge - ATG with a featured critter

Simon Say Stamp Wednesday challenge - cute critters

The Four Seasons challenge - ATG spring optional mood board

Unicorn challenge - something new (my image came from a new ephemera book that I just got)

I hope you will be able to join us for our 'CAS' challenge and I cannot wait to see your creations in our linky. Please leave some love for my fellow chicks - Leanne, Diane and Lori. Thank you so much for stopping by; I appreciate your lovely comments.

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Giraffe Creative Studio - cute whimsy spring whimsical ephemera book

Waffle Flower - nesting circle dies

Limetree Craft - 280gsm silky smooth white card (not available but other options are here and here)

teal card from scraps bin

*Gina K Designs - blooming sunflower mini stamp (for outside sentiment)

Gina K Designs - birthday cheer mini stamp (for inside sentiment)

Gina K Designs - ink pads - coral reef and sea glass

*I now have an Affiliate Link for the Gina K Designs store. If you are considering making a purchase I would appreciate you using my link as it will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. 

Thank you x

Krafty Chicks challenge #813 - Masculine

Good morning lovely friends; I hope your week is going well so far. I'm sharing my card for the new challenge over at Krafty Chicks challenge and this week we are on Week 4; as always the theme is 'Masculine' and Lori is our hostess. We know it's not everyone's favourite challenge, but we do have to make some masculine cards sometime and this challenge will hopefully help you get them done. We hope you will come over and join in the fun with us.

I recently got this fun stamp from Uniko and thought I would show it some love before putting it away. It's a great stamp and so versatile for any age/gender although it's perfect for masculine cards as I always think they prefer cards that are fairly clean and simple (well my husband does anyway).  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the image:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by stamping the image onto alcohol marker friendly card using memento black ink and coloured it in various shades of blue Promarkers trying to create an ombre look from left to right (it's not perfect but it looks quite cool I think).  I decided to re-stamp the image using versafine clair black ink to make the lines more bold and crisp.  I also added some white gelly roll pen highlights.  I used a stitched rectangle die to cut out the panel and also used the largest stitched rectangle from the same set to cut out the navy card panel.  I wanted to pull in more of the lighter blue/teal so used a stitched rectangle from another set to cut a panel from the blue/teal card to fit between the other two.  I adhered all the panels together and added it to the card base with double sided tape.  I didn't add anything else as I like the CAS look of the stamp as it was.  For the inside I cut a white and navy panel using the stitched rectangles and stamped a sentiment in the centre with black ink.  I took a strip of white card and using my Promarkers created an ombre blend to match the front of the card.  I used the stitched rectangle to cut out the strip so that it would match the white panel and adhered it with liquid glue.  I adhered the panels together and added it to the card base with double sided tape.  

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

AAA Cards challenge - anything CAS goes optional zoo or animals

Addicted to Stamps & More challenge - birthdays

Hand Stamped Sentiment challenge - color challenge

Seize The Birthday challenge - add a tag or ATG (no topping for me this time)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - ATG

I hope you will be able to join us for our 'Masculine' challenge and I cannot wait to see your creations in our linky. Please leave some love for my fellow chicks - Leanne, Diane and Lori.

Thank you so much for stopping by; I appreciate your lovely comments.

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Uniko - background blocks: birthday scramble stamp

Uniko - everyday sentiments stamp

Uniko - everyday spring stamp

Simon Says Stamp - stitched rectangle dies

Promarkers

Sakura - white no. 10 gelly roll pen

Limetree Craft - 280gsm silky smooth white card (not available but other options are here and here)

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Memento - tuxedo black ink pad

Heffy Doodle - alcohol marker friendly card (store now closed)

*Gina K Designs - master layouts 2 (for the middle stitched rectangle)

*I now have an Affiliate Link for the Gina K Designs store. If you are considering making a purchase I would appreciate you using my link as it will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. 

Thank you x