Relax & Enjoy

 

Ahhh just what we need right now, to get away from all the awful stuff happening in the world and let nature heal us.  Also it's the middle of winter here in NZ so we're off to Samoa for a week in July with family...woohoo!  (only 3.5 hrs flight away).

Lots of layers to make a scene for the caravan to park in.  The caravan is Sizzix/Tim Holtz die Wacky Transport #1.  Some card smooshed with DI's and misted (sea, sky, sun, caravan which is also stacked), some card splattered with metallic watercolour paints (sand), and some snippets of patterned papers as well to spice it up.  Also black pen and Stickles on the edge of the waves.  The hill with trees is a magazine freebie, other various dies.  I like the simple sentiment - it looks like someone has written in the sand.

Shared on challenges:    

DoubleD-beach

colorthrowdown-835 yellowgreenblue

asyoulikeit-favourite-to-add-sentiment-or-not-and-why I usually add a sentiment this time a fairly simple one

papercraft-challenges-119-summer-vibes

simonsaysstamp-monday-vacation

pammiesinkypinkies-2525-anythinggoes

allsortschallenge-826-seaside

Gentleman Birthday

 A masculine birthday card.  Background made with Adirondack Acrylic dabbers in mushroom and copper, one area with stencil, one area with print of stencil.  One edge with border diecut, edges inked..  Splatter is metallic watercolour paints and D.Ox.spray black soot.  Stamps: Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz.  Matted onto a metallic copper base card which has a matching envelope.

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creativemoments-271-man-or-boy

craftygalscorner-268-fill-in-blank-dads... magnificent moustache

Butterflies Tag

 

I wanted a long thin format to get more butterflies and other stuff on.  D.I. smooshed background on watercolour card, stamped with butterflies, mug rings and lozenges.  Red & black splatters D.Ox.Spray.  One butterfly stamped, coloured with Copics and fussy cut.  Tag or bookmark, whatever you want it to be.  I will be using it as a tag for a book gift.  All stamps: Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz Entomology & Mini Muse.

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welovestamping-june-nature,anythinggoes

aaacolourfulchallenge-colourboard-17

Mr Rabbit

 

This card is for a gentleman with an 80th birthday.

I made the background using metallic watercolours (blues and teals) and smooshing technique. Added spritz and splatter and stamped various arty texture stamps from Tim Holtz, and inked the edges with black DI.  The bow tie is paper pieced, and eye and nose coloured with pencils.  Sentiment stacked, white pen for highlights.  What a fabulous rabbit stamp from Tim Holtz.

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avenue613-june-anything-goes-for guys

crafterscafe-320-anything-goes-masculine

simonsaysstamp-monday-spritz splatter

Celebrate You

 

I made this card to send to our beautiful daughter Lauren who has just won NZ Hairdresser of the Year.  We are so proud of her.  nzherald.co.nz/viva/beauty/viva-beauty-awards-winners-2025

I made the background using shaving foam and food colouring (a great technique which leaves ordinary card feeling like velvet and looking like marble), re-inkers can be used for stronger effects - google cardmaking with shaving foam.  The stamp is a very old Judikins (one of the first stamps I ever bought probably 2005), which is actually a wooden cube with images on 4 sides - I stamped it in soft black to look like marble.  The crown die is a Spellbinders which cuts and embosses (also really old), and don't know what the sentiment is (let me know).  Finished with tiny gold pearls.

Shared on challenges:    

simonsaysstamp-monday-monochrome

craftycalendarchallenge-june-add sentiment

asyoulikeit-to-add-sentiment-or-not-and-why I usually like to add a sentiment of some kind even if it's a simple one

wordartwednesday-anything-goes-weeks-702-703

allsortschallenge-825-ag-whatmakesyouhappy we are so happy for Lauren, a recognition of her achievement.

wordpowerchallenge-june-words

pammiesinkypinkies-2523-anythinggoes

neglectedstuff-625

ellibelles-crafty-wednesday-june-and-july

addictedtostamps--494-any occasion

Martini tag

I've only ever had one martini in my life and it was a vodka martini.  I guess if you're a barperson you'd know the specifications for a gin martini too - here they are!

I couldn't resist the lime colour connection and used DI's to smoosh a tag (tag die ALL & Create), added a stamped panel coloured with watercolour metallic paint and also copics.  Punched a hole with Crop-o-dile. Diecut limes from Memory Box (one cut ready to put on the glass) inked with DI's, sparkle with Stickles and Opal Dust.  Tied with gutsy twine. All using snippets.  I know you can buy drinks kits at the liquor store and this would make a great gift tag to go with it.

Shared on challenges:   

addictedtostamps-494-anyoccasion 

simonsaysstamp-monday-masculine

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simonsaysstamp-wednesday/simon-says-masculine

fabnfunky-618-use-your-die-cuts

pammiesinkypinkies-2523-anythinggoes

justusgirls-778-die-week

pixiessnippetsplayground-508 the whole tag is made with snippets.

 

Vintage Birthday

 

I'm pleased to be guest designer for The Male Room challenge this time.  The challenge is a FUN FOLD,  with lots of designer inspiration - so check it out, and join us here:  themaleroomchallenge

Lets go for a ride in the countryside in a vintage car.  I used a wheat coloured textured card for the base.  The fun fold is a wiper fold (there are lots of tutorials on youtube, I used one by Therese Calvird).  All the decorating can be done before it's  assembled which makes it a winner for me.   Edges inked, forest trees sanded, the car is diecut from black card and painted with gold metallic watercolour paint.  Car and fence are Tim Holtz Bigz dies, the trees are Couture Creations diecuts.  Bold sentiment CZ Design.  The road is grey card diecut in a curve with lines in white pen.

I thought most males would like this fold to fiddle with.  It fits in a C6 envelope and stands up nicely on a shelf.  A personal message can be written on the back panel.  Unfortunately the colours don't show very well owing to it being winter here with low light.

    

Car & fence dies: Tim Holtz Bigz dies

Patterned paper: Basic Grey

Sentiment stamp: CZ Designs

Tree dies: Couture Creations

Also: Distress inks, metallic watercolour paint, white pen, curvy dies

Shared on challenges:    

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avenue613-june-anything-goes-w-opt-masculine

craftsgalorechallenges-june-anythinggoes
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pennyschallenges-598-anythinggoes
simonsaysstampmonday-masculine

pammiesinkypinkies-2522-anythinggoes

Dragonfly

 

Gatefold card fold, monochrome.  DI's brushed all over the front, edges, and inside leaving a blank circle in the middle, trying to get an ombre look  Dragonflies stamped in blue, covered in Stickles when dry.  Sentiment stamped. Quite a challenge to keep it simple, monochrome and still be interesting.  A flange inserted in the gap so it closes nicely, edge cut with fancy cutter.  Ribbon closure.

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Know Better Bird

 

Always about the animals!  Animals must be the focus of the work.

Check your animal into the challenge at Critter Crazy, here:  crittercrazychallenge

I think the know better bird sits on our shoulder and says things like this to us!

The image is stamped, coloured with copics in fine feather strokes.  Then fussy cut.  The background EF is a hessian pattern and I have sanded it to get the white core showing and matted it onto a green card just for a change.  The stamped sentiment is matted onto black and slightly offset to look like a shadow.  All popped up on foam tape.   Also white pen, gems.  I like it standing on the sentiment strip.

Shared on challenges:    

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craftycatz-694-AG-make us smile
allsortschallenge-824-birthday
tryitontuesday-things-with-wings
pammiesinkypinkies-2522-anythinggoes

Enamelled Flower

 

Having a bit of fun with three stamps. The focal flower is heat embossed with three colours (turquoise, lime & gold), and the edge also roughly heat embossed.  The background is stamped in script with Versamark ink and dusted with mica powder with edges fuzzed.  Sentiment heat embossed.

Stamp:  THoltz

Bg stamp:

Sentiment:

Also: Mica powders, EP, gold pearls

Shared on challenges:

allsortschallenge-824-happy-16th-birthday 

simonsaysstamp/monday-emboss it

asyoulikeit-favourite-type-of-embossing-and-why I like heat embossing & never get tired of the magic when it happens

aaabirthday-73-anything-birthday-goes

craftygalscorner-267-fill-in-blank-fancy... flowers

Birthday Smiles

 

Gotta love this big smile.  The background is silver textured iridescent paper, croc is paperpieced from dappled paper (same as the oval of the sentiment).  Fussycut croc, diecute ovals, stamped sentiment.  A red mat, gem.  Does anybody know where this stamp is from? I've had it for ages.

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craftyanimals-94-animals

classicdesignchallenge-mayjun-masculine

80 Birthdays

 

This is for Ian's cousin Kevin who turns 80 today, hence a mancard.  We all play cards together fairly regularly which is why I chose the Kaisercraft embossing folder for the background.

The background is embossed then sanded to get the texture.  The numbers are diecut from tartan/plaid paper with a stitched die and stacked.  The embossed sentiment is Tim Holtz Bold Sayings - stamped onto card inked with blue DOxI's, edges inked then matted onto black card.  Holographic star and silver twine tie it all together.  

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classicdesignchallenge-mayjun-ag-masculine

allsortschallenge-824-happy-birthday  Congrats Allsorts

sweetstampinchallenge-boys-boys-boys/masculine

Star Tag

 

A tag made in the middle of the night with elements from the Bitz Box on my desk.  A diecut tag (from a [reviously made stencil print) & stars from AALL&Create, a stamped whale, some itty bitty sentiments, a bit of netting, some silver dots (drop-outs from a die), and some ribbon & yarn.  I was inspired by a post from Brenda who described stand up tags (which I'd never heard of before) - thanks Brenda stamping-fantasies-stand-up-tag

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justusgirls-776-stencil stars

kraftychicks-769-masculine

Old Friends

 

Old friends are like sunshine!   Enjoying each other's company, a bit of sunshine, bare feet on the sand.   

I stamped the image, paper-pieced their outfits, sponged some clouds (Unique Creations)  using a diecut as a stencil, and did a little Copic colouring.  Stickles on sentiment, white pen highlights, base card is red.

Shared on challenges:

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girlzcreativefun-9-patterned paper paper piecing