Hats Off Grad

A CAS one layer card!  And a toast to the new grad: new beginnings!

I stamped directly onto the card, then masked the image and sponged distress ink around the silhouette. Because the sentiment is a clear stamp I bent it to where the hat would be if it was lifted off.


Stamps: My Favourite Things
coloured with Copics

Shared on challenges:
casology week-229-toast
myfavoritethings-color-challenge-60
simplylessismoore/challenge-307-308-children
timeout challenge-73-inspired-by-words

BlueChristmas

A blue Christmas, well blue and silver really.  And you already know I like simple...  and you might have guessed I really like smooshing.

The background is matt metallic silver paper.  For the tree, I coloured white card using smooshed distress inks, then embossed it before adding silver Glimmermist.  This meant it collected in the nooks and is quite subtle.  Then trimmed it to a tree shape, inked the edges and raised on 3D foam.

Words EF: C

raft Creations
Star EF: Sullivans
Liquid Pearls, silver cord, silver star.

Shared on challenges:

craftypurplefrog-winter-blues
cuttlebugmania-a colourful Christmas
tuesday-morning-sketches-383
inspirationdestination ag-no-117
cas-ualfridays 163-christmas-hanukkah
trimmiescraftchallenge-395--anything
pile-it-on-123-celebrations
happylittlestampersdecember-cas-challenge
cupcakeinspirations 388

Contrast Merry Christmas

Christmas doesn't have to be red and green to be merry and fun.  I like the contrasts for this one and the simplicity; after you see the colours, the gold embossed sentiment becomes the focus. 

Dies: Spellbinders
Stamp:  Hero Arts

Shared on challenges:
cuttlebugmania i-am-dreaming-of-colourful
tuesday-morning-sketches-383
incywincydesigns-non-traditionalChristmas
wordartwednesday anything-goes-challenge-weeks-262-263
craftycreations merry-Christmas
trimmiescraftchallenge-395-anything
cas-ualfridays 163-christmas-hanukkah
creatalicious-105-anything-goes-with Christmas

Poppy jar

This is my last post on the design team at Die Cut Divas - the challenge is layers: die-cut-divas

Thanks for having me on the team this past year Divas!

Our sponsor is:

I used an image from A Day For Daisies:
adayfordaisies

Image: A Day For Daisies
Coloured with Copics
EF: Heidi Swapp
Photo Corner Punch: Martha Stewart
Rounded corner punch: Couture Creations
Sentiment stamp: Creativ
Brads


Shared on challenges:
classicdesignteamchallenge 1st-december
modsquadchallenge a-little-bit-of-spring
trimmiescraftchallenge-395-anythinggoes
tuesday-morning-sketches-383
wordartwednesday-anything-goes-challenge-weeks-262-263
worldwideopendesignteamchallenge15th-december-2016

Joyeux Noel

My last Christmas card, made for my French teacher. 


Both Stamps: Papermania
LiquidPearls, ribbon


Shared on challenges:
pileitonchallenge celebrating
craftycardmakers-179-christmas-with-twist
deepocean challenge-144-silent-night
craftycreationschallenges331-any-holiday
starstampz christmas-challenge
cas-ualfridays 163-christmas-hanukkah
qkrstampede-challenge-222-christmas
southerngirlschallenge-150-anything-goes-team-lou
pennyblackdecember-challenge B&W+one
incywincydesigns non-traditional colours

that's fishy

I have someone who loves this stamp so I'm always trying to think of different ways of using it.

Background is made using distress inks.  The fish is painted with a thin layer of KindyGlitz for shimmer. The splatter is metallic gold.

Stamp: Inkadinkadoo


Shared on challenges:

addictedtostamps-challenge-224-cas
craftycatzchallenge-351-anything-goes
craftycreationschallenges 330-masculine
catchthebug-challenge-make-us-laugh
craftyfriends challenge-47
pennyblackatallsortsdecember-black-and-white-plus blue

Vintage Birthday

I used a sketch and a bingo board as an inspiration starter for this one.



Allsorts:  blue&brown-dimension-masking line.



Car Stamp: Tim Holtz
Sentiment and background dots: Verve Stamps

The circle area is masked.  I used distress inks to 'spotlight' that corner and also for the dots stamping.  Edges distressed. The car and sentiment is stamped using Versafine inks in sepia and black.  The banners are coordinating scraps with the top one raised on thick 3D foam, and the whole front is also raised on 3D foam for dimension.  A strip of glittery tape is added for the road.

Shared on challenges:
sketchsaturday week-443
allsortschallenge week-394395-blue-bingo
craftycreations-masculine
lilpatchofcraftyfriendschallenge-48ag
southerngirlschallenge-149-anything-goes-team-trace
tuesday-throwdown-323-anything-goes

Gift pouch

Christmas all month long at Come And Get It challenges, join in the fun, check out the ideas:
cagichallenge

This penguin is so cute from sponsor Bugaboo:
bugaboostamps.com/Little-Penguin-Winter--reindeer

Pouch is made using We R Memory Keepers tool.  Penguin is stuck on with 3D glue dots to make it stand out.  I used multicolour dots because we have a colourful summer Christmas, and we do have penguins (lots of kinds), and this one sparkles in the sun.


Image: Bugaboo (Penguin Reindeer)
Coloured with Copics
Snowflake Die: Couture Creations
Ribbon, KindyGlitz
Shared on challenges:
creatalicious challenge-105-anything-goes-withchristmas
fabnfunkychallenge-331-glitter-and-sparkle
trimmiescraftchallenge-394-15th-of-december-christmas
tuesday-throwdown-323-anything-goes
craftysentimentslast-challenge-of-year-anything-goes
inspirationdestinationchallenge ag-no-116
glitternsparkle challenge-219xmasglitter
craftycalendar december-challenge-christmas-time
craftycardmakers 179-christmas-with-twist

Elf Christmas

What could be nicer than a wee elf to read out the challenge over at Come And Get It?  You guessed it - a month of Christmas challenge: cagichallenge

and our sponsor - Make It Crafty - provided this cute image:  makeitcrafty.com/charlie-elf-digi-stamp


Image: Make It Crafty
coloured with Copics
Die: Couture Creations
Sentiment stamp: Papermania
Also:
Ribbon, white gel pen, gold pen


Shared on challenges:
pileitonchallenge celebrating-2016
qkrstampede-challenge-222-christmas
thecraftyaddictschallenge-30ag-christmascolours
brownsugarchallenge-229-redgreenwhite
pinspirational-challenge-180christmas
dragonfly-dreams-challenge/Christmas
happylittlestampers-december-anything-goes-with-dies

Ribbon Santa

Good Old Santa.  I like this modern looking version from Angies:  AngiesCardsandDigis


The challenge over at Crafters Café is use ribbon on anything.  Check it out:  crafterscafe

Layers and colours.  I like that the paper has the traditional colours then zoops it up with turquoise.  I used the die sentiment because it looks like a postmark.

Image: Angies (Santa Head)
Coloured with copics
EF: freebie from Practical Publishing
Die Sentiment: Craft Creations
Die label: Spellbinders
Paper:  Rosie's Studio
Ribbon, gold cord, bell





Shared on challenges:
cuttlebugmania santa-baby
thecraftyaddicts-30ag
trimmiescraftchallenge-394-christmas
pileitonchallenge celebrating-2016
http://creatalicious-105-anything-goes-with Christmas
craftycalendar december-challenge-christmas-time
inkychicks challenge-76-christmas-card
happylittlestampers-december-anything-goes-with-dies
open-mindedcrafting-challenge-12-stitching

A Christmas candle

A vanilla scented candle decorated using embossed electicians tape, decorated with ribbon and bling.  Not only will the candle shine at night but the bling shines during the day.

What could be a nicer little home made gift?  And in non-traditional colours.


EF: Couture Creations (Twiggy Christmas)
Electricians Tape, ribbon, gems, large gem brad.


Shared on challenges:
avenue613challenge-192-anything-goes-woptional
corrosivechallenges -12-gold-or-silver-christmas
celebrating-2016-pile-it-on-challenge
allsortschallengeweek-393-christmas-lights
glitternsparkle challenge-218ag
cuttlebugmania shine_19
qkr-stampede-challenge-221-nontraditional
craftycardmakers179-christmas-with-twist
countryviewchallenges december-2016-christmas

Vellum roses

I used a sketch for the design of this card, and used multiple stamps onto vellum  to construct the four layer rose.  Each layer has a 3d glue dot adhering it.  I love the look of vellum but, because solvent ink is used, I hate cleaning the stamps afterwards!




Roses layers stamp: Verve
Sentiment stamp : Verve
Doily die: Couture Creations
EF: Docrafts
Pearls


Shared on challenges:
tuesday-morning-sketches-381
carabbiemoments-challenge-108
classic-design-team 1st-december-2016
crafting-with-friendschallenge-33
craftysentiments anything-goes-challenge
inspirationdestinationchallenge/ag-no-115
brownsugar challenge-228-anything-goes
lilpatchofcraftyfriends challenge-47
worldwideopendesignteamchallenge15th-november-2016
glitternsparklechallenge -218
wordartwednesday-weeks-260-261-anything-goes

Mistletoe bough

I love using analogous colours and used this turquoise and lime combination as a non-traditional Christmas colour choice.  I wanted a tone on tone effect and lots of texture. 

I used two embossing folders and two patterned papers, and the plain coloured card has inked edges. The sentiment diecut and mistletoe diecut are multi-layered.  The flake is raised above the chopped up tulle; pearl added.

Holly EF: Sullivans
Snowflake EF: unknown
Sentiment die: Creative Dies
Mistletoe die: Couture Creations







Shared on challenges:
mojo-monday-477-contest
craftyfriends challenge-46 MChristmas
diesrus-challenge-62-christmas
qkr-stampede-challenge-221-non trad Chr.Colours
craftycatzchallenge-350-christmas-card-non traditional Colours
creataliciouschallenges-104-anything-goes
avenue613 -192-anything-goes-woptional
deepoceanchallenge-143-santa-is-coming-to-town
aloha-friday-challenge-86-christmas

Snowflake Box

I wanted a box to put some chocolates in for a little gift, so made one using We R Memory Keepers box maker.

I used  green and silver patterned paper for the box (which is really moss green, not gold like it has photographed), silver paper for the snowflakes and a scrap of green dotty paper for the sentiment.  I put the sentiment on with deep 3D foam tape.

Box paper: Dovecraft
Snowflake die: Couture Creations
Sentiment stamp: Papermania
Also: glitter tape, Kindyglitz and a large pearl

Shared on challenges:
cas-ualfridays 162-glitter-and-snowflakes
fussy-and-fancy-challenge-178-christmas
disdigidesigns traditional-christmas-colors
crafting-with-friends-33 ag
aloha-friday-challenge-86-christmas
diesruschallenge-62-christmas
sweetstampinchallenge let-it-snow
craftycalendar -december-christmas-time
craftingfromtheheartchallenge-139

Southern Christmas Penguins

We don't have polar bears or red-breasted robins but we do have penguins - lots of them and lots of variety too, some of them endangered like the yellow-eyed penguin.

Anyway, this one is doing a little dance to wish you  the joys of Christmas.


Image: Pink Petticoat coloured with Reno marker pens.

Shared on challenges:
craftysentiments glitter-challenge
aaacards cas-game-79-christmas
avenue613 challenge-192-anything-goes/holiday happiness
allsortschallenge/week-392-cas

Christmas Bear Tag

Christmas-anything-but-a-card is the challenge theme at Come And Get It this time:  cagichallenge


Sandra Caldwell (Babycakes) is our sponsor and has this cute new image hot off the design board:  shop/babycakes
#1219 Bearly Lit Up

Image:
coloured with Copics
Tag die: Sizzix/Tim Holtz
Border die: Couture Creations
Sentiment Die: Poppy Stamps
Also: ribbon, kindyglitz, white gel pen, inked edges.


Shared on challenges:


qkrstampede-challenge-220-christmas tag
tuesday-throwdown-tt321-make-tag
deepoceanchallenge-143-santa-is-coming-to-town
cinspirations challenge-263-christmas-creations
craftyfriendschallenge-46-merrychristmas
hidinginmycraftroom -278-christmas-colors
glitternsparklechallenge-217christmascolours

Kiwi Christmas

In the southern hemisphere at Christmas time we are not looking for warmth, we are looking for coolth!

The EF with kiwi images is just right for us, with our native birds and flowers , jandals/flipflops, other iconic symbols and lots of stars.

I dyed some card with distress inks, then when dry, using dark blue ink, I letterpressed with the EF (Craft Creations) .  I really like the depth and texture it gives, and apart from the metal stars, I think it needs nothing else.




Shared on challenges:
abc-challenge/u-is-for-unconventionalchristmas
deepoceanchallenge-143-santa-is-coming-to-town
fabnfunky challenge-329-christmas
cinspirations challenge-263-christmas-creations
carabbiemomentsofcraftchallenge-107ag
fussyandfancychallenge-178-christmas

Layered Circle Feathers

Lots of Layers for the Die Cut Divas challenge this month: 
die-cut-divas

The white base card has a blue layer, a white mulberry paper layer, then a patterned paper.  Three distress-ink-dipped feathers are tied with silver cord and gems added to balance the composition.

Circle dies: Spellbinders
Large feather die: Hot Off The Press
Small feather die: Spellbinders







Shared on challenges:
glitternsparklechallenge-216 blue & white
aaacards-78-circles
modsquadchallenge -dimension
classicdesignteamchallenge1st-december-2016
carabbiemoments/challenge-107 AG

Birthday Bubbles

In the Crafters Café this week we have a birthday theme.  Coming up to Christmas a lot of people get their birthdays overlooked, so we are celebrating.

Our sponsor provided this image:
etsy.com/au/shop/BloobelStamps

and I think it says it all, what a ride!







Image: BloobelStamps
Coloured with Copics
Sentiment stamp: Verve
Die: cArt
Star stamp: Practical Publishing freebie, gold ink
Also a scrap of tulle, Kindyglitz

Shared on challenges:
pile-it-on-challenge-122-two-patterns
inspirationdestinationchallenge ag-no-114
carabbiemomentsofcraftchallenge-107ag

ConGradulations

This is for the son of a friend who graduates in engineering next week, so I had to "engineer" something...

The outside is very blokey and I was lucky that his name spelt out of the positives of the diecut.
The grey and blue are the colours of his engineering degree hood, and the black for his gown. And of course inside I went a bit mad with colour ...

EF:
Word die:
Number die: Cuttlebug/Provocraft
Stamps:
Hat & degree die:
Star die:

Shared on challenges:
fussy-and-fancy-cxhallenge-177
addictedtocaschallenge-102-congratulations

Floating Feather

A floating feather.  I loved the camera work in a scene in the movie Forrest Gump where the feather floated through the town.  The music represents the song of the bird it came from, and the gems are the floaty bit.


The navy blue card is not that dark in real life, here it looks black.  I inked the edges of the feather.

Feather die:  Hot Off The Press
Stitched rectangle die: DieNamics






Shared on challenges:
cuttlebugmania music
deepocean challenge-142-inspired-by-song-or-movie
tuesday-morning-sketches-379
modsquadchallenge/sparkle-it-up

Vintage Birdcage

I usually favour a simple design, but now and then I break out of my box and do a 'frilly' one.  Also it was time I got out of my colour rut, and tried a combination I've never used before.

I used a sketch from Verve for the design:




Circle Dies: Spellbinders
Papers: Kaisercraft

Shared on challenges:
viva-la-verve-november-sketch-2
happylittlestampers-november-anything-goes-with-dies
avenue613 challenge-191-anything-goes
craftingfromtheheartchallenge -137
craftysentiments anything-goes-challenge_22
southerngirlschallenge anything-goes-with-team-lou
cupcakeinspirations 386-kitty-bee-designs
wordartwednesday-weeks-258-259-anything-goes

Elf Peeking

This is such a cute image, it reminds me of one of my grandchildren.  The frame is on thick 3D foam tape and stands out from the background.





Image: Bugaboo
coloured with Copics
Die Fancy Frame: Kaisercraft
Inner diecut frame: Nellies
Tag die: Cuttlebug
Stamp sentiment: Hastings Rubber Stamps
Candy cane EF: Practical Publishing
Lights EF:
Also, gold cord, gems





Shared on challenges:

tictactoe-final-challenge-challenge-twenty-two (I used: bling-dimension-stamp)
yournextstampsketch-and-color-challenge-53 - colour & sketch
modsquadchallenge sparkle-it-up
daranddiane traditional-christmas-colors
allsortschallenge week-391-anything-christmas
craftycreationschallenges 329-christmas
creativeknockouts 169-tis-season
craftypurplefrog let-challenges-begin_Christmas Magic


YNS : colours chosen: green-yellow-red, for the sketch I 'wonky-ed' it up a bit to add interest and movement.

Deer Wonder

This deer looks at the stars and wonders what it's all about.  Maybe it's Christmas.

Deer diecut from manila card.  Blue card cut into a tag, stamped and embossed with silver.  And wasn't that ribbon with silver edge a good find?

Deer die:  Couture Creations
Star stamp:  Practical Publishing freebie
Sentiment stamp: Practical Publishing freebie
Corner punch: Couture Creations
Also: Silver embossing, ribbon



Shared on challenges:

lilpatchofcraftyfriends challenge-46 ag
diesruschallenge-61-tags
creatalicious-103-anything-goes-sentiment
creativeknockouts 169-tis-the-season
cutecardthursdaychallenge-453-tag-ornament-bauble
craftycatz-challenge-348atg-tag

Summer Christmas Tree

We have Christmas in the middle of summer, so our icons are different from a winter Christmas.  This EF has NZ birds and flowers as well as a pair of jandals/thongs/flipflops.  We usually spend Christmas outdoors at the beach or somewhere cool.

I diecut a scalloped triangle (Spellbinders) and sponged distress inks on using the negative cut as a stencil to highlight the items, and then used a gold Sharpie for the big star and silver for the small ones.  I matted it onto silver metallic paper.  I like the simple look which is quite deceiving as it took ages to do!
EF: Craft Creations









Shared on challenges:
allsortschallenge week-390-o-christmas-tree
lilpatchofcraftyfriends challenge-46 ag
open-mindedcraftingfun-11-christmas-hanukkah
incywincydesigns use-non-traditional-image
craftycreationschallenges-christmas
craftypurplefrog-challenges-begin-Christmas Magic

Concertina Butterfly

I made this for a friendship cardswap using instructions from a youtube tutorial (just google concertina card).

The edge of the card is punched and inked, coordinating papers on the inside panels with inspiring messages.  The butterflies are die cut from sparkle card.

Punch: Fiskars
Diecut labels: Spellbinders
Dies Butterflies: Spellbinders
Also: ribbons, sequins, gem




Shared on challenges:
creativeknockouts 168-lots-of-layers-all-dressed-up
fussy-and-fancy-cxhallenge-177 fancyfold
starstampz challenge-fancy-folds
fabnfunky challenge-328-things-with-wings
modsquadchallenge sparkle-it-up
freshly-brewed-challenge-november pastels/friendship

Thank You Bag

November is thankful month at Die Cut Divas, so check out my teamies work here:  die-cut-divas

The image is from super sponsor Bugaboo, get it here:
bugaboostamps.com/AKV-Fall-leaves


I love the colours of this card and the contrast.  The teal card is actually a subtle sparkle, but it doesn't quite show in the photo. I like the subtle dimension the dry embossing gives without taking over the whole design.  The lettering is card several layers thick.

Image: Bugaboo, coloured with Copics
Circle Dies:  DieNamics
Sentiment dies: Spellbinders
leaf punch: unknown
Base card corners dry embossed with large ball tool

Shared on challenges:
tictactoe final-challenge-challenge-twenty-two (I used alpha-dimension-shapes)
qkrstampede-challenge-218-give-thanks
cas-ualfridays161-be-thankful
disdigidesigns-harvesthappenings-thanksgiving-thanks
crafty-catz-challenge-347-anything-goes with red
aaacards-game-78-circles
glitternsparklechallenge-215 thanks
pile-it-on-121-thankful-thank-you
craftycalendar november-challenge-autumn-colours
aloha-friday-challenge-85-thanks