Week 31 - 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2017

Wow, well another week has passed.  The year is certainly slipping by quickly.

The prompt for Week 31 is "Inspired by..."

As crafters, we gain inspiration from so many places, nature, something we see on line or TV even.  As I've mentioned previously, I have been busy scrapbooking, so my tag this week is inspired by the style of scrapbooking.

I started off embossing a plain white tag.  I used a new embossing folder (to me).  It's a Crafter's Companion "Scandinavian Christmas" it's from their new collection.  I then raided my paper oddments box for papers.  The little Russian doll is was actually part of a stamp set that came with a magazine a month or so back.  Otherwise I have punched, die cut and used small bits and bobs to create a mini scrapbook layout.

P.S.  Note that there isn't an inked edge in sight!

Have a good Week.  Sam x

Spellbinders Happy Birthday Card

I've been so busy creating the pages for my holiday scrapbook that making cards has taken a back seat.  This morning, I had an urge to make cards.  

I have used a section of 12x12" Crate patterned paper and a couple of Spellbinders.  For the large slate grey decorative edged circle, I used the Spellbinders "Royal Circle" die.  For the inner decorative sentiment, I have used the Spellbinders "Jubilee Tags".

Throwback Thursday Scrapbook Layout

It may appear that I've not been producing much, but I've actually been busy crafting - doing scrapbook pages, so I'm not able to share with you on here yet.  Instead, I thought I'd share with you a layout I created some years back.  It's of Hubby and myself.

If I remember correctly, the papers I've used are Bo Bunny.  The chipboard embellishments are My Mind's Eye.  I used a tea bag to stain a paper doily (to tone the colour down) too.

Week 30 - 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2017

The prompt for Week 30 is Hello

For my tag I started with a sheet of patterned paper which I stuck to a tag, I then sanded the paper to get a faded distress feel.  On a sheet of white card I stamped a foliage wreath using Stampin' Up "Hello Friend" stamp and StazOn ink.  I then die cut the outer and inner edges into a circle with a hole in.  I used the middle bit that I wasn't going to use for the tag as a mask. 

Using a Crafters Companion script stamp I stamped over the mask (using a Versafine ink), then removed it. which left a blank green circle.  Using stamps from Stampin' Up "Eastern Beauty", I stamped the circle of dots and then added the "hello" (from the same set).I then over inked the tag in a yellow/orange colour.

Returning to the wreath, I inked the edges in green and a yellow/orange shade.  I then added small floral embellishments. and stuck the wreath to the tag.

The Skull and Crown Tag

This evening I have been playing with random stamps and seeing what appears on the tag.  This is not my normal style, but it's sometimes quite nice to do something totally different.

I have used too many stamps to mention, which have been coloured using Promarker pens.  Also, it wouldn't be my tag without some heavy inking to the edges!

Sam x

Thank You Card (using Stampin' Up Eastern Medallions dies)

I've been playing with dies this morning, specifically the Stampin' Up "Eastern MedallionsThinlits" set, along with the co-ordinating "Eastern Beauty" stamps.

A Sympathy Card using Spellbinders Jubilee Tags

I seem to have had a run on sending sympathy cards, exhausting my usual supply that I keep to hand. I needed to make a quick card so that I could catch the morning postie collection.

I found a sheet of 6x6 patterned paper in a small stack called "Winter Style" by Grafix that would be suitable.  I mounted onto a piece of black card stock and then die cut the decorative sentiment using Spellbinders "Jubilee Tags".

Week 29 - 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2017 (Stampin' Up Climbing Orchid)

I seem to be in my very own little temperature zone at the moment, which inspired my prompt.  The prompt for Week 29 is "Tropical".  

This prompt can be interpreted in many ways, but I decided to opt for the floral route.  First I used a Panpastel background shaded in two colours.  I then used a large bamboo stamp (sorry, I don't know who made it, I've had it for years), in a teal colour over the top of the Panpastel background.

Using the Stampin' Up "Climbing Orchid" stamp set I stamped a couple of flowers and centres, using the Stampin' Up "Orchid Builder" die set to cut the images.  I then free-hand cut the stem in brown card and stuck it down, positioning the orchid blooms and stuck into position.  Finally for the central area of the blooms I used my Promarker pens in two shades to add little dots.

Pink Embossed Card (Apple Blossom emossing folder, dies & stamps)

I have continued to play the Apple Blossom dies, stamps and embossing folder.  Making this card.

The White MonochromeTag (using Apple Blossom Embossing Folders & Dies)

Today I have been playing with some new embossing folders by Apple Blossom which I purchased from Craft Stash.  

I decided to make a white monochrome tag.  I used the "That Folder" EFOB0014 to emboss the background.  I then die cut the flower and foliage scroll using the Apple Blossom "All Occasions Collection" die set.  The flower was secured using a white brad.

Here's a close up of the embossed detail:

Male Birthday Card

My Hubby is celebrating his birthday today.  Here's the card I made for him.

I stamped a Papertrey Ink sentiment onto the blue patterned paper, then die cut the stamped image in an oval shape.  I used a caramel coloured sheet of paper and embossed half of it using a bubble design embossing folder.

Just above the embossed bubble design, I layered a thin strip of striped patterned paper.  I then layered the oval above using foam pads to raise the oval.  I then punched and die cut foliage in different colours, adding them below the raised image.  I then stamped a couple of beer bottles and cut them out adding them to each side of the oval. I then mounted the whole image onto green paper and stuck it onto the card blank.

Week 28 - 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2017

The sun is shining and the sky is blue, so what better inspiration.  The prompt for Week 28 is "Sunshine".

For my tag, I've gone back to basics, keeping the tag simple. I have used the free stamps in issue 148 of "Papercraft Essentials Magazine".  Coloured with Faber Castell pastels and a paint brush for a more water colour effect.  

As a reminder, the prompt for this challenge is posted on a Sunday evening/Monday morning.  Your interpretation of the prompt is totally up to you. If you are following this challenge, then I would love to see your creations.  If you've not already you could take a look at The Crafting Niche Facebook page.

Sunflower Cards and Tags (Papercraft Essentials Issue 148 magazine)

While in the supermarket, I always glance at the magazine display to see if there is anything that I fancy getting.  Issue 148 of the Papercraft Essentials magazine appealed due to the sunflowers.  The free gift contained a set of really versatile stamps and an embossing folder with a nice repeat pattern on it.

I quickly got faffing with card, stamps and inks and created these two cards and a tag.  my For the first card, I used my watercolour pencils to colour the stamped sunflower image.  Mounted it in black and a sunny yellow.  I used the free embossing folder for the background.  It was a little too small, so I was able to align the design and emboss the other half of the background.




For the second card (below),I used a sheet of patterned paper for the background.  Cut a piece of sacking and frayed the edges.  Then stuck the stamped image on.



I used a Panpastel background for this tag.  Stamped the verse and then stamped the flowers around the verse.

Week 27 - 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2017

The Tour De France is taking place at the moment, so I thought the prompt should be in-keeping.  The prompt for Week 27 is "France".

Apologies for this being a quick tag, we have visitors staying so crafting time is minimal.

I found a piece of patterned paper, which I think came from a Trimcraft stack.  I cut it to size and stuck onto a tag.  I inked areas in pinks, reds browns and blacks.  Added three flowers, some punched foliage and a heart to create this tag.