Fat Club Weigh Day Card

My friend who is a slimming club consultant is opening a new group next week, so I wanted to acknowledge it with a card.

I used a stamp by Art Impressions, which is part of their "Girlfriends" collection (ref: UMT4009), which I coloured with Promarkers.  I added a typed sentiment as I wasn't able to source anything suitable.

Mother's Day Eclipse Card

Well Mother's Day has crept up on me, so I thought I'd better get a card made for my Mother-in-law.  I decided to make an eclipse card.

There was a lot of stamping to make this card.  For each rose on the background there were three separate stamps used and then each leaf was stamped separately too.  I used the Stampin' Up "Swirly Bird" stamp set to create the rose background.

Using 5cm thin dies, I positioned and then cut the word "Mum".    I placed a piece of co-ordinating card below the die cut area then returned the die cut letters into their original places using foam pads to elevate them.

The two flowers above and below the word are die cuts using Spellbinders "Timeless Heart Tectured Flowers" die set.  

Yupo Paper Stencil Tag

A while back I saw a Tim Holtz tutorial where he mentioned that due to the coating/finish, you could use Yupo Paper to create a stencil using your existing dies, so I thought I would give it a try.

I started my tag with a background of Tim Holtz Oxide Inks.  I used a Sizzix Thinlits die (Tim Holtz Alterations 661185) to cut the stencil in the Yupo paper and then secured it over the top of the tag.  I used a Distress Ink in "Faded Jeans" shade and the sponge applicator to apply the colour through the stencil, I inked the edges in the same shade too.  I used a Stamper's Anonymous stamp for the sentiment and stars.

Week 9 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2018

So here we are at the last week of February.  I hope you're enjoying the challenge so far.

The prompt for Week 9 is "Picture Perfect".

For my tag, I started with a page from a book and covered it with Distress Oxides.  Using a stamp with a camera image (I think it was free with a magazine) I randomly stamped in a Versafine Ink "Smokey Grey" shade.

The sentiment at the base of the tag is from a Hobby Art stamp set called "Inspirations".   I used various Stamper's Anonymous stamps and also the Stampin' Up "Gorgeous Grunge" stamp to fill the background and then inked the edges, adding white dots to lift the colour with a Signo pen.

On a separte piece of card (with an oxide ink background), I stamped the butterflies (also Stamper's Anonymous).  Then cut it to the size I wanted.  I stuck it to some black card and cut it so that it looked like a Polaroid photo snap.  I used tiny sticky alpha stickers for the wording and stuck it to the tag, adding a paperclip to look as if it were casually attached.

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If you would like to take part in this challenge, you can find the full details on the tab just below the blog title, to the right hand side of the "home" button.

Why not join in and post your image on our friendly challenge Facebook page.

Camper Van Birthday Card

I received my subscription copy of Creative Stamping Magazine (issue 54) today.  It has some fab clear stamps and patterned papers in it.  I couldn't help but have a quick play and made this little camper van card.  It's always handy to have cards like this in my pre-made stash in case I forget an occasion.

I've use Promarkers to colour the van and mounted it on the card using foam pads.

I have used a Papertrey Ink stamp from their "Stylish Sentiments" set to stamp the sentiment.

Here is a photo of the magazine cover and stamp set in case you would like to get it too.

Week 8 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2018

The prompt for Week 8 is:  Repeat Patterns (this was inspired by looking at wallpaper,

For this week, I couldn't make my mind up what I wanted to do.  As I finished one tag, another idea popped up, so hopefully this prompt should be an easy one to interpret.

For this tag, I stamped the same image in different colours.  The stamp is from the Stampin' Up set called "Totally Trees".

For this stamp, I used a piece of patterned paper with hearts on it.  I then placed a stencil over the top and shaded in lines.  A stamped sentiment, using a Papertrey Ink stamp from their "Love Lives Here" set was used in the middle.  Then the edges were inked.  Finally, I used a Promarker to colour four wooden hearts and stuck them to the middle of the tag.

On this final tag, I used a background of assorted Tim Holtz Distress Inks, and then used a stencil over the top to create the zig zag look.  I then die cut and applied the dogs.

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If you would like to take part in this challenge, you can find the full details on the tab just below the the blog title, to the right hand side of the "home" button.  Why not join the challenge Facebook Group too.

                                                       

Stars Birthday Card

I made this birthday card, but in hindsight, I should have placed the stars differently.  It's all stuck down now so will have to do.

I heat embossed some green and navy cardstock with a wavy pattern and then die cut the stars from the card.  The dies I used for the stars was the Stampin' Up "Stars Framelits" set.  The stamped sentiment is from a Papertrey Ink set called "Stylish Sentiments".

Embossed Valentine's Card

Well Valentine's Day has really crept up on me this year, so I thought I had better make a card.  Hubby would never forgive me if I purchased one, as I have so much craft stuff about!

I prefer to make a smaller size card and quite often go for a clean and simple look.  For this card, I used a "Tri-boss" embossing folder to get the textured background.

I die cut two hearts.  Stuck one to the card and then added sticky gems to the other.  I mounted them on top of each other using a foam pad to provide a 3D look.

Finally, using a Papertrey Ink stamp from their "Love Lives Here" set, I stamped the sentiment using a "Black Cherry" StazOn ink.

The embossed detail doesn't show too much, so I have made a little video clip which is on the Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/ACraftingNiche/videos/398711857244827/   

Week 7 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2018

Just a reminder that anybody can take part in this challenge.  There is an active Facebook group where you can upload your tag/card and chat to other members about the challenge and other craft related things.

There is absolutely no pressure with this challenge, you do what you can, when you can.  I usually upload the prompt for the coming week on the Sunday afternoon or Monday morning.

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The prompt for Week 7 is "Romance".

The shops seem to be in Valentine's meltdown, so it seems kind of right to make this the prompt for this week.

I started with a plain manilla coloured tag and inked the edges in shades of brown, red and black to create an aged/distress look.

I rummaged through my scrap patterned paper off cut box and found a three pieces which co-ordinated well.  From memory, I think they are part of the Dovecraft "Sweet Paris" collection. One was a narrow strip and the other two rough rectangles, so I went with what I had and positioned them, using one piece to cut out areas and layer to create a more 3D look.  I then inked the edges of the patterned papers and stamped sentiments and franking mark.

Wooden Hearts Valentine Card

I've been putting off making Valentine cards, but today I submitted and made one.

I've used a dry embossed background using a Sizzix embossing folder.  The hearts are Papermania wooden hearts which I have coloured using a Promarker pen in "Poppy Red" and stuck in a circle.  I then die cut the word "love" using a Stampin' Up die from their "Sunshine Wishes" set.  Finally, I added a tiny pearl to cover the drilled hole in the heart.

Week 6 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2018

The prompt for Week 6 is "Hidden Messages".  

What I mean by this is using pockets, flaps, ties, envelopes, waterfall or maybe like me a zip to hide your message.  The actual theme of what you hide is up to you.

For my tag, I have used patterned paper from the Dovecraft pack called "Sweet Paris" I covered the tag in the polka dot paper.  I then found a pink zip and stuck paper to either side of the opening, making sure the pattern matched each side.  I then flipped it over and lined it with a pink and cream striped paper from the same pack.  I stuck the zipper/paper to the tag and then trimmed to the size of the tag. I trimmed each side of the zip and the top of the tag with a narrow cream lace and made a matching tassel to hang from the zip.

This is the heart that is behind the zip.  One side is a pink/red coloured card, the other is covered in the same patterned paper I have used for the exterior of the tag.  

I typed the message, printed it, then cut it down to fit on the tag.  The message says "For hearing my thoughts, understanding my dreams and being my best friend... I love you xxx".

On the left hand side of the tag, I die cut three hearts and added and "I" to one heart, stamped the word "love" on the central heart and on the bottom heart added a die cut letter "U".

On the right hand side, I added a vintage looking flower, die cut a couple of pieces of foliage and added the Tim Holtz clipping word stickers "my heart's desire" to a small banner style tag.

To finish I inked the edges and added a paper ribbon to the top of the tag and folded out the top sides of the open zipper to show the interior.

So Giddy Tim Holtz Paper Doll Tag

One of the reasons I like being creative with tags, is that it doesn't matter if it works or not.  It allows my mind to roam in any direction I choose with no agenda.  This tag is one of them.  I sat at my desk and it just came together.

I used oxide inks on a page of an old Welsh hymn book, you can just about see the notes through the colours.  The little girl is one of the Tim Holtz paper dolls.  I gave her a little bit of colour using Promarkers.

I stamped bits and bobs, created faux foxing using Stampin' up "Gorgeous Grunge", used a bit of lace, a few layers of petals and found some mini gold baubles I had rescued from the Christmas crackers a few weeks ago - you never know when things may come in handy.

Deepest Sympathy Spellbinders Card

Yesterday I made a sympathy card.  Today I have made another one for a friend.

I used patterned paper from a Dovecraft pack  called "Sweet Paris" for this card.  Using cream coloured card,  I used Spellbinders dies (Victorian Medallion Two) to cut the two intricate sections, using a Versafine Vintage Sepia ink to stamp the Papertrey Ink (Fillable Frames) sentiment.

Hopeful Thoughts Sympathy Card

It's the time of year when unfortunately, I seem to make several sympathy cards.  I made this one for my neighbour.

I have used Distress Oxide Ink to create the background and a Stampin' Up stamps from their "Hopeful Thoughts" set stamped in a Versafine ink.