Sunday Snippets - Gifts

Hi Playmates!

I'm hosting a new challenge over at the SNIPPETS PLAYGROUND for the next fortnight, so please come and play. There's hot chocolate available in the treehouse!

For my homework this week I made a Christmas card which uses two of the Polkadoodle gift dies available as part of the prize (I bought a duplicate set just for you!). BOTH Snippets Playground Challenges in October will be offering festive prizes, so you should get your goodies in time for the coming season! 

A6 sized card

Materials:

• Snowflakes by Crafty Roo and Visible Image
• Sentiment by Uniko
• Polkadoodles’ “Perfect Parcels” die set for the gift boxes (can be won in the current challenge). I die cut the gift boxes from a white snippet that I had brayered with acrylic paints and splattered with diluted white acrylic paint.

Find Joy in Simple Things

Hi there!

I made an Artist Trading Coin for the current TAG-ALONG & ATCs CHALLENGE. 

This month's theme is CIRCLES, and of course the coin is circular. You might even say that the ‘O’ in the word JOY is a circle too! LOL! 

There is a lovely prize on offer and the challenge ends on 28th September.

Artist Trading Coin

Details

• Snippets to die cut the ATC base and the top piece of Warm Breeze paper by Craft O’Clock.
• Stitched circle die from The Works.
• Uniko “Natures Treasures II” stencil for the leaves (which were brushed with SU Lucky Limeade ink).
• Ancient Hero Arts stamp for the sentiment.

Hare today . . .

 . . . gone tomorrow . . . as the saying sort of goes!

I saw the ALL CREATURES GREAT & SMALL theme of the current ALLSORTS CHALLENGE #857 and had the perfect card sat sitting here on my desk - ready to be blogged.

A6 sized card

Details:

• Funky Fossil hare from the “Tall Grass” set.
• Funky Fossil "Shoot for the Stars”text stamp.
• Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous THMM123 mixed media stamp set for some of the background elements.
• Uniko triple circle from the Background Builders “Round in Circles” set.
• Lavinia Elements inks : Bermuda and Mermaid.
• Splatters by Stampin Up.
• Black Stabilo All pencil and a waterbrush to create the shadow.

Be Boulder!!!!!

Hi there!

I really enjoy drawing “stacks” but haven’t drawn any for quite a while. So I used an image by Julia Glockner on Pinterest for inspiration.

The choice of sentiment made me chuckle. Otherwise, I was thinking of adding “Be BOULDER” just to amuse myself (hence the title of this blog post) - but that would have meant writing the words on the card by hand, as a last step . . . and I didn't want to ruin it! We never think our own hand writing is good enough do we? That’s why we use stamps!

5" x 5" card

Details:

• 5” square base card.
• Pencil to sketch with. Sakura Pigma Micron pen 01 to go over the pencil sketch.
• Various Distress Inks and a water brush to colour the drawing.
• White Gelly Roll 08 pen for dotty highlights.
• Uniko sentiment from Simply Said Blocks.

Here’s Julia’s original picture:

The inspiration

Guesting at Allsorts

Hello there!

Happy Saturday to you. I’m honoured to be a Guest Design Team Member at Allsorts for the next fortnight. Challenge #855 has a theme of COLOURS OF SUMMER - or you can choose the Anything Goes option.

I really liked the butterfly-within-a-butterfly idea that Pauline used HERE, so this is my version of it as a one-layer card. I like pops of zingy yellow and orange flowers like marigolds in my garden in the summertime, so I went with 3 different shades of yellow/orange Distress Inks for my stencilling, then added black stamping for contrast. 

5.5" square

Details:

• 6"x6" Visible Image "Butterfly Ink" stencil, brushed on in the following order of Distress Inks: Mustard Seed; Spiced Marmalade and Ripe Persimmon.
• Visible Image Butterfly from the "Live Life Now" set, stamped over the top of the stencilled image in Versafine Onyx Black.
• The “Fabulous" word is from a retired Uniko stamp set, stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.

Please visit ALLSORTS CHALLENGE #855 to see the lovely prize on offer and admire the wonderful creations of my fellow Teamies. 

Sunday Snippets - The Cosmos is smiling on you!

Hi Playmates!

There's a new challenge to play along with over at the SNIPPETS PLAYGROUND hosted by Miss Di and Dudley for the next fortnight.

Here's my homework - only one snippet used up again . . . but each one lowers the pile a little:

The left over snippet after I cut it away
from the bottom of the card.

Details:

• Hobby Art "Bee Kind" stamp set for the flowers.
• Sentiment made up of two different stamp sets: "Sending you lots of" is a Uniko stamp, "smiles" is a long retired Printworks stamp.
• Bottom edging was a snippet. I glued it to the bottom of the card and cut the remainder off with scissors.
• VFC Twilight ink used for all stamping.

I’d also like to enter this card into ALLSORTS CHALLENGE #851 where the theme is ANYTHING FROM THE GARDEN (or anything goes).

Gerbera ATC

The April theme at the Tag-Along & ATCs Challenge is Blossoms, Butterflies and Birds, (or anything goes) so I made a card with a lovely big flower on it in order to join in using the theme. You have until the 28th April to join in and there's a lovely prize on offer.

ATC

Details:

• Gelli print snippet glued to ATC base (2.5" x 3.5")
• Funky Fossil Washi tape added to right hand edge
• Uniko Pure Florals Gerbera stamp (cut out with matching die), lightly coloured with watercolour pencils and a waterbrush
• Unknown sentiment heat embossed in white EP added to the top

Butterfly thank you card

Today I have a collage style card to share with you.

I was inspired to make this after seeing a lovely card by Cecile Ribon on Pinterest, so I CASED it.

My version - A6 sized card

CECILE RIBON'S original card is below:

The card I CASED

Details:

• Rectangle Frame die by Heffy Doodle 
• Leafy sprig from the Hidden Foliage die set by Sizzix
• SU background “paint stripe” stamp from long-retired set (I can't remember the name of it)
• Thank You sentiment the Simply Said set by Uniko
• Text Stamp by Florileges Designs
• Butterfly cut out from patterned paper

Daisy Tag

Hi there!

I made a cute tag with one of the scallop edged tag dies I won from the Tag-Along challenge a while back. 

Details:

• Supersized Nestables Scalloped Tag dies by Creative Craft Products
• Penny Black “Crossing Bridges” wooden stamp 3206J, coloured in with watercolour pencils and some poetic licence, as I wanted the daisies to match those on the patterned paper!
• Patterned paper from Craft O’Clock’s “Warm Breeze” pad.
• Sentiment stamp by Uniko.
• Stitching stamp is part of a set by Carabelle. 

I would like to enter the tag into the following challenges:

1. TAG-ALONG & ATCs (inc bookmarks) - under the optional theme of Spring Flowers (the daisies)
2. WE LOVE STAMPING - under the optional theme of Wildlife (the mouse)
3. STAMPING SENSATIONS - under the optional theme of Spring (the daisies)

Blue Bird Birthday!

Hi there - thanks for dropping by!

I made this card using the ink smooshing ink technique, along with a few snippets. 

I would like to enter this card into the current ALLSORTS CHALLENGE #842 where they want to see you CREATE YOUR OWN BACKGROUND (or you can enter under the ANYTHING GOES option).

5" square card size

Details: 

• Unbranded bird die from Temu.
• Foliage die by Sizzix (Hidden Leaves, code 664581)
• Sentiment by Uniko (Simply Said Blocks)
• Smooshed background made using spritzed SU Misty Moonlight ink and a small piece of acetate to pick it up and smoosh on card front. 

Allsorts - Challenge #842

Hi there!

I've made a sympathy card from snippets that were glued over the top of a stamped and stencilled background. 

I would like to enter this card into the current ALLSORTS CHALLENGE #842 where creating your own background is the optional theme, or there's always Anything Goes.

A6 sized card - tent fold

The stamped and stencilled background
before I added the snippets.

The snippets I pulled out to play with.

There's some gorgeously grungy AALL & CREATE stamps to be won at Allsorts, so why not hop over and join in? And if you use up some of your snippets, you can come and play at the SNIPPETS PLAYGROUND.

Details:

• Background created with Studio Light BJ04 stencil by Jolanda de Ronde and a splatter stamp from the Gorgeous Grunge set by SU, using SU Sahara Sand and Chocolate Chip inks.
• Snippets: the leafy strip is from That's Crafty Nature's Gatherings 1 stamp set; sentiment is by Uniko and the black heart is from a Crafts Too "Miss P Loves Boundless Journal Locking Tag set.

All you need is love . . .

Hi Playmates!

There's a new challenge to play along with over at the SNIPPETS PLAYGROUND hosted by Miss Di for the next fortnight.

For my homework this week,  I made a little love-themed ATC.

I stamped and stencilled a background on a white snippet that was trimmed to 2.25" x 3.25", then stamped and cut out the lovehearts from another white snippet and glued them on to the base. A black snippet trimmed to 2.5” x 3.5” was used for the mount.

2.5 x 3.5 ATC

Materials:

• Black and white snippets of card
• Hearts from Accessorize Stamp set by Visible Image (stamped twice onto white snippets and cut out by hand)
• Script stamp by IndigoBlu
• Bold LOVE stamp - unknown make
• Smaller Love stamp by Uniko
• Dot stencil by The Crafters Workshop
• White Gelli Roll 08 pen for heart highlights
• Picked Raspberry Distress Ink for all pink areas on card

I would like to enter this ATC into the January TAG ALONG & ATC CHALLENGE where there is a Love and Romance theme (or an “anything goes” option).

Jersey Moth ATC

Hi there!

Today I'm sharing an ATC with you. 

ATC

I'd like to enter this ATC into the November TAG-ALONG & ATCs CHALLENGE where the optional theme is to ADD TEXTURE.

I'm entering under the 'anything goes' option as although I have dimension on the ATC from the raised moth stamp, I'm not sure I have actual texture on it.

Details:

• Background: snippet cut from a scrap sheet I used to stamp off extra ink prior to cleaning my stamps properly. (I stamped a few little circle trios by Uniko onto the sheet.)
• Main image: Jersey Moth stamp from the "Tall Grass" set by Funky Fossil - stamped onto a snippet of acrylic paper, coloured with a waterbrush and Picked Raspberry DI. It was stuck to the ATC with foam pads for dimension.
• Sentiment was cut from a sheet of paper from the "Warm Breeze" Paper pack by Craft O’Clock.

Chicken Wings anyone?

I hardly ever make sets of ATCs, but wanted to play with my Artemio chickens - a stamp set that I've had for a long time and yet they rarely see ink! The Artemio stamps were called something like Pico - but are long retired  

So, to remedy that, here's a trio of chicken ATCs - which I hope make you smile.

I'm making this my third entry into the Tag-Along & ATCs September challenge where the optional theme is THINGS WITH WINGS (or anything goes).

Details: 

• All three ATCs were created from snippets of white card, left over from making my own card blanks. Each one has been edged with a gold Sakura Pen-Touch calligraphy pen.
• TOP LEFT ATC: Artemio chickens; Funky Fossil Protea flower stencil (tops of the stencil petals used to create "grass"); Uniko Nature's Treasures stencil for the leaves; "buddies" word from Aall & Create's "Strange Birds" set #464. 
• TOP RIGHT ATC: Artemio chicken; top & bottom stamping from a cut-down stamp by Aall & Create. Sentiment from Aall & Create's "Strange Birds" set #464. 
• BOTTOM ATC: Artemio Chicken (stamped twice and decoupaged); Visible Image "Ink Swirls" stencil for the background, brushed with blue and green Distress Inks. The sentiment is old and I cannot remember where it came from - but was possibly a magazine freebie along with  some feather stamps!

Sunday Snippets - handbags at dawn!

Hi Playmates!

I have published RESULTS from the previous challenge, so please hop over to the SNIPPETS PLAYGROUND to admire the top picks and discover which lucky playmate won the prize. There's still nearly a week left to play in the current challenge if you haven't already done so.

I used just two snippets on the card below, but I hope you agree they make a great focal point.

Card measures 5" square

Details:

• Handbag stamp - bought from eBay yonks ago and looks to be handmade and therefore unbranded.; Image coloured with Distress Ink.
• Snippet of yellow card, die cut with a Heffy Doodle Stitched Square die.
• A Sweet Huni "glossies" self-adhesive gem for flower centre.
• Uniko sentiment.

White snippets, stamped, coloured
and cut out with scissors.

As you can see from the above photo, I stamped a few handbags onto a larger white snippet and then watercoloured each one before cutting it out. Here's another card that I used one of the yellow bags on:

Card measures 5" square

Details:

• Background stamps from various sets by Kaisercraft; Studio Light and Bee Crafty - stamped in Misty Moonlight SU ink.
• Unbranded handbag stamp coloured with Distress Ink.
• Light blue self-adhesive gem used on flower centre.
• Snippet of SU Misty Moonlight card die cut with a Spellbinders circle die.

Sunday Snippets - 24th August

Hi Playmates!

Di has published RESULTS from the previous challenge, so please hop over to the SNIPPETS PLAYGROUND to admire her top picks and discover which lucky playmate won the prize. There's still nearly a week left to play in the current challenge if you haven't already done so.

Di has hurt herself by tripping on the Treehouse ladder, so please wander over and give her some sympathy.

Sorry about the crumpled snippet - it was rescued
from the paper bin on my desk, just for the photo!

Details:

• Uniko sentiment and gerbera. The sentiment is discontinued, but the gerbera flower stamp set is still current. The gerbera was cut with matching dies, but it would be easy to cut it out by hand. I used foam pads to adhere it to the card front.
• Sentiment stamped with SU colours Lucky Limeade and Calypso Coral. The same colours were dabbed onto an acrylic block and picked up with a waterbrush, plus a yellow Distress Ink pad.

Snippets Playground - Inky ATCs.

Hi Playmates!

A mixed week of weather, but for the hot days - you can still find me plying my "lemonade" (with a kick to it) behind the bike sheds . . . and there are lots of ice creams available - especially Magnums - from the Tuck Shop.

I have published RESULTS from the previous challenge, so please hop over to the SNIPPETS PLAYGROUND to admire the top picks and discover which lucky playmate won the prize. There's still nearly a week left to enter the current challenge if you haven't already done so.

Here's a pair of inky ATCs I had lots of fun making:

ATC = 2.5" x 3.5" white snippet

ATC = 2.5" x 3.5" white snippet

Both ATCs have the same materials:

• STAMPS: The lines are a Uniko stamp; grungy circles are from the Funky Fossil "Tall Grass" set; square postmark is from the Rubber Dance Mix It Up #3 set.
• DIES (used on snippets of white card): White butterflies = SU "Beautiful Wings" Embosslit (retired); white torn notebook edges were gifted to me so I don't have the full details but understand they were purchased from Temu.
• DISTRESS OXIDES: Spiced Marmalade and Iced Spruce, added over the top of the Distress Inks once the Distress Inks were dry. 
• DISTRESS INKS: Wild Honey and Peeled Paint.
• VERSAFINE CLAIR: Warm Breeze (for the grungy circles); Pinecone (for the lines); Spruce (for the square postmark).

The method:

• I stamped the images with VFC ink first and left to dry.
• Next I squidged Distress Ink pads onto my non-stick craft sheet and spritzed with water, then randomly swiped the ATC through them. 
• After allowing the Distress Ink layer to dry, I did the same with Distress Oxides and left to dry.
• Finally, I die cut some white snippets and glued the results onto the ATCs.

I'd also like to enter these into the new TAG ALONG & ATCs CHALLENGE which started on 1st May and runs until 28th May. This month, it's ANYTHING GOES! This will be my third entry - and you're allowed up to four per month.

Snippets Playground - Anyone fancy a coffee?

Hi Playmates!

It's been such lovely weather this week, that we've had tonnes of fun running around playing 'Tag, You're It". All that running around has fair worn me out - so it's up to the Treehouse for some refreshments!

In the Sunday Morning Breakfast Club we'll be enjoying croissants & hot cross buns, heated up in the microwave, plus as much tea or coffee as you can manage. Here's hoping you remembered to put your clocks forward if you're in the UK! 

I'm hosting a new challenge over at the SNIPPETS PLAYGROUND for the next fortnight. This is your opportunity to use up snippets (scraps/leftovers) in your creative projects, then skip over to the Playground for a 'show and tell' via Mr Linky.

For my homework this week I made a gatefold card with a coffee theme and a vintage vibe!

The card measures 5.5" square

Details: 

• 11" x 5.5" piece of white card scored at 2.75" each side to create the gatefold shape.
• Patterned paper snippets: two panels, each measuring 2.25" x 5"; a square measuring 2.25" x 2.25". A further piece to stamp the mug on and fussy cut (optional).
• 2 x square snippets of white card: one measuring 2.75" x 2.75", the other 2" x 2".
• Coffee mug from the Tim Holtz "Fresh Brewed" (THMB025) stamp set by Stampers Anonymous. The mug was stamped onto the smallest white square, then again onto a snippet of the patterned paper, fussy cut and glued over the stamped image. This was layered up and mounted as shown in the photo, ensuring only the left hand side of the central panel was glued on to the left hand panel of the main card.
• Coffee bean stamps from an Aall & Create set were added at opposing corners. 

EDITED TO SAY:

At Carrie's invitation, I am also linking the above card up to the Creative Creases Challenge 101 where I've snuck in at the last minute!

While I was making one coffee-themed gatefold card . . . I decided to make another - see below:

Same measurements as the first card for the gatefold. I altered the dimensions of the middle piece to suit the size of the coffee cup and sentiment. The card front was double stencilled - first with Aall & Create Cloister Grille in a light brown, then with Funky Fossil's retired Caffeine Buzz stencil in a darker brown ink. The coffee cup is by Uniko, stamped in brown ink and the flower coloured in with 2 shades of orange Tombow pens. The central panel (made entirely from snippets) was stuck to the left hand gate!

Sunday Snippets - Pretty in Pink!

Hi Playmates!

I'm hosting a new challenge over at the SNIPPETS PLAYGROUND for the next fortnight. So take a look at your pile of snippets (I KNOW you have some), make something with them, then come and play!

In my satchel this week, I have cake, chocolate and bubbly to celebrate someone special's birthday. You'll find me, Di and Dudley, plus the usual suspects, getting up to mischief in the treehouse  - come and join in the fun!

Here's my homework: I had lots of fun creating this floral card from my pile of white snippets.

Materials:

• Everything apart from the card base was originally a white snippet.
• Distress Oxide Inks in Walnut Stain and Kitsch Flamingo were used to colour all the white die cut snippets as well as the panels they are attached to.
• Sizzix Modern Floristry die set by Tim Holtz used for all the flowers and foliage.
• Simply Said sentiment stamp by Uniko, cut out with scissors and stuck on either with foam pads or tiny snippets glued to it to build it up (I can't remember which!).
• Script background stamp (possibly by IndigoBlu) - stamped to the right of the panel after it was lightly brushed with Walnut Stain DOX ink.

Enjoy the week ahead. Wishing you plenty of time to craft.

Bird ATC

Here's a little Artist Trading Card (ATC) with a sweet sentiment that I'm hoping qualifies for the "Getting Sentimental" theme of this week's ALLSORTS CHALLENGE( #796). All you have to do is add a sentiment to your project (or choose the Anything Goes option).

ATC measuring 2.5" x 3.5"

MATERIALS:

• Washi tape by Funky Fossil (out of stock, but probably discontinued)
• Bird stamp from JOFY Lovebirds set by PaperArtsy, coloured with Tombow marker pens.
• Sentiment created from a couple of different Uniko stamp sets