It's time...

 ... to spread your wings. I purchased a magazine solely for the free stamp sheet that came with it. (Although the magazine, Creative Stamping, is great, too.)

Today's ingredients were inspired by a couple of challenges.

I started by smearing a paper with some leftover paints. The lower half is more or less mud, but I stenciled the top half with a round stencil and green paint, which created some interesting structure. I cut out a good piece off it, selected some stamps and a sentiment to match and set to work. The flowers were colored in with markers, the bird with watercolor pencils. As for the tag, after die cutting it I left all the little pieces in place that would normally fall out. I think the effect is nicer this way as it does not garner more attention than the bird.

 

I am entering this in these challenges that inspired me today:

Simon Says Monday Challenge: Stamp it

 Stencil Fun: AG with a stencil / yellows optional. I am playing with AG

Addicted to Stamps and More: #525 Die cuts and/or stencil - I have used both

Triple B: Birds-blooms- butterflies AG - My bird has a yellow breast, but otherwise I veered off from inspiration photo

 

PIP: #2636 AG 

 

Greetings from forest

 Several challenges were calling my name today: a sketch, a color prompt, a word prompt, a call for layers and a die-cut. Well, then!

I laid out the supplies I wanted to use:

The blue background is a cyanotype. I tried to make some cool designs earlier in August, but most of them did not go as planned.

 

Their backside is actually nice, too. And this is what I used.

 

I started by cutting a cyanotype to size, then darkening the edges where some of the depth had been lost through cutting. I die cut the twig and leaves from gelli prints. The large leaf is a left-over from years ago - yes, I am good in hoarding stuff.

I then stamped the mushroom set and colored it in with my markers. Lastly I arranged everything according to sketch and stamped a zig zag stitch along the edges. (My sewing machine could not have handled this cyanotype paper!)

 

I am entering this in the challenges that I was inspired by today:

The Paper Funday Challenge: #91 AG / Sketch - I am playing with the sketch

 

Passion for Markers: #853 Stitching, real or faux - I am going with faux

Just Add Ink: #793 Colour Inspiration

 

Creative Knockouts: #578 Lots of layers

Classic Design Challenge: #8-2026 ATG/ Use die cuts - I am playing with the die cut option

 

On the farm / 100 days

 Today marks the 100th day of my private and unannounced challenge. After a break of two years from card making I wanted to challenge myself

* to make a card every day for 100 days 

* to use everything I had

* not to be precious about anything: all papers, all rub-ons, all toppers and ephemera were fair game and there to be used

 I had blogged my cards until September 2024. Then came the time we tried to sell our house and all signs of private life had to be packed away. This took a while. Then came the move, after which I was left with no craft room and had to fit a desk into my bedroom. I had to let go of a lot of papers and ephemera, I no longer could fit them. (And technically I should change the blog name: we live in a blue house now...)

In May this year I was sufficiently rested - and organized - to take up card making again. May 31st marks the first day of this 100 day challenge. What I learned about myself: I need ideas from outside to be able to make cards, be they prompts, pictures, layouts, tic-tac-toes, anything to get my 'cerebral juices flowing' (did Sherlock Holmes say that?). I took pleasure on combining three to five challenge prompts into one card. I applaud all challenge teams, you do a terrific job! Without your ongoing dedication to your challenge this hobby would be so much less. Thank you all!

I used a lot of my supplies, mostly dies, markers, watercolors and perhaps 10% of my stamps. This last week was tough. I had the feeling I had exhausted my supply of ideas. Making a card felt like walking in muddy boots, they want to hold you back.

As the fall season is beginning I won't be able to spend so much time at my craft desk. So no daily blog posts! But I will still make cards. My challenge now is to use more rub-ons in my card making (even though it feels a bit like cheating - I don't know why?), use more stamps and paints and try to experiment more.

It is time to present the card of the day and the challenges that led my way. 

I got inspired by a color and the prompt to make something farm related. Additionally I wanted to use die cuts. I gathered my supplies: a stamp set of farm animals and floral die cuts. I also used markers and, contrary to the photo, a ready sentiment.

After I had cut the center off a print (which I used here) I was left over with floral designs in delicious tones of brown. I decided to die cut them out, to be used in some future date. These came in handy today!

I played with a few arrangements for the flowers and finally settled on  a linear one. I stamped three sheep, colored them in with markers and fussy cut them. I then placed them behind the (raised) flowers. They seem to be delightfully grazing in a flower field.

Entering this in these challenges that I was inspired by today:

Colorful Options: September Rusty brown I am using Option 2, Warm earth tones

 

Little Red Wagon: #874 Hayloft

FarmQuest General Store: #42 Anything farm related

Just Us Girls: #839 Die week

 

Crafting from the Art: AG August 

 

 

 

Balloons for birthday

 Today I wanted to tackle my stash of designer papers. I tend to buy them and then hoard them, just because they seem too pretty to use.

I rounded up a couple of challenges that play together wonderfully. These were my initial supplies. Afterwards I grabbed some markers.

 

I started by piecing the background. I then took it to my sewing machine and stitched two rows of zig-zag stitches. Then I cut the circles, one large and three small ones.

I have been looking for a pretty balloon die for ages, with no luck, so I resorted to cutting the shape with scissors.

 

I then stamped the girl, colored her in and fussy cut her out. Lastly came the assembly. The sentiment says: "Happy birthday".

 

Entering this in these challenges that I was inspired by today:

Paper Players: #PP801 Tic-Tac-Toe - My row is top across: patterned papers- things that fly - layers

 

Try a Sketch on Tuesday: #TSOT 703

 

Double Trouble: #224 

AAA Birthday: #89 Use patterned paper

 

Sweet Stamping: Use a die cut 

Sweet greetings to a card friend

A little elephant (by Sheepsky design) was calling my name this time. To go with it I selected a round die, colored paper, a piece of cake doily and some markers. 

 

I started by selecting a background for the elephant. This was to become a rather tonal affair. I then die cut the lacey circle and place a length of cake doily behind it. I then colored the elephant and the flowers s/he's holding and fussy cut it out. There is no sentiment, but a message inside.

This card has (hopefully) reached Gail, who was my link in the most recent Card Chain Challenge. I'm linking the full line-up here so you can take a look at other beautiful cards that have flown off to their recipients. 

Won't you join us this month? The sign-up is open till September 6th.

As you can see, I used a card that I had tried to emboss directly, but with not-so-great results. The embossing is visible on top, but not on the bottom.

 

Entering my card in these most appropriate challenges:

Allsorts Challenge: #857 All creatures great and small

Digi Choosday: #9 week 2: AG

Critter Crazy: #114 AG w/ a featured critter

We Love 2 Create: #8 AG 

 

Three - five - eight

 Three colors, five presents, eight twinkles are on my card today. I was inspired to make a Christmas card again. 

These are the supplies I needed. One challenge asks for alcohol inks, but lacking those, I am going to use my alcohol markers on yupo paper. The results are very much the same. I have also used photo paper with good results.

 

I started by treating  a sheet of yupo with green and blue markers. I wanted three distinct colors with as little overlap as possible. I then backed my sheet with regular paper and cut the gifts and their bows.

 

I mounted them in a formation inspired by a sketch (see below), stamped and heat embossed the sentiment ("Merry Christmas") and attached it. Lastly I added the red twinkies. 

Sorry about the photo! The mornings are not as bright as in summer. What's dark blue now looks black... I might re-shoot this.

Entering this in the challenges that were y inspiration today:

Freshly Made Sketches: #751 

 

Aud Sentiments Challenge: #340 Alcohol inks and/or Summer + a Sentiment

Passion For Markers: #852 Ribbons and/or bows 

Sparkles Christmas Challenge: #187 Clean and simple

Simon Says Monday Challenge: Lots of layers 

 

A fairy in a tea cup

Today I leaped way out of my comfort zone. I tackled a completely circular card, added washi tape, made it feminine and still tried to keep it CAS. 

These were the supplies I picked out for these prompts. A stamp of a fairy in a bubble bath (a charity shop find so I have no idea of the maker, sorry), my largest circular dies and washi tapes. Later I added a few more tapes, white chalk paint, a few markers and a length of gold thread. I did not use the postage style washi at all. Maybe for another project!

 

I started by cutting two circles. I then scored roughly 1,5cm/ 1/2" from the top of one and glued this piece behind the full circle. This creates a fully functional round card. (I took the photo of the finished card in front of the mirror so you can see the construction of the back. ) I then stamped the fairy and colored her in with markers. 

Then I went 'back to basics' as one prompt urged to do. I tore several strips of washi tape and glued them on the left side on top of each other. I painted partially over them with white chalk paint and let it dry. When it was dry I glued one more strip, this time paper lace, horizontally, creating a plane for the tea cup to sit on. I thought the gold thread would be a fitting addition.

 Everybody's 'basic' is different I suppose. For me I went back to the time about 5 to 10 years ago when this arrangement and style was all the rage.

I am entering this in the  challenges that were my source of inspiration:

Papercraft Challenges: #133 Back to Basics

CAS on Sunday: #341 Make a round card

Moving Along with the Times: #192 Feminine

Girlz Rebel Challenge: #55 Washi tape

Classic Design Challenge: AG w/ a twist of Die cuts. I am playing AG 

One fact I learned about myself

 I know it now: I am no speed crafter. My cards take time to make. And if I make them hastily I am not happy about the result. But let's back track...

It all started with the prompt to make a card in 10 minutes or less. The planning time is not included, nor is the time for gathering supplies and getting them ready. The theme was 'crafting'. Crafting? I have no crafting-related stamps nor dies. Then I thought of a palette. Surely I could fashion one. And a brush to make it a set.

A second challenge gave me the idea for the layout: make a wreath. I selected a stamp (by Mu Lifestyle, Japan) that would be fast to cut out, markers and neutral colored papers for the brush.

I set my clock. Then I stamped the half-round watercolor pans. While the ink was drying I cut out the three pieces of a paint brush. I have no die for this, so I followed the shape of my own brush and cut it freehand. Meanwhile the ink was dry and I could paint each pan with one of the selected markers and cut them out.

 

 It took quite some time to get the pans to lie symmetrically. Then came the sentiment (TH Small Talk) and lastly I glued on the brush. Stop the clock - 10 minutes 30 seconds. 

Entering this in these challenges that inspired me today:

As You See It: #379 Hastened Handicrafts

 

The Pick 3 Challenge: #8  My choices were stamping- wreath- orange

 

4-Season challenge: #107 Een stelletje (a pair) - My pair is watercolors+brush

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends: #284 AG 

Poppies for birthday

 The ultimate summer flowers for me are poppies. But since they wither fast, it is safer to give them as a card. 

I have so many poppy stamps to prove my poppy addiction; today my selection fell on these supplies, a stamp set with lovely large poppies, a gifted gelli printed background and sentiments and their frames.

I started by cutting the gelli print to size. I preserved the woman's face, thinking it might peek behind the flowers. But in the end it was covered to an extent that it is unrecognizable only if you know what to look for. I then stamped the poppies and colored them in with markers, then fussy cut them. 

I arranged them on the background, raising the flowers with foam pads, but glueing the stems down. Then I stamped the label, fussy cut it and stamped the sentiment on it. It reads 'Best wishes for your birthday'.

Entering this in these challenges that inspired me today:

We Love Stamping: Summer Blooms

Beautiful Blossoms: #44 AG floral/ photo inspiration optional. I was inspired by the photo

 

Triple B: TB August/ moodboard optional

 

Passion For Markers: #851 Floral Vibes 

Hand Stamped Sentiments: #495 AG/ moodboard optional - I was inspired by the combination of red yellow, green in this moodboard 

 

Creative Inspirations: August AG 

 

Happy my a**

 Today's card make is a birthday card. I recently won some digital stamps (from Mo's Digital Pencil) and have been looking for suitable inspiration. Which came today in the form of 'birthday'. 

The first supplies were remnants strips. I finally wanted to use up the pile (but did not succeed quite yet...)

 

Then I selected one of the circles and pulled out other supplies: an embossing folder, the birthday boy digital stamp print-out,  markers and some text.

I embossed the background, colored in the image and fussy cut it, then stamped the birthday greetings and selected a rather ungracious greeting from the envelope of other, just as ungracious texts. Imagine this spoken out in posh English... the translation is in the header. I think his face says it all.

 

Entering this in these lovely challenges that were my source of inspiration today:

Allsorts: #856 Embossing, dry or heat - I used dry embossing 

Seize the Birthday: #332 Funny, pun-ny

 Addicted to Stamps and More: #523 Birthdays

 

Digi Choosday: #8 week 3, AG 

Snippets Playground: #539 AG w/ snippets 

Well hello there

Today I was again ispired by several challenges to create a card. 

And I needed so many supplies! One of the themes is tropics, so I selected a crocodile stamp that I have had for at least three years now. But also the flower in the "Winter foliage" set looks like it would be at home in a tropical setting. 

 I started by ink blending the background with a medium pale green of the ink set. Then I stamped a canopy of leaves with the darkest ink. I did this directly onto the card base. 

I then stamped the flowers and the crocodile and colored them in with markers. Crocodile has to hide, so I made him/ her blotchy, but went all out on the flowers. I then die cut the tropical greenery and also colored it with markers to match the crocodile.

The 'hello sunshine' die cuts were left overs from the sunflower card, but they seemed very fitting here. 

 

Entering this in these inspiring challenges:

Retro Rubber Challenge: #278 Off to the tropics - all stamps used today are older than a year.

Pick 3 : #7 July-August I went with 'Tropics- Sunshine- Sequins'.  

Passion for Markers: #850 Dies and/ or punches

Crafty Gals Corner: AG / Summer vibes optional. I am playing with Summer vibes

The Crafting Challenge: Buongiorno luglio 

 

Santa, oh Santa!

 I was inspired today by a couple of challenges to make a Christmas card, I am still very lacking in the department. With one person in mind, who is given to punny, dry humor I collected my supplies:

 

A Santa-in-Space stamp set, a piece of gelli printed paper, a stencil with stars, a package of somewhat irreverend sayings, and missing from the picture, golden Lunar paste and markers.

I stamped the moon and the Santa and colored them in, then fussy cut them. I stenciled some golden stars onto the background, mounted the gelli print onto black backing before mounting it onto the card. Then I selected a saying from the pack, something Santa could be saying if stressed out.

 

Entering this in these challenges that were my inspiration today:

Simon Says Monday Challenge: Funny/ Punny 

Christmas All Year Round: P and Q - my letter is P and stand for presents 

Stencil Fun: AG, CAS optional - I am playing AG 

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends: #283 August AG

A Perfect Time to Craft: #8 August AG 

Snowdrops

 It was time to take on the pile of paper strips, those that fall on the wayside when one has been cardmaking for some time. I had been binge watching Jennifer McGuire on Youtube and got inspired to do something about my pile. I can only recommend you look her up, if you can't part with good paper strips either.

This was the beginning today: an embossing folder, a die set, markers, and a hexagonal die cut for a project that never felt right.

 

I embossed the background and mounted it. I then die cut the snow drops and colored them in just lightly and placed the hexagon structure behind them.

 

Entering this in these challenges that inspired me today:

I Love Promarkers: # 612 In the pink 

Die Cut Divas: Let's celebrate, white w/a splash of color

Time Out: #319 Pick 2 or more - I picked monochrome- floral - geometric

 

AAA Card Challenge: #320 It starts with S - my word is Snowdrops

And as I was using snippets today I am showing this in Snippets Playground #583