A few latest cards

I have been making cards for friends and family - above is one for a special birthday for my friend Katy.  The background in pink glitter, but it doesn't show up that well in the photo.

This was for my brother-in-law.  

This one was for a colleague at work, using a new rubber stamp which Chris had treated me to from Noolibird.

She is a keen houseplant grower, so I thought she would like a houseplant inside...

...and some potted flowers on the back.

I am enjoying using my stash to make these cards and to tailor them to the recipient.
 

Latest cards

My card making has continued and I like to take photos of the cards so that I can remember what I did and what worked.

I do like Clean and Simple cards and these are sometimes the most difficult to make successfully.  Inky fingers can be a big problem!

I have been using my dye inks/Distress inks a lot, both for backgrounds... 

more backgrounds...

..and for focal points.

There have been mainly birthday cards but the occasional anniversary one too.

Florals have been a go-to choice.

Whether die cuts are used...

...or just stamping.

Just some of my most recent cards - I am definitely improving and becoming more confident. I need to start on festive cards next, so that I am not rushing around at the last minute!

Latest card makes

These are a few cards I made last year and one from this year.  Above is one I made for my sister's birthday.  It is a Woodware stamp designed by Jane Gill and I really like her designs.  I have amassed quite a collection!

This was for my good friend Alison's birthday, using Sizzix dies (my latest favourite!)

I use this 'happy' die a lot.  I like the font and the way the letters aren't straight.

Here's the 'happy' die again, taking centre stage this time.

The card was for my other sister and I gold embossed the flowers stamp and watercoloured the flowers, which was a lovely relaxing activity.

I added a few butterfly stamps to the back as well.

A card for my sister-in-law, using gilding flakes, sizzix leaf dies and an embossing folder to make the background.

Another embossing folder background with a leaf cut out of gold card and coloured with alcohol inks.

This panel was the second I made using the flower stamp and watercolouring the flowers. I haven't sent this one to anyone yet.

This one was using sizzix leaf dies and I coloured the panel behind.  This card was for a colleague at work who likes bright colours.

She also likes cats...my favourite stamp sets of the moment - Tim Holtz's 'Snarky Cats'. (I have got the Snarky Cats, Snarky Cats Hallowe'en and Snarky Cats Christmas. They appear quite often in my cards!)

Even the back of her card was given a Snarky Cat!

A new stencil enabled me to have a play with inks, for a birthday card for Chris.

A Snarky Cat appeared on the inside too...

...and on the back.  I added the little party hat from another stamp set.

Finally, here is my most recent card, for a friend's birthday last week.  Although the photo doesn't pick it up very well,  the pink panel is all glittery.  She loves pink, so I hope she liked it!

In other news. my art journaling/mixed media course is going well and I am really enjoying it.   I will share the first four pieces I have made in a future post. 

Latest card making

 Here are a few of the cards I have been making so far this year.  Above is one for my brother-in-law, using gilding flakes which was fun to make, but a bit messy as the flakes can go everywhere!

 Here is the one I made for my colleague at work who is very creative.  It took a couple of goes to get it how I wanted, but I got there in the end.

 Decorating the envelope and the inside of the card was enjoyable too.

 This is for a friend's birthday at the weekend.  This is a gel plate print in the background and a white die cut front.

The final card for now is a stencilled image which turned out well.  I am now working on Mothering Sunday cards and then it will be Easter cards...
I have also started my April ATC today and so far it is looking nice.

Creating cards (and new stamps and dies)

I have been busy with more making (and purchasing...) recently and here is a round-up.  It's not often I need to make a card like the one above, but I was pleased with the end result and I hope the recipient liked it too.

This was for my nephew and I used the spotlight effect again which gave a sort of 'now you see it, now you don't' optical effect.

It's a bit easier to see in the close up.

Another more masculine card, for my brother-in-law.

I enjoyed making this card for my sister and I hope she liked it.

I also stamped the envelope.

Playing with some background dies has been fun too.

This one used a die cut as a stencil, with pixie powders (coloured powders with shimmery mica powder added to them which activate with water) sprinkled through and sprayed with water.  You never know what effect you will get.

I have been watching lots of youtube videos - this watercolour was inspired by 'creationsceecee' who does some lovely pieces.  I like watercolours but am not very good with them, so was pleased with these flowers.

More new dies which I think will be versatile as they can be used in lots of different ways.

More dies (used before but in great condition) and a new stamp set from one of my favourite companies, Visible Image. 

Here's a couple of the dies cut out and I shall be using these for Christmas cards, in different coloured glitter papers/card, I think. 

Finally, a new stamp set from another of my favourite companies, Altenew, (an American company, but there are stockists in the UK, such as Seven Hills Crafts) who are known for their layered designs.  This one is in three parts, flowers with two sets of leaves and they create the floral roundel on the left, which is really pretty.  

I am really enjoying my card making and papercrafting journey, although I have the sneaking suspicion that no matter how big my stash gets, it will never be complete, because there is always another stamp set, die, type of card, mixed media product that will appear and I have no willpower!  As long as I can afford it, that's fine...

Making...

...more cards.  This was for my friend Alison's birthday.  I watercoloured the background floral stamp and then used a 'spotlight' die effect for the sentiment.  This was cut from the background and then layered up so that it stands proud.  It looks a bit like an optical illusion and I think it is really effective.

 Here's a close up.

This second card was a little different as I made it for someone I don't know and doubt I shall ever meet.  His name is Rhys, he is fourteen and has a life limiting condition.  His mum put out a call on Facebook for cards to cheer him up and Chris said we should send one, so we did.  He has now received over 18,000 cards and also presents too.   There is a short report about him here. It just shows that despite the world news, the depressing statistics and upsetting images, there are still a lot of decent and kind people out there and that is a comforting thought.