Die Cut hearts

Once a month there is a challenge over at Simon says Stamp Work it Wednesday and this month's one is Die cuts.

I don't have many dies which aren't your basic shapes circles, squares etc but I do have a star and a heart one so it would have to be something along those lines.

I saw a lovely card by Julie Marshall and was inspired to make this one

I did some faux stitching with a felt tipped pen around each heart.

Supplies:

Cuttlebug

Heart Die: To die 4

Card stock: cream and aqua in 160gsm

Striped scrap book paper

Buttons; From my stash

Fine liner in black

Peace Dove

While I was on holiday one of the things I needed to do was to start my Christmas cards and I'm happy to say that I did.

Last year I joined a challenge at Split Coast Stampers Christmas Cards Challenge whereby you pledge to make a card (or 2 or 3, you decided) each month so that when Christmas rolls around you are all organized. Well last year I was very good and kept to the challenge. This year has been a totally different story, to date I have posted...... not one! So I decided to rectify that and here is my first card for the year.
I will be entering it in the October challenge, I know that I'm getting a bit ahead of myself but the challenge is Birds!

I was very excited when I realized that it fitted the challenge at  Addicted toCAS perfectly too.

 I took my inspiration from these two great cards

The Layout

Source: Unknown

 and the colours

Source: Pam

now I just need to keep the momentum going!!!

I will also be entering this is Simon says stamp Wednesday Challenge where the cue is anything goes.

Supplies:

Pattern:Stitching Cards. Dove of Peace
Card Stock: 160gsm in white

Chevron paper: Free Down load from Crafty Ferret
Gold Paper for backing

Thread: DMC Antique Gold

Metal dots in gold

    

Corners

Morning everyone.

I'm back with another card, this one is to be entered in Split Coast Stampers Free 4 All where the challenge is "Let's see your corners"
Here are my corners.....

I will also be entering it over at TGIF challenges where the challenge is


When I first started stitching cards Pinbroidery had a free pattern for this design but the problem was they only made square patterns and because posting a square card here in South Africa is quite expensive and it's a huge problem getting square envelopes, I only make rectangle cards. To solve the problem I took their pattern and reduced it to fit on my card. Below is a card from back then showing the result.

Thankfully they now accommodate all stitchers and make both square and rectangle versions of their patterns hence the design of the first card.

Supplies:

Pattern: Pinbroidery Free Flower Corners
Thread: Antique Gold DMC

            All other threads: brands and colour codes unknown

Metal dots: in rose gold

Rolfes Metallic pen in gold

Graded flower scrapbook paper: make unknown

Card stock: 160gsm in white

                   200gsm in pink

  

Profiles

I love how this pattern was designed, very clever in my opinion.

 I am entering this in the challenge at Clean and Simple on Sunday.

It's a sketch challenge

The heart shape is hand cut and slightly bigger on the pink side as the female head is bigger than the male, all that hair I think!

Supplies:

Pattern: Free download from Bergkaarten. Borduurpatroon
Thread: Pink and blue: Brands and colour codes unknown

Satin Ribbon with gold edge

Flat backed pearl in pink and navy

Floral Tag

This is actually my second post for today. Scroll down for my CASology entry

For the challenge at Freshly made Sketches I decided to CASe this card

Source: Lucy Abrams of Lucys cards

 I wanted to try the gold on pink and here is my card

(apologies the photo seems to be a little over exposed)

The tag is hand cut and I backed it with some gold vellum, some dots of liquid pearls completes the card. 

I often use this flower pattern, they are so lovely and delicate.

The sketch I had to follow is below.

I am also entering it in the challenge over at Simply less is Moore where the challenge is "snippets".

I stitched on a snippet of left over card stock, the gold at the base of the card was also a left over bit and so was the gold vellum backing the tag.

Supplies:

Pattern: 101 Embroidery ideas for paper by Erica Fortgens

Thread: DMC in antique Gold

Card Stock: 200gsm in pink

                   160gsm in white

Gold vellum

String

Paper: strip of gold 

Liquid Pearls in gold

A line of dancers

I'll be entering this in the challenge at CASology. which is 

I love this pattern. There is so much movement in these simple figures. It's actually a Christmas one taken from the Christmas song "Twelve Days of Christmas" and this is for the nine ladies dancing verse.
  For this card I only stitched one of the lines of dancers.

I used Satin thread to given them a bit of shine

Supplies:

Pattern: Pinbroidery Christmas days 7,8 and 9 rectangle
Thread: Satin in mauve, lemon, pale blue, pale pink and apple

Card Stock: 160gsm in white

Paper: 80gsm in mauve

Washi tape: pink with white dots

Mauve button from my stash

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a ....... flamingo!

That's the challenge at Split Coast Stampers Free 4 All, anything that flies and here is my entry

I recently saw a card with two swans outlined against a moon and thought I'd give it a try. I don't have a swan pattern so did the flamingo instead. 

The following two cards I made a while ago but thought I'd share them anyway.

I stitched on the back of an old calendar. I loved the colour and weight of the card stock so decided to up cycle it and I'm pleased that I did.

The ribbon on the pink one is self adhesive satin.

Supplies:

Pattern: Stitching Cards Bookmark Flamingo
Card stock: 160gsm in white

                   160gsm in black

                   Oatmeal: recycled calendar

Thread: DMC blanche (white) and black

             Blue and pink make and colour code unknown 

Paper: Scrap of white

           Pattern: Fabscraps Mini-Paper collection 

Cuttlebug

Sizzix 8 circle die

Self Adhesive satin ribbon

Life's a beach

Well it's been a pretty full week of posts this week. Most of them I was able to pre schedule last weekend, while I was still on holiday!!! It was great having had time to play. I probably won't be able to keep up the same work load during the term but I'll do my best.

 I don't often stitch beach themed cards but that's the challenge over at Simply Less is Moore. I made this card a while ago but have never entered it into a challenge, it was perfect so here is my entry

  

There is a Beach near Cape Town which has a row of these delightful little huts on it. All a different bright colour. I am always reminded of it when I use this pattern.

Supplies:

Pattern:Form-a-lines Holiday Beach Huts
Threads: Brands and colour codes unknown

Card Stock: 160gsm in blue

                   Sand is a recycled calendar

Paper: 80gsm in pale blue 

Baby bear

We are finally having some rain. It has been falling lightly for the last day and a half. Gorgeous waking to the sound of it on our roof this morning. Just hope it's falling in the catchment areas too!!!

This is the sketch at Sweet Sunday Sketch

and here is my take on it.

and individually

My inspiration.

Source: Tina

Supplies:

Pattern:  Stitching Cards Bookmark baby
Card Stock: 160gsm in white and kraft

Gel pen in blue and green

Crochet cotton in white

Buttons from my stash

Flowers in a box

Another sketch challenge this time at CAS(e) this sketch and this is the sketch

Here is my card

I copied the flower in the stitching pattern nine times and placed them carefully to make sure that they were evenly spaced before pricking them. When complete I used foam squares to give the frame some height and added a dot of liquid pearls to the centre of each flower.

 and here is my inspiration

Source: Gillian at Made with Sparkle blog

Supplies:

Pattern: Free pattern from Stitching Cards. Flower bookmark
Card Stock: 160gsm in white

Cuttlebug

Sixxiz 8 circle die

Double sided foam

Flat backed gem in pink

Thread: Brands and colour codes unknown

Liquid pearl in platinum

Get in shape

Well school started yesterday and it's going to be a busy term. It is my turn to produce the junior concert. Not my most favourite thing to do but I suppose at least it is only my responsibility every fourth year!

I'm playing along at a new challenge this week. It's Simon Says Stamp blog's 

and the challenge is 'Get in Shape'.

I made this card for my F-I-L for his birthday this year.

The sentiment is computer generated and the plastic is some saved from grocery packaging. 

I decided to try the same design this time without the plastic inlay. 

Have to admit I prefer the one above.

This layout was not my idea, I CASed it but unfortunately can't remember who from.

Supplies:

Card Stock: 160gsm in white

Cuttelbug

Sizzix 8 circle die

Buttons from my stash

Gingham paper: Blue: Free Download from CraftyFerret.

                           Green: Free download from Activity Village.

Black and white with a splash of colour

Another new challenge that I have decided to enter is Uniko Studio where the challenge is black and white with a splash of colour.

I made this card quite a while ago but have never posted it. I think it's perfect for this challenge

At the time of making this card I did not have a Cuttlebug so used a circle cutter to make the circles. A bit tricky and often the paper would slip and I'd have to start again. Much prefer my die cutter.
I used a punch to round the bottom corners.

This is not my own layout design but for the life of me can't find who inspired me. So thanks mystery cardie, your work is great!

Supplies:
Pattern:  Stitching Cards Bookmark flower 6
Circle Cutter: Martha Steward

Card Stock: 160gsm in white

Paper: 80gsm in black and white

Flat backed gems in blue, yellow and green

Thread: Satin in lime green, lemon and pale blue
Corner Punch

Bike

Today is the last day of my holidays. They have gone by far too fast but I do feel nice and relaxed and ready for a new term, I suppose!!!

I made this card for a friend who cycles most weekends.

I am entering this in the challenge at Freshly made sketches.

Supplies:

Pattern: Form A Lines Window with bicycle

Card stock: White in 160gsm

                   Cream

Paper: Scraps of blue and red

           Stripes: Download from Microsoft Publisher

Thread: DMC in black

             DMC in Silver: E168

             Blue: brand and colour code unknown

Cupcakes

We were away this week for a couple of days. We went down the South Coast to the beach. We experienced two of the coldest days this winter during that time. We knew that we where in for some cold weather so I packed clothes that would see me through a normal tropical winter, 19 or 20 degrees but this time it got down to 11 degrees and of course I didn't have anything suitable with me. Spent a lot of the time cuddled under a duvet. But it was good to get away from the humdrum of everyday life none the less.

Here are my cards for today. I am entering the first one in the challenge at CASology

I had a bit of fun with this theme and made three cards.

I used a party theme stencil to hand emboss the strip of coloured paper at the bottom of the first two cards and some flat backed gems to complete.

A yellow one

and a blue one

and this one is decidedly not Clean and Simple!

I hand embossed the stars and added some glitter glue to them

I also coloured the icing and the cupcake paper with pastel pencils which I smudged with an ear bud. 

Supplies:

Pattern: Stitching Cards. Cupcake
Paper: Scraps of blue and yellow

            Scrap of strips

Stencils: Party theme

              Stars. 

Card Stock: 160gsm white

Thread: Blue, pink, yellow, brown and red. All make and colour codes unknown

             Gold:

Flat backed gems in pink and blue

Pastel pencils
Glitter glue in gold

Blue on white anniversary Card

I have something a bit different for you today. It's an anniversary card with not a stitch of hand embroidery to be seen!

The sentiment is computer generated and I machine stitched around it ( sorry just couldn't break totally with my addiction to thread!). I hand cut the heart. To keep the cord exactly aligned with the point of the heart I cut a tiny "v" for it to sit in.

I will be entering it over at Sweet Sunday Sketch were the sketch is 

Supplies:

Card Stock: 160gsm in white

                   Scraps of feather embossed white on white

Button from my stash

Satin cord

Border Punch: Martha Steward

A rainbow of flowers

A very bright card for you today.

This has turned out to be not my most favourite card. The splodges on it are actually glitter and do look a lot better IRL.

I will be entering it in the challenge at CAS(e) this sketch.

This lovely card was my inspiration. I don't think I did it justice, pity.

Source: Jeanne Jachna: A Kept life blog

Supplies:

Pattern: All are free downloads: Large Flower:  Stitching Cards Flowering Vine
                                                   Medium: Stitching Cards Sweet violet 
                                                   Small:Stitching Cards Flower Bookmark
Card Stock: 160gsm in white

Old bought doilley

Thread: all brands and colour codes unknown.

Glitzing Glamour iridescent

Think Big

Split Coast Stampers Free 4 All challenge is Think Big.

We have to use a big image or stamp the background, I chose the big image.

This was made for a friend's birthday. She's as nuts about cats as I am.

Supplies:

Pattern: Form-A-Lines Cat and Kitten
Card Stock: 160gsm in white

Paper: Blue dots: Paper Pizzaz soft tints

           Gold

Pentel gel pen in gold

Thread: Variegated brown, Yellow, grey and pink: Brands and codes unknown

        

Good Bye Tango

I made this card for my sister when she lost her beloved feline companion of many, many years. Her name was Tango and she was a ginger and white Mancoon so hence the colours chosen for the card.

True to Mancoon characteristic traits she was huge.

 This is my second post for today only because we are going away tomorrow and I'm not sure if I'll get a chance to enter this in the challenge over at Freshly made sketches and there is a deadline looming. The sketch is 

 and true to my characteristics I have turned it on it's side! 

Here is a second card I made using the same pattern.

I did hand embossing on this one.

Supplies:

Pattern:Form-A-Lines Cats on a wall (I used the largest cat)
Thread: Brand and colour codes unknown

Card Stock: 160gsm white, up scaled oatmeal from an old calendar

Paper: Scraps of green embossed (bought), pink and floral

Rolfes metallic pen in pink

Embossing stencil: make unknown

Old knitting needle for embossing.

Flat backed gems in champagne

Self adhesive satin ribbon 

Embossing

Week two of my holidays is over, it's the home stretch now unfortunately, although this is sure to be a good week because we are going away to the coast for 3 days. Hubby wants to fish and I'm happy to sit on the beach, soaking up our lovely winter sun reading a book. Heaven.

The challenge at CAS on Sunday is embossing and here is my card or to be perfectly correct, cards. They where so easy and such fun to make that I did three.

and individual ones, not sure why I didn't take a photo of the pink one!

The apricot backing for this one is actually a recycled envelope from a birthday card.

When I made the invites for my last birthday I had a whole lot of ovals left over. I have been trying to think of ways to use them and these cards did the job perfectly.

Supplies:

Pattern: 101 Ideas for Embroidery on Paper by Erica Fortgens

Thread: Apricot card: Brand and colour codes unknown

             Pink: Medium DMC 3326. Other brands and colour codes unknown.

             Blue: Dark blue DMC 0131, Light DMC 506

             Green: colour code and brand unknown

Cuttlebug

Swiss dots Cuttlebug Embossing Folder

Sizzix Oval die

Liquid Pearls Gold
Card stock: 160gsm in white
Paper: Scraps of pink, blue and recycled apricot envelope.