Lots of Layers Challenge

Hello peeps :)

Something different today!
I never took part in cardmaking challenges (except Cardmaker of the Year competition) and decided: why not try? :)

Lots of Layers Challenge expiring November 4th at 11:55 pm EST. More info you can find in Kraftin Kimmie blog: http://kraftinkimmiestamps.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/challenge-355-lots-of-layers.html.

Last Saturday was day when my Christmas came earlier this year :). Postman bring me parcel from Canada:

Halloweeny stamps I won in 7th Birthday KraftinKimmy's bingo, and...

Rubber stamps goodie bag bought by my partner :)

Today is Halloween day and I was catch by thought: I still have time to make Halloween card!

Fact I don't have typically halloweeny papers in my stash, cause I was never doing Halloween card before. This time I said myself: You'll make Halloween card, cause you have still time and you have nice new stamps and you have lots of papers, so... what stopping you!

Plus I decided to take part in #355 challenge from Kraftin Kimmie :)

What I used:

My new stamps :)

Few pieces of black, orange, green and purple papers...

Plus bright orange ribbon and my pencils :)

Result here:

Card is made on white base and is blank inside. For extra touch I added 2 green gems.

Hope you like my first ever Halloweeny card :)

Till next post friends!

In love with digi stamps :)

For long, long time I was kind of traditionalist - stamps, yes, but only rubber or silicone. Digi stamps were away from 'my circle' :). Possibly because of lack of printer :).

All changed when I joined Kit and Clowder FB group. What a bunch of nice people and great card makers!
So if you are new in cardmaking or want to develop your skills or just have a chance to meet card making addicts from around the world join: https://www.facebook.com/groups/kitandclowder. Main person in group - Alyce - who created this group (over 12k members so far) is amazing girl and teacher for lots of us. She's Australian and today is her big day - she's a bride! So... we all are wishing her and Jon all the best!

To be honest I still don't have a printer :) but this not stopping me anymore :).

My first cards with digi stamps were made during colouring event sponsored by Saga Stamps https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SagaStamps.

Kind of romantic red and greyish/black combo

Green and orange :)

Blue with yellow - my fave combo :)

Then I used digi image to make card for friendship card swap in the group :)

Just love Marina Fedotova illustrations - I have few silicone stamps with her images from Scrapberry's - http://scrapberrys.com/category/clear_stamps/.

Other cute images I was playing with lately:

Britney give Thanks from Stamp Anniething: http://stampanniething.com/

Little Carmen - gift for Clowdies from Julia Spiri

Beautiful geisha with cherry blossom I found in Julia's shop: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/JuliaSpiri.

Now I'm just learning more and more about other cute digi stamps and finding more and more gorgeous images created by very talented people from around the world who are connected with our big cardmaking group. 

Vintage and shabby chic style

I love vintage/shabby chic style cards.

So about last Easter time, when playing with tag puncher and stamps with Dom (he loves using puncher :) , I decided that I'll give a go :) .

I stamped image and sentiment in chocolate brown on cream card and add some delicate colouring with green, yellow and pink pencils.

Then I was in proper dilemma with papers and ribbons :)

After some thinking, inking, distressing and sticking papers together...

Right side of card

Left bottom corner

Left top corner

Full view :)

I used light pinky floral paper, piece of pink paper, and yellowish paper as layering for stamp and sentiment. I inked and distressed rants of each piece of paper to gain 'old look' effect and delicate lace for adding extra texture to it.

I think card looks nice - but pic is bit too dark...

I made few more shabby chic style cards (and sold them via my little etsy shop).

I'm not using too many decorative elements on my cards from practical reasons, my cards are not boxed and some elements could be damaged in transport. In that case I'm using only ribbons, laces and gems.

Hope you like these few cards examples :)

Till next post friends!

When you need something for special friend

My etsy team is bunch of lovely people. Every year before Christmas (actually around October) we starting sign up for team Sneaky Santa. This year Sneaky Santa sign up started few days ago :) so now we are working on our wish lists, waiting for rest of peeps to join up and definitely cannot wait for info for who each of us will be a Sneaky Santa :)

Last year gift for my Sneaky friend was a huge paper crafting project :) Charlie loves Japan and stationary.
Fact I bought nice earrings for her, also made jewellery set for her, but I wanted to make special stationary set - oriental, cherry blossom, etc.

                                      Here card I sent her with gifties and wishes to her.

Here stationary set I made.

Thank you card and tag - set contained 5 per each.

Writing paper with envelopes.

Her reaction for it? Look, here pic from her Instagram :)

Looking for paper which will be perfect as writing paper took me a bit of time, but after stamping, adding just a bit of colour, wrapping all up and sending away and then knowing that Charlie like her gifts gave me a feeling of deep satisfaction :). 

Now I'm waiting for this year Sneaky Santa challenge, cause I really like my sneaky friends and do my best to spoil rotten my this year Sneaky Santa partner :)

Christmas coming!

I know it is only October :)

Believe it or not - Christmas time for card makers starting long time before December!

I start with this year Christmas cards around end of August or even earlier :)

Playing with spotlight technique :)

Lovely bears from Lili of the Valley - totally forgot I have this stamp :)

One from 3 cards set I made for customer from France.

Card for my man's Mum :)

Still didn't finish properly this one - will be sent to my parents :)

One from 3 cards set I made with Trimcraft free gift from crafty magazine.

One from second 3 cards set made with Trimcraft paper/stamp gift set :)

I love making Christmas cards, every year my collection of Christmassy stamps growing bigger :) Lost of them are free gifts from crafty magazines :)

When friend asks you for something special

Oh, yes!!! I'm sure your friends asking you for special cards every time they need them :). It is like special customer order, cause most of the time you know recipient of the card.

I have lovely friends in Canada and 2 years ago Chris asked me for card for his wife Joanna for their 15th Anniversary - that was a challenge for me, cause I never made anniversary card before. I asked my crafty friend for help - we spend one of our Friday evenings on proper brain storm and result of it you can see below:

front

inside

Just in few days apart Joanna had her birthday - so I also made birthday card which Chris asked for too :)

Gold and cream - sentiment in Polish.

Sometime later Joanna asked for few cards which she decided to buy through my etsy shop, here they are:

Wedding card for her niece

Birthday card for her younger daughter

Confirmation card for her older daughter

Below special wedding card I was asked for by a girl I know from nursery I was volunteering in.

 This card was a massive project, because she needed something in navy blue what will have this 'Wow' factor and because bride is her long term and best friend. Two evenings with planning, checking papers, die-cutting at my friend's Pat house was worthy of the result and huge smile on requester face :).

I was also making bunch of Christmas cards for Linda - lady who helped with English class in community centre where I was volunteering few years ago.

One from 14 cards I made for her - each one different.

Christmas card I made as customer order for etsy team mate for her Sneaky Santa partner.

That's all for today :). More cards next time ;)

Cards for neighbours

When you are lucky as we are to have lovely neighbours, you always trying to remember about their birthday. I'm trying my best, cause they remember about ours too :).

Most of our neighbours are pensioners, some of them keen gardeners. Making cards for them is a pleasure.

This card I made for Pat - lovely and elegant Lady for her 70th birthday - cream and gold combo, I have this one printed in paper crafting magazine :)

This one was for Margaret - another lovely neighbour who make us welcome on our new address over 7 years ago :) - cream and purple.

Birthday card for Arthur - Margaret's hubby, who is keen gardener :), first time I used kraft cardstock :)

I think I should take photos of every card I make for them, but sometimes just don't have time for it.

Now it is time to properly start Christmas card making, cause have lots of neighbours to whom I giving cards :)

   

Cards for family - Easter and Christmas

Christmas and Easter - so special events required special cards - don't you think?

I tried lots of techniques during years, die-cuts, stamping, even decoupage :). Lots of fun every time. I gathered nice collection of Christmassy stamps and dies from crafty magazines :) but as it is typical for every crafter still looking for new things :) - card making is addictive and not cheap hobby :) but very satisfying.

Bit of Christmas

2014 I think - card made at my friends as she has better dies selection :)

Little digi fairy :)

On this card I used spotlight technique I read in crafty magazine.

Bit of Easter

I used watercolour pencils on this one :)

Playing with textures here :)

Cards from 2014 and 2015... I love these bunnies - stamps from one of crafty magazines.

I love to make stamped cards, but die-cutting is also nice technique :) Just try as many techniques as you want - surely you find something you fancy the most.