Twofer Flowers

 

Time to think outside the box and use the same stamp die or stencil to create two different designs for two different occasions.  The challenge prompt for Twofer Challenge #34 is Flowers!

Normally I have trouble finding appropriate stamps or dies for the prompt but this month I was spoilt for choice!  I have pictures of all my SCHTUFF stored in my Photos Library on my Mac - I've built up a database of sorts (I used to work in IT) - and this is normally where I start when planning any card.  A search of my Photos Library revealed I have over 80 flower related stamps and dies -  that's sets not individual stamps or dies.  In the end I chose this Bloomington Border die from Memorybox - I bought it a year ago because it matched one of my favourite Christmas dies (Lydia Ornament) but I still hadn't got around to using it.

Here's a closer look was the first card I made.  I've been trying to do more colouring with alcohol markers in the hope that I'll get better at it with practice.  I used a few pinks and a few greens - trying to bring out the embossed detail on the flower and leaf.  I found this sheet of pink polka dotted DP in the stash which was a good match for the pink in the flower and the reverse side had this script which gave me the idea for this layout.  The sentiment was tricky - not much space.  I toyed with the idea of spelling something out vertically using die cut letters, but what?  I thought of possible occasions and thought to myself "just because" - I've been missing my friends a lot lately!  You can imagine my delight when I spotted this sentiment (again used my Photos library) on a Papermania set I've had for donkey's ears!  It said what I wanted to say and was the perfect size.

Here's the second card I made.  This one was much easier since I had it in mind when I first saw this die at the Craft Fair I where I bought it.  I cut three borders from white pearlescent card stock (it has a stripy wavy effect) and laid them in alternative directions on plain white card stock - they fitted perfectly on this A6 card front.  I then cut the Lydia Ornament in white and red and hung it from silver cord over this lovely background.  This 'joy' die just arrived this week so I placed it under the ornament (and gave it a coat of glossy accents for good measure).

Here's a closeup in an attempt to show the pattern in the pearlescent card stock.

I chose red and white (and grey) because of Colour Hues Challenge #9 - a stunning colour combination which wasn't too Christmassy owing to the grey.

I'm still working through my NBUS (Never Before Used Schtuff) - some I've only bought recently and some I've had a bit longer.   Luckily there are a few challenges to encourage me in this endeavour at this time of the year!

NBUS Challenge #22

Always Fun Challenge #196 - Something New

SOS Challenge #436 - Whats's New With You?

Make My Monday Challenge #139 -  New in Your Stash

SSS Wednesday Challenge - Something New

Jingle Belles Rock - Something Old, Something New 

Thanks for stopping by - I hope you enjoyed your visit.  If you leave a comment, I'll know where to find you and can return the favour!  Hugs and keep yourselves and your families safe!

Kate

Big City Life

This stamp is from the Town House Series by Basement Studios. The designer is a very talented artist of whom I have had the honour of calling a dear friend for over 20 years.  She based her designs on houses she has spotted during her years living in Europe - the two houses here are based on Luxembourgish houses.

When I saw the graphic for Time Out Challenge #178, I immediately thought of these stamps of hers.  The really great thing about Jaine's Basement Studio is that it's only 2 villages away from me.  I placed the order on Monday night and picked up the stamps yesterday afternoon and here's what I came up with this evening - a rainbow of town houses!  I'm no colourist and I have very limited alcohol inks but it was quite therapeutic -  a nice break from home-schooling my youngest this week and the reports of deaths and irresponsibility in the news.  

These are a few other challenges I'm entering (click on the subtitle not the image)

Paper Players Challenge #522

Use Your Stuff Challenge #413 - All About the New

Make My Monday Challenge #139 -  Something New in Your Stash

NBUS Challenge #22

SSS Wednesday Challenge - Something New

Allsorts Challenge Week 605 - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by - I hope you enjoyed your visit.  If you leave a comment, I'll know where to find you and can return the favour!
Hugs and stay safe,

Kate

'Tis the Season to be Wrappin'

 

A few weeks ago, Challenge #72 at The Library had the title Christmas Shopaholic.  I had an idea for it, but not the time nor the tools!  Here is the book cover

I immediately thought of this Stamp and Die set (Sizzix Style is Eternal) because of the shopping bags that come with the set (though adding them to her hand proved tricky!  I had ordered a set of Santa hats in October but they didn't arrive before the challenge ended - in fact they only arrived after Christmas!  Luckily, the Library has an Anthology Challenge where we can pick any previous title from the Library so I got another chance at this title!

I die cut some Christmas gifts in red and silver (XCut Birthday Party set) - I had to do a little selective cutting to get the different sizes and chose a suitable Santa hat for my shopaholic!

I had bought this embossing folder (Craft Sensations) a few weeks before Christmas and I remembered I had bought some Whitewash Core'dinations Cardstock a few years before - about time I used it!  Jingle Belles has challenged us to use Something Old and Something New and that was as good a reason as any to use some of it!  I chose a green sheet and after embossing sanded the whitewashed cardstock slightly to reveal the green underneath.  

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #45 has an "If it's Christmassy, Link it Up" challenge. 

I'm also entering 

Crafty Hazelnut's Challenge #523

Allsorts Challenge #605 - Anything Goes

NBUS Challenge #22 - The embossing folder and Santa hats are both new

Thanks for stopping by - I hope you enjoyed your visit.  If you leave a comment, I'll know where to find you and can return the favour!
Hugs and stay safe,

Kate