Happy New Year!

New Year Countdown

To all my lovely, lovely followers and fellow bloggers!

A Very Early Start

Today, I decided to put away all the Christmas 'bits & bobs' lying around on my workspace - which included some dies and stamps that I had purchased and not yet used - there were some sparkly Christmas trees that I had punched out, using my Stampin' Up tree puch, some card layers, already cut to size and some sparkly circles that I had punched out, using my small circle punches (I don't know about you, but I just can't bear to throw away anything that sparkles or shines - I think I must have been a cat in a previous life - anything that sparkles or shines has me mesmerised).  I also had a digital stamp that I had already coloured too, using Prismacolour pencils and some blending fluid.  So I decided to use it all up on some cards, in readiness for  . . . 2015!

These are the cards I came up with.

 

 

Not a bad start eh?  But what's the betting that I still have one mad rush next Christmas Eve, because I've become complacent about having 'most' of my Christmas cards made already!  That happens a lot to me . . . what about you?

Thanks so much for popping by, please leave a comment, they are all appreciated so very much and I do reciprocate to each and every one!

New Card Classes

I do hope everyone had a lovely Christmas . . . everything is almost back to normal now, it comes and goes so quickly doesn't it?  

The next event , of course, is the New Year.  

As we have not had a particularly good time of it this year - one way or another - we are hoping 2015 will be the start of a better period and wish the same for each and every one of you, my lovely followers!

You will all be seeing the results of an online card class I will be taking a bit later this month which is Clean & Simple 4: Techniques Made Simple  which is run by instructors Kristina Werner, Jennifer McGuire, and Julie Ebersole

I took the  Clean & Simple 3 last year and thouroughly enjoyed it, so you will be seeing the results here as and when I have made something for the class.

I would like to wish you all a very healthy and happy New Year in 2015!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

No card today, just a wish for everyone to have a very merry Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year!  

I know every one of you will be so very busy, so without further ado, I will sign off with a BIG thank you to each and every person who visited my humble blog since I started it back in September.  Your kind and wonderful comments have warmed and touched me.

Also, a big thank you must go to Darnell over at her wonderful blog, djkardkreations and MaryH of Carolina Cards by MaryH who were both very kind and very helpful in my early days as a fledgling blogger.

 

Stash Raiding & Upcycling

Today, I thought I would have a little break from the challenges, so that I could use up some 'bits & pieces' that have been lying around on my work space for far too long!  You know, the, "I'll keep it . . it may come in handy" bits and bobs!  You all have them . . . right?  Come on, it can't be just me!

Anywho, I had this flower that I had rescued from a shop bought card and knew that I had some cardstock that matched the colour perfectly and I still had a 'wonky panel' cut out from one of the challenges below 

So, I got the cardstock and stamped it with the same colour ink for a tone on tone effect (I did manage to twist the card a little as I stamped, which blurred the text), but as I just wanted it for a little texture and most of it would be covered up anyway, I decided to keep it as is and mounted it to a plain white card base.

Next, I stamped the wonky panel with the birthday sentiment and mounted that on top of the coloured panel with foam tape for dimension.

Then, I finished it off with the 'upcycled' flower.

Let me know what you think . . . I appreciate each and every one of you lovely people and will always try to reciprocate!  Thanks for stopping by today, all supplies will be listed below.

This is the card

Supplies used:

White cardstock from the Papermill
Stampin' Up - 'Melon Mambo' cardstock & ink
My Favorite Things - 'Birthday' background stamp
White panel, designed by me and cut out on my cutting machine
Fabric Flower - Upcycled from store bought card (used card of course)

As ever, thanks for visiting!  Hazel x

2nd Take on CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge #103

Today's post is another card I made for the CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge #103   This is their sketch

 

And this is the card today.

Detail

Thanks for stopping by and I appreciate all your comments and reciprocate where possible!  Have a great day!  Hazel x

Supplies used:

Smooth, white cardstock & flecked navy cardstock (from stash)

Panel cut on electronic cutting machine (file designed by myself)

Stamps - Alte&New, 'Label Love' (fast becoming my all time favourite)

Ink - Versafine - 'Black Onyx' 

Sparkle texture paste.

 

CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge #103

Today's post is a card I made for the CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge #103   This is their sketch

And this is my card

 

Detail

Detail

First I embossed the front of the base card with an embossing folder, then made some patterned glitter paper and cut it to a wonky panel and finally, stamped three different sentiments and cut them out and mounted them on the wonky panel with foam tape.

All supplies are listed below.

Thanks for taking the time to stop by, and thank you for your comments, I appreciate each and every one, and try to reciprocate where possible.

Have a good day.  Hazel x

Supplies used:

Irridescent glitter

Background printed on my printer

Crafts Too - EF

Stamps - Alte&New, 'Label Love'

Ink - Versafine - 'Black Onyx'

Addicted To Stamps Challenge #124 - Clean And Simple

This is my second card today, and it is also the second card for the Addicted To Stamps Challenge #124 - Clean And Simple as the brief is so open ended and could therefore be interpreted in thousands of ways!

This is my card

Detail

Most of this card was made out of items that I had left lying over my work area and so, before tidying them away, I had to make use of the 'bits' and 'bobs'.

Those of you who have visited my blog before will probably recognise where the main focal point is from, it is the card fronts that I cut up for this challenge card.

The stars had been lying around on my work surface for far to long, so I just stuck all the pieces of card fronts together on a plain white base, arranged the stars and stuck them down and then cut two strips of gold card to match the stars and stuck them down under the sentiment.

That's it . . . clean and simple!

Thanks as always for dropping by and I appreciate and try to reciprocate everyone.

Have a great weekend!  Hazel x

Freshly Made Sketches #165

Today I made a card for the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #165 and I also want to link it to Addicted To Stamps - CAS Challenge

The challenge at FMS was this sketch

This is the card

Detail

Detail

I used a watercolour piece I made for the background to the stitched circle frame, cut the frame and stuck it to the watercolour piece, then I stuck it to the front of a textured card base.

I stamped the balloons and die cut them and attached some twine and then stamped the sentiment and fussy cut that (not really fussy, more straightforward).  Then I stuck the first balloon straight onto the card and added the second one with foam tape, to add dimension.  Finally, I coated the balloons with A Wink Of Stella and some Glossy Accents.

The challenge for the Addicted To Stamps was for a Clean and Simple card, which, I hope, this is!

A simple card with a pop of colour.

Supplies used:

Stamps - Alte&New, 'Label Love',  and WPlus9, 'Happy Everything'
Dies - Stitched Circle (from one of MFT's Blueprints set) & WPlus9 - 'Happy Everything' for the balloons

Thanks for popping by to visit and I appreciate all your comments.  Have a good weekend!   Hazel x

For Chrissie & The Team Over At Less Is More

This is my final entry for the Less Is More #200 Challenge - 'Celebrate'  
This will be my third one and they must be getting sick of seeing my name by now. 

I am dedicating this card to Chrissie who started the LIM blog and keeps it running so we can all enjoy it and join in the fun!  I have always had encouraging comments from her and the DT.

This is a technique that I saw Jennifer McGuire demonstrate a while ago now and I remembered it, had the stamp set and decided to try and replicate the effect. To visit her blog click HERE

This is my card 

First, I stamped the sentiment in different colour inks and then, cut them in half.  The red one I cut a strip out of the center, then I cut four more strips of card the same width and layered them up. 

Next, I put the two halves together on to a card front and lined up the red, layered strip on top so it stood out.

Finally, I stamped the rest of the greeting underneath the main sentiment, in Versafine Black Onyx pigment ink and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I mounted the panel on to a card with a strip of yellow card for accent and added a few sequins as it is supposed to be a celebration!  Maybe it would look better without?  The jury is out on that one!

Thank you for taking the time to visit and comment you lovely people, it is very much appreciated!  Hazel x

Supplies used:

Stamps - My Favorite Things, 'Celebrate Big'
Ink - Colorbox, 'Paintbox Primary's'
Sequins from stash