Floral card

Hello crafters!

Today is my second post on the theme of "Mother's Day/Use flower(s)" for our Country View Challenge held in the Facebook group and hosted by Cassie.

I selected vellum for this card as I wanted to use coloured pencils. 

Why vellum, I hear you ask? Well, vellum has 2 advantages when it comes to coloured pencils: the first is that the paper has a texture that grabs the pencil, allowing more colour to be applied, the second, because it is semi opaque. a second layer of colour can be applied to the back for even stronger depth of colour.

First I stamped the flowers from the AALL & Create "In The Wild" stamp set (#529) in white pigment ink . Then I coloured on top with the pencils.

The image and its mat have been die-cut with the AALL & Create Splodazzlers set (#33).

Finishing touches are some of the little "bits" from the same die set and small brads I have coloured with nail varnish (in pink) and embossing powders (the black and the white brads).

To enter the challenge, hop on to our friendly group here and upload your project to the challenge album. You could win the fabulous prize pictured below, one of the just released Paper Artsy stamp set from the Country View Craft shop.

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield       I am entering the challenge We Love Stamping and Polkadoodles 

Feminine Hello

Hello crafters, 
This fortnight, the Allsorts challenge optional theme, chosen by Lynn is "Feminine". As usual, you can also enter with an "anything goes" theme.

The focal image is an old stamp from Flonzcraft, Flower Engraving, simply stamped with blue Versafine. [I don't think this is still available as Flonzcraft don't seem to do polymer stamps anymore]

The papers are from Polkadoodles "The colour of Spring" (PD7450) and the Hello die is from Memory Box.

The die set I used to cut papers and blue mat is AALL & Create's #33 Splodazzlers.

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Hop on over to the Allsorts challenge blog to see all the DT inspiration and upload your projects. There are two prizes from Stamp Addicts, stamps and stencils pictured below for a lucky winner!

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Polkadoodle, We Love Stamping, and

                                                          Stamping Sensations challenges

CAS Sympathy Card

Hello crafters, 
 
This fortnight, the Allsorts challenge optional theme, chosen by Helen is "Clean And Simple". As usual, you can also enter with an "anything goes" theme.

I do like making CAS cards in general but they are particularly good for these hard to make Sympathy cards.

I used a stamp from the Penny Black You & Me stamp set (30-285) with Versafine Clair inks in blue and brown and added a sentiment from the Big Sentiments - Sympathy stamp set (Inspired By Stamping) in black.

It looks simple, it sounds simple to make and yet it took me an age to find "THE" placement that would make it just so...

**********
 

Your turn now... do hop to the Allsorts blog, admire my teamies makes and upload your project for the chance to win 2 prizes of Oakwood Direct, 3 stencils, A5 stamp set and coordination Butterfly stamp and die set. You can enter up to 5 times and worthy entries will earn a place in the Top 7. 

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday, 

                                                       and Polkadoodle challenges

Girlfriends Forever

Hello crafters, 

Today I have a second inspiration make for our Country View Challenge on the theme of "Romance and Friendship" hosted by yours truly!

I first created my background with alcohol inks on Yupo paper, spritzing with alcohol and dripping  Alcohol blending ink.  Then, I applied Ranger's alcohol lift ink with a brayer to the whole Yupo sheet and transferred the "print" by pressing white cardstock on top of the Yupo. (second prints can be done but will be paler). 

I stamped the Paper Artsy girls from the fifties (HP1207 set) an old one but perfect for this card.

I added a sentiment from a STAMPlorations set (sadly not active at the moment)  

The paper and mat have been cut with the AALL & Create die set #33 - Splodazzlers

To enter the challenge, hop on to our friendly group here and upload your project to the challenge album. You could win both stamp sets pictured below from the Country View Craft shop.
 

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the  Simon Says Stamps Monday, 

                                                         Addicted to Stamps, Polkadoodle, Stamping Sensations and 

                                                         We Love Stamping challenges 

Bewitched

Hello crafters, 

Today I am kicking off the Country View Challenge on the theme of "Romance and Friendship" which I have chosen since Valentine's day is just around the corner!

If Romantic love is not your thing you can go with Friendship or any other kind of human love (children, family...)

The inspiration for this card is the Sizzix/Tim Holtz Vault set Wicked (666683), on the premise that witches do not always have to be sinister and the old series Bewitched came to mind.

It's not that I don't have any "Romantic" themed stamps or dies but I was itching to use the set, one of my latest purchases from Country View Crafts during the Advent Calendar event (every year my budget downfall...). 

For background I chose AALL & Create #15 Ethereal Expeditions paper. I say paper but at a whooping 350gsm it is very much heavy cardstock, great for card bases and boxes too!

I added some Distress inks to suggest a floor and a wall. 

To the broom, witch, cat and bottles from the Wicked set, I added heart confettis (Memory Box Heart Sprinkles 94112), and the word Love (660218 Sizzix/Tim Holtz Thinlits Die Set 7PK - Handwritten Love). 

The shelf is a freebie die from Creative Stamping magazine( Issue 105) and I have printed the cauldron and fussy cut it.

There you have it, witches aren't just for Halloween! 

To enter the challenge, hop on to our friendly group here and upload your project to the challenge album. You could win both stamp sets pictured below from the Country View Craft shop.
 

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the  Simon Says Stamp Monday. 
                                                          Simon Says Stamp Wednesday, Addicted to Stamps  challenges 

My Valentine

Hello crafters,

I am kicking the month of February with not one but 2 romantic cards... 

First up a card for the Allsorts challenge, where the fortnightly theme chosen by Gail is Romance/Music. As usual you can also enter with the "Anything Goes" option.

I used the Lavinia stencil (Leaf Trails) with Distress inks, Memory Box dies (Cupid with swing, Pinpoint Heart Circle, Heart Sprinkles) and an envelope die (Docrafts) to contain my heart confettis from the Heart Sprinkles die.
The sentiment is made up of a Crafter's Companion word die and alphabet die (Sizzix Monde de Blonde).

I relished using some of my antique stash in this make, maybe a little too sweet for a man but I doubt it will make a big difference to him!

*************

Hop on to Allsorts for the chance to win stamps and stencils (random selection) from AALL and Create. You can enter up to 5 times and worthy entries will earn a place in the Top 7.  

 

  

Thanks for coming by,
 Craftyfield       I am entering the Simon Says Stamp Monday. 

                                                            Simon Says Stamp Wednesday and Addicted to Stamps  challenges

In Black And White

Happy Sunday crafters!

Well this is turning out to be a very grey day....  

a good time for another Black and white theme card! 

The stamp is Crafty Individuals "Of The Sea" (CI-559) simply stamped in black Versafine, and the die I used to cut the card is AALL & Create #78 - Die-Cutting Die Set - Roadway Vistas die set.
It is hard for me to refrain from colours but a detailed stamp like this looks good on its own! 

Thanks for coming by,
 Craftyfield   I am entering the Addicted to Stamps,  Stamping Sensations, 

                                                        and We Love Stamping challenges

#815 Close to nature

Hello crafters, 
This fortnight, the Allsorts challenge optional theme, chosen by Brenda, is "Close to Nature". As usual you can also enter with an "anything goes" theme.

My inspiration is a scene I made using some stamps never used before!

I used an oval polymer plate (like a Gelli plate) to ink my background with inks and Brushos powders.

After stamping the bird and the scene (Simply Cards & Papercraft Issue 237) in black Versafine, I added white pastel pencil and some gel pen to the snow areas and the bird's feathers.

Finally I die-cut my scene with the AALL & Create #33 Splodazzlers and added a rectangular mat.

Hop on to the Allsorts blog to upload your project for a chance to win three prizes of A5 stamp sets from AALL and Create 

 

Thanks for coming by,
 Craftyfield   I am entering the Addicted to stamps, We Love Stamping, 

                                                        Stamping Sensations and Polkadoodles challenges

Wintry Scene with Lavinia

Hello crafters!
Today I have a first inspiration make for our Country View Challenge held in the Facebook group. This month the theme is "Wintry Scenes" hosted by Rachel.

More snow in my scene than in real life in England...

I created the background with Versafine inks and paper masks for the "hills". 

I stamped my Fairy Fir tree (LAV478), Small Pine Trees (LAV836), Forest Moss (LAV857) just peeking from the snow, the Small Robins (LAV928) and Mini Mistletoe (LAV926). Most of those are new to me so I just had to use them!

I die-cut the scene and a matching mat with the AALL & Create #78 - Die-Cutting Die Set - Roadway Vistas die set.

A few dab of gel pen here and there for snow and the white of the mistletoe berries finish the scene.

I hope I have inspired you to enter the challenge! Do hop on to our friendly group here and upload your project to the challenge album. You could win a prize from  the Country View Craft shop.

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield       I am entering the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday and 

                                                      Simon Says Stamp Monday challenges

Fairy Christmas

Hello crafters!
Today my second inspiration make for our Country View Challenge held in the Facebook group is another Christmas card.

I created my own snow globe stencil with the help of a die (Crealies CLCZ08) and applied Elements inks with a smoothie.

With another DIY stencil I sponged white pigment ink to create a hill.

I then stamped the Fairy Fir Tree (LAV478) several times with Versafine ink as well a small tree from the Lavinia Tree scene set (LAV219). 

I added Mia (LAV284) holding a Mini Fairy Lantern (LAV588)

For a finishing touch I splattered some iridescent medium with a brush, more interesting than white for "snow".

2 layers of mats and voila a magical Christmas card! As I write this I am realising that this is quite similar to a tag I made last month here.

To enter the challenge, hop on to our friendly group here and upload your project to the challenge album. a place on Zoe Hillman’s next workshop at the Country View Crafts shop in the new year!

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield       I am entering the challenge Stamping Sensations, 

                                                              We Love Stamping and Lost Coast Designs

Artic Conditions

Hello crafters!
Today I have a first inspiration make for our Country View Challenge held in the Facebook group. This month the theme is, of course, "Christmas"!

I created an Hexagon card (I followed the instructions from this video), which folds flat to 5"x7" for easy posting. 

I added acetate to all 3 front panels, partly to make them more sturdy and partly to allow me more decorative options. As I have been going through a "window" period, I thought the panels would be glass and of course with snow... I added some Tim Holtz/Ranger Grit paste Snowfall with the mini stencil set 43 by Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous (THMST043). I got the inspiration from Tim Holtz himself, although he favours the stencil THS021 for this purpose but I think mine works well too,

The papers are from the Stamperia Arctic Antarctic collection, the snowman, snowflake and ice skates are die-cut from different colour card with the Tim Holtz/Sizzix Winter Wishes set (666717). I used thick thread to lace the skates to complete the realistic effect. 

This Arctic Antarctic collection is not available anymore and here's my advice... any Stamperia collection you like and have a project in mind don't dither! As soon as I saw this one I knew I wanted it for an album, never mind that it took me years to get around to use it (real life did get in the way) but I am so glad to have this collection on hand.

The greeting is Die'sire Words Die - Merry Christmas.

The card seen in different angle and folded flat:

Making this type of card is simple but time consuming so you might want to reserve it for your special people or when you want your card to be noticed on the mantelpiece!

To enter the challenge, hop on to our friendly group here and upload your project to the challenge album. You could win a place on Zoe Hillman’s next workshop at the Country View Crafts shop in the new year!

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield       I am entering the Simon Says Stamp Monday, 

                                                            Simon Says Stamp Wednesday  challenges

Hummingbird

Hello crafters!

Today I have a first inspiration make for our Country View Challenge held in the Facebook  group. This month the theme is "Winging It" hosted by Fiona.

I chose this Lavinia Hummingbird for my Winged creature as it is a recent addition to my stash.

My background is alcohol inks on yupo paper.  I stamped the Hummingbird Small (LAV894) and the Open Dandelion  (LAV745) with Brilliance inks, letting them dry a full 24 Hours before colouring.

Since I didn't have small nib sizes of acrylic or Posca pens, I used water based markers to colour the bird. Those eventually dried, but, being a transparent medium, the background colours do show through.

I wanted the Dandelion in white and tried gel pen on the petals with mixed results: yes the gel ink dried and yes it added a bit of white but not enough to hide the background colours. [Add to shopping list: small nib acrylic pen...].

I then used my new favourite die (AALL & Create die set #32 Numberama) to cut both image and mat, before assembly on a white base card.

To enter the challenge, hop on to our friendly group here and upload your project to the challenge album. You could win all 5 of the newly released Layer It Up Washis by AALL & create from the Country View Craft shop.

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield     I am entering the Allsorts, Simon Says Stamp Wednesday, 

                                                         Stamping Sensations and We Love Stamping challenges 

Spooky trees

Hello crafters, 
It seems all crafting energies focused on Halloween... 

As I don't have many choices in my stash, I used non themed stamps and tried to give my scene a spooky vibe. Hope it worked!

The background is Distress Inks and the stamps are from CI-259 'Four Tree Landscapes' and CI-450 'Listen to the Trees' stamped in Versafine black. Interestingly, I had never noticed that one of the tree exist in both sets but flipped horizontally (trees either side of the moon).

All Halloween colours present, including the green supposed to give a spooky feel to the moon.

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Allsorts, Stamping Sensations, We Love Stamping

                                                        and Lost Coast Design  challenges

Druggist Window

Hello crafters!

Today I have a first make for our Country View Challenge held in the Facebook  group.
This month the theme is "Halloween"

For my card I took inspiration from a great lover of all things Halloween, Tim Holtz!

I started by applying a large piece of Botanical Collage Paper (TH93705)  to my base and gave it a Vintage look with Antique Linen Distress ink. I also coloured the flowers and leaves with Distress crayons (Halloween #4 set).

Then, I used Distress Collage Medium Matte to add pieces of the Tim Holtz/Idea-ology Halloween Ephemera Pack (TH94396) and a paper doll.

Inspired by Tim's windows (TH94390 Baseboards Halloween 2024), I created my own with rectangle dies and a piece of acetate. 

I finished the card by adding more ephemera, a sticker (TH94263), zig-zag sewing on one side and matted the whole onto a black card.

To enter the challenge, hop on to our friendly group here and upload your project to the challenge album. You could win the Halloween Whatnots stamp set from Tim Holtzs' latest release!

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield     I am entering the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday and

                                                         the Allsorts challenges 

Signs of Autumn

Hello crafters!

I am back for a second inspiration make for our Country View Challenge held in the Facebook  group, still on the theme of "Autumn Richness". This time I used the colours of Autumn for this whimsical scene.

I started by a Distress Oxide sprays background (Tea Dye, Picked Raspberry and Walnut Stain).

The stamps I used are all Lavinia, stamped with Versafine black:
- LAV 564 Mini Forest Mushroom

- LAV 630 Mini Seed Head

- LAV 745 Open Dandelion

- LAV 859 Scout Small

I gave a hint of a hill for the scout to stand on, and the plants to rise from, with some Distress ink. 

To mat my focal image, I made a decorative mat by cutting the same border die (Spellbinders Borderabilities Lattice Borders 2 S4-218) on all four sides of a piece of red cardstock. One way of making use of these old dies which never seem to see the light of day!

To enter the challenge, hop on to our friendly group here and upload your project to the challenge album. 

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield     I am entering the Stamping Sensations, Allsorts, 

                                                         We Love Stamping, and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenges

Autumnal shaped card

Hello crafters, 

Recently I have seen a lot of Hexagonal cards and as they do look impressive and different, I decided to have a go myself.

I followed the instructions from this video by a British crafters, it's not particularly difficult, as long as you can measure and cut your mats accurately (or you have dies to do the job!).

The papers I used are from Crafty Individuals (Weekend in Seville) and so is the "Counting Toadstool" stamp (CI-574) that I have fussy cut partially and coloured with pencils. 

I added some die-cut and punched leaves and voila...

I hope you like this one and do tell if you knew of this shape card and have made some yourselves.
Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Simon Says Stamp Monday, Allsorts,
                                                      We Love Stamping, SnarkyStampers, Addicted to Stamps challenges

Coffee and Lace

Hello crafters!
For my second inspiration make for our Country View Challenge, held in the Facebook group, on the theme "Use Lace and Buttons". I once again stayed away from stamping using (finally) some of those hoarded papers!

I created a background with Distress Oxide Inks splatters in Worn Lipstick and Salvaged Patina. Then I simply added my embellishments:

- a piece of Sizzix Thinlits Heart Mandala die (665587 by Eileen Hull),
- 2 pieces of paper from the Stamperia Coffee and Chocolate pad
- a Vintage piece of lace.
- a button threaded with twine.
Another quick card to make, bar the background which needs drying time and the makeover I gave to the button. To make it more interesting and to match the colours, I embossed my button with a mix of EPs.
Whilst I had the buttons and EP on hand, I transformed several at the same time for future use...

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Simon Says Stamps Monday challenge.

Bridge over Calm Water

Hello crafters, 

I indulged in scene making with Lavinia stamps... 

The stamps used are: 
- LAV72 Fantasea
- LAV866 Sacred Bridge Small
- LAV003 Bulrushes
- LAV478 Fairy Fir Tree
- LAV760 Oakleaf

For colouring I used Distress inks, coloured pencils, pastel pencils and gel pen.
Looking at it now, I'm thinking the perspective isn't brilliant and the morning light is a bit too subdued. Room for improvement... 

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Addicted to Stamps, Allsorts and

                                                       Stamping Sensations challenges

Lazy Summer's Day

Happy Sunday readers, 

a quick card for you today on the theme of a lazy summer's day for some August birthday boy (when I say boy, read OLD boy!!). As it happens, today is sunny and HOT in my area of the world and a bit of "far niente" under the greenery is just the thing...

The image is composed with 2 stamps from the Sunday Morning (SA-5014) set from Stamp Addicts.
The background has been simply created with Distress Inks, the stamping made with Versafine inks in both black and green.

Such an apt image for siesta afficionados...

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield      I am entering the Simon Says Stamp Monday, 

                                                           Allsorts, Stamping Sensations, Addicted to stamps challenges

Lace and Buttons

Hello crafters!

Today I have a first inspiration make for our Country View Challenge held in the Facebook  group. This month the theme is "Use Lace and Buttons".

I created a shaped card using a Spellbinders die on one side of my base card.

The paper is from a freebie pack (Melissa Frances). I added lace that had been donated to me, a Prima flower and a button, all of those so old as to be rightly referred to as antiques...

For something new, albeit in a Vintage vibe, I added several elements from a pack of 49 And Market Mini Laser Cut Elements (Krafty Garden). 

If you want to make a card in a hurry, without any stamping or inky/painty mess, these elements are ideal! Feels like cheating...

To enter the challenge, hop on to our friendly group here and upload your project to the challenge album. You could win this fabulous stamp set from Tim Holtz/Stamper Anonymous latest release donated by Country View Craft shop.

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield     I am entering the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday 

                                                          Simon Says Stamps Monday and Allsorts challenges