Paper Hugs

My cards today feature a fan die by Top Dog Dies, which I bought just before they closed their doors last year.  They are still in business operating Accucut I believe - just not their beautiful little dies for card-making. My first card is for a member of our Ladies Probus Club, who will be turning 90 this year!  Of course, I'm called the 'baby' of this club, as I'm nowhere near that old!  However, when I joined at 60 years of age, a few years ago (lol) I was so impressed by the sprightliness of some of these ladies who were then in their 80s .  As they say, 'it's not the years in your life that count, it's the life in your years!'  These inspirational ladies are testament to that, and I feel privileged to know them. A side-opening card but same design - I decided that the side opening worked better with the fan - just an A2 card, but you need a 6" x6" envelope for it to fit comfortably.  This card is also for an elderly friend ...

Today's card has been made for Less is More's current challenge - to use polka dots. I had a lot of fun joining in last week's challenge, and really don't want to miss another if I can help it. Just a simple little card, using some gorgeous polka dotted pattern paper from my stash - hidden I know, behind the scribbly flower topper, but there is peach, grey, gold and black polka dots in the paper.  I cut the stems from the same paper, and some coordinating paper for the bottom strip. Card recipe: Dies:  both from Memory Box - small Billow Flower, and Modern Stems Stamp:  by Happy Little Stampers - Mix Mash Thanks so much for calling by!

A little peak at the card I have over at Scrapbook Boutique blog today!  A bright and fun creation with no stamping!  Why don't you pop over there to take a look?

What a fun challenge over at Less is More today - 'what is outside your window?'  I have been unable to play along with my favourite challenge for some weeks due to being in temporary accommodation, and having much of my craft supplies in storage.  Well, I'm still in the same circumstance, but when I saw this week's challenge, I just had to try to join in!   I have included a photo of exactly what is outside my window at present - a Feijoa fruit tree, and a bird feeder.  It is a delightful outlook, shielding this little cottage from the road nearby, and providing lots of interest.  At night of course, possums visit to eat or play in the trees!  They are louder than you'd think! So here is my CAS interpretation of this view. Stamps:  WPlus9 - Folk Art Florals Die:  Mama Elephant 'Thanks' script cut from dark green card from my stash Ink:  Hero Arts Shadow inks - Green Hills, Field Greens, Passion Flower Stencil:  MFT Cloud...

These three cards all use the Fuchsia stem by Magenta.  I think it is lovely, and when I stamped them out at my friend's card group the other week, I just had to colour them and make them up asap. I cut the stem around - but not fussy cut - and used a new Kaisercraft embossing die to cut the circle and gently emboss the background.  My photo is not good, as I am not in my usual spot for photographing cards.  I also cut around the 'hello' by SU and added the white embossed Friend beneath.  For this card I stamped the Fuchsia stem twice in a sort of wreath shape, and bent the sentiment stamps (from WPlus9 set Wishing You) to fit neatly across the middle.  The background pattern was created by sponging over the embossed panel lightly with ombre red ink by Hero Arts. I used a Kaisercraft cover plate die for this background, and cut around two stems to hang from the upper right corner.  A scalloped white panel was used for the sent...

This little group of cards is representative of some of my latest note cards - just 5.5 x 3.5" in size.  I thought this simple CAS style would be just the thing for a quick little note to wish someone well, or just to let them know you are thinking of them.  Cards #1 and #2 are made using the Clearly Besotted stamp set - Scribbled Flowers.  The sentiment on the first card is by Stampin' Up! - Tin of Cards, but #2 uses the sentiment from the flower set. The little dandelion motif adds a little bit of whimsy and is also from the Tin of Cards stamp set. Card #3 uses both sizes of that seed pod motif, plus the scribbly line both from the SU set Tin of Cards.

I apologise that I've been missing in action quite a bit lately - packing and moving house, having most of my craft supplies in storage for 8 weeks and counting, and having a skin cancer removed from my face makes it difficult to concentrate on crafting sometimes lol!  I have been making cards, however, just not photographing them, or posting them. I aim to correct that over the next few days, as I go through my recent projects, and select a few cards that you might find interesting. These two cards use stencilling in an ombre effect to create interest, and the  double 'hello' die cut by Top Dog Dies (sadly no longer producing dies) is the real focus.  The birthday girl stamp is from Stampin' Up!  set Hello - so, so useful! I was very happy to receive this stamp as a freebie during Sale-a-bration which by the way ends at the end of this month.  For this card I added a photo frame die (SU) and some stamped and cut out flowers and leaves (not sure of ...

I'd love you to pop over to the Scrapbook Boutique blog, where you'll find all the details on this little card!  Hope to see you over there!

Welcome to this month's Blog Hop and Challenge! What a beautiful collection of fresh white and pastels, with a hint of rustic  charm! The challenge this month is to create a project inspired by this mood board, and post it on the Scrapbook Boutique Blog.  We'd love to see what you create! Or you can simply participate by commenting on each blog in the hop, plus the SBB blog, and still have a chance to win a prize.  Of course, you can do both of these things for a chance to win both prizes!  Please check out the rules of entry, and the prizes at the  Scrapbook Boutique Blog  and note that this challenge is open to Australian and New Zealand residents. You should have arrived here from  Angela's  blog. For my card I focussed on the pale woodgrain, the soft pastel colours and the rustic twigs and branches.  But I also wanted to try the new Kaisercraft Lattice Flip-It dies, to create an easel card - w...