May Elemental Challenge - Daring Cardmakers DT

Happy Friday!

Are you looking forward to the Coronation Weekend?  It kind of slipped my mind when I was planning this week's inspiration so there is not a crown in sight I'm afraid! My youngest has gone into school wearing red, white and blue!

When I was making this card it was sunny so once again, I went a little tropical and chose bright vibrant colours for my images.

I die cut a frame and used distress ink to add colour and some water to give it some texture.

Here is the picture that you can take inspiration from and pick 3 elements or more - colours count as one.  I used the colours, fruits and blue background on mine.  You can see more inspiration from the rest of the Design Team HERE.

Have a great long weekend and see you next week!

Shabneez

Products Used:

Tonic Studios Stamp Club - One In A Melon

Tonic Studios Circular Bloom Layering Die

Chameleon Pens 

Distress Oxide Ink

Blender Brush

Everything else from my stash

Good Times Ahead - Tonic Studios Stamp Club Launch

Happy Thursday!

It's that time of the month for the new release Tonic Studios Stamp Club set.  This set has a number of heartfelt sentiments that can be used to encourage and support friends and family.  The Good Times Ahead stamp and die set is available using my affiliate links here:

UK & Europe:  HERE

USA: HERE

The first card I made using the set I picked on the floral stamps.  I stamped and die cut the wreaths then coloured them in with alcohol pens.  I stuck them on a slimline card and matted it onto glitter card then peach cardstock.  I stamped various sentiments into the centres of the wreaths.

For my next card I used the Tonic Studios Scribble Frames - Rings Die Set to make a circular card base from blue card.  I die cut a scribble ring from silver card and stuck it on top.  I then stamped and coloured my images before die cutting them out.  I glued the images on the card and stamped a sentiment to finish.

It's such a versatile stamp set with a combination of florals and rainbows together with encouraging sentiments.

See you again soon,
Shabneez

Products Used:

Tonic Studios Good Times Ahead Stamp Club Set

Tonic Studios Scribble Frames - Ring Set
Tonic Studios Cardstock
Everything else from my stash

Delightful Daisies Card Creator - Tonic Studios Craft Kit 63 Launch

Happy Tuesday!

I don't know where the first 2 days of the school holidays have gone.  Thankfully the snow has melted and it's milder so we've managed to fit some outdoor activities in.

Being the 20th of the month, it is time for the launch of the latest Tonic Studios Craft Kit - the Delightful Daisies Card Creator.  There is a lot you can do with this Kit as it contains so many elements - stamps, dies, Nuvo products, cardstock, stamp pads, blender brushes etc. Here are my affiliate links:

UK and Europe: HERE

USA: HERE

For my first creation, I used the die to create a gatefold card.  It's so easy to do and I added other die cut elements.  Inside, I used the stamps from the kit and coloured in with my Nuvo Coloured Pencils.

For my second creation, once again all the dies and cardstock are from the Kit, I created a fun fold.  I used the Nuvo Glitter drops from the Kit to add some more decoration.

I think this may well be my last blog post before Christmas so I wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

See you next week,

Shabneez

Products Used:

Tonic Studios Craft Kit 63 - Delightful Daisies Card Creator

Showcase Sew Crafty Special Edition Die Set - Tonic Studios

Happy Tuesday!

There's a Cyber Week special edition launch from Tonic Studios today.  This set not only comes with a set of 40 dies to make 3D and projects and cards but it also includes storage pouch, double sided cardstock, a stencil and a set of 25 stamps.

If you're in the UK or Europe you can purchase it HERE

If you're in the USA you can purchase it here HERE

I was tasked with making cards using the Set and I added various products from my stash too.

For my first card I decided to create a cotton reel shaped card from kraft card.  I wrapped ribbon around it and added the lace die cuts.  I added die cut pins that I put Nuvo drops on - don't they look realistic?  I finished the card by adding some more die cut elements to my card and a heat embossed sentiment.

For my second creation, I opted for a slimline card.  I used some of the patterned papers and stamps.  I went through the stencil with glimmer paste to give an added texture and chose coloured ink for my stamping to create a fresh looking card.

Grab yourself your bargain and see the other Cyber Week deals Tonic has to offer as well before they end tomorrow!

See you again soon,

Shabneez

Products Used:

Tonic Studios Showcase Sew Crafty Special Edition Die Set

Nuvo Glimmer Paste

Nuvo Ink Pads

Ribbon from my stash

Creature Comforts - Daring Cardmakers DT

Happy Friday!

It's always hard juggling school holidays with work.  I like to make sure we have enough time to go out and see family and friends while keeping on top of my work deadlines.

Creature comforts is the theme for this week's Daring Cardmakers challenge and it's a cute one!

I have a lot of birthdays to make cards for in the winter so this challenge got me thinking of ideas.  I decided to go for a slimline card.  All my images were coloured in with my Chameleon pens and cut out.  The background is a mix of papers and paint splats and I stamped 'Happy Winter Birthday' in the middle to finish.

You can see inspiration from the rest of the Design Team HERE together with more information and links for you to join in.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Shabneez

Products Used:

Time for Tea Designs Winter Wishes Wreath Stamp Set

Time for Tea Designs Cosy Winter Stamp Set

Time for Tea Designs Slimline Die Set

Chameleon Pens

Everything else from my stash

Message In A Bottle - Tonic Studios Craft Kit 61 Launch

Happy Thursday!

It's the 20th of the month and time for the latest craft kit by Tonic Studios!  I absolutely loved creating with this Kit.  It has a mixture of papers including vellum, a printed paper pad, die set, stamp set and lots of other products to try!

You can find the Kit:

HERE - if you are based in the UK or Europe

HERE - if you are in the USA

For my first creation I sprayed the vellum with Mica Mist then added embellishment paste to the top and die cut waves - I love the texture and sheen.  I also used the vellum as my background and went over it with a couple of ink pads. I'm a huge fan of sentiments and love the ones in the set - the one I have used is a favourite of mine! 

For my second creation I made good use of the papers from the paper pad and made a scene using the shells and bottle dies.  Can you see how the crab is holding the sentiment like a sign?  It made me smile.

If you fancy having a look at the Kit my links are above at no cost to you.

See you again soon,

Shabneez

Keep Your Cool - Daring Cardmakers DT

Happy Friday!

It's been a while since I last posted on my blog.  To be honest it's just so much more time consuming than posting on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, which I much prefer.  However, I will still continue posting on my blog just not as frequently.

It has been so hot here in Essex and the 'Keep Your Cool' theme on the Daring Cardmakers this week is just perfect!  I do admit to making my card in 37 degree heat but needs must!!!!

I got my Concord & 9th stamp and die combo out for this one and used scraps of card and die cuts from my table to create the card!

I started off by choosing which colours I wanted to use and the ink pads I had helped with that.  I then picked out scrap pieces of card in the same colour and stuck them on to my card base.  I stamped the images on coloured card and after die cutting them, stuck them onto circles I had on the table.  The sentiments were stamped on white card and some spatters were added to finish.

I hope you'll join in with the challenge as I'd love to see how you keep cool - I'm sure it's healthier than my ice cream option!!!  You can see lots more inspiration from the rest of the DT HERE.

Have a wonderful weekend and see you again soon,

Shabneez

Products Used:

Tonic Studio Nuvo Stamp Pads

Concord & 9th Birthday Scoops Stamp & Die Set

Everything else from my stash

In The Frame - Daring Cardmakers DT

Happy Friday!

Colds all around at the moment in our household, which is no fun.  As we are all at different stages, team work is helping to ensure we take care of each other.

I love the theme of the Daring Cardmakers challenge this week - frames.  I'm a huge fan of them and use them a lot so this one was right up my street!

I hadn't used my florals in a while so inked up a lily stamp and used my watercolour palette to add colour.  I went on to create a subtle stencilled background before making a frame for it.

I finished with a simple strip of white card on which I stamped the sentiment.  

You can see lots more inspiration from the rest of the Design Team HERE and I hope you will join in.

Have a great weekend and see you next week,

Shabneez

Products Used:

Honey Doo Crafts Cubes Stencil
Honey Doo Crafts Single Lily Stamp Set
Everything else from my stash

You're Mermazing - Daring Cardmakers DT

Happy Friday!

It's been a good week and I think the highlight was watching my youngest son play cricket against another school for the first time yesterday afternoon.  The weather was perfect and the boys were so excited to be able to play after so long.

The Daring Cardmakers have a mermaid themed challenge this week and I loved creating my card.

It had been some time since I did any colouring with my Chameleon pens and Color Tops and I had missed it a great deal.  I find colouring very therapeutic and get lost in it.

I used distress oxide ink pads and water to make the background using the smooshing technique and a stitched frame to finish.

You can see more inspiration HERE from the rest of the DT and I hope that you will join in.

Enjoy your weekend!

Shabneez

Products Used:

Time for Tea Designs Swimming By To Say Hi Stamp Set

Time for Tea Designs Shell Phone Stamp Set

Time for Tea Designs Best Fishes Banner & Border Die

Time for Tea Designs Mermazing Stamp Set

Distress Oxide Ink Pads

Chameleon Pens

Chameleon Color Tops

Everything else from my stash

Spotlight on Florals Tutorial - Tubby Craft DT

Happy Monday!

I'm back!  How was your weekend? I was busy demonstrating the new Trimcraft Christmas products yesterday which was very enjoyable and in fact I have another couple of months of demos coming up.

I'm up on the Tubby Craft blog with a tutorial on the spotlight technique today.  This technique is used to emphasise particular areas of a card and I've shown two different ways this can be done using the Wishes with Magnolia stamp set.

To begin, I took the stamp set and positioned the stamps individually before stamping with my stamp platform.  I then used a couple of circular dies and die cut areas from the image I created.

I am drawn to colour pencils at the moment so I used my Chameleon pencils to colour in the images within the circles.

For my second card, I decided to stamp using a different composition of the stamps and use only one die.  This time I wanted the focus to be on the flowers around the spotlight so I coloured in the images around the die cut circle.

I've a jammed packed week ahead so I must get on and I hope you have a good week!

See you again soon!

Shabneez 

Products Used:

Tubby Craft Wishes with Magnolia Stamp Set

Tubby Craft Dye Ink – Jet Black

Nesting Dies - Circle and Tag

Chameleon Pencils

Everything else from my stash

Oh Man! - Daring Cardmakers DT

Happy Friday!

I did warn you that I'd be back so here I am!  We've been so lucky with the weather this half term and I've been out and about with the boys making the most of it.  In fact, I've taken some photos at the nature reserve near our house and have shared one later on in this post.

Before that I better tell you about the latest Daring Cardmakers challege.  Kathy has trouble with male cards and wants to see your inspiration to help her!  The only addition is that the card shouldn't be for a child.

I'm a fan of personalised cards (although I can't actually remember ever receiving one but that could be due to the fact that my name is rather long!) and I send them often as who doesnt like to see their name in print?  This was a simple card for a football fan - not that all men like sports but this one happened to.  You could of course substitute the football for something else that your repicient likes.

My favourite part of the card is the stamped sentiment using the Ranger Letter It Birthday set.  I just love that scripty font and until I can write like that I'm happy to use this set!  You'll be able to see a lot more inspiration from the rest of the Design Team HERE and I hope you'll join in and share your inspiration with us!

Here is the nature reserve with all the ducks!  I used to take the boys regularly and as babies in the buggy and it would be a daily walk.  The boys may be older but they still really enjoy going there.

This weekend I will be preparing for a demo at The Range in St Albans that opens next week so lots of beautiful papers are on my desk ready!  

Have a wonderful weekend whatever you do!

Shabneez

Products Used:

Ranger Letter It Birthday Stamp Set

Everything else from my stash

Pastel Valentines Collection

Happy Weekend!

It's been a great week and I'm really looking forward to having no deadlines this weekend for a change.  I even managed a day off in the week and met up with a very dear friend of mine who I've known for about 15 years now - it was a novelty walking around the shops and having a leisurely lunch before the school run.

I'm up on the CrafTangles blog today with a collection of pastel Valentine cards.  I don't know about you but I tend to associate red with Valentines and fancied trying something a little different.

For all the cards I designed I used distress inks in soft shades to make my backgrounds with a variety of love themed stencils by CrafTangles.

I added die cut shapes to stamp my sentiments on - all with black ink to make them pop!

For my final card I decided to make a shaker using a nesting die set and I think it's my favourite.  I'd love to know which yours is.

So there you have it - a collection of pastel Valentine cards all ready to be posted!  There is a more in depth tutorial of how I made these cards on the CrafTangles blog HERE. 

I hope you have a good weekend whatever you do!

Shabneez

Products Used:

CrafTangles XOXO Stencil

CrafTangles Heart Mesh Stencil

CrafTangles Quilted Hearts Stencil

CrafTangles I Love You Stamp Set

CrafTangles Love Story Stamp Set

CrafTangles Valentines Day Stamp Set

CrafTangles Cupcake Pink Sequins

Distress Inks in Cracked Pistachio, Shaded Lilac and Milled Lavender

Versafine Black Ink

Sizzix Stitched Oval Dies by Tim Holtz

Everything else from my stash

Christmas Cards with a touch of Sparkle! - CrafTangles DT

Happy Thursday!

I keep getting reminders from various online retailers advising me on the countdown to Christmas so I thought I had better increase my card production as I send so many.  Of course, there's nothing like having to write a Design Team post to give me a gentle nudge!

I'm up on the CrafTangles Blog HERE with a selection of sparkly Christmas cards.  I just couldn't resist and it gets better as my sparkly products increase.......

I took the opportunity to use my Chameleon pens together with the colour tops on some of the images - they really make it easy to blend.

For my first card I've used the man in red himself and I just love the sentiment don't you?!  The iridescent sparkle was added using glimmer paste through a christmas tree stencil.

Next up heat embossing in gold - it gives such a luxury feel to a card in my opinion.  I bet you think I'm so odd - haha!!! I used acrylic paint flicks on the background and added sparkle in the form of glitter card.

For my final card I used the cute bear stamp set that I'd used at the beginning of the year.  The sparkle comes again from glimmer paste, this time in silver for the background.

I'm hoping to be back again tomorrow but it kind of depends if I can whip up a project in time.  No guarantees I'm afraid - you'll just have to watch this space!

Shabneez

Products Used:

Chameleon Pens

CrafTangles Holly Jolly Stamp Set

CrafTangles Bearing Gifts Stamp Set

CrafTangles Merry Christmas Stamp Set

CrafTangles Snowflakes Stencil 

CrafTangles Tree Background Stencil

CrafTangles Silver Glimmer Paste

CraFtangles Fairy Dust Glimmer Paste

CrafTangles Cardstock

Versamark Pad

Ranger Gold Embossing Powder

Everything else from my stash

Celebratory Cards Using CrafTangles Products

Happy Tuesday!

I'm up on the CrafTangles blog today with a selection of cards using their October new release products.

I actually had to investigate the warli stamp set I was sent as I'd never heard of the warli tribe that are featured on it.  So I learnt warli painting is a tribal art form and the warli tribe originated from the mountains on the coast in northern India.  The warli style reminded me of paintings done in caves.

The stamp set went well with a tribal stencil in my mind so that's what I used!  I made a distressed oxide background then used oxides through the stencil too.

My next card was funnily enough made using an Eid stencil to make a Diwali card!  A versatile stencil for sure!

Once again I chose to use distress oxides through the stencil on black card this time, finishing with a gold heat embossed sentiment.

For my final card I chose a red background and silver glimmer paste through a stencil.  I wanted to keep it simple so just added a sentiment to finish.

I have more in depth details on how I went about making there cards on the CrafTangles blog HERE.

See you again soon,
Shabneez

Products Used:
Distress Oxides
Versafine Black Ink
CrafTangles Glimmer Paste
CrafTangles Tribal Stencil
CrafTangles Eid Stencil
CrafTangles Diwali Stencil
CrafTangles Warli Borders Stamp
CrafTangles From All Of Us Stamp Set
Everything else from my stash

1 Stamp 3 Ways - CrafTangles DT

Happy Monday!

How was your weekend?  I had a hectic weekend, teaching on Saturday and then my Trimcraft Christmas demo on Sunday which was really good - lots of crafters, both new and advanced.  I think I need another day off but it's Monday so no rest for the wicked!

I'm up on the CrafTangles blog today using one stamp 3 ways.  This is something I enjoy doing as it makes me think of different ways to use a product.

It's only now that I look at what I made that I realise how you can't tell I've used the same stamp due to the way I've used it!

For my first card I've used the stamp through a balloon stencil.  I thought it was an unusual way of using the stamp and works well.  The background is smooshed and I've added bows and twine to embellish.

Next up is a mixed media creation using the stamp as a background.  I've distressed a paper pad using ink then stamped over to create the background.  I used black gesso through a stencil and some art wax to add shimmer.  It picks up the texture of the gesso so well.  To finish I added a die cut circle and sentiment.

My final card uses the stamp as a border.  I do love the background on this one - a very fresh and modern card!  I've added a fussy cut stamped cake and sentiment too.

So there you have it - 1 stamp used in 3 ways!  A more indepth tutorial for all the cards is on the CrafTangles blog HERE.

Have a great week and see you on Friday!
Shabneez

Products Used:
CrafTangles Old Newspaper Stamp
CrafTangles Ombre Watercolor Paper Pad
Tim Holtz Distress Inks
CrafTangles Beehive Stencil
CrafTangles Flourish Stencil
Versafine Black Ink Pad
CrafTangles Black Gesso
CrafTangles Art Wax
CrafTangles Balloon Stencil
CrafTangles Birthday Girl Stamp Set
Everything else from my stash

December Elemental Challenge - Daring Cardmakers DT

A very Happy December to you all!

It appears many parts of the country got snow but we escaped!  I was actually busy crafting yesterday afternoon when the snowflakes began to fall but they soon stopped.......

As you know it's the first Friday of the month which means the Daring Cardmakers have an Elemental Challenge.  I chose to make a Z Fold card using the Dovecraft Magic of Christmas paper pad.

I used stamps from the same set for the Christmas trees and sentiment which I stamped in gold then fussy cut.

The background paper is quite busy so I used the spotty paper to break it up.  I think it works quite well, don't you?

This is the photo from which you have to pick 3 elements.  I chose the Christmas tree, colours and the 'love' from the cushion.  I hope that you'll play along and you can see a lot more inspiration over on the Daring Cardmakers blog HERE.

Have a great weekend and see you again next week!

Shabneez 

Products Used:

Dovecraft Magic of Christmas Paper Pad

Dovecraft Magic of Christmas Stamp Set

Dovecraft Gold Ink Pad

All adhesives from Stix 2 Anything

Everything else from my stash

Action! - Daring Cardmakers DT

Happy Friday!

It's been a hectic week with lots of day trips and family time.  My brother and family have flown back to America and we've been missing them a lot.

Over on the Daring Cardmakers blog today, there's a lot of 'action' taking place.  Kathy has set the Challenge to use the word 'action' interpreting it as you wish.

I've gone with a card demonstrating an action.  I really enjoyed making the background using distress inks and watercolours.

I found a stamp in my stash which resembled bike tracks or at least it was my interpretation!

You can see the wonderful creations that the rest of the DT have come up with HERE and I hope they inspire you to have a go!

Have a wonderful weekend!
Shabneez

Products Used:
Kanban Topper Sheet
Tim Holtz Distress inks
Docrafts stamp set
Stix 2 Anything adhesives
Everything else from my stash

Going Geometric - Daring Cardmakers Challenge

Happy Friday once again,

It's been a hectic week with half term and preparing for my youngest son's 5th birthday today.  We're off to see Lego Batman at the cinema shortly.

The challenge set by Leo over at the Daring Cardmakers this week is to create a geometric pattern to use on your card.  I ended up using a really old stamp I found in my archives which I stamped multiple times then cut out by hand. I formed a pattern with the triangles and added a sentiment and a glitter cupcake die cut.

After making this card I ended up preparing for a demo I have this weekend and used the new Blooming Lovely range by Trimcraft to create a different take on the theme as it was still in my mind.

You can see a lot more inspiration from my fellow DT members on the Daring Cardmakers blog.  I hope you'll join in!

Enjoy your weekend!

Shabneez

Products used:

Cocoa Daisy Stamp

Tim Holtz Sentiment Dies

Dovecraft Cupcake Die

Dovecraft Blooming Lovely range

Everything else from my stash

Creating with Sarah Hurley's Beautiful Botanical Stamps

Happy Friday!

I must share some work I did a couple of months ago with some stamp sets that Sarah Hurley designed. They are the Beautiful Botanicals range and consist of A5 packs of clear cling stamps.

I used one set with a patterned background and inks to create this:

Another set I used with chalk inks and Heidi Swapp Color Shine Spritz to create this:

Finally, I used distressed inks with the stamps to create this:

I'd like to end this blog post with a note of thanks to all those of you who have taken the time to read, comment on or simply visit my blog throughout the year.

Wishing you and your loved ones a happy, peaceful and healthy New Year!

Enjoy!
Shabneez

Products Used:
Sarah Hurley Botanicals Stamp Sets
Versamagic Chalk Inks
Tim Holtz Distress Inks
Heidi Swapp Color Shine Spritz
Everything else from my stash