Yappy Birthday! - Time for Tea Designs DT

Happy Wednesday!

We are on our Easter break from home school.  However, you'll be pleased to hear we have been keeping up with the daily PE workouts with Joe Wicks every morning!  I'm telling you, I really ached after the first couple but it's getting better!

Did you know Time for Tea Designs are offering all their Digi Stamps free for a limited time?  I decided to use one myself as I needed a card for young girl who loves dogs and reading!

I think one of the benefits of digi stamps is that you can size them to your advantage to fit any card size.  I would recommend printing them on stamping card if you intend to use alcohol markers - this is something I didn't know when I first started crafting so I thought I'd share.

I had an idea in mind when I saw this digi stamp set and the first thing I did was print, fussy cut and colour the images with my Chameleon pens.  Next I worked on creating the background using the square grid masking stencil, only instead of using all 6 squares, I used 4 to form a window.  I inked through with my blending brush and distress oxide inks.

You can see the full collection of Digi Stamps that are free for a limited time only HERE and while you're at it why not check out the rest of their products?  You can get an additional 10% off anything with the code T4TSHABNEEZ10 and support a small family business during this difficult time.

See you on Friday!
Shabneez

Products Used:

Time For Tea Designs Pawsome Pets Digi Stamps
Time For Tea Designs Square Grid Masking Stencil
Broken China Distress Oxide
Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide
Squeezed Lemonade Distress Oxide
Chameleon Pens
Everything else from my stash

Someone or Something You Love - Daring Cardmakers DT

Happy Valentines Day!

Most of this week has been spent trying to find replacement school uniform trousers for my youngest.  The tale of the two trousers goes like this.  On Monday my little one came home and said he had accidentally cut his trousers with scissors.  There were a lot of holes but after having words I thought at least we have another pair in reserve.  On Tuesday coming out of his classroom at home time he fell and, you've guessed it, he tore his trousers.  He was tearful after this episode so I just hugged him.  He did say that he used to fall over a lot and his trousers never tore which got me thinking.  I checked the material of his old trousers and these new ones and there is a big difference.  So I've been trying to find a decent pair but no joy as yet.

Anyhow, I hope you're not asleep after that tale as I have a bright and cheerful card to share for the latest Daring Cardmakers challenge.  Dawn has set the challenge and she would like to see something you love feature on your creations - food, person, object, favourite craft product etc.

I've used a favourite Time for Tea Designs stamp set featuring bees and honey, both of which I am also very fond of and the card is for my husband who I also happen to love - good job eh?!!!

I used a couple of stencils - a heart mask and then a honeycomb one on top of it.  It was fun seeing how it would turn out.  I used the ink blender brushes for the first time and let me tell you they are a game changer!

Loads of inspiration can be found by my fellow team members HERE.

Have a great weekend!

Shabneez

Products Used:

Time for Tea Designs Bee Happy Stamp & Die Set

Time for Tea Designs Small Heart Masking Stencil

Time for Tea Designs Beehive Stencil

Chameleon Pens

Distress Oxide Inks

Everything else from my stash

Bingo - Daring Cardmakers DT

Happy Friday!

The Easter holidays are in full swing and despite the odd shower here and there we've happily been making the most of it.  In fact we're off on a day out today complete with picnic so hope the rain stays away!

Dawn has set a great challenge over on the Daring Cardmakers this week.  Her Mum recently celebrated a big birthday and she loves Bingo so she made up a Cardmaking Bingo Board.

Below you'll see the Bingo Board and you have to use any 3 elements from a line or use everything for a full house!  Isn't it fun?!

I went for the far left column and used sequins, stamping and made a clean and simple card.

For my creation, I used a favourite Time for Tea Designs stamp set together with the co-ordinating stencil set.  I used distress oxides through the stencil in a couple of colours and added silver sequins.  It took me longer deciding and placing the sequins than it did making the rest of the card!  Mad isn't it?!

The mermaid was coloured in using Chameleon pens and colour tops to blend the colours.  I actually made the card for my niece who celebrates her birthday later this month.

I do hope you'll join in with the challenge and you can see plenty of inspiration from my team mates HERE.

Have a wonderful weekend - we have a birthday party to go to so it should be a fun one for us!

Shabneez

Products Used:
Time for Tea Designs Mermazing Stamp Set
Time for Tea Designs Wonderful Waves Stencil Set
Ranger Distress Oxide Inks
Chameleon Pens
Chameleon Colour Tops
Versafine Black Ink
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

We Make a Good Pear - Daring Cardmakers Challenge

Happy Friday!

Parents Evening is over and it's half term next week.  It's come round so fast but we have some activities planned so hopefully the weather will stay dry......

Over on the Daring Cardmakers Joanne has set the Challenge this week and based it on Apple Day as that's what it is today.  Now, before you say what a rebel I've been not using an apple she has said any tree fruit can be used - so there! Ha!

I decided to use a Market Fresh Spellbinders die and stamp set which I won some time back but hadn't got round to using.  I used both distress inks and oxides to colour the avocado pears as I love the chalky finish I  get with the oxides and the brighter finish with the distress inks.  I die cut and embossed the circle for matting and layering and stamped the sentiment from the same set onto a heart die cut.  To finish I've just added some gems.

There's lots more inspiration on the Daring Cardmakers blog HERE so get out those tree fruit stamps and dies and join in!

I have my final Trimcraft Christmas demo this week at The Range in Thurrock this Sunday.  It's been a great few weeks meeting new and experienced crafters alike.  

Enjoy your weekend and see you again early on in the week,

Shabneez

Products Used:

Spellbinders Market Fresh - The Pearfect Avocado Stamp & Die Set

C&C Gingham cardstock

Tim Holtz Distress Inks

Tim Holtz Distress Oxides

Taylored Expressions Embossing Folder

Stitched Circle and Heart Dies

Everything else from my stash

1 Stencil 3 Ways - CrafTangles DT

Happy Monday!

How was your weekend?  I certainly heard a lot of cheers from the neighbourhood on Sunday afternoon when England scored all those goals!

I'm up on the CraftTangles blog HERE with cards using the CrafTangles Rainbows and Clouds stencil. 

As you can see I've managed to create cards using limited supplies - stencils, distress inks and card!

For this first card I went all out using the largest rainbow on the stencil with distress inks.  I then sprayed on water and left to dry.  For the stars I used distress oxides as I prefered the chalky effect they gave.  I finished with a sentiment.

Next up I used a soft grey for the clouds and the raindrops stencil to create a border.

For the final card I actually had a little girl in mind who I'm sure will love this card.  I used the smaller of the two rainbows on the stencil and added clouds and stars before matting and layering.

Stencils don't have to be used just for backgrounds - they can just as easily be used as focal points for cards as well.

See you again later on this week,
Shabneez

Products Used:
CrafTangles Rainbows & Clouds Stencil
CrafTangles Raindrops Stencil
CrafTangles Cardstock
Hero Arts Stamp & Die Set
Everything else from my stash

It's All In The Background

Happy Wednesday!

I'm up on the CrafTangles blog today with a selection of makes using different mediums with stencils.

To begin I've used texture paste, distress inks and a spray mist on a Kraft tag.  I coloured the sunflower and fussy cut it, stamped a sentiment and added ribbon to finish.

Next, I have a card where I have used distress inks in rainbow colours and added texture paste mixed with distress oxides to give additional interest.  I added a sentiment and die cut clouds to finish.

For my final card, I made a background using the smooshing technique then added clear texture paste and applied perfect pearls to give it a shimmer.

I've taken a close up so you can see the shimmer created with the perfect pearls.

After making the background I thought it would lend itself quite well to an ocean themed card so I stamped and coloured a mermaid and bubbles and added a heat embossed sentiment.

If you're interested, there is a more in depth tutorial on how I created all these on the CrafTangles blog HERE.

See you again on Friday,
Shabneez

Products Used:
CrafTangles Kraft Card
Tim Holtz Distress Mini Inks
CrafTangles Everyday Sentiments Stamps
Texture Paste
Versafine Black Ink Pad
Kuretake Zig Clean Color Brush Pens
CrafTangles Wooden Background Stencil
Distress Oxide - Worn Lipstick
CrafTangles Cardstock - Earl Grey
CrafTangles Cardstock - Black
CrafTangles Stamps - Girl in the Rain
Stitched Cloud Die Set
CrafTangles Treads Stencil
Ranger Perfect Pearls
CrafTangles Mermaid Kisses Stamp Set
Texture Paste - Transparent Matt
CrafTangles Floral Mesh Stencil
Everything else from my stash

The Festival of Lights - CrafTangles DT

Happy Wednesday!

I'm up on the CrafTangles blog HERE with a couple of celebratory cards for Diwali.  Diwali is the festival of light celebrated by Hindus and Sikhs.

You won't be surprised to learn that I have used 'light' as the theme for both my makes.

For my first card I've tried to highlight the diva lamp, keeping the rest of the card monochrome, bar the yellow border.  I've masked the lamp and used distress inks to create the glow from flame.

On my second card the fireworks are lighting up the sky and I used the appropriately named 'Fireworks' stencil with both distress oxides and heat embossing.  Don't the family look colourful in their traditional outfits?

There's a lot more detail on my makes over on the CrafTangles blog.

See you on Friday!
Shabneez

Products Used:
CrafTangles Diwali Wishes Stamps
CrafTangles Diwali Greetings Stamps
CrafTangles Cardstock in Cobalt Blue
CrafTangles Cardstock in Fiery Yellow
CrafTangles Stencil - Fireworks
Distress Oxides
Versamark Watermark Ink Pad
Ranger Embossing Powder in Silver
Ranger Embossing Powder in Gold
Tonic Nuvo Embossing Powder in White
Kuretake Zig Clean Color Pens
All adhesives from Six 2 Anything
Everything else from my stash

CrafTangles Super Boys and Backgrounds

Greetings!

I'm up on the CrafTangles blog HERE using one of my favourite stamp and die sets - Super Boys.

I wanted to try out different backgrounds so for my first make I opted for a sunburst effect, after all, Superheroes do fly through the air don't they?! I added clouds, some glittery and on the plain one I stamped the sentiment on.

For my second make I got my Distress Oxides out, I say I got them out but they've never actually made it into the cupboard since the last time I used them..........!

As the inks are chalky they give a brilliant smoky effect which works really well through stencils on black card, giving a crisp image.

I used my Zig pens to colour in the image again and heat embossed the sentiment.  I enjoyed making the superhero different from the norm, in particular the hair which I think gives a fun effect.

See you again on Friday!
Shabneez

Products Used:

CrafTangles Super Boy Stamp and Die Set

CrafTangles Gears Stencil

Distress Oxide - Iced Spruce

Distress Oxide - Fossilized Amber

Versamark Watermark Ink Pad

Ranger Embossing Powder - Liquid Platinum

CrafTangles Firefly Yellow Cardstock

CrafTangles Black Cardstock

Kuretake Zig Clean Color Pens

Amy Tangerine Scarlett Die Set

September Elemental Challenge - Daring Cardmakers DT

Happy September!

A brand new month means an elemental challenge over on the Daring Cardmakers.  I have been been playing with my Distress Oxides to create backgrounds.  You know, Distress Oxides have really interesting properties that enable you to achieve so many different effects.  Unfortunately, it means I will need to buy a few more so not so good on the finances.......

I used glitter paper as the background for my inverse feathers and the die cut feathers were adhered elsewhere on my creation together with a couple of peach glitter ones.  I added a smile sentiment to finish off, after all it's good to smile isn't it?!

This is the elemental board Kathy chose from which I took inspiration.  There are so many different elements to choose and the colours are absolutely gorgeous.  To play along you need to choose any 3 elements - simple!  You can see a lot more inspiration HERE on the Daring Cardmakers blog.

In other news, I have finally taken another step forward on the social media front and am now the proud owner of an instagram account!  However, an instagram account without followers would be rather sad so it would mean a lot to me if you could follow me at simplyshabneez - I will of course follow you back!

See you again soon!
Shabneez

Products Used:
Tim Holtz Distress Oxides
Dovecraft Feather Die Set
Unbranded Smile die
All adhesive from Stix 2 Anything
Everything else from my stash