Something New - Daring Card Makers Challenge

Happy Friday!

This week the Daring Cardmakers were tasked with creating a card using a new technique, fold or something we haven't done before.

When I first started crafting, some 15 years ago, I bought everything I needed to heat emboss. I tried it, didn't like it and sold everything! Over the past few months I've been buying bits and pieces as I really wanted to have another go. You'll be pleased to know I love it!

So, for my inspirational post I decided to use heat embossing together with something else I hadn't tried before. I've had my Distress Inks for some time and use them a fair bit but I've never used them with water, so I did! Loved the effect!

I hope you'll have a look at the other inspirational cards here and have a go at something new yourself!

Enjoy your weekend,
Shabneez

Products Used:
Sarah Hurley Beautiful Botanicals Stamp set
Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pads
Heat Tool
Versamark Watermark Ink Pad
Ranger Embossing Powder
Everything else from my stash

January Elemental Inspiration - Daring Cardmakers Challenge

Happy Friday!
The first Daring Cardmakers Challenge every month is an Elemental challenge in which you have to pick 3 elements from a picture. This is the photo we had to choose elements from:

So, the elements I chose for my card were the heart, the wood grain background and 3 of the colours to make this:

I'm still making baby cards and gifts for friends and family. This is one I made for my cousin who had first baby, a beautiful baby girl.  I'm on a stash busting mission as well so used scraps of paper that I cut to size and added Kanban toppers from a sheet as well as some rub ons for the sentiments.  I quite like baby cards in non traditional colours, don't you?

You can find lots more inspiration for the challenge here.

Enjoy your weekend,
Shabneez

Products Used:
Sizzix Dies
Kanban Topper Sheet
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

Thanks! - Daring Cardmakers Challenge

Happy Friday!

It's been another mad week but I've accomplished almost all I set out to do so I'm happy!  School holidays have begun and we've just been to see 'Rogue One'.  All three men, big and small, are Star Wars fans and I must admit I do like a good Star Wars film but I won't ruin it for those of you who are going to see it.

'Thanks' is the theme for this week's Daring Cardmakers Challenge. It's an apt challenge for me as I've got a number of thank you cards to send to family and friends following my recent birthday.

I've often said I like collections which go together so I don't have to think as hard about co-ordinating colours and embellishments etc especially if time is limited. Doodlebug do a range of essential packs which contain papers, stickers, embellishments and an alphabet sheet. The papers are all double sided and the only additional item I used was the pink card which I diecut into a circle.

Although the glitter alphabet were stickers, I used silicone glue to give a little additional dimension. A simple but colourful make. I do love my bright colours.

I hope you'll join in with the challenge here where there's a lot more inspiration from the Design Team.

May the Force be with you!
Shabneez

Products Used:
Doodlebug Hello Sunshine Essentials Kit
Everything else from my stash

Going Crackers! 'Decorate it' Daring Cardmakers Challenge

Happy Friday!

I've had a hectic but fulfilling week with the children's Christmas parties and pantomimes, meetings, celebrating my birthday and working on Christmas commissions.

The Daring Cardmakers are stepping away from the cards one last time this year. The challenge was about adding those little extras to 'Decorate it!'.  I decided to use a ready die cut cracker from Stix 2 Anything.  I used it as my base and added ribbons, foil tape and a die cut snowflake that I covered in gold glitter.  I added a metallic red candy to the centre.

I do hope that if you've made anything suitable you'll join in with the Challenge here and check out the other fabulous inspirational makes this week. 

Enjoy your weekend!

Shabneez 

Products Used:

Stix 2 Anything Cracker Die Cuts

Stix 2 Anything Snowflake Die Cuts

Stix 2 Anything Adhesive

Craftwork Cards Card Candy

Everything else from my stash

Textured Mini Wreath - Daring Cardmakers Elemental Challenge

Happy December!

The beginning of a month means an elemental challenge over on the Daring Cardmakers.  Basically, you choose 3 elements from the picture you can find here.

From the picture, I opted to use the colours, snowflakes and a wreath.  I used a die for the wreath base and then threaded ribbon through it to add texture. I added die cut snowflakes in 2 different sizes and finished off with black and clear gems to add that extra sparkle. I mounted the wreath on a snowflake embossed piece of card and used a die cut sentiment which I put on so it bowed outwards.

Once I'd made the wreath I actually found it a challenge as to how to use it on the card. I tried a number of variations but settled on this one in the end!

Thank you for taking the time to read my posts and your comments are much appreciated.

Shabneez xxx

Products Used:
First Edition Christmas Die Sets
Free snowflake embossing folder from a magazine
Everything else from my stash

Poinsettias Demonstration at the Sarah Hurley LIVE! Event

Happy Tuesday!

A couple of weeks ago I was given the opportunity to demo at the Sarah Hurley Live! event in Loughton and I've finally got around to blogging about it!

Aren't poinsettia on trend at the moment? They're popping up everywhere. I think this time of year they raise their heads anyway, but a little more so this year. So, no points for guessing what I decided to demo - Poinsettias with a Ferrero Rocher centre! 

I used a free SVG file to to make the poinsettias and I must convey a huge thank you to Sarah's Team for their help towards my demo.

I curled the leaves with a pencil and gave an option of glitter glue and/or metallic inks for the edges because you know I love a bit of sparkle, especially on a festive make.  A Ferrero Rocher was placed in the centre but you could just as easily use a battery operated tea light if you wanted.

I showed how you could use multiple poinsettias and build them into a wreath which could be put on your door or as a table decoration as shown blow.

The event was extremely well organised from the onset with Sarah and her Team welcoming guests and available for questions throughout the day.  Breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea was welcomed by all.

The talks were both interesting and thought provoking.  I was particularly inspired by the 'Making it in the Craft Industry' discussion with a panel of experts who gave some sound advice and tips.  Sarah's talks - 'My Story' and '25 Mad, Bad and Crazy Hilarious Things That Have Happened to Me in the Business'! gave me an insight into Sarah's hectic life and her personal journey through the crafting industry.  

I very much enjoyed the networking element of the day.  I met a lot of talented crafters from all areas of the crafting industry.  As a bonus, I met one of my fellow Sarah Hurley Community Design Team members, Loti Bradley, who is pictured second from the left in the photo above.

There were some fabulous competitions and prizes offered throughout the day.  I was fortunate to win a book called 'Lean In' by Sheryl Sandberg (chief operating officer of Facebook) about empowering women to achieve their full potential.  This will be the book for January in Sarah's Book Club so look out for my review!

Needless to say, I'm already looking forward to the next Sarah Huley event!