Hydrangea postage stamp collage

Hello, crafting friends!

 

It's time for more fun with flowers! At The Flower Challenge this month, we'd like to see your birthday cards featuring beautiful blooms!

 

 

Here's what I came up with:

 

When I first saw Waffleflower's Postage Stamp Collage die, I became very excited like many other crafters. It quickly found its way into my craft stash but it hasn't come out to play nearly enough yet. This is a fun way to use it - stamping an image onto the whole thing, colouring it, cutting the middle of each individual stamp out and glueing them all to another whole die cut.

 

I used the large hydrangea image from Colorado Craft Co's Big and Bold Get Well, stamping it in pale green on watercolour paper. It was lovely to spend some time watercolouring it with a mix of Stampin' Up inks and Arteza Brush Pens. I didn't want to cover the bloom up too much so I made a tag-style sentiment stamped with a small 'happy birthday' from Concord & 9th. This was tied to the panel with gold thread tied into a multi bow then the panel popped up on dimensional pads.

Okay, now it's over to you! Do hop over to The Flower Challenge blog and check out the amazing variety of floral cards our talented team have made to inspire you. When you're ready to share your own creation, you can use the blue Linky button at the end of the challenge post. You have until 5pm 25th July to join in - have fun!

CHALLENGES

I'm linking up with Allsorts where Gail's theme this week is Way to Grow.

 

AND IN OTHER NEWS

I have dashing about like a mad thing today because it's a birthday weekend and the family will be arriving :) The dogs know something is up of course - Eva is taking it all in her stride as always but Lulu is nervous and needs extra TLC. She removed all the stuffing from her plushy ball earlier on and distributed it around the living room and garden!

Sending hugs,

Frosty stamps

Hello, crafting friends!

 

Isn't it annoying to have craft time and then Mr Mojo disappears without so much as a by-your-leave! I find that an idea usually springs into my mind just as it's time to walk the dogs or cook dinner (and I am certainly not permitted to delay any of those activities!) By the time free time swings around again it's dark and things usually go badly if I craft in artificial light! Anyway, sorry to ramble on... here's a late idea made next day:

First, I made the postage stamps using Waffleflower's Postage Stamp Collage Die and cutting the stamps apart with paper snips. I used the die itself as a stencil to sponge blue inks into the centre of each stamp, going for an ombré look, then added various die cut botanicals which I left white for a frosty look. For the background, I found a 'wooden plank' snippet of designer paper which was trimmed to size and splattered with blue and white inks.

 

When the splatters were dry, the paper was attached to a slimline card base. I arranged the postage stamps onto it and stamped the postmarks from The Greetery's Pretty Postmarks set.

 

Finally, I stamped the sentiment - a mix of the Greetery's PreText Sentiments and Stampin' Up's retired Endless Wishes - and added some pearls for berries on one of the stamps.

CHALLENGES

It was Jaydee's sketch at The Paper Players that triggered the idea for this card, so I shall link up there; Retro Rubber gave me the idea for the ombré blues and the stamps I've used are Pretty Postmarks 2019, PreText sentiments 2021 and Endless Wishes 2017; I'm also joining in at The Sisterhood of Crafters where Winter Blues is the theme; and last but not least I'm playing at Four Seasons where Anything Goes Winter and there's a lovely wintery mood board.

AND IN OTHER NEWS

It's now been nearly four months since Lulu came into our family and she has done really well. Some of you may be wondering how well Eva is doing - has she accepted the interloper? The answer is a resounding yes. I've been very careful not to focus too much on either dog in the presence of the other one because I wanted them to develop their own relationship, and this has worked well. They play beautifully together, taking it in turns to be the 'predator' and the 'prey'. They are incredibly tolerant of each other around food, and Eva, who is not a dog that cuddles with other dogs, will allow Lulu to sleep touching her. Lulu is much younger and full of life which has resulted in Eva losing a bit of weight and becoming much more active - bonus! But it IS quite tiring keeping up with the youngster...

 

and a warm, cosy sofa is very welcome at the end of a busy day. Sleep well sweet Eva!

Sending hugs,

Stamping stamps!

Hello, crafting friends!

 

Back in the summer, I was so busy I had no time to craft and even less time to blog! I did, however,  find time to buy the Waffleflower Postage Stamp Collage die which made my heart beat faster on its release! Of course I only took it out of its wrapper in December (can anyone relate?!) and it has not disappointed. I had so much fun making this card and I think it might have been my favourite of the year!

 

There are stencils you can get to go with this die but I just used the die itself as a stencil, sponging blue ink into the stamp shapes, and it worked perfectly well! Then came the fun bit: I used a couple of new-to-me Greetery sets (Pretty Postmarks and Pine Blossom) to design my own postage stamps, adding script and other images for a collage effect. The Christmas Blessings sentiment came from Uniko's Peace on Earth set.

 

American frame dies are made for US A2 cards, but I usually just trim a bit of the height of my cards to make them work. On this occasion, I had a little lightbulb moment! I remembered a retired Stampin' Up set (Butterfly Basics) that had an airmail pattern stamp on it, and stamped it in red as a frame around three sides of the card base.

 

 

I was really pleased with that final touch - and isn't it amazing how many stamps and dies from different eras and different companies work perfectly together!

CHALLENGES

The die set and two of the stamp sets are Never Before Used Schtuff, so naturally I will zoom over to Darnell's NBUS challenge to share. PS. I'm very proud to have a card from last month showcased there! I'm also joining in with Stamping Sensations where we are asked to use Favourite Colours - I love all colour but this is a favourite Christmas combination; We Love Stamping has a Winter Flowers and/or Foliage theme so I'm also linking up there.

 

AND IN OTHER NEWS

I've always loved hearing the sound of the letter box before Christmas! There are always some exciting cards to open or parcels containing gifts that need to be wrapped. After a few unhappy incidents when Eva was a puppy and chewed up the post, I taught her to gather up the mail and bring it to me. She was rewarded handsomely for this and has been a keen helper ever since. But his year, we've had another pup in the house of course! Eva wasn't prepared to give up her task but Lulu watched carefully and then decided her job would be to give a wuff to alert everyone to the fact the post has arrived. Oh dear, this is NOT something I feel should be rewarded! I have a long list of training that will begin in the new year!

Sending hugs,