Mice and sweets

For this card I've followed a sketch and a color challenge.
For the background I used old Magnolia sweets stamps and grey ink. The stamped panel was mounted onto light cardstock.
The cute mice from Colorado Craft Company are new to me, I find them perfect for many occasions and suitable for cards for a person of any age and gender. As my family contains mainly males this card will probably be put in my selection of masculine cards:) The sentiment is from the same set.

This card is for:
Cardz 4 Guyz - #279 Blue, Yellow, Gray
Freshly Made Sketches - #502 Sketch

Not my typical choice of colors

I wanted to make a card for a man using other colors than those I typically use, like black&white, blues, greens and/or greys. So out came red and yellow inks and markers, and a grey one as well!

I picked a favorite Stamping Bella gnome stamp and I cut the image to put the tag at an angle. The background has been made with 2 stencils - the Deco Wallpaper from Altenew, and the numbered one is Tim Holtz.
I debated whether only to use string, but I liked the effect of the yellow seambinding ribbon in there. I think both ribbon and flowers can be used for masculine designs as long as it's not "too frilly". The birthday greeting is made with my Dymo. 

This card is for
The Paper Players - #557 By The Numbers
Addicted to Stamps and More - Birthday
The Male Room - Nature's Bounty 

INK #247 - Autumn leaves

For our new challenge at Inkspirational Lindsey has chosen the theme of autumn leaves! Even though we've enjoyed summer temperatures in my end of the world lately, you can feel the colder autumn air approaching.

I've enjoyed working with some new goodies for this card - a stencil from Altenew, stamps from Colorado Craft Company as well as old Lawn Fawn leaf dies. I used a mix of Distress and Oxide inks in autumnal colors.I heat embossed the sentiment in gold.

Please head over to the challenge blog to see the wonderful makes of my INK-teamies.   

This card is also for:
Cute Card Thursday - #692 Anything Goes
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - #54 Anything Goes with a Critter

Tall Tale - his and hers

In connection with the Altenew bloghop I saw my Inkspirational-teamie, Lindsey, had made a card using the Tall Tale stamp set. I liked it so much so I had to get the set myself. You can see her post here.

I've been trying to make 2 cards at a time lately, I'm a slow cardmaker, and I find it doesn't take double the time making 2 cards at the same time. Yay, efficient and fun!

For both cards I used a DP as wallpaper and an embossing folder to make the floor/desk. 

Card 1) For her - Colored version based on a sketch

This card is for Sunday Stamps - #264 Sketch

Card 2) For him - Black and white version with woodgrain

This card is for Shopping Our Stash - #452 Wood You Believe?

Last Twofer challenge

 

Here are my two cards for the last Twofer Card Challenge, where the theme is DOGS AND/OR CATS.

I'm more of a cat person myself, so I chose 4 images from a Penny Black set, I think they all capture different real life cat expressions and behaviors. I made a card that can be used as a just because or a birthay card and a Thank you card.

 

 

 

1) HAVE  A PURRFECT DAY

For this card I decided to go with a slimline layout to fit my 4 chosen cat images. I used a grey distress ink for coloring. I kept it clean and onlyadded  a narrow striped washi tape border for embellishment.

This card is also for:
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - #53 Anything Goes with a Critter
Little Red Wagon - #615 Animal Antics 

 

 

 

2) THANK YOU

For the layout of this card my inspiration came from the photo over at Time Out, where the bag has a pattern of heads on circles placed in all different directions. Instead I used one circle and stamped the cats' heds along the edge of that circle. I used the Altenew Mid-Century Frame Die, the die cut was heat embossed in silver. The stencil is also from Altenew, named  Deco Wallpaper Stencil. I went with an ombré effect with 3 different distress inks.Finally I heat embossed the sentiment with silver EP.

This card is also for:
TIME OUT Challenges - #194 Photo Inspiration
Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes 

 

 

 

INK #246 - Cup photo

For our new challenge at Inkspirational we have a photo. I was inspired by the black and white theme and I also wanted to incorporate stripes and something round.
So out came my Altenew striped die and mandala die from  Pinkfresh Studio. I used a flower stamp from a Dina Wakley set and left the image uncolored.

Please head over to the challenge blog to see the wonderful makes of my INK-teamies.   

This card is also for: 

Sparkles Forum Challenges - #143 Monochromatic
Simply Create Too - #173 MONOCHROMATIC

Mint colored baby card

I'm trying to build up my stash of cards while mojo is around, he has been unreliable for the first half of this year, but lack of time was also an issue. At least I can enjoy for now that I have a bit of both:)

My layout was inspired by one of the sketches over at Shopping our Stash, From Daring Cardmakers' photo I picked the colors, the bunny and circles (dotted embossed panel behind the image and the round pearls)

The bunny and sheep images are new to me, from Heartfelt Creations, but everything else is old.The Spellbinder frame die has been with me since back in 2012, which is when I started cardmaking. The banner and sentiment are made with Kaisercraft stamps, they've been with me for many years as well.

This card is for:
Daring Cardmakers - ELEMENTAL CHALLENGE
Shopping Our Stash - #451 - Let's Get Sketchy

Sketch, mood board, colors and just because

 

For this card I was inspired by a sketch, a mood board, a color challenge and a "just beause " theme.

My layout was inspired by the sketch. My items were inspired by the color challenge (cut out butterflies, die cut TH flowers an die cut camera roll from Marianne) and also to mimic the image at the top left of the mood board. The sentiment was chosen for the "just because" theme - I've never needed as many general themed cards as I do now...I think people like to give cards during this pandemic...

This card is for:
My Time to Craft - #463 Sketch
Color Throwdown - #654
Little Red Wagon - #613 Just Because
Double D Challenges - Mason Jars/See Mood Board

INK #245 Journey - stripes or hearts

For our challenge at Inkspirational this fortnight, we have a word prompt: Journey. You can interpret the theme however you see fit, I chose a sentiment I love, because I think it's so true. 

I actually made 2 cards for this challenge. Sometimes I find it hard to choose what direction to take, like should I go with the heart sttenciled background or the striped die cut one? Well, I went with both. And if you don't mind, I'd love to hear your opinion on which one is your favorite:)

 

Please head over to the challenge blog to see the wonderful makes of my INK-teamies.  

Card 1) Striped background
Here I used my Altenew die and black paper. I rubbed on some silver Nuvo expanding mousse and added white gesso on top once dry. Then I chose a blue striped paper and green ink for the sentiment, to macth the colors of the flowers, they came free with a magazine.
This card is also for Cardz 4 Galz - #152 Dies & Punches

 

Card 2) Stencilled hearts background
I used a stencil and gold Nuvo expanding mousse and I  spritzed with Sangria Art Anthology mist. A pink paper was used for the panel to tie the colors together with the flowers and sentiment.

This card is also for  Allsorts - #635/6 Anything Goes with the option of Roses

A penguin, a polar bear.... and a walrus

I like using sketches as a starting point for my cards. Here I used a previous sketch by Sunday Stamps, from June 2021. So not long ago.
I used a DP with snowflakes (from BoBunny, I believe), washi tape and stamps from Avery Elle. The blackboard sign was cut from a freebie DP with a magazine.
The animals were colored and I added a few white details with a Posca pen.
Die cut snowflake, decorated with a single white pearl.

This card is for:
Christmas Crafts All Year Round - Something starting with O and/or P (P=Penguin and Polar bear)
Crafty Gals Corner - #221 Christmas in July

Insects

I've seen some card layouts and sketches lately that gave me the idea to try sectioning my card into panels, using my Lawn Fawn die. I left out the frame and used the cut out panels only.
Before cutting I stamped to pieces of paper with my Memory Box butterfly stamp. I cut on piece into sections and placed these onto the other with foam pads.
Before I did so I colored the butterflies with colors from Color Throwdown. I don't often get to play, but I'm visiting every week, I love seeing how people use the color scheme in different ways.
I also added some paint splatter and embossing powder for a bit of sparkle.

This card is for:
Color Throwdown - #653
Alphabet Challenge - I IS FOR INSECTS
My Time to Craft - #462 No Patterned Paper

Nautical card inspired by sketch

If you are regular visitor you know I love playing with sketches. Lately they have been of much help to get mojo flowing again.

For this card I used 4 different DPs, an old postcard stamp from TPC Studio and new stamps from Heartfelt Creations. Twine and anchor metal charm from my stash.

This card is for:
Creative Sketchy Girls - #62 Sketch
WaterCooler Wednesday - #321 Masculine

Strawberries

Strawberries, mmm... for me they represent summer, the norwegian strawberries are sweet and tasty. In my teens I was a strawberry seller, those years I did not eat many, I stood in strawberry scent all day and had no appetite for them at all. Luckily that has changed.

For this card I used an image from Stamping Bella and old DPs from Maja Design along with old hexagon dies. I was inspired by a card layout I found on Pinterest here.

This card is for:
TIME OUT Challenges - #192 Hungry
Do-Al(l) Kreatives - #55 Summer
Craft Rocket Challenges - #83 Summer 

Diamonds and gold

 
Enjoying a day inside, it's too hot for me to be outdoors. I've spent most of the week enjoying the sun by the sea at my family's, so have had enough of the fresh air.
Playing with a sketch, some NBUS diamond dies from MFT, cut from a gold metallic sheet, and some new DP from Craft Consortium. I also used glitter washi ans sequins from your stash.

This card is for:
Freshly Made Sketches - #495 Sketch
Allsorts - #633/4 Feminine / For a Lady
Happy Little Stampers - July Anything Goes with Dies 

    

INK #244 Spots/dots

 

For our new challenge at Inkspirational Carol has chosen the theme of dots and spots, isn't that an awesome theme!

I pulled out my slimline die from Papirdesign, a DP from Maja Design, arctic animals from Avery Elle and some leftover pieces that didn't get used for previous projects.

Please head over to the challenge blog to see the wonderful makes of my INK-teamies.   

This card is also for: 

Christmas Craft Creations - Anything Goes Christmas
Crafty Gals Corner - #221 Christmas in July

Birds X 2

 

Here are my two cards for the Twofer Card Challenge, where the theme is BIRDS.

For both cards I used a stamp set from Hot off the Press - Sweet Tweets - that came fee with a magazine several years ago. I made a celebration card and a Christmas card.

 

 

 

1) CELEBRATION CARD

For this card I used 5 out of the 6 stamps from the freebie set, and a swirl stamp from a 7gypsies set. The frame die is from Lawn Fawn. In retrospect I could have tried using a colored ink instead, but black and white does not go out of style.

This card is also for:
Addicted to Stamps and More - #409 Any Occasion
Creative Knockouts - #410 Celebrations

 

 

2) CHRISTMAS CARD

For this card I used one of the birds twice and one of the birdhouses from the freebie stamp set. The die cut leaves are Concord & 9th, the background is embossed with a folder from Spellbinders. Three pearls and a Christmas greeting in Norwegian.

This card is also for:
Shopping Our Stash - #449 Christmas in July
Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog - #36 Anything Goes

 

INK #243 Greenhouse photo

For our new challenge at Inkspirational we have a photo. I was inspired by the colors green, grey and white and I also used buldings.

I used a stamp set from Lawn Fawn and I fussy cut all the elements to layer them up. I don't remmeber where the DP is from, but it's one I've kept and saved for some time because I liked it so much - nowadays I try and be better at using the most loved papers first.
I also used a white string from my stash.

Please head over to the challenge blog to see the wonderful makes of my INK-teamies.   

This card is also for:
Alphabet Challenge - G IS FOR GREEN OR GOLD
Addicted to Stamps and More - #409 Any occasion

KIng and queen bird couple

Having fun trying to use both new and old stash. I needed an anniversary card so used an old stamp set from 7gypsies and made a king and a queen bird couple, keeping to black and white and just a little touch of gold on the hearts on the sentiment banner. Die cut swirls made with a Magnolia die and a background die from Pinkfresh Studio. Liquid enamel dots were added around the swirls.

This card is for:
Make My Monday - #152 ANYTHING AIRBORNE
Cupcake Inspirations - #522 PHOTO INSPIRATION

Purples only

I haven't been crafting as regularly and often as I'd like this year. Whenever I struggle to get back to it I find it useful to play with sketches, and I often make more than one card using the same sketch.
For this card I made my own background, using a stencil from Finnabair and foil with a laminator.
The top panel was cut with a Penny Black antique frame die. The girl is a stamp from Prima, I tend to use only the legs on this stamp, but here I went with the upper body for a change. A stamped and die cut sentiment were added. Only purple colors were used.

This card is for:
The Paper Players - #547