HAPPY Birthday

I recently bought this large HAPPY die from SSS, I actually thought that I would use it with lots of colours, but somehow gold and black just kind of happened. The 'birthday' was joined to another 'Happy' at the t and d, but I chopped it off. I actually like a mix of print and script for sentiments, both die cut and stamped  as well as computer generated.  I began by stamping  a simple grungy dot background and heat embossed it in gold. Whenever I use this leaf spray die I seem to lose some of the leaf inserts, I did think of using just the outline, but the dotty background looked a little odd through the leaves. I spent ages looking for one bit which pinged onto the floor! I sometimes find bits inside my slippers!

Just us Girls

I don't know if anyone else has had a similar experience with the new Blogger,  but several times I have had to save a challenge icon before I could add it to my Blog... usually I would just copy and paste it. It's a bit of a pain really! Today was a case in point with these two badges. I wonder if it's anything to do with the way the badge is added initially? Who knows!

CASe this Sketch

 

Hope your day is awesome

For quite some time I have resisted buying any Distress Oxide inks... partly due to the fact that I have all the colours of regular Distress Inks and love them so much... so what could possibly be better than those plus I really wouldn't know where to store any new ones. However recently I seem to have kept seeing the Oxides in use and I finally caved! I started by buying just three shades. I don't have a refill for my regular Aged Mahogany ink pad, so I chose that, I fancied the sound of Crackling Campfire, so I got that and to make up the trio I bought a Carved Pumpkin.  Which are the colours I used for this card!

Strangely I couldn't get the latter open to begin with and discovered that in fact the lid was glued to the base. I guess there was just a little too much glue used to adhere the inkpad itself in position. The long and short of it is that the lid broke as I was trying to prise it open! I have contacted to seller and they have asked to have the pad returned. I have bought so many Distress inks over the years and have never had anything like this happen previously!

To make the card I simply applied some of all three colours onto card using sponge daubers in an ombre effect then placed it behind the die cut! I don't remember where the die came from but I really love it!

 I keep all my dies on A4 magnetic sheets, in themes, in plastic file cases. I have been keeping all the original packaging separately (for reference purposes) however that storage box was overflowing I think some of the packaging has been tossed! Occasionally I feel the need to have a purge of unused things. I really think that I have a lot of stuff which could either be taken to the charity shop or sold on a declutter site! It's a question of getting round to it!

But to get back to the Oxides... I really liked them and think I may get a few more in colour families! The sentiment is from Avery Elle.

CASology  

Seize the Birthday

Both the card base and the tree branches give some texture.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Anything Goes

WOYWW #595

This is the view of my other desk just after my Zoom meeting last night! (Hence the glass of wine)

To the right of the computer is my SIlhouette Portrait Machine, on the shelves are a load of Stampin' Up stamp sets, plates for my die cutting machines, lots of card, the top shelf has coloured card in colour families. The drawers have more dies, cello envelopes, and other bits and pieces. I can't quite get my knees under the desk because of another set of drawers, I think I really need a sort out!

This is my latest DT card for  Christmas Craft Creations, it's on the post before this if you fancy seeing the links to join in!

Yesterday I discovered a load of comments from WOYWWers in my junk folder. I think I managed to get around to everyone last week, but if I don't manage it, I at least like to visit those who visited me, so if I missed any of you I'm really sorry, I usually go by my email notifications rather than looking back at my post!

DO join in with Julia over on her Stamping Ground to take a snoop around the craft desks of the world.

Have a good day everyone!

 

Fa la la la la, la la la la

I had fun with this one. I began with the wreath dies, cut from white card, then inked with a couple of shades of Distress Ink, then clear heat embossed a couple of times. I cut another twiggy branch type die using brown paper. This die was much larger, but as is was much thinner, I could cut it and then weave it through the other die. The twirly bits are actually from a thread die... it came with a needle too, but I rarely seem to use that!

The sentiment is from MFT. 

I keep all my dies on A4 Magnetic Sheets in themed, plastic file boxes. I must admit to having a bit of an obsession with die cutting and I have literally hundreds of dies. I have been known to buy the same die more than once, as often when I see them, I think I must buy that, forgetting that it had already been purchased and squirreled away. 

 I don't have room to store all the packaging, although I have kept a lot. I can't find the pack that the wreath dies came in but I'll keep looking!

The theme at Christmas Craft Creations  this month is Christmas Music. 

It doesn't look as though I'll be singing this carol this year, as my choir hasn't managed to meet to rehearse apart from Zoom sessions for about 6 months. It's planned to start socially distanced, risk assessed, super sanitized, non mingling, reduced time, un-coffee-breaked rehearsals this coming week! There won't be room for everyone so as an OLD person, I think I'll leave space for the younger members.

I love the idea of getting Christmas cards done throughout the year, it saves a lot of pressure when the time comes around, so do join us with this jolly challenge!