K+ December | Stitched Christmas Cards

Hello, hello and welcome once again to my blog!

Today I have my next December share and this one is for the very awesome K+ Needles and Pins challenge for the month!

It took me a little while to work out what I was going to do for this because I do love to stitch on my pages; both hand stitching and machine stitch. But this month I thought I would give my sewing machine a bit of a work out and make some cards!

What do you think?!? I just LOVE how these guys came out in the end! And they were fairly simple to create too, BONUS!

You can see my process (sorry, not my machine stitching, my machine is on the other side of my craft room) below if you'd like to see them come to life!

Here are some photos of each of my cards

And head over here for both the rest of the DT inspiration (oh my, total gorgeousness!!) and to load up your take on this month's fun challenge. I can't wait to see where this challenge takes you!

I hope you have enjoyed my share today and until next time, happy scrapping!!

Mel

x

Some exciting news!!

Hello, hello and welcome to my blog today! If you follow me on another social media platform you would have seen my very exciting news already and if you haven't, well, that's why I'm here!

I have joined the amazingly talented Design Team for Anna's Craft Cupboard!! This little store has been on my scrappy bucket list for a little while and not just because Bri always has great stock but Bri is amazing! Everything you could wish for in scrappy store owner! So, I have been creating this month with the very fun Photoplay Paper Color Play "You're a Gem" collection and I just popped in super quick to share all the links as well as my news!

Just quietly, I may have squealed a little when I was offered the spot and then again when I got my DT banner - I showed Hunter and was super enthusiastic and he was like "Yeah, ok Mum, whatever...." lol At 5 years old, I'm in trouble!

Anyways, here is what I'm certain you are here for!

First up I created this 12x12 page of my big boy!

You can see the full blog post (including close ups and product links) here and I have also shared a process video which I will link below!

Second up was this fun 12x12 page of my little family.

Again, full blog post is here and my process video will be below!

And lastly, I created 4 mixed media tags which were so FUN!

Full blog post here and video below!

I do have more of this collection left over so I may even sneak in another project or 2, depending on "free" time lol

Anyways, as always, thank you ever so much for stopping by and sharing in my excitement! 

Have a fantastic day!

Mel

xx

{ScrappingClearly} Some quick cards

Hi there and welcome to my blog this Easter Monday! 

I hope the Easter Bunny was good to you and that you are enjoying a long weekend with your loved ones! I'm happy to report, our Bunny Trap, once again failed yesterday!! Though the boys had fun setting it up, the Bunny was kind enough to leave chocolate, pj's and new slippers for them!!

Today I have some cards that I created using the Kasier Craft Ooh La La collection.

I have used a couple of off cuts from a couple of my 12x12 papers as the card fronts - cut to size - but you could very easily change it up and use the 6 1/2' x 6 1/2" paper pad. And then grabbed the collectable pack, the 12x12 sticker sheet and the Kaiser mini blooms in honey and sage. I've also used some of the very pretty Cantaloupe Liquid Pearls on some of the butterfly centres for a little extra touch :)

In the bottom right corner I have used one of the left over triangles from this project. I have pulled a few pieces from the collectables pack and stuck 3 of the sage flowers along with 2 of the sentiment stickers from the 12x12 sticker sheet.

I started with some Whipped Spackle and a stencil from my stash for some added detail in the background then when that was dry I grabbed a few pieces from the collectables pack and voila, card #2 done!

For this one I started with one of the 12" border stickers from the sticker sheet and then added lots of pieces from the collectables pack. And a final touch, 3 of the honey mini paper blooms.

And finally, card #4, I started with the big floral piece from the sticker sheet which I trimmed in half and stuck down. A couple of butterflies, one is a sticker and the other is from the collectables pack. Some of the word sticker strips and the final touch of Liquid Pearls down the centre of the 2 butterflies. 

4 cards done and dusted in under and hour - I did record the process but apparently my phone had other ideas and didn't actually record anything!! Technology, hey?!

Anyways, cards are a quick, easy way to use up some left overs and especially some of those bigger paper offcuts that you may otherwise be unsure what you are going to do with. Always good to have a few in your stash!

I hope you are enjoying the long weekend and maybe even getting in some scrappy time!!

Melinda

{ScrappingClearly} Cards with CVS - Free Spirit

Hi there scrappy friends!! Today I am here with you sharing a few quick cards I have put together using mostly scraps from the last DT kit that Kylie sent me. I had been sent the gorgeous Free Spirit collection by Cocoa Vanilla studio and had used a lot of the bits previously in a PL spread so thought I would challenge myself to use up the off cuts I had left!

Here are the 3 cards I came up with and I think all up it took me less than hour, though I wasn't timing myself!! I have had spent the last few days getting my computer up and running again thanks to a virus so I wanted something to do while I waited for the next screen to click, next, yes, no, blah, blah, blah!! And, as a total side note, PLEASE remember to back up!! I was fortunate enough that though I lost everything almost everything was backed up in my most recent back up!!

Now, onto the fun stuff!

My cards

I really had so much fun playing with all the little bits and pieces. And, aren't those flowers just beautiful!? I am currently trying to decide how (well, actually IF!!) I'm going to use the last 2 from the pack!

And here is a close up shot of each card

As you can see I have used the same floral in the background for all 3 cards. I started with a 6"x12" piece. The 3 bases measure (from top to bottom) 14.8cm x 10.5cm, 14.3cm x 10cm and 13.8cm x 9.5cm. One sentiment is from the sticker sheet while the other 2 were fussy cut from one of the papers and all of the other bits are off cuts or stickers.

I hope this inspires you to look at your scrappy left overs in maybe a little bit of a different light and get those scraps used up! 

Here is a list (including links) of all the products I have used:

CVS - Free Spirit - 12" x 12" Paper - Dreamy

CVS - Free Spirit - 12" x 12" Paper - My Way

CVS - Free Spirit - 12" x 12" Paper - Wildflowers

CVS - Free Spirit - 12" x 12" Paper - Word Jumble

CVS - Free Spirit - Sticker Sheet

Prima - Windsor Roses - London

Ranger - Liquid Pearls - Flamingo

Thank you, as always, for stopping by and happy scrapping!!

Melinda

{Colour Blast} DIY Cards with the Valentines Pack's

Hello, hello!! I'm here with you today sharing the fun I have been having with my very own Valentine's Pack #2 from Colour Blast!!! 

Oh, the colours and products in this pack are just gorgeous - not to mention AWESOME value for money!!

Being Valentine's Day and having Valentine's pack's I figured I may as well create at least one Love Day card for my significant other! It is after all a special day for us as we had our very 1st date on Love Day in 2006 so I wish you all a very Happy Love Day with whoever you celebrate and however you celebrate!

Now onto the fun stuff!!

Here are the 2 cards I have created and I still have hearts left over so I think you will see them appear on other projects very soon!

There is a process video for you to watch if you wish, just click on the play button below!

And here are my step-by-steps, but most importantly I think if you are going to re-create this or something similar, have FUN and experiment with your products, this was a super fun way for me to play AND be productive ;)

First up I grabbed a scrap of white cardstock and used an embossing ink with the Snow White Colour Embossing Powder to apply some sparkle to the background before adding any colour.

I literally dumped the WHOLE container onto the paper to make sure I had even coverage. Make sure you tip the excess straight back into the container so you can use it later!

Next up, time to add some colour! I used the Candy Colour Shimmer Dust - swoon, I seriously love these Shimmer Dusts!! A tiny paint brush, a little sprinkle and then a wet big water colour type paint brush!

I did a few extra sprinkles of the Colour Dust and added water to get the effect I was after - which was a water colour, not even coverage and I LOVE how it came out!

Look at all that sparkle!! The Shimmer Dust has so much shimmer but on top of that embossing powder it seriously just pops off the paper <3 Oh, you may also notice some faint splatters - I simply dripped a few drips of water using my paint brush onto the already dry Colour Shimmer Dust then soaked the excess water up with a paper towel and voila, extra texture!

I felt like it needed a little extra detail so I grabbed some Staz-On black ink and a couple of stamps - to be specific, some stitched stamps and a text stamp. 

I stamped once after I inked up and then stamped off a few times until there was no ink left on the stamp with each of the stamps. Love the extra details stamping provides!

Onto the beautiful Colour Paste in Fire Engine - swoon - I love this colour so much!

A tiny heart stencil, some colour paste and more texture and a deeper pinky/red colour added. I popped this piece aside and let air dry and got to work on the backing of my card.

First up a piece of textured white cardstock - I am ALWAYS running out of or looking for black cardstock so this is a way to beat that problem and quiet possibly use up any old card scraps you have in colours you don't like ;) I grabbed what has affectionately now been dubbed my "black gesso brush"  and my  Black Heavy Gesso and applied a quick coat over the whole card front. This piece measures 10.5cm x 14.7cm if you are wondering!

This gesso applies beautifully, dries smoothly and dries super quick! Love it, I can see a lot of use in my future! 

I decided to add some shimmer to the black gesso using the oh so beautiful Snow White Colour Shimmer Spray through a stencil. I did "mess" it up a little but I certainly wasn't going for perfection! LOL! Love how this looks on the black gesso!

When my Colour Shimmer Spray was dried I added some more texture, again with the Colour Paste in Fire Engine and through a text stencil.

This got put to the side next so I could make my hearts. These were super simple to create! When the first piece of cardstock was completely dried I took my scissors and hand cut some hearts - I am a bit particular and like my hearts to be even so I trimmed a rough square off the card, folded the square in half and cut a heart shape. And if your not 100% happy with the shape its super easy to re-trim!

And here are all my hearts cut out!

I just love them!

When these were cut I started playing with the hearts and placement and came up with a sentiment. This very simple "love you" text which I decided to stamp in embossing ink and heat emboss with the Bling Colour Embossing Powder. So pretty, swoon!!

Time for assembly! I used a combination of tape adhesive, wet adhesive and hot glue to stick all the bits down. After I finished the first card I turned off my camera and put the 2nd one together. The biggest difference is that I used the Snow White Colour Embossing Powder through a stencil on the black gesso card base. And you can see that detail in the close up below!

And here are the cards, on their own

This is the one I created on video and have provided the step-by-step's for

And the one created off screen.

And here are a few close ups of all the texture and fun of the beautiful Colour Blast products!

As these Valentine's Pack's are only available for a short time make sure you head over here to pick up either or both packs and take advantage of the awesome deal that Tenisha has put together!

Thank you , as always, for stopping by and if you have any questions, please leave them in the comments section below!

Happy Colour Blasting!!

Melinda

{Colour Blast DT} Christmas Cards

Hi there! I'm here with you today sharing this "set" of 6 christmas cards I made using some awesome Colour Blast products!

I had so much fun playing and am super happy with how these cards came out. Playing with the black cardstock was a bit of a challenge but FUN!

I do have a process video which you can see below or you can head to my YouTube channel here. I also have some step by steps below!

First up I picked out one of my 12x12 stencils and a couple of colours of Colour Shimmer Spray that I wanted to use. I had a handful of embellishments I have in my stash that I wanted to get used so kinda matched to those using the Bling Shimmer Spray and Deep Water Shimmer Spray.

I randomly sprayed the 2 colours through the stencil on the whole 12x12 piece of cardstock until I was happy with the colours. I did soak up the excess colour on top of the stencil by applying a 2nd piece of black cardstock and rubbing gently to get a stamped image.

When that was all dried I used the nozzle from the 2 bottles and sprinkled some splatters randomly across the page.

I dried that off with my heat tool and then cut my cardstock down to card front size - 10cm x 14.3cm - ready to add my layers!

I did fiddle around a bit with all the bits I wanted to use but managed after a little bit of back and forth to come up with designs I was happy with.

I felt that I needed a little extra in the background behind my layers so grabbed my Snow White Colour Paste and another stencil from my stash and applied some colour using a palette knife roughly behind where the clusters were going.

I let that dry naturally, which really didn't take very long at all and then stuck all my pieces down!

I decided that the tag on this needed a little bling so I grabbed my Bling Embossing Powder and embossing ink and stamped a little sentiment.

I used a mix of double sided tape and wet glue to stick everything down, I wanted to make sure nothing moved.

Here are the completed cards and like I said earlier, I'm super happy with how these turned out and had so much fun! 

I only recently discovered the beauty of the Shimmer Sprays on dark cardstock and if you have yet to have a play I can't recommend it highly enough!

Please make sure you head over to our FB group here and share all the wonderful creations you make!

Thanks so much for stopping by and until next time, happy scrapping!!

Melinda