Funky Fossil Butterfly Heart Anniversary Card

Another anniversary card.  I've used "Shaded Lilac" Distress Oxide Ink through the Funky Fossil "Butterfly Heart" stencil. Using the same ink to edge a border for the background card for the main image to be layered on top of.

I used my Sizzix Big Shot to die cut the Memorybox "Pippi butterfly - style 98508" in white card and also the "love" sentiment which is part of the Stampin' Up "Sunshine Wishes" thinlit die set.  I added some sticky pearls to finish the card.

Design Team Make - 25th August 2018 (Christmas in August) - My Time To Craft Challenge

The prompt for the "My Time To Craft" challenge for 25th August 2018 is "Christmas In August".  Please do pop over and take a look at the other fabulous makes by the Design Team and maybe take part yourself?

It seems very odd to be creating Christmas cards at this time of year.  I tend to leave it till late September/October time, but it does allow me to re-visit my festive goodies that have been packed away for months.

I started off by masking a moon and then painting the sky using three shades of Distress Inks.  I then removed the moon mask and gently dabbed a pale yellow and dark grey shades of Distress Ink.

The deer image is part of a Stampin' Up set called "Christmas Deer" which I stamped in Versafine Vintage Sepia ink.

I tore card to create an uneven snowscape at the base of the Deers feet.  I then used a Memorybox die called "Frostyville Border" to cut the intricate frosty detail.

I added extra star/snowflakes to the card and then some dots using a white Signo pen to replicate falling snow.  I added some dots of Stickles to give a subtle glitter to the snowflakes and the decorative border (I'm not sure it shows in this photograph).

Finally, I added a sentiment using a sentiment from another Stampin' Up set called "Winter Memories".

Week 3 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2018

The prompt for Week 3 is "Pond Life".

Just a reminder, that anybody can take part in this challenge.  There is an active Facebook group where you can upload your tag/card and talk to other members who are taking part.  There is no pressure.  You do what you can, when you can.  I usually post the new prompts on a Sunday or Monday, depending on what I'm up to. The previous prompts can be found by clicking on the tab next to the "Home" button, just below the title.  

For my tag, I attempted to replicate the sparkly-ness of a pond when the light catches the water.  I started by using Distress Oxide inks to create the background of the tag.

I use a Memorybox die called "Honeycomb Background" to cut the black cardstock.  I decided I would leave some of the shapes in and remove others and stuck it over the coloured background.  Using a Stampin' Up stamp from the "By The Tide" set, I added a couple of areas of stamping text.

I then moved on to die stamp and die cut the dragonfly, using the Stampin' Up set called "Dragonfly Dreams" and "Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits".  I finally added some pretty shimmery sequins to add to the water look.

Week 51 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2017

Can you believe it, this is the penultimate tag prompt for the year.  The prompt for Week 51 is "The Church Window".

For my tag, I started off with a Tim Holtz Distress ink background in purple shades.  I like to save my distress ink off-cuts from previous pieces, so I end up having lots of coloured strips.  I decided to put them across the mauve background in a diagonal angle.

Using a Memorybox die, (sorry, I don't have the packaging for this die and don't recall the name). I cut the decorative diamond shape in black card, layering it over the multi coloured background.

I then stamped the dove and used watercolours to paint the grey colour.  I found a punched sprig of leaves and stuck it to the tag, and then added the dove.

Finally, I die cut the word "Peace" using the Stampin' Up set called "Christmas Greetings Thinlits".

Don't forget, if you would like to see the prompts for previous weeks of this challenge, they can be found to the right of the "Home" button at the top of the page.

Also, I'd love to see your creations.  You could post them on the "A Crafting Niche" Facebook page.

Frostyville Tag

It feels like I've not made a tag for ages, although in actual fact it is about a week.

This tag has got a Tim Holtz Distress Ink background in shades of blues and greys.  It can not really be spotted in the photograph, but there are areas of Papermania "Holographic" embossing which gives a nice sparkly/ice look.

I had a couple of off-cuts from the Memorybox "Frostyville Border" die (no.98146), so added them to the top and bottom.  I then added a stamped "Let It Snow" sentiment (free from a magazine) and punched some small snowflakes.  Finally, I added some Stickles glitter glue to the snowflakes and small self adhesive gemstones.

Week 46 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2017

The prompt for Week 46 is "Dance".

In previous years, I have never really been into "Strictly Come Dancing", but this year I have become almost addicted!  So it seems only right that this should be the theme of the tag for this week.

My tag started out with a Tim Holtz Distress Ink background of shades of oranges and yellows with a touch of raspberry flecking across the surface.  I had purchased a little set of stamps from ebay, which I believe may be a replica of a Stampin' Up set.  However, these are quite small and ideal for decorating a tag. I used these for the dance figure and the sentiment. Colouring in the hat and dress using a red Promarker pen.

Using a Memorybox die "Honeycomb Background", I cut a section of yellow card and then cut it into sections, sticking it to areas of the tag.  I then inked the edges in different shades and mounted the tag onto black card to make the colours pop more.  Finally, I added random dots across the surface of the tag and some self adhesive gem stones.

Thanks for taking the time to look at my blog.  Have a great week.  Sam x

P.S.  I forgot to mention that as always, the up to date list of prompts are available at the top of the page, next to the home button.

Distressed Jigsaw Tag

Recently I've been experimenting with various Tim Holtz Distress Ink techniques on tags.  I have used one of these as the background for this tag.

I then used a white honeycomb overlay (using the Memorybox Honeycomb Background die 99434).  I cut the honeycomb up so I had a more random look and replaced some of the hexagons with the die cut centre that would normally be binned.

On a piece of card, I stamped the large and small jigsaw pieces using a StazOn ink.  The stamps that I used were part of the Paperartsy "At Home - Plate 5" set.  I then cut the images out.  I used foam pads to elevate the large jigsaw piece and coloured some of the areas red using a Promarker.  I then stamped some random small jigsaw pieces onto the tag.  Finally, I used a small punch to cut some red hearts.

Week 16 - 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2017

It's Easter Monday and time for the Week 16 prompt which is "Black & White / Monochrome".

I started off with a black background then added a die cut overlay in a honeycomb design (Memorybox Honeycomb Background Style No,99434).  I punched some stars in white card and die cut foliage in two shades of grey using Creative Expression dies.

I played with the position of the components then glued them down, adding sticky backed pearls and ribbon.

Week 11 - 52 Week Art Card/Tag Challenge 2017

The prompt for Week 11 is "Laugh/Laughter".

For my tag I took inspiration from a reputed quote by Audrey Hepburn where she said: 
"I love people who make me laugh.  I honestly think it's the thing I love mose to laugh.  It cures a multitude of ills.  It's probably the most important thing in a person". 

So using a spin on this, I have gone for "Laughter is the best medicine".

For the tag I started off with a piece of yellow cardstock cut into a tag shape.  I then inked the edges using a shade of green.

Using a Memorybox Honeycomb die, I cut and adhered the lace to the yellow tag. I then cut the other shapes using Spellbinder dies layering and raising using foam pads to add dimension.

The two green ferns are die cuts from a Stampin' Up set "Botanical Builder Framelits".  Finally, I printed the sentiment and die cut it into a circle.

If you are following and participating in this challenge I would love to see your creations.  You can also find the blog on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ACraftingNiche/

Thank You (From All Of Us) Card

I had a few off cuts of patterned paper on the desk from my earlier project, so thought I would put them to good use by making a card.  I like patchwork so making 2" blocks seemed to be the natural way to go.

The patterned paper pieces are part of the "Floral Boutique" collection by Stampin' Up.  The white rectangle was cut using a die with a stitched detail by Memorybox.  The "Thank You From All Of  Us" sentiment is part of the Stampin' Up, "One Big Meaning" stamp set.