An Elegant Purple and Gold Card #onelittletag

Hello my friends!
I am a little behind in posting, but this is a card I made for the purple challenge last week on The One Little Tag Craft Challenge.   I just love the combination of purple and gold.  If you are following along, you may have noticed that.  Most of my purple themed cards or tags are using that combination.

For this card I used a Spellbinders die and cut out some gold foil board.  FYI, I get my gold foil board  at the dollar store.  Both Dollaramma and the Dollar Tree have the same foil board.  It comes in a package of 6 sheets 0 gold, silver, red, green and blue.  It's very handy at Christmas time!  I just wanted to mention this because I really like the foil card that I get there and it die cuts beautifully.  Sometimes a cheaper price doesn't necessarily mean an inferior product.   Anyways, I die cut my foil card and adhered it to some purple glitter paper, which I then adhered to a black card base.  It is sometimes difficult to stick to the glitter paper, so I ran it through my Cuttlebug just sandwiched between the plates to squish everything together in an attempt to make it adhere better, which it did. .  It almost made this look like a die cut inlay.  I really like the effect that created.  I added a few sparkly embellishments and left it as it is.  I will keep this in my stash and when an occasion comes up that this card will be suitable for, I will add a sentiment.  I think this is quite elegant with the gold foil details.
I hope you have enjoyed my latest card.  Thanks so much for stopping by to have a look!
Havve a great day everyone!
Kim xo

"Hugs" tag for "purple " challenge at #onelittletag

Hello again , my friends
Here is another tag I made for the "purple" theme this week at The One Little Tag Craft Challenge.  I used the negative space created whenn I punched out the "heart-shaped moon" for a tag I did last week.  I'm glad I didn't throw the scrap  away!  I backed the heart area with some purple glitter paper.  The background was made from some of the "spray play" papers I created previously.  I used a small punch to cut the little hearts out of gold foil card and a Recollections die for the word "hugs", I cut it again from black card that I used as a drop-shadow..  I mounted to a gold mat and a black mat to finish it off.  I am having fun with purple!
I hope you enjoyed my tag and that it will inspire you to make use of some of the scraps that you might normally throw away.
Have an awesome day, overtone!
Kim  xo

New "Dream" tag for "purple" t challenge at #onelittletag

Hello friends,
This weeks theme at The One Little Tag Craft Challenge  was purple inspired by the new pantone colour of the year.  We are doing any purple for the challenge, though.  I had a bit of a crazy week, so I didn't actually finish any tags until Friday night, but I did work on them, in bits and pieces, throughout the week.  Purple is okay.  It is not my favourite, nor my least favourite colour.  I didn't find it overly inspiring, or so I thought!  I thought I would look around for some patterned paper (of which I have reams and reams, lol) but not much in the way of purple.  It's just not a "go-to" colour for me.  Then I thought I would look through my "spray play" backgrounds that I created previously.  I was completely surprised to see how much I actually used purple. That was the jumping off point, suddenly I was totally inspired.  I created several tags this week, and may still make a few more!

I created this tag using a background I made using a variety of spray inks and stencils, this one on shimmer card from Recollections.  I thought the background looked kind of "dreamy" so I used a Recollections die to cut out the word.  One combination I really like is purple and gold, so since I am using purple, there is going to be a lot of gold in the cards and tags that I make!  It's hard to tell in the photo, but there is a lot of shimmer and veins of gold running through this background.  I liked how this tag turned out.

I hope you enjoyed today's tag, and thanks so much for stopping by.  If you did, I have made several tags for the purple themed week, so please come back and check them out!
Have a great day everyone!
Kim xo

Live Love Laugh tag for #onelittletag

Hello my friends!
I am back with another tag for The One Little Tag Craft Challenge I have to tell you, Ii have been taking pictures with my Samsung tablet and I am not very happy with the quality.   I apologize and I am going to be looking at alternative devices.  I hope you can bear with me in the meantime!

For this tag I used one of the backgrounds I created at the beginning of January using sprays and stencils.  I used a few different card stocks to work on, this was a shimmer card.  I couldn't capture that with the photo.  TBH, it's a pretty subtle effect , but I like it..

I used a Recollections die to cut the words out of some scrap copper metallic card and some black card as a drop shadow.  I used a butterfly embellishment that I rediscovered as I was going through my stash.  I'm not sure where I got it from, possibly a dollar store.  Then I mounted to a glitter paper and black card, all 1/4" larger than each other, to give my tag a double mat.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Ii hope you enjoyed this tag and will be back to see the next one.  Have an awesome, art-filled day!
Cheers
Kim  xo

A new Love tag for #onelittletag

Hello!
Here is today's tag.  Still based on the "Love" challenge on tthe One Little Tag Craft Challenge FB group.  This tag was inspired by the Tim Holtz "Clippings Sticker".  I used a Recollections heart punch to punch a mask.  I use low-tac shelving vinyl as masking.  I positioned it on my tag, used some washi tape to create a horizon line and used a few different distress inks to create my background, blending in from the sides to leave a lighter area in the centre as the reflection of the moon.  I punched the moon out of some papers I had sprayed the first week in January to create some backgrounds.  I used my Spectrum Noir to add some shimmer. I added some shimmer to the water as well and to add a halo around the moon.  That didn't work out exactly as I would have liked, but I continued on.

I used some Penny Black stamps to create the foliage silhouette. Using some black glitter paper, I used  a punch from my stash for the dragonflies and a memory box die for the fairy (I love fairies!).  I added the Tim Holtz sticker and then mounted the tag to a black glitter paper backing.

Thanks for taking the time to have a look, I hope you enjoyed todays tag.  I have a few more ides, so there may be another tag today, so pop back if you are interested.

Cheers!
Kim  xo

New Christmas Card - Lawn Fawn Sprinkled with Joy

Hello my friends!  Today i have a new card creation for you.  I really enjoyed building my little scene with the Stampendous Truck and the Tim Holtz die, so I thought I would do another one.  This card was created using the Lawn Fawn "Sprinkled with Joy" stamp and die set, which I just think is sooo fin!  There is and Add-on die available for this set, that turns the oven into an interactive feature.  I got this die and have used it here.  You certainly don't have to get this additional die, but it is fun!  I also used a Sizzix stamp and die set along with the Lawn Fawn set.

I stamped and cut all my pieces using my DIY stamp positioner, which comes in really handy with stamp and die sets. especially if you want to make multiples.  I did, since I had everything out and just put them in (uncoloured) with the set so that the next time I want to make a card, they will be ready to go.

I cut the cookies and cookie cough out of kraft card, and the cookie tray and oven handle out of silver foil board.  I cut the tea towel out of some patterned paper and trimmed a little mat out of some patterned paper as well.  I trimmed out some velum to use for the oven window.
I decided to make this a larger card, so my finished size will be 8.5 x 5.5.  This way I could get a lot of elements in.  Now to build my little scene! I took advantage of the 70% off deal at Michaels and got a patterned paper pad among other things, lol, maybe a little haul post is in order!) and decided to use some of it for the floor and the wallpaper..

 I trimmed some planks out of the wood grain paper and edged them with vintage photo distress ink before adhering them.  I used my Spectrum Noir markers to colour in the stove and all of the other elements. I used patternedcard from another card pack I got at Michaels for the counter.  I trimmed it out and shaded it with the markers.  Once I coloured all my elements. I assembled my card.  I created the cupboards by trimming  them out from some scraps.  I edged them and drew in some handles.

I used a sentiment from a stamp and die set that I have had for ages and never used.  It seemed perfect for this card/

Once my card was all assembled. I mounted it to some embossed card that I had on hand.

Thi card didn't turn out anything like I first envisioned it.  At first the cupboards were going to be white and the stove was going to look like stainless steel.  But once  I started doing the floor and adding the wallpaper, I started to get a retro feel.  I wanted to do the stove like the old "avocado green" stoves from my childhood.  Remember those?

This card took me a while to make, nut itis a fun and interactive.  I hope you enjoyed it!

Thank you so much for stopping by!    Wishing you an awesome and artful day!

Cutting thin dies on a Cuttlebug without a C-plate

Hello my friends, thanks so much for joining me!  today's post is written for my sister, Kerry.  She lives about 3000 miles away on the other side of the country.  She has started doing some paper crafting this year and so I decided she needed a Cuttlebug, whether she wanted one or not, lol (I am the bossy older sister, can you tell? lol)  Luckily, she did want one!  However, it does not come with the C-plate which adapts to the thin dies.  This is fairly new to Kerry and she had never used, or even seen the Cuttlebug before it showed up at her door.

 So, I have done some experimenting and am going to try and show her (and anyone else who may find it useful) a way to shim it up for the thin wafer dies.  Right of the top, I want to say that Provocraft, the manufacturer of the machine, and any of it's distributors would probably recommend that you get a C-plate, and not try shimming it.  If you can, that is certainly the best option.  That is what I use.  Please be careful not to shim it so much that you cannot run it through safely.  So as much as I hate to add a disclaimer, you will be trying this at your own risk.  I can say that I had no trouble with this before I got a C-plate and I have been using the shim all night to do my die cutting tonight, instead of the C-plate.  Pay attention to your machine, if it is too thick, don't try and force it.

I used some heavy chipboard from the back of one of my paper pads.  This is the stiff heavy card found on the back of some pads, not the flimsy card.  If that is all you have, though, you can also make that work, you will just need to layer more pieces together.  I placed a B-plate down on the chipboard and traced around it.  Then I cut out 2 pieces. (After using it for a while, I would suggest that you cut them slightly smaller)

The "sandwich" that I used was first, as always, the A-plate, then the 2 shims that I created (cut card), then a B-plate.  Then I put down a sheet of fun foam.  You don't have to do this, but it is something I always do, especially when I am using an intricate die.  I find it seems to cut better, come out of the die easier and does a bit of embossing at the same time with the dies that offer that.  But this is just a preference of mine and totally optional.  On top of the fun foam, or the B-plate if you are not using the foam, I place the paper I am going to cu.  I place my die, cutting edge down, on top of that and then, finally, the second B-plate.  Then I run it through the Cuttlebug.  Each Cuttlebug may be calibrated slightly differently, so you will have to play with your shims.  You want the fit to be tight because you are using the pressure to cut your paper or card.  BUT, DO NOT TRY AND FORCE IT IF IT DOES NOT WANT TO GO HROUGH! You could damage your machine.

I have found it helpful, whether using shims or  a c-plate, to offset the centre of the sandwich just back a bit, so that feeds more easily into the machine.

If you are using several layers of lighter card to shim, then I would suggest that you tape of glue them together so that they are not sliding around.

I hope that you have found this helpful!  Kerry, I hope this helps, give it a try and give me a call!  I will look forward to seeing some photos of your new creations!

Thanks again, for stopping by!  Wishing you all a wonderful and artful day!

"Merry Christmas" new Christmas card

Hello my friends!  A very quick post to share my latest card with you.  I was looking for a poinsettia die  and I found this stamp and die set..  I actually passed it by a few times because I didn't like the way the example looked.  I do have some poinsettias dies, but not one that I love.  After about the third time I was at the store (Michaels) and during a 50% off deal, I finally gave in.  I'm glad I did because I do like it.  I hope you do, too!

The Merry Christmas sentiment was from my stash.  It is an Yvonne Creations die from Find It Trading.

Thanks so much for visiting and make sure to check back in for more Christmas cards.  Feel free to share with anyone you tihnk may want some  holiday card inspiration.

Have an awesome day!

Winter Wonderland II- A secon version of my latest Christmas card

Hello again my friends!  While I had everything out, I thought I would make some more cards.  I didn't have any more of the patterned paper that I used on the first card.  I decided to go with white on white.  I embossed the white card.  I used some distress ink to blend a background and splattered it with some water and Heidi Swapp spray.

Thank you again for stopping by.  I hope you enjoyed my second version of my Christmas card.  This is a card that has several layers, but would still be suitable for making multiples. I would love to know which version you like best! 

Have an awesome day! 

"Noel" A new Christmas card, a Shaker card

Hello All!  Today's card is a shaker card, which is something I am fairly new at.  I have only made one before.  I started off with my distress ink blended background.  I splattered the water reactive ink with a water/ perfect pearls mixture.

I stamped my image with a Tim Holtz set from a couple of years ago, using Versafine Black Onyx ink in my home-made stamp positioner so that I could repeat stamp a few times to get a good, solid and dark impression.

I used my new Tim Holtz die again, along with an Elizabeth Crafts die and a Tim Holtz punch.  I knew this die would be versatile!  I die cut the globe from fun foam as well which I sandwiched between the layers to give dimension and create the space for my shaker elements.  I used some mylar to cover the front of my shaker element and under the top two layers.

Once my card was assembled, I embellished it with the globe "stand", the Noel sentiment, a few pine boughs punched out of gold card and a purchased snowflake embellishment (from Michaels)

Thank you so much for visiting my blog and checking out my latest Christmas card.  I hope you enjoyed it!
Have an amazing day everyone!

My latest Christmas card using a Tim Holtz die

Hello my friends!  Thank you for visiting and having a look at my latest Christmas card. 

I created this card using my new Tim Holtz die.  I have a feeling that this is going to be one of my favourite and most versatile die sets in my collection.

I also used an Inkadinkadoo stamp set.

I used distress ink to blend a background.  I punched a circle out of some low-tac shelf liner to make a mask for the moon.   I just love how water reactive distress ink is, and I  splattered some water with some perfect pearls in it to give a snowy shimmery effect.  I edged the houses and the inside of the globe  I used my Wink of Stella clear to add some shimer to the moon and the roofs.

I had some gold trim with an adhesive back (that I got from Michaels) that I used to embellish the globe.

This was a fun card to make because I like to create little scenes.  It took a bit of time to assemble all the pieces, so it wouldn't be ideal to make multiple cards, but very nice for that special card.

Thanks again, so much for taking the time to visit my blog and I hope you enjoyed my latest card and that perhaps it has inspired you to create your own card.

Have an awesome day!

Tag 9-4 Another Christmas Tag using the crackle background #onelittletag

Hello my friends!

Today was my birthday and my friend Bonnie gave me the new Kaisercraft "Frosted" stack.  So naturally, since I enjoy making them anyways, I'm in the mood for Christmas tags.

I have been wanting to make a tag using the background I created using the crackle technique for Mixed Media Morsels. I knew I wanted to use it for a Christmas tag

I cut out ephemera from my new paper and edged it with vintage photo distress ink.  I took a sled I had previously die cut from gold card out of my stash.  I also got a "Recollections" Christmas flower from my stash.

I used some Glitter Snow, Diamond dust and Stickles to embellish the tag.  I layered onto some white gold shimmer card and then mounted onto heavy black card.

Thank you so much for stopping by!  I hope you enjoyed  my tag today.  If you are new to my blog and have been enjoying my tags and like to make tags yourself, you may want to check out the FB group that started me on this tag making journey! it is The One Little Tag Craft Challenge

Have an awesome and artful day!

Another "Merry Christmas" tag Tag # 5-25 #onelittletag

Hello again my friends!  This is my Christmas tag for May.   This catches me up, although honestly, I am enjoying making these Christmas tags.  I have a lot of stuff in my Christmas stash to use up, so I may just keep making them for a bit.

For this tag, I used a Tim Holtz stencil to create the brick background.  I used Barn Door Red and Vintage Photo distress ink.

The door was from my stash, cut using a Tim Holtz die.  It was cut from Recollections shimmer card.  I edged the door with distress ink.  I die cut my sentiment from a new  Yvonne Creations die I recently got.

The wreath and bow were from my stash, also cut from a Tim Holtz Movers and Shapers  die. I alsoe edged these with distress ink.

I punched out a door knob fromf gold card which I also used to create a background layer

After assembling the card I mounted it to black card.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog and checking out my latest Christmas tag.  I hope you have been enjoying them.

Have an awesome and artful day!