Penny Black Celebrating Thank You Card

 

Hi everyone 😀

Today I am sharing a Thank You Card that I made for our new Vet who has been helping Ruby recover from her illness.  Unfortunately, the correct diagnosis was missed so I am glad that I sought a second opinion. Ruby is slowly gaining weight and certainly brighter in herself and has more of her sassy side back - and enjoying her new Hypoallergenic diet food.   Ruby has a check-up next week so we will see what the Vet says.  Nonetheless, I am being cautiously optimistic.

I didn't have alot of cat stamps that I thought were suitable - and eventually settled on this one:  Penny Black - Celebrating - which is an old wood-mounted stamp.  I thought the balloon would put a smile on his face because, let's face it, who doesn't like a balloon no matter what age or gender you are?!

This is also my card for the following Challenges:

Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - May - Anything Goes

Crafty Catz - Challenge 593 - Anything Goes with Optional Twist of use your 3 favourite colours 

Critter Crazy Challenge Blog - Challenge #62 - Anything Goes with a Featured Critter 

I stamped the image onto Ranger watercolour cardstock using Versafine Onyx Black ink and coloured it using Lyra watercolour pencils and a #2 round paintbrush.  I went over any of the black lines using a Zig Millenium .03 black pen to darken the lines up again.

I added Glossy Accents to the balloon to add some shine.  The sentiment is by Lili of the Valley which is unmounted rubber that I bought before they went digital.  I diecut some stars from the blue part of the designer paper using my Big Shot and a Memory Box die set - Hearts and Stars - and glued them on using Tombow Mono Aqua glue.   Here is a close-up pic:

The designer paper is old and retired - Kaisercraft Pet's Paradise - and I think was released in 2012.  I bought a stack of it on clearance at a Kaisercraft store.  The dotted cardstock was made using a very old embossing folder - and the first one I ever bought - Cuttlebug Swiss Dots.  I still get such a kick out of embossing cardstock and think that it such a cool thing to be able to do yourself.  All the layers were trimmed to either 1/16" or 1/8" using my Perfect Layers Tools.

The ribbon is from my stash.  I added Fray Stop to the cut ends to stop them from fraying.

I decided to decorate the card inside as I had a strip of the dry-embossed cardstock and the designer paper leftover - so put them to good use.  I also added a diecut blue star to the bottom RHS.  The 'Thank You' came from an assorted pack of sentiments I bought at a Craft Show and just happened to match everything perfectly.

Once I had finished the card front, I glued it to a kraft card base using Tombow Mono Multi glue.

I hope the Vet likes his card.   

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Jocelyn

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Penny Black - Celebrating - 1472E - wood mount, Sentiment - Lili of the Valley

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black

Designer Paper:  Kaisercraft Pet's Paradise - P229 - Pampered Pet - 12" x 12" (retired)

Accessories:  Perfect Layers Tools, Zig Millenium .03 black pen, #2 round paintbrush, Lyra watercolour pencils, Glossy Accents, Big Shot, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder, ribbon (stash), Tombow Mono Multi and Mono Aqua glue, Cardstock - Ranger Watercolour, Colormates Deep Creamy Cocoa, scrap of greyish brown, white, kraft card base

Dies:  Memory Box Hearts and Stars #98755 (retired - first released 2014)

Penny Black Bunny Kiss Easter Card + Update on Ruby

Hi everyone 😀

I have been on a roll of late making cards and boy, my Craft Room is a mess 😮 - but it is good to get back into making more cards and blogging.  Today I am sharing an Easel Card that I made for my daughter for Easter:

This is also my card for the following Challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - PBSC April - Anything Goes with optional Easter  

 

Splitcoaststampers - Free for All Friday Challenge F4A634 - Renewal Old to New - with suggestions of using old items from your stash or recycle something etc.  My old items are the border punches and both stamps.  

The main image is by Penny Black - Bunny Kiss.  I stamped it with Versafine Onyx Black ink onto Ranger watercolour cardstock and coloured it using Lyra watercolour pencils and a #2 round paintbrush.  I went over the black outlines using a black Unipin 0.1 marker to make them darker after colouring.   I diecut the panel using my Big Shot and Lifestyle Nesting Rounded Squares dies.  The tiny pink hearts around the image are the leftover punchies after using an EK Success Arrows border punch as they look like tiny hearts to me.  I added Stampin' Up Dazzling Details glitter glue to the cheeks on the bunny and chick as well as the flowers and tiny hearts.  You can see a little bit of the glitter in this close-up:

The designer papers are by Craft Consortium - Bloom and Wild.  I adore the designs in this pad - so pretty.

The sentiment is a clear stamp by Pink Gem Designs which I have had for a really long time which came in a set.  Pink Gem Designs have a store on Etsy but only sell digital products these days.  I rounded the corners on the sentiment panel using a Corner Chomper then added Artstar pink gemstones.  I popped the panel up using several scrap pieces of cardstock so it would hold the front panel in place when open.

The punched border is my old favourite - Martha Stewart Doily Lace edge punch.  The ribbon is from my stash and I attached it in 2 separate elements - and the bow itself was made using my Bow Easy.  I glued the bow down using Fabric glue.  The pink and white cardstock layers were trimmed to 1/16" or 1/8" using my Perfect Layers Tools.

Here is a photo of the closed card:

On a happy note and an update from my blog post on 21st February:  I took our cat Ruby to a different Vet clinic a week ago to get a 2nd opinion about her vomiting and he took about 5 seconds to diagnose Inflammatory Bowel Disease from Ruby's blood tests which had been taken by our regular Vet clinic.  Somehow, the diagnosis had been missed and they were thinking that her vomiting was caused by a tumour - possibly a brain tumour - and they had recommended X-rays and an ultrasound - and if that showed nothing, an MRI.  Poor Ruby was so thin and very unhappy.  So, the 2nd Vet put Ruby on a specially made Hypoallergenic diet by Royal Canin and nightly steroids and wow, what a difference!  This Vet also said that it is more common than what you might think with dogs and cats developing IBD.  Apparently, the animal develops an allergy or intolerance to either one food or multiple foods or preservatives or something else in the food that upsets them.  It was so confusing because Ruby could eat some foods and keep them down - but other foods, would come up - yet she was asking for food all the time.  Of course, it all makes sense now with the diagnosis.   

He also said that having an X-ray or ultrasound isn't necessary UNLESS Ruby doesn't respond to the special diet food and continues to vomit - so I am glad that my instincts told me to get a 2nd opinion before paying out over $1000 for the tests.  Ruby is eating well and back to her sassy-self - still a bit quiet but putting on weight.  I am being cautiously optimistic - but gosh, it's been a difficult couple of months and I felt like my heart was being ripped out.  It's awful when you see your beloved pet goes downhill.   Ruby is 13-1/2 so not a young cat but oh, we just adore her and we can't imagine our life without her.  

Thanks for visiting my blog today.  Happy Easter everyone!

Jocelyn

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Penny Black - Bunny Kiss!  2563H wood-mount, Sentiment - Pink Gem Designs

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black

Designer Paper:  Craft Consortium - Bloom and Wild 6" x 6" pad

Accessories:  Big Shot, Lyra watercolour pencils, #2 round paintbrush, ribbon - stash, Bow Easy, black Unipin 0.1 marker, Stampin' Up Dazzling Details glitter glue, Perfect Layers Tools, Artstar pink gemstones - Easter - 7mm, Tombow Mono Multi and Mono Aqua glue, Fabric glue, Martha Stewart Score Board, Corner Chomper, Cardstock - rose pink, white + white card base, Ranger Distress watercolour cardstock

Punches:  Martha Stewart Lace Doily edge, EK Success Arrows border

Dies:  Lifestyle Nesting Rounded Squares

Stamperia Cosmos Get Well Card

Hi everyone 😃

My brother is sick with COVID and this is the card that I made for him:

 

This is also my card for the following Challenges.  Please click on the underlined links to take you to the Challenge.

    Crafty Catz - #590 - Anything Goes

    Dream Valley Challenges - Challenge #267 - Anything Goes

    Splitcoaststampers - Free for All Friday - F4A622 - It's a Guy Thing

    Incy Wincy Designs - April 2022 - Easter +/- Animals

I will be posting him a Care Package with the card and some goodies to make him smile.

The owl image is from the Stamperia Cosmos 12" x 12" pad - as are all the designer papers.  I adore this collection as it has great images for masculine cards.

I didn't have a 'Get Well' wooden embellishment so used a 'Hello' one instead.  It never ceases to amaze me how you can have a gazillion things in your stash and still not have what you need 😏   I attached the sentiment using Helmar 450 adhesive which is an excellent glue for these types of embellishments.

All the layers were trimmed to either 1/16" or 1/8" using my Perfect Layers Tools.  The ribbon is from my stash and I added Fray Stop to the cut ends to stop them from fraying.  The side panel was punched using an EK Success Open Scallop border punch.  

The kraft cardstock is from KMart and the navy blue cardstock is from my stash.  

The bottom three faux brads are Craftwork Cards - Card Candi from their Prince Charming pack.  I have had these in Craft Room for years and rediscovered them recently when looking for something else.  They are domed embellishments that you attach to your project using dimensionals.

Once I had finished the card front, I attached it to a Uniquely Creative white card base.  Finished size is 13.5 cm x 13.5 cm.

I think this card could be used for lots of different occasions just by changing the sentiment.

Thanks for visiting my blog today and for any comments you care to leave - they are appreciated.

Jocelyn

Card Recipe:

Stamps and Ink:  None

Designer Paper:  Stamperia Cosmos 12" x 12" pad

Accessories:  Dimensionals, ribbon - stash, Fray Stop, Hello sentiment - Kaisercraft Lucky Dip Wooden Flourish pack - Bloom FL597, Perfect Layers Tools, Helmar 450 adhesive, Tombow Mono Multi glue, Craftwork Cards Card Candi - Prince Charming, Cardstock - kraft (KMart), navy blue and Uniquely Creative white card base

Punches:  EK Success Open Scallop border 54-40035

Stamperia Forest Anniversary Card

 

Hi everyone 😀

My husband and I will be celebrating our 33rd Wedding Anniversary shortly and this is the card that I made for him:

Our anniversaries are always very low-key as neither of us like a fuss - so we have never exchanged presents or celebrated it with other people.  Our daughter will be making us a lovely dinner at home so it will be just be the 3 of us.  

The main image is by Stamperia - Forest - and was popped up on dimensionals.  I adore this Stamperia range as it is fantastic for making masculine cards.  The leaf paper is by Maja Design - Vintage Autumn Basics No. XVIII - and the bottom designer paper is by Stamperia - House of Roses.  All are matted on cream and dark brown cardstock.

The punched border is an edge punch by Martha Stewart - Arch Lattice - and I added a strip of dark brown cardstock underneath. 

The Star button is by Jesse James - Dress it Up - Lone Stars - and I tied some string through the holes and glued it on using Helmar 450 adhesive.  The ribbon came from KMart (Australia) and I added Fray Stop to the ends to stop them from fraying.  All the layers were ink-blended using Hero Arts Soft Sand ink just to tie in the cardstock with the muted tones of the image and papers.

The tiny burgundy hearts above the foxes are the leftover diecuts from a Sizzix Drifting Hearts die which was a recent purchase from Spotlight.  I love how this die has so many different sized hearts and I can see that I will get a lot of use out of it.  I added some Glossy Accents to the hearts.

I couldn't figure out where to add a sentiment as everything I tried looked weird and threw out the balance of the card - so in the end, I didn't worry about it as I think my husband will be able to tell what the card is for anyway.

Thanks for stopping by!  Hope to see you again soon!

Jocelyn

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  None

Ink:  Hero Arts Soft Sand

Designer Paper:  Stamperia Forest and House of Roses, Maja Design Vintage Autumn Basics No. XVIII

Accessories:  Star button - Jesse James Dress it Up - Lone Stars #215, ribbon and twine (KMart), Fray Stop, Ranger Ink Blending Tool, Perfect Layers Tools, dimensionals, Helmar 450 adhesive, Tombow Mono Multi glue, Glossy Accents, Big Shot, cardstock - dark brown, cream and burgundy

Dies:  Sizzix Drifting Hearts #663451

Punches:  Martha Stewart Arch Lattice edge

Uniquely Creative Story Garden Birthday Card

Hi everyone😀

Today I am sharing a birthday card that I made for my Great-Niece who is turning 2:

This card was made using products from one of my favourite Australian companies:  Uniquely Creative.  I subscribe to their monthly scrapbooking and card kits - and my card is from their card kit:  'The Story Garden' which was released a couple of months ago.  My card follows their card sample other than a few changes that I made.

I added a different sentiment which is from the Creative Cuts that came with the kit - and added a couple of flower stickers underneath which are actually nail art stickers that I bought from a $2 shop.  The space on the top LHS looked a bit blank so added the arrow which is also from the Creative Cuts.  I glued on a sparkly pale pink heart gem from my stash with Helmar 450 Adhesive.  I did fussy-cut a few more elements and added them to the bottom LHS and RHS which again, is slightly different to their card sample.  I did add some Wink of Stella Clear glitter to various images but you can't see that in the photo.

I just adore the images in this collection and can't wait to make up some more cards.  

For information regarding Uniquely Creative, you can find them at this link HERE.  Please note I have no connection to their company - just a very happy customer  😀

Thanks for visiting my blog today and for any comments that you care to leave.

Jocelyn

Card Recipe:

Stamps and Ink:  None

Designer Paper:  Uniquely Creative 'The Story Garden' 6" x 6" pad

Accessories:  Uniquely Creative 'The Story Garden' Creative Cuts, white card base, organza ribbon from kit, fussy-cutting scissors, dimensionals, sparkly heart gem - stash,  Tombow Mono Multi glue, Helmar 450 Adhesive, Wink of Stella Clear Glitter brush, nail art flower stickers

Trimcraft Me to You Sweet Shoppe Valentine's Day card

Hi everyone 😀

Today I am sharing a card that I gave to my daughter for Valentine's Day:

I made the card on the 13th February so was a very last-minute make.  Our cat Ruby has been terribly sick these past 2 weeks so I have been very busy looking after her and had multiple Vet visits, blood tests etc.  The blood tests came back with nothing so it is a real puzzle but at least it's not kidney failure.  Ruby is now 13 so not a young cat and it's such an ordeal for her to take her to and from the Vet.  The next step will be an ultrasound and X-rays and the Vet is thinking it might be something neurological which doesn't sound too good.   Hopefully she will be OK.

Anyway, back to my card........ My photo editing program isn't working properly so I had to use a different one which had me tearing my hair out.  And even then, I could not figure out how to save it as a smaller file so ended up using the old program Paint to resize it.  So frustrating when you have used a program for over 10 years and suddenly it stops working - and wrapping my old brain cells around something else isn't a quick process.  Thank goodness for Google to search how do stuff.  I find the 'Help' that is attached to programs really UN-helpful and it's so much easier and quicker to understand it when someone posts a You-Tube video on how do something.  The colours on the card are actually a bit lighter in real life but this was the best I could do with the other program.

I am entering my card in the following Challenge:

Splitcoaststampers - Free for All F4A265 - Hearts and/or Flowers

The main image is by Trimcraft - Me to You (Tatty Teddy) Sweet Shoppe decoupage kit which is from some years ago.  Makes it so easy to layer the images together when all the pieces are already diecut 😀   Tatty Teddy is holding a sweet/lolly/candy in case you couldn't figure out what it is.  Inside the card, it says:  "You are so sweet".   My daughter and I are BIG Tatty Teddy fans so I have a little stash of Tatty Teddy papercraft products that have been released over the years.  I layered the image onto some mint cardstock and rounded the corners with my Corner Chomper then popped the panel up on foam tape.

Here is a close-up so you can see the dimension on the image:

All the designer papers are by Cocoa Vanilla - Unforgettable - 6" x 8" paper stack which just happened to match the image perfectly.  The punched pink cardstock border was made using my old favourite edge punch - Martha Stewart Lace Heart border.  I glued the leftover punched hearts around the image just to fill in some of the blank space and added some sparkle to them using a Wink of Stella clear glitter brush.

All the layers were trimmed to 1/16" and 1/8" respectively using my Perfect Layers Tools.

The sentiment is from another Trimcraft 'Me to You' range.  The twine came from my local supermarket - Woolworths (Australia) - and was part of their Valentine's Day range.

Finished size is 5-1/2" x 5-1/2" or about 140mm x 140mm.

On a happy note:  I was able to go to a Craft Show last Saturday - the first time since the Pandemic started.  It was so lovely to look at products in person and see all the new releases and card samples.   I always stock up on my staples like glue and card bases so tend to be more pragmatic in my approach so I don't have to by them online.  My favourite retailer is always Catchy Crafts as they are so upbeat and wanting to help you with anything that you need - and they always have a HUGE stand with everything you could ever need.  I buy from them online too and can highly recommend them.  No connection to them - just a happy customer wanting to support our Australian retailers. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Jocelyn

Card Recipe:

Stamps and Ink:  None

Designer Paper:  Cocoa Vanilla Unforgettable 6" x 8" Paper Stack

Accessories:  Perfect Layers Tools, Tombow Mono Multi glue, dimensionals, Corner Chomper, Trimcraft 'Me to You' Tatty Teddy Sweet Shoppe decoupage set, Sentiment - Trimcraft, twine - Woolworths, cardstock - pink, mint and white card base, Wink of Stella Clear Glitter brush

Punches:  Martha Stewart Lace Heart edge

  

Lili of the Valley James in the Snow Christmas Card

 

Hi everyone 😀

Today I am sharing a Christmas Card that I made for my daughter.  It was a last-minute make on Christmas Eve as we were away on holidays for the first few weeks of December (finally, after more than 2 years and in and out of Lockdown) so it was wonderful to relax and sit by the river - nothing to think about except what to eat or whether I should have a coffee or not.  I made lots of Christmas cards when I was away - mainly from kits as it is more practical to take them away than taking a pile of craft stuff.  But I was chasing my tail a little when we got back with lots of stuff organise in time for Christmas!  We struggled to get a (real) Christmas tree this year as apparently there was a shortage.  We usually get one from the local Scouts which is a great fundraiser for them but they had a 'sold out' sign when you can usually get a tree right up till just before Santa is heading down the chimney.

This is also my card for following Challenges:

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas - Challenge 574 - Anything Goes with the optional theme of any Christmas or New Year card

Winter Wonderland - End of Year Challenge - Anything Goes Christmas

Please click on the underlined links to go to the Challenges.

The main image I bought many years ago as an unmounted rubber stamp from Lili of Valley UK - but you can get it in digital form from their Etsy Store HERE.

I stamped the image with Versafine Onyx Black ink onto Ranger watercolour cardstock and coloured it with Lyra + Faber-Castell watercolour pencils and a #2 round paintbrush.  I paper-pieced the hat and scarf using some designer paper from an old retired pad - BoBunny Snowfall.   I added some shading with a grey watercolour pencil.  The fluffy stuff on the hat and the snow on the ground is Stampendous Cotton Ball White Fun Flock mixed with Crystalina glitter which was glued on using Tombow Mono Multi glue.

The falling snow around the bear is Nuvo White Blizzard Glitter drops.  It is my first time using them and I love the dimension it gives.  Now, of course, I want to get more colours 😄

I used my Lifestyle Nesting Circle dies and Big Shot for the main image and layers.  The other designer papers are also from a retired pad by Echo Park - Winter Park.

The snowflakes were diecut from aqua glitter cardstock using my Impression Obsession Small Snowflake Set DIE100F.  I added some Kaisercraft Ice Blue Rhinestones to the centres.

The ribbon is from my stash and was attached in two separate elements and the bow itself was tied using my Bow Easy.  The sentiment tag is a die by Cuttlebug - Tiny Tags - 37-1222.  This die set, although retired, has been one of my most-used dies over the years.  The sentiment is by Elzybells (who are no longer in business) from their Mini Messages - Christmas - 20-054 clear set.  I added some tiny Molossi light blue rhinestones underneath.

The burgundy and light blue base cardstock layers were trimmed to 1/8" using my Perfect Layers Tools and the dark teal cardstock was trimmed to 1/16".

Once I had finished the card front, I glued it to a white card base using Tombow Mono Multi glue.  

Thanks for visiting my Blog today!  Happy New Year everyone!

Jocelyn

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Lili of the Valley (UK) - James Bear in the Snow, Elzybells Mini Messages - Christmas 20-054 clear set (retired)

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black

Designer Paper:  BoBunny Snowfall Item #6PF927 6" x 6" pad (retired), Echo Park Winter Park Item #WK23023 6" x 6" pad (retired)

Accessories:  Big Shot, Cuttlebug, Ranger watercolour cardstock, ribbon - stash, Bow Easy, Perfect Layers Tools, Stampendous Cotton Ball White Fun Flock, Crystalina glitter, Nuvo White Blizzard Glitter drops, dimensionals, Lyra + Faber-Castell watercolour pencils, #2 round paintbrush, Tombow Mono Multi glue, Kaisercraft Ice Blue SB774 rhinestones, Molossi tiny blue rhinestones, cardstock - aqua glitter, burgundy, light blue, dark teal, white card base

Dies:  Lifestyle Nesting Circles, Impression Obsession Small Snowflake Set DIE100-F, Cuttlebug Tiny Tags 37-1222 (retired)