Hunkydory Moments and Milestones Retirement Card

Hi everyone,

Today I am sharing a Retirement Card that I made for our local doctor who has just retired after 50 years service.  He has been an amazing support to our family and we will really miss him.

The image is from Hunkydory Little Book of Moments and Milestones and I trimmed the plaid pattern on the top and bottom a little to make it fit better on my card.  The designer paper is from an old paper pad by Bo Bunny called Timepiece Collection which I think dates from 2011.

The side panel was punched using my Fiskars Scalloped Border punch.  All the layers were trimmed to 1/8" using my Perfect Layers Tools.  

The sentiment is a stamp from Lili of the Valley (UK) and was stamped using Versafine Vintage Sepia ink, punched using a circle punch and I sponged around the edge using the same ink.  Lili of the Valley no longer make rubber/clear stamps but you can buy this sentiment in digital form from their Etsy Store and is called "For You Circular Sentiments".   I popped the sentiment up on dimensionals. 

I was ever so pleased with how easily everything came together with my card.  I knew straight away when I saw the image what paper pad would match.  Sometimes everything just flows and it's very satisfying.  I have never made a Retirement card before and I have only one Retirement sentiment stamp in my stash so luckily I had one that was suitable for the occasion. 

Once I finished the card front, I popped it on a white card base using Tombow Mono Multi glue.

Finished card size is 6" x 6".

I must admit to struggling of late to be creative after going back into Stage 3 Restrictions here in Victoria (Australia) and haven't made alot of cards - and instead have been baking bread and learned how to make gnocchi - just different things to the norm in amongst the whole COVID-19 crisis.  I have probably made at least a dozen loaves of bread and find it very satisfying.  I hand-knead it and watch You-Tube card making videos whilst kneading so the time passes quickly - and gosh, the bread smells amazing when it is cooking and tastes delicious. A couple of years ago, I started making my own pizza bases so was used to working with yeast and it just seemed a natural extension to move to breadmaking.  It seems to be a recurring theme this year that people have "discovered" breadmaking.  My cousin has been making sourdough bread and really loving it too.

I have also returned to my Family Tree research after having a break for some years.  I took a DNA test and it has been a fascinating and a steep learning curve to understand all the different terminologies related to DNA matches like Centimorgans.  Back in 2004 when I started researching, I Googled my paternal grandparents' names just for fun and it bought up many family trees that didn't make sense with what I had been told.  Many birth, death and marriage certificates later and getting in contact with various newly found cousins, I discovered that my Great-great-great Grandfather actually arrived in Australia from England as a Convict on The Third Fleet - and he married another convict.  I had always been told that we were descended from 'English Blue Blood Aristocracy' and years ago, people were ashamed of convict heritage - but now people are excited.  It's a shame really that my father never knew the truth (he died about 25 years ago) but then again, maybe he would be horrified!  There are alot more online resources available now compared to 2004 when I used to spend many hours up at my local library looking at microfiche records.  Anyway, I have thoroughly enjoyed delving back into my research and it's been a great way to quieten my mind.  

Well, I have waffled enough.  Thank you for visiting my blog today.

Jocelyn


Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Lili of the Valley For You Circular Sentiments (now only available as a digital download)

Ink:  Versafine Vintage Sepia

Designer Paper:  Bo Bunny Timepiece Collection 6" x 6" pad (2011) - retired

Accessories:  Hunkydory - The Little Book of Moments and Milestones - Product Code LBK197, brown ribbon, Perfect Layers Tools, Tombow Mono Multi glue, dimensionals, cardstock - dark brown, white card base

Punches:  Fiskars Scalloped border, Kaszazz circle punch 

Taylored Expressions Hop to It Easter Card

Hi everyone 

Sorry it's been such a long absence from posting.  I have made heaps of cards but not had the time to post them.  And I figure that sharing Christmas cards well after Christmas is probably not very exciting to my readers.  It was the first Christmas ever that I made ALL of the cards that I posted out as well as for neighbours and my immediate/extended family - but I ran out of time to share them here.  One way or the other, life seems to be busier with a teenager doing Year 11/12 than what it was when they were in Primary School (which, by the way, only seems like yesterday).   

And wow, what a different world we are living in at the moment with COVID-19.  In the State where I live in Australia, we have Stage 3 Restrictions which means we are only allowed out for 4 reasons:  

• shopping for what you need - food and essential supplies
• medical, care or compassionate needs
• exercise in compliance with the public gathering requirements
• work and study if you can't work or learn remotely

Most shops are closed other than food shops, pharmacies, hardware stores and KMart/Target and banks and it is eerily quiet at my local large shopping centre.  People wearing gloves and masks seem "normal" now and people are avoiding each other.

School for my daughter will be online for all of Term 2 which starts on the Wednesday after Easter which I am very happy about to protect her from the virus - and for my husband and myself to limit our exposure to it.   Being a Carer to a family member also means that I feel significant anxiety that if I get sick, who will look after my loved one?!  I am sure that many other Carers have the same anxiety.  I have also had trouble getting some of their prescription medications which are essential for their well-being.  That in itself, has been very, very stressful.   

It all seems so surreal and I am glad that I can turn to crafting to take my mind off things - which brings me to the Easter card that I made for my daughter:

The image is a background stamp - Hop to It by Taylored Expressions and was stamped using Altenew Obsidian Black pigment ink onto Neenah Solar White cardstock.  This has been my go-to black ink for the last 6 months because it stamps so crisply and cleanly the first time.  Even solid images like those by Lavinia Stamps stamp so beautifully and no parts of the image are missing.  Definitely recommend this ink if you have trouble with images stamping cleanly.

The background stamp comes with a set of clear stamps to stamp 4 different types of ears and the bunny's cheeks.  I used all Lawn Fawn inks to stamp these:  Ballet Slippers for the cheeks and Merman, Lemonade, Peachy Keen and Celery Stick for the ears.

The sentiment is by Memory Box from their Springtime Bunnies set.  I popped the sentiment up on dimensionals and added a tiny pink Molossi rhinestone at each end.

I used my old favourite EK Success Arrows border punch to punch tiny hearts from pink cardstock (the arrows look like tiny hearts to me and if you are no stranger to my blog, you will now that I use them ALOT on my cards).

Lastly, I added some sparkle to all the bunny cheeks and tiny hearts using my Wink of Stella clear glitter brush.

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Jocelyn


Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Hop to It rubber cling stamp and clear stamps - Taylored Expressions, Memory Box Springtime Bunnies clear set

Ink:  Lawn Fawn Merman, Celery Stick, Lemonade, Peachy Keen and Ballet Slippers; Altenew Obsidian Black pigment

Designer Papers and Dies:  None

Accessories:  Teal cardstock, Neenah 110lb Solar White cardstock, dimensionals, Molossi tiny pink rhinestones, Tombow Mono Multi glue, Lawn Fawn glue tube, Wink of Stella Clear Glitter brush, Stamp Positioner 

Wellington Bear - Take it Easy on Father's Day

Hi blogging friends,

Today I am sharing a card I made for my husband for Father's Day which is today in Australia.  I actually made the card this afternoon so it was a bit of a last-minute thing as I have had a very busy and stressful few weeks and I had no brain cells left to be creative!

This is also my card for the following Challenges:

Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - September - Anything Goes
The idea behind this Challenge is to use up that 'stash' of papers that we all seem to accumulate.  The papers that I used on my card are really old and are from 2008.  So why not play along and use up some of your stash too! 

Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge Blog  This is a new Challenge to me and there is a limit of two entries per Challenge.

ETA:  I  JUST FOUND OUT THAT I WON THE CHALLENGE OVER AT THE 'THROUGH THE CRAFT ROOM DOOR CHALLENGE' - WOO HOO!  THANK YOU FOR PICKING ME!

The image is by Docrafts - Wellington Bear - from their diecut decoupage pack which is long-retired.  I bought a whole heap of this range when it came out as it is so perfect for masculine cards.  Before adding the decoupage layers, I attached the base image to dark brown then teal cardstock and trimmed the layers to 1/8" and 1/16" respectively using my Perfect Layers Tools.  I rounded the corners using my We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper.   I popped out the layers then put them together using 0.5mm dimensionals so the image wouldn't have too much height.

All the designer papers are by Kaisercraft - Reminiscing 'Hold Dear' which I bought on clearance at one of their outlet stores.

I used an EK Success Scalloped Scallops border punch on the dark brown cardstock on the side panel and trimmed the other side to 1/16".  Tied on some brown and white twine then popped this panel up on 1mm dimensionals.

The sentiment is also from the same decoupage pack and was popped up on dimensionals.

Once I finished the card front, I attached it to a white card base using Tombow Mono Multi glue which gives me a bit of wriggle time to get the panel in the right spot.

I felt like the card needed something so I punched a red heart from a scrap of cardstock with a Carl CP-8 Heart duo punch and glued it to the mug using Tombow Mono Aqua glue.  It added a nice pop of colour to the otherwise muted tones.

Finished size is 5-3/4" x 4".

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Jocelyn


Card Recipe:

Stamps and Ink:  None

Designer Paper:  Kaisercraft Reminiscing P203 'Hold Dear' 12" x 12" (2008-retired)

Accessories:  Docrafts Wellington Bear Diecut Decoupage pack (retired), dimensionals, Tombow Mono Multi and Mono Aqua glue, Kokuyo tape runner, brown/white twine, Perfect Layers Tools, We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, cardstock - dark brown + teal + red + white card base

Punches:  EK Success Scalloped Scallops EKPL8003 border, Carl CP-8 Heart Duo

Penny Black You are the Bestest Birthday Card

Hi everyone,

Today I am sharing a birthday card that I made for my daughter's 16th birthday using one of my favourite Penny Black stamps called 'You are the bestest':

This is also my card for the following Challenges (click on the underlined links to take you to the challenge):

• Penny Black Saturday Challenge - July - Anything Goes with the optional theme of Food and/or Drink
• Cute Card Thursday - Challenge 589 - Anything Goes
• Splitcoaststampers - Ways to Use It - WT744 - Cute Critters

I stamped the image using Versafine Vintage Sepia ink onto Ranger Watercolour cardstock and coloured it using Derwent Inktense pencils and Faber-Castell watercolour pencils.  I added some glitter to all the flowers plus the cat's cheeks using Stampin' Up Dazzling Details glitter glue.  I diecut the panel using a Lifestyle-Quicktuz Nesting Squares die and my Big Shot.

I punched some hearts from matching burgundy cardstock using a Carl CP-8 Hearts duo punch and glued them around the image using Tombow Mono Aqua glue and added glitter to them as well.

Here is a close-up:

The sentiment is from Altenew's sentiment set - 'Celebrate' and was stamped using Versafine Vintage Sepia ink.  I diecut the sentiment using a Spellbinders Labels Trio die and added a Vintage Gold Molossi rhinestone to each end then popped the sentiment up on dimensionals.

All the designer papers are by Colorbok from a 12" x 12" pad which I picked up on clearance from Riot Art and Craft.  The paper is really thin but I really like the vintage feel and colours of this pad - and it's good value because you get 50 single-sided sheets.  There is no name on the pad - just a number and I daresay it is probably retired.

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

I punched the bottom panel using an EK Success Scalloped Scallops border punch, added the cream velveteen ribbon then popped the panel up on dimensionals.

Lastly, I popped the card front onto a white card base.

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Jocelyn


Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Penny Black - You're the Bestest 40-015 slapstick, Sentiment by Altenew - Celebrate clear set

Ink:  Versafine Vintage Sepia

Designer Paper:  Colorbok 12" x 12" pad #68233

Dies:  Lifestyle-Quickutz Nesting Squares, Spellbinders Labels Trio Shapeabilities S3-147

Accessories:  Big Shot, Derwent Inktense pencils, Faber-Castell watercolour pencils, #2 round paintbrush, Perfect Layers Tools, Molossi Vintage Gold rhinestones, Stampin' Up Dazzling Details glitter glue, Tombow Mono Multi and Mono Aqua glue, dimensionals, cream velveteen ribbon (K-Mart), Cardstock - burgundy + white card base + Ranger watercolour

Punches:  Carl CP-8 Heart duo, EK Success Scalloped Scallops border

Penny Black Dancing Chick Easter Card

Hi everyone,

Just popping in to share the Easter card that I made for my daughter.

This is also my card for the following Challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - PBSC April - Anything Goes...Optional 'Fresh Spring Colours'.  

Crafty Catz Challenge #458 - Anything Goes with the Optional Twist of All Creatures Great and Small.

Splitcoaststampers - Free for All Friday F4A477 - Easter, Spring flowers, a something spring related card.

The main image is by Penny Black - Dancing Chick and was stamped with Versafine Onyx Black ink onto Strathmore Hot Press watercolour paper and coloured with Derwent Inktense pencils and a #2 round paintbrush. I diecut the panel using a Lifestyle-Quickutz Nesting Card Templates die and my Big Shot.  I diecut some hearts using an Impression Obsession die called Heart of Hearts which has tons of different sized hearts - and the smallest hearts were the perfect size for my card.  I glued the hearts on using Tombow Mono Aqua glue then added some Stampin' Up Dazzling Details glitter glue to the flowers and the hearts.

The designer papers are from an older Echo Park 6" x 6" pad - Hello Summer.  The sentiment is from a Memory Box stamp set - Springtime Bunnies - and was stamped with Versafine Onyx Black onto the same watercolour paper then diecut using a Lawn Fawn Everyday Sentiment Banner die.  I added a tiny Molossi blue rhinestone at each end of the sentiment using Ranger Multi Medium Matte glue.

All the layers were trimmed to 1/8" using my Perfect Layers Tools.  I used a We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper to punch the bottom of the blue paper to 1/4".  I tied on the twine then layered the finished panel onto some thin fun foam then layered that onto a white cardstock card base with just a very small border showing.

Thanks for visiting my blog today.  Happy Easter everyone!

Jocelyn


Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Penny Black Dancing Chick 2564F wood-mount, Sentiment from Memory Box Springtime Bunnies (retired)

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black

Designer Paper:  Echo Park 'Hello Summer' 6" x 6" pad (2012) - retired

Dies:  Lifestyle-Quickutz Nesting Card Templates, Lawn Fawn Everyday Sentiment Banners LF1139, Impression Obsession Heart of Hearts DIE052-I

Accessories:  Big Shot, We R Memory Keepers 1/4" Corner Chomper, Perfect Layers Tools, Strathmore Hot Press watercolour paper, Derwent Inktense pencils, #2 round paintbrush, blue Molossi rhinestones, The Twinery twine - Shore, Fun Foam, doublesided tape, Tombow Mono Multi and Aqua glues, Ranger Multi Medium Matte, Stampin' Up Dazzling Details glitter glue, white cardstock base

Penny Black - Don't Break It - 30th Wedding Anniversary

Hi everyone,

My husband and I have been married for 30 years and this is the card that I made for my husband.  I can hardly believe it is 30 years as the time has passed so quickly!  We don't usually do anything really fancy nor exchange gifts for our anniversaries and have never followed the traditional types of gifts either.  We just had a quiet celebration with our daughter which was really lovely and had lunch at a local cafe and I cooked a roast for dinner that night.  I am very lucky in that my husband doesn't mind cute and cuddly critters on his cards nor a bit of sparkle or glitter - so that makes it heaps easier to make cards for him.

This is also my card for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge for April - Anything Goes...Optional 'Fresh Spring Colours'.  Please see THIS LINK for the details on the challenge.

The image is by Penny Black - Don't Break it - and was stamped onto Ranger watercolour cardstock using Versafine Vintage Sepia ink.  I coloured the image using a mix of Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers and Faber-Castell watercolour pencils.  I added a white highlight on the heart using a Ranger Inkssentials white gel pen.  I lightly chalked around the image using Kaisercraft blue chalk and the ground using brown and grey chalk.

The sentiment is by Mama Elephant - Mini Messages - and was stamped in the same Vintage Sepia ink.  This is a great stamp set with a wide variety of sentiments for all year 'round and I love that they are really small so you can just add it around an image when you don't have alot of room or you don't want to add a separate sentiment panel.

I diecut the image panel using my Big Shot and Lifestyle Nesting Circle dies.  The scalloped diecut is a Lifestyle Nesting Scalloped Circle die.  The panel is popped up a little using 0.5mm dimensionals.

I used my Simon Says Stamp Mini Heart dies to diecut some hearts from the burgundy designer paper and added some sparkle using a Wink of Stella clear glitter brush which I also added to the heart that the teddy bear is holding.   Here is a close-up:

I used a Fiskars Postage Stamp border punch to punch the border on the bottom panel.  I have had this border punch forever and love to use it on masculine cards.  The ribbon is from my stash.

The designer papers are by Echo Park - I Love Family - from their 6" x 6" pad.  The layers were trimmed to 1/8" using my Perfect Layers Tools.

Lastly, I added my completed card front to a white card base.

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Jocelyn


Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Penny Black - Don't Break It - 3605F wood-mount, Mama Elephant - Mini Messages clear set

Ink:  Versafine Vintage Sepia

Designer Paper:  Echo Park - I Love Family 6" x 6" pad (2016)

Dies:  Lifestyle Nesting Circles and Scalloped Circles, Simon Says Stamp Mini Hearts S142

Accessories:  Big Shot, Ranger watercolor cardstock, Kaisercraft blue and brown chalk, Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers, Faber-Castell watercolour pencils, #2 round paintbrush, ribbon (stash), Tombow Mono Multi glue, Kokuyo tape runner, Wink of Stella clear glitter brush, Perfect Layers Tools, 0.5mm dimensionals, Ranger Inkssentials white gel pen, white cardstock base

Punches:  Fiskars Postage Stamp border

Helz Cuppleditch - Christmas Village Singers

Hi everyone,

Today I am sharing my last Christmas card from 2018.

This card uses the most recently released Helz Cuppleditch Christmas collection called 'Christmas Village' sold under the brand name 'Trimcraft' which includes diecut decoupage images, paper pads in various sizes, toppers, buttons, twine, bells, wooden shapes, felt toppers, pearls, stickers etc. etc. - everything you need for your crafting projects.  I am just using the diecut decoupage and papers.  Please note that I have no connection to the artist or Trimcraft other than just being a big fan of Helz Cuppleditch's artwork.

I am also popping my card into the following Challenges (click on the underlined links to take you to the Challenges):

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge 418 which is 'Anything Goes' as long as it's Christmas.  Optional theme is any Christmas or New Year card.

Splitcoaststampers - Free for All Friday F4A460 - Holiday Card Show Off 2018 which is to show off your Christmas, Hanukkah, Winter or Holiday cards.

The decoupage images came already diecut so it was easy to just pop out the pieces and put them together using dimensionals.

The designer papers are also from the same Helz Cuppleditch collection.  I trimmed the base dotty paper on the card base to 1/18" using my Perfect Layers Tools.

I added the teal organza ribbon in 2 separate elements and the bow itself was made using my Bow Easy.  I attached the bow using Helmar 450 quick dry adhesive. 

Here is a 2nd version that I did with a light teal satin ribbon and different snowflake dies:

I had a bunch of snowflakes that I diecut from silver glitter cardstock a while ago ready to use on my Christmas cards (sorry, I don't know which dies I used) and glued them on using Tombow Mono Aqua glue then added Kaisercraft silver rhinestones to the centres.

The sentiment is also from the same Helz Cuppleditch collection which I popped up on dimensionals.  Lastly, I glued my card front to a cream cardstock base using Tombow Mono Multi glue.

The image came already glittered but unfortunately you can't see it in the photo - however, it does look very pretty in real life.   It was super-windy and hot so I had to take the photo on my decking table in the shade out-of-the-wind where the light wasn't so great and I couldn't retake the photo the next day because it was Christmas Day.

Thanks for stopping by!

Jocelyn


Card Recipe:

Stamps and Ink:  None

Designer Paper:   Trimcraft - Helz Cuppleditch 'Christmas Village' 8" x 8" pad

Accessories:  Trimcraft - Helz Cuppleditch - 'Christmas Village' diecut decoupage, Big Shot, dimensionals, Kaisercraft silver rhinestones, cardstock - cream card base and silver glitter, Kokuyo tape runner, Tombow Mono Multi glue, Tombow Mono Aqua blue, Helmar 450 Quick Dry adhesive, Perfect Layers Tools, version 1 - teal organza ribbon and version 2 - pale teal satin ribbon, Bow Easy

Dies:  Various brands of Snowflake dies