Your 'Die Only' Challenge cards

 

Good Sunday Morning Ladies,

A very wet and chilly day for us yesterday, which meant that our gardening plans went out of the window, we decided to set up a seed sowing station in the kitchen so that we could at least get some more of the vegetable seeds going.  We were so surprised on Tuesday last week to see that the Lupin seeds that we had put in the Electric Propagator were about 4 inches tall after only being planted on Good Friday, meaning that they had germinated and grown in 4 days, which just seems incredible, so we are going to start the Sweetcorn and cucumber seeds in there too to get a head start, we looked at some of the vegetable plants at the garden centre yesterday and they were ridiculously priced, we had the sweetcorn seeds already, so we just picked up a pack of cucumber seeds for £2.49. there are enough seeds in there to last us the next three years and still half the price of the actual tiny plants they were selling.  Having said that people were still loading up their huge shopping carts with trays and pots of vegetables and plants, I dread to think what their totals were at the tills!!!  

Exciting NEWS...... Sophie's latest University project that has been months in the making has been accepted by Kickstarter. She has designed a book titled 'Retail Therapy' they had to create a project to feature on 'Kickstarter', you basically create a design/book etc and ask for funding to get your project (in Sophie's case) get published.  She had to approach a Publisher for costing and get prices for printing etc.  

Her book is designed for people that have worked in Retail and had to deal with frustrating customers, the video that promotes the book features voice overs from both Paul and Lucy, Paul played the part of a frustrated supermarket checkout worker, it's hilarious.  As you would expect the amount of detail that Sophie has put into each character and the surroundings they work in incredible, when she shared it with her Tutor he said to her "I hope that you have all of your costings worked out as this project will definitely get funded" He thought it was amazing,  I will let you all know when it gets uploaded so that you can go and watch the introductory film, its hard to believe that she is coming to the end of her second year at University! 

Now let's get to the main focus of today's blog, your amazing 'Die Only' cards.....

Brenda

Brenda's Description:

"This is my challenge card for this week.  I saw an article in Die-cutting essentials magazine which inspired me to make this card. In some ways I’ve done my own thing wish I had now made the sentiment one colour instead of trying to replicate the circles,"

Thank you Brenda for such a lovely 'Die Only' Challenge card, I used the same technique last week, it's a good way of getting more use out of our Nesting dies, I really love your colour combination, the florals really add a pretty touch to the circles, I love the addition of the butterflies too.  I think that we can be our own worse critics sometimes, I am sure that whoever receives your gorgeous card will think its perfect.  Thanks again my lovely XXX

 Janet

Janet's Description :

"For this week's Challenge I have gone back to my TONIC DIES.

For my first card I used  BUTTERFLY MOSAIC STAINED GLASS WINDOW using TONIC card. The ribbon is from my stash.

My second card is made using TONIC EXQUISITE ENVELOPE DIE. I left one or two 'bits' in the grid just to give highlights.

Two lovely cards Janet, you cannot beat Tonic dies when it comes to intricate detail, your first card just shouts luxury, with the gold and gorgeous ribbon weaving. 

Your second card looks like it would have taken you ages, the layers are again so intricate and detailed and I love how you have left a couple of pieces of the die cut paper in to add extra detail, this recipient of this card will feel like they are very special.  Thank you so much my lovely for two stunning projects XXX

Karen

Karen's Description:

Here’s a cc I have made it for OH

It is our 45th wedding anniversary ...

So cobalt blue CE card and Spellbinder Marvellous Squares dies The heart die is from Hobbycraft

For my second card I used Sue W Flights of Fancy which comes with separate butterflies I saw a post on Jackie Trinders blog where she cut the strip again and trimmed away the butterflies to place on top of the separate butterflies and her sentiment I used a piece of psychadelic paper created in Serif

My 3rd Challenge card was inspired by one Sue W posted earlier this week I used a slimline die and a Tonic circle die to create the apertures and Xcut flower die in shades of yellow/orange

Karen thank you so much for 3 incredible Challenge cards, your card for Alan is perfect, it has just the right amount of romance without being too much, the combination of dies that you have used work perfectly together. Navy and white is a classic combination that is a match made in heaven it also happens to be the perfect colour for a Sapphire Anniversary.

I love the bright and cheerful look of your second card, that technique is brilliant too.

Your third card is a lovely design, I really do love that the DL or 'Slimline' cards have made a come back.  Your design works perfectly with that die cut sentiment, you can't beat an 'Ombre' card.  Thank you so much Karen for three inspirational cards XXX

Lilian  

Lilian's Description:

This weeks card was made using a Christine Emberson Charity Kit with an alteration,  

Lilian I love your Die Only Challenge card, that lovely soft colour is so pretty, the dies all work so well together, Christine always uses such pretty little flowers too.  Thank you so much for taking part in this weeks challenge my lovely XXX

Maria

Maria's Description:

SW Roses die was used for my first card,  Papers from my bit box and a few little other bits.

Second card is using a Loop die bought from Amazon/China. I got a kit from Hunkeydory with some nice toppers so used the little deer's on this one and a strip sentiment from the pack.

We had another baby in the family, so I used my SW dies to make a this card. 

Wow Maria, you have been busy crafting this week, you have made 3 beautiful cards, I love both the Roses die and the lovely pink dotty papers that you have used for this card. It would be great for Birthday, thank you, get well soon and so many different occasions, such a lovely design.   Your second card is amazing, I love that loopy edge die that you have used, the Deer topper is so pretty and the sentiment strip brings the colours in your card and the gold mirror card together perfectly.

Such lovely news about the new baby in your family, the card you have made is just prefect, I love all the little elements that finish the little babygro off, that Lacy bib is beautiful and the little ducks add cuteness, I love the paper you have used too.

Thank you so much my lovely for 3 amazing Die only Challenge cards XXX

Michele

Michele's Description:

"First two challenge cards, used a very old set of Dies  that came free with Diecutting Essentials issue 52 (May 2019). Used the dies as toppers & also to cut into the card."

"Another challenge card. This time using the free gift with the current issue of Diecutting Essentials (issue 75)."

"Another diecut challenge card -this time it’s the latest charity kit from Christine Emberson. Not sure what dies she’s used though."

Michele you have had an amazingly creative week in your craft room and just look at the incredible cards that you have created, they are all amazing.  The first two are lovely, those dies give lovely detail to the card whether you cut into or cut a die cut and adhere it, I love how you have mixed up the two, you have made cards that work well for both Male and female, great stash building cards!  

Your next card features a lovely colour combination, I have to confess that I hadn't even noticed that particular die on the card storage,  I only saw the fancy one on the right!  Such a useful little die, great for both pattern building and for placing your sentiment on,

Your final card is just so beautiful, I have always loved Christine's style, she always uses such lovely combinations of dies, I love the sentiment too.

Thank you so much for taking part in this weeks challenge, you clearly loved this one, 4 stunning cards XXX

Sonia

Sonia's Description :

I’ve used my slimline dies for the first card, along with one of the Memory Box cut out dies in the corners. Adding my Tim Holtz butterflies and the circular die sentiment (sorry, I can’t remember where that’s from)

On my second card I’ve used the Sizzix frame over the mesh background die. Added the butterfly and Crafter’s Companion sentiment.

Two amazing Die Only Challenge cards Sonia, I am really tempted to get some of those Slimline die, I love the look and they give such a nice neat finish to your card.  Your second card is just perfect I love that Mesh die cut, the Sizzix frame gives the perfect grounding for your butterfly too, such a gorgeous thank you card.  Thank you so much for taking part in the challenge, I am glad your Mojo came back in time XXX

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Ladies what an incredible display of cards once again, thank you all so very much for taking part and enjoying the challenge, I am so grateful to all of you XXX

I hope that you all have an enjoyable Sunday, fingers crossed for a drier day,

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra

xxxxxx