A Letterpress Challenge card

Good Morning Ladies,

I want to start today with a change to our Challenge......

In addition to using the 'Last thing that you bought' you can ALSO use anything that you have :Bought but not used yet' !!

If you are anything like me that will open up your available stash by quite a lot. I will hold my hands up and say that I have things that I bought last year and haven't opened yet!  I am sure that some of you will have similar confessions.

Now I have a bit of a story to tell about the Embossing Folder that I used for today's card, its called 'Country Floral' by SU and it's no longer available to buy new, I had seen some cards made with it on Pinterest and I loved it so I set about trying to find a second hand one on Ebay and the selling pages on FB, I placed bids on a couple but I didn't win them, the only ones left were in USA and I wasn't wanting it that bad that I was going to pay around £40 with postage etc.  So after a last look yesterday I had given up and decided to forget about it.  

I was sat at my desk and decided to look through my 'New & Not used' box for some inspiration for a card for today's blog, I have a couple of stamp sets that I haven't yet used and the die I used for the white layer on today's card, I then flip the next item forward and there in its packaging all sealed up and new is the 'Country Floral' Embossing folder, I was in complete shock, up until I rejoined SU I hadn't bought any of their products since I finished with them a couple of years back, I honestly have NO recollection of buying it either and there it sat just waiting to be used !! It's a mystery for sure.

The new products that I used for this card are the Narrow White Seam Binding Ribbon and the largest of the 'Ornate Layers' dies which are both SU, I received both of these in the delivery that arrived last Wednesday.

I couldn't resist having another go at the 'letterpress' technique with my new embossing folder, I used a really soft green shade called 'Soft Sea Foam', which I brayered over the embossing folder and ran it through the machine a couple of times. I cut it down to fit inside the largest die cut from the Ornate Layer dies, which I had cut in white, I layered those together and placed them on a base card made from Soft Sea Foam card.  I really wanted to let the beautiful embossing to be the star of the show so I added a tiny 'For You' sentiment stamped onto a small tag that I trimmed with a triple bow made from the Seam Binding Ribbon,  naked bows are just not allowed so I die cut a tiny flower and placed it onto the centre of the bow, I finished the flower with a matching green pearl and added a few more around the card.

I hope you like it my lovelies.

I hope the new addition to the challenge makes it a bit easier for you all,

Have a lovely day,

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra

xxxxxx

A Festive Challenge card

Good Morning Ladies,

I hope that you are all well and relaxed after the weekend, we had quite good day weather wise yesterday, after a night of constant torrential rain,  which was good as we ended up spending a couple of hours ripping out our beautiful Clematis, it was so sad as it had so many more gorgeous velvety purple flowers than ever before, it winds through the Philadelphius (mock orange) and I always hope that the Clematis will bloom while the beautiful scented white blossoms remain but sadly the pretty white flowers were all but gone by the time the clematis burst into life. I couldn't believe how fast the 'Powdery Mildew' fungus took over the whole shrub, totally killing off some parts, even the gorgeous flowers were covered in the mouldy spots.  We have cut it right back and bagged up the affected material. Hopefully that will be the end of it, nothing else seems to have been affected thankfully.  I have no idea why we got it this year though.

I used my Brand New Corner dies from The Works on this Festive version of the card that I shared on Friday. I embossed the background with my new 'Scripty' Embossing Folder. 

This time I used the Rectangle 'Heirloom' Frame instead of the the Oval, I stamped the sentiment in Cherry Cobbler ink to tie in with the Poinsettia's and the mat, it's hard to see but I used Very Vanilla (cream card) for a warmer feel, it also works well with the gold. 

The Poinsettia die I used was a Brittania Die, it is a set of three dies and the small one is perfect for this size card. 

I added a border of Very Vanilla & Gold Ribbon that I finished with double bow on the frame, I arranged the poinsettias around the bow.

I finished the card with those cute little corners die cut in the same matt gold as the frame, popped some matt gold pearls inside the poinsettias, I matted and layered the card with red and green card and finally onto a cream base card.

I really like how this card turned out.

Just to remind you that you only have to use your latest purchase on your card, it doesn't have to used to make the whole card. 

I am looking forward to seeing all of your challenge cards, showing what you have been buying. 

I hope that you all have a lovely day,

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra

xxxxxx

Your Challenge Cards

Good Sunday Morning Ladies,

I was a little bit wary about setting the 'Embossing Folder' challenge this week as we had a Background challenge a couple weeks ago, but as usual you have all absolutely 'aced' the challenge, making some absolutely stunning cards.  

So without further ado.......lets get on with the show! 

Lilian 

Lilian has used her brand new 'Scripty' Embossing folder from Stampin up! for the white part of her card that beautiful paper works perfectly as it too has the script detail in the background I love the striking black foliage, it really sets the whole card off.

Thanks so much Lilian, I am so pleased you love your new SU goodies XXX

Michele 

Michele has created four amazing challenge cards using a variety of folders, I particularly love that first E.Folder, so different and very effective. Using that simple swirls Folder looks great on your nautical themed card, your freebie folder is great too, would be great for bubbles or 'under the sea' themed cards too. 

How fantastic that you can get already embossed card !! Such lovely colours too!

Thanks so much Michele for taking part in this weeks challenge XXX

My challenge cards. First card is a We R Memory Keepers 3D Embossing Folder. Second card is a Cuttlebug Embossing Folder-great for many occasions. Next 2 were made using a magazine freebie. Last card I cheated & used already embossed card!

Brenda

Two beautiful cards from Brenda for our challenge this week, the first uses a lovely 'Happy Birthday' Embossing folder, I love that Brenda has left the embossed detail to shine with just the simple floral arrangement as an embellishment.

Brenda's second card uses a beautiful embossing folder on Matt gold card, I love that the sentiment is in the same finish too.

Brenda's Description:

 The first one is an EF I bought for my sister from Hobbycraft and played with it before I gave it to her, love the simplicity of the happy birthday. Just added a few little flowers that I haven’t to have made, so a very simple card really.

The next one is Matt Gold I made it using a Couture creations EF called Super Plush and just added happy birthday

Thank you so much Brenda for taking part in this weeks challenge XXX

Karen

A beautiful card from Karen for this week's challenge, Karen has used Sue Wilson's Bed Of Roses Embossing Folder for the background of this gorgeous card, I love the colours you have used Karen.

Karen's Description:

Here’s a cc

I used SW’s Bed of Roses embossing folder and free dies from a magazine by Altenew 

I created the colours for roses on that crystal paper from That Crafty Place/Pink Frog, the sentiment is from the same magazine.

Thank you so much Karen for taking part in this weeks challenge XXX

Janet

Janet has created three beautiful cards for this weeks challenge,  that embossing folder that you have used in your first card always looks amazing and I love how you have let the embossing speak for itself and used that beautiful Appliqué for embellishment.

You can't go wrong with wood effect embossing folder, great for 'Man Cards' 

I think that the last folder that you have used is stunning, what a beautiful card Janet.

Janet's Description:

My first  CC this week was made using A CRAFTER'S COMPANION EFOLDER.I  used TONIC mirror card for the backing.

For my second card this week I used an EFOLDER I bought years ago and unfortunately I have lost the packet it came in and so I don't know whose it is. I used Sheena Douglas 'Remember When' stamps for the feature.

For my last CC this week I used another CRAFTER'S COMPANION EFOLDER and coloured it with my pens.

Thank you so very much Janet for three stunning cards XXX

Sonia

Sonia, WOW, your challenge cards are just stunning, I love them all, your letterpress technique card has worked beautifully, the colours that you have used work so perfectly with your butterflies too.

Sonia's Description:

Here are my challenge cards.
First one using Kraft card with Sue Wilson’s Frosty Swirls embossing folder and a dotty one from my stash. I inked over them with moonlight white archival ink. The snowflakes and sentiment from my stash.
The second card was inspired by Jennifer Maguire's technique. Using an embossing folder from my stash. The centre part is inked with Victorian Velvet distress ink aswell as the butterfly. The sentiment is from LOTV.
The third card again uses a folder from my stash, I inked the inside with Tattered Rose distress ink before embossing. I added the die cut circles and butterfly and sentiment from LOTV.

Thank you so much Sonia for three stunning cards XXX

Maria

Wow Maria I love your Embossing Folder Challenge cards, I particularly love the embossing folder you have used on your first card is amazing. 

Your second card is just adorable, I love your sentiment too!

Your third card is so lovely with the cute birds, I love those corners too!

2 x-mas cards and 1 for a friend who need to know I'm there for her

during some problems time.

On the first one I used the Season greetings EF, thin it was free from a mag.

and the background I used the Sheena D. Evergreen EF.

The second one is a funny Cow with his friend Mouse EF trying to do some

Ice skating and it doesn't go to well as we can see  

The third one is a small EF, think it was also free with a magazine once.

2 Birds on a branch, colour wash on EF and a frame.

Thank you so much Maria your challenge cards are amazing XXX

Sue

Sue has created a a lovely christmas card for this weeks Embossing Folder Challenge, I will say that the snowflake, sentiment and mat are all a beautiful blue glitter card.

Sue's Description :

My cc is all freebies from various magazines over the years. The light blue glitter card I used for the snowflake and sentiment doesn’t show well in the photo.

Thanks so much Sue for taking part in this weeks challenge, I love your Christmas card XXX

*****************************

Ladies thank you all so much for taking part in the challenge again this week, I really do appreciate it.

I hope that you all have a lovely weekend,

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra

xxxxxx

Mixed Up Saturday

Good Morning Ladies, 

I hope that you are all well and enjoying the weekend,  for us it woukd have been a noisy weekend as it was supposed to be the Fairford Air Tattoo, sadly like most things it has veen cancelled, which is a shame as it raises so much money for Charity. 

No magazine review tbis week as Michele hasn't received any new magazines,  they will resume next week though.

Lilian 

 

Lilian had very kindly shared her first ever Album with us, it is truly a work of art, the Stamperia papers are gorgeous and as Lilian says using the papers to create an Album means you get to keep the lovely papers and have them on display.

Thanks so much Lilian for sharing your amazing work of art with us XXX

Michele 

 

Michele kindly shared some if her past Embossing Folder Technique cards to inspire us all.

Such a fantastic selection of cards.

Michele's Description:

"It might be in separate bits! Bright colours card is a Cuttlebug Happy Birthday Embossing Folder. Christmas tree & snowflakes are also Cuttlebug embossing Folders-very old. Cream & brown card is a script Cuttlebug Embossing Folder which is truly one of the most useful one, I then bought an A4 version which is brilliant. Next 2 Christmas cards-no idea of brand used, just a random selection. "

Thanks so much Michele for so much inspiration XXX

Brenda

Brenda was first to receive her SU parcel, so she has lots of new goodies to play with for our next challenge. 

I absolutely love that poppy stamp and having the matching dies is such a bonus, the matching papers are gorgeous too.

Thanks so much for sharing your new goodies with us Brenda xxx

Well that's all for today ladies,  I am preparing to sit and watch Tracy Evans shows on Hochanda, she has created some amazing new stamps!

I hope that you all have a lovely weekend,

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra

xxxxxx

Your Next Challenge

Good Morning Ladies, 

Here we are at the end of another week, even with having nothing much going on the days seem to fly.

Mind you this week I have been fretting about the results of ny scan, still no news, I might call the surgery today to ask if they have them.  Then hope that I don't have to wait for a week for a phone consultation.! 

Your Next Challenge 

For your next challenge I would like to make cards with......

Whatever craft products you bought last.

It doesn't matter when you bought it or what it is just incorporate it into your challenge card.

I look forward to seeing what you make  x

***************

I made this card yesterday afternoon using the Brand New 'Scripty' Embossing Folder from Stampin Up! I used the folder to emboss a piece of Green card, I placed this piece onto a piece of the same colour card that was 1/8th inch bigger and then onto a 6 x 6 card base.  The frame was made using 'SU' Woven Heirlooms ' Dies and Embossing folders. (You get an Oval and Rectangle frame die with matching Embossing Folder for each shape)

I used a Matt Gold card for the frame and corners.

Next I stamped my sentiment in ink to match the background card and placed it in the centre of the card with the frame on top. 

I added some foliage and a bow topped with a flower, but I thought the card needed something 🤔 else, after a bit of thinking I decided on corners die cut in the same matt gold card as the frame, i finished those with a tiny pearl to match the one in the centre of the 🌼 flower! 

What do you think?? I love it  😍 hahaha

I hope that you all have a lovely weekend 

Love and hugs to all of you 

Sandra 

xxxxxx 

Another Embossed challenge card

Good Morning Ladies, 

I hope that you are well, can you believe its Thursday today?!  The weeks are just flying past at the moment,  we will all be seeing the festive things for sale before we know it.

Oh Janet you are so right, rain for 40 days if rains on St Swithin's! We're doomed! lol

We have had a an email from our holiday company to say that they have put all the safety measures possible in place as have the camp site that we go to, so if we feel the need to cancel now it will be at our own expense as there is no 'actual risk' as far as the government saying its ok to travel etc. W have gone through all the travel arrangements and talked through the holiday itself and have decided that we will go, for me it's partly because I know it's the only time in the year that Paul relaxes properly and for Paul it would frustrate him to lose so much money.  We are travelling on the Eurotunnel so will stay in our own car for the entire journey, which is the option with the least risk. Our overnight hotel is a little cabin so no mixing in a big hotel and when we arrive we have our own mobile home.  We will take the necessary products to thoroughly sanitize everything on arrival and in overnight cabin, we also decided to take our own cutlery and plates, cups, bowls, we have some in our picnic hamper anyway. 

It's a weird feeling, normally you are excited about a holiday but this feels totally different.

Soph and Lucy aren't coming with us though, I don't want them to fly because I think the recycled air is a concern, they also don't want to ask for holiday as their boss was good enough to pay their whole wage throughout their Furlough, which I am proud of them for. a lot of people their age wouldn't think twice about asking for holiday! 

Today's card was made with the same 'Tim Holtz Botanical Embossing Folder as I used for yesterday's card. 

This time I used Black card, after running it through the embossing folder I simply used the back of a piece of cut and dry foam to apply some Gilding Wax to the very top of the raised areas, it's hard to capture the shine on the camera but it looks really effective.

To finish the card I die cut the 'Hello' 3 times and glued them together and I added Gilding wax to the top one. I placed it onto a piece of plain black card so that it would stand out from the background.

It looks quite effective in up close.

It was great to catch up with Pat yesterday, it was just like times before pandemic XXX

I get to do it all again with Sue today, XXX

I hope that you all have a lovely day,

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra

xxxxxx

Embossing Folder Challenge card

 

Good Morning Ladies,

I hope that you are all well, we had a mixed bag of weather, I put a loose fitting thin jumper on when I got up yesterday morning but I was soon regretting it, it's always hard to judge as our bedroom and lounge never really get full sun so they stay cool, but when I went into my craft room I could barely breathe!

It was so 'muggy' or 'Close' do you all have different words for weather terms???? 

Today's card was inspired by the great Jennifer Maguire, I have a Tim Holtz 3D Embossing folder called Botanical and I wanted to do the 'Letterpress' technique, so I inked up my brayer with 'Bermuda Bay' ink and ran it through the embossing machine, it's like magic when it comes out, green at in the background with lovely white flowers standing proud.

I added some versamark ink to the very top of the raised parts and added white sparkle embossing powder, just to give some extra detail, everything is better with a bit of sparkle, right???

I then used two old SU dies to create a frame and added the sparkle embossing powder to that too, I decided to use the same embossing folder in the background and line up the pattern for continuity, I used the same colour card as I did ink so that it all tied together.  I finished by die cutting a pile of 'hello's and gluing them together for dimension.

The very last thing I did was to mount the piece onto a white card base.  I quite like how it turned out.

I hope that you are all enjoying playing with your Embossing folders too.

I have Pat coming over today, so it will fell like the good old days, lol, nice to have some company for a change.

I hope that you are all having a lovely day, 

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra

xxxxxx