Friday, 10 October 2025

Splish Splash for Seize the Birthday

 


Hi everyone, it's time for a new challenge at Seize the Birthday and Shirley has chosen splish splash as the theme for this round.

Or play along with our anything goes birthday option.

Our party guests and my team mates have loads of inspiration for you so I hope you can join in.

I've had this cover die for many years and thought I'd use dolphins with it again.
I coloured the panels with distress oxide inks from dark to light blue and splashed on some water. The dolphins are die cut from silver shimmer card and are layered up, along with the sentiment for dimension.

I'm linking up to these challenges:


Try it on Tuesday, animals real or imaginary

Aud Sentiments, playing along with the ink blending option and a sentiment


Supplies:
Distress oxide inks-tumbled glass, broken china and chipped sapphire; Memory Box splashing puddles & diving dolphins dies; Creative Expressions happy birthday die; Crafts 4 U stitched rectangle die.

Thanks for visiting and have a great week,
Cathy x




Thursday, 9 October 2025

Dragon Castle

 


Hi everyone, I decided to have a play with some of my Lavinia stamps that have been collected over the years! I've not used this castle, tree or dragon before and there are so many more
 that I need to actually use!

I used some torn paper to stencil the hills and a moon mask layered stencil.
The sky is a mix of stormy cloud, chipped sapphire and dusty concord distress inks and the ground is pumicestone and forest moss.

The trees are part of a much larger stamp but I just wanted the tops to show to create some depth. I used some gel pens to add colour to the windows.

I'm linking up to these challenges:


Alphabet Challenge, M for Mythical Creatures

Try it On Tuesday, animals real or imaginary

We Love Stamping Challenge, playing along with the anything goes option



Supplies:
Stamps: Lavinia stone castle, dragon set and forest trees.
Other: Tim Holtz moon mask; distress inks antique linen; stormy sky; chipped sapphire; dusty concord; pumicestone, forest moss and black soot; Crafts 4 U stitched rectangle die; sentiment sticker; versafine clair nocturne ink & clear ep.

Thanks for visiting and have a great week,
Cathy x


Tuesday, 7 October 2025

A grim birthday for Halloween!

 


Hi everyone, I had a play with some old and new goodies today for a friend's Halloween birthday!
These cobweb stamps and bat dies have been in my stash for quite a few years and I've had the distress spritz sprays since they first came out but have never used them!

I was inspired by this card by my new STB team mate Nance, to try out a new to me grim reaper die.
I stamped and embossed the cobwebs in silver, then sprayed on antique linen and wilted violet distress spritz, I love how shimmery it is in real life!

I inked around the edges with wilted violet distress ink, added the grim and some bats.
The sentiments are from a Poppy Stamps older set and a new to me Honeybee Stamps set, inked in black and clear embossed.

Nance used an action wobble so the grim shakes about,
 this one is firmly in place with glue dots!

I'm linking up to these challenges:

Mix it Up Challenge, playing along with the anything goes option.


The Neglected Stuff Challenge, bat dies, cobweb stamps and distress spritz.

Allsorts, playing along with the anything goes option.


Supplies:
Dies: Spellbinders dancin grim; Sizzix bat crazy; Crafts 4 U stitched rectangle.
Stamps: Stampers Anonymous tangled webs; Poppystamps birthday blowout: Honeybee Stamps sassy birthday.
Other: Distress spritz antique linen & wilted violet; distress ink wilted violet; Silver ink & Wow fine detailed silver ep; scraps of glossy black, silver, gold and silver shimmer card; purple cardstock.

Thanks for visiting and have a great week,
Cathy x

Friday, 3 October 2025

Guest design for Cut it Up Challenge #340

 


Hi everyone, I was delighted to be asked to join Cut it Up as a guest designer for being a top pick in Challenge #336. I love using dies so this theme of more than one die cut was lots of fun!
 

I embossed the base card and frame diecut with the Subtle embossing folder, love the texture it adds and it's the perfect name, as it is so subtle!

I coloured the flowers and tiny butterflies with Altenew inks and used distress inks for the greenery.
I layered the sentiment up for dimension and used glossy black card for the top layer.

Thankyou again to the team at Cut it Up for inviting me along to play.

I'm also linking up to these challenges:

Dragonfly Dreams, Happy Birthday

Krafty Chicks

The Sisterhood of Crafters, Birthdays

Allsorts, playing along with the anything goes option

Supplies:
Dies: Simon Says Stamp exotic blooms; Creative Expressions birthday wishes;  Memory Box scalloped frame and butterfly delights.
Other: Altenew sweet dreams fresh dye inks; evergreen bough & peeled paint distress ink; black gloss card; Stampin Up subtle embossing folder.

Thanks for visiting and have a great week,
Cathy x