Butterflies for a baby boy

Hi, I made this card to send to my niece in Austria who has recently had a baby boy.

This embossing folder reminds me of a babies quilt, so I think it's the perfect background for these butterflies.

I'm linking up the the challenge at The Card Concept where the theme is baby.

There's also a fabulous photo for inspiration.

I think my card is in the clean and simple category.

I'm also putting a second entry in at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

where it's an anything goes theme, and at 

Addicted to Stamps & More where it';s also anything goes.

Inkspirational has a colour challenge

Materials used:

Stampin Up fancy fan embossing folder; Memory Box butterfly and alphabet dies; EK Success flower punch; glitter paper.

Thanks for visiting,

Cathy x

Yellow Butterfly Flourish

Hi, I'm using up some leftovers from previous projects.
I love using diecuts as they can be modified by trimming bits off, or gluing bits on!
These flourishes were trimmed from a larger piece and seemed too good to throw away.

I'm linking up to a few challenges.
At Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge the theme is anything goes.

At Less is More the theme is watercolor. Add water when you colour your project.
I've coloured this butterfly using Inktense pencils and an aquabrush.

At Addicted to Stamps & More the theme is anything goes.

Materials used:
Hero Arts stamp; versafine ink and clear embossing powder; Inktense pencils; MFT flourish coloured with distress ink; sentiment sticker.

Thanks for visiting,
Cathy x

Perfume Bottle Vase

Hi, I've been saving up the empty bottles from my favourite perfume.

I love the shape and thought it'd be perfect as a small vase. I coloured it with alcohol inks and blending solution.

I then had to make some flowers and greenery to match! 

I'm linking up to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge where the theme is anything goes.

I die cut my tattered flowers from watercolour paper and coloured them with distress inks.

The leaves are cut from scraps and snippets of green cardstock with a couple of Memory Box dies.

 So I'm visiting the playground at Pixie's Crafty Workshop.

Enjoy the rest of your week, thanks for visiting,

Cathy x

Flowers for a Friend

Hi, I've managed to make a few cards today and thought I'd better get 1 posted before it gets too late.

I've used a die I bought ages ago and a new stamp set that I'm inking for the first time.

Never before used stuff, perfect for the NBUS challenge at Darnell's blog.

She's celebrating her 500th follower with this fun challenge. It's anything goes with a friendship theme

Pop over and have a look, Darnell always has an entertaining story with her fabulous cards.

I die cut the blossom sprig from watercolor paper and used distress ink to colour the whole thing green. I cut some more flowers from the leftover scraps, sponged them blue then stuck them on top. Much easier than trying to colour with markers. Using snippets means I can visit the playground over at Pixie's Crafty Workshop.

At Time Out Challenge the theme is Summer with an optional twist of flowers. Blue skies, green grass and yellow sun, that made my colour choice easy.

Materials used:

 Memory Box honeysuckle blossom die; watercolor paper;  Stampin Up Field Flowers stamp; distress inks; wink of stella pen.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and thanks for visiting,

Cathy x

Flying Birthday

Hi, I was inspired to make this card by the challenge at Addicted to CAS

where the code word is transport.

There are also a couple of challenges with a clean and simple theme.

Addicted to Stamps & More and 

Inkspirational.

I cut my clouds and the banner from snippets of cardstock, so I'm also visiting the playground at

Pixie's Crafty Workshop.

Materials used:

Stampin Up embossing folder; Memory Box cloud die; MFT banner die; We R Memory Keepers stamp; distress ink; twine; sentiment sticker.

Thanks for visiting,

Cathy x

Inky Christmas

Hi, I've been making some paper flowers and while I had my distress inks out I thought I'd make this card for the Holidays challenge at Addicted to Stamps.

This embossed resist technique is one of my favourites.

Materials used: Memory Box snowflake die; Poppystamps snowflake stamp; distress inks; silver ink and embossing powder; sentiment sticker and ribbon from stash.

Thanks for visiting,

Cathy x

Masculine Sympathy

Hi, it's a long weekend here in Australia to celebrate the Queen's birthday.

I'm so looking forward to the break. No special plans, just hoping to catch up on some sewing and card making. 

 I needed a male sympathy card and saw this gorgeous card on pinterest. I've used the image for happy occasions but hadn't thought to use it on a sympathy card, so thank you for the inspiration Blindstamper at Splitcoaststampers.

I'm linking up to a few challenges.

Inkspirational has a clean and simple theme, and

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge has a father's day or masculine theme.

 I masked the white border and inked the panel in a few blue distress inks. I'm always amazed at the clean area that appears when you lift up a mask. I think it fits the theme at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge where the theme is magic.

Materials used:

Penny Black Dreamy stamp; distress inks; sentiment sticker.

Thanks for visiting,

Cathy x

Blue Butterfly

I used a new flourish die for the first time today.

I glued 2 together for more dimension and tried to shape the leaves a bit, then coloured them with distress inks.

I'm linking up to the challenge at Addicted to CAS again.

This card has more subtle texture so I hope that's still ok. I've used a hammered card stock as a base and embossed a frame.

At Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge it's anything goes.

I cut the butterfly base from vellum and painted it with twinkling H2Os. The top was cut from blue card and I used the leftovers to die cit the tiny butterflies. Snippets means I can visit the playground at 

Pixie's Crafty Workshop for lots of fun!

Materials used:

MFT flourish die; Memory Box butterfly dies; distress inks; twinkling H20s; Stately embossing folder; sentiment sticker.

Thanks for visiting,

Cathy x

Black & Yellow Butterfly

Hi, my plans for lots of crafting this weekend got slowed down when my heat gun died!

It's one I bought at least 15 years ago, so instead of crafting I was scouring the internet for a replacement. 

After my cuttlebug my heat gun is probably my most used tool. I use it for wet embossing and drying inky projects, I'm too impatient to wait! 

I had this social butterfly from Penny Black stamped and fussy cut, so I coloured it with inktense pencils to suit the challenge at The Card Concept, to create a project using black, grey, yellow and white. My card is in the clean and simple category.

 Sentimental Sundays has a theme of things with wings, it closes in a little while so I'm just scraping in!

Addicted to Stamps  is to make your mark. Create a project using pencils, markers, etc.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is anything goes.

Materials used:

Penny Black stamp, versafine ink and clear embossing powder; inktense pencils; MFT flourish die; iced spruce distress ink; sentiment sticker.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and may your heat gun keep on working!

Cathy x

Autumn Butterflies

Hi, I'm glad there's only one day left before the weekend, I'm planning on catching up on lots of cards I need to make. Oh and maybe a bit of housework might creep in!

I was inspired to make this card by the challenge at Scrapbook Boutique.

Here's the gorgeous inspiration pic. (There's a day or two left so if you live in Australia join in.)

I cut the Bailiwick die from some cream card and coloured it with a couple of brown distress inks. It looks like a rusty piece of ironwork in real life!

The challenge at Addicted to Stamps & More is to make your mark with pencils, markers etc.

 These are the last of my stash of butterflies that I had fussy cut and coloured with Inktense pencils. 

At Seize the Birthday its a birthday theme with a tags option. I cut a small tag and used a brad from my stash to fix it to the card.

Materials used:

Memory Box Bailiwick die; Hero Arts antique engravings butterfly stamps; distress inks; Inktense pencils;

sentiment sticker.

Thanks for visiting,

Cathy x

Spring Birthday Tree

Hi, I've made another card using the Memory Box Arboscello tree die. Last time it was an autumn birthday tree, so I thought I'd do a spring version.

I'm linking up to these challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge where the theme is botanical.

Less is More where you need to include a diecut on your project. I've used 3 dies.

Addicted to Stamps & More where the theme is anything goes.

I diecut the flowers from snippets of  pink parchment paper, so I'm visiting the playground at 

Pixie's Crafty Workshop. One of the things I love about dies is that you can often cut images from scraps that would otherwise be tossed out. My pile of snippets is constantly growing!

Materials used:

Memory Box arboscello tree, floral delight and label dies; distressed stripes embossing folder; distress reinkers and nib; stickles; sentiment sticker.

Thanks for visiting,

Hope you have a happy week,

Cathy x

Birthday Orchid

Hi, it feels like ages since I've made any cards, hopefully I've knocked this cold on the head and can get back into things.

I was inspired by a few challenges and knew I wanted to use a flower stamp that hadn't been used in ages. I fussy cut vellum flowers to pop on top of the stamped ones for extra dimension.

At Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, the theme is botanical.

At Inkspirational the theme is bloom.

At Addicted to Stamps & More it's anything goes.

At Addicted to CAS the code word is texture.

At Allsorts Challenge the team is celebrating their 5th birthday with a challenge and a bloghop. The theme is Happy Birthday!

Materials used:

Crafts Too embossing folder; Memory Box orchid stamp;Versafine ink and clear embossing powder; vellum; twinkling H2Os; Memory Box label die; sentiment sticker.

Thanks for visiting,

Cathy x

Birthday mauve and purple

Hi, things have been a bit quiet on the card front here this week as I've been battling a really bad cold. It's still hanging around but I think I'm getting used to it!

I've been asked to make a birthday card for a lady turning 90 who likes mauve and purple.

I thought something lacy would be good so used the Rebecca embossing folder again and distressed it with shaded lilac and milled lavender distress inks.

The butterflies are Hero Arts antique engravings, coloured with Inktense pencils.

I used the Spellbinders floral and oval dies for the sentiment sticker, and Memory Box Parker number die for the 90.

I'm linking up to these challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge where the theme is to create something inspired by the letter M. I've used mauve and 90 is a pretty momentous milestone!

At Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge the theme is die crazy.

At Allsorts Challenge the theme is purple passion.

At A Blog named Hero it's all about embossing, wet or dry.

I've used an embossing folder and embossed my stamped butterflies with clear powder.

At Crafting with Dragonflies the team is celebrating their first anniversary, congratulations! So the theme is celebration.

Thanks for visiting, hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Cathy x

Alcohol Ink Flowers

Hi, I've spent the last of Mothers Day playing with some new toys.

It's my first time playing with alcohol inks, so much fun! 

I'm linking up to the challenge at CASology where the cue card is metal.

I used a leftover piece of Quick Kutz metal sheet and stuck it onto some white card, then die cut Memory Box chloe stem flowers. I used a few alcohol inks on a felt pad and was amazed at the rainbow of colours that came out! The colours look way better in real life.

Using up a scrap or a snippet means I can visit the playground at Pixie's Crafty Workshop.

I'm putting another entry into the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where the theme is spring flowers.

And another entry into Addicted to Stamps & More the theme is clean and simple.

At Time Out Challenge the theme is "Time flies love lasts"". My sentiment explains my take on the challenge, because you're special.

Materials used: Quick Kutz metal sheet; alcohol inks; Hero Arts find joy sentiment stamp; versafine ink & clear embossing powder.

Thanks for visiting, hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend,

Cathy x

Purple butterflies & flowers

Hi, purple is one of my favourite colours so I wanted to enter the challenge at

The Card Concept which has a monochromatic purple theme. I think my card fits the clean and simple category.

I'm also popping back to Stamplorations where the challenge is to use a stamp and a flower on your project.

I've fussy cut the Hero Arts antique engraving butterfly stamp and used petal pleasures embossing folder as my flower element.

Addicted to Stamps & More has a clean and simple theme.

Edited to add: I've realized that this card also fits the theme of time flies love lasts at the Time Out  Challenge. You can use the whole sentiment or any of the words as inspiration, so my butterflies fit. (Thanks for the suggestion Sandie).

Materials used:

Hero Arts butterfly stamp; versafine ink & clear embossing powder; prismacolor pencils & gamsol; CC petal pleasures embossing folder; sentiment sticker, stickles and bling.

Thanks for visiting :)

Cathy x

Layered Mother's Day

Hi, it's Mothers Day here in Australia and in the USA too so Happy Mothers Day to everyone!

I hope you have a lovely restful day.

I'm linking up to a few challenges with this card.

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge has a 5 challenge. I have used 5 items in layering my card. The base, an embossed distressed panel, a diecut oval, diecut leaves and stamped and fussy cut vellum flowers.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge has a spring flowers theme.

Stamplorations has a stamps and flower challenge.

I've used snippets of vellum to stamp my flowers and die cut my leaves, so I'm visiting the playground at 

Pixie's Crafty Workshop.

Materials used: Rebecca embossing folder; SU flower shop stamp; white ink and embossing powder; vellum; Memory Box leaf die; Spellbinders floral oval die; distress inks; sentiment sticker.

Thanks for visiting :)

Cathy x

Pink Birthday Rose

Hi, I've had this die cut painted for a few days and finally got it finished on a card tonight.

It's the Penny Black rose die and I've painted it with acrylics mixed with some pearl white paint. I layered an extra section on top for dimension.

I'm linking up to the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps and More, the theme is Clean & Simple.

Inkspirational where it's a colour theme, to use pink and green.

Seize the Birthday is anything goes birthday with a toppings option of flowers.

At Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge the theme is spring flowers.

Materials used: Penny Black die; watercolor paper; acrylic paint; pearl white acrylic paint; leathergrain cardstock; sentiment sticker.

Hope you have a lovely weekend and thanks for visiting,

Cathy x

Orange & Blue

Hi, it's unseasonably cold and windy outside today, perfect excuse to stay in my craft room!

I'm using up another of the butterflies I made a while ago, coloured with inktense pencils.

I blended some blues and a brown distress ink onto the tag and spritzed with water. I usually just leave the ink as is but I'm having fun with the water effects.

I'm linking up to the challenge at Allsorts where the theme is butterflies.

At Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge the theme is anything goes.

There's a choice of sketch challenge at The Hero Arts Blog.

I chose sketch #2

At A Blog Named Hero the theme is to create a project inspired by a Hero Arts artist.

I was inspired by Jennifer McGuire and her use of distress inks.

Materials used:

Hero Arts antique engraving stamp: Memory Box journey stamp; versafine ink, clear embossing powder; inktense pencils: distress inks; birds and swirls embossing folder; MFT label die, behind my tag.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and thanks for visiting,

Cathy x

Journey Tag

I wanted to make a card that linked up with a few challenges and had hoped to be off my butterfly craze, but unfortunately I've still got a few to finish and use!

I sponged over the stamped and embossed Journey stamp with distress inks. The tag looks yellower in real life but I think when I've spritzed the water it's landed more in the centre.

I'm linking up to the Holiday challenge at Addicted to Stamps & More. 

At Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge the theme is not so mellow yellow!

At Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge the theme is anything goes.

Materials used:

Memory Box journey; Hero Arts buterfly stamps; Versafine ink & clear embossing powder; distress inks; inktense pencils; stylized flower embossing folder.

Thanks for visiting :)

Cathy x

Pink with Blue Butterflies

Hi, it's Friday here and I'm really looking forward to the weekend! First week back at work after a break is always tiring. I'm used to having afternoon naps!

I'm using up a snippet of card that I stamped with the leafy vine stamp. The other half will get used in another project. I sponged over the embossing with a couple of pink distress inks.

The butterflies are coloured with Inktense pencils. I love how the colour washes out and you can add extra just by touching the water brush to the tip of the pencil and blending it in.

I'm linking up to a few challenges.

Snippets of black and of the stamped image means I'm popping over to the snippets playground at        Pixie's Crafty Workshop.

At Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge the theme is anything goes.

Sentimental Sundays has a clean and simple challenge and remember to use a sentiment on your project.

Materials used:

Stamps: Hero Arts leafy vine; Darkroom Door butterflies;

Versafine ink and clear embossing powder; Inktense pencils; distress ink;

sentiment sticker.

Thanks for visiting, and enjoy the rest of your week.

Cathy x