Hello everyone,

here is my project for the new Everybody-Art-Challenge. This week's theme is «Matchbox».

At first, I had no clue what to create, but then I stumbled upon a cool retro matchbox in our local supermarket. I decided to make some kind of wrapping for it by repeating the colors of the printed image. Therefore I scored «Bermuda Bay» cardstock from Stampin' Up! and covered the front with a piece of DP («Moonlight Designer Series Paper Stack»).

Before sticking it together I die-cut a window (I didn't want to cover this fun image) using one of the gorgeous «Stitched Squares» dies from Simon Says Stamp. I also die-cut this beautiful «hello» from Studio Calico and the stars (My Favorite Things Die-namics «Stacking Stars»). I covered the word die cut with two layers of clear embossing powder to create my own embellishment.

To pull out the matchbox I wrapped some SU «Hello Honey» chevron ribbon around it and tied a bow with some baker's twine.

That's all from me for today. Thank you so much for stopping by!

Same but different #5

Good morning everyone,

it's time again for our monthly «Same but different» challenge. Do you want to know more about this challenge? Please click HERE.

This time we used the «Botanicals 2» stamp set from Paper Smooches:

And here is the card I created with this versatile floral set:

For a really long time I wanted to try out the technique inspired by Jennifer McGuire which is called «Ghost Stamping». This means you stamp with white pigment ink first (I used Hero Arts Unicorn White pigment ink) and then you stamp another layer with pigment or dye ink on top, just slightly offset. Both types of inks (Avery Elle pigment inks and Memento dye inks) worked really well for the colored stamping. I love how the white and the colors pop against the Kraft cardstock.

Another fun technique is «Camouflaging Die Cuts» which I first discovered on one of the gorgeous cards from another talented lady: Laura Bassen. Therefore I used the «hello» word die from the Paper Smooches' «Quote Tag» set which I cut directly from my stamped panel. To achieve this great dimensional look I die-cut the hello three more times from the Kraft cardstock and stacked all pieces together with the stamped one on top.

If you have the same stamp set and get inspired by our challenge, feel free to play it with us! Leave a direct link to your project in the comment field below (No back links, please! It will be funnier to see new creations!). You can also upload your cards to our Same but different challenge Flickr gallery!

Now hop over to Francine to see her awesome creation.

Thank you so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful Sunday!

DT Everybody-Art-Challenge #308

Good morning everyone,

this week we have this sketch over at the Everybody-Art-Challenge:

And here is my take on it:

For my winter card I've chosen these two cute snowmen from the «Cool Buddies» stamp set by Create A Smile. This is a newer company based in Germany and the stamps are designed by the sweet and talented Christine Drogt. They also have some fun other stuff in the shop like stencils, chipboards and brand new washi tapes, flairs and a paper pack, too.

I dry embossed the white background panel with an older Cuttlebug embossing folder («Dots & Snowflakes») and showed the debossed side of it. For the circle I sponged two Distress Inks («Peacock Feathers» and «Seedless Preserves») with the «Mini Microbial» stencil from The Crafters Workshop.

The snowmen were colored with Copics and they stand on a little snowbank created with «Sea Glass» ink (Simon Says Stamp) and «Frosted Lace» Stickles (Ranger). The white heat embossed sentiment is also from the same stamp set. I embellished my card with some wood veneer snowflakes and sequins.

Thank you so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful day!

DT bastel-traum.ch Challenge January

Good morning peeps,

welcome to the first bastel-traum.ch Challenge in 2015. And to keep it simple we start with the popular theme «Anything Goes». The challenge will run until February 15th, 8:55 am CET.

This time I created something absolutely different. Can you believe it?! There is no stamping on my card! Because I wanted to focus on this stylish «Quad Love» die by Frantic Stamper  which was a gift from my wonderful friend Francine (Thank you so much, sweetie!).

I die-cut it from white and black cardstock. By slightly shifting both die-cuts while stacking them together I achieved a shadow. For a trendy look I created a background with some strips of pink and gold foiled cardstock.

I hope you liked my «different» card ;o) Thanks for stopping by!

DT Everybody-Art-Challenge #307

Good morning everyone,

the new theme for this week's Everybody-Art-Challenge is «Envelope».

At first I wanted to create an envelope with my We R Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board. But then I changed my mind and created this One Layer Card.

I used the «Sending Happy Thoughts» stamp set by Simon Says Stamp because of the various envelopes (theme accomplished *hihi*) and this beautiful handwritten sentiment. I arranged the envelopes diagonally by stamping them in SSS «Fog» ink. The border at the bottom was stamped in «Royal Red» (Hero Arts Shadow Ink) and «Night of Navy» (Stampin' Up!). I heat embossed the word «Sending» in «Cherry Chobbler» (Stampin' Up!) and stamped the tiny sentiment in VersaFine «Onyx Black». The two hearts were heat embossed in «Liquid Platinum» (Ranger).

I really enjoyed creating this CAS card with only one layer. That's what I love about this hobby – there's always something fun to try!

With my card I'm entering Virginia's View Challenge #11 (Clean Slate).

Thank you so much for stopping by!

DT Everybody-Art-Challenge #306

Good morning everyone,

the Everybody-Art-Challenge is back and we are starting the new year with a bingo:

I decided to use the diagonal row Lace – Doily – Flower and created a Thanks card.

To start my card I stamped the MFT «Striped Background» in VersaMark onto some Bazzill «Taffy» carstock. I then heat embossed it with «Clear Matt Dull» embossing powder from WOW! – love that matte finish.

For my flower arrangement I used the «Fresh Cut Florals» stamps and coordinating dies by WPlus9. I stamped them in several Memento and Simon Says Stamp inks. The handwritten sentiment by Stampin' Up! was heat embossed in Ranger's «Liquid Platinum» onto a strip of vellum. To embellish my card I added some SU rhinestones and this beautiful lace butterfly from my stash.

I'm entering this card to the following challenge:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Anything Goes

Thank you so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful day!

DT Stempelgarten Challenge January

Good morning sweet folks,

I hope you had a good start to the new year and because today is already the 5th the first Stempelgarten Challenge in 2015 just starts right away. The theme for January is «Winter Pleasures».

For my winter card I chose the adorable «Cool Day» stamp set by My Favorite Things. I love all the cute Birdie Brown designs illustrated by Torico.

To create something different, I decided to make this sweet polar bear peek through a window in the front of the card. Therefore I cut a circle with one of the «Stitched Circles» dies from Simon Says Stamp. I love how it creates this stitched line around the die-cut circle. The sentiment is from the «Season's Greetings» stamp set by Mama Elephant and I heat embossed it in Ranger's «Liquid Platinum».

Then I stamped the gloves from the «Cool Day» stamp set, colored them with Copics and added the white heat embossed hearts. I also stamped this curly stitched line from the MFT «Hearts and Stitches» stamp set in SSS «Audrey Blue» ink. The snowflake was cut from vellum using a C.C. Designs die. I added a little rhinestone to the middle.

For the inside of my card I clear heat embossed a couple of snowflakes and sponged the background with SSS «Seaglass» and «Audrey Blue» ink. I colored the bear and the sign with Copics and fussy cut both images and adhered them with 3D foam pads to a little snow hill which I cut with a Mama Elephant «Landscape Trio» die.

To give my hill the look of sparkly snow, I added lots of «Clear Rock Candy Distress Glitter» by Tim Holtz/Ranger.

You will have time until January 31st, 2015 to join our challenge and this is the prize you could win:

A craft package from the Stempelgarten Online Shop with a value of CHF 20.00.

With my card I'm joining the following challenge:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Anything Goes

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Welcome 2015 and 2014 Year in Review

Happy New Year everyone! Hope it will be a fantastic and healthy one!

Did you enjoy some wonderful holidays with your loved ones? I did for sure and that's the reason why I took a blogging break for 2 weeks now.

Today I want to show you some of my favorite cards of the last year – I just picked one project per month.

Looking at them I realised how much fun I had to try different styles, color mediums and techniques. I also played with great products from several companies and I love to combine them. I still like cute stamps but I think I will create more CAS cards in 2015. We will see ;o)

And here's my choice for my little 2014 year in review:

January 2014

Purple Onion Designs «Icicle»

February 2014

WPlus9 «Embroidered Bouquet» – Heat Embossing

March 2014

Papertrey Ink Wonderful Words «Baby» Die – Layered Die Cuts

April 2014

Winnie & Walter «The Big, the Bold and the Happy» – Heat Embossing

May 2014

Prima Marketing «Mixed Media Doll» Tag – Stenciling and Heat Embossing

June 2014

Penny Black «Delightful» – Coloring with Prismacolor Pencils

July 2014

Magnolia «Saggitarius Tilda» – Watercoloring with Distress Inks

August 2014

Hero Arts and Simon Says Stamp for the OCC «Strech Your Stamps 2»

September 2014

Mama Elephant «Up and Away» for the 1st «Same but different» Challenge 

with my sweet and talented friend Francine

October 2014

Clearly Besotted «Christmas Sparkle»

November 2014

Memory Box Dies and Clearly Besotted Stamps

December 2014

Jane's Doodles «Mr. & Mrs. Claus» and Simon Says Stamp Die

I'm looking forward to all the new crafty adventures and want to thank you for following me and leaving all those lovely and encouraging comments!

Thank you so much for stopping by! Off to clean my craft room ;o)