S is for...

Well, Kathy over at Daring Cardmakers thinks S is for September - our challenge this week is to include at least three things beginning with S on our cards. Extra brownie points if you can manage six or even seven things!

I decided S was really for Santa so I could use the opportunity to add another Christmas card to my barely-started stash. I managed Santa in Silver Specs, a Stamped Sentiment with Snowflakes and some Sequins so I earned the extra brownie points for seven Ss while still managing to keep it CAS!

The Cool Yule dies were on sale recently and I found myself unable to resist, mostly for this Santa and the fabulous reindeer head in the set (which will make a debut soon, I'm sure).

The sentiment comes from a set I was lucky enough to win in Rudolph's Random Raffle over at Christmas Kickstart a while back - thanks Rudolph (and Jo!). 

Supplies:
Cool Yule dies (Tim Holtz/Sizzix)
Fine frames circles die (Altenew)
Bristol board
Silver mirri card
Copic markers
Tim Holtz Distress ink by Ranger (Antique Linen)
Memento Luxe ink by Tsukineko (Love Letter)
Sequins
Corner Chomper

Thanks for stopping by!

Masculine makes

Our challenge over at Daring Cardmakers today is set by Dawn. She says she always struggles with masculine cards so she's looking for ideas so that she can have a stack at hand - show us your masculine makes!

The men I make cards for tend to like clean and simple, no frills designs. In fact, while I was snapping this card, my hubby walked past and said "Oh, that's a nice one!" So, ink, stamps and an aperture cut with a die to use as a stencil and that's as fancy as this got. I have a couple of acetate sheets with various size circles cut in them that live on my desk ready for use as stencils.

Stamps:
Teasels (Bee Crafty)
Sentiment from Big Day Today (Waltzingmouse Stamps, no longer with us)

Paper:
Bristol board

Ink:
Tim Holtz Distress ink by Ranger (Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Barn Door, Fired Brick)
Versafine by Tsukineko (Onyx Black)

Other:
"Stencil" cut with circle Nestie
Corner Chomper

Thanks for stopping by, hope you are keeping safe and well and managing to carry on as near normal as possible with whatever restrictions you have in place for your area.

Link in the chain - August (and July!)

It's reveal time again over at Card Chain Challenge. My card this month went to Kath so it didn't have too far to travel.

From the options on offer, I chose the themes of summer and friendship. Summer seemed like the perfect excuse to revist this sweet image. I thought simple pencil colouring might work (although not so well for the photograph, it turns out!) and used the Toned Grey paper again as a nice neutral, slightly sandy base.

Stamps:
Seaside (Craft Secrets, no longer with us)

Paper:
Toned Grey by Strathmore

Ink:
Brilliance by Tsukineko (Pearlescent Chocolate)
Tim Holtz Distress ink by Ranger (Antique Linen)

Other:
Stitched rectangle dies (Paper Rose Studio)
Coloured pencils

I realised I forgot to blog July's chain card so I'll do that here too, just so I have a record if I check back on my blog! This one went to Helen and I chose the underwater theme, the colours and the sketch (mirror image as my octopus faces right).

I used the MISTI and stamped dark to light so I cold heat emboss the solid layer of the image so the octopus would resist the inking for the background circle - sure beats trying to mask those fiddly tentacles!

Stamps:
Color Layering Octopus (Hero Arts)

Paper:
Bristol board

Ink:
I don't remember but Distress and Oxides in Wilted Violet, Milled Lavender, Tumbled Glass and Salty Ocean probably went in there somewhere! I do rememeber the sentiment is Charcoal by Hero Arts.

Other:
Detail embossing powder (clear)
Sequins
Stickles (Frosted Lace)
Stencil (Fibres by Visible Image)
MISTI

Thanks for stopping by, hope you are keeping safe and well. There are still a few days to sign up for the September chain if you fancy making and sending a card and getting one from another chain member. sign up here.