These robins definitely took the longest to make. From somewhere, not sure where, I had got it into my mind that I wanted to try doing a proper lino cut. I've made simple stamps in the past, but haven't tried using lino probably since I was in school. The robin turned out nicely, but needed… Continue reading Printed robins
These are probably my favourite cards this year. I love the variation you get from layering the strokes of different greens. Where Kristina Werner kept her Easy DIY Tree super simple, I decided to add some sparkle. I heat-embossed a pot and painted it gold, and then added a glittery die-cut star to the top.… Continue reading Watercolour tree
I'd say these were just inspired by the simple squares cards made by Veerle Moreels of A Colored Mind, but I honestly couldn't improve on her design. I did use different sentiments and added some matching splatters but apart from that... Supplies: stamps: Visible Image - Christmas chaos Visible Image - peace love and hope… Continue reading Watercolour squares
The first of my cards using my latest acquisition of Christmas stamps from Visible Image. I was originally going to use the background panels on their own, but the colours I picked for the ink and embossing powder layers didn't work as nicely as I'd hoped, so I used them as the base for the… Continue reading Outline trees
Way back in June 2016 I made two Copic farmyard cards and they have been sitting in my stash ever since. When I went to visit my mum last month I asked her if she would be interested in them because I thought one of my uncles might find them amusing; she said yes, but… Continue reading Farmyard Christmas
I don't think I've ever felt less Christmassy. Really not helped by catching this horrible cold that has been going around and then, just as I thought I might be on the mend after two weeks, getting a 24-hour stomach bug that wiped me out for another week and then, just as I'm starting to… Continue reading Embossed Christmas tree
By the time we got to the middle of October, I was starting to worry that I was running out of time to come up with an idea for my mum's birthday card. I've used all my blackberry images and didn't want to repeat myself unless I absolutely had to — the same goes for… Continue reading Vintage mouse on leaves
And following quickly on the heels of my brother's birthday comes an easier birthday to make for. Easier because this is one birthday — my other half's sister — where I can repeat the general theme without worrying that it won't be appreciated. Bunnies! And this is a particularly cute bunny. I did the colouring… Continue reading Cute bunny
September brings my brother's birthday and along with it the usual problem of coming up with a design for a masculine card. And this year was worse because it was a big number birthday. I've done camper vans and sheep and bikes and even sheep and bikes in past years and I didn't want to… Continue reading Encaustic landscape II
Another birthday card and once again my inspiration for card-making has deserted me. And it's for a guy so, of course, absolutely nothing in my stash is suitable. Luckily I have my secondary stash of coloured images to fall back on. A quick sort through and I settled on this cute dinosaur and his stack… Continue reading Dino birthday
All the time I was making the art cards for the Daily Marker colouring challenge, there was a nagging voice in the back of my head reminding me that it would be my other half's birthday only two days after the challenge ended and I really ought to be spending a bit of time making… Continue reading Twist-and-pop bots
Rather than automatically make a new card every time someone’s birthday comes around, I’ve been trying to use up some of my card stash, but there are exceptions. The birthday of my other half’s twin nieces is one such occasion. I’ve been seeing a few mentions of bridge cards recently and decided that a pair… Continue reading A pair of roses
I'm always happy to have an excuse to colour Power Poppy flowers; I chose these pretty sweet peas for my brother's girlfriend's birthday earlier this year. Like all Power Poppy images, this is so beautifully drawn that it's easy to get a good result. The background was more of a challenge. I could have left… Continue reading Sweet peas
The only other Easter card I made this year: the inevitable Easter bunny... Any excuse to colour up a bunny for my other half's sister. It's so satisfying making a card for someone who truly appreciates it; she keeps all my cards and has even been known to "look after" ones I've made for her… Continue reading Easter bunny and egg
I may not have made that many cards this year, but I still manage to take my time writing them up for the blog. Though Easter was less than a month ago, so it could be a lot worse... And I only made two Easter cards this year — this one for my mum and… Continue reading Vintage Easter egg
Crafty Rat 