Minimalist Monday

Welcome to another edition of Minimalist Monday - today’s card has a fun hidden sentiment. 

Final design was inspired by playing along to a few fun challenges: AAA Cards Challenge - sketch #AAACC336. I changed the orientation to portrait.

Clean and Simple CAS Cards for Beginners #saturdaychallenge40 Celebrations. 

Almost Clean and Simple CAS Cards #saturdaychallenge20 Christmas Pink & Pale Green colour palette.

 

Krafty Chicks Challenge Anything Goes with a Twist of Coffee.

30 Day Christmas Cardmaking Challenge - Day 2 No Peeking - surprises, secrets & hidden treats.

I’m getting inky with Cup of Cheer dies, Banner punch, Bubble Path and Soft Sea Foam inks and rhinestones. 

A fun clean and simple addition to the holiday card collection - love the little peekaboo sentiment hiding in the mug! 

Happy Stampin’ 

Margaret 

Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life 

Slimline Sunday

Welcome to another edition of Slimline Sunday - enjoying the extra design space.

My final design was inspired by playing along to a few fun challenges: Freshly Made Sketches has a gorgeous sketch which I have stretched to be a slimline. #FMS760

Time Out Challenges #TOC325 - Friendship/Encouragement/Support  … I opted for Sympathy support 

Just Add Ink Choose Two - #JAI797 I chose stripes & spots 

Festive Friday Veterans Day #FF0221 inspo list - red, black, watercolour, poppies and sympathy sentiment.

I’m getting inky with an oldie but a goodie Painted Poppies stamp set and ephemera pack paired with Artisan Sketched Garden DSP, Greetings for All ephemera, red ink, aqua painter, Peaceful Pine glimmer brush and Rhinestones coloured with red.

Sympathy cards are the ones you hope you’ll never need from your stash but are handy to have just in case.

Happy Stampin’

Margaret 

Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life

Clean & Simple Saturday

Welcome to another edition of Clean & Simple Saturday.

Today’s final design was inspired by playing along to a few fun challenges: 

CAS Colours & Sketches #597 - fun sketch.

Clean & Simple Cards for Beginners #saturdaychallenge43 Feathers

As You See It #AYSI384 also has a feathers challenge.

Almost Clean & Simple CAS cards #saturdaychallenge19 to use Red & Grey.

The Global Design Project #GDP571 - greenery in my embossed layer.

CAS on Friday #CASF346 to use an embossed element - I chose the leaves in the Seasonal Cheer embossing folder set. 

I’m getting inky with the retired Four Feathers bundle, Fragrant Leaves stamp set, Seasonal Cheer embossing folder the leaves, Real red and Smoky Slate inks, red bakers twine and rhinestones 

Love the soft grey with the pop of red accents - it creates a lovely thinking of you design.

 

Happy Stampin’

Margaret 

Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life 

Feminine & Floral Friday

Welcome to another edition of Feminine & Floral Friday - enjoying my favourite fall flower - the Sunflower!

Colour palette inspired by playing along to this weeks Stampin’ Only Challenge #SUO413 colour palette 

Getting inky with the Sunflower 3D embossing folder, Triple Banner punch & sentiments and Daffodil Delight, Golden Glow, Old Olive, Mossy Meadow and Pecan Pie inks, gold metallic gems and twine. 

Just love this folder - so versatile was so sorry to see it retire already but definitely going to have an honour spot in my retired stash! 

Happy Stampin’

Margaret 

Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life 

Wake Up & Create Thursday #TA4L026

Welcome to another edition of Wake Up & Create Thursday here on the blog.

It’s a little mix of Throwback Thursday with an image or sketch inspiration to use to inspire you to shop your stash and combine some old favourites with new goodies in a new way and than share to inspire others to do the same with their stash! Today’s challenge is a fun sketch inspiration #TA4L026 

I’m getting inky with an old favourite Peaceful Deer stamp set combined with the new Christmas Mice bundle, Pool Party ink blending, Smokey Slate, Petal Pink and Real Red blends, adhesive backed Snowflakes, Wink of Stella and unbranded silver twine. 

Love the little Christmas Mouse bringing home his Christmas tree.

Would love for you to join the fun and play along with the #TA4L026 challenge. Please add the challenge graphic with a link back to the blog on your post. When you’re done add your link below to share with us all! 

Happy Stampin’

Margaret 

Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life

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Whimsical Wings & Things Wednesday

Welcome to another edition of Whimsical Wings & Things Wednesday- having more fun with the whimsical Christmas Crew.

I’m getting inky with the Christmas Crew, Creative Celebrations DSP, blends to colour the adorable snowman, Peaceful Pine ribbon, Wink of Stella and adhesive backed snowflakes.

A fun quick card to add to the Christmas card collection.

Happy Stampin’

Margaret 

Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life 

Technique Tuesday - blending fun

Welcome to Technique Tuesday here on the blog - playing with a simple blending technique because not all techniques need to be over the top to offer a lovely effect on the end design.

Playing along to the Krafty Chicks Challenge to create a masculine vibed card - Mr Reindeer is joining the fun!

I’m getting inky with the Christmas Crew stamp set, retired Peaceful Deer, Peaceful Pine & Pool Party ink for blending, Pecan Pie & Real Red blends for colouring, Wink of Stella for glistening red nose and snow drifts, silver twine and rhinestones.

Here are the top 10 essential tips and techniques for using blending brushes in card making:

Start Off the Card Stock: Never stamp or place a freshly inked brush directly onto the center of your project. Always start your circular motion on a scrap piece of paper off-to-the-side and gently sweep or walk the brush up onto the edge of your cardstock to avoid harsh ink blobs.
Use a Light Hand: Build color gradually using soft, light circular motions rather than pressing hard from the start. You can always add more ink to deepen a shade, but you cannot easily remove excess ink once it is laid down.
Go Light to Dark: Always lay down your lightest ink colors first before transitioning to medium and darker shades. This prevents muddying your lighter ink pads with dark pigment. 
Tap Off Excess Ink: After picking up ink from your pad, tap the bristles lightly on a scrap piece of paper or craft mat to discharge heavy pooling before touching your paper. 
Vary Your Pressure for Intensity: If you want a deeper, more concentrated tone in specific areas (like the centre of a sunset or flower), apply slightly more pressure or use your pointer finger directly on top of the brush head for control.
Match Brush Sizes to the Task: Use large brushes for smooth, quick coverage on full A2 card backgrounds, and switch to micro, flat, or angled detail brushes for tight stencils, small die-cuts, and fine shading. 
Pick the Right Cardstock: Smooth cardstock (such as Bristol paper or basic white cardstock) yields the most seamless, streak-free blend. Textured cardstocks or watercolor papers can also work well if you want a distressed, raised-grain effect.
Keep Ink Pads Juicy: Dry ink pads make blending difficult and tend to leave blotchy brush marks. Re-ink your dye or pigment pads regularly for a velvety, effortless glide.
Incorporate Masking and Stencils: Anchor down custom shapes, torn paper masks, or layered stencils using low-tack washi tape. Blending ink over stencils or around masks creates sharp, clean-edged focal points.
Combine with Heat Embossing (Ink Resist): Heat-emboss a stamped image or sentiment with clear or white embossing powder first, then blend your ink right over the top. The embossed wax or powder will resist the ink, making your design pop with high contrast.

Just love the Christmas Crew stamp set - they are so fun and what makes a stamp set a keeper for me is when you can use it outside the intended Christmas - so the bear & snowman can be for any occasion by just adding other theme birthday or miss you or thank you type sentiments to their little signs. 

Happy Stampin’

Margaret 

Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life