Have a dino-mite birthday

Hello everyone!

I'd like to share with you my newest creation. It was made for the new theme "For the Boys" over at Papercraft Challenges:

Our kind sponsor Dr Digi provided us with sum fun images and I chose the dino, because there are some birthdays for little boys coming up and for this the cute image is perfect I think. I created a background fpr the dino using a leaves-stencil and also coloured a piece of scrap paper with the same colours I used for the dino to cut the word "birthday" from.

Next step was to assemble everything on an orange-yellowish cardbase to fit with the beak and the bone plates. As a finishing touch I added Nuvo drops in two different colours. If you looks closely you'll see that each drop has a lighter dot in the middle which turned out really great in real life but gets lost a little in the pictures. Next time I want to try creating a rainbow dot that way...

I hope you are going to join us with a creation "For the Boys" and I keep my fingers crossed for you to win the 2 digis by our sponsor Dr. Digi!

Until next time have a fantastic months and happy crafting to you ;o))

Supplies:
Digi stamp: "Stacey the Stegosaurus" by Dr. Digi 
Stamps: "You rock" by Clearly Besotted (discontinued)
Stencil: "Leafy" by Create a Smile
Die: "Birthday" by Create a Smile

To a koality friend

Hello everyone ;o)

I hope you had a great start to the year 2024! Today I would like to share my first DT card of the year with you. Over at Papercraft Challenges we thought you might all want to play with your new stamps and made it an "Anything Goes" theme. This is what I have created (even though the stamp I have used isn't new anymore I still love playing with it):

This card was super easy to make, but I love the way it looks. I started by creating the background with two different yellow shades and used a scalloped frame die to cut it out. I glued the background piece on a yellow card base and added this super cute koala. 

Also I added the three red hearts to have the colour in more than one place. Hope you are going to join us in this month's challenge! Have a fabulous day and happy crafting!!!

Happy Fall Fox

Happy fall to you all! :o)

Today is the first of the month of October so we have a new challenge for you over at Challenge Up Your Life. This time the theme is "Autumn Leaves" and this is the card I created for the challenge:

I love this 2 step stencil by Create A Smile and thoroughly enjoyed creating the background. What do you think about it? 

The background was supposed to be the star of the show, but I think this super adorable fox can hold its ground. I placed him on the polaroid die cut after adding a quick backdrop to that as well. The sentiment found a good place on the bottom of the polaroid and at first I thought I would add some glue dots around the fox but then I decided against it. I hope to see your project in our gallery over at Challenge Up Your Life featuring some Autumn Leaves, too ;o)

Supplies:
Stamps: "Fox - discontinued" & "Happy Fall"  by Gerda Steiner Design
Stencil: "Layered Leaves" by Create A Smile
Die: "Polaroid Stax - discontinued" by My Favourite Things

Surprise - Birthday Cards

Hello everyone,

how are you all doing? I hope you all get to enjoy some sun, great food, a wide smile from someone and some happy time crafting today ;o) Doesn't that sound like a wonderful day?! Here it has been raining all day, but except for the sun I got all of the other things I mentioned above and consider myself blessed! With the pandemic still going on I feel it helps to really think about the things we enjoy. However, enough talking for mow and more sharing... This is the card I'd like to share with you today which I made for the current "Anything Goes" theme at Papercraft Challenges:

I love this "Critter Crew" stamp by Avery Elle. It has the perfect size for a card and there is no need to mask anything yet have an interesting image. Do you like using "pre-arranged" images? For the background I created a quick pattern with some Distress Ink and a stencil and also die cut the oval as a way to anchor the image on the background. 

If you have been on my blog before you might now that I love rainbow coloured images, so with this one I chose to colour the hats in rainbow colours. Because the yellow was the only colour that was only represented once on the card I decided to use a piece of yellow paper for the banner to stamp the sentiment on. That way it all looks balanced I think. I hope you are going to join us for our "Anything Goes" theme at Papercraft Challenges ;o) Have a wonderful weekend and happy crafting everyone, yours Maike

Supplies:

Stamps: "Critter Crew" by Avery Elle

Stencil: "Balloons" by Echo Park (right at the bottom of the page)

Challenges:

Seize the Birthday "Make it a Bouquet"

Simon Says Stamp "Stencil It"

AAA Birthday Card Challenge "Birthdays" (Happy 2nd birthday ;o))

Use Your Stuff "Use Stencils"

Merry Christmas (Skydiving Santa)

Hello everyone,

let me start today's post with saying "After Christmas is Before Christmas" and I do hope you'll agree. It seems that every year there are less cards in my stash than I would actually like to send, so again I vowed to keep creating Christmas cards all year long. And so here is another one I made and would like to share with you:

I created a slider card for the newest theme "Heat Or Dry Embossing" over at Papercraft Challenges with this super cute skydiving Santa by our kind sponsor Dr. Digis. You could win 2 digis from their online store if your entry numbers wins! Isn't that fun? For my card I started by heat embossing the text backround on to a piece of white cardstock and added the clouds through a stencil after it was cooled down completely.

Next I added the sentiment towards the bottom of the card and figured out how long the slider "tunnel" could be for Santa not to fly too high or land on or over the sentiment. I added a piece of foam tape to the back (around where his head is) and stuck this piece through the "tunnel" I had cut into the embossed paper. From behind I added a coin, so it would have enough weight to move. Have you started on a new Christmas card stash already?

I hope you are going to join us at Papercraft Challenges and I wish you and your loved ones all the best and as always happy crafting, yours Maike ;o)

Supplies:

Stamps: "Skydive Santa" by Dr. Digis

              "Christmas Background" by My Favourite Things

Dies: "Merry Christmas" by My Favourite Things (unfortunately discontinued it seems)

A Fairy Nice Day

Hello my dear crafty friends!

I hope you are all doing fine and that you get to enjoy some sun outside or some light over your craft desk ;o) I happen to have an idea for the latter: How about joining us at the Crafty Cardmakers with a "Things With Wings" themed project this fortnight??! I had so much fun pairing this cute fairy with the beautiful "Bloom" stencil by Create A Smile Stamps:

It is a rather simple card but I do love it for the vibrant colours. Also when you look at it for some time and focus on the fairy's feet the card gets a more dimensional look. At least it is that way for me. 

For the "Blossom" itself I used three different Distress Inks (Mustard Seeds, Pink Raspberry and Peacock Feathers) and made sure they overlapped quite a bit, to get all the other blended shades too. I didn't want the sentiment to take anything away from the background so I decided to just stamp it there using the MISTI tool to get a really deep black line. I hope you are going to join us for some fun with "Things With Wings" and would love to see your project in our gallery ;o)

Supplies:

Stamps: "Little Fairies" The Greeting Farm

Stencil "Blossom" by Create A Smile Stamps

And if you like fairies, here is another card I made using the same stamp set:

And a whole bunch of fairy goodies for my dearest "Klosterschwestern" in 2018. The tree log contained a special rubber to help when one made a little booboo ;o)

Liebe Grüße aus der Ferne - Butterfly

Hello there,

hope you are all doing great. This card - that I made as an inspiration card for the newest challenge "Geometric" at Papercraft Challenges - is the perfect card to just say hello to any friend whom you might like to make smile I think. This is the card:

The image-stamps I used are from a small German company called "Stempelschmiede" and are rather old, so that unfortunately I can't link you to the same ones, but I will link you to the shop if you are interested in having a look what other stamps the offer ;o) I love this cute butterfly in the rainbow look and I hope it brings a smile to your face as well ;o)

I am aware that I paired the images with a rather unlikely background, but I had that one laying around and I really liked the look of the purple and pink geometric pattern paired with the colourful images. What do you think? Would you have liked a green background better? I would love to see which geometric pattern you will create and hope to see many of your makes in our gallery! Have a fabulous week and happy crafting everyone ;o) Take care, yours Maike!

Supplies:

Stamps: "Aus der Ferne" by Create A Smile Stamps (available in English as well "From Afar")

Stencil: "Stencil Triangles" by Create A Smile Stamps 

Challenges:

Sweet Stampers Challenge "Something beginning with B" (Butterfly, Background, Blume)

Moving along with the times "Things with Wings"

Catcher of Beasts - Male card

Hello everyone

and welcome on my blog ;o) Today I would like to share my inspiration card for the newest challenge at the Crafty Cardmakers with you. Our theme this time is "Male Cards" and so I thought I'd go with a blue and grey colour scheme as well as with a geometric background design. But have a look yourself:

I got to play with my first set of Kindred Stamps this time around, because I thought the image resembling the main character from "Phantastic Beasts" would be perfect for a male recipient. I hope it will make them feel like a nifty wizard ;o))) I gave them both a piece of metallic looking vellum to stand on, so that the background is still visible but it adds just a hint of magic to the card too ;o)

For the background I have used a new stencil which I thought would look good with the theme as well as give me a chance to introduce a bit of colour to the card. I decided to go with an ombre look in blue-green colours and have used Distress Inks to create it. I hope you are going to join us for this fun theme and happy crafting, yours Maike ;o)

Supplies:
Stamps: "Catcher of Beasts" by Kindred Stamps (linked to Stempelbar)
Stencil: "Falling" by That Special Touch Mask (linked to Stempelbar)

Challenges:
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge "Something Metallic"
Aud Sentiments "Anything Goes + Sentiment"
Cute Card Thursday "Masculine"
Dragon Fly Dreams "Make it Masculine"
Catch The Bug Challenge "The Man, The Myth, The Legend"

Super Duper Hero

Heya everyone!

"Hero" is the theme of our newest challenge at PINspirational Challenges or better this picture is:

I created a friendship card with the hero-theme, because I consider many of my friends heroes. Some are awesome mums or great, inspiring teachers others are brilliant with people or animals or plants... So I will have to choose carefully whom I will send this card to in the end ;o)

Wishing you all a wonderful week, hope you get to meet up with some of your own heroes and happy crafting everyone ;o) Maike

Supplies:
Stamps: "Tiny Heroes" by Mama Elephant

Dies: "Wonky Stitches Elle-Ments" by Avery Elle
Stencil: by MFTstamps, but discontinued. (Here is a similar one however.)

Challenges:
Simon Says Monday Challenge "Make Your Own Background"

2 Crafty Critter Crazies "Animals"

Sweet Stampers Challenge "Animals / Birds"

Crafty Animals "Include an animal"
Sweet Stampin Challenge "Cute"

Shimmering Butterflies

Hello everyone,

for the newest challenge at the Crafty Cardmakers with the theme "Butterflies" I created this card as an inspiration:

Using a stencil I created the background in an ombre fashion and went on die cutting all the butterflies next. I die cut the big butterfly from some sturdy vellum and die cut the intricate design from the shimmery cardstock next. I did put "Stick It" behind the paper before die-cutting because I am really not good at adhering down tiny things.

I really love the effect the paper gives. Depending on how you tilt it in the light it catches the light differently and thus the card never really looks quite the same... 

I added the small butterflies as extra-embellishment and in order to give the eye something to move along with - and yes, I admit it, because I love the paper so much and wanted even more on my card! I hope you are going to join us for our "Butterfly" challenge at the Crafty Cardmakers! Please stay safe, have a wonderful week and happy crafting!!! Yours Maike

Supplies:

Stamp: "" by Simon Says Stamp

Dies: by Memory Box, though they don't seem to have the exact one I have used any more...

Stencil: by My Favorite Things (discontinued)

Challenges:
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge "Animal Fun"
The Sisterhood of Crafters "Birds, Bees, Butterflies"

Have your cake and eat it too ;o) (Bird)

Heya everyone!

I am back with a card for our newest PINspirational challenge. This is the inspiration picture we have chosen for you this time:

I just love the colours and at first thought I'd create a card using the colour palette, but I also liked the cake and just like too many other times in my life the cake won... Though luckily this sweetness doesn't go straight to the hips ;o) 

I created the front by stamping and masking the bird popping out of the box and next stamping the cake behind that and covered that image with a mask as well to be able to add some colour to the background. Using the same ink (Merman Ink by Lawn Fawn) I also added the bubbles to give the background more interest. Now it was time to remove the masks and to colour in the images with my beloved Copics! The confetti was added last and even though I couldn't have the pieces light yellow, I think it still works this way and saved me a lot of work! 

The images are from a rather new to me stamp set by Lawn Fawn which was created with a magic picture changer in mind. I like that the set has two images, that go together: like the cake with the candles lit and then

someone has blown them out and tried a piece of that cake. So I decided to use the second image on the inside as a little unexpected surprise. I hope you like my card and that you are going to join us at PINspirational for this super sweet challenge ;o) Have a lovely day and happy crafting, everyone! Yours Maike

Supplies:

Stamps: "Birthday Before'n Afters" by Lawn Fawn

Stencil: "Layering Stencil: Bubble THS 002" by Tim Holzt

Challenges:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge "Anything Goes"
Dream Valley Challenges "Spots and or Dots"
Corrosive Challenge "Anything Goes"
613 Avenue Create "Anything Goes"

Monster Wishes with Scary Pals

And hello again!

I am back with an inspiration card for the new task at Challenge Up Your Life. This time we would like to see "Frames" on your projects and you have almost one month to enter your card, layout, box, ... to our gallery. We will feature the winner and they will have the chance to guest design for our next challenge. So here is what I came up with:

I love those cute monsters by Avery Elle and thought they would make great images for the frames and my birthday card ;o) I stamped them each on a square piece of paper - slightly bigger than the frame, masked them and coloured the background. First I added a layer of light pink and then I went back with a darker pink through a stencil to add the stars. 

I also added stars to the background, but bigger ones and in yellow which I like very much as a contrasting colour to pink. The frames were kept white, so that they would stand out against all that colour and give the eye a resting place. You can't see it very well in the pictures, but I added gloss to the eyeballs of the blue monster and to the horns of the one in the middle. I really hope you are going to join us and am looking forward to seeing what you "put" in your frame ;o)))

Have a wonderful week and happy crafting, yours Maike ;o)))

Supplies:

Stamps: "Peek-A-Boo Scary Pals" Avery Elle

Dies: "Single Stitch Line Rounded Square Frames" by My Favorite Things (discontinued)

Stencils: "Wave of Stars" and "Big Stars Polka" by Create a Smile

Challenges:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge "Anything Goes"

A Place to Start "Anything Goes with twist: Masking"

Seize the Birthday #175 "Topping: Add a geometric shape" 

Happy Birthday Polaroid

Heya everyone!

Have you managed to keep away from germs and whatever the plural of virus is? ;o) I hope you did!!! I'd would like to share my card for the "Bright Colours" theme at Papercraft Challenges with you:

When I think of bright colours the colours of the rainbow always come first to my mind... That's why I coloured the sentiment and the stripes on the camera that way ;o) The digi of the fun camera was kindly sponsored by Dr.Digis. I glued it to a stencilled background after colouring it with Copic markers and cutting it out. I lifted the polaroid picture up using a tiny piece of rather flat foam tape, but that was enough to give the impression of that part sticking out from the camera.

For a final touch I added some Nuvo drops around the digi and darkened the edges of my panel a little. I hope you are going to join our "Bright Colours" challenge and hope to see you again soon ;o)Take care of yourself my crafty friends and happy crafting to all of you, yours Maike

Material / supplies:

Stempel / stamps: "Birthday Cheese" von Dr. Digi's House of Stamps

Stanze / die: "Wonky Stitches Elle-Ments" von Avery Elle

Schablone / Stencil: "Concentric Circles" von Create A Smile

 

Challenges:

Allsorts Challenge "Make it masculine"

"Aloha" - Girl and Turtle

Hallo zusammen!

Bei der Pinspirational Challenge startet heute eine neue Herausforderung für euch. Dieses Mal gibt es ein tolles Inspirationsbild für den Sommer und die anstehenden Ferien. Aber schaut selbst:

Heya everyone!

Over at the PINspirational blog we have a new challenge for you. This time the inspiration pic is perfect for the summer time and the upcoming time of vacations. But look for yourself:

Ich habe mich für das Strandthema ganz allgemein entschieden und für meine Karte sowohl einen Himmel als auch den Strand gewerkelt. Für den Himmel habe ich die wunderbar schimmernden Nuvo Pasten und eine Schablone benutzt, für den Strand habe ich allerdings Distress Inks in den Farben Fossilized Amber and Vintage Photo benutzt. The Stempelbilder habe ich mit Copics coloriert.

I chose to go with the beach theme in general and for my card I created a cloud background with the lovely and shimmery Nuvo paste and also ink up some paper in sand colours. I have used Distress Inks for this in Fossilized Amber and Vintage Photo. The images are from My Favorite Things and are all coloured with Copic markers.

Wenn ihr dieses Mal (wieder?) mitmacht, habt ihr die Chance auf einen tollen Preis von unserem freundlichen Sponsor "Elisabeth Bell". Ich würde mich freuen euer Projekt in unserer Gallerie zu sehen! Habt eine sonnige Woche und happy craftingm wünscht euch eure Maike

In case you feel like taking part in our challenge you'll have the chance to win a fabulous prize by our very kind sponsor "Elisabeth Bell". I would love to see your project in our gallery and hope you'll have a great and sunny week! Happy crafting, yours Maike

Material / supplies:

Stempel / stamps: "BB Polynesian Paradise" von My Favorite Things

Stanzen / dies: "All Prettied Up" von Mama Elephant

                         "Stitched Hillside Border" von Lawn Fawn

                         "Stitched Circle Die" von My Favorite Things