World Bee Day

Hi there everyone! Today I am honoured to be part of a blog hop that has been organised by the very talented Milka Gubo. The aim of the hop is to support bees and to raise public awareness of the importance of bees and apiculutral products.

You should have come to me from the lovely Kathy Curry's blog but if you have missed someone along the way, please find the complete list further down my post.

Last December the UN officially declared that the 20th of May is officially "World Bee Day". If you are interested you can see the press release HERE.

I had to improvise for my card as I don't even have anything related to bees in my stash! I will have to fix that :)

I created a honeycomb effect using a die which I placed over a Brusho background. I used yellow and orange brushos, smooshing them and drying in between smooshes.

I created my sentiment by die cutting the letters and then masking a Happy Birthday sentiment so only the Happy was inked up. 

Happy Little Stampers is sponsoring this event as are MANY other sponsors. If you would like the chance to win a prize, you need to hop along with all the amazing sponsors/designers.

Milka Gubo

Alice Wertz

Amy Tsuruta

Barbara Sproatmeyer

Beverly Brown

Birka Reinitz

Kaja Vezensek

Kathy Curry

Kylie Purtell (you are here)

Neha Bhatt

Samantha Mann

Sonja Kerkhoffs

Sue Hastead

Tina Pavlovic

Zrinka Beric

Ksenija Rizova 

Here are all the amazing sponsors participating in the hop (all the prize details can be found at Milka's blog)

Milka is also giving away Jane’s Doodles ‘Garden Friends’ stamp set to two lucky winners.

17 prizes will be given away to 17 winners. 

For your chance to win, hop along blogs of the participating designers and leave comment on each blog hop stop. After commenting, return back to Milka’s blog and add your name to Inlinkz, but prior you do, please read Blog Hop details, terms, giveaway rules and privacy policy which are shared in Milka's blog post below Inlinkz.

Inlinkz closes tomorrow, May 21st 2018, 11:00 PM CEST. Winners’ names will be announced on Milka’s blog next day.

Have fun hopping along!

Graffiti Stamping

Hello everyone! Today is quite exciting because I am going to be designing once again for the fantastic challenge blog Inkspirational. I would like to thank Marina for the invitation - I couldn't say no :)

Well, the first challenge I have come back to was a little puzzling to me because I had never heard of this technique before!

I was thinking..... huh??? But, I did a googly search and found some really interesting ideas. It actually wasn't as hard as it first looks.

Here is my card.

I really loved how this turned out! I used my MISTI to place my first large stamp - the Happy from HLS Everyday Sentiments. I used that as my 'base' for my other stamps. I decided to stamp on an angle. I used a variety of sentiment stamps which included Everyday Sentiments, Mix Mash, Bold Birthday Sentiments and Fun Birthday Sentiments. The funny thing was that once I started I didn't want to stop. I had so many fun stamps! 

I stamped with archival inks in Jet Black, Watering Can, Cornflower Blue, Sap Green, Viridian, and Aquamarine. I love how this would be perfect for a masculine card because I really struggle with those!!

This is also a ONE LAYER card so it is perfect for mailing!

I hope to see you over at Inkspirational for this challenge because it is a really fun technique that you should try :)

Thanks for popping in today :)

Watercoloured Balloons

Hi everyone. I made a very quick card tonight and now it's time for my beauty sleep. 

I used my stitched rectangle dies to create the faux stitching around the edge of my card and also to create my frame for the balloons.

I stamped and masked the balloon from the HLS Simply Said stamp set using my MISTI. I embossed them with black powder. The sentiment is from the Fun Birthday Sentiments set which, alas, has been retired.

The balloons were coloured using Zig Watercolour pens. Once dry, I covered the them with WOS in clear.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges -

Cut It Up  - You've got me in stitches (real or faux)

Double D Challenges - Things that Fly (mood board below)

Thanks for popping in today and goodnight :)

Smooshed Birthday

Hi everyone. Today I had a little time to create a card for another birthday coming up this month. 

I decided to watercolour smoosh a panel and then layer a new die cut over the top.

Here it is -

I started by sprinkling purple brusho onto my craft mat, misting it with water, then smooshing my watercolour cardstock into the paint. I repeated this step a few times, drying with my heat gun in between. I did the same with a smaller panel so I could die cut my butterfly.

I also used a little Gold perfect pearls to smoosh with too. It's not quite evident in the photo but it gives it a subtle shine.

I used my new MFT Split Chevron Cover Up die to lay over the top of my panel.

I used my MISTI to stamp my sentiment (HLS Fun Birthday Sentiments) onto a linen cardstock.

I also used my WOS pen to give my butterfly some sparkle.

I would like to enter my card over at -

(Ive used the topping of Black, White, and one other colour)

Here is a list of my products used that you can purchase at HLS -

       

          


Thanks so much for popping by! xx

Brushos and Masking Fluid with Video Tutorial

Hello! I was finally able to edit and upload my video tutorial for creating a card with Brusho powders and masking fluid.  I had terrible issues with my editor, sorry. It isn't perfect.... but you will definitely get the idea.

Today I would like to share not only my video tutorial but another card I made using this technique -

You will get a better idea about how I created my mask by watching my video tutorial but I basically cut the butterfly from the HLS Butterfly Dies using post-it tape and then used masking fluid to create a larger area of the mask. Once both masks were removed, I added the brusho colours using a brush.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges -

Crafty Cardmakers - Birthdays

and over at Addicted to CAS, Happy Little Stampers is sponsoring their Watercolour challenge!

Here is my tutorial -

These are the products I used -

          

Thanks for popping by!

Brushos and Masking Fluid

Hi everyone! I wanted to have a quick play last weekend because my time in the craft room is quite limited at the moment. 

I have been helping out at a Post Office on a neighbouring island due to the owner having a hip replacement. I am also working more shifts at our local RSL club. No time for much else, waaah.

When I was in the UK for the Happy Little Stampers Craft Retreat, Carol showed us a few techniques on masking. I bought some drawing gum thanks to Carol and decided to break it out and give it a go with my brushos.

Here is my card -

I created a mask for the balloon (using a die cut and post-it tape) and masked around the edges and surrounding area with the masking fluid. 

I have created a video tutorial for this technique but am having trouble with my video editor. Hopefully I will actually get it done and uploaded this century!

I sprinkled my brusho colours onto my craft mat, spritzed them with water and used a brush to apply the colours. I added splats by loading up my paintbrush with the same colours and flicking it onto the paper. 

The sentiment is from the Happy Little Stampers Fun Birthday Sentiments set.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges -

Southern Ridge - Your Favourites (mine are definitely Brushos)

Craft for the Craic - photo inspiration

Powder Power

Use Embossing Powders or Pigment Powders.

Thanks for popping in today. Have a great Wednesday!

New to me technique using Brushos

Hi there everyone! I had an awesome day in my craft room today. As usual, I am reaching for my Brushos. They have to be one of my most favourite things to use on cards.

While at the HLS Craft Retreat, we had so much fun playing with Brushos. I did a demo using the starch and cling wrap technique.  We had lots of Anything Goes time to play with all our goodies as well. This gave everyone the chance to play at their own pace and experiment.

Darnell created a beautiful panel using her Brusho powders over a stencil. Everyone loved it. I hadn't done this before so decided to have a play today. 

I really love combining Brusho colours to create a bit of a rainbow effect. The colours are so vivid!

Here is my card -

The colours I used are - Turquoise, Purple, Lime Green, Sunburst Lemon, Orange, and Crimson

I love how it turned out. Stay tuned for a video tutorial as soon as my new camera arrives. I can't wait to share this technique with you :)

The sentiment is from the HLS Fun Birthday Sentiments and heat embossed with WOW! powder.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges -

613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes

Moving Along With the Times - CAS

Thanks for popping in today. See you soon xx

Cupcake and Jellyfish

Happy Sunday everyone. I hope your weekend has been great so far. 

Today I was on a mission. To start using new goodies that I had acquired from the HLS Craft Retreat - the other mission was what to choose!

Now, Miss USA (aka Darnell) has a very well timed NBUS challenge that gave me the kick in the pants to get started.

I had seen a couple of fellow bloggers in my feed, posting about the challenge at Cupcake Inspirations. I had a light bulb moment. I had received a gorgeous die set from Susan (fellow teamie at ATCAS) for my birthday in July. It is the mini cupcake by Paper Smooches.

Here is my card -

I die cut the cupcake and sprinkles from Brusho panels that I had spare. The colours are Lime Green and Purple. Love them! I stamped the sentiment with Memento Luxe Ink - Sweet Plum. It is from the Happy Little Stampers Fun Birthday Sentiments set.

The challenge at Cupcake Inspirations is to also decorate the inside of your card. I had the perfect PTI stamp set to go with my cupcake. I RARELY decorate the inside of my cards so thanks for the challenge :)

Here are the challenges that I am entering this card into -

I was looking at the cupcake die and had another light bulb moment. When used upside down it looks like a jellyfish!

The background is a piece from my stash made at the HLS Craft Retreat (using Brusho, Starch and Cling Wrap). I drew the tentacles and added googly eyes for fun :) He looks a little.... angry??

The background die that I used on both cards is one of my new ones from Sizzix. Love it!

I would like to enter this fella into the following challenges -

Allsorts - Use at least 2 dies

Die Cutting' Diva's - Birthday

Thanks for popping in today. Have a great rest of your weekend :)

HLS July CASE the Designer

Hello! Wow, it is the 1st of July. Time for a brand new month of challenges at Happy Little Stampers. 

We kick off July with our CASE the Designer challenge. This month we have the amazingly talented Carol as our designer. I had so much fun CASEing Carol's gorgeous card.

    

Here is my card -

I thought Carol's card was adorable with the aperture she created. While making mine I had a bit of a light bulb moment and went with making a shaker card.

I also wanted to create the punny sentiment like Carol did. 

Here is a close up off all the cute shaker elements.

I used the set by Happy Little Stampers called Birthday Friends. The small 'Happy Birthday' is from the Fun Birthday Sentiments set. Perfect for mixing up with other sets.


    


We can't wait to see what you come up when you enter this challenge.




See you there!

HLS CASE the Designer Challenge

Hi everyone. I can't believe it is March already!

This is a scheduled post for me as I am cruising around the South Pacific. I will check in when I get back with some photos :)

At Happy Little Stampers today is the day we kick off our

  

Kim Heggins came up with this amazing card using inlaid dies for us to CASE.

  

Here is my CASE of Kim's card -

I had to change up my layout to work with the dies I have in my stash but I love how it turned out. 

I've used Glitter paper for my negative cuts and stamped the sentiment (Fun Birthday Sentiments) in black. 

Here is another card I made because I was having fun with this technique.

I made the background for my inlaid dies by drawing with gelatos onto paper to create a rainbow, spraying it wit a gloss sealer and then die cutting my bits and pieces.

HLS Products used -

I hope you pop on over to the Happy Little Stampers blog to see the amazing inspiration by the Design Team. 

Thanks for popping in :)