The Card Concept Challenge #199

Welcome to the first Card Concept challenge after the holiday break and we've a fabulous inspiration photo for you called Country Style. 

The challenge is to create a card inspired by any aspect of this photo, whether it's the theme, the colours, the flowers, rooster, barn, door, ribbon, wreath - just any idea that comes to mind. Plus of course we'd love it if you shared your card in our gallery. If you post on social media, please tag @thecardconceptchallenges2 and use the hashtag #tcc199. 

My mixed media card was inspired by the country theme, flowers and black gingham ribbon.

Lots of layering and dimension on this one. Everything was cut from watercolour card and coloured using oxide inks, and you all know how much I love using those! 😉 SU's in-colour dots came in very handy for flower centres.

Materials used:

• stamps - So Sincere (Stampin' Up!)
• card - black, watercolour, gingham digi paper (Etsy)
• dies - Country Wheelbarrow, Garden Builder, Essential Arches (all Spellbinders)
• other - Big Shot, craft foam, Dimensionals, blending brushes, in-colour dots (SU), distress oxide inks, MISTI, fine-tip glue

I do hope you'll pop over to the Card Concept blog to see what my fellow team mates created, and that you'll be inspired to join us. The challenge runs for a month, ending on Monday 9th October. 

Happy crafting and thanks for dropping by.

Cheers

Kerry

The Humble Pumpkin

The other night I was enjoying a bowl of homemade pumpkin soup with some toasted sourdough (om nom nom) and reflecting on the humble pumpkin, which I've always loved. I can remember as a child, whenever mum made a roast dinner, I would swap with my older brother - I'd give him my kumara (sweet potato) and he'd give me his pumpkin. Recently elder daughter came to visit bringing some pumpkin goodies I had never tried - a pumpkin scone and a couple of pumpkin muffins. (They'd had lots of pumpkin in their veggie box that week, so she was making pumpkin everything, lol) The scone didn't do anything for me but the muffins were fabulous, moist and flavorful - of course I got the recipe!

So for today's card I've featured pumpkins. I was having another play with my Country Road collection dies (see this earlier card), again adding some other dies I already had in my stash. 

Materials used:

• stamps - Welcome Sign & Sentiments (Spellbinders) 
• card - basic white, early espresso (SU), Biscuit (Kaisercraft), watercolour
• dies - Welcome Sign & Sentiments, Country Wheelbarrow (Spellbinders), Autumn Elements (Karen Burniston)
• distress oxide inks - peacock feathers, rusty hinge, vintage photo, antique linen, black soot, hickory smoke, carved pumpkin, ripe persimmon, crackling campfire, mowed lawn, rustic wilderness
• other - blending brushes, Big Shot, Dimensionals, craft foam, water spritzer, early espresso marker, ground espresso and vintage photo archival inks, MISTI

And now, having thought about pumpkins so much, I'm craving those muffins! In case you're interested, here's a link to the recipe. By the way, did you know pumpkin is a fruit? Go figure!

Thanks for calling in.

Cheers

Kerry

Gather Love

As crafters I'm sure you understand completely that feeling of instantly falling in love with a stamp or die or stencil set. Such was the case for me when I first saw the Country Road collection by Annie Williams for Spellbinders. I've bought just a couple of the sets so far (though I'm pretty sure more will make their way here before long) and love that I can pair them with bits and pieces already in my stash. Today's card came from a play with the Welcome Sign & Sentiments stamp and die set. 

I really wanted the sign to look a bit weathered, so hopefully I've achieved that. Many of the dies were assembled late at night, so do forgive any mishaps, lol. Those small, fiddly bits can get the better of me when I'm tired! And does anyone else always lose the flower centres (and tiddles from letter 'i's) and have to cut more?

Materials used:

• stamps - Welcome Sign & Sentiments (Spellbinders)
• card - basic white, basic black
• dies - Welcome Sign & Sentiments (Spellbinders), Bunny Games (Tim Holtz), Cats at Play (stash), Essential Arches (Spellbinders)
• distress oxide inks - hello honey, carved pumpkin, picked raspberry, seedless preserves, villainous potion, mowed lawn, mustard seed, wilted violet
• other - blending brushes, Dimensionals, craft foam, picket fence distress paint, paintbrush, Big Shot

More to come from this collection I'm sure, so stay tuned! Thanks for dropping by.

Cheers

Kerry