Three More Cards using the Exploding Blocks Die

I'm back with some more cards using this fabulous coverplate from Neat and Tangled. The die is currently sold out but you can let them know you are waiting to hear when it comes back in and I am sure it won't take long.

I have another three cards today and thats not all of them but I will have to take a break after these as I have other cards that need to be posted. Also if you go to the Neat and Tangled blog you will see cards that are the same or very similar to mine as that is where I went for my inspiration in the first place. Whenever I purchase a stamp set or die I go to the place it is from and google image search and type in the name of the set i.e. 'exploding blocks + card' to get ideas to get started. 

My glitter card idea was from seeing a different card on google and thinking this die would suit the idea tried and liked. It was fast and easy as I used a double sided piece of tape on the card front, attached the die cut, covered what I didnt want glitter to go on and added glitter and pressed on with my finger. Really easy though Jake and I were rather glittery for a day or two after.

The Copics version I saw on Neat and Tangled but my version needs a lot of thought: 

You don't use the whole die cut piece, you cut down so you use two panels then

a)you need to remember to centre the dark colouring so it is in the right place when die cut and 

b) a better way to add the pieces back into place than glue as it is messy

c) and very, very time consuming finding all those itty bitty pieces

that actually look smaller than the frame itself.

These next cards are easier versions

This card was inspired by the card on Neat and Tangled and the Muse card for this week.

This card was done using mostly pages from a very old pad of card stock I had forgotten I had bought, if you see it around honestly grab it. IT is PERFECT for die cuts especially the plates perfect size 4.5" x 6.5" this pad is Brights and includes black and white ADHESIVE MAT STACK. It cut perfectly first time. I did have to sit there and use my poker thingy to push the pieces all free but how brilliant, so easy to take the backing off and attach to the card.

White card base, black frame exploding blocks cutout and attached.

Also had a white version cut out and used parts so it looked like a black card

with a white mat then black and coloured blocks.

In the close up you can see some parts where I haven't stuck with doing just the ends

with colours and have filled a side hearer there and thats because I had a case of black

pieces that just disappeared or jumped off the table and I was tired of looking for them

and decided it really didnt matter that much.

I have so much left I will cut out some more black and white sections and make some more, perfect male cards too. Finished off with a MFT 'Celebrate' die cut.

These next two couldn't be any easier..

Watercoloured panel pink,  orange and yellow Distress inks blended 

until I was happy.

White version of Exploding Blocks attached with little glue dots, perfect love it.

Finished off with a die cut ' Just because'

Last one and my absolute favourite.

Panel made with Distress Oxides, smooching, drops of water, drying

more smooching, love love the colours.

Attached the Exploding Blocks die cut. I don't know why but it makes me think of outer space

if it was light out there.

Loved the look of the panel too much to cover it up and wanted to add a 'Happy Birthday'

Diecut so I did what anyone would do in this instance I added it to the inside of the card.

Come with me to check out this new universe.

Cant wait to show you the next lot of Exploding Blocks.

Thank you so much for coming to visit and I hope you come again soon.

Challenges

Muse Card Challenge #226

I saw Marcie's card and was inspired but also struggled as its really a very different style.

As always I like to wait for inspiration to hit and as I was playing with my latest die coverplate Exploding Blocks I felt I had found what I was looking for. I had at first tried stamping but It was bring in the black that I was struggling with, then I thought black cardstock then the rest just fell into place.

Black frame, Bright colours exploding and bold sentiment. If I have stayed too much with Neat and Tangled inspiration let me know and I will remove my card.

Simon Says Wednesday Anything Goes

Happy Birthday Card

CASual Fridays CFC179 Dies Only

Just because

Seize The Birthday Splatter

Not often I get to do the topping but definitely

this time with my 'Happy birthday' card - third

card down splatters for sure.

Addicted to Stamps and More: Challenge #252

Happy Birthday card done with Distress Oxides

I am so enjoying playing with these unbelievable inks.

Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #133 Anything Goes

Just Because card

Day Dreamer Challenges: Anything Goes

I am entering 'Just Because' Card

This is a brand new Challenge people , so why not check it out.

Just Us Girls Week #404 Wild Card

Lucky for me there are 5 Saturdays in this Month so I get to be Guest Designer five times. Sadly this will be my last time. I have totally enjoyed joining the girls in designing cards for the challenges each week and the hardest bit has been working out the time difference. I have loved seeing all the different ideas the Design Team come up with each week and how it inspires you all out there to join in. How easy is this one with my mountain of NBUS (Never Before Used Stuff - word thought up by Darnell and used by many in the card crafting world)

You might need a pair of sunnies here as this is a very bright sparkly card.

I have used a die I purchased and have not used before, so NEW (to me) 

This die is from Neat & Tangled and the link will take you directly to it 

but at the moment it is sold out.

I plan to do another post with a pile of ideas using this die but for today I have used it with glitter. I started out planning to do one thing then changed my mind pat way through. This version was very easy. I die cut a piece of orange card stock and then removed all the little bits and pieces which I have kept in a zip lock bag to use with another cut out of a different colour for a different card later.

I then added a piece of doubled sided tape to the front of my card which is the same size as the die cut panel.

I added the die cut panel lightly until I was sure it was straight then pressed down. I then added glitter from the bottom white, yellow, orange and bronze. I need to work on this style more as I wanted a look of one colour blending into the other but I realised that this many colours in this small a space it wasn't going to work that well. Anyway it turned out ok and not too bad though Jake now has a distinctive glittery look as he moves through the sunlight due to spillage and insisting on sleeping under my craft table.

I finished the card off with a 'celebrate' die that I have had an used for a number of used so that and my glitter are my 'old'. 

Edit:  I'm quickly sneaking in another card I have done. This time with the same die but with copic colouring.

Don't look too closely or you will see all the glue, boy was this a fiddly card. I am determined to try again and find an easier way to do it.

Please feel free to come back see what else I do with this die as I have been busy this morning cutting up multiple layers to experiment with. I look forward to sharing with you.

Now its time to go and see what beautiful cards the Design Team over at Just Us Girls have made for your inspiration. Thank you so much for coming to visit and I hope you come again soon.

Thank you ladies for having me on the team for the last month, I have totally enjoyed myself and feel sad my time has come to an end.

Happiness Is.........

Happiness is....... getting another card made with this beautiful background. I have also managed to use another of my NBUS - this wonderful die, now I want you to imagine thats me sitting in the evening sun reading and relaxing and thinking about mmmm nothing.

Another background done using the tissue watercolour background with just a little gold embossing

then die cut with a rounded stitched rectangle die.

I love how these colours worked out and even though there are a couple of white patches

it still looks ok.

Photos are all done outside as I am babysitting and don't have my usual photo set up but at least I remembered the camera this time. Finished the card off with the stamped sentiment that says it all really  'Happiness is......'

CAS Mix Up July

Happiness is

HLS July Anything Goes With Dies Challenge

Cute Card Thursday #487 Summer Colours

Thanks for coming to visit and I hope you come again soon

Three Cards and Trying New Techniques

I have three cards to share with you today. This first one has a background

made from Tissue paper and watercolours then embossed gold. This is a technique

Loll demonstrates on video and the links are here on her blog CAS Mix Up together with 

the challenge for this month and some of the most amazing cards I have ever seen.

I could not get enough of this technique once I started and I made so many backgrounds in all my favourite colours and only stopped because it was dinner time (well it was actually 2 hours past dinner time and Elysha was not amused) but the technique is so easy, the colour combo's never ending and I made lots and lots of small pieces. Now of course I will need to make bigger ones so I can do whole card fronts.

Once the pieces fry you attach to either card stock or acetate then add embossing powder if you want, I added gold and even when it stuck where it wasn't meant to it didnt matter it looked like it belonged there. In this instance I have die cut the piece with a postage stamp rectangular die, placed that centre of the card then added a die cut ballerina.

The card is a very soft lilac colour and looks beautiful with the colours used on the tissue paper panel. I have finished off by stamping the sentiment:

'Life isn't about

waiting for the

storm to pass,

It's about

learning to 

Dance

in the rain.'

Another technique I can thank Loll for teaching me. If you have never visited her blog 

Stamping with Loll or her challenge blog you are missing out.

Now this card is a very simple one with a watercoloured panel done with Distress Ink blended together and left to dry then the panel is die cut with a curved edge stitched rectangle die.

It looks like the panel is lifting but it has actually stuck down quite well. I have attached two butterflies. The both of them are white embossed, the bottom one on vellum, the top one on watercolour paper. I then added watercolour Zigs.

 

You can see the other butterfly better in this photo as it is stuck flat whereas the top butterfly is added so the wings are lifted.  I have added the die cut 'thanks' that is cut from gold mirror cardstock very close to the butterfly because I didnt realise until I was looking at the card for placement that the plates when I cut the watercoloured panel had damaged the front of the panel leaving deep scratches  and red from something imbedded in the panel.

My final card is my inspiration from the Muse Card 

Challenge this week

I love Kim's card with the little dome and 

the butterflies and the pattern paper.

I don't have a dome but I decided I wanted that look so I improvised with a die that does the stitched 1/2 circle cut out and instead of die cutting I pressed into the card front (another first time technique).

I then used my copics to draw a base and the grey to give the look of a glass dome. I never thought about the fact that I wanted to use copics so there was a bit of smudging but not too bad.

I went with a summery spotty paper that was more yellow at top and pink towards the bottom but doesn't show here.

Stamped the sentiment and added some watercoloured stamped and embossed butterflies.

Now for the challenges

Muse Card Challenge #225

You are my sunshine

CAS Mix Up July

Dance in the Rain

CAS Watercolour July

thanks

Thank you so much for coming to visit and I hope you come again soon.

Guest Designer at Addicted To CAS

I am getting better at keeping secrets. I got an email asking if I would like to be Guest Designer at Addicted To CAS and I must admit I was rather surprise as I didnt think I would ever get asked as I still struggle a lot with CAS but I must be getting something right.  So here I am and of course the word for this week is so easy........

NOT......wheels.....mmmmm.....after looking through my massive stamp collection

I found I was struggling. One of the reasons is I have tone of flowers not in wheel shapes sadly but then

I found this wonderful stamp I have never used,

it's so cute and will be used again. I'm not sure where its

from, it's a red rubber stamp and may be a Unity Stamp.

I used an ink pad that has five colours that you push together when you want to use it and they are such summery colours, perfect for this stamp. Love it and the sentiment is from

Paper Smooches Travel set ' 'Lets go anywhere'

Wonderful CAS card to send to a friend asking them to catch up soon.

Now its time to go check out what the Design Team over at 

Addicted to CAS have done to get you inspired.

Just Us Girls Guest Designer

Its my forth week as Guest Designer and this week its Photo Week.

And for all you wonderful people enjoying Summer this is such an inspirational photo, giving you lots of ideas. I had to heat my craft room up extra warm just to thaw out my fingers for inspiration and dig through the summer stamps and see what I could get my brain wrapped around.

Looking out the window at the bare trees and the dog sitting there shivering at me just made me feel guilty so I let him in (no I'm only joking, it was my husband standing outside the window shivering, the door had slammed shut on him when he ran out to get the paper and being deaf I didn't hear him banging at the front door. That will teach him not to run out in his undies only). Now onto serious stuff, honestly had share that just don't tell him okay cause he will never forgive me.

Now I know the checkered tablecloth is red and white but I didnt have any red and white and decided red and white would be too much with all my watermelon anyway so I made my tablecloth blue and white some cut grass.

Then we have some MFT bottles of fizzy drink with a few glossy accents drops of moisture and their popped tops and straws. Then we have watermelon copic coloured and glossy accents added for depth of colour.

Decided we needed a smiling cherry and a laughing pear as well. Sentiment is part of the fruit set. I cut it apart so it would fit in on the side.

Hope you like my card. Now its time to go over to Just Us Girls and see what the Design Team have made for Inspiration for this weeks challenge. I hope you will join us and make a card or two.

I can hardly wait to regret this......

I bought myself a set of snarky sentiments and can't wait to use them. Here I have used probably the most subtle of them all. Of course I have to find the right images/stamps to go with the sentiments and have promised Jessie I will make a set of cards as she likes my sense of humour so I hope you appreciate my sharing with you.

This card is in inspiration from  the 

TIME OUT challenge #87  CASE with your own Twist

Now this is the fabulous card Cornelia has done

and this is my inspiration.

No green bird but a great looking shark balancing on a green surf board.

I don't have a stencil or stamp for the log look or waves as would be appropriate for a shark and thought that his exploding through the glass was a cool look.

Boxed sentiment - boxed sentiment. Though I continued the stencil fainter behind again and again I felt it still kept a CAS look and was happy with my inspiration from Cornelia's card.

This next card was just an additional card I couldn't resist adding as I had coloured 

it and loved the sentiment.

for those of you that find the printing too small

"Your socks look awesome with your sandals said no one EVER!'

We keep telling dad its just not the right look but I suppose at 91 you don't have to listen to anyone.

Anyway time to link to the challenge before it closes. Thanks for coming to visit. Hope you come again soon.