Witchy wishes from Polkadoodles

 

Hello crafting fiends (yes, we are no longer friends; it's Halloween making time!)

Firstly a bit of a disclaimer... I have started using ChatGPT to brighten my background layouts to show off my cards.  A short blurb into the software, along with the photo and some details of the items you want it to display in the background, and it creates a perfect layout to display my project.  If you see stuff on my pages stating AI-generated, please know that my cards are all totally handmade, from scratch, using real supplies!  Only the photo editing and background are done via AI. 

I had such fun making this bright little Halloween card! I started with a clean 5 × 7 inch white base, then built a colourful focal cluster using the witch, broomstick, cat and “Broom Parking” sentiment from the Polkadoodles Grab Your Broomstick Matchables stamp set.  This stamp and die set is no longer available, but... if you go to the Polkadoodles website, there are plenty of other cute witchy characters and stamps you could use to replace the one I used.

For the background, I raided my scrap box and tore up little pieces of Polkadoodles backing paper. The lime green, purple and monochrome patterns were layered behind the characters, keeping the panel fairly compact so there was still plenty of fresh white space around it.

I stamped the images onto colouring card and brought them to life with Ohuhu markers. I went for a wonderfully witchy mix of green skin, glossy black hair, deep purple clothes and bright orange stars, with warm brown on the broom. Once everything was coloured, I fussy cut each piece and left a slim white border to keep the outlines lovely and crisp.

When I assembled the card, I tucked the broom behind the witch, popped the tiny black cat beside her skirt and ran the “Broom Parking” sentiment across the right-hand side on a longer black strip. Trying the layout before adding glue made it much easier to balance all those bold shapes.

The final touch was a scattering of purple Nuvo Drops in different sizes. I placed nine in clusters around the image, mostly in the white space, then left the card flat until they were completely dry. They add just the right amount of shine and dimension without stealing the spotlight from that fabulous witch.

My project tip: A slim white border around fussy-cut stamped images works like a built-in frame. It keeps even black hair and tiny broom details clear when they overlap patterned papers.

I really love the mix of cute characters, bold colour and scrappy texture on this one. It feels spooky without being scary—and the little cat in its tiny witch’s hat might just be my favourite bit! Which detail catches your eye first?

I'd like to enter this into:

Colour dare challenge - use colour palette 

Creative inspirations challenge - Anything goes

Tic tac toe challenge - using grid (bottom line die cut (fishtail and banners), patterned paper (even if only scraps) bright colours

Thanks for dropping by - leave me a comment, and please click on the icons in the right corner to follow me on other social media platforms.

See you very soon

Crafting hugs

Rachael

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Tropical 40th birthday card

 Hello crafty friends! 

Today I’m sharing a bright and cheerful 40th birthday card made especially for my sister-in-law Donna, featuring the fabulous Stamping Bella Summer Bundle Girl and Puppy Hula Dance rubber stamp.

I started with a bold pink polka-dot background, layered onto black cardstock for a crisp border. For the centre, I blended yellow and orange inks onto white card and added a fine script stamp over the top. I love how that little bit of texture makes the panel feel lively without competing with the main image.

Next, I framed the inky panel with white stitched and scalloped die-cut layers. The clean white frame gives all those tropical colours room to shine and creates a lovely stage for the girl, her puppy and the oversized birthday greeting.

I stamped the Stamping Bella image onto smooth colouring card and used alcohol markers to bring the flowers, grass skirt, pink outfit and sweet little puppy to life. After fussy cutting the pair with a narrow white border, I raised them on foam pads so they sit proudly in front of the frame.

For the wording, I mixed several die-cut styles to make the milestone feel really special. I used the Julie Hickey Designs sweet pea numbers die set for the big pink “40” and its small black “th”, then added the black script “birthday” from a Crafter’s Companion die set. The Time for Tea Designs Hey, Hello, Hi Sentiment Die creates the bold layered “hey” across the right side, and two separate Crafter’s Companion word-die set called relations provided the pale yellow “sister” and “in-law” lettering along the bottom. A tiny pearl accent finished everything off.

My little tip: lay out all the large sentiment pieces before sticking anything down. They take up more space than you expect, and arranging them first makes it much easier to balance the characters and keep every word readable.

I had such fun combining the hot pinks, sunny oranges and tropical flowers on this one. It feels bright, playful and perfect for a milestone celebration. Do you enjoy mixing lots of different sentiment dies on one card, or do you usually keep the greeting simple?

I'd like to enter this into:

Thanks so much for stopping by - leave me a message if you can; it makes my day to read them, other social media can be found in the top right corner of my blog page.

Crafty hugs

Rachael

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Autumn fox Polkadoodles new release

Hello crafting friends

Sorry it's been a while; time just gets away from you, doesn't it.

While I've been away, I celebrated my big 50, and have spent lots of time doing great stuff to celebrate, including three holidays, an escape room, two new exercise experiences, a jet ski, and other awesome things, crossing off the list of things I wanted to do this year!

Doing all this and fitting in time to craft has been tight!

Anyway - over at Polkdoodles, there is a fabulous new autumn/halloween digi release called Hello Autumn available here 

This cutie is called fox on a pumpkin 

I used a script stamp to lightly stamp in grey on a piece of white card, and then used some washi tape to layer some strips down.  Over that, I splattered black ink.  

The image was printed on white card stock and then coloured with Ohuhu markers, and details added with Polychromos pencils for a sketchy look. I then fussy cut the fox out, added foam pads and layered him up

The sentiment is also a Polkadoodles stamp set/. With this one, you stamp a whole A6 sheet and use a corresponding die to cut them all out.  I always have a dish full of these sentiments on my desk as they are super handy! Get them here

I finished the card with a black fine-liner to scribble a border around the edge.

I hope you like it

I'd like to enter this into:

Creative inspirations challenge - anything goes

Everybody art challenge - anything goes 

Crafts galore encore - anything goes

Critter crazy - anything goes with an animal

Girlz rebel - use washi tape

I hope I will see you again soon.  If you have landed here, please leave me a little message, or you can check out my other social media channels by clicking on the icons in the top right of my blog homepage.

Thanks for stopping by, crafting hugs

Rachael

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Polkadoodles Darling buds Tulip girl

 Hello crafting friends

Just dropping in to share a card I made just in time for Spring.

This little beauty is called Darling buds tulip, but there are a whole bunch (see what I did there!) of gorgeous flower girls in spring themes ready to be coloured and shared on cards, scrapbook pages and journals.

Check out the polkadoodles website for the full range.

I made the background by ink-splattering and smooshing twisted citron and villainous potion distress oxides, and then added black detail using a stamp set called 'Flower Fun Borders', also from Polkadoodles.

I then printed my image, coloured her with a combination of ohuhu markers and added a bit of depth and detail in some areas using polychromos pencils, and fussy-cut her out, adding her to the card using foam pads for dimension. The sentiment is from a sentiment pack called Wordies Sentiment Sheets' from Creative Expressions (this is an older one, so I'm not sure if it's still available)

Because she is a digi image, I was able to enlarge her to fill the card - that's one of the things I love about digi images, you can size them to fit your project! 

I'd like to enter her into:

Creative knockouts - Spring is in the air

I love markers  - For the girls

I spy with my little eye - spring flowers

Little red wagon - signs of Spring

Passion for markers - make it bloom

Thank you for stopping by and checking out my makes. There is more on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest available in links in the top right corner. But if you have made it here, please do leave a quick comment as I do really love to read them all!

See you all again very soon.

Crafting hugs

Rachael

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Kendras card challenge #21 (March entry)

 Hello crafting friends

I loved the challenge over at Kendras so much, I entered again, but this time with the aim of making 15 Easter cards.

As per my previous post, Kendra gives a template to use on 6 pieces of 6x6 patterned paper and 15 sketches to use those pieces on.  It's a great way to use up some of those paper pads and ephemera packs.

This time, I used Doodlebug papers and ephemera, as well as the new Simon Hurley/Spellbinders Easter bunny die set called Bunny Buddies and a smattering of other sentiments and embellishments to finish them all.

Here's the full 15, followed by each one individually.

Sketch 1

Sketch 2

Sketch 3

Sketch 4

Sketch 5

Sketch 6

Sketch 7

Sketch 8

Sketch 9

Sketch 10

Sketch 11

Sketch 12

Sketch 13

Sketch 14

Sketch 15

I just love the vibrant colours and happy little bunnies.  I now have more than enough spring and Easter cards to send to my friends and family.

Thanks for stopping by!

Crafting hugs

Rachael

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Lili of the valley cute girls release

 Hi crafting friends

OMG, how cute is the latest Lili of the Valley release?  You haven't yet seen it - well, best check it out here, because there are some super cute girlies, as well as some awesome party animals. PLUS - at the moment they are HALF PRICE!!!

I will post some inspiration over the next few days on Instagram (link in top right to join me there or on Pinterest/Facebook)

But here is just one of those girls

I printed her out and coloured her with Ohuhu markers.  I was feeling the pink and purple vibe!  I then fussy cut her out, leaving a thin white border.

The background was done using seedless preserves distress oxide and a polkadoodles stencil (it's actually from the Christmas range, but no one else needs to know I'm stretching my stash into all seasons!)I then used the same colour to splatter, along with the Spellbinders splatter effect, black ink.  The frame die I cut from black cardstock is a Sizzix one called Geo Floral frame, all finished with a LOTV sentiment and of course some stickles on the flowers.

Shes just adorable!

I'd like to enter this into:

Crafty Catz - Anything goes

Craft rocket Challenge - No design paper

A place to start - No squares Anything goes

A perfect time to craft - Anything goes

Crafters cafe - for the girls

I would love you to join my blog, or any of my other Social media platforms.  I really appreciate you taking the time to stop by and have a look here, all comments are greatly receved!  

See you all soon

Crafting hugs

Rachael

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Big moments collection - Party Time

Hello everyone.

Have you seen the latest release from Polkadoodles called Big Moments.

It has stamps, dies and stencils all designed for those big moments in life, parties and celebrations for all occasions.

 I made this card by first using the stamps in dark grey ink to stamp randomly on a piece of white card, adding a black scribbled border.  Then, on top to soften it, I added a piece of vellum.  Once the background was completed, I stamped more images, coloured them with Ohuhu markers, and cut them out using the matching die set.  I also stamped the word 'party' and die cut this too.  I then layered them together using a combination of glue and foam squares to add dimension.  It was finished with stickles because no party is complete without glitter!

I hope you like it, I just love the bold party colours on this, perfect for a birthday or party invite.

I'd like to enter this into:

Crafty Catz - Anything goes

Creative fingers anything goes

Cut it up - Birthday

Craft rocket challenges - no design paper

Creative knockouts - Birthday

I love promarkers and other colouring mediums  - Birthday

Thanks so much for stopping by. If you like my work, I also have Facebook and Instagram (see top right for links), or if you don't mind, leave me a comment so I know you have been here.  It means so much when I get them through!

Crafting hugs - see you soon.

Rachael

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