A few more cards...

Every three of four weeks I run a card making class here in Abu Dhabi, really aimed at beginners.

 I usually demonstrate two cards and then the ladies work on my ideas. With this week being close to Easter only four could make it on Tuesday. I decided we might be able to make 3 cards and so I showed them three ideas...This week's techniques involved matting/punching/stamping/using dies.

It was my Birthday on April 4th and I received this lovely card from my friend Nancy in Newfoundland:

 I decided to use this as the basis of my first sample. Here are my two takes on Nancy's card:

These cards feature the Stampin Up 'topnote' and Stampin Up punches for the owl and branch. The ribbon has been pleated and kept in place with pins. Papers are from my scrap bags and embellishments from the Naif Street Souk in Dubai...

On Monday I had the opportunity of calling in at Creative Hands in Dubai. I bought several items and couldn't wait to try them out! My second set of samples uses my new stamp of an Arabic coffee pot: 

The card above is a very 'clean and simple' card - just the stamps of pot and cup stamped with Versafine using a Fiskars stamping press and then coloured with Promarkers 'gold' and 'amethyst'. The sentiment is from SU 'Warm Words'.The card blank is a ready folded card in pale lilac. I am going to enter this in 

the My time to craft! challenge for a clean and simple card...I then used the stamp with a little more matting and embellishing - Here a card blank had had its edges trimmed with an edge die. Pretty paper has been placed behind and a few embellishments have completed the look.

 The third card is a slightly different take on the same theme.

Another item I bought was the Kutz Fluttering butterfly which I used for the third idea. I cut it several times to add dimension to the butterfly, placed it on a 'quilted' background and added a 'Tim Holtz' rosette. I am entering this card in Emma's Crafty Challenge with the theme of Butterflies.

My second version included matting of a pretty paper, the edge die, pins for antennae and lots of buttons. I am going to enter this card in the Glitter n sparkle challenge with the buttons theme.

 It is lovely to see what is made by the ladies from my basic ideas...this card was made by Lynn -

This card was made by Pascale -

Finally after everyone had gone, I relaxed with a  bit of stamping!!

This card is tiny - 2.75 x 4.25 inches. A white card blank, matted with a tan paper.

 The stamp is one of my favourites. I love the two and three step types!

 This is a three step - 'Bitty Tulip Bouquet' made by Kitchen Sink stamps , using three colours of tan and three of green inks. The bowl is also 3 step using greys. I am entering this card in the

 Visible Image Get Stamping Challenge

All for now - happy crafting!