All in my Head - Part One

I can see all the decoration in my head, but every-one else will have to wait till tomorrow.

I just can't believe it's Thursday already.  As I am choked with the cold, my crafting is mostly being done in my head again.  I am working on some requests for special cards which are all at the work-in-progress stage.  I have got them all just about planned out in my head (although my plans have been known to change!).  I have made bases for two of the cards though.

Just for fun I thought I would share this one as part of a Card a Day Blogging.  It's a twisted easel made with A3 centura pearl card cut down to an 8" by 8" size.  Then I have made some layers with silver mirri and holographic plus a couple of sheets from my Hunkydory Christmas Multi-buy.  It's not showing too great in the photo but there is some organza ribbon from my stash and some Anita's ribbon that says 'Happy Christmas'.

Although I have inked the white edges of the card, I have worked really hard to keep the look very clean (no faux stitching, yet). 

Hopefully, I'll be fit to post the final result tomorrow.  I'll be using a matching Hunkydory topper, plus some paper flowers and snowflakes and a very tasteful bit of bling.  May be some more ribbon too.

Well, time for some hot tea now, then back to playing with my paper flowers xx

Puppy Treats

Puppy treats any-one?

Just a super quick post from me. The sore throat thing is turning into a cold/flu thing and I feel quite yukky.

There's loads of crafting going on in my head, but not much actually taking place.

Here's my bit for A Card a Day Blogging.

It's a little treat bag from Cupcake Crafting Magical Christmas Moments cd.

I've printed on neenah card, cut out and folded on score lines, then stuck together with extra sticky tape.  I was a bit naughty, it doesn't really need anything but I inked edges and added faux stitching on sides and white and gold peel-offs on front.  I loved adding glossy accents on the puppy noses and stickles glitter on snow.  Last touch is a green ribbon tie.

This was a yummy project and easy as lots of work done by the CD, but it is the artwork that I have fallen in love with.

Oh, and here's my friend's new puppy who was enjoying the snow here the other day.

Ellie - cute or what?

Now all I need to do is get some little doggy treats to go inside.

If you like this, you might like my other doggy post:

Puppy Love.

Christmas Poker

gift bag for a poker lover (only Santa and I know what is going in here)

going for a co-ordinated look



Update: My chesty cough is back with a vengeance, but there was a Victorian Christmas Fayre on locally tonight so I wrapped up warm and went with Mr FantabulousMayhem and his Mum.  No Christmas tree up for me yet, I like to leave it to nearer the main event.  It’s not a card but I will be posting this project as my contribution to a Card a Day Blogging, it does include a gift card and tag though.

Inspiration: Pushing on with some practical Christmas makes for family.  Number one son plays poker (and he was in Las Vegas in the summer for a friend’s wedding, lucky him!), so that’s the theme for these gift bags.  I saw the topper sheet at a craft stall while in Whitby and the foiling really caught my eye.  I will never forget the year when number one son came home from university at Christmas, took one look at the Christmas decorations I had put up and said ‘haven’t you heard less is more mum?’  This sums him up, but I do still love him and my decorations.  He doesn’t like a lot of frills but he does seem to appreciate some of the hand crafted cards I have made for him (just not the house lit up like Las Vegas!!).  I am trying to stick with a theme so the gifts look co-ordinated (I have some plain red and kraft wrapping paper with stars that will go well too).

• Products: Kanban topper ‘Large Playing Cards’ PCT9806; Kanban Christmas backing card 900373, 900488, 900492, 900516; plain black card and mirri card from stash; do-crafts kraftstax; do-crafts back to basics gift bags; 3 for a £1 bottle bag; Anita’s Christmas ribbon (red), Dovecraft creative ribbon (green), Raffia from stash; gold fishnet ribbon from stash (bought in a bargain shop); letter tiles from WH Smith (didn’t keep the label so I’m not sure of the brand); cosmic shimmer coloured pearlescent glue; Hunkdory bling; black and white buttons from stash (papermania a few years ago); small heart punch; white peel-offs; white sakura gel pen; rusty hinge and barn door distress ink to ink edges.
• Techniques: Just a decoration job really, but lots of fun in laying things out and deciding what would go where.  I was aiming at a layered, not too busy, random collage look.  I love the quality of the Kanban card and the foiling but I still like to ink the edges, as the card is matt it takes a touch of ink very well.
• Favourites: Kraft card; layers; inked edges; dots and dashes; bit of personalisation.
• Extra bits (just because): tried to keep to a minimum but I do think the cosmic shimmer glue blobs make a nice effect, I do need to practice though as they are not totally regular (and with no ‘e’ in David I could use some of my remaining letter tiles!).  I've used the cosmic shimmer glue to stick on the buttons and to make a faux thread.

Watch this space: itching to do some colouring in, if I can stop coughing long enough but I’ve got a new Funky Hand cd to play with too so I’ve got a real dilemma on my hands.

If you like these decorated bags, you might like this project:

Quirky Monochrome

First Anniversary with Paper Flowers

I love this Sarah Kay image and I love making paper flowers

Update: It snowed here last night, so that should help me get in the Christmas mood.  I've certainly got plenty to do, with several requests to complete (including one from number one son!).  Unfortunately, my cough from hell has returned.  Meantime, think it’s ok to share this one now, it will be my card for A Card a Day Blogging.

Inspiration: I was asked by a friend to make a first wedding anniversary card and we agreed that earth tones would work as these were the accent colours at the wedding.  It went with this Sarah Kay image because I think it’s really lovely.

Products: Sarah Kay stamp ‘Sweet Romance’; Rich Cocoa Memento ink; Copic pens in warm greys mostly; papermania 8” by 8” card with gusset envelope; papermania cream card; kanban card with damask pattern; brown & taupe thin card (which has a lovely sheen) from my local shop Craft-ed Creations; Marianne and Spellbinder dies for flowers; few brads from stash; bling in some flower centres and sentiment stamp from Stamps by Chloe; flower punches; Cheery Lyn die for swirls; button; Tim Holz pin; butcher’s twine; darice embossing folder; spellbinders fancy rectangle die; peel-offs; glitter.

Techniques: Image hand stamped and coloured with copic pens.  I loved colouring in warm greys for a vintage effect.  I’ve used some earth tones and pink for the faces and the flower.  There is a little bit of embossing and sanding on the Kanban paper, and a little ink on edges of cream card, but most of the texture comes from using different sorts of paper and card. Most of the design was about making a tactile card in layers so I played about with the various layers before I decided on the final layout.  For definition I have added some dots and dashes and some white peel-offs on the slightly textured taupe card.

Favourites: Faux stitching; paper flowers; extra details inside card (but I forgot to take photo!)

Extra bits (because I love them so): there’s a lot of flowers (plus a few hand cut leaves) but I think I can get away with it because I have kept to just three tones and what could be better for your paper anniversary than paper flowers?  I loved adding a bit of bling and the Tim Holz pin too.

Mr Fantabulous Mayhem and I are just back from Whitby where we went as our first anniversary treat (we went there last year just after we got married too as we love the atmosphere and the vintage feel of the place).  Here's a wee pic of me and my shadow!

Need to get back to some Christmassy things now and a nice hot cup of tea xx

If you like the paper flowers you might like these projects:

Wedding Day

Golden Wedding

Goose Girl

Rose Red

Anna Karenina

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Puppy Love

lots of puppy fun

little Ellie, a friend's new puppy

snow on the Ochil Hills (near where I live - photo by a friend)

Out of my routine after having a few days away in Whitby.  I had a lovely catch up with friends last night and I have done some digital designs for a request today plus a little bit of work on a word book but nothing completed yet.  I've been enjoying the Funky Hand and Tiddly Inks Blog Hop too. Here is my contribution to a Card a Day Blogging.

I'm not sure if this card is finished.  Can't decide whether to add a sentiment or not (and what to make it).

Inspiration: I was charmed by the Cupcake Crafting 'Magical Christmas Moments' CD as it has lovely images of animals which have a beautiful hand drawn feel.  I don't have any pets myself (just a husband who is as messy as I am), but I have a number of friends whose pets really are another member of their family and I thought I would make them something appropriate this Christmas.  This image is just right at the moment as it is so crispy cold with snow on the hills here.  One of my friend's got a brand new puppy yesterday that looks a bit like one of the puppies in the sledge.

• Products: Cupcake Crafting CD 'Magical Christmas Moments'; Neenah card; plain red and peach card; Core'dinations Core Impressions Classic Christmas; ribbon from stash; stickles; glossy accents.
• Techniques: topper printed on neenah card, glossy accents on sledge and doggy noses and eyes.  Little bit of stickles glitter highlights on snow.  Added a bit of real ribbon on top of the faux ribbon. Topper enhanced with a few neat layers with some dots and dashes (picking out puppy and sledge colours).  The background is core'dinations card that comes already embossed with snowflakes, so just needed a little sanding.  I tried to keep things simple so that the puppies steal the show.

Hope you like it xx

Little gifts

a little gift bag

little bag and shoe

Still away from home, we travel back tomorrow.  Pleased to say that I got a good chunk of my Christmas shopping done today (I don't have too many people to buy for).  So my thoughts are now moving to little bags and interesting wrappings.

Meanwhile, here's a little gift I made for a friend to match with the cinderella shoe.  It's a gift bag made using the latest Crafter's Companion board.  I used the same do-crafts persimmon papers that I used for the shoe.  The papers are not double sided, so after embossing and cutting out one bag shape I stuck it onto a co-ordinating sheet to make a lining.  When the glue dried I cut it out again which re-inforced the bag.  There's a few decorations (peel-offs and dew drops).  Then I added a tag and some co-ordinating ribbons.

In a way, I think this is going to be an ongoing theme for this year's Christmas gifts where I attempt to make my modest gifts extra special with decorated and personalised packaging.

Back again soon xx

Personalised Plus

the final card with inked edges, faux stitching, glitter, glossy accents and a little bow

a simple insert prepared digitally

the digital image

I am away from home for a few days, lots of fresh air and bracing walks (but I did find a wee craft stall, which I may go back to tomorrow).  Putting my feet up now, so I will quickly share the result of my digital crafting efforts.

The start of this story is in the post 'Jack and Victor'.  I made a batch of nine personalised Christmas cards (three different designs) which I completed on Sunday night.  I particularly like the 'photo real' button wreath on this design.

I started with a layout from serif craft artist then added a few digital embellishments.  Once printed I trimmed and inked edges, added some faux stitching, glossy accents on the faux buttons, beads and some of the berries and a touch of glitter on the holly.  Then I added a tiny bow.  I think the glossy accents in particular really made a difference making the card much more tactile.  I managed to design a very simple insert on serif to match the cover design.  The result is still less than 5mm so should be ok for standard letter postage.
I was happy with the final card and pleased that I had made the effort to try something different.  I've not had any feedback yet but fingers crossed.

Back again soon xx

Treats from Santa

a gift bag for some-one special

I love this paperclip

Glossy Accents transform the letters

 

Update: Going to start my Christmas shopping today.  I’ve promised myself that this year I will keep it simple because, after all, my children are grown ups (famous last words). 

It’s not a card, but here is my contribution to a Card a Day Blogging.

Inspiration: I loved the ideas in the recent Funky Hand Challenge 'Christmas is all about the kids' but couldn’t join in because my printer was poorly sick.  Now I have a new printer that can print on card too so I am very happy.  This is not for a child but it is for some-one who enjoys Christmas parcels as if she were still a little girl.  I am sure if she is a good girl, Santa will think up something nice to put in it.

• Products: Do-crafts back to basics kraft gift bag (I love these, they are so fun to decorate); Funky Daze CD for patterned paper, faux ribbon and letters; Neenah card from Crafter's Companion (the images printed beautifully on this); plain pink card from stash; glossy accents; stickles; ric rac ribbon from stash (papermania pack a few years ago); giant wooden paperclip from hobbycraft (January sale bargain); white sakura pen; papermania permanent pen (green).
• Techniques: Picked this pattern from the CD because I liked that it could be snowflakes for Christmas or fireworks or flowers whatever you want it to be.  I inked the edges with Tim Holtz worn lipstick then layered on pink card to make the crisp colours pop.  Using extra card makes the bag a bit stronger too but they are already quite sturdy.  Living dangerously instead of faux stitching I did some wiggly lines for a border.  The letters were printed from the CD too.  Then cut out.  I gave them a bit of a curve by hand, put them on 3D tape and covered with glossy accents.  Final touches were the ric-rac ribbon layered on the faux ribbon (which has a lovely knitted texture you may not be able to see) and some stickles glitter on some of the snowflakes.
• Favourites: Kraft card; inked edges; faux stitching;
• Extra bits (just because): I love the big paperclip and the colours just fit in (it’s been hiding in one of my goody boxes for ages).

I have a few ideas for some more co-ordinating gift bags and I had better think about something for number one son too. I've just noticed that Anice at Funky Hand is celebrating her birthday by having a sale, so I might just start my Christmas shopping with a little treat for me!  Happy Birthday Anice and thank you.  Back again soon xx

Busy, Busy

It’s been a busy day for me today, but good.  I met up with number one daughter for a bit of shopping and a catch up.  More chatting was done than shopping but it was all good.  Hot topic was wedding planning for her big day next July.  I have been attempting to earn my ‘good mummy badge’ by preparing some sample wedding invites.  The colour scheme and style were as specified by the bride to be and I managed to come up with some variations (top secret for the moment) to choose from.  Can you believe all made without inked edges, faux stitching or paper flowers!  I didn’t know I had it in me.  I was allowed some layering and ribbon of the chosen colour plus a bit of restrained bling, which did work remarkably well.  I must do the ‘less is more’ thing more often.

great for storage and only £1 each

As well as coffee and toasted teacake I was treated to some real treasure.  I can share that.  Slim A4 boxes from the pound shop (they don’t always have them in stock and never in the shop nearest me) so it was great to get hold of some and especially sweet that my daughter had remembered to look for them.  They are treasure because they are great for storing stamps and bits of paper or part done projects (and they only cost a £1 each).  It was some-one at a craft event that shared the idea with me so I will share here.  When I get the little elves that will come and tidy up for me I will be sorted!

Then for added excitement she gave me this little fellow..

Santa Claus is coming to town

Lego is very popular in our family so he went down well and is now in pride of place on the mantelpiece.

Going to watch some ‘Strictly’ now for a bit more bling…back with a card soon xx

Gingerbread man meets Iris Folding

Gingerbread fun, with peel-offs on those tricky hand cut edges

It has to be a quick post from me today for a Card a Day Blogging.  I’m taking a tea break while my glossy accents dry on the 9 ‘flat’ personalised Christmas cards I am working on for a special request, and that’s just one of the things on my ‘to do’ list today.

Meanwhile, here’s one I made earlier…

• Inspiration: the idea came from Karen who runs the craft class I go to locally at Craft-ed Creations.  I have seen iris folding done many times but this was the first time that I had a go myself.  I found it very relaxing and loved this design so much that I planned to do a few more (just havn’t got round to it yet).  The design and step by step instructions can be found at Circle of Crafters.  If you check that site out it has quite a few ideas, including how to design your own iris folding images (so that’s something else on my list of ‘things to try one day!’).
• Products: As Karen provided the papers I can’t remember the brand, but I really like the effect of using patterned papers rather than plain.  In my head, I think part of the fun of this technique will be in picking co-ordinating papers (so I can see me going to Funky Hand when I get some time to do more).  It would be great for using up scraps too.
• Techniques: there is a tiny amount of white ric-rac ribbon for the gingerbread man’s icing.  This is taped down first before the paper strips go down and, as if by magic, it’s on the top when you are done and you turn it over (can you tell I’m easily impressed?).
• Extra touches: of course, I added some dots and dashes in white sakura gel pen when I was done.  My excuse is that it matches the icing (well that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it!).

Watch this space: I have made a start on my first Funky Hand word book, but I’ve had to set it aside to work on that special request.

Back again soon…

Jack and Victor

the real life 'Jack and Victor' - a true bromance plus digital 'extra bits' (fae means from)

And now for something completely different…

(but it's still my contribution to A Card a Day Blogging)

I was asked by some friends at the weekend to make some personalised Christmas cards that could be posted economically.  So that means all my paper flowers and extra layers are ‘oot the windae’ as they say (that’s ‘out of the window’ if you speak English).

So it’s time for me to do some digital crafting.  I had a wee play with Serif Craft Artist Professional and came up with the project above for a bit of fun.  I have so much to learn, but the scope is enormous.  It’s just a patience thing, I get impatient with technology and go back to the paper, scissors and glue! The digikits used here were 'Paper Poinsettia' and 'Yuletide Joy'.  I cheated a bit and used a sample layout plus lettering from the 'Paper Poinsettia' digikit just adding the heart frame and reindeer embellishment from 'Yuletide Joy'.

The sentiment on the real project will be ‘Greetings from Tullibody’ a local village (the one I grew up in as it happens), but I needed something to do as a practice sample. 

The picture is of Mr. Fantabulous Mayhem and his chum of over 30 years.  It’s a real bromance, they go for a pint together about once a week.  The joke is that they are not really called Jack and Victor.  Don’t know if the BBC Scotland TV programme ‘Still Game’ was aired in England much, but it’s a comedy about a pair of pensioners that have known each other for years, drink together and get in to all sorts of scrapes together.  Myself and a few other friends have been teasing them that they are the real life ‘Jack and Victor’.

the other 'Jack and Victor' on BBC Scotland

 

Watch this space: I plan to learn more about digital crafting (all those virtual embellishments what’s not to love) but I’ll definitely be heading in the direction of ‘hybrid’ crafting as I just can’t give up my ‘extra bits’ and colouring-in.  Will a card with a little ribbon still be under 6mm?

Rose Red

going for a vintage story book feel (I've tried to capture the highlights in this photo)



can't help but love those big eyes

I love this sentiment too

there's a bit less glare on this photo

 

 

Update: Here it is.  My very first Saturated Canary creation.  This will be my contribution to A Card a Day Blogging.

I am also going to enter the Saturated Canary Challenge Fairytales.

Inspiration: I’ve been admiring other people’s Saturated Canary creations for months now, but while my printer was out of order it was just too awkward.  It’s almost too difficult to choose an image to start with as they are all gorgeous.  I had already downloaded Rose Red and I knew I had red bits and bobs in my stash so I jumped in and started to play.  I had read the fairy tale as a child in a ladybird book (is that just a UK thing?) but I couldn’t remember the story so I checked it out on-line.  Rose Red and her sister Snow White (no not that one) live in a cabin in the woods.  They are kind to a big old bear in the winter.  Later when an evil dwarf threatens to kill them the bear comes to their defence.  On the demise of the dwarf the bear turns into a Prince (it was all just an evil spell you see).  Any who, that made me think the perfect sentiment would be ‘Everyday holds the possibility of a miracle’.  

• Products: Saturated Canary ‘Rose Red’ digital image; Keepsake ‘Once Upon a Time’ embossing board (it had to be for a fairy tale) and stand template (Glitter Girls); Neenah card (Crafter’s Companion); Tim Holtz core’dinations Traditional Christmas card; Papermania Portobello Road collection (for the gingham paper); IndigoBlu sentiment stamp; Rich Cocoa Memento ink; Copic pens; sakura pens; papermania permanent pens; green floral trim from stash (papermania a few years ago); Tim Holz metal pin; butchers twine; fabric roses and bows from stash (create and craft years ago); white fine line peel offs; glossy accents; stickles and Anita’s tiny gems (added to corner of sentiments).
• Colouring: Image printed on Neenah card and coloured with copic pens.  This was the first time I have printed on card (my new printer loads from top) and I was chuffed to bits with how well it worked.  The image was a real pleasure to colour.  I hope I’ve done the hair justice as the hair is just amazing on Krista’s images.  I’ve used copic colours C1, C3, C5, C7 and touch 100 and I’ve added some extra highlights in black, white and silver with sakura (for white) and other fine-liner pens.  For the lips I’ve added a touch of a gelly roll pen (I don’t imagine they had lip gloss in the cabin in the woods but I just couldn’t resist!).  The final touch was adding glossy accents to eyes.  The sentiment is hand stamped with memento ink.  Background coloured with B000 and little dots and blended with blender pen.  I have also used my Tim Holtz gadget to give some torn edges to these images before I attached to the book. I was thinking an old torn story book that comes to life and flowers start to grow from the pages...a miracle.
• Book:  The ‘pages’ of the book were embossed on the board then sanded to bring out the inner colour.  The spine is stuck with extra sticky tape, with 3D tape between pages to build up dimension.  A few peel-offs and dots and dashes added to edges of pages for extra effect.  I was thinking of traditional European costumes with lace and gingham when working on this.
• Favourites: Faux stitching; lots of layers; paper flowers.
• Extra bits (I do just love my extra bits): The red roses had to be the main player but I thought I needed a little green to break up all the red and white, so I added the green trim and green leaves which tie in with the green leaves in the main image.  The paper roses and leaves are made from torn core’dinations card (oh the fun I had) with a little stickles for frosty dew.  They looked a little stark so I added the material flowers (from one of my magic stash boxes) which I love because they are a lovely rich red like the dress (copic colours R24; R27; R29 & touch R59 by the way).  Oh, and the Tim Holtz pins says ‘secrets’, well the bear did have a big secret didn’t he?

Hope you like, back again soon xx

Homemade Holly

I was pleased with my homemade holly

I’ve been playing at colouring-in again, but it’s not quite finished yet, so my share for A Card a Day Blogging is something I completed at the weekend.

It’s another card made from Papermania’s Henbury Lane paper collection.  Of course, I’ve done some inked edges and my favourite layers and dots and dashes.  For the sentiment I've used the letter tiles I got in WH Smith last year (I think they go well with the kraft card used for the base card).

I'm going to be brave and enter this card into the following challenges:

CHNC Challenge 99  Use something more than 6 months old
Victorine Challenge 47 Any-thing Christmas
Let's Craft and Create Getting Ready for Christmas

Holly: I thought the card needed that little something and I didn’t have just the right thing in my stash.  I saw a sweet die on-line but it was sold out.  So it was thinking cap time again.  I drew some holly freehand on dark green card with a gold pen.  I curved the holly with a bone folder then covered with glossy accents.  Then for the berries, I scrunched up some red paper for a 3D effect but it just didn’t look right.  So I went with something simple.  Three berries punched from red card with an ordinary hole punch.  I’ve added a few white highlights with my sakura white gel pen then added more glossy accents.  When the holly and berries were dry I stuck them on to the card with 3D glue gel, keeping a bit of height and shape.  I was quite chuffed with myself when it was done.  Hope you like it too.

Next, back to my colouring-in…

More snow and beatrix potter

extra snow with peel off waste and a little metal santa charm

mmmm...chocolate cake = love

Here's a couple of cards I finished yesterday but didn't get around to posting.  I'm going to share them for  A Card a Day Blogging.  I had done the cards a few weeks ago, and they are similar to my previous beatrix potter efforts.  I had set them aside as I felt they needed a little something to make them different.

Yesterday, I had a dig around in one of my little boxes and found these christmas metal charms. I added them with a little butcher's twine.

Update: Mr Fantabulous Mayhem and I had a super night at a friend's house on Saturday night.  Good friends really do make such a difference in life.  I am all set for a busy week ahead.  I now have a new working printer which means I can do a whole lot of new projects.  I'm all excited.  I've got a technical challenge too, I've been asked to make some personalised Christmas cards that are flat for posting.  It'll be a challenge for me as I do so like to add 'extra bits', but I have got a few ideas to add faux embellishments but I will need to try to get the computer-ma-bob to do what I want it to.  So watch this space...

Now for a cup of tea and getting on with all those fun new projects..

Golden Wedding

sunglasses on for this one - hope you like flowers

a card like this needs a box

Update: Well here it is, one of the very ornate cards I have been working on.  I’ll make it my card for Card a Day Blogging.

Inspiration: A special request.  I wanted to go to town and make a wow factor gift.

• Products: ‘Once Upon a Time’ Keepsake Board; plain mirri board and matt gold card from create and craft pack; centura pearl card; Hunkydory extra special mirri (with polka dots); fine line peel offs; cream and shimmery golden brown thick paper from stash and local shop (for flowers); Hunkydory foiled acetate; Spellbinder and Marianne dies and punches for flowers; Cheery Lynn die for mini swirl; x-cut die for heart on box; bling by Stamps by Chloe, plus stickles and glitter; few brads and gold ribbon from stash.
• Techniques: Layers of ‘book’ embossed on board edges inked and trimmed with peel off.  Spine of layers stuck down with extra sticky tape, layers have 3D tape between pages to build up shape.  After that it’s all about the decorating.  Some of my favourite hand-made flowers stuck down with glue gel.  I enjoyed mixing it up with different shapes and sizes for flowers like a real floral display.  Although I was aiming at the wow factor the card was a bit ‘too gold’, so I tried to use the flowers to tone the card done a bit.  Hoping for opulent but still tasteful.  I’ve had some positive feedback, but realise that this sort of card is only for special occasions and even then not for every-one.
• Favourites: Inked edges (with Tim Holtz vintage photo ink of course); lots of flowers but not much room for faux stitching but I did manage a little bit on the sentiment tag.
• Sentiment: I’ve used a simple ‘Happy Anniversary’ stamp from Stamps by Chloe, but added some hand written words hidden in the flowers.
• Extra bits (it’s all about the extra flowers here): Plenty of paper flowers added each with a touch of bling.  I've added some gold ribbon and lace too. There are also a few random leaves, these have been cut free hand, a few of them have special words like ‘Love’, ‘Cherish’ and ’50 years’ as well as the couple’s names.  These have been tucked in under the flowers with a little ‘blob’ of glue gel.  The other ‘extra bits’ are the stand and box.  The stand is made from a Glitter Girls template in mirri board and decorated with peel-offs.  It works a treat for displaying the card.  The box is made from centura pearl A3 card and decorated with foiled acetate, peel offs, ribbon and a heart.

More Henbury Lane

the big poinsettias were part of the packaging

Just a cheeky wee post today.  It's a variation on a theme, another card made with do-crafts Papermania Henbury Lane collection.

It's similar to yesterday's post.  It's got my usual dots and dashes and inked edges plus a wee bit of glitter ribbon from my stash. 

The packaging on the paper packs was so cute I had to have a go at using it, so I cut out the big poinsettia at the side, built it up with glue gel and added some very fine lime green glitter.  I hope you think it works.

Watch this space: I've finally completed the two anniversary cards I have been working on.  I need to stand back and hope they will be liked.  I need to take photos, and will post once they are in the right hands but I have to warn you that they are decorated within an inch of their life...

Seasonal Swirls

I just had to add extra bits to this yummy Henbury Lane collection

Update: Today I have been busy cutting out flowers for another project but cannot share that one just yet.  I’m on to my second bottle of cough medicine, but before my next Lemsip here’s my card for Card a Day Blogging.

Inspiration: I really have found it very inspiring looking at other people’s blogs and attending card making classes at my local shop.  I do still like adding my favourite extra bits but it is great having a fresh outlook on my crafting (only down side is that my wish list of things I am going to try is getting longer and longer!).  The first class I went to at my local shop Craft-ed Creations  we got a pack of goodies that included the papers I have used here.  I found getting ideas from other crafters made me look at the papers in a different way and I came home full of ideas of things to do with my stash.  This is one of the cards a came up with.  The lime green is not the first colour I think of for Christmas but I think it works really well with other traditional Christmas colours.

• Products: Papers and topper from do-crafts Henbury Lane Collection; plain red and green card; Marianne Dies for swirls; Flower handmade using punches; ribbon from stash; glamour dust; peg and heart shaped brad from stash; Glossy Accents; letter tiles from WH Smith.
• Techniques: Mat and layering in contrasting colours with dots and dashes added.  Flower made from punched shapes glued together covered in glamour dust, centre is glue gel covered in glitter.  The leaves are hand cut from the kit and covered with glossy accents to look suitably evergreen.  Swirls are cut using the dies and stuck down with glue gel, I’ve left the ends unstuck for a more dimensional effect.
• Favourites: Dots and dashed with sakura white opaque gel pen and papermania permanent pens.
• Extra bits (because I love them so): I thought the wreath looked a little empty so I added the heart hanging on a pleat made with some glittery ribbon in my stash and added the little peg.  The little letter tiles were bought from WH Smith (I’ve ran out of ‘E’s so spelled JOY rather than NOEL!).

I’ve got a few more cards to share made with papers from this collection, but I’ll try to mix it up to keep them different.  Now time for that Lemsip...

Happy Anniversary

At Last



Sentiment: Life is a Journey Love is what makes that journey worthwhile

It’s all about Wedding Anniversaries for me this week.

It was my first Wedding Anniversary at the week-end.  Mr Fantabulous Mayhem and I have been together for years.  He was a forever bachelor and I was once bitten twice shy but we finally admitted that we couldn’t imagine life without each other.  We went down the aisle to ‘At Last’ by Etta James, much to the amusement of our guests.

Meanwhile on the crafting front I am busy making a Golden Wedding card and a first wedding anniversary card.  Both are requests from friends, so I am really keen to make a good job of it.  For my contribution to A Card a Day Blogging I thought I would share the Anniversary card I made earlier this year for my mother and father in law.  They are the loveliest couple and having the toughest of years.  They do have a sense of humour and a little red car, so I made this cute little 3D card from Hunkydory.

Unable to leave things as they come I’ve added some brads for tail lights and glossy accents here and there.  There’s also some extra bits tied to the bumper as they do in the movies.  I do hope Mr Fantabulous Mayhem and I will be a happy little old couple like this one day.

With my chesty cough keeping me company it’s back to crafting now. xx

 

A touch of Cinderella

A shoe Cinderella would be proud of

lots of fun decorating

I’ve missed the last couple of days blogs.  I’ve got a horrible chesty cough but I’m still crafting, just havn’t quite got around to writing the descriptions for the blog.

Any who, here’s the amazing shoe that we made at the craft class at ‘Craft-ed Creations’ on Saturday.

The shoe is made from a template by Sandra Wright at The House of Zandra.

The papers used were from the Persimmon Collection by Papermania.

It is a bit tricky to make, not exactly difficult, but you do need to take your time and be patient putting it together.  We used a mixture of glue and extra strong tape to put it together.

Extra bits added: some ribbon from the Persimmon collection; a little plain navy ribbon; Purple Dew Drops from Papermania; a few fine line peel offs around the edges; some glossy accents added to the toe and the heel to re-enforce a little and for a ‘patent’ effect.

Back again soon xx

Gingerbread Fun

More Gingerbread Fun

Update: I’m just back from my local craft shop 'Craft-ed Creations' where we had another class this morning.  It's heaven for me, crafty goodies, good company, tea, biscuits and even a lesson on labradoodle romance!  I’m super excited because with Karen's guidance we made a 3D shoe and we have lots of other goodies home to play.  I’ll share later when I have finished trimming but meantime I had better do my contribution to A Card a Day .

Inspiration: The idea for this card also came from Karen at the craft class.  I enjoyed the one I did at class a couple of weeks ago so much that I’ve done another one, this time it’s Mr Gingerbread on a rolling pin.  Attempting to have a theme ‘the same but different’ for December cards.

• Main Products: 3D decoupage sheet from Craft Creations Ltd; stepper card from Karen’s shop; Do-crafts Forever Friends Retro Collection for the striped paper to match the old fashioned rolling pin.
• Techniques: The decoupage was die cut, I just trimmed the pips.  The shapes were quite simple so I used 3D tape rather than glue to build up.  I did use some 3D glue gel on the holly sprigs to get a good curve.  I added a touch of glossy accents on the holly leaves and faux button too.  I’ve added a little bit of hidden card re-enforcement so that my added decoration doesn’t make the stepper card go the way of Bambi.
• Favourites: Inked edges; faux stitching with sakura gel pen; extra bits.
• Sentiment: The little chipboard ‘Happy Christmas’ came as part of a freebie in Card making and papercraft magazine.
• Extra bits (you need extra bits in your life): polar white flower soft icing sugar of course.  I had a little bit of checked ribbon leftover from a do-crafts pack so I added that as I thought it was a good contrast.

As you may have noticed I have had a wee go at making the layout of the blog look a bit better.  I'm learning all the time so there may be more changes to come if I can figure out how to do things.

Back again soon xx

Happy Birthday Dad

Masculine

A boy and his Dad

Update: It’s a ‘Here’s one I made earlier’ contribution from me today. I wonder what every-one else has done for Card a Day Blogging ?

Inspiration: I wanted to make a proper ‘manly’ card for my father in law’s birthday earlier this year. He’s in his seventies and likes a wee dram (whisky), a bit of gardening and like most Scottish men watching football.  I decided on a retro football image inside and a tool shed look on the front.  I do have a weakness for images that evoke memories and feelings and the ‘Remember when’ range from La Pashe certainly does that, especially the images in sepia tones.  I can just imagine this as my husband when he was a wee boy, standing with his Dad (may be not 100% accurate but it has the right feeling).

• Products: La Pashe ‘Remember When’ 3D decoupage; Tim Holtz papers and stickers; newsprint vellum from stash; plain dark green card; a plain tag; a few peel off stickers.
• Techniques: the base card is A5 with a fancy edge from a score board; 3D decoupage curled and built up with 3D glue gel.  I made this the inside of the card and personalised the football ground by adding ‘Alloa’ our local town to the stand.  Then I used the Tim Holtz paper and stickers to make a random collage of ‘manly bits’ on the front and inside front.  I cut adverts from the newsprint vellum and scrunched up and inked before adding to the collage.  The letters that look like old printing blocks have been used to spell out Dad on the front and the message inside, the other sentiments are from the La Pashe sheet.
• Favourites: Inked edges; extra details inside card.
• Extra bits (just because): I just kept adding the Tim Holtz bits in a random fashion and a ribbon too (can't think why).  I’ve added a few peel off corners, dots and lines, oh and a wee dog on the back.

Fairy Wishes

Fairy hopes and wishes




I love the sentiment: may all your wishes and dreams come true

Update: This is my card for a card a day blogging.  See who else is joining in here: http://bloggingacad.blogspot.co.uk/

This is the first fairy card I have shared on my blog.  It probably won’t be the last as I like fairies so much that I decorate my Christmas tree with them (but that’s a story for another day).

Inspiration: I’ve been experimenting with something I’ve never done before trying to make my own random backgrounds with shimmery stuff.  I’ve seen a number of people demonstrating this sort of thing and I’ve wanted to have a go for ages as it looked so yummy.  I finally got around to it last night and I have to say I loved it but I still think I could do with a lot more experimenting to practice all the different techniques.  I've also been inspired by cards I've seen on Joanna Sheen's challenge blog.  I'm a bit late for the current challenge but may be next time.

• Main products: Joanna Sheen Silhouette Stamp Fairy Whispers JS324; memento ink; Luminarte Radiant Rain Shimmering Mist (Spring Blossom, Key Lime, Ocean Wave, Pewter & Autumn Leaf); centura pearl card; black card; black fine line peel –offs; stickles; spellbinder scalloped oval and flower; papermania black permanent pen; sakura white gel pen.
• Techniques: The backgrounds were made by painting the card randomly with different colours of the Shimmer Mists.  Some I added splodges to, some were sprayed with shimmer mists and some I tried sprinkling with salt.  Last night they looked a bit hit or miss but when it came to making the card today it was just a matter to choosing to cut out the bits I liked the look of.  After stamping the fairies it looked a bit too ethereal so I went over the image with a permanent black pen and added some highlights with my trusty companion the sakura white gel pen then added stickles on the fairy wings.  I’ve used black card for a bit of layering to bring out the silhouettes and mounted on a 15cm square black card then added black peel-offs to make a border.
• Favourites: dots and dashes; used some extra bits of card to make the inside of the card interesting.
• Extra bits (because I love them so): the leaves behind the spellbinder flower are hand cut freestyle from some of the scrap card to match and shaped by hand and the centre of the flower is a blob of pinflair glue gel sprinkled with some fine pee wee glitter (I’ve seen a couple of people do this on TV).

Half way through this project I thought I was making a bit of a mess of it, but in the end I was happy with the final result.  I hope you like it too, it has a real shimmer which you can’t really see in the photo.