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

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

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

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?

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 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...

Mr & Mrs Gingerbread

Gingerbread Fun

Now, for something completely different, I would like to share a card I started at a recent craft class.  Karen Wilson holds the class at her shop ‘Craft-ed Creations’ in Alloa (my home town).

I only started going to the class a couple of weeks ago, and it is wonderful getting to ‘play’ with other crafters.  Fresh ideas, good company and tea and biscuits, who could want more?

The main focus of the card is the decoupage gingerbread lady (from Craft Creations Ltd).  She was die-cut so pretty easy to pop out.  Karen had the base stepper card and backing papers ready for us so it all came together quite easily.  There is also a wee cheeky gingerbread boy sitting on a rolling pin on the other side.

I had been working on another project that night too, so I finished this one at home (best homework ever).  I couldn’t help myself and added some white dots with my sakura pen.  I think it looks just right (although I admit the dots and dashes thing is turning in to a bit of an addiction!).  I added just a sprinkle of polar white flowersoft for icing sugar and a little bit of ric-rac ribbon and was really pleased with the result.

The card was such fun to do, I think I’ll be doing another one (the same but different of course).

Karen also has classes for scrapbooking which I hope to start attending soon.