Seven Birthday Wood Nymphs

Happy Birthday to Crafter's Companion



A card that can be transformed into bunting

A close up of the Toread called Flora

Happy Halloween every-one!  Busy, busy…hubby is actually hanging up skeletons around me as I type and we don’t even have little ones in the house!

I tried to come up with something different with this project.  I fancied entering the Crafter’s Companion 7^th Birthday Competition (with a bit of luck I may even be considered for a guest design team spot).  I thought it would be good to do something with a bit of a wow factor.  I was also looking for an excuse to play with the Toreads (wood nymphs) stamps because of their cute and cheeky little faces and to practice my colouring in.

I had a ball with the colouring in, doing some natural colours and some more unusual.  I will definitely be creating other projects with these stamps as they could be used in many different ways.  I stamped with rich cocoa memento ink on Neenah card and used copic pens to colour in.  I added some highlights with my trusty sakura white gel pen (I would be lost without it) and a Kuretake very fine brown pen.  I added freckles just because I felt like it, not sure if wood nymphs should have freckles but why not!

I mounted the wood nymphs on some die cut shapes (spellbinders & x-cut), cut from core’dinations ‘Core Couture’ card (I used Collal 3D glue gel to give a bit of dimension).  I was drawn to slightly Halloween colours, greens, purples and oranges but that wasn’t even planned it just happened. 

Then came the dilemma of what to do with my wood nymphs!  I thought about bunting or a wishing tree table decoration that could be used for a birthday celebration but then I noticed that the competition called for a card.  So thinking cap on, I hope you like what I came up with.  It’s a bit of a mega birthday card.  It’s made from A3 centura pearl card and re-enforced with an old box because of the size.  As there was a lot of effort in the colouring in (as well as the fun) I wanted something that would have a longer life, so my tags are attached with just a little bit of foam tape so that they can be recycled back in to birthday decorations for future birthdays.  This made me think that it might be a sweet idea to make a new tag for a child every birthday so that they could have an every growing string of bunting and you could write a little message or memory on the back (as number one son will be thirty on his next birthday I think I may have had this bright idea a little late!).

Extras used: Hunkydory/Crafter’s Companion foiled acetate with leaves (part of Toread range); papermania brads and glitter strips; purple, orange and green matt card from stash; sticky letters from stash (TPC Studio); paper shapers flower punch; fuzzy wool and little pegs from stash (from bargain shop).

 

Wedding Day

The Happy Couple

Update: I didn’t manage to post a blog yesterday as I was finishing this card and getting ready to go to the wedding in the evening.  We had a lovely evening and the bride was really beautiful.  The venue (Orocco Pier) overlooked the forth road bridge and the day photos were shown in the background on a screen in the evening (I thought this was a great idea).  They were simply stunning.

Inspiration: The bride to be is the wee sister of one of Mr Bell’s oldest friends and a lovely girl in her own right, so I wanted to create something very special with a touch of bling.  A little bird told me the bridesmaids would be in navy so I wanted to add just a little accent with navy ribbon. 

Main Products: Stampavie Sarah Kay ‘Happy Couple’ stamp (I love these images I think they are sooo romantic); do-crafts (capsule collection) cream textured card for layers; glitter card (from create and craft ages ago) some tiny Anita’s gems.  Spellbinders, x-cut and Marianne dies (the intricate heart with birds and flowers is a Marianne die and I think it is really special, I did have to put it through my cuttlebug a few times but it was worth it).

Secret pocket and love birds

• Techniques: Image hand stamped with memento rich cocoa ink and coloured with copic pens (mostly warm greys for a vintage feel but with a touch of colour and white sakura pen for highlights). Lots of layers added with spellbinders, x-cut and Marianne shapes.  Plenty of glamour dust added.  Flowers made from two different sized punches and a few brads then glittered (a variation of a flower I saw Mel Heaton demonstrate a couple of years ago).  Inside the card there are a few hearts for decoration.  One of the hearts is a secret pocket for a money gift (I like adding little pockets like this and it’s useful too!).  I have re-enforced the swirls with glossy accents and PVA glue underneath (you just have to be patient while it dries, did get some funny looks from hubby when I shouted ‘don’t touch my swirls!’).  A few white and gold fine line peel offs for borders and gold glitter congratulations peel off from stash.
• Favourites: 8” by 8” card; inked edges; faux stitching and dots; Marianne swirls; extra details inside card.  Not to mention a matching envelope.
• Extra bits - because where’s the fun in making your own cards without adding extra bits: the flowers and swirls are my favourite sort of addition but I was blown away by the sparkle on the horse shoe that I bought from Karen Wilson at ‘Craft-ed Creations’ in Alloa (Karen has some absolutely fab sparkle as she also makes wedding invitations). The navy ribbon has a thread of silver and was from Karen’s shop too.  Yummy.

This pic is a wee bit fuzzy but gives and idea of the matching envelope.

Watch this space: a sneak peek at some Christmas creations next (but a cup of tea first I think!).

Goose Girl

Goose Girl in the snow

Two secret pockets and a tag inside

Update: Busy day today, got my nails done in the morning then went shopping for a new frock this afternoon (thankfully I found something that covers my lumps and bumps).  Going to a wedding tomorrow hence the need to get dolled up.  Heaven above, look at the time and still no blog.  Cheating just a wee bit as this is a card similar to  the 'Anna Karenina' one that I made earlier.

Inspiration: It's the ‘Paint box Poppets’ stamps from Crafter’s Companion again. I love original artwork and really fell for these.  My favourite colour is purple so I went with purples and lilacs this time.  As it happens my new frock is purple too.  It's getting pretty cold here today (in Scotland) and they say snow is not far away so I think the image is quite appropriate.

• Main Products: Crafter’s Companion Painbox Poppets Winter Collection – Goose Girl rubber stamp; Memory makers papers (printer dead so I couldn’t use papers from CD, but loved the effect these papers gave me).
• Techniques: Image hand stamped (rich cocoa memento) and coloured with copic pens.  Layers of co-ordinating paper with inked edges; little bit of ‘Kanban Kandy Kore’ paper put through an embossing folder then sanded to look like really rich material; couple of pockets and a tag inside.
• Favourites: Kraft card; ‘Hunkydory Colour Me’ card; faux stitching; extra details inside card; spellbinder and marianne shapes.
• Sentiment: I have not added a sentiment again so that it could be made in to a Christmas card or a winter birthday.
• Extra bits (because where’s the fun in making your own cards without adding extra bits: Flowers and swirls from my favourite Marianne dies plus a few brads; little dots on the image with sakura opaque white gel pen and some fine liner pens to add to the richness.  I have only part stuck down some of the swirls so that there is a touch of dimension but the down side of this is that they can be a little delicate.

Watch this space: still working on a few projects at the same time, must get better organised!.

Anna Karenina

A young Anna Karenina?



Update: Going to make a big effort to do a blog post every day this week.  Lots of projects on the go…so I better get on with it. 

Inspiration: The ‘Paint box Poppets’ stamps (artwork by Christine Haworth) from Crafter’s Companion were my starting point. The images have an old world romance about them that I love.  Once I had coloured in this image it reminded me of two things Anna Karenina and a furry hat I had as a child (honestly the seventies you had to be there!).  I had the pigtails too. 

Main Products: Crafter’s Companion Painbox Poppets Winter Collection 'Snow Princess'; Making memories papers 'Vintage Hip Collection Paisley' (my printer was on the blink so I couldn’t use papers from matching CD, but it gave me a chance to use these papers that I picked up in a sale last year.  I was pleased with the slightly different result).

• Techniques: Image hand stamped (rich cocoa memento) on 'Hunkdory Colour Me' card and coloured with copic pens.  Papers distressed with Tim Holtz tool and sanded with crafter’s companion Sand It block.  A ribbon of ‘Kanban Kandy Kore’ paper put through a ‘Darice’ folder then sanded to look like rich curtain material.
• Favourites: Kraft card; faux stitching; extra details inside card; spellbinder lacy oval shape.
• Sentiment: I have not added a sentiment.  It could be made in to a Christmas card or a winter birthday.
• Extra bits (because where’s the fun in making your own cards without adding extra bits:
• Flowers and swirls from my favourite Marianne dies and a spellbinder flower plus a few brads; little dots on the image with sakura opaque white gel pen and some fine liner pens to add to the richness.

Watch this space: Itching to get on with my wood nymph and autumn projects.  Wish I could take better pictures the colouring is better in real life (honest!).

Work in Progress Day

Love is in the air - stamp is called 'A Little Bit Country'

This image reminds me of my childhood

I had a few fizzy pops last night so I am taking it easy today.  In the mood for some colouring in so I put a jumper on over my pyjamas and have my copic pens out.  Heaven.

I have taken some photos of some of my recent Sarah Kay colouring projects (with a bit of paper piecing too).  They are not quite finished as I need to make them in to cards and add some hand-made embellishments.

I am a bit fussy.  I don’t always like cute but love these ones.  They have a sort of vintage feel and they remind me of my childhood.  When I was a girl ‘Little House on the Prairie’ and ‘Holly Hobby’ were all the rage.  I can remember making my mum a Mother’s Day card with my own hand drawn ‘Holly Hobby’ style figure on it (hidden face, big hat and patchwork pinafore).  Looking back the outfit might be described as a ‘zentangle’ design as I had doodled a different design on each patchwork square.  I am drawn to the Sarah Kay images as they just remind me of things like that.  I also had a children’s cook book that my Aunt in Australia had sent me.  I am pretty sure the artwork was by Sarah Kay too.  They are also sooo fab to colour and practice shading on the clothing - jeans are great fun.

 I will post the completed cards when they are done.

The Beautiful Game

Mr. Bell loves football. Mrs. Bell loves colouring in.

The Beautiful Game + a pint.

'Football's not a matter of life and death...it's more important than that' - Bill Shankly

Update: One for the boys.  I like colouring in.  I don’t really like football, except Scotland matches but watching them would break your heart.  I have attached a photo of Mr. Bell watching England play when we were on holiday in Turkey (our holiday chums were supporting England!).  Mr. Bell is the one with his head in his hands.

 

Football can break your heart

Inspiration: The man in my life is fond of a wee beer (as are a few of his friends!) so I fell in love with the whole ‘Flippen Men’ range as soon as I saw them a few years ago (all the images show a man with a pint in his hand in various situations).  I recently got this stamp as it gave me an excuse to play at colouring in.  The Bill Shankly quote is spot on.  Mel Heaton is the first person I saw demonstrating copic pens and I have been collecting and playing since.  Thanks Mel.  The beauty of the pens with this stamp is that you can customise the jumper for your loved ones’ favourite team.
Products: La Pasche ‘Flippin Men’ stamp; Dark Cocoa Memento ink; Hunkydory card; copic pens; spellbinder label shape.
Techniques: Image hand stamped and coloured with copic pens, mat and layering.

Favourites: Kraft card; inked edges; faux stitching; extra details inside card.

Extra bits (because where’s the fun in making your own cards without adding extra bits:
Backing paper from stash has a collage of vintage football players from cigarette cards.  I only had one sheet so I will have to have a go at making something similar next time.  As the card is intended for a male I couldn’t add my usual bows, flowers, flourishes and glitter (heart breaking).