Steampunk Inventor

A bit of personalised steampunk fun

Another busy day as I’m going to see ‘Les Mis’ at the cinema.  Determined to get my blog habit up and running again so it’s time to share an earlier project.

For my ‘son-in-law to be’ I made a steampunk birthday card earlier this month using serif’s craft artist professional.  Number one daughter told me that he liked all things steampunk, but to make sure it was masculine.  I am still more of a tactile crafter than a digital one, but you just can’t get away from the world of possibilities with digital crafting, and how easy it is to personalise your creations.  I am still expanding my knowledge as I go, but having fun all the way.  I’ve added a picture of the loving couple.  The digikit used was ‘Steampunk Inventor’.  I printed on Neenah card and cut out.

This is stage one.

Stage two, was layering on some embossed and inked mirri card, adding some metal bits and bobs, some Tim Holtz tape and glossy accents and crackle glaze.  Unfortunately, doh! I didn’t take a photo of the final result before rushing to visit.  With a bit of luck, my daughter will come to the rescue and send a picture xx

Ok, where’s that box of tissues …

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

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?