Thursday 15 November 2012

Bad News and Good News

I sadly heard that a friend died a couple of days ago. I quickly made this card this morning to get it in the post. It uses the Clarity Allium stamps and I brayered the background using my splodge mat which is invaluable. The text stamp was an Anita's one which goes well with the Allium as it has a little seedhead on it. I used lot of of colour which may be unusual for a sympathy card but John was a very bright person and his widow is a great lover of plants, both garden and wild, so I'm hoping this will be well recieved. On the good news side, I've just heard that one of my cards is going to feature in Craft Stamper magazine. I'm chuffed! Need to find it now and send it off to them - I'm just hoping it's in my craft room somewhere!! Look out for it in the next issue - it was featured on my blog in September.

Tuesday 6 November 2012

Another Scrapbook Paper that needed using

I've already made a card out of this paper but decided to make another. This one I put on an 8x8 card after inking the edge with bundled sage distress ink. I've added the 'winter wishes' greeting from a Dovecraft set which I've embossed in white glitter embossing powder. I've then cut a selection of snowlfakes using spellbinders create-a-flake 3 from two shades of glitter card. I added them just to fill out the card as it looked a bit bare on the right. I wasn't sure if I liked it when I did it late at night but liked it when I saw it in the light of day! Hope you do too!

Monday 5 November 2012

Blue Ornament

This one was another quickie. I wanted to use a new embossing folder I'd bought as a background. You may have seen the blue acetate on a previous card - I also wanted to use up the acetate. I cut the acetate with an heirloom ornament and cut a smaller one with the greeting on. I've added some white ribbon as I didn't have any blue, but added some bakers twine and a jewel on the top to bring out the blue.

Sunday 4 November 2012

Using up a Scrapbook Paper

Found this paper as I was sifting through and decided to use it up before it got ruined. It was one I downloaded from the internet and printed off. I've just added a couple of Spellbinder Heirloom Ornaments cut out in gold mirri then embossed whilst still in the die with a snowflake embossing folder. I've added a label also cut from gold mirri which I've added a peel off too. I've used a gold a red narrow ribbon through the label and also to hang the ornaments with. I've also added a couple of red jewels. I just wanted to make some quick cards so this was another quickie.

Wednesday 31 October 2012

Yes it's another reindeer card!

I know this may look like a Sue Wilson copy but it's my own idea for a change. I have cut out an aperture with labels 20 and stuck a piece of nightsky paper behind. I had wanted to put on foam pads but that showed the edge of the paper as it's only small - part of a docrafts set. I have added glitter to it though as well as to the edge of the aperture. I've then added a reindeer cut in white and a star cut from the holiday tags set. I've stamped 'peace' in it using my just-rite set. I've added some white organza ribbon, bakers twine and and gem to the top. The white card looked a little bare so I cut the corner from the frosty forms set and stuck to each corner which I think works well. I've added some white glue dots around the edge but sprinkled with glitter. I've added a layer of dark blue card underneath. I think that covers it..

Monday 29 October 2012

Simple Reindeer Card

I thought this lovely reindeer from the spellbinders frosty forms set would work well with my sycamore embossing folder so decided to try it out. I embossed the tree in white and then cut the reindeer in kraft card. At the bottom I've added some cosmic shimmer dries clear glue which I've sprinkled with glitter. I'll probably add a greeting at the top but not sure so leaving as it is at the moment. It's simple but I like it.

Sunday 28 October 2012

Sweet Themed Card

This is for someone's God Son who she doesn't know the age of! After considering all sorts of usual boy themes I decided to go for a sweetie theme as that I thought that would fit most boys. I've glazed the pots with glossy accents. The papers are from Making Cards I think - freebie papers are always useful!

Saturday 27 October 2012

Skiing Mad Wes!

I love the colour combination on this one. I found the image on the internet. I nearly ruined it by accident. I stuck the letters on with cosmic shimmer glue and thought I'd used dries clear but had accidentally used the white glue. I managed to cut some away when it was dry. I don't think it's too bad as the image has white blobs on so kind of blends in...well that's what I'm telling myself!

Reindeers on a Tag

I saw a tag card Sue Wilson did with the reindeer from the spellbinder frosty forms set - which is rapidly becoming my favourite die - and wanted to try it out. I found a green tag which was the right size so decided to mix with white. I embossed a background sheet with snowflakes and distressed a little with bundled sage to add a little colour. I had planned on having the two reindeer looking at each other but accidentally put the glue on the wrong side of the second one so decided to use it that way anyway. As I had snowflakes everywhere I decided to cut some snowflakes to layer rather than the poinsettia that Sue had used on hers. I added some swirly pearls. I considered adding a greeting at the bottom right but still undecided so may add later - it looks a little bare down there!

Friday 26 October 2012

Crafty Individuals Vintage Christmas

Thought I would have a go at the scratched edge technique I've seen done. I'm not sure you can really tell but I have roughed up the edge of all the sheets of paper used on this Kraft card. The stamp and papers are from Crafty Individuals. I've distressed it with Vintage Photo ink. I'm not sure I'm really comfortable with this style but it's good to try something new.

Tuesday 23 October 2012

White Bauble Card - but squashed my dots!

Wanted to try out my Tied Together embossing folder so created a lovely background that I put white glue dots on that I sprinkled with glitter. I looked great but when I thought it was dry it wasn't quite and when I added the tape to the back it squashed my dots! Don't think the person getting it will spot the mistake though! This first photo is a little dark so here's the one I took with the flash...
I've cut the bauble in 3 sizes, the bottom one is micro beaded, the middle one is embossed with dots and the smallest is stamped with a Just Rite greeting. I've added the lovely wide, crinkle edge ribbon. I then decided to add a holly border at the bottom and the bit I cut off I added at the top of the bauble. I was going to add a white poinsettia on the border but decided that might be too much so will leave it and see what I think after I've slept on it. If I do decide to add I'll amend this blog.

Monday 22 October 2012

Blue Acetate

I wanted to do a crystal laquer acetate look in blue so bought some blue alcohol inks yesterday and gave it a go. I've added some gem swirls to complete the look. Meant to add some glitter to the acetate but forgot - next time...

Sunday 21 October 2012

Holiday Tree in Blue

I just wanted to have a go at cutting this tree using my Glitter Girls Slicker Sheets to ease getting the die cut out - and it worked brilliantly! I recommend it if you have intricate dies. There is some coredinations card at the back and ribbon and another tag die for the greeting. I've added some jewels to the tree. It's a simple card but very nice.

Saturday 20 October 2012

Black Bauble

This card was looking good at one point but think the finished result isn't quite what I was hoping for. I was again following a Sue Wilson example but covered a black bauble with white glue dots which I then covered with glitter. I was thrilled with how that turned out. I had some lovely vellum which I thought would go great with it but I think I should have covered some of it up as it's a bit overpowering. I added a holly border and a die cut greeting which didn't really fit well but there you go!

Friday 19 October 2012

Another Sue Wilson Tribute card!

OK so it's not really a copy but it is inspired by Sue Wilson's buckle style card...
The background is a paper printed from a Crafters Companion CD (don't ask me which one!). I've then covered this with clear micro beads. At the top and bottom is the Frostyville border. I've then cut three labels 18 frames (one large, two small) and interwined with a strip that I've stamped on. I am going to add some pearl drops but photographed before I did that. Now I've done this once I will try again differently. Hope you like it! Update - here is the completed card with pearl drops...

Wednesday 17 October 2012

Scandinavian Quick Cards Competition Entry

OK this card took about half and hour so not a masterpiece by any means. I bought a couple of craft magazines today and as well as free papers there was a competition in Quick Cards to make a Scandinavian themed Christmas card. As there were a lot of that type of paper in the freebie papers I thought I would have a go!
Doubt it will win anything but it was fun to do. I am enjoying having a go at some of these challenges so I'm going to try and make time to keep doing it.

Tuesday 16 October 2012

White Heirloom Ornament - Sue Wilson copy

This is another copy of the lovely Sue's cards. I always fancied trying out an all white card although it's not really me - I like a bit of colour! It uses the heirloom ornament dies, poinsettia dies and the border from another set. The snowflake embossing folder is a provocraft one I think. I tried piercing holes like Sue does but it didn't work well so used microbeads on the background card as well as the centre of the bauble. However, I was really peeved to find when I came to put on the ribbon that I had run out of the crinkle edge organza ribbon so had to use a double bow of a thinner one - and that was the last I had of that one so really need to go ribbon shopping!

Monday 15 October 2012

Sue Wilson inspried card

I have had time to make a card this afternoon as I have been off work sick with a cold. Decided to make a card this afternoon having been watching Sue Wilson on the telly and desperately wanting to have a go. I managed to resist buying any more Spellbinders but wanted to do a card that I'd seen on Sue's blog and on C&C a while ago. I'd printed off the background scene a while ago but hadn't got round to doing it.
I think the background was off one of the Serif digikits. I sprayed it with silver sparkle to make it look wintery. The hills were just card covered with mica flakes. The reindeer were from one of my latest spellbinder sets and cut in shades of purple to match the sky. They were inked with dusty concorde which was also used to stamp the message and ink the edges. The greeting was from a Just-rite set (one of the bauble ones). I just punched it out but there is a holly accent spellbinder behind. I didn't think it was going to work but I really like it now it's done - hope you do too.

Friday 5 October 2012

Spellbinders Heirloom - stamp and die

Sorry it's been a while but I've not had time for cardmaking. However, I have been buying lots of crafty stuff! I wanted to use some Heartfelt stamps I bought that go with the Spellbinders Heirloom ornament dies. I stamped in Adirondack Pesto and distressed with that too. I then stamped again on the green and red card for decoupaging. I added some DCWW paper, holly accent dies, ribbon, etc. I was making it up as I went along but I quite like the finished result...hope you do too.

Sunday 30 September 2012

Happy Stampers Event

Went to the Happy Stampers event in Port Sunlight yesterday. It was great - enjoyed it even more than the first one I went to in May. I went with my friend June. Naturally, we headed to the Clarity stand first and being quite near the front of the queue there weren't so many people around then and so I had chance for a quick chat with Barbara and was at the front when she started her first demo. I had wanted to buy the new 'letter box' set but they didn't have it as it's still a Creat and Craft Exclusive. So naturally, I had to buy some others instead!! Always lovely stamps so no regrets. I also bought a new brayer as my current one seems to be going off. I bought a few other stamps, some chipboard shapes, papers, magazines and ribbon. I spent a little more than I planned but no regrets - a lot of it was stuff I was planning to buy and nothing that I won't use. I'll be sure to tell you when I'm using something I've bought at the show! Watch out for new samples. Oh, and I won't be posting for a few days at least as I'm off to Hove for a memorial service then have a (gulp!) job interview on Tuesday. Will let you know how it goes...

Thursday 27 September 2012

Bit of an odd one!

I love how this card turned out - better than I thought. I've made it as a thankyou for a friend in church so it has a bible verse on. Dee's Boutique is a great site to get free Bible verse digi stamps which is where I have got this from. I've printed it over another freebie scrapbook paper but can't remember where that came from. I added dimension to it with a Spellbinders polka dot frame which I've distressed with walnut stain. The bottom paper was a freebie from a magazine, I think it was 'Making Cards'. Again a little distress ink was added and some fake stitching. I've added a flower, card candi and a creative expression black gem swirl. Hope you like it too.

Wednesday 26 September 2012

Autumn Card

I've actually changed this cards since I photographed it but hopefully you can use your imagination. I have since cut it off the black just leaving that as a matt then added a matt of gold and mounted on a red card. It really has warmed it up. However, it was produced for a craft magazine submission and I've now posted it. The backing is actually acetate that I have put a layer of crystal lacquer on which I've added some alcohol inks to then put a layer of tissue paper on - it's called faux crystal I think. Sue Wilson shows the technique on her DVD. The front was then stamped with black leaves. I've added a sentiment and a ribbon on the front. Hope you like it.

Monday 24 September 2012

Craft Stamper Entry

I decided it would be a good idea to start entering some cards to magazines to show off my work. Partly it's because I'm hoping the prizes might stop me spending so much on crafty stuff!! (Yeah, like thats going to happen!). Anyway, this is one for Craft Stamper magazine using their freebie stamp from the last edition. I hope they like it. I combined in with the Clarity stamp large stamp stamp. The birds were from the Inkylicious 'wings and things' set and the words from the Hobbyart landscape sentiments set. Colours used for the background were the distress inks scattered straw and stormy sky. I then stamped the images in Adirondak Pesto apart from the stamp outline which was in black. Hope you like it - look out for it in print!

Sunday 23 September 2012

Crab Apple Crafts Bithday Bash

Thankfully I remembered by chance that it was my local craft shop's birthday do yesterday. I went up and it was wonderfully busy - so good to see. The shop is owned and run by Nigel and Rosemary Merry. They had several demonstrations under way including Kay from Indigo Blu. I stayed for a while and enjoyed my free cup of tea (resisted the cake!). I'm glad I did stop by as I found some rhinestone and pearl swirls on sale in the shop - hooray! I'd run out and although I've managed to find a site that sells the Creative Expression ones I was going to have to wait for them. Although I was surprised to see Rosemary on Create and Craft this morning - what a busy weekend for her! I'm looking forward to the Happy Stampers event next weekend at Port Sunlight - I'll be sure to post about it afterwards.

Thursday 20 September 2012

Guess what? Warren works with Quick Cards Tis the Season papers too!

I was supposed to be doing constructive things this afternoon (Sunday) but have ended up making cards again! I went looking for some more papers to match up to them and found that the free set called 'Tis the Season' that came with Quick Cards last month also work with the lovely Warren. Hope you like thse too!

Monday 17 September 2012

Below are a selection of cards I made in my crafty session a couple of days ago. I have loads of vintage Christmas stuff - I bought 2 large scrapbook pads last year in the sale and recently bought a Papermania kit so loads of stuff to work with. There will be more like these to come....

Saturday 15 September 2012

Penny Black Tree Christmas Card

I stamped this quickly when I bought this stamp (last year I think!) and added a greeting but then left it. I decided to use it up so added some chipped saphire distress ink around the edge, some glitter, and some pearl drops to the image. I then matched up some Dovecraft blue papers which I matted on silver. I've added some black stitching with a pen around the edges and Mel Heaton's trick of filling the blank area with clusters of 3 dots. I wanted to try out a different layout - not sure I like it but hope the recipient likes it!

Friday 14 September 2012

My mum's 70th Birthday Card

I wanted to go all out on this card for my mum but ended up making one like I've done before! I started a different card but didn't like it and scrapped it. Mum love's the colour purple and although it looks a bit blue in the photo it is actually a lilac colour. I've used core dinations paper as the background matt. I half embossed some white card leaving the bottom plain so I could stamp the greeting. I cut some panels of a purple patterened paper and added some clear micro beads over the top. These were matted on the purple card and put over the embossed area on foam tape for depth. The 'Happy Birthday' was stamped with glue then I added some silver gilding flakes. I also used the flakes on my die cut 70. I used ironworks spellbinders for the central layer. I added a pearly swirl and also some glue pearl dots round the edge and on the spellbinders. Lastly there is a crinkly edge organza ribbon with a creative expressions dazzler button at the centre. I'm pleased with the result although wanted to do something a bit more special for mum but I know she'll love it no matter what!

Wednesday 12 September 2012

Freebie papers and toppers from Creative Cardmaking Magazine

Bought this mag on Saturday and just love this selection of freebies by Craftwork Cards. They also had a bag of card candi too! I just had to make a few cards while I was feeling inspired! I've added a bid of aged mahogany distress ink, ribbon, other card candi but generally it's just the freebie stuff. Love the pinky and green colours. Loads more to use so will probably post more pictures when I do.
The last one was my attempt at a project in the magazine. It's supposed to look like a wreath but I'm not convinced! Still think it's OK so someone will get it this year!

Wednesday 5 September 2012

70th David Brown Tractor Card

This is a commissioned card for a vintage David Brown tractor enthusiast (no, really!)...
I found this image via Google and decided it would be good to use for this card. I used some free paper (when don't I?) from a collection by 'Simply Homemade' magazine. They had a watercolour affect and I have found them very useful. I stamped the 70 using a Dimension Fourth set. I added some floral Clarity stamps to the bottom edge of the card just for a bit of interest. I've also added some rafia - as it's for a bloke I decided ribbon wasn't good.

Tuesday 4 September 2012

An unusual Christmas card

Just had to try out the new Holiday Tree Spellbinder Die....
OK so I grabbed the first piece of card just to give it a go. And when I had cut it I just had to use it. I found the stripey paper in a Christmas selection from a magazine freebie set from last year. I added some pearls, ribbon and a large brad. I used Ironworks motifs for the other bits.

Tuesday 28 August 2012

Shih Tzu Dog Birthday Card

I know the girl this card is for and she has a Shih Tzu. I found this cute watercolour image via Google and matched it with some free papers from Simply Homemade I think (or it could be Making Cards). They were a seaside themed set but were done like watercolours so the blue papers went really well with the image. As its for a girl, I've added ribbon and pearls but given the brown matting card I've used it does look a little masculine but she's not too much of a girlie girl so hope it will be OK.

Monday 27 August 2012

Keep Calm it's your Birthday!

This is yet another commission card. No ideas what this girl is into so decided to use some of the freebie papers from Making Cards magazine. I've added some glitter and pearls and ribbon.

Sunday 26 August 2012

Two 21st Birthday Cards

I'm posting these two cards together as they were made in a similar way. I've used the Docrafts Digital Designer programme - one using Pampered Pets and the other Tulip. I created the image and background from the programme. I then stamped the numbers onto some of the backing paper using Dimension Fourth large number stamps. I added glitter to both and some pearls. Hope you like them...

Tuesday 14 August 2012

Free Paper Card

Yet another commission card so used some free papers I'd just got from a magazine...
The backing paper I covered in small clear glass beads for that muted effect. I mounted on pink coredinations. The circle was part of the set and I stamped and embossed the greeting on it in gold. I added some paper flowers with card candi centres. The flourishes were a spellbinders die but I accidentally cut and embossed them the wrong way but used them anyway!

Get your motor running!

Once I had the idea for this card it came together very quickly...
Isn't the internet great?! I find I have to use it all the time for finding images for 'specific' requests. I hope I've picked the right Yamaha motorcycle for this one! I was just going to layer it up but my friend gave me the large stamp stamp by Clarity which is soooo useful and I am very grateful! She bought a 2nd one in the sale not realised she already had it! I decided to use it to frame my image so stamped and embossed in black then using a mask I added some colour using Broken China Distress Ink. I then created the matt underneath using a free magazine stamp of tyre tracks and added the 'happy birthday' stamp. The very bottom paper was created from a downloaded Yamaha logo which I then took into Docrafts Digital Designer programme to create the background. Again, inked around the edge. I finally added some bakers twine and some black cosmic shimmer glue dots. Very pleased with it and hope my friend the the recipient are too!

Wednesday 8 August 2012

Champagne all round!

Yet another commission card with a request for a champagne theme. I think the end result looks a little dull but let me know what you think. I cut out the bottle and cork using a template that I think I photocopied from a magazine. I inked the edges and thought about using a pen to put in some detail but was worried about ruining it so didn't. I added a pearly swirl to act as bubbles. I embossed half of the white card behind with dots and hid the join with silver ribbon. I wanted to make it more to one side but is a little close to the middle. I added a few white glue dots around the very edge of the shaped card and was thinking of adding more but again, decided that I might ruin it. Added a die cut glass and a spellbinder tag that I added a peel off to. Think it will do!

Tuesday 7 August 2012

Another 50th Card...!

This is supposed to be a smaller one for my new customer. I used up some freebie peacock paper on this. It was printed on shiney magazine paper so I coated in clear micro beads to hide this and also give it a touch of luxuery. I mounted on black paper and added some crystal jewels at the bottom. I hid the join with some pink ribbon and a bow. I cut out a spellbinder fleur de lis square and stamped in the greeting. I added some leafy swirls too. I think the white square is a little too white but that's just my self critical side coming out again!

Monday 6 August 2012

50th Male Birthday Card

This card is another one of my commissions. She wanted hearts and kisses...well there aren't any kisses but hopefully enough hearts. The backing papers and greeting were done using the Docrafts Forever Friends Black and Gold DVD. I then gilded some large heart die cuts that I have (I think they were called Primitive hearts) and layered on some cream smaller ones. I added the 5 and the 0 and put some twisted wire behind. I added some card candi. I think it lacks something and if I work out what it is I'll add it!

Sunday 5 August 2012

Charity Cards for Cancer Research

I've had this freebie Pampered Pets set hanging around for a while and decided to use it to make some cards for the cancer research shop. Found some card which was a kind of grey colour but worked really well. Also found that pumice stone distress ink was a great match so used that with it too.

Saturday 4 August 2012

18th Birthday Card

This is another commission card. The images were a freebie from My Craft Studio as was the matching background paper. I did add some stamped lips onto the background using distress ink tattered rose and also used this to soften all the edges and tie everything in. I added some glittery swirls from Create and Craft - bought them when they were in the sale but this has been first opportunity to use them. Also added a few jewels. I think the lady wanted something very pink so hope this isn't too brown!