Friday 31 May 2013

Peter Rabbit.

I'm back today with another card from the Beatrix Potter range. I've used one of the embossing folders, a card and a rub-on. I cut the back off the card and ran it through my embossing machine then highlighted the raised areas with a little metallic cream in purple to match the card mat. The front of the card I chopped down to create the toppers. The little mouse on the bottom one is a rub-on. I finished it off with a few co-ordinations gems from the embellishment pack.

Tuesday 28 May 2013

Beatrix Potter

I've been asked to make some cards for a German show, for Crafters Companion, using some Beatrix Potter images. This simple little card used an embossalicious folder, floral vine, some rub-ones and a few gems. It's one of my less is more type cards. I think it could have done with tinting round the edges or something but it's done now.

Wednesday 22 May 2013

A wedding card.

I want to take a minute and show you this card. It was made by my daughter Naomi and I think it's gorgeous. She doesn't have her own blog (yet) but I thought that this was worth sharing. 

Birthday duo

We've more embossing on this card, to make it look like the shirt tucked into some jeans. On one there are stickles and the other has gems to highlight them. We used a pen to mark on the stitching and on the blue one inked around the edges of the greeting.

CAS

Well I'm back with a few more cards that I taught in my Randalstown classes. This is a very quick easy one, with just an embossed background and a little stamp. 

Monday 20 May 2013

Birdhouse!!

That's MY birdhouse, on TV with Sara!!! I can hardly believe it!!!

Final album pages.

Have you seen the 4 day deal? I can't believe I just saw Sara, with my birdhouse, in her hand on tv!! Anyhow, I thought I'd better show you the last two pages of my mini album.  Again I've used elements and papers from the cd.
And the inside back cover reflects the first pages, with pockets for additional tags, photos etc.

Sunday 19 May 2013

More album pages.

I'm back today with two more pages from my mini album. On the left side here I've used an embossing folder and some core'dinations card to create a flap and on the right another little strap to tuck things behind. I've popped a piece of grey paper in there just so you can see.
On these pages I've another pocket and a corner flap. I used toppers and papers from the cd throughout and matted and layered them up with some punching thrown in for good measure.

Saturday 18 May 2013

First pages, birdhouse mini book

It's time to let you have a sneak peek inside the pages of my mini album. Because it fits on the back of the birdhouse I had to keep embellishment to a minimum and even then, with all the layers of tape, it's a very neat fit! This shows the inside of the front cover and the first page. Both have little lack punched pockets where tags and photos can be added.
On the second and third pages I've used a border and some button embellishment. The border is only attached down behind part of the flower again so bits and pieces can be slotted in. The buttons have some linen thread tied through them and are completely adhered.the orange fin is part of the system I used to attach my pages and you will see them throughout the book. 

Friday 17 May 2013

My first tutorial!

I've had some requests for a tutorial about how I made my step out card with the Camden bus on it. Now I've never written one before so I hope it's ok. If you see any glaring omissions or problems please let me know and I will try to fix it!

Below are the dimensions for the card and where to cut and fold. I've used A4 for this one but the original was resized a bit smaller.
Pa
In this pic you can see where I've cut the card and made my valley and mountain folds.
Turn the card over and adhere strong tape to each end as shown.

Here you can see that I've attached one end to my base card. The remainder is plopped forward out of the way. The base card is a whole A4 sheet folded in the middle.

And here it is again, completely attached.

It's up to you how you decorate the pages but a few tips... If you're using A4 paper to add layers you will probably need two the same unless you're very careful cutting the shapes. I just went ahead and cur rectangles for the ends then trimmed out the central bit before I realised this then left me short for the middle section. ( hope you understand what I mean, it's hard to explain!) . Also for the main middle piece it's best to have two separate toppers either side  of the centre fold. I didn't and when I tried to fold my card it wrinkled up.
Well give it a try and be sure to send me a photo of your cards when they're done. :)

More birdhouse.

I thought I would share some more pics of my birdhouse with you today. This one is of the roof which is tiled with circles folded in half. They are surprisingly robust and satisfyingly stroke-able.
This is the view of the back ...
..and here is the secret! Tucked in on the back is a matching mini album. I've finished it almost exactly in the same way as the back, the only difference being the flower as I only had  2 daises and I used the other one to dangle at the front. 
Come again tomorrow and I will let you see inside the album. 

Wednesday 15 May 2013

Altered Birdhouse

Well I've found it very difficult not to let this slip out before now! There is a new cd coming up from Crafters Companion, on Monday, using the Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady images and I decided I would like to use them in a completely different way. I've had this birdhouse waiting to be altered for absolute ages and I thought it suited the theme very well. I must also say a big thanks to my friend, Heather Stewart, for the original idea, especially for the tiles on the roof. It is so tactile that you just want to stand and stroke it. 
I used papers from the design sets nap the companion papers as well as some bonus papers as well, the edging down the corners is a border and I used Centura pearl card for the fence and the 'hole'. There was a proper wee hole but it was off centre and the heart piece was sitting off square so the OCD in me couldn't cope! I had to fix it. I trimmed the roof with a little lace from my stash and some sparkle and fluff from the Hunkydory kit. The other embellishments are from that kit too. I love how the little daisy dangles from the eaves. I also cut out some of the tiny butterflies and added them to the sides and front with 3D glue gel for added dimension. 

Well I hope you like it, OH and come back later because its got a SECRET!!!

No butterflies!

Ok, so there are butterflies but I love the sentiment on this card. We made this on the first week of class too. A quick card to make, we stamped the 6 butterflies on a sheet of card and coloured them with the broad end of an alcohol marker before cutting them out. The shape was quite simple and there are two different butterflies. We added some stickles but its not showing up in the pic.the yellow layer was embossed using a crafters companion folder and the cut using the embossed design as a rough guide.

Tuesday 14 May 2013

Ready for Ascot

You may find this card a bit familiar! It's a case of one I did a while back but using different papers. You can find it here http://joyfullyhandcrafted.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/hats-off.html
There was some debate as to whether it was a dress or a hat but I still think its a hat? What do you think? (if it were a dress I'd like it to be a bit slimmer!) lol

Aaronic Blessing

This card we made on the first week and because it is almost white on white I thought it was quite versatile, being suitable for Baptism, First Communion or Confirmation. It would even serve as a wedding card or some of the group were going to use it as a sympathy card. The cross and labels die are Spellbinders and the border an EK success punch. The embossed layer is a crafters companion folder.

Trio of baby cards.

Well I did promise to share the cards we made at class this term and I've found a minute to get some sorted. They will be uploaded in no particular order, lol

 This one was made using a Woodward stamp and the 'b"s were raised up on foam pads with the little bit of gingham paper pieced in place.
There was a choice of the three colour ways and they were each as popular as the other. 

Monday 13 May 2013

Vespa

I think this is one of the last samples I will be able to show for this launch as the kits are absolutely flying out! These are the Vespa and tyre track stamps. I decided there was too much space between the shaped layers and added the grey circle between to fill it out a bit.the tyre track makes a lovely stopper!

Saturday 11 May 2013

Just for you, nephew.

Oh my goodness! I've been having such fun in my craft room that I forgot to post my make for today!!! Oops. But just wait till you see..... 
Anyhow just a quick sideways easel card for today with some simple embellishment and a sentiment as a stopper..
Am off  to gaze at my new creation. Photos coming soon!

Friday 10 May 2013

Swing out card front

It's almost time! These kits launch at 12 noon today. This time I've made a swing out card. It works on a "z" fold with a section cut out either side of a centre bar, (if that makes sense.) It's easier to see in the next photo. I used one of the concept cards some toppers, ribbon, charms and buttons, as well as pearl and bazzil card. 

Swing out card, inside

I hope you can get the idea of how it swings out. This is the inside of the card.

Thursday 9 May 2013

Friends 30th

Well I'm so excited about the pick of the week launch that I thought I would share some more last minute sneak peeks. This one uses one of the shaped cards, toppers and a little bit of bakers twine from the embellishment pack. Mind you I got so excited that I stuck the clock on upside down... Maybe it was meant for Australia, lol. Anyhow I noticed just as I was about to take the photo and hastily stuck another clock face topper, right way up, on top! Crisis averted! Phew :)

Laced, football birthday card

I think this is one of my favourite cards this launch! Don't ask me how it happened because I don't rightly know! I was looking at the card front when a wee light bulb lit up in my head and I thought " Ooh! I could punch holes out down that side and lace it up like a football boot". So away I went. Then I tried to lace it. Hmmm why did it look wrong? Something wasn't working. I even went off to look up different ways of lacing boots.... Then it clicked! I'd forgotten about the tongue! Soo I sliced a piece out of the card and put the blue behind making sure I left enough wiggle room to actually get the twine in there to lace it up.

I'm very pleased with how it's turned out. I really do surprise myself sometimes! The football charm is a cute addition to finish it off.

Red and blue footballers card


On this card I've made lots of toppers from the boot and football image on the stamp set and coloured them all in. The happy birthday stamp with a wee football charm just finish it off. Do you think " Sir Alex" would like it? Anyone know when his birthday is? Lol

No1 dad

I've made this card using some ofthe companion stamps for the Camden Town launch which will be on create and craft tomorrow. Just perfect for that special dad on his birthday or Father's Day! 

Tuesday 7 May 2013

Camden bus

There's some lovely new goodies coming, from Crafters Companion and Hunkydory,at the end of the week, just in time for all your Father's Day cards. I've used some toppers and embellishments to make this very special birthday card..

Inside of step-out,bus card

This is what the inside looks like. I'm really thrilled with this one as it took me the best part of a day to make but I think it was well worth the effort. It's a pity the bling doesn't show up properly. They look just like little black jelly tots and I love them. 

Saturday 4 May 2013

Acetate and flowers

Well I think this is going to be the last of my acetate productions for a wee while. I've been having fun with the card companions from some of the CDs and I need to let you see those too, and I'm sure there's plenty of other things too. Come to think of it, I've been teaching my classes in Randalstown and I dont believe I've shared any of those cards either. Hmm it's gonna be busy on here for a wee while. That's a good thing, right? Anyway hope you like this one. I cut the lacy circle with a nestie then used a smaller plain circle to take the centre out. The solid lacy circle on the inside was supposed to hide the adhesive but I used too much and it spread out too much. You can see it a bit. The flowers are raised on different levels so they tuck underneath each other. It just needed the butterfly to finish it off.

Friday 3 May 2013

Tea light favours.

I've made a favour box from my acetate pack this time. I took a rectangular piece measuring 10 x 28 cm and scored it in half at 14 cm. On the short ends I made a small tick mark with an alcohol marker at 5 cm. From this mark I scored out to the outside edge of the centre fold line. I creased all the scores and then folded the pouch into shape. The tick marks can be removed with a little bit of alcohol blending solution. Finally I used my cropodile to make the holes for the ribbon tie. I've decorated it simply with a sentiment tag and a butterfly, both from the Party Paws embellishment kit. Inside I've put 4 tea-lights and I used a narrow strip of coloured card stock and the border strips to decorate the sides of them.

Thursday 2 May 2013

Butterflies with love.


I'm still using acetate in this card although its not immediately obvious from the photo. The front section with the little flower detail is acetate sandwiched in between two pieces of card. The lilac background is actually the inside of the card. I've added these gorgeous butterflies to the front and raised them with 3d glue gel. The card is finished off with a sentiment, also from the embellishment pack.

Wednesday 1 May 2013

Birthday wishes box.

I have been having fun with acetate for a few days and kind of challenged myself to see how many different ways I could find to use it. This time it's a pizza style box which ties closed at the front. The embellishment is very simple using a  party paws border strip and a sentiment topper. I've included some silver encased truffles as a birthday treat.