Thursday 20 June 2013

Centre step card

Yesterday was a busy day for me as I was at the Arches Centre, Randalstown, again, this time to hold a drop in make-and-take day. There were lots of lovely cards created and I met some very enthusiastic new cardmakers. 
I've shared almost all my Brambly Hedge samples with you now, but this is one I made using the Hunkydory kits. I scored the card and made it into a centre step. I've not made many of these so I made a little mistake and scored all the way across my centre fold line. When I folded the steps I realised I had a crease where it shouldn't be but I disguised it with the lace and ribbon. 
For continuity I added the same ribbon to the bottom edge of the centre step then added my toppers. Since the little mice are picking blackberries I added some frosted ones that came from some flowers to fill up theat side.

Tuesday 18 June 2013

Back cover

Finally the back cover of my album is just plain but using the same patterned paper as the front. I added lots and lots of ribbon and lace to the book rings for a touch of luxury and tried to choose toning colours with the paper.

Oopsies!

Absolutely gutted! That's how I felt when I realised what I'd done? I merrily went and made the card, knowing that it was within the dimensions of the album page, but completely forgetting that I had holes to punch! I even had to punch though the metal corner embellishment! As I was getting short on time I just had to henge how I attached the card. It was originally to be held in with the belly band but I added an envelope pocket instead.
I made a criss cross card for this final page and just added some glossy accents to the little jars on the shelves. It's a shame it doesn't show up in the photo.
Then, simply because I had the snow palace image left I used it on the reverse side.

Page 9 of album

We're almost at the end of my album and I wasn't sure what to call this card.  I decided 'fold out' would be the best description. I love how clean and fresh it looks with the white and pink. I used a spectrum noir pen to colour the sparkly gems. Also the first time I tied the ribbon, and I only had the piece you see, it sat beautifully so I didn't untie it, just slipped the card in and out. I'd never get it looking so perfect a second time!
Here you can see how it looks when it's opened out. The core'dinations is embossed with the rose garden folder and sanded back to show the core colour.

Sunday 16 June 2013

This one took me a whole day!!

Now we come to one of my absolutely favourite pages. I've used an envelope to create my pocket for the card and decorated it with some of the gorgeous sparkly gems and pearls. At the bottom I decided to thread the velvet ribbon thought the little eyelet holes in the lace. I love how it turned out.
Inside is the card which took the best part of a day to create but I couldn't stop playing with it once it was done. I've made a never-ending card and used lots and lots of the different sized toppers and a variety of peppers from the CD to the orate each "page.
When I first looker at one page of the toppers with small "inchies" I wondered what on earth they could be used for. Then when I hit on the idea of  this card they were just perfec.
As far as I remember the card was 5" square. Lol
I tried to use images from each season. 

Album page 7

This page has a tilt card. It was featured recently on Card -making-magic as a tutorial so, of course, I had to try it. I love the unusual way it sits out and how simple it is to make. For the tag I punched along one edge and adhered patterned paper to one side. 
I love how the little banner peeps out when the card is in place in the pocket.
I used some pearls and butterflies to embellish the card and page. Then I decided to add the tiny butterflies in amongst the primroses. 
I do hope you're enjoying my album. Just a few more pages to go. 

Saturday 15 June 2013

A BIG waterfall

I had great fun making "the biggest waterfall in the world" to quote Leann on create and craft yesterday! These images are from the paper pack by Hunkydory. I really wanted to take full advantage of the beautiful images. The whole card is A4 in size.
I used the floral vine A4 embossing folder for the white background layer. It turned out great and it's such a pity it was so difficult to photograph, and that it got stuck open on screen. I hope they got it sorted out. Unfortunately I had to go to work before  the second half of the launch show so I didn't see. 

A JOY-fold! :)

I couldn't possibly have made an album like this without including a joy-fold. Lol. It gave me lots of different sized areas to decorate and plenty of opportunity to get out some dies which haven't been used very much. 
I'd originally cut the yellow doiley for the front of the pocket but didn't like how it looked on there. Later I went back and used it for the big tag inside. A page I struggled to complete has become one of my favourites. 

Rocker card

I decided to use one of the printable rocker cards for this page. Mind you I regretted it before I had finished. Rather than leave it as it was I made it a side stepper. Also because my printer doesn't like to print on card any more I had to make a card layer to give it stability. All fun! 
The next hurdle was making a pocket to fit it in on the page. Having said all that I'm really pleased with how it worked out. I used one of the toppers cut in half to make two little bookmarks just tucked behind the card and to add something so the pocket isn't bare when the card is removed. 

Page 5 of album

Oh I am a naughty girl! I completely forgot to write a post yesterday. I guess it was because I was so excited about the launch of the new CD. Anyhow for this page I've made a gate fold card. It's held into the album with a little belly band secured with hook and loop fastener. The sparkly gems also help to keep it from sliding out.
I've decorated the pocket and added a tag. For the first time ever I stapled my ribbon to the tag. That meant it let the tag slide into the pocket far enough to not get lost. 

Thursday 13 June 2013

Envelope fold

I thought I'd pop in another page today since the launch is tomorrow. This was actually one of the trickiest of the cards I made for this album. I've used centura pearl card for a touch of luxury. 
I love how the embossing really stands out on the pearl card. This time I used the floral frenzy folder. I've just left the album page fairly plain as I wanted the embossing to be the focal point.

Album page 3

This page features a squash fold card. I used the regency damask (8"x8") embossing folder on some core'dinations card for the base but to be honest most of it is covered up. This card is actually tied into the book with ribbon but it can still be untied and removed.
Here you can see how I've decorated the inside of the card with patterned papers and sentiments from the CD,  more of the detail on the album page as well as the little tag which I've also embossed. I used my embossalicious rose garden (8"x8") folder for the tag.

Wednesday 12 June 2013

Brambly hedge stamp

Oh my, well I've been playing with some stamps and CDs from the new Brambly hedge range. I remember my children watching the stories on tv and its been great to revisit these cute characters! This is one of the stamps from the winter collection. I spectrum noir pens to colour:-
CR9 --- berries
GB6, CT4, CT3 --- light
GT2, GT3,LG5 ---door
TN2, GB8 --- mouse
TB1,2 &3 ---trousers
GB7, TB7, EB5, GB10 --- jacket
JG9 --- holly

I've sprayed the main topper to within an inch of its life. It really sparkles with iridescent spray and sparkle and the background paper and small topper got a little bit too. I do think my colouring is improving. I suppose practise makes perfect. :) 

Day 2 of Brambly Hedge

I'm back today with the second page of my album. For this I made a double pocket fold card. I printed a topper then used my glossy accents in the centre to make it lovely and shiny, a bit like a china plate. I added some more sparkly gems, this time heart shaped ones
There is lots of space for a photo and journaling on the large tag. The small ones can be kept with the original card or used with the album. 
I was also lucky enough to get some of the kits which will be accompanying the CD and this is how one of them builds up. They are absolutely gorgeous and really don't need any embellishment at all, although I've added some of the sparkly gems. On the right is the box which comes with the cards and I've used some of the toppers from the kits to decorate the front. I've kept it flat in case it's to be posted but I expect it is more likely that it would be hand delivered. 
Thank you for visiting my blog today. I really appreciate your support and would love it if you left some comments. See you tomorrow with more from Brambly Hedge.

Tuesday 11 June 2013

Brambly hedge mini album

I've just come along today to share what's had me missing for a wee while. I got to play with the new Brambly hedge CDs, from Crafters Companion, and I've created a mini album with a difference. This is the front cover. 
Wow I had such fun. All the papers and toppers are from the CD. Even the paper roses are one of the papers and the template for the rose is printed on the back of it from the embellishments section. I've added some pearls, sparkly gems and punched accents too. I hope you'll enjoy all the different pages I'll be bringing over the next few days. The album measures 6 3/4" x 5 3/4".

Front cover, surprise!

Ok, so this is the difference... Each page has a card which may be removed and used, whilst still leaving the album with enough interest to be useable as a stand alone item. Here I've created a pocket which the card fits into and which also houses a tag for a photo and some journaling. This is the pattern throughout the album, but each page has a card with a different fold so come back tomorrow for a new idea. 

Monday 3 June 2013

Tri-shutter card

I've been playing with Beatrix Potter images again and I just love how this turned out. I had the idea for the card and knew which images I was going to use but when it came to filling up the "blank" areas around them I had no plan. Then I remembered the little mini embossing folders I'd bought (small borders-nature) and they just fitted perfectly! I used core'dinations and sanded the raised design to make it stand out.
On the long sides I had a panic because I hadn't checked before I started and had no more of the green card stock so I chose a dark brown,which is not showing up too well in the photo, but I topped it with the red embossed with the floral vine. I managed to get a few little butterflies out of the green scraps and added tiny gems to the bodies.
This was my first attempt at making a tri-shutter card and I'm pretty chuffed with how it's come out. 

Saturday 1 June 2013

Beatrix again.

Well, I've been experimenting with a new fancy fold for this card and after a few wrong turns I think it's turned out not so bad. The background/ base card is core'dinations which I embossed with the floral vine A4 folder then distressed to bring out the design. I then cut the mats and layers and assembled the card. I've added the little pot and squirrel to the corners for interest and then a couple of gems to balance it out. Hope you like it.