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! 

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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. 

Party paws!

Today I want to share an acetate bag  and matching mini album I've made using some Party paws goodies. The album measures about 4" square and has 8 acetate and 8 coredinations pages which I've embellished with some elements from the party paws embellie kit. The bag is 5" square and about 11/2" deep. This would make a lovely gift for a special birthday or with a few changes for a new mum or gran to use as a brag book.

Strawberry faerie

Today I have a gate-fold easel card to share with you.

This is my second stamped image, the strawberry faerie, and I've used some elements from one of the card companions as well as a sentiment to complete my card.

Unfortunately this was the first image I coloured and I got so involved in getting the colours how I wanted them that I completely forgot to take note of which ones I was using. 

Sweet violet frame

I've another frame card for you today, from the faerie poppets cd. I've printed onto Neenah card and sprayed the frame with gold spray n sparkle. I used some trim from my stash to decorate the frame this time. It really doesn't take much to finish these off and I'm happy to say there were no accidents this time! ;)

Baby rosebud, and butterfly.

Welcome to another sneak peek at the faerie poppets Cd. This time I've featured one of the stamped images, baby Rosebud.

Baby Rosebud

This darling image is one of the new stamps which will be available with the new release. 

I coloured her with my spectrum noir pens. 

Roses and wings  PP1, PP3 and PP5

Leaves and stems CG1, CG2 and CG3

Skin  FS2, FS3 and TN2

Hair as skin with EB2 also

Eyes  CG1

Shadow  BGR1

Elfin lanterns!

I saw a similar idea to this the other day and since this little fella, which is actually one of the notelets from the Faerie Poppets Cd, has an elfin lantern what better way to use him than it turn him into a gift of pretty tea lights. The cylinder is an up cycled toilet paper inner. I used a cap from a soft drink bottle for the inside at the bottom but adapted part of a second core to make the lid so it would fit down inside the container and around the tea lights. It's not the neatest job in the world but its not too bad either! It's just something a little bit different. 

Angel wings frame.

I expect you all thought I'd got lost but I've had an awful cold and although I've been doing bits and pieces of colouring and cutting I've not really been getting things finished. This is a lovely little frame  picture from the soon to be launched Angel Wings CD by Crafters Companion. I used collall 3D decoupage gel to get plenty of height to the layers. The frame itself is glittering with iridescent spray and sparkle. I created the circular frame using a Marianne die and some gorgeous Centura  pearl card stock. Gosh I love how beautifully it embossed!  Can you keep a secret? I had to put the butterfly on there because I accidentally tore the frame whilst assembling it! I know you won't tell on me! Lol. 

A Morning Stroll.

This is a CASE of a card I saw on the crafters companion blog. I copied the idea of the cut out frame. The orange layer was embossed then cut using a scalloped rectangle die. I also liked the idea of the distressing around the coloured image. I chose autumnal colours for the girl and used Spectrum Noir pens.

A perfect day

I made this card a couple of weeks ago as a sample for Heather in Doodlecraft. I used a crafters companion embossing folder and spectrum noir pens. I think my colouring might be improving?

Pop up frou frou

This card was made fairly quickly yesterday. I used a craft knife to cut around the top portion of the card so that it would pop up when folded into the easel position. I coloured it with my spectrum noir pens but as usual got so involved that I didn't take note of which colours I actually used!

Silhouette sparkle.

This is a little card I made some time ago and which missed being added to my blog. I used a stampin up stamp and added some heat embossing with a sparkly WOW powder. The top part if the background is embossed using an embossing folder and an embossing machine. I used a punch to achieve the little 'hollows' for the card candi to fit into. A piece of patterned ribbon hides the card join.

Two of a kind again.

Two glamorous ladies back for you again today. They've been coloured with Spectrum Noir pens using the colour inspiration from the papers printed from the Frou Frou cd. Have you got yours yet?

Froufrou note book.

Oh I can hardly wait. This range is launching at 8pm tonight on Create and Craft! I've used some of the papers and the images on the cd to create this little note pad cover. I think this is one of my favourite images from the cd.

Frou Frou again!

Today I have an unusual card design for my Frou Frou sample. I used some of the toppers from the cd to decorate each panel and left them fairly plain, just a few gems on the corners to embellish it. My thinking was that this would be a good card to use when there are a number of people needing to send greetings together, maybe to a work colleague. Each person could use a separate panel to send their thoughts. It folds down and fits into a normal C6 envelope.

The other side.

You could probably stick this so that it would be like a mini book but I like how it stands as it is. 

More Frou Frou

Today I have an image from the Frou Frou cd for you! Layered with lots of luscious embossed elements and embellished with lace and sparlkly gems you will be able to make yours if you pop along to the launch on Thursday. It's sure to fly out so don't be late!

Two of a kind.

It's coming soon! Frou Frou will be released on Thursday 28th March as a pick of the week from Crafters Companion! Aren't  these two ladies very elegant! I wish I had their figures.... Aw well I'll keep on dreaming! Lol

Frou Frou no 2

Another sample for you today! These designs are totally gorgeous, and a little bit "oh la la"! This is one of my favourite images.  They will be available from Crafters Companion later in the week! 

Sneak peek!

Just taking a minute to let you have a little sneak peek from the gorgeous cd launching from Crafters Companion next week!

A morning stroll

Well this card almost ended up in the bin. I had it all put together when I decided that the skirt really needed to be a bit darker. I picked up a pen and did a couple of strokes before I realised, to my horror, that it was completely the wrong colour and much too strong. I quickly grabbed a better one and went over it. I think I've toned it in not too badly. At least it escaped being binned! Lol

Felicity

This is a little image, from Crafters Companion, which I coloured a little while ago but then got stuck as I couldn't get a layout which pleased me. I began tidying my desk today and found her again so finally put her together as you see here. The bubbles are covered with glossy accents but its not showing up too well in the photo. Also this image comes as a fairy but I decided I would like to see what she looked like, without wings, as just a little girl.

Butterfly and doily.

This one of the cards we made at the workshop in Randalstown. A fairly easy card with a little stamping which isn't showing up too well. It says "picked just for you". 

Molly and friend to friend.

Molly and "friend to friend".

I was fortunate enough to be asked to conduct a one day workshop in Randalstown Arches Centre at the end of January. These are two of the cards we made. I was advised to assume that no one had any card making experience. We began with the bags card using simple shapes and some colourful tissue paper saver from Christmas gifts. I explained that card making needn't be an expensive hobby if we think about ordinary things differently. The card using a Molly Blooms stamp was a bit more complex but I had chosen the colours to tone in with the papers so this made it work well. 

News!

Well, it's a new month and boy do I have exciting news to share! I am privileged and pleased to announce that I've been asked to join the Crafters Companion design team!! So keep a look out for lots of new and exciting sneak peeks!

Dresser and basket.

These were the last two things I taught at Cleo Crafts before the shop closed. The little basket is made from a single sheet of a4 paper and that includes the handle. I must give credit to Kate for it was she who showed me how to do it and kindly allowed me to pass it on. Even though its made of paper it is quite strong and it would be easy to get carried away. There were quite a few baskets floating about the house for a day or two.

The card is supposed to look like a dressing table. We cut a piece out of the base card with a nest abilities die to make it look like the. Ornate bottom. The two little drawers were stamped with versamark pearl ink and because it is quite slow drying, especially on pearlised card, it smudged a wee bit but this just added to the vintage feel. The mirror section is framed with part of a Marianne Creatables die. We then stamped the little envelope, cut it out and raised it on a foam pad. The little rose was plain ivory but the edges were tinted with a little bit of purple inka gold which also gives a lovely sheen. The drawer pulls are actually made from two little buckle things with a gem, secured with pin flair glue gel, in the middle.

It's been strange not preparing for classes each week but I've learnt such a lot and look forward to the future and new and exciting challenges...... 

Masculine card.

This is another one of those cards that just came together and was, somehow, very pleasing. There are lots of layers and I think this is the key. The blue background is embossed with an alterations folder and the patterned piece is from kanban. My only regret is that I used up all of my ribbon. It came from America and is fab stuff. I was able to split it into narrower pieces and it didn't fray and it had a wonderful firmness about it. Aw well no point hoarding it! The stamp is from the sense of time set by stampin up. I think this would make a lovely card for a man for a special birthday or retirement.

My favourite Christmas card of this year.

This has to be one of my all time favourite cards ever. I saw something similar on Pinterest and adapted it to suit my supplies. The background was embossed, then coloured with distress inks. We wrapped the ribbon around this piece and mounted it onto a chocolate mat before attaching it to the base card. The next piece was the weathered clock which we cut from the same chocolate card as the mat. The Father Christmas image is from Stampendous and was stamped with brushed corduroy ink and the edges tinted to add to the vintage feel. The Christmas tree was cut from scraps of paper from a previous project. I love the subtle mellowness of the card and managed to keep myself from adding gems or glitter! Sometimes it is unnecessary to do lots of colouring in of stamps for them to be eye catching.

Butterfly drop down card.

This card was inspired by a tutorial from split coast stampers. The photo turn at the top holds 3 layers in place. They are connected with ribbon between the layers. The sentiment is from a stampin up set called sense of time. The butterfly is an Artemio stamp and we used vivid colours and stamping off the edge to highlight it. 

Dropped down.

When you turn the tab at  the top the layers flip down for added interest. The card base is stamped with a fern leaf, from the natures wonders stampin up set, in old paper distress ink (I think).

Christmas robin?

Believe it or not I was lucky enough to win a lovely set of Christmas stamps from Clearly Besotted. As soon as I saw them I realised I could use the little robin to make baby cards. It does have a little bobble hat on but that is so easy to trim off! We used the gingham card to make a background layer then we took a smaller piece and created a hole in the centre with the edges curling back. I was going for a "just hatched" kind of look. The little robin was stamped and coloured and the wing stamped on the gingham and raised on a foam pad. The ribbon was wrapped around the top of the stamped piece then this was place behind the 'hole'. I think the sentiment is from a set of Woodware stamps.

Frilly petticoat.

Hmmm, this card with a tag shows how different something can look depending on the colours used. The card on the right was my first and things weren't working out. I was in a bit of a down mood and I think it shows with the dark colours which I hadn't been really conscious of choosing. The one on the left was next day in class when I was a bit brighter in spirit! The petticoat refers to the lacy trim along the bottom edge, created with a tonic punch. I dunno why it made me think of petticoats but it did! We stamped the butterflies on the tag then again on scrap paper and cut those out to use as masks. Once masked we stamped the writing and used white embossing powder to make it stand out. The final stage was to go mad with distress inks and create the background before buffing the embossed areas. The base card was stamped with the same script  and the gaps filled in with the butterflies. The edges were distressed with brushed corduroy. We punched 2 holes in the tags and secured them together with a  piece of organza ribbon before attaching it to the decorated base.

Butterfly post.

Cards made with the free stamps from a craft stamper magazine. I think it's because of the Kraft card that the colours aren't showing up too well. I had to pick strong colours of pro- markers .to stand out from the Kraft. I added a little strip of velvet ribbon for texture.

E is for entomology

So the letter to play with this time is 'e' and the first word I tried to illustrate was earth but that wouldn't work out for me so it was back to the drawing board. I wanted to try to find a word that other people might not think of so plumped for entomology. I have lots of Artemio stamps with bugs and things on so got stuck in. I used lots of distress techniques, inking tearing and I used the distress tool on the edges too. I also played with the layering, aiming to make it look like a really old book. I decided to add a pop of colour so stamped the dragonfly twice, once on card and again on vellum. I layered them up, took my photo and decided it still looked bland. What to do? A flash of inspiration and out came the cosmic shimmers powders. I haven't played with them for ages! Of course I managed to get some where I hadn't intended but liked the effect so added some more just wherever it would stick. I think it looks like the dragonfly has been flying over and settled on the page. The photo still doesn't pick the shimmer up too well because there are little touches on the distressed edges and the vellum wings are super shimmery but my light is not good enough to pick it up.

Better colour.

There are beads and some silver halo glitter in the little bottle. 

Gears

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The top left corner with gears and roses. The whole canvas has this sheen on it!

Bottle of beads

This shows the purple colour on the gauze and picks up some of the sheen.

Altered "canvas"

Ok. So this I just had to get out of my system. I've been itching to try an altered canvas for a while now and went for it last night and today. It's a pity the photo has hardly picked up the purple at all. There is some on the gauze and lots more on the frame. 

Of course there is a secret to this "canvas".   It's not actually a canvas at all but a 7" pizza box built inside out and with some layers of kitchen roll applied with slightly watered down pva glue to give the canvas texture! The dragonflies and gems came from a necklace I found in a charity shop ages ago and knew I would be able to use sometime, somehow. I've looped some of the chain they were on, with a few more beads, through the ready made holes intended to stop the pizza from sweating! Maybe I will try and get a better photo to show the colour and shimmers.

But gorgeous with a flickering tea-light behind!!

I love how the tea light flickers behind the vellum. We used the battery operated ones of course.

Just ok!

Ok, so time to play catch up. Well at the beginning of December my beloved step dad was admitted to hospital with a very poorly leg and to cut a long story short there were a few weeks when I didn't get back to my own home. Mum doesn't drive and being the only family member in the same country I had the bulk of the driving for hospital runs to do. He got home on the Tuesday before Christmas but was still housebound with nurses coming in to change dressings daily. I'm happy to say his leg is healing wonderfully well and it is possible he may not need the plastic surgery we once thought he would.

So, you would think things got back to normal? We were just getting back into routine when my poor hubby got a call from his family in Scotland to say his sister had been rushed to hospital, had been put into a coma and was seriously ill! We were completely shocked and he planned to go visit her only to have the plans ruined by snowfall both sides of the Irish Sea. So the trip was off but nerves were raw. We have been amazed by Gods hand in the situation because,although progress is slow,she is wide awake and improving steadily. She had suffered a stroke at 47 years of age. She still has a lot of recovery to go but is working hard.

Then for the final piece of news, and the craft shop in which I worked and taught my classes closed its doors on 26th Jan but I had a new 'one off' class in the Arches Centre, Randalstown. This is a new class for their programme and a kind of trial to see if it would be feasible. I'm happy to say feed back has been good and I may be invited back to do some more. I'm super excited for what the future holds and want to take this opportunity to try mew techniques and challenges. 

Anyhow this was one of the cards we did at some stage from the beginning of December.  I will be adding the others over the next few days and then you never know what I'll be up to...

Sorry for the long post but I wanted to explain my absence. Hope I'm forgiven.

C is for crochet

So this is my effort for the letter C in the craft Barn alpha challenge. I highlighted the work chosen by using it as the centre of my flower.  I love how it turned out and perhaps I might even get the next one done before the end of the first week and in time for the judging!! Lol.

V is for vow

Ok, now this is a first for me. I am going to try to enter a challenge. Why "try" you ask? Well because I have no idea how to go about linking this post to the actual challenge but its time I tried, lol

The challenge is taking place over at the craft barn and is called the alpha challenge. You can read more about it there or,if I work things out,I will post a link.... Now don't hold your breath...

The first letter is 'V' and I chose the word vow. Now if you know me you will be aware that I am NOT a scrapbooker, but for some reason I managed this! I expect it's because it measures 9.5 x13 cm so it's about card size, and not so scary! 

I know I have been missing for a while but it's been quite a fraught time since the beginning of December. Will be back soon and explain as far as possible.