Flip down card

Well, are you ready? You can get the Snowman/Father Christmas CD combo today,at 12 noon, on create and craft!!! For my card this time I used the Father Christmas disc and created a flip down card. The little stack is held closed with magnets. It's something a bit different and it's fun to make interactive cards!!

I just recently (last week) got a new printer so I'm able to print directly onto my Centura pearl card! Fabulous! It was so frustrating when the old printer stopped picking up heavy card and towards the end it would only print on paper! It's just great now to watch the card slip through without a hitch! . Anyhow, after all that, my images and background are printed on ... Wait for it... Centura pearl card!!! Not only does it look amazing but it adds to the sturdiness of the finished project!  

Lets hope Father Christmas is catching up on his sleep and dreaming of all the lovely craft supplies he's going to pop in our stockings this Christmas! :) here's hoping!!

Snowman "book" card

Hi everyone, I'm back today with a card I've made using the hunkydory kit which accompanies the snowman CD. Wow, what a fantastic kit it is! There's oodles of stuff in it and the hardest part is deciding what to play with first!

I kept the front of my card fairly plain, just using a piece of one of the cards and some core'dinations card and then embellishing it with some ribbon, punched snowflakes and gems.

On the inside I used one of the 6x6 papers and created a window using concertina'd card with some of the beautiful patterned acetate and then bordered it with some punched strips. The facing side is done with the matching insert paper which I cut to size so the sentiment would fit. I then fussy cut the snowman image and layered it on afterwards. 

Snowman exploding box

Grr, I just can't seem to get things to work how I'd like today! I did want my introduction before the photo but the computer was having none of it!!! Lol.

Well I decided to try my hand at making one of the exploding boxes from the Snowman CD. This is a fun project and really fast to put together, although if I were doing it again I would put the image on the inside and the pattern on the outside. 

 

I used one of the border images, printed twice and joined together, to score and create the snowman rosette for the top of the box. I love how this turned out. I used embellishment images from the CD to decorate the insides. 

Lets hope everything starts going right again before long! I'll be back soon with some more sneak peeks soon so don't forget to pop in and have a look!  :-)

Christmas tree

I know, I know! I've been missing for a long time. I was busy enjoying the company of my eldest child home for a visit! :) It was just great to spend some time with her. 

Anyhow I've not been neglecting my crafting. I've been getting samples ready for a new launch for Crafters Companion. This time it's Father Christmas and the Snowman! I decided to try something a bit different. Ever had a great idea and regretted it? This is one of those! Lol

I thought a couple of pages of patterned paper and half an hour would have it sorted. NO! More like half a day and I lost count of the paper! I was also sticking to everything before I had finished. I used an EK success punch and patterned paper from the CD to create the layers of tree. They're attached, with collall glue gel, to a polystyrene cone base. Once I had (eventually) completed it I sprayed the whole thing, liberally with irridescent spray n sparkle then cut some bauble embellishments and added them on too. The star at the top is cut out of  Centura pearl card and attached to a cocktail stick which I've pushed down into the top. 

Hope you like my wee tree. I'm happy with it and glad I persevered with it. :)

Lets catch up.

It's is my final Barkley make at the moment. I've used the stamped image, coloured with spectrum noir pens of course. It's such a gorgeous wee image and I love how it turned out. I die cut the card and while it was still in the die I tinted it with peacock feathers and mowed grass distress inks. I chose two shades of pink for matting and layering  to bring out the flowers and added some flower embellishments I've had for absolutely ages.

I used some lace trim along the bottom edge of one card layer and the 'lets catch up' sentiment stamp. Hope you all love Barkley as much as I do! I really do think he's my favourite! 

Barkley decorations.

Well it's a late post from me today but we decided to go to the seaside. We had a lovely day although with the breeze coming off the sea it was chilly enough. The sunshine brought everyone out and we had a job even finding somewhere to park.   

Back to my project and I made some modular decorations and used the Barkley Christmas CD to print off my papers and toppers. 

I've added tassels and beads to some of them. I've written a step out for this project which you can find over at club inspire on crafters companion. Have a go at making your own and I'd love to see how you get on.

Telescoping Barkley

It's a bit cooler here this morning but still most pleasant! Yesterday was a scorcher and lots of people got a roasting. Thankfully I just stayed inside and tried to keep cool. 

My card for you today is a telescoping one  using the Barkley everyday CD. I printed out one of the embellishments and when cut out inked around it with black soot distress ink to make it stand out well.

I chose some of the gorgeous doileys and used them to create my layers along with some die cut core'dinations card. The little greeting is from the sentiments section of the CD.

Night light

Ooh, I've had this idea in my head for such a while now, just struggling to get out, but either I didn't have the materials or the subject didn't suit it, well Barkley is just perfect.! 

What did I do? I printed four of the fabric companions onto printable vellum paper using the best print setting. Now I've used the Christmas CD but I could just as easily have used everyday. Next I embossed some card I'd cut,to use as frames, with the floral vine embossing folder.

 Now if I were doing it again I would spray them with my spray 'n' sparkle at this stage. I didn't until I had the frames constructed and I didn't get as good coverage as I would have liked. 

So I made four frames to fit over the images, just as if they were frame cards form previous CDs. I added ribbon to two of them as I made them so I would be able to hang it up. Next I stuck three of the frames together to form 3 sides of a box. Before adding the final side I measured the space that was going to be left in the base and made a shelf which I stuck in to set my tea light on and also to stabilise the construction. I also made a little holder for the tea light so it wouldn't slide about inside the lantern. After attaching the final side I made a little flap to enclose the top of the lantern and added some strung beading and little embellishments.. Now don't worry about that tea light, I've used one of the battery operated variety so it's completely safe. 

Hope you enjoyed today's make and if you want any more info or a step out please let me know!

A-tissue!

I made two sides with polka dot patterned paper! (Hey mum, I used spots!) and two with the fabric companions images which were just the perfect size! The top has a companion paper and I finished the whole thing with some beaded trim and lace from my stash. 

Tissue box cover.

We are still having some fabulous weather here although I must admit it can be difficult getting to sleep. I'm not complaining tho, we get so little good weather we just have to make the best of it when we get sunshine! Maybe that's what inspired today's make.

I constructed a tissue box cover fron thick chipboard and used papers from the Everyday Barkley CD to cover the outside. Just right for the hay fever season!

Crackers about Barkley!

Wow, we're having absolutely scorching weather here at the minute and I'm loving it! I've always said I was born in the wrong continent! Lol. 

Today's make continues the cracker theme, and I made a box of mini crackers to decorate the Christmas tree using some of the papers and embellishments printed from the Barkley Christmas CD. The fact that I had to liberate and then eat six packets of yummy sweets to get the tubes was just a happy coincidence! ;) will there be more Barkley  tomorrow? You bet there will!!

Introducing Barkley!

Well, how cute is this little fellow?  I think he's my favourite character so far and is due to be launched by Crafters Companion on Friday. 

I made a cracker style card and punched the ends with  a Martha Stewart punch. The image is stamped on Neenah card stock and coloured with spectrum noir pens. I used JG1, JG2 &GT2 for his hat and true black for his ears. The background is tinted using stormy sky distress ink. The brim and pompon have polar white flower soft and some ultra fine iridescent glitter added, and the snow is glittery too. Watch out for more Barkley over the next few days.

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.

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.

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. 

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.