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Friday 30 March 2012

Have A Treat


I have been enjoying this lovely weather we have had, just hoping it will last a bit longer because I think we all feel better when we get the sunshine.
This week has been very hectic at work as it is end of financial year and probably like a lot of you it is a nightmare with stocktakes, invoices etc. Thank goodness it will soon be over.

Couple of bits of news I would like to share with you all.  I was lucky yet again to win a lovely card from Jo Channon using Joanna Sheen products and then I got Top 5 in the Allsorts Challenge with last weeks card 'Dance, Dance, Dance.

Now for this weeks little creation.  I made a birthday card last year for Lets Create and subsequently Jo Channon asked if I would like to do a workshop on it.  I will be posting pics later with the results from the ladies that came to the workshop.




Distressed Inks - a combination of Mustard Seed, Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Dried Marigold,& Spiced Marmalade - were used throughout the card.
Main Card - I cut an 8x8 card blank from Craftwork Cards in half and used one side to distress (the other half has been kept for another card) to form the base.  This was distressed and then spritzed (gently) with Cosmic Shimmer Mist Golden Fish. The mirri layer was cut using the faux technique (draw round the outside of the largest label and cut freehand). Two layers were cut using Grand Labels One, the largest & next size down in white stamping card and distressed.  The 4th layer I used coloured card, a mask was placed on this and distressed ink used.  The topper was pearl card, cut from labels 8 and distressed around the edges. The stamped image was from Little Claires (cupcake tree) and coloured with distress inks,  Another layer of mirri card was used then supported with foam pads. I then stuck layers 2,3,4 together. I cut 2 small pieces of lace and stuck a piece on each side and then on the left (as you look at the card) I placed a small piece of ribbon (from a 1metre length) on the lace and stuck that down on the back.
I then used another 8x8 card blank and glued 2 pieces of folded card to form runners along the top and botton as near to the edges as possible inside the card on one side, then place glue on the runners and shut the card flat to dry.
I made bunting, distressed and stamped letters onto them, bakers twine was used to string them together.  A cupcake was stamped onto pearl card twice and then coloured with promarkers.  I cut the icing part of the 2nd image and decoupaged it onto the cupcake.  Placed a little bit of twinkles on to the icing.
Inside Card - This was made from 3 layers from Lables 1 (2 white card and 1 coloured card) same technique was used as main card.  I used a cupcake recipe and which was cut using labels 8 and put onto a mirri layer.  The little pull handle can be done with small punches or 2 coins (2p & 5p) cut 2 and glue to and attached to either side of 1st layer.  I inserted the inner card into the main card making sure that it ran smoothly on the runners.
Putting It All Together - I stuck all the layers (main card) onto the base card (apart from the topper). Lace and ribbon was then stuck on the front of the card and also the lace piece.  I made sure that the gap would be covered by the stamped topper.  I then punched a hole through all the card (near to the centre) using crop-a-dile.  I then used the remaining ribbon (from the metre length) and fed it through the hole making sure that the ribbon was equal. The inner card was then placed into the main card gently pushing the ribbon, once fully in, the ribbon was threaded from the back through the pull handle and tied in a bow.  Finally the topper was placed on the card to hide the mechanics.  I made a stand and glued that to the back making sure the punched hole wasn't covered.  I placed the bunting around the card and secured the stamped cupcake using pinflair.

Phew - sorry it was a long explanation, got there in the end.

I have entered this into the following challenges:
Allsorts Challenge - Use a Cooking Recipe
Make it Monday - Anything Goes
Divas by Design - Stamp Something
Sweetstampinchallenge - Anything Goes
Fussy and Fancy - Anything but Square/Rectangle
My Mums Craft Shop Challenges - Stamp It
Partytimetuesday - Anything Goes
Lollipopcrafts - Anything Goes
Especiallymade - Distress


As always thanks for stopping by. I hope you like my little creation.
Take care and have a great weekend.
Hugs xx




Wednesday 21 March 2012

Dance, Dance, Dance

Thought I would try something different this week and go back to where I started paper crafting many years ago - decoupage - it still holds a place in my heart.  However with all the different crafts there are out there you just have to try everything.

I recently purchased the new Paintbox Poppets CD, decoupage and stamps from Crafters Companion and I haven't been let down.  The images are beautiful and I loved working with the decoupage.




I made the base card using Grand Labels 4, drawing round the outside of the die 3 times.  Once cut this formed 3 easels, distressed with milled lavender.  The toppers were then cut from labels 4 again and distressed with milled lavender. I then decoupaged up these lovely ballet images and die cut the base topper to fit onto the easels.  These were also distressed with milled lavender and dusky concord.

I covered the base with paper I printed from the CD and die cut from labels 4.  To try and carry on the theme of ballet I placed some lace I found in my stash.  On top of this I used the remainder of the printed paper backed with a little bit of core'dinations.  I used a new little gadget 'Sew Ribbon' from We R Memory Keepers (with magnetic template, ribbon punch and ribbon needles), I then threaded some ribbon through.  I found some little roses in my stash and distressed them before placing them onto the base.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Allsorts Challenge - Three in a Row
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
ABC-challenge - Lavender and Lace
Paper Pretties - New Technique
The Poodles Parlour - Anything Goes
Divas by Design - Distressing
That Craft Place - Anything Goes
Bling it on Challenges - Birthday with Shades of Lilacs


As always thanks for stopping by.
Hugs xx

Monday 12 March 2012

With Love


Good news I have got my laptop back and feel better that it isn't taking me over 4hrs to do the blog and I can finally leave comments. didn't realise I would miss it so much.
Hope you all enjoyed the weekend - wasn't the weather great, thought spring was here and now its back to gloomy.  As it felt like spring I decided to do a card that hopefully reflected that, also gave me a chance to use some of my favourites things, using several dies and some stash that has been waiting to be used.



Once again I used one of my favourite card blanks as they are so versatile.  I found the spots & ladybird paper stock in my stash which I had bought sometime ago but never got round to using (sound familiar).  I used grand labels one (another one of my favourites), I used the outer edge of the largest size to create a faux edge in pink card.

I then used Cheery Lyn English Tea Party Doily (cut from Crafters Companion Pearl Card) edged with a touch of spun sugar distress ink (favourite). The stamped image (CC Pearl card) is from a set of clear stamps from pergamano, coloured with promarkers.  I used a spellbinders circle die, edged with spun sugar and some twinkles.  I used pinflair to lift it slightly from the doily.  Cheery Lynn Fanciful Flourish was used with green bazzill cardstock and placed under the doily.

The flowers were cut from Marianne Craftables (CR1204) using cardstock from my stash and layered to give a flower effect, edged with twinkles and a drop of cosmic pearl in the middle.

To finish I stamped a saying from Flowersoft stamps on pearl card edged with spun sugar.  Cut a ladybird from the waste paper and placed it on label.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Allsorts Challenge - Say It With Flowers
Pennyblack at Allsorts - Springtime
Cheery Lynn Designs - Use a Flourish
Make it Monday - Anything Goes
Divas by Design - Favourite Things
Sweet Stampin Challenge - Lots of Layers
Crazy 4 Challenges - Springtime
Truly Madly Crafty Challenges - Colour Inspiration
Cupcake Craft Challenges - Going Dotty
Simon Says Stamps Challenge - Mothers Day/Special Girl
The Poodles Parlour - Birthday
Totally Papercrafts - Favourite Things
Totally Stampalicious - Flowers
Papertakeweekly - Anything Goes
Paper Creations Ink - Spring is in the Air
CCmonthlychallenge - Spring

As always thanks for stopping by. Your comments are always appreciated.

Take Care
Hugs xx

Monday 5 March 2012

Butterflies Galore

Apologies that it has been so long since I last posted.  It has been manic at work and other things have got in the way or being able to post regular.

I have a few problems with my laptop at the moment, so have had to crank up the old PC (which takes forever to do anything) to get blogging again.  So fingers crossed it won't be long before I can go back to my normal laptop.

As you can see I have been having a bit of fun with flitterglu and gilding flakes. 
                                                     
No Distressing


Distressed Version
 I have used crafters companion pearl card throughout as I like the effect it can give.

The base card was stamped using Flitterglu, Stampendous 'Butterfly Beauties' and Indigo Blu Gilding Flakes 'Morris Dance'

I used labels 1 and stamped the corners with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and a small flourish from the Stampendous stamps. 

The main butterfly was from Indigo Blu 'Wild Meadow' set, stamped twice with Flitterglu and Crafty Notions Gilding Flakes ' Autumn Rose' as a contrast.

The sentiment stamp is from LOTV.  Decided to distress the card with Vintage Photo to give a different look.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge - Spread Your Wings
Make it Monday - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
Christmas Crafting - Non Christmas Image
The Pixie Cottage - Anything Goes
Do You Stackup - Things With Wings
Flutterbywednesdays - Butterfly, Fairy or Angel
Alphabet Challenge - B for Busy Bugs
Sparkles Forum Challenges - Things with Wings
Penny Black at Allsorts - Springtime
Stampin Sisters in Christ - Things With Wings
Samuel Taylors - Butterflies
CC Monthly Challenge - Spring

As always thanks for stopping by and looking at my little creations.   Your comments are always appreciated

Take Care
Hugs xx