April 8th #2

Yesterday, I shared the first of my three cards for my April 8th family birthdays - my grandson's first birthday card!

Today I am sharing my niece's card- who was sweet 16. A very difficult time for her, as she is one of that group for whom her GCSE's will never be sat, and who will be hoping that the work she has done in her mocks and her coursework will get her the grades she wants. 

This is a 7x7 card using Hunkydory Pick and Mix - Girl Boss topper. It's pink - which is a colour she is rather partial too - and I like the message on there too.

The background is a combination of silver mirror card, some very old Create and Craft Textured Card (which isn't texture - just looks it), Crafter's Companion Matt Black card, and the pink is from Hunkydory's Floral Delight Card Block.

The letters are cut using Crafter's Companion Kinetic Alphabet, and the numbers using Diamond Press Block Alpha.  And as ever, it's all finished with ribbons and pearls.

Take care and stay safe,
Cxxxx

A week ago...

A week ago, things began to change. I was scrambling to get to grips with how we were going to deal with setting school "work" from home, and watching the new avidly for any updates. A week on, and things are starting to settle into this new and bizarre reality. I have had good days and bad days. I have planned and prepared for my class out there in cyberspace. And I have tried - not always successfully - to switch off from work and from the news, having gone from watching all day every day, to switching it on now and then. I still don't feel in any sort of routine, and I had so many creative things planned for the week - but in the end, I didn't really feel like doing them.

And then, last Sunday was Mothering Sunday. Like a huge part of the population, neither of us could see our Mums, although I had popped in to see mine and drop things off on the Thursday.

Then in the whirlwind of the week, I forgot to share the cards I made. So, here they are.

This one was for my Mum, using Hunkdory Sending you Love - A Gift for you - topper and backing card. 

And this one was for my mother-in-law - using the same Hundory topper and card set.

Am hoping next week will settle more into a routine - and I will be able to do some more creative things.

Stay safe,

Cxxxx

Script Cheeseboard

Am loving these little cheeseboards. This one was really simple to decorate - but I love the way it turned out. 

I covered the whole of the board with rice paper (design 388) - love this design! I then added Chocolate Shabby Chic Relief Paste through the script part of the Feather Stencil. Around the edges I used the same paste with a brush to provide a frame. And finally added a ribbon bow. It was that simple.

Will be back tomorrow with a couple more samples.

Cxxxx

Black Butterflies!!

Well, I know you don't normally see black butterflies, but I like the silhouette against the bright background.

Imagination Crafts: 

Mix Media Inks - Fuchsia and Sunshine

Magi Blend

Art Stamps - Distress Set 1

Other:

Gesso

Glycerine

Memento Tuxedo Black

Watercolour and Black Card

Spectrum Noir Clear Sparkle Overlay pen

Acetate - from Sara Signature Flutterby collection

Dies - Botanical Butterfly, Trio of Wings, Simplistic Sentiments from Sara Signature  Flutterby Collection

I started by masking off the bottom of a piece of watercolour card, as I only wanted the colour on the top. I used a bit of wax paper and low tack tape.

Next, I sprayed some of the Mix Media inks onto my craft mat, then using a sponge applicator, I mixed them with some glycerine to blend for the background - creating this lovely warm orangey colour.

I used more of the sprays, but this time mixed them with a bit of gesso and some Magi Blend, because I wanted to paint them onto the printed acetate. It's hard to see on the finished picture, but one of the layers of the large butterfly was made from this. 

I also used this mixture to stamp onto the background. 

I then stamped over this with Memento Tuxedo Black - stamping more than once each time to get different depths of colour.

The background was mounted onto black card, and I used a thin black ribbon across the bottom of the inked part to define the edge. 

The die cuts were covered with Clear Sparkly pen, and both the large butterfly and the sentiment have a layer cut from the painted acetate.

Haven't had a chance to craft and get messy for a while - so not sure when the next post like this will be - but I will have hopefully have some quick cards to share in the meantime.

Take care

Cxxxx 

A Little Blue

More playing with Imagination Crafts products - and an outing for my Gel Press - to create this blue card. 

The list of the things I've used is:

Sheena White Stamping Card

Core'dinations Card - Blue

6x6 Gel Press

7x7 Mega Mount (Clarity Stamp)

Imagination Crafts:

Starlight Paints - Heather, Mint, Clotted Cream, Mediterranean Sky

Starlight Wax - Dark Orchid

Stencil - 6x6 - Grungy Ledger

Rice Paper 198

Art Stamps - Distress Set 1

Magi Bond Decoupage Glue

I started by painting Heather, Mint and Clotted Cream Starlight paints onto Sheena White Stamping Card.

I spritzed over with water and smoothed the paint out.  

This was then run through my Gemini with the Grungy Ledger stencil, 

 And Dark Orchid Starlight Wax applied over the top with a bit of cut and dry.

The next step was to apply the paint to the gel plate. This time I used Mediterranean Sky instead of the Mint. 

I got a bit carried away with the paint and put too much down, so had to work in off onto some paper. 

Once I had it at a reasonable level, I then used the script stamp to remove the paint from the plate. 

I then pressed this onto another piece of Stamping Card, and used it to cut a frame (as ever I managed to miss out a few steps!!

 I edged the stencilled piece with more Dark Orchid wax, and mounted it onto the card (made from more stamping card.

I cut more frames out of stamping card and blue Core'dinations card, and mounted them over the stencilled piece.

 The image is a cut from the Rice Paper, and attached to the card using Magi Bond decoupage glue. It was then mounted on blue and white card. The whole things was finished with a bow.

Back with more later.

Cxxx

A Pink Thank You

It's getting to the time of year when lots of people are looking to say thank you to teachers and other school staff. I was asked to make a couple of thank you cards - this is the first of them.

The base is a 7x7 scalloped card blank. I started by adding a piece of pink paper (I think from Kanban Love and Marriage paper pad), and softened it by adding a piece of the printed acetate from Sara Signature Flutterby collection. The outer pink frame (cut with Spellbinders Grand Squares) and the inner pink mat are from a very old Create and Craft Textured Card pad.  

The patterned papers are from pads bought at The Works. I then used Crafter's Companion 5x5 Country Garden Create a Card, to cut the decorative mat from Centura Pearl Snow White card. For the coloured parts, I re-cut the die with pink papers and fussy cut the pieces out. 

The sentiment is Crafter's Companion Classique Only Words, and the circle mount is the centre of Crafter's Companion 6x6 Aurora Create a Card die. I finished off with paper roses from The Range, and organza ribbon. 

Back soon (hopefully)

Cxxx

50th Birthday Teacup

It was my lovely sister-in-law's 50th birthday recently, and I made her this card for the big day. The card is 8" x 8", and I used a topper and backing card from Create & Craft's - Birthday Celebrations Pack. Both were mounted onto red card for an extra "pop". The numbers are cut with Crafter's Companion 1" dies, and the name with Essentials Alphabet dies. 

I added a massive bow made of red organza and a co-ordinating pinky satin, topped with a Hobby House Sparkler. A very simple - but hopefully very effective - card.

Cxxx

Happy Birthday!

This card was for my husband's birthday. I used Hunkydory's Flight of the Butterflies - Rustic Charm. 

I used Kraft card for matting and layering, and a bit of twine with a button for decoration. The lettering is cut using Crafter's Companion Essentials alphabet dies.

Cxxx

To the Happy Couple

A very good friend of mine is today marrying a lovely man and starting a new life together. I made this card for them using a Kanban Love and Marriage. 

I used patterned card and paper from my stash to matt and layer with pink card onto the base. The patterned background piece was cut from the pink card using Crafter's Companion Die'sire A6 Daisy Dreams Create a Card die. 

The Kanban topper sits on top of that, and the card is finished with lace, a lace bow, and a Hobby House sparkler.

Cxx

Birthday Boutique

This teenager's birthday card was made using Hunkydory's Birthday Boutique topper and card set.

I kept it simple, and matted the card onto silver mirror card, which I also used for the letters and numbers, cut with Diamond Press Block Alpha dies. The bow is from Baker's twine. 

Cxxx

Home Sweet Home!

This new home card was made using a topper from Kanban Well Wishes and Celebrations. 

I also used the gorgeous Moving Frame from Yvonne Creations Moving Madness collection of dies. The frame was cut in matt silver, cream, brown, pink and green, and then I fussy cut out the pieces to build up the picture.

All of this was mounted onto a piece of double sided card from Crafter's Companion, mounted onto matt silver card. 

As the message was on the topper, I didn't need the little banner at the top of the frame, so added a bow to fill it up. 

Cxxx

Birthday Card

This card was made for my stepson's girlfriend. The topper is Hunkydory Scrumptious Cakes - and the striped card came with the topper.

The white card is Centura Pearl Snow White Hint of Gold, embossed with Crafter's Companion A4 Delicate Floral embossing folder. The letters are cut with Crafter's Companion Essentials Alphabet.

Cxxx

Teenage Girl

This card was for my teenage niece. I used a topper and card sheet from Hunkydory's Perfect Princesses Luxury Topper collection. 

There's not much else to say, except I used some mirror card to matt and layer, and for the wording and numbers which were cut with Crafter's Companion Diamond Press Block alphabet set. I finished it off as ever with a bow and sparkler. 

Cxxx

Playing Catch Up

I have been spending some time getting my Pinterest boards up to date with all my photos - most of which I have never blogged. I am hoping to get them onto Instagram at some point too - but we'll wait and see whether that happens! If you are interested, then please pop over to my Pinterest board and take a look - and maybe follow me there too. I'm there under Papercraft by Carole.

As I'm not yet too far behind with my 2018 pictures, I though I would do a couple of blog post over the next few days to get myself back on track. Today I have two cards I made for Mother's Day - one for my Mum and one for my Mother-in-Law.

Both were made using Hunkydory "A Relaxing Day" topper sheet and matching card.

The easel card is a pre-cut blank - I think it was from Craftwork cards.

Take care,

Cxxx

Simple and Elegant

Did you catch the 10am show with the new 3D embossing folders, dies and stamps? During that show Matt really liked this sample - showing how simple you can keep it, yet how elegant and effective it can be. 

This is the French Lace folder embossed onto Sheena White Stamping Card. I then painted over the design with Old Paper and Spun Sugar Distress Inks. To highlight the embossed detail, I put some ink on my finger and went over the top. The lace edges are painted with Spectrum Noir Clear Overlay Glitter Sparkle Pen. I stamped the sentiment using Spanish Moss Versafine.  

Tune in again at 4pm for more inspiration.

Take care,

Cxxx

Smitten Kitten

Today I have an 8x8 card made using Crafter's Companion Catitudes, using the first of the twin CDs for the image, sentiment, embellishments and one of the papers.

I also used the silver embossed musical paper from the 8x8 pad, and embossed a piece of black card with the matching embossing folder. I highlighted this with Pebeo silver gilding wax.

Cxxx

Floral Lace Heart

Hello! Today I have a straightforward easel card, made using Crafter's Companion Die'sire Everyday Create a Card - Floral Lace Heart!

The base is made from Crafter's Companion White Linen card, and the matts and layers are the glitter and matt mirror card from the Silver Luxury Card pack. The red is from Papermill.

I used the Congratulations sentiment Create a Card die for the easel stopper, and decorate with pearls and a ribbon bow.

With Valentine's day coming up, this could easily be adapted to make a great Valentine's card!

Cxxx

Everlasting Love

Morning!! Today I have a card made using Leonie Pujol's Everlasting Love, coloured with Spectrum Aqua Markers.  If you know the stamp, you will know that it only has two flowers, and I wanted three, so I used Pebeo Masking Gum to mask out the first stamp, and then inked up only the extra piece I wanted.

I then masked the third flower off so I could do the background - essentially a wet on wet technique. I did this on another piece of card, too, for an extra layer for the card.

I then built up the colour on the flowers. 

And, as always seems to happen, I forgot to take anymore photos!! So, I completed the flower, leaves and stems, and then matted and layered to complete the card. 

The main Spectrum Aqua colours I used were: Florals - Marigold, Jasmine, Sunflower, Bud Green, Leaf Green, Orchid, Heather.

Cxx

Sparkling Flowers

Today's offereing is an 8x8 card that uses a Just Inklined digi called "Open Rose Vase". The sentiment is from Crafter's Inspiration 6, stamped with Onyx Black Versafine.

I used Spectrum Noir Sparkle pens to colour the image:

Roses: Red Berry, Crystal Clear, Spun Gold 

Leaves: Black, Holly Green, Crystal Clear

Vase: Black, Sterling, Crystal Clear 

The embossed background was created using an Embossalicious 8x8 folder called Rose Garden.

Cxx

Bow Front Card

The gorgeous little fancy Edge'ables are back on Hochanda today! They are 5.3" in length, and are perfect for all sorts of projects.

This is a bow fronted card that I made using the Rococo die. The base is Centura Pearl Hint of Silver, and I used some Crafter's Companion Matt Black card to make the pink - from the Downton Abbey 12x12 pad - pop. 

Be sure to tune in to the shows today!

Cxx