Thursday 30 May 2019

Good Luck Bloom



This one was made in January 2010. The image was salvaged from an old card. One of the flower heads was previously decoupaged, so I left that on, just inking around the edges and glittering the centre. I wanted to alter it some more, though, so I stamped the harlequins on, using Versafine Onyx Black (third generation), then stamped the SU stamps 'bloom' and the 'blossom' definition over the top. The acetate butterfly was stamped quite a while ago, and the white ink has worn off in the middle, but I quite like the ethereal quality it has now as a result. The pearl sprays are deliberately left like that. I like the way they resemble catkins.. the little furry buds on a pussy willow. If you squint a bit....




Wednesday 29 May 2019

The Hiss Family



This simple card was made back in 2008 for a friend who lived in Florida, and was at that time being plagued with a family of black racer snakes nesting under her house (non-venomous, but nerve-wracking all the same, if you feel about snakes the way I do about spiders!! Yuck!). She managed to get rid of them by using a product available in them there parts called 'Snake Away'. The unfolding story on her blog was hilarious, so I thought the departure of the snakes warranted a card.
I used a flamingo stamp to create the background (Florida's state bird), a Cuttlekids snake double die-cut and the 'Miss You' sentiment is from the 'Now That's Funky' CD from - you guessed it! - Funky Hand (no longer in business, sadly). And, of course, the ever-present doodling and inked edges! The drops under his eye are meant to be tears, lol.. made with Glossy Accents.


Tuesday 28 May 2019

Green Butterfly



From 2008, this was an entry for a sketch challenge at 2Sketches4You. This one uses three different colour-co-ordinated digi-papers from the 'It's Funky Too' CD-Rom from the now out of business Funky Hand, embellished with various stamps, inks, chalks and an embossing folder here or there!


Cardstock: Bazzill
Papers: 'It's Funky Too' CD-Rom from Funky hand
Cuttlebug folder: Fantasy Flower
Stamps: HOTP swirls, MSE 'Thank You'
Inks: Versafine Onyx black, Versacolor Olive green
Chalks: Pebbles Inc 'I Kan-Dee'
Embellishments: Butterfly template free with the (then) current issue of 'Papercraft Essentials', 'I Kan-dee' frame
Ribbon, ball chain, glitter peel-offs and embossed metal corner all from stash



Monday 27 May 2019

Green Thank You card



2008 vintage, this one uses HOTP (Hot Off The Press) flourish stamps, and digi-papers from Funky Hand's 'It's Funky Too' CD-Rom, sadly no longer available. Wired ribbon, Prima flowers, fabric leaves, a few pearls and a stamped 'Thank You' complete the design.




Sunday 26 May 2019

Happily Ever After



This was such a simple card to make, but it surprised me how popular it was on Pinterest. (I don't show my cards there any more, but I expect the re-pins are still floating around out there.)

I printed the sentiment in a quirky font directly onto the card, then I doodled the frame and applied Glossy Accents for a raised, shiny effect. The flowers are just punched from black card and have a faux clear gem in the centres. Does it get any easier than that?





Friday 24 May 2019

ATC: Free Spirit Girl



This is the second of a pair of ATCs made today, using the same stamps. The background is from Darkrrom Door, 'Arrows' ref: DDBS063, stamped with Versamark and using Stampendous White Detail embossing powder. The feather and the focal picture are from Bipasha BK's design for AALL & Create, #7, which has a Free Spirit/Boho Soul/Good Vibes theme, and an amazing image of a girl with feathers and abstract swirls, etc. It's beautiful, and will find its way into a lot of my cards, I'm sure!


For the first part of this pair, scroll back to the previous post.



ATC: Free Spirit Feather



ATC, made today. One of a pair. Using kraft card, I stamped the arrows background in Versamark and used Stampendous White Detail embossing powder. (The stamp is 'Arrows' from Darkroom Door, ref: DDBS063.)

Then I stamped the feather from Bipasha BK's stamp set for AALL & Create, #7.. the one with the Free Spirit/Boho Soul/Good Vibes theme. I can see this set getting a lot of use! The feather panel is raised up very slightly. I cut up some packaging to go underneath the panel, instead of using foam pads.

The 'Good Vibes' words are stamped onto kraft card, then cut out and mounted on dark brown cardstock, then cut again.


See the next post for 'Free Spirit Girl', the second half of the pair.



Thursday 23 May 2019

Roses Are Read



This is a hot-from-the-craft-desk ATC (Artist's Trading Card, 2½" x 3½"), Roses Are Read (not a mis-spelling!) It would have worked better, perhaps, if the left hand rose had been stamped the right way up!

I used black card and stamped distressed mini harlequins from Bee Crafty's collection of 'Backdrops' stamps, using Versafine Black Onyx and Stampendous Clear Detail embossing powder. They don't really show very well in the photo.. better up close and personal in real life. I glued a couple of old book pages to cardstock, and - once dry - I sponged Worn Lipstick Distress Ink over the top. When that was dry, I stamped and clear embossed the (now red) pages with Stamp Addicts 'Rose' stamp, ref: SA-7156. (The Distress Ink wasn't quite dry, so I ended up clear embossing the whole surface!) Lol.. I cut the roses out and inked the edges. One side of each of the roses was raised on Sticky Fixers for some dimension. I made two bows out of silver thread, folded and tucked them in. The words are computer-generated, and I've added three small clear gems to finish it.




Wednesday 22 May 2019

ATC: Are we there yet?



Fresh today! The last of my current series of travel-themed ATCs. Once again, I have used the papers, stamps and dies from the Die-Cutting Essentials special edition box magazine (pictured at the bottom). For the globe, I stamped onto the blue card using Crushed Olive Distress Oxide ink. It didn't stamp very well on my first attempt, so I christened my Tim Holtz stamping platform that I acquired some months ago, and - sure enough - I was able to re-stamp in the same spot through several pressings to provide the right coverage. It also left a kind of textured finish, which was perfect for this purpose. Great colour, too.

The plane is from a pack of aircraft die-cuts, enhanced with a light outlining of pencil and raised on Sticky Fixers. The words are computer-generated, edges inked and glued directly to the card.






Hedgehog Mama



This card was made back in 2008 for a friend who had just discovered a nest of baby hedgehogs in the tortoise house in her garden.  

This A5 (5" x 7") card uses digi-papers from the Shabby Saturday download from the former Funky Hand. I also used Rhonna Farrer's 'Elegant Flourishes' stamp set, some organza ribbon, some Making Memories square brads, some fancy-edged scissors with a scalloped edge to trim the square mat. The hedgehog is from Penny Black, and I have hidden her holly with a maple leaf brad! The wording is produced with individual alphabet stamps. Colouring used Koh-I-Noor pencils, with Zest-It blending solution and paper stumps.



Tuesday 21 May 2019

ATC: The Journey



Fresh today.. ATC: The Journey, using papers and stamps from a Die-Cutting Essentials magazine special edition, which came with travel-themed papers, stamps, dies and an embossing folder. I pencilled in the ring around the planes in a poor attempt to disguise my dreadful fussy-cutting skills! I raised the two planes on Sticky Fixers, and I pencilled a line around the British Isles for more definition, as it was in danger of disappearing into the North Sea! The quote and the compass are stamps. I used Versafine for both, but the compass is in Smoky Grey.


There's no edition number on the packaging, so this is the box it came in...





Monday 20 May 2019

ATC: Travel Vibes



Fresh today! An ATC (Artist Trading Card, 2½" x 3½"), watercoloured background, stamped in Versafine Smoky Grey ink with AALL & Create's 'Tropical Vibes' stamp #141,  designed by Bipasha BK. I also took the 'travel' word from the same stamp, blacked in the letters, inked around the edge and mounted on black card. Raised it up on Sticky Fixers.

The scripty bit on the right is an Indigo Blu stamp, 'Script' - Code SB1.

I also computer-generated the other words, 'let's go!', printing onto cardstock, inked the edges and also raised on Sticky Fixers. I wanted some gulls on it, too, but couldn't find my Memory Box 'Flying Gulls' die set, so I just cut my own! Who needs dies? Lol ;-)





Sunday 19 May 2019

ATC Inspired by Cleo



This is an ATC (Artist's Trading Card, 2½" x 3½"), inspired by elements from the many creative cards by my American crafting buddy, Cleo. As you can see, I can't make up my mind which way up it should be! Lol..

The background is water-coloured, then I embossed the white card with a Darice peonies folder,  trimmed around the edges with fancy-cut scissors with a deckle-edge, and raised it on low profile 3D foam pads. (I use WH Smith's 'Sticky Fixers', because they give just the right amount of lift to give some nice shadow and dimension, and will still go through the slot at the Post Office! Unless you add more on top, as I have here!) 

The silver die-cut is from Scrapman Dies in Russia.. Geometry-9 (DR-264). On top of that are some lovely paper roses and some sequins.





Saturday 18 May 2019

Rose Thank You



From the archives, 2010. I needed a quick 'thank you' card, and this is what happened..

It's a 6" square card. The rose is by PSX, stamped three times and coloured with Koh-i-Noor pencils and Zest-It, blended with paper stumps, then Stickled. The sentiment is from Stampin' Up's 'Wonderful Words' set, using Versafine Onyx ink and clear embossing. The panel is raised on 3D pads and embellished with a little pink faux gem. I shaded with pencil to ground the roses, but not sure I would do that if I were making it again now. The 'cf' monogram is a bit pretentious, too. Not needed. 




Friday 17 May 2019

Stone Love



Fresh from my craft desk today! So fresh, it's still steaming. :-) This A5 size (5" x 7") card is for my Uncle's birthday next week. My mother's side of the family are 'Stone', so when I found a Kaisercraft embossing folder (Cobblestone, Ref: EF299), I thought it was perfect.

I embossed it in white card, and using Inkylicious Ink Dusters (double-ended brushes), I built up some colour with Distress Oxide ink in Pumice Stone. To deepen the colour and give the stones an edge, I repeated the swirling with Memento Grey Flannel. It achieved pretty much what I envisaged, and I'm pleased with the effect.

The embossed piece is layered onto black card, then silver. I ran an embossing ball tool around the edge, to smooth the edges down. (Mirror card can look a bit 'raw' on the edges, so it helps to neaten them up a bit.)


The card is wrapped in silver thread.. no bows, of course.. it's for a manly man. I mocked up a dictionary definition for 'Stone', including some personal family references, printed it and mounted that on low profile 3D pads. The 'Happy Birthday' is also computer-generated.



Thursday 16 May 2019

Safe Harbour



Again, one from the archives.. around 2009. This card served two purposes... an old friend, a lady pastor who leads a small Christian fellowship, told me she will be having a stall at our local Summer Fair, and asked me to make some Christian-themed cards with scripture to sell on the stall. This is the first... made to a Trimcraft Sketch Challenge layout. (NB: This link will now take you to the Trimcraft forum where they have Challenges, but the forum has been updated since 2009, so that sketch is no longer available.)

On the inside of the boat panel, I have used the following scripture from Psalm 18:2:

"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. "


Stamps: The yacht is an old PSX stamp, and the swirls are from the 'Elegant Flourishes' set by Rhonna Farrer. (Yacht image coloured with watercolour pencils, and decorated with silver glitter glue for the bow wave, and Glossy Accents to highlight the boat and sails.)
Paper: Basic Grey Blitzen Collection, BLI-348 Polar Blue (but heavily sponged with shades of ink from a Kaleidocolor pad, Blue Breeze, which is also used for the flourish on the inside of the card)
Rub-ons: Making Memories 'Heidi' alphabet
Gems, navy & embossed silver cardstock and brads from stash.



Wednesday 15 May 2019

House Mouse Thoughts



From the archives, c. 2009, I think.. This was made using a sketch from Challenge #3 on the House Mouse challenge blog (still going.. find them HERE). The theme for this one was "New", so new baby, new anything, really, so I bought my first House Mouse stamp as my "something new". He's looking quite wistful, so I thought he would be useful for an "I'm here for you" kind of card. The grungy Basic Grey papers may also lend themselves to a more masculine feel. The pearly brads are from Papermania. (NB: I've used gold mirri card for the punched squares and for matting & layering the two middle panels, but as per usual with photos, it doesn't show properly! #sigh)


Sketch from the House Mouse challenge blog, from Challenge #3.





Tuesday 14 May 2019

Green Gerbera



Another one from way back when, circa 2009. A5 size card (5" x 7"), using papers printed from one of the many wonderful designs from Funky Hand CD-roms, inked around the edges. The central panel is embossed with Cuttlebug's Swiss Dots folder, also inked around the edges, raised on 3D pads, decorated with fabric gerberas, crochet lace and a button and bow.




Monday 13 May 2019

Laura's Birthday 2009



From the archives, 2009, for my niece, Laura, who has Downs Syndrome. She loved it!

This is a 6" square card, using Basic Grey papers, a journaling spot stamp from somewhere or other, satin ribbon, glittered heart and numbers, and I think I received the girl as part of a RAK or a blog candy win. I don't remember colouring her.




Sunday 12 May 2019

Thank You card for Gunhild




I made this card in 2008 to thank Gunhild Bay, the founder and massively talented designer from Norway behind Stempelglede, her stamp company. The thanks were for the amazing blog candy prize I was blessed to win.. her Grunge Collection stamp set (on the right), which - out of the hundreds (probably thousands!) of stamps I have - remains one of my top ten favourites.


It is A5 size (5" x 7"), I made up and printed the words panel at the back directly onto the card in light grey in a vintage typewriter font from a scrapbooking CD-rom that came with a book by Lisa Bearnson. I've stamped leaves with a leaf spray stamp by Hero Arts, a flourish from the Grunge Collection and a 'Thank You' from a cheap foam stamp - also a favourite. I laid a strip of lace across which has been coloured with blue ink, and blue satin ribbon. The frame is hand-drawn and cut, then glittered with Stardust Stickles. The flowers are stamped from the Grunge Collection, and then punched and fussy-cut. (Tutorial by Gunhild HERE.) Other decorations include diamentés on the ribbon, a bow in the same ribbon tucked under the flowers, a string bow and heart charm* and beaded headpin.


The *heart charm started out brass with 'made with love' engraved on it, but I altered it with Versamark ink and silver embossing powder.


Here, again, is Gunhild's flower tutorial (click HERE), and the picture below is her photograph.


The Grunge Collection stamp set from Stempelglede pictured below. (Stempelglede is currently closed until January 2020 because of illness.)





Friday 10 May 2019

Another Floral Card



Pretty card made for a colleague when she was leaving for pastures new. Simply made from using the offcuts from a nesting labels die set, cut from some pretty glittery cardstock, as is the border across the middle, which was cut using a Martha Stewart border punch. A bit of white ric-rac across the middle, and a waxed cord wrap, then decorated with various roses, leaves, pine branch and ash branch punchies. A metal sentiment embellishment completes the design.




Thursday 9 May 2019

Nautical Birthday



From the archives, c: 2009. A5 size (5" x 7"). I used a large Irish Blessings script stamp from Stampin' Up (now retired, but have seen several listed on Ebay US), on cream paper in grey ink for a bit of an aged look. (I'd make a better job of it if I were making it again now!) I used handmade turquoise paper, with a layer of torn light blue vellum under the edge.. you can just see it. I think the yacht stamp is a PSX one, and I've stamped it onto acetate in black Staz-On and secured the acetate onto the card with silver bradlets. The lovely metal dolphin embellishment also helped to provide some useful 'glue-hiding' space! ;-) The spiral clip and the metal 'happy birthday' complete the design.