Butterfly Ribbon

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This one was inspired by Jean's Facebook Live demo on 15th April: 'Gelli & Stamping Fun'. (You can find it under 'Videos' on the Crafty Individuals Facebook page.)

First, I used one of Flo Langley's lovely background stamps.. the one she calls 'Fried Eggs'! You'll find it on the Crafty Individuals website under ref. CI-541. I also used Flo's 'washing-up sponge' technique for applying the paint to the stamp, and it worked really well on the gelli plate. I'll be using that again! Then applied more block colour on top, and a stencil over that to lift some of the paint  Then white acryclic over the top once the colour layer had dried. (The colour paint is Artist's Acrylic Paint by IndigoBlu.)

I really like the print it gave me. I don't have the 'bell' stencil that Jean used, so I used the 'Bouquet' stencil #73 by Fiona Paltridge at AALL & Create. The 'Fried Eggs' are showing (a bit.. enough) and the lovely roses from the stencil are good, too. 

I don't have any of beautiful Crafty Individuals butterfly stamps that Jean used, but I do have this gorgeous one from IndigoBlu, 'Flutterby', Code FD. I stamped it in Versafine 'Onyx Black', then clear embossed it and fussy-cut it out. (I always run an ink pen [usually black] around the edge of a cut image, to get rid of the harsh white edges.)

The name of the fine gauze ribbon escapes me (words I have always known often do, these days), but it is wired, frays nicely at the ends and works well, I think. I stapled it to the card front before gluing the layers together, and covered the staple with the butterfly. The Tim Holtz 'beautiful' die-cut word helps to secure the tail of the ribbon down by gluing both ends.

Flo's Fried Eggs

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This one is (very) loosely based on Jean's Facebook Live demo on 8th April. I created the background using four Distress Oxide inks on an acrylic block, spritzed and smooshed onto the card. Then I used one of Flo Langley's lovely background stamps.. the one she calls 'Fried Eggs'! You'll find it on the Crafty Individuals website under ref. CI-541.

In Jean's demo, she used a Chocolate Baroque stamp with Sweetpeas and an industrial-looking lightbulb thing, which I don't have, so I used another Chocolate Baroque stamp that I do! Coloured with Koh-i-Noor 'Anilinky' watercolours, matted onto black and topped with Glossy Accents, splatted with black gesso for good measure, a few scattered gold sequins and some Tim Holtz die-cut words from Sizzix.

In Jean's demo, she cut the focal image in an oval-shape, stitched around the edges and mounted it onto one of the papers also designed by Flo Langley. I treasure mine, so saving them to stroke occasionally! ;-) Apart from that, I love white space and prefer rectangular shapes.

Perching Bird

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I challenged myself a little while ago to make a card inspired by each of Jean's Facebook Live demos. This is only the second I've made, from Jean's demo on 6th April, using a contemporary style with background stamps designed by Flo Langley, and the CI-507 'Perching Bird' stamp. Jean used her lovely kingfisher stamp for her version, but I don't have that. This works just as well, though, and I love Flo's stamps:

CI-539 'Abstraction'
CI-540 'Fragmentation'
CI-542 'Mismesh'

Thank You Birds

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I wanted to make this to thank Malcolm (Malc) of Crafty Individuals who sent me a gift to thank me for initiating, creating and developing the Crafty Individuals Facebook Group, building it to just shy of 750 members. He must have been paying attention, as he sent me things I had asked about in previous months. One of them was this beautiful bird stamp, which was retired and wasn't available any more. I love it! So pretty.

The background paper is also Crafty Individuals, from their 'Springtime' paper pad, matted on to green cardstock. The words dies are by Sizzix Tim Holtz, and the finishing touches are gold cord, yellow paper rosebuds and some pearls.

VE Day 75 Art Journal Page

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This was made using the 'waste' gesso from my VE Day 75 card (see post below!). I've used all the same stuff, except for cutting out some blue birds from Crafty Individuals papers and sticking them on, too. Not sure the gesso looks much like the White Cliffs of Dover, but I tried! Lol ;-)

VE Day 75

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This was made to mark VE Day 75 on 8th May. I used a Crafty Individuals background paper from one of their paper pads, which I brayered with gesso in the centre to provide a clear space for the stamp CI-334 'Keep Calm & Carry On. I splatted the background with black gesso, made the bunting and hung that on black thread, raising it up on recycled cardboard pads as appropriate.

The soldier silhouette was found on some bunting templates in an album posted on my local Covid-19 Volunteer Group.. a resource created by Colouring Heroes.

The numbers and letters 'VE 75' are from Tim Holtz, and the poppy stamp is also Crafty Individuals, CI-210 'Pretty Poppy'.

My First Pop-up Box Card

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My niece, Laura, had her 33rd birthday recently. She has Downs Syndrome, and has a massive crush on Harry Styles. I say crush, but I think it might be the real thing; it has been going strong for at least three years now. So.. wanting to make her something she'd like and could keep, I thought I'd have a go at making a Harry-themed pop-up box card.

I have been wanting to do this for a while. Those I've seen have always looked spectacular. I don't like 'fancy' cards, usually, but I do think this particular style is very effective. One of my favourite guest designers on Hochanda is Janet Pring for AALL & Create. In February, she provided a fab demo on making pop-up box cards, and fortunately, I followed my instincts and recorded it. Hurrah! Great instructions, very simple to follow. Still fiddly, though, and I made a few rooky mistakes, and it took a long time to make. Hours. I'll do better next time. At least I'm not frightened of it, now.

Products used:

• Photos from a Harry Styles poster
• Black & white cardstock for matting and layering
• Floral paper
• Acetate strips 
• Sizzix Thinlits die - Scattered Hearts by Samantha Barnett - Ref: 662599
• Tim Holtz word die (Happy)
• Making Memories rub-on letters (Laura)