Lynn's Ellie

Click on photos for larger images.

This is for my sister's birthday next week. (It's OK.. I don't think she even knows I have a blog!) Pretty simple design, but the back story is that we both love elephants and support The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, which is close to our hearts as we had the privilege to visit the animal orphanage when we were children, in the sixties. Amazing memory.

... And the other part of the story is just that I love this cute little ellie digistamp from Lili Of The Valley, called 'Scruffy Edward'. He has had gender reassignment for this card, though, and now goes by the name 'Edwina'.

He is coloured with Koh-I-Noor Aquarelle watercolour pencils, and the balloon is enhanced with Glossy Accents. I found some little red flowers, which now have glittery Stickles yellow centres, there are some 'gold' bradlets in the corners of the panel, which is raised on recycled cardboard (my thing instead of environmentally unfriendly foam pads). There are a couple of silver bows, the background paper is from a Basic Grey 6" x 6" paper pad.. 'Cupcake', I think, and the sentiment is a Sara Signature die from Crafters Companion, cut twice and layered for a drop shadow effect.

 

Nature Stag

This one was inspired by a glimpse of some restaurant décor on a recent TV programme. The restaurant is 'The Kitchin' in Edinburgh (owned by top chef, Tom Kitchin).

The card is 6" x 6", and uses paper from an 8" x 8" pad - Yuletide Memories - from The Paper Tree. The stag die is from the Creatables range by Marianne Design. Don't know where the stamp is from, as it's unmounted and has been separated from its packaging over the years. The button is from Basic Grey. Other than that, I've used some silver thread and a few sequins. I've used recycled cardboard instead of foam pads for dimension.

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.

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.

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.

Oops!

This started out as an idea for a commission card for a 50^th birthday for a lady who likes purple and gardening! lol.. But the watercolouring turned out a bit too grungy and distressed the paper too much, so it morphed into a general kind of ‘I’m sorry’ card! lol ;-) Not really elegant enough for a ladies 50^th in my view, so I regrouped on that one.

The extra strands under the button are scraps of cord leftover from previous cards. Like most crafters, I hate throwing stuff away, so have been keeping all the ends thinking I’ll find a use for them one day, and I have! I think it works.

The stamped image is, of course, an old one by Magenta, watercoloured with distress inks, mainly, glittered on the pot with Craft Planet glitter glue, and embellished with a Basic Grey button and miscellaneous brads and flowers. Bazzill CS and Basic Grey ‘Cupcake’ DP.

Spotty Scallops

Made a while ago for a challenge, using a variety of papers. I think they were a mix of Basic Grey and Funky Hand, and the border panel was created with a Cuttlebug Dotty Circles folder. The outside of the border was made with scalloped edge scissors, and the base layer of the focal panel was created with a Spellbinders nesting die. The edges of the papers were distressed and inked. Ribbons, brads and paper roses complete the design.

Sharron's 40th Birthday

Landscape A5 (5" x 7") card made for my old friend some years ago, using Funky Hand digital papers, including the flower, the numbers, the brackets and the circle sentiment. The only bits that aren't Funky Hand are the strip across the middle (Basic Grey), the little flowers, the brads, the Elegant Flourish stamps from Rhonna Farrer, the scalloped fancy-edge scissors, the faux stitching (stamped) and my little doodled flourishes on the brackets. And a partridge in a pear tree!

Glittery Gerbera

Isn't it irritating that photos rarely capture sparkle to full effect? Anyway, this was the only card I've ever published that drew an outrageously rude comment on my blog! Anonymous, of course, and clearly a troll as the card is obviously beautiful! lol ;-) Ah well.. we can't all have good taste, eh?

Actually, upon reflection, they were probably right! It's pretty ugly, isn't it?!

Basic Grey papers and button, handmade daisy.

Recycled Friendship

This one uses some recycling from my own scrap pad. I noticed that some practice stamping (the focal panel) looked pretty good, so decided to use it! For the background of this A5 (UK size) card, I stamped a harlequin stamp (2nd generation stamping), a Hero Arts Friendship text stamp in dark brown Chalk Eyes ink, and around the edges with Judikins 'Field of Sky'. The edges were inked and sponged, and a Martha Stewart border punch in dark green Bazzill cardstock across the middle, with some waxed cord wraps and tied Basic Grey button and some Sizzix Garden Greens foliage. A gold thread wrap and some gold mini brads on the central panel complete the design.

Take A Chance

This was made for a sketch challenge for the Basic Grey Challenge design team, using the Euphoria papers. The heart is a Hero Arts stamp and I've used Cuttlebug Swiss Dots and Fantasy Flowers embossing folders.

Brother-In-Law's birthday card

This card was made for my brother-in-law (you may have guessed that) about 10 years ago. I've used and distressed Basic Grey papers, and used a Cuttlebug script embossing folder on the green. I found the brown button in my mum's old button tin, and sanded it. The letters for the greeting are computer-generated in upper and lower case and cut out separately to ink the edges and set them in that up and down style.The letters for his name are chipboard. I covered them in paper, inked the edges and used clear heat embossing to make them shine.

Red Sun Thank You

This was made for a chap in my office, about ten years ago. He had come across a beautiful, heavy, embossed leather-bound journal-type book, with heavy quality handmade paper in it, just begging to become an art journal, and he gave it to me, knowing I would appreciate it. How sweet is that?

Anyway, this uses Basic Grey papers, some faux stitchery around the edges. my lovely Inkadinkado flourish stamp, handmade-with-my-computer/printer letters for the sentiment, inked and grunged up a bit, a Sizzix die-cut star, embossed with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder, some wax cord and Making Memories gold square brads.

Rusty Rose

Torn panel of Basic Grey paper, with peach rosebud and bow. The 'rusty' wording was created by stamping the words onto card then heat embossing with gold and rubbing layers of ink over it until you achieve the desired rusty metallic effect.

Stampin' Up for a friend

This card was for a friend who was just starting up as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, after being made redundant from her job. I attended her first workshop, and to wish her well in her new venture, I made her a card. As you would.

It uses BG Euphoria DP, Cuttlebugged with the Diamonds embossing folder and sanded, with stripey BG Euphoria paper on the panel, stamped with an Inkadinkado flourish in Dark Brown Chalk Eyes ink. Used a Fiskars Threading Water border punch for the scalloped holey bit, some cream crocheted lace, chipboard letters and computer-generated letters and sentiment, with a metal embellishment 'Go for it!'.. Prima flower, glittered handmade arrow, BG button, cotton twine + rosebuds and gems.

Basic Grey ATC

This ATC was made for the second Basic Grey challenge (now defunct, very sadly).

What is an ATC?

ATC stands for Artist's Trading Card. Originally, these were used by fine artists to produce miniature versions of their paintings to promote their work. This still happens, but their use has been expanded to cardcraft. Cardmakers use them as another avenue for their creativity, and ~ rather than selling them ~ the idea is to swap them with other enthusiasts to build a library of ATCs displaying different techniques.

Most people who produced (still produce?) ATCs swapped them through clubs, at craft events and internet forums. Personally, I found it hard to part with them. My focus has always been on card-making, but I did enjoy the few ATCs I made. They all ended up as card toppers or fridge magnets, though!

The size of an ATC is 2½ x 3½ ins (or a standard playing card size). You can purchase blanks, or make your own. (Make up a template, and use it as the ‘master’ to save you measuring out every time.)

On the back, put your name, address and/or email address, and the title of your miniature piece of art, or a reference code. If you are going to use your ATCs for swapping, it might be helpful to keep notes on how you made each one, so that if anyone contacts you for details, you will have them handy.

Any kind of artwork goes.. have fun and be expressive!

Here is my ATC for that challenge...

I used beautiful blue paper from the Basic Grey Cupcake 6"x6" pad. The main image is a cropped section of a stamped image I received in a swap. To echo the butterfly in the image, I stamped another one separately, and mounted it on the ATC, wings akimbo. The button is also BG. from the Archaic range. The 'Hope' sentiment is actually a metal embellishment for extra dimension, although that's not clear in the photo. The scroll stamp used in the corner is by Rhonna Farrer from her 'Elegant Flourishes' set in the Autumn Leaves collection.

Father's Day card

This one has been shown on this blog before, probably 8½ years ago. It was made for a friend.

Lesson 1:  I should have embossed the little hearts after die-cutting the bigger ones, as it squished the little blighters! Still, I quite liked the effect, so I kept them!

Lesson 2:  I still love feathered mulberry paper!

The background paper is Basic Grey. The rest is normal stash stuff.

Birthday Stripes..

A new one!! Woohoo! Well, OK, the tags and the centre circle are recycled, but - hey - that's not bad, considering how obsessed I have become with reviving old cards that were destined for the local recycling plant.

The swirl die-cut in the middle is a border die.. Sizzix, I think.. and have used SU punches. I think the DP is Basic Grey.. not sure. It has become detached from its pad.

Mucho Mojo!

Lol!! No, not blowing my own trumpet, but just thrilled to be FEELING BETTER!! Or at least partway human, after being struck with the cold from hell!

I have felt my mojo stirring, too, so I must be on the path to recovery, eh? Here's one of three simple cards.. This one is for my mum's birthday on Saturday. (The message on the inside is.. of course.. Happy Birthday!)

DP is Basic Grey 'Lilykate', and I've used a McGill (I think.. could be Carlcraft, and since my PC is at opposite ends of the house from my craft room, I'm not going to look unless you ask me REALLY nicely!) ash branch, Sizzlit leaf spray with silver glitter glue dots on each leaf. Bit o' ric-rac and an embossed metal embellishment.

Not my most sparkling of cards, but I did say it was just a stirring..!! ;o)

Oops!

Fairly flying visit today, as feeling under the weather with a cold. Just wanted to post a card I made on Saturday before the sniffles set in.

This started out as an idea for a commission for a 50th birthday for a lady who likes purple and gardening... but the watercolouring distressed the paper so much, it ended up too grungy to be fit for purpose, so it morphed into a general kind of 'I'm sorry' card! Not really elegant enough for a lady's 50th in my view, so will have to regroup on that one.

The extra strands under the button are scraps of leftover cord from previous cards. It works, right? I feel so virtuous for recycling! Or I would, if I had the energy right now. (sdiff.. pass me a tissue)...

The stamped image is, of course, an old one by Magenta, watercoloured with distress inks, mainly, glittered on the pot with Craft Planet glitter glue, and embellished with a Basic Grey button and miscellaneous brads and flowers. Bazzill CS and Basic Grey ‘Cupcake’ DP.

.. AND A QUICK THANK YOU

Wanted to thank the five people who responded to my appeal below for help with promoting my charity project for the Papworth Trust. They have generously posted my appeal on their blogs, and I am very grateful! You just never know where that may lead. I have already sold another CD! Yayyy! (Thank you, Debbie and Lesley, for your purchases! :o) Only 8 to go!

OK.. I am retreating back to my cosy duvet now. Goodnight.. God bless..