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.

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.

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. 

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.

Wedding Card

From the archives, c. 2009: A commissioned card. A5 size (5" x 7"). The back layer is some pretty floral paper, torn and inked around the edges. The 'Love' word and the rose on the panel are stamped; the names are computer-generated using my favourite Cezanne font. The hearts are punched from gold mirror card. I have also used a pine branch punch and Sizzix Garden Greens die. Lots of paper roses and rosebuds, some plastic leaf embellishments, a clear pearl spray and a waxed cord bow complete the bouquet, and there is an echo of the waxed cord on the spine, with a bow.

By the way, the edging on the focal panel is not black, as it looks in the photo.. it is layered onto gold mirror card.

I don't recall who the 'Love' stamp is by (when I find it, I'll tell you), but I think the rose stamp is by DeNami.

Raffia Heart

Super simple.. Using corrugated card and corrugated packaging, die-cut with a primitive-style heart. I've wrapped raffia around the corners, made a bow to mount on the heart, decorated with a cream paper rose. (You didn't really need me to tell you all that, did you?) ;-)

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.

Recycled Purple Rose

Talk about simple... A5 (UK size) mottled lavender cardstock.. Picture of rose cut out from a magazine or gardening brochure, mounted onto white card and then silver holographic card, and embellished with a satin ribbon bow. That's it. Doesn't get easier than that. You could always add a sentiment if you wish. I like it as it is.

Wedding Card

This card is pretty simple... a bit of torn paper, some skeleton leaves, roses, pearl spray, punched hearts and computer-generated text. 

Peach Rose

A recycled image from a gardening catalogue! Very quick. Very simple. Further to the Card Pricing post a couple of posts below, what would you pay for something like this? Not planning to sell again. Just curious.

Annett's Roses

This was a Valentine's Day commission from a colleague for his wife, Annett. (I didn't forget the 'e'! That's how she spells her name.) I think the elements of the card are pretty self-explanatory, but that may be because I made it! lol.. If anything's not clear, and you have any questions, I'd always be pleased to hear from you. x

Framed Lady

I made this some time ago, and didn't like it for such a long time, but it has grown on me. The lower paper panel was stamped with a flourish in gold Encore metallic ink, and dabbed to give a faded look. A nice wide piece of lace across the middle, and a gorgeous textured frame that was made by a crafty friend in Holland, and sent with a RAK of bits and pieces. The stamped image of the woman is lovely, and when I find it, I'll tell you what it is! The 'Believe' word is a metal embellishment. The bird is a stamp.. Inkadinkado, I think.. cut out, edges inked and then Versamarked and heat-embossed in white. A pearl spray tucked under the bird and a handmade paper rose complete the design.

A Farewell Gift - Part 2

We wanted to start the pages with our new group leaders, John and Jenny, who were taking over from Arie and Anne-Marie. I'm afraid the photos are not very good. They were taken as a bit of an after-thought and in a bit of a hurry, sadly!

I asked people to contribute some thoughts/words or notes to be included in the album. John and Jenny gave me a card, which is why there are teddy bears on their page that don't really go with the design theme! But the front of the card flips up.

By the way, I should say that if you have any questions as to the workings, please feel free to ask.

On the next page, Winnie's note is tucked behind her photo, with a red ribbon tag showing, so you can pull out the secret note inside. Isobel didn't provide a note, but she was very frail and elderly, so no pressure there!

The consistent theme was using co-ordinating decorative paper from the same pack, Sizzix 'Garden Greens' leaves die-cuts in green and silver, lots of roses, both die-cut and stamped rosebuds. I used my favourite Cezanne font. A lot of the photos and panels were matted onto silver, and I used silver accents.. borders and such.

Two more pages tomorrow..

A Farewell Gift - Pt 1

This book was made as a parting gift for this beautiful couple, Arie & Anne-Marie, who led my church small group (aka house group, cell group, etc.. different churches call them by different names). They were wonderful, and we all loved them very much, but Arie was serving in the UK for the Dutch air force, and when he retired, they moved back to Holland to be closer to their own family.

I made the book, in collaboration with other members of our group, and I will share it with you in a series of posts in the coming days.

To Anne-Marie & Arie

with love from your small group from

KingsGate Community Church.

We will miss you very much,

but this is farewell and not goodbye.

May God bless you everywhere you go,

and in everything you do.

Golden Hearts wedding invitation

This is one of my favourites from the range of wedding stationery I've been showing, and it will be the last for a while. I hope you have enjoyed them, given that they can be used for so many different things.. not just weddings.

The backing panel is just butter yellow paper, and the hearts are punched out of embossed gold card. The 'wedding invitation' words are computer-generated, and mounted over a strip of cream satin ribbon. The cream paper rose completes the design.

Bloom

Flourish stamps down the edge, bordered with narrow black satin ribbon, also used for bows tucked under the red bloom. Silver button tied with black waxed cord in the centre of the bloom. Stampin' Up 'Bloom' word stamp on Spellbinders label die-cut. Paper rose heads, handwritten "where you are planted", and black Martha Stewart punched butterflies with clear gems complete the design.

Gold Wire Leaf wedding invitation

If you are getting bored with all the wedding stationery designs I've been posting, bear in mind that with a change of wording, they could be used for umpteen other different occasions. Also, unless I find a secret stash of photographs I've forgotten about, there aren't that many to come.. only about a week's worth. Please keep that cheering down to a dull roar! 

This is just a piece of gold craft wire that I curved and twisted into the leaf shape, secured mainly underneath the rose heads with glue dots, and a little glue stroked under the other side. The 'Wedding' word is stamped in gold Encore metallic ink, and the 'Invitation' word is a peel-off.

Gold Heart Spray wedding invitation

This is on a kind of pearlescent oyster-ish colour card blank, with a mesh panel and a Sizzix heart. It's an old green die.. the small one, and the heart is cut from embossed gold card. I trimmed a gold bead spray down to a shorter length, stuck them down with a glue dot, and placed a rose head on top.

The 'wedding' word is stamped in gold Encore metallic ink, and the 'invitation' word is a peel-off.

Feathered Mulberry

To continue my theme of feathered mulberry (and please excuse the dreadful photo!), here is just a very simple trimmed navy blue rosebud on white card over feathered navy blue mulberry paper.

This one's a little bit more worth speaking about... Gorgeous rose stamp, coloured (you'll have noticed that), over pink fluffy mulberry paper, and embellished with clear faux gems. I stamped 'With love' on pink vellum, tore it off a strip and attached a curly silver clip. The diagonal glittery silver thread completes the design.

Ballet Cat

Penny Black's ballet cat is the one prancing around in the tutu, waving a pink rose in the air. I stamped the cat on acetate, as well, and cut out the tutu and slippers. The pink glitter was applied underneath the acetate with Art Institute glue. The image is layered onto pink mirror card and then onto a kind of white fibre sheet, shot through with silver sparkle.