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....

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.

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.

Spring Golf

About 15 years ago, I had a business I called 'Golf Greetings', supplying my golf-themed handmade cards to golf pro shops in golf clubs in my area. They were perfect for containing gift vouchers. This was in my early cardmaking days, so the designs were not the best, but also the beautiful ranges of dies, stamps, papers  and embellishments were not available back then.

This A6 (4" x 6") card uses an original Sizzix die (the medium green Bigz-type) and some glittery sticky-back plastic for the golf bag, and lots of decoupaged flowers and a dragonfly on hammered cardstock.

Funky Hand Daisies

This was made over 10 years ago, when I was in the Funky Hand Design Team, showcasing their digital papers from a fab range of CD-roms. Sadly, they're no longer in business.

You can't really tell from the pic, but the top layer is apertured, with another aperture underneath, slightly smaller, so the focal point was kind of 'sunk' into the card, if that makes any sense. The central script panel is raised on pads in the middle. There may well be a name for this technique, but if there is, I don't know what it is! 

The papers (and paper ribbon) used are from the 'Now That's Funky' CD from Funky Hand. (By the way, I learned recently that the word 'funky' may translate as meaning something less than pleasant in the USA, but it doesn't have that meaning in the UK.)

60th Birthday commission

From the archives, around 2010: I've never been very happy with this one, but it has its redeeming features, and my mum seemed happy with it, and as she commissioned it, who am I to argue? It was for her next door neighbour's 60th, and apparently it was a perfect match for the party invitation, so 'twas obviously meant to be!

The brief was black & silver, so I ran the Cuttlebug Divine Swirls embossing folder through my Big Shot with a piece of black card, distressed the edges a bit, and roughly rubbed an Encore metallic silver inkpad over the surface to pick out the swirls and add to the distressed appearance. I used an Inkadinkado flourish stamp underneath the panel (which I raised on black foam), and I think it's that part that I don't like... the flourishes, I mean. It was done in a hurry, and it shows. Not much thought or design gone into it. Ah well.

I used an embossed silver punched heart in the middle of the black flower, a couple of pearl sprays and some pinched ribbon bows tucked in behind. A crackled-glass heart bead is suspended from the flower. The spiral clip and the silver foiled sentiment (Craftwork Cards) were from a lucky blog candy win.
The numbers are silver peel-offs.

Easter Twice

These are fresh from my crafty little fingers! The paint is still wet. ;-) Made for family Easter cards, they are 6" x 6", using recycled wrapping paper for the background. I've chosen to layer it onto a white card mat for a bit of body, but the colourful floral background presents lots of options. 

The white panel that the daffodils are sitting on has been embossed with a Darice folder.. Peonies, I think.. and raised on low profile 3D foam pads.

For the daffodils, I used the Altenew freebies that came with Issue #188 of the Simply Cards & Papercraft magazine. It has taken me a long time to get around to it, but I've seen so many stunning creations with them that I couldn't not use them! I printed the free digital papers onto cardstock, and then used the die to cut them out. However....

It's a die of several parts, and after the first couple, I lost the will to continue! But even flat and unlayered, I still think they're beautiful. Much respect to those of you who persevered and produced some amazing, detailed 3D daffs! 

Finally, the sentiment is computer-generated using text boxes in Word.

Mother's Day 2008

Lots going on with this one! 'Mum' is computer-generated, using Wordart. The light green in the layers is vellum, and the silver is my all-time favourite embossed cardstock. There is a dark green satin ribbon down the centre of the panel and border punched vellum at top and bottom. The panel is raised slightly from the background on low profile foam pads. The background is a decorative paper, with a little stamping; the 'Love' word is stamped, for example. I have cut flowers and foliage from more paper and stuck it randomly to the panel and painted it with slightly diluted Craft Planet glitter glue. The green organza ribbon has a sparkly quality, too, and there's a touch of sparkle on the rosebuds. There is also a little metal dragonfly on the tail of the bow.

Sarah's Card

This 6" square card and the Funky Hand digital paper I used have been distressed around the edges (obvs), and faux stitched with a bit of doodling. The scallops on the oval were achieved with fancy-edged scissors and topped with an oval embossed with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder. The strip across the middle and the large flower were also made with Funky Hand paper. Sarah's name is made using the Quickutz 'Eliza' alphabet, and the sentiment was computer-generated using the Cezanne font. Other embellishments include a paper rose, and leaves, Prima flower, rosebuds, waxed cord, crocheted lace, faux gems and a Martha Stewart punched butterfly with tiny faux pearls.

Friendship Pinks

I used Hero Arts 'Friendship Writing' stamp, ref: K5058, in brown ink on kraft card for the background, also inked around the edges in brown. A brown waxed cord tied around the card, a floral image raised on low profile 3D pads for a little dimension and gold square brads from Making Memories. With the first line of the stamp showing.. "The beauty of friendship...", I don't think a sentiment is necessary, but I have also stamped the script style word 'friendship' on the right of the focal image.

Friendship Flowers

The floral image is cut with a Spellbinders nesting labels die, decorated with a metal 'Friendship' word embellishment and organza ribbon on the spine. I have used Hero Arts 'Friendship Writing' stamp, ref: K5058, and the edge of Stempelglede's grunge border stamp from their Grunge Collection set.

Dangling Heart

This is an A5 (5" x 7") card. The background was made with a harlequin stamp in pale green, and I used Stempelglede's grunge border stamp down the edge. A piece of torn burgundy colour Bazzill cardstock was secured to the card with DST and mini gold-coloured brads. 'Bloom with abandon' was stamped onto a floral image, inked around the edges and stuck to the card. The metal heart charm was tied on with the gold sparkly thread, which is also wrapped around the card. The foliage die-cuts are Sizzix Garden Greens, and some paper roses complete the design.

Little Butterfly

This is an A6 (4" x 6") card. I have recycled a piece of scrap.. the grungy text piece behind the focal image, which has some sparkly micro beads in the centre of one of the flowers. The butterfly is from a Martha Stewart punch, and has a couple of tiny pearls on its back. You could add a sentiment if you wish to, or use this as a notelet, or an any purpose female card.

TIP: When using a thread wrap, I make holes just behind the spine to poke the thread through. Using a needle-threader makes that easier! I also make tiny nicks in the sides which help to hold the thread in place where you want it.

Bloom With Abandon

Pretty floral image mounted onto pink Bazzill cardstock, edges inked, then dressed up with a Prima flower + faux gem centre and Ash Branch foliage punch, and waxed cord wrap and bow. Sentiment is stamped.. Stamoin' Up, I think. The butterfly is a Martha Stewart punch, with Stickles and a couple of tiny sparkly stickers.

Thank You card

Lovely paper on brown Bazzill cardstock, inked edges, faux stitching, stamped flourishes (Rhonna Farrer's Elegant Flourishes), stamped foliage, gold ribbon and crochet lace across the card, brown and gold layers, stamped dandelion heads (or aliums, possibly?) in blue with Stickles dabbed on to give a subtle sparkle, that of course you can't see in this pic! The card around the flowers has been chalked in brown to knock back the starkness of the white and bring it more in keeping with the rest of the card. Part of a large fabric flower is tucked behind the focal image, and brown maple leaf brads and photo turns complete the design.

Floral Thank You

Apologies for the poor quality photo. Again, simple. The decorative papers are cardstock weight and glittery. The blue ribbon embellishments are created by making a bow and folding it in half, then gluing it under the flower. The folded bows will (ideally) either need to be tied with cotton or fine craft wire, or glued thoroughly to stop the strands from springing open. Maybe with a hot glue gun? I've not used one so I don't know. It just takes a bit more time and care, and I think it's worth it.

Floral Laura

This was made some years ago for my niece. Pretty obvious construction, again. If I were making it now, I would glue in a piece of cardboard packaging to provide the slight lift to the white panel, rather than using fiddly 3D foam pads. I used a silver peel-off alphabet for Laura's name.

Purple Floral

Using recycled images from magazines, matted and layered on purple cardstock (UK A6 size), with pink glittery card and embossed silver card layers and some dried flowers.

Blue Stripe Florals

This one is also fresh from my craft desk, made for a Sketch/Layout Challenge on a Facebook group I belong to. Here is the sketch layout ( ©Maureen Merritt):

And here is my interpretation:

I made a splattery paint and ink background, cut it into strips and inked the edges in Chalk Eyes Blue Iris ink, glued them to embossed silver card and cut that into strips as well, embossed around the edges with a large ball tool to smooth them down. I stuck them at a deliberately random, wonky angle on the card panel, deliberately also hanging over the edges. The panel was then 3D'd to the main A5 card (UK size). The floral die is from Memory Box, 'Fresh Picked Flowers', ref: 99910, cut in silver mirror card (obvs), and just stuck down with random dabs of glue, so that it's not fully attached to give a kind of 'blowing in the wind' effect! I haven't added a sentiment, as you see, because it could be used for just about anything feminine, but if I were going to right now, it would probably be 'Friendship' or 'Blossom'.