Final Giftcards Close-Ups (21-24)

This selection completes all the close-ups of the garden-themed giftcards I made last week.. or was it the week before? Time flies! Again, these all use papers by Stamperia from their 'Garden' pad.

The one above has been given a narrow strip of bling around the top panel by matting it onto some sparkly gold holographic paper, as I've done with previous examples. I don't often use holographic paper or card, but sometimes it's useful for adding something to catch the light.

Below, I have very simply inked the edges of a couple of panels, raising the top one slightly with recycled cardboard to add some dimension and some shadow.

The photography on the one above and the one below is not very good.. a bit blurry, so sorry for that. Hopefully, it is clear enough for you to get the gist of what's going on.

Yayyy! This one is a bit clearer, which is as it should be to close out the series. The 'Fly away with me' words have been deckled using fancy-cut scissors, inked and attached on the recycled cardboard for a bit of a lift.

I hope you have enjoyed these, and that it was worth showing the close-ups. New work following soon! xx

Giftcards Close-Ups (17-20)

OK.. I confess.. this top one is made from floral scraps, edges inked and matted onto silver mirror card. Not Stamperia at all. Back to Stamperia's Garden papers below, though, deckled with fancy-edge scissors, layered onto white linen card and then matted onto mirror card and raised very slightly on recycled cardboard for a touch of shadow.

The card below was collaged out of background scraps, and the bird was fussy-cut and mounted on top, looking very proud of himself.

This one, below, was already printed as a collage, so it was very simply cut to size, the edges inked and then attached to the giftcard.

Giftcards Close-ups (13-16)

More close-ups from my run of garden-themed giftcards from last week. The deckled edges on the top two layers were achieved with fancy-edge scissors, given a slight lift with a layer of recycled cardboard.

 
Very simple matting and layering above, inked around the edges and using both white linen-effect and kraft card.

Again, simple matting and layering above, with ink around the edges and a narrow tease of bling with sparkly gold holographic paper and a contrast of kraft card.

A wreath of succulents, fussy-cut and inked around the outer edge, and a slight lift again, with the usual recycled cardboard.

Giftcards Close-Ups (9-12)

The first three today are simply inked on the edges and then matted and layered, using mirror card on the first two for some bling.

The bottom one is a bit more interesting, with mini-elements cut out, inked and collaged onto a panel of kraft card. One of the elements is set on silver mirror card for some extra dazzle.

Giftcards Close-Ups (5-8)

Continuing the parade of closer images from the array of giftcards I made earlier in the week. Parade springing straight to mind as a word choice as I have 'The Trooping of the Colour' on the TV in the background.. the Grenadier Guards looking spectacular. I was raised in a military family (Royal Air Force), so feel tremendous pride whenever I see any branch of the military services showing themselves off. For those who don't know, the ceremonies are in honour of the Queen's official birthday. Happy birthday, Your Majesty.

Back to the cards, In all of these, again, I used the Stamperia 'Garden' papers. In the one above, the edges are inked in dark brown Chalk Eyes, with kraft card in the background, and the front panel raised on recycled cardboard from a used card-backed business envelope.

These two panels (above) are similarly inked and the front panel slightly raised, again using recycled cardboard.

This one has a more masculine appeal, I thought. I inked the edges, then matted and layered it onto yellow card and kraft. Very simple.

This one is layered onto sparkly holographic gold paper, providing just a glimmer of a bling border to catch the light, and then matted onto kraft card.

Giftcards Close-Ups (1 to 4)

There are 24 of these to go through, so this will keep the blog busy for a week, almost. Some of the pages from the Stamperia 'Garden' pad are very collagey, with lots of grungy images and script, birds, flowers and ephemera. Perfect for breaking up into smaller images for smaller cards, such as the gingko petal and script panel above, just cut from the page and inked edges.

The white card I used for all the giftcards is 300gsm with a linen effect texture.

This one is inked around the edges (they all are), and layered onto a piece of very sparkly gold holographic paper, just to provide a very narrow border that catches the light.

A nice grungy piece, with a script panel on silver mirror card peeping around the edge, raised slightly on a piece of recycled cardboard from one of those card-backed envelopes.

This is just one piece of paper, mounted onto kraft card. Very simple, but looks so effective, I think.

More tomorrow.

Garden Giftcards

I was busy yesterday, making giftcards for a charity I support.. the Friends of Rushcliffe & Gedling Voluntary Transport. This is a vital service for people who are unable to access public transport and don't have alternative means of getting about.

They are having a stall at an event next week, and will be selling plants, so I thought some garden-themed cards would be good. I found a pile of tiny envelopes (just a bit bigger than an ATC), so thought I'd start with giftcards. I made 24 (so far!)

They are all individual and unique, some have a hint of bling around the edges, some are collaged, some are slightly 3D'd by using recycled packaging.

All the papers I've used are from Stamperia's lovely Garden 12" x 12" paper pad, and I've used the occasional piece of silver mirror card, gold holographic paper or kraft card to add tiny borders.

Over the next few days, I'll post some closer views of the cards. (If you click on the photos on this post, you'll see a bigger pic.)

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.

Garden Thank You

Another recent card for a neighbour and his wife who very kindly did some weeding and shrub-trimming for me - including a holly bush - when I wasn't able to do it myself. It's not the best card I've ever produced, but it was attached to a bottle of Famous Grouse when I gave it to them, so I don't think it will matter much! lol x

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..