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.

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.

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.

Glitter Beaded Acetate Swirl Wiry Thing

This was my first attempt at an acetate 'card' about 15 years ago, using some sparkly cobwebby stuff and a random silver wire scroll shape I made and threw some beads on, secured to the acetate with wire pins and Didi glue dots under some of the beads. Organza ribbon, pearl spray and beaded threads tied on to the spine add to the romance. I think. Not sure now. If making it now, I don't think I'd decorate the spine. I've learned more since then about when to stop!

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.

Spring

This is a small 4" x 4" card. I stamped the daffodils, coloured them in and, once dry, used Versamark all over the surface and a glitter embossing powder. The panel was raised slightly on low profile 3D foam pads, but if making it again now, I would glue a piece of cardboard packaging or recycled mount board underneath instead, just to give that little extra dimension. I tied the gold thread and organza ribbon together, and deliberately pulled out the ends of the organza for a distressed look. The green Bazzill tag has a pretty garden decorative paper on it, with a cute ladybird. The butterfly is a plastic embellishment, and the word 'Spring' was stamped higgledy-piggledy using a typewriter font alphabet.  

First Birthday Teddy

This is fresh from my craft desk for a friend's baby's 1st birthday this coming Friday. It also meets the criteria for a Shaped Card challenge (circle) on a Facebook group I belong to. Handy, that. ;-)

My first circular card, so quite an undertaking for me, but I'm pleased with how it came out. I used a large circle die to cut the base card, and then Tonic's Intrica Butterfly Circle Doily die set, ref: 581E to cut the second layer. I was planning to use a layer of kraft card, as well, but that didn't work out, so I coloured the outer rim of the base card with Chalk Eyes Creamy Brown ink, so that it would show through and complement the colour scheme provided by the Hunkydory images.

I used a circle die to cut out the Hunkydory background image, and stole a gold circle from another HD die-cut. The figure '1' is computer-generated using Wordart in the Garamond font, printed on card, the edges inked and then embossed with a Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder. I tied a bow around it in cream satin ribbon and then 3D'd it to the card at an angle. The teddy bear is fussy-cut from the same Hunkydory background and also 3D'd to the card. I finished the design with three little faux gems, and trimmed across the bottom to help keep it upright! I've sent it in a box, wrapped in tissue, so I hope it will be a keepsake.

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.

Black & White Circles Rosebud

Again, this card is very simple, using decorative paper with black and white circles, quite retro styling, a stamped, heat-embossed sentiment on a panel, raised on 3D foam pads. The ribbon is black grosgrain with white stitching. The rosebud, silver bow and silver dragonfly brad complete the design.

Ultimate Roses

Pretty paper (torn), over pink vellum (also torn), two paper rosebuds, a bow, computer-generated words and two tiny heart sequins. Simple.

Chintz Roses

Not sure where that double-sided paper came from, but - again - this invitation could just as easily be a birthday card, or for some other purpose. I don't think I need to talk you through it.. it's pretty self-explanatory. If you have any questions about it, please feel free to ask.

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.

Spotty Thistle

This card uses Funky Hand digital papers from one of their CD-roms. Sorry, I don't remember which one, but spotty papers are not hard to find. The purple and green torn papers are also Funky Hand. I have blended purple ink around the edges of the card, and used individual alphabet stamps for the words in purple ink, and doodled around the edges of the letters with a black fineliner for definition. The thistle is hand-drawn and coloured, with a touch of glitter on the head. Purple organza ribbon, a silver spiral clip, silver dragonfly and purple brads finish the design.

Brown Velvet Heart Wedding Invitation

This could be adapted for other occasions.. with or without the heart.. with or without the Wedding Invitation motif.. with or without different colours.. with or without a different charm suspended from the ribbon. The only crafty notes worth offering are that the heart is a Sizzix die, cut from a piece of faux suede, which has a velvety finish, and then stamped in Encore metallic gold, and decorated with a punched heart in gold mirror card. A gold eyelet is inserted using (I think) Making Memories tools. The rest is self-explanatory.

Organdie Roses

HAPPY NEW YEAR

May 2019 bring good health in body and mind, happiness, peace, love and prosperity

to you and your loved ones.

This card was made for Anice's birthday, my DT boss from my Funky Hand days, using digital paper from the Funky Daze CD-rom. The photos don't do it justice, unfortunately.

The panel is embossed with the Cuttlebug Fantasy Flowers folder, and the rest is very simple and self-explanatory.

Salt n' Pepper Funky Hand Thistles

This uses digi paper from the Funky Hand 'Salt n' Pepper' selection of black and white designs, grunged up and distressed. The thistle is a gorgeous stamp, and I've been racking my brains trying to remember who made it... Fred somebody, I think, but I know they ceased trading many years ago. It's possible you might be able to source one on the second hand market, but I think most people would hang on to this, once they have it in their possession. The top one is sparkled with a touch of glitter glue, and the script is handwritten.

Courageous Women

 This was made for a friend who was going through some major struggles, and meeting them head on. If I ever find the stamps again in my moving boxes (or on the blog), I'll let you know what I used!

Christmas, Outlander-style

Recently, I posted an Outlander-themed card, and have decided to convert it into a Christmas card for a friend who is also a huge fan of the TV series. I just slapped on some holly leaves punched in gold mirri card, then embossed and tinted with a brown ink pad.

With dull skies today, I found it difficult to get a decently-lit photo, and I don't like using a flash.

This is the Woodware punch I use for my holly leaves. My favourite by far.

Stars are not just for Christmas!

Fresh from my craft desk this morning! It will be my sister's birthday on Monday, and this is my offering for the day. Hope she likes it!

 Apart from general stash, I have used two Sizzix Thinlits dies... Snowy Stars and Delicate Letters.