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.

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.

Believe

I'm sure I've blogged this one before, but I can't find it and wanted to tie up with a Facebook group post, so here it is again! Apologies if you've seen it before. Now.. this is also from the archives, c. 2009, so I'm going to have to cast my mind back and see if I can recall the details. I may not be 100% accurate! ;-)

A5 size card (5" x 7"), cut from a bluey grey Bazzill. The paper background is made from blending inks and random floral stamping. The main sentiment is stamped in a co-ordinating ink. I think this was one of my first attempts at a grungy effect. The edges are distressed by tearing and then inking. 'Congratulations' is a stamp. It looks like I used a metallic Encore silver pigment ink for that, and the 'you did it!' was made from alphabet dies.. Quickutz, I think. (Does anyone ever still use them these days? You never hear them mentioned.)

The next layer is the navy blue organza ribbon, topped with silver grey eyelash twine, and a glittery silver thread wrap. Then the gerbera daisy and Prima flower with lilac cabochon gem. Silver dragonfly brads and the silver metal 'believe' word, which I think was from Making Memories.

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.

Rosebud Birthday II

This was made for my aunt's birthday last summer. I created a grungy watercoloured background in pale pink, complete with splatters, then used a mini distressed harlequin background stamp from Bee Crafty (second generation for a faded look), and one of their grungy border stamps, too. Then I cut the Sizzix Bigz/Tim Holtz frame, embossed it with a Cuttlebug folder, but I'm having a senior moment and can't remember the name... inked around the edges with a dark brown Chalk Eyes inkpad, raised it on some 3D pads, and draped some rosebuds over it, of the stamped and fussy-cut variety. The sentiment is my favourite kind of computer-generated strip kind of thing.

P.S. Getting worried now.. definitely having a senior moment night.. Just realised that I only posted this card three months ago!! D'uhh!

Mechanical Fantasy Elephant

Fresh today! Made for my brother-in-law's birthday next week. He's a big elephant lover (like me), so when I saw this from Stamperia, I knew what I'd do with it! It is from their Mechanical Fantasy paper pad (steam punk animals), but there is a stamp to match! I decided against using the stamp as well, because of time issues (and accessibility to craft stash.. the builders are here, and drilling up a storm!)  I edged the image with Dark Brown Chalkeyes ink, raised it on 3D pads on top of one of my Scrapman dies from Russia (Geometry-1, ref: DR-256), cut out of kraft card. Scroll down for more..

I drew, cut and coloured a daisy by hand, glittered the petals with Yellow Stickles, curled a large gold jump ring with wire tools, stuck it to the centre of the daisy with a Didi glue dot, raied the daisy on a mini 3D pad and stuck it over the eye of the elephant. The sentiment is computer-generated.

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.

Becoming a Family

Made for friends who were planning to have their wedding last summer to coincide with their daughter's naming ceremony. They didn't in the end, but that's a different story! I cut decorative paper into banner shapes in an attempt to create subtle rainbow shades, and used Quickutz Elise alphabet dies to apply the names. '.. becoming a family' is computer-generated and decorated with crystals and a waxed cord wrap.

Black Beauty

This is an A5 card (5" x 7"), heat embossed in clear using Rhonna Farrer's 'Elegant Flourishes' stamp set. The panel across the middle was created by heat embossing in clear on a piece of black card for the glossy edges. The dotty part in the centre is black card embossed with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder and dabbed lightly on the raised points with a white pigment ink (Sugar Candy by Elzybells.. sadly, no longer in business). A panel of black lace has been fixed to the edge of the card for a touch of glamour, and a big red gerbera daisy opposite for a touch of drama. The centre of the daisy is glittered black card, decorated with a silver pin beaded with Swarovski crystals and faux pearls. Finally, three diamantés on the central panel complete the look.

Snowy House

From the archives: 6" square card, using an image and sentiment from an old card, I set it on a first layer of kraft card to co-ordinate with the house, then onto gold mirror card and blue Bazzill cardstock. Just finished with a Kaleidopunch snowflake and a red faux gem to reflect the red in the card image.

Wimbledon

A card for any occasion for any tennis fan. Size: A6 (4" x 6"). Green sticky-back felt, marked with white pencil and layered onto a silver mat. Silver peel-off tennis racquet and balls, mounted on card and fussy-cut, a piece of silver mesh with a border of white paper representing the tape.

Butterfly Birthday

This is a 6" square card and co-ordinating box.

The card: I used a stripey border stamp by Elzybells, stamped in dark brown Chalkeyes ink, with panels of dotty and tiny hearts decorative paper, layered onto olive green Bazzill cardstock. I stamped the 'Friendship' word onto the bottom mat, and found a lovely sentiment to go on the corrugated card panel on top, and decorated with faux gems. The butterfly is a gorgeous die-cut, and I've used my signature rosebud for its body. Can't remember how I made the antennae, but they have tiny faux gems on the ends.

The box: I used a pre-cut and scored flat-packed box from Craft Creations (just recently closed down, sadly), folded and secured into shape. So simple. Same mats and layers as with the card, some faux gems, and I picked up the corrugated card as well, to go under the pretty punched butterfly. I've used two rosebuds and a punched sprig of leaves.

When my building work is finished and I have restored my craft room and found these materials again, I'll let you know who the stamps, dies and punches are from!

Shadow Stamp Rosebuds

Two ridiculously simple A6 size (4" x 6") cards here.. both using a Hero Arts shadow stamp and Picked Raspberry Distress Oxide ink. The leaf is a Crealies die-cut from an inky green background scrap and smeared with a touch of Craft Planet glitter glue. Oh, and there's a white rosebud.

Same shadow stamp, same die (has several leaves on it), same glitter and a freebie sentiment stamp from last month's Simply Cards & Papercraft magazine, #189, stamped in Black Onyx Versafine.

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.

Christmas Window

This is a 6" x 6" card, using a recycled image and sentiment from old cards, inked around the edges and layered onto a blue Bazzill cardstock mat, and decorated with holly leaves punched from old sheet music and snowflakes made with a Kaleidopunch. A button and string and some glitter complete the card.

Blue Brocade Rosebud

This is one I made a couple of days ago. It is A5 size (5" x 7"), and I've used a sheet from the Crafty Individuals Background Papers series, Book 8: 'A Weekend in Seville'. I don't know the origin of the beautiful gold brocade design card I used for the focal panel, as it was given to me in a little RAK package from a friend in the States. (Thank you, Cleo!) It is only a single small piece of card, that I have been hoarding and stroking lovingly since it arrived, and this is just a piece of it. What, you thought I'd let you have it all at once? Pah! Not a chance! So with a white rosebud and some mini gold brads, I'm done.

Music Rosebud

 

This one is new! Made yesterday. A6 size (4" x 6"). The background stamp is Reverse Sheet Music from Impression Obsession, ref: E4110, stamped in Momento London Fog ink and the Treble Clef is a Marianne Designs Creatables die, ref: LR0167. (There are two in the pack.. one large, one small.. this is the larger die.) I added a trimmed red rosebud for colour, tied with glittery silver thread.

Spiral Heart

Another very early card.. you can tell.. I hadn't moved into my rosebud period by then! Ha! Very simple, again, as so many of my cards are. I threaded silver craft wire with beads and pearls and curved both ends into spirals. Pretty sure I used two pieces of wire here, but you could of course use a continuous wire. The heart is covered with glue and dipped into purple microbeads, then stuck onto the centre of the wire on 3D pads. More glue under the beaded part of the wire, but the ends are free for a little bit more dimension. The positioning is a bit off centre, which doesn't quite work, but I like it anyway, even after all these years.

John 3:16