Princess words

I've been busy starting work on a crafting project for school, so just 1 quick card this weekend.

This is another card made using the 'word collage' images on the Cricut Explore. It's a set of designs that I hadn't used and then fell completely in love with!

I started with the 6x6 base card and a sheet of pink star print backing paper also in 6x6. I used the Cricut to draw the princess lettering in gold ink and then trimmed the design down to fit onto the card. I added a small brush of gold metallic acrylic paint around the edges of the card and to highlight some aspects of the design such as the crown. I then used a pale pink ranger alcohol ink to colour a silver key charm which I then tied into a large gold bow down the spine of the card. To finish it, I added a double layered flower secured with a gold glittery brad.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-
The Pink Elephant 'girly girl' 9.3
Craft your Passion 'anything goes' 8.3
Quirky Crafts 'pretty in pink' 14.3
Penny's Paper-crafty Challenges 'female cards' 10.3
Crafting for all Seasons 'girly girls' 16.3
Crafter's Cafe 'charms' 11.3
Creative Inspirations 'something old' 10.3 (everything on this card is things that I've had in my stash for ages!)
In the Pink 'special lady' 18.3
Crafty Calendar 'add some metal' 3.4

Super Sunflowers

I've been looking at 'pop up box cards' for a while and I really like the look of them however it wasn't until this week that I realised that they folded flat to go into an envelope. Now that I know that vital information (!) I thought I'd have a go at making one. I couldn't see the point before as how would anyone send it?

I've seen lots of people making them on the Cricut Explore Facebook page I'm a member of so I went back to those posts and looked at them a bit more closely. Everyone seemed to be recommending the templates at svgcuts.com so I went there. They have some brilliant designs for great prices and I got a set of 5 complete designs and 4 plain ones for less than £5. I started by making one of their set designs (floral box card) which I'm sure will get posted eventually but once I had the idea, I wanted to make my own design.

This is what I came up with

It uses DCWV papers, a sheet of 12x12 yellow cardstock and sunflower toppers (fake fabric flowers & chipboard). All of the small squares of patterned paper came from one striped 12x12 sheet that I cut down making the most of the different patterns. The taller front and back patterns came from another co-ordinating design. The different papers can be seen better in this photo.

The file from svgcuts cut out the card base and 2 inner topper holders. I used scraps of matching yellow card to create sticks for the flowers to stand out on.

I have made this card as a gift for the head teacher at my school. It has been a rough few weeks/month/year (!) and while some of us only have to deal with bits of it, she gets it all. She loves sunflowers so this will hopefully give her at least 1 smile tomorrow!

I am also entering this card into the following challenges:-
Crafting for All Seasons 'whatever the weather' 7/7 (sunflowers can make you feel sunny even on the wettest day!)
CRAFT challenge 'thank you' 2/7
The Pink Elephant 'anything goes' 7/7
Papertake Weekly 'anything goes' 8/7
Love to Create '3+ papers' 6/7
That Craft Place 'anything goes' 5/7

Sunny Sunflowers

This is my final card of the weekend and one that I'm really pleased with. It uses some new stash and some new ideas that I've not tried before but now I know it works, I'll definitely be using it again.

This card is made using another new Sheena Douglass embossing folder.

I wanted to create a distressed background but didn't have a core'dinations cardstock in the colour palette I needed- so I made my own!!! I started with a piece of brown A4 card that I painted with yellow emulsion from a tester pot (it even had its own brush so no mess!). I then embossed it using the sunflower embossing folder and then used fine sand paper to sand back the paint to reveal the brown paper underneath. It works really well and I'vegot hundreds of tester pot colours that now have a new use!

I trimmed down my backing paper, tied a brown organza ribbon around the spine and attached it to an 8x8 white base card. I then embossed the same sunflower design onto gold/yellow mirror card and then went over the top of the raised aspects of the design with a brown promarker. I cut them out and used various levels of 3d foam to mount them onto the card.

I finished the card by using the remainder of the painted cardstock to cut a small mat (using a Kanban one as a template) and then attaching it to the card backwards and adding the peel-off message.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-
Country View Challenges 'paint' 28/2
Totally Gorjuss 'sunny colours' 7/2
Cute Card Thursday 'new' 5/2
A Blog Named Hero 'flowers' 14/2
Daring Cardmakers 'belt & braces' 7/2
Crafty Catz 'anything goes' 6/2
Crafters Cafe 'ribbon' 4/2

Flower Power

I've been busy crafting again this weekend and have managed to make a few cards. Here's the first...

I've used all manner of new things on this card today- some of which are completely new (as in arrived on Thursday from C&C) and some which are new as in had for ages but not used yet!

This card started with the flower design embossing folder which is from the Sheena Douglass range which was a Pick of the Week/4 day deal on C&C last week. I inked one piece of white card using both Picked Raspberry & Peacock Feathers distress ink and then embossed it with the folder. I then sanded back the top of the card to make the flower design stand out as white against the coloured background. I had to join the design as it is an A5 folder so I placed a purple ribbon across the join and attached the 2 pieces to the outside panels of the card. To provide contrast, I wanted the middle panel to be embossed in the opposite way so I embossed it first and then inked it using the same distress ink colours, so that the debossed side was used.

I then coloured the Ebony digi stamp (from The Greeting Farm) using a similar colour palette of pink, turquoise & purple and some gems for her headband. I cut out the digi leaving a small white border and then attached her to the central panel of the card with 3d foam pads. I then added the peel-off message.

To complete the card, I used the same floral embossing folder and three different colours of black core'dinations cardstock to emboss more flowers which I sanded back before cutting out and using as toppers across the card.

This is the first time that I've made a card in this 3 panel style but I really like it and it was quick to put together (although the sanding took ages and made a lot of mess!)

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-
Catch the Bug 'anything goes' 8/2
Polkadoodles 'anything goes/oriental' 9/2
Cards Galore 'bling' 28/2
Graph'It 'anything goes/different colour hair' 9/2
Cute Card Thursday 'something new' 5/2
TGF Farm Fresh Friday 'layers' 7/2
Creative Inspirations 'stamping' 4/2
Digi Choosday 'anything goes/in the pink' 3/2
Challenges 4 Everybody 'anything goes' 28/2
Daring Cardmakers 'belt & braces' 7/2

winter cheer

Here's another SWALK card made using the digi stamps from the Crafters Companion cd-rom. I coloured this one a while ago so the hair isn't quite as good as it could be but I'm really happy with how the card turned out. Considering I coloured the image a while ago, it all matches really well.

I coloured the digi image with Spectrum Noirs & Promarkers and highlighted aspects such as the bow on the basket with stickles and the pearl necklace with perfect pearls. I used a Kanban mat as a stencil to cut the topper into an unusual shape and then added a pre-cut gold mirror card mat. The backing paper is from a new Papermania 6x6 paper pack and the tartan pattern matched perfectly so I just trimmed it down slightly and matted it onto a 6x6 card blank. I attached the topper and then used another paper sheet from the same 6x6 pad to cut out the poinsettia, stars & holly images that I decoupaged onto the card. I used a little more stickles and perfect pearls to add a highlight, including the freehand squiggles at the bottom.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-
Creative Inspirations 'traditional christmas colours'
Creative Card Crew 'holly or poinsettia'
Songbird Challenges 'merry christmas'
Stampin' for the Weekend 'red'
Totally Gorjuss 'special Christmas'

Inspired by Pinterest

Over the Summer, I may not have been doing much crafting but I have discovered the fabulous world of Pinterest. I've spent hours finding all manner of both school and crafting ideas that I'm hoping to use soon. This card is inspired by one of the first ideas I saw using a page from a book and some tippex. I tried printing a digi image straight onto the book page which worked well but when I wanted to blank out the skin colours, I didn't really have anything that would work so I've kind of cheated to make my card below...

I bought a cheap copy of Twilight from a car boot (30p) as I knew I could use it when I finally get the Visible Image 'Edward' & 'Isabella' stamps (hopefully when I go to the NEC in November), but it came in handy for this card too. I said that I'd cheated slightly and that's because I printed my digi stamp onto plain card and onto a page from the book and then I paper pieced the skirt rather than working directly onto the book page. After I had coloured my image (using promarkers & spectrum noirs), I carefully cut around it and then drew around the image on another page from the book. I then used the tippex to highlight the edge so that my image would stand out when I stuck it on top. This meant that I didn't have to be too careful with the tippex as my image would cover any mess I made. I used a ruler to create a neat torn edge on the book page and then mounted this onto some dark red glitter card and then mounted that onto a dark red base card made from an A4 sheet. I finished the card by making some paper roses from 3 circles cut from 2 other pages of the book, cutting and spiral and then twisting it around my pokey tool. I secured each flower with some glue and added a dark red gem to the centre. I then dipped each flower into some glue and then dark red glitter to give them a glittery edge.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-

Catch the Bug 'anything goes'

Papertake Weekly 'anything goes'

Totally Gorjuss 'anything goes'

and

The Paper Shelter 'DT Call' (to see other examples of my colouring, click on either the 'digi stamps' or 'colouring' labels)

Soft Kitty

I've been busy in the craft room this week and my newest card is this pastel coloured beauty!!! I don't work with pastel colours very often but I think they suit this super cute Saturated Canary image.

I started by choosing my striped backing paper so that I could match all of the other colours to it. It's a paper from a Papermania 6x6 'spots & stripes' paper pack. I then had some Create & Craft pastel glitter card that was a bargain from Wilko's a few months/years ago and has never been used so I matched this to the colours of the striped paper. I cut the glitter card into 9cm squares and attached this into the corners of an 8x8 white base card using rulers to try and get them as straight as possible. I put 3d foam into the white spaces between the glitter card to attach the backing paper so that I didn't have to worry about it not sticking to the glitter. I then chose my Promarker colours to again match the papers, using Buttercup, Orchid, Pastel Pink & Mint Green as the main colours to colour the fabulous Saturated Canary image (I love every image on that site). After colouring the image, I trimmed it leaving a small white border and attached it to the card. I then added the double layered Prima flower into the mint green corner. I finished the card by stamping the bunting from Little Claire stamps onto some scrap card and then colouring with the same 4 promarkers. I glued it onto some thin white string and then hung it from the card, sticking it behind the pink glitter card.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-

Saturated Canary 'set your creativity free'

Creatilicious 'I love my pet'

Polkadoodles 'birthday girl'

Crafty Catz 'pastel colours'

Challenges 4 Everybody 'anything goes'

Creative Card Crew 'banner/pennant'

Papertake Weekly 'anything goes'

Creative Inspirations 'something old & something new' (new bunting stamps, old glitter card)

Nevaeh- red, white & blue

Today has been a very exciting day here in the UK! It's taken 77 years but finally a British man has won the Wimbledon singles title- it seemed appropriate to make a patriotic card!

I started with an 8x8 card blank which I put through the Grand Callibur to emboss the star design. I inked the edges with Barn Door distress ink and then Salty Ocean on top. I coloured the Nevaeh digi stamp with my promarkers & spectrum noirs sticking to the red, white & blue colour scheme. I mounted her onto the card with 3d foam and then added the 3 paper flowers with the glittery centres to the edge of the card.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-
Papertake Weekly 'anything goes'
Clear It Out 'make someone's day sparkly'
Creative Inspirations 'red, white & blue'
Cute Card Thursday 'stars &/or stripes'
Saturated Canary 'celebration'
Polkadoodles 'make your own background'
Challenges 4 Everybody 'anything goes'

Lili's flowers

Somehow the last 2 weeks have gone by in such a blur that I haven't had a chance to make any cards let alone do any blogging- but I'm back! Work is still a bit crazy but in 3 1/2 weeks I should have all the time in the world! Anyways, here's a new card I've made using a Lili of the Valley topper and some Craftwork Cards products.

I started with an 8x8 card blank and trimmed the main background paper to fit it. Before attaching it to the card, I mounted the topper onto a pink dotty paper and put this in the centre of the backing paper. I then got 3 Craftwork Cards flowers (from a wreath kit I won) and used large gem brads to attach these to the backing paper. I then used double sided tape to mount everything onto the card base.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-

Creatilicious 'summer'

Paper Shelter 'buttons &/or brads'

Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenges 'girl power'

Lili's Little Fairies '1,2,3'

Crafty Catz 'say it with flowers'

wedding book

As I mentioned in a previous post, I recently got 2 new templates from the 'House of Zandra' stand at the Sincerely Yours show in Lincoln. This is the first thing I've made using the book card template and I can see that there will be lots more to come.

From the front it almost looks like a normal card-

But actually it's a 3d book card-

When you open up the front, there is a deep recess inside creating various opportunities for creativity!

Here's a close up view of the insides-

I started with 2 pieces of black A4 card, using the templates to cut the shapes required. I made up the box element using super sticky tape to attach it. I then used my ScorPal scoring board to emboss the detail on the book cover and then used some gilding wax to add extra detail. I cut some 'gorjuss' backing paper to fit inside the box and to cover the sides. I then added the 3 black paper flowers with card candi centres. I stamped the bunting using white ink onto black card and attached across the front of the box on some cream coloured string. I then decorated the front of the book with the 2 cream hearts (Kanban) with peel-off letters. This is quite a simple box compared to what can be achieved but for my first go, I'm really happy with it.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-
Crafting Musketeers 'use a stamped image'
Cute Card Thursday 'ebony & ivory'
Catch the Bug 'going to the chapel'
Challenges 4 Everybody 'anything goes'

Purple Purple Purple!

Anyone who stumbles across my blog occasionally, will probably know that I absolutely love the colour purple so when the latest Polkadoodles challenge was posted, I knew that I'd have no problem making a card for it-

I chose one of my favourite Saturated Canary images as a starting point and used my promarkers & spectrum noirs to colour it using mainly shades of purple. I then mounted it onto a purple mirror card and put this onto an 8x8 white card blank mounted with a textured DCWV purple paper. I then added the 3 flowers & the gems to complete the card.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-
Stampin' for the Weekend 'monochrome'
Cutie Pie '3,2,1' (3 flowers, 2 textures & 1 colour)
Polkadoodles 'the colour purple'
Totally Gorjuss 'anything goes with flowers'
Papertake Weekly 'anything goes'
Paper Shelter 'flower power'

Twilight forever

I've recently found a new love for digi-stamps and there are some really fab websites out there full of amazing artwork that I am certainly not able to create- thank god for printing! There's also lots of 'fan art' out there for various tv shows & films. I found this 'twilight' themed image online and had to use it for a card that will be perfect for a friends birthday.

I started with the image which I trimmed to a small border and then coloured mainly using my promarkers. I rounded the corners of the image as it didn't look right with square corners. I then cut a small red mirror card mat to trim the main digi-stamp image. The backing paper comes from the DCWV 'Immortal Love' stack which is also twilight inspired and has this beautiful paper with a heat embossed & glittered tree design. I finished the card with the 3 handmade flowers, using the colours to represent the good vs evil theme of many of the twilight saga books and also the red for the bloodshed between the two. the finished card is 8x8 in size.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-
Creative Card Crew 'handmade flowers'
Paper Shelter 'make it bloom'
Catch the Bug 'bingo' (I chose embossing, glitter & paper)
Papertake Weekly 'one patterned paper'

Kanban Bon Voyage

We recently had a much loved member of staff leave to go back on her travels to India- I wanted to make a special card to wish her luck and some of the toppers and papers from my newest Kanban blockbuster were just perfect.

I started with a dusky pink A4 sheet of card which I folded into an A5 card blank. The backing paper came from the Kanban kit, as did the camera border. The main topper & message were attached using 3d foam pads and then I finished the card with a prima flower with a pale yellow papermania brad.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-
Creative Inspirations 'good luck'
Daring cardmakers 'a cute angle'- as it unusual for me to have wonky toppers! I love straight edges!
Challenges for Everybody 'anything goes'
Cute Card Thursday 'anything goes'
Love to Create 'anything goes'

Kanban 'so feminine' toppers- more Tea for Two

Here's another new card made with the Kanban 'Tea for Two' topper sheet.

This is quite a simple card and was therefore pretty quick to make. I started with a 6x6 scalloped edge card blank that I inked using my 'spun sugar' distress ink. I did this by applying the ink to my 'Stamps Away' ink blending mat first and then applying to the card- this meant that I could get a very subtle colouring. I then added the main topper using double sided tape and the small message using 3d foam.

The final element was to add the 3 paper flowers to the bottom left corner of the card and add a self-adhesive pearl to the centre of each.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-

Papertake Weekly '1, 2, 3' challenge- 1 card, 2 toppers, 3 flowers

Catch the Bug 'bingo' challenge- pearl (centre of flowers), circle (macaroons) & die-cut (topper & message)

Mucky Pup!

It will soon be my grandads birthday and he is a very keen gardener. I have made this card ready for his birthday and will be entering it into the following challenges:-
Love to Create 'pick 2'- die cuts & distressing
Paper Shelter 'punches & dies'- flower punch
Polkadoodles 'distressing'- papers
Here Come the Boys 'no stamps allowed'
Kanban 'anything goes'
Cute Card Thursday 'spring fever'
Catch the Bug 'green thumb'
Basic Grey 'spring'- archaic 6x6 papers

This was a very quick card to make using some new(ish) Kanban toppers from the mens themed blockbuster kit from C&C, my xcut flower punch for the flowers, punching them from Basic Grey 'archaic' 6x6 papers and some card candi for the centre of each flower.

Floral wreath card

I was lucky enough to win a beautiful wreath kit from Craftwork Cards in one of their challenges recently and this is the first time I have used it. Rather than making a wreath though, I have used the components to make a card. I am entering it into the Daring Cardmakers 'colour combo' challenge and Challenges 4 Everybody 'anything goes' challenge.

I started by making up the flowers from the kit and added a little extra card candi to the centres of some of them. To make all of these flowers, I used just 2 sheets from the kit of which there are 8 in total. I attached these to one of the rings from the kit to give me a base and more stability. I then got an 8x8 scalloped edge card and used 2 different Craftwork Cards papers as mats before adding the flower wreath topper. It is my intention to put a simple peel-off sentiment in the centre of the card but have not done so yet as it may be a card for a birthday or mother's day as that is also so close by.

SC Purple & Black

My latest card is my absolute favourite- EVER! (I usually do like my newest card best but this is my MOST favourite...)- the reason is, I have used my 2 favourite colours so this card is perfect for me- Would it be a bit weird to send myself a birthday card?

This card also fits with lots of challenge themes this week so I am entering it into the following challenges:-
Saturated Canary 'Love' (as I love the digi image & the colours)
Creatalicious 'L'Amour' (for the reasons above)
Basic Grey 'Favourite' (as I've used my favourite 'eerie' papers)
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog 'favourite colour combo' (purple & black)
Challenges 4 Everybody 'Anything Goes'
Crafty Catz 'bingo' (embossing, flowers & punches)
Polkadoodles 'shabby chic' (distressed edge papers- this is as shabby as I'll ever get!)
Stampin' for the Weekend 'distressed' (sanding of the embossed star cardstock)
Cute Card Thursday 'an eye for detail'

I started with an 8x8 scalloped edge card, which I matted with Craftwork Cards purple star embossed cardstock (from a prize pack!) that I distressed slightly and Basic Grey 'eerie' 6x6 paper (that I punched a star corner into). The main image is a digi stamp from Satuarted Canary (Honey) which I coloured with both Promarkers & Spectrum Noirs. The 3 flowers came from a pack that I picked up cheaply after Christmas so I didn't mind putting 3 on the one card!

SC (Sparkling Chic & Saturated Canary) 'Jules'

Here is another new creation, that I've made to enter 4 different challenges. I am entering this card into the Craftwork Cards 'Anything Goes' challenge, Saturated Canary 'challenge #36 colour inspiration', Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #113 'Ribbons & Bows' and Papertake Weekly 'Anything Goes'.

I started with a 6x6 scalloped card blank which I left plain. I then cut a piece of Craftwork Cards 8x8 pearlescent paper (which I was lucky enough to win in a challenge) which I embossed with 'mini star shower' template from Crafter's Workshop. The main topper is a Saturated Canary digi stamp (Jules) and I coloured her using my Spectrum Noirs. I finished the card with 2 Prima flowers which I layered and then finished with a star print Papermania brad which has been in my crafty stash for yonks!

Blondie (with a hint of pink)

This is my latest card inspired by, no less than, 4 different challenges! I started by aiming to make something suitable for the latest Saturated Canary challenge 'Movie Inspiration'. I decided to use the 'Nevaeh' image to make a 'Legally Blonde' inspired card where everything was a bit over the top pink. I then realised that the same idea would be perfect for the Creative Inspirations 'one for the girls' challenge too. The more time I spent thinking about how the card was going to be, the more I realised that it would also fit with the Card Makin Mamas 'clean and simple' challenge and Daring Cardmakers 'embossability' challenge. This is the first time I've made one card that can fit into so many challenges- I hope that hasn't made me lose my focus.

Anyways, enough chat. Here it is

I started with the Saturated Canary 'Nevaeh' image which I coloured using my Spectrum Noirs. I had already chosen the 'Legally Blonde' theme so went for pale blonde hair, a bright pink dress and sensible grey tights as a bit of a nod to her very sensible job. I was really pleased with how the hair turned out today as this is the bit that I always feels lets me down. The extra practice is obviously helping!

When I had finished colouring the image, I carefully cut around it leaving a small white border. I then got a 6x6 Craftwork Cards scalloped edge white card balnk and embossed it with the floral design using my Grand Calibur and a Crafter's Workshop 'flower frenzy' template. I lightly inked the eges of the card with 'Picked Raspberry' distress ink. I then mounted my main image directly onto the card using some 3d foam pads.

The flowers added the final touch, onto the edge of the card. I punched them using 2 different sizes of xcut flower punches and some plain DCWV cardstock. The large flowers are from a paler pink and the inner smaller flower from a slightly darker shade. I attached these to the card with some PVA glue, starting with the central flower so that I could get then evenly spaced along the card. I added a small clear crystal gem into the centre of each flower and also onto Nevaeh's dress.

Bright & Funky Floral Card- Kanban 'so feminine' & WRMK

I was inspired by the latest challenge from 'The Paper Shelter' http://thepapershelter.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/challenge-94-flower-extra-vaganza.html to make something really bright and fun- perfect for a female birthday.

I started with an 8x8 Craftwork Cards scalloped edge card blank which, for once, I left exactly as it was (no inking, stamping or embossing!). I chose the topper that I wanted to use which is from the Kanban 'celebrate in style' sheet from the 'so feminine' kit. It already had a foiled edge that is a silvery/lilac colour. I then trawled through my vast collection of 12x12 papers to find something that would match the colourway. My 12x12 'Tiffanys' scrapbook pad by We R Memory Keepers was perfect. I chose 4 matching papers, some that used glitter and some that were plain. I cut a 9cm square from each one and joined at the back with double sided tape. I wanted to try something a bit different so I then used some pearlescent tape to go over the joins blending them but also emphasising them too!

I attached my paper square to the card blank using double sided tape and then attached the word topper with 3d foam. I then used my xcut flower punch to punch out 12 flowers from 4 more papers from the WRMK pad- this time I chose plainer papers as patterned ones would get lost on the background. I punched 3 green, 3 pink, 3 blue & 3 brown and used an embossing ball tall to shape them by pushing in the centre of each flower. I attached to flowers to the corners of the paper using PVA glue and then added a glittery centre using 'Star Dust' stickles glitter glue.

This is my first entry into a 'Paper Shelter' challenge but hopefully not my last- I do not yet have any of their beautiful digi stamps but hopefully if I win the challenge then that will change! Wish me luck!