Owl Folk

DoCrafts are always bringing out products that I love and their newest range 'Owl Folk' is no exception. Create & Craft had 2 kits last week that together comprised of the entire Owl Folk range. I did a bit of a price comparison and it seemed like a good deal so I got both sets. They arrived on Saturday so the long bank holiday weekend meant that I got to play with them today- I wish every weekend had 3 days! I'd get lots more crafting done- possibly!

Here is my first Owl Folk card-

I started by layering up the decoupage tag and putting together the pocket, both from the Ultimate Die-Cut & Paper pack. I added a short piece of ribbon to the end of the tag so that it can be removed from the pocket if wished. I then chose a backing paper that incorporated the orange colour of the tag and pocket. Once I had chosen my backing paper, I felt that the tag didn't stand out enough so I mounted it onto some navy blue paper from the 6x6 paper pack. I threaded the owl charm onto a length of the same ribbon that I used on the tag and attached it to the spine of my backing paper, securing the ribbon on the back of the paper with double sided tape.

I then folded a sheet of A4 white card to make an A5 card blank and mounted all of my items onto it using tape.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-
Crafty Boots 'things with wings' 10.5
Penny's paper-crafty challenges 'not a square' 5.5
Creative Inspirations 'cute critters' 5.5
CRAFT 'use a charm/metal' 6.5
Crafty Calendar 'things with wings' 2.6
Crafty Catz 'colour challenge' 7.5
Crafts Galore 'anything goes' 30.5
Catch the Bug 'anything goes' 9.5
Craft Your Passion 'anything goes' 10.5

March Showers, Spring Flowers

Today has been a really miserable day weather wise- began to wonder if the living room windows would stand up to the wind and rain! Good excuse to stay in the house and craft anyway...

Here is today's make:-

Another quick & simple card from me today (my favourite kind) and it is similar to a card I made ages ago but the main image is so detailed that I don't like to add too much too it.

I started by printing the image from my Walk in the Countryside cd-rom and decoupaging the flowers. I mounted it onto a piece of dusky pink card and then mounted that onto a 6x6 scalloped edge card blank. I added a pink organza bow to the spine of the card and a little bit of Stickles glitter glue to the centre of the flowers. Done!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-
Crafting for All Seasons 'pastel hues' 30.3
In the Pink 'lots of layers' (decoupage) 1.4
Crafty Cardmakers 'spring' 5.4
Craft your Passion 'anything goes' 29.3
Digi Choosday 'lots of layers' (decoupage) 7.4
Paper Shelter 'blooming' 31.3
That Craft Place 'Easter/Spring' 11.4

The Bunny's Bum

I posted a card a couple of weeks ago that I made for someone at work for Easter and here is the second one. She wanted cards with rabbits on them but apart from that, I was free to play!

It's another CAS card that was quick and easy to make. I started with an A5 scalloped edge card blank which I layered with some green paper, embossed with a leaf design using my Grand Callibur. I then used a circle die to cut the black circle for the rabbit hole and a slightly smaller white one for the bunny's bum! I hand cut the feet, using white and beige paper and then added a white pom-pom for the tail. I added the ribbon around the green paper before attaching it all to the base card. The finishing touch was the peel-off message.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-
Creatalicious 'anything goes' 15.4
The Pink Elephant 'green' 23.3
Crafty Boots 'spring' 29.3
Craft Your Passion 'anything goes' 22.3
Papertake Weekly 'happy anything' 24.3
Clear it Out 'Easter & pastel' 24.3
Creative Card Crew 'Easter critters' 29.3
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenges ' favourite embellishments'- ribbon 24.2
Crafters Cafe 'spring-my season' 25.3
The Paper Shelter 'spring' 24.3
Cute Card Thursday 'spring fever' 25.3
Crafty Catz 'no designer paper' 26.3
Catch the Bug 'bingo' (Easter & Die-Cut & my choice- ribbon) 28.3

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

Pink & Green

I've managed to get in the craft room again today and have made another card. It's certainly not as CAS as my last one but was still pretty quick to put together when I'd finally chosen what it was that I wanted to use- far too many things to choose from!!!

I started with a 6x6 white card blank and the topper. I wanted to pick out the pink and green elements from the topper and bring that into the rest of my card. I took the spotty paper from Papermania 'spots and stripes pastels' pack but it didn't look right being put straight onto the base card (because of the white on white) so I mounted it onto some pink 'bling' cardstock before adding it to the card. I gutted the middle of the bling card so that I could use that to mount the topper instead of needing another piece. I layered up all of the papers/toppers and then started to embellish.

I added a Craftwork Cards striped paper bow, buttons and the green sticky ribbon to finish off the card.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-
Cute Card Thursday 'floral' 25.2
In the Pink 'cute as a button' 4.3
Creative Inspirations 'buttons' 24.2
Pennys' Paper Crafty Challenges 'spots & stripes' 24.2
Digi Choosday 'pastels' 3.3
Papertake Weekly 'bingo- ribbon, die-cut & buttons' 24.2
Ooh La La 'green' 1.3
Catch the Bug 'girls just wanna have fun' 21.2

Fancy frills

This is most definitely a move away from my usual style of card and, to be honest, not something I'll probably repeat too often! I recently ordered 2 crafters companion die'sire embossing and cutting dies which is the first time I've bought such an item. I haven't had much time to play yet but it was perfect for the current Graph'It challenge entitled 'frills & fancy'. It can be good to take on a challenge and try something new but you won't see many cards like this on my blog! (I'm also not sure how the camera has made the central heart look pink as it's exactly the same card as the surround but...)

It was a pretty simple card to make with the die doing most of the work!

I took a piece of A4 pearlescent card and placed the die carefully at the top of what would become the front. I used my Grand Callibur to both cut and emboss the design onto the card. I then cut a piece of lace to slightly wider than the card and attached it to the back of a length of ribbon (with a heart buckle already placed) using double sided tape. I overlapped the lace to create the ruched effect and then attached the 'skirt' to the card with more double sided tape.

To create the hanging heart, I took the die cut heart and attached a small loop of invisible thread to it. I then placed a pearl onto the top of the heart aperture and used this as the hook for the heart to hang from. It is a very pretty card and I'm sure lots of people will like it, it's just a big departure for me!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-
Graph'It 'frills & fancy' 13/6
Creative Inspirations 'anything goes' 10/6
Crafty Catz 'inspired by a song' 12/6- 'hanging onto your love' by Take That
Crafty Calendar 'petals and pearls' 4/7
Totally Gorjuss 'embossing' 14/6

All aboard...

Over Father's Day weekend, I am going to a local 'Town & Country Fayre' with my cards, bags etc., hoping to make a few pennies to buy some more crafty goodies with! With that in mind, I've been busy making some cards that I think will suit the kind of people that would attend that sort of event. There are going to be people displaying their vintage cars and tractors so I've dug out the 'men' box and gone a bit mad.

This is one of the cards I've made-

I didn't want to make anything too simple but the obvious rules of chucking glitter at a card can't really work here, so I had to think outside the box.

I started with the pyramaged train topper which is from a Kanban set and then chose the other elements to go with it. The topper is quite large so I went for an 8x8 square card that I covered with a piece of kraft cardstock. Before attaching the kraft card to the base, I stamped 2 corners with a Kanban gear stamp in Walnut Stain distress ink. I took a piece of Papermania vintage travel inspired map paper (from a set I believe is called All Aboard) and ripped the edge to give it a vintage look. I then also inked the edge of the map paper using the Walnut Stain ink. I attached my various items to the card, completing it with an old cigarette card and a piece of Anita's sticky ribbon.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-
Crafts Galore 'stamp/digi' 30/6
Craft Your Passion 'rip it' 9/6
Digi Choosday 'men' 17/6
Crafting Musketeers 'stamp/digi' 30/6
Crafters Cafe 'masculine' 11/6
CRAFT 'male' 11/6
Stampin' for the Weekend 'anything goes' 19/6

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

Present time!

I'm still doing quite well in my Christmas Card quest for 2014 and have managed to make another one today. It's a CAS style card and was very quick to make.

I started with the topper (pre-coloured image from Lili of the Valley) and mounted it onto silver mirror card. I then chose a blue snowflake pattern paper from the Forever Friends Kraft Notes range and mounted them all onto a white 6x6 card blank. To finish the card, I used a bow and 3 buttons, all from the Papermania Festive Spots & Stripes collection.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-
Christmas Card Challenges 'anything goes' 1/2
Catch the Bug 'photo challenge- penguins' 1/2
Crafty Hazlenut's Christmas Challenges ' trees' 31/1
Craft Room Challenge 'water' 3/2 (ice is just frozen water after all)
Cutie Pie Challenges 'cute blue' 1/2
Love to Create 'buttons' 26/1
Creative Inspirations 'ribbon' 28/1

Spot & Stripe Christmas

The second card I made this weekend was a Christmas one using Papermania 'festive spots & stripes' and a pre-coloured 'Lili of the Valley' topper.

I started with a 6x6 white card blank, to which I attached a pre-cut patterned paper shape from the 'spots & stripes' range. I then took a Lili of the Valley topper and mounted it onto red mirror card. I then added stitching detail to both the topper and the patterned paper shape using a black promarker. I mounted the topper onto the card with double sided tape. The topper had a bow design on the 'tree' so I decided to add a real ribbon to it instead and then added the buttons to the right edge of the card.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-
The Pink Elephant 'dots & stripes'
The Paper Shelter 'stitching'
Cute Card Thursday 'ribbons'
Totally Gorjuss 'traditional christmas colours'

OOO WEE OOO

Not sure what I'm going to do with my early Saturday evenings now that the latest series of Doctor Who has finished. I am loving Matt Smith as the doctor more and more but no-one will ever be as brilliant as David Tennant in my eyes- he was my first doctor so will always have a special place in my heart! This brilliant fanart is from the MayzyArt blog and I had to use it to make a card for a friend.

The base card is a 6x6 scalloped edge white card which I left completely as it was (no distress inks! shock horror!). I then used my favorite 'eerie' Basic Grey paper, rounding the corners before attaching it with double sided tape. I ran a silver mirror card mat through the grand calibur and embossed a star design onto it and then mounted my coloured image onto it. I coloured the image with my usual mix of spectrum noirs and promarkers. I wanted to add the key charm to the card as this is such an important aspect of the Doctor Who story so I used some TARDIS coloured ribbon wrapped twice around the spine of the card and threaded the key onto it.

I love this card and just wish that more of my family/friends loved Mr Tennant as much as I do!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-

Love to Create 'for the kids'

Paper Shelter 'charming'

Cute Card Thursday 'tie it up'

naming day

This is another new card from a topper sheet that I haven't used before that is also from a Kanban blockbuster. It is an alternative on the traditional christening card, being for a 'naming day' instead.

The backing paper, topper & tag are all from the Kanban kit and I simply added a creamy yellow A4 card (folded to make an A5 base card), pale yellow grosgrain ribbon & 3 cream buttons.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-
Clear it Out 'anything goes & 2+ buttons'

purple bird

I've been busy trying to make as many cards as possible ready for a craft fair next weekend. I'm trying to use some toppers that haven't yet seen the light of day so I've got as wide a range of cards as possible. This card is made using a topper from a Kanban blockbuster from C&C (suppose we won't be getting any more of those!). Anyways... (apologies for the dodgy photo)

I started by choosing the bird topper which uses lots of vintage colours but with a purple focus & silver foiling. I chose a lilac A5 card base and topped it with some purplish grey patterned paper and then the topper. I added a grosgrain lilac ribbon, purple gem swirl & 'happy birthday' peel-off sentiment.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-
Love to Create 'bingo' (sentiment, ribbon & bling)
Creative Inspirations 'ribbons & pearls' (pearl aspect is on topper but difficult to see in pic)
Penny's Papercrafting Challenges 'anything goes'
Polka Doodles 'birthday & bling'
Crafty Catz 'purple'
Totally Gorjuss 'ribbons & pearls' (pearl aspect is on topper but difficult to see in pic)
Challenges 4 Everybody 'anything goes'

New Baby- lily & lilac

At the NEC last weekend I managed to get some die-cut toppers from the Lily of the Valley stand. They have normally not got many left to choose from when I get there on the Sunday but because I went on Saturday this year, there was a wider selection. I have had this topper before but really like it so it was worth getting another. I've used the topper in conjunction with lots of lilac things to make a baby card suitable for either a boy or girl or unknown!

I started with a 6x6 square card blank and rounded the corners with my new corner punch. The next layer of lilac spot paper is from a Kanban baby paper pack, followed by 'bling' cardstock and then the topper- all with rounded corners. I finished the card with 3 small purple buttons and the large lilac grosgrain bow.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-

Paper Shelter 'anything goes'

Lili's Little Fairies 'buttons & bows'

Saturated Canary 'walker girl' zombie with skulls

Here is another new card that I've made to enter the Digital Tuesday 'birthdays' challenge and Saturated Canary 'good vs evil' challenge. I'll let you decide if it's good or evil though!

I love all things a bit gory & gothic so while this card has images some people may find 'evil', I most definitely find it 'good' and it is perfect for a friends birthday, even though it's not until October! This is the first time I have used the 'walker girl' zombie image from Saturated Canary but it was one I bought when I first discovered their wonderful designs. I have also used 'Midnight Spell' papers from DCWV which I have had for ages but not really found a suitable project for them- now I have!

I started by folding a piece of A4 black card into an A5 base and then used one of the DCWV papers as a mat. There is a hidden element to the backing that can not really be seen in the photograph but I have added some very subtle skulls to it. I did this by using some new skull shaped post-it notes that I saw in Wilkos- I cut the eyes, nose & teeth out of the post-it and than stuck it to my card, inking with 'dusty concord' distress ink. As this colour is similar to the original background,  the skulls are not obvious when you look at the card from the front, but as the light shines on the side view, they suddenly appear. It's a bit like that famous painting of Henry VIII that from the front has a blurry splodge in the corner but from the side, it's a skull.

I coloured the SC image with my spectrum noirs and then mounted it onto another paper from the DCWV stack. I mounted this onto the card and then tied some black organza ribbon around the spine. Before tying the bow, I added the metal skull charm so that it would hang from the ribbon freely.

New Gorjuss girls stamps, papers, buttons, twine... ;-)

Yesterday, I went to The Range to go and have a look at the new DoCrafts goodies because I was super excited about the launch of the new Gorjuss range. I have to say a huge thank you to the really helpful staff at The Range in Kings Lynn as they hadn't been able to put some of the new products out yet but they went to the warehouse and bought out a pallet of boxes and let me find what I wanted! I ended up with 8 fabulous stamp sets, papers, ribbons, decoupage, bakers twine & buttons (that came free with the Creativity magazine) as well as the new goodie bag and new animal urban stamps. The stamps inparticular are brilliant because they are really deep cut rubber and while that does mean they are not see-through, they stamp perfectly with excellent clarity (even though I'm not a great stamper). Here's my first card I've made using my new goodies-

This card was inspired by the packaging of the Gorjuss products (which can also be used) as it shows the stamped images left as black & white, giving a drawn look. I really liked how it looked so thought I'd use it on my card. I started with a dark purple A4 piece of card that I've had in my stash for ages which I folded into an A5 card blank. I then used 2 papers from the 8x8 and 6x6 paper packs as mats. I made the topper by stamping using a black memento ink onto one of the 6x6 papers that has a distressed lined effect. I mounted this onto the purple mat and then added the buttons (free with magazine) and a mini black bow from my crafty stash. I finished the card by wrapping the purple & cream bakers twine 3 times around the edge of the card and then knotting it before fraying the hanging part.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-
Love to Create 'wrap it up' (bakers twine)
Cute Card Thursday 'something old' (A4 base card)
Creative Inspirations 'buttons and bows'
Paper Shelter 'animal magic' (cute pussy cat)
The Pink Elephant 'anything goes'
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenges 'favourite colours' (purple & black)

Kanban 'No Place Like Home'

I recently ordered a brilliant new kit from Kanban which was a blockbuster on Create & Craft. It contains love, wedding, baby & celebration toppers & papers covering a wide range of occasions. I know they will be featuring a lot in my posts over the next few months. The first card I have made from the set uses the 'No Place Like Home' topper sheet and I am entering it into the following challenges- Catch the Bug 'Anything Goes', Stampin' for the Weekend 'Something Metal', and Love to Create 'Let's Celebrate'.

I started this card with an A5 scalloped edge card blank which I inked with 'Spun Sugar' distress ink. I then cut a piece of Papermania 'Regency' paper from an A5 paper pad and rounded the corners to match the base card. The 2 toppers came from the Kanban 'No Place Like Home' topper sheet from the new C&C blockbuster. I attached the main topper with 1 layer of 3d foam pads and the smaller message with 2 layers. Before atatching the message topper, I added a Kanban stamped heart, in 'Shabby Shutter' distress ink, to the topper to link the colour to the backing paper. I then chose 3 ribbons in pink, green & brown and attached them to the top of the card, tying a knot to secure them together. I then added a metal key charm from 'CarftyBitz' onto the ribbon and then tied another knot at the base to secure it. I cut the ribbon to different lengths and allowed this to hang free at the base of the card. I completed the card by adding some 'Platinum' stickles glitter glue onto some of the chains on the main topper.

Monochrome magic

This is another new card that I have made for the Polkadoodles 'Monochrome' challenge.

It was made using entirely Kanban products from a kit I've had for what must be 5 years! I started with the heart design card which was a full A4 sheet. I folded it in half and then into quarters to create the easle style. I folded the base section up so that I did not have to add a different piece of card to act as the stopper. The main topper came from the kit and I embellished it with a little extra glitter. I threaded the tag with some white satin edged organza and attached this to the card with 3d foam pads. I finished the card with the sentiment on the base.

Foiled & Distressed Kanban dress card with ribbon flower

This is one of my most favourite recent makes and is far more detailed than my usual style. I do love it though.

I started with an 8x8 scalloped edge card blank that I inked using my distress inks. I added some swirls onto the base card by using a stencil and my quickie glue pen with some gold foil (a bargain from the Kanban outlet). The main card topper, also from the Kanban outlet, was made using 2 flat images of the same dress. I cut out one and layered it up with 3d foam pads and then added some foil highlights using both gold & teal colours. I didn't have any gold mirror card/paper in the right shade to match the rest of the card (for matting & layering) so I again used my foil, and thin double sided tape, to create a foil edge onto my mat.

I used my cricut 'paper lace' cartridge to cut the teal floral mat from another Kanban outlet paper that has a floral embossed pattern. I mainly used this to add another texture to the card. I completed the card with a ribbon flower.



I made the ribbon flower by firstly choosing 3 differently textured ribbons, and a button, that matched the colour scheme of the card. I also found a dark teal button from my stash. I cut the dark brown ribbon into 6 equal lengths, folding them in half and attaching to the back of the button with PVA glue. When that layer was dry, I repeated the process with the teal ribbon, cutting each piece slightly longer and attaching it inbetween the first brown layer. I repeated the process for the final layer but rather than folding the ribbon over, I cut the ends of it into the v shape. When all the glue had dried, I attached the ribbon flower to the card with some more PVA.

It's a sort of Spellbinders inspired card made without any Spellbinders products! In fact, the Kanban outlet bargains mean that this was an incredibly cost effective card to create but did take a fair amount of time.

I am entering this card into the Card Makin' Mamas 'Anything Goes' challenge at http://cardmakinmamas.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/a-new-year-and-new-challenge.html