Visions of blue

Thought I'd share a card I made for a very good friend celebrating her birthday last weekend.  It was such a refreshing change to do something not connected to Christmas and to do it in monochrome was even better.

The central image was a Kanban stamp, stamped with Memento ink and then using a little water to bring out the colour.  

I used an Inkydoodles background stamp (tapestry I think it's called).  They are brilliant stamps and so many different options on one sheet.  Well worth every penny.  The roses are from a spellbinders die coloured once again with the Memento ink pad.  

It was one of those cards that you feel like you've achieved something and really enjoyed making.  I hope the recipient liked it too?

God Bless Betsy Blossom

Thought I would take the opportunity to share with you a card I made recently for my beautiful great-niece Betsy Blossom for her christening.  

It was a 8x8 card covered in pearlescent cream and turquoise card.  I used the spellbinders dies to cut the corners, the church window and a cuttlebug embossing folder to create the stained glass effect.  The butterflies were peel offs on cream card (one of those things that I had forgotten I had and found them whilst looking for a little peel off cross!)

We had a lovely day, although poor Betsy wasn't feeling very well and didn't appreciate having her hair washed in the font lol!  

Please leave a comment, even if you just popped in to have a peep, all visitors and their comments are always welcome.  

35 years!

Thought it was time to update my blog and share with you a card I was asked to make for a friend for his wife on their anniversary.  They have been married 35 years and are still madly deeply in love.  I admire anyone who can be after all that time (sorry don't mean to sound cynical! but I could only manage 10 years of marriage, well I could have managed more if my husband hadn't decided the grass was greener on the other side!!!). Anyway, that's all in the past and now I have a partner of 18 years (that's the time we've known each other not his age!!!! I should be so lucky....). We've lived together twelve and it works very well - he has his hobbies and I have mine and as long as we meet in the middle sometimes (ooh misses!) we're quite happy.

Anyway, enough waffling, for all you card makers out there lets get back to the card.

Once again I've used an 8x8 card, covered in rose pink and white pearlescent card.  I used the grand square nesties and the spellbinders border and edgeabilites dies.  I used the Inkylicious 'delicate vines' stamp which is great for backgrounds, very versatile, whatever the occasion and embossed it in Wow embossing powder.  The rest is self explanatory really.  If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask, but please leave a comment so that I know you've popped by.  Thanks.  Off to make the box to put it in now - that should be fun.......

Purple & Turquoise Art Deco

Here's the other card I was asked to make for the weekend.  I had previously made the same card in black and red for a 21st birthday.  That was no problem, but this time the customer (or my friend Kerri) requested a lady in purple!  The only problem I had was that the image was on a CD and the lady didn't come in purple!  

Looking at the CD again, I found the image, but in white, so I used my promarkers and coloured the image in.  I was well impressed, I don't think you would have thought it had been hand coloured! As an extra touch I sprayed the image with Crafters Companion Spray and Shine, which enances all the colour.  I used the the Lattice spellbinders die to make the frame and an embossing folder for the background.  I was very pleased with the end result and hope that Kerri and her niece were too.  

I've also added a picture of the first card I made (also for another of Kerri's nieces). It's very difficult to make the same card twice, and I think you improve on it each time you do..  

Which one do you prefer?  

A birthday Card with a difference

Wow, what a crafty weekend I have had and in all this heat!

Friday night, about 8pm started making a chipboard album for my brother in law, who was 75 the following day.  He is such a lovely person, and he's been in my life since I was three and we get on really well.  He's a very young 75 and I couldn't have asked for a better brother-in-law.

He always loves my handmade cards and I always try to make him something special!  Well this time I decided to make a chipboard album with photos taken throughout his life and marking the milestones.  I had to stop at 1.30 am in the morning, basically cos I couldn't see straight, but next morning at 7 am back again to finish it off.  Three hours later and it was finished.  We were going to his house at 2 o'clock for a barbecue - no pressure there and I had to take my Mum out beforehand!  Anyway, the results you can see below.  I was surprised how easy the chipboard books were to use (I used the Papermania one) covering the pages with some Scrapbooking paper.  I also used the X cut alphabet set, which I was pleasantly surprised how good it cut out the letters.  Well worth the investment!  I would definitely use the chipboard books again (perhaps I would give myself more time next time lol- but knowing me I won't lol). 

 He was thrilled with it and kept showing it off to everyone at the Barbie bless him.  

Oh, the blank page is for me to add pictures of Bern with his other two children when they were born, although his eldest who is in the photo, was quite happy with that I had left it blank!  (They do love their siblings really!!!) 

I also had an order to make an 18th birthday card by Sunday morning, so I also had that to do!  So when I got back from the barbecue it was a quick nap and then back to the craft room, finally finished it about half an hour ago.  Will post this one later on tonight when it's been collected - just in case!

Thanks for popping by on this gloriously hot SUMMER day (Yeah it's finally arrived - worth waiting for!)

Cupcakes for a 3 year old

Here's a card I was asked to make for someone's Grandaughter who was 3 (pretty self explanatory that lol!). I had in my head that it was going to be pink but it turned out turquoise and lemon, with a hint of pink!  Why does that always happen?  You get an idea in your head as to what the card will be like and by the time it's finished it's completely different (but probably a lot better)

Once again using the Grand stately circles, cutting one in yellow and the other in white.  The white one I edged in pale yellow and green pan pastels (altho' the green hasn't shown up very well in the picture) The image is a Lili o' Valley stamp coloured with Promarkers.  I was pretty pleased with this, seeing as I only had a couple of nights to do it in, as 'Grandad' thought her birthday was in July lol!  

Well that's it for the time being. Off to enjoy the sunshine - whilst it lasts!  

Whatever you're doing enjoy x. 

Eadie Mae Circle card

I've never made a completely round card before, so I thought I would share the one I made for friends of ours who had a baby daughter last week.  She weighed in at 9lbs and is absolutely gorgeous and I had a lovely cuddle with her yesterday and even got to feed her, although we left before it was time to change her nappy lol.

Anyway getting back to the card!  I folded a sheet of A3 card and used the grand decorative circles to cut out the shape and then used the same dies, one the same size and two smaller ones to cut from pink paper (think this was the Lucy Cromwell pad - I love that paper!)   I stamped the image onto the smaller circle and then paper pieced it using the scraps from the sheets (us crafters don't waste anything!). 

I then stamped her name and date of birth using the Clarity stamps and then made the flowers from a x-cut petal punch which I had bought at a reduced price the day before!!!! 

I just realised there was a loose petal on the right flower when I took the photo - oops!

Eadie Mae also has an elder brother Archie (who's 4 and a half) and not wanting to leave him out I made him a big brother card, which bless him he recorded a thank you message for me on Facebook. It was one of those cards that didn't take too long to make but the reward was well worth it.  

Perry's Tours

At last I've blogged again (sounds like a cue for a song!!I) its not that I haven't been busy making cards and other crafty things recently, but had lost my mojo for blogging!!! However, I have finally got round to it, not much on the tele and I can't get past a level on Candy Crush, so thought I would bug my crafty friends with a card I add earlier tonight for a chap at work.

I actually work at a bus depot (no I am not a driver, but I do admire the job that they do as it is no fun when dealing with members of the public). One of the inspectors took out a bus last year to cover someone's shift and ended up having a prang! And we haven't let him forget it yet, so hence the slider card with the bus crashing into the bollard. I made the background using some Hobby Art stamps and used promarkers and pan pastels to colour it in. Hope it survives everyone signing it and that he sees the funny side, he's a good chap so I think he will - fingers crossed.

As I have not been on for a while will rectify this by uploading my projects one by one throughout the next few days. Thank you for taking time to have a browse and for any comments you may wish to leave, they are much appreciated xxx

Two of a kind, but different!

I was recently asked by the mother of the brides for twin sisters getting married within two weeks of each other, one wedding has already taken place so I thought I would publish the first card, the second one will follow later, just in case they check out my blog beforehand!

The theme of the wedding was a beach theme, with sand, shells and exotic flowers as table decorations so I chose to use the shells that I had picked up from a beach years ago (see I knew they would come in handy sometime lol!). I used real lace and pearls to decorate the card, as the bride had a very lacy veil and added a couple of homemade hat pins. I also stamped the cream card with a lace stamp and embossed it with white embossing powder. I also made a box to put t in.

Watch this space for the second one, should be here shortly.

A Gift Box

Thought I would share a gift box I made this evening. It's to put Callie's bunting in (no she still hasn't got it yet - what am I like?) Anyway, once again I used the Papermania spots & stripes capsule collection (think I've been calling it something else lol!), in fact I used what was left over from the bunting, so quite productive and thrifty me thinks. (Seeing as I went to the craft shop today and spent some more money - naughty naughty ;). The butterfly on the top is cut from one of Spellbinders Expandable pattern dies. Hadn't used this before, apart from when it arrived and I tried it with paper and tore it when trying to get it out of the die! But in a moment of inspiration thought I'd try it again and I think it looks quite elegant. Well I'm off to bed as I've got work tomorrow - another day at the fun factory - can't wait :(. Thanks for popping by, take care and see you all soon xxx

A sprinkling of Red.....

Thought I'd share with you the card I made, as part of the design team (i like saying that!) for The Cupboard Trilogy latest Challenge.

It's an 8x8" card blank which is covered by (top half) Lucy Cromwell paper, which I embossed with a heart folder. The bottom half, I've used a stripey paper from the latest papers from Docrafts the candy dots and stripes collection, they compliment each other perfectly. The central topper is made using the new docrafts die. I cut it twice and the cut one down so that it would layer one on top of each other, after I had used my distress ink to tone the white card down! A spellbinder large scalloped circle cut out in red card and a red ribbon add the touch of red. The sentiment stamped adds the romance!

I stamped the flourishes after I had embossed, but with hindsight should have done it before. Oh and for the dots in the corners I used my creative expressions pva glue and sprinkled red glitter on it while it was still wet! it sort of worked, but they did dip slightly!

Why not follow the link and take part in the challenge, there's a brilliant prize to be one, so go on have a go - it's easier than you think......
http://thecupboardtrilogychallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/challenge-8-sprinkling-of-red-and.html?m=1

Callie's Room

Remember just before Christmas I was asked to make a Christmas card with a silhouette of a pregnant lady (OH's niece who was due to have her baby around that time - see Last Minute Rush post if you missed it!). Well anyway, baby Callie arrived safe and sound on 22 December 2012.

When her sister Molly was born, I made a card with her name on, which her Mum put on her bedroom door, so when Callie arrived she asked me whether I would make something along those lines again. So here it is, something a little different, but something I enjoyed making and discovered my Cricut again!!! Making things for little girls is always enjoyable because you can use pretty colours and bows etc. and I might even make a few more for next craft fair I do! (I live in hope that something sells!!!).

Just got to get it to her before she turns 21 lol! Don't think she'll appreciate it then lol!!!
Thanks for looking and for taking the time to leave me a comment. Take care xxx

Boys & Their Toys

What a great start to the New Year so far, I've had a card published in the Docrafts Creativity magazine (January issue) and also been asked to join two design teams. One of which is the Cards Galore Scrapbook Group.

I had been a scrapper over the years, but never got round to doing many pages, cards always seemed to take precedence when crafting. However, when I got the invite to join a scrapping team I was delighted and jumped at the chance, my first entry can be seen at http://cardsgalore scrapbookingchallenge.blogspot.ie/. The theme this month is any theme goes, with a fantastic prize from our sponsor The Stamping Shack.

It's a rather simple paper layout, I've used a picture of my OH with one of his model planes, not a good picture of him, looks a bit scruffy, but he hates having his pic taken at the best of times. This is one for his scrapbook, should have plenty to put into it with all his hobbies past and present lol. The image is from The Stamping Shack, it was lovely to colour in (using promarkers) nice clean lines and I hope it will inspire you to join in the challenge. Thanks for looking xxx

On a Roll.....

Now I've started I can't stop! If you've got the Holly Pond CD you'll know what I mean. Here are two more cards I've made this afternoon. It's been a real pleasure doing so as well. Think it's using bright colours again, makes you think of spring and summer - not long now, it'll soon be here (I hope!!!).

I think the cards are self explanatory - the one thing I will say is I used the Cosmic Shimmer PVA Pearl glue to do the pearls around the edge of the wedding card - in fact I did that last night, so that I didn't smudge them today when putting the card together - is although I used the white glue, it took on the colour of the paper behind it, which was lovely as they are now a really delicate pink so well pleased with that.

Once again, thank you for taking a peak, hope you like them as much as I do xxx

Holly Pond Hill Time

I love this time of night when everyone is in bed and it's all quiet, no television and a lovely cup of tea.
After all the birthday celebrations in our house this week for my sons's 22nd, baking two cakes one chocolate and the other a checkerboard cake, which thanks to someone lending me the proper cake tins made it a lot easier - but still time consuming and family coming round to help him blow out the candles lol x I finally had time this evening to print off and play with my new Joanna Sheen Holly Pond Hill CD. Wow - the images are just so beautiful and some of them are so beautifully coloured. I have made two so far, and one I actually took a picture of the backing paper before I put on the topper - they are stunning. You can make them as complicated or as simple as you wish - gone for the simple options tonight! Hopefully if I get some more time to myself tomorrow so a few more may get made! Watch this space.

Thanks for popping by and stay warm and safe - looks like we've got some nasty weather coming in this week so take care xxx

Chronology - time flies!

At last I can upload this card I made on Saturday for my son whose 22 today! It only seems like yesterday when I held him in my arms for the very first time and my has he grown!!!!

The card was made using two sheets one orange dotty and the other turquoise stripes from the Papermania Dots & Stripes 12 x 12 pad, which is actually double sided so you get twice the choice. I distressed the edges with TH distress inks and cut out the oval using a grand nestability. The lattice cut is made using a Spellbinders extendable die and the cogs, topper and the orange paper (behind the lattice) are all from the Docrafts Goody bag, which I must admit is a brilliant deal this time.

My son liked it and I hope you do too enough to leave me a comment. Thanks for piping by and see you soon xxx