Wellington Bear.

Hi Everyone!

Hope you're all having fun and enjoying the sunshine?

I've had a busy couple of days doing some design work and design team stuff, but I've just made a card for my little lad's uncle as the one I sent the other week never reached him, grrrrr.  They charge the earth for postage now but still can't deliver.

Anyway, the card I've made as a replacement is using Docrafts latest character Wellington the bear!  I only found out about him a couple of days ago and I'm head over heels in love with him.  He's fabulous for men's cards.  There is no cd yet, but I'm hoping that they will bring out one very soon as it will be incredible.  Instead I ordered the Ultimate A4 Decoupage and Die Cut Toppers set from Colemans  I only ordered it yesterday afternoon and it arrived today!  How's that for service?

As you can see, Wellington's got a real vintage look about him and he really is very special, so Docrafts...please hurry up and bring the CD out as I NEED it NOW!  Lol.

Unusually for me, I have gone for an 8x8 card base this time.  The paper, topper, border and sentiment come from the set and I have layered them all onto dark grey textured cardstock by Papermania.  I have decorated the inside to match and added another little topper to the back.

All I've added is the blue ribbon and bow (don't worry about one of the 'tails' being wonky...I'll sort that once the pinflair's set it in place) and four pale blue faux gems.  And that's it.  A simple but effective man's card.  I will be using this character a lot for mens' cards now as he's just perfect and so easy to work with.  The papers, toppers...all of the kit is fab.

Happy crafting Folks.
Take care.
xx

Teddy Bo & Co.

Hi everyone!

Hope you're all having a good weekend?

Today's card is made using stamps and papers which came free with this month's Simply Cards & Papercraft magazine, and it's a fabulous freebie.  It's Teddy Bo & co!

The image and sentiment stamps are both part of the free stamp set, and they also come with a little boy bear and some other sentiments and things.  There are papers for both sexes, but being me I chose to use the pink version today.

I have used Papermania Textured Cardstock for the matting layers (in pink and white) and two of the papers from the free kit.  I have decorated the insides to match but reversed the usage of the papers.

The lacy edging was cut using a Martha Stewart punch, and I have used Spellbinders to cut the image and sentiment layers.

The gorgeous image has been cololured using my promarkers and it was very simple to colour in.

I have layered this all up using pinflair and some foam pads for more dimension.

To finish off I have added some roses, leaves and a small, silver filigree corner from Wild Orchid, and some faux pearls from my stash.

I am entering this card into the Wild Orchid Challenge and the theme there is 'Anything Goes!'  What a fab theme.
And Crafter's Companion Challenge  with the theme of 'Here Comes Summer,' as this teddy is wearing the sort of things we're all wearing this summer, lol.

Have a great weekend Folks!
xx

Faux Leather - Kinky!

Hello Crafters!!!!!

Hope you're all fine and dandy and crafting away like good little craftoholics?

Sorry I've not bored you with a card for a few days but I've started decorating and also took the little lad to the World Museum in Liverpool.  He loves it there because of all the dinosaur stuff. 

Anyway, today's card has been created using an Anna Griffin sentiment stamp, some leather look cardstock and my lovely new dusting brushes which are absolutely brilliant for applying ink!  I love, love, love them.  They're 3 (double ended) for £12:99 on Joanna Sheen's site, but hurry, as they'll go out of stock fast and it takes a while to get them back.  They're the latest must have!

I started off with a plain 6x6 (approx) card base, and cut a slightly smaller layer of dark brown leather look card and paper pricked around the edge.  I cut the smaller, cream leather look card using my Spellbinders Grand Square die (third size up) and embossed it to add more interest.  I then used the circle die to cut a dark brown layer before cutting the largest of the Spellbinders Persian Accents dies. 

I left it in the die and used my super dooper new brushes and my Vintage Photo distressing ink to accent the raised part of the embossing.  I then removed the card from the die and used the brushes again to go over the whole thing with Antique Linen distressing ink.  The sentiment was then stamped using an Anna Griffin stamp and momento ink.

The bow is made from two shades of brown ribbon from my stash tied in a double bow and finished off with a little gold flower...Ebay, I think.

The corners are cut using the corner die from Spellbinders Persian Motifs set, and the flowers were cut using one of my other (non Spellbinders) dies out of Mulberry paper, held together with gold brads and scrunched up. 

The inside is decorated to match.

A nice simple card, but elegant, I think.  Mind you...what would I know about elegance?!  Lol.

I'm happy with this card.  I did try dusting the cream layer with Antique Linen ink but it looked nicer left plain.  Not sure if you can see the detail but it really is a lovely leathery effect card.  I purchased that from Ebay quite sometime ago now.

Have fun everyone...happy crafting!
xx

LOTV Birthday Card.

Hi Everyone.

What an absolutely stunning day we're having here.  Been stuck in waiting for deliveries, though, including my new, super dooper A3 printer!  Yay.  I've had a play and I'm really happy with it so far.  It prints off onto Centura Pearl (300gsm) really easily and much better than any other printer I've tried...Centurer Pearl isn't the easiest stuff to print on!  So I'm a happy bunny and looking forward to putting it to good use.  Have to say, though, it's absolutely massive and I have no idea at all where I'm going to store the box!  Lol.

Today's card is made up from paper scraps from my box and a Lili of the Valley topper.

I started with a 6 x 6 scalloped base card and used Papermania pink textured cardstock for the base mats and various papers for the background (each piece matted onto the pink card).

I stamped out the sentiment using a Lili of the Valley stamp, then matted and layered that onto card cut using Spellbinders dies...as I did with the Lili of the Valley bunny topper. 

I glued a white feather to the corner where I decided to put the sentiment and added two hat pins before sticking topper into place and then the sentiment over the feathers and pins.

I then finished off with some silver filigree corners and roses from Wild Orchid, some faux pearls (randomly placed in groups of three), and a Doo Hickey dragonfly cut out of glitter card.

The inside is decorated to match.

I'm happy with this one as it features my favourite colours and shiny, pretty bits, lol.

I will be entering this card into the following challenges:

http://joannasheenchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/   - theme is 'Happy Birthday!'
http://liliofthevalleythursdaychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/  - theme 'Favourite Craft Tool.'

Take care Everyone
Happy Crafting!
xx

Bella Rose Card.

Hi Folks,

hope you're all having some of this gorgeous weather?  It's been beautiful here today so we fitted in a bit of a bimble around the park (several times) this morning.  Far too nice to stay in all day...even when you're crafting.

Today I have used one of my absolutely favourite stamps which is from the Bella Rose Classic Stamp Set from Heartfelt Creations (link on blog list).

I've chosen the same colours and cardstock (Papermania) as when I used this stamp the other week, but it has a totally different look.

To cut the white lacey layer I used a Marrianne corner die (can't remember name, sorry, but you'll find it easily enough) on all four corners.  This layer has been matted onto a layer of red and a layer of black (and inside matches two base layers).

I have stamped the image onto Supersmooth card and coloured it in using my lubbly jubbly promarkers, before matting it onto a red oval (Spellbinders) and a black lacey oval (Spellbinders).

I added a tiny red bow and some of my faux pearls, and finished off with a stamped sentiment from my Anna Griffin set.

Pretty happy with this one.

Well...enjoy what's left of the weekend.
Take care everyone.
xx

Ker-Bling!

Hi Folks!

Hope you're all ok and not being blown around too much.  It was seriously windy out on the beach this morning, but we had a lovely walk anyway.

Today I have used more of my MCS Quintessential Country Garden Card Kit...just some more of the paper (which is actually card!) that I used in yesterday's card.  And I've blinged it up - possibly a little too much but maybe Jordan will like it?  Lol.

I used my Spellbinders dies and Grand Calibur to make this little card.  And once again, the sentiment is from the Anna Griffin stamp set I bought from QVC.

The backing card has tiny glittery bits encapsulated into it, which gives such a pretty and delicate effect.  I just layered up, cut some Doohickey dragonflies out of glitter card, added some Wild Orchid rose and one or two (lol) faux pearls.

I've ordered a new printer which will be here on Monday...the A4 Brother one which C&C were selling for a bomb.  I've ordered mine for £140 inc delivery, so I'm seriously happy with that.  Looking forward to giving it a good try out next week.  In the meantime I shall be fiddling around doing lots of crafty bits I don't usually have time for.

Hope you all have a fab weekend (just in case I don't get on here!).
xx

I Got To Do Pretty!

Hi Folks!

Hope you're all not too soggy and gloomy.  We've even had a horrible day here today but summer will soon be here - so we may as well get used to the rain, lol.

Today I DID get to do my pretty card for you...yay!  It's not the card I had planned as I designed some which I was going to use digi stamps with...and my printer died!  :oO  Nightmare!  So I had a think and dug out my MCS Quintessential Country Garden Card Kit - the one which came with the TSV on QVC the other month.  Now, I'm not a kit crafter but this is a stunning kit and I had no intention of using it as I planned to just stroke it instead, lol, but today I decided to have a play with it and I'm very pleased with this card which is so simple and quick to make.  The papers and sentiment shape is from the kit, the matting card is Papermania and I cut the butterfly out of gorgeous glitter card which went well with the papers.  The stamp on the sentiment shape is one from a set by Anna Griffin and it fitted the shape perfectly.  I'm actually pretty impressed I managed to get it in such a good position,as I'm not the most confident stamper.

It's just a 6x6 (approx) scallop edged card base with basic matting and layering.  The inside is decorated to match.  I have raised the sentiment and the backing panel for the butterfly with foam tape and the butterfly is slightly raised by the application of Pinflair gel along it's thorax (middle bit).  I finished off with some faux pearls from my stash and I really don't think it needed more than that.  I'm actually happy with this card.  Might send it to myself for my Birthday, lol.

Happy crafting everyone!
xx

Tomorrow I do Pretty!

Hi Folks!

I have finally managed to make a mans' card that I'm moderately happy with.  I have to be anyway, as it needs to be in the post tomorrow and it's for a special friend of me and Jamie.  It's such a relief as it means that I can now treat myself and design (and make) some pretty cards again, yay!

Once again, I've used a Joanna Sheen image - this time from the Nostalgia CD - and a Debbi Moore paper from Shabby Chic Vintage Travel.

It's a very simple card using a 6x6 (approx) card base.  I have printed all the elements onto canvas paper which gives a richer colour and brilliant finish, then cut them out using my guillotine and dies.  I have also completed the inside to match the front.  Some of the corners have been rounded to fit in with the Spellbinders die.  I have kept the gold frame for the topper flat to the backing paper and raised the inner part of the topper.  The entire sentiment is raised so there are several layers.  To finish off I have just used to some black organza ribbon across two of the corners to help bring it together. 

I'm very relieved that that's finished, lol, so now I can really have some fun playing with pretty stuff!  Yippeeeeeeee!

Take care and have fun.
xx

Another Man's Shaped Easel.

Hi Folks! 

Hope you're ok?  Managing to stay dry?  We've been lucky as we had plenty of sunshine to visit Chester Zoo this morning but it's overcast now. 

Today's card is yet another man's card.  Don't know why I'm doing all these cards for the blokes at the moment as I absolutely hate doing them, lol. 

Anyway, the image is from Joanna Sheen's Nostalgia Cd and the backing paper is from Debbi Moore's Shabby Chic Vintage Travel CD.

I do love all these images on the Joanna Sheen cds...they're so beautiful.  Just wish I could do them justice as I'm never happy with my mens' cards...probably because I don't get to pretty them up.  Actually, perhaps it should be made illegal to do handcrafted mens' cards and they should all have shop bought ones instead?  Lol.

I've used my Cameo for this one, with the help of the fabulous Penny Duncan cutting files (available from her blog which is on my list to the right). 

It was just a case of creating a base easel then cutting the layers.  The green mats were colour picked from the garage name sign so it fits in.  I've also inked the edges of those layers a little with Forest Moss to soften them a little.  And I've used Forest Moss to ink the little leaf motifs, which are a cutting file from Silhouette.  Add a few black faux gems and voila...another card done.

Take care everyone!
xx

MCS Shaped Lighthouse Card.

Hi Folks!

Hope you're having a good and peaceful Sunday?  We had a beautiful morning here so took full advantage and had a good walk along by the sea. 

Anyway, today's card is a very simple one created using the new My Craft Studio Creative Card Kits  (Click, Print, Go) CD.  There are lots of projects on this cd under various themes like floral, travel, etc.  And all the images are shaped and have matching matting layers and card shapes as well.  Very good for those bulk sessions or when a quick card is needed.  You can keep them simple or play with them as much as you like.

I chose to do another mens' card today and opted for the travel section on the cd.  I took it into my Silhouette software and prepared the cutting (can easily be cut by hand as well) and layout.  I also cut the bird and the ships wheel on the Cameo.

There is a sentiment on the inside of this card which is part of the kit on the cd,  and that too is shaped to match the image on the front with a matting layer, which is pretty cool.  I've inked around the edges of the card and layers using Antique Linen and Vintage Photo for a more distressed and 'manly' look.  And then I dug out some of my lovely little buttons which I think are so great on mens' cards.  Think I need to stock up on some more! 

Apart from foam pads to add dimension, that's it...simples.

Boofle Birthday Card.

Hi Folks!

Hope you're all ok and had a lovely week?  We've been on a mini break to the Lake District which was absolutely wonderful.  We love it there as there's so much to do and see, and it's so pretty.  We had to take the pooch with us this time which restricted us a little as we couldn't leave her in the car when it was hot, but we did manage a trip to the South Lakes Animal Park, Beatrix Potter's house at Hill Top (a flying visit as the sun came out and we were worried about the pooch!), Windermere for a nice walk, and we also took a drive over to High Force waterfalls near Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham.  That's my absolutely favourite spot and I'd not visited for 17 years so it was a real treat.  Jamie loved it as much as I did, so we'll be going again.  And we put our new Sat Nag (the thing I'd sworn I'd never get!) to good use and it was brilliant.  It took us along all the routes I'd never have taken if I'd planned it by maps, and we went over the High Pennines which were just so stunning.  We saw lots of plovers and curlews and also a few black grouse.  It was a fabulous drive but it was marred a little by the sight of three tiny little lambs dead at the side of the road.  No excuse for that as there's good vision...just idiots driving way too fast...muppets.  But it was a fab day in spite of that.  And now we're home...and we've both got the hump, lol.

Did manage to get plenty of design work in while I was away, but today's card is from messing around with the Boofle CD by Docrafts, which arrived while we were away.  I'm not a fan of Boofle but there are lots of really good elements on the CD which can be used for so many other projects.  I decided to use Boofle himself for this one...a birthday card.

This card was designed using the Docrafts Digital Designer software and is on a 6 x 6 (approx) card base.

I've printed of several of the frame layers and cut them out so that it's physically layered as opposed to flat, and I've also cut out an extra layer of the Boofle image for even more depth.  The sentiment was created using the Boofle alphabet and I've ran a distressing tool around the edge to rough it up a little before fixing it with a foam pad. 

The flower was cut using my Spellbinders Daisy Patch die (two layers) using mulberry paper, and I've finished that off with a brown button, then embellished with some smaller brown buttons.

Is this my favourite card?  Not a chance...still not a fan of Boofle, though he's pretty popular so I will do more Boofle cards.

Do I still have the hump about being home?  You bet I do, but I've just paid the balance on my break to Yorkshire later in the year so we're now looking forward to that and paying a visit to Beamish Open Air Museum! 

Hope you're all having a lovely weekend.
xx

Inspired By Sue Wilson. (DT Project).

Good morning Folks!

It's a beautiful morning here at the moment, and I'm really hoping it lasts as I could do with some good weather today.

Anyway...today's card is a design team project for the fabulous Cards Galore Challenge.  The new challenge starts tomorrow and can be found here.  Don't want to give the game away by telling you the theme yet (I'm posting this a day early), so please pop over tomorrow and have a look and give it a try.  You can join in even if you don't have a blog, so there's no excuses.  This month's really is a fab theme...

As you can tell, this card was heavily inspired by the fabulous Sue Wilson who is the most incredibly talented (and very nice) lady.  Sue has an incredible following of crafty fans and she posts a new card on her blog every day.  Her blog can be found here.  I follow her blog (as do many others) and comment as often as I can as she loves to hear our opinions.  And Sue's incredibly generous as well.  She offers the most incredible blog candy and I was lucky enough to win her last biggy candy and that was an absolutely fab candy too!  So go have a look and sign up to follow the blog.

Shopping list:

White 6x6 card base.
Supersmooth card.
Heartfelt Creations Bella Rose stamp set.
Papermania Black Textured Cardstock.
Docrafts Red Textured Cardstock.
Spellbinders small and large classic oval dies.
Spellbinders Lacey Ovals dies. (largest and second smallest - smaller ones are just scalloped)
Spellbinders Persian Accents dies.
Sentiment stamp.
Black faux gems.
Black organza ribbon.
Promarkers.
Embossing folder (swirly one).
Pinflair gel.
Foam pads.

Method:

Using a plain white 6 x 6 (approx) card base, I matted it with a black layer of cardstock and then a red layer.

The next layer is white supersmooth card which has had the centre embossed with a swirly folder.

I then stamped the rose image, cut it out using one of the oval dies and then coloured it using my promarkers.

Then I matted it onto a larger die cut oval in the red cardstock, then layered that onto a lacy oval cut out of the black cardstock.

I then used the border die from the Persian Accents set and cut out two strips from the black card for the side borders and stuck them on with Pinflair. 

I added the framed image using foam pads to give it a bit of lift, then added the little black bow tied using the organza ribbon.

I stamped out the sentiment onto some Supersmooth card, then framed that using the second smallest of the Lacey Ovals dies, which gives a scalloped effect but not a lacey one.  This was cut in the black card.

Just finished off with some black faux gems and voila...job done!

So that's this months Design Team card for the Cards Galore Challenge.  Please go and have a look and join in.  It's easy.  Just follow the instructions on the link above and it will tell you exactly what to do.  Good luck everyone!

And (although she won't read this) I'd like to offer a huge thank you to Sue Wilson for all the inspiration and 'know how' she gives to her many, many fans.  It really is hugely appreciated so please never stop!

xx

Flower Power! DT Project.

Hi Folks!

So I've been skiving off again...I've been soooo busy and also had a bad case of missing mojo as well, so have been crafting but not designing and you don't want to be looking at the same old rubbish, do you?

Anyway, today there's a new challenge starting over at the Joanna Sheen Challenge Blog and the theme for this challenge is Flower Power, which means anything floral.  As I was lucky enough to be chosen to be Guest Design Team member I'm not allowed to enter but I have done a card which is on the link with the full time DT members' cards.  So go and have a look.  You don't need to have a blog to join in with that challenge, so give it a go!  It's a lot of fun and they're a lovely bunch of people.

Here's the card I've done as my GDT project.

I decided to use Joanna Sheen's latest cd for this one, which is called If Flowers Could Talk and features the paintings of Jayne Netley-Mayhew along with the poetry of Patience Strong.  It's a gorgeous cd if you like florals and poetry.

The verse on this reads:

Making Dreams Come True.

Never think you're wasting time
   in planning lovely things,
Dare to reach out for the rainbow.
   Let your thoughts take wings.
Keep on building all the time
   your castles in the blue.
Keep on dreaming,
That's the way to make your dreams come true.

Patience Strong.

The base of this card is a scalloped square (approx 6 x 6).  I have colour picked and cut two matting layers from the artwork, and used this also for the trellis which was cut using a Martha Stewart punch.

The flowers were printed from the embellishment section of the cd and cut out and glittered.  The dragonflies were cut using a Doo Hickey die.  The faux pearls are from my stash.

Hope you're not all getting too wet?  We'll all be developing webbed feet soon, lol.

Take care Folks!
xx

See - I CAN Do Simple!

Hi Folks!

Hope you're all having a great weekend?  We're having another lovely day here so enjoyed a good walk in the park with Jamie and the pooch this morning, then had a bimble into town to pick up some more ribbon from our little crafty shop. 

Yesterday, I received the new My Craft Studio Teddy Pals and in the Garden cd, and it's lovely so I couldn't wait to use it.  I saw these elements and knew exactly what I was going to do...clean and simple.

This is an A6 scalloped card base and it's unusual for me to go for this sort of shape as I like my square or shaped cards, but I really want to create a range in this size and shape so here's the first of them. 

I've not adjusted anything here.  It's as it came straight from the cd.  I took the elements into my Silhouette software, traced around the edges of the sentiment and topper, created a matting layer and then cut them out with my Cameo.  I've used foam pads for more depth between the layers (a change for me as I usually raise the whole thing), added a bit of ribbon, a double bow and some faux pearls and we have a nice little card which is quick and simple to make, which will keep the price down, and that can't be bad.

Enjoy the rest of your day!
xx

Enchanted Dreams Shaped Easel.

Hi Everyone!

Hope you're all ok and getting some of the sunshine we're having today.  Always makes people feel so much happier, doesn't it?

Today's card is based on an image (and paper) from Joanna Sheen's Enchanted Dreams CD which features the beautiful work of Josephine Wall.  I love this CD as there are so many very usable images on it, and the papers are so pretty.

According to my little Jamie, this is the bestest card ever and people will love it!  Lol.  Well, as long as it's a winner with him then I'm a very happy mummy!

I've designed this on my Silhouette software based around one of Silhouttes cutting file shapes.  Because the image is so delicate and pretty I wanted a shape to match and I think this one fits the bill very nicely.  All the matting and layering speaks for itself...pinflair and foam pads.  And I've kept the embellishments very simple as the paper and image are so soft I didn't want to overpower them, so just two flowers with a couple of brads through them and that's it...simples.

I'm going to enter this into the Joanna Sheen Challenge Blog with the theme of 'Someone Special.'

Go and join in yourself and remember to put GDT after your name to give yourself the chance to be Guest on the Design Team.

Here Kitty Kitty Kitty!

Hi Folks!

Hope you're having a lovely day?  It's been wonderful here...a tiny bit chilly with the wind, but bright and sunny.  We had a lovely walk in the park with little poochy so all is well.

Today...I've done something without using the Quintessentials cd, lol.  Bet you're surprised!  Instead of made a card for a lovely couple me and Jamie often meet in the orang house at Chester Zoo...other members of the zoo.  And, as we're all animal lovers how could it be of anything but an animal?  So I chose to use Joanna Sheen's Jayne Netley-Mayhew Collection (first, I think) and have selected a gorgeous little lion cub.  Awwwww...isn't he cute?

Because it's for a couple I didn't want to make it too manly or too girly...think I've got it just about right here. 

I've used my Cameo to cut this one, using a Penny Duncan cutting file for the base card and layers.  And the circles and flourishes were cut using my cutting dies and Grand Calibur.  Add some little brown buttons and that's it...done! 

Hope you like it?

Take care everyone.
xx

Two More From My Favourite CDs.

Hi Everyone,

Hope you're all well?

I've been playing with my Quintessentials CD again...sorry...promise to do something different in a day or two, lol.  It really is that good, though, and I have so many ideas of things to do with it.

Anyway, there are two cards in the post today, both using the same CD but both very different.  You'll have noticed that I'm not adding my beautiful little roses at the moment.  The reason for that is that with the postage charges going up I need to work on some less embellished cards so I can start pushing my shop site.  By the time I've packaged up the rose embellished ones safely, they're into packet size which sends the postage right up...and will be going up even more very soon. 

The first of today's cards is a simple 6 x 6 (approx) scalloped edge card in a tent format. 

This card has plenty of layers and the inside matches.  Foam pads add dimension and glitter adds some life to it.  I've just added some little card candi to the corners which fits in nicely with the matting layers, which (although they don't look it in the picture) have been colour picked from the background where the birds are.  Nice, clean and simple.

The second card is using one of my favourite shapes and was cut on my Cameo, though can be done using Spellbinders as well.

A very simple but pretty shaped easel.  With this sort of shape you really don't need to fuss about too much with embellishments, so these are ideal for posting.  On this one I've just added a little paper flower (die cut) with some leaves.  The backing paper's so striking that it does most of the work.  To make the topper a little more interesting I have sprayed it with Crafters Companion's Spray and Sparkle to give a slightly glittery effect. 

Enjoy the rest of the day everyone.
Take care and thank you for looking.
xx

Another Quintessential Card!

Hi Folks!

Hope you're all ok? 

Sorry...I'm still playing away with my Quintessential Country Garden CD as it's so packed with the most incredible artwork that I NEED to use it all the time.  This one, though, is a very quick and simple one and so pretty because of the gorgeous papers.

I was tempted to make this into another easel but decided to keep it simple to keep the price down for sales.  I just love the shape of this!  Thanks My Craft Studio...you really are the best!  It's simple to cut out by hand or you can use your cutting machines if you have one.  I've decorated the inside to match the front but left off the sentiment so that whoever sends it can add their own message.

The paper and topper are so pretty that I've kept the embellishments to a minimum with just a tiny bow and some faux pearls.  Again, I was tempted to go much further but I can't always do what I want, can I?  Actually...why can't I?  Lol.  I'll do this card again another day but turn it into an easel and really go all out with the embellies, I think.  It will be interesting to make the comparison.

Right...off to make some more cards!
Take care everyone.
xx

Vintage Rose Easel.

He again Folks!

Ooh...two blog posts today.  It's because I can't stop playing with the Quintessential Country Garden CD, lol.

As you can see, I've made one of my lacy edged easels!  This time I did it in my Cameo in the same way as I make them with my punches (see tutorial page).  I've used supersmooth card, cut it out and then used Forest Moss distress ink.  The image and paper is from the Quintessential cd and the brown matting layers are Papermania Textured cardstock.  The sentiment is from the cd as well and the roses are from my stash.  Add some Spellbinders cut rose leaves, some foam pads and some pinflair and voila...a pretty vintage card. 

I need a bit of the right green ribbon to finish off, and I'll use that as a stopper.  Shall do that when I can get to the shop.  Wanted to add this card today, though, as I'm Ms Impatient, lol. 

xx

Quintessentials Owl.

Hi Folks,

hope you're all ok?

I've been playing with the Quintessential Country Gardens cd again and have come up with this very simple card featuring the rather gorgeous owl which is on the disc.  To make this card I have used one of the element sheets from the cd and colour picked for the matting colour.  The flowers have been cut from the same backing paper.  Very simple to do, but also very pretty because of the fabulous artwork.  I absolutely adore the gentle colours in this - hope you like it too?
xx

Quintessential Country Garden Shaped Easel.

Hi everyone!

Hope you're all ok and having the same weather as we're having here...bright and sunny?

Today's card is just a little play with my new CD...Quintessential Country Garden by My Craft Studio...and what a CD it is.  I'm totally in love with it and will be using it a lot.  The papers, toppers, images, sentiments, embellies...all of it is just fantastic!  And the new paint tool in MCS Elite is fabulous!

As I said, just a quick card today...and clean for me as well.

The topper came straight from the CD with no adjustment this time around.  I took it into my Silhouette software and traced around the edge to get the shape, then used that outline to create the layers and the easel base.  I used my Cameo to cut it all out and do the sentiment.  The matting layers were plain white supersmooth card until I attacked them with my Weathered Wood Distress Ink (Tim Holtz).  And the ribbon (used to make the double bow) was also white but I coloured that with the same ink so it matches perfectly.  A bit of glue, some foam pads and a nice quick card of a very elegant shape.

With this I could have played around a lot more cutting out the various layers, but I decided to keep it simple...this time!  Lol.

Hope everyone who has the CD is as happy with it as I am.  I can't get over how wonderful it is.  It's like MCS got inside my head and saw exactly what I wanted and gave it to me.

Take care everyone.
xx

Sleep Well Thomas Kinkade.

Hi Everyone,

hope you're having a good Easter Sunday?

Well, as you'll have heard by now, Thomas Kinkade very sadly died on Friday.  The world has lost a giant of a man - an incredible talent - a man who allowed his fantastic work to be used by crafters both in papercrafts and in sewing crafts.  And what fantastic work he has left us all with.

My heart goes out to his wife and daughters.
xx

Today I have chosen to use one of Thomas Kinkade's painting as my little tribute to him.  The image and paper are from the Joanna Sheen CD which is incredible and features so much of his beautiful work.  I decided not to do a sympathy card but a card in celebration of what he allowed so many of us to do through looking at his paintings - dream.

Please excuse the slightly sliding off the sentiment bow, lol.  I took the pic as soon as I'd finished it so the glue was still wet.

I have used a combination of my Cameo and my Spellbinders for this card.  The base and layers were cut by Spellbinders, but the topper and layers were cut on the Cameo.

It's just a basic rocker card created using 300gsm white card stock and the green and purple layers are cut from Papermania's Textured Cardstock.

The bow and faux gems are from my stash.  A simple card which lets the artwork do the talking, as it should be with Thomas Kinkade paintings.

Sleep well Thomas Kinkade.
xx

Shaped Bunny Card.

Hi Everyone!

Hope you're ok?

I've had a bit of fun playing today, and come up with something a little bit different.  For the shape of the card I was inspired by an article in this month's Simply Cards and Papercrafts mag in an article featuring designs by Sue Smyth.  There are a whole range of shaped cards using Spellbinders and you all know how I love to use them for my easels, so I tried something a little different and I love the result!  Also, the mag came with some free Nitwit papers from their Spring Whimsy collection, which are absolutely adorable...and they also gave us some little toppers (including the bunny I've used) and some lovely bunny rubber stamps.  So I've used some of the beautiful papers on this card along with the topper.

My little boy thinks it's a billion percent cute which translates as 'massively cute Mummy!'

Awwwww...isn't Mrs Bunny gorgeous? 

I've used Grand Labels 4 to make this, firstly cutting out the second largest shape for the base card before scoring it in half and folding it.  I've then used the same size die to cut the backing paper and then a smaller size for the second backing paper...before cutting both in half lengthwise and then sticking them to the base card.  I've punched a border using my Martha Stewart lacey punch from the first backing paper, and then added a border which was free with the bunny.  The sentiment is one I had left over from the Paintbox Poppets card I made a few days ago.  The flower is cut from my little flowers dies out of another of the free papers and is held together by a little silver heart brad from my stash.

I think it's adorable.  The papers are so lovely and I just love the whole card as it's something different for me.  Think I'll be doing more along these lines, though.

Have a fab Easter everyone, and hope the Easter Bunny hops over to yours with some yummy eggs!
xx

Times Gone By Father's Day Card.

Hi Folks!

How are we on this Good Friday afternoon?  Hope you've remembered your hot cross buns?  The best I ever had was a pack I bought years ago and they used a Mrs Beeton recipe.  Never seen them since then but they were exactly how they should be...mmmmmmm.  Maybe I'll make my own with the little lad next year?

Anyway, today's card is a dudes' card featuring the work of Glynn Williams on a double cd by Joanna Sheen called Times Gone By, and the title speaks for itself.  It's a fabulous cd and jam packed with gorgeous artwork with something for everyone.

As you can see, it's clean and simple which is the way many men like their cards.  Actually...two days running without adding flowers!  It's a miracle!  Lol.

The paper is from the same disc as the topper.  I have designed this card in my Silhouette software and cut it out with my Cameo using a Penny Duncan cutting file (same as you can get from Spellbinders if you don't have an electronic cutter).  The ship's steering wheel is a cutting file from the Silhouette shop, and I created the topper myself. 

The matting layer is a blue leather look card from my stash...pretty sure it was from ebay. 

And that's it.  Clean, simple and masculine.

Think I'll enter this in the Joanna Sheen Challenge - or I will when the site's not playing up, lol.

xx

Another Paintbox Poppets Card.

Hi Folks!

Hope you're all keeping warm and getting some sunshine?

Today's card is a bit different from my usual style and I'm not particularly happy with it, though it does look better in the flesh.  Doesn't hurt to try different things, though, does it? 

I've used the Paintbox Poppets CD by Crafter's Companion again as the images are so gorgeous.

I've used some of my core'dinations from the Vintage pack to do this one instead of backing papers.  The bottom layer is paper pricked around the edge, though you'd have to have good eyes to see it, lol.  The second layer has been embossed with a swirly embossing folder and then distressed with the sander thingy.  I have used one layer of white doily from my stash, and cut another doily out of the core'dinations using my Cheery Lynn die, which is a fabulous die! 

The ribbon, feather and hat pins are from my stash and I made the sentiment to match the card using a sentiment stamp from my Anna Griffin sent.  It reads (in case your eyes are as bad as mine) 'Find what brings you joy and go there.' 

Sorry it's a bit dark but I think it shows up ok.

Take care everyone.
xx