Followers

Thursday 31 March 2016

Craft Rocket Challenges Mythical Creatures

Hello Everyone
So, today is challenge 12 for Craft Rocket Challenges - Mythical Creatures - fairies, elves, dragons, pixies, unicorns etc. Why not take a look at Craft Rocket Challenges and see the other DT's work and join in too.
The image on the card was created using a my craft Studio cd-rom called Winter Wonderland. I die cut it doing the "out of the die" technique and a Tonic circle die. I embossed the top of the bauble by using a Quickie glue pen and CS gold embossing powder - looks a bit "bubbly" but I quite liked the effect, I will try double/triple embossing next time. It worked! I'll definitely be trying that again. The "loop" at the top was double embossed using Perfect Medium  and CS embossing powder.



Ingredients
6x6 card blanks
images from My Craft Studio
Tonic - circle dies
Sue Wilson - Itty Bitty 3d Bows
Sue Wilson - Snowflake Mini Striplet
Tonic Nuvo - black glitter
CS - glitter (can't remember name)



Saturday 26 March 2016

Oldie for FFriday

Hello All and Happy Easter. What are you all up to this week end. Yesterday's weather was glorious, very Spring like and quite warm when out of the wind. My oldie(s) inspired by Erika at Snappycrafts is a card I made about two years ago. Actually I ought to get this die out again and use more often with a revamp using dies that I have bought after this e.g. Spellbinders - Marissa's Bouquet, Tonic -Swirls, because it is a beautiful effective die that doesn't need a lot of extra embellishments. The top card is a 4x6 card blank, Becca Feakin Filigree Delights, Lidll card stock, Spellbinders - D Lites Bitty Blossoms, gold bling from Mei Flowers. The second card used the die in both orientations to make a square card. for a Polish couple celebrating their first (paper) wedding anniversary. Apparently their wedding had a pale yellow theme. This time I used a Tonic Petal Pairs punch. Fortunately I work with a girl from Poland who was able to do the translation for me. I'm going to my aunt's Golden wedding party tonight and to my sister in law's tomorrow for a sumptuous roast dinner. OH is working today and on Monday - happy days,  no cooking and more crafting!






Thursday 24 March 2016

Crafting won!

Hello Everyone, thank you again for coming along.
If any of you saw my Saturday post, you'll know I was in a dilemma - craft or housework? Crafting won, ERIKA! 
I prepped a couple of cards that I need to finish, finished a couple of cards that needed inserts, made a card (which is below) and some knitting. 
I made this card for a friend to give to her brother-in-law. her brief was - "we're not close, needs to be posted, lives by the sea and is a retired bus driver." So, as I did card a card around the bus theme last year I decided to use a sea theme this time. I have kept it fairly flat (one layer of decoupage) and matted all of the elements with sandpaper. The images are from a digikit - Pebble Shore by Serif. I used a Perfect layers ruler to do the torn effect - so much easier than tearing freehand. After watching Leonie Pujol and Nicky ? on Hochanda and Create and Craft respectively, the both cut their sentiments at quirky angles - Woo hoo! so easy as I can't cut straight. I did, however, use Perfect Layers rulers to create the edge of the sandpaper mat. I use these a lot. In my opinion is one of the best value for money craft purchases I have made
A simple card, but very pleased with the end result






The Perfect Layers Rulers Can cut a border from 1/16th" up to 1"
Ingredients
5x7 card blank
sandpaper
Printed on 250gsm super smooth cardstock
Serif cd-rom - Pepple Shore

Saturday 19 March 2016

My Oldie for FFFriday

Hello All
Where's the sunshine gone? Thank you for visiting. Today is my daughter's Baby Shower. I have not been involved in the planning of it - in other words I haven't been asked to make/supply anything. So I've been able to relax and just go with the flow

My oldie (having sneaked a peek at Erika's blog - Snappycrafts- hers is amazing). Mine looks very amateurish) I thought I'd show my first go at inking (well one that didn't look too bad after a bit of practice). I think I had watched Ali Reeve at the time. 
Any crocheters must look at her Saturday funnys today, but I think they apply to all of us crafters! Enjoy your week end whatever you're up to. I need to make a couple of cards and I need to do some housework.... I wonder which will take precedence....

Ingredients
4x6 card blank
black card 
Distress inks - I can't remember the names but I think it was Mustard Seed, Wild Honey and Milled Lavender or was is Dusty Concord
Spellbinders D-Lites - Asters 


Thursday 17 March 2016

Craft Rocket Challenge 11 - Anything Goes

Hello Everyone
I hope that you are well It is now just over three weeks to D-Day (Due Day!) To say I am excited is an understatement, but very scared too.
However, this fortnights challenge for Craft Rocket Challenge is "Anything goes. Plaese take a look at the other DT members work and why not join in.
My card was made for a friend to give to their neighbour who will be 96! I wanted to make a fairly simple card and include texture. Her eyesight is not the best, hence the large lettering and simple font on the front. It also includes my latest guilty secret -  a Tattered Lace Pearl Flourishes die. I must admit they cut like a dream and I think I will find them extremely useful and "bling up" too with mica, embossing powder, gilding flakes, pearl drops etc
.
Ingredients
DL shaped card
CE Foundation card - Wisteria (I love this colour!
Sue Wilson EF - checkboard
Sue Wilson dies - Open Daisy and Eternal Rings
Tattered Lace - Pearl Flourish die No 5 large and mini
CS Phill Martin Twinkles - Chic Viola

Karen
xxx

Saturday 12 March 2016

Oldie for Fffriday

Hello Everyone
Thank you for taking a look at my blog. I hope that you are all well. We have beautiful sunshine here and a line of washing outside. I love it when the first line of washing goes out. It's one of the first things that makes me feel that Spring is on the way! Could do with a bit more warmth though, couldn't we. I'm still reeling about our good fortune at the raffle prize. Thing like that don't usually happen to us. I have sent you an email, HAZEL I would love to see your tips on making Nappy Cakes. It'd be another string to my bow as I could make truly personalised ones to go with the baby cards I make
I thought I'd have a slight change for this week's oldie as inspired by Erika. It is one of the first cards I made using Patsy May Foil It machine. This My Craft Studio cd-rom contained coloured images as well as black and white ones. I printed off the colour image first on my inkjet printer (without the black and white image) and then after adding the black and white image and deleting the coloured image sent it through my laser printer. There are quite a few foiling machines on the market now that work with laser print, for example, Heidi Swapp's MINC machine and Tattered Lace Midas machine. I have to say that they have come down in price a lot too. I might have to revive this technique and utilise some dies that I own now...
have a great week end whatever you're you're up to


Thursday 10 March 2016

I'm back! I can explain now!

Hello Everyone
Thank you for popping by. If you can leave a comment, I value all of the feedback, 
Well! What can I say. Yes, JACKIE I've been on an exotic trip, but not to the Caribbean this time. We were exceptionally lucky and won first prize in the Harefield Hospital Christmas Raffle! A seven day trip, flying Business Class to Dubai! I could not believe it when the gentleman rang me at Christmas. I almost ended the call thinking it was a "cold" call trying to sell me PPI or something. 
I had never flown BC before, what an experience. I almost didn't want the flight to end, I was having so much fun. A few things on the plane really made me chuckle. One being, I had my overhead locker all to myself. No shoving and ramming in the bags and the other, an actual bar.Everything about the flight was amazing.
 When we got to the hotel, we discovered that there was an art exhibition taking place - Dubai Canvas and the artists were staying at our hotel. 
I am posting some photos - I took tons - of a lady's piece. I especially liked her work because it was made using masking tape. Her name is Erikah and she's from New Zealand. She could see that I was especially attracted to her piece and we started chatting. I asked her if she was using Washi tape. Apparently, Washi tape has a slight waxy feel and wouldn't stay put for as long as necessary. The rest of the works were pavement art that gave a 3D illusion. 
PS Mrs DUCK Charlotte is very well, about 5 weeks to go now!
I just had to take a photo of this in the airport lounge! A Rolex clock for heavens sake!
Can you read it



All made with masking tape

Erikah at work


My favourite illusion

OH sitting on the pavement trying to push the boat


Have yuo noticed that the deep sea diver has changed to this


Saturday 5 March 2016

Oldie for Fffriday

Hello Everyone

I have scheduled this post as I'll be busy. Therefore I haven't posted a link to Erika's blog - Snappycrafts. Today's card was for a work colleague. I always try and make personalised cards - gets a bit difficult at times. I was running out of ideas for this particular lady and so, following on from the last few week's oldie theme is another image from MCS - Fabulous Fifties and what lady doesn't like shoes! I now have Sue Wilson's Pierced Tags and may "revive" this layout using those for the sentiment... Have a great week end and next week I will explain the reason for why this post is scheduled

Thursday 3 March 2016

Craft Rocket Challenges Number 10

Hello and thank you for calling in. If you can stay and leave a comment, I do appreciate it as I know time is very precious to us all.
Today's challenge is "Feathers and/or Fur Birds/Animals/Teddies" Please take a look at the other designers work and why not join in. I would love to see some familiar names on the entries.
I made this card for a friend. I have shown one similar to this here. But this one is a completely new layout/design for me. I wanted to do a frame and have "teddy" sitting on the edge of the frame. Now, I have one set of plain square dies and found it hard to line up the second die. It's a lot easier to line up the dies if you can use both sets of dies i.e. the A set and the B set, to get an even frame, lining up the ones you are not going to use for cutting and then removing them - does that make sense?  Anyway, it gave me the idea to do a wonky frame instead - no lining up hooray! I really like this effect - hence more have been made and used. I mounted the frame on 2mm foam tape. "Teddy" has been decoupaged and placed on top.

The first one, for Phoenix is the card I posted on Saturday. The colour is a pinky/lilac which matches the cardigan that was posted with it




Ingredients
6x6 card blank
patterned card created  by "colouring picking" in Serif to match the patch on teddy's head and the cardigan I have made for her
Pink card created as above
Spellbinders 6x6 Matting Basics Squares - set B
Tattered Lace - Charisma Teddy die and Click Print Go cd-rom
Candi made with Presscut Dotties die