Woodworking

Another last minute request for a Grandad card.

The recipient enjoys a bit of woodwork so I used this lovely stamp from a Buzzcraft set.

I've cut out a shaped piece of card using an x-cut die and stamped on to it, coloured with copics and sponged the edge lightly.

This is mounted on a piece of blue card, as is the peel off sentiment.

Card candi and little gems have been coloured using a copic pen to match.

Writing Set

My latest commission was a request for a writing set for someones family who likes to write letters - I obviously said yes before I'd thought it through!

After some trials I ended up with a wallet that could fit A5 paper, which was part of the request, and could be made from one sheet of A3 card.

There are one or two tweeks I would make if I made another from scratch like this but it fulfils the brief.

Sorry the pic is a little wonky.

After much testing I decided to use the Stampin' Up Baby Blossoms stamp set which I haven't used for a while and really love.  I was going to use shades of pink but didn't have enough contrast in my inks so stuck with my favourite lilac/purple combo.  The front, back and lip of the wallet are layered with card and topped with a stamped piece.

The blossoms are two-step stamping so I had much playing with stamp-a-ma-jig.  These are then interspersed with leaves from the set.

There are 20 pieces of paper in the wallet, with 20 envelopes.

I used a scalloped oval punch to take a section from the wallet so you can reach in for the paper and envelopes.

Each piece of paper is sponged round the edge with lilac ink.  I have then stamped an oval at the top of the page and added the stalks & blossoms from the set to every page.

The envelopes are decorated once on the front and once on the back with just the blossoms.

The wallet closes using velcro and I've finished it my using a couple of Nellie's dies in the matching card, topped with another blossom that is cut out using the SU scalloped oval punch.

I have just remembered I was going to add a pen with matching paper in the barrel so I must sort that out!

Paint the Town

A commissioned card today for someone I work with.

This lovely stamp is a Penny Black transparent one from the set 'paint the town' and ideal for the recipient who is a bit of an artist.

The request was a bit last minute so I didn't get round to adding a sun in the picture or any sparkle to the background as I might of done with a spot more time!

I've covered the card in some flowery paper from the stash.   The image is coloured in copics and I double stamped the snail on the pot and the brush pot twice so I could 3D them.

Sentiment computer generated and both layered on pink cards to match the backing.

Tomorrow I will post the stationery set some of you might know I was experimenting with last week.

Sunshine!

The very heavy rain last night (which I was expecting to have today) has shifted most of the snow and we've had a bit of welcome sunshine this morning.

I popped out with Mum to Montacute House, a National Trust property which is just down the road, for coffee and some fresh air.

After a stroll we also had the option of a free tour of the house which isn't fully open through the winter as it is in its conservation period so was really interesting and I learnt some things I didn't know about the house and its history.  Although I visit a few times a year to wander in the grounds I don't often go in the house - always the way when you live near something.

Obviously after a tour we had to have lunch as well so a lovely morning out - on with the crafting now!

Woodland Folk

This is a card I made for a friend using DOCrafts Digital Designer.

I printed out the decoupage sheet on a sheet of A4 and set-to with the scissors!
There are 5 layers and it took longer than expected going round all the tufts on the animals and the little flowers & leaves in the trees.

Having said that I am pleased with it - aren't they cute?

I mounted the finished piece on orange card and layered on to a card which I covered with a piece of paper from the Woodland Folk paper pack.

Furnished with Love

Yesterday Jo finished another challenge on her facebook page (I was lucky enough to have been picked out of the hat last week for my kraft & white CAS card).

This week the theme was love.

I decided to make a quick card using a Stampin' Up set I acquired recently called 'Furnished with Love.
It has a few images and amusing sentiments in it - I will try & make some more to post sometime.

For this card I have layered some heart paper on red card and cut an aperture in it before layering that to the base card.

I stamped the toaster image, coloured with copics and punched out, layering on another punched circle in matching red card.

The sentiment has been stamped, punched out and layered with another SU punch.

Hope everyone is keeping warm - will be interesting to see what the weather is doing when I wake up for work tomorrow!

Coaster Set

Another week bites the dust.

Today's post is a present I have finished this week.

I've had these coasters a while - because of the paw prints I decided to add some stamped pictures with a cat & dog theme for a present.

I have used Penny Black transparent stamps from the Bubbly & Critter Party sets.  I've then coloured them with copics and on 3 of them have added some glossy accents for a bit of shine.

I made the box with the help of my lovely SU simply scored - the base is light blue which matches the layers on the top.

I've then used the leaves from the bird punch and the blossom punch and some circles to finish off the decoration on the top which snuggly houses the set of coasters.

Clean and Simple

A very quick & easy card today.
Whilst trying to get a bit of order to my crafting I have been browsing on blogs and facebook pages.

I have been keeping an eye on Jo Dumbleton this week as she has been selling some of her old SU stamp sets - like I need any but I had to have a look.  It has inspired me to dust down some and have a play.

On Jo's facebook page she set a challenge too yesterday for a CAS (clean and simple) card.  I have actually been playing with a few commissions today (in between some constructive craft tidy) so literally made this quickly.

I also wanted to try the kraft/white colour scheme as I saw some cards at Christmas that used it and they were lovely.

I have used the Happy Birthday from the SU Sassy Salutations set which I've heat embossed with some fab fine white WOW powder.  I've layered this up and put it over a strip of punched dotted scallop ribbon border and finished with the now discontinued SU photo corner punches.  It's not amazing but it's ok and I will definitely use the colours again.

I am also entering this for Addicted to CAS Challenge 4 - Embossing.
Karen over at Serendipity Dragonfly is the host for this challenge - I might even try another!

Trio of Quilled Flowers

I am still here!

A busy few days trying to find bits and pieces & do make samples for tonight and get some 'blue peter' pieces ready.

I gave a talk, demo & practical to the local branch of the Wrens Association.  I used the same card design I used for a talk last year but chose 5 instead of 6 petals and had sold most of my samples so have made a pile more this week.

It's a simple little design and I've already added a pot as there isn't time to quill that as well.

Everyone that had a go took home a finished card - some with alternative takes on it & many quite inspired to have another go which is a good nights work.

Tomorrow night more scampering to find items required for Crafty Bunch (and attending Crafty Bunch obviously) and hopefully back to some more posting later in the week.

Rainbow Bracelet

I had today booked off from work (don't want to overdo it first week back!).  After a quiet morning and actually buying some fresh food (haven't had to cook for nearly 2 weeks) I bumped in to fellow blogger Val at our local craft establishment at lunch today - got to keep up with what is available!

After lunch and a browse I had decided that this afternoon was for me not to make a card for anyone or get involved in tidying but to make something 'just because'.

Whilst browsing some bead patterns, something else I have not done for ages, I found this kit which I think I might of got for free with a magazine subscription some time back.

The picture on the kit has always looked a bit too bright but on examination I found the dagger beads were smaller than expected and the instructions looked fairly easy so I had a go.

The kit is 'Rainbow Circles Bracelet' from Beads Unlimited - I could tell you how complicated it was but luckily it was quite straight forward and I am quite pleased with it.

There were enough beads to make it longer but I have quite small wrists so stopped at this point - I now have a jewellery bug to add to my cross stitch one I developed over Christmas!