Sunday 24 February 2019

Love Kraft

Hello blog friends!

Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend. It is very spring like today. Warm, sunny, buds are out, spring flowers are blooming and the birds are singing. It would be fabulous if it could stay like this, but there is always time for the weather to turn cold and wintry again.

As Valentine's Day has recently passed I thought I would share with you the 'Love' card I created. I'm a firm believer that you don't need one over commercialised day to tell someone you love them. Send them a card anytime!

I decided to keep this non traditional by using cream and Kraft colours.



What you need...

Card stock: Kraft, ivory
Embossing folder: D'Vine Swirls - Cuttlebug
Stamps: Falling For You - Paper Smooches
Ribbon: Bare Basics Jute Ribbon - Papermania
Twine: cream
Ink pad: Onyx Black - Versafine
Decorative pins: ivory oval, heart
Pearls: ivory
Flower: Bare Basics Burlap Flowers - Papermania
Adhesives

What you do...

1 Hand cut a large heart from Kraft card and emboss. Mat onto ivory card and trim again.

2 Wrap and tie cream twine around the base of the heart, secure in place and attach to a 10.5cm x 14.5cm Kraft blank.

3 Attach a jute ribbon bow over the ivory twine bow, add a flower and two decorative pins. 

4 Stamp the sentiment in the top left corner and add pearls to the heart.

To give it a more shabby feel, I didn't cut the heart or its mat too precisely and I also frayed the ends of the jute ribbon.

This is quite a bulky card, so for posting you could create a matching box or make paper flower for a flatter look.

Well that's my little make for this time. Thank you for popping by and I'll see you soon!

Tuesday 12 February 2019

Spring Makes - Crafts Beautiful February Issue 2019

Hello blog friends!

As some of you may know I design every month for Crafts Beautiful and PaperCrafter magazines as well as doing makes for the marketing and promotions department.

In the current issue of Crafts Beautiful (Feb 2019) there is a gorgeous free stamp set worth £9.99. The stamp set is huge and comes mounted on an A4 sheet. The theme is spring animals and there are some adorable images.

Myself and two other designers have come up with lots of ideas in the magazine on how to use your stamps. There are some bonus makes on the CB website, which I'd like to show you today.

Here are my three bonus makes...

Ducks in a row

Piggy

Shimmering Snowdrops

The full instructions for these makes and other bonus makes can be found on the CB website. Click here to take you to the page. You will need to register, but it is quick, easy and free and means you have access to templates, downloads and free papers. 

Don't forget that Crafts Beautiful is packed with all different crafts, hints, tips and techniques and you get a free gift every month. It's a lovely magazine and I really enjoy designing and illustrating for them.

I'll back soon with a Kraft inspired 'Love' card and a cute and fun monster birthday card.

Thanks for popping by!


Sunday 3 February 2019

Much Appreciated

Hello blog friends!

I hope you are all well. I'd like to say a warm welcome to my new followers!

I thought things were going to calm down magazine wise after the extra Christmas and Winter Specials but I'm busier than ever. Not that I mind it keeps me out of trouble, the only thing is I don't get as much time to create for me. Saying that I've managed to get in a cute thank you card for a friend.

I love birds (which is why I have chickens running around the garden) and I love cards which feature birds, especially comical ones, hence this card...



What you need...

Card stock: white
Stamps: Many Thanks - Paper Smooches; Bird Brain - Tha Alley Way Stamps
Patterned paper: Blessed 6.5" Paper Pad - Kaisercraft
Alcohol markers: Honeycomb, Budding Rose*, Rose Pink, Trick or Treat* - Promarkers; Jasper BG57 - Copic Sketch
Ink pad: Onyx Black - Versafine

*Limited edition colours

What you do...

1 Stamp four birds on top of each other vertically and colour in. Trim the panel to 3.5cm x 15cm and attach centrally down a top fold A6 blank.

2 Attach two coordinating papers at either side of the stamped panel. Trim away the excess paper and card.

3 Stamp the sentiment onto white card, trim and attached across the bottom of the blank.

I actually extended the length of the legs of the bottom bird with a fine liner. I based this card on the sketch by Retrosketches. Sadly the blog hasn't been updated since December 2016, but you can still access all the sketches. Click here to take you to the sketch I used (RS#184) and many, many more.


Sadly another stamp company that is no longer in business is The Alley Way Stamps. You can use any birdie stamp set that you have in your stash for this project. The one used in the Retrosketch is one bird with very long legs!

I hope you like my fun little make and thank you so much for stopping by. TTFN!