Love Wings

Hello peeps!

I'm here not with another Christmas card, but a Valentine's card. My husband and I don't usually do the Valentine thing, but I thought I would do a soppy card for all you romantics out there.

I had a sort through some of my older Sizzix dies and came across the Heart Wings Bigz die and the Scallops On the Edge die.

Pebbles has a really cute Valentine collection this year called Forever My Always, so I've teamed some of the papers up with the dies.

What you need...

Dies: Tim Holtz On the Edge Scallops (656627); Tim Holtz Heart Wings Bigz (656638) - Sizzix

Patterned paper: Forever My Always 6x6 Paper Pad - Pebbles

Card stock: black, red

Gems: clear

Rub on: love

Adhesives

I'm not sure how many of the dies are now available, you may be able to find one or two on the internet. Any heart die would also work teamed up with some simple wings cut from patterned paper.

This card would also be perfect for an anniversary or just to tell someone you love them any time of the year!

I hope you like my simple little love card. Thank you for stopping by! 

Adam Ant & Celebrate Sunshine

Heevin' me lovelies! 

Hope you all had a fab weekend. I know I did. Simon and I went to see the one and only, the fantastic, talented and still totally gorgeous Adam Ant on Sunday evening. He was absolutely mind blowing and such a great showman. I got a t-shirt, a signed copy of his new album and a few other goodies. I'm still buzzing!

I've been catching up on the gardening and a few other jobs whilst the weather has been so lovely. I managed to get some more commissions sent off. Hopefully I will get to do a couple of cards before I start on the next lot.

For now, here's one I made for the January issue of Crafts Beautiful. Enjoy :o)

What you need...

Papers: Amy Tangerine Sketchbook 6x6 Paper Pad - American Crafts

Stamps: Dear Lizzy Warble - American Crafts

Dies: Chinese Roses - Marianne Design Creatables; On the Edge Scallops - Sizzix

An unused book

Netting: cream

Ink: Onyx Black - Versafine

Seam binding: cream

Baker's twine: pink

Button: turquoise

Stick pin: pearl

Flat backed pearls: pink

Adhesives

What you do...

Cover a 12cm square blank with ledger paper. Die cut one small and two large roses from a book page. Hand cut three leaves in pink paper and scrunch.

Adhere to the right side of turquoise paper 4.5cm x 8cm. Die cut a scallop border in green spotty paper; attach this along with the turquoise piece to the lower right of the blank.

Wrap and tie twine around the card. Thread the button with twine, tie around a stickpin, a small piece of netting and a length of binding. Glue to the blank just under the roses. Stamp the embellishment above the rose panel to the left, finish with a few pearls.

I think this is one of my fave cards of all time, even though I had to cut up a book :o(

Being ex-library it took a lot of courage. I bought a copy of Far From The Madding Crowd, one of my favourite books. It was a new paperback, but only a couple of pounds. it was still hard to chop into; better than cutting into my much loved hardback copy.

You could photocopy a page on both sides and age it with tea, but you don't seem to get the same effect unfortunately.

I did three other cards for this project, one of which is a cute kite with a tail made from baker's twine. You can download the template for the kite card from the Crafts Beautiful website. For a look at the whole set of four, check out my post Crafts Beautiful January 2013 - Pt 3.

On checking t'internet, you can still get the lovely Warble stamp set from A Trip Down Memory Lane.

Well, it's getting late, so I'll say toodle pip for now. Thanks for dropping by! xxx 

Twinkle Star

Heevnin Peeps!

Dull and breezy here today, with the odd shower. The days seem to have been really dark and gloomy of late, then again it is nearly the end of October (yikes). At least it's all warm and cosy inside :)

Today I have another Christmas card for you.

 

What I used...

'Tis the Season 12 x 12 paper - Bo Bunny

Scallops - On the Edge die - Sizzix

Star, Primitive #2 die & embossing Folder - Sizzix

Walnut Stain Distress Ink - Tim Holtz

Black ink - Versafine

Let It Snow stamp set - Penny Black

Garden & parcel twine

Button - star, wood

Beads - small, red, wood

Florists wire - green

Stems - Canadian Pine, fine - DoCrafts

Glitter Dots

I cut a piece of patterned paper so it would cover approximately two thirds of a 13.5cm square blank and scalloped the lower edge. After sticking to the front of the blank, I wrapped and tied frayed parcel twine around the card and stamped 'Twinkle' in the bottom right hand corner in black.

I die cut and embossed the star, distressed it with Walnut Stain and mounted it onto the card with foam tape.

The embellishment  was created by doubling over florists wire, wrapping it around a pokey tool to create a small spiral. This was then threaded through the bead and pulled taut so the spiral sticks in the bead hole.

After making three of these, they were twisted together and arranged with three short lengths of pine stem. Garden twine was wrapped around to secure and tied in a bow. Frayed parcel twine was threaded through the wood star (enclosing the pine stems at the back) and tied in a knot, positioning it on top of the bow. A few glitter dots were applied to the patterned paper to finish.

Because of the embellishment, it's probably a bit bulky to send through the post, but it's perfect to give by hand, to someone special. I was thinking of doing some more to make into napkin rings, they'll match in perfect with my Christmas decor!

That's me for now, thanks for passing through.

Toodle-pip! xx



Joy!

Aft'noon peeps!

Here I am again with another Christmas card. This one was inspired by a project by the fabulous Pete Hughes (from Sizzix) in the current issue of Papercraft Inspirations (Issue 105 - Nov 2012). I have put my own take on it, using a die cut mistletoe branch, 'Joy' phrase, snowflake and scalloped borders instead of Pete's branch, 'Noel' phrase and lacy edges. Plus, I fixed my bauble to the card front, where Pete had left his to dangle so it could be removed and used as a tree ornament.

So here it is....

What I used.....

Carved Ornaments - Movers & Shapers - Sizzix

Joy - Movers & Shapers - Sizzix

Scallops - On the Edge - Sizzix

Snow Flurries - On the Edge - Sizzix

Mistletoe - Marianne D Creatables

Aspen Frost 6x6 Paper Pad - Basic Grey

Green Card

Baker's Twine - Red

Pearls - Flat Backed

I die cut two baubles, one in patterned paper and one in green card, and another in red patterned paper with the 'Joy' die inserted. They were then layered up, and the red bauble was mounted with foam pads. I snipped the top off the green bauble and stuck it to the top of the red. I tied baker's twine around the top.

A scallop border and a snowflake border were cut in patterned paper. These were adhered to a white blank along with a wide strip of co-ordinating paper. I die cut a mistletoe sprig in green card, distressed and embellished it with pearls. This was then adhered to the card along with the bauble. Ta da!

I must say I do love Pete's creations. Whenever I see his projects in magazines I always 'ooh' & 'ahh' along with, 'got to have a go at that'.

Enjoy the rest of your Monday! Thanks for calling by. xxx

Jolly Holly

A happy Tuesday evening to you all.

It's been a bright and breezy day here in Norfolk, you can tell that Autumn is in the air. According to my calendar it officially begins on Saturday 22nd September. Yipes!! Where has the time gone?

Some of that time has been well spent on this little card.....

I cut a piece of Black and White Mini Dot Reverse paper (Canvas Corp) and die cut along one edge with Scallops (On the Edge - Tim Holtz - Sizzix). It was adhered to the top of a blank and trimmed.

Using the Holly & Berries #2 die (Sizzix) I cut the holly in pear green spotty paper (Dots & Stripes - Soda Fountain 6x6 pad - Echo Park) They were mounted on to the top left of the card with foam tape.

Two small red buttons were threaded and knotted with red baker's twine. A larger button had baker's twine threaded and tied in a bow, securing short lengths of frayed string and garden twine on the reverse. These were then glued at the top of the holly.

A 'Jolly' word was die cut in black card (Merry, Bright & Jolly - Decorative Phrase Strip - Sizzix) and adhered to the bottom right . The card was finished with a tiny red gem on each button and clear glitter dots on the holly.

This card was supposed to be quick, but the time spent on choosing the right papers and colours was ridiculous! Oh well, I got there in the end. I think the black, white and pear green colour theme is striking and the touch of red really brings the whole thing together.

That's me for now. Have a good evening and thanks for looking! xx

Crafts Beautiful Christmas Special 2012

Aft'noon peeps!

Been busy this week. I had an extra commission to do for Crafts Beautiful and I've just finished another one to meet the next deadline.

The Christmas Special issue is out today. Here is my Bouncing Baubles project. 

 

I went for a retro theme, with red, pink and lime green as the colour way. The papers are from the K & Company Peppermint Twist collection and are much brighter than they appear here. For more crafting ideas visit Crafts Beautiful. Where you can download free papers and templates, such as the bauble and noel for my projects.

This month's issue is packed with festive projects, ideas, tips and inspiration. You also get a fab free gift, well two actually. A 64 page luxury Christmas paper pack and a set of festive toppers.

Well, I'm off now to make another Christmas card, so I'll post it as soon as it's finished.

Until then, toodle pip!

Let's Chill

Hello Chums!

Hope this post finds you all fit and well! I've had a fairly lazy day today, but I have managed to make another Christmas card.

I love the colours on this one. I was inspired by an old collection of Bo Bunny 'Tis The Season. I have used my fave stamp set of the moment, Swanky Snowdudes by Paper Smooches. I punched a scallop edge onto some turquoise card using the Scallops On the Edge die by Tim Holtz. I then attached this to the top of an A6 blank.

Next I stamped and heat embossed the images with black Versfine and clear embossing powder and coloured in with Promarkers. I punched out the images using various sized punches, along with circles in lime, red and chocolate. After mounting each image onto a coloured circle, I wrapped a length of white sparkly ribbon around the turquoise section and knotted at the left. The images were then arranged and stuck down with foam pads. I finished with some Shimmer Dots by Papermania on the snowflakes.

I think it a fresh, fun and simple card. I had a lot of fun creating this one.

Well, that's it for today. Got to go and get ready, off to an Indian restaurant in Aylsham with some friends for a curry (nom nom). I bet we'll all smell lovely tomorrow!

Take care and thanks for looking.

Colette

Could it be spring?

Greetings all!!

I'm just sat looking out of my craft room window and the sun is shining, not a cloud in the sky, the birds are singing, the fact that all the trees in the back garden are bare makes you realise it's still winter. Spring is definitely on it's way though. Is it just me or do birds sound different when spring is round the corner?

I have been busy with more commissions for Crafts Beautiful. Plus we've got loads of people coming round to give us quotes on new central heating, radiators and new bathrooms. All these things to think about at the mo, my brain aches. You know what I mean, when it hurts to think, or to put it another way, you can't be bothered to think.

It was my Dad's birthday yesterday. I did him a fab card, I used the new Portobello Road collection from Papermania. It was very British, the main focus being on Big Ben. I placed it on the card at an angle (well it is leaning). Both my Mum and Dad really liked it. Forgot to take a photo - oops - slap wrist!

I have a friend who has just started a new job at the vets where I take Bazoo, so I've done her a Good Luck card with a black cat on it (very apt). Very bright and funky. Also, someone we know is going travelling round the world for a year, so I made her a Bon Voyage card. I remembered to take a couple of piccies this time!

Here I used papers from My Mind's Eye - Good Day Sunshine collection, First Edition - Animal Antics pad and K & Company - Greenhouse by Carolyn Gavin. The aeroplane is from a Cuttlekids die set, the flowers and fence are from a K & Company die cut pad which matches the papers. The Bon Voyage is stamped onto canvas all wonky like.

I used the same K & Company papers and die cuts as before, the black cat is a Judikins rubber stamp and I used the Tim Holtz - Scallops - On the Edge die. A few brads, ribbons and a rub on....ta da!

The photos really don't do them justice, they are so bright and funky in real life. I know the Carolyn Gavin collection is really hard to get hold of, I had to get mine from the US. The Judikins stamp was still available from Stamping Mad last time I looked.

The whole thing about crafting and looking at other people's work, isn't necessarily to copy like for like, but for inspiration and to use what you have or is available and put your own twist on it and enjoy!!

Happy crafting!!!