Moonlight Deer

Good afternoon!

I'm back with another Christmas card. PaperCrafter asked some of its designers about their Christmas card makes for a feature in the current issue (#152). At the time I was working on a lovely card featuring some reindeer, a gorgeous moonlit sky and snowy background.

What you need...

Dies: 

Delightful Deer - My Favorite Things

Birch Trees - Mama Elephant

Stitched - Paper Smooches

Circles - Sizzix

Stamps:

Christmas Sampler

Ink pads:

Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Blueprint Sketch - Ranger

Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Salty Ocean

Onyx Black - Versafine

Masking paper:

Masking Magic - Gina K

Card stock:

Brown

Tan

White

Embellishments:

Itty Bitty Stars Rainbow Delight - Little Things from Lucy's Cards

Gel pen:

White UM-153 - Uni-ball Signo

What you do...

1 Cut an 11cm square of white card. Cut an 11cm square of masking paper and die cut a 9cm circle in the centre. Place over the white card stock.

2 Die cut a 2.5cm circle of masking paper and place within the circle.

3 Blend the Blueprint Sketch and Salty Ocean inks within the circle making it lighter around the inner circle. Remove the masks.

4 Create a 12cm x 14cm white blank and mat the blended panel centrally at the top.

5 Die cut three birch trees in white. Place one at the left. Use the curved stitched die to create a snowbank approximately 5cm deep and attach to the bottom of the blank. 

6 Add some snow in the sky with the white gel pen.

7 Die cut the two reindeer and assemble.

8 Add the two remaining birch trees and one of the reindeer.

9 Create another smaller snow bank and fix to the bottom of the blank along with the remaining reindeer.

10 Add a sentiment to the bottom left. Finish with a few stars.

I'd taken some extra photos of the process in case they wanted them for the feature, so rather than waste them I thought it would be a good idea to use them in these instructions.

I was so pleased with this card and the colour scheme is crisp and fresh.

Also in the magazine I have an adorable reindeer card. This one showcases a spin element where several reindeer dance around Rudolph sitting the middle. This is featured in my monthly Step by Step tutorial, where you can learn a technique in 9 steps. It is simple to make and such fun to play with.

PaperCrafter issue 152 is out until 15th October. For more ideas, free templates, projects and inspiration why not pop over to the PaperCrafter website?

Well, this has been quite a long winded blog post. I normally don't do posts about my magazine makes but I just wanted to share this adorable reindeer spin card with you.

Thank you for popping by and I'll be back soon with another make.

Free Animal Pun Digi Stamps

Hello blog friends!

In a recent issue of PaperCrafter I designed some adorable digi stamps themed around cute animals. There is a cat, llama, sheep, toad and a cow. Along with the images there are also some pun sentiments included such as 'You're the cat's pyjamas!', 'No prob-llama!' and 'Love ewe!'.

I also created five cards to highlight the images and some of the puns. 

Image copyright PaperCrafter

You can download the digi stamps for free by clicking here. This will take you to the free animal pun digi stamp page on the PaperCrafter website. You will need to sign up, but it is free, quick and easy.

The website is jam packed with projects and ideas plus there are lots of other free downloads such as templates and patterned papers.

Why not pop on over to PaperCrafter for a look? There are lots more digi stamps available including some more that I have previously designed for past issues such as birdies and houses.

Thank you for popping by and I hope to be back soon!

Winston & Flo Christmas Card

Hello Blog friends!

Also a big hello and welcome to my new followers! Thank you so much.

I'd like to share with you today, a card I designed and illustrated for my husband's Christmas card.  Winston is a cute bunny I've created and decided to give him a little friend called Flo.

I sketch my illustrations in pencil and then scan and tidy them up using Photoshop and my Wacom Cintiq. The design is then printed out and coloured in, just like a digi stamp. The sentiment was added when the image was in Photoshop.

Here is the card....

I used Copics to shade in the image and added the stars with a white gel pen. I am hoping to come up with some more images of Winston and Flo, I did actually do a set of illustrations featuring Winston for the current issue of PaperCrafter (#129). It is a new home card with Winston peeping out the windows - so cute!

The photo doesn't really do the image justice, especially the colour of the sky.

I hope you like my little illustration, thank you for popping by and I'll be back soon.

Believe - Cute Penguin Bauble

Good afternoon lovely peeps!

It is still glorious weather here in the UK. Unfortunately the trees and plants are suffering a bit, if would rain overnight and be sunshiny during the day it would be perfect. We shouldn't moan really, because the weeks are flying by so quickly Autumn and Winter will be soon upon us. I love all the seasons though.

I've been busy today, making batches of jam and lots of quick Christmas cards - so productive!

Lately I've been going through some of my PaperCrafter magazines and thought it might be nice to do a series where I re-do some of my makes that were in said magazine.

The first one is a lovely penguin bauble card using a Joanna Sheen die. This featured in issue 88 of PaperCrafter way back in 2015. I have made it exactly the same.

What you need...

Card stock: aqua, black, white

Die: Penguin Bauble Signature Die - Joanna Sheen

Baker's Twine: black

Gems: clear

Christmas rub-on phrase

Adhesives

What you do...

1 Die cut two baubles, one from black card and one from white. Assemble so the inner parts and the top are white.

2 Cut a 10cm x 14cm piece of aqua card and attach the bauble to the lower right with foam pads. Thread a length of twine through the bauble and secure over the top edge of the card.

3 Mat the aqua panel onto a top fold 10.5cm x 14.5cm white blank. Tie twine in a bow around the top of the bauble hanger. Finish by adding the phrase and a few gems.

I loved doing this card. The die was one that I would not necessarily choose, but the magazine sent it to me to create a card and I'm glad they did. I think it looks so elegant.

This is going to be a good series to do. I tend not to get my makes back from PaperCrafter so I don't really get the opportunity to show them off.

Thank you for stopping by and I'll be back soon.

Exploding Easter Box Card - PaperCrafter Issue 119

Hello again my lovelies!

The new issue of PaperCrafter is out today and I have a couple of projects to share with you. The one I want to show you today is my Easter chick exploding box card. All my digi stamps and templates to create this cute card are available to download for free from PaperCrafter.

Everything you need to create this cute card along with step by step instructions can be found here. You can download the templates here along with lots of other templates, papers and images. You will need to register, but it is free, quick and easy to do.

The beauty of this card is that it will fold flat and fit in an A5 envelope.

I also have an adorable cat shaped card in this issue, so I will be back soon with images and details of that card.

Thank you for stopping by and don't forget to check out the PaperCrafter website for oodles of inspiration and ideas!

Be Unique

Good afternoon peeps!

In the current issue of PaperCrafter (issue 96) you get a set of free heart dies! The kit includes three dies which will give you a four way combination.

I made 15 projects using the free dies for the issue, one of the projects is a framed artwork and here it is...

I did a mix of cards, tags and gift boxes all in bright zingy colours. You can find lots of projects, ideas, inspiration and free downloads over at PaperCrafter. You can also follow them on Facebook and Pinterest. Why not pop on over for a look?

Well that is me for now, back to the Christmas commissions (yikes). Thank you for stopping by and I'll be back soon with another card. x

Some of my makes from PaperCrafter 95

Good morning all!

Issue 95 of PaperCrafter is in the shops now, and this month you get a free set of dies (bunting and a Happy Birthday present) and two double sided embossing boards (zigzags/butterflies and hearts/leaves). 

I'm so chuffed that one of my makes using the free bunting die is this month's cover star! I have lots of projects in the mag using the free gifts.

I was also asked to test the new Silhouette Curio and I came up with three different projects, one using embossing and printing, one using die-cutting and another using the print a card feature. Here is a peek at the projects.

Using the print and emboss feature

Using the die cutting feature

Using the print a card feature

You can find these and all my other projects (and there are a lot of them) in the current issue. These Curio projects with step by step instructions can be found on the PaperCrafter website, click here to take you to the page.

Don't forget lots of inspiration and ideas are available on the website and you can follow PaperCrafter on Facebook and Pinterest too!

I'm off now to get on with some commissions. Thank you for popping by and I hope to be back soon! 

Cute Picture Frame!

Hello peeps!

Happy St. Patrick's day to you all (especially to June & Stephen)!

Our cat Bazoo makes an appearance in the current issue of PaperCrafter (#93). I was asked to design five projects using items from my craft stash with a cup cake theme. One was to come up with a cute frame using a cup cake wrapper.

I couldn't find a white frame anywhere (typical, when you don't need one there are hundreds to be found). I bought a black one, sanded it, added a couple of coats of white acrylic paint, added a coat of crackle varnish and then another of white paint. They effect is lovely and I'm really pleased with it.

I created a bright aqua background and added some leaf shapes and a stem in bright green card. I managed to find some gorgeous flower printed cup cake cases. I stuck a lovely black and white photo of Bazoo in the centre of the case.

The little cup cake topper sticks are part of the collection too. Check out the current issue of PaperCrafter (93) to find out all the items used and details on how to make. Of course the mag is jam packed with lots of other great projects, ideas, hints and tips. The free gift this month is a 10 in 1 score board and there are some great projects in the mag on what you can make with it.

Well, I'm off now, loads to do, thank you for popping by! TTFN! x

PaperCrafter Issue 93

Afternoon all!

So chuffed! As you may or may not know, I am a regular designer for PaperCrafter magazine. My cute little Easter bunny card has made front cover of the current issue - whoopee!

This quick and simple card was made using papers and stickers by Doodlebug, it would be a great little card to create if you have lots to send out.

You can find lots more ideas, hints, tips and giveaways on the PaperCrafter website or you can follow them on Pinterest and Facebook.

Okay, that's all from me for the moment. Thanks for dropping by, ttfn!

Mum, You Colour My World

Happy Saturday peeps!

Well as it is Mother's Day tomorrow, I'd like to share another one of my cards. This is so simple to make and is bright and colourful.

Items needed...

Patterned papers: Kraft in Color 6" x 6" Paper Pad - Doodlebug

Card stock: lime, white

Fine liner pen: black

Ribbon: striped

Gems 

Adhesives

To create the stems I simple doodled them along with a few leaves. 

I think you can still get this little Doodlebug paper pad. If not, then you can use any other patterned papers in rainbow colours or even plain card if you wish.

This card was taken from a set that I did for Issue 79 of PaperCrafter. If you pop along to their website you can find lots of ideas and inspiration, plus there are tons of freebies you can download and print. You can follow PaperCrafter on Facebook and Pinterest too!

Thank you for popping in and I hope to be back soon with my make for the new Incy Wincy challenge.

TTFN xx

Mother's Day

Good afternoon lovely crafters!

Here in the UK we celebrate Mother's Day on Sunday 6th March. PaperCrafter have a collection of 9 of my cards to share with you. You can download the instructions, items needed and a photo of the finished make for free! Click here to take you to the page. 

You will need to register, but it quick, easy and free to do. From then on you can download lots of projects, templates and papers.

Here are a few of the cards that you can make...

I hope you find some inspiration to make a special card for a wonderful mum!

Thank you for popping by. TTFN x

Paris!

Good afternoon lovelies!

I hope you are all well. Not so for me :o( 

I've been in bed since Wednesday afternoon with this horrible cold virus that has been going round and believe me, it is HORRIBLE. I really hope that you don't catch it.

Anyhoo, I am feeling much better, not quite 100%, but well enough to crawl out of my pit.

I was looking through some makes that PaperCrafter have been posting recently on Facebook and spotted the Paris scene card that I did for the last issue (#91).

It is such a bright, fresh and spring like card that I thought it would be lovely to share with you.

Items needed...

Dies: Xcut Shadow Box Die Parisian Street - docrafts®

Card stock: black, white, shades of aqua
Heart sentiment rub-on

Gems: clear

Adhesives

This lovely die set come with seven dies that you use individually or as many as you like. As a shadow box can be quite deep, instead of using foam pads I just used flat adhesive. You can of course use all sorts of colours in the one card, but I wanted to keep the aqua theme running throughout to give a nice, crisp clean card.

I hope you like my card and a big thank you for visiting! TTFN xx

So Cool

Hello peeps!

I hope you all have had a fruitful day. I've been finishing off a couple of commissions for PaperCrafter. I can't wait for you to see them when they come out, they are so bright and colourful!

Talking of PaperCrafter, I have the second of the cute critter cards that were the bonus makes on their website from a past issue. Yesterday I posted the crab card and here is the little seal card...

This cute little fella was taken from the Chilly Chums stamp set by Paper Smooches (you've probably guessed by now that I love PS stamps).

As with the crab, full instructions and items needed can be found on the PaperCrafter website. Click here to take you to the page. They are free and if you sign up (also free) you can download lots of templates and patterned papers.

You can also follow PaperCrafter on Facebook to keep up to date on all the crafty news and gossip, plus there are competitions and giveaways too!

Thank you for calling by and I have a lovely bright, CAS simple to show you next time using Sizzix Craft Asylum dies!

Ta ta for now! xx

Oh Crab...

Afternoon all!

As it's very chilly at the moment I thought I would warm you up with a little card that I did as part of set for a past issue of PaperCrafter. 

This was one of two cards that were bonus makes on the PaperCrafter website. Here is the cute little chap!

This adorable little crab is taken from the Chubby Chum Pals stamp set by Paper Smooches. To get the effect on his shell, I coloured him in with Promarkers and then stippled over with the blending pen and a fine nib.

You can find the full instructions on how to create this card and all the items needed on the PaperCrafter website, click here to take you directly to the page.

There is also a cute little seal card as well, I will post a picture of that one soon.

Thank you for stopping by and I'll be back soon! TTFN xx

Cute Cat Card

Afternoon all!

There is a blast from the past on the PaperCrafter website, a cute decoupage cat that I illustrated and designed for Crafts Beautiful a couple of years ago. 

PaperCrafter has the 'how to create' the card on their website and you can download the original illustration from the Crafts Beautiful website.

Here is the cute little chap!

Isn't he adorable? I'm not a big fan of decoupage, so I only made this one or two layers. You can just use the base layer if you wish as it is fully illustrated.

What you need...

Digi stamp: Decoupage Cat Card - Crafts Beautiful

Card stock: white

Patterned paper: pinks, aquas

Promarkers: aqua, lime, pink and greys

Fine liner: black

Gel pen: white

Button: lime

Twine: black

Adhesives

Click here to take you to the PaperCrafter page and here to take you to the Crafts Beautiful download page. You will need to register with Crafts Beautiful, but is quick, free and easy to do.

Thank you for dropping by! TTFN! xx