Elegant Floral

Hello blog friends!

I have decided to use more of my old stash rather than keep buying new stuff (how long that will last I don't know).

Even though I've had the items used for this card for some time, I still have listed what they are and the brand, as some of you may have them or you might be able to track them down through the power of the internet.

I usually do fun and quirky, but this time I felt like doing something more feminine and elegant.

What you need...

Patterned paper: Expressions 12" x 12" Paper Pad - Kaisercraft

Dies: Tim Holtz Plaque & Postage On The Edge Die (656628) - Sizzix; Craft Asylum Thinlits Layering Daisy (660485) - Sizzix

Stamps: Life Sentiments (CS763) - Kaisercraft

Ink pad: Extreme Black - My Favorite Things

Punch: corner rounder

Twine: white

Button: aqua

Adhesives

What you do...

1 Die cut the plaque from bold floral paper and adhere to the top of a 10.5cm x 14.5cm top fold white blank.

2 Cut a rectangle of coordinating paper 5cm x 8cm and fix to the top of the blank on the right hand side.

3 Die cut the layering daisy in another coordinating paper and fix to the bottom of the rectangular panel.

4 Stamp the sentiment under the rectangular panel.

5 Wrap and tie three lengths of twine around the top of the blank.

6 Thread and tie twine through the button and stick to the centre of the flower. Round the corners of the bottom of the blank.

I got the inspiration for the layout of this blank from Retrosketches. Sadly this blog hasn't updated since 2016, but there are over two hundred sketches/layouts for you cards to choose from with some inspirational makes.

I hope you like this little make. Don't forget you can use any stamps, papers and dies from your stash.

Thank you for popping by - TTFN!

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!

29 Again?

Afternoon peeps!

Well it's another wet, miserable day here in Norfolk. We can't complain too much, because until yesterday the weather here has been glorious. The chickens don't like this rain though, they've been sheltering in the shed :o(

Anyhoo! I'd like to show you the little card I made for my mum's birthday. Thankfully my lovely mum has a great sense of humour. I apologise for the quality of the photo, it was quite a dull day and I needed to get it posted to my mum, so I had no choice but to snap it when I could.

So here it is...

What you need...

Stamps: Bird Brain - The Alley Way Stamps; Birthday Sampler - Paper Smooches

Card stock: white

Ink pad: Onyx Black - Versafine

Patterned paper: Zip-A-Dee Doodle 6x6 Pad - Bo Bunny

Promarkers: Apple, Duck Egg, French Navy

What you do...

Stamp the bird onto white card and colour in.

Trim to size and attach to the top of a white top fold blank 10.5cm x 15cm.

Stick co-ordinating papers either side of the image.

Stamp the sentiment underneath, to the right.

I love this stamp set, the faces on the birds are so comical. I based the layout on Retrosketches #46.

My mum loved the card...phew!

Okay, I'm off now to get on with magazine commissions. Thanks for popping by and enjoy the rest of your day. xx

I Heart U This Much

Hi there!

I'm back today with a cute little Christmas card. 

I've been very good and used stamps and papers from my stash. 

Saying that, I did get some lovely goodies through the post this morning (naughty girl - slap wrist). Oh well, I can't be good all the time ;o))

So onward we go to the card....

Don't these little guys want to make you go 'Awww!'?

What you need...

Stamps: Freezy Fellas - Paper Smooches

Patterned papers: Snow Day - Crate Paper

Card stock: white

Ink pad: Onyx Black - Versafine

Promarkers: Amber, Bright Orange, Chilly Red, Warm Grey 1

Buttons: beige, orange, red

Baker's twine: purple

Gem: red

Adhesives

What you do...

Stamp the images onto white card, colour in and cut into a circle. 

Mat onto a slightly larger piece of aqua patterned paper.

Create a white top fold A6 blank. 

Attach a 6.5 cm wide strip of scallop paper down the length of the blank approximately 1.5cm from the left edge.

Cut a simple banner 3cm x 6cm in aqua patterned paper and fix to the top left corner.

Attach the snowmen to the lower right corner.

Tie twine through a red and orange button and glue to the lower right of the snowmen. 

Thread twine through a large beige button, tie in a bow and glue to the left of the banner. 

Finish with a red gem in the heart.

So cute!

I based this card on retrosketches#56...

Pop on over to the retrosketches blog where this and many more fab layouts can be found.

I would also like to enter this in The Cutie Pie Challenge Blog - Challenge #77 - another gorgeous blog, I'm so glad I discovered it :o)

Craft tip!!!! I find that Versafine pigment ink pads are the best to use with photo-polymer stamps as it gives very clear, precise results and you don't get the patchy result that you can get with dye based inks; but it does have a tendency to bleed when using alcohol based pens such as Promarkers or Copics. Of course you can use embossing powder to fix the image, which can be messy and time consuming.

Solution? A quick fix is to gently set the image with a heat gun for a few seconds. Let the image cool down and colour away!

Anyway, that's me for now. Thank you for dropping by...xx

Mumpkin

Happy Sunday my lovelies!

I hope you are all having a lovely weekend. I've been for a nice walk with a friend this afternoon and have just had a lovely glass of Pimms (naughty - I know).

Well, this morning I made a little Halloween card. I don't think I made any last year and absolutely adore Halloween. Anyway, I came up with this cute little card...

Isn't he just the cutest little Mumpkin? I've had the stamp a couple of years, I've checked on the Internet and youcan still get it if you shop around. The paper is from a K and Company 12x12 Halloween collection that I've had in my stash for some time.

What you need...

Stamp: Cling Mumpkin (CRH280) - Stampendous

Card stock: black, orange, white

Patterned paper: black/white striped

Ink pad: Onyx Black - Versafine

Embossing powder: Detail Clear - Stampendous

Promarkers: Lime, Pumpkin, Ice grey 1

Stickers: stars, black

Font: Evil Bunny

Adhesives

What you do...

Stamp the image onto white card, cover in embossing powder and heat set. 

Colour in and cut out. Mount onto black card and trim.

Make a black 12cm x 12cm square top fold blank. 

Mat a piece of orange card 11cm x 11cm centrally onto it followed by a 10cm x 10cm piece of striped paper.

Attach the mumpkin image to the lower left corner and stick a few stars around it. 

Type and print the sentiment onto white card, trim into a banner, mat onto black card, trim and adhere to the top right corner.

Cool or what?

Unfortunately there isn't an equals sign in the Evil Bunny font, so I had to put in a dash and add the extra line with a fine liner, but I don't think you can tell.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges....

One Crazy Stamper - Halloween/Christmas

retrosketches #131

Why don't you hop on over to these cool challenges and have a go?

I'm going to sign off for now. Thanks for popping by and I'll be back soon. xx

Easter Wishes (and a huge egg of ginormous proportions)...

Aft'noon peeps!

Are you looking forward to the Easter holidays? I am. It will be nice to have Simon around over the four days. Hopefully the weather will stay lovely and I'll get more gardening done.

I'd like to show you a little card I whipped up for Easter. I sent it to my mum and the gang up in Yorkshire. Here it is...

What you need...

Papers: Cotton Tail 6x6 Paper Pad - WRMK

Card: white

Stamps: Picoti Picota - Artemio

Promarkers: Baby Pink, Oasis, Pressed Leaf

Ink pad: Onyx Black - Versafine

Punches: circle 1.5"; 2"

Gems: clear

Adhesives

Mat a piece of blue spotty paper at the top of a 12.5cm white blank and a narrow strip of plaid paper underneath, leaving a small gap between the two.

Stamp a chicken onto white card, colour in and punch out with the 1.5" punch. Mount onto a punched 2" circle of pink paper. Mat to the left of the blank, over the gap.

Print out the sentiment, trim and fix to the lower right. Finish with a few gems.

The layout was based on this sketch, rs#82 by Retrosketches...

Click here or on the link in the sidebar to discover this and more fab layouts.

Okay, so you are probably wondering about the ginormous egg mentioned in the title. Well....the other day I found an egg in the nest box and no kidding it is massive! I think an ostrich laid it (I suspect it is Dolly).

No wonder she struts around with a wide eyed look on her face. I've taken a picture (sad, I know) with another egg (of average size) with a ruler to give you a general idea. The size of the thing! There is an omelette for two just in that one egg.

How did she push it out? The mind boggles.

The eye watering evidence......

I think I might blow it and save it to compare with any other rugby balls laid in the future.

I am going to go now, but I'll be back soon. Thanks for dropping by. xxx

Old Bird

Happy Saturday peepsicles!

I hope you are all enjoying the weekend :o)

It was my Uncle Roy's birthday on the 13th (Happy Birthday Uncle Roy! - sorry the card was a day late - oops) and I decided to put together this little creation.

What you need...

Stamps: Bird Assortment (97729) - Inkadinkado

Papers: Swagger 6 x 6 Paper Pad - Fancy Pants Designs

Promarkers: Burnt Orange, Ice Grey 1, Mustard, Pear Green, Petrol Blue, Rock Pool

Dies: Framelits Circles (657551) - Sizzix

Card: white

Ink pad: Onyx Black - Versafine

Button: mustard

Parcel string

Adhesives

What you do...

Stamp and colour the owl. Die cut into a circle and mount onto a larger circle of pale blue paper. Cover a top fold 12cm square blank with a smaller square of patterned paper. Cut a panel of the petrol blue paper and die cut a part circle from the lower left side. Adhere the panel the right side of the patterned paper.

Mat the owl onto the blank so it sits in the cut out circle of the panel. Stamp a sentiment and trim into a banner, fix above the owl and finish with a button tied with frayed string.

I know the sentiment is a bit cheeky, but Uncle Roy has a good sense of humour so I know he can take it. Plus, this bird stamp set is just so cool. The bored/not impressed look on the birds' faces is classic.

I based the layout on the Retrosketches #99.

Click here to link to the Retrosketches site or you can find them in the sidebar under Brilliant blogs I follow.

Anyhoo, that's me for now. People to do, places to go, things to see....

Enjoy the rest of your Saturday! xx

Holly Jolly Christmas & Retrosketches #82

Mornin' peepsicles!

Hope you are all well on this Thursday morning?

As I promised in my last post, I want to show you a card created using the new Basic Grey collection, 25th and Pine. I also used retrosketch #82 as inspiration for the layout.

Here we go...

What you need...

Patterned paper: 25th and Pine 6x6 Paper Pad - Basic Grey

Chipboard motif: 25th and Pine Designer Chipboard Stickers - Basic Grey

Gems: pale green

Adhesives

What you do...

Mount a piece of baubles paper 8cm x 10cm centrally to the top of a 12cm square blank.

Take a piece of green patterned paper 2cm x 10cm and trim a few millimetres from the depth; line up underneath the top section so there is a small gap.

Stick the chipboard sentiment to the left of the blank over the gap between the papers. Decorate with a few gems. Ta da!

The retrosketch #82 is such a simple, yet effective layout.

For this and more great layouts, visit http://retrosketches.blogspot.co.uk/. A new sketch is introduced every Saturday along with some wonderful creations by the design team. You can also re-create the sketch yourself and enter it into the weekly challenge.

The new 25th and Pine collection is really fab. It's packed with retro images and patterns in subtle shades of pale green, red, pink, navy and coffee brown. The collection is great for card making and scrap booking.

I'll sign off now, I'm just going out to collect the eggs the girls have just laid (they announce it very loudly that they have produced an egg).

I'm still waiting for Babs to lay her first proper egg, she's managed a couple of soft shelled ones, so hopefully in the next couple of days she'll do a perfect little hard shelled one :o}

Thanks for stopping by... until next time xxx

  

Good Cheer Star - Retrosketches #84

Hello peeps!

Well, it's a wet and windy day here in Norfolk. As I look out of my craft study window, I can see a wood pigeon clinging onto a branch for dear life, bobbing around like it's at sea!

I've been inspired by this weeks retrosketch #84.

Isn't it fab?

Check out http://retrosketches.blogspot.co.uk/ for the DT take on this sketch. They are so cool. There are also many great entries into this weeks challenge.

Here's mine...

What you need...

Card stock: black, white

Dies: Framelits Primitive Stars 657910 - Sizzix

Washi tape: black/white vertical striped; lime; red/white diagonal striped

Stamps: Christmas Sampler - Paper Smooches

Ink pad: Onyx Black - Versafine

Felt holly leaves

Buttons: red

Twine: white

Gems: clear

Adhesives

What you do...

Cover a piece of card, slightly smaller than A6 in strips of washi tape. Tear one of the strips near to the bottom of the card and stamp the greeting. Attach the covered panel to the blank.

Glue holly leaves and three buttons tied with twine onto a star die cut in black card. Fix to the top left of the blank and finish with a few gems.

If I am in time, I might enter this into this weeks retrosketch challenge.

I shall say ta ta for the nonce and I will be back soon with another make. Take care xxx

Celebrate Baubles!

Good afternoon me lovelies!

I have been outside enjoying the mild October sunshine with my girls.

Every time I rake a pile of leaves they follow me and scratch and kick them all over again. Sometimes I just rake up little piles to watch them do it; it's so funny. Anyway, they've had their afternoon treat of corn and they are now happily preening (or pruning as my dad calls it).

I thought I would share a little Christmas card with you. I still have some of the fabulous Peppermint Twist papers and embellishments from K & Company. Using the Retrosketches #52 as inspiration for the layout, I came up with this...

What you need...

Patterned papers: Peppermint Twist 12 x 12 Paper Pad - K & Company

Embellishments: Peppermint Twist Ornament Grand Adhesions - K & Company

Card stock: white

Cord: silver

Punch: corner rounder

Adhesives

What you do...

Stick a piece of green patterned paper 11.5cm x 11.5cm to the centre of a 13.5cm square blank. Cut four 2.5cm x 6cm strips in co-ordinating papers. Adhere down the left side of the blank, rounding the top left corner on the first strip.

Round off the bottom right corner on a piece of white card 7.5cm x 9cm, add three of the bauble embellishments with lengths of silver cord for hangers. Wrap silver cord around the bottom of the card and tie in a bow. Next, attach it to the blank so it overlaps the paper strips.

Make a small bow made from silver cord and adhere to the top of  one of the baubles to finish.

The good thing about baubles is that they are so easy to make yourself out of co-ordinating papers. Plus you can layer them up to give a more 3D effect.

Retrosketches have some fantastic sketched layouts, so if you like #52, then check out http://retrosketches.blogspot.co.uk/ for this and many more wonderful sketches!

That's me for now, I'll be back soon with another creation, thanks for visiting! xxx

Good Cheer!

Aft,noon peeps!

Are you looking forward to the weekend?

Today I would like to show you a card I based on retrosketches #78

And here it is...

What you need...

Patterned paper: Colorful Christmas Merry Dots - My Mind's Eye

Chipboard tree: Colorful Christmas Glittered Chipboard Sheet - My Mind's Eye

Stamps: Christmas Sampler - Paper Smooches

Dies: Framelits Ovals - Sizzix

Ink pad: Raspberry - VersaColor

Glitter dots

Adhesives

What you do...

Cut eight strips of Merry Dots paper 2cm x 8.5cm. Use both patterned sides, arrange and stick down the centre of an A6 top fold blank.

Stamp the sentiment onto white card and die cut into an oval. Die cut a slightly larger oval in the reverse side of Merry Dots. Adhere to the lower right of the blank.

Attach the tree motif to the left of the oval. Finish with a few glitter dots.

There we have it, a quick and simple Christmas card. Why not check out the RetroSketches blog for more ideas and inspiration?

Enjoy your evening and I'll be back soon with another Christmas card

Congrats - Cricut Mini Project

Aft'noon peepsicles!

The weekend is almost here again - woohoo! Simon and I had a lovely day out at the Royal Norfolk Show yesterday. Lots of Pimm's all round!

I'd like to share with you, if I may, this weeks make using the Cricut Mini. A very simple and contemporary wedding card.

The digital cartridges used are Simply Sweet and Cuttin' Up. Both offer really cute, modern fonts and images. There are also several layers to play with there are more images with the Show Shift/Lock Images option. Visit Cricut for cartridges and project ideas.


Simply Sweet - Cricut

Cuttin' Up - Cricut

What you need...

Die cutting machine: Cricut Mini

Digital cartridges: Simply Sweet; Cuttin' Up - Cricut

Embossing folder: D'Vine Swirls - Cuttlebug

Card stock: pale grey, white, black, pale pink, mid pink

Adhesive gems: clear

Adhesives

What you do...

In your Cricut Craft Room, bring up the Cuttin' Up cartridge and select the Show Shift/Lock Images, choose the wedding cake/layers and cut out in the different shades of card. 
Select the congrats phrase/shadow from the Simply Sweet cartridge and cut out in pink and white card.

Assemble all the elements, mounting the phrase onto a piece of black card cut into a banner.

Create a 12cm x 15cm top fold blank in pale grey card. Mount a smaller piece of black card centrally onto it. 
Emboss D'Vine Swirls onto a smaller piece of white card and mount that centrally onto the black.

Attach the banner to the top right and the cake at the bottom left of the blank with foam tape. Finish with a few gems.

I chose the grey/black/white/pink theme for a clean, crisp modern look, but you could make the card to suit the colour of the bride/bridesmaids/flowers. 

This design would also be good as wedding invites, just change the phrase and to save time, don't emboss the white panel.

The layout was based on Retrosketch #30.

Visit http://retrosketches.blogspot.co.uk/ for more layouts and sketch ideas, plus lots of inspiration.

Hope you like this little make, thanks for popping by and see you soon xxx