A Little Bit of Parchment

Thought I would try and post something different this week. 

I am having a little trip next week with some friends to Harrogate to the Parchment Exhibition.  My poor hubby has volunteered to drive the minibus - don't think he realised what he was letting himself in for taking 16 ladies on a craft trip.  They have all promised me they will behave and look after him !!!!!!!! LOL.

I used to go to Horncastle College for parchment weekends/summer school with Pauline Loweth (Parchment Express & Create & Craft). I made this on my first summer school week and although it wasn't perfect I felt a great sense of achievement and thought it was time I shared it with you.  Since then I have made several pieces and especially like gridwork (which has certainly improved).  Parchment is one of my loves although I don't have time to do much of it these days with everything else that gets in the way, it it a great way to relax.

I traced the basic fan pattern with a black fineliner pen on parchment.  On the main area of the fan I embossed several of the areas with a medium ball tool and then to make it a little bit whiter used a small ball tool, shading it where appropriate.  Every other area was embossed with a scriber and cross-hatched.  The gridwork was done using a 1-needle tool and then crosses cut out.  Various sizes of Sun tools and stencils were used for decoration.  Lower down the fan I used a mini stamp edge (which cuts where it is used). On the area near the tassel I stippled using a 1-needle tool onto a hard surface to give a different effect.

To finish I coloured some peel offs using a black promarker, parts of the peel offs were cut to form the embellishments and placed onto the parchment.  To make the fan look a little bit more realistic I made two more end struts and layered them on, black promarker was used again at the bottom of these.  The fan was cut out using a scallop tool to give a frill lace effect and then a tassel was attached.

I have place the fan onto black card as background to enable the parchment to show.

I hope you like my little creation this week.  It would be great for you to leave comments and also to hear from any other fellow parchers.

I am entering this into the following challenges (hoping that it is acceptable)

Allsortschallenge - Black & White

Emmascardsuk - Monochrome

CESchallenges - No Squares Allowed

Mymumscraftshopchallenges - Embossing

Totallypapercrafts - White on White

Thepoodlesparlour - Anything Goes

Papertakeweekly - Anything Goes

Divasbydesignchallenge - Monochromatic

Craftsandmechallenges - Favourite Colour Combo

Makeitmonday - Anything Goes

As always thanks for stopping by and looking at my little creations

Take Care

Hugs xx 

A Little (Fusion) Sketch

It is a long time since I last posted - as mentioned in my last post it has been end of financial year and there as been a lot of changes at work.  Having worked in the public sector for a long time I along with a lot of my colleagues have now been transferred to a private company.  As you can imagine there has been a lot of upheaval and no doubt there will be more along the way.

Before I show my new creation, I would like to say big thanks to the design teams for my Top 3 and Top 5 for 'What A Treat'.  Also to all the lovely comments and followers - thank you. 

I recently went to a class at Lets Create and we used Sheena's paint fusion transfers. Enjoyed it so much I decided to take the plunge and do a sketch - a first for me so hope it is ok.

Not sure if anyone has tried these, if you like paint fusion they are a must-have and add another dimension to your card making.

I choose one of my favourite designs and followed the instructions from the crib-sheet.  Once I revealed the design I distressed it with vintage photo, embossed the edges with Cosmic Shimmer Aurora Crystal Sparkle and then sprayed Crafters Companion Spray & Shine.  Although the image was not perfect I thought it gave the card more of a vintage look.

Anyone who knows me knows green is not my favourite colour however this went with the theme.  The backing papers are also from Sheena's Paint Fusion Cd - you are spoilt for choice.  I choose 2 co-ordinating papers and matted/layered with card from my stash.  I cut the corner and used the co-ordinating paper as a faux turn.  I used a distressed tool on all the edges,then distressed them with Walnut Stain.

The corner was stamped with Inkadinkado Gem Stone Flourishes and embossed.  The sentiment was from Dawn Bibby Delicate Scroll Stamps finished with another Gem Stone Flourish and finished off with an organza rose.  Little gems were placed in two corners.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Allsortschallenge - Sketch
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Stamptacularsundaychallenge - Loaded with Layers
Inky Impressions Challenges - Birthday Celebration
The Pixie Cottage - Green & Gorgeous
Ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog - Birthdays
Paper Pretties blog - Pink & Green

As always thanks for stopping by, your comments are always appreciated.
Take care
Hugs xx

Have A Treat

I have been enjoying this lovely weather we have had, just hoping it will last a bit longer because I think we all feel better when we get the sunshine.
This week has been very hectic at work as it is end of financial year and probably like a lot of you it is a nightmare with stocktakes, invoices etc. Thank goodness it will soon be over.

Couple of bits of news I would like to share with you all.  I was lucky yet again to win a lovely card from Jo Channon using Joanna Sheen products and then I got Top 5 in the Allsorts Challenge with last weeks card 'Dance, Dance, Dance.

Now for this weeks little creation.  I made a birthday card last year for Lets Create and subsequently Jo Channon asked if I would like to do a workshop on it.  I will be posting pics later with the results from the ladies that came to the workshop.

Distressed Inks - a combination of Mustard Seed, Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Dried Marigold,& Spiced Marmalade - were used throughout the card.
Main Card - I cut an 8x8 card blank from Craftwork Cards in half and used one side to distress (the other half has been kept for another card) to form the base.  This was distressed and then spritzed (gently) with Cosmic Shimmer Mist Golden Fish. The mirri layer was cut using the faux technique (draw round the outside of the largest label and cut freehand). Two layers were cut using Grand Labels One, the largest & next size down in white stamping card and distressed.  The 4th layer I used coloured card, a mask was placed on this and distressed ink used.  The topper was pearl card, cut from labels 8 and distressed around the edges. The stamped image was from Little Claires (cupcake tree) and coloured with distress inks,  Another layer of mirri card was used then supported with foam pads. I then stuck layers 2,3,4 together. I cut 2 small pieces of lace and stuck a piece on each side and then on the left (as you look at the card) I placed a small piece of ribbon (from a 1metre length) on the lace and stuck that down on the back.
I then used another 8x8 card blank and glued 2 pieces of folded card to form runners along the top and botton as near to the edges as possible inside the card on one side, then place glue on the runners and shut the card flat to dry.
I made bunting, distressed and stamped letters onto them, bakers twine was used to string them together.  A cupcake was stamped onto pearl card twice and then coloured with promarkers.  I cut the icing part of the 2nd image and decoupaged it onto the cupcake.  Placed a little bit of twinkles on to the icing.
Inside Card - This was made from 3 layers from Lables 1 (2 white card and 1 coloured card) same technique was used as main card.  I used a cupcake recipe and which was cut using labels 8 and put onto a mirri layer.  The little pull handle can be done with small punches or 2 coins (2p & 5p) cut 2 and glue to and attached to either side of 1st layer.  I inserted the inner card into the main card making sure that it ran smoothly on the runners.
Putting It All Together - I stuck all the layers (main card) onto the base card (apart from the topper). Lace and ribbon was then stuck on the front of the card and also the lace piece.  I made sure that the gap would be covered by the stamped topper.  I then punched a hole through all the card (near to the centre) using crop-a-dile.  I then used the remaining ribbon (from the metre length) and fed it through the hole making sure that the ribbon was equal. The inner card was then placed into the main card gently pushing the ribbon, once fully in, the ribbon was threaded from the back through the pull handle and tied in a bow.  Finally the topper was placed on the card to hide the mechanics.  I made a stand and glued that to the back making sure the punched hole wasn't covered.  I placed the bunting around the card and secured the stamped cupcake using pinflair.

Phew - sorry it was a long explanation, got there in the end.

I have entered this into the following challenges:
Allsorts Challenge - Use a Cooking Recipe
Make it Monday - Anything Goes
Divas by Design - Stamp Something
Sweetstampinchallenge - Anything Goes
Fussy and Fancy - Anything but Square/Rectangle
My Mums Craft Shop Challenges - Stamp It
Partytimetuesday - Anything Goes
Lollipopcrafts - Anything Goes
Especiallymade - Distress


As always thanks for stopping by. I hope you like my little creation.
Take care and have a great weekend.
Hugs xx

Dance, Dance, Dance

Thought I would try something different this week and go back to where I started paper crafting many years ago - decoupage - it still holds a place in my heart.  However with all the different crafts there are out there you just have to try everything.

I recently purchased the new Paintbox Poppets CD, decoupage and stamps from Crafters Companion and I haven't been let down.  The images are beautiful and I loved working with the decoupage.

I made the base card using Grand Labels 4, drawing round the outside of the die 3 times.  Once cut this formed 3 easels, distressed with milled lavender.  The toppers were then cut from labels 4 again and distressed with milled lavender. I then decoupaged up these lovely ballet images and die cut the base topper to fit onto the easels.  These were also distressed with milled lavender and dusky concord.

I covered the base with paper I printed from the CD and die cut from labels 4.  To try and carry on the theme of ballet I placed some lace I found in my stash.  On top of this I used the remainder of the printed paper backed with a little bit of core'dinations.  I used a new little gadget 'Sew Ribbon' from We R Memory Keepers (with magnetic template, ribbon punch and ribbon needles), I then threaded some ribbon through.  I found some little roses in my stash and distressed them before placing them onto the base.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Allsorts Challenge - Three in a Row
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
ABC-challenge - Lavender and Lace
Paper Pretties - New Technique
The Poodles Parlour - Anything Goes
Divas by Design - Distressing
That Craft Place - Anything Goes
Bling it on Challenges - Birthday with Shades of Lilacs


As always thanks for stopping by.
Hugs xx

With Love

Good news I have got my laptop back and feel better that it isn't taking me over 4hrs to do the blog and I can finally leave comments. didn't realise I would miss it so much.
Hope you all enjoyed the weekend - wasn't the weather great, thought spring was here and now its back to gloomy.  As it felt like spring I decided to do a card that hopefully reflected that, also gave me a chance to use some of my favourites things, using several dies and some stash that has been waiting to be used.

Once again I used one of my favourite card blanks as they are so versatile.  I found the spots & ladybird paper stock in my stash which I had bought sometime ago but never got round to using (sound familiar).  I used grand labels one (another one of my favourites), I used the outer edge of the largest size to create a faux edge in pink card.

I then used Cheery Lyn English Tea Party Doily (cut from Crafters Companion Pearl Card) edged with a touch of spun sugar distress ink (favourite). The stamped image (CC Pearl card) is from a set of clear stamps from pergamano, coloured with promarkers.  I used a spellbinders circle die, edged with spun sugar and some twinkles.  I used pinflair to lift it slightly from the doily.  Cheery Lynn Fanciful Flourish was used with green bazzill cardstock and placed under the doily.

The flowers were cut from Marianne Craftables (CR1204) using cardstock from my stash and layered to give a flower effect, edged with twinkles and a drop of cosmic pearl in the middle.

To finish I stamped a saying from Flowersoft stamps on pearl card edged with spun sugar.  Cut a ladybird from the waste paper and placed it on label.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Allsorts Challenge - Say It With Flowers
Pennyblack at Allsorts - Springtime
Cheery Lynn Designs - Use a Flourish
Make it Monday - Anything Goes
Divas by Design - Favourite Things
Sweet Stampin Challenge - Lots of Layers
Crazy 4 Challenges - Springtime
Truly Madly Crafty Challenges - Colour Inspiration
Cupcake Craft Challenges - Going Dotty
Simon Says Stamps Challenge - Mothers Day/Special Girl
The Poodles Parlour - Birthday
Totally Papercrafts - Favourite Things
Totally Stampalicious - Flowers
Papertakeweekly - Anything Goes
Paper Creations Ink - Spring is in the Air
CCmonthlychallenge - Spring

As always thanks for stopping by. Your comments are always appreciated.

Take Care
Hugs xx

Butterflies Galore

Apologies that it has been so long since I last posted.  It has been manic at work and other things have got in the way or being able to post regular.

I have a few problems with my laptop at the moment, so have had to crank up the old PC (which takes forever to do anything) to get blogging again.  So fingers crossed it won't be long before I can go back to my normal laptop.

As you can see I have been having a bit of fun with flitterglu and gilding flakes. 
                                                     

No Distressing



Distressed Version

 I have used crafters companion pearl card throughout as I like the effect it can give.

The base card was stamped using Flitterglu, Stampendous 'Butterfly Beauties' and Indigo Blu Gilding Flakes 'Morris Dance'

I used labels 1 and stamped the corners with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and a small flourish from the Stampendous stamps. 

The main butterfly was from Indigo Blu 'Wild Meadow' set, stamped twice with Flitterglu and Crafty Notions Gilding Flakes ' Autumn Rose' as a contrast.

The sentiment stamp is from LOTV.  Decided to distress the card with Vintage Photo to give a different look.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge - Spread Your Wings
Make it Monday - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
Christmas Crafting - Non Christmas Image
The Pixie Cottage - Anything Goes
Do You Stackup - Things With Wings
Flutterbywednesdays - Butterfly, Fairy or Angel
Alphabet Challenge - B for Busy Bugs
Sparkles Forum Challenges - Things with Wings
Penny Black at Allsorts - Springtime
Stampin Sisters in Christ - Things With Wings
Samuel Taylors - Butterflies
CC Monthly Challenge - Spring

As always thanks for stopping by and looking at my little creations.   Your comments are always appreciated

Take Care
Hugs xx

Caribbean Wedding

Where has the time gone - we are already approaching February.  I don't know about anyone else, I do believe the older you get the quicker the days/months/years go by.

A friend asked my to make a wedding card for her niece who was getting married abroad - my remit was "anything bright with blue and to reflect the Caribbean" and hopefully I achieved that.  It was a chance for me to use different colours to my usual wedding cards.

The card had to fold flat as it would be travelling to the wedding destination, so I decided to make a double easel card with different shaped easels to add a bit more interest.  I stayed with 3 different colours - blue, orange & yellow throughout. As you can see I loved using the spellbinder edgeabilities to form the base in the 3 colours and also the large easel background.

The first topper on the large easel was a picture of the couple and framed with various layers of spellbinders classic and scalloped hearts.  The other topper was made from one of my new heart lac'e dies - which did all the hard work and produced beautiful work, I could not have cut them freehand with the same precision. I punched a 2" circle and then kept winding organza ribbon to form a flower rosette (secured along the way with double sided tape) which hopefully represented a Caribbean flower.

The second easel was made from labels 8 and stamped with stamps from Inkylicious Special Day Flourish.

For the main stopper I brayered gloss card with Kaleidacolour Desert Heat Inkpad (an alternative to Big & Juicy).  I cut a strip the length of the card and stamped palm trees and on a small piece of the same card used the smallest heart die and then stamped a couple walking (Stampscape Stamps) which was placed on the long strip - stopper for 1st easel.  Last of all I had been given the 3D flip flops, as they were the wrong colour I distressed them with Wild Honey and Dried Marigold and these created the stopper for the 2nd easel.

I am entering this little creation into the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge - One or More Hearts
Paper Creations Ink - Love/Romance
Inky Impressions Challenges - Heart You
The Pixie Cottage - Love & Kisses
Corrosive Challenges - I Heart You
Crazy 4 Challenges - Layer It On
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Ribbons
Drunken Stampers Challenge - Something New
Do You Stackup - Ribbons
Truly Madly Crafty Challenges - Anything Goes
Stamps R Us Challenges - Valentine/Love
Paper Pretties - Love
Sweet Stamps - Love
Hooked On Craft Challenges - Something Bright
Penny Black At Allsorts - Hearts & Love
Simply Create Too - Love Is In The Air

As always thanks for stopping by, all your comments are welcomed and very appreciated.

Take Care
Hugs xx

Sew-Delicious

Hopefully going to try and get a challenge card out by Tuesday/Wednesday of each week !!!
If I can get one done I will be happy.

My hubby and I have had a busy weekend trying to sort out some more items from my late mum. She was a seamstress many years ago, then once she had us girls making all our clothes and teaching us how to sew.  I went to a workshop (think it was a couple of years ago) and first used the tailors dummy die and knew I would want to use it again sometime and decided to do my own twist, doing this card brought back some lovely memories of her and looking at her old patterns gave me the inspiration to make this card. 

Still into these shaped cards as they give you a large background to work with.  I used different papers from Eline's Winter Hues Paper Pack for the background, dress and tape measure.  On the lower half I used a button mask and lightly embossed the paper. I then used Victorian Velvet Distress Ink all over the papers and then edged with Vintage Photo.  I then added some faux stitching around the card and the paper.

For the edge of the card I used a Marianne Ribbon Die on pearl card, used both distress inks again, then threaded some ribbon from my stash. Finished it with some Cosmic Shimmer Pearl.

The mannequin, buttons and thread reels were all from a Tim Holtz Die.  I used the paper rosettes die then stamped it with Joanna Sheen tape measure from the haberdashery stamp set it for a different effect.

To finish I used some scrap threads from my sewing box along with needles and threader.  The mannequin was finished with cosmic shimmer pearl, organza rose and a decorative pin to hold it in place.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge - Needles & Pins
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - Seeing Spots
Papertakeweekly - Happy Highlights
Make it Monday - Anything Goes
Crafts and me Challenges - Use Pins
Truly Madly Crafty Challenges - Anything Goes

Think this would have made a lovely birthday or mothers day card for her and I know she would have loved it as I hope you will.

As always thanks for stopping by and leaving your comments.

Hugs xx

Best of British

It hasn't taken long for one of my New Year Resolutions to be broken.  I promised myself I would try and blog more, and there I am on 17 days into the New Year and I have failed. 
Work has taken over again and maybe very busy for the next few months - hoping I can get more organised and try and do both.

Thought I would have a go at using more of my old bits and pieces from my stash and also a couple of new goodies that have been waiting to be used. At least I am keeping that resolution going (so far).

I used the Union Jack stamp from Indigo Blu and coloured it with Broken China and Fired Brick distress inks watered down and brushed onto the stamp to give it more of a distressed look.  Mat and layered it onto layers of Blue, White and Red card from my stash.
I used a Mini stamp from the Dream Cars from Creative Expressions with Memento and coloured it in with my promarkers.  I used my new metallic promarkers for the mirrors,wheel spokes and grills.  To make the lights look as if they were shining I used Crystal Lacquer.  I also used this for the windows to give the glass effect.
The image was die cut using a spellbinder die which was then also distressed with Broken China and Fired Brick.  I then embossed the edges of the die cut to give it a raised look and secured it with a deep layer of pinflair.
The edge of the card was embossed using the Cog Mask. To finish off I used some card candy I had in the same colours.

Hopefully I have given the feel of being British.  My hubby loves all kind of classic cars and thought the mini would symbolise it.

I am entering this little creation into the following challenges:
Allsorts Challenge - Celebration of Nations
ABC Challenge - H for Happy Birthday
Crafty Cardmakers - No Floral Embellishments
Make it Monday - Anything Goes
Anything Challenge - Anything Goes
Cards for Men - Boys & Their Toys
TrulyMadlyCraftyChallenges - Anything Goes

As always thanks for stopping by.  Your comments are always appreciated.

Take Care
Hugs xx

New Beginnings

First of all Happy New Year to you all and hope you all had a good time over the festive period. 
Its seems a long time since I got in my craft room to create anything and do my blog.  Must admit I have enjoyed a nice break from work, hopefully now feel ready and refreshed to start again with my crafting which was also put on hold for a little while.

My first offering of the year I thought would be a Wedding Card.  Its a lovely way to start the year with someone you love and it is a new beginning for the happy couple.

This also gave me an opportunity to have a play with some new & old goodies as well.

I decided to do an 8" x 8" square and turned it into an easel card.  I used an Indigo Blu stamp called 'Love Is' and tried a new technique (for me) using Flitter Glu and Silver Gilding Flakes.  I used several layers of silver mirri, snow white pearl card and bazzil coordinations cardstock.  I then edged some of the layers with Spellbinders Edgeabilities and layered the bigger squares flat, with the smaller squares placed on foam pads to lift them slightly . 

My trusty flower punch and Marianne dies came out again to make the roses which were edged with cosmic twinkles.  Made a bow from organza ribbon and placed this beneath the larger of the roses. To finish the front of the card I used a Bazzill Jewel template and gems to create a flourish in one corner.

I included an insert which I edged again with one of the co-ordinating edgeabilities.  The stopper was made using labels 8 and the stamped image was a verse from Inkylicious Wedding Stamp Plate.

Along with the card I made a co-ordinating box out of snow white pearl card, decorated with the same ribbon and roses and labels 8 for a name plate.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Papertakeweekly - Anything Goes
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Stamps R Us Challenges - Anything Goes
Sweet Stampin Challenge - New Beginnings
Allsorts Challenge - New Beginnings
Crafts and Me Challenges - Anything Goes
The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes
Penny Black at Allsorts - Love & Hearts

Thank you for stopping by, any comments are appreciated and welcomed.

Take care and have a good weekend.

Hugs xx