Tuesday 31 March 2015

F is for Feathers

Fine Feathers to be exact!
This is a retired stamp set, but I just couldn't bear to part with it.
Here's a card that I made with it last year, it is cased from one that I saw 
on the Internet, so I am afraid I can't give credit to it's originator as I
never made a note of whose it was - if it's yours, please let me know 
and I will link this post back to your website/blog.


The sentiment is from the Four You stampset.
The colour combo is Lost Lagoon, White and Basic Gray.
The white feathers I have stamped in Versamark heat embossed 
with White embossing powder to make them show up
on this sponged background.
I have coloured the Basic Pearls with a Basic Grey Stampin' Write marker pen.
I still love this stampset - it doesn't age.

Monday 30 March 2015

F is FLORAL

I am sure that you must have noticed that I love floral designs and flowers are 
frequently featured on my cards.  I saw this card as I was browsing the Internet
 the other day and just had to case it.  Here's the site where I found it.


Colour combo is Crumb Cake, Pool Party and Lost Lagoon.
Stamp sets used - Flower Shop, Petite Petals both used with the ma
Only embellishments used are Basic Rhinestones.
I just love these delicate flowers and colours!
(All the products used are Stampin' Up!)

Saturday 28 March 2015

And F is for FORTY

Here's a really quick CAS card for a forty year old.


I think that I should have inked round the die cut letters to make them stand out more,
so i will try this one again and see how it looks.
The letters are die cut using a retired set of  Alphabet dies
using the beautiful Gold Speciality Designer Series Paper.
I do love the simplicity of this and think it's quite effective.

Thursday 26 March 2015

F is for Frog

..... and here's a cute little punch art frog that is so quick and easy to make.


The colour combo is Old Olive, Soft Sky and White.
The background is Sweet Dreams DSP - this shows both the sides of one double sided sheet,
The punches used are:
1.3/8" Circle
1/2" Circle
Owl punch (for the whites of his eyes)
Large Oval
Boho Blossoms

I haven't put a sentiment on it yet, but I'm thinking of giving this to
my great-nephew Hayden for his first birthday next month.
I think it will make him chuckle.

Wednesday 25 March 2015

... and also for Friend to Friend

Here's a card that I have made today, whilst exiled to the craft room, as we have 
had new replacement windows fitted to the front of the house.
I might add that we only got back from Tenerife late last night (11:30 p.m.!)
and the window fitters were scheduled to come tomorrow.
There was a message on the ansaphone saying that they would be coming today -
I only listened to the messages at 7:30 this morning, so it was panic stations
 trying to ensure that the workmen had easy access to all the windows, 
and Barry had to take down the blinds and fasten back the curtains.
Needless to say all's well that ends well - the fitters arrived at 11:30 and finished 
at 5:15 - a job really well done.
I had phoned up the chap who fitted our existing blinds, to come and quote us
for the downstairs window blinds (to match those upstairs)
and he came along just as the fitters were tidying up.  I cheekily asked him
if he had time to put the upstairs blinds back up for us - and he very kindly obliged.
He's measured up and we should have them in a couple of weeks - magic.
So - after all that digressing - here's the fruit of my labour!


It's a 7" x 5" card, which I think really suits this Butterflies Thinlits die cut.
The colour combo is Sahara Sand, Black and White
with a touch of Blushing Bride rosette trim and Mossy Meadow leaves. 
The background paper is "Something Borrowed" DSP.
There is a white doily underneath the butterfly, which has a Basic Rhinestone
embellished body and head.
The sentiment is from teeny Tiny Wishes, stamped on Sahara Sand Card stock,
then punched with the Word Window punch,
stuck on top a Modern Label punched in Black card stock.

I can't take credit for the design, which I found on the Internet
Here
 made by Carolyn King from Perth, Australia.
I really enjoyed making this card, so thanks Carolyn!

Tuesday 24 March 2015

F is for Friend

Another card featuring the lovely Something lacy stamp.


A simple colour combo of Wisteria Wonder and Whisper White.
The ribbon is retired, but it was the only matching ribbon that I had.
The sentiment is from the "Simply Wonderful" (Sale-a-bration) stamp set.

Monday 23 March 2015

Another quick and easy card

This is a card that I have cased from my Stampin Up Mummy - Julie's blog.
I really love this card, which I think looks fabulous.


The colour combo is Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla and Gold (sequins)
The stamp set is Butterfly Basics, and the butterflies are cut using the 
matching Butterflies Thinlits Dies.
You can see other cards that Julie has made HERE

Sunday 22 March 2015

And now for something completely different!

 Here is a wiper card!!

Card closed

Card Open - you can just see the flower peeping out.

View from above - showing how the "wiper" works
This may  look complicated, but it didn't take long to make.
I've just noticed that I lost one of the rhinestones off the front !!


Saturday 21 March 2015

E is for Emergency!!

This is a card for an emergency - when you need a card at the last minute!!
So I  like to have a couple of cards at least, that I can just add a
suitable greeting to, and then either give or send to the person.


This card features the Something Lacy  stamp - inked in Wisteria Wonder,
then coloured with Blushing Bride and Old Olive - using Blender Pen and Ink pad.
The little bow is punched out using the Bow Builder Punch.

Friday 20 March 2015

And another of Elizabeth's punch art creations!!

Today's card is one that she has made for her husband Alan,
who you might have guessed by the outfit is a Mason.
(This is to celebrate him being Master of the Lodge for the second time in 2015
the first time was in 2007 - if you wondered what the dates were!)
I think she has done this perfectly!!


Great stuff Liz!!

Thursday 19 March 2015

Eis for Elizabeth's Punch-art

You will recognise this style of punch -art as one of my Tuesday class ladies
 (who is also a good friend!) - Elizabeth - affectionately known as Liz.
(But I need to call it Elizabeth's or it won't fit in with E!!)


Liz has 4 grandsons, so she loves doing these super characters for their birthdays.
Isn't he cute!!

Wednesday 18 March 2015

E is for Envelope

E is for envelope - and I like to do a matching one for the card that I send.
Today is my friend Carol's birthday (as well as my Sister Maggie's!)
and here is the envelope that accompanied her card.



And here's the card


Happy Birthday Carol
and Happy Birthday Maggie too!

Tuesday 17 March 2015

E is for Easter Chick

I just love doing these gap-cards and I thought that these cute little punch-art chicks
would just fit nicely in the gap!!


I don't think that I can bear to part with this one!!

Friday 13 March 2015

E is for Easel

Another suggestion that I received for the letter E was Easel card.
As it's my sister Maggie's birthday next week, I decided that an easel card
would fit the bill nicely.
I wanted something bright and cheerful, but eye catching...
Here's the result.


I love the Black and Daffodil Delight combination - think it's
quite dramatic.
The "Happy" is one of the Hello You Thinlits dies
"Birthday" is from Crazy  about You stamp set
and the TH on 60th is just the T and the H from the "Birthday" stamp.
Maggie was stamped using the Back to Basics Alphabet stamp set.
Petite Petals stamp set used for small flower then punched out with matching punch. 
The Pansy Punch was used for the large flower and the centres of this were punched with
the Petite Petals punch and the Boho Blossom Punch.
I used the Circles Collection Framelits for both the scalloped and plain circles.
Hope that Maggie likes this!!

Thursday 12 March 2015

E is for Elephant

As you know, I am trying to come up with different ideas for cards by doing a different letter 
of the alphabet each week or so - and you remember I asked for help with the letter E.
Someone suggested "elephant", but I know that I don't have a stamp with an elephant on,
so I resorted to punch art - and here it is!!


I am really pleased with how this came out - I did consider personalising this card
with a name on the body part of the elephant, but then thought better of it.
I think that it's really cute - and I might make another one similar,
along the lines of a belated birthday card and words to the effect that
an elephant never forgets - then inside put something like
shame I'm not an elephant!


Wednesday 11 March 2015

E is for Eggcraft

I have long been a fan of Faberge eggs, and many years ago my brother bought me 
a hand crafted decorated egg with a timepiece inside as a special Christmas gift.
The following year he bought me another similar decorated egg.
A short while after this, I saw an Eggcrafting class advertised on one of our
local schools Night Class schedules, and thus started one of my past hobbies.
I went to classes for a few years, joined the Eggcrafters' Guild and for some 10 years
this was one of my main hobbies. (Remember I worked full time until recently,
and they were very time consuming to make).

Here are a few of my favourites.

This one is inspired by Faberge himself

Closed front view

Open front view

Open Side view

The next one utilises eggs that have suffered "accidents"
you can see that the girl's skirt is made from the bottom half of an egg -
I assume that the top half was broken at some stage.
Always a great one for "waste not want not" - this was then transformed
with the addition of quilled body, arms head and flowers,
into a pretty little bridesmaid.



This one is an egg that I made for my mother-in-law (sadly deceased - so now back in my custody!)
the top is cut and the see through panels are chiffon.
Inside there is a platform, enabling this to be used as a jewellery box.
Sadly, the glue has deteriorated over the years and so I daren't open it to photograph
for fear of breaking the egg in doing so!


Another little lady made from a mishap!!


This next one features decoupaged flowers and greenery.
I recall that it took 6 hours to cut them out!
Truly a labour of love!

Top view

Front view

Side view
All the eggs used above are goose eggs, blown, disinfected, hand cut
and then decorated in different mediums.
You may find it interesting to note that the first egg featured here was made 
using the following, very basic, list of tools.
A Junior Hacksaw blade - for cutting the egg ( in later years I bought a miniature
electric drill with a circular saw attachment")
A craft knife - used to cut the membrane inside the egg.
An elastic band - used for drawing cutting lines on an egg,
the band clings to the egg and was most useful for this purpose.
Again, in later years I bought sophisticated tools for marking out patterns on eggs.

Sadly, I now no longer have the patience, nor the standard of eyesight required
to do this hobby any more. I do talks to various local WI groups on Eggcrafting
and take along my precious cargo of eggs, and the talks are very well received.
Hope that you have enjoyed this diversion from card marking!

Tuesday 10 March 2015

E is for Embossing

Thanks ever so much Andree and Laine for your suggestions for the letter E,
I may need your help again later on in the alphabet!!
This card demonstrates Heat Embossing -
using Versamark and Gold Embossing Powder.
If you look closely you can see that the embossing emphasises the leaves on the tree
and the trunk and branches appear to be behind it.


The stamp set used here is Sheltering Tree - it's so versatile,
I have used it for several different occasions.
This is the thank you card that I gave to Jackie and Tom
to thank them for letting us share their special day.

Monday 9 March 2015

Well I wonder what E is for??

Easter of course!!  I may struggle with this letter as I can only think of Easter - 
maybe I will come up with something else soon!!
I am open to suggestions for my alphabet theme.


Colour combination is Blushing Bride, Old Olive and White.
Stamp set is Love is Kindness
Sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes, punched out with the
Word Window punch then matted onto a punched Modern Label .
The tag is punched using the Scalloped Tag Topper punch
Background paper is from Typeset Speciality DSP.
The flowers are coloured in using Blender pen and ink pad.
Right - thinking cap on now!

Sunday 8 March 2015

February Thank yous

Before I start on the letter E, I thought I would show you some of the thank you cards 
that I made for my customers who placed orders in February.
I used one of the new Sale-a-bration free stamp sets that are only available during March,
For Being You, and the "so much" sentiment was from Crazy about You.
and was inspired by the cards that we made at Jems MonthlyTraining last week.
I just couldn't wait to get my hands on this stamp set and as soon as it arrived,
I knew what I was going to make with it!

Subtles

Brights

Neutrals

In Colours 2013-2015
I coloured these cards using the different "families" of colours,
i.e. Brights, Subtles, Neutrals and In colours, but haven't yet finished them,
I have still to do Regals and In Colours 2014-2016.
Some I coloured with Stampin' Write Marker Pens, others I coloured
using a Blender pen and the coloured ink pads.
I am really happy with these little cards and hope they brighten
my customers' days!

Saturday 7 March 2015

And the last D is for Double Display card

The other week at Chris's (sis-in-law), we both tried our hands at this Double Display card.
I was amazed that I was able to finish it!!
It was all thanks to our fellow Stampin' Up Julies' Jem teamie -
Amanda, who shared the instructions with us.
You can see all of Amanda's fabulous Double display cards 


Card open

Card closed

Card opened out flat
The colour combination is mainly Old Olive, Night of Navy and Gold
The papers used are Birthday Bash Speciality DSP
The stamp set used is Balloon Bash.
Well Amanda - have I done you proud??
I am so pleased with this card - and I even let my ladies have a go at this 
at my Saturday Morning Workshop and they loved it too!!
Thanks for sharing this !!


Tuesday 3 March 2015

D is for Dad

Suitable for any sailing enthusiast, as well as a Dad, or could be for a Son,
or even a small boy -
this CAS card is a quick and easy one to make.


All the stamps used are from the Work of Art stamp set and the 
colour combo is Pacific Point, Tempting Turquoise, Soft Sky and White.
(The mast is stamped in Soft Suede)
This is a card that Chris (sis-in-law) found on the internet and we 
cased it the other week.
The flag is just a die cut Itty Bitty Banners Thinlit Die.


Monday 2 March 2015

And D is for Daughter

Well I haven't got a daughter - just a son,
 but Emma is my God-daughter so that's near enough for me!
Her birthday was Valentine's Day and here's the card I made for her.


The colour combo is a very simple (but effective don't you agree?)
Sahara Sand and White.
Emma is stamped using the Epic Alphabet stamp set
and the sentiment "Sending Wishes your way" is from Butterfly Basics.
The flowers and leaves are from Painted Petals
The "Just because" is from a retired set, which I find really useful for many cards.
Thin strips of paper from Something Borrowed Designer Series Paper
provides the finishing touches to this card.