A Simple 'Thank You;

I recently sent a thank you card to some dear friends..... I kept it quite simple in design

I created a card blank using moss green card

I punched a scallop edge border in blackberry card and adhered this to the right edge of my card blank

Next I adhered patterned paper to the card and toed string around it into a bow.

I added a pattern paper banner to the right edge,

The sentiment was stamped and punched then layered onto a larger circle of blackberry card.

To finish I punched small flowers and added gems to their centres,

I really liked this card - I think it was the colours that attracted me to it!!

Thanks for looking.....

Happy, Happy Birthday

I thought I would share a card that I made for a birthday a few weeks ago.

The image is a Paper Artsy stamp designed by Liz Borer..... I adore this stamp and have used it for lots of different purposes

I decorated a card blank using patterned paper.

I added a punched border using Kraft paper.

I die cut a flower shape using Wisteria coloured card and added this to the background.

The main image was stamped and coloured using alcohol markers and then cut and attached to the flower die cut.

I die cut Sheena Douglas Ivy and stamped the co-ordinating image.  This was then coloured and attached to the image.

To finish I added lots of different types of flowers, 2 flower pins and some gems.

I was really pleased with this and even more so in using one of my favourite images!

Wanderlust Week 1

I know we are a few weeks into Wanderlust (if you are a crafter and you haven't heard of it you need to have a look!!).  It is a year long mixed media course for crafters and artists.

I know that I will never be able to keep up to date due to constraints with the hours that I work - but I was determined to start week 1 on time.

I wont talk too much about how I created my journal page as it is part of the on-line course.

Here is my first creation....

When I had created the first few layers I was a bit worried because I didn't really like what I was creating.  But, I told myself to 'believe' in myself and carried on - and I really liked the end result!!

It was great to get back into something a bit messy and distressed.  I think my style last year was a bit too clean and simple!! 

Wanderlust has given me back my passion.... and I hope that there is a lot more in there to share with you!!

Thanks for looking....

Cute Baby Boy!

A friend of mine recently gave birth to a gorgeous baby boy, Ollie.  Ollie was born in the evening of 23rd December!  I was lucky enough to meet him shortly after and he is adorable!

This is the card that I made for my friend

I covered the card blank using Crafters Companion papers.

I then die cut and layered.  On the smaller star I stamped a star cluster in co-ordinating ink.

I stamped the baby gro image onto card and then coloured it in using alcohol markers before cutting it out.

To finish I used a corner punch and stamped 2 sentiments.

Simple, but cute!! 

Wedding Bells

My sister and her boyfriend got engaged on Christmas Eve.  What a fabulous Christmas surprise.  I set about making an engagement card for them....

I wanted to keep the card simple. 

I use a Kraft blank and adhered a strip of patterned paper to the centre.

I also added a length of pink satin ribbon to this.

Next, I die cut the heart in pink glitter paper.  I die cut extra flowers in a darker colour, added them to the heart and added a gem in the centres.

I stamped a sentiment on Kraft card and cut this into a banner.  I added a string of pearl beads to this.

To finish I added a few sequins in a random fashion.

Due to the seasonal post it took ages to arrive.... but finally did!

Thanks for looking........

My Love Of Alice Continues!

I love Alice In Wonderland - I cannot get enough of it - or teh stamps!!

Last year I came across the Alice stamp from Carabelle Studios.   I have used it loads, but also used it to create a journal page.

I coloured the background using Fresco finish paints from Paper Artsy (can never get enough of these!!).

I then set about stamping using various background and border stamps...... and some washi tape.....got to love washi tape!!  I highlighted some of the stamping using a white gel pen.

The image was stamped onto card and coloured using watercolour pencils.  This was then cut out and adhered to the background/

The quote was stamped using a rotary stamp...... which I adore!!  (It means that I always have the rights words when I need them!).

I don't do much art journalling but when I do I love it - I can just get lost in paint and creativity!!

Thanks for looking......

Happy Birthday Mum

Today is my mum's birthday.... so ... I had to make an amazing card for an amazing woman!!

I decorated a card blank with patterned paper.

I then die cut a border and added this and a ribbon trim to the card blank.

The image was stamped and coloured with alcohol pens and die cut using a label die.  This was then mounted to the card with foam pads.

I stamped the sentiment onto pink card using coffee archival ink. I just love this sentiment!!

I then started to embellish using a gold heart doily, a ribbon bow paperclip and lots of pretty flowers.

To finish I added a couple of heart pins.

I am hoping that Mum loves her card...... and has a fabulous birthday!

Thanks for looking....

Nothing Beats A Bit Of Kindness

I am very fortunate to have great friends.  And last year one of my besties showed me an incredibly generous act of kindness.  So I wanted to say thank you - and there was no better way than a handmade card and it's own little box!!

The card is no bigger than the size of an atc and the box big enough to hold it (though there was plenty of room if I wanted to embellish the card more).

I decorated the card and box with pretty papers, doilies, trim and a resin heart.  The image was stamped, embossed and coloured (as in my previous post).

This is the back of the box

I really enjoyed creating this and, hopefully, the recipient enjoyed receiving it!!

I have a bit of a theme going as a couple of months prior to this I wanted to send a 'hello' to 2 of my besties.  So, I made them a card in it's own little gift wallet!

The card design was case'd but altered from a design I saw on Pinterest.

I think it is lovely to receive a handmade note in the post - especially in the day when we have this amazing technology!

Thanks for looking!!

Bad,Bad Blogger

Happy New Year!!

I am soooo sorry for my lack of posts over the last year.  I really don't know where 2015 went.  Work was incredibly busy and in the blink of an eye Jools Holland was on and we were seeing in 2016!

I hope you all had a great Christmas.

So, I thought I would start by sharing some note cards that I made as Christmas gifts.  The technique was the same but in different designs.

I started off by trimming the background paper to size and punching 2 edges using a corner punch.

I used ribbon and trim as a border.

The images were stamped using Versamark then embossed using white embossing powder.  These were then coloured in using ink pads and a water brush.

Once completed I fussy cut around the image and adhered them to the note cards using foam pads to give them some lift.

Easy, eh?!  Thankfully the recipients loved them!

Here are the other designs that I made....

So, a quick post to start me off.... but I promise to try better this year!

Thanks for looking.....