Pay It Forward 2013

I finally finished my PIF gifts.  This time they were for Loetitia and Emma.

I wanted to create something different to what the ladies had seen me make before, so I decided to make charm bracelets.  Here are the gifts:

I created a box for each gift and enclosed a card.  I think both recipients liked their gifts.

Thanks for looking.

Rebel Stampers ATC Swap

It's that time of month again when I share the swaps that I made for the Rebel Stampers swap.  It's a triple treat this time though as I didn't post the ones from the last two months.

Here are my swaps for May...

The first is based on the theme 'Birds & Bees'

For this I coloured an ATC using distress ink then stamped the background using a studio 490 stamp.

The bee was stamped in walnut stain.  The words were stamped and cut out before being added to the atc using foam pads.

To finish I added a bee from the Wendy Vecchi Blossom Bucket range.

The second ATC is based on the free stamp in Craftstamper

I started by brayering a background and then embossing using a gears embossing folder.

An Artifacts background stamp was stamped onto a brayed background then torn and adhered to the atc.  Washi tape was added to give another layer.

The Craftstamper image was stamped, cut out and adhered using foam pads.

June's offerings.....

The first theme was 'Happy'

I inked an atc using distress ink to give a muted, sunset 'sorta' feel.

I stamped the girl and balloon in Archival ink

The phrase is one of my faves....  I absolutely adore this!  I stamped it then cut it out and inked around the edges before adding it to the atc to finish.

The free Craftstamper stamp for this month was a fabulous image by Jo Firth Young

I kept this quite simple.

I embossed Kraft card stock and attached it to an atc, inking around the edges.

The image was stamped, cut out and coloured.

I added inked chit chat stickers on foam pads to finish.

And finally for July......

The first theme was 'In The Garden'

I covered an atc using Prima paper.

Following this I stamped Jo Firth Young for Paper Artsy stamps and coloured them in.  I added some white gel pen for some definition.

I added a hero arts sentiment and crystals to finish.

The Craftstamper stamp was 'Live, Laugh, Love'

I coloured an atc using spun sugar distress stain.

The girl and balloon were stamped using Archival ink.

The border was stamped in walnut stain ink

The words were stamped in Archival ink, cut out and adhered with foam pads.

As you can see I have had great fun making my atc's over the last few months.

Thanks for looking.........

Great Way To Spend A Sunday

After having lost my crafting mojo over the last couple of weeks it was found again at the weekend.  My friend Di and her daughter, Laura, came to spend Sunday with me to craft.

Di had never heard of the melt pot before and so I thought I would give her a treat and show her how fabulous it is!!  Our creations were based on workshops taught by Hels Sheridan - the new queen of the melt pot.

Here are our creations:

My creation

Di's Creation

Laura's Creation

Aren't they fabulous!!  We used bees wax, UTEE, modelling paste, stencils and lots of gorgeous paints! 

We also created cards using distress paint and lots of gorgeous Tim Holtz stamps...... but I forgot to take photos!!

Needless to say a great day was had by all.... and Di is waiting the arrival of a melt pot of her own!!

Thanks for looking.

Happy Birthday Little Monster

Today is our Nephew, Thomas' birthday.

Thomas turns 7 today - it has flown by!!! 

Here is the card that I made for him:

 

I started by inking a card using shabby shutters, wild honey and broken china ink.  I then stamped a number background using shabby shutters

The Stampotique monster (love this... and yes, you have seen me use it loads) was stamped and coloured before being cut out and mounted onto a Kaisercraft rectangle.

I added a scalloped edge and arrow to embellish then stamped a greeting.

Thomas is so full of life...  just like the monster on my card!!

Happy birthday little guy....

Thanks for looking.

Key To The Past

I love sharing my passion for crafting with others - it makes me feel happy!!
A few weeks ago our Aunt, Greta, came to visit and stay for the weekend.  Greta lives in Australia and has been travelling the UK visiting friends and family.  Greta had asked if I could show her some crafting - obviously I didn't have to think twice about it!!

This was the first time that Greta had done any paper crafting and I think she is a natural!

Here are Greta's creations:

 

This was the first card that we created - a nice and simple one to get us going!

 

The card blank was covered in patterned paper.

 

Pansies were stamped and punched out - they were pinched a little to give them shape before layering onto the card.

 

To finish, Greta added a sentiment and a bird.

 

The second card was a lot more fun to make!!  Greta has a huge interest in Genealogy and wanted to create something with a link to that.  This is the outcome:

 



 

The card blank was covered in Prima paper.

 

A film strip was die cut and layered with photos from Tim Holtz paper.  This was then layered onto the card with scraps of burlap and metal embellishments.  Gorgeous results.

 

I am sure that you will agree that the outcome is fabulous for a first time crafter!!

Thanks for looking.....

Happy Birthday From Across The Pond

Today is our Nephew James' birthday.  James lives in Canada, and turns 13 today. 

Here is the card that I made for him:

I used the same materials and techniques as I did for my brother's card last month. 

James is also a huge football fan - in fact he plays for a local team and is doing very well.  We have bought him a football related present...  OI am sure he will love it!

Happy Birthday James xxxx

Play date With A Bestie

I spent today with a dear friend, Di.  We haven't seen each other for ages and so we had a good natter while getting very, very inky!! We even managed to fit in time for lunch!!

We created a couple of cards, but our main project was a canvas, inspired by the amazing Hels Sheridan.

Here is Di's gorgeous creation:

And here is mine:

 

As you can see we had lots of fun....  Di now shares my love of distress paints!! 

 

 

We are meeting up again in a couple of weeks - you loads of ideas already...

 

Thanks for looking.....