Take time to smell the roses

One more elegant lady image, to show you how versatile stamps can be by using different colours, shapes, etc.

Materials used on this card are black card, coconut white card, Foundations double sided papers, Distress Ink, Creative Expressions Black Crochet Ribbon and Metal Corner Embellishments.

The dies used are Spellbinders Grand Ovals and Grand Scalloped Ovals. The flowers and leaves use the Spellbinders Bitty Blossoms set. The Spellbinders Dainty Dots M-Bossabilities was used on the large white mat, but for a change I used the de-bossed side on the card.

Happy crafting!

Style

Here is the same beautiful lady shown earlier this week but coloured in teals and blues, and used with different die-cuts and inks.


Dies used were Spellbinders Grand Scalloped Rectangles, Banner Basics Three, Grand Rectangles and Spiral Blossom One.

The card used was Vintage Metallic Gold, Teal and Coconut White. I stamped various images from the stamp plate onto the teal card layer to add interest. I used Distress Ink through the rectangle die to frame the stamped and coloured image.

The letters are from the Tim Holtz Idea-ology Alpha Parts. They are black plastic, so I added Perfect Medium and Cosmic Shimmer Gold Embossing Powder, so they would tone in with the project.

The card was finished with a little ribbon bow and the die cut flower.

Happy crafting!

Lady in Red

Here is another of the beautiful lady stamps from the Creative Expressions Elegant Ladies stamp plate.

The background has been made using Foundations double sided papers, matted onto black card. The decorative dies used are Spellbinders Grand Decorative Ovals One set and Spellbinders Die D-Lites Fantastic Flourish Three.

A few black self-adhesive pearls have been added to various corners and some rolled ribbon roses were made using the two shades of red ribbon.

Happy crafting!

Elegant Lady in Lavender

This stamped image comes from the Creative Expressions Elegant Lady A5 stamp plate.

I really enjoyed colouring in the image and matched the colours to the card I had decided to use.

The bow was made using a piece of seam binding ribbon with a piece of sheer iridescent ribbon, topped off with a Creative Expressions lavender dazzler.

Happy crafting!

Golden Medallion

This was one of my favourite samples for Dawn Bibby's shows on German Shopping TV.

I chose to use gold card and milk card, with some vellum.

The image was stamped using gold embossing powder, onto the three different colours.

The embossing folder used in the background was the Creative Expressions Lattice embossing folder.

Happy crafting!

Shades of Blue

Today's medallion stamp was stamped onto different shades of blue card and decorated with different shades of ultra-fine glitter.

This was quite a sparkly card so I chose to add an extra large ribbon bow and make the card into a statement piece.

Lots of fussy cutting involved in this one!

Happy crafting!

Oriental Medallion

I thought this card looked oriental because of the colours. I used two shades of red card plus black card and gold embossing powder.

I didn't do as many layers on this sample but instead decided to cut an aperture in which to frame the design.

Happy crafting!

Teal Medallion

This medallion stamp was stamped onto teal card and Foundations Double-Sided Paper, using Cosmic Shimmer True White embossing powder.

The centre was finished off with a Creative Expressions Teal Dazzler.

The layered up medallion was put into a square aperture and then Self Adhesive Pearl Swirls were added to two opposite corners.

Happy crafting!

Fridge Magnet

Here is another of my samples made for Dawn Bibby's German TV shows.

This time I made the design into a fridge magnet by gluing a piece of magnetic sheet to the reverse. 

The magnetic sheet cuts very easily and you only need a small piece.

Happy crafting!

Hanging Water Lily

This is another sample I made for the TV shows in Germany. This time I layered up the image twice and then glued the two pieces back-to-back, sandwiching a piece of ribbon in the centre to act as a hanger.

I chose three shades of pink card and alternated the colours.

You can see from the next picture how much dimension you can achieve.

Happy crafting!

Kaleidoscope Gift Box

This is one of the samples I made for Dawn Bibby to take to Germany for a TV shopping channel over there. The shows were featuring some of the Creative Expressions Medallion Stamps and were a huge success with their viewers. If you have been crafting for a while, you may remember the wood mounted Medallion Stamps launching in this country many years ago! However, in Germany this was a new concept and we had lots of sell-outs.

For any newer crafters who haven't come across the Medallion Stamps, the idea is to layer up the image by cutting out different designs you see in the stamp.  

I really "went to town" layering the lid to this little gift box but you decide how many layers you wish to use and how high you build the design.

I made lots more samples for Germany so will show you a few more designs soon.

Happy crafting!

Vintage Boutique

This card was made using blush and black card. The main panel was stamped in black archival, using designs from the Vintage Boutique stamp set from Creative Expressions (the dressform and the chandelier). I coloured the dress in using Distress Markers. This piece was then die cut using the Spellbinders 5 x 7 Elegant Labels Four die set. I then inked through the die using a Spun Sugar Distress Ink Pad and a piece of foam. 

The second panel was put through an embossing folder to add texture and then a Self Adhesive Swirl was added, plus a bow made from Sheer Wrinkled Edge ribbon with a lilac dazzler in the centre.

The last panel was stamped using an assortment of the smaller stamps from the Vintage Boutique set. Double sided adhesive sheet was then added and micro beads added to the top.

Happy crafting!

Not just for Christmas!

This is a card I made using the Spellbinders Poinsettia dies and the matching stamp set by Heartfelt Creations. I thought it would make an elegant sympathy card, showing that these flowers and leaves can be used for any occasion by changing the colour scheme.

The trellis background was made using the Spellbinders Fancy Lattice die. I pierced the edges of the card using the Creative Expressions Piercing Ruler and a needle tool and sponge mat. I then threaded gold thread through all of the stitches. 

The sentiment was cut out using a die from the Spellbinders Fancy Framed Tags One die set.

You could make this card using nice bright colours to make a cheery Birthday card.

Happy crafting!

Cheers! A.T.C.

This is the last project in my ATC designs.

This time I used the ATC Art Part which has the corners cut away. I used Cosmic Shimmer Flake & Glitter Glue and Cosmic Shimmer Gilding Flakes to make the background. 

The little shelf has been made using a scallop trim from the Scallops Art Parts set and the Star comes from the Hearts, Love & Stars Art Parts set (used for the Wings of Love ATC). 

The cute champagne bottle and flutes are from the Embellish Your Art range by Wendy Vecchi.

Hope you have enjoyed seeing something a bit different.

Happy crafting!

Feeling Under The Weather? A.T.C.

Here is the 2nd of my ATC projects to show you, made using some of the fabulous products designed by Wendy Vecchi.

The Art Parts set that I used has six ATC sized pieces in it, three designs, two of each. This design has the rounded corners. 

I coloured the background with a green Distress Ink Pad and then stamped randomly using the main background stamp from the Artfully Said Stamp Set by Studio 490. 

The pocket watch comes in two pieces and is from the Art Parts set called Pocket Watches. You get three backs and three fronts in the pack. I painted the outside edges of the pocket watch using silver paint and the background a pale blue/grey. I stamped the Thinking of You message on the background a few times, as shown, before gluing the two pieces together. 

The umbrella comes from the Art Parts set called Outdoor Art and the hood of the umbrella has been coloured with Distress Ink and then stamped with black Archival ink. The handle has been painted with silver paint. The little crow and the flower embellishments come from the Embellish Your Art range.

I finished the piece by rubbing some Creative Expressions Golden Light Gilding Wax around the edges of the ATC and to highlight the bird's wing.

One more ATC still to come.

Happy crafting!

Wings of Love A.T.C.

A while ago, I did a set of Artist Trading Card projects, so I thought I would show you these.

The base comes from the Studio 490 Art Parts set called ATC Art, which contains six ATC sized Art Parts for you to decorate.

Here is the first project . . .

I inked up the Art Part with a Red Distress Ink Pad and, once this was dry, randomly stamped with Black Archival Ink and a floral stamp. You could also use a flourish or swirl stamp for this. The letters for the word LOVE came from another Art Parts kit, called Hearts, Love & Stars. I painted the letters with black acrylic paint and then added Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue to the letter O so that I could attach some of the Cosmic Shimmer Luna Silver Vintage Mica Flakes to it.

The wings are also Art Parts, and come from the Simply Wings set. I used acrylic paint for the base coat and then stamped with black Archival ink.

The two flower buttons come from the Wendy Vecchi Embellish Your Art embellishments range. 

More ATCs to follow soon!

Happy crafting!

A quick make

This was made some time ago, to wish a lovely lady good luck in her new career.

The floral images came from the Heartfelt Creations Tattered Blossom Swirl set, which I then coloured in using Cosmic Shimmer Watercolour Paints. I chose colours to match a piece of decorative paper that I had in my stash. 

The white crochet ribbon and the white card base were both inked using Worn Lipstick Distress Ink.

The sentiment was cut out using the Spellbinders Labels Twenty Eight die set.

The card was finished off with a few self-adhesive pearls in two of the corners.

Happy crafting!

Still painting with wax!

I love this stamp set (Tim Holtz Sewing Blueprint from Stampers Anonymous) so I made a second card, this time using the dressform with Amethyst and Pewter Gilding Waxes from Creative Expressions, mixed with their Solvent Blending Solution.

For the button background on the base of the easel card, I inked through the Button mask from That Special Touch with Distress Ink.

Other items used were the Spellbinders Timeless Rectangles die set, Sue Wilson's Heart Lattice Embossing Folder, Lavender Dazzlers, Black Crystal Stick Pins and Sheer Wrinkled Edge Ribbon in Plum.

Happy crafting!

Painting with wax!

Today's blog post is using the Creative Expressions Gilding Waxes and the Creative Expressions Solvent Blending Solution, to make a paint medium.

The parts of the card which I have used the gilding waxes on are the two large cotton reels (using Amethyst and Ultramarine) and the mini half-spools (which used a variety of colours of the Gilding Waxes). I also painted the sewing needles using the Pewter Gilding Wax.

I found it hard to show the metallic sheen in my photos but it really is a pretty effect.

Using the wrong end of a small paintbrush, I scooped around the edge of the pot of Gilding Wax, to scoop out a small amount of wax into a paint pallette. I then added a few drops of the Solvent Blending Solution and, using the brush end of the paint brush, stirred the solution into the wax, adding a few more drops if needed, until the desired consistency was achieved.  You can leave the "paint" to dry on the pallete and then, when required at a later date, you can re-activate it by adding a few drops of the Blending Solution and stirring the wax.

I used Vintage Photo Distress Ink through the Spellbinders Square Swatches die. I also used this ink pad to paint the wooden part of the spool images. The spool image comes from the Tim Holtz Sewing Blueprint stamp set by Stampers Anonymous and was stamped using Clear Perfect Medium and then heat setting with Cosmic Shimmer Black Fine Detail Embossing Powder.

As you can see, I went with the sewing theme by getting my sewing machine out and adding some decorative stitches to one of the card mats.

Today is my first day back at the office since the Christmas break so I wonder what the day will hold? 

Happy crafting!

A review of 2013

When I started my blog at the beginning of this year, I wondered what it would be like. 

I have "met" some wonderful fellow crafters and enjoyed sharing some of what I do, as much as following what others have crafted.

At times I have found little or no time to post on my blog but, having reviewed it today, I realise that I have posted between 60 and 70 projects this year, so more than one a week on average. I have huge respect for those who post more regularly and more often as I now realise how much work this involves.

I thought today I would post a montage of some of my favourite projects this year.

I am teasing you a bit, as a couple of these cards have not yet been blogged. If you want to find out how they were made and the materials I used, you will have to keep checking my blog in the New Year!

For the projects which have already been blogged, there are links below if you missed them.

I wish you all the very best for 2014 and . . .

. . . happy crafting! xx

Sun Kissed Fleur in Blue

A good time was had by all!

Warmest Wishes Stepper Card

Crazy Daisy

Endless possibilities . . .

Today's card features the new Couture Creations embossing folder called Endless. It is a pretty background design featuring lots of different leaves. 

I embossed a piece of white gloss card using the Endless folder. I then blended Alcohol Inks in different colours, trying to use separate colours for each leaf, as much as possible. I die cut this piece using the Spellbinders Grand Large Labels die set and then added a green card mat using the same die set. I then added a mat of ginger card and put a tiny brad in each corner. The final mat was another piece of the green card.

A piece of green seam binding ribbon was added around the middle of the card. This was the point where I had extended the embossing folder pattern, so it disguised the join.

The flowers were die cut using the Heartfelt Creations Sweet Juliet die set. There are two sizes of flower in the set. The largest flower in the centre of the card shows the largest die cut as the base. The second layer is the same die cut, which is folded under and held in place with a tiny brad. The top layer uses the smaller of the two flowers, again with a tiny brad. 

The sprays of leaves were cut using a die from the same set. Before removing the leaves from the die I sponged through the die with Cosmic Shimmer Flake & Glitter Glue, so that I could then add some Cosmic Shimmer Verdigris Gilding Flakes once the die had been removed. 

Happy crafting!