Friday 24 March 2017

Coming up Roses

Hi Crafty Friends

Us crafters get offered some weird stuff sometimes, on the grounds that we'll probably get some use out of it. But a whole wedding dress??? Yup, the full meringue!! A gazillion miles of net, several acres of duchess satin, more buttons than Cadbury's and lots and lots of lace. Of course I said yes 😀😀.
I spent hours seriously HOURS, unpicking lace pieces, so we just had to use them on a card, and this is what we made.


I decided to leave the bottom corner undecorated so people can add a suitable sentiment later. I thought it would be good for Mother's Day, weddings, anniversaries and the like.
The lace has all sorts of beads and sequins sewn on it, but I haven't managed to capture the sparkle of it. It just required a simple bit of matting and layering with some soft romantic papers and a cha cha cha doily die. Lots of fun and games making the smaller roses - by twisting and rolling thin strips of paper, and job done!
happy crafting
J xxx


Thursday 16 March 2017

Stepping Up

Hi Crafty Friends

I picked up these bargain papers at a local discount store and had to have a play. There was plenty of each design so I could relax, knowing I could try different ideas and still have enough paper for everyone. What luxury!
I designed the size of the stepper to fit my not-quite-5-by-7 envelopes, and to take the pretty frame (another cheap as chips, you will be unsurprised to know). Luckily I like the proportions so I guess I'll be making a few more. I think it might make a good Christmas card in due course.

The lily is (I think) a Britannia die and the stamen is from a Heartfelt Creations set. The smaller flowers are an old Woodware punch, and the leaves are a 'cha cha cha' maple leaf, cut up.
The border is an old Tonic punch. The long pointy leaves are just randomly cut out by hand.
We used old Whisper Inks because they're archival and work on pearlescent cardstock.



it was my birthday a couple of weeks ago, but it got rather lost in the trips to Wales, the horrific breakdown and the on-going flood repairs, etc. Here, a bit belatedly, are some of the lovely cards I received, all beautifully crafted. Thanks to all for making my birthday fun despite the atrocities
happy crafting
jx

Sunday 12 March 2017

A Man's Card

Hi Crafty Friends

We made this in class a few weeks ago, when I was thinking about my brother's birthday which was fast approaching. Now his birthday is behind us and I sent an entirely different card. Still, I enjoyed making this one, despite there not being a flower in sight!

We stamped over some neutral-ish brown paper with a massive stamp (sorry I've forgotten the make) to create the background and stamped out a variety of stamps, from which we die cut circles for the toppers. There was a choice of stamps for the rectangular panel, aswell, so all the cards looked a bit different.
Then it was back to being Brownies, to tie a reef knot in some string, and then some strong arm tactics to set the eyelets using my rather primitive Silent Setter. I really must think about getting a Crop-o-dile, but they seem quite an expensive way of making holes. Does anyone have any cheaper suggestions?

I quite liked the red and brown combination and after the feminine cards from the previous weeks, it was good to have a change.
Happy Crafting
Jx

Friday 3 March 2017

Simply Topping

Hi Crafty Friends
Things are going from bad to worse at Serendipity Towers. The flood damage is still not sorted and yesterday my car broke down 155 miles from home on a massively busy and horrible stretch of merging motorways around Birmingham and it was the rush hour (5pm) Finally got home on the transporter that brought my car at ten past two this morning. Had a very tiresome morning sorting out getting my car taken to the garage, sorting out a replacement, dealing with the entirely useless insurance etc etc.
Sorry to whinge. One good thing is I've been let off attending the work meeting I was going to, so most unexpectedly I get to have my birthday at home.
Here is a card we made a few weeks ago, somehow I've got them out of order. It features some more of my cha cha cha dies (doncha just love a bargain?) As soon as I saw this lovely corner die, I knew I wanted to make a fancy topped card with it. It cut really well, and when embossed is really pretty. The ovals and the borders are also new dies. The border is the exact size for DL cards, so I think I might be making a few more of these.
The image is coloured with alcohol markers- definitely NOT my forte, but luckily there wasn't much to do. The flowers are blush coloured pearlescent paper, inked to add variety but still tone together. The pearlescence still shows through the ink.

It was a simple little card, but I enjoyed making it, and I'm pleased it has inspired some people to look again at their dies and make some fancy topped cards.

happy crafting
jx