Looking for a Specific Topic

Tuesday 10 March 2015

Not Normal

Each month we are set a challenge in the card swap group I am in.  This month it was to create a card that is not your usual shape.   I must admit at first I struggled.  Every idea I came up with was a normal shape.  Luckily I got my swap late last week and on Monday I was inspired to come up with this as my card.  I have often seen the concept but never tried it. 




So I did a bit of search online and then sat at my desk and started.  I am so pleased with the outcome of it.  I am sorry for the terrible photography.  I really had to get it into the post this morning so I took photos late last night.     The flowers were from the Spellbinders Jewelled Flowers set and have been finished with We R Memory Keeps enamel dots.  I love these dots - there so big and glossy and finish larger flowers off beautifully.

Well I am off to set up for tomorrow's workshop.

Till next time
Happy Crafting

Wednesday 18 February 2015

Double Celebrations!!

Hubby and I have just got back from a night at the Sunshine Coast where we celebrated his twin sisters' birthdays.  This is one of the cards that I made.  I was so happy with how it came out I just had to share.  I was having a play with a couple of new techniques and some stamps that I have not had chance to play with yet.

I am seeing the Bokeh Technique popping up all over the place and decided I wanted to create a background in this style.  I used the distress inkpads in Worn Lipstick, Broken China and Scattered Straw which has given it a very feminine look.  Most of the cards I have seen with this technique are very simply decorated but my card just grew and grew.

Next, I used my new "Kinda Eclectic" Stampin' Up set of stamps and stamped the leaves using Peeled Paint and Iced Spruced Distress inks.  I also used the boarder stamp in this set to add some dimension to the card front.

I drew inspiration from one of my ladies that comes to workshop for the flowers.  She has been making flowers these stunning flowers and we discussed using Organza to get the same effect.  You need a fabric that has a low melting point as you hold the fabric close (but not in) a flame and this melts the fibres.  I used a scallop circle to cut the layers and then snipped in the between every 2nd scallop so that the fabric would curl nicely. As the fabric gently warms, the fibres melt down and curl the petals.  If you try this at home, please be very cautious that you do not set your fabric on fire.  At first they don't look like much, but once layered with a brad, the flowers are gorgeous and very delicate. 

I finished of the card by using the Butterfly embosslit from Stampin' Up to add a big spray of butterflies.

I think this would have to be one of my favourite cards that I have made.  .....and I think my sister-in-law was very impressed with it too.  I forgot to take photos of the other card which was very different to this one.


Till next time
Happy Crafting

Thursday 5 February 2015

Welcome to the Masquerade Ball!

Today I have been working on something special.  A certain young lady that I have known since a baby, turns 21 in a weeks time. (My goodness - that does make me feel old). To celebrate, she is having a masquerade party.  I decided to make a card to fit in with the party theme and colours.


Being a 21st, it needed to be a special card so I went for a box card.  As my mum did the invitations with card I stock, it was easy for me to match the colours of the invite.






I used the Silhouette Cameo to cut the masks and then went all out with rhinestones, pearls and feathers.



I have also made some very special candles for on the night.  All are filled with Fresh Pear and have been purposely half filled.  This is so that the light will shine through the sticker and show off the masks.  For more information on my candles, please visit www.candlesforyoursenses.com.au



Oh and I just couldn't resist.  I went to get my nails done this week and as I was flicking through the "stamp" book, I found a mask.  Now all I need to do is decorate mine & hubby's masks, then find a dress to wear.




Till next time
Happy Crafting


Friday 23 January 2015

January Card Swap

A couple of years ago I joined a card swap group.  I love being a part of this group and look forward to get a different card each month.  There are currently 12 of us in the group scattered along the eastern side of Australia. 

This month our change was to make a beach or boat inspired card.  When I think beach I think clean and natural.  I had a quick scan through the internet, and was inspired to come up with this design.

I used Distress inks to make the sky and Ocean background.  I used Weathered wood for the sky and Broken china for the ocean.  The sand is some Core'dinations card stock that has been torn to create the rough look. 

The stamp sets used are Technique Tuesday "One of a Kind" and the Hobby Art Coast Scene-it set.

Till next time
Happy Crafting

Wednesday 21 January 2015

Birthday celebrations


One of my ladies that comes to workshop and has become a good family friend celebrated her birthday this week (as did my wonderful husband).  Here is the card and gift pack I made for her. 


Her favourite colours are Red, Orange, Yellow & Black, so keeping that in mind, I made a simple tri-shutter card using Core'dinations Poinsettia card as the base and decorated with Prima Marketing "one-up" paper.  
To make the flowers, I have used two different tones of Mulberry Paper which are layered together and then cut with either a scallop circle die or a flower die depending on the look you want to achieve.  Attach all the layers together with a brad through the centre and then scrunch each of that layers to create a fluffy flower.


This would have to be one of my favourite quote stamps I own.  Produced by Stampendous, it stamps beautifully every time in all different ink mediums.  The butterfly is a Cheery Lynn die and the flourish is by Die-namics.



For those that don't know, I also own Candles For Your Senses.  I make soy candles, melts and other home fragrance items.   So to finish off the gift basket, I added a special candle and a new addition to my product range - some Room Spray.  I say this candle is special as it is a one off piece.  The words have been cut in vinyl using the Silhouette Cameo and adhered to the jar once the candle was set and cool.





I am very pleased to say she was super excited when she opened the box to all here goodies.








Till next time
Happy Crafting

Thursday 1 January 2015

Happy New Year

Well quite clearly I broke last years Resolution to keep this blog updated :(   That's why I don't make New Year Resolutions.    But I am going to try again this year because I am persistent and stubborn like that :).  To be honest, I got so busy I never really had a chance to sit down and showcase what I had been doing each week.  So this time round, I am going to set aside a time each week and dedicate myself to keeping everyone up to date. 

So lets start by showing what have been working on for January workshops.  I love the idea of spotlighting and have seen a couple of methods.  I also love masking off areas of workspace and inking up with colour.  So with that in mind I came up with these three cards.




I love this traditional way of spotlighting where you stamp in a solid colour and then pick a portion of the image to highlight with colour.  I used Archival Jet Black ink to stamp, then used distress inks and a finger dauber to colour so as to get a soft effect.  Very simple yet very effective.  I learned very quickly though that you need a stamp that is large enough otherwise it doesn't look natural enough.






I must admit I saw this version of spotlighting on one of my many scans of Pinterest!  Which then led me to YouTube!  I am sorry but I can not remember where I saw it and didn't think to pin it myself as I hadn't realised it was one that had been selected for me and not someone I follow :(  It uses a emboss resist technique to highlight sections of a stamped design.  I also made use of some freebie stamps by Indigo Blue which I got on card magazine. 


I also love masking and wanted to demonstrate to my ladies different ways of masking.  We usually use predesigned stencils when we mask, but I used masking tape!!  Well that's what it has been made for :)  I have also used a stencil to get the extra colours.   The butterfly is a Marianne Creatables die and has been cut three times in different colours.  as you layer the butterflies, don't be afraid to cut away what you don't need.  It adds a beautiful 3D effect!!
 
So now I am off to start planning the next project.  Please feel free to tell me off if you don't see a post for a while :)

Till next time
Happy Crafting

Wednesday 29 October 2014

A little carried away



I must say I think I got a little carried away with my new die set from My Favourite Things!!

I spotted these while scrolling through my supplier site and waited patiently for them to come in stock.  I'm not surprised to see they are back out of stock again either!!  I will be watching though and getting more in.

The pack contains four dies (you need to break them apart) and each one cuts a different groove for holding gift cards.  Two are little tabs to hold your card in place and two cut a slot to slide a gift card into.  Each style allows you to cut in landscape or portrait.
 I would have to say this is by far my favourite die that has been added to the collection.  Since getting the parcel, I have been playing and making Gift Card holders to sell at my market stall.  Normally I prefer to purchase a gift rather than gift cards, but I have been so taken with these, everyone might be getting Gift cards this year :)
I have also discovered that you can easily line the long slotted die so that it goes on a diagonal and holds the gift card by the corners.  Don't stop at Christmas!!  You can make Birthday holders, Wedding Wishing Well cards and so much more.  The slot die allows you to put money into a card safely without it falling out.
Well I better get back to it!!  I think I am addicted to this one 

 
 
Till next time
Happy Crafting