Come rain or shine

Just thought I would share these quick and easy cards with you.  Yes, they are using the toppers and stamps from the recent seaside collection designed by Michael Powell.   I think even if it does rain you can still enjoy the fun fair and harbour views of the sea side.  

To create the cards I have matt and layered the toppers onto navy cardstock.  Then taken a separate strip of card and embossed it using my big shot and embossing folder, the dotty one!  To create the little squares I have first inked up the stamp using my versamark (the clear sticky one) and heated gold embossing powder to make the picture stand out.  I did this to the whole picture then just cut out the squares I wanted with my scallop punch, and layered them onto the card.  A gem inbetween gives added interest.  I do hope you like them... this layout will work well with whatevertoppers or stamped images you have.  Thank you for stopping by X x

A viary 'Appy Birthday

Good morning, I hope that you have had a wonderful week end whatever you did.  I had a really super time crafting at Hobbycraft in Tamworth with some lovely ladies.  These are the cards that we made during the morning, we have used the Aviary stamp set by stampin up. Don't you just loove the toppling birdcages - an idea from Jo at stampin n stuff... thank you Xx.  The embossing folder used was owl flourish from cuttlebug inked over with daffodil and old olive, the cages were stamped using soft suede.  The paper is stampin up, nursery nest.

For the second card the leaves were cut out using a die, sizzlets little leaves then inked over with soft suede to give the speckled look. Embossing folder was elegant boquet. We have stamped all in one colour using marina mist and added a matching ribbon. The sentiment is from Katy Sue.. really big and bold!

Brilliant ideas for Father's Day or even as Sarah did for a Wedding Anniversary card.  I hope you like them as much as we do. If you would like to make your own cards like these I am repeating the class at The Old Post on Monday 25th June... to book your place or order the stamp set please call me on 07968630827 thank you for stopping by X x.

Sunny day in the garden

Hello on a lovely sunny day,only downside we are all at work! But it is wonderful to have the opportunity to come home and sit in the garden in the evening with that favourite glass, enjoying the evening sun and I have just the card to put you in the mood.
This is a double pocket card, there are tutorials out there that will tell you how to put this together! This one is an example that Kay Rutter demonstrates when showing you what you can do with the Hougie board, it uses an A4 sheet of thicker paper or even thinner card.
The stamp used was Flynn in the garden Sarah Kay. Hope you feel inspired, and enjoy your time in the sunshine.
Thank you for popping by and for the lovely comments, it really is nice to know you are out there X x

A potter in the garden

What a beautiful sunny day it is today... I hope it is wherever you are too.  I have spent a very successul morning in the garden, trimming, weeding and generally tidying. ... on a day like today I really thought it appropriate to post this pretty card on my blog.
I do hope you like her too, she is a Sarah Kay stamp.  I have stamped her hat twice and decoupaged it.  The whole image was stamped using a dye based ink so that I could faintly colour in the bow on the hat,  pockets and her summer top.  I have covered the flowers in her hand with flowersoft.
The pealised paper used to matt and layer was first embossed using my big shot.  The delicate corners were die cuts from cheery lynn.  A double bow, tied with my bowmaker completes the card.
Thank you for passing by to have a look... Happy crafting X x

HAPPY BIRTHDAY... on a drizzly day in May

This really is a very pretty card, one we have made during the workshops.  I love the simplicity of the colours, they work so well together!  The stamp I have used is one from Sarah Kay, the butterflies are the little embosslit dies beautiful wings, the corner stamp is from clarity.  The little ferns have been punched out using pearlised paper.
To make the flowers you need three scallop circles, I used the stampin up punch to punch them out of  navy cardstock. Then pass them through a crimper (also available from stampin up), this is to break the fibres of the cardstock.  Then carefully flick the edge of the scallop and tease each scallop apart so that you have six shapes.  Place three together and attach with a brad in the centre.  Then dampen slightly with a water spritzer and screw gently in one hand.  By screwing up the card and rearranging the petals you can get the desired effect of real flowers.
I hope this doesn't sound too complex and that you will have a go as the results really add something to this card!
Happy crafting.....and thank you for stopping by.

Just Believe

How pretty....

Well I can't believe it... have you had chance to look at the May 2012 issue of Craft Stamper? Stampin up's very own 'just believe' stamp set is featured several times throughout the magazine.  It is one of my favourite sets, and here are some of the projects we have made during my workshops.

The small card on the left is a wallet card suitable for putting a plastic gift card inside.  The bag in a box handle was made by punching out a small circle then a scallop circle around that.  For the card on the right the flowers were made with the boho blossoms punch.  Colours used for this project were baja breeze and chocolate chip, but it also looks beautiful using so saffron or pretty in pink with chocolate chip.

If you would like a chance to create some of the wonderful projects with this stamp set please do get in touch to order your Just believe set 07968630827.... orders before the end of April will qualify for a Free 12x12 paper pack!

New Baby

Hello... Really sorry it has been so long since I have posted, but family life has been quite hectic!

As you might guess by the photos, yes we have had a new baby... and friends have had new babies too ~ all boys! so I have been busy knitting the little socks you can see and making a card gift box to give them away.

I do hope that you like them.  I have never knitted a pair of socks in my life, it was quite exciting watch them come together before my knitting pins!

The stamp I have used id from lily of the valley, it comes with the sentiment too which is really sweet. 

This is a view of the inside.  These are the dimensions for the basic card
Outer card in white 24.5cm by 15cm scored at 11cm in from each side.
For the box I used white card again 20cm by 22cm, scored at 8cm 10cm 18cm and 20cm on the longest side.
Score at 2cm 4cm 16cm and 18cm on the shortest side. I cut away the corners and stuck it together with the opening at the top.
Remember to stick your ribbon on before you matt and layer the pretty paper!  Shapes have been cut using nestabilities label six.

Is spring on its way?

I really do hope so... like many of you I have little green shoots coming up in the garden, and even mini daffodils on the window sill in spite of the snow!  So with spring in mind I have created this card in bright and cheery colours. 

The stamp set used is Stampin Up 'Every moment' and comes with a lovely saying "when we see with our hearts, every moment is the most wonderful gift in the world"

The embossing folder is elegant bouquet.. I hope you like it.  Can't believe it is nealry a whole month since my last post.  I promise it won't be so long next time.

......and if you would like to try your hand at stamping I have just the class for you please look at the dates on the side and give me a call or text, I would love to hear from you X x

How to make the most from a die cut topper

Happy New Year
... I thought I would show you this birthday card that I made for my niece.  It was just before Christmas in the middle of making all those Christmas cards, so I turned to my stash for something quick, as you do! The topper I used is a steam punk one from Kanban called Cordelia, I think it is great and makes up really well. From the one A4 sheet you could make as many as 4 cards if you use wisely... and I know that crafters do this all the time!

I used a tall blank card and cut off the width of the topper plus a smidge!
Then stamped the outside of the card blank using 'greenhouse garden' from stampin up and close to cocoa and pumpkin pie ink.
The swirls I have added were cut using the tim holtz die elegant flourishes, then I ran it through an embossing folder to give it more dimension. 
I have taken the brown spotted background card all the way across the inside to the fold of the card, making it tidy! I have added a ribbon down the side of the topper to hide the join.  Then with a ribbon bow, some pearls and a brad and a couple of tiny keys punched using copper glitter card the card was ready to go!

I do hope you like it and maybe feel your mojo comimg back from all those robins, santas and snowflakes.
Thank you for poppin by... will be posting again soon. X x