Experimental

I know you probably won't believe it when I say that when I was experimenting with these new goodies from Stevenage that this card took me a full 10 hours to create? I am still not feeling it is 100% right and will be tweaking it until I am happy. At last I have experimented with metal, something I have wanted to do for a long time and using the chocolate metal with texture plates. I love it! The key hole is made from brown leather and attached with brads. The mini metal plate cardstock has been sanded and inked for a distressed look and the keyhole mat has been stamped and textured. The wax seal is something I am definately going to use a lot more. This could be a contender for our stand at Silverstone(MG live), if only i could get it right. Do you ever have days like this?

So Sophisticated

I had been given a brief to make a fabulous card for a wonderful young lady, it had to be sophisticated and classy and to include somewhere her favourite film of "Breakfast at Tiffany's". In my head I knew exactly what I wanted to achieve but in reality it just didn't work out. Three days later I came up with this and I am really pleased with it. I have to say that keeping it contemporary and minimal is extremely hard as there is nothing you can hide and everything is out on show for close scrutiny. The card is a large A4 easel card and has a great mantlepiece appeal that any young lady would love. Happy Birthday Kira. x

Have I told you lately..

Here is my Valentine card for my partner, its always difficult coming up with new ideas for him as he is better at designing and making cards than I am. His are always so "high tec", he likes 3D or moving or pop up parts that are so mathematical, its beyond me but they are stunning. This is a variation of an easel card that I have made look more Contemporary and less "twee". This card started life as A4 red ribbed cardstock that I have folded and cut to a 51/2" square, I made that twice, with the second piece I cut down the score line to make to pieces and with one of them I cut from corner to corner and this gave me 2 triangles-are you following me so far? I stitched these two triangles together and stuck these on to one of the corners to give me the upstand for the easel card. The other piece of red square I used to emboss using the Sizzix valentine set number 3. The embossed red card I cut down to 43/4" square, I hand stitched on two sets of the flowers from Hobbycraft and tied with white ribbon, added my tag and peg. This was then mounted onto a 5" square of white which was then mounted onto 51/4" silver mirri card. Now here is the "technical" bit (and yes I worked this out on my own!). The main body of your red card score across diagonally from one corner to the other and fold this will become the easel part and should tuck into your sewn traingles from earlier. Now while the easel is in this position stick on the matted square that you have the flowers on, only stick it to the upstand part of the card. You can do this with the card in the flat position but it indicates which part you need to put the glue onto. Now just decorate your sewn triangles. Voila, you have your card of love. Till next time my fellow crafters.x

OLW-January

As promised, an update with my monthly pages for the One Little Word project. As you can see that I have made these pages for the month of January. My private thoughts about myself are kept "behind closed doors", as you can see in the photo. I have used designer papers from the neutrals collection for the back ground papers from Stamping UP(if you would like some then contact Ali at gonestampingagain-link at the end of my blog). I have used lots of the Tim Holtz products-corner adornments, washers, hitch fastners, memo pin and distressed the edges with weathered wood. I have used Sizzix label dies, Quickutz Ginger alphabet dies and EK sucess oval punches. Of course I had to include stitching on it, it just wouldn't be my work without it and the metal and diecuts, now would it? Have fun creating cool stuff!!x

Stash haul at Stevenage

Hello my fellow crafters!

Mostly I'm quite frugal when it comes to crafting but when there is a stamp/craft show then I can't help myself to a few necessities! It would be rude not to buy them, wouldn't it? On Sunday Sarah(Scrapsy) and I went to Stevenage Stamparama show to see what the latest offerings were. Currently there is not much new out there but I did buy some things that have been on my crafting wish list for a while and some things that I hope Sarah and I will put to good use for when we do our next craft fair. So, now all I have to do is get my backside into gear and get creative. Watch this space as they say, you guys will be the first to see any prototypes that we create. Have fun out there!!

Before you were born, part 2

Inside the Before you were born book I had to decide what I wanted to include and how much "mum" would want to add so I have left it very neutral so that Mum and Dad can make it a personal book for them. I made the pages from Ribbed white 300gsm cardstock from Payper box. You can get two pages from one A4 sheet. I scored and folded the card in half then cut them into 2 strips of 4" x 51/2". The squares are made using the computer either in word or publisher programmes. I made a box that has a dark outline and inside I typed the relevant text that I would want using Tahoma font. If you are making this as a gift for someone you know, find out as much information as possible so that you can include it in one of these boxes. In my book I have not shown the personal details for obvious reasons, I have left quite a few blank pages for photos especially ones that shows Mum in her stages of pregnancy. I have sewn on these squares in black so you need to fold out the page so its flat or you will stitch the card together. Once you have sewn on all of your squares you can stick the folded area together for a neat finished page, do this to all the pages. Finally punch and bind your pages and covers for your finished book. Pretty awesome huh?

Before you were born, part 1

I have had this idea in my head for ages and wanted to make a book of "before you were born" for all pregnant mums out there. I wanted it to be small enough that it could tuck into a handbag but also be put out on display if Mum (to be) wanted to. This one is for my daughter and although we know the sex of the baby I am playing it safe and keeping it all in shades of white. The book cover is made from Chipboard from a board game, it was glossy white on the inside and i have covered the outside with Bazill bling. The circle was cut from a sizzix original die from pearl paper and stitched around the circumference, the before you were born is glittered fabric stickers(i cannot remember where these were from as they were from my stash). The giraffe was cut from white ribbed cardstock using a sizzix original die and the spots and antler thingies were from a scrap of gloss card. A white bow ribbon around the giraffes neck completes him. The circle was stuck on using double sided tape and the giraffe is mounted on sticky pads. The chipboard cover is 6" x 43/4", I have bound the book using the bind it all. White ribbon and feet charms have been added but you can decorate it however you would like.