Something for the ladies..

It would be unfair of me not to make something for the ladies after the wicked bottom card for the men?! This idea had not "popped" into my head on it's own accord, it had to be prompted out by my good friend Alan.  Alan had asked me to make something a bit saucy for his niece on the lines of the bottom card.  I have to admit I had NO idea what I was going to do and as always, cutting things fine,  I sat at the dining table stressing what I was going to do and low and behold in the thought popped!! Again I made it all up in a rough design first and then using Bazzill cardstock I cut the pieces out.  The torso was cut from the template I had made and the rest has been cut then I rounded it off using a corner rounder and shaded in parts to give definition to the six pack using a copic pen.  The nipples and belly button were cut using SU punches, 3/4" and 1/4" inch. The finishing touches were sewing in strands to make the naval hair and the "tattoo"stamped-for rent.  You could make this alot more saucy and personal but as always remember the recipient, they are the ones who will have the card on show! xx

Lydia's 21st

I'm sure you all have the same problems in that I end up wasting so many resources when designing, do you have that problem or is it just me?  Before this final version I spent many many hours and 3 attempts/ideas before this little creation. You know how some things just don't look right and you are not happy with it, it becomes so personal when you are designing for a colleague or friend and you always want to give your best work that is unique for them.  Anyhows, enough of the old chitter chatter, here is a card for Lydia's 21st. There was alot in the brief, alot of nurse related stuff, which when I worked on that idea, it looked like a doctors graduation card, not appropriate.  I then worked on a cocktail theme, again with the colourways the same as above, it just didn't cut the muster.  So I settled on the colourway, with 21 and with all the things Lydia had done recently in a scroll type format, I think it is a stunning card.  It is an easel card and the protruding part was cut using Sizzix top note die(so universal, this is a die to have in your arsenal of crafting kit), plus the Tim Holtz tattered floral die.  The 21 was cut using Sizzix serif numbers in glitter card, the scroll was blue vellum that I printed on.  Along with DCWV linen closet cardstock, metal Birthday button, metal key, ribbons, gems, and punched butterflies complete this contemporary 21st card. I just hope the recipient likes it as much as I do? xx

Daughters 21st Birthday!

I have to admit its not the usual 21st Birthday card you would make for a young woman BUT as we all know we make cards unique to each recipient.  This card is no different.  In my mind, the brief was Sheep, 21, Daughter, key and pink. I had many thoughts on what I could do, but I thought...Keep It Simple Stupid!! My youngest Daughter Suze loves it, which is just as well as it's hers.  I'm not sure why but she has a fascination with sheep/lambs.  From everything to sheepskin, wool, to the meat and cheese, it sounds macabre now I have written it.
Anyhows, I made this mostly from punches and dies with the exception of the ears and the nose which is cut free styley!  So, there you have it, a card for my lovely Daughter. x

Best of British-Mini

Who can remember the film "The Italian Job"? What a classic film that is with Michael Caine. I had to look what year that was originally made, 1969. I can't believe that!  I think it has since had a remake in 2003, but you can never beat the original, can you?  For those of you that have never seen it,  it was about a well planned heist in Italy, the getaway cars were all mini's, if you have never seen it, you really must!  This card always reminds me of that film.  Like the film, it is well put together with lots of layers to make the union jack(remember which way the flag goes up!).  The mini is stamped using Creative Expressions stamps and watercoloured in using Stamping Up inks, real red, basic grey and basic black. Using this technique, like with any watercolour method, if you want a stronger colour then you must wait for it to dry before applying another layer.  Once done, cut out and mount with foam pads, stamp Mini as a label and adhere to flag.  The mini is a well loved British car and this card is for all of those mini lovers or those proud to be British. x

T & M Wedding Card

As panels are very on trend at the moment I wanted to have a go at creating a card with some.  It's just so easy...pop some cardstock into a cuttlebug die and emboss, then adhere the large panel to some cardstock for more rigidity and then slice into panels.  With some matting and layering, flowers, sentiment, pins, word charm and gems and "voila" one panel card.  This card was especially made for my nephews wedding, it looks so elegant.  Congratulations Tom and Maria, heres to your new life together. xx

MG Live-Silverstone

It was always going to be a difficult market to nudge our way into, one that is male dominated.  It didn't stop us from trying thou!  MG live was a three day event with a fourth day as set up, our stand looked fab, all British made by our own fair hands.  We had a nice mix of hand made items(not just cards), cushions, baby frames-these were gorgeous-(I'm sure I will blog these at a later date), door hangers, retro sweets, pictures, tooth fairy tins, hamper baskets, cute mini albums and note holders.  All this cool stuff and we still struggled to gain sales, it was the same for all of us in the lifestyle marquee. But, never let it be said that we didn't give it a fair go... we did take lots of orders, personalising and making cards for the weekend.  It was great that we had the opportunity to demo what we do.  I do think alot of the time people think its just bought in and not handmade :-(  The saving grace for us was meeting lots of really lovely people, a huge thank you to Linda, Danielle and Tracey these lovely ladies came back everyday and ordered new items from us and without them I'm sure our time at Silverstone would of been all the poorer without them! We did make some useful contacts, it has made us think differently, being approached and asked to create and design new ranges for other people to fit in with their current ranges...now why didn't we think of that before??  x

Baby Jake

I know, I have been very naughty and not blogged of late, there has been a new addition to our family, my Grandson Jake.  He is just so cute! I have been very excited and worried but now he is here I am enjoying every moment. To celebrate the occasion this card was made for him. 
I wanted to keep the card quite cute and soft, of course it had to have some trade mark stitching on it!!  The papers are from the 7Gypsies Oh Boy pack and the animal dies are Cuttlebug. x