#82 Ice ice baby.....

Many of our crafters join us from all corners of the world.

 

I've not posted for two weeks as my family have been out enjoying the world - well Majorca to be specific. We had a great time and loved every minute of some much needed family time together!

So today, some of you are enjoying sunshine while others are a tad chilly!!

 

In celebration of all weathers - our challenge over at Card crafters circle this week is to create your best winter or summer card.

 

Our sponsor is Michelle Perkett Studios

 

 

 

Here's my summer creation. You can find this chilled out little chick on Michelle's website :-)

 

 

You've seen aperture's before. But how about creating them as a feature on the inside of your card.

 

This one was done using Spellbinders Blossom Die. Cut the 2nd size down out of the card then use largest and 2nd together to die cut a frame to stick over the top.

 

The flower flourish is a lovely one I picked up from Art of Craft and it's from Crafts-Too.

 

Cut the flourish from blue paper first. Then re-cut just the flower head from two papers. Curl the petals and stick on top of your base. You could do lots of layers to create a beautiful 3D flower.

 



 

I recently had a good tidy up of my ribbons which has made them much easier to use!!

How about taking two tones of ribbon and making a double?

It makes the ribbon stand out even more and this card can take it :-)

 

Then it's just a case of gems and some much needed glitter!!

 

Incase you're wondering the punched border is Martha Stewart's 'doily'.

 

So, let's see what you create this week and whether you're feeling the heat or cooling off...

 

Crafty smiles

Teresa xx

 



Up for some acetate?

So, most of us have some lovely nesting die's in our kit bag.

 

Have you thought about using them to make an aperture in your card as apposed to matting and layering?

 

I found some lovely acetate at a craft show in Feburary and couldn't resist a play for my sister-in-law's birthday :-)

 

 

I used XCut nesting die. First cut the second largest from your card stock. Make a frame with your largest and second largest that you can stick to the top of your acetate.

The amazing swirl flower is from 'Crafts Too'. Their range of die cuts are beautiful as so well priced!

 

 

I covered the back of the card with patterned paper so the pattern on the acetate really stands out.

 

Again I used a nesting die to cut the sentiment frame out of. The stamp is from one in  my stash :-)

 

I must admit I went a bit OTT on the embellishments on this one!

 

The 'tickets' are from a Kanban stamp set. It's great - you can mix up the tickets and sentiment options.

The heart is a wooden embelli and I've stamped on the top with a flourish stamp in my stash.

 

The cute little bird house is metal and comes from 'Hobby House'. I can really recommend their little embellishment sets!

 

 

The border punch is one of the large Martha Stewart ( of course!).

Finish off with some little flowers (if you've the room!)

 

My favourite thing about this card is the mix of colours. I'm loving getting bolder with my choices and seeing what happens.

 

Happy Monday All

 

Teresa xx

 



Suggest a Sketch - Challenge #78

Ok, blog is working - check :-)

 

It's Friday so it's challenge day on Card Crafters Circle - check :-)

 

And we've even given you a card layout to play with too - check :-)

 

And here it is...

 

 

Twist it, turn it or follow it - just go for it this week and let's see what you can make :-)

 

Our sponsors are Eureka Stamps

 

 

I've used their lovely fat 'Bumble Bee' digi stamp...

 

 

 I printed the bee 3 times cutting two of them out. Once coloured in I used pinflair glue to layer up my bee (plus added a little glitter to his wings - I couldn't resist!)

 

 

 

Instead of stars - I went for flowers....

 

 

 

I followed the template but used the same patterned paper, cutting it diagonally and separating when I stuck it down on top of this gorgeous copper mirror card.

 

Finally punching two shades of brown border card with my faithful Martha Stewart doily punch :-)

 

 

 

Add the sentiment - and we're done!

 

Good luck everyone - can't wait to see what you do this week.

 

Crafty smiles

 

Teresa xx



Strike up your Stripes!

Hello All,

 

Sorry it's been a while since I've blogged - family stuff going on.

 

And to top that off, looks like my blog has been playing up too and didn't post last week's challenge from Card Crafters Circle.

 

So, although I'm a little late - thought I'd post a card idea anyway.

 

This fab little dude comes from Whimsy Stamps (Stamps by Kathryn)

 

He's called 'Raggedy Little Boy' and he's worth every penny :-)

 

 

What do you think? Told you he was a cutie pie :-)

 

To make the card I stuck together two 5x5 kraftstax cards and then scored each side section in half.

 

The card will fold together to still fit into a 5x5 envelope.

 

My trusty spectrum noir's have brought this chappy to life.

 

 

I picked up the heart sentiment stamp at Hobbycraft for £1!!!

 

Digi stamps are brill if you've got little storage and you want to size them to whatever you want to work with. Once downloaded I take mine into My Craft Studio software and size up in there before printing on Neenah card (crafters companion) for colouring.

 

Some other tools used were:

Fiskars border punch

Crafts Too Fence die cut

Xcut nesting circles

 

I've been looking and commenting all on our stripey card entries to our challenge this week. They've been some great makes!

 

Tomorrow I'll post our new weekly challenge which is based on a sketch :-)

 

Happy Thursday all

 

Teresa xx

 



#75 Construction Cards (get your scoreboard out!)

Hi All!

 

Happy Friday to everyone :-)

 

Another Friday and another challenge over at Cardcrafters Circle.

 

This week we're playing with construction cards so think Easel; Neverending; Trifold; Theatre style etc etc etc!!

 

Our sponsor this week is:

Digi Darlas, click onto the logo to get into their brilliant shop!

 

 

Here's  my construction card; it's a theatre style card :-)

 

 

I made this on my Hougie Board :-)

 

The image is 'kitten with a ball' and I thought he was really cute!

 

To make a theatre card is really easy. Just work out the width you want (this one is 6'' square card) and add 4'' to the width when you cut the card.

 

Then score at 1'', 2'', 8'', 9''.

 

 

 

I cut an aperture out of the front card using an Xcut die and then ran it through my Crafters Companion A4 embossing folder (which is really yummy!!)

 

 

 

Stick your sides together, punch a hole through the top of bottom and thread your ribbon. The sides will fold in so you can get into a 6x6 envelope. Just watch out for too many embellishments or you'll have to make a box for it.

 

 

 

I crochet'd the flower to keep the 'wool' theme going :-)

 

 

 

The trim inside the aperture is some pink paper punched with one of the large Martha Stewart border punches.

 

And here's a close up of my little cheeky kitten (coloured in with Spectrum Noirs)

 

 

 

Can't wait to see what you create - have fun!!

 

Crafty smiles

 

Teresa xx

 



Pinks and Yellows... here we go!

Challenge #74 is on over at Card Crafters Circle this week.

 

We run our challenges from Friday to Friday so get playing :-)

 

this week we want you to mix up pink and yellow.

 

It's great to see what you get up to each week and I love stopping by to leave little comments on your blogs :-)

 

We've used some wonderful images from our friends over at Floppy Latte

 

 

There's a great array of images to choose from and get crafting on straight away.

 

The team choose from the amazing frames range, pop over to the challenge blog to see what we've all been up too!

 

Here's mine...

 

 

The flowers were coloured in with water pencils. Have go at blending in different shades of green on your leaves and watch them come to life :-)

 

I picked up the sentiment stamp a few years ago from e-bay and just love it's meaning.

 

 

 

Instead of matting squares all the time, have a go at cutting a square larger than you need and turning at an angle. Trim off the edges and you're left with a different backing shape behind your main image.

 

 

The 'frame' for my main image is done with a Fiskars corner punch. Once you've punched all four corners you can then secure your picture in each edge (my fab little new buy!)

 

DISTRESSING TOP TIP:

We all see lots of distressing on cards but how do you rough up your cards?

 I use the fab little distressing tool from Hougie Crafts. All you do is run your card through the little tool (blades inside are hidden) and is rough's up your card a treat ready to by inked.

 

Have fun with your cards this week!

 

Crafty smiles

Teresa xx





Get your bloomers out!

It's a new challenge over at Card Crafters Circle and this week we're all about the flowers.

 

Especially as the sun has finally decided to visit us here in England (yippee!!). We've missed sooooo much :-)

 

Anyway, the details. It's challenge number 73.

 

And we've been sponsored this week by the fabulous Michelle Perkett Studios

 

have a good look at what my design team pals have been up to this week with the 3 different images we had to play with :-)

 

This week I wanted to give you something a little different so no card...

 

Instead I'm decorating gifts bags!!

 

In essence it's exactly the same just that you get to put lovely things in your finished project for a girlfriend or female family member.

 

 

my post is a little late tonight and my two beautiful kids will have me up early. So I'll add more photo's and details tomorrow - including the dies and punches I've used (don't you just love that border punch - it's Martha Stewart)

 

Night, night, for now

 

Teresa xx