Saturday 28 January 2012

~ Vintage card - tutorial ~



Here is an invitation I have made to invite people to mine and my friend's Queen's Guide Award presentation. I'm making approx 20 of these invitations and although they are simple I thought I would do a quick tutorial. This is my first tutorial so any constructive comments are appreciated.

1. Stamp a script background stamp on to kraft cardstock using Versamark dazzle inkpad. I bought this today from Hobbycraft and love the effect it gives to the watermark image. The stamp I used is one from Prima.

2. Stamp the large image and the verse from the Stampin Up Friendship's Journey stamp set (2003) on to cream card using Vintage Sepia Versafine ink. I love this stamp set, just a shame it was retired in 2005. This design would work with a number of other stamp designs.

3. Trim all the images so that the image fills the card and trim the verse to approx 2cm x 8cm.

4. Stamp the postage mark in Versamark Burgundy ink at either corner of the cardstock with the script stamped on it.

5. Ink the edges of all 3 images using a brown Distress Ink, I used Walnut Stain.

6. Mount the female image on to dark red/burgundy cardstock.

7. Mount the script and the female image on to a standard size cream card.

8.  Using double sided tape adhere a piece of lace measuring the width of the card just covering the bottom of the female image.

9. Add the sentiment just below the lace using 3D form squares. 

10. Adhere 3 mosaic squares/rhinestones to the top right handside of the card. 

11. Finally punch out a flower from matching cardstock, add a rhinestone to the centre and adhere it to the card just above the sentiment.

There you go one complete card!

Happy Crafting!

Thursday 26 January 2012

~ & now for something completely different - Jan ~

Good Morning from a lovely Sunny South Yorkshire...

... This month i have started Shimelle's new monthly challenge over on UKscrappers which can be found here.


Although I didn't have the same stash as Shimelle used I adapted it to use some of my own stash. I am aiming to try and reduce the amount of papers I have. Seem to have bought quite a few, oops. For this layout I used one of my first Scrapagogo kits.

This challenge has given me the much needed mojo I needed and have been waiting patiently for. I can't wait for next months!

Happy Crafting!

Wednesday 25 January 2012

~ WOYWW - 25th January ~

Here's my desk with 2 coats of gesso ready for painting:


I'm hoping to get on with painting a pattern on this over the next week. So fingers crossed it will be completed by next wednesday.

Happy Crafting!




Monday 23 January 2012

~ Sisal and stipple ~



This is a class kit I got from last March's Gogogetaway. I used a photo from our trip to India in 2009. We stayed in these posh tents at Ranthambore National Park. Whilst here we were fortunate to see tigers.

Well everything has been abit busy round here since I've gone back to work and unfortunately haven't had as much time to do much crafting.

Happy Crafting! 

Saturday 21 January 2012

~ Little Claire Stamp Club - January ~


Well I'm finally up to date with my Little Claire monthly card kits just in time for the next one to arrive through my door at the begining of February. I absolutely love this stamp I just wish it had arrived at the begining of December as our friends moved in to a new house and it would have been ideal!


Apologies for the poor picture quality on the above photo, I took it on a very wet and dull day. The image was stamped using memento black ink and then coloured with Promarkers. I'm wondering if Little Claire have shares in Gingham paper? As the last 3 kits from them has had Gingham patterned paper in them.

Happy Crafting!

Friday 20 January 2012

~ A little cute LOTV card ~

Today is my good friend Caroline's Birthday and here is the card I made for her.


The image is from Lily of the Valley and is coloured with promarkers. The patterned paper is from my scraps bag so I have no idea what range it is from. The cardstock is coredinations which I have distressed along the edges.

Happy Crafting!



Wednesday 18 January 2012

~WOYWW - 18th January ~


A new desk for a new year!

Over the last few months i have realised that I simply didn't have quite enough desk space. So after talking nicely to my other half he agreed to help me create another desk between my original desk and the expedit unit on the otherside of the room.


I plan to paint it and maybe do some kind of mural or similar. I can't wait for it to be completed so I can get on with card making.

Happy Crafting!


Tuesday 17 January 2012

~ A natural card ~


Well yesterday was my Dad's Birthday so I thought I would share the card I made for him.


I used Distress inks to stamp the background and leaves. I then covered 2 of the larger leaves in distress stickles and 2 in rock candy crackle paint. I added a strip of tissue tape at the bottom and the added some small leaves as a bed for the sentiment.

Happy Crafting!

Saturday 14 January 2012

~ Little Claire Stamp Club - December ~


Like I mentioned before, I'm a bit behind on my Little Claire monthly card kits. I think this stamp has to be one of my favourite. I know exactly who will be getting this card for their birthday. The stamp is called Winter Aga.


I stamped the image with black memento ink and then coloured it with promarkers, mainly using an ultra fine nib. I'm thinking I may adapt this stamp and use it for some of next year's Christmas cards.

Happy Crafting!

Saturday 7 January 2012

~ Little Claire Stamp Club - November ~


With Christmas around everything seemed to take a back seat including the wonderful stamp club kits from Little Claire. These are their new range of Cutie Patootie stamps. These two are Bert & Mary.


I stamped them with grey memento ink and then coloured them with my promarkers. I'm really enjoying adding depth and shadows to my images since going to a promarker class in November 2011.

I look forward to using these stamps for more cards in the future.

Happy Crafting!

Friday 6 January 2012

~ Journal your Christmas - part 2 ~

Here we go for the second installment of my 'Journal your Christmas' Album.


5th Dec - My homemade advent calendar


7th Dec - A list of all the gifts I have bought or intend to buy


8th Dec - A collection of photos which means Christmas is on its way


9th Dec - Dad taught me the family tradition of making mince pies

Hopefully I'll have the next installment for you soon.
(By the way I have purposely miss out the 6th Dec)

Happy Crafting!

Wednesday 4 January 2012

~ WOYWW - 4th Jan 2012 ~


What's on your workdesk Wednesday?

Well... The kittens seem to take over each time I open the door to my craft room. Millie has found a lovely hiding space under the desk and oscar loves to sit on top, especially when I'm trying to use my promarkers.

I'm hoping to get some more crafting done today before I hopefully start back at work on Monday next week. Yesterday I had a big sort out of my photos and just realised how many I still have to scrap... oops! Anyway, I'm off to order some more.

Happy Crafting!

Tuesday 3 January 2012

~ Journal your Christmas - part 1 ~

Well I started off with good intentions of getting my 'Journal your Christmas' Album completed by doing a page a day. However, it didn't last very long. So over the next couple of weeks I'll show you my pages as I get them completed.


1st Dec - A Christmas Manifesto


 2nd Dec - This is how I love snuggling up with the fire on when the weather outside is cold and icy.


3rd Dec - This year I managed to send about 50% of people Christmas Cards.


4th Dec - One of my favourite things at Christmas is when Starbucks bring out their Christmas flavoured coffee. 

Happy Crafting!

Monday 2 January 2012

~ A new challenge for a new year! ~


Happy Bank Holiday!

Well today has been fantastic! Not only has it been gloriously sunny and we managed to go for a walk but over on UKScrappers (my regular hangout!) they have announced a plethora of fantastic looking classes and challenges to see us through 2012.

I'm thinking I may dip in to the monthly Simple Recipes challenges if my mojo goes askew but I really can't wait to see what Shimelle has in store for us with the '& now for something completely different' monthly challenge.

I really hope I manage to stick to this unlike the Journal your Christmas class which it will be a miracle if it gets completed. I just got a bit bored scrapping Christmassy things in similar colours, embellishments and in 6x6. Maybe if I do it again it will have to be a journal with differing sized layouts. 

If any of you know of other year long monthly challenges please add a comment and I'll pop over and have a peek!

Happy Crafting!

Sunday 1 January 2012

~ Happy New Year! ~


I would like to wish all my readers a Happy New Year!

This year I hope to acheive the following:
      • Join a Design Team
      • Make handmade birthday cards for all my friends
      • Finish all March Gogo Getaway layouts at the weekend
      • Finish my India 2009 and my Gambia albums
      • Chat more on UKScrappers
      • Blog regularly, including our trip to Vietnam
      • Share tutorials and sketches on my blog
Happy Crafting!