Baby Boy Card using Nigel May's All Kinds of Everything CD

Afternoon Everyone

As promised, although a little late as it didn't load up as planned, here is the lovely card I made for my other half's Niece.  She is a new Big Sister and that is such a lovely thing to be, a bit of a hard job though, means you have to make all the mistakes so that the youngster learns from them (that's my excuse and I am sticking to it).

 

So for this card I used an A5 White Hunkydory Card Blank, Nigel May's All Kinds of Everything CD, some lemon satin ribbon, Sakura Coloured Glitter Gel Pens, Sakura Clear Glaze Pen, an A4 sheet of Gold Mirri Card, A tag topper, gold peel-offs, double sided tape, foam pads and red line tape.

I printed out the topper and backing papers as well as a matching insert from Nigel May's CD.  I cut the backing paper to size and before this was layered onto card using double sided tape, I popped a strip of red line tape down the right side and pinched and stuck the lemon ribbon on to give a little texture.  I layered the topper onto a piece of Gold Mirri Card and attached to the card using foam pads to add dimension.  The tag topper was already built up using card, a button and a brad.  I personalised with some gold peel-offs and attached to card again using foam pads.  The insert was simply printed from CD and attached into the card using double sided tape.

The topper was printed from the CD and I cut and layered this up which took some time but was well worth it.  I layered this up using tiny foam pads, used the Sakura Clear Glaze pen to glaze the hearts and the string that the blocks and other bits are hanging from.  I used all the other coloured Sakura Glitter Gel pens in co-ordinating colours to pick out some of the details such as the musical notes, some highlights on the rabbit, moon, stars etc this just added a lovely sparkle.

Well that's all for now, Christmas cards to follow!!

Happy Crafting!

Amanda x

Baby Boy Card using Debbie Moore's Cracker Box Mice CD

Hello Peeps!!

Well Autumn is well and truly here, very blustery and wet out and there is a definite change in temperature.  I was driving the other day down to my mums and the wind was blowing the leafs of the trees and it just looked a picture.  I love this time of year although I have a cold already!!

So the wee hats are away in the post and this has let me get back to making some cards.  I have today made two new baby cards, and three birthday cards, that gets me all up to date from now till Christmas meaning that from tomorrow the Christmas cards are getting done, I have only two weeks before I start my new job so I want to have them all done for then just in case David does any fairs over the festive period.

My other half's sister had her baby on Tuesday so this is the baby card that I made for her from us both.  We wont be able to see the wee man till we are both clear of the cold which is a complete bummer, but isn't it always the way!

For this card I used an 8x8 white Hunkydory Card Blank, the new Debbie Moore Cracker Box Mice CD, an A4 sheet of Rainbow Mirri Card, Some teal satin ribbon, peel-offs, a chipboard sentiment, Sakura Clear Glaze Pen, Epoxy embellishments, double sided tape, red line tape, foam pads and Microsoft Word for my insert poem.

Firstly printed topper, background paper & insert paper from the CD, cut out the decoupage and stacked this up using foam pads to give a little dimension to the card.  I cut the background paper down to 7 3/4 x7 3/4 so that it fit perfectly on the card blank.  Before attaching this I added a strip of red line tape and ruffled a ribbon down the side to add another texture.  I backed the topper on Rainbow Mirri Card and attached to card using Foam pads, also attached the chipboard sentiment in the same way.

For the topper I cut out all the pieces, and layered up using foam pads.  I outlined the balloons in the background with the Sakura Clear Glaze Pen, glaze the mouses ears & nose and also uses this pen to "colour" in the balloon to give a lovely shine.  I added an "its a boy" peel-off sentiment and that was it all done!

The insert was simply co-ordinating backing papers, a poem printed from Word using blue ink, stuck all this down with double sided tape and added a couple of epoxy embellishments just to finish.

Tomorrows post will be of a lovely card for a new big sister, something that we just would not be able to find in a shop.

 

Thanks for stopping by ;o)

 

Happy Crafting!!

 

Amanda x

Final Big Knit Count

Afternoon Crafters

Just a quick post, the hats are finally done, I manged the 100 and they are now on their way to Innocent Towers.  I am so very pleased, I have posted the photos on my Facebook page which is

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151205636048783.515099.546368782&type=1&l=94dfc17192 if you fancy a wee look.

 

 

The Christmas cards can now be started and have to be done before I start my new job in Debenhams at the end of the month. 

 

Look out for some crafty Christmas ideas coming your way!

 

Much love

 

Amanda

*hugs*

Sending Everyone Crafty *HUGS* xxx

Harley Davidson Stamped Card

Evening All

 

Its a very very wet night here in Paisley and it got dark so quickly, that's the Autumn nights drawing in.  To be honest though, I really don't mind, this is my favourite time of year, love the leaves turning all their golden colours.

 

Today has been spent getting ready for a fair tomorrow at The Erskine Bridge Hotel.  Its quite a late start though for a change, don't have to be there till 10.30am and it is just down the road.  It is a craft sale indoors and supposed to be a car boot sale outside but I think the weather may have this cancelled, its been a terrible year for outdoor markets.

 

I have also finished the white ball of wool and started on a pink ball for some more hats.  I am right on course at the moment to get the amount of hats knitted that I am hoping for.  I am totalling 31 for this week and with 3 weeks still to go that will take me over the 100, fingers crossed.

 

On the success of one of the cards I had made last week I was asked to do one more for another motorbike fan.   I used the same stamp as last time but the card is so different and again I am happy with how it turned out, there are a few things I would change though if I had to do it again.

 

So, I used an 8x8 Kraft Card, printed off two sheets of map paper, tag embellishment and an insert using Craft Artist, a sheet of white card, some Bakers Twine, peel-offs, Staz-On ink pad, Versamark pad, heat gun, clear glitter embossing powder, Harley Davidson Clarity Stamp, foam pads, double sided tape, Sakura silver glitter gel pen, a punch and some eyelets.

For the topper I stamped the image onto a light brown piece of card using a Staz-On ink pad, then coloured some parts of the image with a silver glitter pen just to highlight some of the main parts of the bike.  I then covered the whole sheet with my Versamark pad, covered in embossing powder and heat from the underneath to give a flat glossy finish (heating from the top would have left it pitted) I completed two layers to give a think glossy glittery finish.  I layered on the map backing paper and backed again with white card just to lift it.  Added an eyelet and piece of bakers twine before fixing to the card with foam pads.

For the main card I layered a piece of the map paper on a piece of white card and place and eyelet in each corner.  Before fixing to the base card I wrapped some Bakers Twine down one side and fixed in place with some Red Line Tape.  This was then attached to the card using double sided tape.  I printed the tag embellishment from Craft Artist, cut out, popped on a peel-off, added an eyelet and threaded with bakers twine, knotted this to the twine on the card and fixed in place using foam pads to give a bit of dimension.

The insert was created in Craft Artist, I used the same backing paper as the front but made it a little more transparent, it looks bluey in the photo but it is just a lighter beige colour.  The sentiment was typed and centred before printing and adding some tiny peel-offs to match the front of the card.

Well that's me for the night, better get off to bed,  hope you are all enjoying the bank holiday weekend.

 

Happy crafting!!

 

Amanda x

Someone Special Card using Paws for Thought CD

Only one more day till the weekend!!

I just wanted to show you all the card that I made for my Brother's Fiance who's birthday it is today.  It turned out lovely using a bit of CD crafting along with some other bits & bobs.

For this card I used a white 8x8 card blank, two sheets of silver Mirri Card, a piece of lemon ribbon, some lemon adhesive pearls, Sakura essential pens; clear glaze, gold & clear star, Craft Artist for the insert sentiment, Cupcake Craft's "Paws for Thought" CD for topper & backing papers, foam pads, foam tape, double sided tape, red line tape, wet paper-crafting glue plus some paper flower embellishments.

This is actually quite hard to see bit on the topper I used the clear glaze pen to give the dogs nose a wet look and used the clear star glitter pen to pick out the highlights in the dogs fur, I then used the gold glitter pen to pick out the highlights in the daffodils.

This just shows the layers after being cut out and then layered using foam pads.

This is the finished card, as you can see I have layered the backing paper onto a piece of Mirri Card, I also popped the topper on a piece of Mirri as well as the sentiment, this just lets it all stand out from the backing paper.  I attached the topper & sentiment to the card using foam tape just to add some more dimension.  I then added the lemon adhesive pearls and attached the paper flowers with a wet glue.

For the insert I just picked out the dogs nose again with the clear glaze pen & the fur with the clear star glitter pen, I cut to size, wrapped a piece of lemon ribbon around that and attached to card with double sided tape.  I then used Craft Artist to pop in the verse, cut to size, attached with double sided tape and added a couple of lemon adhesive pearls, all to coordinate with the outside of the card.

And that's it, I never thought that I would craft with Cd's but it is so good to have all the elements there just to use on a card and it ensures that everything matches perfectly, love it!!

 

Happy Crafting!!

 

Amanda xx

C&C Photo of the Week

Afternoon All

What a lovely evening it has turned out to be, washing now out blowing in the breeze which is great and makes me very happy!

Just a quick post to say that Create & Craft TV's Facebook page has picked my wee booties for their "Photo of the Week".  I am well chuffed especially since it was my first knitting project :0)

Pop on over to their page to keep up-to-date with latest deals and other crafty news;

http://www.facebook.com/#!/CreateandCraft

Have a great night & happy crafting!!

Amanda x

Day Three of Knitting

Hello

Just a quick update following on from my first knit the other night.  I have managed to learn to Purl Stitch and so the Big Knit is on!!

I have knitted 6 wee hats so far and I am pretty chuffed, aiming for 100 before the closing date which is 1st October.  Only 94 to go :0)

I am just doing the basic beginner one but there are some amazing hats that more experienced people have made and they look amazing, something to aim for for next year maybe.

Anyway, here's a wee photo of the hats, pretty plain at the moment but I have some very funky wool to use next.

Let me know if you are joining in and how many you have managed?

Well, night all & happy crafting!!

Amanda x

Finally Learned Basic Knitting Stitches!

Evening Crafters!!

What a changeable day weather-wise it was today, tomorrow is to be lovely though which will be great for getting the washing out and maybe pottering in the garden.

Today I received my Create & Craft member magazine and it is fab.  I have never knitted before and I am sure that I mentioned a few month ago about wanting to do the wee hats for the top of the innocent smoothies which is a charity thing they do and donations go to Age UK. 

http://www.innocentdrinks.co.uk/bigknit

Anyway there is an article in the magazine this month, "knitting for beginners" the descriptions, diagrams and basic patters are just great.  It is the first time that I have been able to follow anything and make it actually work!!

I made the "mini socks" today after mastering casting on, knit stitch and casting off.  Tomorrow I am going to try the purse, hopefully it will be a breeze, I'm feeling Rudolf jumpers for everyones Christmas this year :o)

Perfect size for putting on New Baby cards as embellishments.

An early night now beckons, it seems to have been a long day!

Night all,

Amanda xx

Good Luck Card using La Pashe Decoupage

Happy Friday Peeps!!

So I am quite disappointed that I will not be at the biggest crafting event ever this weekend.  Not only is it organised by one of my fav crafty manufacturers, Hunkydory, but all the crafting presenters from C&C will be there and I would so love to meet them. 

For information on the event visit http://www.greatbritishcraft.co.uk/

Why? I hear you ask then, can I not make it, well it is simples, too far to drive for a day trip and I cannot stay over as no one to look after my fluffies.  Unfortunately, weekends away & holidays are on hold for the rest of my ferreting life.  I have seven of the little critters and because the type of animal that they are has such a bad reputation for biting and generally being vicious, oh and smelly, but it just simply is not the case.  My babies have all been neutered, so live very happily together in their custom built shed and as long as they are cleaned out at least twice a day the smell is OK, no where near what its like when they are not neutered, I would have to agree they are terribly smelly then :o) They are such bundles of fun & energy, you could be having the most awful day and they would just take all the worries away, love them I really do, am I winning anyone over here?

Anyway not having a moan, just wanted peeps to know that's the only reason why I am not at the Great British Craft Event, I wouldn't give up my animals or what I have to do for them for all the world and I am privileged to have them in my life. 

This is where I give a little plea for the SSPCA, Autumn/ Winter is on its way so I am sure they will soon be looking for donations of old blankets & towels etc for animal bedding as they always have so many too look after.  They also could do with donations of food for dogs & cats.  At this present moment the Glasgow Branch at Cardonald has 53 Dogs & 17 cats for rehoming, that's not including the others that are being cared for that are not yet ready to go up for adoption or the smaller furries in their care.  If you can only make one donation this year, please let it be to those guys.

For further information or for other things that you can do, have a wee look at their website;

http://www.scottishspca.org/

And so back to crafting.  I haven't really been doing much this week, I have had shed loads of job applications to fill out in the hope of getting a job to help with funding my crafty habit and also to assist with helping to increase the bank balance for the onslaught that is Christmas.

I did get an order for a leaving card from my Brothers Fiance which I completed today. 

All I used was an 8x8 card blank, two A4 sheets gold Mirri Card, two A4 coloured sheets for background (generated to match on the Craft Artist Programme also including the insert poem), sentiment & decoupage topper, foam pads, double sided tape, cream ribbon, peel-offs, adhesive lemon coloured pearls and Sakura coloured essential glitter gel pens.

Firstly cut a piece of gold Mirri card to 7 3/4x7 3/4 and embossed a flower design down the right side placing a lemon coloured adhesive pearl in the centre of each.  Secondly placed my "Good Luck" sentiment & topper on a piece of gold Mirri card and picked out the coloured detail with Sakura glitter gel pens to give a lovely sparkle.  I then cut a piece of the printed background paper to size, added a gold corner peel-off in each corner and wrapped a piece of ribbon around securing at the back with double sided tape.  Finally, I put foam pads on the back of the topper & sentiment then attached to the card, made a bow with a bow maker and attached to the card with red line tape (extra sticky).

The sentiment was printed on matching paper to tie in with the card front, I also added a strip of Mirri Card & a few lemon adhesive pearls to finish.  The poem reads "As you start on your new venture, this brings a wish your way, for many happy moments, to fill each coming day.  And as you face the future, that's waiting just for you, may you soon discover, your dreams have all come true, congratulations on your new job!!"

Tomorrow I will be starting the Christmas cards for any markets that I can get booked in for the festive season.  I don't think I will be doing as many as last year due to hopefully managing to get a job but I will still be fulfilling orders etc.  I will update with anything that I manage to create.

Have a great weekend everyone & Happy Crafting!!

Amanda x

Wedding Card

Evening All,

Today I had a welcome break from visiting the gym and spent some time crafting, managed to get the Wedding Card & Birthday Card completed, very happy about that!!

When I completed my cards I used to pop a sticker on the back with the name of the company and the details but this week I was lucky enough to purchase a custom stamp which is just fab.  I also have to say that the service I received from the company that made it was just outstanding.  I emailed at dinnertime, and a proof was sent about an hour later.  Once the company received payment, literally minutes later, I had an email from the lovely Rob to say it would be sent 1st class the next day.  So ordered late Thursday, posted Friday & it was on my doormat Saturday morning, for a custom stamp that is just a 1st class service. 

The company is Stampreo and their website is www.stampreo.co.uk and come highly recommended by me :o)

This is my stamp on an 8x8 card, it looks great and so professional, love it;



The wedding card was very simple, I used an 8x8 blank white card, a sheet of silver Mirri Card, another sheet of white card, some adhesive pearls, peel-offs, a stencil, double sided tape, a Rock a Block & sentiment stamp, a Staz-on ink pad plus Craft Artist to create my insert.

I cut the silver mirri to 7 3/4 x 7 3/4, I then used a flower stencil to emboss down one side, I placed adhesive pearls in the centre of each flower to finish.  Layered a white piece of card on top, popped silver peel-off corners on the card, a lovely double ring topper and then stamped "may all your dreams come true" underneath, it didn't turn out a perfect stamp but the actual look of it is lovely in person, looks kinda rubbed off not pure matt black but I will have to practice some more with the rock a blocks, this was my 1st attempt after a practice run which was perfect, always the way!!

I used Craft Artist to create the sentiment "May your life together be filled with love & laughter!", I then used the stencil again to pop a flower next to this which ties it in with the front of the card and added an adhesive pearl to finish.

The Birthday Card was a little harder for me as men's cards are just so so difficult!!  For this card I used an 8x8 blank Kraft Card, a piece of silver Mirri Card, some peel-offs, a piece of black ribbon, Clarity Harley Stamp, Staz-on ink pad, a Versamark pad, some clear embossing powder, foam pads, double sided tape, a heat gun plus Craft Artist again to create the insert.

Again this was created in Craft Artist "Only a biker knows why a dog sticks his head out of a car window" & "Happy Birthday" I also added a strip of silver mirri to tie in with the front card.

I matt & layered a piece of mirri and the background I printed from Craft Artist.  I added a piece of black ribbon which had a knot at one side rather than a bow.  I then added the "happy birthday" peel-off.  The topper was a piece of mirri & a piece of the coloured card layered together, I placed silver rivet peel-offs in each corner and stamped the Harley in the centre of the topper.  Before I layered the topper on the mirri I edged it with Versamark and dipped in embossing powder, I then stamped over the bike with Versamark and covered with the powder, heating from behind to give a smooth glass like finish and bringing out the detail in the stamped image.  I then used foam pads to mount on the card.

A close up of the image.

And that's all for now,

Happy Crafting!!!

Amanda xx



Ferret in a TUTU!

Good Afternoon on this most gorgeous day!!

Its just fab to have a couple of days of nice hot weather, washing done, garden sorted, its just fab fab fab :o)

As far a crafting goes I haven't been up to much, I do have an order for a wedding card & a birthday card for a man....eek!! men's cards I just find so difficult.  These will be getting done over the next couple of days so I will update on how they turn out.

Here are a couple of Craft Artist pages that I made up for a lovely lady who sent me a Tutu for my wee girl ferret ages and ages ago.  It was so long ago she had probably forgotten, but it has been a nightmare to get the monster to keep it on long enough for a photo.

Natalie Turner is the creator of all things fairy-like & tutu, she has such an amazing range and some gorgeous outfits, one very talented lady and oh how I wish I could fit into one!!

Why not visit Natalie's FB page "Seraphina Fairy Tales" using the link below;

http://www.facebook.com/SeraphinaFairyTales?sk=wall&filter=2#!/SeraphinaFairyTales

Well bye for the moment,

Happy Crafting!!

xxx

Victorian 60th Birthday Card

Evening All

What a gorgeous day it has been today, I was actually really happy at being able to get some washing out on the line for a change!!

So, what have I been up to?

Well I didn't tidy the craft room on Friday as I posted it was done today instead.  I had managed to find something else to take up my time :o)  A basket and card order which was fab. 

I love having orders and actually having a reason to craft instead of just making things up for markets, I mean I enjoy that as well but its more generic and I tend not to challenge myself.

David purchased some new style baskets and they are lovely looking, I am very pleased with them.

The card I made was 8x8 and its such a great size to work with.  It was required for an older more elegant lady so it was a good opportunity to get away from cute animals and bears etc.

I used a Kraft card as the base, extra strong double sided tape, double sided tape, wet glue, large foam pads, a piece of silver Mirri Card, a piece of lace style card, a piece of rose background paper, a couple of birthday sentiments, a Victorian topper, some cream ribbon with some glass bead droplets, some brown gems, some turquoise gems, a paper flower and some flowers put together using a technique that Ali Reeve from "Stamps Away" used on some background paper for a card she made.

So to make these simply cut out varying sizes of flower shapes from decoupage paper so that they could be layered up when finished.  I then scrunched them up to give a crumpled look.  Popped some coffee in he bottom of a bowl and added just a small amount of water from a hot kettle to dissolve, the flower shapes were then all dipped in and covered in the coffee.  I placed them on a piece of tin foil just to give them someplace safe to dry, before I left them though I sprinkled some more coffee granules on top to give flecks of deeper colour, left them just for a few minutes and then dried them off with a piece of kitchen towel and left to dry.

Once the flowers were fully dry I stuck the layers together with wet glue, shaped them some more, and added gem centres just to add a little sparkle and to tie them in with the rest of the card.  I also cut out leaves and used the same tecnique.  The finished flowers were attached to the card with wet glue and foam pads on the small one to give it a little height.

I was very pleased with the finished card, mainly because it signals the end of my crafty block!!

So thats what I did Friday. 

Saturday I got my things together for the "Granny Would Be Proud" Market held in the Hillhead Bookclub Bar & Restaurant across from Waitrose on Byres Road in Glasgows West End.  It was a great day, met some very lovely crafters as always and had a cupcake to die for made by "The Sweet Hut", oh it was just scrummy!!

Well, thats all for tonight, Happy Crafting xx



To Tidy or Not To Tidy.......

It's Friday everyone!!

I know all you crafters out there will know the dread that comes when you look in the craft room and its just a huge mess that just needs a good tidy.  This week I have done everything to stop myself from tidying it out, I have even done the garden which is not one of my favourite tasks either but obviously the better of the two. 

Today I cannot procrastinate anymore as there are no other jobs I can do instead it is going to be done, really........honest.......I mean I am even writing a blog to delay the inevitable!!

Wish me luck people, may be gone a while!!  If I'm not lost I will end up doing something crafty, actually hoping that cleaning the room will bring back the urge to craft & create stuff again, maybe my mojo is hiding in there someplace?

Anyhoo,

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Happy Crafting :0)

Amanda

Basic Cute Critters Cards

Hello Friends

Just a quick post showing the last of the basic cards that I have put together, just shows that things don't have to be that complicated.

I have received a few Christmas kits and will be trying to make these all different and unique and totally different from what can be bought in store.  Well this is the plan anyway, still not quite got back into things yet.

That's it for tonight. 

I am still doing loads of crochet squares for my blanket, not sure it will be finished for the winter but isn't that always the way!

I have also been doing some Kumihimo Jewellery and keyrings which is so relaxing and takes up no area at all, pictures to follow once I have enough different patterns to show exactly what can be created.

Happy Crafting Everyone!!

Amanda

Basic Cute Critters Cards

Good Day People

I know, two days in a row!!

Just thought I would post some more of the cards I put together over the weekend.  These are all square cards and I used some basic inserts in matching colours but with scalloped edges just to jazz things up a bit.

Again I have used the remainder of the stamped images that I had, layered these up with some matching card, added some peel-offs, ribbon and other embellishments and finished by popping in cello bags. 

Keeping it simple for the moment.

Happy Crafting!!

Amanda

Basic Cute Critters Cards & Die Cut Butterflies

Hey All

I have to apologise for the sheer lack of posts on the Blog front, my crafty block still hasn't lifted.  However, this week I dug out a few wee bits of leftover card & toppers etc and stuck a few different cards together.

In this batch I actually used inserts, just very basic colours to match the cards with a simple verse, it actually makes a huge difference to the finished look of the card and so I am going to aim to do this from now on with all the cards I make.

The cards feature some of the stamps which I coloured right at the very start of the Blog, yip I still have some of these, batch stamping might not be something I do again as it has taken some time to use all of these even though I have decoupaged them up.  It does get slightly samey!!

In a crafty mag that I had delivered through the door a while back there was a section on drawing your own borders and other features on your cards to give them a different kind of look.  I used a black Promarker fine liner and drew two overlapping wavy borders which look great and then coloured these in the colours that were used on the toppers.  The Promarkers give a very seamless finish so they do not look hand coloured.

These are so very simple to pop together, all you need is a die cutting system, maybe a Cricut or even a Cuttlebug or Grand Calibre with the lovely dies to make your bits.  I have cut out some butterflies and simply layered these up and left the wings loose, then use double sided tape to pop onto  contrasting card.  For the glitter strip I again used double sided sticky tape with some cloth embellishments and then sprinkled with the correct coloured glitter and cut into strips to fit, such a quick way to add some sparkle for your cards.

To finish I just pop my stamp on the back and place into a cello bag with an envelope to keep card pristine.

Happy crafting people!!

Amanda