100th Birthday Card - Wednesday 18th July

Good Morning Bloggers!


Hope you are all well crafting along happily! Today's card was a commission I had recently,where I really didn't have much time to make it. I usually only make cards with two weeks notice, but as this was for a 100th birthday, I couldn't turn it down could I?

Sorry it's not much of a photo, I always find easel cards hard to photograph and this was a pretty big one at 8x8!


I started with a plain blank which I scored and folded into a basic easel; then I chose three different papers, mostly  from my 12x12 scrapbook stash to make sure I had enough for all the bits....I used a plain pale green..not turquoise as it appears in the photo! Then I used some oatmeal foundation card (2 pieces of A4) and finally some floral patterned paper that had been in my scrapbook box for a long time. It was one of those sheets that I liked at the time of buying, but had never found a use for, it has actually got a hint of glitter over it and is a lovely textured piece of card. So I thought I'd give it a go on this card.


The base was matted and layered, as was the folded side and then I cut three different sizes of Spellbinders Grand Labels 23. I typed the greeting and cut it out on Labels Four Small. The butterfly, from Spellbinders Wings of Hope is cut on the patterned paper and a layer of wax paper! I love this paper, I'm not a huge vellum fan, but I love using this with dies because of the soft waxy feel that it has. The '100' was cut on my little Cricut and I finished off with some flowers, which seemed to go with those on the paper and some gems.


Thanks for stopping by!


Carole X

Especially for You -Tuesday 10th July

Hello Bloggers!


Today's card is a birthday card, which is inspired by a card Sue Wilson posted some time ago, but I changed it a little and made it into a pop up card..it was made to give to my Mother-in-Law for her birthday this week.

I cut the card shape in cream card using Grand Labels 23 and then matted and layered in two more sizes. I edged the outer card with wild honey distress ink. The smallest layer, I embossed with a floral mat from 'That Special Touch of...' and then distressed it all over to raise the embossed surface.


The sentiment was stamped using an LOTV stamp and then die cut and framed using Labels Four Small. I added the large flower, cut with the Aster die and used a co-ordinating organza ribbon to decorate. For a finishing touch  wanted to add pins and recently I won a lovely hatpin kit from Linda's blog, but I haven't had a chance to make any as yet...the pretty glass one in the picture was one of a lovely selection that Linda made and sent me and the colours just went so well with this card. I know my mum in law will appreciate it, so I didn't hesitate to add it. Thank you Linda, they are beautiful! The other pin is one I had in stock, from Creative Expressions, which I coloured myself with a Promarker. Check out Linda's lovely cards at http://creativeharmony.blogspot.co.uk/

For the inside of the card, I cut out the pop up section and then die cut some more Aster flowers and arranged them in the centre. I used some Cosmic Shimmer Olympic Gold PVA for the centres of the flowers.


Thanks for stopping by!
Carole X

Thank You!!! Sunday 1st July

Good Morning Blog Friends,


First of all, a big thank you to those of you who stop by here, take a look and leave a message. I read them all and really appreciate them...as I also love to visit and comment on your blogs too! The craft world is so caring and sharing, you are all lovely people and it's so nice to have connected with you this way.


Thanks to those of you who left messages about my boxes yesterday, Christine Emberson is so inspiring for us crafters isn't she? To those who hopped over from Christine's blog, left a message and started following me...welcome! I hope you will visit often, I post almost every day and I think I have quite a varied mix of work...except I am a bit of a Spellbinders, Stamping and Promarker addict!


A few days ago, I did say that when I reach 50 followers I will be sending out some Candy..it's still probably a way off though! But I'm almost at 20!

Today's card is a commission: for new followers, a little information: I go out to work three days a week for a local charity, leaving me not enough crafting time! I have started teaching card making workshops with my friend Amy, who co-owns a local gift and craft shop, I make cards by commission, do the very occasional craft fair and am on the design team for Emergency Crafters. This last month I have  also been guest designer for House Mouse and Friends and absolutely loved it!


I like to mix things up a bit with my crafting, it keeps me on my toes! Taking commissions helps me with 'stash' money and makes me design cards 'around' my comfort zone and sometimes totally out of it..this card is 'around' it! Many people who order personalised cards from me, I have never met - some of my customers have been commissioning cards for several years and we have never even spoken! I must be doing something right though as they keep coming back!


This card was requested by a friend of my brother-in-law and I didn't really have a lot to go on...sometimes this is easier: a blank canvas so to speak, but I have to remember that I need to keep these cards 'mainstream' and not go off on one of my steampunk or arty tangents!


I love rubber stamping: I find it gets my creative juices flowing and it is also relaxing. However I do also use digital stamps and some CDs and I also use two digital craft programmes: DoCraft digital designer and Serif Craft Artist. The latter is helpful with scrapbooking. But mostly they are a good source of papers and creating papers. My one bugbear with Serif and some CD's is that they aren't iMac friendly in an interactive way, so rather than using them on my desktop, I have to use my Windows laptop. Digital Designer though is Mac friendly, which is great!


Back to the card (I don't usually waffle this much!)....It's an 8x8, as are most of my commissioned cards and I printed the backing paper and the parcel and flower topper from the Designer, Tatty Teddy package. I also printed Teddy himself, but I had to get my Promarkers out just once on this card, so he is a digital stamp!


The die-cuts are Spellbinders  Labels 23 and the bunting was cut from the Designer Portobello Road programme. I cut the 'Mum' and '60' with my Cricut. I have the 'baby' Cricut, which is just called the cutting machine - no fancy name for mine, so I gave it the rather un-original name of 'Jiminy' ! At the moment it's only cutting Mirror Board, as the blade needs replacing :(


To finish off I added some gorgeous stripey ribbon and tried a new technique in tying it, so that it still remains quite flat for posting or putting in an envelope (I usually present commissions in expandable envelopes or boxes). To check this out - and it really is super cool - take a look at Kirsty Wiseman's video on - it's a goodie!
http://fantasticribbons.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/first-of-our-ribbon-video-tutorials.html

I am sorry today's post has been so long, I will be back in the next day or so...the problem at the moment is that  I have been spending a lot of time on Christmas designs and don't want to bombard you with them just yet!


Happy Sunday and Happy Crafting!
Carole X

First Christmas card 2012 - Monday 25th June

Hi Blog Friends,


Well I had to get started this month didn't I? So inspired by some of you, and all the Christmas Craftyness on Create and Craft this week, I dug deep under my desk, pulled out the boxes of Christmas stash, dusted off the Christmas Spellbinders and stamps and got to work. The first ones aren't going to be quick ones..I need the more involved, 'lots going on' cards before I decide on the design for my card that is going to be made many times over!

 This card was made with a Lilli of the Valley stamp, which I coloured with Promarkers and then added some Pinflair Iced Diamond for the snow and on the hats.


I cut the image on a  Spellbinders Grand Labels 23 and then cut a faux nestie in red. The base card is white, matted and layered with green and red card and finally a sage green polka dot card, which I pin pricked and using white jellyroll pen created faux stitching.


The snow flakes are from this year's Spellbinders Christmas dies and the poinsettias are from last year. I love these dies, they are by far my favourite! For this card I cut the petals using red glitter felt and the foliage, dark green card.


I stamped an LOTV stamp on to white card and die cut using  a lacey oval die...final touches were pearl gems a button and ribbon from stash.


Thanks for stopping by, I'll try to space our Christmas cards for now...we haven't had summer yet, have we!!!?


Carole X