Its a bit wishi washi today

Hello crafty friends, It`s national stationery week (yes there is such a thing) and I was asked by Crafters Companion to make a washi tape box as part of this event.

 

 

This is the box that I made and you can find details of how to make it yourself including a template and even free downloadable digi papers on the Crafters Companion blog, sadly you will have to provide the washi tape. 

With a friend and a cuppa you could put the world to rights

This is a card that I have made for a very good friend who has her birthday on May the 4th (be with you), and yes that is how I remember it. My friend and me love to go out for tea and a cake so this image is just right for us, I think I am the one in the hat. It`s a side stepper card using the template from my previous post "cupboard love" and I do think that this template is a really useful size.

The stamp is an old fave from Lilly of the Valley called "coffee break". I know they have stopped selling their rubber stamps but this image is still available as a digi download which in a way is better because you get it straight away. I used watercolour pens and a water brush and distress inks with a water brush to colour the image.

The backing papers are NitWit "Hydrangeas too" downloadable backing papers which I printed onto Hobbycraft 300gsm A4 premium card (I also used this card to make the base card).

The large sentiment is from the Crafters Companion, Hollie Hobby, time for tea stamp set and I used a die from the X Cut, large tags & plates dies to cut the shape. The two small tag sentiments are made using Lilly of the Valley, digi stamp set 24.

I finished the whole thing off by making a box for the card and I have to say that using the Big Score from Crafters Companion makes any box a complete doddle to do. The top of the box was made using Crafters Companion, create a card, "floral bouquet" die.



Cupboard love

This is my final card for the Little Claire Hochanda show (today at 2pm) and it is a side stepper card. I put off making side stepper cards as I thought they were really complicated to do, but once you have seen one it all makes sense as they are very easy to make and a bit different as I haven't seen anything like them in the shops.

 

To begin making the card you need to cut the side stepper card from a sheet of A4 300gsm card. The template below gives you the measurements and then all you need to do is trim the right hand side down to size once you know how big your sentiment will be. I found the instructions for making a side stepper card on YouTube and then I simply adapted the measurements to fit this stamp.

 

 

The stamped image is coloured using water colour pencils and as I have mentioned in previous posts I find these good to use on smaller detailed colouring in projects.

 

The backing papers are Nit Wit papers from 8" x 8" paper pads "pastel dreams" and "country meadow".

 

The first part of the sentiment comes with the stamp but I didn't think this was enough to fill the space on the card so I wrote "and the secret ingredient is love" in my graphics program and printed it out onto good quality mat print paper, then I stamped the sentiment above it.

 

I hope you have a go at a stepper card (they really are fun to make).

 

 

 

 

 

It`s TIME for mixed media

This altered art card is another one that I have made for the Little Claire show on Hochanda tomorrow. As the stamp is all about clocks I wanted to make the background look like an old plastered wall where the lats had been exposed.

 

This card is built up in layers and first of all I ripped down some corrugated cardboard to expose the inside and then I ripped it to the size I wanted (run around the edge of the cardboard with a water brush to get the cardboard wet and then gently tear).

 

I stuck the corrugated card to a piece of backing card with PVA glue and allowed it to completely dry.

Next came the colouring in and I did this by applying a layer of gesso all over the corrugated card and on to the backing card, once dry I added a muddy coloured emulsion paint but still leaving the gesso exposed in areas. I further shaded using various distress inks and I stamped a script lettering around the edges using one of the distress inks. I added Ranger crackle glaze to areas of the wall and when it was dry I shaded it with distress ink. The little mouse footprints were stamped where I could find a space although if I were to make this card again I don't think I would add these. Finally I shaded around the edge of the piece of card with black distress ink.

 

The stamped image was stamped onto copy paper and coloured in using water colour. I tore around the edge of the image using a water brush to mark the line of the tear as with the corrugated card and then I shaded the edges with distress ink.

 

The little cogs were cut using the embellishment part of the Crafters Companion "timepiece easel" dies.

 

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I went back to work yesterday and was stuck in a baking hot kitchen on the warmest day of the year so far, I thought I was going to melt as we are not allowed fans or open doors to cause a breeze.

 I ordered some new wellies which arrived yesterday whilst I was at work and they are purple and fabulous. I had to get some new wellies because on Monday I went next door to get some horse manure and my neighbour took me across the field to the miden saying how boggy it was and to be careful where I put my foot. Sure enough as soon as we got there I lost my wellie in a massive puddle and then put my foot down knee deep into very very soggy horse muck (yuck). Ian my neighbour rescued my wellie after he had stopped laughing and after we loaded up the wheel barrow I walked back across the field with my soggy foot in my soggy wellie making farting noises. I decided to throw my old wellies out as they would never smell the same again.

 

 

 

Out of my comfort zone

I`m sharing something a bit different with you today, some construction. I have made all of these gift boxes using the Crafters Companion "big score" score board, big score DVDs and new A3 card which is launching today on Hochanda at 6pm as a one day special.



Accordian file

Cut down wine box

Self closing pouch

 

Twist tea light box

Chocolate box

 

what was used:

Crafters Companion Big Score board

Crafters Companion "the big score video project DVD"

Crafters Companion "the big score advanced projects DVD"

 

I was a bit nervous about making these boxes at first as I`ve never attempted any thing so complex but using the big score board and DVDs it was easy. The card is amazing and just the thing for construction projects as it folds beautifully, doesn`t crack and is just the right weight, not to mention the gorgeous shabby chic designs. Unfortunately I can`t give you any templates or tips on how to make these boxes but all the details are on the DVDs "the big score video project DVD" and "the big score advanced projects DVD". Of course you could just buy the beautiful card and make projects of your own or projects found on YouTube and Pinterest. I would just add that I like to use Collall tacky glue to glue the boxes together as this is super strong and doesn't take long to dry, nobody wants a gift box to fall apart once you`ve put all that work into making it.

 

Boozy shenanigans

Well I`ve seen wasps getting drunk on old apples but I didn`t know that Hedgehogs liked beer. This card is made using one of the Little Claire stamps that will feature in their next Hochanda show (Saturday 2pm). It also uses one of the Crafters Companion easel card dies but only as a blank card to showcase the cute stamp.

 

I used Crafters Companion "Butterfly easel" dies to create the basic easel card and to cut out the lacy bit for the base of the card.

 

The background I made myself by using distress inks (twisted citron, salty ocean & stormy sky) and the glycerine method. If you`re not familiar with the glycerine method it is really easy, simply take a piece of Sheena stamping card and using a sponge rub over it with a small amount of glycerine. On your craft mat lay down the three colours and a small drop of glycerine. Begin by picking up a small amount of glycerine onto the foam and dab the foam lightly into a colour, rub the colour randomly onto thee Sheena card. Repeat this process with all the colours and separate pieces of foam, using the foam add colour direct from the stamp pad if you want a stronger look. Blend the colours until you have the desired effect and allow to dry.

 

The damask pattern to the left of the card was made by using a stencil brush to stipple gesso through a Tim Holtz "damask" stencil.

 

I do think the colours really lift this card and I would recommend making your own backgrounds when you have the time, sometimes I feel crafty but cant find my mojo so I just mess about and make a few backgrounds. Have a look on YouTube and you will find loads of tutorials.

If you decide to try the glycerine method I would recommend you get your glycerine from Boots as its only 99p for 200ml. The small bottles that are sold in supermarkets (if you can find them) are usually only 38ml and although this will last a long time they are way more expensive.

 

 

 

 

 

You can almost smell the biscuits baking

This is a card I have made for Little Claire as they are on Hochanda this Saturday (21/04) at 2 PM and this is one of the stamps that they will be featuring. I love this country kitchen scene and I can just imagine sitting in a wooden rocking chair in front of the oven rocking and waiting for the biscuits to bake.

 

The background paper is printed from the NitWit "Crab Apple Lane country lady" downloadable paper pad", I love NitWit papers when stamping detail images as they are quite fussy and I find that downloading them and printing them off to any size is the best way of using them.

 

 The lacy die used for the edge of the card is an old Spellbinders nesting set of dies but I`ve had them so long I have no packaging and so I don`t know what they are called.

 

I made the flowers by sticking some hessian to craft card using wet glue and then when it was completely dry I cut the flower shape using one of the Crafters Companion, floral delight, pretty petals dies.

 

The stamped image was coloured in using watercolour pencils, this is the first time I have used these pencils and I loved them especially for fine detail shading as in this stamp.

 

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I have managed to do a lot of DT work in the holidays and despite the weather Stu and me have managed to start on the BIG task of sorting out the garden. When I was cutting the lawn on Saturday I was bumping the mower into the hedge and saw what I thought I was an old nest from last year but on further inspection it was a new nest and a lady Blackbird was sat on it keeping very still and trying not to be noticed. I carried on mowing the grass and left her to her brooding but I was a bit concerned because the hedge was looking a bit sparse and I thought if I could see the nest then predators would. Well its amazing what a difference a few days makes and the hedge has become very green and although I haven't looked I imagine Mrs Blackbird and her nest will be well hidden by now. We have a nest box which a couple of Coal Tits used last year to raise a family and they are in it again this year. I don't know for sure if they are the same pair that used it last year but I would like to think they are as I did wonder about them when the weather was very cold this winter.

 

 

Dreaming of far away lands

Hello crafty friends, I hope you had a good Easter Sunday and didn`t OD too much on chocolate. Here is a card which I  have made for the Hochanda one day special today which begins at 6 tonight. This card was the first of the samples I made and the die is called "henna easel" so when I saw it I thought of India and bright colours.

 

What you will need:

Crafters Companion, die`sire, create a card, henna easel dies

Sizzex, large dies, tags and backplates die

mat black card

yellow, Green bright orange and dark orange card/paper

5mm yellow pearl gems

5mm black satin ribbon

black Nuvo Drops

 

 

This is a fiddly card to make and I ended up with my fingers covered in glue.

 

Cut the filigree overlay from the black card using the larger of the frame dies to edge the design, take the edge die off and emboss the design.

 

Cut a frame from yellow card using the outer and inner frame dies, stick the frame to the overlay.

Use the cut out overlay to trace the shapes you will need to cut out of coloured card, cut out the card and stick to the back of the overlay (this is where I got covered in glue), add the Nuvo Drops and allow to dry.

 

Cut the easel base card from black card and using the topper overlay as a guide position the overlay dies on to the top part of the easel base card, secure with tape and cut.

 

Place the fold die onto the top part of the base card, secure with tape and run through the die cutting machine.

 

Fold the top of the base card and stick to the topper (I used Stick & Spray for this but you must remember to mask the pieces of card that you do not need to glue)

 

Cut another yellow frame using the inner and outer frame dies, cut the frame down at the fold line, glue onto the base card.

 

Die cut the additional embellishments and add the coloured card as was done for the topper, stick the embellishments onto the card using Collall 3D glue, allow the glue to dry. 

 

Using a graphics program make the sentiments and print onto dark orange card (you could use your stamps to make the sentiments).

 

Measure and cut the topper sentiment and stick into place.

 

Using the Sizzex die cut the base card sentiment, thread black ribbon through the holes and secure at the back of the tag, shape the tag and stick to the card using Collall 3D glue, allow to completely dry, trim the ribbon.

 

Stick the pearl gems onto the topper.

 

Definitely not a card for beginners but it is certainly an eye catcher and well worth the effort. I have made this in another more subtle colour way for the May edition of Die Cutting Essentials magazine and I think it works just as well as this "in your face" card and that is testament to the fabulous design of the die.

 

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So believe it or not I didn't have any Easter eggs yesterday, I don't like Easter egg chocolate and from a confirmed chocaholic that is quite some revelation. I did console myself by making a ginger cake, a new recipe for me but the cake is  now almost gone so I think I can say it was a success.

 

I was hoping to go to the car boot yesterday and it is on again today but the weather has been so wet that I didn't fancy tramping around a muddy field, I guess that's bank holidays for you.

I will be in my craft room today as I have some samples to make for Little Clair who have a Hochanda show at the end of April if the gremlins stay away. Talking of Hochanda I will be watching tonight to see the easel dies and hopefully some of the fabulous samples made by the design team.