Feb Blog Day - Red

Well, I wasn't expecting this to be quite such a challenge, but I set myself the additional challenge of not doing a valentine or christmas card - hmmm..

Anyway, this is my submission for the February Blog Day. I wanted to use one of my new Whiff of Joy stamps, not sure I like the colours i've used, but it's growing on me. The papers are from Papermania, the button Basic Grey and the flower I punched and shaped myself - oh and the colouring was done with my lovely new Promarkers.

Here's a close up of the girl....

Hope you like.

Sticking the Boot in

I hate making mens cards - they don't think the same things as us and they most certainly do not like the kind of cute images and pastel colours us girlies like. Not that I am particularly girly, but I love flowers and ribbon and sparkly bits on my cards and I have a liking for magnolia and Whiff of Joy images (just got their new stamp kit - its gorgeous!). Anyway, men don't appreciate these things and so I have a real problem making them cards.

Well.... work, who know I make cards, suggested that I make cards for two upcoming birthdays, both men! I made the first (copied from a design in a magazine, but only after an entire weekend trying to work out what to do). The second is more difficult - he's a lovely bloke and I know he's into walking, this rather limits the choice on rubber stamps, there just don't seem to be any for walkers. Anyway, I went into my local craft shop yesterday and asked for some advice (Totally Crafty is the shop), and the lovely girl in there suggested making a walking boot - two sides with a box in between so that it stands on its own and you can put tags in the box for people to write on. I did try downloading a template, but they were all too small and designed either for english A6 size or standard 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 american size.

In the end I looked at my husbands walking boots and did a rough sketch of that onto an A4 piece of paper, then made two card templates and stuck these to brown bazzill card, cut out and then added the detail to the base with additional card in black and grey.

It's taken me all weekend to complete, but I'm really chuffed with the result, it'e even got a shoe box to go in, now I just have to hope he likes it.

Wow, 2 posts in 2 days

Well, I had to get a card made today for the Docrafts friendship swap, and have wanted to try out my new Promarkers and Copics, so this was the ideal chance. The image is a magnolia stamp, which I love - yes I know they are a little odd without noses and mouths, but I actually quite like that, slightly 'Mona Lisa' like and enigmatic.

Alcohol markers are fantastic because you can keep layering colour without deteriorating the surface of the paper, having coloured the image, I couldn't believe how perfect the colour looked (and couldn't believe that it was me who'd done it), I would highly recommend these pens to anyone. I know it may be heresy to say it as well with so many people recommending Copics, but I prefer the slightly cheaper Promarkers as the fine end of the pen suits me better, personal taste but I love the crisp lines you can get.

The background papers are Papermania, prima flower with a candy dot centre, papermania butterfly and papermania adhesive hearts too. The edge of the card has been inked with a colourbox chalk ink from the pastel range (sorry don't have the exact colour name.

Hope you like it - it's great to be back.

No card, just an apology

I have not blogged since 4th December, my god! So much water under the bridge, so many cards made, sent out and not photographed. I'm such a bad blogger, sorry!!!

I made a beautiful card for my mum for Christmas and forgot to take photo's of it - luckily she has kept it (she loves it soo much she won't throw it away) so I will get photos at some point, its based on this design I found on my crafty wanderings (just to give you a taster of what it's like), though mine was made with shades of blue and lilac.

Anyway, I promise to try harder, really I do & as I now possess some Copics and Promarkers, my colouring range has increased so I can come up with some more wonderful stuff! I have to say I love the Promarkers, having had a little play, the fine nib is brilliant for adding the shading and detail.

Well off to make something - must remember the camera though!