The card that had to be made

Well, as I said at the weekend, I bought a magazine, Papercraft Inspirations because of the set of free stamps on the front, they were absolutely gorgeous & I knew exactly what I wanted to make the moment I saw them.

This card started off as an almost direct copy of something Kristina Werner did here, which I saw whilst browsing the other week.  I used the little heart stamp from the set together with one of my Versacolour rainbow ink pads (so much easier than finding individual ink pads that coordinated) - I was not quite as careful as Kristina but I really like the effect.  Then I stamped the line and two birds, which I coloured with my Prismacolor pencils (as this is a single layer card I didn't want the colour to bleed through to the inside of the card, but you could mount this layer onto card and then onto a card base).  I stamped the pennants using the same ink pad and cut out and then stamped the flags with H and i and cut them out and mounted them on foam pad so that they stand off the card a bit.  I can already see several more cards from this stamp set!

Well, hope you like it & I'll be back soon with some more cards.

TTFN

Rach

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Makey Bakey Christmas

Well, I've had a great couple of crafty days, this next card was coloured using my trustee spectrum noirs and I followed the colouring from the picture on the packet exactly as this is the first time I've coloured one of these (treated myself when I got glues recently).

I used papers from the Makey Bakey Christmas CD for the background and the sentiment is from the same stamp set.  I used the small Chantilly Lace doily die for the background to the sentiment and also used the small holly die as an accent.

I've used this weeks Sketch Saturday Sketch for the layout, so will be entering this into their challenge - woo hoo! get me!

Anyway, I should be getting ready for work so best be off - catch you all later.

TTFN

Rach

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Crafty Saturday on my own

Well poor old Alison was not able to make it over yesterday, so I had to craft alone (well, hubby was in the next room but it's not the same).

I had two cards that needed to be made yesterday & I find that really concentrates the mind a bit.  The first was for a friend of my daughters who is 18 today and is a bit of a rocker (in a band, wears the grungy black clothing, looks really scary but is a wonderful chap), the second is for my boss (and I had to make it as he knows and loves my cards! so no pressure then).

So, onto the first card, I bought an image from Kenny K I love his stuff but don't often get an opportunity to use it, but this was ideal, I printed the image and coloured with my trustee Spectrum Noirs - have to say I love the finer tips the new ones have, made this much easier to do.  The background was made using some mat silver card stock which I ran through my ebosser with my latest embossing folder, which you can get here I've wanted this one for ages (well, I want them all but have to restrict myself!), it looks like an industrial floor and is just perfect for this, the 18 I cut using my Silhouette - the whole time I was doing it I was wishing I had the Scan n Cut but hey ho!  Anyway, I hope Regan appreciates the card, really think this is some of the best colouring I have EVER done!

The next card, like I said is for my boss - he really does not look (or act) his age, so I thought it was about time I reminded him (I promise he will get the joke & not be offended - thank goodness!).  The image is from Bugaboo and I printed it out with a blue frame around it (did this in microsoft word), then coloured with my Spectrum Noirs again - this took alot less time than the other card, matted onto some multicolour mirri card (sure there is a proper name for this type of finish but I really can't remember it right now) and it's done - just have to hope he likes it!

Anyway, must be off, I bought a new magazine while at the Supermarket (Papercraft Inspirations) and it came with a whole load of lovely stamps which I'm dying to try out!

See you later

Rach

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Hi all

Well, sorry it's been a few days since my last post - my mind has been elsewhere.  If you are a crafter, you will no doubt know that Crafters Companion are having TWO, yes TWO, Design Team calls, and if you follow my blog, you will also know that I am a HUGE fan of their products.  So as you can imagine, I will be applying, but I want to make sure that I really show my best stuff, so I stand as good a chance as possible - fingers and everything else crossed!!!!

Anyway, to today's card, and for a change it's not a Crafters Companion image (did use my Spectrum Noirs to colour though).  The image is from Acid Drops and Whatnots and was a freebie on a magazine a while back, the sentiment is from the same set.  It has been simply mounted on pink with some pink flat back pearls for embellishment, simple and plain but sometimes that's enough.

Well, back again soon - take care all

Rach

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Happy Valentines Day!

Well, it's finally here, that most romantic of days, or an excuse to sell lots of roses, chocolates and cards to desperate men who don't want to seem mean!

Personally, I've never understood valentines day, don't get me wrong, I love my husband to bits, but I think it's the little things you do every day, throughout the year that show how much you care.  Also with my hubby being disabled, he is unable to get out and get loads of stuff for me, so I understand and love him anyway, without the need for cards, chocolate, wine or roses.

All that being said, I had a great time making some Valentines cards which I took into work so that those desperate people who'd left it until the last minute could get a stunning (if I do say so myself) card without having to brave the weather!

All of these cards have been made using images/sentiments from Pink Petticoat from the 'Old Fashioned Girl' collection, which I believe is discontinued as I can't see it on the website, the backing papers for most of the cards are also from Pink Petticoat.

I added heart shaped pearls and a bit of doodling to this one, the birds are coloured with chalks and I used a punch to give a bit of detail to the bottom of the image.  The backing paper is also from the same Pink Petticoat collection.

This next card was coloured with my spectrum noir pens and I used some heart sequins in the corners.

This next one was again coloured with my spectrums, accented with sequins and I used one of my Diesire Heart Doily dies to cut the heart from the stunning Pink Petticoat papers (again same collection).

This last card is my favourite.  I used my Silhouette to cut the heart out and then used one of the Embosallicious embossing folders 'patchwork quilt' from Crafters Companion to give some detail to the heart, I then used my distress ink to soften the edge.  The backing paper is a home made one using the same distress ink smooched onto a splodge mat, then spritzed with water and the card dunked (technical term) into it, I then added additional detail on the card with Cosmic Shimmer Mist in Mango Blaze.  The sentiment was from Pink Petticoat and I cut it out with a nice pointy tail.  The heart was raised onto foam pads, completely gorgeous and v. simple.

Anyway, whether you are romancing or just enjoying a quiet night in with your loved ones - have a great day!

TTFN

Rach

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Mens Cards

Don't you just hate trying to make them!  They are so difficult, why can't men just like cute and fluffy stuff like normal people!

Sorry, will stop ranting now - but I have real problems doing mens cards, this one is only a sort of concession to mens cards, it still has a cute image, but a slightly more masculine tone with the colours used (why don't men like pink?).

The papers I've used for this one are from Hot off the Press - they have been hiding on a shelf for years and I only re-discovered them the other day - great aren't they?  The sentiment is another ticket stamp and die from Whimsy Stamps and the image is coloured using my trustee spectrum noir pens.  Ribbon and button from stash, along with a bit of distress ink and some distressing on the papers too.  I used an old Sketch Saturday layout (I save them all so I can look through when I'm stuck as to what to do with a card).

Hope you like.

TTFN

Rach

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Sorry for posting a Christmas card

Yes I know it's only February, but I enjoy making Christmas cards and I know it will be back with us again before you know it, and we will all be saying 'where did that year go?'  So I try to make cards for Christmas all year so that it's not quite the mad rush at the end of the year.  Will have to try not to sell them all and save some for me this year!

This card was made completely with a 'card companion' kit from the Father Christmas CD from Crafters Companion, I added rivets with a pearl pen, unfortunately they didn't sink into pearl shapes and have pointy tops, still I quite like the card.

Well, this is another scheduled post, so I'm trying to get ahead a bit, hopefully I will be able to join in with the WOYWW (if I remember and get a picture sorted in time!), and maybe some valentines cards on Friday.

Well, until I can get back again, take care and try to keep out of the weather!

TTFN

Rach

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Sorry, not been well

Well, I had fully intended to put some posts online last week, really I did.  But Tuesday night I started to feel really unwell and so took to my bed for a bit, and it's taken me a while to feel back to my normal self (and remember to come online & blog).

Anyway, this next card was one from my mammoth crafting session last Saturday, and is another CD make, this time from Barkley Everyday, the photo doesn't show it particularly well but the decoupage is really quite deep, everything was from the CD except the sentiment, which is a Lili of the Valley stamp.

I had another brilliant crafting session yesterday and was joined by my best bud Alison it was her 39th Wedding anniversary yesterday - you get less for murder!  Anyway we had a great time, put the world to rights and made a few cards in the process.  I made her spend more money (no gun involved) as Pink Petticoat are having a sale at the moment and all of their collections (well most of them) are available for just £1 - I managed to spend £19 there the other day, but I now have some wonderful papers to print out.

It was pink petticoat items I was working with yesterday, and I think I might just save the cards I made and do a special Valentines day post so you can see what I was up to - more clean and simple than my normal cards, but really beautiful none the less.

Anyway, can't sit here all day - more cards to make!

TTFN

Rach

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And now the finished article

Well, if you saw my blog post on Wednesday, you will have seen on my desk a decoupage I was in the process of cutting out.  Well, over the next few days I finished cutting out and sticking, and yesterday I had a great crafty session and made 3 cards - yes you read that right THREE cards!!!!!

I thought I'd show you them over the course of the next week, and it will give me a chance to make some more cards, or at least prepare toppers for next weekend, when hopefully (fingers and everything else crossed) Alison will be able to join me as between illness and life we just haven't been able to get together for a few weeks.

This afternoon I am hoping to colour in the new stamps I got in the Lili of the Valley sale, which I stamped yesterday (also coloured in another LOTV stamp which I had ready to go), however, before I can get on with that I have to make my mum a birthday card as it's her birthday on Tuesday.   Won't be blogging that one as she is getting a bit more tech savvy (recently bought an ipad mini) and may just find it!

Anyway, back to the card I spent ages prepping for during the week.  The image is from the Makey Bakey mice everyday CD (must get those stamps, but I already have way too many - oh the agony!) and the backing papers are also from the CD, in fact everything bar the sentiment is from the CD - the sentiment is one of my favourite whimsy stamps ticket stamps, cut out with the matching die.

Well, hope you like it & I'll be back in a few days with something else....

TTFN

Rach

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