Dead Mans Chest

Well, I've just realised how long its been since my last blog post - I'M SO SORRY!!!  I get so busy having fun, I forget to show what I've been making.

Having realised that I have so many stamps that I've bought over the years, stroked and put away, un-inked that I'm trying much harder to use new products before I put them away, and to this end, the next project was born.

I looked at the Day of the Dead range and I could see not only Mardi Gras but also pirates and the skull and crossbones, well I decided that you could combine the two.  I remembered that on the Advanced Construction Techniques DVD there was a treasure chest and so I used the gorgeous Renaissance A3 Centura Pearl for the box with Purple straps and a Pearl Paper Pen to create the rivets and then just had some fun with the Sugar skull (coloured with Spectrum Noir pens), and the dancing skeleton (head only) coloured with distress ink.  I also used the Floral Fiesta flowers cut out with copier paper and coloured with Spectrum Aqua pens.

Well, I hope you like this & hopefully (no promises) I'll be back soon.

TTFN

Rach

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Amor

Yes I know valentines day is over, but I have been having fun playing with the Sheena Douglas Day of the Dead range.  OMG! these stamps are amazing, I'd never tried the technique that Sheena showed on the telly of stamping in a distress ink onto stamping card and then drawing out the ink with water on a brush, but I decided to have a go and the card below is the result.

I wanted to keep it simple as the image is just so stunning, so I just created a background using distress inks and then stamped with some of the stamps from the Floral Fiesta set (again from the Day of the Dead range).  for those of you interested in such things, the ink used for the main image is Brushed Corderoy.

I'm sure many of you are already using, but I've only just discovered Sheena's Stamping Card - Wow! that stuff is brilliant.  I looked at it and thought, well it's only card, how different can it be?  The answer is VERY DIFFERENT, it really is a good weight card for a start, takes a stamped image brilliantly, and handles water so well without warping or pilling (well it did when I used it, I was quite sparing with the water).

Anyway, hope you have a lovely Wednesday & I'll be back again soon.

TTFN

Rach

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Perfect Day

You know the song by Lou Reed, well by the end of yesterday, I could not get it out of my head.  I had such a brilliant day, they don't come along that often so when they do they are to be treasured!

It started first thing, I'd been unable to get my usual shopping delivery slot of 9 - 11, so I went for 10 - 12, only my usual delivery driver did not see that and turned up at 9.20!  Fabulous!!  This meant I had time to go out in the morning with hubby and get another broadband wireless extender (problem of living in big old victorian houses with thick walls, wi fi does not get through easily), and managed to get one for half the price we were expecting.

Then my lovely friend Alison came over and we had an incredible afternoon of crafting and I actually made 2 cards from start to finish (believe me that's a record), the ideas were just flowing brilliantly and I had an amazing time - thanks Alison!

Tea was home made pizza's, mine was ham and pineapple with a garlic base as this is my absolute favourite and it was gorgeous, the day just got better and better, then to top it off England won the Rugby - RESULT!!!!

Like I said, a perfect day :)

Anyway, enough waffle, you want to see the cards:

The first was made using the Downton Abbey range from Crafters Companion, the sentiment is from the CD, the paper from the 12x12 pad and I also used the Feather Brooch, Chandelier and Elegant border dies, a really simple card to make but I think really stunning.

The second card uses Sara's Signature Collection "Together Forever", the backing paper inside is from the 6x6 pad, I've used the Indulgence and Champagne Flute dies, a sentiment from the stamp sheet and the tag is from a really old set I believe it's scalloped tags, and the embossing was done using Decadent Damask from the together forever collection.

Well, hope you like them, I'm off now to see if I can make Sunday as good as yesterday was, and hope you all have a good one too!

TTFN

Rach

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Verity Rose

Well, I hope you're all enjoying Crafters Companion moving across to Hochanda, I think it's fab (even if I can't see the programme on the telly as I have Virgin - I just have to watch on the computer).

They are back with the stunning Verity Rose collection again, and here's a card I made for the launch shows using the Starlet collection.  This used the embossing folder, paper pad, accessory stamps and dies, die cut toppers set and a sentiment from the CD.

I really hope you like this collection as much I and the rest of the design team do, they are such gorgeous little characters and I think we all know someone we can associate with each of the different girls.

Well, just a quick one from me this morning, must be getting ready for work in a minute (insert sad face).  Hope you all have a lovely Monday.

TTFN

Rach

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Cupcake anyone?

Well, it's nearly time for the launch of the Verity Rose collection from Crafters Companion and I really don't know how they do it.  Every release just gets better and better, and in this case bigger too, not only is the CD jam packed, there will be dies, embossing folders, embellishments and die cut toppers too - you are in for such a treat!

Here's my first card to give you a taster, made using the Cupcake section of the CD, yes there are lots of sections to the CD each with their own character and personalities (these sassy ladies definitely have their own personalities).

This lovely easel notepad uses items only from the CD, the easel card shape is one of many templates on the CD, and this has then been topped off using designer papers and embellishments also from the CD, a simple but effective gift and card in one!

Well, I'll be back tomorrow, in time to remind you to watch the launch show (9 a.m. Saturday 27th February on Create and Craft).  Until then, have a fab crafty day!

TTFN

Rach

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Where did the month go?

Wow! I keep blinking and weeks disappear - I know, stop blinking!

Well, as I've finally remembered that I have a blog and I really should be updating it every once in a while, I thought I'd share another of my makes for the A Country Life CD launch.

This is a corner card (I'll show you the inside in a minute which will explain the corner bit) that was made using one of the blended companions on the CD, I always love these sections on the CD as they can make really quick cards to get you out of a hole, or you can really go to town on them and turn them into really special works of art.  Not sure where this one sits on that scale but I do love it anyway.  I also used some of the coordinating papers and the Bebunni Cabbage Rose die along with some Easy Crystals.

Now to show you why it's called a corner card.....

Gorgeous isn't it, the bottom piece folds across the diagonal inside the card when closed but it makes for a really sturdy card that can't fall down, and gives you extra space for decoration.

Well anyway, hope you all have a lovely day & hope to be back soon.

TTFN

Rach

x

Well, it's Monday AGAIN!

Boo! I hate Monday's, it means I have to stop playing with my crafty stash and go and earn some money - you know, that sensible adulting stuff we all hate!

Anyway, on this dull and dreary Monday, I thought I'd share another of my makes using the fab new CD 'A Country Life', this uses one of the Heart Easels on the CD, there are 6 of these, all ready for you to cut out and put your own interpretation on.  I used some of the dies from Sara's Signature Series 'Butterfly Lullaby' for embellishment (flit and flutter and the fancy flourishes dies) together with some rose embellishments.  Unfortunately it does not show up in the photo but I also used my clear sparkle pen from the Spectrum Noir Sparkle pens on the butterfly and if you catch it in the right light it glistens beautifully.

Anyway, whatever you are up to today, hope it's a good one!

TTFN

Rach

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