Friday, April 30, 2010

Glass Beaded Flower

I made this card a while back, but so enjoyed the technique. I stamped the the back of sticky backed paper with the flower stamp. Coloured it in with very strong colours, cut it out, then lifted the backing paper off and pressed the sticky side into clear glass micro beads. I used a swirl for the stem, adhered the flower, added a bow and mounted it several times. Fun to do, but not the sort of card to post, as the beads make it very heavy!

Thursday, April 29, 2010

ATC - Time 1

The RSA group hosted a ATC challenge with the theme "Time".
I used 'paper cloth' that I had in my stash, mounted onto bronze and black cardstock. I stamped the sentiment, which is one of my favorites, onto tissue paper and adhered it to the 'paper cloth' (which had also been stamped with fob watches and wings) with modge podge. I then wrapped gold thread and seed beads around it and added a fob charm. I was so disappointed that the photo does not show it as it really is. I know that my photographic skills need a lot of working on!!

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Black & White

Nothing beats black & white combinations. Neat and unfussy. I Cuttlebugged the bottom half of the card with the Distressed Stripes folder. I bought this stamp from a stamp site that was closing down along with a heap of others, at a bargain price and I just love it!  Used a Nestabilities Labels Nine die for the sentiment which is from Hero Arts. Found some lovely black satin ribbon with white polka dots to wrap around the white card, after I had clipped the corners and then mounted onto a black card base. Made a bow with the Bow Easy and attached with a glue dot and to finish it off, 'Paola's' pearls. One of my more recent cards that I was 100% happy with - believe me, that is a major achievement. I am my worst critic!
Enjoy the rest of your week-end and for those who are on leave Monday to stretch the long week-end, happy crafting!

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Copic Storage

Just another quick one. I am still working on my Copic stock, but for now this storage system works for me. It is a cutlery holder that I decoupaged some years ago and has never left my craft room as it is fantastic to store all sorts. I can carry it through to the lounge and sit with my man, watching sport, and colour to my hearts delight. Easy to see the colours and numbers - also the gaps..... Paola, will need to get shopping, lol....

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Pretty in Pink

Often, one buys an item that strikes a cord for the moment and then the cord snaps, and what to do with this item? Well this Cuttlebug folder was one (of many) of those purchases. However, on my blog hopping I picked up a similar idea and here is my version. I used Cordinations card stock, stamped flourishes using Versamark, all over the front. 'Bugged the cardstock in the folder, cut out the centre and then sanded the embossed areas. I then stamped the sentiment  on pink paper, embossed with white e.p. and filled the frame, stamped some flowers using the positive and negative stamps, placed some of Paola's pearls around and there is Pretty in Pink.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Prick 'n Stitch Card

I made this card for my Australian friend, Glenda, using a template from Prick 'n Stitch. The little flowers are actually cup shaped sequins that I bought from them with the template. For the sentiment, I 'manipulated' a unmounted acrylic stamp to fit and used the scalloped frame nestie to cut it out. I sponged around the inside, but it does not show up clearly. In fact, the light bounce back from the shimmer card spoils the picture somewhat. In hindsight, there was a lot I could have done to enhance the card, but Glenda loved it, and that is what matters! She is now inspired and wants to make a few of these cards herself. So good to share with fellow crafters who become friends!

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Punch Swatch

I thought I would share an idea I picked up whilst blog hopping. I used offcut cards, all cut to same size, punched a hole to thread onto a ring and then grouped my punches and 'punched' onto these cards, recorded the name and size etc. It makes looking for a certain punch, or checking whether the image/words will fit, so much easier. Just remember to update with new punch purchases. Oh yes, when on a shopping binge, take the swatch with you and you won't duplicate purchases.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Teddy Stamper Challenge # 9 Spring!

SPRING!
This is the theme on the Teddy Stampers blog! I used this lovely Penny Black stamp, coloured in with Copic's and Spica's, mounted on a 'springy' piece of dp I found in my stash and then onto a mottled background for the card base. I did not have much around the Spring theme, so had to make something up using my Justrite set and mounted it on foam squares, then I added some punched flowers with bling centres, a lady bug and there you are. 

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Bright and Bold

When I had finished with my Artistic Autumn envelope swap, I had this piece of scrap I had stamped 'off' onto. I loved the mess and mix of colours and wondered what to do about it. I then got out my new EK punches - from Paola, of course - and punched out the flowers. I remember seeing them crinkle the flowers on some blog posts, so I tried it out. In hind sight, I should have swiped the creases with a distress pad so that they show up. However, I pressed on and scratched around matched as best I could, paper from my stash, used my SU scallop border punch, then found this prestamped sentiment all cut and ready to go, a scrap of ribbon, "Paola's" fantastic pearls, and Voila (French) - Walla (Sarf Efrikan), my bright and bold card. Must say, for me, these colours are totally O.T.T.  lol......

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Cuddle Bunnies

Every year I make a bunny to add to my Easter Collection and this year I made two!!
The little grey bunny is a twin to the one I showed you on my blog prior to Easter. I Sent her overseas as a gift, but was so in love with her, I made myself the 'twin' in grey. I then received Monica Spicer's new pattern 'Snuffles' - a bear on a pin cushion. I fell in love, big time, and just had to make her for my collection. I found this awesome pink tipped long pile Schulte Mohair in my stash, and although the original pattern is made with a smooth fabric, I just had to try it out in the long mohair. What a battle, but I won! She looks different to the original, but oh so adorable. I took her to the office today and we gazed into each other's eyes all day - bonding!!
Well Easter is over now, time to put the bunnies and trimmings back into hibernation and get busy with the Christmas tree bears.
Thanks for popping in......

Monday, April 12, 2010

Magnetic Birthday Bookmarks

My online stamping group has a birthday list that you may choose to belong to and basically this is a R.A.K. (random act of kindness) and you can send cards to all, or whoever you choose to on this list, acknowledging birthdays. Having been a receipient last year, I now know how exciting your birthday becomes, when you are treated to such beautiful birthday cards. Your birthday seems to go on, and on, and on, as they keep coming, some months before the date, and some after the date - yes, I'm one of the guilty one's. Nevertheless, they are all made with lot's of love. This year I decided to make birthday bookmarks for the birthday girl's and boy, as I am forever trying to find a way of making/giving something beautiful, but useful, as a gift. I used a lovely shimmer card cut to size, then using my nonstick sheet, dabbed Distress Ink pads randomly onto the sheet, using colours that if they met up, would not go muddy, so I chose Mustard Seed and Broken China. I then spritzed the sheet with a fine mist of water, dabbed the stamp onto it and stamped onto the bookmark. The stamp is a favorite of mine - Hero Arts cling mount Dandelion Frame. I decided to place a little butterfly onto it, as this would stay fairly flat and not ruin the books pages. I used the Martha Stewart Stamp and Punch set and stayed with the same colour scheme. Inside, see picture below, I placed a little 'inchie' birthday wishes and the magnetic strips that 'pinch the page' and wrote a birthday message for the receipient. I thought it was a very useful, different 'card' idea.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Artistic Autumn Envelope Challenge



 I recently took part in a challenge where we stamped 15 envelopes and posted them out on a certain day, so that they arrived more or less the same time. Needless to say, this does not happen as our postal service can be erratic in some areas. However, I am sure that there were many bemused postal workers who handled these lovely works of art!          I goofed with the envelope size - just did not read the specs posted by the hostess properly (sorry Rosemarie!!) and am still smarting with embarrassment! In spite of this goof, I am pretty pleased with the envelope. I worked on the common brown office envelope and used a Hero Arts cling mount border stamp, and a lovely leaf stamp with Adirondack dye ink pads in A Hint of Pesto,Cranberry with Butterscotch thrown in as a toner - sounds like a delicious recipe! I then sponged the edges of the envelope with Distress Ink to soften and blend it together.
I have been wondering how to enjoy these lovely swaps and not hide them all in a file and forget about them. Looking up from my work desk at the TV in my workroom, I suddenly saw, after all these years, the cupboard doors, unadorned and thought to myself, this is the answer! I grabbed the Prestick and my Autumn swap envelopes and got busy! The door next to it looked lonely so I hooked t my most recently received cards and decorated the other door. Now when I look up from my desk, I see these lovely works of art and can enjoy them until the next swap! Below is a photo of my art doors. I'm sure it won't be long before I run out of space there as well!
Have a great week.



Saturday, April 10, 2010

..... oh, sweet pea.......

This card was such a pleasure to put together as I was able to 'connect' with the reciepient - a lovely gentle 'lady' who does amazing work. I have not yet met her, but have been able to piece a profile together quite easily just by looking at the work she produces and the email conversations we have. She has since received the card and loves it - this is the best part about sending cards to fellow stampers. They admire and appreciate the effort, time and artistic value of the card you so lovingly labor over!
This a lovely Lockheart stamp, coloured with Copic's, cut with Nesties and whilst in the die, sponged gently with a very soft pink chalk inkpad. I kept the back mount and fancy tag in a very soft pink and added a beautiful organza bow and "Paola's" pearls.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Inchie Bearz

I bought a sheet of these little bear stamps and they make such lovely 'inchies'. Here I printed happy birthday in green onto white cardstock, used a Fiskers punch for the border and cut these lovely wavy strips with the Creative Memories wave trimmer. Arranged the strips and added little punched dots in red and co-ordinating mounts for the inchie bearz that were coloured with Copic's.
The card insert matched the green of the wavy strips and it shows through the border dots and under the scallop border. Nice and bright, don't you think?

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Birthday Bear

I was in a 'brown' state of mind when I made this card. I used my version of Kraft cardstock for the card base and a soft beige for the top half and I  punched a scalloped border. I stamped one of my favorite bear stamps in Momento Cocoa onto the beige cardstock and placed a brown brad in the top corner. The ribbon had a stitched border and I tied brown thread into the button which I adheared with a glue dot. The 'happy birthday'  is a Heidi Swapp stamp which I love because of it's size as it fills up empty space but maintains that nice clean keep it simple look. I hope you like this simple card.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Special Friend Blend

I used a Papertrey set - Time for Tea - for this card. The card base is my version of Kraft cardstock - manilla folders from the local stationery store! I stamped the teapot onto white cardstock using chalk inks, cut out with a nestie then sponged softly whilst still in the nestie then mounted onto a complimentary blue scalloped nestie circle. Martha Stewart's border lace punch trimmed the strip of designer paper and I added "Paola" pearls and faux stitching using a white gel pen. The teapot is adorned with smaller "Paola" pearls. Unfortunately the photo does not pick up the sentiment which is "Special Friend Blend".

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Such a sweet little fella....

This darling little fella was made for my dear friend Ron in England. He was delivered last week so I feel ok posting now. He is made out of Sassy long hair fabric in a lovely light grey. He has black glass eyes and a sweet leather nose. I have sculpted his foot pads - something new to me, and this little heart charm says it all.... Made with Love.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Teddy Stampers Challenge #7

I am hoping to submit this card into the Teddy Stampers Challenge, if I am not too late! The story of my life......
I had this prestamped in my stash and I think it is a PSX stamp. After turning my stamping room upside down and not finding the stamp, I can only assume that I had borrowed the stamp, hence the prestamped image. I coloured this lovely image using Copics and Spica's, cut out with my circle Nestie and found all the bits in my scrap drawer. I have come to the conculsion that I am not a production line stamper. It has taken me all day to do 4 cards, albeit with several interuptions to feed the crew and sort and tidy as required. I procrastinate over everything. I should have taken time to find a page map to work to, as I find this does help, although this time round, it was colours that had me stumped! I do hope you all had a lovely long week-end and are ready to face the rest of the week recharged.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Easter Blessings

Hi Everyone!
I've missed you all - somehow life seemed to get in the way these last few weeks, with family visiting and house guests for a week, together with a huge work overload........
But here I am, as promised, with a photo of my bunny collection on my dining room table. I have managed to add the new little grey one in the front, in time for Easter Sunday!
We have been blessed, spending the day with my darling sister and her awesome family. Having her close by with her beautiful daughters, fills the gap left by my boy's being in Cape Town!
For the rest of the week-end, I wish you and yours a lovely, relaxed and happy time! Remember to count your blessings!