Wednesday, 2 December 2009

Long Time No Post

Hi folks, it's been such a long time since I last posted. I've been trying to get my Christmas cards finished. I've done quite a few of the same card this year instead of trying to do lots of individual ones.

Here's a few I've done recently:

Ok, I know this isn't a Christmas card, but I thought I'd show it anyway. It was for my sister's birthday.

Clean and simple has become my favourite style and I think this fabulous image by Rubber Romance fits the bill perfectly, a very elegant lady don't you think? The background text is also a RR stamp and I matted the main image onto a nestie scalloped rectangle. The sentiment is from Clare Curd's signature range.

This next one is done with Elzybells stamps. The Eskimo has be
en coloured with Prisma pencils. I added some cotton wool balls to look like snowballs (I decided that I didn't really like them, so took them off and replaced with a snowflake).



Another clean and simple. I bought this tree stamp at the NEC, I really love it, especially with the sparkly glitter on the branches (sorry if this doesn't come across well on the photo).

I used a Marvy LePlume pen for the image and then added some very fine glitter with a Sakura glue pen. I mounted it onto some black card and then onto some lovely textured cardstock. The sentiment is from HoTP which was from a QVC set. This is so quick and easy to do, I love doing this one.

And finally, I've got myself a new toy. I've wanted one of these for ages and really stressed over whether a Cricut or Silhouette was the best one to get. I've seen so many comments about how hard the Silhouette is to use and that it's cutting ability limited. I finally took the plunge and bought a second hand Silhouette from E-bay. I got myself a new blade and cutting mat and it's like brand new.

It set up like a dream and I have to say that I have found it really easy to use. I've cut silver and gold mirror card, Coredinations and SU cardstock with no problems at all. I love this machine

My new baby:

And this is what I've done on it. I got to admit to blatant plagiarism here. I pinched the idea for these from Julie. I have long admired Julie's cards, she is so talented. If you get chance, follow the link to her blog and take a look. You'll be wowed by her creations. I really wanted to have a go at doing something useful on my new machine (up till now I've just been experimenting with what it would cut and how to use it). I cut the letters out in gold using my Silhouette, the font is called College Halo. First, I did them in gold only, but I wasn't keen on this, the card looked a bit bland, so I cut the letters out again to layer up. The gorgeous snowflake was a free download from the Silhouette blog. I did try a bit of ribbon on the bottom but it didn't look right, so again I pinched Julie's layout by adding some pearls (I hope she doesn't mind).

















Well, now you know what I've been up to. That's it for now. Hope you're all getting on well with your Christmas cards and I hope to catch up with some blog hopping soon. X

Saturday, 24 October 2009

Forever Friends - Congratulations

Don't you just love it when one of your lovely family members rush in and say 'have you got a card for .............'. This card is the result of just such an occasion. My daughter's off to a wedding reception tonight and sprung it on me just before she went off to watch Birmingham play Sunderland that she needed a card. I'm really flattered that they think my cards are good enough to send to their friends, but a bit of notice would be nice!!!

Anyway, the clean and simple look had to be choice for this card. The card base is a nice pearlised texture so I matted a piece of ivory/gold coloured card which has been through the Wizard in a Cuttlebug Heart folder on top. I was lucky to have a piece of ribbon in my stash that matched (it's beautiful ribbon from Anna Griffin). The stamp is from the Do-craft range of Forever Friends stamps, which has been coloured with Prisma pencils.

Have a good weekend everyone.X

Thursday, 22 October 2009

Season's Tweetings

Famous last words, heh, 'More Time to Blog'. I don't think so. I don't know where the time has gone or what I've been doing since my last post, but apologies for lack of visiting and uploading.

Here is another Elzybells card, as you know I love these stamps and this is yet another favourite. The background is done the same as my previous Reindeer card, an Elzybells snowflake stamp using Versacolor, Polar Blue. The sentiment is also from Elzybells. The image has been coloured with Prisma pencils. The snowflake is a Sizzix die and I've covered it with Diamond Dust from Twinklets, this is fab stuff, it looks all crusty and sparkly. I found this on Joanna Sheen's website, it's crushed glass and imo much better than any glitter. I've done a little close up, but don't think I can do it justice on a photo.
Sorry the photo's are a bit dark, I couldn't find a light enough spot now that the days are drab and miserable.

I did something a bit different with this next card. Not a single stamp in sight. I found this vintage car stencil amongst my stash and dug out the 3D relief paste I bought yonks ago and never used. The glitter is from Art Institute and gives a lovely sparkle. I wanted to do a DL size for a change, so added the side panel which was done with a Lace stencil. I mounted both onto some gold mirror card, I'm quite please how it's turned out.

Saturday, 3 October 2009

More Time to Blog

Now that's summer has passed, such as it was, I'm hoping to be a better blogger. I've been very bad at posting and visiting others, I will try better, promise.

Here's a couple of recent cards I've done:

This is a miniature Clarity Stamp which I've used to create a reflection scene. It's very easy to do if you own a brayer. Just ink up your stamp and roll the brayer up and over it like so:


Next, position your brayer in the centre of your card and roll the image onto the card creating your reflection. You then re-ink your stamp and position this above the reflection (many of you have probably seen Barbara do this at the Exhibitions).

I then added some background leaves from a Tapestry set of stamps. For the refection of the leaves just ink the stamp and blot it onto a piece of scrap paper to give a more faded look.

I used Pine Needles Distress Ink for a bit of shading and also to create the water (I'm just loving Distress Inks at the moment, nearly got the whole set).

I used a Rollergraph to create the leafy background, using Graphite Black Brilliance Ink on the white card and White Versacolor ink on the black card.

Again, I used my Scor-pal on the black card for a grid effect, but I don't think it shows on the photo and nesties to mount the image. This card was great fun to do.

Next, a simple Elzybells Christmas card. I really like the Elzybells stamps, they're so easy to use and I love the simplicity of them.

I've recently dug out my Prisma pencils after a phase of Faber Castell watercolour pencils. I'd forgotten how great they are and what great depth of colour you can get from them. The background card was stamped with an Elzybells snowflake stamp using Polar Blue Versacolor inkpad and I've just distressed the edges a bit. The snowflake die cut is from Sizzix with a Papermania brad added. I decided to get my sewing maching out for a bit of stitching around the main image and added a bit of glitter for the snow.

Hubby is at work today so I've got a few hours to play with a few more new Elzybells stamps I've just got.

Hope you have a good weekend. X

Sunday, 20 September 2009

Christmas

Hope you've had a good weekend and enjoyed the wonderful weather we've had. I did intend to get some cards done, but I just couldn't resist just sitting in the garden and making the most of it.
For this card I have used one of my favourite Elzbells stamp coloured with Distress inks. The background card is DCWV textured card, half of which was put through the Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder and the other half coloured with distress ink with a piece of ribbon through the middle. The large snowflake is a Sizzix die and the small snowflake is from Hobbycraft. Sorry I can't remember where the sentiment is from.

Monday, 14 September 2009

Vintage/Distressed Christmas Cheer

I'm on a bit of a roll with this stamp. Three cards in one afternoon, that's a first for me.

Gave this one a bit of a vintage/distressed look. I used:

Papermania Bauble Decoration stamp
Distress inks: Fired Brick, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain
Just for Fun Crackle Stamp (I've had this for year and only used it a couple of times but I like the effect so may use it more often).
Gold embossing powder
Ribbon from stash
Tim Holtz distressing tool
Brilliance Graphite Black inkpad
Clear embossing powder
Gold glitter glue

You may not be able to tell from the picture but the crackle is done in gold embossing powder which gives a nice sheen. I've also distressed around the edge of the card and added black ink and then embossed it. I finished by adding a bit of gold glitter to some of the dots.


Here's a close up of the gold glitter dots and distressed edge.

More Christmas Cheer

Told you I love this stamp.
A couple of variations, different coloured ink, ribbons and crystals. I think the black and gold is my favourite though.