Crafty Cardmakers - Design Team Call!!

Well, as you can see from the title, this blog is a little different to my usual. Crafty Cardmakers are looking for new design team members, and I have decided to apply. The application requires me to submit four projects showcasing my work. Now, I'm not really into rubber stamping, and often use toppers and images from companies such as Kanban and Hunkydory, so was unsure which projects to pick. But when I looked back at photos of my work on my website gallery, and also in the big piles of photos on my laptop I was surprised that I had quite a few that I was happy to choose from.

One of the project has to be entitled "New Beginnings" - and features something as yet unseen on the blog!!! Anyone who read my last blog post will know that a good friend of mine was expecting twins, and that I made a book for the baby shower in which everyone could write messages for her and the babies.

Well, on September 14th , Harley and Layla entered the world, and the following photos are of the project I created for their arrival. It consists of a papier mache blank box, which I then proceeded to cover in white, mauve and purple mulberry paper with generous lashings of PVA glue and a waft of Spray and Shine to finish it off. The inside was completed in a similar way, but using white, cream and lemon mulberry papers. The toppers are from Kanban Cutie Pies Bunny and Baby decoupage sheet. The pink and blue dotty papers came from 12x12 baby scrapbook packs from The Range, and the purple gingham card from my local market.

The lettering has been cut using the Smoothie Xcut Die-licious Alphabet Die, and both the letters, the bunnies' ears and the corner hearts on the toppers have been highlighted with Glossy Accents. The whole thing is tied up with Celebrations White Organza ribbon.

To go with this, I made two matching square cards - mostly using the same materials. Additonal pale blue, pink, mauve and purple Celebrations organza ribbons were used, along with silver mirror card.

   

I also have to choose three other projects that showcase what I can do. So, two these  you will have seen on my blog before - and one you haven't.

The first one is the red hearts wedding card from a couple of months ago. I was really pleased with the simplicity of this card - and loved using the Dreamweaver stencils and embossing paste.

My second choice is this 60th Birthday card (which does have a matching box). I blogged this one back in June 2010. I love the dimension on this one with the paper roses.

My third choice is this easel card and box. This was a birthday present for a friend. I used alcohol inks on heat resistant acetate, then stamped and embossed the butterfly on the other side. I then removed the alcohol ink from the inside of the butterfly using blending solution. I overstamped the flourish and embellished with small rhinestones, then stamped and embossed the greeting. Both of these were mounted on Brenda Pinnick papers and purple glitter card using brads. Each letter of the name was stamped and embossed individually then cut out and mounted.The card was finished with lilac satin ribbon.

The box was a small, oval papier mache blank, covered in the same Brenda Pinnick paper. The edges were sanded and inked to give a slightly more shabby look. The inside was painted in Eco-Green Aged Gold paint. Lilac satin ribbon, silk flowers and a stamped tag finished it off. And of course, it was filled with scrumptious chocolates!!

So, even if I don't make the team, I've enjoyed looking back through all the my past projects. It's reminded me of techniques and layouts that I've not used in a while. And when I get some time, I may well try them out again.

I'll let you know how I get on.

Cxx