About Me

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I'm a retired primary school teacher, who started paper crafting in 2008, when I had a fancy to make my own Christmas cards. Since then, I have tried all sorts of techniques and styles - and I kind of like them all. I have been lucky enough to be on blog teams and large design teams and to do a bit of freelance demonstrating - and I love the challenge of working with different products. My crafting style is very varied - from junk journaling and art journaling, bookbinding and journal making, to quilting and patchwork - and of course I still make cards. This variety keeps me interested - and my crafty stash growing!! I'm always seeking inspiration for new projects.

Saturday 30 June 2012

Heartfelt!!

This card was a commission for a friend of mine. She had seen the red heart wedding card I made last year and wanted something pretty similar - but in fuschia pink. She gave me plenty of notice for this card - but as ever I've had other things to do and kept putting it off. 

So, a couple of weeks ago I finally got round to sorting it out. By which time I realised I had two problems. The first was that my Grand Calibur had broken the week before - so my Cuttlebug had to be dusted off and brought back into service! This meant that I wouldn't be able to cut or emboss any larger shapes for my 8"x8" card. I must admit I did panic to begin with, but with a little thought and playing around, I finally came up with a design that my 'bug could cope with.




The second problem was that the design involves using Dreamweaver stencils (Heart Bouquet and Congratulations) and embossing paste. "What's the problem?" I hear you say! Embossing paste in fuschia pink!! Slight panic - but then decided I was sure I'd seen/read somewhere that you could mix acrylic paint with embossing paste. So I decided to go for it and have a play!! I used Eco Green Raspberry paint mixed with Dreamweaver Pearlescent Paste. "Easy" you say!! "No" I would reply. Trying to get the correct consistency proved to be problematic! My first attempt was far too runny (the paint is thinner than the paste and 'dilutes' it) and squidged under the stencil leaving a splodgy mess. I then tried using a stencil brush to apply it - that just gave me a very rough and patchy finish. So, I had to play around, adding a little of my coloured mixture to more paste until I was able to create a clear image!!


The base card (and matching box) are made from a large sheet of Centura Pearl Snow White card. The bottom layer of the band across the middle is white embossed dotty card from a Craftwork Cards Goody Bag, then Cococut White from Creative Expressions, then a 'daisy' embossed card (again from the CC Goody Bag) and finally, white organza ribbon. It's  slightly different on the box (the CC card's are reversed).


The heart topper is cut using a Spellbinders Splendid Circle, which is then mounted on alternating circle and scalloped circles. I used the same cards as mentioned above plus white Crafters Companion vellum, and pink Bazzill cardstock. The pearl and crystal embellishments are from my local craftshop.


I always decorate the inside of the box too (both the base and the lid - in this case just with matted and layered circles of the various cards I had used).

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Charizma Cards Challenge - Anything Goes
Try it On Tuesdays - Anything Goes
Love to Create - Anything Goes

Cxx


5 comments:

  1. Lovely card and box. Thanks for joining our "Anything goes" challenge at Love to Create. NancyD

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  2. So, pretty. Love all the details. Thanks for playing with us at TIOT.
    Hugz, Z

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  3. Beautiful. Thank you for joining our challenge this week at Charisma Cardz Challenges

    Kate xxx
    Charisma Cardz DT

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  4. Beautiful elegant card. Fabulous colour.
    Thanks for playing along with us at Charisma this time.
    Good luck
    Debs xx

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  5. Carole sounds like you had a lot of trouble with this but the end result is fabulous ! The colour really pops against the white and the design is spectacular.

    Marie

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Thank you so much for visiting my blog and leaving a comment!! I really appreciate it!! Cxx