Do More of What Makes You Happy!

A few weeks ago, I took delivery of my new Happy Planner from Me and My Big Ideas. I had been looking at them for a while and when Crafter's Companion started to stock them, I just had to get one - along with a few accessories including stickers, pocket cards and other bits and pieces. I'm not really sure how I envisaged using my planner with all these fabulous goodies - but in the end I have come up with what suits me - and I'm loving using it. 

But sorting through all the lovely extra bits and pieces, I realised that it was opening up a completely different possibility to me. So, with a goal in mind, I invested in a set of the expander rings for the planner and the punch that goes with it. The punch may well get used for the planner - but the expander rings are for a completely different purpose.

I have decided to start an art journal, as I love playing with all sorts of techniques and media, and as I no longer sell my cards etc, this would allow me to create for a purpose! And being able to punch the pages and add them to the rings gives me more scope than working in an existing book. The motivational quotes that came with some of the Happy Planner things also spurred me on. I intend to either use them on the pages - or as inspiration for the pages.

I have started by creating the front cover for my journal, which I am going to laminate to make it durable. There is such a wide variety of products in my stash, I decided to use up some of my oldest acrylic paints - my Eco Green tubes!! Some of the paint had separated in some of the tubes - but I've given them a shake up - so they are good to go!!

I took my starting point from this Happy Planner Pocket Card, because I feel it sums up what the point of this is for me - doing more of the messy stuff that makes me happy!

I began by making a background on Sheena White Stamping card with Eco Green paints - White, Butternut, Raspberry and Green Patina. And I really didn't like it.

So I mixed some white Gesso with water and went over the lot - then added more colour back in - but really watered it down.

I wanted to use Leonie Pujol's Everlasting Love stamp - I really love the style of it - and it reminds me of gardening - which is also something I need to do more of to stay happy!! I stamped it with Memento Rose Bud.

And then covered it in Pebeo Masking fluid! Big mistake, as the ink ran into the liquid!! But I pressed onwards.

I used stamps from two of the original Textures collection - Basket and Burlap, and Journal Jottings. The tyre tread and footprints are for the activities I love doing! I persevered with the Memento Ink - and used Rose Bud, Pistachio and Pear Tart.

Once I had stamped over the background I realised that I had stamped the flower image a bit too low down to be able to attach the card with the words - so I partially inked the stamp, and then stamped it again.

Because a lot of the ink had disappeared with the masking fluid, I used my Spectrum Noir AquaBlend pencils to go over the image - and to colour it in. I picked three colours to echo the inks - Rose (Florals), Tobacco (Essentials) and Pesto Green (Naturals).

To add more definition to the edges, I added a thin white line with the Pebeo 4Artist Oil Marker (fab new addition to my stash) and then drew a line on the inside with my Rose pencil and went over with water.

I did a little of all these things to the card with the words on too, so that it would blend in. After adding a few dots with my Pebeo marker, I mounted it on white card so that the messy back is covered before I laminate it!

Looking at it, I think I would have added more foliage to the left of the card - but I'm pretty happy with the way this turned out!

Cxxx

A Diamond Star!!!

Fiona will be back in under an hour with the fab new Christmas Create a Card dies. This is another of my samples - this time using the gorgeous Shine Bright.

This is a Diamond Easel card - and I noticed last night that it was on the display for the show!! Have been very honoured to have had 5 of my samples shown in detail last night. Athough, I think Hayley got the wrong end of the stick with my snowflake bag - and despite having tied those stitches off, they have started to come undone. 

Anyway, I used all the dies in the Shine Bright set for this one - along with Centura Pearl Hint of Gold, and some Gold Pearl card from my stash! 

Looking forward to seeing the rest of the shows today!!
Cxxx

Bauble Ornament!!

Not long to go now until the new Crafter's Companion Die'sire Cut In Create a Card dies launch on Hochanda, so thought I'd pop back on and share another of my makes.

For this one I have used the Sparkling Bauble die, cutting the outline only in cream felt, and the detailed version in pale green felt. The circular base is a Debbie Shore Fabric die.

I used Stick and Stay to bond the solid cream bauble to the dark green circle, but it didn't want to work for the detailed bauble. So I used Collall Textile Glue instead! I also used it to fix the ribbon to the reverse side of the circle. After blanket stitching most of the edge, I stuffed it with toy stuffing, and then finished off the blanket stitch.

Hope you enjoy the shows on Hochanda - and I'll be back tomorrow to share my last couple of samples.

Cxxxx

Snowflakes are falling!!

Morning. Tonight is the launch of the one day special on Hochanda, of the fab new Christmas Cut In Create a Card dies. Here is another sample I made using the Ornate Snowflake die.

This is a drawstring gift bag, made using the instructions that you can find HERE. I changed the measurements to fit the size I wanted - but all the principles are the same.

The outer bag is really cheap honeycomb fabric, while the inner is white fabric with red snowflakes. I cut out the detailed snowflake in the same fabric having first backed it with stabiliser. Then I just used the outline die to cut a plain red snowflake shape to back it. They were joined together using Stick and Stay for fabric. I couldn't use heat on the honeycomb fabric, so used Stick and Spray for fabric, and then machine stitched it to secure it on. 

Be sure to tune in tonight to catch the launch.

Cxxx

Shine Bright!

Back again this morning with more of the fabulous new Cut In Create a Card dies launching on Hochanda on Friday.  

For this cushion cover, I used the large and small stars from the Shine Bright die set. The cover is envelope style, made using Debbie Shore's Leaves White Lacquered Fabric.  I used my Gemini to cut through the silver honeycomb-backed fabric, and then Stick and Spray for fabric to place them on the cushion cover.

A bit of machine stitching around the edge, and free motion embroidery in the centres, fixed the stars to the cover.

There are lots more sneaky peeks from the team appearing on FB, so keep an eye out!!

Back soon,

Cxx

Christmas Cut In Create a Card

Morning! An early start today as I have a busy day. There are some fab new dies launching on Hochanda on Friday. They are Cut In Create a Card dies. You can either cut them into the card - or cut them out of the card!! 

There are several designs - this one is the snowflake!!

I made the box card base from A3 Centura Pearl Hint of Silver, with some Fresh Blue fpr an accent. The dark blue card is from my stash.

You can see the cut in versions on the flaps of the box - and the cut out versions inside the box. There are 2 sizes of the snowflake - and a border strip too, which I used at the back of the box.

Keep your eyes peeled for more sneak peeks from the team.

Cxxx

Twisted Easel Christmas Card

Another Christmas make with the gorgeous Prestige Only Words Christmas dies. 

This is a 6x6 twisted easel card using Noel. The base is made from Fresh Blue Centura Pearl. I used the Downton Abbey Downton Decor die to cut the white decorative background from Snow White Hint of Silver Centura Pearl, and backed it with some textured dark blue card from my stash.

I used more of the three cards to make bands across the centre, ovals for matting and layering, and for the stopper. The decoration is Die'sire Holly. 

Back soon,

Cxxxx

It's Christmas .......

..... well in crafting land it is!! Now is the time that all good crafters are supposed to make a start with their Christmas projects. Every year I have good intentions. And every year in November I manage to get round to starting!! 

I do however, make Christmas samples at this time of year. And Fiona is on Hochanda at 11am this morning, with the fabulous Prestige Christmas Only Words dies. This is one of my creations using the 'O Holy Night' die.

It's a pyramid lantern - it stands on the table rather than hanging, and the little tealight sits in a holder suspended from the ribbons.

The pyramid itself is made from three pieces of A4 card cut to squares (you can do this with any size square). Each on is scored diagonally, and the three pieces attached together so they wrap round to make the pyramid. Before I did this, I cut apertures and covered them with acetate so the light will shine through. 

I cut the die several times in cream, red and gold, and cut into them to create the decoration. I also used Die'sire Holly dies, and Embossalicious Holiday Holly folder. 

Make sure you tune in later for the shows.

Cxxxx

Wine Time!!

Evening!! Just popped on to share this wine box I made using the gorgeous Downton Abbey Below Stairs A3 Printed Card.

All the instructions for constructing the box are on the Big Score CD. I embossed the card for matting with the Downton Abbey Thistle folder, and embellished with Downton Abbey Icons and Opulent Corners. 

Back soon,

Cxxx