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.

Friday 28 September 2018

Silver Wedding

Over the summer, it was my sister and brother-in-law's silver wedding anniversary! I made them this boxed card using Kanban Love and Marriage toppers.
Purple is my sister's colour (I know - I had to wear the bridesmaid's dress!) so most of the cards I make for her are purple. The base of the card is made using one of the Crafter's Companion A3 double sided card packs - can't remember what the name of the pack is though.

I used the Kanban topper (perfect colour), and cut circles of purple, lilac, white and silver card using my Spellbinders Grand Decorative Circles 1. All finished off with a big bow!


I also made a matching box!! 

That's all for now. Back soon(ish).
Cxxx


Wednesday 19 September 2018

Wooden Heart

Here's something that's really quick to make - and looks so effective. I picked up the wooden heart for a couple of pounds in The Range, and the letter tag in Hobbycraft for a quid.
I used Rice Paper 418 as it provided a nice background with no focal image.
I turned the paper over, drew around the heart and then used water to outline it, so I could tear the heart shape out. This was then stuck onto the heart. 
I covered the wooden letter tag with Rich Gold Starlight, using a stencil brush.
I applied Chocolate Shabby Chic Texture Paste through the Inky Script stencil.
And also added it to a paper rose.
Flat backed pearls were added to the tag.... 

... and the heart.
And finally the tag and the flower were attached to the heart. As I said, not overly complicated - but very effective. 

Cxxxx

Monday 10 September 2018

Catching Up!

Afternoon. Am on a catch up to blog the backlog of cards I have not shared. So, I have a quick post today. 

This card is made from a Hunkydory topper and card collection - can't for the life of me remember the name at the minute. 

I've used a ribbon and sparkler for embellishment - and cut the letters using Crafter's Companion Essentials Only Word Alphabet dies. 

As I said, short and sweet today!!

Hopefully back fairly soon!!
Cxxx

Sunday 2 September 2018

True Love Forever

I have been amassing a few gorgeous trinkets to alter from my local car boot, but in the meantime, I have a box canvas created using a load of Imagination Crafts goodies - and an old pre-used canvas.

I have used:
Off cuts from rice papers - 339 and 446
Starlights - Hot Pink, Clotted Cream
White Gesso
Decoupage glue
A4 Art Stencil - Crosshatch Elements
Structure Paste

Other
Box Canvas
Lace
Red Liner tape
Doilies
Art Basics Heavy Body Gel
Paper flowers, fabric flowers, wooden hearts, Card Candi, UTEE flowers
I decided to use up some scraps of rice paper and a box canvas that I had previously used and over-painted.
I played around with the pieces I had, until I was happy.
I painted the canvas with white gesso.
I then brushed Hot Pink and Clotted Cream over the canvas with a bit more gesso.
Using Decoupage glue, I stuck the rice paper to the canvas.
The lace trim was stuck on using red liner tape.
I added a quarter of a doily to each of two corners, using decoupage glue.
A mixture of structure paste and Hot Pink Starlight paint was mixed, and applied through A4 Art Stencil - Crosshatch Elements.
I then had a rummage through my stash to find some embellishments and stamps and played with the arrangement of them until I was happy.
At this point I decided to add the structure paste to the edge of the canvas . 
I glued more rice paper to a whole doily.
The first layers of embellishments were added using Heavy Body Gel.
I had a go at making some embellishments using the Structure Paste and moulds. It did take quite a while for the paste to dry in the mould - the thinner the piece the quicker it dried.
I added these onto the canvas.
And covered over with white gesso. The paper flowers really didn't want to be covered - never had that before - the colour just kept seeping through even after several layers. Lesson learned - and I don't think it shows too much.
With a dry brush, I added Hot Pink and Clotted Cream Starlights and more gesso.
I gessoed the wooden hearts, painted them with Hot Pink Starlight, and then dabbed Clotted Cream Starlight over the top with a dry baby wipe.
Having painted Clotted Cream onto a piece of card, and then I stamped using Crafter's Companion Textures word stamps. I cut the pieces into banners, and edged with some of the pink structure paste.
I added the hearts to the canvas.
And then the words.
The words don't show up so well on the final photo - but hopefully you get the ide.
Back soon
Cxxx