Bow Card

I decided I would like to make my friends something different this year, and decided to go for a bow card. I initially purchased a template, but it wasn't big enough, so I decided to create my own. I started with the basic shapes, and then created the template for the mats and layers. It took a bit of fiddling around, but eventually I had what I wanted. 

The papers I chose for this one were all peachy/orange tones. For the bow bases, I used Core'dinations - a lightweight card. The two papers shown at the back are digi papers - but am not sure what CD or download I printed them from. The paper at the front is very, very old. Twenty eight years old. It's a hand made, marbled paper that I created when I was volunteering at a local school while I was waiting to go to Uni to re-train as a teacher. We were marbling with the class, and I was mopping up all the left over ink before the next lot went in. I have kept the papers all these years - and finally decided to use them up.

The flower is cut with Gemini Elements - Elegant Ranunculus - dies, and the sentiment is stamped with Tattered Lace Distress Ink, and comes from Crafter's Companion Birthday Greetings clear stamp set. I also inked the edges of all the papers with Tattered Rose DI.

The hexagon card was printed onto white stamping card, and cut by hand. 

Happy crafting,

Cxxx

B is for .....

So, we're into the second week of our A or B theme challenge at Use Your Craft Stash. While you can use any technique, colour, card fold, product starting with A and/or B, I chose mostly A for my first inspiration last week, so have gone with the B's this week.

I have a Brown and Beige Baby themed, Bendy front card with a Bear and Buttons, and a Box with a Bow for it to go in. 

For the base of the card, I used Crafter's Companion A3 Double Sided Printed card - Elegance. And for the box, I used Decadance.  Beccy's Place has instructions for this in her Card Fold Tutorials section. I didn't use her measurements, as I wanted it larger. So I started with a piece 15" x 8", and scored at 5" and 10". The higher bendy part is about 4" in height, and the smaller one is about 2".

I cut the edges with Crafter's Companion Die'sire Edge'able Rococo die. I have it in two sizes - from being on the DT back then - and one of the sizes was exclusive to whichever channel they were on at that time - but I can' remember which.  Whatever, this is the smaller of the two dies.

To create the Bendy front, the two sides then fold over and fix using tabs and slots. I backed this with Brown card, and added a piece of card to create a stand at the back. 

The Baby themed topper with the Bear, is an old Kanban one. I added Brown Buttons, and a Bow.

For the Box, I used the Big Score and a sheet of the A3 printed card, this time from the Decadance pack, with more Brown card and some Beige Centura Pearl from the Pastels pack. I embossed this with Spellbinders double sided A4 embossing folder called Dainty Dots. I finished it with a bow.

Remember, you have until Sunday afternoon to share your creations with us at Use Your Craft Stash.

Take care, and stay safe,

Cxxx

Easter at Use Your Craft Stash

As many crafters know, we all build up a huge stash of things as we race to get the newest dies, paints, stamps, inks etc etc And we're all bad at using up our stash.  So, over at Use Your Craft Stash, our aim is to get people to do just that - use your craft stash. We have no prizes on offer, but will be setting a weekly theme. And this week is Easter.

Now, I don't make Easter cards, so had to rack my brains to think what I had in my stash that would be suitable. And then it came to me - Bebunni!!  So, I had a look through and decided that Brighten My Day from Bebunni Floral would be a perfect choice. 

If you have seen my post from a few days ago, you will know I have a list of things in my stash that I want to get out and play with, and this seemed like the perfect time. So, instead of reaching for my watercolours, or my alcohol pens, I went for my Spectrum Noir ColourBlend Pencils.

As you can see, I have all the sets of pencils, along with the blending solution and paper stumps. I decided to restrict myself to just one set - the Essentials.

I started by colouring Bebunni, with White, Smoke, Taupe, Pewter, Black and Peach. 

And the Daffodil was coloured with Linen, Eggshell, Canary, Pumpkin, Nectarine and Pewter.

  

For the leaf I used Pistachio, Sage, Jade, Taupe and Black. I really like the blending solution to help get rid of the hard lines.

I decided that I needed to ground Bebunni, and used Smoke, Taupe, Pewter and Black. I then gathered all the papers - Core-dinations Brights Yellow and Green card, Papermania Yellow patterned paper (this has to be well over 10 years old), and I think the green stripe is also DoCrafts/Papermania. The Easter "words" card is another old one - and I really cannot remember where this came from.  I then dug out my XCut Egg des - these are the two smallest sizes, along with the paper strips that were for the Crafter's Companion Quilling dies.  

I also dug out some old embossing folders to add texture to the eggs. These are from Crafter's Companion - Verity Rose collection - Flutterby, Cupcake and Destiny.

And then I inked them with Mustard Seed and Lucky clover Distress Oxides.

 

The mats and layers were cut using another very old workhorse from my stash - Spellbinders Grand Scalloped Squares and Grand Squares, and also the Rectangles.

Even the ribbon has been around a while. You used to get packs with (I think) 4 ribbons wrapped around a piece of card. Not sure what make they were - but both of these were from packs like that. And of course, I used my trusty bow maker from Tattered Lace!! 

If you have craft stash to use, come and join us on FB at Use Your Craft Stash. You don't have to take part in the weekly themes if you don't want to, but get some inspiration and share your makes using your stash.  We look forward to seeing you.

In the meantime, take care and stay safe. 

Cxxx