The start of something ......

A new decade is upon us, and the last year of the previous one saw lots of change for me with my crafting. I stepped down from my Design Team and Demo work with Crafter's Companion, and took on more in the realms of the teaching day job. It all became very busy and I lost track of crafting just for me (and this blog), and I was just keeping on top of cards for family and friends. 

That said, I thoroughly enjoyed making my Christmas Cards with my absolute favourite product from the past couple of years - my Foilpress. But that is all past and it's time to get back to where I was before DT's and Demonstrations made crafting feel harder and more pressurised that it needed to be. 

So, here is my first card of the year - and indeed the decade - a birthday card for my Mother-In-Law made using Hunkydory's Square Little Book of Florabunda. There's nothing quite like a bit of fussy cutting to create your own decoupage!!

I love the colours of this topper - and reflected that in the mats and layers - and the sentiment (Crafter's Companion Essentials Sentiment Dies).

Will hopefully not leave it a whole year this time, before posting again.

Take care,

Cxxxx

On your bike!

A quick make to share today. A birthday card for an avid cyclist.

The decoupaged image is a La Pashe traditional decoupage sheet - Sports & Hobbies - Cycling Gear. Not really a great fan of fussy cutting, but this wasn't too bad and the result was worth it. The red card was embossed with Sara Signature Just for Men Checker Plate. 

Take care,

Cxxx

A Pink Thank You

It's getting to the time of year when lots of people are looking to say thank you to teachers and other school staff. I was asked to make a couple of thank you cards - this is the first of them.

The base is a 7x7 scalloped card blank. I started by adding a piece of pink paper (I think from Kanban Love and Marriage paper pad), and softened it by adding a piece of the printed acetate from Sara Signature Flutterby collection. The outer pink frame (cut with Spellbinders Grand Squares) and the inner pink mat are from a very old Create and Craft Textured Card pad.  

The patterned papers are from pads bought at The Works. I then used Crafter's Companion 5x5 Country Garden Create a Card, to cut the decorative mat from Centura Pearl Snow White card. For the coloured parts, I re-cut the die with pink papers and fussy cut the pieces out. 

The sentiment is Crafter's Companion Classique Only Words, and the circle mount is the centre of Crafter's Companion 6x6 Aurora Create a Card die. I finished off with paper roses from The Range, and organza ribbon. 

Back soon (hopefully)

Cxxx

Home Sweet Home!

This new home card was made using a topper from Kanban Well Wishes and Celebrations. 

I also used the gorgeous Moving Frame from Yvonne Creations Moving Madness collection of dies. The frame was cut in matt silver, cream, brown, pink and green, and then I fussy cut out the pieces to build up the picture.

All of this was mounted onto a piece of double sided card from Crafter's Companion, mounted onto matt silver card. 

As the message was on the topper, I didn't need the little banner at the top of the frame, so added a bow to fill it up. 

Cxxx

Shabby Chic Picture

Morning!! Just a quick post as I'm off shortly for a day's Mixed Media workshops with the amazing Finnabair!! Super excited!!

Anyway, this is a picture frame I made using the Shabby Chic collection from Sara Davies.

The frame is just as I bought it (from the Range) - as I thought the distressed colour was perfect. I used paper from the 6x6 paper pad for the background, including fussy cutting the flowers used in the top right corner!

I used a combination of Kraft and papers to cut with the Chic Butterflies, Classic Lily, Antique Edge and Aged Rose dies- with lots of Gathered Twigs Distress Ink. The little corner pieces are from the Weathered Wood die. I also used the Cherished Memories Stamp and Die set for the sentiment. A little bit of garden twine and co-ordinating Baker's Twine - along with Linen Script Ribbon from the collection - finished it all off.

Enjoy your day!! 

Cxxx

Shabby Chic Tag Card

Morning!! Have another Shabby Chic sample to share today!! This one is a tag shaped Kraft card cut with Die'sire Create a Card Base Die - Stacey, which I embossed with the Rose Garden folder, and inked with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink.

The pink papers (all inked with Tattered Rose Distress Ink) are from the 6x6 paper pad, as are the black flourish and pieces behind the window. The window is the Weathered Window die from the collection, and I also used the Chic Butterflies dies and the Filigree flourish. 

The sentiment and the banner it is on are both from the Cherished Memories stamp and die set. I've also used a bit of lace from the Lace Ribbon pack, with some little pearl embellishments.

Keep an eye out for more Shabby Chic samples. 

Cxxxx

Shabby Chic is on its way!!!

Afternoon, I'm a bit late to the party, but here's my first sneak peek!! Next Monday - 27th February - sees the long awaited launch of Sara Davies' new Shabby Chic Signature collection!! It's a fabulous range of papers, dies, embossing folders and accessories!

This side stepper is made from Cream Linen card, and uses papers from the 6x6 pad along with the Antique Edge, Aged Rose and Filigree Flourish dies. The little image is cut using Die'sire Essentials Circles dies from one of the papers - as is the wording on the tag. I distressed the edges of the papers with my Tim Holtz Distress tool, and inked with Bundled Sage and Victorian Velvet Distress Inks.

Cxxxx

Catitudes Diorama

Morning!! Loads going on on Hochanda today!! The Spectrum Noir Illustrator pens are back - and so is the fabulous Catitudes CD featuring the art work of the fabulous Marilyn Robertson.

This diorama card is made using the papers and digital elements from CD2. I love the black and yellow together!!

Make sure to tune in to see Debbie at 8am, 10am and 3pm to catch all the offers on the CD, dies, stamps and embossing folders!

Cxxx