Crafty Countdown - 42 days left

Afternoon crafters.  A nice early post today.  I'm off out to the pictures this evening - figured I can't chat through a film if I've a bad throat!!

Yesterday a lady, Aine, commented that it was good seeing a card that was just made using paper - as it does cost a lot to build up a stash of dies and punches, and the like.  Obviously over the years, we do accumulate a lots of craft stuff, but when we're starting out, there's only a limited amount of things we can purchase.  With this in mind, I thought I would do another paper card.  This time, I've drifted back to being a bit more "arty" and altered.

First, I started with ordinary brown paper:

I decided first to make some paper roses.  If you haven't done them before, they're really easy.  Just cut out circles (sort of circles).  I cut two at a time

Cut a swirl into the circles.  Again, it doesn't have to be perfect.  I avoid making it to thin, as I find it easier to work with.  Leave a circle at the end, which will be in the centre.

I folded over the coil - again, not perfect

starting from the outside, start to wrap the coil round.  As I was working, I kept the fold in the paper, and added creases and scrunches to the paper

when you are happy with the flower (don't be afraid to let it go and tease it into shape.  You may find you have spiraled it to tightly, so need to let it spread out a little).  Leave the circle of paper you have left at the end of the coil, and cover it with glue.  You will then be able to stick the rolled flower onto this circle.  That's your little rose done....which oddly I haven't taken a photograph of!  Sorry.  I've not even used them...so that was a random section of this blog post wasn't it.  Welcome to my brain.

So, completely moving on...I took my base card which I've decided I'm going to use, and then fished out loads of scraps.  I've seen a technique where people use tape on their card, and then paint over.  This gives a great textured finish.  I thought I'd try it, but using strips of card, as I always have so many bits left over

I worked out where I wanted them to sit, and then glued them in place.  I picked different textured card as well

I then used a little bit of paint.  This is just acrylic paint, so try any.  Experiment with ink pads, watercolour paint.  It doesn't even have to be craft paint.  I splodged it on with an old towel

Next I added string to my card.  This will be the stem for my flower.  I used Cosmic Shimmer PVA

Next, using the brown paper, I cut out little petals.  I folded the paper over and then cut it out so two petals are still joined.  I did trim the slightly larger one down so they are all similar.

Next, I folded the petals over, but allowed them to be off set slightly

I then layed one on top of the other, to form my flower

I cut a little base for them (there's a technical flower name for this :) ), and glued the petals inside

I then made sure they looked okay on my card

Sorry, this picture is rubbish!!  I then painted them with the same paint I used for the base.  I used the lighter peach colour first, and tipped the petals with the blue

I glued the flowers in place when dry.  I did shape them, and used Pinflair so they stand off the card.  I then used the end of a paint brush, and white paint, to add little dots onto the piece.  haha, this picture is the paint brush

And here are the dots.  I decided they were a bit much, so, using a cocktail stick, I scratched the paint to create smears.  Make sure you do this when the paint is still wet

I quite like this effect.  Scratching with the cocktail stick gives a nice texture

I then cut out little leaves, and stuck them to the stem.  And then a little piece of brown paper cut into a scallop which sits at the base of the flower head

Grrr.....this drives me mad.  When I'm working with paint I ALWAYS put something in it.  Everytime.

I then, relaxed, and added some glitter glue to the ends of the petals

I used a lovely stamp, which I trimmed after the comma

And attached to my card.  I used my drawing pen to add some scribbles to some of the raised portions.

Viola.  Such a cheap make.  This is just brown paper, paint, scrap card, one stamp, ink pad, glue, and paint.  Oh, and a paint brush.  I think that's it.  Oops, glitter glue.  But a little different and definitely fun to do :)

The Craft Countdown continues with only 63 days to go!!

Tonight had to be a quicky, as I've lots of craft work to get on with.  I've got deadlines!!  By Friday I have to have my samples done which will be used for the packaging.  This is nerve wracking, as they have to be good.  And you know that feeling when every card you make looks rubbish - or it's just not right.  Or you splodge ink on it just as you've finished.  Yep, plenty of that has been happening today!!  So, the panic is on, which means my blog post has to be done speedily.  I hope you still like it.

I scanned my room, and saw these little beauties:

A pack of rather lovely die cuts.  A simple card was born!!

I cut my mat and layers, to frame my lady, after choosing my lady and her outfit:

I decided to emboss the dress to add a bit of texture, and then applied a little gilding wax, to add some sheen:

I am using a tall card, and used a stamp to add a few dots which will just about show behind the layers:

Now, can you see on the photo above, another blotch of random ink.  Aaargh, drives me nuts!!  I had to cover it up, which meant I had to add a sentiment.  I choose this, which I matted and cut at a jaunty angle:

I now simply stuck everything together, added a piece of ribbon and gem at the top, and then carefully added dots of Phill Martin Cosmic Shimmer PVA, and then pretty purple Stickles nestled in between: 

I popped this at the top of the boots, and on the hat.  Here's the finished card;

Now, for those of you who have got this far, I have the rest of the pack of die cuts, and a couple more packs with different images in, to give away.  If you would like to be the lucky recipient, then please just leave a comment below, and I'll choose one person :)

Thank you

Okaydokay, thought I'd pop on a few cards I made for Craft Day, with brief descriptions. Did a few more as well of course, but forgot to take photo's, and then took my camera into studio but didn't really get chance to use the thing! Work and all that jazz.

Had a good day today, great to see all the gang again. Jane and Gill were busy with beautiful cards for the DVD, Rena was busy with everything! Dawn came in and I bet had a late night trying to get everything sorted for tomorrows filming - all go as ever. All this and I'm out tomorrow evening for my Birthday, hooray (Saturdays cards could be funny!! haha, better not celebrate to much eh).

This first one was done using Momentos ink pads, just completely cover gloss card with your ink, blending the ink to lighten the shade. Over stamp with the same ink. The image will bleed a little to give a beautiful background effect. Finished the card with the lovely Woodware Christmas tree stamp.



Another card made using the Momentos, this time using peel off stickers as a mask, apply the ink with a sponge to gloss card covering your peel offs, then remove the stickers to use for another card (never wanting to waste anything eh!!)



For this card I used a few shades of the Momentos ink pads, using the same stamp to overlay the images. This gives depth to the card.



This was my favourite card, using the Design Objectives stamps, Momentos ink pads, and Brilliance ink pads. I used the little tree, stamping a couple of times with one ink, without re-inking so I obtained different shades. I added colour round the edges of the card using a sponge, to blend the colours in, leaving a clear part which I could add my main focal image to (this highlights your main image). I stamped the reindeer, cut it out and added it to my card using 3D foam. Simple matting and layering finished with a ribbon.



Didn't get as much chance to play as I would have liked, but this was my first attempt at using the Tim Holtz crackle paint, and it's FAB. Loved it. For this one I have simply made a background, and overlayed my main focal image. The new distress stickles glue are also tremendous. Want them all...nope, need them all!





Liked this card as well, and easy to do. Using a circle punch, created my background sky, which I inked around the edges and stamped using a snowflake. Stamped my little Christmas village, coloured it and cut it out then matted it over my circle sky. Popped it onto my card which I framed with my ink pads.