Butterfly Flitters

One thing about going to Jayne Nestorenko's workshops is that she always seems to come up with different projects.  This card was from another one one of her workshop and this was no exception. 

This one was made at the same time as another card.   Jayne has changed the way we do her workshops and it really good for everyone.  She gives all the projects out in the morning and goes through them and that way everyone can work at the own pace - rather than having some behind and some sitting there finished waiting for the next thing to do.  She goes through everything at first and then walks around ensuring that everyone knows what to do and helping where needed.

This card was made using one of her favourite stamps - although she did not design the stamp - a butterfly medallion stamp and it is hard to find this stamp now.  The butterfly was stamped 6 times onto different coloured card and each cut out leaving a little bit more each time.  The images were then glittered but only where it was going to show.  There was no glitter added that would be underneath any other card.  The background was made with That Special Touch Trellis Mask which was put through the Grand Calibur and embossed.  The diamond design was then cut out with a craft knife.  A piece of blue paper was attached to the back to make the trellis work stand out.  The background foliage was cut from Spellbinders Shadow Flowers.

The card was then finished by using Cosmic Shimmer PVA glue to create a trail.  I never quite finished it at the workshop and bought it hiome to finish and then put it in the unfinished pile and eventuaqlly got round to finishing it this week!

First Grandaughter Card

I was asked by a friend to make a card for his new Grandaughter.  I had previously made a card for his son's 21st birthday and was pleased that he thought to come back to me to make another.

It was his first grandchild and he was quite particular in what he wanted.  He provided the words that he wanted on the front and the verse inside but left the design up to me.  He wanted it as a keepsake for her.

He had requested that maybe a pram or something along those lines on the front of the card but when I saw a pattern for this dress and hat, I thought that would be more appropriate.

I first printed the verse on some beautiful textured baby pink shimmer card that I bought from ebay.  I thought that the words in the verse were beautiful and were really fitting for a grandaughter and am sure that she will treasure this when she learns to read.  I added a scroll to each side of her name and the bottom.

The words do not show up so well in the photo but read:-

DESTINY

Welcome to the world and to our family,
May your life be filled with love
in everything you see.
You have a precious mother
who will give you love and tender care.

Your Mum looked so proud of you

As you peacefully slept there.
She too was my first child,
not so many years ago.
And not ashamed to tell you
how I loved her so.
May your life be filled with laughter,
and always wear a smile,
So as you grow from baby to toddler,
from girl to woman,
we’ll always remember the first time
I saw you........love from your
Grandad.

I printed out the words for the front of the card on a piece on plain paper and then traced them onto parchment paper in silver.  I then traced the pattern of the dress and the hat in silver tinta ink. 

I then coloured the dress and hat with a dorso pastel leaving the areas that I wanted to emboss.  then embossed the looping pattern on the dress, the bottom of the hem and the bow.

With a flower tool I pierced the bottom of the dress hem and then using a four needle tool, pierced the body of the dress.

I then attached the parchment to the insert with ribbon to finish.  I glued the ribbon to both the card and the parchment paper and this ensured that the two would not come apart and also hid the glue on the parchment paper.

My friends was absolutely delighted with this card and so was his daughter.  I am sure that his grandaughter will treasure this in the years to come.

Rainbow Card

Happy New Year to all and no more Christmas items for at least another 9 months (I hope)!!  I hope this year brings good fortune to you all. 

I managed to post at least 2 blogs a month last year so just need to make sure that I keep it up this year. I also intend to keep my craft room under control after spending time getting it back to what it should be.  Hopefully I will be able to do more crafting this year.   I am determined to do a lot more colouring on my cards and thought I would start it off gently with this card.  This was made by colouring the reverse of the parchment to give it a variety of colour and although isn't quite the colouring that I mean, is still colourful enough to be included.

It was made using a straight grid as it would be extremely difficult to achieve this card without one.

I don't like using a lot of the grids that are available that have patterns built in to them as to me it takes out the joy of achieving the finish.  With the straight edge grid, it is more difficult to get right as you have to count where to place each piercing rather than just all the holes in the pattern.   It can be frustrating though to make a mistake right at the end of your pattern and have to start again. 

Once the pattern had been pierced, I coloured each flower on the reverse with Perga Color Exclusive pens and then attached a piece of rainbow card behind. 

As with most of my cards, I will then put a sentiment on it to fit the occasion that I give it to someone for.  I like to have a few cards to use quickly when I have not had time to make one at the time and this certainly came in useful last year although I am hoping to be more organised this year.