Birthday in Blue

This card was made with Periwinkle blue and a metallic grey that I had in my stash.  Again I used Sue Wilson's dies as I have to admit that these are my favourite dies and they make such lovely and quick cards.

I have not had much time for cardmaking recently due to trying to get my mother's birthday present made as well as attending some workshops so to be able to make quick cards is just what I need.

This was for a friends birthday and I used paper from LOTV Beach Bliss pack.  I then cut out the topper in alternating colours using Sue Wilson's Spanish Collection Cordoba die and finished it with her Finishing Touches Faux Quilled Blooms.  The happy birthday was cut out using a Tattered Lace die.

Heartfelt Creations Workshop Part 2

I have only just got around to taking photographs of the last cards that I made at the Heartfelt Creations workshop.  I must admit that I have never made 8 cards at a workshop before (especially as it was only 1 day) and I think it has taken longer to blog and photograph them than it took to make them!

 

The format was the same as before with the class kits but this time we used the Arianna Blossoms kit.

Again, we concentrated on the technique rather than the cutting and this time we coloured with Viva Décor 3d Stamping Paint.  I had never used this before but just love it. 

 

Although you cannot see it on the photos, it actually has a really shimmer finish with out being overpowering.  We just put a very little of the paint onto  sponge and then sprayed some water on it and dabbed it on to the flowers.  The colour that we used in the class was Carmine Red. 

 

I liked the fact that if you bought the paper pack, then the background of the card was already preprinted and just the addition of a couple of flowers and embellishment made a quick card.

 

 

Card for 21st

I can't believe that my nephew has reached his 21st birthday - I don't know where the time  has gone.

He will be happily celebrating it out in the US as he is at college over there.  At least now he will be able to drink legally.

I layered some paper from Father Knows Best from LOTV onto Coconut White Foundation Card and bordered the paper with Gilding Flakes.  I then used Tattered Lace Champagne Glasses and Champagne Bottle dies to cut out my images and layered them both onto Coconut White card but coloured the bottle with distress ink.  I used Memory Box University and University Backgound to create his name and 21 and then added a Happy Birthday greeting using Tattered Lace again.

I had to get it done quick so that his sister could take it out with her when she joined him for his birthday and as seems to be the way at the moment, left it to the last minute.  At least he got it though as I could not send him a bought one.

Heartfelt Creations Workshop

I spent a lovely day on Friday in Kenilworth at a Heartfelt Creation Workshop. It was run by Oyster Stamps and the tutor was Emma-Lou from Heartfelt Creations ably assisted by her husband Richard.  Before Friday, I did have a few Heartfelt Creations stamps and dies but was not really getting the best out of them and had held of buying more until I had completed this workshop. I now feel that I will be able to use them a lot better than before.

 

The idea of this workshop was to learn techniques rather than spend time cutting and matting cards so the backgrounds and embellishments were already cut, enabling us just to concentrate on the techniques but still have finished cards.  This certainly worked for me.

The first collection we worked with was the Majestic Collection and we learnt how to colour the flowers and leaves quickly and then how to shape them in a few different ways.  We were only using distress inks to colour but we were putting the colour on with sponge daubers which did make it quick.  I have used a variety of tools for colouring before but never these daubers, but did like using them and will certainly be using them again.

I never realised that there were so many ways to shape one particular flower but we were certainly learning this on the workshop. It is amazing how just a little moisture can make such a difference to how the flower ends up looking.

We managed to get five cards finished in this session although the glitter did get put on at a later time.  I think that next time I make cards like this - I would make my own backings but I can understand why the backing were provided already in the classroom.

Birthday Card

This is the card I made for my brother-in-law's wife.

The colours are actually Duck Egg blue and Teal, although it doesn't show up too well on the photo.

The background paper is from LOTV Beach Bliss and I used Sue Wilson's Spanish Collection Seville dies cut out in alternate colours and her Finish Touches Filgree 3D bow.  The sentiment was from Tattered Lace.

As I made this just before going on holiday it was a nice quick one but just did not get time to post before going.

It has been good to get back home but has taken longer than I thought to get over the jet lag this time - must be to do with getting older!!

I also seem to have much more washing and ironing than usual as I was not able to do this whilst away - unusually none of the hotels I stayed at had laundry facilities that I could use.

Card for my Niece

I am posting this from my holiday in the US and this is the first time in days that I have had internet access.

We have been on a tour of some of the National Parks of the US and have had no phone, TV or internet - sheer bliss.

This is the card that I made for my niece's birthday.  I started with a Fresh Blue Centura card and mounted some Coconut White card that I had pierced around the border onto this.

 

I then mounted some Periwinkle blue card that I had embossed with Sue Wilson's Art Deco A4 embossing Folder.  I used Sue Wilson's California Frames A and Frames B which I layered in periwinkle and coconut white.  I used Britannia Dies Happy and Birthday words and the Niece from their Other Relatives Dies.

I cut out some shoes using Tattered Lace Platform Show and Memory Box Platform Pumps and used Periwinkle silk Glitter to give some sparkle. 

Once I am back home in 2 days time, I will be able to catch up with my reading blogs - once the washing and unpacking has been done. I did managed to hit the local craft stores yesterday!!!


 

Birthday Wallet

I had seen this card in an edition of Making Cards Magazine and though that this would be ideal for my cousin's birthday as it was a great card for a male.

I did not have any of the stains or embossing folder that was used in the original but actually preferred what I used.

This card was made out of kraft card and I used the faux leather technique of Sheena Douglass for the strap part as that would get more use but not for the rest as I am not so keen on the feel on glycerine.

I used Darice Embossing Folder Crackle to create the leather effect and then used Scattered Straw, Vintage Photo and Rusty Hinge to create the colour.  I used a piercing tool and a brown alcohol pen to create the stitching effect around the edges and the birthday greeting.

I used a Phill Martin's Words of Inspiration stamp on the inside and then a variety of stamps by Bee Crafty to create small cards that I put into the wallet and it was nice that I could actually put some real money in it as well, to give the effect of a real wallet.

I also put his initials on the front using some dome letters that I had. I must admit to a quick phone call to his mother to check what his middle initial was.