Friday 26 November 2010

New Techniques

Hey everyone,

First of all I'd like to say a big 'thank you' to everyone who reads through my site, though they don't comment. I really appreciate your letting me know - at least I know I'm not talking to myself most of the time ;-)

Okay, so this card was a bit of an experiment. I knew I wanted to make a 'thank you' card for a lovely couple of friends who took us and 5 other friends out for dinner last weekend; what a kind and generous thing to do!

A couple of weeks ago I bought the Tim Holtz Mini-Mister by Ranger, and also some Perfect Pearls powder. I was toying with the idea of adding a tag, and I received the GORGEOUS lace stamp from Hero Arts last week, and wanted to use that too.

Here's what I came up with:


I stamped the HA Lace stamp in Versamark ink, and used a paintbrush to brush the Perfect Pearls over the image. Then I spritzed it with the Mini-Mister to set the powder.
I also used the HA 'Friend Definition' stamp, also stamped in Versamark ink.

The tag was distressed using Tim Holtz Broken China distress ink, and then embossed.

The colouring was done using my old favourites - Crayola colouring pencils (I know some of you have to cover your eyes at this point ;-D ); I'm still trying to find a cost-effective alternative!

And I mustn't forget to mention where the little mixing-bowl and utensils came from - the 'What's Cooking?' stamp set, also from Hero Arts.

These must be my 3 favourite stamps/sets EVER!


A close-up of the sentiment (I apologise for the blurring) - I cut the tag out using my Silhouette machine, and threaded it through the 5mm ribbon (I think that's about 1/4inch).

Hope you like it, and thanks for looking!

Have a lovely day!


(If anyone would like a list of supplies, please post a comment and I will edit this post - I'm not next to my crafting table at the moment.)

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

1. Paper Pretties: Clean and Simple
2. Sentimental Sundays: Thanks

Tuesday 9 November 2010

Gorgeous Doilies

Hi everyone,

Here's my card for this week. Now, I can't take credit for this one really; I saw one very similar on Brit Swiderski's BEAUTIFUL blog, which you can see here, and wondered whether I could make something similar on my Silhouette machine.

So I dug out my ballpoint pen-attachment, and look at the results! I think they're pretty cool:


I admit that the 'biro' look isn't amazing; I'll have to try a felt tip or brush pen next time. But for a first attempt and to try something new, it turned out okay!

Again, I took a picture to try and show the layers, but I just can't get my camera to focus! So sorry about that.

As you can see this card is pretty simple; just 'draw', cut and stick with the doilies, and I couldn't miss out my much-loved faux stitching!

For the sentiment strip, I used the same blue cardstock as the background, and inked it up with distress inks; it's such a gorgeous effect! I know I'm going to have loads of fun with these, now that I've bought my very own ink-blending tool! Yay!

Have a lovely day and thanks for stopping by!


SUPPLIES:
Cardstock: White Linen card from the Papermill; Kraft, Blue - both from my stash
Ink: Vintage Photo Distress ink; Chesnut Roan Colorbox chalk ink
Stamp:  Sentiment from Fiskars 'Latte Love' set
Tools/Misc: Silhouette machine; Ink blending tool from Ranger; White gel pen; a trusty Bic biro!


I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

1. Dutch Dare Card Challenges: Clean and Simple

Monday 1 November 2010

Lovebirds

Hi everyone,

I'm sorry it's so long between posts at the moment; I keep wanting to craft and blog but life keeps getting in the way :)

Well, two of my friends are getting married (to each other!) - they got engaged a couple of weekends ago. So I made them this card:





I cut out the card template, birds, trees and hearts using my new digital cutter. I adhered the card on to vellum, cut the insert from vellum, and then glued it to the front. I used my white gel pen for the faux-stitching that outlines the elegant shape.


You can see the velum better in this side-view:



The lettering was also cut using the die-cutter; it was painstakingly difficult adhering those to the vellum, but it was worth it; my friends loved it so much they asked me to do their WEDDING INVITATIONS!!!


EEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I am freaking out very slightly... I have a couple of ideas, but not sure at all whether the bride-to-be will like them...
So if anyone has any ideas for wedding-invites, or knows of any sketches that could be of use, I'd love for you to post a comment and let me know!

Thank you!

SUPPLIES:

Cardstock: Blue; White; Brown; Turquoise - all from my stash. Pink cardstock from the huge K&Co stack. Vellum
Stamping: Hero Arts Dots cling stamp; Versamark ink
Extras: Pink satin ribbon; 3D foam adhesive squares; White gel pen
Silhouette dies: "2 Love Birds" (Lori Whitlock); 6-card kit Elegant (Lori Whitlock); LD Blankie font


I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

1. EBTKS - Challenge #26, Colour challenge
2. Wee Memories - Challenge #29, Anything Goes
3. Cute Card Thursday - So Transparent!