Thank You!

It's the start of a new week and here's to one, full of good times and great memories...because on Thursday...it's my birthday and I can't wait!!!

The last few weeks have been really exciting and as the "icing on the cake" ~ I was also very privileged to become the latest addition to a wonderful design team at Craftwork Cards and because of that...

I just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who has recently come and visited my little blog, to all my new followers and also to my fellow design team members and last but not least...to Julie at Craftwork Cards! You've all been fantastic and your support and comments, are very much appreciated and I hope that you keep finding time to come back and visit as much as possible, as I take you with me, on my crafting journey!!

So, how did I make my gift to you all?

Box Template: Anna Griffin

Papers & Card: Anna Griffin

Dies: Spellbinders Shapeabilities Flower Creation Dies/Assorted Leaves/Scalloped Oval Nestabilities

Satin Ribbon: QVC

Adhesive Pearls: QVC

And, thanks again ... come and visit again soon!

xx

They Think It's All Over....

Hope you're all having a fabulous weekend...

Well, it can't have escaped some people's notice that we have a rather important date in the football calendar coming up very soon. Yes, whether you love or hate it, the World Cup will soon be here. How well England does? Well...that's anyone's guess but as always, the country will be behind our boys 100% and the flags are already attached to many cars and waving proudly in the breeze. As for me, I'm quite excited...it's a shame that my favourite player, a certain Mr Beckham, won't be playing due to injury but still, it should be a fabulous tournament.

So, in honour of the next few weeks and to show my support to everyone involved...here's the first of my football series of cards...and this card, is in tribute to the player that first got me interested in football and who is my Dad's favourite player of all time...Eric Cantona of France!

So, enough about football....let's craft...

How did I make it? Well, the colours for this card, were of course, dictated by the French national flag and to begin, I stamped one of the adorable images from Lili Of The Valley onto a piece of white card, which I die cut, using a Spellbinders scalloped square die. I then coloured in my little footballer, using Promarker pens. I stamped the football twice, decoupaged it with 3D foam and then used glossy accents on it to give it the nice shiny effect. I made the little medallion using the same papers as I used on the background, ran them through the Cuttlebug using the Spellbinders Flower Creations Die and then layered them up to give this medal shape. I popped a card candy into the centre and adhered some ribbon. As my finishing touches, I added a button, threaded with twine and a Tim Holtz Adage Ticket.

Blossom

Friday's here already and to celebrate the weekend...what better way than with a beautiful bunch of flowers...

I made this card using the fabulous Blossom collection from Craftwork Cards.  Everything that you see on the card, comes from that range and I absolutely love the colours of this collection ~ they all compliment each other so well. But on this particular card, I chose to keep it tone on tone and the inspiration behind the project was really the title of the collection. Once again, I made the handmade flowers with those Spellbinders Flower Creation dies that I adore so much. They have been worth every penny and work so well by layering these stunning papers, together with their card candy centres. I used Martha Stewart punches for the fronds and to give me a decorative border, down the side and finally adhered a greetings plaque and some ribbon.

Urban Belle

Today, I was very proud to be introduced as the latest member of Craftwork Cards Design Team. As some of my regular followers already know, I absolutely adore their products and it's an honour to become involved with the team and to work with such wonderful crafting goodies! Watch out for lots of new cards and projects featuring all their fantastic collections... I also wanted to say a big "HELLO and welcome" to all my new followers...thank you!!!

Anyway, I'm still on cloud 9 but I suppose I should tell you all about today's card....

It's another easel card but instead of sticking to the normal squared base, I actually used Craftwork Cards' flower template, which is what gave me this beautiful shaped background to the image of my little girl. These templates can be bought from QVC, together with another 11 fantastic card making templates and I can't recommend them enough.

This card shows how versatile paper can be. Everything that you see, I've handmade from paper...including the flowers, the butterflies and the little fence. I covered my card blank in these pretty papers from K & Company and I used Martha Stewart's Trellis Border Punch and some Distress Inks, to create a little picket fence. The stamped image is from Kanban's Urban Belles Clear Acrylic Stamp collection and I coloured it in with Promarkers and added highlights of Stickle Glitter glue to her dress.

I made the flowers, using the Spellbinders Flower Creations dies and popped a little adhesive stone in the centre. The butterflies are punched out using another Martha Stewart punch and then I adhered them, with their wings slightly lifted, so that they looked as if they were flying. I added a final touch of a stamped message on a tag and attached it to the card with some twine.

It's Gorjuss...

Yes, the Gorjuss girls are back and because I wanted to show how versatile these kits from The Crafthouse Press can be...this time, I've made a little box, which started life as two sheets of cream card. Everything that I've used here to decorate my box, except for the die cut flower and leaf shapes, buttons, ribbon and twine, is supplied in the kits. The 3D decoupage image, papers and greeting tags are all there...it's just up to you and your imagination as to how you use them. And it shows that these wonderful kits aren't just for cardmaking. They can be used in scrapbooking and so many other ways of papercrafting and all you have to do is think outside the box and together with added embellishments and finishing touches....yes, I made these flowers by hand but you can use anything you want as decoration, they do make something...so special.

Anyway, it's the start of a brand new week and I'm full of ideas and creativity. There are lots of new projects that I'm working on and in the run up to the World Cup and as a little bit of a football fan, (and a huge David Beckham fan) you'll be seeing some cards featuring the great game, including some new kits from The Crafthouse Press and some rubber stamps from Lili Of The Valley.

To be honest, it's the tiniest of things that will inspire me and my work. I can find inspiration in my surroundings, from sitting in a cafe...to walking in the park. I love modern art and there are so many great artists who have a huge impact on my work. I'm also influenced by some wonderful designers who I admire, whether that be jewellery, handbags or fashion...and finally, there are people who work in the crafting industry, who without them...I would probably never have decided to follow my dream.

More Than A Woman

Hope you're all enjoying a relaxing and peaceful Sunday....

I was planning to get this card posted earlier than this but my internet has been down right up until now, which has meant that, I could indulge in the summer sun and sit in the garden for a while. But to tell you the truth, I am more of a winter girl...give me snow over sun any day!!

Anyway, today's card features one of the Kraftin Kimmie stamps that I bought from the fabulous Dies To Die For and who I mentioned in an earlier post. Once again, I can only reiterate what a great company it is and I'm sure that these stamps will be my first of many purchases over the coming months.

So, I introduce you to ....Vivienne! Isn't she fab and so very glamourous, all the way down to her extra special shoes. Yes, *smiles* she owns the Louboutin's that I've always wanted...

The image is stamped onto a scalloped circle which I die cut with a Spellbinders die and then coloured in using Promarker pens. To make the card even more glam, I think it needed a touch of glitter. So, I added highlights to the peacock feathers, using various blue and green tones of Stickles glitter glue.

You might also have noticed that I've also made a little gift tag to attach onto a present and be presented alongside the card... I cut this out by hand from white card and then used the same backing paper on this as I did on the card. I stamped the same image but this time onto a Labels Four die cut shape and then finally stamped "Shake Your Tailfeathers" at the bottom of the tag.

SO, WHAT DID I USE?

Backing Papers: QVC, K and Company

Colouring Mediums: Promarkers, Stickles Glitter Glue

Flowers & Card Candy: Craftwork Cards (card), Petaloo (tag)

Dies: Spellbinders Large Scalloped Circle Die (card), Labels Four (tag)/Tim Holtz Alterations Flourish

Ribbon: QVC

Adhesive Pearls: Papermania

Border Punch: Martha Stewart

Ink: Memento

Stamps: Vivienne ~ Kraftin Kimmie

The Art Of Craft

Phew...it's too hot!! Yes, the temperature is rising in the UK and I hope everyone's enjoying this glorious wall to wall sunshine that we're having right now.

As for me, I'm just taking a break from relaxing in the garden with a glass of Pinot Grigio and just wanted to stop by to let you all know that the new Summer Catalogue 2010 is now available from The Art Of Craft and guess who's work is featured? I'm extremely proud that they've chosen to include my cards in their catalogue, featuring the Gorjuss Collection of Die Cuts, Toppers and 3D decoupage from The Crafthouse Press and if you still haven't tried out this fantastic and very popular range, then it's a must...give it a go, you will not be sorry!!

Happy Weekend!

Single Rose...

Yay! It's Friday, it's sunny and to celebrate, I thought I'd share another card, that I'm so proud of! Once again, it features some of my craft obsessions of the moment, including the Spellbinders Flower Creations, Tim Holtz's dies and Grungeboard and the beautiful illustrations by Leanne Ellis.

Another thing that I love at the moment, is the natural look and these corrugated cards are perfect for that. As soon as I saw them, I knew I had to have them and combined with some beautiful backing papers and these dusky pink tones with a hint of sage green, I think they work perfectly!

Another element that I'm using more and more in my crafting is Tim Holtz's Grungeboard...which is fantastic. It's a very strange product and unlike any other papers or card that you will use, it's flexible, doesn't break or tear and if you haven't used it, you must. Combined with other products in his range, it really can be an essential product in your craft cupboard.

SO, WHAT DID I USE?

Dies: Spellbinders Shapeablities Flower Creations 3

Natural Cardstock: Kanban

Rubber Stamp: Funky Kits

Ribbon: QVC

Papers: K & Company

Tim Holtz Grungeboard: Flourish painted with Crackle Paint

Colouring Mediums: Promarker Pens, Stickles Glitter Glue

Inks: Distress Inks ~ Brushed Corduroy, Memento ~ Tuxedo Black

I hope you all have a great weekend and the sun is shining wherever you are!!

Happy crafting...

Have A Fabulous Day!

Another Wednesday, already...I cannot believe how time flies, it's crazy but before I do or say anything else, I'd just like to thank everyone who has taken the time to comment either here on my blog or to me in person about my card designs...it's always wonderful to know that all the hard work that goes into each and every one of these cards is appreciated.

So, what have I been up to? Well, I've been hard at work, creating new designs and playing with all my new dies from Tim Holtz. If it's possible to fall in love with dies, then I think I'm in love...they are fabulous!! Can't wait to share some of the projects that I've made using them!! Then, yesterday the Gorjuss Collection and many other wonderful products from The Crafthouse Press were launched on QVC UK. And didn't they do well...especially the Gorjuss Kits, they sold out before they were even bought to air for a full demonstration. If you did manage to get your hands on any of the kits...congratulations, you will love working with them, just as much as I did and if you scroll through my blog, you'll see what I made!

As for today's card, it's another creation using elements from Craftwork Cards but this time, I chose to cut an aperture in a scalloped square card blank, using a Spellbinders scalloped oval die. I then suspended the flowers with their card candy centres, across the aperture, adhering them just on the edges of each petal. 

The wonderful thing about Craftwork Cards flowers is the quality and because they are die cut from such a good quality pearlescent cardstock, it means that when you make a card such as this and suspend them across the aperture, they will stay in place and hold their shape, perfectly. Down the side of the card, I matted and layered some blue paper, together with some white card, that I embossed in an embossing folder through the Cuttlebug and then used a Martha Stewart border punch for a decorative effect. I wanted the card to remain very soft and floaty in it's feel, so as a final touch, I added some delicate white organza ribbon and tied it in a bow.