Today's card - The Snowman again!

Afternoon everyone.

I am posting early today because I really need to do some housework - it has to be bad for me to be ashamed!!  Also my craft room is too warm to work in after lunchtime due to this unexpected heatwave.

This morning I made up my mind that I wouldn't do the Snowman today, but my Crafters Companion Snowman Papercrafting Kit was calling out to me and so ......

The base card is made from Centura Pearl snow white card and I used my Hougie board to make it.  The topper has one image decoupaged and the other one is a rub-on.  I have also used Coredinations card in a matching colour, embossed it and sanded it back for two small panels.  I coloured a pink, cream and white poinsetta using ProMarkers and colours amethyst, orchid and lavender in various combinations and then replaced the gem centres with card candi.  I also sprayed them with Crafters Companion iridescent Spray and Sparkle.  I used an adhesive ric-rac border across the front and some stick-on snowflakes all from The  Snowman Papercrafting Kit, and finished off with four pieces of card candi in the corners of the topper.

A Snowman card that isn't green!

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Catherine x

Moments in Time, Let it Snow

This is a card I made a few weeks ago but didn't publish on my blog at the time.  It is made with a Flowersoft stamped image from the Moments in Time series and is called Let it Snow.  For those of you following my blog, you may well recognize the image as I made my first Christmas card of 2011 using the same image, but in completely different colours.

This card is 8x8 and the base card is Centura Pearl in ivory.  The backing paper has been made in Craft Artist Professional using a selection of backing papers from a Hot Off The Press Christmas cd.  I have resized them into squares and then "stitched" them together using a digital cross stitch.  The diamond in the centre that the image is mounted onto was made using a Spellbinders die and both blue pearl card and one of the backing papers from the stitched background.  The image itself was coloured using ProMarkers and the edges were inked with Tim Holtz distress inks.  The sentiment was rubber stamped and mounted onto a die cut circle, and the snowflake at the top left corner was done using a Spellbinders die too.  I finished the card with some flowers and card candi.

I hope you like my card.

Catherine x

Two more Snowman cards

Today my Snowman Papercraft kit and the new Snowman cd arrived from Crafters Companion so I set to and made two more cards.  I haven't opened the cd yet but I don't think I will be able to resist the temptation for much longer even though I won't be able to use it until I can print again.

Both my cards tonight are green.  Here is the first one

I usually make my own card bases but decided it was time to use some of the dozens of card blanks I seem to have accumulated over the years.  I'm not sure what you would call this one but the folded card is A5 in size.  The image is a card base from the Snowman Papercrafting Kit and I have applied a rub-on of the Snowman and James in the top left hand corner and another one "Believe" near the bottom right hand corner.  The base is matted onto plain green card.  I have used Coredinations Whitewash card on both front sides of the card, embossing the smaller panel on the right with a Cuttlebug embossing folder and then sanding it back.  The image is mounted onto the left side with foam pads and I have finished it with some card candy.

Here is the second card

This card was a bit more difficult to photograh so some of the detail isn't too good.  Again it is A5 in size and the base card is made from Stardream card.  The image is a card base from the Snowman Papercrafting Kit and I have applied a rub on of James and the Snowan.  The image has been mounted first onto Stardream paper which matches the base card and then onto gold mirri card.  I have used Versamark to stamp some little Christmas trees along the bottom of the base card using a rubber stamp from Jane Nestorenko's Adorables, and also some snowflakes down the right side and then heat embossed them using a clear detail embossing powder.  The text in the bottom right corner is also a rub on from the Papercrafting Kit, as are the white snowflakes down the right side.  I finished it with some white poinsettas from my stash - one poinsetta on it's own looked a bit lonely so I used three!!

I have a very strong suspicion that most of my friends and family will be getting Snowman Christmas cards this year!

Thank you for calling in.

Catherine x

Two new Snowman cards

Today I was determined to make at least one card, despite the fact that I still have no printer.  So a rummage around produced a piece of Snowman decoupage waiting to be turned into a card and I decided to use one of my very first attemtps at rubber stamping and colouring for another card.  Then I had to work out how to use the two images given the fact that I couldn't print any backing papers and also couldn't use any Spellbinders dies as my die-cutting machine broke a couple of weeks ago too (just not my year for machines and technology this year!!)

This is the first card I made

This is a very simple little card.  5x5 card base on plain white card.  I had previously cut out the stamped and coloured snowman image with my Spellbinders so after embossing each side of the card with a cuttlebug border embossing folder, using my Sizzix Texture Boutique, I attached it with some foam tape.  I then added the poinsetta embellishment in the bottome right corner and a Christmas sentiment at the top - I bought a pack of these sentiments from Lakeland some years ago just to keep in my stash as a standby.  Incidentally Sara Davies from Crafters Companion is demonstrating the Sizzix Texture Boutique in Munich tomorrow morning!

And this is my second card

Again I had already cut out and stuck the base layer of the image using my Spellbinders so just had to add the decoupage to finish the Snowman.  I again used my Texture Boutique to emboss the Christmas words onto a piece of Coredinations card from Crafters Companion and then sanded it back to highlight the writing.  The backing paper presented more of a problem because I couldn't find anything pre-printed that would fit colourwise until I realised that the papers I had marbled myself a few weeks ago should now be dry enough to use - and sure enough I found one exactly the right colour.  There isn't a lot of it showing here so will have to use it again to give it a better showing!  The ribbon is from Ribbonbox and the little pearls were from my stash.  I finished it by cutting out a Snowman head that was pre-printed and backed it with a little die-cut element that I had hanging around!

Hope you like the cards, and thank you for visitng my blog.

Catherine x

Card using a dreamweaver stencil

Hello everyone,

Well, another day gone and no cardmaking done.  My printer problem isn't solved yet and as my house looks like it has been ransacked by burglars I really did think I ought to make some attempt at cleaning and tidying.  Not my favourite pastime I have to say!!  Though I did make a surprise find yesterday when sorting through a pile of paper in the small bedroom which houses my pc - caught up in the middle of it all was a brand new, quite small, Popcorn the Bear stamp.  I have absolutely no idea where I got it from and have no recollection of it, so can only assume it was a freebie from somewhere, though I am surprised I have no recollection of having seen it before.

Last night I started to sort through some of the photographs on my laptop to tidy them up a bit because I can never find what I want and in some of the folders I found odd photographs of cards I had made, going back quite a while.  They were obviously downloaded at the same time as the other photos and I had forgotten to move them to the appropriate place and so they remained "lost" until last night.  So in the absence of any new cards I thought I might just share a couple of the photos I found last night.

The first card was made using a Dreamweaver stencil.  I placed it onto double sided sticky paper and applied gilding flakes.  I then removed the stencil and applied black glitter, including around the edges.
I wasn't sure how to use it on a card as the image itself was so striking so I mounted it onto a slightly larger mat of copper coloured embossed mirror card and then used a dark green card base, added black glitter paper to the top half and a gold border peeloff across the middle.

My second card this evening was made using a topper from one of Joanna Sheen's cds (can't actually remember which one but it may have been the Jane Nettley Mayhew one).  I wanted to make the card in black and white so changed the colour of the topper accordingly and added the text.  I then mounted it onto black and white mats.  The base card is made from black tapestry card, also from Joanna Sheen, although I don't think this is available on her website any more.  I made the border using a piece of white card which I cut with a fancy blade in my rotary cutter and a piece of black "happy birthday" ribbon from Ribbonbox.

Both of this evenings cards were made for male recipients - I always find it difficult to make a nice card for a man, especially if they are not "into" sport because most male cards are sport orientated.

Thank you for stopping by.

Catherine x

Flippin Women

Well, no crafting done today.  As it is the last day before hubby goes back to work I didn't really feel I could abandon him and head off to the craft room!  Instead I have been updating my family history database with some of the information I managed to get when I was in Ireland as I can do that downstairs using my laptop.

I have had a look through my card photographs and have decided to share one with you that I made a couple of years ago.  It was made using the "Flippin" decoupage.

Ok, hands up everyone who can remember dancing round their handbag like this!!

The backing papers and flower embellishments were from Funky Hand, the ribbon was from my stash and the sentiment was made using a Spellbinders die.  And for once I remembered to photograph the inside of the card:

I haven't made once of these type of cards for a while but I am sure I still have some of the decoupage sheets left.

I really like this backing paper from Funky Hand and have used it for quite a few cards over the years.

Thankyou for visiting my blog.

Catherine x

Daisy Card

Evening everyone.

We arrived home last night after ten days in Ireland visiting family.  As always we were very sad to leave and come back to reality!  Today we retrieved Paddy from his holiday (in kennels) and of course he needed a bath to restore him to his usual sweet smell!  He was obviously pleased to be home and has followed our every step all day today.

This afternoon I tried to print something and discovered that my printer isn't working (again!)  After spending most of the afternoon trying to get it to work I have given up.  So, no crafting done today.  Instead I thought I might share a card I made a little while ago, using the daisy stamp from Sheena Douglass' Paint Fusion range.

I am not sure at all about this card - it's not really me - but I had watched someone doing a very similar thing with a stamp and decided to give it a go.  My friend loves it, but like I said, I am not too sure about it.  Anyway, here it is:

The shaped card base was cut using a Go Kreate Die as were the two layers.  I stamped both the base card and the top layer with Sheena's daisy stamp and a Big and Juicy inkpad.  The middle layer is cut from glitter paper.  I then made a bow from some purple ribbon from my stash, stamped out a couple of daisies onto paper, cut them out and layered them up.

I'm not sure how long it is going to take me to sort out my printer problem as it is likely I may have to buy a new printer (which will be cheaper than parcelling my present printer up and sending it off to a Canon Service Centre!)  And I really miss my printer when it is out of service because I usually print my backing papers, so might just have to do some colouring while I (impatiently) wait!

Thank you for dropping by.

Catherine x

Birthday Cards

Well I still haven't made any new cards as I am still not home but I thought I would share some cards I made to bring with me for family members.

This card was for our great neice.  The backing paper and the birthday time ribbon is from the Daisy and Dandelions cd by Docrafts, as is the rabbit topper.  The top half of the card is made from light printable card from Crafters Companion, which I have embossed.  I cut the number 5 using my Craft Robo and more backing paper from Daisy and Dandelion and used a plain pink card to outline it and also for the letters for the name which were cut using my Craft Robo.

The second card is also made using the Daisy and Dandelion cd by Docrafts.  I printed the backing paper and also the sentiment direct onto the cardbase .  I then printed the topper separately, cut it out and stuck it onto the base.  The bit that took the longest with this card was actually choosing what to do in the first place!

This card was also made using a cd - Cuddleupz Cards, Funny Farm by Peerless Designs.  It is a gate fold card and the two sides link together when closed.  As usual I forgot to photograph the inside of the card, which has the reverse side of each image on.  The images were printed onto photographic paper and stuck to the card both front and inside.


Thank you for visiting my blog.

Catherine x

50th Birthday Card

Hello everyone.  Today I am able to post a card that I made a little while ago.  Some of you may already have seen it because I posted it briefly in the group "I'm a Crafter's Companion" on Facebook before I realised that the recipient might also see it in her news feed!

This is a box easel card and my very first attempt at making one so I was quite pleased with the result.

The box and easel are made from snow white Centura Pearl card and I have added additional scalloped squares printed with a backing paper from the zinnia flower fairy cd by Crafters Companion to the top and bottom of the box and used  a spellbinders die to cut them.  The sides of the box and the drawer front at decorated with red stardream paper embossed with a rose pattern using an embossing folder (I think it may be a cuttlebug one but I am not at home to check!)

The card is decorated with red stardream paper and a backing paper from the zinna flower fairy cd printed onto centura pearl paper.  Zinnia flower fairy is decoupaged as are the flowers.  The butterfly is from my stash and I have added a bit of bling to it.  The backing papers and the scalloped card base have all been edged in gold pen.  A little bit of glitter, a bow and some more bling to two corners completed this card.

I hand delivered this card last night and it was well received, much to my relief.  After all I had put a 'very discreet' 50 onto it!!!

I'm not sure when I will get to post more cards during the next couple of weeks, but I will be back as and when I can.

Thank you all for visiting my blog.

Catherine x

Two Christmas cards

Hello everyone,

I've had a busy couple of days, and although I made a card yesterday I can't post it yet.  In fact I might be a little bit scarce for the next couple of weeks, depends on how good the internet access is, and whether or not I get a chance to play - practising some more colouring.  I won't be able to make any cards anyway.

This morning I took myself off upstairs to finish off a box I started last week but kinda got sidetracked and ended up playing with my Robo again.  Last night I had a good idea and couldn't wait to see if it would work.  I remembered a cd I have called Sillhouette Sensations by Gwyneth Windsor and thought that some of the images on the cd would be just ideal for converting to Robo files.  I chose two files to start with, converted them to GSD files and then cut the images.

This is the first card I made.  I cut the main image and the star from Stardream paper in a Christmassy green rather than the standard black usually associated with sillhouettes.  I stuck this to a piece of Crafters Companion light printeable card I had left over from another project, using Stick and Stay by Crafters Companion.  I used Encore ultimate metallic ink and a Clarity stamp for the sentiment.  The topper was mounted onto more stardream paper in the same colour and the base card is Centura Pearl snow white.  I wanted a completely clean and uncluttered look for this card and I am happy with the result.

The second card is 15cm square and the base is also Centura Pearl.  The images and mat of the same colour are made from stardream paper.  Although it looks quite brown in this photograph it is actually a very unusual shade of browny red.  I had to have two attempts at cutting this image on my Robo.  The manger and the star cut perfectly but I had problems with the stable as the paper tore in places on my first attempt.  I tried the stable again and it cut much better the second time, although it did actually tear in one place - I have simply glued it back into place when I adhered it to the backing card (if you look closely you will be able to see it!)  I also cut out the sentiment, which, surpringly, didn't tear!  I must work out how to weld the letters together though because they are really fidly to work with like this.

If there are any experienced Robo users out there, I would be pleased to hear any hints and tips you could offer.  I would really like to know what difference the speed makes when cutting (apart from the obvious!)  Whenever I try to do anything intricate and quite small the paper/card tends to tear rather than cut, even though larger areas and straight lines/curves cut beautifully.

Thank you for dropping in.

Catherine x

First Christmas Humphrey card made with my freebie.

Today's card is made with my freebie Humphrey stamp which I coloured a couple of days ago.  I decided to use my flexmarkers as there are some lovely pastel colours, although I had to break out the ProMarkers too in places!

This card is an A5 tent fold card made from Centura Pearl.  I have used a backing paper from my The Snowman cd by Crafters Companion in a lovely soft green colour and matted it and the topper onto a green metallic texture card from my stash.  The sentiment is stamped with a rubber stamp from the Adorables set by Jane Nestorenko.  The border is also made from the green metallic textured card which has been punched with a holly pattern on both sides, crimped and a ribbon layered up the centre.  The little flowers have been punched and the centres are small pearls (coloured in soft green with my flexmarkers, although this doesn't show on the photograph.)  The flourish and poinsetta have been cut using my Robo, and some card candi completes this card.  Green is my favourite colour and I particularly like this soft green.

Thank you for visiting my blog.

More practise with my Robo!

Well, today I haven't had time to colour or even make a card.  But this evening I decided to have a go at cutting out the shapes to make roses using the Robo.  I was able to get the outline from an image on my cd and as my Robo doesn't print I cut them out on five different colours, textures and thicknesses of paper.  I then used Tim Holtz distress inks to add different colours.  I am going to leave them to dry before making them up.  It will be interesting to see if all the papers make good roses!

Looks like I am going to be busy once I get started on this little lot.

Thankyou for visiting my blog.

Catherine x

Popcorn and Lace Card

Evening everyone.  Today I decided I needed to have another try with my Robo Lite and I had some toppers already cut out from the Popcorn card I posted yesterday so wondered what I could do to combine the two.  This is what I came up with.

This photograph was taken in artificial light so the colours aren't quite true.  The base card is made from Centura Pearl and is 15cm square.  I embossed the corners using a light box and my Mandala embossing board.  I cut the circular mat in a light green pearl card from my stash and the lace layer using duo-card from CraftUK.  I originally intended to use the lighter pink side of the duo card facing, and the deeper pink showing on the folded areas.  However, this card seems to have a white core and a lot of white was showing along the score lines on the deeper side so I had to flip it over and use it the other way around.  The template for the mat and the lace layer are from a cd - "CD54 Lace Cards" from Cocopopart.

As with all my other new techniques I will have to keep practising (what a wonderful excuse to play!!)  If I can master the Robo Lite and feel happy and confident using it, I may just have to upgrade to a Robo Sillhouette so I can print and cut too.  Better start economonomising now then!

Thank you for calling in.

Catherine x

Popcorn cards and more colouring practise.

I haven't had much chance to update my blog for the last few evenings so thought I would catch up a bit tonight.  Apart from one day I have actually managed to play, even though some days it has been briefly!  And the day I didn't manage to play I did have a bit of crafty chat with my friend!

The first card I want to share tonight is a Popcorn the Bear card, made from the cd by Crafters Companion.  After Popcorn with sunflowers, I think this is my next favourite Popcorn image.

This card is 190mm square and made from Centura Pearl card.  The backing paper is also from the Popcorn cd by Crafters Companion.  The pink satin card is from my stash, as are the lilies and the ribbon I made the bow from (actually I think this was originally bought to go around a birthday cake for my daughter many many moons ago!)  The topper is printed onto gentle gloss card from Joanna Sheen.

My second card is also from the Popcorn cd by Crafters Companion and is a twisted pyramage card.

This card is aprox 15cm square and made from Centura Pearl card, which was embossed with the Creative Expressions ivy mask.  The pyramage topper is printed onto gentle gloss card from Joanna Sheen and the backing paper in the border and embellishment is also from the Popcorn cd.  I cut a strip of this to make the border and then crimped it, adding a length of ribbon from my stash up the centre of it.  The embellishment is die cut using Centura Pearl card, and the little flower centre is punched from Centura Pearl paper with a sticky iridescent gem in the centre.

I have also been playing with my Flexmarkers as they too are new to me.  There are some lovely new pastel colours, as well as some new deeper colours.  I decided to colour some images using only the flexmarkers in order to get used to using them.  They feel very similar to using a waterbrush.  The main problem I had was that the deeper colours (the shocking pink in particular) tends to bleed on the Neenah card I was using.  And this was despite allowing the ink to dry before applying, and was particularly noticeable in very small areas.

Here are the results:

The first stamp I tried was "Untamed" by Sugar Nellie.  There are no colours suitable for hair, other than blue grey, in the Flexmarkers set so I did her hair with that colour.  It is very light and although I added quite a lot of shading to her hair, it doesn't actually show up well on the photograph.   I tried again with the same stamp:

This time I decided to be adventurous and added some blue to the blue grey hair, and this has darkened it.  The shading shows better on this photograph.  I had a bit less trouble with bleeding this time as I only used the shocking pink for shading, rather than for the dress colour.

Next I tried "Birthday Girl" from the Humphrey's Corner stamps by Crafters Companion:

Again I used shocking pink for this image to see if I could find a way to colour without it bleeding and I think I did better this time, although this was possibly because the areas to be coloured were a little larger.

Finally I coloured my very first SWALK stamp, from Crafters Companion.

I really enjoyed doing this particular stamp.  I used antique white for the veil and dress, and added shading with soft mauve, which doesn't show up very clearly on the photograph.  This time I resorted to my ProMarkers for both bride and groom's hair and also the groom's shoes as the blue grey was just too light.  I had much less problems with bleeding when colouring this image, but the colours I used were mainly lighter colours.  Overall I am very pleased with the result.


So that is me more or less up to date again.  Thank you for stopping by.

Catherine x