And one for the new big brother!

I usually make a card for any siblings of a new baby as they can so often feel left out by the attention poured on the new arrival.

This card was made for my friend's son who became a big brother aged just shy of 22 months!  The image is by Hunkydory from the For the Boys collection.  I formed a wigwam from the foiled cardstock, half following instructions from a HD magazine.  The Chief is decoupaged.  The whole thing was mounted on to a blue background with a small strip of grass at the bottom.  This was layered onto cold mirri card before being added to an 8x8 card blank.  I couldn't find an appropriate sentiment so just wrote along the lines of "I guess this makes you the Big Chief now" inside.

New Baby Girl

This card was made for an ex work colleague (I don't work there now!) who had a baby girl at the beginning of September.  The image is Penny Black and was coloured with Promarkers and Spectrum Noir pencils (plus blending solution).  Now, I'll be honest and admit that I didn't think using the pencils on top of pens would make much difference but I was pleasantly surprised!  The image was mounted on to a Die'sire Chantilly Lace stamping frame cut in pink Centura Pearl cardstock.  The sentiment is by LOTV and was stamped and punched out.  I added a bow to the top left corner to balance the sentiment in the bottom right hand corner.

Tag Cards

These cards are all made along the same lines using a sheet of Hunkydory tags.  I used some mixed ribbon and fibres and mounted them onto co-ordinating background paper.  These cards are a mixture of birthday and general and were made to top up my dwindling pile!

Hunkydory Christmas - only 99 more sleeps!

These cards were made using the same topper sheet from a Hunkydory Christmas bumper set.  I think it was from 2012, although knowing me it could well have been 2011!  Both cards were embossed using my new A4 snowflake embossing folder (Embossalicious) although you can't quite pick it up from the photos.  The top card has a decoupaged image with one of the sentiments from the sheet.  The bottom card just uses the smaller topper sheet and sentiment.  I used the really sweet Lili of the Valley mini tag stamps in the corner with a blue bow as it looked just a little bit plain.  This card is 'soft touch', it feels almost velvety in texture and embossed really well.

Barkley

This card was from a Crafter's Companion kit and was so easy and quick to assemble - perfect for when my daughter mentions in passing that it's someone's birthday "tomorrow" and have I got a card please!  Fortunately this isn't too cute for a 13 year old girl apparently!

Something Different

It was recently back to school and with that comes the usual fight with sticky back plastic as my daughter and I cover her school books.  We went to town on her English book though and this is the finished result.  We used Roald Dahl papers from Docrafts - the front was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the back was BFG.  The pack included die cuts of some famous quotes from the books which we placed randomly.  Fortunately her English teacher appreciated the effort!

Another Hunkydory Card

This 8x8 card was sent to my friend's son for his 11th birthday (happy birthday Nathan!).  I think this topper sheet has to be one of the most used at the moment - this is the 3rd card on the same theme and it's perfect for boys who are too old for cute but not old enough for much else.

I used gold mirri card as the base layer and then used some backing paper and co-ordinating green card all matted onto gold.  The wide gold border looked a bit plain so I used some gold peel off stars to break it up.

Anniversary

 I rarely remember my own wedding anniversary, let alone make Mr Looby a card, but I always remember my friend's anniversary (and she always remembers ours so at least there's one card on the mantelpiece!).  This was made using a kit from Hunkydory called Beary Nice.  The background paper is also Hunkydory but from All The Girls paper pad.  I also used some wide pink velvet ribbon(it hurt to use it!) and added a narrow purple velvet ribbon too.  The sentiment is by Craftwork Cards.

Football birthday

This card was for my friend's 9 year old son.  I believe the image from Lili of the Valley but I've had the stamp for years and do not have the original packaging!  The ball was stamped twice so that it could be decoupaged.  The circle sentiment is definitely Lili of the Valley and echoed the football.  I used the lattice embossing folder as it had an air of a goal net to it! it was mounted on a 6" x 6" kraft card blank.  Four black card candi in the corners finished it off. 

Kraft and Cream Christmas

Over on the Christmas Cards All Year Round blog this month's challenge is to make a Christmas card using kraft card and cream as the predominant colours, but you can add an accent of another colour. Some of the DT team have used red which looks so effective but I chose gold..

My card was made for a specific person and is a hard one for me to make.  It's for my niece's husband.  We lost my niece very suddenly and tragically in June 2013; she was just 31 years old.   This is the second Christmas that our family faces without Alison who was one of those people who was first on the dance floor, first to see what the children had on their Christmas lists (she's Godmother to youngest) and first at any family gathering and her loss leaves a gaping hole in all our lives. 

So this card is for her husband.  He doesn't celebrate Christmas in the same way as he did with Alison but I like to let him know that he's in our thoughts at this particular time of year where Alison's loss is felt so deeply.  There is no sentiment on this card (although if it were to have one it would go top right) as wishing him a Merry or Happy Christmas doesn't feel right.

So, onto this card.  I used a 7" x 5" landscape card blank and used X Cut rectangular parenthesis dies to make the layers.  The base layer is gold mirri which I embossed with an Embossalicious snowflake embossing folder.  I stamped Stampin' Up's Silent Night image onto kraft card and heat embossed it with Wow Seafoam White powder.  The snowflake was cut using  Die'sire dies and a white glittered brad was pushed though the centre to hold them together.  I used the sentiment stamp from the Silent Night set inside the card (it says "May a peaceful spirit fill your heart and bless your live this season and all year long") - I felt this was just the right wording in these circumstances.

Decoupage Birthday

Another card made using the decoupage pad that was free with a magazine.  The image was mounted onto navy card and some cloud paper used for the background.  The lace bunting broke up the background.

Ray's Birthday

 I made this card for my brother in law's birthday.  He runs a gardening business so his cards usually have a garden related theme.  The image is a decoupage that was free in a magazine.  I embossed some green card with a diamond pattern (for some reason I associate it with fencing??) to mount the finished topper on and then some green gingham check paper  I inked the edges, another technique that I don't do often but really should.  A Craftwork Cards sentiment in a teal foil complemented the colours used.

Father's Day Card 2014 number 2

The main image on this card is from a pack of pre-coloured Wild Rose Studio toppers.  I thought the papers from a Dovecraft paper pad (For Men) matched the colours fairly well and I simply layered the tie patterned paper onto a kraft card blank and added strips of stipe paper in the corners.  I used some card candi in the corners to help the image stand out.  The image isn't layered but I did use foam pads to lift it from the base.  I used a different patterned paper to line the inside of the card although I kept the same colour family.  I think I initially couldn't make my mind up between the ties and the worded paper so decided to incorporate both!  The sentiment inside was a stamp that came free with a Docrafts magazine and was stamped onto white card, die cut using a Go Kreate die and edged with blue ink so that it didn't get lost on the wordy paper.

Twins!

This is one of my favourite ways to make cards, especially when colouring.  The image is by Wild Rose Studio and I stamped it twice and coloured using Promarkers.  I like to colour 2 at a time so that I can at least end up with one image that I'm happy with, although in this case both turned out fine.  It had been a long time since I had got my Promarkers out so I was surprised to end up with 2 usable images.  I used a Die'sire die (Classical Frame) to cut the coloured image and then mounted it onto a rectangle of red card.  I rounded the edges to keep the image close to the edge.  The papers are also Wild Rose Studio and were simply cut to size and mounted onto white card blanks.  The card on the left had a birthday circular sentiment and the one on the right has a Father's Day circular sentiment.  The sentiments were stamped onto the same red card used to back the image and were cut out using a circle punch.

Happy 50th

This card was made for a friend's 50th birthday.  The stamp is one that I've had since my early days of card making but I love the humour and it paired up well with the Aged to Perfection sentiment (I think that was from a Stampin' Up set).  I used a Nestability to cut the red, black and stamped image layers and mounted them simply onto a white card blank.

Hunkydory Owls

This card was made for my daughter's 13th birthday from her younger brother.  My daughter has a real owl fetish and thinks they are 'just adorable'.  This topper is by Hunydory 'What a Hoot' collection which I believe came free with one of their magazines.  The topper was simply layered onto some patterned paper which was layered onto silver mirri card.  I used an inverse corner punch to echo the shape of the topper.  The sentiments are also from the topper sheet.  I used a Hunkydory shaped card blank and found this most gorgeous ribbon in my stash which I simply wrapped round and tied in a bow - for once I was happy with a bow that I tied first time!

Craftsuprint Animal Cards

I bought these images from Craftsuprint as I thought they would make quick and fun cards for my children to give to their friends for birthdays. They are by one of my favourite designers on the site, Carol Clarke and are the shell edged corner side stacker design.  I printed the images onto water colour card which I think suits these characters and simply cut the pieces out and made up the topper and put onto a kraft card blank.  The meerkat is probably my favourite and I added some Glossy Accents on his glasses!

First Rudolph of the Year

Gosh, it's ages since I updated my blog - and it's not because I haven't been making anything.  I usually get as far as taking the photos and then it grinds to a halt.  It's taken me just over an hour to take the photos off my camera just now so I must have plenty to show you!

Over on my lovely friend Sarn's blog it's the final day of the August Rudolph Day challenge and here's my entry.

These cards were made using a new to me stamp set from Woodware called Christmas Knits.  My daughter spotted it in the craft shop and between us we couldn't resist it!  I went a bit retro and dug out a Versamark ink pad and stamped the main image and one of the sentiments straight on to 4 x 4 Kraft card blanks and then embossed them using Wow! Opaque Seafoam White embossing powder.  I coloured the little motifs on the jumpers with Sakura glitter pens (another blast from the past!)  These cards will eventually be sent to my son's classmates.

The most amazing thing of all for me was that my Versamark ink pad still worked (having been in my room for about 7 years without use) and my Sakura glitter pens also still worked.  These were some of the first pens I bought and, apart from the clear which I know I've replaced at least once, they are still the originals.  Makes me wonder why I still need to buy 'stuff'!

Hopefully now that I've got this far I'll be able to enter the rest of the Rudolph challenges this year and add a few posts to my very abandoned blog.

Birthday Bear

I made the shaped card blank using a Go Kreate die set and used the two smaller dies to cut the layers in purple and lilac card.  I added the Forever Friends decoupage and cut out the candles that were also printed on to the decoupage sheet and added them along the base using 3D glue (Pinflair).

Favourite Colour Combo

I made this card for my niece and used my current favourite colour combo of kraft and blue.  The blue card stock is Centura Pearl so has a bit of a shimmer about it.  I used a new cutting die that I bought after receiving a Christmas card using the same idea (obviously it said Merry Christmas and not thank you!)  The ribbon and flower is from my stash and I've had them for so long I couldn't begin to think about where they came from.  the die by the way is by Memory Box.

Hunkydory Easel Cards - A Touch of Spring

Finally, after months of rain it looks as though Spring may be about to Spring!

I made these cards using a Hunkydory topper and paper kit that came free with a magazine ( I think I actually mixed up 2 kits but the colour tones are usually the same with Hunkydory so you can get away with it!).  They were lovely cards to put together and the decoupage adds just enough dimension.  Let's hope I haven't doomed us all to another few weeks of rain now that I'm thinking Spring!

Something Old, Something New

I know this time of year is usually all about new things but I like to be different.  Ages ago I sat and coloured some Penny Black stamped images with Promarkers and they have sat in a little box (used to have chocolates in!) on my desk for most of 2013.  I used a couple during 2013 but the majority of them just sat there staring at me, daring me to use them.

I used a cream pearlised card blank (again, been in my stash a while) and matted the image on to dark brown card.  I used the same dark brown card and used a new (yep, something new on it!) dotty embossing folder to create an embossed panel which I placed below the image.  I wrapped bakers twine around the embossed panel and added a Craftwork Cards sentiment in the centre.

I would like to enter this card into Penny Black Saturday Challenge for January.  The theme is new and I did use a new embossing folder so I hope it counts!

Forever Friends Twins

I needed to make a card for my daughter's friend's 13th birthday so once again turned to these cute little characters.  I came across this decoupage in my box, all ready to put together and, as there were 2 identical images, I decided to make 2 almost identical cards (just the sentiments are slightly different).

I used a 5" x 7" card blank and used paper from the Pink Parfait range.  I punched a border using a Martha Stewart punch and added fuchsia gems.  So that the decoupage didn't look lost on the base card, I used a scalloped circle nestie to frame the base later.  I used a Sakura glitter pen (transparent) to highlight the water beneath the main image.  The sentiments are Craftwork Cards and were added to SU scalloped oval punch outs (a bit wonky looking at the photo, they don't look that bad in real life!)

Decopatch

Last weekend we had a family crafting session and my daughter (12) and I tried decopatch for the very first time.  We had seen Leoni Pujol on Create and Craft demonstrating it over the Christmas holidays and both thought it looked easy enough.  We picked up some papers, glue and brushes from Hobbycraft and set to work.  Above is the photo frame before I stared.  I bought this frame (and another 3 or 4) from Ikea about 10 years ago and have had photos in them on display all that time!  I chose a very subtle green and yellow rose print paper so that it would easily fit in with my current (and any future) home décor.

This is the finished result!  Thought it was good for a first attempt.  It was more time consuming than I thought it would be but it was very easy to do.  I now think decopatch papers might become a new obsession!

My daughter covered some papier mache trinket boxes, heart frames and hanging hearts.  Even my husband and son joined in and each covered a papier mache heart, which I might just have to use on a card.

Back To My Favourite Forever Friends!

I just love these little bears!  It seems to have been ages since I last made cards using these images (although I did some at Christmas so not that long at all!).

This is a birthday card for a friend.  It's 5" x 7" in size and the decoupage image, sentiment and paper are from the Pink Parfait range.  The ribbon is from my stash and I also added some pale pink gems to help frame the image.

Thank You Cards

 

 Straight after Christmas comes Thank You note time!  I am fairly old fashioned in that I like my children to send proper, hand written, thank you notes for their Christmas gifts. 

The majority of the notes sent this year were like the ones above.  I used some fairly plain green and red background paper (mainly spotty) and used a die by Cheery Lynn to cut the word thank you.  I added a little Christmas embellishment to add a bit of interest.

I also made some that weren't especially Christmas themed.

 These ones are Me to You (Tatty Teddy).  They are just toppers, background paper and some silver die cut mats.

 

These 3 were made using some of the Lily of the Valley toppers from the sheet I used to make my friend's birthday card.  I used a lacey square die cut and Craftwork Cards oval sentiments.

Banish The Blues

This is one of my favourite sheets from Crafts U Print.  Once printed on to Crafter's Companion Neenah cardstock I put the background on to a card blank made from pale peach adorable scoreable card and decoupaged the letters.  I used some yellow seed beads on the flower centres (stuck with glossy accents) and then added some beady eyes to the 2 owls just for a bit of fun.  This card is for my daughter's friend who will be entering those teenage years!

I would like to enter this card in to Cute Card Thursday's "Banish The Blues" challenge.  That will be the first challenge of 2014 for me!

Happy New Year - First Card For 2014

Happy new year to all who pop by - I hope 2014 brings you health and happiness (no use wishing for wealth as I don't think any crafters will ever be rich!).

As usual my first card of the year is for my dear friend Chris who celebrates her birthday on New Years Day.  I always make a point of remembering her birthday (and she always remembers mine) because we are both New Year babies (I'm New Years Eve) and often get overlooked.

This 8x8 card was made using the largest topper on a sheet from Lily of the Valley.  I found the sheet in a bag with some Christmas toppers that I remember buying from Ally Pally.  As I haven't been for at least 2 years (maybe even 3) you can see how long they've been unloved.  I embossed some Centura Pearl cardstock (a lovely café au lait colour) with the Cuttlebug Swirls embossing folder and matted the topper onto dark brown adorable scoreable cardstock.  Very bravely I stamped the greeting directly onto the card blank using SU Chocolate Chip ink.  Very pleased with this one!