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!