Butterfly challenge 45

The theme for the butterfly challenge this month is X for Xanthine and if you take a look at their blog you will see a definition (in case you don't know) and also some great work from the design team.  I've used a piece of watercolour card which was coloured with Brusho powders before being embossed with a floral design, sponged with Distress ink to show up the design..  The square frame was die cut with a smaller square of flowers cut from the centre and a stamped sentiment was added.  The butterfly was also die cut in two layers using a scrap of the coloured card for the plain layer and a scrap of yellow for the lacy layer.

Embossing Folder - Sheena Douglass floral design
Butterfly - Sizzix dies
Central floral panel - Sizzix die
Frame - Tonic die

Bright Thanks

I thought that a nice colourful card would brighten what is a very dull, wet and windy day - we had sunshine and blue skies yesterday, the weather is so changeable.  Luckily I did my little bit of food shopping yesterday and as you might have guessed I was tempted by a free die attached to a magazine (the magazine rack is right next to the fresh fruit display!!).  The 'Thank You' sentiment is always handy to have, particularly at this time of year so I'm afraid I couldn't resist.  I've been playing around with some sprinkles of Brusho powders onto watercolour paper and have produced a few pieces in varying colours.  For this card I embossed a strip with a floral die, edged it with die cut borders and simply popped it onto a cream card with the sentiment.  Finally a die cut flower was added using the same colour of card.

Dies - flower and border strip by Sizzix, sentiment freebie with magazine
Embossing - Darice floral folder
Paper - coloured with Brusho powders, sponged with Distress ink

Thoughts

My card to share today is a 'thinking of you' one which I think could suit either male or female recipient.  I'm going to try and make a concious effort to make a few more male orientated cards this year although I must say for some reason it is the feminine ones which seem to go more quickly.  For this one I used a lovely embossing folder which was a freebie on a magazine and one which is so nice it is a shame to cover it up with too much in the way of images etc.  I decided to go for just the sentiment in a fancy frame on this occasion. The embossing was highlighted with distress ink and the sentiment and labels cut out from scraps of card.

Embossing - free folder with magazine
Sentiment - computer generated and punched with Stampin' Up punch
Label shapes - from die sets by Sue Wilson

Followers

I spotted this information on another blog and thought it a good idea to publicise this so that you will at least know what is happening.  I might be back later with a card to share.

Have you lost a few followers?

In a nutshell, Blogger have (as we suspected) been tinkering with the Followers service.

Quote from a post on 'The Real Blogger Status' dated Monday December 21st:

During the past weekend, Blogger started the process of simplifying Following. This involves removing non Google accounts and profiles from Following.

As part of this plan, starting the week of January 11, we’ll remove the ability for people with Twitter, Yahoo, Orkut or other OpenId providers to sign in to Google Friend Connect and follow blogs. At the same time, we’ll remove non-Google Account profiles so you may see a decrease in your blog follower count.

This is the link to the blog, explaining in more detail
http://blogging.nitecruzr.net/2015/12/blogger-followers-google-friend-connect.html

Hope this enlightens those of you who've been wondering!

Pixie Snippets 208/209

The Pixie Snippets challenge is running over two weeks this time around with a limit of three entries over the time - it is also something of a celebration with a selection of prizes on offer.  I raided my bits boxes and also had a rummage through some of my dies to come up with an idea for this my third card.  The background uses two snippets of background paper which I think are probably from the same collection and I cut some label shapes using two colours of card.  Having cut out the bicycle I thought it would be a great idea to fill the basket with flowers - again punched out from some of my tiniest scraps with pearly centres added.

Dies - labels Stampin' Up, bicycle by Memory Box
Punch - EK Success border punch and SU tiny flower punch
Leaves - die by sue Wilson
Sentiment - computer generated on SU punched shapes

Anything Goes - Stamping and Ribbon

The theme on the Stamping Sensations blog this month is a simple one, probably because December is always a busy month - they are asking for some stamping and for ribbon to be involved in some way.  There are all sorts of possibilities but I've gone for a straightforward stamped floral image and a ribbon bow on this card.  Background paper came from a freebie pad (with a magazine) and I've teamed it with some matching card from my stash.  The flower was stamped onto a piece of card and then the head was stamped again before colouring with pencils and cutting out to add a dimensional layer.  An embossed border and computer sentiment complete this card.

Background paper - from free pad (magazine gift)
Border - Darice long embossing folder
Image - Blooming with Beauty set Stampin' Up
Sentiment Tag - Die from Sizzix, and SU punches

Christmas Greetings

I would like to take this opportunity of wishing a very Happy Christmas and a Wonderful New Year to my friends and followers - thanks for visiting and commenting during the year.

 This card was made using a tree stamp which I was tempted to buy after attending a demonstration and mini workshop recently and although it is sold as a Christmas stamp I'm sure these quirky trees could be used at other times of the year in various colours and with other techniques. The background was coloured randomly using inks dotted onto a glass mat, spritzed with water, then a piece of white card was swooshed (technical term) around before stamping the image.  The 'baubles' were coloured with matching ink and dotted with glue and Glamour Dust for some sparkle.

Stamp - Woodware

Blue Birthday

I've been using up some snippets again to make this card which is going in for the two week challenge on Pixie Snippets Playground - I hear there are some great prizes on offer which could help when making Christmas cards for next year.  I was lucky enough to win a large lace background stamp at a recent extravaganza day (Stampin' Up) and came across the piece of card on which I'd tried it out using a blue ink pad so I used a label die to cut out a shape from it, followed by a smaller shape from a snippet of white card - always plenty of those lying around!  The birthday sentiment was die cut from another white scrap and inked with matching colour.Searching through my collection of background papers I found a piece to use which toned nicely and finally finished the card off with a spray of daisies which were die cut from more snippets.

Greeting - Signature die from Joanna Sheen
Lace background - stamp from Stampin' Up
Floral spray - Sue Wilson die
Label shapes - Sizzix dies Stampin' Up.

Snippets Playground

I'm getting well away from Christmas with today's card for the Pixie Snippets challenge using an image from Lily of the Valley along with various snippets.  The background paper is from a pad of papers which - as usual - has lost its cover so not sure of the source.  The image was die cut along with the embossed panel behind it.  A border was punched from a green snippet and the flowers and leaves were stamped, die cut and/or punched out.  The playground is running two weeks into one this time around with some prizes on offer so there may well be another entry on another day.

Dies - Deco labels and Top Note from Stampin' Up (Sizzix)
Leaves - Stamp and matching die Sheena Douglass
Border - EK Success punch
Flowers - Stampin' Up punch
Sentiment - Computer generated on Cuttlebug die shapes

Snow People

As promised, here is a picture of the little snow family which I made.  They are quite quick to make and there is no sewing involved which is good at this busy time of the year.  All that is required is a white sock, rice, rubber bands and some buttons - check them out on You Tube where there are several tutorials if you fancy a snow family of your own.

More Accordions

I've actually made two more accordion cards but this time I printed of some images rather than cutting quite so many layers for each section - mind you the corners took some time to die cut singly and then glue in place!  The two are very similar so only showing one of them.  I've also been busy making some snow people so watch this space.  I'm busy on the sewing machine today making yet another bag as a little 'extra' Christmas gift.

Dies used - Crafter's Companion for card and a Sue Wilson corner die
Images - from Papermania Christmas CD from a few years ago

Snippets Playground 207

Yesterday I spotted Sue Wilson demonstrating with lots of her new dies and she also showed a background technique using waxed paper and an embossing folder with glossy card - something I've not actually tried before but after seeing her results I decided to have a go.  I was pleased with the results so thought I'd use one of the pieces with various die cut snippets for my Pixie Snippets card this week.  I didn't want to cover up too much of the coloured area so I just added a frame and a computer generated sentiment onto die cuts.  I was very lucky recently to win a set of Sue Wilson dies from her blog so I cut out a few flowers and layered them up to put into a corner.

Background - glossy card/waxed paper background using Sue Wilson Sea Garden embossing folder
Sentiment - computer generated
Dies - Oval from Austrian collection, Ornate Square Spellbinders
Lacy Pink layer - two corner dies by Sue Wilson glued behind oval
Flower - Sue Wilson Orange Blossom open flowers

Accordion Card

On Monday I spotted some dies for making accordion cards at a bargain price and it seemed an opportunity too good to pass up.  I came home with ideas of making some form of Christmas decoration using the die to make two accordions; one of five 'pages' with the word HAPPY and the other of nine sections forming the word CHRISTMAS aiming to make three sets - who was I kidding??    What I'd not realised was the time it seems to take to die cut and assemble all the elements so for the time being I've just made the one with four sections using letters to spell out NOEL. I also found the sections a bit difficult to manoeuvre and hold onto while the glue was drying on the connecting tabs  I know this is the first one I've ever made in this style and subsequent ones should become quicker and easier - they may turn out to be something to make during the year ready for  Christmas 2016!!  I might look for some suitable images to use and just make them with four sections (or even just two)  for this year and forget about being too ambitious in spelling out the words.

Dies - Die-sire square accordion card die set Crafter's Companion,
Holly and alphabet  - Tim Holtz dies

White Christmas

White Christmas is the theme for the Make My Monday challenge this week and hopefully this card will qualify even though it also has some blue on it.  The lattice design was die cut using the double sided sticky produced for intricate dies and it certainly helped to adhere it to the background.  The snowy scene was cut using a freebie die and in the main I've used bits and pieces from my scraps to put this card together.  Some glitter was added to the die cut ivy and in the sky on the winter scene.

Lattice - die by Crafter's Companion
Scene - free die from recent magazine
Ivy - Sheena Douglass die which has a matching stamp (not used on this occasion)
Sentiment - free download on punched shape (Stampin' Up)

Anniversary

This is just a quick post before I pop out to meet three crafty friends for some crafty chat, shopping and lunch - a good way to spend time I'd say.  I made this anniversary card for my box using a selection of Sue Wilson dies which are so handy for making such a variety of cards.

Snippets Week 206

The lovely Di has posted such a cute card on the Pixie Snippets blog this week - an adorable hedgehog in an oversized Santa hat and there are also some lovely picks from last week's entries.  one lucky winner will get the stamp too which has to be good. My offering this week is a card using an idea spotted in a recent magazine and I think if I used the technique again I would do it differently.  The background was achieved by using a border die to cut away the corners of a square, keeping the outer corner pieces, then cutting the border again from contrast card so that it could be inserted into the 'gaps' left.  The slight problem I found was that because the border strips seemed to have stretched slightly by being cut and embossed it wasn't too easy to set the pieces back to form a neat square again.  I liked the idea of having a partial border on the corners but would just cut them, lay them onto a whole background piece and trim away the surplus if I did this style another time.  I used some snippets of card to cut circles, stamping some flowers onto the white one and adding stamped and punched butterflies.  More snippets for the greeting and a few gems and that's my entry for this week.

Background paper - printed from Crafter's Companion CD (Downton collection)
Border Die - Signature die from Joanna Sheen
Floral Stamp - Stampin' Up
Butterflies - stamps and punches from Stampin' Up
Sentiment - computer generated on faux washi tape tag made using fancy scissors

One Layer for Christmas

I decided I'd have a play with some stamps to make a single layer Christmas card although I must admit to actually stamping onto a square piece of card which I attached to the card front once it was completed.  I'm sometimes not the cleanest of stampers and it is so annoying to be working on a whole card and find that there is a little smudge or maybe the greeting has somehow a bit askew - happens to everyone I imagine!!  I've done these scenes previously in monochrome but thought I'd go for a mix of colours this time for a change.

Wreath and Greeting - free stamps with Creative Stamping Magazine for December
Snowman, trees etc - stamps from Cardio

Out and About

I've not had much time for blogging this week because I've been out and about with my Son and his Wife who are on holiday.  Nothing madly exciting but we visited a large garden centre which has a huge display of Christmas related 'stuff' - amazing just how much there is around.  They also have a good restaurant so of course lunch was enjoyed and today we popped into a local gallery (with excellent coffee shop) to see a Christmas craft/art exhibition.  However I do have a card to share with you which was made using a free die which came with the Inspirations magazine from Crafter's Companion.  The papers and sentiment panel were printed from the CD with the same magazine.  I raided the oddments boxes to die cut a leafy spray and punched a few flowers from the left over paper.

Papers and Sentiment Panel - Downton Abbey range Crafter's Companion
Die - Edge die from Crafter's Companion cut within the panel rather than on the edge
Leaf Sprey - Sue Wilson die
Flowers - punch from Stampin' Up

Snippets Challenge

I've not used my usual number of snippets for this card but nonetheless they are still snippets and this type of card doesn't need to be too elaborate in my opinion.  The background has been embossed with a deco style design, the label on which the flowers are stamped is also a deco style and the green decorative elements also come from a die with a deco name.  All this is actually coincidental and I didn't realise it until I came to jot down the items used.  There is a great card and also some super pics from last week on the Snippets blog page so well worth taking a look.

Embossing - Creative Expressions Art Deco folder
Stamps - Wild about Flowers Stampin' Up
Dies - Deco labels SU and Deco Lattice by Sue Wilson (used twice behind the main label
Sentiment - Computer generated, SU punch and faux washi label cut with  fancy scissors

Flutterby

I have yet another butterfly card to share today using a variety of die cut butterflies with some pretty background paper printed from a free CD which came with Crafter's Companion Inspirations magazine.  It was printed onto some champagne pearlescent paper which has a lovely shimmer when seen for real although it doesn't really show up on the screen.  The winter seems to have arrived all of a sudden and today is wet and grey as well as being chilly although we've had two nice sunny days at the beginning of the week.

Background Paper - Crafter's Companion free CD
Butterflies - Crafter's Companion dies
Sentiment - Britannia Dies
Oval - Pierced ovals by Spellbinders

Retro Flower

I thought this flower stamp had a retro look about it and I've made a couple of cards by stamping it onto patterned papers, cutting out and assembling into 'paper piecing' designs.  That being the case this card is just the thing for Pixie Snippets challenge because apart from the background paper everything else has been made from snippets.

Background paper is from the remnants of a 6" pad - always a useful size because it doesn't leave much in the way of scraps apart from two narrow slivers which I actually didn't keep!  I die cut a label shape and stamped with wood grain pattern before adding the cut out 'plant' in its pot. Other scraps of card were used for the embossed panel, lacy border and the sentiment plaque.  The flower and leaves were stamped onto scraps of patterned paper and cut out with scissors.

Stamp - flower stamp set from Woodware, wood grain background Stampin' Up large stamp
Embossing - dots folder by Sizzix
Border - Lace design by Signature dies Joanna Sheen
Sentiment - computer generated on die cut shape Crealies die
Flower Pot - Signature die Joanna Sheen

I Did Say I was in Butterfly Mode!

For some reason I seem to have made quite a few cards incorporating butterflies just recently and here is another one of the selection.  This time the butterfly was die cut from a square of card leaving an aperture which was backed by some pretty paper.  The square was then embossed and sponged with ink before assembling the card placing the die cut butterfly partially over the matching aperture. I thought a simple sentiment and some gems were enough to complete this one. After the mild weather recently the temperature seems to have dropped considerably but at least it is sunny (and breezy).

Butterfly die - Crafter's Companion
Butterfly embossing folder - Crafter's Companion
Background paper - also Crafter's Companion.

Butterfly Challenge

I've made a card for the Butterfly Challenge where this time the theme is Butterflies + Quadruple.  A fairly straightforward card where I die cut some squares using good old faithful Spellbinder dies, then added the butterflies using a set of polymer stamps which make over-stamping so much easier than using rubber stamps with a stamp positioning device.  The four images meet the brief and of course they are definitely butterflies fluttering over some greenery.

Stamps - Butterfly by Altenew Stamps, greenery from Stampin' Up floral set
Dies - Spellbinder squares and Cuttlebug scallop circles
Colours - So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie, Certainly Celery Stampin' Up, Versafine Cocoa

Butterflies

Looking at my most recent makes I seem to be in butterfly mode and this is one of the cards to share with you today.  I started with some patterned paper, then a square of deep cream card from which I cut out a patterned corner to show the darker colour through.  From the rest of the cream card I cut another of the shapes entirely and a couple of circles which were stamped with some text and the sentiment.  The die cut was adhered to the upper corner of the square and I found a printed border strip in one of my bits boxes which fortunately matched the background nicely.  A plain butterfly was die cut in purple card and a lacy one was cut from a left over piece of the backing paper before layering everything together for the finished card.

Dies - Configurations by Sue Wilson, butterfly from Crafter's Companion
Stamp - French script text stamp from Stampin' Up
Patterned paper - Artylicious now Chocolate Baroque

Second Snippets Card

This second card for the Pixie Snippets challenge  is built around the die cut shape which I had left over after making yesterday's one (I'm not mad ... honestly).  I embossed it and applied some amethyst gilding wax to highlight the pattern then set about finding other bits and pieces to build a card - plenty either lying around or in my various bits boxes!!  I found a suitable piece of background paper and some deep cream Centura pearl card, cut them to size and then used a Tonic strip die to cut out two panels from the cream card (making two more left over bits of course).  A decorative label shape was cut to match the embossed and gilded one and everything was layered up before die cutting a hellebore flower sprig, a few small butterflies and a tag for the sentiment.

Dies - Tonic strip die and Spellbinder label and decorative label
Flower - Signature die (Joanna Sheen) Hellebore
Butterflies - Sizzix Embosslits die Stampin' Up

Another Christmas Card

My card for the Pixie Snippets challenge this week is another Christmas card, this time incorporating some stamping.  I started by finding a square snippet of Centura pearl card from which I cut an aperture thus forming a frame for my scene.  Of course this leaves me with a die cut label shape to add to my pile of  useful scraps!!  I then roughly marked out the aperture shape onto a snippet of plain white card, sponged in some sky and produced the little winter scene using some free stamps which came with the latest Creative Stamping magazine (lots of very usable stamps in this set).  I embossed the outer frame with a stone wall embossing folder before mounting it over the little scene using foam pads.  The other snippets used were some holly sprigs which were snipped with scissors from the remains of a printed sheet used recently (Nordic Christmas) and a poinsettia stamped a couple of times, cut out and layered. The greeting was stamped then layered onto a faux washi tape style of backing made by trimming the ends of a small snippet of green card with fancy-cut scissors.

Edited:  I received a lovely comment from Sally H (thanks) who mentioned this card would fit the current challenge at Stamping Sensations so I'm popping it onto their blog as well

Stamped Scene and Greeting - free stamps from Creative Stamping magazine
Stamped Poinsettia - Stampin' Up Reason for the Season set
Holly sprigs - printed from Crafter's Companion CD Nordic Christmas section
Embossing Folder - Crafter's Companion Textures range

Patience Required??

Patience - I would say so!!  I cut this die three times, once in white pearl, once in charcoal pearl and once in blue and then set about piecing them together, setting the various pieces back into the main outlines to form a complete picture.  What started out as a good idea turned out to be somewhat time consuming, especially when it came to the tiny window shapes and the spaces in the fence. In fact I did draw the line at trying to retrieve the snowflakes in the sky area - these were filled in with some glittery Stickles.  The window areas were all filled in using the white bits from the die and were then coloured with alcohol pen.  I reckon I will be coming up with a quicker idea if I use this die again, just using the houses and trees.  Never mind it is another Christmas card made but I don't suppose the recipient will realise how long it took to make.

Who Doesn't Love Owls??

I came across this stamped and coloured owl image during one of my many tidying up sessions and thought he just deserved to be popped onto a card rather than languishing in the bits boxes.  I used various scraps to die cut some shapes and a border, then found a piece of backing paper left from another project; a piece of ribbon and that's another card for the box.

Image - owl stamp which I think was a freebie a long time ago
Label shapes - Sizzix  Thinlets dies for Stampin' Up
Border - EK Success punch
Sentiment - computer generated, Stampin' Up punches

Nordic Christmas

Having said I didn't need to make any Christmas cards this year I've just made two using images and papers printed out from Crafters Companion CD which came along with their latest Inspirations magazine.  The two images were printed and then cut out with scissors before popping a background which I thought looked a bit like snow falling in the sky behind the houses .  The Nordic style backing papers were also printed and I simply added a die cut snowflake and a sentiment, keeping the whole thing fairly flat for posting.   I'm not sure which one I prefer so I'm sharing both with you. There are lots of other great ideas which came  with the magazine along with a stamp set and a die which I will be using very soon.

Images and papers - Crafters Companion
Snowflake - X-cut die
Sentiment - from computer on die cut labels (free dies from a while ago)

Snippets Time

Well Sunday has come around so quickly again - seems to be faster every week!!  My card for the Pixie Snippets challenge this week is one with some stamping and colouring.  I came across this stamp while looking for something else and realised that it was a favourite which hadn't seen the light of day for a while.  I've combined it with some borders cut and layered using snippets of different coloured card .  As the die was too long for a square card but a bit short for the 5" x 7" I used another die to cut out a half doily shape to hide the 'gap'on the left.  More smaller snippets for the sentiment and that's it for this weeks offering.

Stamp - by Little Claire
Lacy Borders - die from Crafter's Companion Downton range
Doily shape - Tim Holtz On the Edge Distressed Doily
Sentiment - computer generated on Cuttlebug die shapes

Noel

Something else seasonal to show today - this time a little  beaded Christmas plaque using a combination of  Peyote and Brick stitch.  The current issue of the Beadworker's Guild Magazine published designs for twelve of these little ornaments, each about 3.5 cm across and this is the one I've chosen to complete first.  I'm not sure how many I will be able to complete before the day this year - doubtful if it be all twelve!!  I hope the weather is better where you are - here it is very wet and windy but at least it is a great excuse to stay in and craft.

...in a Pear Tree

I've been doing my best to avoid visiting the newsagent and also decided I definitely didn't need to buy any new Christmas related 'stuff' as I have loads from previous years and don't  need to make a lot of Christmas cards. You can guess what's coming next - yes, this is a new die on the card I've just made but technically I didn't actually buy it as it was a freebie attached to a magazine; not from the newsagent but I was caught unaware in Tesco where they display magazines right where I go to pick up supplies of fresh fruit.  I really liked this Partridge in a Pear Tree die and I'm afraid I succumbed in a weak moment - well it was a very grey day and I needed cheering up so that's my excuse if I need one!!  The background paper is from a pad of seasonal papers which I must have had for several years, the white panel used a snowflake embossing folder, also a few years old.  The die shape was cut out from a scrap of Centura Pearl card and mounted onto some die cut circles cut from other scraps.  The sentiment was stamped using wording from a set of stamps received at a recent Christmas Extravaganza day which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Dies - freebie Partridge die and Spellbinder circles
Embossing - snowflake folder from Cuttlebug
Sentiment - from Stampin' Up Reason for the Season set

A 'Buckle' Style Card

I made this somewhat elaborate card some time ago as a demonstration sample following Sue Wilson's idea of using various die cuts  interlocked with each other and threading a strip of card through rather like a belt goes through a buckle.  I seem to remember it was a bit difficult to get everything lined up and glued in the right place but I think the result justifies the hassle involved (I'm sure an extra hand would have been useful at the time). Gilding flakes were used on the three Striplets pieces in the background and because these are quite long dies the card is larger than I make as a rule.

Background - Deco embossing folder Creative Expressions
Panels - Striplets dies by Sue Wilson
Circles - various Spellbinder circle dies

Pixie Snippets Week 201

My card for this week's challenge on Pixie Snippets is this one with several die cuts - a great way of using up the snippets of card which accumulate.  Of course another great thing to do with the smaller snippets is to make flowers.  Details of items used are given below.  The stamp set for the flowers also has a matching die set from Sue Wilson but for the time being I've contented myself with cutting them out with scissors. The background was one of my larger snippets which was embossed and sponged with ink to accentuate the design.  Flowers were stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with white embossing powder.

Background - Climbing Vine embossing folder Creative Expressions
Dies - Caribbean Island Collection Sue Wilson
Flowers - Shaded Peony Creative Expressions

"Fetch!" the Dog

Yesterday I raided my fabric stash to find something suitable (and pretty) to make this cute fabric dog which is a design from Debbie Shore's latest CD  where she has concentrated on storage solutions of various kinds.  This dog which she named "Fetch!" will be sitting on my sewing machine cabinet where the 'saddle' on his back will hold various items in the pockets so that they are to hand as I need them.  There are other interesting items which I'm sure I will get around to making in due course - a decorative way of using up my fabric 'mountain'!  I have to confess to saving fabric scraps in the same way as I do with paper and card - nothing larger than postage stamp size gets thrown out - what am I like??

Where Did That Week Go??

It's been a week since I managed a post and I'm not quite sure where the time went although we did have a couple of days with good weather so of course I took advantage and went out and about..  This week is the 200th challenge on Pixie Snippets so much celebration and three super prizes on offer.  My card for this week is a sympathy one which sadly we all need from time to time.  I used up various snippets from my stash with a stamps and a punch from Stampin' Up. The leaves were stamped onto a piece of Centura Pearl card which was then embossed.  The flower was stamped, coloured with pencils and cut out before popping it onto the tag.

Stamps - Bloom with Hope Stampin' Up
Embossing - Folder by Crafter's Companion
Tag and Sentiment - Stampin' Up punches

Pixie Snippets Week 199

For my Pixie Snippets card this week I've used up some pieces of yellow and white card which were left on my desk from another project and would you believe there are still some small pieces which could go into my bits boxes where I'm sure they will breed. I really should try to cure myself of the compulsion to save anything which is larger than a postage stamp size!!

I found a background paper in one of my boxes and as it was a bit bright I toned it down with the same colour of ink as I used to stamp the flowers before punching them out.  I used the yellow card and the white Centura Pearl to die cut some shapes including one frame which was done with the letterpress technique to print using a die. The sentiment is computer generated and some matching pearls were added to the flower centres.  Details of dies and colours used are below as usual.

Dies - Greek Island Collection for the frame and layers with a Lattice Arched Adornment and      
           Dandelion Clocks - all by Sue Wilson
Flowers - Stampin' Up Flower Shop and Petite Petals with matching punches
Sentiment - computer generated, SU oval punches
Colours - White Centura Pearl, SU So Saffron stamped with More Mustard ink

Die Cuts

I often have times when I cut out quite a few die cuts and generally shuffle them around to see what different ways they can be used.  For this card I found I had just the white elements and also the blue square with embossed edge was loitering on my desk so I set about finding other things which would enable me to turn them into a card.  The background paper was sponged around the edges and overstamped in the same ink so that it toned with the square.  The centre image was a freebie stamp amongst a set given away with a magazine.  It was stamped twice and the butterfly cut out and layered up for dimension. The white lacy area behind the circle is actually made up of four separate dies - luckily I found just four little blue crystal flowers to cover the corners where they meet (not absolutely necessary). I was aware of the join and didn't like to see it although I suspect that a non crafter probably wouldn't notice it.  The matching corners were placed behind the square as a finishing touch.  I've made a couple of other cards today using up some die cuts so watch this space.

White die cuts - Sue Wilson Configuration dies
Butterfly Circle - freebie stamp
Square - Die cut with Sue Wilson New York die
Shape behind circle - Nellie Snellen die

Tweedy Bird

The sorting out continues (slowly) and today's card has used an image which I think came free with a magazine from Crafter's Companion.  The image originated as a fabric collage embroidery from the clever textile artist Abigail Mill and CC have produced CDs featuring her work.  I think the background paper also came with the magazine - why do I never keep all these items together??  I've added a die cut border and some pearls.  The tweed tag was in the set and I added a computer sentiment and a little punched flower.

Flower Patch

I often spend time trawling around on Pinterest to see how other folks have used stamp sets or dies which I have and this card was inspired by one of these sessions and gave me an opportunity to do some stamping.  I've moved away from my usual square format here and used a 5" x 7" card to make best use of the large background stamp.  The image was trimmed along the top with a border punch to make it look like the top of a fence.

Stamps used - Flower Patch and wood effect large stamp from Stampin' Up.
Fiskars border punch
Dies - thinlits set to match flower stamps SU.

Pixie Snippets Week 199

For my Snippets card this week I've used some of the bits and pieces I came across during my not too enthusiastic tidying - still lots to sort out!!  I found some embossed aperture cards which came in an offer from Craftwork Cards ages ago and which had remained unused probably because I'd not decided what to do with them. To be honest I'd completely forgotten I had them!! I  die cut the front of one of the cards to make a frame which I then layered onto a snippet of left over background paper.  The rest of the elements were made from the back of the aperture card so that the whites matched up (something which can sometimes be a problem when using up bits).  The little scene was stamped onto a scrap and popped behind the aperture and then I die cut some ivy leaves for a bit of interest before adding a computer sentiment on a scrap of red card.

Embossed frame - cut from Craftwork Cards embossed aperture card
Stamps - World of Dreams Stampin' Up
Ivy Leaves - Sue Wilson dies
Sentiment - Stampin' Up oval punches

Christmas Crackers

I do get some strange requests from time to time and this week it was from a friend in the patchwork group who had purchased a couple of fabric crackers thinking they would be a good thing to make. She was unable to see immediately how they had actually been made and asked me if I could work out the method.  They are lined tubes of fabric into which you can slide a cardboard tube to hold a small gift and the ends were tied with ribbon.  She had partially unpicked one of them and I thought I could see how they were done but needed to have a try with fabric to be sure it worked out as I thought.  I've made a couple today and they turn out to be quick and easy - also  they could be adapted to other sizes depending on what size cardboard tubes you can find. If they were made in non seasonal fabrics they would be handy for parties or maybe wedding favours - endless possibilities - and they could be decorated in different ways with added embellishments!  For these ones I used the inner from a kitchen paper roll and cut it in half; measured the length and circumference to determine the size of fabric to cut; adding on sufficient for the seams and 'frilly' ends which were tied with some matching ribbon.  All that is needed now is to compose some understandable instructions and write them up - usually far more difficult than the sewing in my experience!!

Feeling Sentimental

No, not me - this is the name of the stamp set I used for this card and I really can't imagine how it came to be named but I do know that this particular stamp has never been used until this week.  I must have loads of such stamps which have not been inked so I'm trying at the moment to make better use of things which I have rather than being tempted to buy any more 'stuff'.  The image was stamped onto some cream card and cut out with a label die before cutting it into four pieces to reassemble onto a larger matching label in a darker colour. The background was embossed with a wall type folder and sponged with some brown ink to bring out the texture.  The narrow panel was a dictionary stamp with the addition of a couple of tickets.  A banner and corner cut from oddments completes the card.

Background - Embossalicious folder
Printed panel - Dictionary stamp from Stampin' Up
Main Image - Big wheel stamp from Feeling Sentimental set Stampin' Up
Tickets - Creative Expressions stamp
Sentiment - Tim Holtz stamp

Ghosting Technique

I came across this technique when trawling around Pinterest (as you do) and thought I'd have a go.  The kraft card panel was stamped with the flowers using a white craft ink and once it was dry I stamped again using dye ink slightly offset which was easy to do using a set of clear polymer stamps. Background paper is from Stampin' Up and the sentiment was computer generated.  Some little pearly embellishments were popped on for the flower centres.

Stamps - Flower Patch polymer set Stampin' Up
Background paper -  also SU from a previous catalogue
Sentiment - Stampin' Up punches and Sue Wilson die cut
Colours used - white and rich razzleberry SU

Cats (and some birds)

The challenge theme this week on Make My Monday is cats, large or small and there are some great ideas from the design team, including of course some Halloween ones!  My cats are of the small variety and they are watching birds in a tree.  The background was embossed and sponged with Distress inks before adding the little die cut birds and cats.  Sentiment is a free stamp which came on a magazine (again) and is popped onto some die cut shapes.  The background piece of card was lurking in my bits box from a demonstration day so I decided to assemble it with the other items for this challenge - another 'bit' used up!!  As the weather has turned nasty after the lovely days we've been having I went into the craft room with good intentions to have a sort out but again became distracted when I came across this embossed piece - there are other items to use up too of course so the tidying could take a while at this rate.

Birds - Memory Box dies
Cats - Impression Obsession dies
Background - unknown folder (on loan for a demonstration)
Sentiment - free magazine stamp on various Sue Wilson die cut shapes

Flowers for Pixie Snippets

Before I put away the stamps I used recently I decided to make another card for the Pixie Snippets challenge this week.  The background was embossed and the flowers stamped onto snippets of white card which in turn have been mounted onto some pale plum pieces from my bits boxes. I'm very fond of these colours but as I've had these bits for ages they may well have been discontinued - shame but they may well have been replaced by something similar.  The squares were first die cut and then the corners rounded off with a punch.  The butterfly has been die cut from another snippet as were the scalloped shapes for the computer generated wording.  As always there is a lovely prize on offer this week so well worth taking a look.

Stamps - Summer Silhouette Stampin' Up
Butterfly - Spellbinders die
Colours - Perfect Plum and Pale Plum (possibly discontinued)

Easily Distracted!

Yes, that's me!!  I went into the craft room with every intention of having a bit of a sort out but spotted on my desk a rough sketch I'd made inspired by a card made a while ago by my friend Jill - see her version HERE.  I was of course tempted at the time to get my hands on the products which she had used but have (for the moment anyway) resisted although I'm not sure how long I will hold out.  At least I have used items from Stampin' Up in the main and details are below as usual.  The flowers and leaves were stamped onto some white card which was then embossed with a honeycomb folder.  The butterflies were a mixture of stamped/punched ones with one die cut.  Sentiment was computer generated.  Thanks for the inspiration Jill.

Floral Stamps - Summer Silhouettes from Stampin' Up
Butterflies - Papillon Potpourri with matching punch from Stampin@ Up
Die Cut Butterfly - Spellbinders
Embossing - Folder by Embossilicious
Colours - Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron and Wild Wasabi

Nature Theme

The theme this week on the Make My Monday challenge blog is nature so I'm putting up this card on which I've used a delicate floral image with butterfly from a Jane Netley Mayhew CD; using the background paper to match.  The frame was made from a die by Sue Wilson which has a deboss feature and I've used the 'letterpress' technique in a toning pink.  A couple of pretty flowers, a border and greeting complete this card.

Image - Jane Netley Mayhew CD from Joanna Sheen
Frame - Sue Wilson die
Greeting - computer generated
Border - Sue Wilson die
Dandelion Flowers - Sue Wilson die

More Beaded Baubles

As promised here is the picture of the rest of the beaded baubles I made.  Some of the ladies in our craft group spotted my demonstrations and have said they'd like to have a go so I guess I won't be putting the baubles or beads away for a few weeks.  I will start them off on a simple netted cover to get them going (they are beginners when it comes to  beading) and then they can of course go to town on the dangles when they get to the end - anything goes really depending on what pretty beads are available.  The designs shown in this photo are rather more elaborate and definitely not for the beginner to tackle.

Dangles

I have a picture today to share of some of the 'dangles' made in addition to the decorated baubles - definitely need a tree this year.  The weather is quite pleasant at the moment but there is definitely an autumnal chill creeping in.