Butterfly Box Card

This 'card in a box' which surprisingly folds flat for posting was another of the samples I made for my recent demonstration days.  Apart from the piece of card for the main body of the card, everything else is cut using pieces from my bits boxes.  The panels on all the flaps were embossed and sponged with ink to show up the pattern and I've added stamped flowers (punched) and die cut butterflies.

Embossed panels - Couture Creations embossing folder
Butterflies - Spellbinder dies
Leaves and small flowers - Sue Wilson Faux quilled Blooms die set
Stamped Flowers - Stampin' Up stamp set with matching punch
Greeting - computer generated on Sue Wilson California set dies

Recycled Gift Bag

When I was making samples for  recent demonstrations of die cutting and embossing I had an idea for a gift bag and managed to incorporate a recycled bag which I received with some shopping a while ago (never throw anything out is my motto!!)  I embossed a panel large enough to cover the store logo and then decorated it using a selection of the Sue Wilson seasonal dies which were being promoted in the shop - they sold out!!  I see the corners of the bag are a bit creased by handling but I'm sure I can get the iron out to flatten it.  I've taken pictures of some of the other items I made and they might appear here in due course.

Background - Hessian pattern embossing folder
Flowers - Sue Wilson Mosaic poinsettia dies and matching plain dies
Twigs and greenery - Sue Wilson Pine Bough set of dies
Greeting - Freebie Christmas stamp on die cut tag shape

Autumnal Colours

The challenge for this week at Make My Monday is to use autumnal colours which as they say is 'easy-peasy'.  I've been out in the garden tidying up some of the overgrown shrubs - at least until my green garden waste bin was stuffed full, then I came indoors for a rest!  While I was dabbling quietly with Craft Artist by way of relaxation I thought I would see if I could come up with something suitable.  I've made this fun anniversary card using a selection of items from various digikits.

Pixie Snippets Week 143

My card for the Pixie Snippets challenge this week is another one using snippets of quilling paper - this time formed into a simple Christmas tree.  The rest of the card is put together using oddments from my bits and pieces boxes so plenty of 'snippets' this week.  I quite enjoyed my return to quilling but wouldn't like to do it exclusively because I much prefer to experiment and 'dabble', trying many different techniques and styles.  Variety is the spice of life they say!!

Tree - various quilling shapes
Background - an odd piece of seasonal paper
Circles - Spellbinder dies
Label shape - Deco labels Sizzix die (Stampin' Up)
Sentiment - stamped onto a scrap of card using Stampin' Up stamp

Pearl Effect

I've spotted a faux mother of pearl technique on a couple of blogs recently so of course I just had to try it after popping into my local craft shop for some pearlescent medium.  This was used as a resist by dabbing it onto white card and then sponging with two colours of distress ink.  I then cut it to size and put it into an embossing folder before using the resulting piece as a background for some swirls and flowers.  A small sentiment was added so that most of the pretty background was showing.  I can see lots of possibilities for this technique and will certainly be doing more of it.  I'm not sure the pearlescent effect comes over particularly well in a photograph but it is very pretty in real life as it catches the light.

 Background - made using Pearlescent medium and Distress inks
Flowers - Heartfelt Creations Sunkissed Fleur stamp, coloured with alcohol markers
Flowers - cut out with matching Spellbinders die
Flower Centres - sparkles from Hobby House
Swirls - Sue Wilson Grand Vinery dies
Sentiment - computer generated on Cuttlebug die cuts.

Floral Card

Today's card is well away from the Christmas theme and shows a flower which I think looks like a blue poppy (Icelandic??) - a stamp from a the Stampin' Up set Bloom with Hope coloured using Distress markers.  This is layered 3D style onto a shape from the Apothecary Accents thinlets die set in the centre of a 'create a card' die cut from Die-sire. This in turn has been layered onto an embossed piece of blue card. The sentiment is computer generated and cut out using Stampin' Up punches.

Challenge Time Again

I can hardly believe it is time for a new challenge on Pixie Snippets blog - yet another week has whizzed by while I wasn't looking!!  My snippets this week are a slight departure from my usual work because they are quilling strips.  This came about because a member of our craft group expressed an interest in quilling and while I am no expert, I do know the basics so agreed to show her how to get started.  We are a small group where it is all about sharing our knowledge and expertise - a great way of introducing people to different crafts. I feel that quilling is something which can develop with practice once the basics are learnt and then it is a case of using the various shapes to build up a wide variety of designs.

As we are rapidly approaching the festive Season I thought I'd make up a little robin for her to try and here he is incorporated into my card for Snippets this week.  The  background paper is from Craftwork Cards but all the other pieces are from my snippets boxes.

Background - Craftwork Cards paper pad
Circles - Spellbinder dies
Square layer - scrap of card embossed with Tim Holtz music embossing folder
Greeting - stamp from Stampin' Up on X-cut die cut tag
Robin and Holly - quilled with 3mm papers