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