Happy Anniversary

Summertime is such a popular time to get married which is why I seem to have been inundated with requests for anniversary cards lately.

This first card is a very simple decoupage by Craft Creations, found very cheaply (no pun intended) in my local craft shop in Sunderland. The flowers and birds were so easy to cut and it was finished off by matting the image on red card and adding a computer printed greeting.


In this second card I totally left my comfort zone by using coloured card for the base card - usually everything I do is on cream or white card. The image is from the Lovebirds collection from the Digi Stamp Boutique and is coloured with pro markers which perfectly match the Papermania patterned paper. Couldn't resist the ribbon even though it is a bit naff.

Finally, the one I'm most chuffed with is this Golden anniversary card for a friend's parents. I used a mixture of Bazzill and Bazzill Bling white textured card. The embossing is done with a Cuttlebug embossing folder and the heart dies are also Cuttlebug The flower is from Dainty Supplies in Washington who do loads of lush wedding accessories and I finished it off with a pearl headed pin. I was inspired to make this card by one of my favourite bloggers, Michelle at The Card Grotto, whose cards are simply gorgeous.

Some for the Boys

Lordy, I didn't realise I have been away for so long - I guess life and work just took over a bit! I've still been making plenty of cards though!

Here's a couple of special requests I've had recently, both of which were for 40th birthdays. The club badges were found pretty easily on the interwebby. I printed several copies of each badge on to heavy paper rather than card (easier to cut out) and just decoupaged the image to make the badge stand out. The Liverpool card is the most successful as the badge is long rather than square and I feel the card is more balanced because of this.



The Manchester United badge is more of a square shape and I couldn't make it it any longer or it wouldn't have fit widthways. Still it was very easy to decoupage. Both recipients have apparently framed their cards and it does give me a little tingle to think of my 'artwork' being on someone's wall.

Christenings..

It must be the season for people to get their babies christened because I've had requests for quite a few lately... and all girls!

The first one was very simply made with a peel off crucifix which I triple mounted on white and pink card. The personalised greeting makes it extra special for the recipient and I finished it off with a pale pink ribbon down the right hand side.

Another crucifix but this time it was hand cut from white card, mounted on pink and silver paper then decorated with pink ribbon and gems. I added further spangly stars and mounted the greeting in the same way as the cross.


This one is my fave. I cut the 'dress' from white card (I drew the outline myself - hence the very basic style) and decorated it with a piece of old net curtain. some pink ribbon and some tiny pink pearl things which I got as part of a nail decorating kit! It looks so delicate but in reality was just made from scraps.

These are the cards I like making best - made from leftovers and scraps and costing very little. Cards don't have to have expensive embellishments on them to make them look good and if I ever do see an embellisment in a shop that I really like I examine it closely to see how it was made and try to copy it myself at home.

I Like Driving in my Car!

I love driving and I can't imagine being without my car! I had a trip out today to the new Range superstore that has recently opened in Stockton. I was impressed at the craft supplies they had there - quite a large selection, everything from Dandelion and Daisy stuff to punches and beads.

I treated myself to a new large daisy punch, some Papermania It's A Man's World decoupage sheets for Father's Day and some gorgeous embossed 8x8 card blanks to make some BIG cards!


I haven't actually made many cards lately. Like a lot of crafters I get just as much enjoyment out of buying stuff rather than sitting down and making stuff! Here's a card I recently made for someone who has just passed their driving test. The patterned paper is actually a map of the north east that I printed from the PC and the tiny road signs were also lifted from the internet and scaled down to size.

Another day.... Another Mother's Day Card (or 3)

The last lot of Mother's Day cards were finished last night to take into work this morning - I'm off tomorrow yay!!

When I'm tired I always fall back on simple lay-outs like this one. The pink flower is decoupaged usung some sheets I got from my local craft store in Sunderland for just 10p each. I am really loving decoupage at the moment.


More decoupage here but not as traditional! I have used loads of these La Pashe images from the 'Flippin' range and this one is just ideal for Mother's Day. The patterned paper on the front made me think of bathroom wallpaper anyway so it fitted perfectly.


My final effort with the Complete Cardmaking CD image, this time in delicate lilac shades. It really is a pleasure to colour and cut out.

I've had rather a strange request for a card that has got me thinking hard - someone wants a card for a 60 year old Cliff Richard fan - where on earth do I go with that theme??? Hopefully I'll have a dream about it and wake up tomorrow totally inspired!

More For Mother's Day...

I've become really attached to this image from the Complete Cardmaking CD - it is just so lovely and dead easy to colour


I've done this version in blue and lemon and decoupaged the butterflies as well as the flowers. It looked a bit bare until I added the peeloff borders which I normally avoid like the plague. I'm still not 100% sure about it but I'm a bit like a production line at the moment so it will have to do!!


I love this decoupaged flower - it was pre-cut so took just minutes to put together. The patterned paper came free with Creative Cardmaking some time ago. I always keep the freebie papers that come with magazines - you just don't know when you'll need them.

Flowers for Mum

Two weeks to Mother's Day and I'm up to my eyes with orders for cards. This is a quick card I made for this week's Allsorts Challenge using an image from the free CD that came with this month's Complete Cardmaking. I've coloured it with promarkers and done a bit of decoupage on the flowers. The patterned paper is from a collection by Nancy Watt that was also a freebie with a magazine. I usually use 'mam' rather than 'mum' cos that's what we say up here!

Just For Men

Whilst browsing the Sunday card challenges on a fab blog called The Daily Dare I came across a fortnightly challenge which actually started last Sunday on Rosie-D's Challenge Blog. Needing a card for a 50 year old Newcastle United football fan, as a lifelong Sunderland supporter I asked for forgiveness and came up with the following effort:



I had a template for a man's shirt which I just adapted by adding the black stripes and for the name and numbers, I coloured some peel-offs with a black permanent marker. I used the colours of Newcastle's away strip for the layering. The footballs are also peel-offs.

Cute As A Button...

Another baby, another card! It must be the season for having babies - everyone is at it! I got this cute image from the Digi Boutique which is my current fave online shop. It's coloured in with promarkers and finished off with aqua ribbon. The patterned paper is a freebie from a magazine. The photo has a bit of a pink glow caused by the sunrise this morning!



I am spending this evening sorting out my 12x12 papers into some very useful flat boxes that were being thrown out at work. I'm a total skip rat! I walk round constantly thinking to myself "what could I use that for??" but I think this is a habit most crafters have.

Challenge - Dare U 2 Digi Stamp

This chanllenge is from yesterday but I wanted to make something bright to cheer myself up - I am so sick of the snow which has returned overnight. I got these gorgeous papers free with this month's Simply Cards and Papercraft and the digi image is from the Digi Boutique.

White on White - Charisma Cardz Thursday Challenge

This challenge got me dead excited - I just love the look of cards using all one colour and the possibilities with white are endless. I made this card using a tiny daisy punch, some ribbon and some corregated white card. The middle of the flowers is peel-off waste - I save absolutely everything! The greeting is a E-Z Rub on transfer. This challenge business is great!

Cute Baby Boy - Sunday Challenge

Here's my first attempt at a challenge - I have followed the sketch from Sunday Sketch and Stamp blog for this card. The pram stamp is from the Clear Choice Baby Toys set and is coloured with my new pro-markers that Santa brought me. The paper is from the Imag-e-nation store in Washington - a bargain at only 35p for a 12x12 sheet

A Little Shopping ..... and the return of the lost mojo!

Totally lost my mojo over Christmas - must have had a bit of a glitter overdose with all those Christmas cards! A bit of crafty shopping has helped - had a lovely morning at Dainty Supplies and Imag-e-nation in Washington. Got some oval scallopped nesties that I can't wait to use and loads of little 'bits' - ribbons and gems and stuff like that.

Eased myself in gently by making a quick engagement card for a party we are off to tonight using my fave Papermania patterned paper and a Digi Boutique image

New Year's Resolutions

This year I am going to.....

1. Keep all my stash in some sort of order so that I know where everything is (yeah.. right!)
2. Try to use up some of my 'old' stuff.
3. Try to stretch myself by entering some competitions and challenges.
4. Make things in advance rather than crafting at midnight!

Here's wishing anyone who is reading this a happy and prosperous 2010

Happy New Year!

Sharon
x

Some recent cards...

Aswell as making loads of Christmas cards, I've still been getting plenty of normal card orders.

I found the girly topper in a card making pack I bought from Home Bargains - dunno if this shop is available all over the country but it's certainly popular in the North East - it's full of reduced toiletries, toys, food items etc and I often find really useful crafty items. The flower is from a pack of 'Hawaiian' table flowers from Birthdays and the paper is papermania. The result is a very girly card.I made this Anniversary card very quickly and it's based around the lovely piece of olive green ribbon. The hearts are diecuts and the floral paper is good old Papermania again .

The roses on this birthday card came from the wedding section of Dainty Supplies - a wonderful craft emporium on an industrial estate in Washington. It really is like my mothership! The pink rose paper was bought ages ago from Hobbycarft. I love cards like this that have 3D toppers but you must remember to use an envelope bigger than the card so that the extra bit fits in!


This is my favourite card of the moment. I saw the card sketch in a magazine and knew it would be so easy to make using my square nesties. The papers and butterflies came with an issue of Creative Cardmaking and I just added my usual diamantes for the butterfly trails.

Aarrgh - another man's card. I get so chewed having to make cards for men because I love adding ribbons and bling to my cards. My imagination really struggles with all things masculine so I just printed and decoupaged this image from Clip-art. I'm pleased with the result but would rather make girly cards any day.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I've been such a bad blogger lately - Christmas has just taken over everything and really I should have started making christmas cards in April rather than wait until November! Maybe next year! Here's some of the results of my absence...



This grandad card was made using a very cute dowload from the DigiStamp Boutique. I love these cute designs - I think this one is by Sally-Ann Hancock. It was coloured in with normal felt-tip pens from WHSmith but now santa has brought me some pro-markers I am going to have a lot of fun experimenting.

I made this quick card with some lovely papers that I got with Making Cards magazine last year. Lovely christmassy colours and an extra bit of bling with a diamante on the bauble.


More digital downloads - this time the curly trees from Pink Petticoat. So easy to colour and very girly. I decoupaged the hearts and made extra to stick down the side.


This furry Christmas Tree card was made for a work colleague's daughter who wanted something purple and bling! The tree is simply a triangle of card wound with fluffy wool and purple diamantes added as baubles.

This bauble card is my fave - I got a card making kit from The Works and just added diamantes to the ready cut baubles. I added very thin ribbons and peel-off stars and the result looks much better than this picture!

Here's wishing anyone who cares to read my crafting adventures a very Merry Christmas and best wishes and lots of crafting in 2010!

Pirates and Pink Frocks

I've had a lovely afternoon.... finished work early and popped to Chester-le-Street to see what crafty goodies I could find in Boyes. I wasn't disappointed - got loads of ribbons for Christmas cards and some gorgeous A4 Daisy and Dandelion Christmas papers. Had a sneaky box of chips aswell before I came home (when did 'boxes' of chips appear??)

No more work now til Monday so I got the weekend off to a cracking start with some cardmaking..


I made this for an 8 year old boy - got the papers a few months ago in Papercraft Essentials but I never thought of using them until now. Very simple decoupage.


This frock card was made using up the leftover papers from the flower card in my previous post - I hate waste and have a box full of scraps - every cardmaker should have one! The frock sticker was from a scrapbook set I have had for years. I added a few diamantes to freshen it up but the light is so poor today that you can't see them!

Right - back to the Chrimbo cards!!

Pink Appeal

Each year, my office has various events during October to raise money for Breast Cancer. This year was no exception and over the past weeks we have raised over £2000. One of our events was a Bake sale and to thank various mums and grans who helped us produce so many yummy pies and cakes, I made these cute thankyou cards.


I've also had requests for various birthday cards and these are a couple of my faves...

Orange can be such a difficult colour to use but it really makes this card stand out. The spotty paper was a magazine freebie and the flower is one of my rare attempts at stamping - it's a Build a Flower stamp set from Clear Expressions (Hampton Arts) and I must admit it is very easy to use for someone like myself who has two left hands when it comes to stamping. It's decoupaged but you can't see this very well.


So... all bouyed up after the orange card, I had a go with one of my wooden stamps and was surprised with the result - no smudging! I was so pleased I stamped it twice and decoupaged the flower head. The pretty paper was from a sample book given away with Cardmaking and papercraft a few moths ago.

Flippin' Teenagers

Had a lovely morning shopping in Sunderland - new boots, new shoes, a new top for tonight and a visit to my favourite craft shop. Bought some silver peel-off borders, Making Cards magazine (cos I love the freebie papers you get with this mag) and loads of plain card to make my Christmas cards. A successful morning.

Here's a fun card I made using La Pashe's Flippin' Teenagers. There's some fab images in this range for both teenagers and those who still think they are!


The music notes are from a Doodlebug set and the border is made with waste collected in my hole punch! Matches the dancer's skirt and made me think of disco lights.

Card Frenzy!

I've been so busy this week........so many birthdays, so little time. And I really must start making christmas cards!!


This first card is one that I often do for 'big birthdays'. It's so easy to make the outline of the letters in wordart then trace the image onto patterned paper. I'm dead pleased with the scallopped effects as well - the ones above and below 'sixty' were made with my nesties, cut into strips then carefully taped on so you can't see the joins. The scallops round the greeting were make by punching loads of small circles with my hole punch and arranging them aroung the edge of the cut out greeting. You really don't need loads of expensive equipment to get the effect you want.


Same papers used here for the girl's 7th birthday card - the 7 is also done in WordArt. Background is just stars punched in toning colours and a few spangle star confetti bits to add a bit of bling. Even 7 year olds are partial to a bit of bling!


This lady bathing card is made with one of my fave products - Jolly Nation decoupage. I tried to get the effect of wallpaper and a border behind the bath using checked paper and a spotty ribbon and I think it works well.

Finally, a 40th card for a bike mad bloke. Made with lazy crafters' decoupage - the sort that is pre cut for you! Still, everyone needs to make shortcuts every now and then and no-one knows any different! It was only when I took the picture that I realised that the 40 today sign looks a bit like a speed road sign. Total accident but left me feeling dead clever!.