Wednesday 3 December 2014

Silhouette Cameo - Male birthday card

Hello Friends,

I've been trying to catch up with my card making, here is one I've made using the Silhouette Cameo for my brother-in-laws birthday, which is next week.




I downloaded the file, of the hot air-balloon, from the Silhouette America store.   I already had the clouds in my library (from an earlier purchase) and used my Stampin' Up markers in my pen holder for the sentiment.

The colour of the base card and the marker are Lost Lagoon from Stampin' Up.  The papers are from my stash (Fancy Pants, Country Boutique).

Happy crafting with your Silhouette.

Carole x


Thursday 27 November 2014

Adapting Silhouette files & Silhouette Tuition

Hello Friends,

I'm really on a roll at the moment.  One of my very favourite things to do with my Silhouette Cameo and software, is adapting files.

I can teach you how easy this all is, if you have a day to spare to come over for a one-to-one lesson with me ;)!

Here are a couple of cards to show you what I mean about adapting files....


 ....this is a card that I downloaded from the Silhouette America store.  On the original downloaded file the flower part was bigger and took up most of the top mat layer, but I wanted to add the stamped "smile", so I was able to quickly make the flower smaller, leaving room for my sentiment.


....on this card, I was able to use the same file for the flower, make it a lot smaller and put it into a circle, so clever!  I also made my own tag using the Weld and Modify functions, and used another file, which I downloaded also, from the Silhouette America store, which was a doily type of file, which I chose to cut from vellum.

I think the whole card works really well and I'm sure my friend Maria will absolutely love it!  Happy birthday Maria, I know it's your birthday today and hopefully this very card will be right there with you now ;)!

Happy crafting with your Silhouette machines.

Carole x

 

 

Wednesday 26 November 2014

Silhouette Cameo 2 & Silhouette Lessons

Hello Friends,

I was so excited to see the launch of the new new Silhouette Cameo 2, that I almost bought one from Create and Craft TV, the other day!

I did stop myself though, for the time being, as there is absolutely nothing wrong with my original Silhouette Cameo, or my Silhouette SD, which I had previously (now with a very happy friend) so I decided to wait for now ;)!

As I said yesterday, I just love to teach the features of the Silhouette software and I feel the best way to do that is to have you sat by me, watching me, seeing what it can do.  Then, when you know, you can begin to use your machine for maximum wow factors in your crafting.

Here is another simple card, which I made by welding shapes together....



...there is perfect matting and layering on the front and then to build the card, I welded the star shape to the circle to make the base card!  Simple!

If you'd like a one-to-one lessons on your new Silhouette Cameo 2, or indeed any other Silhouette machine you might have (still in the box), email me, a lesson would be worth it!

Happy crafting, with your Silhouette machines.

Carole x

Tuesday 25 November 2014

Silhouette Cameo Lessons

Hello Friends,

I had such a lovely weekend.  I gave a one-to-one lesson to a really nice lady who travelled up to Abingdon from the South Coast, just for a one-to-one lesson with me, on the Silhouette Software.

It always gives me great pleasure showing how amazing the software is and watching their faces light up at all the "light bulb" moments, that make them smile ;)!

I do a whole day, where I give a whistle-stop tour of the software, going over all the easy bits -- those bits that you need to learn to help you move forward with your crafting on the Silhouette machines.

Here is a great example of an easy card you can make on your Silhouette machines, once you know the basics....



I designed the whole card in the Silhouette Software, swapped the blade for a pen for the writing and stitching.  Every card designed this way makes for a perfect card, fitting beautifully together.

If you are interested in lessons, please email me, my details are over on the right ;)!

Happy crafting.

Carole x



Thursday 6 November 2014

Holiday Card Workshop - Day 3

Hello Friends,

Day two of this workshop was all about using Water Colour.  I chose to use Kristina's idea for my card for Day 3.

I used clear embossing powder to heat emboss the white parts of the card and used my ink pads for water colouring the dark background.


I mounted the card onto an easel type base to finish it off.

Thanks for popping by my blog today.

Happy crafting.

Carole x

Tuesday 4 November 2014

Holiday Card Workshop - Day 1

Hello Friends,

Those lovely and very talented ladies over at Online Card Classes have a brand new class just started called "Holiday Card Workshop 2014".

Here is a card I've made from the inspiration from just one of those very talented ladies, Debby Hughes...


If you'd like to join me on this class, click on the link above and it will take you to just where you need to be to sign up.

Happy crafting.

Carole x

Thursday 23 October 2014

Hope card

Hello friends,

One of the reasons I spent some time making those Gelli Plate prints yesterday, was to make some pink paper so that I could make this card......


....I couldn't really concentrate on much else, as it was yesterday that one of my dear friends was having major breast cancer surgery.  I kept hoping and praying all day for her and will get this card to her as soon as I can.

Thanks for popping by today.

Carole x

Wednesday 22 October 2014

Gelli Plate Fun

Hello Friends,

I purchased an on-line class the other day from Lain Ehmann, she's a girl with the bestest crafty mates!  The class I bought from her was a TrueScrap 5 video, one her friends (and mine), Stephanie Ackerman, teaches us how she uses the Gelli Plate to make art from art.

I felt inspired to go grab my Gelli Plate, acrylics and stencils to play.  Lots of my ladies know that I'm not one for getting messy, but I can't tell you how lovely it felt making sheet after sheet of my own patterned paper, without a care or even a thought of my mess!

Take a look at all these sheets......




I got straight to work as soon as they were dry to make a few cards for my 52 Pick (me) up class!  I'm so behind with this fabulous class, thank goodness it's not going anywhere after the year has gone, because for sure, I'll be catching up in 2015!

So here are 6 more cards, just waiting for the right words ;)!......


I'm so pleased with them, they look as if Stephanie could have made them herself ;)!

Now......words.....I'm off in search of just the right ones!

Have a great crafty day and thanks for popping by.

Carole x



Saturday 18 October 2014

October Recipe Challenge

Hello Friends,

I was quite excited about the "October Recipe Challenge" over at 52 (Christmas) Card Throwdown, this week.  The Design Team has done a great job, inspiring us to create a card using only one layer, with accents (phew)!  I could have CASED any one of their ideas, they are brilliant, but that's not really the point, so I had to come up with something a little different.

Here is my card, which did involve some masking.....


Firstly I punched out the heart shape using my non permanent sticky labels and inked through the "waste".  Then I masked off the heart with the punched out heart, which was sticky, so stayed in place nicely whilst I used my old Stampin' Up Spritzer tool to spritz the background.  My first thoughts were that that would be enough, but it didn't seem right, so I used a stencil and the same Olive green ink to stencil the extra dots.  I peeled off the mask, which protected my heart, stamped the greeting and then placed a single diamond gem on the heart to finish it off.

It is really nice doing challenges and makes us all make something a little different for a change.

I hope you join in and have enjoyed looking at my card.

Happy crafting.

Carole x


Thursday 16 October 2014

October Colour Challenge

Hello Friends,

I really am having fun doing the 52 (Christmas) Card Throwdown challenges.  I had another honorable mention for my card last week too ;)!

This week they are asking us to make a card using a selection of colours, here is my entry.....


I used the "Baby Wipe" technique for this card.

There are still a couple of days to get your entries in if you'd like to join in the fun.  Just click on the link above to get all the details.

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting.

Carole x

Thursday 9 October 2014

October Sketch Challenge


Hello Friends,

I am so happy, the card I entered last week for the 52 (Christmas) Card Throwdown, won Honourable Mentions :)!

This week the challenge is to make a card using a sketch.  When I first saw the sketch I thought it would be pretty easy but I found getting the composition just right (for my liking) was not easy.  I had to mess about with it for quite a while.  In the end I decided to make the snowflake at the bottom appear to be bigger by adding a larger mat behind it.  I hope you like it.....


If you'd like to join in on this challenge then click on this link!

Thanks for popping by today and happy crafting.

Carole x

Sunday 28 September 2014

Crafty Stash Challenge

Hello Friends,

I'm popping in today to share a Christmas card inspired by the challenge blog site 52 (Christmas card) Throwdown.  My friend Peg has joined their design team, which has reminded me to enter a challenge or two!

This week they are asking us to use diamonds and pearls on a Christmas card, here is my entry....


I actually used Liquid Pearls on each tip of the snowflake and scattered 3 diamonds around the card.

Hope you like it.

Happy crafting.

Carole x




Wednesday 3 September 2014

New Home card - Silhouette

Hello Friends,

I'm back with a card I've just made for my daughter who moved on Sunday!

It's a quick and easy one, but effective, I think.


I've made it so that the house tag will come off easily hoping that she will hang it somewhere, when she has finished with the card.

Off to post it now!  I've only had 3 months notice, talk about last minute dot com, more like late rooms dot com - lol!!!

Happy crafting and thanks for stopping by.

Carole x


Just sharing......

Hello Friends,

A quick blog post for you all today :)!  Just pictures of a few cards I've made recently.  Enjoy.....







If you'd like any details or information about products used, just drop me an email.

Now I'm off to craft a little today, it's been a little while again, since I've had time for a play, just for me ;)!

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by.

Carole x


Saturday 9 August 2014

Stretch Your Stamps 2 - Day 5


Hello Friends, 

I'm playing catch-up, it's day 6 today of the Stretch Your Stamps 2 class and I've only just been able to start.  I've been suffering again with my arms, so have had another enforced rest from crafting, which has been a little distressing to say the least!

I'm on the mend now, which I'm pleased to say, so thought I'd start with Day 5!  Jennifer McGuire showed us a very easy way to add different colours of embossing powder to a stamped image, it was so easy, I thought I'd give it a try.  I don't have many colours of embossing powder but I do have silver and gold, which I thought would be great to use on this new set of stamps from Stampin' Up called Bright & Beautiful.




Even though I'm not able to join in on all the making this time, I'm very happy watching a learning from the class and would recommend it to anyone, whether you've been crafting forever (like me) or if you're new to it.  Click on the link on the right,  it will whizz you to where you can sign up.

Happy crafting everyone and I hope to be back soon.

Carole x 


Monday 7 July 2014

The Cutting Edge Challenge #2

Hello Friends,

I spotted this challenge site this morning and thought I'd participate, as I felt inspired by the card shown as inspiration for this challenge.

Here is the card they gave us for inspiration:


and here is the card I made to enter the challenge:


I took inspiration from the watercolor look.  I've cut out the image, which came from the Silhouette on-line store, on my Silhouette Cameo, watercolored the image and set it back into the section it was cut our from.

I really enjoyed making this card and using a watercolor technique that I haven't used in a while

Hope you like my card, thanks for popping by.

Happy crafting.

Carole x

Wednesday 25 June 2014

Pleasant Poppies & Blendabilities by Stampin' Up

Hello Friends,

Stampin' Up are bringing out Blendabilities, a new alcohol marker.  I couldn't wait to get my hands on a couple of sets and made this card...


The Pleasant Poppies stamp is perfect for alcohol pens and I really did enjoy sitting down and colouring carefully again, as it's been a while!

If you'd like to try Blendabilities by Stampin' Up then send me an email and I'll order you some.

Have a happy crafty day and thanks for popping by.

Carole x

Tuesday 24 June 2014

Envelope Mini Album & Silhouette Studio Lessons

Hello Friends,

I was asked to make two cards/books for about 200 people to sign, for a local choir.  After worrying about it for weeks and weeks I made these....





I actually made mini albums out of envelopes, decorated them with retired Stampin' Up DSP and used sheets of Conqueror paper, which I folded and edged with Washi Tape, to make each sheet a little sturdier, for them to write their messages and sign.

The front was decorated using my Silhouette Cameo.  One of the songs being sung was Edelweiss, so I decided to use that as the theme and made the flower using the Silhouette Software and an image I found on the internet.

It was an awful lot of work to make these two cards/mini books, but both myself and the lady who asked me to make them were thrilled to bits!

If you're not getting the best out of your Silhouette Studio software & Cameo or Portrait, send me an email and we can talk about a one-on-one class, just for you!

Happy crafting and thanks for popping by today.

Carole x


Monday 23 June 2014

Window Frames Collection & Summer Silhouettes by Stampin' Up

Hello Friends,

With the Window Frames Collection still out of my desk from yesterday's card, I made this card inspired by a card sketch challenge my Stampin' Up upline set for our team.


Some of the products are now retired but those still available, which I can order for you, if you wish are; Summer Silhouettes, Itty Bitty Banners & Gorgeous Grunge stamp sets, Window Frames Collection, Very Vanilla & Rose Red card stock/ink and Bitty Banners Framelits. 

Thanks for popping by today.

Happy crafting.

Carole x

Sunday 22 June 2014

Hopeful Thoughts & Window Frames Collection, Stampin' Up

Hello Friends,



This is another card I made using my Hopeful Thoughts stamp set by Stampin' Up.

This time I used Very Vanilla and Rich Razzleberry card ink and paper, Blushing Bride, Rich Razzleberry and Always Artichoke Stampin' Up markers for the image and sentiment.

The die cut shape is the Window Frames Collection by Stampin' Up.

Please email me if you'd like me to place you an order for any of the products used.

Have fun crafting today and thanks for popping by.

Carole x

Saturday 21 June 2014

Hopeful Thoughts, Daydream Medallions & Lost Lagoon, Stampin' Up

Hello Friends,

I'm still using my new favourite ink, Lost Lagoon!


I made this card a week or two ago for a friend.  I used my Hopeful Thoughts and Daydream Medallions stamp sets, the Essentials Paper-Piecing Pack, Beautiful Wings Embosslits and a retired embossing folder by Stampin' Up.  All the card stock is Very Vanilla.  I added a swirl by Sizzix for a final embellishment.

Hope you like my card, if you'd like to order any Stampin' Up products used please email me.

Happy crafting and thanks for popping by today.

Carole x


Friday 20 June 2014

Father's Day card - Art Impressions & Stampin' Up

Hello Friends,

This is other card I made for Father's day this year...


I have been using this die quite a bit recently, it's by Sizzix and has been in my stash for a very long while.  I managed to purchase the set of Framelits that fit the design exactly, which made me very happy and able to use the large Bigz die that was banished to the back of my cupboard!

I've had the paper and stamps a while too, the cartwheel is from my old Art Impression days (I used to sell just those and loved to doing a whole comedy act teaching ladies how to paint who couldn't draw!), the paper is from a nursery pack of DCWV, it is thick enough to use and stands up really well to this die!

I've used my new favourite colour ink from Stampin' Up, Lost Lagoon.

Happy crafting.

Carole x

Thursday 19 June 2014

Rotary Alphabet Stamp - Stampin' Up

Hello Friends,

I'm going to try and catch up with my blogging, I've made so many cards and have been too busy to blog them!


This is one of the Father's day cards I made this year.  I used two sets of stamps from Stampin' Up for this card, The Open Sea and World Map.  The card stock is Naturals Ivory by Stampin' Up and the ink is a new one by Stampin' Up, Lost Lagoon.

Please let me know if by email, if you'd like to order any of these items.

Have a great day crafting.

Carole x

Tuesday 17 June 2014

Sneak Peek (Stampin' Up) & Scribbly Birds

Hello Friends,

Look what I've made......


..... something a little different!  A card to celebrate my daughter returning home after four long weeks in Thailand.  She left the same day they announced a coup in Thailand and I remember sending her many text messages begging her not to board the plane, but she did and luckily, it all seemed absolutely fine, thank goodness she's now back home, I can't tell you how relieved I feel!

To make the card, I've used a stamp from Everything Eleanor by Stampin' Up and their re-inkers for the resist background, together with their clear embossing powder and heat tool.  The message was created with the new Rotary Alphabet stamp, which I can order for you from 1st July (email me if you'd like one), this is going to be my favourite stamp ever, I can see that already ;)!

The bird is from a set called "Scribbly Birds" by Dina Wakley, I love her style and those birds are so cute, I just had to have them!

Take care and happy crafting.

Carole x

Tuesday 10 June 2014

Kites Framelits & Stamps by Sizzix

Hello Friends,

It's my daughters birthday today, and she likes nothing more than going to fly a kite,  this is a perfect card for her....


I used the Kites (65758) Framelits and Stamp set by Sizzix for this card.  The paper is from my stash and all the card stock is by Stampin' Up.

It's a great day to go and fly a kite, I wonder if she will later?

Happy crafting.

Carole x

Monday 26 May 2014

12 x 12 Card stock - 3 Card Bases

Hello Friends,

My aim today, was to make 3 cards and I remembered that I'd saved the link on a very scruffy piece of paper on how to make 3 base card blanks out of one 12 x 12 sheet of card stock, thank goodness I found it!  I was looking at something on Pinterest a week or two ago and saw a link that took me to this great blog post by Brenda!

I followed the cutting instructions and made these 3 great cards......




My lovely upline for Stampin' Up set us a Sketch Challenge, similar what you see from the cards I made, to get us all crafting (she is so sweet) and my first thoughts were that I'd only use it for the first card but then it seemed easier (I didn't have to think) to stick with it.  I continued with that same inspiration and the other two cards seemed quick and I'm sure if I hadn't followed ideas from that same sketch, I'd still be sitting here with two cards to make out of my newly created card blanks!

Enjoy and I hope you find some time to craft today.

Carole x


Saturday 17 May 2014

Water colour for card makers - Day 11

Hello friends,

I tried one of the other techniques that we were taught in class late last night.

It was a lesson by Tim Holtz, he used his distress inks, water, stencil and watercolour paper, that's all!


The colours I used for this card were: Worn Lipstick, Peeled Paint & Scattered Straw.

I love the messy watercolour look!

Have a great day and happy crafting.

Carole x


Friday 16 May 2014

Watercolor for card makers - Day 11

Hello friends,

I've been missing in class for a couple of days - whoops!!!  Funny that the two days that I missed were the most difficult!

Luckily I'm back on track today - we were shown a great video about water coloring onto vellum.  I loved using vellum some years ago and couldn't wait for the video to finish so that I could dash off and find some!

I ended up cutting and messing about with my finished artwork so much that I nearly didn't make a card of it, but I am pleased I came up with a card design that the water coloured vellum worked out okay on!


You can probably see how tight my piece of vellum got, but I don't mind.  If I make another one, I'd be a bit more careful....it's all about planning....and I hadn't planned on how I was actually going to use my piece!

Normally I'd say cards look much nicer in real life, but on this occasion, I'm sure the photo of it looks best!

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting.

Carole x


Silhouette Cameo - Adapting files using Offset

Hello friends,

Firstly I'd like to welcome my two new follower's Kristie and Barb, thanks for becoming follower's, I really appreciate you wanting to see more of what I make.

The card I want to share with you all today, was made by adapting some of the Silhouette Software designs, that I felt were a little too fiddly to cut out with my ageing blade!

I made a small offset of the butterfly and the word "friend", which made them just that little bit easier to cut out on my Silhouette Cameo.  I also released the compound path of the doily and removed a whole ring of little squares from it, which I felt, were unnecessary on this card and would have been extra stress on my poor ageing blade.



I hope you like my card today.  Thanks for popping by.

Happy crafting,

Carole x

Tuesday 13 May 2014

Watercolour for Card Makers - Day 8 & Silhouette Cameo

Hello Friends,

I was so excited by the lessons today over at the Watercolour for Card Makers online class.  Another day, another 3 awesome videos and 3 different takes on the lesson.

I'm a little bit ashamed to say it but I used the lesson that seemed the easiest to me again!  Laura Bassen used a die cut stencil to work with.  I searched through my own dies and didn't have any that I could really use, like she had used, so I headed straight back to my computer and opened up the Silhouette Software!

I cut out my most used image ever, this beautiful flower and used that.....


...it turned out to be very similar to yesterdays card, but today, I took a lot more time, waited for layers to dry and edged the whole thing with pencil, trying to make it look like I'd drawn it and then watercoloured it - so naughty!!!  Well I feel it's naughty, but it was the most fun and it's not naughty at all!

You should have seen the concentration on my face and you could have heard a pin drop whilst I was so very carefully trying to make this look like a great watercolour - lol!  It's not anywhere near as lovely as Laura's card, but I'm pretty pleased and want to practice some more.

I think this class is one of the best that Online Card Classes have bought us, or at least the one that has stretched me the most.  I feel that I will be heading back to that classroom regularly, when I have time to have a go at some of the more difficult techniques they are sharing with us.

Right I've got another project to do tomorrow, I'm doing a friend a favour, helping her make a couple of cards that 200 people have to sign (what a task!), so my desk has to be clear and tidy so that when she arrives we can get on!  I'll post pics of the project I make with her, if I get to photograph them before they go!

Happy crafting and thanks for popping by.

Carole x


Monday 12 May 2014

Watercolor for Card Makers - Day 7 & Summer Silhouettes

Hello Friends,

We are on to our second week of the Watercolour for Card Makers class and to tell you the truth it is a great distraction, which is just what the doctor ordered!

My card today is using a technique called Faux Hand Painting, I hope you like it....


I stamped the stamps, from the Stampin' Up stamp set, called Summer Silhouettes with a very light coloured ink and painted over!  Really easy!  I used my Stampin' Up ink pads as my watercolour palettes for the card.  The colours used were Rose Red, Regal Rose, Pear Pizzazz and Always Artichoke.

Hopefully I will be back with another card tomorrow.

Happy crafting and thanks for popping by.

Carole x



Friday 9 May 2014

Watercolor for card makers - Day 5

Hello Friends,

To be honest I've been a little stressed lately.  I've said "yes" to stuff when I really shouldn't have!  There is nothing wrong in doing what you can, when you can, but when your mouth says "yes" and your heart sinks you know you've done it again!!!

Oh well, after a very rainy start to the day, the weather has gradually improved and right now the sun is shining, which is making me happy!

The other things that is making me feel a little happier and much calmer is my lovely watercolour for card makers class!  I sat myself down with a cuppa and watched the videos from today's class and loved each one of them.  My favorite being, a video from one of my favorite designers, Shari Carroll.  She showed a great colouring technique that, even those of us who cannot paint, can do very easily.  Here is my card using the water colour technique she shared with us....


I hope you like my card.

Thanks for popping by today and happy crafting.

Carole x

Thursday 8 May 2014

Watercolor the AI way! Water Color for Card Makers - Day 3

Hello Friends,

Oh me, oh my, this takes me back absolutely years and years!  I am currently enjoying the latest On-line Card Class, Water Color for Card Makers and yesterday Kristina shared a card she made using AI stamps, some of which I have!

I started a little crafting business with these stamps, which has to be at least 10 years ago, I used to go to various women's groups with my stamps and pens and give a whole demonstration/comedy act on how to paint if you couldn't draw!  The ladies loved them and I actually did quite well and gained quite a few customers.

I moved on after a while, sold lots of my originals, but rummaging around in my garage, I found these boxes....

.....here are my pens, I used to sit ladies in groups and they'd all have a set of pens and a set of stamps to borrow, which is why I have to many of the same color.



Here is a really clean looking box, some are used and some are not, all priced up for sale!.....


and here is one of the working boxes I had, trying to date these stamps is difficult, but you see that red blotch on the Happy Birthday stamp, it's part of a perished/melted rubber band that was holding some the the peel-off together.  How funny, I hate peel off's now, but they were useful when I was going around demonstrating this...


After watching the class yesterday, I went off looking at YouTube and found so many wonderful videos of Bonny Krebbs, I didn't get a thing done!

This morning, I dusted off those pens and the ones I tried, all worked!  Those Marvy LePlumes were good!  Here is my card......


I made it using the AI stamps and Marvy markers and of course, my plastic palette (I have many of them too)!  The card shape is cut on the Silhouette Cameo, as I'll be sending this card to a lady who I'm doing a Silhouette Cameo Swap with, this month.

I hope you like it, now I'd better go and check out the rest of those stamps.....just wish I knew where the rest were (I might have sold them, or I may have to rummage further in my garage)!

Happy crafting.

Carole x