Friday 31 July 2015

Background Check - Day 4 Embossing Diffusers

Hello,

As promised I'm back with another background technique that I was reminded of, in the Background Check classroom.

We got out our diffusers, it took me a while to find mine.  They were in a hard to get to cupboard in a basket with all the unloved die cutting items I no longer use!  In fact only one, out of the three in the packet, had been opened - whoops!

I tried all three diffusers with different embossing folders.....




....and then I made my own.....



I made one using my Silhouette Cameo, it's so easy to make your own using the Silhouette.  I designed the file and cut it out 6 times and simply layered one on top of another.

Another great day in my craft room, using what I have!

I'm just lovin' it!

Thank for popping by again.

Carole x

Background Check - Day 4

Hello Friends,

Day 4, over in the On-line Card Classes, Background Check classroom was all about using our die cutting machines for our backgrounds.

I knew I'd be able to bring in my Silhouette Cameo at some point ;)!

I decided I wanted to do something with hexagons, did a little search of my cutting files and found one I thought would be great as a background.  I went onto make my own hexagonal card shape base.  Here are some pics of what I've cut, I will decide what to use to make the card on Saturday after seeing what those clever ladies in the classroom make!





For the patterned die cut, I used one of the backgrounds I made from earlier in the week, one that wasn't all that great and would otherwise have been thrown away!  It makes me so happy to be able to use it now.

Thanks for stopping by, I will try and pop back later with some of the other ideas I've gained from the classroom.

Happy crafting.

Carole x



Thursday 30 July 2015

Background Check - Day 3

Hello Friends,

I'm back with another card made from one of the backgrounds I made with the inspiration from Kristina from On-line Card Classes.

I thought I was cheating (or getting ahead) a little bit by making this background onto a base card!


...well I was wrong ;)!  What Kristina did with her background like this, was to make a card a little bit like this.....

It's another card I'm really happy with, it looks so much better in real life!

I hope to catch you later with more cards and backgrounds.

If you are interested in signing up for the class, click the link on my sidebar.

Thanks for popping by and happy crafting.

Carole x

Wednesday 29 July 2015

Background Check - Day 3

Hello Friends,

Just before I tied up my work space I decided to use the last water coloured background I had left, so here is another card very similar to the ones I posted earlier...


Thanks for popping by.

Carole x


Background Check - Day 3

Hello Friends,

I really enjoyed the video lessons today in the classroom, over at On-line Card Classes.  After two days of being reminded of techniques, I hadn't used in a while, today was all about making cards out of the backgrounds we'd made.

I have so many cards to make with the backgrounds I have ready but so far, I've only had time to make two cards.

I hadn't actually shown the backgrounds, they were just simple water-coloured ones, and to be honest, I wasn't all that taken with them until I saw what Kristina did with hers today.  I loved the idea, take a look....



....we made frames! In the top picture I simply stuck the "bird on branch" die-cut and frame on top of the water-coloured piece, which was okay but I didn't like seeing the join between the frame and the branch on the left side, so for the second card, I inlaid the bird and branch into the water-coloured piece and stuck the frame over for a neater finish.

I used deckled edge and straight rectangle Nestabilities to make the frames.

This is the sort of card you could make a ton of quite quickly, I love it!

Hope to see you soon with some more cards, made using some of the other backgrounds and great ideas I've learned today.

Happy crafting and thanks for popping by.

Carole x

Tuesday 28 July 2015

Background Check - Day 2

Hello Friends,

I'm back with a couple more backgrounds I've made with inspiration from the On-line Card Class, Background Check!

I'm only showing you the backgrounds, I'm hoping to make them into cards, with the inspiration I get tomorrow ;)!



I've used two techniques here, the top picture shows a piece of patterned paper and how I changed it by using a stencil, some VersaMark ink, some clear embossing powder and some dark brown ink.

The second picture shows that I started with a piece of glossy white card stock, which I brayered going from dark to light with one of my new Distress Ink colours, Evergreen Bough.  I then stamped a slim background stamp 3 times going up the piece in VersaMark ink and then I brayered over the top of that, again going from dark to light in Peacock Feathers.  It seemed like it needed a little more so I added the tiny image in amongst the pattern with Scattered Straw, which you can see more easily towards the top of the piece.

I'm really enjoying the class, it really is making me use some different stash, stash that I've had forever!

Enjoy and thanks for popping by.

Happy crafting,

Carole x



Background Check - Day 2

Hello Friends,

I'm back today with another card inspired by the very talented ladies over at On-line Classes.  I've been stamping for far more years than I'd like to admit to and to be honest, there's not an awful lot out there, technique wise, that I've not seen before.  The beauty of these classes to me, is that even though I've seen and done every technique shown in the classes so far, it's still nice to be reminded and to go back to those great techniques, I wouldn't otherwise even think about.

In one of the lessons today I was reminded to use glossy card stock and VersaMark for a resist technique.  I have lots of glossy card, perhaps from when I first learned this technique, many moons ago, so it felt great getting it out and using what I have!

I did pop out to my local (12 miles away) craft shop this morning though, I felt the need for some more Distress ink colours.  I came back with new papers, Tim's die cut words by Sizzix and some ribbon as well :)!  I used some of the ribbon and one of my new die cut words on the card.....


Thanks for popping by today and happy crafting.  It's not too late to sign up for the class, click on the link in my sidebar for all the details.

Carole x



Monday 27 July 2015

Background Check - Day 1

Hello Friends,

It's day one of the newest On-line Card Class, Background Check.

Today we were getting messy with ink blending and watercolour for our backgrounds.  I've made a few backgrounds, some came out better than others ;)!  This one was my favourite, which is why I made it into a simple Christmas card.


I love joining in with the classes, why don't you check it out and join me in the classroom?  Click on the link in my right-hand sidebar.

I used Mowed Lawn and Worn Lipstick Distress inks, an older stamp from my stash (Hero Arts) and the sentiment comes from a PaperArtsy set (ELB12).

Thanks for popping by today.

Happy crafting.

Carole x

Tuesday 7 July 2015

Napkin fold card

Hello Friends,

I've been playing around with this Napkin Fold style card, for a little while now.  At first I couldn't get it all square and perfect (well, perfect enough for me), but I think I've cracked it!  When scoring the folds it's best to use a fine tipped embossing tool, I've realised. The finer the tip of the tool, the less "play" there is in the fold!

The first picture shows it finished and ready to send.....


this second picture shows what the inside looks like......


and finally here is a picture of the Belly Band on it own......



Thanks for popping by and looking today.

Happy crafting,

Carole x