Friday 22 February 2013

New Baby card - Cameo Silhouette

Hello Friends,

I'm in a bit of a rush today, it's my big event tomorrow and I still need to bake and pack everything to take.  I stopped everything though, this morning, to make this little tiny card for a friend who's first grandchild was born yesterday evening.......

The Silhouette Cameo (or Silhouette Portrait) is a great machine to make quick and easy cards.  I downloaded the items to make this card from the Silhouette America store.  Cut out the bits (used the pen instead of the blade for her name) and the stuck the bits together - hey presto, one quick but very cute card for the proud grandparents.

Hope you have time to craft very soon.

Carole
x

Thursday 21 February 2013

Card making event - Saturday!

Hello Friends,

I've just popped in to show you all which cards will be available to make at my crop on Saturday....



I used my trusty Silhouette Cameo to make this card a couple of weeks ago and thought as I'd made the template and saved it, I could use it again for my ladies.

I now try and make two cards similar for each of my events, a male and female version.  For the male version this time I used two stamps sets from Stampin' Up, The Open Sea & Sail Away.  It was a little fiddly cutting out the anchor, but worth it, I thought!

The female versions are based around the Sizzix and Hero Arts combined stamps and die cuts the ones I've used are from sets 657773 and 657772, which is actually a Textured Impressions set.

There are still a couple of  places available, email me if you'd like a place.

My little craft shop will be there too, so if you only have half an hour, why not pop in and see what goodies I've got in my little shop!

Happy crafting.

Carole
x


Wednesday 20 February 2013

Silhouette Cameo cards

Hi Friends,

My camera SD card is full, so before deleting everything on there, I thought I'd post pics of the cards that I've found and haven't yet posted on here yet....




All the bits for all of these cards have been cut using my Silhouette Cameo.  The stamps and papers are from my ever growing stash!

If you would like any further details, email me and I'll fill you in!

I'm off to delete all the pics from my SD card now.  I'll post tomorrow, the cards that will be available to make at my Crop on Saturday.

Have a crafty day!

Thanks for looking.

Carole
x


Monday 18 February 2013

NEC Trade show, Stitches

Hi Friends,

No cards or projects today to post, just news that I've been to the Trade Show at the NEC today.  There is so much for me to show you and tell you about when I see you at my forthcoming events!  Don't forget to book your place at my crop on Saturday 23rd Feb!!!!  If you want to hear what's hot and what's not then you will need to be there!!!

Looking forward to seeing lots of you on Saturday.

Carole
xx

Monday 11 February 2013

Gelli Arts Mat

Good morning Friends,

I'm just popping in to show you what my lovely postman has just delivered.....



.....here is a close up of the little heart on the beautifully package item....


......and....opened......


My lovely friend Sue bought this item to my attention last weekend.  It took all of 4 days resisting ordering one!  I tried to use other things like funky foam, which sort of worked, although the prints were very subtle.  It was very messy and the foam isn't really reusable afterwards.  Then I tried a damp magazine, what a mess!  So thought I'd treat myself to the real thing, the big one!  They make a smaller version but I'd seen ladies on the internet saying they wished they had a big one ;)!  So I jumped straight in and bought the bigger one for myself.

I'm sure that you can tell by how nicely it was wrapped, where I ordered it from - Art from the Heart, I love the thought of supporting Dyan, she has worked so hard and is very very talented.  If I didn't live 3 + hours away, I'd be there for regular classes/fun!

Not sure how long it will take me to start using this new purchase, but you can be assured that as soon as I do, you'll be seeing the results on here!

Have a lovely day.

Carole
x

Friday 8 February 2013

Clean & Simple 2 - day 10

Hello Friends,

I have been missing in class, sorry!

I have a very good excuse - I've been working!!!

Working though, was put on hold for an hour or so this afternoon, whilst I made this great little Valentine card.........



It is the last day of the Online card class today and again the inspiration was exceptional!   I had to use my Silhouette Cameo to cut out the images as the stamps used in class are not in my stash (yet) !.

The card has a pull out that changes the hearts from white to red - so sweet.

Hope you enjoy and have time to craft this weekend!

Carole
x

Tuesday 5 February 2013

Clean & Simple 2 - Day 7

Hello Friends,

My card today was very challenging!  I watched the great videos and saw some amazing inspiration which lead me straight to make this card.........


The main idea today was to do a one layer card and I've done it!!!! Shame this was my third attempt!

We were also encouraged to use part of a large stamp, which I've managed quite nicely here, even if I do say so myself!

I used an acetate mask, like my card earlier, I stamped the lady in black pigment ink and embossed her in clear embossing powder and used a mask to keep her clean whilst I partly inked the background stamp using a VersaMark pen and embossed the sections of the image in silver embossing powder and finally I used a blending brush to ink the background.

What I learned from making this card:

  1. I learned that black embossing powder really needs to be avoided on a Clean & Simple card!
  2. You cannot use Copics on an image you have embossed in black!
  3. I should have hit my scrap paper with my blending brush EVERY time (can you see where I forgot?)!
  4. Always emboss first, then ink the background, even if you are using an embossing buddy!
  5. Patience is what is needed to make a Clean & Simple card!
  6. And finally you need light!  Sorry for the dark photo again, I put the card under my daylight lamp, but as you can see from the background, the light is fading fast here again.....oh come on spring!
It isn't too late, you can join in too!  Check out the link on my sidebar!

I hope you have time to make a Clean & Simple card soon.

Carole
x




Clean & Simple 2 - Day 6 (card 2)

Hello Friends,

I'm back this morning with a second card from day 6 of the Clean & Simple 2 class.

Debby Hughes made a stunning card using a masking technique, she also had a great curved stamp (or she curved it on her block) as a greeting.  This is my take on her card........


I decided to plan this card on my Silhouette Cameo.  I wrapped the greeting round a couple of ovals and used a pen instead of the blade to draw the greeting and cut then cut the edge.  Afterwards I cut a frame out of acetate to use as my mask, which I sponged through gently.  The ink did smudge a little, even though I heat set it first - whoops!  After I inked the background I stamped the image and coloured it with my colouring pencils.  I popped the whole mat up on dimensional adhesive to give it some depth.

Here is a picture of my Silhouette Cameo screen, which shows the two basic pieces to make the card ......



I will try and be back later with a card from the lessons today, if I have time.

Hope you find some time to craft today too!

Carole
x

Monday 4 February 2013

Clean & Simple 2 - Day 6

Hello Friends,

I hope you have all had a great weekend.  Weekends seem to be my busiest days, so unfortunately I didn't get time to play.  I did craft though, but unfortunately I can't show you on here what I made as it's a huge framed picture full of photos of people and titles.  It was some private work that I took on and therefore unable to share it with you all.

Back to today's lessons over at Clean & Simple 2 class, they are brilliant - you really need to join the class to see them though!  Check out the link on my sidebar for details.

Making a Clean & Simple card seemed a little messy to me today.  I had a card and sentiment in mind but hadn't the right stamps or embossing folders for the job, so I made the backing paper myself out of acrylic paints and a stencil.  I have a soft rubber mat, which I brayered with black and white paint and then carefully dropped my stencil into the wet paint, squished it down, lifted it off and then placed my card stock into the paint which was left on the mat.  There is a great Gelli mat that you can buy to do this with, but whilst I'm thinking about buying one, I thought my rubber mat would do in the mean time!

This is the card.......


....if you look carefully you can just make out the clock images in the background, they are subtle but I like the effect.  I typed the sentiment into my Silhouette Software and used a pen instead of the blade to write the sentiment and then popped the blade in to cut the banner.

Thanks for popping by to look at my creation today.

Hope you find time to craft soon.

Carole
x

Friday 1 February 2013

Clean & Simple 2 - Day 5 (card 3)

Hello Friends,

I can't believe I'm back....you don't know how busy I'm supposed to be, but I'm lovin' this class so much I couldn't stop!

I liked all the cards so much I just had to try something from each!

So earlier today I covered Julie's and Kristina's and now it's Donna's turn!  For this card I couldn't resist using my Splodge Away mat, I'm thinking that Splodge Away mats haven't actually reached America yet, but they are definitely the answer to perfect brayering!  It's odd, we normally wait for things to arrive in the UK from America, but this time, I'm wondering if this is something America is waiting for......let me know.....


For this card, I used Shabby Shutters Distress ink, swiped onto my Splodge Away mat and rolled my brayer up and down until the ink was evenly covered, I then brayered in the normal way.  I did the same from the other end using Tumbled Glass.  I then inked my stamp with VersaMark and embossed the image with white embossing powder.  I splattered the image with water to make the water splodges and then I carefully put water into each petal and tried to remove most of the ink from under the flowers themselves.  I then coloured the leaves and the centres of the flowers with my Distress markers.

I actually made a stamping error on the sentiment, so I punched out my mistake and inserted my new sentiment in its place (like a jigsaw)!

I hate working in the dark, which is what I've done here, no natural light and the photo is taken right under my desk lamp.  But I am pleased with my card and delighted to have used that old stamp 3 ways! Phew!!!

Now I've got to go to bed, I'll clear up tomorrow!

Enjoy.

Carole
x





Clean & Simple 2 - Day 5 (card 2)

Hello Friends,

I'm back with another creation from today's fab class!  My desk is a mess and whilst tidying it, I found the left over piece from this card I made at the beginning of the week and realised it might just work with the stamp I used earlier.

I am not good with Copics, but I felt there wasn't much to colour here so I couldn't mess it up!  I've even had a go at highlighting with warm grey around the edge!  This is out of my comfort zone, but I love the card, here it is.......



I'm really supposed to be doing other stuff....I've got a whole mini album to make before Sunday, I haven't even got a clue of what type yet!

Enjoy and hopefully you will be inspired to create something outside of your normal comfort zone!

Have a crafty weekend.

Carole
x




Clean & Simple 2 - Day 5

Hello Friends,

Gosh this week has flown by!!!

I want to start my post today by thanking you all for looking at my blog and commenting on my cards, it makes me happy to know lots of you are enjoying the same class as me!  Those girls over at Online Card Classes, sure do give us value for money and get us thinking outside of our usual style.  It is also really nice to join in with the challenge, giving us an opportunity to create!

Thank you also to my followers and I'd like to welcome Scrappymax and Kim for joining.

So on to today's card........I decided before the lesson even came in that it was going to be a "thank you" card, to show my appreciation to all of you who look and comment.  I had been going through my "thank you" stamps, of which I have many, trying to decide before the class began which one I thought I'd choose.  Well that was a waste of time and now I have a whole load of stamps and stamp sets to put away, as in the end I chose one that I hadn't even thought of until I saw Julie's fabulous card and hint on how to place a small tag on the front of your card with ease!

So here's my creation.......


It really is a CASE of Julies card, it was so easy and I'd never have thought about colouring just one flower - thanks Julie!  The stamp is a really old one (again) which I stamped with VersaMark and embossed with my white embossing powder.  I coloured the one flower with my Distress Markers, which I have had for a few months now and not used.  To my horror it looked like the Picket Fence one didn't work at first, but after giving it a couple of seconds the colour just appears - odd, but true!  I used Mustard Seed for the centre, which I bought into the petals a little, you can see a little closer on this photo........


This has taken me a little while, I've had my fringe cut in the middle of blogging about it and had a chat on the phone to a friend, so I'm hoping I'm not first on the gallery today - I'm keen but don't want to be first on the Gallery every day ;) !

Thanks again to everyone, I'm having a ball!

Happy creating.

Carole
x