About Me

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I'm a retired primary school teacher, who started paper crafting in 2008, when I had a fancy to make my own Christmas cards. Since then, I have tried all sorts of techniques and styles - and I kind of like them all. I have been lucky enough to be on blog teams and large design teams and to do a bit of freelance demonstrating - and I love the challenge of working with different products. My crafting style is very varied - from junk journaling and art journaling, bookbinding and journal making, to quilting and patchwork - and of course I still make cards. This variety keeps me interested - and my crafty stash growing!! I'm always seeking inspiration for new projects.

Monday 18 February 2013

CCM Challenge #85 - Blooming Images

Our latest challenge has been set by Marie (MI). She has chosen the theme of 'Blooming Images'. She would like the flower to be the main image - no people, landscapes, trees, or people holding flowers - just flower images. The flowers could be in a vase - or it could just be the flowers.


Please ensure your card has only a flower/flowers as the main focus in order to qualify for the winner or Top 5 slot. 

We are sponsored by 

CRAFTS AND ME
with the choice of 3 digital stamps from their extensive range
 

and we also have on offer this fabulous die set, which has been very generously provided by a mystery donor! 
 Use these 26 clip and phrase dies to create tags & cards, party & wedding details, scrapbook pages, school projects, journals, home decor and more!

I chose to use my favourite daisy Paint Fusion stamp set from Sheena Douglass. I have them all, and although I don't use them so much these days, I do still love them. I started by using a wet on wet technique on the piece of shaped mount board (I picked this up at one of Sheena's workshops). All the paints I used are Eco-Green, and I used Clam Shell over the top of the brown mount board. Whilst that was still wet I brushed some Lime through it - not loads, but enough to add interest to the background. As I am a bit impatient, I dried it with a heat gun. 


I stamped the leaves and flowers onto the mount board using a really old Ink It Up olive green ink pad - I prefer to use a natural colour rather than black as then it tends to blend in with the paint. The leaves are painted using Zucchini and Lime. 

I started by painting the daisies in Clam Shell, and then a second time with Lime. This was to try to give a depth to the daisies - and to keep the colour tones similar. The final coat on the petals was White. Using a small stencil brush, I added Sunflower to the middle of each daisy, and a little Mulch to add dimension.


Once the paint was dry, I used a little Bundled Sage DI around the edges. I have to confess to now having ALL of the DI's - including the seasonals. I was given a few for Christmas, and then I splurged on the rest. I am a bit of a one for having complete sets. I currently have the Picket Fence pen, and am now eyeing up the rest of the DI pens!!! 


The cream base card is from Craftwork Cards - a 148mm 'Top Notch' square. I started with a square of lime green Bazzill Bling (sorry - don't know the colour names) and cut the corners off so you can see the detail of the base card. On top of that I use plain cream card from my stash,and rounded the corners with my X Cut corner rounder. The next layer is from My Mind's Eye - Lost and Found (if I recall correctly). Into this, I cut a decorative border using one of the inserts from Spellbinders Ric Rac Edgeabilities. To make this stand out, I stuck a piece of brown Bazzill behind it. The yellow layer is Bazzill, and the next brown layer also has the border cut into it. The final mat is the lime green again. 

Around all these layers, I wrapped some cream organza ribbon from my stash (Celebrations) and tied a bow. The cream and brown pearls are the finishing touch - I'm really into pearls at the moment - they're much more subtle than gems. 


For more inspiration, pop on over to the Crafty Cardmakers blog. The DT have been busy and have produced some great work - the range is as diverse as we are, so there should be something to inspire you all.

As for me, I shall return to writing reports for my lovely little Year 3's. It's VERY frustrating as it's half term, the sun is shining outside and my garden has been sorely neglected. But I know that if I don't knuckle down and do them, I shall regret it later. So I will be disciplined and get on with it. 

I would like to enter this into the following:
Craft Us Crazy - Use your favourites (the daisy stamp)
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Flowers and Pearls 

Until next time.
Cxxx

Monday 4 February 2013

Challenge #84 - Vintage Love

This week's challenge come from Kylie. She would like to see a project that incorporates the theme of Vintage Love. Your project must be Vintage and show at least one object that reminds people of love. Perhaps a picnic basket, gold locket, love letter etc etc. Hop over to the Crafty Cardmakers blog for some inspiration photos, as well as the ever brilliant DT projects.

                                        
We are sponsored this time by Di's Digi Downloads who are offering a $10 gift voucher, and also by Hobby Art.

For those who read my last Challenge blog, you will know I was lacking in inspiration. Not just for that Challenge, but for crafting generally. When I first saw the theme for this Challenge I was stumped. But, inspiration truly does come from strange places. My niece is learning about WW2 in school at the moment and, as I have carried out a lot of work on the family tree, I had been looking through the war records of two of her great-grandads! And it reminded me of this photo:


This is my Dad's parents' marriage photo, taken on 19th July 1941. And what better for Vintage Love, than a wartime wedding!!

I imported the photo into Serif Craft Artist, where I used a background from the 40's Wartime digitkit, along with the photo frame. I really liked the contrast of the red against the muted tones. I edited the photo to make it more sepia to keep with the tones from the hessian style background.


I added the note onto the red journalling block using the 40's alphabet, and tucked the aged tag (from Swirling Memories digikit) behind it. The ration book embellishment, gorgeous red flower and buttons all came from the 40's kit, while the ribbon was from the British Street Party digikit. The final touch were the swirls - of course from Swirling Memories.

I'm really quite chuffed with this layout. I know I've already said it, but I just love the red against the muted colours. It sort of reminds me of my Grandad who was very much part of the British Legion and always was involved in selling poppies. I have distant memories of my sister and I helping to assemble them in my grandparents lounge.

Make sure you pop over to the Crafty Cardmakers blog for more wonderful inspiration.

Back soon!!

Cxxx