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.

Wednesday 26 November 2014

Name Tag!!

A quick post today. This is a card I made for my friend's daughter. The idea is she'll be able to use it to put it on her bedroom door later. The brown patterned card is from DCWV Spring Stack (it's been in my stash for quite a while!!), and the pink is Create and Craft Textured Effect card. I've also used some pink starry paper (think it's Papermania), brown Bazzill, and cream card.
I used a large letter stencil to cut out the letters from a combination of the paper and card. The mats are cut with Spellbinders Ovals and Beaded Ovals. I used a little raffia, some pearls and stickers from DCVW 'Sweet' collection.

That's it for today - as I said, just a quick post!
I would like to enter this into:
My Craft Creations - Anything Goes
The Pink Elephant Challenges - Anything Goes

Cxxx

Monday 24 November 2014

CCM&M Challenge 128 - Distress It!!

Afternoon!! Hope you're all having a good one!! It's time for a new challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers and More. This time round our lovely leader, Lin, is hosting and she has asked that we all 'Distress It'. So, she would like to see distressing on your projects - and preferably lots of it!!

We are sponsored this time by Di's Digi Stamps who are offering a $12 gift certificate! And also by the wonderful Woodware Craft Collection who are offering a £12 voucher! The team from Woodware are also playing along with this challenge - so be sure to check out all the fab inspiration ontheir blog as well as the inspiration from our team over on the Crafty Cardmakers and More blog.


Now, I really like this kind of challenge. But, if I'm being honest, when I first started crafting, I really didn't like getting messy, and to crumple things up and rip and tear edge, seemed just crazy! So, if any of you out there are a little bit unsure about distressing, my suggestion to you is - raid that stash of off-cuts of paper. You know - the ones that you think you will use - but rarely do. Practice on them - you don't even need to start with a full project. Just play!! If you're not keen on being messy, then have a pack of wipes and a kitchen roll to hand, and clean up as you go. That's how I started - and now I love it!!
So - onto my project. I will start with an apology. I was rummaging through my papers when I was deciding what to do, and found these in a box. However, I had thrown away the packaging - so I now have no idea where they came from. I have a suspicion they are are Papermania as they are A5 - but I have searched and searched the Internet - and cannot find them.
Once I had found a selection of papers that I liked, I then picked out what else I would use. I usually do this - I don't always end up using everything - but it gives me a selection of things to work from. So, the base card is Papermill Navy card, and I used some Nostalgia Core'dinations, Distress Inks, Distress Crackle Paint, and my Tim Holtz Paper Distresser.
I started by distressing the edges of this paper, then inking with Crushed Olive DI.
With the second piece of paper, I distressed the edges, then crumpled it up into a ball. I then rubbed Rusty Hinge DI over the top to highlight the wrinkles, then blasted it with a heat gun. I then ironed it flat.
For this mat, I again distressed the edges - but also ripped into it to show the colour core. I also lightly sanded around the edges with my Core'dinations Sand It block. For those that don't like mess, then make sure you also have the Dust Buddy Handy. It's great for clearing up the mess from sanding - but also rub it over the card to remove the residue from there too! I then inked with Chipped Sapphire DI.
This piece of Core'dinations was embossed (Embossalicious Elegance), and sanded back to reveal the core.
I then covered it in Rocky Candy Distress Crackle paint. You have to be quite generous with this to get a decent crackle - and looking at the results, I think I was maybe a little mean. After it was dry, I used Creative Expressions Golden Light gilding wax over the top. Hopefully the photo below shows the finished effect. 
I used Chipped Sapphire to stamp onto the papers using three of the stamps from the Magenta Blooming Floral Clear Stamps set. I fussy cut the smaller two, and used a circle die to cut the larger one. A scalloped circle with sanded edges provided the mat.
Finishing touches include organza ribbon, satin ribbon, a little charm and some pearls.

Now it's over to you! Remember, don't be afraid of distressing!! Just have a go - you may surprise yourself at how much you enjoy it!!

I would like to enter this into:
A Creative Romance  - Something Old (the papers - they're so old I'm not even sure who                                                             made them)
Inky Impressions - Anything Goes with Pearls
Cxxxx

Saturday 22 November 2014

Christmas Is Coming!!

Yes it is - all too quickly!! What with the all the recent launches of Sweet Treats, Bebunni Floral and Sugar and Spice, I completely forgot to blog my inspiration for Crafter's Companion November Challenge - which is Christmas or Winter!!

There is still time to enter - and remember that you don't have to use Crafter's Companion products. 
I made small gift bag from an A3 sheet of Centura Pearl, then used my Softly Falling Create a Card die to cut a decorative mat from more of the same. I embossed a piece of Core'dinations with Embossalicious Let It Snow folder, and used that and a couple of papers from the Moonbeam Meadow Christmas CD. The image is also from the same CD.

I cut a couple of Die'sire Snowflakes from the patterned papers, and used them to embellish the bag, along with some fabric daisies and pearls. I finished off with some cord from that I had kept from an old gift bag!! 

For those of you interested in making the bag: Score at 15cm, 17cm, 19cm, 34cm, 36cm 38cm (lines shown vertically on the picture). Turn anti-clockwise, and score at 2cm, 22cm (you may not want to do this line - I was hoping the bag would fold down like the ones you buy - but it didn't), 25cm (these lines are shown horizontally on the picture).
The 2cm strip at the top is folded down to give a nice edge at the top of the bag. The 4cm strip shown on the right is the tab for gluing inside the bag. Along the bottom strip, cut out triangles up to the score line to create a tab along the 15cm part, another one across the two 2cm sections, a third along the second 15cm piece, and a fourth across the other two 2cm sections. You do not need the piece at the end. It's then just a case of folding and gluing!! Ok - you will need to do a little trimming and jiggling as you go - but I'm sure you can cope with that!!
Anyway - just over a week left to enter the challenge - so don't forget!!

Cxxx

Thursday 20 November 2014

Cupcakes and Butterflies!!

A couple of cards this morning. The first is made with one of the card frames, cut down to make the circle topper. I embossed the 6x6 Birthday Cupcake folder onto Core'dinations, sanded it back and fussy cut it out.
I also used the sentiment, bow and flower that came with the card frame, with a few pearls for decoration on the cupcake.

For the second card, I cut the card frame down again, to make the topper. This time I embossed Core'dinations card with the 6x6 Love Birds folder, sanded it back and fussy cut round the outside. 
 Make sure that you tune in at 5pm today to see Sara with the last of the 4 day deal shows. Cxxx

Tuesday 18 November 2014

Cucakes and Pencils!!

Good morning!! Not long until Leann is back on Create and Craft with the gorgeous Sugar and Spice collection of Embossing Folders and the new CD.
For this card, I embossed some Neenah Solar White Card with the 6x6 Birthday Cupcake folder. I then used my Spectrum Noir pencils (pink 31/32, blue 67/74, yellow 84/85) and blending solution to colour it in. 

The image at the bottom is from the toppers set, and the matching papers are from the CD. The flowers at the top are cut with the new Die'sire Forget Me Not 3D flower die.

Make sure you tune in later to see more of the great samples from the team!!

Take care,
Cxxx

Monday 17 November 2014

Going large!!!

Good evening!! Have been working on a project tonight - but have given up as half way through I realised I made a fundamental error with measurements!! So, it'll be back to the drawing board tomorrow.
But in the meantime here's another Sugar and Spice card. This is a large A4 card made from an A3 piece of Centura Pearl Hint of Silver. I used one of the Topper Companions, and printed it twice so I could decoupage the cakes - after spraying them with Pearl Diamond Spray and Sparkle. The papers are printed onto Satin Finish Paper, and I embossed another piece of Centura Pearl with the 8x8 Cakes Galore folder. 
The 3D bow is from the CD - with a bit of ribbon from my stash. And the numbers are cut with Die'sire 3" Numbers - and also embossed. I treated myself to the 3" Alphabet and Numbers recently when they were on offer - and they are a perfect size for this card. The little embellishment in the top corner is made using my Epiphany Round 25 - with a bubble cap.

Well, that's all for tonight! Hopefully my brain will be in gear tomorrow and I will be able to sort out tonight's little mess!!

Take care,
Cxxx

Sunday 16 November 2014

Sugar and Spice!!

Good evening!! Have been so busy doing 'catch up' jobs, lesson prep and having a little play with some crafty stash, that I forgot to blog earlier!! Tomorrow is the launch of the Sugar and Spice CD to complement the embossing folders - and also of the new quilling and 3D flower dies. 

Am going to share two cards with you - both in the same gorgeous blue and lilac colour way. The first is this A5 tent fold card, using one of the Card Companion images. I printed the papers that matched onto Satin Finish paper, and used Centura Pearl Fresh Blue and Purple from the Pastels collection. I embossed the Blue with the A4 Floral Trellis folder.
The flower is made from the new Blossom Quilling die, using the Purple Centura Pearl, and the blue patterned paper. I cut two pieces of each colour, and stuck the two pieces together, staggering the petals. I started with a piece cut with the Stamen die, quilled that up, then added the blue around it, then the purple.

The second card is a twisted easel card. This is another Card Companion - this time circular. Again, the matching papers were printed on Satin Finish - and I used the Fresh Blue again, this time with Hint of Silver.
The Blue Centura was embossed with the A4 Delicate Floral folder, and the flowers are cut using the new Forget Me Not die. I added little paper flowers from my stash on to the top.

Make sure you tune in tomorrow at 8am to see Leann launch the new CD and all the great dies.

Back tomorrow - probably be a late one again!!
Take care,
Cxxx

Saturday 15 November 2014

It's been framed!!

Good morning!! Yay - it's the weekend!! Has felt like a very long week - but I bet the weekend with go in a flash!! Anyway, it means that it's not long now until the launch of the Sugar and Spice CD, along with some fantastic new quilling and floral dies.
One of the features of the CD are the frame cards. Each comes with the box frame, and two options for the image. I printed this one onto Centura Pearl Hint of Gold. For the background, I printed a couple of the papers from the CD onto Satin Finish Paper, and embossed more Centura Pearl with the gorgeous 8x8 Elegant Orchid folder. 
The flowers are cut with one of the new 3D Classique Floral dies - this one is called Lace Bloom - and comes with the little swirly leaf too. The lettering is cut Die'sire 1" Alphabet dies - both upper and lower case. 

Still loads more to share - so keep an eye out - both from me and from the rest of the DT.
Take care,
Cxxxx

Friday 14 November 2014

Sugar and Spice - Definitely Nice!!

Well - had a day off from blogging yesterday, but am back today with something new!! Launching on Monday on Create and Craft is a new CD to go with the recently released Sugar and Spice Embossing folders. There are also a 6 new Quilling dies, and 3 new Classiques flower dies.
I made the 8x8 card base using CC Black Matt card. The image in the corner and the sentiment are from one of the Card Companions on the new CD, as are all the gorgeous papers. 

I embossed Centura Pearl Hint of Silver with the A4 Floral Trellis and 8x8 Elegant Orchid folders to use for matting and layering with the papers and black card.

For the bunch of flowers, I used two of the new Quilling Dies - Blossom and Petals to make the large flowers - and sprayed them with Pearl Diamond Spray and Sparkle. The smaller flowers in the background are cut with two of the Classiques Flower dies - Forget Me Not and Lace Bloom. The little black leaf swirls are also from the Lace Bloom - and the ones by the ribbon are from Forget Me Not.

Keep an eye out for all the great inspiration from the Design Team on FB and on their blogs.

Take care,
Cxxx

Wednesday 12 November 2014

A Giant Tag!!

Morning. Something other than a card today. This might look like an ordinary tag, but actually it's the length of an A4 piece of card. So I suppose it's a giant tag.
I used the 'Lucky You' stamp on Neenah Desert Storm and coloured it with Spectrum Noir pens - Bebunni: IG1, 2, 4, 6, PP1; Horseshoe: IB1, 2, 3; Clover: CG1, 2, 3, 4. 

The base tag is from an A4 sheet of Kraft card. I printed papers from the CD onto Parchment Paper and combined them with some Core'dinations card to cover the tag, and mat and layer the stamp and sentiment. 

To add a bit of interest, cut a piece of Kraft card with my Die'sire Aurora Create a Card die. A few pearl and some ribbon completed the tag.

Before I go, thanks to all the new 'likers' on my FB page - and the new followers on Pinterest. It's great to have your company.

Don't forget to tune into Create and Craft at 11am and 6pm for more Bebunni Floral!!
Take care,
Cxxx

Tuesday 11 November 2014

A little late night Bebunni!

Evening all!! Bit late posting today - but have been busy both with work and other bits and pieces. Thought I would share two cards again today. The first is a gatefold card. 
I used one of the Topper Companions for this - with the smaller image on the outside, and the larger on on the inside. And of course the little butterflies are cut with the new dies!!
I printed the papers that match the topper onto Satin Finish Paper.

The second card is sort of accordian style card. The base card is made from Centura Pearl, printed on both sides with papers from the CD. I printed one of the toppers onto Prinatble Light Card, then mat and layered it onto card and another of the papers.
The flower is from the Embellishment section, and I used a few buttons from my stash. 
That's it for tonight. 
Take care, and see you tomorrow.
Cxxx

Monday 10 November 2014

Crafty Cardmakers & More #127 - A Touch of Charm

Afternoon. It's Challenge time over at Crafty Cardmakers and More. This time the lovely Josephine is hosting and she has chosen 'A Touch of Charm' - so we would like to see a charm added to your project somewhere. 

I have a few charms in my stash - but don't use them that often, so decided to have a rummage to see what I could find. In amongst them all were these two with clover leaves on them. Now, I know they are not 4-leaved clover - but still I thought they would make a lovely addition to a Good Luck card. 

I've been perusing Pinterest on and off - and am really liking the cards making use of banners and pennants. The layout I have used is from a card I found here via Pinterest. 
I started with an A4 piece of dark green card, and cut an 11 1/2 cm strip lengthways. I then scored it in half to make a tent fold card. The papers are all offcuts from my scraps box. I think that they are all Papermania - possibly from a Capsule collection. The sentiment is from an old die cut sheet - and because it was blue rather than green, I brought blue into the overall colour scheme - with the largest mat, the scalloped circle and one of the buttons. The charms are attached by lengths of thin white ribbon. 

Quite a simple layout - but really easy to make - and effective!!
Make sure you check out the rest of the Design Team's inspiration over on the blog - and then get busy crafting.

I would like to enter this into the following:
Hiding In My Craft Room - #173 Super Scraps Saturday

Cxxx

Today's the day!!!

Yay - today is the day that Bebunni Floral launches on Create and Craft. And because of that I have two cards to share. They are both created using the Floral Garden stamp - one on Neenah Desert Storm - the other on Solar White. 
So, this one is on Desert Storm. Bebunni is coloured with IG1, 2, 4, 6, PP1. The flowers - BG3, FS2, PP3; Leaves - CG1, 2, 4; Watering Can - IG2, 4, 6. 

I used 2 sheets of Kraft card to make the base, and although you can't really see beneath the flowers, I used one of the papers printed onto Parchment Paper. I then printed onto more Kraft card - on both sides - and ran it through my sewing machine. I then used a bottle to help the card to curl over in the corner, and secured it with a large brad. The sentiment is from the same stamp set - and the butterflies from the Butterfly and Bee die set. 

And, for a complete contrast, here's the one on the Solar White. Bebunni is coloured as above. The flowers: PP1, 2, 5, CT1, 3, 4, OR1; leaves - LG1, 2, 3, 5; watering can TB2, 4, CT1, 3.
I layered pink and blue papers from the CD with cardstock, and then used the pink paper and card to make a flower with the Die'sire Large and Small Sunflower Quilling Die - and the Stamen die. The leaves are Leaf 1, and the little butterfly and bee are cut with the Butterfly and Bee die set. 

I will have to record the shows today as I am off to work later - but hope that you all tune in to see the fab products available.

I will be back later today as it's Challenge Time over at Crafty Cardmakers and More!! 

Take care,
Cxxx

Sunday 9 November 2014

Bebunni Handbag Card

Something from the CD this morning. This is one of a couple of Handbag cards from the Shaped cards section. I printed it off onto watercolour card, and then put it back in the printer and printed the pink paisley paper on the back. 
I printed the front again and cut out Bebunni to give a 3D effect. I used one of the larger sentiments on the front mounted on an Essentials Circle, along with little flowers cut with the Bebunni Daisy die. A little bow with a Bebunni Butterfly on, finished the front.
For the inside of the card, I used one of the toppers and another of the sentiments from the CD. I mounted them on pieces cut from the second printing of the Handbag card, along with one of the papers. 

There are lots of different shaped cards on the CD - including Concertina cards and Boxed cards as well as the Handbag cards. Make sure you tune in tomorrow for the launch!!
Take care
Cxxx


Saturday 8 November 2014

More Bunches of Love ......

Following yesterday's 'Bunches of Love' on Neenah Desert Storm, here's the same stamp on Solar White. For those that follow Crafter's Companion FB page, you may have seen this on there yesterday.
Bebunni is coloured with the same pens as yesterday - IG1, 2, 4, 6, PP1. For the bunch of flowers I used TN1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, BT1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. 

I made the base card from Centura Pearl Double Sided Fresh White, and then cut another piece with Die'sire Devore Create a Card. 
The large peachy flowers are from the CD, and the little blue ones are cut with the Bebunni Floral Daisy die. And the butterfly is the Butterfly and Bee die. 

Take care - will be back soon. 
Cxxx

Friday 7 November 2014

Bebunni - Bunches of Love

Today's card uses one of the new stamps - this one is called Bunches of Love. I used Neenah Desert Storm card. I chose the colours because I really liked the background paper from the CD - and thought it would look great with black and Kraft card.
Bebunni was coloured with IG1, 2, 4, 6 and PP1. For the bunch of flowers I used IG1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, FS1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9. 

The base card is made from CC Matt Black Card, and the papers are printed onto Printable Parchment paper. The mat of Kraft card was embossed with Embossalicious A4 Dottie folder. The sentiment is from the same stamp set, and the little butterfly was cut with the Bebunni Floral Collection Die - Butterfly and Bee. 

Take care,
Cxxxx


Thursday 6 November 2014

Take a Side Step!

Today's Bebunni Floral card is a side stepper. I have to admit that I intended for the step part to be on the right hand side - but cut it incorrectly (twice!!) - so decided that I would just go with it!! 
I printed one of the papers from the CD onto Centura Pearl Hint of Silver for the base card, and the images are from one of the Topper Companions printed onto Watercolour card. The large flowers are from the embellishment section, and the little ones are cut with the Bebunni Daisy die. The sentiment is also from the CD.
Off to do lots more crafty stuff - and maybe venture to the garden shed to tidy it up. Winter is definitely showing its face and there's a lot I need to get sorted in the garden before it takes firm hold!! Enjoy your day!!
Cxxx

Wednesday 5 November 2014

Bebunni Floral Sneak Peek #3

Hello again!! Another sneak peek from me - and this time it's a decoupage card!! If you love traditional decoupage - then there are some lovely designs on the CD. I kept the layout quite simple, and the colours fairly neutral.
The base card is made with Centura Pearl Hint of Gold, printed with one of the paper designs. I used Satin Finish Paper for another of the designs, along with two colours of Core'dinations cardstock.  

For embellishment, I use my Epiphany Round 25 with a bubble cap to encase one of the little flowers cut with the Bebunni Floral Collection Daisy die. I used more daisies, and a butterfly cut using the butterfly from the Butterfly and Bee dies. 

Thanks for all the follows here, on my Papercraft by Carole FB page and on Pinterest - it's been great to see pictures of my projects being re-pinned all over the place.

Back soon,
Cxxx

Tuesday 4 November 2014

Sneaky Peek - Bebunni Floral Stamp!!

Morning!! Just a quick post. Today's card was shared on the Crafter's Companion Facebook page last night, and uses one of the 8 new stamps that are part of the Bebunni Floral Range. 
The image is, of course, on Neenah Solar White and I used Centura Pearl Hint of Silver for the base easel card.  Blue Core'dinations card was used for the mats - the decorative one cut with Die'sire Elegance stamping frame. The paper is from the CD, and printed onto Satin Finish Paper. 

To colour the image in I used: Bebunni - IG1, 2, 4, 6, PP1 and the Horseshoe and 'Flower' (it's actually meant to be clover - but that's the joy of colouring images in) - IB1, 2, 3. The sentiment is from the same stamp plate. 

Have loads to do today - so will leave you for now!! Take care!
Cxxx

Monday 3 November 2014

It's Bebunni Floral Sneak Peek Time!!

A very good morning to you!! And this morning I have something that I know people have been anticipating for a while now!! It's Bebunni Floral!!! Yay!! There is a gorgeous CD Rom, along with 8 stamps - and some beautiful little dies. 
For my first sneak peek, I have a telescopic card. It's the first time I've made one of these - and it's really quite straight forward!! You need to start with three circles (am sure it would work with other shapes like hexagons) of different sizes, decorate each one, connect them with brads - and hey presto.
So, I used one of the circular Topper Companions for the images on Neenah Solar White, and printed three different papers onto Centura Pearl Hint of Silver. 

I used a combination of Die'sire Essential Circle and Chantilly Lace Stamping Frame dies for the smaller mats and layers. The sentiment (doesn't show too well in the photo) is from the Die'sire Sentimentals Ornate collection. I used my Spectrum Noir pen BT3 rather than ink. 
The little flowers that you can see are cut with the Bebunni Floral Collection Daisy die - and the butterflies are from the Butterfly and Bee die set.  

There will be plenty of sneak peeks from myself and all the team - so watch out on Facebook and on the blogs for loads more inspiration.

Cxxx

Sunday 2 November 2014

A Little Kanban Love!!

Something different this evening. This is the anniversary card I made for my sister and brother-in-law! It's from an old Kanban Love and Marriage collection. 
I teamed the topper up with CC Kraft card, and some pink Bazzill, embossed with CC A4 Dottie folder. The papers are from my stash, and I used some thin ribbon and a button to embellish. I have used lots of mats and layers on this card - but no fancy dies. I wanted to keep it fairly simple.

Not much else to say - except I'll be back in the morning with something exciting!!
Cxxx 

Saturday 1 November 2014

Last call.......

I am still trying to trace Anne Daily - the winner of the Bebunni Celebration stamp from my blog giveaway. Unfortunately, if I don't hear by 3pm today, I will have to redraw. If you know Anne, please ask her to email me her address: mail@papercraftbycarole.co.uk. 

A quick post this morning. It's taken me a while to get round to sharing this card. Jed and I share a birthday - so it was a few weeks ago that I made this one!!
The image and papers are from Crafter's Companion Angelica and Adam CD. I used the tag to put Jed's name on. The letters were cut using CC 1" Alphabet Dies - as was the number for his age. 

A length of ribbon across the card, more of the same through the tags, and a few buttons finish the card off! 

Off to do busy things!!
Cxxx