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 29 April 2015

Twisted Easel Card

Evening!! Just realised I haven't blogged for over a week, so thought I would pop on and share a card I made for the Kimono launch. It's an 8x8 twisted easel card. I made the base using Fresh White double sided Centura Pearl A3 card.  
I decided to make use of one of the fan cards. I printed one out, then printed one of the co-ordinating papers on the reverse. I cut out 8 pieces of fan, and used 4 original design side up, and turned four over to show the pink side. 
This is the whole thing laid flat so you can see the base. The mannequin images came from the Toppers section of the CD, and I used a couple of the Design Set papers for matting and layering. The circular butterfly stopper is from the Embellishment section.

Back soon!!
Cxx

Monday 20 April 2015

Crafty Cardmakers & More - Challenge #137 - Dots

Afternoon!! Time for a new challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers and More. This fortnight, our lovely host, Sally, would like to see 'Dots' on your project!! Couldn't really be simpler!! Just include something that has obvious dots on it!!

Well, I decided it was an opportunity to go totally dotty and have fun with a card that would be suitable for any little boy or girl!! I chose this cute Rachelle Anne Miller image from the Animal Adventure CD from Crafter's Companion. I used the matching paper from the same CD and printed it onto Centura Pearl Hint of Gold, to create the A5 tent fold card.
I picked up the blue and orange colours from the topper, along with the green - and used them for the background. The three dotty papers are from the Rachelle Anne Miller Kids At Play CD, and I backed each one onto a piece of coloured card. The orange and blue card was embossed with Embossalicious A4 Dottie folder. I used Wild Honey DI on the orange, and Salty Ocean on the blue. I edged the green with Mowed Lawn.

I found lengths of orange dotty ribbon, blue grosgrain and green dotty ribbon in my stash, and added buttons as embellishments to complete the dotty theme!!

Overall, a really bright and cheerful child's card - that is totally dotty!!

I would like to enter this into:
Creative Corner Challenges - For A Child
DLART Thankful Thursday Challenge #154 - Use Orange
Scrap Craft Inspiration #7 - Use Ribbon or Twine

Will be back soon!!
Cxxx

Wednesday 15 April 2015

Box Frame Decoupage.

Today's share is a framed decoupage from the Kimono collection. I bought a black box frame which allowed me to place the decoupage behind the glass, and the decoration in front of it. 
To bring out the gold highlights on the decoupage image, I applied Pebeo Empire Gold gilding wax using cut and dry foam. I cut the aperture frame in a piece of 12x12 black card. I then embossed two strips of black with the Embossalicious A4 Delicate Floral Embossing Folder.  I then applied more Pebeo Empire Gold gilding wax.
For the decoration, I used Die'sire Essentials Lace Corner 1 in red, and then cut lots of flowers using Essentials Flowers for All Occasions 1, 2 and 3 in red and black. The black ones were embossed and gilded. These were then layered up to fill the corner. 

This is a really simple thing to make - but makes a great home decor piece!! 

Take care,
Cxxxx

Tuesday 14 April 2015

Beautiful A4 Presentation Box!!

Today's share is an A4 presentation box decorated with one of the A4 decoupage designs. I used A3 Centura Pearl Hint of Gold and my Big Score.
For the box lid and base, I cut two pieces of the card to 10 3/4" x 14 1/4". I then scored one sheet on the Box Lid edge at 1 1/4", and the other on the Box Base edge - also at 1 1/4".
I cut another piece of card to 10 1/2" x 14". This was for the frame insert in the box base. I scored each side at 1/4", 1 1/4", 2 1/8", 3 1/8", 3 3/8". 
Next, I cut out the centre rectangle, using a craft knife.
At each corner, I made a diagonal cut to the where the third score lines from the outside meet. I also made cuts to form the tabs - as shown on the above photo.
I then folded and burnished the score lines, starting from the aperture in the middle and working to the outside.
Using some of the scraps, I cut four pieces of card 2 1/2" x 7/8". I scored each of these at 1 1/4". These are to fill in and strengthen the corners. Add glue as shown above.
Then stick the corner pieces to the frame.
Finally stick the corners (sorry - I seem to have put the watermark right over the relevant bit!!).
I stuck a sheet of the paper on the inside of the base of the box, then stuck the frame on top, using the box base to secure it.
I filled the box with notecards made from printing A6 notepaper from the Design Set onto card. I then added a shaped topper to each. The envelopes, notepaper, pillow box and tags are also from the Design Set.
After making the box lid, I stuck a piece of the pink/purple paper as a base, then added the A4 decoupage over the top.
I added a few fabric flowers and pearls for decoration.
And this is the completed presentation box. Don't forget to tune in to see Fiona with the Kimono Collection on Create and Craft. She's on at 9, 4 and 7 - providing the stock lasts!!
Take care,
Cxxx

Monday 13 April 2015

Kimono Gatefold!!

Morning!! It's time - Sara is on Create and Craft right now with the launch of the fabulous Crafter's Companion Kimono range!!
This is a gatefold card made from a complete sheet of A4 Matt Black card and one of the Card Companions from the CD. I used a bow and 'epoxy' circle, along with a few pearls for decoration.

I decorated the inside too, using one of the very striking patterned papers, more of the 'epoxy' circles and one of the smaller toppers from the Card Companion sheet. I stamped the sentiment from the Lotus Flower stamp plate. To fasten the card, I attached a piece of ribbon underneath the topper on the front of the card, and another to the back of the card. 

I hope you enjoy the show with Sara!! I'll be back tomorrow with another Kimono sample.

Take care,
Cxxxx

Sunday 12 April 2015

Kimono Screen Card

Morning!! Today's share is one of the gorgeous screen cards from the Crafter's Companion Kimono CD.
I printed the Screen Card directly from the CD onto Sheena Stamping Card. I also printed a co-ordinating paper onto the back of the card. I printed the screen card a second time so that I could layer up the inner screen sections for some dimension. The image is from the Toppers section, and the butterflies and 'epoxy' circles are from the Embellishment sections. I combined this with one of sentiments from the Porcelain stamp set.
I used one of the Design papers to matt and layer on the back. And if you're thinking - why doesn't one section of the back have an embellishment ....  that's where I have to put my list of materials so that Fiona and Sara know which parts of the CD I've used! 

Anyway, I'll be back tomorrow with another share - and will be watching the launch on Create and Craft!!
Take care!!
Cxx

Saturday 11 April 2015

Napkin Fold Kimono Card

Morning! I am back today with another card made using the fab new Kimono CD from Crafter's Companion. I decided to make a Napkin fold card as it reminded me of oriental style origami!! There are lots of tutorials for these out there on the Internets, but I used the measurements from Beccy's Place as these were ideal for what I wanted to achieve.
I cut a 12x12 piece of red card down to 11x11. I then scored it at 2 3/4" and 8 1/4", turned the card a quarter turn and repeated. I then marked the centre of each side (5 1/2") and scored between these four points to make the diagonal scores. And finally I scored the diagonals on the four corner squares (not shown on this photo). The vertical and horizontal  lines need to be folded one way. Then turn the card over to fold the diagonals.
For the large triangles, start by cutting a 5"x5" square - then cut it in half! It's that easy. The smaller triangles need a 4 3/4" square, cut into four. I edged them all with Black Soot Distress Ink.
It's just a case of choosing which papers you want where! All the papers are from the CD, printed onto Satin Finish Paper - the bright blue one was created using the colouriser! I stuck the triangles on both sides of the card, so that it would look good from all angles.
I printed the Topper Companion out at A5 size, and mounted it onto some of the paper. The fans and the circles are from the Embellishment sections. 
To make the band, I cut a strip of red card 3 3/8" wide, and used more of the papers and the smaller topper from the Topper Companion sheet to decorate it. 
There are lots of beautiful pastel colours on the CD - but there are also lots of opportunities to make things a little bolder and brighter like this!! 

There are lots of sneak peeks coming from the Design Teams over the weekend, in the run up to the launch on Monday! And if you're on Pinterest, there's a new board just for Kimono on the Crafter's Companion Pinterest page.

Be back tomorrow with another share!!
Cxxx

Friday 10 April 2015

Kimono Sneak Peek!!

Morning!! It's that time again - sneak peeks are starting today for a fabulous new range from Crafter's Companion. It's called Kimono - and consists of a CD, stamps, embossing folders and dies.
So, my first sneak peek is an S Fold Card. I printed the yellow dotty paper from the Coordinating Paper section of the CD onto Sheena Stamping Card, with another blue paper on the back. I scored the card in half, and then one of the halves I scored in half again to make the S Fold. The image is Card Companion 1, teamed up with one of the Design Set papers, and a bow from the Embellishment Section.
On the inside of the card, I used a fan and "Epoxy' circle from the Embellishment section, along with a stamped sentiment from the 'Lotus Flower' stamp sheet. I edged the layers with Shaded Lilac and Scattered Straw Distress Ink.

Sara and Fiona will be on Create and Craft from Monday with the 4-day deal - be sure to tune in to see all the great samples from the teams!!
Cxxx

Wednesday 8 April 2015

Speed Demon!

Today is my niece's 11th birthday!! She's a bit of an adrenaline junkie - so her birthday treat is a trip to Thorpe Park today!! A while back, I took her out riding on her bike on a trail near where she lives - and she loved it!! Especially the downhills!! So when I saw this digi stamp at Just Inklined called 'Speed Demon', I knew I would have to have it for her birthday card this year!!
Emma has blond, curly hair (although not quite so curly), and she wears glasses too - so this was perfect. I used bright fun colours - and had to include some pink as that is her favourite colour!! 

I used my Spectrum Noir Pens as follows: Hair - TN1, GB1, GB2, GB8 and GB10; Skin - FS2, FS3, FS4, CR4; T-Shirt and Boots - PL1, BP2, PP6; Dungarees - TB4, TB5, TB8, TB9; Bike - IG1, IG3, IG4, IG5, IG6, IG8, IG9, IG10, True Black, GB1, GB3, GB4, GB5.

As I had just been sorting out all my papers, I used up a couple of scraps - the yellow I am sure is Papermania - the blue is printed from one of my Crafter's Companion CD's (possible Halcyon Days - I really ought to write in on the back before it goes in my scraps box). I teamed this up with Papermill Raspberry card, and some Fuschia Centura Pearl from my scraps box. The sentiment and age I created on the computer, and I added some daisy ribbon (the last off cut that I seem to have had forever) and white and pink satin ribbon with some pearls. 

I would like to enter this into:
Crafty Catz - Anything Goes

Back soon with something new and exciting!!
Cxx

Monday 6 April 2015

CCM&M 136 - Wings!!

There's a new challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers and More for the next fortnight. Our lovely Mary is hosting, and she would like to see something with wings as the focal image on your project. This could be birds, planes, fairies, insects or even a steampunk clock - as long as it has wings!!
I decided to do a little colouring again for this challenge - and I chose 'Tilly Fairy' digi stamp from Saturated Canary. Fairies are not really my 'thing' but I decided to challenge myself - and I like the style of Saturated Canary images. I also decided to challenge myself with the colours - particularly the hair!!
So, I went for orange!! Rather bright and in your face - but thought it suited 'Tilly'. I used FS9, OR1, OR2, OR3 for the hair, socks and leotard. The wings, tights, shoes, bag etc were coloured with GT1, 2, 3. Skin was FS3, 4, 5, CR3.
I made an S fold card from Papermill Teal card, teamed with orange Bazzill card and the striped paper from Crafter's Companion Sugar and Spice CD. The flowers were cut with Die'sire Essentials Flowers for All Occasions 1.

Be sure to pop over to the Crafty Cardmakers and More blog to check out the fab inspiration from the rest of the team!! Then get busy making!!

I would like to enter this into:
Creatalicious Challenges - Anything Goes

Thursday 2 April 2015

A little more organising!!

Morning!! Well, what a fantastic Pick of the Week it's been. The 'Times Gone By' CD and stamp set is absolutely brilliant - and I really loved working with it. And it was really great to see both my mirror and bottle getting so much air time!!

But, there's no rest for the wicked - and I am still busy making lots of stuff.... but thought I'd just pop on and share another of those little 'organising' projects that I decided to do back in January!!

This one is a little pot to hold my pencils, pens, embossing tools, pick-up pencil, brushes, pokey tool, and quilling tool.
So, I started with a large, empty ribbon spool, and pulled one of the ends off. Because of the hole in the other end of the spool, I stuck a piece of card inside to prevent anything falling out! 
I then used one of my favourite colours of paint - DoCrafts Artiste Lagoon! Just love it!! I painted inside and out.
I then used DoCrafts free download - Dainty Swirls Collection Part 1 - to cut a strip of the lighter 'Leaves' paper.
Then I used a strip of the darker 'Floral Pattern' round the middle.
So, it was another of those quick, simple - and not too fussy makes. And works perfectly on my table to hold all those bits and pieces!!
When I find the time, I am going to make a larger caddy for my scissors etc - but it's just going to be a matter of when!!

Cxxx