Stampin' Up "Moon Lake" Card

This afternoon I've been playing with my watercolour pencils.

On this card, for both the sentiment and the image, I have used a retired stamp set from Stampin' Up called "Moon Lake.

Floral Sunshine Wishes Card

Using a background of blended Panpastels, I created this card with a flower die cut from the Stampin' Up "Sunshine Wishes" set and the sentiment from their "Good Greetings" stamp set.

The image was trimmed to size using a die from the Memorybox "Stitched Rectangle Layers" set which was mounted onto black cardstock.

Throwback Thursday - Paper Sail Boats

It's throwback Thursday.  Two years ago today I was making paper sail boats.

If you're interested in making them too, here is the link:  http://www.mathematische-basteleien.de/paper_ship.htm

A Card For Mum in a shabby chic style

It's my Mother-in-laws birthday at the weekend & I've been putting off making a card for her, as I am never quite certain that she likes them or appreciates the work I put into one.  However, I couldn't bring myself to buy a card, so made this for her.

It is a very fussy style with a little nod to the shabby chic style of Cath Kidston.

...and a close up of the detail

Starfish Birthday Card (Stampin' Up By The Seashore)

I really like the way this simple birthday card turned out.  

The Starfish image is stamped using a stamp from the Stampin' Up "By The Seashore" set.  The sentiment is from a Papertrey Ink set called "Stylish Sentiments", which I cut into a banner/tag shape and layered onto blue cardstock.

Week 17 - 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2017

The prompt for Week 17 of the 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2017 is:  "Guilty Pleasure".

There is one guilty pleasure which has been a constant in my life, even in childhood. Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate eaten with a mug of coffee.  For me it is the perfect combination, especially as the chocolate melts in the mouth, getting stuck around my back teeth then washed away with a mouthful of coffee.  It is absolute bliss.  So really it was a no-brainer what my tag would be about.

I started by covering my tag in patterned paper,  I printed off a photo of the chocolate bar wrapper, adding it to the tag.  I then inked the edges of the tag.

Using a Papertrey Ink stamp from their "Everyday Classics" set I stamped the cup and steam images.  Using a scrolling alphabet stamp, I stamped the words "Guilty Pleasure" either side of the chocolate bar.  Finally, I added some alphabet stickers to say "My Coffee &".

Don't forget, if you are following the challenge, I'd love to see your creations.

Sam x

A New Home Card

My friends are moving house shortly, so thought I'd better start making cards for forthcoming occassions.

The floral patterned paper is from the "Pretty Posy" 6x6 paperstack (purchased from The Range), mounted onto some co-ordinating green cardstock.  I used a die to cut the white doily (I don't recall what brand it is).  I then cut two circles in different sizes using Spellbinders dies.

I mounted the two circles on top of each other, glued them and then punched two small holes to thread the ribbon through.  The ribbon was tied through the 7Gypsies key embellishment.  I then glued the central key section onto the doily.  

I then cut 7 small circles in green cardstock and then die cut the word "New Home" using Xcut dies.  I then mounted the individual letters onto the circles and stuck them around the edge if the doily.

I finished the card by adding self adhesive pearls to the doily and to the corners of the card.

A close up view of the detail.

Water Lily Tag

I couldn't sleep last night, so got up at 4:30, made a cuppa and decided to have a play and make a tag.  In my mind it was going to be a water theme, hence the colour scheme, but for some reason it wouldn't gel, so I ended up making it more of a water lily.

I used an off cut of chevron patterned paper and inked it in various shades of blue, green and mauve.  I found a small section of a die cut honeycomb which I glued to the top.  I then rummaged through my die cuts box and found the foliage in just the right shade.  The flower is in three layers and was secured with a pink brad.

A floral Tag (using freebies from Simply Cards & Papercraft Magazine)

I received my copy of "Simply Cards & Papercraft" magazine, Issue 162, earlier in the week.  I've not had a chance to look through it yet, but I was drawn to the free stamp and die set that was in the front of the pack, so I decided to have a quick play by making a tag.

I embossed the tag using a We R Memory Keepers "Woven" embossing folder to create a textured background.

I then stamped the jar, flowers and leaves, using my watercolour pencils to colour them.  I then die cut and hand cut the components.  I played with the positioning, once happy I glued the pieces down.

Throwback Thursday - First Scrapbooking Pages

I recently took a look at my old scrapbook albums.  I have not scrapbooked for many years, so it was nice to see and reflect on my early layouts.

The photos of the layouts below are my first two layouts ever.  I clearly remember the trepidation when I made them.

I used the same photograph (our Son, Philip) in both layouts. I obviously thought that a ripped paper edge was the way to go at that time, although that was more likely down to minimal papercrafting stash, so my choice was limited.

I by far prefer the second layout.

Week 16 - 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2017

It's Easter Monday and time for the Week 16 prompt which is "Black & White / Monochrome".

I started off with a black background then added a die cut overlay in a honeycomb design (Memorybox Honeycomb Background Style No,99434).  I punched some stars in white card and die cut foliage in two shades of grey using Creative Expression dies.

I played with the position of the components then glued them down, adding sticky backed pearls and ribbon.

Easter Greetings

Thank you for looking at my little blog of makes and ramblings.  I hope you're having a lovely relaxing weekend.

Here's a chocolate ganache cake I made using mini eggs on the top.

Just A Note Card

I needed to make an acceptance card, so made this quick card using patterned paper from the 6x6 "Paper Flowers" set.

The decorative central area is a Spellbinders die from their "Jubilee Tags" set, with a stamped sentiment of "Just A Note".

Stampers Anonymous Mini Bouquet Wild Roses Tag

Undecided what to make, I started off stamping some flowers from the Stampers Anonymous "Mini Bouquet" stamp set.  Colouring them in with my water colour pencils in pale shades of pink.  I'm not sure what flowers they are supposed to be, but to me they look like wild roses, so that's what I'm going to call the tag for this purpose. I then cut the images out by hand.

I picked a selection of dies, I think they are mainly by Creative Expressions and cut the foliage and scrolls.

I played around with positioning finally deciding what I liked and stuck them to the pale pink with tiny white dotty background of the tag.  

Week 15 - 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2017

The prompt for Week 15 is "Easter".

For this week I decided to go for a nest with eggs.  I used the Stampin' Up "Swirly Scribbles" die in two layers to create the nest.  The leaves and eggs were also cut using the same set.  I stuck patterned paper to a tag and then inked it in various shades.  I then positioned and glued the dies on.  

Finally I stamped the sentiment, using a Penny Black set called "Garden Friends".

Courage Verse Tag

Playing with Panpastels, I created a background for this tag in my favourite colours - blues and greens.  I used a Stampin' Up stamp from their "Butterfly Basics" set.  The verse is from a Stampers Anonymous stamp set.

I finished the tag by adding a silver coloured ribbon and silver coloured sticky gem stones.

An Easter Bunny Card (Penny Black Garden Friends)

Willow, our three year old Grandaughter was in an Easter concert yesterday, dressed as a bunny.  Unfortunately, because we live so far away, we miss out on the school activities, but we do get to see video clips thanks to moblile phones. I made this card to congratulate Willow on her performance.

I used a Penny Black stamp from their set called "Garden Friends" colouring it with watercolour pencils.  Using a Memorybox "Stitched Rectangle Layers" die, I cut the rectangle then mounted it onto patterned paper and then onto a card blank.

A Hexagon Patchwork Card

I recently purchased a little set of hexagon dies, so decided today I would try them out.

For this card I chose patterned paper from the First Editions "Paper Flowers" paper stack which I purchased from The Range.  I cut the paper into hexagons using the Xcut "Nesting Hexagon Die Set" which was a really cheap price at under £3.

I positioned the hexagons on a card blank and glued them into position.  I then found a pre cut die cut "thanks" word (originally cut using a Stampin' Up die from the "Hello You" thinlits set). glueing that into position.  Finally I added some sticky backed pearls.

Chloe Stem Grunge Tag

For this tag I've gone for a grunge style.  I find it so hard to create a more informal style.

I started off with an off-cut of patterned paper in a cream colour and added assorted stamped images including using Stampin' Up "Gorgeous Grunge", Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous stamps and various others.

In my scrap box, I found a couple of Memorybox "Chloe stem" die cuts I hadn't needed for a previous project.

Spellbinders "Blooms One" Card

Today I played with some Spellbinders D-lites "Blooms One" die set today, creating this card with three of the flowers made from the set.

I have also used a sentiment by Stampin' Up from their "Butterfly Basics" Set.

Week 14 - 52 Week Art Card/Tag Challenge 2017

The prompt for Week 17 of the 52 Week Art Card/Tag Challenge 2017 is "Trees & Leaves".

Time seems to have run away with me this week, so I have made a very simple tag.  For the trees at the base of the tag I have used a stamp from the Stampin' Up set called "Lovely As A Tree".  The stamp in the frame is also by Stampin' Up and is from their "Faith In Nature" set.