Saturday 21 July 2012

Scrapbook - First Steps....

Last week I also completed two more scrapbook pages!




Of course there had to be ducks. We spent hours at the ducks walking (well she was walking we were bent over, holding onto her hands and shuffling along!). How fast time flies, now shes moved onto trikes and scooters....

Happy New Home

Happy New Home sis! Or nic-nic as she will ever be known by anyone who passed us yesterday at Tatton flower show, my little'un was shouting it at the top of her lungs any time nic-nic dared not to be within arms length!

This card was just sooo simple to make.

I took a plain white 8x8 inch card covered it in a key stamp (kaisercraft I think, as packaging is long gone!) distressed it lightly.

For the house I used Anne Maries design template, cut it out in card, then tore strips from a book and distressed then in greens. I then covered the house in the torn paper and cut around it, then distressed the cut edge. I cut 2 strips of a card board box and removed one of the flat sides stuck these on to make the roof and added staples, just because..... The door and window were made by cutting a rough rectangle and square. A mirror tile was added for the window and a smaller brown rectangle was cut for the door. A bead cap and brad were used for the door knocker. I tore a small rose for the top of the house out of some patterned paper, distressed it in pale brown then when it was made I added some crackle paint.

The butterflies are just a simple butterfly stamp (who's it is I have no idea!) distressed in pinks the wings curved slightly and a safetypin added as the body.

To bring it all together I added the ribbons down the sides. The key was attached using a chain of safetypins. I found to silver corners in my stash and added a cat embelishment next to the front door.

I didn't add a sentiment on the outside as it is the perfect size for an ikea box frame, so if she has a wall that needs a picture in the short term it can be used!

Thursday 5 July 2012

Dimension Stamps: A Festive Night by Lantern Light

This stamp set was also launched on Create and Craft on the 4th July A Festive Night by Lantern Light (stamp ref: 2400068a.)

Here's what I came up with (I did cards this time!)

Woven Card


I haven't used this technique for years but as soon as I saw the stamps I knew it needed weaving. To make the card I stamped the Lantern onto two cream pieces of cards and cut these into strips one length ways and the other width ways (always remember to take a smidge of each side of the strip to help with the weaving). I then weaved these together randomly securing each piece as I went. once completed colour in the image (I use distress inks to get that watercolour feel!) I then cut out the centre of the Lantern. On another cream piece of card I stamped the sentiment from the Word Perfect at Christmas Time (stamp ref: 1803063a.) This was distressed and attached to the Lantern. The whole image was then distressed to soften it (be careful as the pieces will move no matter how much you secured them!). The image was them added to a torn piece of burgundy card and that was then stuck onto kraft card. "Christmas Wishes" was added to the bottom.

I then added some ribbon and fibres for texture and crackle paint on the two sentiments. 

Gift Box



This box was just so easy to make, I can see a few being made at Christmas for handing out those little lady home baking treats ummmmm!  All I did was cut out a box using my Cricut and stamped on the Lantern. I then used one of the Ivy and Holly stamps from the set around the bottom. This was then coloured in using Distress inks. I then cut out the centre of the lantern. Onto acetate I stamped the window pattern. When the acetate was dry I stuck it to the inside of my box. I then glued the box together. To the top I punched holes and added eyelets for the ribbon.
I cut out the tag using my cricut added a sentiment from the Word Perfect at Christmas Time (stamp ref: 1803063a.) and filled the remaining space with the same stamp as I used for the bottom of the box. This was then coloured, distressed and added to the box.

Small Card


This card really is so quick and so simple. Onto a small piece of white card I stamped a sentiment from I cut out the tag using my cricut added a sentiment from the Word Perfect at Christmas Time (stamp ref: 1803063a.) and created a mask for the sentiment, I also masked of the edge of the piece of card. i then stamped the Ivy and holly stamp into the empty space. I removed the words mask but not the edges, i then coloured and distressed the image. This was then matted onto some gold card. On an A5 card I stamped the same image at the top and bottom of the card, this too was coloured and distressed.

I stamped the candle, cut this out and glossed it. this was all stuck to the card. To make the poinsettia I used  Petal Passion (stamp ref: 2400065a) You stamp the large flower once on green and red card. Then stamp the middle flower twice. on alternate petals add the veins, then cut the unstamped petals away, I then distressed these and curled them slightly. I then stuck them on top of each other making sure nothing was lined up and added card candi for the centre.

Poinsettia 

To make this one I just made three flower added a ribbon and strip of card and a sentiment. It really didn't need much as the flowers are just wonderful and really easy to make!

If you would like to see other ideas using this stamp set please visit the Dimension Stamps Blog.







Dimension Stamps: Frosty’s Fashion Frenzy

Dimension Stamps launched Frosty’s Fashion Frenzy (Stamp ref: 2400067a) on Create and Craft last Wednesday 4th July and I was honoured to be asked if I would make some sample cards for the show. Well, true to form I didn't exactly do as I was asked......

Tree Ornament










The stamps just cried out tree ornament to me, and what a fantastic way to get the kids involved with those Christmas preparations.

All I did was stamp the snowman in one of the outfits, coloured him in and cut him out. In the lower section I cut out the middle leaving a thin border (enough to attach the photo!). I mounted him onto the photo then onto some navy card adding the ribbon as a hanger and cut around him leaving a small border.

Ribbon was added for the scarf along with a bucket full of stickles and of course no tree ornament snowman would be complete without googley eyes.

Little lady is going to be busy making these for Grandparents, I think!



 

Scrapbook Page

For this scrapbook page I stamped and dressed the snowman, coloured him in and cut him out. I then stamped the lamppost again coloured this and cut it out. For the lettering I used Plain Lowercase Alphabet (ref: 1801014a). I made them by stamping one letter and creating and mask for it before I stamped the next. To add the snowmen into each letter, I trimmed the mask of the letters each side of the letter I was working on and added the snowman image. It was quite time consuming and fiddly but well worth it in the end as it gave the page a sense of depth but it was actually as flat as a pancake, so perfect for adding to the album. I then coloured the lettering in, in alternate colours and added a bit of sparkle, I added shadow to the letters with a grey pen.

For the background of the photo's I just randomly stamped the snowman's clothes and coloured it all in and lightly distressed around the edge.

To make it up I chose a matching 12 x12 paper, matted up the photos onto the stamped background then onto two corresponding papers and placed this centrally on the paper. I then added the lamppost, snowman and lettering.

Christmas Count Down



I just couldn't resist having a play!  To make this "Christmas Countdowner" I cut an A4 piece of thick green card in half (A5) to create the back and I cut the other half into strips to make the frame, I matted these onto thicker strips of gold card. I then created the background (not that you can see it in the picture!) I tore a couple of post-it notes to make hills and using distress inks created a sky, I then used a mister to give it a molted effect. I left this to dry for a while. Next I stamped a Mrs Snowlady using as many bits as possible, theses were then coloured in cut out and assembled. Once the background was completely dry I stamped and coloured in the lamppost. I then positioned all the frame and the Snowlady to find out where I could stamp my words and leaves. For the words I used  Plain Alphabet with Words (stamp ref: 2400050a), and the Krystal Tips Upper and Lowercase Alpha (Stamp ref: 2400012a). These were then coloured in.

To finish off I covered the background with sticky backed plastic (you could also use acetate!), added the frame, Snowlady and brads. I then stuck all this to the backing cards. Added two eyelets and ribbon! The Snowlady was then glittered and glossed up!

To add the number of days just use a dry wipe pen!

I had soooo much fun using these stamps, I really recommend you check out the Dimension Stamps blog to see what ideas the very talented design team have come up with, as they actually have made some cards hehehe!



Sunday 1 July 2012

Introducing Magnolia


Isn't she wonderful!

She has taken months to paint, well maybe not months, it just feels that way! But she is finally finished, she is about 12inches high by about 18inches long and weighs the same as a baby elephant, especially when you are holding her up with one hand and painting with the other. Lol.

I just love her, she is probably the bigest piece I have ever painted and she has given me the confidence to tackle a couple more of the larger pieces I have waiting to be painted, well maybe!

Whist I was painting Magnolia, I also worked on Bert...

(He will have a light in side him and little coloured bulbs in the trees, once my husband has chance to fit it!)

And of course Ernie...

(Not great picture!)

Both are alot smaller than Magnolia and were a doddle to paint! Or as my little'un calls them "tiny tiny".

This last one still needs glazing (and a minor repaint on its hat, one to many cuddles from little'un!).


I haven't named this one, yet its just known as head! lol.


Fathers Day

I know its alittle late but, better late than never, hey!

Here's the card I made for my Dad and Father-in-Law for Fathers day.


It was very quick and easy to make, well, it had to be we only got back of holiday on the wednesday before and we were delievering them on the Saturday! I used the grand total of two stamps, the pocket watch (Dimension stamps Large Pocket Watch ref: 1405001A) and the sentiment (Dimension Stamps again, Word perfect ref: 1803160a ). All I did was cut a piece of white card stamped the pocket watch in each third. Then using masks filled in the rest of the card, then distressed it. I then cut it into three, layered it up. Stamped the sentiment and it was done.

Not bad for a last minute make!