Simple Filigree...

Happy Tuesday,

Firstly I would like to thank you all for the kind words yesterday, both my mum and I had a nice day remembering the positive things and as so many of you said My dad would be so proud of what I have achieved.  There are a couple of things that I cant wait to share with you all but as they say patience is a virtue so I will have to wait until the time is right.

back to today, I have made two versions of this card and this one is the simpler one of the two, the other is on hols and will be posted when I am allowed!  I started by making the filigree base by using the new Sue Wilson Austrian collection background into the top fold filigree base.  Next I added pieces of First Edition Isabella paper on the reverse.  As this paper is a double sided pattern it worked perfectly as it also makes a nice inside as well.

The sentiment panel is simply made by layering a die cut, using the centre oval in the set, in the same paper with foam tape n top. The sentiment its self from Crafters Companion, was stamped onto a plain die cut form the Sue Wilson Borders and Tags set and I inked through the die with Vintage Photo DI to give some definition.

The final addition of some pearls (of course) completes a simple filigree card and by changing the background paper you could ake this in any colour, and for any occasion, you like.

Ingredients:
Sue Wilson Austrian Collection Background Die
Sue Wilson Austrian Collection Borders and Tags die set
First Edition Isabella paper pack
Ranger Vintage Photo DI
Crafters Companion Sentiment
Pearls from Stash.


Enjoy...

Recycled...

Happy Sunday,

This is a recycled card form one I posted a few weeks ago that split opinion, click HERE if you want to see the original card.  I had to agree with everyone that the pink die cuts on the original card was just too much!  Therefore I pulled it apart and started again with all the pieces and made this one.













The only difference from the original is the addition of the new sentiment.  This I stamped onto acetate using Archival black ink and pinned into the bow to fix it to the card.


The fold is also different on this one as a flap folds over the front holding the central panel and I feel it softens the pink and blue rose paper from First Edition.








Ingredients:
Spellbinders Elegant Ovals
Spellbinders Classic ovals small
First Edition Floral Pavillion paper pad
Indigoblu sentiment stamp


I hope you all like this recycled version I am a lot happier with it!

Enjoy...

A Little too much pink?

Happy Thursday,


Opening Night tonight so still AWOL I'm afraid!

Today's offering is a strange combination that, to be honest, I'm not sure I like!  Whilst I love the backing paper and it is blue and pink I'm not sure whether the colours match correctly.  Let me know what you think?!?

The backing paper is First Edition Floral Pavilion with a mixture of spellbinders die cuts in blue, pink and cream.







Ingredients:
First Edition Floral Pavilion paper
Spellbinders Gold Circles one
Spellbinders Elegant Ovals
Spellbinders Gold Ovals
Pink & Cream PMD Smooth Card
Whimsey Stamps sentiment stamp
Stick on Pearls


Enjoy...

Scheduled...

Happy Tuesday,

I have called this post scheduled as for the remainder of the week all my posts have been scheduled ahead of time.  This is because I am appearing in the local Am Dram performance of Sweet Charity this week (hope you got your ticket Val! lol)

Therefore all posts have been premade and written, today is the technical rehearsal so I am already absent!  Now writing a detailed description for each card and creation in one go is very time consuming and I am really running short on time(sorry I know this is an excuse I make a lot lately but Fridays post will clarify the reason for this!)

What I have decided to do, and I would love to hear whether you like it or not, is to put an ingredients list with each card and creation (just like a proper recipe)


The idea is that hopefully the list of items or ingredients I used to make a card may help you should you want to make something similar.  I am more than happy for people to copy the gist of my cards and make their own versions!

Ingredients:
First Edition Neroli Paper
Spellbinders French Harmony die
Hobbycutz wooden laser cut wreath
Marianne rose and leaf die set
DoCrafts sentiment stamp
Burgundy smooth PMD card
Grosgrain ribbon.



 I hope you all like the new recipe idea and that, as always, you,

Enjoy...

Back to the Navy...

Happy Thursday,

I seem to be getting carried away with the dark blue this week I feel like the Village People (In the Navy etc) lol


This card started with the stamped image.  This paisley stamp is a really old one from Graphicus which I bought second hand on eBay.  I am always scanning eBay for bargain dies and stamps and sometimes find that when one person is tired of a die I can get a new, old, die at a great price.

The image is stamped with Versamark onto Navy card and then embossed in detail white embossing powder.  I fussy cut this out then based the remainder of the card around it.

The backing paper is one sheet of double sided card from First Edition Neroli pack with a reverse design on each side.  I cut two different sized square and using the alternate side mounted these with a thin mat of Navy.  I added in a square of the white again edged in the Navy card and foam mounted these to a large 21cm x 21cm hand cut card blank (i used PMD A3 white hammered for the blank)





The top decoration is made using Spellbinders Labels 38which I cut a piece of the pattern using the 2 largest die to make a frame.  I edged this, by hand, in Navy card and added a frame cut from the next 2 sizes in white which I inked in navy whilst in the dies.

There is then a strip of white and navy cut with Spellbinders bracket borders one.  I added these pieces at different levels and orientations, with a strip of navy grosgrain ribbon of course, across the card front.

I wanted to show that die cut pieces are not just for Christmas and ladies cards but used right they can be effective whilst still keeping relative simplicity for a man card.  I even managed to add a pearl!

Enjoy...

Inspiration ...

Happy Wednesday,

Isn't it strange how inspiration can come form the strangest sources?!?  The inspiration for this card came from a pile of stuff on my desk when I was clearing away.  I don't know why but the colours and dies just made me make this card!

I took a picture of the pile to remind me! lol I didn't end up using all the dies however it all fitted in somewhere.

I am really short on time so no description today I'm afraid I was saying to a friend at the weekend that I would rather spend time making things than writing them up however that's not really fair!  I need a secretary to post for me lol

Sorry Enjoy...

Wacky Wednesday

Happy Wednesday,

I thought I would be a little wacky today and present three for one today.  These three cards started exactly the same.  I saw the background paper on a flick through the Neroli pack from First edition and pulled it out.  I decided it would look best as a square so cut it to 12cm x 12cm however I found that I had cut 4 squares the same when I had finished.  This led me to thinking could I make different cards from the same paper cut, initially at least, to the same size.  Here is the result.








The first card is a simple mounting job onto white card with a die cut strip, using Spellbinders Curved borders die and a simple sentiment...













The second card I made the 12 x 12 pieced into a frame and cut the centre section into a smaller square.  I mounted both of these onto white card and foam mounted them at different levels.  I simply added a corner die cut from white card using Spellbinders Gold elements one and placed it over the corner.  Finally a butterfly, again spellbinders, and a hand cut sentiment banner.

Finally i mounted the piece i had cut the butterfly from for card two onto white card and die cut a white butterfly to place in the aperture. This was double mounted onto another of the squares of Neroli paper and added to a card front, with a little foam tape...






All in all a happy hour or so playing with three looks form the same dies and basic elements, and a few pearls!


Enjoy...

Back so quick

Happy Thursday all!

I'm finally back from Benidorm after having a fabulous time lots of laughs and some very unusual sights.  Today's post is very quick as I've had little time to prepare!

A quick card using a leftover piece form the hat box on Sunday. I have layered this onto a sheet from the Neroli paper pack from First edition.  The centerpiece is a die cut scalloped circle in blue along with a few die cut circles and a sentiment from Crafters Companion.

As always i have added a few hatpins and a bow, Enjoy...

Something Different and Softer (hopefully)

Happy Saturday!

As fellow crafters I am sure most of you have felt about your creations the way I feel about this post.  I am almost reluctant to post this as it is one of those that although I thoroughly enjoyed the day it took to make, I feel that others could view this as an easy quick project!  (there again how many times do I make something that I say is quick and it takes others a while! lol)




however whilst I love it I'm not sure it looks as complex as it was.  So i throw this one over to you!

Today's something different is a Thank you Card set with a box that could be used for holding any kind of stationary.

I started by making this square box in really thick cardstock (what the Americans call chipboard which I find strange as chipboard is what my dad used for shelves when I was a kid!)  The box is a perfect square with a square fitting flip / hinged lid.

I have covered this in 2 matching patterns from First Edition Neroli (see once something is on my desk it can hang around for ages like the floral pavilion pack last year!)  the pieces were cut in panels, distressed in Fired brick distress ink and stuck on.


The contents were based on my mums want for a set of thank you cards and the simple card I made on Monday, click HERE to be reminded.  I wanted some simple cards that could be made in batch´s and this style was so easy to replicate using just one die and one sentiment stamp.

 The cards are made from plain cream card at 13.5 x 13.5 cm square (handcut) as I have an old Sizzix Bigz XL die that cuts an envelope at 14 x 14 cm however this is pretty much a standard envelope size so you don't need the die.

I used the two matching papers from the outside of the box, the pattern behind the die cut bird and the stripe down the front.  The sentiment is, again, from the Crafters Companion Sentimentals range.










As you can see from this picture I lined the envelopes using the stripe and made the flaps using the pattern so that everything ties in.

There are a couple of other ´bits´ inside this et however I am saving those for another day, don't want to overload everyone.

A nice gift that I may save for mothers day!

Enjoy...

Something Fancier...

Happy Thursday,

I thought today it was time for something a little fancier and bright.

Yesterday I used Spellbinders scalloped borders one to create the clean and simple lines however whilst it was on my craft desk I wanted to try cutting it in some new red mirror card I bought last week.  I was looking for gold and silver and picked up the wrong pack so thought I had better use it!  so this card started with the band across the centre.

The background is a sheet from my new 'Neroli' paper pack from First Edition ( I've since heard from Mrs Duck that this has been discontinued so if you want it get it now! lol)





The sentiment is from a set of three I recently ordered from Crafters Companion form their Sentimentals range, Click HERE to be connected.  All of the sentiments I have been using lately have come from these three ranges (hope that's enough information Anne O)

I die cut 2 ovals form Spellbinders classic ovals small and framed the sentiment with the twist cut form Spellbinders metal tags and accents.

A strip of ribbon is added to bring out the pale blue and soften the card a little with a bow and some of Wendy's hat pins.

Enjoy...

More Felt???

Happy Wednesday,

Its Wednesday so I'm afraid its a quick post as working last night!  I've been playing again with felt and Spellbinders Bauble Blossoms and made this, simple, white felt flower.  I wanted a striking card to highlight it and came up with this Brown and Kraft card affair.

This is a layered card using the two colours of PMD cardstock and a sheet of First Edition striped paper from the Silent Night pack ( actually one from last Christmas however there are some lovely plain-ish papers in thee).

After cutting a set of mats and layers I cut into the last two using a spellbinders rectangle die and under mounted them over the patterned paper.    I wrapped a wide strip of satin ribbon ( a new Chino shop bargain) and made a bow to hold a couple of Wendy's hatpins and the flower.

Enjoy...

AS you can probably tell this is another card that I personally LOVE (two in the same month, whats happening!!!)

Your Card Jackie...

Happy Monday,

Today is Your Card again and the winner this week is Jackie Durant!  This week I asked Wendy to choose a name from this weeks comments and she chose Jackie from Saturday.  Normally I would place a link to the winners blog however since moving to Chrome I cant find her blog (if she has one)  Jackie if you do could you let me know so I can check it out and update this post.

Today's card was made for Jackie featuring flowers as I noticed a penchant for flowers on her Google Chrome circle ( no idea what this actually is but I was transferred there when I clicked Jackie's name, it looked nice)

Well as usual if you send me your address on Lockers@live.co.uk I will post the card to you.

I ope you all will Enjoy Jackie's card!

John x

Monday Monday Burning Bright......

Happy Monday,

I'm hoping that we are all having bright weather today however I get the feeling it wont be as its getting too close to winter!  Therefore I thought I´d show something bright that would remind us all of Summer today!

What better then than a pink peony?!?

This flower is the final one I made in the craft class I attended with Wendy in the summer.  I have worked it into a card several times before I was happy with the result.  The backing paper is First Edition Floral Pavilion fabric paper and I love the turquoise and pink which lifts the flower whilst not making it stand out Too Much!

I have, since attending the class, bought this die which is a Sizzix die although I haven't cut / assembled any yet.  I get the feeling this may not get fully used until the spring!

For today enjoy memories of summer!

John x

Quick Christmas Friday!

Happy Christmas Friday,

Happy Friday all, todays card is a more traditional die cut treat!  This is a simple layered card where embossing and decorative paper makes all the effort.

I started with a hand cut card blank using a sheet of PMD linen card in ivory A4 folded in half.  Next I added a sheet of paper from the First Edition Nordic pack as a background.

The focal element is a crafts too embossing folder embossed into silver Mirri card.

Just a quick post today hope you, Enjoy...

For Patricia...

Happy Monday!

Todays card is inspired by the beautiful creations to be found on Summerhouse Crafts created by the lovely Patricia. 

I feel really guilty as due to a lack of time I always visit a list of blogs every morning however I very rarely have time to comment.  Therefore whilst I was making this card I couldn't help but be reminded of the stunning roses Patricia makes for her box's.  Hopefully this will go some way to explaining why I don't comment as often as I'd like!

I started this one with a sheet of First Edition Pare from the Floral Pavilion pad with a beautiful old rose print.  I cut several layers matted with pink and white cardstock.  Next I added a die cut from Spellbinders Filigree Delight die with the centre panel also curt out.

Next I added a 'frame' made with a thin border of the First Edition paper layered on white and then pink.  I added a few pearls on the filigree die cut peeping through the frame.






Finally I added the roses cut with Spellbinders Spiral Blossom one and two smaller roses cut with a Marianne die.

I hope you like my version of Patricia's roses.

Enjoy...

In The Pink.......

Happy Wednesday,


I am writing this on Sunday as most of you know by now I work on Tuesdays from 8:30 to 2pm then from 4pm to 1am.  This means that, at this point, I have no idea how yesterdays tutorial went down I hope it was positive, if you liked it great, if not sorry!!!! 

If you missed the video tutorial click HERE to be linked.

Todays card is a follow on from yesterday and the bow, along with one to be shown later in the week, will be the subject of my next video!







I made this card using the same materials as yesterday, pink PMD card, fabric paper from First Edition and Spellbinders Ornate Squares die.  I also used a new eBay bargain Spellbinders matting basics B to cut the layers.


Here is a close up of the bow, its made from a 2.5cm satin cream ribbon with a pearl in the centre.

Enjoy...