21st Birthday Card

This is another commission card for a bloke who likes fast cars. I used die cut images that I think were made by Hunkydory. I've added a large 21 that I stamped and cut out using Dimension Fourth stamps. I know one of the card candi has slipped as I photographed it when wet but I put it right after and it did dry in the right place!

50th Birthday Card

Nice to see you again - hope you had a great Christmas whether it was loud or quiet. Another commission card and this time for a 'bossy friend'. It was a bit of a stuggle but I came up with this idea using an Ethel stamp from the 'Ethel and Murray' series by Creative Expressions. I added a greeting that I adjusted and not sure that it works but it was the best I could come up with. Let me know your thoughts.

Some more quick cards for posting

Made these last minute cards last week for posting. I needed a few more that were flat enough and light enough to post. This is a great image and very easy to colour in. I combined with various papers from my stash. Hope you like them. Merry Christmas to all who read this and I'll post some non-Christmas cards after the big day.

Butterfly Kisses Santa Collage stamp

I had to make a few last minute cards for posting so needed some that were flatter. I decided to use this lovely stamp set by Butterfly Kisses. I had admired it on another's cards and found out who made it but it took me ages to track it down but finally got hold of it earlier this year. These were quick to make and will probably make a lot more like this ready for next year - - yeah, sorry I'm already thinking ahead!

Christmas Card for my Brother

My brother isn't fussed about cards as long as they have a cat on! This one is only a 5x5 but has a Penny Black image with a cat on which I've coloured with the colours of his cat to keep him happy. I thought the sentiment worked well as it looks like the cat is dreaming it!

OTT Christmas card for Mum

This card started as one design and became a combination of 2! It took about 2 hours to make but mainly because I was making it up as I went along. She is worth the extra work though and I know she'll appreciate it. The bauble has been made into a shaker card with micro beads in. I love the spellbinders poinsettia die and went mad with it on this card! I hope you like it.

Super Farmer Card

This great cartoon was ideal from my friend's farmer husband. The image is from Craftsuprint website which is always a useful source when I'm stuck for something specific. I've teamed it with some papers from my stash. Hope she likes it.

Tractor Birthday Card

This is yet another commisson card. I've had some time today to catch up a little on orders. I also have a craft sale coming up on Saturday and goodness knows if I'll be ready for that! The image was a free digi stamp and the papers were free with Making Cards magazine.

Meerkat Birthday Card...simples!

This card is for a friend's birthday and I normally do her a horse themed card. This time I wanted to change it and I know she loves these meerkats from the adverts so decided to use one. She lives in hope that they will release a DVD of all the adverts put together - she needs counselling I think! I just found the image via Google and added a speach bubble in MS Word. Matched with some papers from my stash and hey presto!

Spellbinder Shell 3D folder

I loved this folder from when I first saw it. I've embossed on cream card I think then added just about every distress ink I had! I've then highlighted some shells using my promarkers. I had to cut the image down as I overdid the ink at one end so changed to a 6x6 card. It is a fun folder to play with!

Birthday Card for William

This is a commission card for a friend. I always find male cards hard and boys are even worse! I hope this isn't too babyish as I have no idea how old william is now. The image is a Lily of the Valley stamp. I've coloured with promarkers but had all sorts of problems with it bleeding - the card was too thin I think. I had to add grey edges and distressed with ink in order to cover up the imperfections. I was going to add some more embellishments but as it's only a 5x5 card it was a bit small for that. The papers were from dfferent pads but worked well together I thought. The letters were cut with a tattered lace die.

Reindeer Food for Christmas Sale

I'm trying to get stuff ready for a Christmas Fair I'm doing in December so decided to make up some packs of Reindeer food just for fun..

I think the antlers are a little delicate but hopefully they will be OK. I used a Spellbinder label die to cut the head and folded. I then used a small circle from the centre of one of the d-lite medallions to cut the nose. The antlers are a quickcutz thin florish die. I drew on a variety of eyes. The label on the back I downloaded from the internet - it's not the best quality but I think it should be OK. I'm not sure what to charge - I'm thinking 75p. Any thoughts??

Rooster/Cockerel/Chicken Card

Not my usual style, eh? This one is a commission card for a friend who pefers funny cards to beautiful ones! It is for a chicken breeder so found this backing paper on CraftsUprint - also found another which I loved but too 'nice' for this style of card. The rooster I cut out from different coloured cards and edged with promarkers to give it some definition. I copied a design (freehand) from a drawn cartoon I saw. It worked first time which was great and saved a lot of messing. Hope she - and you - likes it!

New Home Card

My neighbours were moving out and I realised I needed a card in a hurry so decided not to stamp one. I used the freebie papers from Making Cards magazine that I had to hand as I thought the bird in a cage image was quite fitting. By the time I mounted it on a narrow mat of black and gold I thought it ended up looking very stylish. Added a ribbon and a card candi and it was done! Sadly, when I took it round I found out that the husband has just found out he has untreatable bone cancer so they don't know what the future holds for them. I guess I'll have to make a card for the new neighbour too when she arrives at the end of the month - might use the same format.

Christmas Card with Baubles

This was a bit of a rush job but I just HAD to try out my new border dies. I will play more again soon. I had also stamped and embossed in gold my new bauble stamps by Creative Expressions and designed by Sue Wilson and hadn't used them. I put both together in this card and added ribbon...well there's a bit more to it than that but not much! Hope you like it....all comments welcome.

Horse Birthday Card

This is another of those 'using stuff up' cards. I had this stamped image that was already cut out using spellbinders labels 4 and also had the elegant label cut out in brown so decided to match up. Firstly, I coloured the image using distress inks and my water brush. It turned out very well considering it was just a quick wash. I then decided to put it on a kraft 5x7 card and added some backing paper. This is a 12x12 paper that I must have had for years. No idea what drew me to it to buy it and if I had something in mind for it but it's finally proved useful! The greeting was a rub on that I just made into a banner.

Roman's Bible Verse in an Aperture

I already had this verse printed on the background paper and thought I could make a quick card with it....I should know better! I decided to use an aperture and then embossed the card with the budding vine embossing folder. I added some vintage ribbon and put a card candi at the centre. I wanted to mount it on a matching coloured card which was 5x7 so added another white layer that I pin pricked around the edge. So it took a bit longer than I planned but I like the finished result. Hope you do too.

Simple Wedding Card

I found this stamped image and wanted to use it up. I coloured with promarkers and mounted on a spellbinders fancy tag. I decided to keep it simple otherwise such a small image would get lost. I just mounted on a white card.

Engagement Card

This was a bit of a rush request but I'm really pleased with how it turned out. Used my favourite set of Spellbinder Elegant Labels 4. I tried not to make it too girlie by using the brown with a freebie paper as the background. I added the standard labels 4 in the centre and I now have a matching set of stamps to go with the shape by Creative Expressions. The image of the couple is a Hero Art's stamp I think. I've had it for ages and this was the perfect opportunity. I coloured by picking out the colours from the paper. I used the fancy tag 2 set to cut out the greeting that I used Serif to create. I also used Serif to do the insert (not shown). I'm really pleased with the result - hope you are too.

Snow Way....Can't believe I pulled this off!

I had a card to make as a commisson for a boy who is into winter sports. I had a brainwave about doing one of these 3D cards - not quite sure what you call them - and set about doing it as quick as possible as I didn't have much time. Thankfully, it came together quickly and easily and I suprised myself. The card was a 5x7 which I cut in half an put 2 folds each side of both sides to form the separating fold. On the front I cut away a piece to from the front hill. I used this piece to cut with my memory box skyline die and stuck to the back along with a piece of sky paper from my stash - I think it was a papermania one. I stamped the greeting on the front - which went wrong! I had to restamp on another piece of card and stick it over the top which was a little disappointing but I decided it wasn't worth cutting a new front for as I would probably get it wrong again! I then stamped and embossed the snowboarder on acetate and added some peel off snowflakes. This stuck onto the front piece. I finished it of with some black peel off edges but didn't want to get too fussy as it's for a boy. Really happy with what I achieved in a short time and doing a card style I've never done before.

Christmas Card Collective

This is just a few other odd Christmas cards I've made, mainly from recycled other Christmas cards, so just posting together. I'll try and get back to some 'proper' cards now...

Simple Holly card

In my attempts to use up bits and pieces on Christmas cards I came across this stamped and coloured image that I had mounted on gold mirri. I gave some thought on how to use it up and decided to just keep it simple. I've put it onto a cream deckle edged A6 card and just added a small gold peel off that says 'holly'. I think it is very effective and may do it again. It's ideal for one to post and I do need to make some more stamped cards for posting as although I love my fancy ones, they are no good for posting - too expensive! Watch out for more stamping to come....

Holiday Tree 2012 in gold and white

This is a 'proper' made from scratch card. It involves that lovely die set by spellbinders - elegant labels 4. I've used that embossing of the bottom layer technique and layered up with the middle die and the tree on top. The greeting was a freebie that I got and I've only one left so I'm a little disappointed as it works really well with this design. Just had to add a little ribbon too though! I love this gold card - it's like a kind of animal skin embossed texture and is a dark, antique gold. I think I will try this with different colour combo's as it was fairly quick and easy to make but looks fab!

Selection of Penny Black Teddy with Presents Cards

Rather than bore you for days with these I'm putting them all together! These images were stamped and coloured last year but not used. I've matched up with papers, dies, etc. to make use of them. Let me know what you think.

Here comes Christmas....!

I've started making Christmas cards in earnest now so it will probably be non-stop Crimbo for a few days now! This one is a bit of a cheat. The image is from a Christmas card from last year. I've added glitter to it then made a frame from Spellbinders Elegant Labels 4 - has to be one of my all time favourite die sets. As well as cutting in white I've then added some blue satin card behind and embossed - creates a great affect. Sadly the satin card cracked in a few places so maybe not the best card to use but I don't think non-crafters will spot it. I've then added a greeting by Kanban which I've mounted on another Spellbinder die - this time Ironworks motifs. Apologies for the cheating card but still think it looks pretty cute!

Snowy Train Postcard

Here is the other snowy postcard from Stampendous - the snow train. I think this has real potential for adding colour but this was my first venture with it. I was trying to keep it fairly masculine so that I can send it to a bloke as I do think it's the kind of theme that will be cool for a man's card. I coloured with promarkers and added some aged mahogany distress ink around the edge. The paper is one I have on a Crafters Companion CD. I matt and layered with co-odinations card that I sanded around the edge. Nice strong colours.

Snowy Postcard

I've wanted this stamp since last Christmas and finally got it recently. When I first saw it I wasn't impressed but having seen the cards made with it I decided it was lovely and had to get my hands on it. Typically, I was a little slow jumping on the bandwagon and couldn't find it anywhere as it had sold out. However, bought it recently along with the snow train postcard stamp - look out for that on tomorrow's post! This one I stamped in brushed cordroy, added glitter glue and mounted on some red Christmas paper. The corner accents are the Spellbinders holly set.

Free Spellbinder Stamps

I was thrilled to see that Papercrafts mag was givng away a set of stamps to go with the Spellbinder heirloom ornaments. I had to have them! This is my first effort with them. It didn't quite turn out as well as hoped but I have some ideas on how to improve this. I stamped the ornament and embossed in clear onto the Creative Expressions antique gold pearl card. The greeting was then stamped and embossed in gold. I cut it out and added ribbon, a dazzler and some gold foliage - another spellbinder die. The background is the tied together embossing folder which I have added gold glue dots to at the joins. I wasn't convinced about this card and thought it was a little dull until I came back to it and decided that I did like it and didn't want to add anything else. Hope you like it too!

Winter Wishes in Brown

This card took ages! I had this idea about building a wreath from snowfakes but somehow it took ages to cut them all and put them together in a way that looked good. I think that the use of the paper underneath wasn't such a great idea but you live and learn.

Delicate Asters in Blue

This was a card for my friend's mum and wanted to use some of my favourite spellbinder dies - the delicate asters. I used the elegant frame and a tag in the middle. I was really pleased with the finished result.

Snowflakes in the red

Simple design copied from a Sue Wilson card and will do this again in other colours.

HOTP Papers and Embellishments

These were freebie papers from a magazine and I think must have come with the peel offs too. I did this a while ago so I can't really remember. I matched up with kraft card and I like the look. I must make some more from this set.

Grand Nesties for Christmas

I wanted to use my Grand Nesties in conjuction with this shaped card by Hunkydory as they go so well together. I also love this shade of green. Took a while to put together because I kept adding bits like glitter but worth it for the final affect.

Purple Winter Wishes

This is another purple card - honest! I think my camera doesn't like purple. This is a simple design but very effective I think. I will probably do a lot more of these as it was fairly quick and I think it looks nice. I doubt I'll use a bling swirl on them all though - too expensive!

Mum's Birthday Card

I know it doesn't look like it but this card is purple and cream. It matches the lovely ribbon I've just got after wanting it for ages. This is for my mum who always has to have purple as it's her favourite colour. I went all out on this one as it's for my mum so it has loads of spellbinder dies, loads of layers, pearly swirls, etc. It's not till later this month so glad to be ahead of the game.

Happy Anniversary

I did a bit of a copy of a Sue Wilson card for this one. Her's was a Christmas one but I decided to do an anniversary one. I did start by thinking it would be a wedding card but changed my mind. I think the paper was a free one from a magazine.

Chocolate Baroque 6x6 Stamp

This is part of a stamp set from Chocolate Baroque called Woodland Dreams. The stamps are designed by Glenda Waterworth and I love them all! I love her style and wish I could afford more of her stamps but I will build up my collection. I lusted after this A4 sheet set for ages and finally bought it in May but this is the first card I've used it on. I've coloured with promarkers and added some glossy accents to the berries. I decided not to add a greeting as I just wanted the image to be seen. I'm sure this will be one of my favourites.

Apologies..... again!

Well, I did have every intention of being a bit more faithful in my blog posts but I've let it slide. What with holidays and trying to make stock for a stall, etc. I've just not had the time to post images but I'm going to schedule some now so hopefully you can enjoy them. First, let me show you a picture of the stall I recently had in Runcorn. There weren't many people there so I only made about £10 after costs! It was good experience though and gave me time to think about the kind of things I could offer on the stall. I hope to do another in November.

Sorry!

So sorry I haven't posted on here in ages (even longer than I thought!). I've not made that many cards since but have been working on getting a craft business up and running. Will post again soon (this week I hope) with more news and photos of work. Keep watching....

New Baby Card

Had to do this in a hurry but quite like the result. It's a bit different but hope they like it.

Pretty Easter Card

OK it doesn't say 'Happy Easter' but it's one of the bible verse cards I'm going to use for Easter. Love these colours!

Easter Card

Just a quickie this one. Used a digi stamp that I coloured with promarkers. Cut it out with spellbinders labels 20 and also used a large one of these dies to make an aperture. The aperture card was also embossed and liquid cosmic shimmer dots added.

Different style....

This isn't my usual style but I love Mel Heaton's cards but it's not a way of cardmaking that comes naturally to me. However, I had some free papers from Quick Cards that I wanted to use and wanted to make a 'big name' and thought that style would work well. I tried to follow Mel's way of just cutting bits of paper and moving them around to fill the area. Also I edged in black and added faux stitching. I think the finished result is good. The card is for a friend to give to her sister-in-law. Hope they both like it.