More Embellishments

It's hard enough to design a card, but then to add extra bits on, takes a lot of thinking for me. It takes me out of that comfort zone. Feathers, well I never really liked them, and putting them on to a card, always looked wrong when i did it. Then I see other peoples cards and I think wow. So these cards have feathers, hat pins, card candi, ribbon, jewels and more.

With this one we even used martha stewart punch around the page - cherish. We used the card candi, a feather and made some black flowers. The images are from a cd - My Craft Studio - Fab Glam Fifties - and it was an element sheet.

Pretty in pink, I have started using more ribbon on my cards, and using the bow maker, I have had it for a few years, but never really used it until recently, now I need another one for wider ribbon. Hopefully Graham will make me one. We also used hat pins, I pushed them through the knot of the bow and placed the flowers over the ends, so the sharp points don't hurt anyone. This was also taken from a My Craft Studio Cd, this one was Simply Silouettes, and again an element sheet.

Here is just a small card using up the pieces that were left on the element sheet. As I usually keep everything and my box gets bigger and bigger, well by making a small card, you could use it as a notelet, a gift card, etc.

I really like the shape of these cards, they are different from the normal 6 x 6 we have been using. I have added small gems randomly and it also seems to lift the image. This card was make again from Simply Silouettes, I find the element sheets so handy.

Here is another card using up your left over bits and adding a few peel offs, so don't throw them away, see what you can do with the bits you have left.

Painting a Canvas

Well on Tuesday last week I went to a club run locally by a lady from Creative Expressions, Lynn Gilbert. I was not sure if I would enjoy this as it's not my usual thing. We first took our canvas and covered it with paint. My first impressions was omg it looks like a little kid had messed around with paints. We then went through other techniques, and by the time I had finished, I was so pleased with it, I am hanging it in my bedroom. I even done it my favourite colour, for those of you who don't know me too well thats purple. I hope you like it too!

Mixed Occassions

We often need to do cards that are not just for a birthday, so this week I thought I would cover a few other occassions.

I loved this cute little turtle, and you never know when someone is going to be ill, I mean how can you plan such a thing.

This card is quite a simple one, many children are doing exams at the moment, so its great to wish them luck, or say well done. It could also be saved for when a child starts school or goes into another class. It seems such a long time ago since mine started school, my Samantha leaves school on Friday. Where have those years gone.

This wedding card was just gorgeuos, I haven't got a wedding to go to until next April, but its now there already done.

Montes Zig Zag Bracelet

I love making jewellry, I find it so relaxing, you can take a pattern and change the colour and it can look so different. This bracelet is a nice easy one, here are two colours I have done so far. I hope you like them.

Cards for Men

Why do we have so much trouble making cards for men, someone said to me last night perhaps its because we can't make them nice and pretty, maybe thats right. For us ladies, we like cards with cute things on, with flowers, with elegant ladies, you name it we would probably like it. But men, it sport or music or beer. Often we end up going along the themes of transport, old cars or nice boats.

Well most men would have a tool box, most of them would have done some DIY, and some would do it for a living, so this is a nice safe card for men.

This double easel twist, is fairly good for lots of men, it may be they like to go out, maybe play darts, but most men like to have a drink on their birtday, so its fairly good all round card.

Why this one you might say, well I tought if you had a man that was in to nothing this card hits the spot. A tiger, well most men are animals aren't they. If you really didn't have a man to give it to you could give it to a lady. Add some flowers down the side. Who knows!

Stamping and Colouring

Well back in February we did a session with stamping and colouring with pro-markers. This is something I could spend ages on. I could sit and colour for hours. That was the first thing I did when I got in to this hobby. I was sitting there colouring with my two little girls, we are going back about 10 years now. I made a comment to Jeanette, something like " I couldn't do that I haven't got the patience", she had all her craft stuff there, and she said "its only like what you are doing with the girls". She showed me how to stamp. That was it, I was hooked. Well the class we did was with all monkeys, not an animal I would usually do, but I liked these stamps.

I have got these cards back out as I am going to send this one to my step son Scott.

I think this one is just so cute.

I did a bigger one like this and sent it to my Graham for valentines day. It wasn't just the colouring that took hours, but the cutting out as well.

Iris Folding

These cards were done a couple of weeks ago, I love iris folding, I find it really relaxing, there are so many variations you can do. You can do two, three, four or five colours.

This beautiful owl was really simple, and I punched a leaf border, to make him look like he was sitting in a tree. I asked my daughter does this look like its sitting in a tree and her answer was why would a cat want to sit in a tree. So I hope you like my owl.

This guitar was done in mind with cards for young people, I done it in pink but obviously it could be done in any colour. It could also be done for male or female.

The sea horse was because, I wanted something different, and again this looked really good in a variety of colours.

Butterflies

What a great topic, such pretty little creatures, last week we made cards using this as a topic. It was great to see so many of you, I know alot of you are going on holiday soon, I hope the weather changes for you. It is so horrible, I haven't felt like walking in to the village for days, so been lazy and used the car.

This design was from the CD My Stencil Studio, a card that was design to be fairly flat, as with the postage going up, we all have to watch the height of our cards.

Not only was one an iris folding, but it was a double iris folding card.

As you all see I am in to the glitter at the moment, so had to have one card that sparkled.

Belsey Bridge Craft Retreat April 2012

Firstly a huge hello and thank you to all the wonderful crafters that attended the last Craft Retreat. I had the opportunity of working with you all over this brilliant weekend. This was our 5th Craft Retreat and Jeanette and I had great pleasure in putting the weekends together. It was great that Rita and Doreen could join us again this year, as we all thoroughly enjoy sharing all our tips and hints with so many of you. It was also a new experience for my daughter Kayleigh who came along and taught this year. We managed to cover a variety of projects and the techniques was very mixed. In case some of you did not manage to finish them all here is a reminder of what we covered. I do hope you all enjoyed the weekend a much as we did. I will keep you informed of the next one and many other topics.

Large Rose Easel by Debbie

Clutch Bag by Jeanette

3D Frame by Debbie

Beaded Flower by Jeanette

Daffydowndilly by Doreen

Violet Maid by Doreen

Hang in There by Kayleigh

Hang on to your Card by Kayleigh

Turn Back Ribbon Card by Debbie

Key Box by Rita

Butterfly Kisses by Rita

Celebrate in Style by Doreen

Who Needs Men! by Doreen

Hankie Card by Jeanette

Gift Box Card by Jeanette

Stencil Studio by Debbie