Less is more

Every so often as card makers we are tasked with making a card that really challenges us. I remember once being commissioned to make a 50th birthday card for a nurse who was in to lace making and baking... Incorporating all of those elements! Needless to say the resulting card was most definitely one-of-a-kind!
This weekend I am attending a double adult baptism and as such I need to make two cards. The sudden realisation that I have no idea what normally goes on a baptism card, coupled with needing to make two of the things, was rather daunting. Anyway, I figured, if in doubt, less is more, and teamed my make with this weeks Less is more sketch challenge.

This is the sketch I was trying to match. ( No one needs to know that my first thought when I saw it was 'why is there a tampon on the card?!!!' do they?)

Anyway!!!


Here is my card

I inked the rough shape on to the card first using versa colour Evergreen and Atlantic. I then masked off the tree line with torn paper and stamped the trees (card-io set) in black.

Next I moved the mask so that it covered the trees and added an additional torn paper mask below so I could ink the lake. This is in versa ink, lagoon.

Keeping the masks in place, I then stamped the trees upside down to give the impression of a reflection.

Finally I handwrote the message using an ultra fine fineliner.

Reindeer in the snow

This is my submission for the Crafty ribbons reindeer challenge, and also for the Penny black Saturday embossing challenge. (The background paper is embossed with a sizzix flower embossing folder which I think looks like snow flakes!)

Ingredients;
Basic grey papers
Penny black stickeroos
Icicle stickles
Pewter liquid pearls
Silver ribbon
White and silver edged ribbon
Snowflake dies
Flower embossing wallet

Hedgehogs and autumn gatherings

As I sit here with my booty slippers, bowl of porridge and the rain pouring down outside, I have to say it is feeling rather more wintery than autumnal. However the beautiful orangey leaves are still clinging to the flowering cherry in the front garden so I thought I'd take this opportunity to share a final autumnal card this month.

Ingredients;
Craft work cards 6x6 white square card
Yellow background paper (such as doodlebug flowers)
Penny black 'peek a boo' stamp
Black ink (such as versa colour)
Tim Holtz distress ink in pumice stone
Tim Holtz alterations autumn gatherings die
Craft work cards sugar and spice die cut sentiments
Doodlebug sugar coating bon bon glitter
Promarkers
Glossy accents

From your stash;
Scraps of autumnal coloured papers
Ribbon
Button
Double sided tape and glue

To make this card first back your square cardstock with a patterned paper. Mine is one by doodle bug. Lightly ink around the edge in pumice stone distress ink and set aside.
Stamp up the penny black hedgehogs on a rectangle of card and colour using promarkers. Edge the card with some more pumice stone distress ink and set this aside too.
Use a craft work cards sentiment and ink with the same distress ink.
Using sizzix autumn gatherings die, cut out a selection of leaves from coloured papers. Dab them with yet more pumice stone ink and add fine lines of glue to some of them. Sprinkle with ultra fine glitter. Now gather everything together and start to assemble your card.

Affix the ribbon about a third of the way up from the bottom attaching it to the wrong side if your card with plain white labels so it is fairly discrete.
Add the hedgehog picture with double sided tape followed by the leaves and acorns in the corners.

Finally add the happy birthday sentiment and a large button. Add glossy accents to the snail shell and the happy birthday sentiment to set them off.

I'd like to submit this card to the following challenges;
Penny black at all sorts
Sir stamp a lot stamping sensations

A nostalgic craft barn card

I've made this card as a farewell to the craft barn shop who sadly closed its doors for the final time this week. I have many fond memories of trips to the craft barn with my mum, particulary in its earlier days at the site in Lingfield.

To the best of my memory, the penny black stamp used here is the first I ever bought at the craft barn. Now it is time to say farewell, and all the best!!

The craft barn

Of mice and mushrooms

I thought I'd take a moment to share with you the anniversary card I have made for my husband. Although it's a little girly, he is a keen forager so the mushroom with the mice on top seemed fitting enough.

It's a relatively simple make, I stamped the image using black versa colour ink and coloured it with pro markers. I matted and mounted the image using coordinating autumnal coloured papers and added the ribbon to finish off, sticking it down with double sided tape.

I'd like to enter the card in to the following challenges;

My time to craft
Penny black and more
Stamping sensations

A Christmas Candle

Having been spurred on by my last attempt, today I had another go at making a candle by transferring stamped ink images. I'm really pleased with the result this time. Here's what I did.

Firstly I measured and cut a piece of white tissue to the same size as the candle. I then inked up a selection of stamps with black Staze on and stamped this scene. The stamps are all from the card-io collections range.

I then masked the bottom of the design with a piece of torn paper, and inked the top with Atlantic versa ink. I added in the winter sun using canary and camellia versa inks. When I removed the mask it gave the impression of fresh white snow on the ground.

 I then wrapped it tightly around the the candle, and then wrapped the whole thing in greaseproof paper. Being careful not to burn myself (!!!) I used a heat gun to gently heat all areas of the candle until the tissue paper had transferred. Being such a large design, this time I had to re wrap it in the greaseproof several times in order to heat all areas without burning my fingers!

I finished up by adding some crystal stickles for extra sparkle. Hope you like it! 

This is my final entry in to the Craft barn light challenge for this week - phew, just in time!

Design your own candle

I've been meaning to have a go at this project for a long time having seen tips elsewhere on the internet. This weeks craft barn challenge 'light' was the perfect incentive.

Here's how it's done;

You'll need
A large pillar candle
White tissue paper
Permanent ink (such as Staze on)
Permanent markers (such as sharpies)
Stamps (I used little Claire's butterfly tree set)
Liquid pearls
Heat gun
Grease proof paper/ baking parchment

First stamp your image on to a piece of plain tissue paper. (In the absence of this I had to use the lacy effect one but I don't think it mattered)

Using permanent markers colour your stamped image. Make sure you put down some paper to protect your work surface as the ink bleeds through the tissue.

Carefully cut around your coloured image as closely to the picture as possible. Place the cut images in your chosen locations.

Wrap the candle with the pictures in a piece of greaseproof paper and hold securely. Heat using a heat gun for about 30-40 seconds to allow the tissue to melt in to the wax a little. When it has done this the colour shows through the paper more strongly. Unwrap the candle. If there are any parts of the paper that haven't stuck to the candle, re wrap and gently heat again.

Now all that's left to do is to add details using liquid pearls.

Now you're ready to light your candle and enjoy!

Thank you to the team at The craft barn for inspiring me to finally have a go at this. Who knows, perhaps it will be candles for Christmas all round this year?!