Using Desk Top Finds

 Hi Everybody,   

This card is using all the desk top finds that I already have on my desktop and I am happy with the result.

The Trellis in the centre is from the Plaited with Love collection and this is one of my all time favourite die sets.

The flower is made from Hessian and I have coloured it with Distress Oxides, and I share that process in a  video that is on YouTube.

Making Flowers with Hessian

The gold card has been embossed in a folder and then added to a knitted card background and the finished size is a 5x7.

I always make extra die cuts when everything is out for just such an occasion as this and then it is quicker and easier than starting from scratch every time I want to make a card.

Bye for now ...

Hugs xx

Making Flowers - Foamiran

 Hi Everybody, 

This is a lovely product to work with and foamiran can create really lovely flowers for your cards.

You can get it in lots of places and it usually comes in packs often with different colours in each pack.

It is easy to work with and you can mould it with the heat from your hands to create the petals.

But I find it easier to use an ordinary household iron, set on a low heat, to get the foamiran to curl a little bit more.

Making Flowers - Foamiran

There are all different styles of flowers and many different ways to make them .

You will find lots of tutorials on YouTube showing you what to do and this video is just one of the styles that can be made.

As always use any flowers and leaf dies that you have and make the card how YOU like it.

You can also add any embellishments that you have in your own bit box.
This card has the fold at the top and it is a 5x7 with layers to the front.

Bye for now ...

Hugs xx

Parchment Flowers

Hi Everybody,

I have gone back to vellum/parchment for todays flowers and this is a video and card I did a long time ago but I thought it was a good idea to play it again.

Parchment Flowers

Because it is an older video it shows dies from the original "Christina Collection" that I designed years ago but you may have bought the set or maybe just some of it.

If you do then you can make these beautiful parchment flowers but if you don't then just use any floral die and stamps set that you do have.

The card in the video has leaves that are created from Acetate and that is another way to add interest to your designs. 

You will need heat proof acetate though or it will shrivel as you heat emboss the powder

Give it a go the effect is really lovely and will suit many different occasions.

Bye for now ...

Hugs xx

 

Using Old Jeans

 Hi Everybody,

Do you have some old jeans that you no longer wear or can get some from someone else who wears them and now doesn't need them anymore.

You can make some lovely flowers from them to add to your projects and it doesn't take a lot of material to make them.

It is another fabric that can be put to good use in the flower making department and there are lots of ways to use it up. 

Making Flowers - Denim

This is just one way that denim can be used and I hope you will stay with me as we try some more from the same material.

Just use any dies that you already have for the flowers and leaves and experiment and come up with a different design if you would like too.

Have fun with any of the flowers that have been covered over the last few months, they certainly make for pretty cards.

Bye for now ...

Hugs xx

Crochet Daisies

Hi Everybody,

Here is the video I promised on how I made the daisies and they are very easy to do.

The video is not too long and I hope it helps you in the making of these flowers. 

Making Flowers - Crochet Daisies

The yarn I have used is a DK Acrylic in white and it was very inexpensive. I got three balls for the price of

two so I chose white, yellow and pink and they cost me £2.

The hook I have had for years and it is a 3.50 (Old size 9)

In the video I show you how I made the five petal flowers but if you add a couple more stiches to your magic circle you can get six petals. There are six petals to the ones on the card

 Just play around and see what you can do.

The card is a 5x7 but I have used it with the fold at the top in Landscape ... for a change !!

I have a beautiful crochet rose to show you next and that is also easy to create. Please join me for that one.

Bye for now ...

Hugs xx

Making Flowers 2-4-1

 Hi Everybody,

Today we are staying with making flowers but using the simple material of Brushos.

This is the powder that bursts into life once the water has been added to it and one small pot can last you for years as you need so little of it

It comes in many different colours and it is fabulous to work with, and there are other brand names too that will give you the same result

Here I have created two cards from one die cut session and I am so pleased with all of them..

They will fit into a standard envelope too so no extra bulk for the postman to carry..and no extra postage costs to pay either.

This is an extra video this week and there will be another one on Thursday though I don't know what I will use for that, but it will still be a flowers of some sort.

I have more ways to make flowers that I want to cover yet suing different materials so I hope you will stay with me for those.

Making Flowers with Brushos

Bye for now 

Hugs xx

Making Flowers - Felt

 Hi Everybody, 

It is time to get out the felt that has ben sat in your cupboard for such a long time and also the flower dies that haven't been used for ages. and make some really pretty textural flowers for your cards.

This video will show you the cards that I have made and each one is different.

Making Flowers with Felt

Use your dies to give you different shaped cards  to add interest to your designs.

I used white felt and coloured it myself with Distress Oxides and I am very pleased with the results., but you can buy it in many colours to suit your needs.

I got mine by the metre and it will last me a long time and as well as flowers it can be used for other things also.

Try your local hobby shop to see if they sell it. I know that Hobbycraft in the UK do and there are some lovely colour.

Bye for now ...

Hugs xx

Creating a background with Hessian

 Hi Everybody,

Real Hessian .................... Die Cut Kraft Card

Last week I promised to show you the difference between the die cut hessian look and the real Mccoy.

And as you can see there is a vast amount of difference between the two. You may have a preference but I personally like the real hessian on the left better.

 

It looks more rustic and more tactile then the die cut version and for me it adds a lot to the design.

Here's the video ... 

Making Flowers - Hessian Burlap Backgrounds

Having said that I will use the die whenever I need a quick card and I don't have any real hessian ready to use.

To show you what it looks like on a finished card here they are ....

This is the real stuff and I have added the flowers that have been made in the other videos.

I have used any leaf dies that I have and of course my favourite one is my own design "Rose Flourish" which is sadly no longer available 

The other card has the die cut on it and although it is still a good looking card it lacks the authentic look of the real hessian, 

Both the flowers have been cut from the stiffened hessian and I have used the same die.

I used Seedless Preserves to colour one and used a similar centre peice on both and yet they look so different.

I hope you like the cards and let me know which you prefer 

Now before I go I also wanted to share with you another idea that came to me and that was to cut the stiffened Hessian into 1cm strips and weave the two different colours together.

The end result was very pleasing and if you would like a longer video on this technique then let me know in the comments and I will do one.

It would look different again if I had used just one colour but as I had the two sitting here I thought I would give it a try and see what happened

It is very textural and I do like it but I would do it bigger the next time I try it and in just one colour too.

Bye for now ...

Hugs xx

Using Circles again

 Hi Everybody,

All the basic shaped dies are essential in your crafting stash especially the circular ones, because if you are like me then you cannot cut out a neat circle by hand.

I can't even cut a straight line without the use of my dies and they are used on a very regular basis.

So I find having them in my craft room invaluable, but they can get a bit boring. 

So that is why I look for other ways in which to use all the shapes and than I don't get bored with them, and maybe you are the same.

This video will hopefully give you some new ideas and it is  my first attempt at  a facial introduction ... and I can't say that I like it very much.

But I hope you will enjoy the video all the same and please leave me a comment  and subscribe if you haven't already.

More Idea With Circle Dies

Thank you for responding to my idea of flower videos  using different materials to make them and they will be with you very soon.

Bye for now ...

Hugs xx

Shabby Chic Lilac Card

 Hi Everybody,

When I used to make shabby chic cards on a regular basis they always  went down very well and I really enjoyed adding all the bits and pieces to them.

But then deadlines and concepts took over and I had to do other things which took time. and attention

But now that I have retired from all that I can go back to making this type of card again and I really hope you still like them as much.

This is one that I have filmed and it is the Lilac Card.

I have not added a sentiment to this card as it really could be for any reason at all, but I will add more shabby chic cards and add them for an occasion.

Shabby Chic Lilac Card 

I hope you enjoy the video and will leave me a comment and a thumbs up on YouTube.
And I hope you will come back and visit me again for another Shabby Chic Creation.

Bye for now ...

Hugs xx

Inked Card

 Hi Everybody,

On Monday I showed you some papers that I had coloured myself for an original look to my cards, and I said I would show you what I  was doing with them. 

The first paper was shown with the actual blog post but the second paper was one I created using my home made texture paste and I did that vidoe over a year ago.

It is really easy to do using cheap talcum powder and if you add it to an air tight container it will last you for a long time, and it costs pennies. 

I make up what I think I will need and store the rest for another time, and I have come back to that six months later and it is still ok,

Here is the video for making your own paste ...

The photo shows the second paper I created and over the top of the paste 

I sprinkled some teal embossing powder and heated it.

The paste will bubble a little but it all adds to the texture and gives a lovely finish. 

I used circle nesting dies to cut out the frames and then I fussy cut one of the butterflies out of the paper.

I coloured it with alcohol markers and curled the wings round a pencil and then added it into one of the circle frames.

Small pearls have been added to the body line and I found a pearl flourish in my bit box and cut that to fit as a butterfly trail. I used some tiny bits that are left over form the flourish and used them as antennae on the butterfly itself. 

Hope you like 

Bye for now ...

Hugs xx

See Through Panels

Hi Everybody,

Many years ago I did this design and it got me a lot of views. 

But I used a Heartfelt Creations die to make it and sadly that company is not longer around and so it may be difficult to get the die.

These are the videos I made to showcase the card ...

Heartfelt Creations Corner Die
Decorative Blossoms Corner

But now for this video I have used more recent dies and I have tried to make it more simple to make and I am very happy with the result.

I have added the links to products below but my advice would be to look carefully at the dies you already have and see if they will do the job.

Lots of companies made dies that would simply cut the pattern into the card with a separate die to cut it out completely if needed, 

Spellbinders, Tonic, Crafters Companion and

 Creative Expressions, but sadly they have gene now as well.

For these cards I have used my own brand of Card Making Magic and I am adding the links at the bottom as a reminder of what they look like. 

They may no longer be available to purchase but you could already have them in your own collections 

Bye for now ...

Hugs xx