Blue it is.

I don't use a lot of blue in my cards but I was challenged to use a Butterfly, use Blue and make the card Square. Well square it is but I went a bit further and made it into an Easel card. In for a penny in for a pound as they say. 

Design papers are from The Works called Natures Blues. Die cut frame is Crafts - Too Square Dies Scalloped edge and the sentiment is from Creative Expressions by Lisa Horton. The Butterfly is 'Willoughby' by Memory Box and is going to be another firm favourite with me. Below is a closeup

of the Front design. 

Entering into the following challenges:

Creatalicious Challenges #264 Anything goes/different fold technique.

Gem of a Challenge #15 Anything goes.

A Perfect time To Craft #8 Anything goes.

Crafting Happiness #145 Anything goes.

Crafts Galore encore #114 Anything goes.

Creative Aunts #80 Anything goes.

Ellibelles Corner # Anything goes.

Love To Craft #75 Anything goes.

Love To Scrap #162 Anything goes.

The Crafty Addicts #4 Anything goes.

 

Can't seem to settle to anything. No sooner do I get out in the garden it rains. I come in and it stops. I got drenched going to the shops yesterday but not  just because it was raining. Came out of one shop and it started raining  so sheltered for a bit under the over hang of the building and then decided to make a bee line for the bus shelter.  Nice and dry one thought. Nope. White van man decided to speed up deliberately when he got to the shelter and drenched us both from head to foot from the kerb puddle he shot through!! 

Stay Dry

❤

Ceramic Vase.

I recently chanced going ( as there were only a few others  ) to a pottery class at my local craft shop where we made ceramic vases. We were each given a lump of brown clay that we had to thump and need till all the air bubbles were out of it and then roll out to a uniform thickness.  There were several design on show and I choose to make a shape with a wavy top edge and to over lap where it met around the base.

 

Once we had out shapes cut out we then pressed fresh flowers and leaves into the clay to leave impressions. I chose to work with lavender and instead of using leaves used a stylus to cut grass stalks around the base. The dragon fly was a stamp pressed into the clay. Next came the fun part of painting our pieces.  I had a small piece of the clay over (as I hadn't made feet for my vase) and made a small plaque instead. They then went off to be fired and glazed and I picked mine back up this afternoon. 

Not sure where the plaque is going but the vase is on my kitchen window ledge and filled with fresh  lavender from the garden. 

I  managed to arrange/wring out  a Dr's appointment from the receptionist who tried her best to fob me off with all manner of excuses  as to why I couldn't have one. It is not a face to face just a telephone  call for the 9th August after I finally  waved my flip phone at her to show I couldn't use my smart phone to use the link to make it myself.  Watch this space!

Tea Bag Anyone!

That was the week that was again.  I did manage to get out in the garden on Friday but Saturday it rained all day so had a play in my Craft Room instead. Thought I would do a spot of teabagging  which is a follow on really  from the origami I have been doing. 

This first one was inspired from watching Paul Ford on You Tube. I had not seen this kite fold before.  The pattern paper is from a  6 x 6 pad from The Works. Brad for the centre and the sentiment from my stash. 

Entering this card into the following challenges:

Shopping Our Stash #501 No Stamping allowed.

Allys Angels #72 Anything goes.

Crafting Happiness #144 Anything goes.

Crafty Calendar # Anything goes.

Love To Craft #75 Anything goes.

The Creative Crafters #66 Anything goes.

Next card was inspired by watching Jill Lancett on You Tube.  Again I had not seen it done with circles before.  The design paper was a freebie from making Cards magazine Aug 2014. (I'm gradually working my way up to the current stuff !). It isn't double sided so I just coloured with a promarker where I didn't want any white showing. I used a small circle die by Julie Hickey for the folding.  The stalk and leaf is a part of a die set from Sizzix that I chopped about to get the positioning of the flowers right.  Sentiment is in a stamp set from Uniko.  Sequins from my stash.

Entering this card into the following challenges:

A Perfect Time To Craft #7 Anything goes.

Crafts Galore Encore #113 Anything goes.

Lets Craft & Create Challenge #197 Anything goes /add flowers.

The Crafty Addicts #3 Anything goes.

Fun and games at the hospital last Monday. Both The Doc and I had blood tests booked for one after the after. Machine for booking in worked fine with hubby but didn't like me at all so consequently the nurse wasn't expecting me. Hubby let her know I was waiting outside and the response was that the machine is always breaking down and not working properly.  Hubby is still waiting for his results. Mine came through on a text on Wednesday and not at all what I was expecting to get. Told to go on a link and read all about what I have now got and then to go on another link and tell the Dr my thoughts!!  Not,  " I have made an appointment for you  to come into the surgery". I don't have a smart phone and the link when I tried it on my computer crashed it. Took me nearly 2hrs to get pc back up and running. So now I have to do battle with the receptionist (at the surgery) to try and get an actual face to face appointment to discuss the Meds they want to put me on which are not compatible (found that out reading up on pc.) with ones I am already taking!   Moral of the story don't get sick and go  buy a Smart phone!!

❤

Another Find

Another card found in my stash from a Julie Hickey Card Class using her stamps and dies. Needed to take a picture  quick as it is going off to a Cousin for her Birthday this month. 

I stamped straight onto the card base with black ink and then attached a thin black frame on top. Stamped another flower and leaves onto a scrap of white card and die cut using the matching dies. Smooshed some Distress Oxides  in pink, purple and two greens onto a blending mat and picked up with a paint brush. Stamped the sentiment onto black card in white and heat embossed before adding to the front of the card with 3d pads. Added the little heart out cuts  to the top of the card. I see that I have one more so must have nabbed the extra one from somewhere!!!  Also added some crystal gems to the flower centers. 

Nearly half way through July already and haven't a clue where time is going.  I did have a hospital appointment booked for October but got texted yesterday that it had to be cancelled and I would get a new date in due course. Had waited 18 months for that one.  Such is life. 

Entering into the following challenges:

Sweet Stampin # Flowers/ blooming beautiful.

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #209 Anything goes.

Make My Mondays #204 Birthday.

Allys Angels #72 Anything goes.

Crafts Galore Encore #113 Anything goes.

Crafty Calendar # Anything goes.

Die Cut Divas # A Birthday.

Lets Craft and Create Challenge #197 Anything goes/add flowers.

Love To Craft #75 Anything goes.

Stamping Sensations #14 Summer Flowers.

 

❤

Someone Special.

A happy find.  Whilst looking through all my stash for a stamp that I knew I had but couldn't remember where I had put it I found a box of cards that I had made at various workshops and never shown.  This is one of them.

Would have been made at a Julie Hickey workshop at least 5yrs ago using Julie Hickey stamps. The background is made from a piece of card smooshed into Distress Oxide inks and then flicked with water. I stamped the flower on top,  cut out  and then  raised up with 3d pads onto  slightly larger black card  which I adhered directly to the card blank. A larger  thin die cut frame was also adhered to give the illusion of a picture frame.  I stamped the sentiment onto the rest of the smooshed card and die cut the banner. Finished off with gems and a small piece of ribbon. 

I eventually did find  the said missing stamp (4hrs later) after I had looked in every box and cupboard twice and then thought to just check one more place and of course there it was! I know. Should have gone to Spec Savers. 

Entering into the following challenges:

Krafty Chicks #671 Stamp Act.

A Perfect Time to Craft #7 Anything goes.

Crafting Happiness #144 Anything goes.

Ellibelles Corner # Anything goes.

Lets Craft and Create Challenge #197 Anything goes/add flowers.

Mix It Up #66 Anything goes/ optional aperture.

The Crafty Addicts #3 Anything goes.

Unicorn Challenge #89 No Design Paper. 

❤

Teepee

It is our Granddaughters Birthday coming up shortly and this is the card I have made for her.  Cake is her favourite food!! I have made a Teepee card this year. 

The paper and the cake cutouts are all freebies from craft magazines going back many years and in my stash still  waiting to be used. 

Side view showing the teepee shape which closes with magnets and below the inside of the card showing that it folds flat for postage. 

Both the large triangles fold over to form the shape and you can just see one of the magnets on the top right of picture. 

Entering into the following challenges.

Cards 4 Galz #202 More than one fold.

Scrapping 4 Fun #225 Birthday.

Creations In Pink #59 Anything goes in pink.

Incy Wincy Designs # Food or drink.

I Spy With My Little Eye #4/5 A sweet trest or warm summer colours.

Sparkles #165 No stamping allowed.

The Paper Funday Challenges #54 Anything goes with no squares allowed. 

The Crafty Addicts #2 Anything goes.

Allys angels #71 Anything goes.

The Creative Crafters #65 Anything goes.

❤

Geisha Girls

I have found another use for my strips of paper and using up odd  design papers from 6 x 6 paper pads. First off though can anyone tell me where June went to? One minute its was the 3rd of the month and now it's the 30th! Don't even have the excuse of having been away on holiday either just in the garden enjoying the hot weather we have been having.  Raining today so I'm back in my craft room now  that it is cooler and determined to post at least once more before July pops up. 

I have been busy looking at origami tutorials and making lots of shapes . These are two little Geisha Girls.

Once you get the hang of the folding  they are really easy to make. 

I have  looked as lots of videos and then put my own spin on the hair styles, faces and the flap of the kimonos.

I am entering them into the following challenges:

Gem of a Challenge #13 Anything goes.

Cards 4 Galz #202 More than one fold.

Krafty Chicks #670 Anything goes.

Dragonfly Dreams # Fancy folds.

Get Creative Challenges #122 More than one fold.

Sparkles #165 No Stamping allowed.

The Crafty Addicts #2 Anything goes.

The Creative Crafters #65 Anything goes.

Creative Fingers #258 Anything goes.

❤

Notelet Box.

I have been making a lot of these over the past few months. Each one different in colour, size and style. I don't make a pattern for them just make each one from scratch as I go along according to the paper and supplies that I am using.  This one has been received by its recipient so I can show. 

The design paper is by Stamperia 'Lilac Flowers' and the die cut Butterflies are by Spellbinders 'Shapeabilities Butterflies'

The alphabet letters are from a die set by Craft Emotions  which I cut from purple card stock layered up each letter and then heat  embossed with clear embossing powder to give a nice sheen. 

Once the box size was made I hand cut the note paper to fit and added a ribbon  pull tab to the box. 

Entering into the following challenges:

Dream Valley #295 Anything goes.

Creative Fingers #256 Anything goes.

A Perfect Time To Craft #6 Anything goes.

Crafting From The Heart #2 Anything goes non card.

Crafts Galore Encore #112 Anything goes.

We Love To Create #5 Anything goes mixed media. 

Girlz Creative Crafts #37 Things with Wings.

Paper Craft - Challenges #94 Things with Wings.

Sparkles #164 Things with Wings.

The Creative Crafters #64 Anything goes.

❤

Bookmark Card.

End of May already and another challenge has started over on the Butterfly blog.

#183 Spin The Butterfly Wheel with B for Bookmark Card.  

You can  find the instructions as usual over on the butterfly blog under the card shapes  header. 

This is my card for your inspiration. I found lots of tutorials on adding a bookmark tag to a card but really liked the idea of a corner bookmark. There were a couple on You Tube which I adapted to make my own version. Mine is a stand up Tent fold design.

As you can see the bookmark slips off so makes an extra little gift for your card recipient to use in a reading book. 

This is the inside of the bookmark fold and has space for  greeting. 

Tent fold then opens up for you to write your message. 

Here is a close up of the book mark corner.  

I have used all the elements from the Challenge wheel on my card. Even Buttons and Bows but you can just use one of them on your card. 

Design paper is by Violet Studio 'Essentials Collection'. The sentiment is by Woodware ' Deco Sayings' and the Butterfly is from a stamp set by Inkylicious 'Fluter 2'. I have used faux buttons on my card which is a die cut by  Joy Crafts. There is also a flower and a heart button in the set. I used my promarkers to colour the butterfly and bakers twine  threaded through the button holes to make the tiny bows. 

Entering into the following challenges:

Creative Knockouts #495 Fun Fold.

Creative Creases #58 With a fun fold. 

Sweet Stampin # Things with Wings.

Sparkles #164 Things with wings.

Use Your Stuff #485 Anything goes.

Allys Angels #70 Anything goes.

Crafty Calendar # Anything but square.

Girlz Creative Crafts #37 Things with Wings

I Spy with My Little Eye #3 Something with wings

PaperCraft Challenges #94 Things with wings. 

The butterfly Challenge runs for 3 weeks as usual so ends on 20th June  8pm (GMT).

Hope to see you in the garden with your Butterflies. Bees, Dragonflies, Lady birds are

also welcome. There are enough flowers and ponds to go around. 

❤

 

Scraps Begone 2

Some more cards to show using the green pile (this time) of strips I made into the following card fronts and then further embellished. 

I thought the tones of green perfect for making masculine cards with. 

1st card 

This is the middle sheet shown above. I have embossed it with a folder by Couture Creations called 'Endless' ( which has lots of different leaves on it) and then wet embossed with a gold metallic 'Wow' powder.  I  have a leaf stamp in my stash from Sep 2011 which came as a Freebie with Craft Stamper Magazine, sadly no longer being published. I stamped out several times on a small piece of scrap paper and then used the same metallic  embossing powder, then fussy cut round.  The frame was sat in my box of die frames from previous projects (really must start using those up too) and I used further strips of paper to create the sentiment which is by  Julie Hickey.  I made this for The Doc as it was his birthday last week. 

Entering into the following challenges:

All Sorts Challenge #728 Embellish it.

Use Your Stuff #484 Use a technique ( I have used wet and dry embossing).

The Paper Shelter #554 Embellish it.

The Paper Funday Challenges #53Anything goes with twist Emboss it. 

The Crafting Challenge # Add an embellishment.

Mix It Up #65 Anything goes /optional embossing

2nd card 

This one uses  the sheet on the left. The nearly complete circle was also in my stash of unused frames and seemed to work well against the angle of the strips. The large leaf stamp is an oldie by a company called Dimension Fourth Ltd. It is a thick polymer stamp and took repeated stamping before I managed to get a good print from it. I went over the image with a silver gel pen which isn't showing up very well. IRL it does. The sentiment sticker and dots were in my stash. :

Entering into the following challenges:

Ellibelles Corner # Anything goes.

A Perfect Time To Craft #5 Anything goes.

The Creative Crafters#64 Anything goes.

Polka Doodles Craft Challenge #19 Anything goes.

   3rd card 

The penny farthing image was in happy mail I received from a friend and was in my stash just waiting for the right time to be used. Thought it perfect for a male recipient. The piece of green card stock was smaller than the cut image so I simply off set and added the black sticker sentiment. 

Entering into the following challenges:

Creatalicious Challenges #359 Anything goes with optional / 3 or more design papers. (I have used 3 different striped papers on the background strips. 

Crafts Galore Encore #111 Anything goes.

Love To Scrap #161 Anything goes.

Love To Craft #74 Anything goes.

Country Challenges # View Vehicles.

Seize The Birthday #261 Wheels.

My piles of neatly sorted strips are still hovering in the background but I have my beady eye on the white ones now too that are threatening to over spill.  I will survive!! Till the next time happy crafting. 

❤

Pillar Cards.

Time is whooshing past at an alarming rate. It is May already and another challenge has started over on the Butterfly blog.

#182 Spin The Butterfly Wheel with P for Pillar Card.  

You can  find the instructions as usual over on the butterfly blog under the card shapes  header. 

These are my cards for your inspiration. There is so many designs for making these cards. I got my ideas from 'Jamie Rodgers' Craftmainia YouTube and are just the tip of the iceberg on what you can make. I could have made a lot more so think I will be revisiting this card shape again in the future.  

Card 1.

This is making a standard two pillar card and is Version I in my Tutorial on the Butterfly blog. 

I have used 3 of the colours on the wheel  along with pearls and Butterfly which is my go to die cut Isabella by Memory Box. Spotty and flower design papers are by The Paper Boutique and the green background paper is from Humphreys' Corner. I have used circle dies from Julie Hickey. Pearls and silver sentiment  from my Stash.

Entering this card into the following challenges:

Creative Fingers #254 Anything goes.

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #205 Anything goes.

Die Cut Divas # Tic/Tac/Toe I have used Flowers/The word Love/ Patterned paper.

The Crafting Challenge # Add an embellishment.

Card 2.

This is making again a two pillar card but wider this time and is Version II in my Tutorial. 

Background paper is  'Totally Tropical' by Kate Knight and is using 3 of the colours from the wheel. 

The large bloom is by Woodware 'Camelia' coloured with my Graph'it markers. Stamped and then fussy cut out.  The white die cut is an SU punch and the stickers and pearls from my stash.  Butterfly is also a punch and in my stash waiting to be used. 

Entering this card into the following challenges:

Creative Creases #56 Anything goes with a fun fold.

Polka Doodles Craft Challenge #wk 18 Anything goes.

613 Avenue Create # Anything goes Say it with Flowers.

Sheepski Designs #74 Flower Power.

Crafty Calendar # Anything but square.

Card 3.

This is making a one pillar card with the panel coming from the centre of the pillar and is Version III in my Tutorial. 

Design paper is a freebie from Making cards July 2016 'Party Girls' Die cut frame is by Lisa Horton 'Stitched Scallop Rectangle'.  Flowers and stickers from my stash. Picture below is looking down on the top of the card showing the middle fixing. 

Entering this card into the following challenges:

All Sorts Challenge #727 April flowers bring May  flowers.

Crafting Happiness #142 Anything goes/flowers.

Creations In Pink #57 Anything goes in pink.

Get Creative #121 Flower Frenzy.

Triple B Birds,Butterflies,Blooms. #3 I have butterflies and blooms.

Last Card.

This is again making a one pillar card but the panel comes out from the back of the pillar and is Version IV in my Tutorial. Very similar to Version I but construction is made with two pieces of card. 

I don't have a name for this pattern paper which has been in my stash a long time. 

The butterfly swirl is by Tonic Studios 'Butterfly Blooms 293720' The butterfly frieze is also a punch by Tonic. The sentiment is actually the left over part of the sticker. I had already used the sentiment on a previous project so I simply cut  round the edges and mounted onto a piece of white card which then showed up the words in relief. (Waste not want not).

Entering this card into the following challenges.:

A Perfect Time to Craft. #5 Anything goes.

Crafts Galore encore #111 Anything goes.

Incy Wincy Designs # Funfolds or/ Summer fun.

Tic,Tac,Toe Challenges #207 I have chosen Die Cut/Free/ Birthday.

Love To Craft #74 Anything goes.

I hope you will have time to come and have a play. The challenge is running for 3 weeks as usual so will end on Tuesday 30th May 8pm (GMT).

Scraps No More 1

I am on a scrap busting mission. My scrap box is full to overflowing.  Now to me a piece of paper is not a scrap until it is a strip less than 2" wide in any length or a 2" square or less, until then it is still usable and as such is in my normal  stash of papers to be used.. I had a good sort out of the scrap box and spent time colour cordingnating it. Not  unsurprisingly the pile of pink was a lot bigger than any other colour combination. I managed to make 12 card fronts up in it. Also 4 from the lavender/mauve and 3 from the green pile and I still had scraps left over in each of the colours so back into the box they went.  Each and every card front is a different use of the scraps.  Here I am  showing you  how I completed the first three pink cards and I have to say I don't think the finished cards look at all scrappy!

Here are the panels I made. They are all approx  4" x 5.5"

Not too adventuresome  I admit , just using up straight stips but see the completed cards below.

Card 1. 

Before I embossed the panel I die cut an oval from the centre of the card using  a set from 'The Works' (and no I didn't waste it , see card below). The embossing folder was still out on my desk from making the anniversary cards  'Chain Link' by Couture Creations.  The die cut flower was already cut from a previous project 'Morning Glory' by Tonic Studios.  I placed a larger scrap of pink  paper  behind the oval then adhered  the whole card front onto a white card base.  The sentiment was from a freebie magazine set. 

Card 2. 

This  card was a happy accident as having cut the oval out of the previous card without particularly noticing I had placed it down onto the next card front to use and it just happened to be precisely the right colours. I hastily die cut a smaller oval using a scrap of white cardstock and stamped a sentiment by Julie Hickey. The small flower  was from the freebie stamp set already mentioned above which I coloured with a matching promarker pen.  Attached the whole panel to a white card base to finish. 

Card 3. 

This one is my favourite.

The rose stamp was part of the  freebie set ( already mentioned above) from Practical Publishing and I knew that I had an embossing folder (Crafts -Too ref CTFD3107) in my stash that would compliment it perfectly.  I stamped the rose onto white cardstock and then fussy cut round it finally colouring with my Promarkers and a silver Gel pen.  I punched the tag from another piece of scrap paper in pink and in thicker white card gluing both together and used two stips of small offcuts to raise up on the card. Finally the sentiment is a silver sticker from my stash.
Entering this card into the following challenges:

613 Avenue Create # Anything goes/ optional say it with flowers.

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #205 Anything goes.

Krafty Chicks #662 Stamp Act 1

Creative Fingers #254 Anything goes.

All Sorts Challenge #727 April showers brings May Flowers.

Crafts Galore Encore #111 Anything goes.

Crafting Happiness #142  Anything goes optional Flowers.

Get Creative Challenges #121 Flower Frenzy.

Mix It Up #65 Anything goes / optional Embossing

The Flower Challenge #80 Pretty Pastels.

The Paper Funday Challenges #53 Anything goes with optional emboss it. 

Unicorn Challenge #87 Flowers.

Creations In Pink #57 Anything goes in pink.

❤