Gardening and Birds

 

A very quick card for my neighbour's birthday yesterday - bit of a panic when I looked at the calendar and realised it was her birthday.  Fortunately she has been away for a few days, but was back last night so it was waiting for her on her return. 

There was even more of a panic when I went to print the elements off as I hadn't realised I hadn't got the new printer linked to the laptop.  Fortunately OH sorted that out whilst I entertained the granddaughter's when they called in with Gramp's Father's Day card and pressie, so was able to print it out and assemble it once they had gone!  phew!

The images are from Joanna Sheen's Jane Shasky "From the heart of the garden" cd.  My neighbour is a keen gardener and bird lover - so a very apt image from the cd.

Images mounted on Papermania pearlescent card, a piece of ribbon from my stash,  a Docrafts flower with a pearl added to centre, and some card candi on which I have spelled out Val using a green sakura moonlight pen.

Mags

Card for a Golfer

Another image from The Next Big Thing - coloured with promarkers.  Matted on to two shades of green papermania pearlescent card.  Had to use one of my memory Box dies again too.  Card finished off with some stick-on balloons and a couple of peel-offs from my stash.  Do love this cd of digital images - so versatile.



close up of image



Thanks for dropping by.

Mags

OAPs Rule - OK!

It is my Brother-in-Law's Birthday today and this is the card I have made for him (albeit because I hadn't got my act together it will be a bit late arriving!)

The image is from Just Inklined the Next Big Thing - and he can blame his brother for choosing the image!  As B-i-l is joining the OAP Club today, just couldnt' resist using the image!  Image is matted on papermania pearlescent card, and some glitter card.  Have also used the glitter card for the Memory Box die shapes.  Gosh I love these new dies - got to buy some more!  The main card stock is pearlescent card.  It is also huge as it is an A4 size card!

and here is a close up of the main image, which was coloured with promarkers.  There is a subtle little personalisation on the scooter, as B-i-l works the early shift picking/packing customer orders for a certain Supermarket.  Hopefully it will make him laugh!  As they live on the south coast, can just imagine him at some point in his bright shirt and shorts zooming along the seafront with his shopping! he he!

Mags

Card for Bea

Had to use this image from Joanna's Daisy and Friends cd, as it reminded me so much of granddaughter No2, whose 6th birthday it will be shortly!  I had already chosen it and coloured it in, before I knew she would be spending most of her birthday at a dress rehearsal with her sister for their forthcoming Ballet School's show at a local theatre!

Coloured with promarkers. Matted onto two shades of Papermania pearlescent card.  One of my  new papermania flowers from latest Goodybag, which has been edged with a a blue Letraset Metallic Marker.  I also used the blue and green metallic markers to colour the peel-off number 6 and some clear oriental lettering ones from my stash, which I bought from C&C many moons ago.  Was quite pleased how the metallic markers blended on the peel-offs.

As she is quite a keen little crafter, I have bought her some Lyra watercolour crayons and koi brushes for her birthday.  I am thinking that by next year, it will have to be promarkers - better start saving then!

Mags

90th Birthday

Made this card today for Iris, one of my mum's younger cousins, for her 90th Birthday next week.  Large A4 Card again.  She is almost blind, so wanted something with loads of texture and touchy- feely theme, and wanted to make it fairly large for her.  (As she lives at St Dunstan's - the pressure was on to get it right as it will be seen by the staff there!)

Backing paper and flowers from various Docrafts goody bags.  The 90 was cut out with a template from pink glitter card, which I also used for the matting of the main image.  Glitter card was from my stash (think it was C&C card from Wilkinsons).  Main image from "The Next Big Thing" cd, coloured with promarkers.  Purple imitation ribbon cut from Papermania pearlescent card with a tonic punch.  Finally a chiffon ribbon added (Joanna Sheen) to which I added a couple of peel-offs and a little head pin with beads on it, peel-off letters spelling Iris on the image, and some card candi for the centres of the flowers. 

I know she won't be able to see it, but hope she will be able to feel the different elements, if somebody describes them to her.

As she is one of my favourite "aunts" (yes I know she is really a cousin), but she was Auntie to me as a child, as we spent many happy times with her and her family on their farm, days out on the beach, and family holidays, and although I don't normally send her a present for her birthday, I am thinking of making a necklace, something simple on a cord that she can just slip over her head.

Before me she was the family historian, and she was a fount of information as she kept in touch with all the aunts, uncles and cousins in my mum's line.   I just wish she and mum hadn't gone blind before I needed them to recognise faces in photos for me.

Mags

Granddaughter's efforts

A couple of weeks ago I spent an afternoon crafting with my youngest grandchildren.  They had the option of card craft of jewellery craft.  They chose cardmaking and at last I have obtained photos of the cards they made for their aunt, and thought as I had nothing of my own to share today I would share their finished cards.  They each designed their own card, I just provided some card and stash to boost their own craft stash, plus punches to choose from.  My job was to be in charge of the guillotine for trimming card!

 

 

The first one was made by the five year old.   She liked my new tonic punch, and managed the border very well. (they really are easy to use punches).   Good job the card was being hand-delivered as I think the beads she chose from my jewellery stash were a tad large! although they look good on the giant papermania flowers.  I showed her how to mat and layer her sentiment.  "oh Nanny I like how you do that, I am always going to do it - it makes it look like a bought card".

 

This second one was made by the two year old.  Her big sister actually stamped the Happy Birthday image, and then decided she wasn't going to use it on her card so her young sister decided to use it, and of course she wanted it matted and layered too, so I helped her with this, but she used the tape pen! 

I gather that when she knew I was coming over to do some craft, she was a bit upset and said to her Mum:  "But I am too little to craft, Mummy".   I don't think so!  I think she made an excellent job, and she has no trouble with a tape pen or foam pads and can manage peel-offs!

I make no apologies for being a proud Nanny for today's post, as I think we have two more crafters in the making! 

Mags

Bird of Paradise

I made this card for my daughter-in-law whose birthday is the same day as my granddaughter's.  I love this Jane Shasky image from Joanna's "from the heart of the garden cd.  It is not often I use orange on my cards.

I printed out the image twice and decoupaged the flowers.  I had the idea of using some of my beading cord to decoupage the twig on the image, but it didn't quite work - so used two lengths of diffent colours intertwined instead of ribbon.  The flowers in the corner aren't quite as dark as they appear in the photo, they are actually same orange as in the ribbon bow.

I also made her a cake.  I know her mum quite often makes her a chocolate cake for her birthday, and as the birth of our new grandchild is imminent, and as I wasn't sure if she would end up giving birth to another Valentine's Day baby,  decided to opt for a cake that would keep - just in case.   

I know she likes Cherry Cake, so that is what I made, and added a bit of water-icing on top and some cherries.  (I think it looks like a giant iced bun!).  The only thing I did wrong, was to follow the recipe and put all the ingredients in together, and then use the Kenwood, which of course blitzed all the cherries!  Was a bit miffed as I had put in a lot more than the recipe stated - should have mixed it by hand!  (or put in the cherries at the end! - duly noted for next time!)  Anyway I threw in even more whole cherries when I realised my mistake!  so even if doesn't look like there are a lot of cherries in it - it should definitely taste of cherries! LOL!

Mags

Playing about

I decided to have a play tonight with some recent purchases, some I bought at New Year in the Craft Barn half price sale, and some I bought at Sandown Show on Saturday.  No recipient in mind at the moment - so one for the box! 

The main topper is created from lemon papermania paper and purple mirri using a Nellie Snellen die.   The strip along the bottom was created with my new Tonic Studios Simplicity Patterned Punch - "Daisy Strip" (from Crafty Devils), and the fancy circles from a Martha Stewart punch, using papermania pearlescent card, and I used the little flowers from the centre of the Daisy Strip to decorate the main topper.   Finished off with a couple of pearls from a sheet also purchased from Crafty Devils and a white sparkly peel-off greeting from my stash.

I am loving the new Tonic punches - takes a bit of practise to keep them in line, but am getting there.  I also bought the Celtic Strip which is gorgeous!

Thanks for looking.

Mags.

Another Dog

Dog in a hat

Today's card is another one from JS Furry Friends - there really are some cute images on this cd.   Backing paper is also from the cd.  Just kept it simple matting onto a sort of gold papermania pearlescent card and added a little bit of chiffon ribbon with a faux bow.

Mags

Puppy & Roses

Puppy and Roses

Today's card is an image from furry friends.  The backing paper is also from the same cd - but it was pink - so I converted it to the shade I wanted in Publisher.  Backing paper, topper and computer generated sentiment all mounted on my favourite papermania pearlescent card.   Some ribbon from my stash and some card candi.

Mags

Birthday Card for a Special Friend

Cream side spring card

I made this card today for the birthday of a special friend.  Once again I have used the side spring design - think I am hooked on this fold at the moment, but I really wanted something a bit special.  The fold is a little complicated at first sight - but with the hougie board it becomes quite simple.

Cardstock is cream pearlescent papermania card, and because of the way the fold works, the square is the plainer reverse of the card.  Once again I have made the card bigger than the original tutorial.

The backing paper to the topper and the sentiment etc.  are from my special craftwork cards paper stash!  (which is normally just stash for stroking - lol!)  The rose topper is one I painted myself on gold mirri card.  I finished the card with my last butterfly from my stash, to compliment the rose, and some peel-off edging.

Hope you are liking this fold as much as I am.  If anyone would like the measurements I used for the larger card just ask.

Thanks for popping by

Mags

Gift Tag

Just a little something today. I created this gift tag to go on a Christening present. It was one of those happy accidents - in the mess that was on my dining table, were some stamps that came with some goody bags, that I had extracted, but hadn't put away. Having wrapped the present I thought better make a gift tag - and this stamp just sat there shouting at me.

Stamped with versamark and embossed in silver, then coloured with Sakura stardust pens. Don't know about you, but with the advent of promarkers etc, the old Sakura seem to have got overlooked - although I do use the clear stardust on a regular basis for highlighting, but rarely use the coloured ones these days. I edged the card with cool aqua promarker.

I can see this stamp being used quite a bit more - not only for gift tags (wouldn't it look good in Christmas colours?) but also for cards, particularly coloured with promarkers - yes the brain cell is working overtime!

Mags

Ooops Card!

I have been so busy with my visitor last week, and playing with my birthday pressies, that I overlooked the fact that it was my sister-in-law's husband's birthday today!   (shall blame it on fact that I hadn't turn the "bible"  over - aka the calendar in the kitchen, where all birthdays etc are recorded!)

I quickly remedied the situation earlier today, and the card is now in care of the RM.  To make life easier and quicker when I took the image and backing paper from JS Times Gone By into Publisher I created faux matting and layering around the main image, as well as the computer generated sentiment, and added Happy Birthday to the image in the same colour. 

This meant that I only had to trim around the backing paper, which I did layer on to some pearlescent papermania card in the normal way, and then on to hammered white card.  I used the sea themed insert from the CD inside.

thanks for looking

Mags



Fairy Card

The request for this card from a pal was that it had Fairies on it.  No problem as I knew I had my JS Enchanted Dreams CD.  I had put off making the card as I knew the recipient's mum was very ill, and was aware that the wording might need careful consideration.  I could hardly put "Happy Birthday" on it.  Sadly her mum died, and my pal and I have been to her funeral today.  It was a beautiful "farewell" to a lovely lady.  It was an Humanitarian funeral - completely non-religious.  Linda's mum had sorted it all herself, complete with having bought the stick-on butterflies to be put on her coffin.  On a happier note another friend of our family gave birth to a second son today - what is it they say - one out,one in.

Cream cardstock.  Image mounted on silver mirri, as is the sentiment.  (I put the image into MCS, and picked out one of the colours for the sentiment and its border).  Image  is then mounted on a larger copy of the image, also mounted on silver mirri, and that in turn is mounted on the backing paper that goes with the image, mounted on purple pearlised papermania card.

Blue Dog

Couldn't think what to entitle this card - thus Blue Dog!  (ok my imagination has gone awol today!)

Another card using the JS Furry Friends CD.  Image matted and layered on blue pearlised Papermania card, on cream cardstock, and the tartan sections (from extra backing papers section of same CD)  imported into Publisher and wording added, and edged with silver peel-offs.  I have so many peel-offs in my stash, that I rarely use, and I have vowed to rectify that!   Corner decorations also created with silver corner peel-offs with some little white sparkly star peel-offs in the centre.

Second Furry Friends card

Image is from JS Furry Friends, matted and layered on very pale pink shimmered card (forget the name -bought it at Ally Pally) and silver mirri.

The Martha Stewart trellis was punched from card created from the central part of the cat image amd resized.  Flower and sentiment (matted/layered as image) was also created from cropping part of the image and resizing to create matching card.  Basic card is my favourite Papermania Shimmer card.

Thanks for looking

Mags

Another Fishy Card

Made this card for a pal for her nephew.  The image is from JS Jane Netley Mayhew Collection, and I have also used the matching backing papers for the side squares.   However, using Publisher, I also used an image from the Frame Section and resized it and the fish to create the main image.  I couldn't resist putting the words I did on the sentiment for this keen fisherman!

Just a  basic cream card  and everything matted and layered on gold mirri and brown Papermania Shimmer Card.

This card isn't actually needed until beginning of  July, but as I am supposed to be doing some work for a Children's Craft Catalogue over next couple of weeks, once the items arrive,  I thought I had better get ahead.  I have also got to do a cake to go with the card - although it will be a joint male and female 60th cake.  Inspiration has not struck for that yet!  (Do fish and flowers go together??).

Cats and Gymnastics

As soon as I saw this image on JS Furry Friends, I knew I had to buy the CD - it was just what I wanted for a card order with the requirements Cats and Gymnastics!  I have even been brave and not layered it straight - bit diverse for me!  The photo doesn't really do the colours justice as the image is more aqua than blue.

Basic white card stock, trimmed with Woodware cutter.  The backing square of a gymnast was created in MCS by tiling a royalty free image, and changed to brown.  This was matted and layered using Papermania shimmered textured card stock in a brown shade to match the cats, and gold mirri, as was the image and the sentiments, which were created in Publisher.

I also created some flowers, by importing the image into Publisher and cropping the image, and then resizing it to give me the colour of card I wanted for the flowers (I printed card on both sides in different shades).  Whole thing finished off with a touch of brown ribbon and some matching jewels.

Close up of the flower detail showing how it matches the image.

Experiment with an image

I love the Joanna Sheen Enchanted Dreams cd, and in particular this image.   I imported the image into Publisher then copied and cropped it and then enlarged it to the size I wanted as an experiment to use as as a ribbon of backing paper.

I was thrilled when I was planning the design in Publisher to see that the "wings" appear to match perfectly.  I will confess that I had no idea when I started to play that this would happen, and am really quite pleased with the effect.

I edged the backing strip with a peel-off, and matted the image on mirri card, which is raised up slightlly on 3d tape.  Finished the card with a simple peel-off Happy Birthday and some pink sparkly stars which pick up the colours in the image.  Card was a pale green Papermania Shimmer Textured cardstock from the Aqua Marine pack. 

LIM: 70th Birthday Card

I wanted to try another Less is More card for this card for a forum pal.   Green Papermania Shimmer Textured card stock.  The green squares (mounted on silver mirri) and the green imitation ribbon were from MCS Print Click Go Paper Flower Expert, with an additional piece of green ribbon from my cake decorating stock added.  Finished off with a large 70 peel off and a couple of Flora Doodles and a sentiment from my stash (amazing how some yellow tint has shown on the Flora Doodle Flower - as there was no yellow showing on the actual flower!   Photography is a stange thing sometimes!)