Wheelbarrow of Fun

My second and last Beatrix Potter sample for Crafter's Companion on German TV June 2013...

Have had this idea of adding a wheelbarrow for ages, but had'nt found the right images until I met Miss Potter.

I used a card black as my back drop, embossed a frame in lilac and lightly sanded. Matted onto craft paper.

Cut out a few rub on images that I liked. Added a free hand pearl swirl.

I drew the wheelbarrow. . . it took me a few attempt to get it right. Coloured it in with my alcohol pens and cut out using my craft knife. I attached the wheelbarrow to the card with sillicon glue. I added some artificial moss and some small lilac and white rose buds. Really happy with how it turned out and will definately try this technique again...

Beatrix Potter

First of two samples for Crafter's Companion launch on Germany TV (June 2013).

I had so much fun making this quick card using some of the gorgeous Beatrix Potter goodies available from Crafters Companion.

These are the products I used from the range:


Folder: Beatrix Potter, 5'' x 7'', Female 2
Card Blanks: Beatrix Potter, 6 pack 5'' x 7''
Rub Ons: Beatrix Potter, Female
Emellishments: Beatrix Potter, Gems, Female & Ribbon, Female

Probably wont sleep tonight...mind working overtime for what to do for my second sample tomorrow...

Another Day, Another Embossing Folder

Today I carried on with the my last two Embossalicious samples for Crafter's Companion.

I did contemplate doing something white on white but chickened out and opted for pale grey and cream. I loved how the paisley embossed section looked like material due to the pattern on the paper. Now that I have 'mastered' sewing into card with my sewing machine I am hooked and just had to use it again.

The flower was made using the Die'sire sunflower quilling die, I used the small and large.

I just love how subtle and delicate this card look, but am sure it would equally as nice in bright tones.



My second card today, and last of my samples, I used Patchwork and Argyle A4 Embossalicious folders.

I made the frame from pieces of card that I cut and embossed from the Patchwork folder and joined them together to make a frame, as I attached them I off set them...did'nt want them all lined up to perfectlty. I did think about joining them together with some zig zag stitch via my sewing machine, but thought probably too much.

Then I cut a piece of material larger than the middle section and stamped onto it a rose pattern (the material did have a small rose repeat pattern on it) as i thought it matched perfectly. I added my clear embossing powder and heat embossed. Once dry I started to colour the stamped image in with my alcohol pens - just do small dots of colour (as the ink will bleed) and build up the colour. I created the padded section with a piece of card the size I wanted the padded section to be. I did'nt have any wadding so I got inventive and used some cotton wool balls. I teased them out and attached to the cardboard square, covered with a piece of white felt and then the material.

I centred the padded section in the middle of the card and added the frame. I used foam tape to raise the frame off the blue backing layer which was embossed using the Argyle A4 folder.

I just L O V E how it turned out and L O V E the freshness of the green and blue colour combination. I hoe you do to.

Fabulous Embossalicious

Had a play today with the fabulous Embossalicious embossing folders from the clever people at Crafter's Companion...it's hard to decide which ones to ''play'' with they are all so, so lovely...

Once I had finished stroking all the folders I eventually decided on my favourite Argyle which comes in the amazing A4. I used it twice on the card but in two different colours as wanted to show you how fantastic the folder is.

I passed the folder through my die cutting machine and used the amazing Core'dinations papers and sanded the relief pattern back to reveal the core - I think that this effect shows the folder off to it's best.

I used my sewing machine to attached the matts and layers together. This is the first time I have used this technique and I am in love with it.

From the lovely Peach Melba pinks and yellows to something a bit more masculine. On this project I combined two different Embossalicious folders: Regency Damask 8 x 8 and Argyle A4 (told you it was my favourite).

The deep teal coloured Core'dinations paper from Brights was passed through the Embossalicious folder Regency Damask 8 x 8. Sanded it, added some distress inks and then added clear and antique gold embossing powder and blasted it with my heat gun.

I ripped the edges of the patterned paper and passed it through the Argyle A4 folder. I love the contrast in textures between the masculine Argyle folder and the feminine Regency Damask folder.

The depth of embossing on these fabulous Embossalisious folders is amazing and the range of sizes and designs available mean they suit any style, wither it be shabby chic or steam punk...check out the full range at Crafters Companion UK.

My Last Sneak Peak (Number 8) for Natures Notes Four Day Deal on Create and Craft TV

Sadly this is the last of my samples as the launch is happening in just less than 24 hours, I can’t wait.

For my last card/project I still wanted to do a card but try something a little different. I’ve made a slider card before, and am not going to go into depth on how to make one as there are loads of tutorials already out there. However, going to try something a little different so stay with me…

Once you have made your plain slider card. I made mine from Centura Pearl Snow White. It’s time to decorate…the fun part.

I chose a piece of pink Core’dinations card from the Roy G Biv stack and passed it through my Royal Damask 8 x 8 Embosselisious folder. To the raised damask areas I brushed some gold ink, this created the bottom section of my matt and layer and I added pink spotted velum to the top and joined them together. Cut this section to size and matted into gold paper.

To cover the join I die cut a gold ribbon threader and laced some thin white ribbon through.

Cut a sentiment from the cd-rom and attached with 3d foam to the damask section of the card.

From the pink Core’dinations card I made a small easel mechanism and attached it securely to the top of the card. I decorated the easel mechanism with two sunflowers made using the Dies’ire small and large sunflower quilling die in white vellum. Buttons and pearls added to the flower centres.

Cut a gold leaf from the Die’sire Leaf 2.

Dark pink doilies is from the embellishment section for May, along with the bird frame. Added glossy accent to the bird frame to add some shine. Pink flower shape button was also cut from this section and added clear embossing powder for shine. These embellishments where added using my silicon glue.   

So how does it work, well to post it un hook the easel section (with the flowers) from behind the gold ribbon threader and lay flat and to raise it back up for display just tuck it back behind. I love this techniques. Slider cards are lovely but when you get them and display them they look nothing when lying flat, but now you can raise an element of the card up for all to see.

Remember and tune into Create and Craft TV tomorrow at 8 am.

Sneak Peak Number 7 for Natures Notes Four Day Deal on Create and Craft TV

So after having much fun making 3d projects, back to card making. The gorgeous greens in the bonus papers drew me into the June section. I cut a section of the bonus paper and matted and layered onto craft paper and a pearlised fawn card, but not before distressing with Tattered Straw.

I wrapped a piece of co-ordinating stripped ribbon around the card and layered onto of it a piece and antique style cotton ribbon.

Die cut a lace edge frame and used it as a stencil, adding some distress inks. I stamped the sentiment in pale green and embossed with clear powder. The sentiment is from Sheena Douglas’s A Little Bit Sketchy, Only Words – From the Heart. Attached the stamped lace edge frame to the card.

Cut a 4 large and 4 small dies using the Die’sire small and large quilling dies in tissue paper – not for the faint hearted. Inked the inside of the rose petals yellow and added a yellow felt brad to the centre of the rose.

Added two lengths of twig behind the rose.

Attached some small cream roses I had made previously, along with some shop bought rose buds.

Decorated a small wooded bird embellishment with guilding flakes.

Selected a piece of green Core’dinations paper from the Vintage stack I passed it through my Patchwork A4 Embosselicious folder, sanded and lightly inked with Tattered Straw.

This is a relatively simple card, with an easy layout but the embellishments make it stand out from the crowd.

Keep checking in for more sneaky previews and remember and tune into Create and Craft TV at 8 am on Monday 20^th May 2013.

Sneak Peak Number 6 for Natures Notes Four Day Deal on Create and Craft TV

After having so much fun doing the canvas I had to do something with a cardboard frame I purchased recently from K&Company…

The papers and colours for the June selection are just too pretty and it would be rude not to use them. I used a piece of Core’dinations White wash in pale pink and passed it through my Embosellicious 6 x 6 Regency Damask folder. When I sanded it back it revealed the dark pinkish plum core of the card. I attached a strip to the middle section of the frame using my Mod Podge.

The bonus papers in this cd-rom is amazing. Printed off a sheet that I liked, dusky pinks and dusky browns with flowers and butterflies. However the frame is wider than the width of the frame…so I tore the pieces of the patterned paper into small sections and deco patched with my Mod Podge. Gave it a thick top coat of Mod Podge to seal and left to dry. Once dry I used my Inky duster and some Walnut stain and Tattered Straw to take the newness look off. Painted round the edges of the frame in cream acrylic paint and smudged with my finger some onto the flat deco patched area.  

To cover the joins between the two different papers I added some ultra thick red tape and roughly gathered up some cream grosgrain ribbon. On the top section I added from the Borders section the heart ribbon embellishment and placed it on top of the ribbon with my silicon glue.

From Core’dinations White Wash and Vintage made a large and small rose with the Die’sire quilling dies. Spritsed them with water, crumpled petals into shape. Once dry inked the edges of the petals in pink and pale lilac.

Cut and stamped a key in gold, distressing the edges in Victorian Velvet.

Tag was cut from the cd-rom, along with two flower shaped button. Added clear embossing powder to the buttons to crate shine.

Die cut two flourishes in craft paper.

Stamped and cut out a small bird image from Kaisercraft.

Flower shaped button was also added.

The sentiment in the frame was stamped onto cream card in pink and the sentiment was embossed in gold. Alternatively you could add a photograph to the frame.  

Keep checking in for more sneaky previews and remember and tune into Create and Craft TV at 8 am on Monday 20^th May 2013.

Sneak Peak Number 5 for Edwardian Ladies Four Day Deal on Create and Craft TV

If you have been following my blog over the past few days you will by now have realised that you NEED to purchase these cd-roms from the ever so clever Crafter’s Companion.

My 5^th sample for the launch is from July, Edwardian Ladies. Decided to try something different as all my samples so far have been cards. I won a fantastic box of goodies a few weeks ago on the lovely Tracy Evans blog (http://www.craftaddicts-tracyevans.blogspot.co.uk) and in amongst the goodies was this fabulous canvas.

I selected a fabulous opulent, dark blue damask paper which I passed through my Embosellicious Argyle A4 folder and cut a strip a few centimetres short of the width and height of the canvas.

I mixed some cream enamel paint with some Mod Podge and painted around the edges of the canvas with a thick layer and left to dry. Adding the Mod Podge helps to harden the paint and create a rough finish. Once dry I added the embossed paper by painting a layer of Mod Podge onto the canvas, then the paper and then painted another layer of Mod Podge and left to dry. Once it was all dry I distressed with various Tim Holtz inks with my Inky Dusters, building up the colour gradually.

From the Font section I selected the word LO V E in size 5 in a brown colour using the colouriser. I cut the letters into squares and rounded the edges off with my corner punch. Distressed the edges with my distress inks and roughed the edges with my scoring tool. I think they kind of look like Scrabble tiles.

I cut the Flora oval section out and distressed. Cut out the Kingfisher bird from one of the frames, added clear embossing powder, which created a lovely glossy finish to the bird. Cut the blue love heart, the blue button and the pink bow out – I made the pink bow glossy in the same way as the bird.

From the www I found a free image of an Edwardian lady with a blue tint, which matched perfectly with the blue damask paper. Roughed the edges and inked.

I started to play about with the layout and decided that I need something behind the Edwardian lady image, so from my crafty stash selected a cream doilies, which I aged lightly with Walnut Stain.

Near the bottom of the canvas I added a piece of antique style cotton lace. Added an organza bow from Creative Expressions in champagne.

From my crafty stash I added some small white and red roses.

I made a hat pin, using a pearl, a crystal and a blue bead. From the lovely Hobby House I attached a small antique clock and added a narrow piece of blue ribbon.

To hang the canvas I used a thinner piece of antique style cotton lace.

I think out of all the samples I've made this is my favourite and would love to find a reason to make another.

Keep checking in for more sneaky previews and remember and tune into Create and Craft TV at 8 am on Monday 20^th May 2013.

Sample No 4 for Edwardian Lady and Natures Notes

This is my 4^th sample and 2^nd from the August section of Edwardian Lady.

I love the colour combination of pink and yellow, perfect for that late summer months.

I selected a piece of 12 x 12 Core’dinations yellow paper from the Roy G Biv stack and passed it through my Embosellicios Regency Damask 8 x 8 folder. Lightly sanded with my Core’dinations sanding block to highlight the pale core of the card.

Selected the yellow and white lattice print paper from the August section of Edwardian Lady. Matted this section onto white card and then onto pale blue card.

Punched a Dragonfly element, cut out a small blue tag and blue leaf and added a sentiment from the cd.

From the www I sourced a free down loadable image and cut out, coloured with water colour paints and inked the edges with distress inks to make the paper look old. Once ink was dry I spritsed with water and crumpled and left to dry.

Made a small envelope from craft paper.

Selected a gorgeous delicate piece of ribbon lace and threaded some pale blue checked ribbon through. 

Tied this round the yellow lattice, white and blue matt and layer stack.

Played around with the layout until I was happy. Added an organza blue ribbon bow and some shop bought yellow roses and a blue pearl brad. The base of the card was made from Centura Pearl Snow White card.

Remember and tune into Create and Craft TV at 8 am on Monday 20^th May 2013.

Sneak Peak Number 3 for Edwardian Ladies Four Day Deal on Create and Craft TV

The 3rd of my cards for next week’s launch on Create and Craft TV from Crafters Companion.

Using the Edwardian Lady I chose the gorgeous colours in the August section. I loved the image of the foxglove on the August shaped card but didn’t want to use it as it was. So I printed and cut out the main Foxglove oval. I used my embossing pen and added clear embossing powder to some of the blooms to make them look as though they are glistening with dew (or more like rain).

The green and pink swirl paper is a perfect background for the Foxgloves to nestle against, but I aged the edges with Victorian Velvet to tie the pink and green together. Then matted and layered onto some pink card.

I wrapped very loosely some narrow gold and cream ribbon twice round the pink and green matt and layer – I didn’t intend to leave it loose but the first wrap didn’t stick properly and I liked how it looked, so I think it’s what they call in the business ‘’a happy accident’’.

I cut the pink leaf flourish and pink button from the cd-rom and added clear embossing powder to create shine and dimension.

The tag was cut from the cd and the pink frame layered on top. Added some garden twine to the tag.

The love heart was a cheap silver embellishment I had in my stash, but added gold embossing powder and created a lovely gold expensive looking embellishment.

I covered a matchbox with craft paper, wrapped a section of garden twine around it twice. Lined the inside with some crumpled up white tissue paper to create a bed for the acetate butterfly. I used my alcohol pens to lightly colour the acetate butterfly and glued into place.  

All that was now left to do was to stick it all together using my Collall glue. As always I build the card never actually gluing any of my embellishments down until I am 100% happy with how the card looks. 

Once happy I take a picture on my mobile, deconstruct the card and use the picture to refer to rebuild the card. Nine times out of 10 am happy with the results.

Remember and tune into Create and Craft TV on Monday 20^th May at 8 am…make sure you have set the alarm.

Edwardina Lady and Natures Notes sneeky preview No 2

This is the second of my sneak previews of the fabulous new launch from Crafter's Companion launching as a Four Day Deal on Create and Craft TV at 8 am on Monday 20th May 2013.

Havent done an album before but thought this cd collection so suited a Mini Garden Album – ideal for recording dates of planting seeds/seedlings, photographs of your garden in full bloom and would make a lovely gift.

I started with a very cheap and basic bare chipboard album kit (they tend to come with the covers, insert pages and the rings) and come in various designs. For my project I chose the square album.

I loved the papers and embellishments on the Edwardian Lady cd, especially the July section. I selected the papers and embellishments that I liked and used these as my anchor colour – dusky pink and ochre green.

I covered the album with a piece of Core’dination’s Tim Holts 12 x 12 paper and passed it through my cutting machine with the Crafter’s Companion 8 x 8 embossing folder Regency Damask. Sanded the relief pattern back with my Core’dination’s sanding tool to give a worn and distressed look. Cut the piece of card to size and stuck to the front of the cover with double sided tape. Ensure to leave enough of an overlap around the edge to fold over neatly and secure with some tape. Doesn’t need to be to perfect on the inside. Selected a piece of co-ordinating ribbon and cut to size, leaving enough to tie a nice bow. Attached to the inside of the cover with strong tape. Cut a piece of the same or co-ordinating card  for the inside of the cover and attach. Used my Tim Holts distress inks (Old Paper, Victorian Velvet, Walnut Stain and Antique Linen) to age the paper, building up the colour gradually. Darkened the edges of the cover by running one of my distress ink pads along the edges. Used my pokey tool to punch through the pre punched holes for the ring to go through later. Carried out the same procedure for the back cover or alternatively just cover in a co-ordinating paper; I used craft paper for mine.

I printed off the all the embellishments, toppers etc from the July section and set about cutting them out – I find it easier to cut and then play around with them to get the layout I like. The embellishments needed background frames for them to sit against. Used my pink chevron paper first as I loved the pink on green effect. Cut a section more or less the height of the album minus a few cm’s each end. Distressed edges with Victorian Velvet. From by crafty stash I had a piece of paper with a chicken wire pattern which I thought fitted well with the garden theme and cut a small square that was slightly wider than the pink chevron strip, so that it overlapped. Matted this onto a slightly larger piece of craft paper. Aged the edges again with Old Paper and Victorian Velvet. To give dimension I used 3d foam tape to layer the chicken wire layer onto the craft paper square.   From the ochre green damask paper I cut a largish rectangular section, layered onto piece of pink Core’dination paper from Roy G Biv that matched the pinks in the chevron paper and then onto another layer again slightly bigger out of craft paper. Distressed all three layers with Old Paper and Victorian Velvet. Now that all the background frames are ready I placed them on the album. I didn’t stick them on yet as I was still ‘playing’ with the layout.

Now for the embellishments. From the cd I printed and cut out with my craft knife 2 0 1 3 in a greenish colour. Used the colourising tool to get the colour I wanted. Once cut out inked with my Victorian Velvet. Found a place for them on the frame that I liked and placed them on (still not gluing them down).

For extra dimension and focal point I found on the www a free printable seed packet, have a look there are lots out there free to use. Printed it off, cut and coloured using by markers and distressed to make it look like it was made from craft paper. Wasn’t sure about passing craft paper through my printer as it’s quite a thin paper. I left my packet open as I liked the look but would be nice to closed and actually put seeds in the packet. Again I placed it where I liked the look of it.

You might wonder why I’m not sticking anything down yet…well I always end up changing my mind where things go so I spend ages playing with the layout. Once I’m happy I take a pic on my mobile, take it apart and use the pic to help me replace and stick. That way you hardly ever mess up your project.

Selected from the toppers and embellishments sections on the cd, elements that I liked and distressed the edges (which also helps get rid of the visible white core). Used the large pink button and tied a piece of garden twine through the button holes. The small pink tag was cut out, added a small beige pearl to the centre of the flower and attached a piece of knotted garden twine. Cut out the pink leaf. Selected a round punched element (I didn’t have a punch this size so cut carefully with my craft knife). I printed it twice as I cut the small viola flowers out with my craft knife and decoupage them on top of the round punched element with my silicon glue. I loved the round viola decoupage element against the green damask matt and layer. Cut another small viola frame from the cd and used this to the pink chevron and chicken wire matt and layers together.

I added additional embellishments from by stash with a small wooden bobbin. Used my Walnut stain to make dark brown; wanted to make it look more like an old fashioned garden twine bobbin rather than a sewing bobbin. Added some ultra sticky double sided tape of the red kind to the body of the bobbin and wrapped garden twine round it. Made a small cream rose (but a shop bought one would look just as nice) and added a small wooden peg.

To create dimension and height when adding your embellishments you can use silicon glue and foam pads and try tucking things under others. Don’t always feel you have to show all of the embellishment; sometimes it’s nice just to see part of it.

Once I was happy with the layout, I took a pic on my mobile and removed all the elements. Used my glues and tapes to re build the front of the frame. Remember when using silicon glue to allow plenty time for it to dry.

Once dry inserted the metal rings through the back cover of the album, then the insert sheets then the front cover. I tied two small sections of the same ribbon as I attached earlier, and that’s you done. I left the insert pages blank but why not decorate those also.

Keep popping in for more sneaky previews prior to the launch on the 20th May.

Sneak Preview of a brand new launch from Crafter's Companion

Edith Blackwell Holden’s collection of seasonal observations, poetry, and pictures of birds, plants, and insects—which was never even considered for publication when it was composed—had the nostalgic charm of a vanished world seven decades later. It became a world-wide best seller. This fabulous new launch from Crafter’s Companion encapsulates and brings to life Edith Holden’s gorgeous imagery for us all to enjoy.

Today is the first of my 8 sneaky peaks for the launch of this fabulous for day deal on Create and Craft TV on Monday 20^th May 2013 at 8 am.

It seemed only right to choose the month of May for my first sample, seeing as it is actually May (already). May mean Maia’s month. Maia was an Italic goddess of Spring and know as Fauna by the Romans.

As soon as I saw this Bonus Paper I knew I had to use it. It is so gorgeous (and personally think it would make the most amazing wallpaper). A few weeks ago on a visit to a Pound Store I came across Photo Canvas copy paper so I thought I would have a go and see how this beautiful paper would look…I waited patiently as my printer set to the task (I printed it on the highest quality my printer would allow, which took ages). Well I can honestly say it was worth the wait.

Once I cut the paper to size and shape and rounded the edges I frayed the edges as I didn’t want it to look like paper and layered onto a matt of navy pearlaised card – I chose blue as there are gorgeous blue dragon flies on the backing paper and wanted to draw the colour out. I have a gorgeous stamp from Kaisercraft, Periwinkle Bird which I haven’t used so thought it would complement the backing paper perfectly. Once stamped I coloured the birds using watercolour paints, aged the edges with Tim Holtz Tattered Straw distress ink. The brown lace frame is available from Crafter’s Companion, Die’sire Decorative Die – Grace Frame. I cut it out using a piece of brown Co-ordinations card from the Vintage Collection. I sanded it lightly with my sanding block and added some Tim Holts Walnut Stain distress ink to the edges along with some gold ink. Using foam pads layered the stamped bird image onto the brown lace die cut frame.

Using the Camellia large and small Die’sire quilling die I made a flower from craft paper – 2 of the small and 3 of the large. I used my tweezers to manipulate the petals into the required shape. Selected a gold acorn shaped button for the centre of the flower.

Cut some leaves from green card stock and distress with Tim Holtz Walnut stain and using my extra large ball tool moulded them into shape.

Selected a sentiment from the cd which was framed in blue which co-ordinated perfectly.

In the Embellishments section for May there is a stack of sheets of paper from a diary – they don’t look anything fantastic when you print them out but once cut out and inked and aged they appear more realistic. They have a printed twine giving the illusion of keeping them together. To make them more authentic looking I actually tied real twine round them.

To decorate the card further I added some shop bought small delicate paper flowers (I chose peach as it brought out the colours in the birds feathers). Vintage ribbon was wrapped around the card and a bow made and attached. A swirl of pearls was added, along with a few sprays of dried flowers (which kind of looks like Gypsophila). The very small Cameo is actually an earring purchased from a very well know retailer beginning with P.

I hope you love this card as much as I do and would hope that Edith would approve.

Make sure you keep checking in for more sneak previews ahead of the launch on Create and Craft TV at 8 am Monday 20th May 2013.