Crafters Anonymous Fortnightly challenge

Each fortnight on a Sunday Crafters Anonymous have a challenge and last fortnight it was simply to make a calendar using any craft materials you like.
Here's what I made:

 I have used the Punch Bunch stampset from the Sale-a-bration catalogue.

These two owls are obviously Best Friends and they will sit on my desk for the rest of the year!

 This project would make a great workshop project I think, its not difficult to cut out with the Big shot and the circle scallop die. I have added a small folded piece behind to create an easel card.
The Bow is attached with a mini glue dot to the bottom scallop circle.

 Showing you the right side and the left - I just love these bright Melon Mambo and Pumpkin Pie colours together.

 The texture is made with the Square lattice embossing folder (from the Summer mini catalogue).

 I was a bit late for the Sunday fortnight challenge. But that's Ok, there will be another one this fortnight for me to play with. I cut my Owls with my paper snip scissors but they are designed to fit perfectly into the two step owl punch... and the 1" circle punch.

Every Moment gift box - water colour crayons and stazon ink

Ever have a project that is half done but just takes for ever to finish...

This little box is part of a project from the Regional training I went to last year. I finally watercoloured the little bird and made a tag for my gift box. 

 I have watercoloured this little bird using my water colour crayons.
The colours are soft suede, old olive, marina mist and Pacific point. I may have dabbed some Baja Breeze crayon in there too.
Water colouring with your aquapainter and water colour crayons is just the quickest way to colour in one of these line art images. No mess, no water dishes, no mixing paint or plastic pallettes.
I simply held the crayon in one hand and wiped my aquapainter brush tip over the crayon (to pick up the colour) and placed it on the paper, within the lines...
In watercolouring you can use layers of watercolour to build up several tones to the depth of colour you want.

 The tag is simply a rectangle of baja breeze cardstock with three corners rounded off with the "corner rounder" punch. Then I've placed a "lots of tags" shape in soft suede cardstock behind it.
The sentiment is from the Every moment stampset and i have stamped off the butterfly once to give a soft texture behind the black stazon words.

Notice that spattering of soft suede?

 It is meant to be there!

I learned a new trick the other day - you can get this effect with a spritzer tool,  

Or, you can hold your aqua painter a few centimetres away from the paper and flick ink ... I tapped the pen on my finger and let it splatter on the cardstock...

...just use a large piece of paper beneath you to catch any stray splatters.

Project Recipe:
Big shot, Fancy favour die, lots of tags sizzlit die.
Stampset: Every Moment $25.95 Clear. $31.95 wood. p72.
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Baja breeze, Soft Suede.
Ink: Stazon black, baja breeze.
Watercolour Wonder crayons: Brights (10) and
Neutrals (10) $37.95 p.142 (IB&C2011)
Ribbon: Old Olive grossgrain, Crop-a-dile (to punch holes), aquapainter pen (2 for $19.95), twine.

Aviary Thanks

 So much happening at the moment... I try always to remember though to say thank you.
It is one of the small courtesies of life that brings a warm glow to the recipient and the sender.

  I have indulged myself with Concord crush and pear pizzazz cardstock. Using the topnote die in my Big shot to create this curly frame for the aviary birds to hang around in. This cute little bow is made of 1/8th inch wide tafetta ribbon and attached with a glue dot.

 The aviary stampset is from the current Summer mini Catalogue (which sadly finishes on 31st March)
And the "thanks" is just one word from the SALE-A-BRATION stampset: So happy for you.
Ive stamped the cages in Concord Crush and the little birds in Old Olive and Poppy Parade for contrast.

To add that shiny surface to the birdie I have used a few drops of "crystal effects".
Sale- a -bration runs until 31st of March which gives us about 6 weeks to earn the FREE stampsets.
Contact me if you need to place an order, I am placing another order very soon.

Sweet and Sour butterflies

I have scrapbooked a page from our December holidays. We usually visit family on boxing day. It is one of the few days of the year I can get Jessie in a dress to sit and look pretty for a photo before she is out rolling in the dirt,chasing lizards and climbing trees.

When I opened my last order I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my butterfly die and the Sweet and sour patterned papers.

All I needed was a picture with some Rose Red and pink to match these gorgeous papers.

I chose a photo of Jessica with her aunty and cousin.

 This specialty patterned paper is double sided with one side glossy and textured. You can see the glossy pattern on the butterfly. One of the textured sides has this mosaic pattern, it contrasts with the swirly patterns and also goes with the square embossing layer under it.

 The sponging of the edges makes it look soft and natural. These butterflies just called to me to add pearls for their bodies.With the ruffled ribbon it is very girlish.

 I just love the Pumpkin pie with Rose Red.

Scrap page Recipe:

Card stock: Rose Red, Regal Rose.

Specialty Paper: Sweet and Sour patterns $22.95 (12 sheets).

Ink: Rose Red

Tools: Big shot, Beautiful Butterflies die, square lattice embossing folder, Timeless type alphabet dies.

sponges, white satin ribbon, Basic pearls, mini glue dots and dimensionals.

Specialty papers on cards and boxes

On Saturday we made these two projects at Telita's Cardmaking party. We had a great time, six ladies crafting together and having a cuppa, sharing ideas and the rain pouring down outside.
If you would like to make any or both of these at your place send me an email: nerida_carter@hotmail.com

 This is the bright and cheery birthday card we made. It uses the Aviary stampset from the summer mini and also the Sale-a-bration set "so happy for you".
Rose red, pumpkin pie and Early espresso together is a great combination.

Here's the close up of my rock and rolled bird in the hanging cage. We punched him out with the 1 3/8" circle punch that fits this small bird cage perfectly. 

 I can't not mention the beautiful Specialty paper: Sweet and Sour which is textured and shiny on one side, very special, with a bit of sponging around the edges it adds a gorgeous level of quality to a card.

 Here (above) are the scallop square die boxes we made. The box is made out of one piece of A4 cardstock which leaves a strip down the side that you can use for a handle or use the beautiful satin ribbons or polystitched cotton ribbon for a handle.

 We used the Bliss stampset (also from the Sale-a-bration catalogue) to make our tag.
The Bliss word fits perfectly into the oval scalloped punch, and layered onto the wide oval makes a great raised centrepiece for your box front.

 You can attach your cardstock handle with brads, or as above I have just created a hole with the crop-a-dile and knotted the ribbon ends so that they wont slip through.

 I sponged the Presto paper with Perfect Plum ink and layered it onto a concord crush mount. I do love how these three purples go so nicely together.

Sale-a-bration continues until the 31st of March, so if you're planning a party to gain your FREE stampsets let me know as weekends are filling up fast, at this time of year.
If you don't have a Sale-a bration catalogue yet, give me a call and I will post one out to you.
Enjoy!!!!

So happy for you with Aviary owl... to pocket or not to pocket?

Another of the cards I made during last week's February heatwave.
The colours are a little dark in the photo because I was taking them downstairs at the southern window.

 My card is made with the Sweet and Sour Specialty Paper. The folded front flap is torn and a piece of Early Espresso ribbon tied around the card to create a pocket for my message to tuck into.

 The aviary stamp has lots of little birdies of different shapes. (My favourites are the owl and the sparrow).
The small cage fits nicely onto the 1 3/8" circle punch.

 If you only tie the ribbon around the front panel your card can open downwards to reveal a stamped interior.
I have kept this one very basic... a new idea for me I know.

 Two more cages with cute little birdies singing to each other on the inside panel.

OR, 

 if you tie the ribbon loop around the whole card you retain the pocket and can slide the insert up to reveal the pictures of the birds in their cages.

Card Recipe:

Stampset: Aviary $35.95 p.13 of the Summer mini.

So happy for you. FREE when you spend $100 during Sale-a-bration.

Cardstock: Rose Red, whisper white.

Ink: Rose red, Early Espresso.

Ribbon: Early Espresso tafetta 1/8"

Specialty Printed paper: Sweet and Sour $22.95

1 3/8" circle punch, cropadile, cotton thread.

Enjoy!!!

Presto Paper and Curly cute Congratulations

 I am so enjoying this cooler weather, after the change we had on Sunday afternoon, I feel a new energy and ... for a friend who graduated recently I made this card.
I am CASEing (that means copy and share everything) the Sale-a-bration catalogue (page 7). Its amazing when you change the colours and add a different width of cardstock to a design how different it can look.

The main thing I changed is the strip of Presto patterns paper. This paper is really spectacular. I sponged it a little with Old Olive ink, then painted the detail with my aquapainter and finally spritzed it with Gold Glow Smooch spriz. (This is a new product on page 10 of the Summer mini).

 See how it sparkles on the paper. I ended up giving a light spritz to the whole card when I was finished. It adds to the vintagy feel. (The Smooch spritz comes not just in gold but in silver foil too for $7.95).
The background is stamped with the "Bliss" stamp, kind of looks like a wallpaper pattern we once had in my parent's house (this set has a very vintage style to it).

Did you notice that Marina Mist scallopy edge? Wondering where that comes from?
Its the negative cut out edge of the Top note Die.

The scattered flowers are cut using the Boho Blossoms punch. The one above the butterfly is centred with an "itty bitty" clear Button. And tied with a thin strip of cardstock.

The flower above the Congratulations is centred with a Basic Jewel Pearl. I was tempted to put pearls in the centre of all the punched flowers but on this ocassion restrained myself as I was trying to follow the sample card just a little.

Supplies: Marina Mist tafetta 1/8" ribbon.

 Stampsets: Bliss, Curly cute.

Cardstock: Old Olive, whisper white, Marina Mist.

Smooch Spritz - gold glow ($7.95)

Presto Pattens Specialty paper $22.95 (12 sheets)

Boho Blossoms punch

Big shot and Topnote die.

Itty bitty buttons, Basic jewel - Pearls.

Aquapainter, sponge.

Fabulous folds...

Check out the new things on this card?

 You know how I love a new stampset?
And, you know that I LOVE a new specialty patterned paper.
What else is there to get excited about then?
A new way to fold your card that creates a pocket to put your sentiment on!

 Firstly, I made this card to show off this new set of papers (well they're not that new) They've been in the catalogue since September... but I've just bought a pack to play and share with.

 Just showing you my card from a couple of different angles to show you why its a specialty paper - It is a double sided paper and one side is raised and shiny. And the colours are Rose Red and Pumpkin pie. Two very easy colours to work with.
This is one of my most favourite stampsets in the new mini.
There are four different bird cages and four cute birds to stamp (including a very sweet owl) and a bird cage stand.
This easy little folded card can hold an invitation or a birthday wish, a gift card could fit neatly into the pocket on the pull out piece.

The happy birthday stamp is a Sale-a-bration set: "So happy for you".
I am a big fan of word and picture stampsets because they are so versatile.
"So happy for you" has 5 word stamps and 5 pictures of a heart, star, flower, clover and butterfly.
A good set to add to your collection.

Want to see how this pocket fold card works?
You can tie the ribbon around the whole card and then take the ribbon off to open the card out flat, or keep it closed and slide the greeting slip in and out to reveal more stamping underneath.
Hope you like this one?  Enjoy!

Fox and Friends male card

 Its another Happy Birthday card today... using Fox and Friends.
This time the male version. Blue whales, Green turtles and purple cheeky monkeys.
A Fox and a wise old owl in Concord crush. Boys cards are so much fun. I guess to make it really masculine I could have roughed it up a bit, added some hardware and torn edges.

 Instead to lift the bar, make it a little more exciting I added a cheeky monkey to the inside on a spiral that springs out a bit when you open the card and a flag waving Happy birthday!

Card Recipe:

Stamps: Fox and Friends, Curly cute, Heard from the heart,

Well scripted ($27.95 clear mount - Summer mini),

Cardstock: whisper white and Tempting Turquoise

Ink: Tempting Turquoise, concord Crush, Rich Razzleberry, Pear Pizzazz.

Tools: Wide oval punch, silver brad, vellum, Paper snips.

Fox and friends Birthday

It is the time of year for children's Birthday cards in this house. Many of our friends children have summer time birthdays so I chose some bright and summery colours and set to work making a series of cards.

Its often tricky finding stampsets for children that will suit babies and older ones and can be used for both boys and girls so I just had to have this set. A wise owl, a cheeky monkey, turtle, giraffe, a whale, a lion and a very cute Fox.

My idea sprang from the Idea Book and catalogue on page 64. The animals being stamped randomly as background paper. Then I had a go at less random stamping because that suits some corner of my organised mind.

On the front of these cards I have used the Happy Birthday stamp from Perfect punches.

The edging is punched with my newest pinking hearts punch (only available in the summer mini until 31 March).

Card Recipe:
Stampsets: Fox and Friends (7 stamps $23.95 clear mount, $30.95 wood mount)
Perfect Punches (6 stamps $32.95 clear mount, $40.95 wood mounted)
Cardstock: Melon Mambo,whisper white, Pumpkin pie.
Ink: Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Pear Pizzaz, Rich Razzleberry, Tempting Turquoise, Marina Mist.
Tools: Pinking Hearts border punch $30.95, wide oval punch $30.95, Dimensional adhesives.