Wedding gift bag

 

Here we have what I am romantically naming the Wedding Gift Pouch. For when the lovebirds have asked you to mark their special day with the cold hard gift of cash.(And why not? They've probably lived together for ages & have all the stuff they need anyway, so why risk being gifted a cheese grater shaped like a fish? These things should not be left to chance!)

 

The pouch itself is made using the Mini Treat Bag thinlits die & I overstamped it with the big Something Lacy stamp which I'd patchily applied Sahara Sand ink to, (I stamped off onto scrap before stamping on the bag so it was really faded).

 

 

 

I machine stitched the swirly whirly lines onto the card for an elegant yet shabby, distressed look. The labels are made with the Apothecary Accents framelits die set, which was on the retired list & I think has now sold out. I'm not getting rid of it though. You'll have to prize it out of my cold dead hand, I love it so much.

 

I am really pleased with how this turned out, hope you like it too! You can still buy most of the things I used to make it in my Stampin' Up! store. Check out the bargains on the retired list and in the clearance section too.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Butterfly hello card

For this card I repeat stamped the typed dots from Kinda Eclectic for the background. Use a stamp positioner to help line them up in the right place (I use the MISTI which makes this technique a doddle). 

I stamped the butterfly in Bermuda Bay ink (stamping off the first impression to give a lighter look), then over stamped in black with a similar butterfly, then punched it out with the elegant butterfly punch.

Here's what I used:

 

Busy busy busy

I have finally accepted that, since they are now 10 & 14, it is unlikely that I will ever use my sewing machine to sew that darling little range of velveteen sailor suits for my boys. I've held off using it for papercrafting, afraid that I might damage it by sewing onto card, but it seems that as long as you don't put glue where you intend sewing, all should be fine.  

So, since I might as well get some use out of it, for the past few days I've been experimenting with machine sewing onto cards. My sewing is  still as bad as it has ever been, but on a card I can pass wonkiness off as, ahem,  "shabby chic".

 

 

I made this card using up old scraps I would have thrown away. It's a bit busy, but that's ok. I like a lot going on on a card :)

Here's what I used:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Case-d birthday card

I was short on inspiration last night, so I decided to copy a card that I've seen all over Pinterest recently and absolutely love, by Monika Davis. You can see the original here.

 

I didn't have the products Monika used, so I raided my own stash & came up with a pretty solid recreation, I'd say.

 

The "Happy" stamp is a section from a stamp in Stampin' Up!'s Amazing Birthday set. I started off trying to mask off and repeat stamp it, but that was far too complicated & ink got everywhere. In the end I just stamped the whole stamp multiple times and cut out each "Happy" and glued it to the card. Sometimes the simple ways really are the best.

 

 

 

So have a look round Pinterest and the web in general for designs you like & think how you can adapt them using the stamps and inks you already have.

 

(Remember to give credit where it's due if you do base your design on someone else's work  :) )

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

April card class 30/4/15

 

 

Hello - hope you're enjoying a lovely lazy Easter weekend.

 

This month's card class has a vintage theme. We'll be making 3 cards with an emphasis on layering & texture to create a lovely, aged, shabby feel. The bottom one is my very favourite and incorporates a tie closure. All the sentiments can be changed to suit your own needs.

 

The class is £10, including refreshments. Places are limited (currently 5 of 8 have been taken) - check out my Facebook page or email me for more information.