Doesn't Time Fly?

I can't believe that I've not posted here for a month! I have been so busy lately. Work and life in general (i.e. visiting Jenni, fetching Karen from Uni, and a busy period at work) has meant there hasn't been time for crafting. So, I'm back today with two quick scrapbook pages in my favourite colour - blue - to show that the photographs still need scrapping and the mojo's still there to do it! Thankfully.

The first features some photos from a sunny day spent at Shoreham-By-Sea with DD1 and her partner Tom. They met at college and have been together now for three years. Doesn't time fly?

I used Papermania and Tim Holtz papers, Graphicus stamps and some orange brads.

The second layout shows DD2 and her friend Ginny in Cannes in May. They were there for the annual Film Festival and were very lucky with the weather. It seems like a 'home from home' with the seashore and McDonald's! Karen's back home now for the summer, with her first year at Uni completed. Doesn't time fly?

Again I've used Tim Holtz papers, and stamped on them with Papermania alphabet stamps.

I'm away after today for a few days, but I will be taking part in WOYWW this week. The 'time manipulation' wonders of Blogger allow me to set the post up in advance, but I'll be back and checking everyone's workspace Wednesday evening. I hope to see you there!

Metallic Paint Effect

It's been a dreary Bank Holiday Monday. Ideal to just sit indoors and get messy! Out came my Viva metallic paints, paintbrush, water and paper flowers. Yes, paper flowers.
It's a technique that Glenda at Graphicus demonstrated on Create and Craft TV years ago, that I have copied once before. Today I decided to have another go.

The technique is very simple.....but very messy. Using a large paintbrush loaded with metallic paint, paint over a large paper flower as if you were trying to colour the flower to use it on a project. The 'scrap paper' beneath the flower becomes your art work to cut into smaller pieces to make cards with. I used two different size daisy flowers and two colours of paint for my playtime.

Using metallic paint really makes a picture that sparkles in the light. I'm afraid my photos don't show that effect very well, so you'll have to use your imagination - or even have a go yourself!

Four cards from the blue metallic painted paper........

.............and four from the blackberry metallic paint.

The final photo using a flash, gives an idea of how sparkly the cards are when made up. I stamped Graphicus sentiments to add to some of the cards, but I usually wait until a card is needed before stamping the appropriate words. 

The reason I got messy today? Well, I need two Father's Day Cards, and haven't got anything suitable already made. Both of the Dads like gardening and flowers, so most probably a couple of the blue ones will do the job. But I haven't decided which ones yet!

Bird Houses and Storage

Today I've been tackling a Hunkydory kit and making lots of cards. And bird houses, of the paper kind!
The bird houses come as die-cut white card which you can then decorate with the papers provided, or any way you choose. I chose to use messy inks and my hands are stained to prove it! With hindsight I probably should have used glimmer mists or something more sparkly and eye-catching. Anyway, here they are, one with a resident bird already.

I used Tim Holtz Distress ink pads and Graphicus stamps. 

I think I'll use them in my computer  room cupboard for storage (the roof comes off each one). I can always make use of extra storage.

And here's the cards I made from the same kit.

Now though, I need to find storage for these until I send them to people. Oh well, it kept me amused for most of the day!

Getting Ahead

I often try to get ahead with card-making. I've made Christmas cards in July, sometimes straight after Christmas! And I just hate to be caught out and have to make a card in a hurry for someone's birthday. I need time to come up with an idea that's personal to the recipient or in a style they will appreciate.

So what's next on my calendar for getting ahead? Valentine's Day of course!

Am I really going to be sending two Valentine's cards this year?? Does Hubby know about this? No and no.

One card is for me to give to Hubby and the other is for my eldest daughter to give to her boyfriend.

So which one's for Hubby? Would you believe the frilly one? I know no other man who likes flowers and frills as much as my dear husband. He often gives me a bunch of flowers and then proceeds to arrange them in a vase and centre them on the table - you see he's actually buying them for himself but pretends they're for me.

I stamped the card background myself with Tim Holtz distress inks (Faded Lipstick and Shabby Shutters)and a small heart stamp, then sprayed with two colours of Glimmer Mists to get a sparkly finish, which doesn't show very well on the photo. The large hearts are cut from My Mind's Eye paper and backed with cream card. The sentiment stamp is from Graphicus and I also used some American Crafts ribbon.

I just love the effects you can create with the new punches from Martha Stewart, but with my self-imposed ban on buying new stash, I had to dig out my Fiskars border punch instead to make the frilly border.

Maybe I should have made three Valentine cards as my younger daughter has a new boyfriend? Hmmm, maybe not. Something this pink and girlie would probably frighten him off!

Christmas Cards Again

Sorry for the poor photos today, the light is very bad again. I'm back to making Christmas cards once more! Thankfully, only a few more to go and I will have made the number I need. I'm back to my favourite colour, blue, and have used Daisy Ds paper and stamps from Creative Expressions. I used sparkly embossing powder 'Disco Black' from Stamp 'n' Stuff and a glitter Sakura pen in blue to colour in. The stamped images are 3D which doesn't really show on the photo.

These stamps are made to be used with Nestabilities circle dies, but although I love the small scallop circles in the range, I cannot justify the cost at the moment. I have a circle cutter and swivel knife which just has to do instead!

I was inspired by Kaz on her blog 'Slightly Wonky Crafts' to try white embossing on purple patterned paper.

Here I used Graphicus and Papermania stamps and detail white embossing powder.

But I only made two purple Christmas cards as I prefer the black embossing. It's more dramatic I think.

Each to his (or her) own.