Doodled & Punched Birthday Card

I have decided to try a few new ideas and techniques in the next little while, venturing out of my comfort zone like a timid tortoise! I blog hop most days and see lots of wonderful ideas, but that’s usually as far as it goes.

Well,  yesterday I saw this lovely card on Kath’s Blog and was inspired to try something very similar using her basic layout.
http://kath-allthatglitter.blogspot.com/2010/06/get-funky-challenge-june.html

I don’t have any flower stamps so I used my large and small retro flower and snowflake punches and doodled on them.

The “h” is from the set of Making Memories alphabet stickers I got in the HobbyCraft sale last week.

 

The border tape is by Papercellar and I got it in the Dunelm Mill Sale for 80p a roll (10% off I think)

 
Thank you Kath for inspiring me to try something really new!

Sizzix Bigz XL Carry All Box

I feel really guilty because yesterday I was so negative about my Sizzix suitcase die, so today I thought I would redress the balance by saying how much I LOVE this die (Bigx XL Carry All 656279).

I only got it last week after Lisa (Craftfairy) told me how good it was. It’s brilliant!  It’s so easy to put together, despite there being 6 parts to it.  To make it a little bit stronger I have added a piece of card to the bottom.

I am going to use the plain wood and metallic effect boxes for Fathers Day with a few sweets in, but I can think of lots of other ideas on how to decorate them for different themes, especially Christmas.

I have cut out a whole pile of them, ready on my desk to put together, I wanted to try as many patterns of card as I could to see how the look of the box changes.

Most of the patterned card came for Paperbox at NEC Hobbycrafts in March.  I wish I had got more of the wood effect when I saw it.  The metal effect card  is from a card/paper stall on Penkridge Market (Staffs) and is ideal for masculine type boxes.

Sizzix Suitcase Die

Aghhhhh, yesterday I turned the air over Wolverhampton  blue,  you are looking at the sum total of over two hours work, for just these three ************* little cases!

They look so cute, but I find them a nightmare to put together and look right.  I wanted the die (Sizzix Bigz XL Bag/Suitcase 656115) as soon as I saw it, but was so disappointed with the first few results that the die was put away to gather dust ….. until yesterday ……

With a week off for Whitsun I thought I would try again … but my bin is overflowing with the rejects once more!

I have written this post as a record for me to refer back to, should I ever want to try again.  I think my problem is wanting to use patterned card, in the end I cut two bag sides the same using just the one side of the die and two bags shapes (front and back).

Putting it all together and gluing it neatly seemed to evade me too ……

Is it just me?  Has anyone else encountered any problems? This has beaten me good and proper…. and it takes a lot to make me throw in the towel!

Moustache Birthday Card

My Father In Law has had a moustache forever and to be honest I was getting a little bored of making him "gone fishing" cards every birthday ….. so this is what I came up with this year.

I got a card of joke moustaches from e-bay, a bit extravagant for one card but I am sure I can come up with several more ideas to use them up!

Card Using DoCrafts New Hampstead Papers

This card is a bit of a rarity for me …. it’s all covered, not a bit of white to be seen!

The design came to me just as I was about to go out, so I scribbled it down and put it together when I got back, with a few changes.

I’ve used the DoCrafts Hampstead papers I featured yesterday in my HobbyCrafts shopping plus a Craftwork Cards birthday sentiment and three corner peel offs. The rosette shape round the sentiment is made using scalloped and plain circle Stampin’ Up punches.

Sorting This Blog Out ……

I have now realised the importance of labelling my blog posts!  I thought it would be a good idea to put all my Christmas ideas together, thinking that I could just add an extra page with them all on ….. a good idea, but I don’t think it can be done on blogger. 

Then I remembered that you can add a label gadget to the sidebar ….. excellent I thought ….. but as I haven’t actually labelled any of my posts …..not such a good idea!  I have just gone back through 349 odd posts!

But …. as I’d almost finished that, I realised how pants some of my post titles were, if I wanted to be picked up by search engines  …… so that’s another job I have just made for myself (but I am drawing the line at putting a title on all my pictures!)  Happy days. 

Button Covered “Designer” Bag

What was commonly known as my shoplifting coat has finally bitten the dust, and I think the store detectives in Poundland had finally sussed me ….. so this is what I am using now ….

If I see an old tin of buttons at a car boot sale I just have to have it…. but what’s the point in bringing them home only to put them in an even bigger button tin?

I’ve used a glue gun to stick them on and they have taken a right good bashing but after about three weeks of heavy use none have come off.

The bag is a Cambridge Diet bag (£1.50). It’s a lovely shape with long handles, just perfect …. I have been stopped several times on the bus and when out car booting by people asking me where I’ve got it from …. at least I can say its an “original”

What's on My Desk Wednesday - Bargains from HobbyCraft

My mate Lisa’s  enthusiasm is contagious, while I was at work the other day she was texting me with all her HobbyCraft bargains, how cruel was that?  I had to wait till Friday when I finished early to see if she had left me anything ……. !  http://craftfairy.blogspot.com/

I thought these wooden plugs would be good on the drawers of my Tesco Advent House.

My only criticism of HobbyCraft is that they put a lot of bargains in very large “bargain bin boxes” – I could rummage, but they were so deep and full that I was frustrated that I might miss out on something fantastic, and I am not really sure that the assistants would have been pleased if I had hoisted a lot of stuff out and put it all over the floor enabling me to delve deeper

Lisa got these bargains too.  I wanted the stickers (£1.99 reduced to 99p) when I first saw them, but I ermed and ahhed at the price, but reduced to 99p I snapped them up.  The ribbon I just loved when I saw Lisa’s and I managed to get a reel of pink and two of red (89p 2m reel).

The Making Memories alphabet glitter die cuts (£3.49p reduced to 99p) will come in very useful for personalised cards and  I plan to use the Making Memories School Packing Tapes (£3.99 down to 99p, they were reduced again after labelling) for “End of Term Thank You” and “First Day at School” cards.

I have also picked up the metal words up many times when  shopping in HobbyCraft, but six words for £3.49 seemed expensive, £1.99 is a much better price!  The ribbon, all 25m of it, seemed a bargain too, but perhaps it was a shopping faux pas as it is “pulling ribbon” it should make cute rosette type bows, but I don’t have a clue how you do it!!!!

Ten tassel favour bags (£4.99 reduced to £2.99) is another good bargain, it works out at 29p a bag ….. BRILLIANT – especially when filled with these chocolate hearts.

This paper was not in the sale, (£2.99 for pack of 6 x 6) but I just had to have it, the colours and patterns are so lovely and a change from some of the  “pretty pretty” ranges.  It comes from DoCrafts and I am hoping to make some really lovely cards with it in the coming week.  I also bought some of the alphabet sets that go with it.

Bank Holiday Car Boot Sale Bargains

The lady on the stall at the car boot sale couldn’t believe I wanted to buy this …..

But it’s brilliant!  I’m trying to lose weight and 2lb a week is my goal … so I’m going to carry it with me EVERYWHERE ….. so I know what 2lbs actually feels like!  Oh ….. it cost me 20p!

These little wooden drawers set me back another 20p, I think I am going to cover them in a Kath Kidston type paper but I’m not sure ……

Magazine Cover Birthday Card

Well, this makes a change from my usual newspaper cards - a magazine cover instead, featuring my neice Daisy.

To be honest, there’s not much crafting going on here, just me bodging about on the computer! Daisy’s favourite magazine is Sugar (never heard of it!) so I Googled it to get a general idea and this is what I came up with, using  Daisy as the cover girl.

I’ve  made  very simple decoupage layers with Mr Lautner’s picture, a bit of micro glitter on Daisy’s earrings and a smattering of gold stars. That’s it!

100 Wedding Favors Finally Finished.

Well, I have finished the wedding favors I started a couple of weeks ago with my sister, and yes, I have finally learned the lesson of engaging my brain before my mouth! And, on top of that, I never want to see or smell another Elizabeth Shaw Mint Crisp again!

The last time you saw these little darlings they were sitting on my kitchen table all punched out and waiting to be stuck together. 

I have used  cello pretzel bags (from e-bay)  to put  the finished mints in.  It was a bit of a tight squeeze, but the sweets won’t be able move about in the bag when they are moved.

In all we covered 400 mints - to make up 100 bags.  That's 800 sets of scalloped circles, plain circles and flowers!  Mad? ....... Yes, absolutley barking!!! We have both now taken to howling at the moon!

To see the punches etc. that  I have  used  to make these favors just follow this link:-http://itsallfiddlefart.blogspot.com/2010/05/whats-on-my-kitchen-table-wednesday.html
You can order the scallop and plain circle punches from my friend Lisa http://stampincraftfairy.blogspot.com/

Butterfly Birthday Card – 15 Today

This is a card I made for my niece’s 15th Birthday.

The numbers were cut on my Quickutz Silhouette and have been mounted on foam pads for extra dimension.  The butterflies have been made using my Martha Stewart punch with paper from a K & Co mini pad and  the flowers with a very small daisy punch.

The card has been finished with flat backed gems and faux stitching.

To Tracey & Paul:- The secret to my posting at 00.01 every night is scheduling .... I am not a mad woman blogging away into the early hours. I do most of my crafting and posting at the weekend .... so by scheduling I am not under pressure to create something every night after work.

Butterfly Wreath Birthday Card.

My apologies as the glue was still wet when I took these photos and one jewel is decidedly wonky.

I’ve used a variety of punches to make up this design

Index Card Holder Birthday Card

This is the sort of card that I would like to receive, plain , clean and definatley - a less is more card!

I’ve used a cream linen card blank, a brass index holder, that I bought on e-bay ages ago, a paper daisy and some tiny flat backed pearls..

The back plate is made using a Nestabilities label die cut on my big shot and backed with foam pads for extra dimension.  I had to fiddle about a bit on my computer to get the font just the right size to fit behind the holder.

To add a touch of sparkle I have given the daisy a light dusting of translucent micro glitter from Stampin' Up.

The font I have used is from "Two Pea In A Bucket" - called 2Peas Typo - it cost $2.99, (about £1.60?), they also have some very nice free fonts if you look in there digital section. I've used font size 11 and the colour is Pantone 479C.
I don't think I have ever mentioned that I put an insert in all my cards, hand cut and made using A4 copier paper, usually white or cream to match the card blank, occassionally I use other pastel colours to match an embellishment or background paper that I have used.  .... it just adds an extra touch of quality.