Beaded Heart Card

Well, it won’t be long until 14th February, that's why I have decided to post my Valentine ideas earlier than I had originally planned, because, if you are like me, you want your ideas now, not a couple of days before the event. Hopefully,  if you like any of my ideas, you will now have plenty of time to gather materials etc. and have a go.

This card took a matter of minutes to make.  First I cut out the heart shape and applied a generous splodging of PVA glue (because it dries clear) to the edges, followed by a good sprinkling of accent beads.

I’ve used ivory card as the effect is much subtler than white, especially with gold, which I have used for the matting.


The heart has been set on a foam pad for added dimension.


The idea could be adapted for weddings and anniversaries and is very much an example of less is more.

Holiday Countdown Calendar

This is an idea that has been in my head for a while and I have finally done something about it!
It’s a Countdown to our Holiday Calendar for little ones ….

I made a sheet of days to go first (using Publisher and 2Peas High Tide font – free to download from 2 Peas in a Bucket  website). I thought 14 was about the most  days a child could manage their excitement!

I cut a rectangle, using  firm card and covered it with DCWV self adhesive papers, plain and patterned and then backed it with a darker blue card for added strength. The waves are done in several wavy layers for texture and dimension.

I backed the days on navy and then silver card, leaving a very narrow border to give a bit of lift and shine.

The stickers were from Ryman's sale (last week) and were a bargain at 49p.

I added googly eyes to the sun and backed it on white card to strengthen it then glued it onto a small bull dog clip which holds the days in place.

 

I added a couple of clear flat backed gems to the fishes bubbles and a bit of faux stitching.

This is an idea that can be adapted for lots of other occasions for children like birthdays, parties, visits etc. It could also be used for an adult theme, like a countdown to retirement, a wedding or 40th birthday……

I will put my thinking cap back on and see what I can come up with, with these ideas in mind ….. watch this space.

These adhesive mat stacks save so much time, mess and fiddling when making projects that need covering like clipboards, notebooks, beer mats or cutting die shapes.  They cost around £6.99 and contain about 48 pages and are worth every penny.

Check This Out!

You have got to click on the link I have added below and check out Kirsty Wiseman's Blog. I was so inspired by the idea and video turorial  that I had to have a go straight away.

My effort is very much pants as you can see below, but I am determined to master Kirsty’s brilliant idea and technique as these roses/flowers would look beautiful on small gift boxes and bags.

This idea came from and was inspired by Kirsty Wiseman

Lucky Girl

This card was made for a very lucky girl who was given a yellow Ka car for her 17th birthday!

The background paper  is my own design, just lines of multicoloured Happy Birthdays.
I  printed the picture of the car several times and made very simple decoupage layers of the body and lights. 
The registration plate was also made on the computer then cut out and matted on silver card. 
The birthday greetings are made using yellow embossed tape on an old Dymo tape writer and the L plates are table confetti, matted on silver again. The card is topped off with a bow saved from Christmas packaging and would you believe it…….. a few red flat backed gems!

Dymo tape makes a brilliant and different sort of “Greetings” embellishment , I especially like them on men’s cards.

Mini Valentine Clipboard Keyring & Other Ideas

I love clipboards ….. these took me minutes to make and  are so versatile for different occasions and uses.

I made a basic template, drew round it on a good firm card and then cut out and covered both sides of the clipboard shape with self adhesive papers from a DCWV pad (see below).

The calendar tab on this clipboard is from Sarah’s Cards

This blue clipboard would make a brilliant gift tag by adding a double sided foam pad on the back. For coloured bulldog clips check out Andy's e-bay shop by clicking on the photo in the Side Bar.

This clpboard  is slightly larger and turned sideways could be used as a little reminder in your handbag or take off  the chain and put a magnet on the back to stick on your fridge.

I’ve left this one empty for now, but think I will look for a very small notebook that fits it to make a mini shopping list.

This adhesive paper from DCWV is fantastic for covering mini books etc. and saves so much time.  It is also available in plain textured paper, like Bazzill.

The silver mini bulldog clips are from Wilkinson's and cost about 89p, the linked key chains are from e-bay.

Embossed Flower Card

 
I’m not sure, but this card looks decidedly squiffy, I think it must be the angle I took the picture from!

I’ve used my Sizzix Boutique Embosser to emboss the die for this card.  I have then highlighted the lines with Whisper pens and added a flat back gem to the middle of the flowers. I have also added a bit of doodling in the frame and outside of the centre piece.

The card is completed with an olive green ribbon and bow.

Now I need to go and have another look at the card to make sure it’s not really as squiffy as it appears!!!!!

Sound of Music Card

This is a gift card I made for my sister to put tickets for The Sound of Music in.

She wanted me to use a flyer on the front and then jazz it up a little. As I had two flyers, I cut out Maria's apron from one and used it as a very simple decoupage layer, though you can’t really see it in the photo.

The card I used for the blank is a beautiful shade of  blue with a lovely sparkly iridescent shimmer to it, bought from a brilliant card stall on Penkridge Market (Staffs).

If I was keeping strictly to the story I suppose I should have put edelweiss round the bottom, but as I don’t have an edelweiss punch (!), I improvised and used flower and leaf punches I already have.  I chose to do them in yellow to accentuate the flowers in the grass and the text.

Line Dance/ Cowboy Boot Card

My apologies, I was trying to be too arty farty but have only succeeded in showing half a card.  Whatever possessed me to miss the top and bottom off.  I just hope you get the gist of what I have done! What a numpty!

This is a large A5 sized card. The lettering is done using Papermania alphabet stickers and says "Yee Ha, Harry is 60 Today"
The boots are free clipart images, enlarged, cut out and then embellished with small plain stars, flat backed gems and faux stitching along the paler lines, then put on foam pads for a 3D effect. 
The background paper is from  Daisy and Dandelion, “A Winter’s Tale Collection’.  A few hologram stars complete the design.
I always use is a white linen card from The Papermill Shop because I like the texture and effect when it is printed on.  However I have to feed it through my printer very carefully as it is thicker than it likes!  (I have an Espom Photo R220)
My cards always have an insert in a light paper, usually white, but occasionally coloured because it looks classier.  If it is a large card, like this, I print a greeting inside. 

What’s On My Desk Wednesday

I am working on Valentines and Easter ideas at the moment!

The white mug is on the desk because I bought three porcelain pens in red, green and black with a gift voucher I had for Christmas. I want to see how easy/hard it is to put  a design on it.  I think I will keep it very simple, red hearts  for Valentines Day.

The box of bits is a bit of a challenge to myself.  I have so much stuff that I have put a selection of stickers in the box and am going to try and use as many as I can on cards and projects this week. As you can see there is a variety of hearts …….so expect plenty of heart cards in the next week or so!

End of Term Gift for Teachers

I know this is really, really early to be thinking about the end of the summer term, but I am always on the look out for interesting sweets that can be used for projects and it might help to give others a hint of an idea too……..

These are foam ice creams and cost 10p each. 
The bag topperes are made using my Bigshot and Nestabilities Labels Set 9 and Stampin' Up scalloped and plain circle punches.

Sometimes it isn’t the cost of a “Thank You” gift that is important, it’s the thought put into the “Thank You”

Two Cards With One Stone …..

My sister in law asked me to make three cards for my niece Emily's 17th Birthday on behalf of various relatives, this is the first, the other two will be featured in the next week or so.  For this one I have gone for a very plain, elegant look, using only ivory card and flat back pearls.

I cut the letters out on my Quickutz Silhouette, which is a brilliant tool, but I don’t use it half as much as I should, despite having a monthly download subscription with Quickutz.

The flowers are made using a medium daisy punch.


This is my punch drawer,  What a mess! 

When I had pushed the letters out for the first card I was left with a stencil type frame, it seemed such a shame to throw it away, so I put patterned paper from a K & Co Christmas Cheer Mat Pad behind the cut outs and  then mat and layered the frame on a matching burgundy paper, yellow flat backed gems complete the effect. This is the card I will give my neice, so in fact she will have 4 of my cards for her birthday!!  Bet she wishes someone would go into Clintons!

I didn’t pay £4.99 for the pad …. far too expensive, I got it for half price from Gardenlands sale, much better! The flat back gems are from Anitas's, about £2.99 for a wheel of assorted colours.

Beatles Card

I am still doing the occasional personalised card as it’s sometimes very hard to say no to really nice people!

So, this is a card I made for a lovely bloke at work for his wife’s 60th birthday.

I found a cartoon of the Beatles as I thought it would give the card a more contemporary feel, printed it off and then added  simple decoupage layers for extra dimension.

I used Anita’s 3D clear gloss finish to the hair, shoes and drum kit, again for dimension and texture.

The hearts are punched out  of a matching blue bazzill paper

The wording took a little while to come up with , I looked up a list of Beatles songs and chose the most apt two.

Pictures of Ironbridge

I have been blog hopping and everyone seems to have added their snowy pictures to their blogs.  Who am I to be different?  Yesterday we went to Ironbridge, Shropshire which is about 15 miles away.  It was so beautiful and eerie, as you could hear the ice sheets on the river crackle and creek when they bumped into each other.