oooops has it realy been 3 weeks!!!

Baby album commission

How time flies when your crafting. Its been 3 weeks since I posted here but that's because I had 2 scrapbook albums to make for commissions. I also had a dozen cards and gifts for various teachers at my daughters school some of who were leaving and some just thank you cards.
So I will give you a little peek of what I have been up to.
Firstly the cards and gifts that I made for the teachers leaving my daughters school.
These cards were all very personal as they were made with their various hobbies in mind.

Rugby themed card

This was made using an 8" x 8" white card blank on which I matted a royal blue piece of card 7.75" square and then a piece of cream 7.5" square and finally a piece of green measuring 7" square.
For this card I used Anna Marie Designs template Cd rom number 4 to print a template for the main rugby ball shapes, goal and word rugby. I coloured the word using a Promarker and then highlighted both the ball and word with faux stitching using Sakura gelly roll pens. I then mounted them all onto the card as shown. Finally I added a sentiment written onto a piece of white card using Weathered Wood and Bundled Sage distress markers. I cut this to 2" x 3" and matted onto a piece of royal blue.

Theatre themed card number one

 This one was made using an 8" x 8" white card blank which I matted firstly with a piece of red pearlescent card cut to 7.75" square. Using the same red card I created theatre curtain shapes. I then took pieces of textured paper to create the stage area and placed onto the card front before attaching the curtains. Next I embellished the card using images from My Craft Studio as well as taking images of theatre posters into the programme to shrink them. I finished the design with a bunch of roses, sentiment which I mounted on a Spellbinders die cut and curtain ties.

Theatre themed card number 2

 First I printed a topper and mini venetian mask from the Debbi Moore Venetian Collection. I mounted the topper on a scalloped circle cut using spellbinders largest scalloped circle die. I then added glitter highlights to the mask. Next I mounted the circle topper onto a small square of Kraft card measuring 4.5" x 4.5" to which I had attached a red border. I then matted this onto a cream square cut to 5" x 5". I then took a cream card blank 8" x 8" and matted on to it a piece of silver mirror card 7.75" square a piece of red texture card 7.5" square and then a piece of textured paper cut to 7" square. Next I added my smaller layered square complete with topper. I further embellished the card by adding the mask, paper roses, crystal cabochons, crochet lace, ribbon and tickets.

Cocktail themed card 

 For this next card I took an 8" square white card blank and matted with two different shades of pink cardstock cut to 7.75" square and 7.5" square. Next I added a piece of patterned paper 7" x 7". I then created my main topper by layering up small piece of cream card 4.5" x 4.5" and textured pink card 4" x 4" before adding the cocktail image. (The background paper, cocktail topper and sentiment were all from an old issue of Making Cards Magazine. I knew my hording was for a good reason!!) Next I punched a border strip using a Martha Stewart punch and stuck this to the bottom half of the card along with a length of orange polka dot ribbon. I cut 3 smaller pieces of the same ribbon which I looped in half and attached to the top left of my main topper before I stuck it to the card front. I stuck it in the top right corner. I completed the card with the sentiment which I backed with a piece of card to strengthen before adding to the card as shown.

Cinema/movie buff themed card

 This card was made for a film buff who both loved watching movies but especially going to the cinema to see them. Firstly I used My Craft Studio Cd rom Men-y Happy Returns to print the ticket background and various movie themed items. Some I printed as digi stamps and some as coloured images. I coloured the popcorn image using promarkers and wrote mini messages on the film strip. I then took a 8" square cream card blank to which I added a black mat measuring 7.75" square and then a red mat cut to 7.5" square. Next I cut the ticket background to 7" x 7" and stuck this to the other layers. I finished the card by embellishing with the movie themed items.

Floral good luck card

 This final card was for someone who loved flowers. I took an 8" square white card blank which I matted with a piece of gold mirror card cut to 7.75" square and then added to this some Hunkydory card measuring 7.5" square. In the top left corner I created a flower feature using Spellbinders leafy corner and various flowers I made myself by layering up Martha Stewart punched flowers, Cosmic Shimmer decorative PVA glues and gem stones. I completed the card with a Hunkydory border strip placed across the centre of the card and Good Luck Topper.

Boxed altered Stationary set for Retirement gift

For this gift I purchased a reasonably priced notebook and some pens and pencil and decided to embellish the notebook with some items in my stash then make a box to compliment it.
The outside of the notebook as you can see was very pretty but the inside was very plain other than a plain bookmark ribbon. I had some mini postcards, tags and metal decorations from A My Craft Studios Embellishment Attic kit as well as Craftwork Cards Postcards from Paris papers that I knew would compliment this perfectly.

Firstly I added a length of crochet ribbon down the length of the left hand side and using Silicone glue attached the metal gold leaf embellishment. Next I attached some mini postcards to the cover of the book and placed 2 mini tags back to back at the base of the bookmark ribbon

 I chose 3 sheets of paper from this pad, 1 each of the roses with the Eiffel Tower, the mini postcards and the mirror. Two of them I used for the inside covers of the notebook and one would be used later.

I covered the inside cover with the mirror paper and attached a larger Embellishment attic postcard to the right hand side. I used this to personalise the book.

 

 

I added the Eiffel Tower backing paper to the back inside cover.

Next I used my Crafters Companion Ultimate Pro boxer board to create a box with sections to hold the various items. Firstly I cut two pieces of card to 10" x 11" and using the first one I made a  box base that was  8" x 9" with a 1" depth. For the long dividing strip I cut a piece of card 1" x 11" long and then made a score line 1" from each end. To create the holders for the pens and pencil I cut two pieces of card to 1" x  4" long and then scored every 1/2"

I then glued them in place using Cosmic Shimmer PVA firstly checking each area was spaced right.

I then made the box base using the remaining piece of cardstock. I decorated the front of the box lid with the mini postcards paper and a left over strip of the Eiffel tower paper. To complete the box I added some paper roses, pink crochet ribbon bow, tag and Hunkydory  die cut Sentiment.

Decorative candle Retirement gift

For this I used a tall white pillar candle, red crochet ribbon, two tone blue wide striped gros grain ribbon, red ribbon bows, pearl stems, cabochons, clear gemstones, red berry stems, silk leaves, paper flowers in shades of blue and red, ultra fine crystal glitter and foiled die cut sentiments.

 Although you can't see them in this picture (because they are covered by the flowers) the first thing I did was to stick a length of the blue ribbon and crochet ribbon around the centre of the candle. Making sure that the joins were at the front of the candle then they would be hidden under the floral embellishments. I then stuck a congratulations foiled sentiment to the top of the candle. Next I created my floral centre piece using the large blooms and tucking leaves, berries, pearls and rose buds in between. I then highlighted some of the flowers using a quickie glue pen and crystal glitter.

 With the candle sideways you can see the red crochet ribbon and 2 tone blue gros grain ribbon.

To make the back as pretty as the front I embellished with pale blue cabochons and red ribbon bows.

 

 I used the Crafters Companion Sweet Treats milk carton board  to create a large milk carton.

Once completed I decorated with patterned papers in shades of red and pale blue, paper flowers, silk leaves, decorative pegs, ribbon bows, red crochet ribbon and spellbinders tag and sentiment.

 

Well decided that for the next couple of design team pieces I would go with cards that not only used stamping but also colouring as well as printed elements from cd roms whilst still incorporating all my favourite bits and pieces such as die cuts, coloured PVA's and ribbon. Not to mention lots and lots of beautiful cardstocks.

Floral Shoe Card

For this card I used an 8"x 8" pre scored black textured card blank from Anna-Marie designs
as well as her dottie card in olive green,lime green and wine red and shabby gingham in true red and salt and pepper. I also used her die cut birthday messages and lastly her Blooming shoe acrylic stamp set.
 
The shoe was stamped using black momento ink pad and coloured in using alcohol markers
I used Promarkers-Berry Red, Lipstick Red,Grass and flexmarker Antique White.

The card was embellished using assorted paper flowers and leaf sprigs including floradoodles from petaloo and some which were die cut from true red gingham to co-ordinate with the rest of the card. Also used was a piece of tri colour striped ribbon, red and green raffia and Cosmic Shimmer pearlescent PVA glue in Olympic Gold.
The inside of the card was decorated to compliment the outside using the same cardstocks, more floral embellishments and a further message.

A BLOOMING lovely card for any lady!!

 I love the fact that this card is not over fussy but still has lots of bright cheerful colours

 

New Baby Card

I hope no one I know has a baby very soon as I feel reluctant to give this to anyone!!

I couldn't make up my mind if I wanted to go with a traditional blue for a boy card or to make it a green theme. So I decided I would not make myself choose and found a way to combine both lovely pastel shades in a wonderfully cute creation.

 

The amount of things I used for this card seemed to be endless so hopefully I will not miss anything!!

Card and Papers

Neenah,A3 centura pearl and various backing papers printed from the Bebunni Baby cd rom from Crafters Companion. Pastel glitter card from Create and Craft in green and baby blue and scraps of pastel blue and green card from my bit box.

Dies

Spellbinders Card Creator die-Diamond Effects using Grand Calibur and various items cut from New Arrivals Cricut cartridge using cricut create

Stamps

Bebunni-New Arrival,Bundle of Joy and Baby stamp sets

 

other items used were paper roses,green ribbon, brights buttons selection from Hobbycraft (I used blues and Greens), Collall 3d glue gel, Collall all purpose glue as well as distress inkpad in Broken China, distress marker in Bundled Sage and memento black inkpad.

 

Using my ultimate I marked out and then trimmed a piece of A3 centura pearl to create an 8" x 8" card blank

I then trimmed the following pieces of card and paper

Green glitter card-7 3/4" x 7 3/4"

Blue patchwork paper from Bebunni cd rom-7 1/2" x 7 1/2"

Green glitter card-7" x 3 1/4"

Blue patchwork paper (as above)-6 3/4" x 3"

Blue glitter card-5 1/4" x 7 1/4"

Green patchwork paper from Bebunni cd rom-5" x 7"

Then 2 pieces of Neenah cardstock to 5" x 7"

 

Using the distress marker I drew stitched detail around both pieces of blue patchwork paper and then matted these using glue gel onto the correct sized pieces of green glitter card. I then wrapped a piece of green ribbon around the border piece leaving two long pieces to the left to tie into a bow.

 

Next I stamped the main images from Bebunni New Arrival and Bundle of Joy onto the Neenah card pieces and coloured them using a selection of alcohol pens in shades of green, grey and blues.

I used the following brands and colours of pens:-

 Promarkers in -grass,leaf green, cyan, arctic blue, pastel blue, cool grey 3, cool grey 4

 

Flexmarkers-blue grey 1, celestial blue, soft aqua, cadet blue and aquamarine.

 

Maarvy Leplume-grey blue 691, blue 717, cool grey 894 and cool grey 892

I also used a Promarker blender pen

 

When I had finished colouring the images I used the Diamond Effects die to cut out the New Arrival image and then free hand cut around the Bundle of Joy Image.

 

The die cut image was matted 1st onto green patchwork and then onto blue glitter card.

The card front was given finishing touches by adding messages stamped from the new arrival and baby stamp sets, buttons, paper roses, die cut images, mini pegs and teal sky PVA. TE inside of the card was created by cutting down a Bebunni baby insert to 7 3/4" x 7 3/4" then adding the cut out stamped bundle of joy image and other small die cuts.

 Completed card front-with Bebunni stamped image New Arrival

 Close up of mini die cut images cut using Cricut Create and New Arival Cricut cartridge

 Bebunni getting his close up-he's so adorable who could resist another look??

 Stamped using Bebunni Baby stamp set and embellished with buttons from Hobbycrafts

 A little peek of Bebunni but a closer look at those lovely paper roses. Even baby boys cards can't escape my flower addiction!!

 Cute little sentiment stamped from the Bebunni New Arrival stamp set and that lovely two tone satin ribbon with bow.

 awwwwww Bebunni nice close up of his adorable face.

 The inside of the card complete with co-ordinating insert and another stamped and coloured image

 A close up of the stamped and coloured Bebunni Bundle of Joy stamped image in the inside

And the whole card front again because with Bebunni once is never enough!!!

My latest creations

Below are the latest cards that I have been commissioned to make. The first card had to be for a man who loved everything technical. I think using a glaze pen and some peel offs has really brought the Ipod and I phone to life. The 2 Hello Kitty cards were really great to make as the gave me the chance to get out my Promarkers and act like a kid colouring in. After a large amount of time spent colouring I then set to work with ultrafine irradescent glitter, gorgeous glitter flowers,  ribbon bows and gemstones.

 This is the inside of the Hello Kitty card above which has been made to perfectly match-greeting says Just for you on your special day

 This is the inside of the Hello Kitty card above which has been designed to co-ordinate perfectly with the front of the card

Some of my card commissions

I  really love to make cards using Tilda as it gives me the opportunity to colour using my Promarkers. I got very carried away making this and lost all track of time. There was no such thing as less is more with this card!!!

This extra large stepper card  featuring The Flower Fairies was created for a friends Daughter who loves everything fairy. Well who doesn't my own Daughter tried to steal this card saying can't I have it for my Birthday Mummy.

A friend brought her husband some tropical fish for christmas and asked if  I could make a card with fish wearing Santa hats. For a few days I was at a loss but then it came to me. She could not beleive it when I came up with this. I  made a 3d fish tank with an acetate front and acetate back printed with a tropical scene I filled the scene with decoupaged fish and embellishments and as requested I then made each of the little fishes santa hats.

This large box was custom made and decorated by me to fit the Naomi card featured several pictures below

A very sweet cupcake card on which I got carried away with the bling and by the time I had finished they looked good enough to eat!

This card  took 4 hours to make and heavely featured 3 of my favourite craft items bling, flowers and ribbon. It was a commission for a friends Daughter the brief she loves purple and pink and her names Naomi.

I loved making this shed card using the glitter girls board I made a 2d shed then using this as a template  I then turned it into a 3d shed. I also made flower stems using flower soft which I put into mini ceramic vases.

I then finished the scene with a jolly little gardener complete with shears and even a door that opens

Another view of this card complete with its box. This was a real labour of love which the customer was overjoyed with

     Another glitter girls board that I love the BOOKATRIX.  I used it to create this lovely lilac card for a friends Mum. I finished it off with a custom made box with acetate lid.

 I was never a fan of craft CD ROMS until My Craft Studio came along. Now I love them, I created this card using the fabulous Walk in Wonderland collection.

This card featured a pair of iris folded shoes created using papermania fabric paper and a gorgeous handbag. It was a commission for a lady who's daughter loved fashion and always had to have matching shoes and handbag with every outfit.

I love to craft Christmas the perfect excuse to get out all that bling and sparkle. This A4 card was liked so much by the recipient she showed it to a friend who then asked if I could make it again in a different colour.