Polka Doodles Bird and Cage Card

Sharing another make from Papercraft Essentials Magazine using Polka Doodles stamps and dies. I love how versatile the little bird is, you wouldn't think he was the same one used on the card I shared here.

I'll be sharing another card tomorrow, so don't forget to swing by.

Claire x

All materials can be found here.

Did you see Polkadoodles new product launch on Create and Craft TV?

Today saw the launch of several new products from Polkadoodles. If you caught the show you will have seen some of the samples that I made using them.

I know Polkadoodles are normally associated with CD and digital crafting but did you know that they've just launched paper pads and cutting dies? The papers are truly beautiful and the dies.... well what can I say? They cut beautifully (even shrink plastic) and a gentle tap on the table top releases the cut from the die. There's none of this poking every single little piece of paper out of intricate dies!

Anyway, I could go on and on about the new products but I won't, instead here's one of my samples that I made for the show. This was one of the cards that Nikky demonstrated.

I stamped the Belle Papillion stamps and coordinating die set onto shrink plastic and coloured the elements with Lyra pencils.

The papers have been distressed using scissors. I've then used Nikky's Stab and Stitch Pokey Tool Kit to create some faux stitching around the edges.

The sentiment has been heat embossed on vellum and I coloured all of the die cut pieces with Distress Inks before layering up onto the card.

I'll be showing more of my samples over the next few day, so please if you get five minutes pop back and take a peek.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

Materials used:
Belle Papillon Craft Kit
Papers and Stamps
Dies
Stab n Stitch Tool Kit
Wow Embossing Powder

It's Not What It Seems!!!

So what do you think I've got to show ya all today? Another notebook? Wrong :D It's a faux book card!

I've seen a few of these book cards on my travels around the land of blog and eventually I decided to have a go at making one for my GDT project over at Stampotique. I'm going to give this to Hubby for his birthday - if DD doesn't nab it first!!! Anyway, here it is - really picture heavy post so my apologies!

I made the card base using this tutorial - there are loads out there, but this one is really clear and simple to follow. I kinda had a plan in my head as to how I wanted this to look, but there were a few things I hadn't decided upon as I wasn't sure they'd work or for that matter look right. So the card has been constructed in a completely bizarre manner and the actual concertina part was added at the last minute!!! :D

The first thing I did was cut the kraft paper to fit the book/card (I'll call it a book from now on, so that I don't confuse you or myself) and distress the edges by rolling them and inking them. I then added some faux stitching.

Before gluing the papers in place I experimented with my fastener, once I was happy I taped and glued the loop part in place and then added the kraft papers to the book. I poked holes where I needed the button to sit and then simply tied it in place.

I stamped several of the Leaf  images onto an old book page before cutting out and inking with Distress Inks. These were then arranged in the book and around the frame before trimming to size. I used my Spellbinders Foliage Die to cut some leaves and again inked with DI's before arranging them into the book pages. I also cut one of the leaf sprays down and attached it to the branch that Owl With Wings sits on, before colouring the image with pencils.

The background was inked using Distress Inks and then mounted onto the book and the back of the "pages" frame.

I gently swiped the book pages with Antique Gold acrylic paint on a baby wipe, this gives a really distressed look. The sentiment was computer generated. I've popped it out a little from the frame using black pop dots.

The quote was computer generated and then printed onto kraft paper, which again has been distressed and faux stitched.

So there you have it, one Faux Book. I really hope you liked this as I have another one to show you very soon! :/

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

Materials:
Leaf by Jo Capper-Sandon
Owl With Wings
Kraft Paper
Card
Distress Inks - Spiced Marmalade, Scattered Straw, Forrest Moss, Broken China, Chipped Sapphire, Brick Red, Walnut Stain and Tea Dye

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp & Show - A Bit Of Brown
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Fashionable Stamping Challenges - Nature
Stamptacular Sunday - Fabulous Folds
Hotshot Crafts - Distress Inks
Inspire Me Fridays - Anything Goes
Pixie Dust Studio - Birds

Father's Day Card Using Distress Inks

As some of you know, I went to a Demo this morning at a local craft store. Although I'd already got some distress inks and used them on few projects, I hadn't fully appreciated how versatile they can be. The only problem is I now have not only a Promarker habit but a Distress Ink one too!!!

The fabulous Lindsay Mason was demonstrating Ranger products and I can now thank her for making me a fair bit poorer financially, but a whole lot richer creatively! I learnt loads of new techniques and gleaned loads of wonderful tips. I was so keen to make something that I came home and made this card.

The background that the image is stamped onto was created using Distress Inks which have then been sprayed with water and blotted with tissues. I've then stamped the owl and coloured it using Distress Inks. The image has then been matted and layered. The Card Candy has been coloured with Promarkers.

Tools
Purple Cows Guillotine
Mister Bottle
X-cut corner punch
Tim Holtz Blender
Waterbrush
Tissues

Materials
Cardstock & Papers - The Papermill
Tim Holtz Distress Inks (Chipped Sapphire, Broken China, Victorian Velvet, Forest Moss, Spiced Marmalade, Brown Corduroy)
Swirly Bird Stamps - Personal Impressions
Anita's Tacky Glue
Card Candy - Craftwork Cards
Promarkers (Marsh Green)

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
The Pink Stamper - Father's Day
Pear Tree Designs - sketch
Crafty Catz Challenge - the boyz are back
Passion for Promarkers - anything goes