Sending Special Wishes

Are you bored with seeing my recent makes for Papercraft Essentials Magazine yet? I hope not, cos I've still got a couple more to go!!

I love how this one turned out and I think it's possibly my favourite make out of all the cards.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire

All materials can be found here.

Shabby chic card

Just popping onto share another card made from the Belle Papillon and Bella Fleur collections.

I die cut the large Elegant Nest from the Belle Papillon Paper Pad, brushed the edges with gold paint and then heat embossed the sentiment.

The papers were distressed with scissors. I used Nikky's Stab n Stitch Tool to create the faux stitching and then ran a fine liner over the holes.

The butterflies were stamped onto shrink plastic and the larger one of them was die cut with the matching doublet die.

I then layered up the papers, lace and embellishments onto a kraft card blank.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

Vintage Frame From An Old Christmas Card Box

Hopefully you all saw the shows on Create and Craft TV on Friday and loved the new collections from Polkadoodles? If you missed it or don't live in the UK you can watch the 11am show and 3pm show for a limited period by clicking on the highlighted links.

If you caught the 3pm show you would've seen the little vintage style box frame with a shrine setting. I was honoured and exceptionally pleased that Nikky demonstrated how to make a similar frame and then put her own spin onto it.

Anyway, here's the frame. I hope you like it and aren't bored by all the photos!

I used an old Christmas card box lid for the actual frame and one of those little wooden boxes that some companies have started using for packaging embellishments for the shrine. I traced the smaller box onto the larger box and then cut just inside of the marking with a craft knife and checked to make sure it fitted snuggly. I then covered the box with papers from the Belle Papillon pads and made a x in the shrine opening. I then popped the shrine in leaving it slightly proud, and glued the papers to the back of it to support it.

The shrine was painted with gold and cream acrylic paint and I used PVA glue to create a crackle effect.

I die cut the leafy branch from the Birdhouse Doublet Set  into an old cereal box and used the negative as a stencil to apply modelling paste to bottom edges of the frame. Once dry I applied Docrafts Gold Acrylic paint with my finger.

The edges of the frame were swiped with ink before heat embossing with gold embossing powder. I stamped a torn piece of the patterned paper with the script stamp from the Belle Papillon Stamp Set and glued it next to the shrine. I then sprinkled some frantage embossing powders over the front of the box.

Using the Belle Papillon Stamp and Doublet die set I cut and coloured a shrink plastic cage, bird and butterflies. Before arranging them inside the shrine.

To finish, I added some moss, broken twigs and flowers.

I'm really pleased with the way this project turned out and plan on making a set for my hallway.

I have a few more projects from the show to share with you over the next few days. Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

Materials
Belle Papillon Stamps, Dies and Papers

I'd like to enter this project into the following challenges:

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

Vintage Birdcage Mother's Day Card

 Just thought I'd drop by to wish you all a very happy Mother's Day!

Here's the card that I made for my Mum and Mother-in-law. Really quick and easy using the birdcage die from Sizzix and some decoupage from Docrafts Nature Gallery.

I gave the card a concertina base to give it some stability as obviously with the decoupage it gets a little heavy (sorry for the poor picture but I'd sent the cards before I realised that I'd not got the best shots!).

A couple of pictures of the sticker tiles - it was almost impossible to get a shot without the glaze on them causing a glare.

I hope you've all had a lovely day.

Thanks for stopping by.

Claire x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Glitter 'N' Sparkle - Mother's Day
Pile It On - Green and 2 others
The Ribbon Girls - Spring/Easter or Anything Goes
Challenge Up Your Life - Die Cutting
Crafty Calendar - Mother's Day
Jo's Scrap Shack - Anything Goes
PDE Linky Party - Anything Goes
Simply Papercraft - Anything Goes

Picnix Nordic Christmas, Take One Make Three More - Part 3

This is another project that I made using the scanned canvas image. Again it was really quick and easy and allowed me to use other items that I had in my stash.

I've tried to achieve different looks with each of the cards that I made from the canvas. This was my vintage card. I have to say I think it's my favourite one and I was a little sad to give it away!

Tomorrow I'll post the final card made from the original canvas. So if you're interested please feel free to stop by.

Claire x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Artisitic Inspirations - Anything Goes
Card Mania - Anything Goes
Crafting From The Heart - Anything Goes
Craftin' Desert Diva's - Christmas In July
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
Incy Wincy Designs - Things With Wings
Love To Scrap - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - "i" Ice
Dies R Us - Christmas in July
Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge - Anything goes

Products used                                                

 

Nordic Christmas

 

Pearl Lace

 

Buttons

 

Mini Snowflake Rosette

Happy Mother's Day - Vintage Bird Cages

It's Mother's Day here in the UK and I finally managed to make something and find five minutes to blog. I am trying to be a better blogger but life is still doing it's best to put obstacles in my way! For the time being I hope you'll forgive my sporadic posts and visits?

Anyway - Happy Mother's Day to all you Mummy's out there whether it's kids with two legs or furry four legged ones! I made these super easy vintage bird cage boxes for my Mum and Mother in Law. I hope you like them?

I did this one for my Mum.

I used a round papier mache box, acrylic paints, a selection of assorted die cuts, flowers, lace, ribbon, pearls and the new Docrafts Nature's Notes Decoupage Pack to create this project.

This was the box for my MIL.

This one was given a brass and copper blend paint effect and I used a pearl effect PVA glue to give the butterflies the look of "Mother of Pearl"

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

I'd like to enter this project into the following challenges:
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes - x
Pile it On - Use 3 of something - x
Mixed Media World - Anything Goes
Allsorts - Pearls & Flowers - Top 5
My Time To Craft - For a special lady
That's Crafty - Wings & Things - Top 3
2 Creative Chicks - Anything Goes - x
Altered Eclectics - Anything Goes
Rhedd's Creative Spirit - Anything Goes

Rose Budd Tissue Box Cover

So did you see the launch show yesterday for the new Rose Budd Collection from Polka Doodles? If not then you really missed a cracker (if you spot it on a re-run I'd highly recommend recording it to watch at some point). The DT samples were awesome and Nikky Hall did some absolutely brilliant demos.

I made a couple of samples for the show including this tissue box cover which you may have spotted on the counter. The CD is so packed with images, papers and lots of beautiful elements that I felt a bit over-whelmed and didn't know where to start, so when I came across the paper rose templates and butterflies I knew instantly that I had to use them! This is what I came up with.

I thought as I was pushed for time that I'd use a template from the internet, but as with all the best plans it didn't come off!! I could only find tissue box covers which were bottomless and I made one of these before and it bugged me! So I had to make my own template, which was actually a lot easier than I anticipated.

I made the plaque on the front and covered it with Crackle Glaze. Once it had dried I swiped it with Distress Ink to age it slightly.

The rolled flowers are dead easy to make up and look so effective. I held the edge between a pair of tweezers and spiraled the flower round to the centre, added a dab of glue and then lightly crushed it with the heel of my hand. I then swiped them with Distress Ink to highlight the petal edges.

I printed the beautiful butterflies out in a variety of sizes, cut them out, shaped the wings with a ball tool and then glittered them, before adding to my project.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

Materials:
Rose Budd Papercrafting CD Collection
Lace and Trims - My Stash
Glitter glue

I'd like to enter this project into the following challenges:
Laurelcraft Dragonfly Designs - Things with wings
A Girl Who Crafts - Anything Goes
Crafts & Me - Wings
Emergency Crafters - Not a card
Stempelgarten Challenge - Floral Dreams

Vintage Keepsake Bauble Book Card

This is the last of my TV samples that I made for the launch of the Studio 12 Picknix Collection 2 - Gingerbread Twist CD. If you've been watching the shows you will doubtless have seen it! Just incase you missed it or fancy a closer peek, here it is in all it's glory!

I warn you now this post is going to be picture heavy, so apologies if the page is slow loading.

I wanted to make something using the traditional gingerbread man and after much umming and arrrghinhg and stash sorting I settled upon making a book card with a detachable bauble.

I've had some papier mache baubles in my stash for what seems like forvever. I'm really not sure why I haven't used them before as I really enjoyed altering the bauble and what's more it actually looks pretty good too!

The book card has been made to fit the bauble and so that it could hang and be removed I've simply made a hole in the top of one of the "pages" and pulled the thread through. It has been secured at the back using cinnamon scented melted wax.

The card uses papers from the cd which have been distressed, painted upon, ripped and faux stitched to within an inch of their lives! I've used a mixture of pre-coloured collage images and digital stamps coloured with Promarkers to create the focal points on the card.

If you look closely at the ribbon tie on the side of the card, you will see that it picks up the paper ribbon on the front of the card.... yep, homemade ribbon using one of the images from the CD. I'm sooo excited that this worked as it now means that I can get coordinating ribbons for all my projects :D

I do hope that you like my project and that I haven't bored you to tears with this long post.

Thanks for stopping by today

Claire x

I'd like to enter this project into the following challenges:
Paper Crafting Journey - Anything goes
Simply Create - Anything goes
Crafts & Me - Reds
Just keep On Creating - Christmas
Whimsy Inspiration - Christmas
Papertake Weekly - Anything goes
Through The Craftroom Door - Anything goes
Make It Monday - Anything goes

Look what I've had published in Pen & Paper Circle 4 - My Vintage Christmas Card!

Have you got your copy of the Pen & Paper Circle 4 yet? If so then you'll see that I've had this card published in there - does a little happy dance! If you missed ordering this issue then keep an eye on our Facebook page and the store as occasionally one or two issues become available (and when I say one or two I literally mean one or two). Issue 5 is now available to order, but you'll need to be quick as orders are only being taken until 7th October.

Thanks for stopping by today

Claire x

PS. Thanks to everyone who commented on my Faux Metal Box and left comments suggesting I try either coke cans or metal tape. I did try coke tins, but it didn't give me quite the finish I wanted and then I found the panel wasn't quite big enough to cover the box :( The tape would've been fine but again it wasn't quite wide enough for the box. Hence me using foil! I will be doing a tutorial on the kitchen foil technique for those of you who either emailed or asked via Facebook. x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Vintage Robin Christmas Card

Good morning. Today I want to show you another one of my TV Samples from the Gingerbread Twist CD. I have to say I think this one of my favourite cards ever! I just love everything about it which is really unusual for me as normally I'm not that bothered about my makes! I struggled to give this one away :(

What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Top Tip Tuesday - Recycle It (corrugated card from an old box)

Vintage Sewing Book Card

Ahh Ha!!! You weren't expecting to see me today were you? I bet you're wondering what I'm upto? Well I'm super proud and rather excited to be able to tell you that I'm part of the Studio 12 Design Team and as such it's my turn to post over on the new Studio 12 blog. If you've not been over there yet, please do stop by as everyday one of the team post an inspirational piece.

Today I've decided to show you my final TV sample that I made using the new All Sewn Up Kit from the Studio 12 -  Picknix Collection 1. I've taken several pictures to try and give you an idea of what the book looks like from different angles (so apologies yet again for another picture heavy post!).

This is the front of the book (see this post for links to the tutorial). The image has been coloured with Promarkers, Flex-markers and Prismacolor Pencils.

I created the shop front window using a Memory Box Die and some Glossy Accents. The Dress Form is a pre-coloured element from the CD. The book is held closed by some seam binding which has been aged with Distress Ink.

Once you open the book, you're greeted by this little scene which has been created using a few buttons and lots of elements from the kit. I only used real buttons cos I was seriously pushed for time on this project, otherwise I'd have used the ones that come with the kit.

The tape measures have been printed onto masking tape. I love the effect that this gives as it looks really delicate, but it's actually really robust! I've then dusted the back of the tape with talcum powder (this stops it sticking together and also from sticking to the wrong place on the layout. Once I've got it in position I've used silcone glue so that the dimension holds.

I made the little fabric roll simply by creating a cardboard tube out of some kraft card and then wrapping some of the DP around it. The edges have been swiped with Distress Inks to make them pop a little. The little dress was created simply by cutting a semi circle of paper and then concertina folding (this forms the skirt) and drawing around the top of the dress form to create the bodice.

The sentiment has been printed onto white cardstock, aged with Distress Ink and then faux stitched. I've added Stickles to the words "Sewing" and "Soul".

Well that's about it from me today. I'll be back in the morning with my Delicious Doodles post.

Thanks for stopping by.

Claire xxx

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Crafts & Me - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Bingo (Ribbon, Die Cut & Buttons).
Craft Your Passion - Flips & Folds
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
The Cutie Pie Challenge - Stitching
Gingerloft - Vintage
Sugar Creek Hollow - More is better
Inspire Me Fridays - Anything goes
Stampin With The Dragon - Anything goes