Male "Time Flies" birthday card

 Here is my 2nd male card of the day. Male cards are like buses, wait for ages to have to do one then 2 come along in the same day. Anyway, for this card I have used the "Time after Time" stamp plate from Visible Image  I just adore the "cracked" stamp, which I have used on the back of this card with a sepia versamark inkpad.

I used a square of black card over the Kraft card. I used a versamark inkpad and an old stencil brush to roughly brush ink over the edges of the black card then dusted over with "mink" mica powder. It gives a very subtle effect. With the gold pearl card, I again used the "cracked" stamp and a versafine inkpad in sepia tone. 

The corrugated paper is from packaging and roughly brushed over with the same old stencil brush with the sepia ink pad. 

The watch and the wings were stamped onto black card with versamark and I used a fine detail gold embossing powder before simple cutting out and layering up with a little bit of foam tape. 

The sentiment was stamped onto a piece of kraft card, again with versamark and fine detail gold embossing powder.

Hope you like it and thank you for dropping by my blog today

Cazz xx 

Male "Cogs & watches" birthday card

 Here is the first of 2 male cards I have been commissioned to make. I'm not one for sticking with just 1 supplier products for a card so there is a complete mish- mash with this card. 

To start, the backing card has been run through a mask from Clevercut. Then I rubbed over it with gilding wax from Creative Expressions. You can pick up a good selection of Creative Expression products from Julia Watts  shop on Amazon. I used "Cast Bronze" & "Patina". This was my first time of using them and I love them. I need more, no honest, I do :-) 

The watch die is from Papermania and can be purchased from Craftsite  I cut the parts I needed from black card stock and used a small piece of gold mirri card to put behind the watch face. Now, I don't have any proper flake glue (you wouldn't think I went to a craft show at Ally Pally yesterday would you !!). So, I thought I would try using my regular Cosmic Shimmer dries white glue on a piece of cut & dry foam. Now, whilst it didn't do the job as you'd see on the telly, the flakes DID stick to some bits. I then rubbed more gilding wax over the top & I love the effect. So, its not the right glue, but then again, its not the wrong glue either. 

 The stamped sentiment is from the wonderful Visible Image  The complete set is called "Time After Time". It is such a fantastic set and probably won't stray very far from my work area in future. I stamped it onto a piece of brown card using versamark and embossed with ultrafine gold detail embossing powder. Then tore the edges of the card and again used the gilding waxes round the edge

The cogs and brads are again from papermania and I used the same technique as I did for the watch above.

The whole design has been set a Papermania Kraft card stock

I'd like to enter this card into the
Cards Galore Challenge 

Hope you like it and thank you for dropping by my blog today

Cazz xxx

Wedding card

I was asked to make a wedding card for an order and I had seen a similar card on Facebook recently so went along with the idea I saw there. If you are the person that posted the picture of their card, please let me know so I can give you due credit for the idea.

For this card, I used a topped from the Christine Howarth Chrysalis CD available from Crafters Companion. Its such a stunning image it doesn't need much else.

I then used a Spellbinder Die to create the background. The die is available from Craftsite
This was then matted onto gold mirri card.
I cut the leaves from a spellbinder die and a marianne die.

The flower is made from 14 layers of tissue paper

cut from a scalloped edge X-cut circle die. 

Simply cut them all out, separate the layers as they will stick together at the edges when you cut them. then lay them back on top of each other. Poke a hole in the centre just big enough for a brad. The size / colour of brad doesn't matter as you won't see it anyway. Begin squishing up each layer of tissue around the brad to form the flower. Then attach on top of the leaves.

Hope you like it and thank you for stopping by my blog today

Cazz xx 

UBER fast 40th birthday card

Had to be Uber fast as I only found out yesterday that the lady in question has her 40th birthday today

I used PolkaDoodles  Digital heaven CD

backing paper from Polka Doodles Fredericka paper pack

Cut it out, coloured it with promarkers Ltd Edition 2012 colours

little bit of bling and its good to go

thank you for stopping by my blog today

Cazz xx

Elegant birthday card

 Hello & welcome to my blog.

Here is a card I have made for a lovely young lady. The image is from the Frederika cd by POLKADOODLES and I have used promarkers to colour it in throughout. I used a sakura silver star pen for the wine glass & a gold star pen for decoration on the dress.

The sentiment stamp if from Visible Image  and part of the "TIME" set

The backing papers are from the paper pack that came with the CD but they are also available on the CD itself. 

Once again, there are tickets. I really do love tickets (you may have noticed if you have seen any of the other cards on my blog just lately) They too are available on the cd & there's a variety of sentiments to choose from. 

 The flower dies are from Marianne Creatables and cut from spare papers & cardstock used in the card itself. The leaf dies are from Spellbinders and can be bought from CRAFTSITE 

A drop of rock candy stickles has been dropped into the centre of each rose.

Hope you like it and thank you again for dropping by my blog today

Cazz xx

University Graduation Card

Good afternoon everyone and thank you for stopping by my blog today. 

I was asked to make a card for a daughter who has attained her MA from Cambridge University (some of you may remember be asking on Twitter whether Cambridge colours were Light Blue or Dark Blue). I then had to decide which Promarker Pen was the closest in colour to Cambridge Blue. In the end I opted for "Polar Blue" from the Limited Edition 2012 set of promarker pens

 I opened Serif Craft Artist Pro 2 and used a scroll design to create the backing paper and again, tried to match the blue as close as I could so that it would all blend in.

The topper is from the wonderful collaboration between Polka Doodles and Emma Canning. The 'Digistamp Heaven' CD is available from Polkadoodles website 

The tickets are from another CD called 'Fredericka' by Polka Doodles and I love them. I have a bit of a thing for tickets

 I decided I needed to use some of the stash of flowers in my 'flower box' so out came the hot glue gun and the wire cutters and I created this little flower ensemble in the corner. I added a simply flourish to finish.

To finish the card, I used a sentiment stamp onto a piece of tissue paper. Dabbed some distress inks over the top to age it a bit. I took a little bit of white satin ribbon and dyed it with Polar Blue promarker pen to match the topper and tied it around the scroll. I added a cute owl charm to symbolise being wise. To finish the card I simply added 3 aqua coloured dew drops.

Hope you like it and thank you for stopping by my blog today

Cazz xxx

Stamped New Baby Card

Was asked to make a new baby card for a lady and after hunting for almost half an hour for the acrylic stamp I wanted to use (don't EVER tidy up your stamps and put them in a file - got no chance of finding them !!!) I finally came up with this design.

The stamp image is from Wild Rose Studio. I used versafine black ink onto cream water colour paper and used Aquamarkers throughout to colour the image.

I trimmed the image and edged it with Tattered Rose Distress ink which is available from Craftsite 

To make my mats I cut a 2nd piece of card 5cm larger. I inked the edges with a papermania mini ink pad and layered the topper onto the mat.

Taking an 8 x 8 scalloped card, I used a Dreamees leaf stamp in two opposing corners before using tattered Rose distress ink around the complete edge of the die. I noticed that the ink from the lead die merged with the distress ink but I was pleased with the effect so carried on. 

I stamped the "Congratulations" sentiment onto cream water colour card to match the topper and used the same ink techniques as the topper. 

I swirled distress ink over the remaining sheet of water colour card and made 3 torn roses to embellish the card. I then used some Create & Craft pastel blush linen card stock to cut 2 swirls & 2 corners in green and a butterfly in purple 

The whole card was then assembled and I think it has a 'vintage' feel to it

Thank you for stopping by my blog today x

Serif Craft Artist 2 samples for DT call

Well, if any of you saw the Serif Give Away show on Create and Craft at 9 am this morning, you will have seen some of the samples that I made for the show, after having been asked by Hayley West if I'd like to do some for her. I wanted to show new Serif users that the software isn't just for scrapbook pages and flat card.

The picture below is the group shot of all the projects I did, bar 1. I did a scrapbook layout from the 'layouts' section but forgot to save it or take a photo so will have to ask Hayley to take a picture for me and send it back. 

There were 5 digikits in total and I made 3 projects per digikit. 

This set below is from Bluechie Coo

The 'special delivery' gift set comprises a card where the sender can fill in the details of the new arrival.

The cracker contains scratch mitts as a gift item

The gift box has been topped with a pinwheel from a template on the cd

This set is from Pinkie Pie

Again, a simple card using elements from the digikit

The gift box contains scratch mitts

The wine bottle hanger is for dad to "wet the babies head" - a template from the digikit

The three items below are all from "Classic Wedding"

2 cupcake wrappers with added embellishments from the kit 

A small pillow gift box with a gift for the groom (who is often forgotten, yet its his day too)

And finally confetti cones, these could have the names of the celebrants added if desired

The following 3 projects are from 'Blushing Bride'

The top photo is a simple guest book printed onto card stock and the pages printed onto 120gsm paper

then held together with eyelets.

Next is a ring pillow. This was printed onto printable fabric, then sewn up and stuffed. 

And lastly for this set, a door hanging. Again made using printable fabric and sewn together.

As with the pillow, the printable fabric I used for the samples isn't waterproof BUT you can get waterproof fabric - I chose not to use it for these samples 

Last but not least is 'Prettiest Princess'

For the mask, I used a template from the Digikit, added a few embellishments and simply cut it out by hand.

I added some satin ribbons from my stash box. 

I wanted to use a handle for mine and not the elastic as suggested. I have a box load of unsharpened wooden pencil - perfick :-) Match a promarker pen up to one of the ribbons and coloured the pencil 

The cupcake toppers simply printed onto card stock and I used a Spellbinder die to cut them out

As I said, I also did a scrapbook layout of my great niece but forgot to grab a pic.

As and when I get it, I will add it to this post

Thank you for stopping by today xx

Sam Poole Inspired piece of Altered Art

This morning, I watched Sam Poole from Creative Expressions doing a demonstration on Create and Craft Shopping Channel. During one of the demo's, she made a heart card from a piece of corrugated card.

I ran with this idea this afternoon and went off on a tangent using what products I have to hand and came up with this piece of altered artwork. 

Hope you like it and thank you for stopping by my blog today x

A 2nd retirement card - decoupaged too

Are retirements like buses??? Don't have one for ages then 2 come along :-)

Anyway, this card has been made from the Card Creations "Garden Shed" CD

Them simple used a piece of wood effect card and "hand-painted" the name on the door, as you do.

Hope you like it and thank you for stopping by my blog today x 

Retirement card

Here's a retirement card I have made this afternoon.

So, where to start with the recipe for this one .....

The backing card was edged with memories chalk ink pad Cloudy Coral.

The nature & butterfly stamp are from Creative expressions 

The cuttlebug embossing folder is available from Craftsite  and inked over with Victorian velvet distress ink

The sentiment topper is from Ali Reeve's Washables range.

The butterfly die is a Marianne Design Die (I think, it may be a Joy die)

I then took a single A4 sheet of plain white thin card stock and using a mixture of stippling, etc etc and a variety of colours, I covered the entire sheet and then cut out the 3 spiral flowers (spellbinders) and all the leaves. All available from Craftsite  then stuck down with Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear adhesive. A little dot of Ranger Rock Candy Stickles glue has finished off the centre of the flowers 

Hope you like my creation and thank you for dropping by today x

"Gorjuss" Birthday card

Here's a birthday card using the "Gorjuss" rubber stamp image and coloured with promarkers.

The tree bough is from a Woodware set.

I printed the frame onto the backing paper which came from the "Beaches" Digikit from Serif.

I then printed the frame again onto wood effect card stock and cut out the frame shape and glued it over the backing paper, sandwiching the tree bough in the middle so as to "hang" the stamped image.

I used Memories Chalk inkpad in gossamer blue and frosted mint on the card stock then stencilled through the remains of a spellbinders die with "Foliage" Big & Juice ink pad.

The torn flowers and leaves were made from the remaining backing paper and "Rock Candy" stickles filled the centres of the flowers 

The tickets are from a Polka Doodles CD 

Hope you like it and thank you for stopping by today x

Religious based birthday card

Hope this one fits the brief.

65th birthday and I know he is deeply religious

The Stained Glass window digistamp is available from Stitchy Bear

I used flexmarkers throughout with this design.

I imported the PNG image into Serif Craft Artist 2

Added the text and printed out an A6 size image

To create the background on the card itself, I cropped a section of the design and expanded it to fit an A4 sheet of paper and then cut it down with a guillotine to fit the card stock and again used the same flexmarkers to colour it in. The striped backing paper is from Papermania and simply torn and cut to fit 

Hope you like it and thank you for stopping by my blog today.  

"Visible Image" Edgar birthday card

Here's a birthday card for a couple to give to their grandson.

The stamp, 'Edgar', is available from Visible Image 

He has been coloured mainly in Promarker Cool Grey Shades with a splash of colour added from the promarker & Flexmarker range where needed.

backing papers from my stash (papermania and Kanban stock I believe)

Cog dies from the Papermania Chronology range

(I suggest using wax paper with these as they are a struggle to remove otherwise - trust me)

Hope you like it and thank you for stopping by my blog x

Fairy Birthday Card

Received a request to make a card for a lady celebrating her 60th birthday who loves fairies and pastels.

So here is the card I have made for the lady who is 60 yrs young.

The digi Image is available from Redonkulous Designs  I am amassing a few of these wonderful designs now as they are perfect for so many occasions.

I have coloured the image in with a variety of promarkers and flexmarkers.

I used the trellis mark from Ali Reeve then using the cut out waste from a Spellbinders leaf die as a stencil, I inked through with Victorian velvet distress ink then used Perfect Pearls Mica powder (pink gold) over the top to add a touch of shimmer. 

To add sparkle to the wings I painted on Sakura Clear Star pen with an almost dry paintbrush. 

The pastel card stock is 'pastel blush' from Create and Craft.

I then used the same stencil and distress ink on the card blank itself to add interest. 

Hope you like it and thank you for dropping by blog. 

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A @jellypark Mothers Day Card

here is another Mothers day card

The flowers digistamp is available from jellypark 

And coloured with flexmarkers

Mothers day card order

I was asked by Clair from Affordable Printing  to make a card for her mum for Mothers Day. 

The brief was she liked shoe's & handbags. 

So here is what I created.

I paper pieced the handbags and the stiletto heels then used promarkers on the other shoes & the boot.

Edges inked with Tattered Rose distress ink. 

Jelly Park Digi Birthday card

A very quick birthday card made from a JellyPark Digistamp

Coloured with promarkers / flexmarkers 

Foliage die available from Craftsite 

Journal Cover

I had it all planned in my head what I was going to do on this journal cover - then I started on it and all my idea's when clean out the window. 

So, here goes. I started by applying a rough layer of gesso. Once dried I used Antique Linen Distress ink all over the base then used a sanding block to smooth out the journal cover. I then roughly inked over the top with Frayed Burlap Distress ink. Using a piece of bubble wrap and Tea Dye Distress ink pad I began to create some texture on the cover. I also used a plastic bag to add to the effect along with various distress ink and Artiste ink pads. The stamped images are from Creative Expressions and are stamped with Versafine Sepia Distress ink. The whole thing was then dried using a heat gun. I then added some red water colour pencil to the poppy centre and using a barely damp brush, pushed the colour around to fill in the design, The same technique was used on the leaves of the poppy. Then, again using the plastic bag, I added more texture using the vintage sepia ink pad. 

Finally to finish, I used Sunkissed gold perfect pearl mica powder over the cover (although this doesn't show up well on the photo)

Now I have sat and looked at it, I can think of a few more things I want to add to the cover, so watch out for an update on this post soon :-) 

ADDED - 2nd photo is the new update one - it needed a hinge & a couple of butterflies 

Birthday card & Mothers Day card

The above card Was made in Serif using a Dalmation Digi-Stamp available from The DigiStreet

The papers were then cut out and mat & Layered as in regular paper crafting

Here is my Mothers Day card for my mum.

I can't remember where I got the digi-stamp from so if anyone knows please let me know so that I can give them due credit. I used flexmarkers throughout to colour the image.

The butterfly fly stamp is an Urban stamp by Papermania. I used old school whispers brush pens to ink up the stamp using a different colour for each butterfly on the stamp and then "huffing" on them to make sure they stamped properly. Then finished off with some old school silk flowers and bows.