Floristry

I am not normally one for buying the whole of a range - especially a new one - but I fell in love with Crate Paper Brook, and bought nearly everything in the range! It's take me at least two weeks to do this layout - why?  Everything is Crate Paper, but the brown spotty flower journalling spot is Jenny Bowlin. Oh - and the big flower shape chipboard is Fancy Pants.

Pictures are from Chelsea - I love the idea of making hats (and not just any hats - gorgeous, flamboyant floral creations) from flowers and this was one of my favourite things from the show. Letter stickers are ancient ones, (I've used both the positive and negative) and the yellow lettering is Sizzix Slobbery Kiss. It's really hard to photograph a double layout and not to cut off the bottom - it is straight IRL. :)  Thanks for stopping by .....

Using Up!

I hope people don't get bored - more of the same!  I have challenged myself this weekend (amongst the gardening and cooking etc) to try and use up bits and bobs. 

I have delved into my scraps bag for this first purple card.  I had a tiny scrap of that circle paper left that has been staring at me for years, so that was the start for this card.  I was really pleased to use that ribbon too - I have generally found it quite hard to use because it is so geometric in nature, and generally that is not my style.

The second card is very simple and uses up more of that Crafty Individuals "People and Places" pad. I have some clear flower epoxy stickers from when I very first started crafting, so over 6 years ago - there are 6 more to be used, so I think more suitable for vintage type cards.  I usually always put a message on, but left this one clear. 

This started when the blue mulberry paper fell out of the blue scraps bag and onto the floor.  I have a roll of this butterfly ribbon to use up so it was a natural embellishment to add.  I then found this lovely scrap of Autumn Leaves orange shaped patterned paper and took it from there.  The brown in the ribbon is assisted by the very thin trim of Bazzill cut with my postage edge shaped scissors, and the brown velvet textured wool threaded through the button. 

That blue mulberry paper was again utilised here in this paper flower.  All the other patterned paper was that freebie stuff from a magazine  -great for cards!  Another file folder up on the left.

Some you win and some you don't - I really am not fond of the card up on the left – but I am keen to get rid of some of the stuff laying about. It really is too busy – but hey ho! Some one might like it. Whereas the card on the right is a bit stark – but it uses up that last fan and bit of green border sticker.  A wee scrap of Basic Grey paper in grey, green and maroon colour tones complemented the Oriental theme to me.

The flower on the top right is one of the Prima Artful Collage flowers – a pearl middle, surrounded by a half inch circle punched in black, nicely finishes that flower off. 

Above on the left is a piece of patterned vellum which has been sitting in my scraps bag for at least 5 years. I do still love it, but time to get used.

That Basic Grey shaped journaling stamp is one which looks fabulous on every card I use it on – a sliver of ribbon, and a couple of brads – and that’s all it needs.

The card on the right is a scrap of 7 gypsies on the left and Basic Grey on the right – again, pleased to use that ribbon – the colour combo is quite a difficult one, but it looks great here, I think. A simple flower, some stamping, a Karen Foster industrial brad – and it’s done!

I am also really pleased, as that is all my oddments of envelopes now used up - every card base in my stash now has a matching envelope, which is very time saving in itself. That really does bring me a great sense of achievement and has been a very long time in the making.

UKS Challenge

Well, it's something I do anyway, but in response to this UKS thread on how people use their scraps, I've made a few cards this week.  Sometimes my energy is a bit limited in the evening, so I tend to get up a bit earlier, and maybe make a card or two before leaving for work.

Here's something a bit different- I bought a Crafty Individuals People and Places 6 x 6 pack, which I shared with a friend.  They need to get used now, so with images that are that beautiful and detailed, the card really doesn't need much else.  The gold peel-off here looks fine in such a simple setting. 

See how many cards you can make from the leftovers of one sheet of 12 x 12 Basic Grey Skate Shoppe?  About time I boosted my stack of men's cards. 

That card in the middle was really made from dregs. About time I used up some of my eyelets!  Great for men's cards.  All very simple - but I do particularly like that one in the middle, considering the small scraps from which it was constructed!

Card Making Sesh ...

Well, I have been very productive today! I got into the garden and did some chores during the week, so have felt justified in doing something crafty for most of the day ....

I have made a lot of cards this year, but always for a purpose, or a gift ... I haven't thus far made any specific to sell.  I have a few customers at work who buy cards occasionally, but haven't managed so far this year.  Whatever doesn't sell quickly will go to a friend who sells A LOT of cards at her work with all proceeds going to  breast cancer.  The miscellaneous cards I sell help me buy more card blanks and adhesive and keep me happily making the cards for charity.  I am consistently using my scraps, too!

My mission at the moment is to use up all the odd envelopes in different sizes, along with different products and things "lying" around. 

I have got packets of these file folders around the place.  I don't use them in my scrapbooking, so there will be LOTS of cards in this style coming up in the future.  The EK Success office file punch has come in very useful here.  Freebie "Crate Paper" from a mag. 

Here's more cards from the end of this piece of paper:-

That piece of crushed velvet ribbon looks really crooked - I will have to straighten it!  With the card on the top right, I stamped the blue border with a squiggly flower stamp so it didn't look too stark. 

On a previous visit to Australia, my mum gave me some shaped patterned bits of card - namely, the blue and pink flat cards used as the base above and below.  I used the outside frame as the border on the top right and the starburst shape was a reject from a layout, cut out with my Cricut machine. Lots of Making Memories and Hero Arts flowers and various buttons to finish. 

This last lot of cards (or at least the two blue and green cards on either end) were from some handmade paper which is getting used up! The green spotty  paper is a scrap of Creative Imaginations paper.

I borrowed my friend's Martha Stewart border punch for the blue and green ones, and she very fortuitously had some blue and green floral ribbon which went perfectly here.  I think if you mix older stuff with newer techniques or accessories, then you can somewhat update the look. 

The pink and green card uses left over the backing off some paper lace, coloured in with candy pink Copic marker.  If you colour on the least shiny side, the marker does dry.  I have found that Basic Grey shaped journalling stamp so handy, and brilliant for breaking up so many straight lines in my cardmaking.  Well worth the money!  Off to catch the last of the sun in the garden.  :)

Happy Easter!

Here is a layout I made about two weeks ago.  I had taken a photo previously, but it didn't turn out in focus.  A lovely friend sent me a lens she no longer needed, so I spent yesterday making her something as a present which I will share after I give it to her. 

Here are some piccies I took at last year's Chelsea Flower Show - I just love wrought iron - the look, the arts and crafts/art nouveau era, so decided to scrap a double layout about the sculptures ...

I incorporated two challenges in one here. The first was to scrap about a gift, a handmade embellishment, and use an old but reliable tool. The gift was the ticket to Chelsea by my FIL - he didn't want to go. Handmade embellie - well, I altered the Bazzill Just the Edge strips by embossing them and inking and grunging up, then highlighting the edges with a copper pen. The old but reliable tool is my heat gun - I don't use it so much these days.

The second challenge was to use a dark base, use something not normally associated with scrapping, and use lots of bling. I used the dark purple, old potpourri, and the lots of bling was the metal flowers, sequins and stickles. I also used some jewellery fixings on top of the flower to layer up the metal. 

I have a whole box of metal embellishments yet to be used.  Here, the copper flowers were a pack of Becky Nunn.  The arts and crafts copper scroll bar is Architexture.  These have been sitting in my stash for about 5 years.  I layered up both branded and generic flowers, and was really pleased to also finish up a pack of layered K & Co dimensional paper flower stickers.  The Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist (Meadow Green, hat an appropriate name, lol!) doesn't show up so well but still adds some grunge. You can see it IRL. 

I shaded the flower below using my Promarkers - I use them much more for "altering the look" of things, rather than specifically colouring in stamped images.  I stuck bronze coloured sequins and stickles on top to add some unity to my "meadow" of flowers.  The K & Co patterned paper added some contrast to the purple.  I used up some Karen Foster metals by cutting out my title using my trusty Quickutz Squeeze and "Eliza" alphabet.

 I was trying to originally weave something with the fibres in the corners, but I regret adding that now.  You can see the glitter being shed off those purple velvet potpourri petals!  The black trim reminded me of wrought iron gates and was sent as part of a swap. I  love incorporating eclectic bits and pieces to add to the feel of a page - I think this might turn out to be one of my favourites.

Flying Away Further ...

Part Two!  I get bored really easily, and occasionally go through my brad boxes filled with little odds and bods, and then pick something out ...

A very simple card which I really like - a scrap of Basic Grey Scarlet's Letter, together with some Mrs Grossman's stickers that I am slowly getting through after about six years ....  A shaped clip with some scallop punches, and another one of those Craftwork Cards printed messages.

Here's another of the cuttlebug embossing folders, used very simply.  Again, some pressed flowers - from a generic QVC kit when I first started crafting and some grograin ribbon. Tip - when I cut the ribbon down, I add a fine line of glossy accents at the edge to stop the ribbon from fraying. 

Here, I used a shaped template cut out from the Cricut.  Small white dots just break up some of the brightness.  Just one small velvet teal flower gives somewhere for the eye to rest. 

Here's a rustic "Hello" made from left over Chatterbox, an old flower denuded from a much bigger one, and one of those daisy gel stickers. 

I love spring colours, but my card making really is determined by the contents of my scraps.  Here's a card I really do like, reminiscent of spring - now, if only we had some  ....

Hopefully tomorrow I will get to do some scrapbooking, and rats - I really should do some housework!  Although I've got some outstanding crafty business to finish first, really - it is FAR more important, isn't it? 

Flying Away

On cold and rainy Easter days, what better way to keep industrious than by crafting?  Home alone, I have made these cards as a little pressie for my mother-in-law to take to her cousin in South Africa. 

A goodly while ago, my friend embossed loads of bits of cards with her Cuttlebug folders.  I've had odd bits of card sitting around for about two years, waiting to be used. 

My first card is the last of a card set from Hot off the Press when I first started crafting - I love using up the last of stuff!  A simple label from Craftwork cards, and a semi circle scrap from Basic Grey Scarlet's Letter. 

This next one is lovely and bright for kids.  Years ago, when I painted a bathroom bright orange, I bought a wallpaper border which I never opened.  This is one way to gradually use it up - a simple matching peeloff, and job done!

This next card was made using alcohol inks for the bottom strip, and some Doodlebug paper frills.  I picked up these birdhouse stickers for a snip that did look different on line - but now that they're home, best to be used! 

That's one more peeloff used up.  I have a cut set of wooden stamps from Hero Arts called "birds and branches".  Just coloured in with promarkers and it coordinates with the rest of the card!

This next card is very simple - another one of those bargain stickers, with some coordinating ribbon and some cotton lace for a more rustic feel.  Suitable for a man or a boy - I wanted these cards to be as versatile as possible.

  

Here's another one with some of those birdie stickers .....

Here I used some left over Kanban sheet - and some Bazzill.  I coordinated it together with my Fiskar's Threading Water punch and some light pink spotty ribbon.  Not one of my favourites,but they can't all be! 

For my next card, scraps of Basic Grey Lilykate here for a very feminine look.  I cut it for a vertical opening for something a bit different, and also trimmed down the left hand side when the card is opened.  Peeloffs have their place and you can get some inoffensive ones these days.  The flower's too big for the perspective, but it's done! Sometimes it pays not to be too critical. :)

I might come back to post the others later - best go and get dinner on, before the bear comes out of his cave and growls too loudly!