Market Fresh!

I was excited to receive my latest parcel of goodies that I had recently ordered, some lovely American Crafts cardstock and stickers, Cosmo Cricket Material Girl and Garden Variety Mini Deck, Elements and Stickers. I set them all out on my desk and decided to work with Garden Variety. They are really lovely papers but as I looked through them I was increasingly perplexed as to how I was going to use them. Carrots? Pea Pods? how would they work? what occasions could I use them for? Fortunately I found inspiration from the elements paper sheet and it kinda went from there, I made the following cards from it and some others which I can share next week but it wasn't the easiest task I've come up against but that's what it's all about isn't it? Trying new things :)

I loved the cheeky little smiley strawberry so pulled out some felt and made this little guy, if I had the patience I would make more as he is so cute!

I loved the little 'flash card' type of cards included on the elements paper and used them on this one with that cute little berry again. I made an aperture and glued acetate inside with some ki memories die cut paper behind, I liked this technique so expect to be bored with more cards featuring the same technique!

Next up is another of the little cards with adorable little pea pods. I am still learning how to stitch on paper and found curved edges a bit of a challenge but I will persevere! I'm loving the Prima lace at the moment, so very pretty.

Now this last one was a bit tricky, a tomato, on a card? Well, I just sat and merrily cut the veggie paper up and stuck it all together and I like him, he's such a jolly little guy!

If you have made any cards using this line I would love to see them! I'm going to try Material Girl next :)

I love it when a plan comes together!

And this is the result of my 'plan'. It doesn't happen that often to me, I envision it in my head and then proceed to become extremely frustrated when I can't translate the idea from my head to the paper! I had been asked to create a card with the specification that it should be for 'A Special Friend' and this is the result.

I had been playing with acetate earlier in the week and liked the idea of the window revealing a tone on tone stamped image background, in this case butterflies using a Stamposaurus stamp. I made a 5x7 card blank from Americam Crafts paper, cut an aperture and adhered the acetate, I then lined the inside with bazzill and decorated the outside with gems, pearls, glitter flourishes and thickers.

Products used - Paper: American Crafts, Bazzill. Stamp: Stamposaurus. Flourish: Sizzix, Pearls: Queen & Co. Gems: Swarovski. Ribbon and Flowers: Etsy. Ink: Versamark. Acetate: Papermania.

I must admit that it will be hard to part with it but I hope the recipient likes it! It's been a strange day here today, sunshine, rain, thunder then sunshine, I did enjoy this view from my craft room today -

I'm so fed up of all this bad weather, I can't wait for spring to arrive! Lots more to share this week, hope you are all enjoying the weekend!

Wedding Day - Caardvarks Challenge

I've decided to enter the Caardvarks challenge this month, and the prize? have your card featured in Cards magazine. I love Cards magazine, beautiful cards, pictures and inspiration.

The theme was 'Wedding'. I used a romantic feeling victorian 'With Love and Devotion' heart, my favourite K&Co buttons paper, MS punches, pearls, gems, tulle and ribbon. I really like it, it's a bit different from what I would normally have designed for a wedding, it did start out in varying shades of cream and white but needed the colour to avoid it looking washed out. I also used german glitter glass which gives a fabulous patina as it ages.

Hey, you never know what will happen but it doesn't hurt to try ;)

Fresh as a Daisy - Crafty Templates

Loving this month's Crafty Templates Fresh as a Daisy card kit. Such lovely spring-y colours using yummy papers from Basic Grey Origins collection among other lovely bits and pieces. Leo creates such lovely kits and some great templates, I really look forward to them dropping on my doormat each month!

I am really sucking at photos just lately, my craft room (or should I be posh and say 'studio') gets some great light but with the crappy weather we have been having they look a little washed out. I promise they are zingy and fresh in real life!

I have some time off over the next couple of weeks so I am looking forward to relaxing and getting plenty of crafting done, I may scrapbook some more, I haven't done that in a little while!

Sweet Baby

I love making baby cards as I always have to try and include a little ducky as often as I can! My husband's friends wife is currently in labour so this card will be winging it's way to them as soon as the little one arrives.

I started playing with scallop cards last week, I'm not keen on the edge at the fold, I think I should be attaching a scallop onto a card blank instead of making a scalloped blank. I've typed scallop so many times now the word has lost all meaning :)

I had to squeeze in a baby girl one, always good to keep a spare handy just in case! Be back later this week to share this month's Crafty Templates kit, it's yummy!