Paper flower engineering

Welcome if you are visiting from Kylie Bertucci's International Stampin' Up! Blog Highlight. The theme is Love and although it is a birthday card it is for my Mum and Mums deserve extra special cards don't they to show our love, and this one was an extra special one!

It was a real explosion of pink flowers, and I love the combination of Melon Mambo, Basic Grey, Smokey Slate and Basic Black, with a few crystals of course.

 As you can see the flowers spring out of the card with nothing to support them. The trick is extremely tiny spots of wet glue on the tips of the petals and hold together until they stick. I use the Stampin Up Tombow Liquid Multipurpose glue as it has such a quick 'grab' time and it is super strong. Of course the quality of the card is important too so it doesn't sag or wilt.  I love the effect though and it makes such a statement card.

Let me know what you think about it and if you've tried something similar.

I'm entering this into Kylie Bertucci's International Blog Highlight under the theme of love.  I'd love if you would go over and vote for me on:  http://www.craftykylie.com/2016/04/international-blog-highlight-theme-love.html

I love the quote below that shows how much love is put into a homemade card!

 

Hope you like it - my Mum loved it!  Phew...

Helen x

Product List

Liquid Multipurpose Glue

[110755]

£3.75

Melon Mambo A4 Card Stock

[119980]

£6.50

Neutrals A4 Card Stock

[131283]

£6.50

Ovals Collection Framelits Die

[129381]

£24.00

Happy Birthday, Everyone Clear-Mount Stamp Set

[139958]

£8.00

Back To Basics Alphabet Photopolymer Stamp Set

[133742]

£14.00

Pansy Punch

[130698]

£14.50

Petite Petals Punch

[133322]

£11.50

Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack

[133787]

£15.50

Whisper White A4 Card Stock

[106549]

£7.25

Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad

[140931]

£6.50

Rhinestone Basic Jewels Embellishments

[119246]

£4.50

Punch Corner Project Life

[135346]

£7.25

Fear not!

I knew I had to have this stamp set as soon as I saw it. Such an amazing collection of sayings that are so useful, especially for my Christian friends.

I decided to keep the design clean and simple and focus on the words.  Hope you like it!

Helen x

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Flowering Fields

I think I have a new favourtite stamp set (actually nothing will beat the Wetlands set but this is pretty close). And this is the card I made for my lovely customers:

It is called Flowering Fields and has a butterfly as well as the flowers.  I like the simplicity of the design and my mind is buzzing with ideas for other projects which is always a good sign!  For some I used SU markers to stamp the different colours (the blue flower).  For others I stamped in green and then used the blender pen to pick up colours from the ink pads to fill in the flowers. But pencils or ordinary colouring pens would work just fine!

This is another of the free sets if you spend over £45 on SU products until March. Even better... :-)

Hope you love it as much as I do.

Helen x

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Fancy Packaging

Every so often the local Stampin Up demos meet up for training, crafting and cake! This time we did a secret Santa thing and we were encouraged to dress is up prettily. So here's my little pressies:

Sorry for the winter sun light!

Fancy enough? Supplies I used below.

Hope you like it!

Helen x

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Happy Blooming Birthday

I'm loving the big blooms stamps at the moment!  How's this for a pretty birthday card?

I think it is a rhododendron, which I love. Reminds me of the ones we had in our garden as a kid (although I think we spent more time making dens underneath them than admiring the pretty flowers!). Coloured with inks and blender pens which gives such a delicate effect. I'm seriously into the Sahara Sand card I used for the base of the card. A really lovely base card which goes really well with the purples.

This was sent off to Nicky my 'upline' in Stampin Up who got me started on my Stampin Up journey and answered all of my many questions so patiently! Hope she likes it and I hope you like it too :-)

Helen x

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Beautiful cards for sad occasions

I definitely don't like the reasons why we have to send sympathy cards, but I know that in time it is so good to know someone was thinking of you. This is one I made with the hostess set from the previous catalogue, 'bloom with hope'. Such a lovely and versitile set that I won't be retiring anytime soon.

Such pretty colours too - Image stamped in perfect plum and coloured with Wisteria Wonder.

Love the flower image and the effects you can get with ink and blender pens.

Helen x

Thanks - one tiny word with one big meaning

How true is this sentiment?

So this week I've been having to ask for help alot when my usual trusty steed of a micra broke down. Asking for lifts and help doesn't come easy for me but I'm learning that I like to be asked so I should ask others. It's slow progress!  But what does help is acknowledging how thankful I am. It's so easy to pass on a little thank you card.

This is the card we made at the 'make and take' at the training day using some new stamps and the new 'in-colours' which are the new colours that are released each year to compliment the regular colours. I love the background colour which is called Mint Macaron.  Such a perfect colour for matching neutrals and to fit right in with my nature themed cards. A really easy way to get the new colours is to buy the stamps and card together, and it works out cheaper.

This stamp set is called 'Awesomely Artistic'. And we get a dragonfly stamp too! Yay!! I love watching the dragonflies dancing around my garden when they pop over from the canal next door to see me. What I don't like is when my naughty ginger tomcat catches them and then lets them loose in the house! Even my other cat runs for cover.( Life is never dull with cats!)

Anyway 'Awesomely Artistic' is definitely on my wishlist. How long can the wishlist get?!

Hope you like the dragonfly as much as me.

Helen x

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

A little chocolate treat!

So how's this for a tiny little treat:

I've used the Butterfly Basics set again to tie in with the cards I've made - see here and here.  I get the little chocolate bars from Aldi - 5 in a pack for £1.25 and they have loads of different kinds. And it is really good chocolate.  What's not to love!

I'm thinking of having sotruemething like them as little thank-yous for my customers (just a few that I'm hugely grateful for - early days and no card classes yet so not a surprise yet really!  Need to be patient!).

Ooo I'm getting a chocolate craving now...  Until next time,

Helen x

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Birds and owls

Well you know I love all things nature so I couldn't help but be attracted to the bird and owl punches from Stampin' Up! I even bought coordinating stamps which really do add to the effect. I love how the different colour schemes really distinguish the cards from each other.

Helen x

Catching up!

I realise to my horror how long it is since I've been blogging. I'm sure no-one is still following me and sad to say I've not been following others either as been having screen breaks after work.  Anyway enough babbling...

I originally set this up as a sort of online crafty resume so I can look back on what I've made. So I'm going to try get some pictures up of things I've made recently to get things back on track. First off a really cute card using a Humphrey stamp I love:

Just a little stepper card. I've layered up with pretty papers and flowers and coloured in using my alcohol markers. Cute isn't it?  I'm really liking the blue and pinky-red.  Here's a close up of the scrumptious elephants and their ice cream sundae:

I'm craving a sundae now... Anyway see you soon.


Helen x

Absolutely Fabulous Red and White Flowers

The sentiment 'Absolutely Fabulous' was just made for this over-the-top glamorous card:

 This is a twisted easel card made with one of my many Craftwork Cards goody bags.  The flowers are just held together with teeny tiny amounts of PVA tacky glue. That's all they need!  Just decide how they will join and then add a smidgen with a cocktail stick. Amazing! This is the side view showing the construction.

The leaves and butterfly are trusty Martha Stewart punches, and the antennae lovely Karen gave to me!  Here's a view from above to show the sentiment:

Now I need to pick one of my absolutely fabulous friends to send this to. I did a purple version of this card some time ago. I purposely didn't look at the previous card so it wouldn't be a straight copy.  Now I can't decide which one I prefer!

I've another cake creation coming  up, and some more floral cards and fancy boxes so watch this space! Hopefully it'll mean you'll be seeing me once again in blogland and I really hope I get around to visiting some blogs and making comments again.  I've missed seeing what amazing creations all you fabulous crafters have been making, but I'm still getting back on my feet after a health setback in the summer. But the approaching Christmas season is getting my creative juices running again :-)

Helen x

A few more everyday cards

Very simple buttons and sentiment with some faux stitching.

I found this topper I'd embossed ages ago. Loving the ribbon!

Craftwork cards flowers and candy with a patterned Kate Knight paper inside. Oh and trios of liquid pearls again.

That's it. Short and sweet but glad the crafting bug is continuing. Hope you are in and keeping warm in this dreadful weather.

Helen x

Roses and Pearls

I've been really inspired by the recent Craftwork Cards Goody Box which contained lots of beautiful die-cut flowers to make roses, wreaths and other lovely things.  I've made a couple of cards copying straight from Julie's inspiration sheet and here they are:

As you can see the first is a birthday card with a trio of roses that have been inked and shaped.  I'm afraid I've also got the liquid pearls bug so you'll be seeing more of them in my next few creations!  I just love the extra dimension they give to cards, especially when using them as a border, or in this case in little groups of dots.  This card has already been given away.  It is a special birthday card for my administrator at work, without whom I'd be really stuck.  She definitely deserves an extra special card for all she does for me! Here's a close up of the roses.

The next card I think could be used for a Wedding or Anniversary, as well as a birthday. 

On this card the pearls have been used as a border.  I am loving the combination of Tea Dye Distress Ink and Platinum Liquid Pearls - almost as if the are designed to go together. 

Lovely feminine cards aren't they?  I love Julie Hickey's designs and now I've done a couple of straight copies from the kit, I feel confident I could adapt them to my own creations. Hope you like them too!

Helen

Time for spring

Don't you think it is about time for spring!  Well May Day started with frost here in Oxfordshire but the sun soon came out to play and it has been a beautiful day.  Really hoping it will last this time.  I didn't make it to May Morning in Oxford as it was just too early.  Missed sleep = a week of misery for me. So how about a little card sprinkled with the spring daisies that are starting to pop up in my lawn?

I started by creating a custom gatefold out of some A4 Kraft Card from CWC, as are most of the bits on this card.  The daisies are one of the Delightful Daisies wreaths cut out and split in half.  I used some flowers from the Privilege kit but also punched some out and added some from my stocks to jazz them up. I love the pink and green checks. So fresh and classy.  Here's a view to see them in a bit more 3D:

And then opening up the card to see what's inside:

And finally the full inside:

I've not made a gatefold card in such a long time and I actually really enjoyed it.  The papers are from the Colleen Dolly Mixtures pad - not a duff paper in the whole pack. Love them all. I've also been encouraged by some blog posts to get out the liquid pearls and stickles for accenting again. Love them!

Hope this card has brought a little bit of spring cheer to your computer.

Helen x