Clean & Simple Fairy Silhouette Card

I think the title says it all for this card!

Card Recipe:
Paper and Card: Oyster Wove, First Edition
Tools: Tonic Studios Die Sets - Fae Hideaway Indulgence Semi Dies,  Grand Calibur
Embellishment: Flatback Pearls

I simply trimmed an A4 piece of card to 14.8cm wide then scored it in half.  I opened it back up again and cut the Fae Hideaway Indulgence Semi Die using both of the semi inside dies but only one of the outer dies. Once embossed, I then adding a pretty First Edition backing paper to the inside of the card and added a sprinkling of flatback pearls and a butterfly die cut from an off-cut of patterned paper.

Despite the intricate swirls of this die, I actually think it really lends itself to clean and simple cards, (you can see another example here), what do you think? Pin It Now!

Watch the Birdy

Hello, this week's card uses the gorgeous Watch the Birdy range of stamps, dies and paper from Tonic Studios.  I love it when I can get stamps to co-ordinate with a die range, as I really enjoy using both types of crafting.

Card Recipe:
Stamp: Tonic Studios Birds on a  Branch (Set 2)
Colouring Mediums: Encore Metallic, Versamark, Promarker Pens, embossing powder
Paper & Card: Birds on a Branch 8” Paper Pack, Glitter Card, Elegance Satin
Tools: Tonic Studios: Birds on a Branch Bird Cage Die; Elegant Vine Oval, Window Basket Die, Grand Calibur
Embellishments: May Arts Ribbon, pearls, crystals, mulberry flowers

My main image is from Tonic Studios Birds on a  Branch (Set 2) Stamp, stamped with Encore Metallic Purple Ink and heat embossed with clear embossing powder, then coloured with Promarkers.

I then used the co-ordinating Bird Cage Die, which I cut from glitter card stock.












I'm getting a bit obsessed with heat embossing at the moment, so I used Versmark ink and clear embossing powder over the Elegant Vine scroll background, to give it a lovely glossy finish and texture.  I also heat-embossed the decoupaged bird cage and the printed branch at the top of the patterned paper.

I made the little pearl charms using head pins and glass beads.  Here's one last look.

Have a great Bank Holiday weekend

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Lilacs in Ivory & Grey

This PSX Lilac stamp is one of my all time favourites, I could easily use it almost all of the time.  However, this time I’ve rung in the changes with colour scheme. Instead of the obvious lilac and lavender tones (and I do love those colours too), I’ve gone for ivory, grey and crystal. The card also features a number of different techniques, including:

Paper piecing ● Decoupage ● Distressing ● Embossing ●  Digital Die Cutting ●  Manual Die Cutting ●  Glittering ●  Flower embellishing ●  Accenting ●  and (of course) Hat Pin Making! 

Card Recipe:

Stamp: PSX Botanical Lilac

Colouring Mediums: Memento Ink Pad London Fog, Promarker Pens

Paper & Card: K&Company Elegance Shimmer, Stardream Opal
Tools: Spellbinders, Silhouette Cameo, Grand Calibur, Creative Expressions Embossing Folder

Embellishments: Berisford satin picot ribbon 10mm, hand-made beaded Hat Pins, crystals, pearls, mulberry flowers

To make this card, using my Silhouette Cameo, I cut the card base and butterfly base from stardream cardstocks. I also cut the flourish background, flourish border and butterfly on K&Company Elegance Shimmer. 

I then embossed an offcut of stardream card through my Grand Calibur using my new Tied Together embossing folder.  Once embossed, this offcut was paper-pieced together with an offcut of coordinating K&Company Elegance Shimmer patterned paper and the join was covered by a strip of picot edge satin ribbon, then die-cut with Spellbinders Labels 1. 

I stamped my image with Momento London Fog and this was also cut out with a Labels 1 die.  I have a really great tip for cutting smaller filigree shapes on the Cameo. I shrink the whole shape to the size that I want, then ungroup the image and use the outline tool to increase the size of the smaller filigree elements so that they enlarge and cut cleanly.
 

To accent the card, I inked edges with promarker pens, which I also used on the butterfly filigree layer and the mulberry flower edges and stamen.  The stamped image, flourish border and filigree were flittered with glue pen and crystal glitter.  I accented various pieces with flat-back pearls and rhinestones.

This card was shortlisted in the following challenges:
Allsorts Challenge - Flower Power

 I ♥ ProMarkers - Layer it Up

Joanna Sheen Challenge - New Beginnings

Love to Create Challenge - Three Favourite Colours (ivory, grey and crystal silver)

Hope you like this; do leave a comment if this has pleased you.

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Creating Hatpins - A Tutorial

Be warned - this tutorial comes with a health warning – making hatpins is a seriously addictive habit!  This is a beginner tutorial, but once you’ve got started, there are hundreds of beautiful beads and charms – you need never make the same hatpin twice.

You can view a video demonstration on Creating Hatpins on my Youtube channel here (link to youtube).

To start, gather your materials – I’m using pearl teardrop 2.5” pins, a selection of 6mm & 4mm glass pearl beads and some 4mm glass bicone beads.  I will also need some clear glue (or dries clear glue), a toothpick, an eggcup, a small piece of waxed paper and a non-stick worksheet.

Before you start gluing, it can be useful to thread up your hatpins with your chosen beads to make sure you are happy with what the end result will look like.  Use a variety of bead colours and types. 

Start by squeezing a small amount of glue onto the wax paper (I use old glue dot carrier paper).  Using a toothpick, pick up a tiny amount of glue and dab it onto the bottom of the pearl-head on the pin.

Thread on your first bead and push up into the glue.  If you’ve applied too much glue, just wipe away any excess with your thumb nail. Carry on repeating this process with each of the beads. 

When you have finished, rest your hat pins upside down to dry in an eggcup.  If there is any chance that someone could accidently prick themselves with the drying pins, make sure you put silicon earring stoppers on the sharp ends.

After 30mins your pins will be dry and ready to use. Sit back and admire your lovely hatpins! When adding your hatpins onto a project, if the sharp end of the pin is exposed, use silicon earring stoppers on the points or a small, crystal bead glued in place.

To see these hat pins in situ, take a peek at my 'Glorious Dress Card' post.

For more advanced (but still not difficult) Hat Pins, take a peek at my tutorial Decorative Hat Pins - Next Steps and don't forget to watch my video demonstration on Creating Hatpins on my Youtube channel here. 

I do hope that this was useful, and I’d love to read your comments.

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