Cuttlebug Embossing

I was lucky enough to borrow the Cuttlebug machine from my friend Pattie for a week. During this time I managed to make endless embossed backgrounds and die cuts. This is just a sample card I put together using the Cuttlebug embossing, using a pretty yellow card, then brushing it with golden ink, it seems to make the embossing stand out more. The centre piece was from off cut card stippled with the ink pad and shaped scissors, I used the die cut butterfly shape as main then used the embossed butterfly and cut around it then layered on top. I also brushed the embossed bit with gold ink, then to finish I painted on with 3-D clear gloss finish by Anita's. Just a simple design but has a very nice effect. I would recommend the Cuttlebug to those of you who love embossing and embossed cards. It's simple and fast to create pretty cards.

Holly

A Just for Fun Card

This card was just for fun really, and also to experiment with different textures and paints and inks. Also using the watering can, flower and sunshine. The background I used a gradient in paint shop pro called morning glory, just printed it out to the size I wanted. Using pens and markers painted in the little tufts of grass and flowers. The sun is stamped and coloured using glass paints, it gave a nice effect. The fairy is also painted using glass paints as well as the flower, the middle of the flower is slightly raised using 3-D clear gloss by Anita's. I used a golden pearlised card for the watercan and then stippled with my gold pen. This card is very colourful and different from my usual range, but I really enjoyed making it and got some great ideas for using textures.

Let there be sunshine and flowers for many hours..lol.

Holly

Father's Day in the Garden

Father's Day is not far off, so I got down to some serious inspiration. I found a nice tutorial on the Create and Craft website using WS designs templates and stamps. I liked the idea of the card but wanted to design my own style using my own style watering can. This was the end result, I have listed templates that you can download and use for your own use if you choose. This design can also be used for thinking of you, just for you, whatever takes your fancy.

Using A4 white card folded, I layered with a pastel coloured background, this I printed out using a free paper, but you can use any you prefer. For the flower, I printed this from a image from a colouring book, I have added the template of the flower for you. I coloured the flower using Whispers marker pens and sakura stardust pens. For the centre I used Anita's 3-D embossing clear gloss finish. This adds depth to the flower and makes it stand out a little. The watercan I created a nice design from a picture. To get the embossed leaf effect, you need to make a template, cut out the leaves, then place the card over the template and use the embossing tool, I found this works best using pearlised card as you can see. The handle and spout and top are coloured using my gold pilot pen, then the second coat I stippled which gives it a hammered look. I printed out the flower pots from a image I found and made the sign and printed out. The pots I used white card, then using whispers marker pens I coloured in using a orange colour that resembled terracotta. Using the same colour I then went around the edge to hide any trace of the white card, then using the black I outlined the detail. For the soil effect I used the brown marker and drew what is supposed to look like soil...lol. For the 3rd pot I used a peel off garden set2 product code (XL553U) and using the spade, I coloured using the Whispers markers permanents, then attached to the card and coloured using the same green colour. Cut out and making a slight slit in the soil pushed the spade through, then attached at the back with double sides sticky tape. Using the same effect I attached the seeds sign. You can change the style and look as much as you like and everytime you get good results. I hope you enjoy this tutorial and design as much as I have making it.

Watercan template

Flowerpots template

Flower template

Seed Sign

Happy Crafting all

Holly

Sunshine

Inspired by one of my favourite songs is how this card came about. I also used some of the songs lyrics. The ribbon reminded me of summer deckchair material. The flowers are sequins with AB beads on wire. Background papers were from a old collection. The sun face I stamped in black ink and used Sakura stardust pens to colour.

This card is rather dark in the photograph but much brighter in person. Need to get a new daylight bulb just when you need it it blows...lol.

Alexander O'Neal 'Sunshine'

Happy lazy Summer days ahead...

Holly

Feeling Oriental

As the title says I was feeling in the mood to create a oriental style card. So I just had a play about with a picture I had from the internet and it went from there. The Kimono was made from a small template I had using a background paper from the Old World mat stack. and found some nice ruby ribbon. The beads are a pretty japanese bead that I had from way back when I used to make jewellery. The picture was just printed out from my pc and I made the frame from left over backing paper from the Kimono. The tiny sequin flowers were made by threading onto craft wire with AB seed beads. The backing paper on the actual card was from my own design created on my pc.
I do enjoy creating Oriental designs this card began when I was unable to sleep due to chest infection, It helped me get through the night...lol.
Happy Crafting

Holly

Summer Themes

On a similar theme to the last card I posted, here is another with the use of chippies by Woodware. This time I tried to keep the theme in cool mint colours.

Using green mint backing paper, and layering with embossed white then silver mirror and embossed white. To give the stamped effect I used a small PM clear stamp and stamped in green ink. The medallion I used sakura stardust pens using the yellow and the green. For the centre I added a small floral gem also in green..lol. Usin polka dot ribbon and tiny gem hearts. The Chippie shape I coloured using Whispers markers then added a honey bee stamp in a darker shade of green. The end product is shown here.

The chippies are available in many designs and you can buy them from various outlets, I got these from Artymiss, the medallion stamps are available from Stamps uk

My next theme will be Sunshine....

Holly

Summer

A bright and cheeful card that resembles Summer time. This card is for a competition in the Artykards group. Using silver mirror card then embossing it with Fiskars texture plates and layering with a summer green background paper.

I added some lace and tied this at the centre using a brad, then covered with the medallion stamp. to finish I added a cream ribbon and some odds and bobs from my craft tin. Simple and easy to make but they look like alot of work went into them.

Happy Crafting all.

Holly