It's time for some Christmas crafting...

Featured in Quick Cards Issue 172

If you're keen to get crafting for Christmas then you'll be pleased to hear that the special Christmas edition of Quick Cards is in the shops now.  It's packed with over 100 card making ideas, as well as a fancy festive wreath, some gorgeous gift wrapping and a fantastic free gift - a pop-up box card kit.

How to make a paper pinwheel card...

Featured in Issue 83 of  PaperCrafer Magazine

A quick and easy card design, ideal for Weddings, Engagements or Anniversaries.

Supplies

White 300gsm card
Patterned paper 
Sizzix 'on the edge' scallops. 
Small white buttons

1. Make a 12 cm square card blank from white card and stamp a greeting at the top edge.
2. Cut a panel of paper to fit the card front and cut/punch a scalloped border along the top and bottom edge and stick to the card front.
3. To make the pinwheels cut two 3.5cm squares of paper.  With scissors cut from each corner half way into the centre of the square, fold 4 alternate points into the centre, secure with glue.
4. Finish each pinwheel with a button in the centre and narrow strips of kraft/buff card as shown.

Happy Birthday Scrap Buster Card...

Use up your scraps with this quick and easy Birthday card design.

Start by cutting rectangular (1 x 2cm) pieces of patterned paper in co-ordinating colours and designs, then cut out each letter to spell your greeting.
You can easily change up the design for a feminine card with pretty floral paper scraps.

Border dies my product picks...

To add a little more interest and liven up this card I added a matching die cut scalloped border to the inside edge.  That's what I like about Kaisercraft paper pads, as well as being slightly larger at 6.5 inches square, they come complete with 4 pages of diecut borders, shapes and elements.
I'm a lot happier with the design now I've added the border, which got me thinking about maybe investing in a set of  scalloped border dies.  So I went searching and searching, here's my pick of the crop!

Lawn Fawn Stitched Border Set, love the stitched detail 

Sizzix Thinlits Die Set - Borders by Stephanie Barnard

A value for money set with 7 dies in the pack plus some double sided patterns so loads of design possibilities.

Xcut Xpress A4 Border Dies 1

A more ornate set of extra long A4 border dies, so may need extended cutting plates.

What do you think?  Which one would you go for?

Bunting card with spots and stripes...

Using up my scraps I made this oh so simple bunting card for the Spots, stripes (or both) challenge over on 'Lets Craft and Create'.

Check out the details here.



Papers:  Echo Park Here and Now; Stamp: Stampendous Happy Messages; Embossing Powder: Cosmic Shimmer White Detail; Button: The Button Company

Embossing for a challenge...

I can't get enough of stitched cards right now and I'm lovin' how this appliqué-style balloon card turned out.  It's not always the case that a design idea in my head translates this well to paper so I'm celebrating!

There's a little ink embossing on the sentiment to fit with our 'Embossing' challenge over on 'Let's Craft and Create'.  Check it out on this page.



Papers and Die Cuts:  Kaisercraft Confetti

Fabric and felt for a challenge...

Challenge time again over on Let's Craft and Create challenge blog.  Our theme is 'Fabric and Felt'.  Just use a little of either, or why not use both, in your card/project design to be in with a chance of winning a lovely 'fabric' inspired prize!

Entry details are here

Papers: Kaisercraft Confetti; Fabric Brad:  Tilda; Felt Leaf:  Stampin Up (retired)

A Handmade Christmas...

Here are the last of my Christmas makes, cards for my nearest and dearest.  I find clean and simple designs work best for 'man' cards.
The origami tree was surprisingly easy to fold and assemble, so much simpler than it appears.  If you'd like to try it, the tutorial I used is HERE

I may even attempt this one next year.

Some simple machine stitching and paper rolling for this tree.  A little tip I discovered when making the paper rolls is to cut the lengths of paper to size before rolling, its gives a much neater finish.

That's it for another year.  I've handmade bows, baubles, stars and a wreath all from this one paper pad and I still have 10 of the 40 sheets left, great value!

Here's hoping 2014 is a bumper year of craft!

Love those fancy edges...

These die cut and punched edges were left over from a Papercraft project I designed for the current issue - 116 of Quick Cards magazine.  They were just perfect to use for our 'Fancy Edges' challenge over on Lets Craft and Create.
The dragonfly was also a leftover from the make and creates a topical focal point for this summer themed card.  I've spotted a few in the garden on these warm balmy evenings.
Pop on over to the Let's Craft and Create challenge blog for all the details you need to enter and to see what the design team have created with 'Fancy Edges'.



Kaisercraft Lavendar Haze paper pad and collectables; Paula Pascual Mix and Match Stamp Set

Build a scene with a bargain from eBay...

The Vintage Hot Air Balloon Build a Scene die set  from Xcut has been on my wishlist ever since I saw it featured in issue 112 of Quick Cards.  Although there's 22 pieces to the set I couldn't quite justify the £19.95 price tag for maybe just 2 or three cards.  So when I found a BNIB set on eBay at the 'buy it now'  no bidding required price of just £6.49 I had to have it.

I've only used 11 of the 22 dies on this design and I realise there are more possibilities to explore, but is it worth £19.95?  I still don't think so, but it's definitely worth £6.49.

Now I need to mention that the Let's Craft and Create 'Anything Goes' challenge launches today, all the details you need to enter are HERE.



Papers: Pebbles Seen and Noted Stamp:  Stampendous Everyday Greetings

Inspired by Patchwork...

I've created a patchwork inspired card for the new challenge over on the Let's Craft and Create blog.  Our theme is 'One for the girls'.  I think this card will qualify don't you, patchwork, pink and a bow, card making doesn't get much more girlie than that!
Hope you have the time to enter.  All the details are HERE, together with some wonderful projects from the DT and the prize for one lucky entry!

Confetti...

The Confetti challenge launches today over on the Let's Craft and Create blog.  In your projects we'd like to see what 'confetti' means to you.  It could be wedding cards, tags, confetti holders. Or maybe a card featuring confetti like the one I've made above. Just a few ideas there to get you started.  We'd love you to join in the fun.

The rest of the DT have some lovely makes over on the blog.

Simply Stitched...

Getting back into the swing of things after the summer break, we're all back to our usual routine so hopefully there'll more time to create!  For starters here's another of my machine embroidery cards.  Just some die cut flowers, hand cut leaves, a stamped sentiment and some simple stitching.

Pearls and Top Stitching Thread from the Ribbon Girl online store.
Personal Impressions stamp Set - Paula Pascual Big Sentiments
Asstd Paper Collections  from Echo Park and My Mind's Eye

Scrap Buster...

Are you like me and hate throwing away those scraps of cardstock and patterned papers? Well, now's your chance to use them! Our latest challenge over at Let's Craft and Create is...

Scrap Buster

I get an immense satisfaction from using up my scraps. For my DT project I've created a set of mini cards with some off cuts of Echo Park Happy Days papers, a couple of punches and a few stamps.

Check out the Blog for some inspiring ways to use your scraps from the Let's Craft and Create designers and the fabulous prize on offer for one lucky winner. I hope you can find the time to join in the fun.

Thanks for visiting today :)

Less is More with Scraps...

This week's challenge over on the Less is More blog is 'Don't Scrap It'.  Today I've made a quick card with the leftover scraps that were on my work desk, leftover from the card on my previous post.  I still had the sewing machine out too so I experimented with stitching the stem and leaves.

Pink Petticoat - Wild Roses in Tangerine and Double Cream and Tiny Heartfelt Sentiments
Fiskars Border Punch - Scalloped Lace
Letraset Safmat
Vintage Pearl Button

A Card From Almost Nothing...

My favourite kind of card.  I've been disciplining myself lately to use up my paper and ribbon scraps.  It's really quite satisfying although the restriction can mean it takes a little longer to come up with a design! 
Both the pink bias binding and the papers on this card are from my scraps box.  I did have to use one 'new' element.

The aqua satin ribbon from The Ribbon Girl that I've cut and frayed to make the leaves,  it was the perfect colour match.  A card from almost nothing, makes me happy!  For the layout I've used sketch 123 over at Card Patterns.

KandCo Amy Butler Sola papers
Papermania Sentiment Stamp