Friday, October 27, 2006

Dare 2 The Plastic Milk Bottle Embellishments

What an amazing challenge Jane set us Daring Cardmakers this week ! We could do anything we liked, easy so far, as long as it used something from or included the kitchen in some way. Eeek!

Well, I have to say at first I was stumped, but when you look past the dinner stuff and dishes there's actually a lot more than I even thought possible for cardmaking. My first attempt was with greaseproof paper, which potentially has a lot it it scrunching and distressing it, but mine just didn't work right. Then I made a right old mess having a go making shaving foam backgrounds with food colouring and ended up with coloured fingers and loads of backgrounds that I didn't use for my final card but had a lot of fun doing. I had a go at rag rolling with cling film too. So you see theres a lot more than just chores in there. Thank heavens!

This is my final card design. Papers are from Rob and Bob, gorgeous zingy colours, I love them!

Ok, it doesn't actually look like its ever seen the kitchen but it has and to prove it I'll show you how I made the embellishments!

First take an empty plastic milk bottle, then cut the flat bits out of it using scissors. Be careful not to do yourself an injury. It might be worth getting a responsible adult to help you here unless you're supposed to be old enough to know better.
Then either die cut your shapes, I used a sizzix and the original thick dies (the thin ones wont work as far as I tried) or cut them by hand, I did flowers and circles.
Then I used alcohol inks to colour the plastic, I just love these inks, if you don't have them then you probably need them!
Then I die cut all the letters I wanted from Card, I used Curlie Girlie and Block Party, both Ellison thin cuts alphas. I glued the letters w and e to the circles with glossy accents and then covered the whole circle to give a 3d effect, I glossy accented the flowers too. The letters should look something like this! Finally, I used spray glue to attach the embellies to the card and there you go! I'd love to see what you make with this technique, Im sure theres loads more packaging items that can be used in a similar way. So forget the cooking, just use your kitchen for crafting ;)

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

5 days to go!

Til I get to go to the SECC in Glasgow with my fabulous crafty friends and drool all over the amazing papercraft goodies they have in store for us. If theres one thing better than crafty shopping, its crafty shopping with great pals who understand the need to oooh and ahh loudly at the pretty things. I definately need more paper, Im using it, scary stuff eh! The good thing is, when you use it up, you have space for more, well in theory anyway!

Heres another LO Ive done recently to remind myself that these dark autumn night's won't last forever and spring will come again.


Papers by DCWV, title cut with Curlie Girlie and middle paper is decorated with a Purple Onion Stamp which is the definiotion of spring. Flowers courtesy of my back garden.

Aquilegia's (Aka Columbine or Grannys Bonnet) are my favourite spring flowers. Theyre like little pixie hats. I let them all self seed this year so theres going to be millions of seedlings next year. Maybe too many, but you can't have too much of a good thing in my book!

Sunday, October 22, 2006

OMG How did I forget...

...to share my exciting news with you all!!! Last weekend I took part in the Cyber Crop on LCC where I did the LO's that Ive shared with you, and anyway....


drum roll....




...I won a prize! It was so unexpected and for about 15 hours I was dancing round the house like a lunatic, then of course I had to sleep (and its hard to jump around while you sleep) and since then all waking hours are spent with an inane grin on my face. It was for my retro card made of scraps (scroll down a bit and its there just a few days ago). This was on friday when we launched the dare blog too so it was just the most fabbiest day ever! It's not the first time I've won a prize for my cardmaking but it was totally out of the blue and I was just gobsmacked.

But now I need to think of a good reason for forgetting to tell you about it sooner, is being a country bumpkin good enough, things happen slower out in the sticks, or thatIve had important things to do like considering cutting up paper and stroking ribbons... Nope I'm just a bit doolally sometimes...

...But I'm still smiling :D

Saturday, October 21, 2006

Happy Saturday

Well, I am overwhelmed my the fantastic positive response we have received for the fantastic Daring Cardmakers Blog. Obviously we all loved the idea and it appears you do too. Thank you all for your support, encouragement and most of all, for joining in!

I thought I would share a comissioned wedding card I was asked to do this week



The vellum is absolutely gorgeous and I found out about it through the wonderfully generous Kathy. Its by Pixie Press and is just to die for, thanks Kathy for sharing. The rose paper is from DCWV, eyelets, ribbon and flowers are from one of my fantastic local craft shops. The card itself is a beautiful irridescent cream, its hard to describe, it's not pearl but it glistens beautifully in the light. I just wish I had the photographic skills to capture it on camera. Its from a fairly new paper mill style shop called the Papeterie at a real papermill in Aberdeen, definately worth a visit if you're in the area.

I'm loving using 6x6 cards again, they just give so much more space to play with the layout.

Speaking of layouts... Im off to play!

Friday, October 20, 2006

Are you up for it?

Well today I have something exciting to blog about! I can finally reveal that Ive been working with a fantastically talented group of Crafters in a new and exciting project that will inspire you, and hopefully encourage you to take some little steps outside your safe cardmaking zone.

Here's my contribution to the first dare, on the theme of friendship. Click on the card if you want to see a bigger picture.



Fabby paper by MAMBI and the lovely textured cardstock from DCWV. I just cant get enough of their card. I love using dictionary style definitions in my work, theyre just so versatile.

You'll want to know where it is now...its here! I hope you are brave enough to rise to the dare yourself! This is a really fun idea and I do hope you'll join in. Happy Crafting!

Thursday, October 19, 2006

My messy space

Ok, so youve seen my craft room tidy, now Kathy has dared me to show you my messy space... so heres my craft desk, in its full glory. I must say this is fairly average, it can get much worse. Im embarassed now!

Monday, October 16, 2006

Layout 3... Im addicted

This is me at the tender age of... well, less than a year, at Glastonbury festival. Shame I don't remember it as there were probably some classic bands there. Its the only festival I've ever been to, I must remedy that some day.