just makin' a card

Two years in the making

2011-09-01T17:47:00.003+01:00

Due to my time being in great demand over the past 2 years I needed to have ideas to produce cards that were quick and easy. These designs fitted the bill perfectly so I made a few in different colours and just added little tags to suit the occassion as I needed them. I loved this idea so much I have continued to use it quite a bit but I just varied the size, colour, ribbon and shape of card.

Been a long time...

2011-09-01T17:15:00.003+01:00

Well 2 years full-time in Uni has taken it's toll on my crafting but now Uni has almost come to an end I can get back to doing what I love and get relaxation from...cards, stamps, ink, paper, ribbons, stickle... Ohh lovely stuff !
However in those 2 years I did manage to do 3 wedding stationery orders, they were time really consuming but I thoroughly enjoyed myself. It felt especially rewarding because each order came from 'word of mouth' which made me feel very proud that I had been recognised just from the cards that I had given to people. How lovely it felt to be asked to do something so important for someone's wedding.

I thought I would just post a few of the cards that I did manage to throw together as, last minute jobs for birthdays and thank you's, I normally would have had these made well in advance but due to essays, exams etc often the cards were made up the day before (or on the day) they were needed!

Who's a clever chap?

2010-02-19T18:34:00.003Z

My son-in-law is and to prove it, this is what he has made.

A chess board, complete with drawer and he made it by hand, all the chess squares are individually inset in different types of wood.

Blooming pink

2010-02-07T15:17:00.001Z

This

This is for a challenge over at Lucy's Cards , to make a card with 'polka dots', I just love the combo of pink, black and white. The flower stamp is one of my favourites, its and old Outlines stamp, can't find the name of it though. The centres are stamped on shrink plastic and 2 pearl beads finish the them off in the centre. The bg is stamped with su polka dots, stickles added to flowers and a bundle of ribbon and fibres just to finish. The card is so versatile it could suit many occasions, do you think.

Mixed emotions

2009-06-26T21:16:00.006+01:00

Jubilation, congratulations woooo, just want to give a big pat on the back to one of my boys, he's gained a degree in graphic design, for any of you interested in graphics i have posted a link to his blog and his website, he's very talented, not that i'm biased or anything... well done son.

Well, believe it or not i'm still here, and seem to have found my mojo for card making too over the past few weeks (not sure where it went, think the tooth fairy visited one night !!) pity i can't find my lead to upload my piccie's of the cards i've done !! I'll just have to keep looking. Since closing the florists business i had so much stuff packed in boxes and 6 months on i'm still trying to get to the bottom of them. So as soon as i locate it i'll post them.

On a sad note with the news that broke this morning about Michael Jackson, what a performer, what a shock..................his memory will live forever in his music and performances, he's just a legend.

Pick a sparkly petal

2008-09-21T19:49:00.004+01:00

I thought I would try the idea of mixing card and vellum for the petals on this card.
I'm spending lots of time sorting out ideas for classes, especially easy cards for peolpe who are new to the game.
The more adventurous types will be a bit more challenging, so i''ll need to get my thinking cap on for them, think they may prefer more 3D items, I know I do.

So with this card there is the use of sparkly EP on the vellum petals and of course the centre is very sparkly which was done with holographic glitter. The lower part has been through the swiss dots cuttlebug plate, the strip has been stamped with the one used for the flower centre.

Sorry for poor picture quality think I need to sort something out, it's been so long since I uploaded, think I forgot the tips I was given.........

I've been tagged!!!

2008-02-04T21:44:00.000Z

Thanks Jen for the tag but Oh boy waht a mare I'm having trying to sort people's blogs out. I had tried on 2 different occassions and they took me nearly TWO HOURS as my middle name has 10 letters then I went and lost them...drat it!..and fiddlesticks.... well must be polite on air mustn't we lol.

Well I was well prepared tonight, had another go but I was a bit more on the ball, well I thought I was, I shortened the name to 4 letters and well what do you think, yep lost em all again.
O 'bleep' to that I'm not going through that again, I need a break.
I'll try again perhaps on Wednesday..my day off, think I'll need a day at it.... mmm must be doing something wrong or is it just meant to try your patience and believe me I got loads (well I did have).
Anyway, it's good that it gets visitors looking into the blogs, wondered for a while how it gets noticed.
So when I finally do manage this tagging thing, watch out it could be you.. in the very near future I hope.
Hoped to post a card but too much time taken doing the taggin' thing... see ya soon

Clearing the clutter, saving the rubbish!

2008-01-23T19:28:00.000Z

Decided to clear and clean out my craft room.. again, can't believe what I hoard, I hate throwing things away, well you never know what you can use it for!....... That reminds me.........

I went shopping on Saturday with me 'bud' Ange and her grandaughter India, and of course we just felt we needed to go into KFC for lunch (well who can resist?). India had a portion of chicken popcorn in the dinkiest little box, well as soon as she'd finished eating, the little box bypassed the bin and went into my bag! It's made an ace template for a sweetie/choccie/gift box.... well like we say 'one man's rubbish is MY treasure'.

This is an old card from a stack I came accross whilst having my clear out, they are both penny black satmps. A vellum layer is stamped with the same stamp and embossed with irredescent EP.

Good enough to eat

2008-01-15T11:16:00.000Z

Where does time go? it's pretty scary to think we're half way through Jan and been a few days since my upload but i have been makin cards in between (well, need some excuse to give me grace from not blogging). I made this card for 'me bud' Ange, it's her ?? birthday tommorow, she is a shoe-a-holic and thought of her with this stamp (from Stampendous)
Again black and pink such an ace combo, some stickles and ribbons to dress it up, mmm good enough to eat.

Flowery cake

2008-01-11T21:36:00.000Z

Just a bit of uploading before I settle into bed, nice early night ready for full weekend on duty!!

Random birthday card made with pretty stamps from MFT, good sprinkle of stickles, bit of ribbon, and there we go.
So good to have change of stamps now crimbo has gone, few birthdays and special events to get making for. Lots of nice fresh spring/summer colours around too, well there's got to be something to brighten my day the weather certainly isn't. There again we 've got to be better of than folks over the pond, I spoke to someone in Michigan not long ago and they got 6 inches of snow fall last night and caused problems getting to school etc! mind you kids would love it wouldn't they.

Doodle Daisy

2008-01-06T15:23:00.000Z

I just love this stamp from Hero Arts I've used it loads and in many different ways. The bg paper is basic grey Blush, love the colour combo you can make from it.

Lots of stickles used and a bundle of ribbon and fibres tied with a bow and a sentiment from Hero Arts to finish it off.

The tent, camera and me are being over worked today i'll tell you. Trying to cook, pull down the xmas tree and tidy up, washing and uploading, o i'm a woman on a mission lol!!

Got to go more to do...............weeeeee see you later.

Fun with new stuff

2008-01-06T13:20:00.000Z

Hi there, hope you all saw the New Year in with good intentions and making new years resolutions like, to start a diet, stop drinking, stop smoking, you know what that means - stop doing all the things in life you enjoy! Happy 2008 to you all anyway.

Well I got a birthday pressie early and it's taken me best part of a day to sort things out. Got a nice digital camera and a photography tent off my DH. So here goes, I find that the background is easier and I'm more able to get the light settings right but think I need better light diffusing bulbs, o well for now i'm pleased.

I used the polka dots and paisley set and the sentiment from the occasional greetings, both SU of course. Nesties for circles and popped 2 flowers up to give dimension, added stickles and ribbon and bg paper from dcwv (I think).

In a ruffle

2007-12-31T17:11:00.000Z

Well i 've enjoyed today, attempted 3 challenges which were set on SCS over the last 3 days. This one is to CASE a featured stamper which was dlounds. The stamps are Stampendous 'ruffled bloom and butterfly'. I'm just about to upload them to the web. So that's been the highlight of my new years eve day and probably the night as well.
OOOh the thought of getting ready to go out on the town or upload my cards waht a hard decision lol. No honestly i'm really not that bothered about going out, most of the pubs in town are crammed full, you need tickets to get in (a pub at £10 per head -i don't think so)the you hope and pray you get out in one piece and then you're more than likley to end up wearing most of your drink because there's no where to sit and your sandwiched between the 'on the spot dancers' !! No i'm not a party pooper but phew i'll pass on that one.
So it's a glass of wine, Indian take away, whatever's on the box, hubby by my side, what more can a girl want !!

HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all....

Is spring in the air yet?

2007-12-28T18:21:00.000Z

No I don't suppose it is yet but I sure am fed up with this wet, dark horrible weather. We haven't even had a flake of snow to make things look fresher, lighter or more christmassy. I bet a lot of you think it's best left for xmas cards, as we brits don't always seem ready for it becuase it usually brings chaos lol.

Anyway, hope you all enjoyed the festivities, seems it takes so much time and effort to prepare and it's all over in a flash... oh but i'ts all worth it.

Today I decided to clear my craft room, put away all the christmas stamps, paper, ribbons etc etc, it won't seem too long before they are back out again. So it's on with birthday, Valentines, wedding, birth and anything else cards now and oh I might try entering a few comps..... well I live in hope lol.

merry merry xmas

2007-12-21T22:15:00.000Z

Well I haven't posted much recently, when I started my blog I had hoped I would be able to post on it frequently but although it is enjoyable it so time consuming, (hope you all agree!!) Anyway having this shocking! virus for the past few days has really set me back with many things.
I don't think I will be posting much over the next few days or so either, as apart from geting prepared for xmas I am on duty xmas eve and xmas day so my festivities, pressies, wine, wine , wine o sorry must mention food as well, won't begin till boxing day.

I've not done too bad though I have finshed my shift tonight and Iv'e been to Morrisons and done all my shopping, there was very little bodily traffic around the store - think everyone's out on the razzle! or they are more prepared than me lol !

I will enjoy my late festivities with my hubby (he's doing all the prep and cooking- how fab is that!) also my 2 adorable boys and my beautiful daughter and her partner ooooh I can't wait, ooooh I've just thought who will be drawing the short straw to do the washing up??? eeeeek! O well it will be great.

I just want to wish each and every one of you who may look in on this blog

'A very merry xmas and a wonderful new year'.

On the mend

2007-12-16T15:14:00.000Z

O my life what have i had over the last 4 days? In the early hours of friday morning i thought it was 'death at the door virus' lol, cus boy if that was a cold i'm a monkey's uncle!

I should have been on duty this weekend but i've been velcroed to my bed with more medicines than 'Boots!... Well now i'm sitting upright i thought i'd share my woes.
It's certainly set me back with card orders, wrapping pressies, shopping, cleaning... oh the list goes on.

O well hope to get into the swing later or tommorrow.

Well folks be careful out there....................... don't get bugged !!!!

Monochrome Petals

2007-12-13T20:49:00.000Z

This is my first card with my SU sets. The flower is made up of ' pick a petal'. It's a big card 19x19cm, the flower is popped out with silicone glue on top of 2 circles cut with nestabilities. Flourish swirls on the black strip with co-ordinating ribbons. On the lower half i used a stamp from the pretty posies set and the word 'happy' is from the polka dots and paisley set. I made the centre into a button type embellishment and threaded silver cord through, tied in a knot but don't think it's very visible.

In the park

2007-12-13T19:50:00.000Z

I thought i'd go completely different, going away from christmassy colours.
Pink and brown is a nice change, thought the sketch worked well too. I was asked to make this card in 19x19cm it looked lovely, my friend had 2 of them done. The snowflakes are stamped with Hero Arts and you guessed glitter glued! The stamp is Stampendous and i've popped the snowmen out with silicone glue and nestabilities used again for ovals.

Frosty Trees

2007-12-13T19:36:00.000Z

Such an easy sketch to mass produce for workmates etc in varoius colours and stamped images. Cuttlebug the edge of card, chalk a little green on side, stamp and glitter glue the trees, mat and layer, add a strip of DP, ribbon and embellishment and there Done..

snow fun

2007-12-13T19:06:00.000Z

Snow Fun

This cute stamp is from Stampendous, i've used it a few times, i wasn't sure what to do with it when it first arrived but i'ts worked out well.

The cards really sparkly, don't know how i managed to capture it because i can never do it to show the glitter glue i love so much.

O well it turned out ok.

Christmas Miracle

2007-12-13T18:58:00.000Z

Well after dozing on the settee today with a rug, feeling yuk I think iv'e found my second wind this last couple of hours.
Thanks Jen for your message and adding me to your blog xx
I've uploaded some cards to SCS and now I'm playing catch up on my blog. Don't seem to be able to settle to card making today.

This is a different take on the 3 deers.
This sketch is so easy and versatile, the top half is stamped with Hero Arts snowflakes, the bottom half is DP from DCWV luxury stack. I am making the most of my nestabilities they are really useful. TFL

Bugged up!!

2007-12-13T11:00:00.000Z

Oh this is just typical, just finished assembling all my new SU stamps, got my days off, got loads of ideas for cards and i feel like ... Yuk!! Got the dreaded cold symptoms, shivery, hot, skin feels like its peeling off, eyes are sore, you know how it feels.
So i'm getting on the settee with a rug and dozing, hopefully my inspirations will be stronger than the bug and i can set about some cardin' later.

Pink Skater

2007-12-04T22:52:00.000Z

I've used the skater again but on a different sketch. the circles are cut out with Cricut, the background has been cuttlebugged. I used glitter glue but not able to make it visible on camera, oh well there's plenty on him lol.

Fun Flock (stampendous) used on the belly its nice and easy to use and definately fluffy to touch!

The card is simple in style and I'm thinking of mass reproduction for work colleagues, hmm.

Well I've just had a lesson on photoshop and now can upload my creations myself so that's it now, no stopping me TFL.

Rainy day

2007-11-29T08:23:00.000Z

Well this blogging thing's a new toy for me, can't wait to start uploading more of my cards, also good way to communicate with you cardy/crafty folks. Typical, I'm off duty today and the weathers yuk here in staffordshire, dull, raining but quite mild in temp (good germ breeding weather!). Think it's best I stay in, got 5 cards to make today for a cousin of my best mate Ange, she's chosen 5 from my crissy card range. Tonight me and Ange are off up to Ikea, my husband dreads what I'll come back with! I'm hoping to get 4 or 5 of those 'lazy susans'. Ive got one already they're great for wooden stamps, an easy storage/selection gadget. If I get them I'll show you what I mean, I think they're a great idea but then that's me. LOL
I'm just going to reply to Jen (stamping moments) down there in Dorset via e-mail, she's got my order prepared for SU stamps, so I'll be waiting for the postie most of next week! O such excitement!

Deer-cember 25th

2007-11-29T00:33:00.001Z

This is my last card to upload for tonight, think it's bed time now. I've done an 11 hour nurse shift today and sat with one of my boys (he's a graphic designer!) he's assisted me heaps tonight with the uploading and sorting out my logos, O bless.
The stamp is from 'great impressions' and again glitter glue used to accent their noses, antlers and bells around their necks, (love this stuff, can you tell?) Edge of card has been cuttlebugged and the deer in the centre is 3D. Oh they are so sweet!

winter wishes

2007-11-29T00:06:00.000Z

Here we go Rachel the first one is for you, just showing off what I did with one of your great stamps.

The stamp is actually a daisy but I think looks good as a poinsettia.
Not sure if you can make it out but red glitter glue highlights the scrolls on the background and the centre of the flower. TFL
( for anyone looking, the stamp is from onefourzero).

just startin' out

2007-11-26T22:40:00.001Z

Hello there, well I give myself a pat on the back, I made this blog with no help from hubby or kids, can't believe it, neither will they LOL! (well it has taken me almost 2 hours to get to this stage). Now I have to work out how to get piccies on here, so watch this space, well sometime in the future anyway LOL!