Here are a few cards I taught in my Not So Shabby class at paper Flourish. I call them Not So Shabby because no matter how hard I try my shabby cards still come out looking quite clean! On the top two cards we did some stitching, layering and distressing, while on the bottom card we painted our frame with prima sparks paint and did some embossing. The weather here is so strange, we have had thunder, rain and lightning this morning, but it is 35C so very hot and humid. Not good weather for anything except sitting under the air con vent! We have picked all the cherries ( 15 Kilos this year) and this morning have started picking the apricots and tomatoes so the garden is very productive just now.. Til tomorrow….
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Kaisercraft Full Bloom..
Today I am posting three cards I made for a class using Kaisercraft Full Bloom paper collection. All three cards rely only on the papers, and if memory serves it was only three different papers from the collection. I have the whole range here at home but as yet ( because of Christmas makes) have not done anything with it yet but look forward to in the new year as it is a beautiful range and I have lots of ideas! There is so much happening here just now, working, getting organised for Christmas, putting final touches on my cruise lessons, and trying to get ahead of my lessons , my personal crafting has taken a back seat, but things will get back to normal after February! Til tomorow…..
Stampin Up Tropical Escape…
I don’t know about you, but I need a break from Christmas card makes and I am ready to move on! We may revisit Christmas in the next couple of weeks but for now I am happy to show you all some cards i amde with Stampin Up designer papers. From memory the collection is called Tropical escape and I fussy cut various creatures, large and small. The top two cards are aperture cards – I die cut a circle out of the front of the card and most of the decorating inside, just making a leafy window to look through. The leafy fronds were all fussy cut from the papers. The sun was die cut from a Uniquely Creative die. Today is Cherry picking day, it is a little bit cooler, and the sun is hiding behind a blanket of clouds so good weather to harvest our crop! Til tomorrow…..
It’s time for Christmas!
Today begins the official start of my Christmas card makes..and I am starting off with cards made with kaisercraft Christmas Wishes paper collection. I purchased the collection pack, collectables and the 6 ” pad, and I have made so many with this collection already. I will ( to alleviate boredom!) put them up 3 at a time and we will have a couple of breaks through out to also see other cards I have been making. My favourite card fold this year has been the double zig zag card so the first few are all in this design. Everything on these cards except for the bling has come from the listed supplies at the start of the blog, the collection pack comes with a sticker sheet which has come in handy for the strips across the smaller zig zag fold. I have done a little fussy cutting from some of the papers – the birds and the holly for example. Today is a day off but I am off to have a cortisone injection in my foot…not happy as I have had these before and they hurt!! I am hoping for short time hurt for long time gain! Til tomorrow…..
Not so Shabby…Maja Design Sofiero
At paper Flourish we have discovered some new designer paper Companies, and Maja Design is one of them. This card and box is made from the Sofiero range. Their papers ( along with Pion designs, Lemoncraft, and Mintay ) are perfect for Shabby style and vintage and I have been having so much fun creating with them all! As I said todays card is made with Maja Designs Sofiero and I have layered papers, with distresses and inked edges onto a cream card base, and added lots and lots of gorgeous flowers along with a couple of die cut leaf flourishes , a punched butterfly, some lace and pearls. Once done I realised it would never survive an envelope so made a box and did a quick bit of decorating on the lid. I have since discovered the benefits of cutting an aperture in the lid and backing with Acetate, which I have shown you on a previous post. That’s it for today…I have a trip to the dentist later but I am going to take my mind off that in the meantime by heading into the craft room! Til tomorrow…..
Go Press and Foil class cards..
I haven’t done many mens cards this year, because there has been a lack of mens card related products, but I did teach a class with the Couture Creations Go Press and Foil machine and some new hot press stamps which actually foil, emboss and die cut all in one step. The background paper is by Stamperia,and the Birthday sentiment is a Uniquely Creative stamp. You can see how the special hot press stamps emboss , foil and die cut perfectly in these cards, the top card I used the “waste” foil as another element on the card and for the bottom card I left the “waste ” foil still on the car as it added a different shade of chocolate foil to the car. I hope all my American followers down south are keeping safe, Til tomorrow…..
Prima tales of you and Me …9 and 10
I made these two shabby chic style cards with an old Prima range that I found in the craft room,lots of layering of the matching empheria and a die cut gate…I think that was a stampin Up die, a few flowers and some of the frames and swirls that I made with silicone molds and No More Gaps ( from the local hardware shop!) I painted them with some Prima Alchemy paints. A day off today, so i have done my grocery shopping, planned what we are having for tea, and now time to think about some November lessons! Til tomorrow…..
Lemoncraft House of Roses…not so shabby!
One of the classes I teach at paper Flourish is called Not So Shabby because although I love the shabby chic look I still haven’t mastered the genre and so have created my own take on it.I also need a fair bit of practise so that I can stay one step in front of my pupils so you will be seeing my progress here. This is a card I made with a paper collection called House of Roses by a company called Lemoncraft. lemoncraft have the most amazing shabby style papers and also A4 sheets full of fussy cutting options, both of which I have used on this card. I did a little die cutting ,fussy cutting, added some lace and the focal point on my card is the resin frame which I made with a silicone mold and No More gaps ( available at your local hardware store!). I didn’t paint this one , it is as it came out of the mold. It has been a busy morning full of housework, Roast is in the oven and after lunch I plan to relax in the craft room – can not wait!! Til tomorrow….
stamperia letters and flowers..
Another card today using the gorgeous Stamperia letters and Flowers papers,and some stunning lace! The frame which I painted with Prima Sparks acrylic paint is interesting because I made it with a silicone mold and some No more gaps from the hardware store! it takes a couple of days to dry in the mold but comes out beautifully! I have made a lot of these molded frames and flourishes so you will see them from time to time on my projects.For now though i have picked up my new kaisercraft papers and it is a Christmas range so I am all ready to start the Christmas makes! off I go… til tomorrow….
Stamperia letters and flowers paper…
Todays card showcases a new range of papers to paper Flourish which I just couldnt resist,and something else I have been doing – making my own embellishments! First the paper…it is by a company called Stamperia and this range is called letters and flowers. I fussy cut the dragon from a piece of the paper, and the tag was printed on the paper so just had to fussy cut that out too. I added a little gorgeous lace,, but the main item on this card is the window.. I made it!! I know! I have a few silicone molds,and this is one of them , I used No More Gaps… you know those long tubes of gap filler from the hardware shop – one of those –Â and filled my mold, smoothed it with an old credit card and left it to dry for two days. It came out of the mold as you see it here although I have had good fun painting some of my frames with Prima sparks paint . It is a really cheap way of making frames and It is great fun. I didnt buy the most expensive brand, my tube cost just $2-25, and I have made so many with that one tube. I am off now to paint a few more ready for cards so you will see more as i use them… Til tomorrow….
Helens Card Designs 