I have been experimenting with Shabby Chic, and although I really still haven’t mastered the whole “rip the paper” technique ( too fond of paper to willfully rip it!)I have been teaching my experiments every month at Paper Flourish.This card is one of two we did a couple of months ago. I will pop up its partner next post.For this one we took a white sheet of cardstock and coloured it with Antique Linen distress oxide ink and stamped over it with a Darkroom Door French script background stamp, distressed the edges and inked with tea dye ink. Cut diagonally and roll those inner edges in and ink again.Add lace, string of pearls,flowers and die cut leaves. Some of the leaves and flowers are coloured with a spray we made with Tumbled glass re-inker ( just a drop in a spray bottle topped up with water) and a small scoop ( just a smidgeon!) of gold mica powder .Give it a good shake before use. Today is going to be a crafty day… I am working on a technique to teach in september and continuing on with cruise card ideas, and of course my mind is starting to drift towards Christmas card ideas! Til tomorrow…..
Tag: ideas for homemade card ideas
embossing and die cutting…
I think Dry embossing ( using your die cutting machine to emboss with embossing folders) is making a comeback, and for me it never went! It is the easiest way to add texture without excess weight to your cards. The two cards I am showing today were cards that I taught in a class at paper Flourish, using my favourite pastel shades and a good dose of white. Both Embossing folders are kaisercraft brand, Uniquely Creative Stamen stem die on the bottom card, and pre made flowers on the top card. The Happy Birthday is a kaisercraft die. I spent a lovely day yesterday in the craft room, it was so cold here in Adelaide, too cold to do anything else. I put all my projects to one side and just sat and created, great fun!.Today I am off to our craft and chat group , looking forward to catching up with everyone, and getting a start on my cruise cards. Til tomorrow…..
Making good use of my Die cutting machine!
Although this one looks like a lot of work it is actually deceptively simple..I dry embossed the first layer with a stampin up embossing folder through my big shot machine, and die cut a border, still in white, using a Kaisercraft die . The shoe was also die cut with silver glitter cardstock. Tucked in behind the die cut border is a white die cut circle which I stamped with the birthday sentiment. I die cut some flowers with a Uniquely creative die, and layered pre-made roses in the centres.A pink bow , and finished! I had a great time at the craft fair last weekend catching up with familiar faces and making new friends. I sold a lot of my cards and now I can start filling my boxes all over again, but the next month or so will be concentrated on planning the cruise cards. Til tomorrow…..
Glitter card and die cutting…
I was going to put up two cards today as I will probably be missing for a few days as it’s the craft fair this weekend and I will be there with my stall for three days, but this card has a few different techniques on it to explain…Firstly, layers of white, the top layer embossed with a stampin up embossing folder.I die cut the bride and groom from glitter cardstock, die cut the fancy border with a kaisercraft die, also in white, as was the die cut circle) The chipboard heart was foiled with my go press and foil machine, and a little flat backed pearl popped onto it, I made the flower spray by creating the bunch and twisting the stems together. The leaf spray was die cut and I added a white ribbon. Although it looks like I spent quite some time creating the card all these bits and pieces were already on my craft table from other projects so it took no time at all and it is one of my favourite cards! Til tomorrow…..
Carta Bella Flora..
I had a couple of sheets of paper by Carta Bella from their Flora range, and I thought I would show you a couple of cards I made with it. The bottom card is made relying on the papers to do the talking, with a bit of fussy cutting involved in this one, and the top card I had a new stamp set from Stampin Up called Bird Banter, which I stamped ( I used a Tim Holtz stamp press to line up the branch) and coloured my bird with Zig markers and a water brush. I dabbed a little Nuvo crystal drops around the bird just to add a little texture. The dies I used were by Seven Paper Dolls, and I used Canson watercolour paper to stamp on. I have found when watercolouring the best paper to use is the most expensive you can afford, in the case of watercolouring, the better quality the better. The Canson I used is a cold press paper, but the girls at work swear by hot press paper so I have bought a couple of sheets to experiment with and I will let you all know my findings! Meanwhile in the craft room I have organised all my fair boxes ready to go, completed an order, prepared my July classes , so up to date and doen’t it feel great! Til tomorrow…..
MIss Betty ( Kaisercraft) number 5…
I seem to be jumping all over the place with my photos this month,but I had a lot of random bits and pieces on my desk and had a bit of a push to try and use them up, so this is a card I made with leftover bits and pieces from Kaisercraft Miss Betty collection. Lots of layering, and a bit of fussy cutting, and just a little ribbon bow! Today i bought opur puppy a winter coat. She is not sure about it, and sat in one place for a long time ( highly unusual for her!) deciding if she should move or not. I have included a photo here for you all! Til tomorrow….
Go Press and foil ..simple..
Todays card is a very simple one made with my Go Press and Foil machine to foil the Rose hot foil stamp ( couture Creations) in green foil, and then white cardstock for the rest. I dry embossed a piece of cardstock with a stampin up embossing folder,and Die cut a stitched oval ( Seven Paper Dolls die) One little white ribbon and this all occasion card is finished! I have a day off today and quite a bit of housework to catch up on, but I am sure I will find some spare time to unwind in the craft room…til tomorrow….
Kaisercraft miss Betty double zig zag..
The Kaisercraft Miss Betty collection worked perfectly as a double zigzag card,and here are two that I made with this collection. I used a mix of 12 x 12 papers, some papers from the 6″ pad and the matching collectables. On the top card i made the most of my lace, ribbon and flowers whereas on the lower card I only added a little ribbon and a few sequins. I had a great day yesterday playing with my new Go Press and Foil cut, foil and emboss dies, here is a selection of completed cards! 
Kaisercraft Miss Betty number 1….
I have managed to find a little time to play with Kaisercraft Miss Betty. This is my favourite kind of paper, it has a vintage shabby kind of look and I can go to town using my ribbons and lace! For todays card I distressed all of my edges ( 12 x 12 papers) and inked them with tea dye distress ink. I did some die cutting, including a lovely leaf die which I used on an old book page, and inked with more tea dye ink, and added some of the collectables from the same range , extra flowers, pearl strip, and a ribbon bow.Til tomorrow…..
Happy Anniversary!
Today is Mum and dads 62nd wedding anniversary and the whole family is getting together to celebrate, so I thought it was fitting to post this card I made with Mambi happy 12 x 12 paper pad. I die cut the hearts from more paper of the same range, die cut some white greenery(!) with a seven paper dolls die,added a kaisercraft wooden piece that I had foiled with the go press and foil, and some flowers, rhinestones and ribbon bow to finish. I hope you are all having a happy and safe Easter. Til tomorrow…..
Helens Card Designs 