Crafting In The Bath

New Home…..

2012-02-15T13:00:00.000Z

is the latest challenge on Scrapbook Sisters blog.

For this card I decided to use my Distress inks pads for water colouring and layering with nestabilities.

The pretty bird house images are from a set free with a magazine. I have stamped onto watercolour paper and layered the main bird house.

The ‘Sold’ sign and fence are hand drawn and layered on the top.

Don’t forget to add your entry over at Scrapbook Sisters blog its great to see everyone's interpretation.

Thanks for stopping by.

Gayle x

Happy Valentines Day

2012-02-14T23:16:00.001Z

Had a job to get through the front door tonight with all the post in the porch – I wish!! Anyway I hope you have all had a lovely Valentines day.

Just a quick post tonight to share the card I made for my son to give his Valentine.

The padded heart the same paper as the background and the swirls glittered.

Thanks for stopping by

Gayle x

Anything goes…

2012-02-08T13:00:00.000Z

is the latest card challenge on the Scrapbook Sisters Blog so I thought I would combine it with another of my latest Digi samples.

This is the flowers with the oval. For this one I have used a resist technique using a white crayon for the petals on the flowers and used Tattered Rose Distress pad to colour the card.

I have cut around some of the petals to lift them.

Added some gold sequins with Glossy accents.

Added the Happy Birthday sentiment to the oval and some punched butterflies.

The next sample is the same image but I have cut out the oval to create an aperture for the photo of my not so little now baby. Can’t believe that in a couple of months he will be 19!

With this one the flowers were coloured with Copics.

I am thinking a mini book or some scrapbook pages with these digis.

Thanks for stopping by

Gayle x

New Digi Stamps

2012-02-01T00:03:00.001Z

Have managed a few minutes tonight to post a couple of samples of my new digi stamps launched at my class last Friday at Scrapbook Sisters.

The first sample is using the heart with swirls. Perfect for Valentines day.

For this one I have left the swirl detail completely plain and added the detail & texture in the heart

I cut out the heart, coloured some seam binding with Tim Holtz Distress Stains( I do suggest that you wear a pair of those fine hospital type gloves if you don’t like getting messy fingers!) Scrunch the binding and stick down onto a piece of backing card and stick the aperture heart over the top so the binding or ribbon pokes through. Simple, quick but effective.

This image would also work for Wedding, anniversary cards. A Gold heart for Golden wedding , Red for Ruby wedding etc etc.

With this second image (circle with swirls and leaves)I have cut out a flower in the same paper as the backing paper.

Added some black ribbon to the centre of the flower as before. Then added a little sprinkling of Glamour dust.

All of these new images are all about what you can put in the main shape, whether it be a sentiment, stamped image, flowers, ribbons, cutting out the shape to make an aperture, or putting in a photograph. They will also work well with your Scrapbook pages or mini books.

I hope you like them. More to come over the next days.

Thanks for stopping by.

Gayle x

Its been a while……………..

2012-01-31T00:18:00.001Z

my apologies for being a bad blogger. With having my new kitchen fitted 2 weeks before Christmas , then Christmas, then a really busy time at work and preparing my sample cards for my class last Friday, I’m sorry to say my blog took a back seat. I will rectify that in the next few days and start posting again. I will be starting with my latest digis which you can see the sample cards and purchase the digis at Scrapbook Sisters. I am in the process of doing some more examples to those shown on Scrapbook Sisters Blog. I should be up and running so to speak on Wednesday, so please stop by.

Gayle x

You need hands

2011-12-12T13:55:00.002Z

At last I've managed to find time to come back to Blog land. Life has been so hectic over the last few months.

Today I am sharing my latest Digi Stamp which should go live at Scrapbook Sisters this week. Here is a photo to wet your appetite. I hope you like it.

Blog problems

2011-09-12T13:31:00.002+01:00

Just a quick update while I can use Julies computer. I am having real problems with logging into blogger so here is a quick card from last weeks card challenge.

Will try to sort it out and come back with some serious blogging soon. xx

Christmas !!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-08-05T23:01:00.000+01:00

I know its early and most of us are thinking about our holidays but we are now in August and as soon as September comes the time seems to fly by! So I am sharing with you my first digi stamp I taught in a class at Scrapbook Sisters a week or so a go. I’ve had problems downloading my photos onto my computer-hence the delay in posting.

I’ve named this little guy ‘Tommy’.

This is a photocopy of the original size image and I have used distress ink pads to colour him. I used a little water with the inks but very sparingly as not to over wet the paper. The Poinsettia flower is another digi which I will share with you later. This was also printed onto copy paper and inked. I used the Tim Holtz Distress Stickles to add the frost look to the petals, torn edge of the card and the snow on the lamppost.

I’ve kept the colours to vintage browns as he is very Dickensian.

The next set is using the image in miniature.

Both again coloured using inks. The one one the right has been covered in Versamark ink and triple embossed with clear embossing powder and edge with a gold Krylon pen. All of the shapes have been cut with nestabilities and layered. The main card has been cut using the largest of the shapes. Because these have been printed off small you could have a colouring evening and get a load done ready for matting and layering and that’s your Christmas cards done. When colouring any image choose your papers first and choose colours to go with the papers, its alot easier than trying to rummage through your paper stash to find a papers to go with the colours you have used.

I will share some more over the weekend.

Thanks for stopping by.

Gayle x

Thank you very much

2011-07-13T14:00:00.000+01:00

is this weeks card challenge at Scrapbook Sisters blog.

There are not enough hours in the day at the moment so I decided on a very simple & quick card for this week.

Stamped the little mouse on some white card and coloured him with copics. Cut the image with one of the fancy square nestabilities. Loving nestabities at the moment.

The tag was cut using Tim Holtz tiny tags die. I used Vintage photo ink pad to ink the left side of the decorative mat and the tag.

The string looped around the tag and poked through the card to finish off.

If you haven’t entered a card yet do have a go. Its great to see all of the different cards you gals come up with.

Thanks for stopping by. ‘Til next time.

Gayle x

A bit late ……….

2011-07-10T23:35:00.000+01:00

Evening all. A bit late in posting this but as they say ‘better late than never’.

This is the latest card challenge on the Scrapbook Sisters Blog ‘For the Teacher’.

For this one I decided to do an easel card with Blackboards in the form of flowers/ lollipops.

The scalloped & plain circles were cut using nestabilities and I used markers that can write on black card. Sorry can’t remember the make of them.

I drew the books and cut them out and 3D them onto the base blackboard.

The pencils are made from rolled striped paper with a coloured paper cone.

I’m busy preparing for my next class at Scrapbook Sisters in a couple of weeks with my first Christmas Digi stamp for this year. It might seem early but if any of you are like me I tend to leave my cards to the last minute and then its panic stations because I have so many to do and not enough time. So my aim this year is to be more organized and the last leg before Christmas can be a little more relaxed. Well that’s the idea anyway- haha!! Watch this space to see whether it happens.

Thanks for stopping by.

Gayle x

Card Challenge

2011-06-22T14:00:00.000+01:00

This weeks card challenge ‘Anything goes’ over at Scrapbook Sisters.

For this I decided to have another go with my Tim Holtz Dress Form Die and Playing card embossing folders.

The dress form has been stamped and masked to create a layered look with Woodware Playing card stamps and coloured with copics.

I stamped a row of playing cards in black ink on copy paper and cut out the strip and scored and folded them to create the fan.

Two background shapes cut using nestibilities – the black shape pricked and stitched.

A piece of red card for the playing card put through one of Tims embossing folders.

A piece of organza ribbon draped over the dress form and some plaited thread tied around the waist. A further piece of copy paper stamped in black ink for border background paper.

I hope you like.

Thanks for stopping by.

Gayle x

Part 3 ……..

2011-06-16T14:00:00.000+01:00

of my Dancing couples digis.

For this one I have glittered her long gloves and added some glitter to the flower.

The image was cut out using a nestibility die and the I used the remaining cut out frame as a stencil to ink and create the shadow effect.

I have cut out and layered parts of the flower and ribbon but it doesn’t really show on the picture.

Another version of the first image I showed you.

This time the man is coloured completely in black.

I coloured some white organza ribbon and heated it for the frill on the bottom of her dress.

And the all important glittered shoes!

Thanks for stopping by

Gayle x

Buntings and Banners

2011-06-15T22:51:00.000+01:00

This is the theme of this weeks challenge on Scrapbook Sisters Blog. The design team have come up with some lovely cards – make sure you check them out and add your own creation.

This is the card I made for the challenge.

For this card I decided to keep to black, white and grey tones with the one red balloon.

The image is from Lily of the Valley stamps. I love the attitude of the little girl with this stamp.

I used Glamour dust on the skirt and tiara.

The papers were from a very large paper pad I have in my stash. The stamped image and diamond background paper have been cut using one of the Labels Ten Nestabilities.

I cut the bunting from the same diamond paper and used string to hang them from.

Thats all from me tonight. I should have had an early night tonight but I don’t think that will be happening.

Nite nite

Gayle x

More Dancing….

2011-06-14T22:02:00.000+01:00

Hi. Hope everyone has enjoyed the bit of nice weather we have had today. Can’t believe how the temperature has been jumping up and down of late. Had my heating on Saturday & Sunday evening as I was so cold!

Part 2 of my dancing couples. This time a bit of Rock & Roll

Again coloured with copics and the guy is coloured in grey tones.

Tim Holtz ticket dies stamped and inked and arranged on the front of the card and the inside edge.

For the 2nd card I kept the colours to pink and black.

I left some fine line areas of the guys clothing white to suggest the line of the jacket and shirt.

A strip of the striped paper pleated and fastened with brads.

I didn’t have any black brads so I coloured them with a black copic marker.

Thanks for stopping by

Gayle x

Dancing ………

2011-06-12T00:57:00.000+01:00

Hi again

Three posts in three days! I don’t know what’s come over me. Too much time on my hands? No, nothing worth watching on the box, and I had a blitz yesterday on my day off and tidied up and sorted out a lot of my craft stash. I made my mind up to get rid of all of my old magazines – well I did keep some. The recycle men are going to have a fit when they see the amount of bags from one house! It does feel good when you’ve had a good clear out.

Anyway this post is showing the last class I taught at Scrapbook Sisters using one of my latest digital images from my Dancing Couples. These can be used for anniversaries, those ‘big’ birthdays, weddings etc.

This first one is coloured with copics and a piece of ribbon is threaded through the card for the shawl.

The chandeliers' stamped onto the backing paper and Diamond Dust added to the them and the bottom of the dress and shoes. The gentleman is coloured with grey tones giving the empathise to the lady.

I will share the other images over the next few days.

Thanks for stopping by again

Gayle x

Floral Birthday

2011-06-11T17:41:00.000+01:00

Another of my Tattered Floral cards tonight.

These are very pretty and relatively quick to make which is a bonus.

The first one I did as a Black and White theme.

Most of the same elements as the previous post.

Apologies as the pictures seem to be coming out quite dark.

The tag is from Tim Holtz new mini Tag & Tabs die.

The second card is a Thank You card and for this one I used some Oriental papers I had in my stash.

Thanks for stopping by

Gayle x

English Country Garden

2011-06-10T22:21:00.000+01:00

This is theme of this weeks challenge on Scrapbook Sisters blog.

For this card I decided to use my ol’ faithful Tattered Florals dies by Tim Holtz. I love these dies they are so useful for girly cards.

The papers used are from Papermania ‘Blueberry Hill’ A4 paper pack. There are some really pretty papers in this pack and fitted the theme of the challenge.

The stamens are punched from copier paper coloured with light and dark grey copics.

I used a La Blanche swirl stamp to stamp on the background paper in Grey Momento ink and doted around the swirls with Perfect Pearls.

I’ve had a little run with the tattered floral dies as I had some Thank you cards and a couple of Birthday cards to make. I will share these with you over the weekend.

Thanks for stopping by, oh and if you haven’t entered the challenge yet, why not?

Gayle x

Row Row Row……….

2011-05-25T23:31:00.000+01:00

your boat is this weeks card challenge at Scrapbook Sisters. Had to really think about this one. Didn’t have any boat stamps in amongst my many, probably hundreds of stamps. So I decided to use a House Mouse stamp and use the leaves as the little mouse's boat.

I used a tree stamp to stamp the branches at the edge of the card. Cut an oval aperture.

I used distress ink pads to colour the water background. Coloured the little mouse and leaves with copics, cut them out and layered them on to the background. Use your imagination for the oars – they are the leaves in his little paws. Thought that this would be a little different take on the theme.

Thanks for stopping by.

Gayle x

Half a Century……..

2011-05-20T23:21:00.001+01:00

Well my dear brother reached that milestone last Saturday. We all met up in London and had a superb meal at the floating Chinese restaurant. Not sure where abouts it is, but its near the high rise HSBC building. The diet really went to pot on saturday but it does you good to have a little blow out occasionally – well that’s my excuse anyway.

Well on to the card I made for him. I decided to combine a numbers card with one of my car digis and this is what I came up with.

I used a raised dot background paper/card for the numbers and cut out some white paper for road markings.

I drew the Union Jack on the mini and coloured it with copics.

Two cocktail sticks coloured to hold the Happy Birthday banner.

The lights and back window are covered with glossy accents but it doesn't show on the pictures.

I have just finished my class tonight with my latest release of digi stamps. I will share the finished cards with you over the weekend.

Thanks for stopping by

Gayle x

Card Challenge

2011-05-06T15:14:00.000+01:00

Hi Everyone

A quick post today with my example for Scrapbook sisters card challenge.

The theme this week is a ‘Recipe’ – 2 ribbons , brads and a flower. I did make a boo boo for this one. Completely forgot about the flower. So before I took the card up to the shop I added a tiny flower to the last mouse tail. Note to self – read things more carefully!

I used one of the House Mouse stamps with the dragonfly. This whole range is so sweet. Coloured them with copics.

For the dragonflies wings I coloured some white organza ribbon and heated it to create the crinkled effect. For the body of the dragonfly I pleated some narrow satin ribbon and threaded it through the card so it looks as though the mouse is holding on to it.

For the background paper I used copy paper and coloured it with copics (same colours I used for the organza ribbon) and blended them together.

Thanks for stopping by

Gayle x

A bit late……..

2011-05-01T23:29:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone. A bit late with posting my contribution to Scrapbook Sisters latest card challenge ‘Distress’ , but as the saying goes ‘better late than never’. I’m still suffering with the cold of all colds courtesy of my son and I don’t seem to be able to get into anything at the moment. Its typical - a bit of time off with Easter and this Bank Holiday and not well!!

Anyway for this challenge I decided to have a go with my latest Tim Holtz die – the umbrella man.

I cut him out from Grunge Paper and coloured with Black Soot distress pad. A second umbrella cut out and I drew on the Union Jack which tied in well with the Brits theme we had this weekend with that fantastic wedding. I thoroughly enjoyed the day and didn’t Kate look absolutely beautiful. It was truly a fairytale wedding. No one can do what we do – it makes you proud to be British!

The Paris theme on the top paper section was stamped with Tim Holtz stamps and coloured with distress pads.

The bottom paper was a section from Tims new Kraft paper pad. This pad is lovely as it has already embossed sections on it that act as a resist when applying colour to the paper.

I used an embossing pen to go over some of the sections on top and bottom papers and embossed with black embossing powder.

I used the remains of the cut out umbrella man to ink through to create a shadow behind before I used silicone to stick him on to the card.

If you haven’t entered a card in for the challenge yet there is still time. Good Luck.

Thanks for stopping by.

Gayle x

More for the men

2011-04-26T18:01:00.000+01:00

Back to work today, but a short week – hurray!

A few more examples of the new digi stamps for my last class. Hopefully they will give you some ideas as Fathers will soon be upon us.

This first one is for the ‘Sporty Mini Type’

All of the cars shown have been coloured with copics. The mini has been cut out and placed over the edge of the top of the card.

You can personalize any of the cars by adding the recipients name or age etc to the number plate.

The ‘Racer Type’

Glossy accents added to the lights.

The 60’s Type.

and finally just to say ‘Hi’

I am working on another version of this mini which I will show later in the week.

Thanks for stopping by.

Gayle x

A quick post …..

2011-04-25T17:34:00.000+01:00

I hope everyone is enjoying the last bit of the Easter break. What brilliant weather we have had for the WHOLE weekend. I think that going by past years this might have been our summer! I hope I’m wrong.

Anyway just a few pics of the last class I taught with my new digis. I drew them with the men in our lives in mind but can easily be adapted for other occasions and made a bit more feminine.

This first one is an old vintage car and made into an easel card. The trunk has been 3D and some ribbon coloured with a black copic pen for the straps.

I adapted the same image to make a wedding card.

The cars were water coloured using distress pads .

I cut out the back window and added a piece of acetate behind, stamped some tiny flowers and added those behind the acetate and then used some silicone glue to re attach the inside part of the car.

I used some rolled card painted silver for the tin cans and tied them to the car bumper.

You could alter the colours used to go with the brides wedding colours.

Well that’s all for today. Some more tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by.

Gayle x

My little Boy ……………..

2011-04-18T21:25:00.000+01:00

is no longer little, he has reached the grand old age of 18! I can’t believe how quickly the years have gone by. It doesn’t seem 5 minutes since he was a babe in arms.

Last Monday was his actual birthday and he asked if he could have a few friends round for a BBQ. When I got home there were about 30 occupying my house! I must admit there wasn’t any trouble. The drink was flowing rather freely and the black sacks were filling up very quickly with the cans and bottles but thankfully no one was ill. I can’t deal with sick!

Saturday we had a family and friends get together at my friends Natalie and Tony’s Pub The Brickmakers Arms in Gillingham and a great evening was had by all. I would like to thank them for letting us hold the party there and Natalie for the use of her kitchen so I could prepare all of the food.

So for Daniels card. I decided to theme it on his two favourite pastimes – the Xbox and Rollerblading and this what I came up with.

I drew out one of his skates and the Xbox and coloured them in with Copics.

The buckle on the boot and the controls on the handset were highlighted with Glossy Accents.

The lace was a piece of string coloured with a blue Copic marker .

I cut out the ‘18 ‘ in card and covered with a black raised dotty paper, punched some holes and laced with black string coloured with a black Copic marker.

I must admit I was pleased with the result and Daniel and his mates were impressed. Makes it all worth while.

I would also like to show the card that Natalie made for him. She is really getting into Tim Holtz at the moment and going great guns.

I love the mans legs stamp she has used.

The background stamping and distressing is fantastic Natalie.

A fantastic card. Well done Natalie and Daniel loved it.

That’s all for tonight.

Thanks for stopping by.

Gayle x

Yellow………………………

2011-04-06T14:00:00.000+01:00

is the theme of this weeks card challenge at Scrapbook Sisters.

I had to have a go with my Tim Holtz dies. Scrapbook Sisters is receiving a lot of deliveries in the shop now full of Tims goodies.

I have used his new dress form die with cotton reel and buttons and his old faithful the tattered florals. The dress form, reel and buttons were cut from Grunge paper and inked with distress inks. Another form was cut from patterned paper and the stand section cut off and stamped over with a grid stamp.

The flowers were cut from patterned paper. I wanted a bronze embellishment to go in the centres of the flowers but couldn’t find anything in my stash so I resorted to swiping a silver jewellery finding across a Versamark ink pad and dipping it into bronze embossing powder and heating up.

The smaller petals of the large flower were formed by cutting two tiny scalloped circles from a nestibility ( didn’t have a scalloped punch). Misted with water to dampen down and then scrunched up. When the paper dries it retains its shape and hardens off a little.

The sentiment stamped onto the card and over stamped with the grid stamp. I thoroughly enjoyed making this card as I love all things Tim! I love making dimensional cards. I don’t seem to be able to create anything flat now that I’m happy with.

Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to have a go and enter the challenge.

Gayle x

Leaving card

2011-04-05T22:53:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone

Tonight I am sharing a card I made on Sunday for a work colleague who is leaving us on Friday.

Pondered for along while as to what to do and so decided to go through my wood mounted stamps(there are many!) and decided on yes a Butterfly.

I decided on an easel style card. I stamped the image and coloured with copics.

The pictures were taken early in the morning so the light wasn’t particularly good but the background paper is a dark chocolate with white spots.

Distress stickles added in areas of the image. The butterfly was then stamped onto acetate and cut out and layered over the main image.

I’m in the process of making a card for my sons birthday on Monday. I can’t believe he will be 18! They grow up all too fast. His loves are Roller Blading and of course the Xbox so I’m trying to incorporate them into a special card for him. If I succeed I’ll show it next week.

Until tomorrow when I’ll be posting this weeks card challenge from Scrapbook Sisters.

Nite nite

Gayle x

Card Challenge

2011-03-30T20:57:00.000+01:00

Sorry its been a while but not enough hours in the day as usual. Decided tonight to take half an hour out and do a long over due post - Scrapbook Sisters latest challenge.

This weeks theme is Mothers Day or for Someone special. I did cheat a bit this week as I have used the birthday card I made for Karen at Scrapbook Sisters. It was her birthday yesterday.

The beautiful image is a stamp I have had for a few years that was hidden away until I re-discovered it at the weekend. I bet I’m not the only one who finds things that they’ve long forgotten about.

She is coloured with copics. I used a nestabilities oval die cutting into the legs part of the image so she is standing outside of the oval.

The organza ribbon was coloured with the red copic and heated with the heat gun until it starts to shrivel up. Be careful if you try this as it is best done with a heat gun with a slow speed- 2 speed gun on the lowest setting, otherwise it will burn and melt. I then cut some slits in the card and threaded the ribbon through to create a shawl.

The background paper is from a K&Co paper stack. The roses were cut from the same paper and moulded to give a 3D effect and attached with silicone. Hope you like it. If you haven't entered the challenge yet have a go.

A bit more prep now for my next card class in a couple of weeks time ‘one for the boys’. Hopefully these cards should help make life a little easier when making for the male species.

Thanks for stopping by.

Gayle x

A finished class project.

2011-03-08T23:56:00.000Z

This is a card holder class that I attended and contributed to at Scrapbook Sisters before christmas. I designed a range of digi stamps of which some were included in the kits for the cards.

I finally finished the card holder for my sister for her birthday. I didn’t decorate the box as I was up against the clock to get a selection of cards made to go in the box.

It ended up slightly different to the class one. I had some metal letters in my stash that I stuck onto the front of the holder.

The following are some of the cards I made to go inside.

This first one was a magazine free stamp. The icing is sprinkled with Glamour Dust but unfortunately doesn't show up in the photos. It looked really pretty in the flesh so to speak.

This is one of my digi stamps. The frame is so versatile as you can put text in the centre or a photo or use it in a scrapbook page to highlight a particular photo.

The image was coloured with copics and accented with Glossy accents for a water droplet effect. Photos are a bit rubbish – sorry.

I love this little bear in the bath. I think this was from a set of stamps that came free with a magazine.

I will post some more later this week.

Thanks for stopping by.

Gayle x

Don’t think I’ll ever be warm again!

2011-03-06T23:50:00.001Z

Boiler is only firing up for a few minutes at a time so I have not had any heating since Thursday. Trying to run a bath is a nightmare! Run the bath until boiler cuts out, run up stairs to turn off tap, leave it for a while, boil up the kettle a few times, turn on the taps again to fire up the boiler and this goes on for about 3/4 hour, the poor kettle is working overtime! Plumber is ringing me with a quote for new boiler tomorrow – groan, more expense, but he wont be able to fit it until Friday. Bed and 2 microwave wheatie bags as soon as I’ve finished this post.

Well enough of my troubles. My sister requested another one of my number cards for her friends 60th birthday.Must admit these are a no brainer as I don’t have to think about it. Just decide what colours I’m going to do. The hardest part is trying to find the papers I want in my stash!

The butterflies were stamped onto the patterned paper and glittered. Wire is sandwiched between the double butterfly image to give them movement.

The flowers are cut from Tim Holtz Tattered Flowers die. I LOOOVE Tim Holtz dies. Cant wait to get my hands on his new releases. Julie at Scrapbook Sisters tells me they will be stocking them in the shop watch this space!!!!!!

The centre of the flowers are filled with glossy accents and little bugle beads. I don’t normally go for orangey colours but was pleased with how it came out.

Bed and warmth now.

Thanks for stopping by

Gayle x

‘Spring’ card challenge

2011-03-02T23:23:00.000Z

Hi all.

Long time no post again! Must do better.

Anyway Scrapbook Sisters latest card challenge is ‘Spring’ so I thought I’d have a go at some blossom. This what I came up with.

I drew out the branch and leaves and coloured them with Copics.

I then drew the blossoms in different sizes with some extra petals layered on the top to give it a bit of dimension.

And a bit of faux cross stitching to finish it off.

If you haven't joined in any of their challenges do have a go. Its great to see everyone's different styles and their take on each challenge.

Thanks for stopping by

Gayle x

Back tracking to Christmas ….

2011-02-04T09:33:00.000Z

Something a little different for me - my first completed mini book. My sisters sort of step daughter had a little boy Jack in October, so for Christmas I decided to make the parents a little book to keep some of his first Christmas pictures. As usual with the run up for Christmas it was left as the last thing to do so I didn’t have the time to really go to town on it, but they were over the moon with it. This what I came up with.

I think the papers were Bo Bunny which I purchased at Scrapbook Sisters.

I left areas for Rachael to put in her pics and any journaling she wanted.

These two pages had Glamour Dust around the swirls but you can’t really see it in the pictures.

The snow flakes were cut from a Sizzix die.

A friend cut out the train & rocking horse for me on her Cricut.

and finally the back cover.

Sorry the photos are a bit naff. Don’t you just hate it when the pictures look ok on the camera but once you get them onto the computer they are not all that! By this time what you have photographed has gone so you can’t do them again.

I enjoy doing these mini books and have another two on the go – well have been on the go for a long long time so I must get them finished.

Thanks for stopping by

Gayle x

Sorry

2011-01-31T18:45:00.002Z

Will try to alter these pictures later tonight to get the whole card in! if I can work out how!!

I actually did it.

It’s a Boy Thing………….

2011-01-31T18:32:00.000Z

Dream Machines. My colleague at work was 21 today and he has a thing for cars. So on Saturday I said to him ‘if money was no object what car would you have? He said a Pagani Huayra. I’d never even heard of it let alone seen one. So after a bit of research I found a picture and set about copying it and this is what I came up with.

The card was based on an easel card. I drew it out and coloured it with copics. The bottom part of the car was just black in the picture so I had to do a bit of guess work in that area.

On the whole I was pleased with the result and the recipient was also impressed. Even another of my male colleagues recognized the car straight away so that was a bonus.

Something completely different for me to attempt so I might even have a go at making some more when the dreaded male birthdays come round.

Thanks for stopping by.

Gayle x

Bad Blogger

2011-01-30T23:09:00.000Z

Hi. Apologies for the extreme lack of posts lately, but I’m back and will try to keep it up. I have been taking lots of pictures with what I’ve been up to so so I can’t use that as an excuse!

Tonight I’ll start with the challenge that is currently running on Scrapbook Sisters website ‘Add a little friend’. I thought I would do something a little different so this what I came up with.

I used one of my Digi Mask stamps which are available at Scrapbook Sisters coloured it with Copics, cut it out and added some ribbon. I traced the leaves to add a border down the side of the card and coloured in grey tones.

The ‘ little friend’ is a Ladybird made from half a red wooden bead with black enamel dots and little wire antennae. The pictures are a bit on the dark side as I took them in the morning before I went to work so the light was rather poor.

Tomorrow I will share a card I have just finished for a work colleague. Hes 21 tomorrow. Oh to be that age again. I am really pleased with how it came out – all will be revealed tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by

Gayle x

Digi masks released

2010-12-18T00:01:00.001Z

Hi all

I hope everyone is safe and warm tonight. Actually got to Bluewater today and got a fair bit of my Christmas shopping done. Still have some to do so hopefully will be able to get out and about next week to get it finished! I have never been so behind as I am this year. I’ve even had to resort to buying some Christmas cards – dreadful I know! Work tomorrow and last day Monday until the Bank Holiday – in again on the Bank Holiday Monday & Tuesday - groan!

Anway another two of my mask samples . These have been launched on Scrapbook Sisters website today. You can have fun with these as you can make them as ‘Blingy’ as you want.

This one was mainly glittered and some accent beads added.

Ribbon wound round the kebab stick and some paper beads covered in glossy accents threaded onto some gold thread.

This second card is again using the butterfly mask but this time mounted onto an easel card. The mask was coloured in mainly grey copics. The 3D butterfly has a touch of pink as well. Then the butterflies only, covered in Glossy Accents and a touch of Black Glitter.

There are more designs for sale on Scrapbook Sisters website which I still have to play with. I will post some more examples as they are done.

Thanks again for stopping by.

Gayle x

Mask 2

2010-12-10T23:36:00.001Z

I’m starting to panic now……………. have hardly done any Christmas shopping! I have never been this unorganized! The snow last week put paid to my few days off specifically for that job. I can see me doing it all in the last week.

Well tonight I’m sharing another of the masks I did for my class. This one was coloured with Distress ink pads and a separate butterfly cut out, glittered and layered. Again ribbon is twisted around the kebab stick. The bodies of the butterflies decorated with beads.

Thanks for stopping by.

Gayle x

Masks

2010-12-07T23:32:00.000Z

Hi everyone.

Had a lovely evening at Scrapbook Sisters Christmas party tonight. It was lovely to catch up with everyone. Karen was doing her best to put everyone off the vol-a-vonts (oh that spelling doesn’t look quite right) but we all knew what her game was! They were delicious. I expect some pictures will be appearing on their blog soon.

Anyway this evening I am sharing a mask card that I taught at my last class. They will be available soon as digi stamps.

This first one was water coloured using the Black Soot distress ink pad.

I added detail by stitching through the mask with a gold thread and added the clear gems.

I cut out another flower stitched and layered it on top and added the beads in the centre. Gold glitter was used for the circles .

I then wound ribbon around around a kebab stick and secured it behind the mask. To give the mask more depth the glue is applied to each side of the mask only and stuck to the black background so that the mask bows out slightly.

There will be some more masks so check back later in the week.

Thanks for stopping by.

Gayle x

Patchwork challenge

2010-12-01T23:00:00.001Z

Its been a while but I’m back from my hols. Sure is a shock to the system when you have been laying on the beach in 90deg temperatures and a few days later your having too suffer the minus figures! Mind you I do love the snow apart from driving in it. The landscape is transformed and I love to walk through fresh snow. Driving home from work tonight some houses have already got their Christmas trees and lights up and they looked so pretty twinkling against the snow. I cant believe its the 1st of Dec already, where has this year gone! I think I had better get cracking with my Christmas shopping – I’m starting to panic as I haven’t done anything yet and it will soon be upon us.

Anyway tonight I am showing the card I made for Scrapbook Sisters latest card challenge Patchwork. I thought I would do something a little different for this one so I made my own template of the the Robin.I used brown beige and red papers and distressed the edges. I used a pricking tool and felt tip pen to create the stitching as I was feeling lazy and couldn’t be asked to set the sewing machine up. The holly is made up of little green paper squares stuck onto card and the holly drawn on to it. A very quick card but I think he looks quite cute.

If you haven't submitted an entry yet have a go.

Thanks for stopping by and keep safe and warm if you are out and about in this weather.

Gayle x

Autumn Colours Challenge

2010-11-03T23:48:00.000Z

Evening everyone. Thought I’d better do a a quick post tonight as its been a while. I’ve been up to Olympia today with my sister to the ‘Spirit of Christmas Show’. We had a lovely day apart from the tube strikes – it was a nightmare trying to get there from Victoria. Our feet were crying by the time we got home tonight!

Have taken the first of my Malaria tablets tonight in readiness for my holiday next week. Just keeping my fingers crossed I don’t get any of the mammoth list of possible side effects on the enclosed sheet. Its horrendous reading!!

Anyway my card tonight is for the Scrapbook Sisters latest challenge ‘Autumn Colours’. Have a go if you haven’t already entered.I cut a circular card and arranged the leaves around the circle. The leaves were stamped and coloured with distress ink pads in varying shades of green and orange. I then applied PVA glue to areas of the leaves and covered the glue with detailed gold embossing powder and gave them a blast with the heat gun. I usually use a glue stick but mine was nowhere to be found.

Finished off with a beautiful verse from Helen Keller and a raffia bow.

That’s all for tonight. Thanks for stopping by.

Gayle x

Halloween American style ………

2010-10-24T14:31:00.000+01:00

Afternoon everyone.

As promised I will be sharing with you some pictures I took on a visit to Vegas a couple of years ago. It is the most amazing place and hopefully will get back there some day. The Americans certainly know how to do the WOW factor.

My sister and I stayed at Caesars Palace – incredible place! Next door was the Bellagio hotel ( the one that has the fountains that are synchronized with music ) in which they had a what they call the ‘Conservatory’ This is where they do the most amazing displays dependant on the time of year. We were lucky enough to be in Vegas in October so Halloween was was the theme.

The trees were amazing, the eyes followed you and they moved!

If you ever get the chance to visit then grab it with both hands! I absolutely loved it.

I will share some more photos later in the week of some of the other hotels.

Gayle x

Trick or Treat …..

2010-10-22T17:26:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone.

Day off today so taking a bit of time to post.

I am sharing with you one of the Halloween digi images from my class last night at Scrapbook Sisters.

For this card I shaded areas of the mummy and cat using a grey copic marker. I photo copied the image and cut it out to create a mask to distress the background. The bats are masked out and I cut a circle in some copier paper and laid the open circle over the bats and very lightly created a shading for the moon. Removing the paper I then laid on the circle over the shaded area and continued to distress the background for the night sky.

I found the gauze in the cupboard and cut small slits in the paper and poked the gauze through where the bandages are unravelling.

This second card is shaded in brown and grey.

I cut out one side of the mummy and laid him over the rolled edge of the spotty paper. The bats were glittered and the ‘Trick or Treat’ is clear embossed but its not showing in the photo.

Tomorrow and the lead up to Halloween I will show some photos I took in Vegas a couple of years ago. The Bellagio Hotel had the most amazing Halloween theme in the Conservatory.

Thanks for stopping by.

Gayle x

Exciting…………….

2010-10-15T11:07:00.001+01:00

The launch of my first Digi stamps for Scrapbook Sisters.

I did try to post last night but for some reason I couldn’t get onto my blog.

I have been beavering away and have come up with quite a few Christmas images and a few Halloween.

The first card I am posting is one of my favourite images relating to the festive season ‘The Snowman’ I hope you like him.

I made this one as an easel card. I copied the snowman onto photo copy paper so that the main image could be masked out and the background was inked using Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pads to match in with the background paper.

Coloured with Copics and some glitter added.

The snowflakes were die cut from the background paper, glittered and a clear gem added to the centres.

You can see more examples at Scrapbook Sisters. If you make any examples using any of the Digi images please email pictures of your work to Scrapbook Sisters as I would love to see what you do with them.

Thanks for stopping by.

Gayle x

We Will Miss You…..

2010-10-12T19:02:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone.

The card I am sharing tonight is one I made a couple of weeks ago for a colleague at work. She is a lovely lady and one of those people for whom nothing is too much trouble.

The papers used were from Papermania ‘simply elegant’ 8 x 8” paper pad. I die cut the flowers using the Tim Holtz Tattered Flowers dies. The circles were cut using the new lacy circle nestabilities, one in white and one in Maroon card and layered.

The butterflies were stamped onto acetate using Stazon and coloured behind with alcohol inks.

Beads and Glossy accents used to finish of the flower centres.

Thanks for stopping by

Oh just noticed over 1000 visits to my little ol’ blog – thanks everyone.

Gayle x

Christmas…………

2010-10-10T23:38:00.000+01:00

Is my favourite time of the year for card making. The trouble is that I make so many cards for classes etc that my own cards to send are made in a mammoth sprint just before Christmas. Every year I say that I’m going to start earlier but never do- maybe next year!

Anyway tonight I am sharing one of the cards I made for the demos at Scrapbook Sisters crop in September.

I cut out some leaf shapes from white crepe paper and coloured them with red and green copics. The centre of the Poinsettia was a punch, you know the one that looks like a ‘splatter’ but makes great flower centres and this was also coloured with copics.

Dusted with a little glitter.

The music paper was from the ‘Jolly Happy Christmas 6x6"paper pads from Dovecraft. The top and bottom of the paper is torn, rolled and inked. Simples!

Thanks for stopping by.

Gayle x

Build a Butterfly

2010-10-08T23:22:00.000+01:00

Hi again. Sorry for the lack of posts lately.

This is the card I made for my sons girlfriends Birthday. I used the build a butterfly stamp and some white flowers which I coloured with copics. The background papers were from the pink and grey paper pad by Tim Holtz. I love these papers-the colours the designs, just everything about them.

I really enjoyed making this as you know butterflies and flowers are my favourites apart from Christmas theme stamps of course.

Thanks for stopping by.

Gayle x

Its been a few days ………

2010-09-24T23:30:00.000+01:00

Sorry I haven’t been able to post much lately but as the saying goes ‘not enough hours in the day’ I have just got back from my class at Scrapbook Sisters with the first of my Digi stamps. I must say everyone did a fantastic job and produced beautiful cards. Its amazing that everyone is doing the same card but every card is different. Well done girls. The images were very well received and I think everyone enjoyed the evening. I will be sharing the card samples soon.

I had my jabs today ready for my trip to India in November and my arms are starting to feel really sore and like lead weights! Its not a place I’d ever thought about going to but the chance came up to stay in the house of my sisters friend and she asked if I would like to go. It will only be the cost of the flight and food so why not. We will be chauffeured around everywhere so we should get to see more than if we were going as a package holiday.

Anyway back to cards. Tonight I’m posting the card I made for Scrapbook Sisters card challenge ‘over the edge’.

This was a quick one as I had been busy preparing samples for the crop last Saturday and samples for my class tonight.

I cut a circle base card in the dark green card and a smaller circle in white. The white card I stamped and embossed the Merry Christmas in gold. I then used Distress inks to colour the card. I used a grey copic marker around the left side of the letters to create a shadow. I drew various holly leaves and distressed them in varying shades of green. I moulded the leaves to create some dimension and used silicone glue to 3’d them to the card. I then used glossy accents all over the holly to give them the shine that real holly has and sprinkled on some course glitter. The berries are small circles domed with an embossing tool and glittered.

Have a go you could be a winner.

That's all for tonight. Till next time.

Gayle x

Challenge No.2

2010-09-17T00:08:00.000+01:00

Tonight I am posting the card I made for Scrapbook sisters Card Challenge No.2. The theme this week is ‘Scalloped circles’. If you haven't entered a card yet, what are you waiting for – somebody has to win lovely craft goodies and it could be you.

For this one the base card was an easel card. I used the scalloped circles nesties and cut the centres out using the plain circles. I stamped around the edge of the scallops with the larger snowflake stamp from one of the Nitwits Christmas clear stamp sets. Added some grey copic toning and finished with Glamour Dust.

The centre and the base of the card are the large snowflake finished with a clear crystals.

The scallops create a lacy look which is quite a pretty effect. You could adapt this look for borders around your cards (instead of a scallop edge punch) or around your photos.

Thanks again for stopping by.

Gayle x

Excellent cause….

2010-09-13T23:35:00.000+01:00

Evening everyone.

I am posting tonight one of the cards I made for Sue Upson with her aim to raise money for Ovarian Cancer see her blog here. The colour theme for the charity is Teal. ( Not sure whether I’ve mastered this linking thing yet so apologies if it doesn't work)

I used the Lili of the Valley Fairy stamp and coloured her with grey tone copics and just added a touch of teal on the the flowers and her wand. The flowers are Tim Holtz dies and cut from the background papers. The papers are from a paper pad I have had for some years from Hot of the Press

I love this image, she’s so cute.

Thanks for stopping by

Gayle x

Now you are ‘Two’

2010-09-05T22:31:00.001+01:00

Just a quick post tonight as my bed is calling. Had an early start this morning as I did a boot fair. Got rid of a bit more of my mums craft stash and some household bits from my overflowing cupboards!

Anyway my card tonight is for my friends grandson who is Two this month. Again one of my numbers cards.

The stamp is from Lily of the valley. When I thought of using this stamp I had a picture in my mind that the leaves were part of the stamp. But when I got it out no leaves! Must of dreamt that one. Only one thing for it I had to draw my own.

I drew out a large ‘2’ from card and covered it in red paper. Stamped the image and coloured with copics. I used glossy accents on the bike. The leaves were coloured with copics and silicone glued onto the card.

Thats all for tonight. Thanks for stopping by.

Oh and if you haven’t entered the Scrapbook Sisters card challenge yet – have a go.

Gayle x

Card Challenge =

2010-09-01T23:26:00.001+01:00

Loads of Freebies on the Scrapbook Sisters Blog.

There will be a new theme to get your creative juices flowing each week, but for the first challenge you have until midnight on the 14th September to get your entries in. The winner will be announced on the 15th September along with challenge number two.

There are some great inspirational cards on their blog from the DT girls, so have a go , ‘you’ve got to be in it to win it!’

I was really pleased to be asked by Karen and Julie to come up with a card for each challenge. I thought I would give the Copics a rest for this first one and basically only used copy paper, distress ink , stamps and Momento black ink pad.

The pink base card was stamped with a flourish. Two layers of copy paper inked with Spun Sugar and stamped with LB Designs French Script. The paper is then torn and rolled and positioned over the base card to reveal the flourish.

The flowers are torn strips of the left over stamped paper and I have used some pink and black stamens for the centres left over from my sugar craft days. Edged with glamour dust.

Hopefully I will have my blinky on my Blog tomorrow – don’t laugh but I need help (Julie see you tomorrow!)

Thanks for stopping by

Gayle x

At Last ………………

2010-08-31T23:05:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone. At Last a post.

I have been busy drawing out the designs for my Digi images which will be available soon through Scrapbook Sisters ( I will have to get Julie to show me again how to do a link!). I have thoroughly enjoyed doing them and once I got started I couldn't stop! Anyway I have been making a start on the cards I need to get done for various birthdays coming up in September – so here is the first one.

This is for my sons Girlfriend Rachael's Birthday. I decided on a very feminine pretty card.

Sorry about the shadow and the pictures have come out a little dark. The fairy stamp is from Lili of the Valley stamped onto white card and coloured with Copics. The background paper is ordinary copy paper coloured with Spun Sugar Distress Ink pad using Cut & Dry pad and over stamped with French Script stamp from B Line Designs.

The flowers were made from torn strips of the same paper. I used little white pearls for the centres and edged the flowers with Glamour Dust. The leaves are petals from white flowers and coloured with Copics.

Thanks for stopping by.

Gayle x

Sorry ……….

2010-08-16T23:23:00.001+01:00

Hi everyone

Sorry for the lack of posts lately but have been busy at work and busy drawing out my Christmas designs for my Digi stamps to be launched at my next class at Scrapbook sisters in September. I must admit I am having fun doing these as Christmas is my most favourite time of the year.

Julie did show me how to do a link but I’ve forgotten what she did. What am I like!! Absolutely hopeless when it comes to computers.

I have a lot of cards to do for September Birthdays – it seems to be a popular month in my circle – mine being one of them.

I shall be at the Scrapbook Sisters September crop which I am really looking forward to as I haven’t been able to get to the last two due to work.

Anyway I am sharing with you a couple of cards I made for Scrapbook sisters shop using the Nitwits die cuts sheets Julie gave me to “see what you can do with these” as she often does. I am not normally a lover of die cut sheets but I must admit I did fall in love with the images on these. The quality of die cuts and the backing sheets is beautiful. The images are so cute and the colours are beautiful.

This first one was an acetate card and I used glossy accents to give the effect of water droplets sprinkled with a little Glamour dust.

Card no.2 I made the main card from one of the Nestabilities Labels and I decoupaged the bunny. His head was then attached to the main card with a fine wire coil so his head bounces.

Card no.3 was again decoupage and the corner of the card cut away.

Card no.4 I suspended the butterfly on a strip of acetate to create some movement.

Thanks for stopping by

Gayle x

Favourite stamp

2010-08-02T22:51:00.003+01:00

Apologies for the lack of posts lately but I had been preparing for my class at Scrapbook sisters. I will share these with you at a later date. So in the meantime I will share a couple more cards featuring my favourite stamp with you ‘Paris’ by Stamps Happen.

I stamped them on to watercolour paper and water coloured them using the Adirondak and Distress Ink pads. The brooch was centred with tiny beads and I cut out some strands of a pink feather and added them with Glossy Accents. Now I have my Copics I will have a go this week and colour the same image and see what I end up with. I will also hopefully do the same with a couple of my Fashion Stamps I designed.

Hope everyone has a good week. Thanks for stopping by.

Gayle x

Don’t put off until tomorrow……….

2010-07-17T19:59:00.001+01:00

This is a card I made for my neighbours Granddaughter who was 4. I had to make it in a bit of a rush as I thought I had more time than I actually did. Set the scene – just got in from work and a knock on the door- there stands my neighbour “ I’ve come to collect the card” It was a work in progress but no where finished. When do you actually need it I asked “ By tomorrow morning first thing” was the reply. Horror as I realized that I had tea to get and then ferry my son around. Anyway managed to get it done but I would have done it differently if I had more time. You know what the saying is ‘Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today’!

Apologies for the photos, but it was late and the lighting in my kitchen is not too good.

The Cinderella Coach and Castle stamps are tiny clear stamps I purchased from Scrapbook Sisters. Sorry can’t remember what make they are. Coloured with Copics and glittered with Glamour dust. The flowers are from the Nit wits decoupage sheets also available from Scrapbook Sisters.

Thanks for stopping by

Gayle x

30th Birthday

2010-07-12T23:07:00.000+01:00

This is a card I have just finished for my sister to give her partners daughter. She is 30 in a couple of weeks. We are all off to her Birthday Bash on the 24th where I am told the order of the evening will also include old fashioned ‘Party Games’ – sounds like it could be fun! It has been shall I say a number of years since I played ‘Pass the Parcel’ and ‘Musical Chairs’ and so on. I will report back after the event.

Anyway getting back to the card. I made it in the form of an Easel Card but using circles as the base.

The papers are from Tim Holtz ‘Vintage Shabby’ paper stack. This pad is absolutely scrummy. I have kept all of the papers ( which are more like a light weight card really) in the grey tones and just added the colour with the butterfly. Of course there had to be a butterfly somewhere!

The centre of the flower was made with folded scalloped edge circles. MMMM might have to include this in one of my classes. The outside petals where cut from a template I made and layered with the ends of the petals curled in towards the centre of the flower and the whole thing secured with a clear diamante brad through a silver tone flower embellishment.

The butterfly was stamped twice on to acetate using Stazon and coloured with Cranberry alcohol ink on the reverse side.

Finished of with layered semi circles. The ‘30’was cut using Tim Holtz Vintage Market Alphabet die. Now I’ve got to make a card from me. I’ll have to get my thinking cap on.

Thanks for stopping by.

Gayle x

Birthday Boy

2010-07-08T21:51:00.000+01:00

I have been very busy but I have a card to share with you… This was for my friends husband who is shall we say 30 ++++etc . I didn’t want to do a usual card so I chose this stamp by Penny Black. It was of course coloured with Copics. I drew the check on the background card and coloured to match his trousers. The toy plane was covered with Glossy Accents and added the wording to finish. Hopefully it brought back memories for him!

Thanks for stopping by.

Gayle x

Naughty

2010-06-25T22:05:00.000+01:00

I've been very naughty and have not done any crafting for a week! Have been clearing out the last of my parents house as the sale was completed on Monday and looking to exchange this coming Monday. It felt really strange standing in the empty house for the last time today before I took the keys down to the estate agent. A lot of memories came flooding back of the happy times we all had there. The end of a chapter and hopefully the beginnings of a new happier one for my son and I. Talking of my son, he’s off to his girlfriends Prom on Tuesday so off we set off to get him a suit after I had to pay a visit to the dentist as I have a gum infection and look very much like Miss Piggy at the moment. Armed with antibiotics and pain killers we set off for the shops. He ended up with a suit, shirt, tie, shoes and he wanted a waistcoat. With purse a lot lighter I marched him up to the hair dressers to see if they could sort out his mop. When he got home he was itching to try it all on, and he looked so smart. I thought this is my little boy all grown up !

Hopefully next week I will get cracking again with some crafty posts.

Gayle x

Demo evening

2010-06-17T23:46:00.001+01:00

Just a quick post tonight as my bed is calling me. I feel absolutely shattered at the moment. Too much work and not enough play I’m thinking!

A few little cards to show when I did a demo evening at Scrapbooksisters shop with Karen and Julie. I was demoing colouring with Copics. I love these cute little girls.

This was a little easel card made with the nestabilities square scallops. The flourish was stamp was coloured with the copic pen directly on to the stamp and then stamped on to the card. You have to stamp it quicly to get an image, but I think it works quite well. The larger flowers were also coloured with the pens. So you never need be unable to find flowers to match your papers again.

Hopefully I shall get cracking on box no3 this weekend.

Thanks for stopping by.

Gayle x

Class owls

2010-06-13T18:14:00.000+01:00

Thought I would share with you a few of the cards I made for my last card class I taught at Scrapbook Sisters - my version of what seems to be everywhere ‘Owls’. I drew out the owl and enlarged it on the copier so I could vary the sizes. You can do this with any of your stamped images.

The first picture is the largest and I cut out an extra head, coiled some wire and gave him a bouncy head. He was coloured with distress inks and given a pair of wire specs!

This next one is smaller with added wire and leaves on the base. Again coloured with distress inks and tiny round gems added to the wings and tail.

The branch on this one was torn copy paper and coloured with distress inks.

The tree on the final one was made with string. I punched out some holes on the feathers on the owl and mounted it on some contrast card.

Thanks for stopping by again.

Gayle x

Little Brown Box No.2

2010-06-11T17:00:00.000+01:00

Hi all

Well this is my second box in the set given to me by Julie at Scrapbook Sisters (apologies as I don’t know how to link yet).

I really enjoyed making this box. Firstly I covered the box and lid with Distress Ink pad – Rusty Hinge. When dry I stippled on Viva Terra (Terracotta effect) Greek, a texture type paste. When that was dry I stippled on top with Viva Ferro Metal Effect colour Golden Green, then a bit of Walnut Stain Distress ink pad. The leaves were stamped onto card and coloured with various Greens and orange distress pads, Some of the leaves I covered with Glossy Accents.

I used a fine silver metallic thread to create the spiders web. I didn’t have any black beads for the spider so I threaded some pearls onto black wire and covered them with Ranger Black enamel and wired around the beads to create the legs.

The fly was made in the same way but with wings. I then used Glossy Accents to fill in the wings and then sprinkled with Glamour Dust.

The little ladybird was a little red bead cut in half and spotted with the black enamel paint. Butterflies to finish off and a few blobs of Glossy accents on the spiders web.

I found this quite difficult to photograph as it was quite overcast today and when I used the flash the pictures came out like Blackpool illuminations! If you want a look see in the flesh Julie has the boxes so far in the shop.

Thanks again for stopping by

Gayle x

Penny Black

2010-06-10T21:43:00.000+01:00

Posting tonight a card I’ve just finished using one of my favourite range of stamps Penny Black. I usually go for the Brush Stroke stamps in this range but couldn’t resist this cute image from their Slapstick range. I did buy a couple of other images which I will share with you as and when I get them finished.

I made this card into and easel card. The image is coloured with Copics. The background papers I found in my stash, totally forgotten I’d got these - a pad of Hot off the press papers and I used the scalloped square nestabilities. I 3D the parasol to give it a bit of dimension and laced some tissue paper and tied a bow. Finished off with some butterflies coloured with Distress Inks.

Tomorrow I will be posting Brown Box No.2.

Thanks for stopping by

Gayle x

Little Brown Box

2010-06-04T10:34:00.000+01:00

Thought I would share with you a little project I’m working on. I went into Scrapbook Sisters the other day and Julie gave me a next of plain brown boxes and said “see what you can do with these” Oh and you will notice ‘close ups’ are much improved! A big thank you to Julie for showing me how to use my camera.

This was the blank canvas

I completely covered the box and lid in Adirondak Acrylic Paint Dabber, Twisted some string and stuck it around the box and lid. Then stippled on Bronze Dabber and then Snowcap. Stuck some tiny white seed pearls around the box and lid. The flowers were cut from White Crepe paper using the small circle nestabilities. Each petal was then coloured with Copic markers and edged with Glamour dust and the centres finished with silver and pearl embellishments and a few little white stamens.

Julie was kind enough to show this box on the Scrapbook Sisters Blog last night. Hopefully today I can see what I can come up with the remaining sizes of boxes.

I really enjoyed making this and would it would make a lovely Keepsake Gift for someone.

Thanks for stopping by

Gayle x

If only …………….

2010-06-02T18:47:00.001+01:00

I had a little girl! There are such cute images for girls.

Sorry this is a bit blurred. Tried all different settings on my camera but no luck. I have no idea what I’m doing wrong. Must get the instruction manual out again! Anyway this is a very simple card using a stamp from Lily of the Valley, Nestabilities, Martha Stewart Loop Punch and again coloured with the copics. The papers used are from Papermania ‘Blueberry Hill’ such a pretty range, ideal for the girls.

As always, thanks for popping by

Gayle x

Cutie number 2

2010-06-01T15:00:00.001+01:00

The Bank Holiday is over too quickly! Fitted quite a bit into my day off yesterday. Shopping, two wash loads, ironing, a bit of weeding in the garden, re-strung my washing line and some crafting of course.

Had to make this 2nd image up into a card. I used the floral paper from the the Dovecraft pack I used in the ‘60’ card. The flowers again from the Tim Holtz Flowers die secured with black brads and of course one of Tim Holtz 'On the Edge' dies

Thanks for stopping by.

Gayle x

Cutie

2010-05-31T19:58:00.000+01:00

A friend had this stamp and I fell in love with it so I stamped a couple of images ready for the Copics treatment.

I hunted my stash for some yellow Gingham paper for the background but you never have what you want so I made my own using copy paper and a yellow Copic marker. Use the Chisel nib of the copic marker and if you put a few 3D foam pads on the back of your ruler you can draw down with the marker without colourng the ruler. The sunflower head is 3D and the centre of the sunflower is covered with Glossy Accents and tiny black beads dropped into it. I used the same background paper for the large flower, cut out using Tim Holtz new Flowers die and a darker copic marker to tone the centre of the flower. The leaves are hand drawn. Pearls and beads for the flower centre. Faux stitching using a pricking tool and fine nib marker. A few drops of Glossy Accents on the flower and leaves to finish of.

Thanks for stopping by.

Gayle x

Yet another………

2010-05-30T19:37:00.000+01:00

Sister wanted yet another 60th birthday card made, so everything got put on hold. I will get my copic coloured images made into cards. Something to do tonight as no work tomorrow – a day off! So in the meantime just a few pictures of the card I made. Again photos not very good and I had to delete the close ups as they came out a bit blurred. I used the Dovecraft new papers ‘Eastern Promise’ They are so lovely.

The flowers started off as plain white and coloured with copics to match the colours of the papers.

Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to post some new bits.

Thanks for stopping by

Gayle x

Birthday Card

2010-05-19T19:58:00.001+01:00

This is the card I have made for my neighbours Grandson who will be One.

I did cut into my precious Daisy D papers for this. I used one of the duck images on one sheet and drew the balloons from the plain background sheets added some Glossy Accents and fine glitter and some gold cord. Nothing too taxing as I didn’t have much time. It ended up as an easel card. Hope you like.

Quick post

2010-05-18T23:18:00.001+01:00

Evening everyone. Just a quick post this evening. I’ve just finished a card for my neighbours Grandson who will be One on Thursday. I’m not going to attempt to take any photos tonight – my bed is calling! I will post the pictures tomorrow evening. I was at a bit of a loss as to what to do , but going through my papers I came across my Daisy D collection. Up until now they were purely for looking at – I struggled as to whether I could cut into them- you know that feeling I bet! but finally took the scissors and went for it!

Until tomorrow.

Gayle x

Wedding Card

2010-05-11T00:09:00.000+01:00

I found another disc with a few cards I photographed, although some are totally out of focus – I definitely needed a few lessons in photography back then. I have made a bit of an improvement since taking these – way back when. I will make it my mission to try and take some half descent photos!

The card I’m posting tonight is a wedding card I made for my next door neighbour whose daughter was getting married.This first picture shows the box lid and the front of the card.

The colours are pinks and lilacs, stamped and chalked onto vellum. Flowers, Butterflies and Dragonflies, ribbon and a little dusting of glitter made this a very delicate card.

and a few beautiful verse stamps to finish it off.

Thank you for looking.

Gayle x

Letters Cards

2010-05-08T18:23:00.001+01:00

Its been a while but I’ve found a disc with a couple of my letter cards I did for a friend, so I thought I’d share them with you until I can get more recent work posted. Still works in progress I’m afraid, Oh if only there were a few more hours in a day!!!

This 1st one was for a birthday. I have used one of the forever friends stamps and coloured it using water colour pencils (this was before I discovered Copics!) The bear and present were decoupaged. The flowers are from one of my own stamp sets and they are held in place with a tiny brad.

This 2nd card was for a new baby. I think the beautiful elephant is from Penny Black. Again water coloured. The papers are from DCWV - Nanas Nursery (Boy) . A beautiful range of papers.

Very simple cards but can be adapted to suit all ages and occasions.

2010-05-03T22:53:00.002+01:00

Apologies for the lack of posts recently as I've been working a lot of extra hours ( I did contemplate sleeping there!) and have also been busy getting the samples finished for my next class at Scrapbook Sisters. Hopefully will get back into the swing of things later this week. T'il then, Gayle

90th Birthday

2010-04-25T22:51:00.000+01:00

Just a quick post to show the 90th Birthday card I made for a friends mum. The flowers were coloured using Copic markers and the centres are tiny beads used with glossy accents. I also used little blobs of glossy accents on the petals to give the effect of water droplets.

This week I’m going to try and get my shoes finished for the Scrapbook Sisters Challenge and get the cards made up with the copic coloured stamp images I have done. Haven’t done any crafting this weekend as I have had to work, its been a very long week!! I’ve a lot of catching up to do.

Gayle x

Flowers & Butterflies

2010-04-22T23:19:00.003+01:00

Another wedding card. That butterfly makes another appearance along with some flowers and nestabilities shapes.

Pearls and wire to finish off.

Numbers card

2010-04-20T17:00:00.001+01:00

This is another of my numbers cards made for a Golden Wedding anniversary. The beautiful Butterfly stamp is from a Martha Stewart set of clear stamps. I love butterflies and tend to use these stamps a lot. The butterflies were stamped on to patterned paper and double layered on to wire which was part coiled so there was some movement. I have made quite a lot of these cards lately. The half century celebration or not seems to be the trend in my circle of late!

I’m still trying to get the photography bit right!

Thank you for stopping by.

Gayle

Christmas wedding

2010-04-19T22:46:00.003+01:00

This was the card I made for my sister to give the happy couple for a Christmas wedding we went to. The flowers were made from torn circles of card in various sizes and I threaded through little stamens I had from my days of sugar crafting. The flowers were then dusted with Glamour Dust. This second card was made using one of my Fashion Stamps.

The colour theme for the wedding was white and deep red. The pictures aren’t brilliant as still trying to work out the newish camera.

It was a beautiful wedding at Brands Hatch Place. Fantastic venue.

And so up to date

2010-04-17T17:25:00.000+01:00

You have already seen two of the cards I did at my March Card Class and here are the final two.

I taught eveyone how to make the flowers too.

Jeans Card Class

2010-04-16T17:22:00.000+01:00

This was another class I had to repeat due to demand. Most of the colouring and shading was done with Distress Ink Pads and Cut n Dry Foam. Everyone who came also got a free magazine showing all the cards I had made for the class and instructions on how to make them. This is an ongoing feature of my classes with the photos and magazine created and supplied by Scrapbook Sisters. We are hoping to have some card kits available in the coming months so watch this space.

I really enjoyed this one. It’s nice to have some cards for men at last:)

Fashion Sets One & Two

2010-04-15T17:14:00.001+01:00

IN college I designed clothes and after finding my sketch books, I decided to make my next two sets of stamps all about fashion. Scrapbook Sisters sells all of my stamps and you can find them here.

There are over 20 card examples using these stamps so watch out for more in the coming months.

Flowers and Fauna

2010-04-14T16:56:00.002+01:00

was my second set of stamps and created a nice selection of flowers and leaves to use in loads of different projects. Here are a few.

The butterfly was made from the leaves in the set. The body of the butterfly is made of beads I made from paper.

and on one of my Jeans cards I made a small bouquet of flowers coming out of the pocket. Microbeads with glossy accents form the centers of the flowers.You will see the full card later this week.

My First Set Of Stamps

2010-04-13T16:52:00.002+01:00

Included a mannequin, tape measure, needle and loads of other images on an A5 clear sheet. Here are just a few of the examples I made.

I have loads more examples so when I find them I will show some more.

Bumble Bees and Bunnies

2010-04-12T16:48:00.001+01:00

and both really cute stamps. The techniques taught in this class was shading and dimension. See if you like these cute stamps as much as the class did.

Letter Cards are really popular

2010-04-11T16:42:00.002+01:00

and I had to repeat this class 4 times (or was it 5) because Scrapbook Sisters had the cards on show in the shop and everyone wanted to know how to make them. Here are just a very few of the ones I taught and I will add more when I find them.

And of course, I had to make some number cards too.

I fall back on this style of card time and time again for those special Birthdays and important Anniversarys. I am just finishing off another 50th and a 90th Birthday and will post these later.

Still loads more cards to come including some made with my own stamps.

My First Template Class

2010-04-10T16:35:00.000+01:00

and the inspiration for the title of my Blog. From a baby carriage to a rusty bath, one template made all of these and more. Hope you like them.

Two years ago

2010-04-09T16:30:00.000+01:00

I taught a class using these cards as examples. This was before I discovered Copic Ciaos so all of the colouring has been done using water pencils and water brushes.

I loved using these stamps by Stamps Happen.

2010-04-08T16:24:00.000+01:00

Here are a few samples of my older work. Hope you like them.

More tomorrow.

An introduction to my cards

2010-04-07T16:05:00.001+01:00

I have been making cards for Scrapbook Sisters Classes for quite a while now and have collected loads of photos of them waiting for a place to show them off. I haven't quite got the hang of the Blog yet but I am working on it and over the coming week I will share with you, some of my past work. I hope you enjoy looking and please leave me a comment. I need all the encouragement I can get:)

The colouring was done using Copic Ciaos one of my favourite tools.

Instead of using a normal straight aperture I cut around the stamped leaves to make it look like the little girl was under the trees.

More tomorrow