This is just a flying visit as I am in the middle of tax return filing season and don't have much free time at all. However, I thought I would just pop in to show you what I have been working on! I've been using a kit that is slightly out of my comfort zone - I mean, you are looking now at someone who only goes to the hairdressers twice a year for a perm and the thought of journalling about that really does not inspire me! Still, there were some lovely papers in the kit and some neat elements. But really, you need to see what I worked with, don't you?!!!
It's a kit from Nibbles Skribbles and I just love the colours in it and even though I really like the journalling tags, I didn't actually use them this time around, preferring instead to leave space for more photos in this album. Mind you, I can see some of these being really useful as the front of birthday cards and so on, so I know I will get more use out of this kit ;)!
Since it is a kit with a hairdressing theme, it just shows how versatile it is and that you don't have to do anything about hairdressing to make full use of it!
The above photos show the front and back covers. I added one of the kit clusters to the front cover, although I did have to chop off the splatter behind the cluster - I know I'm not the best fussy cutter in the world, but even the best would have had trouble cutting out a paint splatter!
These are some of the inside pages:
and here are some more:
Well, I have been trying for what seems like a month of Sundays to find the time to get this posted, as I made this a while ago, then the photos sat on my camera for ages, and the final previews have been on my hard drive for a week now.... where does the time go and why can't I have more than my fair share of it? I really do need at least 25 hours in the day and 8 days in each week to stand any chance of getting done everything I need to do.....sigh!
Anyhow, this is what I was working with:
Isn't it gorgeous?!!! I really love those colours although m,y printer didn't! Whether it was the ink or the printer settings or what, I just couldn't get them to come out right. I was obviously not doing something right, but thanks to Photoshop, the actual photos are better ;)!
This time around, I decided to make an altered tin. A friend gave me some empty cigar tins a while ago and I thought it was about time I used them so this is what I ended up with:
I'm planning on making more tags to go put inside the tin, but exactly when I will ever get around to that, your guess is as good as mine :)!!!!
Happy scrapping!
Well, I managed to persuade hubbie to let me buy two new Bigz dies in the Sizzix sale yesterday. They were such a bargain! I picked up a scalloped rectangle album for £7 instead of £28 and the reindeer which wasn't quite so much of a bargain (only reduced from £13.99 to £8.40) but I have had my eye on this for quite some time. I am now eagerly awaiting the postman, but it says on the Sizzix website it could take as long as ten days. TEN DAYS????!!!! Don't they realise I have crafting needs, Christmas will soon be here and gone and where is my reindeer? I'd like everything in the post please, preferably yesterday (even though this time yesterday I hadn't even ordered the dies....) but failing that, Monday morning...or rather early afternoon since our postman changed the order in which he does his rounds and we now have to wait until lunchtime to get any post.... Chances are I won't get these until at least the end of next week and that is if I am lucky and Sizzix haven't already run out of these dies!
So, in the absence of these much longed for dies, I decided to get crafting, get out my Big Shot and look see what I made:
Isn't that one gorgeous poinsettia and that brad is to die for. It's a Stampin' Up! antique brad and I tell you, they are absolutely gorgeous. In fact, they are so gorgeous, I just do not want to let them out of my hands and the only reason I used one here is that I can give this pillow box to my daughter for Christmas and get the wrapping (and the brad ;) ) back! If I was Gollum, these would definitely be my precious!!!
The pillow box was made using a Sizzix/Stampin' Up! pillow box die and is just big enough to hold two Cadbury fudges from a Heroes tin.... don't ask where the rest of the chocolates went to, some of them went into my son's advent calendar, and the rest...well, that's my secret! The poinsettia was made using a template from Paper Garden Designs:
The files are so easy to use but since I don't have a cutting machine, I actually used the png files, then layered papers from this kit to make the petals/leaves:
Aren't those colours gorgeous and I love those flowers! The leaves are relatively easy to cut out using scissors, so don't let the fact that you may not have a cutting machine put you off. A cutting machine is on my wish list but an iPad comes first (as and when I can afford one)!!!!
The gift tag was again made using papers from the kit and the centre of the button on that white snowflake flower in the preview but I also used the ornament png from these cutting files:
Aren't they neat? You can actually use them for gift tags or for cards and I will let you see how the cards I am in the process of making from these turn out later.
In the meantime, I need to go get the church notices started and then make some bible verse tags but before I go, I'll leave you with my new siggie for the Digichick forum that I made using the Glitter and Memories collab:
I just love that kit! It has so many scrumptious items in it!
Happy scrapping!
Just to let you all know that there is a great gift blog hop going on from Paperie, Technique Junkie, and Sweet 'n Sassy
Stamps and it is well worth a visit to each blog for some amazing Christmas inspiration!
Just take a look at this for some creative gift wrapping:
Aren't they gorgeous? You can find them HERE and also follow the links to the blog hop as well.
Happy scrapping!
Well, they have some amazing templates and cutting files at The Digichick, and I just couldn't resist having a go at making a vase and flowers. I've been wanting to make a vase for ages, and when the chance came to use a bag template (yes, you heard right, a bag template;) ), it seemed the perfect opportunity.
I used the following items, firstly this gorgeous collaboration kit from the Digichick Designers:
Then I used two sets of cutting files from Kelleigh Ratzlaff:
Well, November was really hectic (but hey, when is my life not hectic?!!!) and the bast part, apart obviously from seeing my son and his girlfriend when they came over to celebrate his birthday (awe, my baby is 27!!!!), was becoming a member of the hybrid team at The Digichick. I've loved their site for absolutely ages and was over the moon to become a team member - it is, literally, a dream come true ;). My son is well impressed (apart from my daughter and mum (she makes all her own cards too), he is the only other member of the family who takes an interest in my crafting) and I haven't even bothered telling hubbie about being on the hybrid team as he will only go on about how busy I am and how come I think I can do this and work and blah, blah, blah, blah!
Anyhow, for my first project (and tutorial!!!) I decided to make a Christmas album/planner. Yes, I am totally disorganised, and yes, I haven't done anything for Christmas yet (other than put up the mini tree in my office!) but I intend to get organised and this planner is a start..... Anyhow, if you are anything at all like me, maybe you should have a go at making one of these too?
I'm not going to go into great detail here about what, where, who and how I made it as you will be able to find it all on The Hybrid Chick blog from tomorrow (Monday). However, will show you what I used. Firstly, this is the kit I worked with:
Pretty neat for a Christmas album, eh, and perfect for a planner/organiser! I just printed off what I needed onto cardstock and paper, added double sided tape and glitter glue, and et voila, one Christmas album!!! Well, it did take a little bit longer than that to make, although to be honest, it actually took even longer to take the photos and write and post the tutorial than it did to make the album, tags and cards!
And here are the inside pages:
You will see I also made some Christmas cards and tags to go with the album. The tags were made using the kit and a selection of templates from Michelle Batton:
These are so useful and you can do so many different things with them. I reckon they would make brilliant card backgrounds once printed out - all you would have to do is add embellishments. IO just used them for journaling here, and this is what I ended up with:
I reckon I'll be able to use these for all the lists I need to make for Christmas....presents, stocking fillers, shopping list, work to do before the big day...... Can you tell I am a list kind of person?
The cards are A6 size so can fit into the album (which is A5 size) so if I am out and about, I can whip out a card for someone in no time at all ;). The cards were made with these brilliant digital stamps:
I love that music and swirls stamp and can see me using that on birthday cards in the future ;). these are the cards I made with them:
Mind you, I did add some Christmas Ornaments made with the Stampin' Up! Ornament Keepsakes bundle and the purple-y paper is from Stampin' Up! too.
Like I said earlier, if you want the full details of how to make this album, take a wander over to the Hybrid chick blog tomorrow. My album is quite plain, I didn't add any embellishments, but I am really pleased with how it turned out. Mind you, next year, I think I will make an earlier start on an album so I can dress it up somewhat!
Happy scrapping!
There are some awesome sales on Friday, and just look at what Nibbles Skribbles has on offer:
Now I don't know about you, but I love making my own calendars every year, so this is an ideal time to get some quick pages and dates, then all you have to do is add the photos and voila, one unique calendar which you can print and send as a Christmas gift. I'm actually going to go one better this year, as I am seriously considering getting these printed My printer just seems to eat ink so it must be cheaper to get someone else to print it for me plus it would save all that hassle missing around with my Bind It All trying to make sure everything is lined up perfectly!
But look at what is available:
Aren't they neat? And even better, I actually made one of them using one of Manda's kits. I'm not going to tell you which one, just see if you can guess ;). You can get them in a bundle with the grids for each month, the images and wordart at The Studio:
Everything you need (apart from the photos ;) ) to make a unique calendar! I know I am definitely going to get myself one of these and will try and get this done over the weekend! Unfortunately I have a couple of VAT returns to do before the weekend, as well as several tax returns, so scrapping will have to wait for a few days as I need to get the work done so I can get paid:(.
But I will definitely be popping over to The Studio on Friday as they will have some amazing deals......
I just love sales!!
Happy Scrapping!
Just a quick post to let you all know that I am now a Hybrid Chick over at The Digichick!
They had a hybrid team call a couple of weeks ago and I applied, hoping to get a place but not really expecting it and then at the end of last week. I was told I was one of the new team members! I am so excited at this as I just love The Digichick as they have so many gorgeous hybrid printables, templates and cutting files.
I'm not giving up any of my other CT spots though, as I just love hybrid, and enjoy so much being on the teams for The Studio, Aimee Harrison, and Nibbles Skribbles. I'm just over the moon at having so many wonderful designers to be able to pick and choose from!
Anyhow, I've got nothing to show you at the moment as everything is either still on my camera or half completed. I do have a couple of cards almost ready to show you and am half way through an altered cigar tin, but I have a craft fair on Saturday and need to make advent calendars, Christmas ornaments and cards as well as gift bags, so I reckon I'm going to be busy over the next few days;).
I'll be back as soon as I can with lots of goodies to show you ;)
Happy scrapping!
Well, did I mention that I have become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator? I joined earlier this year as I love, love, love their stamps, dies, ooh, everything! My wish list from the current catalogue is an arm long and I have to keep gradually chipping away at it otherwise I would break the bank!
On the front of the current Autumn/Winter catalogue is this ornament:
Isn't it gorgeous?!!!
I just had to have a go at this so after buying the necessary stamp set and die plus paper, tulle ribbon, twine and so on, this is my version:
I was really pleased with how it turned out, despite all the mistakes I can see so clearly in the above photos! But hey, it's a prototype and I can only get better with practice, right?!!!
If you want to know more about the ornament, see the tools you need and get a link to a video tutorial, then just go take a look at my Stampin' Up! blog http://www.heavenlycrafts.com/stampinheaven/.
It took a couple of hours to make the ornament with all the die cutting but it was definitely worth it and it actually passed the hubbie test, as he said he would put it up in the house at Christmas!
Look see what I got to play with this week:
When I first saw this, I thought, "hmmm, a hunting kit, well,....". I really wasn't sure whether or not I would be able to do anything with this, but when you open the collection up, there are some amazing elements in there:
- Deer, stags, bear, eagle, rabbit
- Grenades (which you can turn into Christmas ornaments......)
- A tree (or a Christmas tree in my case ;))
- Leaves
- Ribbons
- Mats
- Stamps
- Jeep
- Binoculars
- Buttons
- Targets
All you would need, in fact for a hunting kit and more beside. So what do you do when faced with a kit like this? Obviously, you make some Christmas and birthday cards with a little bag to put them in!!!
I made in total seven 3" x 3" cards with plain white envelopes (made all by myself using my Stampin' Up! Simply Scored Scoring Tool (and try saying that quickly ;)!!! So, here are the birthday cards:
That is my attempt at a make birthday card! The Happy Birthday was made using the alpha from the kit and then covered with glitter glue after printing. The whole base of the card was actually printed and I cut out two extra deer to make a slight 3D effect. I also used distress ink on the sides of the card background.
Then I did the more girly cards using the mats and papers in the kit?
And this is the close up (don't you just love those mats?!!!):
Then the Christmas cards:
You can see I used the grenades as ornaments and covered them with glitter glue. Well, I really didn't want to do a hunting card so Christmas ornaments seemed like the next best thing ;). The base for the first card was printed out hence the pins on the grenades...do you think anyone has noticed them?!! I also added glitter glue to the background as you really can't have a Christmas card without glitter, now can you?!
Here's a close up of the tree card:
Not bad from a hunting kit, eh?!!
I then used some red card stock to create a plain bag to hold all seven cards and their envelopes (made from plain copy paper cut down to 5" x 5" and scored diagonally at 2.25" on each side):
The bag was so easy to use as I just printed a template I found on the Split coast Stampers website and cut it out. I made the handles from the scrap card stock and attached them using brads in my stash.
So, next time you see a kit and you aren't too sure what you can use it for, just remember the possibilities are endless. I reckon you can use any kit for just about any theme as this has shown!
Well, it's late Sunday night now and a glass of red wine is loudly calling my name, so I'm off to drink it!
Happy scrapping!
Yesterday, I was supposed to finalise a set of accounts and fun a payroll but oh, boy, I really didn't want to. after all, it was Saturday why should I have to work on a Saturday? Saturday is a time for playing...............so that is just what I did (Ssshh! Don't tell my hubbie ;!) ).
I spent the afternoon messing in Photoshop using the following kit from Armina Designs and Laitha's Designs:
I was actually given the full collection bundle to work with as I fell in love with the accent clusters (shown in the centre of the collection bundle preview below)when I saw them:
But actually, when I downloaded the kit and took a closer look, it was absolutely gorgeous. I'd not seen any of Armina Designs' work before and I have to say it is really lovely. The papers are amazing, truly amazing and really, the preview just does not do them justice. I dream of being able to create papers like some of the ones in this kit, so go take a look, I can promise you that you won't be disappointed!
I knew before I got the bundle that I wanted to make some cards using the accent clusters but I could not resist using the papers too. So, I made a set of eight cards and have had dreadful trouble trying to photograph them - I actually spent. less time making the cards than I did taking the photos! Despite photographing some of these outside this morning, I just could not get it right. Probably the damp, misty morning and using my purple stamping pad didn't help, so I had to discard those. Then I tried inside my office (100% artificial light :(). I managed to get this one:
However, you can see that these are far from perfect so I tried again just taking a shot of each card....the following close ups are a mixture of the least worst photos!
See what I mean about the papers:
I know it has come up with a purple tinge, but isn't that one of the most gorgeous papers you've ever seen? All I had to do was add ribbon and the card didn't need anything else. And take a look at this one:
I used a Stampin' Up! stamp and punch for this although really, it didn't need it as the paper speaks for itself!
For the accent clusters, all I did was print the cards and add some Stampin' Up! Dazzling Details Silver Sparkle (silver glitter glue in other words!):
It is such a quick and easy way to the clusters and make a simple but effective card. For the cards made using the clusters, I just added pearls and gems:
Genuinely, it has taken longer to take the photos and blog about the cards than it did top make them! If you've ever had any doubts about your capabilities as a card maker, then just try doing something similar yourself, it is so quick and easy with a digital kit, and if you have some ribbon, brads and so on in your stash, you can really make the printed card pop!
I have my eye on another kit now, so am off to ban that one! Have a lovely Sunday afternoon, and if you do make some cards, let me have a look! I'd love to see them :)
Happy scrapping!
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