Accordion Album Summer Birthday Card

I kept seeing Karen Burniston's lovely new Textured Impressions 'Birds & Banners' Set out the corner of my eye this afternoon... calling me to make something with it! 

This was a pretty quick card to make - 4 white cardstock Accordion Album sections, decorated with papers from Crate Paper's 'Pretty Party' Pad (cut using the 'Frame & Label, Bracket' die), and then with DCWV white core textured card stock for the centre panels. I embossed each centre, then sanded them to give the white distressed effect.

 The leafy embossing folder is a Sizzix Basic Grey one (with the co-ordinating 'Flower & Leaf #3' Sizzlit to cut the leaf on the yellow panel), and the tree embossing folder is by Craft Concepts.

 I also used Karen's 'Birds on a wire' die for the two birds sitting on the bunting, and a Tim Holtz stamp on card cut from Nestabilities Labels #1.

The challenge at Country View Crafts, is to use Die Cuts, so I am entering this card, and also at Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge Blog where there is a Birthday challenge.
The challenge at Simon Says Stamp & Show is based around the 'Letter S'. My S's for this card are Summer & Sizzix!

Pop 'n Cuts 3-D Chair & Window Card (with Tutorial)

Well, I've just about caught up with unpacking, laundry, clearing up the wreckage that was our house and catching up on emails... which definitely calls for some crafting!

I wanted to make a thank you card for my friend Becca, who sent me the beautiful sewing roll-up in the post below. We both like fabric, so I wanted to incorporate some into the card.

I used Karen Burniston's new 3-D Chair Pop n Cuts insert for the card base.

The lighting for these pictures isn't great, so you can't really see here, but I used the companion Textured Impression mat folder from the Foyer set, as well as the Phrase, Friends Sizzlit.

I've been asked quite a bit recently how I make my cards, so I've tried to take more pictures this time of what I did.

I wanted to use the Small Madison Window by Poppy Stamps on the card, but needed a little bit more height in the card back, so I placed the top cutting pad lower than the top cutting edge on the Pop 'n Cuts die, and then could cut a slightly taller card back, myself. (This picture shows the cutting pad position without the paper.)

I put the window where I wanted it to go, and marked in the windows,

then cut around the window area with a craft knife.

I made the curtains by cutting rectangles of Tanya Whelan fabric, then gathering the tops and stapling them into place.

After adding the window frame, and a layered window sill and window top, I stuck on the curtains with a Scotch ATG. I just kind of arranged the fabric how I wanted it, and then squashed it down on to the adhesive. Afterwards I folded two small rectangles of fabric into two tubes, and glued them down to hide the staples.

I cut a separate chair, and stuck it onto the card base chair.

(Oh I enjoyed this bit!!) I made a teeny cushion from some more Tanya Whelan fabric, by folding over a rectangle (right sides together), and sewing 2.5 sides, turning the fabric right side out, then pushing out the corners with a pencil.

I stuffed the cushion a little, then just glued close the opening.

I wanted to use more fabrics on the card, and so had a go at embossing some felt to make a mat. I ran it through the Big Shot forwards and backwards a few times, and it worked!! I just cut out the mat shape and glued it down with fast-drying glue.

I added the word Friend, cut from paper-backed satin, and stamped the 'Thank you'.

I'd planned to make a scene behind the window, but actually liked being able to see through it, so I lined up the inside and outside card layers, and drew where the window would be onto the outside card layer, then cut it out (a tiny bit wider than the pencil line.)

It worked pretty well, but when I had stuck the two parts together, you could see a bit of the window surrounds from the outside of the card, so I die cut another window, and stuck it to the outside of the card. (I rounded off the top corners with a Zutter Round-it-all.)

I cut a little plant pot by hand, and drew round it a couple of times, to give me two rims. (The plant pot would be seen from both sides, hence two of them.)

I then punched some vellum flowers, and layered them, bending up the top petals, and adding adhesive pearls. I stuck a couple of the flowers back-to-back, so there would be flowers showing through the window, on the inside of the card too. I added a punched leaf stem, and the tag, for a simple outside of the card.

Looking through the window, outside!

(Forgot to mention that I have kept the cushion loose, so that I can take it out of the chair crease when I post it, so the card can fold down flat. The recipient can arrange the cushion themselves!)
The challenge at Country View Crafts, is to use Die Cuts, so I am entering this card, and also at Simon Says Stamp & Show, where there is a fun 'Letter S' challenge. My 'S' is undoubtedly Sizzix!!

Products used:

   

Eeeeeek!!!

 I received an incredible present in the post this morning, from my best friend from University, Becca.

I opened it, and just kept saying 'Oh My Goodness!!' - totally amazed at her kindness and the time she must have spent on it!

It's a beautiful roll up sewing bag, and all of it is completely hand sewn!

I love the crocheted loop that goes round the button even...

A top flap opens up to reveal a whole tonne of lovely things inside!

What a thoughtful, beautiful present - thank you Becca!

I also got back from holiday to find a lovely crafty gift from Jeanette from Canada, who I've met through blogging - I have plans for what she sent which I'll post on here soon! Many thanks for your kindness too Jeanette!

Yay!! By tomorrow evening we will be here, at our house in Brittany, France. (It's a holiday home we share with my parents, brother and my friend's parents.)

No more cards for a couple of weeks (or internet, or phone!), but I will be making some progress on my hand-stitched hexi quilt...

'Friends' card from Karen Burniston's Journey Collection

A quickie card made this afternoon, using Karen Burniston's 'Phrase, Friend 3-D' Pop 'n Cuts insert die, in the Square Card base - both from her super new 'Journey' collection.

I cut the inner layer by hand to make it framed round the edges, and used the new companion Sizzlit die 'Phrase, Friends' on some satin coated paper. The Sizzlit is great, because it allows you to have the 's' as optional, so you can say 'Friend' or 'Friends' as needed.

 I added a couple of little birds from the Birds on a Wire die, also by Karen. The 'to' die is from Cuttlebug 'Olivia' set, and the 'You' is by Simon Says Stamp.

 The glittery scroll is an additional cut-out on the Square Card Pop 'n Cuts base die.

The paper is from K&Co 'CutNpaste' pad, and I used one of the roses in it to create a bit of decoupage.

Pop 'n Cuts 3-D Chair card

I made this card using another of Karen Burniston's new Pop 'n Cuts inserts, from her Journey collection, the '3-D Chair' - another super fun one!!

I have an arm chair and chaise longue here at home in a very similar fabric to the fabric-effect paper which I used on this little armchair, and the whole scene sprung up around that.

The papers are First Edition's 'Floral Pavilion', and I used Crate Paper's 'Pretty Party' for the little girl in the Melissa Frances frame, and the woodgrain paper.

I also used the companion 'Foyer Set' of Textured Impressions embossing folders. I used them to emboss different pieces of cardstock, which I cut out and added Tim Holtz Distress Paint to, and then layered up on foam pads. This created the little side table, lamp, and rug. (I added silver Liquid Pearls to the lamp pull, to make it look like a chain.)

 I made a little tea tray, with cupcake on a plate by hand, and added a handwritten note.

 I also added little birthday cards to the side table... cards within a card! (I'll probably take great delight in writing tiny messages in them once I've decided who the card is for... I'm easily pleased!)

For the pillow, I put the cardstock on the blank foam area of a Bigz die, and used a ball tool to sculpt it a bit, then I put several foam pads behind it, to keep it 'plumped up' and then tape runner round the edges to stick it down. I put a little slit in it, to fit round the arm of the chair.

Dies from the Karen's new Journey collection should be in shops by the first week of June. They are brilliant!!

As the papers were almost all from 6x6 pads I'll put the card into Simon Says Stamp & Show's 'A little paper' challenge.

I used Distress ink round the edges of each piece, did lots of paper piecing, and used dry embossing - to go along with Crafty Cardmaker's Challenge to use three different techniques.

Products used:

   

Hot Chocolate card using Pop 'n Cuts 'Mug & Heart' Insert from Journey Collection

 When I first saw pictures of Karen Burniston's new Journey collection of Sizzix cutters, I really loved the look of this 'Mug & Heart, 3-D' Pop 'n Cuts insert... it is so much fun! 

We aren't tea or coffee drinkers, so I immediately thought of a hot chocolate themed card. I used the new Square Card Pop 'n Cuts base die, and layered the fancy edge on it a couple of times.

 For the mug part itself, I added the little hearts from the new 'Flower & Heart' Magnetic die set (which has got to be one of my favourite ever dies!!) I love how there is an opening in the mug insert, which allows you to add lots of the smaller magnetic Movers and Shapers dies to the design of the mug!

I used some adhesive foam stuff (I think it's for lining drawers with, or something) to cut mini marshmallows from, and then added some glittery steam wisps, also from the 'Flower & Heart' magnetic set.

The sentiments I printed from the computer, and the chocolatey themed paper is from K&Co 'cutNpaste'.

I did a simple design on the front of the card (and even a little bit on the back! - that is a first for me!) The pink scrolly pieces are from Karen's new 'Edge & Scroll' Bigz die, and are going to make decorating the new Square Pop 'n Cuts base card really easy.

I made a little pocket on the front too, to hold a sachet of hot chocolate - a nice little extra for someone feeling a bit under the weather. The gift tag I cut from the new 'Wavy Labels' Framelits, and punched  a whole for some twine, and added a heart cut from the 'Flower & Heart' magnetic die.

I made the pocket by scoring some card as follows, and making a little bottom piece, and sticking it all together with my Scotch ATG tape runner. The card is quite bulky, but easy enough to post in a padded envelope.

Butterfly Card with dies from Karen Burniston's new 'Journey' collection

Was I just a little bit excited when I got home this afternoon, and found this package waiting for me? Errr..... YES!!!!!!!!!

All of Karen Burniston's new 'Journey' collection for Sizzix, which is due in the shops next month!!

It is just the most fantastic assortment of Pop 'n Cuts dies, accompanying Bigz, Sizzlit, Movers & Shapers and Framelit dies, plus some gorgeous Textured Impressions Embossing folders.

I've had kids to run all over the place this afternoon, which goes to show just how easy the dies are to use and put together a card from... this was a very quick card, made in between rushing around.

(I apologise for the atrocious lighting and photos - it has been so gloomy and dull here today.)

The card uses the new Pop 'n Cuts 'Card, Square with Ornate Edge' base die. It is wider and shorter than the original Pop 'n Cuts base die, which I really like, and it also cuts the scrolly end pieces...bonus!

 I used the base die with the new 'Butterfly Window, 3-D' insert, and it not only makes the beautiful pop-out butterflies inside, but the larger butterfly becomes part of the front of the card too. This is brilliant, as I am so lazy about decorating the outside of my Pop 'n Cuts cards! I literally just added a piece of card to cover the opening created when the butterflies are cut, and a couple of glitter swirls from Tim Holtz's 'Festive Greenery' die.

 I then added a couple of layers of vellum butterflies, cut with Karen's new 'Butterflies & Labels' Bigz die. They are just a little smaller than the background butterflies, so you get a nice frame around them.

I also used the old 'Bookplates, Traditional' Sizzix Originals die, to house the stamped sentiment.

 Lastly I added a few more swirls to the larger butterfly, and some pearls. I will definitely be using these dies a lot in the future - love them! Karen Burniston has well and truly done it again!!

Accordion Album & Copic Birthday Card

I wanted to do some Copic colouring last night, and so stamped and coloured these images made by Purple Onion stamps. I always like how much you can fit on Karen Burniston's Sizzix Accordion Album - by adding on as many panels as you like. I also used the Frame & Label, Bracket die to cut the surrounding patterned paper, and white central panels. The cloud die is by Papertrey Ink.

 Papers were mainly from Crate Paper's Story Teller 6x6 pad (and I'm putting the card into Simon Says Stamp & Show's 'A little paper' challenge).

I used Distress ink round the edges of each section and outer frame, did paper piecing with the stamped images, and also made my own little flowers for the layered flower - to go along with Crafty Cardmaker's Challenge to use three different techniques.

Hydrangeas Tag

Just a quick post, to show you my first ever decorated tag, made at the weekend.

I'm not entirely sure what you are supposed to do with these big tags, but it was fun to make - daubing everything with white Tim Holtz Distress paint!

I realised I had used Eileen Hull's 'Hydrangeas and Borders' die a lot for cutting borders, but never actually used it for flower die cuts, so that was my starting point.