Playing with Calligraphy

I felt like practicing dip pen calligraphy the other day, so copied some calligraphy quotes from Pinterest. 

I used my trusty 'Blue Pumpkin' nib (the Brause No.361 nib or 'Steno' nib) along with an ink reservoir which I took from a Brause Bandzug nib. This increases the time I can write for without re-dipping, by loads. This nib doesn't create lines quite as fine as the popular Brause 66EF nib, but to me it's a much more reliable, smooth nib.

Love wet ink!

Papertrey Ink Cat & Smooched Distress Ink Birthday Card

The third card I made yesterday features a cat die and stamp from Papertrey Ink.

I made the background panel by 'smooching' Distress Inks. To do this, I put a few dabs of ink from the pad onto a non-stick craft sheet, spritzed it with water, and then lifted up some of the ink with a clear acetate sheet. I then dabbed the ink down onto my white cardstock.

I liked doing it this way (rather than just rubbing the white cardstock directly into the ink) because it gives you greater control with where you put the ink, and you can see what's going on.

I did this four times with four separate inks: Festive Berries, Picked Raspberry, Spiced Marmalade and Mustard Seed.

For the cat, I die cut white card, stamped the cat on it, then stamped the cat two more times on patterned paper, and cut round one for the whole body, and another for just the head which I attached with foam pads.

 For the 'Happy Birthday', I put wide double sided tape from Elizabeth Craft Designs onto black cardstock, and die cut it with a Paper Smooches Birthday Words die, and stuck them down, along with a couple of sequins.

I coloured a piece of white cardstock with Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink, to create the orange border, then stuck this with foam pads to a pink card base.

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Karen Burniston Cake Pop Up Birthday Card

So I actually managed to make three cards during my crafting session today... (I also made three different curries for dinner - it's been a cards 'n' curry kind of day!) Anyway, for my second card, I used one of Karen Burniston's brilliant die sets, the Cake Pop Up set.

I cut the pop up cake die into some gorgeous My Mind's Eye Jubilee Collection Mint Julep patterned paper with foil hearts, and cut my own shapes for the three cake layers. I used the middle candle support to attach the top cake layer to, and added a larger candle from the Gift Card Accordion die set.

I used the scalloped dies in the set to add icing to the cake layers, and added an extra layer which I had trimmed down, to the top of the cake stand, for dimension.

I used the 'Celebrate' die from the Flourish Gift Frame die set, and one of Karen's older Sizzix dies for the curly borders.

I added sequin trim (from Stampin' Up), and blended on Festive Berries Distress Ink around the edges of the card, which the foil hearts on the patterned paper resisted beautifully.

I then added a string of bunting at the top of the card.

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Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Mixed Media Thinlits & Craft Asylum Butterfly Card

I finally set aside some time for crafting today (I have so much Fire Fighting studying to do), and thoroughly enjoyed myself! I bought some Tim Holtz products this week, and had my first go at blending Distress Inks... SO much fun!

I blended an orange/red/pink background first of all, using Festive Berries, Spiced Marmalade and Picked Raspberry mini ink pads. (I bought four of the Distress Ink Mini Kits, and bought another eight individual mini pads, to get the colour range I wanted, plus two storage tins.)

I squirted some water from a mini mister into my hand and dropped it into the background to create some texture on it.

I cut another white cardstock panel with one of the Mixed Media Thinlits dies, and coloured it by blending Cracked Pistachio, Tumbled Glass and Peacock Feathers.

I layered the above two cardstock layers onto a third layer which I coloured with Walnut Stain, for a narrow border.

I bought enough Mini Ink Blending Tool foam pads so that each ink has its own, which I store in the bottom of the ink pad (they fit perfectly).

I cut some white cardstock Sizzix Craft Asylum Meadow Butterfly parts, and had a lovely time blending ink on them! Highly therapeutic!

I cut some turquoise cardstock leaves with Paper Smooches Foliage 1 dies, and layered them underneath a couple of butterflies.

Here are the ink colours I chose...

I absolutely love the vibrant colours of the ink, and the way they blend!

Finally, I added the word 'Hello' from Tim Holtz's Handwritten Celebrate Thinlits die set.

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Karen Burniston's Oval Landscape Accordion Card, with Crate Paper's Confetti Collection Flowers

I haven't had much time for crafting lately, but I've finished the course now which I've been on all this year (I passed it, and am now an On-Call Fire Fighter!), so have finally had chance to play!

I used Karen Burniston's lovely new Oval Landscape Accordion die set for the four panels, and for the oval layer.

Talking of Karen, I finally got to meet her last month at the Stitches show at the NEC, England!!
 Donna Wright (of Old Red Shed) and I went down for the weekend, and met up with Karen, as well as Caz Counsell, from Karen's Design Team. We had a brilliant weekend and it was so nice to finally meet good friends! 

 Back to the card... I re-cut each of the panels in patterned papers, and used them to decorate the frames. The papers are from My Mind's Eye's 'The Sky's the Limit' 12x12 Collection, and from Stampin' Up.

I used dies from Crate Paper's Confetti Collection 'Flowers' Die Set, for the layered flowers and leaves.

The 'thanks' die is from Mama Elephant.

I attached the flower which overlaps the join between the last two panels, just onto the oval of the last panel, so that when the card is closed the flower can float outwards, and not impede the closing.

I love these flowers!

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Pop it Ups Hot Air Balloon Card with Tanya Whelan 'Wild Rose' Craft Consortium Papers

I had a lovely package in the post recently - new dies and stamps by Karen Burniston for Elizabeth Craft Designs! 

I thought the Hot Air Balloon die set would look lovely with Tanya Whelan's new 'Wild Rose' papers for Craft Consortium.

The die set includes a die for creating a pop-up step part, dies for the balloon, and extra cloud dies.

(The largest cloud die is by Papertrey Ink.)

I used a Sizzix die for the sentiment, using Elizabeth Craft Design's Soft Finish card stock, with double sided tape on the back.

I hand cut some floral paper into a cloud outline, for the bottom of the card, and added some layers of ribbon, pom-pom trim and glitter card.strips.

The new Hot Air Balloon die set.

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Sizzix Step-Ups Card with new Craft Consortium Tanya Whelan Papers

I posted yesterday about a lovely new Tanya Whelan paper collection from Craft Consortium, called 'Wild Rose' and today I have another card I made using papers from it. (It's available here and here.)

I used Sizzix's Basic Step-Ups Card die set for the card base and layers, and Sizzix's 'Floral Wreath' Thinlits die set from Brenda Walton for the butterflies, banner and smaller leaves.

The 'thanks' die is from Mama Elephant, and the flowers and larger leaves are from a Crate Paper 'Flowers' die set.

You can see the details of the steps better here. I punched holes and added eyelets, through which I strung Baker's Twine, to hang some bunting.

I stuck on the die cut elements with foam pads, and added two layers of 'thanks' die cuts, to stiffen it up a bit.

The 'Floral Wreath' die set I used.

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Sizzix Card in a Box with Craft Consortium's Tanya Whelan 'Wild Rose' Papers

I was delighted to receive a beautiful 12x12 paper pad recently from the new UK craft company, Craft Consortium. The collection is called 'Wild Rose' by the wonderful American designer Tanya Whelan, and both the designs and the quality of the papers are simply gorgeous. They're available already from a few places, including here and here. The papers include a variety of finishes and are all double sided.

I made this card using papers from the collection, and Sizzix's Card in a Box die.

The large cardstock roses which I used to decorate the card, also came from the paper pad. The front cover folds open and is printed with lots of glossy roses which you can cut out.

I added three partitions inside the box card, adhering roses to the front and back ones, and a clear acetate panel to the middle partition, to which I adhered the 'Birthday' die cut.

The 'Happy Birthday' dies are from Marianne Designs.

I used an envelope maker to make the envelope with more paper from the pad. The box card folds down flat. (By happy accident my nail polish matches the card! ...Since Christmas I have new hobby - namely Essie nail polishes!)

The bow was made with a Stampin' Up punch.

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Clint Eastwood Accordion Christmas Card

This card will probably seem a bit random, but my husband chats with an old guy in a wheelchair at church, who thinks Scott looks like Clint Eastwood (I can't say I'd noticed the similarity myself!) Anyway, Scott has gone to visit him today, and wanted to take him a Clint Eastwood Christmas card. We'd had a look on the internet for one, but didn't find very much, so I quickly made this one this morning...

I used Karen Burniston's Gift Card Accordion die set for the card base, and used a rectangle from the Flourish Gift Frame die set to cut out a photo I'd printed of Clint.

For my adaptation of one of his catch phrases, I used the Alpha 1 - Caps set, with double-sided tape on the back, and the 'Christmas' from Karen's Merry Christmas Pop Up set.

I used a punch for the holly leaves, and a snowflake from Crafter's Companion Die'sire Snowflakes die set.

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Purple Onion Design Gingerbread Man Christmas Card

 A quick little Christmas card idea today, with stamps from Purple Onion Designs, and Crafter's Companion Die'sire Snowflakes die set.

I added Stickles to the snowflake, and coloured the gingerbread man with Copics, cut him out, them coated him with Crackle Accents. For the sentiment, I stamped it in VersaMark ink, used white embossing powder, and added some Stickles after it was heat set.

I bought the bells from Ebay, and tied them up with Baker's twine.

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Karen Burniston's December Designer Challenge 'Home for the Holidays' Gingerbread House Stand Up Card

 It's the last Designer Challenge of the year, and this month the theme is 'Home for the Holidays'.

I know I've done gingerbread house cards in the past, but I really enjoy them, and thought I'd make one on a pop stand this time. (Apologies for the gloomy photos - it's a dismally grey day here today.)

This will be my last spot on Karen's Design Team for a while, as I'm taking a break while I get on with my Fire Fighter training in the new year! I'll look forward to seeing what the rest of the team come up with in 2016!!

I started with some card 6 inches wide, and cut the pop stand from the Barn Pop Stand set into it.

I stuck a folded over piece of card to the two sides of the pop stand to make a background for me to stick my scene to. I started off with some trees cut from the Outdoor Edges set.

I used dies from the Holiday House set to make a house with two additional wings to it, and outlined everything with dots of Liquid Pearls.

I added another layer of snowdrifts either side if the house, and cut a path by hand.

I added strips of card from First Edition's 'Nordic Christmas' 12x12 pad to the borders of the card, and added a couple of bows, with a snowflake decoration.

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Wreath Christmas Card, with Purple Onion Design Calligraphy Stamp (by me!)

 I have a simple Christmas card to share today, with a new stamp from Purple Onion Designs, from the 'Helen's Hand - Holiday Sentiment Set'.
I'm the Helen of 'Helen's Hand'! I did some calligraphy sentiments a while back, which Michele from Purple Onion Designs made into stamps! It's a bit strange seeing my own handwriting in stamp form, but very exciting! There is also another set, called 'Helen's Hand - Everyday Sentiment Set'.

We have all been taking it in turns to be ill in my house for about the last month, so not much card making has been going on - hence just a simple one today. I'll hopefully have more of a chance to play with my new stamps at some point!

I used Tim Holtz Boxwood Twine for the wreath, and a Stampin' Up punch for the bow.

Stacey Yacula Tree House Pop it Ups Card

I have a little Lorna Label Pop it Ups card today, featuring some of Stacey Yacula's newest stamps at Purple Onion Designs... Flora the owl, and a fabulous Treehouse.

Also, you have until tomorrow to buy any Purple Onion Design stamps at 25% discount!

I coloured with Copics, though I stamped the Treehouse onto kraft card, and coloured the windows white with a Signo Uniball pen. I cut all the pieces out by hand.

I used a Stampin'Up scalloped punch for the edges, and added some Tim Holtz tinsel.

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Stacey Yacula

Pop it Ups Accordion & Purple Onion Design Christmas Card

Here's another Christmas card I made, using Karen Burnison's new Gift Card Accordion die, teamed with the Flourish Gift Frame, and stamps from Purple Onion Designs.

I used a metallic coppery card for the flourish frames, and added a little arrangement in the bottom left-hand corner using punches, including the Martha Stewart Branch punch.

I coloured the bunny and bridge with Copics and added Stickles for some glittery detail. I used dies from the Flourish Gift Frame die set to create the glitter background layer, and the green and white layers on the other side.

I used these stamps on the other page: 'Have yourself a merry little Christmas', MERRY, and Jungle Bells, using inks from Stephanie Barnard.

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