Friday 27 July 2012

Thank You Tilda


I haven't managed to use Tilda in a long while but I have remedied this today and whilst this cutie was designed as a Christmas image (So Jolly - Unwrapped Tilda), I thought she was perfect for any occasion where opening presents was applicable.  I reckon she has crafting goodies in that box of hers. LOL.  Anyway, she was coloured to match in with these gorgeous papers by Corrinne Silke using Promarkers and Trias. You might have to look carefully, but I tore the edges of my papers (very carefully!!!) and gave them a bit of a 'ruffle' - just enough to give a bit of a white texture at the edges.  I then got the sewing machine out and ran a wavy line over the main dp before adding a straight sewn border to the image itself.

I made the card base using my Cameo so that I cut out a 'Thank You' border (using the Eras Bold font this time). The base comprises of a square card front attached to a separate back piece which is slightly smaller in width than the front so that all the cut-work can be seen to full advantage. I then made the insert to match the shaping too. Although I made the sentiment lettering 'For You' myself, I set it into a fancy shaped tag from Bird's Cards. This tag is actually longer than the original so I adapted it to accommodate my lettering by welding a rectangle into it using the Silhouette Studio software but then did the exact opposite for the two little decorative elements to the side of the image, as I cut those down.


For the insert, I replicated the image but made it lighter so it was more like a watermark in the background before adding my own sentiment over it. The insert shape replicates the back of the card shape so doesn't reach all the way across like a regular insert.


Hope you like it (certainly hope the recipient does!) & thanks for visiting my blog today and taking the time to leave a comment.

Tine :)

Challenges:
Sketch Saturday - design sketch
Digital Tuesday - photo inspiration
Paper & Such - stitching, real or faux
Crazy4stitching, real or faux
CRAFT - stitching
Tilda's Town - name the techniques - tearing, creating cut files/using Cameo, layering, sewing
Sassy Cheryl - polka dots (very subtle ones admittedly in the dp)
Love to Create - spots & dots (see above...LOL)
Allsorts - distressing (tore papers)
Papertake - make your own (cut files to make card base)
ABC - use 2 (2 papers, 2 cut files for card base, 2 images)
Stamptacular Sunday - dies (digi cutter)
Digital Tuesday's inspirational picture.
Inky Impressions - dies/punches 
Aud Sentiments - sentiment on a tag
DYSU - for a friend
Card Makin' Mamas - recipe 1 image, 2 papers, 3 embellishments.
CMC - anything goes with a girly twist (& use markers to colour)
Jackson's Digital Expressions - anything goes
Crafts & Me - anything goes.


Thursday 26 July 2012

Shall We Dance


Yep, another one that has been a labour of love this week as I think I had to make a fair number of separate cut files for this one before I even got my Promarkers out! Think it is 7 cut files in total - not to mention one from Bird's Cards.

The bit I hope you focus on first of all, is of course the image and I am sure you will recognise it as being from LOTV and is actually called 'Shall We Dance'. This cuddly two-some giving Fred & Ginger a run for their money were coloured with Promarkers (and one Tria marker, LOL) & I kept the colour-scheme relatively subtle, highlighting my elements with gold.

The layout is actually one from CLP (but June's therefore not the current one), so I had better go into my layers in more detail.  Behind the image is a scalloped frame I made especially to fit my image and behind that is a doily - another of my designs but you can only see the edges of it!!!  LOL.  This rests on an embossed strip which I then ran an ink pad over for colour and definition.  The horizontal elements I hoped would give a theatrical overtone to the overall design consists of 2 cut files, made by my good self, of course. :)  Well, as if anyone else would be daft enough to go to all this trouble for one card. LOL.  The one stripy dp is from Bearly Mine matted onto felt-hammered card. This medley of layers rests on the card's front base - cut out of some of my fav pearlescent card stock & using yet another of my own cut files for a scalloped loop border. This was then embellished with gold peel-offs, including those tiny ones dotted about (which were actually the residue from the chain-like peel off border). Waste not, want not, I say. LOL.  The 3 flowers were cut using a design from Bird's Cards and were inked to varying degrees.


I then had to make the back of the card, yes, another separate cut file which echoes the design elements of the front with a scalloped - looped edge to stand on and a smaller scallop at the other side, similar to the scallop of the image's frame.  There is a good reason why this is a different file - I wanted to get it to fit onto a single A4 piece of card and so needed to be necessarily smaller.  The paper insert is yet another cut file  incorporating a sentiment from Netty's Cards. I made this to follow same design as the back of the card but a little smaller so that you can see the scalloped edges on the card behind. I then inked the edges of the insert before attaching.


So, this anniversary card is going to my sister-in-law who says she keeps all the cards I send her so at least all my efforts won't end up in the bin after a couple of days! Hope you like it.

Tine :)

Challenges I would like to enter this card for are:
I ♥ Promarkers - gold, silver & bronze (all or just one)
Lili's Little Fairies - a touch of romance
Totally Stampalicious - texture
Stamp With Fun - lace doily
Truly Madly Crafty - animals
Hanna & Friends - celebrate
CardMadFairy - photo insp
Stamp & Create - something in their hands (each other, aw....)
Papertake - make it your own (made my own cut files, card base, flowers & decorative elements)
Inky Impressions - dies/punches
Stamptacular Saturday - dies (digi cutter)
Jackson's Digital Expressions - anything goes
Crafts & Me - anything goes
Crafty Bloggers Network - anything goes
Inspire Me Fridays - anything goes.

Sunday 22 July 2012

Twins First Birthday


Where did that first year go?!?  Did I have a shock when I realised the twins were about to reach their milestone first birthday - & what is more, that I was relatively unprepared and had to make a card pronto. Doesn't seem that long since I gave their parents the card I made to celebrate their birth (created well in advance that one, LOL), and a blink of an eye for their Christening card & box.  Had to act quickly - & this is what I came up with. :)


First of all I made my own card base, welding a large number 1 (basically constructed from 3 rectangles), onto one side before cutting out from white woven-textured cardstock using the Cameo. Having remembered to replicate my large number '1' before welding, I then created my welded names to set into the individual number along with a 'dashed line' above & below the lettering.  The font I used is called 'David'.  Once layered with coordinating card beneath I think it makes it look like sewing or that there is ribbon threaded through. The large numbers were mounted using foam tape for stability as well as dimension.  I also used the Cameo to create the small photo corner to pop on the top edge of the image's mat, the image's mat and also the image itself which was done as a print & cut. I could have cut it by guillotine or knife of course, but this way I knew both required copies of the image would be cut identically. In the interests of frugality as well as design, I dotted some of the cut out 'dashes' from the figure '1's beneath my papers for yet another ultra-thick 'sewing' line.


The image is by Mo Manning and is called, 'I Love It'. Cutie isn't she?  I am sure virtually everyone knows by now that I will have coloured her with Promarkers, LOL, and like the colours of card I chose for each variation, I coloured the two-some the same, but differently.

The other card is identical inside apart from the name which is written in pink rather than lilac.
The two digital dps which match my shimmering cardstock are from Karen's Scraps & Graphics and I kept a relatively simple format for the inside of my cards this time around, using two sentiments from Cindy Close on one side and adding a suitable verse to the other before giving the edges a nice deckled finish.


Thanks for visiting.
Tine :)

Challenges I wish to enter these cards for are:
Mo's Digital - hugs & kisses
Bearly Mine - girly
Papertake - all things girlie
Squirrel & Fox - kids/babies
Cards Und More - pink/no flowers
Crop Stop - photo corners
Hanna & Friends - celebrate
Simply Create Too - use it 2 times at least (no probs - everything in duplicate!)
Stamptacular Sunday - to die for (digi cutter)
Perfect Sentiment - (I hope the girls' names count as the front sentiment) - anything goes
CMC (use alcohol markers) - anything goes with a girly twist
Divas By Design - anything goes
Paper Shelter - anything goes
Jackson's Digital Expressions - anything goes.

Thursday 19 July 2012

Wedding Gift


This project is for my niece's wedding present with the big day going to take place at the end of next week.  She didn't want a present as such, having well equipped her house already, so money it will have to be and this is the relatively elaborate creation I came up with to put it in to give her.  Yes, in real life it is a medley of whites, but because the main card is Crafter's Companion Accents, it has a flecked sheen to it and the camera is picking up its bluey hues.



The colour-scheme on the inside you might recognise as I have used blue for all the wedding - themed items I have made this year but I wanted them all to match. So this project is really part 3 of the items I have made for the same wedding, (the card being here and it's matching box, here).  Just glad I got the other things made in good time.  Sorry, this blog-post is a bit lengthy but there are those who like to know how I go about making my cards, so if you are just browsing by or not a Cameo user you might just want to skip the middle bit & go to the last paragraph!!!! LOL. Wouldn't want to bore you. 




There are several types of card used throughout the project, some very thick pearlescent card (2 kinds - one single sided (the CC one ) & one double sided & needing '9-double cut' for you Silhouetters and that is way more pressure than I have needed to use before) as well as plain white card too.  In fact, there is so much going on with this project overall that I am not sure where to start but I reckon from the outside-in is as good a place as any & the first thing you will see is the shape, and this design/construction is called a 'Napkin Fold'.  Whereas if you were making a regular napkin fold item with a fancy edge (for instance using a MS PATP punch) you would fold the card/paper first & then punch around your 12x12 outer edge, in my case I was using my Cameo & I reckoned it would be easier to do the other way around. What is more I took the plunge & do something I don't usually do - and that is create perforated lines for my fold lines. Certainly made it easier to fold too.  What is more, having made a 'mock-up' to see how it was going to look before I cut into my expensive cardstock, I decided that it looked neater as a slightly smaller creation - and as the Cameo can cope with my foibles, then a different sized square base it was!  This meant that once I had finished all the folds I had a 14.5 square in the centre for my image, envelope & decoration etc. It also meant that I didn't need 12"x12" card any more but A3.




The whole design is based around the tiered-cake cut file from Silhouette so I do hope the whole project gives you the impression of a heavily iced cake. LOL. Having made my scallop-looped edged square, I then welded 4 cakes into the corners so that when I put the separately cut cakes into position above the welded area, even the tiny flames on top of the cakes were supported. Didn't want those being knocked off! LOL. To each of these 4 smaller cakes I gave a further layer of the diamond design (on the bottom tiers) as if it were piped icing.  I then added the 'hole details' into some of the created triangles of the napkin folded card to match the design on the cake and the base was done. Sounds quicker than it was, believe me. LOL.  To close it I made a band from two separate scalloped pieces, the front one wraps around to the back with perforations at the fold lines and the back basically neatens the whole thing off as well as completing the band. I then layered my embossed bands onto it before adhering together. A series of varying scalloped circles for were cut as the backing mats for my largest cake making a large topper to glue onto the centre of the band. 


The rose-cut envelope angled ready for pulling out.
After that, I followed this month's design sketch over at CLP using an image from LOTV, coloured with Promarkers just as I had for the coordinating card & box. The fabulous papers are from Wishing Well Creations. The image's mat was set up on several layers of foam tape to give me a generously sized pocket for the special envelope I made to hold the money or cheque. Yes, this is another labour of love as I first had to make my roses, fuse them all together then pop them onto the envelope I made too. Again, a quicker process to tell you about than to do! The flowers at the corners of the image were made using a cut file from Bird's Cards (flowers3) and were nice and flat as I had built the inside up enough for the napkin-fold to cope with. I made the scalloped border running horizontally below the image to coordinate with the design adding diamond shapes to it, again to echo the cake itself. The final touches were to add the pearly dots using Liquid Pearls.

Now of course, I have to remember to pop some money into that envelope .......LOL



Thank you all for taking the time to visit my blog today and an especially big thank all of you who take the time & trouble to leave me comments here.


Tine :)


Challenges:
CLP - design sketch 
Cupcake Craftroom - layers
Sparkles Monthly - wedding
MyGraphico - wedding
Alota Rubber Stamps - box it up
4 Crafty Chicks - box
Sassy Cheryl - fancy borders (loads of them!! LOL)
Whimsy - punches & edgers
CMC - navy/dark blues (+alcohol markers)
Di's Digis - flowers
DYSU - food (wedding cakes, all 5 of them, LOL)
By the Cute & Girly - ...a day at (Kate's Wedding)
Tammy Scrapin' Corner - summertime (wedding season)
Hannah & Friends - celebrate
Totally Papercrafts - layers
Divas By Design - anything goes
Paper Shelter - anything goes
Jackson's Digital Expressions - anything goes.

Wednesday 11 July 2012

#125 Smiles Make You Younger


Theme at I ♥ Promarkers - circles
Sponsor & prize this week - Nitwits ($10 voucher for some gorgeous papers of your choice!!)

This week the DT have all used papers from our generous sponsor this week, Nitwits, and I chose this brilliant kit called 'Away We Go' which was so perfect for the layout I had made myself for this fabulous image from Mo Manning.  Followers of mine will know I have a soft spot for this cutie called 'Georgie Cartwheels', and I coloured him with Promarkers to match in with these fabby papers.

This one took a bit of planning, but that isn't anything new for one of my cards, LOL, but having decided on my layout & which of the papers should go where, I then cut all the printed circles as p&cs (for the card front as well as on the inside of the card), on my Cameo, having to import the relevant paper to each circle and rescale and pan as was necessary. Pretty time consuming I can tell you! The grosgrain ribbons & button embellishments were also from this brilliant Nitwits kit and were similarly printed off and cut using the Cameo. There are some great looking arrows in the kit too, but the ones I used here are not them. LOL. Those were angular and I wanted mine more rounded to reflect the circle theme so found these, made them into cut files and recoloured them to match in with the papers exactly. One of the bonuses of using digital papers.


I printed lots more Georgies in circles and rectangles to roll across the inside of my card and the stamp-like element punctuating Georgie's cartwheeling is also from the 'Away We Go' kit which I converted to a cut file to perfectly cut around the 'perforated' edges. I kept this blank so I can write the 'to' & 'from' later but the sentiment on the front of the card is from TLC.


This is my last card as a member of the I♥ Promarkers DT having been there for 2 years. I hope that you have enjoyed seeing my creations as part of this challenge team and I hope that you will all continue to follow my crafting progress in the blog world.

Thanks for looking.

Tine :)

Challenges I would like to enter this card for are:
Mo's Digital - anything goes using a Mo Manning image
Cupcake Craftroom - layers
Digital Tuesday - inside out (plus digi elements - image & papers)
Sassy Cheryl - summer fun  (playing outdoors in the summer - & he has to be a Brit - he has his wellies on!)
Cardmadfairy - digi image + summertime  (see above....)
Totally Papercrafts - here comes summer  (see above....)
Incy Wincy - summertime  (see above....)
Delicious Doodles - summer holidays   (see above....)
Joanna Sheen - going round in circles
Phindy's Place - use your initials (C= circles, A= acrobatics)
Sisterhood of Crafters - let's hear it for the boys
Paperplay - happy birthday
Cards For Men - happy birthday
Celebrate the Occasion - happy birthday
Corrosive - sentimentally yours
Party Time Tuesday - let's get punchy
Crafty Creations - free for all
Catch The Bug - anything goes
Tammy's Scrapin' Corner - anything goes.

Wednesday 4 July 2012

#124 An Angel's Fanfare


Theme at I ♥ Promarkers - music related
Sponsor & prize this week - Joanna Sheen (£10 voucher)

Hi all. I am giving myself a pat on the back for actually making my first Christmas card this week. I am sure that last year I had loads of them done by the end of June, (well, certainly a fair few, LOL) but just haven't managed it so far this year.  I took the opportunity of our music-related theme this week to use this fab Mo Manning image of Monique, blowing her celestial trumpet.  The image was coloured entirely with Promarkers other than the tiny stars and, as I wanted Monique's mat to be circular I did the honours using my Cameo so she was a p&c.

Also done as a print & cut were the 3 horizontal sections of music.  To create them, I found my book of carols from the music stool, scanned 'Angels We Have Heard On High' and then changed the colour of the musical notations in a graphics program to navy.  Then it was back to the Cameo where I merged the resulting file into my 3 rectangles I then chose the Advanced option on the Fill Pattern drop down list and rescaled and panned. (First time for me using those particular features too). This rotated & resized the music & allowed me to select different lines of the score. (Sorry if you are not a Silhouette Cameo user & this bit has bored you, LOL).  I then inked the edges & matted them up.

The top of the card, as well as a couple of mats (including one on the inside), were cut using a beautiful design created by Isabel 'Isareca' which I extended to go along the length of the main card. (So if you are reading this Isabel, I hope you like what I did with the file).  I then embellished this design with tiny gems. The blue paper is from Wishing Well Designs.



On the inside of the card I replicated the angel's image but created a cut file to surround it, welding words from the carol around the edge. The white mat with the decorative border on the opposite side is for the 'to' & 'from' to be added later.


Thanks for taking the time to view my card today. Hope you like it.

Tine :)

Challenges:
Crop Stop - feeling blue
Winter Wonderland - monochrome
Christmas Card - monochrome
Frosted Designs - circles
Phindy's Place - inspired by a song (Carol - Angels We Have Heard On High)
Stamping Sisters In Christ - use something new (dp plus the sentiment cut file I made)
Fashionista - winged things
Stampman - bling
Hotshot - distress ink
Hooked On Craft - Christmas in July
Squirrel & Fox - Christmas in July
Lollipop Crafts - Christmas in July
Ladybug - Christmas in July
Mo's Digital - straight from the heart (made to give to a friend)
Cupcake Craft Room - layers
Papertake - anything goes
Sassy Cheryl - anything goes
52CCT - anything goes.