Even more samples on TV…

Posted on 3rd April 2014 by perfectly4med

Being on a design team is all about working to deadlines. Julie Hickey does such a stunning job when presenting on Ideal World/Create & Craft TV, you really don’t get even the slightest hint of the frenetic activity behind the scenes. Now I have no idea what was happening at Craftwork Cards HQ, but I do know that the samples that I had to make up didn’t arrive as planned and had to be emailed to me at about 10:30 and I had these three samples into the post by 4:15pm for special delivery the next day for the show that evening. How’s that for pressured deadlines – and I wasn’t the only one… being on a DT isn’t all fun 😉

All three projects feature the brand new Country Garden papers. The first is a small pop-up box card with punched roses. The second is an adapted large pop-up box, with freehand cut vase filled with roses. I cut one of the sheets to resemble a table cloth, cutting the corners off the flaps and adding two pop-up triangles to create the ‘table’ surface as the card opens up. The vase and flowers are mounted on springs:
This way, the card still fits in the envelope, but depth still appears as the card opens. The card is braced by a tabbed insert that keeps it open and the table top taut. The final one is a self-closing collapsable box which I have created and decorated up. All of the papers are edged with Victorian Velvet Distress Ink for a bit of definition.

The samples all featured on the Craftwork Cards Pick of The Day shows on Tues 1st – Wed 2nd April, although if you blinked you’ll have missed them as the paper packs and card packs sold out and the samples weren’t featured in later shows. Good for CWCs, but not so much for me 😉

Topiary Trees with Candi

Posted on 3rd April 2014 by perfectly4med

I’m a bit behind on my posts this week… This is a pair of topiary trees that I made especially for the Craftwork Cards Candi Week, and they’re a giveaway prize over at their blog (still chance to enter if you’re really quick!). To see more on how I made them, go to this post. The planters are made from sheet greyboard, covered with titan buff acrylic and weathered with dry brushed Vintage Photo Distress Paint and Distress Ink. The balls are 8mm beads skewered onto cocktail sticks. The trunks of the trees are wound paper, and I rumpled tissue paper round it to add a bark effect.

Good Ol’ Sport Journal (for Jones Crafts)

Posted on 28th March 2014 by perfectly4med

I’ve just received my DT goodies from Jones Crafts, and this time, I have the Graphic 45 Good Ol’ Sport Collection of papers to play with. Just as well it’s vintage and paper, as those that know me well know that I don’t do sport!

In what is fast becoming a trademark makeover, I’ve taken the sheet of 4×6″ prints, cut them up, added some more pages using the other papers and wire bound them using my Zutter Bind-it-All. The front and back covers have faux rusted enamel finish using clear embossing powder and Vintage Photo Distress Ink and Distress Powder. Everything else is aged with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. I created the photo corners by making a cut file and cutting them out on the Silhouette Cameo, before colouring with Tarnished Brass Distress Stain, sticking them together and then inserting the collector’s cards from two other sheets from the collection. Add in some of the chipboard tags and die cuts for tags, and paper ribbons and it’s done. Here’s a clickable gallery for close ups:

Watercolour Card using Reinkers (for Creative Expressions)

Posted on 26th March 2014 by perfectly4med

This is the last of my posts using this month’s featured stamps. I’m back to the Creative Expressions Singles ‘Scentiments’ and taken the image from the thank you stamp to paint with Distress Reinkers. Quite a quick make in a clean and simple style.

Just before the shopping list, don’t forget the BSSBS on 12th-13th April at Ally Pally, early; bird discount of £1 off for tickets booked before 8th April. See you there! Click for details:

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Botanica goes three dimensional

Posted on 25th March 2014 by perfectly4med

I’ve created these two pieces for Craftwork Cards using their fabulous Botanica kit which includes papers, die cut toppers and bows as well as the Candi – read more over at their blog!

Timeless Deep Frame Assemblage (for Jones Crafts)

Posted on 16th February 2014 by perfectly4med

This one was a bit against time… despite being the Timeless Collection from Kaisercraft. I got the kit on Tuesday and it needed to be done in time to take to the NEC today for the CHSI Trade Show. Well, I prevailed, and it was done by Thursday afternoon 🙂

The frame is Candy Box Crafts’ 6½ inch one, and is really easy to assemble. I created my own template for cutting out the covers which wrap from the back, round the front, and to the inner sides. Just so happened I sent it to my Silhouette Cameo to cut out so that I could keep the paper orientation the same. The rest is just using the various papers, ribbons, printed tape and collectables with copious amounts of Pumice Stone Distress Ink. The drawer sets are shrunk down Silhouette templates from Lori Whitlock cut from the Timeless Collection papers. Buttons are from the Jones & Co. Horn Value Pack.

Another Travel Journal (for Jones Crafts)

Posted on 14th February 2014 by perfectly4med

Another travel journal using the fabulous Now Boarding Collection from Kaisercraft. This journal makes use of the fantastic Zutter Bind-it-All, also available from Jones Crafts, which allows you to punch and bind your own wire-bound items with one machine. Using larger wire diameter than necessary allows this album to have all sorts of things added without straining the spine, as well as giving somewhere for the tags to be tied. I’ve laminated the covers just to give them more strength and longevity, as well as protecting the contents as well.

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Four Hole Flower Frame (for Creative Expressions)

Posted on 12th February 2014 by perfectly4med

Continuing the white-on-white theme I started last week (and probably ending this week!), I’ve created this shabby chic home decor piece using the Pronty MDF Photo Frame with Four Holes, stencils, texture paste, gilding wax, stamps, embossing powders, die cuts and white PVA glue.

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Handbound Travel Journal (for Jones Crafts)

Posted on 10th February 2014 by perfectly4med

This handmade book features Kaisercrafts’ fabulous February release of the Now Boarding Collection, and includes more than enough space for your journaling, photos and ephemera. Why not make one before you go on your next holiday and fill it in while you’re there?

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Exciting news – another design team!

Posted on 7th February 2014 by perfectly4med

It’s official… and I can share exciting news I’ve had to keep quiet about for the past month or so… I’ve been invited to join the Design Team for Craftwork Cards 🙂
I’m really looking forward to working with Julie and the rest of the Craftwork Cards team and my first official post will be towards the end of February on their blog.