Topiary Trees with Candi

Topiary Trees

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)

Journal Collage

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:

Upcycled Mini-Egg Tube Storage Solution

The master of crafty invention, Tim Holtz (along with his friends at Ranger Ink), has come up with a brand new mini-applicator tool for the ever popular Distress Inks – if you’ve not come across it yet, it’s circular and smaller than his previous rectangular ones. I’m still waiting on my order for the tool, but I had a delivery of the replacement foams…

I came up with a storage dispenser for the foams, but the design was a little flimsy and I wasn’t entirely happy with it. As I was munching through some Cadbury’s mini-eggs (don’t you just love this time of year?) I was pondering the design… and then realised as I was about to chuck the tube away that it might be the solution. A quick check showed it was just the right diameter to take the foams, and a new design was born. Before… and after:

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Watercolour Card using Reinkers (for Creative Expressions)

Watercolour cardThis 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:

BSSBS LOGO Original

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Botanica Tag Triptych (for Craftwork Cards)

TriptychIt’s my inaugural blog post as a member of the Craftwork Cards Design Team over at their blog. I’ve been given the new Botanica Collection to play with and after a bit of thinking, I came up with this triptych. Making details for those that want them are on their blog here.

More TV air time – not me, my samples…

It’s the Craftwork Cards Weekender on Create & Craft TV today and tomorrow – they are launching a C&C exclusive pack of papers, die cuts and card candi. The Paper Artistry pack also includes a useful handbook with instructions for making the various cards. I had a sneak preview when a goodie package arrived on Tuesday, and having spent the day making on Wednesday, I can tell you that they are superb quality and super designs – and you should all know by now I don’t wax lyrical about things I don’t like! Excitingly, the two samples I made are also being featured:

The dress form is 12 inches high, and features paper crafted skirt and bodice with the bow and ribbons from the die cut kit. The plaque features the papers (Silhouette cut) and the die cut flowers and dog from the kit.

The shows continue at 12noon, 6pm and 7pm then tomorrow at 11am, 2pm and 7pm, while stocks last. Create & Craft TV is on Freesat 813, Virgin 748, Freeview 36, Sky 671, and some shows are online via their website.
CnCShow1

Mother’s Day Garden Card (for Creative Expressions)

Mother's Day Garden Card

While I’m working on next week’s 3D piece, I thought I’d just do a quick Mother’s Day card using the Floral Background stamp from Creative Expressions again. I sort of hoped it would remind the viewer of a woodland walk, so used their fabulous Bark embossing folder as well. Bit of grungy rust-effect as well and the look was complete 🙂

You can download a worksheet here, or read on for making instructions…

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Timeless Deep Frame Assemblage (for Jones Crafts)

Timeless FrameThis 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.

 

Now Boarding Layouts (for Jones Crafts)

My final post featuring the Kaisercraft ‘Now Boarding’ papers, for now anyway, as all the projects are were made for display at the Craft Hobby & Stitch International Trade Show at the NEC, Birmingham starting tomorrow. Jones & Co. will be on stand L26 for those that are attending – pop by and say hello!

The first layout above features the ‘Terminal’ sheet as the background, with additions from the ‘Cabin Crew’ sheet – including the punched discs at the bottom covered with Ranger Glossy Accents. A couple of embellishments from the ‘Collectables’ pack have also been added, with everything being edged with Pumice Stone distress ink. Glossy Accents has also been added to the sentiment.

The second layout features ‘Luggage Carousel’ sheet as the background, with foreground elements from the ‘Check In’ sheet. I created the cutout in Illustrator, offsetting and merging the text to bind with the circle, and cut out on my Silhouette Cameo. The pictures are printouts mounted on large buttons from the Jones Creams Value Pack, and then covered with Glossy Accents. The foreground letters have been coloured with Stormy Sky distress ink, whilst everything else, including more ‘Collectables’, are aged with Pumice Stone distress ink.