Wedding Invitations

Following a contact I made at my YD's nursery summer fete, I was asked to make up some sample wedding invitations for a bride-to-be.  My brief was simple: ivory, gold and traditional.  I came up with the following 4 designs and am happy to report that the bride-to-be and her fiance loved them all!  Fingers crossed I'll soon be finalising the details with them and discussing the T&C's.



"Diamante"



"Embossed Heart"

"Paper Roses"

"Filagree Hearts"

Haven't blogged for aaaaages so thought I'd just add a small selction of some of my favourite makes over the last month or so.

< This was a commission for my Mom for my cousin's daughter's 18th; love the image from the Digistamp boutique and Pink Petticoat papers.

> Love the textures on this one and quite like the look of the staples!

 

Father's Day

I've been busy lately making Father's Day cards for a stall I did at my OD's school Fun Run the other week  plus a  couple of commissions for some of my work colleagues.  Find men's cards soooo difficult - don't know what I'd do without my trusty Sizzix star die or buttons!

Busy, busy, busy!

Can't believe it's been over a month since I last blogged - (chant whilst tapping forehead - "must blog more, must blog more, must blog more").  Alot's happened over the last month.  Had a lovely day at a friend's wedding recently; it was nice to get all dressed up and my girls looked absolutely beautiful (if I do say so myself!). 

                   My beautiful girls                                                              The happy couple

                                                                         

I am also now a published card designer!  I e-mailed a pic of a quick card I made using a stamp that was a free gift in a previous issue of Cardmaking and Papercraft and it was published on the letters page of the June issue.  (This wasn't one of my 'showcase' cards by any stretch of the imagination but it was one of the quickest I've made - the cute little stamped images are so quick to colour.)

The main reason for the lack of posts has been because I have been busy card and candle making for summer fayres.  My crafting bud Lisa and I did our first summer fayre at her boy's school and we were asked to do a table at a fund raising event the following day.  We didn't make a fortune but we had fun and we all have to start somewhere!  I've just received my new business cards and labels from Vistaprint so am hoping to do more fayres and events throughout the year.  (Next one is 12 June so when I'm feeling better - full of cold at mo - I need to get cracking with some father's day cards.)

                                        My stall                                       Lisa's beautiful decopatched gifts

Happy Easter!

Had quite a stressful week off with the girls - my stressometer reached it's peak on a day trip to Lichfield.  Note to self - next time you think it would be 'nice' to take them on a day trip on the train, do a reccie of unknown town to ascertain 'safe' toilet locations first!  But have had a nice weekend with all 4 of us; relaxing day in the garden Friday with paddling pool, Wicksteed Park Saturday, Easter egg hunt yesterday and then out for a lovely meal with S-I-L and niece last night.  Oh and managed to fit a few cards in.......

It's been a while.....

No real excuse but I haven't posted for ages so I've quite a few cards to share...

This first one was commissioned card for a friend at work; it was for her Mom's 60th Birthday.

The next one was for a friend's birthday using a new LOTV stamp purchased at the NEC show and a new Martha Stewart border punch (also bought from the NEC!).



    

This was a fairly quick card I made for a guy at work on the birth of his first baby.  Scalloped frame was made using one of my new nestabilities dies.  I personalised it by adding the name 'Alex' in pink alphabeads threaded onto a wine glass ring and then tied onto the ribbon strip with more ribbon.

This next one didn't photograph very well.  I stencilled black distress ink through a Crafter's Workshop stencil onto gold pearlised card.  In real life the effect is really nice but in the pic it looks a bit washed out.  Think I'll try it with black acrylic paint as it might appear stronger.

/



.

Happy Mother's Day!

Have had another really busy weekend and a very busy Mother's Day today, (who ever says Mom's are supposed to have a rest on Mother's Day are having a giraffe!).  Had the two Nannies over today for a lovely turkey dinner, with pigs in blankets and pudding.  Then had 'da family' over for pizza tonight.

                                                                                                       .

Made my Mother's Day card's for Mom on Friday and Saturday night - last minute as usual.  Used some of my recent purchases from the ICHF show at the NEC last weekend including my new Martha Stewart 'lattice' edger punch, new nesties and new LOTV stamp.

The LOTV stand at the NEC was just beautiful and it gets bigger at every show.  Me and my crafting buddy L made our way there first 'cause we knew we'd spend loads and we weren't wrong!!

  Am loving thewhole  paper flower thang at the moment; was just gonna order a batch but it seems a tad excessive after my spend out last weekend (betcha I cave in by the end of the week tho.)

I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it!

Had an exciting e-mail yesterday from Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine asking for my address as they might be publishing a pic of a card I sent in to them on their letters page!  Whoop, whoop!   Watch this space.....

Also booked tickets this morning to go and see Mr Bryan Adams in December with me mucker K.  So far this year got Take That, Peter Kay, Sarah Millican and now Bry to look forward to.......oh and booked our holiday today as well (only a Sun holiday but still exciting) to sunny Bournemouth/Poole!!  Planning to take the girls to Peppa Pig World which opens in April on the edge of the New Forest which is down that way.....somewhere.

Gonna be a busy card-making weekend with Mother's Day on Sunday and 3 commissions to do by Wednesday, gulp.  Wish me luck :)

Sarah Kay Vintage card and catch-up

It's been a while....again, but have found time to post a blog at last.  Still getting over a busy but fab weekend.  Went out Friday night to see a friend's brother in a Madness tribute band as they were playing at the OWMC just round the corner. Despite promising to one another that we wouldn't drink too much we were both hammered!  (£1.50 for a Bacardi and coke is practically giving it away don't you think???!)  Worst thing was, had to get up on Saturday morning for a day's craft shopping at the ICHF show at the NEC!  Shouldn't really have driven the way I felt but started to feel better about lunch time when the serious spending started.  Had a really good day with my crafting buddy L and bought lots of  lovely goodies.

Spent last night making this card for one of the nursey staff at YD's nursery who left today :(

She's been there for both of my girls and is a very special person.  Am so sad she's leaving and won't be there' til YD goes to school, but on the positive side we'll now be able to be 'friends' rather than parent/employee.

The image is a Sarah Kay design which I just looooove; the detail is amazing!  Coloured it with distress ink and a watercolour brush and love the effect.  Also used a new Magnolia stamp for the background - it's called Valentine letter- and a new Tim Holtz texture fades embossing folder, you like?!

First post for a while!

Can't believe I haven't posted for 9 whole days!!!  Haven't done much crafting this week as it's been a busy one.  Went to second Zumba class on Wednesday night and still lovin' it!  Today I organised a Red Nose Day event at work, went to the opening of YD's new garden at nursery and have given blood for the second time so feeling quite content - apart from an aching left arm!

Here's a couple of cards I did mange to fit in this week.

The first of these has gone down a storm over on the DoCrafts website - and I must admit I'm very proud of it!  Have two weddings to go to this year so this will be going to one of the 'happy couples'.

 The gorgeous image is an LOTV cute squares topper.  Papers are from Papermania V&A Hanoverian collection.  The roses are actually white satin roses coloured with chalks. 

Second card was made for a friend's birthday today.  Stamped image was from set of free stamps with April issue of Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine.  Papers are from My Mind's eye.

Can't begin to tell you how much I'm looking forward to next weekend!  Got a night out on Friday then on Saturday it's the highlight of my crafting year - the Hobbycraft show at the NEC!!!!  Got an ever increasing shopping list and can't wait to spend, spend, spend! 

Have just got back from my first Zumba class so no cardmaking tonight - have uploaded a couple of cards I made at the weekend instead.  The first one is for SO's work colleague who is 30 tomorrow.  OD said it was too babyish for 'a lady' but she likes pink so hope she likes it.  Love this style with the mulberry roses and OTT ribbon which is very much in the style of the LOTV design team.

This second card is a another really quick CAS card - thanks to Rachel (aka sunrae) for the inspiration.

Used a rectangle nestie to make a stencil which I then chalked through onto the base card.  Then simply stamped butterfly images in black on top.

Definitely going to be doing some more of these soon - very quick but effective.

Really enjoyed shaking my booty at Zumba class with Karla and her mom tonight but could kill for a bar of whole nut right now :)

Hayley-Jade, 7 today

(Excuse the duvet in the background!)  Made this for OD's school friend.  Digistamp boutique download 'Fairy Grace' coloured with chalks and plenty of glitter.  My Mind's Eye papers and computer generated sentiments.

Pink Petticoat Freebies

A quick and easy card for a friend's birthday made using Pink Petticoat magazine freebies. 
Cupcake image coloured with chalks and glitter mounted onto kraft card.

Pretty acceptance card

Another acceptance card for our second wedding invite of the year.  Pretty Papermania exquisite paper pleated and distressed, pretty cream lace, handcut acrylic heart embossed through Cuttlebug, Making Memories alpha stickers all on cream linen card.

Simple stamped flowers

Two simple but elegant cards - Penny Black transparent Allegro stamps coloured with watercolour pencils.  Images cut out with rectangular nestabilities then debossed on reverse of card.

Quick CAS Acceptance card

Two posts in one day, wow!  I really should be doing something else but SO has taken YD and OD to his Mom's.  This is a quick acceptance card I made for my cousin who is getting married in August in the Caribbean.  Unfortunately, we won't be attending the actual wedding (unless we win the lottery), but we will be attending the 'evening do' in Som-er-set which is something to look forward to - new outfits all round!

Purple Butterfly cards

It's official - I love butterflies.  Not the real, flappy winged type you understand, (although I wouldn't harm one), but the crafting kind.  Lots of my embellies, paper, stamps and dies are le papillion.  Weirdly, as I type this The Wanted are on the radio singing "butterflies, butterflies", the chorus from their (hit!) song Gold Forever.

I also love the colour purple (not the film, the actual colour purple- although the film isn't that bad either).  Oh, and I quite like stamping - as my gallery shows.

These two cards encompass all 3 of the above - butterflies, purple and stamping. 

Birdsong Male Cards

Two quick 'male' cards made using Papermania's Birdsong papers and stamps and not much else.

The more observant amongst you will note that the card above has been slightly ameneded to the one posted originally.  The popular opinion amongst my beloved colleagues was that this wasn't a 'get well' card so I changed it to a 'with sympathy' card and added a bit of ribbon and some adhesive stones.  Hope you approve Moose!

Distressed, embossed card (copied from original design by Kerry Cox)

There are alot of uber talented card-makers out there in craftland and one of my personal heroines is Kerry Cox (aka Pickle on DoCrafts).  This design was unashamedly copied from a gorgeous card Kerry posted on DoCrafts earlier this month which has to date received 4291 viewings!  I loved the card so much that I just had to try and replicate it.  [This is posted with Kerry's permission.]

This card took hardly anytime at all and I really enjoyed 'playing' with my new Distress ink and applicator.   Am looking forward to creating some more versions of this design for wedding cards.......watch this space!

CAS Purple tones simple card

This was supposed to be a quick and easy card but took alot of faffing to line panels up and they're still not straight so don't zoom in 'cause you'll see the joins!  Want to try this layout based on a 'http://cleanandsimplestamping.blogspot.com' sketch again though in differnt colour tones etc.

CAS Valentine's Card for SO

Cards for men are always difficult for me; Valentine's cards are a nightmare.  How do you make something romantic with no flowers?!  Hope he likes it, if not the 12 bottle case of Smirnoff Ice ought to do the trick.

Happy Valentine's Day for tomorrow to everyone I love - that includes you Paul :)



I have just spent 2 hot and steamy hours alone with another man.

Michael Buble is a sex god, official.  Ironing is so much more pleasurable when he's in the room.

Commissioned Valentine's Card

This card was commissioned by Adam, who I work with, for his wife.  I took my inspiration from the gorgeous roses in Sarah's bouquet.

It's an 'easel' style card with embossing and a computer generated sentiment.  I'm hooked on mulberry paper roses at the moment and used one of my new purchases for this month - a Martha Stewart branch punch -  to create the feathery leaves.  Found the gorgeous heart charms in my local craft shop, 8 for £1, bargain!

 

Will have to wait until Valentine's Day on Monday to see if Sarah likes it!