Karen's Creation

GM#35 ATC

2012-02-12T20:11:00.001+01:00

Oh my poor neglected blog! I have been up, down, and sooooo busy: I have tons of art to share.
For today, before I completely miss the deadline (again), here is my entry for the Grungy Monday challenge hosted by Linda to make an ATC* celebrating all things Tim Holtz. I think this is only the 2nd ATC I ever made and it is destined to become a card topper some day soon!
I have used Tim's stamps with Archival ink Sepia and Adirondak ink Espresso including on some fabric and some paper towel and, next thing I knew, there was a whole paper piercing thing going on using these different layers and a scrap of white ribbon. I added a glossy accent eye and a snow déco tail plus a little idea-ology game spinner and voila!
* ATC = Artist Trading Card = 2.5 x 3.5 inches (environ 6.3 x 8.9 cm)

Cette fois le défi 'Grungy Monday #35' nous démande à créer une carte d'echange (ATC de 6,3 x 8,9 cm) avec les matériels ou techniques de Tim Holtz. Voici ma carte y utilise ses tampons et embellisements avec les encres Adirondack (Espresso) et Archival (Sepia).

Happy Birthday Tim Holtz!

2012-01-06T15:59:00.001+01:00

The Grungy Monday challenge #31 is to make a card for the king of craft, Tim Holtz, whose birthday is 7th January.
Une carte pour le défi Grungy Monday à célébrer l'anniversaire demain du 'roi créatif', Tim Holtz. Presqu'à toutes les matériels j'ai utilisé étaient dessinés par lui: les matrices, papiers, classeur d'embossage, l'encre Distress... génial!

No, I haven't used a photo of Tim but I have used his papers (Lost and Found), music stamp, embossing folder, Vintage Photo Distress Ink and Peeled Paint Distress Stain, and the Tattered Banners and Vintage Lace dies: Just to show what a clever bloke he is! Grateful for your genius Tim and wishing you a great day :)
I used the Sketch Saturday #188 for my layout and, in their grungiest of shades, the red, cream and sage green combo of the Colour Create challenge.
Also used a white card blank, green card and brad by Dovecraft and Bazzill kraft.

'Green' birthday card

2012-01-06T15:40:00.000+01:00

In trying to get some cards made in advance of when I need them - rather than the usual last minute rush - here is a simple birthday card combining challenges Sunday Sketch and Stamp #87 and ABC challenges 'G for Green'.
Une carte d'anniversaire, tout simple et rapide: L'image, tamponné avec Archival Sepia, et coloré avec l'encre Distress et un pinceau avec le réservoir d'eau, et découpé avec les Nestabilities. J'ai utilisé les chutes des papiers et du Bazzill sur une carte kraft créé avec le papier recyclé: Tous vert - le couleur, et pour la planète!

I used a couple of old stamps (PaperMania), coloured the image with Distress Inks (Shabby Shutters, Frayed Burlap, Tattered Rose and Stormy Sky) and a water-filled brush then cut it out with Nestabilities Curved Rectangles and edged it with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. I mounted this, with a few scraps of paper and embossed Bazzill card, on to a kraft card blank (made using recycled paper so it's 'green' in more that sense too) and added a few green pearls.

Calendar gift

2012-01-05T14:01:00.004+01:00

I wouldn't normally gift something with photos of myself but over Christmas we visited an elderly friend who we hadn't seen in a year. She had said on the phone how much she missed me since we moved to France so, as I know she uses a calendar and being stuck for other ideas, I used this Basic Grey calendar kit to create her gift with photos of me with my husband and/or son.

I made some changes to suit the photos and or theme but I love the mix of Basic Grey designs included. I was glad I remembered to photograph it (sorry some are a bit fuzzy) before giving it to her as I was pleased with how it turned out :)

J'ai utilisé un kit calendrier chez Basic Grey à créer un cadeau : Petit souvenir de nous qui traverse la Manche!

Entering this for challenges:
Basic Grey - anything goes
PaperTake Weekly - anything goes, option 'new': New year, new calendar
Crafts & Me challenge - anything goes

'Tim Tags' #4 - Tags, techniques and more!

2012-01-01T20:54:00.000+01:00

Happy New Year! Bonne année!
Here are the last of the tags, following the tags of Tim Holtz, that I created at the end of last year: Tags 7, 8 and a mix of 9 & 12. These formed the basis of a second workshop to share the techniques and materials created and shared originally by Tim and others.

I love Tim's tag for day 7 using his 'kraft glassine' paper and alcohol inks: Here is my version with hand-cut holly leaves and pieces cut using Tim's 'Elegant Flourishes' die underneath:

My version of Tim's tag 8 is less 'Steampunk' than his and includes for the ticket a technique using Cut'n'dry felt that Tim shared last year and again on Tag 3 this year.

The third tag shown here takes inspiration from Tim's tag #12 for the background and tag #9's background 'double embossed technique' for my bauble.

There are explanations of the techniques on Tim's blog and also extra examples to check out such as his pocket watches included under tag #8. I fell in love with those so here is my version that I have been wearing all over Christmas!

Materials used for the tags: manila tags, Distress Inks (various colours including the limited edition Winter 2011 colours); Tim Holtz stamps; Paint Dabber (gold, snow cap white, silver, copper) paper distresser tool; ribbon; Sizzix dies: Festive Greenery, Elegant Flourishes, Gadget Gears, Ornaments, Upon a Time and Vintage Lace; Alcohol inks (citrus, bottle, gold mixative, blending solution, watermelon); Tim Holtz kraft glassine paper; Stampendous black embossing powder; Archival, Stazon and Versafine inks; Cosmic Shimmer silver mist; Hero Arts large flourish stamp; idea-ology sprocket gears and pen nibs; Cut'n'dry mousse and felt; plus charms, beads, lace and tinsel from my stash.
Materials for the pocket watch necklace: Tim Holtz idea-ology pocket watch, lace chain, pen nib, tissue tape and baubles and Tim Holtz Seasonal papers with some sticky gems and mica flakes.

'Tim tags' part #3 - Tags 5 & 6

2011-12-13T18:09:00.000+01:00

OK, I'm on a roll now! I've actually finished tag 7 too but haven't got the light to photograph that one and I've got to prepare the studio table for tonight's scrap class!
So here are 2 rather unusual tags: #5 with its alcohol ink and plastic background has a rather clean & simple look. Tag 6 is metallic card, embossed, painted, sanded, inked and embossed with clear powder. You really need to go to Tim's blog to see the techniques explained - and his great tags of course - and you can believe him that you need to do the technique on tag 6 to see how good it is and that photos cannot do it justice!

Materials: both tags: Sizzix 'Tag and Bookplates' die; for tag 5: Sizzix 'Festive greenery' die; adirondack alcohol inks: watermelon, terracotta, sunset orange; plastic packaging; white card, ribbon and pearls.

Materials for tag 6 acrylic paints: Metallic card from PaperArtsy; retired cuttlebug folder 'Lace Tree'; acrylic paints (PaperArtsy, Ranger Studio and DecoColor); Dovecraft brad and flower; ribbon.

'Tim tags' part #2

2011-12-12T12:03:00.000+01:00

I'm back with the 3rd and 4th tag inspired by Tim Holtz. 8 tags behind as of today but ready to craft as soon as this post is finished...
For this tag I used Tim's Christmas background embossing folder and inked over the raised words with different colours of Distress before giving it a good coat of Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls Mist. To get the different directions, I embossed the top part of the tag sideways then lined up the bottom half of the tag with the edge of the plates so it only embossed that bottom section and didn't put pressure on the part already embossed. After that, a little arrangement of leaves from the Sizzix Strip die 'Festive Greenery' with some red bling for the holly berries, ribbon coloured with frayed burlap and some twine with a bell and I was finished!

Tag 4 has a beautiful background, explained on Tim's blog, using Distress Stains (Picket Fence, Broken China, Weathered Wood) and stamped with Weathered Wood stain. I then embossed the tag with the snowflakes border that comes in the Christmas background and border Texture Fades set and run Pearl Dabber over it to highlight the texture. The snowman is grungeboard cut with the Winter Wonder die and then the 'Noel' movers and shaper die, painted white and then with Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint and coloured with the Distress stains. I stuck a scrap of Lost and Found paper behind him, decorated him with ribbon, tulle and a bit of bling and then stuck him on the tag. The snowflake from the Winter Wonder die got the same paint, rock candy, Distress stains treatment and was then stuck (top right) on the tag. I added tulle to some buttons and stuck them down and then used tinsel, silver jute and a snowflake charm to decorate the top of the tag. Finally, I filled the spaces in the Noel with Glossy Accents and left it overnight to dry.
I used three further alternatives to tags 1,2 & 4 as the basis for workshops on Tuesday and Saturday where I introduced others to the wonders of Tim's products and techniques and they all left with their own versions of these tags:

'Tim Tags' part 1...

2011-12-08T22:27:00.000+01:00

I wasn't late making these just slow to blog them... Have you seen Tim Holtz's fabulous tags this year? Still a few days to go: I love waiting for each one to appear.
Well, here are my versions of Days 1 and 2...

The first one features Tim's Kraft Core card, Sizzix 'Vintage Noel' die, Tattered Banners die, Festive Greenery die, idea-ology baubles, Distress Cardstock, Distress Inks, Distress Stickles, Lost and Found paper plus Snow Cap paint dabber, cuttlebug snowflakes embossing folder, white embossing powder, Prima poinsettia, red pearl bead and ribbon. Please see Tim's blog for the techniques involved.

My second tag uses Tim's Christmas Memories kraft resist paper, Picket Fence Distress Stain, Distress Inks, Tattered Banners die, Pine Tree die, Ornate edge die, Trinket Pin, Muse Token and Grungeboard along with Sepia Archival Ink, Sticky-back canvas mounted on card, brads, PaperArtsy Old Gold paint, ribbon, jute, twine and my own home designed and produced stamp! Tags 3 and 4 are already done so I'll be back with those tomorrow I hope...

Alcohol inks on foil

2011-11-27T21:29:00.002+01:00

Despite my lack of blogging for a while, I've been doing LOTS of crafting and that's included lots of metal work. I promise I will catch up on projects over the next few weeks but, for now, here are a few pieces made using foil on card coloured with alcohol inks. The ornaments were embossed before being coloured and are my entry for Grungy Monday #28 taking inspiration from Tim Holtz beautiful foil covered pumpkin. My ornaments follow the same technique except that I put the foil on to card before embossing it and used a blending tool to apply the alcohol inks.
I'm also entering these to the Crafts 4 Eternity challenge: Christmas decorations.

Just before I started to blog these I saw Sarah's lovely rosette hanging and took inspiration from that to make this little hanging of rosettes. I love how the foil and shiny colours catch the light: Ideal for this time of year.
All of my foil pieces are backed on to the same shimmery green card that I cut the letters from so they are pretty from the back too. For extra shimmer I also covered these letters in Crystal Ice Stickles. I am busy making cards and other bits for a charity sale (le téléthon) next Saturday so these will get added to the mix, hopefully with a few others as they are quick and easy to do.

Materials: Tim Holtz dies: Carved Ornaments, 'Noel' mover and shaper, Mini-rosette, Vintage Market alphabet; Cuttlebug Ornament embossing folder; alcohol inks: Watermelon, Bottle, Citrus; sticky-back foil; Crystal Ice Stickles; Trimcraft Shimmer card.

Charm kilt pin

2011-09-18T16:30:00.000+02:00

I really don't know what to call this: I just know I've been wanting to make one for ages and finally got round to having a play! First attempt, and I'm not a big jewellery fan, but I quite like it.
The 'charm' materials are basically Tim Holtz idea-ology and some watch parts all held together with jump rings and glossy accents!

The Grungy Monday challenge #21 to use Tim's Fragments links to 'Transparent Illusions' on his blog where he shares even more techniques using these. I have used three Fragment Charms: One glued with glossy accents on to some of Tim's Lost and Found paper, a second one glued on to a scrap of My Mind's Eye paper and embellished with an idea-ology metal foliage flower and watch part and the third one which is coloured on the back with alcohol inks (terracotta and copper) and embellished with watch parts. While the alcohol ink was pooled on the back of the fragment, I also dabbed some on the pin itself so it takes away a bit of the bright silver.
With the use of gears and watch parts I am also entering this in the Simon Says Stamp and Show 'SteamPunk' challenge.
Materials: Tim Holtz idea-ology Fragment Charms, Sprocket Gears, Trinket Pin, Foliage, Lost & Found paper; Ranger alcohol inks and Glossy Accents; kilt pin, jump rings and watch parts.

Handmade bead flowers

2011-09-05T21:06:00.001+02:00

Here's another holiday snap (only another few hundred to go - lol!) scrapbooked with some handmade flowers so I thought I'd share the technique too: I started off by tying some thread through one seed bead, then threading on 5 more and taking the thread back through the first bead. Repeat this 4 more times (for a total of 5 petals), always threading back through the first seed bead, then tie off the thread. If you want bigger, more open flowers you can simply add more beads to each petal. Using thin wire as the thread is another good option. I've used the flowers here as the centres to paper flowers which I've inked a little with some Wild Honey Distress Ink.

Materiels: Papers/ card / vellum by Bazzill, ColorCore and Clairfontaine; Distress Ink; Gold Cosmic Shimmer spray; Heidi Swapp mask; Sizzix Wingo Zingo alphabet; Prima flowers; Tim Holtz stamps (Bitty Grunge); WRMK snaps; gems.
Entry for : Simon Says Stamp and Show - Anything goes; Paper Play challenges - Make your own flowers

Trimcraft (Dovecraft) Inspiration

2011-08-26T22:49:00.001+02:00

My delighted to say that two of my cards, made with Trimcraft (more usually known as Dovecraft) decoupage 'Fairy Cakes', have been featured on Aussie Scrap Source in their Inspiration weekend! It is worth having a look at the fabulous scrap pages the team have made too: They really are great inspiration. I'm also pleased to say that I have all the Trimcraft products featured in stock too!
Here is another card that I made for our Grandson's 2nd birthday this month:

This one is using the new 'Cookie's Birthday' decoupage and Paper Pad. I love how quick and easy the pre-cut decoupage are to make and you don't have to scramble for the right papers as there is a choice of double-sided papers included too! I just added ink, text and a bit of paper ribbon and layered it all on a Dovecraft card blank :)

Travel - Intergalactic or Tunisia?

2011-08-23T11:07:00.005+02:00

So who knew parts of Star Wars were filmed in Tunisia??? Not me, not until after we booked the holiday and started researching the tour sites: Wow, was my son excited when we found we were visiting two Star Wars film locations!
This week Simon Says Stamp and Show 'Travel' which is the perfect excuse for me to get started on scrapbooking my holiday photos! This 8x8" (20x20cm) page shows the place at Matmata where (apparently) Luke Skywalker's aunt and uncle lived until they were killed by nasty stormtroopers! In real life it is a troglodite hotel but they left the props in place after the filming was done. Of course, Jack had to wear his favourite Star Wars T-shirt that day!

Materials: Bazzill kraft; Distress Inks (Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain); Distress Stains (Peeled Paint); Tim Holtz idea-ology: Sprocket Gears; Tim Holtz Stamps: CMS-089 Bitty Grunge Stamps; MSE alphabet stamps; Punches: Dovecraft star and circle; Spellbinders 'Labels 1' and embossed with Cuttlebug 'Script'; lots of scrap bits of card.

Summer Tag - GM#20 & SSSS

2011-08-20T13:30:00.003+02:00

Back from a fantastic week in Tunisia, I've made a tag to try to encapsulate our little adventure. I've made 6 for an exchange of Summer tags and I collected things to use while we were on holiday: the bottle cap, the charm taken from a necklace I bought there and real Saharan sand! The stamps were printed out and I was inspired by some art that I saw in Tunisia to have a go at metal palm trees!
I've also incorporated the Grungy Monday #20 challenge - to use Tim Holtz' Distress Stickles - and the Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge - Bling. Well, if Distress Stickles aren't bling enough there is the charm and all that shiny metal so I hope that's covered?!
You might need to look closer for the Distress Stickles: I've used the Rock Candy which is a lovely sugary texture and I made good use of it as a glue for the sand and then over-coated that in places to define the 'dunes' a little: Subtle but lovely sparkle.

Materials:
Tim Holtz - Ranger: Manilla tag; Distress Inks (Broken China); Distress Stains (Broken China, Wild Honey, Peeled Paint); Rock Candy Distress Stickles; Foil Tape; Alcohol inks (Bottle and Citrus) and blender tool; Paint Dabber (Pitch Black).
Tim Holtz idea-ology: Charm clips;
Tim Holtz - Stampers Anonymous: CMS-089 Bitty Grunge Stamps
Other: ribbon (coloured with Distress Stain), Ten Second Studio metal tools to create the palm tree.

Grungy Monday 16, 17 & 18 !!!

2011-08-06T14:57:00.002+02:00

Ooops, been a bad blogger again!!! I've been crafting in snatches and not getting to blog, at least not in time for Linda's Grungy Monday challenges: Until now!!! Made it for #18 !
So challenge #16 was to use grungeboard/paper; #17 was to use Rock Candy crackle paint and #18 is to use this technique demonstrated by the genius himself, Tim Holtz.
So here's my project with all three! The current challenge is the page with the stamped parchment in the 4th photo: You can zoom in to have a closer look :)

I have wanted to use Tim's Valise die to make a mini-book since he demo'd it back in January and here is my first: A little travel book for me to keep my notes and souvenirs as we travel around Tunisia for a week soon. I have made it general with lots of pockets and spaces for notes so that afterwards I can use all the bits I collect in scrapbooking the holiday and hopefully the little book will last for many more adventures to come.

Materials:
Tim Holtz - Sizzix: Vintage Valise die
Tim Holtz idea-ology: Dotted Grungeboard, Grungepaper; Lost & Found Papers, Ring Binder; Salvage Stickers; mini paper clips;
Tim Holtz - Ranger: Manilla tag; Distress Inks (Walnut stain, Vintage photo); Rock Candy Crackle Paint; Archival Ink (Sepia);
Stamps: Tim Holtz, Inkadinkado, Hampton Art.
Other: Zutter strap & clasp; PaperArtsy Old Gold Fresco paint; brads; scraps of paper, card and ribbon

Grungy Monday tours Europe

2011-07-17T21:36:00.000+02:00

Some members of the European branch of the All Things Tim Yahoo group have recently swapped pages representing their home region so, of course, the resulting book needed covers. I took my inspiration from some covers Tim Holtz recently made and used this week's Grungy Monday technique, as demonstrated by Tim (are you noticing a pattern here?), to colour the grungeboard letters spelling 'Europe'.

All the details of the challenge, including the link for the technique, are on Linda's blog. I used Crushed Olive and Black Soot Distress Inks for my example then outlined the letters with black pen after they were stuck down.
Here's the rest of the cover and I shall show the pages over the next few days so be sure to check back.

My covers are made from Dovecraft chipboard covers and a recycled clothes tag then decorated with Tim Holtz stamps, Distress Stains, 'Pitch Black' Paint Dabber and 'Kraft Resist' paper, Hitch fastener, Charm clips, D-Book rings, Alpha Parts, Grungeboard (Nature) and Sprocket Gears from the Tim Holtz idea-ology range.

Finding My Wings

2011-07-16T14:48:00.000+02:00

When my son asked me what I wanted for Mother's day this year, I said "This!" - I was looking at Kelly-Rae Roberts' book 'Taking Flight'. So, here is the cover of my journal, created by trying to follow some of her tutorials, substituting materials where necessary (a lot) and generally playing with paints and inks. I've also managed to incorporate the theme for Hel's Sunday Stampers challenge #162 - Flying: Wasn't difficult was it?! In the process, and through trial and error, I've learnt a little more of what to do and not to do when trying different techniques. That makes me happy :)

I've used a child's board book, sanded and painted with gesso. Then on the front cover I've used Studio 'Traditional Tan' paint, 'Stream' ColorWash, Tim Holtz' butterfly stamp, 'Snow Cap' paint dabber, Perfect Pearls mix and Tim Holtz' idea-ology tissue tape. The 5 pieces stuck on the left are fabric collage, painted with acrylics. The panel on the right is a paper collage on card, painted with a variety of acrylics watered-down to different extents, black and white pens, Lumiere paint (wings), 'Snow cap' dabber. Studio Matte Gel Medium has been used for several layers across all of these.

Mixed Media Scrapbooking

2011-07-04T11:18:00.000+02:00

This little piece was made as an assignment on a Mixed Media course I am currently taking with Shirley Pando on My Creative Classroom. The photo is of my husband's grandmother and I've used fabric, lace, ribbons, paper, ink, card, chipboard, faux leather, beads, metal....lots of stash that has been hoarded for years. All that on a piece that only measures 4x4" (10x10cm): The small size was the biggest challenge for me!

I'd love to know what you think.

GM13 - Alcohol inks

2011-07-03T23:54:00.002+02:00

I'm determined to get something, anything blogged AND to get something on to the Grungy Monday challenge -this week. Did you notice I'd disappeared again ??? I've actually been making lots of things and have loads to blog but I'm soooo tired that I just haven't found the motivation to sit in front of the computer and show the world. And I'm rather embarrassed that, with everything else I've been doing, this is such a simple piece!
It's basically using the platform of the Grungy Monday challenge to kick-start an alcohol inks technique book which will be just a sampler of different techniques on different surfaces:

Here I've used 4 different blues and greens with pearl mixative and stamped over the background with stamps by Fiskars and Tim Holtz and black Stazon. You can pop over to GM13 on Linda's blog or click this link to Tim Holtz explaining the technique.

Crop à St Yvi (29) : le dimanche 5 juin

2011-06-05T14:05:00.002+02:00

Je vous propose une journée à la fois bon pour la créativité, d’apprendre les techniques et pour l’humour.

Nous faisons un album de bonne taille avec plusieurs poches et des étiquettes avec les nouvelles collections de JilliBean Soup. Ces collections sont pleines de fleurs et de papillons et nous travaillerons les plaques à découper et textures, les encres et les tampons. C’est un album avec plein de place à l’intérieur pour mettre vos plus jolies photos de voyage, enfance, printemps ou d’été ... à vous de décider!

La journée comprend un super kit, toutes les instructions, convivialité et des gâteaux !

Pour avoir l'affiche détaillée avec l'aperçu, la liste des photos et des fournitures à prévoir, simplement laissez un commentaire ici avec votre adresse mail : Il ne sera pas vu sur mon blog mais je peux l’utiliser pour vous répondre. Pour l’instant, quelques places restent encore disponibles.

Butterfly tag with a twist!

2011-05-15T21:52:00.001+02:00

Not sure where I got this idea from, having the tag with butterflies also being a butterfly, but I just had to go with it so the text is very appropriate! It is for the challenges Grungy Monday #6, Simon Says Stamp & Show (Anything goes) and PaperMinutes (Wings).

J’ai créé une étiquette plein de papillons pour les défis Grungy Monday #6, Simon Says Stamp and Show et PaperMinutes (les ailes).

The Grungy Monday challenge is a technique demonstrated by Tim Holtz on his tag #8 from 2007 which I have used directly on the tag. Not having a suitable colour of paint dabber, I coloured some white acrylic paint with Stream ColorWash and applied it with a tooth brush! I then used pumice Stone and Black Soot Distress Ink. The large wings were printed on to card and painted with Lumiere paint, as were the little ones cut with the Sizzix Movers and Shapers Butterflies designed by Tim. All the stamping is with Tim Holtz stamps and Black Stazon. Unfortunately the flash seems to have picked up a sheen on the ink but not the Rock Candy Stickles smeared on the small butterflies for extra sparkle.

Le défi du Grungy Monday est d’utiliser une technique montré par Tim Holtz du décembre 2007. J'ai appliqué la technique sur l’étiquette, utilisant l’acrylique blanche coloré avec ColorWash ‘Stream’ et l’encres Distress en Pumice Stone et Black Soot. J’ai découpé les petits papillons avec le Sizzix ‘mover and shaper’ die dessiné par Tim Holtz et j’ai imprimé le grand papillon. Je leur ai donné une couche de peinture Lumière et du Stickles Rock Candy. Toutes les images ont tamponnées avec les tampons de Tim en la Stazon noire.

embossing, inking and stamping...

2011-04-23T17:16:00.002+02:00

My table at the art fair is all set up with about 250 cards - every one different - and I'm still not done. I shall be handing over my contribution to the tombola prizes when I arrive in the morning: I have decorated a box and made some cards to go inside. A friend gave me lots of flat, unused boxes which I think we're destined as cake boxes but they are plain kraft one side and glossy white on the other. Not been inspired to use them until today when I laid a square envelope inside and did a quick remake on the dimensions to make the box fit. It will take 6 cards easily so here is a picture with 3 of those destined to go in it. The ribbon is just for now until it is handed over: They'll want to see inside and possibly even leave it open to show what's inside over the next few days. This is the 4th year I've done this event - Always fun with a great range of art displayed so I'm looking forward to it.

I have used Tim Holtz's technique of using Distress ink inside a Texture Fade embossing folder on one of the cards and the same technique with a Cuttelbug folder (Script) on the box. The technique is the Grungy Monday #4 challenge so head over to Linda's blog to see learn more and the Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge is to use a Tim Holtz technique so I've covered that too! On the card, I've also inked over the raised parts for contrast - Pumice Stone direct from the pad where it is darker and with a blending tool where it is lighter.
Papers: DCWV (I think?); Stamps: Tim Holtz; Distress Inks: Faded Burlap, Tumbled Glass and Pumice Stone.

A quick 'thank you' card

2011-04-22T21:46:00.000+02:00

I'm at a craft fair over Easter so have been making lots of quick cards to sell and to put together in a folder to donate as a tombola prize. Here is a 'merci' (thank you) card using the Sketch Saturday #151. I used scraps of paper left from scrapbook projects with Nestabilities, Cuttlebug butterfly, PaperMania ribbon, Artemio stamp and ColorBox ink. I added sparkle with Stickles Ice Diamond and PaperMania gems so I am also adding it to the ABC challenge 'S is for Sparkle'.

Voici ma carte pour le challenge #151 de Sketch Saturday et du challenge ‘Sparkle’ chez ABC-challenge. Réalisé avec des chutes de papiers, Nestabilities, papillon de Cuttlebug, ruban, tampon d'Artemio, encre ColorBox, Stickles et quelques pierres.

Shabby Chic Sewing Room

2011-04-16T18:50:00.001+02:00

Finally got to take stock of the Tim Holtz-designed Sizzix Vagabond machine this week and one for me, of course! So I had to try it out and used the new Sewing Room die with idea-ology grungeboard to justify to myself that I needed a machine that will cut thicker materials: It was an absolute dream! I love it.
So, started this piece yesterday and finished it today with 2 challenges in mind: Grungy Monday challenge to use ColorWash, and Simon Says Stamp & Show challenge 'Distressing'.

I have used a wooden shallow tray approximately 21cm (8.5") square which I wiped over with a mixture of watered-down white acrylic paint coloured with 'Stream' ColorWash. This was then distressed with more white acrylic smeared on and 'Frayed Burlap' Distress Ink rubbed on round the edges. I scanned and printed some real cotton reel labels to add to these new ones and aged them all with the Frayed Burlap I used that and 'Walnut Stain' to colour the grungeboard. Tim's new Kraft Resist paper and the idea-ology 'Trimmings' flowers were coloured with Distress Stain 'Spun Sugar' and the dress shape was made with Claudine Hellmuth Sticky-back Canvas sprayed with more 'Stream' ColorWash, stuck on to the grungeboard and trimmed to fit. I then picked all round it to show the fibres and make it shabby. Finally, I added buttons and bits of ribbon and flowers from my stash in keeping with the shabby chic tones. Everything was stuck down with Studio Matte Multi-Medium so I know it will stay stuck when displayed.

It's a kind of magic !

2011-04-10T20:12:00.002+02:00

Yes, I admit I've been listening to Queen's greatest hits :) However, if you try the technique that is this week's Grungy Monday challenge, you'll see why the title is appropriate. I've used resist techniques with paint and embossing powder but they're not as magical as using Claudine Hellmuth's Studio multi-medium matte: You cannot see anything as it dries flat and invisibly, then you add Distress Ink and WOW!
Just as magical is how I've used the still unavailable Sizzix Umbrella Man die designed by Tim Holtz! It was actually a demo piece that Pete Hughes of Sizzix UK gave me at the NEC trade show in February. He demo'ed the die and embossing folder in the Vagabond machine so I popped it on my tag with some 3D foam. So, without further ado....

As this tag is definitely not a card, I'm also entering it in the Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge.
Apart from the medium and die-cut, I also used: Ink-essentials manilla tag; dictionary page; foam; Tim Holtz Sizzix 'Townscape' die; Distress Inks in Stormy Sky, Broken China, Dusty Concord and Black Soot; Tim Holtz idea-ology 'Trimmings' ribbon coloured with Distress and Tim Holtz sentiment stamp with black Versafine.

'Tea for Two' birthday cards

2011-04-08T16:36:00.001+02:00

A couple of really quick birthday cards using the Dovecraft Tea House range: No colouring; just cut, stick and stamp whilst singing 'Tea for two and two for tea, me for you and you for meeeeeee...'
J'ai créé deux cartes simples avec les papiers et attaches parisiennes de la gamme 'Dovecraft Tea House' et Nestabilities.

Used Dovecraft Tea House 6x6 (15x15cm) papers, 3D stickers and brads; Dovecraft cards and envelopes; EKS border punch (scalloped scallop); Spellbinders Tag Trio and Nestabilities Labels 1 and Labels 3 in the Cuttlebug; cream card and flowers from stash.

GM #1 - Spring

2011-04-03T21:58:00.001+02:00

Linda has started the Grungy Monday challenges which will take inspiration from Tim Holtz' techniques. This week's was to take inspiration from Tim's tag #10 from Christmas 2008. I created my interpretation for Spring and at the same time worked in lots of gold for this week's Sunday Stamper challenge over on Hels blog.

I used Inkessentials manilla tag; Florets mask, Grungeboard, Foliage, Trinket pin, and Charm clip from Tim Holtz idea-ology line; Perfect Pearls mist 'Hierloom Gold', Cosmic Shimmer 'Gold Mint'; Distress Inks: Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Forest Moss, Frayed Burlap; Distress Powder: Peeled Paint; Archival Ink: Sepia; Stamps: Tim Holtz 'Spring Sprung'; Perfect Pearls 'Pearl' powder; Prima flowers; Cuttlebug embossing folder: D'vine Swirl on some gold paper inked with Alcohol Ink 'Citrus' and I used the same on the snap used as the flower centre; ribbons from stash.
I was interrupted part way through making this by an elderly neighbour asking if she could look round our garden to see if the plants she'd shared with me last year had grown: Fortunately, spring has arrived and I managed to find proof that most are alive and well. Just a shame the weeds always grow faster!

Distress Ink page

2011-03-27T16:03:00.000+02:00

Apart from being quite ill after I got back from the UK, I don't know why I've been unable to blog anything again lately: Just got out of the habit and couldn't get back in to it. So here's a page that I finished a few weeks ago, just to break the ice really, with the intention to blog more (again)...

The white card base and layers are all coloured with Broken China Distress Ink: I used a brayer on the base and different resist techniques (paint on the flowers and clear embossing powder on the dots) and tone-on-tone (diamonds). I edged the pieces and page with Aged Mahogany for a bit of contrast and stamped with Sepia Archival ink.
Stamps: Hampton Art, Inkadinkado. Title cut from foam with Sizzix alphabet.
The photo isn't mine: It's a nursery photo of our grand-daughter but I don't know who to credit.

ArtsyCraft - Meeting Tim Holtz

2011-02-27T20:40:00.002+01:00

I have had an amazing week! First, at the Stitches Hobby and Art trade show, seeing what is new: I headed straight to the Sizzix booth to see the Vagabond which I loved! Look at this display, mostly Tim's work: I have the machine and all the new dies and embossing folders on order :)
I met Stacey Caron, who is the founder of Spellbinders, and Jo Channon, who is often on Create and Craft TV, also 'PaperArtsy' Leandra and Mark Franich. Of course, it was a great opportunity to place orders and I have lots and lots of new stock on its way, but that is for later...

Thursday was the ArtsyCraft event: Met so many people, Tim Holtz included. He was lovely, a great teacher and so patient with everyone's demands for photos and autographs. Mario, Tim's personal assistant, was just as lovely: I went to shake hands and got a big hug instead! We started a configuration box in Tim's class and received lots of goodies from Ranger and Tim, including some of the new idea-ology ranges. No photo yet until it is finished.

After lunch was Lin and Leandra's class using more Ranger and idea-ology along with new PaperArtsy products. I finished this project:

One of the best things was meeting people that I had previously only known via the internet but art brings you together: First photo here with the very talented Linda who has been a blogging buddy for some time. She is part of Lin's LB Crafts team who all worked like crazy on the preparation and to ensure all went smoothly on the day. Second photo is with Sally and Bethan both of whom I have met on the All Things Tim Yahoo group, have exchanged emails with and was also delighted to meet. My only regret is that, in our art-filled day, there were some people I didn't get to meet or chat with. I look forward to the next time.

Grungepaper business card holder

2011-02-13T21:28:00.000+01:00

One of the many lovely people on the 'All Things Tim' yahoo group is the very creative Eileen who shared her template for making business card holders from Grungepaper. Thank you Eileen: I knew I HAD to make one: My business cards needed the protection and I just loved the idea. I want it to be able to take the use and abuse I am going to give it so kept the decorations fairly simple: I coloured the grunge with Dusty Concord Distress Ink, embossed it in the Cuttlebug (Floral Fantasy) and coloured some Tim Holtz idea-ology foliage and hitch fastener closure with alcohol inks.

I love it! And, as the challenge on 'Simon Says Stamp and Show' is embossing, it is getting entered there too.
You can see more of Eileen's card holders here and here.

Oh to be 21 again...

2011-02-08T17:22:00.000+01:00

That could be my future in that photo, stretching off in to the distance...You'll notice I haven't recorded the year! I'm the one in the red top, with my best friend Mads, at the top of Mt Blanc on a university field trip of France and Italy.

Used: Cuttlebug embossing border and alphabet; Stamps by Tim Holtz, 4heures37, Hampton Art and Artemio; Versafine and ColorBox chalk inks.

Fairy Cakes - Decoupage cards

2011-01-30T20:18:00.000+01:00

I've been asked to make some samples for a cherry fair in a local village so here are a few cards - they need to be quick to make so these pre-cut decoupage are ideal especially as decoupage is very popular here.

Ces cartes sont exemples pour la fête de cerisiers en juin (oui, en avance!). J'ai utilisé le bloc de découpage et papiers 'Fairy Cakes' chez Trimcraft, l'encre craie ColorBox 'Rose Petals', tampons d'Artemio et ruban.
Both cards are made from the Trimcraft 'Fairy Cakes' decoupage and paper pack. I added ColorBox Rose Petals ink, Artemio stamps and PaperMania ribbon and bow.
I'm entering these for the challenges on Cupcake craft 'Food for thought' and PaperPlay 'Layer it up'.

Tim Holtz Tags 7-9

2010-12-20T13:37:00.000+01:00

Not sure I will get the last three tags made this side of Christmas but here are the latest three based on Tim Holtz' tutorials. I think these are my favourites so far:

Tag # 7 - The tag was embossed with an inked folder (Cuttlebug 'Distressed Stripes') and then coloured more with Distress Inks and has a layer of Distress Rock Candy Stickles spread over it. The poinsettia is hand-cut pieces made with Sticky-back canvas on Grungepaper sprayed with Color Wash and a Pearly Pearls solution and then Stickles added with an 'accroutement' button in the centre. The letters are pre-cut Grungeboard coloured with Distress inks and stamped with black Archival ink.

Tag # 8 - I used the 'extreme masking' technique to create the Santa and sleigh background with Distress and archival inks and Tim Holtz 'seasonal' masks. The houses are cut with his Townscape 'On the Edge' die and I finished the tag with various pieces of idea-ology metal work and a printed greeting coloured with Distress inks.

Tag # 9 - The rich colours of this tag were created by spraying it with gold Cosmic Shimmer and Pearly Pearls solution after it was stamped with a Tim Holtz music stamp and sepia Archival ink. I created the rosette die with Tim Holtz paper, Walnut Stain Distress ink and more spray. Finished with letters cut on the Cuttlebug from sanded ColorCore card, brads, and bits of decoration from my stash.

Tim Holtz Tags 4-6

2010-12-18T16:23:00.000+01:00

Here's the second installment of my tags following Tim's inspirational examples.
Tag # 4 - I don't have the same paper Tim used or the 'facets' but I used the paint resist technique with Distress inks to create the background and I loved the technique he describes with the alcohol inks and I used a fragment charm for this.

Tag # 5 - The focus technique was enamelled metal but, as I didn't have the metal numerals, I painted and embossed grungeboard numbers instead. I hand-cut the plaque shape and used 'picket fence' crackle paint and coloured this with Distress inks. I used the paint resist technique with distress inks again on the tag and I used the mini set of Christmas stamps, alcohol inks on 'foliage' and lots of Stickles, white flock and glitter.

Tag # 6 - As I didn't have the same embossing folder or die that were the focus of this tag, I substituted older Cuttlebug designs and used the same techniques.

If you haven't seen Tim's tags yet (where have you been ???), then you should go see how generous he has been in sharing techniques and ideas, not just for tags but for lots of other things too.

Voici les trois étiquettes #4 – 6 que j'ai créées avec les mêmes techniques chez Tim Holtz.

Tim Holtz style Christmas Tags

2010-12-10T15:19:00.001+01:00

Firstly, apologies for being such a bad blogger last month: Made lots of things, just didn't get time to blog them. I did however raise 60€ for the Téléthon charity by selling my cards last Saturday, despite the terrible weather! Also grateful to have received 2 stamps and some crinkled ribbon from Kristine: Her own creations! The ribbon could not have been better timed as you'll spot below!
So, on to the thing I have been waiting for...Tim Holtz' Christmas Tags. From 1st-12th December Tim gives full instructions for a new tag each day on his blog but, of course, few people have everything he has and that's good as it forces you to be creative. I have been working on several tags at once as they have various drying stages, etc and I've only been able to snatch a few minutes here and there to work on them but I have now finished the first three:
Tag #1 : I don't have the 'Rickety House' or the fence dies so I sketched these on to grungepaper and cut them out by hand. I have tried on all the tags to follow the techniques so used the Cuttlebug 'Distressed Stripes' folder to emboss a second layer of grungepaper and use as instructed on the house. I mixed white flock and glitter together to make the 'snow' and coloured plastic with a yellow permanent pen to line the windows.
My 'tree' is made of wool hardened with glossy accents, white paint dabber and my 'snow' mixture.

Tag #2 : Couldn't follow the technique as I don't have any felt but I went ahead and inked my stamp with different colors of distress (forest moss and walnut stain) and just stamped 3 times without re-inking the stamp to get the impression of lots of trees. I embossed this and then inked and stamped the tag using Tim's Mini Holidays 2 stamps.

Tag #3 : I substituted in a grungeboard bird from the 'Nature' pack and covered this with tissue tape, alcohol inks and Rock Candy Stickles. Loved making the tissue tape flower and I added a fringe and 'nest' of silk paper with the branch from Tim's 'Urban Grunge' stamps and a PaperMania vintage die-cut mounted on grungepaper. With the Rock Candy Distress Stickles used on this tag, I'm also submitting it to Linda's great 'Compendium of Curiosities' challenge #24.

I have a lot of catching up to do but the next three are nearly done so I will be back with the next installment...

Mes premiers trois étiquettes des Noël chez Tim Holtz : Depuis le 1 décembre, toutes les instructions sont sur son blog avec une nouvelle étiquette chaque jour pour les 12 jours. Le but n'est pas à copier mais pour essayer les techniques et prendre l'inspiration de ses modèles.

Tim Holtz - inspired scrap page

2010-10-31T22:25:00.004+01:00

My entry for the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge #19, hosted by the lovely and talented Linda, using Tim Holtz's 'Extreme Masking' technique on the base page.

I didn't get any pictures on my son's birthday earlier in the month so was pleased at getting these photos and I've written on the main one the things he loves best at his age now. Doesn't show well in the picture here but it is legible without overpowering the photo, which was exactly what I was hoping for.

In creating the page, I have not only used Tim's technique, I have also used his 'Lost and Found' papers, Distress Inks (Walnut Stain and Black Soot), Glossy Accents, the Sizzix Alterations 'Filmstrip' die plus lots from Tim's idea-ology line: Film strip transparency, sprocket gears, Corner, Salvage Stickers, and, of course, the Timeworks Mask (both the positive and negative pieces). Also used some dark brown Bazzill, Hampton Art stamps and recycled some cardboard and string, also coloured with Walnut Stain Distress Ink!

Une page inspirée par Tim Holtz : J’ai utilisé ses papiers ‘Lost and Found’, sa matrice ‘Filmstrip’ chez Sizzix, embellissements de sa gamme ‘idea-ology’, inclut la masque ‘Timeworks’, et beaucoup de l’encre Distress (Walnut Stain et Black Soot). En plus, j’ai utilisé sa technique ‘Extreme Masking’ de sa livre ‘Compendium of Curiosities’ pour le défi chez Linda.

Sunday Stamper & CCC #18 - Paint Resist

2010-10-24T19:46:00.002+02:00

There are so many things you can do with Distress Inks: I love this technique: Paint resist. And all you need to do is look at p37 of Tim Holtz's Compendium of Curiosities and you can love it too! So, this card is for the CC challenge hosted by Linda. And, because I've gone green, it is also for Hels Sunday Stampers challenge: A good reason for leaving the CCC until the last day! In case you're wondering, after the paint resist technique I flicked water on to the paper to get the spots - I mean deliberately ! - Another technique I love.

Used: Snow Cap Paint Dabber; Hampton Art stamp; Distress Inks (Shabby Shutters, Frayed Burlap).

Twins

2010-10-19T11:28:00.000+02:00

Here's one scrapbook page I think I've finished! First photo of the latest grandchildren: Love the woolly hats!
Might tone down the pink...some white acrylic round the edges? What do you think? Did most of the page at the Tourc'h assocation over a week ago using a sketch by Snoopie then added/changed little bits.
I certainly love the papers: They are all from 'Homespun Chic' pack by GCD Studios: All double-sided so there's lots of choice.

Une page fait à l'association Tourc'h2Scrap: Nous avons utilisé un modèle de Snoopie.
J'ai utilisé les papiers 'Homespun Chic' de GCD Studios (toutes sont recto-verso).

CCC #17 Charm Fragment Bookmark

2010-10-17T22:24:00.000+02:00

I've made a few charm fragments this week as per p64 of Tim Holtz's Compendium of Curiosities for the 17th challenge over at Linda's blog but this bookmark is the only piece I've finished using one of them. My scraproom is nearing completion and I'm struggling to get anything made as I have bits and pieces everywhere! Even with this I had to shape some wire for the final fixing: Can't find a jump ring. Ho hum. I'll be all organised one day soon: Can't wait to get everything together in one place.

I used one of the 2" squares from Tim Holtz 'Lost and Found' paper stack and an Idea-ology Charm Fragment with bits and pieces of stash to finish.

CCC #16 - Wrinkle-free Distress!

2010-10-10T23:53:00.001+02:00

Having spent last weekend on a crop selling lots of stock and giving a 2-hour workshop on techniques using Distress Inks, I'd be kicking myself if I didn't get something in for this week's CCC - The challenge is hosted by the lovely Linda at Studio L3 so if you don't know what I'm rattling on about hurry over there to find out.
My entry is another page in my technique's sampler book: I did the background in the workshop last weekend and just finished it off today:

Wrinkle-free Distress with Fired Brick, Frayed Burlap and Stormy Sky (if memory serves me right); Tim Holtz 'Flights of Fancy' stamps with Sepia Archival ink; Glossy Accents; Prima flower; gems. The little wierd crown I made reminded me of King Julian in the film Madagascar, which made me giggle: I like to move it, move it...

I currently have 2 more of these pages in progress plus 3 scrapbook pages, 4 mini-albums and 2 other projects in varying stages of 'work in progress': I'm hoping to blog lots as I get these finished. Fingers crossed...

CCC #15 - Alcohol ink agate

2010-09-26T22:30:00.001+02:00

I haven't managed to finish the middle section of this frame yet but wanted to show the butterfly I made while it's within this week's 'Compendium of Curiosity' Challenge. I used this week's technique from p53 of Tim Holtz's book - Alcohol ink agate on grunge - to colour the grungeboard butterfly wings. I used White metallic paint, alcohol inks (Watermelon, Terra Cotta, Citrus), copper alcohol ink mixative, blending solution and then over-stamped with Sepia Archival ink and one of Tim's Flights of Fancy stamps: Doesn't show well but the effect reminded me of printed velvet. The rose center is grungepaper coloured with Wild Honey Distress Ink and finished with a pearly brad.

Les ailes de papillon sont colorés avec une technique utilisant des encres à alcool et la peinture sur 'grungeboard'. Chaque semaine, le "Compendium of Curiosities" Challenge utilise une technique différente du livre de Tim Holtz. La rose de 'grungepaper' est coloré avec de l'encre Distress 'Wild Honey'.

Distress samplers

2010-09-14T14:11:00.001+02:00

After having shown the cover, here are 2 of the pages I have made for my 7x5" sampler book.
I will be teaching these techniques next month so wanted to get a few examples of what can be done with them.
The Simon Says Stamp joint challenge team hop asks for a Holiday themed something so I made the first one with that in mind using the Water-stamping technique with Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Stormy Sky and Broken China Distress Inks and a Hampton Art swirl stamp. Then raided my draw for a few bits: Alcohol-inked an old peel-off and metal snowman, who then got stuck on to white-core card and sanded and scraped within an inch of his life. Used more peel-offs as masks to the Distress inks and then slopped a lot of glitter glue over it (More than intended as the nozzle shot out at one point!) and pressed a piece of hessian in to that before sticking the snowman on 3D foam.

Water-stamping was the first Compendium of Curiosities challenge on Linda's L3 blog so this is a bit of a catch-up too. And this week's challenge - #14 already ! - is Masking as per p58 of Tim Holtz's book so there's a bit of that there and even more here:

This time I used Spiced Marmalade, Wild Honey and Scattered Straw Distress Inks over Tim's Idea-ology mini-mask 'Florets'. I then over-stamped with Tim's 'Flights of Fancy' stamps and Archival Sepia ink.

AND, I have a place on Tim's workshop at the UK PaperArtsy event in February: I shall be learning from the master himself and meeting lots of blogging buddies: I am sooooooo excited!

Grungepaper Flowers - CCC#13

2010-09-12T20:09:00.002+02:00

I have started making a sampler of distress ink techniques that I will photograph more of later. For now, here is the cover which I am entering for this week's Compendium of Curiosities Challenge #13 - Grungepaper Flowers as per Tim Holtz's technique. I shaped the grungepaper with Spellbinders 'Floral Creation 3' in the Cuttlebug: They didn't cut through but gave me an outline to work with and then I coloured the parts with Distress Inks (wild honey, frayed burlap and spiced marmalade). Just occurred to me that they look like dried orange peel !

I used Zutter chipboard covers which are very smooth and easy to colour with Distress Inks (shabby shutters, wild honey, spiced marmalade) but not so easy to stamp on to. I wanted to give it some texture too so I stamped with Stazon on to scrunched tissue paper then used a glue-varnish to stick that over the coloured surface. I had already stamped the marmalade butterflies underneath as I wanted to give a 3D kind of effect: They show through but the plants that I stamped along the bottom disappeared once I brushed the glue over. Once it was all dry on that side, I glued the tissue over the edges and on to the back, left to dry and coloured these parts with alcohol ink. I then added the flowers and accent pieces and used nibs with the Distress to add a bit more colour to the bird and butterflies.

(dreadful lighting on this photo - sorry)

Supplies: Zutter covers and wire; Distress Inks; Stazon black ink; white tissue paper; grungepaper; Idea-ology Ornate Corners, Foliage and Bookplates; Glossy Accents; Stamps: Tim Holtz 'Flights of Fancy', Ranger Alcohol ink (Bottle green); Colle-vernis (glue-varnish).
I fancy adding some rock candy too but still waiting to get some...

Fête Déguisée (masked ball)

2010-09-11T18:20:00.001+02:00

Wow, have I been busy! Had to hit the ground running this week: 4 different scrapbooking events in 5 days! More of that and other things I've been up to soon...but here's the only thing from this week that I've managed to finish so far!

Used scraps of paper; the Cuttlebug with D'vine Swirls and Spiderweb embossing folders; 'Not the Boss' alphabet and Spellbinders 'Flower Creations 3'; Making Memories buttons and Hampton Art 'Love Circles' stamps.

Double CCC !

2010-08-26T16:29:00.001+02:00

This card uses Tim Holtz's techniques: The blended batik method with distress inks (this week's CC # 11) AND the monoprint method with alcohol inks on glossy cardstock (CC #3). The CCC is the Compendium of Cusiosities Challenge hosted by Linda. I joined in at challenge #7 so I did #3 as a catch-up.

Used: Distress Inks: Milled Lavender and Dusty Concord; Archival black ink; Alcohol inks: Nature Walk trio; Stamps: Tim Holtz 'Flights of Fancy' and 'Urban Grunge', sentiment from Compagnie des elfes; Paper: Ranger glossy cardstock, lilac card, silver mirror card, purple card blank; clear embossing ink and powder.

Match-book Mini Album.

2010-08-22T18:53:00.000+02:00

I was inspired by Olga's match-book album to make one for our grandson's first year before his 1st birthday on Tuesday. I have bits and pieces to add, and there are more pages than shown here, but here it is. I am working on some exciting news (shhhhh!) so I thought I would blog this while I am otherwise engaged!

The papers are all GCD Chic Bébé with Bazzill Java covers, JilliBean journaling sprouts and all bound together with the Bind-It-All.

Does size matter?

2010-08-14T19:48:00.001+02:00

Don't feel the need to answer: I only ask because my entry for the Compendium of Curiosities #9 is rather small. I am pleased it with it though, whereas I am not at all sure about the page overall. A very shabby chic style: I made the base layer at one of the association workshops, following magazine instructions, and I have to admit it's not really my style. And as I type that, my husband has just seen it and said he really likes it: "One of your better pages"! LOL - Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!
The base is white Bazzill with torn book pages and plaster's mesh (as a mask) stuck on to it. It was then part-painted with walnut inks, inked in places with Distress Walnut Stain and stamped and embossed before having the plaster's mesh lifted. I have finished it off with some tulle and VERY old flowers (like 15+ years old!) with bits and pieces left from Basic Grey 'Sugared' kit (all inked with Walnut Stain Distress) + rub-on. It commemorates my neice who died last year and particularly the beautiful quilt made for her by 'Quilts 4 leukemia' in 2008.

For the grungeboard label I used Distress Crackle Paint (Antique Linen) with Walnut Stain Distress ink and the technique described on p42 of Tim Holtz's Compendium of Cursiosities book for the challenge on Linda's Studio L3 blog. I also used pearls (PaperMania brads), so the page also enters the Basic Grey challenge, and cork with Martha Stewart butterfly punch.

Sketch Saturday: 3 in 1 card

2010-08-13T10:52:00.002+02:00

A friend asked me to make a card to say all of Happy Birthday, congratulations on receiving the Bac (International Baccalaureate) and Bon Voyage as this guy leaves to continue studying in Canada - All on one card! However as soon as I saw sketch #115 on Sketch Saturday I knew what I wanted to do:

Also perfect for the Bon Voyage challenge on PaperPlay. The card was collected this morning and she could not have been happier :)
Used: PaperMania card blank, papers, stamp and markers; computer-generated text and graphics (scroll & map); 3D glossy accents; Spellbinders Curved Rectangles and Tags Trio in the Cuttlebug; Dovecraft eyelets.
Un ami m'a demandé de faire une carte pour dire Joyeux anniversaire, Félicitations pour votre réussite au baccalauréat international et Bon Voyage que cet homme va continuer à étudier au Canada - Toutes les sur une seule carte! Cependant, dès que j'ai vu sketch # 115 chez 'Saturday Sketchers', je savais ce que je voulais faire, et elle était très heureux avec la carte.

Compendium of Cusriosities #8 - Inked Grunge

2010-08-08T20:21:00.000+02:00

Another piece for my wooden house: You could be mistaken for thinking that we are very romantic and, although we are between ourselves on an everyday basis, we are the couple who never do Valentine's and have been known to miss our wedding anniversary by several days on more than one occasion! Outward shows of romance are rare! So, I've quite shocked myself by inking up these two grungeboard hearts with our initials. I've used the technique on p39 of Tim's book as per the Compendium of Curiosities challenge on Linda's L3 blog with the addition of some gold spray on the small heart which I then picked up from the teflon mat with my finger and smeared on parts of the larger heart. The camera flash has really highlighted those bits.
Used: Idea-ology grungeboard 'elements' with Fired Brick and Frayed Burlap Distress Inks on the big heart and Walnut Stain on the small one; Cosmic Shimmer Rich Gold; Stamps: Tim Holtz 'Urban Grunge' stamps; Archival ink; JoAnn's letters.

Une autre pièce pour ma maison en bois: Il est rare que je suis si romantique! J'ai fait moi-même choqué par encrage jusqu'à ces deux cœurs grungeboard avec nos initiales. J'ai utilisé la technique sur la p39 du livre de Tim selon le 'Compendium des Curiosities' défi sur le blog Studio L3 de Linda avec l'ajout de quelques embruns d'or sur le petit coeur que j'ai ensuite repris à partir du tapis en téflon avec mon doigt et enduit sur certaines parties du le plus grand coeur. Le flash de l'appareil photo a vraiment mis en évidence ces parties.

Blue and silver scrap page - Hugs

2010-08-07T19:40:00.001+02:00

Another page made for the summer 'game' I'm playing with the Tourc'h2Scrap scrapbook group - Only one more to go! Again, a sketch from the French Temporelles blog, plus the demand that the base page be 'handmade'. I have made mine by sticking plasterer's tape down randomly on to the Bazzill and then spraying silver Cosmic Shimmer over it and darkening other parts and the edges with Distress Ink 'Stormy Sky' before peeling the tape back off.
Also used: Cuttlebug with Nestabilities Circles and Sizzix 'Wingo Zingo' and Cuttlebug 'Not the Boss' alphabets; papers from different PaperMania ranges and scraps; DCWV Border Strip; Stamps by 'Art Warehouse'; Doodlebug button; photo hinges (which I coloured with alcohol inks) and silver jute.

Une autre page faite pour jeu d'été chez asso Tourc'h2Scrap - il reste une à faire! Encore une fois, une esquisse du blog Temporelles, avec la demande que la page de base est "fait à la main". J'ai fait mienne avec le scotch plâtrier j'ai collé sur le Bazzill, puis j'ai pulvérisé 'Cosmic Shimmer' argenté sur elle. Puis, j'ai l'assombrissement des autres parties et aux bords avec l'encre Distress "Stormy Sky" avant de les peler la bande reculer.

Feeling fruity !

2010-08-05T12:22:00.000+02:00

I'm late blogging this page as it was one of those on display in the library recently and I forgot to photograph it first. I've done my strange mix of French (juin = June) and English on it too: I must stop that! Early summer was exciting for us seeing the fruit forming, esp as the pear trees were the first to be planted when we moved to France (2006) but this is the first year they have fruited: Hoping for more each year now.
The page follows sketch #112 on the French Temporelles blog.
Used: Bazzill; DCWV 'Spring' and 'Mat Stack 3' papers; Prima flowers; die-cuts: fence and apple (Sizzix ?), scalloped circles cut with Spellbinders; title cut with Cuttlebug alpha 'Harmony'; hand-cut cloud and grass; ColorBox 'Pumpkin Patch' chalk inks; buttons, gems and string from stash.

Une page montrant nos fruits début de l'été. Il s'agit de la première année de notre poiriers ont fructifié. J'ai utilisé le sketch #112 chez Temporelles blog. J'ai utilisé des papiers de DCWV, le Bazzill, die-cuts de Sizzix, Spellbinders, Cuttlebug et fait à la main; encres de Colorbox; petits fleurs de Prima.

First scrapbook page of the twins

2010-08-04T19:17:00.001+02:00

Focusing here on Aaron, as I am planning to do a different page for Daisy. This page is part of a summer challenge I am taking part in and had to follow a given sketch, had to be monochrome blue or pink and had to have 5 buttons and real stitching! When I saw the Basic Grey challenge was stitching I reached for the old 'Boxer' collection for my page base and I'm also entering this in the PaperPlay 'anything goes' challenge.
Used: Papers - Basic Grey 'Boxer', PaperMania 'Henbury'; Transparency - PaperMania 'Sweet Nothings'; EK Success border punch; Making Memories buttons; Hampton Art stamps; Distress Ink - Stormy Sky; Tim Holtz Grungeboard; Brilliance Ink - Platinum; Cuttlebug alphabet 'Harmony; rest from stash.

Mettre l'accent ici sur Aaron, que je me prépare à faire une page différente pour Daisy. Cette page fait partie d'un défi d'été d’assoc Tourc’h2Scrap et on doit suivre un sketch donné, ont dû être monochrome bleu ou rose et devait avoir 5 boutons et les coutures réel! Quand j'ai vu le défi Basic Grey a été couture je suis arrivé à l'ancien collection «Boxer» pour ma base de page et je suis aussi en participant chez PaperPlay défi 'anything goes'.

Tinted visions fragment - Curiosities #7

2010-08-01T21:46:00.001+02:00

I used alcohol inks to colour this fragment and frame a picture of my husband's mother. It will be part of a larger project as I have bought an old house shaped box divided in to sections which I intend to fill with mini-art pieces. The old mountboard scrap used here was cut down to 5,2 cm (just over 2") square to fit one of these. I'll be first to admit the ric-rac isn't the right thing to add to the fragment but it will do until I find something better. Anyway, I spent so long digitally restoring the picture and fighting with the printer that if I don't stop waffling I'll be too late to enter the 'Compendium of Curiosities' #7 challenge using Tim Holtz's book on Linda's Studio L3 blog and, as it's the reason I bought the book and the fragments I'm determined to get there!

Used: Tim Holtz Ranger Alcohol inks, Tim Holtz Idea-ology fragments; Ranger alcohol ink applicator and blending solution; Tim Holtz Compendium of Curiosities book and rest from stash.

Birthday page

2010-07-26T20:13:00.002+02:00

I was challenged (can't say who by!) to make a page using a sketch from the Temporelles blog + summer colours + rolled paper + splashes/spots: Not a short order! I was inspired by this page on the GCD Studios blog to use my Homespun Chic papers and a birthday theme to do it:
Un petit jeu me demande de faire une page avec un sketch du blog Temporelles et j'ai été inspiré par cette page sur le blog chez GCD Studios à utiliser mes papiers Homespun Chic et un thème d'anniversaire pour le faire:

GCD Studios Homespun Chic papers inked with ColorBox chalk inks to which I added: Real paper streamers, big brads, felt number, metal wired cord, blue cotton thread from stash; Cosmic Shimmer ink; Crafty Bitz star charm; and 'Harmony' Cuttlebug alphabet with DCWV glitter border strip.

Mini-album - Distress ink techniques

2010-07-22T16:55:00.001+02:00

I started this mini-album at a crop with Manuéla Jamet at Carhaix. I took my 'boutique' along so a great day of selling and scrapping. It is the 2nd crop I have done with Manuéla and she is a great teacher. This album focused on using Distress Inks and, although I knew most of the techniques, I certainly learnt some new ones and loved playing with different materials and being pushed to use colours I probably wouldn't have chosen. Also, being on rings, this album gave the freedom to add pages afterwards and change things around to suit what I wanted to do. I will not copy other people's work: That is their's, not mine, but I love to be inspired and I'm pleased with how this turned out. The photo's are from my sister and bro-in-law's recent visit so we visited lots of local places and it was like a holiday for us too, hence the title. The covers are very similar to Manuéla's and the pages are both inspired by hers and different. If you get the chance to do this crop sometime, I thoroughly recommend it.

J'ai commencé ce mini-album à un ‘crop’ avec Manuela Jamet à Carhaix. J'ai pris mon 'boutique' pour un super jour de vente et de scrapbooking. C'est le deuxième crop j'ai fait avec Manuela et elle est un bon prof. Cet album axé sur l'utilisation des encres Distress, même si je connaissais la plupart des techniques, j'en ai appris quelques nouveaux et adorait jouer avec les différents matériaux et poussés à utiliser les couleurs, je n'aurais probablement pas choisi. De plus, étant sur les anneaux, cet album a donné la liberté d'ajouter des pages et ensuite changer les choses en fonction de ce que je voulais faire. Je ne copie pas le travail des autres: C'est la leur, pas la mienne, mais j'aime à être inspiré et je suis heureux du résultat: Les couvertures sont très semblables à Manuela et les pages sont à la fois inspirée par la sienne et différente. Si vous avez la chance de faire ce crop parfois, je le recommande à fond.
Used: Papers: Sultane, Inks: Distress, Adirondack, Versafine; Punches: Martha Stewart and EK Success; Stamps: Hampton Art, Inkadinkado, Tim Holtz, PaperMania; Cuttlebug embossing folder; Sizzix dies and other assorted/unknown stash.

Penguins on the Beach

2010-07-21T17:06:00.000+02:00

This birthday card is for someone who loves penguins. And I was happy to use a bit more of the old Imaginisce 'A shore thing' papers with the Snag'ems stamp of this little fella feeling the heat! I stamped and embossed in black on pearly card and cut the two layers with Nestabilities. Then I coloured him by using my Cosmic Shimmer sprays but I took the lids off and used a paintbrush to make him all nice and shimmery. :)
Challenges: Sketch Saturday; Kaboodle Doodles - Beach party theme; Papertake Weekly - Cute.

J'ai crée cette carte d'anniversaire pour quelqu'un qui aime les pingouins. J'ai été heureux d'utiliser un peu plus des anciens papiers d'Imaginisce 'A Shore Thing' avec le tampon. Je l'ai tamponné et embossé en noir sur la carte nacré et j'ai coupé les deux couches avec Nestabilities sur ma Cuttlebug. Alors, je lui colorées à l'aide de mon encres vaporiser de Cosmic Shimmer mais j'ai pris le couvercle et utilisée un pinceau pour lui faire très joli et chatoyant.

Cyclist Birthday Card

2010-07-20T16:28:00.001+02:00

Had a request for a birthday card featuring a cyclist so made this one using the PaperPlay sketch as inspiration. I have no idea where I bought these cyclists from - It was too long ago - but they are popular as it is the perfect sporty figure whilst my cyclist stamps are too old-fashioned/childish/wrong size! Also fits this week's 'Sporty' theme on Creative Inspirations and the Birthday theme on the Pollycraft blog. I will probably add a sentiment but I'm not sure if they want it in English or French yet!

Used: Basic Grey 'Cupcake' papers and rub-ons; SCAP background stamps; ColorBox chalk inks; blue paper and cyclist from stash.

Exposition du Scrapbooking, St Yvi

2010-07-19T12:32:00.001+02:00

I'm back after a little break in the UK to see the twins and our family. Also been preparing the exhibition I have in the local library this month: Newspaper articles below. I'll be back with some of the scrapbooking I've been doing but not yet had a chance to blog!
Une longue pause alors que nous avons été en Grande-Bretagne pour voir les jumeaux et leur famille. J'ai également été occupé à préparer l'exposition de scrapbooking de ma groupe. C'est dans la bibliothèque St Yvi toute ce mois. Voici les articles de l'Ouest France et du Télégramme:

Je serai de retour avec quelques photos des mini-albums que j'ai récemment terminé.

It's Twins !

2010-06-26T16:57:00.000+02:00

Sorry I've been so long posting again: Had my husband in cardiology intensive care half the week after being rushed in Sunday morning with chest pains! It wasn't too serious and, after the op he was already booked for, he is now home again. At the same time, his daughter had twins on Monday: All well and also home now. So a hectic week of ups and downs! Don't know when this will reach them but here's the A5 size (roughly 6x8.5") card I made to celebrate the twin's arrival. We are looking forward to going over to the UK in a couple of weeks to meet them in person :)

Challenges: Sandrine Vachon - sketch; Caardvarks - embossing + stamping; Create 4 fun - baby card; Tuesday Throwdown - Dry embossing; Cute Card Thursday - Recycle (the 'ribbon' under the flower is the lining tape from the sticky paper ribbon border as well as me using 'scrap' bits of Bazzill and other card).

Used: pearlised green, pink and blue card (Diamond craft); Cuttlebug with Floral Screen and Paisley embossing folders; Bazzill sandbox swiss embossed card; Hampton Art 'Our Baby' stamps; Brilliance inks - pearlescent orchid and pearlescent blue; Fancy Pants pins; and bits from stash with printed text.

For the home - Memo board

2010-06-14T19:54:00.003+02:00

The PaperPlay challenge #10-23 'Home' and 'Spoon Full of Sugar' challenge 'Floral delights' spurred me to get this memo board finished that I started a week or so ago. My grand plan is to make things for my still-being-converted craft space and it was love at first sight with the GCD Studios 'Homespun Chic' papers so this board matches the tin I covered last month.

I started the board at the Tourc'h craft group. For scale, the recycled cardboard base is about A4 size (approx 8 x 11.5"). I gave it a thin coat of white acrylic and then layered the papers making sure there was good support behind the notepad so the brads holding the ribbons wouldn't rip through. All the papers, including the bird, are the same GCD papers and I love the different textures - flocked, glittered, laminated - found in there. I just added the die-cut flourishes and the Doodlebug sticker letters which I bordered with a Whispers green pen to make them stand out better. I made the 3D flower in the same style as the one on my card here (tuto en français) and cut and shaped the leaves by hand. Now we've just got to get the room finished.... ;)

PollyCraft & PTW

2010-06-12T09:32:00.000+02:00

The last of my colour-themed requests (phew!) was for an emerald green birthday card...
I already had this Pollycraft image coloured in with water-colour pencils so I decided to use it along with the Papertake Weekly sketch #42 and also enter in the Pollycraft challenge 'Ribbon and Bling'.

Used: PaperMania papers; ColorBox chalk ink 'Misty Meadow'; Nestabilities 'Labels 1' and Cuttlebug 'Sliders'; Sakura 'Lime Stardust' for image highlights; Compagnie d'elfes stamp; gems and ribbon from stash.

Sketch Saturday #106

2010-06-11T12:01:00.002+02:00

I was asked to make a sapphire blue card so ... I have used the Sketch Saturday challenge for the layout:

Also entered for Cupcake Crafts challenge 'Dazzle us'.
Used: Papers from GCD Studios 'Homespun chic' and bits from stash; Dovecraft 3" flower punch; EK Success border punch; PaperMania felt butterfly; Doodlebug Ribbon; Compagnie d'elfes stamp; ColorBox chalk inks; gems.

Is it a spider, is it a mouse...

2010-06-10T21:33:00.001+02:00

It's Henry superhero digi stamp! Free from Kathrina's blog. I had a request for a sand-coloured card for a 10 year old birthday: I used 'Sandbox' embossed Bazzill with scraps of mulberry paper; inking the edges with ColorBox chalk 'chocolate and blueberries'. I coloured Henry with Whispers marker pens and cut him and my computer-generated text with Nestabilities. The corners are Basic Grey 'archaic' stickers and I pulled apart a piece of string until I felt it was the right look and then threaded through the image, round the brad and back.

Three cards shown today - Must be football season if I can manage a hat trick!
Entering this card for the Stamp something - digital challenge.

Grey teenager card

2010-06-10T14:44:00.000+02:00

This request was for a boy's 14th birthday in grey: I immediately thought of the masculine papers in the Basic Grey Boxer collection and the Cuddly Buddly teenager download I bought ages ago. I put these together with the BG challenge sketch #21, a sentiment circle I created in Paint Shop Pro, an already grungy grey paper I found in my stash and then grunged everything with ink - Brilliance (Silver) and ColorBox chalk (Charcoal) - This is the result:

Ruby Red - Friday sketchers

2010-06-10T11:29:00.001+02:00

Another red card, perhaps more burgundy than ruby? This time I have used the Friday Sketchers #105 for inspiration and used Clare Curd's 'Big one' papers and shopping stamp which I paper-pieced: There are 4 layers hiding there (arm on bag on trousers on base).

I'll be back later with a non-red card :)

Ruby red

2010-06-09T11:43:00.000+02:00

I've just photographed the 6 cards made yesterday so I've plenty to blog :) The request for this card was 'a ruby red birthday card for a 19-yr old':

I've used GCD Studios 'Homespun Chic' card on a red base, with a big white flower from my Dovecraft punch inked (ColorBox 'Rose Petals') and tucked under; mounted a PaperMania felt butterfly on to red mirri card, and positioned it with paper and fabric flowers and gems from stash. I used a sketch by Sandrine Vachon (upside down) and made the corner from my M Stewart border punch (Botanical scallop) from a scrap of mirri mounted on to white. Entering for the PaperPlay Challenge 'Flowers and Sparkle'.
J'ai une commande pour une carte rouge pour un 19e anniversaire: J'ai utilisé le sketch #80 de Sandrine Vachon (à l'envers) et également je participe avec le challenge chez PaperPlay - fleurs et scintillement.
Papier -GCD Studios; papillon feutrine - PaperMania; tampon - Compagnie d'elfes; encre - ColorBox 'Rose Petals'; perfo grande fleur - Dovecraft; perfo bordure (utilisé pour le coin) - Martha Stewart; fleurs, strass.

Sunday Sketch & Stamp #29

2010-06-08T12:49:00.000+02:00

My sister bought the DoCrafts goody bag over from the UK so I have been playing with the stamp and Henbury papers, using the Sunday Sketch & Stamp challenge as inspiration for the layout:

I stamped the image with ColorBox chalk ink from the 'Pumpkin Patch' queue stack - twice on white card and the flowers twice on the pink paper. I added colour by brushing 'Shabby Shutters' Distress Ink on to the leaves and cut round the image and layered that, then cut round the flowers and individual bud to make a flattened decoupage effect. Inked round the base of the image and stamped the text with the same chalk ink. Cut text with Spellbinders 'labels trio'; Border punch is by Martha Stewart. Inked other paper edges with ColorBox queue 'Rose Petals'.
2nd card using the same paper pack, purple peel-off and ribbon from the goody bag with MS border punch 'Botanical scallop' on a silver card blank:

Thanks for looking and your lovely comments - I do appreciate them :)

Paperminutes sketch

2010-06-07T19:00:00.003+02:00

We've had 5 days holiday at home as my sister and brother-in-law came to stay and the weather was fantastic so we've been out and about sight-seeing. They left this morning and it has rained all day so I've stayed in making cards and have a lot of catching up to do! I have had 4 orders over the last few days totalling over 50 cards - no joking, though thankfully 30 are pyramid decoupage style of local scenes (my own design) so fairly quick to do. Others are a mix of vague requests and some very specific ones: All will be unique and I could lapse in to total panic at this point...!
Here's a birthday card made using the Paperminutes sketch 116 and one of Mo Manning's great digi-stamps coloured with water-colour pencils. The paper is from PaperMania 'Man's World' and the hangy thing is a wine glass decoration I bought cheaply in a pack of 6 so has a practical use too ;)

Vintage page

2010-05-28T16:02:00.003+02:00

I have started working on the box of photos I inherited after my mom died (over 9 years ago now). Always on my mind to do a family heritage album, I was finally prompted to do this layout by the beautiful GCD Studios papers 'Ella Blue'. This page is of my mom, nan and aunt in 1946. Sadly, three of my grandparents had already died when I was born and I never knew this grandmother. I don't even have a photo of my paternal grandfather so trying to make sense of the photos I do have is important to me. As my son lost the only grandparent he had when he was just 4 months old I hope they will become important to him too.
I distressed the Bazzill 'sea salt' background with scissors and then white acrylic paint and then stamped and embossed it in white. Some layers of paper and the journaling dots are edged with Distress Ink (Walnut Stain) and I went round the title (Cuttlebug Harmony alphabet) with a brown pen too. Also used EK Success border punch (Scalloped Scallop), paper doily, Prima flowers and Glossy Accents. I'm entering this for the 'Creative Inspirations' challenge #62 'Distressed', the Crafts & Me challenge #5 'Distressed' and The ABC challenge 'V is for Vintage'.

Ma page 'vintage' avec des photos de 1946: Ma mère et ma grand-mère (la grande photo) et avec ma tante (la petite photo). J'ai utilisé Bazzill 'sea salt' et j'ai 'distressé' aux bords et avec la peinture blanche et j'ai tamponnée et embossé avec poudre blanche. J'adore les papiers de GCD Studios (Ella Blue) et j'ai découpé le titre avec la cuttlebug alphabet 'Harmonie'. Egalement, j'ai utilisé l'encre distress (Walnut Stain), perforatrice bordure de EK Success (festonnée), un papier de gâteaux, fleur de Prima et 'Glossy Accents' de Ranger.

Tutoriel pour la fleur 3D

2010-05-23T19:35:00.005+02:00

Pour créer une fleur 3D comme j'ai mis sur cette carte:

J'ai utilisé la perfo giant fleur de Dovecraft (7,5cm) avec GCD Studios carte recto-verso ‘Homespun Chic’ et j'ai encré les bords avec ColorBox encres craies 'Rose Petals'.

1. Avec une perforatrice de 6-pétale, découpe 3 fleurs de la carte.
2. Couper la première fleur de l'entre deux pétales vers le centre. Découpez un pétale de la deuxième fleur et découpez deux pétales de la troisième fleur.

3. Façonner chaque pétale par eux s'enroule sur votre doigt.
4. Prenez la fleur 6 pétales et la forme dans un cône en superposant les pétales de chaque côté de la coupe et colle en place. Il devrait maintenant être un cône 5-pétale. Faites de même avec les deux autres gros morceaux afin qu'ils deviennent 4 et 3 cônes pétales. Les maintenir en place avec un trombone alors que la colle sèche, si nécessaire.

5. Coller la pièce de 2-pétales à un cône, mais seulement se chevauchent légèrement les bords. Mettez un trombone au bas du cône de tenir en place pendant que la colle sèche. Percer un trou d'environ le tiers de la hauteur de cette pièce et piquez avec un morceau du fil.

6. Coupez le bas des 3 cônes plus grands et les couche dans l'autre avec une goutte de colle à l'intérieur de chaque pour les retenir. Passez la pièce 2-pétale de façon à éviter le fil et la fin se démarquent le fond. Coupez l'extrémité de ce cône en s'assurant que le fil reste attaché.

7. Découpez le fond d'un tiers de la dernière pièce 1-pétale. Roulez les pétales dans un cône et voyez comment il se situe dans le centre de votre fleur: Découpez un peu plus si nécessaire, puis collez.
8. Utilisez le fil pour attacher la fleur à votre carte.

Il y a un tuto en anglais ici pour un projet similaire.

Svp ne pas copier mon tutoriel pour d'autres personnes de l'utiliser. Svp donnez le lien d'ici pour les gens à le trouver pour eux-mêmes. Merci.

3D flower card

2010-05-23T14:43:00.004+02:00

I am finding it so hard to get anything finished at the moment: I have so many nearly finished pages and other items. We are having a big push on getting our spare bedroom habitable before my sister and bro-in-law arrive next week so crafting is getting squeezed between acting as a builder's mate! We are converting what was an old stable and will be my craft room when we don't have visitors :) Anyway...

I made this card for our neighbour's 85th birthday yesterday and gave it her on the present, without the envelope as it is too 3D to fit a normal one. I know the stamping is minimal - just the sentiment - but it actually fits a number of challenges: Stamp with Fun - Stripes; Pollycraft - Summer Blooms; Kaboodle Doodles - monochrome; Paper Take Weekly - Say It With Flowers; Stamp Something - 2 of ...in my case this is 2 gems and 2 DPs. I don't think I've ever entered a card for so many challenges in one go!

Used Dovecraft magna flower punch to make the 3D flower (I recommend the SCS tutorial for an example of the structure); GCD Studios 'Homespun Chic' double-sided papers; ColorBox chalk inks 'Rose Petals'; Compagnie des elfes text stamp with Versafine black; gems and ribbon from stash.
Mon tuto en français est ici.

Scrapbook page with hidden journaling

2010-05-14T12:10:00.000+02:00

In changing providers, we were without the internet for the first part of the week so I have quite a lot to catch up on again. Here's a page I made last week with the hidden story of how my husband lost his hat whilst zipping across a tyrolean at the local leisure park. It landed in the lake and he had to wait while it blew near the shore, then paddle to retrieve it (why didn't I photograph that part?). Isn't it great how scrapbooking can capture those funny little moments? It won't mean much to most people but the memory makes me smile every time I look at it :) Title translated = The little story of the Straw Hat
Mon mari a perdu son chapeau sur le tyrolean au parc loisirs. Il a tombé dans l'eau! Alors, la petite histoire caché dessous la photo:

Used: Radiant rain mist on the Bazzill background; more Bazzill for the matting; paper scraps; button and cord; EK Success 'Waves and Dots' border punch; Cuttlebug with Cuttlebug's Not the Boss alphabet, Sizzix 'Wingo Zingo' alphabet and Spellbinders Labels 3 and Circles to layer repeat photos of the hat.
J'ai vapourisée le fond de Bazzill et j'ai utilisé plus de Bazzill et chutes de papiers pour mes tapis, bouton et cordeline. Egalement ma perforatrice (EK Success: Vagues et Pois) et ma Cuttlebug avec l'alphabet 'Tu n'es pas mon patron', l'alphabet Sizzix 'Wingo Zingo', Spellbinders Cercles et Etiquettes 3.

Homespun Chic - Recycling

2010-05-08T15:10:00.001+02:00

I love the new GCD Studios 'Homespun Chic' papers and used them to recover a small sweet tin: Ready for more sweets I hope :) ETA: Not only are the flowers part of one design but they are also plastic coated (glossed) so they should last a while too!

J'adore les nouveaux papiers 'Homespun Chic' de GCD Studios et j'ai les utilisé pour recycler un boîte de bonbons.

Masked and sprayed scrapbook page

2010-05-07T13:26:00.002+02:00

I love this photo of my son trying to get as much of that chocolate mousse in as possible! The title 'gourmand' is French for greedy :)
It was difficult trying to get a decent photo of the page as it wouldn't stand up straight but I think you can see the background: Masked and sprayed with silver, painted with silver acrylic over another mask and then stamped with Hampton Art 'Love Circles' and silver Brilliance.

Also used, besides some paper scraps, Cuttlebug alphabet 'You're Not the Boss...', Inkadinkado 'date' stamp, Pentel silver ink pen and Making Memories buttons.

My first easel cards

2010-05-06T21:05:00.000+02:00

Yes, I know everybody has been making them for ages: That's why it's taken me so long - I was sick of seeing them! So you'd think after all the inspiring examples I've seen I could come up with some super duper ones? Well, these are simple ones but I do love the old PaperMania 'Sweet Nothings' papers ...
First with a Sarah Kay stamp which I'm entering for Kaboodle Doodle challenge #30 'Celebrate Spring'

and the second one with a Penny Black stamp which I'm entering for A Spoon Full of Sugar challenge 'Furry Friends' and the PaperPlay challenge to use a stamp and bling (I 'stickled' lots of highlights and the flower centres, which I hope shows on the photo)

and of course I'm entering the pair for Daring Cardmakers 'Easel does it' challenge.

Smirk 'For Him' 3D decoupage

2010-04-28T17:24:00.001+02:00

After I had a LOT of goodies arrive yesterday, I have combined the sketch on the Trimcraft forum with A Spoon Full of Sugar 3D challenge to make this quick decoupage card. It was super-quick as the decoupage is pre-cut :) I love the fun designs in both the Smirk 'For Him' and 'For Her' packs.

Une carte qui selon le sketch chez 'Trimcraft' et le challenge 3D chez 'A Spoon Full of Sugar'. J'ai utilisé la gamme nouvelle de 'Smirk', inclut l'image prédécoupé : Rapide à faire!

Used: Smirk 'For Him' 6x6 papers and decoupage pack on Dovecraft card blank, inking the edges of the papers with VersaMagic 'Night Sky' and adding a sticker sentiment on card, also mounted on 3D foam.

A Spoon Full of Sugar - Birthday challenge

2010-04-25T22:22:00.000+02:00

A nice easy challenge on the Spoon Full of Sugar blog this week: Birthday. So here's an unintentionally monochrome card using Tilda, coloured with water-colour pencils, matted on papers from the DCWV Mat Stack 3 with text printed and cut with Spellbinder tags die.

Stamp with Fun - Animals

2010-04-25T22:08:00.000+02:00

A quick card, animal themed for the Stamp with Fun challenge. It's a digital stamp from Pink Petticoat, coloured with Distress Ink and markers, edged with ColorBox chalk inks and matted on papers from the DCWV Mat stack 3 and Doodlebug animal print paper. Also used Spellbinders circle and tags dies, EK Success wave and dots punch and a corner rounder.

Basic Grey sketch challenge

2010-04-16T15:13:00.001+02:00

Can't believe it's been so long since I last posted again! And I've made loads too!!! Made this card at a craft fair when the BG challenge first came out and it's taken me nearly 2 weeks to blog it! All supplies apart from the card blank and printed text are BG Archaic papers, sticker and stamps. I flipped the challenge sketch so my scary dinosaur was looking into the card at all the cute ones in the background!

Basic Grey - Two Scoops page

2010-03-28T13:15:00.003+02:00

This fortnight's Basic Grey challenge is 'Tutti Frutti' so, although there's nothing directly fruity, meant I had a good excuse to use my 'Two Scoops' kit and it's gorgeous ice cream colours! Used three different papers here along with the stickers, alpha sheet and matching stamps plus Distress ink, glossy accents and EK Success 'Scalloped Scallop' punch.

J’ai utilisé Basic Grey ‘Two Scoops’ (kit et les tampons) pour cette page et le challenge chez Basic Grey: Mon mari se promenade avec notre petite-fille. Egalement, j’ai utilisé encre Distress (Broken China), encre craie ‘Rose Petals’ de Colorbox, Glossy accents (Vernis 3D) et une perfo festonnée ‘Scalloped Scallop’ de EK.

Wild Asparagus cards

2010-03-27T18:05:00.002+01:00

I joined in with a sketch challenge on the Trimcraft forum and made these two quick cards using the My Mind's Eye Wild Asparagus papers, ribbons and decoupage. The square card also uses a Stampin'Up image with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink blended with a little water and highlighted with Glossy Accents.

The second is A5 size on Bazzill swiss dots card and also has glossy accents but the photo hasn't picked them up.

Deux cartes qui suivi la même modèle chez le forum Trimcraft (anglais).Toutes les papiers, les rubans et la découpage sont de My Mind's Eye 'Wild Asparagus' avec le Bazzill et le Glossy Accents de Ranger. Le tampon de la première carte est de Stampin'Up et j'ai utilisé l'encre distress 'Frayed Burlap' et un pinceau d'eau pour le coloriage.

Scrapbook Page with embossed background

2010-03-26T12:59:00.000+01:00

This page was created with transparent ink and powder embossed on Kraft card before adding DCWV 'Spring' paper and ribbons, scraps of Bazzill and some Jillybean soup journalling sprouts. Also cut in to the page with EK Success Waves and dots border punch, gave it a good dose of Frayed Burlap Distress Ink and cut the title with Cuttlebug 'Not the Boss' alphabet.

Une page avec fond embossé: Avec l'encre et la poudre transparentes ils donnent un effet de ton sur ton. J'ai ajouté un papier et les rubans de DCWV 'Spring', chutes de Bazzill, 'Journalling Sprouts' de Jillybean Soup, Encre Distress (Frayed Burlap), et j'ai utilisé une perforatrice 'Waves & Dots' d'EK Success et la Cuttlebug avec l'alphabet 'Tu n'es pas mon patron'.

A dictated page - Une dictée

2010-03-24T13:59:00.002+01:00

Overdue big thanks to the Carhaix scrapbooking association for inviting me along to join in with creating a dictated page taken from February's 'Histoire de Pages' blog challenge. As it was a magazine challenge, I emailed it in and it actually got to the last stage but not the final publication of the magazine (slapped wrists for not using French for my title - ooops!). That's why it hasn't been blogged until now: I was thrilled that for a first entry I got that far out of 100s sent in!
Used Dovecraft's Wild Blossom papers, glittered ribbon, chipboard and flowery brads mounted on Bazzill 'Spring Breeze'; Cuttlebug with Spellbinders Curved rectangles and Not the Boss alphabet; Doodlebug sticker alphabet; Cosmic Shimmer spray; Basic Grey stamp; Making Memories felt flower and stash bits.

Merci à l'assoc scrapbooking de Carhaix qui a m'invitée où j'ai fait cette page dictée du blog Histoire de Pages.

J'ai utilisé: Papiers, ruban, fleurs en carton et attaches parisiennes de Dovecraft 'Wild Blossom' sur le fond Bazzill 'Spring Breeze'; la Cuttlebug avec 'Curved Rectangles' de Spellbinders et l'alphabet 'Tu n'es pas mon patron'; l'alphabet autocollant de Doodlebug; peinture en vaporiser de Cosmic Shimmer; un tampon de Basic Grey et une fleur en feutre de Making Memories.

Sketch & Stamp # 23 - Vintage style

2010-03-17T15:24:00.001+01:00

I've gone with a very vintage-looking card for the Sketch & Stamp challenge. I was inspired by the beautiful MME 'Bella' papers and Hampton Art stamps that I cut up and then mounted together. I embossed the images with black powder before inking and colouring with Distress Inks; apart from the text which is Adirondack Espresso. Vis ton rêve : Live your dream !

Cette carte, style 'vintage', suive le challenge # 23 chez Sketch & Stamp. J'adore les papiers de MME 'Bella' and ces tampons de Hampton Art. J'ai embossé les images avec la poudre noire et j'ai fait le coloriage avec les encres Distress. Le texte fût tamponné avec l'Adirondack Espresso. Vis ton rêve !

Scrapbook Page - 'Gagnant'

2010-03-15T18:10:00.004+01:00

After 4 hours standing in the cold on Saturday afternoon, I got to scrap the results in the warm with the association at Tourc'h today! The page was made from sketch 34 @scrapidées. My son won his 50m hurdles race hence the title: gagnant being French for winner.

I used: Papers from DCWV 'Spring' 12x12 stack and 'Mat Stack 3' 6x6 stack; acrylic paint; Thickers alphabet; notepad; printed stars; Bazzill and the Bind-It-All to give the filmstrip holes.

Après 4 heures dehors le samedi après-midi quand j'ai pris mes photos, j'ai crée cette page plein chaud à l'assoc Tourc'h2scrap (29) aujourd'hui. J'ai utilisé sketch34@scrapidées. Mon fils a gagné les 50m haies.

J'ai utilisé: Papiers de DCWV 'Spring' 30x30 et 'Mat Stack 3' 15x15; peinture acrylique; l'alphabet autocollant Thickers; bloc-note; les étoiles imprimées; Bazzill et ma Bind-It-All pour faire les trous 'film'.

Sarah Kay card

2010-03-12T11:56:00.004+01:00

I don't usually combine challenges but as soon as I saw today's Friday Sketchers layout #93 the others fell in to place: My card also fits the bill for the Stamp with Fun Spring theme, A Spoon Full of Sugar challenge to use something recycled (the raffia on the card is from some flowers I was given this week - thanks Karine!) and yesterday's PaperPlay challenge 'Seeing double' as there are the 2 panels on the card. Used: Sarah Kay image with water-colour pencils, Spellbinders 'Curved Rectangles' in the Cuttlebug, PaperMania printed papers, ColorBox 'amber clay' chalk ink edging the papers and card, flowers from Prima and Making Memories, and brads.

Cette carte suivi les challenge pour quatre blogs: Sketch de Friday Sketcher's #93, thème 'printemps' de Stamp with Fun, recyclage pour A Spoon Full of Sugar (le ruban de mes fleurs - merci Karine!), et le 'double' challenge chez PaperPlay (les deux tapis). J'ai utilisé: Image de Sarah Kay avec les crayons aquarelles, Spellbinders 'Curved rectangles' avec la Cuttlebug, papiers imprimées de Papermania, encre: ColorBox craie 'amber clay', des fleurs de Prima et Making Memories et les attaches parisiennes.

Stamp something...girly

2010-03-11T14:51:00.002+01:00

This card is for the Stamp Something 'girly' challenge...All the border, text and image stamps are from the SeeDs 'Sophisticated Friends' set, inked with Versafine and ColorBox chalk 'Rose Petals' and coloured with Distress Inks (Tattered Rose, Fired Brick, Frayed Burlap), popped up on 3D foam. Flowers & buttons are from a Making Memories box, with scraps of paper and cotton ribbon on a pink card blank.

Cette carte est pour le 'de filles' challenge de 'Stamp Something' (tamponner quelque chose) - toutes rose, avec les fleurs...J'ai utilisé les tampons de See Ds pour la bordure, l'image et la texte. Encres: ColorBox Rose, Versafine noir, et les Distress (Tattered Rose, Fired Brick, Frayed Burlap) pour colorier l'image.

Cute Card Thursday - Pepper and Friends

2010-03-10T14:51:00.007+01:00

I can't complain about mere inconvenience when other people suffered so much more but we were a week without the internet after the storms that hit France the last weekend of February and I have sooooo much to blog...

Starting with a 'green' card for the Cute Card Thursday challenge. All the papers, découpage and stamp, coloured with watercolour pencils, are from the Dovecraft 'Pepper and Friends' range. Punches: 'Botanical scallop' by Martha Stewart and 'Scalloped Scallop' by EK Success.

Nous avons une nouvelle boîte modem après nous avons perdu l'internet à cause de l'orage au fin de février: Seulement une frustration quand beaucoup de gens perdu beaucoup plus :(

Voici une carte pour le 'vert' challenge de 'Cute Card Thursday'. J'ai utilisé les papiers, le pré-découpage et un tampon de Dovecraft 'Pepper et ses amis' et j'ai fait le coloriage avec les crayons aquarelle. Perfos: 'Dentelle botanique' de Martha Stewart et 'Bordure festonnée' de EK Success.

Bloom & Grow examples

2010-02-26T13:57:00.005+01:00

Thank you to everyone who visited me at Créativa last weekend: It was great! I made lots of pages, cards and other things beforehand that I never got a chance to blog so catch-up time... Here are 3 cards that have been cut from one piece of Bazzill 'Sun coral' that I mounted these samplers of MME Bloom & Grow papers, rub-ons and decoupage on. Other things used were a Dovecraft magna flower punch for an extra layer of Bazzill, VersaMagic inks, bit of ribbon and the Dovecraft Butterfly template.Merci à tout le monde qui ma visité à Créativa Brest le weekend dernier: C'était super! Voici trois cartes que j'ai crée de la Bazzill et exemples des papiers, transferts et pré-découpage de MME Bloom & Grow que j'ai met sur le stand. J'ai utilisé aussi la perfo géante fleur de Dovecraft, l'encre VersaMagic, un morceau de ruban et un gabarit papillon de Dovecraft.

A hanging thingy !

2010-02-06T13:12:00.005+01:00

Putting together a number of techniques, I've made a hanging thingy very influenced by Hels, right down to the beaded fringe and including hearts for her Sunday Stampers challenge this week. I've said this before but if you haven't seen her blog and the things she makes you should!

I've also managed to include all the ingredients for the Ready, Steady, Stamp challenge: green, copper and sand; children; heat embossed metal; die-cut; funky foam. (Vis ton rêve = live your dream)

Used: mountboard pieces coloured with Shabby Shutters distress ink and (background) sprayed with Golden Mint Cosmic Shimmer, stamped with Shabby Shutters distress ink and SeeDs children stamp, text stamped with Brilliance Cosmic Copper; sand-coloured foam heated and stamped with Hampton Art key stamp and Brilliance Cosmic Copper; Spellbinders copper metal embossed with Cuttlebug Heart Blocks and also die-cut and embossed with Butterfly combo then inked with holographic black and heat-embossed with clear powder; Prima flower, copper eyelets (which are straight unlike how they look in the photo !).

Pepper & Friends

2010-02-04T12:05:00.005+01:00

Here's my Friday Sketchers card, following a great sketch by Jacqueline, and it's my first card using the new Pepper & Friends range by Dovecraft which I love!

Une carte selon le sketch de 'Friday Sketchers' et j'ai utilisé les nouveaux papiers et un tampon de Dovecraft - 'Pepper et ses amis'

Used: Bazzill swiss-dot 'Berry Pretty' with Pepper & Friends 8x8 paper, 12x12 double-sided paper and 'Bathtime' stamp which I coloured with Whispers markers before adding Glamour Dust. Sentiment stamp by Compagnie des elfes, VersaMagic plum ink, rest from stash.

Double scrapbook page - Fun in the Snow

2010-02-03T09:26:00.004+01:00

I have made this sketch and example double page for my scrapbook class in St Yvi. Nicely distressed edges as a result of trying to emboss 12" card in a Cuttlebug! I made the most of the white core card by giving everything a good sanding. Patterned die-cut card from DCWV Holiday pack, Silver glittered card from DCWV Glitter Strips; embossing and die-cut alphabet using the Cuttlebug; snowman tag from a Christmas present and Jolee's snowflakes.

You are welcome to use the sketch for personal use and link back to here: Please do NOT copy the sketch to show/distribute elsewhere. Please leave a comment so I can visit your work too. Thank you.

J'ai créé une modèle d'une double page avec cette exemple pour mes ateliers à St Yvi (29). Si vous voudriez, utililisez le sketch pour vos pages personnalisé, pas commercial. Si vous mettez vos pages sur un forum/blog/autre svp ne copiez pas le sketch : Faites référence de l’originale ici et svp laissez un commentaire puis je peux vous visiter aussi. Merci.

Pour mes pages j'ai utilisé le papier die-cut de DCWV, les fonds avec les blanc intérieurs qui j'ai poncé, les classeurs d'embossage et d'alphabet de la Cuttlebug, flocons: embellissements de Jolee's.

Scrapbook page

2010-01-28T11:18:00.008+01:00

Really want to make some cards but can't find the motivation, or the space, at the moment. We are converting the stable that joins on to our very small house and have had to empty it completely to get the floor laid in there: Nightmare! I've also had a bad eye which has made things blurry for a few days but seems to have sorted itself now. So, here's a page created at the Tourc'h association on Monday using a 'Page Map' by Becky Fleck from October 2009.

Used: MME Bloom & Grow papers with 'Wild Asparagus' adhesive ribbon, Bazzill 'capers' card, PM adhesive velvet, Cuttlebug Harmony alphabet, VersaMagic 'Olive green' chalk ink, flowers by Prima and Making Memories, PM Whispers marker, and a needle and thread!

Je voudrais faire quelques cartes mais avec le boulot chez nous, je n'ai pas l'espace! Alors, voici une page j'ai créé le lundi à l'assoc Tourc'h-2-scrap. Il suivi une modèle de 'Page Maps' par Becky Fleck.

J'ai utilisé: Papiers de My Mind's Eye 'Bloom & Grow'; ruban auto-collant de MME 'Wild Asparagus'; Bazzill 'capers'; PaperMania 'velvet' auto-collant avec Cuttlebug Harmony alphabet; encre verte 'olive' de VersaMagic; fleurs de Prima et Making Memories; stylo de PM, et des couture!

2nd Birthday Book - Livre d'anniversaire

2010-01-24T16:57:00.003+01:00

Oh the irony of doing a birthday book to get organised and finishing this one too late for it to arrive in time! This one in stronger colours using Dovecraft 'Birthday' 8"x8" paper pack, Scrapbook Sally blue 12"x12" card and a red Bind-It-All wire. The colours go together better than I think these photos make them look!(The first one I made with some instruction is here.)

I've put a notelet piece, stamped with Inkadinkado stamps and blue Brilliance, in the front pocket ready to write the birthday greeting. It would be nice to fill one with cards as a present for a non-cardmaker.

J'ai créé une livre d'anniversaire comme une carte/cadeau pour ma belle-soeur pour organiser les cartes elle fera dans l'année. J'ai utilisé 6 feuilles de 305 x 305 mm pour les pages d'intérieur plus 2 pièces 15,4 x 20,4 décorée avec papier pour les couverture, reliure avec la Bind-It-All. Un autre exemple, avec le schéma pour plier les feuilles d'intérieur, est dessous ici.

CD holder - Porte CD

2010-01-23T12:32:00.003+01:00

Here's a little something I made on Wednesday in a group. Buying the insert and fixings made it quite expensive but the case itself is made with pieces of 2.5mm thick board covered with some Scivertex I had left over from another project. It would be fairly easy to make the concertina to go inside as well but it was soooo much quicker to use a ready-made one !

Seeing (and hearing !!!) some of the others hammering a hole punch tool through I opted to leave fixing the handle until the next day and tried the Big Bite: Fantastic! I had never tried that thickness of card and fell in love with my Big Bite all over again at how easy (and silent) it was.

En peu de cartonnage j'ai créé mercredi avec carton de 2,5mm et scivertex. J'ai acheté les vis, fermeture et les pochettes d'intérieur: Alors, un peu cher! J'ai utilisé la Crop-a-dile 'Big Bite' pour faire les trous pour les vis: trop facile !

Birthday Book - Une livre d'anniversaire

2010-01-22T13:55:00.009+01:00

I had the idea of making one of these for my sister-in-law's birthday when she said she'd like to be more organised with remembering birthdays this year. She is another card-maker so I thought it would help her organise card-making in advance. I left her present with her when we were over at Christmas and will send a book instead of a card with a note tucked in the first pocket. So I have made two this week: This one is actually for me and is my proto-type and I have to finish off the second one to post to her (and remember to photograph it first!).

I'm entering this in Hels birthday challenge to celebrate the 'Sunday Stampers' being 2 years old. Hels makes all sorts of wonderful art so I recommend a hop over to her blog if you haven't found it already. AND, this challenge is sponsored by The Artistic Stamper with some gorgeous Mabel Lucie Attwell stamps and Kling-on.

My book is made with 2 pieces of chipboard covered with Dovecraft 'Wild Blossom' paper and chipboard, 6 pieces of 12"x12" card and the Bind-It-All. This is how I folded the thin card, making sure the folds were well flattened with a bone folder:

I folded the card in half then turned up 4" (or whatever you want as long as you do the same on each), creased it really flat and then folded it out, cut sections off to get a slanted pocket (you could punch the edge for a different look), then refolded. This gives an 6"x8" book - plenty of space for standard size cards and envelopes. Once it was all ready I punched the holes with the bind-it-all and fixed the wires, using over-sized ones to allow for cards to be inserted as well. I printed the months on matching plain paper and stuck them in.

Hopefully it means my sister-in-law and I will both be more organised this year!

For NEXT Christmas !

2010-01-13T16:14:00.004+01:00

I have followed the 'Just Christmas and Birthday Cards' sketch #53 (and added a penguin, as you do, LOL) to get started for next year, and I have the recipient in mind: He loves penguins! Papers and decoupage sheet by Patchwork Kingdom; embossing using Cuttlebug Winter House and Snowflakes folders.J'ai commencé mes cartes pour Noël prochaine ! Une carte selon le sketch #53 sur 'Just Christmas and Birthday cards'. Papier et feuille de découpage de Patchwork Kingdom; embossage avec la Cuttlebug (Maison d'hiver et flocons de neige).

Christmas mini-album - Noël 2009

2010-01-11T17:56:00.005+01:00

Here's a look at the cover and first pages of my Christmas mini-album using We Are Memory Keepers double-sided 'Whiteout' cardstock with recycled tags from our presents, title die-cut with the Cuttlebug and all held together with the Bind-It-All. The tags inside now have photos or journalling on the reverse. For the first page I cut the holly shape before slotting the photo behind it and mounting it on the inside cover.

Les premieres pages de mon mini-album de Noël. J’ai bien utilisé les étiquettes des cadeaux (recyclage !) avec les formes découpé avec la Cuttlebug, papiers de We Are Memory Keepers, reliuré avec la Bind-It-All. Toutes les étiquettes dedans ont les photos ou écriture sur le verso.

Forever Friends découpage - 1st birthday card

2010-01-07T09:52:00.004+01:00

It's our grand-daughter's 1st birthday Monday so I finished this card last night to be posted with her presents today! It fits two current challenges too: Forever Friends of having 2 layers + ribbon + something sparkly, and the Spoon Full of Sugar challenge of including a heart. When looking for ideas of what to do I came across this FF decoupage set I bought some time ago so the backing paper, decoupage and sparkly heart is from there and I added the gems, ribbon and typed text, inked with ColorBox chalk.Une carte pour le premier anniversaire de notre petite-fille: Un découpage créé avec un set de 'Forever Friends' - papier, découpage et planche de stickers (j'ai utilisé le sticker de coeur). J'ai ajouté les petites pierres, ruban, et le texte qui j'ai imprimé et encré aux bords avec ColorBox craie. J'ai suivi deux challenges: Forever Friends qui demande l'utilisation de deux fonds + ruban + quelque chose scintillent, en plus le challenge de Spoon Full of Sugar parce que j'ai utilisé un coeur!

First post of 2010 - Christmas traditions

2010-01-04T09:27:00.007+01:00

Oops, where did December go?! I made hundreds of cards to help raise money for the Téléthon charity and sent the least ever to my own family and friends just because I ran out of time. As many French send them for new year rather than Christmas, I am still getting them posted here. We spent Christmas in the UK so I was away for 10 days too!
So while I get back in to card-making, here are 2 pages I made in December: One recording the tree-decorating and one using the original printed photo from my pre-digital days of December 26th 2001: It has become a tradition to go for a morning walk and we did it again this year. I shall be back with a mini-album of my 2009 Christmas photos.
I hope you enjoyed the holidays and I wish you all the best for 2010.
J'était trop occupé en décembre : J'ai créé et vendu beaucoup de cartes au profit le Téléthon mais je ne trouve pas les temps pour envoyer mes cartes! Voici, deux nouveaux pages pour souvenir les fêtes : Une page où mon fils a confectionné l'arbre et une page du 26 décembre 2001: Le 26 décembre est un jour férié en le Grande Bretagne et il est une tradition pour ma famille se promenade dans le matin. Je te souhaite meilleurs voeux pour une très bien 2010.
J'ai utilisé: Page d'arbre: Bazzill embossé 'clover leaf', DCWV Holidays bloc prédécoupé, Cuttlebug boule 'Pour toi' et alphabet 'Harmony', fleurs et petite arbre de Prima. Page de notre promenade: Mes carton et chutes de papiers avec les matrices 'feuilles' de Cuttlebug, vaporiseurs de Cosmic Shimmer, stylo Sakura Stardust et encreur VersaMark 'gingerbread'. La plupart disponible ici ou demande-moi.
Used: Tree page: Bazzill swiss embossed 'Clover Leaf', DCWV die-cut Holidays, Cuttlebug with 'For you' bauble combo & Harmony alphabet, Prima flowers and paper tree. Walk page: Card and paper scraps from stash, Cuttlebug 'Leaves' dies, Cosmic Shimmer sprays (also dragged with the removed nozzle!), Sakura stardust pen, VersaMark: Gingerbread.