17/04/2012 by Gwyneth.

I had hoped to complete and post this up over the weekend, but just didn’t feel well enough, so although I started it I had to give up and turn off my Laptop.

I still haven’t completely shaken off the virus I had, although I think (and hope and pray) the antibiotics have done the trick as far as the infection I got in my damaged leg, after I scratched it in the garden while having a slow wonder one day (I can’t really do anything faster than a slow waddle around on the best of days), is concerned.  After coughing so much, I completely lost my voice for a few days last week, but at least that’s slowly coming back now even though I’m still coughing a bit, and even the aches and pains are not as bad.  I even managed to get out of the house for an hour or so on Sunday (car there, sit down, car back, so nothing energetic), and sat out the garden for a bit yesterday while one of my young nephews put my chitted potatoes to grow in my potato growing sacks that my older nephew had sat out ready in their place with some compost in the bottom a couple of weeks ago.  Wasn’t up to doing a lot myself, but at least, with help, it’s one job done now.  You’d think it was a lot of work wouldn’t you, but it’s only 4 potato growing bags.

So, with not feeling too good for the last week or so, I haven’t done a whole lot of crafting, therefore not a huge amount to show you.  For the first small batch of cards I’ve got to show you I resorted to some Hunkydory die-cut designs, stuck onto base cards made using co-ordinating Adorable Scorable cardstock.  I do like to have kits like this to play around with when I’m not up to making anything more complex, so that I can at least do something and play around a bit with the layout of the card, without requiring too much thought.

The second batch are cards I’d already printed, coloured, cut-out, etc., before I started to feel so ill.  Nothing particularly complex, I made them up rather simply, but again something to pick up and be able to say I did something.

.

Cards:

(If you click on the thumbnail images you can have a look at a larger image of each item.)
(Clicking on the text links below each set of images takes you to the pages where you can see some of what I used to make the cards.  Where these linked pages are on the CUP site you will usually find a longer description of how I made the item at the bottom of the page.)

1  2  3

1. Made using items from Hunkydory’s “For the Ladies” pack, as are the next two as well.  Didn’t do anything much for this card.  Only scored the cardstock using my Hougie Board to create an A5 base card and stuck on the topper using foam tape.
2. For this one I again chose a sheet of printed card-stock from the same pack, but this time I used some Core’dinations cardstock as a mat behind the topper and I used a sanding block over the surface of the mat and to lightly roughen the edges of each layer of the pyramid topper before building the card up.
3. For this card I took the A4 printed card-stock and scored and folded to make an easel card.  I took another sheet of the Core’dinations cardstock and put one piece over the inside base of the card and another piece behind my chosen topper.  I used three different depth of foam tape to stick the topper and the two layers of frame to the mat, and the deepest foam tape I’d got (3mm) to attach a paper ribbon strip as a stopper for the easel card across the front after I’d used a corner rounder punch at each corner.  The corners of the base card has also been rounded.

1  2  3

1. African Elephant 3D Decoupage by Liz Harrison (I printed the decoupage sheet out onto Crafty Bob Craft Paper and cut out all the pieces.  I made a simple A6 base card by scoring and folding some card-stock I had printed onto a while ago - I think it was from a CD-ROM but can’t remember exactly which one.  I simply stuck on the base image and, after shaping the pieces a bit, build up the layers sticking each in place using Pinflair Glue Gel.)
2. FUN WITH SCALLOPS by Clive Couter & Scalloped Circle Easel Card - Silhouette Studio by Kim Paley (I cut the card and top layer out of black cardstock using my Cameo.  To make a striking card, I cut out the scallops layers from the same black cardstock and some hammered red card.  I went around the edges of various layers with a Red Gold Letraset Metallic Marker and stuck the lot together using double sided tape and double sided foam tape.  I’ve left a little scalloped circle from the decoration without a greeting as I want to add one in gold peel-off once I know the occasion it will be given.  There’s a white paper panel for writing a greeting on hidden inside the card.)
3. Parrot Digital Stamp-Glass Painting by Anna Babajanyan (I printed the sheet onto Super Smooth white card, cut out the image around the outer frame and coloured it in using a set of 6 Letraset Metallic Markers to give the plumage a real sheen.  I chose a co-ordinating colour Satin Board as a mat behind the image, trimming to leave a border of around 1cm each side.  The matted image was stuck onto a pre-cut, decorative edge, 8″ square card which I’d gone round the edge with one of the colours of metallic marker.)

CUP Update:  

CUP Mailer - The mailer that was sent out by the CUP Team on Wednesday, 11th April, can be seen - here.  This includes lots of lovely little boxes, a new CUP TV episode, some lovely little triple twist easels, and much more.  The mailer sent out on Friday, 13th April, can be seen - here.  Once again there’s a lot of designs to look at and lots of bits of news to catch up on.  The mailer sent out on Monday, 16th April, can be seen - here. Even more pretty designs to be seen showcased in this one.

April Card Making Competition -  This month the theme is Fathers Day and the last entry date is 22nd April.  Full details can be seen on the Craftforums site - here.

 -oOo-

You can see the cards I’ve made using design sheets from CUP in my “Crafter Showcase Area” on Craftsuprint.com - here
(Just scroll down past the top boxes to see the cards.)

You can see my page on Facebook by clicking - here.

-oOo-

(Hi All -  I’d like to thank all of you who’ve been so kind as to leave comments on some of my previous blog posts.  I really appreciate that you’ve taken the time to comment on my crafting efforts.)

-oOo-

Posted in craftsUprint Cards | 4 Comments »

10/04/2012 by Gwyneth.

I’ve caught one of those nasty viruses off the little nephews, on top of having a repeat infection in my damaged leg, and therefore having to go back on antibiotics, so I’ve not felt like doing a lot of crafting over the weekend.  So the only thing I’ve got to show you today are three gift baskets that I made, (using four different Designer Resources bought from CUP), to give some chocolates in as Easter Gifts.

Gift Baskets:

(If you click on the thumbnail images you can have a look at a larger image of each item.)
(Clicking on the text links below each set of images takes you to the pages where you can see some of what I used to make the cards.  Where these linked pages are on the CUP site you will usually find a longer description of how I made the item at the bottom of the page.)

1  2

1. I used several Designer Resources to make these baskets - 3 x basket templates from Set of 3 gift basket templates by Jackie Mitchell; 3 x backgrounds from 12 sheets of A4 Background Papers yellows by Jacqueline Hatton; 2 x embellishments from Pretty Gems - Embellishments by Sheila Rodgers; 2 x flowers, recoloured, from 12 pack of Fabric Flowers by Jackie Mitchell (I took these designer resources into one of my graphics programs and create three A4 sheets, one for each gift basket, putting a template onto a background, putting one embellishment on each end of the handles and another on back and front of basket.  I also recoloured the two flower layers to a deep yellow/apricot.  The pages were printed out onto Super Smooth white cardstock, cut out, scored on my Hougie Board, and stuck together using Template Tape.  The flowers were then shaped, two layers attached with brads, and then stuck onto one of the baskets using Glue Gel.)
2.  This is one of the baskets from the batch of three showed in the previous picture.

CUP Update:  

CUP Mailer - There are a lot of lovely designs for you to look at in the latest CUP Mailer, viewable - here - that was sent out on Monday, 9th, April. From a CD by one of the CUP designers to Cutting files, from design kits to single sheet designs, there are a lot for you to see.

 -oOo-

You can see the cards I’ve made using design sheets from CUP in my “Crafter Showcase Area” on Craftsuprint.com - here
(Just scroll down past the top boxes to see the cards.)

You can see my page on Facebook by clicking - here.

-oOo-

 I’d like to thank all of you who’ve been so kind as to leave comments on some of my previous blog posts.  I really appreciate that you’ve taken the time to comment on my crafting efforts.
(Hi All - There should be a box below where you can leave a comment if you feel like it.  Comments are moderated and genuine comments will go live when I’ve checked through the list - usually a couple of times a day.)

-oOo-

Posted in craftsUprint Cards | 11 Comments »

07/04/2012 by Gwyneth.

 I’d like to thank all of you who’ve been so kind as to leave comments on some of my previous blog posts.  I really appreciate that you’ve taken the time to comment on my crafting efforts.

-oOo-

If you’ve been reading my blog posts you’ll know that some of the cards I’d cut, assembled and embellished were to be seen on the Create & Craft “Cameo” program last week. They were all cut using designs from Tina Fitch’s CD-ROM “Cameo Creations”. If you go to the C & C page for the CD - here - you’ll see that there’s now a “Watch Video” option, so please go and have a look to see if you can spot any of the cards I’ve put up on my blog.
.

Cards:

Some of these cards were made using Designer Resources from craftsUprint, some from ordinary Card Making designs, and some from Cutting Files which I cut out on my Silhouette Cameo.

(If you click on the thumbnail images you can have a look at a larger image of each item.)
(Clicking on the text links below each set of images takes you to the pages where you can see some of what I used to make the cards.  Where these linked pages are on the CUP site you will usually find a longer description of how I made the item at the bottom of the page.)

1  2  3  4  5

1. Circular Lace & Ribbon Frames by June Young; Pack of 10 diagonal stripes multi colours by Susan Wood; WHITE CAMELIA WITH CARD FACE PLATE by Sally McIntyre (I took one of the lace and ribbon frames, one of the backgrounds and the Camellia with layers into one of my graphics programs and created the design.  This was then taken into my Silhouette Studio software and I created a Print & Cut file out of it.  The design was printed onto a sheet of Crafty Bob’s Paper before cutting it out using my Cameo.  The base card is made from an A4 sheet of Satin Board that had been scored, folded, and trimmed to size.  I just used a glue roller pen to attach the base image layer and glue gel to build up the flower layers.  It did take a bit of time to get the cutting line right to make this card, but there are days I find it easier to sit with my hand on a mouse than using a scissors, so it’s a good way to craft.)
2.  Adult Baptism Christening QS by Silvia Griffin (This one is also printed onto Crafty Bob’s Paper, but this time it was hand cut.  The base layer and the oval pyramage layers were easy to cut out, but the flowers were not so easy, so, if you click through to see the sheet itself, you’ll see that the two flowers and bud came together as an element - well I only cut round the two flowers and chopped of the top bit that included the bud.  I used foam tape to stick on the pyramage layers in order and glue gel for the flower and bow.  The base card for this is a cream Adorable Scoreable A4 card, scored, folded and trimmed to size.)
3. Step Card Back Display Card STUDIO-WPC-MTC-SVG by Rae Carr; Gingham Backing Papers kit by Carol Clarke; Flourish Butterflies - Embellishments - Studio by Ann Smith (The base card for this is cut out of Centura Pearl Snow White card-stock, and the scalloped panel and butterflies out of Satin Board, using my Cameo.  The flowers were cut out of white and gingham printed Super Smooth white card using a couple of Tonic Petite Petal Pairs punch. I chose yellow to go with the flowers behind the fairy in the topper.  There was a bit of twisting involved to get the flower shapes woven to make the finished flowers.  The fairy was a die-cut topper from Papertole.  Again, an easy card to make as the cutting was done using my Cameo and the decoupage was die cut.)
4. Ladies Accessories Tri Fold Quick Card by Lorraine Smith (The topper was printed onto Crafty Bob’s paper and cut out.  Nice easy shapes.  These were stuck to red cardstock and I trimmed around leaving a border, so again easy to cut.  The base card is made from Centura Pearl Snow White cardstock, scored and trimmed and the matted toppers added.)
5. Same card as above but opened out as a screen.

1  2

1. Wedding Horseshoe fronted Door Card by Tina Fitch (This design is available as a .gsd file from craftsUprint, but is also available as a .studio cutting file on Tina’s “Cameo Creations” CD-ROM.  Despite all the hard work of cutting being done using my Silhouette Cameo, this card is very time consuming as landlocked pieces that didn’t come out when the panels and horseshoes were pulled from the cutting mat needed to be pushed out using a hook tool.  This is cut from linen textured white cardstock.  The contrasting colour is ordinary red cardstock from a goodie box I received, and behind each panel I put gold vellum.  Although not really visible in the pictures, I’ve gone around the outside edge of both doors and the back panel with narrow “red” double sided tape and put on fine glitter.  I also used a Zig glue pen over several of the horseshoe layers and put the same glitter on before attaching these to the card.)
2.  Same card as previous but with the front gates open to show the inside horseshoes.

Knitting:

In a previous post - here - I showed you one panel I’d knitted out of Wendy Frills yarn on one of my circular knitting looms.  I’ve now got three of these finished and a fourth on the go. It’s going to make a lovely, snuggly, blanket/throw for me once I’ve finished all the panels and stitched them together.  I’ve also started working on a baby blanket out of another unusual yarn working on my Authentic Knitting Board.

1  2  3  4  5

1. This is the band from around the yarn I’m using for my baby blanket.  It’s white and called Tiddly Pom!
2. This is what the yarn actually looks like (put against the band to give some idea of size.)
3. This is how much I’ve knitted so far.  I’m working the whole length of my knitting board for this project, but only working on one side of the board, rather than weaving back and fore for a double knit.  I’m knitting two loops between each “pom”.
4. This is what the front of the piece looks like close up.
5. This is the back of the knitted piece.

Keep an eye out on future posts for the finished knitted pieces.

CUP Update:  

CUP Mailer - There have been two mailers sent out by the team at CUP HQ since my last post.  You can see the one sent out on Wednesday, 4th April by clicking - here - and the one sent out on Friday, 6th April by clicking - here.  Again you’ll see lots of lovely design being showcased and a chance to catch up on some news from crafters and designers.

 -oOo-

You can see the cards I’ve made using design sheets from CUP in my “Crafter Showcase Area” on Craftsuprint.com - here
(Just scroll down past the top boxes to see the cards.)

You can see my page on Facebook by clicking - here.

-oOo-

(Hi All - You should find a box below where you can leave a comment if you feel like it, but due to the fact that I’ve had some problems with Spam/advertising posts, that are absolutely nothing to do with the content of my blog, I now moderate all comments before they go live.  Genuine comments will go live when I’ve checked through the list - usually a couple of times a day.)

-oOo-

Posted in craftsUprint Cards | 5 Comments »

01/04/2012 by Gwyneth.

Those of you who follow my blog will know that I’m on the “Creative Team” of the designer Tina Fitch.  Tina is known mostly for her fantastic digital designs for using with cutting machines such as the CraftROBO and Silhouette Cameo.  Well Tina’s latest CD-ROM, “Cameo Creations” is available on Create & Craft, and there’s a program scheduled for tomorrow (Monday, 2nd April) at 4pm.  I’ve been busy, along with some other members of Tina’s Creative Team, making samples to go up to the studio for the show.

The cards I’ve got to show you today are just some of the cards I’ve cut/constructed/decorated using Tina’s wonderful designs as the starting point.  All made to show different styles of cards that you can make when using such fantastic designs, from the simple to the more ornate.  And not just using the Cameo’s cutting function, but also the ability to use pens in the machine.

Take a good look and keep an eye out during the program to see if you can spot them:

1  2  3   4

1. Scalloped Oval Layers (Scalloped Oval.studio) - With this scalloped oval design there’s a choice of having the top layer with the wording “Best Wishes” or blank for you to decorate or put a greeting of your choice. I chose to make this card in tones that would make it suitable for a male card, without ribbons or glitter. (Base card – Linen textured gold card.  Oval layers cut out of Hunkydory card; Embellishment – two colours of sticky back gems in various sizes.)
2. 3d Teddy Frame (3d Teddy Frame.studio) - The cutting file for the base card is provided, as is the cutting outlines to cut out the teddy in colours of your choice.  You can then paper piece the teddy onto the card.  I added googlie eyes for a finishing effect. (Base card – hammered effect white card.  Teddy cut from two colours of Hunkydory card; Writing in one of Silhouette Sketch Pens - Glitters; Embellishment – googly eyes.)
3. Best Wishes Line Art Card (Cameo Line art 1.studio) - This card is made by using both the writing and the cutting facilities of the Cameo, just remember to set only the particular lines you want to Cut for every different colour and for the cutting.  It does take a bit of time to set it to do a colour, change the lines and change the pen, and then set it to write again, but the finished effect is very effective. (Card base cut from hammered effect white card; writing all using Silhouette Sketch Pens - Glitters; Insert is glitter paper put so that coloured, glittered, side is out towards cut-out area.)
4. 3d Flower frame (3d Flower frame.studio) - This design has a different look depending on the card texture and colours you use for the base card and layers, and also what you use as embellishment.  Think how jazzy it would look in yellow, orange and red, or how striking in in just black and white. (Card and flower layers from three colours of Hunkydory card.  Embellishment is green and white peel-offs.)

1  2   3   4

1. 3d Flower frame (3d Flower frame.studio) -This is the same design as card 4 in the 1st set above, but the layers were cut in the opposite colours, and a coloured insert was put behind the aperture. (Card from Hammered effect white card; Flower layers from Hunkydory card; Embellishment is a spotted ribbon and bow, together with peel-offs; Panel of Glitter card put behind aperture.)
2. Fancy Scalloped Shape Layers (Fancy scalloped shape.studio) - This is a really versatile series of layers that can be cut in colours to suit your project and decorated however you want.  I made it up in pinks and creams as an easel card.  (Layers were cut out of an assortment of Hunkydory cardstock and attached to the front of an easel card (think this was also a Hunkydory base card as well, but I could be wrong there).Decorated with two types of gems on branches tied with a ribbon and bow.)
3. This is a closeup of the front of the easel card when flat for putting in an envelope.
4. This is an even closer closeup so that you can see the scalloped effect.

I’ve made more items than just these, so keep an eye out for a couple more blog posts of samples from me over the next few days.

The CD-ROM “Cameo Creations” can be bought from C & C by going to - this - page, or from the Graphtec website by going to - this - page.

Tina’s work is available to buy as individual items from the craftsUprint site.  You can see the over 1,000 items she’s uploaded by clicking - here.

If you don’t have an electronic cutting machine, but are considering saving up for one, I’d say - go for it! You could do a lot worse than going for the Cameo.  I loved my CraftROBO.  I’m even happier that I decided to go for an upgrade to the Silhouette Cameo.

If however you are not going for a cutting machine that can use Tina’s cutting files at this time, then quite a few of Tina’s designs are now available as .pdf file formats from the craftsUprint site, so that you can hand cut them with a craft knife or scissors.  Click - here - to see some of them.

-oOo-

You can see the cards I’ve made using design sheets from CUP in my “Crafter Showcase Area” on Craftsuprint.com - here
(Just scroll down past the top boxes to see the cards.)

You can see my page on Facebook by clicking - here.

-oOo-

(Hi All - I’ve got comment moderation in place, so your comments won’t go live immediately, but genuine comments will go live as soon as I’ve weeded out the SPAM comments.)

-oOo-

Posted in craftsUprint Cards | 3 Comments »

30/03/2012 by Gwyneth.

In my post “Crafting Mid March”, posted on the 17th of March, (click - here - to see this post), I said that I had indeed remembered to make my mother a Mother’s Day, or Mothering Sunday, card, but I couldn’t show it to you at the time because I’d entered it into a competition where the entries were made anonymously.  Well the competition has now closed (see results below), so what I’ve got to show you today is the card and the box that held a little gift of chocolates to go with it.  The card took a long time to plan out and even longer to make, but I look on it as a “labour of love”, as I wanted something really special for my mother.  Thankfully, she thinks it is stunning.

Mother’s Day Card and Box:

Please click on the thumbnail images to have a look at a larger image in each case, as the thumbnail images just do not give a true feeling for the card.

1  2  3

1. Digital designs bought from CUP:
   cup297266_596 - Scalloped Layered Full Letter Alphabet…GSD; cup57481_359 - Gingham Backing Papers kit
   Equipment:
   Hougie Board and Pokey Tool; Silhouette Cameo digital cutting machine; Silhouette Universal Hook, Scraper and Universal Spatula; Tonic Petite Petal Pairs Punches; Scissors; Paper trimmer; Ball tool; Printer
   Other Digital Designs: such as leaves are part of package that came with Cameo
   Consumables:
   A3 Centura Pearl Snow White; A4 Red Satin Board; Silhouette White sticky back vinyl; Transfer Paper; Acetate; Foam Tape; Finger lift tape; Glue Gel; Several sheets of super smooth white card 250gsm; Background and silhouette peel offs from my non-CUP crafting stash and digital items (of which, admittedly, I have a lot! LOL)
   Method:
   I printed out four colours from Gingham Backing Papers kit onto Super smooth white card.
   Then I used the Alphabet cutting file, with my Cameo, to cut out the three layers of each of the letters to make up the word “MAM” from three of the colours, and cut out leaves from the green.
   I used the left over bits of card from cutting the letter layers to punch out a variety of small flower shapes using my Tonic punches.
   I cut out a lattice/trellis from white, sticky back vinyl.  The diamond shaped pieces of vinyl between the trellis were hooked out one by one off the backing sheet, leaving only the trellis in place.  This took ages.  I then used the transfer paper and scraper to move the lattice left behind to the acetate.
   I scored the A3 sheet of card and then folded in half to make an A4 base card.
   I trimmed the red Satin Board to make it a little smaller and attached it to the card front using double sided fingerlift tape.
   I trimmed a scenic background, that I’d printed onto Super Smooth card, to be a little smaller again and attached this to the front of the red card.  I put on some silhouette stickers of trees and branches onto the background at strategic places, rubbing well into place.
   The acetate was then trimmed using scissors to the outer edge of the vinyl frame.
   I then used a double layer of 2mm deep foam tape to attach this to the front of my prepared card.
   I cleared the letter layers of any bits that were remaining landlocked within the design with a hook, and then built them up, the base layer of each letter being stuck directly to the acetate “trellis window” using glue gel, and the other layers attached using 2mm deep foam tape.
   I used a ball tool on each of the leaves of the foliage I’d cut out, to give them shape, before I stuck them to the front of the card, top right and bottom left. A bit time consuming I know, but I prefer a dimensional effect so was willing to put a little time into it.  I like the dappled shade effect that using the gingham green paper rather than a solid green colour gives the leaves.
   I intertwined a variety of different colours, and different petal shapes, from the punched out flower layers and again used my ball tool to give them shape before attaching two to the letters M and the rest to the foliage at the bottom left of the card front.
   Something a bit different, but using very cheerful, spring colours.
   Not a quick and easy card to make, as even using the ball tool to do all the shaping of leaves and flowers made my hands quite sore and the jobs had to be done over several different sessions.  But the time and effort was worth it to make something special for my mother for the special day.  She really loved it and isn’t planning on taking it down from view any time soon.
2. This is a view along the card to show you some of the dimensional elements that gave the card both height and texture.
3. This was made from the same card-stock as the base card, A4 Centura Pearl Snow White.  Despite the colours being a bit brighter on this, the yellow and red gingham pattern used as topper layers are exactly the same colours as the bop and bottom layers of the letters on the card as well as some of the punched out flower layers.  Taken at a different time, in different lighting conditions the colours turned out differently in the photograph.

CUP Update:  

Card Making Competition Result -  My card came in number 21 out of 42 entries.  Funnily enough, the winner had also used one of Tina Fitch’s alphabet cutting files, but she’d put MUM, not MAM, on her card.  The winner was Anna Stretton.  Congratulations Anna.  And also congratulations to Helen Gomm and Kristina Norbat who came in 2nd and 3rd.  There were a lot of nice cards entered, but I’d got all three of these cards in my batch of favourites.  You can see the full result, together with links to look at the card each person entered by clicking - here.

Discount Code -  There’s still a 20% discount available until the end of the month for anybody who places an order on the craftsUprint site.  The instructions are “Simply type the word ‘MASSAGE‘ into the REDEEM VOUCHER box on the basket page BEFORE you check out then click UPDATE BASKET to save a whopping 20% off your total order value!”.

The “Massage” discount code expires 31st March 2012 at Midnight GMT.  So what are you waiting for?!

CUP Mailer - A new mailer was sent out today (Friday, 30th March).  Have a look at it - here - if you’ve not received yours in your inbox.

 -oOo-

You can see the cards I’ve made using design sheets from CUP in my “Crafter Showcase Area” on Craftsuprint.com - here
(Just scroll down past the top boxes to see the cards.)

You can see my page on Facebook by clicking - here.

-oOo-

 A Big “Thank You” To Those Of You Who’ve Left Comments On Some Of My Blog Posts
I really appreciate that you’ve taken the time to comment on my crafting efforts.

-oOo-

(Hi All - You should find a box below where you can leave a comment if you feel like it.  Comments are moderated but will go live as soon as I weed out the Spam, which I usually do a couple of times a day.)

-oOo-

Posted in craftsUprint Cards | 4 Comments »

25/03/2012 by Gwyneth.

I’ve got five cards from those I’ve made over the last two days to show you in this blog post.  I’ve used several Designer Resources from craftsUprint in this selection.  Please don’t think that, just because they are called “Designer Resources” that a card-maker or other papercrafter can’t use them.  The Designer Resources section on craftsUprint is a good source of digital material for a crafter who likes to do initial work in the digital medium before printing out and doing their paper crafting, rather than just accept a layout design as digitally created by somebody else all the time.  I’m sure that there are many card makers out there who, like me, sometimes just want to put something together quickly from die cut elements and pre-printed backgrounds, but who also sometimes want to get stuck into some initial designing to put elements together how we want.

.

Cards:

(If you click on the thumbnail images you can have a look at a larger image of each item.)
(Clicking on the text links below each set of images takes you to the pages where you can see some of what I used to make the cards.)

1  2  3  4  5

1. Baby Boom Pink by Jackie Mitchell; ‘Twill Ribbon’ Digital Embellishments - Shabby Summertime Colours by Carol Clarke; 12 sheets of A4 Background Papers: pink, blue, lilac by Jacqueline Hatton (I took four of the elements from the baby boom kit, together with a ribbon from the twill ribbon kit and three of the backgrounds from the backgrounds kit  into one of my graphics programs. I then created a layout I was happy with, placing extra layers of the elements to one side to be added as decoupage layers. The finished design was printed onto Super Smooth white card and the pieces cut out. The little “baby” elements are quite easy to cut out because of their shape.  The base layer was stuck to the front of a base card made using pink Satin Board that I’d cut to the right size. The added layers were shaped and stuck in place using glue gel.)
2. Baby Boom Blue by Jackie Mitchell; Gingham Backing Papers kit by Carol Clarke (I took some of the elements from the baby boom kit into one of my graphics programs, together with a couple of shades of gingham backing paper. I played around with the various pieces until I had a matted and layered look background, with some of the baby elements placed on these, and also put copies of the baby elements by the side to make extra layers to decoupage on. I then took the resulting design into my Silhouette Studio software and added cutting lines to make it a Print & Cut design. The design was printed onto Glossy Photo Paper and then cut out using my Silhouette Cameo, so no fiddly cutting at all as the machine does this. The base layer was stuck directly onto a mat of Adorable Scorable card-stock, and this matted image was stuck to the front of a slightly lighter base card using 2mm deep, double sided, foam tape. The additional layers were gently shaped and then stuck on using glue gel.)
3. Butterfly quick card front by Sharon Poore (I printed the design onto glossy photo paper and then cut out the pieces - minus the antennae for the extra butterflies as I just couldn’t cut those out, and seeing as they are on the base card in any-case I thought it would look better without my mangled antennae still attached. Without the antennae the butterflies are reasonably easy to cut out for somebody with mild problems with dexterity.  I then took a quickie glue pen and went over the swirls on the wings of each of the extra butterflies before dipping them in a tub of crystal glitter. I prepared a base card from Adorable Scorable card and trimmed it to a little larger than the base image, and stuck the image directly to the card. Once dry I gently folded the wings back and attached the butterflies to the card front using glue gel. I’ve left the card without a greeting for now as I’ll probably want to put a Welsh greeting on once I know who’s to receive the card and on what occasion. A really pretty design that’s sure to appeal to a butterfly lover.)
4. Wood Frames by Carol Lepard; CU4CU Chunky Milk Chocolate Alpha Designer Resource by Karen MacKellar (I took one of the wooden frames from the frames kit, together with the letters D and A from the Alpha kit, into one of my graphics package and played around with the layout, adding some backgrounds, until I had a card front topper that I wanted. I also copied the frame and letters to make extra layers. The finished design was then taken into the Silhouette Studio software so that I could add cutting lines to make it into a Print & Cut file.  The design was then printed out onto glossy photo paper and cut out using my Silhouette Cameo, which meant that there was no issues with cutting out the frame and letter layers. I made a base A5 card using brown Adorable Scorable cardstock and onto this stuck a panel of bronze vellum, making sure that the finger-lift tape was not towards the edges but rather under the centre which would be covered. I then stuck my base topper layer on top of this. I finished the card off by sticking the extra layers of frame and letters in place using glue gel.)
5. Step Card Scalloped Round Shape STUDIO-WPC-MTC-SVG by Rae Carr; Perfect camelia pink 2 card sheet by Sally McIntyre (I printed the Camellia sheet onto glossy photo paper and cut out the layers of one of the toppers. This cutting wasn’t especially intricate so not to difficult for somebody with mild dexterity problems.  I prepared the base card by cutting out the step card layers out of two shades of pink Adorable Scorable cardstock, folding into shape along the score lines and attaching the panels. The base layer of the image was attached to the scalloped centre of the base card using 1mm deep, double sided, foam tape. I then built up the topper layers in order, attaching each in place using glue gel. I finished off by embellishing using a strip of fancy border peeloff. Isn’t it great to have two complete toppers, with dimensional layers, on one sheet - one sheet to buy, one sheet to print - two pretty cards out of it.)

CUP Update:  

CUP Mailer - There have been further E-mails sent out by the team at CUP HQ since I last gave you the links, so if you want to have a read of the one sent out on Friday, 23rd March, then click - here. It’s the Silver designer’s work being showcased this time, from parchment to cutting files, from toppers to card fronts, there are a lot of designs to take a look at.  There’s also all sorts of other snippets from the CUP world, from a designer’s car to the crafter who missed a Crazy Five Minutes win because she was busy making cards.

Card Making Competition - the page is now open for CUP designers and crafters to place their votes in the March competition to make a handmade Mother’s Day card.  You can see all the entries up on the craftsUprint site - here.  There are 42 entries in this month’s competition, and Yes! I have got an entry in.  But, as usual, this is an anonymous competition, so I’m not telling you which card is mine until after the voting finishes - although you can have a good look at all the entries and see if you can guess which one is mine if you want.  The winner is to be announced on the 30th of March, so I’ll show you which is my card after that.

 -oOo-

You can see the cards I’ve made using design sheets from CUP in my “Crafter Showcase Area” on Craftsuprint.com - here
(Just scroll down past the top boxes to see the cards.)

You can see my page on Facebook by clicking - here.

-oOo-

 A Big “Thank You” To Those Of You Who’ve Left Comments On Some Of My Blog Posts
I really appreciate that you’ve taken the time to comment on my crafting efforts.

-oOo-

(Hi All - You should find a box below where you can leave a comment if you feel like it, but due to the fact that I’ve had some problems with Spam/advertising posts, that are absolutely nothing to do with the content of my blog, I now moderate all comments before they go live.  Genuine comments will go live when I’ve checked through the list - usually a couple of times a day.)

-oOo-

Posted in craftsUprint Cards | 4 Comments »

24/03/2012 by Gwyneth.

I got out my ProMarkers out again for this card, choosing an image that I think has very much a “spring” theme to it.  I’d like to enter the card into two challenges:

• Crafter’s Companion Monthly Challenge - 22 -SPRING
• Joanna Sheen Monthly Challenge Blog - Spring/Easter

Here’s the card:

This is how I made it:

I printed out background Greeen Sprigs Backing Paper by Sue Way onto 250gsm Super Smooth white card. I trimmed this, scored, folded in half and then used a corner rounder punch on the corners on the right hand side.  Onto this I put a strip of textured gold card cut with a wavy edged cutter down the centre.  I prepared a mat of the same card-stock as the base card, again rounding the corners with the same punch, and distressed the edges using the green end of a Waterfall Big and Juicy ink pad.  I printed out two copies of digi stamp Daffy Bunny Doodles Digital Stamp by Lee Jacobs onto the same type of card, making each a little smaller than A5 size.  I coloured in all of one of the images using my ProMarkers and cut it out around the outside outline.  The second image I only coloured in some of the daffodil, and cut it out as a layering element.  I gave my coloured in “Daffy Bunny” some dimension before sticking in place using glue gel, and used the same glue to stick on the second layer of the flower.

With grass in fields becoming a lusher colour of green, the daffodils in full bloom in our garden, and more rabbits being seen out in farmers fields and on the lanes in our area, I think that spring must definitely be here, so this card seemed apt for the theme.

I hope you like it.

 -oOo-

(Please note!  - You should find a box below to leave a comment, but due to the fact that I’ve had some problems with Spam/advertising posts that are absolutely nothing to do with the content of my blog I now moderate all comments before they go live.  Genuine comments will go live when I’ve checked through the list - usually a couple of times a day.)

-oOo-

Posted in craftsUprint Cards | 4 Comments »

24/03/2012 by Gwyneth.

I made this card yesterday, playing around with a Designer Resource from CUP and then setting up my own Print & Cut file to cut out the flower background panel and the flower layers using my Silhouette Cameo, and I’d like to enter it into the challenge:

• Crafty Bloggers Network - Challenge #17 - ‘Floral’
• Cards Galore Challenge Blog - Clean and Simple

Here’s the card:

This is how I made it:

I took one background and the layering flower template from the Designer Resource kit 5 Petal Layering Flower Template by Jackie Mitchell into one of my graphics programs and had a bit of a play around.  I reduced the background to make it a mat smaller than A5 in size.  The other half of my A4 desktop working area in the software I placed a yellow background to tone with the yellow centres of the flowers in the background.  Onto this yellow background I placed the layering flower template, re-sized to fit.  I saved the resulting design and took it into Silhouette Studio software where I put in all the cutting lines needed to make it into a Print & Cut file.  This was then printed out onto Super Smooth white card before being fed into my Silhouette Cameo to cut.  As I rather like the colour purple with yellow I decided to make a fancy mat of that colour to go behind my yellow flowers on my card.  The mat is cut out of glossy photo paper printed with the background design Sumptuous Satin Backing Paper - Purple by Emma Winnell cut using the file Studio Oval Double Circle Mats by Angela Burke.

I created the base card by scoring and folding a green, Satin Board, card in half and then using a punch to round the right hand corners.  The background mat was stuck directly to this with double sided tape.  The oval double circle mat was then put on top using 1mm deep, double sided, foam tape.  As the background is green flowers with yellow centres, I turned this around for the floral toppers and put green centres of different sized sticky back gems onto each flower.  I also used my bone folder to shape each petal before the flowers were attached to the card front using glue gel.

Although these flowers are of slightly different sizes, so that they can be layered on top of each other to make more dimensional cards, for this one I decided to keep it simple and just put a spread of single layers over my purple mat.  In fact, to keep it simple I’ve not added any peel-offs, glitter, buttons, brads, ribbons, bows, inking, etc.

I hope you like it.

 -oOo-

(Please note!  - You should find a box below to leave a comment, but due to the fact that I’ve had some problems with Spam/advertising posts that are absolutely nothing to do with the content of my blog I now moderate all comments before they go live.  Genuine comments will go live when I’ve checked through the list - usually a couple of times a day.)

-oOo-

Posted in craftsUprint Cards | 6 Comments »

17/03/2012 by Gwyneth.

I’ve not done a lot of crafting this week, so not a huge amount to show you, but I hope you like what I have made.

Cards:

The first card in my batch today is the second card I made using one of Tina Fitch’s cutting files that had two cards to cut out using my Cameo in it.   The first one of the two I showed you in my “Last Post Of February” post a couple of weeks or so ago.  The rest of the cards are ones I’ve made over the last couple of days.

(If you click on the thumbnail images you can have a look at a larger image of each item.)
(Clicking on the text links below each set of images takes you to the pages where you can see some of what I used to make the cards.  Where these linked pages are on the CUP site you will usually find a longer description of how I made the item at the bottom of the page.)

1  2  3  4  5

1. Scalloped layered Cards 9 & 10…..Studio by Tina Fitch (This card has a lot of intricate cutting - but all done using my Cameo digital cutting machine, so no hand cutting to stress over.  I cut this out of pink card-stock that had a white back, but cut it from the white side so the pink side is inside and shows through the cut out rose apertures.  I put a white panel of same pattern as front mats inside the card for writing the greeting.  The flowers are punched out of white cardstock and white vellum using some Tonic petal pairs punches, and were shaped before being stuck to the matted area of the card.  Finally I stuck in some sticky back faux gems.)
2. Quick Pyramid Sheet 6 by Ammie Sanders (This is a quick little card, and simple to make.  I printed it onto super smooth white card so the background element of the sheet could simply be cut out and folded to make the base card.  So the whole card came from one printed sheet.  As the topper is a pyramid it’s all easy to cut out, so this is a good one to make when a quick card is needed for a child - perhaps you’ve got children or grand-children who are always coming at the last moment and asking for a card for a little friend - this one would be great for a quick but cute make.)
3. Daffodil, tulips and floral mix by Karen Wyeth (The kit I used to make this is a Designer Resource of several floral pictures, and I chose the tulips photo for making this card.  I played around with the photo in one of my graphics packages to tile a piece of the image to make background, make a paper ribbon from the image and also make a couple of decoupage layers.  I then set up a “Print & Cut” file of the resulting design so that I could cut everything out using my Cameo cutting machine.  This means that, although there’s some decoupage that included fine stems, this was an easy card to make as no cutting out by hand was required.)
4. A5 Bert does the Cleaning quick card n 3D decoupage by Carol Clarke (Being a decoupage design there is some cutting out, that includes ins and outs, to do to prepare this design for assembly, but because the design is quite “chunky”, the cutting out isn’t particularly intricate, so can be done by a person with some dexterity problems but not by a person with bad dexterity problems I’d have thought.  Bert is a fun character that always brings a smile to my face, so have a look on CUP for other designs that feature this character on CUP.)
5. Mini Dude Footballer Blue Decoupage Sheet by Gordon Fraser and Pretty Rose ‘Swirls Embossed’ Backing Paper by Carol Clarke (I put just a small panel of the swirls background down the left side of my chosen base card, then put on a panel of a background from the “Wishing on a Star” double CD-ROM on the card towards the right.  The mini dude footballer is a decoupage topper so does have some ins and outs for cutting.  It’s of a similar difficulty level as the card above, so midlin’ as far as difficulty for those with dexterity problem. Really cute image for a youngster who’s into football.)

You’ve probably noticed that there’s no Mother’s Day card amongst this little batch - don’t worry, I’ve not forgotten.  I have made a card for my mother, but I’m entering it into a competition where the entries are anonymous, so you’ll get to see it the beginning of next month once the results are in.

.

Knitting:

This is my latest knitting project on a circular knitting loom.  The yarn I’m using this time is called a Butterfly yarn and it opens out into  mesh with the knitting being made using the loops at the top as each stitch and with the bottom being pulled to give ruffles.

1  2  3  4  5

1. Band around the yarn showing details.
2. Yarn as it comes off the ball, all squashed and twisted together
3. Yarn after it is opened out for knitting
4. Knitting in progress on a circular knitting loom - I’m using every other peg to keep it flat during knitting.
5. Piece of scarf as it comes out the bottom of the loom after giving a quick pull.

I’ve not got a lot to do of this again, so keep an eye out for the end result pictures after I’ve cast it off.

CUP Update:  

CUP Mailer - There have been a couple of mailers sent out by the guys at CUP HQ since my last blog post.  You can see a copy of the one sent out on Wednesday, 14th March by clicking - here, and a copy of the one sent out on Friday, 16th March by clicking - here.  As usual you’ll see lots of designs that you can buy to use when making cards.  In addition to this there’s lots of news from designers and crafters around the world.  Please click over for a look if you’ve not read the mailers yet.

Card Making Competition -  The theme of the March 2012 competition has been announced.  The theme is “Mothers Day”.  The last date for entries is 22nd March, so pop over to the page with the details on Craftforums - here.

 -oOo-

You can see the cards I’ve made using design sheets from CUP in my “Crafter Showcase Area” on Craftsuprint.com - here
(Just scroll down past the top boxes to see the cards.)

You can see my page on Facebook by clicking - here.

-oOo-

 A Big “Thank You” To Those Of You Who’ve Left Comments On Some Of My Blog Posts
I really appreciate that you’ve taken the time to comment on my crafting efforts.

-oOo-

(Hi All - You should find a box below where you can leave a comment if you feel like it, but due to the fact that I’ve had some problems with Spam/advertising posts, that are absolutely nothing to do with the content of my blog, I now moderate all comments before they go live.  Genuine comments will go live when I’ve checked through the list - usually a couple of times a day.)

-oOo-

Posted in craftsUprint Cards | 2 Comments »

13/03/2012 by Gwyneth.

I’ve both got a placing in a card making challenge, and been awarded a blog award by fellow bloggers during this last week.  How great is that?!

Card Making Challenge Placing:

I had entered my “Black and Pink” card (which you can see in a previous post of mine - here) into a challenge on the Ditzy-Craftymess Challenge Blog site.  In fact it was the Ditzy-Craftymess 3rd Challenge with the theme “Black and Pink” that I entered, which makes my card title a bit obvious really.

In any case, I learned over the weekend that I’d got a top 3 placing, hence I’ve got the badge to show on my blog that you can see here.  You can see the post on the site with the winners announcement by clicking - here.

Thank you so much Susan for choosing my card in your choice of top 3.

Blog Award:

I am highly honoured that I’ve been nominated not once, but twice, for “The Versatile Blogger Award”.

Marie has chosen me to be amongst her choice of 15 bloggers to pass on “The Versatile Blogger Award” to. Thank you so much Marie.  Her blog is called “Craft Owl” and her post giving her 15 nominations can be seen - here.

Jane is the other person who’s put my name and blog down amongst her choice of 15.  Her blog is called “Janes Plaice” and her post giving her nominations can be seen - here.

There are conditions to accepting the award, some of which are very easy to do, and some are more difficult.

The conditions of accepting this award are:

•     To thank the person who gave it to you and include a link to their blog.
•     Select 15 blogs that you have either recently discovered or follow regularly.
•     Tell them you have nominated them for the award.
•     Tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself.

The first part - to thank the person, or in my case people, who gave me the award - is easy to do.  I most sincerely do thank Marie and Jane for the award.  Please pop over to have a look at Marie’s blog and Jane’s blog if you haven’t done so already.

The second part of the conditions is more difficult - not because I can’t think of 15 blogs to pass the award on to, but because there are so many great blogs out there that I’ve been following, some I’ve only just discovered and some I’ve been following for longer.  Choosing 15 has been a bit difficult, and I know that there are some great blogs that are absent from this list that I do love.  Many of those I’ve chosen I’m sure will have had awards like this previously, but, as they meet the criteria of being either recently discovered by me or ones I follow regularly, I see no reason why they can’t be nominated and awarded the “The Versatile Blogger” award badge again.  I don’t suppose it will be a big surprise to anybody that, at the moment, the blogs I follow most closely are the blogs of my fellow crafters, either card makers, or artists/designers.

Here are my 15 nominations (“in no particular order” as they say on TV):

1. Forever-Memories-For -You - forevermemoriesforyou.blogspot.com
2. Vee Cassidy Blog - www.veecassidy.blogspot.com
3. Lou’s Card Creations - louscardcreations.blogspot.com
4. Crafting Heaven - goonergirl-craftingheaven.blogspot.com
5. Linda’s Crafty Piece of Heaven - lindasimpsoncraftypieceofheaven.blogspot.com
6. Handmade Cards By Jo - handmadecardsbyjo.blogspot.com
7. Craftymonster81 - craftymonster81.blogspot.com
8. Loves To Craft - janlovetocraft.blogspot.com
9. Linda’s Rainbow Crafting Cabin - lindasrainbowcraftingcabin.blogspot.com
10. A Passion For Craft - fleurapassionforcraft.blogspot.com
11. LOOpy’s Craft Creations - l00pyscraftcreations.blogspot.com
12. J J Designs - www.jeanette-jjdesigns.blogspot.com
13. What Katy Did Next - catherine-whatkatydidnext.blogspot.com
14. Monty and Rosie- www.montyandrosie.blogspot.com
15. Aus’s Arty Designz - ausposersartydezines.blogspot.com

I’m now in the process of fulfilling the third part of the list of conditions - I’m writing on the blog of each of the above to let them know I’ve nominated them.  It may take me until tomorrow to work my way around the lot though.  I do hope that they feel able to accept the award and in turn follow the conditions of acceptance, but I know from personal experience that work, time, life, health, etc., can come in the way of crafting and blogging, especially extra bits like this that require time and were not planned, so will totally understand if some feel they are not able to accept and carry out the conditions.

Now for the fourth, and final, part of the conditions of acceptance -

Here are seven things about me:

1. I was born in West Wales, and other than for three years in college in Cardiff, I’ve lived in this area all my life.
2. Having worked as a science and IT technician in a school and then as an IT support with a local education authority, (giving IT helpdesk and website support to all the schools of a whole county) I was forced to take early retirement because of ill health and disabilities just over a year ago.
3. I’ve been crafting, in one form or another, for most of my life - I certainly can’t remember a time when I didn’t craft.
4. My main crafts at the moment are card-making, jewellery making, and knitting on knitting boards/looms, and I like trying new techniques as and when my disabling conditions allow.
5. I am a member of the very talented Tina Fitch’s “Creative Team” - we cut out, construct and decorate her fantastic digital cutting file designs for her, so that she can use the photos as exemplars when she’s selling her designs on sites such as CUP and her own site.
6. I’ve been a Registered Crafter on the craftsUprint site for just over two years, and have over 900 pictures of items I’ve handcrafted up there by now.
7. I started this blog back at the end of July 2010, but have websites that are older than that for the family, Sunday School, etc.

I hope I’ve followed all the conditions correctly, and that being nominated for this award brought the same smile to the faces of those I’ve nominated as I felt when I read that I had been nominated to receive this award.

CUP Update:  

CUP Mailer - Well the team are back from the SECC show in Glasgow, and are preparing for the next craft show, but they still found the time to send out another mailer on Monday.  If you don’t receive the CUP mailer regularly to your inbox then you can put your name down for it - here.  You will also receive some free digital design sheets for your cardmaking if you do so.  But in the meantime, if you’ve not seen the mailer sent on the 12th, you can see it - here.  There are some absolutely lovely designs for cardmakers being showcased in addition to the snippets of news from around the CUP family of crafters and designers.

 -oOo-

You can see the cards I’ve made using design sheets from CUP in my “Crafter Showcase Area” on Craftsuprint.com - here
(Just scroll down past the top boxes to see the cards.)

You can see my page on Facebook by clicking - here.

-oOo-

Posted in craftsUprint Cards | 7 Comments »