Saturday, 20 August 2011

Get Funky Challenge - At the Seaside!


Here is my entry for the Get Funky Challenge running over the Funky Hand blog. The theme is 'At the Seaside' and the only requirement is that at least one of the Funky Hand products is used as part of the design. If you don't have any Funky Hand papers there is a Freebie to use as part of your entry. Not bad!

I made the card using light brown cardstock base and creating a shoreline and background for surfboards using backing paper from the 'Funky One' cd, Bright Blue paper selection. The torn edge of the blue paper is supposed to represent the tide :-)

The surfboards were stamped onto paper from the Orange paper selection from the same cd. The surfboards were then cut out and placed with dimensional adhesive pads to add depth. The 'Sun' was stamped directly onto the blue 'Sky' and the centre is a circle punched out from some orange cardstock. Some flip-flops and a spade were added for detail. All the stamps, including the sentiments are from Stephanie Barnard's Summer4Fun stamp set.


I hope you like today's post and don't forget to leave a comment. I look forward to reading them.

Angela

Materials used
Brown and Orange cardstock
The Funky One backing-paper cd from The Funky Hand
White 160 gsm cardstock for the printing from the cd
Staz-On Black ink
Stampin'Up 1" circle punch
Summer4Fun stamp set - Stamps of Life

Thursday, 18 August 2011

Charisma Cardz Challenge - Negative Space

Hello fellow crafters and bloggers, I'm back in the challenge mood and this challenge is running over at Charisma Cardz I am inclined to put too much on a card and this challenge was an exercise in 'less is more' for me. Not too bad methinks.
Charisma Cardz have a group on Facebook which you can apply for membership. Lots of other crafters sharing ideas, chat and great fun. I made the card by embossing the white cardstock base with the large folder from the Sizzix 'Spring' set. The flower is from the same set, embossed on to white cardstock and coloured using Forest Moss, Dandelion and Cheery Pink inks and then cut out. The sentiment is from a Papermania stamp and cut using the Nestabilities scalloped ovals die.




Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to leave a comment, I love hearing from you.
Angela

Materials Used
Sizzix Spring Set and Big Shot
Tim Holtz- Forest Moss distress ink
Impress - Cherry Pink
Memento - Dandelion
Nestabilities - Scalloped Oval LG
Papermania - Wedding Sentiments Clear Stamp set

Friday, 12 August 2011

The Happy Couple



Again another great photo (not one of mine) that made making this page easy. I picked up the colours from the bride's bouquet, creams, pinks and greens, to help the photo stand out. The photo was matted onto green cardstock which contrasted well with the dotted green background. Some punched out hearts (pink) and butterflies (green) help to maintain the bouquet colour theme. I kept the layout simple with plenty of space leftover for journaling to be added later.

I hope you like today's post and thanks for stopping by.

Angela

Thursday, 11 August 2011

Night Owl Design - Summer Cardmaking Challenge


Finally got the photos to upload for the Night Owl Designs' Cardmaking Challenge. I made this box few times with ordindary copy paper in order to see how the folds and the cutting worked. This was a good idea and saved me wasting paper. I had problems at first with the measurements because I couldn't accurately get the folds lined up, but perserverance paid off.


I choose black 300gms cardstock as this weight of paper made the box more stable and easier to work with. I initally thought of putting a belly-band of a contrasting colour around the box to hold the sides together, but settled on some red ribbon with an embellishment made from paper flowers from Rayher and a matching brad from the same company. The pink flower was rubbed over with some Royal Rose ink from Stampin'UP and the edges decorated with some 'Stickles' Star dust. I used a velcro fastner to make removing the ribbon easier.











I hope you like today's post and thanks for stopping by.

Angela






Materials used
Black Cardstock
Red satin and organza ribbon
Red and Pink flowers together with a decorative Brad -Rayher
Star Dust -Stickles
Royal Rose Ink -Stampin'UP
Crafters Companion Clevercut
Double-sided tape.

Sunday, 7 August 2011

Making Cards - Nancy Watt Paisley and Florals


Here are three cards I made using some of the 16 craft papers free with Making Cards magazine. By matching the lilac floral print with some lilac cardstock, different coloured ribbon and a paper doilly, I managed to make three different cards from the same sheet. Finished off with a few of the coordinating embellishments and sentiments that come with the paper, not a bad haul from one A4 piece of paper I'd say!
Next I intend to have a go at the remaining papers which have school and travel themes.

Hope you like todays post and thanks for stopping by.

Angela

Saturday, 6 August 2011

My New Stamp Storage

This is an old 'Type-setter's Drawer' that was used to hold the 'type' for setting the print for newspapers back in the day before eveything went digital. We have had this for such a long time and it used to house my collection of elephants until some of the herd got too big for the slots. The drawer surfaced recently during one of my clear-outs and I had an idea how I could put it to good use again. The drawer sections are just big enough to store my (small) collection of wood-mounted stamps but has plenty of slots left over for future purchases. Big thanks to the current husband (34 years in training) for using half-time at the footy to set this up for me. Major Kudos earned.
Thanks for stopping by.

Angela

Tuesday, 2 August 2011

My new stash items!

Hi all you crafty people.
I haven't posted for a while mainly because I've been finishing a large order of the Order of Service booklets for my nephew's wedding and also attending said wedding in Ireland.  A great opportunity for a family reunion and a fantastic time was had by all. It is a bit of an anti-climax to be back at home and getting on with the normal stuff, but I have some fab photos, which I hope are a good source for some scrapbook pages, and my new stash to help me get back into the swing of things.

The stash, I am calling this my July Haul, is in five parts.
My pocket-money paid for some new Hero Arts wood mounted stamps and a set of clear 'With Sympathy' stamps. I also bought a Marianne Designs cutting and embossing die, which I am keen to try out. The die looks fragile so I am not expecting it to cope with the heavier papers, but we'll see.  I'll let you know how I get on.
Next in line are the selection of paper-crafting magazines I picked up up while I was in Ireland.  I use to subscribe to a couple of the magazines, but the shipping charges made this very expensive. Also, although I was paying full subscription rates, some of the  'sign-up' promotions only apply to UK residents.  No fair!
Anyway Crafts Beautiful, Quick Cards and Making Cards are amongst the choice this time. The bonus is that Quick Cards and Crafts Beautiful have freebie stamps with this months issues. Both stamps sets are Cup Cake related, which helps me to follow the current trend in paper crafting products. Bargain!
Next up are the papers I got at Daintree Paper, Camden Street, Dublin. I am a big fan of the shop and I make a point of visiting each time I get to Dublin. I love the selection of handmade, eco friendly papers they have on offer. The staff are great and very helpful.

Then we have the most impressive addition to my stash so far...well ...for this trip. My absolute diamond of a sister-in-law, Sheila,  presented  me with some fab stuff she brought with her from the US. Sizzix, Kay&Co, and a couple of names new to me 'Life's little Occasions' and 'Studio 112'.  A premium stack from DCWV called 'All dressed up' has some  really glam 12x12  papers, ideal for girlie cards and Colorbök Glitter Punchout Pad with 354 paper embellishments. All garnered from the special deals run by US stores Michaels and Jo-ann's, which I would consider commiting a serious crime in order to get access to! I have seen references to these stores on other blogs and was amazed at how cheap the craftting kit is in the US.
Last but not least are some brads and Stamps from Papermania and Docrafts and some boutique brads from Doodlebug Design bought at a new shop I discovered in a local shopping centre.

I only use products and kit that I find to be good qualtiy, reliable and give the best results for the money. I am hampered by the fact I have to order in quite a lot of what I see in the mags and on the blogs, so I have to think hard before I spend. But this July Haul has got to be the best since I started papercrafting.
To say 'I'm a happy bunny' would be an understatement. I can't wait to try all this new stuff and see what I can create with the stamps and dies and embossing folders.  Just a small matter of heaps of washing to be dealt with first :(
Thanks for stopping by and letting me share my good fortune with you.