Design team makes....Not just Christmas

Hello everyone...Genny here. First let me say Happy New Year and that I hope that 2016 brings you much happiness. My first design team make for this year, uses what is thought of as a Christmas stamp..to make a card that could be used for anything. The stamp set that I have used is from Crafters Companions Adorables range. This range features the designs of Jayne Nestorenko. This set is called Loving and is part of a six stamp set. This was produced as a christmas stamp but by looking at it a bit differently..you can make a lovely Thankyou/Birthday card.

I used the image of the little girl with the cat. I stamped the image using my memento inkpad and then colored it with my promarkers.

I then mounted the image onto some gold mirri. The card itself I covered with some paper from my stash and then added a paper border. I then embellished with a heart die cut and some flowers which I coloured to match in with the colours that I've used. I do so love looking at what I have and trying to use them in a different way.

For the next few weeks, I will be using other 'christmas' themed goods to make rest of the year makes. The way I see it is if you can use some of your christmas stash for other cards, then you're getting more for your money..and at this time of year, we're all looking for ways to save money.

I hope that you all had a fabulous festive season and that the new year brings you lots of exciting crafting. So until next week..take care and happy crafting.

Christmas is coming..Design team makes

Hello everyone..Genny here. Well it's come to that time when us crafters need to be thinking about Christmas cards. Below are a selection of last years cards..all made using different mediums. The one above is from a paper pad brought to us from Joanna Sheen and available from Julie here at JB-Crafting Supplies. The one below is from the Stampendous Range of stamps..another line that Julie has a wide range of.

To decorate the cards, I always use a wide range of embellishments..either bought from Julie or die cuts which I have made using dies also bought from Julie.

The two cards, above and below are also from the Margaret Tarrant paper pad..produced by Joanna Sheen. Lovely images and so handy to have in your stash.

The other great way to produce your christmas cards is to find some cdroms and print your own. Below are two cards..one from a Joanna Sheen cd and the other from a Crafters Companion. Just ask Julie what she has available and you'll be off. It can be daunting when you are thinking about creating your own cards but once you get into it..you're away. I really enjoy Christmas crafting..it's not christmas for me unless everything is covered in glitter. At this time of year even the dog ends up twinkling...lol

So have you started yet?  I have been thinking about it and the lucky thing for me is that I also work on another design team that makes christmas cards all year round. Some years I have a theme but usually I just work with lots of different types of images..digital designs, images from christmas themed cdroms and stamping. I find that I can work with the same image year after year and they're never the same. I find that I create different embellishments and that my cards will have a totally different feel every time. I have a stamp of four geese which I must have had for 15 years and every year it comes out and helps me produce a different look even though it's the same main image. So the best thing to do is to keep your eyes peeled for different embellishments to ring the changes.

On Wednesday I will be back sharing a new set of stamps from Hobby Art which I think will form the basis of my cards for this year.
So until then my thoughts will be on Christmas crafting. If you have started your makes..why not share them. I would love to see what you are doing. So until Wednesday...take care and happy crafting.

Design team makes featuring Brambly Hedge

Hello everyone...Genny here. For this weeks design team makes, I am working with the wonderful triple cdrom of Brambly Hedge. This cdrom has been brought to us crafters by Crafters Companion.There is nothing that I just don't love about this cd and find myself using it for lots of different occasions. It features the timeless artwork of Jill Barklem. I always loved the artwork of the Brambly Hedge books, purely for all the detail in every painting. When Henry was little we would spend hours just looking at the artwork and trying to spot all the little items in the picture.

The first card that I made uses the picture of the bedroom. Now who wouldn't want to sleep in that bed. The only embellishments that I have added are some diecut flowers which I coloured with my promarkers and added a gem to every centre. The gems are available to buy from Julie and are just so fabulous to use. They add so much sparkle.

The second card I thought would be a great card to make for friends who are avid home bakers...I love the idea of a large pantry. I die cut some kitchen items to carry on the cooking theme. I tend to cut my die cuts in white, then I can colour them to fit in with whatever colours I'm using. It is so much easier than trying to find a piece of card exactly the colour you need.

It is a fabulous cdrom, packed with the artwork,borders,toppers and doilies to name but a few. There are 3 discs, with discs 1 and 2 separated into spring and summer, autumn and winter. Disc 3 features 12 step by step projects and bonus papers. In the whole set there is an extraordinary amount of backing papers..just beautiful and suitable for use in all your crafting creations.

I hope that the weather is being kind to you and that you had a lovely weekend. I have so enjoyed working with this cd and hope that you will consider adding it to your collection. For anything you need...just ask Julie..as I've said she has an Aladdin's cave of crafting goodies. I know I always look to her as an amazing source of both crafting items and inspiration. So until next week..take care and happy crafting.

Design team make..using Crafters Companions Moreheads cdrom

Hello everyone...Genny here. For this weeks design team makes I have featured the fabulous Moreheads cdrom brought to us by Crafters Companion.What I have been doing the last couple of weeks is feature some of my favourite cdroms that somehow seem to have slipped through the net so to speak, not being advertised as much as they deserve. I just love the Moreheard cd...all the images take me back to when I was younger..the pictures featured on so many things over the years and it is lovely to be able to use them in my cardmaking. Of course the images are so varied that there is the possibility of making a card for anyone.On both cards I have used a tonic die cut mat on both cards.If there is anything like that that you would like..please ask Julie..if there is anything that you like but she doesn't have in stock, she is more than happy to source it for you...I know because she has helped me so much.

I hope that the weather is being kind with you all...here in the mountains it is bitter. All the more reason to stop in and craft..lol. So until next week...take care and happy crafting.

Design team makes using a Stampendous stamp

Hello everyone..Genny here. First things first..I would like to wish you all a happy new year and hope that you all had a fabulous christmas.For my first make of the new year I decided to make a little piece of art for my kitchen wall. I had a small piece of canvas board and painted it with acrylic paint..Buttermilk and then I edged the board with some burgundy acrylic. I then stamped the image 5 times. The image is from the Stampendous range and is called Cling teapot Posies. I stamped the image using my memento inkpad and coloured the pieces I wanted using my copics. I kept one whole image and cut 4 pieces using just the roses. I mounted the four groups of roses in the corners of the board, having cut off the rosebuds to space them on the sides. I then added the whole image at the base of the board. I then added the little quote at the top. The only thing that I have left to do is to use a spray varnish to cover all the board.

While I was playing creating the board, I looked at the image and decided that it would be perfect to use for my thankyou cards. I used an embossing folder by Crafters Companion which featured roses and thought it would be perfect to use as a background on the card. I have to admit to the fact that I couldn't decide whether to use the pink or the cream..so in the end I used both. I cut 4 squares and added them to the card and then mounted the image onto some pearlescent card. I edged the squares with a pink glittery peeloff.

  I haven't decided whether or not to add a peeloff greeting.I would like to say just what a pleasure it is to use this stamp...it's so easy to use and stamps perfectly every time. Over the years I must have tried hundreds of different brands and some I have to say have been a pain. Every stampendous stamp I have ever used has been a joy. Lovely detail and a cleanly stamped image every time. I know that Julie has a fabulous range in the shop   and they are well worth a look. I have ordered quite a number for my crafting in this new year. I have to admit that there are a lot of cat images which I just have to have..lol.

If there is anything else that you would like to know about the work that I do for Julie..please do not hesitate to get in touch. I love to share the work I do. So until next time..take care and happy crafting.

DT post using Joanna Sheen papers

Hi everyone! Bev here with this weeks DT post.
I have used the Joanna Sheen paper pad designed by Janet Kruskamp & a Crafter's Companion embossing folder - flower garden from the Vintage Floral collection.
Each page of the pad contains all you need to make a card - images, sentiments, 'ribbon' edging.
I decided that a get well card would be a good idea to make as everyone seems to be suffering from this awful cold/flu bug that is going around - us included! If you are suffering I hope you get well soon & looking at my card will make you feel a little better.
I embossed the front of a white card. I was going to ink over the design, but decided that the pattern is so deep that it can easily be seen & I think it suits the images from the paper pad better.
I cut out the images, 'ribbon' & sentiment, then arranged them on the card until I liked the arrangement.
I adhered the 'ribbon' using wet glue, the images & sentiment using foam pads.
The papers are so lovely there really is no need for any other embellishment & there is a lot of choice of images & sentiments to choose from.
Hope you like this weeks make.
Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs,
Bev xx

DT piece using Stampendous Teacup Cupcake stamp

Hi everyone! Hope your preparations are going well. I just have wrapping up to do.
For my DT piece this week I have been sent a lovely Stampendous cling stamp - teacup cupcake, a Crafter's Companion embossing folder - Flower Garden from the Vintage Floral collection & Joanna Sheen paper pad designed by Janet Kruskamp.
I embossed some white card with the embossing folder, inked using tattered rose Distress Ink. I then matted this onto some white card, then onto a pink card.
Stamped the image onto white card, then stamped again just inking the rose & leaves, then again just inking the rose.
I coloured the images using Inktense watercolour pencils.
Cut out the main images, then layered up the rose part of the image for a bit of depth.
Found a matching border & a sentiment in the paper pad, cut these out & adhered to the card.
A lovely image, embossing folder & paper pad to work with - just come at the right time for me as I have 2 friends who have birthdays just after Christmas, and a nice change from making 'Christmassy' things.
Hope you like it.
Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs,
Bev xx

Bebunni Christmas part 2

Hello everyone..Genny here. As promised yesterday..I have now embellished two of the cards that I created yesterday. What many people had been asking about was how I decided to embellish a card. They said that they got to a point where the image and the backing paper were ready on the card...then they hit a brick wall. Even though they had lots of stash..they didn't know where to go next. While I accept that everyone has different ideas what they like to do, different styles that they like..when the blank card is front of you sometimes it can be hard to know where to start. I can only tell you what I do. There are a couple of things that I take into account. First is the question is that if the card is meant to go through an opening for the post office to fit a normal size stamp. If it does then I know that it has to go through a 5mm slot. So no large embellishments..look for thin embellishments..die cuts are great for this. As the size was a factor on both these cards, I have used diecuts to embellish both. As I said yesterday I have glittered both images..which add a little sparkle. It really isworth in investing in a small number of dies. I am very hard with myself over this...there are just so many fantastic dies out there and yes I could use them all but I have to step back and think could I use it more than a couple of times. I have seen a number of great car dies..but I don't make that many cards that involve cars..so as much as I love them I won't be adding them to my book of dies. What I did buy was a set of cog dies..I can use them on car, lorry, train, bicycle cards as well as any steam punk cards. Last year I even made a christmas tree just out of layered cogs. It is always worth bearing in mind peeloffs..they can always add a little something without adding too much height. Over the years they seem to have gone a little out of fashion but I always ignore fashions in the crafting world and always go with what I like. I always have border peeloffs in my stash and butterflies. My other tip is to lookat the image that you're working with and try to pick up some thing from there. For the top card I used snowflakes because in the image it's snowing but I've also used snowflakes in the card below but have turned them into a type of decoration. I've added red jewels in the snowflakes to tie in his red hat and the heart in the image.

I hope that this has helped a little. If you have any other questions please don't hesitate to get in touch with.me. So until next time...take care and happy crafting.

Bebunni Christmas from Crafters Companion

Hello everyone..Genny here. Are you lost in the middle of your christmas crafting? I feel as if I'm knee deep in glitter and holly leaves..lol And all my animals are wearing a lot of twinkle. My cats insist in sitting next to me as I'm glittering and end up getting covered.

Today I'm sharing images from the Christmas Bebunni cdrom from Crafters Companion. I used the original Bebunni cdrom quite a lot and was excited to see the chrismas one. There are some fabulous images on the cd and so much more. Design sets, backing papers, borders..the list is endless. The cd is really easy to use. To me the most important thing when buying a cd is the images.I like to buy cds that I can see myself using for more than one christmas. I think that the images on this cd could be used for many years to come..they are cute but not over the top and they have a timeless quality about them

What I've tried to do with this collection of cards is to make them of a size that means that they can be posted with a normal stamp. They are 5x7 in size. Postage costs that much these days and christmas is probably the one time that you will send off such a large number of cards..so often the cost of postage has to be considered.

 What I've yet to do is to put my embellishments on to the cards. I will do that tomorrow, to share with you how I make the decisions on what to decorate with.I will also have to bear in mind it the height of the decorations that I use.To keep within postal regulations, the whole card and decoration can be no thicker than 5mm. I've found that it sometimes can be difficult to stay within that range.

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On the cards themselves, I have glittered each topper to add that necessary sparkle. I just couldn't help myself..lol.

So I will back tomorrow to share the decoration process. The reason I'm going to to do is that I've had lots of messages and conversations about how I decide to decorate. It seems that lots of people can get to this point on a card but then don't know what to do. I thought that it would be fun to share my process with you all. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

Design Team Make

Hello everyone..Genny here. Today I thought it would be nice to share what you can also do with a 'christmas stamp'. Instead of making a chrstmas card I thought that the image would make a perfect birthday card for a little girl. I like stamps when you can use them for other occasions  as well as that they are designed for. I stamped the image using a memento inkpad and for a change used my watercolour paints to colour it. I then mounted the image onto some gold mirri. I glued some pink polka dot paper onto the card and added a toning border. I then embellished the card with some flowers and a heart from my stash.

Of course it would look just as good using different colourways. Shades of liilac would look good as would shades of blue. You could alter it to whatever the little girls favourite colours are. Also using this stamp you could also change the cat to the teddy

I will be back later in the week sharing some cards from the Bebunni christmas cdrom. I am currently working with this cd and as you liked the original Bebunni cd, I thought that you might enjoy a look at the christmas cd. So until then..take care and happy crafting

DT Post

Hi everyone! Hope you have all had a great week & are not getting too stressed about how quickly Christmas seems to be getting here. Grab a coffee & see what I've been making.
Here is this week's DT make using the lovely Crafter's Companion stamps & the gorgeous Magic of Christmas paper pad that Julie sent me.
I made a small gift bag from ordinary copy paper & covered it with paper from the paper pad. I inked around all the edges using barn door Distress Ink.
I stamped the image onto white card using black Archival ink, then coloured in using my watercolour pencils. Cut around the image leaving a small white border as I thought the image might 'get lost' when I placed it on the patterened paper.
Stamped the sentiment onto white card, inked around the edges with the barn door DI, adhered onto another piece of white card & cut out leaving a small border.
I arranged the image & sentiment on the bag & adhered using foam pads.
Added some sparkle with stickles & closed using some snowflake brads - which I also applied some sparkly stickles to!
A neat little bag to put a few treats in!
Hope you like it.
Thanks for stopping by,
Bev xx

DT Post

Hi everyone! Time for another DT post using those lovely Crafter's Companion stamps.
I coloured a white tag using Inktense pencils then went over with water to make a wash background.
Stamped the cute image using black Archival ink, then coloured using my pencils.
Stamped the snowflake in various places using VersaMark clear ink then sprinkled with some embossing powder & heated using heat tool.
Stamped the sentiment using the black Archival.
Covered a card with a sheet from the lovely Magic of Christmas paper pad.
Added a ribbon to my tag, then adhered to the card using foam pads.
Those stamps & papers make it really easy to make a lovely card - hope you like it.
Thanks for stopping by,
Bev xx

Design team make...Christmas Stamping

Hello everyone..Genny here. Today I have been lucky enough to be able to work with a stamp from the Adorables range brought to us crafters by the wonderful Jayne Nestorenko. She is actually one of the crafters that inspired me in the first place to make cards...I loved her ideas. As I've said this stamp is from the Adorables range of 6 different stamp sets. Bev has created some fantastic designs with one of the other sets. This set is called 'Loving'. I stamped the little girl with the cat, the window and the teddy.I then cut them out, including the window panes of the window. I coloured a piece of card dark blue and then stuck the window onto that. All the images I coloured using my copics. I then mounted the picture onto some green mirri. I cut a border of the same colour and added to that some of a gingham ribbon from my stash. The greeting is one of 4 on the stamp set. I finally added a die cut poinsettia, holly leaves and a gold swirl. Finally I added some jewels.

I really like the different range of these stamps ...I'm hoping that I will be able to share another couple with you this week. Once I had started with the stamps..lots of ideas were popping into my head..I just hope that I can get them all made to share with you.
We have had quite a week with the weather here in the mountains..so it has been the perfect time to stay in and craft. I hope that the weather has been kinder to you all. So until next time...take care and happy crafting

Crafter's Companion DT post

Hi everyone!
For this weeks make with the lovely Crafter's Companion stamps - Adorable Cute Companions - sent to me by Julie, I decided to make a tealight holder.
I had an empty jar (well empty-ish!) & some spare napkins.
I wasn't sure if what I had in mind would work, but hey if you don't try you won't know!
I first carefully parted the layers of the napkin, I only needed one layer with nothing on it. Then I stamped onto the napkin layer with the stamps, using black Archival ink.
My jar isn't round - it has 4 sides, so I stamped 4 images. I tore around carefully around the images leaving a border. Next was the part I was unsure of as I thought the ink may bleed. I covered one side of the jar with some Decou-Page medium and carefully applied a tissue image, going over the image with the medium once I had it in place - RESULT! no bleeding so I repeated this on the other 3 sides of the jar.
I left this to dry for a while. Then came the next part I was unsure of - would I be able to colour the images? I used my watercolour pencils & they worked a treat.
At the top of the jar I applied some gilding flakes.
Once I was sure it was all dry I applied some glitter in various places using Stckles.
Added some sparkly ribbon around the top & a rechargeable tealight inside.
Here are the other sides of the jar. Hopefully you can see a bit of the sparkle I added.

I'm really pleased with how this has turned out.
Hope you like it, thanks for stopping by.
Bev xx

DT Post

Hi everyone - hope you've all had a good week.
For today's post I have made a 3 step card - this shape is really easy to make & folds flat for posting. It also stands well. If you want the measurements they are on my blog under the templates tab.
I made the basic shape from some white card, covered this with a sheet from the Magic of Christmas paper pad designed by Steph Davies.
Stamped the images from Crafter's Companion - Adorables Cute Companions designed by Jayne Nestorenko, onto white card, coloured in using watercolour pencils.
I cut the images out leaving a small white border. Adhered the images onto some red card & cut out leaving a small red border.
Went around the edges of the card with foil. Arranged my elements onto the card using foam pads.
These images are really easy to work with, the detail on them is lovely.
Check out Julie's shop & have a closer look.
Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs,
Bev xx

DT post

Hi everyone, Bev here with another DT post using the Crafter's Companion stamps & the Christmas papers very kindly sent to me by Julie from her shop.
I made the glove stamp is a corner stamp, which I stamped 4 times onto white card - matching up to make a frame, using black Archival ink. I coloured them in using watercolour pencils. I cut around the outside edge & coloured the centre using the watercolour pencils as a wash.
Stamped the girl onto white card with the black Archival, coloured using the watercolour pencils & cut out.
Stamped the parcel image out four times, coloured & cut out.
Arranged the images onto the frame, adhered using foam pads.
Stamped the sentiment, cut into three pieces, inked around with frayed burlap DI & adhered with foam pads.
Mounted the frame onto one of the sheets from the Christmas paper pad, mounted this onto some blue card then onto some white card.
Added a little bling with some gems on each side.
The stamps are lovely to work with, very versatile.
Hope you like this weeks make, thanks for stopping by.
Hugs,
Bev xx

DT post

Hi Bev here with another DT project. Hope you have all had a good week.
Julie was kind enough to send me some lovely new goodies from her shop - Crafter's Companion stamps, Adorables Cute Companions designed by Jayne Nestorenko & some lovely papers from Craftwork cards - The Magic of Christmas mini paper pad designed by Steph Davies.
I am really into making these box - type cards at the moment. They are really easy to make & fold flat so good for posting.
I made my card from white card - the details of how to make this card can be found on my blog here.
I then stamped the images onto white card using black Archival - I wanted to make the signpost be behind the child & reindeer so made a mask of them, placed this over my image & stamped the signpost.
I coloured the images using watercolour pencils. I cut the image out & decided which die cut to use for it, cut this out using my Grand Calibur.
Stamped the small letter image onto white card, coloured in & cut out. Made a small cut on the child's hand ( OO! that sounded bad!) and placed the letter into the cut so it looked as if the child is holding it.
Stamped the sentiments onto white card using black Archival ink & die cut them using a circle & tag die.
I chose a paper to match my image & colours, then covered the box card with it.
Arranged all my elements onto the card to see where they looked best then adhered using foam pads.
I went around various places with my waterfall Stickles, made a bow from some white ribbon & placed that on the box part of the card.
Placed some gems at various places, coloured a couple red with a Promarker, as on the paper the reindeer has red baubles hanging from his antlers.

Here are a couple more photo's - one to show the side of the card showing the box part & a close up of the stamped image showing the lovely detail on the stamp & I think the glitter shows up a little more on this photo.
Hope you like it.
Thanks for stopping by,
Bev xx

DT make

Hi everyone - hope you've had a good week & have managed to keep cool.

I haven't been at home much this week as we are looking after Keith's mum since she had a fall. She's ok but is a little wary of being at home, plus there are other concerns for us which we need to address. We are getting things sorted, but it takes time.

Anyhoo - remembered my laptop on a fleeting visit back home so have used Craft Artist with the lovely Crafter's Companion Vintage Floral CD that Julie sent me.

The images are lovely, and everything goes together so well.

I used a stencil to get the heart shape, then filled it with the roses from the CD.

Picked materials out for the background & a layer & a few more embellishments.

This would be a 5x5 inch square card.

You could either print the card off as a complete card or, as I have done before, print the different elements off to decoupage.

Hope you like it.

Hopefully we will be back home soon & will be able to get to my crafty stash!

Have a good week whatever you are doing,

Bev xx

DT make - vintage Paris candle

 

Hi everyone! Hope your weekend has not been too bad - we've had rain but no thunder & lightening yet. Still very humid though.

When I was looking through the design sheets on the Vintage Floral CD from Crafter's Companion I thought that the Paris images would look good on a candle.

I picked a design & colour out. Taped some tissue paper onto some copy paper & printed the design onto the tissue.

Tried the images around the candle to see where I wanted them.

Placed some greaseproof paper around the candle, pulling it tight & making sure there were no creases on the image sheet.

Carefully heated the image with my heat gun, making sure the greaseproof was held tight & watching for creases.

This was the first time I had tried this with a printed image & I am pleased wth how it turned out.

Hope you like it.

Thanks for stopping by,

Bev xx

Halcyan Days from Crafters Companion

 Good Afternoon everyone...Genny here. I'm here again to share some inspiration from the beautiful Halcyan Days cdrom brought to us by the great team over at Crafters Companion. The cards I have made for today are both 8x8 cards..just to show that any size is possible with this cd. I thought it would be nice for you to see the detail so for both cards I have taken a close up on the main image.

The art work is done by the very talented Abigail Mill. n all her creations there are layers of lace, organza and cotton, with the detail given by the use of freehand machine embroidery. Each is a work of art in it's own right. For the cards all I have done is mount the image onto atoning card and just added some freehand doodling. Again it is a case of a simple card that gives a large impact.Just what we need sometimes.

I just love this image with the birds on it. To me it seems a very happy image that makes me smile. Such pretty fabrics have been used...it makes me want to blow the cobwebs off my sewing machine..and I know that Julie has some fantastic materials in stock. I have never been so taken with a cd. There is something so tranquil and relaxed about the images...perfect for summer crafting.

I am also working on a couple of cards which I will share with you later in the week.On this cd there is so much..alphabets, borders, toppers and sentiments. On my next cards I will be using the sentiments and scraps of paper left over from all my projects..just to show you how to make your crafting stash go a little further. So until then..take care and happy crafting