Tonic Fairy Birthday Card

I was lucky enough to be given a set of Tonic fairy themed dies for my birthday this year. I hadn't really used Tonic dies before, but I really like the way you can interchange them with each other. The die used here is called 'Moonglade Wish' and comes in 4 parts. This card is an 8x8 card, with the front card piece folded back on itself. The folded section was then cut using the die, but not with its matching edger (meaning that the aperture remains inside the cardstock). The outside edger was then cut out completely on some purple card and laid over the top to create a see-through lacy effect. The same principle was used for the panel on the other side, (rear card piece) although this was not left see-through, as I mounted a large piece of pink card behind it. The sentiment is from Lili of the Valley and has been stamped, cut out and mounted on card stock cut using a Spellbinders Lacey Circle die. Once attached to the front panel, a second lacy circle was applied to the back for neatness.  The fairy's wings were also highlighted by cutting a piece of glitter card and laying it behind the wings. Finally 6 diamantes were used for the corners and the stars on the front. The insert was made using coordinating card stock and placed on the inside of the card, behind the folded front section.

Paper Weaving and Embossed Tiles

Both of these cards were made in another class with Lisa (there is a theme going on here...) The first to my right, was made using some strips of coordinating papers to create a weaved effect (possibly Tim Holtz papers?). We started by attaching each strip of paper to some adhesive sheets. Then we cut the strips in the opposite direction to the way they were laid, and made them all the same width. On the base card some Distress Inks were used to make some patches with a honeycomb style stencil. These patches were entirely random. The strips were then cut to different lengths and arranged in a pattern on the card front. There were some keys on the patterned paper we used, so these elements were cut out and dotted in any gaps. The final sentiment was stamped in brown ink,embossed with clear powder and matted on some distressed co-ordination card stock. The stamp was from a 'Butterfly Kisses Stamp' set with a collection of male stamps.

The card to my left was made using a floral Woodware stamp (I think!). The image was stamped directly onto the right hand side base card with Versafine black ink. The small coloured panel was made using a combination of 3 bright coloured Distress Inks to colour a piece of white card. The floral stamp and message was then stamped on top of this. The whole panel was then inked with Versamark and embossed 3 times with UTEE to create a shiny tile. I was a bit dubious about the bright colours at first, but once the card came together I really liked the effect!

A Pirate Pencil Pot!

Being in the mood for some more altered art, this time my youngest asked for me to make him a pencil pot for his bedroom. Being pirate themed, I had to scrabble about in my stash to find whatever I could with this theme in mind. The actual pencil pot is a basic shaped one bought from the MDF man at Ali Pally. I decided to use pale blue acrylic paint for the base colour in and out. I then found some Papermania paper, 'Ahoy There!' to be my side panels. Each panel I tried to do something different with and therefore used a mixture of stamps from Hobbycraft and Creative Expressions, as well as some nautical themed papers that were free from a magazine some time ago. The stamps were stamped directly on the papers and coloured with Promarkers. The anchor I decided I wanted to be more 3D, so I stamped it on card, cut it out and wound some coloured jewellery wire around it. The bottle was filled with sand and glued on with a hot glue gun, as was the metal key. The chest I cut out and embossed, then made this more 3D by shaping it and using some Pinflair to attach it. The same idea was applied to the skull and crossbones. Finally I used some silver jewellery chain and attached some metal charms from my collection which all fit the theme. At each corner at the top if the pot I used a hot glue gun to attach the chain, and covered this with a flat metal silver brad. I am pleased to say he liked it, especially as there were lots of tactile elements.

                     

Card-io Altered Art CD Crate - More Fairies!!

 

 Following on from the last projects, I decided I wanted to try and use the Card-io stamps to create larger pieces of work. My daughter has just had her room painted and so I thought I would make a piece of useful 'art' for her. This also happened to coincide with a clear-out and an old plain CD rack needing a new home... I painted the CD rack with acrylic paint in a purple colour. Once dry I decided I would use the Cardi-io stamp sets 'Sketchy Spring Floral' and 'Fairies' to build pictures all around the parts of the rack. Again I used Versa Color pads in various shades of purple, and also some white ones for a change. Black was used for the outline sketchy flowers and butterflies to make certain ones 'pop'. The fairies were all stamped in black as well, dotted all over. At the very top of the frame I layered some co-ordinations card as there was an indented emblem which still showed through the paint. The centre wording is from Katy Sue designs. Once all the elements were stamped the last step was some glitter, (of course) which I added using Stickles. She was very pleased with the end result!

 

Card-io Tapestry Style Flower Cards

 Another of Lisa Baker's classes, this time focusing on Card-io stamps. These stamps come in selection packs which can be used alone or interchangeable with others. I haven't really used this style of stamp for some years, and back then they were all called 'Tapestry' stamps. These cards were made using colours from the small square Versa Color pads. The stamp sets used were 'Sketchy Spring Floral' and another with hydrangea style flowers. The bow to the left has been created using the new Sue Wilson Classic 3D Bows die just in white which is really effective. The card below showcases a large Sizzix Bigz die and gives an interesting open front to the card.

Melt Pot Flower Frame

This frame encompassed my first real go with my Melt Pot! I bought a very cheap plain wood frame from a budget store and put a picture of my 3 rascals in it for a grandmother present. I then used Milled Lavender and Dusty Concord Distress Inks applied with Cut and Dry foam directly on top. The sparkly swirls have been done using a Stamposaurus Swirly stencil and some Imagination Crafts Sparkle Medium in Royal Purple. The effect with the medium is a sturdy, raised, glittery swirl which looks fab in real life! The flowers have been made using different shades of purple cardstock, all cut out into petal and stamen shapes using the Cricut Flower Shoppe cartridge. Once the flowers were assembled I then dipped and coated them in some clear UTEE in the Ranger Melt Pot. This gives them a shiny and plastic appearance. The foliage pieces have been left as plain green cut out using Tattered Lace Ornate Foilage dies.

Something Just for You

 

This is another 8x8 card, again using 2 colours to matt and layer (I think I have a repetitive theme going on here...) Both card stocks are matt, with the pink being very 'dusky'. The centre panel has been embossed using the Crafts Too Lattice folder and the main border along the bottom is the Tattered Lace Chantilly Rose die. I have used three Spellbinders layers to set off the main sentiment.
The one right at the back is a Decorative Labels One plain die cut, the next is a Labels One shape (stamped with a pattern) for the middle and the top is a sentiment from the Just Rite Winged Vintage Labels Two & Three set, cut with the matching die. I have also found some matching plain seam binding style ribbon and a pink dazzler to hold the bow together. The swirls are from Creative Expressions.

A Bit Purpley, Pearly, Turquoisy Extravagant?

Now, I have to be honest, I like this less and less the more I look at it! I decided that I wanted to use a purple and turquoise theme and went with that. I chose the two colours and then matted them with a main feature centre panel (it is an 8x8 card). With the main section I have first placed a swirly Stamposaurus stencil over the card and spritzed some Cosmic Shimmer Misting Ink sprays in Blue Cotton and Clover over the top to get the multi-coloured swirl effect. I also darkened the corners with Distress Inks and then ran the paper through the Crafts Too Lattice embossing folder. The flowers are made using the Heartfelt Creations Sunkissed Fleur stamps and cut out with the matching die set. The flowers have then been coloured with Distress Inks and highlighted with some dazzlers, pearly pins and pearly swirls. The sentiment is from Just Rite Grateful Heart set cut with the matching Vintage Labels Two die. A bit OTT I think: but I was trying to be a bit brighter!!!

 

Altered Art 'Bay Leaf' Frame

This piece of altered art was made during a craft class with Lisa Baker. There are a few techniques here, perhaps more than you realise when you first look at it! The paper mache frame has been covered all over in white emulsion. The edges have been highlighted with some Distress Ink. Once dry the Imagination Crafts Bay Leaf stencil has been placed over the sides and the bottom, with the image 'coloured' using Distress Inks and a small piece of cut and dry foam for added accuracy. I have tried to 'shade' the flowers and stalks, but this is quite tricky! As the inks are going on top of the emulsion you get a lovely matt effect which is effective when compared to the middle square. The middle panel has been layered onto purple card and the same stencil placed and coloured with the same inks again. This time, on paper, they are more vibrant. Once dry, the petal edges have been highlighted using a tiny sweep of Flitterglu and some silver flake rubbed over them. The sentiment is from Lavina Stamps and has been stamped with the same colours in a graduated way.

Tattered Lace with Love

This is a large 8x8 scalloped card, made using just red and  snow-white centura pearl card with roses as accents. The colours have been matted and layered to draw the eye to the centre image. The centre square has been embossed using the Embossilicious Regal Frame folder with some of the swirls accented with small red gems. The dots around the outside are made using liquid pearls. The Tattered Lace Flourish Heart die used has been cut out from the square (it does not stay in the card) and I have replaced it back into the recess using some fine glue. The sentiment to the top left is a stamp from the Just Rite Circle of Love set, which has been embossed with white ultra fine powder. A matching  SpellbindersVintage Labels Three die was used to cut it out. It is hard to see the embossing and the shiny card in the picture - it is quite subtle I admit.