Happy Birthday Mum

It's nearly my Mums birthday and I have just about finished her card, I know I can show you before the event because I'm sure you wouldn't tell her about it.

Don't you find once you start giving hand made cards, it's hard to give a shop brought one, but it's even harder to think up new ideas. But i'm sure they are appreciated.

Because it's a big birthday I wanted something a bit different, so I chose a Darkroom Door Accordion Book in a tin, which makes a super keepsake.

The background is Thorndon Hall paper from Paper Artsy. Sentiment is a Tim Holtz Word Band the butterflies are cut from Sizzix Mover and Shapers.

Here you can see the book that comes with the tin, it is plain manilla card and Tim Holtz Distress Inks blend really easily over it. I have used Craft Individuals Postcard and flower CI-302 and their Poppy stamp CI-210. As always some Indigo blu stamps Discover your passion and wild meadow.

Throughout the book I have used Crafters Workshop Stencils there's Harlequin, ledger and branches.

Here is a cuttlebug embossing folder "Flourished frame" with a picture of Jack & Bru in it. Surrounded by Dylusions Luscious Leaves Stencil.

I made a vintage style page of my Nanna and there's a old photo of Mum & Dad with my cute little brother, who's not cute or little anymore. 

Thank you for looking in, please leave a comment so I know you have been. We have been thinking of going into the raincoat and umbrella business what do you think. That's enough about rain.

See you soon

Sharon x 

Last days of Summer

Well I think we can say summer is finally over, it's a shame it never really got started. I'm looking forward to the crisp frosty mornings and Christmas.

There's some great new papers from Kaisercraft "Twig & Berry and Turtle Dove" which both compliment the Shadow Box Drawers. It would be a great addition to your christmas decorations, almost a family heirloom...

I have been working on my Mum's birthday card for a little while and it's not quite finished yet, but I shall let you have a peek very soon.

Here's a little card I made using the Sizzix's Mover's and shapers Matchbook set.

I cut it out of Kraftcore cardstock and sanded the edges. Have you seen the handy little packs especially
for the Sizzix Bigz Dies and the Strip Dies, no more odd scraps of paper.
The flower is from Darkroom Doors Art De Fleur Vol 2 and painted using Distress Inks. I also added a faint script background in Tea Tree Distress Ink.

These are also from the same stamp.

I made a concertina for the bottom of the card so that the papers could be flipped out easily.

Last page....

Well I got my money's worth out of that stamp collection.

I forgot to mention what a fantastic week we had with family over from Ashbourne.
On the first night we decided to go for a walk up the hills from home. Great views but not when the heavens open.

Thank goodness for the log burning fire it was much appreciated, I hope it hasn't put them off coming back.

I'm going back to finish Mums card now, Thank you for stopping by and I hope you have a happy crafting week.

Sharon

Bee Happy

I just wanted to share with you a fantastic new product that we are stocking.

It one of those items that looks boring unto you try it and then realise the possibilities are endless.

It is Tim Holtz Embossing Diffusers from Sizzix. I can only describe it as a positive and negative for embossing.

You get 3 plates that have different shapes cut out, but you also get the cut out piece.

Where the plate is will be embossed and where it's missing will be plain.

I will show you.....

The above is using the Bubble and Honeycomb Set of Texture Fades, Small Bee from Cart Us clear stamps and quote from Tim Holtz Words for Thought CMS132. The Tickets are cut from Sizzix Framelits. Distress Inks are Mustard Seed for the background and Wild Honey for the raised area.

The above is using just the circle plate and the honeycomb folder. Sentiment from Darkroom Doors Chocolatier.

I love the new mini's from Paper Artsy the flower is MN71 and the background is MN74 which was stamped using Versafine Vintage Sepia, before putting it through the Bubble folder and highlighting the raised areas with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink.

Moving on to Christmas and I must say that the sun has got his hat and about time too.

I have used the Tim Holtz Christmas Background and border set of Texture Fades along with the Santa stamp off Mini Holidays CMS066 also a Tim Holtz item.

This time I added the Reindeer And 25 from the Sizzix Movers and shaper set.

Hope you all had a nice weekend I did. I managed to dig up my potatoes not a very good crop but the 5 chickens enjoyed helping and eating the worms.

Jack and Bru have a new hobby... Waiting for the mouse to pop out of the wall.

Bless

Bye for now and I'll be back soon.

Sharon

Haberdashery

Haberdashery is the in thing, there are some great stamps available old and new.

I've used one of my old favourites Darkroom Doors "Fashionable". I have also used the Tim Holtz Bigz Die Sewing room. The first card is mounted onto Canvas Cloth, I have used the reverse side which gives a more natural look.

Maybe when I get the New Paper Artsy stamps or the New Crafty Individuals they will be my favourites.

(Would you believe it the delivery van has just been and delivered the New Paper Artsy stamps, the most difficult decision of the day Which One to have).

On Sunday I am going to Artsy Crafts to spend the day with Leandra and Lin doing rusty relicky thingies. The mind boggles but it's bound to be messy, more techniques to learn. If your going too, say hello it will be great to meet you. I already know a couple of lovely ladies that are going, I will be wearing a black Artist Trading Post apron.

Below is a card I made using the Lynne Perrella stamp LP008. After stamping the card with Archival Jet Black I coloured it in using Distress Ink swirled onto my craft sheet.
The new Tim Holtz water brush is brilliant for this. You don't have to keep changing brushes or washing it out, and you can blend the colours make them lighter and darker. It also has a valve so you get a nice constant flow, not like a different brand I have and it floods the page.

While the melt pot was out I made an embellishment by pouring melted Utee into a cookie cutter which is placed onto the stamp. Always check with the manufacturers 1st to ensure that the stamps will stand up to the heat, some need to be stamped with perfect medium to ensure the utee comes clean away.

Thankyou for stopping by and I hope you have a good weekend and don't get too wet.

Sharon x