Border Collie

I really like the new border collie image by Crafty Stamps (AN113F). It pictures such a beautiful furry friend. When I saw the stamp my very first thought was to use it in combination with peg stamps - and so I had a play this afternoon.

The stamped image only needed a bit of colouring with Spectrum Noir pens, so I brought in some colour with the peg stamps which I used with Distress Markers. This also allowed me to use more than one colour for some of the stamped images, which are included in the 'Butterfly Blooms' set by Rubber Stamp Tapestry and the 'Highland Winter' Majestix set by Card-io.

Apart from round dies I also used a decorative Die'sire die by Crafter's Companion.

The embellishments are deliberately kept simple with heather and thistles joined together with organza ribbon by Woodware to avoid covering up too much of the stamping.

Quilled Flowers

My first project during this Easter weekend (yes, I plan to add more than one blog post) concentrates on the First Edition J'Adore paper pad by Trimcraft and floral quilling dies.

I built up the card around the gorgeous embossed and delicately patterned paper that I mounted onto black cardstock and combined with a square ivory card blank. I added a decorative corner created from black cardstock using a Heartfelt Creations die and a sentiment cut with a set by Britannia Dies.

The quilled flowers and the leaves are created with Die'sire quilling dies by Crafter's Companion. For the large flower I used one stamen strip. one strip cut with the small rose die and two strips cut with the large rose die. One stamen strip and two strips prepared with the small rose die are the elements for the small flower.

I finished the card off by setting large adhesive pearls from Trimcraft's London Line collection into the centres of the flowers with the help of gel glue and by adding some small grey pearls from my stash.

A product list and step-by-step instructions for this project can be found in my Trimcraft gallery.

More Action from the Riverbank

Riverbank Revels - Duckling

It is time to share with you some cards that I created this week. And I could again not bypass those lovely Riverbank Revels products by Trimcraft. The winter is still holding us firm in its grip, and it has been bitterly cold, very windy, damp and grey. So a hint of spring and sunshine was really needed.

If anybody would like to re-create these projects you are very welcome to do so. Product lists and step-by-step instructions can be found in my Trimcraft gallery. But please do not give out the designs as your own or enter them into challenges or competitions.

Riverbank Revels - Hello You

And for those, who would like a bit more 'insider' information about the products used for these cards:

The leaves on the duckling card are created using a die by Crealies. The embossing folder is a Die'sire Embossalicious 6"x6" folder by Crafter's Companion.

On the 'Hello You' card is used a D-Lites die by Spellbinders for the decorative corners. But many decorative corners of different sizes and by other manufacturers will be suitable for this style, as the ends of the corners are hidden under the decoupage topper anyway. Or perhaps try this design with other decorative die-cut shapes.

Riverbank Revels - Picnic

The decorative square on the picnic card is created using Grand Nestabilities by Spellbinders.

'Feel Good' Riverbank Revels

Today has been an absolutely awful day here. It has been cold, windy, dark and very wet. So I just felt the need to bring a bit of colour into my crafting to cheer me up. And the new Riverbank Revels collection by Trimcraft is just perfect for that.

I have again written up a product list and step-by-step instructions for this card featuring this summery image with the cute wee mouse created by the so talented Helz Cuppleditch. You can view them in my Trimcraft gallery.

And for those, who are interested in the details of used craft items: For the leaves I used a Pick of the Bunch die ('Window Basket') by Tonic Studios. For the embossing I opted for the grass embossing folder by Darice.

Domestic Goddess

Today I would like to share a few more cards with you that I made with images from the new 'Domestic Goddess' collection by Crafty Stamps over the recent weeks.

For the card above I used the image 'Dishes' (DG103M) in combination with textured cardstock, which is partly embossed, organza ribbon and a border die-cut created with a die by Cottage Cutz.

Next up is a hair salon card created with the stmp 'Pampered' (DG107M). Here I used textured cardstock, a Die'sire embossing folder and dies by Marianne Designs. I also added quilled flowers created from patterned paper with the help of Die'sire quilling dies. These dies are great for creating embellishments by using up patterned papers with lovely colours but perhaps not so nice designs. And adhesive gems complete the centres of the flowers.

Or could it be something a wee bit saucy?

The stamp 'Seductive Lady' (DG109M) could also come in handy for some cheeky male cards. I coloured in the image using Spectrum Noir pens and combined it with textured cardstock, a Die'sire embossing folder, Marianne Designs dies, paper roses, fabric leaves and decorative pins.

I hope you like these cards.

Rugby Countdown

Only a few hours to go now until rugby fans will be on their way to Murrayfield again ...

Which Scottish rugby fan would ever forget the last round of the RBS 6 Nations when the team was fighting and playing with heart and soul and managed to provide a memorial day for their fans? Apologies to our Irish friends that we were not as good a host as in the years before and decided to keep the points to ourselves ;), but I hope we are forgiven. After too many meagre years we are just so glad that we have got once again a team that we can be proud of.

The above card for which I used the leprechaun image (FA106Q) from the new fantasy collection by Crafty Stamps is an homage to a great day out. I also included the birthday sentiment HB110B. The image is coloured in with Spectrum Noir pens. I used a Sakura Gelly Roll pen in Clear Star for the accents.

This weekend the Welsh supporters will paint the town red and yellow with their dragons, rugby tops, flags and daffodils. And hopefully we will all be able to enjoy an exciting and close game where both teams will give 100%. And afterwards we can all party at Murrayfield and in town again - just like Irish and Scottish fans had a great time together after the gane two weeks ago. That's the beauty about rugby.

And today's game also provided the inspiration for the second card, which features the dragon image by Crafty Stamps (FA101Q). I coloured it in using the Spectrum Noir pens DR1, DR3, DR6, IG1 and IG7. For the background I used Darice embossing folders and a Die'sire cutting die. The card is embellished with adhesive pearls, paper roses, decorative pins and alphabet beads.

Riverbank Revels

Riverbank Revels - Swans

Helz Cuppleditch has done it again. Trimcraft and Helz have just brought out the absolutely adorable papercraft collection 'Riverbank Revels'. It is such an honour to work with these wonderful products.

Today I would like to share two cards with you for which I used the Riverbank Revels glitter decoupage pad and the Riverbank Revels 8" x 8" designer paper pad (and some of the sheets even have a gorgeous linen texture!) as the main components. Full product lists and step-by-step instructions for both projects can be found in my Trimcraft gallery.

Riverbank Revels - Houseboat

Many more projects will follow very soon.

Animal Kingdom

What a couple of weeks! The visist of an international delegation at work was so extremely interesting and inspiring, but also very hard work. I think I have not managed much more than to rest and to sleep yesterday.

But now it is time to share two projects with brand-new Crafty Stamps images with you.

First up is a giant panda (AN122M). I decided to go for Chinese feel with a black card blank, Core'dinations cardstock and gold mirri card. The red cardstock is embossed using a 6"x6" Die'sire Embossalicious folder. For the bamboo background I used the Dreamweaver stencil LJ845. The Chinese writing is created with stamps from my stash - I think I got them from Lakeland years ago when they still used to sell craft items. I stamped them onto punched ot circles, which I ran along a gold marker pen.

The colours for the second project are kept within the grayscale. I opted for more of a 'faux embossing' in the form of white die-cuts on a light grey background to give maximum impact to the hunting eagle (AN120M).

I hope you like these new projects.