Christmas Girlie Wreath - 9 Ladies Dancing

Hi there....

...what fabulous weather we are still getting - I'm loving it and long may it last!

Well I've had a little well a lot of internet trouble again - or should I say a total lack of internet! BUT hey presto with a few trips here and there to purchase the appropriate wangle fandangle gear (I am so techno illiterate and after this last few weeks it looks like ignorance truly is bliss - tee hee) we have V fast internet connection - it's ace and I'm back in touch with Blogland - deep sigh of joy x

So......

....my 1st Christmas offering - I hope you like x

'9 Ladies Dancing'

The AMAZING Girlies are stamps from Sarah Hurley Shop - I am addicted to them, Sarah's stamps are so easy to stamp with and layer up - stamping could not be more fun! And they are a fab price too!

The paper stash I dressed the girlies in is the new Tim Holtz merriment pad - I adore this pad and couldn't wait to get my hands on it - there will be none of this stash left soon cos it is such a user friendly pad, as it alters and distresses real a treat.

The little Santa hats are created using a cute Memory Box die - layered up and covered in DecoArt Snow Writer, sprinkled with Glamour dust for an extra Christmassy sparkle, all from my local craft shop the Craft Box (the little bells, natural and winter white twine are also from the Craft Box)


And the gorgeous snowflake charms are from the Hobby House - unbelievable prices that's why I use so many.



TIPS
I created my wreath ring in minutes - here's how if you don't have a circle cutting gadget.

• Draw around a large dinner plate onto chipboard/craft card - cut out.

• Place a side/sandwich plate in the centre of this large circle you have just cut out and draw around that too.  Now cut out the small centre circle and you will be left with a wreath ring ready to cover. 

• For extra strength (if you so desire) use the wreath ring you have just created as a template and re-draw/cut out another wreath - marry up before adhering to each other.  Also you can use the wreath as a template to draw around your choice of covering. Using this technique you can create all different sizes of wreaths, all you need to do is find different sized circular objects to draw around. 

TECHNIQUES - Mini Tutorial

Here are some close up  step by step piccys for of how I created the girlie with the bubbly hairdo - a sort of mini tutorial x

 I used white bling Bazzill Basics card stock - punched out various tiny circles - I used my Crop-A-Dile and my tiny circle punches.

I carefully cut - from the outside inwards - a spiral on a few of the larger circles.  I used my much loved and used Pergamano scissors for this as they have excellent fine sharp tips for precise cutting capability.

Now for the remaining circular shapes - the ones you punch from the Crop-A-Dile need to be slightly trimmed - they are left with 2 tiny tiny tags.  Then with an embossing tool and an embossing matt shape all the circles gently into a Jelly Tot shape - I like to use larger embossing tool heads for a smoother finish.

You can get the feel for how deep I eventually push down on the embossing tool.

Pinflair glue will give the hair depth and is great for adhering different shaped embellishments to surfaces, really strong too and allows you time to move/style the hair - tee hee.

I start with the largest Jelly Tot shapes first.

Then I slot the spirals gently into place - I use my tweezers to coax the spirals into the Pinflair.

Just add more Pinflair as you need it either onto the head or as shown here onto the individual shapes - or as in my case both!

The Tiny Crop-A-Dile Jelly Tots shapes are used to fill in any small gaps - I also use them to frame the face like wispy kiss curls x  And I loved the stray curl so much I left her with it - a sort of dishevelled windswept  look x

The fringe is easy peasy - fiddly yes.

Cut tiny slightly curved strips of your card stock and while your Pinflair is still wet push the strips up and under the Jelly Tot Shapes - if they are to long don't worry cos you can give your girlie a haircut!

Apply more Pinflair either under the hairline or on the individual fringe strips if needed - wipe off any excess glue that shows or cover with another fringe strip.

Voilà

Ta Dah!!!

It's a good job the hair isn't created with real Jelly Tots cos it would never get finished cos I'd be constantly be eating it- hee hee hee x

We ll I'm off for now - got to go catchup with my lovely friends over on FB, all I've been doing is ticking 'like' a lately - I need to drop a few lines too - not for the want of trying - but hey I need a few more hours in the day, don't think that's going to happen somehow , do you? 

I will be back in with close up shots of all the individual  '9 Ladies Dancing' Christmassy girlies so you can get a closer peep at all the details/bling on their frocks and hairdo's x

It's great to be back in, thank you all so much for your lovely kind words on the blog and on FB welcoming me back - you are all so very kind and lovely friends x

Huggles

Kassa 

xoxo

 

Tag with inky bloom tutorial

FRIDAY, 18 JANUARY 2013

 

Morning all

Anyone out there not got snow!!!  My big fluffy Leonberger giant breed dog is loving it - he's actually laying in it!!! Big daffty!!!

Mini-Mini Tute - Blooms

Now....

.... this week I am going to show you through piccys mainly - how to create those gorgeous centres of the blooms (I am asked how to do this often - so I hope this helps X)

.......I used the embossed cream 'congratulations' blooms from the love-wreaths-by-karen-hayselden. and added a splash of colour through inks and mists to create a vibrant neon scrummy rainbow effect on the die-cut flowers (colour front and back)

You can add any colour to these neutral blooms - as much or as little as you like!!!

With your pokey tool, crease and fold down the outer edges on all the  'spiral edges'

Keep following the 'spiral' round till you reach the centre.

This is what you should end up with!

Now with your pokey tool - hook the end of the 'spiral'  onto the pokey tool (right side facing up)

Start tightly winding up the 'spiral' (use both hands and wind clockwise)

Keep your winding as tight as possible - if it slackens just unwind  and rewind where necessary

The back of the 'spiral' 

I can have 4/5 fingers involved with this process - it makes for a  lovely tight formed bloom

When I get to the end of winding I take the pokey tool away and finish the last wind by hand - still holding on tightly

Gradually let your bloom relax to the size you require by loosening your grip  or hold tight for the smaller bloom you have just wound-up 

Add 3D glue to the base/cup of the 'spiral' and into the wound -up spiral itself (spread around lightly)  I'm not too stingy or too generous with the glue (tic-tac sized amounts) 

When glued hold together for 30 seconds to a minute till you feel the bloom will stay in place while you set it to one side to dry.  If when you slowly loosen your grip of the 'glued' bloom the bloom still wants to unwind you probably need a little more glue and to hold together again

And this is a little BUT rather loud tag I've created using the 'cream' blooms from the  love-wreaths-by-karen-hayselden

A close-up to see the centre bloom I have just created above - I've added 3 crystals into the very centre of the bloom so that you don't see the 3D glue - plus I loVe sparkle too!!!

A different angle to show you all the depth of the blooms

So......

.......I hope you have all enjoyed my hints and tips on the 'spiral' centre bloom x It's been another piccy fest!!!!!

Lovin all your comments, questions, jokes 'n' love

(((Huggles)))

Kxoxo 

Crafty Bobbin Card Tutorial

Now Just a little quickie tutorial I've prepared for you all.........

Krafty Bobbin Christmas

.......................I thought I would bring you close-ups and tips on how I have created this recent creation -  my Krafty bobbin Christmas Card ( an alternative and special Christmas keepsake card)

Where I got the 'inspiration' from!!!

I love everything girly so mannequin cards are a favourite of mine. The bobbin card inspiration came to me whilst window shopping in a yummy clothes boutique in Finland! I spied large wooden bobbin reels on the counter top wrapped in lush lace and right there the idea was born. So i hot footed it back to a wad of card stock and hey presto Bobbin Cards!


Now dress your Mannequin. 

Firstly paint in white my kraft mannequin ( mini mannequin for this short fat bobbin card shape) when dry i ink the edges of the painted mannequin in red, then cover in glossy accents crackle.

Then I print off the gorgeous paper for the skirt using the CWC Crafty Christmas CD. I chose a 'Scandinavian' style red patterned paper. This is the first time I have used a CD to print out papers and WoW I couldn't believe how easy it is to use - should have been more adventurous years ago cos you never run out of your fav papers and there's sooo much choice too! I cut a long strip of my 'Scandinavian' paper the skirt length is down to taste ( I wanted the skirt to sit below the mannequin's knee, so carefully measured and cut to size). Pattern paper facing you fold under one end ( for a neat edge) and now pleat - all in one direction. The pleats get wider toward the bottom of the skirt - tight and narrow at the top/ waist of the skirt. Your pleats should be triangular. I did about 6 pleats in all - but just keep trying the skirt against your mannequin for the perfect fit - adjust as necessary. When you have the perfect skirt pleats unfold and lie flat on your worktop. Adhere red double sided tape to the front bottom of your skirt, now apply your ribbon to this double sided tape - i used the little white balls cos they look like snowballs - too cute!! Now re-pleat your skirt back into shape and squash flat on your worktop as you adhere ( strong red tape) across the back top, back middle and back bottom of your skirt to keep it in shape. (if it curls in a skirt shape too - fab!!! It's a bonus!!) Adhere the skirt in place with pin flair 3d glue. 

The shawl is cheesecloth, cut to size and just wrapped around the mannequin's shoulder's, glued in place and when dry I use a glue gun to adhere the ribbon snowballs to the shawls edges. ( tip: I use a little ordinary glue on the snowball ribbon ends and VERY carefully so as not to encourage the fraying I am trying to stop!!! - practise makes this procedure more perfect lol!!!) She's finished and beautifully Christmassy xx


The Bobbin bit!!

Now I have used a Sizzix die for my scissors and needle shapes etc. I die cut them from Kraft card and ink up the edges with white ink once cut out. The edges of your Bobbin card are inked with white ink too.

The gorgeously 'too cute' mini wooden bobbin is wrapped in a strip of paper I have printed off from the boarders section of the CD. I cut the border strip to the correct width and length- lengthwise I leave extra so I can attach a mini bloom on the end. (to make my bloom a perfect match to my mannequin's skirt - I cut out one of the skirts patterned paper snowflake blooms for the bottom layer of my bobbin bloom) - customising embellishments is such fun. The inside of the bobbin has 2 star shaped long pins covered in tape measure washi tape glued in place alongside 2 red headed mini dress pins. 

Now I cut to size some ribbled Kraft to fit the front 'inside' area of the bobbin card. On the back of this 'ribbled' card attach double sided tape, attach your white 'string' and start wrapping around - width wise!!! To taste. Once you have a look you like apply more double sided tape and attach to your card. 


Finishing touches!!

Lay your card flat now and place all your sewing die cuts and mannequin on this wrapped 'ribbled' area and glue when you are happy with your look. I used a mix of glues ( glue gun, pin flair and ordinary 'strong' glue). When all this is firmly dry I tie a little charm sewing machine onto the card with twine - so it swings around ( I love a little movement on my cards) and I weave a length of the fabulous 'Tape Measure' ribbon around all the various die cuts and glue in place. 

Hope you can follow these tips to create a really kool, girly, alternative, special festive bobbin Christmas card. A real keepsake card that will be used to adorn any house year in year out!! 

A little closer - for all the yummy details x

Hope you enjoyed x

Thanks and Huggles

Kxoxo