Thursday 26 June 2014

Off-White Pearlised - a papermill offer

Hello all and Happy Thursday!! Please forgive any typos, I'm still recovering and not quite back to normal yet (whatever normal is :D) but before I went to hospital, I did manage to have a play with this weeks special offer from papermill direct.  
 (You''ll find all the current 'special offers' in this section, link HERE.  New Offers usually start on a Thursday and previous offers may still be available so do check regularly. (as always the materials list and challenges entered are at the bottom).

And it's yet another treat this week, a beautiful off-white pearlised card in 300gsm.  It has such a pretty sheen and I really didn't want to do too much to it for my first card, I wanted to let the sparkly pearlised show through and came up with this Wedding card with a little hanging heart design.
 Wedding card with hanging heart, all card used is papermill off white pearlised offer card. Inside card aperture is a scalloped heart of patterned paper that lines up with the front cut out.

Here you can see the heart cut out detail

I kept the colours simple just white and silver and used scalloped heart dies and border punches to add extra interest.  The card was lovely to work with and embossed beautifully with the swirls embossing folder, cut fab with my dies through my Big Shot and also punched crisply with the Tonic border punch.

This pic shows the card laying flat so you can see the cut out heart lines up with the inner heart of patterned paper,  I get stressed out if things don't line up properly first time round :D
 
Materials Used:
Off White Pearlised 300gsm 'offer'card from Papermill Direct
Pattern paper in silver & off-white from my craft stash
White organza ribbon, string of faux pearl beads, faux half pearls.
Tonic Border Punch, Scalloped Heart Dies, Tattered Lace Sentiment Dies, Cuttlebug Swirl Embossing Folder.

Why not pop over and see what my papermill teamies have got up to this week too?:
Barbara
Sharon  

Sunday 22 June 2014

Good Morning Sunday

And waving hello to any new readers popping by from Hope and Chances Blog this morning.

I thought I would just make a quick post with some pics of projects made using the White and the Buff Papermill Leather Embossed Cardstocks.  As you can see the leather look is very realistic and although it is quite sturdy I have handcut it with scissors & craft knife for my white handbag shaped card.  It creases well to hold it's shape as seen in the TeePee shaped card and I have diecut, stamped and coloured on it for my Flower Card.

The Buff is 270gsm card and the white is showing as 230gsm

Further details can be found in the blog posts, but here are some pictures :)








Thursday 19 June 2014

New Baby!!

No it's not an announcement, so you can relax now mum and dad :D 

New Baby is the theme of the card I have made for this week's Papermill Special Offer 'Light Ivory Smooth' 270gsm card.  (from just £5 for a small box approx 75-80 sheets).  You''ll find all the current 'special offers' in this section, link HERE.  New Offers usually start on a Thursday and previous offers may still be available so do check regularly. (as always the materials list and challenges entered are at the bottom).

I wanted to make something pretty and delicate this week.  I was trying to decide whether to go blue or pink as the contrast to the lovely Light Ivory colour of this card.  I decided to go pretty in pink and as the name of the papermill pink card is 'Baby Pink' it was the obvious choice.
I like shaped cards and I like cards that are tactile, if they can move a little it is always fun.  So I created a card with a gentle scalloped shape that does rock a little if you gentle nudge it.  I used my cricut mini to cut the pink base shape and cut the 'paper-cut' style overlay from the Light Ivory card which is lovely and smooth and perfect for overlaying.  The 'paper-cut' design features a little tree and leaves with a little birdy standing on a branch.  I didn't want to make it too busy by adding lots of colour, so decided that a little stickles glitter glue would highlight the bird and maintain the delicate look.

I die-cut a sentiment and sentiment mat using my Big Shot and dies from Tonic and Tattered Lace.  Attaching it to the card with a 3D foam pad to add  a little height.  A pretty pink bow at the top highlights the 'New Baby' wording.  I gave the little bird a pink faux gem eye too.
 Looking a the card I felt it needed something extra around the edges, my first thoughts were lace or ribbons, but felt they would mask the scalloped edges and I wanted to keep the card more simple in shape.  I found my Card Candi!!  love this stuff, but it tends to migrate all over the house!!  Anyway a few card candis were attached around the outside interspersed with faux half pearls, these conveniently spaced around into the scalloped shapes.  I love how this card turned out, especially by keeping the colour palette simple, so I must make that blue version too.


Materials Used:
Light Ivory Smooth 'offer' card - Papermill Direct

Baby Pink card - Papermill Direct
Sentiment Dies - Tattered Lace

Sentiment base panel Die- Tonic 
Stickles Glitter Glue in 'Star Dust'
Pink Card Candi - Craftwork Cards
Faux half pearls, Faux pink gem & pink satin ribbon from my crafty stash.

Challenges Entered:
Challenge #221 'Shaped Cards' - Fab 'n' Funky Challenges 
 http://fabnfunkychallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/challenge-221-shaped-cards.html

June 'Anything Goes' Challenge - Sisters of Craft
 http://thesistersofcraft.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/sisters-of-craft-june-anything-goes.html


Why not pop over and see what my papermill teamies have got up to this week too?:
Barbara
http://glitterarti1.blogspot.co.uk/




Tuesday 17 June 2014

Time for Tea??

So are you a tea person? or are you like me and only drink coffee? Here is another DT sample for this week's Papermill Special Offer 'Ivory Felt' 300gsm card.  (from just £5 for a small box approx 75-80 sheets).  You''ll find all the current 'special offers' in this section, link HERE.  New Offers usually start on a Thursday and previous offers may still be available so do check regularly. (as always the materials list and challenges entered are at the bottom)


Last time I showed that this card played so nicely with stamping, inking and distressing, this time I wanted to show it in a 'cleaner' style.

I created this little rocking teapot (or coffee pot) style card using my cricut mini to cut the teapot shape.  The card is 300gsm and cuts perfectly, handling all those intricate little cutouts with ease.  I do love the 'Folk Art' style and had fun layering different coloured card behind the cut-outs.  I was a bit more adventurous this time though and embossed the cards first with different cuttlebug embossing folders. I lightly sponged blue 'chalk' around the edges to add a little more definition.

  I die-cut a circle of the Ivory felt card and a smaller circle of patterned paper and folded both in half, carefully attaching one on top of the other.  I wanted my teapot to look like it was standing on a pretty tablecloth and added some doileys.  I thought it would be fun for the card to 'rock' a little and add to the idea of  'tip me up and pour me out'.  I was toying with the idea of adding this as a sentiment, but it seems to look okay 'as is'. The rocking base is made simply with acetate, I love using acetate in my papercrafting.


Materials Used:
Ivory Felt Embossed 'offer' Card - Papermill Direct
Sky Blue, Spring Green & New Lilac - Papermill Direct
Paper from NitWit Collections
Doilies, Chalk & acetate from my craft stash
Teapot Shape is cut with my Cricut Mini

Cuttlebug embossing folders used to emboss the coloured card 

Why not pop over and see what my papermill teamies have got up to this week too?:

Barbara
http://glitterarti1.blogspot.co.uk/

Thursday 12 June 2014

Time is of your own Making....

...and well I do like making!!  So first up is a new Design Team sample I created for this week's Papermill Special Offer 'Ivory Felt' 300gsm card. (this card is available in small, midi and mega box sizes from just £5). You''ll find all the current 'special offers' in this section, link HERE

 I've been meaning to have a play with some clock themed stamps and a mask stencil for ages now, but seem to get sidetracked by some pretty paper or embellishement.  But the lovely colour and texture of this 'Ivory Felt' card lends itself to some inking and splodging and well to be honest, it's a jolly good excuse to get messy.


I took a square of the card and sponged 'Tea Dye' distress ink through the clock themed stencil mask, then inked around the edges with the same colour.  I took random sections of the mask where numbers and hands were and sponged gilding glue through it, removing the mask and then applying the gilding flakes.  I stamped up another piece of the 'ivory felt' papermill card using 'rich cocoa' memento ink, then inked around the edges again with distress inks.  I cut 2 more pieces of card the same size, one from 'Maroon' and one from 'buff' cardstock.  I put the 'buff' through an embossing folder with cogs design. the maroon was gilded around the edges using a gilding wax in 'enchanted gold'.  I also did the same to another square of the 'maroon' card.  I've found that applying gilding wax is not always easy as it can dry quite hard in the little tin, by applying it with a babywipe I was able to get a softer gilded look to my card edges and it dried great with no residue. 

  I assembled the card pieces into a layout I liked and then used some 3D foam pads on the smaller stamped clock piece. Button twine and paper string were wrapped around this section, I also coloured one of the twines with 'tea dye' to add more variety to the threads.  Embellishments I added were a little metal clock charm which I randomly added some gilding flakes to, I stamped and die-cut a little tag to read' Live for the moment'.  The other sentiment was stamped and gilded and bears the ' Time is of your own making', I attached this with 3D foam pads to create more depth and interest.

This design would be suitable as a thoughtful or masculine card or perhaps a little art display as I have done by displaying it on an a wooden easel.

Materials List:
Ivory Felt Embossed 'Offer' card - Papermill Direct
Maroon & Buff papermill card - Papermill Direct
Kaisercraft stamps, Debbie Moore stamps, Crafter Workshop stencil / mask,
Distress Inks, Memento Inks
Gilding Flakes, Gilding Glue, Gilding Wax
Button Twine, Paper Twine, Ribbon, Metal charm



Challenges Entered: 

 'Only Men Allowed' - Country View Challenges
http://countryviewchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/a-new-challenge-and-some-new-designers.html

Why not pop over and see what my papermill teamies have got up to this week too?:

Barbara
http://glitterarti1.blogspot.co.uk/



Sunday 8 June 2014

More in the Buff!!

So as promised yesterday, here is the other Design Team sample I created for the Papermill Special Offer 'Buff Leather Embossed' card launched yesterday.  You''ll find all the current 'special offers' in this section, link HERE

As Fathers Day is  not too far away now, i thought I would create something with a 'male' theme.  Sometimes it's difficult to come up with designs for menfolk, and that can go for gifts too, so why not combine them into one special gift /card combo?


I created the basic outer wallet shape from the 'Buff Leather Embossed' card, using a corner rounder on 2 corners only, then cutting an extra 2 pieces to form the inside 'pockets'.  (Making sure that a gift card would fit snuggly into the left hand side 'pocket' when assembled)  I also cut a smaller piece of card to created the fastening flap, using a corner rounder on 2 corners. 

Some patterned papers in a vintage style were attached to the inside of the wallet shape, I thought this design looked most like a fabric lining.  I carefully drew faux stitching around the edges of the wallet on the outside and the inside on the lining paper.  I also drew stitching around each of the 2 inner pocket pieces, and the fastener piece.
Using cosmic shimmer glue I carefully attached both inner pocket pieces, taking care to only apply glue to 3 sides - leaving a large top side unglued to enable things to be popped into the pockets. I like using cosmic shimmer glue as it allows a little time to carefully slide your pieces into place lining them up carefully and as it dries clear you get a neat finish.


I carefully lined up and attached the fastener part by gluing it only on the part that attaches to the back of the wallet.  The front will have a glue dot or mini velcro fastener so it can be opened and closed.  I used a gold coloured 'card candi' and inked a little distress ink over it before attaching to create a faux press stud fastener.

I die-cut some letters from Mocha papermill card and burnished them with a little gilding wax in 'enchanted gold' before applying to the front of the wallet with cosmic shimmer glue.  You could of course add any name or initials to personalise your wallet.


Now you can add your contents, I popped a little 'gift card' into the left hand side pocket, and used the right hand side pocket to hold a photo and a theatre ticket, but you could also add a mini greeting card or gift tag or even money if you are gifting cash.  The wallet shape is great fun to make and would be perfect for all sorts of occasions.


Materials List:
Buff Leather Embossed Card - papermill direct
Mocha Card - papermill direct
Patterned Paper
Card Candy
Gilding Wax 'Enchanted Gold'
Distress Ink 'Tea Dye'
Lyra Pen - brown


Challenges Entered: 

'Only Men allowed' - Country View Challenges
http://countryviewchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/a-new-challenge-and-some-new-designers.html

Challenge #219 'For the Men in your Life' - Fab n' Funky Challenges
http://fabnfunkychallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/challenge-219-fathers-day-or-for-men-in.html

'Challenge 21 Anything Goes' - Crafting from the Heart Challenge Blog
http://craftingfromtheheartchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/challenge-21.html

'June Anything Goes Challenge' - Sisters of Craft 
http://thesistersofcraft.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/sisters-of-craft-june-anything-goes.html



why not pop over and see what my papermill teamies have got up to with the Buff Leather too?:

Barbara








Friday 6 June 2014

Leather in the Buff!!

Leather in the Buff!!  There that got your attention ;)

Oh my word how much do I love the Leather Embossed cardstocks from Papermill?  I fell in love with the White and now I'm starting a whole new love affair with the Buff version!!

I love materials that are inspiring to work with and papermill never disappoint, so here is my first card with the 270gsm Buff Leather Embossed, which is this week's special offer from papermill direct (£4-50 for approx 80 sheets or £13-00 for approx 260 sheets)

I will post my second card tomorrow, so do pop back if you can. (as always the materials list and challenges entered links are at the bottom of the post)

I love to make shaped cards and I love to stamp too, so I had an idea to combine the two with this TeePee style card.  I used a stamp set from 'Visible Image' called 'Tala Catching Dreams Set' which has a lovely very cute indian girl stamp along with sentiments and a Dream Catcher and a whole host of little accent stamps.

I started off by stamping 'Tala' onto Rich Linen Card, I love stamping onto linen effect, it gives a great texture and more depth.  'Visible Image' stamps are perfect for this as they are deep clear stamps, they take the ink evenly and stamp out nicely every time.  I also stamped the Dream Catcher and coloured them both with pro-markers, adding accents of Stickles glitter glue to the beads.  I stamped some of the accents and sentiments from the set onto Sky Blue papermill card using black and red inks. cut out and attached these to my TeePee card. I used a little Ruby Red papermill card to mat the sentiments.

I wanted 'Tala' to stand out in front of the design, so I used a strip of acetate, scored and folded in 2 places and used that to attach her to the TeePee card front, I did the same with the Dream Catcher. (after tying some paper twine through it and adding a little bow.  Using acetate is a great way to create depth and interest to you designs and still allow it all to fold down to fit into an envelope.  This particular style of TeePee base also folds down too.



Materials Used:
Buff Leather Embossed papermill 'offer' card
Rich Linen papermill card (stamped onto)
Sky Blue papermill card
Ruby Red papermill card
'Tala' stamp set from Visible Image
Promarkers to colour
Red and Black Inkpads
Stickles Glitter Glue
Acetate (to attach girl and dream catcher)

Cosmic Shimmer Glue 

Challenges Entered: 
Anything Goes - A Creative Romance 
http://acreativeromance.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/happy-birthday-us-anything-goes-with.html

Anything Goes - Crafty Sentiments Designs 
http://craftysentiments.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/anything-goes-and-dt-call.html

Anything Goes - Sisters of Craft
http://thesistersofcraft.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/sisters-of-craft-june-anything-goes.html

 May Craft Challenge - 'Characters' - Scrapology 
http://scrapology-adventuresinscrapbooking.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/may-card-challenge-characters.html?m=1

why not pop over and see what my papermill teamies have got up to with the Buff Leather too?:

Barbara

Monday 2 June 2014

Today is a Good Day!!

Today is a Good Day!!  I quite like that sentiment, it sets you up for nothing but looking forward positively to whatever the day will bring. Today is also a good day because my favourite White Leather embossed card is still on Special Offer over at papermill direct http://papermilldirect.co.uk/acatalog/special-offers.html.  Not sure how much longer this stock will hold out though.  (As always the materials list and challenges entered are at the bottom of post)



Anyway I thought I would share this card I made with it, I tested it with some stamping and colouring and of course used my favourite purpley colours to accent.

The main image was stamped in black ink and heat embossed with clear embossing powder. I stamped the edging designs in black ink and left those plain, no heat embossing. I then used a selection of Aquash pencils and mica powders to watercolour the images in pretty shades to match my chosen cardstocks.

The centre panel was diecut using a fancy edged square die, i forget which it is, but I quite liked the design and I think it complements the flower panel nicely. 

The white leather card is also a dream to die-cut, I also used it to cut a little matching card stand, which you can just see supporting  the card in my first pic, the flowers in my garden made a good support too :)


Challenges Entered:
Crafting From The Heart - Challenge #21 Anything Goes - 
http://craftingfromtheheartchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/challenge-21.html

Sisters of Craft -  June Anything Goes Challenge
http://thesistersofcraft.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/sisters-of-craft-june-anything-goes.html

Materials Used:
White Leather Embossed Card - Papermill Direct
Purple Grape card - Papermill Direct
Dark Violet card - Papermill Direct
Black card - Papermill Direct
Black Ink
Clear Embossing Powder
Aquash Pencils
Mica Powders