it's Light, it's Plum, it's Yum!!

Thursday again, and that means time for another fab Special Offer from papermill direct!!  This week it's this lovely fruity coloured 'Light Plum' which is a 160 gsm and so perfect for paper folding as well as the usual techniques.  You won't believe the amazing price of just £4-50 for a small box, that small box with approx. 130-140 sheets in it!!  I really don't think it will last long at that price.

I'd like to share 2 of my Design Team makes to show you the different ways this can be used.

First up is this dramatic 'Thinking of You' card.  I choose papermill's trusty Black smooth card to use as it's perfect for those dramatic contrasts.

The layered front of my card was cut using a Cricut Mini ('Paper Lace 2' cartridge) and the layered flowers & leaves were die-cut through my Big Shot using dies that were a cover gift on a recent magazine.   Stickles glitter glue and faux pearls add the finishing touches.

 

As you can see all the card cuts perfectly using either electric or manual cutting.  But for my next project I thought I would try a spot of paper folding by creating a 'Kusudama' flower from 5 squares of the 'Light Plum'.  As this is 160gsm it has the pliability to make multiple folds yet has the strength to hold the shapes.  

I added stickles glitter glue in 'frosted lace' to accentuate the inner folds of the flower.  The stamens were created by threading lilac glass beads onto black desire wire, twisting them and then threading through the flower head.  The stem was simply a piece of 'Spring Green' card rolled and glued and attached to the back of the flower.  (I actually slipped a pipe cleaner through the centre so it could go into the back of the flower head and allow me to adjust it) the leaf was again made from 'Spring Green' card and then veins were drawn on with a Versamark pen.  

I love the colour of the 'Light Plum' it's perfect for this flower and I would love to see more colours in this weight to paperfold with :)

Materials List for 'Thinking of You' card:
Light Plum 160gsm 'special offer' - Papermill Direct
Black smooth card 250gsm - Papermill Direct
Star Dust - Stickles Glitter Glue
Faux Pearls in 2 sizes
Design cut on my Cricut Mini using 'Paper Lace 2'
Flower & leaf dies were a magazine cover freebie.

Materials List for 'Kusudama' flower:
Light Plum 160gsm 'special offer' - Papermill Direct
Spring Green smooth card 240gsm - Papermill Direct
Frosted Lace - Stickles Glitter Glue
Black Desire Wire
Small Lilac glass beads
Versamark Pen

Why not pop over and see what my fabulous papermill teamies have got up to this week?:
Barbara
Lisa
Ruth
Sylvia
Sandie
Sharon

Origami Christmas Trees - A Tutorial

Hello, I thought I'd post a little tutorial for those little origami trees I use on my Christmas cards and tags, I even used them as part of the packaging on extra special orders last year. I have been asked a few times how to make them, and again after showing this one, so here goes:

These little trees are fun to make for your xmas cards and tags.  I usually make them slightly larger and use as a main image on my cards, but for this version they are slightly smaller. 

    Cut 3 squares from your chosen patterned papers. The squares should ideally graduate evenly in size.  I used 8 x 8cm, 6 x 6cm and a 4 x 4cm square.  (For a larger version try 10cm, 8cm & 6cm).

  First fold each square in half horizontally and then vertically. Opening each time between folds.

    Then fold corner to corner for each diagonal. Use a bone folder to help make your creases. You should now have 3 squares with 4 fold lines on each.

   If you gently squeeze in the two side sections, you will see your paper will make the shape shown in the pic.

    Now press down the top and bottom sections together to create a flattened triangle shape

    Use your bone folder to smooth these folds down. Do this for all 3 squares.

     Next you need to fold in each side of the triangle. I started with the right hand side by folding just the top layer in towards the centre of my triangle, smoothing down with the bone folder and then repeating with the left hand side

   You should now have 3 of these folded triangle tree layers as shown

    I use a small blob of glue to assemble my tree layers, placing it just inside on the back panel of each section.  You may decide you want to add more glue on some of the front flaps depending on how flat you want your tree and the thickness of the papers used.  I like mine to look quite dimensional so don’t tend to stick too much of it down.

     View of the origami tree from the back:

View from the side:

 and the front view:

 

   

    I also cut a little pot shape for my tree, and I also like to add a little strip of card to make a little tree trunk, I used red card for this to complement my colour scheme.

      

Optionally, you may wish to ink the edges of your tree layers before assembling, you can also do that afterwards, like I did with my red distress ink. 

Overall these are quite simple little origami shapes to make and assemble. It is quite relaxing to make these in bulk, why not have a stash of square papers already cut for whenever you fancy a spot of paper folding.  

Materials Used:
 'Buff', 'Post Box Red' and 'Pale Turquoise card
All card is by Papermill Direct - link here:

Patterned papers are from the 'Krafty Christmas' range by Trimcraft  
 

Almost Autumn!! (and time for another fabulous papermill offer!!)

Hello, today I have an Autumn themed project to share with you.  When thinking of Autumn, it's all about the colours and the sounds of leaves crunching underfoot.  I am lucky enough to live not only by the sea but also by a park which has some beautiful trees.  From my crafting space, I can look out over the park and watch as they change with the seasons, and whilst we are not quite at Autumn yet, it is just around the corner and is the inspiration for this weeks make.  
(as always materials list, links and any challenges entered are at the end of the post).

Papermill Direct have some fabulous autumnal shades in their colour collection.  rich and beautiful in their own right, I wanted to see what I could do to create some textured leaves for my very first attempt at an Autumn Wreath.  And right now is the perfect time to stock up as there is currently 15% off a mixed box of 5 different Autumn colours.  A small box is just £5-73 and the midi box just £17-00 (link here)

I started out by creating a base by drawing around a couple of plates and cutting out.  I covered the base with white card and inked it over with Distress Ink in 'Tea Dye' when this was dry I over stamped it randomly with a small acorn design stamp and some brown ink.

Next came the fun part!!  I cut leaves in various designs from papermill cardstock in Mocha Brown, Forest Green, Orange, Buff and Maroon papermill card.  Then I had a play with different embossing folders and inking. For my Mocha Brown leaves I embossed with a script folder, swiped versamark over the raised impression and brushed over with 'Orange' pan pastel.  The Maroon leaves were embossed with a dotty folder and had gold gilding wax rubbed over the raised dots, (I always find it easier to apply gilding wax with a babywipe rather than just my fingertips).  Orange leaves have been embossed with 2 different folders, one had swirls and the other a nice stylised pattern upon which I used distress ink. As for the Forest Green leaves I found an embossing folder with a snakeskin type effect and used it with the de-bossed side uppermost as I preferred that look and a plain versamark inkpad was used to bring out the design a little and also distress ink around the edges.

The wreath needed something else, but what?  I thought berries, hmm maybe?, then I thought Acorns!!  Yes I had used acorns on the base and I had a little image on a cricut cartridge of an Acorn,  so I cut it in 2 pieces from Buff card and then dabbed versamark ink through a stencil mask to add some pattern to the body of the acorn.  The top piece was coloured with distress ink in 'tea dye'.  

Assembling the wreath was fun,  I shaped the leaves first by gently bending them into shape, and used some paper twine and button twines amongst the leaves, most of it was glued with cosmic shimmer glue and I also used some 3D foam pads to add height to some of the pieces. Natural seam binding was dyed (along with my fingers) with 'spiced marmalade' and 'Tea Dye' distress inks, spritzing with water to blend the colours, letting it dry before adding more inks until I was happy it would co-ordinate with the rest of the design.

Hanging holes are in the top, used a 'pokey tool' to gently make those and a length of button twine provides the strings to hang it up.

Overall a very fun project, took more time than I thought it would at the outset, but then I did decide to use a few different embossing folders and ink techniques. This is one of those projects that just seemed to create itself as I went along.  My favourite way of making, and yes I managed to get the distress ink off my hands in time for the photos :D

Why not take advantage of the Autumn Colours offer at Papermill Direct, you'll find it in the Special Offers section 'here', and see what designs you are inspired to make?  As always I love to read your comments and answer any questions you may have.

Materials List: 
Mocha Brown, Forest Green, Orange and Buff card - Autumn colours sale box - papermill direct
Maroon card - colours range - papermill direct
Tea Dye and Spiced Marmalade Distress Inks
Rich Cocoa memento ink
Enchanted Gold Gilding wax, 
versamark, 
Orange pan pastels,
Natural Seam binding, button twine, paper twine, embossing folders, acorn stamp. cricut to cut leaves & acorns

Why not pop over and see what my fabulous papermill teamies have got up to this week?:
Barbara
Lisa
Ruth
Sylvia
Sandie

Sharon

Dreaming.....

Hello, thank you for joining me and today as promised, I would like to share another design, this one created almost entirely from White Hammered effect card, another 'must have' from the 'essentials' range over at Papermill Direct.
 (Link here to the 'Essentials' range section of the Papermill website).



I set myself a bit of a challenge with this card.  I wanted to see just how many things could be done with the White Hammered card and yet restrict it to just muted colours of lilac and grey.

 

So first job was to create my card base by scoring and folding my white hammered card.  Next I cut a smaller panel and popped it through my Big Shot using an embossing folder.  This created a lovely embossed pattern and yet still left me with that lovely hammered texture which is what i was after.  I found a little bottle of paper-glaze and painted it onto the raised embossed designs of birds, flowers and ribbons and left it to dry.

Next I thought I'd test it out by die-cutting, I chose a bird with wings and some leafy branches and a little birdy to run through my Big Shot.  They all cut perfectly and I also popped them through with an embossing mat, as I wanted to pick up the veining on the leaves.

Next to bring in some grey, I chose 'London Fog' memento ink and stamped a flourish randomnly around the edges of the base card, also stamping a sentiment of 'dreaming'.  By this time my paper glaze was dry and I could work on adding the lilac shade.  I chose 'milled lavender' distress ink and gently inked around all my card pieces cut edges, including the die cut pieces.  I also popped the die back onto my leafy branches and used it as a stencil to add ink to the raised areas.

3D foam pads give height to the centre panel and also the diecut embellishments and sentiment. 4 card candis have been inked to match and found a pale grey sheer ribbon to create a bow.  I snipped into my leaves and branches to separate them so they could be arranged around the card front, adding little bits of 3D foam to raise individual leaves. For the  final touches I added a grey faux gem eye to my large bird and popped the little bird onto my sentiment panel.

 I really like the effect of the paper glaze on the embossed card too and think I'll try that again.

White Hammered card is another 'essential' I highly recommend, not only a wonderful texture to this card, but you can do so much with it. emboss it, cut it, ink it, stamp it, experiment with it and have fun!!

Materials List: 
White Hammered Card  - Papermill Direct Essentials range
‘Milled Lavender’ Distress Ink
‘London Fog’ Memento Ink
‘Magi Glaze’ Varnish
Card Candi, Grey Ribbon, faux gem, 
Dies, Embossing folder, stamps from my stash


Challenges Entered: 
Sisters of Craft - August Anything Goes Challenge
http://thesistersofcraft.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/sisters-of-craft-august-anything-goes.html


Why not pop over and see what my fabulous papermill teamies have got up to this week?:
Barbara
Lisa
Ruth
Sylvia
Sandie

Sharon

Have a Wonderful Day!!

Whilst looking through my stamp sets I found a set of Penny Black Hedgehogs that haven't been used for ages, love these cheeky fun images and thought I would use them in conjunction with this fabulous White Linen card from papermill direct. which is from their 'Essentials' range, to create a Design Team project for them.  (materials list, links and challenges entered are at end of post).

For my card I chose the popular White Linen and teamed it with bright Raspberry pink.  I scored and folded the White Linen to create my card blank, and to die-cut with a scalloped circle and a lattice trellis background die.  I love the versatility of the Linen Card, and the texture is subtle but makes a big difference to the overall look of your projects.  

 

I like to stamp and colour onto Linen Card too, and that is what I did with my little Penny Black hedgehog stamp.  I also stamped a greeting of 'Have a Wonderful Day' onto the linen and die-cut it into a little tag.  My image was coloured with pro-markers and some stickles glitter glue was added to the centre of the flowers to give a little sparkle.  4 white card candis and a raspberry ribbon provide the finishing touches. 

I think Linen card really is an 'essential' part of every paper crafters stock.  It can have lots of uses from formal through to fun creations. 

Tomorrow I will show a card that features another of the 'essentials' so I do hope you will pop back.  I would love to hear any comments or feedback and I am always happy to answer any questions. Happy crafting!!


Materials Used:   
White Linen Card - Papermill Direct - Essentials

Raspberry Pink card - Papermill Direct - Colours
Penny Black stamp set, 
pro-markers to colour, 
dies to cut circles and lattice background, 
stickles glitter glue, card candi, pink ribbon.

Challenges Entered: 
Sisters of Craft - August Anything Goes Challenge
http://thesistersofcraft.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/sisters-of-craft-august-anything-goes.html

Why not pop over and see what my fabulous papermill teamies have got up to this week?:
Barbara
Lisa
Ruth
Sylvia
Sandie

Sharon

Fun Trainer Shoe Shaped Card

Hello, thank you for popping by my blog.  Today I'd like to share another papermill Design Team project I made using some of the papermill card in summer colours.
 
papermill direct are having a special sale of their Summer Colours with 10% off.  (bright orange, raspberry pink, pale turquoise, dark violet, daffodil yellow & ocean blue - grab a midi box (260 sheets!!) for just £21-60). Link here  (there's also a pretty coloured pack of envelopes and some other delights at very special prices too if you hurry)

This is a fun trendy trainer shoe shaped card which I cut using my cricut mini and card from papermill direct.  Raspberry Pink card is on special offer at the moment as part of a Summer colours sale.  I teamed these with black, grey and white hammered effect card to create the design.

 I added some faux stitching with a black fine liner pen, some bright zingy coloured ribbon and a little metal initial embellishment  as a lace dangler / charm.  I also used a little round clear dome to enhance the green circle 'bumper'.  If you are wondering why the letter 'M'?  well it is for my little niece Maria, who's birthday it is today, and the reason why I have waited until today to show this card :) Happy Birthday Maria!!  (I ended up making 3 cards for her, all in different styles)

I do like the look of the hammered card as it adds texture to the sole part.  I think this is a fun card and will be making more in other colours as they are easy to personalise with little 'initials' or charms.


Materials used:
Raspberry Pink card - papermill summer colours
Lime Green, Black, Grey card - papermill stock colours
White Hammered card (for the sole) - papermill essentials range
Metal Charm, Ribbon, clear sticky dome,black pen faux stitching.
cricut to cut design

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

Lisa

Ruth
Sylvia
Sandie

Sharon

Here Comes The Sun!!

Hello, the sun is shining, we are all feeling summery and to celebrate papermill direct are having a special sale of their Summer Colours with 10% off.  (bright orange, raspberry pink, pale turquoise, dark violet, daffodil yellow & ocean blue - grab a midi box (260 sheets!!) for just £21-60). Link here  (there's also a pretty coloured pack of envelopes at a very special price too)

The Design Team have all been busy creating for this offer, so be sure to check out all the blogs at the bottom of this post.

But first up is Mr Sun, I love the cheerful sunny shade of daffodil yellow card against the zingy Bright Orange card and used them to make this Sun Shaped hanging decoration.

 It's a simple design cut using my Cricut mini, and uses just 3 shades of card Daffodil Yellow,  Bright Orange, and Mocha Brown for the base.  I added a dash of stickles to highlight his eyes and some orange & white bakers twine to make a little hanging loop.  He seemed quite at home hanging from the leafy arch and the pergola in my garden.  He would make a fun decoration for a conservatory too.

Materials used:
Daffodil Yellow, Bright orange  card - papermill direct summer sale box (or available separately)
Mocha Brown card - papermill direct
Stickles in 'Mercury Glass'
Orange & White Bakers twine
Cricut Mini to cut the shapes 

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

Lisa

Ruth
Sylvia

Sandie

Sharon

and whilst I remember, there is still time to enter the fantabulous papermill competition to win a Cricut Explore!!  Check out this link http://www.papermilldirect.co.uk/inspire/post/win-a-cricut-explorehttp://www.papermilldirect.co.uk/inspire/post/win-a-cricut-explore but be quick as the competition closes 8th August.