Altered iPad box

This box started life as an iPad box.  I painted it with blue acrylic paint before decorating it with die-cuts, pearls and punched flowers.

Westonbirt Arboretum Craft Fair

Just home from Westonbirt Arboretum where I've spent two six-hour days selling things from my craft stall.  One man asked if I'd made the cards myself as they looked like the expensive ones you buy in a shop.  He suggested that I make a few mistakes on them, so people would realise they weren't professionally made and that I'd handmade them.  I think it was meant as a compliment!!!

Stepper Cards

Here are two stepper cards I've made this month.

This one was for a challenge to make a Christmas card using just red and white.

 



I wanted to make a special card for a friend's 60th birthday.  I was really pleased how this card turned out.

Cardmaking Workshop

Is it really three months since I posted on my blog???  I'll blame it on working, holidays and teaching myself how to crochet again. ;-)

Later this month, my friend Ruth and I are running two Cardmaking Workshop for five to seven year olds.  We have all day to work with the children, so we've been busy designing some simple cards for them to make.  Here are just a few I've designed.

 The penguin was made using an owl Stampin' Up punch.

 .I just love the owl punch as it is so versatile.

 The dog is an old Sizzix die. 

We'll be making some similar ones with cats.

The inspiration for this card was from a card I saw in 'Japonica', I wonderful little craft shop in Exmouth, Devon.

Anniversary Card

An anniversary card is needed this week, so on this bright sunny day I thought I'd make some bright little poppies. The trellis was cut out with a Martha Stewart deep edge punch and the poppies were made using  two Tonic punches, with the cut shapes inter-linked together.  The Sizzix die-cut watering can is actually silver mirror card, although it looks much dark in the photo.

Embossing foil

I thought I'd have a play embossing copper coloured foil today.  The 'keys' embossing folder gave the effect I was looking for to make this 'Good Luck in Your New Home' card.

Cards for boys....

Time to make some cards using some of my old stamps.  The images are so cute, I never get tired of making them into cards.  Card Candi is such a good way of adding a brad effect without having to make a hold through the card.

Happy Easter!

I thought I'd give one of my Sizzix dies an airing and use it to make this Easter card.

Visit to the NEC

After visiting the Hobbycraft Show at the NEC in Birmingham last weekend, I'm making a start at using some new craft things I bought.  I've had the tool brads for a while and this embossing folder goes perfectly with them.

This new embossing folder was just what I was looking for to match the Sizzix 'Gears' die cuts.

Now to play around with my other purchases!........

Pillow Box

I'm always up for a craft evening with friends, so off I went yesterday evening to a 'Stampin Up' party.  I learnt how to make this cute little pillow box.  The tea and cakes were pretty good too!  Thanks Lynne and Belinda.

Cards for men....

I usually find getting inspiration for making cards for men a bit more tricky.  Here are a couple I've made with men in mind!

 This one was made with a Lili of the Valley stamp, coloured in with Promarkers and embellished with Card Candi.

I used a Little Claire stamp for this card, which was also coloured in with Promarkers.  The age could be added on the flag if the card was for a special birthday.

Creating backgrounds

After spending some time practising using a brayer to make backgrounds, I discovered 'Ink Dusters'.  They are SO easy to use and use much less ink....so it's win, win all round!  Ink Dusters are a bit like the old-fashioned shaving brushes. You just need to 'Dip, Dab and Dust'!  I used Lavinia stamps on these cards and love the silhouette effect.

Embossing

I use embossing folders often when I'm making cards.  Thanks to my friend Lynne who gave me a lovely Sizzix embossing folder recently.  She suggested that it would work well with inks, so out came my inks and a brayer and I started to have a play!  I'd not used inks before with embossed card, but it was really easy to get the hang of it.  The backing for both these cards was made using the same embossing folder, with one inked on the reverse side.  The circles were cut out with one of the scalloped Nestabilities and the 'flower' was cut out using a Memory Box 'Whimsy Circle' die.

Stamping

I had a relaxing afternoon making cards using Little Claire stamps and my Nestabilites.  The images were coloured in with Promarkers. 

Sunflowers

My favourite flowers are sunflowers, as you may have guessed from my blog title!  Many an evening you will find me relaxing, making a stock of sunflowers in different sizes to use on future projects. 

A few of my favourite cards.....

To start my blog off, here are a few of the cards I have particularly enjoyed making.....


I made this card for a card swap with the theme of 'Friends'.

This card was made for a card challenge.  The challenge was to make a card in any shape except square or rectangular.  The little fishing line, complete with a tiny fish bead, swings when the card is rocking.

The colours on this wedding card matched the colour scheme of the day.

I really enjoy making 3D cards.  This card was made for the birth of my Granddaughter.....

 

....and this card for her Christening.



Moving into the 21st Century

Having taken early retirement from my job as a teacher last July, I now have more time to spend on my hobbies.  I love all crafts, particularly making cards, and I enjoying experimenting with new techniques.  Over the coming days, weeks and months, I plan to share some of my creations.  So here I am......moving into the 21st Century, creating my own blog!  Thanks to my daughter Joanna, who I know will be there whenever I get stuck with the editing!