Z Cards and Standard Step Cards

Back to basic card making for todays blog

I wanted to use up some toppers from a kit I bought from Create and Craft. I had used half the kit and the other half is for sale on ebay (I get bored very quickly with kits). This kit has packs of toppers with it so  after you have used all the cards there is usually lots of bits left-over.

I decided to make the step cards first

 

Then I looked at other base cards that would take the toppers and tried the Z Card.

 

I like this card as it can be kept quite simple or more in depth.

 

With many more toppers to use up I am now making some base Z Cards to use whenever I have some spare time

 

  

The Tonic Studios Stamp Board by Tim Holtz

As posted earlier I ordered this new product
It came today when I was out visiting my sister so have only had half an hour with it so far.

However it seems to be easy to use and produces really great stamping results

I need to experiment more with the techniques as I have no ink pens and my water colour paper is not good quality.

First tries indicate it is really well set up, the magnets that hold the paper/card work well and the top slides out one side is for acrylic stamps (thinner) and the other for rubber stamps.

So no matter how bad the first stamping attempt is you can go back and ink up again until the coverage is how you want it.

Here are the results of my half hour play.

This is straight forward stamping, the flowers are repeated from one stamp and the stem is a flourish stamp

the next picture is my first attempt at spritzing the inks and as you can see there is some expansion of the inks but I will continue to work on it.

If you have shied away from stamping because you find it tricky to line up or get the right pressure on the stamps, this tool is a must it will enable you to get a clean stamp every time.

Flower Headbands

As I have said before I love making flowers
I keep putting them together and storing them in the craft room
So as well as brooches I have put together some headbands for my Etsy shop and to sell at Fayres
The flowers have been made from fabric and ribbon. All are handcrafted and offer a unique embellishment.
I have also put some on crocodile clips

Both the headband and clips could be used for bridesmaid hair adornment to match the fabric, if the dresses were being made with material enough to fashion the flowers

 

Just 2 of the headbands made using organza ribbon bows and flowers handcrafted and unique

Here is another one on a spring  hairclip

 

Stamping With Tim Holtz

Whilst I admire Tim Holtz greatly and recognise he is an artist in his own field, in the past I have limited my craft using his style as although I love the tags he produces and cards I am not sure how to best use them in any numbers.
However, yesterday I saw an advert on Crafty Devils site, for the new Stamping platform from Tonic Studios designed by Tim Holtz.
Naturally as it was a new product I took a look. Not only did Crafty Devils have it at a great price they had the Tim Holtz video demonstrating the product. The video was extremely good, boy that man can market his products, and I naturally ended up having to have the item. I popped it in my basket and took a look around the site, just to make sure I did not need anything else.
Would you believe it we then had a power cut, no computer, and no WiFi connection, so no using the ipad.
The electricity was out for 4 hours.
When it came back on I took another look and ordered the item.
I will give you a report on the product once I have it and have tried it out. In the meantime if you want to see it take a look at www.craftydevilspapercraft.co.uk
The platform is showing in the Tonic Studio range and you can see the video from Tim Holtz studio demonstrating how to use it and techniques. But I take no responsibility for additional craft spend if you do look.

Until the next blog
Dee

Book Fastening

As promised a couple of days ago I  have made the book fastening using elastic and a vintage button.

This would be great to hold scrapbooks, journals or mini albums together

Simply find a button to match your book cover and thread the elastic through the holes. Tie in a knot close  to the button hold to secure the elastic on the button and then tie the two ends together. You can trim the ends or if it suits, leave them open like a bow end.

The amount of elastic required is approx 2.5 times the width of the book, simply fold the elastic around the book twice and add a little.

 

 

Back Soon with more crafty ideas

Dee

Where is Anna Griffin

No crafting today I have been out and about enjoying the sunshine.
However I did purchase some elastic while out as I had seen a lovely idea for a book fastening and wanted to try it out

I will show the results when I have had chance to make it.

Is anyone else missing Anna Griffin off our screens. The card kits and embellishments that she brought to the TV Channels are lovely, and whilst I struggle to use them in any other way than the examples given (they are very busy cards) I do love the finished product.

If anyone knows when she will be back to England I would love to hear from you.

Dee

More Leather FLowers

As I love the thought of reusing, recycling and up-cycling, a while ago I made some brooches from felt and old buttons.

I liked the result and had some success selling the brooches

I looked at adding leather pieces and this progressed to trying leather flowers

Using remnant, (so pleased to make use of quality pieces ) I started making my brooches and flowers for hair adornments

All the flowers are my own design, starting with basic flower templates and designs used for fabric flowers.

I have several for sale on Etsy and hope to take them to  a craft show during the summer.

This is soft red leather with silver/grey leaves and has been made into a brooch
It is quite large at approx 12cm wide and 14cm deep

MORE LEATHER FLOWERS

I have been busy with the leather flowers and key rings. Some large flower brooches in a design of my own

So no cards have been made for a while.
Although I have made a couple of gift boxes

Has anyone seen anything out there that has inspired them lately?

I have been drawn to stamping techniques and mixed media items, and actually made some leather look card display cards for my brooches. I love this technique
Mix glycerin one in six parts with water and spray onto craft card
Smooth over the craft card with you figures softly rubbing the water in
Continue until the card structure shows colouring and them carefully scrunch the card to make texture
Flatten out, spray again and scrunch
Rub over with distress ink
When dried a little emboss with an embossing folder
Allow to dry

This can then be used as book covers tags etc
It can be finished with glazing spray for a polished leather look

When I finished the three sheets of card I thought they would make great tags to display my leather brooches when doing a craft sale, so left them unsprayed.

Here they are with leather brooches attached

Until the next blog

Dee