Nephew birthday card and fun gift

The end of March beginning of April is a busy crafting time for me. Last weekend was my Nephews birthday and Mother's Day. Then this weekend it is my brother- in-law's birthday and mine too. So as you can imagin I had lots of things to make.     My nephew was 20 (I can't begin to tell you how old that makes me feel!!) and has a job with a desk. He had mentioned to my sister, his Mum, that he would like a plant to go on it, trouble was a) it would get hardly any light and b) he would never remember to water it. So a cactus was decided upon.       I hate shopping because I always want something that is never in any of the shops available to me as a non driver. So of course there was not a cactus to be had. Luckily though I'm a Crafter! So I just made one!!  

 

 These are such fun. I made 2 because I couldn't decide which one to make. They were perfect and looked so real with the moss around the top. He absolutely loved them too.

 

You can buy the file for them in the Silhouette design store.

 

 I also made him his birthday card. He is quite a keen photographer so I made him this retro camera card.

 

 

For my brother-in -Law, who is a very keen cyclists I made this card.

 

 

Thank goodness it wasn't Easter as well!!

Ring binder transformation

I am one of the Creative crew for Tangi Baxter's Art Journal Emporium. https://shoptangiebaxter.com/  This year the way we work has changed slightly, each week Tangie Baxter creates worksheets for us to work on or think about, so gaining inspiration for our Art Journaling pages.  One of the challenges was to create a cover for our books or folders, depending on how we had chosen to store them. I had decided to use a ring binder and my dear hubby had found an old one for me to store them in. Trouble was it was a boring black plastic covered folder with a plastic pocket on the front, you know,the ones.  At first I though I would just make an A4 art piece to put in the pocket on the front, I didn't want to do too much to it. Later I changed my mind and thought I would just remove the pocket and just leave the black plastic, after all I didn't want to take too much time on it.  In the end I decided to take it all apart. I took the black plastic off compleatly, which then left separate bits of folder. I then had to put it all back together again using just the grey board pieces which were inside the black plastic. So much for not taking too much time on it!!!  I was then left with a blank binder. First I covered it with cheap watercolour paper so I had a nice surface to paint on.   Next I then got my Geli plate out and used it to paint the first few layers, building up the pattern using texture sheets I had made to imprint a pattern. Then I used lots of stencils to build up a finished look for my covers. Here is how it turned out.

For the front I used a Crafters Workshop small stencils for the flowers which I sponged through orange and pink acrylic paint. Later I added white paint pen circles and details

 

I used blue and orange on the background and was not too worried about the white paper showing through. This happened because of the texture on the paper.

 

The back I just left with the Geli prints, just filling in any spots I thought needed with some more paint.

 

For the spine of the folder I used another Crafters workshop stencil and once dry I used an orange paint pen to outline the arrows. I also added some lines and smudges using a credit card dipped in paint.

 

For the inside I began by painting it all orange. I then used a 12x12 stencil by Crafters Workshop for my stars. I love this stencil, it always looks stunning. This time I sponged through a lilac blue paint and then drew around the stars with a white paint pen. It looked a bit too clean and crisp so I added some smudges and lines to dirty it up.

 

 

 

 

To decorate the inside of the spine I used part of another Crafters Workshop stencil. I then used a paint pen to out line it and added smudges and lines to dirty it up.

 

Then finally the back inside cover. I used another of my favourite Crafter Workshop stencil. Outlined in white paint pen and lots of smudges and lines to dirty it up again.

 

 

I really enjoyed doing this and I am so glad I did take some time over it. I sealed it once it was dry to protect it as it will get a lot of use.

I must admit I am really pleased with the finished look, not colours I would normally choose but I love then together. Hope you like them too.

 

Mother's Day card

Here is a Mother's Day card I made using the Craftwork Cards Scrumptious kit I have made for the Fruit Pixie.  

The Craftwork Cards Scrumptious paper kit is such a pretty set. I have found so many different thinks to do with it.

 

This card was made using just two sheets of the 8x8 inch paper pad and a few Candies . I began with the blue background paper that has some lovely pink and brown swirls. I covered my 5x7 white card blank with that paper, sticking the card blank in place on the back of the paper where I wanted it before cutting it out.

 

 I then cut out the doodled flowers from another of the background paper. I stuck one of the main designs onto the top left of the card and cut the second one apart. I placed the little flower on the bottom right and a second flower coming in from the top right.

 

With all of the Craftwork Cards kits you get a bag of their Candi. The doodle flower designs have circles within the design which are the same size as the Candi. So I used them to add more height and colour. I stuck the Candi on to the card using small 3d foam squares, which helps support them.

 

I then used my blue glitter pen to colour in parts of the doodle flower design which added a little sparkle. 

 

The lettering I cut out of the remainder of the doodle flower paper using some alphabet dies. I traced around the letters with my blue glitter pen to help them pop from the card.

 

You can find all the products I used here in the Fruit Pixie online shop, except the alphabet dies and blue glitter pen.

 

You can find the Craftwork Cards Scrumptious paper kit here - 

http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/craftwork-cards-8-x-8-collection-pack-scrumptious-25687-p.asp

 

The card blanks here -

http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/5-x-7-card-blanks-511-c.asp

 

3D foam to attach your Candi to the card -

http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/3d-foam-pads-assorted-258-p.asp

 

 

   

Graphic 45 City Scapes travel case

 I have a fun little project to show you today that I made using one of the Graphic 45 City Scapes papers and the wonderful matching stamp sets for the Fruit Pixie.

It was difficult to chose which paper to use as they are all so lovely. I finally decided on the 12x12 crossroads paper.

I made the little suitcase using a design on my Silhouette Cameo electronic cutting machine but you could find a template online or use one of the  paper mache shapes you can buy. It would also be nice to cover a little gift box too.

I used all 3 sets of the stamp sets, which I stamped onto kraft card using black ink and cut out, to collage the front of the case. I also stamped a little tag too.

To go inside the little case I made a small accordion book.

I cut 2 covers from the same card as the case then cut a another piece of card the same height as the cover but 4 times the width.

 I scored it into 4 pages and then folded it into a concertina and stuck the covers to each end.

Again using the stamps I stamped, cutout and collaged the inside of the book

  

I also used some of the scraps left from cutting out the case, to decorate the ends.

To keep the little book closed I made a wrap from the scraps of the paper.

               I added a little colour to some of the stamped images to give some contrast.

I also stamped a border top and bottom just to give a bit more interest.

Of course you could leave the book plain and use it as a a travel journal or planner.

I stamped and image for the cover and added one of the sentiments too.

The inside of the case was also decorated with the Graphic 45 paper City Scapes. It is a double sided paper, so lots of ways you can used it.

I also used some of the Cosmic Shimmer PVA to add detail.

Well, I hope you liked my project. Everything I used, except the cardstock which was from my own collection, can be found in the shop.

The Graphic 45 City Scapes paper collection and stamps - 

http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/city-scapes-698-c.asp

The Kraft card and plenty of other cardstock - 

http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/cardstock-57-c.asp

inks - 

http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/ink-pads-84-c.asp

Cosmic Shimmer PVA - 

http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/cosmic-shimmer-pastel-pva-ivory-22781-p.asp

There are so many wonderful papers in this collection, I have a cunning plan for the rest.