Easter tree time

Each year I like to,have an Easter tree. Hubby cuts me some blossom branches and I decorate them. Some of the decorations I have made other bought, usually in sales.      Here is this years, the branches are from the apple tree as the cherry is in full flower at the moment so not good to cut.

 

 I made some new decorations this year. The bunnies, carrots and eggs which I cut on my Silhouette Cameo.

 

 

We went out to lunch today with hubbies family and so I gave the ladies the Easter baskets with a little egg and for the gentlemen I made these little treat holders for their eggs.

 

 

Our great nephew is too small for chocolate but I couldn't leave him out so I made him a soc bunny

 

 

 

Have a wonderful Easter x

 

Spring 3d tulips

  We have had some beautiful spring weather here in the southwest of England and all the spring flowers look beautiful in the sunshine. They have inspired me to make my own spring tulips using the Paperartsy Tulip die set and matching Paperartsy stamps which are available at The Fruit Pixie online shop and are a bargain at the moment as they are half price!  

 

I made a pot for my tulips on my Silhouette Cameo die cutting machine but a real pot would be even better. My hubby is a very keen gardener so all pots were taken!!

 

The tulips are very easy to make! First I chose my coloured cardstock and found two different shades of each colour. 

 

The stamp set has two different styles of Tulip and each Tulip has three sections. I chose the style that has a outside line to the design. I stamped each stamp in that set three times and then die cut them all out using the corresponding die. You will find it easier if you stamp first and the use a piece of low tack tape (or tape you have de tacked by sticking it to your cloths a couple of times ) to hold the die in the right place before you run it through your machine.  If you don't own a die cutting machine then you can just cut them out by hand but with the dies you get the same shape each time.

 

Fold each layer of Tulip in half from left to right. The tulips are not symmetrical so they won't meet up perfectly but this doesn't really show when the Tulip is finished.

 

Then stick the two layers of each flower on top of each other so the folds are in the same place. For the third layer I only stuck the bottom half down so I could curl it over when my Tulip was finished.

 

You now need to make the stem. This needs to support the Tulip so I used a bamboo skewers. I used some green Washi  tape to cover the skewer and make them more stem like.

 

Now take one of your tulips and stick its petal to the second Tulips petal. Take your stem and stick it on the inside of the Tulip along the line of the petals you glued together. 

 

Then stick the third petal over the top and stick all the petals together giving you a 3d Tulip as in the photo. You might need to use a couple of pegs to hold the petals together while they stick. I used a normal PVA white glue and had not trouble getting them to stick. Once they are dry curl the top petal over as shown on the photo.

 

 

For the leaves I used the same stamp and die as the last layer of the flower but stamped it onto green card. I then stuck it together with the stem in between.

 

The little flag was simply made by cutting a strip of paper into a long thin rectangle, folding it around the wooden support (that came from a pot of hyacinths we bought, it held the variety and price attached to it. It was just the job so I saved it as I liked the shape) I wrote spring in green pen and then stuck it around the little post and tied some garden string to the top. You could use another bamboo skewer for this.

 

To get them all to stand up was a bit of a battle. In the end I used Blutack at the bottom of the pot and pushed the end of my skewers into it. I then scrunched up some old tissue paper to support the skewers and fill the pot. I then could just cover top of the pot with dried moss it give it a realistic look.

 

This is such a nice bright cheerful project which would make a lovely gift or as I have done with mine, something for your own home. They need no light or water so can go anywhere. Mine are in the hall to welcome you home. They are also perfect for anyone who is in hospital too.

 

If you would like to make your own tulips you will need-

 

Paperartsy Tulip stamps 50% off at the mo!

 

http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/eclectica3-collection-lin-brown-elb08-23263-p.asp

 

Paperartsy matching die set also 50% off

 

http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/paperartsy-die-tulip-1-23274-p.asp

 

Cardstock - 

 

http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/coredinations-core-essentials-brights-15533-p.asp

 

Washi tape -

 

http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/washi-tape-625-c.asp

 

Have fun making your Tulips and have a very happy Easter!

 

             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

Collage sheet Easter baskets

I thought I would show you the Easter baskets I made for Tangie Baxter and Co. I am part of their creative crew and made these for an Easter blog post. They were made using 3 of her digital collage sheets that I printed out onto printable card and then made up into these baskets large enough for a Cadbury cream egg, my favourite!  

 

If you would like to see my post with full photo instructions on how to make these cute baskets then visit the Tangi Baxter and Co blog - https://shoptangiebaxter.com/blogs/news.

 

 I have a really cute fun Easter treat box idea that will put a smile on anyone's face, that I made for The Fruit Pixie

   I made these using the Graphic 45 Bohemain Bazzar papers but any orange paper or card will do as well.

  All you need to do is cut a rectangle of your carrot paper, mine was 5.5" x 6",  roll them into a tube and stick the seam down using red line tape. I then sealed one end horizontally.

   Cut a rectangle of green paper and feather cut it to make it look like carrot tops. I also put mine through a paper ribber as I found mine the other day at the back of a drawer. I then folder my carrot tops in half to make them look thicker.

  Fill your carrot with Easter treats and seal the other end encasing the carrot tops, this time vertically.

                       So there you are a cut fun way to give your loved ones a sweet treat this Easter.

                                           

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.

Baby tag toy

We met our new Great Nephew Alexander last week and very cute he is too. Of course as a complacently addicted crafter I saw it as an excuse to make something just for him.

 I decided to design and make him a tag toy. As a trained Nanny and with lots of Nephews, Nieces as well as Great Nephews I know how much babies and toddlers love labels and tags so this would be just the right gift to make.

   I knew it was going to be a boy, so I decided on a rocket shape. I designed the pattern, bought the material, teether and crackle plastic and got to work.

The fins or wings as well as the rocket flames have the crackle plastic inside. The star teether has a pocket to live in with a felt star on it.

The tags are made with ribbon and on the back it is a soft fleece with embossed spots on. So lots of textures for Alexander to feel and explore. All of it was baby safe and machine washable.

It was great fun to design and make and I am really pleased with how well it turned out.

Before we met him in person his Dad sent us some photos. My Mother in law is in her 80's and doesn't do digital so I made her a little photo book cut out on my Silhouette Cameo, so she could see the photos and keep it as a keepsake. She was really pleased with it.

Of course I also had to make a baby card and a gift bag for his present too.

This was made on my Silhouette Cameo cutting machine and can be found in the design store.

The gift tag was made using the ship from the card and just enlarged and a mat cut for it. The strip across the gift bag is also cut on the Cameo too.

Steampunk kit by Kyrsty Scrapbook Design

The new digital kit by Kyrsty Scrapbook Design is a Steampunk style kit. I loved letting my imagination go mad with this first page I made using this kit, great fun!!

 The second page I made had a complacently different feel. I don't even think you would knew it came from a steampunk themed kit. That's the beauty with digital kits, the more oyu play with them the more ideas you have because they never run out and you can have everything in what ever size you want.

You can find this kit at Mischief Circus here - 

https://www.mischiefcircus.com/shop/product.php?productid=24284&cat=0&page=1

School kit from Kyrsty Scrapbook Design

I have manage to miss the past two kit launches for Kyrsty Scrapbook Design, due to holidays and timing, so I am catching up with them today.
   The first digital kit is a School themed kit. Lots of great elements for school pages here. This is my finished digital page.

don't be put off by it being a digital kit. If you don't do digital art then you can always print them off and use them in your paper crafting.

You can find this kit at Mischief Circus here - 

https://www.mischiefcircus.com/shop/product.php?productid=23938&cat=0&page=1

Craftwork Cards Scrumptious kit swing card

  This is a card project using the Craft Work Cards Scrumptious paper pack I made for The Fruit Pixie who I design for. I started playing with this paper kit before Christmas and I must admit I loved it. Now that spring is starting to bloom here in the UK it is a nice bright paper pack to play with.

 I cut this card shape, a swing card, on my Silhouette Cameo but there are lots of different card blanks out there and of course you could do the same style on a plain card blank too.

          I used one of the papers for the front pannels and then one of the die cut sentiment for the front swing part of the card.

With every Craftwork Cards paper kit you always get some of their Candis. I used 4 of them on the four corners of my card. I used the small square 3D foam to lift them from the card.

Then just a small bow to add to finish off the card.

You can find the Craftwork Cards Scrumptious paper kit in the Fruit Pixie shop shop here - 

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

the small 3D foam pads - 

http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/craftime-3d-foam-squares-2mm-20106-p.asp

MDF Collaged heart

  This year for my design work for The Fruit Pixie, I am aiming to do a mixed media piece each month to show you and as it was valentines day last week I decided to use one of the MDF hearts from Creative Expressions and create a mixed media collage dedicated to love.

For me the key to mixed media is to layer and layer and layer. 

So, to begin, I took one of the MDF hearts from the pack (you get 6 in each pack) and covered it with some of the paper from the IndigoBlu Memory lane stack.

I then added one of the Bo Bunny doilies to the right hand part of the heart.

I chose an image from the IndigoBlu Lost Families stack and cut her out. Then glued her down.

I then chose a stencil, this one is the rose stencil from IndigoBlu and using the Fired Brick Distress ink on some of the blending foam, worked it through the stencil to cover most of the heart except her face.

I stamped the sentiment, a stamp is from the Visible Images never grow up set, and cut it apart. Then glued it down.

To colour the edges of the MDF heart and give a slight border to my collage, I used the Cosmic Shimmer Gilding wax in Decadent wine. I applied it with a cloth and then buffed it up to a shine. I find dried out baby wipes are good for this!

To finish it off I add some stick pearls and used some of my chalk crayons to give it a grungy feel.

So as you can see lots and lots of layers!

You can find everything I used in the Fruit Pixies shop -

MDF Hearts - 

http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/creative-expressions-mdf-hearts-6-pack-25697-p.asp

All the IndigoBlu products here - 

http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/indigoblu-accessories-534-c.asp

Distress Ink here - 

http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/tim-holtz-distress-inks-83-c.asp

Bo Bunny dollies - 

http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/bo-bunny-doilies-small-4-25967-p.asp

Stamp Sentiment - 

http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/visible-image-never-grow-up-set-25228-p.asp

Cosmic Shimmer guiding wax -

http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/cosmic-shimmer-gilding-wax-677-c.asp

So there we are, I think I got all the products I used!!

Rose love stamped card

  Now I have been crafting for many, many years and it was stamping that made my eyes light up and switch from needle work to paper crafting. That was until I discovered what we used to call altered art back in the day but now you would know it as mixed media and stamps lost their attraction.

   One of my new years arty goals for this year is to get back into stamping. So once a month, one of my weekly posts for the Fruit Pixie's blog and Facebook page will be a stamped project and here is the first one!

  It was my parents 56th wedding anniversary a few days ago and this is the card I made for them. Of course Valentines day is just around the corner so this would be a lovely card for that too or even for a summer wedding card.

  The stamp kit I was working with was the Visible Image Immortal Love set ( link below ).
 

To begin with the background. I cut a piece of white card slightly smaller then my 5x7 card blank. 

 I took the damask stamp from the set and stamped it may times to make the background using the Distress ink milled lavender.

For the roses arrangement I stamped the large rose once and the smaller rose 3 times onto a patterned paper using distress ink pumice stone. 

I then cut them out.

I made the card by first using a border punch from Mather Stewart and then layered the roses up using some 3D foam.

I cut some heart shaped leaves using a die and poked them into the rose arrangement.

I then stamped the "love" and "is forever" stamps onto the background using more of the Distress ink pumice stone.

I added a little stickles glitter to the centre of the roses and inked around the edges of the card front with both the milled lavender and the pumice stone.

I then mounted my card front onto my card blank to finish.

I hope you enjoyed my stamped project. If you have been inspired and would like to purchase the things I used, you can find them in the Fruit Pixie's shop using the links below.

5x7 card blanks - 

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

Visible Image stamp set -

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

Distress ink - 

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

Craftwork cards Scrumptious paper flower box card

I have been having fun with the Craftwork Cards Scrumptious card kit available from The Fruit Pixie online shop who I very proudly design for.

   If you know Craftwork cards you will know that in each kit you will get a beautiful pad of 8x8 paper, stacks of die cuts and a bag of their matching Candies. The die cuts differ in each themed kit and with this kit you get some really cute flowers and some different sentiments.

  Now I'm not a big user of flowers but for some reason these really caught my eye. They are all different shapes and stack together to make wonderfully cute modern looking flowers. They have also included some cut into a spiral, which can be rolled up to become the centre of your flower.

  So, because of these lovely flowers. I decided to make a flower box card.

This card folds flat to post and is fairly simple to make, there are lots of free templates for this shape card and videos to help you put them together online. Mine was cut out using my Sillhouette Cameo.

I cut the box out in blue card and covered it with one of the papers in the pad.

I made up 4 flowers and cut some leaves out of green card.

I added them to the dividers in the card and added a large sentiment from the kit to the front and a small banner sentiment from the kit to the back wall of the box.

Of course these flowers could be used on all sorts of projects, they are so much fun.

You can find the kit in the Fruit Pixie shop here - 

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

Perpetual calendar

   I always find that after Christmas I want to work with some bright colours and this kit from Craftwork Cards and available from The Fruit Pixie online shop, is just the ticket for that. The kit has the usual beautifully designed 8x8 papers in a pad plus die cut toppers. With each of their kits they like to chop and change about with the die cuts and  this time there are die cut flowers. Then of course you get the pack of their Candies, which if you have not come across them before they describe them as brads with out the prongs. So basically a  small 3d domed circle.

 Now I have to confess I am terrible with numbers, especially remembering then. I never know what the date is, never have been able to remember it and I am also almost as bad on the day too, ever since Hubby has taken early retirement. So when I saw this perpetual calendar in the Silhouette design store I thought it might solve the problem so I had to make one.

The calendar was cut on my Silhouette Cameo, an electronic cutting machine which I love.

I made it up in white card then covered it with the beautiful Craftwork Cards Scrumptious papers.

As you can see they all work very beautifully together, as we have come to expect from Craftwork Cards.

Not a very exciting photo I know but I wanted to show there are plainer papers too in the kit.

This is a lovely bright kit. Even though it has quite a lot of pink in it I wouldn't say it was too girly as the browns and blues give you different options for colour combinations.

You can find the kit in the Fruit Pixie shop here - 

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

                   
                                                                   

Winter birthday cards

Hello and a very Happy Crafty New Year!!      I am so pleased to be back in my craft room again after a busy Christmas time then a horrible cold but I am feeling better and excited about all the new crafty goodies that will come our way this year.     First though a bit of a look back to the Craftwork Cards Winter Forest paper pack available from The Fruit Pixie online shop. Now I have 2 family birthdays in December. So I made these cards for them using the Craftwork Cards Winter Forest paper kit. As you can see there is nothing remotely Christmassy about them and they look beautiful as Winter birthday cards

My first card is using one of the toppers in the kit mounted on some of the paper from the paper pad. 

The card base is covered by another of the papers in the paper pack.

I then used one of my punches ( I have a bit of a thing for snowflakes ) to punch some borders from the same paper as the topper mount.

Then I added a happy birthday to finish!

 

 

Now for the second I used a shape card cut on my Silhouette Cameo 

 

 

I used the beautiful snow paper from the paper pack to cover the sides and bottom pieces.

The owl is printed on the paper in the paper pack so I just cut a piece that included him to fit on the middle piece of the card.

Then I added some die cut snowflakes and another Happy Birthday and it's finished.

      So as you can see just because you have used a kit for Christmas cards they can be used for other cards too.       You can find this kit and many other wonderful things in The Fruit Pixie here -                      http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/craftwork-cards-8-x-8-collection-pack-frozen-forest-26360-p.asp