Another new technique for me, again involving the use of household items, and great fun to do! I saw this on the blog of another of my favourite crafters, Sue Wilson. Her tutorial is here but I didn’t quite follow it exactly because I’d learned elsewhere that, rather than buying Crystal Lacquer, you could use Johnson’s Klear Floor Polish, which I just happened to have handy. Well, gathering dust in my utility room, to be exact;-)
Archive | February 2013
Inspired by Ali Reeve
I nearly called this post “Technique Tuesday” but as I wasn’t sure if the blog of the same name is copyright I decided against it.
I love learning new things in all walks of life, but especially card making. Both this card & the one I’ll post in a couple of days show techniques I’ve never used before but have picked up from watching expert crafters on Create & Craft. This card uses an incredibly simple but effective use of – shoe polish! Of course, this was inspired by Ali Reeve who regularly uses everyday household items to great effect.
I ran a piece of mirri card through my Cuttlebug with one of Ali’s masks (Metal Effect), then I used black shoe polish (the type which comes with a sponge applicator attached) and wiped it across the mirri card, wiped off the excess & that was it! I made the backing paper myself using different shades of black & grey Memento inks & free Papermania nuts & bolts stamps. The mini tool brads were from The Works. This was a really easy card to make & I hope my brother-in-law, the intended recipient, likes it.
Only a week late!
I’ve not done much card making just lately but this, rather belatedly, was my Valentine’s card to my husband. I originally started this last August as an anniversary card but decided it was much more appropriate for Valentine’s Day. Because I made it so long ago I can’t remember any details of cardstock, papers or anything else for that matter! Although my husband was pleased with it, I feel it’s not quite masculine enough to send to a man but it was a case of “I’ve started, so I’ll finish!”
Something romantic!
No, not a Valentine’s card, this time it’s for the first wedding anniversary of some friends of ours who will, sadly, be attending the funeral of the husband’s Mum on their special day. I wasn’t sure that “Happy 1st Anniversary” was appropriate but I hope they’ll still be able to celebrate in some way.
I was inspired by this beautiful card but have varied it slightly, partly because I don’t have the same dies & embossing folders but also because I never like to copy someone else’s work exactly.
Yet Another Sympathy Card
I feel like I’ve done more than my fair share of sympathy cards over the last year or two, but I suppose that’s just the way it goes. This one is for a friend whose Mum passed away suddenly just over a week ago. As ever, I tried to keep it simple (always best, I feel, for such occasions) but as the main recipient is a man I tried to take that into account, too.
Bright 50th
This card is for the 50th birthday of a very kind lady who spends a lot of time looking after her next door neighbour – my husband’s aunt. As her living room is black & red I just knew she’d love bright colours.
The starting point for this card was the chipboard numbers I’d made a few months ago for another friend’s 50th but which, when they were finished, were too bright for that card. They were coloured with Promarkers & given dimension using Anita’s 3-D Clear Gloss. I used Pink Petticoat backing papers (no longer available) but had to alter the colour slightly in Craft Artist 2 Professional to ensure they matched the numbers. I also produced matching plain card in CA2P, too.
As I’ve been suffering from a distinct lack of mojo just lately I used a sketch from somewhere & kept it simple.