Digital Paper

I have been in love with the Copics or Promarkers for quite a while, and although I had some card and paper that work well with it, it was not perfect. Then, on Monday I saw Julie who gave some sheets of the new digital paper/card from Craftwork Cards.

I expected to like it, but not be wowed by it as it is plain thick white paper. Wrong. It is just so smooth, it's ultra smooth so the stamp detail shows so beautifully, and not too thick, perfect to make stamped and colored panels to add to cards.

To be honest, when I got home I quickly stamped this image (Magenta stamps) and colored in. Cutting took a while and as soon as I started I wished I hadn't as I am not the most patient of crafters.

Window die cutting

I dont think I have shared this card before on the blog, if I have, please forgive me. I am such a mess when it comes to organization of what I have post and what I haven't.

I combined a couple of large Sizzix dies for this one as well as some Basic Grey Stamps from Urban Prairie range. The window is part of the movers and shakers collection from Sizzix.

Punches, punches, punches...

What can i say? I love them.

For this one card I used several Woodware ones plus a Martha Stewart deep edge one.

Large sequins

Simple, quick and easy. You can use die cuts instead of the large flower sequins.

Chipboard Hearts

Quick and easy, that is my motto. And then some Basic Grey papers. And I am happy.

Crate and Butterflies

I did this card last year, still I like it as much now as I did then.

Something different

Sometimes, I really like to push my own cardmaking boundaries. Sometimes, I go maybe too far. Here the opening of the card is not on the right as it is with 99.99% of cards.

I used an old Hero Arts stamp and the message is one of my Circle Essentials stamps.

Sometimes...

My Spanish roots show in my card making. I did this cards a few months a go for an article that never got published, so I thought I would share it here.

I used Dawn Bibby's flourishes.

Yesterday I went on air again at QVC, first to talk about the TSV on the Morning Show, and then at 11:30pm to do the rest of the hour after Dawn did the TSV. This time around I wasn't as nervous as last time, although I still was nervous. I do need to improve so many things, though!

This month in Cardmaking and Papercraft

I have a Designers Challenge article, featuring six cards for the month of February. For this romantic one, I used one of my favorite paper collections from My Minds Eye.

For once, I took ok photos of my own cards.

Recycling Wrapping paper - Part 3

Attach the wrapping paper to chipboard and then die cut it using a Stars die from Sizzix.

Message is part of my Mixed Sentiments stamp set.

Recycling Wrapping paper - Part 2

Emboss it with a Cuttlebug folder and punch some circles out with matching papers.

Message is part of my Mixed Sentiments stamp set.

Recycling Wrapping paper

Use small amounts and glue them to thick card!

Simplicity

Sometimes, my Christmas cards are not very Christmassy. The case in hand above, with this past Christmas cards. I miscalculated my times and left with only a day or so to make all my Christmas cards so i ended up going for extreme simplicity cards. Like the one bellow, which was the one I sent to most people, apologies if you thought it was too simple, but at least it was a handmade card using first rate products: Fabriano card, Making Memories paper and glitter card.

Fabriano Medioevalis is the most gorgeous card, perfect for stamping with a chalk finish ink pad. It used to be available from The Craft Barn, although they do not have it on their website at the moment, so I am not sure if they do still sell it.

When it is cold and snowy outsite

It's the best time to stay in and color in! Using Copics I colored in this Chipboard circle and scalloped framed. The stamp is from Penny Black and the message is one of my Essentials Circles. The main card was a 12 x 12 die cut paper from Yellow Bicycle that is really thick so can be made as the blank card.

By the way, the Fiskars trimmer I reviewed the other week is available online now.

Numbers

I know, this card is not appropriate for a 5th birthday card, but shows the possibilities that numbers can do.

More Letterpress

One of the cards I did for today's show, and bellow a close up so you can see in detail the letterpress effect ink + embossing, although in crafting terms is debossing or impressing.


I don't mean to take such a bad photos of the cards, but I am limited because light issues.

The finished card...

...From yesterday post. As with anything related to die cutting, I would really recomend to play a bit with this set, not to worry making cards at first but experiment with it. Make as many bits as possible and then later assemble the cards.

For someone really special

I made this card, which is a Christmas version of this one. It takes me about an hour an half to make just the one card, so you will understand that I didn't do this one for everyone on my list.

Another Christmas Card

Some of you may get one of this!

Tree card

Featured a few issues back in Cardmaking and Papercraft!

Some of this years Christmas Cards...

Using printed acetate, but I forgot from which company!

Red Snowflakes

Eskimo kisses bubble

I usually buy the Basic Grey Collection Packs, you know the packs that contain one sheet of each plus the patterned stickers and the alphabet ones. Most of times I don't use the letter stickers, so when I can use any of the ones I have I am more than happy to go overboard and create backgrounds like this one that contains different Christmas words.

Did you watch The X Factor final? I didn't, to be honest I hardly see any of those programs live. Usually, I will watch a couple of performances after one of my friends mentions how good or bad someone was. However, I had watched a couple of shows while I was Up North with Dawn and JJ, and thought that Joe was going to win although I kind of preferred Olly as he made me smile. I do think that Joe is much better singer, but Olly is much more of a charismatic performer.

I also watch Strictly on the iPlayer while I work on the computer because I just love dancing. I would love to learn how to dance properly, specially the tango -specially the Argentinian which is for me the proper one- and of course the Paso Doble. Last year my favorite was from the very beginning Tom Chambers, with Austin as a close second favorite, because Tom seem to me the most natural dancer the one who seem to enjoy dancing the most, although maybe not as technically good as Rachel, but good enough. Rachel instead was very good at the coreography but she seem a tad robotic, without any real happiness in dancing. This year is Ricky Whittle for me, technically very good but also very natural, I can see that he is enjoying dancing maybe more than the show aspect of it. I know he is not likely to win, but a second place is for me this year top spot, just because Rafa finished second at the ATP world tour rankings. Last year I was very lucky, all my favorites ended up at number one, so for this year ending at number 2 is not bad either after such an amazing year.

Simple Jack Frost

Finally I got my email and blog account sorted, so I can resume regular postings.
So, I thought I would share a quick and easy card I did for a workshop at The Glitter Pot a few weeks back.

Square Patchwork

Today I went to the post office and the lady before me was sending off some Christmas Cards to Canada. She had chosen a medium sized card but it was over the 20 grams for just a letter post, so she had to pay an extra 30p. Ok, not much, but if you have to send more than the odd one abroad it adds up. And I rather spend that in lovely card, that this make mean?

The actual size of the card is 4 x 5 inches counting the excess over top edge, you know I like small cards. I just use the Woodware -Marvy Uchida for those in America- 2" Scallop Square punch. If you are into punches you will know that this particular one, *5

Childs Play Card

Sometimes, my cards look like a child has made them, with crooked house and all!

More Eskimo Kisses

Every year when December arrives, I start to panic. You see, I do think the Holidays Season is more about the preparation than the actual holidays. As a culture we have lost the meaning of Christmas, everything is now about shopping, food, parties and decorations, nothing wrong with that but it puts a lot of pressure on having a good time, getting the right present - for others as well for ourselves - it all means that disappointment is a sure thing.

But, if there is something about the Holidays that I like -apart from the true meaning- is the cards. I love making Christmas Cards in batches, although I do start making them a bit late, I usually manage to make them all and send in time.

This year, I am loving Eskimo Kisses, so if you are on my Christmas Cards list, you will probably get some.

Recycling ideas

I believe strongly that one should repeat card designs that we like, specially if we scraplift our own work. I do that constantly because when I like a design, I really really like it, I can't stop reproducing.
So I took a card I did this summer using a floral range and converted into a little Christmas Card. If you ever been to one of my workshops, specially a Christmas one, you will know how much I suggest to make smaller cards. Yes, large cards have got more of a Wow factor, but small things can be delicate and cute and they are much easily fit in living rooms full of Christmas cards.
The pink scallops are from Craftwork Cards and the patterned paper is from the Eskimo Kisses collection (Basic Grey). All the materials are available from Dawn Bibby's shop.

Embossing

Sometimes i misread things, and sometimes when it involves an article commission misreading a brief is a bad thing. This card is a product of a misread.
I read the brief as in card using a metal embossing stencil, when it actually stated that the it had to be a metal embossed card.
I decided to have I did emboss the pattern on vellum and then I turned it over and colour it from the de-bossed or engraved side using watersoluble pencils and transparent glitter.
The end result it's quite masculine, but for even a more masculine look, I would not put glitter nor pearls.

Craftwork Cards 10th Birthday

To celebrate their 10th Birthday, Craftwork Cards asked their design team to make a Birthday card for them. So this is what I did.
In their brand new website, there is a page of Inspiration where you can see the rest of the entries, as well as a better picture of my own card. Since it only captures the front I thought it would be nice to share some pictures of the inside, which I did decorate quite profusely.


As a base for the card I chose a basic color scheme, black, white and lime green. As pattern goes I chose to use the single flowers from the Floral Christmas stamp set.


As you open the card this is what you see on the left side of the card.


I made the main card from bits of card, using a shaped card - from a 8 x 8 album - trimmed top, bottom and left and then I made a M spine with black card, so the heart is actually attached to the V inside of the spine.


I inked the 1 which was chipboard to begin with. Use card candy for each of the big flower centers and on three of them I then put crystals.


For the flower I use Pinflair glue gel to add dimension.


To add even more pizazz I made a card bow with some left over card that I cut off.
I used two edge border punches, both of them from Eksucess.

Finally, a card

Yes, finally I am home, so i can start posting photos again! I will leave you with this diorama card that I taught at Dawn's Residential last week. I used Eskimo kisses papers - Basic Grey - and Nestabilities for the apertures and snowflakes.
All products available from Dawn Bibby's Design Studio.

Christmas acetate

Will I make my Christmas cards out of acetate this year? Well, not a hundred percent sure, probably I will do some like this one which I love using Craftwork Cards stuff/ I used so many different items that I wont list them, too tired for that.


If I mentioned that I am tired is not for sympathy. It is that tomorrow I have a workshop at the Glitter pot. Last week I was sent by post a parcel containing the items for me to design and make the cards. As the postal strike was in full swing, the parcel has not arrived yet. Thank goodness for plan B. But plan B has been a bit challenging, maybe a bit of a stress made me uncreative.

Also yesterday I had my hair cut and... it didn't go that well.
Haircuts. I have had a few, most of them pretty standard ones. It is not that I have been over the moon with many of them, more like I have been satisfied with the results. To be honest, I can only recall two haircust made me feel really good. The first time, eight years ago when I went back to professional hairdressers after a few years of home hair cutting, and the second time was last year in LA, in a proper Hollywood saloon.

Why hair makes us so miserable? I mean when its good its great, we feel on top of the world, but when it's bad it's really bad.

Yesterday I had my hair cut short, I just wanted a jaw sort of length. The problem this time is that I had it cut so short that there is nothing I can do, the back is super short -she actually shaved the neck- and the very front and some top layers are very short too.
I liked the salon -a lot actually- and it is a good hair cut but it is so short!

Well, you live and learn. One haircut at the time.

More Sequins

Yes, I know this is not Strictly Come Dancing, but sequins are not just for dancing costumes you know!
To be honest I hadn't used many sequins in my cards until recently, but I find myself using more and more of them lately. The stamps are from Penny Black.
By the way, Craftwork Cards is offering Blog Candy in their blog. Their products are one of my top favourites as you may know by now. Click here for more info.

Some times the simplest cards have got the most wow factor. I like to think that this is one of those cards. If you are thinking how that card is going to fit an envelope, well let me tell you, you use one of 8 x 8" -from Craftwork Cards.
I know this card is not for everyone, this one is over three edges not just the one!

Simple Joy

Simple cardmaking is what I find easier to do, but simple doesn't mean necesarly easy, although there may be people who think that. The key of cardmaking for me as a crafter is design rather than technique because I always think that is easier to learn technique than to learn design, as to learn a technique is to learn a process, whether design it is either based on an instinct or on pure theory. Anyway, either way, crafting is a hobby, so whatever you prefer is fine by me as long as you enjoy it!
This simple card I made for a demo. I had some paper left overs on my Christmas papers folder and decided to use it to highlight the beauty of this set of alphabet dies. I first covered with other bits of paper I had the mount board -yes, thick Sizzix dies will cut mount board even if it is covered with thick patterned paper- and then I put it through the Big Shot. Because of the thickness of the mount board it was a bit harder to roll it through but I was not difficult.
I used one of the Martha Stewart edge punches to add some interest to the card as well as some silver pearls to highlight the pattern of the paper. By the way, the papers are from Basic Grey, although not a hundred per cent sure from which collection as they were bits of paper, I think it is Figgy Pudding.

More Gap parts

A quick post just to share yet another gap card. This is a very small one as I used the smaller mats from the Scallop squares from Craftwork Cards. I would like to point out I used two In Circles as I was demonstrating when I made this card and I did not have the right one. What I did was to use a purple one that said Happy Birthday and then I punches out the Best wishes white and silver one and punched it out using a 1" circle punch.
Also, the spots on the left bottom part of the photo show that I can not be bothered to actually clean up photos. Well, I do a bit of white balance on iPhoto and resizing but not much else. I do admire those who spent time and effort making sure that the photos they post in their blogs are picture perfect. Me? I can't.

Using leftovers

Because of my work, I often finish off with a lot of leftovers which are small pieces of very pretty paper. Because I am a true craft hoarder I find hard to get rid of them, so I keep them for a while until I have a clear out urge. Then I go through bits and pieces that I have and I give away any that could be used. This time, though, when I found three little pieces of Wisteria papers -from Basic Grey, the top one of them I had already been embossed and scuffed with the Cuttlebug-, I fancied making a card with them so I did this one above. To add the message, I just stamped the Miss you -from the Circle Essentials set-. To find a matching ink was a bit of a challenge, I think it was what it took me the longest time. The one I ended up with is not perfect by any means, but close enough for me.

Diorama card

I love any papercraft or card that pops out or that you can interact with it. A diorama card fits the bill very well. I did this card for a friend of mine (Happy Belated birthday Sarah!).


For the apertures I used Petite Ovals Nestabilities dies, although I am not sure which wether the large or the small set. The double sided patterned paper is from Pebbles Inc.

I used for the cage and the bird images the clear stamp set called Gilded Cages from Craftwork Cards. I stamp the largest bird cage on acetate, on plain white card and on the blue side of the patterned paper and then I assembled it all together.



On the back of the guilded cage I added one of my messages in circles as the cage is suspended it rotate a bit so you can actually see the message.


The flowers are from the clear stamp set called Build a bloom.
Again, apologies for the bad quality of the photos. Apart from the lack of natural light mentioned in the previous post, I also have a problem with my lens.

Floral Tree

These November days are not good. By the time that I get round to take photos of last night card it is too dark to take daylight photos, so I end up with bad photos like the one above. Granted the card is not my best one -nor my worst one either- but still the photo does not justice to the card.
I use Dawn Petler's idea of decoupaging with circles some of the flowers of the tree but then I decoupage properly the larger ones.

I may follow my friend Fabrizio's advice and get myself a light tent, but I kind of know that I will buy it and then not use it enough. What I need to try is to experiments with the daylight bulbs that I have.

I love this paper - and this die!

Probably the most used paper in the last month was this notebook doodles one from My Minds Eye. For this simple card I used yet again the ornate card die from Sizzix. It is one of their XL dies so the price tag is a bit higher that what I am use to pay, but the possibilities are endless which such a lovely shape which fist nicely into a C6 envelope.


For the butterflies I use Martha Stewart punches (the three in one and the single one) and for the message I used a sentiment from my Essentials Sentiments set, of course!

More Ornate Cards

I said I loved this die didn't I? To make the aperture I used one of the Standard Circle Nestabilities sets, but only once I had cut the ornate card. If you are a Nestie wizard, I woud suggest to cut at the same time the smaller circle -for the Christmas pudding inside of the card- and the larger one -the aperture on the front of the card-
Since it is quite thick patterned paper and the finished size of the card is not very large, I figured that I could make the main card using this lovely glittered Christmas paper from K &Company. The letters are cut using the Serif Essentials a fantastic Bigz die set, perfect to cut thicker, like really think materials such as book board or thick chipboard.

Gap Cards

As soon as I saw this die I knew I could do a gap card with the Noel. As it is an intricate die cut, I cut two, one of the patterned paper and another one out of the plain green card. Once the card was done, I glued the green card Noel in the inside to strengthen the gap. I just added the scroll from this decorative scroll.
However, I think I over did it a bit when I inked the card with distressing inks, it became a bit too dark for my liking.

Gold Leaf - Part Two

This one belongs to the same article as the one posted yesterday. The technique for this card is simple. Apply to the card or acetate double sided adhesive, it could be just tape or sheets that you can die cut or just trim. Then, I just stamped the Winter Scroll with black StazOn Ink on the front of the acetate so it floats.

Gold leaf - Part One

Last year this card was featured in Craft Stamper as part of an article I did on gold leaf, actually the fake stuff, as it would be a bit too expensive to use the real stuff.
For this particular card, I use Stamp and Bond embossing powder, something I did not get on at all until the super stamper Kim Reygate taught it to me, do not over heat it and the fresher is the powder the better -ie old powder no good. Also, it was Kim that told me to use gold Perfect Pearls over the top to cover up any gaps without gold leaf.
The message is a PaperArtsy stamp and the Scroll is from Penny Black called Winter Scroll.

Birthday Wishes

Because I was born on Christmas day, birthday cards that have a winter feel appeal to me. It may sound a weird combination, but that is what I like.
For this card I used Enchanting Trees stamp set from Craftwork Cards, click here to see the rest of the images for the set. Copics for the colouring in, and Rock Candy Distress Glitter Glue. About that glitter glue, let me show you a close up.


The Rock Candy glitter glue is very, very subtle, nothing like Stardust Stickles. BUT, it is gorgeous specially for someone that is not very glittery like myself.
The message is from the first Simply Sayings that craftwork Cards manufactured which were blck printed on white card, which is ideal to color in. Alternatively you could use the ones foiled in silver or gold.

Letterpress effect

I did have a system so I could know which cards I had posted photos of and which ones I had not. However, when I had some trouble with blogger last time I decided to use online albums, Picasa to be exact, which works great. But I did that hastily without thinking about my system.
The result is that now I have got loads of photos online and in my computer and I am not sure which ones I have shared. So, from now on you may see some repeat cards. It is not you it's me!
I wish I had more time and energy to actually explain how to make cards, but the truth is I hate writing instructions so I only do when I need to, ie for an article just because that is part of my job. But I can share that the background were don with the Snowflake Impresabilities.

Do you watch Stricly Come Dancing? It wasn't until last year when I started to watch it from my computer -we don't have a tv!-. It was my friend Julie -as in Julie Hickey- who actually talked me into by passing comments here and there about how much fun it was. Last year I was home for week one so I watched it online. I soon became addicted because I LOVE to dance, not ballroom as I don't know how, but pretty much everything else. I really enjoyed series Six and was quite happy with the outcome.
This year I am watching it again online either live or on the iPlayer on the Sunday and I am enjoying it as much or even a bit more than last year just because in each couple I like either the celebrity, the pro, or actually both. Yesterday there was a bit of an upset as one of the clearly better dancers was voted off. Personally I could not warm myself to the celebrity, but I like very much James Jordan the pro dancer not as best pro dancer but because he is one of the few -with Vincent and maybe Brian- who has some masculinity dancing. The other dancers are great, I consider some of them even better, but I don't see them as males dancing just as dancers, if it makes any sense.
The funny aspect about all this Stricly thing is that once I watched about ten minutes of the Spanish version, Mira quien Baila, and it confirmed what I already suspected: UK TV rules! Spanish, unfortunately, is a thousand miles behind.

Even more Sequins

Using one of my all time favorite stamp sets, this one from Banana Frog.

More Sequins

Sequins, again

A few weeks ago, I posted a card that featured sequins from an article in Cardmaking and Papercraft. Well this is another card from that set. I must apologize for the low quality photo, often happens that I finish a project and it is very dark so natural light available, and the artificial that I have is not very good for accurate colors.
By the way, the paper I used for this card is a Pebbles Inc one that it is from either last year or from the year before. I love the color combo and the delicate patterns.

This months in Carrdmaking and Papercraft

This article has 12 different cards all shaped in Christmas trees, bubbles or presents. I was lucky enough to use Eskimo Kisses for it as when I did the article the line had not reached the shops. Now is available in most shops that stock Basic Grey, which are many.

More Die cutting

Another one of the cards I made for last week workshop, it is rare that I decorate the insides of the card, but with such a gorgeous pattern it was hard not to do so!


As the previous entries, the paper/card is from My Minds Eye and the dies are from Sizzix, Label from this one, square scallop from this one, and the scalloped borders from this one.
The front is done by layering the different strips -previously die cut- so it creates a subtle pattern.

My mum is here for a few days, and she is now making her own Christmas cards. I think she would love to come to my workshops, but she tries to come when I am not busy so she can actually see more of me, more relaxed me as well.

Birthday Die cutting Cards

For this die cutting card I used an ornate die to cut the blank card.


I used like for yesterdays card I used My Minds Eye patterned paper/card.
It's funny that when I started this blog I found much easier to write than to post photos. Nowadays is the opposite. Maybe is because I find my life a bit boring, nothing too exciting to share, but, what would you like? More words or just as it is?

Diorama Card

This is now my latest favorite card. I did it this week for my recent class at The Glitter Pot.
I can not take credit, obviously for inventing such a fun paper engineering structure. The best thing about it is that it folds completely flat, or as flat a any other card.


A view from above may help to see how it is all assembled. If you would like to learn how to make this type of card you can click here for a wonderful tutorial by Diana Gibbs. I have done a few things differently -size, apertures and center piece- but more importantly the way I assembled it, because I glued the left side first then the right one.



The apertures are cut with Nestabilities and the Snowflakes as well. The paper has become one of my most used ones, it is from My Minds Eye, click here to see it. It is more like card than regular patterned paper, has a lovely texture and is double sided. Pure lush.
The little holes on the paper are not part of it, I just made them using a Screw hole punch (Japanese style).
Also, in other news, my new sets of stamps are now available in craft shops around the country.

Lace effect

Love the edge punches, and I know I am not the only one! So I did this quick and easy card using just edge punches and thin white powder.
Today, I am teaching at the Glitter Pot, which is nice as I have a lovely group of ladies who regularly come to my workshops. I really enjoy teaching them!

Blue Jack Frost

The super talented and amazing Julie Hickey design this lovely snowflake papers that come in a pack of 12 papers -6 designs, 3 snowflakes, 3 of my floral Christmas patterns-.


And I decided to decorate the inside as well.

QVC

Today I am working with Dawn Bibby helping out to set demos and stuff at QVC, since it is a Craft Day and loads of hours of craft. I have done some cards for the Slice cartridges some of which I am really proud of. Also it will be the first time that I am there when some of the Craftwork Cards Kits are shown although I do not think that anything I have designed will be in them. Anyway, it is always exciting -and exhausting- going there to work for a day from time to time.

By the way, have you watch any of the intro videos? I mean those few seconds that they use to introduce the hour. Well, the ones last night were featuring quite a bit of Craftwork Cards products and among those ones are my very own In Circles. You must be very tired of me going on and on about my designs, but I usually I don't expect my stuff to do well, lack of confidence I suppose -I do like what I create, I just wonder if the others may like it too. So when I see my designs used by others in blogs, demos or QVC, I feel that I am doing something right.


This photos are of a card I made last Saturday while demonstrating die cutting, specifically the Big Shot and Wizard/Nestabilities dies -labels 8 and Snowflake Wonder. I used some of the My Minds Eye paper that I used a while back for a class. I still love it, the subtle pattern on one side and the notebook ledger style in the other, perfect for those like me that find difficult to write in a straight line.

Last year's Christmas Cards II

Another batch of Christmas Cards. Sometimes I like to use products that I have had a long time and haven't been able to use for some reason, usually because I like them too much or because they are not readily available to buy -an important requisite when you are making cards for magazines and so on. I had this lovely printed blank cards from Savvy Stamps which used to be easy to find in the UK. Never really got round to use them so I had 8 left. Because of the lovely soft turquoise coloured I decided to keep it monochromatic and used USA Stampin Up products.

Last year's Christmas Cards

Every year I make several batches of Christmas Cards. Usually I make several, 10-15 cards very similar or nearly identical to each other, then I do another different batch.

This cards above where the biggest batch I did last year as I really enjoyed making them. I used Fabriano cards (pre-scored), a cuttlebug folder, patterned paper, punches and stamp.

The thing about Fabriano card is that, although it has a lovely handmade texture, is still perfect for stamping, specially using chalk finish ink pads such as Fluid Chalk or Versamagic.

Outside/Inside

The chilly outside gives way to the warm inside, thanks to the pretty double sided patterned paper from Imaginisce.

Again, this card was part of the Die cutting workshop at The Glitter Pot last month.

Over the edge cards

Using die cutting products I produced this card for a workshop for The Glitter Pot last week.

Christmas Recycling

So what did I recycle in this card? Last year, I was commissioned to do cards recycling Quality Street wrappers, so I used the colored plastic to stamp on with black StazOn.

More packaging

This is the second card recycling cardboard. The house is made using a punch from Crafts Too.

This month in Cardmaking & Papercraft

I have an article in Cardmaking & Papercraft on using 6 ways with Sequins, the above card is just one of the ideas.

Introducing Floral Damasks

Craftwork Cards has now produced this foiled sheets that contain 9 rectangles -8 the same size, plus the long one. It is very versatile as you can color in the flowers using any method including Copics or Promarkers.

You can cut the rectangles in to different sizes, some of which will fit nicely into rectangle punches or die cuts.

In each pack, you get two sheets of the Black & White and two of the Purple and Black.

Check Lousette's new blog, is worth it!

One of my favourites

Well, since I just made it yesterday it is bound to be today's favorite card.


I just wanted to play with what I had on the table, mostly Craftwork Cards stuff plus some little extras like the ubiquitous self adhesive pearls.


Since I love the acetate cards I decide to use the sheer delights scallop circles and pink wraps which are exactly the same shape, festive/spring flowers.


Usually I don't post photos of the back of the card, but I wanted to show how I covered the scoring line that comes on older Wraps. I just used a ribbon and card candy to cover the eyelets that maintained attached the acetate to the card, because attaching thick acetate to card is difficult other than with brads, eyelets or something similar.

All products by Craftwork Cards.

Monochromatic

Those who know me are use to monochrome from me. I usually dress in black with a touch of white and, sometimes, red. So I decided to make a couple of cards in that fashion which is a quite in a the minute.

Off to teach

Today I am off to the Glitter Pot for my monthly workshop. It is die cutting so fingers crossed that everything runs smoothly!
(Card done with cardboard for Cardmaking and Papercraft as the brief was to make cards recycling corrugated board!)

Wraps and flowers

This week was supposed to be an off week with the exception of a class on Thursday. But as it happens, its turn out to be one of the busiest ones. An article, the workshop, samples and more stuff...
But I would be lying if I did say that I am not enjoying it!


Apologies for the bad quality of the photos, I took them at the of a demo day, therefore not much energy left for a proper photo. As it was a demo using Craftwork Cards products you can imagine that all are from them. I use the Spring Flowers/ Festive flowers, Card Candy and wraps. You can also get them at The Carft Barn and a range of selected craft shops around the country.

Promarkers on Acetate

For this poinsettia I used acetate die cut flowers -from Craftwork Cards- and run it through the herringbone Cuttlebug embossing folder. Then, I used a Promarker marker to colour in the acetate by using the medium broad end of the marker. I am no coloring expert, but I love my Promarkers, love the colors, the easiness of how they work and how great they are to do shading. I do like the Copics too, but I do prefer the Promarkers as the colors are more intense, fresher colors. Just the other day, it was announced that they have launched 56 new colors. which means that you can get 148 colours. I am saving to get the whole lot!!!!

More Christmas

Stamping on acetate using white StazOn is one of my favorites at the minute I love the etching effect, but if you add Perfect Pearls over the stamped images then it is even better. Just dab with a dry brush over the stamped images with generous amount of the micro fine powder in Pearl color which is just the colorless shimmer which looks like white.


To add some extra details I added self adhesive pearls, one of those things that I used to dislike and now I can't get enough of them.

More Acetate

Yesterday I took the day off and what did I do? I went to the Craft show at Sandown, pretty much a busman's holiday! I knew that Richard and Julie would welcome an extra hand for coffee rounds and things like that.

As my Sat Nav wasn't working properly so I got lost, well not quite lost, but missed several times the right turn so I ended up doing almost twice as many miles as I should have. By the time I got home it was past six o clock, just in time for Dawn's QVC hour which again feature one kit containing some of my die cut messages I did for Craftwork Cards. Dawn is so sweet she always mentions me when she gets to them, I don't think most people could remember mentions like that on camera. That is one extra reason why she is so great doing this job. You may disagree with me on that, but trust me, I know many many people in this industry and not one could do the job Dawn does. HONESTLY.

Alcohol Inks and White stazOn

Only a card to share today, as I am busy working in some new designs. I am not sure if they are going to come to anything but so far I love them.

Materials
Card: Elegant Square Scallop Wrap
Paper: Love the Look - Low Lights - printed paper in lovely colours that coordinate perfectlly with other ranges from Craftwork Cards, so you can emboss and sand it if you would like the white showing through or just leave it plain for stamping.
Die Cuts: Sheer Delight's Poinsettias -Acetate flowers in the bottom one I used acohol inks and on the top one I stamped with white StazOn.
Stamp: Christmas Bubbles from Artemio.
Message: In Circle Message Christmas, Black.
Card Candy: Truffles pack -it contains this very gold green color- and Winter Wishes -for the red one, but there are other packs that contain it-.

- all available from The Craft Barn or Craftwork Cards (not the stamps, alcohol inks nor the White StazOn).

Floating Frames

As you can see Christmas cards are going be regular in this blog from now on, but of course they can easily be adapted to everyday occasions such as birthdays or anything else.


This card I did for last weekend demo at The Craft Barn. Basically I made a blank card out of thick acetate to measure 6 x 6. then I used ready cut and emboss frames - click here for more info on them - and attached one to each side of the acetate.


The patterned papers are from the Floral Collection.

All materials can be found at The Craft Barn, also most of them can be found at Craftwork Cards.

Floral Christmas Stamps

This is my effort to make the background using the floral stamps from the Floral Christmas set. Then I used card candy in the centers of the larger flowers and then I added a crystal to each center.
You may think that this card lacks a message. I sent this card to my sister. In Spain we hardly sent cards, maybe ten or so for Christmas, so where I got the passion for cardmaking, I am not sure, but I started to make cards when I was eleven or twelve. For years, I used to do cards without a message. Now a days that is difficult for me.
But I don't have little messages in Spanish. So I did this card without a message. I just hope my sister likes it.

Peek-a-boo

You may not think that this card has a peek a boo element to it , but there is. Look bellow:


I used the Peek-a-Bow window, Sizzix die, from the movers and shakers range, to create a flap in which to stick the flower, which gives a lot of movement to the card.


And this is the inside. I decorated with a scrap piece of card leftover from the flower, again a cut with a Sizzix die.
And to add the messages, both inside and outside, I used the Mixed Sayings set, of course!

More Floral Christmas

Tired yet? Not me! This version of Julie's/Paula's Gap card is done using the Floral Christmas Papers from Craftwork Cards.


And this is the inside. I choose the green paper to go inside to make high contrast when it is closed with the red flowers in the front.

More woodgrain

Like the other card the other day, this one is done using the same Hero Arts stamp. Nothing much to say...

More stars and QVC

I think you must be tired by now of this card and versions of it, but I am not. I did this one for last weekend for my demo at The Glitter pot. I used all Sizzix dies, the large Scallop Rectangle album for the main card and the of course the Stars 2 and messages inCircles.



Yesterday I helped Dawn Bibby at QVC. A few months back there was a competition in Paprecraft Essentials -UK based cardmaking magazine- to make Dawn a birthday card with her favorite things. the winners prize was for them to come with a friend and spent a day at QVC with Dawn. Sam and Andrea, the winners, enjoy a two hour masterclass with Dawn in which I gave them a hand playing around with some of the kits that would be later featured in the two hour live show.



The lucky ladies enjoyed also a manicure by Nails Inc, we then had lunch and head for the bright lights of the studio. As always the two hours passed so quickly.



Simon Biaggi was the presenter so after show we took some photos with Dawn and him. Above you can see Andrea and Gill, Dawn and Simon.



And here Sue and Sam -mother and daughter.
Then we went to Regent street as there were some things that Dawn and JJ needed. Then we went for dinner to a really nice restaurant, one of our favorite ones actually, but an unfortunate event happened. No one was hurt or anything like that, but it meant that we got a free meal and Dawn got a slight shock. I hope she is ok today!

Showing off

Well, since yesterday I introduced my messages stamps, I thought it would be good to show how they look on a card and also how they fit punches and nestabilities dies.



This photo shows how the messages fit in the circular punches. The messages without the circles all fit the 1" circle punch and the Martha Stewart scallop circle punch. Some of them even fit the 7/8" as seen on the bottom right hand corner. The circular shaped stamps all fit in slightly larger punches 1 1/8", and if you like a white edge around then the 1 1/4" punch is perfect.



And of course they all fit the smaller sizes -not the tiniest, though!- of the Nestabilities but also some Quickutz dies like the fancy shape at the top.
I hope that you will like to use them as much as I did yesterday.
Today, I am off to QVC, Leonie is on holiday so Dawn requested my help for today's show. The ladies who won the card competition will be there which will be nice, I love to meet up with crafters.

Routines

Today and tomorrow I will be demonstrating at the Glitter Pot Die cutting, Sizzix products, along with a long list of demonstrators.
That means that i had to wake up at seven. Seven? That is super early in my books!!!!

I like routines, I actually like them a lot, almost need them otherwise I am completely unproductive. But, the job of a freelancer is anything but routine. From week to week everything is different, and I still find that hard. I have been trying to establish myself some kind of timetable, yet I always fail to maintain it. I am trying as well to post daily in the blog, but often I run out of things to say as my life is pretty boring, which I am totally fine with it.

Usually, I spent my mornings -not very long ones as i wake up pretty late- on the computer, checking emails, answering them, doing invoices or chasing payments, writing the instructions for articles... that sort of boring but essential stuff.
After a light and late lunch, I head to my studio. You see, there is no point of me going to studio before 4 pm unless I have something super urgent, I am totally uncreative in the mornings, so heading to studio before then is a waste of time. I can stay up creating until late, and by late I mean ten or eleven pm, sometimes is even past midnight. As my husband comes back from work pretty late every day, I usually have dinner late too. Rare is the day in which we go to bed at midnight, usually we go at around one or two. That sort of weird hours is what works for us right now.

And, as a post without a photo would be boring, here you have this one.

I used, like in this case, three wraps from Craftwork Cards and then this Hero Arts stamp, green ink and Crystal Embossing powder, and of course one of my Incircles -from Craftwork Cards too!.

More Glamour

So this is the second card I made using the A touch of Glamour set from Craftwork Cards. I kept the same colour scheme as i liked it so much in the previous card.
the inspiration for the design of this card was this previous one. As you can see, my cards are much more design led rather than technique led. I suppose that is because of my love of graphic design, colour and positioning of stuff is what makes or me the card. However I like to see other peoples cards which are the opposite, more technique less design. That is the beauty of this hobby, there are so many possibilities, choices and products to suit everyone taste.

A touch of Glamour

Craftwork Cards has done this stamp set with chandeliers, which I love. I did this quick card using a colour combo I love, bright pink and teal. With such strong colours I like to keep the rest to a minimum.
Simplicity sometimes works best!

Stars, stars

So, two weeks ago I shared this card that I have made inspired by the super talented and wonderful friend, Julie Hickey. When I like something, I keep doing it. So when I had to do a workshop on cards for men, I decided to take a feminine card and convert it for a boy. The easiest way to transform it is by switching flowers for stars, they are as versatile and combine really with the lovely papers from Pebbles Inc.

This stars can be cut two ways either with the Sizzix die -my preference as you get 4 different sizes for just £8.49 and will cut chipboard as well!- or using two Stampin up punches. Or you can use the ready die cut and emboss ones by Craftwork Cards - they are called Starry Night that come in ice white and mirri gold and silver and you get 32 in a pack for £3.50. So, you have got plenty of options when it comes to this shape of stars, although there are even more stars with more rounded or less striking edges.

I kept the same colour scheme as before, that is Richie from Craftwork Cards. I think Sue had a moment of big time inspiration putting these together.

Trees and demos

Like with many other cards, I get the feeling that is a bit out there. Let me explain. I often do what I call over the edge cards, I sure like to make them and probably would be delighted to get them, but that is not the point. Cardmaking is one of the few generous hobbies out there becuase you make something to give to someone else and therefore that person tastes whould be on your mind while making the card. But, how many people would appreciate the over the edge cards? Not sure. However, since I like to make them I will keep making them. Some day I may even get one!

Although there has been a clear trend of trees and wood grain images in the craft world, I haven't bought that much with trees or wood. Except, that is, this lovely Penny Black stamp. I thinks is so pretty yet perfect for men cards, so that is why I used it for a card that I did at a workshop with the same title.

By the way, next weekend I will be among the large group of demonstrators at the Glitter Pot. Loads of super talented cardmakers will be there, so if you can make it, you should not miss the event!

I am useless!

In many ways I am useless, but specially with internet related things. I have not been able to solve the issue I have so that I can post pictures again in the blog. I have come up with a solution for the time being, so I use Picasa web albums.


This card is one of the ones I taught at The Glitter Pot two weeks ago. It was part of the All about Circles workshop, which featured only circular products. The Acetate Scallop circles and card ones are from Craftwork Cards, and papers by Pebbles Inc.

More wraps and Richie

Another Richie card, this one uses a wrap (elegant square), foiled paper, spring die cut flowers, card candy and of course one of my In Circles.

More Craftwork Cards

this card is another card i did last week. It is inspired on the one Julie Hickey -who works for Craftwork Cards- did here. In my case, I used Richie papers and Spring flowers and the large scallop square maps as the main card. Like yesterday's card, thanks to the fact that the srping die cut flowers are made out of thick card you can link them together and make them hold the thin strip of card a the right edge. To finish off the card I used one of my messages in circles.

I am off to prepare friday's classes at The Glitter Pot and also finish off some articles as their deadline is fast approaching!

Over the edge cards!

This is one of the cards i did last weekend while I was demonstrating Craftwork Cards products at Dawn Bibby's store.
I used two Simply Scallops Marshmallow to built the blank card. I trimmed the bottom of both of them, after I score only one of them on the left hand side and glue them together by applying the glue on the scored flap. Then, I used Lots of Dots daisies in Suzie. As they are die cut out of quality thick cardstock, you can glue them together and position them flying off the edge! You could not do that with paper as they would not stand upright.
To finish the flowers off I used card candy, yes, they are brilliant and cheap as well. To add some detail I attached a self adhesive white pearl to some of the card candy.

Little Sprout

Like yesterday's card this one is done using Crate papers, but in this case using the Little Sprout.
You can find all the products at Crafts U Love.
When I saw this die cut that says "Gather Love, Share love", I loved it immediately.
By the way, oday I am goin up North (ie Lancashire) for a week as I will be demonstrating this weekend and teaching the following at Dawn Bibby's Topaz shop. I am not sure if I will be able to post any new entries till I get back, but i will try with the iPhone. Fingers crossed!

Lillian Collection

Just using, die cuts, papers and stamps (only the brown small border) all from Crate paper. Yummy!
You can find all the products at Crafts U Love.

Even more butterflies

Another butterfly using the same Crate papers as before, or at least from the same collection, and some Bazzill dots cardstock. Funny thing, that embossed card, it has taken me months to get into that but now I can't get enough.

By the way, if you are around the Manchester/Blackburn area, be sure to go to Dawn Bibby's Demonstration weekend, click here for more info. Apart from the lady herself, the lovely Leonie Pujol, Lindsay Mason, Sarah McCrossan they all will be there, and many many more equally talented demonstrators.

Loving Butterflies

This is currently my favorite butterfly die at the minute, which may well change as I got another die last week. I love it because while is large enough for a layout, is still great in any card size and being a double die means that the options multiply. The delicate and intricate top layer is just fantastic.
I used the Little Sprout papers from Crate Paper to cut the butterfly and some of their glittered die cut shapes to add interest.
As I was demonstrating, I did not have all my crystals with me. In my craft room I have got a quite large collection of crystals in so many colours, most of them from Craftwork Cards as they do the Swarovsky, but for demos I usually only take clear and a few extra colours. Yesterday I was lucky enough to be sitting next to Lindsay Mason a lovely, lovely lady and very talented indeed, and she was demonstarting the new colours of the Alcohol Inks by Ranger. So Lindsey colour some of the clear crystals to fit in with the card. The picture shows it much more pinky that they actually look like in real life, they are more brown.
For the centre of one of the flowers, I used a black permanent marker over some white pearls and the effect it's beautiful, specially for the head of a butterfly or other flying beings. The pitty is taht i did not take photos of it. Hopefully next time!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JULIE!

Today is the birthday of one of my best friends, Julie Hickey.
I hope you have a fabulous day!

Yesterday's demo

Yesterday, and Saturday too, I demonstrated at the Crafts U Love Birthday Demo Weekend. I had a fantastic time using some of my favorite dies creating flowers and butterflies (Revolution dies).
The papers are from Crate paper, Little Sprout and Lillian Collections.


You can find all the products at Crafts U Love.

Impressabilities

This card is one we did at the Impressabilities workshop.

Supplies:
Paper & Card: Elegant Wrap and Bazzill card.

Impressabilities: Snowflake.

Ink: Brilliance - Starlite Black and then Perfect Pearls - Pearl.

Other: InCircle's Birthday - Craftwork Cards.

Vintage

This is a card I did a few months ago using vintage Prima. Doesn't the word vintage sound so much better than just old? I have a lot of vintage/old stuff in my studio that needs to be used, one of this days...

Nestabilities workshop

These are the cards and box that we did last week at the workshop I taught at the Glitter Pot.

Seven years again

Yesterday was our official seventh wedding anniversary. And, Omar made me this card, with seven hearts!
Things like this make me happy!


To celebrate the seven years, we went to Bodiam castle, we rejoined the National Trust as an anniversary present to each other -hopefully doing some English tourism- and had dinner at one of our favorite restaurants.

Birthday wishes

Yesterday was my grandmother's birthday. Since she doesn't read any blog or surf the net at all, I am sure she is ok with the fact that I post it a day later.

Bo Bunny papers used in this card.

Good old Peel Offs!

OK. So I am not a fan of Peel Offs. But I do love Francoise Read's or Magenta's peel offs. They are cute or sophisticated and look amazing in when they come in white and black. This one card I made as part of making a few samples cards for QVC, the kit consists of Francoise's peeloffs, ribbon and mulberry paper. I had a lovely time making the samples!

Again, you can see I took a crap photo of the card. to be honest I do not enjoy that much taking photos of something else than people. I love portraits, there is nothing like capturing peoples beauty with the camera. Taking photos of my projects... BORING! I need to change my attitude respect that, I am even thinking of getting a light tent which probably would help, but I rather spent my money in another lens.

So, I will just post a photo of my lovely husband that I took last Sunday in a BBQ we attended. It was hot!


I edited the photo using Lightroom, a fantastic program by Adobe that makes developing the photos so cool. You can save the presets that will then work in a similar manner to the Actions in Photoshop. I prefer Lightroom to Photoshop just because you can really edit a workload in very little time.