New Job

How lovely to hear that someone has got a new job, their first job at that. Of course that requires a card.

I didn´t have a lot of time to make this one and the tools are not quite the right ones - construction tools would have been more appropriate.

Still, I was pleased with the result.

Another anniversary - this time a silver one

Friends of ours celebrated their 25th Wedding Anniversary last weekend.

Once again the card had to be different and unusual. This is what I came up with . . . . .






























I used the robo (and it´s wonderful software) to create and cut this design. It was a little fiddly to stick to the card as it was all one piece. With a bit of patience I managed to glue it in the right position. Tiny crystals were added to complete the card.

If it doesn´t go to plan . . . . . improvise!!!!

We wanted to get something special and different for our friends to celebrate their 30th anniversary. After a lot of thought we decided on a rose bush, a white one (as you can´t get pearl coloured ones!!).

We bought it weeks in advance and put it in the greenhouse hoping that it would be in bloom for the day. Despite our best efforts, it refused to bloom, although there were plenty of buds.

I decided to improvise - I made 5 large paper roses and stuck them to the front of the cellophane wrapping.

Certainly looks different eh?

Finally - finished!!!

Here it is - finally complete, after lots of hours of work.


Starting from the top


















With the lid removed to reveal the inside.

Well, that´s the end of this huge project - months in the planning and 3 work days to complete. I hope that you have found this week´s posts of interest.

Until the next time - Happy crafting!Y

Anonymous said...

Hello!!I think it's amazing what you have made for my parants. Serge and I where very surprised when we saw this: wow!!Perfect job! Well done!My birthday card was also very nice, with all those flowers, very pretty, thank you for that!

Hugs, Esther

25 May 2009 10:27

more

Back to the car – before gluing the car into its final position I added a bouquet of flowers to the front and two horseshoes to the rear.


















With the arch complete the car is glued into place.

I had already cut six silver horseshoes which I tied together with white organza ribbon. I sewed two on three of the sides and topped them off with a bow (thanks to DH for his help with this!!)

On the fourth side I added my "handmade by" label.
The previously made panels for the inside were carefully glued in place.









Tomorrow I will show the finished box - see you then!

and still more

I then began work on the centre piece. I took my inspiration from a lady whose work I have seen on the internet. She makes the most amazing exploding boxes, beautifully decorated, and she uses acetate to add the most amazing 3d effects (my apologies to her if she is reading this as I cannot remember her name to give her credit).

Anyway, I adapted her idea so that I could make a flower arch. I cut a strip of acetate that was long enough to go from corner to corner and long enough so that there was enough height. This was secured to the base of the box and the covered base piece glued on top for both security & stability of the arch and for added weight to the base.

I then began the lengthy task of making the required number of flowers. For this I used my favourite flower punches (2 sizes) and my six petal punch to create the roses. Each rose is made from 3 punched shapes and each daisy (large and small) were made from 2 shapes.
Tiny seed beads were added to the larger daisies as centres.

After making lots and lots (and I do mean lots and lots) of flowers I then began to stick them to the acetate arch.

Then it was time to work on the lid.

In keeping with the pearl theme I sewed tiny pearl beads onto white ribbon, which I then glued to the sides of the lid.

I glued the large “30” onto the heart, added some ribbon and glued this to the lid of the box.

I then added some cream & peach roses to finish.

In tomorrow´s post, you will see things really taking shape.

and there´s more. . . . .

For the sides, I cut 4 pieces of pearly paper and 4 slightly smaller pieces of white card.

From the pearly paper I cut 1979, the date and 2009 (Sizziz night & day alphabet). I cut and embossed 2 hearts, in white card.

For the next side, I printed the poem and added some flowery clip art. This was mounted on the pearly paper. Daisies were used to complete the panel.

The third panel is simply a blank square, with a few daisies added. This was for our written message.

As I also design and make wedding ring pillows (shameless plug), I thought it would be nice to add a miniature version. Using the Sizzix heart die (and some careful measuring!) I cut the heart shape from the white card which was then embossed with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder. The wedding ring pillow was made from white satin, edged with pearls and finished with white organza ribbon, and of course, 2 wedding rings.

I cut another heart and a large “30” (Ellison alphabet Tiffy Taffy). These were put to one side for later use.

Check back again tomorrow for the centre piece.

A big project continued

Now for the box – this was going to be a bit tricky – if I got my calculations wrong then the car wouldn’t fit in the box!!

After a lot of careful measuring and cutting, I had the pieces for the box. As the box was quite big (11cm x 11cm) I had to make the box from more than 1 sheet of cardstock.

The box beginning to take shape.

Next was the lid, again carefully measured and cut, remembering to add 0.5 cm extra all the way around.


Here it is, just waiting for the glue to set.

Then for the really fun bit – the decoration.

I cut a piece of card for the base, adding a diagonal piece of embossed paper and edged it with pearls.

Using my Sizzix wedding confetti die and various coloured tissue paper I cut some confetti. This was glued this all over the base.

Check back tomorrow for more of this project.

A big project

Special occasions deserve a special card – very special occasions require a very, very special card.

Dear friends of ours celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary yesterday and so I decided to make them a very, very special card.

I have been thinking about the design of this card for several months now. I have discarded a number of designs along the way for variety of reasons. The only criteria that I had for this card was that it had to be so very different from anything that I had ever made before and very personal to the recipients.

Where to begin:
Marriage year: 1979
Anniversary: Pearl
Other details: Wedding car was a red Citroen 2CV

Not much to go on but at least it was a start.

Six months ago whilst surfing on the net I found a paper model for a Citroen 2 CV. I saved the template for later use.

The next decision to be made was the type of card to design – rectangular or square, flat or 3d – the possibilities were endless.

I eventually decided on an exploding box, with the 2CV as the main feature.


















Using my previously found template and the print and cut feature on the Robo, I ended up with a flat looking 2CV which I then coloured with water colour pencils.


The assembled model.




Now as this was such a big project ( 3 work days in total), I will show the rest over the next few days.


Don´t forget to check back tomorrow for the next installment.

A week (almost) of Little Boxes

On Monday I was asked if it was possible to make 40 boxes. Tuesday saw me making some samples from which the customer chose her final design. Wednesday was "making day" and Thursday was collection day. Oh, and Friday was write about it on my blog day!!

The box is based on a takeaway box, the flower is made using my favourite Sizzix die, finished with co-ordinating brad & ribbon. The liner is a coloured cupcake case.




The chocolates are added.

The finished boxes!

All packed and ready to go.




Have a great weekend!



Anonymous said...

Wonderfull all those flowers! I sure know where I should go if I need anything like that!

Esther

25 May 2009 10:29

Another style

This is a card that I made a while ago but forgot to add to the blog.
Using the computer, I made a grid which I then printed. Using my lovely Dutch house stamps, I stamped a house in each box. The stamped paper was then cut to size, along with a blue border. The letters were cut with my Big Shot and glued to the border.

Three new additions

It has been a busy time here of late but still we have three new designs available in store.

Another photo to share

Having seen Paul's pic's on his blog , I decided to share another one of mine.

I love tulips and I especially love the colour of these.

Check out Paul's blog for some more lovely pic's.

Have a great weekend!

A first

Every year our magnolia tree is just about to bloom and then it is hit by frost. We have never seen it in full bloom until this year. The blooms don't last long but whilst in flower it looks so lovely. I couldn't resist taking a photo (just in case we never see it like this again.

Anonymous said...

I just love the magnolia trees it is such a shame that they don't stay in flower longer. Is this another string to OUR bow taking pictures of a flowering tree. Give it a couple of minutes and I'll upload mine.Paul

15 April 2009 22:05

Spring is in the air

Despite the weather being so awful, spring is just about here. The garden is beginning to burst in to life after its winter sleep. I just couldn't resist sharing this cheery photo of some pansies in the garden - so bright & colourful - a reminder that spring is on its way and hopefully some nicer weather!




Sarah said...

Hi, reading your blog from Tehran! hope you guys are all Ok and enjoying the nice weather, damn! I am missing summer in holland ;-)take care

13 April 2009 21:04

and more flowers

Today's flower offering is for a get well card.

Using my lovely blue metallic paper (again), mounted on a white card blank, again the result is simple but effective.

Until the next time . . . . . . Happy crafting!Y

More flowers, but this time for Mum

With Mother's Day fast approaching, I had to get down to work and design a card for the occassion. As I am still so much in love with the robo I wanted to design something that I could cut with the robo. The lattice is cut in one piece and stuck to the back face of an oval aperture card. The scalloped frame is cut separately and stuck to the front of the aperture, making a nice neat finish. The "Mum" was cut from pink card and stuck to the lattice. To finish off, I dug out my favourite flower punches and made two large daisies and 3 small. The centres are tiny gemstones.

Now available from our shop

Would also make a great birthday card.

Anonymous said...

lovely card Lesley hope you get lots of orders as it is different from anything in the shops

11 March 2009 12:03

Spring is in the air . . . . . .

Despite the awful weather, spring is on the way. The crocus are beginning to appear in the garden, so I decided that this week's theme for cards would be . . . .flowers.

Male birthdays are always difficult (as we all know!) - I used metallic blue paper to cut the tulip design and words, mounted on white card, the result is simple but effective.

Another commission

I was asked to make a get well card. I was given a free reign with the design, the only criteria being that it was different to the usual type of get well card.



I came up with a "thinking of you" card.

The letters, lattice and frame were all cut using the robo and the flowers made using one of my favourite punches. The flowers were finished with purple & pink brads to co-ordinate with the pearly purple card & pink letters.

Until the next time . . . . . . Happy crafting!Y

Anonymous said...

I was the one who commissioned the card, and I was so pleased with it, it was just what I wanted and so beautiful.

Grace

11 March 2009 12:10

Can you guess what it is yet?

Is it a liquorice allsort? No, its Winnie in her new bed!!

Having been so very upset by the furniture being moved around, the little madam decided she wasn't going to sleep in her cat bed anymore, preferring to sleep anywhere but where she is supposed to. In order to placate her (well, she is an old cat) and to get back in her good books we bought her a new bed. We chose a nice girly pink and it was an immediate hit with her ladyship. What we didn't realize when we chose it is that she looks like a liquorice allsort when in it, much to the amusement of everybody who has seen it. Oh well, at least Winnie likes it.

Sarah said...

Hi,what a luxury life! if i turn into a cat in my next life I wan one of those!!!!!!!byeSarah.

27 February 2009 11:05