Couldn't resist . . . . . .

I’m not usually interested in the latest craze or fad and am not one for jumping on the band wagon.  However, this time, I simply couldn’t help myself, I had to have a go at Loom Banding.  Having seen articles on the web, features on the good old Beeb and lots and lots of loom band stuff in the shops, it was easy to pick up a loom and some bands to have a go.
After a few false starts, replacing the stupid plastic hook that was included, with a metal crochet hook, I soon began to understand why loom banding was such a big thing.  Oh and did I mention it is VERY addictive

Parchment anniversary

Friends of mine celebrated their anniversary, the day before they came to NL to celebrate our anniversary.  I wanted to make another parchment card (I did tell you that I like working with parchment).  I found the basis for the design in one of my craft magazines, changed it to what I wanted and this is what the finished card looked like.

The addition of the washi tape along the top completed the card.

Butterfly birthday

My friend loves butterflies, so I made her a butterfly card.

I love working with parchment, but it is always a worry towards the end of the design – one mistake and the card needs a clever cover-up or it’s a scrapper.  I’m pleased to say, that this one was fine and my friend loved it.  The happy birthday is the same as the previous post (Sizzlits Die Set 3PK - Card Phrases Set #3  - 657524)

Still Summer

Well, everyone is back to their respective day jobs, but the sun is out, so I guess it’s still summer – how lovely.

It’s been a busy time here of late, loads of birthdays, a new baby and DH & I celebrating our silver wedding anniversary.  We had a party, which was fantastic  and a great opportunity for lots of crafty makes & bakes.  So, now to begin the show & tell from the summer . . . . . . . .

A dear friend of ours turned 65 this summer, so what better than a card made using the Sizzix vintage buttons embossing folder (657672) and the Happy Birthday Die (657524 -Sizzlits Die Set 3PK - Card Phrases Set #3)

Birthday Aunty

Still using the postage stamp set (see previous post for details), this time I actually used the rubber stamp that was in the set.  The butterfly, background and stamp frame were coloured using Copics and again the card blank was embossed with the flourish embossing folder 658280 and again, swiped with a sepia ink pad

Anniversary

Friends of ours recently celebrated their 7th wedding anniversary.  Having fallen in love with my new Sizzix goodies, I wanted to use the postage stamp set again.  I took a wedding photo of theirs, recoloured it in sepia, resized to suit and then printed this onto card.  I embossed a pearly gold card blank using the Sizziz Textured Impressions  flourish & postcard set 657666.  I swiped a sepia inkpad over the embossing to make it stand out a little more.  The postage stamp was cut using the Sizzix Framelits with stamps set, postage stamps 658295 and a gold peel-off number 7 was added in the corner. 

Thank you’s

At the end of the dance year, I always make thank you cards for our dance teacher and the lovely lady that helps him.

I always try and fit a Union Jack in the design somewhere, as we are his only English students, and this has become a bit of a standing joke.

Both cards had a “gold” theme, as it had been our gold star exam year.

Dies & embossing folders used:

Sizzix Bigz Union Jack - 658296  Sizzix Framelits Frames, Decorative #3  - 657939    Sizzix Framelits Hearts #2 – 657574 Cuttlebug A2 embossing folder Thanks – 37-1134.  The stamp is a Dutch one – Dirk & Dientje (coloured with Copics)

Father’s Day

I have been waiting to try my new stamp and embossing folders.  For a first attempt, I was pleased with the result.  The folder used was Sizzix Textured Impressions Embossing & Stamp Set, Postage & Frame 657857

I also wanted to play with my new die set.  The card was embossed using my Sizzix Textured Impressions embossing (& stamp) set Flourish 658280 but instead of using the stamp, I swiped the embossing with a sepia stamp pad.   The postage stamp was cut using my Sizzix Framelits with stamp set – Postage stamp 658295, but instead of using the stamp I generated the paw prints on the computer and coloured the background with Copics.

Dancing stars 2

Just over two weeks ago, DH and I took our gold star dancing exam.  Having had the pleasure of watching our son dance, we put our best foot forward and did our very best.

Well, we passed, with good marks and to top it all, we were the best 5th years overall in ballroom and Latin.  We were so pleased.

I had made a card for DH, to thank him for another wonderful year of dancing.

The dance season has finished for the year but we have a whole summer of dance cafés to look forward to – how lovely!

Dancing Stars

Last weekend my DS and his dance partner took their Bronze Dancing Exam.  It was very exciting for DH and me to go and watch (and offer support).  It really was a wonderful evening and they both passed with fantastic marks.  To put the icing on the cake, they were also the best 1st years overall in ballroom and Latin.

I used as much bronze as I could, cardstock & backing paper.  The backing paper was cut using my Sizzix frames die #3 (657939) and embossed with my Crafts Too Hearts Embossing Folder.  The stamp is from the Dirk & Dientje range and was coloured with Copics.

I hope some of their success is passed on to us:  DH and I have our Gold Star Dance exam next weekend – fingers crossed.

Fit for a Queen

A dear friend of mine was awarded a B.E.M in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.  Such a magnificent achievement deserved a card “fit for a Queen”.

The starting point: – what do you need when you meet the Queen?  A new outfit!

The card was based on the idea of a new outfit.  The hat was hand drawn and cut from blue card and then trimmed with white.  The dress, shoes and handbag were cut from blue card using Sizzix originals dress & accessories (38-1198/65462).  The stand was cut (using the same die) from Sizzix self adhesive card stock.   Once all the pieces were cut, I added some shading with my lovely Copics.  The greeting was computer generated.  I also embossed a piece of white card (cut to size) using the Sizzix Textured Impressions Embossing & Stamp set – flourish (658280).  I swiped the embossing with a gold ink pad.

 

The recipient loved it (thank goodness).

Two birthdays

Two friends, two birthdays, 2 days apart = one basic design and 2 different cards.

                       

Both cards were based on the Sizzix textured impressions bird cage embossing folder (657661), “Happy Birthday”  Sizzix Sizzlits Card Phrases #3 (657524).

For the card on the left  I used a pearly pink card blank and for the card on the right a pearly gold card blank.  Both cards had embossed bird cages, burnished with gold & sepia ink and a happy birthday cut from Sizzix self adhesive card stock.

De Bruiloft (the wedding)

As my regular readers will know, DH and I are keen ballroom & Latin dancers: we have lessons every week.  The dance school arranges balls throughout the season and the most recent was de Bruiloft (the wedding).  The idea behind this theme was that the students would be the wedding guests.  We were split into to various groups: family of the bride/groom; colleagues of the bride/groom and so on – a great way of getting people to know each other from the different year groups.
Now, whilst we weren’t expected to bring a gift for the (pretend) bride & groom, we were encouraged to bring a card.  An opportunity that I simply couldn’t miss, and the bonus was I got to make two cards: one from DH and me and one from my DS and his dancing partner.

The one on the left used a combination of embossing (Swiss dots and hearts) and a bride & groom embellishment that I found in my stash.  The one on the right also made use of embossing, this time the wedding cake (Sizzix textured impressions – Wedding set 655845).  Using a gold ink pad, I carefully swiped over the embossing, just to give it a bit more oomph.
I also made a wedding cake.  Not a real one of course, but one from boxes,ribbon, ribbon & paper flowers, washi tape and oasis.
    

Almost silver

Friends of ours celebrated their 24th anniversary this year.  I wanted to included some sort of grey/silver elements as it’s almost the silver anniversary.  I also wanted to make a modern, fresh looking card.  This is what I came up with:

Using Sizzix Sizzlits heart scribbles #4 die (654811) and Sizzix self adhesive card stock in silver grey, orange and white, I cut three hearts. I mixed and matched the pieces until I had a look that I liked.  I embossed peach paper using my Cuttlebug Swiss dots embossing folder (37-1604) and assembled the card on a pearly orange card blank.  Before adding the hearts I used some grey washi tape to divide the card.

New Home

How exciting is it to leave home and move into your own place?  Another occasion where a special card is needed – as you (should) know by now, I couldn’t let this opportunity pass to make a card.

Once again, I started with a pearly white card blank.  This was embossed using my “Crafts Too” hearts embossing folder.  Using my Dutch house die (sorry, can’t remember where this one came from) I cut a house from white card.  This was mounted on a piece of blue card and trimmed.  The details to the shutters and roof were done with fine liners and the heart was cut from Sizzix self adhesive card stock (smallest heart Sizzix doodle love 38-9625).  The key was cut from silver card (Sizzix Bigz Heart Locket 655376).

Special anniversary

Without a doubt, all anniversaries are special and are cause for celebration.  I do love making cards for those extra special anniversaries.  I made this one for friends who were celebrating their 30th (pearl) anniversary.

I used a pearly white card base to get me started.  The letters were cut from white card (Sizzix alphabet Night & Day 654549) and I (carefully) stitched Pearl beads onto the letters.  The greeting was printed directly onto the card, grosgrain ribbon added across the middle and then the  letters were added.  The recipients loved it. 

New baby

Born early, this little one took me by surprise.  It was a scramble to get his present and card ready to give to the proud parents.

Card blank was embossed with Sizzix Textured Impressions Baby Set (655839) Die cut letters and Sizzix Original Bitty body (654573) and Bitty P.J’s & Bear (654578)

Anniversary & birthday

My friend celebrates her birthday and anniversary on the same day -  How lovely!

Christmas makes - 2

As is usual in our house (and like many others)  Christmas makes seem to dominate in the weeks leading up to Christmas.  All I can say, is thank goodness for the freezer!

In has now become a tradition for me to make our Christmas crackers and last year I was politely informed by DH & DS that Asian Chilli Jam is also part of our Christmas traditions – always happy to add to the (ever growing) list of traditions

Christmas cake, Yule Log and a Tunis New Year cake

Christmas makes

These were kits from our local discount store.  By the time Christmas arrived, I had made: 2 reindeer, 1 Santa and 1 snowman and I have a snowman kit put away to make this Christmas. I am particularly proud of these makes as they are the first kits I have completed where the instructions are in Dutch.