Hand cut Congratulations...

A special card for a very special friend, my best friend shared the news that she is 12 weeks pregnant last week! I am SOOOO happy for her!! (and secretly can’t wait to start doing some baby related shopping!!)

With all my craft stuff in storage and a limited selection of premade cards I decided that I wanted to do a special paper cut card for her.

I googled some images and found a design I loved, drew it out, and traced it onto the card – then I started cutting!!!

I found that the card looks AWESOME with no backing paper but you would be able to see the written message through the gaps, I bought some pastel colours (thinking good choice for a baby card) and thought that it looked really ‘blah’ – then I tried the metallic blue – BAM. The paper cut really pops on top of dark colours!!! I wanted it to be gender neutral but in the situation I am in with VERY limited resources the blue will have to do.

I’m super happy with it – hope she likes it!!

 

I love your curves and all your edges...

Another gorgeous paper it from the DIY paper panda kit. 

Sooooo cute!! Think I'm gonna mount this one and frame it for a special little someone.

I have bought the Fiskars swivel blade and I've found that cutting the curves is SO much easier with it than with a straight blade. Maybe when I'm a little better I will try curves again with the scalpel.

I've got a congratulations card to make that I think I'm going to design a paper cut for!! Exciting times!!! Looking forward to cutting a design of my own!!

Paper cutting - Panda style!!

I arrived home today to see that the postman had brought me my paper panda parcel!!! It was beautifully packaged and as a kit it was very well put together.

I sat down and read the a4 introduction and instruction page. Then I started cutting!!

The kit includes a practise sheet where there are lines, circles, stars and swirls to master. 

I must say - I'm super proud of myself for managing to cut the swirl without ballsing it up!! 

The curves aren't quite as smooth as they could be but not bad considering this is my 1st evening doing it!!

I think I'm going to have a lot of fun with paper cutting!! And I can already see how I can use it in my card making too!

No cardmaking for a while...

... We have moved house!! We were waiting for a response from the Solicitors for what felt like ages and then BAM - we got the phone call to say that we had a completion date! We had from the 11th July to no later than the 28th to choose from... we picked the 11th, which gave us 8 days to pack the house up!!

We managed to do it and handed the keys in 1 day early!! We have bought a new build in a new area of town but it won't be finished for another 6 months, so we have moved in with hubbys parents until our house is ready.

Due to the limited space at my in-laws my entire craft room has gone into storage; all I have brought with me is my bag of wools and my crochet needles. Its a shame because crochet really isn't inspiring me at the moment. I have found something else that might just get my creative juices flowing again though...

I have recently, by the power of Facebook, been introduced to the amazing work of Paper Panda, an amazing paper cutter who not only sells her beautiful cuts but also sells DIY kits!! I think I may have just found something to keep me busy for the next 6 months!

So, although I may not be posting any cards for a while hopefully I will be posting other crafty bits. I'm off now to order my paper cutting kit! 

Another colouring session...

I've been signed off work with a slipped disc. Painful, super painful. So while I'm doped up to the eyeballs on painkillers and propped up in the armchair I thought I would colour in a load more digis. 

I have about 28 waiting with their coordinating papers all ready to be made into cards now!! The good thing about matching them with papers before colouring is that once you're done with the image all you have to do is sort the layout! Making the card is super quick!!! Here's what I knocked up in the hour I could face sitting at my desk:

A cute new home card!

A vintage wedding card

An 'any reason' card. 

A sweet non gender specific baby card.

A sepia celebrate card! (LOVE this digi!!)

Hope you like them!! 

I'm slowly stocking up ready for when we move out... We have sold our house and bought a new build - which isn't built yet. So we have to move in with my inlaws, and my card stuff has to go into storage! So I have to have about 6months worth if cards ready for when we move in with them. Best start on the Xmas cards really!! lol!!!

Tiddly Inks!

Ive fallen in love with some digi stamps from Tiddly Inks - mainly 'Thanks a Latte'

Those girls are so damn cute! And it's such a versatile image!!

I slipped a disc last week so have been off my feet for a few days - perfect time to colour some digis!!

Always a fan of bright, colourful hair - I tend to do unnatural colours 1st. Loving the red and blue!!

Next I had a bash at a sepia style image using only browns and creams. Think I did quite we with my limited range of promarkers!!

I then tried a more 'realistic' colour palette, with a blond and a

Brunette. 

I LOVE this image!!!

Double Slider Card

I'm still on my Fun Fold phase!! I came across this card whilst surfing pinterest and youtube - its a card that has 2 hidden panels that slide out - its so cute!!

I used a 12.5cm square pre folded card for this. 

(you can use card stock, it will need to be 25x12.5cm)

crease the card at 8, 16 and 24cm.

take a strip of the plastic bag and wrap it around the 1st panel - you want tip snug but not too tight - this is going to slide the internal panels up and down.

you will only need 1 strip about 1-1.5 inches wide - I have more cut here as I'm planning on making a few!

the internal panels (the sliders) need to be 7.5x12.5 with a piece of 6.5x11.5 mounted on it. 

you will need 2 of these.

 punch a notch out of the center panel - this will make it easier to pull the slider once the card is assembled.

put some double sided tape at the BOTTOM of the plastic bag - I did about 3 cm high. line your 1st slider panel with the white side facing DOWN onto the centre panel. fold the 1st panel over onto the middle panel.

now put some double sided tape onto the TOP of the plastic bag. line the slider panel up on the 3rd panel with the white facing UP. fold the card up to adhere the slider to the plastic bag.

if you unfold it all now it should look like this :

 fold it back up and put some sticky tape on the thin panel that is left over.

 this needs to stick to the white card underneath the slider panel (where my top finger is) sticking it underneath the slider means sure there isn't any interference to the sliding mechanism when you pull it.

because I have made this from a pre folded card I have a crease running down the front of the slider card. (you wont have this is you have used CS) easily sorted - just add some coordinating card!! this also will strengthen the card - added bonus!

add a make to the slider panel where you want to add a brad to secure your ribbon - this makes it easier when you pull it out to see where you need to punch your hole.

now all that's left to do is decorate!!!