More Art Deco ladies in decoupage

These are my favourite. Maybe that's why I'm saving them till last?

All these cards are on 4x4 blanks, so the image itself is only about 3x3. Beautiful.

Mirror card is really difficult to photograph, but there are gold highlights on all these decoupage images, so I had to use some as a mount.

These cards don't even need a greeting, I think. Just lovely as they are. I double-mounted this one but that's as much 'extra' as it needs.

This one is my favourite of all. I used some embossed card, but you could run a background through the Cuttlebug for extra texture.

Thanks for sharing my decoupage ladies!

Kate x

Art Deco Die Cut Decoupage

Oh gosh, I wish fashion was still this glamorous.

 Also, I wish I was this thin and elegant!

 And hats! Can we bring back cloche hats?

I think this one is best kept for special occasions only, though. Imagine turning up to work in that!

You can find this decoupage sheet here.

My final group of elegant ladies will be appearing tomorrow!

Kate x

Polka dot decoupage cards

These decoupage flowers are some of our new stock for January. They are die-cut and super quick to assemble.

Because they are so simple, at first I couldn't think how to arrange them on the card without any kind of background shape or element.

Then I realised that actually, this was perfect for me to add my own backgrounds and greetings, and make a much more varied range of cards.

I love how this banner looks like it's floating, but actually it's just using silicone glue instead of 3D pads. (Shameful crafting admission: I've only just started using silicone glue, that stuff scared me!)

You might also notice that these cards have a watermark on. There are so many websites out there that take images and use them as their own - and even places like Pinterest where people blog images without the original source - that I felt it was about time I laid claim to my own work. I really hope that these images inspire you to get creative. And if you post your own work online, you can find out how to make your own watermark brush in Photoshop here. 

I've also been trying out the Art Deco Decoupage that's new in the shop...that'll be up on the blog tomorrow!

Kate x

2011 review

Hmmm....2011. Where did that go, then? The week between Christmas and New Year is, for me, always a time to reflect on the year that has gone, and make some plans for the year to come.

For me, crafting in 2011 was about new products. Some things stay with me throughout - I think scrapbooking and cardmaking will always be a part of my crafting repertoire. But this year I definitely noticed myself trying out new products and techniques, which I'm really pleased with. I feel like I've made a great start, and 2012 will be all about learning even more. So before I come up with some plans for next year, in no particular order, here is my 2011 Top Five:

1. Promarkers. I know, I know, I'm late to the party. No change there then! But I'm so glad I discovered these little beauties. My stamps have all gained a new lease of life and I love the bright, vibrant colours that Promarkers give. I will admit I was a little bit nervous in the beginning - there are a lot of tutorials and blogs out there and I had the impression that there was some 'secret' to Promarker technique. I'll tell you now - there isn't. I'm sure there are lots of ways I can improve, but even my first efforts are pretty pleasing.

2. Border punches. These aren't new either, but this year I've moved away from just using them on scrapbook pages and they've really helped my cardmaking. I love pretty trims, and I feel a bit daft for taking so long to bring these into my cards. Now that I have, I can't stop!

3. Greetings stamps. Something else that has completely changed the way I make cards. These fabulous sets of clear stamps on an A6 sheet are reasonably priced, great quality, and really versatile. I used to either write my greeting, or look for a sticker, but these stamps give me dozens of options and look much more professional. They are absolutely the most useful stamps I own.

4. Yarn! Specifically, the Sirdar Bonus range. I first started using this last year, on my first crochet blanket. Since then, Mindy has expanded the range to include almost every colour you could need. And I'm using quite a few of them in this ripple blanket. It's also deliciously soft and has beautiful stitch definition when you crochet.

5. Wooden crochet hooks. Apart from being gorgeous, they are also easy to use and much lighter in my hand than the metal ones. I've also managed to develop a new technique for crocheting which doesn't make my wrist click, so I'm hoping to avoid any craft-related RSI in future.

...and, 6. Paint Fusion. I'm sneaking this in, because it's not a product I use. But Hilary has spent a lot of this year perfecting her technique and doing some amazing paintings. It's so exciting to see someone learning something new and loving it so much - and deservedly so, because the results are amazing.

What products have you enjoyed this year? I am so excited for 2012!

Kate x

It's a family affair

Saturday afternoon went something like this...
Making: Christmas cards and samples for the shop.
Talking: to customers about embossing, and friends who like Tim Holtz-style distressing.
Drinking: lots of cups of tea.
Sharing: my crochet and Mum's painting (which deserves a whole post of its own).

Yep, I like afternoons like this!

K x

Hunkydory Glimpse of Glamour cards

The newest offering from Hunkydory is these Glimpse of Glamour expanding tunnel cards.

They use a cleverly folded side panel and sheets of acetate to create a layered image with amazing depth.

They are 8x8 in size and look both complicated and expensive. They're neither. It's just £2.49 for a kit which contains everything you need to make two cards. And although they look difficult, they are pretty simple to make really. There's an instruction sheet in each pack. I was going to do a step-by-step tutorial but there were so many photos I ended up turning it into a little slideshow for you:

I quite enjoyed making this, but I have already seen lots of things I would like to improve! This is very much a first attempt at a slideshow tutorial, so please be kind. If you have any suggestions for future tutorials then I would love to hear them!

There are two scenes in each pack and each one is a little scene of luxury. Like all the Hunkydory kits they are made of great quality cardstock with well-made die cut images.

Enjoy!

One stamp, two styles

I love stamping, but I'm always on the lookout for ways to make my images look different. I thought I'd use the same stamps I made this card with to show you how to achieve two very different looks.

Here, I've used the Christmas tree from the set and stamped it on mirri card using Stazon ink. You need to stamp carefully because the smooth surface of the card can cause the stamp to slide - place it on, press down and lift off straight to get a clean impression. It dries really quickly, and then I used Stickles glitter glue to create neat baubles. The greeting was stamped and embossed in blue - not a traditional Christmas colour but it contrasts nicely with the red on the tree.

For the second card, I stamped the tree onto brown cardstock and embossed it using copper embossing powder. It has a much more rustic feel and catches the light nicely. I stamped the greeting on to a piece of paper from an old book to add to the vintage feel. String or raffia would have made a nice bow as well, but I settled for a neutral ribbon as that's what I had in my stash.

There you have it - two different styles using the same stamp. Happy crafting!

K x

Quick and easy cards:: No.6

Decoupage isn't just for girls! This card was also made using one of these great value 99p sheets. I've used a larger card blank (A5) and some more masculine backing papers. I've even restrained myself from using glitter this time - instead, I've inked the edges of my paper with my favourite Versamark in Jumbo Java. This baby is my go-to colour whenever I want a dark edging that isn't too heavy, but gives definition.

K x

Quick and easy cards:: No.5

Die-cut decoupage is one of the easiest ways to create a stunning card in minutes. These sheets are just 99p and each one creates two toppers - great value. Here I have backed it with plain card and added a peel-off sentiment to finish it off. Perfect!

K x

Quick and easy cards:: No.4

Another quick card...this one I have left blank, just waiting for a sentiment to be added to the middle. Sometimes I make a load of cards that all say 'happy birthday' and then need something for another occasion - so I like to have a few cards like this sitting in my stash that can be adapted to suit.

Use a simple patterned background and then punch your butterfly out of contrasting papers. I've used some stickles glue to highlight the edges. I know, I love my glitter!

K x

Quick and easy cards:: No.3

These embroidery stickers are technically for using with thread to create embroidered patterns on paper...instead, here I have used them to create some quick and beautiful embellishments for a simple card. Stick them on some fairly robust patterned paper, and then use something round (I use the blunt side of a pair of scissors) to curve the paper for a 3d effect. Position on a coloured background, and add some swirls with Stickles glitter glue. Easy!

K x

Need some inspiration with your kit?

If you have one of these kits from Hunkydory, you might be looking for inspiration...when I was putting together some samples for the shop, I noticed that there weren't a lot of images in the card kit itself. So, to help you - I've put together an idea sheet with some images of the cards I made. I hope it helps!



K x

New Magazine "Making Gifts"

Making Gifts

The new magazine from the publishers of

Making Cards Magazine and Parchment Craft Magazine.

Issue 1 available now from Wightcat Crafts

Order today http://www.wightcat.com/crafts/magazines3.htm