Still using up old stash!

I've re-discovered for the second time a pad of glittered toppers from the 'Forget Me Not' range by Docrafts. I bought these back in December 2015, used a couple and then forgot about them

I then found it again in March 2017, made a couple more cards and put it aside again ( see this previous post!)

So I have made these three cards, and yes, will forget about it for a few more months!

Cards for the Men

I picked up a Docrafts Goodie bag from The Range that had been reduced from £15 to only £5. It has lots of male themed papers and embellishments, so I've got stuck in to make some much needed masculine cards for my card box!

Embossed ATC's

I've joined in with the technique swap at Docrafts - this months technique is Embossing.

It made me realize that it was ages since I got out my embossing powders and hot air gun.

I enjoyed making these, so perhaps I should make the effort more often!

Bring Out the Wellies!

What with all the torrential rain and wet weather, it seemed appropriate to make a card featuring a row of Wellington Boots! Apart from the background paper, it was made from very old stash - I think originally from a Docrafts goody bag. 

I've just had to clear out part of the craft room, as the engineer is coming to service the boiler that is in there, and yes, I did find more stash that I had forgotten about! 

I have absolutely no excuse to go to the Papercraft show in Bury St Edmunds tomorrow - I don't need anything, but I'm going to go anyway!

My Very First Easel ATC's!

 I have been making ATC's for years but had never attempted to make easel ones before.

They are for next months technique swap over at Trimcraft, hosted by Dicards, and it finishes on 25th May.

After checking out youtube, they are so easy to make, why did I wait so long???

That the good thing about joining in with swaps, it forces you out of your safe zone into something new!

I am hosting a monthly theme swap on Docrafts - Aprils theme was Music and I will be sorting out the swaps tomorrow. 

There are always loads of different styles and techniques used to interpret the theme. May's theme will be Roses. 

This months ATC Travel Swaps

I host the monthly theme ATC swap over on Docrafts - this months theme is travel!

You can use any technique or style,and as you can see, there is a wide interpretation of this theme.

I am just about to sort out the swaps and will be getting them out in the post tomorrow

I love joining in the ATC swaps on the Docraft and Trimcraft forums and try to enter as many as I can, it often means stretching yourself or trying out something a bit different on a small scale!

Crafting Essentials ....

What are your crafting essentials? For me it has to be double sided tape (in different widths) and my trusty X-Cut guillotine. I won it in a draw years and years ago from Docrafts and it still cuts clean and sharply.

Over the years it has been knocked off the table and bounced several times and had the handle grip replaced, but it is still something I use for every single card I make - you just cannot cut a clear straight line with scissors!!

Swapping ATC's

 Many moons ago I started making ATC's as a way of using up some of the small scraps of paper left over from card making.

Artist Trading Cards (ATC's) have to measure 3.5 x 2.5 inches and they have to be traded not sold. Those are the only 2 rules. Apart from that, anything goes!


They can be made using any theme, style or techniques - and it is quite fun trying out new stamps or stash on them.

 I have now made hundreds of them over the years and swapped them with crafters from all over the world. I've posted up photos of a few old ones to show a few examples.

I now host a monthly theme swap on Docrafts and I am amazed at the variety of different cards that turn up every time. New members are always welcome to join!

I am also part of a small  international ATC swapping group of around a dozen - so I get the chance to make and receive lots of these little treasures!

Decembers Reindeer ATC Swap

I host a monthly theme swap over on Docrafts for ATCs - this months theme was Reindeer and here's a few I have made ready to go out at the end of this month.

If you would like to join in 2015, there are very few rules - you can use any style or techniques, the cards must measure 2.5 x 3.5 inches and up to 4 can be swapped every month

January's theme is Cars and further details can be found on the Docrafts ATC forum

Sew Lovely Cards

I have a big pile of Sew Lovely Papers left over from the Docrafts goodie bag from several months ago - I keep looking at them and putting them away! 

Well, this morning I finally got around to using some of them in these cards. They are teamed up with Craftwork Cards die cut mannequins

and free charms for Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine.

The Car Boot sale I was going to do on Saturday got rained off, so I had to console myself with a visit to The Range, where I tried not to spend too much. The boxes of stuff are sitting in the conservatory and I hope the weather next Saturday will be better!!

Sew Lovely Birthday Cards

I treated myself to the latest Docrafts goodie bag with the 'Sew Lovely' range of papers and embellishments and teamed them up with the Tim Holtz mannequin die for these cards.

 

I was chuffed to be recently approached by a complete stranger who somehow had found one of the birthday cards I had  posted on this blog a while ago, and wanted to commission a similar one for this nephew!

Why not come in and join the Creative Friday Blog link Party??

Butterflies Galore!

I had a bit of a manic card making session - you know the sort where you just can't stop and just have to keep going until you get it out of your system ! 

Looking back on them, there is a bit of a butterfly theme going on, although I used a range of different papers and embellishments including Hunkydory, Madame Payraud and  Craftwork Cards. 

A Few Mens Cards

Looking through the cards I have made recently, I realized that they were all a bit girly - I really needed to start making a few for the men around here! 

So I popped down to the Range and picked up their Masculine themed goody bag and had a play.

I am stumped what to do with the sports car shaped cards, so will have to google to find some inspiration. These are what I came up with some of the rest of the stash!

What A Lady - Craft Stamper Stamp!

I treat myself to a subscription to Craft Stamper magazine, because it is different from the other card making magazines and it always has a great free stamp!

Although I am not good ( and don't have time) to try out all the interesting techniques they use with gesso, alcohol inks, distressing etc - I admire those who can produce some fabulous work.

This month stamp is a head and shoulders portrait of a  1920's lady from the Milliner Misses range by Rogue Redhead Designs. 

Over on Docrafts there is a monthly ATC swap  hosted by Kathleen, using the free stamp, and it always encourages me to have a play and experiment with the stamp for this. These are this months offerings from me!

More Cards made with ATC's

ATC by Cazro

ATC by Mollicat

Another selections of cards designed around ATC's made by some of my Docraft buddies. These will also be going off to the local Cancer Care charity

ATC by Juliaamy

ATC by Kathleen2006

ATC by Dumbo

ATC by AngyB

Turning ATC's into Cards

toppers made by Furryboots & SandyPonty

I have been making and swapping ATC's for over 4 years now (mainly through the docrafts website) and have amassed quite a collection now.

 I regularly make cards for a local cancer care charity and have been asked to make more for their summer fund raising activities.

These cards have been made around the ATC's made by several of my online friends who have kindly agreed that I can use them in my cards - I think they show what a talented bunch they are and the variety you can put into these small pieces of artwork!

These ones are by Furryboots and Bottledolphin

Centrepieces by Grandma Jo and Juliaamy

Strictly Party !!

I found myself really enjoying colouring in these new 'Strictly Party' stamps that are free with the Docrafts Creativity Magazine. Just adding a bit of glitter glue to the flowers or hem of the dress really seemed to make them sparkle!

I was also struggling to use this paper with a tropical surfboard on it until I turned it sideways for the girl to step off!

Wellington & the Docrafts Goodie Bag

I only went to The Range to get a copy of the Creativity Magazine but the new Wellington Docrafts Goodie bag fell into my basket too. 


So, guess what, last night was spent playing with the contents and making several of these cards.After doing some (essential) housework I'm hoping to spend more time crafting today . 


The only thing I wasn't sure about were the bright yellow flowers that were in the bag - they just are too garish to go with the papers!