Heat Embossing on vellum

 

I haven't done any heat embossing for over 2 years, in fact I struggled to find my embossing powders and ink pads in my craft room - and I very rarely use vellum on my cards.

However, I did make a lovely card using white embossing powder on clear velum at the recent Honey Doo workshop that I attended and thought it was time to have a go at home. I found some patterned vellum that has been sitting at the bottom of a pile for well over 5 years.  I was pleased how the gold on the red vellum came out  - would look good on a Christmas card too.

The pearly white  leaves on the green was more subtle, but still made a nice texture. I tried to also do some flowers, but that was not a success and they ended up in the bin!

Distressed Oxide Inks

 Well, I must recommend going to a crafty workshop to get you inspired. Since I attended, I have made loads of cards with distressed oxide inked backgrounds, all very different from my usual style.

And using some stamps that have haven't seen the light of day for a long time!

More Honey Doo Cards

 

Still playing with my new stamps and using blended distress oxide inks on cards more!

In fact, I have treated myself to some more blending brushes to get a smoother finish to them

Honey Doo have just announced they are holding another workshop in September, so I'm going to book onto that now.

Honey Doo Crafts Workshop

 I decided to attend a card making workshop that was being held nearby in Ravenwood Hall - it was time to try some out different techniques and materials! 

We made 3 different cards using stencils, heat embossing, vellum and distress oxide inks, using some of their brand new products.

The demonstrations were clear, everyone was very friendly and a lovely lunch was included.

Honey Doo also had their full range available to buy, so I treated myself to new stamps, stencils and inks

Then, of course, had to try them out when I got home to make some more fab cards.

So I can highly recommend their workshops if you have the chance to attend - I'll be keeping an eye out for their next one in Suffolk - although some of the attendees were regulars who had travelled some distance. People on my table had come from Hastings, Milton Keynes and Saffron Walden !

Honey Doo Website

They also attend a lot of craft shows up and down the country.

Another Woodware Stamp

 I also  recently bought this bubble bloom stamp with the 'get well soon' sentiments - always a useful addition to the stock. Filled in the circles with a selection of card candy and Nuvo drops again.

I've also made a couple of  garden bird themed birthday cards,  I'm still using up the watercolour wings topper pack that I bought back in 2019. 

Woodware Bubble Christmas Tree Cards

 

I did NOT need anymore Christmas stamps, but gave in and ordered the Bubble Christmas Tree stamp from Woodware!

I used the excuse that it would use up some of the odd buttons and Craftwork Card Candy that I had hanging around - which it has! I then used different Nuvo drops for the smaller circles

So I've tried it out using different colourways and backgrounds and think it will be useful addition to the stash

Cats Galore

 

It was over 2 years ago that I bought a pack of cute Nitwit Cat Images, and despite making loads of cards with it, I still have at least 3/4 of the pack left!

It's a good job that most of my friends and family like cats!

First Prize at the Village Show

 My Owl birthday card got first prize in the local village show this weekend - first response from family was - was it the only entry! No, it beat off 6 other cards, one of which had some lovely beadwork on it.

My cross stitch picture of the Lion also got first prize. And my husband won an enormous Teddy by guessing its name, not sure what we are going to do with him. At the moment he is sat in the bay window watching the passersby.

Is Green the New Black?

 I hope so, as I have just made a greetings card saying so!

I've also made a fun birthday card that features a cute parrot wearing a party hat - now who wouldn't one of those!

Scrappy Cats

 

Still trying to use up some of the piles of scrap paper I have accumulated over the years!

These cards have simply layered some funky cat stickers over some spotty oddments.

Wishing You the Best Year for 2023

Happy New year to everyone and I hope 2023 turns out to be a good one for you, I have a big family wedding and 2 holidays to look forward to!

I've started off the New Year playing with these celestial scene stamps from Creative Stamping Magazine

I've also been making some starry background papers using Brusho powers

I hope you are all feeling crafty for the new year with plenty of time to spend creating new cards!

Christmas Nuvo Drops

Seems like I am using Nuvo drops on nearly every Christmas card that I make this year!

I am using several different colours to add a bit of texture and interest to the cards

as well as adding white drops to any snowy scenes!

 

Mystical Unicorns

 

I was tempted to buy this unicorn silhouette die set for half price at the Tonic sale along with some more nuvo drops for my collection.

I've experimented using different backgrounds and it works well with DL cards. The one below I snipped off the horn to turn it into a horse!

It made a nice change from making Christmas cards, another batch of 100 xmas cards went out to a local charity today to help them with their fund raising.

Crafty Cat

 

One of our cats, Roxy decided to join me in my craft room this morning - however I had just finished putting silver glitter glue on these 'Let it Snow' sentiments when she walked all over them. 

Guess who now has glittery paws!

Thank You Birds

 

I'm not quite ready to start making Christmas cards as it's still too warm, so thought I would make a couple of Thank You cards to keep ready for the right occasion.

They also used up some old images and papers from Making Cards Magazine that have been hanging around a while!

ATC Swaps ??

 

I love making and swapping ATC's (Artist Trading Cards), you know, those little cards that measure 3.5 x 2.5 inches. Over the years I have joined in lots of swaps with other card makers who enjoy making something a bit smaller and specific. Its lovely to received what other people have made along the same theme, colour or technique.

However, over the years, many of the swaps have closed down or faded away and now I only do 2 monthly swaps with the ladies who I met through the Trimcraft forum (now also unexpectively closed down). Do any of you crafters know of any other UK based monthly ATC swaps I could join ????

Irridescent Cardstock

 

Following on from my last post, I spotted a pack of very pale blue cardstock printed with irridescent wildflower silhouettes in Hobbycraft, so I had to buy it!

I already had some leftover scraps of holo card, so die cut some butterflies, birds and sentiments to go on the cards

They do look good together!