Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #253 - Spring

Hello dear visitors and welcome to my blog with a very special welcome to my new followers.  So happy you have joined me in my creative journey.  Thank you!

 It's time for our next Challenge at Crafty Cardmakers and, as you can see by the title of this post, the Theme is Spring!  I know that's a bit odd for those of us who live Down Under as we are in the midst of our Autumn but, this Challenge is based in the UK so it actually makes perfect sense!  LOL!

Judy is our lovely host for this Challenge and, as always, you may create whatever you wish, it does not have to be a card.

For my project, I created a tag although it could, quite easily, be turned into a card.

The papers used are a mix of Kaisercraft and 49 and Market and the flowers are from my stash.  I have had these blooms for years so it was really nice to be able to use some of them.

 The top paper layer was lightly sprayed with watered down Liquitex Ink for an extra touch of colour. 

A doily was folded over the edge and I added a piece of gauze under the cluster for some added texture.

The wildflower dies are by Tim Holtz (love them!) and the flair is by Kaisercraft.

Would love to see you join in with our Challenge.  For lots of fabulous inspiration, pop on over to the CCM blog and check out the amazing projects by the rest of the Team.  Look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #253 - Spring

Thank you so much for stopping by during this difficult time.  All around the world, people are hurting, so let's all do the right thing and follow the rules laid down by our Health Authorities and Governments.    We need to keep the spread of this dreadful virus at a minimum so we can all get back to our normal way of life.   

Praying for each and everyone to stay safe and well.  God be with you all.

Take care and God Bless.

oxox Marg

Wildflower Cards

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog.

  Hope you are all having a wonderful day!

I have shared quite a few masculine cards lately so, thought it was time to share a couple of feminine ones.  These cards were made a few months ago and were really quick and easy to put together. 

They were made using Tim Holtz's Wildflower die cuts and some older papers by Kaisercraft.

The primary flower was cut from designer paper and the rest were cut from cardstock.  I added a piece of book paper under the flowers on the first card and inked the edges of the die cuts.

The secondary flower was lightly coloured with Distress Ink, and I added a few prills amongst the greenery and to the center of the main bloom.

The word chippy is by Scrapmatts.

On the second card, I simply layered the papers the other way around.  The top, lighter coloured paper, is the waste from cutting the primary flower for the first card.   I simply set this die cut flower inside it and used a different secondary bloom.

No prills this time except in the center of the secondary flower which was also coloured with Distress Ink.

It usually takes me a few days to make my cards because I procrastinate so much over what to put on them but these two came together in one afternoon.  So easy and simple, I shocked myself!  LOL!!

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit and for any comment you may care to leave for me.  I really do appreciate it.

Have a fabulous day and stay safe!
Take care and God Bless.

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #252 - Green

Hello dear visitors and welcome to my blog.
A special welcome to my new followers.  Thank you so much for joining me.

Another Challenge is starting at Crafty Cardmakers.  Chanya is our host and, in celebration of St. Patrick's Day, the Theme is Green!  As always, you may create whatever you wish and, although your project does not have to be for St. Patrick's Day, it must follow the green Theme.

For my project, I have created a Notebook Holder or Folder .. not sure what to call it.

 I found the basic design for this Folder on a You Tube Channel called Burlap and Daily Bread run by a lady named Kristi.  She has a set of three videos that she calls a Folder Journal Kit.  On these videos she shows the kits and explains how to create the Folder.  I simply took the basic Folder design and adapted it to suit my needs.   I will share the link to the videos at the end of my post.

The papers I used are from the Memory Lane 12 x 12 paper pad by Kaisercraft.  I had some scraps left over from another booklet (here) and simply layered them to cover the front and back of this folder.  Saved me cutting up whole sheets and being left with more scraps.  Trying to be more frugal with my papers so there is less waste.

  I inked all the edges with Ground Espresso Distress Ink and, to embellish the front, I added a piece of gauze and a die cut flourish by Altenew.  The flower is by Little Birdie and the quote tag is from the same Kaisercraft paper collection.

This notebook will be used to record any info I may need for different crafting projects.  It will come in handy when I'm away from home crafting with friends.
On the inside front cover there is a pocket in which I have placed a few useful items.

A small note pad to record the things I need to get and take with me.

I simply cut a few pages to size and stapled them together.

A pocket folder to hold die cuts, chippies and other small and delicate items.

For our next craft session, I have included a sheet of paper which has a template of this particular Notebook holder.  I will need that as my friend also wishes to make one of these Folders.
If anyone is interested, please feel free to use this.  Solid lines are cut lines and broken lines are fold lines.  I might actually do a step by step on this booklet but, if you watch the video, you will see how easily it's constructed.

 On the inside back cover is another pocket.

Popped a few tags and bits of ephemera in this pocket.

To hold the notebook I simply tied a piece of clear elastic around the folder.  This way it is super easy to replace the notebook once it's full.

 Here is the cover with the notebook removed.

The back cover was left plain (makes it easier for writing as there is no bulk at the back) and I used seam binding for the closure.

A very simple little booklet but, I think it will be very useful and, it's a little prettier than just a plain old note pad.

Do pop on over to the CCM blog and check out the fabulous creations by the rest of the Team.  Would love to have you join in.

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #252 - Green

Thank you so much for stopping by.  I hope you enjoyed seeing my project and I hope you will also pop over and take a look at Kristi's Channel.  Here is the link to the first video for this particular booklet but she also has a lot of other videos and projects to enjoy.

Have a wonderful day!
Take care and God Bless.
oxox Marg

.. And, Another Man Card

Hi everybody!!  Welcome to my blog and thank you for your visit.  Special thanks to my new followers.  So happy that you decided to join me in my creative journey.

Just a quick post to share another masculine card with you.  This one was actually made late last year for a close friend of ours.

Can't remember where the papers are from but I added a touch of heat embossing for some extra interest.

Layered a few of my fave diecuts (Texture Subway by Kaisercraft and Cogs and Gears by Cheery Lynne) ..

 .. as well as a piece of gesso'd corrugated board and a chippy by Scrapmatts.  The gauge is a freeby from the net.  I simply covered it with an epoxy seal.

Of course, I also added a few prills .. 'cos I love them ..

Voila!!

Thank you so much for your visit and for the lovely comments you leave me to read.  I love to see what you think (specially if you like what I've made!  Hee! Hee!).

Have a wonderful day!
Take care and God Bless.

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #251 - Embossing

Hello dear friends and welcome to my blog.  So happy that you've stopped by.

Well, another fortnight has gone by and it is time for a new Challenge at Crafty Cardmakers.   Josephine is hosting this one and the Theme is Embossing!

As always, you don't have to make a card.  You can create anything you like as long as it follows the Theme.

For my project, I have created a small envelope which will go into a Mini Album I am creating at the moment.

This is not my design.  I was looking for embossing ideas when I came across this style envelope and felt it would be ideal for my new Mini.  A lady named Sherry has a blog post showing how she put it all together and I will share the link at the end of this post.

I used Core'dination cardstock to create this envelope and, after embossing, I used an emery board to bring out the pattern and expose the core.

A button and string closure keeps the envelope shut and ..

 .. when opened, it reveals ..

.. a simple little bookmark.

So simple and easy to make.  Sherry used hers to hold emery boards but, obviously, it could be used for whatever you like.  As promised, HERE is the link to the tutorial.

Would love it if you would pop across and take a peek at the fabulous creations by my Teamies.  Lots of fab inspiration to be had!

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #251 - Embossing

Thank you so much for visiting and for any comment you may care to leave.  Very much appreciated.
Enjoy the rest of your day!

Take care and God Bless.
oxox Marg

My First Envelope Mini

Hello dear visitors and welcome to my blog.  Hope you are having a lovely day.

I have to warn you, this is a huge post as I am sharing a Mini Album I made just recently.
I watched a video by Dawn Meadows where she created this little album.  (You can find her on  the BookVandal Shop You Tube Channel).  I loved her album so  much, I had to make one for myself .  This mini uses 3 large envelopes + 1 small envelope.
This is my very first envelope mini.  Have seen plenty on the net that I loved but never had the right size envelope to make them and so never really bothered.  When I saw this one though, I got the bug and as, again, I didn't have the right type of envelopes, I actually had to make them as well.  I won't actually show you how to make this album as I think Dawn's video does that better than I ever could.

The finished album measures 7.75" x 5.5" and the papers I've used to decorate this Album is from a 12 x 12 pad called Memory Lane by Kaisercraft.

There's not a lot of embellishment on the front.   Just a piece of lace and a small collage.  I think the papers are pretty enough that they don't need covering up.

This album actually opens two ways.  The first opening is from left to right and reveals a pocket (on the left) and a notebook (on the right).  I will show the second opening later in the post.

There is a large tag inside the pocket.  

I attached a small piece of lace at the side and added some washi tape, book paper, a digital image by Ephemera's Vintage Garden and a gorgeous handmade seal made by Lizzy Hill. 

Lizzy is one of the crafty friends I exchange Christmas cards with and we usually include a small crafty gift as well.  I sent her a set of wildflower diecuts and she sent me a set of lovely little seals she had made.  I absolutely adore them and was so pleased I could incorporate one into this little album.

A small collage and a piece of lace decorate the front of the note book.

Used my fave stencils and added some stamping on the inside, but I've left the pages relatively bare as they are, mainly, to be used for journaling ..

.. although I have also added a few bits of lace and strips of washi tape.

The booklet is sewn into the main journal using pamphlet stitch.

A little stamping on the back of the note book as well as a small butterfly plate.

 Behind the notebook is another page with a flip out pocket (made with the smaller envelope) attached to the side.

Inside the pocket is a small tag.  The back of the tag is left blank for more journaling or you could add a photo.

That completes the left side opening of the album.
The second way to open the album is from right to left and this reveals a large pocket on the left and a simply decorated page on the right.

This flower is attached to an altered paper clip which can be moved to any other part of the book.

Inside the pocket is a simple, folded card ..

.. which could be used for photos, ephemera or journaling.

And, finally, the back of the album which also has a pocket ..

.. and a tag ..

.. with a little tuck spot on the back.

A final look at the front ..

Yayy!!  You managed to stick it out to the end.   Doing a little happy dance here!! LOL!!

I had such fun creating this album.  I do hope you will pop over to You Tube and take a look at Dawn's videos.  She has so many interesting albums, etc., and her tutorials are excellent!

I did say at the beginning of this post that I made this album for myself but, I ended up gifting it to a friend.  So now, of course, I am making another one.  The album I just shared was made pretty much as Dawn showed it but the new one will have some innovations of my own.  Hope you will come back to take a look at that one when it's finished.

I am entering this album into the Mini Album Makers Challenge for February

Thank you so much for stopping by and for the lovely comments you leave me.  I appreciate it very much.

Have a wonderful day!
Take care and God Bless.