Too Busy!

I had so much going on last weekend that I didn't get time to do any Clipart Fairy cards, I have managed to catch up a bit and have a couple for you today, using some of her new Double Up kits, one a Ready to print version, which I have made up more or less exactly as the instructions included with the download say, (very easy to follow instructions with photos). My second uses one of the interactive versions and from the parts included I have made up a card of my own design.

Double-ups have a scalloped oval shaped front and then on the back there is rectangular card, which opens up to hold an insert and space to write your message..

Kit - Clipart Fairy - RTP double up card - Boy button it

the only extra things I added were lots of Glamour dust and some gorgeous little flower sequins from MeiFlower for the flower centre. I just splodged a big dollop of tacky glue (any wet glue would do) into the middle of the flower and then added the sequins one at a time with tweezers.

 Here's the reverse of the card, showing the second card on the back and also a side view to show how it all goes together. I used a concertina of card inside mine to stop it from splaying as opposed to the ribbon method that is shown in the tutorial.

a close up of the tiny flower sequins attached to the centre of the flower.

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My second card uses the Interactive Double Up card - Rosie 1, 

I will add a link as soon as it goes into the store.

I used parts of the kit to make up my card front, which I printed out on the right hand side of a piece of A4 card. I folded the card in half, and held it together with pegs, whilst I cut around the shape, through the two layers. I added the toppers and decoupage to the front using foam pads. The pearl swirl was made using a Bazzill Jewel template and self adhesive pearls  from MeiFlower and the rolled roses were cut by hand from pearl paper printed with one of the colours from the card. A small bow and made with love charm (also from MeiFlower) were added under the wording, and there is lots of Glamour Dust around the scallops and Rosie's outfit. I also added a small white flower sequin to her hat.

Here is a close up of the pearl swirl, charm and flowers, and a side view of the card to try and show the layers.

Thanks for looking,

Colette xx

Teddy Bo Tuesday

Can you believe that it is almost the end of February, except that it's a leap year, today would have been it, February over and done with. It only seems like five minutes ago since we were celebrating Christmas and in another five minutes it will be Easter LOL!

Today we are half way through the latest Teddy Bo Challenge, Swirls and Pearls, which is being hosted by Team B, (I'm on Team A), so although I have a card to show you using one of this week's new releases, it doesn't actually follow the challenge, as there is not a pearl or a swirl to be seen LOL!

I decided to make a pop-out stepper card, as I think the last one of these I made was Christmas 2010, although this time around I thought I would have a go at making the pop-out section a circle, instead of the usual square/rectangle. I think it turned out OK.

Image - TBB_111 - coloured in Photoshop

Papers - Clipart Fairy - A big hug

Die cut heart - Joy Craft - 6003/0005

Butterflies - X-cut punch

Border - Martha Stewart - half daisy border punch.
Inked around edges in Colorbox fluid chalk ink pad - creamy brown.

Metallic cord, charms, gem and fabby gingham buttons - MeiFlower

I've put a small gusset inside the card to stop it from splaying, so have attached the message panel to the back. I added a pink gem to the middle of the flower charm, and gorgeous gingham buttons to the die cut hearts. A little "handmade with love" heart charm attached to the label is the perfect finishing touch.

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges

Going Grey With Scrap-Creations  - Pop It

Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT Challenge  - Pink & Girly

Make it Monday - always Anything Goes

Pile It On - Fun Folds

Check out this week's fabulous new releases in the Teddy Bo store.

If you are looking to make Mother's Day cards then these are perfect.

Pop over to the Teddy Bo Challenge blog and check out the fabulous creations from my teamies.

You have until Sunday 4th March Midnight GMT to enter the Swirls and Pearls challenge and be in with a chance of winning the fantastic Teddy Bo 10.

Just a quickie to let you know that Mei has set up a design team blog here, you will find quite a few of the cards I post on here on it as well as some other fantastic creations from the other DT girls. Check it out.

Colette xx

Diamond Anniversary - maybe?

In July of this year my mum and dad in-law will have been married for an amazing 60 years. I want to try and make them a really special card and have decided that over the next few months I will try out a few different ideas and see which I like best, as it's their diamond anniversary I definitely want plenty of bling, so here is my first attempt.

I thought that black and white would look quite classy so I embossed black card cut it into four strips and attached them to the front of a square card blank, attaching them alternately as embossed and de-bossed (the other way over LOL!). I added a die cut border along the bottom, covered with wide black organza ribbon and then made a bow to attach to the right hand side using a diamanté ribbon slider. I made up a lollipop flower using 5 circles, 3 plain and 2 patterned, crumpled them up, unravelled them, joined them all together with a brad in the centre, crumpled them up and unravelled them again, then attached the diamanté heart to the centre. The swirl was die cut and then glittered before attaching behind the flower. A couple of extra gems finished it off.

Embossing folder – Crafts Too – Daisies

Flourish Die – Memory box – Madera corner

Border Die – Marianne – Anja Lace

Wording – Peel Off

Digi patterned paper – Pink Petticoat

Diamanté heart, ribbon slider, ribbon and gems – MeiFlower

Not sure yet if this is the look I am going to go for, or if I prefer a card with an image, but I still have plenty of time to try out different things.

Colette xx

Baby Girl card

Following on from yesterday's post, here is my baby girl version of the card.

Digi Kraft paper – Pink Petticoat

Embossing Folder – CraftsToo – swiss dots

Wording – computer generated

Die – Spellbinders – Eyelet squares

Martha Stewart border punch – Layered arches

Polka dot ribbon, pearls, pink cord, buttons and dummy– MeiFlower

After attaching the polka dot ribbon to the punched border I fed the pink cord through the buttons, spacing them equally as I went. Once I had the cord through the first hole of the middle button I added my dummy and tied a knot to hold it in the correct position, then I fed the cord through the second hole and added the final button. I use a small piece of red double sided tape to the back of each button, stuck them into place on the polka dot ribbon and then attached the ends to the back of the punched border with a bit of tape.

Colette xx

Quick and easy baby card

I wasn't really planning on doing a post today, but yesterday I put together this quick baby card. I decided not to use an image and just go with some wording, a bit of embossing and some embellishments. I was really pleased with the way it turned out so thought I would show it to you.

Digi Kraft card - Pink Petticoat

Wording - computer generated.

Embossing folder - Crafts Too - Swiss dots.

White organza ribbon, It's a  boy ribbon, pearls, button, string and dummy - MeiFlower.

As I don't have any split rings or chain to attach the charms I am always looking at different ways to do it. On this card I threaded cord through a buttonhole, slid the dummy onto the cord and then threaded it through the other hole and pulled it tight, I then punched a small hole into the card where I wanted my dummy to go, threaded both ends of the cord through and pulled is so that the button sat flat against the card. A piece of tape over the ends of the cord at the back, secures it into place.

Top tip - when using cord or anything similar that is made up of strands, and especially when you are trying to thread it through small holes -  use your fingers to spread a little PVA glue over the cord where you are about to cut, give it a minute to dry, and then cut through the middle of the glued area, it stops the strands from unravelling and keeps the end a bit stiffer, making it much easier to thread.

I've now also done a baby girl version, embellished slightly differently so will pop that on tomorrow.

Colette xx

D'arcy's Diaries New Releases

How are we all this Thursday morning? looking forward to the weekend which will soon be here? I'm not sure that I am, my daughter is off to a hen weekend and I have the "pleasure" LOL! of looking after my grandsons. Will is staying on Friday night, which is his regular night to stay, then Charlie will be arriving at about 11am on Saturday and I will have both the boys here until late afternoon when Neill, their dad, will be coming to take Will for a sleep-over at his friends, meanwhile Charlie will be staying here until Sunday. Not much rest and relaxation (or card making) will be happening here I think.

It's new release day over at D'Arcy's Diaries today, so let's take a look at the new images available.

This week's new releases

and here's my card

 image - DD_019_02 - A gentle touch coloured in Photoshop

Digi papers - Kraft Capers and All Things Bright - both from Jessica Sprague

Teal and Taupe ribbons, Metal butterfly and self adhesive gems- MeiFlower

I thought this image would also be ideal for a Mother's day card for expectant mums, what do you think?

I thought the metallic butterfly perfectly matched the colour of the taupe ribbon and I added a few black, blue and Aurora borealis gems to embellish it. The gems on the ribbons are an exact match for the taupe ribbon.

Pop over to the D'Arcy's Diaries blog and check out the work of my fabulous teamies.

Colette xx

Teddy Bo Tuesday

This week over at Teddy Bo we have a new challenge starting and the theme is.... 

Swirls and Pearls

We are hoping to see lots of cards with beautiful swirly swirls, die cut, paper patterns, anything with a swirl on and embellished with pretty pearls, not too difficult is it and you could be in with a chance

of winning the fabulous Teddy Bo 10, your choice of 10 Teddy Bo digi images,

including any of this week's new releases.

New Releases

It is actually team B's turn to host the challenge this week, but I always like to have a card to show you on a Tuesday, so here is what I came up with.

I love this image of Oliphant in the Easter Egg, although how big that egg must be to fit an elephant in doesn't bear thinking about, mmmmmm imagine how much yummy chocolate it would contain though. I hope it's Galaxy chocolate, my favourite!

No wonder Oliphant has that little smile peeking through behind his trunk, who wouldn't be smiling surrounded by all that chocolate! I just hope he hasn't done any elephant business in there LOL!

Image -TEDDYBOBEA_109

Digi Kraft papers - Pink Paislee Kraft Capers Paper Pack - Jessica Sprague

Circle dies - Spellbinders

Pearls and ribbon - MeiFlower

Pearl Swirl shapes made using Bazzill Jewel Templates 

Don't forget to pop over to the Teddy Bo Challenge Blog and check out the fabulous creations by team B. You have until Sunday 4th March midnight GMT to enter the Swirls and pearls challenge.