Apple

Hi all

As I sit at my desk writing to you, my sash window is open and I can see a beautiful blue sky, and hear the birds tweeting who are obviously enjoying a little spring weather. I am not entirely sure that it is here to stay as yesterdays weather was awful, but for today, the world is dressed up to the nines and looking great.

Over the next few weeks I will be sharing with you some more of my boxed envelope cards, a stylish black and white number and a lovely egg shell blue wedding card.  I also will be writing a note about greetings cards, a little history, nostalgia and hope, all rolled into one.  But for today, a project that is immersed in the modern world for sure!

I tunes, by Apple , is such a distinctive bit of branding, that one single blocked image of a piece of fruit tells you who made it and what status it affords you!  Their gift cards use bright colours that seem to compliment each other and jar all at the same time, making for some really interesting colour schemes.

This week was a friends birthday, and I wanted to get her an i tunes gift card for her to spend on apps- but I wanted it presented as a gift, not just the plastic card- so I made a birthday greeting card wrapper .... Here's how it turned out .......

The patterned paper from October Afternoon is just brilliant, and the fact the design is made up of bright little apples, it was just perfect  for this i-tunes gift!  I made a 4.5x4.5 inch pocket, with an insert measuring approximately 4x4 inches, and decorated with ribbon and a little stamping.  The design composition and actual construction took a little time, but the actual decoration of the card was very straight forward and simple.  

I was really happy with this design, and I am thinking of adding more like this to the gift section of the website ..... making gifts out of glue and paper is so rewarding, and making a pressie that is so bright and bold as this, just lifts the mood!!

Have you made a card or gift, or scrap book layout that just pops with colour and says 'spring'?? I'd love to see ..... feel free to add links to your websites and blogs in the comment section.

So for now, goodbye, until our next catch up next week

X

Papertrey Ink challenge, full steam ahead

So ....  working on custom projects has taken me into some creative territory that tests my abilities and my faith in what I can achieve!  The Papertrey Ink challenge has asked for projects with a giant focal point, and this project does just that.  It is a card that measures 7.5x7.5 inches, and has giant flowers as its focal point.  It was designed for a Baptism, and so the inside has pockets for keepsakes, and little note lets to remember the day by.

The paper with the flowers printed on is just beautiful!  Its {My Minds Eye} Lush Pink Daisy Paper The flowers are flocked, and so jump off the paper, and it is slightly off white, giving a hint of vintage.  All this detail in the paper, meant that I didn't need to do so much to finish off the card, and just embellished with ribbon and a message.

Thanks for looking.  To order a custom card like this, please visit the website here

Shelly X

My Cherry Amore ....

I decided this week to participate in a blog challenge, and having been exposed to Papertrey Ink by Dawn McVey I thought that this would be a good place to start!  My day began with finishing up a special order for a production of Sweeney Todd in Denmark- this was a huge task in finding elements that were British but without the 1960's feel!!  I managed it by stamping the houses of Parliament with an acrylic stamp from Kaycee crafts, who offer a wide selection of unusual designs.  I stamped with Versa Magic multi-surface chalk ink (my favourite type of ink) in black GD-91.  This was stamped on red card stock, and finished with black satin ribbon, and designer paper, with diamante's stuck on the paper to highlight the swirl.  I like that this gives the effect of clouds behind the London skyline.  Printed straight onto the card from the printer was the phrase 'held og lykke' meaning Good Luck in Danish.  A tricky little order that worked well in the end.

Once that was completed, I began the task of designing for the Papertrey Ink challenge.  The challenge was to creatively use buttons ..... So i made a Valentines card for my husband using buttons as cherries....

The card uses a bright red card blank measuring 5x5 inches, and mounted on the front is a plain white card, detailed with 'Cherry Hill (Egg basket)' paper from October Afternoon, and red organza ribbon.  The cherries are made from recycled buttons, and use the sizzix sizzlit die.  I LOVE this card so much, considering that it was using up left over papers, and uses pinks and reds for a mans card, I couldn't happier.  I saw the cherries used in this way on Dawn Mcvey's blog and thought it was great, so i reused the idea here.

This year for Valentines I wanted to write a letter instead of a card, but I couldn't resist making a card! So inside the card I put a smaller envelope measuring 4x4inches.  Decorated with a scalloped seal and heart, and more red organza ribbon.

This could contain the letter and still be displayed on the mantelpiece.  

I hope that you liked my creations, and thanks for reading. Sometime soon I will be starting blog challenges, so watch this space.  I will be backBut before then, I will be back on Monday for my regular blog.

Have a nice weekend one and all

Shelly X

February madness

So, Valentines season has arrived, and with it a touch of madness.  I have been non stop busy the last week or so working on some really beautiful commissions, using some gorgeous colours.  It was so great to be so creative, and know that the projects will make special occasions extra special.  However, as the events are yet to happen, I will be sharing them with you at a later date.

What I am here to share with you is a gents card that I made, which I am really proud of.  I have a great deal of trouble making masculine cards, and although I have made some which work, I have made more which don't!!  

The birthday of my uncle Bob coincided with the Papertrey Ink competition :A challenge was set by the lovely people of Papertrey to download some of their tags designed by their design team, and make a card using them- so i made my uncles card with the lovely tags they gave us.

Here is the finished project ...

Flowers, which are a traditional female embellishment, has been used here as a background for plain blue and mustard embellishments.  The polka dot embossing folder gives an impression of pressed metal, and I used diamantes on the birthday tag to look like nails.  I stamped 'bob' onto mustard card stock and it just personalised the card enough, whilst still being all about his birthday.  I combined curved corners with blunt edges to create an interesting layout, and I set it all on a plain white card blank to make a canvas.

Challenges like that set by Papertrey Ink are a great way to keep designs fresh- to make you work with elements or colours that you find challenging, but that is in the nature of a challenge, and it is so rewarding when you make something that you didn't think you could.

This is a simple card using simple elements, but I think its all come together to make an uplifting card to say happy birthday.

Hope you have all had a great weekend, and have a good week.  See you next Monday.

Shelly X