hearts and flowers ....

Hearts and flowers and butterflies have been staple themes of mine since I began professionally card making a some years ago.  In fact one of my very first designs used butterflies! I think as the market has expanded, we have forgotten some of the early simplicity that came with card making. 

This week I thought that I would combine two of the reoccurring themes in my work ...  Hearts and flowers. Using a design that I saw many years ago on an early episode of create and craft, I used little flowers to create a heart.  I plan to use these on frames soon too!

Hearts and flowers ....

Picmonkey away ...

This last month I have really been playing around with Pic Monkey ... It has been an invaluable tool for me to play around with images.  I have been adjusting the colour and shades within windows, but creating collages and adding text in Picmonkey.  I have found that it is a great way to show close up detail on cards, but in one overall image.  It has also been great at watermarking, and also in terms of 'branding' my images when I want to direct traffic to the website.  

So today I wanted to show you a few of my recent pictures that I have been using on facebook and in promotional e-mails.

Thanks for stopping by.

Shelly X

Bright Birthdays ....

This week we have two birthdays ... my Auntie Liz, and also my little nephew is 4!!! I cannot quite believe that he is turning into his own little person!  Anyhow, today I decided that both cards had to have glitter on, and they had to be bright!  So here are today's makes!..

Thanks for stopping by :)

Shelly

MIA! ....

Firstly, my apologies .... I didn't realise that I had been away from my blog for such a while until a blog-friend of mine Carly mentioned it to me today.  If you fancy going to cheer her up ... visit her blog here ... She is unwell and under doctors (and her Mum's)  orders to rest, so I am sure that she would love to hear from you in her comments.  She has just posted some lovely pictures of some Easter buys, and i'm definitely stealing her egg tree idea for next year!!  

Well, why have I been MIA in blog land for a while?  Things have been a little unusual around here.  After always knowing what I wanted to do for my career, I am struggling at the moment.  My 'umpf' has seemed to have taken a holiday!!

I love to bake and to make cards, and have been busy carving out a business selling the things that I love to make, and doing the things I have a talent for.   It seems however that so many others do this as a hobby, and are more than willing to make cards, cupcakes and wedding stationery for their friends for free.  The short story is that I am struggling to see how I can make a success in what is essentially a hobbiest environment.  Is this affecting anyone else's sales at the moment??  Please don't misunderstand though, I think the sharing of papercrafting and baking is essential, our children should all know how to make cakes, my brother bakes with his little boy, and everyone should be able to make things as gifts.  I certainly do not want people to stop this.  What I am struggling with is how my business can fit into that.  Any thoughts anyone??

Another bit of news is that I will be finishing my full time temporary post of managing the Church cafe in two weeks time.  And honestly, I can't wait. I am being kept on as the baker, doing a few hours a week making all the cakes for the coffee shop, so that is great, and I can't wait to get on and get started.  Next week I will be making chocolate ganache cupcakes with Easter chicks, so watch this space for a baking post soon!

I have a craft fayre coming up at the end of the month, so I will be bringing you a few snaps of the cards I will be making for that.  And most exciting of all, I am taking a trip to the International cake show in London at the end of the month, and although I will be restraining myself from spending our holiday money, I will be able to show you all the great things that I spy on my trip!!

After what looks like an essay, I will leave you with a few snaps of a special card that I worked on recently.  It feels lovely and summery, and uses girly bright colours, a playful yet grown up card for a 21st birthday.

Sorry about the glare on the first picture!!!  


Happy Easter everybody, I hope that you are all having a lovely weekend.  

I will be back soon, but until then, take care XX

Handbags ...

Handbags ....

Hello all. I am just stopping by to share this card with you that was a custom card made at the end of October. My brief was handbags, purple, and stylish. So I came up with this ...

I used an existing pre-cut shaped card as a template, and made this one much larger. I am happy with how this worked out- I would recommend you giving it a go, especially when it is covered in patterned papers, you cannot tell that it is not die cut.

I used 12x12 patterned papers, a  vintage button that my Auntie Sharon had found for me, some tags made with the PTI mat stack 4, and some gems.

Inside I kept to the same level of detail ...

I made a simple pocket so that the personal messages could be placed inside, and finished it off with a pin.

All in all, I think a good attempt at a card that is somewhat out of my comfort zone!  If anyone has any tips to help me out with sort of card, do let me know!

Thanks for stopping by,

Shelly X

(p.s. can I say sorry for the picture quality here- I was using my new phone and hadn't quite got to grips with it!!)

wuhoo!!

I am just checking in with you all to share a little good news that I got this week:

Over at the A passion for papertrey blog, they run frequent challenges, and I had entered for the Summertime challenge.  It was a really fun one, trying to put my nostalgia and fun of childhood summers into a card.  As usual, I made a set of cards on the theme, which I blogged about recently here.  I can't seem to just make one card, a little bit like pringles, once I start... I really just can't stop!

My set of summer infused card creations was picked by the team as one of their top three!  I was literally bouncing off the walls when I saw it, it really is a great feeling when you get recognised for something that you have created.  To see the other winners and the feedback on the cards you can pop on over here to check it all out.

Thank you wonderful people of A passion for papertrey!