Caught in Crystal technique

Another new technique for me, again involving the use of household items, and great fun to do!  I saw this on the blog of another of my favourite crafters, Sue Wilson.  Her tutorial is here but I didn't quite follow it exactly because I'd learned elsewhere that, rather than buying Crystal Lacquer, you could use Johnson's Klear Floor Polish, which I just happened to have handy.  Well, gathering dust in my utility room, to be exact;-)  

I've seen other crafters' comments that floor polish isn't as good as Crystal Lacquer but it looks pretty darned good to me!  Apart from the floor polish I stayed faithful to the tutorial, using Tim Holtz alcohol inks & Perfect Pearls. I loved the finished effect so much I didn't want to stamp onto the front of the acrylic, preferring to turn it into a simple triptych 

If you've never tried this technique, why not give it a go?

Finished card size: A6

Panel sizes: centre 9.5cm x 4cm, two outer panels 8.5cm x 4cm

Base Cardstock: Xerox Colotech Plus 300gsm

Blue cardstock: from stash

Inks: Adirondack Sailboat Blue, Latte, Meadow

Perfect Pearls: Perfect Bronze, Perfect Gold

Greeting stamp: Craft UK

 

Inspired by Ali Reeve

I nearly called this post "Technique Tuesday" but as I wasn't sure if the blog of the same name is copyright I decided against it.

I love learning new things in all walks of life, but especially card making.  Both this card & the one I'll post in a couple of days show techniques I've never used before but have picked up from watching expert crafters on Create & Craft.  This card uses an incredibly simple but effective use of - shoe polish! Of course, this was inspired by Ali Reeve who regularly uses everyday household items to great effect.

I ran a piece of mirri card through my Cuttlebug with one of Ali's masks (Metal Effect), then I used black shoe polish (the type which comes with a sponge applicator attached) and wiped it across the mirri card, wiped off the excess & that was it!  I made the backing paper myself using different shades of black & grey Memento inks & free Papermania nuts & bolts stamps.  The mini tool brads were from The Works.  This was a really easy card to make & I hope my brother-in-law, the intended recipient, likes it.  

Finished card size: 15cm square

Base cardstock: Xerox Colotech Plus

Mirri card: Create & Craft

Black cardstock: from stash

Nuts & Bolts Stamps: Papermania (free with Docrafts magazine)

Greeting stamp: Free with Simply Cards & Papercraft

Mini tool brads: The Works

Only a week late!

I've not done much card making just lately but this, rather belatedly, was my Valentine's card to my husband.  I originally started this last August as an anniversary card but decided it was much more appropriate for Valentine's Day.  Because I made it so long ago I can't remember any details of cardstock, papers or anything else for that matter!  Although my husband was pleased with it, I feel it's not quite masculine enough to send to a man but it was a case of  "I've started, so I'll finish!"

Something romantic!

No, not a Valentine's card, this time it's for the first wedding anniversary of some friends of ours who will, sadly, be attending the funeral of the husband's Mum on their special day.  I wasn't sure that "Happy 1st Anniversary" was appropriate but I hope they'll still be able to celebrate in some way.

I was inspired by this beautiful card but have varied it slightly, partly because I don't have the same dies & embossing folders but also because I never like to copy someone else's work exactly.

Base cardstock: Xerox Colotech 300gsm

Embossing folder: Tied Together

Nestability heart die

Pearlised card & heart charm from stash

Computer-generated sentiment

Yet Another Sympathy Card

I feel like I've done more than my fair share of sympathy cards over the last year or two, but I suppose that's just the way it goes.  This one is for a friend whose Mum passed away suddenly just over a week ago.  As ever, I tried to keep it simple (always best, I feel, for such occasions) but as the main recipient is a man I tried to take that into account, too.

Base cardstock: Xerox Colotech Plus 300gsm

Coloured cardstock: Papermania Signature range

Embossing folder: Provocraft "Stylized Flower"

Ribbon - from stash

Stamped sentiment - Anita's ANT906216

Bright 50th

This card is for the 50th birthday of a very kind lady who spends a lot of time looking after her next door neighbour - my husband's aunt.  As her living room is black & red I just knew she'd love bright colours.

The starting point for this card was the chipboard numbers I'd made a few months ago for another friend's 50th but which, when they were finished, were too bright for that card.  They were coloured with Promarkers & given dimension using Anita's 3-D Clear Gloss.  I used Pink Petticoat backing papers (no longer available) but had to alter the colour slightly in Craft Artist 2 Professional to ensure they matched the numbers.  I also produced matching plain card in CA2P, too.

As I've been suffering from a distinct lack of mojo just lately I used a sketch from somewhere & kept it simple.

Card base: Craftwork Cards

Backing papers: Pink Petticoat

Diamante buckle: Meiflower