Gold Shimmer Christmas

Hi Crafters,

I have started Christmas crafting early this year - shock horror!  This is a card I made for my boss.  It's really shimmery in real life which hasn't shown up too well in the photos.  

I started with a 7" card blank and layered up black and cream card.  I added a strip of gold shimmer card with stars punch out using the Stampin' Up Confetti Stars punch.  A new favourite of mine.  My main topper image was made using circles from Tattered Lace.  I stamped snowflakes in Versamark and heat embossed in gold.  My sentiment is a die from Sue Wilson's latest Christmas release.  I love this one.  My wooden embellishment was dipped into Versamark and heat embossed with the same gold powder.  

Happy Crafting,
Rachel x

Cabbage Rose Butterfly Card

Hi Everyone,

I have another Spellbinders butterfly card for you today.  My very favourite type of card to make.  If you were eagle-eyed you might have spotted this card on the Tool Shed on Create and Craft TV a few weeks ago.  I had my email read out and my card shown whilst Sue Wilson was making a gorgeous creation.

I started with a piece of Creative Expressions Coconut White cardstock and scored on my Ultimate Pro to make the card blank.  I added a piece of mat gold card and then to make my "topper", I embossed a piece of Coredinations with the Spellbinders Cabbage Rose M-bossability folder and sanded back.  My vellum was cut using the Spellbinders Borderabilities Curved Borders 2.  I added a Spellbinders Fancy Tags Two die and finally finished off with a butterfly from Les Papillion die cut in the same mat gold card.

I hope you like my card.

Happy crafting,
Rachel x

A Beautiful Birthday

Hello All,

I have something a bit different for you today.  I have finally tried out my gilding flakes!  I must have bought my very first one pot about two years ago but have never had the guts to get them out and play.  Well, after seeing Sue Wilson on the Tool Shed this month, I just knew it was time to get gilding.  Oh what fun they are but boy do they go everywhere!  I think my gluing technique could be improved but it wasn't too shabby for a first attempt!  Anyway, I'm waffling and I'm sure you'd like to see the card in question so here goes!

I stared with a piece of black card and the Leafy Background Stamp from JustRite.  I inked up my stamp with the Cosmic Shimmer Flake and Glitter Glue and then quickly pressed it onto the card.  You have to be quick or the card will tear.  I know this from experience - it only happened the second time though!

Once the glue was in position I cleaned my stamp under the tap and then left to air dry.  This is an important step as you don't want the glue to dry on your stamp.  I added the Cosmic Shimmer gilding flakes in Sunrise Dawn and rubbed clean with my scoochy sponge from IndigoBlu.  For added texture I ran the piece of card through a Sizzix embossing folder which looks like a vintage sunrise.  Sorry, I don't know the name of the folder.

Nearly all of my cardstock is from Creative Expressions but the gold card is from Create and Craft's own brand.  I would love a large stock of this but I'm down to my last two sheets.  Sob!  I used my Ultimate Pro to make the card bland and then attached my topper with super sticky tape to the bottom part of the easel.  The ribbon was from my stash and matched so well I just had to use it.  

For the main sentiment I stamped using JustRite's Enjoy the Day Vintage Labels Four in Versamark and then heat embossing in gold.  I cut out with scissors, leaving a tiny border of plain cardstock.  My butterfly is from Spellbinders Les Papillion.  The gems came from Create and Craft.

I would like to enter this card in to the following challenge:
Justrite Challenge #107 - Easel Cards

I hope you are all having a great start to your week.  I have thoroughly enjoyed my playtime this evening and can't wait to start on my next project.  

Happy crafting,
Rachel x

JustRite Stamps in a Teacup!

Hi Everyone,

I have a new card to share with you today and it's my first entry into the JustRite Challenge blog.  I just love their stamps and dies and have a small collection which has been building steadily.  The current challenge has photo inspiration along with a designated colour palette.

And here is my card:

I think my photography skills have let me down on this one.  I used the Cosmic Shimmer Lustre embossing powder in Pink Pearl which has a gorgeous sheen but this hasn't shown up very well through the photography.

I started with the JustRite French Rose background stamp and used Versamark on yellow pearlescent cardstock.  I added the Cosmic Shimmer Lustre embossing powder and heated.  I tore the edges of my card and then die cut the Spellbinders Tea Cup, adding the handle in matching cardstock.  The doily was coloured with a ProMarker in Pink Mittens from the seasonal limited edition set from last year.  My sentiment came from JustRite's All In The Family Large Sentiments set.  This was also stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with the Lustre Powder.  I coloured the seam binding with the Pink Mittens pen.  My dazzler was added with Pinflair glue gel.  

For the base card, I scored a piece of Centura Pearl cardstock in half using my Ultimate Pro and then embossed with one of Sue Wilson's embossing folders.  To finish the background, I cut and embossed the corners from Spellbinders' Botanical Swirls and Accents set.  

Happy crafting,
Rachel x

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

JustRite Challenge #102 - Colour Inspiration
Sweet Pea Stampers - Embossing (Wet or Dry)

Fab'n'Funky Challenges #172 - Ribbon or Lace

Hi All,

What a glorious morning!  Until I hung out the washing!  Story of my life!  I hope you are all well and enjoying some crafty time this week.  

We have a great new challenge over at the Fab'n'Funky Challenges blog but first the winner and Top 3 from last week have been posted.  Head on over to the blog to see our lucky winners.

Now, on to this week's challenge and we have the wonderful Vicky as our host.  She has chosen a great theme and I'm sure you'll all be eager to join in.  Our theme this week is...

Ribbon and Lace

You can add ribbon or lace or both to your project and then link it up to be in with a chance of a prize or Top 3 position.  Our sponsors this week are Doodle Pantry and StampArt Design by Kathryne.  Just click on their names to view the brilliant range of images.

I used a Doodle Pantry image for my card this week.  It's called Pitcher and Basin and can be found here.

I saw a similar design in a magazine and thought I'd have a go myself.  I started with an A4 piece of kraft card and cut it length-ways and then scored each piece in half to make two 6" x 4" card blanks.  I used my Tonic guillotine to cut the fronts on the diagonal.  I attached the two blanks together the Collall All Purpose Glue.  It really is the best glue in the world!  

The image came with two patterned backing papers but I made the plain blue paper by using the colour picker feature in My Craft Studio.  I used the flowery backing paper to cover the fronts of my card and then added a piece of kraft cardstock that had been embossed with one of the A4 Sue Wilson embossing folders from Creative Expressions.

My image was cut using Spellbinders Grand Labels Eleven.  I added the lace to close the card and also for an extra girly finish.  

I hope you can join us for our ribbon/lace challenge this week.

Happy crafting,
Rachel x