Christmas with Cardmaking Paradise

These three cards were made using templates from Cardmaking Paradise. Why not pop over to the site and take a look at what's on offer.

Firstly meet Percy and his mum Polly waiting for Santa. To make Percy, I reduced the original template to baby size on my printer and glued him in front of mum.

Card Recipe
Anna Maria Designs "Super Smooth, Super White, Printer Card"
Tumbled Glass Distress Ink
Black permanent ink pen
Glossy Accents
Bottle top
Black Promarker
Crafty Individuals stamp CI - 326
Ribbon

I've had this Father Christmas stamp for several years and wasn't sure how to use him. The other day I had one of those light bulb moments - he would fit with the Cardmaking Paradise house template. It looks a bit dull in this photo but there is glitter on the snowflake and Father Christmas to give some sparkle.

Card Recipe
Card/Paper
Tim Holtz Core'dinations Card stack
Xerox Colortech +
Black card
Cream Christmas Holly - Craft Creations SR104P
Inks
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink
Vintage Photo Distress Ink
Stamp
Wizard Santa - Funstamps F-M152
Other
Spellbinders Snowflake Die
Copic markers
Stampendous Crystal Glitter
Brad
Peel off greeting
Martha Stewart edge punch

My final card is the Cardmaking Paradise rocking snowman.

  
Card Recipe
Anna Maria Designs "Super Smooth Super White Printer Card"
Scrapbook paper from  Craft Creations
Orange card
Black card
Distress Inks - Tumbled Glass and Black Soot
Wire
Wiggly eyes

Fabulous Blog Candy from Crafty Individuals

Crafty Individuals has some fabulous blog candy on offer until the 10th December and this wonderful array of goodies is what you could win.

 

You will find all the details on how to enter on the Crafty Individuals blog.

Two of a kind

I was really chuffed with these two cards and it's not often I say that about things I make. I used the wrinkle free distress technique to apply the ink before applying some more through a mask. On the second card I also added some random script.

Card one

Card Two

Card Recipes

(Both cards)
Card - Craftworkcards Digital Ultra Smooth Premium Cardstock
Mask - Crafters Workshop -  Mini Harlequin
Stamp - Stamp Addicts Wildflowers SA-5029
Ink - Ranger Archival Jet Black

Card One
Maroon card
Picked Raspberry & Shaded Lilac Distress Inks

Card Two
Black card
Peacock Feathers & Squeezed Lemonade Distress Inks
PaperArtsy Script stamp MN44

Follow Your Dreams

For the background on this card I applied Distress Inks with a Dreamweaver stencil brush. This is now my preferred way to apply these inks as it gently builds up the colour on cardstock, although I do go just around the edge with a piece of cut'n'dry to finish off.

 Card Recipe 
Card
Anna Marie Super Smooth, Super White, Printer Card
Silver paper  
Inks
Versafine Onyx Black
Distress Inks - Broken China, Tumbled Glass 
Stamps
Personal Impressions Flower Silhouette PICS057
Personal Impressions Fairy Silhouette PICS056
Leaves - Crafty Individuals  CI-234 
Other
Stampendous ultra fine crystal glitter
Computer generated sentiment

Classy Cat

I do like black and white cards and this cat stamp from Katzelkraft is just right for that colour combination. For the paws I the stamped the image four times before I photocopied them at a reduced size.

Card Recipe
Card
Anna Marie Super Smooth, Super White, Printer Card
Black card
Embossing Folder/Dies
Embossing folder - Cuttlebug Swiss Dots
Spellbinders Nestabilities - Oval and scalloped oval
Inks
Versafine Onyx Black
Black Soot Distress Ink
Stamps
Cat - Katzelkraft Mini 01
Paws - The English Stamp Company
Other
Sentiment - computer generated

Artexed!

For the background of these cards I used the gesso technique shown by Liesbeth Fidder in the November edition of Craft Stamper. The result looks like an artexed ceiling! I sprayed the gesso with Dylusions which is fine until you use glue then the inks re-wet and you have to be careful not to get it on your fingers and transfer it to where you really didn't want it. Obviously from that remark you've guessed I did just that!

Card One

Card Two 

 

Card Recipe (Both cards)
Card
White card
Black card
Paints/Inks
Claudine Hellmuth Studio Gesso
Dylusions Ink - London Blue, Vibrant Turquoise
Stazon Jet Black
Ranger Archival Jet Black
Vintage Photo Distress Ink
Stamps
Flourish - Crafty Individuals CI 182
Lady - The Artistic Stamper
Dots - Stamp Addict
Dies
Tim Holtz Elegant Flourishes
Other
Paper Flower spryed with Dylusions
Brad

Card One
Core Color  Card "Aqueduct"

Card Two
Silver card
Salty Ocean Distress Ink on dress
Broken China Distress Stain & Ink around the edge of white base card
Base card - Anna Marie Super Smooth, Super White, Printer Card
Alcohol ink on brad

Domino Birthday Book

A while ago I took part in a domino swap and I had coloured quite a few dominoes in the process that I didn't use. So I decided to use a couple of them to make a birthday book rather than a card. I had used alcohol inks to colour the dominoes and so I coloured a match box with the same colours although the result was much more golden.

Domino Book Recipe
Paper
90gsm copier paper
Inks
Alcohol inks - Cranberry, Lettuce, Gold Mixative
Ranger archival Coffee
Ditstress Inks - Victorian Velvet, Vinatge Photo
Stamps
Script - PaperArtsy MN44
Queen For A Day - maker unknown
Leaves - maker unknwmn
Swirls and flower stamps - Crafty Individuals
Other
Wrap Connectors
Matchbox
Flat back pearls

Chill out!

This stamp just cried out for a sunrise/sunset. Take your pick as to which it is!  

Card Recipe

Card

Cream linen card from Craft Creations

Black Bling Bazzill

Ink

Distress Inks - Scattered Straw, Dried Marigold, Spiced Marmalade, Vintage Photo

Ranger Archival Jet Black

Stamp

Stamp Addicts - Sunday Morning SA - 5014

Other

Sentiment - computer generated using Typewriter font

Fares please!

I made this for my brother-in-law who thought he was getting his bus pass on his birthday. However  it transpires that the powers that be have moved the eligibility date in line when women born in 1951 retire and he can't now apply till sometime early next year. Nevertheless he was so pleased to receive a very personal card. We found the picture of his local bus on the internet together with the bus timetable.

Card Recipe
Card/paper
Anna Marie Super Smooth Super White Printer Card
Nitwits paper
Green Core-ordinations card
Ink
Distress Ink - Vintage Photo, Peeled Paint
Other
Sentiment - Computer generated - Typewriter font
Photo of bus, timetable and ticket all downloaded from the web

Floating Butterflies

I made my first exploding box for a friend's birthday. Her reaction - "It's the most beautiful card ever!" I wouldn't go that far but I was really happy with it. Apparently it had its own display table in her house. I may find it difficult to top this when her birthday comes round again!

 

Exploding Box Recipe

Card

Pearlescent Black Bazzill Card

Silver card

Xerox Colortech+ white card

Inks

Distress Ink - Picked Raspberry, Shaded Lilac, Salty Ocean

Ranger Archival Jet Black

Stamps

Butterfly - Crafty Individuals CI-296

Seed Head - PaperArtsy HP1005

Other

Acetate

Glitter

Tim Holtz Tag Challenge - November

Another month of deviating from Tim's original to use what I have to hand in my craft room. As I don't have a small leaf die I cut leaves with the Tim's "Tattered Leaves" die and then printed them onto card at half sized before cutting them out and using as templates for my coloured card. I used the same technique for the acorn.
Here's Tim's November tag  and here's my version -

Tag Recipe 
Card
Anna Marie Designs Super Smooth, Super White, Printer Card
Shades of Core'dinations & Bazzill card 
Inks/EP
Distress Inks - Black Soot, Walnut Stain, Crushed Olive, Rusty Hinge, Fired Frick, Weathered Wood, Wild
Honey, Pumice stone
Distress Stains- Walnut Stain, Wild Honey, Peeled Paint, Fired Brick
Ranger Archival Jet Black
Versamark
WOW Clear Gloss Superfine Embossing Powder
Stamps
Grass - Stampotique
Letters - Hero Arts LL931 Signature Lowercase Letters 
Dies/masks
Sizzlets Acorn
Tim Holtz Tattered Leaves
Mask - The Crafter's workshop - Mini Circle Explosion TCW278s  
Other
Seam Binding
Button twine
Glossy Accents

Texting a Happy Birthday!

I used a Cardmaking Paradise template to make this mobile phone card for a friend's teenage son.

Card Recipe
Red hammered card from Craft Creations
Black card
Silver paper
Safmat
Pen-Touch calligraphy silver pen
Silver cord
Charm

Gone Fishin'

Our eldest grandson spends a great deal of time sitting on a riverbank with his maternal grandfather fishing, so this stamp from Stamp Addicts seemed appropriate for his tenth birthday card together with a log book to record his catch or even the one that got away!

If you want to make the effect of ripples on water use a woodgrain mask, it works a treat.

Card Recipe
Card
Xerox Colortech+ white card
Cream hemp card from Craft Creations
Brown card
Green card
Stamps
Stamp Addicts - Gone Fishin' SA-5013
Inks
Distress Inks - Pumice Stone, Spiced Marmalade, Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans, Barn Door, Scattered Straw
Versafine Vintage Sepia
Other
Woodgrain Mask

Notebook Recipe
Card
Greyboard
Colortech+ white card
Paints
Gesso - Claudine Hellmuth
Black Eco-friendly Acrylic Paint
PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Paints - Ice blue, Satin Glaze
Inks
Distress Inks - Chipped Sapphire, Dusty Concord, Pumice Stone
Versafine Onyx Black
Stamps
Stamp Addicts - Gone Fishin' SA-5013
Other
Woodware chipboard alphabet letters
Keyring holder
Bind-it-all wire

Butterflies

I rarely start with a plan when I make anything which is probably a good thing. However for this card I decided to make a project in July's Craft Stamper but some of my stamping went awry and it was back to my usual let it evolve scenario.

Card Recipe
Card
Cream linen card from Craft Creations
Xerox Colortech+ white card
Red card
Inks
Distress Inks - Victorian Velvet, Wild Honey, Tumbled Glass, Shabby Shutters
Versamark
White embossing powder
Stamps
Script - A Stamp in the Hand - Background Text Medium N-1772
Flourish - Crafty Individuals CI - 182
Splats - PaperArtsy mini MN72
Celebrate from Popcorn the Bear plate PST-SML
Other
Butterfly mask cut from Spellbinders die
Flower from Joanna Sheen
Button coloured with alcohol ink
Button twine from The Ribbon Girls
Flat back pearls

Framed Cupcake

For our grand daughter's seventh birthday card I used a template for a 3D framed card from Cardmaking Paradise. The Marianne die for the cupcake and candles was a bargain from August's Stamperama. Thank you to my Cardmaking Paradise forum friend for pointing me in its direction (or should that be die - rection!).

Card Recipe
Green dotty card from Craft Creations
Cupcake and candle die - Marianne LR0160
Distress Ink
Copic markers
Sakura Yellow Gelly Roll Glaze pen
Glossy Accents

Highlighted!

In August's edition of Craft Stamper magazine there was an article by Paula Whittaker using the humble highlighter to create a simple background. I love the results using this medium and decided to keep the cards clean and simple and let the subject do the talking.

And I made a notebook as well.

Recipe
Card
Xerox Colortech+
Ink
Highlighters pink and yellow
Walnut Stain Distress Ink
Rangers Archival Jet Black
Stamp
Seed head - PaperArtsy HP1005
Sentiment - Personal Impressions Mix and Match  PICSA6070

In the pink!

I wanted to create a bright and cheery card for someone returning home from a hospital operation and Picked Raspberry and Peacock Feathers Distress Inks were just the ticket!

Card Recipe
Paper
Xerox Colortech+ card
Inks
Distress Inks - Picked Raspberry, Peacock Feathers
Ranger Archival Jet Black
Stamps
Dots Background -The Artistic Stamper
Flowers - Crafty Individuals - CI - 206
Words - PaperArtsy - HPXT03
Other
Ribbon coloured with Picked Raspberry Distress ink

It's time to start catching up!

I've been very lackadaisical blogging for the past couple of months and haven't posted any of the cards I've made in that time, so it's time to make amends.

Distress Inks were used for the background and dots and I added white dots all around the larger dots - very therapeutic! The flowers were stamped, coloured with Copic markers and cut out individually.

Card Recipe
Card
Anna Marie White Smooth Card
Xerox Colortech+
Black card
Inks
Distress Inks - Peacock Feathers, Squeezed Lemonade, Picked Raspberry
White Zig Posterman pen
Stamps
Crafty Individuals - CI 206
Hero Arts Zinnia Bloom E3346
"Celebrate" from Crafters Companion Popcorn the Bear Set PST-SML
Other
Spellbinders die
Black flat backed pearls

Tim Holtz Tag Challenge - October

As I don't "do" Halloween I gave my October tag a Christmas theme. A far amount of  improvising was called for as I have very few of the ingredients that Tim used. I don't have any printed tissue so I made my own using a script stamp. Nor do I have any large letter dies so I stamped Merry Christmas, put some double sided adhesive sheet over the top before cutting out and applying crystal glitter which I had coloured a lovely pale blue with "Aqua" alcohol ink. Much less messy than using Glossy Accents! The snowflake is attached to the sentiment by a thin thread so it hangs freely.

Tim's October tag is here and this is my offering -

Tag Recipe
Paper/card
White card
PaperArtsy Crackle Tissue Paper
Inks/Paints
PaperArtsy Fresco Finish  Paints - Ice Blue, Mermaid, Inky Pool
Adirondack Metallic Dabber - Pearl
Distress Ink - Broken China, Vintage Photo
Versafine - Majestic Blue
Archival - Jet Black
Distress Stain - Broken China
Alcohol Ink - Aqua, Caramel
Stamps
Crafty Individuals - Snowflake
Stampers Anonymous - Merry Christmas
Die
Spellbinders - Snowflake
Other
Crystal glitter
Double sided adhesive sheet
Metallic thread
Paper clip
Seam binding
Eyelash fibre
Calendar image from the internet

Chick, Chick, Chick, Chicken........

Sara at Cardmaking Paradise designed a  template for a chicken card. Instead of making a card
I pushed the envelope a bit and created a hanging!
This is my first venture into canvas "paper" and as time was against me I was reluctant to take any chances by adding additional decoration to the background. I feel it could have done with some abstract stamping and stencilling but I'm sure, knowing my luck, it would have all gone pear shaped and I wouldn't have had time to put it right. As the blue was too blue I went over it with a light wash of gesso and that's when I should have done some stamping - between those two layers of paint.

 

 

Hanging Recipe
Paper
Crawford & Black Canvas
Grey board
Paper Artsy Crackly Tissue Paper
Copier paper
Recycled envelopes
Overton House scrapbooking paper
Paints/Inks
Paper Artsy Fresco Finish  Acrylics - Snowflake, Ice Blue, Inky Pool
Claudine Hellmuth gesso
Old Paper Distress Ink
Archival ink - Jet Balck
Memento - Tuxedo Black
Copic markers
Stamps
Sun - Craft Stamper freebie
Paper Artsy Top & Tails 3 - SITT3
Other
Jump rings
Chain
Text - computer generated 

Tim Holtz Tag Challenge - September

The month thief seems to have snatched another one from my life! I'm way behind blogging my makes and I hope to do some catching up over the next few days.
It now seems to be the norm that I get my challenge tag made at the eleventh hour. I didn't have any of the embellishments that Mr Holtz used for his September tag but I didn't let that deter me and set the grey matter to work to find substitutes. Tim's is here and here is mine -

Tag recipe
Card/paper
Xerox Colortech+ card
Copier paper
Metal tape
Acetate
Inks/paints
Alcohol inks - Gold Mixative, Stonewashed, Ginger, Pitch Black
Distress Inks - Black Soot, Old Paper, Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo
Stazon - Jet Black
Archival - Jet Black
Brown acrylic paint
Stamps
Pen nib - Paperartsy MN07
Film strip from Paperartsy plate HP1005
Other
Typewriter - web image
Sentiment - computer generated
Photocopy of dictionary page
Chipboard cogs
Tag
Staples

The Craft Barn Blog Candy

 

To find out how this wonderful selection of goodies could be yours pop over to The Craft Barn blog.

Blackboard easel

Our eldest grandson starts middle school next week - it seems no time at all since he started his school days! I made this easel card using a template from Cardmaking Paradise. A very simple card to make - can't say that the lettering was easy though . This is after my the sixth attempt and I think my school report would say "still room for improvement"!

Card recipe
Card
Woodgrain effect card
Black card
Other
Clip art image
Gelly Roll white pen
Paperartsy Fresco Finish Satin Glaze

Tim Holtz Tag Challenge - August

For such a small project there wasn't a square inch left on my desk by the time I'd finished. I think I must have got out every crafting possession in the making of this tag!

Here's Tim's tag and here's my August offering -

Tag recipe
Card
Xerox Colortech+
Core-dinations card
Upcycled envelopes
Inks/paints
Alcohol inks
Distress Inks - Forest Moss, Rusty Hinge, Peacock Feathers, Broken China, Worn Lipstick, Wild Honey, Tattered Rose, Vintage Photo, Old Paper
Archival ink - Jet Black
Paper Artsy Fresco Finish - Mermaid
Detailed black embossing powder
Cosmic Shimmer - Rich Gold
Stamps
Leaves from the Stitchels Dashy Dot ST002 set by The Artistic Stamper
Crafty Individuals CI-335
Dies/embossing
Leaves cut from Marianne's Bird on a Branch die
Spellbinders oval dies
Flower punch
Craft Concepts Venus embossing folder
Other
Seam binding
Pearls
Charm
Safety pin
Sentiment - computer generated - font Typewriter

Subtle to Bright

During the Olympics I spent most of my time in front of the television cheering on Team GB and at times when things got a little tense just peering out between my fingers! However I did make a quick trip to my craft room to make a thank you card. Well the intention was that it would be quick but it took three attempts to the make a background that I was happy with! The best laid plans......

Card Recipe 
Card
Craft Creations Centura Pearl Snow White
Xerox Colortech+
Purple card
Stamp
Tim Holtz script from Papillion CMS106
Inks
Versamark
Shaded Lilac Distress Ink
Other
White detail embossing powder
Spellbinders butterfly die cuts
Flat back pearls
White Zig Posterman pen

Life seemed a bit dull once the Olympics were over so it seemed a good time to brighten things up by cracking open my new Dylusions ink sprays and inject some colour into my work space. I started by making the Linda Elbourne project in August's Craft Stamper. I only used the inks on the background - the flowers are coloured with Copics. It's a rubbish photo but my scan didn't show the true colours. The card is square!

Card Recipe
Card
Anna Marie white smooth card
Xerox Colortech+
Black card
Inks
Dylusions - Cut Grass, Pure Sunshine
Memento - Tuxedo Black
Copic markers
Broken China Distress Ink
Stamps
Hero Arts - Daisy Style E3272 & Zinnia Bloom E3346
Crafty Individuals CI-206
Other
Zig Posterman white pen
That Special Touch mask - Large Polka
Sentiment - computer generated - font Anklepants

Friendship Bunting

I really enjoyed making this line of bunting for a forum friend. It was much more vibrant in real life.

Bunting Recipe
Card/Paper
Xerox Colortech+
Copier paper
Inks
Versafine - Onyx Black
Archival - Jet Black
Distress Inks - Shaded Lilac, Picked Raspberry, Squeezed Lemonade, Peacock Feathers
Copic markers
Stamps
Crafty Individuals - CI-206, CI-277, C-I182
Paper Artsy - mini script, mini circles SM15
Small Butterfly - Darkroom Door
Large Butterfly - Craft Stamper freebie
Masks
Crafter's Workshop - Mini Harlequin
That Special Touch - Large Polka
Other
Flower sentiments - computer generated
Butchers twine
Beads

Spots and stripes.

The papers I used on this easel card are a very delicate soft lilac colour but the photo makes them look grey. The bird is paper pieced.

 

Card Recipe
Card/Paper
Xerox Colortech+
Helidot Fairy Paper Pack
Ink
Memento - Tuxedo Black
Stamps
Personal Impressions - Swirly Birds PIC013
Personal Impressions - Mix and Match Sentiments PICSA6070
Dies
Nellie Snellen Square
Tim Holtz Tattered Florals
Other
Flat backed pearls