Shabby Chic mini album

(Heavy photo post warning)

Hello there, I am back again but still haven’t found my crafting mojo? I am still looking as I type this.

I was recently asked to make something pretty for a special girl who is turning 11 this weekend. I thought I would make a mini album which turned out a ‘shabby chic’ mini album due to the colours of the papers I used. These were the Signature Blueberry Hill range from Papermania. I have had them for ages and didn’t know what to use them for.

page 1

page 2, good old Tim Holtz birdcage die

page 3 , with a photo mat booklet that will allow Grace to add pictures and personalise her album

and finally page 4

The gorgeous images I used were found at:  http://magicmoonlightfreeimages.blogspot.com

I think that I have probably broken every ‘shabby chic’ rule if there is such a thing! But I tried. I am sure Grace will love it. It is very mini at only 4 pages, and very bulky (see I told you I broke the rules), but hopefully it passes as something near to lovely. It’s simple and there is only one pearl on the whole project!!! Can you see where?

A little but of lace and distress inks, some glittery butterfly trails and smidgen of glossy accents.

Thank you for coming over and having a peep at my project, if you find my mojo will you please tell it to come home ASAP lol

Sharon xxx

Simple Ladies Birthday Card

Hello fellow crafters how are you all? Have you had a nice summer? It has been a while since I have posted anything on my blog as I lost my crafting mojo!! I have missed crafting but other things are taking over at the moment. However, I needed to make a quick card today and wanted to make something simple.

This is very new to me, no distressing, no tearing, no cuttlebug, but I really like the effect I managed to get with this.

Is it too simple?



Same stamped image inside.

 I scored the card twice at the bottom for the ribbon to sit in neatly. I have seen this done on other peoples cards and liked it, so  I guess I borrowed the idea lol .

I used an Autumn Leaves stamp by Rhonna Farrer (Word Flourishes).  Some ribbon and a few coloured pearls and hey presto!! Like most things I make, this has kind of inspired me to have a go at a few more simple but elegant cards. Just until my vintage mojo comes back to me you understand. I don’t think it will take too long though, it did take me all of my time not to ‘add’ anything else to this card!! It very nearly had a punched out butterfly in the top left hand corner but I resisted. I like the simplicity of the pretty inked stamp image against the ribbon trim. There are 9 word flourishes in this pack, I think I might have to have a little play with colours, all based on this card and see what I can do.

Thank you for having a look,

Sharon xxx



Vintage Criss Cross Card xx

Here is my latest card, not made for anyone in particular although I am sure it will go to a loving home.

I don’t know about you but I love to spend time blog hoping looking at other peoples creations.  I’m often amazed and inspired by others gorgeous cards, mini albums, tags and art. It is really lovely to see other peoples style and flair. And let's be honest, there is sooo much out there. This card was inspired by one I recently saw over on Jane’s blog: http://janeslovelycards.blogspot.com/2011/06/100.html

She had made it for a lady who had just turned 100!!! Wow. I have never made a criss cross card and so googled it to find a tutorial and found one here: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/criss_cross_card/

Isn’t it fab what you can find on google? I love it. So, with a vintage theme in mind here is my card

I really enjoyed making it, and although it was my first time making a criss cross card it was also the first time I tried ‘Glimmer Mist’ too!!! Whoops. I thought I had sprayed the lovely flowers very lightly but I seemed to get an awful lot of ‘Glimmer’ lol. Any ways, I loved them so they got stuck on.

Here is an image of the tag that goes inside the card, I thought the sentiment and the word ‘Treasure’ speaks volumes for friends. The image was from one of my Crafty Individual mini books. I realise I have been using them a lot in my project but they are so versatile. Can I convince anyone of you that I really do have lots and lots of CI stamps too!!  Te he

And, just to finish I would like to say that I did try and put a lighter colour organza ribbon on the card but it just didn’t look right. So, out came the old favourite of mine, chocolate brown!!  I know, I know, I said in my last post I was going to try and use different colours. But this looked so pretty! I also sanded back the image and used distress inks to make it look sepia!! Well I tried!

Thanks for having a look and thanks to Jane for the inspiration

Now then, does anyone have the measurements for criss cross mini cards?????

Sharon xx

Recycled cardboard tag for the City Crafter Challenge x

Hello there, well it is a beautiful day here today, I hope you are all having some lovely weather too; the sun always makes me smile.


Today's post is another challenge entry, this time for City Crafter. The challenge this week is to use some recycled cardboard and paint. Well that's a challenge I had to go for.

I had noticed on my blog, I have fallen into the habit of using very similar colours in all my projects!! Whoopsy. I guess I'm still discovering my style, and stick to what I think looks good. SO. . . with this challenge I decided to pick a new colour and try and stick with it. And the inspiration came from Rangers bundled sage green distress ink, its soooooo pretty. And here it is:

 

I used some cardboard off a craft parcel I received just two days ago, peeled off some of the top covering, tore it, and painted it with gesso. I coloured this with bundled sage, tattered rose and vintage photo distress inks.  I then mounted that onto a cardboard background that had been covered in rangers picket fence coloured crackle paint, and inked again with rangers bundled sage and vintage photo.

The heart also got the same treatment as the background, and the flourish was covered with vertigre embossing powder. The image is a Crafty Individuals one from the Miniatures Christmas book.  I do think the angel looks very spring like; the colour just suited the tag so much. I'm sure she doesn't look too festive on this tag lol. The frame was coloured with vintage photo ink (isn't it funny how on some surfaces the colour is so very different!) A touch of beautiful lace, a flower and a green organza bow to finish it off.

I thought long and hard about putting on a sentiment or word, but decided it didn't need it. Hope you like it. You can see this and all the other entries over on City Crafters blog here:

http://citycrafter.blogspot.com/2011/05/city-crafter-challenge-blog-week-59.html

Thank you for taking the time to pop over and have a peep. 

Sharon xx



Our Vintage Affair Challege / Vintage style 'Napkin Folded Card'

I really enjoyed taking part in the challenge over on the Crafty Individuals blog site recently, so when I noticed that 'Our Vintage Affair' blog was running one I thought I would have a go. May's challenge is asking for entries that are based on a napkin folded card  in a vintage style. You can see how to make these cards here:

 http://stampartic.blogspot.com/2010/11/folding-card-tutorial.html

I have to say, as a novice who often takes hours to make cards this one was epic. The measurements have to be spot on, and as I don't have a score board I had to use the groove in my old fiskars paper cutter!! I find it is rubbish for cutting paper but handy for scoring card.

Another problem I had was taking the photographs of the card, the light just didn't seem to show it in it's true colours. The card is actually quite pretty and the colours soft and muted. Any way's, here it is:

I found the vintage image over on http://oldphotoalbum.blogspot.com, I think it is gorgeous and I was really pleased to have stumbled across the blog.  I wish I could remember where I bought the lace from because I love it on this card. Lots of peals, organza ribbon and lace, and not forgetting distress ink, it's so me.

I took this picture on the kitchen work top (still trying to find light that would show it's true colours!)

And here is the card all opened up, it was hard work, but worth it. I can see me making some more of these cards,I think it suits the vintage theme well. I have made it for a friend so if she sees it on here before I give her it, whoopsy!! I needed to get on here to make the challenge deadline. I am sure she will love it xx

You can see all the entries over on:

http://ourvintageaffair.blogspot.com/2011/05/may-card-challenge.html

Thanks for taking the time to pop across and have a look.

Sharon xx

Crafty Individuals May Challenge, 'Free as a Bird'

Today's post is my entry into the Crafty Individuals May challenge. The theme for this month is 'Free as a Bird'. I had seen over on http://paperblessings.blogspot.com/2008/12/quick-mini-albums.html a project for making a mini album with one sheet of 12 x 12 paper so I thought this would be the ideal project for this challenge as I wanted to have a go at making it, and wanted to keep my entry simple.

I have used one of Crafty Individuals Die-Cut mini frames and stamped it with the CI 194 music plate. I then used Tea Dye distress inks to darken it. The image is from one of the people and places mini books and the words 'Fly Free as a Bird' from plate CI-287.

The metal flower was from a necklace I had that was broken!! I had saved it for ages because I knew it would come in for something. I don't think my metal bird is very pretty, bless it, in fact I think its a seagull !! Well I do live in a sea side resort so I guess I can just about get away with that. And to be honest I couldn't find any pretty bird charms in the local shops.


I used the Tea Dye distress ink on all of the the project. I have kept it simple so I can give it as a gift for someone to add photographs and journaling. The album actually stands like a card too, i think it would be lovely in wedding papers, don't you? Oh well . . . . . . that's a project for another day!!!

The 12 x 12 paper is from Graphic 45, Baby 2 Bride collection, and the edge of the album and again on the inside of the pages I used some Core' dinations card stock. I ran this through the cuttlebug and then sanded it back to reveal the lighter colour core. I made the tags with cream card stock, again leaving them plain! Having said that I really wanted to stamp them up, but as I don't know who I'm going to give this to and for what occasion thought better of it.

And the inside, just crying out for some photographs!! Hmmmmmmmmmm perhaps I should keep this one for myself!!

You can see all the entries over on Jeans Crafty Individuals Blog, see link below:

http://craftyindividualsblog.blogspot.com/

Will be back soon, I have nearly finished a card that I really want to share with you all, it took me ages to make!!! Even though it claimed to be a simple one!! I am really enjoying this blogging lark, and love that people from all over the world can pop over to have have a peep. It's so nice that people leave such lovely comments too, thank you xx

Sharon xx

Mans vintage birthday card and CI Challenge.

Hello everyone, hope you all had a lovely Easter. I haven't had time to make anything in this last few weeks, however it's my boyfriends birthday on Saturday so I thought I should make him a card! I am lucky because he has shown an interest in my work and quite likes it phew!!

I based the card on one I made at a class taught by Sue Abbott about 2 years ago, in fact I think it was one of the first cards I made when I first got into craft classes. Its a bit crumpled now, poor thing, but below is a picture of the card made all that time ago. A perfect card template to make to fit any occasion, even if it is 2 years old!

Using the card above for inspiration and having decided I was going to make my boyfriend a card I realised I didn't have any suitable male themed stamps! Luckily I remembered the lovely Crafty Individual images in the little books they do (People and Places.)  My boyfriend lives away and travels up to see me on the train, these images were perfect. 

Below is the final card I made for him, no flowers, no pearls, no lace, but I did manage to get some organza ribbon on it!!

A close up of the front image, the clock stamp was a freebie of the Craft Stampers magazine

And here is the inside of the card, the sentiment is on CI 236 stamp

Its really very simple and plain, I just hope he likes it.

And finally, I was really thrilled today when I received an email from Jean at Crafty Individuals letting me know I was one of the 5 winners of their first ever blog challenges! It was for my altered box entry into the April challenge. This was my first entry into a challenge, so I am  really, really, happy. You can see all the winners over at jeans blog, see below

http://craftyindividualsblog.blogspot.com/

All that's left for me to do is pick one of their gorgeous stamps for my prize, soooooo many to choose from. Oooo and hope my boyfriend doesnt peak at my blog before he comes to see me on Thursday!!

Sharon x

Mini Pocket and Tag Album

Today I'm posting some photographs of a mini pocket and tag album we made in class yesterday at Grimsby Crafts. The Thursday morning class is taught by Sue Abbott and you can see some of her gorgeous work if you click on the link below:

http://sue-paperparadise.blogspot.com/

The little mini albums were so quick to make, which is a bonus for me because it usually takes me at least 3 hours to make anything to do with crafts!! They were also fab because you needed very little to make them! Only two sheets of A4 paper for the pockets, 2 sheets of A4 card for the tags, a strip of good quality patterned paper for the cover and a piece of ribbon!!! How great is that for using up all those bits you have left over from other projects? Of course the cover is where you can go to town, and I can see you making these mini albums for all kinds of things. I already a few ideas already for a couple more I want to make up, but that's for another day lol.

Anyways, here is the book

Sue always encourages us to do add our own flair and ideas in class but my flair seems to leave me the minute I walk into the class!! So, mine was finished at home with a Crafty Individuals word stamp and then covered with glossy accents. I really do need to find some one line sentiment stamps for my work, I think they really add a lovely finish, even though I love my CI words.

And now for my interpretation:

OK, it is time to take a deep breath, I know it's very early, ......................and I am sorry, ............................but I had this fab idea for a ................................................................................

Vintage Christmas' album!!!

 I'm giggling as I write this, I think I must be going mad. SO, here is my early festive interpretation

Do you think it looks vintage? I always thought I knew what vintage looked like until I tried to get the look right. I hope it does.

I found the image online at 'Go Make Something.'  The frame in from Tattered Angels, I embossed this with gold and vertigre embossing powders. The flowers are hand made out of the gold paper that I also used to make the pockets with, I rubbed the edges with good old distress ink in vintage photo. Ooo and I used organza ribbon instead of a satin one, organza ribbon is so pretty. I stamped the tag corners with a freebie CI stamp I recieved with an order (Thank You xx), and then embossed it with gold to try and make them look vintage, I did like the way they turned out. The tags have been left ready for photographs or journaling. I'm not sure if I am going to keep this for myself or give it as a gift!!

Right, I think I need to relax this weekend. Only a week into blogging and I think I may have gone slightly over the top.

Have a lovely weekend
Sharon xx

Crafty Individuals 'Simply Square' Challenge!!

So here is my second attempt, at my first attempt, of entering a blog competition!! I thought long and hard about the simply square challenge, and decided to alter a square box that had originally had a gorgeous silver ring in it, given to me on mother’s day by my lovely daughter. If I am honest I usually throw the boxes into a bedroom draw and they stay there for eternity (I do wear the jewellery though), so by altering it, perhaps it will stay on show somewhere.

Here is the box before I made a start on it. 

I wanted to try and keep it vintage looking, and pretty so I hope I have achieved that.It was all plain and just ready to be crafted into something fab. Oooooo and I should of said, I thought I would stick to the mother / daughter theme too as the gift came from my daughter whom I am very proud of xx

I started by painting it all over, both inside and out, with white gesso and then rubbed it with various distress inks to give it some colour. I then rubbed the edges with vintage photo distress ink to try to make it look, well, distressed!! For the top of the box I used a Crafty Individual image from one of their printed people and places books. I sanded it down just to take some of the light shine of it. I framed this with one of the Crafty Individuals die cut frames. I stamped it with the CI-116 stamp to make it look crackled. I then coloured it with distress inks and triple embossed with clear powder to give it a slight gloss.

I added some flowers, and a couple of tiny punched out butterflies with the smallest pearls for the bodies and of course a word from the CI-156 plate (with added glossy accents to the top.) I then put some lace around the edges, distressed and aged that with vintage photo distress ink and that was it finished.

I think I might make a mini accordion book to fit inside it, but that’s for another day!!

Sharon xx

Crafty Individuals Angel Tag

Yesterday I was going to attempt to enter my first ever blog competition. Over on Crafty Individuals, Jeans Blog, they are hosting their first ever competition. Anyways, as simple as the project matter was, Mine didn't quite work out!!! So, after stamping the image three times, cutting out card, and realising it was never going to work I decided to use 'some' of the stamped images to make a tag instead. I really like tags, not sure what to do with them, but they do look so pretty.

I started by painting the whole tag with crackle paint and then rubbing over 'tea dye' distress ink to age it a bit. The stamped image is the Crafty Individuals CI-086 plate. I stamped it in brown Staz On and coloured it in by painting it with Tim Holtz distress inks. I also stamped the image in a watermark ink so I could emboss the gates in gold.

I took this closer shot so you could see the image and crackle glaze better. I love how old this makes the tag look. The green lace on the bottom of the tag is from Running with Scissors and the organza ribbon in the top, and the tag die was from Grimsby Crafts. Its amazing to think its a plain piece of brown cardboard under all that altering!! Ooooo I do love crafting.

Sharon xx

Vintage Cards and Tags

Ok, so here goes, my first pictures and blog!!

Here are some cards that I made at a recent class I attended at Grimsby Crafts, taught by Sue Abbott. These are the first two we did in class, with lovely little tags.

How gorgeous are these? The images are from the little printed books at Crafty Individuals. The papers are from Basic Grey, Cappella and basics vocab. The frame in the first card was run through the cuttlebug. The words believe, cherish and friends are a Crafty Individuals stamp, stamped in stayzon ink and then glossy accents applied. I love the words with the glossy accents applied and now use them on most of my projects!! lol.

A couple of pictures took closer, loving the mini tags.

And below are the ones I made at home using the same techniques and papers. Not very different I know, but its my interpretation lol. I love the Capella papers and have used them to make several mini books and birthday cards since. Think they are my favourite at the moment. I will post pictures of the mini accordian books at a later date.

The colour is better on the last picture. The light was bouncing up of my fireplace in the sun!! The image was stamped using a Crafty Individuals stamp and coloured up using distress inks (rubbing the pad onto an old cd then using a watercolour paint brush to apply the ink.) The flower is a made up of a printed large one, I have forgotten who does them, and the top bit is a couple of circles punched out of the paper, scunched up to within an inch of it's life, and taaa daa, vintage and distressed flower!!

So, hope you enjoy. Any questions or comments welcomed. And happy mothers day to all you mums out there. I have been truely spoilt, and hope you are too xxxx

Give us a clue?? x

Ok

So people who craft tell me to start a blog!! Apparently its easy but I'm struggling. Help lol. I look forward to being able to post pictures of gorgeous crafty things that I have made. I'm always inspired by others, especially Sue at Paper Paradise (see blogs I follow for her fab work). In fact I always say my things are inspired by Sue and made by Shar xx Please be gentle with me, my spelling is rubbish and my grammar is worse lol.

Xxx

P.s is this spell check American?? Whoopsy xxxx