Monday, 19 April 2021

Streetly Walking Market

 


Our Local area had 3 Walking Markets last year. I wasn't aware of the first 2. 
The third in December I walked around following the map and went to streets I hadn't been to before.

They were asking people to sign up to it and a friend had suggested I should do it last time. I have major confidence issues which only seem to get worse as I get older so I really didn't know if I could do it. 2 weeks ago I took the plunge and signed up...... GULP

The idea is you have a table at the end of your drive and it was from 10am to 2pm so not too long.

I had a lot of cards I had already made but they had no inserts, needed labels, bags and header cards so there was a lot of work that had to be done to get them ready for sale. There was lots of printing with leaflets for the table, smaller ones to go inside each card and then I did a leaflet drop on our street the night before. 

The weather was glorious (sunburnt with factor 30 on!) and the footfall wasn't particularly good. Might have been to do with it being a Sunday, rather good weather and the last day before kids went back to school. However it was a great experience for me as I was able to gauge the interest, see if my prices were okay, what sizes sell best that sort of thing.

Very importantly my contact details are out there for potential commissions. I added this to the Facebook page for the event and of course on all the leaflets. People were ver complimentary about my cards and how my display looked, professional packaging so I achieved what I set out to do.

The absolute best thing though is my little sister, who I have not seen since January 2020 came to visit me as a complete surprise. She lives 1.5 hours drive away and as lockdowns and UK travel restrictions have not allowed us to go out of our local area we have been unable to see one another. She works at a care home and has had to be very careful.

There I was chatting to a good neighbour and showing her my cards and up rocks my sister and brother in law. I cried like an absolute baby, I was literally a blubbering wreck. We are not supposed to hug people but there was absolutely no way that wasn't going to happen (she's had both jabs due to her job and has to test every shift and I have had my first so I consider that to have been a good assessment of risk)


I am the one in the colourful top and she was taking the mickey out of me as I am so much shorter than her and with grey hair..... This was about 5 minutes after she got there and I was still crying. She had seen my post on Facebook and came to buy a card. Honestly the best surprise ever. I knew I missed her but it wasn't until I saw her I realised just how much. The rest of the time passed in a blur!

The lady who has organised it said she wants to do one in September and another early December. After my experience this time I definitely would take part again. I met some lovely people and it wasn't as scary as I thought it would be.

at No comments:

Thursday, 15 April 2021

Retro Santa Claus

 


Over at The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up it is the Merry Maidens turn to showcase some fabulous Christmas cards.


This paper pack Miscellaneous Christmas Red & Gold designed by Decosse's Dynamite Doodles is up for grabs to the lucky winner who follows the Optional Twist if you use the  colours of Red & Gold as the focus of your card. 




This paper pack is gorgeous so you really want to win this one.

The Sponsor for this challenge is Taylormadecards4U who is offering a $10 certificate for digital items from the store.


This card has been made 100% fully digital as my printer seems to have a hard time with printing lots of red without it looking streaky. I will sure be glad when worldwide shipping and distribution gets back to normal as anything technological seems to be out of stock. The colour inkjet printers that are available are either cheap and nasty or way too high spec and overpriced for our needs. Every good one hubby looks at is out of stock and no one has details of when due back in. Hopefully as the world starts getting back to some sort of normality availability will improve.

The image set I chose is Retro Santa Claus as I particularly wanted to use the December 25 and Santa checking his list image.


I started by cropping the images from the sheet. I used the Amber paper from Foil Textures Festive Colours for matting and layering throughout.


This paper was the perfect compliment from my favourite patterned paper from the Miscellaneous Christmas Red & Gold set. The holly is so sophisticated.


I used a sketch from Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 for the layout and stretched it to make suitable for a rectangular card.


I made a ribbon using the Crumpled Chrome 1 paper and used a snowflake brad from the Snow Much Fun pack. I use these brads and snowflakes often in digital layouts as they are so handy.


The sentiment is from Holiday Hoopla Word Art Collection. I layered this onto some of the holly paper and used a gausian blur effect so it gives you the mottled background. I am loving playing with these digital effects.

I do hope you will take part in our challenge and look forward to seeing your creations.


Digital Card Details -


Size - A5

Digital Images - Retro Santa Claus Pack from Taylormadecards 4U

Digital Sentiment - Holiday Hoopla Word Art Collection (Decosse's Dynamite Doodles)

Digital Paper - Miscellaneous Christmas Red & Gold, Foil Textures Festive Colours, Crumpled Chrome 1   (Decosse's Dynamite Doodles)


I would like to enter this card into the following challenges (in Alphabetical Order)



Aud Sentiments - #272 Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiments Designs - Anything Goes

Digi Choosday - #15 Anything Goes

Polkadoodles - #15 Anything Goes

Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday - #487-488 Anything Goes

at 2 comments:
Labels: , ,

Monday, 12 April 2021

Make The Cards Featured Creator

 



I was recently a Featured Creator at Make The Cards Challenge with my Easter card and invited to be a Guest Design Team Member on the new challenge starting today which is to use Butterflies on your card.


Well any regular visitor to my blog knows I love me some butterflies.  I have many, many dies and stamps and countless papers of every colour so this was a very easy challenge for me.

For this card I just had to use my favourite butterfly die which is Statement Butterfly from Crafter’s Companion. It is quite a large size and definitely makes a statement.  There are 3 layers to it which you can use independently or combine them together as I have done here. The bottom layer is solid lighter blue cardstock, middle layer is navy cardstock and the top layer is an iridescent paper which I have added colour with a Distress ink pad. I like to leave the layers separated so you create lift and dimension.

I used a sheet of A4 navy card for the base and added some pretty blue paper which was a magazine freebie. The Intricate Lace Frame die from Crafter’s Companion cuts this beautiful delicate frame which is so pretty. The inside of this has been used as a mat for the sentiment which is a digi from a retired company McMahon Five Designs. I made a series of cards last year using this sentiment and butterfly with lots of different colour variations. It is particularly useful to cheer people up and spread hope in the dark days we have all experienced over the last year. 

I do hope you will pop over to the challenge blog and 'Make The Card' with a beautiful butterfly.

Card Details -


Size - A5

Dies - Statement Butterfly & Intricate Lace Frame (Crafter’s Companion)

Digital Sentiment - McMahon Five Designs (Retired)

Colouring Medium - Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad Denim

Embellishments - stick on gems



I would like to enter this card into the following challenges (in Alphabetical Order)



2 Crafty Critter Crazies - #49 Anything Goes With a Critter

A Bit More Time to Craft - #137 Anything Goes

Aud Sentiments - #272 Anything Goes

Cardz TV - #138 Anything Goes

CD Sunday Plus - #58 - Anything Goes with a Digital (sentiment is a digi)

Classic Design Challenge - #4 Anything Goes

Crafty Animals - #49 Anything Goes with an Animal or Insect

Crafty Sentiments Designs - Anything Goes

Creatalicious Challenges - #208 Anything Goes / Flowers

Dies R Us - #166 Anything Goes with a Store Brand Die (Gemini/Crafter's Companion)

Digi Choosday - # 14 Anything Goes

Gem of A Challenge - #8 Anything Goes

International Art & Soul - #106 Winged Creatures

Lemon Shortbread - #143 Anything Goes

Paper Shelter - #464 With a Sentiment

Polkadoodles - #15 Anything Goes

Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday - #485-486 Anything Goes

at 13 comments:
Labels: , ,

Wednesday, 7 April 2021

Lulu With Daffodil

 


It is time for another challenge over at The Paper Funday.
Our challenges are always Anything Goes with an optional twist. 
The twist this time is the theme 'Spring Has Sprung'



We are very fortunate to have 2 sponsors for each challenge this year which means we get to choose which artist we would like to work with. This really is great as it gives us double the choice. We are very lucky with the amazing sponsors that are lined up this year, many of which are old favourites and some are new to me.





I chose to work with this cute image Lulu With Daffodil from Paper Nest Dolls. I have been lucky to work with a number of Christine's images recently and I adore the sweet expressions on their faces.


I used this image to make a centrepiece in a card I was making for my Mother in Law's birthday. I have seen some wreath cards on my blog travels and thought it might make a colourful and different card for my Mother in Law. This year her birthday was the day before Mother's Day so the pressure was on to make not one but 2 spectacular cards for her.... the pressure is real people.

The base of the card is a sheet of green adorable scorable card from Hunkydory. It is a 350gsm good weight of card which was perfect for this as I wasn't sure if the flowers would make it top heavy. I experimented with the size of circle and made them 6.5 circumference in the centre and 8cm on the outside. I knew that compass I had kept in my stash would come in handy one day! I cut this from heavy weight card to provide a good solid base for the flowers. Once I had my circle I could then use this to cut the green card to match the shape and size. I then added some floral patterned paper and a matching white border.

The flowers are a mixture of pre-bought paper ones and then ones cut from flower forming foam using dies. There are some paper daffodils that I bought from Ebay a million years ago along with some fabric ones. I embellished with some gems and flower stamens. I can't lie, this took ages to put them together.

The Happy Birthday sentiment is a really ornate die from Crafter's Companion. I also used a butterfly die from Sizzix. I drew around the outside to create a solid mat in green and cut this with scissors. I added a flower stamen for the antenna and some small gems for the body. The 2 smaller butterflies are 3d stickers that came in a kit from QVC many years ago.


At this point the initial card was done and then I had the idea to use the image and make it into a spinner card. I wasn't completely happy with one of the flowers as it seemed too bright an orange compared to the other so I swapped this out and I am now much happier with the result.

I coloured Lulu with Promarkers and added some metallic highlights with a glitter marker from Spectrum Noir. I added some shading to the hair with Arteza pencils. The image has been coloured the same twice so I could use them back to back. I die cut them using a pretty scallop edge frame. I then added some clear thread in between and then fixed this to the top and bottom of the circle.

This is like nothing I have ever made before and was a real labour of love. My MIL loves my cards though so it is worth the effort for her.

I hope you will join myself and our fabulous team over at The Paper Funday

Card Details -


Size - 8” x 9.5”

Image - Lulu With Daffodil (Paper Nest Dolls)

Dies - Floral Wreath (Sizzix Thinlits), Box Large Die (Crafter’s Companion), Petite Posies (Crafter’s Companion) Clover (Crafter’s Companion) Happy Birthday Sentiment (Crafter’s Companion), Just a Note Butterflies (Sizzix). Crea-Nest-Lies XXL69 Dies (Crea-lies) Colouring Medium - Promarkers & Spectrum Noir Glitter Markers

Embellishments - Autumn Hues & Floral Bouquet Flower Forming Foam, Stamens, Paper Flowers, Paper Daffodils, fabric, self adhesive gems, Butterfly 3D Stickers, Clear thread



I would like to enter this card into the following challenges (in Alphabetical Order)





at 61 comments:
Labels: , , ,

Sunday, 4 April 2021

Signs of Spring

 





I love to take part in many challenges and have been very fortunate to have been included in a list over at 613 Avenue Create of some amazing crafters who have had so many featured projects last year that we are 2020 Master Rockers. I am truly honoured to have been included in such a talented bunch and we have been invited to be Guest Designer during the course of this year.


The challenge theme is always Anything Goes and the 
Optional Twist for April is: In The Garden, Create A Card for Spring

I have used some fabulous digital stamps from Kate Hadfield Designs to make a scene as the main focus of this card.


In this digital pack Signs of Spring there are lots of images that can be used on their own or combined to make a scene like this. I started off with the welly boot and puddle. I added daffodils, snowdrops, birds bees and a cute little smily worm. Finally as the weather constantly changes there is sunshine, clouds and rain as we never know what to wear for the best this time of year!

The image panel has been coloured with Twinkling H20's for the sky, Promarkers, metallic gel pens and clear glitter pen accents on the snowdrops and raindrops. This panel was then added to some plain yellow cardstock.



The paper are from the Spring Drop First Edition pad from Dovecraft. I used the patterned green on the cream cardstock base. A strip of the pastel stripe/dotty paper has been trimmed with some lilac and I added faux stitching with a gel pen. The pink is also from this paper and that was why I coloured the welly boot in pink (and added spots because all the best wellies have spots)

The flower trim is a pre-cut vinyl border that came on a roll from a poundshop long ago. I added some pearls and gems to the centres.

The glittery bees are stickers from the paper pad. The butterfly is a die from a set of 4 small ones from Marianne Creatables. It is such a pretty shape and you get a nice crisp cut. Finally the digital sentiment is from Daisy Doodles who used to make some lovely images and sentiments but are now retired.

In the last month or so in the UK we have had so many signs of Spring and on my walks I have really enjoyed seeing so many pretty flowers popping up and hearing the birds tweeting. We have even seen rabbits in the local park. I have always loved nature but this year it seems especially poignant to see this new life and re-birth to get rid of the sadness and anxiety that the last year has entailed. I hope the signs of Spring everywhere herald happier times for all.

I am truly honoured to be a Guest Designer this month at 613 Avenue Create. 
Thank you so much for asking me. 

Card Details -


Size - A5

Digital Images - Signs of Spring (Kate Hadfield Designs)

Digital Sentiment - Spring Has Sprung (Daisy Doodles Now Retired)

Die - 4 Butterfly set LR0158 (Marianne Creatables)

Papers - Spring Drop (Dovecraft First Edition)

Colouring Medium - Promarkers, Twinkling H20’s

Embellishments - Gems, pearls, Vinyl Die Cut Border, bee stickers from paper pad



I would like to enter this card into the following challenges (in Alphabetical Order)




at 50 comments:
Labels: , , ,

Thursday, 1 April 2021

Bug Brats Easter 01

 


It is the start of a new month and I am back with my DT hat on for 
The Freebie/Progressive Challenge at The Outlawz.



As long as you made a card with the March freebie you will automatically get the April image free. It is a fabulous way to use images from artists you many not have used before. Also sometimes the image is completely different to something you would normally use. It has been a good way for me to stretch my creativity and take me out of my comfort zone. 

I would highly recommend anyone who is not already taking part to jump in and have a go. We are a really friendly bunch at The Outlawz.



This month we are sponsored by Bugaboo Stamps



We have been given this image Bug Brats Easter 01 to play with. Easter cards are not something I tend to make very often but this is such a cute image. I am sure we all know a little girl who loves to dress up.

I coloured the image using a combination of Promarkers and pencils and then fussy cut with my favourite Fiskars embroidery scissors. They have short blades and are perfect for precision cutting. I popped the image up on thin foam pads.

The card base is a sheet of A4 card and I covered this with the green spotty paper. The glittery Easter egg paper is from the Spring Drop First Editions paper pad. I added a layer of pink gingham underneath. The image has been layered onto a stripy paper in pastel shades and I added the pale pink mat underneath.

The sentiment is from Scrap N Fonts. They don't seem to be around anymore which is a shame as they did loads of printables and sentiments which I have used over the years.

The 2 little fat chicks are from Birdie Brown. I was gutted when she stopped making digis as she had so many cute ones. She did however go on to design rubber stamps for some big companies so happy to see she is still designing.

Finally the banner is an old pre-printed banner from Let's Make Cards magazine. I used to subscribe to it many years ago and there are so many elements I still have that are used in cards to this day. Some bits were really good, some not so much. I was never into the cut and paste style of cardmaking that this seemed to do, always more interested in doing my own thing and not copying other cards. The banner was too big for the card so I did some careful trimming and used some small brads to join the sections together.

I hope we will see you enter our challenge at The Outlawz and look forward to seeing the entries using this image.

Card Details -


Size - A5

Digital Images - Bug Brats Easter 01 (Bugaboo Stamps) Chubby Chick 01 & 03 (Birdie Brown RETIRED)

Digital Sentiment - Scrap N Fonts (RETIRED)

Colouring Medium - Promarkers & Arteza Pencils

Paper - Spring Drop First Edition Pad (Dovecraft)

Embellishments - Brads



I would like to enter this card into the following challenges (in Alphabetical Order)




at 42 comments:
Labels: , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)