Time Flies

Hi Crafty Friends
Here is last week's card. I had intended doing a pretty Spring like card, but couldn't find the dies for it, so I had a quick change of plan and did this one. I'd made the sample some time ago so I was pretty much 'winging' (ha ha) it trying to remember all the details (and find the kit) at short notice.
Anyhoo - it all worked out ok, and we even finished early!

We started by stamping the background paper to get different looks for the panels; a great opportunity to get out a heap of grungy background stamps. Then on to the die cutting. I had originally intended to use an unbranded clock and cogs cluster die, but the clock was the wrong way round, so I made up my own collage from random bits. They were all coloured with gilding wax or gilding polish (except the butterfly). They look a lot more metallic in real life.
I hand wrote the sentiment out of desperation - having spent hours failing to find a 'time flies' stamp, or any stamps I could adapt. I thought I could put 'sorry I missed your birthday' inside.

Happy crafting
Jx

Sax Player

Hi Crafty Friends
Here at Serendipity Towers, the blossom is out and it's even been sunny, so it's been lovely to look out while crafting in the conservatory.
But when not admiring the trees, this is what we've been doing.

I love this sax player die, but I struggled to create a background for it. Having decided to have the music sentiment coming from the sax, I was committed to a square card, but without any other suitable dies/stamps the same size. Still, making what you've got do what you want is the name of the game.
In the end I went with an embossed brick panel and Sizzix skylines, and a lot of inking. It was good fun and in the end, quite quick to make.
happy crafting
Jx

doily card

Hi Crafty Friends

We're back, after a couple of weeks off, (while I vegged out on holiday) and this is what we've been up to.
It's a pretty straightforward layout, but there's a lot of die cutting and inking which slowed things down a bit.

I experimented with shaping the flowers in different ways and was quite happy with how these turned out.
happy crafting
jx

His and Her Cards

Hi Crafty Friends

Here are the club makes for the last two weeks.
After the challenge of the shadow box, I thought it was time for a more relaxing bit of die cutting, so this is what we made.
The frame is two die sets which I think go very well together. We embossed and inked the top one to bring out the lovely pattern.
The sentiment panel is also 2 unrelated dies which fit together.  The rolled roses are vellum.

We followed up this die-heavy feminine card, with a masculine card with no die cutting. Well, not on this example, at any rate, but I had a choice of owls for the embellishment and everybody opted for one or other of the dies, rather than do any colouring. Cutting the paper on the slosh to keep the pattern vertical, was new but it worked well. Then began the tricksy business of arranging the pieces in the embossed sections.

Luckily there was also plenty of time for cake -excellent lemon drizzle-  supplied by Trish.
Happy crafting
jx

Marathon-on Sea

Hi Crafty Friends
Here's the latest make from Serendipity Towers. It turned out to be a bit of a marathon, but I'm blaming Jackie 😀. She asked if we could do a shadow box with a seaside theme (to go in her caravan). I said I'd have a go when my frame die arrived, not imagining it would arrive the very next day!
The die makes a frame up to 20 x 20cm, but this one is only 15x15. I had a paper stack from The Works, all different wood effects, which we used to make the frame. We made our own backgrounds with the stamp/emboss/swipe method we've done before, and then it was on to the decorating. There was a lot of die cutting, stamping and colouring (and the ever unpopular hot glue gunning).
This size can easily be turned into a card, either by mounting on a tent fold 7" x7" card, or by making a book type cover for it. That was up to folks to do at home, as the box took all the time we had.

And now a little catch up. Here's the little shutter card which went awol a couple of weeks ago. Many thanks to Jackie who supplied these pretty papers.

Happy crafting
Jan

A card marathon

Hi Crafty Friends
It's a lovely sunny day and I thought I'd take advantage of it to photograph a few cards the club has been making.
This was the last one we did before Christmas. Some of us were disappointed not to be able to make a Z fold card at a class we go to, so I had a go at making one for us to do. It's 8"x8", which is a super large card for me, but I had fun doing it. Some of the poinsettia layers and the band are a gorgeous gold printed vellum which doesn't show up too well here (I'm such a rubbish photographer). And we used some fabulous chunky glitter (nail art stuff), which we are still finding here and there.

I'm a big fan of pyramid cards so every now and then the club has to indulge me. As we didn't get the chance to do a Christmas one, I thought I'd do one now. I really like the pale green, so refreshing after Christmas. I was so chuffed this filigree corner die fit so well; I think I'll be doing this again.

I absolutely loved making this next one. I was aiming for a man's card, and I think it came out suitable for the chaps. It did involve a bit of colouring in (on the small balloon), but paper piecing would also be an option.

Margaret asked if we could do another 3 page card, so this is what we did. 

We had a lot of fun experimenting with turnabout stamps. I really like them, and I think they'll be very versatile. As this was our first club session with them, we just did a few basic embellishments to finish the cards, so everyone managed to make 3 cards - it must be a club record! I think my favourite is the semi-circle one, but I'm also very taken with my new square 'happy birthday' die.

I had a lot of fun making this, but it proved a bit time consuming for the club. I should have known, what with the letter-pressing, die cutting and all the colouring and rolling up roses. Sorry to say most folks had to go home with homework!

I had a yen to make a shutter card (having only ever made one before - at Tracey's years ago). I found a template on Pinterest and just made it smaller (as I said, I'm not a massive fan of big cards). This one starts out as a piece of A5 card, so when it's folded, it's really dinky, but it opens up to a normal sized card. Luckily I had some suitably small envelopes. There were two versions, because I didn't have enough paper for us all to do the same. Unfortunately my second card has gone awol, so I'll have to add the pic when I get it back.

Phew! I think that's got us up to date.

Happy crafting

Jx

New Year

Hi Crafty Friends
Happy New Year to you all

Where did the last half of 2018 go? I can't believe I haven't blogged since July!
Well, finally in November, I moved back into my own house - even though it wan't finished (it still isn't!) It's good be back, but the packing, unpacking and sorting took their toll on crafting. An electrical problem meant the club couldn't meet for 4 weeks, and I spent most of the time heaving heavy boxes of stuff about - great for the weight loss!
But enough of this - we are now back and crafting.
Here are some of the cards we've made since my last blog

This is a lovely Inkylicious background stamp and Stampendous's Snow Bird (here disguised as a robin!)

Another outing for my large letter dies and a super stag stamp which was free with a magazine

I had fun with this shaker card. The tag die was from The Range, but I can't remember the make.

I really wanted to use this foiled background paper, which doesn't show up too well here, but is pretty in real life. The image is a combination of a Cardio stamp (the people) and, I think, a Hobby Arts stamp (the house etc), and a quick bit of shading with DIs.

Now for a dramatically different Christmas card. I Love this stained glass window die which I bought at a show (I think it's Britannia). So pleased it fits in my circular sentiment. And the sun ray embossing  folder (from Craftstash) carries on the theme nicely.

This is based on an idea of Debbie's. I love the 3D effect, and so easy to do.

This is inspired by Sue Wilson, but using different dies. (Tim Holtz, I think)

And here's one I totally invented myself! I love stepper cards, and Art deco and bling. This is a lot more sparkly IRL.

Have a very happy and crafty 2019
Jx