World Cardmaking Day on UK Scrappers

On the 3rd of October it's World Cardmaking Day and to celebrate we're going to have a few fun challenges over on UK Scrappers! There's prizes to be won too donated by the fantastic UK Scrappers sponsors! The event starts on Wednesday the 30th September up to World Cardmaking Day on Saturday the 3rd. To join in pop into the cardmaking forum on UK Scrappers (here) next Wednesday morning where the first challenge will be announced.

xx Leo

Shabby Chic

I love shabby chic, especially with regards to vintage elements. The way I like to think of shabby chic is to mix old with new so that's what I had in mind with response to this weeks daring card makers challenge....

I used a Jenni Bowlin journalling card and stitched on some vintage buttons, made the main embellishment with a piece of scrap packaging cut out with a nestabilities die and then embellished with some Sassafras Sweet Treats stickers. The bit of ribbon and string is tied around the card to hold on the button card and the embellishment glued on top to hold everything in place. The flowers I made with fabric. I also added a button to the envelope flap. It's a card and a gift in one I guess. I know if I got a card with buttons on I'd want to cut them off so why not make a card that is tailored to that anyhow and the recycling cool old stuff can continue :-D

I also made a shabby chic inspired envelope, I just thought why should a card always get the decorating, why not decorate the envelope and have a simple card inside {or do both!}. Might make a few people smile as it goes though the post too, got to be more fun than sorting all those ordinary white and brown ones?

Everything paperie is Sassafras and there's a little bit of woodgrain tape and buttons from my Quirky Kit.

xx

Home

I do love my interior design so I couldn't pass up a home inspired challenge over on Moxie Fab World, go check it out if you fancy a go & a peek at more home inspired projects it's here.

I decided to make notecards, I've been making a big stack of them just lately while I've got chance as I've completely run out and I like popping them in parcels. These were really simple to make, made just like the interior cards from a previous post. I freehand sketched the teacup and lamp shapes on to patterned paper, cut them out, reassembled them and popped them on a notecard - these are made on recycled packaging just chopped up to 4x6. Papers are a mix of October Afternoon, American Crafts and Sassafras.

xx Leo

Go check it out.....

Ribbon Oasis now have a new blog and if you pop along right now there's some ribbon candy on offer! Go check it out here, http://ribbonoasis.blogspot.com/2009/09/ribbon-candy.html

xx Leo

Merry Christmas!

Nope you haven't skipped a few months it's not Christmas yet, not even close really but I have been making sample Christmas cards all weekend. I also made this for a challenge over on Moxie Fab World you can check it out and have a go yourself here. There's always loads of cool cards to be inspired by :)

The challenge is to use stamps to make a festive holiday card/project. Now since I've been using new festive stash all weekend I figured I'd break out of that and make a holiday card without any particularly festive supplies. The card base was made from packaging and I picked out some yummy Sassafras Amplify papers to decorate it with. The robot stamp is an old BamPop one stamped on more packaging card and cut out. The little Santa hat I cut out from felt and then just added a bit of fabric, stitching and a pom pom. The bow is made from Jenni Bowlin crepe paper ribbon and I also added a bit more stamping using a date stamp. The ickle letter stickers are from My Little Shoebox.

xx Leo

Blog needs an update.....

Aggghh can't believe it's been so long since I updated my blog! Well it has been summer so I've been enjoying that in between being mega busy. I have been updating the Crafty Templates blog with a few things I've been making this past few weeks. I've also got some stuff to share I did a while back but haven't posted up yet......

I made myself a new noticeboard and turned some American Crafts Flair into push pins just by gluing flat topped push pins to the backs with a hot glue gun. I was thinking you could also do the same with buttons - will have to experiment!

A shaker card, I'm thinking shaker cards need to make a come back, I'm not sure if they ever went away though lol. Loads of American Crafts goodies on this one too. The shaker box I made with nestabilities. I cut a shape out from card, covered it with patterned paper then cut out a matching frame shape from thick card, layering that with a piece of acetate and then finishing it off by adding the same frame shape cut from paper to decorate it. The thickness of the card frame creates the shaker box so you need to make sure it's slightly deeper than what you're filling your box with - in this instance buttons. Oh and make sure you add your shaker bits before you stick it all together, nearly forgot that bit!

This is the card I did ages ago with my October Afternoon leftovers and it's in this months Cards mag! I was having a flick this morning there's loads more fab inspro in there defo recommend it. Took that photo in July when it was warm, wish it was that warm now I've already invested in my winter coat it's that cold! Brrrrr

I'm off to do some cards now so I should have something new to share, I've got a congratulations card to make and some samples to start for CT. Got a nice new box of Bazzill dotted swiss card to dip into - makes it so much more fun when you've got new stash to use doesn't it!

xx Leo

ETA Moley the base card I made with a piece of acetate cut into 10x7 and scored then folded in half. xx