Card Making in January

My life has taken a busy detour just now so I am unable to blog as often as usual.  My 'free' time is constrained so I am taking advantage of spare time at the weekends to enjoy making cards or other 'mindless' activities purely for enjoyment.

I used various techniques to produce the cards above and am pleased with their simplicity.

Organising Paper Craft Scraps

Although I made a start on organising my craft supplies earlier in the year, I came to a standstill and never finished the job.  The task was so daunting that I put it to the back of my mind.  In the bedroom there is a huge laundry bag full of over spill from the craft room blocking one of the fitted wardrobes.  Today I decided to sort out that bag once and for all!

I used Ziploc bags to categorise my card and paper scraps into colour families.

This will make it so much easier to see what I have before buying any more paper stock.

I have grouped them as blue, purple, pink, red, green, yellow, orange, brown, neutral, black and metallic.  Later on I can sub divide them further but feel that is a good start.

Thank you for the messages and suggestions yesterday.  In the evening I watched Last Night at the Proms on the t.v rather than the usual X-factor or Strictly Come Dancing.  I found the music moving and rousing and it lifted my low mood.  I slept well ( no nightmares for once) and woke up feeling in a good frame of mind.  Also, I have found a project that I can't wait to start but will leave that to talk about another time.  Sorting and having a tidy up really does bring me clarity of thought.

Sorry the photos are unclear today.  Probably forgot to use macro on the camera!

Wabi-Sabi

Japanese Wisdom

Nothing lasts

Nothing is finished

 Nothing is perfect

Making Paper Bows

I checked my diary and apart from one torrential but short lived downpour of rain, the last six weeks have been hot, hot, hot, humid, oppressive and a complete hell hole!  I wish I could be one of those laid back characters who go with the flow and embrace the heat, but when your house feels like a furnace and the fans just blow hot air I feel as though I am going to combust.  It has been difficult to keep my bad mood in check and I am best left alone.

When I need to go to the shops I make sure to get out early and then get back into the house.  I have kept the curtains drawn (in the rooms where we have them) and tried to keep still as movement makes me feel nauseous and even hotter. Happily, I hear that the heatwave is going to break today.  I know that with the rain the humidity will increase but I can tolerate that one more night if we are rewarded with fresher air tomorrow.

I can't concentrate in the heat as my brain feels as though it is being cooked!  I lack productivity and get frustrated at wasting my time.  Yesterday and today, for fear of wasting any more time, I sat quietly at the dining room table and made some simple paper bows.  Satisfying and constructive to do I believe it was the catalyst I needed to get me out of a funk.

Floral Tags

I put aside some time to make some pretty floral tags.  They still need to have their ties threaded through but I am undecided on ribbon or twine or even both!

I enjoy the assemblage of making these tags.  I can relax my mind when I am stress free crafting.  It is fun putting them together and picking out which embellishments to use.  Such a shame that most people just throw the tags in the bin after use!  I think they could be used as a classy way of labelling boxes or old leather suitcases used to store love letters of the past...............

Shabby Chic Card

I am going through a 'shabby chic' phase.  I have so many beautiful paper embellishments and lace it seems a shame not to use them!  I am making this card for a very special person so I can't show the card in its entirety in case they are reading this!  I still need to add gesso and glitter highlights.  It has been fun to make but taken me best part of a day so far!

This month is my 9th anniversary of blogging.  Time certainly flies when you are having fun - it's true!  Hopefully this year I will reach the mile stone of 1000 posts!   Thank you for those that continue to read and leave comments, especially my long time commenter's - you all know who you are!

Have a lovely weekend!

Frog Fun in February

 Sometimes we have to make our own fun.

 Sloshing ink around on shaving foam and printing paper is fun.

 The outcome is unpredictable and if you don't like the results you can do it again!

The printed papers said 'frog' to me.  They are very clever! So I made a frog and turned him into an interesting bookmark.

I think he is rather cute and like the way he hangs down on the back of the page.

Desktop Calendars

A couple of months back I bought some pocket calendars on impulse.  I really didn't know what to do with them but thought they might come in handy.

Yesterday I put my thinking cap on and made them into desktop calendars using up some very pretty Graphic 45 paper that I had in my crafty stash.

 This style of card is called an easel card.

The best thing of all is that it folds totally flat for posting!

More Tiny Cards

Apologies for the dark picture but it was a bit gloomy when I took the photo.  These tiny cards are such fun to make and will hopefully be a best seller at the upcoming craft fair. 

Itty Bitty Cards

Sometimes I want to make clean and simple cards with little fuss or preparation.  A few stickers, minimum card stock, an ink pad and stamp and I'm ready to go.

So much pleasure from so few things.

Happy Weekend!

Another Necklace and Jewellery Presentation Idea

Another make for the craft fair completed.  A ten strand glass peacock bead necklace - each bead strung by hand.  It took me a full day!

I've been experimenting with presentation for my various makes.  I am so happy to combine my love of paper craft by making the boxes for pendants.  The above box is a prototype.

The display card can be used to present the item and then laid down flat in the drawer to pack away for the purchaser.  So many things to make and so little time for sleep.  It is soooooooo good to be happily busy.

Enjoy the weekend!

Mini Celebration Kit

I have been thinking about making an emergency, portable, mini celebration kit for a while now.  I think it would be great to keep in your bag (purse) for when a celebration comes up that you are unprepared for.  Tiny bunting (to tie on the back of a chair), a wordless card and a candle.  You could also use it for people who want to mark an occasion but without too much fuss.

The trick to make this look 'special' is to use the best quality card stock and beautiful papers.  I envisage it being used whenever good news is in need of a mini celebration to mark the event. 

Happy Friday!

Now that's a good reason enough to celebrate!

Simple Die Cut Tags

There's a little project that I am itching to start but it won't be ready to post today.  Instead I leave you a photo of some quickly made tags using a die cutting machine.  Firstly I cut out the background of the tag with plain card and used a patterned card for the centres.  I still have my dusky pink and white bakers twine out on the table from yesterday's quick make so I have used that for the ties.  Another satisfyingly quick make!

Mini Make

Four posts in four days must be a record for me!  Anyway, it wasn't enough for me just to make the milk bath yesterday, so to keep the creative spark flowing I decided to make some baby bunting inspired by the images on pinterest.  This length of bunting would barely cover the back of a chair or dressing table mirror but it is oh so cute!  I used my best bakers twine and some lovely Japanese Washi paper to make the flags.

If I can do something creative every day I feel so much better in myself.  I have now realised that I don't have to do grand projects and can be satisfied with just doing little projects that give instant gratification!  There is a time and a place for the bigger brain challenging/consuming things but that time is not now.

I hope you have been enjoying my regular posts these last few days.  When I make/do or have something to say I just have to put it 'out there'!

Vintage Lady Card

I made this card for a friend's Birthday today.  I don't generally make Birthday cards but I know she will appreciate something handmade.  The topper was made a long time ago so it was just a case of mounting onto a card.  I could critique it to the end of the Earth but there comes a time when you have to stop and realise the limit of your skills. 

A Bag of Tags

Newer blog readers may not know that I used to feature paper 'tags' on my blog quite a lot. I used to draw them and cut them out by hand - a time consuming but enjoyable task. I recently rediscovered my tags tucked away in a drawer and I have now re quenched my thirst for making them again.

I think I may take some packs along to the craft fair to add a bit of interest to the table.  Do you think bags of mixed tags would be preferable or themed packs such as cats and dogs or toads and wellies?  If you were buying what tags would you want in your pack? 

The Elusive Craft Fair

I am having a bit of a whinge today partly because I have a cold and feel like I have swallowed a packet of razor blades and also because my OH has a hacking cough that has kept us both awake at night for over a week.  I have continued to make cards - mainly 'get well' ones funnily enough, but my enjoyment is marred by the lack of an outlet to sell them.

I recently found out that there is monthly craft fair not too far from where I live and I thought this would be the ideal opportunity for me to showcase my wares.  I contacted the group but was told that 'unfortunately'  cards and jewellery are the two most popular items made and that the fair had filled up all places for these items.  I am not a two trick pony though and can turn my hand at making most things.  I have contacted them again enclosing a picture of one of my 'summer sprites' as an example of other things I make and asked them if there is a gap in the market they would like me to fill.  I have yet to hear back but my cynical self believes that they want to keep the fair as a bit of a clique between particular groups.  I would love to be proved wrong!  Edited: I have been proved wrong!   I can have a stall if I don't sell cards or jewellery items.  It looks like I will be busy learning new skills then! :)

So here I am today feeling despondent.  My son thinks my cards are too plain.  I have explained to him that they are thank you cards and get well cards and don't have to be fancy or over embellished.  He thinks I have the market all wrong and we lock horns because each of us think we are right.  My idea is to focus on these types of cards and offer a few really special large wedding or special anniversary cards but I don't want to put a lot of time into the types of cards that don't bring me joy.

Whenever I am in a dilemma I turn to you, my blogging friends, to help me put things into perspective with your cool reasoned heads!  Can you think of anything I can make either for a craft stall or my etsy shop that people would want to buy?

This is a topic I go round and round in circles with. My son thinks I should give up craft altogether and concentrate on painting instead.

Maybe in this overcrowded market he has a point.

A Simple Card Making Tutorial

For people that aren't into card making it can all seem a bit complicated.  Today you can buy dies, masks, embossing and cutting machines, embossing powders, punches, digital software etc. Over the past couple of decades I have tried all types of card making and I enjoy the most simple form of card making most of all.

• Stamp an image onto pretty paper.
• Cut it out.
• Stick it on to a card base.
• Stamp on a sentiment.

Simples!!!

Joy in June - Paper Piecing

Inspired by vintage embroidery transfers, I decided to make a paper version of a design that appealed to me.  Firstly I sketched the design and then I copied the design onto paper, cut out the shapes and pieced together.  I am not entirely happy with how this one has turned out so I haven't glued the pieces down as yet.  A little more refinement is in order I think!  She was fun to make and I do love her donut shaped lips!

Making Cards

I am working on lots of ranges of cards at the moment.  The one above is especially for the guys!  Try as I might, I can't really get great photos of the things I am making.  I had a fellow Etsian critique my shop and she said I needed to take better quality photos.  The trouble is I just point the camera and click!  I am useless with photo shop and the photo enhancement packages!  I guess I will get to grips with it all in time.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend, however you choose to spend it.

* Card inspired by Jo Kill *