Beautiful Flag Bunting

I have been making some more bunting to put up for the summer season and it fills the  perfect wall space too.

To create my bunting I used the Beautiful Bunting Flag printable PDF digital download from Opulence by Design Crafts. 

I printed out 6 of these flags to create my bunting for my project.

I also added the All eyes are on me rose, I do love this flower, not only is it a beauty and easy to cut out and shape but can also be used as cherry blossoms if you reduce the size.

I've teamed that with the rose leaves which I think look very natural with a little scrunch.

I turned my flower sheet over and put it back in my printer and selected the paler pink backing  paper from the same digital download file to print the colour on the back of my flowers.

I then inked the edges of my petals to add a little depth and texture with one of my Dreamees Sparkle reinkers. I still love these reinkers because I always manage to find a shade to match my blooms and that gentle shimmer is just enough to add some life to your blooms.

Gently curl the petals and add a few layers and it gets a little addictive!

I added some 1cm green ribbon for my bunting and thought that these roses would work really well this beautiful design.

On the ends of my bunting I decided to add some ivy that I had fussy cut from Amanda's Elegant Ivy Backing paper & Insert set, as it was just the proportions of foliage that I as looking for and I thought that it fitted in with ivy in this beautiful design too.

The bunting brightens up my small space but it would also look lovely in the garden too for summer BBQs.  if you didn't fancy flower making, there are lots of very pretty ready blooms you could add, or just some ribbon bows.

Checkout a few of the links below for Opulence by Design Crafts for some great inspiration on their designs and tutorials too. They have a varied selection of kits and crafting sheets and a freebie section that you might what to download too.  Beautiful designs that makes crafting easier.

opulencebydesign - YouTube

or Instagram Opulence By Designs

I'm enjoying the better weather and especially being able to get back into my garden....there's lots to do!

From roses to peonies. My mums peony, that now grow in my garden.  My garden is a eclectic mix of memories.

Have a great day, whatever you have planned for yourself.

Happy Crafting

Challenges

A Perfect time to Craft - ATG

Beautiful Blossoms - Blooms

Paper Rock Scissors - AG

Fourseasons -AG Summer

Outlawz -AG

Unicorn - Not Square

Jane Austin Keepsake Box

I'm sharing a Jane Austin themed Keepsake Box with matchbox mini books that I have made for myself using one of the digital download kits from Polka Art Studios.

This year marks the 250th anniversary of Jane Austin and celebrates the life of this amazing author and her six classic novels.

I was thrilled to see this kit which is a crafting mix of my love of these books and diorama in a perfectly executed kit.

The Jane Austin Keepsake Book with matchbox mini books is a digital download kit from Polka Art Studios. This charming vintage kit also comes with a printable template and a link to an easy to follow YouTube tutorial while you craft. 

Everything has been carefully thought out, once downloaded, just print and craft.

I've recently upgraded my desktop pc, which I prefer to use from even though I have a Chromebook and I often use different software programs to print from, depending on what I am doing,  but really like that fact that this whole kit is completely set out for you just to cut out an assemble, which makes your crafting so much easier.

You just need to add a few pieces of card to strengthen your box. I used some Kraft card.

I love these picture story pages for the mini books. Each one thought through and illustrated, with a  lovely vintage feel to it too.

Sometimes you sit down to craft and don't know where to start, especially if your mojo has taken some time out, but what is great with a project like this is that all the hard work has been done for you and it has been set up ready for you to assemble and put your own personal finishing touches to it.

I've added a touch of copper metallic wax to the edges of the tea caddy shaped box and some 1cm pink organza ribbon around the edges of the box to highlight the decorated bands. On top of that I've added some small flat backed cream pearls.

I love this idea of a mini collection of mini books in this style. My favourites have always been Sense & Sensibility and Pride & Prejudice. All I need now is a  Bronte Sisters set of mini books with Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights to add to my collection.

If I had printed my tea caddy box out on the correct printer setting my match boxes would fit snuggly inside but I am happy with how they look and think this design would make such a beautiful keepsake box to gift.

The inside of the box is just as pretty as the outside. I tend to use what I have in my craft stash when I am crafting and I used  Navigator card (200gsm) for the tea caddy  box, matchbox and book cover and copier paper for the book pages.

I have also edged my project throughout with vintage photo distress ink and used a clear sparkle overlay pen on the flowers on the front and inside lid of the box for a little shimmer.

I've added a 'love' charm with a tiny hanging heart shaped key on the front of the box and tied a piece of wired dusky pink taffeta ribbon across the front of my box.

I also added a heart shaped button to the top of my tea caddy shaped box and a few more flat backed cream pearls.

I have loved making this for myself, I'm normally a slow crafter and this didn't take that long to make which is an added bonus too.

Have a look a Polka Art Studios YouTube channel if you'd like some crafty inspiration too. They have lots of free projects to download that you may want to try out too that also come with free tutorials.

Thanks for stopping by today to view my little crafty space and have a weekend,

whatever you have planned for yourself.

Happy Crafting

Challenges

CD Sunday Plus - AG  - Winner 

Crafters Cafe - Feminine

Crafts Galore - AG - DT Favourite 

A perfect time to craft -AG

Ally's Angels - AG

Paper Funday - Option - B : Books

Ellibelle's Corner -AG

TicTacToe -stripes/ribbon/treat holder - mine are mini books

613 Ave Create - AG

Creative Fingers - AG

Mix it up -AG

Classic Design - Feminine
Girlz Creative Fun Art of Scrap - AG

We love to create - AG  - DT Favourite 

Geisha birthday card

Today I'm sharing a double Z fold birthday card made for my friend using the Geisha Girls Topper with some of  the Japanese red & cream paper addicts collection for Opulence by Design Crafts.

I was looking for something different to make for my friend and didn't realise just how beautiful these papers were until I actually looked at them all and thought that they needed to be printed onto a satin paper.

I printed the Japanese papers onto a textured quite heavyweight satin paper from my craft stash. These are 8 x8 inch prints and would look fab for home décor projects too.

The white off cuts from my pages I will save and die cut flowers as this paper is great for that, unfortunately I have no idea where to get anymore as I purchased it in a made up pack from my regular craft shop (these are like gold dust now) a few years ago.

These Geisha Girls toppers are beautifully designed too and work so well with the papers.

I matte and layered gold mirror card onto the scored cardstock 

and then added these beautiful papers.

This is something I also do a lot when card making, I edge my cards using glitter/shimmer pens. I love Sakura gel gel pens, especially the stardust sparkle range and this twilight one is used all the time to edge my cards and highlight.  

It's often the hardest one to buy individually.  It may seem a lot of effort but it's also good for hiding white edges when you are cutting out too.

I also downloaded the 'Digital Florist All eyes are on me rose' from the website as I thought the flower and colouring was just perfect for my projects. The download also  comes with two blank pink A4 colourway pdf sheets.

I thought these roses were so very pretty and must have missed these ones when they came out. Add a touch of ink to the edges of the petals to add depth and curl them a little and they look beautiful or add a few layers for a dimensional rose on your project.

Once I had printed my colourways sheet off, I turned it over and chose the flower sheet to print off at 70% for my project. This way the backs of my flowers will also be prink when I cut them out.  I normally do this when I print my flowers out but I wanted them smaller for this project.

I've been using my Dreamees Sparkle dinky inky inks for years to ink the edges of my flowers because the range of colours have always just matched up and they give a subtle shimmer which I like. These roses are an easy shape to cut out too. In the centre I just added a drop of glossy accent.

I also added a few tassels which I made using a bow maker and some gold thread that I picked up in a charity shop.

I also had these lush stamps that I was given and haven't had a chance to use yet, so I stamped some tissue paper with metallique ink. I will wrap my card in this before I put it in it's envelope to protect the flowers a little better.

Finally, I added a wax seal. This was a an inexpensive set from The Range.

I embellished my card with a few gold metallique stud gems and tucked the floating front topper under my flowers.

A few flowers on the front of my envelope to complete my project.

No birthday sentiment on this one. I have written my personal message on the back and that's all I think it needs.

Thanks for stopping by today to view my little crafty space 🌸

If you want more inspiration and demos from Opulence by Design, follow the links below. Amanda is a very talented designer and has a wide selection of kits and crafting sheets that can be mixed and matched with your own crafty stash.

 opulencebydesign - YouTube

or Instagram Opulence ByDesigns

Have a great week, whatever you have planned for yourself.

Happy Crafting

Challenges

Allys Angels -AG - Top Pick 

A perfect time to craft -AG  - Honourable Mention

Beautiful Blossoms -AG

Classic Designs - Blooms

CD Sunday Plus - AG - Winner

Crafters Cafe - AG

Girlz Creative Crafts - layer it up

Love to Craft -AG

Love to Scrap - AG - Spotlight Winner

Creative fingers -AG

Crafts Galore -AG

Park Hopping Happy Place - Marching into Spring - I used these flowers as they remind me of cherry blossoms - Springtime in Japan, in keeping with my card theme. - Centre Stage Designer

Crafty Calendar - more than one fold

Allsorts -Feminine  - Top 7

613 Avenue Create - any occasion  - Top Rocker

Dragon themed pop up card

My final dragon themed project this week is a simple pop up birthday card made using The Dragon Within Breathing Courage & Creativity Collage & Mixed Media Mystical Dragons digital download Kit from Opulence by Design Crafts.

It has 40 pages of backing papers (10 x 8 PDF)  - including textured prints, beautiful prints and panels for your projects, toppers and embellishments, mystical affirmations and dragon inspired greetings, quotes and sayings.

For my card I have used printed two of the same dragon prints and only scaled the size down a little, along with the gorgeous golden dragon scales print paper for the background. I'm using the tags to embellish with one of the birthday sentiments.

I'm also using one of Debbi Moore's Pop Up Mania dies for my card. I find this little set really handy but for this card I only need one die.

Two sides of the dies are flat for the scoring to create the pop up. The can be done by hand without dies but this works for me and it was a really good price when I bought it too!

I would normally recommend that you cover your card before cutting your pop out.

I also cut another piece of  my paper the same size  to cover the front and back of my card.

Inside my card, I used the second topper which I trimmed down and added henna mica flakes to the edges, also to the corners of the card. 

I also added one of the dragon figures from the collection clinging onto the tag with the birthday sentiment. I've traced around the outline of the dragon with my go to Sakura stardust glitter pen in gold for a hint of shimmer.

I've used a generous amount of glossy accent on the dragon's eye and a hint of shimmer down his scaly neck.

There are so many elements in this kit that it is also great for your cardmaking too, especially those ages that you find challenging to craft for.

I've really enjoyed creating with this gorgeous collection and these textured papers would also look amazing on candles too. Pentart do a medium specifically for candles which allows you to burn them too instead of just using them for decoration, I think that is worth looking into.

This will also go in to my dragon box along with my dragon journal that I also made this week.

If you want more inspiration and demos from Opulence by Design, follow the links below. Amanda is a very talented designer and has a wide selection of kits and crafting sheets that can be mixed and matched with your own crafty stash.

 opulencebydesign - YouTube

or Instagram Opulence ByDesigns

Have a great day, whatever you have planned for yourself.

Happy Crafting

Mini Dragon Notebook & Pencils

My third dragon themed project this week are two mini dragon notebooks and pencils. I created these using The Dragon Within Breathing Courage & Creativity Collage & Mixed Media Mystical Dragons digital download Kit from Opulence by Design Crafts.

It has 40 pages of backing papers (10 x 8 PDF)  - including textured prints, beautiful prints and panels for your projects, toppers and embellishments, mystical affirmations and dragon inspired greetings, quotes and sayings.

For this project I chose these dragon images as I thought that they would make perfect notebook covers and I will make note cards with the other images shown. 

I also picked the pale green dragon scales paper and the rest of the dragon skin rice paper to decopatch my pencils. The greyboard stripped from a hardback envelope came in very handy too as this will make the covers for my notebook.

I decopatched some spare pencils that I had with a strip of the rice paper using some Cadence satin magic bond & seal. A great way to jazz up any dull and ordinary pencils that you have lying around, especially for kids.

I don' tend to measure with projects like this but I know it had about a 1cm spine and I left a 1cm border all the way around. The great thing with these silicone crafting mats is that you can use the square as a guide and your project doesn't slide around either.

I mitred the corners before gluing

Then I made the pages for my book with copier paper. Each signature has three pages.

My little books have been stitched with wax thread 

I have given my books a light coat of Cadence satin magic bond and seal and added glossy accent to the dragon eyes.

I thought that these would be great for my neighbours two little boys who love dragons.

This collection is ideal for notebooks and also follows on from my dragon themed journal and decorated dragon box.

If you want more inspiration and demos from Opulence by Design, follow the links below. Amanda is a very talented designer and has a wide selection of kits and crafting sheets that can be mixed and matched with your own crafty stash.

 opulencebydesign - YouTube

or Instagram Opulence ByDesigns

Have a great day, whatever you have planned for yourself.

Happy Crafting