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Wednesday, 11 December 2024

Birthday Card - Bright Lights Isabella Cardmaking Kit - WOYWW

I'm sharing another birthday card made for a friend and  I have used the travel the world through paper Bright Lights - The Isabella Collection mini download kit from Opulence by Design Crafts.


This digital download kit has two beautiful toppers, a selection of sentiments and 4 vibrant backing sheets to craft with.


I'm late today joining up with the weekly WOYWW group link up  (what's on your work Wednesday) over on Sarah's Craft Shed, so I've got some catching up to do as usual. 

WOYWW is a weekly blog hop where we all have a look at look at what everyone has been up to. Follow the link above for more information.

This is a view of how my desk started. I normally think about what I want to print off first and what paper I am going to use. I've been looking into textured papers and card to print onto as not only does this work out cheaper long term but it means that I have what I want onhand instead of having to search for it for a project. 

I printed the topper on 160gsm smooth paper and also mounted the topper onto a piece of die cut cardstock. These beautiful papers were printed onto some of Debbi Moore's double sided pearlescent paper. This paper is quite sturdy and off white in colour, also lovely to print onto. 


To make my glitter topper I swiped Cosmic Shimmer's Glitter Kiss in Midnight Sparkle across a piece of black cardstock. 

This craft product was another of my lucky finds in a charity shop. It was 50p and when I opened it I could see that it had gone hard but as I knew it was a water based product, I hoped that it could be rejuvenated. It was certainly worth taking a chance on for 50p and I was glad that I did!


This product dried quite quickly leaving a lovely sparkle, although I did speed it up with my heat gun.




As well as a growing collection of Stickles glitter glue for my flowers, I do love my  Sakura Stardust pens too. I use these a lot to highlight the edges of my projects.



My friend loves her flowers, so I wanted to fit a few on and had a look through my box of flowers to see what I could use to compliment the topper and these lush papers.


I picked out the Orange Nasturtium, the pink dahlias from the Happy Birthday Cardmaking kit, The Blue Marguerite Daisy Flower, and the golden leaves from the Steampunk Florals Collection. I didn't use the feathers in the end.

I added a touch of lemon Flower Soft to the centre of the Marguerite daisies and a mix of Stickles glitter glue/glossy accent to the centres of the other blooms.




I added a bright envelope with some more of the paper that I had leftover to coordinate with the card.

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.


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

Happy Crafting




Challenges:-

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Tuesday, 3 December 2024

Christmas Cards

I have just finished a few Christmas cards that I have made using the festive  Noel Christmas Bunting digital download kit from Opulence by Design Crafts so thought that I'd share them with you.


I used 6 x6 inch kraft card blanks for my card base (I cut these down a fraction) and the John Next Door Georgian Frame Maker die set (5 inch die set)  along with the Celtic outer frame (53/4 inch) die.  

I must say that this frame maker collection is an absolutely brilliant set of dies. John Lockwood thinks of everything when he designs a collection for crafters and this set is just perfect for me since I have gone back to making mostly smaller cards.  His products are also available from The Art of Craft who provide great customer service too.


My festive bunting is up and I wanted to make a few cards to illustrate the versatility of this great kit.  

I made some of the embellishments in the kit smaller so that I could make mini bunting out of the cookies for my card and used another reduced version of the NOEL lettering as a topper in my card too.


On this card, I have heat embossed the festive letters and on all my embellishments I have used my go to Sakura clear glaze gelly roll pen for the fine detail and stardust gelly roll pen. I would normally use glossy accents but find that I have more control using the pens in small areas.  I have also used a hint of Stickles stardust glitter glue on the larger star shaped cookie.

I've highlighted the fairy lights in the backing paper with a clear overlay sparkle brush pen for an added shimmer along with the trim of the gingerbead's hat.

The embellishments have been mounted on foam pads and shaped a little to add some depth.


I then went on to make these fun gingerbread festive tags and got a little carried away!
I also added a few sprigs of John Next Doors holly and a gold wax seal. I have been making a few of these to go on the back of my Christmas cards.

As if I didn't have enough on my tags, I added a stamped faux metal sentiment that I made using some of Debbi Moore's metal magic. It works like a chunky embossing powder that you melt and stamp into. After about 20mins it sets like an embellishment.


I've really enjoyed creating with this kit. I don't tend to make a lot of Christmas cards but love this bunting kit and the fact that you can also use it to make lots of little festive projects too. 

If you double-backed them and covered them in extra-thick embossing powder, they would make wonderful gingerbread paperchains and Christmas decorations, too!
Finally, cute little napkin holders, by attaching some organza ribbon as a tie.

Well, Christmas is only a matter of weeks away now and no matter how organised I think I am going to be, .....I never seem to be ready haha.

If you want more inspiration and demos from Opulence by Design, follow the links below. Amanda is a very talented designer and I really enjoy creating with her designs.

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

Happy Crafting



Challenges
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Wednesday, 20 November 2024

Christmas Bunting WOYWW 27

I'm sharing my Christmas NOEL bunting that I have just finished making and is now ready to replace my seasonal Autumnal one for December.



On my desk is the 10 page digital download kit that I printed onto 180gsm smooth card from my craft stash. I intend to use the rest of these wonderful embellishments for tags. These are beautiful for card making too as there is an A4 design sheet in the kit  that can be used for your backing paper.

I have missed a few of the weekly WOYWW group link ups  (what's on your work Wednesday) over on Sarah's Craft Shed, so I've got some catching up to do and I am very late with my post today.
WOYWW is a weekly blog hop where we all have a look at look at what everyone has been up to. Follow the link above for more information.


I'm so happy that Amanda has designed some festive bunting as this downloadable kit can be used for so much more.  If you are a Patreon member subscribing to Opulence by Design Crafts you have probably already noticed that this kit is part of your free club members gift.

I highlighted all the little fairy lights designed in the background for the flags with a Spectrum Noir clear overlay sparkle pen for a little shimmer and then edged the flags with the pen too.


Next, I have added the additional lettering to layer up and added some foam pads to the back for a little dimension. I also edged the letters with my trusty stardust Sakura gelly roll pen to add some twinkle and highlight.



Then, I added my ribbon. The bunting flag has a top line to create a small hem, when folded back you just need to add glue/double sided tape to create a small pocket to thread your string chosen ribbon through it.

For the area where I will be displaying this I like to add natural bindwire which I attached to my ribbon using a glue gun. It does take a little more time but it's a great way to keep your projects in shape especially when you have doors that keep opening and causing your bunting to flap about......those little things.


I really enjoyed making this and it was an easy project to put together. I added glossy accents to these adorable gingerbread cookies and for their smiles and around the piped edges I used a Sakura clear glaze gelly roll pen for the fine detail. On my travels I have often found the best deals on these pens have been in the little craft/art shops for these pens as sometimes online, the postage can be the same price for just one pen.

I also added some of these white and green helleborus from Opulence by Design Crafts along with their rose leaves.  One of my many favourite flowers and this one is an easy one to cut out too, very forgiving if you struggle with cutting out and so beautiful. I just added a few drops of glossy accents and let them set in the centre like tiny little clear globes and it really highlights all that detail of the design.

I have used foam pads and my hot glue gun to stick everything down. The sprigs of die cut holly are from John Next Doors christmas collection Helens Holly die set.


For the centre of my bunting I have gone a little cookie crazy. I've glazed the heart shaped cookies with my Sakura clear gel pen but for the star shaped cookies I have added some Stickles glitter glue in stardust. I have gently moulded the cookies with my fingers and added a little ink around the edges of the gingerbread and cookies for that just cooked look too. I also added some little vintage bells with hot glue.


I tucked a gingerbread latte embellishment at both ends of the bunting with a tasty cookie in front, very apt for this time of year, especially as it seems to have got very cold all of a sudden.

I have lots of lovely embellishments leftover from my kit to make some great festive tags too.

If you are interested in more inspiration and demos from Opulence by Design, you can follow her on Youtube

Have an enjoyable evening, whatever you have planned for yourself.

Happy Crafting



Challenges
Cutie Pie - Special occasions - Prepping for Christmas!
Pammies Pinkies - ATG  - Honorary Mention



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Friday, 1 November 2024

Keep Krafty Birthday Card

I'm sharing a birthday card, I made for a friend, using the Keep Krafty Cardmaking Mini download Kit from Opulence by Design Crafts.


This beautiful mini digital download kit comprises of a topper sheet, 3 backing papers and 2 inserts. It is also available as a free download on their website for you to 'keep crafting' and enjoy!



I printed out what I had decided to use for my card. The last page is a very pale grey, which works really well as a plain border for my card. I also had some grey cardstock which I used to make the envelope. These were printed on 160gsm smooth paper.


I like adding dimension to my cards and Amanda's designs have such beautiful flowers on her papers that  I think are easy to cut into.  I printed this topper out a few times and cut a few of the flora and foliage out to decoupage and add to the front of my card.

I just added a little ink to the edges, a little shaping and some Stickles glitter glue to twinkle and highlight and it makes all the difference I think.

The frame was created with a Tattered Lace die from my craft stash using rose gold satin board.
A little bit of ribbon some tiny pearls for texture and colour.



One of the inserts inside my card.


I've also used an iridescent clear overlay glitter brush pen over the foliage on my backing paper and very lightly on the petals of my blooms too.

If you are interested in more inspiration and demos from Opulence by Design, you can follow her on Youtube

That's another card on its way.

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

Happy Crafting




Challenges
Cardz4Galz -pattern papers - Spotlight Winner
Crafts Galore -AG  DT Favourite 



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Monday, 28 October 2024

Halloween Projects

I have a few little Halloween projects to share but haven't got around to writing a blog post on them.
 

I have decorated a little coffin shaped box along with some coasters. I came across a box of pale pink clover leaf coasters in a charity shop for 50p, they looked like they hadn't been out of their box and were just what I needed for a project like this.


I started out by painting my little coffin shaped box from The Works, with a thin coat of white gesso. I also did the same with the coasters. 

On the Inside of the box, I decided to use some Art Alchemy Sparks paint in Night Shadow. This velvety rich paint goes a long way. These paints come in many colours, but I think some shades can be hard to find as new ones come out.


My images are from the Watercolour Witches digital download collection by Magik Graphics. I love this collection! They are not currently trading, but I am sure that they will be back at some point. 

These images have been printed using my Epson Ecotank inkjet printer and I have used the Craft Master rice paper which I would recommend, especially if you are using an inkjet printer. I purchased my rice paper a while ago through an offer on Create & Craft but I know that you can purchase it directly from Highlight Crafts.


They recommend a stencil spray to adhere the rice paper to a sheet of A4 copier paper so that it will pass through your printer but I had a can of Crafters Companion Stick & Spray in my craft stash which does the job equally well when used lightly.

I used a decoupage transparent mixed media glue/medium, from Stamperia to seal my images to the coasters and the box.  


To add texture along the side of my box, I used a little sand texture paste from Pretty Gets Gritty and then I painted over the top with some black gesso.




Finally, I added some clear lacquer to seal my projects and give them a nice gloss. I also edged the little coffin box with some gold wax. I intend to use this as a little jewellery box for my dressing table.






I have a few more coasters to finish off but I'm really pleased with how they have turned out.

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

Happy Crafting



Challenges
A place to start - AG  - Rising Star

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Monday, 7 October 2024

Aqualicious Florals Birthday Card

I'm sharing a 6 x 6 inch birthday card today which I have been made using the gorgeous Ultimate Aqualicious Florals Cardmaking and Papercrafting digital download Kit from Opulence by Design Crafts.


Along with the 6 x6 white card base I used the John Next Door 6 x 6 inch Deco Frame Maker die set from his Frame Maker collection , which I based my card around. This is a fantastic die collection.

The Ultimate Aqualicious Florals Cardmaking and Papercrafting digital download kit contains 40 PDF pages - this one is another bumper kit with a great selection of shaped toppers, decoupage, panels, floral numbers, inserts etc, and the papers are just beautiful. Do have a look for yourself.



I chose the papers that I was going to use for my card, along with an insert for the inside of my card and changed my mind on the flowers which needed to be bigger and not reduced. There are a very good selection of flowers in this kit so I really didn't need to adjust anything to fit my project. 

I also decided not to use my hydrangea die as I found it easier to cut out the hydrangeas from Amanda's papers and decoupage a  few of the flower buds on top, rather than phaf about with tiny bits that come out of the die....some end up on the floor and the others end up like a jigsaw that never look the right way around....


To create some dimension under the hydrangea, I just added a few foam pads. I cut out about 3 of these hydrangeas and just slotted them together, using the roses to nestle them in, hiding any edges. I also added Diamond Sparkles Stickles glitter glue to the centre of the buds. 


I have also die cut a set of John Next Door's Shadow Leaves with some of the paper left over from one of the kits. I keep a folder with my left over pieces of paper from my download kits as these are really hand for die cutting your flower and floliage. These leaf dies have a lovely embossed detail on them but unfortunately it doesn't show up in the picture. I added few die cut stems as fillers too and then added more Stickles glitter glue.


I have added my insert to coordinate with the front of the card


I made an 1/2 inch dimensional envelope using my Crafters Companion envelope maker board which came with my Ultimate Pro. I have had this for so many years and still use it all the time for scoring and box making. 

I didn't add a sentiment to the front of my card as I didn't feel there was a place for it and apart from added a little shimmer to the edges of the petals (which unfortunately doesn't show up in the picture) using my clear glitter overlay brush pen along with edging the toppers with a Sakura stardust pen, my card is finished.

If you are interested in more inspiration and demos from Opulence by Design, you can follow her on Youtube

These were the hydrangeas in my garden this summer, hopefully they will flourish a little better next year.




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

Happy Crafting




Challenges:

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