Another catch-up post; this card was originally made on February 27th. This card was for my mum. For her, it always has to be "Mothering Sunday" rather than "Mother's Day" — something which made finding store-bought cards increasingly tricky. Rather less traditionally, there also have to be some cute critters on there. How: I love… Continue reading Mothering Sunday: Bouquet and birds
The first of my catch-up posts. This card was originally created on February 12th, which means this post is only three months late. These mini bots are just so cute, they were perfect for a Valentine card for my other half. The third bot is supposed to be a Cupid with his hand-drawn arrow, but… Continue reading Valentine’s Day: Mini bots
Later in the month I'll be taking Sandy Allnock's Copic Jumpstart class; I am comfortable doing what I do with Copics and I like the results I get, but I know there is so much more to learn. As a bonus for signing up early Sandy created this cute "squirrel with a marker" digi stamp… Continue reading Birthday: Squirrel!
Another technique learned in the Clear and Sheer class: using Copic markers to create a watercolour-like effect on heat-embossed acetate. This gives a really pretty effect and makes a nice alternative to colouring on cardstock. How: I started by preparing the acetate for heat embossing. Acetate is a remarkably static-y thing and you will end… Continue reading Birthday: Copic on acetate
Another thing ticked off the “must-try techniques” list: creating a card using acetate for the base. I kept the design simple in the hope that it wouldn’t take too long to do, but I didn’t factor in all the fussy cutting that is needed to create not only the coloured elements, but also the plain… Continue reading Celebrate: Uplifting acetate card
Some months I am inspired and organised early on, some months it’s a last-minute dash to come up with an idea and get a card created, and then there are months like this one where I had a pretty good idea what I was going to do soon after getting the new challenge image, but… Continue reading Thinking of you: Monkey
Crafting is not all creating and shopping, there is also a certain amount of organising and maintenance to be done. I signed up for Sandy Allnock's Copic Jumpstart class next month, so I figured it was time to freshen up my colour charts and, at the same time, check over my markers and do a… Continue reading Copic marker maintenance
Time for another masculine card; this one for my other half’s dad. Luckily he, my other half that is, even came up with an idea for it, though it was definitely outside of my comfort zone. How: First find your inspiration. After trawling through Google images for pictures of Port Talbot and finding a couple… Continue reading Birthday: Port Talbot docks
Another month, another cute digi stamp from Gerda Steiner to play with. I can’t believe that it took so long for it to dawn on me that making a whole row of small frilly-topped carrots might just be a little fiddly to colour. Or that fussy cutting several individual carrots might also be more, well…… Continue reading Easter: Bunny with carrot
How quickly time flies; a year has already passed since I was making a welcome card for baby Amelia. Of course, I forgot to put her birthday on my cards to-do list so I didn't get a reminder to start making this card — I normally give myself plenty of time to come up with card… Continue reading 1st birthday: Pink and sparkly
I have thought of so many different designs for this month’s challenge image in the last three weeks, but I wasn’t really happy with any of them. Then I finally came up with one that I actually liked enough to make. How: I started by printing out the bunny on Copic-friendly Neenah solar white card,… Continue reading Easter: Jump rope bunny
What: January’s instalment of Gerda Steiner’s progressive challenge gave us this cute little kitten with a big heart. How: The card base was created by using Inka Gold through a stencil. I love the variety of textures this gives — high shine where the stencil is firm enough to be swiped over and more gritty… Continue reading Thinking of you: Kitten
When I know that the person I'm making a card for will really appreciate the effort that goes into making it, I do tend to push myself to try something different. And that's what happened with this card. How: The card base was cut to size and the front was die cut on a curve. A… Continue reading Birthday: Purple flowers and texture paste
What: I was browsing through digital stamps and my other half decided he had to have a card with the angry Persian on it; though he thought it looked more disappointed than angry… This card was made at the start of December but, with all the Christmas cards, I didn’t get around to writing it… Continue reading Disappointed Persian
What: The last Christmas card of 2015 and I finally came up with an idea for a design for my other half. He’s a big Mystery Science Theatre 3000 fan so I went in search of Christmas inspiration there. Wassail!!! How: Of course, there are no MST3K stamps or digis out there so I had… Continue reading Christmas card: MST3K bots
Crafty Rat 