WOODWARE - Accordion cards

Well I am last this week to post for our Woodware DT. It has been lovely to see all the variations on the theme of accordion cards. Mine is probably the simplest as it is cut from a single sheet of A4 card.

I once used this idea in a workshop so I already had the template drawn out for the folded card and the matting layers. 
The backgrounds for each panel were made by blending blues and rusty oranges. This is not my usual colour scheme but I wanted to be quite bold with this one!! I then over stamped softly with a script, flourish and leaf stamp. Then some darker foliage. To give the whole background a lovely shimmer I mixed some interference gold pearl-ex powder with water in a spritzer bottle. I sprayed the panels and dried with my heat gun. This resulted in a lovely shimmer!! Sadly this is not properly visible on the photos.

Then I added some birds and text to complete the card. The ribbon was cream which I dipped into the inks I used for the background. A swipe of each on the craft mat then spritzed with water and gold spray is perfect for dipping ribbon to get a great match for your project.

The charm and metal flowers were the final finishing touch. 

This card will fold up to fit a DL envelope.

Be sure to check out all the great accordion cards made by the rest of the team across on the Woodware blog.

Well thats' it for this week. My hubby and I are enjoying a quiet week end. The last two or three weeks have seen us painting, plastering, gardening and cleaning for all our worth. And tomorrow our house goes on the market!! We are hoping to get a house with a bit more room to make it nicer for family and friends to stay!! And a little craft room for moi!!
See you next week.
Siobhan x

WOODWARE - Blooming Marvellous big blooms

Our challenge from Woodware this week is "Blooming Marvellous - big blooms". If I had looked at the list sooner I could have used the lovely jumbo poppy that I used in last week's challenge. But sadly I am never that organised. So I used a couple of Woodware clear stamps "Cow Parsley Flower Heads" and "Wheat", both designed by Jane Gill. 

I did a blended background first and then stamped the images in black to make them pop. The sentiment was gold embossed onto a strip of torn vellum and wrapped around the main panel. Then a bit of dry embossed gold and a text stamp on the pale green card. 

A card that could be used for lots of occasions.

I even managed a trip to a get to a craft shop on Saturday. Our tag group decided to have a day away to Craft World in Glasgow. It was a very enjoyable trip and we all managed to buy lots of lovely new items. So thanks Rosie, Pat, Isobel, Maggie and Sue!! I am itching to get into my craft room but at the moment it is full of bedroom furniture as we are painting our bedroom. So I will just have to be patient!!

A few people have expressed an interest in what Catriona and I have come up with for her wedding invitations. Now that they are all finished I can show you. Her theme is Art Deco. The stamps came from Waltzing Mouse and the embossing folder from Creative Expressions was perfect for her theme!!

And for the evening we went for something simpler. 

Next it's the place settings and menu cards!!
Siobhan x

WOODWARE - Chosen by Jane - Pointillist Technique

This week at Woodware Jane was asked to chose this week's theme. And she came up with "pointillist technique". I have to admit my first reaction was a rather big groan!! Colouring in is something I am not great at so I wasn't looking forward to this week's challenge. But that's why it is called a challenge. And I am always game to try something once.

For my project I chose the beautiful poppy flower by Stampendous (CRS5048). This is a jumbo cling stamp and I thought it would lend itself to this technique.

Dorothy has a very nice explanation of where the technique comes from on the Woodware blog. I used Copic markers for mine. I also used the technique around the poppy to try and add some shadow.

Hopefully in the close ups you can see the individual dots. I actually used 5 shades of blue for the petals!!

It will be interesting to see what the other girls do with it. I have tried it but don't think I will be in a rush to do it again!! Although I do love the stamp.
Have a good week.
Siobhan x

WOODWARE - Rustic Cards

This week's challenge at Woodware is to come up with an idea for a rustic card. 

I have used a clear Woodware stamp called "Wheat" designed by Jane Gill. I stamped it onto white card and embossed the image with a clear embossing powder.
I then blended dye inks over the top and stamped the whole panel with a text stamp to add some texture to the background.

I added some further distressing with some splattered water. 
Then it was just a simple case of layering up and adding some rustic embellishment.

I used a delicate sprig to stamp onto light brown card for the background. Then some string, burlap ribbon and a big button to hold it all together for the finishing touch. In my "nature" box I found the little alder cones and included them when wrapping everything together.
I am a bit late with this, got my days mixed up!! Between making wedding invitations and house hunting I am a little more stressed than usual!!
Have a good week!
Siobhan x

WOODWARE - Mother's Day, a Special Lady

The theme this week at Woodware is Mothers Day, but we don’t all have our Mum’s to make cards for, but I bet that everybody has a special lady in their lives that is like a Mum to them, it may even be just a friend who is always there for you. 
My mum is no longer with us but I know she always appreciated receiving a handmade card from me and my sister. 
For my card I have chosen a lovely stamp from Stampendous. Butterflies are always popular and I love blue butterflies.

I simply stamped it in black and used watercolour pencils to add colour and a wet paint brush to blend the colours a bit. I then splattered the die cut panel with fine splatters of blue and gold mica powder mixed with a little water.

The sentiment came from a clear Stampendous set and I thought it was appropriate.
To finish off I used some music paper from Woodware and edged it with a punched border of blue. The butterflies are from vellum that has been coated with embossing ink and sparkly powder. Once melted you can punch out flowers or butterflies etc.

And here is the finished card:

I think this is a stamp I will get a lot of use out of!! 
Siobhan x

WOODWARE - "The Mirror Crack'd" Journal Cover

This month Woodware are sponsoring the Mirror Crack’d blog

So why not have a go at creating a Journal or Album cover pop over and join in the challenge.

I love note books!! So it's nice to cover them and make them a little bit more personal. We are starting to look at houses recently with the intention of moving to our forever home. So this note book will be used for keeping track of all those little details over the coming months.

The rooster represents the home (coming home to roost) and the sentiment might just help remind me to keep my feet on the ground!

I already have a long list in my book of all the little jobs around our house to be done. 

All the stamps I have used are Stampendous.

And the background papers came from a pad of vintage papers also stocked by Woodware.

I hope you have enjoyed all the journal ideas this week. Dorothy still has to post hers tomorrow. 

Well it's been a busy week again and I am more than ready for the weekend break. Hope you enjoy yours!!

Siobhan 

WOODWARE - Sakura Glaze Pens

This week's challenge was chosen for us by Francoise. She is very good at colouring with pens. And as I can't compete with her on those skills, I have used just one Sakura glaze pen - the clear one.

 For my card I have used a couple Stampendous cling stamps "Cupcake Jump" and "BirthdayJoy ". I stamped the image in dark brown ink and coloured with copics. 

To add a glaze to the icing on the cake I used the Sakura glaze pen. Then just some simple layering. The corner punch just added a little extra detail to the top RH corner. Then I added a few pearls and glitter domes to finish off.

I am last up this week and it has been interesting to see all the different ways to use the glaze pens from the other girls. 
Have a great weekend.
Siobhan x

WOODWARE - EASTER DELIGHT

I know it seem a long way off yet, but this week at Woodware we have been asked to make an Easter card. So I thought I would use my newest Stampendous "Happy Hoppers" cling stamp for my Easter card. 

As you can see it is very cute and perfect for Easter!! I stamped it in brown ink and coloured with watercolour pencils and blended with a wet paintbrush. 
To finish off, some simple layering with die-cut ovals and some punched daisies and leaves. 

Bright and cheerful!! Unlike the weather at the moment. I am first to post this week on the Woodware blog so it will be fun to see what the other girls come up with.
Have a good week.
Siobhan x

Woodware - Silver Wedding Celebrations

This week at Woodware we have been asked to come up with a card for a Silver Wedding Anniversary. For some reason I always struggle with Anniversary cards. So I have kept this one very simple.

The background was made using a Stampendous stamp CRV268. This beautifully ornate scroll is lovely on it's own or used repeatedly to create a background. In this case it was stamped with silver ink onto parchment paper and embossed with silver embossing powder. Unfortunately the photo does not do it justice. It is so difficult to get good pictures at this time of year!!

The centre square was stamped with a script stamp (Celebrate) and embossed with a detail silver powder as it was such a fine script.

The numbers were die cut from some graphite coloured card which I stuck onto a piece of double sided adhesive film. Once cut I peeled off the backing paper and covered with a multi-crystal glitter.

To finish off I added some silver gem stones and a ribbon. Ideally I would have used a wider silver ribbon. But I could not find any despite having two baskets stuffed with ribbons...... isn't that always the way. Debs made a lovely card yesterday on the blog and I am looking forward to seeing what the other girls come up with.

Keep warm and keep crafting.

Siobhan x

Woodware - Focus on Grandparents

This week over at Woodware the theme is cards for a special Grandparent. My special Grandad is no longer here but I know he would have liked this card. I recently bought this Stampendous stamp CRW113 Rooster Elements. 

I love these collage stamps, they stamp really well and then only require a little colour to bring them to life. 
And here is my card :

The background was made using blended Distress inks and a honeycomb mask which looks a bit like chicken wire. I cut a strip of burlap and frayed each long edge to go across the middle of the card.
For the rooster panel I stamped twice onto white card stock. Then I added colour with inks and brush markers. Then I cut out one rooster to decoupage on to the base panel. I added some Frantage embossing powders, glass glitter and mica flakes along the base of the panel.

I love Frantage for adding a bit of texture. 

Then I decided to make it into an easel card. I used the same technique for the small panel  at the base. The words were computer generated and printed onto white card. The little bee is an old Stampendous stamp the I have had for years. I just wanted a little something to finish off the base plate. 

Then inside I stamped a Woodware sentiment that seemed appropriate!

I really like this stamp and I am sure it will get well used.
I wonder when I am a grandmother will I get handmade cards from my grandchild? I hope so. That's all for this week. I need to get back to making wedding invitations for my daughter's wedding later this year. I have finished the day ones, now it's the evening ones!! 
Remember to pop over to Woodware for lots of great ideas.
Have a good week.
Siobhan x

Woodware - Sketch 41

I hope you all had a good Christmas and New Year. But its back to the daily grind. After a couple of weeks off for the festive period the Woodware DT are back to showcase all the lovely goodies available from Woodware stockists. 
This is the first sketch challenge of the year. 

So a nice simple sketch to kick us off. And here is my take on it:

After making so many Christmas cards it was good to make something different. I chose the little Stampendous bird as my focal image. A sign of spring ... wishful thinking!!
The background was made using my favourite technique of blending several blue and green dye inks. Then add layers of stamping. I started with water stamping to remove some ink with a flourish stamp. I love seeing it all come together.

The little bird was stamped by applying brush markers directly onto the stamp. A light spritz of water gives you the effect that the image has been water coloured.
The quote I used as my sentiment comes from a Woodware set designed by Jane Gill.
That's it for now, time for a cup of tea and Silent Witness!!
Siobhan x

Woodware - Why Thank You

This week at Woodware we are making Thank You cards. Well it's good to have a break from making Christmas cards. I definitely need to start earlier next year .... but I say that every year and never do!!

I have used two of my favourite rubber stamping techniques, resist and distress. The lovely grasses are a Woodware set of clear stamps designed by Jane Gill. I stamped these onto a 14 inch square of white card and embossed with clear powder. Then I blended Distress inks over the top. I added some text stamping and some water splattering.

The sentiment was stamped with gold ink onto a piece of parchment paper or vellum. I embossed with gold powder then I tore the strip to size and wrapped around the stamped panel.

Hope you all enjoy the Christmas period. And of course the final of Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday. My hubby is cooking so I will be having a few gin and tonics for the final!!

Siobhan x

Woodware - Inchies

Well that's another hectic week gone by in a flash. So it was quite nice to sit in my craft room for an evening for some time out!! This week at Woodware we are using "inchies". I have done a few cards in the past with inchies and I like the whole idea. of putting together small images to make a sort of collage effect.

As I am still short of Christmas cards this year I decided to make a Christmas card with mine.

All the images I used are Stampendous. I stamped the images onto scraps of card first. Some I embossed with gold powder. Then I used the 1 inch square punch to cut out the portion of the image I wanted. I wanted to use mine as diamonds just to change things up a bit. I then layered them onto green squares and assembled as shown:

To finish off I used some die cut corners and some pearls. Then a die-cut flower just as a final embellishment. 

I hope you are all coping with the stresses of the run-up to Christmas. My Irish Christmas parcel is ready to go this morning and this afternoon I am putting up the tree. Last year I had a melt-down because I could not get the tree to stand up straight. I nearly chucked the whole lot away!! I am hoping for a less stressful time this time!!

While I had the green and gold out I made a batch of quick cards with a lovely Penny Black stamp.

I had already stamped out the images previously ...... something I should do more of!!

Have a good week and try to stay calm!! My mantra for this week!!

Siobhan x

Woodware - Sketch Challenge No 40

Well it's nice to be back. It seems ages since I last posted anything. I was in Ireland for 3 weeks helping look after my Dad. He had to have a big operation to remove a blockage from his bowel and now has a stoma and bag. He was doing great to start with but there were a few problems along the way and he was quite poorly while I was over. Thankfully he seems to be on the road to recovery now and getting stronger day by day.
While I was over I was fascinated by the variety of toadstools I saw when out walking my Dad's little dog Trixie.
Here are a few of my favourite ones.

And here is Trixie. 

Firstly I would like to thank the very talented Kim Reygate for filling in for me while I was away. As always her cards are lovely and very individual. 
Back to this week's Woodware challenge. It is a sketch challenge. Here is the sketch: 

So a very simple sketch this week. I decided to have a rest from Christmas card and chose a Stampendous set SSC160 Changito Dos. These cheeky little monkeys are great for cards for men and boys.

And here is my card.

The leaf punch is great for jungle scenes. The photo corner was made using a scallop square punch. I cut it diagonally in half and then used a plain square punch to cut a bit out of the middle.

A quick card to make as all the stamps are in the set. 
For other ideas on this sketch challenge, go to the Woodware blog to see what the other girls do.
Have a good week!! It is a bit scary that this is the beginning of December already. 
Siobhan x