Clover Flower Frill

Here's another fabric flower that I'm loving at the moment. I recently bought a couple of Clover flower templates and tried one of them out tonight (the easier of the two) and these are the results. I'm thinking the yellow flower (I know, it looks like a peach colour, but trust me - it's yellow) looks like a carnation!

I've uploaded a couple of videos showing how I make these flowers, together with a tutorial on how to resize the flowers by making a new template from the Mothers Day Bouquet Cricut cartridge.

Click here to check out the first of two videos - sorry, just couldn't fit it all into one video LOL.

Technostamper Sketch Challenge #167

Well, it seems since I started using my blog the way it was meant to be I have been obsessed with updating it with challenges LOL. Well, that's a little white lie - Michelle (bohemiangypsy99 on YouTube) has really got me hooked on sketch challenges. We were skyping this afternoon while I was attempting to create this TechnoStamper challenge before we were so rudely interrupted by a storm!!!!

Anyway, I eventually finished the card sketch and so here it is!

The card base is a standard 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 size and I used a pretty pale lilac shade here. 1/4 inch down in size for the mat I used a deep purple shade of cardstock. The same two colours are used for the scalloped circles as well as a circle in a cream colour cardstock, on which I stamped using a fairy sitting on the moon stamp from the "Fairyland" clear stamp set from Crafty Secrets. I coloured the image using my Copic Sketch Markers (not real clever at using these just yet - I will learn no doubt). I also heat embossed the moon and stars of the stamped image using "Queen's Gold" emossing powder by Ranger. I also stamped the word "Dream" from the same stamp set by Crafty Secrets on the deep purple mat. The rectangle piece is a gold coloured cardstock which I dry embossed using the "Swiss Dots" embossing folder by Provo Craft (Cuttlebug). And finally, tied it all together with a sheer cream coloured ribbon & bow.

Studio L3 - Grungy Monday Number One - Tag

Studio L3 has started their new Tim Holtz Grungy Monday challenges and I'm IN!!!!! I love anything from the Timster!!! The challenge for this week was to create something using the Tim Holtz 12 Tags of Christmas 2008 - No.10 as a guide.

Although I seem to have created it as close to Tim's as I could, I think - oh well, maybe I'll grow with the challenge hehehe. We'll see!

I didn't have all the products used by Tim Holtz (most of them though). I've uploaded photos of each section that I worked on and products I used so that I didn't have to type up the entire list of contents because I used A LOT!!!

I really enjoyed this challenge and will be participating each week - can't wait for next Monday!!!

To view the videos I made on creating this tag click here.

My take on Grungy Monday Number One

Tag Time #6 - Vintage Grunge Tag

I made a tag in a vintage/grunge style using lots of distress inks, alcohol inks, lots of stamps, lace, charms and a fabric flower.

I first distressed the #8 shipping tag using distress inks, then stamped using a clear script stamp (sorry, don't know where this one came from - I've had it for ages and do not have the packaging).

I then stamped various gears, cogs, vintage lady, fob watch, leaves and heat embossed a butterfly.

I then adhered a rose charm using a small section of chain which I adhered to the tag using Glossy Accents.

I took a silver metal flower and alcohol inked it using aqua, stream and black inks, placing a clear rhinestone in the centre and covering it with black alcohol ink and then topped it with a clear rhinestone. I then adhered it to the tag using glossy accents (I had to adhere it with hot glue as I was too impatient for the glossy accents to dry).

I cut the word "friends" using the Doodletype Cricut cartridge, cutting the word four times and stacked each of the four letters on top of each other creating a faux chipboard letter. I did this to all the letters of the word "friend".

I took a postcard piece of Graphic 45 "On the boardwalk" paper, grunged it using vintage photo distress ink, then distressed the edges using a distressing tool and inked it over with walnut distress ink. I rolled one corner section, then adhered the word "friends" to the postcard and adhered it to the tag.

I adhered the word "friends" to the postcard and attached it all to the tag.

I adhered a black feather to the tag, then adhered a fabric flower over the bottom of the feather.

I also placed some black Rhinestone flourishes (Passionate from Francheville) randomly over the tag below and above the postcard.

Once all items were attached I then cut a piece of cardboard to size, covered it using Stampin' Up!'s "Newsprint" designer paper, grunged it up using vintage photo distress ink and walnut stain distress ink. Adhered it to the back of the tag using my ATG.

Attached an eyelet, threaded through some fibres and a string of leather. Then took a Tim Holtz trinket pin and attached a bead charm made specifically for the tag.

This tag took me a few hours one day, then a few more hours the next day to complete. There were a lot of fiddly time consuming tasks involved with this tag - but I loved making it!!!

I have uploaded a video - well, there are two parts to the video - you wouldn't expect any less would you? It is me - the queen of the mini series LOL.

Let me know what you think.

Precious Moments Paper Bag Mini Album

This is my latest mini album complete with photos & embellishments. This is the first of many minis for my granddaughter, Amelia. I'm hoping to document (written & graphic) certain moments in her life and give the albums to her when she's older.

This, the first of the minis, is of her birth, christening and various events throughout her young life.

The following is a list of the main products and various measurements used throughout the mini:

Paper used - Cosmo Cricket's Joy Ride mini deck

Paper bags - 3 1/4" by 5 1/4"

Binding hinges - 3 1/2" x 3 1/4" scored at 1", 1 3/4", 2 1/2"

Front & back cover chipboard cut at 6 1/2" x 3 3/4"

Front & back designer paper each cut at 9" x 4 3/4" scored 1/2" on two long and one short edge

The wallet tag pockets were made using the dimensions given by Kathy Orta in the video series on her Tim Holtz paper bag mini album. Click here for Kathy's tutorial.

The binding system I used is a variation on Laura Denison's technique. Check out the tutorial by clicking here.

The fabric loop flower was made following Jules' tutorial. Check out the tutorial here.

Fabric Flowers

OMG! I followed Jules' tutorial on making Prima's newest fabric flowers, and it worked!!! I can't believe how easy it really was.

First I cut my satin material and some tulle to a 2" width strip (I made mine as long as the material was and just cut it off when finished). I then located my sewing machine (I haven't used it for the longest time) and held my breath testing it out. Yay it worked!

So then I pinned the tulle onto the folded satin strip and sewed away.

I then cut the excess off the sewed edge and seared it with a lighter to stop the satin fraying.

I then cut into the strip (1/4 inch sections) close to the sewn edge, right along the entire strip.

I then punched a 1 1/4" circle from cardstock, heated my glue gun and away I went attaching the satin & tulle strip to the circle.

This is the result! I love it! I'll be making more of these for sure!

I just can't stop making them!

I made this one into a headband. I used elasticised suede ribbon lace and attached it to the circle cardstock and covered that with some more satin. This one was made for my granddaughter, Amelia.

Attempting Jewellery Making

I've made my first piece of jewellery and I'm loving it. My jewellery making skills need a LOT of refining but I'm enjoying the process.

So here's my first piece, a bracelet which I'll probably give to one of my nieces.