Some new cards

Gosh, I have been neglecting my blog, sorry. Will try to do better:)

 This one was commissioned by my sister to give to the very nice man who went out of his way to give extra special service when he put together the shelving for her shop. I used the "Totally Tools" stamp set which I embossed in silver and attached to corks cut out with the "Top Note" die and the Big Shot.

This one I made for Anabel's birthday. The top right corner is cut away and folded back behind the square. I was shown this idea by the lovely ladies at Pinesong craft group. Not sure whether it might have looked better upside down?

I'm on a roll now

It was my flatmate, Vicki's birthday last week so I made this card inspired by my good friend and fellow demonstrator, Julia Leece and instead of a cat, I made a penguin bookmark as Vicki loves Penguins. The punch art was CASEd from Nanette VerHagen through this web site.

It was also my nephew in law, Karl's birthday a few days ago. It's always a challenge for me to make masculine cards but I found this punch art idea and used it to make this card. The punch art designer was Annette Mac (but sorry can't for the life of me find a blog for her now)

Can you see I have used the "Square lattice" impression folder form the Summer Mini with tin foil for the background? I also ran the clothes through to look like cloth but in hindsight maybe a bit much texture? I handwrote the sentiment using the "versa marker" (pg 143 of the main cat) and embossed with silver embossing powder.

Father's Day

With Father's day just around the corner, I thought I'd dig out some masculine cards that you may take inspiration from for Father's Day:)

I just cut pieces by hand for this, sponged the edges of the pieces and used matching brads as collar studs and white gel pen to make faux stitching for pocket. I think the striped DSP is just right for this project. Windsor Knot Pg 135 of current catalogue is perfect.

Totally Tools pg 57 current catalogue was used here along with DSP.

This was a swap I received from convention by Jenny Humphries (Palmerston North). She has used DSP from ther Chocolate Chip range pg 135. Jenny has punched the holes at the bottom right but equally you could push through Vintage Brads pg 149.

Another convention swap, by Pauline Aynsley, Nelson.

Don't you just love the Spiral Punch? pg 152. The stamp set Greetings Eight pg57 and cute & curly pg 153

TEENAGE BOY

If you are anything like me, you struggle when it comes to making masculine cards. Whenever I have a block. I google something like stampin Up boy cards (for instance) and it's amazing what ideas you can from other stampers. This card I made for a teenage boy called James (Hence the swinging J). I adapted an idea I got from Beate Johns

I used taken with teal and chocolate chip card with a little bit of DSP (designer paper) from Urban Garden (pg 132) and vintage brads (pg 149). The star was made with the smaller star (no 21 pg 152) punched out of the large star (no 20 pg 152)