Bon Voyage

Lately, it seems like almost everyone I know is away on a holiday, just been on a holiday or planning a big holiday.  Ever get the feeling fate is trying to tell you to do something? Maybe one day it will be us.  

My card today is a bon voyage card made for a friend who recently traveled around parts of Europe on a cruise, and had a fantastic time away.  I had to make something quickly (cause once again I left it to the last minute), and I was disappointed to find I don't own a stamp that says something along the lines of "happy holiday" or "bon voyage".  Will have to try and rectify that in the future as I know I am going to need it again soon.  Without a sentiment my card looks a little bare, but its meaning couldn't be mistaken. 

Magazine file cards

As promised, I have a few cards to show that I made to pop in the magazine file that I made for a friend.  

I was really happy with these first two.  They actually look so much better in real life rather than in these photos.  I have stamped the flourish from Baroque Motifs on here and then heat embossed in white, and then sponged over the corner with Pool Party to show off the flourish a little more.  There are two layers of Flower Shop flowers and then one of the stamps from Everything Eleanor was stamped behind.  A handmade button and string added and then a sentiment.

And this one uses the images from Postage Due stamped on Smoky Slate and heat embossed with white powder again, add some ribbon and a few "stamps" on top.  I really love this one - it's just a shame the image isn't a little bigger to cover the whole card.  But then I guess I would say it was too big.  

   

And last one for today, with Grunge Rock, probably something similar to what's already been seen on here, this time using Indigo Island cardstock. 

 

Another favourite to come.  Actually looking at all the cards I made, they are nearly all made with retired sets.  There are some sets I just can't part with. 

Male birthday card

Apologies for my absence last week.  We had a family holiday to Tea Gardens staying at The Boathouse, and I just ran out of time to post before we left.  We have had the best holiday weatherwise for a long time, beautiful sunny days with only one rainy night, overcast day and afternoon sunshine.  Spent lots of time lazing around the pool, got through 3 books and enjoyed a boat ride to Nelson Bay with dolphins frollicking through the water beside the boat on the return trip.  A perfect way to spend a holiday.  But back to reality.  

This is a card made for my nephew who is very into bike riding.  Nothing as boring as riding around roads though.  He loves the mountain bike riding, jumping from rock to rock, sliding down hills and the dangerous stuff.  

I have used a black marker to colour the bike image from Postage Due as I didn't want all the background stuff.  I would have preferred to use the front wheel, middle section and back wheel as a sort of triptych, but there was only half of the back wheel on the stamp.  

An envelope pocket

We recently went to an engagement party and as we had already sent a card when we first heard of the engagement, I just wanted to make a simple gift card to go with the present.  I thought an envelope pocket might be the thing, but after stuffing around with various ideas, stamps, inks and frames this turned out to be not so simple.  Firstly I wanted this shape and as I didn't have the dies my very clever hubby drew up the shape for me on computer, then drew a slightly larger size, and I used those shapes as my template. 

So really this card took about 4 hours to make, and then in the end I decided it wasn't "quite right" and made a completely different card instead.   And then forgot to take a photo.  And it was beautiful.  It had two lovely little owls sitting on a branch and their clothing was made using both sides of the shiny wrapping paper.  

I have a spare card now if you want to do something that needs congratulating. 

A collage type card

Now I really don't know what the correct name for these sorts of cards is - if anyone does, let me know.  I just called it collage because it has lots of different images stamped together.

I have always admired people who seem to be able to put random things together, in any form, and make it work.  So I tried to do that with this card.  It has images from a few different stamp sets all stamped in black, and then a few of them are popped up for dimension.  Was trying to achieve a vintagey type feeling with the shading, but I think it needs a little more.  

As I haven't actually stuck the top panel down yet onto the base card, I think this is one I will go back and have another try at. 

 

A black and white trifold

This is another style of card I had to have a try of.  I wrote down all the measurements but forgot to save the link, so thank you whoever you are for the idea.  

The card is called a double trifold card or a hinged card and is a bit fiddly getting all the measurements cut out, but very easy after that.  Basically it is two separate cards that join into one.  

I wanted to use black and white cause I think they look elegant, but when finished it needed just a touch of colour, hence the green leaf.  I love the outside panel and the inside back panel, but I don't think the middle bit is "right".  Anyway, here it is, see what you think.  

I am going to have another go at the inside with something less cluttered, maybe even a different colour, and will let you see again. 

If you are interested in making your own version and want the measurements and instructions let me know by making a comment with your email address and I send them along. 

Last ones

The last couple of projects were a card using the Postage Due stamp set with lots of sponging and some of the Core'dinations Card Stock, and a bow to top off a gift.  And also the pinwheel card on last week. 

The Core'dinations Card Stock has been run through the Big Shot using the Honeycomb Embossing folder and then lightly sanded to show up the inside of the cardstock.  As I said, lots of sponging going on too. 

The bows were really easy to make.  You need 4 strips of DSP (or cardstock) measuring 7, 5, 4 and 2 inches and 3/4 inch wide.  You loop around the 7 and 5 inch pieces to form a circle and glue and then using the 2 inch strip secure together.  The 4 inch strip then has the V cut into it for the peaks and then attached to the back.  Guess you could make these bigger if you want.  A beautiful and easy way to decorate a present.

 

This is another Postage Due card.  

Still a very girly card.  Can you see the beautiful embellishment on the card?  It's a Designer Builder Brad, something new from the latest catalogue.  You can add a tiny circle of patterned paper or stamped image in the centre and then pop on of the epoxy bubbles that come with them on top to personalise it.  I tried to get a close up picture, but camera didn't like to be that close, so blurred image it is. 

 

Postage Due

Sorry for my absence.  Have had a few other things going on.  My father is back home again, feeling very tired but pleased to be home.  He has had three stents inserted and all is well from a cardiac point of view.  Has had a few other things not quite right, but hopeully he will keep on improving.  

You may have seen on the right hand side the new holiday catalogue and sale-a-bration catalogue have been put up.  A lot of vintagey and romantic things for Valentine's Day, if you happen to celebrate it.  Not really my thing, but I am working on a few Valentine cards anyway. 

We have 10 birthdays in February for family and friends so I have been creating, but I just can't show you much yet.  I had planned to send this card for one of those birthday girls, but went with Plan B instead.  This uses a recent addition to my stash, Postage Due.  The older I get, the more I like the vintage look, perhaps cause it's from my era the kids would say.  I brought this for the men in my family, but it suits both sexes equally well I think.  

I love the look of the embossing folder on the left, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder.  And the cute little buttons too.  Another one on Wednesday.