Craftylicious Disappeared?

Ok did anyone wonder where I've been?
My PC went belly up on Friday 20th March, the hard drive has gone.

I'm really upset, as I have lost everything, and I mean everything. All my digi downloads, all my own drawings, card photos, everything. The engineers came and fetched it and I'm waiting for it to come back. Luckily it was still under warranty, phew!

So until it comes back, I'm going to be missing for a while, what am I going to do with myself, without my daily blogging fix. Nevermind it'll give me a good excuse to be on for ages when it comes back.

See you soon.

Tracie x

Crafter's Kitchen Blog Candy Giveaway

Jak at Crafter's Kitchen
is giving away some gorgeous blog candy.

Go here to see what's on offer.

Playboy Booty & Boobs

OMGoodness ... I have had soooo much fun making this card ... I mean how often do you get asked to make a bra?I used a booty and boob template. I purchased a playboy decoupage sheet and background duo sheet, obviously I followed the template instructions. I liked the idea of seaming the bra, to make it look more realistic and added faux stitching for effect. I used a border punch on black paper to make fancy ribbon and ruffled it up as I added it to the bra and panties.I cut a couple of small bunnies and used pink gems for the eyes, tied organza ribbon into bows and finished the card with an 18 necklace and a fake name tattoo to the booty.

I cant wait to do more ... I had so many ideas when I was making this one ... and wouldn't they be great for hen night invitations!

Tracie x

An Orchid Moment

When I came to make this card, I only had blue orchids, when I needed purple/pink ones.

So having recently purchased a 'my craft studio' cd rom, I thought I'd give a go at changing the colour ... if I was a little sceptical ... but I'm amazed. It was so easy, as long as your orignal image is a jpeg you can import the pic and change it to any colour, size, opacity etc ... no limits ... I can see this becoming one of my most used items.So to make this card I used pink/purple orchids and a purple background (both colour changed on 'my craft studio'). I matted the background paper onto silver mirri and stitched around the edge with silver thread. I used purple grosgrain ribbon across the card with a bead cap, gem and beaded heart pin and punched leone em ash branch in mauve to finish.For the circles, I cut two in the different background layers one slightly larger than the other and mounted together and edged with fine silver peeloffs. For the main image I layered to scalloped circles and placed the decoupage on top. I raised the scalloped circle up with extra thick 3d foam so that I could pass the ribbon behind it and so that you can still see the pink card underneath through the circle.I finished the card with a 'to you from us' sentiment, cut with labels 2 nestabilitie die and three purple gems.

Tracie x

Get Well Milly - Feeling Blue

I love Milly, did you guess, lol.

On this card I used silver thread to stitch around the outside of the mat and to do some spirelli behind milly herself. I drew a background of flowers and grass for milly to stand on. I added white 1" organza ribbon with bow, blue silk flowers with some ash branch's.I tore around the matting to age it and did the same with the silver mirri card. I mounted the whole thing onto a white card, with baby blue swirls stamped onto it. the daisy backing paper is by papermania.Tracie x

Red Roadstar

I don't know about you but I can never bring myself to throw a card away, handmade one's I keep in a special box and shop bought cards get recycled. This card was made using a recycled card (I cut out the car/birthday greeting/star border and ...to you, from a greeting card). I made a diamond fold card using my B&M score board, added backing paper and faux stitching, with a few red peeloff stars.I made the faux stitching with a dressmakers wheel and joined the holes with a sakura pen, its amazing how similar it looks to real stitching.

Extremely simple, but I like the end result and I did a bit of recycling too, we all want to save the pennies on our craft goodies and using old cards in this way is a great way of getting toppers for free (and get the people you know to keep theirs for you too - you'll soon be over run).

Tracie x

For the Love of Lauren

I made this card for my son Ashley to give his girlfriend for valentines day. I used spellbinders labels 2 dies to cut out a single layer of decoupage and the outer frame. I simply added these to a 5" square card that I had swiss dotted. The frame was raised with foam pads.

I used quickutz metro alphabet for the love sentiment, cut from red to match (though on reflection it may have looked better in black, to balance the card a little better?) I used black silk flowers, with a silver finding and a brad in the centre, with the ash branches in yellow. I added a heart ribbon bow to complete the card.

Isn't young love sweet!

Tracie x

What No Embellishments!

It was my birthday at the beginning of the February, and my hubby bought me a filing cabinet (his vain attempt to get me to sort my craft stash), I took the hint and since then I've been slowly sorting through the numerous boxes ... you wouldn't believe the amount of stuff I have (on reflection you probably can!), anyway ... I found so many flowers, beads, gems, ribbon and so on and so on.When Craig saw exactly what I had, (and after he recovered from the shock), he wondered if he took every thing away, except card, paper and tools, would I be able to make a card or were all the extra's actually needed?

... I can see his point, I do have an extremely large craft collection.So, I set myself a challenge, can I make a card using no embellishments at all ... of course I can.

I'm now rather embarrassed that I've been buying things I don't need ... just believe I do ... this may, I realise, have been Craig's plan all along!This card has been hand drawn (so no stamps were used) the flowers were hand drawn, scallop punched and cut into to form the petals, they were then shaped with a bone folder. I used a border punch on the base layer and the scraps from the punch used as small flowers on the card ... so no prima flowers, ribbon, beads, brads, gems or even glitter in sight.

Who needs embellishments ...................... I DO, there's nothing like a gem or two to change the feeling of a card, just don't tell my hubby, lol.

Tracie x

Rose Entwined Hearts

I made this card using the Keepsake Romance Board. I embossed the hearts on silver mirri card and interlocked them. I made paper roses using a quilling technigue and used my cuttlebug to diecut quickutz branch dies from white pearlescent paper the same as the grey paper used on the bottom half of the card. I then used burgundy organza ribbon to divide the front of the card added the hearts and used silver peeloffs for the names and greeting. To finish i added the roses and leaves.

Nice and simple ... to warm the heart.

Tracie x

Pink Petticoat Pockets

These adorable sour cream containers were been made for one of Liz's challenges on her Pink Petticoat Site. The challenge is was make some containers using her papers and as I love these sweet little boxes, I had to get involved.Made from one A4 sheet of printed paper from liz's 'sweet cupcake' range. I also printed out a sheet of greetings and flowers to match.

I didnt have any pink brads, so I covered four gold round brads with pva glue and dipped them in pink glitter and let them dry for about an hour. I used my cuttlebug to cut the sentiments and matted them on black paper. I cut out two flowers of different sizes and layered and shaped them and held them together with my pink glittered brads.Thankyou Liz for the yummy challenge.

Well once I started I kinda couldn't stop, lol. I thought to myself, what would they be like smaller? So instead of four from an A4 sheet, I made eight (they measure 3"x2"). They were a little fiddly to do and I could only get one sweety in them, but how sweet are they!

Of course they are made in the same way ... ish. I didn't do centre's for the flowers as I didn't have anything small enough and I had to use narrow double sided tape (and a bit of pva as the tape didnt hold that well ... they kept popping open), but they are so cute.I gave them to the girls I work with, as a little valentine gift.

Tracie x

Badgers Set

I thoroughly enjoyed designing this card, restricting myself to three colours, the decoupage was a little tricky to cut, but think the end result was well worth it.I matted and layered the decoupage on black and white card. Added hydrangea and prima flowers with fancy brads, some narrow black ribbon with a double tag. I punched some teeny flowers and added them onto the decouage for extra dimension and finished the card with a black ribbon bow. I completed the card by stamping and colouring the insert and envelope to match.Time for a cuppa, back later.

Tracie x

Hummingbird & Fushia

Always one to try something new ... this was my first cd rom from Joanna Sheen by Jane Netley Mayhew. I have to say the images are stunning and the cards just look amazing.I printed out a background, two bookmarks and a sheet of toppers. By doing this I was able to decoupage the hummingbird and fushias. I used pink skeleton leaves and home made fushias and tiny white flowers. I finished the card with a peeloff greeting and gems.

I made these fushias, by punching a deep pink five petalled flower, I snipped between two petals and glued the two outer petals together, so that it became cone shaped and only had four petals. I shaped the petals a little bit with a 6mm ball tool.

For the insides I punched six small pale pink hearts and chalked the tops with dark pink. Then I curled the hearts and placed a pea sized blob of silicone glue into the cone shape and inserted the heart petals into it. I arranged them so that they overlapped slightly on each turn, moving towards the middle as I went. Finally I used florist wire cut at different lenths tipped with pva and pink glitter, then inserted them into the centre of the fushia. A little fiddly to do, but well worth the end result.

I will be making tutorials for the crepe paper and floral punch art flowers at some stage in the near future. But which way would you prefer to see them - photographic or Video? I'm interested in your thoughts.

Tracie x

Star Studded Champayne Celebration

Well I'm home from work and had one hell of a day, nothings gone right. So a craft fix is definitely needed.
The worse kind of card to make, one for a man that has no interests or hobbies, nightmare.

For this one I used the Arty Farty - Celebration Bottle Pattern, I decided to only use part of the pattern rather than the whole bottle.

I used dome stickers for the lettering, quickutz tag and key dies, gold mirri card, ribbon and peeloffs.

The stars (stamp was free on a magazine) were gold heat embossed onto co-ordinating card, cut out and attached to card with foam pads rather than silicone glue.

Does everyone struggle with men's cards the way I do?

Tracie x

Dahlia Medallions

I first saw this technique on SCS, it's a variation of teabag folding (called dahlia fold), its done with circles rather than squares and is relatively easy to do, once you get the hang of it. Its a maximum effect for minimal work.

I finished the card by stamping flowers and field of sky on the base card, added a tag, ribbon and prima flowers with gem centres.

Below a couple of variations of the dahlia fold.

Things to do ... be back later.

Tracie x

Ruby Roses

This card was made for the a lady I work with to give to her hubby on their ruby wedding anniversary which made it a little more difficult to do ... men just don't do romance do they!

I went with masuline colours, obviously, but just did several layers of matting and layering of different colours and textures ... didn't want anything to pretty, but it still needed to be romantic.I added thick chunky knotted ribbon with beaded strung hearts, an entwined set of hearts (quickutz) mounted on gold mirri card and cut out, with a handmade rose embellishment and gold peeloff sentiment. With a matching personalised pillow box.

Tracie x

Little Boy Blue

These cards came about because I wanted to test embossing texture plates through my cuttlebug with a silicone sheet, something I'd seen being done on another site. I have about ten texture plates but had't used them much because embossing them by hand took forever. So I embossed the baby feet onto blue pearl paper ... I love embossing onto pearl medium, the effects are great and seem to have more depth.

I used a sizzix sizzlet alphabet, grosgrain ribbon, mini soother, baby themed sheep stickers from Sainsbury's of all places, nestabilitie scallop die for the mount and all done.

Quick simple and great fun.

Tracie x

Kurtis Kwon Do

I was asked by a friend if I could make a card for her son, who is a black belt in tae kwon do ... it threw my a little, as I've only ever seen stamps with silhouette images and I didn't really want that.
After much searching I found a picture I was able to adapt, so I redesigned the image to make it suitable for cardmaking and made decoupage layers. The image was then watercoloured, scanned into my pc and printed out, so I can use the design again.

I have a large collection of clipart cd's (40+ from my typesetting days for a printing company) and found some oriental script that fitted the theme perfectly. I printed this from my graphics program straight onto the card and onto an insert to tie the theme together.

I added a typed sentiment and matted it onto red card, used black paper strips and a faux coin to finish ... I'm pleased with the result and made my very own decoupage sheet in the process.

Tracie x

Rugby Rookie In Stitches

Good morning everyone ... well it would be if I hadn't been woken at 7.30am by the council preparing the road for resurface today. Could they possibly have been any louder? It's typical any other day I would have been up for work, but I have a later start today and would have like at least an extra hour in bed ... nevermind, back to cards.

Don't you just love this gorgeous Edwin stamp from magnolia.

He's actually the footie boy, but as the ball isnt quite symetrical I thought it would work well for rugby too ... with the help of a bit of added detail.

I stamped the background with white stayzon rugby balls. Diecut and coloured the lettering (cuttlebug Kids), the greeting (Cuttlebug small embossing folder and diecut using nesty scallop small) and the Edwin image is watercoloured and decoupaged in the colours of the team Dan plays for.

I cuttlebugged a fiskars texture plate (mosiac effect with silicone sheet), set six blue eyelets and laced with coloured paper to match lettering. I added fake stitching around the edge to simulate a rugby ball.

Tracie x

Get Well Milly

Yes another Milly, I know, I have a problem ... I love Milly.

She has been stamped with stayzon and coloured with whispers brush pens, I added glitter to the flower, the bows in her hair and on her boots. For the card I used a papermania design paper, stamped over the top with whispers dye ink pad in port wine with 'field of sky' stamp, just to define the edge of the paper. Added pink narrow ribbon, prima flowers with gold bead cap and a dark pink brad, with a couple of tiny paper flowers and punched ash branches.I used a heart shaped plastic tag, with the greeting 'with love' on, I attached the tag to the card with clear thread, so that it can dangle freely.

Tracie x

More Milly In The Rain

Well once I started I couldn't stop. I think Milly is so sweet. On this card I went for the vintage look, using browns and creams.I distressed the edges of the mats, hand sewed around the edge (was late when I started, so couldn't using sewing machine). Then I sewed pattern in each corner. I used prima silk flowers and layered them up with a gold bead cap and brad.

I stamped Milly with whispers dye based pad in dark brown and coloured her using whispers pens, cut her out (single layer) and attached her to the card. The background paper is by papermania in a set called antique creams.

These stamps are so much fun to colour and so utterly adorable.

Tracie x

Milly In The Rain

This card is stamped with one of the new stamps by Janet Roberts at Pink Gem Designs, isn't she simply gorgeous!I stamped her several times with black stayzon, coloured her using whispers pens, decoupaged her up and placed her behind an acetate sheet. Added punched strips and grosgrain ribbon down either side, I then added flowers, with flower gems and a brad, an odd earring, punched ash leaves (leone em) and a double ribbon bow.

I then used papermania designer paper along the bottom edge and cut out extra flowers for a decoupage effectand added red gems to finish.

Tracie x

Young At Heart

There's nothing more satisfying than to sit down with a few stamped images and colour to your hearts content. Magnolia stamps have to be among my favourite stamps to colour and you always seem to get a good result, too.I simply used dotty and flower background papers, stamped the fabulous magnolia girl with black stayzon and watercoloured her (with Whispers Brush Markers), mounted the image on matching card. I diecut the letters with quickutz metro alphabet and added prima flowers and purple pearl brads. Couldn't be easier.
Tracie x

Breathless Passion

I adore this design, I've made so many variations of it, it simply ticks all the boxes for me.

It's incredibly easy, just layered wide satin ribbon over a card base, some prima flowers in contrasting colours layered and attached with a brad (you could quite easily use stamped flowers instead of silk ones), the ribbon is gathered and stitched under the flower corsage, which gives it the gathered look that shows really well on this card. On this particular project I made leaf branches using punched rose leaves and sugarcraft wire (three leaves per branch ... note to myself - must do tutorial). With pearl ribbon and a couple of pearl hearts ... this card to me is breathtaking and always warms the heart.
Tracie x

Baby Birth Plaque

There's nothing more precious than the birth of a baby and what better way to celebrate than a plaque with all the babies birth details.I made this card using the Keepsake Bookatrix Board and some decoupage. I used nestability scallop dies for the circle and typed the babies details on my pc and printed them out. A few peeloffs, a card stand, ribbon and handmade punched flowers and a sweet little card.

Tracie x

Swell News

We had some swell news this new year, my nephew and his fiance are expecting a baby. I'm already a Great Aunt, my eldest niece saw to that fourteen months ago, with a gorgeous great nephew, Toby. For our family 2008 had been pretty rough all round and the news of a new addition brought everyone to tears.

So naturally, I had to make a card for them.Made using handbag cards I got from a £1 shop (six handbag cards, envelopes and a bag of gems for £1, what a bargain) and magnolia "expecting tilda" and "fence" stamps. I coloured the images with whispers brush stroke pens. Diecut the mount using nestability scallop dies, the tilda is cut out and layered with silicone glue, to add extra dimension. I added prima flowers with pearl brads and punched grass. For extra detail I added fake stitching around the handbag.

Now we just have to wait for the happy event in July.

Tracie x

Puzzle Birthday

I find men's cards a nightmare, I mean it's OK when they play sport or have a hobby ... if not what do you do?So, I found these jigsaw puzzles at Handy Hippo, all plain white and ready to be stamped and under £4 for six, a bargain too.

So out came my waistcoat stamp and field of sky, I used black stayzon to stamp the images onto the jigsaw. Then I used watercolour pencils to colour them in. Added faux stitching around background and puzzle.

A little matting and layering, a scattering of puzzle pieces and voila, not the most genius card on the block but definitely passable.

Tracie x

Dotty Breakfast Set

With Mother's Day fast approaching, you just have to go all out and do something special.

To make this set I first purchased a one person teapot with cup base, as this would dictate what colour scheme I would be using. I found this gorgeous red and white dotty one in my local supermarket.

I then purchased food items to go in the basket (i.e. marmalade, teabags etc). I stamped some red paper stock with a cup design in white stayzon and wrapped the items up. I used the PC to typeset the names of the items into circles, in red on white paper, for use on the medallions. Using my cuttlebug and nestabilities scallop circle dies, I diecut using a small circle around the printed circles and with a silicone sheet embossed it too. I then cut a larger scallop circle in black and glued the white circle on to the black one, to form medallions, with a flower in the centre to finish. I did this for all the items.I purchased a basket gift wrapping set from my local supermarket. With white stayzon, I stamped the same cup design all over the wrapping (which seemed to take forever, as it was rather a large sheet). After arranging the items in the basket, I made sure it was centred on the gift wrap, gathered up the top and tied it with paper ribbon in red. Rolled the sides and stapled them together (I didnt want to use sellotape, as I think it can look untidy).

Now I've just got to hope she likes it!

Tracie x