You've Been Framed

I thought you might like to see the little project I tried today.

You know what it's like we've had the children at home for the past seven weeks and you can't wait for them to go back to school for the piece and quiet, and the day they finally do go back, the house is so empty its kind of lonely, so ...I was watching craft on TV this morning with my coffee (trying to fill a gap between housework and thinking of what to cook for tea) when they made these gorgeous frames. From paper, origami folded similar to fortune tellers with no glue, just brads and ribbon. They are so simple to make.

I haven't put photos in mine yet, but think it would be better to do that before you tie the ribbon. Just imagine the possibilities (all the occasions and designs that can be done, these were just quickies to have a go, but I now have so many ideas) ... and they can be made any size (mine were made from 8"x 8" scrapbook paper and ended up 10cm square), as long as you start with a square the technique is the same.If there's enough interest, I can always do a tutorial.
Hoping you've all had a great day ... with love.
Tracie X

Tinker & Co.

Have you checked out this blog?They have some gorgeous downloads and have just started a blog skin service, for very reasonable prices. And at the moment they are offering a free blog makeover to one lucky winner ... good luck.

Sweetest First Kiss

I love Sarah Kay stamps, they take me back to my childhood. This stamp "first kiss" is so sweet, perfect for any age and many occasions.

I wanted to keep this card muted with a splash of a bright colour. I stamped the image with black stayzon and coloured it using whispers brush pens, then I embossed around the image with a gorgeous template I had cheap during a craft sale in my local store (it had no packaging ... so I don't know the manufacturer). I lightly tinted the embossing with pale green chalk, just to high light the embossing and then mounted it onto brown card and cut a thin border, just to lift the white from the cream layer beneath it. It isn't very clear on the pic, but the cream layer has been stamped with pale green hearts.I added a ready made greeting and pearly hearts from my stash. Used organza ribbon across the card, with a bow to match. The large flower is a poinsettia (a digi download from "fred she said"), but in this colour I think it can be used for any occasion. I shaped the flower with a ball tool, sprayed it with "crafter's companion" - silver glitter spray and used white seed beads in the centre. Punched some brown leaves, green branches and tiny white flowers and decorated around the card to add more interest.I think it turned out OK, it's maybe a little overworked ...
I've always had a problem knowing when to stop.

Happy crafting ladies.
Tracie x

Superhero Superpants

OK ... I've had requests for cards that I simply don't understand ... but this one had me giggling. When I was asked if I would be able to make it, I simply couldn't wait to get started. A little bit of research for the logo and colours and I was ready to plunge myself into the world of men's underpants.I used "colour my world" underpants template (same set as boobs & booties). I made the outer pants in red and did faux stitching around the edges, for the main fabric I used two shades of blue, a lighter one for the inside of the leg holes and a darker one for the main body. I used ink to tint the blue to make it look more like shaded fabric. I found a superman logo and printed it out the size I wanted onto card and used it as a template.Again I tinted the layers of the logo and added white sakura pen to highlight the it to make it look 3d. I then layered the pants onto yellow dotted card, tinted to match the underpants and added die cut stars. For the greeting/name, I used my cuttlebug to die cut my quickutz "metro" alphabet from yellow card and used butterscotch ink pad to tint the letters to match underpants and stars.
This card has been sooo much fun to make ...
and the response to it was fantastic.
Imagine the variations that are possible ... ummmmm.

With love
Tracie x

New Addition

I thought you might like to meet the new addition to our family ... you may remember me mentioning at Christmas that my nephew and his girlfriend announced they were expecting.

Well she finally arrived on 21st July 2009.LEXIE LOUISE
What an absolutely gorgeous Great Niece we've been blessed with.
(Oh so sweet ... she has socks on her hands because the mitts are to big for her ... she is so tiny).
Congratulations Mark & Ang.

Tracie x

Cinder's Celebration

Every girls dream ... to grow up and be a princess and Katie is no exception. She loves all of Disney's princesses ... so naturally she had to have one on her card.

It took me weeks finding the decoupage on the Internet, but finally found a company that supplied them, thank goodness. The castle is made using a template by "Colour My World" (available from good craft stores/websites - UK company so not sure if available worldwide). I used three different types of card to make the castle (glitter/plain/patterned). Then added dots with a white sakura souffle pen to define the towers and white seed beads for the window sills.The front of the card is acetate, because I wanted it to look like Cinder's was standing away from the castle (I think it worked OK). Then I added a die cut sentiment and punched flowers to finish the card ... very girlie.

My sister used the same template to make a pink castle for a scrapbook page.
Happy crafting.
Tracie x

Wolf Wilderness

I love wolves and huskies, so when I was asked to make a card with wolves on ... I had to do it.This is another cd card, using "My Craft Studio", it just let's you manipulate any jpeg image and I'm addicted to this program ... I recommend everyone has this program, especially if your a little pc challenged.
I designed the whole card on my pc and printed out all the sheets. I did three images in different sizes and mounted them onto silver mirror card and layered them at different angles on the base card. I used my cuttlebug to diecut scalloped nesties and do some spirelli with black cotton, to tone in with the card. I added a greeting tag to finish.
Ever since I started using "My Craft Studio", I've become quite taken with making inserts and envelopes that match the outside of the card. And I've sold a lot more too.

Love to you all.
Tracie x

Bountiful Butterflies

Hello Girls, I've been gone so long, I've forgotten how to blog!
With illness/recovery, 2 week holiday and then the dreaded swine flu, I've had a pretty strange few weeks. But hopefully the worst is behind me and I can finally try to get some normality back .... PLEASE!
I've managed to make a few cards over the past few weeks, though not as many as I'd have liked. So over the next few days I'll be catching up with you and letting you see the cards I've managed to do, if that's OK?Today's card is a cd card, using "My Craft Studio". It was all designed on the PC and then printed out and decoupaged etc.So I used nesties with decoupage mounted onto it, a bit of matting and layering, added a giant bow and a couple of butterflies ... oh, and gems of course.
I made an insert to match and think it's finished the card of lovely. And with the new envelo-boxes I've started making to pop my cards in, I'm really pleased with this one.
Happy crafting girls, back soon
Tracie x

Champayne Celebrations

Turning 65 ... what a milestone for this guy. I've used this layout several times ... I simply adore it, so classy for a man too.I stamped the background using brown dye ink and water coloured using whispers brush markers. I mounted this layer onto gold mirri card and then onto the black base card. I used Arty Farty's celebration bottle template, cut out all the pieces in co-ordinating colours and layered the pieces together, then I just added some quickutz stars and ribbon.

I made a quick envelope box to match, very sophisticated for the older gentleman.

Back soon, take care.
Tracie x

Who's Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf?

Definitely not me ... I've turned into a twilight fan, while I was poorly with lot's of time on my hands, I decided to read twilight to see what all the hype was about, well ... I just couldn't put it down. So then I had to by the rest of the saga and before I knew it I'd read all four books thrice ... yes I did say three times ... how sad am I?

But I have to say my fave is Jacob (not Edward) ... I looked around for a tote bag ... but didn't find anything I really liked, so ... why not make my own. I used some 'iron-on transfer paper', designed what I wanted on the bag on my pc and printed them out.
Then after allowing the images to dry for 15 minutes, I cut around them but not to close as the paper has a tendency to curl if it has to many intricate shapes. I ironed the bag nice and flat, removed the backing paper and laid the images down in position. Using a piece of baking parchment (not greaseproof paper as this sticks to the image) and a hot iron (no steam), I ironed the transfers into place using a fair amount of pressure, but only for about 20 seconds on each area (otherwise the transfer will burn and lose it's colour).

I love it, and so many people have asked where I got it, cool.

Happy crafting friends.
Tracie x