Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Washi Tape Cards

Friends have been playing with washi tape on their cards, so my sister Sue and I decided to have a go.

Both these ideas came from photos on the Internet, but when you use your own colours etc, they look entirely different.

Card 1 - Washi Tree

A very simple card, I cut out the triangle tree shape from card stock, and just wrapped it with various strips of washi tape.  Love the little robin strip.    Mounted it on an embossed Kraft card, and added a sentiment.  Finished off with a little paper twine down one side.   Do you like the lace trunk of the tree?


Card 2 - Birthday card.

This is a great way to use up scraps of washi tape, just pick 4 - 6 different tapes, and tear strips off and place "any which way" onto your card mount.  Finish off with a flower and sentiment.  You could add anything to this card, but I thought the background was busy enough, that this was sufficient.


Until next time
Judy


Monday, January 26, 2015

Happy Australia Day

It is Australia Day today, January 26th, and I usually create something to reflect our country.  This year I went away for the long weekend to visit family, and did not get a chance to make anything specific.  I did have these journal cards ready to make a card, which I will do sometime in the future.


The latest cards I have made, were based on a little clip art that my niece messaged to me.  It was so sweet, I saved the image and made it into two cards, each a little different.

The first card, was mounted on a red polka dot card, which looked great


The second card, was mounted on white card with a black polka dot washi tape behind the off angled mounts


I will be sending the top card back to my niece, I think she will be surprised, but these would also be great for Valentines Day, which is not very far away.

Did you have a great weekend?

Judy

Friday, January 23, 2015

Getting adventurous

I am really starting to get the feel of this card making business, and have started taking some crafty risks and trying new things ....

Brown Birdie Card

I ran my Tim Holtz Distressed Tea Stain Ink Pad over the embossing on this card - it gave a nice antique effect as the embossing was on kraft card.


I then wrapped a little paper twine around the card and glued a lovely wooden bird button from "Up In Annie's Room" (which is available from my on-line store,see here)  for the dimensional look. 

Floral Tag card

I left the round aluminium tag hanging free on this card, which gives it an interesting look.  Onto the tag I glued a card stock flower (I have used these previously on my large paper-clip bookmarks)


I like the pink accent colour on this card.

Last one for today, a simple little butterfly card, the butterfly is dimensional which you cannot really see in this photo.  A pack of 6-8 butterflies in a pack for $2.00 - great price from the discount store.  I think the layout of this card, in softer tones would make a nice sympathy card.



Guess what I am going to try next? Cutting out shapes using die sets on my Cuttlebug - not sure exactly what that involves but another lesson is scheduled with my sister.  

Judy

Thursday, January 22, 2015

I'm Having Fun

I am really having fun making these cards - I can sit at the dining room table and play without having to go to the craft studio and face the mess in there ... he he

Two more Christmas cards to show you today, one using tree buttons from my store, see here to purchase, and the other trying the Santa stamp again,


I like the embossing on the background of this card, seems to give it a snow-like effect.  I do not have a snowflake embossing folder (yet)

Using the Santa Stamp


A few more layers in this card than the original one (see here) ...  I photocopied a section of a book about Santa for the background, and the black frame was a purchased felt frame  - this was also the first time I have incorporated brads on a card ... see I am trying something different all the time.

This is getting addictive

Judy

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

No sewing - More cards

I know, I know, finish off the wallets - but these cards are so cute?

A little folded doily makes a cute dress on this card ... instructions can be found here  on how to make the dress


The green background paper really makes the dress pop

The next card has become a favourite, love how it turned out. 


The Robin is a Mulberry paper die cut which is available in my on-line store - a pack of 5 for just $2.70.  It really is the show-stopper element of this card.  A little greenery wrapped with a red & white ribbon - all complete.  I am really pleased with the end result 

I will be ready for next Christmas before I know it, if I continue making all these cards.  That would be a first, being ready that is ....

Judy

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Playing on my own

I have continued to play with my new card making craft - using lots of different embellishments and papers that I had on hand.

This yellow bird card, was just a lovely piece of cardstock that I had depicting the birds.  I think this card could be used for many occasions.


The next card was a simple card, using a Martha Stewart snowflake punch.  Using a dark blue card as the background, I just punched snowflakes down one side on white card stock.  Spotted ribbon, and all finished for a lovely fresh look.


I am enjoying this challenge of trying a new craft - you will see more cards in the future, although to be truthful, I have 6 little wallets waiting to be completed.  Four just need to have the stud closures installed - probably 30 minutes work.  This week!


Judy

Monday, January 19, 2015

Card 6 - Using Tags

Well, I wish I could say I got better as the card making day went on, but this was not the case.  My last card, lacks punch - looking back you can see where you would have changed it, and that is a good thing, right?

Card 6 - Using computer printed tag and sentiment


Sue - placed a coloured rub-on, on a rusty tag for the feature of this card.  Lots of different elements to keep the card interesting.  This is where I do not do enough!


This shows the final cards from our card making day a week ago, however I will be making more.  I have so many items that can be used for card making, and it is quick and easy as well as a useful craft to participate in.

Last night, I saw the idea for a pleated dress on a card, so I had a go .... just using what I had on hand, and I am pleased with the result


I am not sure how this card is supposed to fit into a envelope, but I love how it turned out.  I may try another one, but making the dress a little smaller.  Notice the cute bow?  I used another new technique for tying the bow, using a fork.  Check out how on the internet, you will be surprised how simple it is, and how easy to get a tiny bow.

Am I hooked on card making, not completely, but at least I am crafting as my sewing mo-jo had gone missing

Until next time
Judy

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Card 5 - Stamping and Using Embellishments

The last couple of cards from the card making day last Sunday are entirely different, we both went off on individual tangents.

I wanted to try stamping all over a card to see the effect - and I must admit I love the end result.
Using another stamp from the Darkroom Door Yuletide set, I used a pewter stamp and went to town. A little sentiment in the corner and the job was done.


Sue's card - in this example she was showing me how to use embellishments and paper to get a great effect.  She used Kaisercraft Basecoat Christmas Journal Cards on the following card


These cards are great as they are double sided, and are small enough to use without any trimming.

Judy

Saturday, January 17, 2015

Card 4 - Santa Stamp

The time had come to start playing with stamps on our Card Making day.  This Santa stamp is one of the Darkroom Door Yuletide set - it  is a recessed type of stamp, and has great detail.  We also used the "Tis the Season" stamp as well


My card  - I think it needs a ribbon or something down the left hand side, what do you think?


Sue's card - the wider mounting card makes the stamp stand out more.  The little burlap Noel star was purchased from Spotlight



Only two more cards to show you from our card making day.  Can you see any improvements?

Judy

Friday, January 16, 2015

Card 3 - Music Tree

Card 3 - I am getting better, I think?  The next card idea was found on Pinterest

It was good to be able to use items from my online store, rusty bells, rusty star button.  This was the first time I had used a border punch


Sues - good colour depth and she did use one of my buttons


Maybe I should stop comparing cards, I keep on seeing what I could do better.  But I like the idea of having a record so you can see how you have improved.  I know Sue has been making cards for a couple of years, and her knowledge and skills have improved since her first attempt, so keep your fingers crossed for me.

Judy

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Card 2 - Simple

After my first card making attempt. my second card was even simpler (is it possible, I hear you ask?)

Card 2  - Sue and I differed on this theme

Embossed background, button and plastic words



Sue's card -  love the colours used on this card - the deer was stamped 


I think the only way I can surpass Sue in the card making arena is with my computer skills, I printed out the little tags which we used ... hard to see in the above photo

Card 3 tomorrow

Judy

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Card 1

Sunday's card making lesson was fun, and over the next few days I will show you some of the cards we made.  I must reinforce I am a beginner, so there is definitely room for improvement.

We tried to use the same theme for the cards, but each card is totally different.

Card 1.

This one was my first


Sue's card - lots more layers and depth


Another card tomorrow
Judy

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Card Making Lesson

It was a great card making lesson with my sister, Sue, today.  Although I got off to a slow start, I did manage to finish off 6 cards.  I must admit there is definitely room for improvement, but at least I got started.

Following are a couple of group photos of the finished cards, the light was fading, so I will take more photos over the next couple of days, to "show off" individual cards.



I still have not got the hang of the layering technique but I will continue to practice.  We only made Christmas cards today, getting a early start, he he, however I want to try my hand at birthday cards next.

It is always good to learn something new

Until next time
Judy

Saturday, January 10, 2015

What am I doing?

Another "frump" day in the life of Cat 'n Cart Crafts - a perfect day for craft, cooler temperature, a little rain (which was very welcome) and what did I do?  NOTHING!

Is it the let down from the holidays?  Is any one else feeling it?  I cannot seem to get going!  not that I do not have a list of things I want to make, I just cannot seem to get started?

Maybe tomorrow? My sister Sue, is coming over to give me a card making lesson, definitely outside my comfort zone, but may be the kick start I need.  She makes all her cards, for every occasion and I am so envious.

See some examples here, here and here.   I love it when she uses products from my online store so that I can show examples of different uses of the products.

Here are a couple more examples, of her cards, using buttons and ribbon from my online store - I love the button embossing on the background of this card - I hope to use it a lot


Again using buttons, ribbon, twine and hessian from the store


Simple designs for me to start with. If I am not too embarrassed with my lesson tomorrow, I will show you my results, hey it is always good to look back and see how much we have improved, right?

I hope you have started your crafts for 2015

Judy

Thursday, January 01, 2015

Happy New Year

I found this quote from Helen Keller which I love:

Your success and happiness lies in you.  Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.

Something to ponder for 2015?


Judy