Christmas Carollers

I have made this set from this weeks papers off Free Craft Downloads
They are the latest in the Character papers featuring Brewster, Beatrice and Bulmer as Carol singers

The papers I used were
Christmas Carollers A6 diy decoupage
Christmas Carollers Pyramid 01
Snow flakes 04
Snow flakes 04 l
I also used
2 sheets of royal blue holographic card
1 x A5 blank greeting card
2 sheets of 350gsm smooth white card
2 sheets of 220gsm white card
2 sheets of 160gsm smooth white paper
5 silver snowflakes
some royal blue ribbon with white spots on

To make these simple gift tags I printed the Carollers A6 diy decoupage sheet on to the sheet of 220gsm white card
Cut them out individually, stuck them on to one of the sheets of royal blue holographic card then cut around them again leaving a border of the blue card. I punched a hole in the top left corner and threaded some of the ribbon through

To make this gift box  I printed the snow flakes 04 backing paper on to the sheets of 350gsm smooth white card I then trimmed them to 18cm square. Using the boxer board from crafters companion I scored each side in at 4.5cm this makes it so much easier as the base  is made from one edge of the score board and then the lid is made from the opposite edge so you don't have to fiddle with measurements or trying to make sure it fits. I cut to where the score lines joined then folded and stuck together

 The bow for the top was made using some scraps of the blue holographic card I cut 6 strips 1cm wide and 6cm long, glued the edges together and trimmed to a point

 These were then stuck to the back of the snowflake as you will see in the picture

When it was dry I just shaped it a bit better,
After I had taken the picture I decided to use a small piece of the card  left over from making the box  folded it in half to make a gift tag, punched a hole in the top left hand corner and threaded some of the blue ribbon through and stuck it to the bottom of the snowflake bow before adding it to the top of the box - this can be seen on the main box picture

To make the card I used an A5 size blank greeting card as my base card, to this I stuck the snowflake 04 backing paper which had been printed on the sheet of 160gsm smooth white paper,  I printed the pyramid sheet on to the other  sheet of 220 gsm white card, cut it out and assembled using silicone glue, when dry this was mat and layered on to snow flake 04 l paper and blue holographic card.I stuck it to the right side of the base card and stuck 3 of the silver snowflakes down the left side of the card.

I chose not to add a Christmas greeting to the front of the card.

Carol singers shaker card

Following on from the previous card 


I sometimes like to use this type of pyramid paper to make shaker cards

 

To make this one I used

A4 sheet of white hammered card
2 small square pieces of acetate
Snow 2 backing paper
Carol singers pyramid 2
snowman and present embellishments I had in my bits and pieces box
Happy Christmas peel off and some sparkly peel off snowflakes
some fake snow

I  folded the sheet of white card in half and stuck the snow backing paper to it and trimmed the edges
I made the reverse pyramid paper up in the same way as with the previous card but on layer 4 I stuck a piece of acetate to the top of it (so the snow doesn't fall too far down)

 To the back of layer 5 I stuck some foam pads all around the circle so the snow doesn't fall out then stuck it on top of the acetate on layer 4
A piece of acetate was then stuck to the back of layer 6 which would be the top layer then stuck the foam pads around the edge again
I added a small amount of fake snow to the centre of the assembled layers (on top of the acetate on layer 4)  then stuck the top layer down
Give it a shake and it looks like it is snowing on the Carol singers
 
I stuck it to the bottom right side of the card and stuck the snowman and present to the left side along the bottom I added some more fake snow and at the top left side I added the Happy Christmas peel off then randomly stuck some of the sparkly snowflake peel offs

Brewster the singer

Last weeks papers from  Free Craft Downloads was Brewster the singer
You will find them Here 
If you receive the Newsletter from Free Craft Downloads or are a member of the forum you will know there have been problems with the main gallery this past week and there is a new gallery now - which I'm sure you will find much easier to use  (The majority of the papers are there some of the backing papers are still being uploaded - all papers will be uploaded by the end of this week) 

This is the card I have made using the latest Brewster papers

I chose the Round "Reverse Pyramid" sheet because some people are unsure what they are or how to use them  Sometimes they are also known as "inverted pyramid" papers

This type  of decoupage is quick, easy to cut out and use and is ideal for those who find cutting out more intricate designs too difficult

To make the above card I used

1 sheet  of A4 hammered cream card

1 sheet of white pearl gold shimmer paper

An A4 sheet of blue card

Happy Birthday vertical peel off

Double sided tape

Double sided foam pads

Brewster singer 02

Guitar 06 ls l

music 02 ls l
music 01 ls  (From the teen pop papers)

I folded the A4 hammer card in half to make my base card and on to this I stuck the music 01 ls paper I then cut a piece of the guitar paper and mounted this on to a piece of  thin blue card and stuck it to the left side of the card. I then cut an even smaller piece of the (brewster) music paper and again mounted it on to a thin piece of blue card and stuck it on the guitar paper at an angle

I cut a thin strip of the guitar backing paper, stuck it down the centre of a piece of the thin blue card then added a vertical Happy Birthday peel off
This piece of card was then stuck on the right hand side of the card

 The main image from the reverse pyramid sheet was cut out and mounted on a piece of the blue card and stuck on the music paper. This had been printed on the sheet of A4 white gold shimmer paper - it glistens lovely when it catches the light (difficult to see in a picture)

To use these reverse pyramid sheets  you need to cut out the white centre before layering them up
You will see from this picture how I choose to cut the centre out
I find it easier to use a craft knife and cut from near the outside in to the middle going all around the circle

Here you can see I snipped away the inner part this makes it easier to get the scissors in and doesn't crease your paper / card  then you just cut around the edge of the white circle on all 5 pieces
if you prefer you can just use a craft knife and cut around the edge of the circle  - If I do that sometimes I find I slip a bit with the knife and end up cutting where I don't want to.

After cutting out all the white circles I added foam pads to the back and layered them
You will see when you print out the sheet there are numbers under the parts
you stick
 6 on to 5,   5 on to 4,  4 on to 3,  3 on to 2,  and 2 on to 1

The finished card

Thanksgiving Napkin Holders / Place Names

This week on Free Craft Downloads  there are some new thanksgiving papers for you

Occasionally I like to make something other than a card with the new papers so this week I came up with the idea of  making some Napkin holders / Place names with a couple of the Decoupage sheets

They were easy to make and the combination of a Napkin holder and Place name card is ideal if table space is limited because  you have either a small table or a table laden with goodies

This is something I will be doing for my Christmas table with some Christmas decoupage papers as I only have a small table

I used thanksgiving_decoupage
and thanksgiving03

These were printed on 350gsm smooth white card A4 size
I also used some gold and silver Capital letter peel offs

             

I cut the layers out but instead of layering them all up I put a spacer in between the first and second layer.This was a piece of card 6m long by 3cm wide and each end was folded up 1cm. One end was attached to the front of the largest piece of decoupage  and the other was attached to the back of  the second layer with double sided tape so there was a 4cm gap inbetween this is where the folded napkin goes, the rest of the layers then were decoupages on the front.
On the front of the pumpkin one I added a name in gold letter peel offs and on the Turkey one I added a name in silver letter peel offs to the back layer

Bea the witch

Last week Bea the fairy made her debut  on Free Craft Downloads
This week she is all dressed up as a Witch ready for Halloween


I have made two cards using some of the papers

Card 1 

 

To make this first card I used 

1 5 x 5 inch square white base card 

1 piece of 5 x 5 inch white card

Bea Backing paper 5

Bea Decoupage small

I also used a small black strip of card 

Some gold letter peel offs to spell out Happy Halloween

I printed out a pumpkin picture that I had on my computer as well

I decided to make a 5x5 inch easel card  

I stuck the backing paper to the base of the card and also to the bit that stands up

I cut out and made up the decoupage but decided to cut off the small pumpkin which I kept to one side as it was going to be used elswhere

I cut out the larger pumpkin and stuck it to the piece of white 5x5 card and cut around it 

This was then stuck to the front of the easel  card

When the decoupage had dried I stuck it to the centre of the larger pumpkin and cut out two of the small pumpkins from the decoupage sheet and used them as the stoppers on the main card stuck on with double sided foam pads

Along the bottom of the card I stuck a thin strip of black card and added the letters to say Happy Halloween

Card 2 

To make this second card I used

A white A6 gatefold card

Bea Backing paper 5

Bea pyramid 1

I also used two strips of black card 

Gold letter peel offs to spell out Happy Halloween

I used the other two small pumpkins from the decoupage sheet I used for the first card

I cut out and made up the pyramid sheet - while the sillicone was drying  I stuck some of the backing paper to the central inside part of the card then stuck another  piece to each of the outer sides

I added a thin strip of black card down each of the outer sides of the front of the card  starting at the top left I put the word Happy then at the bottom of the right side of the card I put Halloween then closed the card and added the other two small pumpkins from the decoupage sheet to the centre

Bea makes her début on Free Craft Downloads

We have a new character on Free Craft Downloads this week
Bea the fairy


I have made a couple of cards using some of the papers

The first one is this one 

I used

Bea decoupage

Bea backing paper

Present backing paper

Flower template  printed on back of one sheet of the fairy backing paper

Frame 

I also used a small piece of silver metalic card  (5"x7")

Starting with the decoupage I printed it once on a sheet of A4 smooth white paper
I then printed it again on a sheet of A5 smooth white paper
I then mirrored the decoupage and printed it again on another A5 sheet of smooth white paper

The Bea backing paper I printed on two sheets of A4 smooth white card
On the back of one of the sheets I printed the flower template

The present backing paper was printed in draft on A4 white paper  I chose to print  it in draft as I only wanted a pale image to show through the apperture in the inside of the card
I printed the frame on an A5 sheet of smooth white card

To make the card up  I folded one sheet of bea backing paper in half to make an A5 size finished card

 The second sheet I cut out the flower shape from the back of the card then folded it so it would pop out when the card was opened I stuck the faded present sheet to the middle of the main outer card and trimmed the top and bottom
then stuck the folded aperture pop out centre to it

I cut out and made up the two smaller decoupage sheets and stuck them back to back with a piece of silver grey thread between them  so it would hang from the centre of the inside of the card





 

I suspended the Bea decoupage from the top and stuck it down with a small piece of tape then stuck the two small presents to either side at the bottom of the flower shape






 

For the front of the card I cut around the frame and cut out the centre then stuck it on to the small sheet of silver metallic card  I cut around the main Bea image on the A4 size backing sheet and stuck it in the centre of the frame






 

This was then stuck to the centre of the front of the card

 I chose not to add a greeting to the card

The second card is this one

 

Mirror mirror on the wall ......
Bea fairy card 2
For this card I decided to combine old and new
I used the pink version  of Bea decoupage
present backing paper
the 5x5 square frame resized to 7cm x 7cm
Fairy decoupage
a small piece of silver mirror card
a speech bubble with words mirror mirror on the wall......

 I printed the present backing paper onto a sheet of
 A4 smooth white card and "tent" folded it
I printed both the old and new fairy  decoupage A5 size on white smooth paper
The pink speech bubble on to smooth white paper

I printed the frame on to smooth white card, cut it out and stuck it on to a small piece of silver mirror card
In the centre I stuck the  fairy decoupage (we had quite a while ago on FCD)

This is the finished card
I stuck the small present from the decoupage sheet on to the bottom right side of the card






Again with this card I chose not to add a greeting

A few cards

Just sharing some cards I have made over the past couple of days to use up some bits and pieces

The first one I used  a Mandala design which I shrunk down and printed 3 of them
I was going to colour the mandala images but decided to make a black and white card instead so used a white base card DL size  and layered the mandalas on to black card

This I used up a piece of black and white floral backing paper and a silhouette die cut from way back when which I found in my bits box
I added some black ribbon along the bottom and a white ribbon on the left side of it

This card  used up some lacy backing paper and a floral decoupage I had made up a while ago but not used
along the bottom I added a Happy Birthday and another small floral decoupaged sticker and a cute little ladybird

Teen Pop Cards

Some of this weeks papers on Free Craft Downloads are Teen pop papers

Normally I would not have chosen purple and green together but picked up on the colour of the stage lights in the decoupage sheet and felt on this occasion the colours went well together.

To make the card I used

A4 sheet of ivory hammer effect card
Music 02 backing paper
singer 01 decoupage 
11cm square of green card
7.5 x 21 cm of purple pearlised backing paper
4 small strips of purple pearlised paper 1/2 cm wide x 8cm long
2 small green brads
2 x 5mm self adhesive gems
double sided adhesive tape
silicone glue
Clear sakura pen

 
I folded the sheet of card in half to make an A5 size card
the "front" of the card I folded back on itself (so the inside becomes the outside)
To this I stuck the purple pearlised paper (trim edges if necessary)
on the inside of the card I stuck the music backing paper

I cut out and assembled the decoupage sheet then when dry I stuck it to the centre of the green card
using the clear sakura pen I coloured in the lights at the front of the stage and some highlights in the "singers" hair so they sparkle when they catch the light

To make the "flowers" I used 4 small thin strips of purple paper all you need to do to make these is to make a circle with each strip and glue, when dry flatten down
make a hole assemble as shown in picture then make a hole right through the centre of them and use the brad to secure them you could leave them like that but I chose to add a green gem to the centre
These were then stuck to the top and bottom right hand side of the music backing paper

These little flowers look nice made into inexpensive bows for gifts you could make in 2 / 3 different sizes / colours then open out the petals and assemble - larger one on the bottom and smallest one on the top - ideal for using up scraps of paper. They can be made from ribbon as well

The main picture was then stuck down on the left hand side only on the purple pearl paper.

Megans Teen Pop Card

Megan decided she would like to make a card from one of this weeks papers so she used the saxophone player decoupage
She folded the base card in the same way that I did mine then cut out the decoupage sheet and used foam pads to layer it up
Instead of using pearl paper Megan decided to use some purple foam then stuck the decoupage to this
She also decided to use 2 small rectangles of mulberry paper in a mustard colour (to go with the saxophone)
Then on these she stuck two mini mandala images I printed  and she coloured in
On the left hand side she stuck 3 flower peel offs which she coloured the centres in a deep purple
A Happy Birthday peel off was used in the top right corner of the decoupage
Because the front of the card was quite colourful she decided to leave the inside of the card plain

Mini Mandala Card

In my crafting I like using mandalas either to glass paint or shrink down and use like digi stamps on my cards
I also find them quite therapeutic to just colour in / paint

The card pictured below  I  made using a Mandala image which I shrunk down to a 5cm diameter 

I printed the images onto a smooth white card and used three images to make this card

I coloured them using sakura gelly roll pens I did try water colour paints but was not happy with the effect

I used a DL size green base card and coloured the image in red and green and used some red pearl gems in opposite corners I used foam pads to stick them to the base card and raise them slightly

I know there is a saying "red and green should never be seen but I liked it on this card

Glass painted Tiger

I haven't had much time to do any crafting for myself lately but one of the things I have done is this

I really like Tigers and have a favourite image of one in tribal flames
it's the sort of design I would like to have on the front of  a car IF I had the right sort of car to put  it on

I decided instead that I would glass paint the image and have it in a picture frame
It took two attempts - for now I have just put it on a clip frame back until I find the right frame for it

 

I used solvent based glass paints for this project and just added a gold peel off border to take the plainness off the clip frame until I find the frame I want to put it in 

I'm still around

I knew it had been quite a while since I posted anything on here but didn't realise how long!
I have been quite busy this past few of months or so with personal stuff and becoming more involved with the KIM Project  I have been lucky enough to facilitate a few craft sessions and have thoroughly enjoyed it and  it has helped me no end with confidence building not only in myself but in my crafting as well.  I did Card making, Glass painting and Watercolour Mandala Painting
I have another Card making session coming up in a couple of weeks for them and I am really looking forward to it and am starting to "prep" this weekend
I will also be starting a self employment business course so that is something else I am looking forward to

K.I.M. would like your vote

K.I.M. stands for Kindness In Mind and they provide Mental Health Support to Women
More info Here
Part of their funding comes from The Big Lottery fund

The National Lottery Awards of 2011 is looking for the UK's favourite lottery funded projects and K.I.M. has been lucky enough to reach the semi finals
The winner will be revealed on a special BBC1 show in the Autumn

K.I.M. would like your vote 

If you would like to vote for them they you can do so here
Best Health Project - K.I.M.

Thank You

Laptop card

I thought I would show you this card which I made a few days ago

I made it as a little Thank You for the Tutor of a computer course I have been attending
Great course and great fun, met some lovely people too

 

 It was made from a template I have
I printed out a Thank you message on some white card to use as the "screen" and made the card up following the instructions

The Laptop case was made from black card as well
I cut out a window in the centre, covered it with acetate so the Thank you would show through

The finished card in  it's case

A Good Innings

Brewster is back this week on Free Craft Downloads  sporting cricket whites

This  is a circular white retirement card (just shown against a green background) 

Papers used were 

Cricket 1

Cricket Decoupage sheet

Scoreboard sheet 

All printed A5 size

I used an A4 sheet of  white linen card  folded in half and cut out a circle with a 14cm  diameter (making sure not to cut on the fold of the card)

I slightly straightened the bottom of the card so  it will stand up

I cut out a smaller 12cm circle  of the cricket 2 backing paper and stuck it in the centre of the white base card

Using the score board sheet I used the "Retired" wording and also the number 35  these were stuck on to the scoreboard and in a white souffle pen I added the words "years a good innings and now" 

this was then stuck on the upper left of the card and then the brewster decoupage was stuck on the lower right side

I made another 2 cards using the Brewster Cricket designs