Card ideas

As you know the craft group I belong to do a monthly card and embellishment swap and the theme for the last card swap was love/romance.

I decided to make a C&S (clean and simple) card using the new Enchanted stamp from Bo Bunny. The prices on these stamps have all come down with the dollar so its great value and I've priced down all the old stock to reflect the new price as well.

I inked up the Darkroom Door French Script Background stamp in grey pigment ink(you could use a Marvy Marker) and stamped the card, leave to dry or use a heat gun.

Then I swiped the card with a Stop Static Pillow. Ink up the Enchanted stamp with Versamark Embossing Ink (or similar) and stamp your image. Pour over Superfine Black Embossing Powder, tap off the excess.

I used a large acrylic block and placed the top border and cupid on it and stamped them at the same time (then the embossing powder) before stamping the corner flourishes (one at a time and do your embossing powder) and added the wording last.

Check for any stray bits of powder floating and remove with a small paint brush or cotton bud before using a heat gun to melt the embossing powder.  

For this card I've used Darkoom Door Christmas Reindeer stamp set and their Dear Santa Wordstrip  .

Start off with a red card as your base then cut some light green card to 140mm x 96mm and attach with double sided tape or adhesive. Then cut some dark green printed card to 133mm x 90mm, (you could use a plain piece of card and clear emboss a design onto it). Attach to the light green. Using a piece of red card and a punch make a decorative edge and attach.

Ink up one the Reindeer stamps with embossing ink and stamp on cream card and cover with Copper Pearl Embossing Powder, tap off excess and heat unitl the powder if melted. Cut around design and stick  down using a glue pen. Add a bit of Xmas Red Stickles to the tip of his nose and if you like dot with a black pen to create the eye.

Cut words from the Dear Santa Wordstrip and attach with Magic Mount to give it some height. 

These three are on a similar base but I've used images cut from a Christmas 12x12 sheet that I stock (sorry not available on the website), the Darkroom Door Christmas Wordstrips, Magic Mount and Stickles. 

12x12 cardstock, double sided, good quality and value at $1.80 and you get quite a few cards from these. 

27-11-11 PCYC craft markets on

Hi, just a reminder that we're having a second market this month at PCYC so come along tomorrow and have some breakfast or a coffee and a shop around. It's open between 8am and 12pm and if you come and see us in the hall we're air-conditioned.

I'll be having some sale items tomorrow as I know we all like a bargain especially at this time of year. There will also be a few gift lines available, some are mine and some are from a painter friend.

A girlfriend of mine is having a pre-loved stall outside and I've given her some of my books to sell so if you're a Christine Feehan fan you'll find some of those there and assorted others.

See you there.

Willy Wag Tail

A Willy Wag Tail has built a nest in the trees in our back garden and they have such a beautiful tune that they sing. It's a clever design for the nest because it blends right in with the branch but it does look a bit small.

We try and stay away from that area as she gets a bit worried and agitated so I had to stand a fair way back to try and take my photos.

I'm in Hinkler Shopping Centre tomorrow

Just a quick reminder that I'll have a table in the centre aisle near Boost Juice tomorrow along with Christine from Adele Collections (she sells handbags and jewellery).

I'll have limited space so I've packed the stamps, 12 x 12 Scrapbook paper, Christmas Photochips and a few other things.

Hope to see you there.

Hero Arts Christmas cards

I took some photos of the card examples in the Hero Arts Christmas catalogue just to show you how they use some of the stamp sets. Forgive the poor photography I was in a rush.

Classic Holly stamp

Seasons Greetings Stamp Set

Enjoy the Seasons

Christmas Reindeer Stamp Set

Merry Christmas Trees Stamp Set

Christmas, Christmas

Well I've uploaded more Christmas Stamps to my website if you're looking for a new stamp set to do your Christmas cards with.

There's some lovely designs out there and it's always hard to decide which ones to stock and naturally I find it difficult to resist wanting all of them for myself.

One of the sets I ordered for myself is the Hero Arts Christmas Tag and I've made a few tags from the birdy design and love them. When I do some from the other two I'll post a photo.

If you like any of the Christmas stamps please be aware that I only carry in stock 1 or 2 of each so if you want them quickly if might be an idea to grab them. I do re-order when I sell down but as most of these are from overseas it can take a little time to get here.

For anyone local you know that I carry a small range of 12 x 12 scrapbook paper and I now have 3 Christmas designs in that you might like. They are all double sided so that's a great way to co-ordinate your scrapbook pages or cards and at $1.80 a sheet good value and quality.

This Saturday I'll be in Hinkler shopping centre sharing a site in the middle aisle (we're not sure if we'll be in the food court end or the Kmart end yet) and I'll be on one table so I'll be taking limited stock. The stamps and 12x12 paper will be on there but if there's anything you want to look at in particular let me know by Friday afternoon. 

We also have a second market this month at PCYC on the 27th and there's some great stalls (including me :)

 If you're looking for a pudding or cake for Christmas we tried some lovely samples last Sunday.   

Christmas Cards

If you're like me you've been watching the Christmas decorations go up in the shops and muttering under your breath "you've got to be kidding me...already".

However now it's the 1st of November and I've been receiving in christmas stamps etc I think a gremlin (or an elf) must have whispered in my ear because I found myself making christmas cards from the Darkroom Door Santa Photochips and it was easy and fun.

For this one I started with a green card base then cut a piece of red card a little smaller which I stamped with the Darkroom Door Star Background Stamp and Versamark Embossing Ink just to give a subtle 

 background. I then attached it to the green card with double sided tape.

Then I cut a piece of cream cardstock long enough to fit the Santa Photochip in the middle and punched out the star design either end (It's a Martha Stewart paper punch) before attaching the photochip to the cardstock with double sided tape and then attaching it onto the red card.

The words were cut from the Darkroom Door Dear Santa Wordstrip and attached with Mini Magic Mount.

This one is a similar idea except I left the red card blank and attached it to the green card.

I then punched the star design in the cream cardstock and inked it up around the edges with Antique Linen Distress Ink using the Tim Holtz Blending Tool.

Then I attched the Dear Santa Photochip onto the cream card with double sided tape and stamped the Christmas greeting.

Then attach the cream card onto the red one and you're done.