Fun Fold Friday - Have A Hoot

 For my last card this week, I wanted to do something different. So I have gone back some years to cards that I made way back when....... I often make Easel Fold cards but his one has a twist or 2? 

It's a Triple Easel card! 

On a separate piece of card, I stamped the owls and coloured them all in using blends before fussy cutting them out. Yes, there are dies to die cut them out but I prefer the fussy cut images. I know, I'm crazy! The double sided papers I used are from the Heartwarming Hugs designer series paper from Stampin' Up!

The owls are from Have A Hoot stamp set. More information HERE in our shop. The links will open up a new window so you don't lose your page.  Please feel free to browse to your hearts content. No obligation to buy, I promise! To see the matching dies too on which you can save 10%, please click HERE 

I started with a square of card which is 21cm by 21cm, or 8,1/4" squared, then scored it in half at 10.5cm or 4,3/8" squared. On one side only, I cut at every 7cm into the centre fold of the card base, so 2 cuts. I then cut this side to 7cm wide too and the cut off pieces became my message mats. I cut a strip of card 7cm wide and cut that into 3 lots of 7cm squares.

  Once that was complete, I started to decorate my card. I started with a piece of the lovely red velvet card 20.5cm long by 10cm wide. I marked where the 7cm points were and cut from that point to the bottom left and bottom right corners, taking off a triangle on each side. At this point, I added a strip of the Metallic Mesh Ribbon across the front and using Tear and Tape, fixed the ribbon onto the reverse of the red panel. It was then fixed to the card base. I cut 2 pieces of Double Sided Paper 6.5 cm by 10cm and cut them in half diagonally to match. I repeated this for the other side too. I have kept the other pieces for another card as it would be on the reverse side of the paper. From there, I cut 3 mats 6.5cm by 6.5cm and used the red velvet paper on them and a matching piece of paper on the centre fold. Under the mats could be visible too, I covered them in squares of a coordinating paper.

Once the front panels were covered, I decided which direction I wanted the card to face. As I chose them both facing the centre of the card, I scored from the inside edges of the 2 end panels to the outer corners. I folded them back and forth in both directions to make sure that the creases were nice and crisp. Once they were folded, I stood them up and placed them in the position they would face and fixed the decorated panels onto the inisde triangle of each outer square. From that point, it was time for the messages. I stamped and placed them so that they held the 2 side and centre panels to stand up.

For the panels to face an alternative direction, you will need to adjust the score lines accordingly, see my diagrams above and below. I actually wanted my centre card to face forward, so I scored and folded the central panel in half at 3.5cm. Again this panel can be folded in any direction depending on which direction you want your card to face.

Thank you for joining me this week, I really do hope that you have found something to inspire you and make some cards of your own. 

Cary returns on Monday with some of her amazing creations again so please stop by to see her makes.

Until then, take care, stay safe and well and as always, KEEP ON CRAFTING. 

Gill 😍😍xx💖xx😍😍

Throwback Thursday - Have a Hoot

 Today's card was supposed to be a shaker card as I have made so many over the years but it didn't work out as I have imagined. So I went back to the drawing board, so to speak. I die cut the triple frame from a plain white mat and then embossed it using the Woodland embossing folder. The folder has always been one of my favourites and I'll be forever using it too. I stamped 3 of the owl images and coloured them in using a mixtre of Blends and Watercolour pencils. 

Colouring is so relaxing just like fussy cutting is too. I know, I am strange! 

I lined each of the images up and one by one added them onto the frame from below. There is an easier way to place them and that is to make a mask of the die. I did use that a few weeks ago and found it very useful too. I had kept the mask but now I can't find it! Typical!  

 

 

Watercolour Wednesday - Have a Hoot

 Oh Boy!!! Did I do a Cary or what this week!! I got myself sooo messy that even my grandchildren were shocked with me!! I did enjoy what I was doing though 😁😂

I love to do watercolour backgrounds but usually I take a little more care in how I apply the ink. Today though, I didn't! I used 3 re-inkers for my background and just added 3 drops of each to a large acrylic block. I then spritzed lots and lots of water over the block so the colours ran together. I didn't move them at all but then laid a piece of watercolour paper over the top for a few seconds. When I removed it I added another and another. It tool 3 times to completely use all of the ink up. I set them aside to dry and once they were I added some drops of white re-inker to the block and again spritzed it with water. The white ink is a thicker Craft ink and takes more movement to mmake it runny. I used a cocktail stick to move the colour and water around then I just tapped the previous sheets of watercolour paper over it. I only wanted some of the white over the card and therefore didn't push it too much. I was able to do it to the others and the last one was just so subtle and because it picked up a little of the previous colours from the papers it's turned out beautiful. 

While the papers dried again, I stamped and coloured the owls. I washed some Misty Moonlight ink around each of the owls to give a night time effect. I then die cut them using the frame die from the Peek A Hoot dies which match with the stamps. Then I trimmed little parts of the dies off as I wanted them to almost overhang the edge of the card. A little of the 1,1/2" metallic ribbon, some Wink Of Stella flicked over the background and it was finished. I hope it looks ok to you. I know my granddaughter Bella loved the galaxy effect it gave and so much so she now wants to do one this week too!

 

I hope you like it as much as Bella did. Please have a go. You don't have to get messy. I just got my fingers in the way!

Make It Monday - Have a Hoot

Hello now once again I have to follow the amazing creations Cary made last week! Weren't they brilliant? I think she's a superstar crafter. The Advent Calander and gift box on Friday is superb. I can't wait to have a go at making one of those. Using Memory and More cards too! Who knew they could be that versatile? Well today I am going to show a very simple card showing the start of my playing with this great, fun stamp set, Have A Hoot. I love all of the images even the Halloween ones but most of all the family of owls are so cute!

As I said it is very simple, only this time I added a white mat onto the gorgeous bright red of Poppy Parade. I just love that colour. 2 identical images stamped in Memento black ink and a message was stamped in the Poppy Parade Ink. Only a little bit of colouring and that was the owls hat. Just a touch of red!

A few extra messages on the inside using the lovely Itty Bitty Christmas stamp set. A very highly under-used stamp set. I will be using it more often too.

#simplestamping

 

Fun Fold Friday - Snowflake Wishes

 My last card this week is one that I made very recently for a class. It may look fiddly or awkward but it really is simpler than it looks. I know, I always say that but I honestly do mean it! I started with a standard C6 card base of 21cm by 14.85cm and scored in half at 10.5cm.  I used Coastal Cabana card for this one. I decorated the front with an embossed, snowflakes, white mat. I then die cut out the snowflake from the centre which just leaves the main card intact. It really gives a lovely finish. I added a scrap of silver foiled card below the die cut shape and fixed it to the card base using Stampin' Dimensionals (foam shapes).I added another few snowflakes and a message to the front too. 

On the inside, I added a mat of Pool Party card, some double sided paper and a white die cut mat. The measurements are all below. I added 2 different ribbons to the back of the card and tied them at the side to keep the card closed in the post. Lots of the snowflakes and die cuts on this one and a simple Happy Christmas inside completes it.

The Pool Party mat is 19.5cm by 13.5cm. Laying the mat landscape as the picture, score through the middle and 9.75cm. You now need to mark a 2.5cm border all around the inside. If you use a pencil and lightly mark it on the reverse you'll find you can't go wrong. The dotted lines represent score lines and the straight continuous line is a cut. There are only 2 cuts on this mat. They are on the 2.5cm on the top left of the picture to the 2.5cm mark on the top right of the picture. This is repeated at the bottom 2.5cm marks at the bottom of the mat. 

All of the products I have used this week are available in our shop, so please follow the link HERE and it will start you off with the stamp set. You can save money too if you buy the stamp set and the dies together! Bonus bargain!

This next piece is double sided paper.  I cut a mat of paper 18.7cm by 13cm and gutted this at 2cm all around the mat. On my card, to enable folding the card easier, I cut the centre fold out by about 1mm each side. It seemed to fit much better that way. These will fold along with the folds on the previous mat.

This final piece is 12cm by 8cm. All I did on this was to die cut out the snowflake frame. I didn't think it needed anything more than that. Obviously, I added lots of snowflakes stamped and die cut all around wherever I could to finish this one off.

Thank you so much for stopping by this week. I hope I have managed to get some inspiration to make yourself some beautiful cards. That's it from me for the week, Cary is back on Monday with some more of her beautiful creations. Please stop by and be inspired with her woderful ideas. 

Until then, Be Safe, Stay Well and Keep On Crafting. Gill ;)) xxx

😍😍😍😍😍

Throwback Thursday - Snowflake Wishes

 Today's card is another style that I often like to make. It is layers of paper and card, one on top of the other. Sounds simple? yes, it is very simple. If you can cut a piece of paper, you will be fine. 

I started with a standard C6 card base which is in white this time and scored it in half. 21cm by 14.85cm is the standard measurements in the UK. I took a piece of double sided paper from the Snowflake Splendour pack and cut a piece 14cm by 10cm, then straight away started to 'gut' 1,1/2cm from each of the 4 edges. This was repeated on the remaining piece too and the final remaining rectangle was gutted at 1cm all around. Once all of the rectangles were cut out, I glued them onto pieces of Highland Heather card and gave each one a small border of about 2-3mm. I stamped a collection of snowflakes around each corner of the papers at this point. More information on the stamp set and all of the products that I used is HERE

The rectangles were then all fixed to the one below using Stampin' dimensionals (foam shapes). On the very small one at the top, I fixed a bow using the gorgeous Pool Party Sheer Ribbon. It really is just beautiful. Once all of the layers were fixed together, I slipped another piece of ribbon from top to bottom to make it look like a gift. I then glued them all to the card base. A simple message inside and on the front, a few of the Snowflake Sequins added to the front of the card and the card is complete. 

 

This is so straightforward to make and it is a very quick card too. I do hope you have a go at making one as they are so rewarding when given as a greeting.

Make It Monday - Snowflake Wishes

 I hope things are good where you are at the moment, it's cold and wet here for a change, Not! Once again we are now in Lockdown so I am going to make the best of it and keep crafting. On Thursday, Cary and I and the rest of our team all sat and watched our annual get together online. It lasted for 2,1/2 days! We were shattered after all that but really excited as we got to see some of the gorgeous new products that will be coming to everyone in January. Including the brilliant Saleabration! YES!!

This week I have decided to work with the lovely Snowflake Wishes. Click HERE to have a good look and for more information on this amazing set which also has dies, an embossing folder, ribbons, gems and more! This lovely stamp set is just literally full of different shaped and sizes of snowflakes and some messages. Perfect! Today's card is a very simple one, #simplestamping is our motto and this one is definitely simple. 

It was so simple, I made 2!

The first is on the left in the picture, I cut pieces of double sided paper to match both colours of card, in this case a Pool Party (pale green) mat on a white card base and the other on the right is on a Balmy Blue, (a pale blue) card base. The papers are both from the matching suite as the snowflakes and they are called Snowflake Splendour. These papers are in beautiful shades of light and dark blues, pale and darker greens and a lovely shade of lilac and purple through to pink tones. Gorgeous!

I added the paper then using a sticky note, I placed it on the edge of the paper and stamped randomly over the top part of the card using the same colour ink pad as each of the cards. I then added the message which I stamped in Memento black ink pad. Where I trimmed the card down a little, I used a strip and added it to the card as an underline.

The second card on the right was made in very much the same way only this time only 1 image stamped in the centre. The scrap of paper I used was left over from a watercolour card mat that I made a few weeks ago. I tend to keep a large cup which holds lots of strips of coloured card in all colours and angles. I like the way that the scrap shows all of the colours as in the papers.

On both cards, I added a little decoration to the inside and messages to complete them. I haven't added any bling as I generally add them when I have decided who to send them to. Until then, they will remain devoid of sparkle but trust me that I will add some lovely sparkle very soon.

 

 

Fun Fold Friday - Christmas Rose

 For my last card this week, I started simply. 

Once again using the lovely Christmas Rose, 2 boxed stamp set, I stamped the edges of the main image all around a white card mat in Versamark and then heat embossed the Gold embossing powder. 

More information about Christmas Rose and all of the products from Stampin' Up!  HERE

A simple Old Olive green and Whisper White was all that I used. With exception to some of the gorgeous paper from Ornate Garden double sided papers. They are double whammies as most of the sheets have gold embossed images on! Lovely! So, I used only a small strip of the paper but I think it's all that it needed. I started with a full piece of A4 card and cut it on the short side at 14.85cm by 29.7cm. I folded the card in half and then one side only, folded that in half too. I then added the white embossed mat onto a piece of the Old Olive and adhered it to the front left hand panel. I double sided the Old Olive and added another of the full images on the reverse which I had also heat embossed in gold and die cut out. 

I added a Happy Christmas onto a white mat and adhered it to one of the gorgeous laser cut shapes in the pack of Gold foil papers called Forever Gold Speciality papers. They are absolutely stunning!! I am so grateful that Stampin' Up! had these made they are wonderful!

Thank you so much for joining me this week. It's been a very confusing one for me but I managed to get here in the end!

Please pop by next week and see what delights Cary has in store for you. 

Until I return, take care, stay safe and keep well xxxx :)) 😍😍😍

 

 

Throwback Thursday - Christmas Rose

 Today's card is one that really threw me at first but once I got hold of the idea, I just went with it. Once again it's a completely different style of Christmas card which can be happily adjusted to become a birthday or any other celebratory card too. The card was one that I made last year of the year before. A die cut image over a doily and that was it!

This time I stamped the image in the centre and coloured in parts of it with watered down ink from a block. I stamped the image again and coloured in and fussy cut the roses only. They were then mounted over a square, vellum doily which I coloured in with Highland Heather Blends pen. 

A message added inside and out and some of the gorgeous Playing With Patterns Resin Dots again coloured in with the Highland Heather blends pen, is all that I used to complete it.

 

The card above was my inspiration for today's card.

 

Watercolour Wednesday - Christmas Rose

Hello and apologies for my lateness in posting today! Yesterday I packaged up lots and lots of parcels amid making a card. When I went to make the card for today, The stamps were missing!!! I searched high and low for them, I thought they may have fallen in the parcels bags too but no! They had fallen under a unit! Thank fully, I've now made a card albeit very different from my normal traditional style. Using again the lovely set of Christmas Rose. More information HERE

For the watercolour theme today, I have gone completely off piste! 4 squares of bright colours. Red, Yellow, Green and Purple. Or in Stampin' Up! colours, Poppy Parade, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green and Gorgeous Grape. I inked a large block with each colour in 1 quarter of the block, then spritzed it with lots of water. Using Watercolour paper, I spritzed that too then added the block ink side down onto the paper. I gently moved the block so that the colours weren't too regimented. 

Once dry, I stamped in Versamark Ink Pad the main image and after using silver embossing powder, I heat set it. It was added to a Poppy Parade mat then fixed to a White card base then a strip of the lovely Real Red Sheer Ribbon, a bow and a few messages and my very different style Christmas card is complete. 

Not at all like the kind of Christmas card that I am used to making but this certainly makes a change and I know exactly who WILL appreciate this one! Thankfully, :))

Fun Fold Friday - Joyful Holly

 Welcome back for this fun fold Friday.  The sun is shining but it's bitterly cold here today so I'm glad that I'm here indoors trying to warm myself up! Though saying that, my daughter in law says that she's warm! Figure that one out!! 😀😕 I must say that she is chasing my nearly 9 month old grand son Theo around! So I guess she may well be very warm! He's very active now, he stands and wants to be walked all of the time. If he's not walking, he's either crawling around at great speed, playing with the dog's water bowl or chasing the dogs! The dogs both love him too thankfully. He throws the ball for them and they nudge it back to him to do it again.                  

Anyway, back to my card for today. It is a very simple fold. I know that I say that a lot but it honestly is. I cut a piece of card at 14.85cm by the full length of a piece of A4 card, which in the UK is 29.7cm. I have again used the lovely Joyful Holly stamp set. At the beginning of this week I said that it wasn't for me but I have now changed my mind and will be making lots more holly based cards for this Christmas and other occasions too. More information on the stamps HERE

I scored and folded it at 9.9cm and the last part at 4.8cm so that the 2 edges of the card meet each other. Very simple! Yes it is a gatefold card but a slightly irregular one. I started with a Thick white card base and used Real Red mats for the front panels. I embossed them using the embossing folder called Brick and Mortar. I love the finish it gives on the card. I then stamped the image of Santa onto a white mat and coloured him in using the Stampin' Up blends pens. Once finished I die cut the image mat and some white frames using the same die set and made a frame to go on top. I added Foam Adhesive strips along the border of the frame where I had fixed a piece of acetate to. I sprinkled several pinches of Peaceful Poppies sequins from last years catalogue onto the Santa image and squished them all into the centre then adhered the frame over both the sequins and the image. 

On a separate piece of white card, I stamped and coloured in the Holly sprigs and again fussy cut them out. Using Dimensionals (foam shapes) I added them to the card. A couple of messages and some more holly on the inside and the card is complete. 

As I said earlier, a very simple, fun folded card today. 

That's it from me for this week, Cary will return on Monday to show you some of her creations. I hope you'll join her and see what she's been up to. 

Meanwhile, have a good weekend, take care, stay safe and keep well. Gill xxxxx 😘😍😘