Never Ending Card Video

Hello, Crafters.

I hope you're enjoying your weekend. Today's video is an 

old favourite that totally fascinating i.e. the Never Ending Card! 

The first time I made one of these it was for one of my grandsons'

 birthday's. Stephen was totally bowled over by his card and forgot

 about opening by the parcels that were sitting on the

 table waiting for him! 

 Before I made today's video, I had a practice run with a 

masculine card to remind myself how to make the never-ending

 card. It only took me two card bases to remember what I used

 to do to avoid haveing the flaps catching on each other! 

After I made the masculine card, I started to plan a feminine design.

I knew this video was going to be a long one, so I made all the

 images and sentiments I want for every page beforehand, and 

made them beforehand. 

This meant I didn't know before I started what the finished card would 

look like so I was on a wing and a prayer. It all went very well, 

except for some reason, I didn't get the section of the card where

 only the top half is visible until the next part of the card is opened.

 It threw me for a little while but I carried on and was really pleased

 with the result. I would love to know how I avoided the partial

 panels! Any ideas?

 On Friday, when I said  was going to post my blog four days 

a week instead of seven, I should have said I will be posting a

 new card or 3D project four times a week. This allows me to

 post to my blog when I have news to share as opposed 

to a new project! I hope this makes sense! 

  I wish you a very blessed Sunday, and until next time, happy crafting.

JanB.

Champagne Celebration Video

Hello, Crafters.

As requested, I made a video to show how I made the 

champagne glasses celebration card I shared a couple

 of days ago.

 I think the bubbles add so much to the card and I think it's a 

real shame there not being carried forward to the new catalogue. 

You may remember I said on here the frst time I used the

 bubbles they made me chase them around the acetate sheet they 

were adhered to? See it in action on the video and have a giggle! 

 That's it from me today. I hope you have a very blessed Sunday, 

and until tomorrow, happy crafting.

JanB.

Mixed Drinks

Hello, Crafters.

Confession time! Yesterday was the first time I played with the

 Mixed Drinks Stamp Set and it's retiring on 31st May, 2018! Is

 that several sharp intakes of breath I can hear? ☺

 I enjoyed making today's card because it was a challenge trying

 to stamp the champagne in a champagne-type of colour! When

 I first started creating this card, I did what I usually do and 

picked up Whisper White Cardstock (CS).

  I changed to Shimmery White CS - for everything - halfway through

 because I thought it might improve my chances getting a

suitable champagne colour. 

 My final recipe was to use So Saffron Ink stamped off once, and

 then I used Crumb Cake Ink stamped off once, on top of the So 

Saffron. For the bubbles I used the Glitter & Clear Epoxy Shapes, 

which I must remember to order really soon before they retire. 

It's such a shame they're not carrying over to the new catalogue

 because they're brilliant for this type of card, and they also 

look great as dew on flowers! To give the champagne glasses

 some grounding, I used the smaller splodge stamp from the

 Beautiful You Stamp Set in Crumb Cake Ink.

 I was exceptionally pleased with the Crumb Cake for the grounding, 

as the colour ties in beautifully with the colour of the shadows 

created by the Ruffled Dynamic Embossing Folder I'd used on the top

 Shimmery White CS layer.

 I chose the CONGRATULATIONS sentiment from the Petal 

Palette Stamp Set, and stamped it using Crumb Cake Ink. Before

 I adhered the top two layers to the card base, I tied a length of the 1/8"

 Gold Ribbon around the layers and positioned it between the 

sentiment and the image, and tied it in a bow.

 I adhered a top layer of Shimmery White CS and a layer of

 Gold Foil inside my card and was going to adhere two 

champagne glasses in the bottom right hand corner, but I ran 

out of time so I'll finish that off today! This really is my style 

of card, plain and simple! 

Yesterday I included three links in my blog, and one of them was for

 a short list of retiring products which have been reduced in price by 

up to 50%. Yesterday Natalie shared the above flyer she'd put 

together but as pictures, which is so much nicer to look at! 

Unfortunately the prices haven't been included and I'm not savvy

 enough to be able to add them in, so you'll need to view this 

with the written list from yesterday. I hope you find this 

helpful. Many thanks, Natalie!

 That's about it from me roday. Until tomorrow, happy crafting. 

JanB.

Petal Passion Suite

Hello, Crafters.

Yesterday I went back to play with my Spring Catalogue favourite: 

the Petal Passion Suite. I'm absolutely thrilled that the Petal 

Palette Stamp Set, and the Petals & More Framelits are 

being carried forward into the new catalogue - I wish the 

Petal Passion Designer Series Paper (DSP) was too! 

As I have done on several occasions already, I added Real

 Red to the mix yesterday, which is my all time favourite colour 

combo i.e. black, white, and red! I decided to use two 

white background designs from the DSP for on the front of my card.

 Instead of making each design the same size as each other, I cut 

the top design a lot more narrow than the bottom design. Then I cut 

a strip of Whisper White Cardstock (CS) to put across the join 

of the two DSP pieces. I stamped across the width of the strip using

 Basic Black Archival Ink, and the small flower and leaves stamp. 

Using Pear Pizzazz and Real Red Marker Pens, I coloured the 

images, which helped me to decide which colours to use for my

 layer and the card base! I adhered the flower strip to a strip of

 Basic Black CS, and then adhered all the other pieces in place.

 I had thought about using a large sentiment to pop on Dimensionals 

in the middle of the striped area, but I decided to do something 

a bit different. I chose the sentiment from the Flirty Flowers Stamp

 Set - I think - and stamped it on a piece of Whisper White CS.

 I die cut the sentiment using the smallest Stitched Shape Circle 

Framelit Die, and adhered it to a Basic Black CS circle, which I'd die cut 

using the Layering Circles Framelits Dies. Next I adhered them 

onto a Real Red CS circle, which I'd die cut with a scalloped circle 

from the same set of dies. 

To finish the front, I added some Black Faceted Gems to the black

 flowers, and some Basic Rhinestones to the sentiment. My

 final touch was painting the flowers, leaves and red scalloped

 edge round the sentiment, using my Clear Wink of Stella Glitter  Pen. 

 To decorate the inside of my card, I took a Whisper White CS

 layer, and stamped and painted the same flowers and leaves as

 those on the front of the card. I finished them off by painting them

 with Wink of Stella, too! I'm very happy with the finished card!

That's about it for today, so until tomorrow, happy crafting.

JanB.

Fancy Fold: Open Step Card Video

Hello, Crafters.

Today's video shows how to make this fabulous fancy fold card, called

 an open step card! I saw it last week when a demo friend of mine 

in Australia posted an open step card in my Facebook Group

 called Happy Crafting. 

 I checked on YouTube to find out how this card is made, and

 then adjusted the measurements to fit an A6 (C6) card. I designed

 the first card around the Petal Passion Suite, which was really 

easy because the Petal Palette Stamp Set has co-ordinating dies 

called Petals & More, and beautiful Designer Series Paper (DSP)

 called Petal Passion. 

 For the video, I used the new Share What You Love Suite which is

 currently available on early release, in the form of three bundles.

 I found the biggest challenge was that there are no dies that 

co-ordinate with this set, and I don't like to do a lot of 

fussy cutting on videos because I appreciate a lot of crafters just 

don't like fussy cutting!

In the absence of co-ordinating dies, I used oval and circle dies

 to cut the images, and I fussy cut just three yellow flowers

 which helped to balance out the design. I think the finished card

 would have looked rather bland without the small amount of fussy cutting I did!

 Overall, I think this is a fabulous style of card, and thank

 Lilette very much for sharing hers with us all in the Happy 

Crafting FB group. I hope you decide to give it a try, too - I'm sure

 you'll be glad you did! ☺ 

That's about it from me today. Until tomorrow, happy crafting.

JanB.

The Impossible Card

Hello, Crafters.

Last Saturday , I was asked by a crafter if I'd made a video showing how to 

make the Impossible card, and she told me about Maymay's video where 

she had seen it. I checked out Maymay's video and was amazed at 

what a brilliant card this is, as well as how simple it is to make. 

 

When Claire told me about this card she said she had only seen one other

 video, but more  and more videos have been popping up everyday!

The only area I found a challenge was with the first black and white card I made, 

because I chose a directional pattern. I really cannot recommend enough that 

you AVOID directional patterns. I have created two templates in case 

you really can't avoid this - please email me and I'll be happy to send you details.

When I made the first card, I followed Maymay's instructions very closely,

 but not precisely, including the partial die-cutting for the part that stood up. 

Although I was happy with the finished card, I felt the stand up oval was 

too small for the overall design.

 I took a lot of photographs of the three cards from various angles, and

 posted them to the Photo Gallery for those of you who would like to see more.

The last photograph I have shared here on this page, has a sheet of 

Real Red Cardstock underneathto show where there are cut-outs on 

the actual card. This, to me, is the real beauty of this card. That's it from me today.

 I wish you a very blessed Sunday, and until tomorrow, happy crafting.

JanB.

PS I clicked the PUBLISH button too soon, so I am re-scheduling 
the video so that goes live now as well!

Petal Palette & Paper Pumpkin

Hello, Crafters.

I feel that I'm getting back into my routine after having spent the last few days catching up after the weekend! 

Yesterday was a very satisfying day for me in as much I achieved a lot!

My day started with a visit from my UPS man who delivered two orders for me just before 9 am!

Apart from unpacking the boxes, and checking the contents, I didn't allow myself to play. 

I concentrated on finishing off my March online customer's Thank You gifts, which took longer than I thought.

I'm happy with how they turned out so it was time very well spent. 

By now it was dinner time, and after we had eaten, I tidied my desk of the mess I'd created when I was making my thank you gifts! 

For today's card, I decided to CASE a congratulations card I received from Natalie last weekend! 
 
It was so simple but really beautiful. 

I changed the Designer Series Paper (DSP) as Natalie had used the silver stripe design from Springtime Foils which has now retired, unfortunately. 

My alternative is the Basic Black and Whisper White stripe design fron the Petal Passion DSP. 

I also channged the stamping on the Powder Pink Cardstock (CS) punched Starburst Circle. 

Natalie's sentiment is from the Picture Perfect Birthday Stamp Set, and I used stamps from the Petal Palette Stamp Set - both sets are being carried forward into the new catalogue! 

For the circles, layers and cardstock, I followed Natalie's design, except I used Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper, and Natalie used the Silver Glimmer Paper. 

To decorate the inside of the card I added a layer of Basic Black CS and a layer of Whisper White CS. 

I stamped the bird and the branch from Petal Palette at the bottom, using Basic Black Archival Ink.

Natalie left the inside of her card blank as she used it to write me a congartulatory note! 

Thanks for the inspiration, Natalie - I love your card!☺

I also want to share a gift I receieved in the post from a Stampin' Up! demonstratot friend of mine who lives in Arkansas, in the US.

Pat had told me she had sent me a small red box, and would I let her know when it arrived!

It wasn't the kind of small box I was imagining it to be, but I was thrilled to bits when I'd opened the box and found the March 2018 Paper Pumpkin inside!  

I just so, so wish Stampin' Up! would let us have Paper Pumpkin over here, and I know some Australians would love to have it over there, too! 

Anyway, I have this one and I will have great pleasure playing with it! Many thanks Pat from the very bottom of my hear - God bless you!

That's about it from me today, so until tomorrow, happy crafting.

JanB.

Brayered Wood Textures DSP

Hello, Crafters.

Yesterday, I carried on playing with the Tailored Tag background that I featured on my blog yesterday, when I used the Gold and Very Vanilla Bundle of Love Specialty Designer Series Paper (DSP) on a wedding card. 

The two cards I made yersterday were a new baby girl card, and a new baby boy card, and then I made a video which saw me create a masculine birthday card. All will be revealed tomorrow!

While I was downloading the video to YouTube yesterday evening, I starting working on today's card. 

You may remember the masculine birthday card I shared earlier this week, which featured three strips of the Wood Textures Designer Series Paper (DSP) Stack, which I explained I had seen in the quarterly SU Demonstrator's Success Magazine.

There was another idea in that article that appealed to me which is what I'm sharing today i.e. brayered Wood Textures DSP! 

Apart from that my card is nothing like the card featured in the magazine!

Recently I've been getting quite a build-up on my desk of images and sentiments that I've stamped/coloured/fussy-cut/die-cut/etc. all just waiting to be used. 

As the Petal Palette Stamp Set is my favourite set from the Spring/Summer Catalogue, it's not surprising that a lot of these images and sentiments are from that set.

When I was looking through my cello bag that holds my Wood Textures DSP Stack, I found two very light-coloured pieces of DSP already cut to the right size for a card front. 

Next I tipped out the cello bag that was holding the ready-prepared Petal Palette sentiments and images, and selected one coloured and die-cut roses image, plus one sentiment - which is from the Beautiful You Stamp Set - and painted flower stem from Petal Palette. 

I guessed the roses had been coloured with Blushing Bride, but just to make sure, I went over them again with my Blushing Bride Marker Pen; then I did the leaves using Wild Wasabi Marker Pen. 

The pink and green on the sentiment die-cut was definitely not the right colours, so I painted over them with the correct ones, and now they look perfect.

The magic came when I used a sponge brayer and Blushing Bride Ink to change the colour of the wood DSP! 

Unfortunately, my photographic skills leave a lot to be desired, but I think you can get the idea of what it looks like from the photographs - the DSP looks absolutely fabulous! 

I adhered it to a layer of Whisper White CS and then tied some ribbon around just below the flowers image, which I'd popped up on Dimensionals; then I adhered it to a Blushing Bride card base.

I found another ready-stamped flower stem - the same as the one on the sentiment - coloured and fussy-cut it, so I could adhere it inside the card! 

Another card I'm really pleased with.

Today, I'm going to get back to making my swaps for OnStage, because as soon as I've finished them, I'm hoping to make a video showing how I made them; I want to publish it on Sunday next weekend, the day after OnStage. 

No time for dallying!
 
I hope you have a peaceful, relaxing Saturday.

 Until tomorrow, happy crafting,

JanB.

Spotlight Technique Video

Hello, Crafters.

I hope you're enjoying you're weekend. 

As usual, I had a lovely time with the ladies in Peacehaven yesterday. 

 
All three projects used my favourite bundle from the Spring/Summer catalogue..............the Petal Passion Suite.

The card featured in today's video id the second card we made in class today.
I featured two techniques in the video, namely, spotlighting and stamping on ribbons. 

As I was working through the creation of the card on the video, I suddenly gasped when I realised I'd made a big bloomer!!! 

I'd adhered the top two layers onto the card base before I had adhered the ribbon.

I sat for a few seconds trying to think of an idea to get myself out of my predicament which very forrtunately, I did! 

This allowed me to leave it in the video!

My solution was to wrap the ribbon around a strip of 1" wide Whisper White Cardstock.

The idea worked well, and I offered this as an option to the Peacehaven ladies and they all deceided they want to use this option! 

What a lovely vote of confidence - thank you Ladies!

You will see several different options in these photographs, which I hope will help you decide which options go together to create the best card for you.

I wish you a very happy Sunday, and until tomorrow, happy crafting.
 
JanB. 

Petal Palette

Hello, Crafters.

This week I have been working on projects for the class I have in Peacehaven on Saturday.

I have one card, and the 3D project ready and fully prepped. 

Yesterday I was working on the second card, and made the prototype, but it wasn't quite right.

I started the second attempt, but I reached a point where I lost concentration, because I was enjoying what I was doing - concentration and enjoyment don't always go hand-in-hand!

However, I liked what I was doing, and decided to make it today's card! 

As I've said previously, I'm concentrating on using as much of my 2016 - 2018 InColour Cardstock (CS) as possible before it retires. 

For my Peacehaven projects the only restriction I have is that I must have ribbon that co-ordinates with the cardstock - I shall be teaching a technique which uses ribbon!

I'll share the class projects with you after Saturday.


For today's card I cut the top Whisper White layer a quarter of an inch narrower and shorter than I normally do. 

Using Jet Black Stazon Ink, and the taller slim flower from the Petal Palette Stamp Set, I stamped an all-over random pattern. 

This created my own Designer Series Paper (DSP), and then I coloured the flowers using my Pool Party Marker Pen, and the leaves with my Emerald Envy Marker Pen.

While I was colouring I was thinking about ways I could decorate the front of my card, and decided I'd use one of the sentiments as the main focal point. 

I stamped the image using Jet Black Stazon Ink, onto a piece of Whisper White CS, which I then die cut using a Stitched Shape Circle Framelit Die. 

Next I wanted a layer for the sentiment in Emerald Envy CS, so I used a scalloped circle from the Layering Circles Framelits Dies. 

I wasn't sure that was the size I wanted to use, so I die cut a larger scalloped circle using the next size Layering Circle Framelit Die. 

In the end I decided to use both sizes, and adhered all three circles together!

Then I wanted to attach some ribbon at the back of the sentiment.

I took a length of retired Emerald Envy Ribbon, folded it in half, and put a Glue Dot between both sides of ribbon near the fold, to hold it together. 
 
Then I used another Glue Dot to adhere the top part of the ribbon behind the back of the sentiment, and one more on each side lower down to keep the two tails in position.

Then I was able to adhere Dimensionals on the back of the image, and adhere it in place on the card front. 

Next I stamped two birds, and painted them using my Soft Sky Marker Pen. 

I adhered one to the front of the card by putting Dimensionals on the lower half of his body, so his head would rest on the sentiment.

To finish the front of my card I added some silver foil hearts from the Metallic Enamel Shapes. 

The final touch to finish my card was to add a layer each of Whisper White and Emerald Envy CS inside the card, and then I adhered the second bird in the bottom right-hand corner, using Tombow.


Today, I'll get back to creating the second card for my Peacehaven class tomorrow - no time to waste now!

That's about it from me today. I hope you have a lovely day, and until tomorrow, happy crafting,

JanB.