January Card Swap Challenge

Today I want to share with you the beautiful card that I received for the January challenge from my Card Swap Group.  The challenge was to use the shaving foam marbling technique, as well a background using an  embossing folder.  The sender of my wonderful card is the very talented Sue.  You can find more examples of her amazing work here.

 

The work on this card is incredibly detailed, and is truly a work of art. I hope my photos do it justice (I think they may have come out a little dark).

 

If you haven't tried the shaving foam technique, do try it, it's great fun.  You can find lots of videos on YouTube to show you how it's done.  Be prepared to get messy!

 

The final photo is of the envelope, as that was a bonus part of the challenge.  My card to Sue is already to go in the post and I will share photos with you soon.

Thanks for dropping by.  Take care

Michelle x

Card Swap Challenge - September

 

Today I am sharing the card I made for this month's Card Swap Challenge group.  The brief was to get to know your partner, and to reflect this in the card.  Oh, and the card had to have some movement to it!  I was ok with the challenge until the last part, as I don't generally make this type of card - but there again, it is a challenge group.  After much trawling through Pinterest, I came across this card type.  I don't know what it's called - it's a bit like a Z Fold, but it may also be called a Lever Card (any suggestions gratefully received!).  I made a prototype in cheap card, and fiddled with it until I was happy.  Then on to the real thing.

 

Sue, my recipient, loves the colours lavender, turquoise and silver, and nature (birds, butterflies and squirrels).  She also likes clean and simple cards.  Perfect - ticks all the boxes for me.

 

I made the card base in SU's Tempting Turquoise.  The two white panels were stamped in Wisteria Wonder ink, using the Flowering Flourishes stamp set.  I stamped a variety of small butterflies from Papillon Potpourri (one of my favourites), and punched them out with the corresponding punch.  I used Tempting Turquoise, Wisteria Wonder and a silver inkpad that I've had for years.  The butterflies were curled a little bit for dimension, and I added a couple of tiny gems to each one to finish them off.  The banner sentiment was stamped from a set called Floral Wings.

  

I've just got back from a residential school trip to Wales.  We went to a PGL site and had five glorious days with a great group of children.  There were a few tears at bedtime, not enough sleep, and the obligatory travel sick child, but apart from that, it was a lot of fun.  I was planning on a restful weekend, and maybe catching up on a little bit of scrapbooking but that is not looking likely at the moment.

Talking of scrapbooking, check out the new blog button on the right hand side of my blog.  I joined a scrapbook kit subscription group in May, called likeforever, and it has really helped inspire my layouts.  The person who owns and runs likeforever, Nicola, is absolutely brilliant.  She puts together amazing kits, using the latest collections.  There is a very friendly and supportive Facebook group for subscribers, and so much inspiration.  I recommend that you take a look.  I'm loving being a part of it.  I hope to give my blog a little bit of a facelift over the coming weeks, and post some of my layouts too.

Well, that's me done for today.  Thanks for dropping by, and I am very appreciative of your comments.  Have a great weekend.

Take care

Michelle x

Cascade Card - Card Swap Challenge Group

I though it was about time I popped back to my poor neglected blog and updated it.  Life has been crazier than ever, with very little time to craft, never mind blog. 

 

After the end of my last card swap group, I was invited to join a challenge group by the lovely Sue at Birdcage Craft Studio (check out her blog here ).  My first challenge was to make a cascade card but there were certain conditions attached - no flowers, no butterflies (HELP!!), no white, pink, blue, orange or yellow.

 

First things first - how to make a cascade card.  Thank heavens for Pinterest and You Tube!  I decided to go for a set of papers from Stampin' Up - Timeless Elegance - with the colours Basic Black, Very Vanilla and Sahara Sand.  The problem I encountered was how to embellish it.  I'm not a very fussy or ornate person, and I was a bit worried that my card would look boring compared to everyone else's. I decided to go with my instincts and be true to myself.  So I made a little plaque and added a die cut "hello" to it, and left it at that. 

 

I hope you like it - I was quite pleased (in the end!).  Wait until you hear about the next challenge!  I'm still mulling it over.

Take care and thanks for dropping by. 

Michelle x