IndigoBlu Christmas

Here are a few of the samples I will be taking with me to my demo on Saturday 25th October at the Beverley Garden Centre, Woodmansey. Everything is made with IndigoBlu stamps, mega-flakes and paints. Hope you can join me there.

It's beginning to look a lot like Wedgewood!

I made this card in blue as that's my fave colour and it wasn't until afterwards when people started commenting it had a Wedgewood look to it that I spotted the connection!

The blue card is Hunkydory's Silk Art cardstock, which I believe is something like 350gsm. The background is created with the gorgeous and ever so versatile IndigoBlu flourish stamp. I stamped in Versamark then used Papermania Tinsel White Embossing Powder. I actually applied the embossing powder after each time I had stamped the flourish so I could see where I was going. Finally I used the new IndigoBlu stamp Connor's Crown Jewels to create the topper, which was also with the same powder. I matted and layered on to some silver mirri card just to define the topper and make it stand out from the background. Finally I assembled all the components on to an A5 scalloped card blank.

I took this card to a recent demo and it received some lovely comments. I hope you like it too.

Melanie x

IndigoBlu Challenge October

As many of you know I am very lucky to be a demonstrator for the wonderful quintessentially English stamp company IndigoBlu. Each month they have a different theme on their challenge blog and this month the theme was following a sketch drawn by the super talented Clare Horner. The challenge was thrown open to the demonstration team and this is what I came up with.

I just love the Rockin Robin stamp so knew my challenge card had to include him. First I stamped the image on to rich chocolate brown Centura Pearl card stock with Flitterglu. Then I stamped the background up using the Script stamp using the Flitterglu. 

Whilst waiting for the Flitterglu to 'cure' I stamped Rockin Robin on to some cream cardstock to match the card base and then went and had a cuppa. When I came back the Flitterglu was the perfect tackiness so I got busy with the Chariot of Fire Mega Flakes. I adhered the flakes and scoochied them. Then it was time to add the ribbon and start matting and layering. I have a bit of a 'thing' for ribbon so have a huuuuuge collection. After having a little rummage I found his gorgeous hessian ribbon which is printed with poinsettias and added the beautiful poinsettia flower to finish. 

You can see what the other girls did for their challenge card at http://indigoblublogchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/

Chocolate Gift Card

Now my laptop is mended I can share with you all the chocolate gift card I make at demos. This is an ideal little gift card for all those teachers, teachers assistants or the lady next door that takes your parcels in. You can make it to fit either chocolate or a diary, no surprise I made mine to fit a chocolate bar (yum)!

You'll have noticed the chocolate is missing and that's because Mum and I ate it on the way home from one of my demos! 

Instructions

1. Measure your chocolate bar or diary. My Milka bar measured 19cm x 9cm and was 1cm deep, so I will give instructions using my measurements.
2. First cut an A4 piece of card along it length so it's 19.5cm wide. If you have gone for a diary or other brand of chocolate you will need to cut accordingly.
3. Now begin your scoring, I scored at 9.5cm to make the front flap
4. Then I scored at 10.5, which made the side fold.
5. Score again at 20cm.
6. And finally at 21cm, use your bone folder to make the creases nice.
7. You will see your gift card taking shape now. For the part that is going to sit on the inside and nestle the gift in I used Spellbinders Bracket die to make it fancy but any edging die or punch would work.
8. Next I cut decorative panels to fit all the flaps.
9. Decorate as you wish but don't forget to put your ribbon on so you can tie the gift up.
10. I put a blank decorative panel on the inside flap so that I could write my message.

I hope you enjoy making this gift card as much as I do, it always goes down well at demos!

Melanie x

Coming to a craft shop near you.....

I'm often asked by my crafting friends on Facebook if I know of any demos happening up and down the country. Well I've put together a quick list of a few I know that are taking part this weekend. All the ladies doing the demonstrations come very highly recommended and if you can go along even for half an hour you are sure to pick up some great ideas. If I hear of any more I will edit this post and add them at the bottom so don't forget to keep checking my blog for updates! x

Saturday 13th September


Sycamore Park Garden Centre, Chester Road, Great Sutton, Cheshire IndigoBlu

High Legh Garden Centre, High Legh, Knutsford, Cheshire (IndigoBlu)

Strikes Garden Centre, London Road North, Poynton, Stockport (IndigoBlu)

Crab Apple Crafts, Lady Hayes Craft Centre, Kingsley Rd, Frodsham, Cheshire Crafter's Companion UK)

Crafts 4 U 2 Do, Greenfield Road, Denton's Green, St Helen's. (Crafter's Companion)

Daisy's Jewels & Crafts, Unit 3 Bryant Road, Exhall, Coventry (Chloe's Stamps)

Woodward PDA Limited, Unit 3-4, Cromford Road Industrial Estate Cromford Road, Langley Mill, Nottingham (Stix2 / Woodware)

Crab Apple Crafts, Lady Heyes Craft Centre, Kingsley Road, Cheshire (Stix2 / Woodware)

PoppyCraft 36 St Martin’s Street Wallingford, Oxon (Stix2 / Woodware)


Keep On Crafting, 98a Risbygate Street Bury St Edmunds (Stix2 / Woodware)


Saturday 13th AND Sunday 14th September

King's Church at Indbuild, Colburn Business Park, Catterick Garrison (Claritystamp Tickets £5.00 payable on door)

It's a cracker!

As promised at my demo yesterday, here are the details on how to make the cracker. As you can see the one pictured here was made using a good quality 12 x 12 paper, I think the weight was about 150gsm and it worked perfectly. 

So I started off with a piece of 12 x 12 patterned paper and cut it so it measured 12 x 10. 

With the long edge at the top of my Ultimate Pro I scored at 2", 4", 8" and 10"

Turning the paper round so the shorter edge was at the top I scored at 2", 4", 6" and 8".

Using the bone folder I creased all the score lines to give a nice finish.

I then cut a triangle out of the first edge (see diagram below)

Top tip: I used the first triangle I cut as a template for all the other triangles so they were more or less the same size and it's easier to fold the inner panels over to cut your triangles, cut up one side then flip the cracker over and cut up to meet the first cut.

Now with the patterned side facing you, apply DS tape along all the panels on the bottom edge. You are then going to attach this to the inside of the top panels to make the basic shape for your cracker. 

Once you have assembled the cracker push the two ends in, this will make the parts where you have cut the triangles from fold in nicely. 

Pull the ends back out and tie a bit of ribbon around the parts where you have cut out, remember to fill the cracker first though!

Once your cracker is assembled you can decorate it as you please. I also cut triangle out of my ends to make them a little fancier.

Winter Woodland

I have been busy creating some lovely samples for my demo this Saturday at The Range in Wigan. This set has all been made using the Winter Woodland range from Trimcraft. 

I just love these winter owls wrapped up in their winter hats and their stocking eagerly awaitng a visit from Santa. I used co-ordinating papers for the 6x6 paper pack and a sheet from the decoupage pad.

Thought I would make a bit bigger card this time so here's an 8x8. Using a mixture of papers from the 12x12 pack, which gives you larger print and then 6x6 paper pad papers too. Again the decoupage is from the decoupage pad which is great value for money. Finished with a paper flower and pearl.

6 x 6 stepper card from the range. I love this friendly snowman helping the robin to hang Christmas hearts on his branches. 

I think this might be my favourite but it's so hard to choose. I do love the little reindeer though and this card is so simple it takes nothing away from the topper. 

5x7 card using backround paper from the 12 x 12 paper pack, I outlined the decoupage topper with ric-rac ribbon and then used foam pads to pop it on the card. 

Made using the 6 x 6 backing papers, frame elements and Coredinations card stock.

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside!

I thought I'd share a card I made earlier this week for a chap who likes to be beside the sea.

I used a Kanban topper and layered it. Then made background layers with Prima papers which were matted on to navy cardstock to add definition.

Lovely in Pink

I just love making cards with these Create-a-card dies from Crafter's Companion. Whether I make a 6x6 or 8x8 the cards always look so nice when finished. Of course it helps when I have a handy supply of flower sprays made for me by lovely Mum to add the finishing touch.

Backing papers and butterflies are all from Prima Marketing.

My very first demo!

Well what a fabulous time I had at my very first demo for Crafter's Companion at Wilmslow Garden Centre. It's a good job I was busy doing the demos because the garden centre is divine and I could have spent a fortune! I had some lovely ladies call to watch the demo and I think everyone went home with a few new ideas, including me!

It was such a hot day but I did get requests to show a few Christmas ideas so even made a few Christmas cards.

My next demo is on the 6th September at the Ackworth Garden Centre near Pontefract and I can't wait.

Getting ready for my demo!

Sneaky peek of what I'm making for my demo at Wilmslow Garden Centre on Saturday 26th July. I am loving the Vintage Floral range from Crafter's Companion. Hope you will join me at the demo for loads more inspiration and ideas.

 

I've used a backing paper from the Vintage Floral 6x6 paper pad. I then printed a beautiful flowery design from the Vintage Floral CD on to vellum and tore it to make a sash across the middle. I added a paper ribbon and a few embellishments from the ephemera section of the CD before finally adding a little sentiment. Voila one completed Vintage Floral card! x

Hello fellow bloggers, it's been a while!

Hello my fellow bloggers, it's been a while since I updated this page so as a treat I'm uploading two cards this morning. Both are made using IndigoBlu stamps, which I have to say stamp beautifully every time.

6" x 6" card base. Stamped with Momento Rich Cocoa ink, coloured with Spectrum Noir pens and mounted on to chocolate brown centura pearl to frame.

6" x 6" card base. Central image stamped with VersaMagic Purple Hydrangea chalk ink. The stamp was then used to create the border around by inking a small part and stamping off the page. Mounted on to a royal purple card base.

Wedding season is upon us!

After suffering from a chest infection which has taken an age to clear and kept me away from m craft desk I finally managed to make this wedding card for an order this week. It was made using the Creative Couture Dreamboats set. I used a Versamark inpad and lilac embossing powder to match the wedding colours. Unfortunately the picture isn't great as I took it quite late on in the evening so the light had gone. My customer really loved it and said it got loads of lovely comments at the wedding too! x

A look back in time

As my mum went to put her Mother's Day card in her memory box she took photo's of some of the other cards I have made for her over the last few years. I thought you might like to see too...

 

 

My mum loves perfume bottles x

I made this for her to give my step-dad on their anniversary

Bookatrix cards always look lovely!

It's so nice to look back at these cards x

Busy Bee

It's been a busy week here at Crafting Sentiments HQ. I've added loads of lovely new stock to my eBay shop all week long. Check out some of the new items here Crafting Sentiments eBay Shop

Hopefully I will get to make a couple of cards this weekend and add them to my blog, so please keep popping back.

Melanie x

Exciting times....

I've just had some really exciting news! I am joining the Crafter's Companion team as a fully accredited demonstrator. I can't wait to work with such an acclaimed team and their award winning products xxx

My Little Pony

A very quick card made using some old Kanban stock. The image is perfect for little girls who love their horses! Finished with a lovely white satin bow.

Thought I'd share this card with you that I made a while back. I love doing baby cards and this one was for a baby's Christening .

I used a Kanban foiled card blank. It was so detailed I didn't need to do much else other than to add the decoupaged topper. I used a Reddy topper, their die-cutting is so fine and their images are beautiful. To add the ribbon band I made a small slit at either side and threaded my piece of organza ribbon through and tied it in a bow. The lady that had ordered the card was thrilled with it :) 

I made this card on a pre-scored A5 scalloped edge card blank. The image is from Papermania's Art Deco Collection. I've matted and layered the image on to plum Adorable Scorable with a little touch of Mirri Card behind just to frame the colour. The image itself is decoupaged and I have added some fine feather 'frondles' to the headdress. I have also used the same feathers in the little flower spray, which I made to add to the bottom corner.

I would like to enter this card in to Crafting Musketeers - Art Deco GDT

Hello and welcome to my blog, I'm brand new to blogging so please stick with me! x