Ruby Wedding Order

I finally finished the Ruby wedding card, and I've posted the pictures off to the client to see if she is happy, or wants something changed ( or, worst case scenario........EVERYTHING changed!). I've not heard back yet, so I'm beginning to worry.........lol.


Anyway, I decided to post the pictures despite not hearing, and if I have to change the card, we'll have a before and after session!!
I was sent a couple of original photo's to use on the front, and one of my earlier cards from my bespoke gallery was chosen as a layout. The wording was also chosen by the client. This is what I've produced so far

The other photo I altered in my graphics programme and used on the insert. Then I found a verse that I thought might be suitable on Imag-e-nation

The front of the card is decorated with Roses and Cherry blossoms & Baby's breath from Wild Orchid Crafts, all in shades of red & burgundy.


The outside edge has been cut back and given a strip of ruby pearlescent card, over which I have laid a length of white Guipure Lace , also from WOC. A strip of burgundy satin ribbon has been woven through the length of it.


The wording was printed in Coventry Garden font and the labels raised on pads, as was the main image.




I hope you like it, and please comment..........it's lovely to hear views on my work.

Just a quickie............no pics!

Just a quick post to apologise for deserting my blog for so long. I've been quite busy lately with one thing and another. I had to make 7 Easter Cards to swop with members of a forum I belong to. Unfortunately Easter Cards are always something I've struggled with for some reason, so I prevaricated and delayed ( 'cos we've known since Xmas we were planning this), until I was left with just a couple of days to go, and STILL not a card made.
In the end I rushed them through in the simplest way imaginable, without a spark of inspiration, only to receive the first from someone else with exactly the same image I'd used!!
I slept badly that night dreaming that we had all used the same stamp and everyone had made identical cards!! HORRORS!!
Anyway, they are all posted now, and hopefully I'll do better at the next challenge swap.
Got a nasty feeling tho' that the postman cleared the box early that day, cos as I dropped mine into it, it sounded VERY empty.
Collection was due at 5.30pm, I posted at 5,20..........sigh...........ah well, should have posted them a day early really.

I have a card order for a Ruby wedding, so I'm hoping the roses I've ordered from Wild Orchid Craft's turn up in time........there's too many Bank Holidays all of a sudden!! If they don't arrive Thursday, I'm going to be biting my nails off all over Easter! Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Still waiting to move my craft room back into my bedroom, so we can have the living room back and fit to greet visitors. It's embarrassing at the moment with paper, glitter and glue all over the place.
I just need to organise my son & my daughter to have enough energy and mild enthusiasm to help me, both on the same day!...............................ohhhhhhhhhhhh look!....another flying pig!!

I know they'll pitch in eventually.........but I'm not noted for my patience.....lol

ok......back to designing this Ruby wedding card............and I promise some pictures next time.

80th Birthday

For the first time ever, I'm trying to set up an automatic posting ahead of time,(if you know what I mean). So if this goes haywire I'm just going to be pulling my hair out! ha ha!! I had been asked for a card for an 80th birthday, to show a kitten or something "fluffy". My neighbour had been invited to a birthday for a friends mother, but had never actually met the lady in question, so it was a little difficult to know what to get her. I found some stamps of Daisy & Dandelion that I could have used, but somehow it didn't quite feel right, and after colouring in three different sets of kittens I still wasn't happy. Then I had a brainwave... ............and found JUST what I needed.

Isn't he just the CUTEST kitten?? The picture leaves a lot to be desired I'm afraid. I had just enough time to take a couple of pictures before I delivered it, but didn't have a chance to check the quality of the photo's. Unfortunately, in my last minute rush, I forgot to switch on the flash. But, hopefully, you can see enough to make out that the colour is lilac and purple. The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts ( as ever!!). The sentiment is a peel off, (and I don't use many of those these days!!) plus I added 3 little heart gems at the bottom edge & there is a heart sequin attached to the stem of the last rose.

The insert was cut out of a scalloped nestability the same size as the image on the front, and set exactly in line, so it doesn't show until the card is opened.

I hope you like it, I just adore Sinatra.........he's such a cute kitty!

Mothers Day Card

I've been waiting to post this for several days now!! I couldn't do so until after the card had been given, just in case. The thing is............I finally got an order courtesy of Google!! I was amazed when I asked where the lady found me.

The request itself was pretty detailed,............ the image was to be of a "comfy chair", the colours asked for were peach and green, and there were to be orange roses on the card.

All the wording was supplied by the customer, so no frantic searchings through my brain or the web to find something suitable there! LOL .

My first problem was the image. You have no idea how hard it is to find a SUITABLE image of a comfy chair, that DOESN'T look as though it's been lifted straight from the pages of a catalogue!! In the end I found a VERY old clipart cd, that came free with something years ago, and on it was a line drawing that looked as though it might do the trick. I tried printing and colouring with promarkers, but it just wasn't that good an image, and I was VERY dissatisfied with it. Then I remembered some design papers I had bought from Bearly Mine, ( who have some April freebies up at the moment, I might add, for those of you who are interested).

The range I actually used was the Vintage set, and I printed the peach design on some white pearlescent card stock (to give it a sheen), then put the card through again with several copies of the clipart set to print over the top. Then of course, it was just a case of cutting out and decoupaging, and shading a bit with one of my promarkers. I printed out a couple of sheets of the green design and used that as backing paper.

I also put one of the sheets into a graphics programme and faded out sections to make the insert, again, printing the wording over it with the computer to complete. I put a touch of stickles glitter glue onto the edges of the roses, just to add a bit of glamour. Anyway..............this was the finished result and I got an email back telling me it had arrived safely and how thrilled they were with it. I'm so glad, 'cos I always worry about whether the customer will be satisfied with the final result. Big sigh of relief, and now I can share with you all.span>

I have an 80th birthday commission to share later on today (or possibly tomorrow), it's been an active few days!!

Candy available

A quick post this morning just to let you know there is some candy being offered on Crafty Sam's blog. If you follow this LINK, you can see what is required to try for it!

Mother's day Order

Just a quick post as I'm struggling with my M.E. today. Obviously I've done a little too much lately and its come back to bite me!!
(Note to self: "Don't go madly working as soon as you you feel fine")

This is the bespoke Mother's Day card I mentioned yesterday, finally managed to get the camera battery charged up, but in trying to get two reasonably clear picturees, I think it's nearly flat again. heh heh.........oh well..........
I was asked for "a card with a Robin on, and some flowers........what ever you think really" It's actually quite hard to find a Robin image that doesn't look as though it belongs on a Christmas Card, but I hope this swings it!





I've matted and layered the image onto silver mirri card, and then some glittered vellum. The base Rose embossed paper was from a 12 x12 pack I bought ages ago from Create & Craft. Beautiful papers which I should really use more often.
I added some swirls from a Marianne Die set ( I think it was called dreamy) & the large white flower was from a box I got from Joanna Sheen, and the Roses are from Wild Orchid Crafts (of course!).

The insert I edged with some of the base paper cut on a border punch from Easy Craft, it was a multi shaper punch, and I bought 3, but they were a little disappointing. They weren't as strong as I'd hoped and I rarely use them now.

I edged the join with some Anita's 3d border glitterations. I've had these 'forever' and never used them, but now I have I think I need to get some more!! I really liked the effect.

I really have to go now tho......a little lay down is needed. Hope you enjoyed seeing the card.

Oh The SHAME!!

Oh the shame of actually posting a set of New Year's Resolutuions and IMMEDIATELY failing in all of them!! I really don't know where I've gone wrong this year, and I meant to be so much more organised. So from now on, I'm not promising to post more regularly, and we'll see if that makes a difference.

I've been keeping busy with jobs other than card making, although I have made several of those too. I've been getting involved with Resident Committee's and meetings with our local housing association. Mostly to do with Estate Services, but also with the planning and execution of a Community Garden. Also I'd like to do a bit more work on my own little patch of ground, but money is very tight at the moment. If I'm very careful, and don't splash out on any craft stuff, I should be out of my overdraft by June!! LOL. ..............but Lilli of the Valley have so many nice new stamps out........*groans*

I had a stand at the Local International Womens Day Event on 5th March. It was held at South East Essex College, and I shared a stand with my neighbour who makes Jewellery. She only found out about it quite late, and couldn't get a table, so we shared. Unfortunately, the tables were exceptionally small compared to last year, so we were quite squashed up!The event wasn't that busy, but I did manage to sell 7 cards, which is really good for me. I forgot my camera, but my neighbour remembered hers, so I've pinched a couple of her pictures!!

Looking at my picture here, and my profile picture, it's quite obvious that I need to update my profile. On the other hand, perhaps I'll keep it as inspiration to lose weight!! When I can take a "thin" picture, then I'll change it, LOL.

This picture is showing the full table ( small, as I said) but I think I have a couple of close ups of each side which are clearer.

We had a really great day with ( hopefully) a couple of leads to more craft stands later in the year. At least, they took business cards..........I just have to hope they DO get in touch.

I've been busy making a bespoke card for Mother's day, which I was going to show off, but its going to have to wait. Unfortunately the camera is out of battery. Still, at least you know there's a card to view soon! Going to cook lunch now.......see you later......

Finally..........managed to log in!

Well, Blogger wouldn't let me in, cos Google didn't recognise my password. How crazy is that?? Anyway, after sending off all my details to Google, they sent me an email back saying they couldn't authorise my account, as they couldn't be sure it was me! Aaarrgh!
Frustration wasn't the word!! After playing around for a long, long time, I managed to reset everything back to where it was in the first place, and get Google to recognise me, and here I am!

I've got a new card to show you, that I've made for my friend in Holland, ( I've no idea where the last year has gone), I just hope he likes it.

I've used orange as the colour scheme (obviously), and as he's assured me many times that men like flowers too, I hope the subject brings a smile to his face.

I used some heavy 12" x 12" embossed papers from Create & Craft, I've had them for AGES but I couldn't bear to cut into them!! But I've done it now, so hopefully I'll be able to use them a little more often now.

The Rose image has been hand stamped onto card from LOTV. (its amazingly good !!) I then painted the Rose in Twinkling H2O's, (roses in Orange Peel, and leaves in Forest Green). Since the advent of promarkers into my life, I don't watercolour as often as I should. Silly really because I find it easier to shade with paint.

The roses were left to dry throughly, and then I stamped them all over with a versamark pad and clear heat embossed them.........twice. The plain orange card has been stamped with the happy birthday sentiment, and also with a swirl stamp in versamark, then heat embossed in "Glacier White". The lace edges are done with a Martha Stewart Punch.

The insert has been stamped and heat embossed, in orange, using a do-crafts corner stamp.

Finally, I added a small premade bow from the Papermania Capsule collection to the front, and fastened the cross over card, with a clip and brad.

I hope you like it, and after the hubub of Christmas, I'm hoping to get back into the routine of making cards on a regular basis again.

There is an event being held at the local college in March, for International Womens Day. It is the centenary of the event so the theme for this year is "Then & Now".

Blackbutterfly Handcrafted Cards will be there with a table full of cards which will hopefully take someone's fancy!!
This is one of only two times a year when I sell direct to the public, the rest of the time I stick strictly to my website, or occasionally, on E-bay. The costs of buying tables to sell at such events, often outweighs the amount I manage to sell, but this particular event is such fun to attend, I hope anyone local to Southend will try to get there. It's in South East Essex College Atrium, between 11am and 3 pm on 5th March. Come and say "hello" if you see me there!

Stamp Out Thieves Campaign

As some of you may have seen from Facebook, Mo Manning has been fighting to stamp out theft of her stamped images in the last week. (There is a full article written by Mo if you click the stamp out image in the right side bar)

Also some more info from here . As you can see it would really help all the artists if you could join in with this campaign.

On a happier note, (or not!), I have been unable to load images from my computer to my blog since Christmas. It would only give me the option to upload from Google online storage. I save my images on my computer and on Disk so have been completely flummoxed.................until I remembered that I was using the new version of blogger. Tried going back to the old version and HEY PRESTO!!!...........I can now upload my pictures. The only thing I have to do now of course is make some cards!!