Papercraft Essentials Issue 174

I couldn't believe this months issue of Papercraft Essentials with its amazing gift.
Who doesn't love Wallace and Gromit? Cracking.
This issue includes foiled toppers, papers and stamps - all of this lovable duo and not to mention Piella, Wallace's girlfriend. There's an enormous amount.

Where's a girl to start with all this? 

Anyway, had a short break from the memory book I'm making for my friend (almost there) and had an absolute blast using these toppers and papers along with some card of my own.

oops Gromit, we seem to be upside down!!

The Time For Tea stepper card has the cheese board stuck up on a length of acetate and I think this is my favourite. 

Not even used the stamps yet but these can be used over and over again whereas the toppers, once they're gone, they're gone.

If you've not got this magazine yet then grab a copy quick, it really is worth it.

Hope you like these and thanks for stopping by.

Get the kettle on Gromit...

Karen xx

Sneaky Peak

I am so unbelievably busy at the moment.
I am busy trying to make another memory book for my friend to give to her sister by the beginning of June.
I also have a special card to make for the beginning of June for a friend who has a 60th birthday but more of that in a later post as nearly finished.
The memory book I've been asked to make is to be a white background with pink and green papers.
I did say sneak peak so here are the die cuts for the memory book (some of them anyway) so you can see the colour scheme for this book clearly amongst all the die cuts.



I hope she likes it and hope you like the colour scheme she's chosen.
More of this in a couple of weeks.

Thanks for stopping by
Karen

Memory Book finished

At last I have finished my memory book and I love it.
I've made a few ricks along the way but nothing that's made me want to rip it up. And of course, I'll know better in future.

And to finish it off I made a box to put it in.
The dimensions were such that just one sheet of card was not big enough, not even A3 and even making in two parts wasn't big enough.

So the box base and lid of course was made in four parts. I confess I sought help on Jodies making memories facebook group and found it in the shape of a young lady called Kandis.
The bow on the top I made from oval dies and really pleased with them. I chose a metal oval frame to put in the centre and I shall add a picture to it of a special friend I aim to give this to. Will definitely do this again.
I hope you like it as much as I do.

A friend saw it on my facebook page and asked if I would make one for her sister's birthday in June. So watch this space. The next one is to be in pink and green pastel.
Thanks for stopping by and do come again.

Karen

Thank you

Some work colleagues and myself converged on a local community centre elderly action group and volunteered for the day.
It was manic, cooking, washing up, making teas and peace at last, calling bingo!
However busy it was and on our feet all day, it was definitely worth while and I loved it.

How these lovely ladies who do it all the time, manage it I will never know.
Here is me having fun calling bingo.

And this is a card I have made for them to thank them for having us and also to say thank you for doing such a great job so well day in and day out. The lovely Moroccan style trellis is by Card Making Magic from Craftstash. The thanks is a Tonic die and the daisies are a die set I have had a very long time but love using time and again.

Hope you like it
Karen

Flippn' Men

This is a brilliantly funny range from Splash (used to be La Pashe). They can be purchased on single sheets die cut or to cut yourself. Or the whole range on DVD where you'll be spoilt for choice. They have Flippin' Women, Flippin' Teenagers and they are really good.

I decided on this tin bath scene. Youngsters won't remember this necessity of years gone by.

Open the card up and you will find the image from the back.

The verse is also from Splash. They come as inserts or in this case on clear sticky back.

Another range from this company is Wrinklies at the movies. Watch this space because one of these will be coming up soon.

Hope you like it.
Thanks for stopping by.
Karen

Stationery Box

I found oodles of videos on You Tube showing how to make these. Each of them with a difference and that's what I decided to do too.

I love making things in 3D. The main box is made with a sheet of 12" x 12" white card. I strengthened it by matting it externally with some mustard coloured card layered with some lovely patterned paper. I had two sheets of this in a pad from the Works and thought it was just perfect.
The lid uses a sheet of A4 card cut down to size and also matted and layered.

A second A4 sheet was sufficient to create the internal pockets and pen holder decorated with the same patterned paper.

When it got to the notepad I didn't have sufficient patterned paper left so used the scraps to decorate the cover. I think it looks really effective and I'll definitely do this again.

Most of the videos I saw secured the pen on the drop down section but I preferred it at the base of the box in front of the pockets.
The lid I decorated with some paper leaves and flowers with a butterfly and dragonfly.

I think it looks so summery.
I haven't decided what to put in the lower pockets yet, maybe stamps and tags but in the top pocket where the notepad currently is I want to create some stationery paper and matching envelopes. I'll then secure the notepad to the drop front.

I do hope you like it.
Thanks from stopping by and please come again.
Karen :-)

Stamperama Update

Well I said I had a project in mind for some of the bargain card I picked up at Stamperama Harrogate and this is one of them.
I just love blue and white together, it looks so classic.

Note to self: Next time I photograph a white card choose a dark background, this doesn't really do it justice. Ah well, live and learn.

The card is a shutter card. They can be made plain or round or oval or diamond like this one.
I chose to decorate the left hand panel with some gorgeous flowers by Card Making Magic that I inked with some blue Distress Oxide to match. I opted for silver mirror card to die cut happy birthday and the edge of leaves for the right hand panel.
The central diamond I haven't made my mind up yet.
I have a friend with a big 60 this year but I usually like to make her a card that represents whichever theatre production we've been to. I also thought about adding a photograph to the diamond of my friend who I holiday with in the Lakes every year. And then my grandson's partner's birthday is later this month and she's a lovely girl so she may well get it with a 25 in the centre.

I have some time to make my mind up. Meanwhile I shall enjoy looking at it and hope it provides me with inspiration.
Hope you like it and thank you for stopping by
Karen xx