Personal Challenge

Yesterday, over coffee with my friends, I shared a card that I was commissioned to make. I was delighted with the response and by the end of the morning the girls had also placed card orders with me. The girls all stressed that there was no hurry but by the time I had got home I decided to set myself a challenge to get them all done in that afternoon so I could give them out at school pick up time before the half term break. I was very pleased with myself that I met my challenge with minutes to spare. Here's what I came up with:

They were thrilled, even with the male cards even though I do lack confidence with making cards for men!

Hamsa

Hamsa

I love Hamsa so much, I collect them and have so many now. I used to live in Israel and met my husband there. We go back almost every year and my In-Laws tend to come and visit us once an year. 

Having a bit of a block recently I just decided to have a play and see what came out of it, now i've made one I think that many more will be following.

 Hamsa is Arabic for 5, for the 5 fingers and it is a good luck blessing and wards off evil spirits.

Owl Punch and Milk Carton Die

My lovely Stampin' Up! friend and I get together as often as we can to swap ideas, technics and share each others stamps and what not that we don't have. The other day she turned up with the Owl Punch and Milk Carton Die and I spent hours turning the handle round and round on my sizzix machine and punching out umpteen hundred owls!

Although not a lot of work went into my next project it was fun to make. Actually I made it for my sons' little girlfriend and popped a little Broadsheet Alphabet neclace inside with her initial and pear pizazz seam binding ribbon.

Charity Card Making Class

I held a charity card making class last week. We had a great time chatting, sharing tips and techniques and of course making cards. I designed 3 cards and 2 projects for the evening even and they all went down well. Very simple and easy to copy designs with some delish colour schemes.

All the projects used the Hope and Strength Stamp set that was included in the price of the class as well and the cardstock and all other items needed to make these cards. The first card above used Naturals Ivory cardstock as the base card and Rich Razzleberry ribbon and cardstock. Here I inked the edges of the base card with Crumb Cake ink using a dauber and stamped off the butterfly from the set. the card was finished off with a matted butterfly also stamped in Crumb Cake.

This card was embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder on Baja Breeze Cardstock. A strip of Naturals Ivory was 'brick layered' stamped with the script stamp using Crumb Cake ink, a small length of linen thread was tied around the bottom and the card was finished off with a cut out stamped butterfly and H stamp using Baja Breeze ink.

The last card was very simple yet effective. Chocolate Chip card base, the flourish was stamped onto a strip of Blushing Bride cardstock then layered onto a slightly wider strip of Whisper White with a length of Whisper White Grosgrain ribbon tied around it before layering it onto the base card.

The last two projects were a bookmark and a tiny Top Note treat pouch with a chocolate treat inside.

I have to thank the ladies who attended for an evening full of fun and laughter. Watch this space for the next cardmaking class.