Saturday 18 February 2017

CCT technique challenge - sunburst/starburst

Here is our new challenge for you at Christmas Card Throwdown. Once you get over the shock of making cards out of season, it really is fun to make a stack of cards throughout the year and certainly takes the stress out of it. 



http://52cct.blogspot.com/2017/02/february-technique.html

The challenge is to use the sunburst/starburst technique. This was new to me but turns out to be very simple. You basically cut strips about 4" long and maybe an inch to inch and half wide, then cut them into long triangles diagonally. It doesn't even have to be accurate. Bonus. Accuracy is not one of my talents.
I have a paper pad which has papers and matching transparent sheets. It's not vellum, it's thicker and less forgiving. I decided that it would be fun to use this as the card would then look pretty with the light showing through. 

What I've learnt: 1. Don't try to be too clever.
                          2. Think it through before you start. 


I cut the strips as directed on the videos I'd watched. When I put it all together I realised that the triangles were not joined together along their long sides. Therefore, even with a frame it was gappy and not rigid. So that went in the bin. (Normally you would glue down onto a base card)

Hmm, didn't think that through.
 I started again with a rectangle of the transparent stuff and glued the other paper on to that so I had a solid base. Much better. 
Except that it won't flatten however long I leave it under a book. Glueing has warped the transparent sheet. Maybe if I leave it in a book for the next 10 months?
 
Here it is with the light behind, so that idea did work:


I'm not sure why I didn't just stick to something simple but once I'd had the idea that was it.


Do join in with us. The sunburst technique is not nearly as complicated as I imagined and there are numerous videos on The You Tube. Here is one. If you have a stash of Christmas papers to use, this technique is for you.
You have two weeks to join in the fun

Saturday 11 February 2017

Cosy up


Here is another card I made for the Christmas Card Throwdown challenge 

http://52cct.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/february-theme.html

 Afterwards I wasn't sure why I had chosen blue. Perhaps in red or green it would have looked more like a Christmas card. It would be a fun winter birthday card, if I hadn't stamped 'Happy Christmas' on the inside.
However, I love the knitted background. It is one stamp repeated to cover the area and coloured in. I deliberately left it a bit patchy to look like knitting.
I actually made this card befor last week's offering but wasn't sure about it so I had another go. It's growing on me, though, I like the warm feel of it.

Hopefully it will make you feel warm and cosy.
  
You have one more week to join in with the challenge.  

I've used:
Stamps from Creative Stamping magazine #36 - knitted background, mug and sentiment
Xcut button dies
Blue pro-markers
Patterned paper
Brown brushos for the  hot chocolate
Wink of Stella on the gloves and sentiment. 


Sunday 5 February 2017

Saved it.

A quick post to show a card which nearly didn't make it. 
I started it a while ago but then it fell out of favour. Yesterday, I decided to finish it come what may!

It had gone wrong in various ways but I think I saved it. I'm not quite sure about the pink in the background flowers but here it is:
 



 I'm linking this the Mrs A's Butterfly challenge. The challenge is:
 
I hope the umber is obvious. The sentiment is stamped under the front and the leaves are tucked under the flower. 
Also 'under' the glued on circle wreath is another stamped wreath which was horrible colours! I told you it had gone very wrong. 

The flower is cut out of some salvaged Christmas paper which I think is rather nice. I wish I saved more of it. The plain brown is the reverse of the striped side. 
So did I save it? 
Have a good crafty week. 
x
 
I've used:
Various Card-io, Hobby art and JustRite stamps
Leanecreatif flower and leaf die
Tonic circle dies
Craftwork cards candi coloured pink
Dovecraft alphabet stamps


Saturday 4 February 2017

CCT theme - drinks

How do you like my Christmas china? No I don't really have Christmas cups but if I did I might choose the pink ones here

This is my card for our new challenge at Christmas Card Throwdown. This time the theme is drinks. 



I found this stamp in my stash (nameless I'm afraid) so I decided do to a stack of cups. It did have it's fiddly moments as the stamp is a cup and saucer. I chose two papers and then stamped the cups. I've cut off most of the saucers and made a slit using a knife, for the next cup to slot into. 

I've been doing a bit here and there all day in between stripping wall paper so it wasn't too intense and neither was the decorating. (Guess what I'd rather be doing?)

The tea bag tags are not an original idea, I saw it on Pinterest. Cute though, I think.
I went right through all my hoard looking for the right small stamp to stamp on the tags. 
Even though I've used Christmas papers for the cups I wasn't sure it was very Christmassy so when in doubt add a bit of holly! 
It's mounted on another paper from the same pack so it's the same colour.

Do come and join us and get ahead with your Christmas cards. You have two weeks for the challenge.


 I'm also linking this to Merry Monday where the current theme is  The Magic # is 5!


I've obviously used 5 cups. I started with three but this is better.
 
I've used:
Docrafts paper which I've been hoarding for a while. 
Inky doodles heart stamp
Other stamps from Creative Stamper magazine.  
Glossy accents for the berries