Missing Helen

Here are a couple of little novelty cards that I made for my daughter, Helen while she was on her travels.

The one on the left is a mini "post through" card that I stamped with 2 images and text that read "trip" "discover" and "explore"

The one on the right is a creature that I created based on something that I saw at a museum. Mine is called a "Boggle" Its just made up of a few scraps of card with a bit of doodling added.

Helen is back home now with an enviable tan and more of a (what I believe is called) "life experience"

Bye 4 now!

Happy crafting!

Butterfly Ball

It was my birthday in March and one of the gifts I received was wrapped in beautiful butterfly paper, and you know how much I love butterflies! It seemed a shame to throw it away so I decided to re-arrange the elements to create this card.

It's a kind of 3d box. As the paper was already foiled it had an irradescent appearance, and some of the design has been lifted on pads to create a further feeling of "movement" I added a peel-off boarder and some dots to complete the effect. Its a sort of "Butterfly Ball!"
Hope you like it!

Until next time, Happy crafting x

Zendoodle

While I was "surfing the net" the other day I came across something called "Zendoodle"

What's Zendoodle? I hear you ask....well, its drawing patterns in a random fashion until you create an image that you are happy with. There are no rules, and its very relaxing. You just let yourself go and the design creates itself! (or just about)

This is one of my first attempts which was drawn with a fine line permanent marker. Then I took a piece of black card, cut 4 slits into it and inserted the Zendoodle pattern. I added brads to the corners and a few peel-off dots. The whole thing was then mounted, on pads, onto a square card blank.

I hope to create more Zendoodles in future and if you would like to have a go too you will find more inspiration at millande.ning.com (art community for women)

Happy crafting!

back to peel-offs

Like most crafters, I never underestimate the value of peel-offs! I suppose these cards are a sort of "altered art" but I must say I was really pleased with the finished results!

card 1 - DAISIES
I took the flowers from a daisy peel-off and stuck them onto some shiny wrapping paper. Then I cut them out and arranged them onto a white card. I replaced some of the waste (from the peel-off) and added it to the centre of the flower. I used a chain peel-off for the stems and coloured the middles with a black pen. I took the leaf shapes (left over from a black peel-off )and put them onto silver holographic card before adding them to the design. This topper was then mounted onto black card (at a jaunty angle!) before adding to an A5 card blank. I used a "Happy Birthday" greeting and 4 silver dots to complete the project.

card 2 - KISSING FISHES
First of all, I made a "spring" card,( which is simular to a card recently shown on my blog ) then I took some left over teabag papers and stuck some fish peel-offs onto them. I cut out a "sea weed" shape, and decorated the base with more tea-bag papers. Then I added a few bubbles for effect. The black "spots" on the fish are made by colouring the waste pieces and reinserting them into the design.
I think its really querky and something that would be quick to put together if you needed an anniversary card in a rush! Of course, the fish peel offs could be put onto any sort of paper. It doesnt have to be tea-bag.

Hope these ideas have made you want to create some "altered art" of your own.

Have fun!

An easier t-bag design

Here is a less complicated design for t-bag folding.

Each butterfly is made up of 4 tiles ( a traditional pattern uses 8) and arranged on a square piece of card. This is then embelished with punched daisies, open circles and gem stones; the edges have been deckled to create a lacey effect. The topper has been matted onto dark then metalic card.

If you would like to have a go yourself, try a book called "Tea Bag Folding" by Tiny Van Der Plas & Janet Wilson. It's full of easy to follow instructions. (Perhaps you could borrow it from your local library) While you are perfecting the technique, ANY paper will do, but its well worth buying the proper papers once you are ready to make a card etc. There are websites where you can download papers for free, with or without dividing lines.

I hope you will try it for yourself some time because its always nice to do something which is so creative.

Until next time.... happy crafting!

More t-bag folding

Here's a really advanced form of t-bag folding which just goes to show how different each image can be from the last.

This design is made up of 24 "tiles" which have been formed into a layered "mandela" It's not really for the beginner, but anyone can do it with a little practise ( and a bit of experimenting!)

I don't want to put you off completely though so my next design is much more simple....

teabag folding

Its ages since I did any teabag folding so when I came across these papers the other day I decided to create this oriental-style card.

The front and the back of the far left-hand section of the card have been glued together ( to create a more unusual spine) and decorated with paper beads. These were also made from the teabag paper, and threaded onto paper string before attatching to the card.

Although teabag folding can seem a bit complicated at first, its well worth mastering as it enables the card maker to create some very unusual designs.... and dont forget that you dont have to use teabag papers every time, you can use ANY papers providing they are cut in to 4cm or 5cm squares.

Look out for more examples next.........