A love affair with Distress Inks!

It's official, I'm hooked!!  I can't even look at a piece of card at the moment, without getting my Distress Inks out and having a play!  I bought a couple of embossing folders up at Crafts4U and they were just crying out to be inked and used in conjunction with some of the Boys2Men images...

The first I made using a Cuttlebug folder called Distress Stripes and the pirate treasure map decoupage - I inked the background with Rusty Hinge and Walnut...

Next, I made a golf card using the golf decoupage and the Cuttlebug Argyle folder inked with Peeled Paint and Weathered Wood...

 The third card was using one of the robot toppers and the large Cuttlebug folder Clockworks, which I inked using Weathered Wood and Walnut, I cut the aperture in the panel before embossing and used the oval that was left to emboss the clock and cut around it...

 Then to finish off, this holly folder has been in my embossing folders box for years (literally) and I've just never known what to do with it, as it seemed a bit boring just in white...so out came the Distress Inks again, and just look at the result...

I used Peeled Paint over the embossed panel first, then went around the edges with Rusty Hinge, the lace I coloured with Rusty Hinge and all edges were distressed with either Peeled Paint or Rusty Hinge...I'm at the stage where, if it stays still, it's likely to get inked!!  Wonder what my next obsession will be?!  I thought that the finished result was more subtle than your traditional red and green and as always, the picture does not do it justice...maybe one day I'll get to be a half decent photgrapher (though I doubt it!?!)

Toolbox card

 Hi everyone!  This week has been spent trying to catch up with everything that had been put off before last Saturday's launch at Crafts4U2Do (my house had never seen so much neglect, well since the launch of Plush Pals anyway, and the children were complaining about drawers being empty!) - a big hello to everyone who came along and thank you all for your support!  Di was taking photos during the day, so I thought I'd post them for you all to see (even though I hate having my picture taken!)

One of the samples that went down a storm was a pop out toolbox card that I made using elements from the disc...

 

As promised, here is the toolbox template and  toolbox instructions available to download from 4shared.com

It's always difficult to create written instructions on how to make a card, so I hope that it is easy enough to comprehend - I've added photos to try and make it easier to figure out my instructions and if you could give feedback, I can alter it accordingly!

Cards, cards, cards!

Hi everyone!  I've been such a busy bee!  I've had a lot of card orders to do recently, so thought I would post you all a pic, to see what I've been up to.  These are just a few of the ones that I've made this last week (I never remember to take photos of them all!)

There's an 18th and 21st birthday, a 16th birthday and a Welsh wedding card.  I've also made a card for someone who's been accepted into Police training and one for a new job in a haulage company...

I've been having a play with my Boys2Men images and making some 'different' samples for Saturday (can't believe the launch is this weekend!)  My Distress Inks have been used at every opportunity and as you can see from the card above, I'm getting braver!  I've even made a pop up card, which took me hours to design, but is really effective!  I know I'm a tease, but I'll be posting lots of pics after Saturday, for you all to see and take inspiration!  Hope to see some of you for the launch on Saturday, at Crafts4u2Do, St Helens (the post code's WA10 6SH, if you need to put it in your Sat Nav!)  should be a fantastic day, with lots of ideas and inspiration, so come along if you can!

Ella card

Hi guys!  I'm back in sample making mode, getting ready for the launch of Boys2Men on Saturday 23rd October, not to mention the orders I've had to complete this week, so unfortunately, cards for posting are thin on the ground!  I have managed to create a card using the Ella freebie...

It turned out very girly and pink, but I couldn't help it!  I used the pink spotty backing paper from the Plush Pals disc, my new oval nesties (that I got at Leigh show -think I need to extend my collection a bit more yet!), some dusky pink ribbon and cream lace.  I inked around the edge of the backing paper and ovals using Old Paper distress inks, which are my new favourite product...I'm sure I'm not using them to their full potential yet, but you have to start somewhere!  I decoupaged the top of Ella, to give a bit of dimension (I chopped her legs off, basically!) then added a touch of Glamourdust.  I have to say, the picture doesn't show the colours to their best, but that's because of the gloriously blinding sunshine and clear blue sky outside, so I'm not complaining!  I may try making this again and use my walnut ink to give it more of an antique look, I haven't got the jist of dirtying things up yet, I keep chickening out and opting for the lighter inks!

Hope to be back soon with some more creations, until then, enjoy the late sunshine, if you've got it!

Everyone loves a freebie!

Now I've learnt how to add links to downloads, I thought I'd post a freebie...because we all love a freebie!

I've changed over to 4shared for my download links, as I'd been told that Docstoc was a bit of a nightmare, so if you tried to download the tree ornament templates and found it a hassle, they're now available through 4shared which you should find easier - just click the original link in Monday 4th October post to download.

So, here's my first freebie - this is Ella and you can download her as a coloured image or digital stamp, to colour using your pens, etc.  She's rather sweet and looks lovely sat on a length of ribbon or nestie shape, with her legs dangling over...I'll post a card idea when I've made one!

Enjoy!

Templates

A big HI! to everyone who came to the Papercraft @Leigh show yesterday!!  It was a great day, even though the weather outisde was atrocious!  It was lovely to meet everyone who either already had, or bought the Plush Pals disc and the feedback for all my samples was magnificent - I hope I gave you all inspiration to have a go and make your own!

To help you along with that, as promised, here are the templates for the diamond tree ornament and elongated pyramid ornmanent that I had samples of at the show...(click on the text link..I hope they work!)

Print the template onto the back of the cardstock of your choice, score the dashed lines using a small embossing tool and ruler, then cut around the solid, outside lines.  Assemble, then use the matt templates to draw around on the reverse of the card or paper of your choice and decorate your ornament...et voila!  (Make sure you thread your hanging loop before fully assembling your ornament, it's a nightmare to try and stick one in afterwards - heed the voice of experience!!)

I hope to be posting more templates and tutorials in the future, so keep looking...until then, Happy Crafting!