Geometric Mono

On Saturday I found myself needing a boy's birthday card in a hurry. I hate giving in and buying cards so I put together this quick make using Docraft's Geometric Mono range.  I love this range as it has so many co-ordinating elements- for this card I've just used the the 6x6 papers and a ribbon, along with a star die from the X Cut Star Nesting Dies. I use stars a lot on boy's cards and these dies are my favourite.

To create the star panel I simply made 3 star apertures in a piece of white card using a die and then placed the papers behind the openings. To ensure the stars lined up I drew a pencil line vertically down the centre of the card before cutting.

Although I wanted a CAS card I felt something else was needed. I added a strip of paper and ribbon across the centre of the card before adding the star panel using foam pads.

I'm going to work with this range a bit more this week so watch this space!

I would like to enter this card for:
The Daring Cardmakers Challenge Getting Geometric

Thank you for visiting and commenting today, I really do appreciate it.

Live Love Laugh

Hi everyone. Hope you are all well. The cold snap seems to have passed (no snow here of course) so it's back to dull, dreary days here.

Hopefully this pretty Folk Floral easel card will lift the gloom. I love this purple and yellow colour combo, particularly with kraft card.

I simply created a circle easel card using a square card blank and a Tonic circle die. I then cut the kraft card layer with a Spellbinders Grand Scalloped Circle. I was lucky enough to win a huge bundle of this Docrafts Folk Floral collection a while ago so I have used lots of elements of that on the card. I particularly like the co-ordinating ribbon and bow.

Thank you for visiting today and for your comments. Cathy xxx

My Sweetheart

Hi everyone. What a sad few days it has been. As a huge David Bowie fan, I was really shocked to learn of his death. I was actually quite surprised by how sad I felt, but it seems to have affected many people in the same way.

Today's card is a CAS Valentine card, made using Docrafts Forever Friends Classic Decadence. This decoupage topper, sentiment and the papers were actually free gifts with Creativity magazine. At first I wasn't sure about them, so they have sat in a drawer for a while. Then I came up with the idea for this card and I must admit I really love the result.

The banners have been cut with my new Sizzix Framelits Banner Dies. I've wanted some for a while so treated myself after Christmas. The black card is from The Range, the gold card is from a Create and Craft Member's gift and the cream card is Creative Expressions Foundation Card in Milk. I sat on my hands and didn't add any more embellishments.

Thank you for visiting and for all your comments. Cathy x

Jade's Sparkling Butterflies- All Things Bright and Beautiful

Good morning everyone. Today I'm sharing my DT card for Jade's Sparkling Butterflies Challenge Blog. This is our new name for the blog formerly known as 2 Crafty Girls. Please take a look at the revamped blog, the DT are incredibly talented and all the cards are beautiful.

Our theme for the next fortnight is All Things Bright and Beautiful. Our sponsors for this challenge are:

Robyn's Fetish

That Craft Place

I chose this fabulous image from Robyn's Fetish, called a Little Birdie Told Me. The digi stamp is available to buy here.

I coloured the digi using Spectrum Noir markers:

Bird TB1 TB3 IG1 IG2 GB1 GB4

Flowers CT3 CT4 CR2 CR3 CR4

Tree Stump GB8 GB10

The papers and ribbon I used are from Docrafts Folk Floral range. I rarely use yellow but love it combined with the pink here. The frame has been cut using a Die'sire die and the flowers using First Edition flower dies. The buttons and gems are from my stash. I don't often do bright but I do like this spring like card.

I would like to enter this card for the following challenges:

Creative Inspirations Challenge 342 Florals

Crafty Addicts Challenge 6 Anything Goes

Cardz 4 Galz Something New (New digi and challenge blog name!)

Thank you for visiting today and for your lovely comments. Cathy x

Chronology Birthday Card

I hope you have all had a good Christmas. We had a fantastic few days from church on Christmas Eve through the excitment of Father Christmas filling the stockings at home and finishing with Boxing Day at my parents. I think it's safe to say my sons have had their best Christmas yet.

As the New Year approaches, I thought I'd share some cards I haven't had a chance to share before.

This card was made for a friend to give to a male friend she had recently made contact with after several years. She asked for a time theme and the colour purple, so I turned to the Docrafts Chronology CD and used these fabulous papers.

I simply backed the papers onto kraft and black card. The sentiment is printed from the CD and I finished with buttons and black pearls from Scrapberry's.

Thank you for visiting today and for all your lovely comments. Cathy x

Trick or Treat

Good morning. I haven't had a chance to blog over the last week- I've been busy making some very quick Christmas cards for a church Christmas fair so haven't had much time spare.

Today's card is another Halloween card- although I've actually used this as a birthday card for a girl with a Halloween week birthday.

The papers, tag and cat are all free downloads from the Docrafts website. I added a spider web die cut using a Tattered Lace die (annoyingly I've lost the little spider die which came with it). I've simply finished the card with a ribbon and some gems. I think the overall effect is quite elegant, rather than spooky, but I like it.

Thank you for visiting today and for your comments, I really do appreciate them. Cathy x

Quick and Easy Jolly Santa Cards

I can, and often do, take hours over making cards but as Christmas rapidly approaches I've realised that I need to make some quick cards that still look special. These three cards, all made with the Docrafts Jolly Santa range, fit the brief exactly.

For each card I've used papers from the A4 or A5 paper packs, a decoupage image from the A4 decoupage packs, a ribbon and bow. All I've added to these core elements are a few embellishments from my stash.

For the Gingerbread Man card, my son's favourite, I chose to use the gingerbread man separately from the rest of the decoupage tag as a cute embellishment. I have added some pearls as buttons too.

The second card is probably the most traditional of the three and I love this backing paper. The bows in this range are quite large meaning that little more embellishment is needed.

The final card features my favourite colour combination this Christmas, blue and red. I've added a little glitter glue to this image for sparkle (I really don't often do glitter to be honest but this way is less messy) and some blue Papermania gems in the corner.

The great thing now is that I have some design templates that I can use to make quick cards using all of my favourite Christmas ranges.

Thanks for visiting today. I really do appreciate all of your lovely comments.
Cathy x

Gorjuss birthday card

Hi everyone. Today I'm sharing a card made for a little girl who is the daughter of some of our best friends. We met when our children were tiny babies and we've built up an amazing friendship since. Special people deserve special cards so I have used the beautiful Docrafts Santoro Gorjuss collection for this.

The stamped image is Little Red and I have coloured her with Spectrum Noir pens. The papers are from the 2014 collection. I have cut a border using a Crafter's Companion BoBunni Floral die and placed this behind a strip of paper layered with lace. The flowers have been cut using First Edition Flower Dies and finished with Scrapberry pearls.

Thank you for visiting and commenting today.

Cathy x

Jolly Santa Snowy Aperture Card

Today I am sharing a new Christmas card made using Docrafts Jolly Santa range. I have used the A5 paper pad and a Decoupage sheet for this card.

Firstly, I made up the front of the card, using two papers and with a strip to hide the join.

Next, I die cut a circle aperture in the front of the card (I'll be using the waste to make a bauble for the Christmas tree). I used a piece of paper as an insert for the card and made up the decoupage image inside the card, ensuring it was lined up to show in the aperture.

I took the frame from the decoupage sheet and attached some Hunkydory Snowfall Acetate to the back, trimming to fit. I attached this over the aperture.

I finished the card with a sentiment and Santa image. I love these papers so have kept the front clean and simple.

Thanks for popping by today, I appreciate all of your comments.

Cathy xxx

Bellissima balloon birthday card

Happy Sunday everyone. This week I was asked to make a 40th Birthday card with an air balloon theme, so I turned to the gorgeous Docrafts Bellissima range to create this simple but pretty card.

I chose the blue dotty paper from the 6x6 paper pack for my background and cut strips from 2 other papers. I love the big dreams sentiment on the second strip so made sure that was showing. 

Next I added the Balloon decoupage from a small decoupage kit to the left of the strip, using Pinflair glue to add the layers.

I fussy cut the balloons from a paper in the pack and added them to the card. Finally I stamped a simple Crafter's Companion sentiment using Momento Sweet Plum ink.

Thanks for popping by today. I really appreciate all your comments xxx

Folk Floral

Hi everyone

Today sees the end of my summer break and back to work for me. Definitely mixed feelings about that!
The other day I became aware that my Join This Site button wasn't working- hopefully it's all fixed now and you can follow my blog, if you would like to :-)
Today's cards have been made using Docrafts Folk Floral range. I have been a member of their Creativity Club for a while and was lucky enough to win a huge bundle of goodies in their June club draw. I love this collection- the colours are fantastic and there are lots of happy quotes and sentiments to make you smile.
My first card is full of layers and die cuts, making use of lots of papers and a decoupage element:

I do love the combination of this collection with kraft card and I've also added some twine to my buttons to complete the slightly rustic look.

Products used:

Docrafts Folk Floral A4 Paper Pack, Decoupage Pack and Die Cut Toppers and Sentiments, Owl Folk Buttons

First Edition Flower Dies 

X Cut Doilie Die

Twine from stash

My second card is clean and simple, based on my Crowning Affair card you've seen before. I love this sentiment ribbon and bow and have used a stamp from the collection to add a phrase to a blank tag (I think those tags are a great addition to the range).

Products used:

Docrafts Folk Floral A4 Paper Pack, Mini Printed Tags, Ribbon and Ribbon Bows

Thanks for popping by. I love reading all your comments, so do remember to say hello x

Crafting with kids- Neon birthday

When I first started this blog, one of my aims was to share some crafty projects to do with children. Over time, my own projects took over, although I have often crafted with my boys.

This week, my 7 yr old was keen to make a card with me so we decided to make a fun, neon birthday card. I'm not really a lover of bright things, but wanted to give the current neon trend a go. I knew I wanted the card to have balloons and stars but it was  my son decided that it would be good to put a star in the centre of each balloon. I think it was a great decision and love the end result.

Products used:
Docrafts Papermania Neon card, bow
X Cut Star Punch
Balloon die free with Simply Cards and Papercraft (you could hand cut your own using a template, there are several online)
Sentiment stamp free with Crafter's Companion magazine issue 5
Staz-On Ink Pad

Baker's Twine

Don't forget, although children love using punches and die cutting machines, (mine love turning the handle on my Grand Calibur), they should always be supervised when using them.

Happy Father's Day

Today is Father's Day, a time to thank our dads for all they do. My Dad is retired now and spends his time in the Somerset countryside, looking after his land (and helping at a local woodland) with his ever-growing collection of old tractors. My sons love visiting him there and Dad even takes his friends on tractor and trailer tides when they visit.
My card for Dad this year has taken on the tractor theme. The stamp set I used is by Sheena Douglass, coloured simply with Spectrum Noir markers. It is perfect for my Dad and I was so pleased when this stamp became available, as I had found it difficult to find suitable tractor theme images in the past.
The backing papers are from Docrafts Mr Mister collection. This green seemed perfect for a country themed card. It's a very simple card really but just right for a country gentleman.
Products used:
Sheena Douglass A Country Life Stamp Set
Docrafts Mr Mister 12x12 Paper Pack and Die Cut Sentiments
Creative Expressions Foundation Card in Taupe
Scrapberry's Adhesive Pearls

I am entering this card for this week's Allsorts Challenge Blog- Use a Stamp

Mr Mister patchwork card

I do love a patchwork card and wanted to show that the technique isn't just for feminine cards.
I've used 4cm squares of Docrafts Mr Mister paper for this card, cutting it so that the card's sentiments are within the patchwork pieces. I've layered the pieces onto a square dark grey card and adhered the square onto a co-ordinating backing paper, on a 6x6 blank, using thin foam pads. It's simply finished with some blue-grey pearls from Scrapberry's (I just love their embellishments and the range of colours is awesome).
The end result would be great for any special man but made particularly with Father's Day in mind.

Products used:
Docrafts Mr Mister 12x12 papers, Papermania A4 card
Scrapberry's Pearls

Bellissima birthday card

This card has been made using Docrafts Bellissima range. I love the way this collection has a modern feel, yet combines well with vintage elements such as lace trim and, my current favourite item, Dovecraft doilies.

To make this card I simply took a decorated card blank and layered it with a sheet of 6x6 paper (at a jaunty angle). I added lace trim, a ribbon and doilie before making up and fixing the centre decoupage sentiment. All edges, including the doilie, have been distressed using distress ink to add depth. The finishing touch is some punched butterflies and gemstones.

Products used:

Docrafts Papermania  Bellissima card blank, 6x6 Decoupage Kits, Ribbon, Gemstones

Hobbycraft adhesive lace trim

Tonic Studios Butterfly Punch

Dovecraft Doilie

Patchwork cards

A while ago I bought some Xcut hexagon dies with the idea of making patchwork cards. As always it's taken me a while to get round to making one, but, now I have, I'm really pleased with the look.

For this card, I began by matting some pink paper onto a 7x5 card blank, followed by a slightly smaller piece of coconut white card. I used the smallest die to cut shapes out of 3 different designs of Simply Floral paper. I arranged these in two columns down the left of the card.

I finished the card with a stamped sentiment, matted onto pink paper and a bow.

Products used:
Docrafts Xcut Hexagon nesting dies, Simply Floral 6x6 papers, Papermania Paper
Creative Expressions Coconut White Foundations card
Sentiment stamped using Momento ink in Tuxedo Black
Bow tied from ribbon from my stash

Lace and doilies

I find myself a little bit obsessed with lace and doilies at the moment and they team up so well with my current favourite Simply Floral collection from Docrafts.
For this card I chose a piece of 6x6 floral paper. Before I stuck it to a card blank,  I took a contrasting border strip from the A4 Ultimate Die-cut pack and placed it across the middle of the card and layered with lace and ribbon. It's much easier to do this before you stick the paper down, as you can wrap the ribbon ends around the back, which makes for a neat finish. I completed the card with a doily, notelet, sentiment and bow.
A simple but very pretty card for Mother's Day.
Products used:
Docrafts Simply Floral 6x6 paper pack, A4 Ultimate Die-cut and Paper pack, Die-cut Notelets, Ribbon, Ribbon Bows
Docrafts Lace trim (free gift with this month's Docrafts Creativity magazine)
Dovecraft Doilies

Simply Floral Mother's Day card

I get asked a lot for vintage floral designs so when I saw the Simply Floral collection from Docrafts, I knew it was a must-have purchase that I would use a lot. I particularly love the mix of products in the range which means it is easy to make great cards.
This pretty Mother's Day was made with a regular customer in mind and has been really popular. It is very simple and just relies on layering 2 complementary papers and adding a few embellishments. It's a 6"x6" card, one of my favourite sizes, showing how 12"x12" papers aren't just for scrapbooking but can easily be adapted for card making. I have used a favourite butterfly punch to make butterfly embellishments from the papers too.

Products used:

Craft UK 6" x 6" white card blank

Docrafts Simply Floral 12"x12" papers, die cut sentiments and notelets

Tonic butterfly punch

Hunkydory Crafts gemstones

Anita's ribbon