23 Aug 2020
I SAW THREE SHIPS - Stamps from issue #207 Simply Cards & Papercraft
19 Aug 2020
WISH UPON A STAR - KINETIC CARD
AQUARIUM - SLIMLINE SHAKER CARD - Stamps from issue #86 of Creative Stamping
DAWN CATCH - (Stamps from issue #86 of Creative Stamping)
BLACK ON BLACK
18 Aug 2020
SLIMLINE EASEL
10 Aug 2020
WHITE ON WHITE - TUTORIAL
This card is made for the 'just for fun' challenge on the CraftWorld site. The challenge is to make a one colour card and I decided to go for an all white card, to fit into a DL (4.33 inch x 8.67 inch, 110mm x 220mm) envelope.
I really didn't have a specific occasion in mind for the card, so I decided not to include a sentiment on the front. Having said that, I rather like it 'as is' anyway.
When I do come to use it I will just write a message inside, or I could put something very very simple on the front for a special occasion - a couple of faux gold or silver rings onto the ribbon for a wedding card, for instance.
7 Aug 2020
"OWL IN THE TREE" POP UP CARD - TUTORIAL
This is a card which had been formulating in my mind ever since I received the Creative Stamping magazine, issue #83, which I had ordered for delivery from the UK.
The magazine included an "extra" set of free stamps, which had an owl in it.
With the owl being such a good size I thought it would look great in a pop up box card, which was shaped like a tree.
I also thought that it would make an ideal male birthday card. Perfect for my brother, who's birthday is in November.
So today I finally got around to creating it.....................
THIS IS WHAT I USED:
- Black Card 270 gms
- Cream Card 270 gms
- White Card 200 gms
- Owl Stamp
- Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Inks
- Leaf Punch
- Strip of Acetate
- Wet glue
- Double Sided Tape
- Hot Glue Gun
HOW TO MAKE IT:
For the main pop up box:
- Cut a piece of brown card measuring 8.5 inch(wide) x 3.5 inch(high) and score along the width at 2.5 inch, 4 inch, 6.5 inch and 8 inch.
- Cut 2 pieces of brown card measuring 3.5 inch(wide) x 1.25 inch(high) and score both pieces along the width at 0.5 inch and 3 inch.
- Cut 2 pieces of brown card measuring 2.25 inch x 3.25 inch
- Cut 2 pieces of brown card measuring 1.25 inch x 3.25 inch
- Stamp the owl onto white card with black ink and colour it in.
- Fussy cut the stamped owl ready for inserting it into the pop up box.
- Sketch branches to your liking onto brown card. Remember that they will need to fit inside the box in such a way that they won't go beyond the confines of the envelope when the card is folded flat.
- Run the branches through the wood effect embossing folder and highlight their colour with the Distress Oxide inks.
- Make a tree stump style of branch which will raise the stamped owl up a bit higher in the box. (refer to photo further down and to photo of finished card).
The card was great fun to make and I think my brother will be pleased with it.
5 Aug 2020
GRADUATION SHAKER CARD - TUTORIAL
Here is a “fun” graduation shaker card, which I originally designed as my entry into a forum challenge on the #Trimcraft blog, to make a male card.
I also needed to make a congratulatory graduation card as well, so thought I would combine the two!
I used background sunglasses illustrated papers to represent the need to wear darkened glasses while being in the presence of someone so “bright”
The gold layer represents the equivalent level of a gold winner.
The hand cut head silhouette holds the space for the “brain”
The brain “shaker element” is where all the cogs and wheels and stars and sparkles that rattle around in all our heads are!!
😂😂😂
The products I used and the tutorial are as follows:
For this card I used:
1. Simply Creative 'Around The World' 6 x 6 inch paper pad
2. Black card
3. White card
4. Gold Acrylic paint
5. Cog wheel die cutter
6. A craft knife
7. First Edition Celebration dies
8. Gold and blue sequins and silver stars
9. Dimensional sponge tape.
10. A piece of acetate.
What to do:
a) Layer a piece of paper from the paperpad onto a square card base.
b) From black card cut a sillhouette head shape (refer to photo for guidance on the size - it doesn't have to be exact, but needs to fit within the card and large enough to take the cutout which holds the shaker bits)
c) Cut the 'brain' cavity (this is the cavity for the shaker elements)
d) Mount the head onto white card. Then cut through the white card where the brain cavity is.
e) Stick a piece of acetate behind the head to create the 'see-through' brain cavity.
f) Stick dimensional foam at the back of the head (around the edge of the cavity) . Make sure there are no gaps for the sequins to fall out of.
g) Fill the cavity with some sequins, silver stars and small die cut cog wheels. Not too many - you want to be able to shake them around.
h) Seal the cavity with a square piece of black card. Add extra sponge dimensional tape, up to the edges for sturdiness.
i) Paint the white card around the silhouette head with gold acrylic paint. When dry attach the finished piece to the base card.
Finally, cut the words "graduation" and "well done" from black card, glue to beige card and fussy cut around. Glue these onto the card.
There you have it.... A "brainy male" shaker graduation card!!
The original post in the Trimcraft Forum where my card was entered into the challenge can be found by clicking the link below:
https://www.thecraftblog.com/inspiration/tc-male-card-(25)
28 Jul 2020
REVIEW - OPAL BLAZE POLISH
INTRODUCTION
Any products available for review are mentioned on the site in the Product Review Club each week.
You can link to the site and join by clicking here: CraftWorld.com
MY REVIEW:
The Opal Blaze Polishes for this review were provided by #Craftstash and can be purchased directly from them.
Two pots of Cosmic Shimmer Opal Blaze Polish were posted to me and the two colours I received were:
1. Teal Raspberry
2. Turquoise Peach
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Using my finger tip to apply the polish onto the white card, I got good coverage with only a thin application.
It dried quite quickly on the card - and on my finger tip too.
I was able to remove the product from my skin very easily with soapy warm water and a soft nail brush.
The sample card had to be moved around under a light to properly see the shimmer created by the polish.
Comparing the samples side by side it was impossible to detect any colour difference between the polishes.
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Applied with a sponge in a wiping motion.
The sheen was only obvious when moving the card under the light.
Hardly any difference could be seen between the two colours.
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I applied the product with a sponge, in a dabbing/pouncing motion.
I was pleased with the even coverage. The shimmer was obvious, without me moving the card to catch the light. A very nice effect. I could detect a definite difference between the two colours. Shades of blue could be seen in the Teal Raspberry and shades of pink in the Turquoise Peach. |
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CREAM CARD:
I could see the shimmer, but the difference in colour between Teal Raspberry and Turquoise Peach was not detectable. |
YELLOW CARD:
The same as with the CREAM CARD. A sheen could be seen, but the difference in colours were not detectable. |
A NOTE:
I also concluded that, because it was water based it would not be ideal to use on Parchment paper, which is used for traditional Parchment Crafting, as this type of paper becomes misshapen very easily if it gets damp.
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RED CARD:
A sheen was achieved when capturing the light, but only a very slight difference detected between the Opal Blaze colours.
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DARK RED CARD:
It had a nice shimmer when catching the light and the difference between the two colours could be seen.
Teal Raspberry looked slightly blue and Turquoise Peach slightly pink.
I think this outcome is because I was using a darker coloured card.
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SKY BLUE CARD:
I was surprised to find that I could see a difference in the colours, but only when moving the sample under the light.
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This is a much darker blue card than the previous sample, which is why I think I had a better result:
There was a nice shimmer and the Teal Raspberry looked quite blue. The Turquoise Peach had a pink sheen.
I think the difference can even be seen in the photograph.
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PURPLE CARD:
This turned out to be a really good sample.
Even the photograph seems to show the colour differences. Teal Raspberry had a blue sheen and Turquoise Teal had a pink sheen.
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GREEN CARD:
The polish provided a shimmer, but there was no distinction between the two colours.
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On this sample I applied the product using a make-up blending brush. I only needed to use the tips of the bristles.
The coverage was good, but it looked a bit blotchy, because the brush dragged slightly on the card.
I much preferred using the sponge.
There was a shimmer but surprisingly, although it was a dark colour card, the difference in the product colours were not obvious, unless I moved the card directly under the lamp.
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BLACK CARD:
This colour card is the one recommended by the manufacturer for use with the product.
I agree, as the Opal Blaze Polishes show the strongest colour differences on the black card and the sheen provides a lovely contrast, whether the card is held in the shade or under the light.
I really liked the effect that the Opal Blaze Polish achieved on this card.
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BLACK AND WHITE CARD WITH DISTRESS OXIDE INKS |
The result was very interesting:
(Even though the Distress Oxide Inks didn't show up too well on the black card in the first instance).
PHOTO ABOVE: WITH TEAL RASPBERRY OPAL BLAZE POLISH
A Joanna Sheen candle die cut topper, made from gold mirror card, was glued to the front and I stamped some tiny snowflakes in the top right hand corner of the frames.
I really like the finished projects, despite the Oxide Inks not clearly showing through on the black card.
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Turquoise Peach Opal Blaze Polish was sponged onto black card through a "stick-on" template of a feather.
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Teal Raspberry Opal Blaze Polish was applied with a sponge through the template on this sample.
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BOOKMARKS MADE WITH THE TEST PIECES |
BOTH POLISHES WERE USED TO HIGHLIGHT SPECIFIC DETAILS |
I applied both the Opal Blaze polishes with the tip of my finger, just to highlight the butterfly wings and the flower petals.
- The Cosmic Shimmer Opal Blaze Polishes, although supplied in small pots, went on very sparingly. I only used between a quarter and a third of the product for the review.
- I wasn't able to review the product as a comparison with something of a similar type. Therefore I was not in a position to judge whether it was value for money, as compared to a similar product.
- To me, at first, it seemed fairly expensive in relation to its size and content, but my mind was changed after seeing how little I needed to use -- a tiny amount really did go a long way.
- The Polishes dried quite quickly on the card and projects. A heat tool wasn't required.
- The product cleaned off the skin easily using soap and water and a soft nail brush.
- The product is water based, giving the card a slight tendency toward buckling. But, that didn't spoil my projects as I only needed to use a very thin application.
- I would not recommend using with parchment paper if you don't want the paper to bend.
- The different colours of the Opal Blaze polish showed up best on black card, especially when applied directly to the card (as with the feather bookmarks) - confirming manufacturers recommendation for its use.
- The polish works very well to highlight and provide contrast to specific details, adding a pleasant shimmer when captured by the light.
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