Birthday Cards for the Men of the Family

This is a birthday-heavy time of year for my family so here are a couple of cards I had to make recently.  Both needed to incorporate hard cash!

This one was for my nephew who is very keen on fishing - alochol inks were used for the background and I found on YouTube how to fold the money into an origami fish.  I then placed it inside the card with low tack tape so the note wasn't damaged.

 For this next one I had a go at trying to create a rusty finish on a piece of card and then die cut the pocket, tag and stars - money was stuffed into the wallet with the gift tag.  The faux enamel label around it and the little plaque on the tag were both done using a technique by the super-talented Alison Bomber - here's a link to her tutorial on the Paper Artsy blog. 

I'm linking up with Julia this week, over at WOYWW

Textile Birthday Card and WOYWW

October is a busy month for birthday celebrations and this week it's my sister's birthday, so here is the card and gift bag I made for her.

I picked up some lovely tweed fabric squares from a charity shop a few weeks ago and decided they would go very well with the beautiful rusty orange coloured silk velvet.

I embossed the velvet with a leaf stamp, covered a couple of buttons with the same velvet, die cut some copper sheet and added some hand embroidery and beading.

I made the origami envelope but needed paper nearly A1 in width to get it to the correct size (6"x6") - it's open so the card just slips in, which is fine when it's not going through the post!

I'm linking up with Julia over at WOYWW this week.

Book Binding and WOYWW

I have long had a love affair with the art of book binding and over the years I've once or twice dabbled with very simple book binding techniques.  Recently I decided I needed a little sketch book for one of my projects so I decided to make my own.

This is a folded paper technique called Blizzard Binding and although fairly simple it's important to be very accurate with the folding - not so easy with big clumpy hands like mine, but I eventually ended up with a little book I was pleased with!

I decorated the front with pieces of hand-made silk paper, pressed Ginkgo leaves and copper foil.

As you can see below each page spread is one sheet of A6 Khadi paper folded in half and held in place at either end by the little folded triangles that flip open and closed - this means you can remove pages to work on, change pages around or replace them as required.

I am linking up with Julia over at What's On Your Work Desk Wednesday this week, and I am also linking up with the Mini Album Makers Challenge.

 Update: I'm so pleased to have been chosen as one of the Top 5 in this month's Mini Album Makers Challenge. 

  

Focus On Life Week 30 and Waddesdon Manor

For the Focus On Life photography challenge over at Studio Sublime our prompt has been to 'catch the sun'!   This weeks photo was taken at Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire, where we went for a wonderful day to meet up with friends and visit this wonderful French chateau style house.  I love the way the sun is streaming through the windows and glinting on the stairs.

A few favourite images - slightly less fussy and more neutral in colour than most of the decor!

From May through to October 27th Waddesdon are holding an exhibition of work by Joan Sallas based on the art of napkin folding.  Most of the exhibits were made from linen napkins, or larger pieces of table linen, and they were quite stunning.  These are little bonnets, all folded using traditional designs and techniques.

Chandeliers everywhere, and lots of gold and more gold! 

 The bottom right image is of the dining table with more folded linen on it, in the shape of a Griffin and a table fountain. 

I am linking up with Mary over at Mosaic Monday this week.