Paper Hydrangeas and WOYWW

These little Hydrangeas are sitting on my desk at the moment - I've had this die for quite a long time and never got round to using it so I decided it was about time to use it or lose it!   I die cut all the petals out, found a polystyrene ball in the depths of my studio and had a go.

The first attempt is the blue one and I think I was a bit mean with the petals, so it's a little 'gappy'.  However, being a perfectionist I had to make another one that I was happier with - hence the pink one!

 They were rather labour intensive but I enjoyed the experiencem although it may be a long while before I get the die out again!
 I shall attach each one to a small circle of card and make them into gift tags.

 I am linking up with Julia over at WOYWW this week.

Christmas Cards

I've churned out about three cards this week!  It's relaxing and I love it but I think I need to up my game if I'm going to be done by Christmas!
Here's a couple of them...

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

Christmas Cards and WOYWW

I am rather loving this little church die (it's also in my last post here) -  and I'm still feeling smug that I'm churning out Christmas cards like my life depended on it!

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

Glitter Card Cards and WOYWW

I've tried to keep the arty crafty momentum going this week and ended up with  a few Christmas cards - it's not even November yet, so I'm feeling pretty smug that I've made a start already!  I've used black glitter card by Dovecraft - it's amazing stuff and doesn't shed any glitter even though it's extremely sparkly - ideal for me as I obsessively hate stray glitter!  

The church card was going to be a Halloween card but it somehow ended up looking more Christmassy - probably helped by the addition of 'snow'!

I am linking up with Julia over at What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - pop over if you'd like to see what other people have been up to on their desks this week.

Paper Flower Cards

It's been such a long time since I blogged, and far longer than I originally anticipated, but what with school holidays, child-minding, summer holidays and trips out it's been a quite hectic and I've had no time for arty crafty stuff.  On top of that it's been quite a struggle to get myself back to feeling positive and motivated after a fairly long bout of feeling out of sorts.

Anyway, here are a couple of birthday cards I made - I'm rather keen on the Nuvo Crystal drops I've recently discovered (on the bottom card), they look like raindrops and I am having to stop myself adding them to everything at the moment!
  

And some close-ups...

Over the summer I received this beautiful pendant made for me by my very talented blog friend Terri, over at art-life-rust.  What an amazing artist she is, and how thrilled I was to receive it.  Thank you again, Terri - it's stunning! 

I am linking up with Julia over at WOYWW, and must just say thank you to all the lovely deskers who sent messages as I was awol for so long - thank you xx

Trying To Get A Little Bit Festive

Just beginning to feel festive and having a bit of a play to see what I'll be doing for tags and cards this year. 

I don't think it will be this!  Despite using Fired Brick Distress ink over the background and on the flower it has turned out pink!  Now I'm not a 'pink' person at all, least of all at Christmas, and even with snow and glitter it still doesn't look festive to me.  So I'm now having a re-think....!  

And while I'm having a re-think I 'm joining Julia over at WOYWW this week!

Paper Roses

I don't think I'll ever tire of making paper flowers - they are so relaxing and satisfying to do!  Here are a couple of tags I've made - both flowers are made in the same way using the Tattered Florals die.  I just creased and curled them in different ways.  I love Peonies and old fashioned cabbage roses, anything where the petals turn inwards and make a 'bowl',  which is the look I was trying to get with the peachy flower.

I'm linking up with Julia over at WOYWW, where you can see what other people have been up to on their work desks this Wednesday!

Pink and Green Tag

A busy week but I managed to fit in an enjoyable hour spent making paper flowers! 

And a tag that is sooo not in my usual colour range, but I really wanted to use one of the beautiful vintage buttons I found at an antique fair recently.

The flowers were made from scratch (no dies) using this tutorial from 
Such a Pretty Mess.

I'm linking up with Julia over at What's On Your Work Desk Wednesday today.