Step Away From The Cards (Bags and Boxes) - DCM Challenge

Happy Friday!

I'm still getting over the Sarah Hurley Live! event yesterday. It was packed full of information, inspiration, networking and creativity.  I was fortunate enough to demonstrate there as part of the Sarah Hurley Community.

On to this week's theme for the DCM Challenge which is 'Step Away From The Cards'.  We were asked to make/decorate gift bags or boxes.

I actually needed to decorate a box for a gift I'd bought my sister in law. I used washi tape in 2 contrasting colours to create a central border and topped with a die cut butterfly. I cut the butterfly in both plain cardstock and some foiled velum. To embellish I used a little twine and a flower. It was a quick and easy way to transform a plain box.

You can see the wonderful creations by the Team here. I hope you'll join in!

Shabneez xxx

Products Used:
Sizzix Butterfly Die Set
Dovecraft Washi Tape
Everything else from my stash

November Elemental Inspiration - Daring Cardmakers Challenge

Happy November!

I'm back as Guest Designer on the Daring Cardmakers blog.  This week's challenge is an inspirational one for November that can be found here.  The elements I used were colours, textures and tree.  I love vibrant colours so this challenge inspired me to create this:

I used the inverted image from a new Sizzix die in gold and backed it with turquoise glitter, purple embossed and pink pearlised card.

I couldn't find an appropriate sentiment and it got me thinking, does a card need a sentiment? You can clearly see this is a Christmas Card so I went without and I'll be doing a lot more cards without sentiments too!

My other current love at the moment is non traditional colours for Christmas cards........

Thank you for taking the time to read my post and your comments are always appreciated.

Shabneez xxx

Products used:
DCWV Glitter card
Sizzix Christmas Tree and Snowflake Thinlits
Sizzix Embossing Folder
Docrafts Glittered Snowflakes
Everything else from my stash

Magic & Sparkle

Happy Saturday!

Half term is in full swing here with one week down and another to go!  We've been out and about with my parents so the boys and I have been thoroughly spoilt!

I'd like to share a card I made at a recent demo at The Range for Trimcraft. I used all the elements from the Magic & Sparkle range.  It's a beautiful range as the paper pad has a lot of foiled and glittered sheets so half the job is done for you!

I used the torn edge dies to create the base for the shaker part of the card. 

I'm loving gold and silver doilies - perfect for Christmas crafting!  My other current love is that of washi tape. I can never have enough - it's so useful and I think I've sold it to those who stopped at my demos too!

From next week my blogging will be back on track as I will be on the Daring Cardmakers Blog as Guest Design Team member.  I would also like to enter this card into this week's DCM Challenge - Sparkle & Shine as I'm sure you'll agree there's a fair bit of it in this card. Join in with the challenge
here.

Enjoy the weekend,
Shabneez xxx

Products Used:
Trimcraft Magic & Sparkle range
Trimcraft Washi Tape
Trimcraft Metallic Cards
Trimcraft Doilies

First Edition Torn Edge Dies

Halloween Pop Up Box Card

Happy Tuesday!

Yes, I really am blogging. It feels like it's been so long and it probably has! 

Today, I'd like to share a fun card I made for the Fiskarettes seasonal challenge. It's a pop up box card that I've decorated with various Halloween related die cuts. 

I had to use orange, purple, black and green as part of the challenge. I enjoyed making it and I think crafting should be fun shouldn't it?

Hopefully, I'm back on track with my blogging as my finger is out of the bandage which makes it much easier to craft. 

Shabneez xxx

Mister Smith's Workshop Birthday Card

Happy September!

Wow! September already? I don't know where the summer holidays went. We've had a great break, back to school on Wednesday. My youngest is starting school full time. A lot of mixed emotions going on as I'll miss our 1:1 time in the afternoons but it'll be good to have time to myself during the day. 

Speaking of family, my brother and family came over from the States last week and left early this morning. We've had a blast and as it was his birthday I'm sharing a card I made for him. 

I've used the Docrafts Mister Smith's Workshop collection and added stamped sentiments. I thought twine went well so I added some of that and distress inks for the background. 

I've got a huge list of things to do before Wednesday.........

Thank you for looking,

Shabneez xxx

Products Used:

Docrafts Mister Smith's Workshop collection 

Hero Arts Stamps

Tim Holtz Distress ink

Everything else from my stash

Crafting with the Geometric Kraft Collection

Happy Friday!

I was recently looking for papers that would work for male cards. I've been a fan of the Papermania Geometric collections since they came out and had some papers from the Geometric Neon Collection that I enjoyed using. I just happened to come across a pre loved Kraft collection pack at a good price and had to have it!

My first creation was made for my Mum to give to my brother on his birthday. 

The second card I made was a commission for someone getting a new job. 

There are 3 alphabet sticker sheets in the pack which co-ordinate really well but I found the adhesive wasn't great on them so had to add glue which defeated the purpose. I used chalk ink around the layers to make them stand out a little more. 

For both these cards I've used foiled vellum as part of the layering. I'm loving vellum at the moment, especially if it's foiled!

My final card using the collection was made for a 60th Birthday. 

Thank you for looking and enjoy the bank holiday weekend!

Shabneez xxx

Products used:

Papermania Capsule Geometric Kraft Collection

Memory box Alphabet Dies

Trimcraft Alphabet Dies

Craftwork Cards Sentiment Sheet

VersaMagic Chalk ink

Everything else from my stash

Jingle Bells!

Happy Saturday!

It was a beautifully warm and sunny day yesterday. I was sat with the patio door ajar making Christmas cards! For us crafters Christmas starts early and I know many of you start much earlier but I'm not one of those.......

However, I couldn't wait to start creating with all the new Trimcraft Christmas collections that have been launched. The card I'm sharing today is from the Winter Blooms collection. 

I've made a gap card using a wooden frame from the collection as a focal point. I used contrasting Happy Christmas washi tape also from Trimcraft. I love washi tape and so I was really excited to get a few rolls of the stuff (it doesn't take a lot I know!).

As with many of Trimcraft's collections, they come with an array of co-ordinating items which make it so easy to create. 

I have a weekend of demos so hopefully I'll be sharing some of my samples from the other collections when I get time to take some photos. 

Enjoy your weekend,

Shabneez x

Products Used:

Dovecraft Winterblooms Collection

Dovecraft Washi Tape

Dovecraft Basics Bells

Dovecraft Basics Twine

Everything else from my stash