cardmaking

[eleanor2]

i am really into cardmaking.on my other thread about collecting craft items we have all noticed we have so much stuff we never use.i have started to get more adventurous in m cards.using all my collections of everything.i even got my paint palette out to paint a background for a card.it is for my dad and it is personal to him.i have then made it into a laugh for him.i have been digging in my craft boxes,bead boxes.started printing my verses off the computer.think i will make some tags too.which uses up silk cottons and threads.any more ideas for using our bits and bobs.i mean we can jazz up our present wrapping to cant we.think i will use my stampers on envelopes too.

[Crocus]

This morning I saw tiny crochet bags with 2 or 3 peppermints inside. It was quite cute actually. What about cutting out tags and cards from old wallpaper? Cover your pressies with lovely paper, then use lace as well. Or cut out differenct shapes for your tags like animal shapes for children. One must just actually look around, keep your eyes open.

[eleanor2]

that is the best thing to do crocus.it is so easy to buy these things.but so much more fun to make your own.keep thinking of ideas is good for the mind too.

[Crocus]

Yes, get the creative brain to work a bit more eh? xx

[eleanor2]

i have been making christmas cards.using all my bits and bobs.i dont normally make christmas cards.but i am enjoying experimenting.

[Crocus]

It's very satisfying making cards as well. I've got a few left I made a while back, but it's not Christmas Cards really. Perhaps I should take up making cards again. I've got quite a lot of bits and bobs, lace, etc. I can use. xx

[eleanor2]

thats what i am doing crocus.using bits and bobs.these christmas cards i am makingi had the idea from a card making class iwent a few weeks ago.it is making christmas trees in 3d. a bit like origami.they look soeffective.then i decorate the tree and card.all this is using bits of paper and stickers and shiny bits.

[eleanor2]

help i cant stop buying things for card making......

[Crocus]

Oh goodness me Eleanor, what's to do with you eh? You better start making cards to use up all your stock, and perhaps take it to the charity shop for them to sell! There's a Christmas Market in our village at the moment, started yesterday and finishes tomorrow.
The most beautiful stuff! Cards, hearts made from barbed wire. I can't remember all the stuff, but there's lots and beautiful. I tried to take a few photos, but it's a bit crowded. There were cards with figures made of tiny red and green beads, name it, it's there. You would've loved it Eleanor! xxxx

[eleanor2]

i would have loved it crocus. when i look at things now i see an artistic design in it for making cards.pictures,shop fronts,magazine pictures,shapes and displays.they all give me ideas.

[Crocus]

There's so many ideas and examples available, it's a matter of putting it together in your own artistic way. Why don't you try and make a whole lot of these cards and perhaps sell it? It can turn out to be a nice little venture for you. xxx

[eleanor2]

i make them in batches for presents sometimes.but i like to enjoy and not be on a dead line.some weeks dont get any time at all.other weeks i get a few hours.i am going to try and photograph some and put them on.

[Crocus]

I would love to see it Eleanor! I love the personal touch and emotion that goes into making a card for someone. xxx

[eleanor2]

some of the cards i have made.

[Crocus]

My goodness Eleanor, what lovely cards! You certainly have a talent for this!

[dragonfly]

You are getting good at putting photos on Eleanor. I love the cards you made for me.x

[eleanor2]

hi d.f.i really think have improved in the last twelve months.i love making my cards ,it is relaxing.

[TIGGYWINKLE]

I thing your cards are beautiful Eleanor. There is nothing as moving as a hand made card. You should give us some tips on how you do them. Look forward to seeing some more.

[eleanor2]

hi tiggi it is quite fascinating how it all unfolds.i start off sometimes the idea comes straight away.other times i'm not happy so sit and look at the card until i get an idea to improve it.the fine glitters and embossing techniques really jazz up the final design.i am finding layering like decoupet very interesting too.

[Crocus]

I quite like decoupage, a bit time consuming, but quite therapeutic I think. xx

[eleanor2]

thanks for spelling it right crocus.i did have a few tries.i dont do proper decoupage.i make my own ideas up,with lovely picture designs on card etc.

[eleanor2]

i bought a book from a charity shop.making cards from dried flowers.i was so impressed by the beautiful pictures made from dried flowers,leaves and seeds.not boring but really jazzy.with lovely backings of tissue,card,nettingetc.colouring with paint wash,pastes etc.i have been out collecting interesting little flowers.i have pressed them.waiting for them to dry out.then i shall have a go.

[sunflower]

Let us know how you get on....possibly with pictures. Two months ago I pressed a few flowers from the garden. One of my son's gave me a lovely little press for my birthday. I'd like to do something special with them. Using different materials like netting sounds a good idea.

[Pippa]

Was the flower book by Penny Black, Eleanor, I used to get one from the library by her and it had lovely designs. I find lavender and alchemila mollis (lady's mantle) press really well, and some seaweeds I have had success from. Also skeletonised leaves make a really lacy backing, magnolia leaves rot down well and leave a good skeleton.

[eleanor2]

yes pippa penny black.she mentions skeletal leaves but says good ones are hard to get.the book is realy good.some pressed flower designs are feeble.her designs are really dramatic.waiting for flowers when i have done a card sunflower i will put it on.mmm nervous tho as i think it will be harder than it looks.

[Pippa]

I loved that book, I think she presses baby veg. and berries and as you say, some really zingy colours. I must try to get a copy from Amazon. Plenty of inspiration there Eleanor.

[dragonfly]

Eleanor is the book you are talking about Penny Blacks 'A passion for flowers'? I have that book too and found it very interesting so I bought another one for you.

[eleanor2]

definately pippa.i really enjoyed looking for small colourful flowers.i havnt really picked enough.must keep looking.she has dried some bigger flowers opened up flat.they look super.she must be professional at drying flowers.d.f just looked mine is cards and collages penny blac.so look forward to passion for flowers.good on ya.good christmas pressy.

[eleanor2]

my flowes have pressed lovely.i have cut out flowers from shiny wrapping paper.then covered them in p.v.a glue.it dries even shinier and stronger.done a de coupet effect .then blended in real flowers.painted p.v.a glue to each flower.which dries shiny and protected.all my own idea this effect and it looks great.more experimenting to do.

[eleanor2]

have loads of lovely colourful pressed flowers.only had time to make one card from them.i am at the moment enjoying making christmas cards from last years cards.it has been real fun.i am just going to cut out two little pink noses for 2 snowmen .

[dragonfly]

I have cross stitched some Christmas ones but can't get nice cards to put them on. I want the ones with an oval cut-out on the front. I can get white or white with gold but I want green or red ones. Do you know where I could get them from Eleanor?

[eleanor2]

round here hobby world is best place.thats all the way to bridgmere tho.dont really do anything like that so not sure.your old christmas cards have come in handy for me tho d.f. be funny if your card off me ends up being bits of about three of your last years cards.

[eleanor2]

bought a fiskars shape boss today.the large set.it is lage plastic sheets with designs cut out that you emboss from.i think......i havnt really looked.it was on secial offer at our local warehouse.daughter in law told me about them........going to try it out soon as i have time.

[eleanor2]

well i have made no end of cards in the last few weeks.loads for birthdays in France in next 2 months.made some for daughter to give to people as she hasnt got the time at the moment.all personalised.i feel like cardmaking is a very useful hobby......

[dragonfly]

it sounds very theraputic too Eleanor. It keeps you busy and you are doing something creative and useful. x

[eleanor2]

i have them all stashed in my case .just hope my case doesnt get mislaid.

[Crocus]

Oh dear me, don't even think about it. Do you have a colourful ribbon or something to tie to your case for easy recognition Eleanor? I have a colourful band goes right round the case and can be locked as well. x

[eleanor2]

i have a red plastic tie(mens thing) that you pull on and it wont come off.it is on my handle.these flights are small planes and my case seems to stand out anyway.

[eleanor2]

Daughter asked me to make her some cards for her birthday.I did her a big box full of all sorts.I have gone a long way since i first started making cards.She rang me up today to say thankyou for the pressie.she was over the moon and kept praising them up saying they were brilliant.It is difficult to get English cards in France and cards there are very expensive.I also bought her a paper patisserie set.So she is all set up now for the next twelve months.Doesnt it cheer your day when some-one appreciates your handy craft.

[dragonfly]

Yes it is nice when someone appresciates what you make. I think the cards you make are lovely too. x

[eleanor2]

Thanks d.f.I am glad i have found this therapeutic hobby.