A Good Day

Hello, if you saw my previous post, you'll know that I made a little handbag to hold the Narrow Note Cards. So it goes without saying that this time, I'm showcasing the cards that I put inside. I chose to use True Gentleman Designer Series Paper as there are some lovely small designs amongst the collection.

Crumb Cake and Night of Navy are such good neutral colours and as you can see, go well with Crushed Curry and Tranquil Tide.

Crumb Cake

Tranquil Tide

Night of Navy

Crushed Curry

For each Narrow Note Card I cut coloured card and DSP in the following sizes to fit.

I've tried to keep any sentiments used fairly generic to suit several occasions.

I used a 2" strip from two pieces of DSP, luckily both sides were suitable to use on these cards, giving me a choice of four designs.

I was so happy to discover that the stamps and corresponding punches fit onto the Pretty Label punch.

Although it isn't a part of the stamp set, A Good Day, I wanted to include one floral card. Delightful Daisy fitted in with my idea perfectly and is quite possibly my favourite of the four cards. I've not put a sentiment on so that it can be used for any event.

A Handbag...

I keep seeing little handbags crafted from Designer Series Paper and so thought I'd make one to hold some small cards as a gift for someone. I like to keep one or two projects ready just in case I need a present at short notice.

Designed and produced by Amanda Charlesworth

I'm basing mine on a You Tube tutorial by Amanda Charlesworth who has a blog under the name of Scrimpingmommy. Click HERE to go straight to Amanda's blog post for instructions if you'd like to make her gift bag.

I've chosen to use the True Gentleman DSP, I really like the small design of this particular paper and although it is obviously more masculine, Crumb Cake and Night of Navy are neutral colours.

Crumb Cake

Night of Navy

Tranquil Tide

The size of my bag is a little larger to accomodate some Stampin' Up Narrow Note Cards and Envelopes but can still be made using a sheet of 12"x12" patterned paper.

My measurements.

Card base box 8" x 3¾”      Score at 1½" on each side. Cut flaps and trim excess paper on each of the corners to create the box.

DSP - Body of bag 12" x 4½”

Handles x 2 1" x 10" - I made mine 8" but on reflection think as the bag is bigger I should have made them longer.

I also added a 1"x12" strip inside the top of the bag to hide the back of the split pins. You'll need extra DSP if you want to add a pocket and/or strap to close the bag.

A tassle hangs from one handle, held in place by a double bow made from Linen Thread.

I used the Lots of Labels dies to create the tab so that the bag can be closed with the addition of velcro circles.

I wasn't going to add a front pocket at first but because it is a little larger, I felt it needed something.

In the end I decided on a decorative pocket that is big enough to put stamps in. I can never remember the safe place I've put them so thought this an ideal solution.

Which do you prefer? With pocket or without?

See my next post for the cards I made to go inside. You can see a sneaky peak of one of them in one of the photos above.

  

While I've been making this, Ive had a couple of quotes from one of my favourite films running through my head. Whilst I like both of the film versions, It's Dame Edith Evan's voice as Lady Bracknell I can hear in my head. "To be born, or at any rate bred, in a hand-bag, whether it had handles or not, seems to me to display a contempt for the ordinary decencies of family life that reminds one of the worst excesses of the French Revolution." Lady Bracknell -

The Importance of being Ernest by Oscar Wilde

The Book Box - finally

Well, my upline was right, she said that if I tried I could create 7 blog posts out of this one project. Thanks for encouraging, no, make that pushing me to get blogging again Susan. We're now finally at the last post and are ending with the Book Box that holds the cards shown previously.

I don't know about you but I love making little sets to give as gifts for people. While I love making cards, there is something so much more satisfying when creating a 3D project. I confess that I had seen the book box mine is based on while looking on You Tube. Click on the coloured links and it will take you directly to Caroline Helwigh Wrights blog and video. I'm sure you'll love her ideas and projects as much as I do.

I used all of Carolines measurements but instead of making my own stamped paper, I used some Delightful Daisy DSP. I had also wanted to make the box using Night of Navy but hadn't realised I was getting low on stock and didn't have enough. With a little planning I was able to combine two colours without it looking as if I'd not had enough of the original colour in the first place.

I'm not going to add the instructions as Caroline has done a great job! Another small concession was to add a little piece of DSP on the inside left to hold stamps. I can never find them when I need to so thought if they could have their own home it might save the recipient a search.

Did you know you could use the ink pads or write markers to colour white ribbon? I used Calypso Coral; it looks good doesn't it? Another quick tip if you're starting out. Get a selection of white ribbons and colour them to match your project until you're able to buy a selection of co-ordinating colours.

Heartfelt Blooms

We've finally got to the last card in the Book Box set, there are six in all which means this is the penultimate post; with the final one showcasing the Book Box. I've tried to cover as many occasions as possible, making the sentiments reasonably generic to cover several events where possible. This card is no exception expressing heartfelt thoughts. Ideal to offer hope and sympathy and this type of card is never really easy to make. Should you use colour... a little bit of bling... fancy folds... We all have our own interpretation of what is acceptable.

Pool Party

Whisper White

I personally like to use more muted colours and so once again am using Pool Party. Those who know me well might suggest a Freudian slip as I used the same colours for the wedding card!

When Heartfelt Blooms first came out for Sale-a-bration I wasn't too sure about it. However, while for me it was a slow burner, I wouldn't be without it now. Using just one colour you get light and shade with this stamp, it really looks amazing. I've also seen it stamped in a very pale colour and then coloured using the watercolour pencils for a totally different look. Sale-a-bration is a fabulous event running from January until the end of March where for every £45 spent, you can choose an item from a varied selection. They include DSP, ribbons, stamps, embossing folders and dies and often co-ordinate with items in the main catalogues.

As you can see, I partially stamped the image at the top and then fully stamped it in the opposite corner. My sentiment was stamped directly onto the card which was mounted onto the card base after I'd wrapped some ribbon round. A small bow added the final touch. As usual I decorated both the inside of the card and the envelope.

Dragonfly Dreams

Hello, if you've been following my blog we've made it as far as card number five of the book box set. This time I revisited a card using Dragonfly Dreams that I'd made at Coffee and Cards with Susan at Craftyduckydoodah.

These are the cards made with Susan. I loved the colours used, however, this time I needed to use a particular colour palette for my project.

Once again my colour palette was based on the Delightful Daisy DSP, using Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive and Whisper White.

Calypso Coral

Old Olive

Daffodil Delight

Whisper White

I used Gorgeous Grunge to stamp the Whisper White base card using Old Olive and Calypso Coral. The stamped lines replaced the washi tape on the original card. Then I added a Stitched Shape square with a border in Calypso Coral.

The dragonfly was stamped and coloured with Watercolour pencils; I used the blender pen so that I didn't end up with any blocks of colour or harsh lines. I then fussy cut the image out. There is a slightly smaller dragonfly die you can use if you really don't like fussy cutting! The dragonfly wings were gently shaped so that it didn't lie flat against the card.I arranged the leaves - not Stampin' Up this time - and added Silver Metallic Thread that had been looped around my fingers first.

Typical me, managed to get a tiny ink mark on the inside of the card so to cover it up I decorated the left hand side for a change. In crafting there are no mistakes. I like to think of them as happy accidents.

I like to add a little image on the inside of the card and also on the envelope for a cohesive look. I don't know about you, but I always open cards with a decorated envelope before plain cards. They are just that little bit extra special.

My sentiment was stamped directly onto the base card. As I don't feel confident at stampin straight I try to use my stamping precision press. I'm really not as bad as I think I am but it really does take the worry away.

Lots of Lavender

Hello, if you've been following my posts you'll know that I made a book box and filled it with a variety of cards for a friend and work colleague using colours found in the Delightful Daisy Designer Series Paper.

This is card number four and for this one I chose to use Lots of Lavender which was free during Sale-a-bration with a spend of £45. I have to admit that I'm not using colours associated with lavender as I need to keep to the colours found in the DSP.

Calypso Coral

Old Olive

Crumb Cake

Whisper White

I used a base card of Calypso Coral; while I love lots of white space, this time I wanted a bit of a zing. The eagle eyed amongst you will also have noticed that I've used a little Crumb Cake too, which although isn't one of the DSP colours, works really well with Calypso Coral and Old Olive. It also gives a much softer stamped image.

Because I've used a coloured base card, I added a Whisper White insert for writing on. As usual I stamped inside the card and on the envelope.

Whilst this stamp set could be used for may occasions, I thought it would make a lovely thank you card this time. I know lots of people have used the watercolour pencils or write markers to colour in the image but I've stamped the colour, making it very quick to make.

I used some burlap ribbon, unfortunately not from Stampin' Up! which is a better width.

Anyone for a Wedding?

And so onto card number three of my project; this time to celebrate a wedding. Now I know I said I wanted to stick to the colours of the Delightful Daisy DSP but it is becoming apparent that my favourite colour is Pool Party! This time it was only teamed up with Whisper White for a very, in my opinion, elegant look.

Pool Party

Whisper White

I decided to make an easel card using Floral Phrases. They really are easy to make although it took a little bit of time to line up the Detailed Floral Thinlits so I was happy with it. This time I chose to use Pool Party as my base card, with Whisper White as an insert and also behind my die cutting.

The sentiment for the front was stamped onto card and die cut using an oval Stitched Shape Framelit. I also placed a piece of white ribbon around the front of the easel and finished off with a small bow. 

I retrieved a few of the tiny die cut flowers and leaves  after releasing them from the die and added them to create a little more interest to the front. Pearls were placed in the centre of each flower.

Oops, can you see the stray pearl? It tried to escape... Luckily I spotted it and secured it back in place before the card went to it's new home. Unfortunately I forgot to take another photo.