Fizzy Moon Decorated Candle

Still playing with the little Fizzy Moon Bear - this time I have used the rubber stamps to decorate candles.

The image is stamped onto tissue paper the same colour as the candle wax, my preference is then to emboss with embossing powder, I have added a pinch of fine glitter to the powder this gives the image a lovely twinkle.

Once embossed I have coloured the image with  promarker pens - you will find due to the transparency of the paper that the colours come out paler than normal - something to keep in mind when choosing which colour pens to use.  When coloured simply cut out - Don't worry about cutting directly onto the lines of the images as it is better to leave a 1 - 2mm gap around the picture - this tissue will be absorbed into the candle when you apply heat!

Now comes the fun part ... applying the image to the candle!  My method is to add a dab of a glue stick to the candle  where I want the image to be and gently lay the design on to the candle.   You will then need a length of greaseproof paper, slightly wider than the height of the candle.  Wrap the paper arond the candle gripping at the back - this should ensure you don't burn yourself!  Apply heat with a heat gun evenly over the  image - you should keep the heat gun moving and you will notice a slight change in colour as the image is transferred onto the wax - this process should only take a couple of secounds - you don't want to overheat the wax and have a drippy candle!

Remove the greaseproof paper - stand back and admire your work!  If you notice any places where the image is not fully adhered simply repeat the process with the greaseproof over that area.

So remember ...... rubber stamps are not only for cardmaking and scrapbooking!

Fizzy Moon Hearts & Flowers Frame

Finally got to play around with the adorable Fizzy Moon range over the last couple of days - such a cutie! 
Had a pine frame tucked away in my crafty stash for a while, this was given a light dusting of pink paint (not sure you can see this too well on the image).  The inside of the frame I then covered with the polka dot paper  out of the Dovecraft Back to Basics III paper range.
I used just three of the  generous six layers of  one of the decoupaged images from the "Hearts and Flowers" decoupage and paper pad.  The image was then  encrusted in some pleated laced doilies edged with spun sugar distress ink.
The flowers are also from the  Dovecraft Back to Basics III range perfectly complimenting the papers and our Fizzy Moon bear.

My first attempt at a decorated frame and must say I am doing the happy dance at the moment.

Sally's Sweet 16

Well my youngest daughter, Sally has hit her 16th birthday - the time is rolling by mightily quick these days.  A special day deserves a special card.  I chose Whimsy Stamps Sun Kissed stamp designed by Elizabeth Bell - another lovely whimsical design and colours up so easily with my Promarker pens.  This design was so easy to embellish and finally gave me an excuse to try the metal corner embellishments from Creative Expressions - really love the aged effect it gave to the card - lots of faux stitching and some zipper roses along with paper flowers, ribbon and memory box flourishes - one of my favourite cards of late - Happy Birthday Sally - hope you have a fabulous day! xxx

More Fancy Gift Tags

 

Been a busy week again this week - sorry not had much chance to add to the blog - on the upside we have a new camera so allthough I am very much trying to get to grips with it, at least the images hopefully should no longer be blurred.  Just a little time to make some more fancy gift tags - Looking forward to our workshop at the Lavender Fields Events vintage fair at the Mercure Hotel, Cottingley on the 28th October - would be great if some of you can make it - looks to be a really fab day - my first vintage event and really looking forward to it!

 

Lillie's Birthday Card Box

Yesterday, I showed you my graddaughter's 2nd birthday card (the one with the dodgy photo quality) and today I completed the project by making a decorated box to place the card in - never see the point of making a pretty card to try and force it into an envelope.

Quite a simple box - the base card is a cream pearl with Spellbinders lattice corners added and Lillie's name added to a central label with some faux stitching around.  The label was finished off with Memory Box's Ivy Tendril's die - such a small handy die to keep in your stash - great for nipping and tucking into all sorts of projects!   Sooo looking forward to Friday now!

2nd Birthday Card

Can't believe my gorgeous granddaughter, Lillie- Rose is going to be two years old this week.  On special request I have been asked to tone down this years card as last year's expanding fairy card wouldn't fit on the shelf haha! 
Decided to to go with Whimsy Stamps Elizabeth Bell's lovely design "Chloe" (available on the website). Such lovely stamps to work with - very deeply etched and allready cushoin foam mounted.   Chose to colour with my Promarkers using muted greens and browns and picking up a little pink out on the flowers on the stamp.  I came accross a co-ordinating papers in my crafty stash which I edged in Vintage Photo Distress Ink. 

I picked up more of that pink with some paper flowers, added some ribbons, Spellbinder corners and some faux stitching - eh voila!  unfortunately, still struggling with my camera and not the clearest image - on my to do list... promise

September Craft Show

Been a busy few days - we had our stand at the Lavender Fields Events Craft Fair in Cottingley, Bradford yesterday.  Had a great day - managed to demo making paper flowers with the Grand Calibur and some of the Spellbinder flower dies.
Some great people came along - some never crafted but loved the paper flowers, cards and tags - others, enjoyed chatting and exchanging tips and techniques.
We will be back at the Mercure Hotel again on the 28th October and will be having a vintage tag making workshop - hope some of you can make it!

Pastel Blue Gift Box

Thought I would have a break from cards for today and decided to make a pretty gift box in pastel blue with glittery flowers and trims and a sparkly scalloped box lid.  Unfortunately, the sparkle hasn't been picked up too well by the camera.

Faux Pearl Wedding Card

Something very classy about a white on white card and think very fitting for a wedding card.
For this card I start the border by dropping Cosmic Shimmer Dries White glue randomly around the edge to create faux pearls - these need to be left overnight to harden before the card can be fully assembled.
The central body of the card can then be made and embellished seperately, in this case paper flowers beads, peacock feathers and personalised entwined hearts.  When all the components are set in place and secure simply placed centrally over the pearls.  My apologies for the quality of the image it doesn't quite pick the personalised text up very well but here's wishing the bride and groom a very happy day and a wonderful life together - Congratulations Shane and Beccy!

And a pretty little card from their young daughter compliments the day.

Expanding Birthday Card

My favourite project of late - the criteria - a nine year old's birthay card, make it it pink and sparkly - can't go wrong with this one.
Space was left in the inside cover for mum and dads special birthday greeting and spaces on the back to add some birthday photos... personally really pleased with the result!

and to top it all off ...... a pretty little box

Vintage Tags

Always love tag making - fun and easy to do  - inky fingers, playing with diecuts and paper flowers can't go wrong and a great way to use up those odd embellishments that you keep in a drawer but struggle to find the right project for - a happy Sunday afternoon crafting!

Mothers Day Card with a Difference

After making the usual frilly, lacey, ribbon and bow "normal" mothers day cards this year - I was asked to make one for an elderly lady - I believe to be 79 by her son - subject matter her TT hero, Geoff Duke from I'm guessing the 1960's - love a challange - and after the sea of pink over the last month I must say am very pleased with the overall result!
I shuffled about with various images and in the end decided on a scrapbook style and used the Spellbinders Damask Accents and Fanciful Rectangle frames to accentuate the design.  The base of the card I inked with Tim Holts Faded Denim and finished off with a a couple of pieces of satin ribbon and some knots - I had promised no bows or anything girly at all.
I hope the lady in question enjoys her trip down memory lane - I certainly did!