Get punchy with it...

So hard to get a decent photo when using mirri card, but in real life it is such a brilliant backing for images on cards and I particularly wanted to use it to form the background for these punched squares.

I used the squares to form a border down each side of the gatefold card and to add to the opulence of the mirri card I added pearls to the centre of each punched motive. I must admit I toyed with the idea of adding a pearl in each corner of each square, but when I totted up how many this would need I decided to be a cheapskate after all!!

In the middle of the gatefold is one of Joanna Sheen's fantastic Favourite Flowers rubber stamps. Just beautiful each and everyone one of those. This one is the freesias stamp and is one of my Auntie's favourites so I can see this being used when her birthday comes round again next year.

The gatefold opens up to reveal a birthday sentiment from Hallmark Card Studio - a great programme for verses and such a bargain if you buy it using the Tesco clubcard offer (only £7.50).
Materials used:

• white pearlescent base card - joined to create 8" x 8" gatefold card
• gold mirri card
• Papermania punch
  
• pearls, border peel offs and circle punch to do corners from stash
• Hallmark Deluxe Card Studio - to create verse for inner

Challenges:

• Fun with shapes and more - borders and frames
  

• Daring Card Makers - Get punchy and use your latest craft punch

oh my goodness only one more sleep now!!! NEC here I come!!!

More Favourite Flowers...

Today sees the last two of my sample cards for the Favourite Flowers stamps by Joanna Sheen.

The bluebell card has a punched frame border, which I made using one of those fantastic Papermania punches I bought a couple of weeks back. If you missed my tutorial on how to make the frame you can find it HERE. I know quite a lot of my friends have been buying these punches and giving it a go. I'm hoping to see some amazing cards around soon.

I used Lyra Aqua crayons to colour both the bluebells and the wild roses. I find these crayons wonderful for getting the exact colour you want to mix, especially when you're trying to make a really delicate shade like the one I used on the roses.


The quote is a clear stamp I bought recently from Clarity Stamps - being a clear stamp it was easy to get the quote in just the right position. To stamp the reversed image of the rose in the correct place I used a stamp positioner.

I matted and layered the finished images onto a soft silver embossed card and then vellum which helped to soften the look of the card.

Thank you everyone for looking at my samples this week and for your lovely comments. Some of them have just blown me away they have been so good. Have a great weekend and see you Monday for Pink Elephant day.

Punched frame tutorial...

Quite a few people liked the card with the punched frame that I posted yesterday - thank you for your lovely comments. I really appreciate them.

I know that a lot of people, like me bought the set of five punches from Docrafts that were such an amazing bargain so when Carole asked if I could do a tutorial on how I created the frame I was happy to give it a go.

This is the punch I used - I can't remember the name, but I'm sure that the other punches in the series or any similar kind of punch will work in the same way. Infact I must have a play with the others I bought soon.

Anyway on to the tutorial. I used good quality paper for my frame and started by punching one shape at the edge of the paper. As you can see the paper needs to go into the punch as far as it can go. This is really important to get the punched shapes lined up properly.


Here is the punched shape that has been done carefully with the paper butted correctly in the punch.

Another example when somebody wasn't been quite so careful - a drunken punch methinks. Not so bad if you are only doing one shape but a disaster if you are trying to line them up!

Now on to the second punch. As you can see in the photo you need to insert the paper again ensuring that it is correctly butted to the end of the punch and also with half of the previously punched shape showing. You have to be as accurate as you can with this, but it's not too difficult and a little play on scrap paper will help. It can't be too tricky cause I can do it!!

Here are the two punched shapes...

Now continue punching in the same way until you have a border - I think this alone would be fabulous used on cards. However, to carry on to make a complete frame we need to turn the corner.

When the paper is butted into this particular punch there is a border of just over half an inch after the punched pattern.

To be able to turn the corner you need to measure and mark a line which is just over half an inch from the edge of the last punch. See photo because it's quite hard to explain.

Then cut along this line so that you have a new edge which is perfect for inserting and butting into the punch.

Now turn the corner and line up your punch with the last punched shape. Remember to be really careful about butting the paper up to the punch.

Continue punching as before - yeah the frame now has two sides!!

Repeat the turning the corner process and make side number 3.

Now this is where you need to cross your fingers too, because the last side is done in the same way and if all is well after only two punches the frame will join up. I think my first one was slightly out, but it didn't show too much.

This size is perfect for 6 x 6 card, but obviously if you do the sides with more punches you could make the frame as big as you wanted. I think it would be fantastic for a scrapbook page. If I ever get round to scrapbooking.

An abundance of animals...

I was involved in a stamped image swap recently that had an animal theme and this amazing image was one of the surprises that arrived on my doorstep. I don't know who the stamp is by and I'm not sure whether I would have bought it, but I do think it's a perfect image to use in the centre of my punched frame.

The frame was made using another of those fantastic bargain punches from Docrafts. I discovered with this particular punch that if you line it up with the previous punched hole it's possible to quite easily do amazing borders and even a frame like this one.

I didn't attempt to add any colour to the animals as I think they make quite a bold statement left just as they are but I did get carried away adding gems to the punched frame. The card is for a friend and seeing as I am about two weeks late for her birthday I thought a few more gems than normal might get me back in the good books.

My card is also for the following challenges:

• Stamp with fun - using punches.
• Paper blooms - animal fun (although I think my animals might be a little too serious for this)
• One stop craft challenge - furry things

New Punches...

Sorry my photos are terrible this morning but my new punches are just stunning. If you haven't checked out the Docrafts sale yet do, because they are selling some things amazingly cheaply. I recently ordered a set of 5 (huge) Papermania punches for only £5.99. They were reduced from £49.99!!!

Last night I had a little play and used the floral circle punch to create this card and the bookmark below. The circles are punched into white card and then matted on to glitter card which unfortunately you can't really see to it's advantage in the photo.

I can see all kinds of possibilities for these punches. The other punch I played with was a square design and it by punching closely together it made a fabulous ornate border - love it - watch this space!!

Challenges:

• Daisy May - circles
• Creative Inspirations - anything but a card
• One Stop Craft Challenge - add some sparkle

Materials used:

• Papermania punch
• glitter card and white card
• gems, peel offs and tassel from stash