Five from one

 As promised I used the sheet of Kanban toppers that I bought at the Exeter show to make 5 cards using my own stash to stretch them.

For the first card I used a sheet of background paper, adding the topper skull strip across the bottom of the card.  I added some black stickles dots as fake gems and cut two butterflies from a masterboard of papercloth I made ages ago and have been slowly using (nearly all gone so I hope to find some time to make another batch as its a really useful item to have in your stash, though it does take a while to make because of the drying time of the glue before you attack it with the sewing machine).

 For card No 2 I used some more of the same background paper and used my scallop scissors (remember them?  I forgot I bought a pair all those years ago when they were popular, I found them during my clear up and remembered how lovely they are to use).  I added some leftover black card from my scrap box (and scalloped this also) and matted and layered the topper with black card, adding some more black stickle 'gems'.

Card No 3 was really quick, I used the large topper and placed it in the middle of the card.  I added a sentiment topper with some foam tape (from the hardware store-much cheaper) for dimension and doodled barbed wire around the edges of the card.

Card No 4 was just as quick and since I was pleased with the previous card I used the same techniques to produce this one.

 Finally Card No 5 was the last of the backing paper and some more off cut black card.  I edged the topper this time with the wedge end of a black promarker (this really is the quickest way to add a coloured border to a topper or card, but you do need a steady hand and not faff as if you falter and stop the colour will bleed).  I then added some more black stickle 'gems'.

There you go, five cards in one session from one topper.  I don't often use toppers (though I do seem to have a lot in my stash to use!) but often you have to really think outside of the box to make them a little different and that's no bad thing.

Happy crafting

Kyla

 

WOYWW

I hope all of you are having a wonderful festive season and that you are all enjoying it.

As Julia over on WOYWW says this is a reminder that it is not the weekend and actually a Wednesday!

So, my desk...yes, seeing is believing.  I have tidied it!  I finished all the Christmas pressies so thought I would give my desk a Christmas present and cleaned AND wiped all the ink spray and gesso off it!!

This weeks Man Bites Dog cards are a little more festive (I must admit to trying a few combinations this time as the first few shuffles brought some very unfestive headlines!!): Mystery Angel Revealed New Star!!  Much more festive.

I had a brainwave at 20:00 on Christmas Eve to make some small gifts for the Christmas crackers (I  think I must have been crackers to start crafting then!!).  They are small stampboard squares with stamped images, coloured, glossy accents and magnets....voila, fridge magnets which I slipped into each of the crackers.

I was lucky enough to get Kate Cranes Vol 3 and 4 DVD's this Christmas (her Vol 1 and 2 are well watched in our house) so plan on curling up and watching that when I get a chance.

Happy Crafting

Kyla
 

Día de los Muertos

Hello peeps, I hope those of you over in states are ok with this awful storm that has hit over the past day.  I know a good friend of mine is in New York and has no electricity and was sent to the red cross....my thoughts are with you all.

On a lighter note, at the weekend we went to a Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) exhibition at a gallery in Bristol. The festival takes place on 1st November and is a time to remember family and friends that have died.

Inspired I decided to make my own piece and decided to paint a sugar skull .

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I was quite pleased how it turned out, quite jolly.  I painted it with white acrylic (I spread the paint around with my fingers as I find this gives a much smoother finish) then added details with marker pens and added a battery operated tea light (for obvious safety reasons) behind....its now adorning my mantelpiece...proves skulls do not have to be gruesome!

Happy Crafting

Kyla
 
 

Big Catch up

Sorry folks, the last week has seen me laid up with bronchitus-not much fun and it means I have spent most of the time since Friday in bed. Luckily the past few weeks saw me on a massive crafting spree trying to get all my gifts ready for my family in New Zealand (why oh why is the last posting date down under so early!!) and my brother in London and since I havent posted on here for ages there is loads to add (between coughing and blowing my nose-SO attractive).

First up, a big thanks to my secret santa from the CB forum, a parcel was delivered today (how I did not managed to rip the wrapping off then and there)-ooh, I wonder what it is...shame I will have to wait. Also, my latest ATC's from the CB forum. The theme was snowmen, and these two were from Hellybelly and Magentasnowflake.

Also in a moment of what can only be described as total muppetry I decided that the event journal I spent some months making for my mums combined Christmas/Birthday pressie was not good enough and decided to make a new one! What the hell I was thinking I don't know-by the end of the project I was wishing I just bought her the new Enya CD! The idea is that there are 12 double pages, one for each month, and each month has key birthdays/anniversaries detailed with lots of space to keep adding more. On the opposite page is an envelope containg some handmade cards ready for the appropriate event-all ready in one easy folder.

Well, I did say it was a mammoth task!

I also had my first jewelry order for 2 sugar skull necklaces from a friend. I must admit I ruined a whole sheet of shrink plastic-the only problem with a larger pendant is that the plastic does have a tendancy to curl and buckle and is your concentration waivers for a mere second-burns! (and boy does that make the house stink!). Any way, I managed to make 2 and am really pleased with the results-my first jewelry commision!

I think that's enough for a bit-I need to take some more anti-biotics and have a bit of a lie down (I had no idea that bronchitis took it out of you so much-this sucks!).

Happy Crafting

Li'l Pidge