I've started so I'll finish...

As with many crafty folks, I have a habit of starting things and not quite finishing them. This dates back to childhood and I've never quite managed to shake it. I like trying things out, but when I come a bit unstuck, or a bit bored with the project I'll leave it. Ask me about a skirt I started making in 2003 that I've still not finished, and is very much unlikely to fit me now!

I very much enjoyed the team retreat in the middle of May, and Kylie is always very good at giving us more projects than we may be able to finish, so I came home with several incomplete. 

I was determined this time to not live up to my usual expectations and leave them languishing in a pile on my desk then move them to a drawer for years on end, so yesterday I finished the last two. They were slightly more complicated than your standard card, so I forgave myself for leaving them until I had brain space to do it.

Here's the first one, this amazing folding box card. The theme of the event was my favourite Valley in Bloom Suite and I loved having some more inspiration - I'm very much getting the most out of mine and welcomed getting some more papers as I'm about to run out of mine!

Looks impressive, but in reality it actually wasn't as complicated as I had initially thought. All I needed was some time to sit down and focus. This folds flat to go into an envelope.

I am thinking that I need to adapt this card for some upcoming classes, so I will get some instructions written up soon.

The final card was this extremely large one that was a 'Sampler' of all the different papers in the set. Being an occasional quilter, a sampler felt very fitting and I enjoyed deciding which papers I should use and where to place them.

I also feel like I've found a nice spot in my crafty basement to take photos finally!

So there you have it, I bucked my usual trend and finished off my projects from the Team Retreat. Now to start working on projects for my next classes - Card Café is coming up on 23rd June!

Procrastination is the thief of time and this time, it didn't win. Happy crafting ;)

Fruity Stencils and Funky Colours

I discovered when prepping for the recent Uniko and Stampin' Up! Mash-Up All Day Retreat (there's another one coming on 26th September so save the date!) that I owned quite a few purple inks - not a colour I'd immediately think of to buy, but ones that I have somehow managed to accrue.

I then decided to have a look through what other ranges of inks I had, and use them to ink up this fabulously fruity Uniko stencil, which I'm trying to persuade Bev to get back into stock as I took the last one!

Here they all are, along with the ink colours used. You can find all the products I used in my Stampin' Up! shop:

1. HELLO 

Card base - 14.8 x 21 cm, folded at 10.5cm

Granny Apple Green Panel - 13.8 x 9.5cm

Stencilled Panel - 13.3 x 9 cm

Colours of ink used - Lemon-Lime Twist, Daffodil Delight, Darling Duckling, Golden Glow

I die cut a sentiment from the panel and then 3 others in plain white and layered them all up and popped it back into the card. Love the look.

2. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ORANGE

Card Base - Timid Tiger 14.3 x 21cm folded at 10.5cm

White card - 10 x 13.8cm

Stencilled Panel cut into two cm strips - 10 x 13.8cm

Sentiment: Timid Tiger - 6 x 2.5 cm; White card - 5.5 x 2cm

Inks used - Crisp Cantaloupe, Peach Pie, Pumpkin Pie, Timid Tiger

To make the double vision technique, cut the stencilled panel into 2cm strips and alternate glueing one strip, then using foam pads for the next.

3. HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIME

Card Base - Granny Apple Green 14.3 x 21cm folded at 10.5cm

White card - 10 x 13.8cm

Stencilled Panel cut into two cm strips - 10 x 13.8cm

Sentiment: Granny Apple Green - 6 x 2.5 cm; White card - 5.5 x 2cm

Inks used - Lemon-Lime Twist, Granny Apple Green, Peaceful Pine, Garden Green

To make the double vision technique, cut the stencilled panel into 2cm strips and alternate glueing one strip, then using foam pads for the next.

3. HELLO FRIEND

Card base Strawberry Slush - 14.8 x 21 cm, folded at 10.5cm

Flirty Flamingo Panel - 13.8 x 9.5cm

Stencilled Panel - 13.3 x 9 cm

Colours of ink used - Barely Blush, Pretty In Pink, Flirty Flamingo, Strawberry Slush

I die cut a sentiment from the panel and then 3 others in plain white and layered them all up and popped it back into the card.  I added a small sentiment in Strawberry Slush Ink and popped it up on foam pads.

I thoroughly enjoyed the process of working out the best colour combinations and the best layering technique - lighter first works the best.

Whatever you are doing today, be bold and have a play!