A couple of cards

  It was my intention to post something here every week, more as a record for myself of the things that I've made than anything else, but I don't seem to have got into the habit yet. The main problem seems to be photographs - I'm just not taking pictures of the things I've made, and when I actually did get round to taking some this morning, they looked a bit washed out and rubbishy. I'm going to post a couple of them anyway, and then I'll have something to compare against in the months to come when my photographic skills have improved.

  This first card was for my Mum.

I cut the patterned paper out and then roughed up the edges. I usually use distress inks on things like this but decided not to for this card. I used my sewing machine to attach the scraps, then added the die cut lettering and butterflies. Those letters are a bit of a pain to line up and look a bit wobbly. I think the stitching looks cute though.

I love these little Memory Box butterflies.

This next card was for my great niece's first birthday

I used some of the same red gingham paper from Mum's card on the rosette. I added the cat as that's what Maisy calls my little dog.I used a Papermania template to draw the rosette, then cut it out with scissors.

They are lovely to make and I did a load of them the other night while watching Game of Thrones. When I look at something I've made, I can usually remember what I was watching or listening to while I was making it. I listen to a lot of audiobooks while I'm crafting, and my chain maille jewellery brings to mind Stephen Fry reading Harry Potter!

Paper flowers made from book pages - ideal for cardmaking!

  I made a book safe this week (where you cut the innards from an old book to make a little hidey hole) and so I had a nice stack of book pages just waiting to be made into something. I make a lot of cards and have a standard flower that I often use as it's got a bit of dimension to it, but the card will still fit in an envelope. I usually make them from lightweight card, but the book pages seemed quite sturdy so I thought I'd have a go and I think they turned out pretty well.

To make these flowers you will need:

Book pages or lightweight card

Flower template and scissors or flower die and die cutting machine

Distress ink and sponge

Glitter glue

Marker pen

Lightweight metal sheet (tomato puree tube works well)

Embossing tool

Needle or other sharp tool

Small beads

Thin wire

Glue

Small pliers (not absolutely necessary, but they do help)

I usually die cut my flowers using my Cuttlebug, but I had a go at making a template, and then cut them out with scissors. I was able to cut through four sheets of paper at a time so it didn't take too long.

I used 2 of the medium shapes and 1 small one for each of my flowers. I inked the edges of the medium petals using distress ink and a small piece of make up sponge.

I sprayed the petals with water to allow the ink to spread and give the paper an aged weathered look. As the flowers were drying, I crumpled the individual petals between my thumb and index finger. This is what gives the flowers a bit of dimension, and makes them look more realistic. I speeded up the drying of the flowers by putting them in the microwave for a few seconds at a time, then crumpling them a bit more.

I used an alcohol ink pen to colour the small flowers in a darker shade.

I painted the edges of these, and the larger flowers with glitter glue. As well as looking good, this makes them a little stronger and more rigid.

For the centres of the flowers, I used a mini flower punch to cut the shapes from some lightweight metal sheet. I like to use empty tomato puree tubes for this. I cut the top and bottom from the tube with scissors, then cut down one side to open it up, and then gave it a good wash. The metal is a lovely copper colour and cuts quite easily in a paper punch. I used to worry that doing this would damage my punches but apparently it helps to keep them sharp.

I used a little embossing tool on the petals to give them a bit of shape, then used a sewing needle to make a small hole in the centre.

I cut a length of wire to around 3cm for each flower, then threaded a small bead on it and folded the wire.

I threaded a bead wire through the hole in each of the tiny metal flowers.

Ready to assemble the flowers now! I used a small dab of glue to stick 2 of the largest flowers together, making sure that the petals on top alternated with the ones underneath. I then punched a small hole through the centre with my needle.

I punched holes through the medium flowers using the needle, then threaded the wire with the bead and tiny metal flower through.

I put a tiny dab of glue in the centre of the larger flower, then threaded the wire complete with bead and small flower through the hole in the larger flower.

The wire was now sticking out through the back of the assembled flower. I turned the flower over and used jewellery pliers to grasp both ends of the wire and gently pulled the wires apart so they lay flat against the back of the flower. This makes the whole flower nice and tight, and straightens the bead in the centre. There's no danger of the flower coming apart if it's used on a card, and I'm sure it would even be fine if there was no glue used at all.

I find a lot of uses for these flowers and have used them for decorating boxes and gift tags as well as cards, and I love making them.

My first post!

Hello there. My name is Ellie and I like to make stuff. If I have to go a day without spending at 

least a little bit of time on being creative, I start to feel agitated. I have numerous unfinished 

projects tucked away in all corners of my home, and I have abandoned all hopes of ever having a

nice tidy living room and warn visitors that it is 'sort of like a shed with sofas'. I have tried many 

different and varied crafts over the years, but I never fail to be amazed when I discover something 

new that I hadn't previously thought of making. I enjoy papercrafts, sewing and jewellery making. I 

have also had a go at making stained glass, a bit of woodwork, home decorating, trying out new 

recipes and making my own cleaning products. I don't know anyone that shares my passion so I 

have decided to start this blog and share my creations with whoever is out there. I get a lot of ideas 

and inspiration from blogs, Pinterest and YouTube and I'll be really happy if any of my stuff inspires 

someone to get crafting.

 Here's a beaded wrap bracelet I made. 

And this is a little origami gift box. 

It will be good for me to have a record of the things I've made, as they are often given away as gifts

to my friends and family, and I will try to make some simple tutorials or link to wherever I got my 

  inspiration from.