Fiskarettes DT - Smile!

Hello Everyone! I hope you had a good start to the week. I have a card to share with you today which has been posted on the Fiskarettes blog as one of my DT projects this month.
The card edges were punched with the Fiskars stamp border punch and the frame sunburst shape was made with a Fiskars punch anywhere punch.

All the papers on the card are from the Echo Park This and That paper pad which is available here from My Mum's Craft shop. The little charm is by the Hobby House and the fabulous  image and sentiment are from the Some Odd Girl 'Photo Kaylee' set which is available here.
All the other embellishments are from my stash. Please check out my post on the Fiskarettes blog for step by step instructions on how to make my card.
Have a great Tuesday!
Jane
x

Fiskarettes DT Project - Thank you from the bottom of my heart

Good Morning Everyone! I have something a little bit different to share with you today, a card with no colouring or patterned papers.

I made this card for my latest Fiskarettes DT project using some of the lovely goodies I received in my DT package.

You can read all about my card and how I made it here on the Fiskarettes blog.
Have a great Thursday!
Jane
x

Very Bad Cold and Very Good News!

Hello Everyone, no card from me today, I am feeling very sorry for myself as I am feeling terrible :-( I have a bad cold, feel sick and achey and also have a cough! Have been in bed most of the day but am tucked up on the sofa now trying to keep warm! 

I did, however,  have some good news yesterday. I found out that I have been accepted onto the Fiskarettes Design Team and it was announced on the blog today. The Fiskarettes blog is a great place full of inspiration and Clare Curd is the brand new UK Ambassador for Fiskars. If you click on the blinkie above you can find out how to join us! I'm going back to sleep now!

Jane

x

Steampunk inspired for the Fiskarettes sketch Challenge

I have been playing with the gorgeous Echo Park Times and Seasons for the past few days and some lovely Sprocket dies I borrowed from a crafty Friend and I thought they would work really well to make a card using the lovely sketch by Clare for this fortnight's Fiskarettes Sketch Challenge.

 I had initially thought of using flowers where the circles but replaced them with cogs which gave me a great starting point for those hard to make Men's cards.
I used a 6x6 card blank and cut a square of card to measure 14.5 square to place my squares of papers which were cut to 4.5cm square on. This is a great project for using up scraps. I inked around the edges of all the papers before placing them on to the black card making sure I was happy with the arrangement before sticking them down!

I then stitched around the pieces with my machine before adding the finished black square to the card base. I stamped the sentiment in the top right hand corner, I have flipped the sketch to fit my design.
I added an arrangement of cogs in the centre of the card to mirror the sketch and added a double embossed clock face in the centre topped with some game spinners. I finished with a metal cog and a couple of gems. I hope you have a lovely Sunday!
Jane
x

Some more felt, a sneaky peek and a DT call

I was a busy bee last night with more preparations for the Fair on Sunday. I made up 8 Butterfly Brooch kits cut from felt. I wrote out full instructions with photos so that people can make their own and put a needle, pearl topped pin, brooch pin and a small bobbin of thread in each kit with the precut felt and button . I have packaged the kits with Nesties labels and I will try and post a piccie of the packs later this week when everything is ready to go.

My final Fiskarettes project is published tomorrow so here is a little sneak peek...



I seem to have gone very pink lately which is not really like me! I cannot believe my time as a Fiskarettes DT member is nearly over. I have had so much fun working with all the Fiskars products and being part of the team. Take a look at the Fiskarettes blog if you fancy taking part in the Design Team as a DT call was announced yesterday.
Thanks to all of you who sent 'Get Well Soon' wishes to Ryan, I kept him at home yesterday and will be until Thursday to give his foot a bit of a chance to heal. He was feeling more comfortable yesterday evening although his foot is turning some lovely shades of purple now!
Jane
x

Fiakarettes Design Team project: An autumn Magnolia card

This is my 3rd Project as a Design Team member on the Fiskarettes website. As autumn is definitely in the air, I decided to make an autumnal card using my Leaves template for the shape cutting system.

To make the card:
1. Fold a piece of A4 card in half to make the card blank then cover with 2 coordinating My Mind's eye backing papers trimming to size with the Fiskars paper trimmer.
2. Cut a strip of orange backing paper and punch using the Fiskars scalloped paper punch and stick to bottom of card front. Weave a piece of narrow green ribbon through some lace and stick over scallop edged strip onto card.
3. Stamp image twice onto white card using the Fiskars stamp press and colour with Promarkers. Ink the edges of the image on the rectangle shape. Lay the Leaves shape template over the second coloured image and when happy with the positioning cut the image out. Ink the edges of the leaf shape with distress inks. Layer up both images using foam pads making sure the edges match up.

4. Stick the completed topper to the card with more foam pads.
5. Stamp the greeting onto a small rectangle, ink the edges and embellish with stick on gems.
6. Add a small green ribbon to the leaf stem and layer up a button tied with string onto a paper flower and add to top right hand of card.

This is the first time I used my Leaves shapecutting template and I loved how easy it was to cut such intricate shapes. I have lots more ideas on how to use the shapes for future projects. I can't believe I am already half way through my time on the Design Team already, I am really enjoying using the products, especially the Stamp press and paper trimmer, they make life so easy and allow you to be so precise when positioning stamps and trimming papers!
Jane
x

New Fiskarettes Design Team Project Sneak Peek

I couldn't resist sharing another sneak peek with you of my next Design Team Project for the Fiskarettes Website. My next project will be published on Tuesday and I can't wait to be able to share this with you!

I am really proud of the way this Project turned out as I tried to do something a bit different with the Fiskars tool. Make sure you pop back here or to the Fiskarettes website on Tuesday to see the whole project!
Hope you are having a nice Weekend!
Jane
x

A recipe for Cupcakes...

I made this card this evening to take part in 2 blog Challenges. The Monday Challenge on the Fiskarettes website is Spots and Stripes (2 of my favourite patterns!) and I am also taking part in the first Challenge for the Cook up A Card - Recipe blog.
The September Recipe is to use:

• 1 Flower
• 2 Ribbons
• 3 pieces of Chipboard

I used some of the stash I bought yesterday at Alexandra Palace for the card.
I cut a piece of orange card with my Fiskars paper trimmer and rounded one edge with corner shaper scissors. I then cut a rectangle of striped card which I matted on to blue to give a slim border.
I cut some circles with the Circle cutter and layered them up. The Cupcake stamp I got from Sugar and Spice crafts was stamped onto striped Paper Crate paper and spotty My Mind's eye paper and was paper pieced.
I added some blue ribbon to the striped rectangle and matted onto the orange card.
The topper was assembled with foam pads and I added a flower to the top of the cupcake.
I used Making memories chipboard letters to spell out 'cup' to the left of the card, I added some folded ribbon tab details to the 'U', set an eyelet with the Eyelet setter and tied ribbon through it.
I finally stamped the greeting and finished off with some stick on gems.
I like the summery feel of this card and it fits in well with the weather we have been having lately, let's hope it lasts!
Jane
x

You are a star!

For my second Fiskarettes Design Team project, I decided to challenge myself to make a card without using any stamping.

For this project you will need a square card base, kraft card, My minds eye papers, Basic Grey and Making memories letter stickers, a K+Co chipboard letter and various Fiskars tools.

1. Cut a square of brown kraft card 1/2 a cm smaller than the card base using the Fiskars paper trimmer, then cut a square of green card 1/2 a cm smaller than the Kraft card and finish off with a square of patterned backing paper another 1/2 cm smaller. Matt and layer all pieces on to the front of the card. The graduated ruler on the paper trimmer makes matting and layering so easy and precise and very quick too!

2. Cut circles in decreasing sizes from various materials using the shape cutter and circle templates. I used the template to mark the circle on the orange lacy fabric and cut with my trusty Fiskars scissors. When the circles are all cut layer them up and stick together. The larger green circle was stuck flat on the card but the smaller one was raised on foam pads to give the card some dimension.

3. Cut a star from Patterned paper with the Fiskars squeeze punch and stick to the smaller circle. Embellish with a button. The punch is easy to use even without applying too much pressure and gives a really neat finish to the cut shape.

4. Stick backing paper to a chipboard letter ’S'. I used quick drying PVA and stuck something heavy on the letter while it was drying to make sure I got a nice smooth finish. When the glue is dry, cut around the shape to trim off the excess paper with the finger tip craft knife. As this is really small and you have such great control of the blade it is ideal to cut around awkward shapes. To give a neat finish, file the edges of the shape with a nail file.

5. Stick the chipboard letter on the largest circle and add die cut letters and letter stickers to complete the sentiment.

I like this card as it shows how you can make an effective card layout using a few papers and tools. Cutting the shapes with tools make such a difference to how neat the card looks and makes it look much more professional!

Jane
x

A Special Couple Card - First Fiskarettes DT project

This is my First Design Team project for the Fiskarettes blog. I bought this paper recently and thought it would be ideal for a Wedding Card.

1. First cut a large card blank using my Fiskars paper trimmer. I made a large card which was 20cm square so cut one piece of card 20cm X 20cm and a larger piece, 23cm X 20cm. I scored and folded the larger piece 3cm in from the edge on the shorter edge of the card and stuck both pieces together covering the join with a piece of ribbon.

2. I layered pink, cream pearlescent card and the backing paper onto the front of the card. I cut the first piece the same size as the card front and trimmed the 2 other pieces so they were slightly smaller with my paper trimmer.

3. To make the topper, I stuck my Elzybells Wedding couple stamp onto my Easy stamp press and stamped the image onto white card. I use unmounted stamps for most of my crafting so the stamp press is ideal for me to get a perfect stamped image every time. When I have finished I just whip the stamp off and am ready to go again. I coloured the image with Promarkers and matted it onto some pink card to frame it nicely.

4. I took inspiration from the lace pattern on the Backing paper to make a punched border panel to set the stamped panel into. I used the 2-in-1 Corner & Border Punch - Vines to decorate the edge of a panel I had trimmed to size with my paper trimmer. The paper trimmer is great as it measured in inches and cm.

5. The vines border punch looked very complicated but after reading the instructions I realised it would be very easy to create a beautiful border. You simply set the tool in the corner of the paper and punch, there are then notches on the punch to make sure you get the paper in the right place for the rest of the border so you can’t go wrong.
The design of the border has perfect little photo corner slits so I popped my stamped panel into them.

6. Before sticking down my backing paper, I added a length of ribbon to the front of the card, tucking the raw edges under one of the layers. I secured it with a tiny piece of double sided tape on the front of the card to stop it from moving around. I then stuck the stamped and punched panel onto the front of the card with foam pads and tied a bow with more ribbon to the side of the topper.

7. I stamped my Sentiments using the Easy Stamp press on to some white card, cut them out and matted on to cream card before sticking them to the front of the card with foam pads.

8. I finished off the card with a paper flower and a pearl heart.

I love the border punch so much and can’t wait to use it again on another project!

Why not pop on over to Fiskarettes and sign up to join in the fun, there are Challenges, Competitions and loads of inspiration. You can create your own profile and upload your projects to share with the rest of the Fiskarettes!

Jane
x

First Fiskarette's DT Project Sneak Peak!

My first Design Team Project will be featured on the Fiskarettes blog tomorrow. I had lots of fun playing with the Fiskars tools.

Here is a little sneak peek....
Jane
x

Exciting news! New Design Team position

I am very happy to announce that I have been chosen to be a part of the Fiskarettes design team for the next 3 months. The new Design Team was announced on the Fiskarettes website today and it was very exciting to see my article posted on the site today. I can't wait to get started creating Projects to share with the other Fiskarettes. Please check out the website for loads of inspiration, weekly challenges plus the opportunity to win lots of lovely Fiskars goodies in the regular Competitions!
Hope to see you there soon!
Jane
x