Mother`s Day Card

Morning J Rise and shine my dears. As mother day approaches we all start to worry up to make that special day as they are. Mothers are the lecturers of every future generation. Being a mother, a single parent as well to a 19 year old teen is no easy job. We just learn plenty from life and it’s the best university someone can learn, some real good lessons. Nico is not only a son, but also my biggest friend and also I am his best friend too. In this home we decide together, talk, argue over the silliest things, cry and laugh together, and most of all forgive each other. He is my best critic in every way J

Yes I do love being a mother in my busy life and ways. I just have the best son in the whole world !

Today’s project was a mother’s day card with my favourite subject sewing. For the background paper I choose a theme that has a connection with sewing by prima paper. On the background stamped with a calligraphy stamp and dragon fly. Then fixed the dress maker form, next to the printing of the sewing machine

Supplies List

• A4 ivory card stock
• Dictionary pages
• Distress inks
• Buttons 
• Lace made from twine cord
• Stamps by Visible Image
• Prima paper - Life Time collection
• Seam binding ribbon
• Fimo clay bow

Once I had everything set on the left hand side layers on some lace made from twine cord, layered a bow with a mother of pearl button on top of the middle flower and decorated the rest. At the left side of the back ground cut dictionary papers in form of a leaf, distressed them and formed a flower. At the edges made an outline to give it more form and continued the rest of stamping to fill the page more up.

I dressed up the dummy in a ruffled skirt. For the skirt effect I cut out strips of paper, distressed them and rolled the edges and let the curls fall out freely.  Papers of various lengths were layered on each out so that when the paper curls out will look like ruffles. 

A Craft Club..

I dedicate this little space to a special person Sharon Camilleri  JIt was during a trip to Sicily with fellow crafters that Sharon came up with the idea of forming a craft club.  As soon as she pulled it out everyone agreed including me as this was something in the back shelves of my mind. She already got plenty experience in crafts and also on TV programs, besides owning a craft shop (The Craft Cupboard). We knew that there was going to be a good response, as people die for craft clubs. On the island we have a big lack of them although now many fairs are being organized and set up with many handcrafted things.

So if you live on the island or visiting for a holiday and love crafts...  why don’t you come and join other crafters like you . Sharing  new  ideas while having a cup of coffee would be fun. We believe in building bridges for new friendships and getting together as our main objective J

Meetings are going to be held once a month,  it’s not a burden with everyone’s busy life. Your presence is welcome, especially your gifted talents.
Our 1st meeting is going to be held on the 23^rd of May at The Craft Cupboard

For further assistance contact Sharon personally and am sure she will be gladly helpful.

 Hope to see ya there J

Carmen xx

Male Birthday Cards

Good Evening!! It`s International Scrapbook day today, how is your scrapping going? Well recently I had to do a set of men’s birthday cards. Sometimes it’s a bit of a headache what to do, as I like to go in by personal tastes. When it comes to women the choice of what to do, is more an open subject. Yet I still managed to make out these birthday cards with a touch.

Supplies List

• Prima papers - Romance Novel collection
• Distress ink pads
• Rubber stamps - Visible Image and Tim Holtz
• A4 card 
• Jewelry charms 
• Bronze chain
• Dictionary pages
• Tim Holtz - upon a time die cut
• Stickles
• Empty soda can

In the second card I used a lot of stamping. I do love stamping loads; actually it’s fun and you can play about with them in many different ways. Wish I had all the money in the world to buy as much stamps as i like. I never had an idea how many things you can create with stamping. Yes I am in love with stamping J

As you can notice on the right hand side I have recycled something... a soda can. 

Flowers From Soda Cans

After a day at work I went home and found something waiting for me.  As soon as I stepped inside door, there was this box full of wine corks and two cans of beer. I just said to myself, oh my son is such a darling collecting me all these wine corks from his work and buying some beers. Next thing I discovered the beers, were just empty cans. As soon as he got home he told me all about it. I got to know that the box was traded for 2 flowers made from beer cans, for a work mate. Oh yesss deep joy J  well as it was already paid in advance J I had to roll my sleeves up and start working on the flowers. As I am blessed with a Big Shot cutting out flowers was an easy peasy job, with Tim Holtz tattered flowers bigs die cut. The result was amazing instead of two I made 4 as he was so patient with me.  Everyone was happy, myself with many more wine corks and this man with flowers from his favourite beer J I have some more projects in my mind… but that is for me to know and you to wonder about J.. wink wink!
Bed is calling my dear friends, so until I see you again, wish you a very crafty week!

A Blast from the past

I never had a blog before, so wanted to share with you some cards I have done in the past. Becoming a card maker was something I tried to experiment years back. Sometimes we just do need that little push from that special someone, to convince you that you’re good at it and to have a go.  I tried and learned that my work was being liked, apart it was something totally different and more on personal note, than the ones you just buy from any shop. So I started doing cards, the more I did,  the more enjoyed experimenting with all kind of things and materials I found at hand. For this island  it was something new as people were used to buy those ready ones. Lately am noticing many people are doing card making. Some people would think they are expensive, but considering time consumed on a card to get that personal touch, is much more priceless.

The small mini steam machines are a minimized printing of a set of ATC cards by a British artist. Anyone wants info about this artist contact me and will pass you all his contact details

 

 In these two cards I used two small tiles which I make from fimo clay. As you may also notice I use plenty of flowers done myself, from scarps of curtain material or any piece of material I find around J

Red or White Wine?

I just do love red wine! I happen to be so lucky to live on a tiny island, with our own local wines made every year and coming from local vine yards too... the sun, the breeze of summer and the smell of wine in the making ... this is what I remember, when my dad used to make wine for our personal consumption...  with the old traditional ways from generation to generation... that type of wine that mellows your body... and what is a Maltese dinner without a glass of wine on the table,  for us Mediterranean’s!

 I am lucky too to get hold of used wine corks, instead of being thrown away, which is a pity. I wanted to find some way of their use, maybe decorate some odd corner and give it that rustic charm. Made this wreath all with corks and with some additional flowers and small pottery jars to give it that rustic charm, Mediterranean look…

So while you have a look…I let you imagine the smell of your favourite wine… and why not, maybe also a glass of wine too… J

Paris

Bonsoir my friends! Today I am going to share a card and the theme is Paris. For this card I kept the usual touch of vintage colours and mostly black. In this card I incorporated embossing, stamping and rub-ons. For the embossing, used Tim Holtz postal folder and distressed it with distress inks.  For the back ground applied stamping with the focal point the Eiffel tower, underneath made some lines which I normally do with the edges of an old credit card. A pocket watch with glossy accents on, a postage stamp also was stamped and some wording rub ons were added.On top of that fitted the embossed patten and decorated it.


Supplies List

• A4 Ivory card
• Shrink plastic
• Rub-ons
• Ranger Distress ink pads
• Lace & seam binding ribbon
• Feathers
• Tim Holtz Sizzix Texture Fades Embossing Folders - Distressed Frame & Postal Set
• Tim Holtz Alterations Sizzix Bigz Die - Tattered Florals
• Tim Holtz Visual Artistry Collection - Stampers Anonymous
• Stamps - Live Your Dreams, Pocket Watch by Visible Image
• Ranger Inkssentials Glossy Accents

As an embellishment I made a flower from lace, an old button with some black feathers  and  bow to give it that female soft touch. Added a stamp and embellished it with glossy accents to make the wording protruding, and a flower made from a soda can with a little mother of pearl button on top. I do like to recycle materials and I don't throw away cans of beers or soda, actually I cut the top and bottoms out, cut one side and store them flattened down. Since I began crafting I became for conscious how many stuff we throw away which we can make other possible ways with them and protect our environment.

At the end added the greeting message with a little embellishment on top.

For the shrink plastic I used the same design as the embossing folder, actually I do really love how many things you really can do with shrink plastic and also it’s fun to do.