Monday 30 September 2013

The Greeting Farm - Teacher Anya

Happy Monday - last day of September already!  This is our second week of School holidays and I am starting to think of End of Year Teacher Gifts...... 

Teacher Anya is another of The Greeting Farm's fantastic rubber stamps.  I used her on these cards to say Thank-you and also Congratulations - you could also use her as a:  For You / Best Wishes / Get Well (An apple a day)....   Very versatile...





All The Greeting Farm stamps that I own are the sort of stamp that you can use over and over -  colouring them according to your background papers - I love those stamps that are not limited in how you can use them by having to stick to a certain colour.




 
 
On the Thank You cards - I black embossed the outline and have coloured Anya using Twinkling H2Os.  For the Congratulations card I only stamped her (no embossing) and doesn't the embossing make a big difference?!
 
An apple for the Teacher - I am sure she/he would love one!
Thanks Teacher Anya for another great year!
Shell
xox

Sunday 29 September 2013

Creating with BaRb Blog - Stampin'up Images with matching punches

Stampin'up Images with matching punches
Hello Everyone
A great way to get started quickly, and be able to create many wonderful cards and gifts, is with stamp sets which have matching punches.
This project is a set of note cards in a matching wallet. A lovely gift, if you can bear to give it away.
Colours used were Turquoise, Daffodil, Melon Mambo and Old olive.
Stamp sets are Papillon potpourri, Language of friendship, and Loving thoughts.
Punches are Bird builder, Boho blossoms. Elegant butterfly, Modern label and 1-3/4" circle.
I have also used swiss dots and square lattice embossing folders and finishing touches edgelits.
A faceted button, linen thread, turquoise ribbon, rhinestones, brads and a touch of shimmer paint complete the supply list.
Each card is lined and stamped, and has a corresponding matching envelope. The wallet I designed for it has the front pocket covered in patterned paper and the flap is stamped and held closed with a linen thread loop, which hooks over a ribbon slide on the pocket.
There are countless designs that can be made using these products. I hope you have found inspiration from your visit. Thank you and have fun crafting. 
BaRb

Beaded Angels

Hello - another great day for crafting!!

Can you remember my previous post about my "Dark Angels"?  Following are some photos of some of my other Angels - yes I do have a collection!!  Ahh - so many beads so little time! (As they would say)........



Each of the Angels I have made for myself has a name - of course!  My Dark Angels are black, above left is  Blood Angel, above right -  Fire Angel, below left is Grandma Angel and below right (pink) - Pure Angel.



Now blogging about my Angels and their colours has made me think about when I created them - each Angel represents a part of who we are - blood, fire, darkness, pure ..... little bit deep and meaningful for early Sunday morning!!!  Grandma Angel is very special - I made her for my Grandmother - Grandma had given me a broken strand of beads from a necklace she wore to a wedding and I used these beads to make Grandma Angel.  I have also made Christmas Angels - green and red - these look amazing! Mmmm - might have to go and make a Snow Angel!!!!


 
These beautiful little girls are phone charms.  I made these using a head pin, two flower beads for the skirt, wings and a bead for their head. These are another great gift idea!
 
"As you travel life's winding road,
Angels light the way and share the load"
(Inspirational Quote - Author Unknown)
 
Love to all the Angels lighting your way as you travel your crafty road!
Shell
xox 
 
 



Saturday 28 September 2013

Heartfelt Creations - Woodland Fern

Good Morning - and what a beautiful morning it is!!

You guessed it - I have 3 cards to show you...

All three cards are exactly the same design - the only differences are the colour  and the orientation of the butterfly.  The background papers are (once again) magazine freebies.  The ribbon is "Celebrate" brand.

 
Even the design on the papers is the same.  In the design there is butterflies and ferns which was my inspiration for the stamps I chose.

 
I used Heartfelt Creations - Woodland Fern Stamp - which I embossed in white.  The Butterfly is from Darkroom Doors - Butterflies Set. The wording "best wishes" is from Darkroom Doors - All Occasions Set.  I embossed the wording with Top Boss Cocoa Bean embossing powder.

The tag for the wording is a Stampin Up Punch, which I cut in half for the underneath layer.
The design for this card is one of BaRb's fantastic creations - Love It!
 
Enjoy this beautiful day!
Shell
xox

Tuesday 24 September 2013

Creating with BaRb blog-Stampin'up- Walk in the Wild

Stampin'up- Walk in the Wild
Hello
Today I have for you one of my designs for Walk in the Wild.
                                   This design is a small canvas, as a change from a card.
The moose was first stamped in suede ink with the grass inked with olive marker. The moose was masked, and the grass stamped a second time.
The trees are from Lovely as a tree and were stamped four times. This was stamped on white card, then trimmed to fit the canvas with the trees being trimmed around at the top. The edges were distressed then inked. The background was shaded with chalks. I have dotted the trees and the area above the moose, with white gel pen to simulate falling snow.
The tree image was stamped a further five times on another piece of card then individually cut out and the edges inked. The canvas panel was covered with paper. The trees were attached to the back of the stamped panel and this was then attached to the canvas.
Chevron ribbon, with linen thread wrapped around it was placed across the bottom. Leaves and acorns are from Autumn accents die. A natural button tied with linen thread, a sentiment cut into a banner and a frosted embellishment were final touches.
                                                 I hope you find this design inspiring. 
                                 My card designs for this set are on BaRb'n'ShEll creations blog.
                                                                     BaRb

Stampin'up - Walk in the Wild

Hello again

I was asked one day, how did I come up with my designs?
Did I get everything out, and then try to think of something?
I had not thought about it before, but for me, it starts with the stamp. Many people have bought a stamp set, then not had any idea on how to use it.
I decided then, that for every stamp set I buy, I would design at least three ways for people to use it.
Today I am showing my ideas for Walk in the wild.
This first card is a trifold with the front folded back. The three sections are covered in Winter frost paper. The card base and mats for the image is basic grey. The image is stamped in basic grey onto white card, with the sentiment embossed in silver. Versamark ink was run around the edge of the white panel and embossed in white. There is a same sized panel on the inside section of the card, to allow for a message. Silver ribbon on the front panel, a frosted embellishment and some rhinestones finish off the design.

This second card has a natural white background. The grass has been stamped from the moose image, by colouring the stamp with a marker, and stamping on two levels. The little hen was then stamped in suede.
This image was then die cut with an oval framelit and matted onto a larger artichoke oval. Artichoke ink was then dabbed around the edges. The other bird stamp was coloured with markers, stamped and then cut out. It was positioned with dimensionals and coated in crystal effects. The sentiment was die cut, sponged round
the edges and also raised with dimensionals. The outer corners of the card were rounded and three candy dots added to the top left corner.
My third design with this set is on my Creating with BaRb blog.
Till next time, happy creating.
BaRb

Saturday 21 September 2013

Stamp It - Asian

Good Morning,

Three more cards for you today - after choosing the background papers - I aimed for a softer feel on these cards.  The stamp set I used to make these is a Stamp It Set - another company with a fantastic range of stamps available.  This set is called "Asian"...

 
I embossed the Geisha and the words with black embossing powder. "birthday wishes" is from Stampin Ups - Wow Flowers set.  The tree image is stamped with Stampin Ups Smoky Slate, Nellie Snellen Frames are also edged with the same colour.  I finished off with small brads and some sheer ribbon.  Backgound paper was another magazine freebie.

 
I used the same ink colour for Tree image - smoky slate, also embossed Geisha image with black. Nellie Snellen Multi Frame for circle frame - see next card where I used the cut-out part. Bamboo and Geisha from same Stamp It - Asian set.

 
I embossed the card itself with an Mpress Embossing Folder - "Karen Frame".  I used same colour and same "birthday wishes" message.
 
Dreaming of a Japanese holiday,
Have a great day
Shell
xox
 
 

Friday 20 September 2013

The Greeting Farm - Miss Anya Collection

Yay - it's Friday afternoon - school holidays start for us today..... mmmm - more crafting time woohoo!! (shhh - don't remind me about the housework!)

I have 3 more cards for you today - this time I used different stamp sets as the main focus on each card.  I was more inspired to create by colour on these ones - I chose my background paper first and was then led to Stampin Ups ink colour Cajun Craze.  So all three cards followed this colour scheme.



 
This beautiful girl is Miss Anya from the Greeting Farm.  I have embossed her with American Crafts Zing Glitter Finish Copper embossing powder. "birthday wishes" from Stampin Up's - Wow Flowers set.  White layer edged with Cajun Craze.
Really simple - if I tried to add anything else to this card it just looked too much!
 
 

 Stamped image and words from Stampin Ups - Apothecary Art Set. (I did not purchase the matching dies so I hand cut the shape out dies are available though!!)  Embossed with the same embossing powder as above.  Edged with Cajun Craze and some small rhinestones.

 
These beautiful flowers are from a new set from Stampin Up - Flower Shop and co-ordinating Punch. I used Judikins Metallic Gold embossing powder for the flowers and the words.  Cajun Craze edged the white layer, added brads for flower centres and rhinestones for the corners.
 
There is something about this colour scheme - don't you think???
Back soon with more cards - Enjoy your holidays everyone!!
Shell
xox

Thursday 19 September 2013

Darkroom Door - Spiral Flowers

Hello everyone,

Back again with another fantastic Darkroom Door set - Spiral Flowers.  This set has 11 Flowers of all different sizes and different design spirals.  I have used background paper from magazines - as soon as I saw these papers, I thought of the Darkroom Door Set as the paper has spiralled flowers on it.  I made a set of three cards as follows:

 
On this card I used Tim Holtz Dusty Concord distress ink to colour the edges of my distressed white layer and to ink the words - "birthday wishes" from Stampin Ups - Wow Flowers set.  I embossed with Stamp World silver embossing powder the spiral flowers which I have circle punched. Rhinestones and Purple pearl brads and a fine silver ribbon to finish off the card.

 
I made this card with the same words, embossing powder and rhinestones.  This spiral flower is one of the larger ones in the set.  Spellbinders scalloped circles layered perfectly under the flower.  The ink I used to highlight with was Versacolor's Lapis Lazuli. 



Once again - same embossing powder.  I used Versacolor Orange for edging etc.  The "Happy Birthday" centre was from Stampin Ups - Happiest Birthday Wishes set.  I inked this in orange, sprinkled the embossing powder on and then carefully wiped off little sections to achieve a 2 tone effect. 

Did you notice the spiral flowers on the background papers? They are more visible on the middle card.
See you again soon....
Shell
xox

Wednesday 18 September 2013

Creating with BaRb blog-Stampin'Up - Little Bird Blue

Stampin'Up - Little Bird Blue
Hello again
I have  found this to be an excellent design for new stampers to create

It looks great in different colours. I have used bashful blue, Celery and white, with the bird in Marina mist. Inks to match.
The stamps used were Language of Friendship and the sentiment from Field Flowers.
Punches were bird builder, boho blossoms, oval and scalloped oval.
White taffeta ribbon, mini silver brads, rhinestones, and shimmer paint on the flowers. Lace detail tape under the bird, and crystal effects on the bird and upper branches were a finishing touch.
It is an introduction to the use of several products and new crafters  take home something they can create in many different designs.
Till next time- HAPPY CRAFTING
BaRb

Kaszazz - Olivia

Good Afternoon,

You can definitely tell we are heading into summer!! Must be time to clean the airconditioner filters - we will need them veeeeery soon!!  Today, I have some cards to show you - I decided on the weekend that I would sit down and make some quick cards and it always seems to happen - when you want to make a 'quick' card it takes longer than usual.......

 I have used a Kaszazz stamp - Olivia - on all of the cards.  The background paper on all three was a magazine freebie - gotta love those!

 
I black embossed the stamped imaged and have coloured her in with Twinkling H2Os - Sea Spray and Gold Dust. The "Happy Birthday" was from Stampin Up - Elementary Elegance. Faux stitching, Sparkle Pen and pearl rhinestones completed this card.
 


I black embossed the stamped imaged and left her un-coloured.  Black rhinestones, spellbinder die and a Nellie Snellen Die placed on an angle, and the "birthday wishes" is from a Stampin Up set  - Wow Flowers.
 
 
 
The white card was edged with a Stampin Up Border Punch, I used my Corner chomper to round the corners on the yellow cardstock.  Black embossed the stamped image and again left her un-coloured.  Stitched with black embroidery thread and "birthday wishes" from Stampin Ups - Wow Flowers.

Three different cards using the same stamp -  hope you like them!
Enjoy the rest of your afternoon.
Shell
xox

Tuesday 17 September 2013

Stampin'up - Language of Friendship - Altered Tins

Good Morning,
I absolutely love this little bird punch, so today I will show you one of the ways I have used it
 
  I used the Beau Chateau papers, as they fitted the theme of the purpose, for which I intended to use the tin.
I covered both the outside and inside of the tin, and added an extra pocket inside the lid, to hold additional cards or photos.                                   The bird and blossoms were stamped and punched,then layered on a couple of scalloped circles. Brads, shimmer paint, pearls and crystal effects were also used. Seam binding runs around the outside of the tin.

I enjoyed making this project so much, that I decided to make another, this time in a Christmas theme, to hold cards etc.


This one is covered in Natural Composition specialty paper and Be of Good Cheer DSP. I have used glitter paper, brushed silver, shimmer and espresso card for the decorations. Cherry cobbler seam binding, scallop dot ribbon, some raffia strips, and glitter glue to finish up.
Have a happy crafting week.
BaRb







Sunday 15 September 2013

Creating with BaRb blog-Stampin'up Top Note Gift Box

Stampin'up Top Note Gift Box
Hello there
There are many occasions when we may wish to give a small gift.
It always seems much more special when it is presented in handmade packaging.
 This small box uses the top note die, in a double layer, both on the lid and base. Two pieces of card were layered with double sided adhesive sheet before cutting each section.
The lid is decorated with paper (Beau chateau), using the labels die in two sizes. A leaf (from Autumn accents) was die cut, embossed with woodgrain folder, then spritzed. Flowers are Boho Blossoms stamp and punch. The sentiment from Fabulous florets was stamped using a marker, stamp a ma jig, and then die cut with Itty bitty banners.

To round out this class, we also made a small flower from paper daisies, and decorated some leaves cut from Autumn accents die, using inks, French foliage stamps, crystal effects and glitter.
Would'nt you like to receive your gift dressed up like this?
For more ideas, don't forget to check out my other blog and my Pinterest Boards.
Till next time
BaRb                                                                           

Friday 13 September 2013

Darkroom Door - 1920s Chic

Hello Stylish Crafters,  Darkroom Door have many fantastic "Collections" of Stamp Sets.  One of my favourites is 1920s Chic.   I have used these fashionable ladies on quite a few things - tags, cards, pages etc.  Here are some of the cards I have created......




 
The sayings "When in Doubt Wear Red" and "True friends never go out of style" are just two of the sayings.  There is also "Chic", "Style is eternal", "Vogue", "Style", "Elegance".  There are a couple of other images included in the set - Chanel perfume Bottle etc , as I said it's a fantastic set. So easy to use.
 
Elegant and Stylish,
Love this set!
Shell
xox

Wednesday 11 September 2013

Post-It Notes

Hello, 

How often do you reach for a post-it note (some people know them as sticky notes)??  If you are anything like me - quite often!!  Here are some examples of the covers I have made.  These are a fantastic gift idea for people of all ages - useful and beautiful!! Post-it Notebook covers...



 



 
Limited only by your imagination - colours, stamps, themes, orientation of cover etc etc .........
 
Happy Note Sticking!!
Shell
xox

Creating with BaRb blog-Stampin'up-Christmas Ideas

Christmas Ideas
Hello again
Yes I know these stamps are now retired
I also know many new stampers who have just obtained them.
Here are a few ideas for you, as promised. More to come.
This card uses Bells & Boughs stamp set, Window frames dies, dots embossing folder. Cherry cobbler, brushed gold & gumball green card. Gold embossing powder, silver, gold & gumball green markers & patterned paper. Lots of bling

This trifold shutter card uses Christmas Blessings & Bells & boughs sets. White card base, Watercolour card for the image. Apothecary accents, two tags dies and petals a plenty embossing folder. Espresso, primrose, and gumball inks and markers. Rhinestones, glimmer brad, shimmer paint & primrose ribbon.
This shows the card and its presentation box.
This is the easiest card to make. Watercolour card, cherry cobbler and gumball card, inks and paper, gumball ribbon, glimmer brads and rhinestones with a touch of dazzling diamonds in the flower centres.
White embossing powder on the sentiment.
I hope these are enough to get you started. Till next time
BaRb