Geat ahead for Fathers Day

Fathers Day is not far away and it pays to get ahead of yourself and start making beautiful and meaningful things so you're not caught out.

I've made a couple of little presents and a matching card all from the same preprepared background sheet and they're very easy to do too.

All you need is a sheet of watercolour paper, (I use 300gsm all the time). Spray it with two or three similar colours first then let it dry and spray a contrasting colour through a stencil.  To add a bit more to the background I stamped randomly with my Pebbles background stamp and you'll see I'm not using a block either. This adds to the randomness of the stamping.

 I was able to cut up enough to make these three projects with a bit left over for another day.

To finish the card I've stamped the seat from my In the Garden stamp set 
onto a piece of Kraft card, punched a hole and added a grommet. A bit of twine wrapped around the card was enough to make it look finished off but not too femine I thought.

For my second project, I turned a strip of background paper into a little notebook. The inside sheets are just cut from plain copy paper and held in place with the brad so they can be pulled out easily.

Again, I've used stamps from In The Garden  to decorate it as it could be used for Dad's garden notes.

My third project is another simple matchbook design but inside I've added a few glassine bags with a staple to add tags with little promises typed on them.

In the past my children have been very proud of the little promise tickets they've given as gifts. It means so much more than a shop bought present. Get them to write their own promises on the tags they'll be so happy to think up little things.

Have fun creating background sheets and see how many projects you can get out of it.

Jaine x

Create a Calendar - June (Claire)

Hi!
I'm back with you today (Claire N) to share the next page of my calendar with you. I am onto June, and I have included a reminder for Father's Day in my design.

I havn't included step by step instructions, because today my thought process in this design sort of developed as I worked. I'm sure that many of you also have sat down at your desks without a clear idea of what to make. The best thing to do in these times is to reach for your favourite coloured papers, perhaps favourite stamp sets, and from there it will flow organically.

I have photographed how I started out, so I can talk you through a little of my thought process.

•  I knew I wanted to included the three smaller pieces of white card (to match previous months designs see LO's for february & march). 
• I knew I wanted to include elements from Sarah's Curio Stamp set, so I stamped them with Memento ink onto white card so that I could colour them with alcohol markers to match when I needed them.
• I had to incorporate the wording, so I stamped them using Sarah's Block Alpha stamps, again ready to cut out as required (You will notice there are two 'y' at the end of day. I restamped as the first wasn't a perfect image)

With the elements of my design listed, planned and laid out, I hope that can now see how my design came together. 

It is perfectly fine not know how your design will turn out when you initially sit down to create. There are days when you need to re arrange elements, move them about, and even discard and replace with new ones if necessary. These are the days that you can just sit, have fun and indulge yourself in all the time it takes for a creation to happen.

Enjoy, thanks for popping by today. 

Supplies used
Curio Stamp set
Block Alpha stamp set
Memento Black Ink
Sarah's Kit Club Papers

Confession Time

Morning All. 

It's Lisa here and I have a confession! I made a Father's Day card for my Dad, another for my Father in Law but I completely forgot to make one for the children to give Hubby. As you read this we are away visiting friends and will be for the rest of the weekend so I needed to make a card quickly. 

In a hurry I turned to Sarah's fabulous papers from the A Few of My Favourite Things kit. The papers are so gorgeous you really don't need a lot else to make a great card.

You can tell I was rushing as really the sentiment should read 'Daddy' (my children are only 4 and 1) but by the time I realised I had already stuck the letters on :-( I'm sure Hubby won't mind though as he will be more pleased with my eldest's writing on the inside.

The small star stamp is from one of the exclusive stamps included each month in the A Few of My Favourite Things kits.

Here's what I used:

• A Few of My Favourite Things Kit

• 'Stream' Adirondack Inkpad
• 6" Square White Card Blank

• Wink of Stella Clear Brush Pen
• Viva Decor Pearl Pen Black
• Alphabet and Star Dies

Thanks for stopping by

Lisa