Rocky's Crafting Blog

     For my birthday card I have used a flower die to cut out the centre of a white layer, then mounted it on foam tape above a piece of patterned paper.

 

     I stamped with Versafine black ink on smooth white card a couple of times, my colouring is not great so I thought I should have a spare just in case.

      Making cards for men doesn't have to be challenging, this one would be very suitable with it's monochrome pallet, even flowers work well this way.

     The image was stamped on watercolour card and white embossed. Then I used a clean paintbrush to add water to individual areas of the card before sprinkling Brusho on top and letting it do it's magic.

     I spent a little while rummaging through my stash but eventually found a small stack of coloured tissue, luckily there was some yellow left. I used one sheet folded into twelve layers, which I die cut all at the same time.

     This project was the first one I made with the new Jane's Tree die set from John Next Door, I loved the idea of having a 3D tree. I have used a few of his other die sets to make the complete project, all part numbers are listed below.
      Using a strong white card I cut two of Jane's Tree and two of each of the larger deer from Four Seasons, plus two base pieces from the Large Lantern die set.
      I cut down the centre of one tree to the middle and up the other tree to the middle, then I slotted them together. They were then stuck onto the completed base card, glued and covered with clear glitter.
      To make the deer stand up I stuck each pair together at the top and inserted an acetate bracket between their feet.
      There is also a small pine tree from Finlay's Trees and two sets of flowers from the Four Season's set, all of these have been left as plain card - no glitter.
       The Large Lantern is cut from snowfall acetate and assembled with redline tape. Once all the plants and animals were stuck to the card base I slid it inside the lantern, stuck it down and tied the top shut with a small length of string.
      To decorate the top and hide the string I made a big bow using wire edged silver ribbon and die cut some of Lesley's Twigs, a piece of ivy and a couple of Pinstripe Poinsettia.
      These were all stuck on with hot glue, the large flower at the front and the small one at the back.   
      To finish off around the outside I die cut some icicles in plain white card and stuck them upside down, all the way around the base to look like snow covered grass.
      I did toy with the idea of adding a small light in the top, but didn't have much time to puzzle over how to fit it or how to switch it on and off, so I'll have to try that on another one sometime.
      I think this would make a nice table centre, if you have inquisitive little fingers around it's quite safe as it's all inside the acetate case and if it is dropped it won't shatter.
      Jane's Tree die set, plus a few others, will be on Hochanda on Sunday, so keep a look out for the Crystal Forest.

Materials List
JND195 - Jane's Tree die set  : centre tree
JNDCC019 - Large Lantern
JND190 - Pinstripe Pionsettia Die
JNDCC017 - Poinsettia Die (solid shape)
JND187 Twig die set
JND124 Ivy Corner die
JND196 Finleys Trees : small tree 
JND194 - Four Seasons : deer & shrubs
CTGFP-10 Monochrome Glitter Card : white
CAT002 - Glue Glaze pen
S57085 - Ultra Clear Tape : Redline tape
S57262 - 3D PVA Glue

     The cracker die used to make this is last years Faceted Cracker from John Next Door but the glitter card, the twig die and the poinsettia overlay are new this year.
     I forgot to take any construction pictures but it's really very easy to put together as long as you use redline tape, especially if using glitter or mirri card.
     This glitter card is a new shade for this year adding to the non shed range from Craft Artist, it's called Gold Blush and has an 'old rose' kind of tone to it. It matches very well with Shell Pink linen card also from Crafts Too. For this project it is teamed up with Mouse Grey linen card and a rose gold mirri card I found in my local craft shop.
     The cracker is cut from the glitter card and assembled, it's tied up with silver organza ribbon. For the poinsettia I have cut the base petals in Graphite glitter card with the new Pinstripe Poinsettia die overlay in shell pink. I had to use Glue Glaze to get the card to stick to the glitter card, it's a very strong glue.
     The twigs are cut from rose gold mirri and the ivy leaves are cut from Mouse Grey linen card with a hint of silver gilding polish around the edges. The centre of the flower is a bobbly gem from my stash, no idea where or when I got it. All the foliage and flower are stuck on to the cracker with hot glue.


Materials List
JND139 Faceted Cracker die
JND190 - Pinstripe Pionsettia Die
JNDCC017 - Poinsettia Die (solid shape)
JND187 Twig die set
JND124 Ivy Corner die
CTGFP-07 Blush Glitter Card
CTGFP-10 Monochrome Glitter Card
LKK-A450 - Shell Pink Linen Card
LKK-A451 - Mouse Grey Linen Card
CAT002 - Glue Glaze pen
S57262 - 3D PVA Glue

     A new Christmas tree for 2020 using the new Pinstripe Poinsettia die from John Next Door, this Pinstripe die fits perfectly with 2018's solid Poinsettia die.
      Using the solid die I cut several flower sets in gold pearl paper, then with the new Pinstripe die I cut the same number of sets in red card.
      For this project I only used the third and fourth size flowers from the set, the other sizes will be used for another project later. Each red layer was stuck on to a gold layer, after this I stuck one smaller flower on to one larger flower, making a total of nine flower sets.
      For the base of the flower ball I used a polystyrene ball which I coloured red with an alcohol marker. Each flower set is glued in place as well as having a long pin stuck through the centre in to the ball, this does mean it is not suitable for children.
       Like last years trees I chose to use a wooden cotton reel for the pot the tree would be planted in. The trunk is a small thick twig cut from the garden some months ago, there is a little paper wrapped round the twig that sits in the reel to keep it tight, as well as a little strong PVA to hold it in place.
      The soil is some brown flower granules stuck on with PVA and for the pot decoration I have cut some of the Poinsettia Leaves, but this time in dark green stuck over a pale green band of paper around the reel.
      The flower ball was then pushed on to the twig and glued in place. To finish, each flower had a small gold pearl gem stuck over the pin head

2019 Poinsettia Trees

Materials List
JND190 - Pinstripe Pionsettia Die
JND192 - Poinsettia Leaves
JNDCC017 - Poinsettia Die (solid shape)
Cotton Reel / Twig / Polystyrene ball
Card/Paper
S57262 - 3D PVA Glue

     This decoration was made with the two largest flower sets left over from making the Pinstripe Poinsettia Tree. The dies used are a combination of the new Pinstripe Poinsettia from John Next Door being released on Sunday and the solid Poinsettia die from 2018.
     When making the tree I only used the third and fourth size flowers, this uses the first and second largest flowers. I have stuck the smaller of the two petals on to the largest, added a nobly gem in the centre and then glued the two flower sets back to back.
      The acrylic baubles were from Aldi last year, they have a speckle of gold glitter in the plastic which adds to the festive sparkle. I put the twin flower set in the bauble, it fits quite snugly so it doesn't move about. I ran a small bead of 3D PVA around the edge of one half and closed it, the glue dries clear so it doesn't show.
      I had fun and games trying to tie two similar ribbon bows to go on the top, bows are not my thing so it was a challenge. The bauble comes with a hanging thread so all I had to do was use hot glue to fix the bows on top and it was done.
   

Materials List
JND190 - Pinstripe Pionsettia Die
JNDCC017 - Poinsettia Die (solid shape)
Plastic bauble
Card/Paper/Ribbon/Gems
Hot Glue - Stix2
S57262 - 3D PVA Glue

     This card is another of the samples made for John Next Door and his new Craft Artist Pigment Petal ink pads. I love using the media plates and these inks work well on them.
      Using the Autumn set of inks I inked up the media plate with a graduating colour change, then with a hard brayer smoothed it out across the plate. This was then stamped on to white card, it was paler than I wanted so I inked the plate again, brayered and stamped a second time.
      Using a stencil and the gorgeous new blending brushes, I inked the media plate through the stencil. Then with stencil removed I stamped the card again, this gave me a subtle pattern across my background. I didn't think that I needed any more brushes, sponges or pads for blending but these brushes are so very soft and this is what makes them a real must for stencils, I'm hooked.
      With all the work on the media plate finished I moved on to stamping a single flower, from an old Woodware set, in brown. I didn't add a greeting as I did't think it needed it.
      I added a dark brown mat layer to the image panel and started to look for a suitable coloured layer, nothing in the stash stood out so it was on to making one. Using some basic white card I cut the right size layer and then used the inks and a synthetic sponge to colour it. This is a better way to work really as it gives you a perfect colour match to your image.
      With all the layers added it was then onto a white card blank. To add that little point of interest, I die cut one of John's butterflies in the same brown card as the surround and stuck it near the edge of the oval.
      There is always a need for a few simple, blank cards in your stash and this is a great way to make them while experimenting with media plate techniques.


Materials List    Available from your local craft shop
CAT053 - Craft Artist Pigment Petal - Autumn
CAT013 - Craft Artist Blending Brushes 
JLGP004 - Media Plate set of 4
JNDAD008 - Small Butterflies
S57262 3D PVA Glue by Stix2

    This card uses the New Mica Magic two different ways, along with the new Polar Scenes die set and the Snowglobe die set. I have to say that I wasn't very interested in the snow globe die set at first, then one of my crafting friends showed me some of her projects and my head started to pop with ideas, so thank you Avril.  This is also my design piece for Not Just Cards which begins a new month today.
 
     I die cut the scene strips in black and in white card, I wanted to have a highlight type effect. I tried the white on top, then the black on top, the black looked better in a white globe.
    The background was made using the Mica Magic on watercolour card, the card has a texture that gives an almost snowfall look. I worked from the side of the card so the point of origin would be behind the trees, making sure to keep it brighter on the tree side. I added some black to the opposite side to make more of a night sky.
     John showed a technique where he inked the die and then cut the card, so I tried it with an ink called Silver Blue, to me it looks more lilac but as it's metallic it's great for this. I cut the circular frame and the decorative base this way.
     The card is cut with the snowglobe die making sure to leave a hinge at the top, this is covered up with the big circle that the background is on. The base is slightly longer than the full globe so that it stands out in front and looks like a real snowglobe would.
     To get some sparkle on the frame I used the new Craft Artist Glitter Touch clear, having such a small brush it's easy to add little details.
     The flower is made with Craft Artist foam and the Poinsettia die, then coloured with Mica Magic. This creamy mica is gorgeous on foam, it colours beautifully and doesn't rub off like ink does. It's stuck together with Gloss Glaze then finished off with a half pearl coloured with an alcohol marker.
     Please pop over to Not Just Cards and take a look at all the inspiration from both the DT and the challenge entrants, I'm sure you'll find something you'd like to try.



Materials List    Available from your local craft shop
JND143 - Polar Scenes die set
JND123 - Snowglobe die set
CAT004 - Mica Magic Autumn Hues
JNDCC017 - Poinsettia Die
CAT006 - Glitter Touch - Basics
CAT002 - Glue Glaze
CT27829-7 - White Flower Moulding Foam

     Another project using John Next Door's new dies, this time a lavender box to hang with your clothes.
     I started by die cutting the centre lattice from the Avonmore set in a piece of blue card, then I worked around it to measure enough card to make a small, shallow box before cutting anything else.
     Once happy with all the measurements I cut the shape out using a knife and cutting mat, with scissors to trim the tabs, next I used a ball tool to score along all the fold lines.
     It was much easier to stick the silver pearls on to the lattice while the box was flat.
     The lavender would fall out through the lattice if it was loose, so I kept it in the little organza bag it came in but I did have to flatten it to fit, this meant folding the top over and stapling it closed. The bag is fixed to the card inside with redline tape.
     I had planned to leave the lid free to open but that didn't work too well, so once the base was built I glued the lid shut.
    The front looked nice but the corners needed a little something, too late to stamp so a quick rummage in the peel off stash and out came some tiny silver corners.
    The flower is made using some dark blue pearl thin card and the new Cornflower die. A small silver pearl in the centre to tie in with the lattice decoration over a black stamen cluster and it was ready to go on the box.
     Using the Elderflower die I cut some light green foliage, this leaf is lovely but it really pops when you colour the tips of the fronds, I chose white this time. A small rose leaf tucked under the flower as well finished off the front decoration.
     To be able to hang the box I added a small length of blue ribbon to the back, fixing it in place with red line tape and then covering the tape with a die cut panel, this panel was cut using the frame die for the lattice panel.   
     This reminds me of my Grandmother, she grew lavender and used it in her wardrobe to keep things fresh, it was in little muslin bags. So this is a paper craft version of an old tradition, vintage with a twist.


Materials List    Available from your local craft shop
JND108 - Avonmore Die
JND115 - Cornflower Die     (Cornflower Stamp JND116 - not used on this project)
JNDAD016 - Elderflower Dies
JNDAD015 - Rose Leaves Die set

     This canvas was inspired by a photograph I saw on line, texture paste had been used to create the petals of a flower. Hot glue can be used for creating texture, so I set about using it to make my flower for Altered Eclectics.
     As the canvas was going to be painted I was able to draw a rough flower shape to guide my glue application. Working one petal at a time I put down a string of glue around the outside edge of the petal, with a silicone finger protector firmly placed on my hand I used it to smudge the glue into the centre to create a veined petal, this could not be done without the protector!
      Working at diagonals around the flower I created all the petals and let them set, hot glue sets quite quickly so you need to work fast. Some petals look better than others but then real flowers are never completely perfect.
 
     To get a textured centre I used some seed beads, a large pool of hot glue completely smothered with beads and left to set. Once the glue had set I very gently rubbed a finger across the beads to disturb any loose ones to get ready for painting.
     The paint I planned to use needed a layer of gesso first, some better quality paints may not need this preparation, it's an idea to try a small patch first if it doesn't give any information on the label.
     I painted the canvas with gesso and then a layer of white acrylic too. The purple metallic paint I used was then put all over the entire canvas, including the edges.
     I wanted the flower paler than the background so I used the same paint and added a little white acrylic to it, it lost it's metallic quality but that didn't matter as I was going to add foil.
     Once dry and touched up where necessary, I added a little glue from a Stix2 glue stick (other glue sticks may work) on each petal with my finger. After a few minutes I placed transfer foil over the petals and gently rubbed to get the silver in place.
     The beaded centre of the flower was painted with white pearl but it didn't look right, so I went over it with a thin layer of gold pearl with gave it some warmth.
     Butterfly or bee?....It had to be a bee. I die cut a bee in black card, then die cut in cork, I had hoped the cork one would be complete but his legs fell off as I took him out of the die, just a little bit too delicate. All was not lost as I used the little bits of cork that the die cut out of his body to go where the yellow bits might bee.
     The card bee was stuck on to acetate so I could get the translucent wings and also to give him some support. The wings looked OK but not quite good enough so I added a little iridescent glitter to them to make them sparkle.
     The bee is stuck on to the flower with two layers of clear foam pad, so if you look at it sideways the bee is hovering.
     A little trip around the edge of the canvas with a two in one glue pen, this is put on and it's blue, you smudge it with your finger to make a random distressed type edge and once it has changed to clear it is super tacky and ready for some foil, this canvas has a mix of silver and purple.
     The whole canvas is only 6x6 so it's easy to find somewhere to hang it, in sunlight it shows just how shiny it is.
     Altered Eclectics is a challenge blog for mixed media and altered art so if you have made anything like that please come over and show us, we would love to see your artwork.

     A Mothers Day gift made with Stix2 Cork Sheet and an empty coffee tin.
     I measured the cork sheet against the tin to get the right height, then cut it making sure to cut a little extra in the length to go around the tin.
     Using the ultra (red) sticky tape I put a line of it from top to bottom and all the way around the top and bottom. I only removed the protective film from the top to bottom line, carefully lining up the cork half way across it so it would stick the beginning and the end.
     Once happy with the vertical placement I began to wrap the cork carefully around the tin removing a little of the tape cover at a time. Once back at the beginning I stuck the end onto the remaining half of the vertical tape. There was a little overlap that I trimmed off by running my finger nail down the cork to break the fibres.
     Using Gingham card I cut one large Sizzix flower and a couple of leaves, a cork daisy type flower and a plain card small flower, with a plain green leaf. Assembling the flower was easy using Stix2 PVA to fix it all together, this could be done with hot glue if any of the surfaces are being troublesome. All that remained was to stick the flower to the tin and add a small silver pearl to the flower centre.
 
     With the exception of the tin and the die all products are available from Stix2 Anything, either direct or at your local craft shop.

Materials List
 S57421 Cork Sheet  (New product)
 A4250LEMON - Gingham Card
 A4250GREEN - Gingham Card
 Tinted Card - Holly Green & Intense Yellow
 S57262 3D PVA Glue
S57091 Ultra Clear Tape 12mm

     Welcome to my designer inspiration for April at MHK Designs, this card was made using the new set Caring Crocus.
     The image was changed to green before being printed on to white card. The leaves and body of the flower have been coloured with pencils, then the flower head outline has been foiled. Using a 2in1 glue pen I drew around the flowers petals and then used a small sheet of foil to give it a purple shine.
     A little ink around the edge of the image panel helps bring it into the purple mat layer before being mounted on a white card blank.

Caring Crocus

       I used to think digital images where just 'print and colour' so not very useful, oh how wrong I was!  They can be sized to fit your needs, turned around, you can alter their colour, take bits off, add bits from other digis and all that before you print. Once printed the colouring can be done with almost anything in your stash, even glittered or foiled.
    So I would like to say a big THANK YOU to MHK Designs for opening my eyes to the world of digital images.