With our men in mind...



Samples of Decoupaged ideas for Mens cards!



All of the samples on the board are made from 1 sheet of Die-cut decoupage (£1.15) . 

The sheet includes all 3 designs/themes -Golf, Fishing & relaxing!  Mens favourite hobbies!

I have added a couple of different Peel-off stickers, Sporty layering papers and cork to complete the masculine themes.

"FRANTAGED" GIFT IDEA!

I have been loking forward to working with the AGED SPICE FRANTAGE!  So,  because JAPONICA has have had some new cardboard items in stock, I decided to make an "ARTY" notebook for a friend.


Note book & matching card/envelope

I have repeated the Magnolia print (a STAMPENDOUS STAMP- so gorgeous) on a separate piece of craft card to create a "pocket" inside for tickets, bits & pieces.  


Close-up of "Pocket" for bits n pieces inside notebook.

This is what I used:-
Stampendous -Camellia stamp, Versafine O Black inkpad, Coloured pencils (SAKURA for great blending/shading), Clear embossing inkpad, Heat-tool, FRANTAGE - Aged Spice, Aged Ivory, Pearlised Mica Fragments. Plain card notebook 15 x 15cms £1.99.

ALL of these items are availalble in JAPONICA.  There is a workshop coming up on 17th June for FRANTAGE effects!  (Workshop £12.50).



CARDS for MEN in the family - sorted!

A lovely stamp design to PAPER PIECE!  

I like to call it "Colouring in with papers" then it does not get mixed up with "Paper PieRcing!"  I have used lovely papers by Woodware "OSLO" that have all the beige, brwon and tan colours for tthis card and i have teamed it with Tan linen card from our collection att Japonica.   Francoise at Woodware has designed lots of stamps for this method and of course any colour combinations could be used - but I think this JUST for U is one I shall be using again and again!  The are 5 other small greetings are in the set too for £6.00.

Close-up on embellishment on papers!  I used a Gelly roll pen - clear and white!

A mans easel card -using football square Peel-offs - the reverse image on this sheet is really effective on the black layer card  

CLose-up of watercoloured image and reverse image to.

Watercolour pencils on a piece of watercolour card. 
Stamped image using Versafine.  LOvely smple finish -add a panel of blue embossed card -using a swirl folder - Voila!

Blockart for BIRD -DAYS



THIS IS A GOOD IDEA FOR USING  obsolete wooden blocks from stamps to create art  for gifts and decorations!  I have used some pretty papers (double-sided ones are a good idea), some shading tecniques using inkpads and a MULTI PUNCH - Includes Dove, Owl, 2 wings, twig and lots of leaves!!

 The smaller one has different colours and  a little glitz!

More birds - doing foolish things!



What garden seat do you prefer?

This is my Restful garden bench - restful because I've put the wheelbarrow and wateringcan down to have a rest!    I have used craft card and enbossed the background, added a lovely sq label shape to the centre and stamped (Artemio - Hedgerow) in shades of green.  3-4 Vellum butterflies were also die-cut and added along with apikcet fence, a garden bench and tools.  The wheelbarrow and Watering can have been sponged with a Versamagic - Niagara Mist to dullen the lime green card. Stickles have glistened on the branches of the FOLIAGE stamp (Hobby Art) and Liquid pearl dots to the wing tips of the butterflies (from the Topiary die set by Maranne). 

 See some of the detail in the pic below....

The next seat ...

This seat is a much more elegant style - maybe for a quiet corner in the sun....
I have made a box card from 2 x A5 of white card.  This concertinas at the sides to fold flat into an envelope easily.   An acetate window allows you to glue the seat to it and add a Silver Peel-off message too.  Behind the acetate, inside the card i have embossed "birds" and sponged with a soft blue inkpad.  I have also added a border of Tulips ( die by Crafts-too) that have been sponged with lovely pastel colours of Versamagic for a soft summer look.   The Topiary have been die-cut and embossed in green card and Liquid Pearl have created the "BUDS" in pale pink and white.

Victorian Portraits

I used my CUTTLEBUG for die-cutting the rectangle and the oval shapes and the flowers for these cards.  The Portraits come on a 12 x 12"sheet of paper (SKAGEN from Woodware) - there are 2 sizes on this sheet.

All items were cut using white card and colour was added from inkpads.  VERSAMAGIC chalk inkpads were used for sponging gentle colours to the edges of the images - Pixie Dust Pink and Sahara Sand - a perfect match to the tones in the cards.  The finish was gentle, feminine and Victorian without being dingy!

I usd my NEW FAUX SPRITZING technique for the Rosebud background and BRILLIANCE ink - Pearl Beige - one of my favourites!  The ribbon was a great idea using Organza ribbon (wide) shown to me by my good friend Crafty Debs!  Thank you Debbie!

MY FAUX SPRITZING TECHNIQUE

Faux Spritzing with BRILLIANCE inkpads

 When planning some projects for a CUTTLEBUG workshop recently - I used BRILLIANCE inkpads inside my embossing folders -only to discover that my embossed card looked like I had used a Pearly Spritz - but MAGICALLY avoided the embossed detail! 

So I have called this my FAUX SPRITZ technique!

Many BRILLIANCE inkpads are Pearlescent, so the finish has a lovely pearly sheen.   I am a big fan of BRILLIANCE inks already as they represent good value for money because they can be used in so many different ways.
I have used - Lightning Black (SIlhouette design),Sky Blue (Daisy design) and Lime (Birthday Wishes)

Detail of the Silhouette die cut in an embossed oval - Faux Spritzed with Lightning Black BRILLIANCE.  Add an organza ribbon and liquid Pearl (Silver) to embellish. TOP TIP - Always wash your embossing folder thoroughly after inking!