Playing with Metal - Tattered Flowers

Today was a good day to just play in my craftroom and try something new. I had been wanting to try making flowers from old soda pop cans.  Tim Holtz recent post is about using the Tattered flowers die and creating all kinds of flowers using different materials.  He used burlap and tissue paper glued on grunge paper for some great creations and is launching a contest.  It is worth checking out here! 

Here's my finished flower

I started off by cutting the top and bottom off of the soda can.  I used a combination of can opener and the Tim Holtz scissors.  Once done, I simply washed the metal, dried it off and began the project.  I used the Tattered Flowers die with my Big Shot and it cut so easily - only need to pass it through once.

I had LuminArte Silks Acrylic Glaze paints on hand but I wasn't sure if they would adhere to the metal.  I decided to apply a thin coat of gesso and then add my glaze paints.  I used a combination of teal, ginger peach and nutmeg.  Once the paint dried, I used the Tim Holtz textured fade embossing folder on the three flower petals.  Curled the flowers using a small wooden stick and hot glued them together.  A simple, off-white button for the centre.

Having been inspired by Tim Holtz and his spring flowers, i decided to make a Spring-themed card. 

Papers:  K&Company, DCWV

Doily - Tim Holtz die

Cricut - Frames and Birdcage

Pearl embellishment, brad, Stickles in silver and gold

 

The doily was also cut from the soda pop can and painted with Solar Gold and Nutmeg Luminarte glaze.  The frames were cut with my Cricut Expression using Elegant Edges cart and the the birdcage from Straight From the Nest cart.  I simply added a few pearl embellishments, stamped Spring using Ranger archival ink.  Added a bit of Stickles to the birdcage and "Spring"

 

I will be trying some new techniques soon!

 

 

Easter Parade of Cards

Easter will soon be here and I can show you the first round of cards that have been mailed and received by family and friends.  They'll be a few more cards but I can't show those until Easter Sunday. 

The first card is for my dear BFF, her husband and three girls.  I chose to make 3 bunnies to represent each girl.  I used "fun flock" for the first time and it was easy and fun! I chose a green paper from DCWV shimmer stack as the card base.  I layered the words "Joyeuses Paques" with a DCWV glitter stack, added some ribbon, grommets and then a sentiment inside the card with a decorated egg.

The next card is for my brother and his family.  For this card, I braided some ribbon, ran the layer of blue paper through my Big Shot using the Cuttlebug polka dot folder, added a few flower brads and then made the basket, grass and eggs with my Cricut.  I weaved paper strips through the basket, just as we did in primary school :)!



The next card is for my eldest sister and her family.  I chose a purple paper from DCWV shimmer stack as the card base.  I layered the rabbit with purple paper and DCWV glitter stack.  I added some ribbon, a corsage pin that I embellished with beads and then carried some of the same paper inside for the sentiment which is printed on vellum.

And finally the last card is for my other sister.  I used again DCWV shimmer paper and cut the shape from the Wild Card cartridge.  All shapes were cut from a cricut cartridge.  I stamped the word Easter on the front using Tim Holtz distressed ink and added a few daisies and yellow ribbon for embellishment.

Check back in on Sunday to see the final Easter cards and then maybe you can tell me which one you like best.

Tags

I was quite busy with work this week but I still managed to find time to make a few tags.  I just started using my new Big Kick (a great deal at Michaels) and I'm finding it really easy to add dimension to the cards using the few embossing folders that I have.

Here's a look at the first, very simple tag that I made:

 

I have a number of projects underway given the special people in my life who will be celebrating birthdays in March.  I will reveal them in the coming weeks! 



Big Shot or Big Shot Pro

Well I've made several purchases in the last few months to support/enable my paper crafting.  One tool that I do not have is an embossing/die cutting machine.  I've looked at several and seem to have narrowed it down to the Sizzix models.  BUT I'm not sure which model I prefer -  the heavy duty Big Shot Pro or the Big Shot. 

What do you have or what are your thoughts?