Stamperia Brocante Antiques Birthday Card

 

Hi everyone 😊

Today I am sharing a Birthday Card that I made for my daughter's birthday:

I am popping this card into the following Challenges:

Splitcoaststampers - Free for All Friday F4A727 - Feature something that begins with the letter B  (mine is the Bear of course)!

Crafty Catz - Challenge #675 - Anything Goes with Optional Twist of Embellishments (I used the flower and heart sparklets)

I LOVED making this card!  The images in the Stamperia Brocante Antiques release are just sooooo beautiful and when Stamperia recently released this range, I couldn't WAIT to get my hands on it.  I especially love all the teddy bear images because I knitted a teddy bear for my daughter's birthday and it just seemed like a match made in heaven.

The main image was diecut from one of the 12" x 12" papers using a Lifestyle Nesting Circle die and my Big Shot.  I layered the image onto pink and teal designer paper from the same Stamperia range.  The teal paper was diecut using a Lifestyle Nesting Scalloped Circle die.

I punched the bottom designer paper panel using a Martha Stewart Doily Lace Edge Punch then embossed the entire panel with a Cuttlebug Jamara embossing folder which added some lovely texture to the card.  I added the seam binding in two separate elements; the bow itself was made with my Bow Easy.   I added some Fray Stop to the edges of the ribbon because it frays so easily.  I glued on a flower from my stash using Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive then brushed on some Wink of Stella Clear Glitter for some sparkle.  

I ink blended every panel on the card with Antique Linen Distress Ink and my ink blending tool.  I recently purchased some domed foam pads for ink blending and I have found them easier to ink blend than the flat circle pads.  I don't get any harsh lines like I used to.

Note that I added scraps of white cardstock underneath the layers on my card for dimension instead of using dimensionals or self-adhesive foam pads.

The sentiment is from a retired Kaisercraft Miss Betty paper pad which was originally released in February 2018 and is one of my all-time favourite releases.  All Kaisercraft pads have sentiments at the back of their pads which come in very handy.  I layered the sentiment onto some designer paper then added some Wink of Stella to the button.   

Kaisercraft don't have anywhere near the amount of releases or even the range of cardmaking/scrapbooking products like they used to.   I miss their Workshop Magazine, their blog, Design Team samples, co-ordinating products and Beyond the Page.   I used to love going to my nearest Kaisercraft store and immersing myself in the experience.  I knew the Manager and she personally did loads of samples and put together kits - it was wonderful because you felt really inspired and you wanted to buy their products.  I can't understand why they don't at least promote their scrapbooking/cardmaking products to encourage creativity which would generate sales.  It's like it's a forgotten part of their business whilst they are busy promoting handbags, soap and baby toys.  Makes me sad 😢😢  Anyway, I am digressing.......

The hearts on the top RHS are by Kaisercraft (another retired product line) which matched the card perfectly (LOVE it when that happens!).  I glued them on using Helmar 450 glue.  

Once I had finished the card front, I glued it onto a brown cardstock base.

I decorated the card inside:

The sentiment is by Stampin' Up from their Sweet Ice Cream set and was stamped using Versafine Vintage Sepia ink onto cream cardstock then diecut with my Lifestyle Nesting Circle and Scalloped Circle dies.  I added some tiny hearts which are the leftover punchies from my EK Success Arrows Border Punch (if you are a regular visitor to my blog, you know that I have been using these tiny leftover punchies as hearts for a VERY long time!)

All the panels were ink-blended with Antique Linen Distress Ink and all the layers on the card front and inside were trimmed to 1/8" using my We R Memory Keepers Layer Guides.

The '21' was diecut from rose gold metallic cardstock and Lawn Fawn Finley's 123 dies which I have had forever but are still available from Lawn Fawn.  I know the 21 looks a little dark but it is definitely rose gold metallic cardstock.

I made a tag as well:

I handcut a tag from the Stamperia Brocante Antiques designer paper then layered it onto some designer paper then handcut it and ink-blended the tag with Antique Linen Distress Ink.

On the back of the tag, I added a rub-on using the Stamperia Brocante Antiques Rub On set then ink-blended the tag with Antique Linen Distress Ink:

I punched a hole using a 1/4" hole punch then added some fibres from the yarn I used for the hand-knitted teddy bear that I made which you can see here:

The teddy bear is a pattern from a Family Circle Magazine dated June 2021.  I knitted the bear using King Cole Truffle DK yarn in the colour 'Cookie Dough'.  It was the hardest thing I have ever knitted but I am so pleased with how it turned it.  I knitted a scarf in Fisherman's Rib using Moda Vera Starlight 8 ply yarn which I bought from Spotlight.

I really struggled with trying to do the nose with black yarn.  I got it crooked and uneven twice and had to keep pulling it out and was worried I was going to damage the muzzle and maybe put a hole in it - and then I had a brainwave and diecut black felt with a Spellbinders Oval Nestabilities die and glued it on using Helmars Fabric Glue.   I was ever-so-pleased with how it looked.  I just love that you can use dies for more than just cardstock and paper!

Popped in two 8mm Black Safety Eyes and stuffed the bear with Polyester Fibrefill.

We had a lovely birthday celebration and went to a cafe for lunch and to a local RSL for the evening meal then a homemade chocolate cake with chocolate frosting at home. 

Phew!  That was a long blog post!  Thanks for stopping by!

Jocelyn

Card Recipe - Front:

Stamps:  None

Ink:  Ranger Antique Linen Distress Ink

Designer Paper:  Stamperia Brocante Antiques 12" x 12" pad + Backgrounds 8" x 8" pad, Kaisercraft Miss Betty 6-1/2" x 6-1/2" pad (retired)

Accessories:  Big Shot, Cuttlebug Jamara Embossing Folder (retired), Ink Blending Tool and Domed Foam Pads, Paper Flower, Wink of Stella Clear Glitter Brush, Light Teal Seam Binding, Fray Stop, Bow Easy, WRMK Layer Guides, Kaisercraft Trimmer, Kaisercraft Sparklets - Hearts RS420 (retired), Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive + Fabric Glue, Tombow Mono Multi Glue, Cardstock: scraps of white, brown card base

Dies:  Lifestyle Nesting Circles + Nesting Scalloped Circles

 

Punches:  Martha Stewart Doily Lace Edge

Card Recipe - Inside:

Stamps:  Stampin' Up! Sweet Ice Cream #154456

Ink:  Versafine Vintage Sepia, Ranger Antique Linen Distress Ink

Designer Paper:  Stamperia Brocante Antiques 12" x 12" pad + Backgrounds 8" x 8" pad

Accessories:  Big Shot, Ink Blending Tool and Domed Foam Pads, WRMK Layer Guides, Cardstock - cream, rose gold metallic

Dies:  Lifestyle Nesting Circles + Nesting Scalloped Circles, Lawn Fawn Finley's 123s #LF770

Punches:  EK Success Arrows Border

Tag Recipe:

Stamps:  None

Ink:  Ranger Antique Linen Distress Ink

Designer Paper:  Stamperia Brocante Antiques 12" x 12" pad

Accessories:  Tombow Mono Multi Glue, Ink Blending Tool and Domed Foam Pads, 1/4" Hole Punch, Fibres from Knitted Bear, Stamperia Brocante Antiques Rub-On DFLRB76, Cardstock - Cream

Knitted Bear:

Pattern:  Family Circle Magazine - June 2021

Yarn:  King Cole Truffle DK - Cookie Dough, Cleckheaton 5 ply - black (for embroidery), Moda Vera Starlight 8 ply

Needles:  4mm

Accessories:  Sewing up needle, Polyester Fiberfill Stuffing, 8mm Black Safety Eyes, Big Shot, Black Felt

Dies:  Spellbinder Oval Nestabilities

Happy Knitted Easter Wishes

Hi blogging friends

Happy Easter everyone!

I have been a busy little bee putting the finishing touches to some Easter gifts and an Easter card for my daughter.  I have been knitting some ducklings after I go to bed at night so I could hide what I was knitting for her.  It was sooooo hard to get decent photos today because the weather turned cold and it was so dull but I hope you like my creations.

First up, here is the yellow duckling:

The pattern is out of a book by Jane Bull called "Crafty Creatures" published in 2013 - which is meant to be a craft book for kids but I really love it.  I originally borrowed the book out of my local Library but my daughter and I loved it so much that I bought the book.  I have quite a number of books by Jane Bull and always found them detailed and well-written.  Anyway, I have had my eye on the knitted ducklings in the book and thought they would be fun for Easter.  It is simple garter stitch and knitted in one piece using 8 ply yarn and the pattern was very easy to follow and was quick.

Once you finish your knitting, you simply sew it up and stuff just the head but leave the rest of the duck because you put in your Easter egg through the bottom to fill the gap:  a fun little surprise!  I glued on the felt beak and the 4mm bead eyes with Fabric glue.  Here is a pic of the bottom filled with an Easter egg:

Because my daughter loves rainbows, I knitted a duck with rainbow yarn as well just for a bit of fun:

Then all I had to do was decorate the baskets:

The baskets, little chicks, green and yellow shredded paper (and the Easter eggs which are at the bottom of the box) all came from Woolworths - the yellow ribbon is from my stash.  Here is a pic of the closed box:

My daughter will get a nice little surprise when she opens her boxes tomorrow!

And now here is my knitted baby duckling:

Isn't he cute?  The pattern came out of the Jean Greenhowe Knitted Animals booklet and was knitted in 8 ply yarn.  This was my first time knitting from one of her patterns and it was really easy to follow and understand.   I have already started knitting another project from the booklet as they are great little projects to do when I watch TV at night.

The little white bucket also came from Woolworths and is very tiny - about 3 inches or 7.5 cm high and again, I just filled it with some shredded tissue paper.

Because the bucket came in a set of 3, I decorated another one with Easter eggs and a cute little bunny bottom on one side - a CASE of one that Sue Nelson did way back in 2007 which you can see here at her gallery at Splitcoaststampers (please note if you are not a member of SCS, you may not be able to see Sue's sample).

I used a Lifestyle Nesting Circle die, a Spellbinders Nesting Oval die and heart punches to do mine.  I did two layers of the hearts for mine and glued on a yarn pom-pom.  Here is a side view:

Thanks for visiting my blog today!  On my next post, I will be sharing the Easter card that I made for my daughter.  Stay tuned!

Jocelyn


Knitted Duck Recipe:

Pattern:  From Crafty Creatures book by Jane Bull

Yarn:  8 ply knitted with 4mm needles

Accessories:  4mm black beads, felt, fabric glue, wool needle, stuffing, Easter takeout boxes (Woolworths), green + yellow shredded tissue paper (Woolworths), ribbon (stash), coloured chicks (Woolworths)


Knitted Baby Duck Recipe:

Pattern:  From Jean Greenhowe's Knitted Animals booklet

Yarn:  8 ply yellow and white yarn knitted with 3mm needles (makes a denser knitted finish than 4mm)

Accessories:  black yarn (for eyes), wool needle, stuffing, white bucket (Woolworths), ribbon (stash), green + yellow shredded tissue paper (Woolworths)


White Bucket decorated with Bunny Bottom:

Accessories:  white bucket (Woolworths), green + yellow shredded tissue paper (Woolworths), Big Shot, Lifestyle Nesting Circles die, Spellbinder Oval Nestabilities die, Carl CP-2 Heart duo punch, Carl CP-1 heart punch, yarn pom-pom (Riot Art and Craft), cardstock - white, pink

Knitted Cat Bookmark and Felt Owl Egg Cosy

Hi blogging friends

A special welcome to my new Followers!  Thank you for following my blog!

As promised on my last post, I am sharing my knitted cat bookmark and felt owl egg cosy which I made for my daughter's 10th birthday (in July).  I adore knitting and find time to knit most days as I find it so calming and relaxing.  I haven't shared my knitting before on my blog as I am not really sure how to take photos of my projects but anyway, here goes:

 

The Cheshire Cat pattern is from the UK Knit Today magazine - Issue 84 - April 2013, and was designed by Tina Barrett.  The cat was knitted using DK yarn and 3.25mm (UK size 10) knitting needles.   I did my face a little differently to the instructions as I used black beads for the eyes instead of embroidering them.  The remainder of the embroidery was done using black DK yarn.   The head is stuffed with polyester fiberfill.  The legs and tail were knitted on double-pointed knitting needles which made them a tube eliminating any sewing of a seam making life easy.  Here are some more photos:

 

 

As you can see, the body is flat which lies in the book and the head, legs and tail hang out the end.   In case you are wondering what the book is that the cat is lying on:  it is Simon's Cat.  Here is a close-up pic of his sweet little face:

 

 

 And now, here is the Felt Owl Egg Cosy:

 

 

The pattern is from a book called Super-Cute Felt by Laura Howard which is published by CICO Books.  The edition I have is dated 2011 and I just checked around and it is still readily available.  I really LOVE this book - so many cute projects including Christmas and the instructions are easy to follow:  I highly recommend it if you like playing with felt like I do. 

 

I embroidered my eyes a little differently to the book and used my Big Shot and Lifestyle Nesting Circle dies to diecut the eyes - so much easier than handcutting them.  I also diecut the Chevron felt pieces using a Chevron Stripes Die-namics die by My Favorite Things.  The original pattern had embroidery in that part but I thought it would be fun to use my dies instead.  That's the great thing about dies:  they are not just limited to cardmaking!

 

Here is a pic of the back of the egg-cosy:

 

 

The heart was also diecut using a heart die from the MFT Die-namics Notched Tag (and stamp) set - and all the embroidery was done using 3 strands of embroidery floss.  The outside of the owl was sewn using sewing thread.

 Hope you like my little projects.  Thanks for stopping by!

 

Jocelyn