Getting into vintage by Chris W

A friend of mine asked me recently how did I start doing vintage and shabby projects and I can't really remember. I've loved vintage for years and have a massive collection of vintage dies that go way back before Tim Holtz started making it popular. That said, Tim has not only brought it to the forefront of crafting he has also brought us products that make it so easy to create anything from cards to altered art and for that we have to thank him. It occurred to me that if she is struggling to make that first step then maybe some of you are too so I've done this really simple frame to get you started.

Time Frame

My friend told me that she was loathed to buy anything too expensive until she knew she could do it. I'll let you into a secret..... ANYONE can do it and once you've done a card or project or two you'll find it so easy. This piece uses Tim's Postage stamp frame, his Movers and shapers Ovals and a stamp from his Time Travellers stamp set all of which are great for non-vintage projects too. If you don't have any greyboard or mountboard you can use thick cardboard. It makes a great little gift for Dad or any guy and, once you have the bits you need to make it the materials cost pennies.

You can embellish this frame as simply or lavishly as you like and in so many ways. I've just added a charm on a chain on this one and attached it by just pushing it between the sandwiched frame layers - what could be easier.

I've made a very, very basic easel for the back of the frame by folding a piece of greyboard (you could use sturdy cardboard) and a piece of thin string, knotted, which is how they did it years ago.

This really is such a simple make and demonstrates that it can be so easy to make that first step.

Thanks for stopping by. If you'd like to view, print or download the instructions for this please click HERE.

Chris xxx

Bunny frame by Chris W

If you bought the Mini Bunny & Bow Movers and shapers set before Easter and have packed it away then you might just want to get it back out again [grin]...

I love this little bunny and he fits perfectly into this 2" x 3" frame to make a great little gift for anyone you love. Although I've distressed this you could just as easily not and make it a fab' little pressie for the nursery of your friend that's just had a baby.

The Pediments die has come in handy to create a great little feature for the top of this frame.

As you can see, colouring up the bunny is very easy.

If you add part of a couple of the Spellbinders D-Lites dies you can give depth to the frame and make it even prettier.

To view, print or download the instructions for this please click HERE.

Have fun,

Chris xxx

Elegant script card by Chris W

A simple elegant card that you can add any salutation to and use for virtually any occasion…

This card features the Tim Holtz Tornnotepad On the edge die and one of the new Spellbinders D-Lites Shapeability dies called Gardenweave. The faux script background was created using the That special touch Script mask.

  

The torn ‘letter’ makes use of both sides of the Torn notepad die and if your script stamp is too wide you simple mask off the sides with low tack tape before you stamp to get the margins.

The Garden weave die adds a simple but elegant feature and some texture to the card before adding the flower. The faux script is quite large but I like that as it contrasts with the smaller script of the stamp.

This card can be made in any colour you like and lends itself well to being distressed or grunged if that’s your thing. (For those of you who don’t follow my blog I rarely leave anything undistressed, lol.) You can add your own salutation to the top right or centre of the letter to celebrate any event you want. If you want to view, print or download the instructions please click HERE.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Chris xxx

 

Bon Voyage Tag Card

I bet you sometimes feel like me. You're known for 'making cards' (which I actually rarely do) and so people ask you to make cards for them. This is the result of one of those requests! A colleague of my friend is off on a long term business trip and so they wanted to mark the event with a card (and no doubt the obligatory office collection!) 

I took several different blue Distress Inks and tapped them on my craft sheet, spritzed with water and swiped a large #12 tag through the ink. I swiped both sides and did several different layers including a layer of brown inks. I never worry about getting a perfect coverage as the 'mottled' look is a more vintage effect. I used Gathered Twigs Distress Ink for the edges of the card - don't forget to do the inside too! Fold your tag in half.

For the background I used the whole sheet of the Tiny Things Stamp Set. I inked it with French Ultramarine Archival Ink and stamped it onto the tag. Lots of images at once and you don't have to work out the spacing! 

I took some blue paper and stamped the car onto a 2" square piece. I then liberally applied some Glossy Accents to a fragment and then glued the paper and fragment together. When dry I spritzed the back of the paper with water and gently rubbed the paper away. When I had done this I adhered a piece of silver metal tape to the back using the tape's adhesive. I left enough of the front of the paper (the side attached to the fragment) so that the colour and image remain but I wanted a few thinner areas and 'holes' so that the silver of the foil shows through. 

To finish the card I used two Simple Sayings stamps (how incredibly useful are these?!) and added a hitch fastener as a closure. I hope you like this - why don't you make one and enter the latest Butterfly challenge over at our challenge site?!

'Grow' tag by Chris

This tag has become a favourite of mine. It’s a mixture of styles and elements which is what I love to do. It features a very recent acquisition to my tool shed, the ‘Dragonfly’stamp and die set from Sizzix.

If you’ve got the Tim Holtz Tornnotebook On the edge die and you’ve been discarding the debris from the cut then perhaps further examination of this tag might make you want to think again…..? Yes! I’ve been saving the leftovers because they make interesting features for your art and cards. This one is cut from cardboard from a parcel.

Grunged flowers (from Tim Holtz’ KraftResist paper stack)and a dragonfly outline (from his Core’dinationspad) serve to make the main features of the tag. I’ve used a few crystal and pearl brads to lift them a little.

I hope this has given you a few ideas, to view, print or download the instructions please click HERE. Thanks for stopping by, I hope you have a great week.

Chris xxx