Tuesday 11 August 2009

Mummy-to-be card...

I'm really not sure if I like this card! It has taken quite a while coming together. I printed the front papers when I saw Colour Create's combo of pink, orange and green. They are a free download called 'Happy Mothers' Day' by Summertime Designs. But they have been sitting around for over a week because I was helping out at our Church Holiday club last week and, although we all had a fantastic time, I was too tired to craft in the evenings!

The design started to come together when I saw Friday Sketchers challenge. There were lots of curves which made me think of this Elzybells stamp, which I have had for ages but just not got around to inking up yet! I decided to follow this sketch and round the front of the card which meant I needed to go back to my DP and print a paper for the inside as it would show. About a week ago I persuaded my husband to answer loads of the things I wanted to do with Photoshop but couldn't and he even showed me some things I hadn't thought of! Refering back to my notes, I was able to lighten the pink by altering the opacity and overlay the flowers at the bottom and top corner before printing- I even impressed myself!


I had been thinking about Stamp Something's challenge to use a charm on your card- I don't have any charms! I decided to have a go at making one, so used a little bootie stamp from a Woodware clear set to stamp on shrink plastic. I used a hole punch to make the hole before cutting them out. I knew they were going to end up tiny because they were pretty small before I started but also because I checked them with my shrink plastic ruler (see end of post). They were so small that my heat gun kept blowing them away so I ended up heating them in a ramekin dish to keep them in one place! They are suspended from the mulberry flower by a fine silver thread as I do not have any jewellery making stuff.

Shrink Plastic Ruler.
I don't claim this as my own idea but can not remember where I heard it! Take an off cut of shrink plastic and, using a permanent pen, draw on a line with a ruler and mark off and number each centimeter. Shrink the 'ruler' and use it to give a guide of how small your shrinkies will end up. For example- Measure your stamp in cm. then find the same size on your 'ruler' to get an idea of their final size when shrunk. Sorry for the blurry photo but this is seriously small!

17 comments:

Carolyn said...

What a darling card Alison. I love the Elzybells image. The tips for the shrink art are helpful also.
Hugs xx
Carolyn

Maarit at Violets Corner said...

Ooh, how clever ruler idea is!!! Thanks for sharing!

Oups, and the card is lovely :)

Hugs
Maarit

Unknown said...

wow what a funny and so fantastic card.
thank you so much for joining the friday sketchers challenge.
have a nice week.
hugs, bea

Penni said...

Fab card Alison. I love the image.

Great idea with the rule too - its good to have an idea of how small an image would be once shrunk!

Hugs
Penni
X

Stampin'Piper said...

Beautiful card! The ruler is great :)

Thanks for playing with my sketch and joining the Friday Sketchers!

Hugs Tanja

dolcreations said...

What an adorable Elzybells image. I love it. I especially love that little charm you have dangling...what a cleaver idea!
Great job!
Christine

Jeannie said...

Adorable! I luv the little booties and how you finished off the inside.

Peace and Luv,
Jeannie

Shelly said...

Oh I definately LIKE your card, and for such a fab occassion! Great papers and cute charm, I love handmade charms but don't make them often (I suppose I'm a bit lazy)! Great ruler tip too! Thanks for joining us at Stamp Something.
Shelly x

Janiel/ janny said...

Beautiful card and the ruler is great.

Thank you for joining Colour Create this week.
hugs janny

Erin... said...

What a cute and clever charm!!! Love this adorable card too!! Thanks for playing along with us at Stamp Something this week!

Sharon Traynor Designs said...

Beautiful card Alison. That's a great image. Love the idea of the ruler; that's a great tip.
Thanks for joining the Colour Create Challenge.
Sharon xx

Di said...

This is just lovely thanks for joining C.C this week

Di xxxx

debby4000 said...

Oh this is fabulous and what lovely papers.
What a great tip for shrink plastic.
luv
Debby

Sharon Traynor Designs said...

Hi Alison,
Please could you contact me at the colour create e-mail address? I seem to have messed up the prize winner and I'd like to sort something out with you.
Thank you,
Sharon

Sarah said...

A lovely card Alison! I like the papers that you have used and the layout is fab too!I have something for you over on my blog!

Ellen said...

Hello Alison,


Amazing Blog, cards and projects. Love them all!!!!

Hugs,
Ellen

Christine (All She Crafts) said...

Love this, Alison... The circle background looks like a fully-fledged 'baby bump', so how appropriate!! lol ;o) Was that deliberate?

The charm is brilliant, and the tip re. using the ramekin is great!

Just off to add myself as a follower...

Hugs,
Chris xx