ATC's using the 'Metal Tape Technique

At our last ATC class we made our ATC's using the 'Metal Tape Technique'. For our Metal Tape Technique we started by covering our mount boards with aluminium foil,that had been backed with wide double sided tape. Our ATC's were then popped into various embossing folders and run through a Big Shot Machine, painted with black acrylic paint, which was then left to dry for a few minutes then rubbed off in places with a baby wipe and finally colourised using alcohol inks.  Here are some photos of the results, they all worked out so well.

Suzie's Metal Tape Technique ATC's

Marie-Pascaline's Metal Tape Technique

Sue G's  Metal Tape Technique ATC's

My Metal Tape Technique ATC's

There are some very good tutorials on You Tube and websites with details of how to do this fun technique here is one You Tube video that I've watched, enjoyed and recommend watching too:-

RachO113

There's a  great photo tutorial over on  www.cardmakingparadise.com

 I think it's accessible for members only, but  but I can certainly recommend joining  because it's a brilliant website with loads of great  templates, tutorials, and  projects which are free, as well as a selection of lovely challenges, swaps,  and a friendly forum  to join in with too. You can choose from monthly membership or register for a whole year.

Cards made over the summer

It's been a busy fun filled summer here, with the children having almost ten weeks for their summer holidays, how lucky are they (they go back today),and as a result I haven't posted as often as I would have liked too. So to play catch up, here are a few snaps of some of the cards have made over the last few months.

I loved making these cards and,
 was on a roll with them, so I managed 
to run up a few in one sewing session.

  

 

Here were a couple of gents cards 

This was for my nephew in

 the UK using a lovely template 

from
www.cardmakingparadise.com

I made this card for our young 
neighbours who were married
 in August. It was inspired by 
 a card I saw on Pinterest -
I adapted the Template slightly to fit
 the card size I wanted and 
then used a TH 'On The Edge' die on the 
inside of the card. 

A girlie card for 
a friend's friend

These two were a way great to use
 up tiny bits of card stock.

This was for my very dear friend Suzanne,
with whom we spent such a delightful
 afternoon recently. 

I've been working on some backgrounds for my Art Journal pages too, but as they are still waiting to be finished off with some journalling,I will make a start on journalling these pages so that  I will have some more pictures to up load and post next time.

A delightful afternoon with two very dear friends

My daughter and I spend a delightful afternoon recently with two very dear friends, Suzanne and Michael. Suzanne had cut some lavender stems, from her garden earlier in the morning, so that we could make some gorgeous Lavender Wands, with her kind and clear instructions.

Here are our Lavender Wands which were so
 much fun  but simple to make and 
delightfully scented.

We were then treated to a delicious

 and beautifully presented summer's
 afternoon tea - Suzanne's special recipe of
 Raspberry Tiramisu, was served with a 
lovely chilled apple and raspberry fruit juice
 followed by fresh plums from her garden.

I love this little poem Suzanne has 
displayed on her veranda
Translated it means :-
"If you want you garden to flourish -
 first prepare it in your heart."
How beautiful is that?

The amount of  love and care spent tending to their plants is certainly evident here,in these photos of their beautiful garden. 

Sometimes we are lucky enough to share very special times with very dear friends - this was certainly one of those days and one which will stay with me always.

For some reason, probably Mrs Muddlhead me, or maybe Gremlins in the works,the post I posted a ten days ago, with the photo of the plaque my friend's husband asked me to make for his wife just disappeared !!! So I have reposted the photo here. It was a fun project to make and gave me a chance to use my lovely new Tim Holtz dress form die cut.

My friend liked her surprise and said she will hang it in her office at home.

Some Christmas cards and a few lovely new blogs I've found

Earlier this week I was looking through my bits 'n' bobs box in one of my cupboards and found some Christmas cards that I started to make a while back,thinking it would be a good idea to make an early start. LOL Here are a few of them.

The one's above and below were decorated using some of my favourite Karen Foster Design vintage style Christmas stickers that I bought a few years ago, and still had some left in my goodie box stach. I also used some Cuttlebug Embossing folders and lovely Tim Holtz Distress Inks to add dimension to this one below.

The two below were decorated using a downloadable  Vintage Santa image from my friend Dawn over on the

 The Feathered Nest

  I have found and started following a few new blogs recently. First off is here at

Jenniebellie Studio

This blog is certainly worth visiting because as well as her lovely blog, Jenniebellie also makes brilliant Youtube videos. Just click on a button to view her videos when you visit her blog.  It is a treat to visit and watch her creating such gorgeous art.

Yesterday I found a lovely post here at 

Stampingmathilda that shows a stamp that Mathilda made herself, which beautifully matches these pretty woven hearts shown in this Woven Heart Video over on
Eline Pillinkof's beautiful blog.

Well that's about all for today hope that you enjoyed the links.

It has taken quite a while to get to this point but finally I am here in Blogland

It has taken quite a while to get to this point, but finally I am here in Blogland. My dear friend Dawn, over at her gorgeous blog   The Feathered Nest
(the-feathered-nest.blogspot)
asked me about three years ago,"who don't you start blogging?".I didn't seem to have the time then but finally now I have.

Here are two  photos of  cards that I made recently. As I love all things shabby chic especially distressing inks, buttons, ribbons and lace I had fun making them. 

As the blue one was for a friend I couldn't show it before I had given it to her.