Using Real Designer Paper

This weekend I had the chance to play with some REAL designer paper and an ace cutting file. 

The stress at work has finally lifted and I rewarded myself with some really nice designer paper from Graphic 45 called Bohemian Bazaar. The colours are wonderfully bright and well complemented by my favourite teal cardstock from Paper Mill Direct. 

I purchased the cutting file from SVG Cuts, and selected to make the eye-catching 3d telephone from the Call Me Later set.

I made some additional elements using the Silhouette Studio Designer Edition.

Firstly, a dial, partly for nostalgia's sake, and partly to try out my new EC shape tool (14mm rounds). The dial was scaled to fit around them. Purists may notice that there is one number/button missing. That's down to lack of space ... and artistic licence!

Secondly, I made perforated shapes to go over the ear and mouth pieces. It just seemed to need that finishing touch.

I'm happy to share files containing these shapes (they'll be in the proprietary .studio format). Just leave a comment, follow this blog, then email me at libraryquine AT gmail DOT come, and I'll send them to you.

I'm so impressed with design and quality of this paper. It is very much thicker than the other brands of designer paper I've used so far. I've applied to join their NING to get more ideas on using this product.

Now - what to make next?

Iron gates with heat embossing

I love the metallic looks you can achieve using embossing powders.

This card was made using the WOW! brand embossing powders and all items were cut files, or print and cuts from the Silhouette Online Store and made on my Silhouette Cameo digital cutter.


 

The iron gate, cut on my Silhouette Cameo from a design by Jennifer Wambach, was heat embossed three times using WOW! Primary Ebony Regular embossing powder. The finished gate had a great tactile quality.

The snowdrop embellishment, also designed by Jennifer, was miniaturised  (top right on the card) and 'enamelled' with WOW! Clear Gloss embossing powder to make a badge.

I'm just wandering what else I can 'iron-ize'!

Update: I was very happy to win our Silhouette Cameo FB page's Charity Card Challenge with this card. All the cards in the challenge were donated to Maggie's Cancer Centre in Aberdeen.  The goodies from Graphtec GB (UK distributors for Silhouette digital cutting machines) and That Craft Place (UK FB shop) were great! 

Winter Themed Greetings Card

 

Winter-Themed Thank You Card 

From the number of sources listed below you can see that I take bits and pieces from all over - in fact you could call me a digital bin-diver!

This was my first composite greetings card, and was pleased (make that overjoyed) to be placed in our Silhouette Cameo FB page's Winter Card Challenge. The goodies from Graphtec GB (UK distributors for Silhouette digital cutting machines) and Creative Products (UK distributors for Beacon's glue) weren't too shabby either! 

Materials:

• White card - AC Cardstock (heavy weight 216gsm/80lb)
• Dark blue card - Bazzill Basics Paper (premium cardstock 'Preppie' 80lb)
• Blue w/snow background paper (free with Papercraft Essentials, Popcorn collection/Crafter's Companion)  
• White pearlescent vellum - Create & Craft (112gsm)
• Silver buckram embossed paper - Papermill Direct (103gsm)
• Smooth white card - Southfield (225gsm)
• Die-cut Snowflake - re-purposed*
• Stick-on gems - re-purposed*

 
Construction:
 
Overall:

• Approx 6" x 6" gate fold

Front:
2 rectangles of background paper  - cut to approx. 65mm x 138mm
2 tree branch lace panels (Sil Store Design ID #30043, Totally Jamie) - re-sized to approx. 67mm x 140mm 
16 vellum snowflakes (Sil Store design ID #35761/#35758, Kolette Hall) - shrunk to various sizes 
 
Inner:
1 rectangle background paper - cut to approx. 144mm x 138mm
1 vellum snow bank - cut freehand
1 back panel from 3d trees wall art (Sil Store design ID #26171, A Little Hut) - re-sized to fit a frame approx. 146mm x 140mm
12 vellum snowflakes (Sil Store design ID #35761/#35758, Kolette Hall) - shrunk to various sizes
1 circle cut freehand from silver buckram
3 owls (Open Clip Art design cute owl, by rones ) - re-coloured, sized to approx. 55mm x 40mm, print and cut, stacked and stuck
2 (1 of each design) speech bubbles (Clips-n-Cuts, speech bubbles, by Vicky Papaioannou) font (DaFont, Seriously, bythebutterfly.com), stacked and stuck


* Thrifty Quine's Tips:  No. 1 - Steal all the embellishments from your old greetings cards.