Creative Crafter UK

Birthday Boy - Ride 'Em Cowboy Handcrafted Card

2016-11-23T13:33:00.000+00:00

I'm loving the playfulness of this design!

My cowboy hand stamped card features this cute clear stamp design which I coloured with Copic Ciao pens, along with patterned papers, Magic Mesh and Die Cuts With A View sticker lettering from my crafty stash. I’m liking the colourful look for a little boy!

Hand stamped Cowboy Birthday Card designed by Jenny Pearce ©

Hand Crafted Childs Cowboy Birthday Greeting Card designed by Jenny Pearce ©

Colours used: E00, E51, E37, E31, E35, E57, Y06, YG03, B32, C3, R29, R37, BG09.

Please note: Copyright of the images, text and projects featured on CreativeCrafter UK website belong to Jenny Pearce. Please respect the laws of copyright and do not copy, or re-distribute these items and do not copy, modify or adapt these designs to be published or entered into competitions. Thank you.

Inspired By.....Romantic White Lace

2016-11-15T14:19:00.000+00:00

White Lace graced the runways of fashion shows for Spring Summer last year with white on white, I’m loving this romantic vintage look!

I designed this card to include lots of white lace on a white background. Die cut flourishes and hearts are created from Marianne Design Dies and heart jewels add details. I punched the bottom edge of the card with a decorative floral punch and added a sentiment using heat embossing techniques.

Pure White Lace Heart Card with Flourishes - designed by Jenny Pearce ©

I was especially pleased with the way this card turned out. I like the simplicity of the design and pure overall effect. Have you ever designed a handmade card or project using lace? How did you feature it in your handcrafted work?

Please note: Copyright of the images, text and projects featured on CreativeCrafter UK website strictly belong to Jenny Pearce. Please respect the laws of copyright and do not copy, or re-distribute these items and do not copy, modify or adapt these designs to be published or entered into competitions. Thank you.

Hand Painted Watercolour Thank You Card

2016-01-08T14:18:00.000+00:00

As we hit the January blues, I thought I would brighten things up with this colourful handmade card. It would be ideal for thanking someone after Christmas for any Christmas gifts.

I designed it using my own hand painted watercolour background. Just by adding a few floral toppers (from Hobbycraft) sparkly glitter chipboard letters called Lavender Bling by Cosmo Cricket, ribbon, bow and jewel stones, this pretty Thank You card is sure to lift anyone’s mood and add a special ‘thank you’.

Hand Crafted Watercolour Thank You Card - designed by Jenny Pearce ©

This was the first time I had experiment with a watercolour technique in this fashion and I was pleased with the results! Have you tried using watercolours for your card creations? If so, how did you use them?

Quick and Easy Christmas Card using Craft Kit Stash

2015-12-15T15:54:00.000+00:00

I created this quick and easy Christmas card (ideal for those last minute makes) using a bright bold Christmas Card Crafting Kit designed by Sally Moret.

I used a strip of dotty paper down the spine edge and added motifs including a red foil parcel topper at the centre. I added lace and felt flowers and used a Martha Stewart decorative punch along the opening edge. I added hand doodled dots for borders.

Quick and Easy Christmas Card using Kit Products - Card designed by Jenny Pearce ©

Detail of felt flower on Festive Handmade Card - designed by Jenny Pearce ©

Detail of parcel and bow on Christmas card designed with kit items - card by Jenny Pearce ©

I am liking these felt flowers to bring the elements from the kit together!

This simple card layout can easily be recreated or adapted with your own left-over crafting stash. Use toppers, chipboard, motifs and patterned papers to recreate something similar in your own design for personal use.

If you do re-create, please link back to my blog as the original source. Thanks.

Cute Mouse Hand Stamped Christmas Card

2015-12-06T14:44:00.000+00:00

It's a little under three weeks until Christmas - have you created and sent all your cards yet? How do you like to create your hand crafted Christmas cards? If I have time and I want a luxury card I like to hand colour stamped images.

This is a hand stamped image using a clear stamp from the Laurence Collection of this adorable Christmas Mouse. I hand coloured with Copic Ciao pens and layered onto natural burlap from the Die Cuts With A View Mat Stack. I added stripy paper as a background and combined with ribbons, bows and glittery red peel off text stickers for ‘Happy Christmas.’

Have you finished crafting your Christmas cards yet this year?

Inspired by....Gold Foiling Trends

2015-11-15T13:49:00.000+00:00

Gold Foiled Jar and Card designed by Jenny Pearce ©

With gold foiling becoming popular in paper crafting projects and setting the scene for a luxury gold Winter season, I decided to create this elegant gold card and upcycled an old jar with the help of some real gold leaf!

Real Golf Leaf on Jar decoration and Handmade Card - designed by Jenny Pearce ©

I’m loving the hot trend for all things gold, so I combined the new ‘Die Cuts With a View’ Luxe Suite 12 x 12” foiled card stack with these handmade motifs that I embellished with real gold leaf. I added sparkly flat backed jewels, gold card and sheer mesh fabric, along with bows, ribbons and gold cord to complete the look.

The upcycled jar/ now vase could be used on your festive table this year and the greeting card could be used for a dinner party invitation.

Detail of Gold foiling technique results on card designed by Jenny Pearce ©

Gold has never been my first choice in the past for crafting with (as I have always liked silver) however when used correctly gold can look elegant, luxurious and sophisticated and add a touch of glam to your home décor and crafts projects.

What’s your favourite choice for craft or home décor projects – gold or silver?

How did you use it in your project?

Inspired by...Horizontal Black and White Stripes - Autumn/ Winter Trend 2015.

2015-11-08T15:32:00.000+00:00

I’m loving the current season trend of horizontal black and white stripes and I found myself ‘drawn’ (excuse the pun) to the theme when I created this ‘Sweet Wishes’ handmade designer card.

Sweet Wishes Macaroon Card - designed by Jenny Pearce ©

I drew horizontal black lines in varying widths across a white card for a background, adding a length of pink ribbon along the bottom. I created my own French macaroon image which I illustrated and added details to, before matting onto pink card. I added a ‘Sweet Wishes’ sentiment stamped in black ink and embellished with pink pen. This is double matted onto black and pink card.

Sweet Wishes Detail Hand stamped Sentiment - card designed by Jenny Pearce ©

I added two satin pink bows to the bottom of the image and top of the sentiment layers.

Have you ever created your own background patterns for your card making or scrapbooking projects? What did you create and how?

Spooky Halloween Trick or Treat Box

2015-10-25T12:08:00.000+00:00

So it’s Halloween this week and this was the theme for my spooky gift box full of tasty treats!

I’ve decorated my circular gift box and lid with Cosmo Cricket Haunted papers, matching stickers from the collection and Cosmo Cricket adhesive-chipboard Lavender Bling lettering. I combined this with various other sticker lettering, jewel stones and purple satin bows. I filled the box to the brim with wrapped chocolates.

Spooky Trick or Treat Gift Box designed by Jenny Pearce ©

Trick or Treat Halloween Gift Box with Chocolates - designed by Jenny Pearce ©

Spooky Detail on handmade gift box designed by Jenny Pearce ©

Have you made anything for Halloween this year? What have you created?

The Best of Halloween Handmade Cards

2015-10-20T16:21:00.000+01:00

Here are a selection of handmade cards as featured on my blog over the years on the Halloween theme.

Hope they inspire you! (Click on the links to go to the original posting.)

Halloween Cards - created and designed by Jenny Pearce ©

Halloween Hauntings Card Trio

Halloween Bottle Caps Card designed and created by Jenny Pearce ©

Happy Halloween Bottle Caps Card

Witches Hats Card

Trick or Treat Halloween Card crafted by Jenny Pearce ©

Skeleton Halloween Card crafted by Jenny Pearce ©

Trick Or Treat and Frightful Delightful Cards

Inspired by Cork - My Handmade Butterfly Birthday Designer Card with Cork Patterned Background

2015-10-13T14:14:00.000+01:00

I was again inspired by natural finishes for my latest card creation with this cork backed Butterfly birthday card.

Laser Cut Butterfly and Designer Cork Handmade Card - designed by Jenny Pearce ©

I used a new Die Cuts With A View 12 x 12” Cork printed pastels sheet for the background with this beautiful pink ornate design. I added a laser cut paper butterfly, co-ordinating pink card and white ribbon, bows and buttons and a peel off sticker and white pearls from Hobbycraft to complete the look.

Laser Cut White Butterfly detail on cork handmade card - by Jenny Pearce ©

“I like these new cork sheets as they are lightweight and self-adhesive which are ideal for card making projects!”

Have you ever used cork in your craft projects? If so, how did you use it?

Thinking of You Week

2015-09-22T17:03:00.000+01:00

So apparently it's Thinking of You Week this week (21st - 27th September 2015) here in the UK.

To celebrate I decided to create a cute card using this adorable bunny rubber stamped image (designed by Penny Johnson). I coloured with Letraset Promarkers and layered onto a lilac background paper from the Die Cuts With A View Honey Chic mat stack that has been punched along the bottom with a hearts Martha Stewart border punch. Hand stamped text has been added on it's own layer and matted and layered in a similar fashion. I also added white and pink satin ribbon in varying widths and a bow.

Hand stamped Bunny Card Thinking of You - designed by Jenny Pearce ©

The Letraset Promarker colours I used to colour this image are:

Tan 0528, Satin Y129, Pale Pink R519, Baby Pink R228, Lavender V518 and Pastel Blue C719.

Have you created and sent a card to someone to say 'Thinking of You' recently? Did you know about 'Thinking of You' week?

Please note: Copyright of the images, text and projects featured on CreativeCrafter UK website belong to Jenny Pearce. Please respect the laws of copyright and do not copy, or re-distribute these items and do not copy, modify or adapt these designs to be published or entered into competitions. Thank you.

Inspired by....Bohemia Mixed Prints .......In Your New Home Handmade Card

2015-09-15T17:31:00.000+01:00

Another trend that has emerged for Autumn/ Winter 2015/16 is the use of Bohemian mixed prints. They are being used in combinations to great effect.

Working on this theme, today's 'Inspired by...' card features assorted colourful patterns which build the background design in varying dimension for this, my New Home card.

In Your New Home Handmade Card - designed by Jenny Pearce ©

I used a Fiskars scalloped square squeeze punch to punch nine scalloped squares from assorted patterns in the Basic Grey June Bug 6x6" paper pad and stuck them onto a pastel lemon pearlescent square card in grid fashion. Some are glued directly onto the card and some are layered for dimension to the colourful background.

Home Handmade Designer Card - by Jenny Pearce ©

I added a Metro metal word from Colorbok for 'Home' with the start of the sentence above it. This is on a rectangle of cream card, matted on red. I doodled a dashed line around this layer and the card.
I also used a white Posca pen to draw highlights on the metal word.

I'm liking the combination of so many prints on one card. It's so on trend! To be honest, it was more of a challenge for me, as I would not consider using quite so many prints on one card normally!

Have you used a selection of many prints on one craft project? How did you use them? How did you stop your design from looking too overcrowded with pattern?

Please note: Copyright of the images, text and projects featured on CreativeCrafter UK website belong to Jenny Pearce. Please respect the laws of copyright and do not copy, or re-distribute these items and do not copy, modify or adapt these designs to be published or entered into competitions. Thank you.

Handmade Cards for a Wedding Anniversary

2015-09-08T16:40:00.000+01:00

Here are a selection of handmade cards that I have created over the years that have featured on my blog.
Hope you enjoy and find some inspiration from them!
(Click on the links to be taken to the original posting.)

Wedding Anniversary Hand Stamped Card designed by Jenny Pearce ©

Stamped Wedding Anniversary Card

Wedding Anniversary Card as featured in Fete Magazine - Jenny Pearce ©

Silver Wedding Anniversary Card in Fete Magazine

Pink Anniversary Card designed by Jenny Pearce ©

Pink Wedding Anniversary Card

To You Both Hearts Card designed by Jenny Pearce ©

Hearts Anniversary Card

Together Now and Forever Fringed Card designed by Jenny Pearce ©

Together Forever Card
Please note: The copyright of these cards, text and photos remains with me. Please do not copy, or re-publish these without my permission. Thank you.

Inspired by....Colour Blocking

2015-08-25T16:41:00.000+01:00

I’ve noticed there are a variety of clothes that have used colour blocks in their design or that colour blocking is used to style the fashion separates to create a look.

It’s not my usual style, but I decided to challenge myself to see how this would work within a handmade designer card and I surprised myself! It’s a great way to use up old scraps of card and pieces of ribbon and the more clashing; the better!

Here I’ve combined bright rectangles of coloured cardstock onto a bright pink card. I stamped a sentiment in black dye ink and added flat backed jewels, a spotty satin ribbon, paper flowers and a hand tied ribbon bow.

Colour Blocking Card for Birthday Greetings designed by Jenny Pearce ©

Such a simple selection of items, but what a striking bright card!

Have you ever challenged yourself and created a craft project in a style out of your comfort zone? Did you use bright bold colour or subdued pastel shades? Did you surprise yourself with how it turned out?

Inspired by...Metallics and Glitter - Floral Card For Mum

2015-08-18T13:49:00.000+01:00

Glitter and metallics are always a hot trend, especially within crafts projects to add that extra sparkle.

With this as inspiration, I decided to combine holographic glittery card and glittery chipboard letters for this Birthday card for a mother. I used flower embellishments and this pretty lilac argyle background paper from the 6x6” Making Memories Simply Fabulous Collection Meg paper pad.

Birthday Card for Mum in Lilac with Glitter and Flowers designed by Jenny Pearce ©

I like the colour combination of the lilacs and on-trend mint with turquoise.

What do you think? Have you created a craft project using lots of glitter and sparkle? How did you use it?

Inspired by...Pastel Mint Green and Lilac Weddings

2015-08-11T14:45:00.000+01:00

This card to celebrate a marriage includes one of the current trends of the beautiful pastel mint green. A colour I really like!

Handmade Designer Card Celebrating Marriage designed by Jenny Pearce ©

I used a stripy background paper of mint green and lilac stripes (which was the colour used in the bridesmaids dresses) and combined this with two pearl heart embellishment toppers, die cut card flourishes from Memory Box and a Making Memories metal Charmed Quote, which I lightly applied a paint technique to create a lighter finish and a slight distressed look. The design is completed with a hand tied satin white bow.

Pretty Wedding Card with Hearts, Flourishes and ribbon bow with sentiment - designed by Jenny Pearce ©

"I like this quote from the Making Memories Charmed Quotes. It is so perfect for this card!"

Inspired by .... Red Hot Trend

2015-08-04T13:06:00.000+01:00

Red is another trend to grace the catwalks and with it's striking hue, one that can be hot, sexy, romantic, festive or simply eye catching.

I took the romantic route for my handmade card creation with this cream, white and red design.

Red With Love Romantic Card designed by Jenny Pearce ©

I used a bright red card background with Basic Grey 6x6" June Bug patterned paper that I punched with a decorative border punch. I also used a die cut shape for a lace effect background and a stamped sentiment for the centre. Hand drawn doodling in white paint pen, a hand tied satin red bow, hand punched card hearts using a Fiskars punch, and red flat backed jewels complete the look.

Do you create red handmade cards very often? If so, what have you created?
What is your favourite colour for creating handmade cards? Is there one colour that you regularly find yourself drawn to or using in your designs?

Please note: Copyright of the images, text and projects featured on CreativeCrafter UK website belong to Jenny Pearce. Please respect the laws of copyright and do not copy, or re-distribute these items and do not copy, modify or adapt these designs to be published or entered into competitions. Thank you.

Inspired by...Blush for Handmade Cards

2015-07-28T11:35:00.000+01:00

Another trend, especially for weddings this season is blush and with an assortment of blush, tulle and Ballerina-esque fashion hitting the catwalk, here’s my handmade card inspired by the look of blush.

With Love Blush Trend Handmade Card , Hand Stamped Girl with Cat - card designed by Jenny Pearce ©

A cute Penny Johnson stamped image and coloured with Copic and Letraset alcohol pens has been combined with My Minds Eye Lost and Found paper with a decorative lace edge and border punched edge using my Martha Stewart decorative punch.

I used a simple ‘With Love’ sentiment from Flower Soft, but any sentiment could be added to this style of card. They would be suitable for any female recipient!

Have you used blush colours in your crafting projects? Do you like the blush/ tulle/ ballerina style fashions?

Handmade Birthday Cards Ideas

2015-07-21T17:11:00.000+01:00

Here's a selection of a variety of handmade birthday cards featured here on my blog CreativeCrafterUK over the years. (Click on the links for more information at the foot of this post.)

Click on the links below for more information about each of my projects:

Birthday Card for Mum

Dress Birthday Card

Circular Birthday Card

Bunny 70th Birthday Card

Thank You Handmade Cards

2015-07-16T15:45:00.000+01:00

When you need a Thank You card, here are a few ideas to get you started. These have been featured on my CreativeCrafterUK blog over the years.

Thank You Card Project

Pink Thank You Card Project

Floral Ribbon Thank You Card Project

Have you created a Thank You card for someone? How did you create yours?

Please note: All designs, images and text copyright © Jenny Pearce. Please do not copy my designs or submit their likeness into competitions for for publication. Thank you.

Miss You Card

2015-07-14T08:32:00.000+01:00

This simple card makes use of off-cuts from the watercolour wash I used in the background of my Nautical Card in the previous post.

I cut strips of the dried watercolour wash paper for the ribbons on the left. I then created my own ‘Miss You’ sentiment and added punched card hearts created using the Fiskars pop-up punch and I used a heart die for the larger heart. After drawing a line in blue pen, I added the hearts to it, as if they were hanging and decorated with jewel stones.

Have you ever created a card using the scraps left over from a previous project? If so, what did you use and how did you use them on your new creation?

Inspired by....Nautical

2015-07-07T15:50:00.000+01:00

Another hot trend for Spring Summer 2015 is the Nautical theme.

It’s a trend that often makes a comeback over the years. From Nautical stripes, to anchors, portholes to luxury yachts add sophistication and seaside style using these themes in your card making projects.

I have used a Nautical stamp from Magnolia Rubber Stamps along the bottom of my card, with a hand painted watercolour wash as a backdrop. I like the graduation of colour on this. I also added waves of acrylic paint interference medium in opal blue for a subtle sheen that catches the light for a wet look. I applied this to the sun as well on the stamped image.

I designed the sentiment layer and layered onto an inked background circle cut with Fiskars paper edgers. Die cut flourishes (by Marianne Design Dies) echo the wash of the waves with stick-on jewels and sheer ribbon adding sparkle.

I was pleased with the results. What do you think?

Have you created a nautical themed project?

Inspired by.....Fringing

2015-06-30T15:49:00.000+01:00

Spring/ Summer 2015 fashion shows saw a fringing trend.

I decided to use fringing in a minimal, yet elegant way on my ‘Together – Now and Forever’ card which would be suitable for an anniversary, wedding or Valentines creation.

It can be so easy for fringing to look very heavy on a handmade card, but I feel this works well used in this fashion. I combined the fringing with black and white stripy paper from Dovecraft’s Designer Paper Pack by French designer Sandra Ranarison. I used a Making Memories Metal Charmed plaque and glittery paper from Hobbycraft. I punched the glittery paper using a Fiskars pop-up heart punch and combined with a metal word, Making Memories rub-ons, and mini paper roses.

I was very pleased with how this card turned out. I like the combination of monochrome with a hint of pink.

Monochrome, fringing and metallic are bang on trend at the moment

Try using these themes in your crafts and pop back to let me know how you got on and what you created with them.

What do you think of using fringing on handmade cards? Is it something you have tried?

Please note: The copyright of these cards, text and photos remains with me. Please do not copy, or re-publish these without my permission. Thank you.

Handmade Card Ideas for Father's Day

2015-06-17T15:14:00.000+01:00

With Father's Day on it's way, here is an overview of a variety of handmade cards as featured here on Creative Crafter UK over the years suitable for men.

Dad Heart Card Project

Denim Card For Dad Project

Mr Fix-It Decoupage Card Project

What handmade project have you created for Father's Day this year?

Please note: All images, text and projects copyright © Jenny Pearce. Please do not copy my work or enter a likeness into competitions or for publication. Thank you.

Inspired by...Denim - A Card For Dad

2015-06-02T12:01:00.000+01:00

In my second blog posting of my new 'Inspired By...' feature focusing on hot trends in fashion, here's my latest handmade card creation inspired by denim.

The catwalks have seen denim on the rise (although did it really ever go out of fashion?) Denim flares are back!

My Birthday card for Dad would be ideal for any masculine card and suitable for Father's Day if you change the sentiment. I used Die Cuts With A View Denim Stack and attached the printed pocket with gold eyelets. I stamped the greeting onto textured paper in Denim Tim Holtz Distress ink and layered onto copper metallic card. This is tucked into the pocket slightly. Distressed worn tags complete the look.

Have you created any craft project from printed card denim or real denim?

Please note: Copyright of the above designs (and photos) remains with me the designer (Jenny Pearce). Please respect the laws of copyright and do not redistribute, share, copy, save or post my images anywhere without my written permission. Thank You.