SDCrafts

General Cards on Two Themes

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Davis) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Continuing my catching-up posts, here are some new home and engagement cards.

Using Kanban Crafts cardstock and various stamps/greetings from my stash.

Inside the card above, showing the printed sentiments and decorative paper - the personal touch.

Birdhouse stamp by Inkadinkado, bought from Sharon Duncan

Using a digistamp from DigiStamp Boutique.

And for the Men & Boys

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Davis) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Having caught up with the cards made for ladies, it's now the turn of the men.

Made with cardstock already embossed with circles and various greetings and embellishments from my stash - all for a friend's football fan husband (just like mine actually)

Most of the football papers on this card come from Sharon Duncan's Football Crazy CD-rom and, at the time of writing, this item is in Sharon's sale section. Other items from my stash.

Made for a DIY devotee who is also a builder, using the La Pashe fantastic CD-rom, The Big One

Inside the card above showing how the figure can be seen from behind, if you'll pardon the phraseology.

Cards for Women

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Davis) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 12:12:00 +0000

If you follow this blog - the few faithful among you - you might be wondering if I've given up cardmaking in favour of writing. Not so, dear friends.

It is a beautifully sunny day here but we are in the midst of a flu bug as well - DH has mild pneumonia as a result and I have it combined with MS. So we are indoors and finding things to do!

I thought the least I could do is catch up with the blog and upload all the cards I've made and photographed over recent months.

Ladies first:

Digistamp: Pollycraft	Various items from my stash making a bespoke card for my travelling aunt.
Part of a Kanban Crafts kit	inside the card to the left
Using a template by Craftwork Cards and a Creative Expressions embossing folder in my Cuttlebug Beneath the button, keeping the handbag closed, is a Rip 'n' Grip® Hook & Loop Fastener bought from FoilPlay	inside the card to the left
Using the same template by Craftwork Cards and a Creative Expressions embossing folder in my Cuttlebug The brass-effect embellishment came from my button tin (and used to be on a dress of mine many years ago) covering the same closure as above.	inside the card to the left

I'm in 2012 At Last - Cards for the Boys

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Davis) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:36:00 +0000

Well, I ask you, isn't it about time you had a decent post with new cards to read? I apologise for my tardiness. It's this new writing lark I'm into...takes some doing but it is GREAT!

Anyway, here are some of the latest SDC cards, all of which have been on the slideshows (tabs above) but you may not have realised.

	Stamp: Stamps Happen inc Frederick the Literate Cat by Charles Wysocki, coloured with Promarkers in subtle shades, mounted on dark cardstock - very male.
	Greeting inside: Craftwork Cards
	For an ice hockey ace - our grandson!
	And a son who loves fast cars, using the La Pashe fantastic CD-rom, The Big One
	A gift wallet for a cheque, using a digi-kit from craftsUprint
	and also a card for the same lad, again using a digi-kit from craftsUprint
	From a Jolly Nation kit for a firefighter.

The Last Post for Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Davis) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 12:31:00 +0000

As in, the last blog post about Christmas cards I made last year. Strange to write that, isn't it? Last year being that bit of time we all inhabited just last week.

So, until I begin to make this year's crimbo cards, here's what to do if you'd like to see all those I've so far made - special cards, that is. I make every card I send and that runs into well over a hundred or so each year.

Click on the Christmas and New Year tab

or

watch this now

More Crimbo Cards on their Way...

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Davis) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 14:43:00 +0000

...but this sadly neglected blog needs a new picture:

More Crimbo Cards

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Davis) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 15:04:00 +0000

There was a frenzy of cardmaking here yesterday for I still needed to make the cards that go in the family parcels to a town north of us, far away, too far away. I had printed (where needed) and cut out the images earlier in the week.

I do think cutting out is best done with my feet up on the sofa recliner (not too laid-back though), with a cuppa by my side. The tea usually goes cold but I start out with the best of intentions. All crafters know the perils of hot drinks...always drunk cold? Am I right?

The beauty of cutting out in a relaxed mode (TV on) is that it no longer feels like a chore. Try cutting out in a hurry at the craft table...bah humbug, the way to stress on the scale of 10. I much prefer (almost) stress-free crafting prep.


Image source: Mr Drift Kirsty Wiseman's Colourful Christmas CD Rom	Image sources: the La Pashe fantastic CD-rom, The Big One & Creative Cardmaking Magazine Image source: Santa & Rudolph DigiStamp Boutique
Image source: Santa & Rudolph DigiStamp Boutique Image source: Mr Drift Kirsty Wiseman's Colourful Christmas CD Rom	All of these cards (of which I can admit to being very proud) use digital images as cited, and a mixture of papers and sentiments from various craft magazine (see my Resources section on the right) These cards are all for very special people in my life - our lives - but which one to which special person? Ah, that is the question!

Looking Back at 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Davis) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:59:00 +0000

OK, so I haven't yet finished all my Christmas cards and I am supposed to be signing those I've made for my WI friends. We meet for a Christmas lunch tomorrow but I'm in the mood for writing right now.

A lovely piece of nostalgia landed in my Inbox this evening...check this out:
Annie's Book Reviews for Bibliophiles and Bibliophile Books - Bargain Books Store
I used to write (in a small way) for this book store and still buy occasionally...too seldomly. So, I am looking forward to buying more books in 2012 for much less outlay!

Back to this evening's plot...nostalgic thinking has led to my cardmaking output for 2011. Which card did I most enjoy making, most enjoy sending, most enjoy selling?

Most enjoyable to make

This fairly major project used a combination of goodies from Jolly Nation Big Words decoupage - Princess Girl, bought from Foilplay and Best Creations Fairy Castle, bought from Scrapping the Magic.

The little colouring cards in the back of this project turned a birthday card into a gift (that is, I'm told, being framed).

Most enjoyable to send

This was the Christmas card I made for my husband last year...so, I am cheating a bit! We keep all the cards we give each other and I was sorting through the file the other day and decided I liked this one most. So it sits alongside many memories of enjoyable card giving but just edges out in the lead.

Most enjoyable to sell
When I placed my little card stall of Owl cards on the selling table, I admit to a certain amount of personal pride because I love all things owlish. Sadly, I had to say 'goodbye' to these little fellas swiftly as they proved popular. I have such discerning customers.

Moving on to 2012's cardmaking output? You'll have to wait and see.

Cards I've Been Sending

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Davis) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:37:00 +0000

How about a spot of 'let's see what the maker sends to her own nearest & dearest?' In recent weeks, there's been a flurry of occasions ~~demanding~~ needing greetings cards.

We've had birthdays:

A very good friend of mine had a significant birthday last Saturday. I made this card for another good friend to give her.

This shows the inside of the card - don't forget to click these images and watch them expand into another window.

This card is the one I gave. Both cards use material from the La Pashe range, now available on a fantastic CD-rom called The Big One. The name is totally apt - more card ideas and printable materials on this CD than you will ever want in your life!

And Christmas has begun (in crafting terms):

This little card is unashamedly simple to make because I am giving it to many of my contacts in the neighbourhood! But each one will have three special ingredients - love & care & prayer.

One of the easiest and most effective way to make a sparkling bling card is to fold sparkling bling cardstock in half and adorn it with a smaller topper and adhesive stones.

Hey presto - glitz and glamour on the mantle shelf, book shelf, Blu-tac'd to the door, or hanging from a ribbon on the wall or one of those infuriating cardholders made of coated wire and frustration.

Here's another version...have I discovered another law of physics, I wonder...the simplicity of a card is not in relation to the ease with which it may be displayed. I'm waffling big time here.

This card is the one we've given to my Mum. She had all the family over for a pre-Christmas nosh last weekend. Then she is off on a cruise for the festive season - Bon Voyage & Joyeux Noel, Mum!

Actually, the first crimbo card (above) is the one we've given my Mum's sister (my Auntie) who will be with her on the cruise.

Remember the tabs above this post will take you to slide shows of the named categories - these update every time I add a card to the system.

My Own Birthday Boy

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Davis) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Even grown'up lads send their mums into a spin on their birthdays - especially when they are way across the Atlantic on holiday in Florida.

Happy Birthday Today to Son #2

Various images from Foil Play, rubber stamps and other crafting stock.

More Cards with General Themes

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Davis) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The giver of this engagement card wished for a photo of the happy couple to be incorporated into a card that would also reflect their recent move to Germany.

This was a very special New Baby card - the givers are the proud great grandparents of an adorable little boy (I've seen his photo!)

This was a swift order and I resorted to my craft stocks mostly sourced from Foilplay. The second card also features a digital image from Creative Cardmaking Magazine.

Cards for the Grown-ups

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Davis) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 07:00:00 +0000

I return to show you the cards I have made for adults lately.

First the men:

These cards all say 'techie guy' to me and will be used for a couple of fellas I know who appreciate all things car/computer/gadgetry. The cardstock used is from Kanban Crafts.

The theme given for this card was 'wine' and I hope the images, (from Foilplay again) have done the subject justice.

Even this envelope has had the SDC treatment.

This card was for a young lady who enjoys judo!

This was not an easy topic to source and the crafting manufacturers, please take note.

I used Google translate to turn the word 'judo' into this!

Here I Am Again, with More Cards Too

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Davis) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 07:27:00 +0000

I know, talk about an infrequent blogger. In another life (more writer than crafter then), I used to post once or more a day. Imagine!

I updated my image files yesterday so expect far too many feed notifications of past posts. Or just enjoy thinking they are new.

Now the really new stuff. Are you ready? Today, it is birthday cards for children:

This fairly major project used a combination of goodies from Jolly Nation Big Words decoupage - Princess Girl, bought from Foilplay and Best Creations Fairy Castle, bought from Scrapping the Magic.	The little colouring cards in the back of this project turned a birthday card into a gift (that is, I'm told, being framed).
This card sends cheers to a cheerleader! The image is a digital original bought (by me) from DigiStamp Boutique. Such images are so useful, being open to the crafter's interpretation of style and colour. I went for bright and glamorous in this instance...	...and again here!

Five on Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Davis) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 18:00:00 +0000

One of those occasional games that either amuse or irritate but let's get going:

My Five Favourite Craft Shops Online - not in order of preference, just A to Z

Every one of these five suppliers is efficient & reliable, plus neither store charges for P&P (at time of writing). I turn to these people time and again. I don't know how they do what they do but I am very glad they are there.

When you ask for an obscure theme - and you do - I can look online for the inspiration I need from the places where I get the bits and pieces to execute the creation of your desire.

How do I illustrate this one...

An ATC rather than an AtoC...sorry...

New Ideas and Old Stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Davis) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 17:45:00 +0000

Hi again! A 10-day gap in posts. Many reasons; few excuses.

I am currently working on my Christmas cards for this year, starting with the ones I hope to sell locally - photos soon. Plus there are always cards to make for clients and family & friends. Remember, please, I don't enter cards onto the website until fairly certain, or absolutely certain, that the recipient won't find it before the event. That would never do. As I am working now on cards for November onwards, it'll be a while before I publish them online.

I've had a bit of an idea, still in it's embryonic stage...would anyone like me to make a card and show it on here in varying stages of growth, with more detailed explanations than I usually supply. Or are you more interested in seeing complete cards? Are you a crafter or a voyeur? Please comment and let me know - thanks.

So, a picture, you call - this is going to hurt...

My Very Early Cards

Let me know if you think I've improved!

Techie bit (very boring to many) these cards were stored in word.docs on my pc, no jpegs available. So I converted to a pdf file and found a kind place on the net where they host such files for your perusal and edification!

Love to SquirlDoodle...

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Davis) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 06:00:00 +0000

I spent a lovely holiday in a converted piggery (nothing like its former glory) that inspired me to doodle for doodlings sake.And so SquirlDoodles were born.

Why I haven't made more since? I could blame time, health, opportunity...there again, I could realise I am daft! Doodling is not just something to while away time on telephone call memo pads and sticky notelets...oh no. It has a therapeutic nature of its own.

Here's the cards I have since made - mounted on square white cardstock with toning layers beneath, each image has been printed once as the original, and then as a negative image, quite grey in tone, almost dark. (It's a love it or loathe it call - I have had both responses and I am still not sure myself!)

TAKE SOME GENTLE TIME OUT TO VIEW THIS SLIDESHOW
for ordering enquiries, please see the How to Order tab

Birthday Lad

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Davis) — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 06:00:00 +0000

Today, a lad I know, reaches a special age. As a keen football fan and player, plus an avid computer gamer, the two cards ordered by his family were simple to theme.

A black-and-white card has a sophistication of its own.

Using texture (with my Cuttlebug embossing machine) for the football topper and the Happy Birthday message, I hope to have created just the right effect for a 15 year-old young man!

The next card uses the laptop screen for part of the Happy Birthday Brother message and more keyboard key icons to stress the age of the brother.

Papers from Making Cards for Men magazine were used here.

The final card of this birthday trio is the one I have made to send myself, still with a black-and-white football theme.

This time I have stamped some icons and embossed them with detailed white powder. The Happy Birthday greeting is circled with Craftwork Cards Candi.

ScrapBoxes for All Occasions

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Davis) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 06:00:00 +0000

Here is the story of how my SDCrafts ScrapBoxes began...

In 2007, my stepson married his wonderful lady...it was a family wedding with a fairytale setting, gorgeous weather, elegance and fun too. I wanted to capture this is a unique way, to one day be a reminder of their day for the couple themselves. The good news for them is: I am now ready to part with this ScrapBox as I have since made more samples!

Then an ex-teaching colleague of mine (she is still teaching, I am ex!), became a grandmother so I made a memento that could be framed (and, since, a second one when she was made a grandmother by her younger daughter). Here's the original page shown in a ScrapBox to give you an idea what can be done:

So, now I was ready to be commercial with this project and another friend needed an unique wedding gift. The brief included the fact that the wedding would be themed around the colours of the football team the couple support - ta da, here it is:

Since then, I've made two further ScrapBoxes - one to commemorate the 1953 wedding of my late father and my mother, now alone but living life well:

And my last sample is on the wall in front of me. It is purely art for art's sake - I used a traditional rhyme to inspire the use of various scrapping bits and bobs:

DO CLICK ON THE THUMBNAILS FOR MORE DETAIL
for ordering enquiries, please see the How to Order tab

Here's a run-through all the ScrapBox samples - what will be in yours?

Photographed by Others, Handmade by Me

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Davis) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 06:00:00 +0000

Some of the above images taken by Vanessa Lafaye, others by Pete Davis; all cards made by Shirley Davis

There is nothing as natural and useful as a card with a landscape image on it (Pete has an eye for a countryside scene, sometimes prompted by moi)...or one with a quirky slice of life captured in the split-second it takes to notice and click (Vanessa is very good at that).

These cards are printed photographs (6x4"), mounted on toning card, presented upon a 7x5" quality card, with envelope.

TAKE SOME GENTLE TIME OUT TO VIEW THIS SLIDESHOW
for ordering enquiries, please see the How to Order tab

Ah, Babies!

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Davis) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 11:51:00 +0000

No, don't be silly, I am not having one...nor is anyone in the family, that I know of (sadly)...but take a look at these new baby cards if you feel the need for some 'ah' moments:

Odds and Ends

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Davis) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 06:00:00 +0000

General Themes

A christening, a speedy recovery and a thinking of you...all for different folk. And all with varying themes and tones but each of them sincere in their aims to commemorate, cheer and soothe.

(Yes, the last one was hge fun to make - thank you again to Pollycraft for the digi image that I coloured using my pc.)

Last, But Not Least

A certain young man began a new job in London last month and has a considerable rail and tube journey each day. By accessing his tube route online, I was able to make a suitable and unique card. Sadly, I could never sell a card like this due to copyright rules but I thought you'd like to see how proud I am of him.

Happy Birthdays

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Davis) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 06:00:00 +0000

For the Girls

They really are all different, aren't they? And such fun to make, especially the sheep! Made from a Nitwits Collection kit, this card made me smile a lot.

The middle row of pictures shows various views of the same card, of course. Another commission from my dear friend who likes to include photos of the recipient in her cards has also put herself in the frame this time.

Along the bottom row are cards that each feature a stamped image of a girl that I've coloured in, while the final card owes its nature to an idea first seen on It's All Fiddle Fart. However, I have made my own template based on Helen's designs and used elements from digital scrapbooking suppliers, Scrappin Doodles.

Meanwhile, Helen's blog has been featured in the recent issue of the magazine, Simply Homemade - excellent!

Not Forgetting the Boys

My son received the card in the top row - yes, I am old enough to be his Mum! What a significant leap of faith that particular birthday is, for anyone! I decided a special grown-up card was called for.

The second row begins with a pint of beer for a builder - hence the combination of image and background. Then comes a Pollycraft digital image of a football fan that I've coloured in the shades worn by the recipient's favoured team. The final card shows the sport of a special grandson who has already played for the UK - he is 12 and he's ours.

Now for Some Anniversaries

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Davis) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 06:00:00 +0000

Recent Wedding Anniversary Cards

This is a mixture of client orders and cards I have sent my own friends and family. Juggling the making or orders and my own card list is quite a puzzle. You will know the pieces - time, opportunity, diligence, commitment and procrastination - that fit into the shape of all our days.

Not only are the cards for seven different couples, they are also different styles, mostly. The 'gold' cards were made for my own use and represent what can be achieved in a short space of time using a few ingredients.

DO CLICK ON THE THUMBNAILS FOR MORE DETAIL
for ordering enquiries, please see the How to Order tab

What a Good Weekend I'm Having - and Weddings!

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Davis) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 14:08:00 +0000

There's a reason I am spending this weekend in my office updating the photo files and blog - I am getting over some medical treatment that I needed my mind taking off! And it has worked blissfully. Meanwhile hubby has happily updated the gardening. And run the home as he does so often and so well.

***

You all need to see photos of cards and I am now ready to bombard you with them this coming week. Let's begin with weddings! I have had the honour of making four such cards this past few months, all orders from a dear friend who is lucky enough to attend the very beginning of so many marriages.

Wedding One

Wedding Two

Wedding Three

Wedding Four

All four wedding cards are unique, not least because my friend so ingeniously requested the use of photographs. This helped to create a family atmosphere, particularly where children were involved, and that is a special thing, isn't it?

May I add my own good wishes and blessings to each couple.

DO CLICK ON THE THUMBNAILS FOR MORE DETAIL
for ordering enquiries, please see the How to Order tab

I Can Explain...

noreply@blogger.com (Shirley Davis) — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 22:13:00 +0000

...why so many posts have disappeared (been sent back to draft status) so that your bookmarks might not be functioning.

So please ensure you have one of these links:
either the catch-all http://www.sdcrafts.co.uk
or the blog one http://essdeecrafts.blogspot.com/

For a long time now I have tried to rationalise my online presence to cope with making the cards, promoting them and giving time to my daft health! I prefer the former to the latter, you understand.

So let's get this sorted out...why have a blog?

as an affordable option (rather than a bespoke bells and whistles website that I do not need...yet)
because I have written (and archived) several blogs down the years and they make me feel comfy
because they are getting better and better

Although the last criteria nearly wasn't true.

This evening I have edited all my images on Photobucket and then edited my posts and pages on here...then everything crashed, the whole blog just disappeared and an error notice came up whatever I tried.

Be proud of me...I did not panic. I knew I had not deleted my blog. So I clicked on the nice-looking link on the error page, followed the ~~clues~~ prompts and everything came back again.

Reason?

"An unusual level of activity."

Why didn't you ask! All that fuss.

And then I found out I have a new dashbord/editing interface. And I am using it. I like it. So all is NOW well that began very well, thank you.

Goodnight.