Paper Frills Handmade Cards

It's good to be back!

2011-09-20T20:45:00.000+08:00

Hello readers, I am back after a long break. Apologies to those who faithfully check on my blog. Due to work and family commitments, I just didn't have time for blogging. I've been feeling terribly guilty for forsaking my blog :( I started out with such good intentions, then life got in the way. My online shop was also causing more work than I anticipated so I have closed it whilst I sort myself out. In any case, blogging is more fun and interactive although I still have to discipline myself and make the time. Today, I've made myself sit down in front of my pc and write so here I am. I promise I will make it a point to visit all my fave blogs which I have been neglecting.

During my break, I 'met' a lovely young lady who just happened to chance upon my blog and commissioned a couple of cards. Here is one of them, which was for her mum's birthday. She wanted some quilling and pastel colours. Bearing in mind that my quilling is a bit rusty, I decided to stick to some simple quilling. Me and quilling have a strange relationship - when I do quill, I enjoy it very much and wonder why I don't do more. When I don't quill for awhile, I think I won't go back to it. I think part of the problem is that I enjoy stamping more and have yet to use many of the stamps in my stash.

I decided on an easel card so it can be displayed and luckily I had some pastel quilling strips in my stash. It turned out really pretty and I had a happy customer. I also made a little box to fit and decorated it with printed paper and ribbon. Hope you enjoy this card. Please leave a comment so I know you've stopped by! Thanks.

Little note books

2011-02-15T18:17:00.000+08:00

Hello readers, sorry not much blogging done for the past few weeks. I did manage to alter 3 little note books as requested by my regular customer. These are ideal as gifts. I apologise for the bad photos, the light wasn't good and I was in a rush to do the delivery. I do enjoy doing notebooks as you can seldom go wrong once you have selected the materials. The first is a stamp by Sara Kay which I coloured with distress inks. Patterned paper for all three are by Anna Griffin. Hope you enjoy!

Sunset

2011-01-20T14:53:00.000+08:00

I do love sunsets and once in a while I actually remember to take some pictures. I have missed some spectacular ones but managed to capture these. All taken at a marina in Port Dickson, Malaysia. I love how the reflection of the sun looks like molten gold on the water. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Washi strips card

2011-01-04T19:17:00.000+08:00

Washi is a type of paper made in Japan. Its used in many traditional Japanese arts. I do love the feel of the paper, almost like fabric. They also come in the most fabulous colours and designs. I have to admit that I am a hoarder of speciality paper like washi and printed designer papers. It hurts to even cut out a tiny weeny strip. But its time I used all these papers that are just sleeping in my cupboards.

So here is a card made from washi strips. Let me tell you, cutting the first strip was indeed painful! I used lengths of matching mizuhiki cords in between the washi strips. Mizuhiki is another favourite of mine, if you aren't aware, they are colourful Japanese paper cords made of rice paper. The strips of washi are laid upon broad double sided tape (other side stuck on a piece of card. The cords needed a bit of glue to help them stay put as the sticky tape was not enough. Once ready, I cut a neat rectangle to fit my card base. I also layered the washi rectangle onto pink Bazzill card. The overall colours are so pretty.

Thanks for stopping by, leave a comment to say hello!

Hello 2011

2011-01-04T14:13:00.002+08:00

Hello readers, I apologise for the long absence due to family commitments. Although a few days late, I would like to wish all my readers Happy New Year. May the year ahead bring happiness, peace and good health to all. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all who have taken the time to visit my blog and given me the encouragement and support. My blog is only about 6 months old but I have learned so much since I started. Not to mention 'met' so many lovely people. Before I started blogging, I didn't think I would be able to start one or even write about things that may interest others. But once I started, it got easier and I feel less self-conscious writing about myself. I do like to keep things to crafting but life is not just about crafting so this year I have decided to share other interests as well. I was toying with the idea of starting another blog for non-craft topics but am worried it might be too time consuming. I have to see it goes, I would love to start a blog on pets.

I have many challenges this year so I may not have time to blog as much as before. I am determined to be more focused and disciplined and to make more time for my family and myself. This is sort of a new years' resolution but I dread to call it that as its bound to be left behind! At the end of the day I can only do my best. So once again thank you for visiting my blog. I have treasured every comment and encouragement. I would also thank all the bloggers out there who take their time to share their work, write tutorials and provide help to the rest of us. The world will be a duller place without my blogging friends.

Purple shades christmas cards Part 2

2010-11-25T23:12:00.001+08:00

Here are 2 more purple shades cards. The Santa stamp is one I've had for a few years but didn't get round to using it. The snowflakes card is a previous design but this time in purple instead of blue. Hope you enjoy these two cards. Thanks for stopping by :) x

Materials: Hero Arts snowflake stamp, text printed using Word, Brilliance ink pad, grosgrain ribbon, pearl accents

Materials: Santa stamp by Rubber Stampede, Words by Prairie Rubber Stamp, snowflake punch, purple gems, silver mirri card, silver trim and purple organza ribbon

Contemporary Christmas Cards

2010-11-21T20:08:00.004+08:00

Still in the same mode! Here are a couple of cards that were inspired from a Stampin Up catalogue. I wouldn't normally combine pale blue and green but love the result. By the way, don't forget to check out Paper Frills online shop when you have a chance. I have listed most of the cards already but if don't see a card you're interested in, please let me know. Some of the one-off cards are not listed but it may be possible to remake using slightly different materials. Anyways, here are the cards I wish to share today.

Materials used: Stamping Bella stamp, Anna Griffin greeting stamp, Hero Arts snowflake stamp, cuttlebug, circle punch, Prisma colour pencils, lime green gingham ribbon

Materials used: Freebie stamp, floral flourish stamp for background, Versamark ink, Distress Inks, Stickles glitter glue, narrow white grosgrain ribbon

Thanks for stopping by!

Some more Christmas cards

2010-11-16T22:20:00.000+08:00

I'm really enjoying making Christmas cards now that I'm on a roll! I think I'll be sad when the holiday season is over and having to wait another year. At the moment I've got all my Christmas embellishments, papers etc out and its easy to see what's available in my stash. Then I spend some time putting it together to get some ideas. This way I find its easier to come up with designs. Here are some of the cards I made recently but have not had time to post.

Hope you like this selection. Thanks for stopping by!

Little Cards

2010-11-11T18:42:00.004+08:00

I have been trying out different designs for my Xmas orders. Here are a few that I enjoyed making. Someone out there in the blogging world once showcased a little card made with a die cut shape and that was my inspiration. The finished card is only about 10cm by 9.5cm and very cute! As I made about 6 in a row, it was quite easy working out an assembly line and was so much quicker than completing one at a time. My inspiration for the red quilled card came from As at Simplerhyme and Miyyah.
They are two fab quillers who have shared some wonderful quilling.

Thanks for visiting!xx

Purple shades christmas cards Part 1

2010-10-27T23:45:00.002+08:00

I love almost any shade of purple and so do a number of my friends and family. So here are some cards in this colour theme for purple lovers. Most times when I start to make a card I automatically reach for purple or green themed papers and cards. I think I must find designing with these colours easier. But I do love to look at colourful examples on the net. Hope you enjoy these purple creations!

Before I forget, a message to prize winners, sorry for the delay I've still got a few more to do and then it'll be ready for the post. Will keep you updated.

Sparkly snowflakes in background, glitter on angel's wings and halo


Angel image layered on mirror card

Poinsettia medallion embossed in white on pearlescent lilac paper

Xmas cracker shaped card

Thanks for stopping by!

Origami Christmas Trees

2010-10-24T16:15:00.008+08:00

Just recovered from a bad cold so not much blogging done and lots to catch up on. I noticed that in the past I would make cards and they sit in a box, sometimes they get given away but mostly they are hoarded. Now with my blog there's a chance to share my work, obviously my style may not be everyone's cup of tea. But for me the main thing is having the confidence to share. And if it inspires just one person, I'm glad. So I find that I show my cards here not just hoping someone would buy them but more to boost my confidence. It almost gives a sense of purpose. Is this true for other crafters? I have learnt so much from tutorials and been inspired by other crafters' work, where will I be if no one shared their knowledge or work? When I was in the UK there was always craft shows I could go to for ideas and inspiration (not forgetting maxing out my credit cards!) but now the internet is my main source of inspiration. So I should say thank you to all who have shared their work and for taking the time to do tutorials. Before you get bored, here are a couple of origami christmas tree cards.

Might do more of these as they are quick to make. Working out the colour combination and the background is harder. If you want to know how to do one, Click Here. There are written and video instructions to follow.

Thanks for stopping by!

Tilda Christmas

2010-10-15T23:30:00.004+08:00

A friend gave me this image a while back and I've only just managed to use it. She is so cute and lovely to colour. I think she's Tilda by Magnolia but I'm not 100% sure. The snowflakes are punchies and the image was coloured with Prisma colour pencils and blended with Sansador. I added some glitter round the edge of the oval and a some on the tips of the snowflakes. Also added some gems to bring more sparkle. Hope you enjoy this card.

Christmas cards

2010-10-11T23:52:00.000+08:00

I've been working on some more cards that I would like to share. Still on the green and red theme but am working on some blues and purples which will be posted on another day.

In this card I used a Penny Black poinsettia stamp and inked with Brilliance ink. This gave a nice shiny look which unfortunately doesn't show up in the photo. Once I had stamped the main image, I stamped again on either side without reinking to give the subtle shadow effect. I have not tried this technique before although I have seen samples by other crafters. I was surprised at the results and I definitely will do this again.

In the second card I stamped the teddy then coloured with Prisma colour pencils blended with Sansador. I used my cuttlebug to cut the circles and oval, added a holly punch-out, some gems and a candy cane button.

Thanks for visiting my blog!

Paper quilling Basic Shapes & Techniques tutorial

2010-10-10T22:03:00.002+08:00

As a beginner to paper quilling techniques, I have been using a split head tool to make my paper coils. I noticed that my coil centres are not very tidy which makes the overall effect unprofessional. So I tried to roll the strip just with my fingers like Asmah of Simple Rhyme but just couldn't get the hang of it. Then I thought perhaps a needle tool might be better. Again I couldn't get the paper to roll properly. As always, I searched youtube to see if there was a simple tutorial. I was lucky to find the tutorial below by Claire Sunok Choi (paper6262). I have tried this method and it works! Using a tweezer to control the coil is such a good idea. Now my coil centres are so neat and its really fast to do as well. Claire has also done other videos which are equally good. Hope you find this video helpful.

Quilled Christmas cards

2010-10-07T23:49:00.002+08:00

I've started the season by making some quilled cards. I've picked some simple designs that are quick to make. I also need the practice! Love making Christmas cards, I can use as much glitter and bling as I like or have in my stash. I am going to try using most if not all of my rubber stamps this year, some of them are still 'virgin' stamps! Anyways, that is the aim, whether it will happen or not remains to be seen.The card directly below was inspired by a design by Sharon Harnist of Paperfections. Sorry I can't provide a direct link as I can't find it on her blog, I think it might have been a card she did last year during the holiday season.

Thanks for popping by!

More wedding cards

2010-10-05T20:09:00.004+08:00

Here are the rest of the wedding cards I have been working on. Once I have a kick-start, my mojo starts working and I can achieve quite alot. But there are days when nothing goes right. I've started my Christmas cards but struggling to come up with designs. I know that once I get into the swing, I will find it easier...wish it will happen soon! Some of these designs are one-off as I have limited supplies.The last one is a design I saw on Splitcoaststampers and I loved it so much. Unfortunately, I can't remember who created it. Will be adding these cards to my shop later tonight.

Thanks for looking :)

Shop Launch today

2010-10-04T21:16:00.003+08:00

Hello readers. Today is the launching of my online shop. Its something I've wanted to do and its now become a reality. The site is still a work in progress so there will be changes and improvements all the time as new products are added. I am looking forward to doing lots of paper crafting projects and the shop has given me an incentive to continue learning and enjoying this wonderful hobby. I've loaded a banner on the sidebar on the right which will link you to Paper-Frills.com. Please have a look and leave a comment on this post. To celebrate, the first 5 readers to leave a comment will get a hand crafted prize. 5 is my lucky number! If you're one of the first 5, email your full name and address to me. Thanks for visiting.

Wedding Cards

2010-10-03T22:27:00.004+08:00

Sorry I have been quiet these past few days because that is the only way I can get things done. Most times I only want to do a quick check of my mail but hours later I'm still in front of the PC browsing the net. So with the PC out of bounds, I have managed to create some wedding cards as requested by friends. Its been a while since I made any so it was challenging to find designs that might suit the theme. I'm quite pleased to find out that yesterday, 2nd October was World Cardmaking day and guess what, that is what I did all day, purely unintentional..Hope you enjoy this selection of cards.

Don't forget to leave a comment so I know you've been! Cheers!

Quilling get-together

2010-09-27T14:38:00.001+08:00

In case you have not heard, Miyyah (Miyyah@Kertas) is organising a quilling get-together.

Date: 3rd of October 2010 (Sunday)
Venue: KLCC Park, Kuala Lumpur
Time: 10.00 am

It should be a fun day and an opportunity to learn paper quilling from the experts! Unfortunately, I can't attend but if you're free do pop over to Miyyah's blog for more details. Hey, life is all about having fun (most times) and learning new things!

Iris Folding

2010-09-22T20:22:00.002+08:00

I thought I would try out Iris Folding for a change. For those who have not heard about this, Iris Folding is a paper folding technique that originated in Holland. It is done with coloured strips of folded paper and a template/pattern. You will need an aperture that fits your template/pattern. The strips of folded paper are taped into placed over the pattern, creating a spiralling design that apparently resembles the iris of an eye or camera. Although basic Iris Folding is simple, you can get stunning results from the choice of paper used. Just check online and you will see thousands of beautiful examples. Some experienced crafters have taken it a step higher and created very intricate designs that are a bit more involved.

To begin, I chose a heart pattern that I downloaded from Gemscottage. The most difficult part was cutting the aperture. It is possible to buy ready cut apertures of various patterns but sadly I have not come across them in Malaysia yet. Lay the aperture card over the pattern with the wrong side facing you. Fix to the pattern with tape. I cut the papers about 24mm wide (length can be as long as the paper you are using). Then fold the paper into two, using a bone folder to give a crisp neat edge.

Turn your card over to the wrong side and tape to pattern

Pattern visible through aperture, sorry for the bad photo

After that it is a matter of following the numbers on the pattern. Take a folded strip and place on the first section, the folded edge should be against the line of the pattern. Trim each end of the strip so that there is a bit of overlap over the edge of the aperture, about 5mm on either side. Fix the strip to the card with small pieces of tape at each end. Work around the pattern adding the different strips in sequence until your design is complete.

Oops, the photo above is what I did in the beginning before I realised that I must add the strips in sequence ie do all the lines numbered 1a, 1b, 1c first, followed by the 2a, 2b,2c, then the third sections and so on. I peeled the strips off and started again but forgot to take a photo. Sorry!

All strips added, square piece of paper stuck over the centre

The small hole left in the middle of the design can be covered with a flat piece of paper in a colour of your choice. Once completed, you will need to stick a piece of paper or card over it so it is nice and tidy. By the way, you can either cut the aperture directly on the greeting card or you can do it on a separate card and then mount the completed design on the front of your greeting card. Now turn over to see the completed design.

This is what it looks like on the front

I will add some embellishments to finish off the card. Will post when completed. I think it will make a nice wedding card. Hope you enjoyed this and you give Iris Folding a try. It is quite relaxing. Don't forget to look at the gorgeous examples on the web, you will be amazed. Loads of free patterns available as well - thanks to generous crafters. Thanks for popping by! xx

Vintage lavender

2010-09-17T18:23:00.002+08:00

I am so excited to share this card I made a few days ago as requested by my niece for her mum. Her mum loves lavender, purple, ribbons and lace. I looked through my stash and gathered up anything that fit this theme. I had an idea of how I wanted it to look but I don't always find it easy to interpret my thoughts. Imagine my joy when slowly this card was born! Its almost exactly what I had in mind. The image is a stamp by Hampton Art and the background paper and card are by Anna Griffin. I cut the oval and flourish with my Cuttlebug. I do enjoy making sweet cards (as you can tell) although I do like distressed and collage style as well. I actually like anything that looks pretty and I'm easily pleased! Hope you enjoy.

Thanks for visiting! xx

Sweet little girl

2010-09-15T22:03:00.000+08:00

Here is a sweet little girl who's sure to brighten up your day. I adore this image which is a digital one by Mo's Digital Too. A joy to colour. I have used Prismas colour pencils blended with Sansodor. Take a look.

Sweet or not? Thanks for popping by, please take a minute to say hi!

Framed Art

2010-09-12T23:38:00.002+08:00

Here is something I made for my sister for her birthday next week. I had the image coloured and selected the background paper but just couldn't find a suitable frame. Yesterday, I came across this decorative frame that I thought suited the colours I used. The frame is not as red in real life and it goes quite well with the image. I stamped on watercolour card then coloured it with distress inks. I also used Prisma colour pencils to accentuate the shading. The stamp is one of Anna Griffin's. For the first time I added props (only a bit of ribbon and beads) for the photo session - what do you think? I've seen some bloggers take amazing photos so thought I would try something different from my normal photos. Long way to go yet!

Thanks for stopping by! Leave a comment, would love to hear from you!

Selamat Hari Raya!

2010-09-10T00:37:00.000+08:00

Selamat Hari Raya to all readers! For those who are celebrating, hope you have a safe journey home and enjoy the celebrations with family and friends. I can just imagine all that delicious rendang, ketupat and lemang, yummy!

Oriental cards

2010-09-06T23:59:00.004+08:00

Here are 2 oriental cards I made recently. I do enjoy oriental themes although its hard to achieve the clean and simple look. In the first card I used a stamp from About Art Accents, stamped in 3 different shades of green. Added a little coin (sorry don't know what the chinese characters mean) but its a nice accent.

In the 2nd card I stamped the koi in pond stamp by Elusive Images on transparency (acetate sheet) then coloured the koi with irridescent paints. This was layered on a light blue mottled paper which I thought gave a watery feel to the card. Attached the acetate to the card with eyelets. I love the way it turned out.

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you like these two cards.