Pink Petticoat: Simple ideas and inspiration using Pink Petticoat Digitals. For Card Makers.

Ditsy Dots

2016-11-05T20:00:00.000+01:00

Today I want to show you a new design I'm adding to The Colour Collection for Christmas : )

It's called 'Ditsy Dots'. Let me tell you all about it ...

The download includes ...
- a single paper design,
- in all 38 colours of the Colour Palette.
- and in both positive & negative design options.
- Each colour prints as an individual A4 sheet.
- as a single colour, with White elements/background.

This is the design …

You can find it *here* in the Boutique.

And I hope you like it!

Credits
135mm Square White Card Base.
Patterned Papers: 'Ditsy Dots' from The Colour Collection printed onto Paperworks #04 Laid White Paper. From Paperchase.
Sentiments: 'Mistletoe Kisses' Sentiments printed onto Smooth White Card.
Large Snowflake: Hero Arts Fancy Snowflake Die.
Small Snowflake: Magnolia DooHickeys Snowflake Die.
Selection of small Sequins & Crystals.

Mistletoe Kisses Sentiments

2016-11-05T19:00:00.000+01:00

These are my new Christmas Sentiments which I've added to the Boutique today : ) They're called 'Mistletoe Kisses'.

They are a set of 12 sentiments, in a selection of hand-lettered typeface, and hand-drawn elements, in a mixed style. 4 of them have an image of Mistletoe too.

Let me show them to you ...

'Mistletoe Kisses' Sentiments

The set includes
- 12 Christmas-themed sentiments in a selection of hand-lettered typeface, and hand-drawn elements, in a mixed style.
- They print as 4 different sentiments to a single sheet of A4,
- on a white background,
- ready for you to cut around or punch to size.

These are the sentiments included in the download ...

You can find 'Mistletoe Kisses' Sentiments *here* in the Boutique.

And I hope you like them!

Card Credits
Christmas Wishes / Merry Christmas
Card Bases: A6 Cards hand cut from a sheet of Greyboard. (It was the packaging from my Paper from Paperchase)
Sentiments: 'Mistletoe Kisses' Sentiments printed onto Smooth White Card & finished lightly with watercolour paints.
Small Sequins & Crystals, Natural Linen Twine.

Joy
Card Base: 135mm White Square Card Base
Patterned Papers: 'Ditsy Dots' from The Colour Collection printed onto Paperworks #04 Laid White Paper. From Paperchase.
Sentiments: 'Mistletoe Kisses' Sentiments printed onto Smooth White Card.
Small Sequins & Crystals, Natural Kraft Twine.

Christmas Traditions Image Stamps

2016-11-05T18:00:00.000+01:00

This is my new set of Christmas Image Stamps which I've added to the Boutique today.
They are a set of icons which we traditionally associate with the Christmas season. And I've called them 'Christmas Traditions'
Let me tell you about them. : )

'Christmas Traditions' Image Stamps
The set includes
- a set of 8 black & white outline image stamps,
- with a selection of sentiments in a mixed-typeface style,
- & without a sentiment too.
- The images print as 4 images to an individual A4 sheet, as shown below
- on a white background, ready for you to cut or punch out.

These are the images included in the download.

You can find them *here* in the Boutique.

And I hope you like them!

Card Credits
A6 Card Bases: Hand cut from Smooth White Card.
Images with Sentiments: 'Christmas Traditions', lightly water coloured to finish.
Patterned Papers: 'Ditsy Dots' from The Colour Collection printed onto Paperworks #04 Laid White Paper. From Paperchase.
Small Crystals & Gold Glitter to finish.

I've Moved!

2016-09-15T16:23:00.001+02:00

Hi everyone : )
How are you?

I’m ready to pick up my passion for paper once again, just on a small scale, & I’ve set up a new blog & a new web site - The Lovely Studio. ♥

Please come & take a look …

http://blog.thelovelystudio.co.uk
http://www.thelovelystudio.co.uk

Card Credits
135mm White Square Card Blank.
Patterned Paper: 'Molly Rose' Digital Paper Pack printed onto 300gsm white card from Century Paper (I don't think this is available any more)'
Butterfly Punch: 'Delia' Butterfly Die. By Memory Box.
Alphabet Stamps: Wood-Mounted Mini Alphabet Stamps. By Hampton Arts at Dovecraft.
Gold Thread & a selection of small sequins & crystals.
Simple Gift Bag Tutorial: *here*

A Farewell To Pink Petticoat

2015-10-22T05:14:00.001+02:00

Today, I am bringing you my final ever post at Pink Petticoat.

A little while ago, I decided that I needed to take a break from my online paper world & step away from my computer for a little while. And I’ve spent more time doing other things. And it's made me realise that at this point in my creative journey, Pink Petticoat is not where I need to be.

I’m not too sure what I’ll do next. I’ve always loved playing with both paper and fabric. Perhaps I’ll play with fabric for a while.

I do feel, however, that if I'm going to give whatever I do next the best possible chance of being as good as it can be, I need to take some time to focus on it & think seriously about it.

Which means that it's time for me to say goodbye to Pink Petticoat & I'll be closing down the Boutique at the end of the month.

If you're secretly hoping this means there's a closing down sale going on in the Boutique so you can stock up on all those items you still have on your wish-list, then yes, there is. *Here* Enjoy!

But before I disappear from here completely, I want to thank each & every one of you, for your friendship, your support, & your company during the last 9 years. When I first started Pink Petticoat, I could have never imagined all of the amazing experiences that my small creative venture would bring into my life or the incredible people I would get to know. This chapter of my life been the most amazing journey for me. And you have been the best & brightest part of it. I couldn't have done any of it without you & you have all touched my life in ways that will stay with me forever.

So from the bottom of my heart … thank you. I sincerely hope we bump into one another again.
Stay creative : )

***ETA 15 September 2016***
You can now find me, and The Pink Petticoat Portfolio, at The Lovely Studio
B L O G : blog.thelovelystudio.co.uk
W E B S I T E : www.thelovelystudio.co.uk

Little Gift Cards

2015-10-11T07:00:00.000+02:00

Some small Gift Cards with envelopes I made using some of the new papers in The Christmas Colour Collection : )

Card Credits
Gift Cards & Envelopes: 3" x 3" by Papermania.
Patterned Papers: Simple Spruce, Snow Noel, & Baubles. From The Colour Collection.
Large Snowflake Die: Hero Arts.
Small Snowflake Punch: Martha Stewart.
Small Bow Die: Lil' Inkers.
Small Gold Star, Sequins & Crystals.

The Christmas Colour Collection

2015-10-04T12:30:00.000+02:00

So today I can show you the new designs I'm adding to The Colour Collection for Christmas this year : )

There are a few to choose from. There are 13 of them in total! And the designs are:

And I hope you like them!

Credits
Patterned Papers: Poinsettias, Happy & Merry, Snow Noel, Baubles & Dotty Holly. From The Colour Collection.
Triangle Punch: Woodware Super Duper (Lilac) Triangle Punch.
Small embellishments & sticker sentiments, Sequins & Crystals.

My Haberdashery Christmas Tree

2015-09-27T07:00:00.000+02:00

I love making Christmas Tree cards. There are so many different ways to make a Christmas Tree aren't there? And decorate them too. I love playing about with the trimmings on a Christmas Tree card and just piling it all on!

Many of the cards which are my personal favourites from amongst all the cards I've ever made are Christmas Tree cards. Like this *Pom Pom Tree card*, and *this one* made from circles. I still like *this one* too, even though it is from too many moons ago, made from strips of card.

My card today is similar. Although today I'm using papers rather than card to make my tree. They're from the newly released 'Joyeux Noel' Pattern Paper Pack : ) Cutting strips about 1cm deep, & stamping my sentiments straight onto them, I simply arranged them onto my card with some pretty lace & beaded haberdashery trims and finished it with some small pom poms & sequins, & a lovely silk bow to the top to finish.

The backing paper I've used is actually cut from a spare envelope. It's one of these … the Chalk Recycled Cards & Envelopes Set from Paperchase. I use these cards & envelopes quite a lot. The cards are a nice size to work with (135mm square), they're textured, but just softly so & they are a really gorgeous neutral colour. But because I like to mix and match my cards & envelopes, I don't always use an envelope when I use a card. So at the moment, I have rather a lot of these envelopes to use. So today, one of them is a backing paper : )

If you haven't yet seen the new 'Joyeux Noel' papers, you can find them *here* in the boutique.

Card Credits
Card Base: 135mm Square Card
Patterned Papers: Joyeux Noel
Sentiment: Dovecraft Alphabet Stamp Set (DCVW0050)
White Silk Ribbon: May Arts
Beaded & Tiny Scalloped Lace Trims & Mini Ric Rac Braid, Small Pom Poms & Sequins

Winter Wishes & Joyeux Noel

2015-09-25T16:30:00.000+02:00

When I was thinking about what I wanted to design for Christmas this year, in addition to some new images & sentiments and something new for The Colour Collection, I decided I wanted to try to design more than my usual single Pattern Paper Pack. This year, I wanted more choice.

I wanted something based on the classic Partridge In A Pear Tree theme, something a little frosty & wintry, with snowmen & polar bears. And I wanted something using the colours from The French Country Collection too. And with these ideas in mind, I started designing : )

'Partridge In A Pear Tree', you've already seen. Today, I want to introduce you to the others : )

First, and based around the colour palette from The French Country Collection, and with a French name too, is 'Joyeux Noel'. I think this Collection is the prettiest Collection of the three.

It has 18 papers, & includes Dotty Holly in 'Straw', Pretty Snowflakes & Pink Poinsettias in 'Tea Rose', Christmas Trees in 'Pear', Candy Canes, Reindeers, Snowmen & Gingerbread Men, along with some gorgeous accessory papers in the cool neutral tones of 'Alabaster' & 'Oyster'. All brought to Christmassy life with a touch of 'Pure Crimson' from the main Colour Collection Colour Palette.

Secondly … there's 'Winter Wishes'.

As you can probably guess from it's name, this is my frosty, wintry Collection. Also with 18 papers, and in shades of 'Ocean Breeze', 'Pure Silver' & 'Pure Crimson' from the main Colour Palette, with lots of watercolour effects to give it a frosty style, it also includes Dotty Holly, Reindeers, Snowmen & Christmas Trees, along with accessory Snowflake papers & a really lovely Bokeh Baubles design. And Polar Bears too! Of the three Pattern Packs, this has the most contemporary styling.

You can find 'Joyeux Noel' *here* in the Boutique. And 'Winter Wishes' *here*.

And I hope you like them : )

Before I go, I'd just like to say a huge thank you to everyone who kindly left me feedback following my request for help with my card on my post yesterday, commenting either here on the blog, on Facebook or by email. I haven't had chance to reply to everyone yet. I'll be doing that this weekend. But I'm going to try all of your suggestions. And I have a funny feeling I'll finally have a card I'm totally happy with! I'll show it to you when I have. Thank you : )

Card Credits
Card Bases: 125mm Square & A6 hand-cut from 300gsm White Card
Patterned Papers: Joyeux Noel & Winter Wishes
Sentiment: Dovecraft Alphabet Stamp Set (DCVW0050)
Snowflake Punch: Martha Stewart
Silver Glitter Card, Silver Foiled Card, Small Sequins, Red & White Twine

A Golden Pear

2015-09-23T18:13:00.003+02:00

I liked this card I'd made it & decided I wanted to share it with you. But after I'd taken some photos of it, I changed my mind & couldn't decide whether I like it any more or not. I'm not sure why. I can't pinpoint it. I just feel as though there's something ...

It's simply one of the printable die-cut pear shapes from the 'Partridge In A Pear Tree Image Stamps' used as a template & cut from some gold-coloured handmade paper, which I layered onto a selection of cut snowflakes along with one of the Pear Sentiments and finished with lots of sequins & crystals.

I'm still not sure. What do you think? Constructive criticism required I think : )

Card Credits
Grey Card Base: Paperchase
Pear Printable Die-Cut with Sentiment: 'Partridge In A Pear Tree Image Stamps'
Large Snowflake Die: Hero Arts
Small Snowflake Die: Magnolia Stamps
Smallest Snowflake Die: Martha Stewart
Length of Gold Sequins, Selection of Individual Sequins & Crystal, Gold Paper, Natural Button Twine

Simplest Pear Cards

2015-09-20T13:30:00.000+02:00

I think these cards might just be the simplest, and quickest cards I've ever made!

Using one of the pear die-cuts from 'Partridge In A Pear Tree' Images as a template, I drew around it on patterned paper, cut it out & glued it to the front of a hand-cut A6 card base, adding a bow to finish & a little silver sequin for a seasonal touch.

I'm not sure whether or not I want to add a sentiment. I think I like them just the way they are!

Card Credits
Card Base: A6 hand-cut from 300gsm White Card
Patterned Papers: 'Partridge In A Pear Tree' Pattern Paper Pack
Natural Button Twine & a small Silver Sequin

How To Add Rub-On Foil To An Image

2015-09-17T07:00:00.000+02:00

Hi everyone!
How are you all getting on with crafting for Christmas? Have you started yet? Or is it still a little bit early for you?

In my pre-designer days , I didn't usually start actually creating anything until mid-October time. At this time of year I would have still been looking around for inspiration & making my decisions as to what I thought I might like to make ready to start shopping seriously for my supplies in a few weeks' time. I suppose I go through exactly the same process now - gathering inspiration & then creating. I just do it all a little bit earlier in the year. And I now include what I might like to design for Christmas as well as what I might like to create for it as well : )

One thing I have decided I wanted to do this year was to add foil to some of my projects. I like Rub-On foils. It's such a quick & simple technique to learn & to do. And when done properly, I think it gives a gorgeous finish.

So today, I wanted to do a quick tutorial to show you how to add Rub-On Foil to an image. Especially for those of you who've never tried it before : )

First, I want to talk a little about foils & adhesives.

Foils are available in a huge range of colours. And finishes. In addition to the standard metallic finish, there are lots of other finishes available too - holographic, matt & pearl to name just a few. They are not expensive. I buy mine from *here*. And although they can be a little prone to scratching, with careful handling & usage, there's very little waste & a little goes a really long way!

Rub-On Foils can be applied to any adhesive surface that has a 'tacky' finish - double sided adhesive tapes & stickers etc. Or for something which needs a finer application, like my image, a glue pen such as a Sakura Quickie Glue Pen, which can be used as either a permanent adhesive when it's first applied and is blue in colour. Or as a temporary, tacky adhesive when it has been left to stand for a while & changed to a clear finish. Sakura Quickie Sakura Quickie Glue Pens also have a fine point & a consistent, smooth, neat flow of adhesive which will help to give a neat consistent application for the foil. Can you tell I love mine!

Now let me show you how to apply them : )

You will need
Image
Rub-On Foil
Sakura Quickie Glue pen

1. Carefully add your adhesive to your image.

2. Set it aside & allow it to become tacky. With a Sakura Quickie Glue Pen, it is easy to know when this has happened because it will become entirely clear. Although this can take a little longer than you think … up to 30 minutes.

3. With the right side facing towards you, lay a small piece of foil over your image, carefully press it down with the pad of your finger & gently rub over the design. You should be able to see the outline of your adhesive through the foil. And you can use this as a guide to help you make sure you have pressed the foil onto all the parts you want to cover.

4. Now gently lift off the piece of foil. You should now have a foiled image!

5. If you find there are any gaps in your design, just lay an unused piece of foil over the area & press it down again to fill it. In my experience, this usually only happens when I haven't left the adhesive quite long enough to go completely tacky. But with a little practice, this won't happen too often!

It's a lovely finish isn't it? And p-e-r-f-e-c-t for Christmas : )

Card Credits
A6 Card Base: Kraft Card
Image with Sentiment: 'Partridge In A Pear Tree Image Stamps'
Gold Metallic Foil: Foilplay
Sakura Quickie Glue Pen

Partridge In A Pear Tree

2015-09-13T07:00:00.000+02:00

The newest additions to the Pink Petticoat Christmas Collection are in the Boutique today!

They're 'Pear Tree' & they are a set of Patterned Papers and a set of co-ordinating Image Stamps too.

I've used colours mainly from The French Country Colour Palette for the papers, including Pear (of course!), Custard, Oyster & Alabaster along with a touch of Silver from the main Colour Palette.

The Patterned Paper Pack is a collection of 17 patterned paper designs, printing as an individual A4 sheet, as shown below.
These are the designs ...

And these are the Images ...

The images all print as individual A4 sheets, with a white background, as shown & include both images to colour, and some sentiments. And these gorgeous pear die-cut shapes which I've used on my layered cards here : )

You can find the Paper Pack *here* in the Boutique.
And the Images *here*.
And I hope you like them!

Card Credits
Card Base: 125mm Square White Card Bases
Patterned Papers: 'Pear Tree' Pattern Paper Pack
Images: 'Pear Tree' Images
Large Snowflake Die: Hero Arts
Small Snowflake Die: Magnolia Stamps
Small Sequins, Fine Gold Glitter Card, Gold Metallic Sewing Thread, Pinking Shears

Festive Mr Fox … & More

2015-08-28T07:00:00.000+02:00

So the first three items from the Pink Petticoat Christmas Collection for this year are in the Boutique : )
They are …

'Festive Mr Fox' Image Stamps

This set includes ...
- 6 black & white outline image stamps,
- each one with a sentiment. And without a sentiment too.
- The images print as individual A4 sheets,
- with 4 images on a single sheet of A4
- on a white background, ready for you to cut or punch out.
- Their retail price is £3.99.

These are the images & how they all print on a single A4 sheet of paper.

'Festive Flamingo' Image Stamps …

This set includes ...
- 4 black & white outline image stamps,
- each one with a sentiment. And without a sentiment too.
- The images print as individual A4 sheets,
- with 4 images on a single sheet of A4
- on a white background, ready for you to cut or punch out.
- Their retail price is £3.99.

These are the images & how they all print on a single A4 sheet of paper.

& 'Candy Cane Stripe', a new paper design in The Colour Collection.

This download ...
- includes a single paper design
- in a single design option.
- And it is in all 38 colours of the Colour Palette.
- The designs print as individual A4 sheets
- in a single colour with white
- and their individual retail price will be £1.99.

This is the design ...

You can see all three in the Boutique now, here ...
'Festive Mr Fox', 'Festive Flamingos' & 'Candy Cane Stripe'.

Card Credits
Festive Mr Fox
Card Bases: Hand cut from White A4 Card printed with 'Candy Cane Stripe' in Jet Black'
Images with Sentiment: 'Festive Mr Fox' Image Stamps coloured with Watercolours
Glitter: Glamour Dust Glitter in 'Crystal' by DecoArt
Linen Twine & a selection of small sequins & crystals

Festive Flamingo
Card Bases: Hand cut from White A4 Card
Images: 'Festive Flamingos' Image Stamps coloured with Watercolours
Sentiment: Lowercase Printer's Type Alphabet Stamps. By Hero Arts
Gold Glitter: Making Memories
Selection of small sequins & crystals

Gift Tag
Printed Card: 'Candy Cane Stripe' in Pure Crimson
Sentiment: 'Christmas Joy' Sentiments
Small Hole Punch (Crop-A-Dile), Christmas Ribbon & small Safety Pin

French Country Contemporary Designs

2015-07-23T07:00:00.000+02:00

Hi everyone!

Today I want to tell you about Design Pack No. 2 for the Colour Couture French Country Colours Collection : )

Just before I do that, & especially for those who missed the introduction of Colour Couture & the introduction of the first design pack & haven't got a clue what I'm talking about, here's a quick recap : )

Colour Couture is the new way to buy colour & design at Pink Petticoat.

Whereas with The Colour Collection you select & shop by design - you simply select a design and get it in 38 colours, with Colour Couture, you select & shop by colour - you simply choose a colour & you get up to 25 designs in your chosen shade.

The colours are available individually. So you can choose as many or as few colours as you like, and not only will you get colours & shades that are designed to work together beautifully, you can also use them with your most-used favourite shades from The Colour Collection too. As I add more colours, you can choose whether or not you want to add those too!

The first colours to be introduced, were the 15 colours of the French Country Colour Palette - soft, muted colours put together to reflect a flavour of Provence & the pretty, feminine elegance of a worn, country cottage & colours faded over time.

You can find them on *this* page in the Boutique.

And you can download a Colour Sampler as a free printable so you can see how the colours work for you, with your own printer, at home ...
Sorry. This download is no longer available.
.pdf file (252 kb) or
.tif file (740 kb) as a .zip file

Now let me introduce you to the second design pack available in the French Country Colours : )

I'm calling it the 'Contemporary' Designs Pack. And it is a combination of the designs which have been most-requested in the new colours, since they were first introduced, along with a few brand new ones too. So new, in fact, they're not even in the main Colour Collection yet.

These are the designs I've included ...

And each of the colours ...
- includes 35 papers, over 25 designs (some designs have both a positive & negative printing option)
- & a solid colour paper too
- in a single colour of the French Country Colour Palette.
- Each of the designs print as individual A4 sheets.
- They are available with White elements/backgrounds
- and their retail price will be £2.99 per colour.

I'll be adding each individual colour for the new Design Pack to the Boutique over the next 2 weeks. I'll let you know as & when I do : )

But in the meantime, as I did previously, & especially for those of you who would like the new designs in all the French Country colours, I've put all 15 shades into a 'French Country' Contemporary Patterns Pack.

And just 'til Sunday, 26th July, they're just £15.00 for all of them. That's a cost of only £1.00 per colour & a saving of over 60% on the individual price of an individual colour pack.

If you'd like to take a further look, you can find the 'French Country' Contemporary Design Pack *here* in the Boutique.

And I hope you like them!

Card Credits
Card Bases: DL
Papers & Colours: 'Wisteria' & 'Alabaster'. From the 'French Country' Contemporary Colour Couture Collection.
Sentiments: 'Tiny Typed' Alphas
Pearl Buttons, Small Crystals & Sequins, Button Twine

Shanty Chic Cards

2015-07-12T07:00:00.000+02:00

Card Credits
Patterned Papers: 'Shanty Chic' Pattern Paper Pack
Image: 'Beach Cottage' Image Stamps
White Alphas: 'Dolly Mixture' Alphas
Black Alphas: 'Tiny Typed' Alphas
Kraft Button Twine, Small Sequins & Pearls

Shanty Chic Pattern Paper Pack

2015-07-07T15:46:00.000+02:00

Hi everyone! I hope you're enjoying the beautiful summer weather we've been having. Well, at least so far this year : )

I've been out & about soaking up the sun, and drawing inspiration from everything I've seen for some new pretty papers for our summer projects … like these, 'Shanty Chic', which I added to the Boutique last night.

There are, of course, many different ways we can interpret the shades of the shoreline. Nautical navy blue paired with crisp, clean white & perhaps a splash of jaunty red. Or bright, playful, cheerful colours - the bright yellow of the sun, the shimmering shades of blue, green & turquoise of the ocean & perhaps the pink of a strawberry ice-cream.

But there is also a much softer set of colours that we associate with it too. One that reflects the sun-bleached shades of the sea & sand on a lazy, hazy, hot summer's day - soft, pale blues & green of a balmy sea & the neutrals of pale sandy beaches, hard rock cliffs, seashells & driftwood. A more casual, tranquil, feminine way of interpreting coastal style.

And that's the colour palette I've chosen for this collection, 'Shanty Chic'

The designs themselves include seaside-inspired hand-painted watercolour florals, pale blue watercolour-effect background papers & of course, crabs & fishes & starfish & shells. All very feminine too : )

Let me show them to you …

The download itself includes
- 20 patterned paper designs.
- The designs print as individual A4 sheets,
- and their retail price will be £2.99.

These are the designs I have included ...

Beach-inspired florals ...

Little fishes …

Seahorses …

& Starfish …

Vintage-inspired prints …

There are watercolour stripes, paisley designs & picnic blanket checks ...

& some text-based accessory papers …

And in this close-up shot …

… I think you can see how beautifully they all work with one another.

You can find 'Shanty Chic' *here* in the Boutique.

And I hope you like them!

Card Credits
Patterned Papers: 'Shanty Chic' Pattern Paper Pack
Triangle Punch: Woodware Tall Triangle Super Duper (Lilac) Punch
Crop-a-Dile Hole Punch, Linen Twine

Free French Country Colour Resources

2015-05-09T07:00:00.000+02:00

I have put together a Colour Resources Pack for the new French Country colours.

A Colour Resources Pack is a complete collection of essential colour co-ordination & design tools for you to print & and use in your Pink Petticoat card making. And it's free to download.

It includes exactly the same tools as the one I did for The Colour Collection.

So these ...

Colour Palette

{A4 sheet}

A quick at-a-glance guide to all the colours in the French Country Colour Palette.

Solid Background Papers

{38 x A4 sheets}

15 solid background papers - one for every colour in the French Country Colour Palette.

Colour Sampler

{4 x A4 sheets}

If the Colour Sampler is new to you, it's very simple to make and use ... I punched mine out using a 5cm square punch and popped it onto a book ring. It makes choosing the colour palettes for my cards so much easier.
It is my most-used colour tool : )

All the files included in this download are exactly the same as any item you have bought from The Pink Petticoat Portfolio.
- high-resolution 300 dpi
- file type: .tif
- print as individual A4 sheets.
So you can open and print them in exactly the same way.

DOWNLOAD
your French Country Colour Resources Pack *here*
(.zip file 740 kb)

And they download in the same way too - as a .zip file. So you can use your favourite Zip File Program, such as WinZip, to download and unzip them.

Introducing The New French Country Colours Collection

2015-05-02T06:00:00.000+02:00

The Colour Collection.

It's a very simple design concept isn't it? We simply select a design we love, and get it in an entire colour palette of gorgeous shades. It has a colour palette that has been developed & perfected over many years to one so versatile that choosing just a single design gives us all the colours we need to make cards for a huge variety of occasions - for men, for little ones, cards for birthdays, cards for Hallowe'en, cards for Christmas. Whatever the occasion, there is always a colour in a single design folder that is appropriate.

But being the colour-lover that I am, I want more : )

So today I'm introducing you to 2 new things.
First, a brand new Colour Palette - the French Country Colour Palette.
And secondly, a brand new way to buy colour & design too - Colour Couture.

Where, with The Colour Collection you select & shop by design - you simply select a design and get it in 38 colours.
With Colour Couture, you select & shop by colour - you simply choose a colour & you get up to 25 designs in your chosen shade.

You can choose as many or as few colours as you like, and not only will you get colours & shades that are designed to work together beautifully, you can also use them with your most-used favourite shades from The Colour Collection too. As I add more colours, you can choose whether or not you want to add those too!

And I'll also be introducing a selection of different design packs to choose from as well!

I'll be telling you about the first set of designs a little later in the post. But first, let me introduce you to the new colours : )

The 'French Country' Colours are the very first Colour Couture Collection. And there are 15 colours to choose from ... for now!

These are the colours I'm starting with …

Aren't they absolutely gorgeous? I wanted all the colours in the French Country Colour Palette to reflect the flavour of Provence - the grandeur of an old world Chateau with the casual twist of a comfy, worn, country cottage. I wanted them to evoke the pretty, feminine elegance of colours faded over time. So I've chosen shades that are charming & soft & muted yet casual & elegant at the same time.

And very different to those that make up The Colour Collection.

Of course, *the* most important thing is not how the colours look on the screen. It is how the colours will print for you at home : )

So I've put together a free printable of all the colours currently on the French Country Colour Chart which you can download as a
.pdf file (252 kb) or
.tif file (740 kb) as a .zip file
Sorry. This download is no longer available.

Whichever you prefer : )

Now let me tell you about the first design pack available in each of these colours.
I'm starting with a selection of designs you are familiar with - mostly : ) And I'm calling it the Classic Designs Pack.

These are the designs I've chosen ...

Each of the colour downloads ...
- includes 38 papers, over 25 papers (some designs have both a positive & negative printing option)
- & a solid colour paper too
- in a single colour of the French Country Colour Palette.
- Each of the designs print as individual A4 sheets.
- They are available with White elements/backgrounds
- and their retail price will be £2.99 per colour.

I'll be adding each individual colour to the Boutique over the next 2 weeks. I'll let you know as & when I do : )

But in the meantime, and especially for those of you who just want all the new colours, I've put all 15 colours into a
'French Country' Classic Patterns Pack, just as a Bank Holiday treat, just 'til Tuesday, 5th May & for just £15.00 for all of them.

That's just £1.00 per colour & a saving of over 60% on what the individual selling prices for the Classic Design Pack will be.

If you'd like to take a further look, you can find the 'French Country' Special Offer Pack *here* in the Boutique.

And I hope you like them!

Card Credits
Card Bases: 1-5mm Square
Papers & Colours: 'Custard', 'Lambswool', 'Nutmeg', 'Tea Rose', 'Straw' & 'Parchment'. From the 'French Country' Colour Couture Collection.
Sentiments: 'Wedding' Sentiment Ribbons'

New Designs In The Colour Collection

2015-04-18T06:00:00.000+02:00

I've made these little Gift Bags using the step-by-step tutorial I shared with you yesterday. And the new paper designs I've added to The Colour Collection in the Boutique today : )

There are 5 new additions in total. Two of them, the 'Clematis' & 'Chrysanthemums' designs, are versions of some of my most recent designs from 'Linen Floralie' & 'Silver Floralie' Pattern Packs, tweaked a little to make them perfect for The Colour Collection.

The remaining three, 'Doodlie Doilies', 'Pretty Posy' & 'Bold Brushes' are brand new designs : )

Let me tell you all about them ...

Each of these downloads ...
- include a single paper design,
- in all 38 colours of the Colour Palette.
- 'Clematis', 'Chrysanthemum' & 'Bold Brushes have both positive & negative design options included in the downloads
- 'Doodlie Doilies' & 'Pretty Posy' have a negative design option only.
- Each of the designs print as individual A4 sheets.
- They are available with White elements/backgrounds
- and their retail price will be £1.99 each.

These are the designs …

'Clematis'

'Chrysanthemums'

'Doodlie Doilies'

'Pretty Posy'

'Bold Brushes'

You can find
'Clematis' *here*
'Chrysanthemums' *here*
'Pretty Posy' *here* &
'Bold Brushes' *here* in the Boutique.
'Doodle Doilies' is no longer available.

And the step-by-step Gift Bag Tutorial *here*.

I hope you like them!

How To Make A Simple Paper Gift Bag

2015-04-17T11:45:00.004+02:00

Hi everyone!

Today, I want to show you how to make a simple Paper Gift Bag : )

It's very simple and quick to make & needs only a single sheet of A4 paper & a few very basic supplies. The kind of things we all have in our craft box.

And my finished bag measures 14cm x 15cm (5 1/2″ x 6″).

As with the Gift Box I shared in my last post, I think knowing how to fold a paper Gift Bag is an important tool to have in your crafting arsenal.

To make it, I've chosen one of a few new designs I'll shortly be adding to the Colour Collection in the Boutique. Very shortly : ) I'll be telling you about those in my next post.

And they're much easier to make than you think ...

HOW TO MAKE A PAPER GIFT BAG

Print this Tutorial

You will need ...
Single sheet of A4 paper.
(I printed onto 120gsm paper)
Permanent Adhesive
Hole Punch
Ribbon or Twine for Handles

Optional
Bone Folder (You could use the edge of a ruler if you don't have one)
Small piece of white card
Gift Tag.

Lay your paper horizontally on your work surface with the wrong side facing up. Create the top edge of your bag by folding down 2 1/2cm (1") along the top, long horizontal edge. And create a tab to seal the side edge of your bag by folding approx 1-1.5cm (1/2") in from the short, right hand side. Press down the folds firmly with your fingertips & crease.

Open up the 2 folds you have just made, & fold the remaining short side up to the edge of your folded tab on the opposite side.

Apply adhesive along the tab, in the folded area only ...

… & fold it over, carefully lining up the top & bottom edges.

Working at the top of your bag & using the crease you have already made, fold it to the inside.

Now you're going to create the bottom of your bag.
So with the tabbed edge facing upwards (this is the back of the bag) and the folded top edge at the top, facing away from you, fold upwards 6 1/2 cm (2 1/2") from the bottom. Press & crease this fold firmly.

Lift & open up the bottom edge ...

… & gently fold one side towards the middle. Aligning the crease with the bottom folded edge will help you keep this straight. Make sure the points you create at the corner are open & flattened fully & neatly. Press down & & crease firmly.

Repeat to fold the opposite side towards the centre too, again using the crease & the fold to keep this straight and ensuring the corner point is neat & fully flattened. Press down & & crease firmly.

Fold up the bottom edge. Using the horizontal crease line in the centre as a guide, fold so the bottom edge sits approx 1cm (slightly less than 1/2") above the crease.

Repeat with the opposite edge, again using the crease as a guide & folding so the short edge sits approx 1cm (slightly less than 1/2") beyond it.

Open up the 2 flaps you have just made. And working on the top one only, apply adhesive to the areas shown above. Fold down this flap & stick it firmly in place.

Repeat this step on the remaining flap, applying adhesive to the same 2 areas on this and to approx 1-1 1/2 cm (1.2") in the centre too.

Being careful where you apply adhesive in the last two steps will ensure there is no stickiness on the inside of your bag when it is finished : )

Fold down this flap too & stick it firmly in place.

Punch 2 holes at the top of your bag. Punching through both layers at the same time will make sure your holes are perfectly aligned.

… cut a length of ribbon or twine approx 50cm in length & thread through your handles, adding a tag if you like as you do this.

And tie it neatly on the inside.

Your bag is now essentially finished!

There is another final small step which I always like to do. And that is to add a small piece of card to the bottom on the inside. I think this makes my bags a little stronger, they have a neater finish on the inside and my bags feel more professional when I have : )

It is optional. But it is simple to do ...

Cut a small piece of white card, approx 92mm x 57mm (a little over 3 1/2" x 2 1.4") & pop it in the bottom. It may need a little adjusting to get the best fit. But I just slice 1mm off the edges at a time until I have something I am happy with. And when I have, a little dab of glue on the underside holds it securely in place.

And that's how to make a simple Paper Gift Bag : )
How quick & simple was that? I think they're fun to make too.

Have a lovely weekend everyone!
New Colour Collection paper designs next : )

Credits
Patterned Papers: 'Chrysanthemums' from The Colour Collection in 'Goldenrod' printed onto plain White Paper.

How To Make An Origami Gift Box

2015-04-12T14:00:00.000+02:00

So as I promised in my last post, today I want to show you how to fold a paper Gift Box.

I think knowing how to fold a paper Gift Box is an important tool to have in your crafting arsenal. Once you know how to do it, you can make one in any size you like using any paper you have to hand.

They're easier to make than you'd think. And I have a few tips to share which will help you get the best results : )

You will need a square of paper for each of the top and the bottom of the box. So to make a lidded box, you will need 2 squares of paper. You can make them in any size you like - the process is the same. But just remember that the paper for the bottom needs to be about 1 - 1.5cm (1/2") smaller than the paper for the top.

When cutting out your paper, it’s worth taking the time to carefully cut perfect squares. And I would always recommend using a bone folder or something similar to make your creases. Both of these will give your finished box a neat, uniform shape.

And as a general rule, the heavier the paper you use, the sturdier your box will be. And when folded & finished, your box will be about 1/3 of the size of the original square.

For the one I've made here, I've chosen a design from the new 'Silver Floralie' Collection, printed onto 2 x A4 sheets of 120gsm paper.
The squares I've cut measure 20cm (8") square & 21cm (8 1/2") square & will make a 7 1/2cm x 3 1/2cm (3″ x 1.5″) square lidded box.

HOW TO FOLD AN ORIGAMI GIFT BOX

You will need ...
2 pieces of patterned paper one 20cm square & the other 21cm square
Bone folder. (You could use the edge of a ruler if you don't have one)

Step One
Lay your paper on your work surface with the wrong side facing up & fold it in half, straight edge to straight edge. Press the fold with your fingertips & crease with a bone folder.

Open your paper, turn it 90 degrees & repeat to fold, press & crease the opposite straight edges together.

Step Two
Open your paper
Next, fold one corner to the other on the opposite side. Before you use the bone folder, double-check to make sure that the crease runs right up to the corner points on either edge of the fold.

Open your paper & repeat to fold the other two corners to one another, and crease the fold.

Open up your paper. It should look like this.

Step Three
Fold each corner up to meet the centre point. This is the point where all of the creases intersect. Press the fold in place. And crease.

Repeat to fold each corner to the centre.

Step Four
With your paper still folded, fold the bottom edge of the square up to meet the point where all of the corners intersect in the middle. Press the fold & crease.

Then repeat to fold the top edge down to the centre too.

Open up your last two folds & turn 90 degrees. Repeat to fold the opposite edges to the centre ...

… like this.

Step Five
Open up your last 2 folds. And pulling gently from the centre, open up two of the corner edges opposite each other.

Turn your paper. And using the creases you have already made as a guide, lift along two opposite folded edges. These will form 2 sides of your finished box.

Now, working on one of the open corners, & using your existing crease lines only, fold in the sides & lift.

Again using only your existing crease lines, fold it down & over to create the 3rd side of your box. The corner point should sit right in the middle of the bottom of your box ...

… like this.

Repeat at the opposite side to create the 4th side of your box.

And the bottom half of your little Gift Box is finished!

I like to cut a square of card to pop in the bottom of my box to strengthen it & cover the loose edges to give it a neat finish. A little dab of glue on the underside or a piece of pretty washi tape would hold them securely in place too.

Now repeat the exact same steps on the other piece of paper to create the lid. And your Gift Box is complete!

Lovely aren't they?

And in addition to being perfect for giving gifts at any time of year, they make pretty storage for your craft room too : )

Credits
Patterned Papers: 'Floralie in Silver' printed onto plain White Copy Paper.

Silver Floralie Patterned Paper Pack

2015-04-03T07:00:00.000+02:00

Did you like 'Linen Floralie', my most recent set of Paper Designs? You did? And would you like the mix of patterns in a different Colour Palette? You would? Then you might just like the new papers I added to the Boutique last night : )

They are called 'Silver Floralie'. And as with 'Linen Floralie', they are a collection of bold, hand-painted watercolour florals, and pretty feminine background papers with a complementary watercolour-effect background.

The mix of patterns is more or less the same as before. There are a couple of new designs : ) And this time around, I've chosen a colour palette of grey & green (Pure Silver, Fresh Celery & Crushed Pistachio), with a pink highlight (Pretty Pink, Mademoiselle & Sweet Bohemia) & the tiniest touch of yellow (Dainty Daffodil & Wild Primrose). So for Colour Matching with your existing papers from The Colour Collection, any of these colours will tone beautifully.

Let me show the mix of patterns to you ...

'Silver Floralie' Patterned Paper Designs

The set includes
- 21 patterned paper designs.
- The designs print as individual A4 sheets,
- and their retail price will be £2.99.

These are the designs included in the download ...

And this is how they look in print : )

The tutorial for making my little gift boxes is *here* on the blog : )

And the papers, are *here* in the Boutique.

And I hope you like them!
Have a lovely Easter everyone!

Card Credits
Patterned Papers: 'Silver Floralie' Patterned Paper Pack
Natural Button Twine

How To Make A Sweet Origami Bunny Box.

2015-03-31T17:00:00.000+02:00

Hi everyone!
Today I want to share with you a little treasure I came across whilst having a wander around the web during the weekend.

It's this really cute little origami Bunny Box. It's by the wonderful Leyla Torres of Origami Spirit. Leyla designs and shares the most fabulous paper-folding makes on her web site, all with video tutorials. And I fell in love with this little bunny as soon as I saw it.

It's so simple to make & just perfect for filling with little treats for Easter.

And to make it for free?

If you haven't done so already, you simply need to download the Solid Shades pack from the Free Colour Resources Collection, print out one of the colours, and follow Leyla's free video tutorial, which I have linked to below for you.

Here's how I made mine : )

Knowing Origami Paper is traditionally very lightweight to make folding easier, I started by printing the shade of pink, 'Mademoiselle', from the Solid Shades pack of the Free Colour Resources Collection onto one side of a sheet of white A4 75gsm paper. I'm not sure I was expecting the finished result to be strong enough to hold anything inside using this weight of paper. But I was pleasantly surprised. Because it was : )

I cut it into an 18cm (7") square, and then I followed Leyla's instructions on her how-to video ...

Then I popped my mini chocolate treats inside. And my Bunny Box was done : )

Simple as that. And sweet, lovely & fabulous too! You're welcome : )

Hoppy Little Bunnies

2015-03-26T07:00:00.000+01:00

I've made these little bunny cards with my new Image Stamps which I added to the Boutique yesterday : )

They are called 'Hoppy Bunnies'. There are 10 images in the set, both boy & girl bunnies and they come with 2 different styles of Easter sentiments, and without a sentiment too. And although I have designed them with Easter in mind, the images are much more versatile and I think you'll find you can enjoy using them for more than just your Easter projects.
Let me show them to you. And tell you what's included in the download : )

'Hoppy Bunnies' Image Stamps

This set includes ...

- 10 black & white outline image stamps,
- each one with a choice of 2 sentiments. And without a sentiment too.
- The images print as individual A4 sheets,
- with either 2 or 4 images on a single sheet of A4
- on a white background, ready for you to cut or punch out.
- Their retail price is £3.99.

These are the images & how they all print on a single A4 sheet of paper ...

Here's how beautifully they print : )

If you'd like to take a closer look, you can find the 'Hoppy Bunnies' Image Stamps *here* in the Boutique.

And I hope you like them!

Card Credits
A6 Card Base: Hand cut from a sheet of A4 White Card printed with 'Soft Truffle' from The Free Colour Resources Pack
Images with Sentiments: 'Hoppy Bunnies' Image Stamps, coloured with chalks.
Natural Button Twine & a selection of Small Sequins & Crystals.