Quickie Homemade Card Idea

Sorry about the terrible photos, I had my camera on the wrong setting!

Here's a really easy card idea and you can base it on your own everyday capitals. It's easy because if you leave any letters out or your layout doesn't fit, you can just slot in a letter here and there and your recipient will think that you are very arty and creative (rather than forgetful and /or illiterate).

This is an excellent card for any occasion: a birth/birthday for anyone, christening, new house, good luck or perhaps two names for a wedding card. It doesn't need to look exactly like this as it's a design and technique which is flexible. Try doodling a few ideas with a biro next time you're on the phone and you will end up with interesting variations.

You need: A blank piece of card folded (a square looks good ) and a set of good quality colouring pencils (or just a few colours). I like to use high quality watercolour pencils because the pigments are a lot brighter.

1. With clear and simple capitals write your name/s, words, message. I have adjusted my capitals subtly by lowering the cross bar of the A and H and stretching out the O. You could use a square layout like this or just write it in a line.

2. Add weight to your letters. An even weight is easy to achieve especially with a really sharp pencil. Emphasise the beginning and end point of each letter by drawing a little line. Or draw a bigger line a create a serif, perhaps?

3. With a different colour draw the shapes which fit in between the letters leaving a little white outline space between the shape and the letter and then colour in...and who doesn't like a bit of colouring..but remember to stay in the lines!

4. For a slightly posher finish colour the inside shapes again this time adding a bit more pressure around the outside of the shape which will really crisp it up. Then lightly colour again with a slightly different colour. Purple or pink looks interesting over blue, orange and red also look good together.

Finally, add a few embellishments like hearts, stars, little bird etc.

Tea Staining Paper

As far as I'm concerned you cannot beat a paper based craft especially one which uses bog-standard white printer paper. Anything you've got knocking about would do really including lined paper, junk mail, old letters etc. I've photocopied some handwriting on to an A3 sheet of white paper and this looks really effective.

It really couldn't be more simple.
1. Add a teabag to a small bowl of boiling water and brew for ages, the longer you brew the darker your stain. I allowed it to brew until the tea bag was cool enough for me to handle.

2. Squeeze the teabag out directly onto the paper allowing the tea to pool and rub it all over the paper using the teabag or, if you're doing a lot of staining, some cotton wool. (The teabag bursts after about four sheets)

3. An Aga is perfect for drying your paper on but if, like me, you're not blessed with such a beast then a hair dryer is very effective. On a hot day you could peg your paper to the washing line which would look interesting and your neighbours would think you've gone mad but 'hey ho'. Hanging up wet stained paper creates a drippy effect which is quite fun.

4. Make something lovely with it. You could cover a box, make a book cover. tear it up to use for scrapbooking or ...make a flower.

A Cut Paper Paradise Part 1

I blame my current paper obsession on Sarah Morpeth and her wondrous works of papery art. Mr Wild Ink bought me one of her 'hedgerow' Pamphlet books for christmas and I can't stop gazing at it. I'm quite fussy and hard to please when it comes to such things yet all the subtle little cuts and shapes are a joy to behold.

I've found her website really inspiring with cut and folded books which literally look like they are exploding with foliage and wildlife. I realise, being an arty bod, that Sarah's work is thoughtful and conceptual on many levels and she clearly takes inspiration from lots of sources. I particularly like her works influenced by the natural world and, concepts aside, they are visually very impressive.

Another card idea for you

Why not stick cardboard faces on things then photograph it and stick it on a card for your loved one? This really is an easy yet great little idea that can be applied to any object, for any occasion. Why not try pairs of shoes, socks, children's tummies, tins of baked beans, fruit... in fact anything! I would not recommend writing a 'comic style' fart noise onto cardboard and then trying to stick it on to a live chicken's bottom as it's nearly impossible and the chicken gets very cross.

In case you're wondering, the idea for this card came to me as a result of my need to hang a 'family' of pants on our washing line every now and again. That is, a pair of pants representing every member of our little family in a row on the line. It makes me chuckle when I walk up the path!

Homemade Cards

I know it's only February but so far so good on the homemade card challenge. The plan, and key to success I think, is when I sit down to make a card, I check the calendar and make at least three. I could also do with a generic 'card-for-all-occasions' design and perhaps set up a little factory line with the children and go into production. I know that the Big Girl will be up for any creative challenge but the Big Boy might need to be bribed, corrupted...possibly paid but will probably end up enjoying it despite making a fuss.

These are easy little cards to make. Starting for the bottom photo: do a bit of chunky writing with watercolours and a brush.It doesn't matter if it's a bit messy but I have found it does help if you water the colours down a little bit. Let it dry. Then with some watercolour pencils write or draw over the top of painted letters. It looks great if the drawn letters fall inside or/and outside the lines as it gives a quirky 'illustrated'look. Add some little wiggly bits, stripes, flourishes and squiggles and TA-DAH...a delightfully happy birthday card!

Happy Christmas!

Christmas this year has been a a quiet affair.I've been feeling a bit penned in because of the snow and Big Girl's swine flu. I didn't realise how much my enjoyment of christmas relied on going to see people and having people visit us. We can't even take the other two for a walk because we freeze within two minutes of stepping out the door! It's been a bit quiet and reflective rather than the usual festive chaos but this has given me a chance to think about getting arty. I haven't got a plan yet but I would like one...I always like to have a plan no matter how small. Actually, maybe my plan is this blog... it's my much needed step outside my little box, my very happy home. It's for me. I do need to get arty as that is who I am and my arty-ness has got a bit lost. The good news is that I think I found it again hiding under the bed with all the odd socks. It was covered in dust.. a quick polish and it will be as good as new.
Much of my arty pleasures most recently have come from looking at people blogs and I found this gorgeous christmas card on an american blog called kwernerdesign.com.