Tuesday 7 February 2012

Paper chains and doilies…..pinteresting!

Well I am spending far too much time trawling  Pinterest but it does throw up so many inspiring ideas.  One was a page from a french book with a diagram for cutting a chain of birds….it’s such an old technique  (remember cutting paperchains of dolls) but while we forge ahead with new exciting craft ideas we forget the simplicity of older techniques.

Less is More has Aqua as its colour theme (big HAAAAAPPPPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! Party smile  to them and congratulations on a very successful year, you deserve a big pat on the back for not only providing an inspiring blog but bringing so many crafters together).

The theme was perfect for revisiting the cutting idea…I cut a strip from an old envelope (Liz Earle’s promotional stuff has just the right colour for the challenge…. I do like Liz Earle products). After folding the strip into four panels (concertina style) sketched a little bird on the back, he is sitting on a branch which will create the joining element…..then cut it out.

S1052425Voila”…..one little row of birds ……ok so they still look a little prehistoric…..ala the bird stencil I created a couple of weeks ago……….. but they are hopefully recognisable (will really have to practice sketching birds, I didn’t take art at school because I couldn’t draw…..seems it was a wise decision…but then I promised myself many years ago that I was not setting out to be an artist…but that shouldn’t stop me having fun creating and crafting!!!!).

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Not sure if I did the right thing but I decided to tone down some of the “white space” with more colour  (real reason was I was disguising a reject card that I had scored incorrectly).  A quick flick with and old toothbrush and some watered down emulsion paint and a bit more aqua was added.

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The other Pinterest find was creating an envelope from a doily….I changed the idea a bit as I felt it needed a liner. I have lot of large doilies left as Katie bought a big packet at Christmas to make some angel place cards (works xmas dinner)with the smaller ones (they had doily bodies and wings and a proper photograph of each persons head ….they looked so funny….especially the blokes!!!!!!!!!!!).

As I make a lot of my own card blanks I am always keen to make my own envelopes as well.   I simply used a matching piece of paper cut the same width as the card but folded round with a slight overlap.

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I placed this on the doily and folded the doily sides in. With a glue stick I attached the doily only where it came into contact with the lining paper.

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The eagle eyed amongst you will notice that I decided the birds needed wings…now not sure????? I truly am the most undecided person I know….or am I?!?!?!!!!!

I would also like to submit this for DYSU challenge this week as anything goes!! This is another lovely friendly challenge site and massively popular…. and as anything goes I will also include a pic of a little thank you gift I have just made with the scraps left over from my project….I needed to make some packaging for my Handmade hand scrub …..also inspired by Pinterest!!!

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….and if you check out Pinterest…..warning ….it is quite addictive…and can seriously reduce your crafting time.



15 comments:

Unknown said...

What a lovely card and reviving some old paper crafting techniques too - beautiful.

Suze Bain said...

You're always full of great ideas Diane - now you've got me wanting to make paper dolls and doily envelopes! I haven't 'got into' Pinterest as I already spend way too much time surfing the net and blogging - so I'm not going there! Lol! Super card, love the paint spray. xx

Mandi said...

How clever Di
Looks super!
Liz Earle is Isle of Wight based, just gone into partnership with Avon, well I think they have bought her out

Thank you so much
mandi
"Less is More"

Aileen said...

Your little birdies look fab and I like your background. x

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

WOW, now that's what I call creative, beautiful card AND envelope and I Lurve the hand scrub.

Bea said...

what a great card - love the idea

Jenny said...

A great way to bring back a crafty technique Diane! Your bird looks just fine to me with or without wings and as for the envelope.....so clever and pretty :0)
Jenny x

Chrissie said...

Looks like you've been having enormous fun with this lot Diane... I love your spritzed background... if that was me there'd be spatters for miles around!
Super job!
Thanks so much
Chrissie
"Less is More"

G Peplow said...

Hi Diane, Great card, I love your birds. You are an artist, those birds are magic and the envelope so pretty:0) I too am a Pinterest addict, it calms me down looking at all the wonderful pins :0) xxx

WencheP said...

It's fabulous. Thanks for joining us at Do You Stack Up.

-Wenche

Karen M said...

Hi Diane, I love your aqua card and envelope! Fabulous! I had a little wander around your blog - you have some super ideas and I especially like your doodles! Thank you for visiting my blog and for your comments. Kx

Cardarian said...

I loved your blog post and especially the idea of cutting out the birds - it is such a beautiful card - wonderful idea with the tooth brush too!
Thank you for commenting on my blog - it is lovely to see new blogs and "meet" new crafters!!!
Hugs,
Cardarian

Kathyk said...

Fab card and thanks for sharing the techniques used too

Kathyk

debby4000 said...

Oh this is so beautiful, personally I think the birds needed wings.
luv
Debby

Charlotte said...

Very nice idea Diana! Thx for shearing!
Greetings,
Charlotte

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