Kanban Shabby & Chic

I simply adore this paper craft kit from Kanban.  It is a kit that works well with any haberdashery dies and ribbons and pearls.

I have been working on it for the last week or so so haven't worked my way through all the kit as yet but would like to share with you some of the cards that  have made so far so that I can offer you some inspiration.

I have used some parchment paper and put this in an embossing folder to create interest to the background.  

Similarly I have created the same card but made this one into a Mother's Day card and used some pearls to adorn the mannekin.

I have made this card using a pre cut central stepper card that has a nice shape at the bottom and my haberdashery dies.

On this card I have cut into the rose edge so that the topper slides underneath the edge.  It just needs a sentiment to finish it off.

I have added some decoupage roses across the front of the card.

This just needs another sentiment to finish it off.  Do you see how I have used my pearls to make a bracelet and necklace on the topper.

I have used some more parchment paper on this card.  Firstly to make a background to mount the Happy Mother's Day on and secondly to make a butterfly.

Some decoration using my pearls.

Good use of my parchment butterflies.  I knew they would come in handy.

Another parchment butterfly to adorn this card.

Watch this space as more cards will follow.... and a week later, I am sharing with you my entire collection of cards made using this papercrafting kit.

It's funny, now that I can look at them as photos I have a few more ideas for adding some additional embellishments here and there!

Paper Flower Wreath

The most enjoyable aspect of my recent visit to the Craft4Crafters show at Westpoint was visiting the Pink Frog Crafts and Card stand where I found a tiny plant pot filled with little paper snowdrops.  I was shown how to make these and took this photo as a momento in case I forget what they looked like.

However, these were not the only paper flowers that had been created by the demonstrator, she had made a lovely heart shaped wreath covered in lots of tiny handmade paper flowers.  They looked so beautiful that I wanted to try this for myself.

I was suprised to learn that the majority of the flowers made on the wreath came from one die.  It is available on their website and called a medium multiflower Rose Die (024).  I already owned this die but hadn't tried making anything other than roses and fuchsias with it. However, with this one die you can make roses, daises, fuchsias, aquilegia, poppies and sunflowers so it is really good value for money.  So all I needed to purchase was an additional die for making daffodils.  

With these two dies I made the majority of the flowers you see below in this wreath.

Here are some close ups:

The daisy is one of the easiest to make.  First cut out some flowers.  You need two for a daisy but of course you will make more than one.  Take your ball tool and run this around each flower to give it a curl.  Then take your pokey tool and fold each petal in turn over it to give it extra shape.  Now put a blob of glue in the centre of one and place the other on top slight offset.  Finish the centre using flower soft.

The daffodil couldn't be easier.  With the two cut petals first shape them with your ball tool and then place a dab of glue on one and sandwich together, offsetting them. 

With your pokey tool pierce the centre so that your sepal will push through.  

Take the final piece cut from the die and use your largest ball tool to shape it.  As you approach the shortest edge, force it to curl with the ball tool so that when you glue it in place it has an a larger surface edge to glue to the rest of the flower.  Now glue the seam together.  When dry apply glue around the narrow edge and hold in place until it grabs.  Your sepals should already be in place at this point!

The aquilegia was made using the MultiFlower Rose Die for the outer petal and a tonic die punch for the centre.  

I learned a very interesting tip at the show on how to pinch the edges of the outer flowers. First shape your flowers with the ball tool and then using your pokey tool hold it along the longer edge of a petal and wrap the petal around the pokey tool to crease it. 

Place a tiny amount of glue at the tip of the flower and hold this firmly with your round nose pliers.  Gently push the pliers toward the centre of the flower and this action creates the lovely pinched edges you see on the flower.

The Chrysanthemum was made using multiple layers which were shaped before gluing into place.

The pink carnation was made using the same die but I used scissors with a special edge to create the effect on the edge.

and finally the Gerbera Daisy.  I have a punch that I used to create the centre of this flower.

I had forgotten how much fun it is to sit and make paper flowers.  I think the best advise I can offer is to use your ball tool to shape your flowers and have handy your pokey tool and round nose pliers.  Glue with quick grab is helpful but not essential and flower soft makes great centres for your flowers.

Craftwork Cards Beau Papier Collection

I have made some more cards using this lovely Beau Papier Collection from Craftwork Cards.  Although it has has put a big dent in my stash and I have just about used up all the toppers, I still have the lovely stamp set and plenty of paper left in the paper pad to continue on.   

You are probably wondering where I get my inspiration from to make so many cards.  When I run out of ideas I like to take a look on Pinterest and see what others have done and this helps to get my creative juices flowing. Card makers like sharing their ideas and providing inspiration to others. Tina Boyden has produced some lovely card samples for Craftwork Cards and I particularly liked one by Jan of Chalet Crafts.  You may well see some  similarities between our cards.


I hope you enjoy my cards.

This first card was made with a Tonic die called Love Cats.

I used a Spellbinders' die called Love Vine and the bunny is from the Trimcraft First Edition die set "animal themed".  He will be great for my Easter cards, can't wait!

I much prefer my card backgrounds to be embossed so I found a good match here when I came across one of my Tattered Lace embossing folders called "Spring". I did some paper cutting around the bird before I matted it onto acetate.

This next card was inspired by Tina Boyden however I did emboss my background to add my own touch to the design.  I think I will add some gems to the flowers.  They need something sparkly.

This card was inspired by Craftwork Cards but I added my own take on it by using a die down the edge of the card.

This was the very reason for purchasing the matching stamps to this paper collection. They work so well stamped onto Kraftcard and embossed in white.

Again, another card inspired by Tina Boyden.

This one was very similar to Jan, Chalet Crafts however I have added another layer of matting and layering.

This time I have used some vellum.

Another favourite coming up.  I haven't seen anyone use the coloured spider webbing across an aperture before.  It may be an original!

Here I have used one of my dies from Crafter's Companion and found some matching paper from my crafty stash.

I found a pre-cut card from Craftwork Cards that I first embossed then added paper on the inside of the card and finished with a topper on the front of the card.

Love this idea for a card which was Jan's of Chalet Crafts.

This came together quite well.

A card very similar was posted on Pinterest by Craftwork cards.  I didn't emboss the background and now wish I had.

A very simple idea.

Another idea inspired by Tina Boyden which I slightly varied by embossing my background and using peel-offs.

An original by me

And another

A copy of an idea posted by Craftwork Cards.

And saving the very best to last.  An original by me.

Crafty hugs from Crafty Tash