Get Crafty Card & Decoupage Starter Kit // Review

Remember that time last summer when I was lucky enough to win a box of goodies in a competition? Well, I have finally cracked open the Get Crafty Card & Decoupage Starter Kit. Ill be totally honest with you, I wasn't convinced from the look of the designs on the box. It didn't look very "cool" or "fancy" so I just popped it on the shelf & there it stayed. But ya know what? It's lush. I feel really bad & it just proves you shouldn't judge a crafting kit by the box....! 

The kit comes with a pack of plain white cards & envelopes, a pack of 3D Foam Squares & loads of cute decoupage designs to make beautiful handmade cards! It is so simple to do & super quick too. If you ever forget a friend's birthday you could knock them up a lovely homemade card in a flash & they wouldn't know any different! It is the perfect kit for beginners & I actually really enjoyed having a go at it whilst watching TV. 

I only did 2 cards for the time being - I didn't want to get carried away & waste the supplies! I did use some extra patterned card with mine too, just to add a little more colour to my designs. You could really add anything you like to it; buttons, ribbon, even mix the different decoupage designs together. I'm pretty pleased with my designs & can't wait to have an occasion to make another one! 

Beware friends & family - you'll all be getting handmade cards from me this year! 

Have you ever done any card making before? What kits would you recommend? 

♥ 

ZoFlo

How To // I ♥ U 3D Card

I always think handmade cards are the best - but Valentine's Day can be a tricky one. I have a simple Valentines Day Card idea which is super cute & "cool" (for those that are in new relations & don't want to seem too clingy/loved up)! 

To make your card you all need:

• White Card
• Coloured/Patterned Card 
• Craft knife (with a cutting matt)
• Glue
• Pencil & Rubber

I obviously stumbled across the idea on Pinterest & after much searching, I managed to find the perfect printable template. Once you have printed your template & cut it out....

1. Use your pencil to carefully draw around your template on to the white card, remembering to mark which lines to fold & which ones to cut. 
2. Using your craft knife (& cutting matt) cut along the correct lines. 
3. Gently fold along the correct lines to create a 3D/Pop-up effect.
4. Very carefully rub out any pencil lines that may be showing, taking care not to rip the card.
5.  Once you are happy with the way it looks, glue the back of the white card & carefully stick it to the patterned card (it is easier to do this if you fold both cards in half first & stick down one half at a time)

....and you're done! 

I'm sure you'll agree it is really quite simple & looks really cute! If you do have a go yourself, please share with me on Twitter or Facebook.

♥ 

ZoFlo

101 Things in 1001 Days #47

Sell Something I Have Made Myself

 If you keep up with my blog posts, you will know from one of my previous posts that I have recently set up my own Etsy Shop. I wasn't sure how it would go, or whether I would even sell anything but it is something I always wanted to try, so decided to take the plunge. Two weeks ago, I actually sold an item. Little old me. I was so pleased it even made it into my 100 Happy Days! And it is another thing crossed off of my 101 Things...

I am so pleased & am hoping that this will lead to more sells in the future (fingers & toes crossed) as it is very exciting sending out handmade items that people like enough to actually buy. It is definitely a proud moment & even if this is the only sell I make, I am still really pleased.

Have you ever sold your own handmade items?

♥  

ZoFlo

Kirsty Allsopp Themed Card Pack // Review

I have been so busy recently, but last week I finally had some time to have a play with one of the crafty sets I won in the Sykes Cottages Craft Competition. As I was feeling lazy (it was a Sunday), I chose the Kirsty Allsopp Themed Card Pack - I also had a friends birthday coming up so it was perfect! The pack came with everything you need to make 5 cards, all with a cupcake/birthday theme! Everything was pre-cut so no fiddly bits & it even came with foam sticky pads. These were great as it created a 3D effect, which immediately makes cards look more interesting & brings the designs to life. 

I only chose to make two cards for the time being, but the two I did make I am so pleased with. It is such a great pack & is perfect for card making beginners. Although everything is the same, which limits the design of each card, there is nothing stopping you from raiding your craft box/cupboard/room (delete as appropriate) & adding extra bits to them to make each design a little different. I added a cocktail stick to one of mine to create a little flag on top of the cupcake. Cute!

What card making packs would you recommend?

♥  

ZoFlo

Christmas Cards // Mango Salute Review*

Apologies for not uploading a post on Sunday, but as I Tweeted over the weekend I have an exciting review post to share with you all! As you all know, I love to dabble with abit of Card Making. However, sometimes there just isn't time for this...or perhaps you just want to break the tradition & send a slightly more unsual Christmas Card this year? Well say hello to Mango Salute...

Mango Salute is a website that sells fine art cards created by various Artists, Illustrators & Designers. They showcase a range of different cards, all slightly weird & wonderful, & give you the opportunity to add your own wording, photographs and videos! Mango Salute were kind enough to let me send 5 cards so I could try out the order process. Some websites completely confuse me, which puts me off straight away. Mango Salute was so simple and even allows you to "Appreciate a Card" (the equivilent of a Retweet / Facebook Like) which is saved to your account so you can go back through your favourite card designs later. I think this is such an excellent feature as I always see things I love, then scroll on by and totally forget about it.

Without giving too much away, I wanted to tell you what I chose to do with one of the cards I sent! I chose the Winter Penguin (by Izzy Wingham) because it is so cute and immediately reminds me of the John Lewis Advert...so I obviously added in a video of Tom Odell, Real Love! This appears on the back of the card linking straight to the video when you scan it with your smartphone - pretty clever idea! (You don't have to use YouTube...you can also record your own video message as well! Again, really clever idea)! What do you think of the Winter Penguin...?

Watermarks are included on the website for the protection of the art.
Your printed card will not show any watermarks.

Want to try it for yourself? Head on over to the website and take a look - there are so many different design to choose from. I love the Magic Letter cards too; I think they would make great Birthday Cards! Mango Salute are very kindly offering my lovely followers 40% off until Christmas Day. So if you want to send a fun, unique Christmas Card this year to anyone in the world, just enter Xmas40 at the checkout to get your discount! But be quick, as there are only 9 days left until Christmas!!

♥  

ZoFlo

Pinterest Inspiration // Christmas Edition

As I am sure most of you are aware, I am a big fan of Pinterest. If I ever need any inspiration, I head straight for the App. And with the Festival Season in full swing, I recently paid a visit to get some ideas for Christmas Decorations & Cards.

1. Ice Skates Decorations - These are so adorable & I love the idea for using a paper clip to make the little skate! They are such a simple idea too - they would be easy peasy to make, even for younger crafters or someone who is new to sewing!

2. Hama Bead Christmas Card - Childhood flashback!! Who else remembers Hama Beads as a kid? I use to love these & I love the idea of using them to make Christmas Cards. You really could do any design you want & again, it's a great one to do with younger crafts (except for the part where you have to get the iron out)!

3 - Bow Christmas Card - This Christmas Card design is a little more sophisticated than the Hama one & I love it. I think I would use my die-cutting machine to emboss a pattern onto the card itself though, but still keep the idea of the bow! I think it's great to have different textures & layers but at the same time keeping it relatively simple.

4 - Mittens Decorations - I have actually had a go at making some of these myself & they look fab. They are really simple to make & you can really get creative with different coloured felt & buttons.

Have you seen any great ideas on Pinterest Recently?

♥  

ZoFlo

Crafty Haul #2

I may have accidentally taken a trip to Hobbycraft last week...& accidentally made a few cheeky purchases! *Oops!*

Ever since I reviewed the Sizzix Texture Boutique Beginner Dye-Cutting kit back in May, I have been addicted to card making! It's so much more personal and I enjoy creating something unique for each person, so I needed to get a few bits & bobs to keep my card making top notch. I have listed below my purchases:

1 - Cardstock Pastel Book £5 - I can't seem to find a link for this one on Hobbycraft! But I had a few sheets of this paper that came with my Sizzix set, however it was running low. I love it too much so had to get myself some more. I opted for Pastel colours, as I tend to use these colours more often.

2 - Dress It Up Red Hot Heart Buttons £2 - As I was planning on making an engagement card, I wanted to get something to fit with the theme & these heart shaped buttons were perfect!

3 - Hobbycraft A4 Sentiment Strip Sheets By Stephanie Weightman 2Pk Black £2 - Originally I was looking for rub on words as I am running low, but they didn't have what I was looking for. I wasn't so sure about these to begin with, however when I got them home & started working with them I thought they were great! Although I will keep my eyes peeled for rub on ones too!

4 - Cuttlebug Embossing Folder Dotty Stems £6 - I have brought cheaper embossing folders before, but it really doesn't pay off. You can hardly see the print, even after putting it through the Dye-Cutter a few times. I would definitely recommend spending a little more and this one from Cuttlebug is so cute!

  Here are a couple of cards I have made with my new purchases - what do you think? Have you had any crafty hauls recently?

♥  

ZoFlo

Crafty Card Making

I'm sorry it has been a little while since I have blogged - I have been so busy finishing University and settling into full time working life (I'm a grown up!!). I feel as though I have lost myself recently & have had no "me" time, but this will change as I love crafty projects & I love blogging! To ease me back into it I thought I would show you my most recent card making creations...

You may remember a while back I wrote a review about the Sizzix Texture Boutique Beginner Die-Cutting Kit, which I absolutely loved. Ever since then I have been making cards at every opportunity. What do you think of these two I made recently?

I love the heart & star wooden buttons I purchased recently from Amazon - I haven't come across anything similar to these before so they definitely help to create something a little more unique. Have you done any card making? I would love to see your creations - perhaps you could tweet me a photo. Or if you have any tips please let me know in the comments box below.

♥  

ZoFlo