Another photo post....

TESTIMONIALS

In this blog post, I will be updating it with testimonials that have been sent my way, regarding my crafts.  If you have received anything from me and you have liked it, I would be grateful if you could send me a short testimonial to: poannie_designs@ovi.com  Thank you!!

''The invites made for my son's christening were absolutely beautiful. Each one had been personalised and handmade by Joan. I ordered 20 cards which also included 20 R.S.V.P cards too, I had many comments about howlovely they were and you could see how much attention to detail had been made to each card. I would recommend the handmade invites that Joan made as they are beautiful.''  Sarah Bailey

"Each and every card i have had from joan has been made with so much love and attention. you can actually feel it! The cards are beautifully made, so much time has gone into each one.. no two are the same..I would definitely say i will be going to joan when i need a beautiful card making as i can always depend on her talent to produce something out of this world!"  Elisa Harris

Photo Post!!!

A personalised birthday from a son to his daddy!

The inside of the birthday card - 3 photos printed on pearlescent card

4 different boxed sets of cards

4 'burlesque' cards

mini friendship card

Wedding card

Wedding card

Wedding card

'You're Awesome' boxed set

The 'You're Awesome' cards in the boxed set

Gift boxed set for a friend

My friend lives in Germany and in her words, 'can't get decent cards over here!!'  So she asked me to make her a boxed set of 'You're Awesome' cards (in her favourite combination of red and white) so she can send them to her friends back home...... I'd recently made me a little birthday card for her mum, which I sent on her behalf.

I used some scraps left over from my crafty evening at Debbi's....namely scallop punched red card from Stampin Up.  I then used the Dovecraft 'You're Awesome' stamp for the sentiment.  I also found some silver and red polka paper in my local craft shop, which I think looks lovely on cards!! I finished the cards off with some red polka ribbon and pearl gems. I then made a basic box out of white shimmer card and decorated it with more of the silver and red polka paper.  I then created a sleeve to fit round the box for more protection (it is being posted to Germany afterall) and finished it off with more polka ribbon. The cards have shimmer gold envelopes for them to be posted in!

I like making the gift boxed stuff along a theme....... I think they look cute!!

Next in my projects are Christmas cards for friends (I've been asked to do a set for my best mate to send out) Christmas cards for my family and some boxed sets for my friend to take to the Whitby Goth Weekend to put on her stall.

Tomorrow I pick up some new inks and a lovely stamp set called Tiny Tags by Stampin Up which I am really looking forward to using on my tiny cards!!!

Busy busy busy!!!!

Some things I have been creating.....

Just a couple of photos of some of the recent stuff I have made!

This was a birthday card for a friend's mum.... My friend lives over in Germany and needed a last minute birthday card making and sending to her mum.  I used pearlescent card with my tiny alphabet stamps on it in teal ink - then added the sentiment (picked by my friend) to colourful backing paper and added some pearls to finish off the card.

My friend asked me to make up a set of Xmas cards for random family members and this is what I came up with!  A set of 7 (it was a set of 5 but I got carried away with printing) with Arthur on them and a christmas hat photoshopped onto him..... added to basic black card, a Merry Christmas ribbon sentiment and a couple of pearls.  The box was actually a drawer pullout affair, with the cards wrapped in white tissue paper to finish the look.

A birthday card for my nephew who loves Lego.  I found a Lego font to use, and printed this onto white card and then mounted the words onto dark blue card (same colour as the base card.  These were then mounted onto teal card to make them 'pop'.... I punched out some stars and added small clear gems to finish off the card....

Lacking on this blog!!

I really do need to set a reminder to update this blog until I get into the swing of doing it automatically!!!

Lately I've been asked to make a variety of things for people, and when I can find the lead to my camera I can update you with the results!!  My favourite so fr has been a 25th wedding anniversary card for my friend's parents, where I used acetate as the card base!!!  I was nervous about using it, but it's actually a really easy medium to work with.  My next challenge I am setting myself is to make a gift bag out of some of it, using eyelets and ribbon.....

I've also seen on a crafting channel, laminating some fine lace to make a bag out of.... interesting thoughts on that one so it might be another challenge at a later date..... Any tips on this would be greatly appreciated!!

My first ever stall!

It was only a small stall, just a selection of some of my works. The small giftboxes of cards seemed to go down really well!!!

I am hopefully going to do another stall somewhere local (this was in London!) and get some feedback on what works and what doesn't.

Any tips anyone can give me will be gratefully received!!

Thanks
Joan xx

Incommunicado

Hi everyone!!  Sorry I have been extremely quiet of late - it's been wedding season so I've been really busy!!  I have also done my first ever stall, and I have to say I was quite pleased with myself!!! I felt really positive about my work from the feedback I received, and even got advised that I was undercharging for my work!!!

I'll be uploading some photos over the next few days of the stall, some commissions I have received, and also (if it's tidy enough!) my workstation where I create my masterpieces!!

I am spending this week at home (due to me not being clever enough to reserve energy each day for all the things I have been doing) to recuperate from seeing lovely people and meeting interesting folk,  so I may even get some more crafty stuff done!!!

Hope everyone is well

Joan xx

A few random cards I made

Here are just a few quick cards I made..... I'm off to one of my oldest friend's wedding reception this evening so I need to work out what the hell I'm wearing and sort my hair out etc......  If you want to know anything specific about the cards, please feel free to ask questions!!!

Mulberry paper is something I am very new to used with.......

Inspiration and first ever easel card!!

I don't seem to have a pattern for making cards.  I know that some people love a particular brand or style, but I just like seeing where the day takes me.....  My husband is amazing, he lets me carry on with my obsession (he's even been helping me with tea bag folding techniques!!) and gives me good feedback on my work and where he thinks that some things could be improved.


I have been fortunate enough to have been donated a lot of crafting stuff through my friend Debbi and some of her acquaintances and I am also a good bargain hunter (managed to get some Anita's stamps from my local haberdashery guy for just a pound each!!!)  however now I know that crafting isn't just going to be a passing phase, I'm saving up for something big.  I want an embosser/die cutter, and after discussing it with friends and my hubby, it seems a Big Shot is the way forward.  I was going to get a Sizzix Texture Boutique, and forget about die-cutting....but for the difference in price, I might as well go the whole hog!!  Any feedback or reviews anyone can give me about these products would be gratefully received!!!


Onto another card!!!  My first ever easel card.... It was easy!!  I used a lot of scraps donate by Debbi, so those of you would used Stampin Up products will notice which papers and stamps were used!!  I think the effect of an easel card and I think I'll be doing a lot more over the next week weeks!

Burlesque Gift Set

I am a fan of recycling, and so when my friend Tanya donated a lot of craft stuff for me and I saw these feathers, I knew exactly what I wanted to make.  The box itself is made from a damsk printed black and grey cardstock, with thick black satin ribbon round the sides. A teal feather is on top, with an embellishment I painted purple (with nail varnish!!)  I also used a deep green linen cardstock for embellishment.

The cards are all made in a similar way, with different coloured feathers and gems on each and a black satin bow.

Would love feedback on how I am doing!!

Thanks xxx

Photo Post

Here are a selection of items I've been working on...


This is a small set of cards in their own giftbox.  Made with dark navy cardstock, with thick black and white striped binding  and thin black lace.  The 'You're Awesome' stamp is my current favourite thing from Ebay, so I'm using this a lot!!  Finished off with small black bow and gems.  The card have an extra added layer of white organza ribbon under the black lace.