Saturday afternoon crafting

ATCs first. Here are two ATCs I have made for a Docrafts swop on the theme of the lovers. Photo attached. The first is on pearlescent pale pink card, portrait format, and I have glued on a patterned paper of red and pink hearts over half of the card. A stick on heart embellishment with romantic words is in the centre, and at the bottom centre is a small heart sticker. I finished with a couple of dots of fuschia glitter glue in the corners. Second is landscape format. Again, a pearlescent pale pink card base, with a half covered in a different heart patterned paper (both of these were free papers with a papercraft magazine). On the blank card, I have layered a heart glitter sticker, plus an epoxy sticker in pink bearing the words "True love". Three paper pink flowers have been stuck on the heart paper, and the card finished with the flower centres highlighted with the fuschia glitter glue.

Then made three cards, all to go in the box for the greyhound shop. All used cream deckle edged base card, and use papers that were a free gift with a papercrafting magazine. The first is landscape style and has a background of a floral paper across the card. A lilac adhesive ribbon has been attached, and a card tag in a co-ordinating print mounted above. A butterfly sticker in purple and pink completes the card. This would be suitable for many occasions including birthdays, get well, best wishes, etc.

Second card is portrait and uses the same background paper. This time I have put on a ready made embellishment on the edge (last of the pack, bought from lakeland ages ago) featuring lilac and pink flowers and butterflies on silver thread. A pretty purple and pink flower has been mounted on pink textured paper with the words "Happy Birthday" added via a silver peel off sticker, all mounted in the centre of the card.

Third card uses a red, blue and cream check background paper on the cream card, portrait setting. I've matted a cream handmade rectangle of paper and attached a pretty K & Co self adhesive chipboard butterfly, printed in red, pink and blue vintage style, an adhesive button in the top left corner and an adhesive sticker with the word "Smile" beneath the butterfly. Finally, I finished the card with two knotted blue craft threads, one of which has two heart shaped blue glass beads knotted on the end, looking very pretty and fresh.

What I do with these cards, once finished and photographed is to wrap them in clear plastic card bags and seal them with a clear circular sticker (both from Lakeland). These keep the cards free from dust and dirt, and look professional for sales. I always have a small cardboard box in the craft room, usually a shoe box or similar, that I place cards into. When the box is full, it's sealed and sent to the greyhound shop for fundraising. The only exception is if I am making cards for myself e.g. for Christmas or as last week, for a specific person/commission. While I've been crafting this afternoon, Booty (our greyhound bitch) has been on the floor near me, keeping me company and supervising.