In Sympathy cards

Hi everyone,

It is always difficult to strike the right note when you create an In Sympathy card.  I've had to create a couple recently and I thought I would share what I made to offer a little inspiration.

Obviously every card of this sort should be created with the person who is receiving it in mind and that's what I tried to do with this card.

The gentleman it was for is pretty stylish so I wanted to put that across even in such a sad card.  I used a backing paper from my Wishes & Kisses CD ROM and the digital image and sentiment also came from that CD.

I wanted to keep it simple so I used a black base card and just added some black ribbon.  When I had finished it it just needed something else.  So, I added the white heart pin through the ribbon to show him we love him.

When I use pins on cards I always add an extra foam pad under a topper or somewhere else out of sight to push the end of the pin into.  I find this means that the card stays just as it should when in the envelope and the pin hopefully wont do the receiver any damage when they open it.

Until next time,
Anice x

One of those cards..

Hi everyone,

The title to this post might not tell you much, but I know you will all understand when I tell you more. Yesterday I had one of those cards that just wouldn't allow me to make it. I'll show you it first then tell you the story..

Backing papers:  Button Babies

Digital Stamp:  Button Baby Boy

I've been planning on making a 'New Baby' card for over a week for our next door neighbours.  They have just had a new baby boy and we had arranged to pop round to meet him last night. So, of course it came to lunchtime yesterday and I realised that all that 'planning' hadn't actually resulted in a card.  Ian told me that he would 'pick one up from the shop'!  Which I could not allow to happen, as next door know I design for a living and I think they would be disappointed if I hadn't even made them a card. (Well, I be ashamed if I hadn't made one more like.)

So, I had to pull together something quickly..it was fine I mean I have loads of backing papers and digital stamps, I make them, it wasn't going to be a problem.  How wrong I was...

Firstly, I couldn't decide what papers to use, then the printer started playing up and wouldn't take the card I was trying to print on, though it always had before. When I wasn't in a rush of course. Finally I had the papers and I printed the digital stamp, two images just incase.  I started to put the card together and it was going fine, then I realised that the ribbon that I had decided to use was too thick so I started to search for something else in my huge box of ribbon.  I found something, it was perfect but there was only about 4 inches of it and I needed more.  There was no more! Arrgghh!

I took a deep breath, it was going to be fine.  I cut everything to size, started to stick things together and it was going well.  Then I looked at the digital stamps..they were far too big.  So, back to the laptop to resize the images and print them again, but the printer didn't want to!  After rather alot of banging on lids, taking out printer inks and putting them back in, I finally had them printed.

By this time my office was a warzone, the craft box was open, practically filling the whole room, there was paper, card and ribbon everywhere.  The dog was lying under the desk because there was hardly anywhere else for him to fit and the front door opened.  Ian was home.  He then wanted to take the dog out so I had to push everything back into the craft box and close it so he could get all the dog walking stuff out of the office ensuite. Finally he left and I knew I had 45 mins to finish.  Everything was layered and attached all I needed to do was colour the digital stamp.. So, of course this happened..

Aarrgghh!  Luckily I always print two incase of disasters. Where was it? After 10 mins I found it amongst the shoved in papers in the craft box.  I finally finished the card about 20 mins before we were supposed to go to meet little Henry.

The moral of this story is.  If you need to make a card for a specific time, make it days in advance, not a couple of hours. Oh, and they liked the card.

Until next time.
Anice xx

Happy Mothers Day..here's a sneak peek for you.

Hi everyone,

Firstly, I want to send best wishes to all you Mums (Moms) out there on your special day.  I hope you are all being spoiled rotten. :)

It's my job to make the Mothers Day cards here, who else would do it?  So this year I decided to create them using a couple of backing papers that are included on a 'soon to be released' Funky Hand downloadable collection called 'Pretty As A Picture' Keep an eye here or on the Funky Hand Facebook Page to find out a release date.

The toppers I've used are some beautiful Hanglar Stanglar stamps that I have been lucky enough to get hold of. Unfortunately they are no longer available for sale from the stamp company. Though they can sometimes be found on Ebay etc. Anyway, here's a closer look,

This one is for Ians Mum.  I decided to send the cards from the person who was sending them so this one is in blues and from a little boy, that would be Ian!  Also Ian calls his Mother 'Mum'..

As you can see I call my Mother 'Mom'  The craft backing papers are just two of the ones that are going to be available in the collection. Just using the brown and white ones made it really easy to add any colour with them and give each card a different look.

I'm still practicing with my Promarkers so the colouring is not perfect, hence the banner on the pink card falling down over her trousers..covering up a little mistake I made.Hehe!  But, isn't that the joy of making your own cards?  Each one is an exclusive creation and you can always find a way to cover any little accidents.

Speak again very soon.
Anice xx

February was the month of Love..

Hello everyone,

Last month the Design Team shared some amazing creations over on their blog Get Funky and Craft.  I thought I would share them with you incase you hadn't seen them so you could see what fantastic stuff they made.  All these cards and other papercraft items were created using backing paper downloadable collections from the Love collections available on the website.

Ok, here we go!

A wonderful layered card from Sammylou to get us started

An amazing sweet despenser from Kathy

Another creation from Kathy this time a card that shows us what we can do with layering.

Debs has got all classy with us here with a valentine card for her hubby.

Ruth has created an amazing heart layered card using practically all the papers in the collection.

Allison shows us how to combine stamping with backing papers to create a wonderful card

Sammylou again showing how to make the most of an aperture card.

Marleen decorated a jar in her favourite vintage style, which made me very happy.

Lou showing us how to use Funky Hand backing papers and silhouette cutting files

Tammy showing us how to make the most of layering papers.

Kathy doing her beautiful flower thing..

Our Queen of scrap paper cards Ruth showing us that you never need to throw out leftovers.

Allison giving the scrap card a go and showing us how it is done.

Sammylou combining digital stamps with paper piecing.

and finally Marleen showing us how you can create beautiful gift packaging.

Are they all not just amazing?  I am so lucky to have such a talented group of card designers to work with.

I'll be back very soon with a new downloadable backing paper release and some other fun stuff.
Speak again soon
Anice xx

FLASH SALE £1.00 Funky Hand CDs

Hello all!
I headed into the stockroom yesterday and started a 'good old' clean out!  While I was in there I decided to have a Flash Sale.  So, all the Funky Hand CD ROMs that are available on the Funky Hand website are, for a short time, just £1.00 each.

All the CDs are included Papercraft Factory and the Original CDs.  If you have any gaps in your Funky Hand CD collection then now is the time to fill them.

There are only a few copies allocated to the sale for each CD, some more than others depending on the stock numbers..so when those allocated copies have gone..they are gone!

See you over on the website
Anice xx

A forgotten card..

I don't know about you but I don't always remember when I have made cards that have been sent off to their intended recipient.  I don't make cards that much these days so I tend to always take a picture just to remind myself that I do craft!

Well a few days ago I was sorting out pictures on my camera and I found this card.  I don't remember making it.  I can't remember who it was for.

I thought I would share it with you on my blog to show you, and remind me, that I do craft and I should do it more often!

The digital stamp is my Georgie-Where is it? coloured with Promarkers. The papers are from the Wishes and Kisses CD (Moving Home collection)  The sentiment says 'Had a good birthday? You better had!'

I haven't looked at those backing papers for ages, I'd forgotten how much I liked the flower one. I don't think I have mentioned here that all the Funky Hand craft CDs are now permanently reduced in price.  All the Papercraft Factory CDs are £9.99 or less each, reduced from £15.99 and the Original CDs are £3.99 or less each down from £7.99.  If you have gaps in your collections grab them now.  Once the stocks have gone..they wont be available again.  OK, I'm off to see if I have any other pictures of cards I don't remember!

Until next time.
Anice xx

New release peek..

Hi all,

Here I am again offering you my apologies for not posting on this blog often enough.  I only have the excuse that I have been working away on new digital backing paper and stamp releases.  November is my birthday month and I've decided to make it a big release month.  We are starting this weekend and here is a little peek at what will be available on my website www.funkyhand.com .

I'm really pleased to be able to introduce you to my first 'cute' girl digital stamp character Georgie.  I've been very naughty showing you this little peek as this is a card I made for Creative Cardmaking with Your PC magazine. (oops!)  It wont be for sale until December so I'd best not show you any more or I'll have my hand slapped!

I just wanted to give you a little look..and for you to get the feel for the new backing paper collection also being released on Saturday.  Little Princess.  This collection fits perfectly with Georgie as she has turned out to be a bit of a 'Princess' already hehe! It is pinks, greens and creams with cup cakes and crowns.  Along with the usual spots and stripes.

 I'll be back at the weekend to tell you more about the new releases and show you what I have been making with them.

As I've already said November is going to be a big release month for Funky Hand so, look out for more digital stamps and paper packs over the next few weeks.  Oooh  how exciting!!

Speak again very soon,
Anice xx