My adult colouring books

Like so many other people, I have been caught up in the adult colouring book craze; I enjoy it so much, I have decided to create some of my own. So far, there are four volumes (that is how much I elike designing them), and there will be plenty more to come.

I plan to create some mandala colouring books, and next I'll be working on a flower colouring book to add to the collection.

The books will be available on Amazon soon, but in the meanwhile, here are some of the images from the first four books.

Review: Hallmark Craft Studio

It wasn't until I started making things again that I realised how much craft software there was available.  Using software gives  the ability to add unique features to a design, and it is great for when someone has mastered the first stages of creative design and they want to develop their designs even further.

There is plenty of card making software out there, but I opted for Hallmark as I knew their name and guessed that they would have created a quality product. The reviews were largely good as well, and the software was affordable at less than £5.00 when I brought it.

So I chose Hallmark’s Card Studio. The software comes with more than 3000 card projects, more than 5000 clipart images and even includes an event planner so that you can mark down all of the birthdays and occasions you need to make cards for, so there should be no excuses for forgetting anyone’s birthday. Also included is a digital photo editor.

The software is easy to use and allows the user to create cards in just three steps. The software can also be used to create scrapbooks, calendars and photo cards. The user can add their own message/greeting and select the colour and style of font that they want to use as well.  I like the versatility of this product as it means I can make a suitable card for anyone.

The designs you have created can then be printed, emailed or turned into a PDF document ready to give to the recipient. There are restrictions on the designs and what the cards made are only to be given away – the card designs cannot be sold commercially as the designs are copyrighted.

I recommend the software to anyone who likes to make their own cards and likes to create their own unique designs.

Hallmark Card Studio is suitable for XP, Vista or 7 and users will need Intel Premium III 800 MHz and 512 MB RAM to be able to use the software. 

Simple Easter Card

This Easter card takes minutes. First, create a template. If you don't have a shape cutter then you can do as I did and keep the shapes from an Easter egg box and use them as a stencil.

Decide where you want the shapes to be on the card and use the template to create the design or draw the shapes on a separate piece of card so you can add them later by using 3D sticky foam for a raised effect.

Decorate the eggs shapes with ProMarkers, watercolours, coloured pencils etc. If you use ProMarkers as I did then bear in mind that the colours can come through onto the other side of the card so it is better to colour and decorate the shapes on separate card and then attach them to your card blank. Also, I've found some colours don't scan well so watercolour might work better.

Once the main design has been added, then ribbons, buttons, gems and greetings can be included.

Merry Christmas

O.K., so it's a little early but Christmas always starts early once I get my 0ctober/November copy of Let's Make Cards as the magazine includes card making kits with plenty of options for making Christmas cards.

In the latest issues readers also got a Christmas tree stamp.  I'm not very good at stamping, but I am getting pretty good at hiding all of my mistakes with some cleverly placed glitter.

The kits are designed by Sally Moret, and they look fantastic.  Inside you'll find plenty of suggestions for card making, but I am trying to stop being so lazy and come up with at least some ideas of my own.  Along with the components from the kit, I've also used some of my own embellishments just to make my cards look different.

You'll find my version of "Festive Hearts" here.

These are the cards I've made so far, and there are plenty more to come.  The yellow card featured first will soon be winging its way to Australia.

Let's Make Cards Magazine

At the weekend I finally managed to find time to sit down with my latest issue of Let's Make Cards magazine.

I love looking through the various designs and through all of the different ideas that can be made with the free kits.

Usually, I just copy the designs but I am trying to get more creative and come up with my own designs and ideas.

I'm still putting together some cards from this month's kit but in the meanwhile, this is my version of festive hearts.

My latest card designs

A few months ago I never imaged that I be making my own card designs but the positive comments I've got from friends and family have encouraged me so now I am working on a range of designs which I hope I can get some of the greeting cards manufacturers interested in.

The designs I've created are versatile so can be used in many forms such as materials, backing papers and craft stamps.  Here's some of my designs.  Some of them are hand drawn, others are from pictures I've taken.  I think you can guess which are which!. *

*All designs/photographs on this page are my work and I retain the copyright to them.  They cannot be reproduced or reused without my written permission.

When scans go wrong

I tried to scan some photographs into my computer last week.  Most of them went fine but once I got to the photograph of some pansies, it just wouldn't scan them.  I don't know what happened as I didn't do anything different with the picture.

After several attempts, I did end up with a distorted version of them which I actually liked the look of some I'm calling them "Abstract Pansies" and selling the picture as cards, posters, journals etc.

I'm also working on a line of other designs, which I hope will scan in better than the pansies did but has made a good journal cover.