Well since this blog is called Cards and Calligraphy I thought it time to even up the balance with another calligraphy post. This piece of work I did was one of the biggest projects I have ever undertaken. I have had two other large projects which I may or may not post at later date.


   You can see from my work table that my paint palette is an end piece of a sheet of rag ie paper made from 100% rag as it works well with whole range of colours mixed on it. I just keep adding to them as I need the more shades.
And don't worry the paint spots on the table all wash off!! it is a wash and wear table. ;)
  Any questions or queries please just ask, thanks so much for looking at my blog!

And may God bless His word as it hangs in the homes to where it is going for these Christmas gifts of 2010!!.

Today I will try to illustrate how to enlarge folders by two other ways.
The first is the most simple and obvious, by only embossing part of the card, and thus as only a part needs to be embossed it can be made into a large card for those more formal occasions, like a wedding card (oops! I almost wrote weeding card, I think I have it on the brain - neglected garden!).


These two cards were ordered by the same lady. This first card is her grandson's wedding card and it was a first in many ways but was really fun as a learning curve. Used beads and flowers for the first time, and also the Swirls embossing folder came out a treat. it is a similar card design from one of Ikki's wedding cards, as I recall. (see her blog here).

The flowers were wrong colour (yellow!) so I coloured them using the Ranger Perfect Pearls, clear embossing pad to adhere, and sprayed a little water to set. Worked a treat! You can see the colour change a little on the green part of the flower.

I have made this card again a bit improved but forgot to take a photo - sigh!


The second card was for their engagement and the enlarging part of the folder was done by overlapping the pattern where it repeats itself half way through the pattern.


I tested the success of pattern repeating on scrap paper as I did with the other one below. Then I did it on the actual card. You will see one tiny spot where the join was little imperfect (see above left of the "S"), as this was the area where the pattern repeats itself.
You carefully roll the folder through till you feel the edge of the folder (like a bump) the first time then you reverse it out so you dont get the edge line.

Then you match up the pattern of the folder, (this one is called "Textile" by Cuttlebug)  and watch carefully as you bring it back from the other side of the card to the point where they join, taking great care you dont go to far.

I used some self adhesive silver braid from a local scrapbook shop, I have seen this in Sydney too last week, so it available elsewhere and suspect it may be from overseas like a lot of our things here.
The corners are Cuttlebug Vintage corners (Ikki's idea put double side tape on them, and alphabet, before cutting - easy to attach!).
Greeting is in mirri card and computer print of greeting before cutting and embossing spellbinders labels Four, initials in Olivia Cuttlebug, a small ribbon flower, and scored top and bottom to finish off the card on Eziscore.
Really enjoyed the learning curve on both these cards and hope you will also!
Any questions in case have not explained it properly please ask, I know what I mean but you may not at all!

Wonderful days with my visitors, not cards, but heaps of fun!
...getting ready for other visitors and medical appointments and tests etc, in it all a busy week, so there will be new post on cards next week, God willing.
However just want to post this pickie when we were walking along the beach on Saturday we were watching these two windsurfers playing along the wave line, so very clever, they look a little like birds but hey! they were windsurfers! oh to fly like a bird, but dont think I would be game.
(Note: To enlarge any picture for a better view just click on it)

Well, we have been enjoying some glorious spring weather lately, it really makes you appreciate life ( for those overseas our temperatures today and for the next week, if weather forecast is correct, are 15- 26C - thanks LORD!)



I am not sure how well this will show up for you but thought I would show you the white piece of paper I tested to see how the folder would join. You can see the slight pattern variation in the middle but because the form of the pattern has similar shapes throughout it is not really noticeable. It is more noticeable on the right if you look carefully.



The completed card turned out larger than originally planned basically because the Spellbinder Fleur de Lis Pendant shape cut in frosted mauve cardstock required the card be that size. This was why I looked at doing it on enlarged cuttlebug folder background.


 

Here is the finished card, as I said for a 60th Birthday.

Ingredients are:
1.Spellbinder Fleur de Lis Pendant and Borderabilites (note: it was only used for the edge of pattern as I needed one and half lengths of the die. This was the only way a join would not show in the Borderability, but thought that was a good variation).
2. Victoria Embossing folder, Cuttlebug.



3. Ribbon, not sure  what it is called, I used Bow Easy for the bow. The label die for ribbon tag is the centre die from Nellie Snellen Ovals. I printed Happy 60th on computer first before cutting out with die.

4. Card stock is from Stampin' Up Subtle Perfect Plum and Barely Banana.

5. 3D Pansy Picture - I cant remember what it is as I did it last year! also added Glossy Accents to give the lovely high shine.


I am off tomorrow to deliver it to the lady! Any questions, please just ask..

Next post, all being well, I will show the Cuttlebug Textile embossing folder also done in a similar way except it has a repeating pattern! Posting may be unpredictable over next two weeks, as it is very busy with guests, doctor's appointment and tests, fun - actually mostly it is!
Till then, may God bless and happy crafting!!

• When you load the brayer up with ink keep it light and even in pressure to insure even coverage and also move it up and down the pad slightly as you brayer to keep it free of gaps in the colours. 
• Once loaded, brayer on the inside of the folder. 
• For embossed effect ink on the inside that has the black writing on it “Cuttlebug” and for the debossed you do the other side.
• You can work it out first how much ink to put on by trying it out on a scrap paper first as sometimes I like the ink dark sometimes light. It depends on card and the folder.
• So if you want it lighter roll off some colour onto scrap paper, and then brayer on the folder. 

Well today has been another beautiful day in my lovely part of the coast is is sunny 22C, washing dried and folded, house clean, if not tidy- when is ever that? Now to my card.
My problem so often when making cards or anything for that matter is what to leave out and what to put in - I think I am the master of indecision!
I actually made this card twice, as the first one was rejected as too fussy, and it was for an order so I needed to get it right.
I love the Swiss Dots simplicity as cuttlebug folder and liked it with the Easi score board line to mark the ribbon border. I used Ikki's method to make the card bigger than the size of the A2 folder (see Ikki's Cuttlebug Cupboard also on blogger), which means you match up the first row of dots where it ends along one side and put the card and roll in carefully through the bug till you see it is to where it ended before.
I will see if I can put on a link if needed, as this method is not my idea and don't want to breach protocol. She has really great blog if you are learning to use your bug. I used a Marianne Creatables frame, having pre-printed the greeting with my printer then cut out the frame, and finished it off with the 3D rose bud, I made.
Of course, it was then finished with the Olivia numbers in my bug in glitter cardstock.
PS.
5.1.11
Have had another friend order a card so decided to do another one, this time for a 75th card for her dear mother, and here it is: