Monday 12 April 2010

Hearts And Flowers

Last month, as I said, I went to the Hobbycraft exhibition at the NEC [here]  I bought some craft punches.  I stuck them in my bag last weekend in the hope that once we were relaxing at Cornerstones, I might have a chance to play with them. And I have!

Here are the four punches I got

A butterfly and a heart

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A flower punch

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And a Celtic cross-type design

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As you will see, the latter [smaller] pair came with interchangeable plastic clip-on guides, to be used when either punching corners, or punching along an edge.

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The edge design works beautifully. In a magazine I found a page of ‘parchment’ type paper [part of an advert for Ariel] and used that to punch a load of butterflies

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Then combining them with the flower punch I made a card – folding and curling the wings and just sticking the ‘body’ so the card was more 3-dimensional.

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Daphne across the road is 100 next week so that’s her card sorted. [Longevity appears to be a quality of the Cornerstones neighbourhood, which is an encouraging sign!] I used the heart to punch a simple gift tag for her plant.

I made Marion a similar birthday card.

Fiona had suggested that a row punched with the celtic design could be threaded with ribbon – and she is right

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This was just experimenting – but I am sure I shall get some more good cards with this technique.

[btw the cards were a pack of 48 for £1.99 - 12 each blue, lilac, pink, lemon -with matching coloured envelopes - which I got in The Range.  Bargain!]

Very simple – but so effective.

7 comments:

  1. I've often wondered where designs like that came from. they look super . I'm sure your friend will be delighted to receive the card, so much nicer than a bought one.

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  2. Cute! Thank you for sharing. You really should extend your birthday a bit - have a cupcake today!

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  3. Thanks for the compliments - PP, I am having a really Ex-ten-ded Birthday because we got home this afternoon and there were a dozen cards on the doormat waiting to be opened - and a message from daughters telling me their present is still on its way!!
    I feel truly spoiled rotten.

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  4. Very lovely designs! Can't believe that folks used to do that with just a small scissor. Great little inventions! Happy belated birthday! Have an awesome year!

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  5. Strawberries most approving of the Celtic crosses!

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  6. Can you please tell me who makes the Butterfly Punch?

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    1. Tammy I THINK mine is a woodcraft, but you can buy similar ones in The Range, and Amazon also sell one like it from both Martha Stewart and X -craft. It WAS 3 years ago, and I paid about £7 for mine, but have used it a great deal and feel I got my money's worth.

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