Big Love

I use a lot of elephants in my greetings cards. This was a card I started making this year, originally with Valentine’s Day in mind but it can actually be used throughout the year - for anniversaries or perhaps just sharing the love on the everyday. 

These two elephants are very happy to spread the love with hearts made of both textured pinks and sparkly card too. I can make adjustments to this design with a satin ribbon bows or bow ties, and I can also add a number for a year or use different coloured hearts.

I hope you had a nice weekend.

Katie 

Strawberry Cupcake

My cupcake cards have always gone down well. I think they’re perfect for birthdays because they’re colourful and they have some sparkle too.

In summer I kind of like the idea of strawberry everything. It is one of my favourite fruits which is the reason why I decided to make this Strawberry Cupcake. With summery reds and sparkly pale pink sprinkles it is a birthday card, a note card or a summer party invitation. It fits with my other cupcake designs quite well and I have actually sold these in a set together before too.

It is June! Does that mean summer has started now? I’m never quite sure. Either way I hope the sun is out for you and you’ve got something lovely coming up this season.

Katie 

Ice Cream Daze

Summer means ice cream, doesn’t it? I think it partially does and it is even better if you’ve got the sun and beach to go with it.

I’ve made ice cream cards before and while I do continue to make and sell this design, another style of ice cream has evolved from my sparkly birthday range. With a great curl of ice cream this design is more Mr Whippy Ice Cream Van than gelato bar.  It features the familiar sprinkles from my cupcakes and fits right into the range - I often sell these greetings card alongside each other.

This ice cream is vanilla but one of my favourite flavours is mint choc chip. I think I’ll work on that next! Have a really good day!

Katie  

Katie Sarah and The Planets Bend at Fired Works

Last year I told you that my cards were now available in Fired Works. My greetings cards are still available to buy there and I supply seasonal cards for lots of different occasions. I stocked up with some new designs just a couple of weeks ago. Do drop in to say hi and to see the selection!

Marie, the owner of Fired Works, makes some lovely glass items - both decorative and practical - and with summer coming up I thought I would share some of her seasonal creations from last year.  She also makes some lovely pieces of silver jewellery - many of which can be personalised for the perfect present. 

Alongside her glass and jewellery, Marie also sells some items by Jenni from The Planets Bend.

Jenni sells a variety of braided bracelets and druzy necklaces in Fired Works. Fun and colourful for both adults and children alike, a lot of her jewellery can also be custom made with a choice of colours. I decided what colours I would like for myself from the bracelets she had for sale and then bought my own Kumihimo bracelet in purple and blue!

Jenni’s druzy necklaces come in both silver or gold and are made with naturally occurring bright and colourful crystals that have formed over millions of years. 

If you’re interested in finding a card or a gift, pop into Fired Works at 28B Market Place, Chalfont St Peter, Gerrards Cross, SL9 9DU

Have a good day!

Katie 

Thanks Dad.

Dads. They can be pretty good, and we have a lot to thank them for. It might be because they took us swimming at the weekend and packed the car boot for holidays, or it might be for the shoulder they lend us to lean on and the hugs they give when we need a boost.

My dad did and does all of the above. He also watched Robot Wars with me and a card is the least I can do for him. With Father’s Day next week, why not take the time to say thank you to the people that stand by us? J

Have a good day!

Katie  

Fruit Salad

What do you think of when you think of summer? Colour and fruits are up there on my list which makes this greetings card perfect for the season. I love a good fruit salad in summer!

Each of the fruits in this design is cut from textured papers by me, by hand. They are then fixed down in different layers - The pineapple, strawberries and orange all stand forward from the card.

I hope you have had a good week! Have a lovely weekend!

Katie

Celebrate Good Times!

When there is a celebration often the champagne or sparkly wine isn’t very far away. This is why I originally made this Congratulations card. Since then I have made this card to top up my stock and the shops I supply so many times. I think it is popular because it can be used for all sorts of different reasons - birthdays, graduations and anniversaries to name a few - and popped in the card drawer for whenever one of these occasions comes up.

What I also like to do for this card is offer it as a base for custom orders. I do this with all my cards but this one works really well. I can adapt it with different colours and add an age etc. The card below shows how I changed the colours to blues, used some silvers, and added a number and some hearts so that it could be given as a 25^th anniversary card.

Have a very good day!

Katie

A Little Bit of Luck

For some people May means the start of exams. It can be a daunting time of year so I suppose it is nice to know that people are thinking of you and wishing you all the best.

This card stemmed from a shamrock card I was asked to make for someone. I added another leaf to the clover and it was all ready to send some luck in the post!

Wishing you lots of luck for the week ahead!

Katie

Sorry it's late!

This card evolved from a mother’s day and father’s day design I made a couple of years ago. It features a tortoise from that design as well as ribbon wrapped presents that can be seen in a Christmas card of mine too.

This card has been bought as both a birthday card and thank you card before. It is perfect for someone who likes tortoises but is also pretty useful when you're sending birthday greetings a little late! I’ve also made it in different colours such as blues and pinks. 

Have a lovely week!

Katie 

All Made Up!

I adapted this greetings card from a custom order I made earlier in the year. With lots of pink and sparkle too it is card for someone who likes to pamper themselves.

I cut each piece of this design from textured coloured paper and used iridescent medium to create a metallic nail polish and to put powder on the brush. I created the brush of the mascara with tiny slivers of black paper.

Happy Monday!

Katie

National Stationery Week #7 Shops

Shops that sell any kind of stationery are my favourite kind of shops. So I’ll pop into Paperchase every now and then to have a look around, I’ll browse the stationery section of Hobbycraft as well as the arts and craft, and I will cast my eye over the notebooks in WHSMITH.

To mark the end of National Stationery Week I thought I’d share my experience of a couple of shops and also list a couple of independent shops that are on my bucket list!

Paperchase, Tottenham Court Road

I’ve been to this Paperchase a couple of times. I love that it has all the stock of smaller stores and more, but also that it has has creative magazines, some home ware and art prints too. It also has a selection of art supplies; papers of every colour, paints and pens. For the frugal shoppers who still want to treat themselves to some stationery there is also a sale section!

Tiger

A bit like a little Ikea, the path to the till in Tiger winds through displays of all sorts of products; from fanciful home ware and party decorations to a selection of candles and foods. Their stationery section is worth a look! On my first visit to the shop I picked up three or four notebooks. I was visiting a friend at the time and returned home on the train with a rucksack stuffed to the brim! 

Some of my very favourite shops are independent. Some I’ve gone to with purpose others I’ve stumbled across and they’ve made my day. They’re the ones with so much gorgeous, practical design in them, and the ones with so much to look at that I could lose an hour amidst their walls.

I found this gem, Smug, after I’d been to a fair at the London BDC in Islington a few years ago and I have been back since. The first time I visited I picked up a copy of Flow Magazine. It is for paper lovers and always includes some insightful articles.

A few little slices of heaven I haven’t had the good fortune of visiting yet.

1. Choose Keeping Stationery

2. Present and Correct

3. Quill

I hope you have had a lovely weekend! May you have a very good week to come - whether it is full of pens, pencils and notebooks or not!

Katie