Cat Face Origami Step by Step - Papercraft Inspirations

If you've picked up the latest issue of Papercraft Inspirations magazine then you may have seen my pet cards featured! Today I wanted to show you the step by step of the origami cat face featured on this one...

I used DCWV paper from the Blue Citrus Stack - this is really good for origami as there is pattern one side and plain white the other!

To start, I cut a square to 4" x 4" and folded it corner to corner across the diagonal. I then folded the edges together and just pinched a small crease in the middle to mark the centre. Open the square back out and fold the tip of the bottom triangle up to meet the centre, then fold the bottom half up as shown in picture 2.

Fold each side from the middle up to the tip of the triangle. Fold each triangle back on itself (this creates the cat ears!)

Fold the tip of the triangle down and turn the whole thing over, then fold the bottom piece up to the middle to create the white face (you can also fold the very tip of this down to create the nose if you want to!) then embellish the face with googly eyes and whiskers! 

I hope you have fun creating lots of origami cats and I'd love to know what you thought of the whole set of cards when you pick up your issue!

Thank you for dropping by today

Sarah x

Papercraft Inspirations Projects!

Today a brand new issue of Papercraft Inspirations hit the shelves featuring some of my Halloween cards on the cover!

Remember when I said I'd had a commission from Papercraft Inspirations that made me squeal with excitement? This was it! I love Halloween and don't get to do nearly enough crafty projects so working on these was an absolute dream!

The magazine also comes with a free Paper Bow card kit - not to be missed, get your copy in store or to download to your iPad right now :o)

Thank you for dropping by today!
Sarah x

PaperCraft Inspirations Daffodil Cards

Today I'm sharing a set of cards and a  cute little basket that you may have seen recently in Papercraft Inspirations. My brief was to create something cheery and springlike with a focus on large 3D daffodils (eek!) Luckily Sizzix came to my rescue with their fabulous Daffodil die (you can find it here on the Sizzix UK website) here's what I came up with...

I used Distress Inks to create a cloud effect background, which I used on to the background and behind the windows (another Sizzix die) the grassy borders are cut by hand and the butterflies are from a Martha Stewart punch.

The white flowers are a Sizzix die I have used a lot, I'm not a fan of big flowers but these tiny ones they quite recently started to bring out are just fabulous! I use Pinflair glue to assemble and add a touch of Stickles to the centres to hide any glue squidge (technical term!) and add a touch of sparkle.

I used an embossing tool to add texture to the petals before assembling and I actually cut down the centres by about half as they were a little bit *too* 3D for me and I wanted them to look more like the daffodils that grow in the forest near my home, they have smaller centres and bigger petals that the ones shown on the Sizzix packaging - the centres I feathered slightly with scissors to soften the look. The sentiments stamps used throughout are my own set available on my website)

The the bricks on this card were created from the discarded window panels from this die (I cut the arched top off of this one to create a square window)

I also used the embossing tool to add texture to the window frame...

I created a fancy easel card from two square card blanks for this card and added a flap to the top for the window - the sky background paper is also matted inside the window with the daffodils around the outside and on the stand up front panel. You can find step by step instructions for creating this card base here on the Papercraft Inspirations blog!

I needed a 3D project to finish this set off and immediately thought of this easter basket (the template can be found inside the magazine - it's still available as a back issue or to download on your iPad)

This could be used in an easter egg hunt, filled with mini eggs or treats as a gift or even as a table centrepiece!

I had lots of fun putting this set together, I hope you like it!

Thank you for dropping by today
Sarah x

Papercraft Inspirations Cover!

I was so thrilled to hear from my editor that my project had made the cover of Papercraft Inspirations for the January issue (what a fab way to start the new year!!) but I was even more thrilled to walk into Sainsburys yesterday and see it in real life, eeek! No matter how many times I'm published, it's just as exciting every single time!

I loved making this set of cards using Penny Black stamps with Derwent Inktense pencils and blocks, Sizzix dies and DCWV papers, and I'm so pleased it made the cover! I hope you can pick up a copy, there are so many fantastic projects this issue, it's one not to be missed :o)

It's been a crazy busy week here at Hurley HQ, we've despatched a record number of orders over the last couple of weeks as well as finalising lots of new products and working on other projects and plans for the new year - I'm very lucky to have B and Lisa (my lovely new creative assistant) to help me (and Fuzzybutt for reassuring hugs and woofs throughout the day of course) my Design Team have pulled together the most fantastic projects for something we have planned for you for next week too, I can't wait to show you more! I thought this year had been busy, but with everything we have planned for next year, I think we better hang on to our hats!! So excited...

I'll be back over the weekend to share some more of my December Daily album with you, I hope you can pop back to check it out.

Thank you for dropping by today!
Sarah x

Papercraft Inspirations Feature & some news!

This month I have some cards made with some cute Penny Black stamps in Papercraft Inspirations, here is a little peek that the magazine shared on their Facebook page...

I hope you can pick up  a copy to take a look!

I'm also super excited to tell you, I've joined the magazine as one of their crafty experts (so excited!) so if you have any questions for me, please send them to me or the magazine and you could see the solution featured in a future issue!

Thank you for dropping by today!
Sarah x

Papercraft Inspirations Cover!

With all the excitement and goings on of the last few weeks, I completely forgot to mention, I made the cover of Papercraft Inspirations magazine this month! Here is the cover showing one of my Magnolia cards (with Promarkers, of course!)

There are a few more inside, I hope you can pick up a copy and let me know what you think of my little project.

Thank you for dropping by today!
Sarah x

Papercraft Inspirations Easter Blog Party - Free Digi Stamp!

Today I'm taking part in the Papercraft Inspirations Easter Blog Party! I have a free digi stamp to giveaway and a little project that I made with it to show you!

First up, a little springy card using the free bunny digi stamp, I printed him onto bleedproof paper and coloured him with Promarkers, using the blender pen to create texture to make him look fluffy!

 

The gingham paper is from a Rico designs pad, with the green strip left over from another project, I hand cut along one side to create a grassy effect. 

The die cut panel was made using the Cricut Mini and I stamped a sentiment into the centre finishing off with a fabric bow and a resin rose.

To make your own springy creation using my cute bunny, you can click below to download your free digi stamp

 Click here to download your free digi stamp

The kit includes one black and white file and one of my hand coloured images for you to use in your projects or as a colouring guide.

I'd love to see your makes with it if you would like to share here in the comments or over on my Facebook page.

Thank you for dropping by today!
Sarah x

p.s. please check out the updated Create & Craft show times on the right!

January Craft Magazines

This month I've popped up in two craft magazines, I hope you can get hold of copies! First up, a little peek at some cards for the January issue of Making Cards magazine, I made three cards for this set but they only had room for two of them, so here is the third!...

This set of cards uses masking and Promarkers along with some gorgeous Paper Smooches stamps from Make the Day Special - love them!

I'm also the guest expert for Papercraft Inspirations magazine this month with some tips and tricks for selling your hand made cards.

Now I must be off, busy day today and I'm now prepping some stuff for something brand new I'm bringing you in a few weeks, I'm SO excited I can't tell you! I'm revealing all to my Design Team tomorrow and my tummy is all in knots, lol.

Thank you for your well wishes by the way, I'm most definitely on the mend now and although I'm sad I won't be going to CHA after all (a combination of illness and deadlines made it just impossible in the end, boo!) I am looking forward to getting a new pooter instead - a little treat to cheer me up while I look forward to the next one!

Thanks for dropping by today!
Sarah x 

Back Again!

Just looked and can't believe I haven't blogged since Thursday! I have been very busy but big apologies, that was very rubbish of me!

I must quickly mention that the lovely Lisa from my Design Team has some Blog Candy up for grabs so pop over and try your luck! (not just yet, at least pretend to be a bit interested in my comings and goings!)

The Bank Holiday weekend just whizzed past, I had a fab night with some friends on Friday, one of those unplanned things that turn into the best type of nights as you have no expectations to disappoint you, was nice to relax! The rest of the weekend was mostly working, although I did manage to track down the perfect size storage box for my Promarkers - I was so pleased! I did have them in the lovely storage thingys that Letraset sent me but I like to take them downstairs with me or to bed if I'm finishing something up so wanted something I could carry them round in- am now a very happy bunny (its the simple things, it really is!)

Today I saw the feature on me in Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine, made me do a little squeal as I ripped it open in the shop - I think the poor lady in there was slightly alarmed - she already thinks I'm a bit odd as everyday I buy cherry tictacs - they are SERIOUSLY yummy, every food should be cherry flavoured! I also saw that Woodland Whimsies was featured in the 'Ten of the Best' feature in Papercraft Inspirations which was a nice surprise as I had no idea!

I'm hoping to get some inky play time this week as I promised you some Promarker tutorials and I want to show you lots more things with my Sprays and Ink-A-Balls, which you will be seeing a LOT more of (thats all I'm saying for now...) thanks to everyone that has placed orders for them - it has kept OH out of my hair packing while I've been working on more stuff! LOL

Today is also the last day of my August Guest Designer, Sue's term, so farewell Sue! but welcome....... NICOLA, our fabby September Guest Designer who I'll be telling you a bit more about tomorrow. She will be setting next weeks challenge for us as well so look out for that, its a good one (you may want to get your Christmas Cheer CD ready, thats all I'm saying... LOL)

Now I must get on, I'm still working on my top secret project as well as scheduling some stuff for the Afternoon Tea kit clubs - you will be hearing a lot more about those soon too!

I'm going away now so hop on over to Lisa's blog for that candy - good luck!

Sarah x