i{nspiration} Candy

I have something new for you today. No, not something new in the Boutique. So no shopping. But it is just as much of a treat : )

It's a new, regular monthly feature I'm introducing to the blog. I'm calling it i{nspiration} Candy. I'll be posting it on the last day of every month. And it's a list of must-see cards and links chosen from all the Pink Petticoat cards which you've either sent to me, or I've discovered, during the month. They're all the things created by you and which have inspired me. A showcase of all my favourite things : )

So, shall we get started? For February ...

... and following on from Katie's cards yesterday, I'm going to begin with the Creative Team, and a couple of creations by Vicky.

'Thank You For caring' - a gorgeous card using the new 'Wild Roses' papers and 'Tiny {Heartfelt} Sentiments', with the most beautiful vintage-style hand crafted paper flower ...


...and 'Quotes' - a framed, inspirational heart picture. It's stunning. Simply stunning. If I'd seen this in a shop, I would have had no hesitation in buying it. And it would now be gracing the wall in my hallway, hanging somewhere where every single person who came in my house, or came to my door, would see it.



There's stylish simplicity by Leann, also using the newest papers and sentiments. Linen textures, kraft card and kraft paper detailing, and beautiful Buttermilk for a splash of colour.


And new papers and sentiments again, this time from Terrie with her very lacy, very feminine card, with matching envelope. And a delicious chocolate and orange colour combination.

You'll have to excuse me if I gushed ever-such-a-little there. But I do so LOVE what these ladies do. And they are a constant source of inspiration to me.

Next, my favourite created by {you} cards : )

These are not cards that have been recently created. And they are all revisiting a couple of Digi Stamps I designed last year - 'Material Girl {with Roses}' or 'Material Girl {with Daisies}' and 'Li'l Baby Buggy'. But they are all new-to-me.

By Jane Brown : Sew A Little Happiness and Sew Special.

By Jen Nelson : Material Girl.

By Mandi : Sew A Little Happiness.

and also by Jen Nelson : Baby Buggy.

A fabulous selection of cards!

I hope you all enjoy browsing through those as much as I did : ) Don't you just love following a link, not knowing what's at the other end of it, only to be absolutely delighted at what it leads you to? And totally inspired?

If you do enjoy it, and you'd like to share your Pink Petticoat creations with me, I now have a few ways for you do to just that.

- Twitter. If you're tweeting a photo of one of your cards or a link to one, please add @PinkPCreative to your tweet, and this Tweep will be certain to see it.
- Facebook. Post a photo of your card. Or a link to one. Either is just fine.
- On the blog. You can post a link to your card in the comments section. You can add it to any post. I'll see all of them.
- By email. Send me a link. You can send an image as an attachment too if you like, although this is not always the most reliable way. Attachments don't always get past my email filters.

You're all more than welcome to do any of those. And I'd love it if you did : )

Speak soon.

Wild Roses And Tiny {Heartfelt} Sentiments

• Patterned Papers: 'Wild Roses' in Pretty Pink, Air Force Blue and Papaya. From the Colour Collection
• Sentiments: 'Tiny {Heartfelt} Sentiments
• Paper Doiies and Paper Ribbon, Lace, Ribbon and Pearls

Teacup Candles

The results of my weekend venture into candle-making. Aren't they pretty? I'm really pleased with them.

Candle-making has been on my list of creative things I'd love to try for a long time. But I've put it off and put it off because I thought it would be messy, fiddly and time-consuming. And although I don't mind fiddly, I don't like mess. Nor do I have a lot of free time. But I was very surprised. They weren't actually any of these things and were surprisingly simple to make.

As a beginner, I did a little bit of research into different candle-making techniques and equipment before I spent any money and bought any supplies. And I applied the KISS principle - Keep It Sweet and Simple - and made the whole process as simple as possible for myself for my first attempt.

So ... I decided I would make container candles rather than trying to use moulds or dipping techniques to make shaped or pillar candles.

I also decided to use wax chips rather than blocks of wax. I though this would be simpler to measure and use. And create less waste.

And I decided I wasn't going to use any fragrance or colour. For my first attempt I was keeping the whole creative process very simple.

So I bought a kit. From *here* on eBay. This shop seems quite good to me in that they have different kits available depending on the type of candle you want to make. Container candles require a different type of wax to pillar candles. So the kit I chose was *this* one. They also have a lot of tips and tricks available around their shop : )

I found my three, pretty little vintage teacups in a charity shop. They were a bargain at £3.75 for all 3.

And armed with everything I needed ...

... this is a step-by-step guide to how I made my Teacup Candles.

1. Using your teacup as a measuring guide, put your wax chips into a glass jug. I needed 1 1/2 teacups of chips to make a single teacup candle.
2. Cut your wick to length, allowing enough to wrap around your pin whilst the wax is setting.
3. Thread your wick through a sustainer and secure it to the bottom of your cup using a small amount of melted wax. Let it set - it takes only a few minutes.


3. Wrap, or tie, your wick around a wick pin. Make sure to fasten it securely enough so the wick is well supported and remains upright whilst the wax sets.
5. Melt your wax and pour it into your container. And let it set.
6. Once completely set, trim the wick. And your pretty candle is finished!


Does that sound quick and very simple, and non-messy? Well that's because it was : )

And I was personally, very happy about that. But I was more happy with my finished candles. They looked so professional. Equally as good as any you could find in a shop. And definitely good enough to give as a gift or add to your craft stall.

And the wax was such a lovely soft, opaque creamy white when it was set.

I have used about 1/3 of my bag of wax chips. So I still have enough left to make some more.

And I will be making more. Because I've thoroughly enjoyed making these : )

I will need to invest in some more sustainers & wicks though. And some extra support pins. I only had one so could only make one candle at a time. The whole process would have been even quicker if I had been able to melt and pour the wax for all three at the same time.

And I will be a little more adventurous next time - adding some fragrance oil and colour to the wax. Maybe even some dried flower petals ... I'm looking for some different containers too.

In fact, at the moment, for everything I look at, I'm wondering if it would make a lovely candle!

A Creative Weekend?

This weekend I'd like to ...

1. Finish a set of sentiments I'm working on.
2. Make another card with my new papers. Whenever I design something new, someone, somewhere always has a card they need me to make and for which my new design would be just perfect!
3. And I'd like to try something new for me. And make some candles.

Got any creative plans?

Thank you all for visiting this week. Enjoy your creative weekend everyone!

New Product Releases ... and a Winner!

It's Thursday. And the new releases are in the Boutique. And I have a special introductory offer for you.

Until 29th February, 'Tiny {Heartfelt} Sentiments' is your free gift with the purchase of the new 'Wild Roses' papers. You can have both of them for £1.99 : )

If you'd like to take a closer look, you can find them *here* in the Boutique.

And I do hope you like them : )

And the GiveAway ... the random winner is Julie Bagnall, who said ... "Love the new papers.. I definitely NEED these!!!!"

Congratulations Julie! You have won both of today's new releases. If you could let me have your email address please, your links will be on their way to you.

Thank you to everyone who joined in.

If you decide you're treating yourself, I do hope you enjoy your shopping ... and your crafting with your new papers and sentiments : ) I love having something new to create with, don't you?

• Card Base: 'Organics' Kraft Paper Pack (Original Shade)
• Patterned Papers: 'Woodgrain' in Buttermilk from the Colour Collection and 'Little Stars' from 'Vintage Rose' in Ocean
• Sentiment: 'Tiny {New Baby} Sentiments
• Button and Kraft String

Introducing Wild Roses Papers

The second new product going into the Boutique this week is a set of papers. I've called it 'Wild Roses' and it's a design I'm adding to the Colour Collection. It's a version of the multi-coloured Wild Rose design from 'Wild Blossoms'.

This is the design. It works beautifully for the Colour Collection doesn't it?



The details of the download. It ...
- prints as individual A4 sheets
- includes both positive and negative design options
- includes all 52 colours of the Colour Palette
- the retail price will be £1.99.

and the papers are available with either White or shades of Cream.

And this is how I created my cards...


I chose plain white, 300gsm, 135mm square card blanks. They're by Papermania.

And I printed my 'Wild Roses' design onto a lightweight, 90gsm paper. I chose this because
- it lays very flat to the card base when it's stuck down, leaving only the very slightest raised edge - just enough for my card to still have a hand crafted finish. I prefer it to printing (or stamping) a background pattern directly onto my card base : )
- it is inexpensive to buy and so it's great value. And as long as I always use it with a high quality card base, my end result is still a high-quality card.

The colours I chose were 'Ocean', 'Sage', 'Putty' and 'Stone'. I knew I was using my new 'Tiny {Heartfelt} Sentiments' on my cards and I wanted soft, gentle tones of colour to complement them : )

I cut 90mm squares from each of my printed patterned papers...


... and stuck them to the centre of my card blanks, finishing each with a couple of rows of freestyle stitching.


Next I added my sentiments. They had been printed onto 300gsm plain white card. It was the same sheet I had cut the sentiments from when I made my cards yesterday.

Then I added a colour-matched printed insert, and finished them individually, embellishing each of them in a different way.


I finished my two Sympathy cards very simply, by layering punched butterflies, punched from scraps of the printed, ribbed Kraft card I had left from yesterday. And I added smaller butterflies for added detail inside too.


I embellished my Thank You card with punched hydrangea flowers, punched from some gold shimmer paper and decorated with little pink crystals, and finished it with a Kraft string bow.


And I embellished my Thinking Of You card very simply with a ready-made Prima blossom and a stitched stem, also finishing it with a Kraft string bow.

Lovely : )

Don't forget to add a comment if you'd like to a chance to win both of this week's new releases. Or another chance if you commented yesterday too.

And I'll see you tomorrow to announce the lucky winner : )

• Card Base: 135mm Square White Card Blanks by Papermania
• Patterned Papers: 'Wild Roses' in Ocean, Sage, Stone and Putty. From the Colour Collection.
• Sentiment: 'Tiny {Heartfelt} Sentiments
• Butterflies: Butterfly Punches by Martha Stewart
• Hydrangea Flowers: Hydrangea Punches by Martha Stewart
• Fabric Flower: Prima
• Cream Kraft String, Coloured Crystals

Introducing Tiny {Heartfelt} Sentiments

Are you ready for something brand new? Well I have 2 new products that I'll be adding to the Boutique this week : )

I'm going to preview one of them for you today, preview the second one for you tomorrow and add them both to the Boutique on Thursday.

The first one is a set of sentiments and an addition to the 'Tiny Sentiments' series. It's called 'Tiny {Heartfelt} Sentiments' and these are the sentiments ...


The other little details are ...
- the set contains 24 sentiments
- they print as 24 sentiments on a sheet of A4, ready for you to cut or punch out
- the retail price will be £1.49.

... and here's how I created the cards I made to show them off to you : )


I started by printing one of the 'Kraft Organics' card shades onto both sides of an A4 sheet of 300gsm ribbed white card. (I used shade no 2.) I trimmed it to create a 135mm square card blank and rounded one of the corners using my WRMK Corner Chomper. I made three cards so I did this three times.

I then tore strips of handmade paper, printed with the 'Daisy Bouquet' design from the Colour Collection in 'Willow', 'Tangerine' and 'Daffodil' and fastened them to my card blanks.

And I added my sentiments, from the new 'Tiny {Heartfelt} Sentiments', and printed onto 300gsm white card, finishing one edge with some decorative, freestyle machine stitching.


I then added my only embellishment - a Prima flower in a colour to match my papers, which I had trimmed with a button threaded with Cream Kraft Button String.


To finish, I added card inserts in colours to match my papers.




And voila! Done : )

As usual, I'm doing a New Product GiveAway : )

So if you'd like to win both of the products I'm releasing this week, simply leave a comment on either this, or tomorrow's release post. Or both if you like. Every comment will be entered into the draw to select the winner. And I'll select and announce the winner here on the blog as the products go live on the web site on Thursday.

Happy Valentine's Day : )

• Card Base: 'Organics' Kraft Paper Pack (Card Shade 2)
• Patterned Papers: 'Daisy Bouquet' in Willow, Tangerine and Daffodil. From the Colour Collection
• Sentiments: 'Tiny {Heartfelt} Sentiments
• Prima Flowers, Button and Cream Kraft String

Valentine Card Ideas

Still have a card to make for your Valentine? I have a few ideas to show you today. They're all very simple designs so they're not time-consuming to make. Just perfect for a last minute card : )

Here ya go ...

French Script
• Card Bases: 135mm 300gsm White Square Card Base from Papermania
• Patterned Paper and Sentiments: 'Just An Old Fashioned Girl'
• Small Heart Punch: Woodware
• Pink Silk 10mm ribbon and crystals

Will You Be My Valentine?
• Card Base: 135mm 300gsm White Square Card Base from Papermania
• Patterned Papers and Sentiment: 'Just An Old Fashioned Girl'
• Small Heart Punch: Woodware
• Pink Silk 10mm ribbon and crystals

Loves Me ... Loves Me Not
• Card Base: 135mm 300gsm White Square Card Base from Papermania
• Patterned Paper and Sentiment: 'Just An Old Fashioned Girl'
• Small and Large Heart Punches: Woodware
• Scraps of Card. Red Kraft String

LOVE
• Card Base: 135mm 300gsm White Square Card Base from Papermania
• Patterned Papers: 'Just An Old Fashioned Girl'
• Sentiment 'U' : 'Dolly Mixture Alphas'
• Small Heart Punch: Woodware
• Button, Pearls, Crystals and Pink Silk 10mm ribbon

Layered Hearts
• Card Base: 135mm 300gsm White Square Card Base from Papermania
• Scraps of Paper and Card. Clear Crystals
• Small Heart Punch: Woodware
• Sentiment: 'Tiny {Sweetheart} Sentiments'

Be Mine
• Card Base: 135mm 300gsm White Square Card Base from Papermania
• Large and Small Heart Punches: Woodware
• Sentiment: 'Tiny {Sweetheart} Sentiments'
• Scraps of Paper and Card. Buttons, Crystals, Pearls and Kraft String