Pastel Inspiration

Inspiration in Lace lived up to its beautiful name. So much inspiration in one collection.

A beautiful image of a wistful young lady from the Inspiration in Lace collection inspired this card. A heart border of pink bling, muted pastel flowers, a dainty ribbon, metal embellishment and sentiments complete this card.

Another inspirational image from the collection for this card. The background paper looked so real you could almost touch the lace! The die cut frame was bound in narrow ribbon giving a 3D effect. A beautiful cream embroidered ribbon, and toning pastel flowers in similar colours as the Cut & Create image, and some pearls finish the look.

Mary

Folded Surprise

The surprise starts by folding card stock into three, and reverse folding both ends giving a winged effect.

The left-hand wing has pale green damask paper from A Lady's Diary collection as the base, and layers of delicate lace and ribbon over top. Then, a delightfully whimsical image of two ladies in all their finery over the top of the lace. 

Finished with vellum overlay and framed in crystal bling with sprays of toning paper flowers.

The right-hand wing was similarly done but used a pearl/crystal frame effect. 

Inside the surprise, features the finely hand-drawn image of Paris, with the "marvellous Paris" sentiment. Topped with a stunning metal filigree embellishment and silver diamonte bling, plus doily, complete the centre panel.

The reverse of the side wings again uses the beautiful pale green damask as the base, with cream heavily embroidered edging, topped with cream ribbon and again silver diamonte bling. 

Finally, a length of gossamer ribbon adhered to the back of the card, long enough to be tied at the front to hold the card closed for presentation and the perfect surprise gift. 

Julia

Charming

So many dresses, so many places for a Lady to go!

The perfectly poised lady fitted beautifully into an oval chipboard frame, which has been painted antique gold. 

Two more ovals of increased proportionate size complemented the frame.

 Background paper from A Lady's Diary collection was laid down first. Then the complimenting ovals, followed by the lady in the oval. 

The card was finished off with delicate lace edging, two ribbons of various widths, finally cream paper flowers and a sentiment.

Advertising images from A Lady's Diary collection overlayed onto the base of the card formed the background for this unusual card. Six images in total were used, edges inked in sepia. 

Over these images was a fine layer of distressed muslin and topped with vellum, giving a muted whimsical look.

For drama, three beautiful filigree metal charms adhered to the vellum, a narrow gilt chain linked the charms together, and delicate apricot coloured paper flowers finished the look.

Papers, cut and create images, ribbons and laces, plus the beautiful filigree charms available from Meg's Garden today.

Mary

Oval Elegance

Oh to have a waist so small! The stunning new A Lady's Diary collection from Meg's Garden is inspirational.

The aqua in the dress toned in beautifully with the blue shades throughout this collection, which I used as my background.

I layered matt silver cardstock and an oval lacy die cut to feature the evening dress image. 

Add to this, a silver flower, diamonte bling, aqua ribbon on opposite corners, finished with a flourish of aqua paper flowers.

The image of the three ladies in their satin and lace day dresses was the inspiration for the lilac oval card.

Cotton lace edging highlighted the oval die cut. The cardstock was stamped with a muted damask design and purple velvet ribbon formed a border on two sides. 

The oval card was then mounted on lilac backing paper and finished with wisteria coloured paper flowers.

Mary

Beaded Beauty

From A Lady's Diary collection, I wanted to not only showcase the beautiful paper range with this card, but also the exquisite embellishments available from Meg's Garden.

I started with pink muted damask paper for the background, and inked the edges. 

Next I placed lustrous cream ribbon to the left of the card. Using the same ribbon, I made a bow and attached two gorgeous velvet pink flowers to the centre. 

My favourite piece, the absolutely beautiful cream beaded and embroidered edging. This is placed over teased muslin and held in place with a crystal head hat pin.

Finishing with a simple sentiment.

Spend our days of indoors creatively, and take a stroll through Meg's Garden for inspiration.

Julia

A Vintage Journal

Today, I have another take on a 'junk journal'. 

With so many uses - practical or decorative, Meg's Garden papers make it beautiful. 

It can be closed and tied and opened like a book. Or as a decorative piece, splayed out forming a star. Perfect for a table decoration or stationary piece. 

Each half section has a vellum pocket, creased and inked to highlight the distressed detail. They hold either a handmade card or Art Tag. All using the wonderful imagery pieces from Meg's Garden. 

The pockets can hold just about anything. Papers, stamps and envelopes for correspondence or as I have done, the go-to place for handmade cards. 

Metal embellishments, paper and ribbon decorations and interactive elements feature in each segment. 

There are endless possibilities for this star junk journal. 

Take care, and have a stroll through Meg's Garden for all your creative needs!

Julia

Butterflies in Pink & Green

Who doesn't love butterflies? Using Meg's Garden Pink and Green collection, I have created another two cards, ready to fly.

The base is a delicate green damask design, with distressed edges and inked in a toning colour. 

I selected two butterfly images from this beautiful collection, and cut around with decorative scissors to look like postage stamps, and mounted on cardstock using the same effect.

A piece of muslin is placed between the two butterflies, with a delicate pink paper flower, sheer ribbon bow and a small satin bow completing the look. 

This card could quite easily be used for a birthday, thinking of you, or get well soon sentiments.

With Mother's Day in mind, I used similar techniques and design for this card, but in pinks. The muted base again sets the perfect start for embellishments.

Delicate pink embroidered ribbon is placed at opposite edges to the butterflies, add in feathers, a pastel pink flower, satin edged ribbon and fancy bling complete this pretty in pink look.

All available now in Meg's Garden!

Vintage Simplicity

Another new Meg's Garden collection, and oh so much inspiration!

Today I am sharing three cards made from the Vintage Journal Collection, using the incredibly detailed papers and Cut & Create images.

When designing cards, I always look for coordination and colours to guide my creation. 

This is made so much more pleasurable using Meg's Garden papers. For my three cards, I took inspiration from the images already printed and made them "pop" off the page using the same imagery from the Cut & Create sheets.

Placing the Cut & Create images slightly off centre, I layered each with a variety of elements - muslin, ribbons and metal embellishments..all available from Meg's Garden. 

And all add to the Vintage feel.

For another textural and decorative layer, I embossed the ever versatile Art Tags from a previous collection, still coordinating perfectly. The more layers, the more detail, the more I enjoy creating with Meg's papers.

As finishing touches, I distressed and inked over raised edges. Tassels finish off each card for an element of interaction, and because everyone loves tassels!

Enjoy Meg's Garden new collection, Vintage Journal. Perfect for all your papercraft needs.

Julia

Pink & Green collection

Using one of the latest collections from Meg's Garden, I have created two cards in totally different styles.

Firstly, black and white - with a hint of colour. 

From the Cut & Create pages included in the Pink & Green collection, I fussy cut around a selection of Parisian notices and placed randomly to cover the base of my card.

The lovely lady in silhouette, fussy cut from an Art Tag, is mounted on top of the background. The card is finished with cream lace, bling and the touch of colour - two beautiful Cut & Create roses tucked under a final Parisian label.

Now for a totally different look, but still using the same versatile collection.

I started with a beautiful muted background paper for the front of my card. 

Taking inspiration from the details in the paper - the imagery of a rolled corner - I gently slit the rolled edge and slipped a Cut & Create fan and butterfly emerging from underneath the fold. I then made a corner feature of pale green ribbon with a pink accent ribbon on the opposite side for balance.

Finishing touches include pink embroidered lace with the Cut & Create sentiment atop, flowers, bling and a handmade bow.

Easy and simple when you have stunning images on superb quality paper, plus complimenting trims and flowers - all available now in Meg's Garden Pink & Green collection.

Mary

Have yourself a very elegant Christmas

Christmas cards and gift-giving is made all the easier this season with Meg's Garden 2019 Christmas collection. In elegant creams and vintage tones, Christmas cards this year will be something special.

I have made a series of four cards, each using elements from the Christmas collection and embellishments from Meg's Garden.

To the Cut & Create bauble, I added sequins, gold pearl bling, ribbons and flowers for a stylish almost real-to-touch bauble. 

Using a Vintage Journal Card and nesting dies, I layered each cut of the whimsical evocative image, two young children waiting for Santa. To keep the imagery the main focal point, embellishments are minimal in ribbons and gold leaves, paper flowers, stamens and bows.

What a stunning VJC image! Layering again with nesting dies, this time at an angle. The damask background is one of the elegant papers included with the Christmas collection. Minimally embellished, featuring a bow, beautiful crystal hat pins and bling.  

With so many choices from Meg's Garden Christmas collection, I have one final, more traditional, card to share.

Using four traditional "old world" Cut & Create images of St. Nicholas, I mounted each on papers in Christmas red, green and gold. Finishing with a fitting sentiment, again from the Cut & Create sheets and embellishing with bling, glitter flowers in gold.

Mary