Friday, February 25, 2011

Bargain Hunting

The Daring Cardmakers DT have all been hunting for treasure on the shelves of our local "pound" shops they'd be dollar stores if you're in the US etc or presumably there's a Euro  equivalent! 
 It was all in aid of today's dare from Samm dare - it's her first time in the dare-setter's chair so she's had time to come up with something devious like this! 
Anyway, once home with our new bargains we had to use them to make our cards.
Now some people always seem to find fab stuff in their local cheapo shops, but I never seem to do that.  I scan and scour the shelves to no avail - and these days it seems nearly every shop that opens is one of these stores so there are a few to choose from.
I spotted some tiny sprinkles shape thingies in the "nail art" section and immediately thought they might work for a cupcake card - plus it would give me the chance to use some gorgeous new papers that I bought recently and hadn't dipped into yet.  I don't think this one could actually be any more different from last week's Steampunk one!

It's a DL card and the cupcakes are a good size to work with  ie. not too fiddly!  I've cut the  cupcakes on the Craft Robo, there are three basic layers, the lowest is the the patterned paper, then the Bazzill "cake" colour and then the paper "icing" - I love working in layers like this as you get a great dimensional effect.  I cut enough cherry shapes in red Bazzill to make each cherry three layers - topped with some Glossy Accents and you get lots of lovely dimension and glossiness!
I used:
White DL card blank,
All papers, both plain and patterned from the "Springtime" collection by Echo Park (Craftz Boutique)
Cupcake template made using digi image from Craft the Year Away (Funky Hand)
Ruffled and twisted Seam Binding (Creative Treasures), 
teeny-tiny "sprinkles" from Nail Art section of Poundland
Bazzill card (lemon, chocolate, coffee), MS border punch, 
White pen for highlights, Glossy Accents

Click HERE to visit the Daring Blog and see more Poundshop treasures, and please have a go yourself, we'd love to see what bargains you find in your local cheapie shops!

Here's another card I made using two sizes of the same Funky Hand digi-image
 I used:
Lilac gingham and watercolour stripy papers from Funky Hand's "Craft the Year Away". 
Ready-coloured versions of the cupcake image also from Funky Hand's "Craft the Year Away".
Lilac Stickles layer for icing on large version
Nesties Large Scalloped Circles die, MS border punch, pink ribbon, red button, silver thread from stash
Instructions on how I make the "danglies" are on the Get Funky! challenge blog
Thanks for visiting today, please leave a comment, it's always a joy to know you've been!

14 comments:

Annie said...

Fab cards Kathy. I love it when you find a bargain and turn it into something pretty :-)
A x

tracy said...

i never seem to find a 'useable' bargin either kathy-but you've done good with this one :)

Lynda said...

Two very scrummy cards Kathy - you can't beat cupcakes for that proper party feel. Love them!

Love Lynda xxx

Kaz said...

Oohhh yummy scrummy cards there Kathy. I was intrigued as to what danglies you'd put on your blog!!!

I love the nail art jewels onthe cupcakes xxx

Karen said...

I can never find the bargains others find either Kathy! Must be my postcode hahaha! You have made a couple of really delicious looking cards there hon xxx

Hazel said...

Super yummy cupcakes - and what a good idea to use the nail sprinkles x

Faye said...

Hiya Kathy, I love cakes, so both these gorgeous cards are winners for me. Totally delish. You could enter them over at Cupcake this week. xxx

Angelnorth said...

These are fab! My local pound shop never seems to have "nail art" stuff but those little sprinkles were perfect for cup cake topping and I love the dnagly bits (oo er, missus) on the second one.

Janice said...

Clever use of the nail thingies (that made me laugh) lovely fat cupcakes too.

Jo said...

Gorgeous cards, Kathy, the nail sprinkles look fab :)

jo x

Lythan said...

Now I'm hungry.... all the patience it must have taken to put those sprinkles on is well worth it:)

Samm said...

How cute is this? loving the cupcakes and sprinkles!!!

Samm
x

Gez Butterworth said...

Amazing cards Kathy.xx

Enfys said...

Fab cards Kathy, must hunt out those sprinkly things - poundland used to do a lot more crafty stuff but they seem to have cut back, but I get all my foam pads from there - bargain.
big hugs
En xx