Life

Hello everyone!

I firstly have some very sad news, my beautiful Nan unfortunately passed away at the weekend.  She was such a massive support (as were all my grandparents) in my life and we were very close.  One thing my nan always taught me was that I must keep working through any hard times, she was an inspiration to many with all the battles she has faced.

Me, my nan and my sister.

Since she would want me to carry on I have decided over the coming weeks I am going to try and focus on making some sympathy cards as this is a theme I wouldn't usually think of making to.

In the meantime I have a few products which I was working on late last year before our lovely Christmas and New Year.

My framed products. 

This frame shows some Seaham Glass which I found on Seaham beach.  Seaham used to have glass works along the seafront and at the end of every shift the broken and unwanted glass was thrown into the sea, over the years this has been polished by the waves and sand and eventually washes up on shore.  I decided to take it home and have framed it.  Very simple but effective, don't you agree?

This frame matches one of my cushions which you can find here on my website.  It is fabric off cuts which look amazing once they are framed.

I love this frame, I can do many different colours in the hearts, even multi-coloured if you preferred.  I cut each small heart and stick it into my heart shape, I then add 3 small rhinestones in a coordinating colour.

I do have a small selection of frames available to buy on my website.  Each design in the frames are handmade and therefore will slightly vary.  If you would like any other colour ways of the hearts just contact me on my website or on my Facebook page.  I have also added some new products to my Etsy shop today.

Hope you've enjoyed my new products.

Bye for now! 

Abbie x

Listings galore

Hello everyone!

So the past couple of weeks I've been thinking about how to improve all the platforms which I use to promote my business, this included rethinking how I use my facebook page, the products which I have on my Etsy page  and my website www.abbierussell.com.
I spent hours redesigning my website and adding new information and products to the site which paid off as I have had a lot more traffic viewing the site, I'm over the moon with how it looks now and I think it had a very clean and professional look which works well with my products.
Secondly I decided I must start posting more frequently to my Facebook page in order for people to start noticing I am there and forgetting about little me sitting in the corner, this has worked as again I've had a boost in viewings.
Similar things have been happening in my Etsy shop with new products being added every couple of days it seems more people are viewing my page than when I post all at once! I'm amazed how such small changes can make such a difference.

Anyway in between all of that I have also been contacting local and not so local shops in the hope to start stocking some of my products there, hopefully I will hear back from them soon with positive news!  I've also been making more cards which are very simple but I love them and this they are so effective, here are some pictures.

One of the first ones I decided to use red and gold as I feel these are very Christmassy colours, I stamped the bauble and sentiment before adding 6 tiny red rhinestones to finish the card.

Secondly I used purple and silver to create this card, done in the same way I added 6 purple rhinestones to finish this card.  Also the silver parts on the card have been embossed with silver powder, this gives some texture to the card.

To finish both cards I stamped "Happy Christmas" inside.

Hope you enjoyed reading today, I'll be back with more news.

Bye for now!
Abbie x

A kept promise

Hello everyone!

As promised last week I told you I would show my mams birthday cards which I made.  She had a lovely day and loved her cards which I was very pleased about.  I created two very different cards and I really enjoyed making them.  I have also been busy this week making lots of stock up for my craft fair which is creeping closer!  I have photos up on my Facebook page and my Etsy shop.  Also don't forget I have entered the Ohh Deer competition and need your help to win, my links are in last weeks post.

The first was pink card with a white border and pink heart and happy birthday sentiment.

I hole punched lots of little flowers in different shades of pink before gluing them into the shape of a heart.  I then added "Happy Birthday to my Amazing Wife" to the side of the card and 2 pink rhinestones.  I also added a few little pink rhinestones to the flowers on the heart.  The card was left blank inside.

The second was a very basic colour scheme of beige and black.

I layered the card so I had beige then black then beige which I then placed 2 die cut black butterflies on, I added 3 small silver rhinestones to the middle of each butterfly.  I love the simplicity of this card.  I added an Happy Birthday sentiment inside.

Hope you've all had a brilliant week and enjoy reading my post.

See you all next week.
Bye for now!
Abbie x

Working hard

Hello everyone!

I've been working very hard this week and have barely had a chance to sit down and think but that is just how I like it.  It's my mam's birthday next week so I am making cards for her which I will share next week, until then I have a card to share with you now.

A Christmas card.

This card has a circle bauble cut and stamped with white ink and a snowflake stamp.  Green and red silk organza ribbon have been added to look like the string from the bauble.  Red card has been placed down the side and "It's Christmas Time" sentiment stamped in black.  Under the bauble 3 red rhinestones have been added and a "merry christmas" sentiment.  The card is blank inside for your own message.

Again take a look at my Etsy shop if you want to see some of the cards I have for sale.  My Facebook page has also got other products on.

I'm off to carry on with my preparation for the craft fair which is 6 weeks away!  Exciting times!!

Bye for now! 

Abbie x

Cards, cards and cards

Hello everyone!

This week I have been busy making some more cards ready for my craft fair in November, not long to go now and I am so excited, hope your all going to come and visit the stall (will post details soon).

Some of my favourites that I have made this week...

I hole punched my little flowers gradually using a darker blue card to work up the card and added the sentiment "Birthday Treats".

Using a die cut butterfly I glued it onto white card and stamped the "Happy Birthday!" sentiment before adding silver rhinestones to the butterfly.

I hole punched hearts from different shades of orange card and placed them into the shape of a heart before adding a single gold rhinestone to the centre.

All my cards are very simple this week but I have really enjoyed making them rather than using my usual style of bold!  Hope you've liked them too.  Don't forget I am selling on Etsy now too.  Also other cards which I have made are on my Facebook page if you'd like to see them.

Bye for now!
Abbie x

A new product

Hello everyone!

Another busy week here and I have to say I am absolutely loving it!  I've opened my Etsy shop this week and although not many products it is a start, here is a link if you want to check it out Etsy Shop.

I have also just finished one of my new products which I am going to show now.  I am very excited about these and am over the moon with how they look.

Introducing my memory boxes...

M is for Memories

Close up of the box

On these boxes I have used white card with text printed onto it and layered it on pink card.  I then added the die cut butterflies and glued rhinestones as extra embellishment.

The dimensions of the box is 300mm deep, 150mm x 400mm and it had a magnetic lid to hold it shut.

Hope you all like them!

You can find some more pictures of my other boxes on my Facebook page by clicking on this link, Memory Boxes.

Bye for now!

Abbie x

Preparing for the fair

Hello everyone!

I have had a busy little week since I last posted.  I've designed some CD covers and disc fronts for my dad's duo Eurasianeyes (Eurasianeyes Facebook) ready for them to release their EP!  I've also been working on new card designs, some new designs for pocket mirrors and I'm currently working on some new products but not sure how they will work yet so got my fingers crossed.

I have decided to share a Christmas card which I have made, I know it seems so early to be making Christmas things but it will creep round so fast it's scary!

I've used red and brown card onto a white background for this card with a green ribbon to tie in all the Christmas colours, I've stamped using brown ink adding rhinestones for that little bit of sparkly magic everyone loves at Christmas time.

Hope you all like the card and will keep reading in the coming weeks as I prepare for the craft fair on November 16th and 17th.

Bye for now!

Abbie x

Sorry it's been a while...

Hello everyone!

Sorry it's been a while since I last posted, I have been fairly busy this summer and I am finally able to take a breath and think!  It's been a VERY exciting summer for me, I graduated my degree, I jetted off to Egypt, I got engaged, worked a lot and am currently looking after the Uniko Studio (http://www.uniko.co.uk/) business whilst Bev gets married in Hawaii (TODAY, EEEEK!!) I'm so excited for her!

So another exciting thing which has happened is I have applied to do my very first craft fair in November with my uncle.  I have been making lots of products which I will show you in the coming weeks and it's all a bit manic but I am loving it!

Here is a card I have made recently.

As it's Bev and Karl's wedding day I thought I would show you a wedding card.  I've stamped the cake, sentiment and bride and groom then I added little pearls and a silver rhinestone as embellishment.  I decided to use some red and cream card to make this card more interesting.

Hope you all like it and will join me in wishing Bev and Karl all the best for the years to come and a big CONGRATULATIONS!

Will be back soon with more cards!
Bye for now!
Abbie x