I’ve long held thoughts that photos could be used for crafting, but in a much more exciting way than just sticking a photo onto a card - though there’s scope for that too of course. I’ve a pile of photos which through various offers I’ve had printed and have been sitting there waiting for me to get my experimental hat on.

With a few days off and my mind whirring, I pulled out the photos and started to try things out. First up embossing, with mixed results.

The photo in the foreground above was much more successful than the one behind it - from this I learnt that the embossing pattern was key, and often less is more. Pleased to discover that embossing was an option that worked, with careful consideration, I was keen to try something else.

Cutting up photos. But in a more controlled way than that makes it sound. Out came my die cut machine and this was way more successful. To start with I tried a quite intricate design, and am now the proud owner of many glossy cut out cars - it was addictive.

I love how the photos add texture to the design - you wouldn’t know that the majority of these photos were of plants and garden views. I realised as I went on that there was also scope to cut more than one die cut from each photo.

And so with some washi tape more die cuts were taped into place and off I went again, this time butterflies. Again a pleasing success.

The Christmas baubles also worked - the orange/black version is from a Christmassy photo and I think that works better than the bauble with lupins, as much as I love lupins.

Always one of my challenges when making cards is wording, and so I have a few die cuts to help there too. Again pleasing success.

I particularly like the bottom cheers - the grid lines really work, and unless I told you it was one of those index photos you might never know.

So after a few hours experimental crafting, I’m calling it a success - and a box of shapes ready to use already. I’m inspired now to carry on and try out more - I could be a while!