Something Different Saturday

Happy Saturday!

I think, fingers crossed, that I have finally got my video tutorial to load.  Well that's different lol  Todays selection is therefore another one of my filigree bauble, along with a card and a sneak preview of some mini crackers I've been making.

I have added a few different pictures of the bauble as I'm not sure the video quite covers it as I had no camera man or woman this time and so the camera is not placed exactly right and it is a little jumpy.

But, as always, I hope you...

Enjoy...

A Golden Friday

Happy Christmas Friday!

Today's Christmas card is a gold and white festival.  I was convinced I had posted this card but I cant find it anywhere!  This card is one of my colours try-outs for my cards this year \I love white and found this beautiful ribbon in the local Chinese shop on a recent visit with Wendy.

The background is a Spellbinders impresabilities which I have inked through using gold ink.  The remainder of the card focus's on the ribbon with a bold stripe and a big bow.

The sentiment, from Do'crafts is stamped in gold on a die cut (from a die I borrowed from Wendy)

a few gold gems and another colour scheme tried!  Not my chosen colour for this year but maybe next....


Enjoy...

Still not Christmas...

Happy Thursday,

Still no tutorial yet I'm afraid so I thought for today and following on from yesterday I thought I would continue with the bights!  (if you can call Teal and blue bright)

Todays card is another simple die cut card using Spellbinders Fleur de Lys die cut as a simple frame with a square die .

This is studded with pearls and mounted with a double bow in the centre.  The backing paper is from my stash and is, honestly, so old I don't know from where!

The double bow is made using the bow maker and the method shown in my video tutorial, available HERE for those who want a laugh!

More tomorrow....

Enjoy...

Not Christmas...

Happy Wednesday,

I hope today finds you all well and warm!  The temperature has dropped here as well and as I'm sure Val and Wendy will agree its feeling cold!  I thought enough Christmas we need something warm and sunny so here is todays creation....

This card was made using the Spellbinders extendible pattern nature as a mask with opalescent  inks stencilled through the cut piece.  Now I made this card as a pair with this card I posted whilst away I used the piece I used as the stencil as the main element.





The flowers are spellbinders cherry blossom die with additional foliage.

Enjoy...

Excuses, Excuses...

Happy Tuesday,

Today was supposed to be the bauble tutorial however the video just would not load to YouTube.  I know excuses excuses.  I was hoping that this would have loaded overnight but it is not to be.  Therefore I am throwing this Christmas card into the ring to cover the gap.  Hopefully I will have the tut sorted for Thursday (double shift today so no time )

This is a die cut fold card simply decorated, hope you enjoy...

Sorry it's a quickie!

Happy Monday!

Really sorry it's a quick post as time seems to have run away from me with unpacking and getting OH read for a late flight to the uk!

This is a simple card in the chalkboard style using simple chalk ink on navy card and stamps from Anna griffin.

Promise I will try harder tomorrow...or maybe Wednesday....

Enjoy...

 

Shirleys Christmas Card

Happy Sunday,

Todays card is based on the bauble I made yesterday in something different.  I made this in the same way as the filigree bauble (video Tutorial to follow hopefully on my return from Holiday!) however this version was made as a solid. 

There is a story behind this card Shirley, who I work with in the Card and Gift shop, has a thing about cards with Baubles on them.  She said once, a few years ago, that she feels they are a little old fashioned so every year since I have made her a card with the main feature element being a bauble!

As soon as I made the filigree version I knew this had to be adapted to become the focal element on her card this year.

Apart from the bauble this is a very simple card just a double mat of green and red with a background cut in cream PMD cardstock embossed with a simple spots folder.  The strip behind the focal element is from First Edition Nordic paper pad edged in gold.  I added this so the card did not look so stark.

The Merry Christmas is a Tim Holtz, for Sixxiz, die cut in the same green cardstock.

Hopefully Shirley will like the card, and get the joke!


Enjoy...

Home sweet Home!

Happy Saturday,

Finally home from our world(ish) tour lol.  Thanks for all your holiday wishes we have had a fabulous time  although the ground still feels like its moving.  I will hopefully be sharing some pictures of our travels along the way however at the moment the unpacking needs doing!!!

Todays something different is a bauble made before went away using Spellbinders holiday ornament 2011 this can be made using any shaped die although the bauble style works best. 

Please forgive the picture it was taken very quickly before we went away and the camera had been packed so this was taken with my I pad!

More tomorrow as really tired from travelling (train from Barcelona takes over 5 hours!)

Enjoy...

Jackie card

Hello,

This card was made for my boss's birthday, she LOVES chocolate so when I saw this stamp form Indigoblu I had to have it even if it was only used for this card.  However since I'm planning chocolate gifts this year for Christmas I guess it will get reused.

Now today we should be getting the train back from Barcelona on the last day of our Holiday, depending on the return time there may be a fresh post tomorrow!

Todays card, it being Jackie's birthday tomorrow, was made in advance so that we could all sign it and it be ready for her tomorrow morning.






Apart from the stamp the remainder of the background is relatively simple just chocolate card (of course) embossed and studded with pearls.  The front is a bowed border made with spellbinder curved borders one first in cream, then a chocolate filigree piece added.

A simple strip of milk chocolate ribbon and finished, a chocolate dream for a self confessed chocoholic!

Enjoy...

Lavender Frames

Hello,






Todays holiday quickie is genuinely quick as after scheduling frantically for a two week holiday I'm running out of time lol.  I hope you forgive that today is just the card.

John x 

Simple, Classic, Elegant?

 
Happy Wednesday!

Keeping with the simple theme todays offering is a simple layered and stamped card.  The sentiment is made with Spellbinders Gold Circles one used as a backing and a frame.  Bow and rose (from Ita in Ireland)

Simple, classic and hopefully elegant!

Enjoy...

Not A Tutorial(ish)

Happy Tuesday!

No Technique or Tutorial Today sorry as still on Hols but thought I would show a gift I made instead from earlier in the year.  Now this was made using the Hexagon Box tutorial, Click HERE to see the original tutorial. 


This is an Orchid Fragrance box there is a paper orchid inside and a bottle of fragrance oil.  All the recipient needs to do is place the orchid in the oil and it will make the room smell nice!

This was made with the same method as the original tutorial however I stamped a long piece of cardstock in a mixture of autumnal colours and cut out around the stamping.  Next I added this as a wrap around the box, ribbon (cus it wouldn´t be a me creation without a bit of ribbon) and finished.

Enjoy...

Monday Monday Burning Bright......

Happy Monday,

I'm hoping that we are all having bright weather today however I get the feeling it wont be as its getting too close to winter!  Therefore I thought I´d show something bright that would remind us all of Summer today!

What better then than a pink peony?!?

This flower is the final one I made in the craft class I attended with Wendy in the summer.  I have worked it into a card several times before I was happy with the result.  The backing paper is First Edition Floral Pavilion fabric paper and I love the turquoise and pink which lifts the flower whilst not making it stand out Too Much!

I have, since attending the class, bought this die which is a Sizzix die although I haven't cut / assembled any yet.  I get the feeling this may not get fully used until the spring!

For today enjoy memories of summer!

John x

LOVE is Laser Cut!

Happy Sunday,

Today is my Hobbycutz design team inspiration however as I am on Hols have scheduled this!

Please click HERE to see what the other fantastic Design Team members have come up with for this weeks challenge!  This weeks challenge is a colour challenge, I really struggled to show the picture and colours for the inspiration so click HERE to see the picture.

I have added some close ups of the stunning laser cuts  from Hobbycutz I have used which I gilded using a soft gold gilding wax.

Give the challenge a go and enter, the colour palette is stunning!








Otherwise have a lovely Sunday,

John x


Roses are hand made by Wendy and gilded with the gilding Wax.







Inside of the card visible through the aperture.

Holiday Saturday

Hello,


As I am sure you will be aware I am still (hopefully) sailing the ocean on our holiday!  Therefore there isn´t a something different this week, sorry!  Instead I am posting this card made with leftovers from other cards.

I think we all have pieces we have cut for other projects or card bases we did not use for their original intended purpose this card is made with these.

have a great Saturday,

John x

Christmas Friday Traditional and Beige...?

Happy Christmas Friday,


I just love the colour pallet of this card as well as the complex simplicity (if that makes sense!)

Die cut snowflakes arte mounted onto a piece of patterned Christmas paper (from stash) which is embossed with a dots folder.  Matted and layered with traditional Christmas colours simple but multi layered.

Enjoy...

Embossed Circles

Happy Thursday,


This is using up some old Papermania flowers I had in me drawers (ooh Err)  a simple layered card using Cream, Kraft and chocolate PMD cardstock.

The remainder is made with gold gilding wax, ribbon and pearls.

Enjoy...

Ship Ahoy!

Ahoy there Matey's!

As you read this me and the OH will be rushing for a train for Barcelona in order to catch a cruise ship!  We have not had a holiday ( a proper one I mean, working in Spain honestly does not count!) for a few years.  As the OH is currently on garden leave awaiting a move to a new company we decided to grab the bull by the horns and book a cruise!  so for the next 10 days we will be all at sea.

Now, I didn't want to break my record of posting every day so I have scheduled posts for the period we will be away, I will apologise now as these will be quick posts just showing the card or creation I have prepared for the day.  Please ask any questions you have by commenting and emailing me and I will reply to all on my return! 

I would also like to say how much I appreciate all the comments I receive and I how everyday it delights me to receive all of them.  I will hopefully receive any comments you make at each of the ports and can, again hopefully, update with our travels and maybe even some pics!

Back to todays card, im posting this as it seems the most nautical of what I have made in preparation for our hols!  This is made with the new Spellbinders gold ovals however although I have had this die for a few weeks, bought from Christine Embersons Hope and Chances, I had to wait till I could find a decent priced set of basic ovals to cut it with.   These dies give a beautiful embossed and debossed pattern on each however they do not cut!


 I started using this die, as I usually do, with cutting all the elements and making a simple stacked card.  This piece was placed in an aperture card covered in more of the Do'crafts V&A paper.  A couple of strips of ribbon, a bow and a banner cut sentiment and a simple card finished.






Enjoy...

Christmas Tree Tutorial

Happy Tuesday,

Todays offering is a tutorial for the Poinsettia Christmas tree I presented on Saturday, click HERE to see the original post.

Thankfully last night Mr Next Door helped with the filming, now he is not known for his patience so the idea of sitting still and holding a camera had him itching.  Therefore he rigged up a tripod above my desk so he didn't have to hold the camera!  this video is therefore a birds eye view, hope you all approve.

John x

One Die Wonder...

Happy Monday!

I thought I should soft peddle the Christmas as it is only November!

 Today is a simple card that should be an antidote to all the Red, White and Silver I've been showing so often.

This is what Christine Emberson would call a One Die Wonder (which is a series of Cards she has to produce for her Spellbinders Design Team role)  As soon as I read the idea of showcasing one die I loved it, I can't afford to buy every spellbinders die nor make cards with loads of different die cuts so the idea of using one die effectively was great.

Todays card is made with Spellbinders Ornate Squares Die borrowed form Wendy Next Door!

 A simple card with the 2 square dies cut in white and lavender and repositioned in the alternate colour aperture.  I backed ¡this with a sheet of darker lavender card so that it can be seen through the filigree sections.

Hopefully a simple but affective card, and very cheap as it's not my die!

Enjoy...

Not More Red and White?!?

Happy Sunday,

Just a quick one today as I seem to be on a red and white Christmas roll.  I am trying to get the tutorial for yesterdays tree together, thanks to everyone who commented it seems it may be a winner! lol

Todays card is very similar to one posted a couple of weeks ago with virtually the same background however I have made this version with a leftover leaping stag di cut in Glitter card and a messy bow.

The messy bow is made using the same style as the Pearl bow tutorial I presented on Tuesday, click HERE to see the video.  I wanted to show this card to display that you can use the bow technique for adding lots of different items to your bows, in this one I have used a piece of gold twine.


Off to film hopefully,
Enjoy...

Something Different Christmas Saturday...

Happy Christmas Saturday,

Todays different offering is either a Christmas decoration or, as I intend to use it, a table decoration for the Christmas Table (For new years day as Christmas Day will be spent in Benidorm)

This tree is made with plain cardstock, white chalk ink, pearls and Spellbinders Layered Poinsettia die set a simple list of ingredients for what, looks to me at least an intricate decoration.

















I am hoping that Mr Next Door will help with a video tutorial on this one for Tuesday (as Wendy is still cruising the High Sees!)

Enjoy...

Christmas Friday

Happy Christmas Friday,

Todays card is once again along the traditional colours and style however this weeks uses a die cut Christmas tree as opposed to an embossed one like last week.

The tree is cut in red, cream and gold mirror card and layered up which makes the tree stand out.

The card base is cut with Spellbinders Scalloped Borders One using the hinged method.  I cut just the front with the curve otherwise it doesn't stand it just rocks!



AS you can see in the picture the back of this hinged card is cut straight at the same measurement as the longest part of the curve.

The tree is a Marianne die form last year which, to be honest, I have hardly used as it is a little small and delicate however by flat layering as |I have here it seems to work. 

The paper is, again, First Edition Nordic stack 8 x 8 fabric paper which has a wonderful texture.  I edged all the pieces in gold Mirri card and added a simple strip of ribbon and a double bow as in my video tutorial, click HERE if you missed it or want another look!

Enjoy...

Beige Fold Card

Happy Thursday!,

Todays card is a move away from the ovals of earlier in the week into squares, even if they are a little circular and filigreed!

Todays card started with another sheet of paper from the Do'crafts V&A collection (still a little Laura Ashley I feel) However I have used this on the inside back of the card and cut an aperture using the largest die from Spellbinders Adorning Squares die.  I cut the aperture in each sheet of card used for the layering, Cream base card chocolate, Kraft and another cream layer.

The centre element is a floating frame using Spellbinders labels Twenty Two I used the two largest dies to cut this frame in Kraft cardstock.  This die has a cut at each side which I have used as a ribbon thread.  I wrapped the ribbon separately through each side attaching this at the back, a few pearls and finished.




The card at this stage looked a little plain so I needed  something in the aperture, I went for the smallest die from the set and stamped a simple waltzing mouse sentiment, mounted this onto the waste from the frame and foam mounted it onto the back.








Finally I finished with a classic style double bow on the back to balance the design out. 


Personally I like the card best folded so that the inside is the front however there is no accounting for taste!!

Enjoy...

Ovals Again ?!?

Hello,

This card was made at the same time as this one using my local craft shop purchase and the Classic Ovals SM die I seem to be using heavily this week.

I started, once again, by folding a sheet of A4 cardstock in half and mounted a sheet of Navy card which I scored horizontal lines using my score-pal on top.  The simple lines of the background give such a classic twist to a card background. 

The strip across the front is cut using Spellbinders Curved borders one die using one of the filigree dies and the simple edge cut die.  I cut this twice across a sheet of cream linen card making sure that the strip was wide enough to take the focal element cut with spellbinders classic ovals SM. 

I then used other, matching dies in the set to make a strip in the same floral paper (Do'crafts V&A Collection) with a cream strip cut on top.

The focal element is cut in various sizes of the ovals in alternate colours with pearls added to the cream layers.

Finally a simple strip of navy satin ribbon with a hand tied bow and the sentiment on top.  A few pearls thrown around, as per usual at the moment, and hopefully an elegant card is ready to go.

Enjoy...

Final Bow Tutorial

Happy Tuesday,

Well as promised here is my last bow tutorial, hopefully everyone has now bought or made their bowmakers ready for this one.  Todays tutorial is on making the pearl wrapped bow as shown in this card...

Todays bow is very similar to the messy bow I made for the first tutorial however with the addition of the strips of pearls the technique changes.  Watch on to see what I mean!

The remainder of this card is simply layers of blue and white cardstock embossed and studded with pearls.  The focal elements is a frame cut with the two largest of Spellbinders Classic Ovals SM mounted on a whole cut oval stamped with a Waltzing Mouse sentiment.

Having reviewed the video it is a little dark in places sorry We will do better next time!

click on the PLAY icon to watch!


Enjoy...