Beautiful Olivia...

Happy Thursday,

A variation on a theme for today's card and a different version of the matching of the Olivia frames and tags die with the Antlia Gemini die.

I started by cutting the detail and edge die form the Gemini into two ends of a piece of coconut white foundation card trimmed down to 51/4".  I then used just the edge die and cut 2 piece of wisteria card to match the edges and mounted the white detail over this.

Next I used the other edge die from the Gemini die to cut a panel of wisteria card ( again cut to 51/4" ) to match the 2 edges of the Gemini cut in white.  I embossed this panel wit the illusion A4 embossing folder before foam mounting this over the space as shown.

I then cut the outline and detail die in the Olivia frame from more coconut white and backed this with wisteria studding it with white 5mm stick on pearls.  I cut the spring foliage in white twice and cut each of the flowers dies in the spring foliage set in wisteria and lilac.  I arranged the foliage as shown then shaped the flowers adding them on the leaves with a 3mm white stick on pearl as the centre.  I arranged the frame on top and finished with a layer of white again embossed with the illusion folder.

A few layers of white, wisteria and lilac to finish and a complex and textured card which is relatively simple to produce is complete.

Enjoy...

Olivia's petticoat...

Happy Wednesday,

Another sample card from my shows last week on Hochanda this time a classic petticoat card made using the Antlia Gemini die.

I stared by cutting panel with the outline die from the Olivia frame and tags die.  next I cut the detail die into another panel again in white.  next I embossed  piece of wisteria and lilac card with the detail die.  I cut the centre from the lilac and added this on top of the wisteria embossed piece before fitting it back into the white die cut.  This gives the look of a paper pieced panel which is a lot quicker than paper piecing.

For the petticoat section i cut a strip of coconut white foundation card using the detail and one of theses form the Antlia Gemini die.  I backed this with wisteria using the cutting edge to match the edge of the white.  I repeated this and backed the second with lilac card.  I then mounted these above each other and added the olive panel at the top.

I made up the card as shown using layers of the three colours and added a lilac bow form satin ribbon from my stash.

Enjoy...

Gemini Pearls...

Happy Sunday,

I thought I would share this card today one I made especially for my Shows on Hochanda this week. I really wanted to highlight the beautiful detail in the Cassiopeia Gemini die.

I stared by cutting panels of coconut white, Cornflower and duck egg foundation card into strip 5" wide.  I then cut the detail and outline die from the bottom into 2 strips of the white. I then cut just the bottom die from cornflower foundation card and married the 2 together.

I then cut the duck egg panels using the other outline die and mounted these over the other panels as shown.  I then foam mounted one above the other and cut this whole piece to be 8" tall.

Next I cut the detail and outline die form the Megan frames and tags set in white and backed this with cornflower before cutting out the centre.

I foam mounted this on the top of the Gemini panels and then stamped the sentiment and cut it out using the centre die from the Megan set.  I added a seam binding bow made with matching binding adding a pearl embellishment from Creative Expressions in the centre.

Finally I added larger white pearl strips to the top and bottom using a third strip along the line of the Gemini in the centre.

A few layers of the white, cornflower and duck egg finish the card.

Enjoy...

Show some Heart...

Happy Thursday,

I'm back on Hochanda this evening at 8pm with the second part of the current die release designed by Sue Wilson for Creative Expressions.  This week I am showcasing the beautiful hearts dies which are the One Day Special along with the striplets ( you all know my weakness for a Sue Wilson Striplet).


There's a real autumnal feel to today's card but I think it could very closely be classed as spring like in a way? lol

I thought I would hare this card today which features the Fluttering Heart die along with Antlia Gemini die and my new faves the Chrysanthemum die set.  I stared by cutting the Antlia detail and one of the outline dies form the top and bottom of a piece of Milk foundation card.  I then added a panel behind this in papyrus foundation card using just the outline die to match the detail.

I cut the dies in the fluttering heart die set in papyrus, milk and tan foundation card and layers them as shown above.  Next I cut the various sizes in the Chrysanthemum die set in the same shades and using Irene's technique ( one of the ladies of my Breedon workshops) I rolled the petals in tan into the centre to make the centre of the flower and added other shades around the outside.  I placed this on a spray of the spring foliage and a messy bow in thin gold satin ribbon from my stash.

Hopefully some of you can join me tonight on Hochanda freeview channel 85, Sky 663 or online at www.hochanda.com

Enjoy...

Elegant Olivia...

Happy Tuesday,

Today's card showcases another 2 of the current range of dies designed by Sue Wilson for Creative Expressions that will be on my Hochanda shows starting at 8pm on Thursday evening.  Today I am sharing this card made with the Olivia frames and tags and the Antlia Gemini die.

















I started by cutting the outliers die on the olive into a square of bright white foundation card cut with the noble double pierced squares.  I added a panel behind this and cut the detail in the olive out form this.  I then embossed the detail die in sherbert and baby pink and cut the centre of the pink added this one the sherbet and added the whole piece behind the die cut.

















Next I cut one of the edges and the detail from the Antlia die into a strip of bright white across the bottom.  I backed this with baby pink and repeated the process to make one in sherbet.  I overlapped these and added the panel at the top.

I cut the wispy fronds and the small flowers from the spring foliage and arranged these, as shown, across the side to balance the pieces.

I finished the card as shown with layers of the three colours.

Enjoy...

Softer Teal...

Happy Tuesday,

A softer teal card today as its tied in with coconut white and is relatively simple ( I know I always say that but the dies really do all the work for you!)

I stared by cutting a panel of coconut white and cut the Aquira gemini die into the bottom using the detail and the bottom die.  I then cut just the detail out of the top form the Hannah frames and tags die.  I then added a panel of embossed coconut white embossed with then linda leaves 5 x 7" embossing folder.


Next I cut the inline die form the hannah in teal and added the detail in white above the stamped sentiment (from my autumn wreath elements clear stamp set)

I added a few layers of Teal and white and a few stick on pearls to finish.  I love the non fussy look of this no bow or embellishments needed!

Enjoy...

Frosty Aqua Pixies...

Happy Sunday,

Today's card is another sample from last weekends shows on hochanda this card was demoed in the configurations shows on the Sunday so take a look on rewind at www.hochanda.com if you would like to see how it was made.

The brilliant thing I love about this card is the mixture of the Diamond Frost against the backdrop of the pixie powdered paper the interference in the diamond frost just makes the paper shine.

The dies used are the Cepheus Gemini die along with Hannah form the frames and tags collection.





















The flowers are simply the requisite poppies cut in pixie powdered velum ( I used Teal Wash, Pewter and Aqua Lagoon) which are scrunched up to look carnation like.  I finished the flower with a sprinkling of the Diamond Frost adhered with cosmic shimmer dries clear glue.


Enjoy...

More Teal...

Happy Thursday,

As I always say with this colour choice I know its not everyones cup of tea but I can't stop posting these cards as I just love the colour sorry!

I stared by cutting the Dorado gemini using the bottom edge die from a long strip of the Teal Foundation card.  I added a piece of coconut white card the same size cut at the bottom using the outline die and added the teal on top.   I then cut a larger strip of black and cut a thin border using just the outline bottom die.

Next I cut the detail die form the Tessa Die into the top of the teal card adding the next outline die in the set.  I then cut into the white layering the next die in the set and added the black back panel with foam tape behind.




















For the base layer I embossed apiece of coconut white card with the victorian tile embossing folder and highlighted the embossing using the graphite gilding polish.  Finally I added layers of the black and white and a stretched tag of white and black form the aperture.

Enjoy...

Cobalt Dorado...

Happy Wednesday,

Today I am running a dabble day at Crafty Corner at Breedon Priory for the ladies who attend my Monthly workshop there.  I have loads of crafty things for us to play with so it should be a really fun day!


Another card from last weekends takeover shows this time back to one of my favourite foundation card colours Cobalt.

I stared by cutting the Dorado gemini die and the outside cutting edge into a piece of coconut white foundation card on each side.

Next I used the outline die form the other side to cut the central panel in cobalt.

I embossed a panel of the cobalt with the linea leaves 5x7 embossing folder and highlighted the embossing with Pearl Lustre metallic gilding polish.  This gives such an effective look and is so easy to achieve.








Next I cut the centre 2 dies from the Tessa frame and tags die in coconut white foundation card and added a backing of more of the white.  I cut the central die in the set in cobalt and stamped the fallaway piece in the centre with the sentiment form my Lily of the Valley elements clear stamp set.

I simply added a strip of blue white seam binding and a messy bow to finish.

Enjoy...

Monochrome Gemini...

Happy Tuesday,

I thought I would hare this card today as I love Monochrome and this is a perfect example of what can be achieved using just the Gemini dies.

I stared with a piece of black card which I cut the Perseus die into the bottom and top using one of the outline dies from the set.  Next I added a longer strip of black cut with one of the detail and one of the edge dies form the Cepheus triple Gemini die.  I backed this with a larger strip of white cut with just one of the outline dies to match.

I then added a wider piece of black cut with the other detail and cutting edge from the Cepheus set.

The central panel was made using the same set with the sentiment panel being cut with just the matching outline die its amazing how many different looks can be achieved with just one off the triple Gemini dies.

Enjoy...

Thank you lily...

Happy Thursday,

Todays card is another one that looks complex but is relatively simple.  Just three colours a stamp and some gilding polish all the work is done by the dies and just 2 sets used on this card!


I started by making the panel at the pack by cutting the title gemini die just using one section and the cutting edge in bright white foundation card.  I rooted the die and cut the same pattern at the bottom.  Next I cut a larger black mat for the piece using just the matching outline die.  I mounted the white on the black and added 3mm what stick on pearls around the detail.

Next I made the main panel using just die number 1, 2 and 3 from the antwerp die set from the belgian collection.  I cut a solid back in white and stuck the blue filigreed panel on top.  Next I added back in die 3 from the set to cut the perfect centre to the panel.  I repeated this with another frame and rotated them together adding them together with faom tape.

I added strip of bluebird double sided satin ribbon across the white panel and aded the frames on top.

I stamped the thank you sentiment from my lily of the valley everyday sentiments set onto white card.  I cut it oust using one of the circle dies form the frames and tags collection although you could easily cut this by hand.  I mounted it offset on black circle and added it in the centre o the card with a messy bow made with white and bluebird ribbon.

I added the whole piece to an embossed panel, with the jacobean floral folder, in blue with pearl lustre metallic gilding polish over the top which picks out the embossed areas and alters the colour.


A few pearls in all 3 sizes ( 3mm, 5mm and 8mm) in white and some layers of blue, white and black to balance the stamping and finished.

Enjoy...

Holly Gemini...

Happy Sunday,

Another of my samples from the release of Sue Wilson's fabulous new Festive Die Collection.  I have a real love for the gemini dies so this had to be one of the first dies I picked up and had to play with. The brilliant thing about the gemini is that you get a centre cutting line as well as 2 different sides or edges. This enables you to make so many different detailed die cuts.

I stared this card by cutting a piece of gold pearl card to 51/4 inches.  I then cut the top section of the gemini, without the cutting edge, across the top.  Next I cut the bottom die in the set across the bottom of the strip of card, again without the cutting edge, this gives you the gold panel which has all the detail across the top and bottom leaving the centre panel.

I repaid the die cuts on a scrap of brunswick green card and embossed each die cut.  I smoothed Gold Treasure Metallic Gilding Polish which brings out the raised pattern.  I then cut the poinsettia and the individual holly spray out and added these above the gold panel.  Finally for this part I added Phill Martin's vintage Berry PVA dimensional glue on the ends of the swirls.

I used the centre cutting die to cut a white panel that fits exactly the lines in the lower panel ( Hope that makes sense)  I then tied a piece of candy striped ribbon across the front.

I cut a selection of die cuts for the centre and added the warmest wishes cut in gold in the centre.

For the background I embossed a piece of bright white foundation card with the let it snow A4 embossing folder.  I smoothed Gold Treasure metallic gilding polish over the top and added a PVA pearl in the centre of each snowflake.

Finally a bow and a couple of stick pins for the centre and a few layers pf gold and white.

Enjoy...

For Barbara...

Happy Monday,

I have promised that I would blog this card to a lovely lady called Barbara that I met at Inspirations in Preston, I'm so sorry its taken so long to blog.  I made this card as one of my Design Team cards for Creative Expressions however with changes to the blog It didn't get posted in time!

I stared by cutting  a strip of card the same width as the Dorado Gemini die.  I then cut the filigree and bottom cutting edge form this strip and offset it on a piece of rich plum cut using just the cutting edge.

Next I cut 2 of the Milford Adornment twice in coconut white foundation card mounting them onto pieces cut in rich plum using just the outline die in the set.  I glued these to the top and bottom of a strip of the white I had stamped with the sentiment ( from my Daisy clear stamp set) in watering can archival.

To cover the join I cut a strip of double self adhesive pearl strips in two and placed one strip on each edge.

I also added a bow of thin matching ribbon in the raisin and white collars adding a pearl in the centre.

To finish I scored a piece of the coconut white on my score pal and added this to the bottom making yup the finished card as shown.

Once again I'm sorry its taken a while but i hope this is ok Barbara!

Enjoy...