Scheduled...

Happy Tuesday,

I have called this post scheduled as for the remainder of the week all my posts have been scheduled ahead of time.  This is because I am appearing in the local Am Dram performance of Sweet Charity this week (hope you got your ticket Val! lol)

Therefore all posts have been premade and written, today is the technical rehearsal so I am already absent!  Now writing a detailed description for each card and creation in one go is very time consuming and I am really running short on time(sorry I know this is an excuse I make a lot lately but Fridays post will clarify the reason for this!)

What I have decided to do, and I would love to hear whether you like it or not, is to put an ingredients list with each card and creation (just like a proper recipe)


The idea is that hopefully the list of items or ingredients I used to make a card may help you should you want to make something similar.  I am more than happy for people to copy the gist of my cards and make their own versions!

Ingredients:
First Edition Neroli Paper
Spellbinders French Harmony die
Hobbycutz wooden laser cut wreath
Marianne rose and leaf die set
DoCrafts sentiment stamp
Burgundy smooth PMD card
Grosgrain ribbon.



 I hope you all like the new recipe idea and that, as always, you,

Enjoy...

Hobbycutz Sunday

Happy Sunday,

Today's card is my inspiration for the hobbycutz Design Team and this weeks challenge is Vintage.  Now there was a time when I loved distressing however I seem to have moved away from this so far that this was a real struggle for me.  I started by choosing the papers first which is not my usual modus operandi however I feel it worked on this occasion.


I chose a blush pink, a darker shade of core'dinations cardstock and an off white and started building!

I started by die cutting 3 of the ovals from spellbinders new oval set in the three colours, then distressed them and added the beautiful wooden laser cuts from Hobbycutz, click HERE to visit the shop.

The background for this one is quite interesting I have continued my exploration of masks with two techniques ion this card.  The first square is made by embossing the mask onto the core'dinations cardstock and sending the resulting piece.  The larger background is made by simply inkling through the die and repeating the pattern

This weeks theme is Vintage so if you fancy winning some beautiful laser cuts of your own click HERE to enter the challenge or to see what the rest of the Design Team have come up with, probably more vintage than me but I gave it a go!

Enjoy...

HobbyCutz Sunday

Happy Sunday,

Today sees my return to creating the inspiration for my place on the hobbycutz design Team.  I´m afraid I have been AWOL for the last month due to the team changes and the schedule moving from weekly to 2 weekly!  Well I have been set a challenge this week as the theme is GLITTER !!!! not something I use a great deal of so I was stuck for quite a while until i remembered the technique of die cutting and glittering in the apertures.  Therefore after some playing this card was born!

I started by die cutting three of the sections from Spellbinders Adorning Squares into white card.  Next I used a double sided adhesive sheet from 3L which I stuck to another piece of white card, I removed the top layer and stuck the die cut piece down
.  The gaps are then glittered with a lovely pale blue glitter, a gift form Mrs Duck, before being mounted onto charcoal glitter card.


The remainder of the card is simply a gate fold with layers of pale blue, white and charcoal glitter card before the glittered piece was foam mounted, to one side only, at an angle.

 The centre panel was then decorated with some hobbycutz laser cut pieces which i gently dusted with mica powder to add to the glittery look.

This weeks challenge is sponsored by Sassy Studios and there are some great prizes on offer so Click HERE to enter or see what the rest of the design team have come up with, probably more glittery than me!


Enjoy

HobbyCutz Sunday!

Happy Sunday,

Sorry today's post is late guys however I was waiting for this weeks hobbyctz challenge to go live!  This weeks challenge is shaped cards and I had a hankering to see what the trellis die from Tonic would look like cut as a filigree card so here it is...












I cut the card base using the die to cut through two layers of cardstock from PMD however I left the cnetre section whole.

I stamped dream in the top right corner with versamark and dusted it with Gold Mica powder (set with Hairspray as I have been asked a few times)

Next i dusted a selection of wooden laser cuts from Hobbycutz with the same mica to give the wood a lovely sheen.  I added a few bronze gems around the foliage and on the butterfly.

Finally I added a few of the gems in the spaces on the die cut card base and finished, a little dark but hopefully the filigree spaces make it a little lighter.

The hobbycutz challenge is open to everyone and this weeks theme is shaped cards so get creating and entering! You may even win one of the prizes from our spaonsors.


To see what the rest of the design Team have created then click here!  

Hobbycutz Sunday

HI All,

Today its my turn to create a card for the design team inspiration for the hobbycutz challenge.  This week its a photo inspiration using the below picture....

and this is what I came up with.....

This card is made using a sircle die from Tonic which I got as another Ebay Bargain (I love it after christmas as people have craft room clearouts!)  I started by handcutting a 18 x 18 cm card blank then die cutting a circle from the centre.  Next I cut a sheet of My Minds Eye paper, in the appropriate colours 1cm smaller round each edge and with a larger circle in the centre.  This was mounted onto a piece of the violet card and foam mounted onto the card ( before adding a little lilac chalk ink to distress the edges)

I then added the topper which is the die cut circle,again, distressed in the chalk ink and dressed with roses and distressed butterflies (spellbinders Les Papilions 2) with a few hobbycutz laser cut foliage pieces tucked in to give contrast.

The laser cuts have been embellished with pearled embossing powder, these were made using the triple embossing technique which, in real life and not photo's, gives them a depth and beautiful shine.



The sentiment is a simple hand-cut banner in the same papers stamped with DREAM again from Crafters Companion Sentimentals my current must haves!

Back to the challenge, to enter click HERE or to simply see what the rest of the design team have come up with to inspire....

Enjoy...

Keeping it Simple...

Happy Wednesday,

On Monday I posted a very CAS card and got some really great reviews and comments, my favourite was from Wendy who said she liked it but it was very not my style.  Now whilst I love to spend hours arranging and twisting die cuts into elaborate toppers I also love a clean, simple and balanced lines.

I went into the craft room on Monday night with the intention to make an antidote to the simple card however everything looked very OTT so I made this simple effort instead!

This is made with Kraft cardstock and PMD cream pearl cardstock.  This is a small card as it is based on Spellbinders Matting Basics A2 and Scalloped borders 2.

The flowers / leaves are wooden lasercuts form Hobbycutz

Enjoy...

Love is in the air!

Happy Sunday!


Today's is the launch of a new challenge at Hobbycutz and this weeks theme is LOVE or Valentines.  I have been hoarding this beautiful lasercut from Hobbycutz especially for valentines day ( same as I believe a certain Donna Pato is! lol)


This is my Inspiration for you all for the challenge using a range of Hobbycutz wooden lasercuts.  Now as all my regular followers know I love die cutting however there are some times when paper cuts just wont do what you want and that's where I find the wooden lasercuts perfect. For this card I used the word love and was able to gild it, using indigoblu Sheffield steel (well I am from Sheffield originally) and sanded it back a little to let the natural wood colour show through.

Next I added a few ting leaves in piles which is great with these as they have depth..

To look what the other DT members have made or to enter the challenge click HERE.

back to todays card I started by die cutting and embossing the red heart in red PMD Card-stock which i shaded using a white chalk ink-pad.  I mounted this onto a white layer hand cut and foam mounted onto the backing card.





The leaves were glued on to the side and over the bow with a few red gems and the lasercut LOVE on top.

This weeks challenge is sponsored by  The Paper Shelter and there are prizes so click over to enter.

Enjoy...

Hobbycutz Challenge Sunday

Happy Sunday Guys!




Its my turn for the Hobbycutz Challenge DT again, this week the challenge is a sketch!  Here is the sketch...




and here is my creation, a little different for me as I would call it Clean and Simple.

Can I mention as well that we are looking for new members of the Hobbycutz Design Team all you need to do is add DT after your name on your challenge entry this week.  It would be great to see some of you fabulous craters joining me on this Fab team!

This weeks challenge winner will receive a $15 gift certificate from Whimsey stamps, a company whose stamps I use all the time!

Click HERE to see what the other Design Team members have come up with or to enter!

Enjoy...

Something Borrowed...

Happy Thursday!

One of the major benefits of living next door to a crafter is the ability to borrow, todays card is made with a die I borrowed form Wendy next door.  Now she purchased this die when I was with her in the local craft shop however she spotted it first denying me the chance to purchase, since then I had forgotten it however when we again went to our local craft shop last week I remembered it and asked to borrow it.  This card is made using the borrowed die and some Core´dinations cardstock I bought whilst I was there.

I started by cutting, embossing and sanding the central panel using the aforementioned Sizzix iron gate die.  I mounted this onto a sheet of acetate and hand cut a cream frame so that the central piece appeared to be floating.

The sentiment panel is cut using Spellbinders fancy tags one which again I cut, embossed and sanded however I layered these in the centre usingf foam tape for dimension.  I managed to find a matching ribbon in my burgeoning collection and tied this down the side with a double bow (hand tied Mrs Duck!!) This was finished with a Hobbycutz lasercut butterfly and the everpresent pearl.

Not my usual Colours but I actually like it, me Peach what has 2014 come to!!

Enjoy...

Hobbycutz all wrapped up!

Happy Sunday,



Todays is HobbyCutz challenge time, click here to join us there are some great prizes on offer!

Here is my design Team inspiration for the challenge this week the theme is all wrapped up and so, using a beautiful Hobbycutz Peace laser cut, I've made a box (surprise |Surprise!)

I needed something to gift my crackers form yesterday in and so I made this...






This is a simple box at 16cm x 16cm and 4cm deep.  I cut a square aperture in the front, edged it in pearls and added the laser cut, and gilded, Peace topper and complete. 

I thought these would make perfect gifts for the girls at work and my boss with a few of my handmade Baileys chocolate fudge inside.

Click HERE to see what the rest of the design team have made, or to join in the challenge!

Enjoy...

Back to Normal(ish)

Happy Monday,

After a week that seems to have flown in a flurry of work, flights and airport runs, unpacking etc. I have finally had a day to catch up on my blogging.  Now I have only managed an hour or so in my craft room so todays crafty creation is rather quickly put together.  I thought I would show a few pictures of our holiday as well.

When we got to Barcelona we were filled with dred when we thought this was our ship!  Thankfully it wasn't this ferry, neither was it the below pirate ship (no Jokes Mrs D!)

I have to say that we haven't had a holiday in over 4 years so we were determined to get the most out of this one.  That seemed to translate into lots of snoozing on sunbeds and lots and lots of eating!  we even managed to invent a new meal between dinner and supper which we nicknamed Sinner!









Back to today's creation I thought I should make a card that shows off the chandelier I showed yesterday better.  This was made by sticking 2 laser cuts from Hobbycutz together and painting it gold.  I hope this is clearer than yesterdays!

Ita, who I sincerely hope is recovering! asked what die did I use for the aperture.  I will be showing this in better details later in the week so I'm saying no more for now.

Enjoy...

Create a Scene, Hobbycutz Challenge

Happy Sunday!



Its challenge time again at the fabulous HobbyCutz challenges, here is my Design Team inspiration for this weeks challenge create a scene.  Click HERE to see what the other Design Team members have created or to enter the challenge!

This is a large card made with a sheet of A3 PMD hammered cardstock folded into three with a 5cm spine in the middle to give space for the scene.

The scene inside, picture further on, is a chandelier made with 2 HobbyCutz laser cuts glued together with gold gems.  There is a cone Christmas tree next to this which is difficult to see.

You can just see the tree peeping out in this picture.


Finally this last shot shows the scene without the front.  It would be great to see some of you enter this week!

For now...

Enjoy...

Inspired by a Song!

Happy Sunday,

I'm sorry but the Christmas bug seems to have (finally!) bitten me, three Christmas posts in a row. 

Todays offering is my Design Team inspiration for Hobbycutz Challenge, this week the challenge is "Inspired by a Song!"  I decided to use the beautiful laser cut wreath from Hobbycutz, click HERE to be transferred to the shop, and decorated it with the legend The Holly and The Ivy.

I started by covering the laser cut with gilding flakes in a simple gold and decorating the side with die cut holly and, of course, Ivy.

I cut both of these using Joanna Sheen signature dies which I cut in two shades of green alternately inked with white chalk ink and a dark green distress ink.  I shaped the leaves with a large ball tool to give them some movement.  I will, hopefully, be making a video on shaping leaves and foliage when my camera Crew returns for her cruise.

This weeks challenge is sponsored by Hobbycutz with some great prizes, click HERE to enter the challenge or to see what the rest of the DT have come up with!

Enjoy...

Hobbycutz Sunday

Happy Sunday all!

Firstly I want to say how grateful I am for the response to my first video tutorial!  So many of you seemed to enjoy it Hopefully it will be the first of many! 

I perhaps should explain the time delay in thanking you all, the issue at the moment is that due to the pressures of work (the summer season here hasn´t ended yet and so far there's little sign of it calming down before Christmas)  The remainder of my time I seem to spend crafting, therefore I write all my blog posts for a week in 2 batches, one set on Sunday, one on Saturday night.  Therefore I have a few days in hand ready to go.  This is why, sometimes, I don´t reply immediately on my blog!  I read every comment posted and genuinely value all comments of every contributor where I can I reply however any questions please use the email me button at the top of my page!  Thanx to the magic of Ipads and I phone Email usually reaches me, including your comments, instantly.

That said todays creation is for my DT spot on Hobbycutz, this weeks challenge is Home Décor (not a card) and can be anything you wish.  Once again the challenge carries an extra prize for anyone using Hobbycutz products.  I have made a wall hanging / clock using some of their wooden laser cut cogs along with some form my Sizzix Cogs Die.

All of these have been embellished in different  ways with alcohol inks, embossing powders and even a few gilding flakes here and there.  I wanted to show how you can really go to town on the laser cut shapes, as they are made of wood they are very sturdy.

This big cog (see picture) has had several layers of embossing powder added to give the distressed verdigris look.  The cog above has been treated in the same way however I added micro fine clear glitter to the last firing!  I thought this technique would be good for Christmas (note to self must try this)

The clock face is another Sizzix die and is weathered clock by Tim Hotz, one of the first dies I bought a couple of years ago, well before I got into the spellbinders filigree delight route I seem to be on at the moment.

I know this really isn't to everyone's taste but I certainly enjoyed creating it!

To join in the challenge or see what the other design team members have created, click HERE or to see the marvellous range of laser cuts click HERE.

Enjoy....

Recycled...

Happy Monday,

Todays card / creation has been recycled from a card I posted last month.  Sometimes I will like a card I have made but see something different in it, that's what happened in this one.  Click HERE to see the original.  I liked this card but felt, when I bought the new Joanna Sheen ivy die, that it would work with just a little gold and the orientation changed to portrait.

I have to be honest I love this card, the depth and layers along with the colours are really me, I have to admit though that I am very disappointed as this was so hard to photograph and it honestly does not do the card justice.

The centre butterfly is a wooden laser cut from Hobbycutz which I gilded with a mix of gold and silver gilding flakes.

Enjoy....

Hobby Cutz has gone all Spooky

Happy Sunday,

Todays challenge over at Hobbycutz is a Halloween themed extravaganza!  This weeks design Team inspiration are all featuring some beautiful backing papers from our sponsor http://bmd-creations.blogspot.com.es/.  Here is my take on a Halloween goody bag using both the baking paper from Barely Mine and some fabulous Pumpkin laser cuts from Hobbycutz.

This weeks challenge is, of course, Halloween click here to see what the design team have come up with and to entre the challenge.

This creation is made in the same way as on this post and this tutorial click through to see how this was created!  To decorate the front I have used the beautiful pumpkin laser cuts which I have inked and embossed to the right colour.



Enjoy...

Commissions

Happy Today!

Todays post is a commission for a Friend, this card was changed at the last minute for his wife a few weeks ago as he knew she liked it and asked me to add the word wife (click on the link to see the card I'm talking about!).  She loved it so much she asked it I could make a version for her Mother In Law (I just had to make sure it was not as big as hers! lol)  For this one I made a box as well as this has to be posted back to the U.K.

The next day she asked if I could also make a card for her daughter to send so that no card was better than the other, don't you love family's! 

Therefore I made this card in her daughters favourite colours of Lilac and Blue / Turquoise.

This card was made using a backing paper from My Minds Eye.  The flowers are from the U.K. (the works for £1)  The flower image is stamped and is from an old Anna Griffin stamp set.  For this one I actually watercolour'd the flowers by hand, something I rarely do.

This one also had to have a box to post.

here's a few more pics just because.

Enjoy...