The Long and short of it...

Happy Tuesday,

A card from the Atlantic ocean today would you guess that this is made with a square background die?

I started by cutting the background into bright white foundation card twice.  I then cut these in the middle to give me four pieces ( 2 left and 2 right)

I took 2 piece and using the pattern as a guide I merged 2 piece to make a small rectangular piece.  Next I added the 2 other pieces behind this, with mounting cushion, so that it appears that the background goes all the way across behind the piece.  I hid the joint on the front panel using a strip of white satin ribbon from my stash with a bow added at the bottom finished with a white crystal embellishment.

Next I cut both of the atlantic tag duo frames et one in primrose one in white and backed them with the alternate colour.  I mounted these on top of each other, rotated so that the pattern shows on each tag, stamped with the sentiment.

To finish I added double pearl strips in white down the edges of all the background pieces and added layers of copper pearl and primrose foundation card.  I also added an embossed layer of white embossed with the raindrops 8x8" embossing folder and a couple of frosted hat pins to highlight the front.

Enjoy...

Silver Megan...

Happy Monday,

A little silver and coconut white number today made for a recent show on hochanda to highlight the Beauty of the Megan die.

I started by cutting the outline and detail die in the Megan frames and tags set three times in silver pearl foundation card.  I backed these with bright white and arranged these in the panel as shown.

I then cut the centre section from the die in silver and added the white centre die over the top.  I arranged these along the sides with one in the centre.  I added this to a piece of coconut white embossed with the illusion A4 embossing folder and added silver metallic gilding polish to highlight the design.

Finally I added strips of adhesive pearls ( from the double strips cut down so much more economical)

Enjoy...

Spring Basket...

Happy Thursday,

Yet another sample from my shows starting tomorrow night at 8pm on Hochanda ( Freeview channel 85, sky 663 or online at www.hochanda.com.  This uses the stunning Easter basket which as you can see from the card can be used as a flat or raised basket on a card as well as a 3D basket.

I made this card to show how the basket works flat here just cut in antique copper pearl foundation card.

I stared by cutting the Gemma die into a 5" square of foundation card twice using just the detail die in the set.  The brilliant thing about the frames and tags collection is that they are perfect for making smaller cards and can be layered to  make the larger Mantelpiece pleasers.  I cut the next 2 dies in the set in the pearl card and added these in the centre of the die cut white pattern before adding this to a larger mat of the copper.

Next I added the basket front as I said above this die has been designed to work this way I will demo how this cleverly folds on my Hochanda show on Friday and Saturday.

Finally I added the flowers and foliage from the spring foliage set which cuts the beautiful leaves as well as 2 different styles ion flowers.  I added these as aspire on the front of the basket with 3mm pearls as the flower centres.  I finished with a few mats and layers in the white, copper and Primrose foundation card.  A bow cut with the die in the Easter basket with another flower and pearl finishes the card at the top of the basket.

I have loads more samples of this die to share with you all on the shows which start tomorrow evening at 8pm.

Enjoy...

Infinity Heart...

Happy Monday,

Its ny last say in Scotland and I have had a fab time I will definitely be back at some point!  For today I thought I would share this card made with the fab jewelled heart and the infinity striplet.

I started this by cutting the infinity strip let across the top and bottom of a pice of bright white foundation card.  The triplet has three panels so I extended each cut by slipping the striplet back into the design further along to make a 5 panel cut.

I then cut the jewelled heart from silver shine pearl foundation card.  I added one of the Heart Treat cos that have been made to fit the heart die range which I filled with some sweet hearts and ice flake glitter jewels.

I mounted the heart above a set of stitched flags cut and layered behind.  finished with a messy seam binding bow, heart embellishment and silver linx.

Enjoy...

Simple Lattice...

Happy Tuesday...

After yesterdays opulent card I thought I would share a simpler card today made using the Bora Bora die and the scalloped lattice die.

To start I cut the lattice die over a sheet of vanilla pearl foundations card slotting the die back in to repeat the pattern.  I then used the hexagonal die from the set into this to cut an aperture.

I cut the outline and detail die from the Bora Bora set in ivory pearl foundations card and backed this with vanilla.  I then cut the centre out using the hexagonal die in the set.


 I adhered this over the aperture cut in the background.  Next I used the centre die form the Fiji set and cut this into a piece of blue dusk foundation card and foam mounted the top piece over this.  I the  added a layer of ivory cut with the final die in the Fiji set foam mounted this behind and added stick on pearls in 3m and 5mm,

To kale up a the card I made a set of frames using vanilla and ivory and the noble double pierced dies set A and B and added layers of the colours used to make yup the card as shown!


Enjoy...

Vintage Friday...

Happy Friday,

Its that time of the week again and this week Ive selected some of the dies from the Californian Collection I seem to be following the relates at the moment as this was the third collection form Sue Wilson's first release of dies for Creative Expressions!  I have loved playing with this collection and can see so many great ideas in it so you may see this collection popping up more!

I stared by cutting the background twice into a piece of vanilla pearl foundations card slotting the die back into the design to continue it as a square.  I cut the centre out with the Beverly hills die and mounted this over midnight blue pearl foundations card.  I do think it was when i bought this background die and cut out for the first time that I really feel for Sue's designs!

Next I cut the first three dies form the Beverly hills die in vanilla and backed it with midnight.  I foam mounted this above background to create depth.  I added a label from one of the other sets ( sorry not sure which one at time of writing) cut in vanilla in the centre and added s amped stitched flag coming form the aperture.

I cut all of the Faux Quilled blooms from midnight pearl card and the leaves ( from the same set) in vanilla and arranged these around the frame.

Finally I added a couple of stick pins made with the Stick Pin elements and added layers of the vanilla and midnight to make this 7.5 x 7.5" smaller than it looks, card!

Enjoy...

Black and Gold...

Happy Monday,

It's a black and gold card today made with the configurations dies.  I love the fact that these small dies can be used to make a whole large card just with a few cuts and layers!




I stared by cutting the Lattice Arched Adornment die twice in black gold card.  I added these to a strip of the back gloss that I had cut the detail pattern form the Caribbean collection border die into the centre.  I baked the centre with  antique copper pearl foundation card and added the whole pice too a layer of the antique gold pearl foundations card.

I then cut the detail and outer die from the caribbean accent tag ( which is included in the border set) twice in black gloss and backed one with copper and one with gold.  I rated these to make the pattern as shown and added these to the centre.

For the main card I cut a piece of black gloss with the swirl stripe edger at the top and the oval input die from the same set at the bottom.  I backed this with copper and added a larger mat of the gold.

Finally a few layers of gold, copper and black and finished.  I know this card really needs a sentiment but I do have a habit of making cards without so IU can add a sentiment when I decide who and what occasion I am sending it for!

Enjoy...

Christmas Friday...

Happy Friday,

well this is the second to last christmas friday for a while and I still have loads of cards to share.  I think I may have to have a christmas friday marathon next Friday to cover a few more off.

back to todays and I thought I would are the very first christmas card I made this year back in May, the festive dies arrived at the same time as the fabulous new Foundations Pearl card so I decided ti tie the two toegther and make this card using all three of the white shades along with a selection of the festive dies.

I stared with vanilla pearl card and cut the stare night background from this backing it with icicle pearl card to give a differential in shade.  Next I cut the country cottage set in uncle pearl and foam mounted these ( using quite a few layers) at the bottom of the background.

Next I adde cosmic white PVA dimensional glue as snow on the country cottage die cuts and added a piece of acetate and a frame cut with the stitched lattice shadow box die set.  I then added cosmic white PVA as snow on the acetate along with some of the stars that fall away from the background die cut.

Next I cut the poinsettia additions complete petals in vanilla pearl foundation card and added the open petals around these cut in ivory pearl.  I then cut the holly die in icicle pearl card and added theses around the farm to place the poinsettias.

This is a deep card but isn't that large so is probable best hand delivered!

Enjoy...

Clean and simple(ish)...

Happy Wedneady,

Another sample from this weeks shows today however a little bit off a departure with something Clean and simple looking.  I used the centres from the Pacific island collection to make this hexagonal design on the front.

I cut the largest hexagon form the Fiji shape into the ribbed white card ( an old Foundations card in white)  I then placed a panel of cobalt blue behind it.  I then cut the hexagon form the Bora Bora die into the blue card.  I then  placed a piece of the white ribbed card behind this and cut the centre die form the Tahiti die in the centre finishing with a final layer of the cobalt.

With the waste pieces from the first cuts I use the smaller hexagon die to cut a frame and mounted this onto the card fitting it with the original cart as shown.

I repeated these steps wit the other dude cut pieces adding more layers to the top and centres making each hexagon design different.  I trimmed off thyme excess form the edges and mounted the piece on a couple of layers of the cobalt and white.






A simple looking card with layers of depth made simply by the dies and pieces cut.

Enjoy...

Less simple Saturday...

Happy Saturday,

Today I am doing one of my last workshops of the year One left to go on the 12th December, I just wanted to mention that if you want me to demo or workshop near to you you need to get your local craft shop or group to email.

Back to today and this card features a colour of Pearl Foundations card and a couple of shades of Metallic Gilding Polish I haven't used nor taken on a show before ( early warning there is a new set of 3  colours on the show, Blossom, Silver Hessian and Silver)

I stared bu making a card blank with the Vanilla pearl card ( This will be demoed on the show) and then cut the detail dies numbers 1,3 and 5 from the Pacific Ocean background into the card front.

Next I cut a border strip using the Pacific Ocean border die to run across the front and used one of the tag dos set for the medallion at the front.

I then made a piece of shaded card that in my opinion looks a little like marble or granite using all three colours of the gilding polish.  I cut this to size and placed it on the back of the card blank who it shows through the filigree detail on the front.


I also used this card for the back go the Pacific Ocean tag on the front of the card.  I showed the border and the tag using the silver hessian which against the vanilla looks a coffee colour this is another gilding polish that has different colours depending on the base colour its like magic!

I covered a piece of white card with the blossom polish and cut the complete petals from the striped Nasturtium set in all three sizes.  I shaped these, ran silver hessian around the edges for shading and added a heart pearl in the centre before arranging them around the tag.

A simple coloured card that hopefully has a lot of effect!

Enjoy...

Be Eccentric now...

Happy Tuesday,

I promised my first sneak peak from the new range off Craft dies by Sue Wilson for Creative expressions today.  These will be featured in my One Day Special which starts this Sunday this card is the very first I made when I received my dies it just seemed to leap into my mind as soon as I saw the edger and the Tahiti die.


I started by cutting the lattice edger across the top and bottom of a piece of wisteria foundation card.  Next I added one of the edges that comes with the set and cut this on each end. I studded the lattice and the points on the edge with cosmic pearl PVA dimensional glue.

Next I cut the outline die ( number1) form the Tahiti die set.  I then cut dies 2 and 3 from white and dies 4 and 5 from another layer of wisteria.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre of a further layer of the white and foam mounted each layer above the next.

For the striped nasturtiums I cut the complete petal die in pixie powdered paper ( made using Purple Violet and Midnight Blue pixie powders) I then cut the open striped petals ( both styles come in the set so perfect value).  I used some of the Creative Expressions stamens for the centres colouring the ends with indigo mist colour cloud blending ink).  I made up the flowers as shown using just one of each die cut for each separate flower and shaped these to make them look 3D and more realistic.  I arranged them on sprays of the Sue Wilson Ivy die cut in more of the white.

I added layers of the wisteria, white and added periwinkle blue for contrast and to balance the pixie powder flowers.  A few more pearl PVA dots and some white pearl corners and finished.

I have loads more samples and demo cards to show you every day until Sunday including a sneak peak tomorrow of the brand new Shaded nasturtium stamp designed to match the nasturtium die!

Enjoy...

Sneak Peak Tuesday...

Happy Tuesday,

I thought I would share a sneak peak of one of my demo cards from this weeks shows on Hochanda today.  I am launching the one day special tomorrow (Wednesday) evening at 8pm with the stunning dies by Sue Wilson.  This week I will be demoing what can be down with another selection of dies from the recent release that started with the Indian Ocean collection.

Today's card is one of the demos and features the Blossom edger, the stitched flags ( a personal Fave expect stop see these popping up all over the place in the coming weeks) and the doodle rose.

I stared by cutting the solid flower edger twice in the five colours, Lilac, Heather, Mauve, Amethyst and rich plum *( there is a card pack I have put together for the shows with these colours don't they blend beautifully)  I mounted these in colour order starting with dark to light to make the shaded flowers at the top and bottom of the strip.

Next I cut a wide strip of the lilac and cut the centre panel from the blossom edger at the top and bottom backing the piece with rich plum.

For the centre piece I cut a series of the stitched flags in the 5 colours and mounted the doodle rose wreath in the centre cut in rich plum backed with lilac.  Finally a sentiment stamped on the centre from the Charlotte die and finished.

Another sneak peak and a chance to win a card on tomorrow post!

Enjoy...

Foil seychelles...

Happy Thursday,

I hope you enjoyed yesterdays shows as much as I did!  Today I am demonstrating at the `hobby crafts show at the NEC on the Art of Craft stand.  Im there today and tomorrow so if you are going to the show why not pop by ands say hello!

Todays card was a demo I got to show the techniques from but didn't manage to make the complete card so Thought I would show it today.














I stared by making the background with the tin foil technique with a little change.  I spray glued the kitchen foil to a piece of foundation card then embossed it with the fantails embossing folder.  Next I added graphite gilding polish over the top which takes the shine off and makes the background look like old metal or pewter.



















Next I cut the indian ocean background into a piece of graphite pearl foundation card using die 1 and 2 in the set.  This makes the frame as shown once backed with icicle pearl card.

Next I cut the outline and detail die from the seychelles i graphite and backed it in the white again.  I repeated this to make 2 of the shapes and glued them together rotated them to make a square shape as shown.

Next I cut the centres form the Maldives and seychelles in white and graphite and foam mounted these in the centre.  I finished with an 8mm pearl in the centre and a messy bow with white seam binding.

Finally a few layers of graphite and icicle to emphasise the Art Deco feel of this card.


I will announce the winners form this weeks card giveaways tomorrow.


Enjoy.