Be Spellbound...

Happy Monday,

I thought it was time I share some sneak peaks of the Hochanda shows I have starting at 8pm on Wednesday evening with Spellbinders.  I have been able to select some of my favourite Amazing Grace design spellbinders dies for the One Day Special and thought I would share a couple of the samples I have made to demo.

I'm starting with this set I have made using the Classic Elegance tall pocket die by Bekka Feeken for spellbinders.

For this sample I teamed it with the Rose Blooms pinpoint embossing folder which is now Back in stock after selling out really quickly when first launched.  For the cover I have simply shaded over the design with Min Cosmic Shimmer Metallic Gilding Polish.

For the set I decided to make a note let set using the fabulous Card, envelope and liner set which makes these fab envelopes and matching note let cards I have made fun Sue Wilson's Classic Elegance paper pad.  I have added a collage of some of the inserts from this set.

Next is a card I made using the dies from the same One Day Special set I love the way that these dies can be used in so many different ways  A set that will make envelopes, Cards as well as more complex cards, pockets and flourishes.

Ingredients:

Dies - Spellbinders Classic Elegance tall Pocket

Spellbinders Crossing Crescent

Spellbinders Card, Envelope and Liner set

Card - Foundation card Blue Dusk, Steel, Coconut White

Sue Wilson Classic Elegance Paper Pad

Enjoy...

Review of the year 2...

Happy Wednesday,

Here we are with the second part of my Review of the year and this time we reach spring into summer with April, May and June.

I chose this as my favourite form April the card I made for Sali using kitchen fool!  Click HERE to see how this card was made.

Over to May and this creation using Sue Wilsons elegant paper pad and my sentiment stamps.  Click here to see how this card was made.

Finally for today we travel to June and this creation with the lattice frame all my blog family will know my love of a good lattice and this was no exception it also features my favourite Periwinkle blue so a double win!  Click HERE to see how this card was made.




Don't for get to tell me which card you preferred!

Enjoy...

Midnight in steel...

Happy Tuesday,

Another card made using the Pacific ocean collection today and a few more shots of my Christmas Decorations at the bottom.

I cut the inner die form the lotus striplet into a piece of midnight pearl foundations card and mounted it onto steel pearl foundation card.

I then cut dies 1, 2 and 3 in steel and midnight card and backed them with the alternate colour.  I mounted them over a set of the double stitched flags cut again in alternate colours.


Where the frames meet a new diamond pattern shows which gives the perfect frame for the flags alternating colours.  I added a crystal flower in the centre and a few l;ayers of midnight and steel.

Finally a few more pictures of my chroistm,as decorations.  I have to admit I really like the wreath and the ivy over the Stags Head ( a precut stack from DCWV)

Enjoy...

Sunlit Daisies...

Happy Wednesday,

I'm running my regular monthly workshop at Breedon Priory today we are making 4 christmas cards today with a variety of techniques!  I thought today I would share another card made using the new stamps to die for designed to match the Sue Wilson new release of dies.

This card uses the new Sunlit daisies stamp which matches the stunning Mauritius die set form the indian ocean collection.  I stamped the image in watering can archival ink and as with yesterdays card coloured it using my alcohol markers.  I then cut this out using the outline die.  I also cut 2 more in taupe and chestnuts foundation card.  I also used the centre die to make the piece into a frame.  I stamped the sentiment and cut this with an oval die form a previous set.

For the main card I cut the new lattice die in chestnut and added a frame of double pierced background rectangles.  A large bow and dazzler in a brass dazzler setting to finish.

I made up the card as shown with, as usual, lots of layers of white, taupe and chestnut!

Enjoy...

Wonderful Birthday...

Happy Monday,

I really thought i'd blogged this card but I cant find it so hopefully it hasn't escaped me lol

I started this by making a full sheet of the stitched lattice by cutting the stitched lattice background into an 8 x 8" square piece of bright white foundation card.  I slotted the die back into the last row and cut again and repeated this until I had covered the whole panel.  I the  cut a set of frames using white and peach foundation card using the double pierced squares set A and B foam mounted above the panel.

For the centre element i stamped the circle frame from my Larkspur elements clear stamp set adding the sentiment from the same set in the centre.  I coloured the flowers using my alcohol pens in shades of yellow and light orange and placed this in the centre.  I backed the lattice panel using a set of mats and layers using yeah and bright white.

I then stamped some of the separate Larkspur flowers form the stamp set, coloured them in the same shades and hand cut them out.  The larger flower join the bottom corner is made by stamping the main flower then stamping the inner flower ( which is a separate stamp in the set) and foam mounted this on top to create dimension.

I added the flowers on top of the Ivy Leaves cut in white and added a stick on pearl in white in the centre of each flower.

A simple card that is hopefully elegant and clean yet relatively simple to do even if like me your colouring is not 100% lol

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...

A taste of Japan?!?...

Happy Wednesday,

In keeping with the theme of using a die form the previous day i seem to be doing this week todays card again uses one of the dies form yesterdays project.  This is a planned demo so you may have to wait to find out how the background was made but theres nothing stoping you form trying!

I cut the background and added white and black panels at different depths ( using additional layers of foam tape).

I made a frame using the double pierced rectangles set a and mounted black, red and white to make the larger card.

I cut the Exquisite poppies dies using the three largest dies in the set in rich red foundation card.  I shed these using my stamping mat and a ball tool and shaded the edges using black archival ink and a mini smoothie.  I cut the centres from black foundation card, shaped them with my ball tool and aded these in the centre with a 3mm stick on black pearl.

I mounted these over a spray of ivy leaves made using the Sue Wilson ivy die from the finishing touches collection in brunswick green foundation card.

A very Japanese card?

Enjoy...

More Black and White...

Happy Tuesday,

Another card using the Gillain Frames and tags die today bit hopefully completely different from yesterdays!

I stared this by cutting the tiled square mini striplet 5 times across a piece of gloss black foundation card. I spaced these so that they were even across the page by putting 2 pieces of removable tape equidistant across the page then ling the die up to these for each cut.  I foam mounted this over a panel of coconut white foundation card.

I stamped the Sweat Leaves stop to die for in black archival ink twice onto coconut white and cut them out.  Next I folded these into quarters and cut each image in one place to the centre.  I then taped the 2 die cut together at the back and folded it to circle.  Next I cut the centre die from gillian in black and added this in the centre to hold the folds in place finishing with a 5mm stick on pearls.  I added cosmic shimmer dries clear glue to the edges of the stamped die cut and added diamond snow to 'frost' the edges.

To make up the card I used the largest 2 dies in the stitched lattice die set to make the white frame which I foam mounted over the triplet background.  I stamped the sentiment, from my Lily of the Valley elements clear set in black archival ink and cut it out using the smallest die in the pierced flags die set.  I added a thin mat of the black and again frosted the edges with glue and diamond snow.

A few layers of black and white and finished.

Enjoy...

More Circle Frames...

Happy Monday,

There may be some quick posts over the next couple of weeks as I am in the process of moving!  The Craft cave is, of course, being moved and laid out first however with the usual WiFI issues involved in moving I have scheduled a lot of the posts over the next couple of weeks Ill pop in whenever I can and your emails go straight to my phone, as well as all comments as soon as they are received, I will still be able to answer questions and read all the wonderful comments my blog family leave me everyday!

Back to Today and I cant believe I haven't blogged this one, apologies If I have but I cant find it, this is a card I made a good few weeks ago for my demo day at Crafters Companion and I believe I left it with them to be displayed in their Newton Ayecliffe store.

I have to admit its a different colour scheme for me but I do feel we have to push ourselves sometimes!  I stared buy cutting a series of frames using the double pierced circles by Sue Wilson for Creative Expressions.  I then used the waste circles from the centre to make the other panels.  I cut the Gillian outline die in one of the whole circles. Next I cut the detail Gillian die form a primrose circle I cut the centre from the Gillian die in a white circle and finished with the last, smallest, yellow circle.

I foam mounted each of these panels above each other then added the frames.

I added this to a panel embossed with the sea garden embossing folder embossed whilst in the largest double pierced square die.  Whilst in the die I shaded the embossed portion using fresh grass colour cloud blending ink.  A set of pearl corners and a few layers of white and primrose finishes the base card.

I cut the requisite poppies in primrose foundation card, shaped them with a ball tool and shaded the flowers with more of the colour cloud.  I added centre cut and shaped in primrose and added a pearl in the centre.

I arranged the flowers around the frame and a smaller set around the Gillian die cur using the olive branch die cut in pastel green foundation card.

A few stick on pearls (5mm) and finished.

Enjoy...

Christmas Friday...

Happy Friday,

I thought i'd blogged this card however i think i popped it on Facebook!  I have to admit that whilst this was originally designed as a Christmas card I would send it all year.

I stare by stamping the scripted rose background stamp using crimson kiss colour cloud I then shaded the stamped image to give the cloudy effect.  I cut this and mounted it onto a piece of white then antique gold foundation card.

For the wreath I sprayed water onto  piece of watercolour card and added candy pink and rich gold pixie powder and allowed it to spread creating the beautiful marbled pattern. Next I stamped the medium and smallest roses from my Christmas rose elements clear set.  I then cut these out with the matching dies and shed them on my stamping mat with a ball tool.

Next I cut the rose leaves from the same die set in antique gold card.  I arranged the leaves around a circle cut with the double pierced dies and arranged the roses over the spaces.


I simply mounted the wreath, with from tape, over the stamped background. I added cosmic shimmer dries clear glue in the centre of each rose and added gold microbeads.





I added a bow made form reversible pink satin ribbon and gold twine from my stash with a couple of Tim Holtz Christmas muse tokens on the end of each of the gold twine bow.


To make up the card I embossed a panel of white card with the star swirls embossing folder and shaded it lightly with more of the crimson kiss colour cloud.  A few layers of white and gold and finished.

Enjoy...

Die cutting Essentials...

Happy Thursday,

I meant to blog this a couple weeks ago but again time and show schedules got the better of me!  This is the card I made for the latest edition of die cutting essentials using the exclusive die designed by Sue Wilson for the magazine.  As you know Sue loves the configurations dies and I love the usefulness of these.  For this card I only used the free die although I did have to cut it 18 times lol

Full instructions on this card can be found in the magazine along with cards by Sue Wilson, Julia Watts and Tracey Laughton.

The only dies I have added are the centre ovals and the peony cluster used to centre the card.

a few more shots in case you want o work out how this one was made.  I have to admit its a classic me card as Mrs Duck would say so should be easy to emulate lol

Enjoy...

Teal and Black...

Happy Tuesday,

Another sample form the shows a couple of weeks ago using the brilliant teal foundation card which I am always forgetting about! i love the way this works so well with the black and white a great way to revitalise black and white.

I stared by cutting the triple gemini die in order on teal, then the outline and detail in white with a black mat cut with just the outline.  Next I cut the first three dies in a piece of white and finished with the last outline in a further piece of teal.











I trimmed each piece of card making each piece slightly thinner to create the layers.

for the focal element I cut the bruges die in white and backed it with black.  next i layers up the detail dies in the set finishing with the stamped sentiment from my nasturtium everyday sentiments.

I finished with layers of teal black and an embossed layer of white.  I added black stick on pearls at the edges and used a couple of strips of teal and black seam binding to balance the bow.

enjoy...