Gelatos and butterflies

Good morning and welcome to the blog today.

I had a little spare time and unearthed another of my 'test' gelato pieces for a card. 

This particular background stamp and butterfly had a really thorough play time back in 2009!

They still remain favourite stamps today.

I wanted to try embossing resist with the gelatos and it works beautifully. 

I've used Hero Arts Grid Pattern and Heart Winged Butterfly stamps with a sentiment from Lili of the Valley.

I also used a narrow Cuttlebug embossing border with Hunkydory Black Adorable Scorable card stock. It cracked the surface but I liked the effect so kept it. 

The butterflies were stamped with Versafine Onyx Black ink and embossed with Marcasite embossing powder from Stamp n Stuff. 

The card stock for the background is water colour paper from a pad I bought in the Works.

I've used the gelatos to colour the sentiment and then edged it with Fired Brick distress ink.

The background panel is coloured also with gelatos in red and orange.

I just love the texture this technique gives.😃

Here is one of the 2009 versions. LOL x 

Have a good day and thank you for calling in. x

Crazy bird birthday card

Hello and welcome to the blog today.

I've been on a bit of a go slow over the holidays but I'm hoping to get started soon and back into the saddle,

I began by making a couple of birthday cards for my daughter and her hubby whose birthdays are just days apart.

I made Jan's using some of my Hunkdory stash (my guilty pleasure) but didn't take a pic.

David's was made using the hilarious Crazy Birds by Tim Holtz.

I just have to chuckle every time I use these stamps.

I scored an A4 sheet at 4" and 8" and folded over the excess to form a pocket for his gift voucher.

(His preferred gift - so I wasn't being lazy!) 😉

Products used - 

Tim Holtz Crazy Birds and accessories, matching die sets

Distress inks - Spiced Marmalade, Mustard seed, peeled paint

Tonic Nuvo Crystal drops - Ebony, white gloss

Sentiment - Set 61 Lily of the Valley

Kraft card - Craftwork cards

I've 3D'd the hat and tie and coloured all the elements using the distress inks.

I hope he likes it! 

Double pop up birthday card

Hi and welcome to the blog today.

I thought I would make a card showing Friday's diagram in operation.

I've made this wee birthday card for my darling grand daughter who will be one on Sunday.

I can't believe how fast the time has flown by.

She is a very special little lady with a smile that just melts my heart. :)

I've used Papermania Capsule card stock for the card with a little Papermill deep purple as my mats and layers.

The toppers are from LOTV, the sentiment is computer generated and the numeral is from the Tonic advent squeeze box.

The punched edge is Tonic's Victorian border.

Rectangular layers are also Tonic dies and I've used one of the tails from the bow sets for my sentiment banner. 

I've still to add a few decorative drops to the inside but they will have to wait until tomorrow. :)

The name is die cut from a very old Sizzix Sizzlet alphabet - Curly Girly from the days when an alphabet cost £80! How times have changed!

The pics below show the lines scored and folded and hopefully will better explain the diagram from Friday.

The insert was kept at 11.5" wide and I attached it to the main card base at 5/8" in from each side. Make sure to line up the centre lines and it should open and close with no bother. 

When you are gluing it (my pic is prior to gluing in case you think my measurements are well out!) just glue the edges and along the top and bottom make sure to leave the centre part free as this needs to move and bend. But you will know that already. :) 

Thank you for joining me today.

Have a great afternoon!

Happy Birthday card

 Good morning and welcome to the blog.

I have a card using the new Clarence Shutter dies from Tonic Studios to share with you today.

I went for a combination of hot pink and white to bring out the colours in the topper.

Tonic - Clarence Shutter die Set

Sentiment from Pansy Happy Birthday topper set

Topper - LOTV Art Pad 3

I wanted a straight edge for my centre panels so I reversed the die cut which gives an alternative look to the card.

The centre panel has been die cut four times using one of the small square accent dies from the set to give me a decorative panel and the topper itself has been cut out of the die to allow the flowers to peek over the edge.

I cut the larger rectangle panels into the sides and backed them with the pink card stock

The smaller squares were die cut separately and applied to the corners.

There are so many ways to vary the use of these dies and this is just one of them.

The sentiment from the Happy Birthday Pansy topper die set just fits perfectly on the top panel and I finished the card with a triple organza bow in hot pink. 

Hope you are enjoying your dies. Need inspiration? Check out the Tonic blog, Tonic Gold and the Tonic FB page for lots of ideas.

Have a good day!

A Chance to start Anew

 Good morning. Hope you are well.

I've another of the gorgeous Tonic die sets to share with you today.

I've made a shaped easel card and I have to say I just love this one. :)

Tonic - Deco Trellis for card base

Flora Frame for mat and leaves

Delicate Daisies

Crystal Drops - Buttermilk

Sentiment - LOTV

Papers - Dovecraft Garden Party

A sideways view to show the dimension

I kept the flowers very simple for this sample and cut them from the patterned paper. I think my favourite Crystal drops have to be the buttermilk and I've used them for the flower centres and embellishment on the card. 

Hope you enjoy this wee one today. 

Thank you for calling in, have a good day.

Just Because

Good morning. I hope you are well and coping with the snow and all that means in getting safely around.

Each day has seen new followers join me on my card making adventures and I just want you to know you are very welcome and thank you for taking the time to call in. :)

Today's card uses a Lili of the Valley topper from one of their Art Pads - set 27 'Beautiful Blooms'

Tonic - Deco Oval Trellis die base set

Just Because sentiment

Victoria embossing folder

LOTV topper

Aged mahogany distress ink

I double embossed the insert to match the card front but I didn't get time to take a pic of it I'm afraid but it did help finish off a very straightforward card and make it a bit more special. 

You can't get a simpler way to make a card than using a topper so don't think dies can't be used to enhance your stash of toppers. This one cut beautifully with the smaller matching die shape and it helps add a bit of interest as well. The edges have been coloured using the aged mahogany distress ink to help bring out the detailed pin prick edge of the die. No way could I sit and do that evenly all the way round! 

Have a good day and take care in the snow!

Strip Die cards

Good morning and welcome to the blog today.

It's the start of another very busy week but hopefully a productive one too.

I've two cards to share today featuring Tonic Studio's Splendid Screen and Beautiful Buckle strip dies.

I do hope you enjoy them. :)

Tonic - Splendid Screen; Royal Frame; Annabel embossing folder; Sentiment topper

My second card features the gorgeous Beautiful Buckle die set, Idyllics Diamond Trellis and Be Mine sentiment.

The centre image is a Lily of the Valley topper.

I added an extra fold either side of the centre so that I could fold the card to fit a DL envelope. 

I've also used the Beautiful buckle strip die on my envelope to co-ordinate it with the card.

A lot of  DL card envelopes have a diamond flap closure but I managed to find some beautiful double sided pearlised ones with a straight edge flap a while ago. Sadly I haven't been able to find them again. They are Conqueror envelopes and if anyone knows where I could find some I would be delighted! :)

Mini album and wrap

Hello and welcome!

It's staying dry here today thank goodness but we have heavy rain forecast for later. Just as well I've no plans to be out and about today then. :)

I have loved working with the new Tonic embossing folder and die sets and I think you might have guessed that the Jasmine Dream is a favourite.

I made this mini album using the dies but didn't want to put family pictures in as I'm not sure my family would appreciate being on TV so I chose a couple of my Lili of the Valley toppers instead.

I've used petal pairs punches for the flowers and the butterfly is from the Julia's Lily die set

The words are from the pillow box die and the Someone Special Affections insert die

The band is embossed using the folder from Jasmine Dream

I used the negative portion to act as a frame for my topper

I've cut the die into the card and left two decorative panels in the centre using hearts from the Affections range

The back of the project with the sentiment die in the centre.

You could of course make this much longer and include pics to suit your particular theme.

It's all about having fun. Enjoy!

Quick as a flash!

Welcome to Wednesday on the blog. I haven't had a lot of time to make cards this past week as I've been trying to get some knitting off the starting blocks. I hadn't allowed for my painful wrists and hands, so it's been a bit slower than I had anticipated. :( 

I bought some new needles etc but had to go and buy more. The metal needles weren't helping with the aches and pains so I've converted to wooden ones which are a little better. My daughter Karen is a superb knitter and only uses what I call 'cocktail' sticks for her knitting. I tried them out but couldn't quite get the feel for them, so it's back to full size ones for me. 

Oh the joys of getting older! It's not for wimps! :)

As a consequence of all this phaffing about I've only managed two super quick cards with my new Tonic dies. 

I've practically had to give up colouring so I'm using a topper from one of my golden oldie LOTV sets. 

The card was lying on my desk so that's why the colour schemes. I'm a bit fond of that dark red in case you haven't noticed. LOL

Tonic - Dotty Lace Circle dies

Spellbinder classic circles

Ribbon and resin flower from my stash

Sentiment - LOTV

Papermania gems

I've decorated the inside very simply with the dotty lace border punch

The second card was another quick one using Hunkydory toppers

Tonic dotty lace border punch

Amelia embossing folder - I found the folder too thick to go through my Sizzix Pro with the normal embossing folder sandwich so had to resort to using the Thin die adapter plate instead of one of the acrylic plates. It works quite well but was a bit of trial and error on my part.

Toppers and decorative strips from Hunkydory

Heart - Martha Stewart punch

I've decorated the inside simply with the border punch, decorative strips and the With Love pop up Tonic die set

I've used Papermill buckram card stock for the card and insert.

I hope you have a good day and that all my lovely cyber buddies who have been feeling unwell have a better day. Hugs xxx

A friend with chocolate!

Hi and good afternoon. It's Friday! yeah!!

I'm looking forward to a weekend of celebrations for my darling DH's birthday. It was actually yesterday and we did have cake and some pressies to mark the occasion but our wonderful daughters have organised get togethers over the weekend and I can't wait. Jonny is going to cook his fabulous roast lamb for us on Sunday - you haven't lived until you've tasted it! :) I thank God every day for blessing us with our family, we are very fortunate people indeed. 

So, onto today's card. It's a feast of pink and I enjoyed every bit of it. You know some days you have to 'force' it to fit, well today I simply just played and had a ball.

Card base Centura Pearl - card size - 7" square

LOTV large die cut square image

Tonic - Intrica butterfly doily die and border punch; butterflies from Julia's Vine and Mazarine blue sets; Fanciful flourish; Floral crafter's tool kit (on offer at Crafty Devils as I type!)

Inkadinkado sentiment

Sizzix funky flowers

Small flower punch 

Spellbinders labels four

Picked raspberry distress ink - I think I enjoyed this the most. As you can see I've used it on every available edge!

Pearls - Hobby House

The frame for the image was made using the large Intrica butterfly doily die set. I've removed the centre portion and was left with this fab frame. :)

I hope you enjoy this one today, it was a really fun card to make. 

Have a great day and I hope you have a good weekend.

See you soon!

Completely Loved

Welcome to the blog today.

I've a Valentine's/Romance card today that hasn't a pick of red on it. :) 

I was playing with my Tonic Intrica Butterfly Doily die and a Lili of the Valley die cut square last night and this is the result. I've kept the colours toned to the image and made a 7" square card.

Image - LOTV die cut square

Craftwork cards Kraft card stock

Cream card stock - Papermill

Flowers - Sizzix Sizzlet funky flowers; Branch with leaves 

Eggshell seam binding

Autumn Leaves sentiment circles

Tonic - Intrica Butterfly doily dies

Gathering twigs, black soot distress inks

Beatrix Potter 5 x 7" embossing folder; Iridescent Spray & Sparkle- Crafter's Companion

I've decorated the inside simply to complement the front of the card

The little fabric butterfly was ivory coloured with walnut Promarker.

 A sideways view to show the layers

The sun is shining here and it's a very pleasant day. I hope the weather is better where you are.

Thank you for calling by today. Have a good one!

Fairy front stepper

Good morning. It's Wednesday and we are half way through another week. The time is just flying by and hopefully soon we will see little signs of Spring on the way. 

I'm sharing another very straightforward card today and one we put together in our crafty time last night.

I was showing the girls how to 'cut outside the die' and the large fairy images provided a perfect example for that technique. 

Card base - Cheery Lynn stepper die

Papers - Prima

Image - LOTV large squares - Garden fairies

Memory Box - phlox flower and latchette dies

Spellbinder petite ovals for the main image and backer

Marianne design swirl dies

I love the way the Cheery Lynn die cuts the layers as well as the card base. 

We made two cards last night keeping them fairly straightforward just to get us in the crafty mood. 

I loved it! Lots of chat, tea, coffee and DH's banana and chocolate muffins - perfect. :)

I may not be able to post much for the next few days as the boys will be here - school parent/teacher meetings are to blame, so I'll hopefully catch you soon.

Thank you for calling in today. I hope you have a good one.