Believe!

Every Christmas around the 21st of December my daughter receives a letter from Santa to say that she has been a good girl and that he will try to get as many presents from her(extensive) list that he can. I have stored all these letters in my bedside drawer till now so I thought it was about time I found a permanent home for them.

I found one of those book/boxes in a local shop and I bought a couple with a view to customisation at some point in the future.

I started by applying a generous layer of modelling paste using a palette knife, it doesn't have to be super flat, in fact a few inconsistencies are preferable.

Once the paste was dry to the touch I set about making imprints using rubber stamps. Always wait until the paste is partially dry before moving on to this step or you could have an ugly mess on your hands.

I took three of the Thinlits Holiday Knit dies by Tim Holtz and used them to create a stencil through which I could apply more modelling paste.

Once the paste was dry I applied white gesso to the book/box cover before painting using assorted shades of blue/green Distress Paint.

I sped up the drying time using a heat tool before applying a generous spray of Distress Stain which I immediately worked on to remove most of the stain with a damp paper towel.

After the dark contrast it's time to add some highlights using white chalky paint applied with a dry brush technique, always start slowly and build it up. Next, I dipped a toothbrush into some of the paint and applied a random spritzed effect concentrating on the edges and corners. Once dry I applied some pewter coloured gilding wax over the raised detail.

For the word 'Believe' I am going to use the Bigz Handwritten Believe die by Tim Holtz. I started by scrunching a piece of thin white paper before cutting a rectangle of mount board large enough to cover the die. I attached this to the paper using spray adhesive before trimming to size and applying pressure from a brayer so that it sits nice and flat.

I die-cut the word with the paper side against the die and sealed it with more white gesso before following all the steps above so that the word matches the box. You can see where the gilding wax has picked out the creases in the paper.

Time for a few final flourishes now. I applied a little chalk paint to the bells and snowflake charm and gently stained a length of crinkle ribbon.
As you can see from the finished box, I thread the ribbon through the bells and tied it into a bow and added the snowflake charm above the letter 'i'. I hope that this is something that Poppy can pass on to her children at some point in the future.

 Here are a few close-ups showing some of the detail. Next week we're taking to the road with a fabulous set of dies which include a magnificent push bike.... see you then!

A little bird......

Another week another great collection from Brenda Walton. 

This week we are looking at a Thinlits set called Birdcage which comprises the eponymous cage and a couple of gorgeous bird dies.

I come from an Illustration/cartoon background and my real strength is in my draughtsmanship. I spent the first 18 years of my life sat cross-legged on the floor with a pencil and a pile of paper, I can still sit like this for hours but nowadays it takes me a while to get back up after!

As the result of my background, great draughtsmanship really stands out for me and Brenda's dies never disappoint on this score. They are always sleek, elegant and well balanced which makes me very happy.

I have die-cut half of the cage from light grey card and the birds from white card (aren't they great?)

Next, I rolled out some white chalky finish paint with a brayer and applied to the die-cut cage, I deliberately left it patchy so not too much paint! Once it was dry I used some text stamps to add a little detail.

I applied some aqua coloured acrylic to both birds with my brayer followed by a little grey. Next, I applied a little green paint using a foam applicator before adding stamped detail using grey ink.

I chose a phrase which I typed into my PC before printing out. I then trimmed the phrase into three separate lines before applying a little Distress Ink. Next, I stamped the large body of text onto my white base card using the grey ink again.

 Here is the finished card all assembled and that should be that..... but I got a little carried away!

I had to make another quick card so I cut a stencil using the splatter die from the Thinlits Scribbles & Splat Set by Tim Holtz. I placed the stencil onto a white base card and used Mustard Seed and Wild Honey Distress Ink applied with a foam applicator. While the stencil was still in place I flicked some water onto the image before dabbing with a clean tissue.

 I applied the 'Thank you' stamp (Darkroom Door) with black ink and added some extra stamped detail before die cutting the bird from black card.

 It's simple but I like it and that wraps up this week...... Oh! shall we do one more?

I cut a rectangle of wood effect patterned card and used a craft knife to give the appearance of miss-matched planks before applying dark Distress Ink to the edges.

I die-cut the bird from grey patterned card and die-cut a circle aperture into the card using one of my beloved circle Framelits. I then cut a rectangle of the grey patterned card and rounded off the corner with a punch before applying Distress Ink around the edges and stamping the legend 'Home Sweet Home' using dark grey ink.

Bit of Distress Ink around the edges of the bird to add a little contrast and layer it all up using adhesive foam pads.... Simple! 

Love this set in case you hadn't guessed!

Up, Up and away!

The title comes from a 1967 song from a band called Fifth Dimension which was part of the soundtrack of my early childhood. The second half of that line is, of course.....'in my beautiful balloon' which is where we start today's post.

Why 'Beautiful' balloon? Well, it has been designed by none other than Brenda Walton and it is one of several beautiful Thinlits dies sets in her new collection. This set also comes with a set of gorgeous text stamps which compliment the dies perfectly.I will probably showcase some of the others in the coming weeks but for now we are looking at Framelits Die Set 9PK w/Stamps - Hot Air Balloon which will be in shops from the beginning of October.

I'm also using my old favourite Mixed Media die set which always comes in very handy for mixed media and shabby chic style projects.



I am using a lovely paper pad from Studio Light which is perfect for the style that I want together with the die/stamp set. Apart from a few Distress Ink pads and some white card, that's pretty much it!

I cut a rectangle of blue patterned card and applied a few shades of brown Distress Ink around the edges before distressing and scrunching the edges concentrating on the corners. I used a fine sanding pad over the creases to add further contrast. Next I added the stamped sentiment in dark brown ink.

 I used a couple of my Mixed Media die set to add detail, I don't know what happened to the exposure on the second photo but they are the same, honest!

Time to cut the separate parts of the balloon which I then inked before putting together.

For my cloud (one of two in the set) I wanted to give the impression of sunset so I applied some Distress Inks to the base of the die-cut shape.

I took the bunting die and cut half a dozen triangles before inking the edges and gently curling up the tips. I attached them to the assembled balloon following a gentle curve.


Using double sided tape, I applied some short lengths of cotton to join the main body of the balloon to the basket.

I attached the cloud and the balloon to the background using adhesive foam pads before mounting onto a white base card.

If you like this card, and I hope you do then I must give 90% of the credit to Brenda Walton for creating such a beautiful and well thought through set of dies.

Cool for cats

Cats are everywhere you look these days.... cat stamps, cat papers, cat buttons and trinkets and of course cat dies. if you are a cat lover or just a lover of beautiful dies then do yourself a favour and pop the words 'Debi Potter' into the search bar on the Sizzix.co.uk website and check out her latest collection.

One die in particular has filled me with inspiration, and that is the Bigz Kitten which I am going to share with you today. I was going to make one card and ended up making two but I'm now left with ideas for a dozen more which will have to wait for another day and that, my friends is the definition of a good die.

For the first card I used a paper pack from Lily of the Valley and a right old mish-mash of stamps from my ever growing stash.

I began by cutting two heads from contrasting papers. I used scissors to trim away part of the blue stripped paper and inked the edges with Weathered Wood Distress Ink before attaching to the pink face after which I inked around the edges and added detail with a black fine line marker pen

 Next, I die-cut two bodies and repeated the stages above before die-cutting the rest of the elements together with the eyes and nose.

I applied the stamps to the right of a 15 x 15 cm white base card using grey and black ink and mounted all of the elements together before attaching to the card. Told you it was a great die!

 I attached watercolour paper to mount board to prevent warping and die-cut all the elements to create my cat before applying two shades of Distress ink to the cat's head. To help the colours blend and give the appearance of watercolour I applied water with a mister.

I used a stamp with a typewriter letter pattern but feel free to use any suitable text design stamp. I applied the ink to one corner as shown in the first photograph before stamping onto the head with the orange Distress Ink.

I die-cut the eyes, nose and collar and coloured with Weathered Wood Distress Ink before die-cutting the heart charm and colouring with two shades of red. I coloured the tail and body in the same way as I did with the head. Next, I cut a rectangle of pink spotty paper and distressed the edges using a sanding block.

I scrunched around the perimeter of the pink paper and mounted it onto a white base card before adding the stamped detail (if only it said Feline Groovy!!!). I attached the cat using PVA and adhesive foam pads. 

Hope you love this die as much as I do... can't wait to use it with textiles!

Evergreen

The tree is not only the centre piece of many living rooms in the UK at Christmas time but it is also a favourite motif of crafters everywhere. It's another one of those wonderfully versatile shapes to which you can apply countless techniques and create from a range of materials.

As we count down to Christmas I will be making a number of  creations using this fabulous new die from Tim Holtz, namely Bigz Evergreen.

This project is perfect if like me you have scraps of paper left from those beloved paper packs which you can't find anywhere for love nor money, but want to hang on to the bits that you have left even though they are taking up space in your craft stash.

I am using a lovely 6.5 x 6,5 pad from Kaisercraft called Yuletide. Let's begin..... 

I am going to create a collage on a 10 x 13 cm rectangle of mount board using strips from the aforementioned paper pad before cutting a few thin strips of text pattern paper. I have used a couple of Distress Ink pads (Old Paper and Vintage Photo) to deepen the colour around the edges of all the strips.

 Once the strips were attached I used some postmark stamps to add further detail. Once satisfied with the effect I placed the collaged mount board face down onto the Bigz die and cut my shape.

 After inking around the outside of the tree it's time to put the card together. I wound a length of twine into different sized loops before securing with a small staple which will be covered later. I then sprayed the string with adhesive before sprinkling with Distress Glitter, I know that it hasn't picked up in the picture but the effect is wicked. Next, I used a large ornate stamp together with the Old Paper ink pad to add detail to the front of a white A6 base card.

 I cut a 7 x 11 cm rectangle of paper covered in a very subtle vintage pattern which is perfect for the background, any more detail and it would start to clash with the tree. I inked around the edges before strategically scrunching the paper.


Here is the finished card. I attached the distressed paper using double sided tape before mounting the tree using adhesive foam pads. the string and the diamanté gem were  both mounted using a hot glue gun. The gem by the way, was liberated from a piece of old costume jewellery.

More of these on the way between now and Christmas.... Bye for now!

Let it Faux!

That's right folks, the terrible title puns are back! This week we are going to look at one of my favourite die-cutting techniques which is the art of faux embossing.

Faux is of course a French word meaning false or fake but there is nothing fake about the quality of the embossed effect on show today.

I am using dies from the Winter Wonderland range and as we stand on the cusp of September I can already detect a slight autumnal bite to the early morning air so I don't think it's too early to talk about Christmas cards?

The dies I have used today are.....

• Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 3PK - Decorative Trees (660878)
• Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 3PK - Delicate Fall (660879)
• Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 3PK - Winter Wishes (660882)
• Sizzix Bigz Die - Proud Deer (660884)
• Sizzix Bigz Die - Strolling Bear (660886)
• Sizzix Bigz Die - Wonderland Bird (660887)

I started by die-cutting around a dozen snowflakes from card before attaching them to a piece of mount board using spray adhesive. Next I cut my deer using the Bigz die and primed it with white gesso, this forms a barrier to stop the acrylic paint being absorbed by the mount board.

I chose three different shades of red Distress Paint and painted my deer. Once the paint was dry ( I used a heat tool to speed this up) 

I put a little dark brown paint onto my craft sheet before diluting it with water, I then painted this wash over the deer so that the paint settled in the cracks before dabbing the deer with kitchen paper to remove excess wash. The idea of the wash is to just leave it in and around the die-cut detail to add contrast. 

The final step is to very delicately apply white chalky paint using a dry brush technique. Always start off with less than you think you will need and build it up slowly.

Before adding to the face of a simple white base card I wanted to create a craft card background. I applied Distress Inks around the edges before adding a couple of Christmas postmark stamps from Lily of the Valley. I scrunched up the card concentrating on the edges and attached a length of twine around one side finishing with a bow.

Here's the finished card, as I promised the embossed effect is pretty cool!

Next up is the bear, as you can see I used one of the Framelits Christmas tree dies to add the detail before applying them to the mount board.

 I used two shades of grey and one of blue to get a little subtle contrast adding a dark wash before lifting it all with the dry brush work.

Again, here is the finished card, I DO love this die!

 A slightly different spin, I am using both positive and negative die-cuts this time.

I chose a couple of shades of pink before using a deep red wash finishing off with the dry brush technique.

And last but not least.....