Christmas Cards ...

Hi Everybody,

Late post today but I have been busy adding some new video tutorials to the website and this is one of them.

This  Christmas Bauble Card  was just a fun way to create some decoration for the front  and there is not a Spellbinder in sight.

All of it ... from the base to the Baubles is all hand cut with very little measuring involved.

Simple and easy to do and I really enjoyed making these pretty cards.

I used one of the 8 x 8 Embossilicious Folders from Crafters Companion to add texture to the front panel and the inside one.

The Diamante stops the Baubles from looking as if they are  floating in mid air and adds a touch of luxury at the same time  and it is  from Want2Scrap

I think it is a very pretty effect and you can ring the changes in so many ways for each card that you make.

Before I go can I ask  Annabella  to contact me please regarding the Give Away you have  won ... the instructions and my email address are in the winners email that was sent to you.

Tell me who you are and give me your address so that I can get the prize in the post to you.    If you don't contact me by Wednesday of this week I will draw again and somebody else will get the prize.

And last but not least I have started an ETSY shop as I have so many cards that I am going to need to move house.  I have made them to order in the past and I have not had one come back to me yet with a complaint so it has to be worth considering.
 

So more tomorrow ..... 

Hugs xx 

Good Friends ...

Hi Everybody,

I love this card and it turned out so well.  It is another using the Sun Kissed Fleur matching die and stamp set  from Sunrise Crafts 

It has been colored with Spectrum Noir and the Colors used are
TB2, TB4, TB5, DG2, DG4

The sentiment is stamped and embossed in silver and is from the set that matches Labels 29.

I have made it into a   Hinged Card  and embossed the top white panel.

The Diamante flower centre and the buckle are from Wild Orchid Crafts ... and I love those flower centres.

As a final touch I have added the large triple bow using the   Bow Maker   and added  tiny gemstones into the centres of the smaller flowers and it would be suitable for many occasions

  

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

And the Winner is ....

Hi Everybody,

The draw for the lovely Goodies has been done early this morning and this is a really good prize to win.

It consists of a new stamp set from JustRite Stampers, six packs of "Bling" from  Want2Scrap and a packet of Glamour Dust to sparkle up your creations.

Into the mix I will also add 6 mtrs of ribbon that will make lovely wide bows ... but that is not shown on the photograph .... it is just a little bonus.

Oh !!  stop waffling I hear you saying and tell us who won .....  

 Annabella  

you are the lucky winner and I know you won't be disappointed with the prize.
So if you let me have your land address I will get the prize in the post to you straight away.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Now I Know this "Give Away" has only just finished but I have to tell you that the lovely people from 

Wild Orchid Crafts    have offered the most amazing prize for me to give to you ... and there will be two winners.

So you need to pop back regularly to keep up to date with when this next prize goes "Live" so that you can add your name to the list ...... but wait patiently it is on it's way 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Pink and Blue ...

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is mainly to show you the sentiments from JustRite Stampers.

It has all been stamped and embossed in silver and is part of the set that is offered to you in the   September Give Away

Click the link and add your name to the list for your chance to win the goodies ... but only once please as duplicates will be removed.

There are lots of sentiments and little flourishes with the stamp set and it will make all the difference to your cards.

I have cut mine out with two of the Labels Four and twined the Twisted Metal Tags around it.

I used a   blending tool   to add some Victorian Velvet Distress Ink before I took the card from the die.

The card is made to the   Hinged Style  and I have   Created a Frame with Spellbinders   for the front and filled it with Grateful Lattice.

The pink pearls are from  Want2Scrap   and the beautiful flowers are as always from  Wild Orchid Crafts. ... and they have been sparkled with Glamour Dust.

The Hatpin is pushed in to the knot for extra effect.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

This Day I feel ...

Hi Everybody,

This is a card that I made to show Griff how much I care for him.

It is for no particular reason ... it's a  ..."Just Because" card.

It is using the Mix and Match sentiment from JustRite Stampers and is one that will mix with the set that is on offer in the September Give Away 

It is quite a large card and I have used the extending Crisscross Pattern for the inside of the frame.

The leaves are from Crafters Companion and are one  of their Christmas release dies.

I added pearls to all the cross sections  of the card and added some pretty paper under the frame.

The inside of the card has been lined and the photo shows the number of layers to it

It may have pink on it but he loved it anyway ...

More tomorrow ... 

Hugs xx

Creating an Alphabet Stencil ....

Hi Everybody,

Here as promised is the tutorial on how I created my stencil background for the baby card I showed you a few days ago.

You will need a set that die cuts the letters out individually for you so that you can place them randomly on your cutting plate.

But once you have your letters then you can create a stencil that you can use over and over again.

Spellbinders Alphabet  Tutorial  will show you what I did.

An Alphabet  will allow you to add any name you wish to your cards and make them truly unique.

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts   and they have been sparkled with some Glamour Dust.

And the pearly flourish is from Want2Scrap  and I have just cut  off the portion that I need for my card.

I hope you enjoy the tutorial

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Cute Character ...

Hi Everybody,

The little girl is from the pen of Maurie Manning and the image is called in the Bath.

She has been colored with   Spectrum Noir   and the link will take you to their Tutorials page where you will find some from me.....

The colors used are ...

Skin FS2, FS3, CR2, EB2
Hair TN2 EB3
Teddy GB2, GB8, PP1
Bubbles TB2 and glitter
Bath/soap/towel IG2, PP6, PP4 and blender
Floor EB2
Zen-tangled edge to card

I have added the cut out image to a paper doily and added some ribbon from my "stash"   and the sentiment is from Lili of the Valley

The beautiful corner Diamante "Bling" is from  Want2Scrap  and there are two corners in each pack.  

The   September "Give Away"     is still on till Saturday so click the link to add your name for the chance to win some gorgeous goodies.

Pretty image ... pretty card 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Stamped and Colored ...

Hi Everybody,

This pretty card is created from the stamp sets that coordinate with Spellbinders Bella Rose and Sun Kissed Fleur

I have used the Bella Rose stamp set  and the Sun Kissed Fleur Corner and Border set.

I stamped the corner image onto some white card and cut the shape out with Grand Labels ... then matted it all onto some lilac card.

The added flowers were cut from the matching die and decoupaged onto the stamped image

The flowers and leaves have been colored with Spectrum Noir and the colors used are .....  PL1,  PL2,  LV2, DG2, DG4

The verse is from JustRite Stampers and is one of several on the set that match Labels 29

The  flower centres have the addition of pearls from Want2crap in  them and the ribbon is from my Stash

The stamp set matches the die and all you need to do is place it over the image and cut it out.

Once shaped with your fingers to curl the petals it makes a very pretty addition to your cards.

I bought both the Sun Kissed Fleur stamp and die from Sunrise Crafts.

If you still haven't entered your name into the draw then now is the time to do it for your chance to win the "Goodies" in the ....   September Give Away  .... add your name to the list and the winner will be announced on Saturday. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

September "Give Away" ...

Hi Everybody,

Yesterday I told you about the Large Fancy Sentiments from JustRite Stampers and how they will mix and match with other stamps from the same company.

Well I have a brand new stamp set that I am giving away and you have the chance to win them today... and there can only be one winner !!

In this prize you will get not only the stamp set but several packs of "Bling" from Want2Scrap and a pack of Glamour Dust to add extra sparkle to your designs.

If you would like it then add your name to the list at the bottom of the post .... but only add it once as duplicate entries will be removed.

If you should get a red cross at the side of your name don't worry ... all it means is that you can delete your name if you wish ... and only you can see it.

You will need to be a follower and  please leave me a comment so that I know you have been.

The Give Away is open until next Saturday the 28th and then you will have a few days in which to claim it before it goes to someone else.

Good luck to you all ...

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Fancy Sentiments ...

Hi Everybody,

I seem to be using the Grand Labels die a lot recently to create the basic card but I really do like this shape.

Another of my favorites is the background and that is an embossing folder from Couture Creations called Seedling Nouveau ... and it is beautiful.

The lace is some from my "Stash" and I have added white braid to the top of it.

The sentiment is put together from the group of stamps from JustRite Stampers and because the script is almost the same they can go together really well.

I bought mine from Amazon  and the titles are Just the Right Words & Large Fancy Sentiments.

There are so many combinations that can be done from having these sets that you will not be stuck for what to add to your cards.

The inside of the card has also been decorated to match the front and it is once again the Hinged Card style.

I have also embossed the envelope and it looks very pretty alongside the card.

The Diamante flourish is from Want2Scrap

Now I  just happen to have a brand new set of the Large Fancy Sentiments that somebody can win ... so come back tomorrow for your chance.

More tomorrow...

Hugs xx

Green and White ...

Hi Everybody,

Back to the Spellbinders for this card.

I must admit that creating a Hinged Card   from the Grand Labels is one of my favorite styles.

I have added in the layers again,  both for the inside and the front,  and the top labels layer has been embossed.

I have turned it on it's side to produce a landscape card.

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts  and they have been sprayed with Perfect Pearls to give them some shimmer.  They are a mixture of Roses in various sizes and some Cherry Blossoms.

The ribbon is from my "Stash" but the Diamante buckle is from The Hobby House.  The pearls in each corner are from Want2Scrap

The lovely verse is from Clarity Stamp  and I have stamped it in green and then heat embossed with clear powder.

I have had several emails from people who have watched the tutorial  Decorating Hatpins  and want to buy hatpins with end protectors from the Sparkles Group.

Unfortunately they are having huge problems and the website is down but they are still open for business. 

And so I have Gabrielles'  permission to pass on her email address so that if you wanted to buy some you could drop her a line.  She is very helpful and will give you all the information you need.

Please tell her that you came from me and once you have made your order she will then invoice you via PayPal.   

Gabrielle is available at ........    sales@sparklesgroup.co.uk 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Attitude ...

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is using Spectrum Noir and is featured on the Spectrum Noir Facebook page.   It is a digital image  from Some Odd Girl and is called Pouting Princess.  

The card was very simple to make and is just a 6" square and the Bling is from Want2Scrap

Colors used ...

Skin       FS2, FS3, TN2, CR1, EB2
Hair       TN5, TN&, EB8
Dress/Ribbons JG1, JG2, JG6
Crown    GB1, GB8, GB11
Socks     LG2 EB1

It reminds me very much of my Grand daughter when she was little and used to throw a tantrum  then sulk if she couldn't get her own way.

The ribbon is from Reasonable Ribbon  and was part of Augusts Ribbon Club.

The sentiment was cut into a banner shape and added with foam pads.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Alphabet background ...

Hi Everybody,

Here is a card with the Alphabet background a little more clear.

I did this yesterday ... and another in blue that I filmed as I was making it and it will be on the blog pages later this week.

The Alphabet I used is designed by  Donna Salazar and available from   Save On Hobbies   at a really good price ... and there are many more for you to choose.

It is useful to have an alphabet in your crafting "Stash" to personalise any projects that you are planning to do.

If you look at the inside of the card you will see that the panel has been embossed ....... and so yes I forgot to emboss the front panel.

I think I need a holiday to rejuvenate my memory.

Still the card is pretty and can be for any occasion ... I just happened to make mine into a Baby card and used more letters

The close up shows the pearly flourish from Want2Scrap  which can be cut  to fit your designs.

The flowers, which have been sparkled with Glamour Dust, are from Wild Orchid Crafts  and both are the finishing touch for me.

I will add the blue card later when I add the tutorial.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx