Sunflower Bear

This little bear is an image  that I have had  for quite some time and  she is  from   Lili of the Valley  

There are some really prety stamps there for all ages and occasions and a new range especially for boys has just been added to the collections.

She has been coloured with  the new Alcohol Colouring System ...  Spectrum Noir  ...  from Crafters Companion and there are many colours in the range.

They are very easy to work with and there are lots of things that can be done with the pens  apart from just colouring in.

The Spellbinders used are in BOLD so that you will know what has been used to create the card.

The image has been cut with the Lacy Ovals from Spellbinders and it has been mounted onto a large Scalloped Oval

The background is done with the Imperial M-Bossabilities folder and gives a lovely raised area.

I was asked   "What is the diference between embossing folders and masks?"   and so I have tried to answer the question in  a video that has been added to the website.

Adding Texture to Cards  is a short video ... but for those new to cardmaking I hope it will answer the question.

Because the  Bear is holding a Sunflower I thought it would be fun to add a large one from the Sun Flower Set   from Spellbinders.

It is a die I don't use very often and the centre has been created from one of the new Bauble Blossoms.

All the petals to the flower have been inked with Distress Inks and in the centre I  have added a piece of Card Candi from  Craftwork Cards

There are many colours and patterns in this small but useful embellishment  and there are lots of things that can be done with it.

The lovely Gemstone  Flourish is from   Want2Scrap   and adds the necassary finishing touch.

Hugs xx

Pennant Card

I was playing around with some card today and this is what I came up with.   Now I know it is not a new idea but this is my interpretation of it and I think it looks very pretty.

It was very easy to do and nothing except a punched border edgefrom Martha Stewart,  was used to get the pattern along the top and bottom.

The paper is from a stack that I have had for some time and it was free with a magazine.

The flowers are a mixture of large and small Roses, as well as rosebuds, in red and white and some Cherry Blossoms added to the spray.  A few sprigs of Ivy leaves and some smaller leaf shapes complete the look.

They are all from  Wild Orchid Crafts

The ribbon is from my "Stash" and the knot is covered with Card Candi from Craftwork Cards

Card Candi comes in many patterns and colours and can be a really useful addition to your crafting goodies.  Use it to add names or ages to personalise your designs.

Hugs xx

Pink Flowered Tag Card

Adding tags to your cards can create a very pretty embellishment and they are so easy to cut yourself and so save  you the cost of buying them ready made.

For this one I have embossed white Centura Pearl Card and matted it onto some hot pink and added ribbon from   Fantastic Ribbons   around the panel.

The knot in the bow is covered with Card Candi from  Craftwork Cards

This is then matted that onto pink patchwork paper and again onto the hot pink.

The whole lot has then been glued to a white card base.

The close up shows the detail in the tag which has been embossed to add texture and dotted with Cosmic Shimmer   Pearls  in the flower centres

Layering onto some hot pink card and an eyelet added to the top enables me to thread the ribbon through.

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts  and the sentiment is from  Lili of the Valley

An easy make that would be suitable for any girly occasion.

Hugs  xx

Oh Baby ...

I thought I would make a baby card for a change with some of the little baby carriages that I bought from  Mei Flower   when I went to the GNPE in Harrogate

They have the most adorable baby range in the softest of pastel colours,  with gorgeous embellishments  and  beautiful ribbons to match.

But once again the Spellbinders have been used to add that special touch to  any card. 

This background has been embossed with the B Side Elegance Embossing Folder and then each of the flowers has had  white Cosmic Shimmer Glue  added to create a pearl  to the centres.

It has been matted and layered onto pink card,  pink check paper,  more pink card and then pale grey card.

White lace and pink organza ribbon have been wrapped around all the layers before being added to the white base card.  A little bow has been added and the centre knot covered with some pink Card Candi   just to stop it looking  bare.

The sentiment is from Lili of the Valley   and there are many beautiful sentiments and stamps for you to choose.

The baby carriage has been layered onto the middle size of the Floral Ovals and the whole lot weaved into the Decorative Oval Window which has been inked in Victorian Velvet Distress ink.

I have been asked  recently where I get my Spellbinders from and the answer is most of them I get from    Scrap-Mart    who are based in the USA.

 Now there are two reasons for this ...

1 .... They are  Cheaper  than they are here in the UK

2... I can get the  Newest Designs   before they are available here in the UK

And even thought there is P&P to pay they are still the best price  and their  service is so quick.

Hugs xx

Twisted Easel Card

Here is the Twisted variation on yesterdays card and this is just as easy to do with very little effort.

The butterfly is a large die cut shape, from Marianne Creatables,  and it has been sprayed with Spray and Sparkle from                         Crafters Companion

The flowers are from my "Stash" and they have also had a light spraying,  and Card Candi added to the centres

The Scalloped Oval is cut from Spellbinders and around the edge I have wrapped some silver twine.

The papers are some that I designed and they are there for you to use on the webiste. The link will take you to the page if you would like to try some   Free Backing Papers

Tomorrow is the turn of the Double Easel Card

Hugs xx

Amy Jo's Birthday Blog Hop

Welcome to Amy Jo's Birthday Bash and Blog Hop! We are so excited you could join us today to help celebrate Amy's birthday!

This is a very special unique hop and we don't have to just stick with one particular subject or theme, and we can use any of Amys' favorite things to create a card or project with that in mind.

Some examples of Amy's favorite things are the colors black, white, and hot pink, along with anything Alice in Wonderland.  Here is my card (inspired by Sue Wilson) to wish a Happy Birthday Amy Jo

If you arrived here from   Anita   then you are in the right place!

If you just happened upon my blog today, please start at the beginning with Amy Jo at Scrapping, Card Making and Living with Fibro  because you don't want to miss out on the fabulous prizes that are being sponsored!

This is a two-day hop,  however, we are only making one project. That should give you two full days to go through the entire hop and leave comments and become followers of each blog, if you are not already, to be entered to win some of our sponsored prizes!

Some of the blogs may be offering blog candy as well so this is a hop you're going to want to finish.

I am offering three sets of clear stamps to followers of my Blog so to be in with a chance to win join the gang and  leave me a comment.   The winner will be chosen at random on the 1st March.

Thank you so much for joining us and helping us celebrate along with Amy! Your next stop is the talented Naomi and I hope you are enjoying the hop.


Hugs Christina xx

Felt Flowers

I am sure you know by now that I love to add flowers to my cards whenever I can ...  and so this morning I bought lots of felt squares in different colours.  It was not expensive (47pence) and each sheet is about the size of A4 card ... so not a bad price!

With the help of the Spellbinder Spiral Blossom  I set to and cut out flowers in most of the colours and leaves from the Foliage dies in the two shades of green .

I was very pleased with the result and used my hot glue gun to hold the flowers together ... but if you don't have one then a few stitches will keep them in place. 

On some of them I have gone around the edge with glitter glue and left it to dry and that gives a really pretty effect.

And this is the card I made with one of the flowers tucked in place along some satin ribbon.

I have added a bow and there is a piece of  Card Candi added to the centre to neaten the knot.

A miniature tag tucked under the flowers says "With Love" and then I added the  Pearls  along the edges as a finishing touch. 

A card that is very feminine and "Mothers Day" is just around the corner.

Hugs Christina xx