Creative Stamping 59 - Summer Holiday

Hi Everybody,

A fabulous A4 stamp set with a summer theme to help you build your collection. Perfect for invitations.

If you make cards for Girl Guides or Scouts then this is going to be the answer to your makes.

There are lots of images to scene build if you enjoy masking when you stamp ... or simply stamp, colour and cut out if you prefer.

The images above have been fussy cut and added with with pads

You can have lots of fun with this free gift and it will be in the shops tomorrow the 5th July.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Simply Cards & Papercraft 179 - Botanical Border

Hi Everybody,

There is a lovely die and stamp set with this months Simply Cards & Papercraft magazine and I had a lot of fun playing with it.

I made some really pretty cards all in the same colour scheme and they are shown in the video.

There are more ideas in the pages of the magazine and so grab a cuppa and settle down for a little relaxing "Me Time" 

I like the chosen colours too as they go so well together and I used Distress Oxides in Shaded Lilac, Wilted Violet, Fossilised Amber and Peeled Paint with the odd touch of Picked Raspberry on a couple of the cards. 

There is so much you can do with the stamp set and it will suit many many occasions. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Die Cutting Essentials 39 - Summertime Scenes

Hi Everybody,

The free gift with this months Die Cutting Essentials Issue 39 is a 12 piece set that will help you to scene build.

There are three different elements to this set ... Cityscape, Fairground and Houses and in the video I show you examples of all three.

You can build others items around the scene you choose,  for a night or day scene,  and then colour the parts in with your favourite medium.

It will be on sale tomorrow in selected supermarkets so keep a look out if this is something that appeals to you.  

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Papercraft Essentials 161 - Bubbles & Fizz

Hi Everybody,

Papercraft Essentials 161 will be on sale tomorrow and the free gift this month is perfect for male cards.

The gift is Bubbles & Fizz and it is part of the Drinks Trolley Collection that is available at Craft Stash if you wanted to purchase more

The video will give you more ideas and there is a lot of inspiration in the pages of the magazine.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Creative Stamping 58 - Serene Beauty

Hi Everybody,

This months issue of Creative Stamping has a large A4 stamp set with it and the featured designer is Sheena Douglass

There are lots of images for you to create some lovely cards and many of them would be suitable for male designs

Dress them up or down as you wish and for mine I have added in some beautiful flowers.

The video will give you other ideas and of course there are many more in the magazine itself and the back of the package. But I am sure that you will come up with many more once you start to play.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Simply Cards & Papercraft 178 - The Best Of Card Making Magic

Hi Everybody,

With this months Simply Cards & Papercrafts there is a fabulous free gift that is a bumper set of stamps and four matching dies.

It is with great pleasure that I can add my stamps and dies as a free gift for you to enjoy and I have had so many ideas playing with them

There is a lot of inspiration on the video plus more in the magazine pages too, and my card is on the front cover with some male themed cards inside.

There are many occasions covered on the stamp set 

and the dies make it easy to cut out the flowers and leaves 

I hope you enjoy it as much as I have 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Die Cutting Essentials 38 - Stained Glass Peacock

Hi Everybody,

Today I am sharing with you the free gift that is with Die Cutting Essentials 38 and this will be on sale on the 24th May.

It is a two piece die set that is from the Pretty Quick collection at Craft Stash. 

There are lots to purchase on their website but this one to start you off is FREE

It will make an impressive card for you by simply adding the die cut to glitter or designer card very easily.

Or you could try paper piecing if that was your style. 

You can snip away bits that you don't want to create another look for your designs

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Papercraft Essentials 160 - Whale of a Time

Hi Everybody,

This months copy of Papercraft Essentials will be in the shops on the 17th May

There is a really good die and stamp set for you to play with.

I had many ideas for this gift and some of them are in the video.

I stayed with a cool blue scheme for all the cards to enhance the sea theme

I created the backgrounds with stencils and one was done with copy paper from one of my dies.

This is a good way to extend the use of your own dies and the copy paper will serve you a few times before it needs to be replaced.

Keep a look out for the magazine if it is one that you would like 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Creative Stamping 57 - Go Wild A4 Stamp Set

Hi Everybody,

Creative Stamping goes on sale today and has a large A4 Stamp Set with it.

This would be a prefect addition to your crafty stash for any male cards you need to make and the are lots of "Punny" sentiments in the pack

Many of the featured animals need very little colouring so really its a "stamp and go" set for those who don't like colouring.

You can add as much or as little to these images  to make them truly individual and still create a lovely card

So keep a look out for it on the shelves or take out a subscription to have it delivered and to be sure of never missing your copy 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Simply Cards & Papercraft 177 - Coffee Break

Hi Everybody,

Another fun die and stamp set for all your makes and it also has a stencil that will give you two different patterns.

Perfect for male and female cards with mix and match sentiments to cover lots of occasions.

The video will show you how I made another card but I have used the same colour scheme throughout

Alter the colours for more masculine cards and have fun creating different scenes with masking.

And have a look at page 83 to see some of the cards that I made for the magazine ... I am actually on the front cover YaaaY!!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Die Cutting Essentials 37 - Radiant Butterflies

Hi Everybody,

The free gift with this months Die Cutting Essentials is a fabulous die set from ....

drum roll please .... Card Making Magic !!

It is Radiant Butterflies and it is a lovely die set that will cut the pattern into your card.

I have really loved playing with this set and all the cards I made are shown at the end of the video.

I have stayed with the same colour scheme simply to show you that if you are new to card making that you don't need a vast amount of supplies to get lovely results.

 Each of my cards looks different with just the free gift and the odd piece from my supplies.

And I really love this colour blend and it is one I have used many times in the past.

For the card to the right I have used the Dinosaur from Pawfect Pets by Crafti Potential and that creates a fun card ideal for children 

The dies and stamps can be used all year round for male and female cards and so I hope you will look out for it tomorrow in your supermarkets and craft stores.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Papercraft essentials 159 - Man of the Moment

Hi Everybody,

This is the perfect stamp and die set for anybody who has brain freeze when it comes to male cards.

I had so much fun playing with this and creating cards that I struggle with from time to time.

The gift is free with Papercraft Essentials this month and if you want it then look in the shops tomorrow.

I will be offering this as a free give away later in the year so keep a look out for that too.

The stamps will help you to make these cards for men but it can be altered to make female cards too. 

On this one I added Googly eyes and drew in some eyelashes 

 I am sure that you will enjoy playing with it once you get them home 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Simply Cards & Papercraft 176 - Teacup Garden

Hi Everybody,

A cute little die and stamp set is free with this months Simply Cards & Papercraft called Teacup Garden.

This is suitable for male cards and will cover many occasions for you.

There is a free paper pack included in the magazine and they are perfect for changing the look of your cups

When you are adding the cups keep the bottom one straight but add the others so that they look as if they are going to topple over for a fun quirky effect.

The video is not long but I hope you enjoy it and will have some fun with this free gift that comes with Simply Cards and Papercraft 176 that is on sale today

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Creative Stamping 56 - A Good Sport

Hi Everybody,

Once again a large A4 stamp set is free with creative Stamping and this one is A Good Sport.

It covers many different sport and occasions and is suitable for males and females of all age groups.

The designer this month is Joanna Sheen.

There is the opportunity for you to buy the matching dies for the bowler and the cricketer at the top of the stamp set.

You can have lots of fun creating scenes for your recipients with this stamp set

In the video I show you other ideas and of course there are lots more in the magazines itself.

The card I make is really simple with an inked background ideal for those new to stamping or need a card in a hurry.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Die Cutting Essentials 36 - Underwater Friends

Hi Everybody,

A cute fish bowl, plants and fish are the free gift with this months Die Cutting Essentials and it will be on sale on the 12th April.

For the card shown I have cut some of the fish from Funky Foam and used them as stamps to build up my background

But there are lots of scenes that you can make with the seventeen piece die set

 Either colour them your self or cut them from coloured card to save time

I had fun playing with this set and I used one of the new Crafti Potential stamps to make the water in the fish bowl.

Look out for the magazine in your shops and I also have some cards featured on page 22  for you to view

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Snowflake Penguin

Hi Everybody

Over the next few weeks the card and gifts that will be offered are a mixed bag of occasions.

But most of them can be used all year round to help you with some pretty designs

Each one will have the video to show you how I used it but I am sure that you can come up with many more ideas as you play.

This was one of my favourites when it was offered and here is the video ...  Snowflake Penguins

I made so many lovely cards with this really cute die set. So if you would like this one then all you need to do is leave me a comment.

From  those one name will be chosen at random as the winner and it will be announced in tomorrows blog post. Good luck every one  

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Papercraft Essentials 158 - Make a Splash

Hi Everybody,

Today's fun cards are all made with the free gift that comes with Papercraft Essentials 158.

This stencilled rainbow background has to be my favourite and I used the sentiment from a previous free gift to complete the look.

In the past I have done colouring with pens and water colours but for today's cards I used pencils and blending solution to remove the pencil strokes

I have had so much fun playing with "Make A Splash" and it is brought to you by Crafti Potential.

It will be on sale tomorrow and I would get there early if you want to grab your copy.

There are lots of ideas in the video as well as making the two cards shown. 

And your options are plentiful once you get your gift. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Die Cutting Essentials 35 - Enjoy Today

Hi Everybody,

This months Die Cutting Essentials is giving away a lovely Tonic Studios Flip Flop Die called Enjoy Today.

It's a quick and easy way to make cards with movement but it will help you to create other styles as well.

In the video I have shown you a few of the ways in which I have used it and how to make an easel card 

The magazine will be on sale today the 22nd March and it is sure to go quickly for the quality die that is being given away free

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Simply Cards & Papercraft 175 Home Sweet Home

Hi Everybody,

The free gift with this months Simply Cards & Papercraft is a cute house that can be adapted to make so many other styles

In the video I show you ways in which to turn this into bungalows, town houses, add extensions and so much more.

There are lots of ideas within the pages of the magazine too for you to create some fabulous cards for your self.

For the card in the video I have kept it super simple with just an ink blending technique and I am really enjoying the ink blending at present.

I have been asked what is the difference between Distress Inks and Distress Oxides.  They are both made by the same company and they both react to water.  But Distress Inks are a dye based ink and the Distress Oxides are a blend of dye and pigment inks.

They blend really well and so much easier than Distress Inks and they dry to a lovely chalky appearance. They also have the ability to layer well on top of each other which Distress Inks don't do.

So really it depends on the look that you want as to which you prefer.
But for me it is the Oxides mostly for the way I like to work.
The whole collection of  Distress Oxide colours are available at Craft Stash

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Papercraft Essentials 157 (PE157)

Hi Everybody,

Kinetic Cards have been around for years but this months Papercraft Essentials is giving you the dies to make them really simply.

When I made these years ago there was measuring to do and that spinner part was created with pennies.

But in this video I show you how to create these kinetic element easily with card.

The stamp set with the gift will give you other images that you can use to personalise the card for your self.

The magazine will be in the shops on the 8th March so be sure to get your copy.

And then have some fun playing with this concept and creating your own design from items that you may already have in your own crafting stash

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx