Christmas Ideas

 Hi Everybody,

I made a card with red candy canes on it for my Great Grandson Bobby to give to his friends at school for Christmas, but while the die was out I decided to elaborate a little more with the canes.

And this us where the rainbow canes card came from.

Rainbow Candy Canes Card

This card could be kept as a Christmas card or used as a birthday card and children would love it with their name on it too.

The idea to video it was a last minute decision as well and it is not long, but the card is quite pretty once completed

It could be used as an adult card too and not just for children. 

It could be dressed u with real ribbons and flowers if you wanted to and adding glitter would make it sparkle 

The ideas care endless once your imagination is working and you could make this card as fancy as you liked.

Have a look through all your old dies that haven't had an airing for some time and I bet you will be pleasantly surprised with what you find.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Still Available at Craft Stash

Hi Everybody,

There is no new video today but I do have a list of older ones that are using dies that are still available at Craft Stash. 

 These are the Elegant Nestables Collection and they are some of my favourite sets to wok with and they all work with each other to make you some beautiful cards.

Elegant Nestables DL & Slimline

I have been asked what does the DL stand for and it simply means Double Length ... so the card is 4" wide by 8" length

Each card is created with two different sets to showcase the versatility of them and the videos show you the possibilities of how you can mix and match them which are limitless

Elegant Nestables 5x7 + Circles

This beautiful pink card is a 6x6 size and  has been teamed with cream and some mulberry flowers.

You can add any stamped or die cut sentiment to the card to suit the occasion and your recipient.

It will certainly be playtime in your craft room with these lovely dies to work with and if you got them when they were first released then you will be aware of what they can do.

If you didn't  then here is your chance while they are still available . 

I have used a matt silver card for this base and added the Octagons to the top. 

Elegant Nestables 5x7 + Octagon 

  

I hope you enjoy these older videos and die sets and if you have them in your collections then maybe it is time to get them out again for another airing. 

I am on a mission to buy nothing new and so I am also looking at what I already have and making it work for me

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

 

Christmas Easel Card

Hi Everybody,     

I made this card many years ago and I though that with Christmas coming round soon that now would be a good idea to add it again;

It also stays within the Easel Card theme that I gave been covering for the past few weeks.

 I have no photo to show you but because it is an old video at least I have been able to add the complete video from YouTube, and you can see the end result there. .

It is a lovely card created in red and gold and yet it was easy to make.

 It will be a real show stopper card for the special people you send cards to and one I am sure you will be very proud of.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Quad Easel Card

Hi Everybody,  

Today I am creating a Quad Easel Card and this is a style I added to YouTube about 13years ago.

 It has been covered many times since by other people but I thought it was time for me to do an updated version of this card.

The video will show you how I got this look and it is a 6x6" card which will fit into an envelope or why not make a box for it to make it even more special.

Quad Easel Card

The top photo is the card with all the easels open but it will fold up neatly for you to send.

I have made some of my own paper to go with it and I have all sorts of bits of inked papers left over so maybe I will do a video on how to use up all these scraps.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Easel Card Dies

Hi Everybody.

I have been covering how to make and alter easel cards in the last few videos and  hopefully shown you ways in which you can personalise it to suit you.

There are lots of dies around that can make this style of card with just a pass through your die cutting machine.

I brought out several of these type of dies while I was with Craft Stash ... but I do not know if there are any available.

I also made a video on using these dies and how you can adapt them to suit your needs. and this Snowflake die was one of my favourites.

Snowflake Easel Card

It is a lovely die to work with and the end results are quite pretty and different., and here you can see just how different it can be,

 Did you get this die set ???

Or maybe you got one of the other styles that I brought out at the time as there where quite a few to choose from.

More tomorrow 

Hugs xx

YouTube Collaboration

 Hi Everybody,

Today I am so excited to be doing a collaboration with another YouTuber and I am sure that many of you will already know about her channel. We got together and decided to do our individual ideas on a Christmas card.

We have completely different styles, in fact at total opposite ends to each other. I am a more is more type of crafter and I love to add flowers, ribbons and pearls to my designs. 

Whereas Christine is a Clean & Simple style and she makes some beautiful cards .
I am adding the links here to both our channels for you to view each video and we would be delighted if you would  "Like" comment and subscribe to each of us.

Christina's Video ...  https://youtu.be/6idnJlRbKuk
Christine's Video ...   https://youtu.be/VgFRjELSm2U?si=DTjSDtRPQjkB5uGY

Enjoy

Christina Griffiths

Christine Stokes

  &

Triple Twist Easel Card - Design 5

 Hi Everybody,

Here is yet another way that you can add that twist to your triple easel cards and make them completely personal to you.

Add them to an envelope or make them a box and they are so very different for your recipient to enjoy.

The video will show you how to create this one and it is very easy to do. 

I have used my own handmade papers again and I tell you the colours I have used so that you can try it as well. 

Play with some of your inks to see what colour blends you like the look of and don't be afraid to go for it.

It is only paper and a little ink so if you don't like it then try again until you find something that you do like. 

Click the link to watch the video on YouTube and please leave me a comment, Like and subscribe

Triple Twist Easel - Design 5 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Corner Easel Card

 Hi Everybody,

This pretty card is a Corner Easel Card and is one that is really easy to make. It is just a few score lines and one cut using an 8x8 peice of card.

The video will show you how I made a beautiful lilac Corner Easel Card
and there are several other colours for you to see.

I used an old paper pack that I have and it came in very handy as the correct size, but you could make these any size you preferred.

This size would fit into a normal envelope but it would make a lovely gift if added to a small box.

And of course if your embellishments are deeper than mine then it would need that box to hold it so that things don't get crushed.

The cards are all very pretty but I have to admit that this lilac one is my favourite.

I think it turned out especially well

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Star Easel Card

 Hi Everybody,

Here is another design in the Easel Card series and just as easy to make.

I am showing you two sizes 5x7 and the A6 but both cards are made using the same inks, flowers and way of making.

I have added the flowers in different areas on the cards and the sentiment in opposite corners but otherwise they are the same.

I cannot lay claim to being the originator of any of these designs as Easel Cards have been around for many years, these are simply my take on things that I am more than happy to share with you.

So this is the

Star Easel Card

It is a design that you can have some fun with and there are lots of tutorials on YouTube for more ideas on how to decorate the card.

I have another design for easels coming tomorrow so I hope you will join me then.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Alternating Panel Easel- Design 4

 Hi Everybody,

In the last Easel Card video we made a card with all the panels facing the same way. In this one we are going to make them face opposite ways.

It is just as easy to do and we have used a 5x7 base. 

But to simply the twisted panels I have cut the full card down to 6 3/4 x 4 3/4 and that makes life easier to divide the pieces.

The video will make things clearer for you and I am sure you will like the finished cards.

It will fit into a 5x7 box to make it easier to give to your recipient. 

Here is the link to the video and I hope you enjoy it and will give this easel card a try.

Alternating Panel Easel Card
Design 4

I haven't made the paper for this card in the video as I have covered that process in others.

The colours I have used have been Dried Marigold,

Scattered Straw and Crackling Campfire with some copper embossing powder that  I already have.

So just use what you have in your own personal crafting stash, without going to the expense of buying more.

More tomorrow  ...

Hugs xx

Triple Twisted Panel Easel - Design 3

 Hi Everybody,

Todays card is another of those easel cards that are always popular and yet seem so difficult to make to new card makers.

Believe me they are not and once you have made one you will be happy  to try other variations.

This one is a little different and it has been around for years.

You will find many many tutorials on YouTube showing you how to make Easel Cards and all the variations

This is my version of the card

Triple Twisted Panel Easel  - Design 3

 and how I put my own personal mark on the card.

I really enjoyed making it and it is really special  and creating my own background papers helps to make it even more personal as no one else will have that paper.

Not even you will be able to make the exact same background twice  ...no matter how hard you try.

I hope you will give some of these cards a try for yourself and there are now lots of videos with all the different ways that you can make easel cards

There is sure to be one that takes your fancy, and I have more variations to come yet 

I have used my own DL box die set to make the box and if you have it all well and good but if you don't then you may find that it is no longer available for you to purchase.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Triple Twisted Snowflake Easel - Design 2

 Hi Everybody,     

I am trying to feature many styles to create this Triple version of the easel card and this one is also Twisted.

It is easy to make for yourself and I have kept the tutorial precise and easy to follow so that you will have no trouble crafting along with me.

Triple Twisted Snowflake Easel - Design 2

I have even more versions to share with you so be sure to come back and watch

For this card I have again made some of my own background papers but this time in a different way.

I am using the brushes that I bought from Lidl a few years ago. and they are specifically decorating brushes  ... but they work really well for blending inks  

I have all the Distress Oxides too so I may as well put them to some good use and this is such an enjoyable way to do it. 

Plus it saves me money on buying papers.

The same applies to any dies I have used. I already have them and so I may as well use them too.

This is my personal mission not to buy anything new for crafting.

 And it is working so far !!

Mire tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Triple Twisted Easel Card - Design 1

 Hi Everybody,  

Here is yet another version of the Easel Card and thus time I  have twisted the triple variety,

I have  a few versions of how to make this card to show you and rather than add them all in one extra  long video I decided to make a few and keep them shorter.

Here is the first one for the 

Twisted Triple Easel Card

Be sure to come back and check for more ways to make these easel cards.

The blue card to the left has used card from AnnaMarie Designs but for the one in the video I decided to make yet more of my own backgrounds.

It is fun to mix and match the colours and see what you like.

Some of them may not mix as you think and then you could end up with a muddy brown.

So be sure to dry each colour before you add another one to the top and that helps to keep the colours pure. But whatever you do ... have fun !!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Trellis Card Variation Four

 HI Everybody.

Another quick and easy variation of the Trellis Card and this one is crated to look like a gate or fence panel.

I have used some card that looks wooden to make things easier and I have inked the edges to make it blend.

This video is not long  but I hope you enjoy it just the same.

Trellis Card - Variation Four

Click the link to open a new window in YouTube to view the video and be sure to leave me a comment. "Like" and subscribe if you haven't already.

It all helps to let YT know that you would like more videos from me. 

And a comment here on the blog would be very much appreciated too.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Trellis Card - Variation Three

 Hi Everybody,

Here is another version of the popular Trellis Card and this one is so very easy to make. 

The video is not long and so won't up take too much of your time to view.

This is the second time I have done a similar type of card and the first one was about ten years ago. So well over due for a refresh.

It is easy to do and the width of the strips can be altered to give you yet another look.

You could also add them in a different pattern, for instance a sunray effect on the card and this would look lovely. 

In the first video I added them as a weave on the card with lots of flowers too.

But you can have fun doing them any way you wish. Click the link to view the video and I hope you enjoy it.

Trellis Card Variation Three

Please leave me a comment and "Like" the video and be sure to subscribe if you aren't already.

Thank you 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Bokeh Effect

Hi Everybody,

Todays little card is created with the Bokeh Effect on the front panel and there are many different ways to obtain this look.

It is a Japanese word often used in photography and it means blurred. 

This effect is that the back ground looks blurred, like the lighting in a photograph that is taken from a distance and it is not focused correctly.

I have created mine with Distress Oxides, and a large finger dauber and stencil but you can use anything that you have in your crafty stash.

It us another easy way to make individual and unique backgrounds for your design and is far more satisfying than buying more papers.

The sentiment is one of a set that I got from Amazon and is one I reach for often.
The top is cut in a blue to math the pattern and the base is silver.
The panel has also been mounted onto a blue mat 

This is a video I did on the technique some time ago and in that one I used water colour paints.

 I thought it appropriate to add it again here

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Trellis Card - Variation Two

 Hi Everybody,

Today I am doing a different take on the Trellis Card from yesterday by simply moving the strips to another area.

Once you have tried this why not try them in another place for even more changes to your design.

The video will show you how I got this look and I have used another handmade paper for the inside of the card. 

Such an enjoyable way to create unique papers for any thing you make

Trellis Card  - Variation Two

The butterflies are just cut from a paper pack that has been out for quite some time, but you could use ephemera packs or stamp and colour your images as you please.

The ones I had left over I added to the back of the card for more interest.

The video is not long and yet the card is so pretty and the finished size of mine is 5x7.

You can make this any size you want,  as there is not really any measuring to do, just adjust the strips to suit the size

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Trellis Cards - Variation One

 Hi Everybody,

Today I am sharing a 

Trellis Card  - Variation One 

that has been made with a handmade panel for the back. 

I really enjoy making my own background in this way and you can get so much variation in the finished card and I show you in the video how I get the look.

I got the idea for the ink smoosher from NBCards on YouTube and it is such a simple concept but so effective.

I have added this video to a Playlist called Trellis Cards and that will share with you many ways to create different looks with this simple design.

The card is easy to make and yet stands out from the crowd because of its unusual design.  

It is a style that has been around for a ling time ... I am just late getting on the bus !!

But I hope you enjoy the video and will come back for more as I have more ways to make trellis cards coming up in future videos.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Pocket Card & Variations

 Hi Everybody,

Today I am starting a new min series and I am re-visiting some old videos in the process.
I am going to make cards from one basic shape and give the old videos  a new lease of life.

Pocket Card

I have not bought anything extra, I have just used things that I already have in my crafting stash.

I have used the same die set throughout for my decorations and it was released a long time ago from my Nested Circles Collection 

The first picture is a complete pocket card and the video will show you how to get this look.

Pocket Card & Variations

You could also simply leave the flaps loose and decorate the inside with the detailed layer if you prefer. Thus giving you two variations to use 

Side Fold Card

These next two cards are with the fold at the side, and it could be on either side.

I have used the die cut as a detailed lacey layer  that you can see through...

Top Fold Card

... and this one has the fold at the top using the detailed layer at the bottom to hold the card upright.

I have used a 300 gsm card, but if yours is lower than that the you may need to glue two detailed layers together for the strength to hold the card base upright.

This gives you three more variations on the theme to add to your arsenal.

This lilac card has the two flaps going in opposite directions but the card will still stand on its own.

For this I have cut the largest die to create a base, and I have added that behind the detailed layer,  to give this layer a more solid look.

But whichever way you decide to do this it will give you a really pretty card to send to your recipient, male or female and what ever the occasion. 

I hope you enjoy the video 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs x

Old Idea ...old video

 Hi Everybody,

My apologies for adding this old video from seven years ago but I have not been well over the past few days and not feeling up to doing a new one to show you. So I hope this one will entertain you until I feel better.

It was done many years ago and Griff  filmed it and although I use alcohol inks in it you could use your favourite medium to create the look.

Because this is such an old video I am able to add it here on the blog and not just the link back to YouTube.

Thanks for all your lovely comments on the mini series for Parchment Ideas, it makes me really happy that you enjoyed the videos.

I will be back to normal soon with another mini series for you to enjoy and in this series I will be revisiting some of the old card shapes that have been around for a long long time.
It will also update some of my older videos too.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx