Plaited With Love - A5 + Stencil + Circles

Hi Everybody,

This new collection is so much fun to play with and it can be adapted to any size card you wish to make.

For this card I have used the stencil as it really makes the backgrounds stand out, and I should make much more of the stencils that I have.

The flowers are silk and I have had them for a long time but the leaves and greenery are cut from a die set that is fast becoming a favourite.

The video will show you how I got this look and I have more to be added over the next week or so. I hope you enjoy.

 

                  

All these dies can be used separately or can be mixed and matched with each other or any other dies that you have from previous collections.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

A5 Nested Die Set

Hi Everybody,

Do you remember these boxes? All created from the A5 Nesting dies.

I can't believe it, but this video is now three years old and I thought I would add it again here as a reminder of what this set can do.

And they do work well with the A5 Card & Box Die Set giving you even more variation to the size of the boxes and cards you make.

This is also a reminder to dig out your older dies and put them to good use again, and get more for your money with each use. 

Don't forget to join me tomorrow on Craft Stash Facebook Live, or their YouTube Channel, at 12.30 for some fun time with Lou and me.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

New Collection

 Hi Everybody,

. 

Just a little video to introduce you to the new collection launching on Facebook Live this coming Friday

 
I hope you can join me then and hopefully win some of the fabulous prizes that will be on offer.

This is just one of the cards that I have made with these new items and I have had a lot of fun playing. 

You can make them as fancy or clean and simple as you like but you know me I always add loads to most of my designs.

I will be adding videos to the blog pages showing all the different designs I have come up with and I hope you enjoy some of my ideas.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

      

A6 Collection - Cards, Box & Envelopes

 HI Everybody,

Here is the box and it is slightly deeper than the other box sets.

But this is to to your advantage as it means that you can get six ... maybe more ... cards inside, complete with envelopes for you to give a s complete gift to someone.

These can be "Thank You" cards, teacher appreciation cards , birthday cards or anything that you enjoy giving a card for but it enables you recipient to have card on hand whenever they need to send one out.

Add some stamps and a pen in the box too and it is a complete package for a Christmas present to them.

Just make sure that you use paper and not a thick card to make your envelops or they will not fit into the box with the cards. You could pre make a stack of ordinary ones also from copy paper and keep them on hand ready to use.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

A6 Collection - Card & Envelope

 Hi Everybody,

I am amazed at how well this new A6 Collection has done. It was a size I was asked for quite a few times and as always I am happy to oblige. 

So if you bought it I hope you have fun with it and this video will show you ways to make the most of it for your designs.

You can add decoration to the envelope as you like of simply leave it plain to go in the post. The smaller size also means no extra cost when you do post it.

They are also the correct size to add to the box if your preferred. The choice with this collection is entirely up to you  and if you wanted a larger card then there is nothing to stop you adding this to a bigger base.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Old and New mix ...

 Hi Everybody,

We are all guilty of this and that is buying crafting items , using them just a few times and that putting them in cupboard and forgetting about them.

So today I am sharing a video that uses quite a few older dies and teaming it with the circular sentiments from the new A6 collection.

This card is very easy to create but gives and unusual affect to your backgrounds and gives you yet another way to use those Clever Cuts Offset Background dies.

        

Use your favourite colours to ink up the card and for mine I used the easy to blend Distress Oxides but you can use any that you have in your own collections.

I really like this look and it is one I will be doing again with other shapes to add to my cards.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Everyday Items - Paper Kitchen Towel

Hi Everybody,

In this little series I am using items that you will find in your own home that can be used to create different  looks for your designs. 

So far I have used Tin Foil to create a really pretty background  and in this video I am using paper towels to do the same thing.
And the result is lovely.

I am going to do more videos to show you how I have used up ordinary things to create something pretty for my cards that won't break the bank, and that you probably already have in your home.

                   

It is worth having a look around to see what you have and then give it a try. If it doesn't work out for you that's ok you can always try something else. 

But you never know you could be very pleasantly surprised with what you get.

Here is a reminder of what the tin foil card turned out like, and who knows what I will use next !!!

The link will take you to the video in case you missed it.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Elegant Nestables Collection - DL + Octagons

Hi Everybody,

For this card I have used the small dies from the Octagon die set which is part of the Elegant Nestables Collection.

I have linked them all together with ribbon woven through the centre and I like the look of this card with the glitter card in the background

It is a DL size,  which is coming back into fashion again, and this is effective yet easy to do. 

I have really enjoyed playing with this new die set and there are lots of videos to showcase the different sizes in the collection. I have used every style there is now and in many cases I have mixed and matched sets as well.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

                     

Elegant Nestables Collection - 5x7 + Octagons

Hi Everybody,

Today I am featuring another one of the dies from the Elegant Nestables Collection and this time it is my favourite 5x7 teamed with the Octagons.

This style of card was one I saw Marta Debicka making in her tutorial last week and I really liked the design. I asked Marta if I could copy it and so here is my version.

For mine I have used the dies from the set and I am more than happy with the finished look. I can't wait to se what Marta thinks of it too. 

The video is not long but is another that will be added to the Elegant Nestables Playlist on my YouTube channel.

Enjoy the video ...

The links at the bottom of the screen are mostly affiliate ones which means if you purchase through them I will get a small commission at not extra cost to you.

I have added in the Wild Orchid Crafts link but sadly they do not ship to the UK at present .. lets hope that changes soon. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Elegant Nestables - DL & Slimline

 Hi Everybody,

Todays video is to show you the difference between the DL and the Slimline version of this new Elegant Nestables Die set. 

The card shown is the Slimline version and I know that the colour scheme is perhaps a little unusual  for some people.

 But I have been using white and silver just lately and so I thought ... try a complete change of colour and see how it looks.

And although it is black based with blue mirror card I have to say I am quite happy with it. 

Both of these cards could also be used for a winter birthday too and probably other occasions with a bit of tweaking

The flowers are some that I have had in my crafty boxes for quite some time and it is about time they got used. And the die cut leaves and sprigs help to complete the look.

                                 

The video is not too long and I have covered most of the dies that are in this new collection in other videos that I have now added to the blog pages and on YouTube. 

The rest of them will follow shortly
You will find them all in a playlist named Elegant Nestables Collection.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Perfect Christmas Rose

Hi Everybody,

This pretty die and stamp set is called the 
Perfect Christmas Rose
but it can be used all year round for beautiful results. 

I have used water colours on the flowers, and you could use any of your favourite mediums, and they have been added with foam tape to vary the heights.

I have added some pale pink pearls to the designer paper and the sentiment has been backed onto some parchment.

Mine is for a birthday but it would suit any occasion as well as Christmas.

This is a card I made last year and the reason  I am showing it to you again is because Craft Stash have a special offer on their website of 50% off the die set making it a bargain for your own stash 

 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Ink Smoosh and Gold Edging

Hi Everybody,

I have been doing some ink smooshing using Distress Oxides. 

The one on the left is with Picked Raspberry and Squeezed Lemonade and the one on the right is with Kitsch Flamingo and Mermaid Lagoon.

I have some videos on my YouTube Channel showing this Ink Smooshing Technique if it is new to you. And this one includes Ink Smooshing & Die Cutting also

But for these two cards I have cut out both the panels with the Torn Edges Die Set and then inked up the edges with Embossing Ink and added Gold Embossing Powder. I also added some of the embossing ink using a finger dauber and a stencil on one, and in a random fashion on the other and embossed them the same way.

The other layers for the cards have also been cut
with the same die set making them to fit around the main panel.

I found lots of items on my desk top left over from other projects and I used them to complete both of my cards.

The sentiments are from Special Words, cut in Gold mirror card and backed onto parchment.

I used some pearl flourish to finish off the look on both and I have had this flourish for years in my bit box, but by cutting it up into pieces I made it fit both of my cards.

Both cards have used bits that might otherwise have been thrown away or lost, but now they have been put to good use instead.

I can't choose a favourite as I like them both equally and both will go in my donate box ready to go to the Charity Shop to be sold.

Do you have many bits left at the end of a crafting session? And if you do how do you use them up?

Let me know and maybe some of your ideas can be shared amongst us

I hope you enjoy the two videos I have added, just click the links and it will take to a new page to watch them. They are not long so you won't get bored.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Nested Fancy Frames - Circles

Hi Everybody,

Today the star of the show is the
Nested Fancy Frames - Circles
and in this video I have shared how I made a Gatefold Card.

The picture shows a circular card using the largest outer die to create the shape but there are lots of ways to use any of these sets.

In the video I shared the other day using the Nested Fancy Frames Rectangles I have shown you how to alter the shape to the die cuts. 

And you can do the same thing to any of the shapes in this new collection to give you even more possibilities for your designs.

I have created a playlist on YouTube to feature all these new dies and here is the video for the Circles

        

I have also created an Easel Card and that was really easy to do

The papers I have used on this card are from the Simply Made Crafts Summer Fun Pack 

by Helen Griffin.

There are lots of 12x12 paper with lovely designs to them and I have used several of them on my cards.

I hope you enjoy the video and it is just the right length for a brew at the same time !!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Nested Fancy Frames - Rectangles

 Hi Everybody,

Today it is the turn of the Nested Fancy Frames Rectangle Die Set.

In this video I have shown you how you can change the shape from rectangle to slimline, and others too.

I want you to get as much enjoyment from any of my collections as you can as I know they can be a considered purchase.

But they will last you a lifetime if you take care of them which means you can be making beautiful cards for years to come.

Ringing the changes with the way you use the die cuts is what will keep the interest alive and make card making much more fun for you.

This is the exact same set of dies but with just a little trimming it can be made to fit a slimline card. I have added this to an embossed panel to fill the background and I really like the end result.

I hope you will give these ideas a try and look at any of your other dies too to see if they can be adapted to alter  their shapes for your cards.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Using Baby Wipes

 Hi Everybody,

This little card was covered a while ago in a background  using Baby Wipes and I did a video on the method as well.

I am adding the link to the video again for those people that are new to my blog.

It can also serve as a refresher if you have forgotten about the idea which can give some lovely results. 

I made several cards and this is just one of them. Vary the colours for a different look to your own designs and use different stamps to for another look 

I have added a piece of parchment behind the oval on this card top give a muted look to the flowers but you could add acetate or turn this into a shaker card if you preferred.

And if you wanted another idea on using really cheap Baby Wipes then here is another video that you may enjoy.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Butterfly Gatefold Card

 Hi Everybody,

This very pretty card is created with the 5x7 Butterfly Trails die set and shows you yet another way that you can create the gatefold design for your cards.

I have combined mine with some lovely paper from the Daisy Mae paper pack and I am very happy with the finished look.

The "Bling" that I have added to the bodyline is some that I have had for years and it is in my stash just waiting to be used.

These butterflies are the perfect opportunity 

Gatefold cards always look more complicated than they are and so I hope this doesn't put you off if you are new to card making, 

The video will show you what to do to make this style of gatefold and there is another way in another video that is in my YouTube Playlist for Butterfly Trails 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Lovely in Lace

Hi Everybody,

Today I am sharing a card created from a collection that was released six months ago and is the
Lovely In Lace Collection

I also did a video for Craft Stash using this die set and so I am including that here also

It is a lovely collection that allows you to thread ribbon through the die sets for an added touch to your designs.

There are four sets in the collection for you to choose from and I hope you enjoy the video

This card uses one of the flowers dies and it is really pretty, but there are lots of other things that can be done with these dies.

Once you start to play and the old imagination gets to work I am sure that you will come up with lots for your self. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Time for Tea

Hi Everybody,

This weeks offering is a really cute stamps and die set that would make you some really lovely cards or even invitations for afternoon tea.

There is a video to accompany this set that you may find interesting and help you see if you would like this to join your collection at home.

Time For Tea  

 If you would like this then all you have to do is leave me a comment at the end of the post with your FULL NAME

From those comments one name will be chosen at random and announced in a blog post over the weekend so be sure to come back and check if it is your name that is shown.

Now I hope you will join me tomorrow on Craft Stash Facebook Live as I show you some of the new dies that are in the latest collection. I have a little demo to show you also, and Pauline Hickey will be with Lou Collins and myself at 12.30 See you then

Friday 7th May @ 12.30 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

 

The New Circular Box

 

Hi Everybody,

One of the die sets in the new collection is the Circular Box and the end result is beautiful.

No more measuring and no more worrying that it will all fit together as you want it too, to suit your recipient

Just die and cut and stick and then decorate to your hearts content to suit your recipient.

For my box I have used the flowers in the dies for a truly feminine look but you can also create a more masculine feel by using the Tapis Builder Die Set that I showed you the other day.

The flowers are full and easy to make and in the video I show you how to get this look for your own designs. You could stop at the bud stage and add these to your display as well.

Enjoy the video and your box making as well .

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Floral Decorative Corners

,

Hi Everybody,

This is another of the new corner dies from my collections and this one is the Floral Decorative Corner Dies.

There are so many dies in these sets and the way you use them is just as varied.

 

In the video I have shown you some of the ways that I have used the elements and put together different looking cards to suit the occasion

They can also be made to fit various sizes of card too so you will never be short of dies to decorate your personal designs.

The cards shown look completely different and yet they are created with the same die set.

The words on this one are from the Ultimate Relations and if it is out of stock at Craft Stash then

leave your name and email address and they will notify you as soon as it is back.

It is another useful set to have and covers all the relatives you may have including extended families

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx