Spellbinders Die & Stamp Set 1

 Hi Everybody,

I have been giving away the magazines with the attached gifts as my Friday Freebie for years now but at the moment I have run out of them.

And so instead I am offering you the chance to have something else that you can add to your crafting collection. 

Over the next few weeks I am giving away a Spellbinders Die & Stamp Set that is brand new and unopened. 

Each one consists of  a stamp, which is sometimes a sentiment and others floral or a border, but there is always a matching die to go with it.

This week it is sentiments and there are six dies in this collection, and they wild make a lovely addition to your cards. 

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

Then be sure to come back and check if it is your name that is shown over the weekend as the winner.
You will have 72 hours in which to claim the pack.
Good Luck 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

More Everyday Items

Hi Everybody,

Items that we often discard in our homes can be repurposed to create backgrounds for our cards.  .

Over the last few videos I have tried to share some of the ways in which I make these work for me and they are ideas that you may have tried for yourself.

I have used tin foil and kitchen towel as well as shaving foam and baby wipes for all different kinds of textures and features on my designs

If you are new to card making then maybe they will give you some inspiration to try these out and see what you come up with.

Using different shapes to add to the design can also make a difference. Both these cards are featured in the video

I have created a playlist on YouTube that has all my ideas in one place and it is well worth browsing if you are stuck for ideas,  or at times when cash is low but you have some of these things already in the home.

This time I am featuring Bubble Wrap for another addition to your Everyday Items.

So grab a cuppa and sit back to relax as you view the video using this idea.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Playtime ...

Hi Everybody,

While browsing through YouTube the other night I spotted a video that showed me how to create a card with this look and I was very impressed,

The card was beautiful and the demonstrator made it look so easy to do. So of course I had to go to the craft room and give it a try from myself.

I had to search for all the small Christmas themed stamps that I had and I cut the bauble from some Mylar to make the stencil for the design. 

It is no where near as impressive as the one I saw made and I am adding the video here in case you wanted to give it a try too.

 

There are bits I have omitted from making my card but I will be doing this again with other bauble shapes and I will get better in the process, but I have to say I enjoyed making it even if it is  not perfect,

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Easy Peasy Sponging

 Hi Everybody,

When I have got out my crafting supplies out it is always easier for me to make more than one card. 

That way I always have some on hand, and they may only need a sentiment on them, or they go to fill up my charity shop box.

And these two cards shown are already in that box, complete with a matching envelope in a cellophane bag.

These have both used the sponging effect from the other day and are really easy and quick to do and yet make really pretty cards.

The video was another one to add to the 

Everyday Items Playlist 

on YouTube that is full of simple ideas using things you probably already have.

I have several more videos to add to this section and they are not difficult to re-create. but can help you to expand your repertoire. 

Non of the techniques are new and they have all been done many times by others over the years. 

But if you are new to cardmaking then they may be something that you had not thought about and may like to try for your self.

Click the link above to look at the playlist as there maybe something there that takes your fancy.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Everyday Items - Sponged Backgrounds

 Hi Everybody,

A really cheap and easy way to vary the look of your cards is to use items that you are sure to find around the home.

This card has been created with an everyday household sponge that I have cut into pieces to use with water based inks.

Quick, easy and very effective and if you change the colours you will vary the look.

I have used the pre printed and foiled sentiment strip that came with the  most recent paper packs that have been released and there are such a  lot in each of the packs.

The video is not too long but will give you time to relax with a cuppa and hopefully a new idea.
You may have already tried this in the past or you would like to do so now. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Inked Embossing Folder

Hi Everybody,
 

This pretty card is done with an embossing folder and I showed you some of the others  a few days ago. 

I added a video to Craft Stash that shows a slightly different variation to this one.

But in this video I show you that you can use any embossing folder that you have and any water colours that will blend together. 

This card has been created with Brushos and a little parchment to diffuse the background

I also used any card that I had to add the colours too, and any black ink in my stash. 

I always have the gold wax, flowers and parchment on hand but you can leave them out if you prefer.

On this card to the left I have added in a light dusting of the wax and the butterflies are cut from gold card.

It gives such a pretty look and it will be different each time you do it.

You could also try a colour other than black to the infill and that would give you another look to your designs. 

It really is playtime with this technique and you are sure to enjoy the process.

For the card to the right I used pinks and purples to create the base and then added Villainous Potion to the embossing folder for the other colour.

I highlighted the design in gold gilding wax with my fingers and added the decoupaged flower and leaf to the card with foam tape.

I hope you enjoy the video and be sure to let me know if you try this for yourself.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Lace Stamped Background

Hi Everybody,

This was a technique that I covered a few years ago now and I may have shown other cards from the idea but I don't think that this was one of them.

The background has been inked with an Ombre colour scheme going from dark blue to a paler shade at the top. 

Then once that was dry I stamped at the bottom of the card the lace border in Versamark. 

It uses a stamp that I bought at a Craft Show and I have had this for many years and I don't know if it is still available

Once stamped it was sprinkled with white embossing powder.

The powder stands out much more once it is heated and is slightly raised from the card too. I added self adhesive pearls to each of the points on the lace

The sentiment is stamped in black and then clear embossed to give it the shine.

The flower display has been added to trail down the left side of the panel and as usual I have dotted it with glue and sprinkled it with glitter.

Smaller pearls have been added around the display and then that panel has been added to a top folded 5x7 card base.

It is a very pretty card and the techniques is easy to do. Take a kook at some of the stamps in your collection and try using them in this way for spectacular results.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Altenew & Parchment

Hi Everybody, 

Today it is pouring down and quite cold so not a lot being done outside in the garden.
But yesterday I managed to get some of my very big plants re-potted  and some of the new plants used to fill out the other pots so they look pretty again. 

Then the whole garden ... back and front ... was jet washed to get rid to the grim that has collected this year, and now it all looks clean again and ready to face the world. And that's another job off my list of things to be done, and it is going down steadily.

This card is using another stamp and matching die set from Altenew and these have ben coloured in with the layering stencil.

Once these have been die cut I have added it to a piece of parchment that I have torn into shape and add to another panel that has  also been coloured with stencils.

The parchment diffuses the background and allows the flowers to show up more. 

Then the whole lot has been added to some knitted card with foam tape between each of the layers. 

The little sentiment is from a Card Making Magic paper pack and I added that to some white card for strength.

The card looks prettier in the hand than it does here and it is one that I am not unhappy with

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Mixed Flowers

Hi Everybody,

Not been around much this week but I have got loads of jobs done around the house. There are times when crafting has to take a back seat while other things get done and this is just one of those times..

This card was done on the spur of the moment and it is a 5x7 card with the fold at the top. 

I have made a background from some Fleur card from Anna Marie Designs and stamped some text onto the card.

The stamp was free with a magazine and the small twirly bits are from the same set. I added black pen around the edges as faux stitching.

I inked the edges with Antique Linen and added the flowers with foam pads to raise them up.

The large purple flower and the leaves are from the CMM Hellebore Decoupage set but the Roses are from the Layered Roses set that is o longer available.

The sentiment is from a pack bought at the Craft Shows and U cut off wat I need and add it to the card with foam tape. 

Quick simple and easy card that is now ready to send.

I will try to do better this week ... I promise

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Inked Embossing Folders

Hi Everybody,

This pretty A6 card is created with inks and a 3-D Embossing Folder from Altenew. It was part of one of the Create Your Life kits that I used to get 

It is a very easy technique to do and if you prefer it in a  video then be sure to let me know and I will do one straight away.

The result will be different every time you do it and of course can change drastically depending on the colours that you use.

I am very happy with this one and I think the flowers stand out really well especially with the gold edging to them.

Here is another done in more vibrant colours and added to some of the knitted card from

 Anna Marie Designs.

To thus circular card I have also added in some Mulberry flowers.

If you like to use flowers on your cards and always got them from Wild Orchid Crafts then it was a great disappointment when they stopped shipping to the UK.

But one of my regular readers has given me a kink to a new place that has the same types of flowers at much the same prices as WOC

So a great big Thank You to Ann Topp for the tip about Carroway  Cottage   

They have the most amazing range of flowers that you could need,  in all colours and sizes and types, and when I need more flowers I will definitely be giving them a try. 

They are a family run business based in Scotland and so will ship to you in the UK.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Bits and Pieces

Hi Everybody,

This card has been made up from all the bits and pieces of left overs from the technique I have shown in the past couple of days mainly using the Elastic bands to create the background. 

The strips that were left are far too  pretty to just put in the trash can and so I put them to good use instead.

I added them to some double sided sticky sheet and then added that to a 5x7 card base.

The flowers are from an Altenew kit called Bitteroot Flower that I have had for some time and it has layered stencils to colour it in. 

They have been added with foam pads underneath to raise them up. 

They have also been added to a die cut that has been cut from Parchment, and that has been added with foam tape placed strategically under the flowers so that it doesn't show 

They say crafters never waste anything and in this case it is true as those pieces that were left have made a really pretty card that some one is going to enjoy getting.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Sympathy Card

Hi Everybody,

I know we don't like to make this type of card but sometimes a Sympathy card is the only thing that is needed. 

This very elegant card is created with the Elastic Band Technique that I shared with you yesterday and it is perfect.

It is not to colourful and over powering and yet the background does a lot to make the card impressive, and it is very easy to do  

For this card I have used black card and brushed over it with anti static. In my case I use talcum powder as it has the same effect as the more expensive powder but this makes my card smell lovely.

I then sprinkled it with silver embossing powder and gently heated it.  The result is really pretty and the silver sentiment and leaves echo the colour.

I added them to a piece of parchment just to make them stand out a little more but it doesn’t detract from the card design..

The card is elegant and suits the occasion well 

More tomorrow …

Hugs xx

 

Everyday Items - Elastic Bands

Hi Everybody,

Do you have lots of elastic bands lying bout round your home?? I know I do and I use them in  lots of different ways. 

But I found this pack of really cheap bands in my drawer and so I thought I would put them to some good use.

I created some backgrounds to use on my cards and these are really pretty, and depending on the colours you choose they can be used for make or female cards.

I had so much fun creating these and I tried it with every colour of embossing powder that I have. Some I liked more than others  and those I made into cards.

Use your dies to cut the card base into different shapes and add layers to accentuate the patterns you create.

This circular card has several layers in pink and silver and the embossing on this was done with pink embossing powder for a more subtle look.

You may not like to add flowers to your cards so if that is the case then leave them clear. 

The actual technique will create lots of interest on your designs just as it is. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Butterfly Cards

HI Everybody,

My apologies but there is no Friday Freebie this week instead I have used these butterflies and added them to backgrounds that are all circles but created in different ways to create some really clean and simple pretty cards.

This one has an inked backdrop to a lovely piece of embossed and glittery acetate that has ben cut with a circular die. I have had the acetate for years and I got it at a craft show

I have used small foam pads in strategic areas to add this to another panel that I have hand drawn around the edges.

This has had Thank You stamped at the bottom in black ink and then all of it added to a card base card with foam pads.

The butterflies have all been cut from 300gsm white card and adhered to a piece of parchment.

This has then been glued to the  centre of the circles along the body line only.

The card to the left has again got an inked circle but to the top of this I have used a stencil to add darker colour. 

This butterfly as been coloured with the same Blue Print Sketch ink.

This one has been turned into a birthday card using a stamp that was free with a magazine.

For this card I have cut a circle from the Fleur Card from Anna Marie Designs and add it to slightly larger piece of peach card.

I have hand drawn around the edge of the circle and the card for decoration and this is also a Birthday Card.

All the butterflies have the addition of pearl flourishes added to the body line and to crate the butterfly trail onto the card itself.

All the cards are an A6 size and will fit into s standard envelope 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Altenew Embossed Card

Hi Everybody,

Todays Card is using the Silk Art stamp from Altenew that is part of the Create Your Life Project kits

I have used this because the flowers are solid and after stamping them in a black ink they could be embossed  with a clear powder. and heated to melt it to create the shine.

I also used the matching die to cut the flowers out and they have then been added to a background card from Anna Marie Designs with foam pads to raise them up.

The little sentiment stamp is from the same set, but the hearts and ink lines around the edge have ben hand drawn with a fine liner pen just for a little extra decoration.

The completed card is a 5x7 base and I have kept the fold at the top.

It can be for any occasion you need it for. Simply swap out the sentiment to suit your recipient.

I could have made the card smaller by using the coloured centre card only but I wanted to add it as a central panel that was offset to enhance the design

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx