Tools of the trade...

Everybody needs some basics to start cardmaking with and most of the stuff we need we already have to hand.  You will need the obvious .... card, paper and some glue to stick 'em all together ... and envelopes to send the finished card in.

Then get together ...

• A space to work in ... could be the kitchen table.
• A metal edged ruler ... raid the toolbox ... or invest in a clear ruler with a metal edge
• A craft knife and some scissors .... a pair for paper and another for ribbon.
• A self healing cutting mat ... to preserve that kitchen table

And that will get you started cheaply and easily.  I used my dining room table for a long time and made lots of cards that I sent to family and friends. 

The only problem is that as you start to gather together items for your "Stash" it doesn't take long before that "Stash" out grows your chosen space and fills the house.

I am sure many crafters are nodding their heads at that statement as they know exactly what I mean and that is when you need to invest in some storage .... or utilise everyday objects.

But that is another story which we will get too in due course ... but for now back to tools of the trade.

So we have got the basics and we have started to make some cards.... Yes??? well it won't be long before you will  want to invest in some of the bigger stuff to make life easier for you as you get addicted to this lovely hobby.

But over the next few days I will cover some of the pieces you may want to get ... but not all of it is needed ... even if you want it.

Hugs xx

Silver and White Wedding Card.

This will be my last "live" post for a few days as I am all ready to go on my Canadian adventure to meet Naomi and her family. 

The cases are packed, we have the tickets, the dollars and the insurance all sorted, the house is clean and tidy and I am so excited about this trip I can't sleep.

My "Film Crew" has all his camera batteries fully charged and he is raring to go.... complete with the silly hat !!

But of course to family nothing changes and at the last minute my daughter has asked me to make  her a special wedding card.   This wedding has been planned for months ... but last night she asked me and it is for this Saturday.

So what could I say???

Click to enlarge

Once again the remit was for the ever popular white card with flowers and so I obliged ...and this is what I came up with.

The silver was added in to the blend to give some sparkle.

I have used two different types of ribbon and layered them at the top of the card and added a bow from the same two ribbons with a Diamante centre.

The  beautiful Diamante  "Bling" is from Want2Scrap

 The Spellbinders used will be in BOLD so that you will know what I have used.

Click to enlarge

The  background is created  from the   Regal M-Bossablities folder.

 The sentiment has been layered onto the Floral Ovals and the Labels 20 with  matching "Nestabling" added to the centre Label 20

The flowers are Spiral Blossoms 1 and 3, with the smaller Bitty Blossoms added into the spray and each of the flowers has  had a silver glitter ball glued into the centre.

I have used the small leaves from the Bitty Blossoms and larger ones from the Foliage set.

Click to enlarge

The Diamante has been used around the edge of the card and of course all self respecting wedding cards need a box and so I have added the flowers and the "Bling" to this as well.

The lid has an acetate centre so that the card can be seen through it ...but at the last minute I decided to add silver tissue paper to keep it safe.

So that is it until I get to Canada ... the next few days posts are all done and scheduled to go out each morning .... fingers crossed.

Then once I get settled Naomi and I will be doing some projects together and of course my Film Crew will be on hand to take some lovely photos or our trip to Prince Edward Island .

Thank you for all the lovely messages about my holiday... both here and by email to the website.

Hugs xx

Dads' Day

The 17th June was Fathers' Day here in the UK and between us my "Film Crew"  and I have four daughters. And to show their love and appreciation for the things that Griff does he is given a token of their esteem.

It can vary from year to year .... sometimes he gets useful stuff and others it is something funny or frivilous .... especially from Griffs'  youngest daughter ... and this year was no exception.

I had to share this gift with you as we did no amount of laughing over this. 

They like to have their little jokes about us getting on and how they are going to spend their inheritance .... but we are making sure that we spend that before we go !!

So what did Donna get her dad this year ??

 Well it was this  large and rather smart  Ceramic cupcake money box all studded with little gemstones....





Click to enlarge

... but to get the joke you need to read the inscription on the top of the cake.

And she has added a picture of her dad on the cherry ... complete with moustache... it just has a bit more hair than he does !!

But we aren't past it yet and can still give them a run for their money.!!

Hugs xx

Water Colouring with Distress Inks

I am sure that you have a collection of Distress inks and that you have found many ways to use them... from distressing the backgrounds and corners to your cards to inking through your Spellbinders to give the edges some definition.

But they also make an excellent medium for water colouring  and the results are superb.

This pretty Christmas image from Lili of the Valley  has been coloured with a limited palette ...  but the card looks very soft.

This is another using the Dusty Concord Ink and of course the Spellbinders.

Because I was asked how to get the look I added three videos to cover the different aspects on the image.

The  First video on Skin  will give you the links to the two other parts on hair and clothes.

And the image I used was from the SWALK collection from Crafters Companion 

The videos cover the skin, hair and clothes and I have used the Water coloured card from the same company.  And because the image is being water coloured then you will need to use a waterproof ink such as StazOn.

This is also a good way to put your   "Big'N Juicy"   ink pads to work too though the colours from them are a lot more vibrant..... so take extra care.

Hugs xx

Plaited Ribbon

This is another way to use  your beautiful ribbons and it uses a  Spellbinders  border shape to plait the ribbon through.    

It is not the same as the Braided Ribbon featured yesterday and does not use as much ribbon as it is only plaited.

But this is  another video   and if you have  any  Spellbinders  borders in them then this is one way you can use them for   Plaited Ribbons   

Adding ribbons can really make the card very feminine and the doily in the backgound of this card has the same effect.

The image is from the SWALK collection from Crafters Companion and has been Water Coloured using Distress Inks.

One more Ribbon technique to add to your list is the Ruffled Ribbon  and this creates yet another pretty look for your designs.

Hugs xx