Friday Freebie 036

Hi Everybody,

Todays Friday Freebie is a card with a background created with   Shaving Foam 

This is an old video tutorial that I did and I have added it before but for those that are new to the idea I have added it again

The Card is in a lovely deep purple with a flower corsage to match and the flowers are from   Wild Orchid Crafts

I have sparkled them up with fine iridescent glitter from Glitter Magic

The hat pin is a very feminine addition and it is removable from the card.  I use 3" hat pins with end protectors from the Sparkles Group

The sentiment is from   Lili of the Valley   and is one of a set on an A5 sheet of verses

Now if this is a card that you would like to win then all you need to do is add a comment at the bottom of the page.

Scroll down to just under my signature and there you will see the word Comments and if you click that word it will open another window for you.

A name will be chosen at random and the winner will be announced tomorrow morning in the blog post.

This is the last day of the  Spellbinders Sneak Peak and Give Away 

Click the link to see the  Imperial Square  that I featured on Monday ... the links on each designers pages are open for 48 hours for your chance to win the featured die set

 And for other die templates on offer visit the other designers blogs and enter there for more chances to win.  A winner will be drawn each day with a grand prize to be won on the last day

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Spellbinders S5-160 Majestic Elements Nestabilities Opulent Ovals Die Templates

Spellbinders S6-001 Nestabilities Matting Basics A Die Templates, 5 by 7-Inch

Spellbinders S6-002 Nestabilities Matting Basics B Die Templates, 5 by 7-Inch

InLinkz.com

Card Class

Hi Everybody,

In the last card class my ladies tried their hand at creating a more masculine card with the unusual technique shown

If this is a new idea to you then maybe you would like to watch a tutorial on Faux Leather Effect

The two different color schemes make the card look totally different and you can make it suit your recipient whether male or female

It is very easy to do and I hope you will enjoy the short video  ... and I am sure that you will agree that both Mary and Brenda have made lovely cards on this their first attempt.

The Spellbinders Sneak Peak and Give Away is now in its fourth day

Click this link  HERE   for the form that you need to fill in and submit to be in with a chance

Visit the other Designer Team blogs too for even more chances to win and there are other sets on offer... and at the end of the week there will be a grand prize fro someone to win.

But remember that these dies are  being newly launched at the CHA shows in California and  they will be available for you to buy  next spring 2015

The link is open for 48 hours and is the only way to enter.  Good Luck

Thank you for all the comments on my practise run with the camera. I had some really good tips and advice from many of you and I will take each and every one on board and work with it.  Many of you preferred the third photo of the cards and that was my favorite one as well.

It was only a practise run and my first attempt with my new camera and I do intend to use other staging props and not just the ones shown.  So hopefully my pictures will get better

 All the advice given was well received by me and in the manner it was intended

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Practising Photography ..

Hi Everybody,

A few days ago I told you that one of the workshops we had done at the  Spellbinders Ambassadors Retreat was on photography.  I was very interested because up until then I had  simply used a little point and shoot type camera that was not expensive.

But since then I have come home and bought myself a better camera.  I am now snapping away to practise taking photos that are more interesting for the viewer.

This involves "staging"  a photo to get the best angle and light and using props to dress the area in a pleasing way.  All very new to me but very exciting ideas just the same.

 So these are my very first attempts at presenting a card in the best possible way,  with the cameras focus on the card itself and the background out of focus to enhance it.

 The dies used are not the subject for this test just the photo ... so ... What do you think about my practise shots???

The size is also not a problem as I can make them the size I want within the blog post.  It's just the idea of presenting a better shot of the subject I am asking you about and the way they have been set out to please your eye.  

I will keep on practising and I will get better

Don't forget that this is the third day of the   Spellbinders Sneak Peak and Give Away   and to be in with a chance to win the dies on Designers Blog post you need to add your name and submit it.

Here is the entry form  to win the Imperial Square that I featured and you won't be able to buy this until next spring 2015

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Laced with Love

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is another from the recent Create and Craft shows and features the "Laced with Love" Collection.

These  beautiful  Spellbinders die templates will help you to create the most elegant cards

For the next three weeks they are exclusive to Create and Craft 

This one is the Lonely Hearts and I have glittered it up for extra effect

I have dressed this up with organza ribbon and pretty flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts

Into the flowers I have added in a pretty hatpin that I have made and you can also make your own and the Decorative Hatpins Tutorial  will show you how I did them

I buy 3" silver hatpins with end protectors from the Sparkles Group  and if you add the code CGDIS5 at the checkout then you will get a discount on your purchase.

Don't forget the  Spellbinders Sneak Peak  contest that is running until the 5th December for the chance to win the featured die template.

The entry form is HERE  click the link to fill out the form and submit it for your chance to win

Please visit the other Design Team members blogs for more chances to win

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Spellbinders Winter CHA 2015 Sneak Peak and Give Away -Day 1

Welcome to the first day of the Spellbinders Winter CHA 2015 Sneak Peak and my first attempt at showcasing for this wonderful team

The beautiful template that I am featuring is the  Imperial Square  and it is one of many being released at the Craft and Hobby Association for 2015  You will have the chance to win this at the bottom of the page. The  sentiment has been cut in silver from Sentiments One

My first project was created as a beautiful silver and white Congratulations Card that would be ideal for wedding day and the die is a pleasure to work with

 Supply List

• SKU-021 Imperial Square
• S2-082  Sentiments One - Congratulations
• LF-126 Grand Squares (Retired)
• GC-001 Grand Calibur  Die Cutting and Embossing machine

Cross Promotional Partners

• Want2Scrap    72ct White Pearls

Other Products 

• White Hammered card
• Silver Mirror Card
• White Organza Ribbon
• Heart hatpins
• Foam tape

Instructions

Cut two Grand Square #7 (the smallest is #1) to create the base and join together with a hinge

Cut two Grand Square #6 from white cardstock and emboss both peices keeping one for later

Hand cut a silver layer to fit in between these two layers to form the base.

Mat and layer the embossed white and silver card together

Cut and Emboss the entire Imperial Square die set with white card stock

Using foam tape layer this with a slightly larger piece of silver card

From the four smallest dies cut each one four times in silver

Then onto the silver and white embossed layers add the four largest  ones into each of the corners

Next take your silver and filigree layer and add it to this panels making sure it is centred and level

With the four smaller corners add them to a white centre shape securing with glue on the back.

Add this panel to the card front with foam tape for dimension.

Wrap all these layers with white ribbon and they can now be added to the base layer and the ribbon workings will be hidden in between these layer.

Cut Congratulations from Sentiments One and add it to white card

Using the centre part of the Imperial Square die set cut the word panel and then trim to fit the centre of your card.

Take the second piece of white embossed card and add it to the inside of the card to line it

I have also cut another Imperial Square and trimmed it down to fit as a pocket inside the card

Glue three sides leaving the top part open and into this slip a label shape that can be used as a greeting or for your signature.

A Designers Note...

When you are adding words to your label a good tip is to use a ruler and the grid lines on your cutting mat to help you get them straight and line them up equally on either side of your  card

And here is a second card using the same die in another way and this will be featured in a later post complete with instructions on how to make it

For you chance to win click  HERE   fill out the entry form and submit ... Good Luck   (The link is only open for 48 hours) 
(This link is now closed)

For the Official Contest Rules click HERE

Questions ?   Contest Questions    (No entries will be accepted at this email address)

To see other projects and for  more chances to win please visit  Debbie Olson at Thinking Inking  to start this brand new "Give Away"

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx