Tonic Studios - Numbers

Hi Everybody,

Numbers are always a useful addition to your crafting stash

These are from Tonic Studios and they are quite large.

They can make a complete focal point on your cards to celebrate that special birthday or anniversary.




This is the complete set of numbers from 0 - 9 and of course the number 6 can be turned up side down for the 9

Each number is in two parts to help you create different looks


In the picture below count the shapes from left to right  1 - 5...

Cutting the solid one alone from designer papers can give you a really pretty look (1 &2)

Cutting the patterned one alone will add some interest for you.(4&5)

Cutting the two together will give you a really thin frame that you can add to the number (2,3 & 4)

For my card I have cut the solid number from beautiful Blissful papers from AnnaMarie Designs

Then I cut the patterned die from white card and added it the top. I dressed it with flowers and stamped the other sentiments from various sets onto some white card and added them with foam pads

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Water Colour Wednesday - Bear Hugs

Hi Everybody,

This pretty little Bear Hugs card would be ideal for a childs birthday.

 The bear stamp and dies are from Clearly Besotted and their store is due to re open again in April

There are lots of sentiments that you can buy to match with it and dies to cut out both the bear and the banner

I created the background with Distress Inks and a blending tool and then took a block Birthday stamp and in the same colour ink simply stamped over the blending

It leaves a very feint impression that can be seen better when the card is in the hand.

The bear has been coloured with Gansai Tambi  water colours and cut out with the matching die. 

Both sentiments have been stamped and cut out with dies and all the die cuts have foam pads underneath them.

The balloons are from a panel that I had already created with Brusho Crystals and I cut them with a little balloon die that I have in my "stash" and I used a white Sharpie pen to add pattern to some of them

I trimmed down the panel to fit the front of an A2 card and left a small border along one edge

Another quick and easy card to make

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Tuesday Tutorial-Sapphire Basic Set A

Hi Everybody,

This little starter set of small dies are designed to be used with the Sapphire, but they can be used in any of the small die cutting machines that are on the market.  

These little machines are so handy to keep on your work top to cut sentiments, tags or even some flowers. They take up no space at all but are just as strong as the bigger die cutters

You may have been lucky enough to get your Sapphire from C&C and this is the set of dies that came with the machine at that time. That machine is exclusive to C&C but the Prizm is the same concept and both are by Spellbinders

So here is a really quick and simple card idea for those little dies

Spellbinders Supplies:

• Prizm Die Cutting Machine
• Sapphire Basic set A
• S5-131 A2 Matting Basics A
• S5-132 A2 Matting Basics B
• SCF-001 Framed Canvas EF (Retired)

Other Supplies:

• Blue Dotty Card from Anna Marie Designs
• Any embossing folder that you have
• Blue Ribbon from Mei Flower
• Black flourish from Want2Scrap 

Instructions:

Cut two panels with die #7 from Matting Basics A and create a hinged card

With die #7 from Matting Basics B cut another panel in dotty blue card

With die #6 from Matting Baiscs A cut another white panel and emboss in the folder that you have

(Please remember that die #1 is always the smallest)

Add the embossed panel to the dotty card with foam pads between the layers

Cut all the square dies together to create two frames and the other pieces as you need

Stamp your sentiment onto the small oval and layer it onto the tag die

Add the tag with foam pads to the embossed panel

Add ribbon through the loops on the tag and secure behind the panel

Layer up the frames to overlap each other with foam pads were needed

Layer up the butterflies along the body line and add the flourish as the butterfly trail

Add all this to the base card

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Let me tell you a story !!!

Hi Everybody,

I have a really lovely family story to tell you and I know you will say "AaaaHhh!!"

So if you have followed me for a while you will know about my handsome Grandson Jamie opening his first restaurant just before Christmas.

I am so happy to say that he is doing really well and building up that reputation for excellent food and good service.

We all worked really hard to refurbish it and none worked harder than Jamies girlfriend Jasmine. She has stood by him through thick and thin.

She has put up with his tantrums when things weren't going right, comforted him in his frustrations at  the many unforeseen problems

Endlessly moved rubbish in her car and scrubbed and cleaned anything she could see.  

She has helped him night and day and she has and laughed with him when it all came together.  She has even waited tables for him once he opened and gives her service  to customers with a smile and cheery word

They arranged to close the restaurant for a few days after New Year to give them both a well earned rest

So as part of his Christmas gift she booked a surprise trip for them both to Paris for three nights  and they went this week

He was very emotional when she told him but quite excited at the same time as neither have been to Paris

Now unknown to her he planned a little surprise of his own ...

On the first night they arrived they went out to dinner to a really lovely restaurant ... and he asked her to marry him.  

He had asked her parents secretly before they went and he bought her the most beautiful engagement ring ... and she said YES!! 

I could not be happier as they are so well suited and she is a real treasure and we all love her too.

So I wish them all the very best in their new future together and this is the card that I have made for them. Thank you for reading my story and I am sure you will wish them all the best too

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Express Yourself - Make It Personal

Hi Everybody,

A little while ago I was sent a variety of handmade stickers by a small paper crafting company asking me to try out their products and see what I think. 

So this week I have been busy making up some samples of clean and simple cards that will show off the stickers and how easy they are to use.

There is a vast selection for you to choose from for every occasion and the company is called  .... Express Yourself - Make It Personal

Here are a few of the cards that I have made quite quickly using the stickers

These have just been added to a script layer on my white base card

This is using the Macaroons and Teacups for my Birthday card 

For this next card I have simply used the  Summer Flowers 

I have added them to my embossed panel  and used one of the Especially For You  stickers from another pack

Add in some enamel dots and add the whole topper to the base card for a quick and easy card.

The butterfly is one I cut from the pack that is shown in the next card.

There are three sets of 3 Butterflies in this multi pack and on this card I have used two complete stickers for the front of the card.

The third set I have cut up and one single one is placed on the edge of the sentiment and  another is used on the card above

Quick easy and very effective cards and the stickers will work really well on scrapbook pages too.

The Happy Birthday is part of the Mini Captions 

This multi pack is Cake With Candles  and the Numbers are glitter stickers and the ones I used are silver

So I hope you have enjoyed the few ideas for cards that I have shown you here

The links to the products I have used have also been added.

They are an inexpensive way to add that extra touch to any of your projects and I hope you will pop over to their website and see for your self.

And while you are there have a look at their blog post in which they have added me as one of their top five favorites   Express Yourself MIP  and I am very honoured to be featured

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx