Friday Freebie - Spring Birds

Hi Everybody,

Todays offering comes with the Simply Cards & Papercraft magazine and it is a full kit of papers, sentiments and lots of lovely topper sheets

They will all help you to make some pretty cards with the theme or spring birds.

The papers are floral designs and on quality paper in lots of different colours so you can vary the look.

The magazine will give you even more ideas on how to use this kit as well as other tips for inspiration.

So if you would like this kit to get you started then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of this post with your FULL NAME

For those new to the blog, the reason for your full name is so that I can get the gift to the correct winner,

I have a few people with the same first name oy you may come through as unknown or anonymous.

Without a name there is no way I can identify you and so you will miss out on becoming the winner.

Plus I always ask for you postal address because I do not store addresses any where and so even if you have won before I will not have your postal address.

I am not asking much and you will get a good prize if your are the winner.

Bye for now ...

Hugs xx

 

Oval Variations

Shaped card

 Hi Everybody,

Today I am using oval dies that I have in my collections and I have chosen some dies from Spellbinders that are at the very least ten years old

It was a set that I very much loved and used loads when it was first introduced but like everything else it got pushed to one side as new items came on to the market.

I am sure that lots of other people have the same dies and have neglected them for so long.

But now I am on a revival kick and digging out all my old dies again and breathing new life into them 

Shaker card

Here are three of the cards from the video and you can do the same styles with any of the die shapes I have covered so far.

Oval Variations

Once you start to play and experiment with the shapes I know you will be able to come up with so many more and have fun in the process.

This shaker card is lovely and I have linked to the parchment and mirror card that I have used below.

They are easy to make and the results are stunning

DL Card base

The card to the right is a DL and I often get asked

what is a DL card. 

All it means is that the card is double the length of its width so for example my card is a 8 x 4" base.

But it could be a 6 x 3" card or any size you choose.

In the next video I will be covering my favourite size which is the 5x7 and showing you several ways in which I have used mine. I hope you will join me for that.

Bye for now ...

Hugs xx

Circle Pink & Gold gatefold

Hi Everybody,

This is a card that was made with the same circle dies that I used in the video but this one didn't make it into the film.

It is 6" Gatefold and the inside and the side panels have all been lined with pink layers and white embossed layers

The circle motif fits nicely onto the front of the card and has tiny pearls dotted all around the outside edge.

The gold embossed flowers have been added to one side and the sentiment is raised up with foam and nestled into the display

I hope these videos are giving you some fresh ideas on what to do with your dies and making the most of any items that you already have in your stash,

I hope you will join me tomorrow for another video and  as promised I will be using Ovals to make seven beautiful cards that would suit any occasion.

If there is anything that you would particularly like to see then let me know and if I have the dies to oblige then I will do that straight away.

Another point before I go is about the flowers I use that I got from Wild Orchid Crafts. WOC stopped trading some time ago now and sold the company to buyers from abroad. They will not ship to the Uk and so we couldn't get he beautiful blooms we all so enjoyed.

Well one of my readers found another company that sell the same kind of flowers and at more or less the same price and they are based in the UK.

I am adding the link for you to take a look at them and it will also be in the box underneath future videos on YouTube.

Carroway Cottage

Bye for now ...

Hugs xx

Using your Square Dies

 Hi Everybody,

Today we are moving on to using square dies to create several beautiful cards. and the dies I am using are really old ones from Spellbinders that will no longer be available to buy.

I have used gold and silver mirror card to enhance the look and the flowers are mulberry flowers that I got from Wild Orchid Crafts many years ago

This pretty card has used the square dies as they are but in the video I show you how to increase or decrease the size to fit your designs.

Square Dies

This card has had the size of the die cut increased to fit a 5x7 and the result is really pretty.

I have used the same leaf and butterfly dies for all the cards, including the circle ones from last week.

You don't need to buy more you just  need to use any leaf,  flowers, heart or butterfly dies that you already have and make them work for you.

The sentiment is from  my bit box and so are may of the other die cuts that I could find on my desk and they  are left over from other projects.

This video is a little longer but it gives you eight ideas on how to create the look for your self.

I hope you will join me next time and see what we can do with Oval shapes.

Bye For Now ...

Hugs xx

Embossing Powders ...

Hi Everybody,

The technique on both of these cards is created with embossing powder and a sheet of parchment but I don't think it turned out quite right for me.

It was something that I watched Marion Emberson  doing on YouTube and her cards turned out lovely.

So as you do I thought "Oh I will have a go at that" but this is my result.

I am adding the link here to Marion's video and if you try it then let me know how it goes for you

Pouncing Technique

Marion has some lovely ideas on how to get he best from any embossing powders that you have and how to mix the colours to create your own, and they are well worth a watch.

I hope you cards turn out better than mine did here but I will give it another go and maybe make the powders a little thicker on my sheet.

Good Luck with it

Bye for now ...

Hugs xx