Friday Freebie - Springtime Butterflies

Hi Everybody,

Today we have a beautiful die set called Springtime Butterflies and it is attached to the Die Cutting Essentials magazine.

There is also the opportunity for you to download some papers that will match with the die set.

The pages of the mag are full of information and ideas that you may like to try plus lots of tips on how to get the most from the die set.

So if this is something that you would like to have in your collection ... and who doesn't like butterflies ... than all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of this post with your FULL NAME to be in with the chance.

Be sure to come back over the weekend to see if it is your name that is shown as the winner.

I am happy to send this to you wherever you are and it doesn't matter if you have won in the past.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Oldie but goodie ...

Hi Everybody,

This was a technique that I shared way back in 2016  when I was using Spellbinders and it was how to create a stencil from any dies that you have. I will be updating this technique using my own brand of dies coming soon.

 I cannot find the photo of the finished card to show you so instead I am adding the whole video as a refresher or should you be new to this idea. It is a good way to stretch out your dies and get as much from them as you possibly can 

It is an easy to do technique and the hardest part is waiting for the embossing paste to dry.

You can colour your paste to whatever colour of inks that you have and that way it will match the colour scheme of the design you are making. 

I hope you enjoy this old video and will also watch the new one when I have added it to the blog

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Altenew Craft Your Life Kit

Hi Everybody,

This beautiful flower is Elegant Motifs from Altenew and is part of their Craft Your Life Kit for last November.

There are so many lovely arrangements in this stamp set that can be used all together or apart as I have done here. 

The background is an embossing folder from my own Card Making Magic  and I have Letterpressed this using Distress Oxide Inks. 

I also went direct to paper with the ink pad to give me the fuller look and then cut it out with a circle die.

The flowers have been coloured with the stencil in the kit and then added to the card front with foam pads.

Altogether a quick and easy card to make and the sentiment can be added later when I have an occasion to use it.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Butterfly Trails Collection

Hi Everybody,

Today card is a 5x7 with the fold at the side, which is not my usual style. But there is a reason for this change.

The front of the card has been decorated with the lovely papers from this collection and I specifically positioned the flowers.

The small butterflies have been cut from the pink paper in the pack and double layered onto white card for added strength.

The sentiment has been added to parchment for the same reason and added to the front of the card.

I have dotted it with sequins and added pearls to the body line of the butterflies.

But it is the inside where I have made the most of this card.

I have again used the papers from the pack to line the inside and from some plain white card I have used Picked Raspberry to ink the card.

I have used the large butterfly die to cut out the design and then I have added a little glue to the  centre edge of the wings.

 Positioning it on the middle of the card I have closed it up and pressed it till the glue was set  and then once you open it up the wings spread across the centre as a pop up.

It looks very effective. 

The centre of the butterfly is decorated once again with the flowers and it all folds flat to go into an ordinary envelope.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Ruby Update

 Hi Everybody,

Thank you so much for all your emails and concern over my beautiful Ruby. 

She is on medication to help her with the diagnosis of Cushing Disease and she seems to be responding to the treatment at the moment. 

The vet tells me it will take a while for her to completely respond but at least we are making progress in the right direction.

Here she is lying on her cool mat with Ella at her side but she is not taking any notice of the kitten and walks away when she has had enough.

She seems to like being left alone when she isn't feeling well and so that is what I do until she comes to me for a cuddle 

I hope she continues to get better as the weeks go by but it is incurable and so she will be on medication for the rest of her life now.

I will of course let you all know how she is progressing

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx