Rainbow butterflies

Hello friends

Definitely steering away from all things cold and frosty today

with rainbow butterflies.

Three butterflies (these are from the Victorian Sapphire range),

select your favourite rainbow colours, die cut your butterflies,

position randomly including off the edge of the card, trim, stamp 

and Bob's your Uncle!

Why do we say that?  I'm intrigued by sayings so I looked it up...

"Bob's your uncle, an expression meaning "everything will be fine", 

originated when Arthur Balfour was unexpectedly promoted to 

Chief Secretary for Ireland by the Prime Minister, Lord Salisbury, 

in 1900. Salisbury was Balfour's uncle and his first name was Robert."

Ok so sometimes the facts can be less inspiring! 

Today and tomorrow is city job and then I'm back to speed crafting

as I'm doing lots of shows next week on Create and Craft,

just awaiting my final times etc and I'll be sharing those with you

and some sneak peeks of projects.

Take care friends, keep warm and think of butterflies!

Victorian Sapphire Bird in Flight

Hello friends

First off thank you for your comments yesterday,

Bella is absolutely fine, sailed through her vaccination booster.

Although...they did say she is slightly overweight - by 300g!

I blamed it on the usual Christmas excess, I know how she feels :)

Today's card is one of my favourites using the Victorian Sapphire dies.

The die cuts teamed with the paper (Craftwork Cards paper pad),

it instantly looks vintage.

The matting is 5 x 7 Matting Basics,

the darker gold card was from my scrapbox and I really

wish I knew where from as I love it and want more! 

The design lends itself to many dies so I feel I'll be adapting it often!

In other news, more items uploaded to my Etsy shop (link on sidebar),

going through my boxes of cards has been a trip down memory lane.

Also pleased to announce that the video tutorials will soon be underway,

that boy of mine has got the correct camera, tripod thingy and is now

working on music, logos and other things that sound whizzy and technical!

I'll keep you posted.

And finally - I thought it was strange that I hadn't heard from the winning
ticket holder from January's Charity Kit and then realised...
I had posted the wrong ticket image (I had inadvertently posted February's
not January's - teach me for trying to get ahead!)
So here goes...the winning ticket - please rummage again!

If you have this ticket please drop me an email

creativity-continues@outlook.com

with your address details and a goodie bag will be on its way to you.

Take care friends.

When Squares are really diamonds

Hello friends

Today's card is using just a few die cuts,

Classic Squares, Classic Circles and a couple of the 

Victorian Sapphire dies.

I was challenged to come up with as many projects with just a

few sets of dies and that really gets you thinking, just rotating shapes

gives a totally different look to your projects.

The stamp is Altenew, love the delicate script.

It's Bella's vaccination day today so extra spoiling afterwards!

Also back in my cabin to continue with projects, 

Whilst crafting I'm currently watching the box sets of 

Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes - 

fantastic stuff, nice to step back into the 70's and 80's.

Take care friends, I'm back tomorrow -

keeping up with this daily blogging too :)

Winning Ticket - January's Charity Kit and Etsy

Hello friends

They say give a busy person a job to do... well I think that is true.

This month I've hit the ground running with lots of work but

thankfully keeping up and keeping to schedule.

I think running three diary systems is working, a home life diary,

a craft diary and a daily to-do list. And yes that's Bella's reminder card 

for her vaccination tomorrow, haven't told her yet!

I know I'm not the only busy person so many of us are juggling jobs, family,

and craft - so please share your best diary/organisational tips, I would love to read them.

Back to the job in hand...announcing the January Charity Kit winning number.

Again a sell out kit - thank you thank you.

Please rummage in your kit bags and see if you have number...

If you do then please drop me an email

creativity-continues@outlook.com

with your address details and a goodie bag will be on its way to you.

February's kit is all set to go and will be announced on the first 

Sunday of the month - 5th.

In other news I'm getting organised with selling the cards that I make.  

After a lot of thinking I opted to open an Etsy shop.

There's an icon on my blog sidebar which links straight to it.

I've begun to upload some so feel free to stop by. 

Take care friends and wishing you a good start to your week.

The International Ambassadors are Blog Hopping

Hello friends

  Some of the Spellbinders International Ambassadors are having an

informal blog hop and this time we have chosen some of the new dies
from Spellbinders licensed designers.
Here in the UK we are often lucky to be able to purchase new designs
before they are launched elsewhere.
If you tuned into Create and Craft end of last year you will
have seen the Becca Feeken border dies and frame maker.
This is what I used to create my project.

Graceful Floral Lace.

And the very clever Frame Maker to create perfect mitred corners.

and yes...it's festive - sorry cannot resist!

I'm either late or very early for Christmas 2017. 

I used ivory smooth cardstock for the card base and frame and

added a splash of colour with Blooms One.

To see how the Frame Maker works Becca has created a super video.

The border dies and Frame Maker are currently available from

Create and Craft.  Retailers will have these shortly.



 For more projects please hop along to my fellow

Ambassadors' blogs -  have fun!
Christine Emberson (You are here)

 Christina Griffiths

Linda Lucas

Yvonne van de Grijp

To answer questions from yesterday's blog post,

Papermill card is available direct from their website or some

craft shops have a partnership agreement to sell,

that's what I used to have when I had my shop.

It cannot be sold online by partnership shops.

Sadly I'm not attending CHA, instead I've been busy putting together

lots of projects and I'm also back on telly very soon, 

more news on that shortly.  

Thank you for asking, so nice to read your comments.

Yesterday was a tad chilly in the cabin but warmed up nice and quickly.

Today I'm at home, I'm going to attempt housework and try not to get

distracted!  Cooking a roast dinner tonight, well it is Sunday.

Take care friends.

One of a Kind

Hello friends

 

How are we all faring in this dodgy weather?

I know it looks nice but not good for travelling,

severe delays on the London commute so rather pleased to be home for a few days.

 

I'm still sharing with you designs created with Spellbinders

Victorian Sapphire dies.  This card just uses one bow die - beyond simple!

It's a design I created many years ago and revamped it a little to use

with these newer dies.  Also a great alternative for a Valentine's card.

 

 

As you can imagine I get through a lot of white card and I was asked recently

what card do I favour.  Right now I definitely recommend the super smooth white card,

250 gsm available from Papermill.

It is a bright white and die cuts beautifully. 

The ivory is also very good and a nice ivory colour, you'll know what I mean

basic colours can vary so much.

 

Today back in my cabin creating some samples for CHA which will

be urgently shipped to the States to arrive in time - that poor pigeon!

 

Take care friends - I'm back tomorrow.

 

Friday Die Day

Hello friends

Ignoring it is Friday the 13th, it's going to be perfectly fine today!

This week's Friday Die Day features one of the dies

designed by Marisa Job for Spellbinders.

This particular one is called Surprise Me Box.

There are four dies in the set and the approximate measurements are:

Base: 5.00 x 5.80 in

Tag: 2.40 x 0.95 in

Large Rectangle: 2.25 x 0.90 in

Small Rectangle: 1.45 x 0.60 in

This is how it looks cut/embossed.

Cut one base, fold on score lines, glue tabs at center and ends of box.

Once embossed you can see the score/fold lines clearly.

To decorate I stamped the largest rectangle and selected a small flower and leaf set.

(Stamp is Altenew).

To tie the ends I chose to use twine but ribbon would look equally lovely.

The completed box before decorating.

Very quick to do so these would be fantastic table pieces, teacher gifts,

wedding favours and more.

I kept the design very crisp and white - it's definitely a phase I'm going through.

That's a Mini Poinsettia in a different colour - no stopping me now!

The tiny double leaf is from a set called Homespun.



 I'm loving Marisa's designs for Spellbinders, I've always been partial

to dinky gift boxes etc so she's tapped perfectly into my creative heaven!

Take care friends and wishing you a great weekend.