I've moved!

Hello friends

I've moved blogs - all my crafty news and projects can now be 

found on the Hope and Chances blog here.

Click the button below to take you there.

See you a click away!

Take care friends.

Changes ahead...please have a little read...

Hello friends

I do hope you had a good Christmas.

Ours was lovely, we indulged in lots of food, some drink 

and the all important chocolates!

I enjoyed taking a few days out but back to it...
Today's blog post is to announce some changes ahead.

For some time I've been running two blogs, duplicating over each time

to Creativity Continues and Hope and Chances.

From now on there will just be the one blog - Hope and Chances.

We have been busy putting everything under the same Hope and Chances umbrella.

We had considered re-branding but we like the name and we are

steadily becoming known for being the 'home for all things Spellbinders'.

The Hope and Chances blog has had a little makeover,

it coordinates with the website and we have also made the link buttons

a brighter colour and updated all the social media links.

We are on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

You can also see a email link on the blog, the little envelope, 

we always try to respond very speedily to emails.

Do you know, just those changes took me hours, Elliott stepped in and did 

most of it in minutes!

So hopefully you will not mind, after today there will be a permanent button 

link on this blog that you can click to reroute you to the Hope and Chances blog.

(I'm not deleting this blog as it has so many posts and projects

it will just stay as it is).

Thank you friends for always being so supportive and see

you a click way!

Festive, frazzled and a little piece of home...

Hello friends

Are we feeling festive or frazzled?

How are your Christmassy plans going?

Today's post is a festive idea using maps.

I designed these cards for Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L and also

recreated them to send to my special friends in Iowa and Chicago.

There's a full tutorial on the Scrapbook Adhesives blog here.

So simple to do, I found the map online and printed it.

I realise your cards are probably all made, written and sent by now

but perhaps an idea for next year!

Christmas here...

I finished up my city job last night although I am working in London

between Christmas and New Year, I actually don't mind going in as

the city is so quiet and the commute takes half the time. 

Elliott and I did a big food shop late one night and we managed to avoid

lots of crowds.  We've probably forgotten some items

but I've decided that's fine, we really have enough to last us a week

not just a couple of days!

We are still working right up to Christmas with Hope and Chances,

truthfully it's hard not to, we don't like to leave anything unfinished!

Keep an eye on the Pre-Loved, that's a job on the list for today.

I am going to be signing off from blog posts for a few days,

I'm going to be spending an inordinate amount of time in my kitchen!

This is an opportunity to say ...

Take care friends, keep warm and safe at this special time of year.

Friday Die Day

Hello friends

Not long now!

This time next week we will still be eating turkey I'm sure!

Today's Friday Die Day is Lilly Pearl Fold/Flower Border.

A clever die set that works so well as flowers and an effective scallop border.

Three dies in the set and the approximate measurements are:

Small Flower/Border: 6.00 x 0.75 in. 15.2 x 1.9 cm

Medium Flower/Border: 6.00 x 0.90 in. 15.20 x 2.30 cm

Large Flower/Border: 6.30 x 1.20 in. 16.00 x 3.00 cm

This is how they look cut/embossed.

You can see that once cut/embossed you have fold lines, this creates the curl -

very simple to do.

Once complete you can place a button, brad or pearl to the middle.

My brads come from 99p Store!

The die set works beautifully as a border.  I've cut it twice, once from white card

and then with silver mirror card to create a shadow.

I then cut a piece of patterned paper - Kaisercraft - Black and White Timeless.

I placed the border section to the bottom.



Attached silver ribbon over the top and mounted onto a card front.

Positioned the flower with leaves added from Wreath Elements.

Finishing touch was a typed and die cut sentiment - Happy New Year,

I'm thinking ahead...!

The font used is French Script.

The edging detail on each petal is so pretty, this is what really appealed to me

with this die set.

 Lilly Pearl Fold/Flower Border is available on the website here.

Wreath Elements for those very useful leaves is available here.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend, I'm sure there will be a lot of

shopping, wrapping and cooking going on!

Take care friends.

Hump Day Giveaway

Hello friends

It's time to make Wednesdays much nicer with Hump Day Giveaway!

I am also announcing last week's winner so please scroll down please.

Last week's giveaway was a pre-loved set of 

Ho Ho Ho

A super set that has four dies with the words:

Ho Ho Ho, Noel, Joy and 25

And the winner is...

Jan on the Fosse

Congratulations Jan, please email me: 

christine.emberson@blueyonder.co.uk

with your details and I'll post your prize out to you.

If you missed out it is possible to purchase
Ho Ho Ho new on the website here.

This week's giveaway is a pre-loved set of Wreath.

I used Wreath along with Wreath Elements on this card project recently.

If you would like to win this pre-loved die set 

please leave a comment on today's

post either on this blog or the Hope and Chances' blog here.

A winner will be picked out next week.

Also worth mentioning...a Christmas elf has sneaked into our stock

room and decided that over half the products in our Winter Sale

should be only £5, time for a stock clearance!

You can see bargains galore here.

Take care friends - have a super Wednesday!

Dashing through the ...craft!

Hello friends

Gosh I've been busy! 

Apologies for the erratic blog posts, with being away at the weekend

everything in Blogland got a little behind.

I had a great time at Sir Stampalot, two busy workshops

and lots of lovely ladies.

I enjoy doing workshops, there was a couple of very new crafters

and I love seeing the wonder on their face with their creations.

One of the most popular projects was this card using Gilded Ornaments.

These are still available on the website both new

and pre-loved here.

Back home I've been busy updating the website and I'm pleased 

to report that certain sell out items are now back in stock - 

Double Heart Gift Box.

This was Friday Die Day last week and sold out instantly.

It is teamed here with Succulent and Mum Flower.

Textured Flowers is also back,

particularly like the petal detail on these.

I used them recently with Blessings Vine Frame.

We really are on the countdown to Christmas now,

I've yet to marzipan and ice my cake and also need to wrap gifts.

I should have put aside an hour or two but instead caught up 

with some episodes of Kirstie's Handmade Christmas - 

are you watching it?

I find it fascinating even if some of the projects are very ambitious

and require a kiln, forge or a trip to Lapland!

Take care friends and don't forget Wednesdays is giveaway day!

Vines, Flowers and God Bless You

Hello friends

Today's card features more beautiful dies designed by Marisa Job,

from her Thoughtful Expressions collection.
God Bless You, Mosaic Vine and Succulent and Mum Flower.

I've chosen to use silver mirror card as a mat onto a white card front,
some marble paper from my scrap box as a second mat.
God Bless You also cut from silver mirror card and one of the
Mosaic Vines.  I adore this foliage set, the petals and scrolls are so pretty.

 

I then cut Succulent and Mum Flowers, yes it is the distress inks out in force again!

I'm finding it really relaxing colouring these flowers.

 

It was then just a case of positioning them in a cluster with the Mosaic Vine

and some ribbon in the corner of my card.

That was very nearly a bow you know...!

 

As mentioned before, just by switching the flower colour to

reds and this would make an effective Christmas card.

 

God Bless You is available on the website here.

Mosaic Vine can be found here and

Succulent and Mum Flower is here.

 

This time next week it will be Christmas Eve!

I'm a little behind this year but catching up.

I never correctly anticipate how long it takes to do the gift wrapping,

one evening is never enough.

How are your festive plans going?

 

Take care friends, keep nice and warm.

 

 

Friday Die Day

Hello friends

This week's Friday Die Day is Double Heart Gift Box.

Another beautiful die designed by Marisa Job.

Lots of dies in this set - 8 in total, I've photographed them separately.

The approximate measurements are:

Side Lid Insert Design: 2.00 x 0.70 in. 5.10 x 1.80 cm
Side Lid Insert Outline: 2.00 x 0.70 in. 5.10 x 1.80 cm
Top Lid Design: 1.70 x 1.70 in. 4.30 x 4.30 cm
Top Lid Insert: 2.00 x 2.00 in. 5.10 x 5.10 cm
Lid: 4.05 x 4.05 in. 10.30 x 10.30 cm
Panel Design: 1.70 x 3.75 in. 4.30 x 9.50 cm
Panel Insert: 2.00 x 4.00 in. 5.10 x 10.20 cm
Side Panel: 2.40 x 4.20 in. 6.10 x 10.70 cm

This is the top lid and side panel.

The top lid also is the base of the box.

The side panel has a score line.

These are the decorative panels for the side, top and lid.

To create the box, cut four side panels and fold along the score line.

I've also cut four decorative panels to place over the top.

I affixed them to each other in a long row.

You can use liquid glue or strong tape.

I then affixed the decorative panels to the top.

You could die cut colour or foil card behind the decorative panels for

a different look if you wish, I chose all white.

The box lid is also the base, when you cut it creates score lines,

simply fold along each, apply glue to the tabs and assemble.

Affix the last panel of the box and secure the box base to the bottom.

This holds it nice and rigid.



Create the box lid but obviously don't stick this down onto the box,

you'll never get to the goodies inside.

To decorate I used leaves from Wreath Elements and created a flower from

Succulent and Mum Flower.  Cut from watercolour card and I've used

distress inks spritzed with water.  Inserted some stamens to the flower middle.

It is a deep pink bordering on red so nearly festive!

I affixed the flower and leaves to the top of my box with a little bit of ribbon.

I also have a decorative lid panel hidden under that flower!

I also added lid decorative pieces with 3D Foam Squares.

I think it is so nice to have a taller gift box for a change.

I can see these being useful for so many occasions.

Double Heart Gift Box is available on the website here.

Succulent and Mum Flower is here.

Wreath Elements is available here - (this die set is another one that

has not left my desk, it has all the foliage and pieces I need for pretty

much every project whatever the season).

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend, I'm heading to Peterborough

tomorrow, two workshops at Sir Stampalot so fingers crossed for

good driving weather.

Take care friends.



Hump Day Giveaway

Hello friends

It's time to make Wednesdays happier with Hump Day Giveaway!

I am also announcing last week's winner so scroll down please.

Last week's giveaway was a pre-loved set of 

Wreath Elements

A total of 20 dies, various leaves, flowers, butterflies and snowflakes.

Each set of 5 depicts seasons, you can of course mix and match.

And the winner is...

Kim
(Him, Him and Me)

Congratulations Kim, please email me: 

christine.emberson@blueyonder.co.uk

with your details and I'll post your prize out to you.

If you missed out it is possible to purchase Wreath Elements here.

This week's giveaway is a pre-loved set of

Ho Ho Ho

A super set that has four dies with the words:

Ho Ho Ho, Noel, Joy and 25

I used a couple of these dies in this card project recently.

Ho Ho Ho is available to purchase new on the website here

or if you would like to win this pre-loved set 

please leave a comment on today's

post either on this blog or the Hope and Chances' blog here.

A winner will be picked out next week.

Also worth mentioning...a Christmas elf has sneaked into our stock

room and decided that over half the products in our Winter Sale

should be only £5, time for a stock clearance!

You can see bargains galore here.

Take care friends - have a super Wednesday!