A Special Tag Giveaway

Hello friends

Many thanks to those who have purchased a charity kit,

they've all been posted out and there's just a few remaining.

If you would still like one please visit this post for all the details.

I was AWOL yesterday and by way of an apology I think we need a giveaway!

Today's project features a Sapphire Plus die called Special Tag.

For my card I've also used Pierced Circles and mini poinsettia in gold.

My background paper was from my scrap box and teamed well with

chocolate brown cardstock.

The tag die is very pretty with lots of embossed detail.

Now how would you like to own it?  If so please just leave a comment on

today's post and I'll pick a winner next week.

I actually made this project a few months ago - can you see the ice 

on the lawn?  Mind you I wouldn't be surprised to see ice at the moment,

I'm still putting my heating on each day.

Today I'm playing with some new dies so I should have those 

projects to share with you very soon.

Take care friends.

May's Charity Kit

Hello friends

First Sunday of the month and that means it is time for a Charity Kit.

My design this month is very white with a cute little bird.

It uses a combination of Sapphire dies and Springtime.  

Included in your kit:

Card base measuring 5 x 5

Envelope

Card mat with printed 'A little birdie told me...' sentiment

Die cuts - Pierced Tag, Oval Tag, Birdhouse and Bird

Full instructions

Lucky number

All you need to add is adhesive.

As always, inside your kit is a lucky number and this month you could be the
winner of a goodie bag consisting of dies, adhesive, stamps and more.

The price of this month's kit inclusive of packing and posting is £4.50.

All proceeds go to Ronald McDonald House, Camberwell.

I have placed a PayPal button below, it is also possible to alter
quantities should you wish to order more.

£4.50

Thank you all for your continued support,

and a little reminder - the kits are limited and tend to sell quickly :)

Take care friends.

Friday Die Day

Hello friends

This week's Friday Die Day I'm popping back to feature

Flower Top Box.

A design by Marisa Job who has also brought us the Box of Treats,

Surprise Me Box and more.

There are three dies in the set and the measurements are approximately:

Overlays: 1.00 x 0.85 in (2 pcs)

Box Half: 7.00 x 4.30 in

This is how they look cut/embossed.

To create the box you need to die cut the box half twice.

I didn't actually emboss, I found that just with the cut it was enough

to see the fold lines.

Fold along each fold line including the little tabs.

You will see the tabs affix to create the base of the box.

I used liquid glue for that bit of 'wiggle' room.

Affix the side tabs too.

Make sure you bend the petals outwards a little.

To close the box you can tie with twine or ribbon.

I also used my bone folder to shape the petals a little.

After cutting lots of overlays I selected to decorate just one!

My signature mini poinsettia cut in pink and little leaves.

Positioned and affixed to the one panel.

The finished box.

Now here's a little addition - you can also die cut vellum.

I had some pretty butterfly vellum in my scrap box.

I then attached this to ivory card.

Assembled and tied as before.

The finished card and vellum box.

And a pair of pretty Flower Top Boxes.

Flower Top Box is available on the website and if you're quick

there's one as pre-loved too!

And as mentioned before...

Important...chocolate sizing - what can you place inside a Flower Top Box?

My estimation is that it could contain two Ferroro Rocher, three smaller truffles

or quite a lot of Maltesers!

Take care friends, wishing you all a great weekend.

The Only Way Is Up!

Hello friends

Baffled that it can be Thursday already!

I'm back at my city job today but my mind is never far from crafting.

Today's card features one of the Kaleidoscope dies - Pyramid.

I've kept the design very simple with matting and inserting

some patterned paper and a golden arrow - Ornate Arrows.

The sentiment is typed, printed and die cut.

Beauty of typing sentiments is they can say whatever you want!

Pyramid is available as pre-loved on the website here.

I confess when I first received the Kaleidoscope dies I was dubious

but I've found so many crafty options with them now. 

Ornate Arrows are in stock too - they are here.

I really like the arrows, they team perfectly with hearts.

Take care friends - enjoy today and please stop by tomorrow for

Friday Die Day.

My Special Mum and Dad

Hello friends

Today's project features a card I made for my Mum and Dad's

Wedding Anniversary.  I used a laminating pouch from 

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L for the photo and I

placed this in the card aperture window.

I've done a full tutorial over on the Scrapbook Adhesive's blog here

if you fancy popping along to take a look :) 

The laminating pouches are pretty nifty.

I love this photo, my parents are in their teens so 1950's and my Dad is sporting

a hand knitted cardi by my Great Aunt Sally. 

My parents have wonderful stories of their growing up,

meeting, dating and I want to write those down soon

and feature them on my Desk Adventures blog - link on sidebar.

The die cut embellishment is Swallow and Heart although the silver bird

isn't a swallow - it is in fact from Draping Vines Elements.

Both available on the website - just click on the names.

Take care friends, is it really Wednesday today?

Surely it can't be city job already tomorrow...

Graceful Sweet Words Workshop Kit

Hello friends

Today's card is created with Graceful Sweet Words,

one of the border dies designed by Becca Feeken for Spellbinders.

This card design is one I've used many times,

always good to revisit something you love doing!

The curly border die featured is just one from this lovely die set,

there's also 'HUGS' with a stitched border and 'XOXO' with a pierced border.

To create my tried and tested design I've used two strips to run either side of a 

patterned paper strip.

Blooms One and a sentiment added to finish.

Looks nice in various colours.

If you like the black, ivory and red design it is possible to purchase a 

workshop kit for this card on the website here.

These were left over from an event I hosted and all proceeds

will go to Ronald McDonald House, Camberwell.

More details are here and if you would like to purchase 

Graceful Sweet Words it is available as pre-loved on the website here.

Take care friends - 

now commences 'day confusion'

all week I'll be saying it feels like the wrong day 

because of the Bank Holiday.

The full tutorial

Hello friends

I do hope your Bank Holiday is going well,

I'm pleasantly surprised by the weather - I have a very happy Bella!

I've been lazy on the cooking front, takeaway last night instead of a roast.

Today I'm full steam ahead making design boards for

Create and Craft...news on that soon.

Back to today...

I received lots of interest regarding the Zinnia die so I thought

I would post the full tutorial on how to make these gorgeous flowers.

So here goes ...

 

The dies measure approximately:

 

Star Floret: ¼” (10 pieces)
Petal 1: ⅜ x ⅞”
Petal 2: ½ x 1”
Petal 3: ⅝ x 1⅛”
Disc Floret: ⅞”
Leaf: ¾ x 1¼”
Stamen: 2½ x ¼”

 

You can see here I've started to die cut all the elements to create a full Zinnia flower.

Each disk floret has 10 points, you adhere a petal to each point.

Here I've used 9 disc florets to create three of each petal size.

I also added some ink to the central area to add some further depth.

Layer up the petals alternating them slightly.

Having a lot of layers really creates a gorgeous full flower.

To create the stamen, I cut a total of 5 stamens and join them together to create a long length.

I used a quilling tool to start off rolling it and then reverted to my fingers.

As I rolled I began to 'fluff out' the top section.

Until it looks something like this. Glue the end down firmly.

Position and adhere to the middle of your flower.

The finishing touches - leaves and star florets.

I

Zinnia is available to purchase on the website here - nice price too! :)
Take care friends and have a lovely Monday...hoping you're not working though!