Mellow Yellow

Hello friends

How was your Bank Holiday Monday?

I enjoyed a lovely day with my crafty pals in Milton Keynes

and amazingly the M25 was very kind! 

Today I'm sharing a couple more samples that I'm sending off to

Create and Craft. 

This time it is Flower Top Box.

I adore this cute design and it is so simple to make.

I found some Teresa Collins Tapestry papers 

in this pale yellow and it worked beautifully with this die.

A little inking of the edges and ribbon  made it even more subtle.

With plain card and twine it also looks lovely...

Elliott has placed this die in the Spring Sale here - 

yes, apparently it is still Spring until 21 June! 

It is the perfect jewellery gift box, table favour or 

little chocolate box to accompany a handmade card.

I'm back in the cabin today working on projects,

are you crafting? 

Take care friends.

Adorn that basket!

Hello friends

It's Bank Holiday Monday and I'm heading up to Milton Keynes today.

I'm meeting up with my crafty bunch of ladies,

packing my lunch and this time taking some sewing,

possibly a new teddy bear in the making.

I spent all weekend in my cabin putting together samples and today

I'm sharing with you Lattice Floral Basket.

This was one of those dies when I first looked at it I thought...

'Am I going to like this?'

I can categorically confirm that yes I do! 

It is fun to make and a lot quicker than I thought it would be

and adore the flowers that come in this set.

I've got a bit carried away with inking flowers and spritzing with water.

The handle is also adorned!

Lattice Floral Basket is available on the website both new and pre-loved here.

I calculate you could fit approximately 3-4 Ferroro Rocher in each basket!

Enjoy your Monday, I hope it is a relaxing day for you all.

Take care friends.

Where did the flowers go?

Hello friends

Did you get the sunshine yesterday? 

A thunderstorm here first thing and then it was glorious for the rest

of the day.  In fact first barbecue of the year!

So where did those glittery flowers I featured yesterday end up?

Well a couple made it onto this card.

A card that is a little different to my usual style as these

are going off to Create and Craft next month.

It features beautiful dies by Marisa Job - 

Framed Floral Card Front and Thank You Pop Up.

The papers are Graphic 45.

It has been a while since I distressed paper and got inky!

Take care friends and have a wonderful Sunday.

Glittery Flowers Today!

Hello friends

I'm going all glittery today!

I'm putting together projects that will dress the set for shows

on Create and Craft next month.

These flowers are in the style of Marisa Job - designer for Spellbinders.

I'm sharing her technique.

I used watercolour cardstock and die cut flowers,

these are from Window of Memories die set.

This would also work with many designs of flowers.

I started by inking the middle - using one of the Tsukineko Sponge Daubers
means that you can get easily achieve those circles.

For the petals I used pale pink and darker pink tipping the edges.

I inked the leaves and then spritzed them all with water.

These mini misters are brilliant and available here.

Whilst damp I shaped with Stylus Tips for the Tool n' One.

Here they are all shaped and curled!

I then applied a little adhesive and dipped the petal tips in fine glitter.

All glittered.

I inserted stamens through the hole of the smallest flower.

Layered more petals and finally the leaves. 

Secured everything in place with a hot glue gun

or Dodz 3D work brilliantly too.

The finished flowers.

They take a little time but I think the end result is worth it.

As mentioned these flowers are from Window of Memories,
there is a pre-loved set available here and those very handy
Tsukineko Sponge Daubers can be found here.

If you happen to be in the South of England today...pop on some sun screen!

Take care friends.

Friday Die Day

Hello friends

 

This week's Friday Die Day is Brilliant Butterfly.

A Die D-Lite by Spellbinders and it's a butterfly so what's not to love!

 

It is a two piece die set - the butterfly and a flourish.

The approximate measurements are:

Butterfly: 2.20 x 1.55 inFlourish: 2.05 x 1.20 in

 

This week instead of a step by step tutorial on my blog I've done

a Friday Die Day video....yes finally!

It is a simple card showing a couple of techniques.

 

 

I hope you enjoy it, this should be the start of many videos.

Huge thanks to Elliott who does all the editing, I will have to learn

all the techy stuff at some point as he is abandoning me

in a few months for Uni!

 

Some pics of the finished project.

 



Brilliant Butterfly is available on the website here at a real bargain price!

Take care friends and wishing you all a sunny weekend.

 

May Charity Kit Winner - Is It You?

Hello friends

Today announcing the winning ticket from May's Charity Kit.

I loved putting this kit together, such pretty die cuts and 

the bird is rather plump and cute!

Also this kit definitely showed the benefits of printing your sentiments...

I did a lot of printing that day!

Now to the important bit, please rummage in your kit bags and see if you have

this number....

If you do then firstly congratulations! 

Next please drop me an email hope-chances@live.co.uk

don't forget to include your address and a bag of crafty goodies will

be sent straight out to you. 

If you missed this kit or would like to create another one

there's some available on the website here.

(Prices are adjusted as postage and packing is applied at checkout).

Also feel free to check out previous card kits here,

all proceeds still go to charity.

Take care friends - city job for me today (groan!)

Simply Me

Hello friends

Today I'm revisiting Simply Me.
This is a really pretty stamp and die set designed by
Debi Adams for Spellbinders.

This is how the dies look cut/embossed.

For my card I've selected Standard Circles LG and

Classics Scalloped Circles LG.

Die cutting with the scalloped first and then inserting the standard to create

the scalloped ring.

The elements for my card.

Using A2 Mating Basics for my base and layering.

Positioning the scalloped circle.



Adding the tag cut from textured kraft card and stamped circle.

Finishing touches the foliage, flowers and berries.

This die set is available to buy both new and pre-loved
on the website here.

Take care friends - I'm back tomorrow.

A follow up to printing sentiments

Hello friends

Such a lovely response to my printing sentiments post earlier 

this week.  I did receive a few more questions and I've answered

those within the comments.  I also thought it would be useful to share them today.

Please could you tell which size of font you use and 

how you space your sentiments so it allows space for the dies?

I normally use font size 14 or 16 depending on which design I select. 

 Print onto normal copy paper first to get an idea of how well it will work when

positioning your die. 

When typing leave at least 3-4 lines between each row of sentiment 

so there's enough room to die cut each sentiment individually.

After a while you become used to what size works.

  

Do you have to type the whole page for the sentiments, or is there a repeat button? 

If you type one sentiment and then 'copy and paste' to duplicate. 

You can do this by highlighting the sentiment with your mouse

(hold down left click button), once highlighted

right click to 'copy'.  Position your mouse for the next sentiment

 and then right click again to 'paste'.

Another option is to highlight the sentiment and press Ctrl + C and then Ctrl + V. 

Another tip - making the most of your paper by using columns.

If you are using 'Word' click on 'Page Layout'.

On the top bar is a 'Columns' button - click and select two columns.

This automatically gives your document two areas to type sentiments.

If you click on the screen shot image below you should be able to see it larger.

It shows Bell MT as the font and size 14.  Two columns of 'Happy Birthday'

which are centered - another tip is to centre your sentiments for more 

die cutting space.  Highlight your entire typed page by pressing Ctrl + A 

and then click on 'centre' button - see arrow.

Hopefully today's post will assist further with printing sentiments,

please do not hesitate to ask any further questions, more than happy to help.

And now something NEW to make life very easy if you do not have a printer
or would rather not type your own sentiments.
There is the option to buy sheets of sentiments on the website here.

All printed on linen ivory and white cardstock, assorted wording and fonts,

printed to be ready to be die cut,
there's Anniversary/Congratulations, Birthday and Thank You.

OR
even easier, there is now available packs of printed
and die cut sentiments here - 28 in total, a combination of white and ivory,
all in a handy wallet and ready to pop straight onto your projects!
Again a choice of Thank You, Congratulations/Anniversary and Birthday.
All the details are here.

Take care friends - enjoy your Sunday.

Heat emboss with E-Z Squares

Hello friends

Yesterday on the Scrapbook Adhesives blog I posted a tag tutorial.

I used E-Z Squares with embossing powder to create a background.

It's so easy to do!

I've posted all the steps so please feel free to hop over and take a look.

All the details are here. 

It works so well with E-Z Squares, here's a project I did some years ago

using the same technique.

E-Z Squares is available on the website here - remember all the dispensers

are interchangeable and it is fab adhesive.

I hope your week went well, please stop by tomorrow as I've got

a little follow up to my printing sentiments post.

Take care friends - have a great Saturday.

Friday Die Day

Hello friends

This week's Friday Die Day features Bag 'n Tag It.

A die designed by Debi Adams for Spellbinders.

A three piece die set and the approximate measurements are:

Bag: 3.45 x 3.90 in.
Circle Clip: 1.25 x 1.80 in.
Rectangular Clip: 1.00 x 2.00 in

This is how it looks cut/embossed.

To create your bag you need to cut two from the largest die.

Affix them side by side as pictured.

Fold along the embossed crease lines.

Secure the base by folding in the flaps.

I also cut a strip of card from matching kraft as a handle for your bag.

I also like the option of securing the bag closed with a peg.

I stamped the circle tag/clip with 'Thank You' from Altenew Stamps.

A decoration for the front of the bag - Flower Play dies with twine loops.

The finished bag.

Assembled size is approximately 3 inches x 2.5 inches, width 0.5 inches.

Bags and boxes always appeal to me and I love this one too.

I'm going to be a real dilemma when making table favours 

although I love this bag for gift cards.

Bag 'n Tag It is available on the website here.

Take care friends and have a wonderful weekend,

hopefully no more rain!