Our Father!

Father's day is almost upon us here in the UK, and for those among you short of inspiration, you may get a creative kick start from the fab new collection of free downloadable papers created by our ace graphic designer Nicola. Follow this link to find out all about them.

I made a really simple card using the papers and a Framelits die set from Paula Pascua'ls Fresh Moments collection, namely Hexagons - 658609.

 I started by choosing my papers and cutting out 5 hexagons using the 3rd smallest Framelits die in the set. Next I folded a dark blue (30 x 15cm) and ivory (28 x 14cm) in half. I used vintage Photo and Old paper Distress ink pads to deepen the colour around the edges of the die cuts and ivory card before mounting them together.

I trimmed around the edges of the hexagons in the top right hand corner and mounted a rectangle of the moustache paper inside the card before sealing around the edges to form a pocket. I decorated the edges using a pattern makers wheel to form rows of dots which I joined using a fine line marker pen to give a stitched effect.

Finally, I cut around the printed tag and distressed the edges with a Faded Denim Distress ink pad before attaching an eyelet through the hole and threading with twine and string before popping the assembled tag into the pocket

Desert Island Dies

If you are wondering what the title of this blog is all about it's very simple, 'If you could only choose a dozen dies to take to a desert island what would they be and why?'

I'm not going to list them here as I would spend forever whittling down my choices, it would be a nightmare! The most important quality a die can have for me is versatility, something you can use all year round and never get tired of or run out of inspiration.

This description fits many of my favourite dies and one of my new favourite sets from super talented designer Paula Pascual's inspired Fresh Moments collection fits the bill perfectly. 

The set in question is Wrappers (658613) and to look at it's deceptively simple but it offers a ton of creative mileage. The great thing about Framelits is the ability to crop images and text very accurately, ideal for scrapbookers and cardmakers alike, and because the blade is on the inside edge of the die you never get any unwanted emboss lines creeping in.

To illustrate what I mean about the versatile nature of this set, I have decided to create 3 card toppers combining the Framelits with 3 similar embossing folders from Tim Holtz but using different colour palettes to suite each theme.

The Texture Fades Embossing Folders used are:

• Christmas Background & Border Set (657480)
• Valentines Background & Border Set (657490)
• Halloween Background & Border Set (657465)

I started by measuring the circle dies and Recreating the same size circle on the desktop of my PC, this will act as a template over which to drop my text. As you can see below, I created phrases for Christmas,Halloween and Valentines. The great thing about using a PC to create and print your greetings is the ability to personalize your message making it ideal also for wedding stationary etc.

Once I have the phrases how I want them I simply remove the circle which was acting as a template and print onto heavy weight white card. Next, position the framelits over the phrases and pass through your Big Shot.

 I took a piece of smooth white card and added colour using assorted blue Distress Inks before embossing. Next, I used a darker blue ink pad to pick up the detail in the embossed image. I die cut all the elements to create my wrapper from white and teal card before embossing the long white element with a snowflake border folder and inking to bring out the detail. Finally, I assembled my wrapper and attached it to the embossed background using double sided tape before mating onto a teal background.

 Below are my other efforts, and even though they share many things in common they are all very different. Truth is, I could have kept going all day, Weddings, Christenings Father's and Mother's Day, Easter.....etc, etc, etc!

Enjoy!

Fresh Flowers

More flowers? But, of course! Today a card and chart. I will begin by explaining how and why I made this card. 

I started by die cutting my mat and layering. I love that with the new Rectangles 2 I dont have to do any measuring for any A6 mat and layering. the smallest is die cut with white card. Then I positioned the larger intricate flower from the Intricate Flowers set on the white piece and secure it with low tack tape.  I also die cut the branches from the Bunch of Flowers and trim off two branches and the bottom.

The reason why I used this one to die an aperture is because is a Thinlit which means that is a solide die therefore does not leave a residual embossing on the negative. The framelit, or hollow die, does leave a residual around the negative area.

I then I just die cut some more floers from both Bunch of Flowers and Intricate Flowers and assemble it all together.

Of course, you will have noticed that flower shapes are the same through out the sets of flowers, Bunch of Flowers and Flower Vases or Intricate Flowers. Well, only shape is repeated not size, even if you had all three sets you would not have any one flower in a size repeated.

I like to combine different sizes of flowers to create different effects  - as in the card above -so I thought I would make three sets full of flowers so that depending on size preference one can choose one or the other.

Each set comes with different shapes but all in two sizes each: Flower Vases in 3/8" and 3/4"; Bunch of Flowers 1" and 1 1/4" and Intricate in 1 1/2" 1 3/4" (all sizes approx.).

To illustrate it I made this little chart so that you can see the sizes of each set, it is a scan of a real size printed chart and die cut flowers.

I hope this little tutorial has been helpful.

Flower Garland

I love flowers, unfortunately I am not a very good natural flower keeper so I like to do artificial ones out o paper so that I can have flowers that last long. I am always looking for new ideas on how to make them and display them. So today I am sharing how to make flower garlands for the home. 

I started with an assortment of inks - Distress Inks, Distress Stains and Dylusions Sprays - a selection of flower dies - Fresh Moments: Intricate Flowers - and loads of coffee filters. Coffee filters are essential as they will hold loads of water which is needed to colour the flowers without breaking.

Die cut two filters at at time, depending on the size and intricacy of the flower you may get away with three filters. I die cut all four sizes at once using my Big Shot.

I put a drop of the Distress Reinker (Spun Sugar) and then spray the yellow Dylusion.  Then I sprayed water over the inks and finally place the die cut flowers - all layers together - and let them absorb the inks. Because there are two colours it will create a naturalistic look through the flowers.

Another way to add colour is to use the Distress stains directly over very wet flowers. I dont clean the plastic underneath so that a little of the other colours come through.

Also looks really nice if you soak the flowers and then just dab the distress ink pad. Or just use the Dylusions.

For a lighter effect, my favourite option is to spray the flowers with loads of water, then make a circle using the distress stains, place the flower in the centre and with the gentle help of my fingers let the colour soak through the flower. As you can see on the right loads of flowers are quickly done and each layer is unique.

There are many ways to make a garland, but sewing them together seems like a good idea for a quick and easy fix. I just put then through one by one.

And you can see the finished garland bellow, over an open book. (I love how this looks, I am thinking of putting it as it is on a frame.

But you can use it to decorate so many things, like curtains or around a plain frame like bellow.

I hope you enjoy and will be making some flowers and garlands soon. it is so much fun!