Home and Gorgeous Dogs!

Hello friends
So pleased you liked the French theme plaque yesterday -
the papers I used were Glitz - French Kiss and a full tutorial is here.

It is another New Home card today..I don't actually know anyone moving home right now but

this design could be adapted to many occasions.

You will see I had a bit of a theme going on using Classic Scallop Edgeabilities®!

A simply constructed card with panels of paper but I really think that Classic Hearts makes the card.

Still loving that gingham paper.

Now, how about some cuteness today?

I still have a few adorable pets to feature in Pet Gallery (I get round to these things eventually!)

May I introduce you to Henry.

He is a French Bulldog pup and his grandma is Elizabeth - a regular blog follower.

Elizabeth also sent me some pictures of her Boxer dog Charlie.

Sadly Charlie has passed away but with Elizabeth's permission I thought it would be 

wonderful to share these beautiful photos as a remembrance.

Charlie in the snow, a somewhat confused look I think...

Here is Charlie sharing a comfy seat with Alfie (a Brindle Boxer).

 

And this final photo is Charlie snuggled up with a fluffy toy - absolutely adorable.

Elizabeth tells me that Charlie was quite a celebrity, always looking out of the window greeting passers by.

In fact children would knock and ask if Charlie could come out and play!

I came across this quote recently and I feel it is appropriate today....

"A good dog never dies. He always stays. He walks besides you on crisp autumn days when frost is on the fields and winter's drawing near. His head is within our hand in his old way." 

Thank you Elizabeth for sharing such wonderful photos.

Some info/news today - you may have seen a new button

on my sidebar.....

in the true nature of life just as you get used to something...they change it!

The way to follow blogs is changing - if any of you follow blogs using Google Reader 
I'm afraid Google Reader is coming to an end soon.

It is possible to keep following my blog using a new reader and it is bloglovin' -

it is free and you can import all your favourite blogs with the click of a button - all the details 

are here.  

Also..final piece of news:
I was asked if I stock the little brass stands I featured with yesterday's plaque.

Yes I do!  These measure 10cm tall, 6.5cm wide and 5cm deep - perfect for displaying a 

special card or home decor piece.

They are £7.95 inclusive of postage and packaging.

As usual - please email if you would like to order.

Take care friends - enjoy your day.

French Plaque

Hello friends or should I say Bonjour!

Today I'm featuring a project that I created for Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L.

It is a little plaque for the home in a French style.

Lots of layering and using a Keepsake Envelope too.

If you have a moment please visit their blog to see a step by step tutorial

and how recycling cardboard for projects is jolly useful!

 It also features a pretty butterfly..of course! Les Papillions Two.

For the body section I've used the 3D Foam Hearts and some chunky glitter.

Right now I'm the supplier in the UK for the Designer Shapes, my blog gets a mention 

in this month's edition of Cardmaking and Papercraft Magazine under their Easter Extravaganza!

The shapes are available through my Amazon shop or, as always, drop me an email.

I was asked yesterday if I would be stocking the new Die D-Lites™  -

yes I should be stocking most of them soon, if there are ones in particular you favour please drop me 
an email as I will make sure I pop them on my order form.

Enjoy your day friends, I'm still trying to will Spring to come...I keep purchasing daffodils and 
yesterday planted up a window box - not quite the same when the clouds are grey!

Take care.

New Home - Love

Hello friends

My second New Home card from this month's 

Cardmaking and Papercraft Magazine - Quick Makes.

This really was a quick make - four strips of patterned paper, lightly distressed and inked,

Classic Scallop Edgeabilities used down the left hand strip, two house stickers and a banner.

Finally the addition of those little flowers from Homespun..I cannot stop using them!

Now what else do I have for you today??
My Spellbinders™  in the shop/studio is growing...it will definitely increase with the new Media Mixage™ ....
I have those items on order as well as more dies - I will keep you informed.

Also...I can absolutely guarantee the new website/blog is one giant step forward!
Fingers crossed, in about a month's time it will all be up and running.
I've got a lot of typing, images etc to do but I promise to get there - it will be so much easier to have
everything in one place, view projects, book classes, watch videos, purchase items and more -
lots of clickety click!
Have a lovely day - I'm back tomorrow.

Home...

Hello friends

I hope you all had a good weekend.

Today I can share with you one of the cards that has appeared in this month's edition of 

Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine.  

I was asked to produce four cards for their Quick Makes section - all to be 'New Home' cards.

The papers and stickers are Pebbles - Family Ties.

Love the gingham blue, reminds me of a nice Summer tablecloth.

I created the scallop edge from Classic Scallop Edgeabilities®, cutting/embossing 

from two patterned papers and overlapping.

Of course, the tiny little flowers and leaves are from the very splendid Homespun.

Questions: my lovely new ribbon unit came from eBay.  

It is new and they have some more available - the link is here.

Also the ribbons are available to purchase, I have some uploaded in my Amazon shop

but if you are interested in any others please drop me an email.

All reels of ribbon and twine are £2.50 each.

Take care friends - I'm back tomorrow.

Butterfly...Miss You

Hello friends

I'm on a butterfly roll! 

I've been eager to share this card with you because I like it!  

I'm sure you all have that feeling when you make a project - there are some you think 'that's nice' 

and others that you think...'I really like it!'  

I created this for Spellbinders™ and it has just been used on an email shot by Northridge Publishing

so I can share it with you.  

The other card has been made by Theresa Momber, fellow Design Team member - it is stunning.

Here is a close up picture.

The kraft cardstock frame has been made with Timeless Rectangles,

the beautiful butterfly is Les Papillions Two with a Bitty Blossom in the middle.

The sentiment is stamped onto a Framed Tags One.

The papers are Bo Bunny - Country Charm.

Yesterday Janice asked if there was a quick way of finding previous projects on my blog - 

there is a blog archive section near the bottom of my sidebar - it shows the title of every post,

but I appreciate that it still means wading through quite a lot of blog stuff.  

The quickest way is to 'Google' - for example, Janice wanted to see a post where I 

created a shopping list, if you search for 'Hope and Chances Shopping List' 

you will normally get the result.  (It is actually how I find previous posts).

Other news...I purchased a shelf unit for the studio/shop to display ribbons for sale.

I'm really pleased with it. I spent far too long arranging colours when I should have been 

doing things like cleaning the floor! 

Okay..rain rain go away!

Let's hope for a Spring like start to the week tomorrow.

Take care friends.

Emboss/Deboss?

Hello friends

Thank you for all the brilliant comments yesterday. 

I'm afraid I do not have a set of Gold Labels Four to give away ...

(some followers thought perhaps I had),

but please keep your eyes peeled as I do have more giveaways coming up.

I received a few comments and emails asking the difference between emboss and deboss.

Hopefully I can clarify.....

Debossing is the reverse of embossing.  

With traditional embossing the pattern impression is pushed upwards into the paper/card. 

With debossing the impression is downwards.  With the new Imperial Gold dies

you get a mixture of both emboss and deboss - up and down!

The tag and butterflies returned yesterday..I have missed them.

In fact I thought I would go back through my photo files and find something else butterfly-ish to share today.

(What I'm really trying to do is encourage Spring to arrive!)

I think this tag ticks all the boxes.

Using Les Papillions - the die on its own initially to create an emboss into the stamped tag.

and then the die cuts placed over the top.

I'm struggling to decide which butterflies I like the most Les Papillions or Les Papillions Two -

actually I cannot decide - I like them both equally.

Those little flowers and leaves from Homespun have appeared again too.

I hope the sun is shining where you are today - have a lovely Saturday.

Take care.