Edwardian Door

Hello friends
Over on the Spellbinders website in the Featured Tutorials section
I have created three projects using Edwardian Door.

This is the 'Advanced' project and looks nothing like a door!
I used the middle section to look like a faux chest of drawers.
The 'drawers' are actually boxes - Square Petal Top Box.

I added my favourite Sprigs, Blooms Four and Elegant Ovals.

That's the fun of using Spellbinders dies, they can often be turned into something different.

I will soon be sharing the other projects using this lovely die,

I've got a real penchant for doors and windows!

Hope you are all having a good week, mine is speeding by!

Take care friends.

Cute Little Fellow...

Hello friends

If you've been tuning in to the Spellbinders shows this week on

Create and Craft you will know it has been very festive. 

There have been some gorgeous new Christmas dies 

(which I will be stocking soon along with this little fellow....)

Winter Owl

The shows not only featured new but also visited some 

favourite Christmas dies from last year and before.

A lot of those samples and the projects demonstrated were made by the 

Design Team - to name just a couple, Teresa Horner created some of the

beautiful cards and the stunning festive scrapbook page is by Beck Beattie.

So much work goes on behind the scenes of these shows,

the entire Spellbinders Design Team deserve a pat on the back.

As mentioned the chocolate wrapper, card and tag, the concertina/stepped snow scene 

are a few of my designs and also this black and white card below.

Created with white card using Rustic Wreath 3D M-Bossabilities.

Two rows of ribbon to bottom of card, Layered Poinsettia cut from black 

cardstock and Merry Christmas stamped and cut/embossed with Back to Basics Tags.

The entire front panel mounted onto silver mirror card and then onto a black card base.

Simple but effective.

I'm back in the shop today creating, I'm pleased to say it is nice and cool in there,

we really are having a heatwave.

Take care friends.

Tuesday Tip/Technique

Hello friends

Tuesday is here again and what do I have for you today?

Create your own backgrounds.

Die cut a shape - I've used Botanical Swirls, an expandable pattern die.

 Use your die cut as a mask to spray through.  I've used Glimmer Mist.

Wait for it to dry fully before removing the die cut.

And trimmed it makes a lovely background to your project.

 

I've used Carnation Creations for the flower, a little lace

and stamped sentiment.

Easy peasy really!

Think red background with Layered Poinsettia...

I'm mentioning Christmas again!

The winning ticket for July's Charity Kit will be drawn next week

so please hold on to your numbers.  I've got a great goodie bag this month!

Take care friends.

Still Festive!

Hello friends

I'm still on a festive theme and thought I would share another 

Layered Poinsettia project.

A gift bag created from Grand Labels Four.

The little rectangle stripe effect at the bottom is created by using E-Z Squares,

applied in a line, sprinkled with embossing powder and heat set.

 The Layered Poinsettia in a different colour looks just as effective,
these dies are available on the website.

Yesterday my card featured some machine sewing, 

I know it can sometimes be a bind getting out the sewing machine.

I purchased a cheap straight stitch machine from Dunelm Mill that I use specifically

for sewing paper craft projects.  All the details are here.

Had a fantastic evening yesterday meeting up with Kim from Spellbinders.
We chose to eat in an American restaurant...I said Kim could give them tips.

I promise to tell you more - typing this very very late and my bed is calling me.

Take care friends.

Heatwave!

Hello friends

Are you melting?

The shop is normally quite cool but yesterday for Knit and Natter

it was a tad warm.  Gravesend is often quoted as being a bit of a hot spot and 

I couldn't agree more yesterday.

This is Gravesend Pier with a cloudless blue sky.

Thank you to all those that came along to Knit and Natter and

especially to Maggie and her friend who travelled all the way from York!!

They delivered a parcel full of knitted squares and stayed to enjoy tea and cake.

Elliott was chief tea/coffee maker yesterday and did a fine job.

Today, as mentioned, I'm driving to Peterborough to the Create and Craft studios

to meet up with Kim Hupke from Spellbinders. 

She has been working so hard doing all the Pick of the Week shows

featuring Christmas dies (some new and some from previous years).

One of my favourite Christmas dies is Layered Poinsettia (you may already know that!)

 I thought it would be nice to revisit one of my projects using these gorgeous festive flowers.

A card with Layered Poinsettia cut from patterned flower and sprayed with 

some red glimmer mist. 

Labels Twenty Two has been used for a tag stamped with a sentiment 

in the top corner.  

I stitched around the edge of the card, something I haven't done for a while...

I must do that again!

Take care friends and I will be sure to tell you all about my trip.

Going all techy!

Hello friends

Technology is a wonderful thing...when it works of course!
In my attempt to keep up with the fast pace of technology it is now possible
to read my blog on your Kindle!

You can read 'me' on all these Kindle devices:

Kindle e-Readers, Paperwhite, Kindle,

Kindle Touch, Kindle Keyboard, Kindle DX, Kindle 1st and 2nd Generation

It means that my blog is auto-delivered wirelessly to your Kindle and updated so you stay current.

It costs 99p per month (works out I am approximately 3p per day!)

There is a also a free 14 day trial - you can cancel at any time during the free

trail period but if you enjoy your subscription, do nothing and it will automatically

continue at the usual price.

All the details can be found via this link.

It is possible to leave reviews on Amazon too...be lovely if you can

and even better if they are good :)

I even impressed the boys when I said I had organised this!

Other news:

Chris has kindly sent a photo of her completed Charity Kit.

She said she couldn't 'bear' to cut the paper so used the full sheet,

I think it looks really effective.

I do think the bear looks so sad though!

There are not many July Charity Kits left, seems like lots of you are happy

to start Christmas cards in July - I really must take a leaf out of your book.

August kit is in the planning - I still keep that notepad by my bed each night and
often wake up with ideas that I just have to write down!

Are you tuning into Create and Craft?
Spellbinders is Pick of the Week and there are some gorgeous new Christmas dies. 
My dear friend Kim Hupke, Education Director at Spellbinders
has flown from Iowa to do the shows.
I created the design boards, some projects and a few may appear as demos
so keeping my eyes peeled!  In fact you may guess from this Create and Craft
studio picture which projects are mine...chocolate wrapper, matching card and tag!

I am travelling to the Create and Craft studios tomorrow to meet up with Kim,
we are heading into Peterborough for a meal so if you live that way...
any recommendations?

 Well must dash - off to Knit and Natter, I'm cake laden!

Take care friends.

Friday Die Day

Hello friends

I am excited to bring you this Friday Die Day ...because I love it!
This is 'Just Because' - a stamp and die set combined!
 It is a six piece floral die set with ten stamps that include floral images and sentiments
It is from the new Spellbinders® Celebra'tions™ line.

The dies measure:
Flower 1 Centre – ⅜”
Flower 1 – 1⅜ x 1¼”
Flower 2 Centre – ½”
Flower 2 – 1⅞ x 1⅝”
Flower 3 Centre – ⅝”
Flower 3 – 2¼ x 2”

The return of the tag!

I've selected the largest flower stamp and randomly stamped onto the tag using

Cool Caribbean Celebra'tions ink pad.

(My first experience of using these ink pads and they stamp wonderfully,

it is a mixture of blending dye and pigment ink and can be used on paper, fabric, wood,

acrylic - just heat set on non-paper materials to become permanent).

 I've also selected Sea Spray and Delightful Daisy to create further flowers and their centres.

The flower dies match perfectly over the stamped images.

This is how they look cut/embossed.

I then layered up the flowers with small 3D Foam Squares on top of the stamped flower images.

I stamped Happy Birthday (one of the useful sentiment stamps included in this set)

 onto white card and tied around some of the Celebra'tions Linen Thread.

I'm totally hooked on these now...beware you could see them often!

This 'Just Because' stamp die set is available on the website here.
There is also the very lovely 'Sweet Treats' (a definite future FDD).

Tomorrow is Knit and Natter in the shop - as mentioned slightly different
in that we are asking for a £2.50 contribution, this ensures plenty of cake, tea/coffee
and the two chosen charities receive a larger proportion.

It would be lovely to see you if you are in Gravesend,
remember you don't need to knit, just come along for the natter!

Take care friends - have a wonderful weekend.

Way back at the beginning...there were jars!

Hello friends

A 'throwback Thursday' project today.
A few years ago I had a 'jar phase' and pretty much squirrelled away every type of jar
I could find and then decorated them!
This one once held fruit in liqueur - jolly nice!

To decorate the jar I used a combination of four die templates,
Spiral Blossoms Two, Eyelet Circles, Foliage and Labels Twenty.

I created a label area on the front so it could be named for someone special!

It has yet to leave the house....

I still keep jars (I can't help myself)
even down to the little mint sauce ones as they make nice gifts too.

Fill them with favourite sweets, pop in a gift certificate, lottery ticket -
they are fairly quick to do and go perfectly with a card.

Learn to Crochet with Ruby is booking up, just a few places left if you
are thinking of coming along.
I keep looking on Pinterest now at all the wonderful crochet projects...love this!

Take care friends and stop by tomorrow for ....you know what!

Crochet with Ruby!

Hello friends

I am very happy to announce that in September a lovely lady called Ruby Byrne is
coming along to the shop to teach crochet.
I am putting my name down first!
Although I can crochet a very simple stitch I really want to learn how to make flowers,
create Granny Squares and more.
These are just a few pieces of her fine work.

Ruby is a very experienced tutor and runs classes throughout Kent.
The 'Learn to Crochet with Ruby Course' will be held on two consecutive Tuesday evenings -
2nd September and 9 September, 7pm - 9.30pm.
By the end of the first class you will know basic stitches and create a flower,
by the end of the second class you will know how to read a pattern!
The cost for both classes (a total of 5 hours tuition!) is £25.
Tea/coffee and cake included ...of course.

Please note you will need to bring a 5.5mm crochet hook and aran yarn.

All the details are on the website here - you can book online or please feel free
to call into the shop.

I'm really excited about this course, crochet is having a massive revival at the moment
and there are some beautiful patterns out there.

Crochet also combines so well with papercraft, I love the idea of placing 

crochet flowers on cards and scrapbook pages.

Enjoy your day, take care friends.

Tuesday Tip/Technique

Hello friends

Well Tuesdays have definitely become a little like Fridays in that

I hope to deliver something die-useful!

Without further ado - today's tip/technique...

Bottle Tops!

Some years ago flattened bottle tops were all the rage in scrapbooking,

they phased out after a while but I still like to use them on projects.

My Square Bracket Edge Box features a bottle top with Bitty Blossoms,

and a key using Engraving Art Board.

But how do you flatten bottle top?

Very simply in your Grand Calibur®.

Take your pink 'B' Embossing plate and pop a piece of scrap paper onto it.

Next, position your bottle top with the edges facing up.

Cover with tan embossing mat and then the Raspberry Spacer Plate.

Run this through the machine - yes I know, it looks like the sharp bottle top edge

will cut into your tan mat but magically it doesn't! 

Instead you end up with a perfect flattened bottle top.

Important: use new uncrimped bottle tops (not a used one off a beer bottle).

You can buy them in places like Wilkinsons, anywhere that does home brewing.

Go on...do some flattening!

Take care friends.

A Crafty Space

Hello friends

It's that day when I feature someone's crafty space for us to take a nose...
I mean to take a keen interest! ;)

Today it is Lesley McCloskey (aka Stamping Bubbles)
and this is what Lesley has to say:

Here are some photos of my craft room. It doesn't usually look this tidy! 
My room has to be multi functional and sometimes is used as a spare for room 
for occasional guests and my parents-in-law.
They have just been for a visit that's why it is so tidy.

I hope you enjoy looking at my photos.

It is a very special place to me - somewhere to relax and de-stress after work and family commitments. And I know I am very lucky to have the space to have a whole room to myself although I do share it sometimes with my hubby as long as he doesn't complain about the mess!

Thank you Lesley, it is great room and those Useful Storage Boxes in pink are superb.
I am delighted to see the Grand Calibur centre stage and what a brilliant stock
of DVD's - I also tend to watch films when I'm crafting, I get totally absorbed in both.

Other news...

Again, thank you for the Charity Kit orders, some of you are also purchasing previous
kits which is great.  There are still some available on the website here.
Lynn Derbyshire recently spent a day crafting and made up some of the
Charity Kits, she kindly sent a photo to me.

They are brilliant Lynn, the decorated heart sold very quickly but look out
for August's kit - I think it will be another winner!

Take care friends - back tomorrow.

For Mum

Hello friends
Are we recovering from all the thunder storms?
Perhaps we do need those brollies now!

Thank you for the lovely response to the July Charity Kit,
always delighted when the kits are well received and this one
was definitely Elliott's project.

Yesterday this card was featured on the Crafty Power Blog -
a special card that I made for a special lady...my Mum!
All the details can be found here and if you are able to leave a comment that would be super!
The papers used are Graphic 45 - Botanical Tea (very pretty).

I've used Blooms One for the flower feature and Sprigs.

The tag is created with Back to Basics Tags - a die set that never leaves my craft desk. 

The wooden hearts are Freckled Fawn - Wood Chip, Hearts - now in stock on the 

website - I love these, you actually get 32 in a pack, that's a lot of love!

Elliott created the very nice banner for Freckled Fawn on the website too - 

in between kitten parenting.

Enjoy your Sunday, I'm in the shop today working on projects,
all will be revealed soon.

Take care friends.

July Charity Kit

Hello friends

Today announcing the July Charity Kit and it is....

Christmas come early!

A kit this month based on Elliott's Christmas card design from last year,

he has been working hard to pack these this week.

You will receive all the components to make a pretty snowflake card.

 Each kit contains:

White card base (148mm square - Craftwork Cards)

Paper insert

Envelope

Silver ribbon

Metal snowflake charm

Die cuts: 2013 Snowflake Pendant 

1 sheet of 6 x 6 Graphic 45 - Twelve Days of Christmas paper

(it will be one of the designs pictured below)

Lucky number

Full instructions

You are able to purchase via the PayPal button below and the

price is £4.95 inclusive of postage and packing.

July Charity Kit - £4.95

Or you can purchase through the website here in case you would like to add any extras.

Please note the kit price is different as postage is calculated and added at checkout.

I know it is probably naughty of me to mention Christmas this early but it is 

only 22 weeks away!

Don't forget to keep hold of your lucky number - the winner receives a goodie
bag of dies, stamps, adhesive and more!

Thank you so much for your support, Elliott and I are visiting 

Camberwell House soon and we are always proud to drop off a cheque 

and knitted blankets.

Take care friends.

Friday Die Day

Hello friends
In the midst of a heatwave I bring you Umbrellas!
This is Umbrella Trio and what a pretty brolly set it is!

The die measurements are:
Floral Insert: 1¾ x ¾”
Panel Insert: 1⅞ x ⅞”
Polka Dot Insert: 2 x ¾”
Umbrella: 2¼ x 2¾”

This is what they look like cut/embossed.
You can have a plain brolly or three different inserts, dots, stripes, floral.

Some weeks ago I made a card with stamped umbrellas and it has proved popular

so here it is recreated with Umbrella Trio.

A raspberry pink card base with matted grey square.

A white panel, stamped sentiment onto Back to Basics Tags and tied with twine.

I cut/embossed two grey umbrellas and nipped off their handles!

Cut/embossed the pretty brolly in raspberry pink and positioned it over the grey ones.

Tiny crystal gems for raindrops.

These are in stock and available here -
they would also make nice parasols too for this lovely sunshine!

Take care friends and enjoy your warm weekend.

Seeds!

Hello friends

Occasionally I rummage!  

I go through all the boxes under my bed, in the stock room at the shop and find 

projects I had completely forgotten about.

This is one of them - a seed wrapper.

These are so easy to make and make lovely little gifts.

Grand Labels Four scored at the width of the seed packet and folded inwards

to create the flaps.

The centre piece is Jewelled Flowers and Flourishes topped with a brad.

'Love' is cut from foil and is the Sentiments die (currently on sale on the website). 

The seed packet is kept in place with some Dodz aka sticky miracles!

This project would also work with other dies, as long as the die cut covers the seed packet

and definitely flowers on the front...and perhaps a butterfly!

Take care friends - enjoy the sunshine today.