Returning to the cabin!

Hello friends

I made it back into my cabin yesterday to organise kits

for forthcoming workshops.  Time has been ticking on although 

this nasty virus seems to ignore that!

Thankful that I am up and about, still competing with 

Bella on the barking front though! 

I know many of you have had this and are still suffering,

roll on Summer please.

This Saturday I am going to be at Crafts Plus in Basildon, Essex.

I'm doing a workshop that is all things Becca.

Four projects in total and yesterday I was busy die cutting

for the kits.

This is Layered Thinking of You Woodland Scene.

This is my finished card that has gone walkabouts,

I am thinking my brain has also been affected by this virus!

Glad I still have the photo as I would be thinking it didn't exist.

These layered scenes works so well on their own or with the 

3D Cabinet, Dome and Arch die sets.

If you live Essex way and would like to come along on 

Saturday morning, please book via the Crafts Plus website here.

Four projects all using Becca's dies and gorgeous papers too.

Take care friends, hope you are all keeping cosy and warm,

I've had Bella and the cats all trying to sit on my lap!

Friday Die Day

Hello friends

This week's Friday Die Day features Chinese Coin.

This is one of the Destination China Collection dies designed by 

Lene Lok for Spellbinders.

It's a 3 piece die set and the approximate measurements are:

Die Template: 3.10 x 3.10 in. 7.80 x 7.80cm
Insert: 1.30 x 1.30 in. 3.50 x 3.50 cm
Circle Offset: 3.40 x 3.40 in. 8.50 x 8.50 cm

Using gold mirror card I die cut the main feature die

and then also die cut a circle rim using the outer die

and a Standard Circle.

My card front is red cardstock with a circle aperture.

Matted onto gold mirror card mat again with an aperture.

A black 5 x 7 card base with some patterned scrap paper.

The aperture mats mounted onto the card front.

Chinese Coin die set set into the aperture.

I then added the gold die cut rim around the edge.

The finished card, just a little bit of stamping to the base of the card.

Destination China dies are available on the website here.

In for a very chilly weekend I believe so wrap up warm

everyone and take care.

Venturing into ink and where it can go a little awry!

Hello friends

Cough cough cough!

I'm currently competing with Bella as I sound like a barking dog!

On the upside I'm up and about which is a great improvement.

Needless to say I haven't been to my cabin but before I was struck 

with the lurgy I did do something inky.

I've done a little step by step, it follows the techniques 

Eileen Godwin shared at her workshop.

 I am very new to this hence mistakes.

I splashed out on one of the Dylusions Art Journals, just the small one.

The cardstock inside is super thick.

Starting with a nice yellow Oxide glow to the middle - Squeezed Lemonade.

Then adding blue - Mermaid Lagoon.

Script stamp in three places and using a diamond and dotty stencil.  

Now those little stencils came free 

with a magazine, all Ranger and to be honest when I first saw them I just

put them to one side. It wasn't until I went along to Eileen's workshop

I began to see the potential for these little beauties!

A Hare stamp - I bought this some time ago and had been itching to use it.

Because it isn't a clear stamp and I'm not the world's best stamper can you spot

the mistakes?  Firstly he needed to be a little higher, central to my yellow glow.

Also there is a black inky edge to the left but because of the style of the page 

perhaps it still works?

I then went rummaging in my stamps and found this curly one,

not sure I've ever used it before.

I did purchase this stencil from Inkylicious - I mentioned it recently,

it creates this wonderful rays/beams across your image

(or possibly more hare whiskers in this case!)

My first finished page in my inky journal.

Not perfect but I like it! 

I also have the fox stamp in this sketchy range so I may be trying that next.

Hope to be back in my cabin later today, once the frost clears a little.

I need to start prepping for workshops coming up!

Take care friends, have a great start to the week.

Keep well and warm.

I'm back with a journal page!

Hello friends

Well I'm back, sorry about the absence.

I even missed Friday Die Day! I will save that to next week now.

I was running around as normal on Monday and then suddenly struck down

by a virus that knocked me for six. Still not great but out of bed

so that's a real bonus! I was well looked after by Bella and the boys

although I think my kitchen may need a very good clean 

when I feel able! 

Today sharing with you a project I made for Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L.

There's a full step by step tutorial on their blog here.

I'm always thinking of new things to do to showcase their brilliant adhesives

and this time decided I would create a memory journal page.

I wanted it to include interactive elements, the envelope,

tag, concertina wallet etc.

The finished page although I think I will add more at some point.

If you have chance to pop across to the Scrapbook Adhesives blog here

to leave a comment I would be very thankful.

Don't forget we stock all Scrapbook Adhesives products on the website

here, their E-Z Runners and Refills are great sellers.

The lovely Sandra (Cotswold Crafter) has left a great review 

of the E-Z Grand on her blog here - thank you Sandra!

Take care friends, keep warm and lurgy free! 

Delving into the World of Quilting!

Hello friends

This year I am trying new things, the brush lettering,

inky stuff and also quilting.

Let's just say housework has been permanently put on hold! 

I am totally new to quilting so I was very interested when

Hayley West on Hochanda was launching her quilting panels.

Cut and Quilt Blocks.

I watched the show and the demos and thought - that's not scary,

I think I can do this so I placed an order.

There are three options of designs/colours, I went with the naturals bird design 

featuring feathers, flowers and little birds nests - very nice.

Each panel arrives printed onto cotton along with very clear instructions.

This is the Windmill Block.

You cut out each piece - I did discover here that you obviously need good scissors

and new glasses! (On my to-do list).

Following the instructions you make squares of the triangles.

Every seam is stitched with a 1/4" seam. 

I'm using my trusty very old Elna sewing machine and this is where I slightly 

went wrong, I assumed the first little marker on my metal plate was 1/4"

but it is slightly more so the end result is that my block will be slightly smaller.

Not a problem as long as I am consistent with all my blocks!

At this point you can see that my points are not quite aligned 

and the right seam is a little out but I

happy with a first effort and, at the end of the day,

this is for me and a sort of chart of where I started

(and hope to improve!) 

Attaching the side pieces - now you can see that I'm out as the first piece

should fit but snip snip - all sorted! 

My first finished Windmill Block.

I did make two purchases for my new hobby and they have been invaluable.

A little travel iron (bargain on Amazon, they had a lightening sale that day).

A silicone heat mat for the iron (eBay) and 

the owl folder thingy which is an ironing pad, opens up to be a cutting mat.

That was from Amazon and a little more expensive so thankful for 

my Christmas vouchers.

There are three block designs available at the moment,

Windmill Block, Churn Dash and Log Cabin.

More designs on their way so I had better keep up!

So nothing to do with die cutting but a little insight into my

busy little creative world at the moment.

I can feel the pull towards looking at super new sewing machines

but resisting right now.

For all you professional quilters out there I hope this didn't

hurt your eyes too much :) 

Take care friends.

Eileen's Poinsettia and Celebrating

Hello friends

As promised sharing with you the other card I made at 

Eileen's workshop featuring this amazing Poinsettia stencil

from Sweet Poppy.

So, this was the method of dabbing Distress Oxides onto your mat,

spritzing with water and running your piece of card through.

Dry off with a heat gun, repeat.

Now if my memory serves, it was then using regular distress inks 

through the stencil to build up the background before making a bold 

statement with the black poinsettia.

Finishing touches was to go around various elements with a white and 

gold gel pen and adding a stamped sentiment.

I'm learning not to fret when the colours don't come out quite how

I think they should.  Also some colours just turn out very grey when mixed.

My heat gun has never had so much use! 

Can't wait to return to Eileen's workshops to learn more

and I'll be sure to share it with you here.

In other news some celebrating has been taking place.

My mum had some wonderful news from her consultant.

It very much looks like the radiotherapy has worked, 

she will need to be carefully monitored but right now we are most 

definitely happy and relieved.

Lots of thanks to all of you who have been messaging and 

sending love, you are all stars.

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone.

Friday Die Day

Hello friends

Aww thank you for the lovely comments on my inky 

background bird card. I have another project to share with you 

that I created at Eileen's class, just waiting for a day that isn't too 

dull to take photos! 

I'm on a bit of an inky roll!

This week's Friday Die Day features Boxed In,

one of the dies from the Perfect Match Collection by Debi Adams.

This is a 3 piece die set and the approximate measuresments are:

Box Half: 3.00 x 4.60 in 7.60 x 11.70 cm
Box Flap: 2.25 x 1.75 in 5.70 x 4.40 cm
Opening: 0.50 x 1.00 in 1.30 x 2.50 cm

I started with a piece of A5 card (Papermill) and blended various 

Distress Oxides. I then spritzed with water and patted dry.

To create the box you cut the largest die twice and the flap once.

There is a little semi circular die that you can positon to make 

the opening, I did this after I took this photo!

Fold along those score lines, insert and affix into place the flap

and assemble, it is dead easy and makes absolute sense when folding.

From the leftover inked card I die cut a few 

little flowers and leaves, they didn't disappear for long! 

Tied twine around the box and fixed into place with a little oval die cut sentiment.

Popping the leaves and flowers into place and adding pearls to the centre.

It's a diddy box - finished size is 

2 inch wide x 3.375 inch height x 0.50 inch.

You could use it for a gift card, jewellery,

notes - written or monetary! 

Or great table favours, you could pop a lucky dip card inside.

Fun to make and I'm really enjoying the inking.

Boxed In is available on the website as pre-loved here.

Just a couple of die sets available.

Other news...

Julia Watts is on Hochanda again today with the Spellbinders

one day special featuring the 

new Exquisite Splendor Collection.

We luckily ordered these in from the US early so they

are available to post out now.  

The full collection is here if you fancy a peek.

Take care friends, wishing you a wonderful weekend.