Monday, July 29, 2013

Fantastic Ribbons

I am delighted to announce that I have been selected to join the Fantastic Ribbon Design Team. Cant wait to get started. I love working with my Crafter's Companion dies and embossing folders but is soo looking forword to enhancing those products with the beautiful ribbon and buttons available from Fantastic Ribbons. Waiting with great anticipation and excitement for my first delivery of gorgeous goodies...keep checking in for sneeky peaks.

Fantastic Ribbons


Sunday, July 21, 2013

Jingle Bells

Sad to say this is the last of my samples using the new Christmas Sentiment stamps from Santa's Little Helper's at Crafter's Companion. Today I am showcasing the samples I made using the Jingle Bells stamp set. So lets get jingling...

I just had to use the Waltz Frame Die'sire die. It is so elegant so needed somthing elegant to complement the die. I stampled a Poinsettia stamp that I had in my stash onto patterned paper with a script patterns. I stamped it in Coffee archival ink and bronze. Stamped it a few times. Cut one complete section out with my craft knife and cut a selction of random petals and leaves. I used my alcohol pens to add shadeing to the leaves and petals and I decoupaged them using my sillicon glue gel. I used a lovely pearl and antique gold button to the centre from my button stash...I so love a nice button.

Die cut the Waltz Frame out in cream card and inked the edges with Tim Holz Vintage Photo. Stamped the sentiment in bronze.

The backing was cut from a broze metallic card and passed through the Holiday Holly A4 folder and the edges inked also with Vintage Photo.

Die cut some leaf swirls in a pale gold paper and added some small pearls.

It's then just a case of building the card - I liked the effect of placing the leaf flourishes over and under the flower. I think this is my favourite card of all the samples I've made for this launch.    


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Enjoyed working with the Waltz Frame on the last card I just HAD to use it again. This is a nice quick and easy card, yey.

Made a card blank from green card and using a section of the same green card passed it through the Holiday Holly A4 folder. Selected a gorgeous piece of christmas rose paper and cut to size and inked edges with Tim Holtz Vintage photo. Attached both section to the card with a piece of green metallic trimming.

Wrapped two pieces of red natural twine to the card crossing over each other. Chose a large neutural coloured button with a gold on onto and threaded a piece of red raffia through the two of them and tied a bow.

Die cut the Waltz Frame from Kraft card and inked the edges with Tim Holtz Peeled Paint. Stamped the sentiment in green.

Die cut 2 sprigs of the large Holly Die'sire die in pearlescent green card and green vellum. Used ball toll to crate dimension. Tied a bow in red ribbon and attached two floristry red berries and a gold berry. 


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Last but by no mean least...

I selected a piece of red Coredinations card and passed it through the I Believe 6x6 embossing folder, gently sanded and then inked with Tim Holtz Aged Mahogany. This was placed ontop of a piece of bauble patterned paper from my stash, again edges inked in Aged Mahogany. Added a piece of red and cream diagnonal stripe paper to card and added some antique gold lace with red cord threaded through.

At the top of th red embossed section I added a piece of antique white lace and red pom pom trim.

The sentiment was stamped in red onto cream card and die caut using the small die from the Waltz Frame. Edges aged with Aged Mahogany and curled outwards with ball toll on the reverse.

Stamped onto cream card a pine cone stamp in Coffee and cut out with craft knife and attached to card.

Using red seam binding tied a double bow and attached a wooden button to the middle with white rafia.

Added some gem swirls along with a red rose bud, red and silver berries. 


Well that's all folks.....have you decided on your favourite stamp set? Will it be Misteletoe Kisses, Happy Holidays, Christmas Magic or Jingle Bells....or if you are like me and cant decide then you will just have to get them all.


Saturday, July 20, 2013

Christmas Magic

Christmas is'nt Christmas without a spot of Magic, so todayI  am going to showcase the samples I made using the Christmas Magic stamp set.

I've never really used Acetate before so thought the Let It Snow embossing folder was the perfect folder to use. I cut a section to size and passed it through my machine. I gently, gently being the word, sanded it back.

Passed a piece of green card cut to size through my Holiday Holly A4 folder. Selected a piece of red, white and pink christmas snowflake patterned paper and cut a section to size and matted onto red card.

The snowy hills section was cut from white card and passed through the spotty part of the Christmas Elegance 6x6 folder.

The tress where die cut from the Fir Tree Die'sire dies in green patterned paper and Centrura Pearl. With my ball tool i went round the outside of the green trees and then attached them to the Centura Pearl trees to give the impression of snow.

Using the Scalloped Tag Die'sire dies I die cut the largest label and stamped Let It Snow in red.

Using the smallest snowflake from the Die'sire Snowflake dies cut a white snowflake. Attached a red button to the centre with a piece of white raffia knotted in the middle.

Layered the card up using foam pads and sillicon glue gell and added some pearls to the tag, a little silver raindeer charm and some snowflake stickers with gems.


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Simple card this time, and more traditional in design and colour. Merry Christmas was stamped on cream card in red and heat embossed. Die cut this stamped sentiment using the Magic Mirror Die'sire die inner section. Aged edges with Tim Holz Vintage Photo and threaded gold elastic through the die cut holes. Die cut also in cream the large section of the Magic Mirror and used the die as a stencil with Vintage Photo.

Die cut the small sprig of Misteletoe from the Die'sire die in green card and lightly sanded. Used my ball tool on the reverse to create dimension to the Misteletoe. Added some pearls for the berries and a small red bow.

Using the Christmas Patchwork embossing folder, embossed a piece or red Coredinations card and added Enchanted Gold guilding wax over the entire relief design. Attached a piece of stripped card to the top section of the card and inked the edges with Vintage Photo. Where the two sections join together added a piece of cream and gold trimming. Quite a simple and easy card to do.


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The Christmas Ornament 6x6 embossing folder is such an elegant design so I didnt want to do anything too fussy. Again I used red, green and gold and being Scottish could'nt help not add a piece of tartan ribbon.

The gold section of the card was cut to size and matted and layered onto red and green card. I took another section of the same gold card and cut to size and passed through the Holiday Holly A4 folder and attached to the centre of the card.

Using a piece of Centura Pearl I cut a circle more or less the same size as the bauble and placed it in the folder. I used the Christmas Ornament folder and passed it through by embossing machine. Then with my emboossing pen i set about colouring in sections of the relief pattern and added, Tinsel Red and Metallic Gold Sparkle embossing powder and some pearls.

I attached a piece of green/gold ribbon to the card and added gold gems ontop of it and added the bauble to the bottom with foam pads. I stamped the sentiment in red and cut out using the Scalloped Tag Die'sire dies and attached to bauble. 

I die cut a small Die'sire Die Holly in green, tied a red and green tartan bow and attached to the bauble. Added some red gems and pearls to the holly for the berries.   


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I know I said I was going to stick to red, greens and golds for this set of samples but I wanted to use the Snowflake Die'sire dies and snowflakes need to be silver....

 I used the Christmas Elegance 6x6 folder with blue card from Coredinations Brights and sanded slightly and sprayed lightly with Spray & Sparkle Iridescent.

Wrapped a piece of silver trimming and silver and grey ribbon round the card. Die cut a silver glitter snowflake and a smaller snowflake from handmade paper wich is blue with silver speckles. Both die cut from the Snowflake Die'sire dies. Attached the larger snowflake to the card then tied a bow in the grey and silver ribbon and attached. Tied another bow but this time in silver cord and attached ontop and then added the small snowflake which was decorated with pearls.

Used the Scalloped Tag Die'sire die and on Centura Pearl and stamped the sentiment in Brilliance Pearlescent Skye Blue and attached to card. Decorate further with some gem swirls. I used navy blue card, silver card and some silver mirror card all matted and layered onto a card blank made from Centura Pearl.


Well that's Christmas Magic for you, tomorrow is the last in the collection Jingle Bells, see you then.

Friday, July 19, 2013

Happy Holidays

So what did you think of Misteletoe Kisses stamp set? Bet you loved them just like me...Well today is all about Happy Holidays. For these set of samples I stuck to the traditional greens, red and golds for my samples.

I previously showcases a card with a bauble using the Village Scence Die'sire die which I so loved and was desperate to work with it again. However I wanted to move this design on and try and so something a little different. So I made a card that has a detachable bauable that can be used to hang on your Christmas Tree. I think this would make a lovelty gift for someone spending their Christmas in a new home.

I'm not going to go into too much detail about how I made this as (when I have the time) I'll do a seperate blog page of how to. However I did use the Holliday Holly A4 and I Believe 6x6 embossing folders along with the Holly and Village Scene Die'sire dies and the gorgeous sentiment is from the Happy Holidays stamp set.



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Using my trusty Centura Pearl created a card blank. I cut a section the same width of the card and about half the height of the card. I took my Holiday Holly A4 embossing folder and added perfectly clear embossing ink to the folder, making sure well covered. Then the piece of Coredinations was passed through the folder in my embossing machine. Carefully removed and covered with Tinsel Red embossing powder and heated.

I cut two pieces of pleasted red ribbon to go across the width of the card and two pieces of gold trim the same length. I marked on the card where the tinsel red holly patterned paper would go and added some ultra thick sticky tape and attached the red pleated ribbon lengths. I then overlaid the tinsel red holly section and then added the gold trim to cover the edges of the card. 

From some gold glitter card I die cut a sprig of Holly from the Die'sire dies. Tied a piece of cream and gold corn and some red pearl for the berries. Attached Holly die cut to card with sillicon glue gel.

I stamped NOEL from the Happy Holiday stamp set and used my Metallic Gold Spark embossing powder.

It's the first time I have used embossing powder with embossing folders but was surprise how easy it is to do, BUT just remember to clean your embossing folder straight away. 


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I reluctantly sued some of my Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium paper for this card. I L O V E the holly paper and thought it would be a lovely backdrop. Matted and layered onto red and kraft card all inked with Tim Holtz Aged Mahogany. 

Using a section of green Coredinations card I passed it through the Christmas Patchwork A4 folder and lighly sanded. Used Autumn Bronze guilding was to bring out the gorgeous patchwork design.

I die cut a piece of Kraft paper and added some pearls. Cut a round piece of cream card and inked with Tim Holtz Tattered Straw and stamped in green the sentiment from Happy Holidays.

Cut a section of green card and matted on top of piece of stripped card and inked edges with Tattered Straw. Wrapped a length of green gingham ribbon round the card.

Die cut the large Misteletoe sprig using the Die'sire die and sanded lightly. Attached this Misteletoe ontop of a green gingaham bow. Added some pearls in different sizes for the berries and tied a gold bead thread in a bow and attached.

Created 2 small loops in green/gold ribbon and attached to top of card and added two pearls. Think I have fallen in love with the Misteletoe die.  


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I had in my mind what I wanted to do with this card and although it looks the simplest of these samples it took me aaaaages.

I used the I Believe 6x6 folder on cream card and aged edges and relief pattern with Tim Holtz Vintage Photo and matted this onto red card. I stamped the Santa image in red onto cream card and die cut a cream circle and die cut the Santa stamp using a scalloped circle die. Edhes again inked with Tattered Straw.

Now for the tricky part...from the Happy Holidays stamp set I used the JOY stamp. I stamped each letter J O Y seperately making off the stamp and used white embossing powder. This took a few attempts. Then I cut the penant shapes out with my craft knife.

Attached Santa to center of card with foam pads and attached also with foam pads J O Y. Made two red raffia bows and two white raffia bows and attached. Added two little silver bells to the bows.


Well that's all my samples using the Happy Holidays stamps set, I think you will agree that the sentiments are so versatile and can be used to create so many different styles of cards. Tomorrow I will showcase the Christmas Magic stamp sets, see you then.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Misteletoe Kisses

Right so you have stocked up on all the fantastic new Christmas dies from the Die'sir range. Well, now they have only went and designed some fantastic stamps that compliment the dies so well.

There are 4 sets of stamps and they are jam packed full of sentiments and images that you can create endless adornments to your Christmas cards.

Today am going to be focusing on the first set Misteletoe Kisses which have been designed to work with the Tags 1 and Romantic Song Die'sire dies.

I love Kraft card and wanted to combined this with classic Christmas Red. I craeted my matt and layers with cream and red card. I used my Seasonal Music folder and created 4 rectagles to create a frame for the tag. I used Scalloped Tag from the Die'sire range and stamped with snowflakes. I used ultra fine white embossing paper to make them pop against the vintage background created using Tim Holtz Vintage Photo. The sentiment stamp was stamped in copper from the Misteletoe Kisses stamp set. I used the smallest die from the Snowflake set and made a hanging element, centred with a red pearl. I added some red gems and red pearls to the tag. Tied a double bow in red and white gingham ribbon and that's you done.


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I had in my stash this amazing Poinsettia stamp and I stamped it twice onto red paper in prfectly clear embossing stamp and added metalic gold embossing powder and heated. I cut out one flower in full and the second I cut certain petals. Once cut I decoupaged them onto the full flower cut out with sillicon glue. To the centre I added some florestry gold and bronze buds and added some gold 3d glitter glue. Set that aside to dry and then set about making my holly sprig. I die cut 3 sprigs and coloured with my alcohol pens to create shade and definition to the leaves. Once ink was fry I used an emory board and sanded edhes of the leaves to create tecture and more colour definition.  

For the background I selected a piece of black Tim Holt Nostaligic Kraft core card and pased through embossing machine with the Seasonal Music 8x8 folder. Sanded relief pattern and then added some Enchanted Gold guilding wax. Selected a black and cream stripe paper for the bottom section of the card and brought the two sections together with a piece of gold and cream ribbon.

I used the Romantic Song Frame Die'sire die and cut the inner and outer section in cream card. The middle section I stamped the sentiment from Misteloetoe Kisses in black and added clear embossing powder and heated.

The gold ruffled backing paper was created from gold crepe paper and I care fully stretched the edges to create this ruffled effect. I matted this onto the card wich was slightly smaller than the gold layer as I didnt want to see the card, just the ruffled gold.

Now all I had to do was build the card and I used foam pads and sillicon glue to create height and red pearls for the Holly berries. I love the red, black and gold combination, just that something a little different.


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I loved using black on the last card that I thought I would try using it again but more of an accent colour this time. I though blues and teals would make a nice contract to the black. So now the colour combinations where chosenm what to do with them. From my stash I stamped two holly sprigs onto pale silver paper and added Black Twinkle embossing powder and cut round the Holly. Using a round circle die, I die cut a section using some black and pale grey music paper. Once cut I inked the edges with Tim Holtz Pumic Stone. The die left little perferated holes round the circle so with sale pale blue cotton I threaded through the holes using a back stitch.

I chose another patterned paper that co-ordinated with the teals/blue and cut a section and embossed it with my machine using the Let It Snow 6x6 embossing folder. I added Pumic Stone to the relief patern to create definition. I matted it onto a piece of teal Coredinations card from Roy G Biv and used foam pads. Wrapped a piece of beige coloured gros grain ribbon from top to botton.

The tag was made using the Scalloped Tag die, again using the pale silver paper. Inked round the edges in Pumice Stone and used the same Holly stamp but used white embossing pwder this time. I used the Naught and Nice stamp from Misteletoe Kisses. The create teal background to the tag I tarced round the outside of the tag and cut with scissors. Matted and layered the two together with foam pads.

Tied a bog in pale blue ribbon and added a contrasting material covered brad to the centre. Decorated the black and silver Holly with small pearls and black gems. I love how the rectangle looks like a Christmas present, I can honestly say that was intentional.


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Now that I have exhausted black, what colour now that is'nt traditionally Christmas...I had in my stash this gorgeous mulberry coloured velevet ribbon that I thought would look sumptious on a card. To complement the Mulberry I chose Silver. 

I cut a section of the silver paper but created a gentle hill shape and passed it through my machine in the Let It Snow 6x6 Die'sire folder. I attached some white trim that I though looks a bit like little snowballs to the under side of the curve shape. On the right side I attached a narrow piece of mulberry coloured velvet ribbon.

On a piece of Centura Pearl I stamped a snowflake in and embossed with Purple Glow. Cut around outline of snowflake with my craft knife. Using Tim Holtz Milled Lavender I inked the edges with cut and dry foam. I die cut a small Snowflake from the Die'sire Snowflakes, I added perfectly clear embossing stamp to the centre and edges of the snowflake and added Purple Glow and heated. A used some Brilliance Pearlescent Crimson to create some depth. I added some tear shaped pink genms to the tips of the large snowflake and some small pearls to the small snowflake.

Using a piece of white lace I wrapped a section round the card. With the wide Mulberry velvet ribbon I tied a knot round the white lace. Laid the large snowflake on top and secured with sillicon glue. Tied a smallish bow in silver bead thread and sillicon glued to large snowflake. I used the same narrow mulberry velvet ribbon as used for the trim and made another bow. This bow was laid ontop of the silver bead bow. The small snowflake was then attached on the top.

This section was then glued to a square card made from Centrua Pearl and the sentimnt was stamped onto the Centura Pearl in Brilliance Pearlescent Crimson.  



Keep popping in, tomorrow I'll be showcasing the next set of samples using another one of the new Christmas sentiment stamp sets.



Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Only 5 months to go...get them while you can.

You will probably think I am MAD to be posting Christmas card's and it's only July. Well the answer is yes I am mad, but I am also excited to be one of the lucky few who get to play with the new fabulous range of Christmas stamps, Christmas Embossing Folders and Christmas Dies from the festive little Elves at Crafter's Companion. So whilst the sun has been shinning and I have been sneezing with hayfever I've also managed to cover myself (and my craft room) in snow, glitter and all things festive.

Here is a sneeky look at what these fabulous new products have helped me create...

BREAKING NEWS . . . the dies are available to purchase today (2nd July 2013) from the Crafter's Companion website.

I used the Snowy Village die but cut into sections and layered to make the scene appear in a Christmas 
Bauble and used A TOP SECRET EMBOSSALICIOUS FOLDER - DETAILS LATER THIS WEEK to create the zig zag backdrop.


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Used various dies to create a stepper card: Fir Trees, Lamp Post and Wrought Iron. Used A TOP SECRET EMBOSSALICIOUS FOLDER - DETAILS LATER THIS WEEK to create the raised spots on the white card.


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Love this TOP SECRET EMBOSSALICIOUS FOLDER - DETAILS LATER THIS WEEK highlighted with guilding wax. Die cut 2 Ivy & 2 Holly coloured with Spectrum Noirs and decoupaged the leaves.


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Cant get enough of this TOP SECRET EMBOSSALICIOUS FOLDER - DETAILS LATER THIS WEEK and the Ivy die that I just had to use them again, along with the Bow die.


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Used another TOP SECRET EMBOSSALICIOUS FOLDER - DETAILS LATER THIS WEEK (yes again) as combines so well with the Snowflake dies. 


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Something a bit more simple and a bit more contemporary in colour and design. Love the Spruce Trees die and another TOP SECRET EMBOSSALICIOUS FOLDER - DETAILS LATER THIS WEEK and it  embosses so well even on foam sheets.


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Another TOP SECRET EMBOSSALICIOUS FOLDER - DETAILS LATER THIS WEEK creates a gorgeous textured background. The flower made from the Rose (small & large) die, along with the Holly. Die cut the Snowflake and added some guilding flakes.  


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Embossed my patterned paper with A TOP SECRET EMBOSSALICIOUS  FOLDER - DETAILS LATER THIS WEEK and added the Holly die cuts.


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Went for a slightly different colour theme. Used the Snowflake die in Centura Pearl and Vellum, both cut like a dream, set against the background made using a TOP SECRET EMBOSSALICIOUS FOLDER - DETAILS LATER THIS WEEK.


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For my last of these samples I wanted to try and use as many of the new dies and folders as possible. Used Snowflake, Holly, Ivy, Spruce Trees, Rose (small & Large) dies, the Romantic Song Frame die and A TOP SECRET EMBOSSALICIOUS FOLDER - DETAILS LATER THIS WEEK to create this dimensional scrapbook page.


These new Christmas products from Crafter's Companion are truly amazing. The dies cut through the heaviest of glitter card with no problem, even the intricate detail in the Snowflake cut first time. I know it's a tad early but if you want your cards to stand out on the mantle piece then dont delay...hoo hoo hoo. Details of the new Christmas Embossalicious folders will be available later this week.