SWALK taking a little time out....

Ahhhhh who doesn't like taking a little time for themselves enjoying a long hot soak in the bath?! I got this image off the SWALK digi stamps CD rom (which is a must have for any SWALK fan - so many designs, so little time!)

I bought some spectrum noirs at the weekend and played around with them to see what effect I could get.  I need to expand my collection a little further (I have left a list for Father Chirstmas!) 

The plan was then to turn this image into a card....

.....which I duly did! I die cut the image using a sizzix die and then backed that onto a matching embossed template (the blue card)
I then used the pink paper and border from the Bird Song paper pad and the blue paper is papermania. I simply finished it off with a bow and a few gems as well as bright pink peel offs. xxx

From Birmingham... with love xxx

Hi everyone! What miserable weather we are having today, not impressed! Although have still had a really lovely day with my other half doing some crafty shopping and looking at Christmas decorations! He is good!

A recent order I had was probably one of the most challenging I have had so far. A card to send to Australia for Christmas with a Birmingham theme. The recipient is a Brummie and has not long left for sunnier climates.  How I did it and what was on it was up to me.  Hmmmmmmmm.

It is so difficult to capture a city in a card.  You have to think about landmarks and things that are relevant to local people of that place.  As a Brummie myself who left 2 years ago I was thinking what I would want to see on a card to do with my hometown.

I used silver as the backing paper to get a bit of a festive feel going, then I found an amazing picture of the Selfridges building at night time that I felt was perfect for the main backing image. 

Everyone, Brummie or no Brummie is familiar with the Bull Ring and the iconic bull that stands outside. So he definitely had to go on the card!  

On the left hand side where the ribbon is I used my epiphany tools to make this embellishment.   I got a picture of the BT tower which is the centrepiece of the Birmingham skyline. Infact until I moved to Sutton Coldfield at 7 years old I could see it from my bedroom window!!

Finally in the bottom right hand corner is another epiphany embellishment of the floozie in the jacuuzi. Probably the most iconic water feature in the city, it seems to look even nicer when it is surrounded by all the amazing stalls at the German Market! 

Then it was a simple case of a Christmas die through the GC and a bit of lettering popped on.  Hopefully the recipient will be pleased with it and it will remind them of their original home. 

I love my new life in Derbyshire and love the more chilled way of life, but at the heart of it I will always be proud to be from Birmingham xxx

Simple can sometimes be best

Good morning everyone! Hope you are all well. I'm up nice and early for a Sunday, we are throwing a little bash for my Grandpa's 80th Birthday so lots to be done and a journey back to Birmingham for it as well! 

Managed to have a play around with my GC yesterday.

 For this card, I used some white centura pearl card stock and ran it through the GC with an m-bossibilities folder. I love those embossing folders because they are double sided and they go through perfectly (as long as you have the raspberry plate). 

I then used a sizzix shape and die cut the middle of the embossed card out. 

 I used the expandable lattice die on silver mirror card and stuck it behind the centura pearl so that it filled that space nicely! 

It was a simple of case of die cutting a matching shape for the sentiment and popping some letters on before finishing with organza ribbon and a bow.  

Sometimes simple can be more effective than having loads going on. I'm pleased with how it turned out! 

Hope you all have a lovely day! xxx

Who's behind the window?!

Good evening everyone!
Hope it hasn't been too bad a start to the week for you all.  My playtime with the spellbinders continued yesterday with my new d-lite window die.  I went with a festive image, but this is so versatile it can be used for anything.

I first used Stocking FIller paper for the backing and then centura pearl pastel blue and purple which I embossed using the GC. I then used the window die and placed it on top of a Mulberry Wood topper.
The best thing about this die is that it can be opened, just to give your card that extra dimension! Love it!
Lots more play time to be had with these dies but sadly that will have to wait now until next weekend as teaching has to be the focus through the week!

Have a great rest of the week one and all! Hugs! xxx

New dies = lots of fun!

Hi everyone!
Wow, what a weekend! Spent yesterday at the NEC grabbing lots of crafty bargains.  Clearly the market is all dies this year as I felt that's what the bulk of the crafty stalls had really. But that's good for me as that is my latest obsession anyway!
I got 4 of the d-lite dies for £30, as well as another 4 normal sized ones. Also picked up an embossing folder and lots of paper and peel offs that always come in handy.

For this card I used my new lattice die on top of silver glitter paper and then put a border of the same silver paper around the outside. I then added little peel off borders around the inside of the silver border. I cut and embossed the D-lite medallion one die for the sentiment and used liquid pearls around the outside of the flower to give it a bit more sparkle. 

I then used the D-litle whimsical tree die and stuck little gems on (not sure if they show up in the pic though!)

I finished it all off with some silver organza ribbon from Joanna sheen and some more gems. Really beautiful dies, I wasn't really sure about the d-lites at first as I didn't know if they would be very useful but I'm really happy I went for them now I've had a play! 

Right, there is still time for crafting! Hope everyone else has managed to squeeze some in today! Hugs! xxx

Mulberry Wood festivities

Hi everyone,

hope it has been a good week and weekend! I still have the dreaded germs which have stayed with me for my whole week off which is so infuriating!

 I spent today playing with the Mulberry Wood CD Rom, as I had bought a gorgeous paper pad last week and thought it would be be perfect with the colours of Mulberry Wood. 

This is one of my faves on the Cd, I have the stamp as well and it is adorable. I have teamed it with the First Edition Stocking Fillers paper pad and a few odds and ends, one of those quick cards you can put together and still looks sweet. 

I used the same Christmas m-bossibilities folder for the next 3 cards. I ran it through on ivory pearlescent card stock from Crafter's Companion which I love using!

I would strongly recommend people get the epiphany tools and decorations as they add a really nice touch to a card.  The great thing about this Cd rom is that they give you the images for inside the epiphany bubbles - job done! :-) 

Finally, how can you not love this little elephant?! Ohhhhhhh so lovely! 

Anyway, time is ticking, work in the morning so best go and get ready! Have a lovely week everyone! xxx