Football Men's 70th Birthday Card

This week's card combines a Men's Football 70th Birthday card with a review of the new Loopy Lace Verso Die Set and Punch from Tonic Studio's.

Card Recipe:
Stamp: Crafter's Companion
Tools: Tonic Studios Loopy Lace Die Se, Loopy Lace Border, Grand Calibur, Cameo Silhouette
Colouring Mediums: Promarker Pens, Momento Ink Pads, Versamark
Paper and Card: HOTP, Neenah, Stardream
Embellishments: Buttons, Metal Corners, Pearl Gold Embossing Powder

Despite this die set being named Loopy Lace, I actually don't think that it's overly froufrou or feminine, so I've used it on a Men's Birthday card (which I find can be a bit tricksy, don't know about you?).

The largest die in the Loopy Lace Die set is approx 11.5cm x 14.5cm, the perfect size to be a frame for many stamped images.  So if like me, you love to stamp your card's focal point, then this die set will prove to be very useful.  I cut the oval of stamping card using my Cameo Silhouette, so was able to create the perfect match for my die cut frame.

This birthday card was a commission for a 70th Birthday Card for an ex-West Ham footballer.  I wanted a football themed image but something a bit fun, not just a football shirt or boots, and Crafter's Companion's Popcorn Bear fitted the bill perfectly!  It has been stamped onto Neenah cardstock and coloured with Promarker Pens.  I also 3D- decoupaged the football, so it looks like it's in-flight.

The medium size die makes a super frame for a sentiment or message, and makes a lovely change from a scalloped circle! And the coordinating border punch is so easy to line up, as per usual from Tonic.  Here I've punched along the top and bottom of an offcut of Startdream cardstock.  You can also see here clearly the difference in result from die cutting (which also gives an embossed finish) and punches (which give a flat finish).  

I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut out the 70 from claret coloured cardstock from my stash.

I don't have a lot of gold-tone embellishments in my stash (and by not a lot, I think I mean none!) - but I wanted something to "finish" the corners of this card.  So I took some white metal star corners, dabbed them with Versamark ink, covered them in pearl gold embossing powder and heat set them (be careful if you do this too, the metal gets very hot under the heat gun, so I did this on my Tonic Glass Mat and left it to cool for a good 5 mins before touching them).  It needed two layers of pearl gold embossing powder to completely hide the underneath colour, but I like the old-gold finish - not too glitzy.



Here's one final peek, I think Tonic Studios have "hit the back of the net" with this lovely die set!

Thank you for visiting and Happy Crafting! Pin It Now!

Half-in, Half-Out Cut Verso Card Tutorial

This is a tutorial for how to create the half-in, half-out style of card using the Tonic Verso Die Sets.  I have used the Decorative Holly Wreath Set but this would work for any of the Verso Die Sets, following the same steps.  I will show how you can create card with the free edge either inner-most(below left) or outer-most (below right).

I will give all the measurements to create either a 14.8 cm x 14.8 cm square card or an A5 portrait card, but I will also demonstrate what measurements you need to create this style with any size card and/or die.  At the bottom of this post, you'll find a printable PDF file of these instructions.

Starting with the A4 Portrait Card with Half-Cut Out Circle

Step 1 - Score the card
First of all, you need to measure the largest outer edge from the Verso die range that you are going to use.  I've used the Decorative Holly Wreath, which measures 14cm wide, but you could use any shape/style of Verso Dies for this. Next score your card in half as you would for any card you were making.  

Now, the next thing you are going to do is to create two small score lines in the front half of your card.  To work out how long these score lines need to be either eye-ball it and mark your card with a pencil - or be anal like me and calculate it.  So you need to take your card width (in this case 21 cm) and subtract the width of the die (in this case 14cm) giving an answer of 7 cm, then divide this number by 2, giving a measurement of 3.5cm.

At 7.4cm along the top (longer) edge, score your card down from the top by 3.5cm, then move your score tool to the bottom edge, and score up by 3.5cm.

Step 2 - Cut the Free Edge

I have marked all these score lines in pencil (below), you don't need to do this, but it helps you to see where they are for following this tutorial.

So, you can see  below, I've scored the card in half (as you would normally) and then a quarter of the way in, I've scored from the top and bottom by 3.5cm.

Now take your Verso die (both outer and inner) and line it up centrally between the score lines and hold in place using low-tack tape.

For this style card, the "free" edge is going to be on the first quarter of the card.  I will show you the alternative to this in the next card below, but for this card style, these are the instructions for how you need to place your card on your die-cutter.  You need to place your card onto your cutting mat so that ONLY the first quarter of the card (to those short score lines) sits on the cutting mat (the rest of the card is hanging loose off the cutting mat).  Then place your base plate over the top and, holding very firmly so that nothing slips, feed this through your die-cutting machine.

Step 3 - Cut the rest of the Card

Once you've done this, carefully move the cardstock up the cutting mat so that it is all on the cutting mat.  Don't worry if the detail is not fully cut at this stage as we are going to do another cut pass.  Carefully remove the outer cutting edge only (leaving the detail die in place, unmoved). At this point, you can add further layers of the detail verso dies (but not their outer outline cutting dies).  Tack in place with low tack tape.  Cover with the base mat and pass through your die cutting machine.  

Top Tip - if like me, you use all the dies, you may find it takes several runs through the die cutter to cut all the detail.  If the inner rings are still proving difficult after a couple of passes, very carefully remove the outer verso detail die, and run it back through the die cutter, all the detail on the smaller dies should now cut.

Remove the dies, fold and burnish the score lines with a bone folder, and hey presto - a half cut card.


Now for the Square Easel Card with Half-Cut Out Circle

Step 1 - Measure, Cut and Score the card
First of all, you need to measure the medium outer edge from the Verso die range that you are going to use.  I've used the medium Decorative Holly Wreath, which measures 10cm wide, but you could use any shape/style of Verso Dies for this. 

Take a sheet of A4 and trim it to 14.8cm deep.  Then score it in half, then again at 7.4cm along the top (longer) edge, score your card twice more but this time down from the top by 2.4cm, then move your score tool to the bottom edge, and score up by 2.4cm.  Again, I've marked this in pencil so that you can see but you do not need to do this.

(NB the maths for this one is your card width (in this case 14.8 cm), subtract the width of the die (in this case 10cm) giving an answer of 4.8 cm, then divide this number by 2, giving a measurement of 2.4cm.)

Step 2 - Cut the Free Edge

Now take your Verso die (both outer and inner) and line it up centrally between the score lines and hold in place using low-tack tape. For this style card, the "free" edge is going to be on the second quarter of the card and for this card style, you need to place your card onto your cutting mat so that the first quarter of the card (to those short score lines) sits OFF the cutting mat (the rest of the card is on the cutting mat).  Then place your base plate over the top and, holding very firmly so that nothing slips, feed this through your die-cutting machine.

Step 3 - Cut the rest of the Card

Once you've done this, carefully move the cardstock down the cutting mat so that now all of it is on the cutting mat.  Don't worry if the detail is not fully cut at this stage as we are going to do another cut pass.  Carefully remove the outer cutting edge only (leaving the detail die in place, unmoved). At this point, you can add further layers of the detail verso dies (but not their outer outline cutting dies).  Tack in place with low tack tape.  Cover with the base mat and pass through your die cutting machine.  





Remove the dies, fold and burnish the score lines with a bone folder, and hey presto - a half cut easel card.

Please do let me know if this tutorial has been useful, or if you need any clarification on my description or any of the steps.

Here's a PDF version of this Half-In, Half Out Cut Verso Card Tutorial

Enjoy your dies and have a great weekend!

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Autumnal House Mouse Big Apple-tite

Autumn is my favourite season. I know that the Summer is fab but I just love Autumn, the colours, the leaves, the Harvest!  This time last year, I was lucky enough to be visiting the wonderful Autumn colours in New England, so this is my homage to the arrival of Autumn!

Card Recipe:
Stamp: Joanna Sheen House Mouse
Tools: Tonic Studios Elegant Vine Square Die Se, Gothic Border, Tim Holtz Paper Distresser  Grand Calibur
Colouring Mediums: Promarker Pens, Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pads
Paper & Card: My Mind's Eye, Parchment, mulberry paper, Satin Elegance
Embellishments: Raffia, String, Baker's Twine, Sheer Ribbon, Buttons, Skeleton Leaves

Do you recognise the die set that I've used as a mat for the main focal image?   Yes, it's the Tonic Studios Elegant Vine Square Die Set.  Previously I've cut the top die from vellum and laid it over a pattern card, this time, I've cut the filigree layer in patterned card and layered it over a semi-translucent textured mulberry paper.

Plus, you'd never know that there is a tag in the centre of this die set, my focal image hides it completely, those clever, versatile Verso dies!

Do you find it difficult to shabby things up?  I know I do!  However, I've been playing with my Tonic Studios Tim Holtz Paper Distresser and had a good go at distressing all my edges, before inking them up with Tea Stain Distress Ink.  I think I like the effect, what do you think?

You can also see the edge I've punched with my Simplicity Gothic Border Punch - I think it works great on men's cards.



This card is also my Design Inspiration over an Oldie But A Goodie Challenge of us Dies and Punches.  So, the "Oldies" that are over 6 months old on this card are:
My Mind's Eye Card ● Buttons ● Twine ● Raffia ● String ● Ink Pads ● Elegance Satin Stamping card ● Promarker Pens ● Skeleton Leaves ● Mulberry Paper

Here's one last look....

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Cards for Men - String It Up

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Deck the Halls Christmas Door Hanger!

Deck The Halls! - which is exactly what I've done when I made this decorative Christmas door hanger! It features the new Verso Christmas Holly Wreath and Christmas Sentiments Die Sets, along with a fair bit of fussy folding (more on that later)!

Project Recipe:
Tools: Tonic Studios Holly Wreath Die Set, Tonic Studios Christmas Sentiments Die Set 1,  Grand Calibur, Corner Rounder, Kushgrip Art Knife, Tonic Craft Tacky Glue
Mediums: Double-sided adhesive sheets, Versmark Inkpad, Shabby Blue Frantage
Paper & Card: DCWV
Embellishments: glitter, metal snowflake charms

I the hanger base is a piece of thin cardboard (either from a cereal packet or, as in my case, the bit if cardboard that you get in clothes for posting when they are bought online). This was cut to size (25cm x 10.5cm) and the tag shape created by cutting off the corners at the top (3.5cm down and 2 cm in on each side) and using my 10mm Tonic Studios corner rounder at the bottom.  I then spread Craft Tacky glue thinly over the tag and adhered a patterned paper to one side, retrimmed the resptective corners, then repeated for the other side.  I "hid" the cardboard sandwich by then going around the raw edges with a promarker pen.  Finally, I cut the hole to create the door hanger using the smallest circle in the Tonic Studios Verso Holly Wreath Die Set - it was the perfect size!

Now, I'm not going to lie, the next step was fiddly!  To make the wreath decoration, you will need to cut 2 medium wreaths, 2 small wreaths and a small circle from cardstock (about 250gsm, and the wreaths need their centres whole). Fold and score each wreath to create 8 even segments.  Make a small hole in the centre and then cut up one of the score lines to the centre on each wreath.  Now score and fold in the centre of alternating segments (these will create your peak folds).  On the smaller wreath, you will now be cursing me, as this is very fiddly - but the effect is lovely!  All you need to ensure is that for each pair of same sized wreaths, that you start this extra scoring clockwise on one and anti-clockwise on the other (so the folded segments are not in the same place).  On the medium wreaths, pinch up your peaks and apply a small amount of tacky glue to hold in place.  Adhere the two halves of the medium wreath to the small circle.  For the smaller wreath, apply a small amount of tacky glue to the back and then carefully arrange over the medium wreath. I used a pair of tweezers to help me manipulate the folded wreaths into place. Decorate the centre with a brad, gem, or (in my case) a bling-y button!  Accent the decoration with flitters of glitter.

The Deck the Halls message came from Tonic Studios Christmas Sentiments die set 1, which I then heat embossed with  Shabby Blue Frantage, as it provides a lovely textured and dimensional finish.  I also frantaged some metal snowflake charms and attached them with glue.  Finally, I used a sheet of double-sided adhesive on an off-cut of white cardstock to cut out a small holly wreath (with the centre cut out too).  I then covered the cut-out in iridescent glitter and adhered it to the hanger hole. 

It's always good to know that I'm not just chatting to myself, so please do leave me a message if you've liked this post!  

Here's one last look at this Christmas Door Hanger which I'm entering into the following challenges

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Tonic Studios Verso Christmas Die Sets Wreath Rings Sneak Peek 1!

Jingle Bells! - Santa's Elves at Tonic Studios Towers have been very busy, would you like a sneak peek? It's their new Verso Christmas Die Sets which are unbelievably gorgeous!    Doesn't it combine so well with my Christmas Wreath stamp?

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Crafter's Companion
Colouring Mediums: Promarker Pens, Anna Griffin Pigment Ink Pad
Paper & Card: Anna Griffin, textured card, Satin Elegance
Tools: Tonic Studios Decorative Wreath Die Set, Regency Swirls Embossalicious Embossing Folder,  Grand Calibur
Embellishments: Microbeads, satin ribbon, jingle bell,  acrylic flowers, rhinestone crystals, glitter, metal corners

To start this card, I stamped my Christmas wreath image twice onto stamping card and coloured both images with Promarker pens.  Then I cut out one image using scissors for the outer image and a craft knife to remove the centre. I accented this layer with red glitter, tiny red rhinestone crystals and gold ribbon bow from Anna Griffin double satin ribbon.

I cannot even begin to describe how wonderfully versatile this new Christmas Verso Die Sets are.  To start with they create beautiful wreaths (and I love a wreath on a card) which you can choose to either inset into your card, or have as a topper, as the outer ring cuts separately.  This is my first card, and I used the Wreath Rings Set. 

 I cut the outer wreath with the centre removed but I could have chosen to keep the centre in place, as this is an entirely separate die.  I had also covered my paper with a double sided sticky sheet, which can be tricky with an intricate die but wasn't with Tonic quality (I did do a double pass and twisted the die cut around for the second pass, just to be sure).  I then covered the wreath in tiny microbeads - the effect is so textural and quite stunning.

The little lacey corners are another die in this set, which I've chopped into 2 to make a decorative feature.

You can just about see here where I embossed the gold mat with my Embossalicious Regency Swirls Embossing Folder - I love the larger 8" size of this folder and it perfectly complements the Anna Griffin patterned papers that I used. You can see the embossing a little bit more on the picture below.

Here's one last look:

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
Crafter's Companion - Embossing (Embossalicious Regency Swirls)
Craft-room challenge - Trees or Leaves
CountryView Crafts - Layers
Deep Ocean - Goodbye Summer
I ♥ ProMarkers - 3 Different Shapes
Joanna Sheen - Ribbons
Paper Playtime - Use Three Different Papers
Pile it On - Tic Tac Toe (metal, image, bling)

 I love to know who's visited my blog, so why not leave a comment and tell me what you think of this card, it would be much appreciated!

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Subtle Spots & Stripes

Spots and Stripes is the theme for this fortnight's challenge over at an Oldie But A Goodie Challenge, and we're sponsored by Bugaboo Stamps.  As I've done a couple of quite bold spots and stripes cards over the summer, I really wanted to do a more subtle interpretation of the theme this time around.  What do you think, can you "spot" the spots and stripes?

There's more great inspiration by the Design Team, so have a good rifle through all your old stash (you need to use at least one element that is over 6 months old on this challenge) and, if you mention it in your post, you could win a fab prize by Bugaboo Stamps - so come and join in!
Card Recipe:

Stamp: Stamps Happen Glorious

Colouring Mediums: Promarker Pens, Memento London Fog Ink Pad

Paper & Card: Bo Bunny, Prima, Pearlescent, Vellum
Tools: Tonic Studios - Elegant Vines Square Die, Petal Pairs, Grand Calibur

Embellishments: Lace, ribbon, crystals, creative expressions pearl swirls

So the spots are on the background to the Tag as well as in the handmade flowers (using my Tonic Petal Pairs punches set 5).







There is a stripe pattern to the background paper on the tag but I also echoed the stripes by embellishing the background mat with strips of ribbon and lace woven with ribbon.  I used a pro-marker pen to custom colour the 3mm satin ribbon that I used to thread through the lace. 


Ever since I've had my Tonic Studios Elegant Vine Square Die Set, I wanted to recreate an effect that I've done previously with my Cameo Silhouette, that is; to create an ethereal vellum cut out layer.  Very pleased with how it worked here and much quicker than carefully peeling a similar design off a sticky cameo cutting mat!

I stamped the dress image onto coloured paper, but then coloured over parts of the image with pro-marker pens.  Finally, I added some pearl embellishments, a pretty swirl flourish by Creative Expressions and some pearl strands that come from a florists supplies outlet.

My oldies in this card are the stamp, ink, promarkers, brad, gems and pearls. However, in order to join in the challenge of an Oldie But A Goodie all you need to do is use one item from your stash that's over 6 months old. Hope to see you over at the challenge.

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