No Dies Required Champagne Christmas Card

I thought I would share with you today a Christmas Card that looks die cut but isn't!  So put away your grand calibure or big shot, all you need is a little PC know-how, your printer, a craft knife and metal ruler!
Card Recipe:
Tools: PC, printer, craft knife, metal ruler
Paper and Card: Stardream Card, printable vellum, acetate 
Embellishments: Flatback crystals, ribbon bow

To make this card, I started by creating a word document on my PC and inserting a triangle basic shape.  I inserted the text I wanted to use, changing the font and font size until I was happy with the fit. I used double line spacing as I knew I wanted to decorate with crystals.  Then I printed out the message onto printable vellum and left it to dry thoroughly.

To make the card, I trimmed out the "champagne glass" by simply cutting out the triangle of text from vellum plus a corresponding smaller triangle for the glass base.  The stem was made from a narrow strip of acetate.

I decorated the printed vellum with rows of sparkling rhinestones before attaching it to the card base.  This gave me an area which I could dot with glue from behind to adhere the vellum to the card without it showing through.

I've kept this very clean and simple, but you could also quickly add some 3D gloss "bubbles" too.  My card is a Christmas card but the concept could easily be adapted for other occassions too.

Just goes to prove that you don't need new dies for a new card idea!  Hope you enjoyed this quick post and that all your Christmas preparations are well in hand. Pin It Now!

Clean & Simple Fairy Silhouette Card

I think the title says it all for this card!

Card Recipe:
Paper and Card: Oyster Wove, First Edition
Tools: Tonic Studios Die Sets - Fae Hideaway Indulgence Semi Dies,  Grand Calibur
Embellishment: Flatback Pearls

I simply trimmed an A4 piece of card to 14.8cm wide then scored it in half.  I opened it back up again and cut the Fae Hideaway Indulgence Semi Die using both of the semi inside dies but only one of the outer dies. Once embossed, I then adding a pretty First Edition backing paper to the inside of the card and added a sprinkling of flatback pearls and a butterfly die cut from an off-cut of patterned paper.

Despite the intricate swirls of this die, I actually think it really lends itself to clean and simple cards, (you can see another example here), what do you think? Pin It Now!

Clean & Simple CAS Tiara Corners Card

I've said it before, I don't really "do" clean and simple, but I had this idea in my head for creating a card by layering up Tiara Corner Die Cuts, and it was an itch that needed scratching!

Card Recipe:
Tools: Tonic Studios Verso Tiara Corner Die, Layering Scallop Circle Dies, Layering Circle and Square Dies, Grand Calibur 
Paper and Card: Stardream Card
Embellishments: Rhinestone Button 

I created the focal point by cutting 4 die cuts from white pearlescent card using the larger die in the Tonic Studios Tiara Corner die set.  I then cut 2 mats using the layering square dies, and cut aperatures with the layering circle dies.

I had to limit myself to just adding the one bit of bling, I still get twitchy fingers when I "finish" a clean and simple card, I do find hard not to add just a bit more!

Hope you like it!

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Sneak Peek - Tonic Studios New Intrica Wild Vine Circle Dies and Border Punch

Many of you will know that I do love a Wreath Card, so it's no surprise that this is what I immediately thought to make with Tonic Studios' new Intrica Wild Vine Circle Die and Punch.

Card Recipe:
Tools: Tonic Studios Intrica Wild Vine Circle Dies, Intrica Wild Vine Strip Punch, Layering Square Dies, Christmas Cracker Die, Grand Calibur 
Paper and Card: Pearl, Stardream
Embellishments: Ribbon, Rhinestones 
I know that some people are slightly nervous about using intircate dies, I can assure you that I had no problems at all but here are my tips for creating a great cut:

• cut your card to size pre-die cuting, this way you will be able to turn the dies
• when using more than 1 die (for this card I used 3 off the dies combined), you will need to turn the dies and pass it through more than once.  It took three passes and turns for me to cut the wreath layers
• I don't use wax paper with Tonic Dies (I've never needed to) but I do dust my Grand Cailbur silicon mat with baby powder to reduce static on my complex dies.
• These dies are the size that fit in all cutting machines including the cuttlebug, not just the A4 machines.

I hope that this helps, and here's one final look at this wreath card

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Mother's Day Card - Gilding the Lily?

There's a version 1 and a version 2 of this card, perhaps you'd let me know which you prefer?

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Clean & Simple Monochrome Window Scene Christmas Card

This card is most definitely a departure from the norm for me!  It's the launch of the new theme over on an Oldie but A Goodie Challenge and this fortnight it's Clean and Simple Christmas.  I've also got details of an exciting competition from Tonic Studios with a chance to win a prize worth £300.

Card Recipe:
Stamp: Kanban
Colouring Mediums: Versamark Black Ink
Paper and Card: Neenah White, Crafter's Companion Matt Black
Tools: Tonic Studios Window Die, Tonic Studios Christmas Sentiments, Embossalicious Embossing Folder
Embellishments: rhinestone crystal!

The main image is a Kanban set of stamps, the deer are separate to the main tree image, and I used a masking technique to stamp the baby deer so she appears to be peeking out from behind the tree.  I think that little baby deer is just sooo sweet!

Isn't this just such a gorgeous image?  It's really suited to a CAS card, as it just doesn't need adornment.

The window is one of my favourite dies from Tonic Studios, I'm currently going through a phase of window scene cards, I think they are so effective.  I didn't use acetate on this occasion, as I've kept the feel of the card quite matt.  I think that this would definitely be a suitable card for a man.

I made my main mat using Crafter’s Companion Regency Damask 8" Embossalicious Embossing Folder.  It's very hard to pick up embossing on matt card in photography, I hope you can see it here.  I very much like this range of 8" embossing folders, they are the perfect size for me, and this particular pattern is one I reach for time and again.

I finished the card off with a simple sentiment cut with one of my Tonic Christmas Cracker Sentiment dies and just a few tiny crystals to accent the holly berries.

So I have two exciting competitions to let you know about and what's great is you could combine entries into both with just one card.  

So first of all, do pop over to an Oldie but A Goodie and join in with our Clean & Simple Christmas Card Challenge for the chance to win a $21 prize from Bugaboo Digi Stamps.

Secondly, Tonic Studios have just announced a fabulous prize competition on their Facebook page, with the chance to win £300 of Tonic products.  Take a look at the Tonic Studios Card Competition here.

There are different rules for each competition so do check them out.  For example, for an Oldie but a Goodie Challenge, I've used the following items that are over 6 months old on my card: Embossing Folder, Stamp, Window Die, Ink Pad, cardstock, crystals.  For the Tonic Studios Card Competition, you need to use a Tonic product and I used my Tonic Window Box Die, Tonic Christmas Sentiment Dies and my Tonic Super Trimmer.  Obviously, I'm not entering (not allowed) but I do hope you will join in the fun on both challenges.  Here's one last look at my CAS Christmas Card.....

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