Pretty Strawberries & Cream Cupcakes

Little baby Lucia came to visit the other day, so what better way to celebrate than with these pretty strawberries and cream cupcakes (which, with Wimbledon approaching, is UK-summer in cupcake form).

Cake Topper Recipe:

Paper & Card: K&Company Sparkly Sweet, pink pearlescent, white textured
Tools: Silhouette Cameo

Embellishments: double satin ribbon 10mm, wooden toothpicks

I used my Silhouette Cameo to make these toppers, cutting the scallop circles and elephant ears in pink pearl card, the circle in white textured card, the elephant in glittered K & Company Sparkly Sweet designer card.  I cut twice the number required of scalloped circles so that I had a front and back.

To ensemble, first make the top layer, stick the ear onto the elephant with PVA glue then use small foam pads to elevate it off the white circle layer.  Use PVA glue to stick the white circle to a pink scallop circle.

Then, attach 3 large foam pads to the back of one of the scallop circles, remove the paper covers and smear each pad with a glue stick.  This means that the pads will have some manoeuvrability when you need to align the two scallop circles together.  Apply a generous blob of PVA glue and place in a toothpick.  Add your topper layer and fiddle to align properly.  Leave aside to dry fully (I left mine overnight).  Finally, tie a small amount of pretty satin ribbon at the top of the toothpick and trim.  

Ta Da – the prettiest little toppers that make any cupcake party-ready!  However, I recommend my delicious Strawberries and Cream Cupcakes - they are light and tasty, here's the recipe.

Challenges I would like to enter are:
Allsorts Challenge - Time for Tea
Divas by Design - Happy Birthday
Thanks for popping by to see me today - you are always welcome - and please do let me know if you like these by leaving a comment.

Pin It Now!

Poker Face Saucy Birthday Card

As soon as I saw this Poker Face Stamp, I knew I had exactly the right embellishments and papers to go with it (from a very old Kanban Men's Kit that I had unused in my stash). So, this mixture of old and new made the perfect match for my fortnightly Design Team card for An Oldie But  A Goodie Challenge and I couldn't wait to use it.  This fortnight our theme has been chosen by the lovely Helen, so get your needles primed, as the theme is Stitching. 

 

 

Card Recipe: 
Stamp: Crafter's Companion Frou Frou Poker Face
Colouring Mediums: Memento Black Ink Pad, Antique Linen Distress Ink Pad, Promarker Pens
Paper & Card: HOTP, Neenah, Stardream, Kanban, Linen
Tools: Tonic Studios Love Birds & Scrolls Die Set, Tonic Studios Doily Strip Punch, Grand Calibur

Embellishments: Double Satin Ribbon, Glossy Accents, Kanban die cuts, Bramwells Crafter's Cord

 

To make this card, I stamped the main image twice onto Neenah Classic stamping card, but I also stamped the pouffe onto a piece of HOTP striped paper.  I cut this out and layered it over my base image.  Then I decoupaged the lady over the top of both layers.  The image is, of course, coloured with Promarkers, and then I distressed around the image with Antique Linen ink pad.

I printed the birthday sentiment and the Oscar Wilde quote out from my computer, and mounted the former onto the Scroll die cut from the Tonic Love Birds & Scrolls Die, and the latter onto one of the card die cuts from my Kanban playing cards topper sheet.

I stitched around both main mat layers with using my Tim Holtz Pricking Ruler and Bramwells metallic Crafter's Cord.  I also used the versatile Love Birds Die Set for the scalloped heart tucked behind the main image.  After I had die cut it from red linen cardstock, I used a craft knife to trim away the love birds to reveal a lovely heart.  You may just be able to see that I accented the embossed heart at the top with glossy accents.

I choose my colour scheme to co-ordinate with the Kanban Playing Card backing paper, a very sassy Red Linen cardstock and a hot, summery Gold Stardream pearlescent card.

Please pop over to the main Oldie But A Goodie Challenge Blog to check out the gorgeous inspiration from my lovely DT buddies. To enter the challenge yourself, you can make anything you like Card, ATC, L/O etc as long as it fits in with the theme and that you use something on your project that is over 6 months old.  My "oldies" are all my paper and card stock, colouring mediums,  ribbon and thread.  I'm sure you've also got lots of stash to use up too!

Challenges I would like to enter are:
Crafts & Me - Something Old (Everything apart from Dies and stamp are over 6 months old)

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

 

Thanks for popping by to see me today - you are always welcome - and I always look forward to reading any comments you may leave.

Pin It Now!

Sneak Peak - Tonic Studio's New Verso Range!

Oh, how exciting - Tonic Studios are launching a brand new range of co-ordinating Dies and Punches as a Four Day Deal on Create & Craft on Monday!  I've been having a play with the Gothic Die Set and matching Gothic Border Punch, want to have a peek?

The Verso dies contain 5 dies in each set and allow multiple combinations of designs to suit your project.  Each Verso Die Set has a co-ordinating Simplicity Pattern Punch, allowing you to create beautiful repeatable borders and strips, especially as these punches can go through even 400gsm heavyweight card.  Being Tonic, these dies and punches are an absolute dream to use (no fiddling around with wax paper etc).

On my card, I used the largest medallion die and matching outline die.  I punched the border by cutting a 4.2cm wide strip of card and punched both sides to create this strip, which I then decorated with rhinestones.

Here's a final look as this gorgeous die set.  Don't forget to tune into Create and Craft at 8am on Monday 10th June to see the launch of these gorgeous dies.

More details at Tonic Studios.

Pin It Now!

Father's Day Gift Tag & Bottle Tag Set

With Father's Day looming, I've made this matching gift tag & bottle tag, to fully co-ordinate with my Bunting & House Mouse Father's Day Card.

Project Recipe:
Stamps: Joanna Sheen House Mouse, LOTV sentiment
Colouring Mediums: Encore Ultimate Metallic Ink Purple, Memento Cocoa, Promarker Pens
Paper & Card: DCWV, Conqueror, Elegance Satin, Textured Pearlescent
Tools: Tonic Studios Butterfly Beautiful Die Set, Grand Calibur, Spellbinders, Silhouette Cameo
Embellishments: Creative Expressions Bakers Twine, Button, Brads, Beads, Wire

To make the Bottle Tag, I created the base shape on my Cameo Silhouette, by merging a circle and rectangle, and then adding another circle, I then used the offset tool to cut out the patterned paper layer. 

I echoed elements from my Father's Day card by using the same Tonic Studio's label die shape and another House Mouse Stamp from the same set as the card.  It tickled my sense of humour that the House Mouse was giving a present of Cheese as a gift on my Bottle Tag - making it a Cheese & Wine Tag (boom, boom!  Ok, pretty "cheesey" joke).  I made the little "Dad" embellishment with some yonks-old alphabet beads, a couple of glass spacer beads and some pretty lilac wire that I twizzled.  I stitched on th button with Baker's Twine using a pretty hefty darning needle.

The gift tag was made from the same Tonic Studio's label die shape, layered up and folded in two.  Again, echoing the main card, I used the same Happy Father's Day stamp, but reversed the colours on the cardstock so that the tag shape was cut from yellow textured card and the stamp mat in lilac.

So, this Gift Tag and Bottle Tag co-ordinate perfectly with my Father's Day Card:

I am entering this project into the following challenges:

ABC Challenge - Open
Anything Goes - Father's Day

Cards For Men - Dad

Craft-room Challenge - Use your Scraps
Crafts & Me - Something Old (Everything apart from Label Die is over 6 months old)

Creative Card Crew - Punches/Dies

CountryViewCrafts - Die Cuts

Fashionable Stamping - Tag Time
House Mouse & Friends - Father's Day
 I ♥ ProMarkers - All Stitched Up
Love to Create - Father's Day
Paper Crafting Journey - Masculine Cards

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Pile it On - Stripes and/or Plaid

Really Reasonable Ribbon - Masculine with Ribbon or Trim

Simon Says Stamp - Father's Day
Simply Create Too - Father's Day

I hope that you like my Father's Day projects, let me know what you think, I love to read your comments!

Pin It Now!

Bunting & House Mouse Card for Father's Day

One of the things I love about House Mouse stamps is that they are so versatile, you can use them for cards for men, women and children. As my Dad rather enjoys all my baking, this cupcake house mouse image is perfect for this year’s Father’s Day Card!

Also, I’m really chuffed to report that I amonce again appearing as Guest Designer on this Sunday’s new challenge over on the lovely Joanna Sheen’s Challenge Blog. I the new theme is spots and stripes, and this is the card I’ve designed for my guest slot!

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Joanna Sheen House Mouse, LOTV sentiment
Colouring Mediums: Encore Ultimate Metallic Ink Purple, Memento Cocoa, Promarker Pens
Paper & Card: DCWV, Conqueror, Elegance Satin, Textured Pearlescent
Tools: Tonic Studios Butterfly Beautiful Die Set, Tonic Studios Doily Strip Punch, Grand Calibur, Spellbinders, Sewing Machine
Embellishments: Creative Exprerssions Bakers Twine, Button, Brads

To make the “DAD” Banner, I used the smaller label die in the Tonic Studios Butterfly Beautiful Die Set and cut out three labels in textured pearlescent card and three more in patterned paper. I trimmed down the outer edge on the patterned paper die cuts so that they created a perfectly sized mat for the card labels, and layered them together. I then scored the top of each of these labels and threaded them onto some Baker’s Twine, before securing with a brad, to create a bunting.

I threaded another piece of Baker’s Twine through the border I cut from my Tonic Studios Doily Strip Punch. I love this punch, it’s just perfect to lace through with ribbon or, in this case, Bakers Twine.

My image is from the House Mouse Ice-Cream stamp Plate, stamped with Memento Cocoa Ink, coloured with Pro-Markers and decoupaged. I also used a Promarker to create the Polka Dot pattern on the cup-cake wrapper, to nicely echo one of my patterned papers.

I've also being trying to get to grips with my Sewing Machine.  It was a birthday gift about 6 years ago, but I am very challenged in the sewing dept :( and after a disasterous first go, gave up.  However a lovely crafting friend has inspired me to have another go, so I used the machine to accent this card.  I will get better, but at least I've had a go!









I am entering this card into the following challenges:
ABC Challenge - Open
Cards For Men - Dad
Craft-room Challenge - Use your Scraps
Creative Card Crew - Punches/Dies
CountryViewCrafts - Die Cuts
CutiePie Challenge - 3-2-1 (3 tails, 2 mice, 1 sentiment)
LEJ Designs - Celebrate
Paper Crafting Journey - Masculine Cards
Passion For ProMarkers - Add Ribbon, Lace or Twine
Pile it On - Stripes and/or Plaid
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Masculine with Ribbon or Trim
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Simply Create Too - Bingo (O)

Do let me know what you think of this card, I love to read your comments! Pin It Now!

House Mouse Love Wreath Happy Couple

It's time for this fortnight's challenge over at an Oldie But A Goodie Challenge, and the theme choosen by Francesa is Weddings.  We're sponsored by The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop, which is just perfect as I ♥ ♥ ♥ pretty ribbon! There's some fabulous 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 6months old on this challenge and, if you mention it in your post, you could win a fab prize of embellement gorgeousness from The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop) and come and join in!

This is first card using a Digi-Stamp! I realise I’m well behind the curve on this one, but I don’t use on computer a lot in my crafting (spend too long on the PC for work). However, I was so excited about the new House Mouse Triple CD, I just couldn’t wait to start on the digi-stamps included, and chose this so cute Love Wreath image.  Apart from this image, all the other elements on my card are from my existing stash and over 6 months old.

Card Recipe:
Stamp: Joanna Sheen
Colouring Mediums: Promarker Pens, Flexmarker Pens, Pebble Inc Chalks, Tattered Angels Glimmer Spritz
Paper & Card: Chiyogami paper, Stardream Opal, textured pearl card
Tools: Tonic Die, Spellbinder Dies, Dreamweaver Stencil, Silhouette Cameo, Grand Calibur
Embellishments: Präsent Ribbon, hand-made beaded Hat Pins, Pearls, Dome Sticker, hand-made Ruffle Ribbon Flower

I printed the House-Mouse Love Wreath digi-stamp onto Stardream Opal paper and coloured it with Promarkers and Flexmarkers. I really love the Antique White Flexmarker, when you’re using it, you think it’s not laying down any colour, but it does make a beautiful, subtle difference so suited to delicate blossoms.

I picked up on the blossom theme with my embellishments. I used a lovely Dreamweaver Cherry Blossom stencil, which I dry embossed using my Grand Calibur onto an offcut of Stardream Opal cardstock. I then chalked through the stencil to colour the branches and flowers, before spritzing the whole panel with Tattered Angels Glimmer Spritz. If you want to see how I made the large ribbon flower, take a look at my Ribbon Flower with a Twist Tutorial.

This gorgeous flourish has been die-cut with my new Tonic Studios Bird on a Branch die set and its blossom detail co-ordinates perfectly. I cut two in textured pearlised cardstock, to create a frame accent around my main image. The little charm was made by stamping and colouring a part of the wreath, then encasing it in an acrylic dome sticker and cutting out. Using my Antique White Flexmarker, I coloured the leaf behind my signature hand-made pearl hatpins. I also stitched glass pearls to the blossom centres on my favourite ribbon in the whole-wide world ever (made by Präsent and ridiculously expensive and lovely at the same time).

I cut my card base and layers using my Silhouette Cameo. My top layer is a Chiyogami paper which is beautiful hand silk-screen printed paper from Japan, using an ancient papermaking art. 

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Crafts & Me - Lots of Layers
Deep Ocean Challenge - Ribbons or Lace
Divas By Design - Friendship
Dream Valley Challenges - Animals
Fab 'n' Funky - Ribbon or Lace
House-Mouse & Friends - Flower Power
I ♥ Promarkers - Anything Goes
LEJ Designs - Dies or Punches
Moving Along with the Times - Embossing
Paper Crafting Journey - Photo Inspiration
Passion For ProMarkers - Anything Goes
Crafty Calender Challenge- Blooms & Blossoms

Hope everyone has a fabulous Bank Holiday weekend.  I'm desperate to get into the garden to do some cutting back, so please let the sun shine!  I do love to read your feedback, so please do leave a comment after visiting!

Pin It Now!

Lucia Isabella Scrapbook Page

Today’s post is a scrapbook page. Regular followers of my blog will know that I became an Auntie in February and I am currently making a scrapbook for my Mum & Dad, who became grandparents for the first time in their early eighties!

Page Recipe:

Stamp: Tonic Studios Birdcage Set

Colouring Mediums: Encore Ultimate Metallic Ink Pink, Promarker Pens

Paper & Card: Karen Foster, ADT, stardream paper

Tools: Tonic Simplicity Dotty Border Punch, Tonic Label Die, Tonic Birds on a Branch Die, Grand Calibur, Tonic Super Trimmer

Embellishments: double satin ribbon 10mm

To make this page, I trimmed a 13cm strip of pretty heart patterned paper, then cut a decorative border using my Dotty Border Punch, which I then attached to a 12”x12” sheet of Karen Foster cardstock.  I made the title using an online word art programme, printed it out and cut out with my Tonic label die. I created the mat by tracing around the outside of the same die and cutting it out.  The mats were cut from white card and stardream paper, and I echoed the dotty border on the base mat of my main photograph.

I’ve just received the gorgeous new bird and birdcage dies and stamps from Tonic Studios, and the little hearts included in the designs matched perfectly with my little heart patterned paper. So to accent my page, I die cut a little bird and inked through the die to accent the die cut. Then I used the little heart and flourish stamps from the Birdcage stamp set to decorate the corners and under the title. I coloured in the hearts with Promakers to match with my patterned paper. These stamps are just so useful, they are going to get A LOT of use!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Thanks for popping by, your comments are always warmly welcomed! Pin It Now!

Paper Roses Card

It's time for the new challenge on an Oldie but a Goodie Challenge Blog and this fortnight it's inspired by a song.  The classic song Paper Roses has inspired my offering!

Card Recipe:
Stamp: Tonic Studios Chrysanthemum Clear Stamp 
Colouring Mediums: Memento Sweet Plum Ink Pad, Encore Metallic Ink Pad, ColourBox Fluid Chalk Ink Pad, FlexMarker Pens, Promarker Pens, Cosmic Shimmer Angel Mist
Paper & Card: Tonic Butterflies Beautiful, Elegance Satin, Vellum, Textured pearlescent
Tools: Tonic Studios Doily Square Die, Simplicity Doily Strip Punch, Petal Pairs Punch Set 1,Tonic Window Basket Die, Silhouette Cameo, Grand Calibur
Embellishments: double satin ribbon 3mm, crystals, pearl-ended stamen, hatpins

I used a double-masking technique to create the focal point for this card, so that the main stamped image came out as a relief.  After using the masks to colour the background, I then subtly coloured the main image using Promarker and Flexmarker pens.  Finally, I carefully painted gilding seize over the petals of the flower and applied a layer of clear embossing powder.  (Take a look at my step-by-step tutorial on this double masking technique).

The chrysanthemum image was stamped onto a topper cut using the gorgeous Simplicity Doily Square die by Tonic Studios.

I made the Paper Roses using four layers of petals punched from Punched Petal Pairs, and accented them with glue and crystal glitter. You can see my signature hand-made decorative beaded hatpins peeking out from behind the roses. The leaves were cut using the foilage dies that come with the Tonic Window Basket die set.

The pretty border strip was cut using the doily strip punch, through which I've laced 3mm double satin ribbon that I coloured with a promaker.  I then trimmed this with crystals and a satin bow.

The card base, patterned paper mat and vellum scroll background were all cut using my Cameo Silhouette, which, once assembed, I spritzed with Cosmic Shimmer Angel Mist.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Anything Goes - Shaped but not Sqaure
Country View Cards - How Does Your Garden Grow
Deep Ocean Challenge - Let's Sparkle
Dream Valley Challenges - No Squares Allowed
Fab 'n' Funky - Use Beads
Fashionable Stamping - Anything Goes
Fussy & Fancy Friday - Anything Goes
Joanna Sheen - Music Lyrics
LEJ Designs - Summer's Coming
Paper Crafting Journey - Anything Goes
Paper Playtime - Emboss
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Sparkle, Bling, Ribbon

Pin It Now!

Masking Tutorial with Stamps and Die-cuts

Today’s tutorial is using Masks to add interest and visual depth to your stamping projects. So, I’m going to take you through the step-by-step stages to creating the following stamped topper.

You will need:
Tonic Pick of the Bunch Chrysanthemum Clear Stamp
Tonic Simplicity Doily Square Die
Tonic Glass Cutting Mat
Tonic Kushgrip Art Knife
Ink Pads (Memento, Encore, Fluid Chalk)
Hero Arts Script Stamp
Cardstock
Masking Paper
Repositionable Spray Adhesive


First we need to create two masks, one for the Doily Square Die and the other for the Chrysanthemum Clear Stamp. To make to die mask, use an off-cut of strong card stock and a section of thin stamping cardstock. Layer the die up with the thin cardstock next to the die and the thicker cardstock behind it. This is because, ideally, you want to only cut out the die outline and not the lattice detail on your mask, but it this is not essential. Only use this double layer of card if your die-cutting machine will take this thicker sandwich without damaging it. Otherwise just cut out each single layer of card separately.

Once you have cut out the die, put aside the thin card die cut layer and reposition back into the die the thicker cardstock layer. Flip this over, and lay it down on your Tonic glass cutting mat. Using the Kushgrip Art Knife, cut out the centre section of the die cut. Trim close to the die edge with your craft knife, but it doesn’t need to be absolutely exact. You will now be left with a frame that matches your die cut. Spray the reverse of this with Repositionable Adhesive.

You can now place this mask over your stamping cardstock die-cut. Ink up the Chrysanthemum Clear Stamp with Momento Ink (I used Sweet Plum) secured to a clear acrylic stamping block. Stamp into the centre of the frame. As you can see, the stamp is slightly larger than the frame aperture, but your mask means that only the centre will be stamped. Remove the frame mask.

Re-ink your stamp and stamp out the image onto a piece of Masking Paper. (If you do not have Masking Paper, stamp onto an offcut of paper and once cut out, spray the reverse with repositionable adhesive). Cut out this image using your craft knife and glass mat. Take care not to cut into the stamped image and remember to cut-out any land-locked elements.

Carefully place the flower mask over the stamped image and use an ink pad to colour the die cut.

Finally, replace the die cut frame back over the coloured image, leaving the flower mask in place too. Ink up a random script stamp with a different coloured ink, and stamp over the entire die cut.

When you remove both masks, you will have your stamped flower in relief, a coloured frame and background script on the inside section of the die cut only.

To finish this project, I coloured the flower stem with a promarker pen, then used an embossing pen to fill the flower petals, then used clear embossing powder to heighten the relief effect of the flower.

Although there are several stages to this technique, if you follow them step-by-step, it is not too difficult. And you can use the masks you’ve made time and again. Just store them carefully for the next time you need them. Please let me know if you’ve had a try at this and how you got on. Pin It Now!

Pretty Peonies

Hello, hopefully the sun will shine on you this Bank Holiday weekend.  I've been busy in the garden which was the inspiration for this pretty peony card. Unusually for me, I've not used any patterned paper or ribbon/lace.  Not completely comfortable about that, though!

Card Recipe:
Stamp: PSX Botanical Peony
Colouring Mediums: Memento, Promarker Pens
Paper & Card: Centura Pearl card, Glitter Card
Tools: Tonic Super Trimmer, Spellbinders, BigShot Pro, Crafter's Workshop Mask
Embellishments: Handmade pearl hatpins, mulberry gardenia, cherry blossoms and tea roses, Butterfly charm, rhinestones 

To make this card, I scored an A4 sheet of  Centura Pearl card in half.  I then trimmed a piece of heavy duty glitter card (it's actuall more like box board!)  to 20.4mm x 14.2mm and another piece of Centura Pearl to 19.8 x 13.6mm.  These create mats with just a 3mm border between each layer, so a good quality and accurate trimmer is essential, step in the Tonic Super Trimmer!

For both mats, I placed spellbinders nesting dies in the centre to create an aperture, the green glitter layer had the smaller die (but still large enough to create a big enough aperture for my image).  Once I had cut through the aperture on the top pearl layer, I placed my Crafter's Workshop Mask over the top (ie not next to the blade side) so that when I embossed the layer it created an embossed frame.  The top layer is adhered using Gell Glue, which both adds dimension but also is a strong bond to the glitter layer.

I stamped my PSX Botanical Peony stamp with Momento London Fog ink and coloured with Promarker Pens.  I love these discontinued stamps, and I have to confess that I bought this rare Peony stamp in an Ebay Auction and it was the most I've expensive stamp I've ever bought!!!!

To finish the card, I added mulberry flowers and my own my handmade crystal and pearl hatpins, (don’t forget to take a look at my creating hatpins tutorial).  The metal butterfly charm came with the slots to add your own crystals to, so I can always make sure it co-ordinates with my card by adding the appropriate colours.










I am entering this card into the following challenges: Pin It Now!