Tonic Studios Header Fold Dies Step-by-Step Tutorial

I have had so many requests for a step-by-step tutorial on how to use the Tonic Header Fold Dies, so, as I am to please - here it is!

This tutorial shows you how to score your card, where the alignment notches are and how to use both the detail and cutting edge dies to create perfect header fold die cuts.

Step 1 Trim and Score Card

Trim a piece of A4 card to 14.5cm wide.  Turn the card, and make two small score lines at the A5 score line (14.8cm).  Do not score all the way across, you need to score about 0.7cm in from each side.  For the purposes of this tutorial, I have marked (circled in red on the right)  where you need to score in pencil so that you can see it (but don’t mark it with pencil when you do this).

Step2 - Align the Score Lines to the Outer Cutting Die Notches

If you look closely at the cutting edge die from the Header Fold Dies, you will see that there is a tiny notch on each side just up from the open edge.  You need to align these notches to the score lines you’ve made.  See below, with a really close up shot of where you need to align the notches.  Tape the outer cutting die into place and cut using your die cutting machine.

Step3 - Align and Cut the Detail Die

Next remove the cutting edge die and line up the detail die, tape this into place, then cut and emboss the die through your cutting machine.  Again, don't forget the only reason you can see my score lines so clearly is becuase I've marked over them in pencil but you won't have done this.

Step4 - Fold and Trim to size

Fold the card over along the 2 scored lines.  At this stage your card will not be the same size front and back.  Trim your uneven edge by aligning the folded edge to the 14.5cm on your trimmer (note - you are aligning the folded edge, not the top of the card) and trim the uneven edges.  You now have a perfectly cut and trimmed header fold card base.  This can either be a tent-card with the header element at the top as shown or a traditional side opening card.  You are now ready to decorate your card however you wish.

You can download a printable PDF of these instructions here.  Pin It Now!

Ornate Elegance Header Black & Ivory Wedding Invitation

With the wedding season upon us, I thought I'd share with you an contemporary idea for a Pocketfold Wedding Invitation using the new Tonic Studios Ornate Elegance Header Dies.

Card Recipe:
Tools: Tonic Studios Ornate Elegance Header Dies, Boudoir Square Base, Scallop Circle Layering Dies, Grand Calibur 
Paper and Card: Stardream, Conqueror
Embellishments: narrow double satin ribbon, flatback pearls, crystals hearts

The beauty of this design is that the shape of the lattice heart header die makes it so easy to line up centrally, so I used it to die cut both the top of my pocket and also the pocket flap.  I then threaded narrow double satin ribbon through the punched hole border and accented the central heart motif with crystal hearts.

I then created a coordinating invitation using my favourite die ever (but I think my regular readers know that!), the Boudoir Square base, with I decorated with flatback pearls, and then topped with the wedding invitation wording die cut with a the scallop layering dies.

Here's one final look at this invitiation set.  Although black as an accent colour may not be to everyone's taste for a wedding invitation, I think it gives a lovely contemporary, chic effect.  What do you think?

Finally, please do take a look here at my post about my friend Milly's exciting new venture, I would very much appreciate just a minute or so of your time to take a look.

Thank you and I hope you all have a lovely weekend. 
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Fabulous Feasts for Fast Days: The 5:2 Diet Recipe Cookbook by Milly White

I know that this is a little "off-topic" but I hope you'll all indulge me.  It's a really exciting time for a friend of mine, Milly, who has just had her first cookbook Fabulous Feasts for Fast Days: The 5:2 Diet Recipe Cookbook published.  

As the name suggests, this book is for anyone who is following the 5:2 diet, and contains some absolutely gorgeous recipes.  Milly shows how you can eat breakfast, lunch and dinner on your Fast days (which are usually 500 cals for women and 600 cals for men). That's quite some feat, especially as it's not 3 grapes for breakfast, 3 more for lunch and then a tangerine for dinner! 

Pictured above is a sample menu from the book that includes 5:2 Nutty Maple Granola  for breakfast, Smoked Mackerel Pate & Crisp Breads for lunch and Garlic & Herb Roasted Cod with Fennel En Papillote for dinner, and all that for under 500cals! I've tasted all of these and they are absolutely delicious.

Currently the book is exclusive to Kindle, it's priced at £1.80 on Amazon.co.uk here or $2.99 on Amazon.com here. Do take the chance to try this great diet cookbook, I'm sure you'll be inspired by it. Pin It Now!

Quick & Simple Filigree Favour Box

This is a really quick and easy project that makes such a pretty Favour Box.  

Project Recipe:
Paper and Card: Textured, Stardream
Tools: Tonic Studios Tiara Corner Die Set, Mazarine Blue Die Set, Layering Circle Dies, Grand Calibur
Embellishments: pearls

I found easier to make my box lid first, which I did by die-cutting the first corner with the Tiara Die, then trimming to size.  Once I'd made the lid, I worked out what size box base I needed to fit.

Then I simply embellished with some pretty pearls and die cuts from my Mazarine Blue die set.

A short but hopefully sweet post from me this weekend.  Hope you're having a good one!

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Sneak Peek 3 - Fretwork Filigree Base & Pave Pearls

Back again with another Sneak Peek and another classic Dips Designs style card - lots of pave pearls  combined with filigree fretwork.  Whilst the Ornate Elegance Verso Header Fold Die Sets are designed primarily to work with the fold in your card, because they are also part of Tonic Studios Verso range, it means you can use them without the outer cutting edge.  So here I've used the fretwork header to create an inset fretwork detail to the top and bottom of my card base, which I then paved with peach flatback pearls.  

I've used Mum from the Family Members Die Set (but there is also a New Baby set and a Partner set too), and matted it onto my Vintage Frame Tag - just the perfect size and style for this card.  A few more peach and ivory pearls, and viola, an elegant and classy card that any Mum would love to receive!

Do you like this style of card, I hope so, but do let me know what you think?  The new range will be launching on Create and Craft at midday on Friday 2nd May.

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Sneak Peek 2 - Welcome to the World Birth Announcement Tag & Gatefold

New arrivals in more than one sense with the New Baby Sentiment and Header Fold Dies from Tonic Studios, launching on Friday.  The Verso Header Fold Die Sets are designed primarily to work with the fold in your card, but as you know, I like to show you different ways to use your dies.  So here's I've used this wonderfull scrolling Ornate Elegance Header to create a birth announcement Tag, and again on the co-ordinating gatefold jacket.   

The 'Welcome to the World' phrase and delivery stork is also part of the new release which includes three new range of sentiments dies.  This die is from from the New Baby set, but there is also a Family Members Die Set and a Partner set too.

I think that anyone who makes a lot of cards for charity or to sell will get a great deal of use from these.  Do they appeal to you?  The new range will be launching on Create and Craft at midday on Friday 2nd May.

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Sneak Peek 1 - Ornate Elegance & Family Members

New Tonic Studions Ornate Elegance Verso Header Fold
and Family Members Die Sets

So there are new dies from Tonic Studios about to be released and the clever pixies at Tonic Towers have once again produced a really versatile range.  The Ornate Elegance Verso Header Fold Die Set are designed primarily to work with the fold in your card, but you know me, I like to show you different ways to use your dies and especially how they work with your existing dies.  So here's one of my favourite filigree style cards using one of the Ornate Elegance Headers along with the Boudoir Base Die Set.

And yes, the new release also includes three new range of sentiments dies.  I've used Nan from the Family Members Die Set, but there is also a New Baby set and a Partner set too.

Do you like the look of these, let me know what you think?  The new range will be launching on Create and Craft at midday on Friday 2nd May.

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Ivory & Platinum Diamond Wedding Anniversary Cake

I love it when my crafts cross-pollenate; and that certainly was the case recently when it was my parents Diamond Wedding Anniversary.  I've already shared with you the card that I made for them, which acted as inspiration for the cake I made for their surprise party.

Platinum and Ivory Diamond Wedding Anniversary Cake and Card

The cake is a two-tier sponge - using my own recipe, and I can promise you, it's moist, tender and yummilicious.  The bottom layer was 8"/2ocm and is covered in platinum-coloured sugar paste.  I achieved this finish by colouring my sugarpaste grey - which doesn't look good until you add the magic touch of Pearl Lustre spray! The top-teir is an offset 6"/15cm cake, covered in ivory paste.

When I first started cake decorating in earnest two years ago, I invested a wide range of Little Venice Cake Company baking and decorating equipment.  The equipment is made by DoCrafts, a brand I was familiar with from my papercrafting and I have to say I have been extremely impressed with the quality and value of the kit that I've bought from LVCC.   I especially like their baking tins (I have 2 complete sets in both round and square), the extra long rolling pin, their cake knives (serrated and cranked) and my absolute favourite - the acrylic work boards that I use all the time and is actually the bases beneath both cakes (don't do this if you're giving the cake away, but it's saves so much money on disposable cake boards if the cake is for a personal event or occassion).

However, this is most definitely a fusion of crafts - for my regular blog readers, can you guess what I used to emboss my flower cut-outs?  Yes - my new Tonic embossing folders!  I need to give a disclaimer here, as obviously these folders were not designed to be used with food.  Also, I have kept the ones that I used for sugarpaste work entirely seperate from the ones I use for papercraft. I washed the folders in warm, soapy water and dried them thoroughly with a clean tea-towel before use.  

My technique was to roll-out the sugar paste into sections roughly 15cm x 15cms, then I transferred it into the embossing folder which I had lightly dusted with cornflour, closed the folder, then rolled over it 2-3 times with my medium sugarpaste rolling pin.  (I did not put the folder through my Grand Calibur, as I think this would make a very sticky mess). Then I carefully lifted the embossed paste onto my acrylic workboard and cut out the flowers (again, please note, I did not cut out the flowers whilst the paste was still on the embossing folder, in case the cutting edge of the dies damaged the surface of the embossing folder).  I used Tonic Studios Martha and Amelia Embossing Folders.

The focal point of the cake is this fantasy flower with a pave-pearl centre, made with the same ivory sugarpaste as I used to cover the top tier but strengthened with some CMC.














Finally, I added a kaleidoscope of butterflies, also decorated with sugar pearls, echoing the design of my anniversary card. Here's one final look at this cake and card together.  Do you combine crafting inspiration across more than one craft, do let me know?

I'd like to enter this cake into the following challenges:
ABC - J is for Just as You Like
Crafty Calendar - Things with Wings
Crafty Catz - B is for
Creative Card Crew - Girly
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Monochromatic with Ribbon Pin It Now!

Pretty Easter Egg Basket

Hoppity hop, the theme this fortnight at an Oldie But a Goodie challenge is Eatser - and here's a pretty handmade basket for the Easter Bunny to use to deliver yummy treats!

Project Recipe:
Tools: Spellbinders Bracket Dies, Silhouette Cameo, Grand Calibur
Paper and Card: Stardream, Linen
Embellishments: flatback crystals, double satin ribbon, lace

I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut my Easter Egg shapes.  One of the things I love about my Silhouette Cameo is that you can find a shape for almost any occassion for just a few pence.  So although it is quite an upfront investment, once you've got your Cameo, you really can find a shape for any occassion in their online store or you can quite easily design your own.

You can find more of my Silhouette Cameo projects here.

You can also find a step-by-step photo tutorial on how to make a woven Easter basket here.


The "oldies" I've used on this project are the cardstock, lace, gems and spellbinder dies.  Don't forgot to enter your project into the Oldie But A Goodie Easter Challenge, just make sure you use something that's at least 6 months old.
Hope you all have a lovely Easter,

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Mad As A Hatter Card in a Box

Here's another sneak peek of Tonic Studios Tea Party Dies.

Card Recipe:
Tools: Tonic Studios Indulgence Round Window Pour Me, Watch Me and Wear Me Dies and Everyday Sentiments dies, Grand Calibur 
Paper and Card: Linen card, Stardream, KandCo

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