Lime and Turquoise

Today's cards show the Tonic Studios Multi Detail Butterfly, Daisy Border punch  and Daisy Strip punch together with a few ideas to use up your leftover punched pieces.

The card on the left has a little two tone border down the left side which I made by interweaving the two strips which were left when I punched out the borders.

For the card on the right I have used the Daisy Border punch as shown HERE to make a circle and I've used the little flowers and dots to create a shaker card.

Another thing I love about the Daisy Strip /Border is that it is great for stitching. I've simply stitched through the holes with white embroidery thread to create a different look.

Don't forget that there is a giveaway on Blog Tonic at the moment for a set of Petal Pairs Petites. These are amazing punches and if you nip over to the blog you'll see lots of examples of how they can be used.

Window box card

Today I have another little idea for the Tonic Studios Geared punch..Dotty Border and the Petal Pairs punches. It's very simple but effective. 

I'll not bore you with the step by step details save to say that I used the Tonic Studios Super Trimmer to make the window frame, and hand cut the little window box. I've also used lots of Scrapbook Adhesives Foam Squares to add dimension.

Here's how to make the "Roman Blind"

1. Cut a piece of patterned paper 9cm x 11cm

and score at 4cm, 5cm,8cm and 9cm .

2. Punch the border and fold in "hill and valley" style as shown in the photo.

Stick to the inside of the window frame.

If anyone needs any further tips on this card  -  just leave me a comment.

Don't forget that there is a giveaway on Blog Tonic at the moment for a set of Petal Pairs Petites. These are amazing punches and if you nip over to the blog you'll see lots of examples of how they can be used.

Challenges

Allsorts  ...it's your choice

Card (igan!)s

I took the card on the right along with me to NEC last week and got so many people asking how I made it that I said I would add the details here and on Blog Tonic when I got home, so here goes.....

 1. Start with a 15cm square card blank and mark the centre of the top.Centre the smallest Tonic Studios Oval Shape Maker  to create a "neck" and cut using the cutter on the inside of the oval

 2. Cut 2 triangles from patterned paper. One with sides measuring 15cm, 9.5 cm , 9.5cm; and the other measuring 10cm, 7cm , 7cm.

 3.Set the smaller triangle face down on the same grid and mark both sides of neck edge.Place it on top of the larger triangle and lay the oval inside edge exactly on top of the marks and cut through the two pieces of paper.

 4. Remove the larger triangle and line up the oval . this time cutting round the outer edge to leave a collar.

 5.You now have these two pieces.

 6. Stick the larger piece down first with the collar on top using Funky Stick glue and doodle some faux stitching

 7.Cut 2 pieces of plain card 15cm x 7cm. Mark 1cm from the side edge and 4.5cm from the top edge and cut this piece off both pieces. Emboss both pieces with Cuttlebug Argyle embossing folder and stick to each side of card(igan!)

8. Cut some pieces of card now;

20cm x 3cm  Collar

4.5cm x 4cm (x2)   Pockets

4.5cm x 2cm (x2)   Pocket trim

10cm x 2cm   Button edge

9. Using the Tonic Studios Dotty border punch. the embossing folder and crimper,

prepare the pieces as shown in the photo and stick down on the card in the appropriate places

10. I like to stick the collar down using the Funky Tape Runner along the top edge and the 3D foam squares at the bottom for a more dimensional look.

Add buttons, faux stitching and that's it!
Enjoy!

Don't forget that there is a giveaway on Blog Tonic at the moment for a set of Petal Pairs Petites. These are amazing punches and if you nip over to the blog you'll see lots of examples of how they can be used.

Cairn Terrier

This is one of the sample cards which I took to Birmingham with me and I thought I'd share it with you here.

I made it to showcase the Tonic Studios Celtic Border punch and matching Celtic Strip punch. The border stays attached to the paper while the strip is just that....a strip!

I love the way this design can be embellished by threading narrow ribbon through the centre.

The image is one of my own - Cairn Terrier available from A Passion for Stamps and I've coloured it with Promarkers.

The flowers were made using the Tonic Studios Petal Pairs Petites rolled to create roses and the large one is using the Multi Detail Flower.

I've used Glossy Accents to highlight the nose and eye but it's not showing up too well in the photo.


Don't forget that there is a giveaway on Blog Tonic at the moment for a set of Petal Pairs Petites. These are amazing punches and if you nip over to the blog you'll see lots of examples of how they can be used.


Challenges

Crafty Catz  ....something beginning with B ( blue, begging!)
Papertake Weekly ...get Krafty

Back from NEC!!

I've just spent a couple of days at NEC trade show with the Tonic Studios team and had a great time! It was great to meet up with them in person as you can never imagine who you're talking to in emails....Well, they all far surpassed my greatest expectations. I wasn't exactly bright-eyed and bushy-tailed when I got off the plane and arrived at the hotel so when I got a text to say come on down and "meet the team" at 11.20pm I thought "mmmm.......maybe the morning would be better!"

Needless to say, David, (my husband - who came with me) and I dropped our luggage and got into the lift.

Inside 2 mins we felt as if we belonged - what a great bunch!

I was so proud to be demoing their fantastic products as all the customers were so impressed not only with the fantastic range but the superb quality. The geared border punches certainly went down a treat! I loved it when I let folk try them out for themselves and watched while they pressed so hard the table wobbled only to find that they only need a little push and it cut through paper and card like a knife through butter!

Thanks to all of the team for a wonderful experience and I'm looking forward to the next time already!....

Here are some of the folk I was with, snatched in the odd moments when there was time to breathe.

Simon and me

Gareth

Mark

Jodie and me

Mike

Jodie and Mark

Kirsty and me

Don't forget that there is a giveaway on Blog Tonic at the moment for a set of Petal Pairs Petites designed by Susan Niner Janes. These are amazing punches and if you nip over to the blog you'll see lots of examples of how they can be used.


One more thing...a little message for Susan Niner Janes, as I know you'll be reading this. Thank you very much for taking the time to stop and pay me one of the lovliest compliments I've ever received. It meant a lot to me and I was so taken aback that I don't think I thanked you. Please feel free to get in touch or leave a comment here so that I know you've visited again, Ruth x

Allsorts Guest DT card

Hi there. I've had a very busy week and hopefully I'll have some photos next week to show you what I've been up to!

Anyhow, this week I'm sponsoring the Allsorts challenge with 4 of my digi images (chosen by the winner) so come on over there and join in.

This is one of the digis you could win - it's called Clarkia and you can see it HERE at A Passion for Stamps with the rest of the collection. It couldn't be easier this week as the theme is "Anything Goes".

I've cut out a frame with my Oval Shape Mates by Tonic Studios .The punches are all made by Tonic Studios - the gorgeous decorative edge is called Vine Border and the others are Multi Detail Butterfly and Mini Butterfly. I love the big butterfly and have loads of them punched out to use.

Tonic Studios have another giveaway on Blog Tonic.This time it's  Petal Pairs Petites  and if you've never used them before , you are in for a treat!  Have a look HERE.

A hint of Spring

Now that the snowdrops are in full bloom and the crocuses are up, it won't be long until we see the first daffodils and narcissi. With that in mind I've coloured my Narcissus digi image from A Passion for Stamps and then made some 3D Narcissi to match using my Tonic Studios Petal Pairs punches. I made a little strip for the centre of the card using the Floral Border Simplicity geared punch and created "corners" by trimming the Multi Detail Heart punch to fit and embossing it with Cuttlebug's Swiss Dots folder. 

The flowers are fairly self explanatory but if anyone needs some pointers feel free to ask.

There is now another giveaway announced on Blog Tonic for a complete set of Petite Petal Pairs so do nip over and join in!

Gift Bag/box

I usually make cards but every now and then I like to try something else and this time I thought I'd fiddle about with some card and try to come up with a little bag.

I've taken a few photos along the way if you'd like to have a go at making one yourself -

1. Using the outside of the middle size Tonic Studios rectangle Shape Mates cut out 2 templates. 

2. Use the Tonic Studios Floral Border Simplicity geared punch to decorate the top of both pieces.

Take the smallest template from the Oval Shape Mates and cut around the inside of it in the centre of the front piece of card.

3. Mark a line 1cm in from the outside edge around the sides and bottom of both pieces.

 4. Cut a piece of white card measuring 29cm x 5cm and using the Tonic Studios Super Trimmer and score at 1cm along the long edges.

5. Snip three times at 10cm from top and bottom at both edges as above and run a length of glue from the Tonic Studios Tape Runner along both long edges.

6. Use this piece along the inside of the pencil lines to stick the card front and back together.

As you can see, I've added a piece of acetate (which I've also embossed with a Rose folder) inside the oval cut out.

7. You can make a little lid for the top by cutting a piece of white card measuring 14cm x 5cm and score at 2cm in from each long edge and 1cm in from the short edge.

8. Snip off the corners as shown in the photo above.

 Run the glue runner along the back edge of the "lid" and stick to the inside back of the bag.

9. Use the Tonic Studios Celtic Strip geared pattern punch to create a handle.

 Stick the handle to the sides using Tonic Studios Funky Glue Pen (I love this!!)

I  used the Petal Pairs flowers to decorate where the handles are attached to the side.

I've decorated the front using Oval Shape Mates to make a frame of patterned paper, Multi Detail Butterfly punch, Mini Butterfly punch, Petal Pairs

Challenges
Allsorts ...free and easy
Papertake Weekly ..anything goes

Sir Stampalot February Challenge; In the Garden

In the Garden - that's this month's theme for the February challenge at Sir Stampalot.

Well, we can dream! I haven't been in the garden much lately but hopefully we'll have a lovely summer and can enjoy it again. Just have a look at the beautiful DT cards and you'll be reaching for the seed catalogues..

I've gone "bright" again with this one.The bold paper is Wild Blossom by Trimcraft and I coloured my digi image to match.The image itself (which you can find HERE) is a drawing of the little arbour in our back garden and I love to chill out there when I get a chance. Last year we had to cut the climbers completely back to put a new roof on so I hope they grow again..

The little flowers on the climber were made using "scraps" from the Tonic Studios floral border punch and the larger ones by Tonic Studios medium Flower head punch. 

Check out the lovely garden themed prize this month and don't forget to have a look at the Sir Stampalot website for any new stash you might need.