Happy New Year

A very Happy New Year to you all from David and me......thanks so much for your company throughout 2014. I'm looking forward to meeting up with lots more of you in 2015, God willing. x

Memories - Tonic studios scrapbook page

I have been doing some scrapbooking today - although I have to say that I don't know who the lady in the photo is! I was given some old photos many years ago by a friend and just came across them when I was clearing out cupboards this week and liked the look of this one!

First of all, the 12 x 12 paper is "Pacato" from the Lyric Collection by Prima and I've added some other papers which I have had for a while.

I've used several different dies and punches by Tonic Studios and matted the photo onto a piece of cream card which I embossed with the Tonic Victoria A4 folder.

I have also added tiny heart buttons and dotty ribbon from "My Little Shop, Cambridge"

 This is the Intrica Regal Border punch along the edge of the patterned paper.

 "Memories" die from the Inspirations sentiment die set and the Delicate Dragonfly Rococo Petite die

 I used two of the heart dies from the Someone Special die set along with the larger flourish die from the same set on this corner.

..and the Dotty Border punch for the rosette.

Sweet Paris pyramid card tutorial

 I've made a pyramid card echoing the shape of the Eiffel Tower with the beautiful Sweet Paris collection by Trimcraft.

Although this card is 3D it folds flat for postage.

You will need:

Dovecraft Sweet Paris 12 x 12 Designer Paper pack

Dovecraft Sweet Paris Pearl and Diamante Brads

Dovecraft Sweet Paris Paper Doilies

Dovecraft Sweet Paris Creative Ribbons (green gingham)

Dovecraft Sweet Paris Wooden Elements

Dovecraft Sweet Paris Stick Pins

Dovecraft Sweet Paris Accordion Stickers

Dovecraft Sweet Paris Metal Charms

white card

double sided tape

hot glue gun

How to make it:

1. Cut 3 squares from white card measuring 17cm x 17cm . Score and fold each of them diagonally.

2. Overlap the squares as shown with the mountain folds of each facing upwards. The middle square should have one half under  and the other half over the squares on either side. Attach with double sided tape.

3. Cut 2 squares from the spotty paper measuring 16.5cm x 16.5cm and cut into triangles.

 4. Attach these triangles to the card as shown with double sided tape.  

5. Cut the remaining triangle into three smaller triangles from squares measuring 6.5cm x 6.5cm.

6. Attach the small triangles to the card as shown above.

You don't need to cover the part which I've left blank as it will not be visible when the card is fully assembled - so you can save your gorgeous paper for something else ;)

 7. Fold the back flap of the card over and make a hole with a pokey tool,then insert a brad from the collection.

 8. Take a piece of paper featuring the Eiffel Tower from the 12 x 12 pack and draw a triangle around the Eiffel Tower - I did this by measuring 7.5cm across the bottom and going up to a point in the centre just above the top of the tower. The perpendicular measurement is 15.75cm.

Draw around this on a piece of green patterned paper and cut out.

9. Attach this panel in the centre of the card on top of a green doily with double sided tape.

10. Randomly glue some green gingham ribbon in little swirls across the bottom of the card.

 11. Attach one of the large accordion stickers (with the small button removed) and add two of the heart stick pins in behind. Attach one of the Pearl and Diamante brads to a wooden Fleur de Lys and glue on top of the rosette with a hot glue gun.

12. Glue a little metal Eiffel Tower charm behind a small bow and attach to the left side of the card.

Enjoy!

Two little princesses!

 Kaya

Lori

These cute little girls were not well at all over Christmas but still managed to enjoy their presents and keep smiling.....most of the time.

Happy Boxing Day - I'm lying low today ;)

Joy to the World

Just taking time to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

Thanks so much for your company (real and virtual!) throughout 2014.

I love the "Joy to the World " die cut I've used on this card and I've added an angel too as it reminds me so much of the real Christmas story......

Luke chapter 2

 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  (This was the first census that took place while  Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,  and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,  and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Last day for voting

Just a little reminder that today is the last day for voting - and a big thanks to all who have already taken the time to do it :)

Happy Christmas Mum

 I've just realised it's only a week until Christmas! I'm so disorganised this year. The good thing about that is that I've missed out on the stress of it for the last few weeks:)

I feel a bit better now that I have actually made my mother's card! 

I've made a "bow" type card with gold card in the back to reflect a tealight candle - the battery type, of course, and not the real type that I actually used to get a better photo in daylight!!

I used the Tonic Studios Intrica Pelmet Bow punch for the borders, the Merry Christmas  sentiment die to create apertures for the light to shine through, the Rococo Delicate Heart die, the Mum die from the family member sentiment die set and the Rococo Poinsettia Strip

Jan 2015 issue of Cardmaking and Papercraft

Issue 139 (January) of Cardmaking & Papercraft Magazine has just been delivered among my Christmas cards! As it's the January issue and you will probably be starting to make Valentine cards etc I have made 5 cards and a tag on the theme. You'll find them on pages 18 - 22. It's another one of those issues that I know I'll read over and over again - so many lovely ideas from so many different people!

Crawfordsburn and Belfast Christmas market

 Today was a chance to go at a slower pace for a change and we had a lovely turkey dinner here at the Crawfordsburn Inn.

 .....followed by a wander round Belfast and the Christmas market at the City Hall.

 You never know who you'll bump into! Big son on his way home after a "hard day at the office"!!

Happy Birthday, David!!

Happy Birthday to "My Perfect Husband!"  ......and he IS!!

We're both taking the day off to have a "dander" round Belfast - something we rarely do. We've even missed the Christmas continental market there for the last 3 years, so that's on the agenda today and perhaps even a turkey dinner somewhere before we come home. We enjoy the simple life lol!

Really looking forward to spending the day with the Birthday Boy!!

How to make a "Penny Slider" card with Tiny Tatty Teddy train

I made this cute little card from the Trimcraft Tiny Tatty Teddy Boy range and used pennies with 3D foam squares so that the train moves back and forward along the card.

What you will need:

Dovecraft die cut scallop edges card (5x7)

Dovecraft A4 Premium colour card

Trimcraft Tiny Tatty Teddy Boy 8x8 paper pad

Trimcraft Tiny Tatty Teddy Boy Glitter Stickers

Trimcraft Tiny Tatty Teddy Boy Accordion Stickers

Trimcraft Tiny Tatty Teddy Boy Garland Flags

Trimcraft Tiny Tatty Teddy Boy Adhesive Enamel Dots

Trimcraft Tiny Tatty Teddy Boy Twine

4 pennies

3D foam squares

Dovecraft Double Sided foam tape

white card

double sided tape

1.5cm circle punch

craft knife

How to Make it:

1. Cut a piece of "star" paper from the 8x8 pad to measure 16.5cm x 11.5cm and layer onto green premium card, measuring 17cm x 12cm, with double sided tape. Attach this to the scalloped card front with double sided tape.

2. Cut a piece of striped paper measuring 17cm x 4.5cm and attach to a piece of green card, measuring 17.5cm x 5cm, with double sided tape. Punch a hole 1cm in from either end of this panel. Cut a channel between the holes with a craft knife making it a little narrower than the diameter of the circle as shown.

3. Place two pennies behind the channel and add 3 foam squares to each (in a row as shown).

4. Attach the top 2 pennies directly on top of the bottom pennies and add 3D foam squares on top.

5. Place the train Glitter sticker onto white card and carefully cut around the outside. Line the pennies up so that they fit behind the wheels of the train and so that they are not visible from the front - then attach the train on top.

Attach this panel to the card with double sided foam tape so that the pennies can move.

6. Add the "1" Glitter sticker to the right of the card with the "Choo Choo" sticker and an accordion sticker to the top left.

7. Trim one of the little sticks from the Garland Flags by about 1.5cm and glue to the back of the train behind the "driver". Glue a garland flag to the top and add 3 little Adhesive Enamel Dots.

You'll probably not want to part with this one - it's hard to stop moving the little train back and forth across the card!!

Quick and easy bookmarks - new Tonic Studios dies

When I was making the card with the Fancy Hat Box and With Love die set dies for the new Tonic release I noticed that the strip would make lovely quick and easy bookmarks - just the thing for slipping into an envelope with Christmas cards at this time of  the year.

There are, of course, lots of more elaborate items you can make with these dies but the simplicity of this one appeals to me!

Don't forget to catch the next shows at 12.00 noon and 3.00pm on Create and Craft.

I've made these with white linen, black smooth, teal and pale turquoise card from Papermill....and the ribbon is again from My Little Shop, Cambridge where I bought it while on holiday in the summer.

Tiny Tatty Teddy Girl card template and instructions

Trimcraft have recently released the cute new Tiny Tatty Teddy papercraft collection which includes beautiful papers and lots of coordinating embellishments.

I've used several items in the range to make this card.

What you'll need:

Trimcraft Tiny Tatty Teddy 8x8 paper pad

Trimcraft Tiny Tatty Teddy Girl/Roses Steel die

Trimcraft Tiny Tatty Teddy Girl Felt Flowers and Hearts

Trimcraft Tiny Tatty Teddy Girl Wooden Buttons

Trimcraft Tiny Tatty Teddy A6 embossing folder-Girl/ Roses

Trimcraft Tiny Tatty Teddy Girl Plastic buttons

Trimcraft Tiny Tatty Teddy Girl Adhesive Pearls

A4 white card

Dovecraft A4 Premium Colour card

Dovecraft Super Value Crafts Glue

Double sided tape
Dovecraft 3D foam squares

Bakers Twine

Craft knife

Die cutting machine

Promarkers (Ice Grey 1, Powder Blue, Rose Pink)

How I made it:

1. I have drawn a template to show the measurements of this card and also where the cuts and fold are. I started with an A4 sheet of white card and trimmed the short side to 20cm.

2. Make 4 slits as shown with a craft knife. Then score and fold as shown on the template.

3. Cut the following from the deep pink card in the Premium card pack,

(3.5cm x 19.5cm ) x2

(2.5cm x 15.5cm) x2

(9.5cm x 13.5cm)x1

(10cm x 7.5cm) x1

4. Cut a panel of flowery paper measuring 9cm x 13cm, TWO strips of heart paper measuring 3cm x 19cm (remembering that these will be placed vertically) and TWO strips of number paper measuring 2cm x 15cm (remembering that these will be placed horizontally).

5. Emboss a piece of white card in the Roses embossing folder and trim to 7cm x 9.5cm. Attach this to the 10cm x 7.5cm piece of deep pink card with double sided tape.

6. Attach all the pieces of patterned paper to the corresponding layers of deep pink card with double sided tape and attach to the sides, top and centre of the card as shown. 

7.  Cut out the Tiny Tatty Teddy Girl, bow and tiny butterfly dies in an die cutting machine and colour with Promarkers.  Curl the bow and butterfly with a pair of scissors or bone folder to give dimension, then glue to the top of the Teddy's head with a tiny pearl in the centre.

8. Glue the die cut Teddy to the embossed panel and add this at an angle to the centre of the card.

9. Add 5 of the large pieces of bunting to the top of the card on 3D foam squares with a button in the centre of each. Thread twine through a wooden button to make a bow and add to the centre of a felt heart then glue to the bottom left of the centre panel.
Add 5 pearls to the bottom of the card, as shown.

Enjoy!