Win and Tonic June challenge

I'm a little late with this - in fact the challenge is half way through by now but better late than never..

 The June challenge is up on the Win & Tonic challenge blog - with lots of lovely cards for inspiration and a super prize from Tonic Studios,as always.

My card is for the Product theme - flower die

and Theme - card for a girl /lady

I've used the Ribbon and Bow Layering Die set, Evelyn Lace die, Beethoven's Rhythm Flourish die and the tiny flower die from the Family Three Shadowbox Insert die set. I've also added Antique Rose Crystal Drops in the centres of the flowers.

The paper is from an older Trimcraft pad - Rose Garden

Peacock card with fold out dies inside - Trimcraft

 Trimcraft's beautiful new Floral Fusion papers again :) This time I've used a Trimcraft 5x7 Craft a Card die on top with the Dovecraft peacock die in the centre...and lots of Simply Creative gold gems, of course!

 In the inside I have used Trimcraft Nesting Doily and Sentiment dies with Dovecraft Peacock, Flamingo and Layering Butterflies. 

30th Wedding Anniversary

 It's our 30th wedding anniversary today and I can't believe where those years have gone! We both look so young in the wedding photo.

This photo was taken at another wedding last October.

My dear mum

 My dear mum slipped quietly home at 3.00 am this morning. She was 94 years old. My two brothers, my sister and I were privileged to have wonderful parents both now in heaven. It is 41 years since dad went home. We will miss our mum now so much and feel she left us a legacy money couldn't buy. So many wonderful memories of all our years together come flooding back. We'll miss her so much, especially her prayers for all of us. Thanks mum for everything.

Happy 80th birthday card 2

 Good morning :)  This is another 80th birthday card I made for the same lady as the last one - so had to be quite different. The lareg background die I used is Tonic Studios' "Ornate Frame" with "Baldur Duo Cap Numerals" in the centre. I've added a Mozart's Blossom Flourish at the bottom right.

The gorgeous paper is "Pretty Posy" form Trimcraft - I treated myself to extra supplies of this pad to keep for cards like this (I'm making 2 more this week as well).

Happy 80th Birthday!

 Good afternoon :)

This is a card I made for a lady who will be 80 on Sunday and is just taking up gardening again :)

I've used Tonic Studios "Twisting Veranda", "Windsor Numerals" and "Beethoven's Rhythm Flourish" dies.

How to make a Floral Fusion Expanding pocket

I have made an expanding pocket using Trimcraft's Foral Fusion papers and some Trimcraft/Dovecraft dies. The instructions are below so you can make one for yourself :)

You will need:

Dovecraft A4 Premium White card

Trimcraft First Edition Floral Fusion 6x6 paper pad

First Edition Dyed Textured Cardstock 12 x 12 pad

Trimcraft First Edition Nesting Bloom dies

Trimcraft First Edition Border dies

Dovecraft Layering Flower dies

Dovecraft Layering Butterfly dies

Dovecraft Flamingo die

Dovecraft Peacock die

Dovecraft Crafters glue

double sided tape

Dovecraft 3D foam squares

Dovecraft Permafix tape

2 mini magnets

Simply Creative gold gems - 3mm and 6mm

die cutting machine.

How to make it:

 1. Cut a piece of white card  measuring 10cm x 29.5cm. Score and fold at 14.5cm from each side.

Cut a piece of white card measuring 10cm x10.5cm. Score and fold at 5cm from each side on the 10.5cm length.

 2. Attach part B on top of part A with double sided tape. Part B should be on the inside of part A and the two should meet directly below the bottom scoreline on part B.

 3. Cut 2 pieces of light green card measuring 14cm x 28cm. Score and fold in concertina fashion at every 2cm along the length.

4. Glue the ends of these pieces to part A as shown, keeping the edges flush and neat.

 5. Cut 2 pieces of foliage paper measuring 9.5cm x 14cm and 9.5cm x 4.5cm and a piece of butterfly paper measuring 9.5cm x 14cm.

 6. Glue the paper to the back and the top flap of the pocket.

7. Glue the butterfly patterned paper to the front of the pocket.

8. Die cut a 6cm diameter white flower and a 3.5cm patterned flower. Glue the patterned paper on top of the white flower and then glue the top half of this to  the centre of the front flap so that the bottom half of the flower overhangs the flap.

9. Die cut 2 of  the 3.5cm diameter flowers from white card. Glue a magnet in the centre, cover with permafix tape and add 3D foam squares around the outside. Repeat on second white flower shape.

10. Attach one of the shapes to  the back of the large flower shape on the pocket flap.

11. Place the other flower with magnet directly on top with the tape and 3D foam squares facing upwards. The magnet will hold it in place.

12. Close the pocket flap over and press the second magnet piece into place on the pocket.

13. Die cut the layering flower and glue on top of the magnet flower. Die cut the border, trim to size and glue across the bottom of the pocket. Die cut the flamingo, glue to the bottom left of the pocket and then the butterfly at the top right. Add gems.

14. Die cut 2 borders. Trim to size and glue one to the top and the other to the bottom of the pocket. Die cut a peacock and glue in the centre. add gems.

15. Side view.

Floral Fusion Aperture card

 On this card I've used one of the more floral patterns from the Floral Fusion paper pad from Trimcraft to create a card with an aperture at the bottom. I've used red card from the 12 x 12 dyed textured cardstock pad by Trimcraft to bring out the red in the patterned paper. The dies I have used are Trimcraft Nesting Doily, Sentiment, Tags and Borders along with Dovecraft Peacock and Layering Butterflies. I also used Simply Creative gold gems.

Floral Fusion from Trimcraft!

 I've found my brand new favourite papers! The Floral Fusion paper pads from Trimcraft (6x6, 8x8 and 12x12) are simply stunning and packed full of gorgeous designs. The floral and bird patterns coordinate so well with many of the Trimcraft and Dovecraft dies and I'll be sharing more of these very soon :) and also have a cute little pocket card tutorial to share. You're definitely going to see a lot of Floral Fusion in my posts :)

On this easel card I've also used the Trimcraft Nesting Doily, Border and Sentiment dies with a larger butterfly cut from a 5x7 Craft a Card die. The lovely little butterflies were from the Dovecraft "Two Layering Butterfly" die set. I've used gold gems from the Simply Creative range.

Tonic Studios - Oxford Index box die card

I've been having a play with the lovely new Oxford Index Box die set from Tonic Studios and have made a tent card with the inner dies from the set. I cut out the aperture and also used the patterned die on the back of the card. I cut the hearts with the Traditional Heart Layering dies and added letters from the Attraction Alphabet die set. There is space on the back of the hearts to write a message.

David and I have a special anniversary coming up later this month, so this just might be an early card for that!

Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine - issue 171 (July)

This is one of a set of Window cards which I have in the newest edition of Cardmaking & Papercraft Magazine - Issue 171 (July).

As always there's a super free gift and lots of amazing inspiration for your summer creations inside

Roses - Tonic Studios

Hello :) It's absolutely miserable here today but I'm busy making cards etc as usual. I thought I'd add a pop of pink to brighten things up a little :)

I used a Tonic Studios Essentials Lace die  (Ada) for the background with 3 roses from the Roses Red Essentials die and one of Beethoven's Rhythm Flourishes.