Demo at the Art and Hobby Shop, Jervis Street, Dublin - Sat 13th May

 I'll be demoing at the Art and Hobby Shop, Jervis Street, Dublin on Saturday (13th May) from 11.00am - 1.00pm and 2.00pm - 4.00pm and would love to see some of you there if you are free :)

I'll be using the beautiful new Dovecraft "Baby Steps" and "Perfectly Pink" collections from Trimcraft along with lots of lovely dies and embellishments etc.

Baby Steps - How to make this surprise message card (Trimcraft)

Inside of card

 Front of card

The new Dovecraft Back to Basics "Baby Steps" collection from Trimcraft is really cute with lots of little animals and baby patterns in pale lemon/yellow and grey. It works beautifully with many of the Trimcraft First Edition dies.

To make this card you will need:

Dovecraft 6x6 Trifold card

Dovecraft Back to Basics "Baby Steps" 6x6 paper pack

Dovecraft Back to Basics "Baby Steps" 12 x 12 paper pack

Dovecraft Back to Basics "Baby Steps" Wooden Frame

Dovecraft Back to Basics "Baby Steps" Mini Bunting 

Dovecraft Back to Basics "Baby Steps" Twine

Dovecraft Back to Basics "Baby Steps" Wooden Button

Trimcraft First Edition Nesting Doily dies 

Trimcraft First Edition Baby themed dies

Trimcraft First Edition Border dies

Simply Creative rainbow pearls (3mm and 6mm)

Dovecraft Glitter Glue - Crystal

white card

Dovecraft Crafters Glue

double sided tape

die cutting machine

How to make it:

 1. Cut 2 pieces of spotty paper measuring 7cm x 14.75cm and 2 pieces of owl paper measuring 6.5cm x 13.75cm.

2. Layer the pieces and attach to the card with double sided tape.

3. Cut out an owl from the 12 x 12 paper pad to 4.5cm x 5.5cm and glue to the back of the wooden frame.

4. Glue one side of the frame to the left panel of the card. Attach bunting and pearls at the top left and a button with twine at the bottom right.

 5. Die cut 2 borders and cut in half. Glue to  the top and bottom of the card and add pearls.

 6. Cut 2 pieces of heart paper measuring 7cm x 14.5cm and glue to the inside flaps of the card.Cut a piece of chevron paper measuring 14.75cm x 14.75cm and glue to the inside centre.

 7. Glue a 9.5cm x 14.5cm piece of star patterned paper onto a 10cm x 15cm piece of white card.

Place the 7.5cm doily die 2.5cm from the top and cut out.

8. Use the same die and the next size up together to create a doily frame. I have taped them together to show how the frame is made but it's best to cut each one separately.

 9. Glue the doily frame over the aperture and attach the panel to the centre of the card with double sided tape.

10. Centre the smaller die over the Congratulations on the 6x6 paper and cut out. 

11. Glue the Congratulations doily shape to the back chevron panel exactly inside  the aperture.

12.  Cut 2 pieces of white card measuring 9cm x 9.5cm and fold 1cm at one side of each. Cut into  "tails" using the measurements above.

13. Centre these two pieces so that they sit as shown. Add double sided tape down the tops of the 1cm folded part.

 14. Close the card firmly and press down on t he double sided tape. When the card is opened the pieces will open to reveal the message inside.

15. Die cut the building blocks, Baby Boy and babygro form white card and then also die cut the Baby Boy from yellow patterned paper.

16. Glue the pieces on as shown. Offset the white Baby Boy onto the yellow Baby Boy to increase depth and glue below the aperture.

Add some glitter glue to the front and inside.

Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine - issue 170 (June)

Issue 170 of Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine has just been published and this is one of a set of Quick Cards I've made, along with a couple of Q and A cards.The whole magazine is full of super summer ideas which will keep you busy and there's also a free floral die set :)

Easons, Belfast today

I had a lovely day at Easons, Belfast, with friends old and new! It was a complete surprise to be joined by my good friend Catherine (from school days!) and her daughter. I'll make crafters out of them yet!!

Thanks very much to all who came and also to Susan, Lynsey and Ruth from easons.

It's always a special treat to have little ones with us :) Eva, Nicola, Cathy and Katherine.

Katherine, Charlene, Catherine and Rachael.

 Helen and Pam.

Cathy, Nicola and Hazel

Joel checking my glass painting :)

Stag stencil and Promarkers

This is another sample for tomorrow - I've used a Plaid stencil and Promarkers on this card :)

Glass paint

These are some of my glass painting samples for tomorrow's demo in Eason's, Donegall Place, Belfast. Hope some of you can join me there :)

Demo at Easons, Donegall Place, Belfast on Saturday 6th May

Just a reminder that I'll be demoing at Easons, Donegall Place, Belfast on Saturday 6th May (11.00am - 1.00pm and 2.00pm - 4.00pm)

I'll be using papers from Trimcraft, Chalk Paint and stencils from Plaid, and some glass painr from Lefranc and Bourgeois along with some Promarkers. As this is my first time in this store I'll be treating it as an introduction to craft and cardmaking so there will be plenty for new crafters as well as some techniques for the more experienced.

Dimensional Paint from Plaid - Pebble Art

 I've been having a play with my Dimensional Fabric Paint from Plaid - using it on a pebble instead of fabric to see the effect - I like it :) Hopefully I'll get a chance to try some more soon :)

Cultra - Helen's Bay

Some photos from our May Day walk along the coastal path from Cultra towards Helen's Bay.

 The last photos I took where taken after we had turned left at the bottom of this path. Yesterday we turned right to have a look - both are definitely worth a visit :)

 Kilroot Power Station in the background to the right.

Tonic Studios Idyllics cards

 Good morning. I've had a busy weekend at Crafting Live, Belfast demoing lots of Tonic Studios dies etc. As always, it was so lovely to catch up with friends from all over the country and I hope you have fun with everything you bought :)

This was one of the sample cards I had with me, using the Tonic Studios Idyllics embossing folders with matching die. I created a little pocket and used a Basic Heart layering die set for the tag.

I used the small layering dies from the Shadow Box die set for the background to the 50 and added the flourish from the Beethoven's Rhythm set when I got home as these have not been released yet.