Teacher's Thank You card

The Design Team at Papermill have been busy making cards and gifts for teachers this week and this is my offering.

I used white linen, black and post box red card  - all from Papermill 

The card was cut with the Tonic Studios Thank You sentiment die set and I added the black layer behind to look like a blackboard. The little apple is a mini punched heart which I trimmed to look like an apple.

I have diecut the Just a Note to Say twice to add a shadow .

Snoozing Santa Twisted easel card from the Trimcraft Goody Bag

Snoozing Santa Twisted easel card from the Trimcraft Goody Bag.

Instructions for making this Christmas card from the Trimcraft Goody bag.

You'll need;

Special Delivery Brown striped paper 

Special Delivery Patchwork paper

Special Delivery Snoozing Santa decoupage

Special Delivery Glitter Stickers

Back to Basics Christmas Modern Paper Blossoms

 Merry Magic shaped buttons

Back to Basics Christmas Modern Premium Gemstones

1. Take a 15cm x 15cm square card and score from the bottom left to the top right corners.

2. Cover the bottom triangle with a piece of brown striped paper

3. Make up the Snoozing Santa decoupage adding each layer with 3D foam pads. Take care to snip off any "pips" from the shapes to give a well finished look.

4. Attach this to the piece of brown striped paper with double sided tape - ensuring that the top left of the decoupage shape is not glued down.

When the front is folded up the top left half of the decoupage will sit up.

5. Cut a piece of patchwork paper measuring 14.5cm x 14.5cm and attach to the inside of the card with double sided tape.

6. Layer 2 large red flowers and 2 medium green flowers and add a red flower shaped button on top.

7. Add the big flower to the corner of the patchwork paper with 3D foam pads to act as a stopper for the easel. 

Add a Christmas present sticker to the corner of the brown striped paper overlapping the decoupage slightly.

Cardmaking and Papercraft - August issue

The August issue of Cardmaking & Papercraft Magazine has just arrived in the shops. For this month's commission I was asked to make a set of bookplates using dies and stamps so I've made six different ones - mostly floral (!) You can see them on p77. Hope you like them :)

I've been rushing around all weekend so I'm hoping to have a good read of the mag later as there are lots of great ideas inside and the photography is always tops!

New Tonic Studios Intrica dies - Wild Vine

Tonic Studios are releasing some gorgeous new Intrica dies and punches on Ideal World tomorrow. This is the  Wild Vine die set used around an aperture cut with the layering circles set.The new designs work really well with lots of the existing sets like the layering sets I have used here.

Look out for more posts with lots of ideas using these beautiful new designs :)

I've made the flowers with the Peruvian Lily, Evening Primrose, Corncockle Punch and Stamp set.

Ruth - A Passion for Cards

David's graduation today

Just a few pics of David's graduation today at Queen's University, Belfast.

All the hard work paid off - First Class Honours in Computer Science  - Congratulations, David!!

Brothers :)

Papermill offer card - ivory lightly embossed card

Hi :) It's time for another great offer from Papermill.

This week you can buy a Small box(approx 80 sheets)of A4 Ivory Lightly embossed card (230gsm) for £5.00

or a Midi box (approx 260 sheets) for £13.50

It's a beautiful shade of ivory and the texture is quite subtle - perfect for diecutting and using with embossing folders.

I've used Papermill Raspberry Pink for layering the Tonic Studios Amelia embossed layer and I've added a Tonic Studios Happy Birthday Pansy Toper Die cut and sentiment on top.

Close up to show the texture

Mr & Mrs

 I've just "parted with" this card so I hope the "new owners" don't mind me posting it here......anyhow, it's a wedding card made with the dies from the Tonic Studios Ornate Elegance Header die set with the Mr and Mrs die in the centre and Frond Finesse flourishes round the outside.

 The beautiful paper is from the 6x6 Bella Rose paper pad by Trimcraft.

I added the patterned heart inside to show through the aperture.

I printed the sentiment on the same card ( white hammered from Papermill ) and attached it to the back of the card.

Thanks to all who came to Art and Hobby for my demo today

I'm back home again after a really lovely day demoing in The Art & Hobby Shop - Jervis, Dublin. It was great to see some of my "old" friends (you know who you are!) and to make some lovely new friends too. Thanks so much to Steph and the guys in the shop for having me and to everyone who came along for making me feel so welcome. The enthusiasm in everyone, from the young girls to the "more experienced" ladies (and gentleman!), was infectious. No excuses now for not colouring those stamped images with Promarkers! I'm so pleased, too, that the Decomache has inspired some of you to have a go....even to cover a coffee table - don't forget, I want to see the photos...The Trimcraft/ Dovecraft Forget Me Not range seemed to go down a treat

A special thanks to Catherine for the lovely present and beautiful card! I really appreciate your kindness.

Irene...if you are reading this, here's a link to the Aquamarker tutorials I was telling you about

Letraset Aquamarker backgrounds

It was the one where I've added the salt to the wet ink that I was going to tell you about.

We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

 Another of My Tonic Studios "Christmas in June" cards today. I've used the new " We Wish you a Merry Christmas"die set  to make a secret message part from the front with some of the 2013 Tonic Christmas sentiment dies on the front and inside.

The border down the edges was punched with the Tonic Studios Simplicity Star Border punch.

Papermill offer - Off White Pearlised card

 Offer time again at Papermill!

This week it is beautiful A4 Off White Pearlised 300gsm card.

You can buy a small box (approx 75-80 sheets) fro £7.50.

It has a gorgeous subtle sheen and is perfect for wedding stationery etc.

Check out the offer HERE.

I've used the Tonic Studios Balloon Weight box die to make this little wedding favour box.

Pulp to Paper - A tour round the Papermill

A visit to the Papermill in Burneside, near Kendal is something I have looked forward to for a long time. I'm seriously fascinated by seeing how things are manufactured - especially things which I use on a daily basis.

I took so many photos that I couldn't possibly post them all here but I do hope you enjoy the ones I'm sharing today and that you get a little insight into how much care and attention goes into creating the top quality paper and card which is produced at the Papermill.

Top quality card and paper has been made in the Papermill since 1845.

               Steve ready for the tour of the factory - I'll spare you the sight of David and me with                                                                              goggles and ear plugs!

 The raw materials at the beginning of the process

Paper pulp being mixed in huge vats

The dye is added and mixed - a pale shade today

 The early stages of paper - a very hot and steamy part of the factory

Some of the moisture has been extracted

Going through huge rollers

 Keeping an eye on things!

 A roll of card - these are MASSIVE!

Steve and David

 The rolls of card are cut into smaller sizes on this machine...

...and smaller again on this one.

 Check out my shoes!! That will teach me to turn up for a factory tour wearing sandals ;)

This navy paper/card is being embossed with a pattern on this machine.

 What could I not do with all this?!

 Fascinating automatic forklifts..

..being loaded.

And eventually we got to meet the lovely Julie :)

There's something not right about this photo ...yes, you're right! They gave me an XXL Hi Vis vest to match my lovely shoes ;) !!

For lovers of the beautiful English Lake District - I've added some of the photos which I took of the outside of the mill and the immediate surroundings .

 The school

Finally, a great big thanks to Steve for showing us round the mill and to Julie for making it possible (not forgetting the tea!!).