Folk At Milk Paint and Plaid Ultra Dye

I've just had a delivery of gorgeous new Milk Paint and Ultra Dyes from Plaid so I may be missing for a while :)

No doubt you'll be seeing some experiments with this after a while!

Goal! Whiz Kids by Trimcraft

Good morning :) If you have cards to make for kids (big or small, boy or girl!) you're going to love the new Whiz Kids range of papers and embellishments by Trimcraft. These should be available from your local Trimcraft supplier in the next few days.

I've used the 8x8 papers, 8x8 Glitter Decoupage pad, mini bunting and some new Dovecraft dies :)

Newcastle, Co. Down

Saturday was the last day of our week off so this time we packed up a picnic and headed off in the other direction - to Co. Down. The weather was fantastic so we just enjoyed the scenery at Newcastle

Bridge over the Shimna river, Newcastle, Co. Down

The Mourne Mountains 

Thought this looked like the ultimate selfie ball! That's the pair of us looking even more round than usual ;)

 Percy French - "Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea"

Old habits die hard :) I guess I've always had a fascination for collecting shells, glass etc and enjoying the different colours and textures :)

White Rocks (North Antrim coast)

 It wasn't the best weather today but we both had the day off and as soon as the rain cleared up this morning we made a quick picnic and headed off to the coast. It was dry for a while so we had a walk along the beach at the White Rocks but it was very windy - the sand was stinging the backs of my legs and my ears were full of sand when I got back to the car. But it was well worth it just for the view. I never tire of this part of the country.

There's something about the sound of waves - I could listen to the sea all day :)

Win & Tonic challenge

Hi, it's time for another challenge at the Win and Tonic challenge blog.

Thanks again to everybody who joined us last month.
Lots of you used the new Win & Tonic facebook page –  you can find it here …

https://www.facebook.com/groups/318826021798173/

... and we hope that it helped anybody who has been struggling to upload their cards.
In case you missed it last month, if you leave your cards on that FB page,
we will pick them up from there and add them onto here for you so that you are allocated a number
to add you into the random draw (we don’t want it public so you will have to join the group).
It saves you emailing the cards over etc etc so it does seem to help.

OK so what’s on for this month?  -  Well this month we have another

Take Your Pick

challenge, and in case you aren’t familiar with this, it’s ever so easy and here’s how it works.

There’s a list of options and you can choose any of the options.
You can also combine some of the options if you want to so.
There’s a colour option, a technique option, a product option and a theme option.

This time you have the choice of making a card from one of the following themes - 

Colour -  Black and white and ……. any other colour of your choice

Technique - Glue Gun stuff 

Product - A little Rococo

Theme - one for the girls this month 

On my card above I have used the new Candy Cane Frame Die Set 1371E from the Tonic Studios Christmas Frames die collection for the centre panel, with a little bow from the Mini Wreath Decorations set (1384e).

I've added some more little diecuts made with this set on the top panel and have added some Red Berry Gloss Crystal Drops.

On the "stopper" part of the card I've made a bow with the Ribbons and Bows die set (1092e)

The Prize this month is -

Miniature Moments dies :)

Baby Boy - Tonic Studios

 Good afternoon :) It has all dried up here today and is even feeling a bit more like summer. All the heavy rain over the last days seems to have made the grass grow more quickly so I'll have to get the lawnmower out once the ground is dry enough.

Anyhow, I had a couple of cards to make this morning for my own use and I just realised that I actually don't make many at all for that so I scratched my head for a while before I came up with something.This one is for a good friend who has just become a granny to a gorgeous little boy.

I used some of Tonic Studios' Indulgence Affections dies along with the Adorable Elephants and Baby Balloons dies. I've also used the Congrats Miniature Moments die at the bottom.

Thanks for looking

 Taken at 11.50am :)

I just want to say a big thanks to all my new blog viewers. Over the last few weeks I've had quite a big increase in visitors from the USA and as most of you seem to come here via Pinterest I want to say how much I appreciate your visits and company.

Thanks :)

Sneak peak at some new Trimcraft Christmas papers

I couldn't resist sharing this sneak peak of some of the new Christmas papers which are coming soon from Trimcraft. This one is called Christmas Promise and the combination of greys, pinks and copper is magical :)

Demo schedule update

I'll be demoing at Killusty Crafts on Saturday 20th August. I really enjoyed my last day there and met some lovely folks. I'll post more details soon but I hope some of you can make it on the day.

Thanks to Lorraine for your patience :)

I'll be adding more dates soon as I'm feeling much better now. 

Big thanks to everyone who has kept in touch.

Here's a link back to the last time I was there so you can see how it rolled :)

How to make........Wild at Heart papers - Dad (Trimcraft)

The new First Edition "Wild at Heart" papers from Trimcraft are available in 6x6, 8x8 and 12 x 12 and have lots of coordinating papers including geometric patterns alongside stags and rabbits. I've chosen some of the geometric patterns to make a man's card.

You will need:

Trimcraft First Edition Wild at Heart 8x8 paper pad

Dovecraft A4 Premiun white card

Dovecraft A4 gold mirror card

Trimcraft First Edition Scalloped Circle dies

Trimcraft First Edition Clothing dies

Dovecraft Bunting dies

Dovecraft Crafters Glue

Dovecraft double sided tape

Dovecraft 3D foam squares

Die cutting machine

Dovecraft Gold Foil Alphabet and Numbers stickers

How to make it:

 1.Trim the A4 white card to 29.5cm x 17.5cm. Score and fold along the long edge at 5cm and 17.25cm.

 2. Cut 2 pieces of gold card measuring 4.5cm x 17cm and 11.5cm x 17cm. Cut a piece of brown patterned paper measuring 4cm x 16.5cm and a piece of diamond patterned paper to measure 11cm x 16.5cm. Die cut a 8cm gold scalloped circle and a 6cm spotty patterned paper scalloped circle.

 3. Layer the patterned paper onto the gold card with double sided tape and attach to teh card fronts with double sided tape. Glue the spotty circle to the gold circle and glue the left half to the edge of the narrow card front.

 4. Die cut 2 shirts from different patterned papers and glue to the scalloped circle part of the card.

5. Die cut 2 brown shoes and glue one to the bottom right of the wide card front. Add the other one on 3D foam squares.

6. Die cut gold glasses and glue on top of the shirts. Die cut the two large Dovecraft Bunting shapes and glue the patterned one on top of the plain one. Glue to the wide front of the card directly opposite the scalloped circle panel.

7. Cut a piece of brown checked paper to fit inside  the card and attach with double sided tape. Die cut a large white scalloped circle and glue to the centre of the paper. Die cut a pair of trousers and baseball cap and glue to the card as shown.

8. Die cut 4 ties from different patterned paper and glue to the front left panel of the card.

Add "Dad" in gold foil stickers to the top right of the card.

How to make a twisted easel card with Trimcraft's Paradise Crush papers

Paradise Crush! I love the name as well as the gorgeous new papers.

These new First Edition paper pads from Trimcraft are bursting full of birds (flamingos and budgies, no less!), butterflies and bright floral patterns. 

I've used the papers along with some of the new First Edition dies (also from Trimcraft) to make this twisted easel card and you can see how to make one for yourself below :)

You will need:

Trimcraft First Edition Paradise Crush papers - 6x6

Dovecraft A4 Premium white card

Dovecraft 6x6 Colours Paper pack

Trimcraft First Edition Nature dies (FEDIE 070)

Trimcraft First Edition Scalloped Circle dies (FEDIE 071)

Trimcraft First Edition Bird dies (FEDIE 059)

Dovecraft Crafters Glue

Trimcraft Simply Creative Round Gems 90 pack (SCDOT 005)

Dovecaft double sided tape

Dovecraft 3D foam squares

die cutting machine

How to make it:

 1. Make a 15cm square card from the A4 Premium white card. Score the front of the card on the inside from top left to bottom right corners as shown.

2. Fold so that the front of the card sits up in a mountain fold.

 3. Cut a 14.5cm x 14.5cm square of coral paper from the Colours Paper pack and a 14cm x 14cm square of striped paper.

 4. Attach the striped paper to the coral paper and then attach them to the card base with double sided tape.

 5. Cut a 14cm x 14cm square of coral paper and a 13.5cm x 13.5cm square of frond patterned paper. Cut both in half diagonally.

 6. Layer the papers and attach to the folded part of the easel card with double sided tape.

 7. Die cut the largest scalloped circle from white card and the next size down from coral paper. Attach together with double sided tape.

 8. Glue the bottom half of the scalloped circle panel to the decorated part of the card front.

 9. Using the long narrow flower die, cut 3 white shapes and 3 patterned shapes. Snip the "flowers" off the patterned shapes and glue to the corresponding parts of the white stems.

 10. Die cut the little birdhouse from white card and striped patterned paper.

 11. Die cut the hummingbird from white card and spotty paper.. Snip the beak off the spotty paper bird. Glue this on top of the white bird.

 12. Glue the flowers to the left of the scalloped circles. Glue the striped bird house to the centre and add the "negative" parts from the white bird house to the striped one. Glue the bird to the top. Die cut one extra wing and glue on top of the bird, shaping a little with a bone folder. add a black dot to the bird's eye.

 13. Die cut the smallest scalloped circle from coral paper and the next size up from white card. Die cut the daisy from spotty paper. Use the striped heart which was left over from the striped bird house.

14. Layer these pieces as shown, add a gem in the centre and attach to the bottom of the card as a "stopper" for the easel with 3D foam squares.

15. Die cut 5 tiny flowers and attach to the bottom right of the scalloped circle panel with a gem in the centre of each.