Branches and Baubles

Hi Everyone,

To day I would like to share with you the results of my new purchases, which coincidentally also happens to link perfectly to this fortnight's AAA Cards Challenge; #78 is all about circles.

Last Saturday we had a fantastic time at the Stitching, Sewing and Hobbycrafts show at London's ExCel centre, spending lots of money all in the name of research! Well that's was our excuse anyway...

There were some amazing products and demonstrations taking place, but we absolutely fell in love with Card-io and their beautiful designs and stamps. This week I have been trying out my new purchases:

After much deliberation I settled for the Branching Out Clear Stamp Set and the Zendangles Majestix Stamp Set. I could and probably would have been there for hours if Mum hadn't dragged me away.

The stamps are beautiful and stamp co clearly! I especially love the way you can layer the branch stamps to create so many different designs.

After a couple of practise runs I settled on the design below, I love the simplicity of it!

I can't wait to use these stamps more, they're brilliant!!

Materials:

• 13.5 X 13.5 white card blank
• White card stock
• Branching Out Clear Stamp Set 
• Zendangles Majestix Stamp Set
• Black ink pad
• VersaColor small ink pad in polar grey
• White opal liquid pearl
• Hobbycraft clear Christmas sentiment stamp

Love
H
xx

Who Can RESIST This?

Hi Everyone,

Can you believe it's only 5 weeks until Christmas?! No me neither!!

I should really crack on with my Christmas shopping, but lets take one step at a time right...so first it's cards!

I had a very productive weekend last weekend at Mum's trying out my absolute favourite technique...

RESIST

It is so simple to do, but looks so Christmasy I love it!

The basic idea is to stamp the design (I chose snowflakes as it's Christmas and all) in clear ink, emboss that in clear embossing powder and then ink over the top.

Materials used:

• White Card Blank
• Rectangle of white card
• Clear ink pad
• Papermania Clear embossing powder
• Hobbycraft pigment ink stamp in metallic green
• Hobbycraft pigment ink stamp in black
• Simply cards and papercraft Let It Snow stamp

Handy tips:

I found using a cotton bud to be the best thing for removing excess ink.

We've been to a craft show at the ExCel today so watch out for new posts next week!

H
xx

All things Christmas!

Hello!

The clocks have changed and the nights are drawing in. Halloween and Bonfire Night are done and dusted so it's time to get down to some serious Christmas craft production!

I have subscribed to several different papercraft magazines over the last few years but my current favourite is Simply Cards and Papercraft. They have some great ideas and inspiration, not just for cards but scrapbook pages and other papercrafts too. They also have some fabulous free gifts! The latest one comprised a gorgeous snowflake die, a beautiful snowflake embossing folder and some fab snowflake and Christmas sentiment stamps and I have been using them to make a few of my Christmas cards. Below is an example showing the snowflake die cut, embossing folder and the Joy sentiment, all from the set. I matted the embossed panel onto silver mirri card, added a piece of ribbon and a crystal and ...voila! Simple but so Christmasy! 

On a recent trip to our local garden centre I couldn't resist a quick look around the branch of The Works which is also on site. This particular branch stocks quite a good selection of crafty items at bargain prices and whilst I was there I picked up a pack of four craft gift bags for £1 - definitely a bargain! I've given them a Christmas make-over using up a few odds and ends of Christmas papers left over from previous years and I'm really pleased with them. They just need a matching gift tag and they'll look lovely under someone's tree!

Well be back soon with some more Christmas designs.

L xx