31 October 2023

Spellbinders | Game Day

Hello there, you may or may not know this (since I do not share them here that often) but when I make cards for family, I try my best to customise them to the recipient. This often means making cards on my Cricut or using supplies in a more unconventional way. So when I saw the Game Day Collection from Spellbinders, I thought it would be perfect for a card for my nephew. 

PLEASE NOTE: This post contains affiliate links. Please see below for my full disclosure.


I started off my card by die cutting the Spellbinders Athletic Apparel Etched Dies from white cardstock and Spellbinders Cosmic Sky Cardstock for the trim. These dies are meant to create the front of a shirt, but since in UK football the numbers are on the back of the shirts, I created the back and it still worked well I think. 


My family support Tottenham Hotspur FC and their kit this season has patterns on it, so I hunted through my stamps to see if I had something that would work. I found a Simon Says Stamp Swatch Stamp Set, as well as some retired Clearly Besotted Sets and stamped them onto the shift (with a bit of masking or cutting the stamps down) using Concord & 9th Dove Ink Cube


I then assembled the shirt, adhering with Bearly Art Glue. I die cut the Spellbinders Jersey Numbers Set Etched Dies from Spellbinders Cosmic Sky Cardstock for his age and adhered them to the shirt. I also die cut the footballs from the Spellbinders Sporting Goods Set from white and black cardstock and adhered them together. 


I took a Cosmic Sky US A2 sized card base and masked off the top (back panel). I then blended Spellbinders Cosmic Sky and Betterpress Black Betterpress Inks around the edges for some added interest. The shirt and footballs were adhered with a combination of foam tape and Bearly Art Glue. I embellished with a few white enamel dots


Since there wasn't much room on the front for a sentiment, I opted to put it in the inside of the card. I stamped the sentiments from the Spellbinders All-Star Sentiments Clear Stamp Set onto a panel of white cardstock using Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink. I adhered the panel to the inside of the card to finish. 

SUPPLIES:

 

Here are the links to what I have used on the project. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. All products were personally purchased except those from Clearly Besotted, Hero Arts or those marked with an asterisk (*) which were kindly sent to me to use. You can read my full disclosure here.


The hardest part of the design was stamping the patterns on the shirt! Trying to find the right kind of stamps was difficult but I am glad I did it. It makes the card more personalised I think! Thank you so much for stopping by today, I really do appreciate it. I hope you have a great day! 

27 October 2023

Spellbinders | Simon's Snow Globe

Hello there, today I have a card to share using Simon's Snow Globes Collection from Spellbinders, designed by Simon Hurley. I am using the main snow globe die today but there are other sets that make different scenes in the snow globe, or can be used on their own too. 

PLEASE NOTE: This post contains affiliate links. Please see below for my full disclosure.



I started off my card by die cutting Simon's Snow Globe Etched Dies (the main circle piece, trees and the houses) from white cardstock. I then cut a mask for the moon using Spellbinders Everlasting Circles Etched Dies and masking paper. I placed it on top of the circle background piece and then added ink blending on top with Distress Inks. 


I used Prize Ribbon, Chipped Sapphire, Villainous Potion and Black Soot. The mask was removed and the moon coloured using W2, W0 & 0 Copic Markers. I adhered small bits of vellum behind the house windows and then adhered the piece to the circle panel using thin foam tape. I die cut Santa and the reindeer from black cardstock twice, layered them up one on top of another and then onto the background. 


I die cut the street lamps from black cardstock, added small pieces of vellum behind where the light would be and adhered them beside the houses. I also adhered two trees as well. I die cut the snow globe base from Sand cardstock and added ink blending on top with Gathered Twigs and Walnut Stain Distress Inks. I die cut the word piece from white cardstock and the base piece from black cardstock. I adhered them together and then onto the snow globe base. 


I adhered the top of the snow globe base to the circle piece and then adhered the whole snow globe onto a US A2 sized white card base (liquid glue at the top and foam tape at the bottom). I die cut a heart from the Spellbinders Delicious Decorations Etched Dies and adhered that to the snow globe. I added a Spellbinders Red Mix Color Essentials Gem to the first reindeer and then finished off by adding white gel pen dots for snow in the sky. 

SUPPLIES:

 

Here are the links to what I have used on the project. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. All products were personally purchased except those from Clearly Besotted, Hero Arts or those marked with an asterisk (*) which were kindly sent to me to use. You can read my full disclosure here.


These snow globes would work perfectly for a shaker card or to add lights to but I kept mine simple for today! Thank you so much for stopping by to see me today, I very much appreciate it. I hope you have a wonderful day and a great weekend too! 

25 October 2023

Spellbinders | Beautiful Wreaths

Hello there, today I have two projects to share using the new Beautiful Wreaths collection by Suzanne Hue for Spellbinders. There is one main wreath set and then lots of add-on sets that work well for different seasons. 

PLEASE NOTE: This post contains affiliate links. Please see below for my full disclosure.



The wreaths are great for cards but also for tags too. I thought on this occasion though, that I would make an ornament/home decor piece, but it would work as a tag too!


I started off the card using the Spellbinders Garden Wreath Add-Ons Etched Dies. I die cut the leaf branches from Spellbinders Rainforest Cardstock, as well as the flower branches. I cut the flowers for the branch pieces from white cardstock. I then cut the large flower from Spellbinders Wild Berry Cardstock, the flower centre pieces from Spellbinders Chamomile Cardstock and the smaller flowers from Spellbinders Pink Sand Cardstock


I die cut the Spellbinders Tweet Cardinal Etched Dies with the same colours. I took a Spellbinders Everlasting Circles Etched Die and placed it on top of a US A2 sized white card base. Using a pencil, I drew around the inside lightly to create a guide as to where to place the wreath branches. I adhered the leaf layers with Bearly Art Glue, followed by the flower ones (only adhered at the bottom to add some movement/dimension to the wreath). 


The large flower and bird were adhered using thin foam tape, the smaller flowers with Bearly Art Glue. I stamped the sentiment from the Spellbinders Lots of Wishing You Sentiments Stamp Set onto black cardstock using Spellbinders Clear Embossing & Watermark Ink. I applied Spellbinders White Embossing Powder and heat set before cutting into a strip. It was adhered to the card with thin foam tape. To finish off, I added a few Spellbinders Silver Mix Color Essentials Gems


For the ornament, I first die cut the branches from the Spellbinders Build-A-Wreath Etched Dies from Hero Arts Sand Cardstock and Spellbinders Latte Cardstock. I added ink blending to the lighter branches with Altenew Coffee Break Crisp Dye Inks and then adhered them into a circle shape. I die cut a Spellbinders Everlasting Circles Etched Die from acetate and adhered the wreath on top. 


I die cut the flower petals from Spellbinders Sunkissed Cardstock and added ink blending to them using Altenew Fall Harvest Crisp Dye Ink. I adhered them together and die cut the centres from Spellbinders Timber Cardstock and adhered them on top. I die cut the branches from Spellbinders Rainforest Cardstock and added ink blending to those too, with Altenew Green Valley Crisp Dye Inks


I die cut the mushrooms from Spellbinders Autumn Wonder Etched Dies from Spellbinders Wild Berry and Alabaster Cardstock. I added ink blending to those as well (Altenew Coffee Break and Rose Petal Crisp Dye Inks) and assembled the pieces with Bearly Art Glue. The elements were adhered to the acetate piece with a combination of Bearly Art Glue and thin foam tape. To finish off, I added Spellbinders Opal Mix Color Essentials Gems. I punched a hole in top of the piece and tied twine through it. 

SUPPLIES:

 

Here are the links to what I have used on the projects. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. All products were personally purchased except those from Clearly Besotted, Hero Arts or those marked with an asterisk (*) which were kindly sent to me to use. You can read my full disclosure here.


I love that these sets have so many possibilities and work with lots of other sets too. In the photos of the ornament, you can see paper dust on the acetate. You cannot see them in real-life but I will be wiping the back with a Swiffer cloth again before hanging it up! Thank you so much for stopping by today, I really appreciate it. I hope you Have a wonderful day! 

23 October 2023

VIDEO | Glitter Cardstock Accents

Hello there, today I have a card and video to share using a new Glitter Cardstock Set from Altenew. I love Altenew Glitter Cardstock as it comes in small packs. I do not use a huge amount of glitter in general, obviously it is not good for the environment but also for me, it can be a little overbearing, so smaller sheets work well for me!

PLEASE NOTE: This post contains affiliate links. Please see below for my full disclosure.



I started off my card by die cutting the Altenew Bird of the Mountain Die Set. I cut some layers from Altenew Sea Shore Gradient Cardstock, Altenew Shimmering Shore Glitter Cardstock Set and white cardstock. I also cut the beak, legs and eye from black cardstock. I assembled and adhered the bird, using the instructions on the packaging, with liquid glue. 


I die cut leaves from the Altenew Craft-A-Flower: Open Peony Layering Die Set from the darkest shade in the Altenew Shimmering Shore Glitter Cardstock Set. I also cut an Altenew Terrific Tag Die from white cardstock. I took a 4" x 5.5" white card base and adhered two sets of leaves on top with liquid glue. I then adhered the other set to the tag. I threaded twine through the top of the tag and tied in a bow and then adhered it to the card with Altenew Instant Dimension Foam Tape.


I die cut another two of the bird's body from white cardstock and adhered them behind the bird for added dimension and stability. It was adhered to the card, perching on the bottom of the tag. I stamped a sentiment from the Altenew Sentiment Strips 2 Stamp Set onto white cardstock using Altenew Obsidian Pigment Ink. It was cut into a strip and adhered to the card with more foam tape. 

VIDEO:

Here is the video showing how I made the card:


If you are viewing this blog post via email subscription, you can watch the video HERE on YouTube. 

SUPPLIES:

 

Here are the links to what I have used on the project. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. All products were personally purchased except those from Clearly Besotted, Hero Arts or those marked with an asterisk (*) which were kindly sent to me to use. You can read my full disclosure here.


I mentioned in the video that I ended up adding more glitter cardstock to the card than I had planned but I do think those leaves look pretty! Thank you so much for stopping by today, I really do appreciate it. I hope you have a wonderful day and a great week ahead! 

21 October 2023

Spellbinders | Betterpress Christmas

Hello there, today I have three cards to share using the Spellbinders Betterpress Christmas and More Betterpress Christmas collections. I used one with actual Betterpress and the other two were hot foiled. I love that you can use press plates for foiling too, it gives them a lot of versatility. 

PLEASE NOTE: This post contains affiliate links. Please see below for my full disclosure.



My first card uses the Spellbinders Season's Greetings Evergreens Press Plate & Die Set. I pressed it onto Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain Card with Spellbinders Betterpress Black Ink and the Spellbinders Betterpress Letterpress System. I also pressed the plate onto masking paper. I fussy cut the mask out with scissors and then placed it on top of the image. 


Using blending brushes, I blended Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Mermaid Lagoon and Prize Ribbon at the top of the panel for the sky. I removed the mask and added a little colour to the trees with a G46 Copic Marker, followed by the ground/snow using B000, B0000 and 0 Copic Markers. The panel was cut down a little and adhered onto a US A2 sized white card base with thin foam tape. 


I took the Spellbinders Wonderful Winter Sentiments Glimmer Hot Foil Plate & Die Set and foiled it onto white cardstock using Spellbinders Black Foil. It was die cut out using the coordinating die and adhered to the card using thin foam tape. To finish off, I added white gel pen snow and stars to the sky and trees. 


My next card uses the Spellbinders Merriest Christmas Press Plate. I started off by foiling the 'Christmas' part of the sentiment onto white cardstock with Spellbinders Champagne Foil and the Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil System. I then foiled 'wishes' from the Spellbinders Glitter Wishes Hot Foil Plate & Die Set. This was part of a longer sentiment but I just wanted the wishes word. 


I ran the foiled panel through my die cutting machine inside the Spellbinders Holiday Floral Swag 3D Embossing Folder. The embossing did overlap the foiling a little but it didn't seem to cause any harm to it, although it does obscure the letters a little. I blended Altenew Lapis Lazuli Crisp Dye Inks on top and then adhered it to a US A2 sized white card base with tape runner adhesive. 


I added ink to the foiled 'wishes' cardstock piece and cut it into a strip. It was adhered to the card with thin foam tape. To finish off, I added gold dots to the embossed areas, as well as a few Spellbinders Gold Mix Color Essentials Gems


My last card today uses the Spellbinders Chic Merry Christmas Press Plate. I again foiled it using Spellbinders Champagne Foil but this time onto Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain Card. I then painted on stripes using Dr. Ph. Martin's Radiant Watercolours (mixing the colours to get gradients of colour). 


I splattered Finetec Coliro Moon Gold Watercolour on top and set aside to dry. Once dry, the panel was cut down slightly and adhered onto a US A2 sized white card base with thin foam tape. To finish off, I added a Spellbinders Gold Mix Color Essentials Gem to the centre of the star. 

SUPPLIES:

 

Here are the links to what I have used on the projects. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. All products were personally purchased except those from Clearly Besotted, Hero Arts or those marked with an asterisk (*) which were kindly sent to me to use. You can read my full disclosure here.


Have you tried Bettrpress yet? Do you like it? I have to admit to not liking the clean up of the plates afterwards, but I do really like the letterpress look and as I said above, I really like that you can foil with the plates too! Thank you so much for stopping by today, I really do appreciate it. I hope you have a wonderful weekend! 

20 October 2023

Spellbinders | Ho Ho Ho

Hello there, I am hope you are well. I am here today to share another Christmas card and also another card using red. Funnily enough, red is not a colour that I would usually gravitate towards but I do like it for Christmas cards. I am using the Spellbinders Peppermint Stripes Embossing Folder again and so had to use red and white! 

PLEASE NOTE: This post contains affiliate links. Please see below for my full disclosure.



I started off by taking a 3.5" x 4.75" panel of Spellbinders Crimson Cardstock and ran it through my die cutting machine inside the Spellbinders Peppermint Stripes Embossing Folder. I then blended Hero Arts Core Inks in Crimson and Cranberry around the edges for some interest. 


The panel was adhered to a US A2 white card base with thin foam tape. I die cut the 'ho ho ho' from the Spellbinders Glimmer Alphabet Hot Foil Plate & Die Set using Spellbinders White Pop-Up Die Cutting Glitter Foam Sheets. The letters were adhered to the card using tweezers and a T-square ruler to help with placement. 

SUPPLIES:

 

Here are the links to what I have used on the project. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. All products were personally purchased except those from Clearly Besotted, Hero Arts or those marked with an asterisk (*) which were kindly sent to me to use. You can read my full disclosure here.


This is such a simple card but I really like the contrast between the red and white! Thank you so much for visiting me today, as always it is most appreciated. Wishing you a great day and weekend! 

19 October 2023

Spellbinders | Sealed for Christmas

Hello there, today I have a card to share using the Sealed Christmas Sprigs Etched Dies from the Spellbinders Sealed for Christmas release. The products released in September, but I am playing a little catch up this month from when I was off with shingles. 

PLEASE NOTE: This post contains affiliate links. Please see below for my full disclosure.

I started off my card by die cutting the Spellbinders Sealed Christmas Sprigs Etched Dies from Spellbinders Rainforest and Crimson Cardstock. I added ink blending to them using Altenew Inks and Spellbinders Mini Blending Brushes. They were assembled and adhered using Bearly Art Glue

I took two Spellbinders Essential Diamonds Etched Dies and die cut them twice to create two diamond frames. I adhered them on to a US A2 sized white card base stacked on top of each other, for some dimension. I then adhered the flowers on top with a combination of Bearly Art Glue and thin foam tape. 

I took the sentiment from the Spellbinders A Merry Little Christmas Glimmer Hot Foil & Die Set and foiled it onto white cardstock using Spellbinders Champagne Foil and the Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil System. It was die cut out using the coordinating die. I cut another for dimension, adhered it behind the foiled one and then onto the card. To finish off, I added a few Spellbinders Gold Mix Color Essentials Gems

SUPPLIES:

 

Here are the links to what I have used on the project. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. All products were personally purchased except those from Clearly Besotted, Hero Arts or those marked with an asterisk (*) which were kindly sent to me to use. You can read my full disclosure here.


These flowers work perfectly with wax seals but as you can see, they also work really well on their own too. Do you recognise this card? I CASEd my own design from THIS card! Thank you so much for stopping by today, I really do appreciate it. I hope you have a lovely day! 

18 October 2023

Altenew | October 2023 Marvelous Monthly Release Blog Hop + Giveaway

Hello there, I am delighted to be joining Altenew today to celebrate the release of the October 2023 Marvelous Monthly Series with a fun blog hop. There are lots of products releasing today including Build-A-Garden (which I am using today), Dynamic Duo, Craft-A-Flower and lots more including new Gradient Glitter Packs. 

PLEASE NOTE: This post contains affiliate links. Please see below for my full disclosure.



I started off my card by stamping the large magnolia image from the Altenew Build-A-Flower: Blushing Magnolia stamp set onto white cardstock using Altenew Obsidian Pigment Ink. I took the Blushing Magnolia stencils and one by one placed them on top of the image to colour it in using inks and an Altenew Mini Blending Brush


I used Altenew Cherry Blossom Crisp Dye Inks (Pink Diamond & Razzleberry) for the petals, Altenew Green Valley Crisp Dye Inks (Firefly & Grass Fields) for the buds and Altenew Coffee Break Crisp Dye Inks (Mocha & Espresso) for the branches. It was then die cut out using the coordinating die from the Altenew Build-A-Flower: Blushing Magnolia & Add-on Die Set Bundle


It was adhered on to a 4" x 5.5" white card base with Altenew Instant Dimension Foam Tape. I stamped the sentiment from the stamp set onto white cardstock using Altenew Obsidian Pigment Ink. It was cut out using the coordinating die. I die cut another from white cardstock and layered them up for added dimension before adhering to the card. To finish off, I added a few Bubbles embellishments. 

BLOG HOP:


As mentioned, this blog post is part of a fun, inspirational blog hop with prizes. Please click the links below for the other participants in the hop. 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

GIVEAWAY:

$300 in total prizes! To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $100 gift certificate to 1 lucky winner and a $50 gift certificate to 4 winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and/or each designer’s blog post on the blog hop list below by 24th October 2023 for a chance to win. Altenew will draw 5 random winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on 26th October 2023*The winner of the $100 gift certificate will be chosen from comments left on the Altenew blog. 


SUPPLIES:

 

Here are the links to what I have used on the project. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. All products were personally purchased except those from Clearly Besotted, Hero Arts or those marked with an asterisk (*) which were kindly sent to me to use. You can read my full disclosure here.


This is such a pretty set and I am hoping to use it again soon! Thank you so much for stopping by today, I really do appreciate it. Wishing you a wonderful day! 

16 October 2023

Chibitronics Animating LED Stickers | Merry & Bright

Hello there, I am delighted to be joining Chibitronics today to celebrate the release of new Animating LED Stickers with a fun Instagram Hop. The fun is happening over on Instagram but I wanted to share the full details of how I made the card here on my blog too. 

PLEASE NOTE: This post contains affiliate links. Please see below for my full disclosure.

This is the first time I have ever used lights in cardmaking. I have seen other people use them and always thought they looked cool but had never tried them until now. Interactive cards do intimidate me, I am not going to lie, but actually, these lights were very easy to use! 


For the card, I started off by creating the front panel. I took a panel of Spellbinders Crimson Cardstock and placed the Spellbinders Merry & Bright Etched Dies on top. I then ran it through my die cutting machine to cut the letters out. I placed the panel inside the Spellbinders Peppermint Stripes Embossing Folder and ran it through my die cutting machine again. I then added ink blending around the edges using Hero Arts Crimson and Cranberry Core Inks. 


I cut the Merry & Bright die again, but this time from white cardstock. I added a thin layer of vellum behind the panel and then inlaid (and adhered) the letters on top. I added a piece of gold shimmer vellum behind the star and secured in place on the back. I die cut the 'bright' word from white cardstock and adhered that below the 'merry &'. I then got to work on the lights ...


I watched some videos by the amazing Jessica Frost-Ballas to see how to create my circuit. I kept it very simple and just used the one light but there is definitely scope to add lots depending on the card design! I took a US A2 sized white card base and on the front mapped out where I thought I need to place the light and the battery with a pencil. I wanted the light to be in the centre of the star and the battery be behind where the 'bright' die cut is. 


I first created a holding for my battery (since I wanted the light to come on when the 'bright' was pressed but did not want it to be on constantly) from a piece of cardstock folded in half like a book. I then ran the fabric conductive circuit tape from the Chibitronics Craft with Light Kit from the top of the card to the bottom - one for the negative side of the battery and one for the positive side. 


The positive side also had to go over the front of the battery holder and over the back so that when pressed, it touches the positive side of the battery to switch the light on. I added foam tape (two layers) around the battery holder and then added a little tape runner adhesive inside it and placed the battery on top. This keeps the battery secure.


For the light itself, I used the Chibitronics White Blink Animating LED Stickers. I placed it at the top of the circuit and then added small pieces of the fabric conductive circuit tape on top for added security.  I tested it multiple times at this point to make sure the light would work! Whilst this isn't pretty and could have been much neater, I was pretty happy with my first attempt!


I found that I needed to adhere my panel on top with two layers of foam tape as with just one, the battery was pressed down too much and the light would be on constantly. I added the foam tape to the back of the panel and then adhered it on top of the card base. I die cut two poinsettias from the Spellbinders Petite Blooms and Sentiments Etched Dies set from Spellbinders Crimson Cardstock


I cut the leaves from the same gold shimmer vellum that I used behind the star. They were adhered to the card using Bearly Art Glue. To finish off, I added a few Spellbinders Gold Mix Color Essentials Gems

As you can see in the last photo, when you press the word 'bright' the light flashes on and off. It is really fun! I will write a note inside the card to tell the recipient to press it and to watch what happens! To see the light flashing/blinking in action, please head over to my Instagram account

SUPPLIES:

 

Here are the links to what I have used on the project. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. All products were personally purchased except those from Clearly Besotted, Hero Arts or those marked with an asterisk (*) which were kindly sent to me to use. You can read my full disclosure here.


Please do head over to Instagram for all the details on the hop and to enter to win a prize! You can find the Chibitronics Instagram account HERE. Thank you so much for stopping by today, I really do appreciate it. I hope you have a wonderful day! 
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