First Tutorial

I wanted to share a little tip with you on how to use your Top Note Die to die cut anything pre printed which needs to be centred on the die before cutting. I've used it here to cut a photo which I'm using to make a little album of my daughters First Holy Communion but I've also used it to centre computer printed wording, poems etc.

Firstly run a piece of white cardstock through the Big Shot using the Top Note Die. Discard the centre piece & keep the outer frame.

Stick the top edge of the frame to the die using cellotape.

Place your photo or whatever it is you want to centre under the frame and adjust it until you are happy with the position.

Run the 'sandwich' back through the Big Shot & voila you are left with a perfectly cut picture exactly as you want it.

I hope you have found this useful.

Less Is More Recipe - Take 3 Challenges

Great challenge this week at Less Is More, we have to make our own recipe of any three challenges over the last 29 weeks. After seeing Chrissie & Mandi's White on White cards I knew this had to be one of my 'recipe ingredients'.

My three challenges are

Week 14 - White On White
Week 15 - Embossing
Week 19 - In The Frame

I've used the Scallop Trim Border & Corner punches to create the white frame on the front of the card.

The flower is made using the smallest two flowers from the Fun Flowers Die which is exclusive to Stampin' Up! & creates the most amazing flowers. I've cut these from Stapin' Up! Vellum Paper which is really quite strong & holds up well to the embossing using the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder & I think gives a lovely effect.

I've finished it off with a button from the Naturals Collection & some white embroidery cotton. I've punched the sentiment 'Mr & Mrs' from the Occasional Quotes stamp set using the Jewelry Tag along with another couple of plain tags threaded on a tiny safety pin.

The sentiment has been punched out using the Large Label Punch & then mounted again using another two punched labels.

Thanks for looking & for any comments you leave.

50th Wedding Anniversary Commission

Here is another commissioned card for a 50th Wedding Anniversary. I've used So Saffron cardstock which I thing works really well with the Gold Miri card & ribbon. I've punched the corners of the white cardstock with the Scallop Trim Corner punch, I love this punch.
The flowers from the Vintage Vogue stamp set have been stamped with So Saffron Basic Ink & finished off with a bit of bling.

I've printed the sentiment & punch it out using the Large Label Punch. I've punch another label in Gold Miri & mounted this behind the sentiment.

The 50 has been mounted on two Top Note Dies. The first is cut in So Saffron & the second in white cardstock which has been trimmed down & then passed through the Big Shot using the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder. Don't you just love the detail on this folder?

Thanks for looking & for any comments you leave.



Less Is More - One Layer Use Ink

Well its taken me a few days pondering over this weeks challenge over at Less Is More but I'm pleased with the outcome.

I cut the card shape using the Scallop Circle Die & masked a section across the middle with post-it-notes. I sponged the Pear Pizzaz layer first & then moved the post-it-notes up half an inch & sponged the Pacific Point layer.

The flowers are from the Pocket Silhouette set stamped in Basic Black ink & the sentiment is from the Occasional Quotes hostess set.

Finished off with a bit of bling using the Basic Rhinestones.

Thanks for looking & for any comments you leave.

Topnote 70th Birthday

Another commissioned card this time or a 70th birthday.

I've used the Topnote Die again but this time I've run it through the Elegant Bouquet Embossin Folder which gives beautiful detail to one side of your projects.

I've used the beautiful little butterflies from the beautiful wings Embosslit Die, I just love this die & use it more than any other.

Again I've used the Rose Red Seambinding to match the retired paper.

Thanks for looking & for any comments you leave.

Topnote 50th Wedding Anniversary

Here is a recent commission for a 50th Wedding Anniversary but the customer didn't want traditional Gold so I opted for my favorite Rose Red cardstock. The paper is from the gorgeous Springtime Vintage from the Mini catalogue, I love these papers.

The corners have been punched using the Scallop Trim Corner Punch which punches beautifully through both card & paper.

The centre is the Topnote Die which has then been embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder & then inked around the edges with Rose Red Basic Ink.

The corner detail is created using the smallest flower from the Boho Blossoms Punch, a bow made from Rose Red Seambinding & the leaves are the Little Leaves Sizzlits Die.

Thanks for looking & for any comments you leave.

Less Is More - Feeling Fruity

This weeks challenge over at Less Is More is Feeling Fruity & they want to see either fruit or fruity colours.

I don't have any fruit stamps or images so I have gone for fruity colours & have used ORANGE & LEMON.

The cardstock used is from Stampin' Up! & is Peach Parfait & the paper is Daffodil Delight from the Brights Paper Stack.

I've used the pennant stamp from the Party This Way stamp set & stamped it in Peach Parfait. I stamped 6 flags & cut out the middle after stamping the F U N letters using the Just Perfect Alphabet. I've popped some dimentionals under to lit the middle section & threaded a very thin strip of Daffodil Delight through to join up the flags.

The sentiment is from the Occasional Quotes level 3 Hostess Set.

Thanks for looking & for any comments you leave.

Simply Stampin Challenge - Photo Love

My daughter wanted a card for her boyfriends birthday & she had this lovely photo she wanted me to use.

She's not a mushy sort of gal so I decided to use the Celebrations Designer Papers & matching cardstock Real Red, Bashful Blue & Old Olive.

I've used the Large Label Punch from the Mini Catalogue to create the frame & the Heart Punch for the detail at the left of the picture. The buttons are Old Olive from the retired range & Linen Thread for a bit of detail at the corners.

I've stamped her boyfriends initial using the Broadsheet Alphabet.

I'm entering this in the challenge at Simply Stampin.

Thanks for looking & for any comments you leave.

August Special Offer from Stampin' Up!

I can't believe it's the 1st August already!! where is this year going. 1st August also brings another special offer from Stampin' Up! & this month you can earn yourself 3 fabulous freebies one of which is an exclusive cosmetics purse or if like me you're more into your craft tools than make up it will make a lovely little tool bag.

Simply place an order of £75 or host a workshop totalling over £250 this month and you will receive this fantastic FREE gift. Yes, everything you see in the photo will be yours absolutely FREE!!

As well as the cosetics purse you will also receive a  roll of Rich Razzleberry wide striped ribbon and a pack of 24 mini clips.

If you would like to place an order or book a workshop please email me.