Yay!! By tomorrow evening we will be here, at our house in Brittany, France. (It's a holiday home we share with my parents, brother and my friend's parents.)

No more cards for a couple of weeks (or internet, or phone!), but I will be making some progress on my hand-stitched hexi quilt...

'Friends' card from Karen Burniston's Journey Collection

A quickie card made this afternoon, using Karen Burniston's 'Phrase, Friend 3-D' Pop 'n Cuts insert die, in the Square Card base - both from her super new 'Journey' collection.

I cut the inner layer by hand to make it framed round the edges, and used the new companion Sizzlit die 'Phrase, Friends' on some satin coated paper. The Sizzlit is great, because it allows you to have the 's' as optional, so you can say 'Friend' or 'Friends' as needed.

 I added a couple of little birds from the Birds on a Wire die, also by Karen. The 'to' die is from Cuttlebug 'Olivia' set, and the 'You' is by Simon Says Stamp.

 The glittery scroll is an additional cut-out on the Square Card Pop 'n Cuts base die.

The paper is from K&Co 'CutNpaste' pad, and I used one of the roses in it to create a bit of decoupage.

Pop 'n Cuts 3-D Chair card

I made this card using another of Karen Burniston's new Pop 'n Cuts inserts, from her Journey collection, the '3-D Chair' - another super fun one!!

I have an arm chair and chaise longue here at home in a very similar fabric to the fabric-effect paper which I used on this little armchair, and the whole scene sprung up around that.

The papers are First Edition's 'Floral Pavilion', and I used Crate Paper's 'Pretty Party' for the little girl in the Melissa Frances frame, and the woodgrain paper.

I also used the companion 'Foyer Set' of Textured Impressions embossing folders. I used them to emboss different pieces of cardstock, which I cut out and added Tim Holtz Distress Paint to, and then layered up on foam pads. This created the little side table, lamp, and rug. (I added silver Liquid Pearls to the lamp pull, to make it look like a chain.)

 I made a little tea tray, with cupcake on a plate by hand, and added a handwritten note.

 I also added little birthday cards to the side table... cards within a card! (I'll probably take great delight in writing tiny messages in them once I've decided who the card is for... I'm easily pleased!)

For the pillow, I put the cardstock on the blank foam area of a Bigz die, and used a ball tool to sculpt it a bit, then I put several foam pads behind it, to keep it 'plumped up' and then tape runner round the edges to stick it down. I put a little slit in it, to fit round the arm of the chair.

Dies from the Karen's new Journey collection should be in shops by the first week of June. They are brilliant!!

As the papers were almost all from 6x6 pads I'll put the card into Simon Says Stamp & Show's 'A little paper' challenge.

I used Distress ink round the edges of each piece, did lots of paper piecing, and used dry embossing - to go along with Crafty Cardmaker's Challenge to use three different techniques.

Products used:

   

Hot Chocolate card using Pop 'n Cuts 'Mug & Heart' Insert from Journey Collection

 When I first saw pictures of Karen Burniston's new Journey collection of Sizzix cutters, I really loved the look of this 'Mug & Heart, 3-D' Pop 'n Cuts insert... it is so much fun! 

We aren't tea or coffee drinkers, so I immediately thought of a hot chocolate themed card. I used the new Square Card Pop 'n Cuts base die, and layered the fancy edge on it a couple of times.

 For the mug part itself, I added the little hearts from the new 'Flower & Heart' Magnetic die set (which has got to be one of my favourite ever dies!!) I love how there is an opening in the mug insert, which allows you to add lots of the smaller magnetic Movers and Shapers dies to the design of the mug!

I used some adhesive foam stuff (I think it's for lining drawers with, or something) to cut mini marshmallows from, and then added some glittery steam wisps, also from the 'Flower & Heart' magnetic set.

The sentiments I printed from the computer, and the chocolatey themed paper is from K&Co 'cutNpaste'.

I did a simple design on the front of the card (and even a little bit on the back! - that is a first for me!) The pink scrolly pieces are from Karen's new 'Edge & Scroll' Bigz die, and are going to make decorating the new Square Pop 'n Cuts base card really easy.

I made a little pocket on the front too, to hold a sachet of hot chocolate - a nice little extra for someone feeling a bit under the weather. The gift tag I cut from the new 'Wavy Labels' Framelits, and punched  a whole for some twine, and added a heart cut from the 'Flower & Heart' magnetic die.

I made the pocket by scoring some card as follows, and making a little bottom piece, and sticking it all together with my Scotch ATG tape runner. The card is quite bulky, but easy enough to post in a padded envelope.

Butterfly Card with dies from Karen Burniston's new 'Journey' collection

Was I just a little bit excited when I got home this afternoon, and found this package waiting for me? Errr..... YES!!!!!!!!!

All of Karen Burniston's new 'Journey' collection for Sizzix, which is due in the shops next month!!

It is just the most fantastic assortment of Pop 'n Cuts dies, accompanying Bigz, Sizzlit, Movers & Shapers and Framelit dies, plus some gorgeous Textured Impressions Embossing folders.

I've had kids to run all over the place this afternoon, which goes to show just how easy the dies are to use and put together a card from... this was a very quick card, made in between rushing around.

(I apologise for the atrocious lighting and photos - it has been so gloomy and dull here today.)

The card uses the new Pop 'n Cuts 'Card, Square with Ornate Edge' base die. It is wider and shorter than the original Pop 'n Cuts base die, which I really like, and it also cuts the scrolly end pieces...bonus!

 I used the base die with the new 'Butterfly Window, 3-D' insert, and it not only makes the beautiful pop-out butterflies inside, but the larger butterfly becomes part of the front of the card too. This is brilliant, as I am so lazy about decorating the outside of my Pop 'n Cuts cards! I literally just added a piece of card to cover the opening created when the butterflies are cut, and a couple of glitter swirls from Tim Holtz's 'Festive Greenery' die.

 I then added a couple of layers of vellum butterflies, cut with Karen's new 'Butterflies & Labels' Bigz die. They are just a little smaller than the background butterflies, so you get a nice frame around them.

I also used the old 'Bookplates, Traditional' Sizzix Originals die, to house the stamped sentiment.

 Lastly I added a few more swirls to the larger butterfly, and some pearls. I will definitely be using these dies a lot in the future - love them! Karen Burniston has well and truly done it again!!

Accordion Album & Copic Birthday Card

I wanted to do some Copic colouring last night, and so stamped and coloured these images made by Purple Onion stamps. I always like how much you can fit on Karen Burniston's Sizzix Accordion Album - by adding on as many panels as you like. I also used the Frame & Label, Bracket die to cut the surrounding patterned paper, and white central panels. The cloud die is by Papertrey Ink.

 Papers were mainly from Crate Paper's Story Teller 6x6 pad (and I'm putting the card into Simon Says Stamp & Show's 'A little paper' challenge).

I used Distress ink round the edges of each section and outer frame, did paper piecing with the stamped images, and also made my own little flowers for the layered flower - to go along with Crafty Cardmaker's Challenge to use three different techniques.

Hydrangeas Tag

Just a quick post, to show you my first ever decorated tag, made at the weekend.

I'm not entirely sure what you are supposed to do with these big tags, but it was fun to make - daubing everything with white Tim Holtz Distress paint!

I realised I had used Eileen Hull's 'Hydrangeas and Borders' die a lot for cutting borders, but never actually used it for flower die cuts, so that was my starting point. 

Opening Door + Pop 'n Cuts!

Whilst on the theme of doors, I wondered what would happen if I combined Karen Burniston's Opening Door die, with her Pop 'n Cuts die...

I marked out where I wanted the opening of the door to go, on a card front I had already covered with patterned paper, and cut the opening by hand. I then added the door die-cut, and a cut down section from the Pop 'n cuts inside.

 I then covered the working parts of the card, and the surroundings in co-ordinating papers.

 Front of the card (with papers from Teresa Collins' 'Now and Then' pad, and heart/ribbon die from Memory Box, cut from paper-backed satin.)

 The door open, with the panel attached to the Pop 'n Cuts mechanism showing through. (Letters from Tim Holtz's 'Typeset' die, Poppy Stamp Vintage Bird Cage, and Marianne Collectables bird.)

Inside of the card opened up. (With Chevron dies by Papertrey Ink.)

It's a lot of fun thinking of new combinations for Karen's super dies!!

Sizzix Opening Door die card

I couldn't resist cracking out my new Tanya Whelan papers for this card... I think I should get to live in a pink house with a baby blue front door one day...

I love Karen Burniston's 'Door, Opening and Wreath' die, and teamed it with the Poppy Stamps Grand Madison Window die. The grass, flower pot and balloons were cut by hand.

Inside the door, there is more bunting, and a Papertrey Ink 'birthday' die, Cheery Lynn 'Happy' die,  swirl from Tim Holtz's 'Festive Greenery' die, and corners from an old little green Sizzix 'Photo Corners' die.

I Glossy Accented the balloons, and put a layer of vellum behind the window frame, with more layers of curtains and cardstock behind that.

(This house from one of my Pinterest boards is the kind of thing I'm thinking I should get!...)

Pop 'n Cuts & Tim Holtz Steampunk attempt!

I had a go at a card today which is way out of my comfort zone - grungy, masculine, steampunk is definitely not my norm, but playing with all that paint looked too much fun to miss out on, so this is my attempt! (My hands are completely covered in paint, and you should see the state of my craft area!)

 I used lots of Tim Holtz and Karen Burniston Sizzix dies: Pop 'n Cuts with Label insert, Fancy Frame, Gadget Gears, Elegant Flourishes, Festive Greenery, Weathered Clock, and also X-Cuts Cogs, Nestibilities Label 1, Diamond Plate Texture fade, plus a tape measure embossing folder, the make of I can't remember.
I used some gold spray paint, plus Tim Holtz Distress paint in Brushed Pewter and Black Soot, Ultra Thick embossing enamel and Crackle Accents.
The stamps are from Inkadinkado 'Amazing Travels' and Stampin' Up 'Just My Type'.

 I'm putting the card in:

Penny's Paper-Crafty challenge to use die cuts,
The Perfect Sentiments Dry Embossing challenge,
Totally Gorgeous's 'Anything goes with Swirls',
and on MIM's blog too.

Product Links:


   

Monochromatic Memory Box cards

I took delivery of some Memory Box and other dies this morning, and made these two cards.

I wanted to have a go at monochromatic cards for the Crafting for All Seasons challenge, and am also putting them in Penny's Paper-Crafty challenge to use die cuts, Simon Say Stamp's 'Things with Wings' Challenge, and on MIM's blog too.

 The green card used papers from Crate Paper's 'Pretty Party' pad, and the following dies: Sizzix Fancy Frame Rectangle Thinlits, Memory Box Honey Blossom Sprig, and Vivienne and Darla Butterflies.

The blue card used papers from First Edition Paper's 'Floral Pavilion', and the following dies: Memory Box Catalina Wreath, Poppy Stamp Vintage Bird Cage, Sizzix Circle #2, and Marianne Collectables bird.

Birthday card from Donna

I just wanted to show off this pop-up card which my friend Donna made for my birthday...

It's amazing! The sentiment made me laugh - 'Happy let me fit as much as possible on to one card day!'

 And the front...

Thank you Donna!!

More Sizzix Thank You cards

I have another little sickie at home with me today - Harry, my seven year old, who has managed to cough non-stop all day, poor thing! While he's been busy making dens and playing with Lego (and coughing), I finished making Thank You cards for my friends and family...

1. Papertrey Ink Cloud dies, Thinlits Rectangle Fancy Frame die, and large Movers and Shapers Oval.

 2. Pop n' Cuts Base die, Elegant Flourishes, Picture Wheel and Typeset Alterations dies.

 3. Square Flip-its, and Fancy Frames dies.

 4. Accordion Album die, Frame & Label, Bracket die, Cuttlebug Olivia 'Thanks' plus stamps from L'il Inkers, coloured with Copics.

5. Damask Framelits

 6. Pop n' Cuts with Square Ornate Frame insert, and flourishes from Festive Greenery Alterations die.

Harry is not the least bit impressed by cards, but he made a letter box on his den, and asked for mail, so we made him these, with a little Sizzix envelope cutter, and he was happy...