Just one of those days!

Hi, I'm having just one of those days, in fact it seems to be one of those weeks!  I'm not happy with anything I do!!  I keep losing things; I keep starting things; there seems to be nothing in my head, let alone thinking outside the box as Julie!!!  My desk has broken and is in need of some strong glue, on the positive side I shall have to clear it ready for repair - that means putting things away and hopefully when the glue has set and I have a clear space - my head will be clear too!! 

Apart from an unfinished octagon easel card, a couple of unfinished tags....this is all I have done since Monday....

My computer is on a go slow, and even the light is against me, it's very dark and gloomy, but as yet no rain so not all bad!  This is one of the second lot of pictures I've taken over the last two days of a cream card, and it's not very good, but at least proves I'm still here!

I'm determine to use some of the bits and pieces that I have accumulated over the year, and this is one such piece of paper.  There are times when I wish I could throw things away!The folder is from Crafts 2 U, just a bit different from the Swiss Dots, but at least the pattern is matchable for larger areas and the folder is a full A6 size and gives a good embossed pattern without breaking the card fibres.    If any new readers are wondering about these folders - I buy all my folders from Liz at Make a lasting impression, she had a good range, is very reasonably priced and very reliable.

ikki

Hi, I managed to finish my card, but unfortunately the light is very poor today - so a not so good picture, but thought I'd post anyway.  Where has the sun gone?  We've had grey skies all day and lots of rain! 

Nestabilities - Labels 4 and Doodle parts
Papers: Basic Grey
Image and sentiment:  Creative Expressions - Birds and Swirls

Now I'm off to celebrate Dave's birthday  in Northumbria where we'll be meeting our daughter and family.
Pity the weather forecast is wet and cold, but hopefully they will be wrong, but then again it is May Bank Holiday!
Whatever you're doing, have fun and enjoy....I'll back on Monday to show you what was in the Black Box!

Nestabilities - Labels Large and Small

My Monday tutorial is based on the Nestie Labels.  I have both sets of these labels and they can be very useful for layering and mats.  Today I will show you how I made a mat with two papers!

For the card:

5 x 7 card (tent)

2 or 3 decorative papers

Nesties Labels x 2

Penny Black image

Nesties - Doodle Parts

Flowers, gems, ribbon, leaf punch

I started by colouring my image to match my papers. 

I covered the base card and inked the edges.  Then cut a strip from the second paper and added to the card.

Cut two labels - one full and one part label.  Emboss edges.  Using the straight edge of your strip you can line up the mat and image.

A few flowers, leaves, and gems together with a swirl and you have....

an image  with a two tone mat.....

I thought you might like to try this little twist with the label dies.  You could of course use this idea on numerous shapes - your dies are your oyster!

Have a great day whether you are crafting or....whatever!

Cuttlebug, Nestabilities - Ovals and Doodles

Hi there, today is the last day of my self-imposed challenge of posting a daily Cuttlebug Christmas card. It's been quite exhausting and brain stopping trying to think of new ways to use the Bug, folders and dies! But, now that I have 30 cards in my stock, all different, I can see that it has worked out well, and the effort has been worthwhile.

So for today's 30th card:

This card was made especially for Andrea. Andrea is a very talented crafter who has helped and encouraged me to stamp and colour. If you have not seen any of her work - pop over to her blog and be inspired!  Thanks Andrea for your patience, understanding, support and for passing on your crafting skills.

For the card:
6" x 6" square white linin card
Basic Grey papers
Various stamps
Nestie Ovals
Nestie Doodles
Fiskar Snowflake punch
bits and bobs from stash

The paper I used was a plain BG paper, which I stamped over with a script, a crackle, a snowflake and a Christmas stamp. I have discovered that this is an area of crafting that I enjoy and hope to follow up in the new year. You can get a truly individually look with this kind of stamping. 

The Red BG paper I embossed with the CB script folder and mounted on gold mirror card.  Two scraps from the same paper pack made the border.  I follow the the crafters motto - Waste not - want not! 

On the inside of the card, two further scraps made a colourful border.

Back to the front:  On the border - 2 dies from the Doodle set.

Assembled: 

I was pleased with the results of my stamping, and it looked so okay that Andrea thought that the paper came that way!  Success, impressed the teacher!!

I hope you have found ideas and inspiration to complete your Christmas cards.  I have linked the various techniques to previous tutorials to help you understand and master new skills.    On my Tippy Thursday post, I will be doing a question/answer spot. So, if you have a question please contact me via the comments link - if I don't know the answer, I'm sure I'll have blog mates who will. 

Thanks for your support over the month - it's been fun!

Spellbinder Mega Curved Rectangle

The largest of the Mega Curved Rectangles dies is big enough to make a 5.1/2" x 4" card with an interesting edge. There are 6 dies in the set, and they go down in size by a 1/4". These are some of my new toys and boy did I enjoy playing with them!

For my card I used:
Cardstock A4 cut in down the centre, folded in half and centre scored
3 Mega Curved Rectangles
2 Doodles
Cuttlebug folder Swiss Dots
Penny Black Stamp
Bitsand pieces

The largest die is placed to the centre fold - run through the bug
Sandwich: A B Card Die C


Depending on the thickness of the card, you may have to pass this through the Bug twice or...? I found that I did not have to emboss because of the thickness of my card.


Cut 2 of the smaller dies (for matting and layering) and also 2 dies from the Wizard Doodles set (you could use something similiar to these dies or omit, but they are new toys and I wanted to use them and you'll be seeing them again, and again, and again!)

Emboss.
Sandwich: A plate - die cut side up with card inside - Tan Mat - Shim (I use 2 but your machine might be different) - 2 B plates







Emboss the base card with the Swiss Dots (or a folder you like).To make this card a bit different, I decided that I would emboss both the front and the back so giving a pattern to the inside. It
worked well because you can get a continuous pattern with this folder. If you don't know how to do this check it out here.

Having said that, I forgot to take a picture! Sorry...but it did look good and then all I had to do was cut another of the rectangles for the greeting.








To complete my card I have used a Penny Black image which I think in called something like "Cat in Jungle". Perhaps someone knows the correct title? The pink and sage green colourway came out really well, and I think my colouring is improving!?!? Practice makes purrrr-fect my Gran use to say!

Hope you like this little fellow...