Well it's snowing!

Hi friends, we have snow today - it looks lovely from inside, but I glad I haven't got to go out!

I thought I'd show you another Chrissie card I'd made recently using a border die in different way, but then I had a message from Glenda saying that her new stamps called Pretty Birdcage and  Bees were launched yesterday.  The details are over on the DT blog (link on my sidebar)and if you pop over there you could be in with a chance of winning a lovely Chrissie present as Glenda is giving away two sets of stamps - so don't forget to leave a comment at the end of Glenda's post! The draw is open until Monday.

Now I can take you from a winter's day to a glimpse of summer

This was a challenge to me as I got out my paints for a delicate look.

I stamped the image on a full sheet of watercolour paper and completed the painting, I find this the easiest way to position the stamping in a shaped die.  From this close-up you will see that I have used an octagonal die, and as I like very narrow borders when I layer - I did a bit of crafty cutting!  I first cut a burgundy shape to match the base card, and embossed the edge.  Next cut the same size from the white watercolour paper, and embossed the edge.  After positioning the die over my painting I cut and again embossed the edge.

You may be thinking why cut two white octagons, well  I wanted depth the the finished image.  So on the plain paper I cut away the embossed edge to give me my narrow border.  (On this shape die this is much quicker that tracing and  cutting round the die.  If you don't have the full set of squares or rectangles you could also used this method for ease of layering.) Now I could use the cloud template from Diamond Cards that I illustrated a few weeks ago to give interest, which I  lightly inked with DI's.  Next I also cut away the embossed border from the painted image and embossed the cloud pattern again.  Having embossed the clouds I then cut part of them away and I had my depth!  Hope all this make sense - it may sound complicated but it very easy to do and any complication may be from my writing.  If you click on the close-up image you will see the finished image more clearly. 

Stay warm and safe and enjoy your crafting.
 

Using your borders in a different way

Once I make a start on Chrissie cards I find all sorts of things that have been packed away since last year and my mind goes into overdrive thinking I must use these this year?!?!?  
Many of my bits and bobs I like, so I 'm making a big effort to add them to cards.  Bet many of you have just such a stash!  Another thing, I just do not want to buy any more stamps or dies at the moment because I have other beady things that I want to spend my cash on.  BUT, how to make the old look like something different and new!?!!??  There's one way to make a border - can you guess which border die I used?
This is the die.   It's a Nestie borderabilitie.  It cuts on one side only and then you have the option to emboss the pattern.
 
But I've made it into something different.  To make the shape I cut two strips of paper from straight edges, turned them round and fastened them with tape, then added a strip of ribbon over the join.  Different and it gave some creative satisfaction! AND, I used some old embellishments, old paper stash from Basic Grey, ribbon that's been in the box for at least three years. 

Now what else can I use?????  
Back soon, happy crafting,

My first Christmas card

Hi there, talk about time flying I cannot believe that the last month has past by and although it looks like I've been a very lazy blogger, I can assure you that I have been working away in my corner, but with work that until now I have been unable to blog about.  I'm talking about my design team artwork for the new stamps Texture Fragments released last week by Glenda of Chocolate Baroque, and if you pop over to the Design Team Blog (link on my sidebar) you will find three new videos to inspire you with your own artwork.  Later in the week the DT members will be displaying their work using these stamps so I hope you'll be able to drop by again - you will not be disappointed because they have created some great artwork. 

In the meantime my first Christmas card......

I've not lost my love of decorative papers and this design is from a paper pad from Hot of the Press.

Just lovely!

I've teamed it  (fancy that) with some Nestie dies - an oval and petite scallop oval, a vintage corner, a grand square to cut the DP, I find these really useful and a very easy way to cut an exact square, and I've even used a piece of the corner die to decorate the tag.

I will definitely be back soon, and thank you all for all your visits and comments over the last month.   I hope that you are still finding the Cupboard a useful tool to help with your die-cutting and embossing.