It's Elusive Images again and Nestie dies

Although it's Tippy Thursday when I normally answer any questions and bring you tips, news and ideas, today I'm going to show you one of the cards that I submitted for the EIDT. This card is displayed on the Elusive Images Design Team Blog, along with other beautiful artwork from my new team mates, and although many may have seen this tutorial, many of my new readers may have missed it. So, with no more ado.....here it is.....


I think I have found my way in stamping!  This is what I like doing....

composing pictures with stamps on lovely paper.     

The stamps are from 2 sets of Elusive Image stamps: Daisy Butterflies and Eastern Grasses - absolutely great artwork giving perfect images. 

On DP from HOTP, I've overstamped the images in Adirondack Coffee ink to enhance the background. 

I made the topper with the same stamps and coloured the background with DI's and then triple embossed.

The insert....using a Nestie Label One and the same stamps

My finished card.....

 I have Andrea to thanks for her support and encouragement to stamp - when I met her 2 years ago I couldn't even stamp onto scrap card without smudges.  Thanks Andrea, I owe you!

 If you're a new reader to the Cupboard - perhaps from the Graphicus Guild or lover of Elusive Images, or the owner of a die cutting machine, I hope you've enjoyed your visit and that you will return as I've more projects following soon.  If you would like to follow my blog you will find the link on the sidebar, I'll be delighted to have you on board (pehaps I should say in the Cupboard?)  I'm happy to answer any of your queries on my work or help with any problems you may have with your Bug - just leave me a comment.

Thanks for dropping by - enjoy your day!

Spellbinders - Nestabilities - Labels One

My tutorial today is very different to my usual simple less is more style of card, and I hope you will like it.....

Materials used:
6 x 6 card
Nestie label 1
DP - Basic Grey
Various stamps and inks
Ribbon, wire, beads

I never realised I had a favourite crafting colour until I looked back on my recent cards and saw that Green in some shade or other was there!  Today is no exception.....

I have always loved papers from Basic Grey, this is from the Scrapbook Designer papers - just a green with blobs of peachy orange and black  lines.....perfect for stamping on!  The flower stamp is from Hero Arts called Flourish Bloom and the Dragonfly is by Stampendous and together with a Label One die and a few more dabs of distress inks, make a surprise when opening the card.

Using the same DP for the front of my card, I stamped the dragonfly and a border of swirls with Adirondack Raison and again added a bit more colour to the edges.   

Now I needed an embellishment...

I tried something new for me - a resist technique.  I first stamped the flower with a white acrylic dabber (the border is the same stamp).  When dry I completely covered the tag with various colours of DI's then rubbed  the ink off to show the pattern.  All I needed then was a touch of the raison colour by way of the dragonfly and a sentiment, a light misting of water and a few splodges of glitter glue (which you canot see - drat!) to finish  my tag.

I made a tassel from satin ribbon

a curl of wire and beads and.....

my card was finished. 

I enjoyed trying the resist technique and stamping on decorative paper.  It's taken me a long time to pluck up the courage to change some of my crafting habits, but now I've started, doubt I'll stop!

Nestabilities and your Cuttlebug - Make a frame

Since I'm travelling home today I'll not be able to post as usual, so thought instead that I'd bring forward an old post that new followers of the Cupboard might have missed.  Hope you like this idea....

 Nestablities shaped dies are great for matting with your stamped images, but why not take them a stage further? and make a frame!

In this tutorial I'm using two dies from the Labels One set - here you will see them placed on the black magnetic mat which holds them secure. This does make the job a little easier, but you can complete the task without it if you take care with placing the dies. You could use a low tack tape to hold them, but again be careful not to place it where is might stick to your frame.

You can now cut your frame - I have the die with the cutting face up with the card on top.
Sandwich: A, B,Black Mat, Dies, Card, B. You will notice the sandwich is different than that usually used for cutting - this is because of the Black Magnet Mat. Without the Black Mat just cut as usual. Next with the largest of the frames, I have cut an acetate shape. Because this is a bit like the 'King's new clothes', I have cut this from an old patterned offcut so you can see it.

Next I have stamped my image onto patterned paper and again using the largest die have cut another label.

Here you will see the stamped label, together with the acetate label adhered to the frame . Now you can complete your embellishment by either just glueing the frame and image together, or you could use foam pads on the back of the frame to make a window.You will now need something on which to mount your embellishment. I have used a basil cardstock and pattern paper that matches the paper used for the stamped image.
Assembled with a flower and gems, my finished card

Cuttlehugs to all.

Spellbinders Nestabilities - Labels 1

How can you go wrong with a cute Penny Black image, Basic Grey Papers and of course your Nesties! Here I have cut the die out of a square of BG paper to make a frame, then matted this on to another square using 3D pads.   The image is coloured with Prisma pencils, embosed round the edge and sits on the back square  giving a framed effect.

Hope you 're having a "mice" day!

It's not a surprise!

On Monday last I posted a picture of a box, with a promise of showing you just what I had in there.

Well today is the lady's birthday so the secrets out!

"Happy Birthday, Ann". I hope you like your card.

The lady's husband organised a surprise party last Saturday at the Bowling Club, which she thoroughly enjoyed. I too got a surprise when on Monday I was presented with an envelope containing £50 for my Breast Care Appeal. How thoughtful and caring of him to raise this money from his guests! And, how generous his guests!! Many, many thanks to you all.


PS: This card shows just how much equipment you need to make a card, something that our customers tend to forget! I used: Trimmer, guillotine, scoreboard, card, papers, Nestie Labels 1, CB Alphabet Harmony, 2 punches, 3 stamps, wire, flowers and gems, ribbon, feathers, ink, glue, DST,
foam pads and last of all a PC programme to change a photo into an embossed image.

Not a Christmas Card - it's a surprise

Hi, I'm really late today, I've been finishing off a late commission and with that and the firewall playing up - it's been a long day with no time for Chrissie cards...but I have made this box

 Unforuntately, I can't show you wants in the box until Saturday.....

I just hope it's not too much of a surprise for the recipient.

Cutting and Embossing with Nestabilities

Nestabilities are without doubt a very useful tool for the crafter. You can use them for matting and layering, for tags, for making embellishments and shaped cards. Last week I covered embossing straight onto the front of a card, this week's tutorial is cutting and embossing to make a tag. I have used Nestie Label One, but the method works with any shape or size of die.

You will need
Nestie shape
Tan embossing mat
Stamp and card
Plates A: 2B's: C: 1 or 2 shims and Bug

First stamp your sentiment or image
Place the Nestie over the image with the cut side down
Make Sandwich: A: B: card with die cut side down: C

run through the Bug

Remove C and B plates and flip the cut image over to lay on the A plate. DO NOT REMOVE THE CUT IMAGE FROM THE DIE. The die will now have the cut side up on the A plate


Now you are ready to emboss the image

Sandwich A: Die cut side up with image inside the die: tan embossing mat: 1 or 2 shims (if unsure about how many - TEST): 2 B plates Embossed image
Finished tag - to define the edges I have used distress ink and added gems
and the card that I was making

My Nesties triumph again! I hope you'll find the instructions for cutting and embossing useful. Thanks for dropping by. See you next week.