Never forget your inner sparkle – let it shine.

Hello again

I have been working with another previous Craftwork Cards collection called Butterfly Parade. It was always a favourite of mine and I wanted to give it a new lease of life.

I used one sheet of paper to cut out the squares for the template. Then I cut out the butterflies on the second piece of paper and matched them. Lifting up the wings for dimension.

A little bit of coordinating blue glitter card really lifts the design up.

This is another classic card layout.

The tiny matchbox designs make beautiful banners.

This card says it all. I just love working with Leonie Pujol’s new sentiment strips because they are a little bit different and very apt.

“Never forget your inner sparkle – let it shine”

Until next time.

Much love x Elisabeth x

Wildflowers

Hello again

Many moons ago, Craftwork Cards released a beautiful set of Wildflower stamps. Craftstash have now updated the set with co-ordinating embossing folders and cutting dies.

I began creating my Design Team samples for Hochanda with this simply stamped black and white card.

Followed by a stamped card using the create a wreath template. This is a great way to make a circle.

Next I tried out the new embossing folders. Firstly I cut the circles within the design. Then I embossed them and layered them up.

Secondly. I embossed the background in glitter card and stamped a separate centre piece.

Finally I worked with the new cutting dies on black card.

Then I layered the black onto bold primary colours to create a tiled card.

Furthermore because there are 4 square dies in the set I made a window pane frame complete with a beautiful view into the garden 😉

As you can see, the cutting dies are a good addition to the stamps and the embossing folders.

Until next time.

Much love x Elisabeth x

New Home Cards

Hello again

I have been busy creating cards this week because each of the companies I work with are bringing out new collections.  Craftwork Cards snuck this little cutting die set into their shows on Hochanda and they are really useful.

https://www.craftstash.co.uk/craftwork-cards-die-set-new-home-set-of-16.html

The cards I made were clean and simple.  The font of the sentiment is just a classic design so you can use it in many ways.  Sometimes simple is best.

Until next time

Much love x Elisabeth x

Arabesque

Hello again

Craftwork Cards launched a new paper and cutting die collection on the 14th May called Arabesque.  The papers have vivid colours and patterns that could remind you of hot sunny days in Morocco.  The range of symmetrical cutting dies and stencils are very useful too.

You can cut into the papers or paper fold with them.  The addition of black makes the colours pop.

The hexagon inspired large square cutting die is great for instant backgrounds.  Alternatively use one of the strip dies repeatedly to make your own. Furthermore they can be cut down to make petals around one of the sentiment toppers

The two geometric stencils included in the main Arabesque collection are the unsung heroes.  All I did, to create these two striking cards,  was simply lay the stencils on coloured card and ink through them with black ink.

Even left over strips of paper can be used to make stylish cards.

This is a completely new collection from Craftwork Cards.  I hope they will continue down this route as papers like these are very inspiring to work with.

Until next time

Much love x Elisabeth x

Beautiful cards

Hello again

Usually I include the name of the style of card that I am sharing. However these cards are called Bellybands and I don’t think that is a nice name at all. So I shall simply explain them as wrap around cards.

These new Craftwork Cards cutting dies were first shown on Hochanda but are now available from Craftstash UK.

The first die is shaped like a pendant. There are two smaller ovals that can be used to bring the back of the strip together if necessary.

The second heart shaped centre works well with gate-fold cards

The third floral die is my favourite because you can snip into it to use the flowers as embellishments. I coloured this one with kuretake pens.

I matched it up with the previously released Beauty cutting die and the newly launched Elegance stamps.

If you place the envelope with the card before you measure the wrap around it you can use the die on all sizes of cards or boxes.

I am sure that you can now see that these new dies are far prettier than the name “Bellybands” sounds.

Until next time.

Much love x Elisabeth x

Vintage Ephemera re-visited …

Hello again

In an effort to stop spending quite so much on my crafting stash, I am working through the papers I already have. It is really noticeable to me that my style has changed since the first time I used these feminine papers. Therefore these cards I made using the Vintage Ephemera papers from Craftwork Cards are completely different to the ones I made over five years ago.

I used a Beauty cutting die with one of the background papers and then cut it again with pale pink card-stock. Two layers adds more interest and depth.

These perfume bottle toppers were included in the collection and can be used on their own. I simply added a stamped sentiment.

Even the offcuts work well together.

Or you can cut down one corner of the papers to create a focal point.

The papers are so pretty. They make the perfect Mother’s Day Cards. I know my Mama would have loved to have received a card like this one.

I cut the background papers down to three panels and used pink card to lift up the design.

Wishing you all an enjoyable Mothering Sunday (in the UK)

Until next time.

Much love x Elisabeth x

Queen Bee Frame

Hello again.

One of the samples I created for Craftwork Cards FB LIVE was this Queen Bee frame.

I had already prepared an Elizabeth Crafts picture frame. I aged it with various brown inks, stencils and brown wax.

Then I began gathering together the embellishments including this #savethebeesstamp

Within the Craftwork Cards Queen Bee kit there are some luxurious pre-cut flowers. I embossed these ones with a hexagonal design.

I inked various mdf shapes with orange and yellow inks. Then I stamped a beehive across them.

I own quite a few Bee inspired products including this bee cutting die from Tattered Lace.

I backed the frame with one sheet of honeycomb paper, added a topper to the centre and dotted a few sequins

Until next time.

Much love x Elisabeth x

WONDERFUL NEWS

Hello again.

It is such an exciting crafting day! Not only are one of my favourite brands (CRAFTWORK CARDS ) re-launching under the Craft Stash umbrella; they have asked me to be a Brand Ambassador!

When you browse through my blog you will see many of my cards are made using Craftwork Cards products because I love the style of the artwork and the quality is excellent.

Sue Taylor will be re-launching the Craftwork Cards Brand on the Facebook page along with Craft Stash. She will be highlighting a new ULTIMATE COLLECTIONS USB which is available to pre-order from Craft Stash.

Here are some of my first samples as a Brand Ambassador that were made to show the variety of collections on this USB.

This hexagonal card was inspired by the Queen Bee Collection.

The next two little beauties were made using the Hedgerow Collection

Last but not least are two cards using the very stylish Deco papers.

As you can see the USB will have some of the classic collections from Craftwork Cards and there will be some new ones too. Over 50 different kits all at the click of a small USB.

Good luck to all at CWC and Craft Stash on the relaunch shows. I hope like me you will be watching.

Much love x Elisabeth x

Beautiful Blue

Hello again

I’m having to push myself to craft. I find Pinterest a great starting point. During one scrolling session I came across a set of designs for ‘tall and skinny’ cards ( or DL cards). Here is my version of them.

I started off by cutting into the stunning Nouveau Vogue papers from Craftwork Cards. ( I still miss this great company).

The Happy Birthday cutting die (from The Works) makes a great focal point for any card

Another set of dies that came in handy for these cards were the brilliant sentiment strip dies from Tonic. They are a dream to work with. I hope they bring out some more soon.

I think the next card is my favourite because everything just came together. The colours, the shapes and the wording.

It might be tricky to see in this photo but I actually used two different shades of blue of Nuvo drops to decorate the topper on this card.

The flowers in this particular set are pre-cut which makes them perfect for making a quick and effective embellishment.

I am so glad that I saved some of the Tonic teal card stock. It is brilliant for cutting out intricate dies. I can highly recommend both.

I hope (like Pinterest did for me) inspired you to give tall and skinny cards a go.

Much love x Elisabeth x