CCAYR April challenge

The challenge this month at Christmas Cards All Year Round was "poinsettias".  Here's my card:

I used papers from Echo Park, stamps from JustRite and dies from Spellbinders. I added little dots of green with a Viva Pearl Pen.

You can find inspiration from the rest of the design team on the blog, where you can also find details on how to enter this month's competition.

Thanks for stopping by!

Spellbinders Matting Basics Layout

Now I know these dies were designed for cardfronts, but I thought I would use them to make tiles to go on a layout. Their beautifully rounded corners helped me achieve a softer look:

Each tile has something different on it - from having a photo mounted on it, to being stamped with JustRite stamps, embossed or made from patterned paper:

A few sequins and some clumps of cotton thread add some sparkle, and for that extra luscious bling, I added some BLING-abilities with my mini hair straightener to the bottom right hand corner. I coloured them with a Copic marker to match the layout:

The full materials list can be found at the DownUnder Direct Inspiration blog.

Thanks for looking!

Thank you card

I like to keep a stash of thank you cards - I seem to need so many and I find that if I have to sit and make one, well....sometimes people can go unthanked!

 

I have used Spellbinders dies, Prima papers and JustRite stamps. Full details can be found at the DownUnder Direct Inspiration blog.

 

Thanks for looking!

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Spellbinders Butterfly gift box

I decorated this little gift box for one of my daughter's friends:

This was really quite quick to make with Spellbinders dies and JustRite stamps - I think the colours make it even more delicious!

All the details can be found on the DownUnder Direct Inspiration blog.

Enjoy the weekend!

Spellbinders Peacock Feather Card

Love the starkness of white on a rich dark colour:

The intricacy of the Spellbinders dies, together with Bazzill Cardstock and JustRite Stamps sentiment....simple but effective :)

The full materials list can be found on the DownUnderDirect Inspiration Blog.

Thanks for looking!

Spellbinders cards

Time to update this blog with a couple of cards I made for DownUnder Direct.

Here's the first card:

 

A little heat embossing of the JustRite Stamps butterfly, some distress stain and white gel pen dots. You can read all about this card on the DownUnder Direct Inspiraton blog.

 

The next card uses the dressform shape as a window. Behind the window is an array of little white buttons:

 

Note the embossed calico piece too. Information for this card can be found here.

Thanks for stopping by today, and as always, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

A couple of cards made with Spellbinders

I have a couple of cards that were featured on the DownUnder Direct blog in the past couple of days.

For the first one I used the largest Labels Twenty die to cut the decorative edge on the Bazzill Wayfarer paper:

Details for this card can be found here.

For the second card I used the Rose Creations dies to make a flower from calico and tulle, and JustRite stamps for the background and sentiment:

Here's a close up of the flower:

The full materials list for the second card can be found here.

Thanks for stopping in today.

Spellbinders Dressform Card

The dressform in the French Frills die set is so wonderfully elegant:

I wanted something subtle in the background, so I inked up the Harlequin Background stamp from JustRite Stamps and rolled in onto the edge of the card.

You can find the complete supplies list for this card on the DownUnder Direct Inspiration Blog.

Thanks for visiting!

Faux copper tutorial

I've got a tutorial on how to go from cardstock and acrylic paint to this:

with a Spellbinder 3D embossing folder and JustRite stamps on the DownUnder Direct Inspiration Blog.  I'd love it if you popped over and had a little look :)

A Sweet Friend Card

I made this card with some of the new release Spellbinders dies:

The beautiful words are from JustRite stamps.

You can find all the details at the DownUnder Direct Inspiration blog.

Thanks for being here today :)

Heart shaped pocket

I made this cute little pocket:

 

I used Spellbinders heart and rose dies, Bazzill patterned paper, a JustRite stamp and some seam binding for the handle. I filled it with pieces of ephemera, but it could easily fit some sweet treats, cinema/concert tickets or a voucher. Here's a look inside:

 

For the full materials list, please visit the DownUnder Direct Inspiration blog.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Sisters Layout

I love how this layout turned out:

 

I'm loving the colours (Bazzill Wayfarer range), the die cuts (Spellbinders) and of course I love the subjects of the layout - my girls!

 

Here's a close up:

 

 

And to balance it a little, here's the bottom right hand corner. The words are from a JustRite stamp set - love that font! And aren't the little flower gems cute?



 

The full materials list can be found on the DownUnder Direct Inspiration blog.

Thanks for looking!

A wedding step card

Howdy folks!

It's becoming apparent that this is the year for weddings in our family. My husband is Italian and had the compulsory large extended family.  This is a wedding card for his dad's nephew's daughter. Let's just call her cousin, shall we?

 

I used one of DownUnder Direct's pre-scored and folded step cards, patterned paper from Bazzill, and Spellbinders dies. The words are a JustRite stamp.

 

 

This photo is from Collections and I covered it with some Rock Candy Distress paint for a crackled look.

 

For the complete materials list, please visit the DownUnder Direct Inspiration blog.

 

Thanks for stopping by today!

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A Birthday Card for Mother

This is the easiest step card I've ever made:

 

Note the perfect cuts and folds.....

 

This is one of the pre-cut and pre-scored cards available through DownUnder Direct.  All I did was embellish the base with Spellbinders dies and JustRite stamps.

 

This is the card I made for my mum's birthday, hence the subdued colour scheme. You can find the full materials list on the DownUnder Direct Inspiration blog.

Thanks for dropping in today!

Distress Marker technique

I had a good play with my Distress Markers last year, and ran a class in which I we made this card:

 

I love the effect - sort of watercoloury and yet some of the detail is still visible in the images:

 

 

Once I get the courage up I'm going to make a video of this technique. There - now I've said it out loud it will happen :)

 

The butterfly and leaves are from Darkroom Door and the words are from JustRite Stamps.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

A Spellbinders Christmas Tag with many personalities

While this creation started out being a gift tag, it could easily go onto the front of a card or even be hung on the Christmas tree as an ornament:

 

I made it using several different Spellbinder dies, Bazzill patterned paper and JustRite stamps. The full list is on the DownUnder Direct Inspiration blog.

 

The star on the front is 3D - you can see how I made it on this post.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog at such a busy time of year. The fact that you're here tells me you're either very organised, or a fellow procrastinator LOL. I'd better get back to it - the housework won't get done by the fairies - they're all hung over from all the Christmas parties they've been attending.

Spellbinders Heirloom Ornament Card

Here's another Christmas card idea using Spellbinders and JustRite stamps:

You'll find all the details over at the DownUnder Direct Inspiration blog.

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend!

Die D'Lites Whimsical Tree Tag

Love love love the new Die D'Lites from Spellbinders! You can see the range at DownUnder Direct....and then you'll know why they've all made their way onto my wish list!

Here's a tag I made using the Whimsical Tree die and some JustRite stamps:

 

The dies are so detailed and intricate - and yet cut like butter on my Grand Calibur.

 

**Handy Tip: put some wax paper between the die and your paper/cardstock - it helps the die cut release from the die much more easily.**

 

Here's a side view of the tag

 

You can find the full list of materials on the DownUnder Direct Inspiration blog.

Thanks for dropping in today.

Shabby Chic style Christmas Tree

Here's a simple Christmas decor idea:

 

The wicker cone came from a florist supply place, and I added some stars and pennants made with Spellbinders dies. The gorgeous sentiment is a JustRite stamp.

 

 

If you pop over to the DownUnder Direct Inspiration Blog, there's a little step-by-step on how to create the stars:

 

Thanks for looking!