Flat bow instructions

Yesterdays post showed this bow on a card and here are the instructions.

I made my bow like this as the ribbon is wide and when you tie a 

knot it is quite deep, therefore adding to postage costs so I wanted a neat bow without the depth and this is what I came up with.

I started with my chosen length of ribbon and a piece of twine long enough to tie around it easily.

I held the two ends together.

Approx 6-7cms from the tip I tied my twine around both ends, pulling tight.

Pushing the loop up in the centre behind my tied part.

Using the same twine from earlier I have tied tightly around my pushed up loop.

Make sure your knots are tight, then you can wiggle your bow to get it to sit exactly how you want it.

This picture shows me moving the "legs" of the ribbon apart, so there will be one going in each direction

Here the "legs" are apart.

Cut the twine as close as you can to the knots.

A final wiggle, the front loop is adjustable if you move it gently you can line it however you want it.

Here is my finished bow.

I am bow challenged but think it looks fabulous, what do you think?

Are these instructions helpful?

Leave a comment below.

I am trying to post something new for you each weekend, more regular than that just doesn't happen, work gets in the way, he he.

Next time, I am hoping to give you instructions for making wheel stamps into flat stamps.

Until next weekend, Happy crafting, Dawn x

Just Believe-Rich razzleberry

As I mentioned before, I will try and photograph some of the items I use.

Here is my Just Believe stamp set.

On my last workshop we made this card in crumb cake, everyone loved the design, I had some fabulous comments, thank you ladies, then we got chatting about how different cards can look in different colour combos, so I said I would make another card in a different colour option and this is what I came up with.

Rich Razzleberry and Very Vanilla. 

If you look back a couple of posts you will find the details of what I did, I'm sure you don't want me to write it all out again here.

A close up of the main image.

The gorgeous soft and wide stripey ribbon that Stampin' Up! have discontinued, please, please, please bring them back, they are perfect.

The detail of my script wheel, that I made in to a flat stamp, full details of how to do this are coming soon.

Don't cards look "finished" when they have a stamped insert?

And more professional, in my opinion.

Yntil next time, happy crafting, Dawn x

PS If like me you struggle with computers, let me say that if you use all your allowance for your photographs with blogger, you can resize them and then add them and it doesn't count as your allowance, how does that work..? It took me about 4 hours to discover this...argh!

Our family is mad!

I have been having problems with blogger all day, and you know how computers are difficult for me to say the least, I keep being told I have reached my limit and I don't want to pay monthly to be able to add photos to my posts. Anyway on with the show as they say.

For a change I thought I would add some photographs of one of my mad dogs.

Have you ever heard of dogs who like to trampoline?

Well, this young lady does, in fact even with nets that zip and lock shut she still manages to get on, I'm not sure how, she doesn't do it when we are looking, funny huh?

Here is Kodi, waiting for my daughter to join her for her bouncing session.

She even likes to lie down on the trampoline and rest.

And of course guard the entrance after she has managed to get on.

What do you think?

I think she is crazy but then she suits my family to a tee!!!

If blogger behaves I will try and post some craftyness soon.

Until next time, happy crafting, Dawn x

Just Believe...again

Here I have a card that didn't quite make it to this months workshop but I thought I would show you anyway.

I started with an A6 card blank. I stamped using versamark ink and one of the smaller stamps from the Just Believe stamp set onto my base card, you can just see it around the edges. I added a marina mist embossed mat using the new Fancy Fan embossing folder, I curled the corner a little so you can see the stamping on the base. I cut a top note die in very vanilla and stamped the largest image from the set using crumb cake ink, I added my greeting with marina mist ink, I inked around the edges of the die cut for detail using crumb cake ink, I trimmed the side of the die cut off. A simple ruffle of very vanilla seam binding ribbon and a button from the neutral selection and this card was finished.

A close up of the seam binding and button.

The embossing folder is so deep and gorgeous, don't you think?

What do you think of this design?

Leave a comment below.

Until next time, happy crafting, Dawn x

Just Believe workshops

Here are this months two cards using the Just Believe stamp set from Stampin' Up!

I started with a crumb cake square card base, I matted a Very Vanilla square and stamped this with my new Travel Journal wheel in crumb cake ink (anyone who knows me, will know I struggle to use the wheels in straight lines so I carefully trimmed the join of the rubber and peeled it off the wheel, I then backed it with the amazing clear mount cling foam from Stampin' Up! and used it as a traditional stamp on an acrylic block, and here as you can see, straight lines for my background)

I then cut two Top Note die cuts, one from crumb cake and one from very vanilla card, I trimmed the edge off the vanilla layer so it will show the crumb cake layer, I love how this looks.

I stamped two images from the Just Believe stamp set on the middle of the vanilla top note die cut in crumb cake ink, I added my greeting, also from this set, in early espresso in the top right hand corner.

I softened the edges of both of my vanilla layers by inking around the edges with crumb cake ink.

To make my bow a little flatter than tying it in a knot, I took a length of ribbon approximately 36cms long, I held the ends together and tied with twine a distance of about 6-7cms from the point, I then pushed the middle loop up towards where I had tied and tied again, making the centre of the bow, a little wriggling to get it how I wanted and then I cut the twine off close to the bow, this I feel is another option for all of us bow challenged people out there, and yes I am one of them!

Unfortunately this gorgeous ribbon is no longer available from Stampin' Up! argh!!!

The script is beautiful, and very easy to repeat without it looking like it is the same few lines repeated, very versatile wheel/stamp.

Like I said I'm bow challenged but this is cute, don't you think?

We stamped the inside on an insert and then I forgot to photograph it, oops! It adds a lovely finishing touch to the card and looks lovely on the envelope too, wouldn't you open an envelope with detail on before all the usual boring post? I know I would :) 

This is card number two, using the same Just Believe stamp set.

We started with a crumb cake A5 card blank, (a sheet of A4 folded simply in half) then using the smaller leaf design I stamped using versamark around the edges and left to dry.

The tag was cut using a Tim Holtz die and very vanilla card but it could be a ready bought luggage label if you don't have a die.

Using a piece of copy paper, I ripped my hill design, lining this where I wanted I used pumpkin pie ink for the base hills, moving the paper up I then inked with so saffron, I had punched a circle and fixed on to form the moon, I inked around the moon also with so saffron ink, when I was happy with the look I inked the largest design from the set with black ink and stamped across the bottom left hand corner, using black ink I stamped my text across the revealed moon image, I inked around the edges of the tag to add depth. 

Using the cute new Finishing Touches edgelit die, I cut a small strip and stuck it behind the main tag for detail and finished my tag with a piece of coordinating ribbon.

I added a simple pearl insert to finish my card.

What do you think? Is this design your cup of tea? Or a little plain? 

Let me know, leave me a comment below.

Here is some of the tag detail.

The finishing touches die is super cute and simple too.

Sorry about all the shadows on my photos today, I guess I should be lucky we had sun shine when I was taking them, unlike now when I'm writing this.

I'm holding back from posting this until the afternoon, as I don't want to spoil it for all my lovely ladies who are coming to make these cards with me this afternoon.

Please feel free to post a comment and let me know what you think of these two design.

Until next time, Happy Crafting, Dawn x

Perfectly preserved flowers

I'm really enjoying this stamp set, there are sooo many things you can do with it.

Yes, I started with my favourite square card blank, I added a very fine mat of rose red and then a layer of designer series paper (sorry this set has been discontinued, I just think it went with this rather nicely)

I cut a whisper white die cut and stamped the jar from my perfectly preserved set, I lined up two stalks and two flower heads. I pierced around the edge of the die cut. 

I added some coordinating bakers twine around the rim of the jar. 

I stamped a flower, cut it out with the matching die and added a rhinestone to the centre, fixing this with a foam pad to the top right hand corner.

A close up to see more detail.

Is this your style of card? Leave a comment below to let me know what you think.

Until next time Happy Crafting, Dawn x

Perfectly preserved apples

When I saw the apple from the perfectly preserved stamp set, this was what popped into my head, so naturally I had to make it.

As you can see I opted for my preferred square card blank.

I added a square of designer series paper, a further whisper white card mat, which I pierced a pattern on to.

I then stamped eight green apples and one red apple, each time after inking in my chosen colour I added the seeds with an Early Espresso marker, all the apples were cut out using my matching cannery die set. The green apples were stuck on with my favourite tombo glue, whereas the red apple was stuck with foam pads.

A close up of the apples.

What do you think? Is this your kind of card?

Leave me a comment, below.

Until next time, Happy Crafting, Dawn x

Perfectly preserved pear

This card is quite similar to yesterdays, hence why it is on today.

I used my Perfectly Preserved stamp set and Cannery framelits, die set, there is a photograph of both of these sets on yesterday's post.

I started with a Pumpkin Pie A6 card base (have you noticed, two days in a row without a square card-don't worry, they are coming) I opted to turn my base card to a horizontal direction, the opening is down the left hand side.

I pierced around the edges of my base card and added a mat from some discontinued paper called Beyond the Garden (I used this for yesterday's card too) I thought it went really well with my colour scheme.

I inked the jar stamp with Early Espresso ink, the pear and leaves with Lucky Limeade ink and the lid with Pumpkin Pie ink, I then cut them all out with the matching dies (quick and easy!)

The greeting comes from my Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set, this was inked in Pumpkin Pie and cut out with the word window punch, I added a curve to it with my bone folder to resemble the curve of the jar. Some Calypso Coral bakers twine crossed over on the left hand side and that was it, a quick and easy card.

Here is a close up of the jar.

I hope you like my simple card, Leave me a comment to let me know.

As I mentioned on yesterday's post, it is Taunton's Sincerely Yours craft show today, I hope you can make it, its at Wellsprings Leisure Centre, between 10am and 4pm.

Until next time, Happy Crafting, Dawn x

Perfectly preserved

I had a Stampin' Up! delivery a couple of days ago and here are two of the items from that delivery,

aren't they lovely?

Well, I had been resisting the urge to buy these until recently, after receiving a fabulous card made with them and then I was hooked and couldn't wait to put my next order in, and as I said they arrived a couple of days ago. The stamp set is called perfectly preserved and the die set is called Cannery, its a framelit set, they both work together, to stamp and cut out the items.

I chose the stamp set in the clear option, which if you know Stampin' Up! is not clear as such but stamps without the wooden block, they have the mounting foam on the back so you only need an acrylic block to fix them to and you are ready to go, the cases are just like a dvd box so much easier to store and a little cheaper than the wood mounted options.

The dies come in a handy tough plastic "envelope" with a popper, making them easy to store.

Here is my first card I made with these sets, there will be many to follow as I have really fallen for the designs and versatility of them.

The card base is Midnight Muse in an A6 size.

I cut three banner style pieces of designer series paper for the background, I simply cut three strips and made the "v" shape with my square punch, lining up the sides.

I stamped the main jar with Early Espresso ink and cut out with the matching die.

I stamped the apple with my favourite green of the moment Lucky Limeade, I added Early Espresso pips with a marker pen, I stamped the leaves with Lucky Limeade ink and cut both of these out with their matching dies. The lid was stamped with Island Indigo ink, cut out, pierced at the edges and matching twine added through the holes, I glued the twine around the curve of the lid. The mat was cut using my Window Frames die set. The mat, jar and banners were all inked around the edges with Island Indigo ink. The jar was fixed with foam pads on to the mat, which was then stuck flat onto the banners. I added the apple and leaves with glue and added some matching bakers twine to the left hand side to tie it all together.

A close up of the jar.

I was really pleased with how this turned out. What do you think? Leave me a comment below.

I find when I'm looking at other peoples blogs and they tell me the name of something, I don't actually know what it looks like so, I'm going to try to photograph some of the products that I use and add them to the beginning of my posts so you can visualise them. Let me know if you think this would help you too.

It is Taunton's Sincerely Yours craft show tomorrow at Wellsprings leisure centre, I hope to see some of you there, I'm not demonstrating, I'm browsing, like you. Have fun, don't spend too much money (unless you can afford to, that is)

Until next time, Happy Crafting, Dawn x