Make your own flowers!

We are so, so lucky to have plenty of floral dies to choose from to make our flowers. There are so many options, coloured card, patterned papers, painted, inked, used with stamps or without but how about making them into something special of your own?

There are plenty of tutorials out there but one of the best selections I’ve seen is by Jennie Atkinson of ‘Live the Dream’ blog. If you look down the right sidebar of her blog you’ll find lots of different tutorials for all sorts of flower types.

Here’s a card made using Spellbinders Grand Nesties, Imperial Gold Ivy set and the new Sizzix Flora Grande Flora flower die with some leaves. I used Distress stains and a water mister to colour it. I know it’s nice to buy fancy flowers but we don’t always have the luxury of doing that so knowing how to put these dies to their full potential is very handy. Do please take a look at Jennie’s tutorials, they’re really useful.

For those of you who are not aware, it's been 'Die cuts' as the challenge this month over at our challenge site. Why not HOP over and take a look?! I've done a vintage version of this card which is quite different.

Thanks for taking time to stop by,

Chris xxx

Coming of age card

This card is great for either guys or gals and you can choose whatever colour you like to make it. It’s also suitable for children leaving home, going to Uni’ or for people emigrating.

	Make a tag your message using this Tim Holtz stamp which is so poignant and apt.
	Using a scroll and flower as embellishments. You could change the flower to a sprocket or something else you’d like if the guy doesn’t appreciate florals.
	Just add the age you want to celebrate using any of your numbers dies.

There will be another make soon, thanks for stopping by.

Chris xxx

Japanese tag

There’s a resurgence of oriental designs which are popular. The new Lynne Perrella collection (Eclectica³, PaperArtsy) features several sets of beautiful Japanese designs which prompted this tag.

	Use your Distress markers, Copics, Le Plume, Spectrum Noir, ProMarkers or any other colouring pens or paints you have. I’ve used the fabulous Treasure Gold to edge the picture as well as on the embossed tag.
	A piece of torn coloured vellum stapled onto the tag adds the contrast for the Japanese coin and typed word.

Enjoy your crafting and thanks for stopping by,

Chris xxx

www.mycornerofheaven.com

 

Discover tag

If you like making tags then why not make one for Dad for Father’s Day? My ‘Discover’ tag could be given as it is with a message on the back or be made into a card.

	Using any of the pointing finger dies can be useful if you want to emphasize something or to simply add dimension or a feature. Here I’ve added the moustache under a word eyelet.
	When making tags it’s sometimes possible to exceed the working area of the tag to add more dimension and interest. I’ve also used a texture fade of distressed dots inked over with a coordinating colour to add more texture.
	One of Tim’s tissue tapes is a roll of the pointed finger which serves to tie items together pictorially. I love the clock key die, it can be used on so many things. I also like to use charms on chains.

Happy Father’s Day to all you Dad’s out there, we hope you have a lovely day!

Chris xxx

It’s a corker!

When the shop got these fab 12” x 12” self-adhesive cork sheets in I just had to have a play! With Father’s Day upon us once more it seemed like an obvious ‘manly’ texture to use. I wanted to see how versatile the cork is, whether you could use die cuts without it splitting or crumbling and how fine a die could be used on it. Here’s the quick card I put together…

	It handled the thick Sizzix Original letter dies without cracking or crumbling.
	I even used a little hand-held X-Cut corner rounder on it without any problem - there was no resistance at all!

Watch out for additional things you can use with this fabulous cork!

Have fun crafting and thanks for stopping by.

Chris xxx