Blog Posts

Monochromatic – Thank you Card – A Little Lace

I have this gorgeous monochromatic thank you card to share with you today. This colour uses one of my favourite colours, Bermuda Bay. I love the rich vibrancy of this colour against the whisper white. It works well. What do you think?

Monochromatic - Thank you Card - A Little Lace
Monochromatic – Thank you Card – A Little Lace

A Little Lace is a gorgeous stamp set. I’ve used it before to stamp my own patterned paper to make a bag. I’ll link the video below. This is a great set as it contains sentiments and this lovely lace stamp. Last time I used Melon Mambo and it looked equally

Everything can do with some bling at times. I’ve used the clear faceted gems in the flower centres for some sparkle. They really lift the card and make it come alive.

I will admit that in the last week I feel as I’ve lost my mojo. I am struggling with words to write this blog. Is anyone else feeling the same, I have all the time in the world to craft but just don’t feel like it. Typical!!

This card uses an old technique. I don’t know what is called. I stamped all three white layers together and then separated them so that pattern continues across all the pieces.

measurements

  • Whisper White:
    • 14.35cm x 10cm
    • 11.85cm x 7.5cm
    • 9.35cm x 5cm
  • Bermuda Bay:
    • 12.35cm x 8cm
    • 9.85cm x 5.5cm
    • A6 Cardbase – This is an A4 sheet cut in half and then folded in half

The thank you sentiment is from the Label Me Pretty stamp set, an older one but still a great one. I’ve used punches so there is no need for any die cutting here.

other projects

The video tutorial and supply list is below. Thank you for visiting and until next time Enjoy Being Creative!!

Ashee xx

Product List

Card Stock A4 Bermuda Bay

Whisper White A4 Card Stock

1-1/2" (3.8 Cm) Circle Punch

1-3/8" (3.5 Cm) Scallop Circle Punch

A Little Lace Cling Stamp Set

Label Me Pretty Cling-Mount Stamp Set

Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

Clear Faceted Gems

Snail Adhesive

Paper Trimmer

Bone Folder

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

Soft Suede Handbag – All Dressed Up – Stampin’ Up!

I have his mock soft suede handbag using the All Dressed Up dies from Stampin’ Up! I love the soft suede and the gold details together. It just looks so elegant.

Soft Suede Handbag – All Dressed Up – Stampin’ Up!

This die set is part of a bundle with the matching dress to impress stamp set that I have used here. The diet is very versatile as not only does it cut out this bag and all the embellishments but also the images from the stamp set such as a shoe and perfume bottle.

Are you a fashionista? I have to confess I’m not. I tend to go around in the same few sets of clothes each week. Leggings and jumpers are my favourite friends. Since I work from home I don’t have to dress up smartly for work either.

This project was meant to be part of YouTube hop but unfortunately due to the current pandemic many people have’t been able to participate as hoped. I will link below my fellow designers who have participated though.

Other 3D projects

I hope you are all keeping safe and well. Thank you for visiting. The video tutorial and supply list are below. Please do visit the links to other videos on his YouTube hop as well.

Until next time Enjoy Being Creative!!

Ashee xx

Dana Sullivan (USA) – https://youtu.be/u3B1g48SEsg

Crafting with Ashee (UK) – https://youtu.be/XxLroJwkUkU

Janice LaRoche (USA) – https://youtu.be/_1kcPH4rdIk

AridDesertDesigns (USA) https://youtu.be/20R-StY_5i0

Kelly Acheson (USA) – https://youtu.be/BiTgubftLYA

Wendy Easler (USA) – https://youtu.be/WhanVHhga1I

Jessica Brigden (USA) – https://youtu.be/91wlGMn4KLs

Product List

Soft Suede A4 Card Stock

Gold Foil Sheets

Dressed To Impress Bundle (English)

Whisper White A4 Card Stock

All Dressed Up Dies

Dressed To Impress Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad

Linen Thread

Take Your Pick

Bone Folder

Gold 3/8" (1 Cm) Metallic-Edge Ribbon

1-1/2" (3.8 Cm) Circle Punch

2" (5.1 Cm) Circle Punch

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

Stampin' Pierce Mat

Poppy Birthday Box – Peaceful Poppies

This poppy birthday box is a coordinating piece to the birthday card I posted below. I’ve used different patterns from the Peaceful Poppies designer series paper (DSP) to make this box. I think it turned out super cute. What do you think?

Poppy Birthday Box - Peaceful Poppies
Poppy Birthday Box – Peaceful Poppies

I especially love the pattern above with the red poppies against the blue background. It is so pretty. I’ve always thought blue and red go very well together.

The sentiment used here is the same as the card I posted on Wednesday. The stamp set is Peaceful Moments and has some great sentiments. I’ve used the circle punches so that you need no dies to make this box.

Poppy Birthday Box - Peaceful Poppies - alternative design
Poppy Birthday Box – Peaceful Poppies – alternative design

measurements

  • Poppy Parade – 8″ X 8″ scored at 2″ on all sides
  • Peaceful Poppies DSP – 7 1/16″ X 7 1/16″ scored at 1 1/2″ on all sides

I’ve made this box before using the Magnolia Lane DSP and Mossy Meadow cardstock last year and thought I would make it again. It is a very simple and easy box to make and can be made in bulk easily. I also must say I love the Poppy Parade textured weave ribbon. I have a few reels of it and just have not been using it so I want to change that too.

other boxes and bags

Thank you for dropping by. I hope you are safe and well. The video tutorial and supply list are below. Until next time, Enjoy Being Creative!!

Ashee xx

Product List

Poppy Parade A4 Cardstock

Whisper White A4 Card Stock

Peaceful Poppies Designer Series Paper

Peaceful Moments Cling Stamp Set (English)

1-1/2" (3.8 Cm) Circle Punch

2" (5.1 Cm) Circle Punch

2-1/4" (5.7 Cm) Circle Punch

Poppy Parade Classic Stampin' Pad

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

Poppy Parade 1/2" (1.3 Cm) Textured Weave Ribbon

Snail Adhesive

Mini Glue Dots

Stampin' Dimensionals

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

Paper Trimmer

Whisper White Solid Baker's Twine

Simply Scored

Poppy Birthday Card – Stampin’ Up!

I have a card to share with you today using the Poppy designer series paper (DSP). I love the Poppy suite of products including this paper so decided to make this Poppy Birthday card with it.

Poppy Birthday Card - Stampin' Up!
Poppy Birthday Card – Stampin’ Up!

I’ve kept this card super simple and just let the DSP doing the talking. It is such gorgeous paper that you really don’t’ have to do much to make a beautiful card. The red is aptly named Poppy Parade as well.

I’ve made a box to coordinate with this card and it will be on the next blog post in two days time.

Do you like Poppies? Next to my gym, there is patch of scrubland and every year I love seeing the beautiful red poppies. They look so striking against the green of the grass. They are also a wonderful symbol of course of remembrance and hope.

measurements

  • Poppy Parade A6 Cardbase. This is an A4 sheet cut in half and then folded in half.
  • Whisper White – 14.35cm x 10cm
  • Peaceful Poppies DSP – 13.85cm x 9.5cm

Do you like flowers? I think they are a wonderful sign of life and hope and never fail to bring a smile to my face.

more floral projects

Thank you again for visiting. The video tutorial and supply list are below. Keep safe and until next time Enjoy Being Creative!!

Ashee xx

Product List

Poppy Parade A4 Cardstock

Whisper White A4 Card Stock

Peaceful Poppies Designer Series Paper

Peaceful Moments Cling Stamp Set (English)

1-1/2" (3.8 Cm) Circle Punch

2" (5.1 Cm) Circle Punch

2-1/4" (5.7 Cm) Circle Punch

Poppy Parade Classic Stampin' Pad

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

Poppy Parade 1/2" (1.3 Cm) Textured Weave Ribbon

Snail Adhesive

Mini Glue Dots

Stampin' Dimensionals

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

Paper Trimmer

An Explosion of Colour – Pigment Sprinkles

I have an art journal page to share with you today and it is an explosion of colour. It uses the pigment sprinkles that have been sitting in my stash for months. I love how it came out and wanted to share it with you.

An Explosion of Colour - Pigment Sprinkles
An Explosion of Colour – Pigment Sprinkles

Art journaling makes me happy and I think at times such these we have to especially try to do things that make us happy. The Pigment Sprinkles were launched in the catalogue last June but due to customs issues, we didn’t get them until October. I couldn’t wait to buy them and then, of course, they just sat in my stash. Oh my gosh, I love them. I used them to create both the orange background as well as the blue/purple one.

Art journaling is a great way to let your imagination run free. You can explore colours, themes, techniques and just be free!! I’ve used a number of techniques here. There is stamping, stencilling, heat embossing, fussy cutting and of course the pigment sprinkles.

I normally write my blogs a few weeks ahead of schedule. I am writing this on 25th March, so the second day of the increased restrictions. Life as we used to know it has all but disappeared. The weather when we could go out was grey and wet now, of course, we have glorious sunshine. Typical!! We are lucky to have a big garden by city standards so can still enjoy the outdoors easily. I hope you are keeping safe and well and that my projects and videos are helping to relieve the boredom of days inside.

Other art journal pages

The video tutorial and supply are below. Thank you for visiting. Until next time, Enjoy Being Creative!!

Ashee xx

Product List

Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper

Pigment Sprinkles

Stampin' Spritzer

Heat Tool - Uk Plug

Aqua Painters

Crackle Paint Cling Stamp Set

Abstract Impressions Photopolymer Stamp Set

Beautiful Day Cling-Mount Stamp Set

Versamark Pad

Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder

White Stampin' Emboss Powder

Palette Knives

Shimmery White Embossing Paste

Pattern Party Decorative Masks

Shimmery White A4 Card Stock

Butterfly Duet Punch

Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker

Embossing Buddy

Stampin' Dimensionals

Mini Stampin' Dimensionals

Tools – Which ones are in my basic craft kit?

This blog post is all about tools and which ones would I include in my basic craft kit. This is the second post in a series on the basics of crafting. My first post was all about adhesives and is linked below.

Tools - Which ones are in my basic craft kit?
Tools – Which ones are in my basic craft kit?

I get asked many times what I should bring to craft class and I always say a basic kit. What is a basic kit is the next question. I thought I would do this video to show what I consider the basic tools for paper crafting.

Craft Kit to take with me to card club

  1. SNIPS
    • These are a multipurpose set of scissors that are perfect for cutting paper, ribbon, card etc…
    • They are sharp and the blades have a protected housing
    • Fit ergonomically in the hand
  2. BONE FOLDER
    • Perfect for scoring, burnishing score lines, folding paper
    • Useful for burnishing tear & tape so it sticks well and the backing is easy to remove.
    • Firm with no bendiness
    • Useful to reink ink pads
  3. TAKE YOUR PICK TOOL
    • This is a multifunctional tool
    • Attachments include:
      • Sticky Pick Up Tool
      • Stylus with a thick and thin end
      • Paper Piercer
      • Spatula
      • Die Brush
    • Replacements for the Sticky Pick Up Tool are available.

Tools I keep in my craft room

  1. SIMPLY SCORED SCORING TOOL
    • Comes with an imperial base plate but a metric plate is available separately
    • Comes with a stylus with two ends, a thin & a thick one.
    • Allows for precise and accurate scoring of both paper and card to make boxes, bags and cards.
  2. PAPER TRIMMER
    • Has both metric and imperial measurements
    • Includes one scoring and one cutting blade
    • The blades are long-lasting
    • The scoring tool blade is amazing and gives a great crips scoreline
    • The arm extends to 17 inches.
    • Sharp, accurate and precise cutting

If I was going to a craft event I would take my snips, take your pick tool and bone folder. Of course, I always take adhesive too. The scoring tool and paper trimmer I keep in my craft room and use every time I make anything.

Other Posts

I hope you have found this post useful and please do check out the post on adhesives too. I’ve done a video and supply list below as usual. Until next time, Enjoy Being Creative!!

Ashee xx

Product List

Take Your Pick

Simply Scored™ Metric Scoring Plate

Paper Trimmer

Cutting Blades Multipack

Take Your Pick Putty Refill

Simply Scored

Paper Snips

Bone Folder

Take Your Pick Die Brush Tip

Roar – Dinosaur Card – Stampin’ Up!

Roar goes the Dinosaur. I love these brightly coloured dinosaurs in the Dino Roar designer series paper (DSP). They are perfect for children’s cards.

Roar Roar - Dinosaur Card - Dino Roar - Stampin' Up!
Roar Roar – Dinosaur Card – Dino Roar – Stampin’ Up!

I really enjoyed making this card. These dinosaurs are actually die cut from the Dino Roar DSP. The dies match not only the dinosaur stamps but also the images on the DSP making them super versatile. They are very easy to line up and cut out and there are separate dies for the scales though I just fussy cut them out.

I used the complimentary enamel shapes as my embellishments and for the scales of the lovely lipstick coloured dinosaur. I haven’t got a clue what species each of these dinosaurs are. They are just pink or blues ones to me.

measurements

  • Pretty Peacock A6 Cardbase – This is an A4 sheet cut in half and then folded in half
  • DinoRoar DSP – 14.35cm x 10xm
  • Whisper White – 13.35cm x 9cm

I think the sentiment is so cute and matches all these little friends on the card perfectly. The dinosaur standing on his friend’s nose was a mistake but I liked it so kept it.

other projects

I hope you like it. Thank you for visiting. The supply list and video tutorial are below. Until next time, Enjoy Being Creative!!

Ashee xx

Product List

Pretty Peacock A4 Cardstock

Whisper White A4 Card Stock

Dinoroar Designer Series Paper

Pretty Peacock Classic Stampin’ Pad

Dino Days Photopolymer Stamp Set

Dino Dies

Dinoroar Enamel Shapes

Stampin' Dimensionals

Mini Stampin' Dimensionals

Snail Adhesive

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

Down the Garden Shed Card Tutorial – Stampin’ Up!

I am calling this card “Down the Garden Shed”. It uses the aptly named Garden Shed stamp set. I loved making this card. Colouring and especially watercolouring is so relaxing for me. I love getting lost in the colours and the blending of the colours.

Down the Garden Shed Card Tutorial - Stampin' Up!
Down the Garden Shed Card Tutorial – Stampin’ Up!

This scene is so lovely and peaceful. In the current turbulent and worrying times, I think we all need a peaceful haven and this looks like a perfect spot. My mother, in particular, loves her garden. When times are tough or we had bad news the garden is her retreat and therapy. I love walking in nature and watching the natural world go about the job of living. I find watching plants grow and the beautiful flowers they produce gives me such hope.

measurements

  • Thick Whisper White A6 Cardbase – This is an A4 sheet cut in half and then folded in half.
  • Call Me Clover – 14.35cm x 10cm

I personally love these large image stamp sets with these rural and idyllic scenes to colour in. Do you like them or do you find them to ideal and prosaic?

I bought this stamp set back in June last year so I am pleased I’ve got to use it. I am still on my goal to use everything I buy rather than it sitting lost in my stash forever after. Do you have any crafting goals? Let me know in the comments.

Other projects

Thank you once again for dropping by. The supply list and video tutorial are below as always. Until next time, Enjoy Being Creative!!

Ashee xx

Product List

Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock

Call Me Clover A4 Cardstock

Shimmery White A4 Card Stock

Garden Shed Cling Stamp Set

Jet Black Stāzon Ink Pad

Call Me Clover 1/8" (3.2 Mm) Grosgrain Ribbon

Watercolor Pencils

Watercolor Pencils Assortment 2

Aqua Painters

Stampin' Spritzer

Snail Adhesive

Stitched Rectangle Dies

Mini Glue Dots

Bone Folder

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

Best Dressed Floral Bag – Stampin’ Up!

I have another cute bag for you using the Best Dressed Designer Series Paper (DSP), hence the name best dressed floral bag.

Best Dressed Floral Bag - Stampin' Up!
Best Dressed Floral Bag – Stampin’ Up!

The Best Dressed DSP has makeup and fashion themed patterns on one side and on other are these amazing floral designs. I am quite a tomboy and makeup and fashion have never held much attraction to me. I love the florals though.

This box is what I call pencil case style. It has a magnetic closure but it is the DSP that makes it sing to me. I love this pattern, it is so happy. What are your favourite styles of patterned paper?

I know some people find box making quite difficult to do so I made a template but I will also give you the measurements here.

measurements

  • Old Olive – 7 1/2″ X 10″ – Scored:
    • On the short side at 1/2″, 3″, 4″, 6 1/2″
    • On the long side at 1″, 7″
  • Best Dressed DSP – 2 1/4″ X 5 3/4″ X 2 pieces
  • Best Dressed DSP – 2 3/4″ X 2 1/4″
Template for Best Dressed Floral Bag
Template for Best Dressed Floral Bag

More boxes and Bags

The video tutorial and supply list are below. Thank you for visiting and until next time Enjoy Being Creative!!!

Ashee xx

Product List

Rose Floral Birthday Card – Beautiful Day

I have this vibrant Rose Floral Birthday card to share with you today. I call this my Rose splash card due to the vivid splash of Lovely Lipstick pink in the background.

Rose Floral Birthday Card - Beautiful Day
Rose Floral Birthday Card – Beautiful Day

I adore Lovely Lipstick pink. It is such a bold and vibrant colour. I am going to be very sad when it retires in May and might just have to make sure I have a few extra cardstock packs to hoard in my stash. Do you like this pink or is too bold for you? Let me know in the comments, I love to hear your feedback.

This card is really all about the stamping. I’ve used a set called artisan textures to create the splash of colour in the background. The rose is from an older set called Beautiful Day and it creates this large outline image. The sentiment and small pink flowers are also from this set. I’ve used some rhinestones as flower centres to make the card pop.

measurements

  • Lovely Lipstick A6 Cardbase – This is an A4 sheet cut in half and then folded in half
  • Whisper White 14.35cm x 10cm

As you may see from all these projects I share I love flowers. They make me smile. I think the world would be a lot less beautiful without flowers. Here in Lincoln, the first daffodils are flowering and I am looking forward eagerly to cherry blossom and tulips.

Other floral projects

The supply list and video tutorial are below. Thank you for visiting and until next time Enjoy Being Creative!!!

Ashee xx

Product List