Why I love this punch

 So a little tutorial, I will say this wasn't my idea that some-one has already posted how to do this  but this is how I do it with my favourite choice of Martha Stewart border punch. It's a deep edge doily punch, I've used to punch out this border from an A4 piece of card.

 This is way I love it so much, the little oval shape between daisies have pointed ends and I use that as a guide to cut down the middle.

 Again the lowest hole is perfect to snip up to which you do on each one.

 I would recommend a repositional glue especially the first few time while you gain the experience how to do it. I use Herma repositional all round the edge on the back of the card.

 I line the border up using the lowest hole as a starting point. Then I sort of fold over where I snipped  and knowing the lowest hole is the height I need to be. I continue to fold slightly all around the mat.

 You can see the lowest hole being used as my guide line here in this photo.

 Lucky for me this strip has gone completely round the mat but doesn't look quite finished but this is where I will place a flower. So when you stick you image on be sure the join is where you wish to place the flower.
Now if you mat is larger, you will need to use the other strip and I usually overlap one end completely or I will cut the strips so I have two joins and where I will place a flower on each joins.

Here's the card I made using the punch, you may have seen it before, its the one I made for the Simon Says Stamps Challenge.

Hop, Skip and a Jump

I'm pretty certain this is a card for a Sketch Challenge but for the life of me I can't remember who it was. Never mind it would be a shame not to show it on my blog.
I've tried hard not to buy the latest Tildas but I saw this on Jane's blog and I knew I had to have this Hopscotch Tilda.
Yes the papers are First Edition again and I've used the Martha Stewart picket fence border punch. I've used the cuttlebug scroll corners to break up the plainess and the flowers are from Wild Orchid and Crafty Emmas.

Nikki's Stampin Up Workshop

My friend Nikki has recently become a Stampin Up demo and I finally convinced her that she needed a blog to show case her amazing creations.
At first she was worried that she would have to blog every day but I told her the blog is for whatever she wanted it for. To randomly post now again is actually fine.
Nikki is extremely talented she thanks Sis and myself for allowing her to tag alone to any of the crafty events we go to. The truth is we're hoping some of her fabulous talent rubs onto us and she is very good at matching papers and colours together.
She was pushed and I do mean force into having a workshop by my Sis and I have to say it was a brilliant day.
We made 3 cards and a matching box to put them in.

And since there were quite a few scrapbookers there and Nikki is foremost a Scrapbooker than a card maker we made a scrapbook page. I added the photo later.

Everyone enjoyed their day which is what Nikki wanted and I think we may have convince her to do another one this time a Christmas Workshop in October.

One or Maybe two for the Boys

By now you realise that I'm not here in the UK, hopefully I'm sunning myself with a large carafe of sangria.
But I haven't forgotten the Penny Black Saturday Challenge and its One for the Guys.
I had these images all coloured up and waiting for the ideal challenge and I reckon this is it.
I've used smaller cards I think its called an A5 but I know they fit C6 envelopes. I do find they're a bit awkward to do after all the square cards but I used the sketch from Mojo Monday they seem to work brilliantly with this size.
You probably recognise the Echo Park, My Boy scraps and since its for the boys lots of faux brads.

Now do check out the team and I forgive me but I know there is a prize but I can't work out what week we're on and I'm in a bit of hurry, still a few more posts to schedule.

Sailor hAnglars

I'm totally amazed how quickly orders from hAnglar arrive and these guys were no exception and they simply had to be used together.
The papers are First Edition, I think its Hideway but I've got quite a few of  this make and I get a bit confused in my old age.
I used the sketch from Sketch Saturday this week and I had to keep the embellies quite simple because my theSailor couple are quite big.

Monochrome

I've been really pushed for time lately and I didn't think I would be able to do a card for the Less is More  Monochrome challenge but everything worked out without any mishaps.
I stamped the Penny Black image on white card and then onto a sheet of Kaiser Magic Happens a few times.
I used the French script from Stampin Up with Lavender Brilliance inkpad on top of the white card PB image.
Then I paper pieced the flower with the pattern paper, the sentiment is Hero Arts again using the lavender inkpad and some lavender pearls to finish.

I had an idea to splatter ink on my card from a Tim Holtz tutorial, this card was the test one especially has I hadn't used enough pressure for the stamp on the linen card. Then using a paint brush and I flicked colour across the card, I quite like it but I over did it on the next one and it ended in the bin. I had planned to use for Less is More Challenge last week but I thought I might get into trouble of using the rest of the card with splatters.

Photo inspiration

Lols are Head Girl at Simon Says Stamps Challenge will be so proud of me I managed to open a pack of  Prima flowers from Simon Says Stamps and actually use them. I keep buying from the fabulous selection and then I can't use them cos they're so gorgeous.
But I used the sparkly pink ones cos they went so well with Basic Grey Sweet Threads.
So the challenge is to go Fruity with a Photo to inspire you.

My image is a Sarah Kay one and I used the Martha Stewart deep edge Doily punch yeah I know I keep using it but its so easy to make the oval border.
The sentiment is Penny Black, pop over to Simon Says Stamps to check out their PB stamps they have loads.
Now don't forget the super prize from Simon Says Stamps for one lucky winner but you've got to be in it to win it.

And don't forget the team, check out their amazing creations.

Distressing EAC

It's distressing time over on Everybody Art Challenge but I chickened out and just just inked every edge I could see. I do find inky edges ties all the papers together sometimes especially if they don't quite go.
I use Penny Black Hedgies for my image and some Wild Orchid flowers and the sentiment is a Woodware one. Hidden under it all is some lace.
Do pop over and check out the team, fabulous creations to inspire you.

Candy

Candy now Closed

 I do have a blog vistor counter although it is my second one the first one disappeared into cyber space all my hits with it. So my counter has only been working since Jan 2010 and I be honest I forget its there.
Until I was copying and saving my blog posts I noticed it has past (lets hope I get the right amount noughts) 200000, does that look right for two hundred thousand, hope so.
So that calls for a little celebration and maybe a bit of Candy too.
I have a 6 inch pad of Echo Park Splash, a EK success retro punch ( its a large one like I used on this card )
2 stamps from Lily of the Valley, they are the boy playing cricket and the bear holding a pint and a parcel.
Penny Black puddy cat with daisies and finally a selection of roses and ribbons.
To be in with a chance to win just add you name to Mr Linky. If Mr Linky disappears (he's related to Mr Blogger) please try again later and if he's being really bad used the comments.
Closing date will be the 17th June.

Gingham and Lace

It's Anything Goes on Just Magnolia with a Lace theme, at the time of making this card I didn't realise the theme and I had used a piece of lace, although I had removed the white ribbon it came with and exchanged it for the pink gingham.
The papers are First Edition again this time I think its Birdsong but don't hold me to that.
Pretty busy at the moment so this is more clean and simple for me.

Sorry

Gosh I'm shattered not only did we make The Craft Barn, checked out the demos had a pub lunch but we also made it to The Glitter Pot and managed to get to Crafts U Love with 20 minutes to spare before they closed.
So to my card today is a Lily Of the Valley image (LOTV) and some more First Edition cardstock called Daydream I think. I've followed the sketch on Sweet Sketch Wednesday I've kept it fairy simple cos time is flying at the moment. The swirls are a EK success punch and the sentiment is computer generated. The daisies are a Woodware punch and the corners Quickutz so I reckon I can enter it in the Spoonful of Sugar Challenge for flowers.
So a big wave to Chris Dark who was busy colouring in the gorjuss girls and to Jenny Mayes surrounded by crafters one day we'll get to have a proper chat.
Francoise Read was using sakura pens with peel offs and they were amazing, peel offs get a real bad rep at the moment but Francoise was using black peel offs and really they looked like they were stamped. Also she has blog and is regularly posting so check it out here.
Taking it really easy today to recover and maybe get to play with my new goodies.

Doodling

It's doodling time at Penny Black Saturday Challenge and if you're like me you can just about manage to do faux stitching  but thats OK its still doodling.
I've used this chap before but he is so cute and I've been told by a friend she much prefers these colours for the PB cats. Hate to tell her they're are in fact by PB mice colours I do.
The papers are Echo Park Summer Days and love my Martha Stewart Picket Fench punch, finished with some dinky EK success flower punch, the centres are punched using the cropadile.
Now we have a fabulous stamp from Penny Black to win, (I already have this stamp and I used it on a card here )and some fabulous bakers twine from Ribbon Girl.  Do pop over and check out the team too
It's going to be a busy, fun day because my Sis is picking me up and we're going the The Craft Barn Extravagnaza.

Delovely Mice

I've been awake since silly o'clock which is really weird cos I'm so tired but just couldn't get back to sleep.
Do have a card ready for today, I've used the sketch from Papertake Weekly and I still have some Cosmo Cricket Delovely papers left, well of course I would this is the second pad I brought.
Over on Creative Inspirations their challenge is for cute bears and animals so I pretty sure my Penny Black mice fit this challenge perfectly.
Usual suspects retro punch flowers, Quickutz corners, Ek success border punch and a ribbon to finish. The sentiment is an old Hero Arts Clear set but I've changed the wording but covering up the existing words with a scrap of paper just before I stamp it out.

One Boy and his Dog

It's been a busy few days and any spare time left has been spent working on DT cards for next couple of weeks  for when we are away.
But I did have time to make a card for today, I chosen the Sketch Saturday sketch this week who are celebrating their 3rd Birthday, how amazing is that. I had this Pink Gem couple just waiting to be used with the last few bits of Echo Park My Boy, yes I know I have a new pack but its for Scrapbooking and I'm trying to be good and sticking to it.
The embossed stars are a Craft Too embossing folding and I foolish tried edging them with a gold spica pen next time I just leave them alone.
Yes that sentiment is a peel off but by the time I was happy with them I could've have stamped a sentiment, cleaned the stamp and had a cup of tea!
Not much crafting happening today, off to make sure those grey hairs peeking through disappear then its off to see Sis who has just come back from quick trip from Spain.

Just check out my post and the card looks like its leaning over, it is square and and it doesn't lean to one side just blame the photographer and being over zealous with the straightening tool!

The Tim Holtz Way

It's Fathers Day card or a Male card at Simon Says Stamps Challenge and the Team are showcasing Tim Holtz. I so admire all things Tim and all of those who produce such wonderful creations it just that I'm not one of them. There are aspects of my card I love. I used the fabulous Wild West set from Simon Says Stamps, only trouble was I wanted to use them all.I made the middle mat using distress inkpads and then I used the Gridlock embossing folder. 

After all the stress of making the first card I then decided to make a CAS, this is where this set comes into it own. Although I now wish I moved the ribbon a bit farther in but then the sentiment box would be too near the cowboys head. I had some Hero Arts pearls in brown I used to balance the white space.
Now don't forget we have a fabulous prize and its not necessary to use Tim Holtz to win it.

Bunting

Flags and Banners are the challenge this week on Everybody Art Challenge and to me that also said Bunting which meant I could use MFT bunting die.
So I decide to use this little chap from LOTV and the papers are My Minds Eye, of course being a boys cards that also means hardly any embellishments once I've added the bunting. The border is Martha Stewart zig zag punch which comes out everytime I decide to make one of the troublesome cards.
Also the 1/4 inch circle punch from stampin up comes out in full force to make faux brads.
Do pop over to check out the team its well worth the trip.

Tilda in the Pink

The camera has done its best job to make poor Tilda look wishy washy and made the sparkling butterflies look grey and moth like.
I followed the sketch on Cute Card Thursday and for a change I used some flowers out of my stash. The papers are Prima and of course the border is deep edge doily punch from Martha Stewart.I cheekily added a friend sentiment so I can enter the Just Magnolia challenge.
I can't say I had the greatest time at the Glitter Pot since I brought Mr Grumpy version 2 (BIL is version 1) and DD came along too but she was suffering from the night before and it kind of kept the sparkle out of the visit.
Waved to Jenny from Hobby Art she was surrounded the whole time there, Jane Gill was making the amazing flowers and there was a loving arty lady (sorry forgotten name) that had lovely grungy Art.
There was a lady making cards with the Wild Rose stamps and I picked one of them up, thought they were a very good size.
It didn't look like I brought much but it still came to my limit. I brought another Echo Park paper Kit My boy this time to use for scrapbooking not card making and some plain card sheet. To begin with I wasn't keen on Mimi from Penny Black but shes starting to grow on me so I brought one. Two packs of 6in paper, dinky leaf punch that might be too dinky, non-stick scissors and a memento inkpad and quickly grabbed a Hedgie to make my limit.
Back home by 1 just in time for the Monaco Grand Prix and for DD to have a nap!