Engagement Wishes for Lloyd and Katie!

July was a super busy month and i made so many cards i didn't have time to feature on my blog! Exciting news my cousin Lloyd popped the question to his girlfriend Katie and she of course said YES! So i made this engagement card to send to them:

On a 'Very Vanilla' base i layered up a strip of 'Cherry Cobbler' card and then a piece of 'DSP' from the 'Holly Berry Bouquet' collection, whih i embellished with some 'Basic Pearls'. I then cut a square of 'Cherry Cobbler' card and glued that onto the 'DSP'. I punched a 'Heart' from some 'Very Vanilla' card, which i ran through the 'Big Shot' using the 'Adorning Accents Embossing Folders' to create the cute heart texture!! and then glued it into place using some 'Dimensionals' to craete a 3D effect. Finally i stamped the congrats sentiment from the 'Tagtastic' stampset onto some 'Very Vanilla' card using 'Cherry Cobbler' ink, mounted it onto a slightly larger piece of 'Cherry Cobbler' card and then finally embellished the sentiment with some of the teeny 'Basic Pearls'.

Wishing Lloyd and Katie all the best for the future! Congratulations guys! xxxxxx

(And don't forget if you would like to order any of the products used to create this card drop me an email: amyjtidd@gmail.com - you can view the catty online via the link on the righthand side of this blog!)

Happy Anniversary Mum and John!

Today is my Mum and Step-Dads wedding anniversary - so today i have the card i have made them to share with you:

I started off with a piece of 'Cherry Cobbler' card which i embossed along both edges using the 'Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Adorning Accents' (the heart shaped border folder) I wrapped some 'Whisper White' 'Organza Ribbon' around the 'Cherry Cobbler' card and tied a knot before gluing it to a 'Whisper White' cardbase.

Next i ran some 'Whisper White' cardbase through the 'Big Shot' using the 'Labels Framelits Die'. I then punched some hearts out from 'Cherry Cobbler' card and 'Holly Berry Bouquet DSP' using the 'Heart Punch' and glued them in place. Finally i stamped the 'Happy Anniversary' sentiment using 'Cherry Cobbler' ink onto some 'Whisper White' card and punched it out using the 'Word Window Punch'.

Wishing my parents a very lovely wedding anniversary!! xxxxxx

The much 'Twitterpated' Mini Catalogue Card!!

Hey everyone! I have had a completely enjoyable day today, hosting my crafty open house to celebrate the launch of the Summer Mini Catalogue!! I had advertised 11am - 2pm but most of the ladies stayed until 4.30 and we had lots of fun chatting and crafting! Thankyou very much to Poppy, Lucy, Audrey, Suzanne and Jade for making today so much fun!

The card that i provided for my make and take project was designed by the lovely Julie and featured several products from the fab new mini catalogue, including the beautiful (Kath Kidston style) 'Twitterpated Fabric'. So here it is:

On a 'Baja Breeze' cardbase we embossed the lovely hearts from the 'Textured Impressions Embossing Folders: Adorning Accents' - i completely LOVE these folders and they are a welcomed addition to my craft stash!:

Next up we used the 'Big Shot' to cut some 'Blushing Bride' and 'Whisper White' card using the 'Labels Collection Framelit Dies', embossing down the centre with the hearts die!

Next up we created the beautiful fabric butterfly! We mounted some of the 'Twitterpated Fabric' onto some card using 'Big Shot Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets' and then used the 'Big Shot' and the 'Beautiful Butterflies Die to cut the butterfly out. Before gluing him into place we tied some 'Wisteria Wonder Bakers Twine' around him to create the antennae.

I just love the 'Twitterpated Fabric' - such a beautiful colour combo and i love the idea of using fabric on card - something i intend to do A LOT of in future, here's a close up of the three beautiful designs:

We finished off the card by adding the sentiment from the 'Apothecary Art' stampset (which coordinates with the ''Labels Collection Framelit Dies'):

We inked the sentiment using 'Red Riding Hood' ink and then very cleverly used the 'Heart Punch' to create the unusual sentiment banner - i love a new way of using an old punch!!!

I hope you like this card and it has inspired you to have a peak through the mini catalogue - you will find an electronic versions of this on the righthand side of my blog - let me know if you would like to make an order: amyjtidd@gmail.com

Crafty Boots Challenge: Easter!

It's Crafty Boots Challenge time!! This fortnights challenge is unsuprisingly: EASTER!!! This fortnight we want to see your Easter creations!

So today for inspiration i have my DT creation to share with you:

It's a super cute Easter Chick created using the fabulous 'Top Note Die'! I have to be honest i was inspired by several versions of this online but tweeked it to make it my own.

The cardbase for this card is 'Pumpkin Pie'. The chick has been created from a 'Daffodil Delight' 'Top note' (created using the 'Big Shot') which i edged with 'Pumpkin Pie' ink applied with a 'Sponge Dauber'. His wings were also created using this technique created from a 'Scallop circle' cut in half! and his spiky hair was created by punching some card with the '5 Petal Flower Punch'.

His beak has been punched from some 'Pumpkin Pie' card using the 'Large Heart Punch' and then his eyes were glued on top, created by punching out two '1-1/4" Circles' from 'Whisper White' card and two 'Basic Black' '1/2" Circles'. His eyelets created from a 'Daffodil delight' '1-1/4" Circle' cut in half!

I cut a 'Pumpkin Pie' 'Scallop Circle' into quarters and used two parts to create his little feet, and finally finished him off by tying a bow (from retired ribbon) and sticking it place on his head!

Finally the sentiment is from the 'Teeny Tiny Wishes' set, inked in 'Pumpkin Pie' ink and then punched out using the 'Word Window Punch'.

I look forward to seeing your Easter themed projects - don't forget to enter them into the Crafty Boots Challenge!!

(Don't forget if you like the look of any of the products that i have used in this project you can order them through me! Why not check out the catalogues on the righthand side of this blog and then email over your order to amyjtidd@gmail.com

Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus Punch-art!

Hi guys, another punch-art special for you today! I'm really getting into punch-art crafts - it is so fun to get all my punches out and have a play. The great thing is if you're not feeling overly creative there are some AMAZING punch-art tutorials online and most of these are posted by lovely generous crafters who post these free of charge!

As soon as i saw this tutorial online on a website called Punch Art Addiction - i just knew i had to have a go. So over half-term when i was away with my friend Ruth we dedicated an afternoon to making this Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus card:

The cardbase is 'Very Vanilla' (6"x6") with some 'Early Espresso' and 'Crumb Cake' layered ontop. The Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus are made out the following colour card: 'Night of Navy', 'Not Quite Navy' 'Baja Breeze', 'River Rock', Chocolate Chip' and 'Pirouette Pink' and have been created using the following punches: 'Ornament Punch', 'Wide Oval Punch, 'Large Oval Punch', 'Full Heart Punch' , 'Round Tab Punch', 'Butterfly Punch', 'Word Window Punch', '1/2" Circle Punch' 

'1/4" Circle Punch', 'Scallop Circle Punch', 'Owl Punch' and 'Boho Blossom Punch'. I drew the facial features on with a 'Basic Black' 'Stampin' Write Marker' and some 'Dimensionals' to raise their noses. Finally i wrapped a little bit of 'Chocolate Chip' 'Grosgrain Ribbon' to create Josephs belt! I decided not to put a sentiment on the front, opting instead to put the lovely 'Merry Christmas' sentiment from 'Contempo Christmas' in the centre of the card.

Here are both mine and Ruths creations together:

If you would like to have a go at this card pop over to  'Punch Art Addiction' to access the full tutorial! And if you want to purchase any punches to get creating your very own punchart why not put through an order with me! Have a look at pages 116 - 119 of the catalogue on the right to view the full range. Write out your wish list and email it over to me: amyjtidd@gmail.com Happy creating!!

Heart Punch-art Christmas Tree!

Hi all. Still not feeling well, not up to crafting and relying on my backstock of creations that i made whilst in the Isle of Wight last week.

Today i have a christmas tree card made using the 'Large Heart Punch' in a very clever way:

This card was made very easily by punching out 10 'Large Hearts' from some 'Old Olive' card and arranging them to create the tree. The trunk of the tree was made by punching the 'Modern Label' from some 'Early Espresso' card. All of this was glued to a 'Whisper White' cardbase. The Baubles on the tree have been made from some 'Real Red' card, punched using the 'Owl Punch' (The eye part of the punch) and the bow has been created from a small snippet of 'Real Red' 'Tafetta Ribbon', stuck in place with some super red 'Sticky Strip'. Finally the sentiment has been stamped in the bottom righthand corner. It comes from the 'Contempo Christmas' set and has been stamped using 'Real Red' ink.

These cards are so quick to make, you could easily create a batch!! The wonderful thing about this design is the versatility of the 'Heart Punch' - you can use it all year round - valentine, wedding, anniversary and birthday cards! Why not treat yourself? Email me over your order today - i'm offering free P&P on orders over £50 (usually £4.95): amyjtidd@gmail.com

Top Note Dog GiftCard Holder

Another 'Top Note Die' project for you all today! I've been thinking about christmas quite a lot recently and we often give people giftcards but i think they can be quite impersonal gifts, so wanted to start thinking of some imaginative ways of giving these to people. Playing aroung with the 'Top Note Die' i came up with idea:

To create this dog you need to run some 'Soft Suede' cardstock through the 'Big Shot' using the 'Top Note Die'. You need two 'Top Notes' to make this project. His eyes were made from two '1-3/8" Circles' punched from 'Very Vanilla' card, two '1/2" Circles' of 'Soft Suede' and then two smaller circles made from 'Basic Black' card, using the 'Owl Punch'. His muzzle was made using the 'Round Tab Punch' from some 'Very Vanilla' card. his nose was made from some 'Basic Black' card using the 'Heart to Heart' Punch, his tongue was created from some 'Blushing Bride' card using the 'Heart Punch'. His ears were created from a 'Top Note' chopped in half and then glued in place!!

Now, you're wondering how this can hold a gift card, well here you go:

Simply run one more piece of 'Soft Suede' card through the 'big Shot' to create another 'Top Note', chop it in half and then run some 'Red Sticky Tape' along three sides of it to create a pocket.

This giftcard holder can fit sniggly into a 6"x6" envelope and definately personalises a simple gift card!! Hope you like the idea! You could of course create this dog in different colours, or  create a different character althogether with a little bit of imagination! Why not treat yourself to the 'Top Note Die', email over your order today: amyjtidd@gmail.com

If you go down to the woods today...

Here's my entry to this weeks Cupcake Craft Challenge. The theme this week is 'If you go down to the woods today...' and basically you have to create a card featuring a teddybear!

My friend Ruth is completely into punch-art (cards created using paper punches) and she has got me hooked aswell! I saw a version of this cute teddybear on Julies website (i had to vary it a little bit because i didn't have a couple of the punches she used) but i'm still very pleased with the final result!

This cute little bear has been made from 'Soft Suede' cardstock. His body has been made from the '1-3/4" Circle Punch', his head from the '1-3/8" punch, his arms from the 'Heart Punch' with i have cut in half and then rounded off the round edge of the heart with the 'Corner Rounder' to make them thinner. His feet are made from a '1/2" Circle Punch' and i have used the '1/4" Circle punch to create his ears and his paws (from Pretty in Pink cardstock). His inner ears have been made using the 'Owl Punch' (the little circles that usually create the owls eyes) I also used the small heart from the 'Owl Punch' to create the bears nose. Before constructing the bear i used a 'Sponge Dauber' with some 'Soft Suede' ink to give some texture.

I placed the bear on some 'DSP' from the (soon retiring) 'Nursery Suite' collection and mounted it onto a 'Pretty in Pink' cardbase.

I popped a 'Welcome Baby' sentiment (from the 'Something to Celebrate' stampset) inside the card. Cute hey?! I'm a bit addicted to punch-art now - so keep checking back on this blog to see more!!!

A gift for your 'Sweetheart'!

Firstly today is my step-mum's birthday! So happy birthday Marg! She is a complete shop-a-holic!! So it seemed only fitting to give her the handbag card that i posted a while back, click here to view it.

So i suppose i should share another crafty project with you!! So, with my first wedding anniversary love is the air, so today i have a lovey dovey project for you. It's a origami style folded packet, that you can pop a little gift in made out of 'Jolly Holday DSP':

The 'be mine' heart has been stamped in 'Basic Black' ink. The stamp comes from the 'Sweetheart' stampset. I punched out a heart from some 'Jolly Holiday DSP' and placed it in the centre. Cute!!

Blushing Bride

Here's my very last minute entry to the Daring Card Makers Challenge this week. The challenge this week is to create a 'rocker card' I have never made one before and didn't know where to start. But i started thinking up an idea last night and knew i had to give it a go before going into work this morning. Here's my card!

I have used 'Very Vanilla' cardtsock - folded at the top - then udes a plate to create the bottom of the dress, i then used my 'Heart Punch' to cut out the bodice and ran them bothe through the 'Big Shot' using the 'Vinatge Wallpaper Embossing Folder'. The roses are created from some scraps of 'Pink Pirouette', 'Blushing Bride' and 'Very Vanilla' cardstock. I punched out some 'Scallop Circles' and then a '1-1/4" Circle' from the middle. Then cut a slit through the scalloped ring and rolled it around to create the roses. (Hint: use sticky red tape to hold them all together!) The sentiment is from the 'Occassional Quotes' stampset and i have placed this on some 'Blushing Bride' card, punched out with the 'Decorative Label Punch'. I have embellished the card with some 'Basic Pearls' around the sentiment and on the bodice of the dress!

I'd love to know your thoughts on this card!! I literally entered it into the DCM challenge with 7 minutes to spare - talk about close to the edge!!

Hope you have a good day! Not long now til the weekend!!

Happy Wedding Day Rob and Iwona!!

Today is our friends Rob and Iwona's wedding day!! So today i want to share with you a little present that i have made to give them to remember their big day...

I have made them a 'mini book' (i got this idea from a craft retreat that i assisted at which was run by my upline Cate) but as always i have put my own crafty touch on it! The 'outer' was created from a piece of 'Very Vanilla' cardstock which i lined with the wonderfully elegant 'Love Letters DSP', i have used 'Red Riding Hood' cardstock, edged with the 'Eyelet Border' to create a spine for this mini book. I create the bride and groom hearts using the 'Heart Punch'. I ran the bride heart through the 'Big Shot' with the 'Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder'. They have been embellised with 'Basic Pearls' and 'Basic Rhinestones. I glued these onto a 'Red Riding Hood' 'Top Note' and the sentiment is from the Level 3 'Occasional Quotes' stampset in 'Whisper White' ink.

Here's a sneaky peek inside:

For the centre i used a piece of retired DSP (10"x10") folded into four. The hearts have been created using the 'Heart Punch' and run through the 'Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder' and here's it completely folded out...

Again i have used some lovely 'Love Letters DSP', edged with the 'Eyelet Border Punch'. I hope the happy couple will love this gift and that they use it to place some cherished pictures or mementos of their big day!

Congratulations once again Rob and Iwona!! Hope you have an amazing day! I'm already looking forward to the big Polish wedding in October!!!

Happy Birthday Rachel!

Hi all! Today i want to dedicate my post to my good friend Rachel! It's her birthday today, so happy birthday!!! Here's the card that i gave her...

The card base is 'Old Olive'. I then placed a piece of 'Pumpkin Pie' ontop, and then cut out a square of 'Old Olive', stamped a heart (from the 'Sweetheart' stampset) using 'Old Olive' ink and then used the 'heart' punch to punch out a heart! I created the owl using the 'Owl Punch' from the Mini Catalogue! the owl is created with 'Early Espresso', 'Crumb Cake', 'Whisper White' and 'Pumpkin Pie DSP' scraps. (Isn't he cute!!) I used another piece of 'Old Olive' card edged with the 'Eyelet Border Punch' and then mounted the 'Pumpkin Pie DSP' Next i stuck down a piece of 'Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon using 'Sticky Strip'. The sentiment is from the 'a la Carte' 'Sweet Birthday', mounted with the border of a stamp from the 'Four Frames' set. (I used the 'Stampin' Write Markers' to stamp both colours) and punched the frame out using the 'Decorative Label Punch'. Sounds complicated... but really not so! I think i'm in love with the 'owl punch'! I can't wait to play some more and see what i come up with!!

Let The Vodka Training Commence!!

Our friends Rob and Iwona are getting married soon, in fact they're getting married TWICE!! Very greedy! Their English wedding is next month and then they will be having a big Polish wedding in October!! I have begged the principal at my work and he has agreed that i can take a long weekend off to attend!! I'm so excited!! Flights are all booked, so now i need to start training - i must improve my vodka capacity by then!!

Here's a little 'outer' that i made to send back the RSVP. I couldn't help but put my crafty touch on it!!

The cardstock used for this project is 'Very Vanilla' and 'Real Red'. I couldn't resist using my 'Big Shot' and new 'Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder'. I have punched out two hearts using the 'Heart Punch' and using scraps of card created the English and Polish flags, and finally embellished it with a little bit of 'Real Red' 'Taffeta Ribbon'.

We have quite a few weddings this year and next: great excuses to get creative!! Not long now until Iwona's hen do!!

Just a quick update from yesterday, we had a lovely time up in London to celebrate my little sisters birthday!! In the evening my hubby took me to see Chicago and it was amazing!! Having a brilliant Easter hols so far and really enjoying the sunshine today!!

Happy Birthday Suz!

Today i want to share with you a card that i made for my bestest friends birthday!! We went out for a curry yesterday and it was de-lish!! Suzanne (and her hubby Andy) have lots of pet rats and so i thought i would have a go at making a 'ratty' card!

The cardstock used is 'Melon Mambo' and Whisper White'. The silver paper used to create the rat is from my scrap box (and not SU) and the pink is 'Pretty in Pink'. I created the rat using a range of Stampin' Up punches. The head is made from the 'Large Heart Punch', the body from '1-3/4" Circle Punch' and his paws and ears were made from the 1/2" Circle Punch. The tail was made from the branch of the 'Two Step Bird' Punch.

I'm not sure what stampset the 'Happy Birthday' sentiment is from, possibly a retired set. I have finished off this card with some (retired) 'Melon Mambo' polka dot ribbon.