Woodland Buildables

Hi everyone, I really don't know where this week has gone, it's flown under my nose. Tonic Towers has been so busy with a lovely buzz about our new Woodland Buildable dies. There are 4 sets of dies launched and you can build the most adorable creatures.

Here's a couple of projects I made using theses dies.

I'd like to introduce you to Harry Hedgehog. I have used the set of dies to build Harry and put him in a 3d frame which would look perfect on any little boys bedroom wall.

The balloons are from the Betty Bunny die set.

Here's a video showing how to make the frame from start to finish

Olivia Owl said Wise Teacher to me, so I thought I would make a Teacher's gift which is inexpensive, but would be a treasured gift.

To make the notebook I took a plain front book from a Bargain shop and covered the front with fabric.

I placed an iron on stiffener to the back of the cotton fabric to be die cut. The eyes, eyelashes, beak and feet were cut from felt and the glasses from funky foam. I wanted to try the dies on lots of different textures and they worked a dream. I glued all the parts in place using Tonic Funky glue, Anyone who knows me will say I'm not a fan of sewing, so this project was perfect for me.

I hope you like these projects and maybe give them a go yourself.

Products used

Framed Hedgehog

Harry Hedgehog die set - 1590E

Betty Bunny die set - 1588E

Circle Layering die set - 481E

Craft Perfect  Bright White card -9016E

Craft Perfect Jet Black - 9011E

Essential card pack - Gracious Greys - 790E

Essential card pack -Brilliant Blues 785E

3d Picture frame

Owl Notebook

Olivia Owl die set -1591E

Tonic Funky glue - 421E

Iron on fabric stiffener

Notebook

Oddments of cotton fabric

Oddments of felt

Funky Foam

Navy ribbon

Have a fabulous weekend. 

Happy Crafting 

Alison xx

Curved Strip Box

Hope you're having a good day, I've found a few minutes to finally get around to posting directions for the Curved Strip Box shown on Tonic Live 2 weeks ago.
It's a good sized box to put a Special present for your loved one one Valentines Day.

I've even managed to do measurements in inches and centimeters, no mean feat for me, lol.

Products Used

Craft Perfect 12 x 12" card - Jet Black -9132E

Craft Perfect A4 card - Bright White - 9016E

Craft Perfect A4 card - Cherry Red - 9076E

Tonic Celtic & Bow Rounded Strip Die Set - 1602E

Traditional Hearts A2 Layering Basics die set - 1459E

Tonic Flower & Heart Strip Die Set 1555E

Tonic Funky Glue Pen 421E

Nuvo Crystal Drops - Red Berry - 667N
Red ribbon from stash

Take 2 sheets of 12 x12" (30cm x 30cm) card stock. Score at 6" (15cm) on both sides to form a cross.

Cut along 1 of the score lines to the centre of the card stock. Cut a rectangle from the card stock as shown, leaving approx 1/2" (1cm) tab in situ. Trim both ends of the tab.

Repeat on both sheets of card.

Cut  2 strips of card 6" x 1" (15cm x 2cm) and score in half.

Glue tab in place to form a 2 sided box 

Glue  cut strip to 1 side of the box. Repeat with 2nd piece of card. Please excuse the state of my desk, ooops!!!

Join the bases and tabs together to form a cube.

Take 2 pieces of red card  11 1/8" x 6 1/8" (29.25cm x 15.25cm)

Score a line at 2 1/2"(7cm), turn card and repeat on opposite side.

Cut Celtic Rounded Strip Die into card

Repeat at opposite end. Finish other red card in the same manner

Glue both pieces of card together  to form a cross.

Cut 4 Strips of card 1" (2cm) wide. Fold in half.

Stick the card into each corner of the lid to form brackets.

Trim off excess card

Cut 4 Heart Strips from red card and  borders in white using edger die from set

Use edger strip on opposite side of heart design leaving a small border

Add borders around top of box

Cut 2 white squares 5 3/4" (14cm) and 5 1/4" (13cm). Also cut a black square 5 1/2" (13.5cm). Stick layers together and place on top of box with 3d foam pads.

Wrap a red ribbon around the base of the box and decorate with hearts from the layering set

Decorate the top of the box with larger hearts and finish off with a few crystal drops

Here's a You Tube video where I make the box from start to finish

Here's another design using the same style box, which would be ideal for Birthday's or Mother's Day.

Hope you've enjoyed this project.  I hope you'll give it a try and don't forget to share your makes on the Tonic Live Facebook page. I love to see your projects.

Thank you for popping by.

Alison xx

Strips & Layers

Good Morning from a frosty South Wales. Thankfully we've escaped the snow but I hope you're safe and warm if the snow landed in your area.

Today's card is my Win and Tonic Challenge card

This month's Themes are

Colour -  open so please feel free to use any colour/s you want

Technique - layering - very easy

Product – strip or border dies

Theme – love and marriage

I've used layering and strip dies

I've used the dot and dash die from the Essentials Embellishment Strip Die Set to edge the pink cardstock. This gives a lovely detail but not overpowering the design.

The Essentials Flower and die Strip comes in 2 parts - the main die and an edging strip which makes cutting a shadow layer to sit beneath the flower strip so easy.

I've finished off the card with some Ivory Seashell Crystal Drops. I love this colour, it almost looks like real pearls.

If you like this card, pop over the Win and Tonic Challenge page for more inspiration from the Team.

Congratulations to this Month's Challenge Winner Ann Smith for her beautiful card

Thanks for Visiting

Alison  xx

Products Used

Essentials Flower and Heart Strip set

Essentials Embellishment Strip Die Set

Trellis Circle Die Set

Good Luck Sentiment Die

Ivory Seashell Crystal Drops

8x8 white scalloped card blank

Rose card stock

White card stock

Green polka dot paper

Rose patterned paper

Folding Frame Card

Sorry it's a bit belated, but Happy New Year to you. I have a feeling  2017 is going to be a year of learning some new crafts and revisiting old ones. Hope you will be able to join me in my journey.

My 1st project for the year is a frame card using Tonics Idyllics die and embossing  folder. They are very so easy to work with and give an elegant effect. Hope you like them.

Inside the card

The detail on the die is exquisite. 

This would make a beautiful new baby keepsake card with a photo of your new baby inside.

The card sizes are:
Pink card  is 12" x 6 "  scored at 6"  on long side (30cm x 15cm scored at 15cm)
Second pink card is 6" x 7.5" scored at  6", 6.5" & 7" (15cm x 18cm  scored at 15cm, 16cm & 17cm)
Silver mirror card 5.75" x 5.75" (14.5cm x 14.5cm)
White card 5.5" x 5.5" (14cm x 14cm)

All instructions for the card are in the YouTube  video below

Hope you like the card. If you have any questions please message me and I will do my best to help

Items used
Filigree affections emboss and die set - 1516E
Little  Princess die - 1262E
Birthday Wishes  die - 1243Essentials
Circle Layering  die set - 481E
Scallop Circle Layering die set - 483E
Essential Card Pack - Magnificent Magentas - 786E
Essential Card Pack  - Monochrome- 791E
Mirror Card paper pack - Gloss - 795E
Funky Glue Pen - 421E
3d foam Pads
Pink Gingham ribbon

Thanks for visiting my blog

Big Hugs

Alison xx

It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas ............

Hi everyone, how are your Christmas  preparations coming Along?  Hopefully  your cards are well underway and you can now think of the gift packaging.

I'd like to share with you a little  squeeze box all decorated for Christmas.

You can find more projects like this in the Win and Tonic Challenge. This month's Challenge is 

Take your Pick

There's also an amazing prize to win. Pop over and check it out.

This little box is made using the Tonic Studios Diamond Favour Squeeze Box. The box is so easy to make. I've decorated the box with a little bit of inking using  Distress ink - Walnut stain.

I've used the some decorative paper for the front and back of the box and added 2 Tonic Studios Holly Bouquet die cuts to decorate the front. I've  added a little bow tail and Tonic Studios Miniature Moments Seasons Greetings die.

I've  curved the bow tail to add more dimension.

The last finishing touch is a ribbon hanger and bow. 

Thanks for visiting.

Big hugs

Alison xx  

Bags Galore

I can't believe it's been a month since I posted. Where is the time going?

Today's  project is a little Kensington bag, made using a Tonic die.

This is August's Win and Tonic entry.

I have cut all the main parts of the bag in white and the little panels in black and white  check card. 

To finish off the bag I've  added a little  piece of grosgrain  ribbon and topped it with a little buckle ( this also comes in the Kensington bag  die set). One last touch is a little flower on the handle.

Hope you'll be able to join in the Challenge

Big hugs 

Alison xx 

A little bit of black and white........

I can not believe where the time  is going..... this is Win and Tonics 3rd Challenge. 

This month's  Challenge  is:

1. Colour -  Black and white and ……. any other colour of your choice

2. Technique - Glue Gun stuff - see here for some ideas - 
 http://diyjoy.com/hot-glue-gun-crafts-ideas
https://www.buzzfeed.com/twopoodles/23-projects-for-you-and-hot-glue-9g24
http://www.babble.com/home/25-surprisingly-hip-hot-glue-projects/
https://uk.pinterest.com/explore/glue-gun-crafts/

3. Product - A little Rococo

4. Theme - one for the girls this month 

You can  choose one of these themes or use up to all four of them if you fancy a real challenge 

~~~~~~

I have used 2 categories for my card - Black, white and another colour & One for the girls.

I've heard so many comments  from crafters of late  saying they have such a lot of craft goodies they don't  know what to use. I decided I would make a card using one set of dies cuts and a sentiment. 
I used Thinking of you - Essentials die set and Miniature Moments Best Wishes die.

To make the card I used an 8x8" scalloped card blank. I cut a square of pink card 7 x7" and added  a 63/4 x 63/4" black & white spotted card on top.


Using the patterned strip die in the Essentials die pack, I cut it in pink card. I then cut a strip of white card the same width as the die cut. Layered the white card onto some pink card which was 1/8" wider than the white layer. I stuck this layer onto the black & white card. I cut the pink patterned strip in half and stuck it on both edges of the white strip. You won't see the gap in the middle when the next layer is added.

The next later is a 5 x 5" white card with a 43/4 x 43/4" pink card on top. I placed these layers onto 3d foam pads to add some depth to the card.

I used the outer 3 layering dies and cut them in black spot, pink & white card respectively. 

The Best Wishes has been cut in pink and black card and layered on top of each other to give a dropped shadow effect.

To finish the card I've cut 2 small  corner dies in white. I've added some ebony Crystal drops to finish the design.

Hope you like my card and can take some inspiration from it.

Check out Win and Tonic Challenge  page for details of  last month's winner and this month's  competition  entries.

Big Hugs 
Alison xx