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 

For the Man in your Life ........

Congratulations  Libby on winning our 1st Win and Tonic Challenge . Your card is beautiful.  

As it's  Father's Day on 19th June this month's  Challenge  is 

Colour - Orange   ( What else could it be!!)

Technique - Create your card base from any Tonic die

Product - Use any Tonic flower die or punch

Theme - Happy Father's Day / One for the Boys

You can use 1, 2, 3 or 4 of these themes on your card.

Please add your entries to the Win and Tonic Challenge page. Closing date for the entries will be 14th July.


Don't  forget to check out the blogs of the other design team members for some amazing  card ideas and projects

I used 2 themes for my card 

One for the Boys and I created the base card from  a Tonic die.

The base card is made using Tonic Bowscale layering die set

The Bowscale die set adds a beautiful  decorative edge to your card.

I then cut a square of card in Navy 6 1/4" x 6 1/4"

On top of this I added a 6 x 6"  piece of  turquoise card

The quatrefoil design is made using the new Tonic Patterned Screens die.

The circles were cut in Navy and white card from Tonic Circle Layering dies

My Perfect Partner  is from the Tonic Partner die set. I cut one in navy and also turquoise and drop shadowed the wording.

Last but not least I added the  Tonic Vintage car die. This was cut in Turquoise  and silver foil card. I stuck the turquoise car to navy card and cut around the die. The waste die cuts of the wheels  and headlights were glued on top of the navy card. The silver foiled die cut has been  placed behind the car to give a reflection.

Thanks for checking out my blog and this month's entry to the Win and Tonic Challenge. 

Big Hugs

Alison xx

A Little Bit of Stamping........

It's been  a long time  since I got my ink pads out to a spot of stamping. I thoroughly enjoyed trying out the new range of stamps from Tonic Studios. Tonic are not traditionally known for their stamp ranges,  but these are certainly something different to add to any stamp collection. 

I absolutely love the modern style of the Modern Buttonhole  stamp set. 

Here’s another card made with the same set.

This stamp range appeals to all tastes. It also has more traditional style flowers to be used in a new way. 

There are also 2 Sentiment Strip stamps  to complement  the flowers, It's your Special Day and Just a Note to Say.

All these stamp sets are exclusively available from Create and Craft 

Thanks for popping by, hope you gather some  inspiration from my cards.

Big Hugs

Alison xx