Crafting with a bit of joy....see what I did there

How do crafters. Happy Wednesday - or if you're in my head...happy Monday!

Today's let loose show was all about Joy Crafts. I had a good variety of dies, and some lovely papers. I said on tv how nice it is to mix it up - I'm generally up to my elbows in paint, so to do a bit of "clean crafting" now and again is good fun!

I started with my little owl. He started quite jolly, but ended up looking hungover, grumpy and not into Christmas....which I thought was really funny. I wish he had also been falling off his tree now, I think it would have added to his general demeanour!





Love this die, it's so pretty and handy....this will be another must have





This die is stunning. Very detailed and elegant. I did a plain card!


Pop up dies are clever aren't they! They make a really interesting card. I layered the house up which covered the fold, and adds colour.






The snow globe die is a cracker. It took me some thinking and planning to work out how to make a shaped card out of the die, but I was really pleased with the result. It's a versatile die as there's loads of other dies and stamps that will work with it.



Another little owl....not hungover this time, and really cute, I've teamed this one up with a stamped background, and the cool Bare Tree die, which I cut several times and layered to extend the image.





The Bare Tree again, this time used as it has been designed. It makes a fab pop up design. Very easy, and effective.




This photo really captures the way the mica powders shine - don't they look amazing!



Thank you for tuning in and also stopping by to check out my blog. Hopefully I'll get chance to share some photos of tomorrow's Dream Day! It's competition winners time. Eek, can't wait

Elizabeth Craft Designs

Good evening......I realised today that I haven't posted on my blog in some time.  And then I checked....January 2017!!  That was my last post.  I know I've been busy, but that's ridiculous isn't it.

As ever, I approach my blog with much gusto and determination.  A daily blog, I can do that, right?  Okay, really check Pujol.  Nah, that isn't going to happen, but I am at least going to try for a couple of posts a week.  We'll see how it pans out.

I wanted to share some of the samples from my weekly show on Hochanda, Let Leonie Loose. A couple of weeks ago I had some beautiful stamps from Els, along with matching dies.  I loved working with them all, and it was a busy show, so I know a lot of people ordered them as well. I would love to see what you have made with the stamps and dies as well, so please drop me a line with your finished projects, so I can share them on my blog.

The show was part of the Hochanda birthday week....we were celebrating 2 years!  Already.  Can everyone remember the first show?  Myself and Michelle were there, Proseccioo in hand.  The cameras rolled.  Lights. Vision. We were live.  Okay, there were a few teething problems - but it was up and running.  And there's no doubt, Hochanda has gone from strength to strength.  We've seen a few different presenters come and go. Many bloopers have been recorded to delight us every Christmas. And we have all racked up a bit of gossip here and there.....But, above all, we have been joined by some incredible companies, who inspire and entertain us!

Anyway, back to the job in hand....Elizabeth Craft Designs.  Lovely.  So, here are some of the cards I made during, and for, the show.  I used the pop up mechanism dies, which allowed me to make the cute pop up cards with ease.  I also had fun with the really cute images, and it was so handy having dies which cut these out.  No more fussy cutting.

I hope you like the cards, and I promise not to leave it as long next time....or at least I promise to do my very best!  Fingers and toes crossed everyone xxx

Marianne die project

Evening crafters. I've remembered to take photos whilst prepping for my Let Leonie Loose show using the beautiful Marianne dies. 

First, I made the stand, by cutting the die 3 times:

As they are symmetrical they stick together easily and make a strong stand

Next I cut the oval - once with the centre in place, and then removing the centre to leave an ornate frame:

I actually cut the full oval twice - but forgot to take a photo of that one!!

I glued the frame to the full oval using 3D foam pads, and then started to fill the frame with the Marianne swirl and floral dies

 

I attached a ribbon and lace at the top, and also attached the full frame to the back in order to make a shaped card.

I really enjoyed working with these dies - makes a change to go home with clean hands :)

4 days left and don't want to count anymore!!!!!

4 days.  I should be ironing.

Haha, nah, I'll leave that until Tuesday.

Today, I decided to have a play with stuff that's hanging round my craft room - this is kinda where it all started with this blog challenge, using old stuff which was hanging round.  And trust me, I have a lot of stuff.

For this card I decided to use some die cuts, which are ready and waiting.  I believe the dies are from Tonic and Couture Creations:

First I decided to cut an aperture into my square card, which is just a little smaller than the die cut.  Glue the die cut in place over the aperture

I then added a decorative panel behind the detailed die

And another over the top.  I actually fell out with the black layer, as it looked to heavy, so I pulled it off again!

I added this lighter panel instead, using 3D foam

I then decorated the front of the card with these pretty flower die cuts.  The white one was trimmed and added in separate elements

I then added a rub on in the centre, and popped  a little dot of cosmic shimmer PVA to each point of the die

This is a lovely simple card to put together, but effective. 

45 days left..

Cutting it fine again this evening arn't I!!  I've no excuse.  Well, I have, but it's a bit rubbish.  Today I started going through my photo's to do the little year momento.  It took me hours, and I haven't yet printed one single photo off!!  Honestly.  First my computer had updated and my photo thing had changed, so I had to learn how to use it again.  Then I obviously started tidying up my photo's and deleting loads.  I realised I don't take that many photo's, so needed to look on Facebook - you know the story.  Facebook = 3 hours of your life suddenly disappears.  Yep, that.  I have started making a map of what I want to put on my canvas though - so I feel I've made a start.  Phew.

And then I decided I would take the challenge set by a message on facebook by a lady who messaged me (thank you Joan), and asked me if I could do a video clip showing how to revamp a Christmas card.  So, I choice a lovely card from my our cousin Alice and the family:

I eased off the reindeer 

and then cut out the merry Christmas, so I can use that next year.  The main thing I wanted to use though, was the glittered frame, so I cut this out keeping some of the shading

I used some Tonic dies, the Royal Frame and Butterfly Insert Set, and Simply Screens Clematis die, with one of the sentiment die.  Doesn't the frame from the Christmas card fit incredibly well!  So, I decided what elements I wanted to use, but then I had to decide how I wanted to fit them together.  Again, I find taking photo's the best way of deciding as I can look at the photo's to work out what looks best - as opposed to relying on my memory :)

I decided to go for the tall card, and cut out a panel for the screen die to run down, so the screen is open.  I love this look, as it shows how beautiful and elegant the die is

I also inked the edge of the frame die, just subtlety, to make it stand out from the base 

I attached the frame onto my card, using 3D foam

And then added the frame taken from my Christmas card, together with the sentiment

Next, embellishments.  Again, it takes me a while to decide what to go for, so I took photo's to help.  This part always takes me such a long time.  I do like less is more though, so decided to just go for the ribbon, but did add some Tonic Nuvo Crystal drops to finish

I was finally happy, and took the card to my little light tent.....as soon as I get down on the floor to take photo's one of the dogs spots their chance

I did manage to take a photo of the card as well!