Tonic Studios | Maple Leaf

Today at 1pm and 3pm EST I will be on Create and Craft USA showing off the wonderful Autumn Leaves collection from Tonic Studios.

You can make simple cards or very elaborate projects. Its really up to you!

Tonic Studios | Santa's Sleigh and Reindeer

It was a while ago that I created this project.

I used:

ROCOCO DIE – REGAL REINDEER – 1018E

ROCOCO DIE – SANTA’S SLEIGH – 1015E

I simply die cut twelve reindeers and twelve sleighs. Then I glue six together and another set of six, that made them thick enough to stand up. I die cut the reindeer a couple of times more using a light shade of brown and an darker one, o the lighter one I trimmed the antlers and then coloured the embossed areas with distress inks. To add a bit of sparkle, I used the Nuvo Glitter Drops in Orange Soda and Honey Gold.

To join the Reindeers and make them stand up, I simply used a piece of card and made two score lines at about 4cm from each other. then I used the area on the small side of to attach it to each of the Reindeers.

I followed a similar pattern for the Sleigh, but this time I made the piece of card that holds the sleigh sides a bit longer (though scored at cm so the width is the same as in the reindeers) so that I could put a chocolate inside!

Finally I glued a length of Bakers Twine to the reindeers and knotted the end on to the sleigh.

I hope you like it!

Workshops! In November in aid of Mind with John Bloodworth

I love teaching, but lately I have been a tad busy with the Tonic Shows and my latest book. So when John Bloodworth, the Gentleman Crafter, contacted me to ask if would be able to teach some workshops as part of his All Counties Craft Challenge in aid of Mind, I jumped out at the chance. Such a great cause!

The workshops are going to take place on the 18th to the 19th of November and it is a three day event at The Manor House Hotel in Godalming. 

Look at the place!

At my workshop you will be using the Tonic Studios die range as well as Nuvo products to create several projects including a card, a wreath and another project.

But there is more, John of course will be teaching a workshop as will Leonie Pujol, Jenny Mayes from Hobby Art, Sarah Milshop from Beads Direct and Dean Wilson!

For all the details check John's blog here!

Paper Pom Poms! My new book

I am so pleased to have my latest (third) paper crafting book out now!

It was a challenge at times but I am very proud of it!

And a couple of my favourite projects from the book:

(These two photos were taken with my iPhone, in the book they are better photos and of course step by step instructions with step photos.)

Available now from all book stores like:

Foyles | Waterstones

Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com (USA)

(Not affiliate links)

Win and Tonic | Black and White with colour challenge

 So the challenge this month over at Win and Tonic is Black and White with a hint of colour. As soon as I heard that option I decided to make a set of cards for men.

I used one set of dies from Tonic Studios:

Sweet Nothing - Delicate Embrace Die 1318E

A sentiment stamp set as well as the original Incircles from Craftwork Cards.

For this card, I used the the larger geometric envelope liner/decorator die from the Delicate Embrace Die. I took a landscape A6 card and place the larger die parallel to the edge of the scored line, secured with low tack tape and then die cut. Did the same on the opposite side.

Using the verso outer liner die I die cut two pieces out of the soft black paper and attached them to the inside.

Then stamped the large circle and then layered on top a piece of ribbon and a In Circle message.

Using the same die but placing it on the right edge of the card. And the black paper is attached to the inside of the card.

For this one I used the smaller geometric triangle die.

Once I die cut it, I trimmed the ribbon and then I attached the message.

And then I just went ahead  and place it bottom right corner with a stamped sentiment just over.

And then using the smaller die parallel to the bottom.

And there they all are, ready to be sent!

Quick and easy masculine cards.

Tonic Studios | Modern Christmas Card

I love to use my dies as a guide to place the Nuvo Crystal drops.

All dies by Tonic Studios.

Tonic Studios | Star Birthday Card

Simple. Die cut stars and a big bold sentiment.
All dies from Tonic Studios and Card by Craft Perfect.

Tonic Studios | Snowman card

Tonic Studios | Snowflake Acetate Card with Nuvo Glitter Dros

Today its an exciting day! I shall be in Create And Craft UK for the first time introducing the new Nuvo Glitter Drops from Tonic Studios at 8am, 1pm and 6pm.

If you have been following me on social Media or in the blog, you will know that I have been guest presenting (or demonstrating) Tonic products on Create and Craft USA since March. I am loving it! But I am very nervous about demonstrating for the UK!

So I thought I would share one of the projects I am hopefully demonstrate on air. I thought I would share a simple card made with circles and a large Snowflake embellished with the fabulous Nuvo Glitter Drops!

This is an acetate card, finished card 5" x 5". I used extra thick or construction acetate that you can get here from Stix2 or from Hunkydory.

The Tonic dies I used are:

ROCOCO DIE – WINTER SNOWFLAKE – 1016E

THREADED SCALLOP CIRCLE LAYERING DIE SET – 487E

CIRCLE LAYERING DIE SET – 481E

The Nuvo Glitter Drops is a medium that allows you to create perfect gems with encapsulated glitter. You can make them tiny or really large, and they are self levelling so they crete the perfect 3D domes every time.

I used two new colours here, the Sunlit Meadow - a lovely apple green - and Aquatic Mist - a gorgeous mid aqua blue.

I hope you like the card and will tune in to see the demos!
(You can also catch up on the Create and Craft website here.)

Tonic Studios | Floral Blooms Frame

Sometimes just a bit of home decor with a photo is just the thing to make. 

Tonic Beautiful Blooms - Woodland Aster 1285E - USA | UK

Tonic Patterned Panels Die Set - Classic Quatrefoil - USA | UK

Tonic Beautiful Blooms - Gerbera Daisy 1287E - USA | UK

Tonic Sew Pretty Zip & Button 1229E  - USA | UK

Nuvo Embellishment Mousse - Aquamarine 807N - USA | UK

Nuvo Embellishment Mousse - Cosmic Brown 810N - USA | UK

The leaves and button have been coloured from white paper like I showed in this tutorial.

To paint the frame (directly on to naked wood) I used a dry brush and painted with Aquamarine - USA | UK - embellishment mousse. To add a bit of a distress look I used my finger and used the Cosmic Brown 810N - USA | UK - as a gilding wax around some of the areas.

Any questions, please leave them on the comments!

Thanks for visiting!

Tonic Studios | Friends are Forever Card

Work is getting in the way of writing this posts. So i will fast! Any questions please use the comments and I will try to answer then.

Tonic Beautiful Blooms - Magnolia Flora 1289E - USA | UK

Tonic Beautiful Blooms - Sunburst Gazania 1288E - USA | UK

Tonic Patterned Panels Die Set - Sunflower Array - USA | UK

Tonic Indulgence Die and Stamp Frames Set - Friends are Forever - USA | UK

Nuvo Embellishment Mousse - Peony Pink 800N - USA | UK

Nuvo Embellishment Mousse - Lemon Sorbet 805N - USA | UK
Nuvo Embellishment Mousse - Lilac Lavender 801N - USA | UK

I die cut the front of the card using Sunflower Array USA | UK. Using the Big Shot Plus it took me three passes, depending on which machine you have it may take less runs through.

I die cut the message (Friends are Forever UK), the flower (Magnolia - USA | UK) and the scroll (Gazania - USA | UK) and inked them using distress inks. Then I layered them and glue them to the card.

The inside is a background sprayed with a homemade pearlescent spray using the gorgeous Mousses USA. (I simply dilute in water a small amount in a pot and then transfer it to a Mini Mister.) Then I die cut it using the outer die from the Sunflower Array USA | UK

Simple again, but just my cup of tea!
Thanks for visiting!

Tonic Studios | Patterned Panels for home decor

Just a quick post today. I have shared these photos over on Instagram and Facebook, and I thought it would be nice to explain a bit more about them.

Basically once I got the Patterned Panel dies from Tonic, I thought Home Decor! 

Tonic Patterned Panels Die Set - Deco Diamond - USA | UK

Tonic Patterned Panels Die Set - Sunflower Array - USA | UK

I used metallic paper to die cut the Sunflower Array for the lamp and Diamond Deco for the battery operated tea light lantern.

The principle is the same in both. You need to die cut the pattern repeatedly across the legnth of your paper. Both Patterned Panels are perfectly seamless once die cut, the only thing you need to do is place the die overlapping the design already die cut and you will feel how it locks in to place. (For a video tutorial, check out Jo Austin's here on her blog.)

Then just glue them together at the end to create a circular lantern. For the lamp, I needed two A4 as it was wider diameter. 

I love how they look in my house beside the Beautiful Blooms bouquet.

Tonic Studios | Patterned Panels using the positive and negative

Today is the turn of a more subdued card than the previous two using the Patterned panels.
This one featured the  Budding Vine - USA | UK and also some Distress Inks.

I used:

Tonic Patterned Panels Die Set - Budding Vine - USA | UK

Tonic Sew Pretty Zips and Buttons Die and Deboss 10 Piece Set - USA | UK

Nuvo Embellishment Mousse - Lemon Sorbet 805N - USA | UK

Distress Inks: Hickory Smoke and Black Soot

Soft Kabuki brush  from the Pound or Dollar store 

I took a plain european A6 folded card and placed the die at an angle and secured it with low tack tape. I run it through my die cutting machine a couple of times to make sure that it had die cut well. this is the positive effect with the die cutting.

Using a soft kabuki make up brush (I get mine from the Pound shop) I brushed Hickory Smoke all over. Then I created a pearlescent mister diluting a bit of the Embellishment Mousse in Lemon Sorbet in water and then fill a Mini Mister bottle with it. I sprayed gently over the card to give a subtle pearl spots effect.

Then I die cut two layers of Post-it Super Sticky Removable Label  and used them as masks on the card. I then used Black Soot distress ink pad and a kabuky make up brush to create a darker grey, once I was happy with the shade, I lifted the mask and the effect was created. And that is the negative effect using die cutting.

I placed a piece of vellum behind the cover and two pieces of different colours paper inside to create a subtle contrast.

Finally, I die cut a circle and the button, attached bakers twine and layered with a message.

I will be the first that says the obvious. And that is that the sentiment is too faint. But after deliberating for a while I decided that the star of the card is the background so I settled for this subtle message.

I hope you like this positive and negative effect with the patterned panels!

Tonic Studios | Patterned Panels Distress Inks background

Well, I did say I love those Tonic Patterned Panels and Beautiful Blooms, didn't I? Well this one - the Floral Blooms - was crying out to be on top of a distressed inks background.

I used:

Tonic Patterned Panels Die Set - Floral Blooms - USA | UK

Tonic Patterned Panels Die Set - Budding Vine - USA | UK

Tonic Beautiful Blooms - Sunburst Gazania 1288E - USA | UK

Tonic Beautiful Blooms - Gerbera Daisy 1287E - USA | UK
Tonic Entwining Trellis Die Set – Delicate Daisy – UK

Distress inks in Mustard Seed, carved Pumpkin and Candied Apple.

To create the background I die cut three bases of the card first using the warm grey card twice using the outer die from the Budding Vine. - USA | UK Then I scored one of them at about 1cm from the short edge and use that area created to attach it to the back of the identical die cut panel. 

I then took the spare panel and inked all though making sure there was some areas more yellow, others more orange and some red ones as well. Once I was happy, I spray it with water to create the subtle bleach effect that distress inks will give you.

Then I attached it to the to the front of the card. (You could make it as the front if you don't get ink all over the back of the distressed as I tend to do.)

Then I die cut the floral pattern - USA | UK - out of white card and then after the outer die using the same one (Budding Vine) as before. (I find it easier this way round as it is more difficult to keep the inner die in position even with tape if first die cut the outer edge.) 

To create the flower, I die cut six Gerberas - USA | UK - using good quality paper. Then using a combination of inks I coloured them. (You can see it step by step here.) Then I I shaped them using a soft foam mat and the large ball tool. I attached them all together and in the centre I placed two die cut Daisies from the Trellis set UK and a circle.
Finally I die cut the leaves - from the Gazania set USA | UK - and layered them up and attach it all to the front of the card.

I left it without a message, I will either add one just before sending or leave it without it.

And there it is. Gorgeous floral blooms that will brighten anyone's day!

Tonic Studios | Damask patterned panel and floral friends card

Today I am sharing a card to celebrate friends. I let you on a "secret". I love my friends! And I loved making this card. It featured some of my most favourite dies from the recent releases from Tonic, the Panel Dies and the Beautiful Blooms, plus that gorgeous sentiment!

I used:
Tonic Patterned Panels Die - Vibrant Damask - USA | UK
Tonic Patterned Panels Die Set - Classic Quatrefoil - USA | UK
Tonic Beautiful Blooms - Sunburst Gazania 1288E - USA | UK
Tonic Rococo Die and Stamp Set Hearts - Vine, Floral and Paisley - USA | UK
Tonic Rococo Die and Stamp Set Heart - Vine - USA | UK
Tonic Indulgence Die & Stamp Set – Friends Are Forever - USA | UK
Nuvo Crystal Drops Gloss - Ebony Black - USA | UK

Card in warm grey, soft green, hot, mid and soft pink, black.

I die cut the base of the card first using the warm grey card twice using the outer die from the Classic Quatrefoil. Then I scored one of them at about 1cm from the top and use that top area to attach it to the back of the identical die cut panel.

Then I die cut the damask pattern out of light green card and then after the outer die using the same one (Quatrefoil) as before. I find it easier this way round as it is more difficult to keep the inner die in position even with tape if first die cut the outer edge. 

I die cut all the other elements using the different die sets, shaped a bit the flowers, layered them up and then attach the sentiment. Finally, a bit of Crystal Drops in Ebony Black for the centre of the flowers. Simple but quite strong combo!

And, by the way, all the Patterned panels will fit nicely on a American A2 envelope or European C6 envelope (for A6 cards).

Anyway, I hope you like it!

Tonic Studios | Sunburst Gazania Love Card

Another card using the Bautiful Blooms Gazania from Tonic Studios Beautiful Blooms - USA | UK.

I used:

Beautiful Blooms - Sunburst Gazania 1288E - USA | UK
Beautiful Blooms - Gerbera Daisy 1287E - USA | UK

Beautiful Blooms - Apple Blossom 1290E - USA | UK

Simply Screens - Clematis Vines - USA | UK
Miniature Sentiments - Sent with Love 1254E - USA | UK
Nuvo Crystal Drops Gloss - Bubblegum 672N -  USA | UK

And coral, light coral and green paper; and white and black card.

I die cut first the screen, then the edge (also from the same Simply screens die set) and then place the paper inside the card.

Then, I die cut all the different elements and layered them on the front.

The sentiment says Sent with Love, but i trimmed the Sent With to make the sentiment fit in better on the card.

Finally I added the button and the Nuvo Crystal Drops in the centre of the panels.

I hope you like it!