New blog post for Sizzix: how to keep track of all your flower dies

Today i am sharing an idea on how to keep track of my flower dies that helps me crafting better by finding new ways to combine flower dies from different sets.

Click here for the full step by step tutorial and the a card created using this method.

By the way, those on the photo are my new Intricate Flowers 2, a new set of dies for Sizzix EU.

Loads of different things you can do with this set, and also the matching (but perfectly stand alone as well) Flower cards.

A few ways using of making paper flowers using the Intricate Flowers 2

Using just the 6 petals flowers from the new Intricate Flowers 2 I wanted to create different looks. So I die cut plenty of them in different colours.

Using the Sizzix Tool Kit mat and bigger ball tool, I shaped this flower from the top.  Then Layered on a flat one and added the stems - die included in the same set.

You can see that looks quite nice with the bottom showing through the top. On the right, I shaped that flower from the back to give that pillowy effect, but then press down on the centre from the front.

To create a peony/chrysanthemum sort of flower, die cut five larger flowers and two smaller sized ones. Using the Sizzix Tool Kit, I shaped the flower from the top. 

I really pressed strongly on the the centre. Then I did the same with the rest of the flowers and layered them.

I also die cut and shaped the stem dies that are included in the set. I used the small ones.

And here you have the full flower all layered up. Once I had the flowers I can use them straight away on a project, or keep them ready to add detail to a project.

Sizzix free papers and projects

One of the loveliest, coolest and most talented paper craft designers has made some gorgeous Easter projects. Perfect for last minute cards and present.

What it's very cool is that you can download free papers as well. 

Click here to download and see all the projects.

Uno de los maestros de las manualidades del papel, Pete Hughes (que es uno de los chicos más majos y con más talento de la industria), ha creado unos proyectos de Pascua para Sizzix. 

Los papeles y las instrucciones se pueden bajar gratis!

Crafty Upcycle - Making a lid into a photo fridge magnet

Step by Step Tutorial on the European Sizzix blog!

A birthday card for a little girl

My goddaughter turned two last week. So I made her this quick and easy card using Basic Grey's Knee Highs collection of papers and stickers. The number I die cut using Sizzix Sassy Serif Numbers. It is a rather large number which is perfect for a little girl.
The flower is die cut as well with one of the dies I designed for Sizzix, Intricate Flowers.

I hope she liked it!


Mi ahijada cumplió 2 años la semana pasada. Asi que le hice una postal sencilla usando papeles y pegatinas de Basic Grey's Knee Highs. El numero lo he troquelado usando Sizzix Sassy Serif Numbers. Son basntante grandes así que son perfectos para postales para pequeños. La flor esta troquelada usando los troqueles que diseñé para Sizzix, Intricate Flowers.

Espero que le gustara!

A special card for someone special

Yesterday was my mum's 60th birthday so I made her a special card. It is not that elaborate, but it has beautiful Japanese silkscreened paper but it has a few pages so that everyone can write her something special on the card.

Ayer fue el 60 cumpleaños de mi madre y le hice esta postal. Es especial no porque técnicamente sea muy elaborada sino porque esta hecho con preciosos papeles japoneses y tiene varias páginas en su interior.

The flowers in the centre is one of my die designs for Sizzix, Intricate Flowers.

I hope my mum will like it!

La flor es uno de mis troqueles para Sizzix, Intricate Flowers.

Espero que le haya gustado!

A Banner with intricate Flowers

Last year I was invited to participate in the Scrapmaniatics exhibition of scrap banners that took place during their event last summer.

Of course I had to use some of my dies for Sizzix, and the chosen ones were from the Fresh Moments collection that was released Spring last year.

Although my die collections for Sizzix have been Limited Editions, the good news is that the Intricate Flowers are now part of the core range from Sizzix, which means that this set is going to be available all year long!

I also used the Sizzix Framelits Circle Wrapper and the Instant Frames (using the negative left by die cutting two dies one inside the other).

As the base of the banner I used thick chipboard with layers of PaperArtsy's Grunge Paste through stencils or masks. Then layers of Fresco Paint and a little Treasure Gold. Love that stuff!
I learnt from Leandra and Lin Brown how important is layering both the paints and the patterns. It actually found it easier than I thought, I just followed their suggestions.

Basic Grey and Sizzix - LOVE!

A little card I made for my husband using my Sizzix Framelits - Intricate flowers and Tags - Basic Grey's Lucille papers, stickers and Serenade Mini envelopes. 

(No affiliate links, I just like the fast and great service from Charmed Cards & Crafts)

I do really love Basic Grey. And today I got this lovely parcel full of goodies ready to be used and drooled over. Sorry for the visual, but I am a paper crafter first and fore most and paper is what makes my creative juices flow like nothing else. Well, maybe die cutting.

Now that it's so hot in England, I'm preparing some projects for Christmas using my winter collecion of dies for Sizzix, the collection is called Winter Moments and soon will be in the shops!

Español:

Esta es una pequeña tarjeta que hice para mi marido con mis Framelits para Sizzix - Intricate flowers y Tags - con los papeles y pegatina de Lucilley el Mini sobre de Serenade, ambas colecciones de Basic Grey.

Me encanta Basic Grey.  Y hoy me ha llegado un paquete lleno de golosinas! Listos para ser utilizados. La verdad es que me considero una artesana del papel y por lo tanto es el papel lo que hace que mi jugos creativos fluyan como ninguna otra cosa. Bueno, tal vez los troqueles.

Ahora que hace tanto calor en Inglaterra, estoy preparando unos proyectos para navidades usando mi collecion de troqueles de invierno para Sizzix, la coleccion se llama Winter Moments y empezara a verse por las tiendas muy pronto!

Monthly blog post for Sizzix

It is on right now!

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A fancy Wrap and Fancy Charm tutorial - part 2 of 2

So, this is another quick tutorial on how to make a background using any of the Square Fancy Charms  - Sizzix Framelits Charmas, Fancy. Part one is here.

Fancy Charms

I started by die cutting loads of Fancy square charms using the same die ut different papers. Here I am using Bo Bunny Double Dot, one of my favourite papers to die cut. I placed them together and moved them around until I was happy with colour distribution.

Once I was happy, I turn them down one by one. Remember that it will be mirrored. And then I made sure that I aligned them properly with the craft mat's lines.

I placed foam pads on the back with the backing already removed.

This way, they did not move at all once they had the foam pad.

I took my 6 x 6" card and with the scored line on the right, I gently placed it over the die cuts.

Again, I used the lines of the craft mat to make sure the card was straight.

I pressed gently all over the card and then lift it. This is what it looked like. As you can see there are empty areas and over flown areas.

I first trimmed the bits that overflow by turning the card over and using strong non stick scissors as some areas will have the foam pads.

Then I used the left overs to cover the empty gaps.

Once the card wall filled I added a flower from the intricate flowers.

But you could use this background for far more elaborate work!

I hope you liked it.

Intricate flowers: 3D

To celebrate that the Fresh Moments dies that I designed for Sizzix EU are arriving to the shops around, I thought I would a series of tutorials and projects featuring the collection in the next few weeks in three blogs that I post - Sizzix EU, Tubo and of course this very one.

Today I am going to show a quick and easy way of making 3D flower using the Intricate Flower dies.

To begin with, I die cut several flowers out of Coffee filters and coloured them in using Dylusions sprays, one of my most favourite ways to add vibrant colour.

(Be sure to go to the Sizzix blog for a further tutorial on how to get the flowers with this colours using the Dylusions and coffee filters. Plus, there is a mini tutorial on how to make a flower garland.)

I took one of the flowers and folded in half and then I made it to roll into a bud.

I did the same with about five of them and hold them together. I turned them upside down and trin the botton off of all of them. This may seem stupid but it is important for this quick and easy way of making 3D flowers.

Place a flower on a heat resistant mat and place a blob of hot glue in the centre. Place the the bud created before in the centre and add more layers bellow (I think I added 2 more) and it is ready to be used.
Now I used to make them with tissue paper and it took forever, with this quick way I can assemble them in 2 minutes.

I just made this simple card to incorporate the flower, but as you can imagine there are hundreds of more inventive ways to use them.

Over at the Sizzix blog

To celebrate that the Fresh Moments dies that I designed for Sizzix EU are arriving to the shops around, I thought I would a series of tutorials and projects featuring the collection in the next few weeks in three blogs that I post - Sizzix EU, Tubo and of course this very one.

Check the Sizzix EU blog for a Flower Garland tutorial.