New blog post over at Sizzix EU

For the step by step tutorial click here.

I am no multi tasker

I haven't been very good at blogging lately. I dont even have the "I have too much work going on" excuse either. I just been focused on other things, mainly family and loosing weight.

Those who have known me for years will know that I had put on weight, not much in real terms but as a roughly 5' 1/2" woman - yes, I am that short - it was quite considerable. So the doctor ordered me to loose weight. He gave me clear instructions and with a diet of 1000 calories a day and a couple of exercise sessions a week, I have been loosing some weight, but oh boy, has it been distracting!

As I am no multi tasker, the focus has been on that and on the family, visiting them abroad and having my uncle and cousin over for a few days.

Between those two things and articles for Cardmaking & Papercraft - I did the 10 ideas for handmade gifts issue 125 as well as for other issues before and after, well, lets just say the blog and my christmas cards have been neglected.

But on Saturday I got a lovely email from Christine Ashton with photos of her Christmas Tags made with my Leafy Tree dies for Sizzix. That really brought as smile to my face and made me want to craft Christmas again. Thanks, Christine!

In the meantime, I will leave you with my Christmas decor. Very simple but all lovingly handmade using my dies for Sizzix EU.

Happy Christmas!

New blog post for Sizzix

Click for the full photo and more details.

A quick one

November is one of my least favourite months as the days become really short, but on the other and usually is a busy month so I cant dwell on it too much.

Just sharing this super quick card I made using left overs that I had on the table.

I used:

Sizzix, Flower, Star to die cut the whole flower,

Sizzix, Square Framelits to create the aperture,

Sizzix, Circles #2

Sizzix, Sentiment Tags

Personal Impressions Clear stamps, Essential Christmas PPCSA6005

Which reminds me, I should really make a move on my Christmas cards.

New blog post over at Tubo de Ensaio!

This month I share an idea on how to make a notepad using framelits for both the pages and the covers.
You can read all about it here on Tubo blog.

New blog post at Sizzix Eu blog!

A step by step tutorial on how I make acetate cards!

More Pan Pastels Metallics

I usually fetch my Pan Pastels to add colour, quick and easy, to my embossed card. But another lovely quick and easy effect is to stamp and apply the Pan pastels. This is even better using the new metallics pastels.

For this one I am using the snowflakes stamp and framelits dies set, white smooth card and inks.

The classic way of stamping and pastels is using Versamark or any sticky clear ink pad. After the clear ink has dried, gently apply the Pan Pastels with a Sofft sponge tool with dabbing motions.

To add more colour, I inked the stamp using Versafine ink pad. I always rotate the stamp while inking this allows me to get a better impression.

If I don't rotate the inkpad the ink will be a bit uneven, as shown on the top snowflake. Then I placed the snowflake die and secure it in place with low tack tape.

Once die cut keep the die cut in place and apply the metallic pan pastel. As you can see the metallic effect almost all over, except for a white edge all around.

Here you can see all the different effects. Clockwise from the left, plain Versafine Deep Lagoon; Versafine with Metallic Pan Pastels and then die cut; Versamark with Metallic Pan Pastels and then die cut; and Versafine, die cut and then Metallic Pan Pastels. Slightly different effects!

Pan Pastels love

I love Pan Pastels since the day one of them landed on my hands. I have quite a few of them. But there were a few new ones that I didn't have till this morning:

And there they are - thanks to Nikky Hall and Pan Pastel UK. All six new luscious gorgeous metallic colors. Top left: light gold, silver, copper, pewter, bronze and rich gold.

 So, of course I had to test them with one of my Textured Impressions Embossing folders, the Snowflakes one. First, I applied the blue colours using a few Pan pastels, blending them well. Then, I applied two metallic colours, the silver and the pewter.

They give this gorgeous metallic/pearlescent shimmer through out blending them nicely with the colours underneath.
They are more subtle than I expected, but I love that about them, it means that I can do more with them, I can mix them up with more colours and produce different effects. I am in love.

I am so glad I got my hands on them!

A quick crafty storage post

I love tins. I collect them, meaning that I keep every single tin that arrives to this house containing food, presents... I cant throw any away, At most I give them away to friends. I needed one the other day so I ventured into my tin basket (above, a massive one) and I found one that was a watch box and still had the foam with the cylindrical cut.

Me encantan las latas. Las colecciono, lo que significa que me quedo cada lata que llega a esta casa. Nunca las tiro, a lo más que he llegado es a dárselas a amigos. 
El otro día necesitaba una, así que busqué en mi cesta de latas (arriba, es enorme!) y encontré una caja de reloj que todavía tenía la espuma con el corte cilíndrico.

And quickly I found a way to use. To keep my glues upside down while I am working - I don't keep them like that overnight as the foam would loose its shape after a while.

Y rápidamente encontré una manera de utilizarla: mantener los pegamentos boca abajo mientras trabajo - no los guardo asi por la noche porque la espuma perdería su forma después de un tiempo.

Added bonus, the foam is perfect to keep in place all those little needle tips and the tin holds nicely the magnets which I use often for many different techniques.
I love storage, specially if it is free!

Un valor añadido, la espuma es perfecta para mantener en su lugar todas esas pequeñas las agujas y la lata mantiene muy bien los imanes que a menudo utilizo para muchas técnicas diferentes.
Me encanta el almacenamiento, especialmente si es gratis!

Blog Candy: the winners

Thank you so much to everyone that participated! I am so happy after so many comments, follows... Thank you for your ever so kind words. They made my day every single one of them.
Here you have the lucky random winners:

Muchas gracias a todos los que habéis participado! Estoy super feliz, tantos comentarios, follows, me gusta ... Gracias a todos por vuestra amables comentarios. Me han alegrado el dia todos y cada uno de ellos.
Aquí teneis los afortunados ganadores:

Set 1 - Noel - Blog Lovin: Marta de Mi Scrap Lab

Set 2 - Leafy Trees - Pinterest: Louise @ My May Sunshine

Set 3 - Home - Twitter: Katherine Brooks Crafty_Kath

Set 4 - Snowflakes - Facebook: Juani Castillo Alcaide

One extra mystery blog candy - not fromWinter Moments but die sets and two sets of my clear stamps - Comments: Cinnamon Sally 

I have sent you all emails but if you haven't received it yet, email me before Friday the 11th of October: paulabmpascual[@]gmail.com (without the brackets!).