Happy Easter Easel Card

Morning, A bit of fun today, I am sharing an Easter card, I made using the Die'Sire Easel die set. I know it's not the way they are designed to be used but it came to me that using the shield could also make the egg shape. I have also used the letters from Leonie's Wonderful Typography Alphabet Dies, along with some of her mixed media range.

I didn't take photos of each stage of making the easel base for each card. I hope you don't mind but it's very time consuming stopping at each stage. The photos for this are therefore, the wrong colour to match this card.

To make the card you will need:

Typography Alphabet by Leonie Pujol

Circle Dies Various Sizes.

Die'Sire Timepiece Easel

Pink Centura Pearl Card

Blue Centura Pearl Card

Yellow Centura Pearl Card (All from the Light's Collection)

2 Lengths of Lace

Step 1: Cut your Easel Base using scored and folded Pink Centura Pearl. Make sure you leave the die overhanging your folded edge to create the easel (See Photo)

Step 2:  Cut the smaller shield from Blue Centura Pearl, Then trim off the tip to ensure it sits nicely as a layer to your base Easel. (See Photo)

Step 3: Cut a large Shield in both Blue and Pink, these will form your egg.

Step 4: Wrap a length of lace around you Smaller blue Shield and secure at the back with tape. Then use Tacky glue to place it on your base. For the stopper, I used Leonie's hearts, 4 stuck together for extra height. Secure your lace across the upside down blue shield, before adhering the pink shield to form the egg.

Step 5: Cut the first 4 letters from pink and the last 2 in blue. Add  to your egg with Tacky glue. Then cut a variety of sizes of circle from yellow and position them onto your egg. Finally stick this to your easel base.

This gives you a completely different look and get even more versatility to your dies. 

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial today. It's in a different format so I hope you like it. I would love your feedback. Once again sorry for the photos, I know it's better with specific photos which I will continue with for regular posts. For now Take care and Happy Crafting.xx

Ties That Bind

Hi everyone. Long time no see, I'm back with a post for you today, it's a big one with lots of pictures, had to be after such a long time. This project has been created for the AALL-and-CREATE Europe Challenge 1. I have used a real mix of products and techniques and had to include letters from Leonie's Typography range, which I tend to use endlessly.I am extremely proud of it and thoroughly enjoyed creating it, while I have been secluded.

To begin, I transferred my map of Europe onto calico, using tracedown. I darkened the lines using a black Copic fineliner.

Next I used a selection of stitches to achieve a variety of interesting texture throughout the map, depicting the countries with shades of blue thread. The coast of Africa was stitched in red. I also stitched onto the map design the phrase 'Ties that bind' demonstrating the tight threads that have historically joined us to Europe. The french knots that I have used for many of the countries have added a lovely texture to the piece, but took forever. Thank you to Katrina from Rowandean for the inspiration.

One part of the challenge brief was to include something modern, after all that has happened with my laptop, it had to feature in my project, so I will never forget. I also wanted to include an element that stretched back through our rich history. What better than an ancient king and a historical ship, so I stitched these onto calico to illustrate the long history of Europe.

Next I moved onto the frame, which is slightly larger than A3, I used a thick backing board covered with Centura Pearl cardstock, the wrong side up.

Then came the exciting part, creating the texture and decoration and lots of rearranging. I started by covering the whole frame with Spiders web ribbon, securing with Collall  tacky glue.

I was so inspired by this project, to include the European printmaking influence, I decided to use the word 'Inspire' I would have loved to include all of the translations of the word but had to settle on 4 for this. I have used English, Welsh,Danish and Czech. The Danish 'Inspirere' is enclosed in a mini printers tray. The letters I have used are from Leonie's 'Typography' die collection.

Next I took a selection of bits and bobs to create my frame and add as much texture and interest as possible without detracting from the main map. I made ribbon roses, antique and modern lace, scrap fabric, old baby wipes along with a lot of other items. After a lot of rearranging, I came up with a plan. I did have a selection of old and new coins from all over Europe but decided to leave them out of the final design.

I had planned on using Ivory Powertex for my frame.......

But decided I wanted to continue the old and new theme, so changed to bronze Powertex. I added sand and different sized balls for even more texture.

For the letters, I added a little depth, using black sand texture gel from Pebeo.

I painted some parts of my old Laptop black and assembled onto the base sing garden twine and Powertex. I have included some close ups here.

The letters for my printers tray were finished with black gesso before lifting the texture with a selection of gilding was from Pebeo.

I then enhanced the textures created on the frame by drybrushing, firstly with black gesso. Then I used Colortricx Brons Gold mixed with Easy Varnish from Powertex.

I secured acetate in the aperture, then the stitched map behind. To finish, I added my stitched embellishments.

Thank you so much for coming to see this project. As I said before I have really enjoyed making it. I am so pleased to be back in the land of craft and hope to see you all very soon. I have to build up a selection of blogs, but I a working on it. Take care and Happy Crafting.xxx

Reflect and Grow Step by Step

Hi, I thoroughly enjoyed mixing it up with this project. I made it for Leonie's Typography Collection show on Hochanda, I hope you enjoy the step by step and the finished card.

From Kraft card I cut 4 each of the Antique Frames from Sara's Shabby Chic Collection. They are really beautiful and make a really substantial piece when layered up.

Before adding any Distress Inks, I added Pebeo drawing gum around the edges, It doesn't actually rub off of Kraft card but it does give a great wood effect once the inks are added.

To make the mirror frame and base look like old wood, I used the ink in the photo. Starting with the Aged Mahogany, then in order from dark to light.

I took a piece of Acetate just slightly bigger than the mirror frame. First I applied the Gilding Paste from Pebeo and left to dry. I some areas I stippled it as I didn't want a perfect mirror look. When dry I added the Pebeo silver leaf sheet. Then using Stayzon black ink, I stamped a crackle stamp over the top, this one is from Bee Crafty.

I cut out my letters using Leonie's Typography die range, 2 of each and stuck together with Tacky Glue for depth.

The Kraft background card was embossed using the Woodgrain Textures embossing folder from Crafters Companion. I then distressed it using the same colour Distress Inks that I used for the frame. The darkest of them were only used at the top and bottom of the card, leaving the middle lighter.

I then gilded my letters, using the Pebeo Gilding Paste and their Gold Leaf.

For the mirror stand, I used the base of the tree from Leonie's 'Funky Tree'. I coloured it with Vintage Photo and added Glossy Accents, the Glossy Accents always makes the colours appear darker so be careful. I used Black card to layer the piece onto, giving a narrow border before adding it to a silver/white basecard.

Thank for coming to see what I have been sharing. I hope you will continue visiting as I have some exciting things coming up very soon. Take care and Happy Crafting.xxx