5 Projects Using... Simply Creative Sugar Rush

Here are 5 projects using the Simply Creative 'Sugar Rush' papers from Trimcraft. There are instructions on how to make them below each picture.

1. Cut several pieces of patterned paper and arrange on a 12x12" sheet. Distress the edges and stick down.
2. Cut a piece of acetate and cover in confetti glitter glue (allow a few hours to dry) and cut in half.
3. Print your photo at 4x4" and mount onto patterned paper.
4. Using the same glitter glue, cover the alpha stickers you will use for your title. 
5. In pink ink, stamp some emojis, die cut or punch them out and colour their eyes with 3D Pearl Effects.
6. Arrange the glitter acetate, title and embellishments and your photo, then stick down.
7. Punch little hearts from glitter card and arrange around the layout.
8. Spatter the layout with coloured ink.

1. Take a board (I think this one is from shirt packaging) and layer up patterned papers onto it. On each layer, distress the edges and then add ink.
2. In between the layers, have doilies and paper flowers sticking out from the edges. 
3. Stamp flowers up the left side of the piece.
4. Paint the birdcage using white paint first and then your chosen colour. 
5. Stick the birdcage to the piece and allow to dry.
6. Using a heat gun, stick ribbons to the left side of the piece. 
7. Add flowers too. To make the large flowers, cut petal shapes from foam, add a little colour and then use a heat gun to make the petals curl. Use a heat gun to stick the petals together and finish with a button.
8. Add bunting and gems to the birdcage.

1. Stamp four flamingos onto different papers and cut out. You may need a craft knife for the fiddly bits. 
2. On an A6 card blank, stick a length of washi tape along the bottom.
3. Arrange the flamingos so they are standing on the tape. 
4. Finish with adhesive gems and a sentiment. 

This card uses free printables available to download from the Trimcraft website.

1. Print and cut out your chosen elements. Cut the centre from the frame and stick the swan tag behind it, trimming off the excess.
2. Arrange the frame and 'thanks' banner on patterned paper and stick down, including a leaf in the sandwich. Cut around the edge leaving a small border.
3. Stick in the centre of a 13cm square of patterned paper. Stick to a card blank.
4. Finish with co-ordinating buttons.

1. Die cut 36 hearts from patterned paper. Arrange in a grid on a 12x12" sheet of patterned paper so there are 6 in every row and column. Stick down with glue when you are happy with the layout.
2. Using a sewing machine, sew lines down each column of hearts. You could also stitch manually and try different embroidery stitches. 
3. Print your photo at 3x2" and mount. 
4. Add 3D foam to the back of the photo and stick the the bottom right corner.
5. Add a few embellishments but use them sparingly.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

How To Make 3 Cool Cards Using The Dovecraft Monochrome Goody Bag!

Helllooooo!

I have three projects to share today using one of the new 'Goody Bags' from Trimcraft. There are several to choose from and today my projects are from the Monochrome Goody Bag. There are instructions below each image.

Each pack has a selection of 6x6" and 8x8" patterned papers, 6 sturdy coloured 6x6" card blanks with envelopes, sentiments, buttons, flowers and gems, as well as a project sheet to get you started. They're perfect if you're no good at choosing co-ordinating supplies, if you need stash in a particular colour (like I needed some purple things last year so I bought a purple 'goody bag' - this was before I was a Trimmie!). They'd also make a great gift for someone who is just getting into cardmaking or scrapbooking. There are so many possibilities with these goody bags as I am about to show you.

1.       Cut a 14cm square from patterned paper and mount onto black cardstock and cut out, leaving a small border

2.       Position a star die in the centre and die cut.

3.       Cut two pieces of acetate just larger than the aperture, stick the edges together, leaving a gap.

4.       Fill the gap with sequins and then seal.

5.       Stick the pocket behind the aperture and then stick the whole thing to a 6x6” card blank.

6.       Die cut smaller stars from vellum, and ‘happy birthday’ from black cardstock and attach to the card.

7.       Finish with a die cut pennant and spatters of black and gold ink.

 1.       Cut a 14.5cm square from patterned paper. Ink the edges with black ink and then stick to a 6x6” card blank.

2.       Cut a 14cm square from a different sheet. Ink the edges with black ink and then stick to the larger square.

3.       Cut four 6.5, four 6 and four 5.5cm squares from patterned paper. Ink the edges and then stick a small, medium and large square together.

4.       Arrange the four layered squares onto the card and stick down.

5.       Draw around the acetate backing of the large ‘with love’ stamp onto vellum and cut out.

6.       Stamp the ‘with love’ stamp onto the vellum and mount onto patterned paper. Cut out, leaving a small border.

7.       Layer up paper flowers, stick a brad through the centre and through the ‘with love’ piece.

8.       Stick the whole thing to the card. 

1.       Cut a 14.5cm square from patterned paper and stick to a 6x6” card blank.

2.       Cut a 6.5cm square from patterned paper and mount onto black cardstock and cut out, leaving a thin border.

3.       Cut a length of silver thread and loop and stick in the centre of the square.

4.       Die cut two flourishes from black cardstock

5.       Die cut a dragonfly in black and silver and stick the silver on top of the black. Stick on top of the looped thread along with the black flourishes.

6.       Cut two 1.5cm wide strips of patterned paper, invert an end of both, stick to the centre of the card and trim off the ends.

7.       Stick the decorated small square to the centre right of the card.

8.       Finish with a sentiment, buttons and splatters of black ink.

I hope you've been inspired by my cards - I had a fun day making them whilst watching the Formula One!

Thanks for visiting!

Emily xx

How To Make A Super Sweet Card || Simply Creative 'Make A Wish'

Hi all,

Today I'm going to show you how to make this super sweet card using the Simply Creative 'Make A Wish' papers and First Edition dies from Trimcraft.

 Donut worry, it's super easy! 

1.       Using a compass, draw a circle on white cardstock just smaller than 6 inches in diameter. Cut out and die cut a circle from the centre. If you have a large circle die set you won’t need the compass.

2.       Using 3D Pearl Effects, go around the edges of the donut as well as across the entire donut to look like icing.

3.       Die cut another, smaller donut from patterned paper and stick on top of the larger one.

4.       Die cut sweets from textured cardstock. If any have open areas then back them with patterned paper.

5.       Arrange the sweets around the donut and stick down.

6.       Add 3D Pearl Effects in white to the sweets to make them look shiny.

7.       Stick the donut to a square of patterned paper and then stick to a 6x6” card blank.

8.       Finish with a sentiment in the centre.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

Mother's Day Cards || Dovecraft Blooming Lovely

Hello crafty friends,

I am back with my final chunk of Mother's Day inspiration, this time using the Dovecraft Blooming Lovely collection from Trimcraft.

This one uses one of the new First Edition 'craft a card' dies. They are so versatile and easy to make a stunning card with.

This card uses the side fold 'card shape of the month' and you can find the tutorial here. (link)

To see my other Mother's Day inspiration, check out my Trimcraft gallery (link)

Emily xx

Sweet Dreams Are Made Of Paper

Hey all,

I have a couple cards to share today using the new First Edition 'Craft A Card' dies by Trimcraft.
They come in 6x6" and 5x7" and there's so many different ways of using them.

The die I used for this has small holes around the edge of the circle in the centre, so I went around it with two colours of embroidery thread. The mandala is from the Simply Creative 'Kraft Keepsake' 12x12" paper pad.

This one uses Simply Creative 'Sweet Dreams' paper.

Thanks for stopping by!
Emily xx

First Edition 'Black Out' Cards

Hey everyone, 

I have a couple of cards to share with you today using the First Edition 'Black Out' papers from Trimcraft. 

This first one uses weaving and a heart shaped aperture. It's a super easy technique and very effective.

This one uses one of the new First Edition 'Craft A Card' dies. They're super intricate and there's so many ways of using them. For this card I have cut the die twice and combined the pieces. 

To find out a bit more about how I made these, head over to my Trimcraft gallery (link)

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

Simply Creative Country Garden Cards

Hi all,

I have some cards to share today using the Simply Creative Country Garden papers from Trimcraft.
The paper pads come in 12x12" and 6x6" and they are pastel colours with some illustrative floral and insect designs in a delicate black line. Very pretty!

Obviously I have to share my favourite first and it's this one where I used floral dies to create a pattern on plain white card and then stuck it onto patterned paper using 3D foam tape.

To find out how I made these cards, head over to my Trimcraft gallery! (LINK)

(I apologise for the Trimcraft spam, they released 8 paper pads at once, and I have to make 5 projects per collection... luckily I don't go back to uni til next week so I've been able to make some headway and as you know I love to be kept busy)

To aid my mission, I created a little reward chart.... I have since completed enough to eat the little Bounty bar!

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

Spreading Some Christmas Cheer!

Hi all,

Some final Christmas card inspiration to share just in case you've that last few cards left to make.
These cards use the Simply Creative 'Christmas Cheer' paper pad by Trimcraft.

This one used layered papers. I fussy cut along the patterned paper with bells on it and stuck behind tartan print paper. I made a shaker element using vellum and sequins, held together with machine stitching.

This one used inlaid die cutting. Sound complicated? It really isn't. There's a handy tutorial over on my Trimcraft Gallery which should explain it all for you.

Thanks for stopping by!
Emily xx

Ombre Inlay (It's Simpler Than It Looks!)

Hello again! 

I have something of an experiment to share with you today. Yesterday I was at a bit of a loose end so I figured I would have a go at an idea I've had for a while... an ombre inlay in a pattern die.

Maybe that sounds over complicated? It's super easy (if a little fiddly), and in the end I came up with this.... 

For this card I used a First Edition repeat pattern die by Trimcraft. I cut it from kraft card. I also cut it from four coloured papers from my scraps box, and (IMPORTANT!!) saved all the little 'bits' from inside the die. I backed the kraft die cut with sticky tape, and then used the little bits to fill in the gaps. I arranged them into an ombre pattern (dark red>red>gold>yellow), with a little of each colour in the next colour (I'm bad at explaining things...) so the transition to one colour to the next was smoother. 

The dragonfly is from a mini die by Dovecraft. I did the same technique as with the pattern - die cut from kraft card and then from coloured scraps, saving the 'bits'. 

The background is some watercolour paper with a DecoArt mister sprayed over it. This was just to test the mister out (Katie kindly sent me a parcel of mixed media goodies last week <3) but it went well with the inlayed die cuts that I used it as a background. I used yellow washi tape around the edge and backed onto orange paper. 

Finally (I'm obsessed with this lately), I cut a length of gold thread and stuck it around the dragonfly, using little gems to cover up the areas where the double sided tape was visible.

Right, off to watch some December Daily videos as I'm thinking about doing it this year. I have a little 6x6" album coming, it was like £1 in the docrafts sale so I thought... why not?!

Thanks for stopping by! 

Emily xx

More Kori Kumi Cards!

Hi all,

More cards to share today using the Santoro Kori Kumi collection from Craft Consortium.

This first one uses a stamped image and pom-poms on an aperture card.

I cut apart the little tag that was on the 8x8" paper pack and put a shaker element in the centre.

And finally a neutral one.. I was inspired by the presenter on Hochanda when this collection was being shown. He said this collection would look good in neutral tones and look all vintage... so I had a play using my watercolours. The flower die set in this collection is so good, I'm obsessed with it. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

The Buzz Word - Mixed Media Layout

Hi all,

I finally finished a layout that has been sitting around for about a month because I didn't know what to use for the title.

But today I've been making some things, finishing stuff off and I finally came up with.... The Buzz Word...! I thought it was cool, anyway... 

I took the picture of the bee on my parents' Spirea(sp?) plant and I spent some time playing around with my camera settings to get the perfect shot...

I started off by cutting down a sheet of 12x12" plain white cardstock by a couple of centimetres each side.

I scribbled down the page with a pink gelato and smudged it with my finger.

I took a hexagon stencil and sprayed through it with Dylusions spray in Funky Fuchsia. Once I had sprayed the ink I flipped the stencil over and 'stamped' the reverse around the page. 

The flowers and leaves are from dies by Xcut. The leaves are created by using the packaging technique on some scrap white cardstock with green inks. Instead of fiddling around with tape, I stuck the die cut leaves onto this with matte medium. This worked really well because they gave the leaves a cool shiny texture, a bit like real leaves. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

Die Cut Cards

Hi all,

A post from my bank of posts today - I have been working on a painted tote bag lately but the weather is too dull to photograph (model) it properly!
With a bit of luck the things I am expecting in the post will come this week so I can get on with some new things.

Today I've some cards to share that I made using the 'Handwritten Celebrate' die set from Sizzix. I saw it used in Papercraft Essentials magazine and I had to have it, so I ordered it from America (because it's cheaper than in the UK, even though it had to be shipped over a huge ocean...)... I have wanted a die set with sentiments such as 'happy birthday' on for a while, they're so much more versatile than pre printed little sentiments on a strip of paper.

Here's what I made:

The first one uses a MDF cut from Things To Alter. The papers and buttons came free with the June issue of docrafts Creativity mag. I spattered the paper with the same paint I mixed to cover the MDF shape. This one is my favourite!

The next uses the flamingo die and downloaded paper (from the aforementioned Papercraft Essentials mag) along with a Sizzix frame die and Xcut embossing folder.

And finally (not sure I like this as much) a card using heart and circle dies. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

Peacock Layout Using Resist Techniques

Hi all,

A new layout to share today showing how to make a scrapbook layout using some resist techniques.

I did have a video for this but I wasn't happy with it, so I'll explain the resist techniques I used here.
Firstly I took a white wax crayon and doodled leaves up the page. I then stuck down some peacock outline stickers and went over the whole thing with watercolour. The white of the crayon shows through. I removed the outline stickers and the white of the page behind them shows up brilliantly.

I took a board (packaging from a shirt) and embossed it with an A4 peacock embossing folder. I went over it lightly with Gelatos and rubbed them with my finger to blend them together. The embossed areas stay white.

The feathers are made with dies by Xcut and the ends coloured with a silver Sharpie.

Thanks for stopping by, any questions then leave a comment!

Emily xx

Feather Cards

Hey everyone,

I've noticed I've been posting a lot of layouts lately... I've had a lots of inspiration and pictures to scrap. I do have some cards that I haven't yet shared that I love, so here they are as a nice change from a million selfies of myself and my too-handsome-for-me boyfriend...!

I've been making some cards with the new Xcut feather dies from docrafts.

I'm not the biggest fan of filigree dies, I think they're overdone and a liiiittle bit silly (tractors? football boots? Really....?) but I love feathers so I had to get these when they came out.

They're a good size but do take a few runs through the die cutting machine which is rather annoying...

I made these using the First Edition Kaleidoscope paper pack by Trimcraft.. I had my eye on it for a long time and then my friend was having a clearout so she kindly sent it to me. :)

On this first one I used my gold Sharpie on the ends of the feathers. (Seriously, if there's one thing you need in your stash it's metallic Sharpies).

And a CAS card. 

I put the dies inside the gate-fold and ran through my machine, I then die cut the feathers (through the reverse of the paper, so the pattern side up fit). I secured with little bits of regular sticky tape.

CAS cards are actually quite difficult, I feel this one is a bit boring, but... maybe that's the point....?

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

Feathery Flamingo Layout

Hi all,

A layout to share today using a picture I took of a flamingo at the Bioparc in Fuengirola.
As you probably know by now, I love flamingos so when I saw them at the zoo I got really excited!

Originally I had a square photo with feather laid on top but I thought it looked a bit much so instead I die cut the edges of my photo. I die cut the feathers and stuck them where I had die cut the edges of my photo. 

To make that easier to understand I've just filmed a video explaining how to make something similar to this so stay tuned in the next few weeks!

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

A Steampunk Card

Hi all,

I was in The Works recently and they had the Santoro Willow collection at bargain prices... I bought the A4 paper pack and some metal gears. 

The packaging is really nice and that is what the image of the lady and the paper behind it are cut from. I just added some glitter glue to add some dimension, plus die cut some gears to stick behind. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

Totally Tropical Cards!

Hi all,

Just stopping by to share some bright, tropical themed cards I made recently.

The first I think is my favourite card I've ever made. Just something simple using embossing, die cutting and using washi tape with the aperture of the feather... lovely!

The second one started with a strip of scrapbook paper I had left over. I cut it at an angle and folded it to create the concertina effect and you can see the other side of the paper showing through - red and white stripe.
I finished it off with some pink embellishments.

And finally, a card made using the flamingo die free with Papercraft Essentials this month, plus papers downloaded from the Papercraft Magazines website. I printed off the paper and covered with vellum. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

ATC Swap

Hi all

We've done an ATC swap this week. We each made four to send and these are mine. I used the flamingo die that came free with this month's Papercraft Essentials magazine.
I used my gelatos on each one and tried to do something a little different on each.

And here are the ones I received.

I really enjoyed this ATC swap and I hope we can do more because they are fun :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

More Than Words Mini Challenge

Hi all,

Super quick post today!
Here's my entry for the More Than Words mini challenge this month. This month's word to use is 'Happy'.
(I know it's a Facebook thing but I wanted to share with my blog followers, so. If you want to enter, make sure you go to the More Than Words facebook page. The closing date is tomorrow the 31st.)
I wasn't going to bother entering as I have no chance (I don't with the main challenge either but I like to take their challenges as inspiration..) but I saw this little bee die in my folder, so I figured I'd make something with it.

It's way too simple to win, but I like it anyway. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

Die Cut Cards!

Hi all,

I was lucky enough to win over £80 of Xcut dies in the docrafts December Club Prize Draw.
Two of the sets I already had so I have mailed them to a couple of friends. :)

Here are some things I made using them!

This first one is cut directly into the blank card, and some Geometric Neon paper stuck behind.

This one uses the beautiful swallow die, and sentiment set.

And finally a card using the Folk alphabet die set and Geometric Mono collection.

I left the bottom part of the letters out of the die cut sandwich so only the top part was cut. I then cut along the in-between sections of the letters to remove the top part of the cardstock.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx