embossing folder

Take Time For Yourself

Hello everyone. I have a card to share after some crafty playtime yesterday, and utilising some of the colours which sang to me in the current challenge at AAA Colourful:

The colours I chose are green and blue, with a hint of light pink/coral.

The first step was to stamp the floral images from Pinkfresh Studio ‘Beautiful Day‘. I stamped first in a light brown ink, used the matching layering stencils to colour it in – adding extra shading at the base of the florals, and some of the leaves – re-stamped in black (having left the stamp in the original place in my Misti) then used the matching die set to cut them out.

I find it I stamp in a lighter shade, then re-stamp in the bolder or black ink after ink blending, there is a more bold outline – and no chance of smudging the black ink if used before ink blending. A tip from Pinkfresh Studio virtual classes which works for me.

The next step was to plan my background layers.

The background panel was dry embossed using a Spellbinders embossing folder – choosing something with detail – nit too much – but which wouldn’t detract from the florals.

I also wanted a background frame, so I used Pinkfresh Studio ‘Nested Hexagons: double stitched‘ applied thin 3D foam to back of the frame – inserting the middle cut-out piece – then placing the frame on top. This was placed higher on the embossed panel, to make room for a sentiment below.

Next step was to arrange the florals. I did do some trimming of the images so I could have more flexibility with placing them, then attached with a mixture of 3D foam and glue.

The pre-packaged sentiment was attached, then some Pinkfresh Studio blue gems added.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

CYHTP – embossing folder with option of flowers taken

Ellibelle’s Corner Garden Party – anything in or from the garden

Addicted To Stamps & More – make your mark

AAA Colourful – colour inspiration

Love To Craft – anything goes

You Are Plane Awesome

Hello once again. The Alphabet Challenge has started another round of the Alphabet. Billie A has chosen the theme:

A is for in the Air

Here is my card:

I made this card as our God Son has been accepted into the WWE world in the USA, and is going to their training camp in Florida. What an achievement for him. We wish him all the best in the world.

I started by creating the plane from a Spellbinders die set – Fly Away – then hunted for a flowing banner, which I found in a Heffy Doodle set ‘Flying High‘. The sentiment was stamped then die cut with the banner die.

I wanted lots of details and some dimension for the scene, so I also used the Spellbinders die set called ‘Tunnel Clouds‘, and three different shades of blue card stock, playing with the placement and ararngement a little to create a large enough area for the plane and banner to sit in.

When I first put the layers together, they looked a little ‘plane’ (forgive my pun……) so I then a Spellbinders embossing folder on all three layers called ‘Cloud Nine‘, lining up each of the three layers so the pattern ran across seamlessly, then took my white pigment ink pad and gently ran it across the top to highlight the raised areas.

The final step was to add some sequins, because I saw no reason not to really…….added bling for an up-and-coming international wrestler……!

I hope you can come and join us with your creations following our theme. There are lots of options to be able to create, as you can see from the DT inspiration. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Tic Tac Toe – middle column – die cuts/emboss/layers

Cut It Up – die cuts and something with wings

Cocoa Kisses

I created a card inspired by the challenge at 52 CCT, where the current theme is Christmas and Mug:

I started by die cutting and assembling the Spellbinders Santa mug from the die set called ‘Cocoa Greetings’. You do have the option of creating a penguin and deer also – but I was feeling that Santa vibe.

Once assembled, I took a piece of a light teal blue card stock and used a Spellbinders embossing folder to create a snowflake background, stamped the sentiment – also from Spellbinders, and die cut that with it’s matching die.

I added some small black gems for the buttons on his tunic.

A fairly straight-forward card which came together quite quickly, once I had decided on the colours.

I shall be entering into the following challenges:

52 CCT – Christmas and Mug

Peace On Earth – Christmas with optional mood board

Happy, Happy Birthday

Hello again. I have a birthday card to share using some new products from Spellbinders:

There are a couple of challenges calling for Spring themed cards, so I used the new dies from Spellbinders which included these bluebells and pansies, and some bright card stock off-cuts I have handy.

I first cut and layered the pansies, then the bluebells, adding the stalks. The bluebell stalks hold one flower, but I layered three together to create several which dangle from the same stem.

The background panel was created using an older SIzzix 3D embossing folder and trimmed down slightly.

The bottom light brown/Kraft section was cut, and then the border added so it looked like a window box.

The flowers were arranged, then stems tucked beneath the brown section, with 3D foam behind each flower head.

The sentiment is from Pinkfresh Studio – stamped then die cut – and two of the spare bluebell flowers attached to the side.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Seize The Birthday – birthday and Spring Garden

CYHTP – embossing folder with option of blue on blue not taken

Cut It Up – die cuts and colours of Spring

Die Cut Divas – die cuts and birthday/anniversary

Cupcake Birthday

Hello everyone. I’m a little late posting this card, as I had to wait for some of the items to dry. I was inspired by the current challenge at Time Out – the theme is ‘Sweet Treats‘. Here is my card:

I started by creating the cupcake, and using products – again – from the recent SCT event. This cupcake die is from Pretty Pink Posh. I die cut the base of the cupcake in a light pink, the blue layer from a textured blue card stock, and the topping from brown – chocolate must have been on my mind…

I used a little ink blending around the edges of each die cut, and even across the middle of the topping layers to create some dimension. These two layers were applied to the cupcake base with 3D foam. The cherry is also from the same die set, die cut from light pink, ink blended around the edges, assembled, then glossy accents applied for a little shine.

Whilst drying, I die cut the sentiment – from a Simon Hurley/Spellbinders die set – the banner out of dark blue, the letters from the sentiment were attached – each individual piece of each letter – using the other piece as a template to get the spacing right.

The background is a lilac piece of card stock, and run through with a Spellbinders embossing folder, and white pigment ink gently swiped across the top to try and pick up some details. You can see that more on the banner sections of the background.

Another addition was to splatter some Lawn Fawn ‘Liquid Stardust’ across the background panel, and across the cupcake.

The background panel was adhered with glue, the cupcake and sentiment were adhered with 3D foam.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Time Out – Sweet Treats

Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends – anything goes

Craft Rocket – layer it up

A Little Birdie Told Me….

I have a card to share created using more products from the recent SCT event – this time using a die and stamp set from Scrapbook.com:

The current challenge at Color Hues is to use the colours Navy and Fuchsia, and these colours were my starting point. Certain neutrals are allowed also.

The birds were die cut with white for the base of each, and then navy and fuchsia card stock for the layers. The blue and pink pieces were ink blended a little to create some dimension, then the layers glued together. The wings were added with a small piece of 3D foam, the beaks were die cut from gold card stock, and the eyes are little black gems.

The background navy panel was cut slightly down, and run through my die cutting machine with a Spellbinders embossing folder, attached to the white card base with glue.

The sentiments and musical notes were stamped, then die cut with the matching dies, two more layers also die cut and glued behind the sentiments instead of using 3D foam.

To put this together, I added the sentiments first, then attached the two birds with 3D foam, making it look as though they were perched on the sentiments. The musical notes were glued flat to the card panel, and some ombre gold gems added – from Pinkfresh Studio to tie in with the gold beaks – and because I love to use them….. :)

I love how these two colours work well together, and am really pleased with how it turned out.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Color Hues – Fuchsia & Navy

Addicted to Stamps & More – any occasion

Crafty Animals – anything goes with an animal

Die Cut Divas – die cuts and birthday/anniversary

Triple B – birds and/or butterflies and/or blooms

ABC Challenge H & I

Hello everyone. The new challenge at ABC Christmas Challenge has started. Fabiola is hosting, and the Christmas themes for this month are:

H is for Hats, I is for Image only

Here are my cards:

For my first card, I used a stitching die from Spellbinders. This hat came in their Stitchmas 2025 box and was die cut with light blue and white sparkle card stock, then stitched as required with dark blue thread. I also added a couple of pearl gems to the hat.

The background was created by dry embossing a piece of dark blue card stock and a Spellbinders embossing folder, cutting the panel down slightly to leave a white border on the card base.

The sentiment is also from the same Stitchmas box, and die cut from the same white glitter card, adhered flat. More of the pearl gems added.

For my second card – I is for image only – I thought that a stand-alone Santa would be a good way to go. For that, I turned to a Simon Hurley/Spellbinders die set, cutting out the layers – of which there are plenty – and some very small elements (definitely what I enjoy doing most) and assembled him

The background is using the same Spellbinders embossing folder and the same dark blue card, but this time I ran a white pigment ink gently over the top to catch the raised areas.

I hope you can come and join us with your Christmas creations following one or both of our themes. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Merry Little Christmas Challenge – Christmas anything goes

Mix It Up – anything goes, option of die cuts taken

Peace On Earth – Christmas anything goes

12 Months of Christmas Link-up – anything goes Christmas

Christmas Crafts All Year Round – Christmas with a G or H item – H is for Hat

Cardinal Slimline

Hello everyone. I have a card to share for the new challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown. I was lucky enough to be chosen as winner for their February 2026 technique challenge with THIS card, and as such invited to be Guest Design Team member for this challenge.

The theme is Christmas and slimline.

Here is my card:

I wanted to use this cardinal layering die set from Honey Beet Stamps, so I first created him, using three tones of red card stock adding the black for the face and feet.

The slimline card base was created – 3.5 x 8.5 inches – then a separate piece of white card added for the background, which I ran through with a Spellbinders embossing folder.

I wanted the cardinal to be framed somehow, so search through the CML app, and saw this set from The Greetery.

I die cut the oval, then used the layering stamps to create the holly frame with the berries.

Something else was needed behind the bird, so I used a ‘Filigree Capsule Border‘ die, also from The Greetery to create the second smaller oval, and used the same embossing folder to add further detail.

I wanted to add more – you know me – so I also used other products from The Greetery – the ‘Hang It Up‘ die set using Spellbinders matt gold card stock, and the ‘Ornamental Tags‘ die set for the foliage.

I wanted even more, so I also used their ‘Regency Bow No 1‘….

I then thought I was done with the die cutting and started to put the card together.

I first added the embossed smaller oval to the larger oval, added the bird with 3D foam, nipped then tucked some of the foliage behind him. The tag hanger-up thingy was attached, then the bow on top of that.

The final step was to added the gold foiled sentiment, previously created on black card stock – to tie in with the black details on the cardinal.

I really enjoyed making this card, all the techniques – stamping, die cutting, embossing – make me happy…

I hope you can come and join the team with your Christmas creations following their theme. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Triple B – birds and/or butterflies and/or blooms

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends – anything goes

Merry Little Christmas Challenge – anything goes Christmas

Mix It Up – anything goes – option of die cuts taken

A Splash of Green

Hello everyone. A new challenge has started at Cardz 4 Galz, with the theme of ‘a splash of green‘ hosted by Pamela:

The centre image is from Pinkfresh Studio ‘Garden Tapestry’ and consists of a stamp, die, stencil, and hot foil plate. I didn’t use the hot foil plate this time round, and chose the stamp and gold heat emboss the main image.

Once heat embossed, I used the layering stencils to colour the image, choosing softer colours, then use the matching die to cut it out.

The background panel was created using some light green card stock and running it through with a Spellbinders embossing folder ‘branching out’, cutting it down slightly and attached to a white card base.

The die cut image was added with 3D foam, then the foiled sentiment attached.

I hope you can come and join us with your creations following our theme. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

CYHTP – embossing folder – option of sewing/sewing related not taken

Stencil Fun – use stencils – option of vine/vinery

Craft Rocket – no designer paper

Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends – anything goes

ABC Challenge – Elves, Foliage, Gems

Hello everyone. The ABC Christmas Challenge has reached the letters E, F, & G. We want to see your Christmas creations following the following three themes for this challenge:

E is for Elves, F is for Foliage, G is for Gems

Here are my cards:

I first decided on the background for this card, using a piece of light blue card stock and running it through with a Spellbinders embossing folder.

Before attaching that piece to the card base, I decided where I wanted the hat to be, then used the Waffle Flower ‘Elf Hat‘ die set, die cutting the hat out of Spellbinders glitter foam.

The face part of the elf was die cut with white and ink blended some light peach, attaching the the corner of the blue panel, then the hat pieces glued to fit. I trimmed the edges to make them square with the base piece.

This was then glued to the card base, and the sentiment added after stamping and trimming to fit.

For my second card, I stamped and silver heat embossed the image twice – a Pinkfresh Studio set called ‘Magical Holiday’.

I then used the matching layering stencils to colour the two images in, and then the matching die to cut them out.

The white background panel was created by using an old Stampin’ Up embossing folder, and attaching to the card base.

The silver frame was created by using two nesting rectangle dies, then two ink blended images attached to the back, then glued down onto the dry embossed panel.

The sentiment was also silver heat embossed and die cut, adding to the centre, then the silver gems glued as you see.