From doily to flower

Have you ever wondered how you could use paper lace doilies for your craft projects? What about using them to create a flower? This is exactly what I did for the card above, which I created with Dovecraft Back to Basics Monochrome products.

I used one paper lace doily as base. For the additional layers I cut away the centres of doilies, cut open the then achieved doily rings and arranged and rushed the lace strips on the base doily with generous amounts of tacky glue whilst moving further and further into the centre with each layer. A fabric brad is ideal for the centre of the flower - the size is perfect, it has a lovely texture and it hides the edges of the final layer as well as any traces of adhesive that secures the last lace strip. But you might want to protect your work surface with a craft sheet or glass cutting mat, as the tacky glue will really soak into the material.

The pierced holes in the layers are created by hand, but I like to use a Tim Holtz idea-ology ruler for evenly spacing.

If you are interested in re-creating this card, you can find instructions in my Trimcraft gallery. Please just respect my intellectual rights for this card design.

Stylish Monochrome

I have always liked monochrome cards, as they can be so elegant and are just not too colourful even when a splash of colour is added for a special effect. But it is sometimes not so easy to find really nice monochrome papers. The new Dovecraft Back to Basics Monochrome collection is exactly what my heart desired - gorgeous papers and loads of different beautiful embellishments.

For the above card I used apart from Back to Basics Monochrome products

* white and grey textured cardstock
* a Tonic Studios vintage frame die
* Britannia sentiment dies and
* a swirl die by My Favourite Things/Die-namics

Full instructions for this card can be found in my Trimcraft gallery.

And I have got e feeling that you will see many more projects with these lovely monochrome products on my blog over the next few weeks. These dark and grey days might have an advantage after all ...

Tis the Season

Another new Christmas range by Trimcraft is the Dovecraft Tis the Season collection. The colours and designs are going more into the traditional direction although blue tones are also featured. The shades of many elements are slightly muted, which results in elegant and softer colour schemes.

For the card above I combined Tis the Season products with cardstock from a First Edition premium textured cardstock pad, organza ribbon from Woodware, a charm and holly die-cuts created with a die by Marianne Design.

Full step-by-step instructions can be found in my Trimcraft gallery. You are more than welcome to re-create the card, but please do not give it out as your own design/work.

Have a great start into the new week!

Santa's Workshop Easel Cards

Santa's Workshop - Toys, Toys, Toys

This week I have opted for a different card shape and created two easel cards with the Santa's Workshop collection by Trimcraft. These products just make such wonderful Christmas cards that I cannot get enough of them.

Santa's Workshop - Santa's Snowmen

You are again welcome to re-create the cards (but please do not enter them into competitions, submit them for publications, etc.) and can find product lists and step-by-step instructions in my Trimcraft gallery.

And for those, who are interested in details of dies and embossing folders: For the 'Toys, Toys, Toys' card I used an Embossalicious embossing folder by Crafter's Companion. The snowflakes in the second card are created with a die from a set by Marianne Design.

Christmas Stocking

Trimcraft have just added a fabulous new card workshop for a stocking card to their forum. Also perfect for Christmas decorations! And the template for the stocking can even be downloaded for free.

This is the Christmas stocking that I have created for Trimcraft. I based it on the beautiful Nordic Christmas designer papers by First Edition, a Trimcraft brand. A full product list and step-by-step instructions are in my project gallery, so that you can re-create the card. And for those diecutting addicts like myself: The branches are created with a die by Marianne Design.

Santa's workshop is still busy

At the end of the weekend I would like to share another Christmas card with you that I created with Santa's Workshop products by Trimcraft with those adorable characters by Helz Cuppleditch.

I have added again step-by-step instructions and a product list to my Trimcraft gallery. And for those particularly interested in dies: The holly die is one of my trusted Marianne Design dies.

Have a good start into the new week. And I will be back with more projects as soon as other projects that are already in the pipeline are finalised.

First Ever Halloween Card

You might find it hard to believe, but up until now I have never made a Halloween themed card. But now and again stepping out of our comfort zone is good for us crafters and so I took on the challenge to work with Halloween images by Crafty Stamps.

I did not want to go too much into the scary direction and was more looking for a bit of a fun element. What about a cat that is freaked out by green light coming from a pumpkin? I created the Halloween scene in this card with the cat stamp HW102HF and the Halloween minis set HW1C6.A black Letraset fineliner came in handy for completing the scene, which is coloured in using Spectrum Noir pens. I added sparkly highlights with a Sakura gelly roll pen ' 'Clear Star'.

Further products I used include an Embossalicious embossing folder by Crafter's Companion and a Gothic Border geared punch by Tonic Studios as well as adhesive pearls from the Santa's Workshop range by Trimcraft.