Technique – die cutting

Featuring die cutting

Another purple foliage circle card

Hi there!

Next up today is my take on this week’s fabulous sketch at the Freshly Made Sketches challenge. I just love all those layers!

After trying a few items, I decided to use the Paper Rose Studio Little Foliage Circle die as my focal point. I cut it several times and coloured it with various inks. I decided to cut and layer the little flowers rather than mask them and while I was adhering them I remembered that I had coloured in purple last time I used the die – back in 2021! Cutting and adhering the flowers was MUCH quicker I think!

I used a Spellbinders embossing folder for one panel and some Craft Consortium paper for the larger strip in the sketch – I blended some purple ink over the paper so that it would tie in with my inked flowers!

The sentiment is by The Ton Stamps.

Thanks for stopping by!

LucieG.

Winter wishes Basket

Hello Everyone!

Today I’m playing along with one of my favourite challenges, the Color Throwdown. While I’m a little sad that the challenge has moved to fortnightly, I’m relieved that it is sticking around – I know that running a challenge is a lot of work for the DT/admins.

Anyway, this week’s combo is black, white and grey. Funnily enough I was going to use some layered background dies but when I checked my blog to see when I last used the plates, I discovered it was in January 2023 for the challenge that had the same combo plus red!!

So instead I used dies by The Greetery for my card. I used Craft Consortium paper for the basket – and it was MUCH easier to weave compared to cardstock!

The sentiment is also The Greetery.

I had the hardest time photographing this card! I’m STILL trying to find the best way to capture cards that don’t have a white base and sometimes it seems impossible for me…

Thanks for stopping by!

LucieG.

Pastel Always Smiling

Hello Everyone!

Last year I attended a few Pinkfresh Studio Create and Connect events and really enjoyed them. Since then I’ve been slowly growing my Pinkfresh collection and over Christmas, I picked up the beautiful Always Smiling stamp set and coordinating stencil and die sets.

The layered stencils mean that you can colour the image very quickly but of course I chose to do something different here! I loved how Raquel Arribas used different colours on different stencilled flowers so I had to try it! It was actually pretty straightforward and wasn’t as time consuming as I feared!

I used a sentiment from the set plus the largest dies from the Nested Elongated Ovals Blanket Stitched die set to create the frame. The base is the Honey Bee Stamps Dogwood Blooms 3D embossing folder.

Thanks for stopping by!

LucieG.

Butterflies for a friend

Hello everyone!

Today I’m playing along with the first Freshly Made Sketches challenge of 2025.

It’s a wonderful sketch which has a snowflake shape as the focal point, but having spent a lot of time on seasonal cards (which I LOVED), I was very ready to do something a bit different.

I chose a large butterfly die from a Spellbinders set and coloured it using the coordinating stencil. I cut and dry embossed a butterfly body from the set and I adhered the image to a pearlescent panel that I had embossed with a Spellbinders folder. I added a few Pinkfresh Studio washi butterflies to the large butterfly, reflecting the sketch.

Finally I added a Pinkfresh Studio sentiment and a few sequins to complete my card.

Thanks for stopping by!

LucieG.

Gold 2025

Hello everyone!

When I saw the Freshly Made Sketches challenge a few weeks ago, it had me somewhat stumped! Four circles! I never work in even numbers on my cards….. But I found a way with some trees, die cut all the images and then December busy-ness took over and I never got around to finishing it.

Then over Christmas I had a brainwave – the four circles would be perfectly represented with a die cut 2025!! I added my numbers to a gold mirror card base that I had embossed with an amazing 3D Sizzix folder. I added a sentiment from Waffle Flower Crafts and a few white glitter card bursts.

The card was so difficult to photograph! In the end, I had to use my alternative photo set up (rather than my light box) but the natural light was not cooperating – we have had MANY grey days recently. Finally the sun popped out this morning and I grabbed my chance – just in time before the challenge deadline! Phew!

Thanks for stopping by!

LucieG.

Christmas Boutique

Hello Everyone!

Just popping in with a mini card that I wanted to share at Christmas, but that was delayed due to a migraine!

Anyway, I picked up the Christmas Boutique die set in Spellbinders’ pre-Christmas sale and was thrilled to receive it just before Christmas. This was not on my wish list at all, but it was a real bargain so I just had to get it! I’m so glad I did as it was an absolute joy to use! I know some people may find all the little die cutting a bit fiddly but I love die cutting and colouring so I was in my element!