A Touch of Adornment

Revisiting a card made some time ago today and still very happy with it. Lots of layers on this one with Coconut White and Duck Egg Blue. The Coconut White is a subtle white if you can have such a thing! It seems to tone down the project and I think with lots of lacey detail, subtle colour is good.

The card base squares are cut with the Presscuts Squares and Stitched Squares die sets which go together perfectly. I have used, from the Configurations Collection, both Milford and Hobart forming the lacey backgrounds. In the centre, is young Sydney from the Australian Collection

The flower today is the Perfect Peony Complete Petal stamped with the matching Shaded Peony stamp set. Sentiment used is from Phill Martins Baroque sentiments and finally a little pearl corner embellishment in each corner.

Noble Lauren

 

Sometimes I spend more time trawling the internet for ideas than actually doing the craft at all, especially guilty with Pinterest and YouTube. There are some fantastic videos around and Creative Expressions seem to be adding to their collection every few days. The inspiration for todays card came from watching one of these videos and then adding a little of my own twist.

 

The beautiful background is made from the Noble Border cut from Coconut White and put onto Spearmint Green. Lauren from the Frames and Tags collection was also cut from the Coconut White and then once more from Dark Navy to give a shadow effect, with then both pieces onto Spearmint Green background. The flower, yes you've guessed it, my favourite Orange Blossom Complete Petals with matching stamp set and Orange Blossom leaves. Finally, Crystal Corners, but not used as a corner just as an embellishment. All products available at Maximumcrafts

Congratulations!

 

Do you have a favourite die to work with, use it on every card and then forget all about it?

Well for me, this is THAT die set! Why on earth haven't I used it for ages, the Noble Collection from Creative Expressions have some beautiful sets including the Ornate Pierced Squares which I have used on this card today, with Aqua, Bright White and Steel cardstock

Sometimes when you see a fancy card, those of you new to card making may be put off and think you will never be able to make such designs, but with die sets like these, the die does all the work, you just decide which colour card stock to use and run through your machine.

I like to add some mounting cushion to lift some of the design, looks nicer than just flat. I have also added some Double Sided Adhesive sheet to the background and used some Diamond Snow for a touch of subtle bling.

Finally, using the Orange Blossom Complete Petals set, I used Perfect Medium to stamp the Shaded Orange Blossom flower and then Brilliant Sparkle embossing powder in Snowcap topped off with an Aqua dazzler. The sentiment is from Presscuts, cut twice and then stuck together for a slightly more solid effect.

As always, products available on my website at Maximumcrafts



Everyone loves a nice wedding

 Everyone loves a nice wedding don't they and its full on wedding season at the moment. So today a card with a little difference in style. A triple heart easel card and some of the Special Occasion dies from the latest Creative Expressions release.

All the cardstock, apart from the red, is the new pearlised card, loving this card! I have used Icicle and Steel. The Silver Dream card is very subtle in real life and the Steel is REALLY shiny and silver, perfect for a 'posh' look.
The Arbour Gate sits proudly on the largest heart, followed by The Happy Couple in the centre and finally the Mr & Mrs from the Shadow Box collection on the smallest heart. I have cut the delicate joined hearts and the pierced heart out twice, once from Steel card and once from red velvet card from my own stock. Its a beautiful piece of colour card, but rather expensive at almost £1 per A4 sheet so I am extremely frugal with its use! However, its only a tiny piece needed here, just to add that extra 'pop' of colour.

All products available from my website at Maximumcrafts

Triple Gemini Frame

 

The lastest release back in April of Sue Wilsons dies included a new range of Gemini dies, this time called Triple Gemini dies. In the Centaurus die used on the card today, there are 5 dies in the set making it more versatile than ever. I have cut the main shape out from THE most gorgeous new Pearl Foundation card in Icicle and then using just two of the dies cut a background shape from the Duck Egg Blue foundation card to show through the lattice area.

 

The new Pearl foundation card has to be one of the best pearl card I have ever used. It is often very difficult to get a good cut with intricate dies from normal pearlised card. It has a coating, almost plastic, that often proves difficult to cut through. No problems like that now, and there are currently 10 new colours to choose from. You can find them here Maximumcrafts Pearl Foundation card

 

Another new product used on this card is the coloured Micro glass beads, here in Snow White, as the centre of the Blossom flower stamps which were stamped with Distress Ink Stormy Sky directly onto the Duck Egg cardstock and cut with the Camelia die set.

 

 

Recipe used today

Pearl Foundation card - Icicle

Foundation Card - Duck Egg Blue

Antwerp die set

Triple Gemini die - Centaurus

Crystal Corners 3

Micro Glass beads Snow White

 

Available from Maximumcrafts