Going mad with the gilding....

Good morning all in Blogland and I hope that your weekend has been going well?  And a very warm welcome to my new follower Birdy - I'm so near that 200 mark!
A lovely sunshiney morning here in our corner of the UK - so that probably means gardening (preferably without Tilly the Dog's help - see last Wednesday's post lol!) so that I can get it tidied up a bit before autumn truly arrives.  It's definitely got a touch of the 'shabby chic' about it - well, if I'm honest, just 'shabby' really.  And we've got new neighbours moving in next door so I don't want them to think our garden always looks like this lol!  We've spoken to them once or twice when they've been here measuring up, etc., and they seem a very nice couple - but I've a suspicion that they're going to have a remarkably tidy and neat garden and drive, unlike ours which usually has a selection of footballs, skateboards, etc.  I'm not fanatically houseproud (I'd like to meet a crafter who'd rather be cleaning than crafting!) but I do try to keep things vaguely under control which is sometimes an uphill challenge with teenagers constantly mooching about the place and a husband who seems averse to putting things in a bin.....! Hey ho.  And I'm definitely feeling a bit cheerier this morning as my daughter arrived home last night after over 2 weeks away.  Funny how they can sometimes seem a pain when they're constantly here - but I miss them so much when they're not!

Anyway, this card is one I had great fun making!  A colleague had seen similar colours on another card I'd made quite a while ago and love the effect, but wanted a birthday card.  So this is what I've come up with

I've used distress inks on watercolour card (I like the texture of the card on this) and then embossed with Cuttlebug 'divine swirls' folder.  I've then added some of a new toy I've been playing with, gilding wax!  Ooh I love the effect of just a little added to card and then polished up.  A very subtle shimmer.  I've used some of the extra coloured card to die cut some DooHickey doily flowers and used a gold 'stamen' die cut from Marianne and added gems coloured with promarkers.  The leaf die cut is also from Marianne.

And of course, a touch more gilding wax on the edges!  The sentiment ticket stamps and dies are from Whimsy, with some lilac ribbon from stash, and mounted onto mirri card. 

So quite a simple layout - but great fun getting messy with the inks and gilding!  Hope you like it. 

Enjoy the rest of your weekend,

Back soon,

Kim x 

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:-

Crafts Too challenge you - texture + shine

SisterAct card challenge - anything goes

Scrappers Delight - make your own embellishments

Happy Birthday CraftyCatz!

Yes, today is the 4th Birthday of the CraftyCatz challenge blog - and our 200th Challenge!  Wow!  CraftyCatz was the first Design Team that I was invited to join (over 15 months ago) - and they are the friendliest and most supportive bunch of talented crafters!

So to celebrate this special birthday there are 3 sponsor prizes this week, there is also a prize for the Top 3 and if we reach over 200 entries there will also be an extra prize!  So what are you waiting for?!  The challenge for this week - appropriately enough! - is Birthdays!  So we want to see a happy birthday sentiment somewhere on the front of your card!  Easy Peasy!  The CraftyCatz team have produced some fabulous inspiration for you - so do have a look on the challenge blog and then join us with your birthday crafty creations.

For my birthday card I've used the gorgeous PomPom fairy from LOTV and gone all pink and girly (no surprises there then.... LOTV, pink, fluffy.....lol!).

I've coloured her with copics and added some glamour dust too! 

The backing papers are from First Edition 'Birdsong' and I've embossed some coredinations card with a CraftsToo folder.  The 'Friendship Recipe' on the tag is from LOTV, as are the little sentiment tags. 

The fence is DooHickey 'lovely fence' die, and I've added some ribbon, bling and butterfly button from stash. 

So do pop over to the CraftyCatz blog and then join us with your birthday creations.

Back soon,

Kim x 

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:-

Sparkles Monthly challenge - fairies

Cute Card Thursday - ribbon

Crafters Cafe - die cuts/punches

Pollycraft Challenges - birthday girls

Inky Chicks - pretty in pink 

LEJ Designs - lots of layers

A naughty dog and a splash of orange!

Good morning all and I hope that you're ok?  Wednesday already?  Thought I'd better put on a post before I finish doing those h****work jobs I need to do before heading off to work.  And hoping that Tilly the Dog behaves and I let her off the naughty step!  She's nearly 9 years old and has just discovered a new hobby that she's really enjoying - digging in the garden.......!  Even as a puppy she never used to dig so I (foolishly) assumed that she never would.  However, a couple of weeks ago I suddenly caught her in one of the raised beds where I'd taken the summer bedding plants out as they were looking a bit sad - and she was quite happily digging a hole.  Now I can't decide if she thought she'd join in and do a bit of landscaping for me, or whether she's feeling depressed, fed up with all our family, and has decided to perform a bit of a 'Great Escape' option and make a bid for freedom.  But the main downside of the digging is that she obviously feels so thrilled with her own efforts that she then gallops right through the house and then leaps onto the sofa - and I should point out that we have big soft squishy CREAM sofas (although in case you were concerned for my sanity, I did actually get those before the dog!).  I'm not keen on big muddy pawprints as an interior design feature - hence rather firm words being had, threats of rehoming kennels and Tilly the Dog being on the naughty step.  And to top it all, she's done it twice in the last couple of days - and just before I set off for work. Sigh.....

Right - Tilly the Dog tales over with for a while!  Sorry!  This card was a commission card - someone saw the cute LOTV stamp that's on a card on my blog header and asked if she could have a card with that on for her husband as he used to have a scooter he loved.  But she also said that he loved the colour orange, so please could the scooter be that colour! (And thankfully she loved the result!)

Now I wouldn't automatically have picked orange - but I think it looks ok!  I've coloured the image with promarkers and a touch of pencil

The backing papers are from First Edition.  The wonderful sentiment stamp is from Inkylicious and I've added faux stitching, a Marianne die cut flower with button from stash and a MemoryBox 'hanging star'. 

And the inside decorated to match. 

Hope you like it.

I'd better head off and finish those jobs - and keep a beady eye on that gardening dog....

Back soon,

Kim x 

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:-

Ooh la la - cards for men

Kaboodle Doodles - orange

Cutie Pie Challenge - cute cards for men

Card Mania - use at least one button

Passion for Promarkers - one for the boys

Love to create - colour inspiration

Fashionable stamping - autumn colours

A Christmas Easel

Hello all and I hope that your week has started well.  Busy at work today - this is the start of week 4 in my new job and I'm really enjoying it.  It's a good team of people that I'm working with, and there is a constant stream of staff and boys coming through (I'm in the office at a boys grammar school!) so no two days are the same - which is great!  But it's a big school (about 1100 boys, mostly day boys like my son, but nearly 200 are boarders as well) so it's going to take me some time to get to know all the staff, etc.  And my poor brain cells are pretty overloaded as it is, so I'm hoping it won't take me too long!

Anyway, I just wanted to share a Christmas card with you made with Nikky Hall's fabulous new cd 'Home for Christmas'

This is a fantastic cd with some wonderful images, papers and embellishments.  I've used a topper from the cd and just added a little glossy accents to the holly berries, some distress ink and some stitching

I decided to make an easel card.  I used a different paper design from the cd to make a rosette and added a button & silver bells from stash.  The sentiment is mounted on kraft card with a Spellbinders 'floral ovals' die. 

I hope you like it!  And don't forget to check out the cd on the Polkadoodles website HERE

Back soon ,

Kim x 

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:-

Challenges 4 everybody - anything goes

One Stitch at a time - anything goes

A creative romance - dies/punches

Jellypark Challenges - sentiment

All pink and girly!

Hello all and I hope that your weekend has been going well?  A bright and dry morning here in our little corner of the UK - and not too chilly either which is great!  And a peaceful morning for us too as, for once, it's just hubby and me (plus dog and cat of course!).  Daughter is still down in Sussex helping her boyfriend settle in to his new Uni as he starts his PhD (she'll be back next weekend), and son stayed at his friend's last night - which all makes a great change from us having the usual 'youth hostel' type house that we have at weekends with various bodies coming and going!  Mind you, much as we enjoy the occasional peaceful interlude, I'm not sure how well I'll adapt when they've all flown the nest - it'll feel very quiet and empty.  I'll just have to do more crafting to occupy me won't I.... lol!

The card I've got for you today was made for a colleague for her daughter and she said she liked 'dogs, cats, pink, purples, glitter, etc' - so that was a really difficult one for me - not! lol!

I've used the LOTV stamp 'A saucer of milk' - such a cutie!  I've coloured the image with copics and promarkers with some added pearly drops

The backing papers are from Hunkydory.  I've added the LalaLand heart banner and some flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts (that have had a touch of glamour dust added!) and a sheer ribbon bow and heart. The sentiment is from LOTV with some gems from stash. 

And the inside decorated to match

And thankfully she seemed to like the finished product! 

Before I go I thought I'd share a little photo with you.  Those who've been following me a while (and thank you for your endurance!) may remember me mentioning Tilly the Dog's best friend Monty, a gorgeous big bear of a Newfoundland dog who lives with one of my closest friends. Well, Monty has acquired a little 'brother' who my friend Sarah picked up this week.  Merlin is 8 weeks old and is the cutest baby bear

Well, I just had to go for puppy cuddles yesterday didn't I?  At least while I could still pick him up!  He's 8 weeks old and already weighs 11kg.  Isn't he cute? 

Anyway, less waffle!  I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend. 

I'll be back soon,

Kim x 

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:-

Lili of the Valley challenge - ribbon or lace

Chocolate, Coffee and Cards - anything goes

Charisma Cardz - favourite colour combo (shades of pinks and lilacs)

Crafty Ribbons - anything goes + ribbon

In the Pink - bling it up

PaperCrafting Journey - flowers

Inky Chicks - pretty in pink

Time for a little decoupage!

Good morning all and I hope that you've had a good week and are looking forward to the weekend?  I know I am!  And how come we're heading so fast towards the end of September - I don't know where the last few weeks have gone!
Anyway, it's time for a new challenge over at CraftyCatz.  We had some fabulous 'male' cards last week so if you joined us don't forget to check back tomorrow for our winner and top 3.  But today my lovely DT teammate Dianne has challenged us to use 'decoupage'!
Last week was my lovely sister and brother-in-law's anniversary, and as they are keen lovers of nature and birdlife, I thought this gorgeous image from Hunkydory was ideal for them

And the image is decoupaged with a couple of layers

I've added some WOC cherry blossoms , sheer ribbon from Joanna Sheen and a charm from stash.

 And some matching card for the inside too! 

So I hope you'll join us with your 'decoupage' creations over at CraftyCatz - and do check out the challenge blog to see the fantastic inspiration from the DT and for some exciting news about next week's challenge as it will be our 200th! 

Back soon,

Kim x 

Christmas Recipes!

Hello all and I hope that your week has been going well?  And it's not too long until the weekend so I hope that you have something nice planned - even if it's just chance to relax a bit (or do some crafting lol!).  Thank you for all your good wishes re 'The Tooth Saga'!  After two visits to my dentist this week it's feeling a lot easier at the moment.  The swelling has gone down so I'm not quite so scary to look at any more - well, no more than usual anyway (especially in the mornings).  The antibiotics have nearly finished so I'm hoping that things have settled and there won't be another flare up before I get my appointment to see the specialist at the hospital.  It's a good job that I have a lovely dentist who is so quiet and gentle - although sometimes I worry that he thinks I'm some weird stalker!  The last time I had problems I seemed to keep bumping in to him in local supermarkets, stores, etc. and had to reassure him that I wasn't following him.....!

So just a quick card to share with you - and another addition to the Christmas card box!

I've used papers from Dovecraft and lots of distress inks!  The tags were made with coredinations card, sanded at the edges, with the 'Christmas Recipes' stamps from LOTV. 

I've added a Spellbinders die cut poinsettia with a pearl brad centre.  The sheer ribbon is from Joanna Sheen.  And the inside is decorated to match.

Quite a simple one, but I hope you like it. 

Back soon,

Kim x 

Blue for a boy!

Hello all and just a quick post from me. Sorry for being absent from Blogland for a few days but having some problems - I mentioned a month or so ago about a cyst in my upper jaw, and unfortunately it flared up badly over the weekend.  I won't go into the gory details, but now have numerous antibiotics and painkillers, had to have treatment yesterday and back again tomorrow.  But at least the swelling has started to reduce a bit - I looked like an extra from a Shrek film!  Or, as my husband and son put it, I looked like one of those warning pictures for what happens when botox goes wrong....  That made me feel so much better - NOT!  Good job I know they love me really lol!  Anyway, once all the meds have got working and I feel a bit more normal, I'll hopefully get back to the craft table and have a surf round Blogland!

Just thought I'd share a card that I made a few days ago (before problems!). This is using Lili of the Valley stamp 'Lazy Afternoon'

I've coloured the image with copics and Graph its and used some Panpastel and chalks on the background. 

The backing papers are from LOTV, with coredinations card. I've added Marianne die cut leaves and Spellbinders 'persian accents' die cuts on the corners. The sentiment tags are also from LOTV, with some seam binding ribbon. 

So quite a simple one, but I love these cute LOTV boys! 

I hope that your week goes well - and I'll be back soon (and visiting blogs!).  Thanks for all your lovely comments - they always mean so much and give me the encouragement to keep crafting even when I'm feeling a bit fed up with everything! 

Kim x 

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:-

Bunny Zoes Challenges - something blue

Cutie Pie Challenge - cute cards for boys

Stamp and Create - birthdays

PanPastel UK Challenge - make it blue

For the boys!

Hello all and, yippee! it's Friday!  It feels as though it's been a busy week this week, so I'm hoping I can get some 'time out' this weekend to relax a little and get some crafting done too!  The weather forecast for us on Sunday is threatening us with an 'autumnal storm' (i.e. heavy rain & wind!) so that's probably going to be a good day for crafting and baking - two of my favourite 'relaxation therapies'.

As it's Friday it's time for a new challenge over at CraftyCatz and this week was my turn to host the challenge - so I decided to go for crafty creations for the male of the species!  I know that some people struggle with 'boy' cards, but there are so many fabulous stamps and digis about now that are great for mens and boys cards.
I've used a fantastic 'Gus' digi stamp from Bugaboo - this one is 'over the hill'

I've coloured the image with copics and Graph it pens

I've used red core impressions card, mirri card and embossed some green card with the Cuttlebug 'happy birthday' folder.  The 'over the hill' sentiment comes with the digi, and I've added a 'happy birthday' sentiment with a Whimsy stamp and then coloured some gems with my pens as I didn't have any green bling!  It's so handy buying white or clear gems and pearls and then colouring them to match!  So a relatively CAS card for me - but I don't think men's cards need much extra embellishment. 

So I do hope you'll have a look at the fabulous inspiration from the DT at CraftyCatz and then join us with your 'male' creations! 

Hope you have a great weekend! 

Back soon,

Kim x 

It's a blue Christmas

Hello all and I hope that your week is going well?  It seems to have been a hectic start to my week - some weeks are just like that aren't they?  I've got quite a few cards I need to get done for orders for people and then added onto family things like my son's birthday and my daughter heading off for 2 weeks - not to mention getting to grips with a new job! - and I'm definitely keeping busy lol!

And thank you all for your kind comments - they really do mean so much.  I've certainly got into the swing of Christmas cards and have another one to share with you using a gorgeous LOTV stamp 'Christmas Star'

I've coloured the stamp with copics and added some flowersoft on the 'fur' trim and lots of glamour dust glitter! 

The backing papers are from K&Co and LOTV.  I've added a pompom trim and a die cut tree (Memory Box 'Elyse tree'), ribbon from stash and button & snowflake charm.

The sentiment is also from LOTV. 

Hope you like my 'blue Christmas'! 

I promise to try and catch up with everyone's blogs over the next couple of days - and big apologies for being a bad blogger!  Sometimes time just runs away from me! 

Back soon,

Kim x 

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:-

Craft Room Challenge - trees/leaves

Ladybug Crafts - winter wonderland

Bunny Zoes Crafts - something blue

Craft Your Passion - glitter

Cutie Pie Challenge - cute christmas

Some special 'Dad' time!

Hello all and I hope that you've had a good start to your week?  I can't believe it's Monday again already - how come the weekends seem to fly past so quickly?  And it's my youngest's birthday today - yes, Jack is now 15 years old!  Where did that go then?  I'm sure it was only 5 minutes ago that I was chasing round to keep up with him, trying to stop him filling the washing machine with his toys, explaining that colouring on his bedroom walls really wasn't the best thing to do, and that playing hide and seek in busy shops definitely wasn't good for mummy's blood pressure.....  It's strange how all the things that stressed you out at the time are the things we look back on and laugh about (well, most of them lol!).  And despite my occasional moans, he is a fantastic son - he's coped well with having 3 big sisters, and thankfully has a brilliant sense of humour so I'm hoping that bodes well for his future!

Anyway, the card I have to share with you today has a gorgeous digi from the magical pencil of Mo!  When I saw this image I just had to smile - our offspring always loved spending time with their Dad (who is the most placid, patient and kind man - who thankfully has a wonderful sense of humour!).

The image is called 'Boughs for the wreath' - I've coloured the image with copics and Graph it pens. I decided to use a 'window' style of layout with acetate, and added some 'snow' to the acetate with a white pen. 

The backing papers are from LOTV with some kraft card. I've added a Spellbinder's 'poinsettia' with some pearls from stash. The gingham ribbon is from Joanna Sheen, with a button and some bells from stash (and they really do jingle lol!).  The sentiment is from LOTV. 

Hope you like it!

And I hope you have a good week - and manage to have some crafty time! 

Back soon,

Kim x 

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:-

Mo's Digital Challenge - anything goes

Glitter n Sparkle - add a bow

One Stitch at a time - use a digi

Stampin with the Dragon - button and bow

CRAFT - Christmas

Inky Chicks - stitching real or faux

Some cute little mice

Hello all and I hope that your weekend has been going well?  After plenty of rain on Friday and yesterday, we've got bright sunshine this morning so I suppose I should make the most of it!  The garden is looking somewhat shabby - after all the summer flowers, etc., have started to fade and disappear, it all starts to look a bit sad!  So I suppose I should really get the wellies on and head out to do battle while the sun is shining - but I confess that I'm feeling a bit weary after this first week in a new job and, to be honest, would rather slouch about on the sofa but I don't think there'll be much chance of that!  We had the usual gathering of teenagers (although as my daughter and her boyfriend are now 20 and 21 I don't think technically they are teenagers any more lol) and the usual feeding of the troops - goodness knows how much our food bill will drop once they've all left home!  But I'd rather be short on cash and have them all here - I've a horrible feeling I'm going to suffer terrible 'empty nest' syndrome when they all pack up and wave 'bye bye'! But I'm not thinking about that yet!

Anyway, it's time for a new challenge over at the Joanna Sheen Challenge blog and this one is a lovely easy one - 'Ribbons'!  We'd love to see your crafty creations with some ribbon on there somewhere, but don't forget that if you want to be in with a chance of winning the £15 voucher for Joanna Sheen's fabulous online store, you need to use a Joanna Sheen product in your entry!

I've used a gorgeous House Mouse stamp 'Autumn - Berries'

I've coloured the image with copics and promarkers

I've added some glossy accents to the berries - but sadly, it doesn't show up well on the pics! 

The papers are coredinations card and Teresa Collins. I've added some die cut leaves using Spellbinders 'fall  foliage'.  The sheer ribbons are from Joanna Sheen. and the charm, little wooden peg & button are from stash.

Hope you like it! 

So get all your ribbons out (well, I daren't do that as I'd never see my desk again - I've got a bit of a fetish for ribbons and buttons.....) and join us for the Joanna Sheen Challenge! 

Back soon,

Kim x 

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:-

Simon Says Stamp - animal antics

Catch the Bug - anything goes

Brown Sugar - animals

Wags n Whiskers - ribbons and bows

Crafty Ribbons - anything goes with ribbon

Crafty Little Fairies - cute n cuddly critters

For a special birthday

Hi and I'm back again!  It's time for a new challenge over at the Polkadoodles Challenge and this week we have a great challenge - a creation for a 'Significant Birthday'!

So I decided to make a gift box rather than a card - and a special one for a 21st Birthday Present!  I've used papers from the Polkadoodles Studio 12 cd 'Picknix' which is a fabulous resource for some gorgeous papers and images.

The box is about 6" square.  I've added lots of 'antique linen', 'worn lipstick' and 'vintage photo'. The numbers are on the cd, so I printed them out and mounted them onto coredinations card. 

I've used some of the scraps of paper, added some faux stitching and made a 'patchwork' panel.  Then a seam binding bow, key charm and button to finish.

So do have a look at the gorgeous creations from the DT over at Polkadoodles - there are some great ideas!  And then join us with your 'Significant Birthday' creations! 

Back soon,

Kim x 

Enjoy a good book?

Hello all and I hope you have all had a good week?  I've had a busy one - but a really good one!  I'm enjoying the new job (even though my brain is still struggling to take everything on board!) and it's good to get everyone back into some sort of routine again after the summer hols! My daughter Lauren is helping her boyfriend get ready as he's heading off down to Sussex at the end of next week to start his PhD, and she's going down with him for a couple of weeks before her 3rd year at Uni starts.  And we'll be bracing ourselves at home - on Monday it's our son Jack's 15th birthday.  What happened to my cute little boy?  I took my eyes off him for a moment and he turned into a lanky teenager with a deep voice and an unfillable stomach lol!  It's quite scary how fast the years fly past.  He's already got his birthday pressie - an electro-acoustic guitar! So we are being treated to musical snippets drifting down from his room but thankfully he is quite good!

Anyway, as it's Friday it's time for a new challenge over at CraftyCatz and this week our lovely Jac has given us the challenge of 'bookmarks' to celebrate the opening of Britain's first free library on 6th September 1852! (You see, you can learn useful facts as well as look at crafts lol!).  We are sponsored this week by Alota stamps and I've used one of their images on my creation

The backing papers are from Hunkydory, with a Tonic border punch edge.  I've added a DooHickey die cut doily flower with a pearl centre. 

I've coloured the imaged with copics and added ribbon from stash and a flower brad.

I hope you'll have a look at the fantastic inspiration from the DT at CraftyCatz and the variety of bookmarks - and then join us with your own! 

Back soon,

Kim x 

Angelberry Christmas!

Hello all and I hope that your week has been going well?  I'm sat here with my brain in a complete fog!  I started my new job on Monday (and thank you for all your good wishes!) and I've definitely reached data overload point!  One of the reasons I was excited about my new job is that in my old office it was very quiet, the majority of contact with clients via email, etc.  And I prefer the 'people' contact bit!  So I seem to have moved from the 'sublime to the ridiculous' as they say!  It's like working in Piccadilly Circus!  But I'm really enjoying it!  I'm at an all boys grammar school in the general office so there is a constant stream of staff and boys in and out.  It's a big and busy school (about 1100 boys - and it's also part-boarding school!) so of course the start of term is bound to be busy - but I've a feeling that it's going to stay busy all year!  My main problem at the moment is that there is so much to take in and try to remember - I could do with extra memory banks or an 'external hard drive' fitted to my brain!  Hey ho.  I'm sure I'll eventually start to absorb it! At least my son (who is a pupil there) called in to see me yesterday - I think he's come around to the idea that I'm working at his school!  Although I have threatened now that if he's too much of a pain at home, I'll ask if I get a 'staff discount' on the boarding fees lol!

Anyway, less waffling! I've another Christmas card to share with you today made with the fabulous Angelberry Christmas cd from Polkadoodles.

I've used copics and some of my new graph-it pens, and added lots of glamour dust to the wings! 

The papers are from the cd. I've added a Tonic punched border, some ribbon and punched snowflakes. So quite a simple card but I wanted the focus to be the Angel. 

And don't forget there is still time to enter the challenge over at the Polkadoodles Challenge blog.  You have to use an Angelberry image - and if you haven't got one, Nikky is offering a free digi stamp worth £2.95 and the details are on the challenge blog! 

Back soon,

Kim x 

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:-

Sparkles Forum Christmas Challenge - non-traditional colours

Digi Galore - anything goes

Papertake weekly - anything goes

Creative Card Crew - things with wings

Tealight Gift Card - Tutorial

The DT at Joanna Sheen Challenge blog have been taking turns doing tutorials on all sorts of crafting goodies - and this was my turn! I'm not over-confident about doing these tutorials so be gentle with me lol!   This is a cross between a card and a gift, and there are a few different variations on this on the web – but I think this is a nice, straightforward one – but apologies for the overload of photos! 

I’ve used Joanna Sheen’s new cd ‘Age of Elegance’ which you can check out here.

You will need:-

Sheet of card – 22cm x 20cm

Sheet of card – 24.5cm x 15cm

2 A4 sheets of backing papers and a topper

Small piece of acetate – 12cm x 8cm

Embellishments of choice

Edge punch

Distress ink

Ribbon

6 tealights

Starting with the box for the tealights. On the 22x20 piece of card, score along the longer side at 8cm, 10cm, 18cm and 20cm

And then score along the 20cm side at 2cm, 4cm, 16cm and 18cm

Cut out the corners as shown (I’ve shown this on white card so that score lines can be seen easier!)

I’ve used a Spellbinder label die to cut an aperture and then backed this with some acetate and double sided tape. Use double sided tape or strong glue to secure the box together, remembering to leave one end open for inserting the tealights!

Now for the card! Using the 24.5x15 card, score 11cm from either end of the longer side

I’ve used an edge punch and distress inks on both sides of the card

The design papers are used to decorate both the inside and outside of the card (I think it's easier to do this in 'panels' as it allows the card to fold easier).

The tealight box can then be secured inside the card with some strong double sided tape or glue.

I’ve then used some mulberry paper flowers, a die cut swirl and some ribbon to wrap around the box to tie. 

I hope you find this tutorial useful and it can easily be adapted for chocolates or soap etc for other gifts!

Hope you find this useful!  I'd love to hear your thoughts! 

Back soon,

Kim x