Welcome

There is currently a problem that I’m working on which means that clicking on new photographs that have been added to the galleries does not lead to the full size picture or give details of the dies used. Until I can resolve this (bearing in mind I’m a bit of dinosaur when it comes to I.T.), I will be including die details with all new posts where possible and at least one full sized image. Older entries to the galleries are not affected.

PLEASE NOTE, I ONLY TAKE COMMISSIONS FROM FROM FRIENDS & FAMILY.

Hi there, welcome to my website which is my way of sharing my crafting journey with the world. I have been a creative person for virtually all of my life, and, like many, have had a go a pretty much every form of creative craft at one time or another. Nowadays I am predominantly a paper crafter making bespoke cards for friends and family and their friends. My passion is die cutting. I am lucky to have a number of different die cutting machines and thousands of dies. I also, when the mood takes me, like to write the odd verse or two. I also share pictures of my makes on Pinterest and on my Facebook page, both of which you will find by clicking on the links.

N.B. If you’ve signed up for the newsletter, you’ll need to add me to your accepted/address list as some people are finding them going into their Spam/Trash Folders

If you want details of the dies, materials etc used to make the various cards then click on the thumbnail pictures in the galleries and you should get a full size picture with all the details below.

This entry was posted in General.

Just The ‘Tonic’ For Special Christmas Greetings

I always try to come up with something different for my own family Christmas Cards (Christmas Extra Special). Over the years I’ve made cards, plaques, lanterns etc. I saw a fabulous set of dies by Tonic that make a Christmas bauble gift box. I was totally smitten and had to have it. I used it to make my family Christmas cards. I added an insert section to the centre of the bauble to convey my greeting and used the space below to add some Christmas sweets. I have to say this was a labour of love, it took many hours of die cutting and still more hours to assemble all the pieces (if you have made these, you’ll appreciate just how many pieces there are to make just one bauble, I made 7). The end result was worth it and they were very well received. I used Card Making Magic dies for the sentiments inside the baubles.

Christmas Bauble card & gift in one. Made using Tonic Studios Decorative Christmas Bauble die set. - craftybabscreativecrafts.co.uk
Christmas Bauble card & gift in one. Made using Tonic Studios Decorative Christmas Bauble die set. - craftybabscreativecrafts.co.uk

3 Of A Kind Xmas cards – Spot The Odd One Out

I made these for my friend to send to her close family. She liked the design I’d sent to her the previous year and requested that for her family cards. The ‘odd one out’ is the one with the nativity die cut, this was for her In-Laws who always appreciate a religious themed card. They are tall thin cards made from A4 folded in half. I used paper printed from Hot Off The Press ‘Vintage Christmas’ CD Rom at 50% transparency for the background. I stamped and heat embossed this using snowflake stamps from the cover gift with issue 100 of Creative Stamping Magazine. I used various dies including: Sizzix Framelits Die Set 4PK – Stars, Primitive, Spellbinders – Shapeabilities – Layered Poinsettia, Memory Box Chloe stem die, flourish die from LR0116 – Marianne Creatables set, Spellbinders Die Foliage and Tattered Lace Let It Snow Die Set. Nativity bauble free with Issue 83 of Die Cutting Essentials magazine, Background stamped and heat embossed with snowflake stamps from cover gift with issue 100 of Creative Stamping magazine.

Tall thin A4 folded in half Star Christmas card made using paper printed from Hot Off The Press 'Vintage Christmas' CD Rom at 50% transparency and various dies including: Sizzix Framelits Die Set 4PK - Stars, Primitive, Spellbinders - Shapeabilities - Layered Poinsettia, Memory Box Chloe stem die, flourish die from LR0116 - Marianne Creatables set, Spellbinders Die Foliage and Tattered Lace Let It Snow Die Set. Nativity bauble free with Issue 83 of Die Cutting Essentials magazine, Background stamped and heat embossed with snowflake stamps from cover gift with issue 100 of Creative Stamping magazine. - craftybabscreativecrafts.co.uk
Tall thin A4 folded in half Star Christmas card made using paper printed from Hot Off The Press 'Vintage Christmas' CD Rom at 50% transparency and various dies including: Sizzix Framelits Die Set 4PK - Stars, Primitive, Spellbinders - Shapeabilities - Layered Poinsettia, Memory Box Chloe stem die, flourish die from LR0116 - Marianne Creatables set, Spellbinders Die Foliage and Tattered Lace Let It Snow Die Set. Background stamped and heat embossed with snowflake stamps from cover gift with issue 100 of Creative Stamping magazine. :-craftybabscreativecrafts.co.uk
Tall thin A4 folded in half Star Christmas card made using paper printed from Hot Off The Press 'Vintage Christmas' CD Rom at 50% transparency and various dies including: Sizzix Framelits Die Set 4PK - Stars, Primitive, Spellbinders - Shapeabilities - Layered Poinsettia, Memory Box Chloe stem die, flourish die from LR0116 - Marianne Creatables set, Spellbinders Die Foliage and Tattered Lace Let It Snow Die Set. Nativity bauble free with Issue 83 of Die Cutting Essentials magazine, Background stamped and heat embossed with snowflake stamps from cover gift with issue 100 of Creative Stamping magazine. - craftybabscreativecrafts.co.uk

Personalised St Nick Christmas Card

This card was a last minute request by a friend to give to his girlfriend. I’ve made similar cards before so this was quick to reproduce, given that I could copy my previous cards. It’s an 8″ Square card base with the front folded back. I used patterned card for the background and the toppers were made using the following dies:- Unbranded nesting Stitched octagon dies, Sizzix – Tim Holtz – Christmas – Thinlits Dies – Jolly St. Nick, unbranded stitched tag dies, Spellbinders layered poinsettia dies and Sizzix thinlits Tim Holtz script alphabet dies.

Large 8" Square Christmas card made using a recycled Christmas card for the background and toppers made using the following dies:- Unbranded nesting Stitched octagon dies, Sizzix - Tim Holtz - Christmas - Thinlits Dies - Jolly St. Nick, unbranded stitched tag dies and Sizzix thinlits Tim Holtz script alphabet dies. - craftybabscreativecrafts.co.uk

Great Big Xmas Wishes For A Special Wife

Christmas Extra Special Extra Large A4 landscape double ‘Z’ fold Christmas card made for a friend to give to his wife. They have a little Scottie dog and he requested that one be included. See below the images for details of dies used.

Extra Large A4 Landscape Christmas card. Double 'Z' fold. Made using various dies including :- Quickutz Limited Edition revolution Dog die, Spellbinders shapeabilities Layered Poinsettia die set, Sizzix thinlits Holiday greens dies, Cardmaking Magic Holly & Ivy die set (free with issue 55 of Die Cutting essentials) for foliage and Christmas roses, Bright Rosa berry sprigs, Sue Wilson Mini Expressions Stacked Merry Christmas Craft Die and Unbranded nesting Stitched octagon dies. - craftybabscreativecrafts.co.uk
Extra Large A4 Landscape Christmas card. Double 'Z' fold. Made using various dies including :- Quickutz Limited Edition revolution Dog die, Spellbinders shapeabilities Layered Poinsettia die set, Sizzix thinlits Holiday greens dies, Cardmaking Magic Holly & Ivy die set (free with issue 55 of Die Cutting essentials) for foliage and Christmas roses, Bright Rosa berry sprigs, Sue Wilson Mini Expressions Stacked Merry Christmas Craft Die and Unbranded nesting Stitched octagon dies. - craftybabscreativecrafts.co.uk
Extra Large A4 Landscape Christmas card. Double 'Z' fold. Made using various dies including :- Quickutz Limited Edition revolution Dog die, Spellbinders shapeabilities Layered Poinsettia die set, Sizzix thinlits Holiday greens dies, Cardmaking Magic Holly & Ivy die set (free with issue 55 of Die Cutting essentials) for foliage and Christmas roses, Bright Rosa berry sprigs, Sue Wilson Mini Expressions Stacked Merry Christmas Craft Die and Unbranded nesting Stitched octagon dies. - craftybabscreativecrafts.co.uk

Double ‘Z’ fold. Made using various dies including :- Quickutz Limited Edition revolution Dog die, Spellbinders shapeabilities Layered Poinsettia die set, Sizzix thinlits Holiday greens dies, Cardmaking Magic Holly & Ivy die set (free with issue 55 of Die Cutting essentials) for foliage and Christmas roses, Bright Rosa berry sprigs, Sue Wilson Mini Expressions Stacked Merry Christmas Craft Die and Unbranded nesting Stitched octagon dies.

‘Popping Up’ For A Sister’s 60th Birthday

I just had to make an extra special card ( Ladies Large / Extra Special ) to send to my sister who was celebrating her 60th birthday. I couldn’t decide on a theme so went for Champagne bottles with personalised labels, stars and birthday presents on this Super-sized (22cm wide when opened up) pop up box card. For details of the dies I used, see below the images.

Pop Up Box landscape 60th birthday card made using various dies including; custom made wooden champagne bottles die, Spellbinders nesting stars dies, XCut star flourish dies, Quickutz cookie cutter nesting balloons die set, Cuttlebug cut and emboss presents and Crealies Cardzz Numbers dies. - craftybabscreativecrafts.co.uk
Pop Up Box landscape 60th birthday card made using various dies including; custom made wooden champagne bottles die, Spellbinders nesting stars dies, XCut star flourish dies, Quickutz cookie cutter nesting balloons die set, Cuttlebug cut and emboss presents and Crealies Cardzz Numbers dies. - craftybabscreativecrafts.co.uk

Pop Up Box landscape 60th birthday card made using various dies including; custom made wooden champagne bottles die, Spellbinders nesting stars dies, XCut star flourish dies, Quickutz cookie cutter nesting balloons die set, Cuttlebug cut and emboss presents and Crealies Cardzz Numbers dies.

Tool ‘Blocks’ Birthday Card

I made this for my Son-in-law for his birthday. Making cards for family always poses a challenge, in that I try to come up with something different each time. I loved making this Mens pop-up / kinetic card, the card base was inspired by an idea I originally saw on Pinterest, I’ve made one previously for my Brother-in-law and liked how it turned out. They are very effective and fold flat easily for posting. See below images for dies used.

Triple Cube Pop Up Box Masculine Birthday card made using patterned papers and various dies including; Spellbinders 'All the tools' dies, unbranded alphabet dies and unknown brand layered sentiment dies. - craftybabscreativecrafts.co.uk
Triple Cube Pop Up Box Masculine Birthday card made using patterned papers and various dies including; Spellbinders 'All the tools' dies, unbranded alphabet dies and unknown brand layered sentiment dies. - craftybabscreativecrafts.co.uk

Triple Cube Pop Up Box Masculine Birthday card made using patterned papers and various dies including; Spellbinders ‘All the tools’ dies, unbranded alphabet dies and unknown brand layered sentiment dies.

Floral Wedding Wishes

This neutral coloured Floral Wedding card was made for my daughter to give to her friends. The design and colour scheme were influenced by the wedding invitation. See below images for dies used.

Wedding Card made using various dies including:- Nested Hearts dies By Daisy Mae, Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms dies, Tattered Lace Leaves embossing folder. Sentiments printed. - craftybabscreativecrafts.co.uk
Wedding Card made using various dies including:- Nested Hearts dies By Daisy Mae, Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms dies, Tattered Lace Leaves embossing folder. Sentiments printed. - craftybabscreativecrafts.co.uk

Wedding Card made using various dies including:- Nested Hearts dies By Daisy Mae, Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms dies, Tattered Lace Leaves embossing folder. Sentiments printed.

25 Reasons To Celebrate

Here are two Anniversary Special Dates Silver Wedding Anniversary cards made for friends. One is a modern kinetic flip card including ‘then and now’ photographs of the happy couple, the other, a more classic elegant design. See below images for dies used.

Kinetic Flip Silver Wedding Anniversary card Made using Made To Surprise 5"x7" Flip Mechanism Die Set, Unbranded layered Sentiment dies, Sizzix thinlits Bottles & Glasses die set 665186, - craftybabscreativecrafts.co.uk

Kinetic Flip card Made using various dies including; Made To Surprise 5″x7″ Flip Mechanism Die Set, Unbranded layered Sentiment dies, Sizzix thinlits Bottles & Glasses die set 665186,

Silver Wedding Anniversary card made using a variety of dies including Tonic Studios Intrica Romantic Vine Die Set ovals, Spellbinders nesting plain & scalloped hearts, Memory box Norrland Flowers dies, Cheery Lynn baby’s breath, Britannia alphabet dies, Tattered Lace Wedding Anniversary sentiments, Spellbinders romantic agenda heart and swirls decorative strip dies. - craftybabscreativecrafts.co.uk
Silver Wedding Anniversary card made using a variety of dies including Tonic Studios Intrica Romantic Vine Die Set ovals, Spellbinders nesting plain & scalloped hearts, Memory box Norrland Flowers dies, Cheery Lynn baby’s breath, Britannia alphabet dies, Tattered Lace Wedding Anniversary sentiments, Spellbinders romantic agenda heart and swirls decorative strip dies. - craftybabscreativecrafts.co.uk

Silver Wedding Anniversary card made using a variety of dies including Tonic Studios Intrica Romantic Vine Die Set ovals, Spellbinders nesting plain & scalloped hearts, Memory box Norrland Flowers dies, Cheery Lynn baby’s breath, Britannia alphabet dies, Tattered Lace Wedding Anniversary sentiments, Spellbinders romantic agenda heart and swirls decorative strip dies.

Another Flippin Masculine Birthday

I was kind of caught on the hop and needed to make a birthday card (Men’s General) for my daughter’s boyfriend in a hurry. I copied one I’d made previously for my nephew’s 30th birthday. I’ve done plenty of golf themed ones in the past for him so this ‘Cheers’ one made a nice change and had the added surprise of the kinetic flip mechanism. I used the Made using Made To Surprise 5″x7″ Flip Mechanism Die Set to make this along with various Sentiment dies, Sizzix Thinlits Elle Upper and Lower case Alphabet dies, Sizzix Tim Holtz thinlits ‘Happy Hour’ die set Alinacutle ‘Happy Birthday’ sentiment dies.

Kinetic Flip Birthday card Made using Made To Surprise 5"x7" Flip Mechanism Die Set, various Sentiment dies, Sizzix Thinlits Elle Upper and Lower case Alphabet dies, Sizzix Tim Holtz thinlits 'Happy Hour' die set and unbranded 'Happy Birthday' sentiment dies. - craftybabscreativecrafts.co.uk
Kinetic Flip Birthday card Made using Made To Surprise 5"x7" Flip Mechanism Die Set, various Sentiment dies, Sizzix Thinlits Elle Upper and Lower case Alphabet dies, Sizzix Tim Holtz thinlits 'Happy Hour' die set and unbranded 'Happy Birthday' sentiment dies. - craftybabscreativecrafts.co.uk

Pop Up Wedding Wishes

This design has proved popular, especially for Wedding cards (Wedding General). This is the last of four cards I was asked to make for the same happy couple. The challenge with multiple orders like this is to come up with completely different designs as they will all end up on the same mantlepiece. This version is made entirely from luxury double sided pearlescent card and colour (grey) has been added using Hickory Smoke distress ink in the embossing folder and also to colour other elements through the dies. Dies used to create this included :- Spellbinders nesting plain and scalloped hearts dies, Cheery lynn flowers dies, Anna griffin flourish scroll die, spellbinders lacey circles dies, Crea Nestlies no 33 dies, leabilities frame square curve die set (for small flourishes). Joy cut & emboss wedding die set, Nellies nesting stitched squares dies, background mats embossed with Hickory Smoke distress ink applied to folder using embossaliscious a4 folder and Tattered Lace sentiments 2014 dies.

Pop up Wedding card made using a number of dies including; Spellbinders nesting plain and scalloped hearts dies, Cheery lynn flowers dies, Anna griffin flourish scroll die, spellbinders lacey circles dies, Crea Nestlies no 33 dies, leabilities frame square curve die set (for small flourishes). Joy cut & emboss wedding die set, Nellies nesting stitched squares dies, Background embossed with Hickory Smoke distress ink applied to folder using embossaliscious a4 folder. die cuts inked with Hickory smoke distress inks, and Tattered Lace sentiments 2014 dies. - craftybabscreativecrafts.co.uk