Realms of Glory

Hi bloggers!  I'm not sure who named this video but it is sort of appropriate!  The Christmas Angel 2015 is just so regal and glorious and this card shows her off quite nicely too.  This one would make a great batch card too as it really isn't a lot of work and fairly flat by my standards too!

 The finished dimensions are 7" x  8" in size.  All for now, Sue x

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Just A Note

Hello there my crafty friends!  I hope that you were able to enjoy my first Hochanda shows this past weekend, I know that I did!  What a busy week with the new die launch and then the Hochanda shows, and Ally Pally on the upcoming weekend!  I am showcasing a card that uses some decorative papers, some stamping and of  course some dies as well!  I selected a tone on tone tan decorative paper from my craft stash.  I the upper corner, I added some stamped swirls radiating outward from the corner.  I was hoping that they would look a bit like butterfly trails so I cut my Majestic Monarch out of black glitter card and attached it in the upper corner.  Opposite to that I cut, assembled and created a focal element using the Perfect Peonies, both the complete petal and the open petal sets.  I cut the base of the flowers in milk card and added a black outline to them and then finished each one with a small black Dazzler for the centres.  I cut the Maidenhair fern in both milk and taupe card and arranged them around my flowers.  I cut three of the Just A Note die in black and stacked them for dimension before gluing them in the middle of the card.  I finished the card with several layers of milk and black card, a pierced layer and then a taupe, black and final milk mat layer.  The finished dimensions are 8" x  8 1/4" in size.  All for now, Sue x

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Not Older, Just Better

 Good Sunday morning all!  I do love the sentiment on today's card, don't you! LOL  I used the Canadian Background outer cutting die to create a frame and backed it with another piece of milk card for a tone on tone look.  However, because there isn't a separate  die to actually cut the inside of the frame, I used the smaller die in the set as a guide and cut around it with a craft knife to create the opening in the frame.  With the straight edged rectangular shape, it was quite easy to do and gives you just one more way to actually use your dies!  I cut two of the Elegant Lace edger in coconut white card and added them to the inside of the top and bottom part of the frame.  This worked well since the sentiment was narrow and would have looked quite dwarfed in the frame opening, plus they add a bit of interesting detail to the card as well.  I stamped my sentiment and placed the frame with mounting foam on the back, over it so it was raised for dimension.  Next, I cut several of the Perfect Peonies Complete petal out of coconut white card.  I inked the matching Shaded Peony stamps and placed the die cuts on to the stamp and pressed well to transfer the design.  You can also stamp them, then cut them out using a template, both methods work very well.  I inked the edges with Picked Raspberry distress ink and added Black Dazzlers to the centres.  I tied a messy bow out of ant. white satin ribbon and added it to the bottom of the frame.  I seated the three flowers on top and then added white flatback pearls to the centres of all the frame sections as accents.  Finally, I finished the card with a white mat which I pierced, a thin back mat and a larger white mat.  The finished dimensions are 6" x  8" in size.

Just a quick reminder that my Hochanda tv shows are today at 9am to 11am (loads of demos in this 2 hour slot), 12 noon, 4pm and 7pm.  I will be showing you all sorts of things to do with the Festive die range!  I hope you can tune in to watch on either  SKY 663, FREEVIEW 39,  orFREESAT 822 or even on your PC at www.hochanda.com    The Hochanda website is now up and running as well!  All for now, Sue x

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Finishing Touches

Hello there my crafty friends!  We have reached the end of the whirlwind four days!  I do hope that you have found something to tickle your die cutting fancy a bit perhaps?  The three floral dies on offer this post are all beautiful in their design and have a lovely deboss feature to them so they stand out among other floral dies I think.  The Apple Blossom is shown here, but the Rose and Poppy made a sneaky debut earlier in the week.  This is the last time that I will urge you to leave your comments on the blog posts.  Don't forget to check back on Wednesday the 16th to see if your name has been drawn as a winner of any of these sets!  Due to the blog launch, I am skipping the comment game this week though, but it will resume starting again on Monday.

I also want to remind you that I have my very first Hochanda shows starting this evening at 8pm!  I am very excited (and a bit nervous too!), but I would love it if you can join me, maybe send in an email or two!  I have shows all day on Sunday the 13th too starting at 9am, a two hour show in fact!  After that it will be one hour shows at 12 noon, 4pm and 7pm!  Wish me luck!  All for now, Sue x

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Finishing Touches

Welcome back bloggers!  I am showcasing three new additions to the Finishing Touches range in this blog post.  Shown here, is the new Diagonal Foldover Flower.  These have been specifically designed to use with felt to make beautiful floral additions to your projects, but you can use lightweight card and paper as well.  One of my new videos will also show you how to make a clever border with this die too so it is extra useful!  The Classic Vase and the Catkin Stems are ever so useful as well and look great with some of the Finishing Touches from today's final post.  Leave a comment as we draw three names from this post to cover each of the dies on offer!  The last post for today and the blog launch will be up at 4pm, don't be late! LOL  All for now, Sue x

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Finishing Touches

Hi bloggers!  Well this is the final day of the blog launch, but there are three posts today which will showcase the nine new Finishing Touches range.  Starting with the Scribble Flowers, shown here, they are a wonderfully whimsical set that will add just the right accent for your cards.  The new Scribble Flowers are finely cut layered flowers that can be used flat or raised for a totally different look.  The Laurel leaves have also been used as accents on the card shown.  I'm sure you will be able to find so many uses for them as well.  I do hope that you have been adding your comment along to each of the blog posts as you go, but you do have a few days to get caught up on any you may have missed along the way!  The next blog post is scheduled for 12 noon today, so please be sure to have a peek then!  All for now, Sue x

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Configurations

Hi bloggers!  With day three underway, I hope you have seen a few to your liking!  I am quite fond of my Configurations range of dies and these Adornments are no exception.  I love the way that these can make the entire card for you and they always have such an elegant style to them when used in this way!  I wanted to try something different so two of these three have separate cutting edges to allow for backing the dies with a separate colour. The Scalloped Trellis Adornment cuts all in one piece, but the detail is exquisite!  There are so many uses for all of these, that I know they will see a lot of use in your craft room.  Three die winners will be drawn from this batch of comments so don't forget to leave your mark here!  Remember to add a bit extra to your name so there won't be any confusion as to who the winner is!  That's all for today, but the final day begins bright and early at 6am tomorrow.  Won't you join us then?  All for now, Sue x

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Configurations

Hello crafters!  A trio of new Configurations dies are on offer during this blog post!  I find that these trim dies are just the perfect way to add a nice accent to your edges and frames. See how well they work with the new Double Pierced Nobles!   I have also done a set of square corners.  Okay they are squares, but they are great in corners too!  The square corners have separate outer cutting edges so again, the versatility is wonderful.  I have done a lovely card for the video which showcases the Square Corner set and I'm excited for you to see it when it is ready to go.  Just a reminder, but don't forget to add your name to the comments to be entered in the drawing.  The last post for today will go live at 4pm today.  All for now, Sue x

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Frames and Tags

Good morning all!  I haven't done any  country collections this time around, but I have done a few single frames (just wanted to mix it up a bit and keep you on your toes! LOL)  First up is the Heraldic Frame, shown here.  I love the way that this die set is equally at home with a girlie pink or a masculine based background.  As always, it has been designed with separate cutting edges to maximise versatility.  The Delicate Garden Frame is very detailed and would not allow for a separate cutting edge, but I have included an outer cut die to use for matting if desired.  The extra flowers match up with those in the design for layering in different colours too.  A bit more room inside the middle of the die gave me the option of including some small butterflies.  What's a garden without some butterflies? LOL  I really love both of these and they have been a real go to for many of my cards, I hope you like them too.  A quick comment is all you need to be entered in the drawing.  The next post is scheduled for 12 noon.   All for now, Sue x

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Expressions

Hello crafters!  Welcome back to the final post for today!  The last two Expressions dies are the Scripted Happy Birthday die, which you had a sneaky peek at during the Noble  die launch, and the You Are Special die, shown here.  Both dies are beautifully detailed, but again, still easily readable!  I'm sure they will be great additions to your die collections!  I would love to know what you think so far, please leave me a comment.  Do you have a favourite yet?  Tomorrow morning it kicks off again at 6am with the new Frames and Tags.  Hope you can be there!  All for now, Sue x

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