Rose Frame

Hi crafters!  Today's video shows you how to use portions of the Cathedral background to cut and shadow an aperture and the Blushing Rose die just accents it perfectly too.

 The finished dimensions are 7" x  9" in size.  All for now, Sue x

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Thank You

Hi crafters!  More Daisy Clusters this week!  I started by cutting an aperture in a piece of coconut white card using the largest die from the Grace die set.  I inked the entire piece with the Grace die still in place using the Lilac Whisper Colour Cloud ink.  I added mounting foam to the back to raise it for dimension.  I cut the rest of the Grace die without the cutting edges out of white card.  I seated the aperture over the Grace die cut out and backed the entire piece with white card.  I cut the Bold Thank you in white, then shadowed it with a deep plum colour and backed it in white.  I added it to the bottom of the card.  I cut the Daisy Cluster in white and added plum coloured flowers behind and seated it on the side of the Grace die with some white satin ribbon.  I stamped the first part of the sentiment and cut it out with the small oval in the Grace die set and mounted it in the centre of the card.  I added three pearl accents in the upper corner before adding my final mats and layers to complete the card.  The finished dimensions are 6 3/4" x  7 1/2" in size.  All for now, Sue x

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Stacked Decorative Inserts

Hello there my crafty friends!  A very feminine card for the video creation today.  I show how to layer up the lovely Hannah die and trim the Ornate Octagon to change the way it looks and make a pretty ribbon flower!

 The finished dimensions are 7 1/4" x  8 1/2" in size.  All for now, Sue x

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Wednesday Weekly Card Giveaway

Hi bloggers!  A teal and white card for this week's giveaway.  You may recognise it as one of the demos from my shows in January.  I started by embossing a piece of coconut white card with the Bed of Roses embossing folder.  Next I cut two of the Ornate Octagon striplets in white using both of the dies in the set.  I cut a white backing for them using just the outer cutting edge.  On teal card, I very lightly embossed the design then used it to cut around the inner design for both of the dies.  I glued the teal behind the open cut out and then added the white backing piece.  I mounted them both on foam and placed them to the edges of the card.  For the focal element, I cut the Daisy Cluster die in white nine times.  I glued them together in three sets of two.  I cut the matching flower die in teal then glued them behind each of the three sets.  I added Cosmic lacquer to the teal flowers and allowed them to dry overnight.  I sprayed and glittered the last set of the Daisy Clusters and added them to the tops of each of the three sets.  I arranged them into a wreath shape, then added 3mm white pearls to the centres of each of the flowers.  Finally, I added  my stamped sentiment across the centre.  I completed the card with a pierce mat, a teal mat and a final white mat.  The finished dimensions are 7 1/2" x  9 3/4" in size.  Leave a comment to be entered into the drawing to win this card.  I will draw a name and announce the winner on Saturday's blog post.  All for now, Sue x

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On A Sad Note

Hi everyone!    I am not really one to post anything very personal on my blog, but so many of you ask about my Mom so I thought I should share some news with you.  My younger brother decided a few weeks ago to bring our Mom out to live with him in California as she was starting to have some issues with living by herself.  He called to tell me that my Mom passed away quietly in her sleep.  She was nearly 93 and had a really happy full life.  I will miss my Mom greatly, she was my rock.

  I had already scheduled the daily blog posts for the week and they will go forward as planned. I need to try to keep things as normal as possible but I am going to have some quiet time for happy reflection and probably some more tears, I am certain.   I have been very fortunate to have had both of my wonderful parents into their early nineties.  I have been truly blessed.   All for now, Sue x

Woven Lattice Frame

Hi bloggers!  Today's video shows you something fun you can do with the Lattice Window Striplet die set.  It has a centre section that can be cut separately and it gives you so much more versatility!

Don't forget to scroll down to the previous post to see if your name was drawn as one of the die winners.  You must email me to claim the die as well.  I am still waiting to hear from over half of the winners!

The finished dimensions are 7 3/4" x  7 3/4" in size.  All for now, Sue x

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First Releaser 2016 Die Winners

Hello!  First of all, I would just like to say thank you to everyone for taking the time to visit the blog four times a day for five days during the launch!  I really enjoyed reading everyone's comments too, thank you so much!  I was ever so pleased with them all!  Finally as promised, the die drawings have all been done and here are the winning names!

Australian Background: Clare Walters!!!
Australian Border, Corner Tag: Dundee Pam!!!
Brisbane: Julie Laz!!!
Melbourne: Maggie H (Malvern)!!!
Sydney: Lorraine Eastwood!!!
Lauren: Gailgale!!!
Maggie: Veronique L!!!
New Zealand Background: Pam in Hartlepool
New Zealand Tag: L Rosie from Chorley!!!
New Zealand Noble Border: Pat Platt!!!
Hamilton: Roisin!!!
Auckland: Lisbeth!!!
Wellington : Lorraine (classylady)!!!
Smile: Erica of Wye!!!
Happy: Tracy Stitt!!!
Thank you Circle: Jenny Wren!!!
Happy Birthday Circle: Stella Munn!!!
Hobart Adornment: AHappercrafter6!!!
Milford Adornment: Ann Mansfield!!!
Magnoia Adornment: Tea Cosy Dee!!!
Rococo Striplet: Wendy Downes!!!
Ravello Striplet: Kim Dibben!!!
Auriga Gemini: Judi from Fair Oak!!!
Dorado Gemini: Jan from Long Island!!!
ZigZag Border: Janet Morcombe!!!
Pierced Rose Background: Evis M!!!
Scattered Leaves Background: Nanna Tina!!!
Beaded Swirl Flourish: Hollyberry!!!
Lace Edged Leaves: Sam Smithard!!!
Sweetheart Flowers: Norah McPhee!!!

Congratulations all!  Please email me at americansue1@gmail.com to confirm your address and claim your winning die.  It helps me greatly if you can put the name of your winning die in the subject line of your email too please!  All for now, Sue x

Best Wishes

  Hello my crafty friends!  I have combined a few dies from the last two releases to create today's very simple card.  I started with a piece of coconut white card and used the Australian Background decorative cutting dies (without the actual cutting edges) to cut a pattern into the upper part of the card.  I stamped the lower portion of the card with a sentiment from the new Elegant Sentiments clear stamp set.   I backed the cut out area with two tones of silver card.  I used a pale silver for the inside area and used a deeper silver behind it that was cut larger to encompass the remaining cut out area.  I wrapped a piece of silver ribbon that had a silver buckle slider added to it, just below the cut out area but above the sentiment.  I taped the ends to the back and added mounting foam.  As embellishments, I cut the Blushing Rose out of silver card and backed them with white card.  I added two of the to the side and accented them with leaves cut in white from the set. I comp-leted the card with a white pierced mat, both a pale silver and darker silver mat and another final white mat layer.   It makes a beautiful and fairly quick wedding or anniversary card.   The finished dimensions are 7 3/4" x  9" in size.

Don't forget to check back later on this afternoon as I will be doing the drawings and posting the names of those picked for  the winning dies!!  All for now, Sue x

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