Been AWOL for too long..........SORRY!!!

I must apologise for ignoring my blogging friends. I don't know where this year has gone, I seem to have blinked and missed it.

I haven't been idle though, I've been making loads of samples for the Tonic shows, doing workshops at home and also at the NEC Hobbycrafts show. Had a wonderful time meeting all the Tonic fans.

Tonic has launched a new range called Forever Moments. The next launch in this range is the Verona box, you can catch Jodie demoing it on Create and Craft Saturday 22nd November. This is my version of the box



I wanted to add some fabric to the box, so I covered the drawer fronts and padded the sides and top pelmet piece. I thoroughly enjoy making them, hope you will too.

Off to bed for me now.

Hugs
Alison xx

Something a little bit different..........

I've been making cards for many years and got to thinking what else I could do with my punches and dies - well, this is what I came up with ....

I picked up the canvas and easel in The Range very cheaply. I decorated the background of the canvas with Distress Inks and water. I stuck the photo to the canvas using a water based glue.
I used 3d foam pads behind the Oval frame (made using the Tonic Romantic Vine Oval dies set). The lilac strips were punched using the Tonic Twisted Twine Intrica punch, again secured with a water based glue.

The felt flower at the bottom of the picture was made for me by Kate Richards (part of our design team at Tonic) she's much better with fabric than me, lol. The butterfly was made using our Intrica Butterfly punch and Nan is from our Sentiment range. I finished off with some pearls on a string and punched flowers.

Don't forget to share your projects with us at Tonic, we love to see what you're creating.

Hugs
Alison xx

Tonic Header Die Instructions

Good Morning everyone, it's absolutely gorgeous here in Bridgend. So before I spend a day pottering in the garden, I thought I'd share with you a video of how to use the New Header Dies.

This is a card I made using the dies and the Baby Girl Sentiment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvVnE1mHOTU&feature=youtu.be

Happy Crafting
Hugs
Alison xx

Keep Your Head Up!!

I know you're all starting to receive your Tonic Header dies - if you haven't received yours yet, it will be with you very soon.

Here's a few examples to keep your creative juices going.

I've also used Dies from the Family Sentiment set

Both these cards are made using the same Header die, but achieving a very different look.

We have a busy week at Tonic this week, Jo will be on Create & Craft on Monday at 11.00 on the Craft Clinic and Jodie will be joining us on Tuesday at 9pm on Ideal World for the Pick of the Day. There will be shows on Ideal World and Create & Craft throughout Wednesday.

I hope you can join Jo & Jodie for oodles of inspiration.

Hugs
Alison xx

A Little Sentimental......

Well it's been a beautiful day in Bridgend, hope it's been the same where you are. We've taken the opportunity to sort out our back garden, the patio has been removed I've started white washing the walls and the decking is ready to be re-stained. I'll share some photos when it's finished.

Thought I'd share some photos of cards made with the Square Sentiments.

.

Hope you've been enjoying the Tonic Craftinator shows with the fabulous Jo Austin this week.

I'LL BE BACK (as Arnie says) with some new designs very soon

Happy Crafting
Alison xx

Happy Easter and a Tea Party

Happy Easter Tonic Fans, hope you've had a fabulous holiday time. I've finally got around to sharing some cards and projects with you from the Tonic Tea Party range of dies.

Don`t forget to join Jo Austin on Create & Craft tomorrow at 11am & 5pm for some Tonic Giveaways.

Hugs
Alison xx

A Gift in a Frame

Good Evening everyone, what a beautiful evening, lovely to see some sunshine.

I love working with the Paper Frames from Tonic, they are so versatile. This is a lovely poem and I wanted to make it a bit more special.

The black pattern on the frame is made using the Dotty Lace Intrica Punch, but I've cut it in half widthways to fit the frame. The corners have been mitred. I added some gilding wax around the edge of the frame.
To decorate the frame I've added a gold Frond Finesse and a black ribbon and Petal Pairs rose. With Love comes from our Everyday Sentiments set.

I hope you're all on the edge of your seats waiting for sneaky peaks of our new launch, which you can see on Create & Craft on Thursday 10th April at 8pm - Yes I do mean 8pm. Jodie will have some stunning designs to share with you.

Hugs
Alison xx

Faerie Frolics

I thought I'd share a few designs using our Faerie dies today. The first is a diorama card in A4 size

The edges are punched strips using the Tonic Simplicity Star Border Punch. These punches are so easy to use. If you have any problems with strength in your hands and have difficulty punching the Simplicity range are most definitely the ones for you. They have a geared system with reduces the amount of force that's needed to press them handle down. They will also punch card up to 400gsm - which is very thick card!!
Moonglade Wish is such a magical fairy surrounded by the stars. I've cut the whole set of dies out of mirricard then decoupaged the fairy in navy and cut her wings twice from parchment paper, they give a lovely effect.
The leafy sprig is from the Verdent Vines die set and the flowers are cut from parchment paper using the Petal Pairs punches.
Make a Wish comes from the Everyday Sentiments die set.

This is a cute little fairy from the Fae Hideaway set, sat on a Pillow Box. I've cut the wings out of acetate and glittered them. The Pillow Box is made using Tonic's Pillow box die set. They are so easy to make and perfect for a little gift for a Special girl.

I'm off to visit friends in the fabulous Dandie Crafts shop in Pontypridd. It's an Aladdin's cave of craftiness.

Have a fabulous weekend
Catch up with you soon

Alison xx

With Love on Mother's Day

I would like to give all the Mother's a special hug for Mother's Day. This is the first year my Mother's not been with me to celebrate this special day.

Here's a few Mother's Day projects to inspire you.

For this project I've used the Tonic Paper frame. Punched four strips approximately 3" longer than the side of the frame, using the Rose Strip punch. I've used Distress inks in brown tones to colour the edge of the frame and the punched strips. Add a photograph to the centre of the frame - this could be a photo of you and your Mum or a vintage photo, as I've chosen. Stick the punched strips onto brown card then adhere to the centre of each side of the frame. Leave the corners unstuck at this point. Cut both the strips at each corner at a 45 degree angle. Then stick down the corners. I always use the Tonic Funky Glue Pen as I find it easy to use. Decorate the frame with the On Mother's Day sentiment from the Tonic Affections die range and some delicate swirls from the Frond Finesse die set.

This is an A5 card. I've used the Tonic Affection die range and extended the heart base dies with the Tiara Corner dies. Then finished it off with some ribbon and pearls. I am having a problem at the moment with getting my self adhesive pearls to stay on my cards, so now I put a tiny spot of glue from the Funky Glue pen and I no longer have a problem.

Have a fabulous day tomorrow,

Hugs
Alison xx

A Little Fairy Book

Good Morning everyone, hope you're all OK. I'm getting ready for another busy day at Tonic HQ - Woo Hoo!!

Jodie will be on TV today with some fabulous goodies to share with you at 3pm & 6pm, catch her if you can.

As well as card making, I like to get the most out of my dies, so I've added our beautiful Fae Hideaway to the front of a book.

The book is a very inexpensive hard cover book - in fact it was four for a pound in a pound store. I covered the book using paper from our Butterfly Beautiful card set. I punched out a strip using Elegant Drape border punch. Cut a piece of acetate to fit behind the faerie's wings and added glitter. Then added a ribbon & pearls.

I think it's a pretty book for only a few pennies, any little girl of big girl for that matter would love it.

Hugs
Alison xx