Hello and welcome to the Build & Bloom Blog Hop. I do hope you had a wonderful Easter and have managed to get outside to enjoy some of the beautiful weather we have had this past month. I have made a good start on the garden, trimming and moving shrubs, and I have brought myself a few more for an extra pop of colour.

For April our theme is ‘Birthday” and we all need plenty of birthday cards, especially a Fun Girly Birthday Card! This month I have chosen to use the Capturing Smiles bundle as my Product Spotlight over on my social media. This bundle is perfect for so many occassion, if it’s worthy of a photo it’s worthy of a card with a camera.

How to create your fun girly birthday card.

Create an A6 cardbase, measuring 10.5cm x 14.9cm, using thick Basic White cardstock. Add a layer of Basic White cardstock, measuring 10.2cm x 14.6cm. Cut a piece of Beautiful Bokeh DSP (designer series paper), measuring 9.5cm x 13.9cm, and adhere to a matt of Berry Burst cardstock, measuring 9.7cm x 14.1cm. Adhere to your cardbase.

Using the largest circle from the Stylish Shapes Dies, die-cut a cirlcle from a coordinating piece of Beautiful Bokeh DSP. Adhere this to the lefthand side of your card, half way up.

On Berry Burst cardstock, stamp your camera and lense using black ink and a heart using Berry Burst ink. Use black ink to stamp the smaller camera front onto Fresh Freesia cardstock.

Layer together using Stampin’ Dimensionals and add to your card.

Stamp Happy Birthday (I used one from Simply Said Stamp Set) on Basic White cardstock, using black ink and trim to size. Add these to your card using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

To finish your Fun Girly Birthday Card, add a double bow of black Baker’s Twine and several Sparkle Dots Essentials.

I do hope I have given you some inspiration, and you will create your own Fun Girly Birthday Card. All products used are listed below and available to purchase from my online shop.

Please do continue to hop round for lots more inspiration.

You can watch me make a version of this card here –

Happy Crafting

FREE Tutorial Bundle with ALL orders

When shopping online, receive a free tutorial for 6 cards!

Learn more.

Capturing Smiles Bundle (English) [167133] £44.00	Simply Said Mix & Match Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [163756] £16.00	Stylish Shapes Dies [159183] £28.00	Sparkle Dot Essentials [166991] £7.50	Baker's Twine Essentials Pack [155475] £10.25
Beautiful Bokeh 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [164607] £11.75	Basic White A4 Cardstock [166781] £14.00	Basic White A4 Thick Cardstock [159230] £16.00	Berry Burst A4 Cardstock [144249] £14.00	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] £7.50
Berry Burst Classic Stampin' Pad [147143] £8.50	Paper Trimmer [152392] £27.00	Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653] £131.00	Multipurpose Liquid Glue [154974] £5.75	Mini Stampin' Dimensionals [144108] £4.00

The post How To Create A Fun Girly Happy Birthday Card! appeared first on Leighsa's Loft.

Welcome to Septembers Build & Bloom Blog Hop. This month our theme is Embossing. There are two main types of embossing; Heat Embossing where you stamp an image/sentiment with sticky ink and cover with embossing powder, and heat to melt the powder. This gives a shinny raised result. Dry Embossing using a embossing folder to press a design into cardstock. This is usually done by inserting cardstock into a plastic folder and running through a machine.

I want to highlight dry embossing and how stunning the designs can be. I am currently in love with the Pressed Flowers Embossing Folder. Its delicate design is perfect for backgrounds and layering onto.

Embossed Background ThanksCard

Create an A6 cardbase, measuring 10.5cm x 14.9cm, using Pool Party cardstock. Cut a piece of Pool Party cardstock measuring 10cm x 14.4cm and emboss with the Pressed Flowers Embossing Folder. Adhere to the front on your cardbase.

Fussy cut a section of flowers from the Floral Impression DSP, (designer series paper), big enough to be the main image on your card but not overpower your embossing. Adhere flat to your card front. Select a variety of extra flowers and fussy cut.

Stamp your sentiment onto Fresh Freesia cardstock, using Misty Moonlight ink. Trim to suit and adhere to your card front using Dimensionals. Adhere your single flowers around your sentiment using a mixture of Dimensionals and multi purpose adhesive.

Finish your card by adding several Rainbow Adhesive-Backed Dots, in Pool Party and Fresh Freesia.

I do hope you I have given you some inspiration and you will create your own card using an embossing folder. All products used are listed below and available to purchase from my online shop.

Please do continue to hop round for lots more inspiration.

Happy Crafting

FREE Tutorial Bundle with ALL orders

When shopping online, receive a free tutorial for 6 cards!

Learn more.

Pressed Flowers Embossing Folder [165614] £10.25	Floral Impressions 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper [165603] £11.75	Impressions Abloom Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [165605] £19.00	Rainbow Adhesive Backed Dots [162758] £8.50	Misty Moonlight Classic Stampin' Pad [153118] £8.50
Pool Party A4 Card Stock [124391] £10.75	Fresh Freesia A4 Cardstock [155614] £10.75	Multipurpose Liquid Glue [154974] £5.75	Mini Stampin' Dimensionals [144108] £4.00	Paper Trimmer [152392] £27.00
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653] £121.00

The post How To Use A Embossing Folder. appeared first on Leighsa's Loft.

Hello and welcome to Septembers Tech 4 Stampers Blog Hop. This month we have Nature as our theme and there is so much choice on what I could use. When I think of Nature I think insects, flowers and trees, so I have incorporated all of these into my card.

The Spring Celebrations and Washes & Florals Tags Mix & Match Ephemera Packs scream Nature, making them perfect for this project. The tags pack contains eight styles of tags, with two being floral or wood grain. Whilst the Spring Celebrations pack contains butterflies, foliage, braches, birds, and sentiments. Both of these pack are currently on offer in the Last Chance Products at £2.70 & £3.37 making them an even better buy.

Thank You Nature Card

Create an A6 cardbase, measuring 14.9cm x 10.5cm, using Old Olive cardstock. Cut a piece of Thoughtful Journey DSP (designer series paper) measuring 14.9cm x 7.5cm and adhere to a piece of Daffodil Delight cardstock, measuring 14.9cm x 7.7cm, to show a small border top and bottom. Adhere to your cardbase with equal space top and bottom.

Using a blending brush, add a light blend of Old Olive ink to the edges of a floral tag from the Washes & Florals Tags Mix & Match Ephemera Pack. Add a bow using Linen Thread.

Layer up elements from the the Spring Celebrations Mix & Match Ephemera Pack with your tag, onto the front of your card. I used a wood grain wreath, wood grain thank you banner, two foliage, and a butterfly with a mixture of wet glue and dimensionals.

Finish your card by adding several Brushed Brass Butterflies.

I do hope you I have given you some inspiration and you will create your own card using Nature as your theme. All products used are listed below and available to purchase from my online shop.

Please do continue to hop round for lots more inspiration.

Happy Crafting

FREE Tutorial Bundle with ALL orders

When shopping online, receive a free tutorial for 6 cards!

Learn more.

Spring Celebrations Mix & Match Ephemera Pack [164856] £6.75	Washes & Florals Tags Mix & Match Ephemera Pack [164859] £6.75	Thoughtful Journey 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [163303] £11.75	Linen Thread [104199] £4.75	Brushed Brass Butterflies [158136] £9.50
Daffodil Delight A4 Card Stock [121680] £10.75	Old Olive A4 Card Stock [106576] £10.75	Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad [147090] £8.50	Small Blending Brushes [160518] £14.00	Paper Trimmer [152392] £27.00
Multipurpose Liquid Glue [154974] £5.75	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] £4.00

The post Saying Thank You With Nature. appeared first on Leighsa's Loft.

Hello, it is time for our July Stamptastic Friends Blog Hop. I am sorry I missed last month but things got a bit hectic. This month we have Friendship as our theme, and I do enjoy creating cards for those special people in our lives. They deserve a card with that little bit extra and for that reason I have chosen to create a Shadow Box card.

This card gives a wow factor while being easy to prepare and construct. The extra dimension allows you to go to town on decoration, layering up elements and creating lots of dimension, if you wish. I have kept it simple for this one and only added decoration to the front panel. I have used elements from the Floral Impressions Suite.

How to create an Easy Shadow Box card

Cut two pieces of thick Basic White cardstock, measuring 14.8cm x 10.5cm. Score on the 14.8cm side (landscape) at 1cm and 2cm. Flip 180 degrees and score again at 1cm and 2cm. Repeat on both pieces of cardstock. Fold and burnish score lines.

Trim a piece of Pool Party cicled DSP (designer series paper) to 10cm x 10cm and adhere to the centre panel one of your scored cardstock pieces. This will be the inside back of your shadow box card. Die-cut a circle from the centre panel of your second scored Basic White piece. I used the largest circle from the Stylish Shapes Dies and went slightly off centre to allow for decoration.

Add adhesive to outside panels of one scored cardstock piece and adhere other piece on top. Ensure they are lined up correctly and that you have the DSP on the inside. This completes the conscution of your shadow box card.

Now on to the fun bit, decorating !

Using a mix of Darling Duckling, Garden Green, Misty Moonlight, Peach Pie, Pool Party, and Strawberry Slush cardstock, die-cut an assortment of flowers and foliage. Arrange to cardfront and adhere using a mix of Stampin’ Dimensionals and Mini Glue Dots.

Stamp ‘For Being There’ onto cardfront with Garden Green Ink. Also using Garden Green ink, stamp ‘Thanks’ onto basic white cardstock and fussy cut around. Add in the centre of back panel using Stampin Dimensionals.

Finish your shadow box card by adding Strawberry Slush & Pretty In Pink Gems.

I hope I have inspired you to create a shadow box card and send to a special friend. All the products used are listed below and available to purchase from my online store.

Please do continue to hop round for lots more creativity and inspiration. I can’t wait to see what the other demonstrators have chosen to share with you.

Happy Crafting

FREE Tutorial Bundle with ALL orders

When shopping online, receive a free tutorial for 6 cards!

Learn more.

Floral Impressions Suite Collection (English) [165617] £83.25	Impressions Abloom Bundle (English) [165611] £45.75	Floral Impressions 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper [165603] £11.75	Strawberry Slush & Pretty In Pink Gems [165615] £8.00	Stylish Shapes Dies [159183] £28.00
Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad [147089] £8.50	Basic White A4 Cardstock [166781] £14.00	Basic White A4 Thick Cardstock [159230] £10.50	Darling Duckling A4 Cardstock [165294] £14.00	Garden Green A4 Card Stock [108605] £10.75
Misty Moonlight A4 Cardstock [153086] £10.75	Peach Pie A4 Cardstock [163800] £14.00	Pool Party A4 Card Stock [124391] £10.75	Strawberry Slush A4 Cardstock [165297] £14.00	Paper Trimmer [152392] £27.00
Mini Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [150673] £62.00	Mini Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine Stylish Shapes Collection [160881] £87.00	Mini Stampin' Dimensionals [144108] £4.00	Multipurpose Liquid Glue [154974] £5.75	Mini Glue Dots [103683] £6.75

The post How To Create An Easy Shadow Box Card appeared first on Leighsa's Loft.

Hello, I can’t believe we’re in July already. Where has the first half the year gone? I just hope the second half slows down a wee bit, I am 50 November and that can wait. lol. This month we have a sketch for you and would like to share how you might us a given sketch.

When using a sketch, it is totally up to yourself how you interpret it. You can follow its layout exactly or change it round, as I have chosen to do. I still have all the compents of the orignial sketch but I have turned things around.

How I Used A Sketch

Create an A6 cardbase, measuring 1.9cm x 10.5cm, using Thick Basic White cardstock. Cut a piece of Floral Delight DSP (designer series paper measuring 5cm x 10cm and adhere to a piece of Floral & Gingham Vellum SDSP (sepciality designer series paper) measuring 14.4cm x 10cm. Adhere your vellum to your cardbase.

Die-cut a 7cm circle from Basic White cardstock, I used the Spotlight On Nature Dies. Using the Delightful Wishes Bundle, stamp a branch and leaves to one half of your circle, I have used Peacan Pie and Old Olive inks. Stamp the flower cluster onto Basic White cardstock, using Lemon Lolly and Daffodil Delight ink. Die-cut out your images and adhere around your branch using both liquid glue and dimensionals. Adere your circle flat to your DSP.

Stamp your sentiment onto Basic White cardstock, using Old Olive ink and die-cut using the label die. Die-cut ‘wishing’ from Pool Party and Basic Which cardstock, adhere together. Add a Linen Thread bow to the back of your label and add your whole sentiment to your cardbase using dimensionals.

Finish your card by adding several Tiny Bee Trinkets.

I do hope you I have given you some inspiration and you will create your own card using this sketch. All products used are listed below and available to purchase from my online shop.

Please do continue to hop round for lots more inspiration.

Happy Crafting

FREE Tutorial Bundle with ALL orders

When shopping online, receive a free tutorial for 6 cards!

Learn more.

Floral Delight Suite Collection (English) [164716] £84.00	Delightful Wishes Bundle (English) [164710] £46.75	Floral Delight 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper [164700] £11.75	Floral & Gingham Vellum 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper [164713] £9.50	Tiny Bee Trinkets [164714] £8.50
Spotlight On Nature Dies [163580] £33.00	Linen Thread [104199] £4.75	Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad [147094] £8.50	Lemon Lolly Classic Stampin' Pad [161666] £8.50	Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad [147090] £8.50
Pecan Pie Classic Stampin' Pad [161665] £8.50	Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad [147107] £8.50	Basic White A4 Cardstock [166781] £14.00	Basic White A4 Thick Cardstock [159230] £10.50	Pool Party A4 Card Stock [124391] £10.75
Mini Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [150673] £62.00	Paper Trimmer [152392] £27.00	Paper Snips [103579] £11.25	Multipurpose Liquid Glue [154974] £5.75	Mini Stampin' Dimensionals [144108] £4.00

The post How I Use A Sketch To Create A Pretty Birthday Card. appeared first on Leighsa's Loft.

Hello, it is time for our May Stamptastic Friends Blog Hop. This month we have Monochrome as our theme, and I do enjoy creating monochromatic cards. The hardest part is choosing what colours to use; my favourites are Daffodil Delight and Basic Black or Bubble Bath and Smoky Slate. For today’s card I have left both those alone and gone with the colours of a DSP (designer series paper).

The Beautiful Gallery Suite has a stunning DSP pack, which contains several monochrome designs. I have chosen a monochrome floral design in Basic Beige and Basic Black.

How to Create a Monochrome Book Fold Card

Create an A6 card base, measuring 14.9cm x 10.5cm, using Basic Beige cardstock. Score on the front at 11cm. Add adhesive to the inside of the 3.4cm strip and close your card. This will create your book fold card.

Trim a piece of DSP to 13.5cm x 9.8cm and cut the lefthandside at 2.7cm. Cut two Basic Black layers, measuring 2.9cm x 10cm and 11cm x 10cm. Adhere DSP to Basic Black layers and layers to card base.

Stamp the large floral image from Gallery Blooms stamp set on Basic Beige cardstock, using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Using a Blender pen to blend out the ink, add shading to your stamped image. Die-cut the large fern from the Beautiful Motifs Dies, using Basic Black cardstock.

Adhere the fern die-cut flat to cardfront and add stamped image using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Heat emboss your sentiment, using Versmark ink and Gold Wow Emboss Powder, onto Basic Beige cardstock and trim to size. Add to cardfront using Mini Stampin’ Dimenionals. Create a bow with the Black & Very Vanilla Large Check Ribbon and adhere in place using Mini Glue Dots.

Finish your card by adding several Low-profile Dots.

I hope I have inspired you to create a monochrome project. All the products used are listed below and available to purchase from my online store.

Please do continue to hop round for lots more creativity and inspiration. I can’t wait to see what the other demonstrators have chosen to share with you.

Happy Crafting

FREE Tutorial Bundle with ALL orders

When shopping online, receive a free tutorial for 6 cards!

Learn more.

Beautiful Gallery Suite Collection (English) [165217] £131.50	Gallery Blooms Bundle [165213] £50.25	Beautiful Motifs Bundle (English) [165206] £43.00	Beautiful Gallery 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [165196] £11.75	Black & Very Vanilla 3/8" (1 Cm) Large Check Ribbon [161982] £7.50
Low Profile Dots [164658] £7.00	Basic Beige A4 Cardstock [164512] £10.75	Basic Black A4 Card Stock [121688] £10.75	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] £7.50	Versamark Pad [102283] £9.00
Metallics Wow! Embossing Powder [165678] £20.00	Embossing Additions Tool Kit [159971] £26.00	Heat Tool – Uk Plug [129054] £30.00	Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653] £121.00	Paper Trimmer [152392] £27.00
Paper Snips [103579] £11.25	Mini Stampin' Dimensionals [144108] £4.00	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] £4.00	Multipurpose Liquid Glue [154974] £5.75	Mini Glue Dots [103683] £6.75

The post Monochrome Book Fold Card appeared first on Leighsa's Loft.

Hello and welcome to May’s blog hop. This month we are sharing Masculine makes with you. I struggle when it comes to masculine cards, as I know many do. Well, we have the perfect solution to this.

The Beautiful Gallery Suite contains a 6″x6″ DSP (designer series paper) pack which has some stunning images that would not look a miss in an art gallery. These images make for a beautiful card, with just an added sentiment and maybe a few embellishments being all that is needed. I have used afew other products from the suite to create my masculine card.

Masculine Card

Using the frame die from the Gallery Blooms Dies, die-cut from Secret Sea cardstock. Trim a piece of Beautiful Gallery DSP to fit behind the largest frame and adhere to back of frame.

Cut a piece coordinating dsp, measuring 14.4cm x 10cm, and emboss using the Damask Design Embossing Folder.

Create a landscape A6 cardbase, measuring 14.9cm x 10.5cm, from Basic Beige cardstock. Adhere your embossed DSP flat to the front. Layer your framed DSP to the front using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Gold heat emboss your sentiment onto Basic Beige cardstock. I have used the ‘Celebrate’ from the Beautiful Motifs stamp set, also part of the suite. Trim or die-cut your sentiment as required. I have used the banner from the Delightful Wishes Dies.

Finish your card by adding Pressed Flowers Motifs embellishments.

I do hope you I have given you some inspiration and you will create your own masculine card. All products used are listed below and available to purchase from my online shop.

Please do continue to hop round for lots more inspiration.

Happy Crafting

FREE Tutorial Bundle with ALL orders

When shopping online, receive a free tutorial for 6 cards!

Learn more.

Beautiful Gallery Suite Collection (English) [165217] £131.50	Beautiful Gallery 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [165196] £11.75	Beautiful Motifs Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [165198] £17.00	Gallery Blooms Dies [165212] £38.00	Damask Designs Embossing Folder [165214] £9.00
Pressed Flower Motifs [165215] £8.50	Delightful Wishes Dies (English) [164707] £33.00	Basic Beige A4 Cardstock [164512] £10.75	Secret Sea A4 Cardstock [165296] £14.00	Versamark Pad [102283] £9.00
Embossing Additions Tool Kit [159971] £26.00	Heat Tool – Uk Plug [129054] £30.00	Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653] £121.00	Paper Trimmer [152392] £27.00	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] £4.00

The post Masculine Framed DSP Celebration Card. appeared first on Leighsa's Loft.

Welcome to our April Stamptastic Friends Blog Hop and our theme is Fun With DSP (designer series paper)! What is more fun than creating a patchwork background? This simple technique shows off the DSP so well and can be away of using up those smaller leftover pieces. Patchwork is normally thought of as a form of needlework and involves sewing pieces together to create a larger design. Well, there is no reason we can’t do patchwork with paper.

I have chosen to use the Floral Delight Suite for my patchwork, as gingham came to mind as soon as I thought of this technique. The suite contains both gingham DSP and vellum, but for this card I have gone with the gingham DSP and floral vellum.

How to create a patchwork background

Cut two pieces of Daffodil Delight gingham dsp, measuring 4.5cm x 4.5cm and two pieces of Pool Party floral vellum, measuring 4.5cm x 9cm. Adhere to a layer of Basic White cardstock, measuring 9cm x 13.5cm.

On Basic White cardstock stamp branch image using Pecan Pie ink, leaf cluster using Old Olive ink, and the flower cluster using Lemon Lolly and Daffodil Delight for the detail. Fussy cut around your stamped image.

Tie a bow or faux bow using the Daffodil Delight satin ribbon and adhere to middle of patchwork panel. Add your stamped image on top using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Stamp your sentiment onto Basic White cardstock, using Old Olive ink. Die cut your sentiment and adhere to your card with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Create an A6 card base, using thick Basic White cardstock, measuring 10.5cm x 14.9cm. Add your patchwork panel to your card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Finish your card by adding several iridescent pearls.

I hope I have inspired you. All the products used are listed below and available to purchase from my online store.

Please do continue to hop round for lots more creativity and inspiration. I can’t wait to see what the other demonstrators have chosen to share with you.

Happy Crafting

FREE Tutorial Bundle with ALL orders

When shopping online, receive a free tutorial for 6 cards!

Learn more.

Floral Delight Suite Collection (English) [164716] £84.00	Delightful Wishes Bundle (English) [164710] £46.75	Floral Delight 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper [164700] £11.75	Floral & Gingham Vellum 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper [164713] £9.50	Daffodil Delight 1/8" (3.2 Mm) Satin Ribbon [164715] £7.50
Iridescent Pearl Basic Jewels [158987] £7.00	Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad [147094] £8.50	Lemon Lolly Classic Stampin' Pad [161666] £8.50	Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad [147090] £8.50	Pecan Pie Classic Stampin' Pad [161665] £8.50
Basic White A4 Cardstock [166781] £14.00	Basic White A4 Thick Cardstock [159230] £10.50	Paper Snips [103579] £11.25	Paper Trimmer [152392] £27.00	Mini Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [150673] £62.00
Multipurpose Liquid Glue [154974] £5.75	Mini Stampin' Dimensionals [144108] £4.00

The post Patchwork Background With DSP appeared first on Leighsa's Loft.