Tonic Dies and Card Kit

Back in October Mum and I had a trip to the Hobbycraft Fair in Glasgow.  Although I'd been a couple of times before this was Mum's first visit and gave her the opportunity to see lots of craft items first hand.  The day before we set off we'd been watching sets of Tonic dies being demonstrated on Create and Craft and these were one of our purchases in Glasgow.  My first use of them was on this birthday card for an Auntie to create the layers behind the decoupage along with layers cut using plain and scalloped Spellbinders grand nestabilities dies.

The decoupage came from a Create and Craft card kit which then was the inspiration for the colours of the papers and embellishments.  The first purple and lemon layers were cut using one of the lacy dies in the Diamond Swing Oval Tonic set and then layered together offset with a darker purple layer cut using one of the framing dies.  The centre of the purple lacy layer was cut out using a Spellbinders oval die so that the lemon layer showed from underneath and made a frame for the decoupage to sit in. 

Purple and lemon card were also used to layer up the backing panel for the topper and the patterned paper was printed from the backing paper section of Joanna Sheen's Secret Garden CD.  A Stampin' up stamp and purple Encore metallic ink was used to stamp the sentiment and then it was punched and layered using their plain and scalloped oval punches.

 

Lemon grosgrain ribbon, lemon brads, a yellow stitched border and purple self adhesive pearls were the added embellishments to this card.

On the day Mum was due to fly home she was really concerned that, with all the craft shopping we'd done locally and at the Fair, her suitcase was going to be over the weight allowance and she didn't relax until it had gone through the check-in unquestioned.  Below is a photo of Elaine with her Granny just before we set off for the airport.  Instead of sitting slouched back in the sofa they both decided to sit on the edge and then Mum suddenly said, "Chest out, shoulders back." which they both did and I giggled which is why there is a shake in the photo.  Such a shame as it's a good one of them both and caught a funny moment.

Here's one without the shakes.

Thanks for reading today

Liz xxx