Jen Kray

Ahoy matey! Today I have a great project to share with you using the new Dressables Dies by Tonic Studios. These little chaps and chapesses are so adorable and you can make just about anyone.  The Collection is called Essentials Dressables Tonic Materials:  Tangerine A3 Glass Mat Nuvo Ink Pad - Black Shadow Dressables Essentials Dressables Boys' Outfits Dressables Girls' Outfits (the starfish, earring and tiara) Dressables Extras - Stamp Set Essentials - Ribbon and Bow Layering Die Set Rococo Petite - Layered Cloud Die Set Essentials - Banner Die & Stamp Set, Party Time (only used stamp) Craft Perfect - Buttermilk Yellow, Bright White, Chilli Red, Chocolate Brown, Cornflower Blue, Pewter Grey, Hand Made Mermaids Tail Specialty Paper, Ultra Smooth Media Card, Brown Kraft Card, Honey Gold Satin Mirror Card,  Craft Perfect Black and White Twine Nuvo Alcohol Pens: Black for the stripes on the shirt and low-lights in hair, Fair Skin Tones for faces and bodies, Rosy Pinks f...

Hi there *waves* Today I'd like to share a fun gift card/voucher that is an alternative to your standard card. The gift card fits perfectly inside your mini card with room for a personal message. It is then encased in sealed plastic using a fuse tool. The recipient must cut the pocket open to retrieve the gift card. Super fun, right?! 1. Stamp the hat, presents, rosette and teddy all from Marmalades World by Tonic Studios. 2. Brush colour in with the Aqua Flow Pens and a water brush. 3. Die cut the accessories and fussy cut the teddy; cut out a small shaped tag (or use a die cut if you have one small enough, which I didn't) 4. Die cut a Birthday sentiment (I used some scrap mixed media paper which had random colour already on it).  5. Using Brusho, make a simple background on mixed media paper (or any you have). 6. Attach your background to a small card blank (card is Papermill Direct) 7. Using a  toothbrush, spray some white acrylic fluid over your card on one side.  8. ...

Hola and TGIF! I'm delighted to share three cards using the Sun Ray Scene from of the 'Faith Die Sets' Tonic Studios released last year. How many of us buy dies, use them once or twice and then forget about them? It may not be from the newest collection, but let's not forget about the dies we already have either - this one is particularly fabulous!  My first card I'm calling 'Hello Sunshine'! All the elements were die cut from watercolour card and coloured with Tonics new Aqua Flow Pens. These pens are absolutely amazing and a little goes a long way. They blended beautifully on my card and also on the Miniature moments 'Hello' sentiment.  I finished this part with the Aqua Flow Glitter Gloss because it's a sunburst and meant to sparkle!  The next part of my card I heat embossed onto watercolour card using Marmalade, from Marmalade's World Stamp set and Accessory Set  2 for the bow. Getting out the Aqua Flow Pens again it was all coloured in. ...

Hola! I'm delighted that we're into 2017 - and there are lots of exciting things happening this year. Today I wanted to share with you a very special card I was asked to make for a 70th Wedding Anniversary. I did say 70! Now, I know this card isn't as special as the one the gorgeous couple received from the Queen but I do know that they absolutely loved it and said it was so beautiful they were keeping it on their mantle.  What do you use to make a 70th Wedding Anniversary Card? Well..the personalisation went into the inside of the card with a very special message. It needed to be elegant, and in fitting for people who have lived a long and wonderful life. Knowing they absolutely love their very large and glorious rose garden, I decided on Craftwork Cards  Shabby Chic Collection. As the card was not being posted, rather hand delivered I knew I could go dimensional and make a lovely box to go with it.  This is a large 15cm easel card with tons of embellishments and dimensi...

Ho, ho, ho - Merry Christmas!  Now, we've all made and received countless Christmas cards over the years but have you ever wondered where it all began? Henry Cole was part of the 'elite' in early Victorian England, and had the misfortune of having too many friends. By 1843, those friends had become quite a pain in the backside with all their letters A custom in England, the Christmas and New Year’s letter had received a new impetus with the recent expansion of the British postal system and the introduction of the 'Penny Post,' allowing the sender to send a letter or card anywhere in the country by affixing a penny stamp to the correspondence. And everybody who was anybody sent letters! Cole was quite an enthusiastic supporter of the new postal system, and he enjoyed being the 1840s equivalent of an A List Celebrity, but he was also a very busy man, fretting over what to do when there were stacks of unanswered correspondence. “In Victorian England, it was considered ...

If someone says you have too many dies, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.  Speaking of dies, I've recently acquired a haul of Tonic Sentiment Dies and goodness they are useful! I've been crafitng just over a year now, and I don't think I've ever seen more than a couple bereavement cards in craft groups which got me thinking... why are bereavement cards the elephant in the room? Brits love talking about cups of tea, puddings, what they're having for lunch and England winning the 1966 World Cup. They enthusiastically discuss the weather and some nutter called Guy Fawkes! They LOVE to tell you all the bargains they found...oooh ah, Margaret, I was in shop today and picked up 2 kilo of apples for 50p!  Now Iris, that's nothin... our Michael went to butchers last Sunday and picked up 3 pork chops, a small loaf. 2 slightly burnt pasties and a pickled egg for 34p. You can't beat a bit of a bargain, now can ya? While you...

I don't know about you, but I'm thrilled it's finally the weekend! And what better sentiment to use on a few cards than 'Have a Beautiful Day' by Tonic Studios. I often send my friends little notes to say I am thinking about them or a quick hello and tonight was the perfect time to make up a small batch. This was the first chance I had to clear my desk in about a week and bust out my new 'Have a Beautiful Day' Tonic Studios Die Set, which, by the way, is absolutely STUNNING! Three cards for you today...  Tonic Products Used Have a Beautiful Day Die Set you can buy  here Star Layering Die Set you can buy  here Petunia Trellis Die Set you can buy  here I found this great neon cardstock recently and it was perfect for my new Tonic dies! My first card was designed using the Have a Beautiful Day sentiment which was layered with white/neon pink, and the Petunia Trellis die set. The neon pink card which sits behind the petunia really makes the flower pop. The addit...

If anyone tells you they don't like Gin & Tonic, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.  Speaking of gin and tonic, today I'm sharing a few of my most recent creations using - G45 Artisan papers and Tonic dies.  I bought the G45 Artisan collection earlier this year and felt it was time to crack it open and see what all the fuss was about. Products used: Tonic Layering Die Set - Swirling Frame Tonic Beautiful Blooms Die Set  Spectrum Noir Clear Sparkle Pen Graphic 45 - Artisan Collection Honey Doo Crafts - Sticky Glue twine; string pearls; clear gems; hot glue Some close up detail.   The matching box, which is decorated and lined. ready to post.  The card and matching box using Graphic 45 Artisan Collection, and Tonic Layering Die Set - Swirling Frame.  And here is the finished design. This is going to a wonderful friend, as a thank you to her.  I've also designed a Birthday card & box for my niece, which...