Thursday 7 April 2022

Floral Penny Black Masterpieces for Easter

Finally, finally, finally - I've done some moving around of stuff here and have found the perfect home for my much neglected Gemini Junior die cutting machine. 'Hooray' it shouted, with a sigh of relief! Shame on me - it's taken over six months for me to have it properly and permanently located beside my curved L-shaped desk. It's quite a heavy wee beastie when you have to watch your back - did it all alone without shouting for help once, and am a very happy bunny right now.

To put the machine properly through its paces I decided to use a set of dies that I very much doubt my almost defunct Cuttlebug would have touched. Along with using some new Penny Black 'Masterpieces Made Simple' card toppers - floral images this time, nice too.

And here are three Easter cards, for a couple of my besties from schooldays plus grand daughters and their Mum in Germany - we only send three Easter cards each year nowadays:


I used:

- three 5.5" x 4.25" white linen card blanks - all horizontal and side opening

- the images are from (top row) the 'vintage beauty' set and the one below with the lovely tulips is from the 'bright bouquets' set of images

- left all the images at full size and used a 'new to me' Penny Black set of dies called 'zig-zag stackers' to cut panels from white linen card, the same I used for as the main card body

- then stamped the sentiments directly onto the image panels. I used the Misti, the pressure tool which I love, Memento 'Tuxedo Black' ink and the Clearly Besotted 'Say what?' set of stamps for the Easter greeting and, as always, the greeting stamped perfectly onto the linen. In fairness, I did test run the stamping alignment, using grid lined acetate!

- mounted them onto very slightly larger snippets of  SU 'Certainly Celery' card, which matched so well - just to give them narrow and simple borders

- then added them onto the card fronts - finished!

I'd like to add these cards into Darnell's NBUS Challenge #37 for April. NBUS goodies were obviously the fabulous Penny Black 'zig-zag stitches' die set. The Penny Black Masterpieces sets are also new but that may be cheating a little.



24 comments:

  1. These are beautiful Easter cards! Congrats on restoring order in organizing your tools! You're way ahead of me in that regard! I work in a chaotic space every day!

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  2. Me too, don't be fooled! xx

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  3. A fabulous collection of cards Di - I love the beautiful spring images.
    Kath x

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  4. Fabulous Easter cards Di, I love the zigzag frame. Well done for sorting out your craft things so your Gemini Junior is in a more suitable place. I fail miserably every time I try to organise my craft room, I'm too easily distracted by what I find. lol! x

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    1. Me too - we are not alone Liz. I MADE SPACE for the Gemini - I hope I never implied I was a superbly organised craft goddess. Far from it - and am always suspicious of those who claim to always be neat, clean and tidy! Basically - they lie through their teeth! Or they aren't having FUN! :) Di xx

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  5. So happy you got your Gemini Junior set up Di. It will make it so much easier for die-cutting. I just got to the point where I couldn't crank my Big Shot anymore. I'm so happy with my Jr. and I'm sure you will be too.

    Lovely set of Easter cards Di. Those embossed frames are so pretty and I love the thin coloured framed to make each of the images. Don't you just love Springtime??!! xx

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  6. Beautiful Easter cards using this pretty Springtime images and love the PB frames which show them off wonderfully well. I hope the warmer weather will return soon though it was lovely and bright today. x

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  7. Three beautiful floral cards for Easter or even just Spring in general. The detail on the die cut frames just sets them off beautifully. You will enjoy using the Gemini machine I'm sure - so much easier than hand cranking, only drawback as I see it is that you can't use the Sizzix Bigz dies, anything else works like a dream.

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  8. Oh Di these are exquisite - beautiful work with stunning results
    Blessings
    Maxine

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  9. Three gorgeous Easter cards here Di.
    Glad you’ve been able to clear a space for the Gemini and had fun using it.

    Hugs, Sarn xxx

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  10. Three stunning cards Di, I love the die cut frames too.

    Sue xx

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  11. Three very elegant cards Di, and I'm glad you have founded the best place for your cutting machine!
    Hugs

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  12. Hi Di,
    fabulous Easter cards and those floral images are so pretty and lend themsleves to Eater cards wonderfully.
    I love all three images and cards.
    I have a Gemini junior on my cutting out desks which is 2 joined together.
    I haven't used it in some time as I use it to dump things onto naughty me.
    I don't like how the plates have warped either so for smaller items to be cut I use an old Big Shot I bought off Ebay ages ago.
    But for all my bigger dies I use the Kit and Caboodle it's a great machine and only has 2 plates and a magnetic shim to go through it so it's easier on your hands and don't warp either.
    Some of the older machines ha mutiple plates which were so heavy to use.
    Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

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  13. Love those zigzag dies - perfect framing for those lovely card toppers!

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  14. Lovely cards, Di. I haven't found a good place for my Gemini Jr. yet. Still trying. :-)

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  15. THESE are GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  16. WOW! All are such glorious card Di.
    Faith x

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  17. Hmm, how have I missed these gorgeous PB Masterpieces?! I thought I had them all. They make perfect Easter cards, Di, especially with that cool zigzag frame! Good job setting up your Gemini so it is at hand and easier for you. I wish I'd gotten my YEARS ago! You'll get a chuckle from this: I tried to kill mine the other day. I have never done this before, but this day I turned on my heat gun and let it sit there warming up (which is spose to be a good idea). It took a bit longer to get the bit I was working on ready for heat-embossing, but I got there, did the heating, put the heat gone back where it lives, and all was good. A couple hours later I moved over to turn the GJr off and was shocked to discover the whole right front corner is burned yellow and melted!!!! Yup. Oy! Fortunately it is just cosmetic. Don't do that!

    BTW, I sent you a thank you for the paddle tip - or maybe I was in a post-surgery fog and thought I did? If not, thank you! And thank you for inspiring everyone at NBUS with these beauties! (ANY little new bit you use for a creation can be shared.) Hugs, Darnell

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  18. These are beautiful Di! The PB images are so pretty x

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  19. Three stunning cards Di. Beautiful colours. Hugs, Carol S.xxx

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  20. Well done for getting sorted out, doesn't if feel good and make you wonder why you didn't do it sooner? lol. My shed is even worse than my craft corner. These are so pretty and perfect for Easter. The stitched edge is lovely. x

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  21. Yay for getting the Gemini Jr set up, Di! I have to confess that mine was in it's box for at least a year! Those card fronts are beautiful & so great when time is limited. I have some from another company. Love how you matted the images & used the PB dies!

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  22. 3 beautiful Easter cards Di ... love those PB zig zag dies!
    Pauline xx

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  23. Gorgeous again Di! You’ve really got to stop sending me off to purchase more stuff😂😂😂

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