{G}

I chose "Gifts" as my {G} page as most people exchange gifts at Christmas with friends and family!
I have kept my LO simple for this one and have used a program on my computer to print the text straight onto the template, before printing and cutting. The letter and present were cut out on my Xyron personal cutter.

{F} for Flowers!

Its Mothers Day today and if you want your flowers to last as long as possible follow these tips for a long lasting display!

- Use lukewarm water when arranging flowers; it has less oxygen in it, so you don't get so many air bubbles up the stems of flowers. (The air bubbles reduce the life of the flower).

- Use plain, lukewarm water for most cut flowers, but use cold water for bulb flowers, such as daffodils, hyacinths, and tulips.

- Change the water every 2 days - don't just top it off. This is the single most effective thing you can do to keep your flowers looking fresh.

- Keep flowers out of direct sunlight, and move them to a cool place at night.

- Add a shot of vodka or a splash of lemonade to the water in your vase - it will keep your flowers fresher for longer.

- To keep the water fresh in your flower arrangement drop a shiny copper penny into the bottom.

- When arranging flowers, strip off all leaves below the waterline to prevent them rotting.

- Smash hard woody stems but cut soft stems to prolong their life before placing them in your arrangement.

- To help perk up and revive woody-stemmed flowers like roses put the stems in boilind water for ten seconds, and then immediately plunge them into cold water. This will move the air lock that has formed in the stem up to the flower.

- If your flower arrangement is going to be in a warm room, keep the blooms looking fresh by popping a couple of ice-cubes into the water each morning.

- Don't put flowers next to fruit because the fruit produces ethylene gas, which increases the maturity rate of the flowers, so they die quicker. Also, remove dying flowers from an arrangement because they produce the same gas.

- Scented flowers don't last as long as non-scented ones because they use up extra energy producing the smell.

- Do not mix daffodils with other blooms - they release a poison that kills other flowers.

- A pinch of salt or sugar into the water of a flower arrangements helps to slow down bacterial growth.

Happy Mother's Day..........

Christmas {F}

Di O's {F} Page

Whilst I was thinking about my F page I came across a gorgeous quote "The magic of Christmas never ends because its greatest gift is family and friends" It is such a lovely quote and ideal for my F page.

I've made a fairly simple page this week, the front flap opens to reveal a small pull out underneath for up to 5 photos front and back. I have used it for a combination of photos and journalling.
















I added the fab Magic of Christmas quote by just printing out a coloured background and using white text. The strips were then torn round and inked.

I mounted the letter F onto chipboard and covered with Basic Grey. The edges were inked, I added the "friends" charm and tied a small piece of ribbon round the letter stem.



















I used a little Family charm on the bottom right hand side and a chipboard shape to keep the flap closed.



















For the finishing touches I added some fibres down the left hand side and added a bead to the end of the fibres.



















The finished page:

{E} for Embossing

There are two methods of embossing; dry embossing and heat embossing. I have chosen dry embossing to show you.

Firstly you will need to assemble all the required tools: Paper, card or vellum; stencil; embossing tool; light box.

Using a low tack tape, tape the stencil to the front of the card.

Turn the card and stencil over and place it onto the light box. Using the embossing tool, follow the outline of the stencil and any open areas within the stencil.

Turn the card back over to the right side. Using chalks apply to the areas that have been pushed through the stencil. Using a cotton wool ball apply shading from the stencil out onto the card.

Cut the stencilled image out (I have used decorative scissors) and have edged the cut image with an ink pad.

Christmas {E}

Di W's {E} Page

I have chosen Christmas EVE and EXCITEMENT for {E}.

I started off with a piece of bazzill card as a backing and cut 2 circles from red themed paperand put them back to back.

I cut a letter E out on my Xyron and stuck the relief onto the middle of the circle. I coloured the E in and used a silver pen to draw inside it, then used a template to create the pattern around.

I stuck a small strip of the circle to the backing then used my sewing machine to create a hinge. I also used a zig zag stich around the border.

On the inside page I used the E cut out and wrote the words of the title. I had a piece of themed paper that had concentric circles, so I cut out the centre and wrote the journalling around the circles. Finally, I dreew some pictures to reprsent the journalling.

Di O's {E} Page

For my E page I have chosen ENJOY!




The first shaped flap folds out to reveal pictures on the inside and the 2nd flap folds out for journalling.

Under the 2nd flap are 3 more mini flaps that reveal small pictures and more journalling.

{D} for Decorating Chipboard

Chipboard comes in a whole host of shapes and sizes and can look very effective on any craft.

There are many ways that you can decorate chipboard and I have set out a few examples of just some of the techniques that can be used.

1/. Simply covering this leaf shape with mulberry paper and then using a little embossing gel to create the main veins on the leaf.














2/. How about stamping yellow card and embossing with gold on this star chipboard. Finish off with a couple of buttons simply threaded with ribbon.



















3/. Another option is to dry emboss a word onto white core card and rub off the top coloured layer as in this snow arrow below.















4/. A further example of covering with card only this time, one heart has been covered in decorative corrugated card and the other in simple white core card. Punch a hole and add raffia and add a button threaded with more raffia. Glue the two hearts together.



















5/. Paint, this can be very effective, firstly a simply painted book plate with metallic acrylic to give off a fabulous metallic sheen.



















Alternatively, paint a heart and add beads and tiny confetti hearts for decoration.



















Painted flower chipboard. 3 different coloured acrylic paints make up this flower design. The petals are dabbed with embossing gel to give the illusion of rain drops.


















6/. How about decorating with more chunky embellishments like the shells used in the next example.


















I have tried to show you a few ways that you can decorate chipboard but as a challenge, we would love to see your creations this week.

Upload your creations to your blog or gallery and leave a link in the comments. Alternatively, upload to the Bubbly Funk gallery and we will post your pictures on here.

Christmas {D}

Rosie's Letter {D} - Decorated Tree

My A-Z of Christmas Journal is A5 in size and is a single page layout per letter. I have used a traditional backing paper on both my C and D pages.

I've inked the edges of the page with a moss green ink pad. Selected and decorated a Christmas Tree image with some funky red fibres to simulate tinsel. I've added flat backed jewels and gems as baubles and added a gold start brad to the top.

The tag I've edged with gold ink and attached using foam pads for depth.

Di O's Letter {D}

For my letter 'd' I wanted to use some pictures of some blue decorations I had put up in my hallway.

I made a fold out page, again with Basic Grey, and used a chipboard letter 'd' for the front. On the inside I hinged the largest picture and put journalling and a further picture underneath.

The front closes using a magnetic dot and I used beads to add a little sparkle.