About Me

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I'm a retired primary school teacher, who started paper crafting in 2008, when I had a fancy to make my own Christmas cards. Since then, I have tried all sorts of techniques and styles - and I kind of like them all. I have been lucky enough to be on blog teams and large design teams and to do a bit of freelance demonstrating - and I love the challenge of working with different products. My crafting style is very varied - from junk journaling and art journaling, bookbinding and journal making, to quilting and patchwork - and of course I still make cards. This variety keeps me interested - and my crafty stash growing!! I'm always seeking inspiration for new projects.

Friday 29 April 2022

Boat by a Lake

Today I have a couple of stamped cards using the same stamp -  Nellie's Choice: Idyllic Floral Scenes - Lake with Rowing Boat.

I have gone for two different looks - neither of which need you to be able to paint. Click on the pictures to see the video demonstratations.

The first uses Distress Oxides - Fired Brick, Spiced Marmalade and Squeezed Lemonade to create a sunset effect. The image is then stamped over this with Versafine Clair Nocturne.


The second is a simple sepia effect created by stamping in Ground Espresso Distress Oxide onto cream card, and then using water to move the ink.

Both sentiments are Julie Hickey Designs Everyday Sentiment Stamps.

Thanks for popping by, and I hope I have given you a little inspiration. Feel free to follow me here on my blog, or on FaceBookTwitterInstagram or Pinterest. For lots of video demonstrations, pop over to the Hixxy Studio YouTube channel to subscribe. The main items I use can be found on the Hixxy Crafts website - have a look under the Hixxy Studio tab.

Happy crafting,

Cxx

Thursday 28 April 2022

Leap Frog!

Had the chance to play with some AALL & Create stamps. This is one of my projects with #327 Ribbit Ribbit. With the sentiments Leap  &   Frog in the set, I just had to do a Leap Frog card. Click on the picture to see the video demo.


I used Carved Pumpkin, Squeezed Lemonade and Twisted Citron Distress Oxides to create the background. 

Thanks for popping by, and I hope I have given you a little inspiration. Feel free to follow me here on my blog, or on FaceBookTwitterInstagram or Pinterest. For lots of video demonstrations, pop over to the Hixxy Studio YouTube channel to subscribe. The main items I use can be found on the Hixxy Crafts website - have a look under the Hixxy Studio tab.

Happy crafting,

Cxx

Tuesday 26 April 2022

Earth Laughs In Flowers

Today I am sharing a Journal page, created using Julie Hickey Designs Dinky Circles die set, Sweet Pea die set, and stamps from Daisy Blooms and Garden Blooms. I made it to fit my TN, which I created a while ago. Click on the picture below to go to the video demonstration. 

I used watercolour card with Salvaged Patina, Cracked Pistachio, Kitsch Flamingo and Squeezed Lemonade Distress Oxides. 

I used the flower from the Dinky Circles die set to create a stencil, which I inked through, and I also used the little stamp from Daisy Blooms too. To create the feeling of the flowers having foliage, I stamped the focal stamp from both the Daisy Blooms and the Garden Blooms sets onto the card, with Cracked Pistachio. It doesn't stamp particularly well as the card is textured, but it gives enough of an impression that I was able to then paint the leaves with the ink.


I used more watercolour card to mop up the ink from when I made the background, and then die cut this for the flowers and for the letters.

Thanks for popping by, and I hope I have given you a little inspiration. Feel free to follow me here on my blog, or on FaceBookTwitterInstagram or Pinterest. For lots of video demonstrations, pop over to the Hixxy Studio YouTube channel to subscribe. The main items I use can be found on the Hixxy Crafts website - have a look under the Hixxy Studio tab.

Happy crafting,

Cxx

Monday 25 April 2022

Buttercup Floral Panels

Today's share is a triple whammy - two cards and a box made using the same die set. I used the Buttercup floral panel set from Creative Expressions by Sue Wilson.

Click on the individual photos to see how I made each one.

The box is made with Centura Pearl Hint of Gold, and would hold a pillar candle as a gift.

This foldback card uses Pixie Powders in Mango Blaze, Peacock Green and Candy Pink.

And the final one is a gatefold.

Thanks for popping by, and I hope I have given you a little inspiration. Feel free to follow me here on my blog, or on FaceBookTwitterInstagram or Pinterest. For lots more video demonstrations, pop over to the Hixxy Studio YouTube channel to subscribe. The main items I use can be found on the Hixxy Crafts website - have a look under the Hixxy Studio tab.

Happy crafting,

Cxx

Friday 22 April 2022

Medallion Tea Bag Folding

Today's share is another of my teabag folding samples using Creative Expressions Dies by Jamie Rodgers - Tea Bag Folding Dies - Octagons. 

I have adapted the Square Zig Zag fold from Handcrafted Greetings. Click on the picture to take a look at the video of how I made this.


The sentiment is from Julie Hickey Designs - Everyday Sentiment stamps.

Thanks for popping by, and I hope I have given you a little inspiration. Feel free to follow me here on my blog, or on FaceBookTwitterInstagram or Pinterest. For lots of video demonstrations, pop over to the Hixxy Studio YouTube channel to subscribe. The main items I use can be found on the Hixxy Crafts website - have a look under the Hixxy Studio tab.

Happy crafting,

Cxx

Tuesday 12 April 2022

Kraft and White

Today's share is a simple Kraft card and white embossed creation, using Julie Hickey Designs Daisy Blooms stamp set. The background card is using the small stamps from the set, and I used a gel pen to draw the corner lines. I painted the daisies with Frozen Pearl Pixie Sparkle Highlights, mixed with water. Click on the picture to see the video demonstration. 

Thanks for popping by, and I hope I have given you a little inspiration. Feel free to follow me here on my blog, or on FaceBookTwitterInstagram or Pinterest. For lots of video demonstrations, pop over to the Hixxy Studio YouTube channel to subscribe. The main items I use can be found on the Hixxy Crafts website - have a look under the Hixxy Studio tab.

Happy crafting,

Cxxx

Friday 8 April 2022

Dinky Circles

Today's share uses the Dinky Circle dies from Julie Hickey Designs. The flower is from the set, and I used Craft Artist - Flower Forming Foam - Pink and Purple. The sentiment is from the Floral Buttons set, and I used Crafter's Companion Stitched Circles to cut it out. Click on the picture to take you to the video demonstration.


Thanks for popping by, and I hope I have given you a little inspiration. Feel free to follow me here on my blog, or on FaceBookTwitterInstagram or Pinterest. For lots of video demonstrations, pop over to the Hixxy Studio YouTube channel to subscribe. The main items I use can be found on the Hixxy Crafts website - have a look under the Hixxy Studio tab.

Happy crafting,

Cxxx

Thursday 7 April 2022

Tea Bag Wreath

Here's a different way of using the tea bag folding dies from Jamie Rodgers for Creative Expressions. I used both of the dies from the Octagons set to create this. I used the Open Centre Star from Handcrafted Greetings . It's for a square piec, so I had to adapt it slightly -click on the picture to see the video demonstration. 


Thanks for popping by, and I hope I have given you a little inspiration. Feel free to follow me here on my blog, or on FaceBookTwitterInstagram or Pinterest. For lots of video demonstrations, pop over to the Hixxy Studio YouTube channel to subscribe. The main items I use can be found on the Hixxy Crafts website - have a look under the Hixxy Studio tab.


Happy crafting,

Cx

Wednesday 6 April 2022

Circles Everywhere!!

 Today's share is a card made using some lovely Julie Hickey Designs products. The stamps are Floral Buttons, and I have also used the Dinky Circles die set.


The button stamps themselves are cut by hand and not with dies, as this follows the free-hand way in which they are drawn. The mats and layers are using one of the Dinky Circles.

For the background, I used Scattered Straw, Bundled Sage and Weathered Wood Distress Oxides and Oxide Sprays, along with the the tiny stamps from the set, and a stencil I made using the flower from the Dinky Circles.

Thanks for popping by, and I hope I have given you a little inspiration. Feel free to follow me here on my blog, or on FaceBookTwitterInstagram or Pinterest. For lots of video demonstrations, pop over to the Hixxy Studio YouTube channel to subscribe. The main items I use can be found on the Hixxy Crafts website - have a look under the Hixxy Studio tab.


Happy crafting,

Cxx

Tuesday 5 April 2022

Octagons!

This is an octagon easel card I made using the Octagon Tea Bag Folding dies from Creative Expressions Craft dies by Jamie Rodgers.

I used the largest die to draw around and extend, in order to create the easel and the mats and layers. 


The packaging comes with instructions for a basic fold, and a couple of variations on that fold. However, there are many, many more folds out there, and I have used some from Handcrafted Greetings for my cards. 

For the main medallion I have used the Jewel fold - as it looks like a large gem when complete. And for the stopper, I used the Octagon fold with a slight variation.

Click on the picture to see my demonstration on how to complete the whole easel card. 

Thanks for popping by, and I hope I have given you a little inspiration. Feel free to follow me here on my blog, or on FaceBookTwitterInstagram or Pinterest. For lots of video demonstrations, pop over to the Hixxy Studio YouTube channel to subscribe. The main items I use can be found on the Hixxy Crafts website - have a look under the Hixxy Studio tab.

Happy crafting,

Cxx

Monday 4 April 2022

Easter Gift!

This is the last of my Easter makes. It's a gift card holder and treat box all rolled into one. I got the idea from Beccy's Place - so feel free to pop over and see her original. Click on the picture below for my video demonstration.


To decorate the box, I used Nellie's Choice "Easter Hare with Basket" and the sentiment from Karen Burniston's Easter Charms.

I love this little box - the perfect way to give a treat. 

Thanks for popping by, and I hope I have given you a little inspiration. Feel free to follow me here on my blog, or on FaceBookTwitterInstagram or Pinterest. For lots of video demonstrations, pop over to the Hixxy Studio YouTube channel to subscribe. The main items I use can be found on the Hixxy Crafts website - have a look under the Hixxy Studio tab.

Happy crafting,

Cxx

Sunday 3 April 2022

Happy Easter!!

The penultimate of my Easter offerings today. This one uses the Sweet Pea Alphabet sets from Julie Hickey Designs, and Karen Burniston's Easter Charms. I haven't used the dies as charms, but instead added them to my take on a floating card. 

I have used the colours that I love in Spring - yellows and greens!! One of the beds in my garden right now is just that - all yellows and greens!! Click on the picture to see the video demonstration. 


Thanks for popping by, and I hope I have given you a little inspiration. Feel free to follow me here on my blog, or on FaceBookTwitterInstagram or Pinterest. For lots of video demonstrations, pop over to the Hixxy Studio YouTube channel to subscribe. The main items I use can be found on the Hixxy Crafts website - have a look under the Hixxy Studio tab.

Happy crafting,

Cxx

Saturday 2 April 2022

Easter Rocker Card

Today's Easter share combines the Easter Basket and the Bunny dies from Elizabeth Craft Designs. It's really simple to make. Cut two circles, score one in half, and the other sits on the front. The whole thing then rocks.

I cut all the pieces from white card, and inked them up. Click on the picture to see the whole video demonstration. The sentiment is from Karen Burniston's Easter Charms.

Thanks for popping by, and I hope I have given you a little inspiration. Feel free to follow me here on my blog, or on FaceBookTwitterInstagram or Pinterest. For lots of video demonstrations, pop over to the Hixxy Studio YouTube channel to subscribe. The main items I use can be found on the Hixxy Crafts website - have a look under the Hixxy Studio tab.

Happy crafting,

Cxx

Friday 1 April 2022

Easter Bunnies!

Today's share is another Easter card - this time, using Elizabeth Craft Designs Bunny die. I cut it three times, and combined it with the sentiment from Karen Burniston's Easter Charms. Click on the picture to watch the video demonstration. 


Thanks for popping by, and I hope I have given you a little inspiration. Feel free to follow me here on my blog, or on FaceBookTwitterInstagram or Pinterest. For lots of video demonstrations, pop over to the Hixxy Studio YouTube channel to subscribe. The main items I use can be found on the Hixxy Crafts website - have a look under the Hixxy Studio tab.

Happy crafting,

Cxx