Showtime...

Happy Thursday,

Don't forget I am launching my Christmas ranges today on Create and Craft at 9am and 2pm!  There are a couple of new products, such as the backgrounds and a new Christmas Watercolour palette.  The Mica watercolours are fad and, based on the last time I took these on C&C, should go quickly especially as the colours are fab!

I am showing 2 new cards today, both designed to be demonstrations so you will have to use in to see these I'm afraid.  I am, however still running the stamp draw so let me know which of today's cards you prefer to be in with a chance of winning a set and a background stamp.

 This first offering is made with a selection of my papers from the 12 days of Christmas paper pack as well as some of the Foundation card I have on the show ( I have put together a card pack that matches the colours perfectly.  I also used the sentimental bauble die from Sue Wilson's festive collection to make the 3D bauble shown.  This can be used for the front of a card or project or made into a 3D bauble or decoration for your home at Christmas.


The sentiment is form the Holly Tree elements stamps set and is stamped and embossed using silver shine embossing powder onto Rich Red foundation card.

This second card is made using the new Christmas watercolour mica palettes.  I used the beautiful green (again made to match the paper pack) to colour the tree.  I used the stitched hearts background stamp to make the background by stamping the image with perfect medium.  I then dusted over the top using Silver mica powder ( this comes in the silver set I have put together.  I have arranged 4 sets of Cosmic Shimmer products to make your Christmas projects easy.

Tune in for the demos and to see the samples!

Enjoy...x

12 Days Backgrounds...

Happy Wednesday,

Ive something new to show you in the 12 days collection today these are the backgrounds, of which there are 4, to match the stamps and paper pack.  I designed these specifically to pick up some of the designs on the pack to compliment all the papers and stamp sets.  However these are also sized so that you can use them, on their own, for simple batch christmas cards should you wish to.

The first card is made using the vintage snowflake A6 background stamped in Geranium Red archival onto coconut white foundation card. I mounted this onto a couple of layers of rich red and coconut white and wrapped a piece of the bakers twine (from the brights set) around a twice and tied a quick not.


The main pears are made from one of the other backgrounds the Pear Square which is a 4 x 4" square background stamps.  here I have cut it into quarters and used 2 of them, lined in the red, offset as the topper.

to finish this card I simply stamped the sentiment, from the Partridge stamp set, in jet black arrival on a strip of coconut white, added a couple of layers of red and white, and foam mounted this on top at the bottom.  A quick but effective card that could be simplified further.

Next are  2 more, one A6 and another 4 x 4" square the stitched hearts background and the 12 days square.  For this card I stamped the square twice using jet black archival one of these i mounted on red card.  the other I cut some of the individual squares out form, mounted them in red and foam mounted them on top of their counterparts.

I stamped the stitched hearst background, cut it out and again mounted it onto red card.  I added this to a 14x14cm square of coconut white card on the left hand side.  I tried a strip of the thin scarlet ribbon around and added d double bow.  I foam mounted the main square over this and mounted the whole piece on a square of the red before adding to a white card blank.

These backgrounds will be available on the Create and Craft shows tomorrow .

To be in with a chance of winning one of the sets of stamps and the backgrounds just let me know which of these 2 cards you prefer!

Ingredients:
12 Days of christmas background stamps
Stitched Hearts
Vintage Snowflake
12 days square
Pear square.
Archival ink in geranium red, and jet black
rich red and coconut white foundation card
scarlet double sided satin ribbon pack.

Enjoy...

12 days, Day 2...

Happy Tuesday,

its the tern of the tree cards and stamps today, I have to admit to a slight preference of this one as I keep gravitating to it when I am making samples for Thursday!  remember if you want to win a set of the stamps and one of the new backgrounds (which I will show tomorrow!) then simply comment every day this week telling me which Card is your favourer each day!









I stared by stamping the largeHolly tree element onto Brunswick green foundation card using perfect medium.  I then added the new Cosmic Shimmer sticky embossing powder and heat set it before adding golden jewels gilding flakes.  I rubbed off the excess using a piece of rubit scrubit which revealed all the detail of the stamped image set in gold!
 I tied a double bow using a piece of matching bakers twine (from the primary pack that I have on the show) and added a small gold dazzler to hide the knot.  Finally, for this stage, I added a thin gold mat using vintage gold foundation card.

For the background I used a piece of my paperback in the matching green colour (I teamed the red and green used to Foundation card colours as It makes matting and layering so easy)  I adde this, with foam tape, to a larger square 21 x 21 cm made by layers of coconut white and brunswick green finishing with more of the gold.



The border is simply made by cutting 2 of the snowflake bored, from Sue's festive collection for Creative expressions, in the green.  I added these either side of a strip of green to which I added one of the borders from the paper pack using the 5 gold rings border.  I added some dots of olympic gold pearlescent PVA on all the ends of the snowflakes and in the centres.  I mounted this in the centre of the card with a strip of foam tape and added the tree stamp over the top.

The next card is made using the same image however I have used the smaller tree in the set, this shows that you can use the stamps to make smaller cards as well!  This time I stamped the image on black card using perfect medium however I heat set it with bright gold detail embossing powder.

I added the word JOY from the set at the bottom and embossed the same way.  I mounted this on the gold again which really sets the gold of the embossing off.

To make the card up I stamped the holly border, using jet black archival ink, onto a strip of raw silk double sided satin ribbon (its sized to fit perfectly) I wrapped this around a square of black foundation card with a thin border of gold again.  This was then mounted onto a 15 x 15cm card blank made with more of the gold and black.

Let me know which Card you prefer?

Ingredients:
Holly Tree elements clear stamp set from Creative Expressions
Blasck, vintage gold and brunswick green foundation card
Cosmic shimmer bright gold and sticky embossing powder.
Golden jewel gilding flakes
12 days paper pack
olympic gold Pearl PVA glue.
raw silk double sided satin ribbon pack

Enjoy...

A week of Stamping and paper lol...

Happy Monday,

As I am launching my 12 Days of Christmas stamp and paper ranges on Create and Craft on Thursday I thought that gave me the perfect excuse to show some more of the samples in detail.  AS I made quite a few and only showed them with the stamp reveal I am posting 2 a day this week!  Also I will be giving away a set of the stamps as well as one of the Brand new Exclusive background stamps on Saturdays post.  All you have to do to be in the draw is comment each day Monday to fir day telling me which is your favourite card each day ad I will draw a winner on Saturday!

This was one of the most popular cards form the launch so i thought i would start with this one and take you through it!

I stared by stamping the branch that's on the partridge set randomly on a square of card using jet black arrival.  Next I stamped the main element and mounted it onto a thin black mat.  I foam mounted this over the foliage square with from tape, added a larger black square and a row of adhesive pearl strip (it comes as a double but I cut it down the middle so I get more out of it!

Next i cut 4 of the snowflake border in black and rubbed pearl moon gilding wax all over them, I then polished it off with a dry wet wipe.  I repeated this on 4 of the corners form the same set and attached the corners to a 18x18cm square.  I cut the end snowflake off each side of the borders and mounted them to make a square frame around the stamped image. A couple of layers of the black and white and a large card is finished.

With the next card I wanted to show the difference with the same image however this time I have used one of the toppers from the paper pack in the red.

I simply cut one of the toppers form the pack (you get at least 2 of each of the images in both colours and 8 of the partridge one, again in each colour) and mounted it onto layers of red and white foundation card.  I cut one of the borders that reads My true love  sent to me and layered this with more red and white.  The card is made of simply trimming one of the backing pages down a little to add it to a 21 x 21cm square card with layers of red and white again.  I foam mounted the border to the left and then  added a strip of the cosmic ribbon (i believe Julia has this in stock) down the side.

Finally I added the main element, again with foam tape, in the centre of the card and added a small bow under this with one of the silver dazzlers.

to win a set of the stamps and one of the backgrounds simply leave a comment saying which is your favourite of the two options each day!

Enjoy...

Cloudy Sunday...

Happy Sunday,

Today I am demoing at the Stoneleigh craft show for my Friend Wendy from Daisies jewels and crafts.  I will be demoing between 11am and 2pm and will be doing some demonstrations with the fabulous new Colour Cloud Blending inks form Cosmic Shimmer.  There will be some christmas die cutting and maybe a little stamping form my new ranges as well!

Ive usually stuck away form shading and colouring through masks as I struggle to get an even colour tone, thankfully the blending abilities of the Colour Clouds makes it easy!

I thought as a quick card I would show you this sample I made just using papyrus foundation card and the Creme Brûlée colour cloud ink!

If you are at the show pop along and say Hi, Julia and Phill will also be there on his Sentimentally yours stand so you may see the three of us together.

Black and gold demo...

Happy Saturday,

I am demoing at Jula Crafts in Consett, county Durham today from 10am to 4pm then its a quick dash home as I'm demoing from 11 till 2pm at Stoneleigh show!  I thought you might like to see one of the cards I will be demoing today.

There are various techniques in this one so its great to show different card making skills.

I cut all the layers in the mini Christmas background in black foundation card and rubbed golden light gilding wax all over the pieces.  I mounted onto double sided adhesive sheet and added diamond sprinkles in the 'gaps'.  next I layered them using foam tape to add dimension.




The strip along the middle is made with black foundation card and Sue Wilson's paper grouting technique with warm gold sparkle texture paste.  I added a couple of the snowflake borders, again rubbed with the gilding wax, and a strip of gold / silver reverseable ribbon.

I finished with a few layers of black and gold and a festive card, in alternate colours, is finished.

Ingredients:
Creative Expressions Craft die by Sue Wilson
Mini Christmas scene
Snowflake corner, border and tags
vintage gold and black foundation card
Golden light gilding wax
diamond sprinkles
Frosty swirls sparkle texture paste

Enjoy...

Christmas Red...

Happy Christmas Friday,

Well can you believe its Friday already?!?  I have been making sample snap demos for my Create and Craft show next Thursday and its been a bit of a Christmas red, green white and gold fest!  so today I thought I would show you a card form last weeks demo in the same colours to whet your appetites!

I stated by cutting the outline die in the snowflake deboss die in apiece of coconut white foundation card.  Next I embossed the piece with the snowflake lattice embossing folder and added a cosmic pearl PVA dot on each of the snowflakes.  I then cut and embossed the second and third die from the same set and added pewter gilding wax to highlight the stunning debased snowflake design.

Next I die cut the centre die from the set in coconut white and foam mounted all the layers together with from tape adding a final layer of the rich red at the back.

to make the deer family I added a sheet of A4 soluble sided adhesive to a sheet of coconut white card and then die cut the three deer in set.  I slipped off the protective sheet and covered them completely in white ice.  White ice is another of the glitter jewel range and is a solid white with a little interference added so that you see different colours as it catches the light.

I foam mounted these over the top around the aperture and added some pearl sprays to balance the design.  I used the star, from the same set as the pearl swirls, to the centre of the die cut and finished the card with a step and layers of the red and white.

Ingredients:
Creative Expressions Craft Dies by Sue Wilson
Snowflake deboss
Deer family
CE A4 snowflake lattice embossing folder
coconut white and rich red foundation card
double sided adhesive sheets
white ice glitter jewels
pearl star sprays in white

Enjoy...