Sneak Peak...

Happy Saturday,





Today I am in Hi-leih garden centre in Knutsford demoin from 10am to 4pm for Creative expressions, if you are in the area pop in and say hello or ask me to demo a technique for you!








Todays project is a real change for me and is a sneak peak of one of the products I am showing on Create and craft tomorrow.  I am doing the toolshed show form 12 till 2 so if you are free tune in.  There is a great range of products and I am hoping to get lots of technique based demos in!  These techniques will work across all card and paper craft projects as well as the MDF storage solutions I have used them on!

Hopefully You will all like the units I have to say I have had so much fun playing with and decorating them!

Enjoy...

Something Blue...(ish)

Happy Blue Friday,

The first question is doe s really purple shade of blue count as blue?  OK its purple however I love this card and the rest of the samples I have made in my Blue phase have some over to CE towers to be used as show samples for Sue next weekend so I can't show them at the moment!

Today's card is one from my couture creations show at the beginning of the month its a real mix of styles.

The background is a piece of the white ribbed card from the special finishes pack which I inked with the that special touch mask in milled lavender deists ink.  I then shaded around the square of card (20x20cm) to age the card and show the lovely embossed line pattern.

Next I cut the couture Creations art deco background die in more of the white and mounted it onto a mat of heather foundation card  The sentiment, from the friends sentiment set (which was due to be on the show but stock levels didn't allow however I do have this set on Sundays show as I have been using it so much recently I just love it!) is stamped onto the Mirror Mirror die cut in white and inked in the same distress ink.  To highlight the sentiment piece I cut a couple of the flourishes and then the waterlily die in Velum which I inked and scrunched them up.




I love the look of the flowers cut in vellum and the way they seem to flow!

Ingredients:
Couture Creations Dies
Art Deco
Mirror Mirror
Swirl
That Special Touch Openwork mask
Friends Sentiments stamp set
Distress Ink milled lavender


Enjoy...

The winner of this weeks Card giveaway is Gail, if you send me your address out to Lockers@live.co.uk I will post it out to you!  Another giveaway on Monday...

Copper Retriever...

Happy Thursday,

Well I am writing this late at night on Wednesday and my hands are covered in chalk paint which should give you a clue as to what I am demoing on Sunday!

As  few of you including Mrs Duck mentioned yesterday I haven't shown this card on my blog!  It has been on the Creative Expressions design team blog however due to the mix up i mentioned yesterday it was only a quick shot shown on their website.

I thought, therefore, that this card deserved its own day in the sun as I love the Mica stamping technique I used of Julia's.

The technique is quite simple of creating a stamp pad using cut n dry foam, copper mica and an ink spray mister.  I detailed how to do this on the first wednesday of the month so click back if you need more details.  This time however I have stamped onto black foundation card which gives a whole new look and shine.  I love learning new stamping techniques as it allows me to recycle images as they can be made to look so different.

I matted the image and stamped background onto vintage gold card form Creative expressions which just adds to the shine and makes, hopefully, a regal card.

Ingredients:
Alfie single stamp from CE
Copper Mica 
Chestnut ink spray mister
Paw Prints sentiments stamps as above
paw print lattice background stamp
Chestnut seam binding
Vintage gold and black foundation card


Enjoy...

Creative Wednesday emergency...

Happy Wednesday,

Todays project for the CE Design Team blog, click HERE to see the blog, is a bit of an emergency!  Last week the DT blog showed 2 projects whilst I showed only one.  This was due to a mix up as my emails crossed in sending in my submissions and the Marketing team thought I have sent in 2 for last week not one for this as well.  Therefore I had to get up at 5am Tuesday morning to get this one does (ok thats also my fault as I forgot I was too busy prepping samples for Sundays C&C shows which has certainly strained my creative flow as the range of products I have for you is a departure for me!)

back to today I decided to make a set of then you / note cards and a wallet to hold them.

I simply used the poppy stamp and some wild honey distress ink and cut out the stamped image for the front of the wallet.  I then used the piece I cut the front image as a mask to ink the stamped cats on the fronts of the cards.  Sounds complex but really it isn't!

Ingredients:
Poppy single stamp
Wild honey distress ink
Sand & coconut white foundation card
Couture creations embossing folder


Enjoy...

Technique Tuesday...

Happy Tuesday,

Today will find find me leading a workshop at CE Towers in Kettering I have arranged a date for February and March and will let you all know the details as soon as the Designs can be released!  Back to today and a simple technique using a mask again however this time with a die cut aperture.

I have completed a photo tutorial for this week as my typing is not the best!

I die cut an aperture into spice of Kraft card from CE and then placed the waste piece over the card I wanted to add the design to.  Next I added the mask over the top and simply inked through the mask using distress ink.  I then shaded around the shape to add a little more faded effect to the piece.  Finally I simply added a stamped and die cut sentiment a bow and added it to a card blank, 18 x 18cm, that I had also shaded with the mask.

Take a look at your die collection and see what simple cards you can make from masks and the interesting shapes left behind.

Ingredients:
Creative Expressions Sue Wilson dies
Oslo
Californian Border, Tag and corner
That Special touch detail mask
Tea dye distress ink
Sand, Black,Coconut White and Kraft foundation card.

Enjoy...

Monday Card Giveaway...

Happy Monday,

Well its time for another giveaway and I thought one of you might like a card made with the current release of dies from Creative Expressions designed by Sue Wilson.

This card is again based on my favourite shades of blue and white, i just feel this combination is so classic!

I started by die cutting the 2 centre dies from the Oslo die set in coconut white card.  I then cut each of the other dies, using the matching frame die for the centre, alternating the colours.  I then stacked the layers together using foam tape and cut each subsequent layer with a wider border.

To add the sentiment I hand cut a banner in the blue and stamped the sentiment in black archival.  Next I die cut the largest flower form the camilla closed petal set in blue and added the open petal on top cut in white.  I simply glued the edge of the banner behind the card through the aperture and twisted it onto the front.  Finally I added the flower, with a pearl centre, for balance.

Ingredients:
Creative Expressions dies for Sue Wilson
Scandinavian - Olso
Camila Open & Closed petal sets
CE Sentiment stamp



To win this card just leave a comment and I will choose a winner.

Demo day!  - On saturday I will be demoing all day for Creative Expressions at Hi-Legj Garden Centre craft shop in Knutsford.  If you are around that area or fancy a visit pop in and say hello!  Click HERE for details on the venue

Enjoy...

Simple Sunday...

 Happy Sunday,

A simple card today from the shows I did with Sue Wilson back last year.  All I have done is to emboss a piece of Coconut white card with the CE A4 rambling Blossom embossing folder and rubbed gilding wax liberally all over it.   I then polished it off using a dry wet wipe.

Next I die cut a butterfly form the centre and cut it out into a square.  I matted this with sand and black card and did the same with the wastes piece.




Finally I added it to a card blank 21cm x 21cm added a bow and stuck the die cut butterfly back into the aperture down the middle and pulled the wings forward.

A very simple card that could be made in your favourite colour!

Now next Sunday will be a sneak peak as I am scheduled for the 2 hour toolshed show on Create and Craft (Freeview 36 or Sky 674)  at 12 o'clock lunchtime.

Ingredients:
Creative Expression A4 embossing folder Rambling Blossom
Sue Wilson Butterfly Magic Die set
Autumn bronze gilding wax
Foundation card in Coconut white, sand and Black


Enjoy...

Saturday Stamping more Pink...

Happy Saturday,

I thought I should show another version of the rose stamp I showed last week.  This time I have stamped the image In cosmic Shimmer detail black embossing powder and then I coloured in the image. I coloured the rose bud using Spun Sugar and Victorian Velvet distress markers this time making sure I colour inside the lines this time!

I coloured the leaves in a selection of green distress markers using a wet paintbrush I pulled the colours from the edges to shade the image.








Next I cut the image out using the Lotus Filet due form Couture Creations die and shaded the centre whilst in the die using Spoun Sugare distress ink.  I then gently coloured the edges of the die cut using cut n dry foam.

To make the card Background I embossed a piece of coconut white foundation card using a mask and the technique I detailed on Tuesday.  Whilst still in the mask I shaded the raised area using more of the distress ink pad and cut it into a large square.  Next I simply shaded around the card, the embossing of the mask leaves a frame around the embossed masks which looks like you have added and extra layer.

Finally I added the whole piece, with a strip of ribbon and a pink dazzler, to a hand cut 21cm x 21cm card blank onto which I stamped some creative expressions swirl stamps (I've had them for years so I don't know the name sorry!)  in the spun sugar.

Hopefully this comes across a little less pink than Thursdays offering!

Ingredients:
That Special touch mask
CE Singles rose bud stamp
Couture Creations Lotus Filet die
Spun Sugar distress ink & Markers

Enjoy...

Feeling Blue...

Happy Friday,

In reference to the title I'm not feeling blue but feeling a love of this colour blue!  I love this periwinkle shade from the Creative Expressions Foundation card range and didn't realise It had gone out of stock (it's due back next week so don't worry if you are wanting some like me!) when I had a couple of days of just using this colour to make a range of cards!  I have decided that I will show One each week on Fridays as none can take as much blue as I used in this range! lol

I started this card by Cutting the Creative Expressions By Sue Wilson Gemini die, using my favourite Lyra, on the edge of a sheet of A4 card.  I then scored at 1/2 cm intervals across the card too texture it.

Next I cut a sheet of white card using just the edge die from the lyra set and stuck the die cut sheet over this using cosmic Shimmer dries clear glue.  I cut the white piece 1/2cm larger round and folded this to make a full card.

Next I added the frame cut in white with layers of blue and white with the CE sentiment stamped in the middle.  I added a few petals around the frame to highlight it.  The foliage is surrounding the frame is cut in white using Sue's mosaic leaves from the latest release with some punched flowers that I shaped simply dotted over the foliage.

As I said above I love this colour and in this card have allowed it to shine I feel.





Ingredients:
Creative Expressions Sue Wilson Dies
Gemini Dies - Lyra
Dainty Rectangular Frame
Periwinkle & coconut white foundation Card
Cosmic Shimmer Dries clear glue.

Enjoy...

In the Pink...

Happy Thursday,

Well its all been a little brown or white this week so Today is Pink Day!  Time to introduce some colour me thinks!

Today's card Is made completely with Blush card which looks really pink but is a lovely soft shade that only shows up when contrasted with white as I have on the final layer.  I started by stamping the sentiment in Archival black ink onto blush card which I then cut out with the Couture Creations Lotus filet die.  I then coloured the image in  the die using spun sugar distress ink.  Once removed from the die I shaded the edges using cut n dry foam and more of the distress ink.

I flat layered this onto another piece of the blush card and added a spray of waterlilies cut in parchment along with a knot of crinkle edge ribbon and some real sprays and embellishments.




I made the background by embossing a piece of the card with the large retro flowers embossing folder from Court Creations and extended the pattern.  I shaded this with more spun sugar distress ink concentrating soon the edges to give a shaded look.


To finish the card I simply layered a piece of the ribbon over the embossed panel and added it to a simple white mat.  I always like to add a strip of ribbon if I have added a large bow or embellishment as I feel it balances the larger flourish.  I simply added the stamped panel on top, using foam tape, and the card was finished.

Ingredients:
Blush Foundation card
Couture Creations Lotus Filet & Waterlily die sets
Couture Creations Large Retro Flowers embossing folder
CE Sentiment stamp

Enjoy...

The winner of Monday's card, as randomly chosen by Mr ND was no 5 which is Mrs B,  If you email me your address on Lockers@live.co.uk I will post it out to you.   Another giveaway on Monday! x

Creative Wednesday...

Happy Creative Wednesday,

Can you believe this is the third wednesday of 2015?!?  I can't believe we are already well into January however I am always reminded when I present one of my DT cards as it shows how time flys...

This month we are showcasing the new cat and Dog range of stamps from Creative Expressions and I even surprised myself as to how much I enjoyed colouring these images!

For todays card I chose the Toby single stamp along with the Paw Print Lattice background stamp.

I started by stamping Toby onto Milk foundation card with black archival ink.  I then coloured him in using Scattered saw distress pen colouring around the edges and pulling the colour into the image using a wet paintbrush.  I highlighted him, and the ball, using Antique linen distress pen and shaded round the card using scattered stars and cut n dry foam.  It cut the rectangle I used the second largest die in the Spellbinders matting basics B set.

To make the background I stamped the paw print lattice rubber stamp onto sand foundation card using black archival.  I then cut an aperture in Milk card using spellbinders matting basics B and a larger Sand aperture using the largest die in the set.  I then layers each frame on top of the other using foam tape to make a tune style background.


To finish the card I added the background onto a 21 x 21 cm card made from layers of the milk and sand onto which I randomly stamped the background using scattered straw distress ink.  I added a messy bow and a couple of strips of ribbon and the Toby image over the top to balance the card.

Finally I added one of the new Dazzler settings and a black dazzler in the centre.

Click HERE to visit the Creative Expressions blog and see what the rest of the team have created with the same range. and if you could leave a comment I would be very smiley!! lol

Ingredients:
CE Singles stamps Toby
CE Background Stamps Paw Print Lattice
CE Sentiment Stamps pets
Sand & Milk foundation card
Distress ink & Pens in Antique Linen & Scattered Straw
London Tan seem binding, Dazzler Setting & Dazzler all CE

Enjoy...

P.s. The link works this week lol!

Technique Tuesday...all white?

Happy Tuesday,

A  really simple technique today and I wanted to keep the all white going as it proved so popular yesterday (I'll announce the winner of yesterdays card tomorrow)

back to today and as I said a really simple technique however I always struggle to remember how to do it and end up ringing Mrs Duck for her to remind me how to emboss with masks as I learnt it from her.  Hopefully you can all see form the pictures how the hammered white card has been embossed with the pattern form the that special touch mask however the pressure is not the same as an embossing folder which means that you keep the texture of the paper or card.

I started with a piece of white hammered foundation card from creative expressions special finishes pack and made the sandwich for my Grand Calibur in the following format:

Grey base plate
Rubber embossing mat
Cardstock
Mask
Pink plate

You will need to play with different sandwich make ups depending on your die cutting machine however the way this works for me is that the rubber embossing mate pushes up through the mask to emboss the card (I hope that makes sense)

Once you have the embossed piece you can use distress inks either through the mask or just onto the piece to bring out the pattern however I have left this piece white for a simple look.

I made up the rest of the card using mats of coconut white card, which adds a lovely white on white contrast, and foam raised layers of the hammered card.

To complete the card I simply added a strip of sprinkle edge ribbon wrapped around 2 of the layers, again to add dimension.  I then simply tied another piece on the front, rather than a bow, with a die cut waterlily in parchment wrapped over the know and a heart dazzler.

Finally a simple hand cut banner with a simple sentiment stamped in black archival.

Ingredients:
That Special Touch Openwork mask
White Hammered & coconut white foundation card
Crinkle edge ribbon
Heart dazzler
Couture Creations Waterlily die set
Creative Expressions sentiment stamp

Enjoy...

Monday Giveaway...All White again!

Happy  Monday,

I hope you all like today's card as it is this weeks giveaway.  Simply leave a comment and Mr ND will randomly select one commenter to receive this card.

I started by cutting a full panel of the new eternal rings striplet from Creative Expressions by Sue Wilson die in coconut white foundation card however I didn't use the outline die so that just the filigree section was cut.  Next I cut the outline die next to the flower filigree cut.

I then cut another of the triplet dies into a piece of white and foam mounted it behind the aperture.  I then mounted the whole piece onto a few layers of white with more foam tape.

Next I cut three of each of the Camilla open and closed petals, again in white, I added the open petals on top of the closed ones.  I filled the space with cosmic shimmer crystal lacquer this gives the flowers a beautiful domes effect and shine.  Hopefully the next picture will show this...




Finally I cut the two dies in the new Ivy set and added these to the trellis work before adding the flowers and a messy bow made with white seem binding...




Ingredients:
Coconut white foundation card
Craft Dies by Creative Expressions for Sue Wilson
Eternal Rings Striplet
Camila Open and closed petals
Ivy
Cosmic Shimmer crystal lacquer
White seem binding
Stick on petals in white


Just leave a comment to win this card,  Enjoy...

Simple Sunday...

Happy Sunday,

Now as Thursdays card was simple it I thought I could go a little more difficult today!  This is still a simple card as it is just layered die its with no foam tape at all!

I simply die cut the background and rose die from Couture creations that I have been using so much and layers them using cosmic shimmer dries clear glue.

I wanted to show today that you can create quick clean and simple cards that are effective just by allowing the die cuts to do the work.

Ingredients:
Couture creations art deco and rose dies
Ivory & Black foundation card
Creative expressions sentiment stamp

Enjoy...

Saturday Stamping...

Happy Saturday Stampers,

Well a little dull in colour and I know a lot of people don't like brown however I wanted to show this stamping technique which you could replicate in any choice of colours.

I started by stamping the border image twice using perfect medium onto Gloss white foundation card (this was part of the special finished card pack however it is available separately and is perfect for stamping with alcohol inks) and embossed it with cosmic shimmer detail clear embossing powder.  I the added shades of distress ink randomly over the top.  The benefit of the gloss card is that the ink goes on beautifully smoothly.

I then stamped the rose onto another piece of the card, using the same embossing, and using a die cut with a circle aperture inked over the image.  Once the images were inked I rubbed over the embossing with a dry wet wipe to remove the excess ink form the image.



I then die cut the rose bud image and placed it onto the larger optic with the border using foam tape for dimension.

This is placed onto a background which I stamped (hopefully you can see it in the picture) using the tea dye distress ink onto more gloss card, the rose randomly down the edge.  To define the stamping I matted each piece with black foundation card.

Finally, I know this won't be to everyones taste a large bow in champagne silky crush ribbon.

Ingredients:
Creative Expressions rose border stamp
Creative Expressions Rose Bud singles stamp
Cosmic Shimmer Detail Clear embossing powder
Gloss White foundation card
Couture Creations die
Distress Inks in Tea Dye, Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain
Silky crush ribbon champagne.

To answer a question a few people have asked which is how do I make my bows.  Well originally I used a small bow maker that I purchased on EBay however now I have designed my own and Mr Next Doors dad made up in wood for me as prototype.  I am looking to see if we can produce this as It does lots of different bows and a few other things as well if It goes into production I will let everyone know!


Enjoy...

A Little Brighter...

Happy Friday,

I thought I should show something a little brighter toast as it all seems to have been simple and white this week.

On this card all the colour is provided by the ribbon, satin edged form Creative expressions.  I simply wove 4 pieces of the ribbon over and under a hand cut frame over a pice of embossed card.  A simple rose die and sentiment added to a panel of the art deco background flat layered onto white card.








Ingredients:

Couture Creations dies
Art Deco
Rose
Celebrate
Satin edged ribbon in deep rose
Heart Dazzler.

Enjoy...

Thursday Already?...and a winner

Happy Thursday,

I can't believe it's Thursday already!  The winner of Mondays Card Giveaway as randomly selected by MR ND was Cathy Kuntz, if you email me on Lockers@live.co.uk then I will post this out to you>

Back to today and I thought I should go for a lighter colour after yesterdays brown and Kraft fest!  I started by selecting a sheet of the ribbed white card from the special finishes pack and die cut an aperture using the outline die form Sue's latest release of triplet dies.  I cut the piece into a tall card and stamped the sentiment on the bottom right hand corner.


Next I die cut four of the waterlilies from Couture Creations waterlily die set in coconut white foundation card.  I ran foam tape all around the edges of the aperture and then randomly placed the waterlilies on the tape to show through the aperture.  I then added crystal twinkles along the petals to give a little bling and to lift the design.


Next I added further layer of foam tape and placed the whole piece over a sheet of vintage silver card that I cut slightly larger.  Finally I added a further mat of the white ribbed and finished.


Ingredients:
Couture Creations Waterlily die set
Sue Wilson for Creative Expressions Striplet die (any)
Special Finishes card pack
Cosmic Shimmer crystal twinkles
Silver foundation card.


Enjoy....

P.s. Another card giveaway if you didn't win on Monday...

Creative Wednesday...

 Happy Wednesday,

Well its a new year and that means that Creative Wednesday is back, this is my Second Design Team assignment for Creative Expressions this year although, due to scheduling, it was made and photographed last year! lol

For January we have all been tasked with making creations with the new range of Cat and Dog stamps that Julia showcased on Create and Craft in November.  Now I am not a cute character person normally however I always see challenges such as this as fun as it really makes Me think how I can use a particular product in my style of crafting.

For the first project therefore I decided that I would borrow one of Julius techniques and stamp using Cosmic Shimmer misters mixed with Mica powder to make my own ink pad.  The colours I chose were chestnut mister and copper mica.


 I put some of the mica onto my craft sheet then sprayed the sheet with Chestnut ink mist.  I mixed them together and wiped up the reluctant colour with a piece of cut n dry foam.  This effectively made me a mica shimmer ink pad which I then used to stamp the images.  It is as simple as it sounds and you can keep the resultant pad and revive it with another scary of the mister.  I can't Thank Julia enough for this brilliant tip as I have used it on loads of projects I have coming up


I used the Creative Expressions Alfie single dog stamp, and the Ink pad I made, and stamp the image all over a roll of brown parcel paper.  The tag was made in the same technique using Kraft foundation card.

Ingredients:
CE Singles stamp Alfie
Cosmic Shimmer Copper Mica
Cosmic Shimmer Chestnut Mister
Cut N Dry foam


To see what the rest of the team have made with these stamps click HERE and leave a comment for me if you have time!

Enjoy...

Technique Tuesday...

Happy Tuesday,

Well its back to technique day and today I wanted to share this technique of leaving the die cut piece in place or alternatively repositioning it back into the waste piece.  We all use the die cut shape we get as a feature, highlight or part of a design on our cards however we can achieve lots of different looks by placing it inside either the piece it was cut form, as in the below silver card, or by putting it into a piece cut in a contrasting colour.

In the card opposite I have taken a cut of the Couture Creations die in Blush card, coated it in pink gilding wax, and inserted it back into a piece of milk foundation card from which I had cut the same die.

In the below card I have simply die cut the rose again in silver Shimmerlux foundation card twice however I have left it in the piece I cut (by sticking another piece of card onto the back using double sided adhesive sheets.





The final card shown, again using the rose die, shows just the aperture with a piece of double sided sheet behind and the void filled with glitter jewels.  You could add back in the rose die cut before adding the glitter jewels to make a different look again.

Three cards using similar if not exactly the same technique that I hope will prompt you into looking at your dies and seeing which would work with this technique!


Ingredients:
Couture Creations Rose die
Foundation Card
Double sided adhesive sheets

Enjoy...