Vintage Friday...

Happy Friday,

A trip to Noble Australia today for vintage Friday with the Noble Border ( a die form last year that I have to admit I nearly missed it is so useful)  and the Melbourne die from the Australian collection.

I stared by cutting the Noble border, without the outline die, into a piece of mocha foundation card cut to 51/4" x 81/4"at posing sides as shown.  I backed this with primrose foundation card adding some crystal strips and stick on crystals to highlight the beautiful design of the die.

I next cut the Melbourne die in primrose just using the frame section and backed this with more of the mocha before foam mounting this above the centre of the panel.  I added layers of Tan, Primrose and mocha and a panel embossed with the braided vines A4 embossing folder ( a real favourite)

I added the stitched flags with the sentiment and then a couple of spares of flowers made with the string flower and orange blossom leaves dies with crystals in the centre of the flowers.  A great men's card with the colours but easily for and age or sex with a colour change.

Enjoy...

Creative Expressions Sunday

Happy Sunday,

Well its been awhile since I submitted a card for my spot on the Creative Expressions design team as there have been some changes over on the blog and there are even more exciting things to come.  I thought I would show this card today as I made out specifically for the June Gallery on the blog and forgot to post it!

To see what the rest of the design  team have come up with Click HERE.

I used a combination of products to make this card form the Australia collection.

Enjoy...

Classic Elegance...

Happy Thursday,

Today's card is one I made to highlight Sue Wilson's stunning paper pad the Classic Elegance collection.  I was lucky enough to get a copy of the Pad at the trade show launch and this is the card I made to show this off.

I stared by cutting the wisteria coloured pattern into a 6 x 6 square.  Next I cut a panel from the centre.  I cut the outline die form the Melbourne die set form the centre of this square.  I then cut a larger mat of bright white card and cut the filigree section from the Melbourne set.  I then backed this with the reverse of the paper ( using the section cut form the main square)

Next I cut the centre die in the set with the filigree onto which I had stamped the sentiment and shaded around the die cut using violet haze colour cloud blending ink.  I then threaded thin raisin ribbon around this shape and added some white PVA dimensional pearl drops around this.

I cut some of the complete pearl sweetheart flowers form scraps of the patterned paper and made up the flowers using the open petals cut in white card.  I arranged these around the centre panel along with some of the lace edged leaves shaded with the colour cloud.

I finished the piece by adding layers of the patterned paper, coconut white and amethyst foundation card and decadent grape PVA dimensional glue pearl dots.

Hopefully you will agree this is a classic use of the elegance paper lol

Enjoy...

Black and Gold...

Happy Friday,

I'm at Ally Pally in London today prepping the stand for the onslaught tomorrow I can't wait!  I thought I'd show you another card I made using the Ravello striplet die designed by Sue Wilson for Creative Expressions. I made this card whilst I was in Germany demoing at paper world which I think I have mentioned before was a wonderful experience and one I was so lucky to be able to do!

I stared by stamping my stitched hearts background stamp onto black card and heat embossed it with Detail Gold embossing powder.  Next I cut a square using the double pierced squares and cut the Ravello die four times around the square to create and aperture frame.  I mounted this, with from tape of course, above the stamped image.

To make the first I used the Sydney die and the matching Victoria stamp to die for.  I stamped the image again heat embossed in detail gold Cosmic Shimmer embossing powder and cut it out using the outline die form the Sydney set.  I then cut the centre forth stamped piece using the beautiful lattice in the centre of the die set.  This is backed with a circle of vintage gold card cut with the matching circle that comes with the Sydney Die set.

to finish I added thin layer of the vintage gold and a further stepped layer of black and gold finishing with a thin back satin ribbon bow.

A very dramatic colour scheme but i think the simplicity of the colour palette really shows of the detail i the stamp and die set.

Enjoy...

Yellow Lillies...

 Happy Tuesday,

Today I am running a workshop for a lovely craft group in St Helen's, the ladies have booked this with me and we will be making an array of projects as well as crafting and chatting.  Remember if you would like me to run a workshop in your area you simply need to either get your local craft shop or group to email me and I will see what I can arrange.

Today's card is a real change from yesterday and back to the spring like yellow that I seem to have fallen for at the moment.  It seems so easy to use this colour now I have eight designs in matching shades in my paper pack! ( honestly I don't just design for my own use lol)







I started by stamping the lily lattice circle in watering can archival ink onto the spring trail pattern in buttermilk.  I cut this out around the edge and then added one of the sentiments that fit in the centre from my Lily of the Valley everyday sentiment set.  I cut this out with the circle die in the Maggie frame and tags set and added a thin white mat cut using the larger circle in the Melbourne shape die set  and foam mounted these into the centre.

Next I cut the three complete petals sweetheart flowers form the daisy dots paper and added the outline open petals ( that come in the same set) in bright white foundation card.  I added a PVA pearl drop using Phill Martin's graceful mustard to add interest and finish the flowers.

to make the backing I embossed apiece of bright white using the Rose Blooms pinpoint embossing folder and rubbed Pearl Lustre metallic gilding polish all over out, i polished it off and cut a panel using the outline die ( die number 2) from the Australian background die set.  I added this to a panel cut using the largest die in the Australian background set I added the waste from the spring trail pair behind this and matted it with primrose foundation card.

I cut the lace edged leaves ( you get both mirror images in the set) from bright white foundation card.  I arranged these around the circle and added the flowers on top around the bottom right.  I added the whole panel to an embossed piece embossed using the victorian tile embossing folder again covering it i the metallic gilding polish.  A few more layers of white and primrose, a few PVA pearl dots and done.




Long instructions but thought I should make up for the lack yesterday! I had a fab day at Mountain Ash crafts yesterday what a wonderful place in the middle of a vineyard!

Enjoy..

In the pink...

Happy Tuesday,

After yesterdays monochrome I thought a little strawberry wouldn't go amis!  Today's card is a really bright visit down under with the Australian and New Zealand collections by Sue Wilson for Creative Expressions.

I used the new large border from the Australian collection and the Wellington die from new zealand and teamed them here with coconut white and strawberry card from my stash.  I also had to use the Beaded fanfare pinpoint A4 embossing folders it is one of my favourites and its now back in stock.

Ingredients:
Card Size: A5
Colours: Coconut White Foundation card & Strawberry from my stash
Stamps: None
Dies: Australia Border & Wellington
Embossing:Beaded Fanfare
Inks: None
Embellishments: Blush double sided satin ribbon pack
Enjoy...

A quick not on yesterdays flowers especially for June who asked, these are remade and sold as they are from Creative Expressions.

A close shave?...

Happy Wednesday,




Today's card is anther using the new stamps to die for and the shaving foam technique which quite a few of my blog family asked to see in close up!

For more details on the shaving foam technique then click HERE for a pictorial tutorial on Sue Wilson's Particraft blog.  For this project I used the garden meadow set of Acrylic Drawing inks, using these you get a softer colour look and the shaving foam does not get muddy as it can with alcohol ink.

For the stamped element I used the Heritage Flourish stamp to die for from the new range.  I stamped this in black archival ink then heat embossed it with clear detail embossing powder.  I cut this out with the matching Hamilton die designed by Sue Wilson for Creative Expressions.

Next I cut another of the Hamilton dies in black card, cut this in 2, and mounted this behind the stamped image to give a shadow.

Finally I inked the trailing Ivy die with a brayer and archival jet black ink to make a letter pressed die cut of the ivy. I cut this out and added it around the main image along with a bow made of black and jute twine finished with a small black dazzler.

Ingredients:
Card Size: 21 x21 cm
Colours: Coconut White, black foundation card, chrome gloss card
Stamps: Heritage Flourish Stamp to Die For
Dies: Hamilton
Embossing:None
Inks: Jet Black archival ink, 
Embellishments: Black and Jute twine

Enjoy...

Threaded Cobalt...

Happy Tuesday,

Isn't it funny how lightening strikes at the same time?!?  I had a comment yesterday from Anne O saying how she could see thin ribbon threaded through the apertures in the outline die in the Australia background die.  Well I made this a few weeks ago ready for the release so I couldn't resist showing this today!

I stared by stamping the stitched hearts A6 background stamp in cobalt archival ink onto coconut white foundation card.  I cut the outline die in the Australia background around the stamped image.

Next I threaded thin double sided satin ribbon through the outline and then added this piece to a cobalt foundation card to frame the piece.  I cut both the dies in the new configurations die Milford adornment which has a separate outside cutting die, in coconut white foundation card.  I then cut the outline die form the Milford adornment in cobalt card, again time, and placed the white detailed cuts over the blue plain shapes.  I butted 2 of these together and shaded around the outside using a mini smoothie and the cobalt archival ink.

I cut the centre die from the frames and tags set Lauren and stamped the sentiment, from my pierced flags and tags,and added this to a piece cut with the larger oval die in cobalt.

Next I cut 2 small and one medium complete petals sweetheart flowers in white and the matching dies in with open petals in cobalt.  I made up the flowers and added them around the sentiment with stick on pearls, and a messy bow of the double sided silver thin satin ribbon.

I finished the card with an embossed panel with the leafy quad A4 embossing folder which I again shaded in the cobalt ink using a mini smoothie .  A few layers of cobalt and white and finished.

I really hope this was the look you were thinking of Anne!

Ingredients:
Card Size: 18 x 30 cm
Colours: Coconut White, Cobalt foundation card
Stamps: Stitched Hearts A6 Background, Pierced Flags sentiments
Dies: Australia Background, Milford Adornment, Lauren Frame and Tags, Sweetheart Flowers
Embossing: Leafy Quad A4 embossing folder
Inks: Cobalt archival ink, 
Embellishments: 5mm & 8mm White stick on pearls, CE double sided satin ribbon pack Silver

Enjoy...

Stamped Strawberry...

Happy Monday,

It seems that yesterdays post missed off two thirds of the post so you only got to see one picture and no description sorry!  I will update the pots as soon as I find the rest!

Today's card features another of the stamps to die for designed to match with a new release of Kraft dies by Sue Wilson. Stamped this down in perfect medium onto some strawberry card from my stash and heat embossed it with cosmic shimmer true white detail embossing powders.

I then used the centre cutting line die from the Lauren set to cut an aperture in the centre of the stamped image. Using coconut white foundation card I cut the outside die from the same set in coconut white and foam mounted this above the stamped image.  I stamped the sentiment, from my snowdrop elements clear stamps set, in a light pink ink on coconut white and foam mounted the stamped image above this.



I framed this using the outside and cutting die from the Australia background die leaving a wide border around the detail.  I then added mats and layers of coconut white and the pink tomato the finished card.

The flowers and sprays in each corner are made using the new sweet heart designed by Sue Wilson for Creative Expressions, this die is brilliant as it includes the complete petals and the open petals meaning that to get this affect you only need to buy one set. the leaves are cut in coconut white using the new lace edged leaves form the same collection.  A few pearls and finished.

Enjoy...

It's all in Black and White...

Happy Friday,

I thought I ought to go back to a classic combination today especially after the pink shabby card yesterday which really split opinions!

Today's card is made using another of the stamps designed by Sue to match her dies from the new January 2016 release and this one juts cried out to me for a simple black and white treatment.

I stared by cutting a long strip of coconut white foundation card, i then stamped over this using the Mardi Gras stamp to die for in black archival ink.  I then studded these with 5mm stick on  black pearls in the points in the stamped images that were just crying out for pearlage.

Next I stamped the image twice onto scraps of coconut white. I cut them both out using the matching Hamilton die from the Australian collection.  Next I cut the centre form one of the stamped images using the outline centre die from the set.  I also cut a scrap of black card with the same die, I cut this in half and mounted it, overlapping, behind the cut to create a shadow.  I then foam mounted this over the second stamped image to give a stacked pattern design.

I added this over a strip of black seam binding added pearls and a large messy bow to the left.  Finally a few layers of coconut white and black to create the finished card as shown.






Ingredients:
Card Size: 18 x 30 cm
Colours: Coconut White, black foundation card
Stamps: Mardi Gras stamp to die for
Dies: Hamilton
Embossing:None
Inks: Jet Black archival ink, 
Embellishments: 5mm Black stick on pearls

Enjoy...

Roses are Red...

Happy Wednesday,

I know it seems strange to start again with a bow but I just love this double sided two tine red ribbon so I started this card by making the bow!  I then thought how well it would match with the stunning new design of stamps to die for Retro Roses which is designed to match with the Sydney die shape from the new Australia collection designed by Sue Wilson for Creative Expressions.

To start this one, once I had tied by bow, I stamped my stitched Heart A6 background stamp onto coconut white using red geranium archival ink.  If you look closely you will see all the hearts that make up the pattern are hand drawn as if stitched with cross stitch and straight stitches.  I cut this to size and mounted it onto rich red foundation card.

Next I stamped the retro roses stamp to die for in watering can archival ink and coloured it using watercolour pencils from my stash.  I shared using 2 colours of red and drew out the colours using a damp paintbrush.  For the lines at the back I light ran a pencil line down each one and softened these lines again using a damp paintbrush.  This gives a feeling of movement and shading.

Next I cut the whole piece out using the outline die from the Sydney set and used the largest centre circle from the set to cut the centre out.  I cut the smaller centre circle from a piece of rich red and mounted the coloured image above.  I then cut a plain mask in red from the Sydney outline and cut the centre out before cutting this in half and mounting each piece behind the stamped image to give a shadow or border.  Finally I used the circle lattice, again in the Sydney die set, how versatile is that?!? in white card and foam mounted this behind.

The whole piece is mounted over the stitched hearts background so that the pattern shows through the lattice.  I added this piece to a larger set of layers onto which, for balance, I added a further strip of the two tone ribbon.

Ingredients:
Card Size: 21 x 28 cm
Colours: Coconut White, Rich Red foundation Card
Stamps: Retro Roses Stamp to Die For, Stitched Hearts A6 background.
Dies: Sydney die set
Embossing:None
Inks: Red Geranium archival Ink
Embellishments: two tone fabric ribbon in red (for ribbon stockists Click HERE)

Enjoy...

Quilted Blue...

Happy Tuesday,

Another new stamp to die for today this time one that matches the Wellington shape from the new Australia collection designed by Sue Wilson for Creative Expressions.

This is the new Scripted Clematis stamp which Here I have simply embossed with CS True white detail embossing powder onto cobalt foundation card.  I cut the centre out by hand (fussy cut) around all the detailed flowers and foliage so that the sentiment stamped in cobalt on white was visible.

Hopefully in this picture you can see all the beautiful script that flows behind the flower sprays any idea what the poem is ( Hint Mrs Duck may guess this one easily!)

Next I cut the matching outside die form coconut white foundation card and embossed the piece, whilst still in the with the quilted circles pin point embossing folder.  I saved lightly around the embossing using the same archival cobalt ink and a smoothie.  I also studied the centre of the circles with 5mm white stick on pearls before tying a bow of navy and natural jute string around the base to balance the design.

A couple more layers, of course!, of the cobalt and coconut white and finished.  Hopefully classic and elegant and quite a simple effect to achieve with the stamp, die and embossing.

ingredients:
Card Size: 16 x 28 cm
Colours: Coconut White, Cobalt foundation Card
Stamps: Scripted Clematis Stamp to Die For
Embossing:Quilted Circles Pin Point A4 Folder
Inks: Cobalt Archival Ink
Embellishments: Small pearl embellishment, 5mm white stick on pearls, navy & Natural jute twine.

Enjoy...