Modern Abbey...

Happy Monday,

Another card made with the Crafters Companion Downton Abbey die however this time with amore modern feel to it.

I simply cut the die twice into a piece of navy card reversing it for each cut.  I then removed the centre stripe and added a strip of self adhesive pearls in the swirl!











I simply stamped the sentiment in cobalt ink onto a piece of white card and cut it out with the centre of the circle contempo die.

Simple but effective!


Enjoy...

Downton Abbey...

Happy Tuesday,

Today I'm sharing this card made with the elegant corner from the Downton Abbey range from Crafters Companion.  I bought this die as soon as I saw it as it seemed perfect for me and my stake and this card is the first I came up with.


I started by cutting the die down one side of a piece of champagne pearl card then I rotated the die and cut it down the other edge.  Next I placed this over a piece of silver white pearl card and using my scalpel, cut the edge to match those on the die.

I then took a panel of the champagne pearl card and scored it at 1/4" intervals along the length to create the striped background panel.  I then added a frame with the spellbinders matting basics dies and foam mounted the layers behind this as shown.

I wanted something classic and elegant to sett off the background and discovered the Decorative Swallowtail Tags die set by Becca Feeken in my unused die box ( the box I'm currently working my way through!)  I cut the largest tag in champagne the smallest in white and topped this with the smallest stamped with the sentiment in Cobalt Archival ink in the champagne pearl card.

I mounted these over a bow of blue and white 5mm satin ribbon from my stash.  What I love about this die is the fact that I haven't needed to use a pearl anywhere yet it still looks opulent!


Enjoy...

Melted Glass...

Happy Friday,

Todays' card is a bit of a change from yesterdays bright coloured card. I thought I would  calm things down a little with a white and silver card base that highlights the stamped panel that I tried to make look like molten glass.

The panel which is stamped, from Creative Expressions, four times onto a sheet of clear shrink plastic.  I stamped the images in Archival black ink and heat shrunk the plastic allowing it to warp to give the effect I wanted.

I made the card to highlight this piece by die cutting a piece of white cardstock with spellbinders labels 28 to create an aperture.  I mounted this, with foam tape, onto a sheet of silver mirror card then threaded silver ribbon across the aperture (although you cant really see it the ribbon is woven in the middle)  The stamped panel is then stuck on top of the ribbon.




I finished the card by adding a panel cut with the Enchanted labels 28, using a standard labels 28 to give the aperture.  I embossed the piece using a crafters companion rose folder and added a sheet of silver mirror card on which I cut the same labels 28 aperture in the middle.  This was all added to a hand cut white card blank and finished.





This would make a great wedding or anniversary card I think but could have multiple uses!

Ingredients:
Spellbinders Labels 28
Spellbinders Enchanted labels 28
Creative Expressions Daisy Stamps (Sue Wilson)
Crafters Comopanion Embossing folder
Remainders from stash


Enjoy...

A Mixed Bag...

 Happy Monday,


Toady card is a little of a mixed bag using different papers and techniques to make the whole.

I started by embossing a piece of parchment by hand using a die cut from Spellbinders holly accents die set under the parchment which I simply ran a ball tool over to give the pattern.
I then simply set that within a frame made using the Sue Wilson filigree bow die set from which i used the ribbon strip.  I cut this in silver metallic card and mounted the strips onto a frame in a bright gold card.



Finally I added a bow made form the whole set and a simple banner sentiment.


Ingredients:
Spellbinders Holly Accents
Sue Wilson Filigree Bow
Crafters Companion sentiment stamp

Enjoy...

Bright and Breezey...

Happy Monday,

Mrs Duck and I and I (we also met Christine for lunch which was lovely) had a great time at the craft show yesterday It was the first proper one I had attended and I couldn't have been in better hands. I was very careful with my purchases as I received a welcome home gift of quite a few of the Sue Wilson new dies last week (how lucky is that!) so have plenty to play with and don't have the second job to finance the extra buys anymore!

Well I couldn't think of any other title than Bright and Breezey as this card seems just this to be.  I have a love of blues and especially when mixed with a light Ivory colour.  As soon as I received Delicate Daisies die set I could see the solids in Ivory and, although its not a classic flower colour, and this petrol blue colour.  I simple needed the right base card to carry them!

I started, unusually for me, by making the embellishments and working the remainder of the card around them.  Therefore I cut the sentiment tag next and added the sentiment.  It was then just a case of cutting the background die, adding some pearls and mounting with foam on layers of the blue and ivory.

Ingredients:
Sue Wilson Delicate Daisies
Sue Wilson Austrian Collection Background
Blue and Ivory card form stash
Sentiment from Crafters Companion

Sorry about the pictures still working on the light tent! lol

Enjoy...

Its all new!...

Happy Friday,

Well I thought it was time I shared some of the new projects I have been making with my lovely new Sue Wilson for Creative Expressions dies!  I haven't made a major purchase in ages (Honest!!)  so I went for quite a few as I love them all but 24 die sets in one order is too much (maybe if I spread them over a while, no John be sensible one or two a month now!) lol

Today's card is the first I made using the first die out of the packaging which is the Austrian Collection Innsbruck die.  Everyone knows my love of ovals and this fit the bill perfectly.

I made the first piece in white using all the filigree sections of the die, set omitting the cutting edges, in white card stock which I then embossed using a Crafters Companion Rose plaid embossing folder.  I then mounted this on a sheet of colour core card stock embossed with the same folder and sanded.  It is a little difficult to see this in the picture but it adds a lovely texture to the finished card.

I looked at this finished top piece and I felt it was just a little plain so I took out the border die from the Austrian collection and cut 4 of these in the same card stock and sanded them to texture the pattern.  I mounted these over a square frame I hand cut at 21 x 21cm.  I then foam mounted this over the centrepiece and it just seemed to frame the piece perfectly, if a little pinky!

The sentiment tag, stamped in chalk ink and embossed with Creative Expressions detail clear embossing powder, is cut from the oval in same set and foam mounted onto the tag cut from the core card.

A complex design and, perhaps, a little bright, but effective.

Ingredients:
Sue Wilson Innsbruck Die
Sue Wilson Austrian Borders Die set
Crafters Companion Rose Trellis Embossing folder
Sentiment Stamp form Stash
Coral Core'Dinations card stock
White 300gsm Foundation Card
Pearls from Spain

Enjoy...

A Little more Sue

Happy Monday,

I have now managed to get a rudimentary Craft space ready so there should be some new creations this week, I have handed one of my two desks over to Mr ND so that it can be used for the PC's printers etc however I have managed to add a large table for the die cutting activities!

Hopefully some pictures and more description when it is complete (awaiting some more info before ordering some accessories which should make crafting even more of a pleasure?!?)






Back to today, I have said a few times on here that I love a die that can be used in many different ways and the Sue Wilson Spanish collection dies just seem to meet this so here we are again with another classic Sue die card!

I cut the Spanish background twice in white PMD card stock and inked through the die using navy permanent ink.  Next I cut the centre section out form the die cut shape using my scalpel to create 2 frames.  These I layered between each other to make the 2 rectangular shapes into a square.






This was then mounted onto onto navy card and the centre square was cut out and I cut around the shape.  This was then foam mounted onto a card blank in white 18cm x 18cm onto which I had layered a navy piece which I added a border of dots, using the edge of the die and the dots there as my template, using silver pen.  I also used the silver pen through the die in each corner to give a little f the pattern.

There is then a layer of white with a couple of strips of white grosgrain ribbon over two of the edges.




Finally I stamped the sentiment in white embossing powder on a square of navy card which I adhered to the back of the card.

A complex description but hopefully worth it!

Enjoy...

Pale Blue Family...

Happy Thursday,

No New New card today I'm afraid as not yet got a craft space fully up and running and yes it's getting me down lol!

Today's card is a quick one I'm afraid, firstly because I am low on time secondly for some reason I only took 2 pictures of this one!

This is the card I gave to my boss in the bar when I Left.  I worked there for 2 years, until last month when I left the country, as a chef and barman and it was a family owned place with a wonderful family running it.  As soon as I saw this sentiment stamp from Crafters Companion I know that the card I made for them would be centered around this!





This is another example of my love of cutting apertures from the centre of cards and foam mounting behind to create lots of levels.





Ingredients:
Spellbinders Elegant Ovals
Spellbinders Classic ovals small
Spellbinders Heirloom Legacy
Blue and white PMD cardstock.

Enjoy...

Lonely Sunflower...

Happy Monday,

Today's card is the ultimate antidote to the Christmas of last week what could bring us back to the summer than a sunflower!

I know I am saying this a lot lately but this is not a difficult card or creation however it is time consuming as the flower dies from spellbinders, whilst easy to follow and make up do take a while to put together properly.  There are numerous tutorials on you tube on the making of this and the other flowers in the range.

I have to say that they are very effective and whilst quite big a smaller card does show them off well.  I started this card by making the card blank using the largest die in the labels 38 set from spellbinders. I folded a sheet of A4 card in half and placed the die over the fold ensuring that the fold is inside cutting line, ensuring that the fold is not cut.  Once run through your die cutting machine you will get a shaped card out with fold intact.  I then drew round the inside of the same die on a sheet of white card and cut out the shape.  This creates a perfect mat that fits the card blank, using the next die down leaves too large a border.

I then cut a frame using the next 2 sizes of the labels die and embossed these.  This was then foam mounted in the centre.  The sentiment strip is cut using spellbinders curved borders 2 i then cut this into a strip and added a thin layer of yellow to balance the flower.

Finally I added the flower with a selection of leaves that come in the set and a nice sunny card is created.


Ingredients:
Spellbinders create a sunflower die
spellbinders labels 38 die
spellbinders curved borders 2
yellow, brown & white cardstock
Crafters Companion Sentimentals stamp.

A summery card that would be great to send wishes to anyone.

Enjoy...

Even Simpler...

Happy Sunday,

Well the feedback to last weeks premier of simple Sunday was great so guess it's here to stay, at least till I run out of ideas I guess! lol

Today's card is even simpler than last week, uses one die, one sentiment stamp and one colour of ink how simple can you get?  I started by hand making a 12cm x 12cm card blank from PMD Ivory hammered cardstock (something I am running really low on but I wont order any more 'till I get back to the U.K.






Next I cut the centre die from the Spellbinders Mystical embrace die and inked the piece that it cuts.  Next I stamped the sentiment on the die cut piece and placed it on the back of the card through the aperture.  Finally I die cut the next shape in the set which is the elegant oval style and foam mounted this over the aperture after adding a simple strip of ribbon

A very simple card that could have the sentiment changed for any occasion or be made into quick batch cards.

Ingredients:
Spellbinders Mystical Embrace die
Ivory Hammered PMD cardstock
Crafters Companion Sentimentals stamp
Sage Distress Ink.




Updates:
The Trifold card and yesterdays tag are made in the same manner I promise once I have my new craft space up and running this will be the first video I shoot.
Janice, I would love to give a class or 10 as you put it on my return to the UK at Christine's shop if she would have me! lol
Stash- My craft stash is now winging it's way home it was collected on Tuesday and will leave will a load of others peoples stuff Tomorrow!  Karen - I have ordered a large stock of PMD cardstock to be awaiting me in the U.K. so will keep on using it!  Gail - I'm not moving back to South Yorkshire however Will be up there as I have relatives in and around Sheffield.
Finally Lesley Thomas sent me pictures of a card she made based on one of mine click HERE to view or select the followers gallery tab at the top.  Remember if you want to share a card with me and my wonderful blog friends just email it me on lockers@live.co.uk.  I have a plethora of shots of cards made by Nancy to share with you all next week, she has sent me so many I may need to create a blog for her of her own!

Enjoy...

Filigree Circles

Happy Wednesday,

This card is, amazingly, made with the exact same die set as I used for yesterdays card and even I have to admit it looks so different.  I do find that one of the pleasures of die cutting is that dies can be used for so many different cards and can be made to look so unique!

Today's card is made as a trifold filigree card with the die cut three times twice with a hinge which means that there are two folds in this card.  I am finding it very hard to describe the workings of this one and, once again, I am hoping that the photos will help.




Each of the three panels in this card is decorated in a different way however I have only used the die set to make this.  I simply die cut additional pieces in coredinations cardstock in a deep violet and added them in front and behind the layers.








The interesting element of this card is the sentiment tag, this was made using the die set.  I cut a strip of cream card then used the corner of the largest die on each end making the matching tag.  I simply stamped this and foam mounted it onto the top of the front





Ingredients:
Sue Wilson Umbria Die Set
CReam smooth PMD cardstock
Core'dinations cardstock
Pearls, Tulle & Hatpins.
Crafters Companion Sentimentals stamp

I really hope you get the idea of this one, If needed I will shoot a video tutorial on this just let me know!

Enjoy...

A Little Navy...

Happy Friday,

How about a little navy for a Friday morning, cool, crisp and sharp (unlike the weather here which is hot, humid and sticky!)

Navy and white card cut in various layers with a great deal less foam tape than usual! I started by stamping the rococo frame from Indigoblu in details white embossing powder, cutting a simple oval in the centre and then fussy cutting round it.  The remainder of the card was built up to show off the beautiful detail of the stamped frame.




Now to answer a question that a few of you have asked this week I will continue as John Next door when I return to the U.K. next month.  The reason for the name, for those of you newer to the blog, is that Wendy lives next door ti me (Spanish Crafter click HERE to see her blog) had her blog first and referred to me as John Next Door as her partner is also called john!  When I started my blog my first followers came over from Wendy's blog so to them I was already known as John Next Door.



I like the brand and am working on a logo and trailer to go at the front of my video tutorials so no change!





Ingredients:
Spellbinders Valiant Honour Die
Spellbinders French Harmony Die
Indigo Blu Rococo Stamp
Detail White Embossing Powder
Crafters Companion Sentimentals Stamp
Navy & White PMD Cardstock


Enjoy...

Teal & White Harmony...

Happy Sunday

Here is a creation back to some of my classic colours and a shaped card I feel like I am coming home to my style!  This is a quick card to make and to describe thankfully lol.  I started by ma,king the shaped card blank however I cant tell you what die i used as it is from a set I bought on eBay without a description it is A5 sized and I think it is an old grand die set from Spellbinders but not sure.


The front panel is made by cutting the centre die from Heirloom legacy twice in different contrasting colours and foam mounting them together however I rotated the cuts to make a circle (hope that makes sense).

Ingredients:
Spellbinders French Harmony
Spellbinders Heirloom legacy
Teal & White Hammered card stock PMD
Crafters Companion Sentiment stamp.











To answer a few questions from this week, The packing is going really well so far thanks. I have packed most of my winter clothes ready to be trucked along with TVs and heavier stuff and sorted out over 5 bin sacks of clothes, bedding etc for the local charity shop!  The other day I took 10 large bin bags to the bin thankfully here in Spain we have communal large bins that are emptied EVERY day including Christmas day! Think I may be able to get the craft room down to just 3 or four cubic meters so its all good so far!

Lesley, I started with an A3 sheet of card for yesterdays gift bag but will hopefully be filming a few tutorials over the next few days  so there should be a more detailed description and sizes etc then. If you want measurements earlier Karen just email me when you have finished Salsa Dancing!  Janice I buy my pearls and gems here in Spain tin the large Chinese shops ( a bit like pound shops in the U.K. as they are seriously  cheap!)


Please remember if to ever want more details, help or info on anything I can help with just email me at Lockers@live.co.uk.

Enjoy...

Black and beige...

Happy Wednesday,

A very simple card today and a very simple description I'm afraid.  I have spent too much time at work lol as Tuesday (when I am writing this) is still a double shift day and it was a long shift in the bar (where I work as a chef 2 nights a week!

Simple double cut of my favourite corner dei from Spellbinders layered on black, cream, black then a hand cut Krfat card blank.  Always usefull to have a simple card for any occasion and hopefully this is just such a card!

Enjoy...






Ingredients:
Spellbinders Gold Elements 1
Spellbinders Belly Band 1
Crafters Companion Sentimentals stamp
Wendy's Hatpins
Black Satin Ribbon

Rhapsody in Blue ?!?...

Happy Tuesday,

Thought it was time I posted a filigree card as its been a while and they are a favourite of mine.  I have been making and showing a succession of larger cards recently however as soon as I received this die (was late on back order so waited nearly 6 months for a die I paid for in January!) I thought what would it look like as a whole card.


I started by folding a sheet of A4 card in half and carefully placing the die so that It didn't cut all the way through at the top or fold section.  I added a simple blue mat behind to show off the filigree corners and then started layering!  The sentiment is simply stamped and embossed using detail white embossing powder.



Ingredients:
Spellbinders Heirloom Legacy, Labels 18, Elegant ovals & divine elegance
White and blue PMD card
Crafters Companion Sentimentals stamp
Creative Expressions Embossing powder.

I know I have used far too many different dies on this card however the idea is one that you could make using any set of dies.  Simply start by making the filigree card base and then start layering.

Enjoy...