fancy a Coffee?...

Happy Saturday,

Today finds me doing my last workshop of the year at JGD crafts in sutton in ashfield.  I have arranged a good friend to sort my diary for next year for me so there will be, after Christmas is out of the way, a new page listing all my demos and workshops with Links where possible.

Todays card was a demo on Hochanda in the 9am hour yesterday however I did manage to spill PVA dimensional glue over the card as finishing so its well worth a look on rewind if you want a laugh!

This is shaker card with a difference made with the garden shadow box and filled with coffee beans so it smells really homely!

I simply cut the elements from the thanks a latte accessory set in chestnut foundation card.  I then added cosmic white and chocolate brown to make the cream or foam on the latte and on the muffin and donut.

 

to see exactly how this was made watch on Hochanda rewind HERE.

Enjoy...

Purple & Blue Wednesday...

Happy Wednesday,

I thought I would make a change and go with a blue card lol ok that's not much of a change for me to be honest lol but this is with purple and pixie powders so its a little different.


Today I am running my regular monthly workshop at Crafty Corner in Breedon Priory  .  Its going to be a day with the pixies in the Indian ocean lol a bit like today's card.


I stared by making a pixie powder background using m,midnight blue and purple violet mixed which gives this rich colour and the stunning mica shrine.  I took a print from the water clout card with a piece of vellum which I used for the flowers.

I cut the detail and outline using the Mauritius die set form the watercolour pixie paper.  I backed this with double sided adhesive and added white opaque microbeads over the top to fill the gaps.  I cut another of the outlines using white card which I cut in half to make a drop shadow behind.  I repeated the process with the other detail die in the set and foam mounted this in the centre.

Next I made a spare of the cape daisies ( I love these so much I have bought a second set!) in the velum, shaped them and added the centres in  pair and microbeads in the very middle.

For the foliage I letterpressed the bold scroll dies using perfect medium and then cut them out.  This leaves the debossed area with perfect medium allowing me to fill it with detail white embossing powder its a lot easier to show this so I will demo this technique on my Hochanda shows next week.

Finally I frames the card as shown and added matts a layers of amethyst and white and finished.


Enjoy...

Another Demo Day...

Happy Sunday,

I'm demoing again today all day at the Crafting at Ally Pally event I hope some of you caught the show form there yesterday.  I thought you might like to see the second demo from yesterdays show in close up.

If you missed the show remember you can watch on catch up at www.hochanda.com.

Enjoy...

More Flowers...

Happy Sunday,

A few more flowers from Today's shows I hope some of you managed to catch the launch show last night.  I will be demoing through today at 9am, 12pm, 4pm and last chance at 7pm ( again on Hochanda freeview 39, sky 663 and online at www.hochande.com)

Hopefully see you later lol!

Enjoy...

3D Flower Show...

Happy Saturday,

As I'm sure you will all have worked out by now I do have a soft spot for flowers, on my cards, on my stamp designs and also in my new Apartment I have vases of them lol  So today at 8pm I will be launching the One Day Special with Creative Expressions making 3D paper fl;owners using papers and dies.  I hope you can tune in if not tonight then Ill be back tomorrow ( sunday) at 9am, 12pm, 4pm and 7pm on Freeview 39, Sky 663 or online at www.hcohanda.com.

I thought therefore today I would show you a few of the demo pieces I have made for the shows.  Some of these will be full demos however a great deal of the prep I have been doing is on making the flowers so expect lots of techniques and tips which you can use to make paper and fabric flowers!

Above are a couple of the roses made using the fabulous Paper Stack ( thats precept how easy is that?!?) from DCWV.  I will also demo how to make the presentation box which just adds, IMHO, a touch of class to any paper flower gift.  A great point with paper flowers is how useful they are to send to people in hospital as Real flowers are no longer allowed.


The second flower her which I feel looks like a peony, is made using the same basic pieces form the pack.  Tomorrow I will be showing how you can make at least 4 different flowers form the paper rose section!

Enjoy...

Shows, Demos & Updates...

Happy Friday,

A bot of  news filled blog post today firstly the move!  The craft cave is now almost up ad running and it took a lot longer than I thought!!  Yes I didi keep running into things in my stash I forgot I had and stopping to play!  However I have also had a set of Hochanda One Day Special shows to prepare for which start tonight at 8pm!  So todays Card is my first demo on this evenings shows and finally shows you the Kitchen Roll technique, tune in at 8pm channel 39, Sky 663 or online in HD at www.hochanda.com.

In other news a quick reminder that next Sunday (the 21st) I will be running workshops with the Famous Phill Martin at one of his fab Craftathons!  Theres more details on the picture below however a little bird told me ( alright it's Mr Martin) that there are a few spaces left ( I think he has added some as we already seem to be at the number first mentions.  However this is now held in a larger venue than before and will be the first time Phill and have have workshopped together!

To book places please contact Honeypot Crafts in either Sheffield or Nottingham stores.

Finally My internet does not go in to Cassa Craft Cave until next Friday so the blog posts may be lighter than usual but there will be something everyday!


Enjoy...

Demo day...

Happy Saturday,

Don't forget I am in the Crafters Companion Flagship store today all day demoing so pop in and say Hi if you are around!  I thought I would show another demo card I have made specifically for the event today however you will need to come to the demo to see how this one was made ( although I am sure you can all work this one out as it is quite simple!

I just used the gillian die from the frames and tags collection with stamps from my new range and black and white simple but effective.

Enjoy...

Ocean Teal Polish...

Happy Saturday,

Today I  demoing at Samuel Taylors on roseville street in Leeds, it would be great to see you if you can make it there!  I will be demoing between 10am and 4pm and hopefully will be showing the new Metallic Gilding Polishes as well as the new Pixie powders ( stock dependent)  I will also be demoing my paper pack and my Spring stamp collection ( again this is all stock dependent as everything is selling out!?!

For today's card therefore I thought I would show a card made using the new Metallic Gilding Polishes. and the stamp range.








The main element of this card is layering of the stamped images form the daisy daisy background, the lily lattice circle and the sentiment from the lily of the valley everyday sentiment set.  These were all stamped onto bright white card using an aqua shade of archival ink. I layers these with silver foundation card and added a bow and rose in teal from the Always and Forever collection from Craft Consortium.

For the background i embossed  piece of bright white card using the A5 Victorian tile embossing folder.  I then gently coloured this using the ocean teal metallic gilding polish.  A few layers of white and silver band a finished card is made.

Enjoy...

Lilac and Indigo Pansies...

Happy Saturday,

Theres no something different this week Im afraid as Ive simply run out of time.  And I am sure you can imagine its been crazy this last week or two!

I will be demoing at Daisies Jewels and crafts today form 10am to 3pm it would be great to see you if you are in the area!

I thought I would show you this card that I will be workshopping tomorrow with Franki and the lady at her Craft, coffee and chat in darlington.  I did demo this on Hochanda at the end of February so I hope you all got the details lol

Im just going to give a recap on the pansies today.

I started by making a bhokah background using the new mini smoothies and Lilac whisper and Indigo Mist colour cloud blending inks.  I then cut the outline die form the set form this background.  Next I cut the outline and the insert die form the set in coconut white foundation card and coloured through the die using the same two colours to make the fronds on the front.  I simply then stuck the backing on and instant pansies which could be made in any colour and look more realistic than flat colours.

I made up the rest of the card using the cathedral background by cutting it into a square and cutting it twice to make the larger square at the back.

I hope you don't mind this substitution but I need to be ready for the ladies as we are making three cards and there are 22 in the class!!

Enjoy...

Time for some sorting out?...

Happy Wednesday,

Firstly I am showing my card today for my last stint ( for this year and on a Wednesday) for the CE design team.  From Sunday I will be moving my DT inspiration day to Sunday so here is the last wednesday card!

Also I have shows On Hochanda Today and tomorrow!  I have only just realised, as typing this, that I did the first ever One Day Special on Hochanda earlier this year and today I will launch the last ODS of the year!  Tonight at 8pm I will be on Hochanda ( freeview 39 sky 673) with a range of products and ideas to get our craft caves all sorted for the new year.  I thought it would be a good idea to show some of the ideas I use to keep things ( to start each day at least) neat and tidy especially as I have heard quite  a lot of my blog family received new crafty stash for Christmas!

Firstly I have finally found a replacement for the die storage books that I developed with CE at the beginning of this year.  I have been asked so many times where I got my books from well the original books sold out so I have found a replacement which I will be demoing tonight and thought tomorrow.

There are lots of new ideas like this stamps and matching die storage as well as an idea for keeping your rubber amount stamps tidy was well as the fabulous stamps to die for by Sue Wilson.

There are loads of ideas through tomorrow at 9am, 12pm, 4pm and last chance at 7pm where I will get to wish everyone a Happy New Year live which Is a real pleasure for me!

Hopefully some of you will be able to tune in, it would be great if you could email in at Studio@hochanda.com.


Tio see what the rest of the Design Team have created over the festive period then click HERE


Enjoy...

Butterfly Border...

Happy Saturday,

For the winners of this weeks card giveaways please scroll down!  Today I will be doing in of my last demo days of the year ( just one more and a workshop at JGD crafts to go this year)  Today's I will be at Strikes Garden centre at Weaver vale.  This card is one of the demo pieces and combines the September release of Creative Expressions dies by Sue Wilson and the newest release.

I started by die cutting the butterflies in flight mini triplet four times form a piece of coconut white foundation card cut to a square with the second die form the double pierced squares die.  This gives this filigree frame with all the detail of the butterflies in flight.

For the centre panel I cut another square using die 6 from the set, I then embossed this whilst in the die using the couture creations large daisy embossing folder.  Fir the peony wreath I cut four of the brand new peony cluster die form coconut white card.  Next I cut the matching flowers form duck egg and cobalt foundation card.  I mounted these behind the apertures in the cluster using different shades across the cluster.  Next I mounted these together using foam tape to give different levels to make the circle.

I then cut a few of the separate butterflies form the mini triplet set in duck egg and mounted these, as if in flight, across the frame and centrepiece.  I added pearls for the bodies ( Or Thorax Mrs D!) using the pearl strips.

I finished with blue satin bow and a selection of small stick on pearls on the ends of the filigrees on the frame.

I will be demoing this and other cards tomorrow so pop in and say hi if you are around and can get away from the Christmas Shopping!


Enjoy...

NEC Day 2 Somewhere different...

Happy Friday,

Today I am back at the NEC but I am demoing the Christmas Die range from Creative Expressions along with some of my stamps.  I will be demoing the square background stamps that everyone loved when they were on Create and Craft.  These are now available to everyone so I thought it would be nice if i could play with them again!

Today's card is one of the pieces I have prepared to show off the products I will be demoing on the Art of Craft stand at the show with the lovely Jayne and Penny.

I used the mini Holly Striplet to create the three panel background using Sue Wilson's fire and Ice technique however I substituted diamond snow for the iced snow to give a gentler, silk like look.

I stamped the Christmas tree from my holly tree elements clear stamp set in gilding flakes to match. I used the golden Jewel gilding flakes from Cosmic Shimmer along with the fake and glitter glue (always remember to clean your stamps as soon as you have used the gilding flakes)  Next I covered a scarp of coconut white card with double sided adhesive and added more of the glitter flakes.  I then cut the Classic poinsettia die form this.  I made this into a flower and them changed this to a fire and Ice flower using scary glue and diamond snow.  This makes a version of the poinsettia that shines in the same way as the background.











Finally I arranged the elements onto a piece of embossed coconut white foundation card as shown.

I will be on stand F53 today as stated above it will be great to see all of you who can pop by!  I ha d a fab day yesterday and met so many old and new friends!

Enjoy...

Enjoy...

NEC Away!...

Happy Thursday,

I hope those of you that are planning to go are all ready for the NEC show that starts today!  I will be there Today, Tomorrow and Sunday with a short stopover in Blackpool on Saturday for Strikes at Burnside.  I thought I would show you today one of the cards I have made, using Sue's recent release of dies for Creative Expressions, for the show.  I will be concentrating on The Colour Cloud blending Inks form Cosmic Shimmer and how they work beautifully with Creative Expressions Craft dies.  I will be on the Daisy Jewels and Crafts stand so come and say Hi!

Today's card is made using just the Sue Wilson Butterflies in flight mini striplet.  I stared by shading colours of Colour cloud onto a piece of coconut white foundation card using Indigo Mist and Clear day.  I started at the top with Indigo Mist and clear day at the bottom.  I blended these together in the centre, using a smoothie, to give the faded look.

Next I cut one of the butterfly striplets from coconut white card without the outline die.  I added a strip of the shaded card behind this with from tape.  Next I cut the separate butterlfies from the same set using another piece of the shaded acrd.  This gave me the butterflies to place behind the apertures which i glued into place behind.  Next I cut 2 more butterflies from more of the shaded card.

I cut the aperture die from another piece of coconut white which I added to the front to make the card up.  I added a ribbon bow made using Indigo Mist colour cloud and white seam binding.  The ribbon has the really nice ombre look by dragging the ribbon between a smoothie and the top of the ink pad in the colour cloud.  The quicker you drag this across the lighter and more shades of the colour you get.

I attached the ribbon as a tie across the front and made a messy bow to accent the design.  Finally I added the other 2 butterflies on the bow and the right hand side of the card, shaping them to look like they are in flight.

I will be demonstrating this technique as well as other dies cutting and colour cloud techniques all day today.  there are also some brand new embellishments that I will be using from Craft Consortium that are just stunning!



Hopefully see you later!

Enjoy...