Christmas Day...

Merry Christmas,

A project I made especially for today for the blog only!  I used a collection of Festive dies designed by Sue Wilson for Creative Expressions form the last 3 collections ( some of my personal faves!)

I also used the lights from the DCWV light up kit to light the box and inset everything from the dies into a box frame ( bought cheap form the Range)

MERRY CHRISTMAS XXX

Sunday Relax...

Happy Sunday,



Well after 2 One Day Specials this week I hope you all dont mind if I take it easy today lol.  I thought I'd share some pictures of the Gift Voucher / Ticket wallet I made on my  4pm show yesterday.  Rather than talk you thorough not I thought I would take the easy way out and show you!

Therefore if you click HERE you will go straight to the show on catch up on which I made it!

Back to Normal tomorrow.

Enjoy...

Something Different Saturday...Festive in June...

Happy Saturday,

My One Day Special continues through today at 9am, 12pm, 4pm and last chance at 7pm.

Here's a few more shots from the demo card I have made for the shows!

Enjoy...

Wot more shows...

Happy Friday,

As today's title suggest I am launching more shows on Hochanda this evening at 8pm which will continue  tomorrow ( Saturday) at 9am, 12pm, 4pm and last chance at7pm.  These shows are a Flash Sale on the stunning Sue Wilson Festive Die collection and features some of my favourites from the last Festive Collection at amazing prices!  There will also be some brilliantly priced Embossing folders and another chance to get my 12 Days of Christmas Paper pack ( again at a flash sale price)  I feel like I should be looking today for  red Sale shirt to wear!

I thought today that although it's early for some ( although I have a friend who starts her Christmas Cards in January) I should really show one of the demos for the show and this white on white Christmas card will be my first demo this evening so tune in at 8pm if you want to see how this one was made!









All the dies to make this are available on the show as well as the embossing folder and the glitter jewels I used.


Enjoy...

Fall from the stars...

Happy Friday,

Today's card is another demo piece from the takeover weekend  which starts tonight at 8pm!

With this one I wanted to show how festive dies and embossing folders can be used all year round.  As many of you know I count myself as a frugal yorrkshireman and I like to get the most from my craft products therefore, whenever I buy Festive products I always try ( but don't always succeed) to get ones that will work all year.  Todays card is a perfect expample of this being made as a winter birthday card.  A change of colour and perhaps the snowflakes and it would work all year round.

I started by cutting the lattice snowflake die in white in the centre of a cut rectangle of the white.  I then cut the largest oval from the set from periwinkle card and added a frame cut with both of the ovals included in the set.  I foam mounyted these and continued cutting the dies in the set in layers of the blue and white.

I embossed the main front piece using the twinkle twinkle A4 embossing folder before rubbing pearl moon gilding wax over the top.

I then added snowflakes cut from white from the snowflakes setand added them around the main frame and the additional layers of blue and white I added and enbossed.  I added  PVa dimensional glue dots using Phill Martin's Forsted Sky range of Cosmic Shimmer colours.







Don't forget that there will be Julia, Phill, Lisa and I all weekend on hochnada starting with me at 8pm tonight!  Don't forget everything I have used today will be available over the weekend at some great sale prices!

Ingredients:
Card Size: 16 x 21 cm
Colours: Coconut White, Periwinkle Foundation card
Dies:Lattice Snowflakes, Pierced Flags, Snowflakes
Stamps: JL Winters Child
Embossing: Twinkle Twinkle A4
Inks: Watering Can Archival, CS Phill Martin Frosted Sky PVA


Enjoy...

Cloudy, Snowy Christmas...

Happy Saturday,

I'm at Brykley Park Strikes Garden Centre today from 10am to 4pm It would be great to see you! and as the weathers rainy you might as well! lol


Don't forget that Sue Wilson will launch the Festive One Day Special Tonight at 8pm on Hochanda channel 39 freeview, 663 on sky, 822 on Freest and online at www.hochanda.com.  Today's card is made using one of the dies that may feature the Peaking snowflake! Ive used it here with the Colour Cloud Blending Inks from cosmic shimmer.  I thought I would show another technique today, as promised, using the colour cloud inks!

I stated by using indigo mist colour cloud with a smoothie through the snowflake mask, the smoothies don't catch at all on the edges of the mask.  The best technique for this is to take off the ink on a scrap piece of paper ( i didn't like waste so this piece was used for tomorrows card!)  Next I moved the mask and shaded clear day through it, I kept moving the mask and shading the snowflakes with the 2 colours of ink and different pressure to get all the different shades.

I shaded around the corners using the ink left on the smoothie I had used for the clear day then die cut the largest oval from the peeking snowflake die set by Sue Wilson for Creative Expressions.  I cut the next oval down from cobalt foundation card and from mounted this below the clouded piece leaving a small border all round.

I then cut the snowflake die form the set from a larger piece of coconut white foundation card and gently shaded the snowflakes. I again used the ink left on the smoothie that's the great thing about the colour cloud blending inks they just don't stop!

I stamped the sentiment, sorry the picture just doesn't show this week, in the clear day (should of used the indigo mist) form my poinsettia elements clear stamp set for CE and mounted this piece behind.

Finally, i hear you shout, I added a snowflake pearl scary along the side and added a couple of layers of cobalt and coconut white to frame the image.

Ingredients:
Creative Expressions Craft dies by Sue Wilson
Peeking Snowflake
Cosmic Shimmer colour cloud blending Ink
Indigo Mist
Clear day
Cobalt & coconut white foundation card
CE Pearl snowflake spray

I can't wait to see what Sue has come up with for her demos on Hochanda so I will be tuning in!

Enjoy...

Its CE Design Team time!

Happy Wednesday,

Thanx for all the lovely comments yesterday I didn't have a rest as I booked to run a couple of workshops at Keep On Crafting in Bury St Edmonds!  I had a fab day with a wonderful bunch of ladies which is a good as a rest!?! lol

Today is the design team spot for Creative Expressions and although we have started a new month and the theme has changed I really haven't had time to create anything with the new goodies (sorry)( however I didn't think you would mind i I went with last months die cutting team stash as I had so much fun with it!  Once again I have used the snowflake background which is my go to die for all Christmas cards this year I think.  Today I have teamed it with Vintage gold and coconut white as well as a little velum for the flowers.

I cut the background in coconut white and left a large border around it, one of the benefits of this die is that there is no outside cutting line so you can make the border any size you want, great for making boxes!  I cut the background with the largest central oval in place to make an aperture.  Next I cut the next size of oval in vintage gold card and foam mounted the background over this.  This gives the beautiful old gold card just poking through the filigree and snowflakes.

The next layer I cut just using the central, filigree, section from the die in white and foam mounted the whole piece over this.  Next I made a frame in gold and one in white slightly (2cm) larger and foam mounted these above.

To make the flowers I stamped the shaded poinsettia stamp to die for onto white velum using perfect medium and heat embossed these using cosmic shimmer bright gold detail embossing powder.  I stamped each size of flower three times and cut the out with the matching die.  next I simply pinched the leaves (or petals) and made 2 flowers from the varying sizes of the stamped dies cuts adding a gold circle dazzler in the centre.

Finally I added some Olympic gold PVA pearl dots to highlight the detail on the background and finished.

Ingredients:
Creative Expressions craft dies by Sue Wilson
Snowflake background
Classic poinsettia
Stamp to die for - shaded poinsettia
Vintage gold and coconut white foundation card
white velum
cosmic shimmer bright gold detail embossing powder
Gold mixed dazzler pack
Olympic gold PVA pearl

It would be great if you pop over and see what the rest of the team have created and, if you have time, leave a comment!

Enjoy...

Demo Quickie...

Happy Friday,

I'm at Apple Crafts in Chapel St Leonard's today demoing the new Festive Range of dies from Sue Wilson.  I thought this was a great opportunity to show one of the card I will be demoing.

This card is made with the new Snowflake lattice festive die that was released last week.  I started with a square 18x18cm of cobalt foundation card.  I embossed this with the new stars embossing folder and rubbed enchanted gold gilding wax and polished it off with a wet wipe.  Next I cut 2 of the snowflake borders in coat and layered them, back to back, with a strip of White seam binding and double white strip pearls.  I layered this onto a strip of coconut white and added a border of cobalt and white.  I foam mounted this in the centre of the embossed panel and added this to a card blank at 20x20cm with a few layers of white and cobalt.

Next I cut the largest die in the snowflake set in white card.  I cut the next die in cobalt and finished with the smallest die in the set.  I added white Matt PVA dots to the snowflakes and the word snow which I clipped from the peaking snowflake die set (the actual phrase is let it snow but I nixed the let it!)

I added this to the nibble of the border strip and added a double messy bowed large pearl embellishment.

Ingredients:
Creative Expressions Craft dies by Sue Wilson
Snowflake Lattice
Peaking snowflakes
Snowflake corner, border and tag
Cobalt & Coconut white foundation card.

Enjoy...

There will be a bonus blog post going live later today so keep checking back!?!

Joy to the World...New Dies

Happy Monday,

I hope you have all seen the launch of Sue Wilson's 10 new festive dies over on her blog Particraft?  These are a stunning addition IMHO, to the festive collection so I thought I would show a few cards made using them over the next few days.

To start with I thought I would share the Joy to the world die card I made, as you know by now I love the idea of having a die that will make more complex and batch cards for Christmas I think this is perfect for that!

I stared by die cutting the joy to the world die in coconut white foundation card, I cut a larger 2cm bored all the way round and whilst still in the die I inked through using scarlet woman colour cloud blending ink.  I foam mounted this over a piece of rich red card to which I had added double sided adhesive sheet and Iced Snow.

next I added a few layers of coconut white and rich red embossing the final white layer with the new holly lattice A4 embossing folder.

To decorate the card I stamped the shaded poinsettia stamp to die for, designed by me as sue revealed on her blog, in perfect medium onto rich red card and heat embossed it with true white detail embossing powder.  I stamped 2 of each size and cut them out with the matching die before pinching the petals to make a 3D flower in each size.  I added a pearl embellishment in the centre and a bow tied with black cord (both from my stash).

I finished with a couple of stick pins I made form Sue;s stick pin elements set and some stick on pearl swirls for that extra opulence!  This card could, honestly, be simplified for batch cards.

Ingredients:
Creative Expressions Craft dies by Sue Wilson
Joy to the world background
classic poinsettia
Shaded poinsettia stamp to die for set
rich red, coconut white & Black foundation card
Cosmic Shimmer true white detail embossing powder
stick pin elements with scarlet teardrop beads
pearl swirls

Enjoy...

Updated I will run a comment game to win one of my Christmas backgrounds from tomorrow!

Creative Wednesday...

Happy Wednesday,

Its creative expressions design team day and as promised I made a version of the Ornate Noble pierced card from a couple of weeks ago as a Christmas card.

I stated by making a card blank, form coconut white foundation card, by using the largest die in the set.  Next I made a filigree frame using the largest die no1 and no 2 and three together to make a frame with the detail.  Next I cut just a frame using dies 1 and three form coconut white card onto which I had added a

sheet of double sided adhesive.  I slipped the backing off and placed the filigree frame over this leaving the sticky showing through the filigree sections.  I then added iced snow and rubbed of the excess which leaves this glittered white on white finish.

I foam mounted the fame on and using the next die in the set, no 4, i cut out an aperture in the centre which I backed with heat resistant acetate (the heat resistant has the right stability for this).  Next I die cut the let it snow die using the piece of card form the centre of the frame that had the DS adhesive sheet on it,

I removed the protective film and covered the whole sentiment in iced snow.  This was placed over the aperture and a piece of vintage silver foundation card was added on the inside back go the card so It frames and shines through the sentiment.

Finally I added a die cut of the illuminated three die again cut form card with adhesive sheet and covered in iced snow.  I placed PVA pearl dots, using cosmic pearl PVA, on all the junctions of the filigree frame and added a small white seam binding bow and silver dazzler to finish.

Ingredients:
Creative Expressions Craft dies by Sue Wilson
Ornate pierced noble design
let it snow
illuminated tree
Coconut white foundation card
Heat resistant acetate
Creative Expressions double sided adhesive sheets
Iced snow.

If you get chance pop over to the Creative Expressions blog and see what the rest of the team have come up with HERE!
Enjoy...

Sunday Gold...

Happy Sunday,

Firstly I must apologise for the late post today quite honestly after the 3 hour drive home from Norwich yesterday (where I had a fabulous day with all the lovely ladies and the talented and organised Emma) I feel asleep!  Thank you Carol for the reminder if you hadn't emailed Id probably still be asleep and forget to post! lol

I thought you might like to see the Gold version of the background I used on yesterdays card as the picture truly did not do it justice!  I had intended to post the progress of this card on Face book yesterday however the signal was just not strong enough!

This version is made with the snowflake background which I cut in vintage gold foundation card.  I added a piece of double sided adhesive to the front and rubbed silver dream gilding flakes over the back.  I then added iced snow over the front and trimmed down the piece.


I added a die cut from the largest oval in the snowflake background set, cut in vintage silver, across the front and a bow tied with the May Arts silver and gold double sided ribbon.  The ribbon is silver on one side and gold on the other some of the audience yesterday thought I had used 2 different ribbons!

For the sentiment I gilded a piece of coconut white card and cut the Let It Snow die form this (this is far easier than cutting the piece and then gilding it however you can use the piece it cuts form as well so there is no waste.

I hope this gold version shows this technique better than yesterday and that you understand the quick post!

Ingredients:
Creative Expressions Craft Dies by Sue Wilson
Snowflake Background
Let It snow expressions die
Silver dream gilding flakes
May Arts ribbon
Silver & Gold foundation Card

Enjoy...

Creative Wednesday...

Happy Creative Wednesday,

Its Christmas time over at the CE inspiration blog, click HERE to see what the rest of the team have come up with today and this week.  The Creative Expressions Design Team post every Monday to fir day with inspiration across dies cutting, stamping decoupage and a range of craft projects it's always worth a look as its great for ideas and inspiration!

For this months challenge the die cutting team have been asked to work with the Christmas dies from Sue Wilson.  For today's card I have chosen to use the Vintage bauble form the 2014 festive collection form Sue Wilson.  The great thing about this die set is that the baubles come in 2 parts the detail inside die and the outline. This means that you can use them, as I have here, as just a bauble shaped aperture in a card rather than cutting them out!

I started by die cutting both of the sizes of baubles inside the set offset in a piece of milk foundation card.  I decorated these using Gold pearl PVA to add the gold pearls on the detailing. I mounted this over a piece of milk card , using from pads, onto which I had added a piece of double sided adhesive sheet which I then gilded using Red Blaze gilding flakes.

I left a large border and cut off the excess which I used to cut the two of the corners or hangers that are also in the set form the scrap gilded card.  I added these at opposing corners.

I then shaded the top milk card using scattered stars distress ink to add that vintage look.

To finish I matted this onto a thin layer of black card and added a wider matt of milk card, again shaded with the distress ink, and a final black layer.  This addition of the thin black layers adds a little drama and, hopefully, balances the card.

Ingredients:
Creative Expressions Craft dies by Sue Wilson
Vintage bauble
Cosmic Shimmer red blaze gilding flakes
Golden pearl PVA
Milk and black foundation card
Scattered Straw distress ink

Enjoy...

Just a quick Note tomorrow is the first Bag-A-Bargain at Creative Expressions factory shop with loads of stuff half price or less, more details below!

Don't miss out on our first Bag-a-Bargain Thursday Clearance Day at Creative Expressions this week, Thursday 9 July.

Don't miss out on bags of bargains! Join us at Creative Expressions' Factory Shop this Thursday 9 July for our first Bag-a-Bargain clearance day. This month we have greatly reduced the popular Couture Creations products, giving you amazing savings of up to 50% off a selection of dies and embossing folders. See you on Thursday - make sure you get here early to snap up the best bargains and don't forget to bring your friends!

Thursday 9 July   9.30am - 4.30pm Factory Shop, Creative Expressions   Unit 2a, Vernon Court, Henson Way, Telford Way Industrial Estate, Kettering, Northants, NN16 8PX 01536 481778.

Christmas Bling...

Happy Tuesday,





Well I held off as along as I could but you know I am a Christmas Card (and the whole Christmas thing) addict!  So today here is my fist card for 2015 which, of course, uses a collection of Sue Wilson's new festive collection for Creative expressions.  On this first card I had to add one of the matching stamps to die for the 'Twas the night background stamp as I drew this one for Sue!

I stared by stamping the background (A6 sized) in perfect medium then I embossed it using cosmic shimmer detail gold embossing powder onto rich red foundation card.  I cut this out and mounted it onto a mat of vintage gold foundation card.






Next I cut a large square of the rich red (18x18cm) and added  a strip of the gorgeous snowflake border cut in the vintage gold to the right hand side.  I mounted the stamped image to the left and tied a strip of two tone satin ribbon in red around the right hand side and added a bow.  I left the knot 'naked' as I love the way you can see the two tones of the red at this point.

To finish I cut the Merry Christmas die once form gold and once from rich red.  I mounted the gold on top of the red however i slightly offset the gold sentiment to give a shadow.

I hope you like the rich red and gold of my first Christmas Card of 2015, trust me there are many more to come!

Ingredients:
Creative Expressions Craft dies by Sue Wilson
Merry Christmas
Snowflake Corner, Border and tag
Stamps to Die For background stamp 'Twas the night
Vintage gold and rich red foundation card
May Arts two tone satin ribbon

Enjoy...