Happy Fresh New Year...

Happy New Year!

I thought I would start the year with something that (hopefully) you will agree is fresh and bright!

I simply love the colours of the watercolour painting on this card and I thought the sentiment was perfect for my first post of the year and is dedicated to all my wonderful Blog family x

The main image is stamped and embossed is CS detail silver embossing powder and is from my Camellia elements clear stamp set.  I then coloured the image using the new CS perfect pastels mica watercolour palette.  I cut the stamped image out using one of Sue's pierced squares dies and mounted this onto a piece of sky blue foundation card.

Next to balance the painting on the main element I stamped the matching border stamp included in the set onto antique white CE double sided ribbon and coloured the image using the same watercolour paints.  The great thing about these is that the Mica that is in the paints means that the colour stays stable on the ribbon and still has that beautiful mica shine.

for the background I letterpressed a piece of coconut white card using perfect medium and the A4 star swirls embossing folder.  Once out of the folder i dusted opalescent mica powder over this which left a beautiful pearl shine on the background ( where the perfect medium was0 but leaving the crisp raised image in the plain card.  This is one that you may have to see in real life to see the letterpress shine!  I then ran a strip of the ribbon down this square that I had mounted onto a layer of the sky blue.  Next I foam mounted my image over this and added a tie of the ribbon at the bottom.I finished the card with a couple more layers of the sky blue and coconut white and finished



Finished Size : 21 x 21cm
A that remains is for me to wish you all a fabulous 2016!

John xxx

Pastel Violets...

Happy Thursday,

Another sample from my stamp launch today I really loved working with these so there are a lot of samples to show yet!

One of the things I loved with these I was able to work with Cosmic Shimmer to develop a new colour range of the Watercolour Palettes to match the spring colours I envisioned for the range.  This card was made using the colours therefore from the Perfect Pastels mica watercolour palette.

I stared by stamping random violets form the violet elements stamp set around the edges of a rectangle of watercolour card.  Next I coloured the violets with the pastel lilac and pastel blue form the set.  Next I added yellow centres and shaded arraign the flowers with the yellow.
Next I cut one of the Double Pierced rectangles from the watercolour card.  I stamped on the Monday's child poem from the Mondays child set using black archival ink.  I then stamped the bow and ribbon strips as well as some more violets all form the violet elements set at the bottom.  I coloured these in the same manner and added a thin border of the yellow all around the edge.


For the main card I stamped the border strip twice across the bottom of a square ( cut with the double pierced squares) and coloured these with the watercolours adding in the pastel lime for the leaves.  Hopefully you can see some of the stunning shine form the mica, if not I can guarantee it does glisten in real life!

I finished the card with a couple of layers of baby blue and another layer of the white.

A simple looking card that is a joy to paint!



Enjoy...

Last day, Violets...

Happy Wednesday,

Well I hope you all enjoyed the shows, tips and techniques as well as all my new stamps.  Today's final set is the Birth Flower for February the violet.  This is one of the cards I demoed yesterday using just 2 of the stamps from the violet elements stamp set for the foreground.  The background is stamped using some of the elements stamped in perfect medium and dusted over with opalescent mica.









This set has one of my favourite types of stamps with the border or ribbon stamp.  This, along with the border piece on yesterdays camellia set has been sized to fit the Creative Expression double sided ribbon perfectly as well as being used, as in this card, as a focal element in itself.

Back to usual tomorrow,

Enjoy...

Its quick...

Happy Friday,

I sincerely hope all my U.S. blog family had a happy thanksgiving yesterday!

A quick card from me today and another demo card from my Hochanda shows this week.  This one is simpler to make than it looks honest.

I stared by stamping the Apple Blossom stamp to die for with Archival ink ( watering can which is a dark grey so it doesn't look too stark) onto a 13 x 13 cm square of coconut white foundation card. Next I used the summer Garden watercolour palette from cosmic shimmer to paint in all the flowers.  I used a selection of the purple and lilac shaded in the set to colour the image.  The great thing about the mica watercolours is that the mica adds a real shine to the piece which can be seen as you've the card.

  Hopefully some of you saw this on air and know what I mean.  Next I used the outside die from the butterflies in flight mini striplet to cut the stamped image into three equal pieces.

The remainder of the card was just a set of blue dusk layers from mounted onto a square card made with layers of the coconut white and blue dusk.






Next I coloured a piece of coconut white card with the colour cloud and cut it out using the outline die form the classic vase.  I then cut a frame using the insert and outline from the same set and mounted then together to make the base vase.  I cut off the bottom section and added this to the top to make a different shaped, wide necked, vase.

I stuck this over the centre panel to make it look like a 3D vase with the flowers in there.


I finished with a tie and bow made of white seam binding that I coloured using the Decadent Denim colour cloud blending ink form Phil Martin's range for Cosmic Shimmer.
I will announce the winners of this weeks card giveaways tomorrow ( Saturday)

Enjoy...

Simple Sunday...

Happy Sunday,

Im busy prepping for the One Day Special starting Tomorrow ( Monday) night at 8pm on Hochanda.  I will also be introducing the New Creative Expressions demonstrator Lisa Horton who has fabulous skills and some brilliant demos using some Brand new Craft Consortium decoupage pares and MDF shapes!

Therefore todays Card is a simple offering made for the watercolour shows I did last week for the fabulous Mica Watercolour palettes.

This is just stamped using Clear embossing powder onto black card.  I then painted this using the autumn shades of mica watercolour palettes which show up beautifully on black card because of the high concentration of Mica in the paints.

I cut a border form a piece of chestnut card using one of the outline dies from the triplet collection of dies.  I embossed this piece and used this as a frame.  I punched a hole in the top and added a strip of black ribbon as a tie.

I thought this would make a really nice gift as a book mark.

Samples of the new MDF tomorrow!  Enjoy...

Watercolour Tuesday Giveaway...

Happy Tuesday,

I am back on Hochanda Today with another showing of the stunning watercolour stamps form Sam Poole.  I loved doing this show and sharing all the techniques and when I was given the chance to show more from this range I jumped at it!

To see how this was made you will need to tune in my shows are at 11am, 2pm and 6pm!

I will also be giving this card away today, simply leave a comment below to be in the draw!  The winner will be selected and announced on Friday!

Enjoy...

Holly Framed?!?...

Happy Friday,

It's back to Christmas Friday and I will try to keep to this for the remainder of the year , Shows depending lol!  I thought you might like to see something different done with the striplet and the watercolour palettes today a real mix of die cutting and painting!

I stared by cutting a 17.5cm x 17.5cm square of coconut white foundation card.  Next I placed the inside of the holly mini striplet up to one edge and passed this through the GC.  I then rotated the die so that it was against the next side but adjacent to the aperture I had just cut.  I continued this until I
had a frame running all around the square card to make a detailed frame.


I then spray glued this frame down to an identical sized square of coconut white card making sure it was stuck down in all areas.  I then painted, using the Mica watercolour set from Cosmic Shimmer ( set 7 Christmas of course) all the leaves of the holly in the gaps.  I added red berry twinkles as the berries and set it  dry, when dry, as you can hopefully see form the pictures, you get a beautiful shine as well as the deep pigment colour.

I then cut various sprays of filigree holly using the set of the same name and again used red berry twinkles as the berries.  I stamped the Ivy Wreath from my Holly wreath elements clear stamp set and coloured it using distress markers in 2 shades of green ( can't remember which ones sorry) and stamped the joy in the centre.  I then cut this out using one of the smaller squares in the new Double Pierced squares dies by Sue Wilson for Creative Expressions.  I added a thin mat of Brunswick green foundation card and the holly sprigs, along with some green bakers twine, over each corner.

A different Christmas card that would also make a nice scrapbook page with a picture in the middle.


Ingredients:
Creative Expressions Craft dies by Sue Wilson
Holly mini striplet 
Double Pierced squares
Filigree Holly
Cosmic Shimmer Mica watercolour palette Christmas
Red berry twinkles
Creative Expressions clear stamps by me Holly wreath elements
Distress markers

Enjoy...

Dont forget I will be on Hochanda tomorrow night at 8pm for the launch of the One Day Special!

Two'fer Sneak Peak...

Happy Wednesday,

Well I am well on my  way to another mammoth slew of shows on Hochanda and Demoing!  Tomorrow I am at Sharon's Card Craft in Swanley Kent, after that I am back on your screens tomorrow night at 8pm with decoupage One Day Special.  However Today I have three shows, 10am, 2pm and 6pm with some beautiful new stamps from Sam Poole.

I have been playing for the past couple of days to some up with some new ( well to me anyway) techniques for you.  This first card is using an interesting slew of techniques on it however you will have to tine in to see what they are!  I have to say that if you have never stamped or are now to stamping then today's shows are perfect for you.  These watercolour stamps are a great place to start and experienced crafters and stampers will also have fun with the new twist Sam has put on stamping!

I often get asked where does my inspiration come from well on this card it came from the T-shirt I was wearing whilst making it!  I will try to have this to show you on the shows today so you can judge the similarity!

The t-shirt has a Hombre pattern going from blue to yellow and I wanted to see if I could replicate it in watercolours  well with the help of some items from my Kitchen cupboards I think I did.  Tune in to see what I am waffling about lol

The second card is the same transfer tape technique as I used for this card HERE (link works Honest!)  which I made with Phill Martins range of stamps, paper and the Cosmic shimmer Colour Cloud inks.

Hopefully you can join me today if not there is always tomorrow, or Friday, or Sunday lol.

Enjoy...

Daisy Daisy...

Happy Sunday,

Fantastic workshop day at Craftasmic in Taunton yesterday we had a few laughs as well as some serious crafting!  I'm back there today for a set of demos once again the tickets are all sold out I  afraid but it may be worth popping to the shop and seeing if you can hover at the back if you want to see Julia or me!

I thought I would show you the daisy card form the video I did on you tube for Creative Expressions as lots of you seemed to like it.  I have to admit I wasn't overly happy with it as I think it could have looked cleaner and be neater with more time!

I used the watercolour Mica Palettes and my Daisy Corner stamp set ( still one of my most popular sets) to make this simple card.  To get the details you will need to watch the video on the link HERE

Here's a few close ups of the card, its really to show you the techniques.  If you are loving the watercolour palettes then I have a show on Hochanda on Wednesday with them along with some stunning new stamps (great for beginners as well as experienced crafters) designed by Sam Poole. The Christmas watercolour set, which sold out in August, is finally back in stock and will be on the show as well!  times to be confirmed.

Enjoy...

You asked for it!...

Happy Friday,

Do't forget Sue Wilson has shows on Hochanda Today at 8pm then tomorrow at 9am, 12pm, 4pm and 7pm with the second part of her Festive Die release!

I had lots of comments about Wednesday design team card and the technique I used for the colouring and lots of my blog friends asked if I could do a video of the technique well you asked for it so its here.  Luckily a few weeks ago Phill Martin and I were invited in to shoot a couple of videos whilst Sue Wilson was shooting her wonderful you tube shows.  A couple of you spotted that they had been uploaded onto the Creative Expressions You Tube channel and have viewed it!

The video is on the new watercolour plates and different techniques you can do using them.  The cards opposite are the first examples from this video where I used the daffodil burst striplet stamp on black card.  To find the details of how these were made and a few other watercolour tips then you will need to watch the video!


  So here is the first video showing how to use the watercolour paints, a later instalment shows the colour cloud and masking technique.  One of the pieces i made in the video is shown above if you want to see the original card with the colour clouds then click HERE ( The Link Works today! lol)


I have added a few shots of the different cards above so that you can get a better view of the colour options!

I hope you have time to watch the video and let me know what you think this is the first video I have shot for you tube without my Magic Hands Wendy in Spain!

Enjoy...

Something Purple?!?...

Happy Thursday,

Firstly I have to mention that the snow fibre paper I used yesterday is a new product as Ive had loads of people asking about it on here and Facebook.  It will be available early next week and I will mention as soon as it comes out!

back to today and I thought you might like to see another different colour for me with some stamping and some colouring.  I made this card again on a demo day as a lady asked what to do with the cherry blossom stamps and she wanted an interesting yet simple card.  This is what I came up with.

I stared by making card blank using the largest die in the Ornate pierced noble design set.  I then made an aperture in the front only using die 3 from the set.  Next I stamped, using jet black archival ink, a spare of the sherry blossom around the edge of the plaque cut to make the aperture.  I used the branch with flowers form the set and added a few single flowers around the bottom left of the piece.  I coloured the flowers using the greens and peoples set of cosmic shimmer mica watercolour palettes.  I then shaded around the design using dusty Concord distress ink and a smoothie.

To balance the card I shaded around the aperture on the front of the card using the dusty concord,  To make the bow I took a length of white seam binding and ran the dusty concord ink, again using a smoothie as this makes it so easy, along the ribbon so that it was the exact same shade as the rest of the card.

For the flower I cut 2 of the perfect peony open petal dies and again shaded them with the distress ink before shaping them and adding a white 5mm pearl in the centre.  I placed the flower in the middle of the bow, to hide the knot, and added the whole piece to the bottom left of the aperture on the front.

Its a little purple which I admit is an unusual colour for cherry blossom however I feel it works and they could be a scary of any flowers!

Ingredients:
Creative Expressions craft dies by Sue Wilson
Ornate Pierced design noble die
perfect peony open petals
Creative Expressions clear stamps Cherry Blossom elements by me!
Cosmic Shimmer watercolour mica palette greens and purples
white seem binding

Enjoy...

Simple Sunday...

Happy Sunday,

I had a fab day at the show yesterday It was so nice to meet so many dedicate and fun crafters!  I decided that something simpler and lighter would be right for today's offering as an antidote to yesterdays heavy Christmas!

Today's card is made just using the summer garden cosmic shimmer watercolour palette and my daisy corner clear stamp set.

I stared by stamping the largest daisy from the set in true white detail embossing powder.  I then ran stripes of the mica watercolours over this piece to make the background.

Next I stamped the main element, again in the embossing powder, and coloured it using the same set of watercolours.  I tied a bluebird satin strip on and foam mounted the topper over this.  Finally I added a double bow a dazzler in aqua and a couple of pearl stick pins.

A simpler stamped and painted card but hopefully  nice antidote to the red and gold of yesterday!

Ingredients:
Creative Expressions Clear stamps Daisy Corner
Cosmic Shimmer summer garden mica watercolour palette


Enjoy...

A Little more seasonal...

Happy Thursday,

I thought It was time I showed something a little more seasonal especially as Yesterday was the hottest day of the year so far and I was melting in the studio (Garage)!  I liked the idea of rotating between Christmas and normal so I thought you might like to see this card!  I can't promise I will switch between every day as this tomorrow and Saturday will be Christmas but I will try!

Today's card is simply made by stamping the Floribunda stamp to die for from Sues latest, non festive, release and colouring it using the fabulous Cosmic Shimmer watercolour palettes.  I then cut the image out using the largest die form the Lisbon set and mounted it (without foam for once) on a piece of lilac foundation card.

To make the top piece I simply embossed a sheet of coconut white card with the A4 quilted leaves embossing folder and cut an aperture to one side again using the Lisbon die set.  I then rubbed pewter gilding wax over the raised are and buffed it off with a dry wet wipe.

I foam mounted this over the stamped image and added a strip of ribbon and some of the self adhesive pearl strips ( a double strip cut down the middle ) to alter the look of the ribbon.  For the flower I simply snipped randomly into a strip of the ribbon and rolled it up to make the messy frayed flower you can see in  the close up below. A few layers of lilac and silver to 'frame' the card and finished.

Hopefully you will agree this is an appropriate card for the weather!

Ingredients:
Creative Expressions Craft dies by Sue Wilson
Lisbon 
Floribunda stamp to die for
Cosmic Shimmer Watercolour palette No 4 Summer Garden
Orchid double sided satin ribbon pack
Lilac, coconut white & vintage silver foundation card.

Enjoy...

Simple Sunday...

Happy Sunday,

Todays card is really simple with just the Cherry Blossom triplet stamp and some watercolour painting!

I started by stamping the recut and mounted triplet rubber stamp with perfect medium onto a piece of blush foundation card and heat set it with true white detail embossing powder.  Next I coloured the image using a selection of the Mica Watercolour paints from the new palettes.  I used the carnival brights set (the same as yesterday) and the blossoms shimmer in real life which just doesn't cone across on the pictures!  I stamped the sentiment in a dark pink archival ink and shaded around it using the mica paints.

to make up the card I die cut the outline die form the bevelled glass striplet into a square of coconut white foundation card and foam mounted it over the stamped and coloured image.

A simple card but hopefully effective and great for a quick card!

Ingredients:
Stamps to die for cherry blossom striplet
Carnival Brights mica watercolour palette
Blush & Coconut white foundation card.

Enjoy

Don't Trust hotel wifi! lol

Happy Monday,

Sorry for the late arrival of today's blog post!  I wrote the post last night in the hotel (was too tired to drive home so stayed an extra night) but when I got on the road this morning my wake up call informed me this hadn't gone live!  Getting home I find that it is missing!?! lol

As its a beautiful spring day her I thought you might all like to see some bright daffodils so I thought it was time to show you all my new Striplet stamp Daffodil Burst.

I had so much fun drawing this one as it just looks like an explosion of daffs seen through a window.  This striplet stamp is designed to match with an elements set featuring a field of daffodils however that will be revealed on my shows on C&C at the end of the month.


I have coloured the image using the new Mica Watercolour paints that will alas feature on the shows these proved so popular at Ally Pally and should be hitting a shop near you very soon.  I just coloured this stamp in a very naive style to give the feeling of the colours changing and the movement in the flowers.

The sentiment is a sneak peak as it is from the Daffodil Elements set released at the end of April!














I hope you don't mind this quick post as a replacement, more on the weekend as well as the usual giveaway tomorrow, I even have pictures !!!

Enjoy...