Purple Primroses...coloured! is

Happy Wednesday,

It's another sample form my Shows at the beginning of this week as I thought you might all like a closer look!  I have to admit although I'm not much of a colourist I love how this one came out.

I stared by stamping the daisy Daisy heart rubber stamp in watering can archival ink onto bright white foundation card.  I then coloured the image using seedless preserves distress markers around the edges.  Next I pulled out the colour using a water brush.

Next I drew a square on another piece of bright white card and stamped the corner flourish, from the Primrose elements clear stamp set, again in watering can along the edges of 2 opposing corners of the square.  I cut the square out by hand and coloured the flowers in the same manner using Shabby Shutters for the leaves and spiced marmalade for the flower centres and the shading on the leaves.

I made up the card as shown using a shaded sentiment from the primrose everyday sentiments in the centre and a set of embossed an matted layers at the back.

A simply coloured image but hopefully effective.








The winners of this weeks completion are

The Card on Monday
Stephanie Cotterill

The Tuesday demo pack is
Norah McPhee

If you email me your address on Lockers@live.co.uk I will get the prizes sent to you!

More chances to win next week!


Enjoy...

A Different Perspective...

Happy Saturday,

Something different today with a change in Perspective with the new Perspectives range of Dies designed by Sue Wilson for Creative Expressions.  Not my usual pretty card at all but something a little more cutting edge?!?

 I stared by cutting the Smile from the base card which gave me both the aperture and the word as the perspectives range of dies are designed so that both the waste and the shape are usable together or on their own.!  I then added double sided adhesive behind the aperture and used all the smaller words in the set to fit into the letters ( it's almost like it was designed to fit!)

I then added diamond sprinkles where the glue was exposed to add some shine and cover off the adhesive.  I used the piece I had cut the smaller words from, using the same adhesive and diamond sprinkles method, as a backing piece adding coconut white card behind.

The background is a piece of embossed cobalt foundation card with the linen 8x8 embossing folder rubbed over with pearl moon gilding wax.

A tie and knot of jute twine ( sorry Mrs D) and a metal lock embellishment and finished.

Hope fully you will agree a different card for me but one I enjoyed playing with!

Enjoy...

Shabby in Pink...

Happy Thursday,

Something a little different in style from me today slightly shabby and hopefully vintage!

 I really wanted to highlight the flowers on the Tuileries frame stamp to die for with a simple card that shows the detail.

I stared by stating the stamp in watering can archival ink twice, I coloured the flowers on one of the stamped images, using watercolour pencils.










 These were coloured by shading around the outside of each flower then pulling the colour in using a damp paintbrush.  I then went over these with a  white pencil to highlight the individual petals adding a 5mm stick on white pearl in the centres of the larger flowers and a 3mm one in the smaller ones..  I then cut the 2 flowers sprays from the first stamped image ( that's the beauty of stamps you can "print" as many copies as you want quickly!



Next I cut the second image out using the matching Auckland die form the New Zealand collection and shaded whilst in the die with pretty ink pink colour cloud blending ink to give a shaded and shabby feel to the image.  I added the flowers using foam tape so that they domed out from the background.

I then added this to  card made from some of the beautiful pages in the Gypsy Gypsy paper pad from Craft consortium ( another one in my growing collection of 12 x 12 paper stroking pads!)  I added a frame made form double pierced squares set A which I shared, again shabby style, using more of the colour cloud.  A final layer of the paper from the pad ( a pink dotty paper if you zoom in) and a couple of layers of white and taupe to finish.  The sentiment, from my pierced flags clear stamp set for CE , is a real favourite being slightly tongue in cheek put great for putting a smile on someones face!

I hope you like my travels into shabby its a new one for me I usually like classic and clean however I have to admit I like how this one turned out!

Ingredients:
Card Size: 21 x 21 cm
Colours: Coconut White, Baby Pink, Taupe Gypsy Gypsy 12 x 12 paper pack 
Dies: Auckland die set, double pierced Squares set A
Stamps: Tuileries Frame stamp to die for, pierced tags clear stamp set JL
Embossing:none
Inks: Watering can archival ink, CS colour cloud blending Ink Pretty in Pink

Enjoy...

CE Sunday...

Happy Sunday,

Isn't it funny how time flies its the second Sunday of January already!  Firstly than to all the lovely people who attended Julia's big sale and Demo yesterday I think we all had a fab time!

Well as its the second Sunday its my Design Team inspiration for Creative Expressions and this month we are using our own choice from the goodies we played with form last year.  I have chosen my favourite Lisbon die along with matching stamps for today's card.  As I am sure you all know by now I have a little soft spot for the Striplets so there had to be one of those thrown in for good luck!

I starred by stamping the Floribunda stamp to die for in jet black archival ink.  I then  signed the sentiment form my Camellia clear set in watering can ( a soft grey).  I then shaded the flowers using a combination of Distress Markers in Worn Lipstick and Victorian Velvet.  The foliage was coloured using shabby shutters.  I drew around the outlines then using a water brush pulled the colour from the edges to give the shaded appearance.

Next I cut the stamped image using the outline die from the Lisbon die set ( hence stamp to Die for)  I ran around the edge of the stamped image using the worn lipstick again using the water brush.

For the background I cut the eternal rings triplet down one side of a square of baby pink yardstick and then moved the die along slotting the edge of the die back into the cut edge.  I continued this until I had a full square of the eternal ring I then added a 5mm white stick on pearl at each junction.

Next I adhered this onto a larger square of coconut white foundation card followed by a layer of black to balance the stamped image.

Finally I added a bow of thin double sided satin ribbon in Blush with a small pearl embellishment in the centre and a couple of white pearl stick pins.

Ingredients:
Card Size: 21 x 21 cm
Colours: Baby Pink, Black & Coconut white
Dies:Eternal Rings Striplet, Lisbon Die Set
Inks: Jet Black archival, worn lipstick, shabby shutters & Victorian Velvet distress markers & CS waterbrush
Enjoy...

Its not blue...

Happy Tuesday,

I've been on my travels again this weekend visiting the lovely Crafty Knits in Chorley as well as spending a day in the brilliant Craft Barn in Redhill I meant a wonderful bunch of people in both locations and had a great weekend!


I'm sorry to ask this again but is it too dark? lol  I made this card after the dark one from last week (I do tend to make cards in series using the same range of colours as you may be able to tell form my Blue fetish!)

I cut and embossed the Greek Island collection background in taupe card and inked over the embossing with shabby shutters distress ink and a smoothie (which are back in stock yay!)  I then used Vintage photo on the trellis to give some definition and foam mounted the piece over a mat of the taupe card.

I edged the piece with more of the vintage photo then layered it with a piece of Brunswick green foundation card that I embossed with the A4 rambling blossoms embossing folder from CE.

Next I cut one of the Greek island collection borders in the green and ran it down the left hand side.  Next I cut the Best Wishes expressions die in the green and the taupe and using spray glue, offset them with the taupe on top so that a shadow is given around the words.  I mounted this onto a shaded piece of taupe cut with one of the shapes in the Greek island collection and finished.

The question is again is this a little dark, this is the last of my current shaded dark cards and I really want to know if I should start another series? lol

Ingredients:
Creative Expressions Craft Dies by Sue Wilson
Greek Island collection background
Border corner and tag set
Rhodes die set
best Wishes expressions die
Distress ink in Shabby shutters and vintage photo
Brunswick green and taupe foundation card

Enjoy...

A little dark?!?...

Happy Tuesday,


Well today's question is is this a little dark?  I really enjoyed getting my, limited. grungy side out for this card as well as some stamping with one of my favourite stamps.  I have had this stamp for years and was one of my first purchases form Creative Expressions the text background stamp.

I started by stamping the text stamp. in black archival ink, three times twice in a row down a piece of coconut white foundation card and once as a single panel.  Next I cut these out, by hand!, and inked the edges using vintage photo distress ink to age the pieces.  I mounted both of these onto thin matts of black card so that the black stamping was balanced and framed.  Next I die cut the Greek Island collection border form chestnut foundation card and added it over a piece of black seem binding I had tied on the edge of each panel.





For the centre panel I cut a piece of the border down however I added some of the leaves behind the panel just popping out.  I then die cut the Enjoy expressions die form black card and mounted this along the bottom edge.

TO make up the card I embossed a piece of card using the A4 knotted trellis embossing folder and again distressed it using the vintage photo distress ink.  I again mounted this onto back card and added it to a large piece of card (sorry I didn't measure this one however its got to be just short of A4 card!)

To add balance die cut the corner form the Greek island collection and added this in the bottom corner.

Let me know what you think is this too dark and distress for me?

Ingredients:
Creative Expressions Craft Dies by Sue Wilson
Greek Island Corner, border and Tags
Enjoy Expressions die
A6 text background unmounted stamp by Creative Expressions

Enjoy...

Additional Sunday...

Happy Sunday,

I don't know where my brain was yesterday as I posted today's post as well as Saturday's I would blame Blogger scheduling however I know I will have done something wrong.

Therefore there is a bonus post today of a prototype card.  This was my first play with my Cherry Blossom stamps so its not the neatest however it does show the principal of how to make a picture using the different elements from the Cherry Blossom elements stamp set.

I started by drawing a circle with a pencil on a square of coconut white foundation card.  Next I took the smallest solid cherry blossom stamp and randomly stamped it around the circle using worn lipstick distress ink pad.  I then stamped the larger solid cherry blossom stamp using Victorian velvet distress ink.  Finally I added the outline stamps that match the blossoms. using first and second generation stamping around the circle.

If you look carefully you can see the circle i drew as I didn't rub this out so that you could see the principal!

Hopefully this will give you an idea of what else you can do with my stamp sets!

Enjoy...

Feel the Love...

Happy Bank Holiday Monday,

I'm sorry today's post is late I got home from Create and Craft at 2am this morning and I thought I had scheduled this post!  Ive been filming for the American Channel this weekend so many timings are all out as the last hour finishes UK time at midnight!

so for today a simple card and question, can you feel the love lol? well with this card you can certainly see it!  I just used the love die from the expressions die range by Sue Wilson to make this card and one embossing folder, you can't get simpler ingredients.

I started by cutting the word die form a piece of milk card in the centre.  next I die cut the matching outline die into another piece of milk card then ran the whole piece through the calibur using the wild roses A4 embossing folder.  Next I added a shading of Victorian velvet distress ink, using a smoothie, over the raised are giving the edges a faded look.

To finish the card I foam mounted the aperture over the love and placed a piece of the milk card, covered in double sided adhesive sheet and iced snow, behind the piece again with foam tape.

A frame of a piece of distress inked milk card and a thin ilk mat and the card just needed a bow.  I made a messy bow using rose seam binding and a heart shaped dazzler and finished.

Ingredients:
Creative Expressions Craft dies by Sue Wilson 
Love Expressions Die
CE A4 wild roses embossing folder
CE Double sided adhesive sheets
Iced snow
Victorian Velvet distress ink pad
Rose seam binding

Enjoy...

Simple Sunday...

Happy Sunday,

A mix of ranges on this one and quite a simple card! I stared by making a Aqua foundation card blank using the Ornate Pierced noble die designed by Sue wilson.  Next I cut a mat using the next die down in the set the smallest size I cut in the aqua and the smallest white plaque I cut using the smallest die in the Classic adorned noble die set.  A complex description for something that is as easy as it looks!

To make the frontispiece I cut all the pieces in the new dandelion clocks die set and coloured them using a smoothie and Peacock fathers distress ink.  To make the background I laid a piece of the transfer tape I had on Create and Craft last week over the pice and cut waves in it using my craft knife.  I then removed each layers one at a time and shaded the exposed area with the distress ink.

A simple stamped card that doesn't involve stamping but a nice effect and great for Batch Cards!

Enjoy...

Saturday stamping...

Happy Saturday,

\Well today will find me stamping all day! and die cutting, layering, making stick pins and all the usual things I am known for as I am doing another demo day for the Strikes garden centre chain up north.  Today I set off at 6am to be at the Northallerton click HERE to see the address and details.  I will be demoing the latest range of Creative Expressions craft dies from Sue Wilson as well as some of my stamps and my usual array of Cosmic Shimmer products.  I have put a couple of new pots of glitter flakes and some Iced snow in the car so there's bound to be a little Fire and Ice!  If you are in the vicinity pop in between 10am and 4pm to say Hi!

Back to today and quite a simple stamped card for Saturday, again from my shows at the end of February I promise some new creations on Monday!






This one was made using my Lotus flower elements set (a favourite of Mrs Duck) I stamped the main flower from the elements in Black archival ink on a strip of coconut white foundation card at the top left and bottom right.  I then coloured them (and shaded them too which is a rarity for me lol)  using a shaded lilac distress marker.  All I did to shade the flowers was to outline the petals leaving areas white.

I then added the sentiment from the same set by stamping it with perfect medium and adding detail black embossing powder.  I then shaded around the strip using the matching distress ink and a smoothie.  Finally I made up the card as shown using a panel embossed with the heart lattice embossing folder shaded with the shaded lilac again and a seam binding bow added along with some stickpins and a large pearl embellishment.

Ingredients:
Creative Expressions Clear stamps lotus frames and elements set 
Coconut white and Vintage silver foundation card
Shaded lilac distress ink and marker
CE Heart lattice embossing folder

Hopefully see some of you later today, I will add a full list of my workshops and demo's to a new blog page next week!

Enjoy...

Sneak Peak...

Happy Tuesday,

As I have shows on Create and Craft tomorrow I thought I would give you a sneak peak of some of the samples I have made for the show.  This is a decoupage show featuring the Craft Consortium pares, MDF storage units, some stunning MDF frames that are brand new as well as a couple of my stamp sets that are prefect for stamping on the papers and the units making them truly individual.  I have, as usual, made far too many samples but I love playing with these papers and find so many different ways to use them!

IN the top 2 I have used a couple of new papers from Craft consortium to cover a big boy unit (as named by Martyn) in postcards and a ribbon units in the matching chevrons design.

The ribbon unit featured here is simply painted using mat chalk paint as well as the brand new matching crackle paint.  I have then stamps on this using some of the elements from the Fen frames and sentiments clear stamp set form Creative expressions.  These small flowers have a solid centre stamp as well as a detailed outline making colouring and stamping so easy.  I added a few of the ferns as well then distressed the unit by adding pewter gilding wax.  I hope you agree but to me this has a really nice soft feel to it.

Finally there is this MDF ornate from which I have made look like an old gilt mirror frame.  To see how tune in as this will be a demo tomorrow!


The shows are on tomorrow at 10am and 2pm so tune in or record if it takes your fancy!

Enjoy...

Creative Wednesday...

Happy Wednesday,

Its back to my design team spot for Creative expressions and there have been  a few changes on the blog as we have now launched a challenge with prizes.  Click HERE to see the challenge and to enter.  It would be great to see you enter your cards and this months theme is Easter so get your egg shapes out and give it a go.  It';s a great way to win a prize and also showcase your work to Creative Expressions!

Back to today and I thought i could, kinda, get into the Easter theme by using the main element from the scribble rose elements stamp set as its a little egg shaped (can I hear clutching at straws here!)




I have teamed this up with the brand new paper pack from Couture Creations Vintage rose garden.  Now as you know I am a lover of paper and this set is just stunning!

I allowed the paper to make all the backing for what is a simple stamping project.  I stamped the central element form the stamp set using perfect medium onto milk foundation card and embossed it with Detail gold embossing powder from Cosmic Shimmer.  I then repeated the process using the rose striplet stamp, hand cut them out and inked around the edges using Victorian Velvet distress ink (a one of the new smoothies)

I foam mounted the pieces and added a satin edged bow, a dazzler setting with a pearl embellishment in the centre (secured with cosmic pearl PVA) and a couple of pearl sprays to finish.

It would be great to see your cards up on the CE Challenge and you never know maybe win a prize!

Ingredients:
CE Clear stamp set Scribble Rose Elements - by me
CE Stamps to die for Scribble Rose Striplet
Couture Creations Vintage Rose Garden 12 x 12 paper pack
Cosmic Shimmer Detail gold embossing powder
embellishments all from Creative Expressions.

Technique Tuesday...

Happy Tuesday,

Well its back to normal and Its a technique simply because it's Tuesday.  Today's technique is masking using the demo I did on my shows at the weekend.  The secret to this masking is the Cricut transfer tape.  This allows you to stamp onto it, cut it out and because it is transparent you can see exactly where you place it.  The other benefit is that it is removable and can be used over and over.

To make the background I stamped the leaf from my Dog flower set a few times on the tape (make sure this is a second generation stamp as you do not want to use too much ink as it can take a while to dry)  Next cut out the leaves exactly on the lines you can store these on a piece of normal card until you want to use them then simply place them back for future use.  next I stamped leaves, using archival black ink, onto a piece of pumice foundation card along the side.  Next I masked these off using the transfer tape masks I made earlier.

To achieve the faded look I grabbed distress ink in Spiced marmalade and tea dye over the image using the new Creative Expressions smoothies.  These are brilliant as you can't get a line in your colouring as there are no edges!

I removed the masks and placed them on a piece of card for another use and cut the edge of the background along the edge of the leaves.

Finally I stamped the main element form the set and decoupaged the flowers back on top by stamping 2 more of the main elements and hand cutting out the spray of flowers on the top.  A ribbon bow and small black dazzlers finished the card (along with a square 21 x 21cm card base made up of layers of Taupe and black foundation card.

Ingredients:
CE Clear stamps Dog flower frame elements - by me
Cricut transfer tape
Distress ink in spiced Marmalade & Tea Dye
CE Smoothies
Foundation card in Pumice, Black and Taupe.

If you'd like to see a video of this technique then it should be available on catch up on Create and Craft until Friday!

Enjoy...

Something Blue...(ish)

Happy Blue Friday,

The first question is doe s really purple shade of blue count as blue?  OK its purple however I love this card and the rest of the samples I have made in my Blue phase have some over to CE towers to be used as show samples for Sue next weekend so I can't show them at the moment!

Today's card is one from my couture creations show at the beginning of the month its a real mix of styles.

The background is a piece of the white ribbed card from the special finishes pack which I inked with the that special touch mask in milled lavender deists ink.  I then shaded around the square of card (20x20cm) to age the card and show the lovely embossed line pattern.

Next I cut the couture Creations art deco background die in more of the white and mounted it onto a mat of heather foundation card  The sentiment, from the friends sentiment set (which was due to be on the show but stock levels didn't allow however I do have this set on Sundays show as I have been using it so much recently I just love it!) is stamped onto the Mirror Mirror die cut in white and inked in the same distress ink.  To highlight the sentiment piece I cut a couple of the flourishes and then the waterlily die in Velum which I inked and scrunched them up.




I love the look of the flowers cut in vellum and the way they seem to flow!

Ingredients:
Couture Creations Dies
Art Deco
Mirror Mirror
Swirl
That Special Touch Openwork mask
Friends Sentiments stamp set
Distress Ink milled lavender


Enjoy...

The winner of this weeks Card giveaway is Gail, if you send me your address out to Lockers@live.co.uk I will post it out to you!  Another giveaway on Monday...

Technique Tuesday...

Happy Tuesday,

Today will find find me leading a workshop at CE Towers in Kettering I have arranged a date for February and March and will let you all know the details as soon as the Designs can be released!  Back to today and a simple technique using a mask again however this time with a die cut aperture.

I have completed a photo tutorial for this week as my typing is not the best!

I die cut an aperture into spice of Kraft card from CE and then placed the waste piece over the card I wanted to add the design to.  Next I added the mask over the top and simply inked through the mask using distress ink.  I then shaded around the shape to add a little more faded effect to the piece.  Finally I simply added a stamped and die cut sentiment a bow and added it to a card blank, 18 x 18cm, that I had also shaded with the mask.

Take a look at your die collection and see what simple cards you can make from masks and the interesting shapes left behind.

Ingredients:
Creative Expressions Sue Wilson dies
Oslo
Californian Border, Tag and corner
That Special touch detail mask
Tea dye distress ink
Sand, Black,Coconut White and Kraft foundation card.

Enjoy...

Saturday Stamping more Pink...

Happy Saturday,

I thought I should show another version of the rose stamp I showed last week.  This time I have stamped the image In cosmic Shimmer detail black embossing powder and then I coloured in the image. I coloured the rose bud using Spun Sugar and Victorian Velvet distress markers this time making sure I colour inside the lines this time!

I coloured the leaves in a selection of green distress markers using a wet paintbrush I pulled the colours from the edges to shade the image.








Next I cut the image out using the Lotus Filet due form Couture Creations die and shaded the centre whilst in the die using Spoun Sugare distress ink.  I then gently coloured the edges of the die cut using cut n dry foam.

To make the card Background I embossed a piece of coconut white foundation card using a mask and the technique I detailed on Tuesday.  Whilst still in the mask I shaded the raised area using more of the distress ink pad and cut it into a large square.  Next I simply shaded around the card, the embossing of the mask leaves a frame around the embossed masks which looks like you have added and extra layer.

Finally I added the whole piece, with a strip of ribbon and a pink dazzler, to a hand cut 21cm x 21cm card blank onto which I stamped some creative expressions swirl stamps (I've had them for years so I don't know the name sorry!)  in the spun sugar.

Hopefully this comes across a little less pink than Thursdays offering!

Ingredients:
That Special touch mask
CE Singles rose bud stamp
Couture Creations Lotus Filet die
Spun Sugar distress ink & Markers

Enjoy...

In the Pink...

Happy Thursday,

Well its all been a little brown or white this week so Today is Pink Day!  Time to introduce some colour me thinks!

Today's card Is made completely with Blush card which looks really pink but is a lovely soft shade that only shows up when contrasted with white as I have on the final layer.  I started by stamping the sentiment in Archival black ink onto blush card which I then cut out with the Couture Creations Lotus filet die.  I then coloured the image in  the die using spun sugar distress ink.  Once removed from the die I shaded the edges using cut n dry foam and more of the distress ink.

I flat layered this onto another piece of the blush card and added a spray of waterlilies cut in parchment along with a knot of crinkle edge ribbon and some real sprays and embellishments.




I made the background by embossing a piece of the card with the large retro flowers embossing folder from Court Creations and extended the pattern.  I shaded this with more spun sugar distress ink concentrating soon the edges to give a shaded look.


To finish the card I simply layered a piece of the ribbon over the embossed panel and added it to a simple white mat.  I always like to add a strip of ribbon if I have added a large bow or embellishment as I feel it balances the larger flourish.  I simply added the stamped panel on top, using foam tape, and the card was finished.

Ingredients:
Blush Foundation card
Couture Creations Lotus Filet & Waterlily die sets
Couture Creations Large Retro Flowers embossing folder
CE Sentiment stamp

Enjoy...

The winner of Monday's card, as randomly chosen by Mr ND was no 5 which is Mrs B,  If you email me your address on Lockers@live.co.uk I will post it out to you.   Another giveaway on Monday! x