Laced...

Happy Thursday,

When I was in Washington at the weekend I saw the most beautiful card made by one of the tutors there Norma.  I was lucky enough to be given the card as I wanted to emulate the lacing she had done at the top of the card.  As you can see form today's card I went down the full lacing route!


















I stared by cutting the edger die by spellbinders ( Sorry I can't find the package so dont know the name) twivce and cut one down the centre.  I then arranged them as shown with a full die cut in the centre and one half on each edge adhered with foam tape.  I then threaded thin gold satin ribbon between the centre and the two sides ( as shown)

I then cut the largest die in the elegant ovals die using the Creative Expressions pierced ovals to cut an aperture.  I then cut just the oval in gold and mounted this behind.  I added this with foam tape in the centre of the card and used spring foliage and camellia flowers for the main element.

I finished with the flowers and foliage (shaded with vintage photo distress ink)  over a messy bow of white and more of the gold satin ribbon.

Enjoy...

Saturday Colouring...

Happy Saturday,

Firstly I want to apologise as I got the dies totally wrong yesterday it was the New Zealand collection not Australia!

I premiered this stamp in a card earlier this week all embossed in Brilliant Sparkle embossing powder by Cosmic Shimmer however I wanted to share with you the coloured version as well.











Enjoy...

Vintage Friday...

Happy Friday,

A trip to Noble Australia today for vintage Friday with the Noble Border ( a die form last year that I have to admit I nearly missed it is so useful)  and the Melbourne die from the Australian collection.

I stared by cutting the Noble border, without the outline die, into a piece of mocha foundation card cut to 51/4" x 81/4"at posing sides as shown.  I backed this with primrose foundation card adding some crystal strips and stick on crystals to highlight the beautiful design of the die.

I next cut the Melbourne die in primrose just using the frame section and backed this with more of the mocha before foam mounting this above the centre of the panel.  I added layers of Tan, Primrose and mocha and a panel embossed with the braided vines A4 embossing folder ( a real favourite)

I added the stitched flags with the sentiment and then a couple of spares of flowers made with the string flower and orange blossom leaves dies with crystals in the centre of the flowers.  A great men's card with the colours but easily for and age or sex with a colour change.

Enjoy...

Saturday Colouring...

Happy Saturday,

I hope those of you who could enjoyed my shows over the last couple of days as much as I enjoy making them!  Today finds me in Darlington at Franki's Craft. Coffee and Chat for 2 days of workshops.

As today is Colouring Saturday I thought I would share this card as on the stamp release posts I only showed the sentiment section!  I have to say I am really happy how these red red roses have come out ( I really think these are so red they are red red lol)

I stared by stamping the corner rose form my new Tea Rose clear stamp set into the 4 corners of a 7 x 7" panel of bright white foundation card.  Next I coloured the roses using my Graphmaster Alcohol pens ( these pens really are brilliant even I can colour with them!)  I used the flooring colours which are the classic for a red rose according to Lisa Horton

Reds - 10, 15 and orange 22 ( to make the red shine) followed by warm grey in 1 and 3.

I used the 2 colours of grey to highlight the flourishes on the corners using the lighter grey to highlight the design.

I used the frame stamp from the set in the centre and added one of the sentiments from the set in the centre.  I then coloured the roses and flourishes in the same colours.  I cut this out using one of the double pierced rectangles and matted this in red and black as I felt the colouring could take the drama!

I made up the card as shown using the noble double pierced square dies its A and B to make the frame with the thin red band.

I then added a dramatic bow in black ribbon from my stash along with three red roses from the Craft Consortium always and forever range and a couple of stick pins.

Enjoy...

Beaded Circles...

Happy Thursday,

One of the sample cards I made for this weeks shows using the double pierced circles dies ( a new firm favourite) and the matching dies that were in the bundle on Monday.

I cut the mini striplet three times and backed it with double sided adhesive and added three shades of microbeads one in gold, silver and copper.












I then cut the Gillian frames and tags die and cut to the central circle.  I backed this with adhesive and added copper microbeads.  I cut the centre detail and added gold beads and a black 8mm stick on pearl.

I made a circular frame using the double pierced circles dies and added a thing circular frame cut in adhesive with silver beads added.

finally an embossed layer using the cross stitch A4 pinpoint embossing folder and a thin layer of black.

enjoy...

Plum Circled...

Happy Wednesday,

Another sample form this weeks hows with the Radiant Circle collection from Sue Wilson for Creative Expressions.  I thought today I would show you the demo card that, to me at least, typifies the radiance and the circle as it uses the radiance Striplet and the Double pierced Circles die.

This card was a demo on the second show so don't forget you can watch this one bring made on catch up HERE

This is a deceptively simple card to make I stared by cutting the insert die from the Striplet three times in a row into a 7" x 7" square of bright white foundation card.  I then backed this onto a piece of rich plum to make the background pattern.

Next I cut a series of frames in the bright white and the rich plum to make the farmers I used the following formula
Dies 1 and 3 for the rich plum and dies 5 and 7 for the white farmers dies 1 and 2 and 5 and 6 ( I hope this makes sense.  I mounted the thinner white frames over the rich plum ones.  I used die 6 to cut into the background added the resultant circle to the smaller farms and foam mounted this over the background.  I added the larger frame so that it looks like I have cut 2 backgrounds which is far too much work lol.

I added mats and layers of rich plum and white too frame the centre piece and added spare of the requisite poppies and olive branch dies which I shaded with the plum cobbler cosmic shimmer colour cloud blending ink.  I stamped the sentiment, form my Lily of the Valley elements clear stamp set onto a piece of white card and cut it out using the largest die in the Pierced flags set.  I shaded the sentiment, whilst in the die, with the colour cloud and added this form the scary of flowers.

I know this looks complex and multi layered but its really not that complex.

Enjoy...

Mother of Pearl?...

Happy Tuesday,

I thought ou might like a closer view of one of the demo cards I made yesterday on my Hochanda shows the Mother or pearl effect background.  Now to me this is a new technique but Im sure someone has done something similar!

I stared by making the background using white gloss card and adding either glossy glue and seal or cosmic Shimmer glue mixed with water.  Next I added some of the mixer shades of the pixie powders along the side and then dragged them across the card using a wide wash brush.  When dry you get this mother of pearl look with different colours splitting from the pixie powders to give a mica induced pearl sheen ( this one really needs to be seen in real life to get the full wow of the finish)

Next I Cut a frame from the pixie powdered background and added it a larger frame cut from white card.

Next I stamped the Juliette circle stamp to die for in detail silver onto the silver pearl card.  I cut  and the centre out using the matching Gillian die and taped the centre circle in place behind the die cut to make a buckle.  I simply threaded the sentiment flag through this and added pearl in the centre.

I then cut the three largest dies form the requisite poppies die in the silver pearl card and shaped them with my ball tool.  I added PVA glue in the centre and sprinkled over the silver shine pixie powder to make them earliest and shiny.  These were added with a spray of olive branch around the frame.

I added a layer of the silver pearl card embossed with the cross stitch A4 embossing folder and a couple of mats and layers to finish.

I demoed this card on my 5pm show on Hochanda click HERE for the catch up if you want to watch how this was made!

Enjoy...

Lilac Nasturtiums...

Happy Thursday,

More samples form my new stamp release today and another sample made for the Hochanda shows earlier in the week  however this didn't make it to the show.  For some reason this went missing over the weekend so I want able to show it (if you caught the shows you may remember me telling Leonie about this card!)

Today's card is made using the Nasturtium elements clear stamp set and is relatively simple to make.

I stared by drawing round the inside of die number 3 in the double pierced background rectangles deduced by Sue Wilson for Creative Expressions.  Next I took the largest stamp in the set and stamped this over one corner making sure that the edges of the leaves and flowers were stamped over the edge lines.  Next I rotated the piece of foundation card and  stamps the same image over the opposite corner.  I then stamped the sentiment, form the same set, in the centre.

Next I cut out the flowers and leaves that hung over the edge of the drawn line then slid the die in over the card making sure the sections that hung over slipped through to the front of the die ( this is so much easier to show than explain!)  I then cut the die which gave the pierced rectangle but dissent cut the overhang that you pop through to the other dies of the die.  I will try to demo this again as soon as I can or shoot a video on this.  I then coloured the image using my Alcohol markers using different shades and leaving some white areas to make the flowers look more realistic.  I ran a light grey around the edge to give a drop shadow and make the stamped image look like it is coming off the page.

For the background I wet one half of a piece of watercolour card leaving half completely dry.  I then added Purple Violet pixie powder over the wet section and allowed it to soak the colour in where it was wet.  Where the paper is dry the pixie powder doesn't stick or spears leaving an ombre effect where the colour finished and goes to white.  To make this more obvious I added the powder at the bottom edge which means that the colour weakens as it reached the border between wet and dry card.

Hopefully I will find this card somewhere in my stash or craft cave, if not I may have to try to recreate it!

Enjoy...

Zoe in Iris...

Happy Thursday,




I'm running a workshop today at Creative Expressions in Kettering ( CE Towers as Mrs D named it!)  and then prepping for the NEC.  I will one demoing on Friday and Saturday on the Art of Craft stand at the NEC crafts show, pop along and say Hi if you are going!

I thought for today I would show a different use of the Zoe die that I used on Tuesday, this time I have gone back to my palette of blues!









I Started this card by cutting one of the double pierced rectangles in coconut white with the outer die form the Zoe set in the centre at the top.  Next whilst keeping the card in the dies I embossed the panel.  This is completed by placing the dies and cut piece, cutting edge up, into the open embossing folder.  Next leaving the folder open I placed the large tan mat over this ( so that the cutting edges of the die would go into the mat as pressure was added.   Whilst in the die I shaded the embossing using Indigo Mist colour cloud and a smoothie.   I then  added a couple pf sheets of copier pair and finally the raspberry plate before running the sandwich through the machine.  Remember you always leave the folder open if it is closed the dies will cut into the embossing folder, I know I've done this lol)

Next I cut a larger mat of the iris foundation card and using the first piece as a template I added the filigree and oval die ( dies 2 and 3) on the iris.  I cut this then repeated the procedure with the final die in the set (die 4).  I matted these layers together with foam tape adding an embossed panel behind the centre.  I then cut the peony cluster die in white and the separate flowers in the iris making this ornament up with 3mm white pearls in the centre.

I wrapped a strip of American seam binding, coloured with the colour cloud, around the piece and added a messy bow and the peony cluster on top as a focus point.

I repeated the die cut emboss technique using Iris card and the largest double pierced rectangle and added a few layers of iris and white to finish the card.  A pearl in each corner and complete.

This card could be used for any occasion and, in my view, would work for the gents as well!

Enjoy...
 

Lilac Grace...

Happy Tuesday,

Today I thought I would have another play with the Orange Blossom stamps to die for  this time using the larger stamp in the set as well!  Also I thought it might be an antidote to the Scarlet of yesterday which divided opinion.

I started by stamping the larger stamps twice each in lilac whisper colour cloud blending ink onto coconut white foundation card.  Next I cut these out with the matching dies, shaped the flowers and shaded them using the same ink and a smoothie.  I then cut the matching orange blossom leaves shaped these and shaded them in the same way.

Next I cut just the outer die and one of the filigree sections from the Grace frames and tags die.  I stamped Happy Birthday from my pierced flags sentiments set in the colour cloud and shaded around the frames with a smoothie and the ink left from inking the stamp.









To make the card I used a piece of acetate that I had covered in polar white sparkle texture paste through the wavy mask ( this takes a couple of hours to dry)  I mounted this being a frame cut with the double pierced squares set using three of the dies to emboss the farm then just the outer and inner dies to cut for the frame.  I saved this to match and foam mounted it over the textured window background.

Next I made a card bank ( yes an actual card blank) at 16cm x 13cm and cut an aperture in the front using the smallest of the pierced squares used for the frame.  I then foam mounted the frame element over this to create the window.

I placed the grace frame along the bottom just popping up from the window and arranged the flowers and foliage to complement this.

The base seemed a little plain so I embellished it with some 5mm stick on pearls.


Ingredients:
Card Size: 16cm x 13cm
Colours: Coconut White
Dies:Grace Tags and Frames, Orange Blossom Complete Flowers, Orange Blossom Leaves
Stamps: Orange Blossom Shaded stamps, JL Pierced Flag sentiments
Inks: Lilac Whisper Colour Cloud Blending Ink


Enjoy...

Rushing Around Again...

Happy Saturday,

Today's card is one of the demo's I will be showing On Hochanda either this evening or through tomorrow.  I am launching the One Day Special which I have titled Welcome to Portugal ( only in my head lol)  This will be a showcase of the Portuguese collection by Sue Wilson for Creative Expressions and features some of my favourite stamps to die for.  There is also  a Brand new stamp to match the Perfect Peony dies which I believe is currently only available on Hochanda.  I am also demoing today ( as I don't like to let anyone down when arrangement have been made) at MJ crafts in Gloucester however I will be leaving at 3pm so get there early If you want to say Hi!  Julia watts is with me today as well so there's a reason to go if only to see Julia ( having attended some of her workshops I'm sorry that I can't just sit and watch her!

As this card is being demoed I'm treating this card as a sneak peak so no description I'm afraid however If I don't demo it I will do a tutorial on it if anyone is interested!

Ingredients:
Creative Expressions craft dies by Sue Wilson
Lavish adorned design noble
Just a note expressions
Perfect peony complete petals
New Filigree Peony stamp to die for
Potting shed archival ink pad
Jute twine pack
Cosmic Shimmer true white detail embossing powder
Milk and Deep Cocoa foundation card


I have added a close up of the new stamped flower.  Todays show is at 8pm tomorrow I'm on at 9am, 12pm, 4pm and finally at 7pm!

Enjoy...

Stamped to Die For...

Happy Monday,

I hope you all were able to see the new die launch over at Sue Wilson's particraft blog last week, I can't wait to have a play!  I designed a few stamps to die for for this range and thought I would show you some of these over the next few days!

I stared with one of the four newt sets that match with the finishing touches classic Vase die.  This die is fab as it works like the configurations and you get the insert as well as the outline meaning that the possibilities are endless.  Here I tied it, as a vase, with the new Peony Bouquet stamp to die for.  This stamp is designed to fit within the die cut vase perfectly with all the stems drawn to fit as if the vase was holding the bouquet!

The stamp does, however, have all the stems to the bottom so it can be used as just a bouquet of flowers.  There is also a sentiment included in each set and these are separate so that they can be mixed and matched.

For the peonies in todays card I stamped the image ( which come remounted and cut for you) onto coconut white foundation card with jet black archival ink.  Next, using distress markers, I coloured around each flower and leave then using a water brush I pulled the colour into the main body of each flower.  I went back over the leaves with shabby shutters distress marker to give some real definition to them.  Next I cut them out by hand (fussy cutting) and foam mounted the vase over them to give some depth.  I foam mounted the whole piece on a square of wisteria foundation card which I cut with the new Noble double pierced square set which leaves a lovely pierced and embossed edge around the square..

To decorate the square I cut one of the new delicate garden frames in coconut white and then cut it into four corner sections.  These I flat mounted  around the square which highlights the stamp and vase design as well as the piercing form the square.

I edged the square with a mat of coconut white and added 2 of the new charming lace trim from the configurations range.  I glued 2 of these along the top and bottom, cut again in the coconut white, to focus the card and balance the delicate garden frame.  I added appears in the centre to give a full stop to the image and stop me adding more lol.

I made up the reminder of the card using a larger square, again cut with the double pierced noble set which I then embossed with the pinpoint checkerboard embossing folder.  I added a couple of strips of wide satin ribbon form the silver pack from Creative Expressions I used the thinner ribbon for a messy bow and placed this on the corner of the main square.  A couple of layers of the coconut white and wisteria, again cut with the noble set, to finish and a classic card is complete.









Ingredients:
Creative Expressions Craft Dies by Sue Wilson
Noble double pierced squares
delicate garden frame
classic vase
charming lace trim
Stamp to die for Peony Bouquet
CE Pinpoint checkerboard embossing folder
Wisteria & coconut white foundation card
Distress markers
Silver double sided satin ribbon pack.

Enjoy...

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...