New Technique Video - resist...

Happy Thursday,

Today I am launching the next youtube video all about the media plates.  This video, the second in the series, shows how to achieve the resist technique used in this card ( in fact the video piece was made up into this card.  I have also included the original card I did with this technique.

If you want to see how the centre of this card was made just watch the video!

The reminder of the card is just the Find It die cut in white card then cut in half and mounted onto a 6"x6" gatefold card blank.  I added pearls and cut the aperture in the middle of the gatefold card so that the image is visible through the 'window'

I have added below the original card I made with this technique!



Another video next week!

Enjoy...

Christmas Saturday extra...

Happy Saturday,

Join me today at Samuel tailors in Leeds if you around why not pop in and say hi!

I thought I would go for a Christmas weekend theme as I seem to have made so many Cards for the festive season this year!

This is an simple card that could be altered for any season.

I stared by adding silver moon sparkle texture paste through the snowflake mask onto gloss black foundation card.  Next I removed the mask and sprinkled midnight blue and aqua lagoon pixie powders over the top.  Once dry, which takes about an hour, I gently dusted off the excess powder using a soft brush.  The powder only sticks where the texture paste is and because Sparkle Texture paste by Cosmic Shimmer is water based the pixie powders spread through the paste showing all the different colours.

Next I cut the layers in the snowflake filigree frame die form more black gloss card and backed wit with card I had coloured using the same pixie powders.  I added a strip of seam bonding and bow made with white seam ending coloured again with the pixie powder ( I do
like things to match)

I finished with a pearl embellishment form the Craft Consortium always and forever range over the silver 4mm metallic linx pulled out to add some more sparkle  A few layers of cobalt and aqua and finished.

A technique you could use through any mask to change the colour and texture of you Sparkle Texture pastes for any season or occasion!


Enjoy...

for Julia...

Happy Wednesday,

Another sample from the new dies release designed by Sue Wilson for Creative Expressions and I have to admit this is my favourite card so far.  This card was inspired by the fabulous Julia Watts as `i made it whilst watching her on Hochanda.  Julia was demonstrating how to make a background with a border strip and my only thought was how nice the Indian Ocean border would look as a background!  Therefore this is a tribute to julia and all she has taught me!

I will be demonstrating this technique on Hochanda in November when I bring you the bundles of this realise and Im sure this will be one of the first demo's!

I simply cut the border, without the outline cutting die, down a piece of coconut white foundation card.  I then added this to a piece of Iris foundation card covered with a double sided sticky sheet.  I added diamond snow in the gaps to cover the adhesive with a crystal at each junction.  I love the way that when cut this way an art deco flower appears from nowhere.

I cut each of the dies in the maldives die she in white and backed these with the iris and from moon ted them up finishing with a stamped centre with my Birthday Seasons clear stamp set.  I added diamond snow over the sentiment to balance the background.

To highlight the centrepiece I cut the cape daisies each in iris and white, shaped them with my ball tool and offset these to make the flowers.  With the bold scroll I cut these in white and iris using the letterpress technique, with cornflower archival ink, on the deboss section to add some more texture before mounting these around the main element.

A frame made using the double pierced background dies and layers of iris and white to finish.  I loved making this card and am so thankful to Julia for the technique!


Enjoy...

More Shows 2 hour special...

Happy Saturday,

I hope you all managed to catch the launch of the One Day Special last night!  The shows continue today with a special 2 hour show at 11am till 1pm.  The show times are 9am, 12pm, 4pm and Last Chance at 7pm.  The 2 hour shows I have planned to show you loads of techniques using the Perspectives dies, The Pixie Powders, Embossing Folders and all the wonderful Cosmic Shimmer products I have on the show.

I have selected a range of quick Cards I made for the show to highlight some of the techniques and also to use the waste from the die cuts.  As hard as it may be to believe but all these cards are made with the waste pieces from other projects!

Enjoy...

Especially for Sali...

Happy Friday,

Today's card is wasn't made especially for my Friend Sali however as I was making it I just thought wow this is so up Sali's street I hope I'm right!

I stared this one by using a background that I grabbed form my Demo bits box.  I made this one at the NEC using metal tape over the card and embossing it with the Rose Blooms embossing folder.  I then ran over the top with a permanent ink and, after drying,m I gently rubbed with a dry wet wipe to give this antique silver look to the background.  This was such a dramatic look I needed something strong to balance it.  I thought red and black and the brand new Exquisite Poppies die from Sue Wilson for Creative Expressions would be perfect for this.

Therefore the next thing I made up was a spray of the poppies, I cut these with Ruby foundation card and rubbed jet black archival ink, using a mini smoothie, over the edges of the petals to give some depth.  I added centres in black, again cut with fries in the set, and a pearl in the centre. All in all I made up 5 poppies of various sizes using three as the main element and another 2 to the top.  I cut the new Olive Branch foliage in black and arranged the poppies, along with a double sided red satin bow, on top.








I then cut the layers of the Geneva die in red and vintage silver and offset these with a silver frame.  I then cut a panel form the background using the centre outline die from the set and from mounted this above.  I then arranged the poppies and bow etc over this.

I then stamped the sentiment, from my pierced flags clear stamp set onto ruby card and cut it with the matching pierced flags die.  I added layers of the silver and black and positioned this behind the flower spry.

A very dramatic card that I ma sure will split opinion but it doesn't do to have them all looking the same lol!

Enjoy...

Mixed Media...

Happy Saturday,

Well once again this is something very different for me I thought It would be nice to show the different stages of making the mixed media piece I made last Sunday on Hochanda.  I have also added some shots at the end of the other pieces I made on the show ( as I did promise I would show these when on air)  I know quite a few of you couldn't watch the show however as I'm sure you have heard by now Hochanda is retiring to Freeview early on the 3rd May.  The heat thing for me is that I have the first show as I am launching the One Day Special the evening before which means that I will be doing the 9am show for the return!

The show where I demoed this is still available to watch on catch up simple click HERE to see the show

Start by painting a stretched canvas with Black Gesso all over.  next Place the mask chose, I have used the That Special Touch flower bed mask here, on the edge and spread clear texture paste through this to make the pattern.  Repeat this until the whole edge of the canvas is cited.  next simply add large glass microbeads over the texture paste, they will only stick where there is texture paste meaning that when dry all you will see is the pattern marked out in glass beads.

Next Add the mask back over the dry area and colour the centres using Marigold Cosmic Shimmer metals lustre paint.  next remove the mask and using 2 further shades of the paint ( I used Blue Topaz and Peacock feathers) paint freehand over the flowers tomato then look shiny and metallic.

Next Add a select n of mixed media or found pieces, I used ribbon roses, lace, metal corners and metal watch face embellishments ( all from Creative Expressions)  Next cover everything with a coat of the black gesso and either leave to dry or dry with your heat gun!

Finally once dry, add layers of the metallic lustre paints at random until you achieve the look you want.  For the side of the canvas I simply brushed various colours of the paints from the centre out finishing with a thin smoothing layer of the Chocolate Gold.

Some thing different and if this is your thing its worth watching the show on catch up while you can.  remember all Hochanda shows are available for a week on catch up!

Enjoy...

Justrite mark 2...

Happy Thursday,

another sneak peak today this time of the justrite wild roses clear stamp set and matching die set.  I have used just 1 stamps set ( and a sentiment) and one die in  this card, can you believe it one die!

I stamped the first section of the rose using warm honey distress ink using a smoothie to apply the ink to the stamp ( Thanx for the great tip Julia!)  next I stamped the detail using the next stamp in the set using ripe persimmon and simply cut them out using the matching die.  I did the same with the leaves using old paper and crushed olive DI and cut these out.

This is a planned demo fir the shows on Sunday and Monday so I will go through all the techniques and the background on the show,  Remember that all Hochanda shows are now available on Catch up so you don't need to watch it live!

Enjoy...

A close shave?...

Happy Wednesday,




Today's card is anther using the new stamps to die for and the shaving foam technique which quite a few of my blog family asked to see in close up!

For more details on the shaving foam technique then click HERE for a pictorial tutorial on Sue Wilson's Particraft blog.  For this project I used the garden meadow set of Acrylic Drawing inks, using these you get a softer colour look and the shaving foam does not get muddy as it can with alcohol ink.

For the stamped element I used the Heritage Flourish stamp to die for from the new range.  I stamped this in black archival ink then heat embossed it with clear detail embossing powder.  I cut this out with the matching Hamilton die designed by Sue Wilson for Creative Expressions.

Next I cut another of the Hamilton dies in black card, cut this in 2, and mounted this behind the stamped image to give a shadow.

Finally I inked the trailing Ivy die with a brayer and archival jet black ink to make a letter pressed die cut of the ivy. I cut this out and added it around the main image along with a bow made of black and jute twine finished with a small black dazzler.

Ingredients:
Card Size: 21 x21 cm
Colours: Coconut White, black foundation card, chrome gloss card
Stamps: Heritage Flourish Stamp to Die For
Dies: Hamilton
Embossing:None
Inks: Jet Black archival ink, 
Embellishments: Black and Jute twine

Enjoy...

Shaded pansies...

Happy Monday,

I have had a few questions about The Creative ExpressionsBearded Pansy die designed by Sue Wilson and how to use it.  I was asked a few times at my demo at the Newbury paper show on Saturday so I made these flowers to demonstrate how they can look.  I thought it would be nice to work these into a card and so this is what I came up with.

I stated by using Indigo Mist and Lilac Whisper colour cloud to make a Bokah background using the mini smoothies to make circles of the colours over a piece of white card.  Next I placed the outline die over this piece and taped them down to places where the colours seemed to fit.  After cutting I cut the outline and the detail, die from Coconut White foundation card and shaded through the dies using the same 2 colours to give the effect of the shaded petals as shown.  Next I simply glued these together to give the white outlines and the shade petals.

I then stamped the orange blossom leaves stamps to die for in indigo mist colour cloud and cut them out with the matching die.  I then shaded the foliage with the lilac whisper colour cloud then shaped the leaves.

To make up the card  I cut the background die from the Cathedral background die and cut this in the middle.  I then adhered each piece to a square of wisteria foundation card to make a square.  I stamped the sentiment from my Mondays child clear stamp set, in blue violet archival ink onto coconut white card.  I cut this out using the decorative frames form the Italian collection.  I shaded through the die, and round the sentiment, using more of the lilac whisper and mounted this onto a circle of wisteria card.  I then arranged the pansies around the bottom left of this frame adding the foliage which I had cut into sprigs so that I could tuck these between the flowers.

I made up the card using wisteria and coconut white card using the double pierced squares.  I embossed the back panel, whilst in the die, with the leafy quad embossing folder and added pearl moon gilding wax to add some shine.


Ingredients:
Card Size: 21 x 21 cm
Colours: Coconut White, Wisteria Foundation card
Dies: Italian decorative Frames, Bearded Pansies, Orange Blossom,  Leaves, Cathedral Background, Double Pierced Squares
Stamps: JL Mondays Child
Embossing: Leafy Quad
Inks: CS Colour Cloud blending Ink - Lilac Whisper & Indigo Mist, Blue Violet Archival Ink.


Enjoy...

Masks on Monday...

Happy Monday,

I hope you all enjoyed the Takeover at the weekend on Hochanda I know we did!  Here is a close up of the card I made up from the piece I made on my Mask show yesterday with my New* technique.  I say now as I haven't seen anyone do this before so its new to me lol.

I think it looks like enamel or Chinese cloisonne well that's what I thought of when this experiment came out like this.  I stated by using the A4 leaves mask over a sheet of CE heat restitent acetate and spread Copper Kettle texture paste through this to cover the area.  I left this to dry overnight however it should be dry in an hour or two.  Next I covered the uncovered area with Gold pearl texture paste using a smoothie.  This gives a cloudy effect to the background and you can use different colours together to create more effects!


I mounted this over a piece of milk card then added frame cut in Milk using Sue's double pierced rectangles for Creative Expressions.  This neatens the edges and frames the piece like a screen.

Next I added this to layers of ginger and milk adding the largest pierced rectangle toggle a faux pierced layer.

To finish I made up an orange blossom flowers using the 2 largest dies in the set and one of the matching leaves.  I coloured the edges of these with Natural Rosewood colour cloud and added a messy bow made from London Tan seam binding

Ingredients:
Card Size: 16 x 21 cm
Colours: Milk & Ginger foundations card
Dies: Orange blossom complete petals & matching foliage
Cosmic Shimmer: Copper Kettle & Royal Gold texture paste
Mask: A4 autumn Leaves
Inks: Natural Rosewood Colour Cloud



I have added a close up of the texture paste background below!

Enjoy...

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

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...

You are gold...

Happy Tuesday,

Ive been playing around with stamping with gilding flakes for my shows on Hochanda next week and thought you might like to see these two christmas cards I made using my christmas stamps that somehow slipped through the net and haven't had their day on the blog.  Ive always been intimidated by stamping with gilding flakes so I have been trying to work out some simple rules to make it easy for me that I can pass on.  I will be going through the technique next Tuesday on air but thought you would like to see these early attempts!

Both cards were stamped with fake and glitter glue from cosmic shimmer before being gilded with Egyptian gold gilding flakes.  The first is simply stamped onto black foundation card then added to a background made by grouting the contemporary poinsettia embossing folder with gold sparkle texture paste.

I added a flower made with the classic poinsettia die form Sue Wilson for `Creative Expressions which I sprayed with glue and covered with diamond sprinkles after gilding.

The second card is made by stamping gild onto vintage gold foundation card ( thank to Mrs Duck for the idea!)

Bothe are made using my clear stamp set Partridge in a pear tree.

Enjoy...