Workshop News...

Happy Friday,

Im really sorry I haven't been able to post details of the Northern England workshops before today but we wanted to give those who attended and booked earlier in the year chance to confirm their bookings.  Thats does so now I can share the details.  Please see the poster below for details there are 2 days one standard workshop and one Techniques day.

Back to today and I thought I would share a few of the different techniques I showed on the Hochanda show over the next couple of days.

This first card is made by using the square media plate.  I stared by adding dawn and ultramarine izink ink over the media plate ( I have had a lot of questions about what inks I use I use Dye based inks which are fast trying and intense in colour I have found that Distress Ink works but gives a different level of paternation and is a lot softer)  I then added the argyle mask over the top and ran a brayer over the top.  I then added a little night ink to the brayer and ran this over to add a different colour to the plate.  I then stamped this onto the card using the press to impress stamp press.  Next I used the solid leaf stamp and the night izink ink pad and stamped over the media plate.  I stamped this then added black versafine all around the edge of the media plate and again stamped the image.

Finally I stamped the black tree over the top ( again using the stamp press) and cut this out matting it onto a pice of blue card.  For the body of the card I used a piece of card I had cleaned my brayer on for the misty background and added the pieces, with matts, to a white card blank.


Here are the details of the northern workshops!

again please contact lockerscrafts@gmail and Mrs D will send you any details and take bookings.

Enjoy...

Christmas tree...

Happy (real) Sunday,

Sorry for the mistake in the day yesterday as I am sure you can all imagine I am rather tired after everything this week!  I do have to say a big thank you again to everyone who has helped and supported me through the launch with a special mention to everyone who came to Inspirations in Preston on Thursday and Friday to see the first live demo of John Next Door!

A couple of bits of news today so don't forget to scroll down to the bottom of todays post to see info on a special Workshop!  I thought today I would share a card made with my products and other Crafts Too products.






I started this card at the demo on Friday with a mixture of my Winter Trees stamps and the Magic Stamp.

I stared by heating a cut down rectangular magic stamp which I then pushed into the christmas style tree from the winter trees set.  This creates a negative stamp of the image.  I inked this with ultramarine and the ocean izink die ink pads and stamped it in the centre of a pice of card.  This leaves a perfect white tree against the shaded background.  Next I positioned the actual tree stamp in the white space and using the Press to Impress stamp platform I stamped the tree in black exactly in the middle ( This is almost impossible for me with a stamp block as I always got outside the line!

The background is a piece from something I am trying so its a bit of a sneak peak!




















Now onto the news Mrs Duck and I will be holding a workshop all details below.  I keep getting g asked if I do workshops that aren't in a specific shop so we thought we would create one!  This is the first one so spaces are listed and it even includes lunch!

There will also be a pop up shop selling my latest ranges and other selected products!


Enjoy...

Christmas Workshop...

Happy Wednesday,

I am taking my first christmas Card workshop today at Crafty Corner in Breedon Priory.  I thought I would share the cards we are making.  These are the Cards I have specially made for the workshop and also for the demo days I have coming up ( the first day at Inspirations in Preston on the 20th July wile on these Creative Expressions christmas dies).















Both acrd are made using the same snowflake and edger die form the new Christmas Collection.

Another day and Another picture of sam this time with added hints lol!


Enjoy...

It's a Box...

Happy Monday,

I hope you all enjoyed the brief sojourn into Christmas 2017 over the weekend.  Today I'm sharing a box that is the workshop for next Sunday at Craft Locker in Poole.  I am there all weekend with 4 technique workshops on the Saturday and this box as a longer workshop making this box on Sunday Morning.

This is made using the Prism striplet from Creative Expressions and the orange blossom flowers and leaves along with matching stamps!

I love making Hexagon boxes and find them really fun as they only use one sheet of A4 card.

I will share the template next week however there is an earlier version on my Facebook which you can download.

Enjoy...

Christmas Friday...

Happy Friday,

Today I am workshopping and demoing at Daisy Jewels and crafts in Coventry and this is the card We will be making.  Therefore I thought it would make a perfect Christmas Friday.

This is a another card made using the fab pixie Powders this time in midnight blue, Peacock and white pearl.  Im hoping the ladies will be adventurous in their colour choices I can't wait to see them made in lots of different mixes!

The card uses the Poinsettia mini background, poinsettia additions set and the new star merry christmas dies.

I embossed the background in velum using the snow flurry 8x8 embossing folder.

a few more pics as I don't want to give all the instruction for a workshop card lol

Enjoy...

Workshop Sunday...

Happy Sunday,

I'm still here in sunny Norwich at sew simple today we are doing a workshop of die cutting and Pixie Powders. I thought I would show a card I made just using the Belgian background and Peacock green and midnight blue oasis powders.  I love the simplicity of this card and the colours and shine you get from the Pixie Powders!

I have added a few pictures of this one as its so simple there isn't really need for instructions ( or am i being lazy as its getting late and I'm on hotel WiFi? lol

enjoy...

Woven Purple?!?...

Happy Tuesday,

heres another card from the POD shows and I don't think this one even made it to your screens as it was on a shelf in the background of the set.

I know I have made a load of cards with the weaving dies but I just loved playing with them to see what different weaves I could come up with and what colours would work!  A dark shade for me however i really think it works somehow in this rich purple colour!

I started by making a hinged card using the outside die from the classic adorned rectangle die set from Sue Wilson.  I then used the deboss (you may have noticed last week that spell check wants to change deboss to debs!) and letterpresses the front of the card using seedless preserve distress ink which just frames the weaving beautifully (IMHO) lol

To make the centre panel I wove together the pieces from the striped weaving die set which I cut so that there are 2 strips together with an aperture in the centre.

The centrepiece is made form more of the lilac, Mauve and coconut white foundation card layered up after being cut with the outline dies form the Greek Island collection (the great thing about this collection as with all of them the outline dies match to give different layers.

Ingredients:
card Size A5
Creative Expressions Craft Dies by Sue Wilson
Classic Adorned Rectangle noble die
Striped weaving die
Greek Island collection 


Tag Team Crafting!

Julia Watts and I are planning some tag team crafting events where we hand off to each other.  The first one is on the 28th May at CE Towers in `Kettering, I am doing the morning workshop with this card with Julia picking up the afternoon with this card:-

 If you are interested in either or both of these workshops then please Email Tracey@creative-expressions.uk.com for details.  We have also agreed to do some workshops in Loughborough (near Leicester) at Thats Really Crafty in July and August with new projects and cards, details to follow!

Enjoy...

Its all done...

Happy Sunday,

Well the shows are finished and I would just like to say I loved doing them.  I was nervous I think its because this was the first time I showed my designs!  Thank you all so much for the wonderful reception, the emails, comments and support I received form you all.  I'm glad you all liked the striplet dies, I had to leave something in reserve lol

Back to today and I thought it would be good to show the cards made by the ladies who attended my workshop in kettering on Thursday.  I gave them all the option of making the same card however they had a choice of Mica colours to play with so everyones cards were different.  The first card is the example I made that we were using as the basis for the card.  I made mine using 2 colours of mica.  The pack I made for the ladies contained all the card needed for this card cut to the correct sizes ready for die cutting and matting a layering however the colour choice was up to them.

here is what they came up with...

Above is the selection of all the cards made, as you can see these cover the whole spectrum of colours.

The next shots are close ups of the individiual cards as you can see they all used the elements in different ways.  Brilliant aren't they?!?

The next workshop I am holding at cReative Expressions is on St Georges day the 23rd April. This will be a die cutting technique workshop where you can attend for either half or a full day!  The full day will make 5 projects A kinetic Card, A kinetic or lidded box and tag, a notelette set and a classic card.


Pictures and detail will follow next week!

Happy Sunday I am having a day off relaxing!

Enjoy...

New Sue Time for two!

Happy Thursday,

I hope you have all been enjoying the new die launch over on Sue Wilson's blog Particraft, I know I am click HERE if you haven't seen the wonderful new range!  To celebrate the launch I have a twofer for you today and these are my workshop cards for February at CE towers in Kettering. If you fancy joining me for either of these makes, or for the whole day on the 26th Feb just email Tracey on Tracey@creative-expressions.uk.com for details!  those who choose to stay for the whole day will get a bonus make during lunchtime using a range of stamps that are very close to my heart wink!

This first card using the stunning new Noble die range which makes perfect frames as well as contain all the stunning filigree detail we have come to love from the Creative Expressions craft die range.  Here I have used the die to make a full hinged card adding layers form the other pieces in the set on Coconut white card with mica used with double sided adhesive sheets.  The sentiment just had to be on my first project using the dies and come from the new expressions range, as I finish my blog post with Enjoy every day how could I not love this one!









The second card uses another of the new expressions dies as its focus.  This love die comes with the separate Heart outline which makes it so flexible!  here I have teamed it with Blsuh and sand foundation card for this valentines, wedding or anniversary card hopefully you will find this design as flexible as I do!

A very soft palette of colours for me but it is spring allegedly! lol


Enjoy...

Monday Card Giveaway...

Happy Monday,

Well its time for another giveaway and I thought one of you might like a card made with the current release of dies from Creative Expressions designed by Sue Wilson.

This card is again based on my favourite shades of blue and white, i just feel this combination is so classic!

I started by die cutting the 2 centre dies from the Oslo die set in coconut white card.  I then cut each of the other dies, using the matching frame die for the centre, alternating the colours.  I then stacked the layers together using foam tape and cut each subsequent layer with a wider border.

To add the sentiment I hand cut a banner in the blue and stamped the sentiment in black archival.  Next I die cut the largest flower form the camilla closed petal set in blue and added the open petal on top cut in white.  I simply glued the edge of the banner behind the card through the aperture and twisted it onto the front.  Finally I added the flower, with a pearl centre, for balance.

Ingredients:
Creative Expressions dies for Sue Wilson
Scandinavian - Olso
Camila Open & Closed petal sets
CE Sentiment stamp



To win this card just leave a comment and I will choose a winner.

Demo day!  - On saturday I will be demoing all day for Creative Expressions at Hi-Legj Garden Centre craft shop in Knutsford.  If you are around that area or fancy a visit pop in and say hello!  Click HERE for details on the venue

Enjoy...

Workshop Mark 2...

Happy Thursday,

I thought today, although it seems a little early, I would share details of the projects for my January Workshop at Creative Expressions Head Office at Kettering.  I have received a lot of emails asking about workshops so I thought I would give as much notice as possible to those interested.  These are all based on the Latest Craft die release from Creative Expressions designed by Sue Wilson.  I have designed these projects to show a range of techniques split between 2 workshops (morning and afternoon) and there is even a bonus project for those who attend all day!

The blue card opposite is the afternoon workshop and uses the Striplet, Foliage and Camilla dies along with Gilding, embossing and other die cutting techniques.

The pictures do not do this project justice as the embossed backing piece is made with Silver Gilding Flakes and positively shines!


The Morning project is the card below using the New York collection of dies and several different techniques.

Each workshop is designed to show how to look at your dies differently by extending or cutting and stacking your dies.


For more details on the workshops or to book a place please contact Tracey at Creative expressions Tracey@creative-expressions.uk.com or email me for further details.


Enjoy...

Postscript I am also talking to Mrs B about doing these workshops in the Swindon / Oxford area in the new year so keep an eye out if that is a better location

New Workshop...

Happy Friday,

Thanx for the supportive comments yesterday the day, my first public workshop, went great I really loved doing it and hopefully the girls who attended enjoyed it too!  I have to say we were chatting away so much that the 2 hour session became nearly three! lol

Today's card is the First of my next Workshops as well as being the card I am demoing at Daisies For more details on the worship and demo's on Saturday click HERE. The next workshop day at CE towers will be on Thursday the 27th January and is part of a series of three during the day.  The full details along with the other 2 projects will be sent out by email form CE Towers later next week however I thought you might enjoy a sneak peak of the first.  To receive the details of Mine and the other talented people that hold workshops with Creative Expressions simply email Tracey@creative-expressions.uk.com and ask to be added to the mailing list.  If the current locations are too far then email me and I will see what I can do!
Jewels and Crafts on Saturday.

As today's card is a workshop card there is just a list of ingredients I'm afraid!

Ingredients:
Sue Wilson's Dies
New York Herald Square
Scandinavian Collection Background
Stamps to die for Delicate Deco 
Creative Expressions A4 Embossing Folder Knotted Trellis
Cosmic Shimmer Products - all Graceful Mint by Phil Martin
PVA Pearl Glue
Gilding Wax
Ink Mist
Detail White Embossing Powder.


Also could I please ask that if you have any specific questions for me that you email me either using the email me link above or on Lockers@love.co.uk  I am rarely able to respond to questions asked in comments and I hate to not be able to answer!

Enjoy...