The feedback from the launch of my John Next Door brand has been so positive I would like to thank my Blog family for the support and (vital) feedback! I am sharing a card today made with a combination of the Autumn flowers stamps and the Argyle stencil / mask. I will be demonstrating this technique on Hochanda tomorrow at either 10am or 2pm but there is also a You tube video awaiting upload for this one as well.
This is a simple technique however it does relay on having a stamp press to make it work as the stamp and paper both need to stay in the same place for a few different layers of the stamping!
I stared by using my Duo mask Argyle on a piece of white card and shaded through this using a warm red and a honey die based Izink ink pad and blaending tool. Next add the stamps one the top with the mask still in place, ink up the stamp with black ink and stamp.
I then open the press and add in a scrap of paper and stamp the image again onto the new piece if card. this gives the shaded stamped image as seen on this card which is made form the piece form the main card ( hope this makes sense I have a video on this technique and will demo this on Hochanda tomorrow at 10am)
Finally I ink the stamp, after removing the spare piece, in red and stamp this onto the main piece. This gives the shaded look to the stamped image above with different areas being in either black or the red.
I made this up into the card as shown adding a layer of brown and a matching ribbon.
All the products used for this card and technique will be available on the Brand launch tomorrow at 10am on Hochanda ( freeview 85, sky 663 and online)
Firstly I would like to thank all my wonderful Blog family for the fantastic comments and reception of my new brand! Its been truly overwhelming If you have emailed me I will reply however I am struggling through them all at the moment I will get to you as soon as I can promise!
I thought I should start sharing some of the techniques that are possible with my new Media Plates and stamps so I thought I woulds share this Christmas card that looks complex but is really simple to produce! The technique used is with the oval media plate and the resist technique ( there is a you tube video for this however I am waiting for it to upload!)
I stared by adding the inks to the media plate in the press to impress stamp tool. I then went over this with a brayer to soften the colours ( all of this is explained in the youtube video for basic techniques available HERE ) Next I used the snowflake stamp from the Winter Trees set and inked it with perfect medium then I stamped this first onto the media plate to remove the ink and secondly onto the card to stamp the coloured snowflakes. Using this technique i removed the ink form the plate and was able to stamp multicoloured snowflakes around the card.
I then stamped the media plate onto the card ( by closing the lid of the press to impress) I added the tree stamp onto the lid and stamped this followed by the pot.
Finally I added more of the snowflakes and the sentiment. A mat of blue card and just add this to an 8x8" card blank and finished.
A card that looks like it takes hours of shading, an oval reverse snowflake stamp and lots of hard work. However with the stamp press and the media plate it takes 5 minutes!
Dont forget if you want a sneak peak of the orange before Tuesday's Hochanda shows then I will be at Crafting Live in Doncaster all day!
I really hope you have all enjoyed the countdown and all the rumours I have to say I have! The day is here so it's time to share my new Direction. As of Today I am launching my own brand and ranges under the title of John Next Door! The range is in collaboration with Crafts Too which is a fantastic Family Owned Craft brand and Distributor. Their range covers all areas of the Craft world from Dies and stamps to Tools paper and everything any crafter ( like me) would drool over.
The Brand - The John Next Door brand is designed by me and will encompass all areas of the crafting world in fact the tag line is For The Makers. I know that a lot of my Blog Family, like me, move between crafts and love trying something new. This moves us from being paper crafters to more of makers with fabric, home decor baking and all aspects of the hand made world being things we love and do. Therefore the brand will have new ranges every month based on existing and new areas of Craft.
There is no schedule of new stamps every month or set ranges I have taken a far more eclectic look at the range and it will change based on techniques and projects I am loving! The First release is below with the launch of the New Media Plates, stamps and stencils / masks. We have been working very hard to create a new system that is easy to use with new techniques that is easy ( just my cup of tea!)
The first range will launch on Hochanda TV on Tuesday 18th July ( next Tuesday) at 10am with a further show at 2pm I do hope you can tune in to see the launch and hopefully learn some new ideas and techniques designed to take our skill levels somewhere new!
Some of the range will be available on the Art of Craft stand today and tomorrow at Crafting Live in Doncaster so those going will be able to see the range in use first. failing that the Full range will launch on Tuesday on Hochanda!
Over the next few months I have Embossing folders, fabric crafts with Stencils, Dies, stamps and so much more ready to go! We have also been working with a company in France to deliver a fantastic range of Inks, paints, pastes and other products which have amazing attributes and are fantastic value ( always important to me)
I hope you will all enjoy this new direction for my Crafting Journey and love the John Next Door brand as much as I do! To get you stared here is the first New youtube video featuring how to use the Media Plates that everyone has been asking about!
Well with one day to go there are an awful lots of rumours going round about what my Sam Jelly baby is talking about. From what I've seen on Facebook the cat is out of the bag about some of it but not everything! lol
I thought today I would post a dramatic card ( well that's how it appeared to me) as if there isn't enough drama about! I stared by making the outer frame from the press cut woodland scene ( really a true favourite) into a square the great thing is the die cuts in the centre and just slots together to make the square.
Next I used the scene section of the die cut in black gloss card and used the Fire and Ice technique with gilding flakes on the back and iced snow on the front to add a little more glam to the card. I added this to a larger set of black white and silver mats and layers to make the piece more dramatic.
The flowers are the orange blossom flowers and leaves cut form embossed and glitter kissed paper. I added more of the gold glitter kiss to the flowers and leaves after shaping them. I added 5mm stick on pearls in the centres of the flowers and added more of the pearls in the corners for balance.
I love the finished look of this card especially as whilst making it I thought id gone too far in mixing the colours and shine!
Here's Sam for the final day and a little more of a reveal!
Today's card is made with the same find it die as Tuesday however this time I have used the die to make a inverted card where the design works into the card. I stared by cutting a square of gold stardust card. I the cut the largest die in the set along with the other shoe die into this. I added velum in the centre and the cut the detail die which I added over the velum so that cut appears floating with the lilac softer in the background.
Next I cut the centre out using the inner die and added stamped panel of the lilac behind. To accent the design I added some pearl corners. I added mats of the lilac and gold dust and then a panel of embossed card (using the twinkle stars A4 embossing folder)
Finally I added the messy bow of silk white a thin lilac ribbon and a craft consortium metal heart charm.
Here's Sam the jelly baby to count down again. Thought I would share a little clue today the C in his tummy is a copyright symbol!!!
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!
Today I am sharing a card made with a new range of dies I have found form Find It Media (from Holland) I saw these dies at the Newbury craft show on Saturday and I had to add a few to my basket!
Today I have made this buckle style card using the Round Flower Frame however I only used a couple of dies in the set so there are more cards coming with this die!.
I cut the 2 outline dies three times in teal card then added the central section cut in ivory. I arranged these in a buckle formation over a piece of embossed ivory card ( embossed with the Twinkle Stars embossing folder) I shaded the edges with a new Ocean coloured die ink ( more news of that to follow later in the week!)
I threaded a lace ribbon through the buckles and added a spray of leaves shaded in the same ink.
I stamped the sentiment ( again with the ocean ink) onto the piece that falls from the centre punching a hole to make this into a tag.
A few layers of teal and ivory and a classic card is completed.
It seems that everyone really liked my Jelly baby ( I've named him sam) so I thought i'd share another image below!
Enjoy...
it looks like he's counting down to something doesn't it?!? x
