Nautical but Nice!

Another day, another card...hope this one makes you think of holidays to warmer places!

I love to make my own backgrounds instead of using patterned paper, at least that way it saves time on trying to colour match!  The other problem with paper is that I never want to use it...just sit and stroke it (or is that just me!)

The background for this card is a collage of different stamps from one of the Nautical sets from Creative Expressions.  I've also used a large dot background stamp.  The edges have been distressed and heat embossed with gold Cosmic Shimmer.

For the main image of the ship, to make it stand out more from the background, I've painted over it with Ranger Rock Candy Crackle Paint.

I love the message, Confucus knew a thing or two!

I'm not giving too much away with the full techniques as this is a project from a forthcoming workshop at Martells!  Don't forget the demo on April 3rd if you can make it.

I'm trying to put together some candy to celebrate the fact I've finally got around to re-starting the blog so please keep your eyes open for that.

Have a very Happy Easter Sunday...hope you remembered to put your clocks forward!

We're off to a boot fair..if I can get anyone else out of bed..wish me luck!



While it's Cold!

Thought I'd post a Christmas card I've designed for the September workshop at Martells!  I know, it's Easter, but while the weather is so chilly it almost seams right for an Easter card this year!

 

I've used Studio 490 stamps for the message and red stamped background.

In the set is the most gorgeous swirl which I stamped 4 times in Crimson Archival ink.

Before that, I used the Micro Dot mask to emboss the white card in the Grand Calibur and inked the edge with Peeled Paint Distress Ink.

The holly leaves are also in the same set of stamps but much bigger!  I thought I'd get out my Shrink Plastic for these...it's been on the shelf for ages.  After stamping, I coloured them with Promarkers, then heat shrank them.  Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue works a treat for gluing them into place.

The matt for the message was cut with Spellbinder dies.

I stamped the message onto the white card before cutting it and covered it with double sided adhesive.  After it had been cut, I covered it with Micro Beads.  You can just about see the sparkle.

I may have got a new camera but the photography hasn't improved!

Well, that's it for today,  Hope you're all having a good Easter Break and relaxing.

Should be back tomorrow but we're planning on going to a Boot Fair...I want to buy some bits to "alter!"

Happy Easter to all.

Another Quick Card

Happy Easter everyone, hope you all have a great weekend with lots of time for crafting.

I thought that I would show you another very simple card that will be taught in one of my upcoming workshops at Martells.

 

First of all, I cut a matt from some Fancy Pants paper then a smaller one from Coconut white card.  The white card was put over a mask and embossed in the Grand Calibur.

I cut the flowers in the same paper using the Bitty Blossoms Spellbinder Dies and a couple of leaves from a Foliage set.  The tag was cut from another Spellbinder set..

The next step was to make the flowers up which couldn't be easier using these dies.  I do get asked quite often how to roll them and the answer is to start from the outside and roll in towards the centre.  I always use a glue dot to hold them in place but Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue is brilliant for it as well.

I stamped a message from a Sam Poole set of stamps...I think it was the "Art Sayings" set.  If you haven't got this set yet I'd advise you to get hold of it.  There are so many useful phrases in it.  I know that Martells in Cliftonville stock this set of stamps (as well as lots of other Creative Expressions goodies!).  You can also see the set on the Creative Expressions website.

The next step was to thread the ribbon through the tag and stick it onto the card.  The flowers and leaves were the next to be added.

Once the card was put together, I applied Cosmic Shimmer Gold glue to form faux pearls in the embossed flower background. 

It really is an easy card to make and I hope that the bright colour makes you all feel as though Spring can't be far away!

Hope that some of you can make it to the demo on Wednesday...it would be great to see some friendly faces!  There will be lots of Distress, masks, emboss folders, paint and mess!!

Hope to be back tomorrow with another card.  Sorry the details are a bit sketchy on some of these but I don't want to give the whole game away before I run the workshops!!

Thanks for visiting and I do love to read any comments that are left for me.

Something Different

Today, I thought I'd show you something a bit different.

It's a door hanger that was one of my workshop projects last year.

I painted the hanger with gesso then sprayed it with Adirondack ink.  I masked out the word ART then sprayed again with a different colour.

The stamps used were designed by Sam Poole for Creative Expressions and they were stamped with Black Archival Ink.

I used Glossy Accents to highlight the word ART.

The rosette was made with a Tim Holtz die and the embellishments are also from the Tim Holtz range.

I usually stick to card making and scrapbooking so it was great to try something well out of my comfort zone!

I'd also had the Adirondack spray inks on my shelf since Noah was a boy and rainbows were black and white!

 

Thank you to everyone who stopped by yesterday and left such great comments, they were all much appreciated.

I'm still getting around all the desks on WOYWW..if you've never taken part it's great fun, especially if you're nosey I mean inquisitive!

Fantastic shows lined up on C&C next week...just seen that Hels will be using the Melt Pot...must dust mine off ready for some inspiration!

Hope to have a new project to show you tomorrow.

Take care and keep warm.

 

Woyww

WOYWW

 

Well, good morning all.  This is the mess that is my workshop desk today!

 

Believe it or not, I'm prepping a workshop for Christmas Cards...thought it might be difficult this time of year but with all the pictures of snow I keep seeing, it's not too bad!  The workshop isn't taking place until November for the Xmas projects but this year my resolution is to be MUCH better organised!

 

 

This is a card I designed for a workshop taking place in July this year.  I thought I'd include it today for Hels challenge of stamped and shiny!

I've stamped Studio 490 flowers onto vellum and embossed with True White.

The background is silver card, painted with black Eco Green acrylic paint then put through the Grand Calibur with the Creative Expressions Bark embossing folder.  The paint was sanded off to reveal the silver underneath.

The message is from the same set of stamps as the flowers and I've stamped it onto a Spellbinder Fancy Tag die.

I've also stamped the butterflies onto vellum, cut them out and layered them.

Just a few gems, hat pins, a piece of black seam binding and a Dazzler and voila...it's done!

All of the items used are from Creative Expressions.

Hope you all like it...makes the mess on the desk worthwhile when I finally see the finished results.  Hopefully I'll have the "work in progress" in the top picture finished today.

Don't forget the demo at Martells on April 3rd.  I'll also be doing a demo at Ally Pally on Saturday 13th April so hope to see some of you there.

Thank you for visiting and leaving any comments. 

Simples!

 

Lace work style card

 



This is such a nice quick card to make and looks so effective when it's finished.

 

I've used a Spellbinder die for the pinwheel in the centre.  Firstly, cut a square of card to the right size then cover it with a double sided adhesive sheet.  Run it through the Grand Calibur with the die.  Remove the die and covering from the adhesive sheet and dip it into a container of Micro Beads.  Make sure that you press the Micro Beads firmly into place.

 

The next step was to run the white card through the Grand Calibur with a mask for an embossed look.

 

I cut out 4 corners with a Spellbinder die and glued them onto the main card before matting and layering.

 

The final touch was a Black Dazzler for the centre.

 

This is one of the cards we'll be making at a forthcoming workshop at Martell Press.

 

All of the products mentioned are from Creative Expressions and if you go to their website you can find a list of local retailers.

 

Hope you all managed to see Dee yesterday on Create and Craft...she had some great ideas for using gilding flakes which I can't wait to try.

 

I'm really looking forward to the demo at Martell Press on 3rd April and hope to see some of you there.

 

Until next time, hope you all stay warm and safe in this crazy weather we're having!

Another Workshop Card

Another Workshop Card

 

Thought for today's post I'd show another card I designed for the Kettering workshops last October.  It uses the Fabulous Forms set of stamps from Creative Expressions.

 

I stamped the words "Tres Chic" randomly on Coconut White cardstock with Perfect Medium then heat embossed with clear powder to create a resist.  The Distress Inks (Broken China, Faded Jeans and Dusty Concord) were smooshed around and blended together.  It's not very clear on the photo but the centre dressform has been stamped twice and one has been cut out and decoupaged onto the other (apart from the stand...why make life difficult!!)

The dies for the message are Spellbinders and the hat pins and ribbon are both from Creative Expressions.

 

Did you all see Sue and Julia's fab Spellbinder shows on Create and Craft?  Also Sam Poole's stamping show.  Today there's a show with Dee at 9am so I'll be sitting down with a mug of tea and notebook for that one!  I love it when those girls are on, I learn so much...not forgetting Hels of course.  Can't wait for Ally Pally and a chance to catch up with them all.  Just sorry that I can't be there on the Sunday as well but we have to get to Southampton to pick up the Saga Sapphire for a cruise (work!) to Venice and Croatia.  I'll miss doing the demos this time but I'll be doing them in September for Sue and also the Kettering Show in October.

 

Well, that's todays post done.  Off to the studio to sort out some bits to demo at Martell Press on 3rd April.  Hopefully be back tomorrow with a new card to share.

Thanks for looking and leaving comments, they are much appreciated.







Blog Up and Running Again

Workshop Card

 

Well, it's been a long time since I had a blog so I thought I'd better get going and start again!

 

I haven't been lazy though...I've been working on lots of new designs as well as teaching on cruise ships.

 

I was lucky enough to be asked to teach on the 6 week Marco Polo Amazon cruise in January and had a fab time, especially as the brilliant Michelle Mogford-Jackson was also on board teaching scrapbooking.

 

The card I've chosen for today's post was one that I designed for a workshop that Sue Wilson asked me to teach at the Kettering show last October and features stamps designed by Sam Poole.

I've used some of my favourite things...Distress Inks, embossing, pearl swirls and black seam binding (all available from Creative Expressions)

If anyone would like a full run down on how it was made, leave a post and I'll get the instructions on here.

 

Now, I'm not promising that I'll post every day but I will try to be a fairly regular contributor to blogland.  I'll be away again (on a ship) from April 14th - May 6th so there will be the odd absence!  The Big Stamping and Scrapbooking Show is coming up very soon and I'll be there on Saturday working on Sue's Rubbernecker stand so it'd be great if anyone stopped to say hello.

 

I'm also doing an afternoon demo at Martell Press, 205 Northdown Rd, Cliftonville, Margate on April 3rd from 3-6pm.  Everyone is welcome and there'll be loads of techniques to show you.

 

Anyway, this is just a quick opening post.  I'll be back soon with lots more cards and techniques.

 

See you soon!