Finally, I'm back!

Good Morning All and a very Happy Thursday!

Firstly, I'd like to apologise for my very long absence.  When we got back from our travels, the computer decided to pack up.  Our very nice computer engineer took it away, took it apart and deduced that the mother board had failed.  After a lot of work. he was able to retrieve all of the data from the hard drive and re-install it onto a new computer.  Anyway, enough of my woes...all is now well!

So without further ado. let's get started on a project....

Start by covering a piece of Craft Consortium paper from the Bloom Beautiful Collection with double sided adhesive.
Die cut using the outer solid frame from Frames and Tags-Tessa Die set.
Remove the backing and cover with Cosmic Shimmer Diamond Snow.

Cut a rectangle of Coconut White Card and draw wavy lines around the edges with a fine line pen.  Emboss using the A4 Art Deco Fanfare Folder.
Matt and layer onto Sky Blue Foundations Card.

Die cut the Ornate Frame from the same die set as before.  Glue over the patterned paper with Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue.
Place on the background with 3d foam pads.

Ink up the sentiment from the Pierced Flag Sentiments Stamp Set with Black Archival Ink.  Heat emboss with Cosmic Shimmer Clear Powder.
Cut out using the Frames and Tags-Pierced Flags Die Set.
Draw around the same die on the Sky Blue card and cut out.  Matt and layer with the sentiment.
Shape and glue onto the card.

Cover another piece of the patterned paper with Double sided adhesive and die cut flowers from the Orange Blossom-Complete Petals Die Set.
Remove the backing and cover with Diamond Snow. Shape the petals and glue together.
Glue into position on the card and add a small black Dazzler to finish.

And there it is...finished!

I hope you like it...it's such a shame that you can't see the sparkle clearly on this.  I'm still getting to grips with the photo editing on the new computer so please bear with me!

Well, that's all for this week, until next time, have a happy crafty week!

Oh Glitter Tree!

Good Morning All and a very Happy Thursday and a Very Happy December!

I'm still bobbing around the Caribbean but made a few quick cards to tide you over until I get back!

Unfortunately, I don't have step by step photos for this one, but it should be easy to follow.

Die cut a square of Silver Mirror card using the large Noble Pierced Square Dies.
Cut a smaller square of Coconut White card and emboss with the A4 Twinkle, Twinkle Folder.
Pick up some Flake and Glitter glue on a piece of Cut 'n Dry Foam and dab over the embossed card.
Sprinkle Cosmic Shimmer Diamond Snow Glitter Jewels over it.
Matt and layer onto the gold card.

Place a piece of Double Sided Adhesive onto some white card.
Die cut the Festive Collection - Christmas Tree Greeting.

Carefully peel back the protective layer from the double sided adhesive from the base up to the top of the word "Christmas".
Sprinkle Cosmic Shimmer Polished Silk Glitters on.
Peel back to the top of the next word and apply a different colour glitter.
Keep going until you've covered it all.  I've used a mix of blues and purples. 
Glue the tree onto the embossed background and add a star embellishment.
And that's all you need to do!

The good thing is that it's flat so easy to post!  It's also handy to be able to make your own glittered, embossed backgrounds!

Everything used (except for the silver card) is from Creative Expressions.

Well, that's it for this week.  I'll be back next Thursday with another card.  Many thanks for stopping by and leaving comments...always much appreciated.

Until next time, have a happy, crafty week!

More Poinsettias!

Good Morning All and a very Happy Thursday!

Back again with the last of the Christmas makes for this month and I've gone back to probably my favourite dies....the Poinsettias.

Anyway, let's get started!

Emboss a piece of Foundations Vintage Gold Card and a piece of Coconut White Card with the A4 Swirling Holly Folder.
Use the Portuguese Collection-Border, Corner and Tag set to cut diagonally across the gold card.  Glue both pieces onto the white card.

Matt and layer onto Vintage Gold Card.
Stick some Double Sided Adhesive onto a piece of Coconut White card and die cut the Festive Collection-Classic Poinsettia.
Remove the backing then apply Cosmic Shimmer Fire Red Polished Silk Glitter.
Shape the petals, glue together in layers then glue onto the card.

Add 8mm black pearls to the flower centres.
Place another piece of Double sided adhesive onto Coconut White Card.
Die cut 2 tags from the same set of Portuguese dies.
Cut them in half then apply the same glitter as before.
Stamp the sentiment with Black Archival Ink and heat emboss with Cosmic Shimmer Clear Powder.
Cut out using the Spellbinders Classic Circles Small Dies.
Glue the 4 pieces of glittered card around the edge of the circle.
Attach to the card with 3d foam pads.

And there's the finished card...quick and elegant!

I always forget that dies like the tags can be cut up to form different shapes but it does give you so many options for using them.
All of the products I've used are from Creative Expressions.

Well, that's it for this week.  Many thanks for stopping by and leaving comments, they are much appreciated.  Don't forget to tell me which is your favourite and it could be winging its way to you!

Until next time, have a happy, crafty week!

The Blessings of Christmas

Good Morning All and a Very Happy Tuesday!

I've gone with a very traditional look for today's project.  I've used the A5 Christmas Florals Stamp Set from Creative Expressions for this card.

Well, enough chat, let's get started!

Ink up the Poinsettia stamp with Black Archival and stamp several times onto Coconut White Card.  Heat emboss with Cosmic Shimmer Clear Powder.
Paint the flowers with Festive Berries Distress Ink.

Cover the card with a sheet of Double Sided Adhesive.  Cover with Cosmic Shimmer Diamond Sprinkles then cut the flowers out.

Ink up the Poinsettia Stamp with Festive Berries Distress Ink then randomly stamp onto a piece of Coconut White Card.
Dry Emboss with the A4 Festive Swirls Folder.

Matt and layer using Ruby and Brunswick Green Foundations Cardstock.

Stamp the sentiment with Black Archival Ink onto Coconut White Card.  Heat emboss with Clear Powder.  Cut out with the Spellbinders Standard Circles Small Die.  With the die still in position, distress with the Festive Berries Ink.
Cover with double sided adhesive then apply the Diamond Sprinkles.  Cut out.
Draw around the outer edge of the die and cut out the circle.
Die cut 2 Spellbinder Scalloped Circles.
Matt and layer adding the sentiment with 3d foam pads.

Die cut the Festive Collection Pine Bough from the Brunswick Green Card.  Glue into position on the card.
Glue some of the Poinsettias into place then add the rest with 3d foam pads.
Glue a piece of red Seam Binding to the back of the sentiment.
Attach to the card with 3d foam pads.

And there's the finished card!

I do hope you like it....you could add some gems to the flower centres for a bit of extra bling...after all, it is for Christmas and that's the one time of year you can really go to town!!!

Well, that's all for this week.  Many thanks, as always, for visiting and leaving comments.

I'll be back next week with another project, this one isn't Christmas related but I have made it to give to a friend as a little Christmas present.

Until next time, have a happy, crafty week!

More Christmas Ideas

Good Morning All and a Very Happy Tuesday.

I hope that those who could make it enjoyed Ally Pally, it's always such a great show.

Today I'm going to do a step by step on one of the cards that I demoed at the show.

I've used the Filigree Poinsettia Stamps and the Festive Collection Classic Poinsettia Dies.

Start by inking up one of the Poinsettia stamps with Perfect Medium.  Stamp randomly onto a piece of Coconut White Card and heat emboss with Cosmic Shimmer Bright Gold Powder.

Matt and layer onto Vintage Gold Foundations Card.

Ink up the largest Poinsettia stamp with Perfect Medium and stamp onto a piece of Vintage Gold Card.  Heat emboss with the Bright Gold Powder.
Cover 2 of the stamped images with Double Sided Adhesive and apply Cosmic Shimmer Diamond Sprinkles. Die cut with the Classic Poinsettia Dies.  Die Cut the 3rd Poinsettia.
Do the same with the smaller Poinsettia stamp, but this time onto Coconut White Card.
Only apply the Diamond Sprinkles to one of the flowers before Die Cutting.
Shape the petals and glue together.

Stamp the sentiment onto white card and heat emboss as before (this sentiment is from the A5 Filigree stamp set).
Cover with Double Sided Adhesive, then add the Diamond Sprinkles before die cutting with the Californian Collection Basic Frames Set A.
Die cut a matt from the Vintage Gold Card using the Californian Collection Decorative Frames Set B.

Cut 3 strips of Double Sided Adhesive of different lengths 1 inch wide, cut into pennant shapes and stick onto the background.  Apply the Diamond Sprinkles.

Glue the Poinsettias into position.  Add the sentiment with 3d foam pads.
Glue the Finishing Touches Small Circle Dazzlers to the centres of the Poinsettias to finish.

And there's the finished card!

The Filigree Poinsettia Stamps are terrific to work with, they give a wonderful stamped image and are so detailed.

I hope you've enjoyed the tutorial!  Next week I'll be back with another card from the demo's and lots more Xmas inspiration...I do hope you'll visit.

In the meantime, many thanks for stopping by and leaving comments.  Have a happy, crafty week!

Time to Sparkle!

Good Morning All and a very Happy Tuesday!

There's nothing like a bit of glitter to get you in the mood for Christmas and this weeks card has plenty of that!

So, let's get started with it.....

Cut a piece of card to size and cover it with Double Sided Adhesive.  Using a spoon, sprinkle Vintage Violet and Western Blue Cosmic Shimmer Polished Silk Glitter over the top.  Apply one colour at a time and press the glitter down to make sure it stays in place.

Apply Flake and Glitter Glue to the Mosaic Bauble Stamp and stamp onto the glittered card.  Apply Cosmic Shimmer Silver Moon Gilding Flakes.

Trim to size then matt and layer onto Coconut White Card.
Cut a matt from white card, sick some of the Double Sided Adhesive around the edges and sprinkle the same colour glitters as before.  Matt and layer.

Put double sided tape around all 4 edges of a piece of Coconut White Card.  Apply the glitters as before.

Cut another piece of Coconut White and emboss using the Spellbinders M-Bossabilities Dainty Dots A4 Folder.

Cut a length of White Seam Binding, cover with Flake and Glitter Glue and apply the same colour glitters.

Attach to the embossed piece of card them matt and layer onto the piece with the glittered edges.

Using the sentiment from the A5 Winter Greetings set of stamps, apply Flake and Glitter Glue and stamp onto a piece of Coconut White Card.  Sprinkle the glitters as before.
Die cut the sentiment with the Spellbinders Classic Circle Dies.

Cover another piece of card with Double Sided Adhesive and die cut a Scalloped Circle.  Cover with the glitters then matt and layer the sentiment.

Attach the Bauble and Sentiment with 3d foam pads.

And that's the finished card!

It's difficult to explain the difference between the Polished Silk Glitters compared to other glitter, you really have to see it and feel it!  It is so smooth that you can stamp on it and even stamp with the glue without the glitter coming off. 

I'll be using it at Ally Pally this weekend in some demo's so I hope you'll stop by to have a look.

Well, that's it for now.  Have a great week and hope to see some of you this weekend.  Many thanks for stopping by.

Anemones

Good Morning All and a very Happy Tuesday!

I'm still playing with the new range of Singles stamps from Creative Expressions and today I'm using the Anemone stamp.

Start by inking up the stamp with Black Archival Ink.  Heat emboss with Cosmic Shimmer Clear Powder.  Do this 3 times.
Paint with Cosmic Shimmer Drawing Inks in the following colours: Lime Burst, Magenta Flame and Rich Gold.
Water down the Rich Gold to paint the background to the flowers.

Cover one of the stamped images with Creative Expressions Double Sided Adhesive.  Apply Cosmic Shimmer Diamond Sprinkles Glitter Jewels.
Matt and layer all 3 panels.

Cut a piece of Coconut White Card for the background and stamp the "Happy Days" sentiment across the bottom with Black Archival Ink.
Dry emboss with the Spellbinders M-Bossabilities Dainty Dots Folder.

From a piece of pink card, die cut a strip using the Spellbinders Classic Triple Scallop.  Turn the card around and repeat so that it looks like flowers.
Cut a piece of green card to size.  Cover with double sided adhesive and apply the Diamond Sprinkles.
Matt and layer then glue onto the white background.

Add the 3 stamped images with 3d foam pads.

And there's the finished card!

I know that a lot of the pink and green strip is covered up but it looks more interesting than a plain border going across.  And as they say, "The Devil is in the Detail"!

Well, that's it for today.  The next Crafty Sunday is on 7th September so I hope some of you will be able to make it.

Many thanks for stopping by and leaving comments.

Blooming Lovely!

Good Morning All and welcome to Tuesday's Creative Expressions project.

This month, I've been sent some new masks to play with and here's a card I've made using the mask called "Bloom".

So let's get started...........

Stick a piece double sided adhesive onto some white card and peel off the top layer.
Use an anti-static bag on the mask to help with the release and place on top of the adhesive sheet.
Using a small spoon, add each colour of Cosmic Shimmer Polished Silk Glitters at a time.
I've used Fire Red, Penny Copper, Sahara Gold and Sea Green.

Remove the mask.  Add Cosmic Shimmer Ebony Ice Glitter Jewels to the rest of the double sided adhesive.

Cut out using Spellbinders Grand Circle Dies.
Draw around the outer edge of the die on white card, cut out and matt and layer.

Emboss a piece of white card with the Creative Expressions A4 Art Deco Fanfare Folder.

Matt and layer onto a piece of Foundations Black Card.

Cut a length of Black Crushed Satin Ribbon and heat with a heat gun to crinkle it.  Attach to the card.

Cut a Scalloped Circle in Black Card from Spellbinders Grand Dies.  Matt and layer the glittered topper.
Attach to the card with 3d foam pads.

Cut another length of the Black Ribbon.  Heat again with the heat tool.
Tie a bow and attach to the card with a glue dot.
Add a Black Dazzler to the centre of the bow to finish.

And there's the finished card!

It's very different from my usual style....no ink for a start!
I even managed to stay clean making this one!!  I did look as though I was headed out to a disco with all the glitter I managed to get on myself!

Well, that's it for today.  I'll be back tomorrow with a project for Creative Studios so until then, have a happy, crafty time and many thanks for visiting.

Loving the Winter Flowers!

Good Morning All, hope everyone is well and in fine fettle!

Today is my Creative Expressions Design Team blog day and I've used the gorgeous Winter Flowers A5 stamp set again.  I just can't stop playing with them!!

So here we go with a step by step.

Die cut a Spellbinders Labels8 from the Creative Expressions Double Sided Adhesive Sheets.  Remove one of the backing pieces and add 4 or 5 drops of Sunshine Yellow Alcohol Ink and the same amount of Sunset Orange.  Use the backing paper to smoosh the ink down onto the adhesive.

Apply Warm Sunrise Gilding Flakes over the top of the ink.

 

Turn it over and remove the other piece of backing paper.  Stamp the Snowdrop with Black Archival Ink directly onto the adhesive sheet.  Colour in the flowers with Alcohol Ink Pens.  Cover with Micro Beads.  Matt and layer onto a white

 

 

 

Labels 8 die cut.  Edge with gold pen.

 

Draw around the outside edge of the same die onto Creative Expressions Dark Roast Coffee Foundations Cardstock and cut out.  Matt and layer.

 

Dry emboss a piece of Coconut White Cardstock with the M-Bossabilities Dainty Dots Folder.  Cut a strip of white card for the side panel and emboss again.  Matt and layer onto the coffee card.

 

Using the same technique as before, make a strip of the double sided adhesive with Gilding Flakes and Micro Beads.

Matt and layer.

 

 

 

Mount the snowdrop panel onto the card with 3d foam pads.  Tie a bow with Rust Satin Ribbon.  Colour a Silver Dazzler and 2 Pearl Stick Pins with Alcohol Ink Pens and attach to the card. 

 

I've also added a little bit of a gold chain I had in my stash.

 







 

This is another one of those times I wish you could see it for real instead of a photo!  The shine on the card is fab!  I was surprised how well the Alcohol Inks worked and that the Gilding Flakes still stuck.

 

Well, that's all for today, back tomorrow with WOYWW and a Christmas Card for Creative Studios.

 

Don't forget the blog candy, just 9 more to go!  Do have a look at the Creative Expressions Website, there's a link to the Design Team Blogs on the right.

Many thanks for your visit and comments.

 

Winter Flowers ...2nd Installment!

Good Morning All and a very Happy Tuesday!

I'm really enjoying using the Winter Flowers set of stamps from Creative Expressions and thought I'd show you a card today made with the Crocus stamp.  It's nice to think that Spring will be here eventually!

So here we go!

Stamp the Crocus onto Coconut White Cardstock with Black Archival Ink allowing enough room to die cut later.
Stamp the Crocus again onto a Post-it note with as much on the sticky strip as possible.  Cut out just inside the black line.

Using the cut out as a mask, cover over the stamped Crocus and stamp again to the left of it, then to the right.  Stamp slightly higher than the original one.
Paint the leaves with Shabby Shutters and Peeled Paint Distress Inks.  Paint the flowers using Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord and Chipped Sapphire Distress Inks.

Cover with Creative Expressions Double Sided Adhesive and die cut with Spellbinders Labels 28.  Take off the backing sheet and apply Micro Beads.
Draw around the outer edge of the die on Dark Roast Coffee Cardstock and cut out to make a matt slightly larger than the previous one.

Using the Creative Expressions A4 Basket Weave Embossing Folder, dry emboss a piece of Coconut White Cardstock.
Stamp the word "Crocus" onto a strip of card with Dusty Concord Distress Ink.  Lightly distress the edges with the same ink.  Matt and layer onto a piece of the Coffee Card.

Tie a triple bow with Purple Seam Binding, spritz it with water and scrumple up.  Dry with a heat gun. 
Mount the Crocus picture onto the card with 3d foam pads.
Attach the bow with a glue dot.

Stamp "With Love" onto Coconut white card using Dusty Concord Ink and die cut with Labels 28.  With the die still in place, distress with the same ink.  Draw around the outer edge of the die onto the Coffee card and cut out to make a matt.  Curve the tag and attach to the card using Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue and a 3d foam pad.
Add a Dazzler to the centre of the bow to finish.

I do wish that I had screen that allowed you to touch the picture so that you could get the full effect of the Micro Beads!

Well, that's all for today.  I'll be back again next Tuesday with another project using the Winter Flowers.  Until then, do pop over to the Creative Expressions blog so that you can see what the other members of the Design Team are up to!
Also, Just 12 more followers before I draw for the blog candy!  Until next time, have a happy crafty week!