Good Morning All and a very Happy Thursday!
I'm so sorry, but this will be my last posting for the design team. I will still post the odd project for you so please check in from time to time.
I've really enjoyed the time I've been on the team but we are getting too many working cruises to be able to post regularly and I felt I wasn't able to give the time to bring you fresh projects that these fabulous products deserve. I'll still be teaching at Martells, having crafty Sundays and working at Ally Pally...all using Creative Expressions products. I hope to see some of you in April...if not before.
Anyway, let's go out with a good one.....
Emboss a rectangle of Coconut White Card using the A4 Leafy Quad Folder.
Matt and layer onto Black Foundations Card.
Die cut 4 Orange Blossom Leaves from Foundations Black Card and glue into position.
Die cut the plain black background using Frames and Tags - Tessa
and the detailed overlay from the same die set using Coconut White card. Glue together.
Stamp the sentiment from the Elements Stamps - Flowers onto white card with Black Archival and heat emboss with Cosmic Shimmer Clear Powder. Glue onto the die cut background.
Attach the whole thing to the card with 3d pads.
Ink up the Shaded Peony stamps with Perfect Medium and stamp onto Black card. Heat emboss with Cosmic Shimmer True White Powder. Cut out and glue into position
Add small black Dazzlers to the flower centres to finish
And there it is! I hope you like it.
I will miss bringing you a project every week...it's certainly made me think!
But on the plus side, we're having a lot of adventures on the cruise ships including flying to Tahiti on Sunday and sailing to Australia. In April we fly to Mexico and spend 4 weeks cruising around the Caribbean...in fact, we leave the day after Ally Pally! So, you can see why being on the team was just getting too difficult.
As I said before, I will pop on here from time to time with a project and of course, the rest of the team will still be coming up with fab ideas for you.
Until next time......
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!
Good Morning All and a Very Happy Thursday!
Today, I thought I'd show you a card I taught at a workshop last month. It's a nice contemporary design and quick to make.
So let's get started....
Cut a rectangle of Coconut White card and emboss with the A4 Swirling Holly Folder.
Matt and layer onto Foundations Black Card.
Cut 5 different size squares of Double Sided Adhesive.
I started at 2.75 inches and dropped half an inch in size each time. For the smallest, you need to cut a rectangle otherwise you can''t roll it.
Place the squares onto some copier paper. Cover with different colours of Cosmic Shimmer Polished Silk Glitters.
Cut out and roll. Glue together with Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue. You will need to hold them until they stick as you're glueing glitter to glitter.
Emboss another piece of Coconut White card large enough to fit the tree on. Matt and layer with black card.
Glue onto the background.
Glue the rolls of glittered paper on. Cut out a small piece of silver card for the tree trunk.
Die cut a small snowflake for the top of the tree.
Cut a strip of white card, emboss then matt and layer. Glue into position.
Die cut a matt from Black card.
Stamp the sentiment with Black Archival Ink and heat emboss (the stamp is from one of the Elements sets)
Die cut with an oval die. Glue together and add the sentiment with 3d foam pads.
And that's the card finished! I hope you like it!
I am sorry there are no step by step photos for these projects but I think they're probably easy enough to make. Normal service will be resumed in the New Year when we get home!
Everything used is from Creative Expressions as always...apart from the copier paper and the small strip of silver card!
Well, that's it for this week...many thanks for stopping by and leaving comments, they're much appreciated.
I won't be on here next week as it's Christmas Eve so I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Prosperous, Crafty New Year!
Until New Year's Eve.......
Good Morning All and a Very Happy Thursday!
I'm still bobbing around the Caribbean...check Facebook to see where I am (Pam Smith) but do not fear, I haven't gone away and left you without a project!
For this card, I've used a technique called "grouting" which John Lockwood showed me at Ally Pally in September.
Start be embossing a piece of Coconut White card with the A4 Poinsettia Folder.
Turn to the debossed side and spread Cosmic Shimmer Red Berry Sparkle Texture Paste over it, making sure to scrape off the excess.
Leave to dry.
Emboss another piece of Coconut White with the same folder. Matt and layer onto Foundations Black Card.
Attach a piece of black seam binding before sticking onto the card blank.
Die cut 2 of the Labels using the Finishing Touches Collection from the card with the texture paste finish.
Matt and layer onto black card.
Die cut a smaller label.
Ink up the holly border from the Holly Tree Elements stamp set.
Stamp down the side of the tag and heat emboss with clear powder.
Ink up the words using black archival and stamp and heat emboss.
The stamp is from the Peace, Joy Love stamp set.
Matt and layer the tag.
Attach seam binding to the tops of the tags.
Stamp and heat emboss poinsettias from the Poinsettia Elements Stamp Set.
Cut out and glue into position.
Attach the tags with glue on one, then with 3d pads on the others.
Add some Dries Clear Glue to the flower centres and sprinkle Cosmic Shimmer Fire Red Polished Silk Glitter to finish.
Hope you like it!
It's worth making up a batch of the grouted backgrounds at the same time. It looks very effective when done on black card and is so easy to do. It also gives a different way of using your embossing folders.
Well, that's it for this week...I've got another sparkly card next week.
Everything used is from Creative Expressions.
Many thanks for stopping by and leaving comments.
Until next time, have a happy, crafty week!
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!
Good Morning All and a very Happy Thursday.
I've got another Christmas card for you this week that's quick to make and another way to use your Festive Collection - Christmas Joy Wreath Dies.
So let's get started.....
In the Die set, there are 2 holly dies, one is the main background die and the other is the overlay.
Die the cut the background holly using Foundations card Brunswick Green and the overlay from Foundations Ruby Card.
Cut 6 of these and glue together with Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue.
Glue the bottom layer of wreaths into position on a square of Coconut White Card. Slightly overlap the wreaths.
Add the next two rows still overlapping.
Cut a tree pot from a piece of the Ruby card. Add a strip of Brunswick Green across it.
Glue underneath the tree.
Emboss a larger square of Coconut White with the A4 Tied Holly Folder.
Matt and layer onto the Green and Ruby card.
Add the main image onto the card.
Die cut a bow using the Finishing Touches - Classic 3D Itty Bitty Bows from the same green card. Glue into shape then glue onto the pot.
Add a small Black Dazzler to the centre of the bow.
Ink up the Noel stamp from the Holly Wreath Elements Stamp Set with Black Archival Ink. Stamp onto Coconut White card. Heat emboss with Cosmic Shimmer Clear Powder.
Cut to size then matt and layer as before. Add to the card with 3d foam pads.
And there's the finished card! Hope you like it! The size of the blank card is 8x8.
While you're reading this, I'll be working on a ship in the Caribbean, in fact I'll be there until January 4th. I do have projects lined up for while I'm away so please stop by and take a look.
I'll be posting photos on Facebook of our travels and checking in on there, to let people know where we are. If you want to see, please add me as a friend...my name on there is Pam Smith.
Many thanks for stopping by and leaving comments. Everything used is from Creative Expressions.
Until next time, have a happy, crafty week!
Good Morning All and a very Happy Thursday!
I've got another Christmas card to show you today that uses the Frosty Mini Background Die and glitter. If you can't use glitter this time of year, when can you!
Anyway, let's get started....
Die cut the Festive Collection - Frosty Mini Background from Coconut White Card.
Cut around the sides to make a rectangle.
Very strange light in the studio...but this is white...promise!
Apply some Flake and Glitter Glue to a piece of Cut 'n Dry Foam and dab over the die cut background.
Apply Cosmic Shimmer Glitter Jewels - Diamond Snow.
Place a piece of Double Sided Adhesive Sheet onto a piece of card.
Cover with Cosmic Shimmer Polished Silk Glitter - Ice Blue.
Cut to size and glue the die cut background over the top.
Emboss a piece of Coconut White card with the A4 Holly Lattice Embossing Folder.
Matt and layer onto a piece of Foundations Teal Card.
Attach the glittered background.
Die cut 3 trees from the Festive Collection - Winter Trees set and cover with the same Ice Blue Glitter as before.
Glue the first tree into position, flat, then add the others with 3d foam pads.
Place some double sided adhesive onto a piece of card then cut around the outer edge of the largest flag from the Frames and Tags - Pierced Flags. Cover with Ice Blue Glitter.
Die cut the same Pierced Flag using Coconut White card. Stamp the sentiment with Black Archival Ink then heat emboss with Cosmic Shimmer Clear Powder.
Matt and layer. Shape the flag and glue into position.
Add gems from the Always and Forever Wedding Collection - Rhinestones to the flag and some of the snowflake centres on the background.
And there's the finished card!
I'm afraid it's another one where I wish you could see it instead of a photo of it! Anyway, I hope you like it!
Well, that just leaves me to say a big thank you for visiting and leaving comments....all much appreciated.
Everything I've used is from Creative Expressions as always!
Until next time. have a happy, crafty week!
Good Morning and a very Happy Thursday to you all!
A new month and a new set of goodies to play with! This month we're back to Christmas designs and to kick things off I've used the Festive Collection-Christmas Joy Wreath as the main element.
So let's get started.....
Cut a square of Foundations Ruby Card and a smaller square of Coconut White Card.
Ink up the Elegant Poinsettias stamp with Vermillion Archival and stamp randomly onto the white card.
De-boss the card using the A4 Holly Lattice Embossing Folder.
Emboss the Ruby card with the same folder. Matt and layer.
Die cut a matt from the Ruby card with the Portuguese Collection - Lisbon Dies and emboss with the Holly Folder.
Die cut the Festive Collection - Christmas Joy Wreath from Coconut White card. Cut the outline leaves from the Ruby card.
Glue the letters onto the die cut matt with Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue.
Add to the card with 3d foam pads.
Add Always and Forever - Wedding Collection small gems to the holly die and also to the centres of the stamped flowers.
Cut a length of Black and White Tulle. Lay them on top of each other and pleat fold them. Tie a knot in the centre and fan out the ends.
Attach to the card with a glue dot.
Add a Dazzler to the centre with a glue dot to finish.
And there's the finished card!
It's a quick and easy one to make and would be great for a male or female recipient. I hope you like it! I've used an 8x8 card for the base.
Well, that's it for this week. Many thanks for all the visits and kind comments.
I'll be back next week with another Christmas design. In the meantime, I'll be teaching at Martells this Saturday and, for anyone coming, it involves glitter so be warned!!!
Until next time, have a happy, crafty week!
Good Morning All and a Very Happy Thursday!
I'm back from the dig and a fabulous ukulele festival and ready to craft again!
This week I've used more of the gorgeous Craft Consortium 12x12 patterned papers....I can't get enough of them! Anyway, here goes with this weeks project....
Emboss a piece of Coconut White Card using the Rambling Blossoms A4 Folder.
Matt and layer onto Foundations Rich Plum Card.
Die cut the Eternal Rings Striplet Die from a piece of Coconut White card.
Cut a piece of the 12x12 Bloom Beautiful Paper 1cm larger than the striplet.
Cover the paper with Creative Expressions Double Sided Adhesive.
Remove the backing and apply Cosmic Shimmer Diamond Snow Glitter Jewels.
Matt and layer onto white and plum card.
Add the die cut over the top with 3d foam pads.
Glue into position on the card.
Add 5mm self adhesive pearls to the die cut.
Ink up the sentiment from the A5 British Wild Flower stamp set with Black Archival Ink and stamp onto Coconut White card. Heat emboss with Cosmic Shimmer Clear Powder.
Matt and layer as before.
Attach to the card with 3d foam pads.
Die cut 2 Finishing Touches-Magical Butterflies from the same patterned paper.
Shape the wings and glue into position.
And there's the finished card. I hope you like it!
I really cannot stress how beautiful these papers are and the quality is first class. As a bonus, they are all double sided!!
Anyway, everything used is from Creative Expressions as always.
I just want to say thank you for the birthday wishes and leaving your comments...much appreciated.
I'll be back next Thursday with another project so until then, have a happy, crafty week!
Good Morning All and a very Happy Thursday!
I'm taking a break from the Christmas Cards this week as I've been sent some new "toys" to play with!
I've kept this design quite simple but I think it's very effective so let's get started....
Cut a square of patterned paper from the Phil Martin Sentimentally Yours "Graceful Butterflies and Dragonflies" paper pad.
Ink up the large stamp from the "Butterfly Field" stamp set with Black Archival Ink. Stamp along the bottom of the paper.
Ink up the sentiment from the same stamp set and stamp in the top right of the paper. Ink up some of the small butterflies and stamp randomly on the paper.
Pick up some of the Colour Cloud "Pretty in Pink" Blending Ink on a Smoothie Tool and ink around the edges of the paper.
Emboss a square of Coconut White card with the Fine Finials A4 Folder.
Matt and layer with the stamped paper. Select a coordinating paper from the pad. Cut a square larger than the embossed card then matt and layer onto the 8x8 blank card.
Die cut 3 butterflies from Black Foundations Card using the Finishing Touches-Magical Butterflies Dies.
Shape the wings and glue into position on the card.
And there it is, all finished!
I do love to use silhouette stamps, they're so versatile and make such quick cards. They also always look fab stamped onto patterned paper. I have to say that the quality of the paper and the stamps are so good that it makes it easy to do.
Well, that's it for this week....Just to say, thank you for stopping by and leaving comments, they're always appreciated.
I'll be back next week with more ideas for using these stamps and some die cutting ideas. Until then, have a happy, crafty week!
Good Morning All and a very Happy Thursday!
I know how many Christmas cards we need to make and with that in mind, I thought I'd show you a really quick and easy one this week.
So, let's get started.....
Cut a square of Coconut White card to size and emboss with the A4 Tied Holly Folder.
Matt and layer onto Foundations Ruby Card.
Ink up the 2 Turtle Doves from the John Lockwood 12 Days of Christmas stamp set with Perfect Medium Ink. Stamp onto Coconut White card 3 times and heat emboss with Cosmic Shimmer Bright Metallic Gold Powder.
Cut out then matt and layer into squares of the Ruby card.
Attach to the main card with 3d foam pads.
Die cut the Festive Collection-Dove of Peace twice, one in white card and one in Ruby.
Ink up the tree from the 12 Days of Christmas-Partridge in a Pear Tree set of stamps with Perfect Medium and stamp over the white Dove. Heat emboss with the gold powder.
Glue the ruby dove into position then add the white one, slightly offset, with 3d foam pads.
And there's the finished card!
It would look lovely with blue card and silver embossing powder as well. I think it's a handy card for batch card making, hope you agree!
Well, that's all for this week....I'm going non-Christmassy next week!
Don't forget to watch the new craft channel with John Lockwood, Julia Watts and all your favourites!
Until next time, have a happy, crafty week!
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!
Good Morning All and a very Happy Thursday!
Another Christmas project for Creative Expressions but very different from all the previous ones.
I'll be filming at Warwick Folk Festival while you're reading this!!
Anyway, let's get started.....
Cut a square of Coconut White card slightly larger than needed. Stick a square of Creative Expressions Double Sided Adhesive over it. It's much easier if the card is a bit bigger!
Rub an anti-static bag over "That Special Touch-Icicles Mask" then place it onto the double sided adhesive. The anti static will help when you want to lift it off.
Apply Cosmic Shimmer Periwinkle Polished Silk Glitter to the adhesive. Press down to make sure it holds then tap off any excess.
Remove the mask and apply Cosmic Shimmer Diamond Snow Glitter Jewels to the remaining area.
Trim the excess card off. Matt and layer with Foundations Vintage Silver Card.
Emboss a piece of Coconut White card with the A4 Snowflake Lattice Folder.
Matt and layer onto the Vintage Silver card.
Stick the glittered square on top.
Ink up the sentiment from the A5 Pine Cone Christmas set with Black Archival. Stamp onto Coconut White and heat emboss with Cosmic Shimmer Clear Powder.
Cut out with the Frames and Tags-Pierced Flags Dies.
Draw around the outer edge of the die onto the Vintage Silver card to make a matt. Glue into position after shaping it.
Cut out the Illuminated Christmas Tree Die using the Vintage Silver card and glue into position.
Tie a triple bow from white Seam Binding. Glue on then add a Silver Dazzler to finish.
And there's the finished card!
Hope you like it. It's so easy to make but looks so effective....my favourite sort of Christmas Card!
Well, that's it for this week. As always, many thanks for stopping by and leaving comments. I'll be back next Thursday with another Christmas Card and if you leave a comment on that post telling me which one is your favourite, I'll pick a winner and send it to you.
Until next time, have a happy, crafty week!
