A Change of Colour!

Good Morning All and a very Happy Thursday!

It was so lovely to meet some of you at the weekend....thank you for stopping by and saying hello.  We had a great time but it took all of Monday to recover!!

This week is the final time using the Butterfly Dream stamps and I've gone for a total change of colour.  I rarely use yellow but the Foundations Custard card is so pretty that it's tempted me away from blues and purples.  

Anyway, let's get started.....

Cut out 2 different sized squares of Foundations Custard Card using the Sue Wilson Noble-Double Pierced Square Dies.
Cut 2 squares of coordinating paper from Phill Martin's Sentimentally Yours Graceful Butterflies and Dragonflies Paper Pad.
Matt and layer the largest card and paper squares and attach to the blank card.

The Noble Dies take all of the hard work out of achieving that gorgeous pin pricking detail.

Ink up the largest Butterfly Dreams stamp with Black Archival and stamp onto the small square of paper.
Matt and layer onto the small square of card.
Attach a length of black seam binding.
Place on the main card with 3d foam pads.

Cover a piece of the Custard Card with Double Sided Adhesive.
Die cut some Butterflies from the Finishing Touches-Magical Butterflies Die Set.
Remove the backing paper and cover with Cosmic Shimmer Diamond Snow Jewels.
Stamp the sentiment onto Custard Card and heat emboss with Cosmic Shimmer Clear Powder.
Place some double sided adhesive over the top and cut to size.
Add more of the Diamond Snow over the top.
Attach to the card with 3d pads.
Tie 3 lengths of seam binding onto the piece that is already in place.
Glue the butterflies into position.

 And there's the finished card!

Everything I've used is from Creative Expressions.  I do wish that the sparkle showed up more in the photo...you'll all have to pop round to my house to see the real thing!

Well, that's it for this week.  Many thanks for stopping by and leaving comments....much appreciated as always.
Until next time, have a happy, crafty week!

Let Your Dreams Fly

Good Morning All and a very Happy Thursday!

I've been playing with the new Colour Cloud Blending Inks all week as I'll be giving a "Masterclass" Demo at Ally Pally on Saturday and Sunday.  As I had them out, I thought I would use them for this weeks project and here it is....

So, let's get started!

Apply Plum Cobbler Colour Cloud Blending Ink to a Smoothie.  Dab onto a butterfly stamp from the Butterfly Field Collection by Phill Martin.
Stamp onto Coconut White card then stamp again without re-inking.  Repeat all the way around the edge of the card.

Matt and layer with Amethyst Foundation Card.
Cut a smaller square of Coconut White and stamp around the edges as before.
Ink up the sentiment from the same stamp set with Black Archival Ink.  Stamp in the centre and heat emboss with Cosmic Shimmer Clear Powder.
Matt and layer with the Amethyst Card.

Cover a piece of Coconut White with the Plum Cobbler Ink, spritz with water then dab with a piece of kitchen towel.  Dry thoroughly.
Die cut Butterflies using the Finishing Touches-Magical Butterflies Dies by Sue Wilson.

Die cut more butterflies using the papers in the Graceful Butterflies and Dragonflies Paper Pad.
Apply Blueberry Cosmic Shimmer Twinkles to the butterflies using your finger as an applicator!
When dry, shape the wings and glue into position on the card.

I've also added a little of the Twinkles around the edge...should have done that before matting and layering the background but only decided after seeing how pretty the butterflies were!

Anyway, hope you like it!

I have to say how impressed I am with the new inks and Smoothie Tools.....they blend beautifully and don't leave lines.  I hope you'll be able to come to the demo area at Ally Pally and see them in action this weekend!

If I'm not in the demo area, I'll be on Sue Wilson's Rubbernecker Stand.  It'd be lovely to say hello to you.

Well, that's it for this week...better start packing my bags for the weekend.

Just a reminder that everything used in this project is from Creative Expressions.

Many thanks for stopping by and leaving comments.  Until next time, have a happy, crafty week!

Say it with Flowers!

Good Morning All and a very Happy Thursday!

I thought that this week I'd do things a little differently and show you the finished card at the start of the step by step.  Would you let me know if you prefer that to the reveal at the end?

Anyway, let's get started.....

Cut a square of paper from the Sentimentally Yours-Graceful Butterflies and Dragonflies paper pad designed by Phil Martin.
Apply Colour Cloud Plum Cobbler Blending Ink to a Smoothie and dab onto a butterfly stamp from the Butterfly Field Stamp Set.
Stamp directly onto the patterned paper and heat emboss with Cosmic Shimmer Cleat Powder.

Die the the Finishing Touches-Ornamental Corners from coordinating paper, glue into position and trim off any excess.
Matt and layer onto Coconut White card and the same paper as before.

Ink up the sentiment from the same stamp set withBlack Archival Ink and stamp onto Coconut White card. Heat emboss with clear powder.
Cut out using Californian Collection-Decorative Frames Set B.
Cut a matt from the patterned paper using Californian Collection-Decorative Frames Set A.
Cut a slightly larger one in white then matt and layer.
Attach to the card with 3d foam pads.

Rough cut some circles from the patterned paper pad.  Cut a spiral into them.

Roll up from the outside edge and glue to the middle to form a flower.  Apply some of the Blending Ink around the edges for definition.
Cut some Ivy using the Finishing Touches-Trailing Ivy dies from white card.
Glue into position on the card then glue the flowers on to finish.

And there's the finished card again!

I hope you like it!

That's it for this week.  I'm off to prep my demos for Ally Pally, hope to see some of you there next week! Many thanks for visiting and leaving comments. Until next time, have a happy, crafty week!

Anything is Possible!

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!

Hello!

Good Morning All and a very Happy Tuesday!

I've been playing this week with another set of stamps designed by Phill Martin.  This time it's the Decadent Alphabet and Numbers, always useful to have in your stash!

Anyway, here we go......

Die cut 5 Spellbinder Classic Diamonds from the Vintage Rose Garden 12x12 paper pad.
Fold in half and stamp the letters from the Alphabet stamp set to spell out the word "Hello" using Black Archival Ink.

Cut 2 squares of coordinating paper from the same pad, matta nd layer them onto Black Foundations Card.

Emboss a square of Coconut White Card using the A4 Leafy Montage Folder.  Matt and layer onto Black card.  stick on the previous matting and layering.

Draw faux stitching around the triangles before folding them over a length of Bakers Twine.  Glue the tips of the triangles so that you can still move them on the twine.

Drape over the card and tape at the back to fix into position.  Glue onto a blank 8x8 card.

Use 3d foam pads to stick the triangles into position.

Fancy cut some Butterflies and Flowers from the same paper pad as before.  Cut out the word "Smile" from the same pad, matt and layer onto Black card.

Glue the flowers into position.  Shape the butterflies and glue on.
Add the wording with 3d foam pads.

And there's the finished card!

Not my usual style at all!  But sometimes it's good to do something totally different and get out of your comfort zone!  
A bit like this coming weekend when I'll be at the Grand Northern Ukulele Festival in Huddersfield having workshops with some of the best players in the world....I just hope I can keep up!

As always, everything used in this card is from Creative Expressions.  So that just leaves me with a big thank you for visiting and leaving comments.  I'll be back next Tuesday with another design using Phill's fab stamps.  Until then, have a happy, crafty week.

Lace Background

Good Morning All and a Very Happy Tuesday!

While I was at Ally Pally a few weeks ago, I showed how to make a background for a card using net curtain.  I was asked if I would put the instructions on my blog and here it is!

Cut a square of card slightly larger than needed and put the required size of double sided adhesive sheet on it.

Select your piece of net curtain!  Ideally, it should have a large open weave.  Charity shops are great places for finding nets.

Select 3 colours of Cosmic Shimmer Polished Silk Glitters and apply one colour at a time with a small spoon.  I've used Vintage Violet, Lavender and Sea Green.

Remove the net curtain and add Cosmic Shimmer Diamond Snow to fill in any areas not covered by the glitter.
Matt and layer onto Black Foundations and Coconut White Card.

Stamp the sentiment from Phill Martins Decadent Damask Birthday Verses with Black Archival Ink.  Heat emboss with Cosmic Shimmer Clear Powder.

Cut out using the Sue Wilson Greek Island, Santorini Die Set.  Distress the edges with Dusty Concord Ink.
Using the same set, cut the next size down in black card.  Cut in half and glue to the back of the sentiment.

Add a length of black seam binding to the left hand side of the glittered background.  Attach the background to the card blank.
Add the sentiment with 3d foam pads.

Die cut some Butterflies from the Finishing Touches-Magical Butterfly set using Black Card.
Glue into position.  On the larger butterfly, add 3 dots of Cosmic Shimmer PVA Glue in Decadent Denim to finish.

And there's the finished card!

It's a very old technique and seemed to die out about 9 years ago.  I thought it was time to revive it as the Glitters and Double Sided Adhesive Sheets are so much better now.
Everything (apart from the curtain!) has come from Creative Expressions.

Well, that's about it for today.  I'll be back in the UK tomorrow and normal service will be resumed!  I'm not sure what's happened to the colours in the last couple of photos.....we're having some serious computer issues at the moment...hopefully, it'll be sorted out soon.

As always, many thanks for stopping by and leaving comments.  They are much appreciated.  So until next time, have a happy, crafty week.