Monochrome!

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......

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!

More Sparkle!

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.......

Time to Sparkle!

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!

Holly Trees

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!

Frosted Trees

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!

JOY!

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!

Back to the Future!

Good Morning All and a very Happy Thursday!

As yesterday was "Back to the Future" Day, I thought the sentiment on this week's project was apt!

I'll start off with apologies for tempting you with these gorgeous papers.  I'll just say that if you but them, you won't be disappointed!

Anyway, on with the card.....

Start by using one of the outer edges of the Mini Gemini Dies-Vela to cut out a patterned edge square.  Do this by cutting the first edge, lining up the die so that it touches the cut of the first one and cutting again until you have a square.

I hope the picture explains what I mean!

Cut out an aperture using the Noble-Double Pierced Square Dies.

Cut a square of Craft Consortium Bloom Beautiful paper and glue it onto the blank  8x8 card.
Attach the frame over the top with 3d foam pads.

Ink up the sentiment from the "Delightful Sentiments" stamp set with Black Archival Ink.  Stamp into Coconut White card and heat emboss using Cosmic Shimmer Clear Powder.
Cut out with a smaller Noble-Pierced Square Die.
Add to the card with pads.

Die cut flowers from the Finishing Touches-Camellia Complete Petals Die Set.  Glue 4 small ones to the corners of the frame.  Add 3mm self adhesive pearls to the centres.
Die cut more flowers and layer them using 2 different patterned papers.

Glue onto the frame and add 5mm pearls to the centres.
Add pearls to the corners of the sentiment.
Cut up some Mini Pearl Swirl embellishments and attach to the frame to finish.

 And there's the finished card!  I do hope you like it.
What you can't see is the beautiful pearl finish to the paper..it's gorgeous!

Well, that's it for this week.  Many thanks for stopping by and leaving comments...they are all much appreciated.

I'll be back next week with another card....more of those stunning papers....sorry!

As always, everything used is from Creative Expressions.

So until next time, have a happy, crafty week!

In Love With These Papers!!!

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!

Sweet and Simple

Good Morning All and a very Happy Thursday!

While you're reading this I'll be in a trench at a dig near to Stonehenge!  It's also my 60th birthday today...a very odd way to spend the day!

Enough about me....let's have a look at this weeks project.

I've really decided to let the papers do the work this week as they are so gorgeous!  Let's get started.....

Matt and layer some Foundations Rich Plum card onto a blank 6x6 card.
Use the Mini Gemini Dies-Vela to cut the bottom of a square of Coconut White card.
Place a piece of the Blooming Beautiful paper behind the die cut area.
Matt and layer onto the Plum card.

Cut a panel of the Blooming Beautiful paper that has the bird on it and glue into position.

Cut a strip of Plum card and attach white Seam Binding around it.
Glue into position then add a piece of seam binding for a faux bow.

Ink up the sentiment from the Amazing Sentiments stamp set using Black Archival Ink.  Heat emboss with Cosmic Shimmer Clear Powder.
Cut out with the Spellbinders Standard Circles Small dies.
Cut a matt from the plum card using Spellbinders Scalloped Circles Large.
Attach to the card with 3d foam pads.

And there's the finished card!

I can't tell you how beautiful these papers are...you really need to stroke them!!!

As always, everything used is from Creative Expressions.
I'll be back next Thursday with another design....featuring more of the papers and this months selection of dies.  I do hope you join me!

Until then, many thanks for visiting and leaving comments...always much appreciated.  Have a happy, crafty week!

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!