A Special Thank You

Shopping List

Woodware Clear Magic-

FRCL 159 Flower Doodles &

FRCL 009 Must Have Retro Words

Gold Metal Quilting Sheet

Magenta Memor 221 Pretty Gourds

Orange Elements

Black Stazon

Black Versafine

Embossing tool

Fingerguard trimmer with pinking blade

All available from:-

http://www.woodware%20.co.uk/

So we come to the last card of the year & time to say "Thank you " for all those lovely Christmas gifts. I have used 2 Clear Magic sets by Francoise Read, Flower Doodles & Must Have Retro Words. I have stamped the flower design & the sentiment onto some Metal Quilting sheet using black Stazon. I have then embossed the design using a ball embossing tool by following the black line on the front of the piece & then turning it over to emboss just inside the etched line on the back. This way a raised "quilted" effect is acheived. Using a cream card blank I have then layered each piece onto a piece of black card & mounted the 2 designs onto a piece of "Pretty Gourds" scrapbook paper from Magenta. I have then stamped some of the pretty flourishes that come with the Flower Doodles set & added some orange Elements to finish off our simple "Thank You" card.

The Richness of Red

Shopping List

Clear Magic FRCL171 All Through the Year

Silhouette Embossing punch

Woodware velvet paper

Crafty Edger + Zig Zag Diamond cassette

Metal Quilting sheet in silver

Black Stazon

Black self adhesive gems

S/A diamantes (coloured red with permanent markers)

Red Stickles

Versafine Onyx Black

Clear embossing powder

Fingerguard trimmer with a scalloped blade

All available from:-

http://www.woodware.co.uk/

At this time of the year with all the Christmas crafting that has been going on it's easy to put aside other important card making occasions like anniversaries & birthdays.  I've used our theme this week, "The Richness of Red" to design an anniversary card with a Christmas glow to it. I have used a red pearlescent card for my card blank onto which I have stamped & clear embossed the anniversary wishes from Francoise Read's Clear magis set "All Through the Year". For the main panel at the bottom left of the card I have passed a piece of silver Metal Quilting sheet through an embossing folder & then "aged" it with black Stazon. I've used the Silhouette Embossing punch to produce the heart duos from some red velvet paper, red card (to which I have then applied red Stickles) & some of the silver metal sheet. The border at the right hand edge of the card was produced with the Zig Zag Crafty edger cassette which creates some lovely & very useful cut outs. The border has been mounted onto a piece of siver pearlescent card which has been trimmed using the Fingerguard trimmer & a Scalloped blade. Now just add the gems to finish the design- Happy Anniversary!

A Happy Birthday in a Tin!

Shopping List 

FRCL 129 Garden Greetings

Woodware Scrapbook in a tin

Tombow pens

Sakura Stardust pens

Woodware mini punches

(daisy, heart,sunburst,pot plant)

Woodware 1.5" punches

(Oak leaf, Monstera, daisy)

Extra large scalloped circle punch

Leonie Em punches

Stazon inkpads

Woodware paper flowers

Elements

All available from:-

http://www.woodware.co.uk/

Our theme this week is "Look What I Did With My Tin" & look what I did with mine!I've had a great time with Francoise Read's gorgeous Clear Magic Garden Greetings set. There are just so many lovely sentiments to suit any occasion I just couldn't choose-so I used them all!! This is a card in a tin for that keen gardener or just to remind you of those lovely flowers of summer. There are some pretty flowers, butterflies & othre gardening icons to add embellishment to your design.  I've sponged the entire scrapbook with a soft lime chalk inkpad & then stamped the sentiment with a dark red chalk inkpad. I have stamped the various areas of artwork with a darker green inkpad and coloured them using Tombow & Sakura Stardust pens. I have used various punches to add embellishment to my pages. I have inked the lid of the tin with a mix of brown & red Stazon inkpads & have added a central scalloped card circlestamped with the little flower spray from the stamp set. I have finally added two paper flowers sponged witha dark pink ink. The outer edges of the tin have been embellished with punched daisies & lime green elements. Below you can see the various "pages" of the birthday scrapbook in a tin. 



  

Tis the Season....!

Shopping List

JGS260 Festive Background

Stampendous Detail Gold embossing powder

Stampendous Tuscany embossing kit (EK04)

Woodware ass. bottons

Metals

Elements

Burgundy organza ribbon

Craft card

Versafine inkpad

Embossing inkpad

Gold, cream & Christmas green card for layering

All available from:-

http://www.woodware.co.uk/ 

Time for our monthly sketch challenge & my final Christmas theme for this year. I decided to create a slightly more masculine look for the festive season with our nearest & dearest in mind. Jane Gill's big single stamp Festive Background is just perfect for this. This design lends itself  beautifully to a number of different techniques especially embossing. I have embossed the cream panel with a mix from the Tuscany embossing kit from Stampendous with a little Detail Gold added. For the background layer I have used just Detail Gold on Christmas green card. Even though this is a masculine card we can still add some richness & texture in the form of buttons, Metals, Elements & even a touch of ribbon doesn't go amiss. All the layers are mounted onto a Craft card blank which I have also stamped with the Festive Background stamp. Happy Christmas to your special someone! 

This is December's sketch to follow so why not join in this month's sketch challenge. If you don't blog you can e mail your entry to Dorothy dorothy@woodware.co.uk



Gift tags for all the family

Shopping List

Punches

Christmas Combination

Christmas Assortment

Very Big  Scalloped Circle

Super Duper Circle

Price Label

Single Holly

Blink Blink

Clear Magic FRCL171 All Through the Year

Holly brads

Santa Hat brads

Metals, Elements,Sparkler peel offs

Organza & gingham ribbon

Brilliance & Versafine inkpads

Crafty Edger + Antique Floral cassette

Small pieces of Magenta papers

All available from:-

http://www.woodware.co.uk/

Gift tags for all the family this week & I really got carried away I'm afraid. This is a great way to use  those carefully saved precious scraps of card, paper, ribbon & other treasures. I've used a whole selection of Woodware punches & the Francoise Read Clear Magic set "All Through the Year" was ideal for the words on my tags. I love the Holly Sprig brads & the Santa Hat brads that are new this year from Woodware, also the new single holly leaf 1" punch. It's a good opportunity to employ your Crafty Edger or border punches to give a lacy effect to the paper pieces. You can really go to town with Metals, Elements, Stickles & Sparkler peel offs to give those unique finishing touches & sparkle to your personalised tags.     

Pick a colour........

Shopping List

Stampendous Cling Forest Cottage Scene CRR123

Woodware Clear Magic JGCL551

1" snowflake punch

Versafine inkpad

Brilliance Pearlescent Purple inkpad

Sakura Metallic pen in purple

Stickles Purple & Stardust

Lilac polka dot organza ribbon

Purple card

Lilac pearlescent card

Dark purple ribbed card

All available from

http://www.woodware.co.uk/

Time is marching steadily on towards Christmas & only so many crafting days to go! I've kept it simple this week & returned to my favourites- Stampendous stamps. Here we have a snowy log cabin scene which I have stamped using Brilliance Pearlescent Purple. I have used the inkpad & a Sakura metallic pen in purple to watercolour the image. I have layered onto the dark ribbed card and then onto the pearl lilac card onto which I have stamped my message. The message comes from Jane Gill's clear magic stamps, Christmas Verses, which I have used  for all my card messages & inserts this year as it's just so versatile & is suitable for any design. I have added a border of punched snowflakes & some dots of Stardust Stickles to give the snowy effect in the scene & a dot of purple Stickles at the centre of each snowflake. A little knot of lilac polka dot ribbon just finishes the card.        

Hobby Art weekend

Last weekend we enjoyed having Jenny Mayes from Hobby Art with us. Jenny's workshops are always in great demand & this time was no exception. Jenny was working with Hobby Arts new sets of clear stamps which included some new "Scene It" designs. She was also with us all day on Saturday demonstrating at Japonica & it proved to be a very busy day all round.

Here's Jenny at the end of a very long & busy day with our own Janet Caudrelier of Japonica

To launch our November offer of the month I was demonstrating a few weeks ago using one of the new Hobby Art set which is part of our offer & below are a few of my designs.

Traditional Christmas

Shopping List

Woodware Singles Clear magic stamp

Holly Wreath FRS102

Christmas Verses JGCL551

Magenta 12"x12" paper

Holiday Poinsettias-memor 34

Holly sprig brads JL 146

Sakura metallic gel pens

Woodware Elements in red

Stickles Diamond

Versafine inkpad in Onyx Black

Clear embossing powder

Woodware paper trimmer with pinking blade

Woodware inverted corner rounder

All available from:-

http://www.woodware.co.uk/

We have a double twisted eisel card this week for our theme of Traditional Christmas. This has been created from a 8"x8" piece of card folded in half and the cut down the centre of the top half. Simply fold the two centre corners away from the  centre- a little like a shirt collar. The two  art pieces will fit onto these two folds. I have stamped all images in black ink and embossed with clear powder. Using the rich metallic Sakura pens I have watercoloured the images. As you will spot I have stamped part of the wreath to provide a flourish at the top and bottom of the message panel. Both pieces have been layered into dark green card & then gold card having used the inverted corner  punch first. The bottom half of the card has been covered with the Poinsettia paper and I have stamped a message border to act as the stop bar to the two eisel pieces. I have used the cute Holly brads on two layers of die cut circles to make some "mince pies". Add some frosting with Stickles and the red Elements to complete our Traditional Christmas theme.  

Angel Kisses

Shopping List

Stampendous Cling CRV 162 Manger Kisses

Stampendous Cling CRL 077 Snowflake Kisses

Bremen scrapbook paper (no 5)

Woodware 1" punches Holly & Snowflake

Clear Elements

Woodware paper flowers

Woodware Christmas paper lace

Double sided adhesive sheet

Blue superfine glitter

Small diamantes

Crafty Edger with Scallop Shell cassette

Stickles Stardust

8"x8" Woodware card blank

Versafine Onyx black

Brilliance Mediterranean Blue

All available from:-

http://www.woodware.co.uk/

For this month's sketch challenge I have used some adorable Stampendous cling stamps and one of the new large 8"x8" Woodware card blanks. These are great as they give you so much room to be creative & really make a special card for that special someone. I have used some of the pretty Bremen scrapbook paper with the edges punched using the Crafty Edger & the Scallop Shell cassette which I feel also has the feel of snowflakes. There are 2 smaller borders at the top & bottom of the card created by adding a strip of double sided adhesive sheet onto which comes the snowflake design paper lace & all topped off with a sprinkling of Ultrafine blue glitter. I have stamped our cute angels using Versafine Onyx Black inkpad & softly coloured the images with pencils. This was layered onto silver mirror card and clear Elements added around the scalloped edge.The paper flower was sponged with the blue inkpad & added sparkle was acheived using Stickles Stardust. As you will see from the original sketch above, I have cheated slightly by creating the curved border in the centre of our challenge with  punched snowflakes embellished with small diamantes. Lastly I have added some punched holly leaves and clear Elements  for those final frosty touches.  

Pick up a penguin!

Shopping List

Woodware peel offs

90114 Penguins in black

90100 Snowflakes micro glitter silver/silver

Christmas Verses-JGCL551

Candy bonbons

Crystal glitter

Sakura gel pens

 Double sided adhesive sheet

Small diamantes

Versafine inkpad

All available from:-

http://www.woodware.co.uk/

Our theme this week is to use just one layer which is so hard to do when you're a matting & layering junkie like me. I've chosen this effective black peel off as you just can't have Christmas without a  penguin or two can you? I've placed the peel off directly onto the two outer sides of  a A4 trifold card blank and stamped the greeting from Christmas Verses onto the centre panel.I've used a different greeting from the same set along the top and bottom of the card. Cover this with a strip of DSA sheet, randomly add some small diamantes & then sprinkle with crystal glitter to give the whole border a frosty effect. Beware that you must use crystal glitter as any other will oscure the whole image. I have coloured the penguin scenes with Sakura gel pens and again sprinkled with crystal glitter.For the final touches I have added  some sparkling snowflakes with sky blue Candy Bonbons in the centres of some. Brrrrr!!

Spooks & Treats

Shopping List

Stampendous Peel Offs

90895 Spiders Web

90896 Cats & Bats

93211 Bats

all in black

Stickles Orange Peel

Orange & black card

Thin strip of acetate

Black cotton

Sakura gel pens in metallic silver & black

Black 3D foam pads

We're getting ready for Halloween this week & I certainly had fun creating this card. You will need 2  6"x6" card blanks in orange. The first is folded in half as usual.Turn the second over after folding & fold the 2 outer edges in to meet the centre, as in a concertina. You then need to cut a circular aperture from the centre approx 3.5" in diameter. I have decorated the front of the card using a selection from the 3 different peel offs to created a "spooky" scene. The 2 cats at the bottom left hand corner have been stuck onto black card & cut out. The smaller one has been mounted with black foam pads & the larger one mounted onto a small strip of  concertina acetate. This gives a fun springy movement. I've used the orange Stickles to highlight the cats & spiders eyes & the widows of the haunted house. For the inner card  I have stuck some of the bats randomly down the edges of the card & some smaller ones behind the aperture.I have mounted the large hanging bat onto black card & cut out & then suspended him using black thread. I have used a watercolour wash using sakura pens in metallic siver & black to give the  effects to the background & the webs. Tiny spiders dancing around the edge of the  aperture & some spooky messages finishes the inner card. Now just fix the inner card to the inside of the outer card along the edges only to acheive the pop out look & that spooky surprise.

  Here's the inside of the card- scary!

12th Special Edition Workshop at Japonica

Last monday saw us holding our 12th Special Editionworkshop and as always a great day was had by all as you will see from the photos of all the ladies crafting away below!

We were fortunate to have a veritable wealth of crafting expertise among our tutors this time as we were able to welcome Francoise Read, Jane Gill, Vera Moore and our own Janet Caudrelier. A wide range of products and techniques were used and a chance to sample and use first hand some of the new stamps and products that were introduced to Jan and I when we went to the Woodware retailers workshop event in Yorkshire at the beginning of September. Japonica's twice yearly workshops seem to get better with each one with the bar being set higher and higher by our crafting customers. We look forward to our next one in March next year when we shall look forward to seeing Francoise again-places are going rapidly as always so be sure to put your name down soon!  

Blue Christmas

Shopping List

Artemio clear stamps Snowmen

Versafine Onyx Black

Sakura Stardust Jelly Roll & Metallic pens

Stampendous Rainbow embossing powder

Peel off chain letters  Let it Snow

Stickles Diamond

Acetate

All available from http://www.woodware.co.uk/

We're really into the Christmas crafting season now & I've been itching to try out this cute set of stamps from Artemio.  I have used an overlay of acetate onto which I have attached the bottom layer depicting the row of snowmen.I've stamped onto white hammer finish card which I think is great for suggesting the texture of snow. I've water coloured them with Sakura pens in various shades of blue. On the outside of the card blank I have stamped the snowy street scene in a dark blue ink and again used Sakuras to add some detail. I've also used some Stickles glitter glue to give some frosting & added the Let it Snow peel off which I have also used on the snowman layer. I have cut the top of the card away just above the skyline to expose the inner layer of the card. On this layer I have grouped together 3 of the snowflake stamps with I have stamped in a dark blue ink & embossed with Rainbow embossing powder to give them some sparkle. I have coloured the large snowflake & detailed the others with a Sakura Metallic pen in silver. A few sparkly snowdrop peel offs on the front of the acetate layer just helps to link it all together. Happy Blue Christmas!

 

Flock flowers

Shopping List

Set of 3 Woodware paper mache boxes

Artemio Silhouette Flowers clear stamp set

Stampendous flock powders in:-

Olive You

Sunshiny Yellow

Citrus Orange

Indigo Blue

Chocolate Lotto

Cataloupe Orange

Stampendous pearl glitter Tiger Lily

Double sided adhesive sheet

Woodware craft wire

Woodware buttons

Gold brads

Caviar beads gold & copper

Brown, burgundy & pale gold organza ribbon

Gold Mica paint  

Memory mists in copper, silver & gold

Punch craft tools used:-

Double ended etching tool (DEET)

Character shaper 

All available from http://www.woodware.co.uk/

I'm working with flock this week & thought I'd take a break from card making for a while to get creative with this set of 3 different sized boxes. I've used Artemio's SilhouetteFlowers stamp set to give me my flower & leaf shapes. I've stamped onto paper the same colour as the flock I have chosen to use, placed the image onto a piece of double sided adhesive sheet & cut out my flower or leaf. I have used the DEET & Character Shaper to give the rounded shape to the petals & some veining to the leaves. I have treated the boxes with a mixture of layers of Mica paint  & Memory Mists spray which I have then wiped & sanded to give the aged, distressed look. I've added the flowers & leaves & embellished with brads, caviar beads & buttons. As you will see I have used a mix of flock colours on some of the flowers & leaves & I've added some glitter also to the small box. I've acheived the worn, tattered effect with the ribbons by heating very gently with a heat tool. Be very cautious if you try this as the ribbon does shrivel very easily but this is also a good technique to use to seal the ends of ribbon that is going to be handled a lot. Here are the individual boxes hope youlike them.



Wrinkles?What wrinkles?!

Shopping List

JGCL545-Girl Stuff

Bremen scrapbook paper

Flock pastel brads

Self adhesive lace

Versafine

Narrow satin ivory ribbon

Sakura gel pens

Coloured pencils

All available from:http://www.woodware.co.uk/

It's sketch challenge week again & I've used this fun set of stamps by Jane Gill which will bring a smile to the lips of all us ladies "of a certain age"! I've stamped onto the spotty side of the Bremen  scrapbook paper & used the flock brads, ribbon & self adhesive lace to give a real feminine, girly feel. We're all girls at heart, whatever our age.........right?!!   

Here's the original sketch that I worked from why don't you have a go & see what you come up with- anything you like! 

Something for the Boys



Shopping list

Artemio hexagonal die cut mini album template

(18002014)

Stampendous cling sentiments:-

CRV151 Life Path

CRM222 Confidant Graduation

CRN138All Good Things

CRE187 Simply The Best

CRL249 Love Friends Health

SSC1052 Hugs For All

Magenta memor 238 Peace

Woodware Big flourish punch

Big circle punch

Super circle punch

Versafine ink pad

Copper nailheads

All available fromhttp://www.woodware.co.uk/

Something for the boys this week & a mini scrapbook album for a brand new proud dad. I've used the Artemio template to cut the mini album from a double sided Magenta scrapbook paper which compliments the colours in the photos. I have used Big & Super cicle punches to select parts of the photos to feature in different sections of the album. As always Stampendous sentiments provide just the right words & I have used the Big flourish punch & some copper nailheads to provide some masculine embellishment. The perfect memento for a besotted dad!

 

Colours of Autumn

Shopping List

Artemio -Silhouette Foliage

Stampendous CRE187- Cling Simply the Best

Brilliance ink pads:-

Pearlescent Poppy

Pearlescent Beige

Pearlescent Rust

Cosmic Copper

Rocket Red Gold

Ladybug embellishments

Organza ribbons in pale gold, burgundy & terracotta

All available from http://www.woodware.co.uk/

Summer is behind us now & autumn well & truly here bringing with it magnificent colours which is our theme this week. I have used this Artemio clear stamp set which has some lovely foliage silhouettes & some pretty flowers too which would lend themselves just as well to spring or summer themes. These solid images can be used with inkpads as I have done here or by applying colour with marker pens directly onto the stamp. I have stamped with a variety of Brilliance ink pads in autumnal colours onto cream linen card layered onto burgundy, orange & red card. I have created my own card blank by cutting a piece of A4 card horizontally & folding approx 2" in from the right side & then the left side in to meet that. I have joined the 2 pieces of card at the back so I have stamped a cream layer of card to go inside to hide the join & strengthen the card blank. I have tied the 3 pieces of ribbon together over the right hand panel & tattered the ends to give a fringed effect. The cute ladybug embellishments & a Stampendous sentiment complete the design.





Sugar & Spice

Shopping List

Woodware Clear Magic JGCL536-Chocaholic

Stampendous Cling stamp CRN138 All Good Things

Large corner rounder

Versafine Onyx Black

Watercolour pencils

Organza ribbon

Gingham ribbon

Double sided adhesive sheet

Ultra fine glitters

Acetate

Glossy accents

Woodware stapler

All available fromhttp://www.woodware.co.uk/

Sugar & spice & all things nice......like chocolate & we girls love our chocolate don't we? It was time to make a shaker card this week, I haven't done one for ages. I've borrowed an original idea from my good friend Jan Caudrelier for the sugar strands as the filling for my shaker panel but honestly I just couldn't think of anything better to go with the theme of this week. I have used Jane gill's lovely set of stamps "Chocaholic" & I just love all the cheeky messages that come wiht this set. We've all got those pieces of ribbon which are much too pretty to throw away & will surely come in handy one day haven't we? Here's a fun way of using up those scraps. just staple them to the edge of your card with the Woodware stapler & which comes with coloured staples. I've shortened the front right hand edge of the card to reveal  a border which i have acheived with a strip of double sided sheet & random rainbow coloured glitters. I've given the chocolates a glossy finish with a thin coat of Glossy Accents & the Stampendous sentiment inside the card just adds the finishing touch!Yummy!

I'm soooo excited!!

I'm off to Yorkshire for the weekend for the Woodware retailers 2 day workshop event! Jan & I are off on Saturday & will be staying overnight in Chestfield before being up bright & early on Sunday morning to get to Skipton, the headquarters of Woodware. Over the next 2 days we'll be taking part in workshops held by Francoise Read, Jane Gill & the ladies from Stampendous & Dreamweaver. I'll also get to meet Dorothy Adam who is the co ordinator of the new Woodware blog. There will be 4 members of the blog design team under one roof at the same time so that will be exciting. I'm going to come back buzzing with ideas that I can't wait to try out! Watch this space!

Spring Sprigs

Shopping List

Stampendous CRV153 Cling Spring Sprigs

Clear Magic FRCL171-All Through the Year

Versamark pad

White embossing powder

Chalks

Chalk inkpad

Woodware lever border punch Spring Ribbon

White organza ribbon



Wouldn't it indeed be nice to be thinking about spring instead at the fast approaching autumn? It's our 4th sketch challenge this week & I've chosen this delicate stamp by Stampendous to give us that last taste of summer before we're looking at the magnificent colours of autumn.I have used the stamp to create the background on the card blank by ramdomly stamping and embossing the image with white embossing powder. I have then sponged over the entire area with a sky blue chalk inkpad. For the centre piece I have stamped the image using a Versamark clear sticky pad & then highlighted the  flowers, grasses & stems with chalks. A central panel created by using the Ribbon Spring border punch, & a sentiment from the Clear Magic set completes the card.  



DREAMWEAVER BLOG HOP!

Shopping List

Dreamweaver stencils:-

 Birthday Words LG704

Flower in Bottle LL566

black embossing paste

Mica powders

Memory Mists Silver Metallic

 & Bright Gold

Woodware Sparkler peel offs (Dragonflies & Butterflies)

Purple organza ribbon (narrow)

All available from Woodware

http://www.woodware.co.uk/

It's Dreamweaver week this week -I just love that name don't you? I've created a card & co- ordinating bookmark this week using stencils, embossing paste & Mica powders & Memory Mists. I have used the same stencil for the main image in conjuction with the black embossing paste & Mica powders & again with Memory Mists for a softer muted effect on the bookmark. Secure the stencil to a piece of white card using masking tape & apply a layer of the embossing paste with the flat of a pallet  knife to cover the entire stencil then remove the excess. Carefully remove the stencil & leave the image to dry. Place the stencil over the image when dry & apply Mica powders. The birthday greeting was created in the same way. I have then layered the image onto black & white card & embellished with gold satin ribbon before layering onto purple card. I've made a gift pocket on the right hand side of the card to insert the bookmark. I have used  a piece of black card for the bookmark & spitzed over the stencil with Metallic Silver & Bright Gold Memory Memory Mists which as you can see produce some beautiful  vey different colour effects on the black card. Ribbons & dragonfly & butterfly Sparkers finish off the effect.