Friday 28 December 2012

Just a Note........


Shopping List
Artemio Music & Instruments
10006019
Artemio Music Score
10006029
Woodware Clear Magic stamp set
JGCL533 Daffodils
Woodware buttons
Versafine Vintage Sepia inkpad
Narrow brown organza ribbon
A5 cream linen card blank
Raffia
All available from:-
Your local stockist is:-
Japonica
22 the Parade
Exmouth
EX8 1RW
01395 271739
Hi hope you had a great Christmas & that all you're all ready to start crafting into 2013! Our theme this week is "Just a Note" so I took it literally- get it?! I've used 2 lovely Artemio stamps which are large cling stamps & they make great backgrounds. I've simply sponged 2 pieces of card & stamped over this using Vintage Sepia. The front of the card blank has been scored in half & folded back on itself. The card blank has also been sponged to give it an aged distressed look. As you can see I have simply layered both stamped pieces onto rust card & attached them overlapping each other which gives a new dimension to the card. The sentiment  
comes from "Daffodils" & I have finished off by adding some buttons, ribbon & raffia. This simple card could be used as a "Thank you" or great for a gents birthday. Happy new Year!!


A Closer look at the 2 panels


Saturday 22 December 2012

A Little Bird told Me


Shopping List
Stampendous CRM 285 Cling Bluebird Branch
Stampendous Perfectly Clear set SSC1158
Thoughtful Wishes
Woodware punches:-
1" Plum 821-83
1.5" Fern 821-40
Mini snowflake
Versafine Onyx Black inkpad
Sakura coloured pencils
Stickles lime green
6x6 white linen card blank

 All available from :-
Your local Woodware stockist is:-
Japonica
22 The Parade
Exmouth
EX8 1RW
01395 271739

Well are you all ready for Christmas? I don't know about you but as far as crafting is concerned I'm all Christmased out!! This week I'm using some of the lovely new Spring stamps from Stampendous & our theme is "A Little Bird Told Me"- well actually it's four little birds. Isn't this little group of twitterers gorgeous! I've stamped with Versafine & coloured with Sakura pencils. I've just added a die cut frame & mounted onto a white linen card which has been softly sponged with a blue inkpad. The sentiment in the bottom right corner comes from "Thoughtful Wishes". This set has loads of great wishes suitable for every occasion which I will be using over the coming weeks. Just to finish off I've added some punched flowers & leaves to give a springlike feel (I wish!) & a little touch of Stickles to the centres of the flowers for a little sparkle.

Monday 10 December 2012

Christmas tags & toppers


Shopping list
 Stamps used :-
Stampendous
N133 Silent Night Snowman
N183 Festive Forest
CRP176 Cling Forest Santa
Perfectly Clear set "Tis the Season"
Magenta 
Poinsettia 40-203J
Chippies mount board sheet 
Stampendous Crystal embossing powder
Versamark inkpad
Versafine inkpads Onyx black & Satin Red
Sakura coloured pencils 
Stickles
Red pearls, s/a diamantes,Elements
Fingerguard trimmer
Ribbons
All available from:-
Your local Woodware stockist is:-
Japonica
22 The Parade
Exmouth EX8 1RW
Tags or toppers this week so I have chosen tags although any of these designs could easily be used as toppers too. All the tags have been created from Chippies mount board sheet which can be easily cut using the Fingerguard trimmer (I have used the pinking blade) except the round one which I have made by glueing several punched circles of card together. I have used a variety of Christmas stamps, some old, some new. All the colouring has been done with Sakura pencils & I have then given each piece a coating using the Versamark pad & Crystal embossing powder. I have then added Stickles, embellishments & ribbons. The back of each tag has been left clear for your own message. Actually....... I think mine may end up on my tree- Happy Christmas to me!!   

Here's a closer look at each tag

Poinsettia

Festive Forest

Silent Night Snowman

Forest Santa


Tis the Season





Tuesday 4 December 2012

December's Sketch challenge


Shopping List
Dreamweaver stencil 
Star Dream Christmas Tree LG 746
Dreamweaver Gold embossing paste
FRCL174 Holly Swirls
Stampendous Perfectly clear set "Tis the Season" 
Detail Gold embossing powder
Encore gold inkpad
Sakura metallic gold pen
Mark Richards Gold Metals
Liquid Pearls
Ivory, burgundy & Christmas green card
Zig glue pen
Gilding flakes
Gold card
All available from:-

Your local stockist is:-
Japonica
22 The Parade
Exmouth
EX8 1RW
01395 271739
Yes it's that time of the month again & perhaps my last Christmas offering for this year. Continuing my love affair with Dreamweaver stencils I have used the gorgeous Star Dream Christmas Tree. I have embossed onto green card using gold embossing paste & left to dry thoroughly. When dry I have added some gilding flakes using the glue pen & some Liquid Pearls to highlight. I have gently sponged the edges of all pieces with the gold inkpad. The gold embossed holly has been achieved using the Holly Swirls set stamped onto the burgundy card for the bottom of the card blank, also onto a strip of ivory for the centre band. All pieces have been mounted onto gold card before mounting onto the A5 card blank to form the sketch. Lastly emboss the sentiment from  "Tis the Season" onto a piece of gold card & add the gold Metals.

Here's the original sketch why not play along!


Wednesday 28 November 2012

Christmas gifts


 Shopping List
FRCL 174 Holly Swirls
Stampendous Aged Scarlet &Aged Ivory
embossing powders
(From Frantage range)
Detail Gold embossing powder
Stampendous Boss Gloss
Sakura gold & red metallic pens
1" holly punch
Buttons
S/A pearls (all 3 sizes)
Burgundy & ivory organza ribbon
S/A Pearl flourish border   
Crystal Stickles
Ivory card
Gold paper
All available from:-
All supplies &
paper mache letters available from
Japonica
22 The Parade
Exmouth
EX8 1RW
01395 271739
Our theme this week is Christmas gifts &..........I got carried away again!! My main aim was  "Noel" which I have been itching to do for a while now. The letters start life just dull brown paper & then......!    I started  by embossing some strips of Holly Flourish & one of the messages which are included with the set. I used gold powder &  Iwater coloured with the Sakura pens. These were then torn & stuck onto the figures with a craft glue. Then I randomly embossed with the Aged Scarlet & Ivory powders. You'll find Stampendous Boss Gloss handy for this as it comes in a bottle with a felt applicator so it's perfect for covering large areas & getting into difficult places. After all the fronts  & sides were embossed (I just used gold paint for the backs) I just went mad with punched holly, ribbon, pearls, buttons, Stickles & the gorgeous new pearl flourish s/a border from Woodware. It's on display at Japonica if you want to take a closer look but only until my tree goes up at home! I just need to discourage Mr. Frosty from re-arranging the letters to form other words (he's been watching re runs of Faulty towers again!)


Here are some of the other things I've made as gift ideas.

I took a candle in a tin & removed the original labels. The top has been stamped with Stampendous Holly Basket (CRQ163) onto a circle of card. All colouring has been done with Sakura coloured pencils & I have embossed the whole image with Crystal embossing powder & embossed the edges of the top with Aged Hunter Green powder.  
The side of the tin has a strip of card which has been stamped with the Holly Swirl set & coloured & embossed in the same way. 
 Here we have a set of coasters. I die cut 4 large circles from Woodware's Chippies mount board, printed with holly & messages again & coloured with pencils & then enamelled with clear enamelling powder. For the last coat (I usually do 3) I used Crystal powder & I added a sprinkle of Aged Bronze powder which I also edged the coasters with too.


I really can't take the credit for this last one as we made the large bow with Fran Seiford at the Woodware Retailers Workshop day back in September but the smaller one was just begging to be finished so I chose the cute "Snowbird" from Stampendous which i featured in the blog a few weeks ago for "Cute Christmas". The embossing is done with Aged Marine this time.


That finally is the lot! I'm off for a lie down in a darkened room now!See you next time!

Thursday 22 November 2012

Black & White Christmas


Shopping List
Dream weaver stencils:-
Tree Line LG745
Celebrate Script LS90
Black embossing paste
Woodware Rhine stone border clear JL906
A5 white card blank
Silver pearl card (from 12" x 12" sheet) 
Zig glue pen
Crystal glitter
Corner rounder punch
All available from:-
www.woodware.co.uk
Your local Woodware stockist is:-
Japonica
22 The Parade
Exmouth
EX8 1RW
01395 271739

We  have a simple black & white theme this week but one of my favourites (I sound like Brucie!)  I have embossed the Dreamweaver "Tree Line" & "Celebrate Script" stencils onto white card using black embossing paste & left to dry. Next cut 2 strips of silver card & add to card blank at top & bottom. Layer both stencilled pieces onto black card & round relevant corners before attaching to card blank. "Frost" the trees using the glue pen & crystal glitter. Lastly add the gorgeous new embellishment border from Woodware to the silver strips.

Here's how the folks at Dreamweaver describe Stencilling with metal stencils & pastes.



Using Embossing Paste with Brass Stencils

This technique looks especially nice on dark card stock. It has a sharper edge to it than either dry or thermal embossing and, like dry embossing, it can also be stenciled with color. When iridescent powders are added to the regular embossing paste, the embossing almost has an "Indian sandpainted" look to it.

1. When using embossing paste on the brass stencils, you need to work quickly, because the paste sets up in 20-40 minutes and you don't want it to dry into the fine bridgework of the brass stencils.

2. Make sure you are working on a hard flat surface and the stencil needs to be flat against the surface, because, if it is bent, the paste will pull under the bridges and smear.

3. Tape out the edges well with removable tape.

4. Pick up the paste on the bottom of the metal palette knife and smooth over the stencil's cut out areas as if applying icing to a cake. Now the paste on the stencil is about 1/8"- 1/4" thick. At this point, scrape off the excess paste until all the holes are filled evenly and the stencil surface is smooth.

5. Immediately take off the tape and pick up the stencil from the paper--lifting it off in a straight up manner as much as possible. It is important to clean the stencil off immediately, so drop it into a pan of water until you have time to scrub it with a vegetable or nail brush. If there is a film or residue of paste on the stencil, use a rubber stamp cleaner that removes permanent inks. Apply it generously and scrub with a dry paper towel.
6. Set aside the paste project for 20-40 minutes and, when dry, put the cleaned stencil back in place and stencil with a variety of mediums.



Friday 16 November 2012

Cute Christmas


Shopping List
Stampendous Cling Snowbird CRP169
Stampendous SSC1147 Tis The Season
Magenta Cling Snowflake Branch C35.077J
Crafty Edger +Scallop Shell cassette
Mica pearl flakes
Sakura pencils
Versafine Vintage Sepia inkpad
Stampendous Crystal embossing powder
Stampendous Detail Silver embossing powder
Versamark pad
Stardust Stickles  
Woodware Christmas Glitter brads
Silver organza ribbon
Silver pearl 12x12 card
2" label punch
Large corner rounder punch
A5 white card blank
All available from :-
Your local stockist is:-
Japonica
22 the Parade
Exmouth
EX8 1RW
01395 231739
This week it's the turn of one of the new Christmas stamps from Stampendous- isn't he just adorable!! He's a "Snowbird" so I've dressed him as a robin- a little artistic licence is allowed!! I've stamped onto white card using Vintage Sepia and coloured with Sakura pencils. For the card background I've stamped all over using the Snowflake Branch and embossed using the Crystal powder for a twinkly, frosty effect. After rounding off all corners I have layered onto the silver card and gone mad with the gorgeous Pearl Mica flakes from the Frantage range. The border at the left of the card I've created using some white pearl paper with the Crafty Edger and the Scallop Shell cassette which always reminds me of snowflakes. I've added a length of silver organza ribbon and some Glitter snowflake brads. The greeting comes from "Tis the Season" which has some wonderful Christmas sentiments to suit any card- you'll be seeing a lot more of this set over the coming weeks!! I've simply stamped and embossed in silver onto a punched label and mounted this onto another silver card label finished with a silver ribbon tie. All that's left is now is to add some Stickles to  the berries and branches for that frosty look.

Here's a closer look at the Snowflake Branch background or call in to Japonica to see the real thing!




Thursday 15 November 2012

Candi Roses

It was my turn to demo at Japonica last Thursday (sorry I'm a bit late with this!) & my theme was Christmas Messages. I was using the Stampendous clear set "Tis the Season" which has so many great sentiments for the focal point of your card & to use for the insert too. The "roses" surrounding the verse were made from Candis. For those who aren't familiar with these they are small domed discs which come in a variety of colours, prints & finishes to be used as embellishments. I was watching a lady demo these at Taunton show recently & have taken her idea & run with it. They are very simple to make but look pretty & effective don't they?Simply punch a 1" circle of card to use as your base & squidge a large dollop of silicone onto the centre. Curl 2 Candis around a small stick & these form the centre of the rose. Next just take a Candi in one hand & twist using a pair of tweezers with the other. These form the petals so now simply build up the rose working from the centre out. There are no rules, just keep going until it looks right. I made the outer edge flatter by glueing the untwisted edge & tucking under the previous row. The background was stamped with Maganta's Snowflake branch & I've just added a few punched silver holly leaves & crystal glitter to finish. 
Here's a closer look at the flowers


Pop in to Japonica & take a closer look & I'll be happy to talk you through how to make the roses & I few other flowers that popped out of my imagination while I was on a roll!

Saturday 10 November 2012

November Sketch Challenge


Shopping List
Stampendous M178 Poppy Stems
FRCL 026 Francoise Alphabet
Versafine Onyx Black
 Stampendous Detail Clear embossing powder
Sakura Stardust & Gelly Glaze pens
3mm black & red pearls
Black with red polka dot organza ribbon.
Black 5"x 7" card blank
White & red card
All available from:-

Your local Exmouth stockist is:-
Japonica 
22 The Parade
Exmouth
EX8 1RW
01395 271739
It's sketch challenge time again & I have stepped away from Christmas this week. As we are so close to Remembrance day & with young lives still being lost In Afghanistan almost daily I just needed to do this card. I have used an older stamp from Stampendous but it's stunningly simple & still available as a cling stamp. The main image has been printed with Versafine & embossed with clear powder. I have then water coloured using the Sakura pens. As you will see I have printed again onto the white layer & at the top of the red layer. The wording at the bottom of the white layer has been achieved using the Francoise Alphabet. I have simply added the polka dot ribbon & finished with the red & black pearls. 

Here's the original sketch so why not play along! Pop into Japonica to see my take on the sketch.


Monday 29 October 2012

Frantage Christmas


Shopping List
Stampendous CRR143 Snowy Postcard
SSC1147 Tis the Season 
From the Frantage range:-
Aged Silver embossing powder
Shabby Blue embossing powder
Silver Halo mix glitter
Silver Crushed Glass glitter
Shaved Ice
Pearl Mica flakes
Also:-
Crystal embossing powder
Versafine Smoky Grey & Deep Lagoon
12"x 12" silver pearl card
8"x 8" card blank
Versamark inkpad
Sakura coloured pencils
Stickles Stardust & Waterfall
30mm white organza ribbon
All available from:-
Your local Exmouth stockist is:-
Japonica
22 The Parade
Exmouth
EX8 1RW
01395 271739

We're having a Frantage fest this week &  at last I got to use the gorgeous Snowy Postcard stamp from Stampendous which I have been saving for this theme. I've stamped the image 3 times, twice with Deep Lagoon ( so that I could cut out the holly leaves to decoupage)  & once with Smoky Grey. As you will see I have then cut out & layered the pieces together. I then coated the whole piece with Versamark & embossed with Crystal powder  for a really glistening, icy look.  Next I layered this onto a piece of white which  I had sponged lightly around the edges with a blue inkpad. The next step was to frame the image with the Aged Silver powder before building up some chunky areas with the rest of the Frantage products & the Frantage method of heating from under the card. If you go to "You Tube" you will see Fran Seiford herself do some great demos using all the Frantage products. I covered the card blank with the silver pearl card &  attached the image. Pearl mica flakes were then added around the edges & a bow using a piece of the new wide organza ribbon from Woodware. The sentiment  comes from "Tis the Season" & I have embossed the edges of this too with Aged Silver & a few flakes of Shaved Ice.

Why not pop into Japonica & take a closer look! 
  





Tuesday 23 October 2012

I knew I'd use it one day!!


Shopping List
JGCL563 Doodle Tree
Crafty Edger + Antique Floral cassette
Brilliance Pearlescent Poppy inkpad
Versamark inkpad
Encore Gold Metallic inkpad
Gold heart brads
Mark Richards gold metals
Red Stickles
Woodware Recycled Craft card
Dark red card for card blank & layering
All available from:-
Your local stockist is:-
Japonica
22 The Parade 
Exmouth
EX8 1RW
01395 271739

My recycled items are:-
Gold card
Red paper
Bubblewrap
Brown paper
String

Now I don't know about you but my Gran always saved every piece of brown paper, every rubber band, every piece of string. I think it was a habit acquired during the war years  & I suspect that I have inherited it! Our project this week is to "Upcycle & Re-Use" so I've raided my box of treasures that I just knew that I'd find a used for one day - we all have one of those don't we? What did you say? A whole craft room full?!! The gold card which you will see at the left of the card was saved from last years Christmas crackers. We had some posh crackers & I had everyone carefully saving their gold bits- couldn't let such lovely textured bling end up in the bin! The red paper came from a shop bought greeting card which I was given .All my nearest & dearest never write on an envelope or seal it down before they give it to me because I just might have a use for it! I wrapped some bubblewrap around an acrylic block & inked it with the gold inkpad before printing onto the red paper. It gives quite an interesting result which I shall probably use again. The Doodle Tree is printed onto the good old brown paper &embellished with the Stickles & metals. At the top of the card you will see a piece of the craft card which I have stamped with Versamark using the snowflakes from the Doodle Tree set. Now just add some string & heart brads & our recycling is done!

Here's a closer look at my printed paper


Wednesday 17 October 2012

Shades of Red


Shopping List
Magenta Poinsettia 40.203J
Stampendous Perfectly Clear set
Tis the Season SSC1147

6"x 6" white card blank
Brilliance Moonlight white inkpad
Versafine Satin Red inkpad
White Sakura gel pen
Mark Richards Pearl Flourish border
White with red polka dot organza ribbon
Red Stickles 

3mm pearls
Red & white card for layering
Silver pearl vellum
All available from:
www.woodware.co.uk
Cheery Lyn Holly flourish die available from
Japonica
Your local stockist is:-
Japonica
22 The Parade
Exmouth
EX8 1RW
01395 271739
We're using a monochrome theme this week in shades of red & not as most people have come to expect, black & white. I've used an older Magenta stamp this week but one of my favourites the Poinsettia. I've stamped firstly on to a piece of red card using Moonlight White & then onto the vellum using Satin Red (this will take a little time to dry or you can carefully help it on it's way with a heat tool). I have shaded the leaves on the red piece using a coloured pencil & emphasised some of the design with a Sakura matt white gel pen. Then cut out the flower from the vellum piece & decoupage onto the red piece. I've highlighted the centre with some red Stickles. The greeting from the "Tis the Season" set has also been stamped with Satin Red. To finish I have added some small pieces from the new Mark Richards pearl flourish border, some polka dot ribbon, a holly flourish dye cut & some 3mm pearls.

Thursday 11 October 2012

Vintage Christmas


Shopping List
Stampendous stamps:-
Cling First Christmas CRR154
Cling Calligraphy Sampler CRR138
Cling Sacred Silhouette CRV 186
Stampendous Detail gold embossing powder
Aged Gold embossing powder
Bronze Mica flakes
Champagne Glass Glitter
Versafine Onyx Black inkpad
Encore gold inkpad
Chalk inkpads
8"x8" card blank
All available from:-
Your local stockist is:-
Japonica
22 The Parade
Exmouth
EX8 1RW
01395271739

Our theme this week is "Vintage Christmas" &I've chosen one of the new Christmas stamps from Stampendous which I think is just adorable. I also get to continue with my love for all things "Frantage" too. I have covered the card blank with a piece of beige parchment  which I have stamped down the right hand side with the Calligraphy stamp & gold inkpad also on the black frame.I have given the corners the Frantage treatment using Aged Gold powder,Mica flakes & glass glitter. For the main stamped piece I have taken a piece of white card & given it some direct to paper inking with a mix of beige, pale yellow & orange chalk inkpads. I have stamped First Christmas onto this using Versafine Onyx Black. The Sacred Silhouette stamp has been embossed onto black card using Detail gold powder, cut out & mounted with 3D foam tape. To finish I have added a peel off star to light the way to Bethlehem!

Why not pop into Japonica & take a look at the real thing!

Friday 5 October 2012

October's Sketch Challenge



Shopping List
Magenta wood mounted rubber stamp
Winter Scene 02286.P
JGCL551 Christmas Verses
Tombow pens
2" holly punch
Zig glue pen & crystal glitter
Magenta scrapbook papers
Buttons
A5 white card blank
black card
All available from:-
www.woodware.co.uk
Your local stockist:-
Japonica
22 The Parade
Exmouth
EX8 1RW
01395 271739


It's sketch challenge time again & I've chosen a stamp ( which sadly I think is now discontinued) which I used in the early part of this year when we covered the theme "Winter Wonderland". I've given it a completely different look this time as I have cut it into sections to adapt to the sketch. Just print 3 times & divide the prints into 3 even but very different sections. As you will see I have just extended the hills & slopes to 2 sections with a fine black pen. I have coloured with Tombow pens & highlighted the snowy areas with the glue pen & glitter. The sentiment comes from Christmas Verses which was one of last years very popular Christmas sets. I have punched some holly leaves form some scraps of Magenta papers & added some buttons as my berries which tone with the colours of the card.

Here is the original sketch- go on have a go!!

Why not pop into Japonica to see this design "in the flesh"!

Saturday 29 September 2012

Resist! Resist!


Shopping List
Magenta wooden block stamps:-
07436.p Holiday Text
35075.I Retro Snowflake Background
Color Box Queue Misty Meadow
Stampendous Detail Clear embossing powder
Versamark inkpad
1" snowflake punch
Diamond Stickles
S/A green pearls
6" square white card blank
All available from:-

Your local stockist is:-
Japonica
22 The Parade
Exmouth 
EX8 1RW
01395 271739

This weeks technique is one of my favourites but you know what? I'd completely forgotten about it- like you do!! This technique involves embossing with clear or white embossing powder & then sponging over the entire area with your chosen inks or suitable paints. It's great for creating backgrounds. I have started with the Snowflake stamp & randomly stamped all over with the Versamark pad & embossed with clear powder. The Colorbox Queue inks are great for this as they are already co-ordinated for you.The shades in the Misty Meadow set are:-
Warm Violet
Wisteria
Ice Jade
Aquamarine
French Blue
There are a whole variety of other colourways to choose from so check out the Woodware website. I do find it helpful to wipe my piece of card with an Anti Static bag as this removes any marks or smudges which your embossing powder may cling to causing speckling. When my embossing was done I simply sponged with my inks taking care to work the ink into the areas around the wording. As you will see (as the title suggests) the embossed images resist the ink & if you have used a clear powder you will see the colour of the card showing through. You can very gently wipe over the embossing with a soft cloth to really remove the ink. To finish I have kept it simple & just layered my main piece onto white card before adding  2 punched snowflakes with pearls & a little sparkle with some Stickles.

Don't forget you can see this design and many more on display at Japonica!