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!

Thursday 20 September 2012

September demos at Japonica

What a busy day it's been!! I've been demonstrating at Japonica Exmouth (Craft Retailer of the Year 2012- just in case you hadn't heard!!) today & many thanks to all the lovely, lively crafty ladies who came to see what I was up to. It's my second demo this month both based on my recent Woodware blog designs.Today I've been using one of the new Christmas stamps from Jane Gill "Christmas Doodles" coloured with Sakura Souffle pens & here are the designs that resulted.





Below are the designs that I produced in my demo 2 weeks ago. It was based on September's sketch challenge & I used "We Three Kings" another new season stamp by Jane Gill, Snowbird   & First Christmas both from Stampendous. 


 Gold embossing on black card.


Simple stamping & colouring with Sakura pencils


A little direct to paper & stamping. 

All designs are on display at Japonica so why not pop in & have a closer look. All products used available at Japonica your local Woodware stockist. www.woodware.co.uk Don't forget to check out the Woodware blog for lots more ideas from the other designers & visit Jan's blog too www.japonicajan.blogspot.com. Bye for now!!

Monday 17 September 2012

Brown and Orange

Shopping List
JGS 278 Doodle Christmas
Double sided 12"x12" paper Oslo 3
Magenta 12"x12" Pretty Gourds
2" Holly punch
Sakura Stardust, Jelly Roll & Metallic pens
Mark Richards Elements orange
Terracotta polka dot ribbon
Dreamweaver embellishment pins
Buttons
8"x8" card blank
Versafine Vintage Sepia inkpad
Detail Clear embossing powder
Crafty Edger+Scallop Flower cassette
Chalk inkpads
Copper foil card
All available from:-
Your local stockist is:-
Japonica
22 The Parade
Exmouth
EX8 5BU
01395 271739
We have a colour challenge this week & I couldn't resist the challenge to make a Christmas card with this colour scheme. I had my doubts at times but you know what? I'm  pleased with the results as it really has a vintage Christmas look to it.
I started with a 8"x8" card blank & covered it with orange paper adding some sponging & faux stitching around the edges. A piece of the Oslo paper came next & I used the reverse of the same paper to create the border at the bottom with the Crafty Edger. Next take a piece of cream card & apply a little direct to paper with orange,wheat & sepia inkpads. I stamped the image with Vintage Sepia & embossed with clear powder.  A mix of Sakura pens in oranges, copper,gold & browns was used to colour the Doodle stamp. This is one of the new season's stamps by Jane Gill. I layered this onto brown card & added some ribbon. Lastly I punched some holly leaves using both sides of the Magenta paper & foil card & gave them some veining using a DEET (double ended etching tool) Now just add the embellishment pins, elements & buttons. Orange & brown Christmas!

Don't forget you can see this design and many more at Japonica.

Tuesday 11 September 2012

Anything but a Stamp

Shopping List
Dreamweaver stencil LG733
 Birds on Bare Branches
Matt black embossing paste
Mica powders
Versamark pad
Peel off Friendly Phrases 921145 black
Purple & olive organza ribbon
Terracotta DL card blank
Peach card

All available from:-
As the title suggests we were asked to put our stamps away this week & as I'm really enjoying using Dreamweaver stencils  I decided to give them another outing. Here's how the Dreamweaver team explain how to use stencils with embossing 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.




After my embossing paste was thoroughly dry I replaced the stencil & inked the image with the sticky Versamark pad. I then used the pearl powders with a soft brush to colour & highlight the image. When you are happy with the result remove the stencil & brush away excess powder. I have layered onto black card & added the ribbon before applying to the card blank. A simple peel off message finishes the design.


This design and many more featured in my blog are on display at Japonica!






Wednesday 5 September 2012

September's sketch challenge.

Shopping List
JGS 283 We Three Kings
Magenta Cling KO537 Buds & Flourishes
Artquestb palettes Interference & Stargazer
Dreamweaver stencil Jungle Leaves LJ825
Sakura Stardust & Metallic pens
S/A diamantes
Versafine Onyx Black
Stampendous Detail Clear embossing powder
Brilliance Pearlescent Purple
A5 card blank
Lilac paper
Black card for layering
All available from:-
Your local stockist is:-
Japonica
22 The Parade
Exmouth
EX8 1RW
01395 271739
It's sketch challenge time & I really feel the Christmas urge now that the summer (hah!) is drawing to a close (did it even start?!!). I've used one of the new season's stamps by Jane Gill to get me into the Christmas mood. I started by randomly painting some card with the gorgeous pearly paints from the Artquest palettes. I stamped the Magenta flourish (which  you will have seen me use many times before as it's one of my favourites) all over some lilac paper using the Pearlescent Purple inkpad, for my background. Next I used a Dreamweaver stencil with my Cuttlebug to texture my piece of painted card . I stamped the image with Versafine Onyx Black & embossed with the clear powder. I gave a colour wash of pale blue pearl paint for the background before painting with the palettes & Sakura pens. Stamp the message at the bottom edge of the card & embellish with the diamantes for that night sky sparkle.   

Here's the sketch  why not play along!!

Don't forget you can see the design on display at Japonica!