Tuesday 26 February 2013

Animals Wild & Not So Wild


Shopping List
Francoise Read wooden block stamp:-
FRP006 Tina & Tricia Patchwork Giraffes
FRS211 Patchwork Background
5" x  7" ivory linen card blank
Versafine Onyx Black
Saruka Gelly Roll pen
Sakura coloured pencils
Black with red polka dots organza ribbon
Black Diamond Stickles
Black & orange card 
Black peel off greeting & hearts
All available from:-
Your local Exmouth stockist is:-
Japonica 
22 The Parade 
Exmouth
EX8 1RW
01395 271739
 We have a fun theme this week in the shape of animals & I couldn't resist this "more mature" wooden mounted stamp from Francoise Read. These cute patchwork giraffes go very well with one of the  more recent "Singles" clear stamps by Francoise, the Patchwork Background. I've stamped the background first with just a Versamark pad onto a piece of orange card & then onto the card blank with black ink. Then stamp the giraffes over the top of the orange piece. I've then stamped them twice more onto a piece of ivory card with the black inkpad before giving them some colour with the Sakura pencils. Cut out both the giraffes & then just the smaller of the 2 & then decoupage them onto the main image. Layer this onto black card & attach to the card blank. Highlight the Patchwork behind the giraffes with the orange gel pen & add the black Stickles to the markings, tails & horns of the giraffes. To finish add the spotty ribbon, the peel off greeting & some hearts. Pity we're too late for Valentine's Day!

Wednesday 20 February 2013

Shining Silver


Shopping List
Stampendous Cling CRN208 Classic Anniversary
Magenta Blooms & Flourishes P.0536
Stampendous Detail Silver Embossing powder
Versamark inkpad
1" Daisy punch
Mini Sun punch
Leonie Em Maidenhair Fern punch
Leonie Em Stamen punch
Corner rounder punch
White linen A5 card blank
12 x 12 silver pearl card
Silver pearl paper
Silver mirror card
Silver Sakura Stardust pen 
Liqiud Pearls- Platinum Pearl
Silver Metals
Small diamantes
Silver peel off Anniversary Numbers
All available from:-
www.woodware.co.uk
Your local Exmouth stockist is:-
Japonica
22 The Parade 
Exmouth
EX8 1RW
01395 271739
I am very often asked to take a commission & the most popular requests are for wedding & special anniversary cards. For this weeks theme of "Shining Silver" what better than a card to celebrate a Silver Wedding anniversary. I have made the card blank itself the background for my design & I've stamped using the gorgeous "Blooms & Flourishes" stamp from Magenta & embossed with Detail Silver powder. The focal point of the design is the sentiment itself which has also been embossed silver & layered onto mirror & pearl card. You may notice I have rounded just 2 of the corners of the layers which gives quite an interesting attractive shape. The flowers have been made from 6  daisies punched from the pearl paper & given character with the help of a character shaper & moulding mat & they layered together. The centre of each has 3 mini sun shapes punched from thin mirror card & finished off with a silver metal. Now just add some lovely trailing foliage provided by the Maidenhair fern punch & some Stamens to the sentiment. The numbers come from a very useful peel off which has all the important numbers for any birthday or anniversary.

Thursday 14 February 2013

Weddings, Weddings


Shopping List
Clear Magic FRCL 001 Wedding Set
Stampendous CRV142 Cling Ornate Heart
Stampendous Aged Teal & Detail Gold
embossing powders
30mm ivory organza ribbon
10mm & 30mm s/a pearls
Stazon Teal Blue
Versamark inkpad
Ivory linen card
Teal card
All available from:-
Your local Exmouth stockist is:-
Japonica
22 The Parade
Exmouth
EX8 1RW
01395 219739

With wedding season fast approaching now is the time to think about getting those all important invitations out. The first thing I always say to anyone about to embark on making their own wedding stationery is to keep it simple but classy; if you have dozens to produce you'll wish you had! 
I have chosen the sophisticated Ornate Heart as the centre piece for the invitation ( & this could be echoed for evening invitations too if you need them)

The Invitation

Stamp the Ornate Heart onto ivory card using Versamark & emboss with the Aged Teal powder. Cut out & mount onto the centre front of the card using foam tape. Emboss the wedding words using Detail Gold & mount this plaque onto teal card. Add the organza ribbon bow & finish with pearls. Simple but elegant. 

The Order of Service


I have stamped with the Versamark pad onto teal card & embossed with Aged Teal powder before cutting out. The background hearts were stamped with the Stazon pad onto a panel of ivory card & layered onto teal card. Add the embossed heart with some foam tape. The classic wording comes from quite an old set from Francoise Read which has all the wedding words you will need plus some great icons too. I have stamped the words & embossed with Detail gold powder.Add a serious bow with the organza ribbon & finish with the pearls.

Table Name Card

This is just a small piece of card folded with a plaque of ivory & teal layered card. The 2 cute hearts are from the Wedding Set & embellished with a few touches from a Sakura gold metallic pen & some pearls.

Friday 8 February 2013

Daffodil Girl - February's Sketch Challenge


Shopping List
Stampendous CRW071 Cling Daffodil Girl
SSC1158 Thoughtful Wishes
Dreamweaver stencil Jungle Leaves LJ 825
Colorbox Queue Misty Meadow
Card Candi
Lemon organza ribbon
Leonie Em Ash Leaf punch
Sakura pencils
Versafine Onyx Black
White linen A5 card blank 
Dark blue & lemon card
All available at :-
Your local Exmouth stockist is:-
Japonica
22 The Parade
Exmouth
EX8 1RW
01395 271739
Here we are at Sketch challenge time again with another lovely spring stamp from Stampendous. This design is so delicate & simple that's exactly how I've treated it. I have stamped the image with my favourite Versafine & softly coloured with Sakura pencils. I stamped the sentiment from the Thoughtful Wishes set onto the same piece so that it becomes part of the design. The side panel has been created with the Dreamweaver Jungle Leaves stencil &some plain white card passed through my Cuttlebug. This was then sponged with the greens & blues from the Misty Meadows set. Both pieces have been layered onto dark blue & lemon card finishing with the dark blue again. I have added some "roses" which have been made from Candis ( I've been demonstrating how to make these recently at Japonica plus other flowers so pop in & have a look & I'll talk you through it) To finish add some punched leaves & a small lemon bow.

Here's the sketch which I have worked from


Why not play along!

Saturday 2 February 2013

Baby! Baby!

Shopping List 
Woodware Clear Magic sets:-
FRCL181 Patch Numbers
FRCL 166 Patch Alphabet
Sakura pens
Tombow pens
Pink polka dot organza ribbon
Narrow pink organza ribbon
Woodware mini pegs
Flower ribbon brad
Stickles Stardust
Bremen 12 x12 scrapbook paper (22211)
Pink linen DL card blank
Ivory linen card
All available from:-
www.woodware.co.uk
Your local Exmouth stockist is:-
Japonica
22 The Parade
Exmouth
EX8 1RW
01395 271739
We all need a welcome baby card at times don't we? Such a happy occasion to be creating for & you can really go to town with all things pretty. I have chosen quite an old set from Francoise Read, Patch Alphabet, to spell out the words. I have stamped with Versafine & just highlighted some areas using Sakura Gelly Roll pens in white & pink  before cutting out. I have drawn a clothes line onto an ivory linen panel & pegged the letters using Woodware craft pegs. The row of stamped flowers at the bottom of the card blank come from the Patch Numbers set  & both sets have lots of cute & useful embellishments. Add some organza ribbon & a flower ribbon brad (this has been given the Stickles treatment) to the bottom of the  ivory linen panel plus 2 bows at the ends of the clothes line. Now just add some faux cross stitching to the top & bottom of the panel before mounting onto the pink card blank.