Tuesday 22 December 2015

Doodle Bird


Hello there hope all the presents are wrapped, the turkey is stuffed & you've got the sprouts on by now!!  I've just been making some new samples using Woodware stamps & Stix2 products which work really well together. For both designs I've used JGS385 "Doodle Bird"

Here I've done some paper piecing with papers from some Perfect Prints pads from Woodware onto a cream Stix2 card blank. The paper flowers are from Woodware but I've coloured the centres with a brush marker & filled with hot glue using the Stix2 Hot Melt Glue gun before sprinkling Stix2 Clear Plastic Beads over the glue. The tag is a die cut from Stix2 . 

Here I printed the image, coloured it with brush markers & then cut out the background with a craft knife. I then printed the image again onto a piece of white card, placed a piece of Stix2 double sided adhesive sheet over the top, removed the 2nd backing & placed the coloured piece over the top. I then covered the exposed sticky surface with Stix2 Clear Plastic Beads. I stamped the image again onto Stix2 Self Adhesive Sparkly Acetate & cut out just the bird shape after which I wiped the ink off again.  To finish carefully place the acetate over the bird.

Tuesday 15 December 2015

Sketch Challenge 49

Materials Used:-
JGS403 A Touch of Humour
JGS405 Going Around in Circles
FRS288 Doodle a Flower
Colorbox inkpads Artichoke, Banana & Sky
Versafine Onyx Black
White A5 card blank
Glossy Accents
All available from :-
Your local Exmouth stockist is:-
Liberty Craft
33 Exeter Road
Exmouth EX8 1PT
01395 273238
libertycraft33@yahoo.co.uk
So here we are at the last blog post for the year before we all go off on our Christmas break & that's probably what's put gin & tonics in my mind!! It's sketch challenge time too & after all the Christmas designs it was time for a bit of light hearted silliness. The background & strip across the bottom of the design have been randomly stamped with "Going Around in Circles" a very useful set of small stamps & one which I think I will be using a great deal over the coming months. The cheeky sentiment comes from "A Touch of Humour" from Jane Gill & includes 4 other cheeky ones too. I made the lemons from "Doodle a Flower" which has a lot of solid & outline petal & leaf shapes. The dye based Colorbox pads provided just the right blend of bright sunny colours. 

That's all from me for this year,many thanks for your support & may I wish you a very Happy Christmas & a peaceful & healthy New Year. See you in 2016!


Wednesday 9 December 2015

Bring on the Sunshine!

Materials used:-
"Sarah Barnard" dye ink sprays from Clearsnap:-
Guava,Tangerine, Banana, Spearmint & Strawberry
JGS273 Wheat
Versafine Onyx Black
Stampendous Detail powders Copper & Rose Gold
8 x 8 pearl white card
Dark pink card for layering
All available from:-
Your local Exmouth stockist is:-
Liberty Craft
33 Exeter Road
Exmouth EX8 1PT
01395 273238
libertycraft33@yahoo.co.uk
This week's theme is "Bring on the Sunshine" & go mad with inks, sprays & masks etc. not a moment too soon I say! I've done another cheeky page for my Stix2 2015 calendar but this theme was right up my street using sprays, stamping & embossing powders. I took a piece of white pearl card & began building up the layers of colour using the ink sprays. Have some kitchen paper handy & blot the excess as you go until you have the right effect. When dry I stamped the "Wheat" stamp over the top with Versafine & then to finish off I sprinkled some of the embossing powders onto the piece & heated form underneath.Layer onto dark pink card & add to the calendar page.



Thursday 3 December 2015

Sketch Challenge 48

 Materials used:-
Woodware 2" punch "Christmas Flowers"
3/4" punch holly sprig
Magenta peel off 90645 "Christmas Words"
Stickles Stardust & Lavender
Mark Richards Rainbow Elements Clear & Black
5" x 7" white card blank
purple & white pearl paper
Silver mirror card 
All available from:-
www.woodware.co.uk
Your local Exmouth stockist is:-
Liberty Craft
33 Exeter Road
Exmouth EX8 1PT
01395273238
libertycraft33@yahoo.co.uk 
It's Sketch Challenge time again & my last Christmas offering I think too. I've kept it simple with some Christmas punched flowers this time. I've used simple words from the peel off as the focal point & surrounded them with pearly flowers. As you will see from the photo of the punches used you get 5 different sized flowers from the flower punch which layer together nicely after being given some shape with a ball tool. The holly sprig punch is just the right size to go with the flowers & I've added Stickles to the centres. To finish add the Elements.


Here's the sketch

Friday 27 November 2015

Zentangle with Stencils


Materials used:-
Dreamweaver stencil LL358 Heliconia
Sakura Micron pen (02)
Grey inkpad
Black A5 card blank
Black & white card 
Craftwork Cards "In Circles" Everyday Messages
1" circle punch (yellow)
Mark Richards Black Nailheads
All available from:-
www.woodware.co.uk
Your local Exmouth stockist is:-
Liberty Craft
33 Exeter Road
Exmouth EX8 1PT
01395 273238
libertycraft33@yahoo.co.uk
We're using stencils this week in conjunction with zentangling. I have to admit that this isn't my favourite thing to do as I'm not a natural doodler! I'm quite pleased with the results though. I simply placed the stencil onto a piece of white card, anchored it with stencil tape  & drew around all the outlines with the Micron pen. After removing the stencil, let the zentangling begin! If, like me, it doesn't come easily to you or you want to know more there are some great books around these days to get you started, have a look on the Woodware website. I used the stencil again to make a background for the design & I did this with some soft grey ink & a stencil brush. To finish I layered the design & background onto black & white card & added the sentiment which sits nicely on a 1" punched circle. Now attach to the card blank & add the black "Nailheads"


Saturday 21 November 2015

Christmas Decoupage

 Materials used:-
JGS360 Poinsettia Corner
Brilliance Graphite Black
Sakura coloured pencils
Liquid Pearls- Opal White
Stickles- orange peel, Yellow & Stardust 
Woodware "Digital" flat white card
Green A5 card blank
Dark green mirror card
All available from:-
Your local Exmouth stockist is:-
Liberty Craft
33 Exeter Road
Exmouth EX8 1PT
01395 273238
libertycraft33@yahoo.co.uk
I'm a sucker for a poinsettia at Christmas it just wouldn't be the same without one but I must admit that as soon a January 1st comes it's got to go! Can't have it hanging around until Easter! I do like decoupage as a technique too so this stamp from Jane Gill from last years Christmas stamps was perfect. Simply stamp your images where you want your design to be on white card & then stamp again onto extra card for however many layers you wish to add- in this case the base & twice more. I do like to colour just the edges of the base image which will be covered just in case a bit peeks through. I've softly coloured with pencils & after cutting out the flowers I've given them some character & shape with a large ball tool before attaching with 3D foam pads. The sentiment comes with the stamp set & to finish I've mounted onto the green mirror card before attaching to the card blank. I've filled the berries with a generous amount of Liquid Pearls & added some sparkle with the Stickles.  



Monday 9 November 2015

White Embossing

Materials used:-
JGS409 Floral Vine
Dreamweaver die Holly & Swirls
Stampendous Detail white embossing powder
Craft Work Cards "In Circles" Everyday Messages
Liquid Pearls White Opal & Ruby Red
Sakura coloured pencil
Red card
A5 white card blank
1" circle punch
All available from:-
Your local Exmouth stockist is:-
Liberty Craft
33 Exeter Road
Exmouth EX8 1PT
01395 273238
libertycraft33@yahoo.co.uk
Simple white embossing can be very effective on a variety of colours. I've used "Floral Vine" by Jane Gill embossed with detail white powder & I've just highlighted with a white pencil. The sentiment comes from Craft work Cards very useful "In Circles" which has been mounted onto a punched red circle. The holly leaves are made with the Dreamweaver die & I think this design could be perfect for a winter birthday. To finish I've added some Liquid Pearls for the berries.




Tuesday 3 November 2015

Christmas Dies & Punches



Materials used:
JGS404 Christmas Cheer
2" Snowflake punch (blue)
3/4" Snowflake punch
mini snowflake punch 
Perfect prints paper pad "Winter Wonderland"
8" x 8" card blank
Mark Richards Elements
Stickles "Stardust"
30mm white organza ribbon
All available from:-
Your local Exmouth stockist is:-
Liberty Craft
33 Exeter Road
Exmouth EX8 1PT
01395 273238
libertycraft33@yahoo.co.uk


We're using punches and/or dies this week to enhance our Christmas designs. I just love Woodware's range of snowflake punches so it was an easy decision for me. I started by drawing a large circle onto a piece from the Perfect Prints pad & making a wreath from punched snowflakes. I have punched the large ones from white vellum (2 layers), the smaller ones from white sparkle card & then the mini ones from silver mirror card. I've given them all some shape with a Character Shaper & a moulding mat. Next add a large triple bow with white organza ribbon & if you look closely you'll see that I have dotted some mini silver snowflakes inside the bow. The sentiment in the centre comes from Christmas Cheer & I've finished off by mounting the layers of silver mirror card & dark blue card onto the large square card blank. I've added the Elements to the centres of the snowflakes & some touches of Stickles for added sparkle. 


Wednesday 28 October 2015

Sketch Challenge 47


Materials used:-
Woodware ADS509 Celtic Circle & Holly
Perfect Prints paper pad "Tis the Season"
Versafine Olympic Green
Sakura coloured pencils
Mark Richards Elements (red)
Glossy Accents
5" x 7" cream card blank
All available from:-
Your local Exmouth stockist is:-
Liberty Craft
33 Exeter Road
Exmouth EX8 1PT
01395 273238
It's that time of the month again & our 47th Sketch challenge. I've kept it very simple this week, probably because I'm all behind because of doing prep for demos & workshops but don't tell anyone!! I've used "Celtic Circle & Holly" by ADS stamped with Versafine & softly coloured with a green pencil. I've created the layers with papers from one of the new Christmas Perfect Prints pads & added Elements & Glossy accents to the berries. Here's the original sketch.


Thursday 22 October 2015

Christmas Animals


Materials used:-
Stampendous HouseMouse HMCP02
Candy Joy
Perfect Prints pad "Holiday Cheer"
Dreamweaver die DL3005 Holly & Swirls
Sakura coloured pencils
Sakura "Koi" water bruch pens
Versafine Vintage Sepia
Red Gingham ribbon
Christmas red Stickles
Peel off 93445 Silver
Permipen peel off marker pens
Glossy Accents
8" x8" white card blank 
All available from:-
www.woodware.co.uk 
Your local Exmouth stockist is:-
Liberty Craft
33 Exeter Road
Exmouth EX8 1PT
01395 273238
libertycraft33@yahoo.co.uk
We're looking at all things cute & cuddly this week & what better than the HouseMouses. I've used a large square card blank & made a "parcel" with papers from one of the new Christmas Perfect Prints pads. The mice have been stamped with Versafine & softly coloured with pencils & I've mounted it with a die cut frame of red mirror card. The holly sprays come from the great Dreamweaver holly die with red Stickles for the berries.I have used white pearl for the die & coloured with Koi pens. To finish I've coloured a peel off with permanent pens & mounted this onto 2 sizes of the "Ornate Bracket" punches. I've also covered the candy canes with Glossy Accents to give them a hard glossy coating & a few dots of red Stickles as a background to the mice.



Friday 16 October 2015

Flourishes


Materials used:
FRS197 Retro Snowflake
JGS405 Going Around in Circles
Magenta K0537 Buds & Flourishes
Magenta Chipboard Florishes
Detail Silver embossing powder
Lavender organza ribbon
Brilliance Pearlescent Sky Blue & Purple
Dreamweaver Metallic FX Moonstone
Silver mirror card
All available from:-
Your local Exmouth stockist is:
Liberty Craft
33 Exeter Road
Exmouth EX8 1PT
01395 273238
libertycraft33@yahoo.co.uk

Continuing our canter into all things Christmas this week the theme is "Flourishes" so I have made a "masterboard". I've made one of the new snowflake designs by Francoise Read  (there are others too!) the main image for my design & I've embossed with silver powder. When this was done I've sponged all over the piece of flat white 8" x 8" card with the Brilliance colours. Next over stamp using the Magenta stamp & Brilliance purple. I've taken 2 Magenta chipboard swirls & embossed them silver too & added a bow from Lavender organza ribbon. The sentiment has been borrowed from Jane Gill's "Fluffy Robin" ( JGS415) & also embossed. The embellishments you see here have been made by pressing some of the images from "Going Around in Circles" into a blob of hot glue from a glue gun (on a hot sheet). Leave to cool for a while before removing the stamp & them dust with Metallic FX. To finish I've mounted onto a piece of silver mirror card & I think this is going to become "December" for my calendar!      

Saturday 10 October 2015

The Mirror Crack'd Challenge- A Wall Hanging

 Materials used:-
JGS415 Fluffy Robin
JGS414 Deck the Halls
JGS304 Kim's Coppice
Woodware Craft Canvas
Dreamweaver leaf die
Sakura coloured pencils
Versafine Onyx Black, Olympic green & Spanish green
Fluffy Stuff
Stickles Stardust
All available from:-
Your local Exmouth stockist is:-
Liberty Craft
33 Exeter Road
Exmouth EX8 1PT
01395 273238
libertycraft33@yahoo.co.uk

 Other products used:
Stix2 Transfer foils
Stix2 die cut S/A sheet (Ultra sticky)
Stix2 "Create Your Own Craft Calendar"  
Distress inks


This week we join the crafty ladies from The Mirror Crack'd for their challenge & this time we've been asked for a wall hanging. Well I'm creating my own calendar for next year so what better for a wall hanging? I started by taking a piece of 8" x 8" craft canvas & giving it a colour wash with shades of blue,green & brown ink pads. When this was thoroughly dry (I left it over night but you can speed things up with a heat gun- gently!) I stamped our lovely robin using Versafine black. I coloured with Sakura pens & then stamped the background using images from "Deck the Halls"  around the edges with the 2 shades of Versafine green. I masked the robin to stamp the groups of trees from "Kim's Coppice" behind it & the apt sentiment for a calendar also comes from this set. The leaves in the bottom right corner have been die cut with the Dreamweaver die & foiled. As I intend to use this design for my January page I have added some touches of Fluffy Stuff & Stardust Stickles for a wintry, frosty look. To finish I have layered onto dark brown card.


Here's how the calendar looks


Why not pop over to The Mirror Crack'd to see what the design team have come up with.

Monday 28 September 2015

Sketch Challenge 46

Materials used:-
FRS331 Peaceful Christmas
Clear Scraps mask Holly
Brilliance Galaxy Gold
Detail gold embossing powder
Woodware Fingerguard trimmer + 
Victorian Blade
Liquid Pearls gold
Stardust Stickles
A5 white card blank
Gold pearl card
All available from:-
Your local Exmouth stockist is:-
Liberty Craft
33 Exeter Road
Exmouth EX8 1PT
01395 273238
libertycraft33@yahoo.co.uk
It's sketch challenge time again & another outing for the classic "Peaceful Christmas" which I used for "Trio of Christmas Tags" a few weeks ago but used in it's entirety this time. I've kept it very simple & I hope elegant this time using simply white & gold. I've embossed the image & sentiment with gold powder & given it some shade & colour with Brilliance used to water colour. The holly panel was made with the mask & Brilliance & all layered onto the gold card. To finish I added some gold Liquid Pearls to the holly berries & a little touch of Stickles for sparkle.  
                                                            Here's the sketch




Thursday 24 September 2015

More Baby Love!!

I've been hard at work again designing more baby cards using Woodware & Wild Rose stamps.








Tuesday 22 September 2015

Paper Pieced Christmas


Materials used;-
FRS602 Doodled Peace
Perfect prints paper pads Bold Stars & Fruit Stars
Sakura silver metallic pen
Ultra sticky DS tape
6 x 6 white card blank
All available from:-
Your local Exmouth stockist is;-
Liberty Craft 
33 Exeter Road
Exmouth EX8 1PT
01395 273238
libertycraft33@yahoo.co.uk

I do like paper piecing there's something very satisfying about it. This design from Francoise Read lends itself to the technique very well. Now the eagle eyed among you will remember that this was my workshop project for August & I felt I just wanted to share it again. Simply stamp the main image onto the card blank & onto the 2 shades of paper & cut these out. Now "piece" them onto the card blank. Simples! I have created a border with the paper & by applying some Stix2 transfer foils on top of this with Ultra sticky DS tape. To finish add the sentiment, some faux stitching & highlight parts of the image with the silver pen.   

Monday 21 September 2015

Halloween with Stix2


For my Halloween design I've used Woodware's  FRS310 "Tall House" but given it a very different look to the pretty town house of the "Welcome to Your New Home"  theme of the set. Stamped onto "Tinted Tangerine" card with Brilliance Black I've cut out the windows & replaced them with Stardust Charcoal card. The bats & spiders peel offs come from Stampendous & I've mounted a bat onto a piece of acetate which I've folded into a springy concertina to make him wobble. The trees have been covered with Stix2 hot glue & covered with micro beads from the red & orange Seed Bee'd & Fine Glitter set. The grey layer has been mounted onto Stardust Orange card & the A5 card blank is Pearl Coal Mine card. The little besom I've made with some twigs from my garden all held in place with hot glue. Happy Halloween!!   


Friday 18 September 2015

Baby! Baby!

Some of my new designs now on sale at Bloomin' Kids Exmouth. I just love the HouseMouse bunnies. Aren't they cute?!






Wednesday 16 September 2015

One Colour Wonder

 Materials used:-


Also:-
Textura paper pad
Micron pen
Liquid Pearls copper & gold
Copper Nailheads
Punch Craft tools
FRCL129 Garden Greetings
 White C6 card blank
All available from:-
Your local Exmouth stockist is:-
Liberty Craft
33 Exeter Road
Exmouth EX8 1PT
01395 273238
libertycraft33@yahoo.co.uk
I've gone mad with the punches this week & created a little garden on a card. We were asked to choose one colour palette this week so I've chosen shades of orange which seems appropriate with autumn approaching.  I shaded with chalk inkpads & given the flowers shape with a Character shaper & a DEET. The little heart shapes & the brown "leaves" have been created by snipping parts from the yellow "sunflower" punch. I've stamped the greeting from "Garden Greetings" & added some Nailheads & faux stitching to finish.  

Monday 14 September 2015

Working with Brushos

I've had an addiction to working with Brusho powder paints just lately. Combined with Woodware & Stampendous stamps, just embossed onto water colour paper,add the Brusho colours & spritz with water. Add some shading with Spectrum aqua pens, the results are very dramatic!