Crafty Debs: Memories of Japonica

Demos at Japonica

Thursday 20th February

I've been using the new multi flower punch from Woodware & the new "Rock Fern" punch too. Floral punch craft in conjunction with your favourite stamps can be very pleasing. The papers come from the Wild Rose paper pad "Blackberry Lane". Here's what I came up with.

"A Heart Garden" by Jane Gill

"Always Remember" from Francoise Read. Here I've used the Rock Fern punch.

Here's the new punch & all the flowers & leaves it produces.

"In the Frame Ditties" by Jane Gill

Thursday 30th January

Very often at Japonica we are asked for aperture cards to make a personalised card which will include a photo or piece of embroidery perhaps. This week I have come up with some ideas to include a photo & a greeting to suit the occasion. I have used peel offs, Sakura gel pens, stamping, punches & embellishments. The main starting point is to look at the colours in your chosen photo & match up the card for matting & layering & embellishments etc . It's a bit like creating a scrapbook layout but on a smaller scale. As you can see you can create some special & original cards which I'm sure the recipients will be delighted to receive. See you next time!!

Thursday 23rd January
Continuing my blog week theme here are more "Black & White" designs produced in my demo this morning.

It's my turn again next Thursday (30th) & I'll be "Making Memories"! Pop in if you're passing or catch up here to see what I've been up to! Bye for now!

2013

Thursday 9th August

Here Comes Christmas

It was my turn to demo at Japonica on Thursday so I got the chance to use some of the great new stamps from Woodware.

Here I've used the very versatile "Christmas Quilt" designed by Jane Gill. It's a sampler which can by used with a whole variety of techniques. Here I've stamped onto 2 complimentary Bremen 12 x 12 papers & have done a little decoupage. Embellished with Liquid Pearls, ribbon & a peel off border.

Here's the same stamp but I've been painting with Brilliance inkpads this time. The stamp makes a great background too stamped at random angles.

Embossed with Stampendous Detail gold embossing powder onto black card.

Or just use parts of the image.....

..........and last but not least!

Here's the very cute "Patch Reindeer" designed by Francoise Read.

Now I must admit that I got so carried away with "Christmas Quilt" that this one nearly didn't get played with but once I had started this design I had to finish it (probably why my demo over ran by 30 mins- sorry Jan!) I've used 3 more of the Bremen papers which go so beautifully together & paper pieced or colouring in with paper as Jan loves to call it! There are some lovely sentiments & icons with this set which is great value (as is the Christmas Quilt) at only £6.

All available from:-

www.japonicadevon.blogspot.com

www.woodware.co.uk

Bye for now see you soon!

Thursday 2nd May

Today I've been revisiting some of the stamps which I have used in recent blog projects (& some which are yet to come so watch this space!). Here's what I did.

Here's "Navagateur" by Stampendous which is a lovely stamp for men's cards. Stamped onto rainbow vellum with Graphite Black Brilliance & a little dry embossing is all you need. Mounted onto a piece of torn cork & the sentiment comes from Jane Gill's "Something to Say"

This stamp is "By the Sea" again by Stampendous & I've printed with Versamark & coloured with chalks. Mounted onto pink Centura pearl card & foiled card & I've added one of the gorgeous Pearl Clusters from Woodware to finish.

And last but not least the beautiful " Daffodil Girl" also from Stampendous. Again printed on vellum & coloured on the rear with Tombow pens. I've given quite a lot of dry embossing to highlight & I think it really makes the image pop. I have also added an embossed panel done with an embossing folder with the Cuttlebug. This has been highlighted with some pinks, lilac & blue chalks. The sentiment comes from "The Hedgerow" by Jane Gill & I have mounted our Daffodil Girl in a die cut frame. Just add some pink Elements to finish.

I'm off on my hols at the end of this month so I'll see you again after that! Bye for now!

Thursday 25th April

Suprise!Surprise!

This week I've been creating cards which as the name suggests give you just a little surprise & something out of the ordinary. Here they are.

Here I've created a "shadow" card . The front & back of the card are scored & folded to form a frame which will stand to display the image inside through a die cut aperture. I've used "Garden Gal" from Stampendous which has been stamped & coloured in sepia tones.

You can see the surprise for yourself here! This is an A4 gatefold card with approx 3" sliced from each top corner. The outside has been stamped with Botanical Blooms again from Stampendous using Pink Grapefruit Versamagic. For the inside of the card I've used Botanical Magnolia stamped with Versfine Vintage Sepia & softly coloured with Sakura coloured pencils. The sentiment comes from Jane Gill's "Something to Say"

And finally.......

You'll probably be able to work this one out for yourself! it's an A4 blank cut & folded so that the inner panel reveals a hidden sentiment. I've used Sage & Pink Grapefruit Versamagic pads to print & sponge. The stamps are Jane Gill's "Going to Seed" & "Something to Say" & I've just highlighted the seed heads with some lovely new Liquid Pearls Avocado & Flamingo.
All cards on display at Japonica & I'll be happy to talk you through how I made them.

I'm in the spotlight again next week when I'll be featuring some of the stamps I have used in recent blog themes. Hope to see you then!

Thursday 14th March

Colours of Spring

I had a great morning's crafting on Thursday I was cooking on gas! Must have been the sun that went to my head! But do you get days like that when everything just flows & comes together? And of course other days that er...don't! This week I was using one of Francoise Read's new Woodware Clear Magic stamp sets called Flower Medley with Kaliadacolor inkpads Birthstone & Caribbean Seas.I also used Jane Gill's sentiment set "Something to Say " & "Wonderful Reason" also by Francoise Read. Here's what I came up with.

Stamped background on a DL card, stamp 2 flowers & mount with foam pads. Large Glitterdomes & polka dot ribbon

Here I did some masking to create this overflowing flower border.

A very simple 10 minute card just stamping & a ribbon- job done!!

Die cut a circle & stamp all the way around it then cut out the frame. Stamp the sentiment within & mount onto a square card. highlight with some Stickles for a little sparkle.

And lastly lots of stamping, lots of layering & finished with some berry polka dot ribbon.

My next demo will be on Thursday 25th April & the theme is "Surprise, Surprise!". I'll have to get my thinking cap on as for the moment it's as much of a surprise to me as it is to you!! Bye for now!

Thursday 28th February

Flowers for Mum

OK so I'm a little late in posting this but with all the preparations for the workshop on Monday etc. I think I'm excused! Besides the 28th was my birthday & I did have other things to do that evening!

I was using Jane Gill's brand new peel offs, aren't they big & beautiful?Only 2 to a sheet so quite tricky to handle so you may want to consider a transfer sheet. I've used Sakura coloured pencils, layering, Candis, organza ribbon & a peel off message from a Francoise Read peel off.

Another new design which would be great for an autumn birthday. I've placed the peel off onto ivory vellum- careful, you're only going to get one shot at this! Coloured on the back with Tombow pens (you'll get a more subtle colour like this) & a little dry embossing to highlight. Layered onto copper mirror card & attached with brads.

Direct to paper technique using Colorbox Queue chalk inks Sand Dunes onto some cream card-allow to dry really well before applying the peel off. Then some really random colouring using Sakura pencils & then glossed with Glossy Accents. If you find a bigger peel off hard to handle place face down (sticky side up) & place your card over it.

Last but not least another look at the flower peel off this time coloured with Sakura Gelly Roll pens with a little sponging, layering, Candis & satin stripe ribbon. The message comes from "Thoughtful Wishes" from Stampendous

That's all for now next demo day for me is Thursday 14th March when the subject will be "Colours of Spring" hope to see you then!

Special Edition workshops at Japonica

On Monday 4th March the 15th Special Edition workshop was held by Japonica Exmouth. 15th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't believe it's that long since we were preparing for our very first & wondering how everything would go! well we must have been doing something right mustn't we?! We welcomed back this time 3 very talented ladies, Francoise Read & Jane Gill both designers of Woodware stamps & peel offs & of course our very own Janet Caudrelier crafter extrordinaire & proprietor of Japonica.

Janet with her group

Jane takes a better look!

Francoise hard at work with her great designs.

A wonderful display of Jane's designs

A veritable feast of examples from Francoise

Janet keeps a careful eye!

The day comprised of 3 workshops this time but each held over a period of 2 hours so more in depth projects could be tackled. Jane & Francoise took the opportunity to showcase some of their new season stamps while Janet got to work with some of the delightful Wild Rose Studio spring stamps.

Here are the finished designs.