Freebie Friday

Hi Bloggers.

Here's this week's card that needs a new home -

Leave a comment below to go into the draw. I will announce the winner on Monday. Remember to pop back to see if you're the winner! I will be honest, there's a mark on the pierced mat from my travels last year - think it's a bit of ink. Sorry about that!

You can read how this card was made here.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.
www.juliawattscrafts.co.uk
Free card with all website orders (ask for one in the comments box at checkout).
Deal of the Day today (12th February) - Sue Wilson Thanks For Everything Die only £5.99!

Freebie Friday

Hi Bloggers.

We're going back a bit with this week's Giveaway Card - almost 2 years! Here it is -

You can read how this card was made here.

Leave a lovely comment below to go into the draw. I'll announce a winner on Monday.

John Lockwood continues with his One Day Special on Hochanda today with shows at 9am, 12noon, 4pm and 7pm. 10% discount on items I have in stock from the shows on my website here till midnight tonight.

The next release of Sue Wilson Dies are due on Monday (25th). I'll load the stock over the weekend for dispatch as soon as I get them. 10% discount till Friday 29th January. You'll find them all here once they're loaded.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.
www.juliawattscrafts.co.uk
Free card on all website orders (ask for one in the comments box at checkout).
Deal of the Day today (22nd January) -Sue Wilson Classic Adorned Design Noble Die Set only £13.99!

Season's Greetings

Hi Bloggers.

Here's today's card -

I started by stamping the Creative Expressions Florentine Background onto Coconut White Card using Clear Perfect Medium and embossed with Phill Martin Cosmic Shimmer Decadent Denim Embossing Powder. Next, I inked up the deboss die in Sue Wilson's Lavish Accented Design Noble Die Set with Clear Perfect Medium and ran it through the Grand Calibur with the embossing sandwich (you could do this in the Platinum but I'm still using up me demo bits). I added Decadent Denim Embossing Powder and heat set. I cut it out using the 2 dies either side of deboss die (I didn't emboss so as to not flatten out the debossed pattern). I cut a frame out of Blue Dusk Card using Sue's Ornate Pierced Design Noble Die Set and popped it behind the deboss frame. I added 3D Foam and added it to my Florentine Background. I trimmed awaythe excess using scirrors.

I stamped the sentiment from the Creative Expressions Peace on Earth Stamp onto Coconut White Card using Cobalt Archival. I cut it out using Sue's Pierced Flags. I cut the next sized flag out of Blue Dusk Card.

I stamped the Shaded Poinsettia in a couple of sizes twice onto Coconut White Card using Cobalt Archival. I cut it out using the corresponding dies from Sue's Classic Poinsettia Die Set. I shaped them, stacked them up and added a Brad.

I cut a pair of Sue's Star Sprays out of Blue Dusk Card. I embossed a piece of Coconut White Card using the Creative Expressions Star Swirls Embossing Folder. I added some White Pearl Corners.

I assembled the card as shown piercing around the edges using my Tim Holtz Ruler, Precision Probe and Piercing Mat.

I've managed to get hold of a few sets of large plates for the Spellbinders Platinum Machine - you can find them here.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.
www.juliawattscrafts.co.uk
Free card on all website orders placed in December (ask for one in the comments box at checkout).
25% off all items in Christmas Category till midnight 26th December.
Deal of the Day today (17th December) - Phill Martin Chic Floral Birthday Verses only £9.99!

Brighter Days

Hi Bloggers.

Here's today's card -

I started with the flower topper. I coloured the flowers with Mermaid Lagoon Distress Marker and the leaveswith Twisted Citron Distress Marker directly onto the solid stamp in the Creative Expressions Bluebell Watercolour Stamp Set. I misted very lightly with water and stamped onto Coconut White Card. I then inked up the outline stamp in the same stamp set with Watering Can Archival and stamped over the top of the solid image. I'll be honest, it did take me a couple of attempts to get this how I liked it so I'd recommend that you practice on copy paper first. I cut the image out using Sue Wilson's Pierced Rectangles and inked through the die with Mermaid Lagoon Distress Ink using a Smoothie.

I cut the largest die in Sue's Hannah die set out of Coconut White Card and the 2 largest dies together out of Cornflower Blue Card. I glued the 2 dies cuts together and added my topper.

 I cut the sentiment from Sue's Ornate Frame - Brighter Days Die Set out of Coconut White Card and inked through the die with Mermaid Lagoon. I cut the circle die from the same die set out of Cornflower Blue Card and then ran it through the Spellbinders Platinum Machine with the Couture Creations Small Dots Embossing Folder.

I tied a bow using 2 lengths of White Silky Crush Ribbon and added a Blue Dazzler.

Now, the background is actually from my demo bits. However, one of the problems with using my demo bits is that I can't always remember what I used! Here's my best guess - I've used some CS Shimmer Paint - I think I used Green Aqua and Azure mixed with a little Pearl. I used a couple of Masks. I added some paint to a couple of pieces of Cut n Dry Foam and randomly inked through the Masks. I used the same 'ink pads' to randomly stamp a section of a background stamp in the lightened Azure colour and to randomly stamp one of the stamps in the Creative Expressions Lily Spray Set with Green Aqua. I ran it through the Grand Calibur with the Creative Expressions Quilted Flower Embossing Folder. I added a little Mermaid Lagoon Distress Ink around the edges using a Smoothie.


I assembled the card as shown adding some 8mm White Pearls and piercing around the edges using my Tim Holtz Ruler, Precision Probe and Piercing Mat.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.
www.juliawattscrafts.co.uk
Free card on all website orders placed in December (ask for one in the comments box at checkout).
25% off all items in Christmas Category till midnight 26th December.  
Deal of the Day today (16th December) SW Lattice & Lace Striplet only £8.99!

Noel Flip

Hi Bloggers.

It's been a while since I've shared a card made using the Spellbinders Triple Flip Card Die. This has to be the most popular die that I demoed this year on my Spellbinders Days as it can be used for all occasions and it's great to practice your stamping skills with. John Lockwood's Elements Stamp Sets are brilliant to use with it.

I sent his card to my elderly Uncle last week for Christmas. Hope he likes it!

I've used Vermillion and Olive Archival. The stamps are from John Lockwood's Holly Tree Elements and Poinsettia Elements. I've also used Phill Martin's Christmas Holly Insert Frame : Season's Greetings.

On the inside, I've embossed a piece of Coconut White Card with the Creative Expressions Star Swirls Embossing Folder. I stamped the sentiment from the Poinsettia Elements Stamp Set using Vermillion Archival and cut it out using the Spellbinders Holly Tags Dies Set, inking through the die with Phill Martin Frosty Jade Colour Cloud using a Smoothie. I ran some Dark Red Two Tone Ribbon through the tag, securing at either side of the frame with some Hi-Tack Tape.

I completed the card with some layers of Coconut White and Rich Red Card cut using Sue Wilson's Double Pierced Squares- both the original set and Set B.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.
www.juliawattscrafts.co.uk
Free card on all website orders placed in December (ask for one in the comments box at checkout).
25% off all items in Christmas Category till midnight 26th December.

Noel

Hi Bloggers.

I'm trying to sort out my Craft Room, again! I've gathered together 3 x A4 boxes of bits left over from my demos this year! So, I'm on a mission to try and use as many of these bits up as I can.

Here's today's card -

I made a card blank out of Coconut White Card using the outer die from the Spellbinders Mistletoe Card Front Die Set (fold card in half, hang one cutting edge outside of the fold then run through Grand Calibur).

I cut a strip of white card approx 4 1/8" x 6" and cut the Spellbinders Noel Strip in the bottom section. Leaving the die in place, I inked through the die with Phill Martin Frosty Aqua Colour Cloud Blending Ink using the pointy end of a Smoothie for precision inking. I added a row of Double White Pearls.

I stamped the focal image from John Lockwood's 12 Days of Christmas Stamp Set onto Coconut White Card using Clear Perfect Medium and embossed with Phill Martin Frosty Aqua Embossing Powder. I cut it out using Spellbinders 6 x 6 Matting Basics A and inked through the die with Frosty Aqua Colour Cloud. I cut another square of Coconut White Card using Spellbinders 6 x 6 Matting Basics B and inked it with Frosty Aqua Colour Cloud.

I ran a piece of Aqua Card through the Spellbinders Platinum Machine with the Couture Creations Christmas Vineyard Embossing Folder.

I assembled the card as shown adding some 5mm White Pearls. Fewer layers than usual on this card to fit on the 5 x 7 card blank. Really quick and easy card to do if you've left your cards a bit late!

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.
www.juliawattscrafts.co.uk
Free card on all website orders placed in December (ask for one in the comments box at checkout).
25% off all items in Christmas Category till midnight 26th December.

Springtime

Hi Bloggers.

It seems that this card has never had it's day on the blog -

For the background, I ran a piece of Coconut White Card through the Grand Calibur with the Couture Creations Small Dots Embossing Folder. I inked around the edges with Stonewashed Adirondack Dye Ink.

I stamped the Justrite Burlap Background onto Coconut White Card using Stonewashed Adirondack. I cut it out using Spellbinders Labels 29 and inked through the dye with Stonewashed Ink.

I stamped the garden tools onto Coconut White Card using Jet Black Archival and embossed with Cosmic Shimmer Clear Embossing Powder. I cut them out using scissors. I coloured them in using Weathered Wood and Stormy Sky Distress Markers with a Water Brush. I added a little bow tied with Baker's Twine.

I stamped the seed packet from the same stamp set, again using Jet Black Archival and embossed with Clear Embossing Powder. I coloured in using Weathered Wood, Stormy Sky and Mustard Seed Distress Markers.

I stamped the sentiment from the same stamp set, again using Jet Black Archival and embossed with Clear Embossing Powder. I cut it out using Justrite Vintage Labels 7 and inked through the die with Stonewashed Adirondack.

I assembled the card as shown adding some 5mm White Pearls and some dots of Cosmic Shimmer Crystal Sparkle PVA around the edges.

Phill Martin is launching a One Day Special on Hochanda this evening at 8pm with some brand new stamps. I have some on order and they should arrive Wednesday/Thursday. I have set up a category on my website with the products I have in stock from the show here. There's 10% discount on these items till midnight tomorrow night (Monday 30th November) including the new stamps. Dispatch on orders containing the new stamps will be delayed until the stamps arrive.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.
www.juliawattscrafts.co.uk

True Friendship

Hi Bloggers.

Yesterday I went for an afternoon tea with some friends to celebrate one of our number who is finally emigrating to Canada to join her son and his family early next month. It's been a long process for her and it's so lovely that the time has finally arrived.

This is the card that I made for her which we all signed -

This is a really simple card but my friend doesn't like anything to fussy so it was just perfect for her.

I stamped the foliage from the Justrite A Flower For Your Thoughts Stamp Set onto Milk Card using Fern Green Archival. I then stamped the bluebells from the same stamp set using Cobalt Archival. I cut out using Justrite Vintage Labels Four. I cut a Spellbinders Romantic Rectangles Two Die out of Cobalt Card.

I stamped the sentiment from the Justrite True Friends Vintage Labels Four Stamp Set onto Milk Card using Cobalt Archival. I cut it out using Sue Wilson's Double Pierced Rectangles, positioning the sentiment in the bottom right hand corner.

I assembled the card as shown (and yes, it is an actual card!) adding a few Cream Pearl Corners.

Don't forget to pop by later to see if you have won Freebie Friday from last week.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.
www.juliawattscrafts.co.uk

Seasons Greetings

Hi Bloggers.

Here's today's card - an easel card that was another demo on Hochanda.

I used a 5" square Kraft Card Blank. I folded one side in half. I cut 2 pieces of Rich Red Card and 2 pieces of Milk Card to form my mats. I ran the mat for the lower section through the Grand Calibur with the Counterpane Mask. I inked around the edges with Crimson Kiss Colour Cloud using a Smoothie.

I cut the Couture Creations All Wrapped Up Die our of Emerald Card. I glued it to a piece of Rich Red Card and cut around using scissors.

I spread some Cosmic Shimmer Clear Texture Paste through one of the corners in the Christmas Corner Mask. I added Cosmic Shimmer Bronze Lustre Embossing Powder to the cones and then Cosmic Shimmer Golden Green Sparkle Embossing Powder to the leaves. I then heat set them. They bubble up a bit - it's really cool and is very tactile. I repeated the process in the opposite corner.

I stamped the sentiment from the Creative Expressions Peace on Earth Stamp Set using Vermillion Archival.

I cut the Couture Creations Cardinal Wreath out of Rich Red Card.

I assembled the card as shown adding some 5mm Cream Pearls.

Had a great day yesterday at my workshop. On with my prep for Tuesday now.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.
www.juliawattscrafts.co.uk

Joy

Hi Bloggers.

I'm running my own workshop local to me today in Yardley Gobion just outside Milton Keynes. I packed my little car to the brim yesterday with goodies to use and goodies for my lovely crafters to purchase. Hoping for a fun day!

Here's today's card which was a demo from one of my Hochanda shows last month. Just an ingredient list today as still have lots to do!

Couture Creations Dies - Christmas Joy, Mistletoe, Holly Branch
Couture Creations Embossing Folder - Christmas Vineyard
Burgundy/Ivory Striped Grosgrain
Pine Cones
5mm Cream Pearls
Cream Pearl Corners
Card - Milk, Rich Red, Rich Green and Emerald
Tim Holtz Ruler, Precision Probe, Piercing Mat

Hope you've been checking out Sue Wilson's Blog to see her latest release of dies - there's some really yummy ones! Just a reminder - there's 10% off them on my website till midnight Friday 20th November. You can find them here. Discount is applied at checkout. Free delivery to UK addresses on all orders £20 and over.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.
www.juliawattscrafts.co.uk

Live For Today

Hi Bloggers.

Well, my day yesterday went completely pear shaped! Seemed to spend the whole day sorting stuff out to make things work! My broadband seems to be playing up even though I've got BT Infinity 2, can't watch Hochanda on my iphone now, had to buy a new laptop over the weekend and I'm trying to get to grips with finding all the software I need and repeatingly having to disconnect and re-connect my wifi to get anything done on the web! Not a happy bunny!

All this is hindering my prep for my shows on Hochanda next week. I now have a One Day Special on Hochanda starting 8pm next Tuesday evening and continuing during the day on Wednesday.

Here's today's card -

Might add another Black Mat to this now I see the photo! Like I said - having one of those weeks! Actually, looking at that sentiment - I think that's quite appropriate! lol!

Anyway, I stamped the Creative Expressions Stamps to Die For - Regal Blossom Inner Frame and Regal Blossom Outer Frame separately onto Coconut White Card using Jet Black Archival and embossed with Cosmic Shimmer Clear Embossing Powder. I also stamped the sentiment from John Lockwood's Fern Frames Elements Stamp Set.

I coloured in using Sakura Stardust Pens - hadn't realised until I saw Sarah Hurley colouring on Hochanda that you can blend these pens! Fabulous! We'll be doing this on a different card at my workshop on Saturday and all attendees will be given a couple of Stardust Pens to take home free of charge! (just a couple of spaces left - book here) I've used Purple Star, Rose Star, Green Star, Lime Star and Silver Star. It's hard to photograph the sparkle - those who are coming on Saturday will see it in the flesh.

I cut the Outer Frame out using Sue's Double Pierced Squares and the plain die from Sue's Heraldic Square - to see through to the inner frame. I used 3D Foam Tape to pop the Outer Frame on top of the Inner Frame.

I cut a larger Double Pierced Square out of Coconut White Card and at the emboss stage added the Kaleidoscope Mask.

Another couple of mats of Black and Coconut White Card, some 5mm White Pearls and some White Pearl Corners and job done!

John Lockwood is continuing with his One Day Special on Hochanda today with some more dies from the current release of Sue's dies. Shows are at 9am, 12noon, 4pm and 7pm. Just a reminder that I have set up a section with the stock I have from the shows. There's 10% discount on show items from Phill's One Day Special this week and John's today - find them here. Discount is applied at checkout.

Planning to get my head down with prep today!

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.
www.juliawattscrafts.co.uk