Thinking of you at Christmas

Hi Bloggers.

It's day 2 of our demo weekend at Inspirations in Preston today. I'll be focussing on Christmas today.

Here's today's card -

This card features one of my favourite techniques with background dies at the moment - a variation of Fire & Ice but with Mica Powders instead of Gilding Flakes.

I cut the inner die only from the Spellbinders 5 x 7 Mistletoe Card Front Die Set out of Coconut White Card. I placed a piece of Creative Expressions Double Sided Self Adhesive Sheet on the front of the die cut. On the back, I added Phill Martin Cosmic Shimmer Frosty Heather and Frosty Aqua Mica Powders, spreading them all over the sticky areas with a Soft Dusting Brush. I removed as much of the excess Mica Powder as possible and then sealed the whole area with a piece of copy paper. I turned the piece over, removed the other backing sheet from the adhesive and added Cosmic Shimmer Diamond Sprinkles all over.

I cut the Spellbinders 5 x 7 Holly Frame out of Coconut White Card with a Spellbinders 5 x 7 Matting Basics B die in the centre to form a frame. I lightly inked through the dies with Frosty Heather Colour Cloud using a Smoothie.

I stamped the sentiment from John Lockwood's 12 Days of Christmas Sentiments Stamp Set using Clear Perfect Medium and embossed with Cosmic Shimmer Silver Shine Detail Embossing Powder. I cut it out using Spellbinders Holly Tags and inked through the die with Frosty Heather Colour Cloud.

I tied a bow using 2 lengths of Off White Satin Ribbon. I pressed a Metal Dazzler Setting into Clear Perfect Medium, added Silver Shine Powder, tapped off the excess and heat set. I allowed it to cool for a few minutes, added a Purple Dazzler and popped it onto my bow using a Glue Dot.

I made a couple of Stick Pins using Creative Expressions Stick Pin Elements (Teal Teardrops and White Pearls - must use Glossy Accents) and popped them behind my bow.

I assembled the card as shown piercing around the edges using my Tim Holtz Ruler, Precision Probe and Piercing Mat. The mat behind the pierced one is Coconut White Card coloured with PM Frosty Heather Colour Cloud Blending Ink using a Smoothie.

Just to let you know that there is scheduled maintenance at Digital River who provide my payment gateway on my website between 8am and 9am today so if you experience problems paying during that time, that will be the reason. Paypal payments will be unaffected.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.
www.juliawattscrafts.co.uk
Ask for a free card (in the order comments box at checkout) when you order in August!

Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Hi Bloggers.

John Lockwood has shown on Create & Craft today at 9am and 2pm launching his new Christmas Stamps and his 12 days of Christmas Paper Pad. Alot of the products that John has on his shows are available on my website - www.juliawattscrafts.co.uk

I made this card for John using his paper pad and the lovely Poinsettia Elements Stamp Set -

I used a paper from John's 12 Days of Christmas Paper Pad for the background and matted it onto a piece of Coconut White Card.

I stamped the poinsettia image from John's Poinsettia Elements Stamp Set using Vermillion Archival. I cut it out using Spellbinders 5 x 7 Matting Basics B and inked through the die with Fired Brick Distress Ink using a Smoothie.

I cut the largest die in the Spellbinders 5 x 7 Holly Frame Die Set out of Rich Red Card.

 I stamped the sentiment from the same stamp set using Vermillion Archival. I cut it out using Spellbinders Labels 17 and inked through the die with Fired Brick.

I tied a bow using 2 lengths of Red Two Tone Ribbon. I inked a couple of pieces of MDF from the Christmas MDF Mega Grab Bag using Fired Brick, added a 3mm White Pearl and added them to the bow. I made a couple of Stick Pins using Creative Expressions Stick Pin Elements - I used the Garnet Teardrop Beads.

I assembled the card as shown adding a White 8mm Pearl to each corner and piercing around the edges using my Tim Holtz Ruler, Precision Probe and Piercing Mat.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.
www.juliawattscrafts.co.uk
Ask for a free card (in the order comments box at checkout) when you order in August!

Frosty Christmas

Hi Bloggers.

I'm demoing at the Great British Festival at Stoneleigh today with Phill Martin on his Sentimentally Yours Stand - well, I'm demoing, goodness knows if he'll do any work! lol! Seriously, if you're visiting the show, please stop by his stand to say hello and make a purchase or two - you know you need it!

Here's today's card featuring some of Phill's new Christmas products -

I stamped Phill's Christmas Frame Decorative Frame : Lattice onto a piece of Coconut White Card using Clear Perfect Medium and embossed with Phill's Frosty Heather Embossing Powder. I cut it out using Spellbinders 6 x 6 Matting Basics A. I popped it onto a mat cut from Coconut White Card using Spellbinders 6 x 6 Matting Basics B.

I stamped the sentiment from Phill's Christmas Holly Insert Frame :Seasons Greetings onto Coconut White Card, again using Clear Perfect Medium and added Frosty Heather Powder - I did not heat set just yet. I have removed the excess rubber from the centre of my insert frame so I can see through it. I inked it up with Clear Perfect Medium and lined it up around the sentiment, added more powder and heat set the lot. I cut it out using another die from the Spellbinders 6 x 6 Matting Basics A Set.

I cut Sue Wilson's Holly Sprays out of Coconut White Card and added a little Frosty Heather PVA as berries.

I stamped the Creative Expressions Shaded Poinsettia a couple of time in 2 sizes onto Coconut White Card and embossed with Frosty Heather Embossing Powder. I cut them out using Sue's Classic Poinsettia Die Set. I gave the petals a little shape using a Woodware Shape-It Tool on a Moulding Mat. I layered them up, offsetting the petals and gluing them together using Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue and added a Snow White Brad.

I assembled the card as shown adding a 5mm White Pearl to the corners and piercing around the edges using my Tim Holtz Ruler with a Precision Probe on a Piercing Mat. My coloured mat behind the pierced one is a piece of Coconut White Card and I've coloured the edges with Frosty Heather Colour Cloud using a Smoothie.

I have settled on a 4th card for my Workshop at Yardley Gobion on Saturday September 12th -

You can book a place on the workshop via my website here.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.

www.juliawattscrafts.co.uk

Ask for a free card (in the order comments box at checkout) when you order in August!

Freebie Friday

Hi Bloggers.

Here's today's card that needs a new home -

You can see how this card was made here.

Leave a comment below to be in with a chance to win! You must comment on this post to go into the draw - not the original post. I'll do the draw on Monday.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.

www.juliawattscrafts.co.uk

Ask for a free card (in the order comments box at checkout) when you order in August!

Warm Wishes

Hi Bloggers.

Another Christmas Card today folks -

This card features the new Spellbinders Holly Frame 5 x 7 Card Creator Die Set.

I started by cutting the largest die in the set out of Rich Plum Card. I added a Spellbinders 5 x 7 Matting Basics B Die to the centre to make the frame.

I cut the largest die in the Spellbinders 5 x 7 Matting Basics B Die Set out of Milk Card and then ran it through the Grand Calibur with the Creative Expressions Frosty Swirls Embossing Folder. I edged it with a little Plum Archival.

I stamped the sentiment from the Creative Expressions Peace Joy Love Clear Stamp Set onto Milk Card using Plum Archival. I cut it out using Spellbinders 5 x 7 Matting Basics B and cut another die from the same set out of Rich Plum Card. I trimmed down some Cream Pearl Corners ro make them a little smaller and added them to the sentiment panel.

Using the dinky dies in the Holly Frame Die Set, I cut some little poinsettias out of Rich Plum and Vintage Gold Card, shaped them and added a 3mm Cream Pearl.

Using the Spellbinders Layered Poinsettia Die Set (still a favourite), I made a larger flower and added a 5mm Cream Pearl. I tied a knot in a piece of Cream Tulle, trimmed it a little and added it to the back of the flower.

I made a couple of Stick Pins using Cream Pins, Cream Pearls, Bead Spacers - one with a Frosted Amethyst Teardrop Bead and one with an Amethyst Teardrop Bead all stuck together with Glossy Accents.

I assembled the card as shown piercing around the edges using my Tim Holtz Ruler with a Precision Probe on a Piercing Mat.

All highlighted products are in stock now on my website.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.
www.juliawattscrafts.co.uk

Birthday Wishes and a Giveaway

Hi Bloggers.

It's my great friend, Sue Wilson's birthday today (I'm sure many of you know that!). Anyway, if you haven't already done so, pop over to her blog to wish her Happy Birthday - let's see how many Happy Birthday's she has waiting for her when she gets up! (she's in Florida btw!)

Sue's birthday marks the final day of my Gemini Die Giveaway here on my blog and the 10% off everything ends on my website at midnight tonight. (Smoothies are back in stock!)

Today's giveaway is the Perseus Gemini Die Set and is featured on today's card -

So, I've created the background by cutting just the central die from the Perseus Die Set into Milk Card 5 times. I backed it onto a piece of Sky Blue Card. It looked so pretty that I took a photo before I added anything to it.

I dusted a piece of Sky Blue Card with my Anti Static Pad. I inked up the deboss design die from Sue's Ornate Pierced Design Noble Die Set with Perfect Medium. I placed it inked side down onto my card and ran it through the Grand Calibur using the emboss sandwich. I removed the die, added Ivory Cosmic Shimmer Embossing Powder and heat set. I cut it out using the next sized die in the same set. I cut the next smallest die out of Milk Card. I stamped the sentiment from the new Creative Expressions Live Laugh Love Clear Stamp Set using Perfect Medium and embossed with Ivory Embossing Powder. I cut it out using a die from Sue's Lavish Accented Design Noble Die Set.

I cut a couple of leaves out of Sky Blue Card using Sue's Trailing Ivy Die Set.

I tied a bow using 2 lengths of Antique White Satin Ribbon. I made a flower out of Cream Felt from the Wedding Felt Pack using Sue's Classic Foldover Flowers Die Set (see my video here).

I made a couple of Stick Pins using Creative Expressions Stick Pin Elements - I used Cream 3" Stick Pins, Cream Pearls, Bead Spacers and Periwinkle Teardrop Beads with Glossy Accents.

I assembled the card as shown adding some 8mm Cream Pearls and piercing around the edges.

Don't forget to leave a lovely comment below with a chance to win the Perseus Gemini Die Set. The draw will be on Sunday June 7th.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.
www.juliawattscrafts.co.uk

Enjoy Your Day

Hi Bloggers.

A big Thank You to John Lockwood for my photos today. I made a few cards at Ally Pally which I gave to him for his last set of shows, but I hadn't taken any photos.So, today you have some posh pics!

I'm heading up to Creative Expressions HQ again today to run a couple of workshops. Unfortunately, John won't be hindering me today as he's busy prepping for his shows on Create & Craft tomorrow.

Here's today's card -

I made a frame from Rich Red Card using Spellbinders 6 x 6 Matting Basics A Die Set. I popped a piece of Coconut White Card behind it that I had run through the Grand Calibur with the Creative Expressions Fine Finials Large Embossing Folder.

I stamped the sentiment and the flower from John's Tulip Elements Stamp Set using Jet Black Archival. I coloured the Tulip in with Aged Mahogany Distress Ink and a little Phill Martin Cosmic Shimmer Chic Moss Mica Powder. I cut it out using one of the plain dies from the Spellbinders Oval Floral Die Set. I cut the next sized floral die from the same die set out of Rich Red Card.

I made a flower using Spellbinders Flower Play Die Set and added some Cosmic Shimmer Iced Snow Glitter Jewels using Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue. I tied a bow using Off White Satin Ribbon and made a couple of Decorative Stick Pins using Creative Expressions Stick Pin Elements.

 I assembled the card as shown piercing around the edges.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.

Best Wishes

Hi Bloggers.

I'm heading up to Creative Expressions HQ today to run a couple of Workshops. Should be fun as always. Details of my next workshop at CE HQ are at the bottom of this post and in the Workshops section of this blog.

Just a reminder - details of my demos, etc are always in the left hand side bar of this blog, usually with a couple of months notice. There are a couple of secret demo dates that will be revealed as soon as I get the go ahead from the shops concerned.

Here's today's card -

For the background, I used a paper from Phill Martin's Decadent Damask 8 x 8 Paper Pad. I cut a frame out of Milk Card using the largest 3 dies in Sue Wilson's Classic Adorned Squares Noble Die Set. I rubbed Phill's CS Decadent Grape Gilding Wax over the surface. I cut the largest die from Sue's Ornate Pierced Squares Noble Die Set out of Rich Plum Card. I glued the 2 die cuts together, reseated the die that I used for the inside of the frame and ran it through the Grand Calibur to remove the centre from the Rich Plum Card. I popped it onto the backing paper using 3d Foam and then onto a Milk mat cut using the largest die from the Spellbinders 6 x 6 Matting Basics A Die Set.

I cut the Sue's Best Wishes Expressions Die out of Milk Card. I pressed Perfect Medium all over the die cut, added Phill's CS Decadent Grape Embossing Powder and heat set. I added more Perfect Medium, more powder and heat set again.

I tied a bow using Creative Expressions Antique White Satin Ribbon and tied another using the thinner Raisin Satin Ribbon. I made a flower out of Milk Card using Spellbinders Flower Play Die Set, added CS Dries Clear Glue and then sprinkled with CS Iced Snow Glitter Jewels.

I made a couple of Decorative Stick Pins using Creative Expressions Stick Pin Elements and Glossy Accents. Once dry, I popped them into the 3d Foam under the frame at the back of the bow.

Here are the details of the next workshops at CE HQ on Tuesday 12th May -

Morning Workshop -

An actual proper card! I know, don't faint! We'll be using brand new Sue Wilson Dies, you'll do some paper grouting, make a couple of Decorative Stick Pins and learn how to use Sue's new Classic Foldover Flower Dies.

Afternoon Workshop -

Lots of new dies on this one!

As always for Kettering Workshops, please contact Tracey on 01536 481778 during office hours or email her at tracey@creative-expressions.uk.com for more information or to book a place.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.