Birthday Asters

 Hi bloggers!  I wasn't going to show any of the new items on my upcoming shows, but quite honestly, I am just dying to put something new up on the blog.  This card isn't going to be demoed so I'm not giving too much away but I still really liked it.  The colours are so fresh and springy (really thought we needed that right now too).  I started by stamping the blue background with one of the new stamps from the show (called the Bold Vintage Floret Background by Heartfelt Creations).  I used a clear perfect medium pad and heat embossed the image with white powder.  I added a few sprigs from the Rye grass set the same way.  Next I embossed the entire background with the Cr. Expressions Floral embossing folder.  I cut the background into four equal panels.  I added some 3D foam to each strip then mounted them on a slightly larger piece of white card.  Next I cut out a bunch of the Delicate Asters to make the flowers.  Now, I know you will think I mean, but if you want to see how these flowers are made, you need to catch some of the shows.  I can't giveaway all the secrets to the sneak peek yet, now can I?  I used glue in the centres and added clear micro beads for a domed effect, showing just one of the ways in which you can finish the centres. I stamped my sentiment and cut it out with the fancy tags two die and sponged it lightly with weathered wood distress ink.   I cut some of the leaves and then used the lovely swirl from the Bella Rose die set to add some swirly bits to the card around my flowers.  I pierced the edges (and don't forget the piercing will be demoed during the shows too) to complete the card.  You could easily add more colour to the card by sponging the flowers, I wanted to show them in several different ways and this card was probably the simplest.  Finished dimensions are 7 1/2" x 8" in size (this measurement refers to the largest mat on the card, to answer a question that was left).  Just a quick note, in case you hadn't seen it, I figured out how to post my show hours so I have added the hours for my next set of shows on C & C to the right hand side of the blog.  Please note that there has been an extra hour added to one of the days and show times are always subject to change.  All for now, Sue x

You Are The Best

Hi crafty ones!  Here is one for you if you just need a really quick, but elegant card.  Milk coloured card with black accents gives it a simple elegance.  I started by just embossing the milk card using the Petite Fleur embossing folder from Couture Creations.  It has a nice open area in the centre for your focal element.  I stamped the frame from the Justrite Grand Sentiment set in black on milk card.  I picked the sentiment from the set as well and stamped it in the middle of the frame.  I cut it out with the matching Decorative Labels 8 die and used a bit of Antique Linen to highlight it while it was still in the die.  I cut one of the larger dies from that set out of black card.  I cut it in half and matted it as a shadow on my frame, just peeking out around the top and bottom edges.  I tied some black tulle around my card and into a bow on the side.  Not wanting to leave the knot showing, I added a black Dazzler and two stick pins as accents.  I cut up some black rhinestone swirls and added then in opposite corners (I love a bit of the bling!)  Don't you love getting this kind of card, not for any particular occasion, just because you are the best!  Finished dimensions are 7" x 7 1/2"

 in size.  All for now, Sue x

Aqua Birthday

Hi guys!  A pretty aqua and white card for today's offering.  I have used the Cupid background from JustRite stamps and inked it with a clear perfect medium pad.  I stamped it and then heat embossed it with white powder for a tone on tone look for the background of my card.  I stamped my sentiment and cut it out with the matching antique tag die and used Broken China to ink through the die as a highlight.  I mounted it on foam and placed it on the bottom of my card.  Next I stamped the largest stamp in the set of the Friends Antique Labels One from Justrite.  Again, I stamped it using a clear perfect medium pad and white embossed it. The Broken China distress ink brought out the detail on it.  I stamped the smaller stamp in the same manner, but cut this one out using two dies to create a frame.  I stamped one of the small sentiments on white card and mounted my frame over it with foam pieces.  I added an aqua mat to my background and used Cosmic Shimmer white PVA glue to make dots all the way around it.  I finished the piece with a double white mat with a pierced inner mat.  I just love the aqua, such a soothing colour I think!  Finished dimensions are 6 1/2" x 7 1/2" in size.    All for now, Sue x

Safe Travels And A Tutorial

Hi bloggers!  First of all, I want to apologise for the colour issue on yesterday's card.  I have been having some issues with Blogger recently.  The pic was absolutely fine when I looked at it on preview, so I don't have a clue why it came out so pink (as the rest of them didn't look pink and they were all taken at the same time!)  Blogger also sent up a second post yesterday right in the middle of my writing it!  I do apologise if you received a second email that did not make any sense!  Now on to today's card, which hopefully will be a fun card for the guys in your life.  The background was creating using the faux leather technique.  There are about a dozen pics below the card pictures showing step by steps for this technique so I will skip it here.  I stamped the vintage car from the Going Places set from Justrite stamps using a coffee archival ink pad.  I cut it out with the matching vintage Labels and Banner die set.  I used a light inking of Antique Linen distress ink while still in the die.  I used a pale blue pencil behind the card.  Cotton hemp ribbon was wrapped around the card in both directions.  I added some gears as accents, stamped a metal edged tag with a sentiment and tied it on with some natural jute twine.  Add a suitable sentiment for your own personal occasion and your guy's card is sorted!   Finished dimensions are 7" x 8 1/2" in size.

 Here is a step by step tutorial for the faux leather technique.  Begin with a piece of card that size that you want for your background.  Start by tearing small pieces of masking tape and placing them on your card.  I find it easiest to work from the bottom towards the top and allow the tape pieces to go off the edge of the card onto my craft mat.

 Continue this process working up your card.  Remember to turn your pieces so that they overlap.  Also, this will create a pleasing effect since you will always have straight sides from the edge of the tape to disguise.

 This is what it will look like when you have finished applying the tape.  If you notice any areas that may appear different, now is the time to add a bit more tape to those sections. Once you move on to the inking step, it will be too ate to alter that.

 You can either trim your edges in a paper trimmer or wrap the tape around the back of the card (that does take a bit longer to do though).  You can also rip or tear the edges for an interesting effect.  I use scissors to get it started due to the thickness, but it tears easily after that.

 Using any colour of distress ink, use the pad directly on to your masking tape. You can use one or more colours with nice results.  I started by covering the entire piece with Tea Dye here.












 I added Walnut Stain to the edges of the piece to give it a darker shadow. (On the actual card above, I used Pumice Stone distress ink as my second colour.)
Don't worry about how dark it appears as that is only temporary.

                                                                                                                          

                                                                                      Using a piece of kitchen roll, wipe the entire piece down, removing the excess ink.

Next cover the entire piece with clear embossing powder.  You will not need to add any other products to get the powder to stick.  The distress ink will still be wet enough (yes, even after rubbing it) to allow the powder to stick.

 Heat your embossing powder to melt it over your entire piece.

 Here are two pics of your final piece.  One showing the overall piece and one close up for you.

 Next use your piece as a lovely background for your card or even cut it into panels for a more interesting look.  All for now, Sue x

Simply The Best

 Happy Sunday morning!  You know what that means, don't you?  More weekly winners and we have a bunch today since there were two extra qualifying posts this week.  A quick run down and then on to the winners list.  I started today's card by simply embossing a piece of coconut white card using the Mystic embossing folder.  I extended it to create a larger background, but it is easily done with this design as it lines up quite easily.  I decide to use my teal card as my secondary colour so I matted it with it to create a balance.  Next I used the scalloped Posy set from Heartfelt Creations to create my focal element.  This set is actually done in a half circle shape, but I thought I would show how you can alter that with ease to product an oval. I find it easier to cut the decorative half circle first (which I did in white).  I left a gap between the two cuts that was wide enough for my silky crush ribbon.  Once the white decorative piece was cut, I cut one side of the teal card using the single curved die from the set.  Then I placed my white piece on top to decide how much room needed to be left so the other side would peek out from behind.  I do hope that makes sense as it is a bit hard to describe (but easy to show).  I cut one of the decorative oval windows in white as my next layer.  I stamped my sentiment and cut it out with Labels 18 die that matched it in size.  I used some Broken China to ink while in the die.  I cut a slightly larger Labels 18 to use as a mat for it. I wrapped a piece of silky crush ribbon around the card and tucked the ends around the back and taped them.   I layered all the pieces with foam pieces and mounted them in the centre of my card.  I added some flatback pearls to the flowers as accent pieces.  I tied a double bow from the silky crush ribbon and added it with glue dots to the side of the card.  It wouldn't be complete without a pearl embellishment and stick pins.  I pierced around the edges of my white mat to finish it off nicely.  Finished dimensions are 6" x 7 1/2" in size.

Winner time now!  We have a bunch too!  For the weekly game, the winners are:

Heather Toms!!!
MadebyLily!!!
Jean Deane!!!

We had two more qualifying posts with over 200 comments this week.

 So for the post of Thurs.. Feb. 21st., the winners are:
Lara B!!!
DarcyDayDream!!!
Heather Rogers!!!

For the post of Friday Feb. 22nd, the winners are:
Cazzie Dixon!!!
Lindsay Martin!!!
Liz Kervill!!!

Congratulations to all!  Please email me at americansue1@gmail.com to confirm your address and claim your prize!  All for now, Sue x

Sending Birthday Wishes

Happy weekend!  First, I'll run down the details on this card, then tell you about a bit of news that I have and then post the winner of the project book.  It's going to be a bit of a long one today.  I started by stamping the small medallion from the Justrite Lace Medallion set.  I stamped it with a black archival all over on coconut white card.  I covered the entire piece with a sticky adhesive sheet and then covered it with clear micro beads for texture.  Next I ran a piece of redline tape down the left side of the background.  I used some fancy stitched velvet (from my stash) and ruched it down the side. I don't often use green for my cards, but I just loved this piece of velvet so I had to have a play with it (sort of made the card around it!)   I added a messy bow tied from white seam binding.  I added a frosted green dazzler and stick pins.  For my focal element, I stamped the large lace medallion in black on white card.  I used shabby shutter distress ink to add colour to it.  On matching green card, I stamped the frame from the Grand sentiment set by Justrite.  I cut it out with the matching die from the Decorative labels 8 set.  The final layer was stamped in black using the stamp from the With Gratitude set.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre and cut it out with the matching die.  I inked it with Shabby Shutters ink and mounted it in the middle.  I pierced the edges to complete the card. Finished dimensions are 7" x 7 1/2" in size.

Now, card done, on to the other news.  I have just launched (at the trade show) a line of A4 sized embossing folders that I am very excited about!  There are six designs which I hope to be able to show in the next week or so (I don't have the pics downloaded on this computer yet) and I've made sure that they will fit through the original GC without having to remove the guide plate.  They won't actually be delivered for another six weeks, but I am hoping to have them available for my first Spellbinders shows this year.  I have just been given a date of April 9th (POTD).  While some of the dies on my shows have previously been shown, there are also some new ones and I am very excited to be launching them.  If you have decided to wait a while before purchasing any of the new releases, I think you will love the collection.                                                             

Now for the last bit I promised today.  The winner of the newest edition of the Creative Expressions project book is.............................................. Sandra Riley!!!        
Congratulations!   Please email me at americansue1@gmail.com to confirm your address and claim your prize.  For those of you that didn't win, but would love a copy of it, check out both Sam Poole's and Julia Watt's online shops for the project books, as well as other stockists on the Creative Expressions website.
One more quick reminder, Julia Watts has shows on C & C today at 10am and 4pm.  Don't forget to tune in to see her great demos!  All for now, Sue x

Thinking Of You

 Hi guys!  A quick channel card for today.  I picked up this lovely backing paper while at CHA and have been just itching to use it.  I am not sure if it will show up in my pics but it is basically silver, but when you move it about, you get a gold reflection from it also.  I cut a piece of it, then used the scallop edgeability twice to cut the panel into three pieces.  I put 3D foam on the backs of each of the panels, then mounted it on to a piece of soft gold card, leaving a gap between all the panels.  Next I cut a Labels 20 shape from the gold card and added it with foam to the centre panel.  I stamped my sentiment and cut it out with one of the dies in the fancy tags two set.  I used a piece of cut 'n dry foam with some Black soot distress ink on it and lightly highlighted the shape while still in the die.  I added foam to the back and attached it in the middle of my label shape to finish my focal element.  I have recently found this gorgeous ribbon that is gold on one side and silver on the other side.  I thought it would be perfect for this piece so I tied a double bow and added a pearl embellishment and stick pins.  I decided to mat the entire piece in white and I pierced the inner mat.  I added flat back pearls to the corners to complete the piece.  Wouldn't it make a pretty wedding card?  Finished dimensions are 7 1/2" x 8" in size.  Scroll down to see all the pics and find out what my cryptic reference to Scotland yesterday was about too!

This is Charlotte Mitchell.  She is the manager of a shop in Aberdeen, Scotland called The Paperterie.  Charlotte approached me at the trade show this past weekend and asked if I would demo in her shop.  At first, I said that I probably wouldn't be able to as I spend my time going back and forth to see my Mom in Florida (as you all know).  But then, she told me about how they have a craft event every month for charity and the money goes to a charity which help one of their own customers named Pearl Robb. I won't go into detail about Pearl's situation as I don't feel like it is my place to do so but I decided right then and there that I had to find the time to come up to Scotland and meet Pearl (who, I am told, follows the blog!).  That evening, I couldn't sleep as I was thinking about Pearl and I came upon an idea. There isn't much in this world that I need or want for, and although I have had my share of ups and downs in my life, it has been truly blessed and I know that.  If I can do something to help someone so deserving, than I am going to try to find a way to do it.  So with that in mind, I am going to attempt to demo at least twenty cards from start to finish in the way that I do while on air, parts will be predone, but hopefully I will be able to finish them all and still teach some techniques along the way.  My goal is to end up with finished cards that I can then have to auction off on that day.  All the money raised will go to Pearl's charity.  I am really looking forward to this event and we are going to be holding it on Saturday July 6th.   I am not certain if you need to book a place or not for the event, but you can contact the shop directly to find out how they handle that.
Be sure to check back tomorrow as I will be announcing the name of the winner in the drawing for the project book.  I also have a bit more news to share with you as well!  All for now, Sue x

Another Giveaway!

 Hello bloggers!  I have made the decision to start posting a few of the cards samples from my upcoming shows in March.  I usually don't post them this early, but part of the show is a repeat of some of the stamps and dies that sold out early on my last 4 Day Deal.  I thought I would show some of those.  The new items are still being kept under wraps, so you will have to tune in to see those!  This rose is my favourite rose stamp ever and I have made quite a few cards with it too.  There is a little sneak peek at the new lilac card here too.  It will be on the shows in March as part of a new pastel card collection.  Before I launch into the card making details, however,  I wanted to announce a giveaway for today too!  Not a card this time, but the newest edition of the Creative Expressions project book has just been released and is now shipping to our stockists.  I have one to give away to one lucky winner today.  All you need to do is leave a comment on today's post.  I will draw a winner and announce it on Saturday's blog!

 I started this card by stamping my sentiment in the lower right hand corner using a black archival ink pad.  I heat embossed it with clear powder.  I used one of the rye grass stamps on the show to add a bit of interest around it in a white on white style.  On the top portion of the card, I cut an aperture using Labels 20 (yes it is back!)  Once cut, I used the tiny polka dot mask to emboss the top half of the card for a pretty effect.  I tied a piece of white silky crush ribbon around my card, separating the embossed section from the unembossed section.  I added a double bow, a lilac Dazzler and a pair of stick pins to complete the ribbon embellishment. Next I used Labels 18 to cut an aperture in my lilac card.  I taped it behind my white background piece and added 3D foam to the entire back of the card.  I stamped a few more of the rye grass on another piece of white card and heat embossed them with white powder.  I mounted my background over this, giving me an area to fill in with my roses.  I stamped the rose and the bud on another piece of white card and coloured them using a combination of pencil and distress markers.  I cut both of them out with the matching Heartfelt Creations dies and added them to my aperture with mounting foam.  I cut two of the swirls from the Bella rose die set and used bits of it to peek out from behind my roses.  I finished the card by adding a double white mat and piercing the inner layer.  Finished dimensions are 6 1/2" x 8 1/2" in size.

 If you scroll down you can see all the detail pics as well as a few pictures that I snapped at the trade show (called Stitches).

 Here is a picture of the four of us that were demonstrating on the Creative Expressions stand.  I'm sure that you will recognise the super talented team standing next to me; Ali Reeves, Hels Sheridan and Julia Watts. 

This is a picture of myself with Julie Spencer.  Julie told me that her 12 year old daughter Phoebe has become quite the crafter because she has been watching my shows.  I was ever so pleased to hear that and wanted Phoebe to be able to see her Mom and I together here!

I didn't want today's post to be too terribly long so I have decided to save some more news items for the next few days.  If you live in Scotland, however, please pop in tomorrow for some exciting news that I would like to share, that's all I'm saying for now!  Don't forget to leave a comment to be included in a chance to win the new project book!  All for now, Sue x