Saturday 7 November 2015

Thinking of you at Christmas

Hi Bloggers.

Well I'm back from a great mid week break with my beading pals. We had a great time with lots of food, beading and giggles. Looking forward to the next one. I have taken a couple of photos of the pieces that I finished and added them to the end of this post - I hasten to add that both pieces were almost finished before I went away, they're not 5 minute makes!

I was hoping to get all my website orders done yesterday afternoon but just couldn't get to the post office in time. They're all parcelled up and will be in the post this morning.

Here's today's card -

For the background, I ran a piece of Milk Card through the Grand Calibur with the Creative Expressions Star Swirls Embossing Folder.

I cut just the outer die of Sue Wilson's Poinsettia Mini Striplet out of Milk Card. I cut the inner and the outer die together twice out of Milk Card. I glued all 3 pieces together with Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue. Then I 'coloured' in the poinsettias with Cosmic Shimmer Plum Sparkle PVA (you may have seen Sue Wilson do this with CS Berry Sparkle PVA). You don't have to be at all careful when doing this. I put aside to dry for a few hours. Once dry, I cut the 2 dies from the set together again out of Milk Card and glued the die cut on top. I added some 3mm Cream Pearls to the cente of the flowers.

I stamped the Creative Expressions Poinsettia Medallion onto Milk Card using Plum Archival. I cut it out using the outer die from Sue's Deboss Snowflake Die Set. I stamped the frame from John Lockwood's 12 Days of Christmas Clear Stamp Set  and the sentiment from his Poinsettia Elements Clear Stamp Set onto Milk Card, again using Plum Archival. I cut it out using another die from the Deboss Snowflake Die Set.

I stamped a couple of sizes of the Shaded Poinsettia Stamp Set onto Milk Card twice each using Plum Archival and cut them out using the corresponding dies from Sue's Classic Poinsettia Die Set. I shaped them a bit - the John Way! and added an 8mm Cream Pearl. I cut the foliage out of Milk Card using Sue's Pine Bough Die Set.

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

Here are the 2 necklaces I finished this week - both designed by my lovely friend Sue Stallard.

South Sea Pearls -

Melisandre -

Sue Stallard does lots of workshops at Charisma Beads in Hitchen. You can see some of the details here.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.
www.juliawattscrafts.co.uk

50 comments:

  1. lovely designed card and your beadwork is beautiful I know how long it takes to make even a simple beaded necklace ,these two will have taken hours

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lovely card Julia and your bead work is amazing. Thanks very much for the email. I really appreciated it. Best wishes Loraine xx

    ReplyDelete
  3. Morning Julia, a beautiful card and gorgeous beadwork are these for Christmas presents or for yourself I remember the one you gave Sue it was also gorgeous your a very talented lady.
    Nancyd xx

    ReplyDelete
  4. Morning Julia.
    I'm so glad you had a lovely time. The card is so pretty, and you bead work is brilliant. Thank you so much take care Kitty.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Julia
    Lovely card, the plum colour works really well.
    Great necklaces, I especially like the first one. Good to hear you had a good break.
    B xx

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lovely card and jewellery Julia, glad you enjoyed your break xx hazel

    ReplyDelete
  7. Lovely card and stunning jewellery, I especially love the first one. It's good to get away and sit with like minded people, away from the distractions of life isn't it.
    SueL x

    ReplyDelete
  8. What lovely necklaces, especially the pearls. So pleased you had a good break as you must have needed it.
    The card is beautiful. I watched John making poinsettias at NEC yesterday and am going to make a load at craft club this morning.
    Jan
    Northampton

    ReplyDelete
  9. Good morning Julia today's Christmas card is gorgeous. I must try that technique with the striplet die. Your beadwork is stunning. It sounds like you had a wonderful time. Have a great day today. Hugs Jackie

    ReplyDelete
  10. Morning Julia, welcome back, sounds like you had a great time and what beautiful creations, I love beading, these are so beautiful. Todays card is also beautiful, love the sentiment.

    Stay safe, healthy and happy, hugs, June Smith xxx

    ReplyDelete
  11. Morning Julia, So glad you have had a lovely 'beading' time away, your necklaces are absolutely gorgeous !!
    I'm loving this card, especially the Poinsettia Medallion,and the colours are fabulous.
    I hope your 'batteries' are recharged after your break.
    Lots of love from Patricia xx

    ReplyDelete
  12. Fabulous card Julia and your heading work is amazing.....beautiful !
    XxxRuth

    ReplyDelete
  13. Gorgeous card today, both necklaces are very impressive.

    Michele

    ReplyDelete
  14. All very beautiful Love the colour you chose for the card Woo hoo! Hitchin is close-ish to me I must go and take a look But I really really shouldn't take up any more hobbies

    ReplyDelete
  15. Your card is beautiful Julia, liking your jewellery as well x

    ReplyDelete
  16. Gorgeous card and the necklaces are beautiful, xxx

    ReplyDelete
  17. Lovely card Julia, and stunning beadwork!
    Rosemary xx

    ReplyDelete
  18. Beautiful card Julia, love the beads

    ReplyDelete
  19. Good Morning Julia
    So glad you had a lovely time relaxing and making those two gorgeous necklaces. You really have a talent for making necklaces, thank you for the link and i will go and explore Sue's site.
    Gorgeous card today too....L Rosie xxx

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hello Julia, your Christmas card is really beautiful, love the striplet and how you coloured the flowers, and your greeting is perfect. Your necklaces are fantastic, glad you had a great break. Take care. Bx

    ReplyDelete
  21. Love the poinsettia card and the necklaces are both great. No end to your talents

    ReplyDelete
  22. Morning Julia,
    Pleased to hear you enjoyed your break. Love the card and the necklaces.
    Lydia
    X

    ReplyDelete
  23. So beautiful your bead work and the card is lovely stunning work Julia you must be so proud welcome home love June horrocksxxxx

    ReplyDelete
  24. Beautiful bead work and such a lovely card

    Pen x

    ReplyDelete
  25. Fab card Julia, and your necklaces are quite stunning. I especially love the first one.

    ReplyDelete
  26. A lovely card for that special person, Julia. Glad you enjoyed your break.

    Anne (Northampton)

    ReplyDelete
  27. A beautiful card and necklaces.

    ReplyDelete
  28. How talented you are, lovely card and necklace. X

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hi Julia,
    WOW! Are there no end to your talents, what a lovely way to spend a few days with friends, creating stunning jewellery....Fabulous and I can see they are not 5 minute jobs , a lot of delicate work there.
    Now the card, absolutely stunning! Love everything about it.
    Love Janet x
    from Wakefield

    ReplyDelete
  30. Didn't see the necklaces at first - they are lovely too, especially the collar type one.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hello Julia.

    Lovely Card. I like the pva filling of striplet dies techniques, very effective. Thanks for sharing.

    It sounds like you had a good break and it's nice to do something different. Lovely pieces, I'm pleased you enjoyed it.

    Best wishes

    ReplyDelete
  32. Hi Julia
    Beautiful card & I love the plum colours, really pretty poinsettia's & like all the different textures you have used which look amazing & I must get that embossing folder as it's gorgeous.

    Glad you had a great mini break with your pals & both necklaces you have made are stunning but the first pearl one is my favourite, they must have taken hours with those tiny beads, but well worth the time taken to make as they're beautiful & unique, well done you !!

    Crafty Hugs
    Haze T xx

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hi Julia
    Another overly card today. I just love the poinsettia striplet die that you've used.
    Your necklaces are stunning what a clever lady you are.

    ReplyDelete
  34. That card is so beautiful, love the colours..those necklaces are masterpieces, so beautiful too...luv Ursula xx

    ReplyDelete
  35. Welcome back Julia ,sounds like you had a good time .Your necklaces are beautiful. .Love the colours you used on card .Gloria(sidcup) xx

    ReplyDelete
  36. Hi Julia,

    Love the card and your bead work is gorgeous, your so talented. I want to try making jewellery too and have some beads and stuff, but as with the card making I'm a newbie and find it hard to think of designs.

    Take care
    Linda xx

    ReplyDelete
  37. Hi Julia,
    A really beautiful card, I love the plum colour. Glad that you had a good break. The necklaces that you have made are amazing.
    Thanks for all the inspiration,
    Heather Treble

    ReplyDelete
  38. A lovely card. Hope we get to see you wearing the necklaces on the TV soon.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Hi Julia,
    Gorgeous card and two Beautiful necklaces, well done you.
    Maria x

    ReplyDelete
  40. Hi Julia, oh wow, wow wow. Absolutely gorgeous card. I love the plum with the milk, it's so rich looking. Just beautiful x I love beautiful necklaces too, especially the first one, it's so pretty! Lovely to hear that you've had a good giggle with your friends too. "Thank you Julia" xx Love Karen xx

    ReplyDelete
  41. A great card Julia. The necklaces' are beautiful I am so pleased you has such a great break..xxx

    ReplyDelete
  42. Lovely card Julia, the plum colour is beautiful. The necklaces are very pretty - love the first one. What a talented lady you are! Pat x

    ReplyDelete
  43. Yet another lovely card from you Julia. I have this striplet die so must try this technique. Your south sea pearl necklace is beautiful too. X

    ReplyDelete
  44. Hi Julia,

    Love the card and the necklaces are stunning. Clever girl.

    Much love,

    Shirley T.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Another stunner of a card today, absolutely gorgeous and I love the
    technique with the poisettia striplet die.
    I tried it out and was very pleased with the results and I love the poisettia stamp and dies and have used them on most of my christmas cards this year

    ReplyDelete
  46. Forgot to say I love those necklaces especially the first one, I so wish I had the patience to make something as beautiful as that.

    ReplyDelete
  47. This is stunning, love it, love it, love it!!! Your necklaces are fabulous too!!
    Hugs Donna xx

    ReplyDelete
  48. Hi Julia, great card love that striplet die,both your necklace look fab. Take Care Melody xXx

    ReplyDelete
  49. Lovely card and fantastic neclaces! You are very very good at jewelery making. I like making some too, but no where near as sophisticated as yours :) Lovely.

    ReplyDelete

Only positive comments please!