Thanks so much

Hi Bloggers.

I quickly made today's card yesterday from bits left over from some recent demos. I chose the sentiment and now realise how appropriate it is as I would like to thank you for all the orders on my new website yesterday. I am so grateful for your support. All orders placed by 3pm yesterday were in the post yesterday afternoon. I have some more of Sue's Configurations Dies on order and have loaded them so they can be ordered. They should be here today or tomorrow. I loaded some more items onto the store yesterday - be sure to pop back as often as you can. Remember the launch offer of 10% off carries on till Midnight 4th May.

Now to today's card - remember I'm using up demo bits as I'm a bit pushed for time and I know that a lot of you don't like green but it is Phill Martin's Decadent Bamboo so hopefully I'll get away with it.

For the background, I used one of the papers from Phill's Decadent Damask Paper Pad - trimmed it down a little.

I stamped the sentiment from the Creative Expressions Delightful Sentiments Clear Stamp Set using Olive Archival. I cut it out using the smallest die in the Spellbinders Fleur Essence Die Set.

For the background within the frame, I embossed a piece of Coconut White Card by running it through the Grand Calibur with the Creative Expressions Bed Of Roses Embossing Folder. I mixed a little PM CS Decadent Bamboo Texture Paste with a little PM CS Decadent Grape Sparkle Texture Paste on my Craft Sheet (a bit of an experiment!). and spread it thinly over the deboss pattern. I does actually look better in real life!

I cut the frame out of Coconut White Card using Spellbinders Triple Floral Die Set - the middle 3 dies. I embossed them first, removed the decorative die and then cut with just the plain dies. I rubbed Decadent Bamboo Gilding Wax over the surface.

For the pretty outer frame, I cut the largest die in the Spellbinders Floral Assortment Die Set out of Coconut White Card twice, cut them in half and glued them to the back of the Triple Floral Frame using Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue.

I assembled the card as shown adding some 5mm and 8mm White Pearls and piercing around the edges.

Phill Martin has shows today on Create & Craft at 9am and 1pm with part 1 of his new Chic Collection.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.

Be eccentric!

Hi Bloggers.

Well, some of you may have noticed the links appearing in the text in yesterday's and Monday's post as my website is now live and taking orders! There's only about 300 products on there at the moment. Last night I added Sue Wilson's new dies. They're in stock now - you can see them here. There are new dies in the Canadian, Portuguese, Nobles, Finishing Touches, Expressions and a new collection - Configurations. I don't have any of the new striplets or gemini dies - seem to have forgotten to order those!

Here's the link to the homepage - juliawattscrafts.co.uk You can also click on Shop in the top menu of this blog. Don't expect it to be as slick as alot of the sites out there - it's really early days yet and I'm just getting to grips with it! I am offering 10% discount during the launch period which expires midnight 4th May. Everyone who attends my Milton Keynes Workshops will receive a code to get a permanent 10% discount on my site - those who attended the March Workshop will receive their code via email next week. You can also book workshops at both Kettering and Milton Keynes via my website. At the moment, I'm just delivering to UK addresses. I will try and expand to European addresses soon. Postage is free on orders of £20 or over - it's £2 on orders under £20. Any problems, email me at admin@juliawattscrafts.co.uk

Back to today's card -

I started my running a piece of Coconut White Card through the Grand Calibur with the Creative Expressions Wild Roses Embossing Folder. I then spread some Phill Martin CS Decadent Denim Sparkle Texture Paste over the deboss side, removing as much of the excess paste as possible. I put aside to dry - it doesn't take long as the paste isn't very thick when applied in this manner.

I cut a frame out of Cobalt Card using a couple of dies from the Spellbinders 6 x 6 Matting Basics B Die Set. Once the background was dry, I added the frame to it using 3D Foam, trimming off the excess. I cut a mat out of Coconut White Card using Spellbinders 6 x 6 Matting Basics A.

I stamped the sentiment from John Lockwood's Fern Frames Stamp Set onto Coconut White Card using Cobalt Archival. I cut it out using the smallest die in Spellbinders Floral Assortment Die Set and inked through the die using Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink and a Smoothie.

I cut the circular die from the Spellbinders Blooming Collection Die Set out of Cobalt Card.

I made a flower out of Coconut White Card using Spellbinders Flower Play Die Set (again! it's what people want to see me demo!), I added Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue and some CS Iced Snow Glitter Jewels. I tied a bow using Creative Expressions Off White Satin Ribbon. I tied another bow out of the thinner ribbon in the Bluebird Satin Ribbon Pack. I made a couple of decorative stick pins using Creative Expressions Stick Pin Elements and Glossy Accents.

I assembled the card as shown adding some Pearl Corners and 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.

You in my Life

Hi Bloggers.

Here's today's card -

This is so simple - the dies really do the work.

I stamped the little frame and the sentiment from John Lockwood's Daisy Chain Elements Stamp Set onto Milk Card using Coffee Archival. I cut it out using the middle die from the Spellbinders Floral Assortment Die Set.

I cut the largest die from the same set out out of Coconut White Card and added some 8mm White Pearls.

I cut the Spellbinders Label One Card Creator out of Milk Card using both the dies in the set. I cut the largest die only out of Coconut White Card and glued the 2 die cuts together using Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue.

Like I said - easy! Just added a few mats, piercing around the edges of one of them.

I'm frantically trying to upload products to my new website which I hope to launch this week - watch this space!

All for now.

Julia.

Into the Box

Hi Bloggers.

Here's today's card -

This card features the Into the Box Technique. I stamped the Creative Expressions Mini Stamp onto Coconut White Card using Jet Black Archival. I decided how much of the car I wanted inside the box and placed the Spellbinders Labels 25 die in the appropriate place. I drew around the inside of the die with a pencil, avoiding the stamped image. I cut around the section of the car that was on the inside of the pencil line plus a few mm more. I seated the die back in place with the cut part of the car over the die on the non-cutting edge side. I secured with removable tape and ran through the Grand Calibur

I popped a decorative paper left over from the card in the April 13th post behind the aperure.

I stamped the sentiment that comes with the Mini using Jet Black Archival. I cut it out using Spellbinders A2 Matting Basics and inked through the die with Black Soot Distress Ink.

I assembled the card as shown adding a Tim Holtz Idea-ology piece from my stash and piercing around the edges.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.

You are Bloomin' Fabulous

Hi Bloggers.

I'm down south today demoing at Emerald Crafts in Lyndhurst 10 till 4. Hope you can join me.

Here's today's card -

For the background, I used Sue's Scribbled PVA Technique on Milk Card with Phill Martin Cosmic Shimmer Pearlescent PVA in Decadent Oak, Chic Pumpkin and Chic Moss. I put aside for a few hours to dry.

For the frame, I cut the largest Spellbinders 6 x 6 Matting Basics A Die out of Milk Card. I cut the largest 2 dies from the Spellbinders Triple Floral Die Set out of Chestnut Card. I glued the 2 die cuts together using Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue. I put is aside for the glue to dry for a few minutes then seated another 6 x 6 Matting Basics Die within the Triple Floral Die Cut and ran it through the Grand Calibur.

I stamped the sentiment from John Lockwood's new Tulip Elements Stamp Set using Coffee Archival. I cut it out using the smallest die in the Triple Floral Die Set. I cut a 6 x 6 Matting Basics Die out of Chestnut Card.

I tied a bow using Creative Exprssions Antique White Satin Ribbon. I made a flower using Spellbinders Flower Play Die Set, added CS Dries Clear Glue and some CS Iced Snow Glitter Jewels.

I made a couple of Decorative Stick Pins using Creative Expressions Stick Pin Elements and Glossy Accents.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.

Sending You Warm Thoughts

Hi Bloggers.

Here's today's card -

An actual proper card today! I've only used 1 die set with a variation on the Fire and Ice Technique.

I made a card blank using the largest die in Sue's Classic Adorned Noble Rectangles Die Set. I folded a piece of A4 Card in Coconut White in half. I placed the die with one of the long cutting edges just outside of the fold of the card and ran it through the Grand Calibur. This created by shaped card blank.

I used the largest 3 dies in the set to create my frame. I ran them through the Calibur with the emboss sandwich first, removed the decorative die and then ran the remaining 2 dies through with the cut sandwich.

I cut the decorative die in the set out of Coconut White Card making sure it had a good sized border of card around it. I added a piece of Creative Expressions Double Sided Self Adhesive Sheet to the front of the die cut. I turned the piece over and added Decadent Teal, Decadent Grape and Decadent Bamboo Mica Powder from Phill Martin's Cosmic Shimmer Colour Collection. I brushed off as much of the excess mica powder as I could. It's important, at this stage to trap the mica powder by covering the design with another piece of card so that you don't contaminate the Glitter Jewels in the next step.

I turned over so I was working on the front and removed the other backing sheet from the adhesive. I added Cosmic Shimmer Diamond Snow Glitter Jewels. I added the frame using 3d Foam and popped the whole lot onto my card blank.

I stamped the sentiment from the Creative Expressions Delightful Sentiments Stamp Set using Cobalt Archival. I cut it out using the smallest die in the set and cut a mat using the next sized die.

An easy peasy very effective card!

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.

Friends Like You Brighten my Life

Hi Bloggers.

Here's today's card -

I stamped the sentiment and the frame from John Lockwood's new Cherry Blossom Elements Stamp Set onto Coconut White Card using Magenta Hue Archival. I cut it out using Spellbinders 6 x 6 Matting Basics.

I stamped some of the single blossom stamps onto a separate piece of card. I cut them out, shaped them and added them to the previously stamped frame.

I cut the largest die in the Spellbinders Triple Floral Die Set. At the emboss stage I added the next size die down to get the faux pierced look. I cut the largest die in the Spellbinders 6 x 6 Matting Basics A Die Set out of Coconut White Card. I went around the edges with the Magenta Hue Archival and added a White 8mm Pearl to each corner.

I tied a bow using Antique White Satin Ribbon and added a Crystal Sparkler to the centre.

I made a couple of Decorative Stick Pins using Creative Expressions Stick Pin Elements and Glossy Accents. Once dry, I added them to the back of my bow.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.

Enjoy

Hi Bloggers.

Sue Wilson amd John Lockwood are continuing with their Pick of the Day Shows today on Ideal World and Create & Craft - please check the schedules for show times.

Here's today's card -

I finally managed to get hold of some Foundations Lilac Card - yay!

For the background, I did a fine weave using Lilac and Coconut White Card and Sue's Striped Weaving Die. Those of you who are booked onto my workshop in Milton Keynes on 16th May will learn how to do this. It is quite time consuming, but the finished result is well worth the effort.

I made a frame using Sue's Ornate Pierced Rectangles Die Set.

I cut Sue's Enjoy Expressions Die out of Lilac Card.

I cut the border from Sue's Greek Collection Corner, Border & Tag Die Set out of Coconut White Card, cut it in half and added it to the frame.

I made a flower using Sue's Cornflower Die Set using Lilac Card. I added a new Dazzler and some twirly bits cut using a couple of dies from Sue's Splendid Swirls Die Set.

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

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.