Thinking of You

Hi Bloggers.

I finally caught up with all my website order backlog yesterday - a good feeling, I can tell you. Thank you all for being so patient. Too hot to do much else other than the post and sit on my pc yesterday. Needless to say, I didn't tidy my Craft Room - I haven't even emptied my bags from the Studios. At least I didn't have to do any prep yesterday. I have a little gap from TV till 26th September but I'll still be busy.

I have a few dates for your diary -

I have a Christmas themed workshop at Yardley Gobion (just outside Milton Keynes) on Saturday 24th September (date change). We'll be doing a mix of stamping and die cutting. It's £40 for the day - you can book now via my website here.

I am also doing a Christmas themed workshop at CE HQ on Wednesday 21st September. Again, we will be doing a mix of die-cutting and stamping. They will be different projects to the workshop in Yardley Gobion. Bookings are not being taken for this just yet as I haven't designed the projects yet but you can register you interest with Tracey Laughton either by phoning her on 01536 481 778 or emailing her at tracey@creative-expressions.uk.com.

Looking a little further ahead, I am running a Backgrounds Masterclass at Yardley Gobion on Saturday 15th October (book here) and a Stamping Masterclass (by request) at CE HQ on Wednesday 12th October (booking now being taken by Tracey - see contact details above). I have also booked the hall at Yardley Gobion on Saturday 29th October for a Christmas Playdate - on this day, I will bring my Christmas Dies and Stamps and you can use them to your hearts content (but share nicely!) to really crack on with your Christmas Card Making. You can book here for that - just £15 for the day.

Of course, we have Ally Pally on 17th and 18th September - don't forget, if you're a Hochanda Freedom Member you can get the tickets half price! They're reasonably priced anyway so do consider going - it's a lovely venue and some great retail stands plus Hochanda will be broadcasting live from there again.

I'm also demoing at Phill Martin's new shop in Sheffield on Sunday October 9th - that should be fun!

Right, I'd better get on with sharing a card -

This card was inspired by the Justrite Stampers Blog - well worth a visit. I started by stamping the Justrite Text Background onto Coconut White Card using Coffee Archival. I made sure it was dry and then dragged a Frayed Burlap Distress Ink Pad across it to make it a bit distressed (surprisingly!). I then inked around the edges with Scarlet Woman Colour Cloud using a Smoothie.

On a separate piece of card, I stamped 1a and 3a from the Justrite Multi-Step Poppies Clear Stamp Set using Jet Black Archival twice each. I then stamped 1b and 3b on top using Crimson Kiss Colour Cloud using a Smoothie. I stamped 1c and 3c on top using Scarlet Woman Colour Cloud, again applied using a Smoothie. Finally, I stamped 1d and 3d on top using Onyx Black Colour Cloud, again applied using a Smoothie. (Acutally, it's not necessary to stamp 1d as it's hidden but it's good practise just in case you change your mind and use the image in a different way.) I cut the flowers out by hand using scissors and stacked the 3 images on top of the 1's.

I stamped the leaves directly onto my background - I stamped the stem (6) using Basil Leaf Colour Cloud, leaves 8a and 7a using Olive Archival, 8b and 7b on top using Chic Moss Colour Cloud and then 8c and 7c on top using Basil Leaf Colour Cloud. I added my flowers to the top of the stems.

The sentiment is from the Justrite Meadow Circles Clear Stamp Set. I stamped it using Jet Black Archival and cut it out using a die from the Justrite Four in a Square Die Set. I inked around the edges with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink and Scarlet Woman Colour Cloud. I cut a mat from Black Card using Sue Wilson's Melbourne Die Set.

I assembled the card as shown adding some 5mm Black Pearls and piercing around the edges using my Tim Holtz Ruler, Precision Probe and Piercing Mat. I inked my Coconut White mats the same way as my background.

John Lockwood is launching a One Day Special on Hochanda this evening at 8pm with his Autumn range of stamps and birthday year. I am offering 10% discount on items I have on my website from the shows. You can find them here. Offer valid till midnight tomorrow night or while stocks last. Discount will be applied at checkout. I am still waiting for the new stamps to become available for me to order on the CE website. As soon as I spot them, I will order them.

My latest post has gone live on the Spellbinders Blog here. It would be lovely if you have the time to leave a comment.

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 (25th August) - Sue Wilson Frames & Tags : Zoe only £7.99!