Freebie Friday

Hi Bloggers.

Another week has flown by. The time thief has been at it again! I will be spending today packing for my workshop tomorrow and packing for my shows on Hochanda on Sunday.

Here's this week's card that needs a new home -

You can read how this card was made here.

Leave a lovely comment below to go into the draw and I'll announce the winner on Monday.

The lovely Lisa Horton is on Hochanda today with some Christmas MDF and some brand new stamps. I'm offering 10% discount on items I have on my website from the shows. You can find them here. Offer applies till midnight tonight or while stocks last. Discount will be applied at checkout. Please note : the new Christmas stamps and paper pad are a pre-order. I am expecting them early next week.

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 (8th July) - Spellbinders Heirloom Oval Die Set only £9.99!

You mean the world to me

Hi Bloggers.

Here's today's card -

For the background, I embossed a piece of Coconut White Card using the Spellbinders Ornamental Iron M-Bossabilities Folder. I ran it through a second time to extend the design. I wrapped a piece of Craft Consortium Floral Notes Lace Ribbon around.

I added some Purple Twilight Alcohol Ink to some Felt on an Alcohol Ink Applicator Tool and dragged it over a strip of White Gloss Card. I cut the Spellbinders Renaissance Border Two from it and added the border to the lace ribbon.

I stamped the Spellbinders Flower Bouquet onto Coconut White Card using Jet Black Archival. I coloured in using Distress Markers - I used Wilted Violet, Fossilized Amber, Milled Lavender, Crushed Olive and Peeled Paint. I used a Water Brush to drag the colour out. I cut it out using the matching die in the set.

I cut a frame by using dies #3 and #4 from the Spellbinders Renaissance Vine Die Set. Instead of inking through the die, I drew around the inside edge of the larger die using the fine tip of the Wilted Violet Distress Marker.

I stamped the sentiment from the Justrite Chrysantemums Stamp set using Jet Black Archival. I cut it out using a small die from the Spellbinders Acanthus Leaf Tags and drew around the inside of the die as before.

I assembled the card as shown adding some Craft Consortium Pearl Hearts and piercing around the edges using my Tim Holtz Ruler, Precision Probe and Piercing Mat.

hanks 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 (7th July) - Sue Wilson Elegant Laced Edger Die Set only £7.99!

 

Love You

Hi Bloggers.

Here's today's card -

 

The background is Sue Wilson's Caught in Crystal Technique. I used a piece of Heat Emboss Acetate and drizzled seom CS Clear Varnish Lacquer over it. I then added some drops of Sail Boat Blue and Purple Twilight Alcohol Inks. I sprinkled over some Tumbled Glass Distress Glitter and dusted some CS Phill Martin Platinum Mica Powders from above (don't touch the brush to the surface). I scrunched up a piece of White Tissue Paper, opened it out still retaining lots of creases and added it to my background. I dabbed it down using a piece of Kitchen Roll. I put aside to dry. FYI - you leave the tissue paper on, don't try and remove it.

I cut the inner die only from the Spellbinders Acanthus Leaf Card Creator Die Set out of Coconut White Card.  I did some precision inking through the die using the pointy end of a Smoothie and Plum Cobbler CS Colour Cloud. I removed the die with the help of my Spellbinders Tool 'n One. I then placed the die next to where I had already cut making sure that I could just see the very edge of where I had already cut and ran through the Spellbinders Platinum Machine again. It won't be a perfect extension but you can hide the worst bit under the sentiment panel. Once again, I precision inked through the die.

Once my Caught in Crystal Background was dry, I added my Acanthus Leaf background to it securing with CS Glue.

I cut a frame out of Coconut White Card using Sue Wilson's Double Pierced Background Rectangle Die Set and added it to my backgrounds using 3D Foam Tape. I trimmed away the excess using scissors.

I stamped my sentiment from the Justrite Lilac Blossoms Stamp Set onto Coconut White Card using Clear Perfect Medium and embossed with CS Silver Shine Detail Embossing Powder. I cut it out using a small die from the Spellbinders Acanthus Leaf Tags Die Set.

I cut the #3 die from the Spellbinders Renaissance Vine Die Set out of Coconut White Card and inked through the die with Plum Cobbler Colour Cloud,

I finished my card by adding some 4.5mm and 5mm Craft Consortium Pearls.

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 (6th July) - Betty Boots Baker Betty Stamp Set only £7.99!

You mean the world to me

Hi Bloggers.

Firstly, I must apologise for not doing the draw for the Freebie Friday card yesterday - it completely slipped my mind. So, without further ado, the winner of the card from Freebie Friday on 1st July is...........

Sue MacFall

Please email me at juliawattscrafts@gmail.com with your address and I'll pop it in the post.

Here's today's card -

For the background, I embossed a piece of lovely Midnight Blue Card using the Spellbinders Ornamental Iron M-Bossabilities Folder. I wrapped a piece of Craft Consortium Floral Notes Lace Ribbon around as shown.

I cut the largest die in the Spellbinders Jewelled Frame out of Coconut White Card. I cut 4 flowers using one of the bonus dies from the Spellbinders Embroidered Flowers Stamp/Die Set out of Midnight Blue Pearl Card and added them to the corners of my frame.

I stamped the stamp from the Spellbinders Embroidered Flowers Stamp/Die Set onto Coconut White Card using Cobalt Archival. I cut it out using the die from the set. I tend to emboss also but it's not necessary.

I stamped the sentiment from the Justrite Chrysanthemum Stamp Set onto Coconut White Card using Cobalt Archival. I cut it out using an inner die from the Spellbinders Renaissance Tags Two Die Set.

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

Phill Martin is carrying on with his One Day Special on Hochanda today with shows at 9am, 12noon, 4pm and 7pm. Phill's new Snowflakes stamps are due in today. I've already loaded the stock onto my website. You can find them and other items from Phill's shows on my website here. There's 10% discount on them till midnight tonight. Discount is applied at checkout.

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 (5th July) - Sue Wilson Smile Perspectives Die Set only £9.99!

You have been so kind

Hi Bloggers.

Here's today's card -

This is simply a card where the dies and the lovely new Pearl Card from Creative Expressions do all the work. Great if you're pushed for time.

I've used the new Steel and Midnight Blue Pearl Card from Creative Expressions.

I embossed the background using the Spellbinders Elite M-Bossabilities Folder. I ran it through a second time to extend the design.

I cut the largest and the middle sized dies in the Spellbinders Jewelled Frame Die Set out of Midnight Blue Card.

I stamped the sentiment from the Justrite Chrysanthemum Stamp Set onto Steel Card using Jet Black Archival. I cut it oit using a tag from the Spellbinders Renaissance Tags Two Die Set and cut the corresponding larger die out of Midnight Card.

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

Phill Martin is launching a One Day Special on Hochanda this evening at 8pm with some brand new Christmas goodies. I have ordered some of Phill's new stamps - they should be here later this week. I've popped some other items that are on his shows in a category on my website here. There's 10% discount on them till midnight tomorrow night. Discount is applied at checkout.

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 (4th July) - John Lockwood Scribble Rose Elements Stamp Set only £7.99!

 

Pastel Gilding Polishes & Pixie Powders

Hi Bloggers.

I had a fab day at Domino Crafts yesterday. They have seriously twisted my arm and I have arranged to go back for another demo day just before Christmas on December 10th - mainly so I can see Steve's Christmas window display!

I have a couple of MDF pieces to share with you today that I made yesterday - I made a couple of errors on them and we can learn from our mistakes, right?

I started my covering an MDF Heart with 2 coats of Heather CS Metallic Gilding Polish (I dried the first coat with my heat tool before adding the second - you can wait a couple of minutes at hime for it to dry but in a demo situation, speed is the key!).

Then using a Smoothie, I 'inked' through the Triangular Mask with Powder Blue CS Metallic Gilding Polish.

At this point, I should have made sure it was 100% dry and dusted over with an Anti-Static Bag but I forgot.

I added the Flower Bed Mask and spread some CS Clear Texture Paste through. I removed the mask and added White Gold CS Brilliant Sparkle Embossing Powder. The embossing powder should only have stuck to the texture paste but when I tried to tap off the excess, the powder stuck to the gilded area too. As it happens, I don't think it looks terrible but it'n not what I was aiming for.

I heat set the embossing powder and the texture paste bubbled up underneath and made little crackling noises as it did.

I stamped the sentiment from the Mystic Garden Stamp Set from Hot off the Press using Jet Black Archival.

I added some Heather & Powder Blue Gilding Polishes to a piece of Coconut White Card. Once dry, I cut both dies from Sue Wilson's Heart Spray out of the Heather piece and some flowers out of the Powder Blue piece using Sue's Exquisiste Poppy Die Set and inked through the die with Jet Black Archival (you could also use Midnight Clouds Colour Cloud or Black Soot Distress Ink but I did not have those with me). I cut the centres of the flowers out of Black Card.

So, not bad but would have been better if I have used an Anti-Static Bag!

Here's another -

I used an MDF Oval. I painted it with CS White Gesso.  I dried it with my heat tool. I popped a little CS Warm White Chalk Paint onto my Craft Sheet. I added just a little Plum Twist CS Pixie Powder and mixed thoroughly. You lose the mica element when you add the Pixie Powder to the Chalk Paint as the Chalk is dominant. I used this to paint my Oval.

I popped a little Purple Violet Pixie Powder into a Mister Bottle filled with water and gave it a mix. I popped the All Stirred Up Mask on top of my Oval and then misted with my Purple Violet Mister. I dried it with my Heat Tool.

I stamped one of Lisa Horton's stamps from her Wild Flowers Stamp Set using Jet Black Achival.

I popped some CS Multi-Tex Powder onto my Craft Sheet added a little water and a little Candy Pink CS Pixie Powder and mixed thoroughly. When driving back home, I remembered that I should have also added a little CS Dries Clear Glue to the mix to make it flexible. It does say on the pot but thought I should really mention it here for the ladies who were at the demo yesterday. I spread the paste through a section of the Spirelli Mask. I dried it with my heat tool. Multi-Tex dries really well when heated and does not bubble like Texture Paste does when heated.

I hope you've found this information on what I should have done but didn't useful?

Just a reminder that there's 10% discount on the items I have in stock from Sue Wilson's shows this week. You can find them here. Offer applies till midnight tonight. Discount is applied at checkout. You can still watch Sue's shows on catchup on www.hochanda.com for up to 2 weeks after the shows were aired. There may also be some repeated at other times too.

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 (3rd July) - Spellbinders 5 x 7 Flourished Frame Die Set only £13.99!

You make my heart smile!

Hi Bloggers.

I'm heading out early this morning travelling to Domino Crafts in Wolverhampton for a demo day 10am till 4pm. If you're in the area, please stop by.

Here's today's card -

For the back background (if that makes sense!), I used a piece of White Gloss Card and dropped some Alcohol Inks onto the surface. I used Purple Twilight, Sailboat Blue and Sunset Orange but you could use any.

I cut the Inner die only from Spellbinders Acanthus Leaf Duality Die Set out of Milk Card 3 times, taking care not to put my tan mat over the already embossed sections each time. I glued this to my Alcohol Inked Background.

I stamped the sentiment from the Justrite Chrysanthemum Stamp Set onto Milk Card using Jet Black Archival. I cut it out using a die from the Spellbinders Acanthus Leaf Tags Die Set and cut the corresponding larger die from the set out of Black Card.

I assembled the card as shown adding Craft Consortium Pearl Hearts and piercing around the edges using my Tim Holtz Ruler, Precision Probe and Piercing Mat.

Sue Wilson is back on Hochanda today at 2pm and 3pm. I'm offering 10% discount on the items I have in stock on my website from the shows. You can find them here. Offer applies till midnight tomorrow (Sunday 3rd July). Discount is applied at checkout.

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 (2nd July) - John Lockwood Camellia Ring Elements Stamp Set only £8.99!

 

Freebie Friday

Hi Bloggers.

Freebie Friday yet again! Here's this week's card that is looking for a new home -

 Sorry, the photo is a bit rubbish but I only realised late on that the giveaway card has a different sentiment on it to the original one I made and so had to quickly take another photo. This is a demo card from a Spellbinders ODS on Hochanda that I did in May.

You can read how the original card was made in this post.

Please leave a lovely comment below to go into the draw for a chance to win it. I will announce the winner on Monday.

The Pixie Powders Masterclass Workshop that I'm running at Creative Expressions on 13th July is now full. I am repeating it on Wednesday 27th July. For more information and to book a place, please contact Traci Mclean on 01536 481778 or email her at Traci@creative-expressions.uk.com

Sue Wilson is back on Hochanda today at 5pm and 6pm and tomorrow at 2pm and 3pm. I'm offering 10% discount on the items I have in stock on my website from the shows. You can find them here. Offer applies till midnight on Sunday 3rd July (to give you chance to watch on catchup if you need too!). Discount is applied at checkout.

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 (1st July) - Phill Martin Sentimentally Yours Baroque Border Sentiments Stamp Set only £8.99!

Just Because

Hi Bloggers.

Well, I failed yesterday - my lounge still looks like a stock room! I spent most of the day getting my website orders parcelled up and in the post, had to do some planning for my shows on July 10th and some other bits of admin. My lounge will look even worse this morning as more stock is due in, including the new pastel colours in the Cosmic Shimmer Metallic Gilding Polishes range. I've already loaded them onto my website. You can find them here. As a heads up, if you're in the Wolverhampon area, I will be demoing them at Domino Crafts 10am till 4pm on Saturday. I'll also be demoing CS Pixie Powders and Sue Wilson Dies.

Anyway, here's today's card -

There are so many techniques that you can do with the Spellbinders Acanthus Leaf Card Creator Die Set - this is just one of them that I demoed in one of the ODS shows on Tuesday. It's a variation of Sue Wilson's Fire & Ice Technique.

I cut the inner die only from the Spellbinders Acanthus Leaf Die Set out of a piece of Black Card. I used the Spellbinders Tool 'n One to remove the card from the die and on the reverse of the die cut to remove the 'hairy bits'. Making sure that my Craft Sheet was clean, I popped a piece of Creative Expressions Double Sided Self Adhesive Sheet over the the FRONT of the die cut - it needs to be a bit larger than the die cut. I turned it over to reveal the areas of adhesive and rubbed Gold Metallic Micro Beads all over. Now, I have learned from experience that these little beads like to escape when adding the ice bit to this technique thus contaminating the Iced Snow. So, it's wise to cover the area by gluing a piece of copy paper over to seal them in.

I turned my piece over and peeled away the other piece of adhesive. I then rubbed CS Iced Snow all over. I used the outer die from the Acanthus Leaf Card Creator Die Set to cut my background to size - you need to go back and forth a couple of times in your machine as the die is cutting through card, DS adhesive, copy paper and Iced Snow. It's also best to wait till the glue on the copy paper is dry. Do check your die afterwards for any Iced Snow that might be sitting on it - if left there you will get a little embossed disc on your edges!

I stamped the sentiment from the Justrite Chrysanthemum Stamp Set onto Coconut White Card using Clear Perfect Medium and embossed with CS Gold Detail Embossing Powder. I cut it out using a die from the Spellbinders Acanthus Leaf Tags Die Set and cut the corresponding larger die out of Black Card.

I assembled the card as shown adding Craft Consortium Pearls (with some CS Glue as they're going onto Glitter Jewels) and piercing around the edges using my Tim Holtz Ruler, Precision Probe and Piercing Mat.

I've loaded photos of all of the samples from this week's ODS into the Gallery section of this blog (accessible via the top menu) and onto my Julia Watts Crafts Facebook Page.

Sue Wilson is back on Hochanda during the next 3 days with slightly different products on each show. I'm offering 10% discount on the items I have in stock on my website from today's shows, tomorrow's shows and Saturday's shows. You can find them here. Offer applies till midnight on Sunday 3rd July (to give you chance to watch on catchup if you need too!). Sue's shows are today 10am & 11am, tomorrow at 5pm and 6pm and Saturday at 2pm and 3pm.

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 (30th June) - Spellbinders Savoy Labels Die Set only £13.99!