Sending Hugs

Hi Bloggers.

Cold start to the day for me today - the heating stopped working last night and there's no hot water this morning. Not a happy bunny!

I had a fab day beading yesterday. I've a pic of the little I've got done over the past 2 weekend workshops at the end of this post - it's quite a time consuming hobby.

Back to today's card which was a magazine submission that was not used -

1. Spritz a piece of Watercolour Card with water. Add Plum Twist and Rich Gold Pixie Powders by tapping very gently on the base of the pot. The powder will explode as it hits the water. The Plum Twist separates into many colours. It’s best to leave to dry but can be heat set. Once dry you will see the shimmer from the mica.
   2.       Dust with an Anti-Static Bag. Ink up the image from the Justrite Doodled Roses Stamp Set using Clear Perfect Medium and stamp leaving enough space around the image to die cut. Add Black Detail EmbossingPowder and heat set.
   3.       Tap a little Plum Twist and Peacock Green into a Paint Palette. Use a Water Brush to make the powders into paint and then colour the image. The paint won’t stick to the embossed lines making it easier to achieve a good result.
   4.       Make sure the paint is dry and then cut out using #2 die from Spellbinders Astoria Decorative Accents. Cut #5 die from Spellbinders Astoria Labels and glue the die cuts together.
   5.       Stamp the sentiment from the Doodled Roses Stamp Set onto another section of the Pixie Powder Background using Clear Perfect Medium and emboss with Black Detail Embossing Powder. Cut out using #2 die from Spellbinders Labels 50 Decorative Elements. Cut #3 die from Spellbinders LabelsFifty out of Black Card and glue the die cuts together.
   6.       Cut a piece of Coconut White Card to 5” x 5 ½”. Run it through the Spellbinders Platinum Machine with the Spellbinders Flowersand Leaves Embossing Folder. The card is bigger than the folder so leave the excess card outside the folder and have the cutting plate a little away from the edge where the excess card is so that you don’t get a line down your card. The pattern on the folder isn’t a repeating one but you can position the folder on the extra bit of card so that the pattern almost lines up. Run through the machine again, once more leaving the excess card outside the folder and the cutting plate a little away from the edge where the excess card is. Mat onto Black Card measuring 5 1/8” x 5 5/8”.
   7.       Cut a piece of Coconut White Card measuring 5 7/8” x 6 3/8” and pierce around the edges. Add a Black mat measuring 6” x 6 ½”. Add this to a Coconut White mat measuring 6 ½” x 7” using Mounting Cushion. Add the embossed card and mat to these 3 pieces, again using Mounting Cushion.
   8.       Add the 2 die cuts to the embossed background as shown using 3d Foam. Tie a bow using 2 lengths of Black Satin Ribbon. Add to your card as shown using a Glue Spot. Cut the smallest of the flower dies in the Spellbinders Lacework Button Flowers Die Set out of the Pixie Powder Background. Cut the smallest button die from the same die set out of Black Card. 
   9.   Insert the button die cut into the flower die cut as shown adding a SmallBlack Circle Dazzler with glue and add to the bow using a Glue Spot. Add a little glue to where you have used a Glue Dot to ensure that your bow and embellishment stays put. 
   10. Complete your card by adding a Small Black Circle Dazzler to each corner securing with glue.

Phill Martin is launching a One Day Special on Hochanda this evening at 8pm with his new Dainty Daisies Collection. I'm offering 10% discount on items I have in stock from the shows. You can find them here. Offer applies till midnight tomorrow night and discount will be applied at checkout.

As promised here's a photo of the elements I've beaded so far for my 'Is It' project designed by my good friend Sue Stallard -

The winner of the card from Freebie Friday on 21st October is ............................

BridgetCG

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

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 (24th October) -  Sue Wilson Mini Gemini Dies - Indus only £5.99!

ART

Hi Bloggers.

I have a canvas for you today -

I've actually used a Dina Wakley Media Board. These are pre-treated so no need to apply a layer of Gesso.

I made this a while ago so I'll try and describe how I made it as best as I can remember.

I started my mixing some CS Multi-Tex Powder with water on my Craft Sheet. I added a little CS Glue to the mix and then spread it through the Basketweave Mask all along the right-hand side of the board. I had to move it to extend the design, drying the Multi-Tex mixture in between using a Heat Tool. I then used the Knitted Mask and applied Multi-Tex through it down the left-hand side of the board. I dried it and then extended the design down the side.

I added some Cream Crochet Ribbon and some Cream Guipure Lace securing with Matte Distress Collage Medium.

I cut the Spellbinders Cascading Butterflies Die out of Coconut White Card (can be any colour!). I also cut both the dies in the Spellbinders Medallion Three Die Set. I added them to my design plus a bunch of embellishments - Dazzlers, Dazzler Settings, Satin Roses, Watch Face Charms, Metal Corners, Vintage Buttons, Mini Pearl Swirls and a Zipper Rose.

I ran some of the butterflies from the inside of my Cascading Butterflies die cut through the Spellbinders Platinum Machine with the Creative Expressions Butterfly Dreams Embossing Folder. I shaped them and added them to the die cut on my board. I cut a couple of leaves using the Spellbinders Romantic Vines Die Set and slotted them in around the ribbon roses.

I painted the MDF 'ART' word with White Gesso and added it to the bottom right-hand corner.

I put my piece aside to dry for a few hours - it's easier to let it dry before the next bit.

Once dry, I painted the whole thing with CS White Gesso. Some areas needed a couple of coats.

I then sprayed with CS Misters - I used Phill Martin's Platinum and Decadent Teal. Once dry, I rubbed Phill's New Gold Gilding Wax over the embellishments to make them pop.

I finished by painting some CS Glue in various places and adding some Snow White Micro Beads.

Here's a few close ups -

I'm off the the second part of the beading workshop I went to last week. This doesn't mean that I will finish my piece - I expect it'll take me about 12 months to finish it! The accounts will just have to wait until this evening.

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 (23rd October) -  Sue Wilson Festive Collection - Wise Men Mini Striplet only £5.99!

Follow Your Dreams

Hi Bloggers.

I made this card quite some time ago for a magazine but it wasn't used to my knowledge so I'm sharing here today. The write up is magazine style as it was already written.

1.       Place the Paved Mask onto a piece of WatercolourCard. Add Golden Mint, Aqua Lagoon and Peacock Green Pixie Powders by tapping very gently on the base of the pot. Spritz with water – don’t be too heavy handed! At this point, you can get the negative from your design if you wish. Place another piece of Watercolour Card over the mask and press all over firmly. Remove to reveal your negative design. Remove the mask and clean under a tap.

2.       Stamp the sentiment from the Phill Martin's Mini BaroqueInspirational Sentiments Stamp Set onto Coconut White Card using CobaltArchival. Cut out using Wreath #1 die from the Spellbinders Labels 50Decorative Accents. Ink through the die with Decadent Teal Colour Cloud using a Smoothie.

3.       Cut a frame out of Coconut White Card using Spellbinders 6 x 6 Matting Basics A Die set – use dies #5 and #8. Add the frame to the background using 3d Foam Tape and trim away any excess using scissors being careful not to trim into the frame.

4.       Cut the corner die and the flowers die from the Spellbinders Floral Berry Accents out of Coconut White Card twice, inking through the die with Decadent Teal Colour Cloud each time. Shape the flowers a little using your fingers and add the die cuts to the frame as shown. Add some 5mm White Pearls to the flower centres.

5.       Glue the card front to a piece of Deep Blue Card measuring 6 ¼” Square.

6.       Cut a piece of Coconut White Card measuring 7” square and pierce around the edges. Add a Deep Blue mat measuring 7 1/8” square.  Add this to a Coconut White mat measuring 7 5/8” square using 3d Foam Tape. Add the card front to these 3 pieces, again using 3d Foam Tape.

As well as trying to get my website sorted out, I'm now knee deep in a years worth of accounts! Don't ask me why I don't do it as I go - I never seem to have the time so it just gets worse. It's like my shredding pile - massive!

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 (22nd October) -  Phill Martin Sentimentally Yours - Mini Baroque Inspirational Sentiments only £8.99!

Freebie Friday

Hi Bloggers.

It's that time of the week again. Here's this week's card that needs a new home -

You can read how this card was made here.

For a chance to win it, leave a lovely comment below and I'll announce the winner on Monday.

I am luck enough to be able to stock 10 brand new colours of WOW! Embossing Powders ahead of their launch in January 2017. You can find them on my website here.

Also, WOW! are going to be launching some Sparkler Premium Glitters in January and I have 5 colours in stock now - you can find those here.

I am busy trying to re-arrange the categories on my website so that products are easier to find but it's a bit of an uphill task! The search button does work really well though so that's something! Please be patient, it's going to take me some time!

Phill Martin is moving his Nottingham Honeypot Crafts Store to bigger and better premises in December. Phill, Chloe Endean, John Lockwood and myself will be demoing at the open day on Sunday December 4th. It's going to be a great day!

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 (21st October) -  Phill Martin Sentimentally Yours - Blossom Large Rectangle Frame only £4.99!