Joy

Hi Bloggers.

I'm running my own workshop local to me today in Yardley Gobion just outside Milton Keynes. I packed my little car to the brim yesterday with goodies to use and goodies for my lovely crafters to purchase. Hoping for a fun day!

Here's today's card which was a demo from one of my Hochanda shows last month. Just an ingredient list today as still have lots to do!

Couture Creations Dies - Christmas Joy, Mistletoe, Holly Branch
Couture Creations Embossing Folder - Christmas Vineyard
Burgundy/Ivory Striped Grosgrain
Pine Cones
5mm Cream Pearls
Cream Pearl Corners
Card - Milk, Rich Red, Rich Green and Emerald
Tim Holtz Ruler, Precision Probe, Piercing Mat

Hope you've been checking out Sue Wilson's Blog to see her latest release of dies - there's some really yummy ones! Just a reminder - there's 10% off them on my website till midnight Friday 20th November. You can find them here. Discount is applied at checkout. Free delivery to UK addresses on all orders £20 and over.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.
www.juliawattscrafts.co.uk

Wednesday Card Giveaway

Hi Bloggers.

Here's today's card that needs a new home -

You can read how this card was made here.

Please leave a lovely comment below and I'll do the draw on Monday 9th November.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.
www.juliawattscrafts.co.uk

Seasons Greetings

Hi Bloggers.

I had a great day with Phill yesterday. It was a bit hectic, very tiring but loads of fun! We're doing it all again on Sunday 22nd November (different projects). I'm not sure if there's any places left but contact Phill or Carol at Honeypot Crafts and they'll be able to tell you.

Loads to do at home today - ALOT of tidying up in my craft room, housework (maybe?), cutting the lawn (depends on the weather) and I've lots of products to store and parcel up for my website. Don't forget, 10% discount on all orders on my website till midnight tonight.

Here's today's card -

For the background, with the stamp in my hand, I randomly stamped Phill Martin's Christmas Holly Background onto Milk Card using Forest Moss Distress Ink. I added a Cream Pearl Corner to each corner.

I cut a frame out of Milk and Brunswick Green Card using Sue Wilson's Ornate Pierced Design Noble Die Set.

I stamped the Creative Expressions Holly and Ivy Plaque using Clear Perfect Medium and embossed with Cosmic Shimmer Bright Gold Detail Embossing Powder. I cut it out using Sue's Peeking Snowflake Die Set. I coloured in using Cosmic Shimmer Carnival Brights Watercolour Paint Set and a Water Brush. I stamped the sentiment from Phill Martin's Christmas Sentiments Collection, again using Clear Perfect Medium and embossed with Gold Detail Powder.

I tied a bow using Ivory/Green Striped Grosgrain. I made a flower out of Rich Red and Milk card using Sue's Classic Poinsettia and Classic Poinsettia - Open Petals Die Sets and added a Cream 8mm Pearl to the centre.

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

John Lockwood has more shows on Hochanda with Sue Wilson Dies today. Looks like they're at 1pm, 3pm and 6pm.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.
www.juliawattscrafts.co.uk
Ask for a free card (in the order comments box at checkout) when you order in August!

Love Giveaway

Hi Bloggers.

Here's today's giveaway card -

You can read how this card was made here.

Leave a comment below to be in with a chance to win it. I'll draw the winner 29th June.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.
www.juliwattscrafts.co.uk

Age is just a number!

Hi Bloggers.

Had a great day yesterday at my local workshop. I would like to give a shout out to Amanda and Diane for helping with the set up and clearing up at the end of the day, to Tracey for her help all day and to the lovely crafters who contributed to such a wonderful day.

Here's today's card -

For the background, I ran a piece of Milk Card through the Grand Calibur with the Creative Expressions Linear Leaves Embossing Folder. I ran it through a second time to extend the design and inked arounf the edges with Faded Jeans Distress Ink.

I stamped the Skeleton Leaves Striplet Stamp (designed by John Lockwood) using Perfect Medium and brushed Phill Martin Cosmic Shimmer Graceful Blue over the image. I trimmed it and matted it onto Cobalt Card.

I stamped the frame and the sentiments from John Lockwood's Lotus Frame Elements using Cobalt Archival. I cut it out using Spellbinders Standard Circles- using the Out of the Box technique keeping the bottom petals of the lotus flower away from the cutting edge of the die. I cut a Spellbinders Circle Delight Die out of Cobalt Card.

I cut a corner out of Cobalt Card using Spellbinders Draping Vine Elements Die Set.

I wrapped a piece of Royal Blue/Ivory Striped Grosgrain around the background, tied a bow and added a Vintage Cameo.

I assembled the card as shown adding some Cream Pearls and piercing around the edges.

I'll be back tomorrow with a sneak peek from Friday's Show. I now it's a little early but as I only have one hour on Friday, it'll be hard to show you all the products properly so I figured the next best thing would be to share as much as possible on here first. I still need to share some Spellbinders projects so I'll be doing a two-fer on Tuesday and Thursday.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.

Thanks

Hi Bloggers.

Another simple card today with a couple of John's stamps and the Spellbinders 6 x 6 Matting Basics Die Sets.

I stamped the frame and the sentiment from John's Dogwood Flower Frame Stamp Set onto Milk Card using Jet Black Archival and embossed with Cosmic Shimmer Clear Embossing Powder. I cut it out using the Spellbinders 6 x 6 Matting Basics A Die Set using the Out of the Box technique. It's easy to do with this stamp as the frame around the stamp helps. I just cut around the leaves and petals that hung below the frame on the stamp and slotted the die around it so that the design outside the die was away from the cutting edge. I'm hoping to demo this technique on the Craft Clinic next week - it's easier to show than describe! I cut a 6 x 6 Matting Basics B die out of Black Card.

I embossed a piece of Milk Card using the Creative Expressions Sparkle Square Embossing Folder. I cut a frame out Black Card using both sets of 6 x 6 Matting Basics. I added some corners cut from Sue's Scandinavian Corner, Border & Tag Die Set.

I tied a knot in a piece of Black/Ivory Striped Grosgrain and added a Black Vintage Button.

I made another card exactly the same using John's Daisy Corner Elements Stamp Set.

Creative Expressions have launched a new Blog Challenge. A chance to share your own creations made with Creative Expressions products. Click here to find out how to take part.

I'm up at Creative Expressions HQ today running an Introduction to Stamping Workshop. My aim is to get everyone hooked on stamping! Wish me luck!

All for now.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.
www.juliawattscrafts.co.uk

Sunshine and Laughter

Hi Bloggers.

Sue has more shows on Create & Craft today starting at 11am - if there's any stock left!

Here's today's card -

For the background, I sprayed some Cosmic Shimmer Arctic Blue Vintage Ink Spray Mist onto a piece of Cut n Dry Foam to make myself an 'ink pad'. I sprayed a little more Ink onto my Craft Sheet and mixed this with a little Enchanted Blue Mica Powder from the Cosmic Shimmer Delicate Lace Mica Spray Set. I added this to my 'ink pad' and used it to stamp a section of the Justrite Iron Swirls Background. I inked around the edges with Faded Jeans Distress Ink.

I stamped the sentiment panel from the Justrite Live, Love Laugh Vintage Labels 2 Clear Stamp Set onto Milk card using Cobalt Archival and cut it out using scissors. I stamped the frame from the same stamp set, again using Cobalt Archival. I cut it out using Justrite Vintage Labels 2 Dies and inked through the die with Faded Jeans.

I cut a Couture Creations Simplicity Border out of Cobalt Card. I rubbed Phill Martin Cosmic Shimmer Vintage Blue Gilding Wax over it. I left it a few minutes to dry and then buffed it up using a dry wet wipe. I ran a piece down one side.

I tied a bow using Royal Blue/Ivory Striped Grosgrain. I cut out a section from the leftover Simplicity Border and added it to the centre of the bow.

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

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.

Birthday Wishes

Hi Bloggers.

I'm back from 3 busy days at the UK Trade Show at the NEC with the Creative Expressions Team including Sue Wilson, Phill Martin and John Lockwood. As I think I said on Sunday, we had lots of new goodies available for retailers to order for their shops so you'll be able to buy them very soon.

The Spellbinders dies I've featured this week are from the January release and so will be in shops very soon. If they don't have them then you should ask for them to be ordered in for you. For those of you who will be attending my workshops in Milton Keynes, if you would like to buy any of the new dies from me, please let me know which ones via email and I'll let you know prices and will make sure I bring them with me for you. I'm mainly focussing on dies which are available to retailers only and so will not be available from Create & Craft.

As far as demoing for Creative Expressions is concerned, nothing has changed. The Spellbinders demos are extra.

I booked a load of demos with shops over the last few days for the coming year. I will add details to the left hand sidebar of my blog as soon as I get myself sorted.

Here's today's card -

For the main background, I ran a piece of Milk Card through the Grand Calibur with the Creative Expressions Art Deco Fanfare Embossing Folder and inked around the edges with Aged Mahogany Distress Ink.

I stamped the Justrite Fleur Twist Background using Perfect Medium and dusted Ruby Red Mica Powder from the Cosmic Shimmer Delicate Lace Mica Spray Set. I removed the excess mica using a dry wet wipe.

I mixed a little Warm White Cosmic Shimmer Matt Chalk Paint with a little Mulberry Mist Vintage Ink Spray Mist. I picked some up onto a piece of Cut n Dry Foam and inked up a section of the Justrite Garden Trellis Background. I stamped onto a piece of Milk Card, trimmed it and matted it onto Rich Red Card. I tied a bow using a piece of Burgundy/Ivory Striped Grosgrain and added a Fancy Pear Embellishment.

I sprayed some Cosmic Shimmer Mulberry Mist Vintage Ink Spray Mist onto a piece of Cut n Dry Foam to make myself an 'ink pad'. I sprayed a little more Ink onto my Craft Sheet and mixed this with a little Ruby Red Mica Powder. I added this to my 'ink pad' and used it to stamp a section of the Justrite Stitched Circles Background.

I edged all the panels with the Mulberry Mist Ink Spray Mist/Ruby Red Mica Ink Pad and matted them onto Rich Red Card.

I stamped the frame from the Justrite Congrats Vintage Labels 3 & 7 Stamp Set using the Mulberry Mist/Ruby Red Mica Ink Pad. I cut it out using Justrite Vintage Labels 3 Die Set and inked through the die with Aged Mahogany Distress Ink. I stamped the sentiment from the Justrite Circle of Friends Vintage Labels 3 Stamp Set using the same 'ink pad' . I cut it out using Justrite Vintage Labels 7 Die Set and inked through the die with Aged Mahogany.

I assembled the card as shown adding an 8mm Cream Pearl to each corner and piercing around the edges.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.

Thank You

Hi Bloggers.

Here's today's card -

For the background, I ran a piece of Milk Card through the Grand Calibur with the Creative Expressions Rambling Blossoms Embossing Folder and inked around the edges with Dusty Concord Distress Ink. I wrapped a piece of Purple/Ivory Striped Grosgrain around it.

For the panel, I sprayed some Purple Orchid Vintage Ink Spray Mist onto a piece of Cut n Dry Foam to make myself an 'ink pad'. I then spayed a little more onto my Craft Sheet and mixed this with a little Enchanted Lilac Mica Powder from the Cosmic Shimmer Delicate Lace Mica Spray Set. I added this to my 'ink pad' and used it to stamp the Justrite Iron Swirls Background Stamp.I trimmed it down a wee bit and matted it onto Mauve Card.

I stamped the large decorative frame from the Justrite True Friends Vintage Labels Four Stamp Set using Jet Black Archival and embossed with Cosmic Shimmer Clear Embossing Powder. I cut it out using Justrite Vintage Labels Four Die Set. I coloured in using Purple Orchid and Soft Moss Cosmic Shimmer Vintage Ink Spray Mist and Scattered Straw Distress Ink.

I stamped the sentiment from the Justrite Extra Grand Sentiments Clear Stamp Set using Jet Black Archival and embossed with Clear Powder. I cut it out using another Vintage Labels Four Die and inked through the die with Dusty Concord.

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

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.

True Friends

Hi Bloggers.

Here's today's card -

For the background pieces, I ran some Milk Card through the Grand Calibur with the Creative Expressions Rambling Blossoms Embossing Folder. I matted them onto Cobalt Card. I cut a Justrite Vintage Labels Two Die out of Cobalt Card. I wrapped a piece of Royal Blue/Ivory Striped Grosgrain around the centre.

I stamped the frame from the Justrite Special Gifts Labels 29 Clear Stamp Set onto Milk Card using Cobalt Archival. I stamped the 'Believe in You' sentiment from the same stamp set into the banner space in the frame, again using Cobalt Archival. I cut the frame out using Spellbinders Labels 29.

I tied a bow using the Grosgrain Ribbon. I cut a couple of Sue's Camellia Open Petal Dies out of Cobalt Card and added a Cream Pearl.

I assembled the card as shown adding some more Cream Pearls and piercing around the edges.

Unfortunately, my C&C shows from 20th February which were changed to 10th February have now been cancelled and I don't have another date at the moment.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.

Birthday Wishes

Hi Bloggers.

I believe that Sue is starting to share her latest die designs on her blog today. Please have a look to see if I'm right! Her blog is listed in the right hand side of this blog.

I'm up at Creative Expressions HQ today running a couple of workshops. Always enjoy these days. The ladies attending will be in for an extra treat today as I'll be taking some of Sue's latest dies with me for them to use in their projects.

Tracey is taking bookings for workshops on 24th February (details in the workshops section of this blog) and is now accepting booking for March 3rd on the Introduction to Stamping Workshop. If you enjoyed my recent Craft Clinic on Create & Craft you may enjoy this workshop as it will be packed with lots of techniques. Don't forget - my first workshop in Yardley Gobion is on Saturday 7th March - email me for full details.

Here's today's card -

For the background, I ran a piece of Milk Card through the Grand Calibur with the Creative Expressions Art Deco Fanfare Embossing Folder and inked around the edges with Broken China Distress Ink. I wrapped a piece of Royal Blue/Ivory Striped Grosgrain around the centre.

I made an ink pad my adding some Arctic Blue and Soft Moss Cosmic Shimmer Vintage Ink Spay Mists to a piece of Cut n Dry Felt roughly the size of a Justrite Background Stamp. Now this does take quite a lot of ink to work effectively so I would recommend using re-inkers instead, but I wanted to try it. I used my ink pad to ink up the Justrite Fleur Twist Background and stamped onto Milk Card. I trimmed it down and matted onto Cobalt Card.

I sprayed some Arctic Blue Ink Spray Mist onto a piece of Cut n Dry Foam to make myself an 'ink pad'. I then spayed a little more onto my Craft Sheet and mixed this with a little Enchanted Blue Mica Powder from the Cosmic Shimmer Delicate Lace Mica Spray Set. I added this to my 'ink pad' and used it to stamp the image from the Justrite Iris Vintage Labels Four Stamp Set. I cut out using Vintage Labels Four Die Set.

I stamped the sentiment from the Justrite Circle of Love Vintage Labels Three Stamp Set using my Custom Made Ink Pad. I cut it out using the tag die from Sue's New York Corner, Border & Tag Die Set and inked through the die with Broken China.

I assembled the card as shown addin some Cream Pearls and I pierced around the edges.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.