Gilded Tulips

This card features the Cosmic Shimmer Gilding Flakes. There are lots of lovely colours to choose from (I think this uses Egyptian Gold).

The tulip image is from the Creative Expressions Floral Silhouette A5 Stamp Plate. I used a piece of Cut and Dry foam with the Cosmic Shimmer Flake & Glitter Glue to "ink" my stamp. I then used a stencil brush to clean away any excess flakes. 

The stamped image was die cut using the Spellbinders Elegant Labels Four die set and I added a bow from Creative Expressions Champagne Sheer Wrinkled Edge Ribbon, with a brown dazzler in the centre. 

I cut a frame from gold card and layered these pieces onto a larger mat of milk card.

To finish, I added a few self-adhesive black pearls, as shown.

Happy crafting!

Skater Tags

A card for a teenager today! I have two sons who have both spent quite a few hours skateboarding, so this card makes me think of them.

I decided to use red, white and blue as the colour theme and cut three tag shapes. The blue tag was stamped using one of the stamps from the Creative Expressions Anything Is Possible A5 Stamp Plate and black ink. 

The red tag was embossed using the Creative Expressions Crackle Embossing Folder. The embossing was then sanded back and blue ink blended over the tag. Metal wings from the Tim Holtz Idea-ology Adornment Charms pack were glued to the corner. 

The white tag was stamped using an image from the Anything is Possible Stamp Plate and the message. Blue ink was then blended around the outside edges. 

The three tags were fixed together using a swivel clasp. The metal crown and the metal star came from the Idea-ology Adornment Charms pack.

The background was made using two shades of blue ink and the large stamp from the Creative Expressions Silhouette Skateboards A5 Stamp Plate.

Happy crafting!

A single rose

A very feminine card today. The stamp is from the Creative Expressions Singles range and is called Classic Rose Stem. It comes with the Best of Luck message and both stamps are pre-cut and cushion mounted, ready to start stamping. 

I stamped the rose using a Black Archival Ink Pad on some white card and then heat embossed using Cosmic Shimmer Detail Clear Embossing Powder. As this ink is not particularly designed for heat embossing you need to get the powder on quickly, before the ink starts to dry. It is not difficult, you just need to have everything in front of you ready to go. I coloured the rose image using Distress Markers. I then die cut the stamped image using a die from the Spellbinders Timeless Rectangle die set. Whilst the die cut card was still in the die, I blended Distress Ink around the edges.

The next layer of white card was embossed using the Couture Creations Crazy Daisy embossing folder and then die cut using the Spellbinders Elegant Labels Four die set. I then blended ink through the die. A matching size mat of blush pink card was placed behind, so that the pale pink showed through the gaps. 

The message was stamped in the same way as the rose and then die cut using the ribbon slider die from the Elegant Labels Four die set.

The ribbon I used was the Creative Expressions Rose/Dusky Pink Sheer Wrinkled Edge Ribbon and the base layer was a plain white piece of card.

Happy crafting!

Turquoise Baubles

Today's card uses two of the new bauble stamp designs from Creative Expressions, which co-ordinate with existing Spellbinders die sets. This design is called Floral Bauble and Mini Floret Bauble.

The base card is a plain black square. I then cut a slightly smaller square in a pretty blue shade, which I embossed using the Couture Creations Baubles & Baubles embossing folder. I extended the pattern so that the card was embossed all the way along the top edge. The folder didn't reach the bottom edge of the card but this was covered over by the next layer of white card anyway. 

The white piece of card was cut along the top edge using the Spellbinders A2 Curved Border One die set. As the card was slightly wider than the length of the die, I extended the cut slightly. 

The ribbon tied around the white card layer is Creative Expressions White Sheer Wrinkle Edge Ribbon, topped with a circle dazzler. 

The sentiment message was stamped using a Black Archival Ink Pad and a stamp from the Creative Expressions Winter Greetings A5 Stamp Plate. 

The three baubles were stamped using a Clear Perfect Medium Pad on matching blue card and then heat embossed with Cosmic Shimmer Detail Silver Shine Embossing Powder. The stamped baubles were die cut using the matching sized dies from the Spellbinders 2011 Heirloom Ornaments die set. The baubles were then shaped to give them a rounded shape and threaded together with a piece of black and white Bakers Twine. The baubles were attached using a few foam pads stacked on top of each other, to keep the height in the centres. 

Happy crafting!

Shoes and Friends!

Today's card uses Foundations backing papers and the Creative Expressions stamp set "Sole Creations". I don't use decorative papers very often but after I had coloured in the stamped shoe image the papers were a really good colour match. The papers are double sided, so I used one side for the background and the reverse side for the panels.

I added some black card, die cut using the Spellbinders Antique Frame & Accents set.

The stamped image was die cut using the Spellbinders Labels Six die set, which I turned on its side to fit the image.

I am off to Grafton Crafts today in Kimbolton, to hold a workshop, and am really looking forward to meeting everyone.

Happy crafting!

A trio of carnations

Hello everyone. A red and white card today, using the Creative Expressions Floral Silhouette stamp set.

I inked the carnation stamp using Distress Markers and stamped it three times. This was then die cut using a circle die, inking through the die with a Distress Ink pad around the outside edge. This was then matted onto a red layer of card die cut using the Spellbinders Picot Edge Circles die set.

The embossing folder highlighted in the background is the Couture Creations Cultivated embossing folder.

Happy crafting!

Blog Candy!

The number of followers on my blog is creeping up, so thank you to all of you for your support. I hope you are finding some inspiration from my work. 

When the number of followers reaches 100, I will draw a follower at random to win the following candy.

It is the highly sought after Couture Creations "Tied Together" embossing folder together with a bottle of Cosmic Shimmer "Vintage Plum" Pearlescent PVA.

Good luck everyone!

Sun Kissed Fleur is just peachey!

Today's card is made using the Heartfelt Creations Sun Kissed Fleur range. Julia Watts is showcasing this range on Create & Craft today at 12-2pm (Tool Shed) and 5-6pm today. Julia was kind enough to ask if I could make some samples for these shows and this is one of them. 

The Sun Kissed Fleur Background PreCut stamp was stamped onto vellum using a Perfect Medium Clear pad and Cosmic Shimmer True White embossing powder. The two orange flowers were cut using the Sun Kissed Fleur die and coconut white card. I inked through the die with an orange Distress Ink pad and then shaped the petals before layering them up. 

It is a fabulous range of stamps and dies so I hope you manage to catch one of the shows, or the repeats.

Happy crafting!

Blush Card and Micro Bead Flowers

I can't believe how the weeks fly by, so apologies for not blogging recently. Today's card features the blush coloured card chosen by Sue Wilson at Creative Expressions and the popular Tied Together embossing folder. The blush card has been used for the spiral flowers, the oval shaped layer and the base layer of the card. All other elements on the card were made using coconut white card.

I rounded the corners of the base layer of blush card, using a punch. The next layer also had the corners rounded. I used a piercing ruler and a piercing tool along the four sides. The third layer started off as a piece of coconut white card, again, with the corners rounded. I then repeat stamped this card using a stamp from the Creative Expressions "Valentine Set 2" stamp plate and a Tattered Rose Distress Ink pad. I then blended the Distress Ink around the edges.

I embossed a piece of blush card using the Couture Creations Tied Together embossing folder and then die cut this using a plain oval die from the Spellbinders Grand Ovals set. The decorative frame was cut from the same blush card, using a die from the Spellbinders Grand Decorative Ovals One set and a smaller sized die from the Grand Ovals set. I cut an assortment of small flowers from coconut white card using the Spellbinders Cherry Blossom die set and inked through the dies using the Tattered Rose Distress Ink pad. These were then glued onto the embossed card, as shown. 

The two sprays of leaves were die cut using the Spellbinders Foliage die set and then I inked through the die with the Tattered Rose Distress Ink. The leaves were then stamped using the same stamp used on the background. 

The flowers were made using the Spellbinders Spiral Blossom Four die. Double sided adhesive sheet was attached to some blush card before the flowers were die cut. The backing was then removed and micro beads were added to the adhesive. The flowers were then rolled, as usual, and secured with Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear glue.

The sentiment was stamped onto coconut white card using a black archival ink pad. This was then die cut using Spellbinders Labels Twenty Five die set and I inked through the die, using the Tattered Rose Distress Ink pad.

The bow was tied using American Seam Binding in rose petal and flesh, finished off with a pink dazzler.

Now for some exciting news from Creative Expressions . . . . 

Would you like to be given fabulous Creative Expressions stamps every month absolutely free? Then we would love to hear from you...

We are currently looking to recruit new passionate crafters to join our 2013/14 Creative Expressions Design Team (CEDT) to make fabulous projects using our products and rubber stamp designs!

What’s in it for you?

There are some fantastic benefits to being a member of the Creative Expressions Design Team! As a member, you will:-

·         Receive a new set of Creative Expressions rubber stamps every month (absolutely free) as well as a selection of other crafting goodies to work with to create your weekly projects.

·         Receive a fantastic 25% discount on all products that Creative Expressions supply (this discount applies only to RRP of products and is only applicable when ordering from Creative Expressions directly).

·         Enjoy regular links to your blog through to the Creative Expressions website, blog and social media channels.

·         Receive a CEDT 2013/14 badge to display on your blog &/or website.

·         Have your creations showcased on the Creative Expressions website, marketing materials & social media channels.

·         Be joining a fantastic new innovative and exciting Design Team!

To find out more information on how to become part of the Creative Expressions Design Team, click on this link: http://blog.creative-expressions.uk.com/

The closing date for entries is Friday, 6 September 2013 at 5pm GMT.

Good luck and we really look forward to seeing your projects!