Week 289 - White Christmas

Hello Everyone,

Well, the big day is getting closer and everyone is so busy getting all prepared.  

I have had a busy week with Create and Craft and the last 2 workshops of the year at the shop.

This week I am also hosting the Allsorts Challenge and I have chosen the title .........................

WHITE CHRISTMAS

and the way that the weather is going I think it might even happen this year!

This is the project that I have made which fits the title ~

I have used a real mix of dies on this design including~ 

Tattered Lace corners - the free die from issue 12 of their magazine,

and the bow is also one from the Tattered Lace range.

The poinsettia is one of my very favourite dies from Tim Holtz and the shadow box frame that the design has been made from is from Tonic!

I have used a mixture of pearl cardstock and glitter card.

Some pearls from Hobby House finish everything off a treat.

I hope that you like it and it inspires you to have a go at the Challenge this week.

Please pop over to the Allsorts Challenge blog to have a look at the other team members lovely projects.

Thankyou to our sponsors Flonz Craft and Scrappers Delight.

This week we have a Christmas meal get-together with some of our lovely shop friends and our evening and daytime Christmas get-togethers at the shop.  This has become quite a tradition and Mark and I love to host these to say thankyou to all of our customers and friends.

I have also got 2 shows on Tuesday demonstrating the Tattered Lace interchangeable embossing folders at 10am and 1pm on C and C.

Looks like a busy one ahead!! 

Thankyou for taking the time to read the blog and as always I would love to see comments from you if you have a few minutes to spare.

Oh nearly forgot we are going to see John Bishop in Nottingham tonight so I will let you know all about this next week too! 

Phew - I think that's it,

Have a lovely week and bye for now

Jo xx

Week 288 - Animal Magic

Good Morning everyone,

Welcome to my blog and another Saturday so it must be the Allsorts Challenge.  This week our lovely Team member Tracey has chosen an excellent title for the
Challenge ~.....................................................................

Animal Magic

This should give everyone plenty of scope to think of a project and enter into the Challenge this week.

I have chosen this project to show you to give you some inspiration ~

I hope that you can see that there are two extremely cute House Mice in the middle of the lovely bright sunflower! this is a decoupage image from one of Joanna's recent decoupage packs which include all of the images of House Mouse that have previously been on CD roms so they are now available to everyone to have a play with.
The background die is also from |Joanna Sheen and it is the Lattice with the Oval aperture which cuts out separately so that this can be used on another project.
I have also cut some matching background paper and popped some of the waste squares into some of the lattice so that it adds a bit of dimension and interest to the design.  This is such an easy project as the decoupage does all the work for you.  Some hesian scraps just finish off the scene nicely.

I hope that you can pop over to the Allsorts Challenge Blog to check out the other Design team members work - there are some fabulous ideas. Also have a look at what prizes are on offer to the lucky winners.

Today I have a very busy one ahead as I am at the studio demonstrating the pick of the week for Tattered Lace, my first show at 8am! Having looked at the shows yesterday I'm not sure how much stock will be left for me as they were flying out of the door!
I love working with embossing folders and especially from Tattered Lace as the designs are so different.
I am sure you are all really busy now with all of your Christmas preparation but still finding some time to have a little crafting time alongside all of the busy too!
Enjoy a lovely weekend whatever your plans are and I hope that you can find time to leave me a comment and let me know what you think of my project this week.
Thankyou, as always for popping in and hope to see you next week.
Bye for now
Jo xx

Week 290/291 - Last Minute Gifts

Good Morning Everyone,

Well only 5 sleeps to go! and hopefully you are all just about there with all of your Christmas plans.  We had 2 fabulous get-togethers this week at the shop with a traditional quiz and card game, a lovely spread (as my Nan would have called it!) and fabulous company from our lovely crafty customers and friends.

This weeks Challenge at Allsorts will carry on for 2 weeks as it will carry over Christmas. 

As you know a few weeks ago the lovely Kathryn Sturrock came over to the shop and we had a workshop with her.  We all made some amazing flowers but we also made a very cute Gingerbread man and I have made mine into a little gift.

He is made out of Fimo and then sat on the top of a jar with the lid covered in Martha Stewart paper clay.  The buttons have been made using a Katy Sue Mould and paper clay and then painted with acrylic paint.  I have filled the the jar with chocolate money.

This is a little closer shot ........................

Isn't he cute! 

I had an absolute ball at the workshop and have asked Kathryn to come back next year to so we can have another go.

I thought being as though the Challenge goes for 2 weeks I would show you another gift and this is a plaque that I made and sent to our family in Bermuda.

We have a superb sponsor this week - Marianne Designs and so it is definately worth having a go at the Challenge. Pop over to the Challenge Blog and have a look at the other lovely designs from the Design Team.

This won't be my last post before Christmas I will pop in again to post before the big man in red comes to visit so keep an eye out.

Until then, enjoy the last few days leading up to Christmas and don't get too stressed out and tired - it is only for one day! we all need to enjoy it.

Thankyou for popping in and please leave a comment for me - you know how I love to read them.

Bye for now,

Jo xx

Week 287 - Milestone Birthdays

Good Morning Everyone,

How are you all? I hope that the answer is very well and happy - this is the answer I am looking for from you all!

Well this is the last post before the mad December month begins can you really believe it. I suppose you are all ready for the Christmas festivities which are speedily approaching.  I must say (and as I openly admitted on live t.v this week!! ) I havent made my Christmas cards yet - I have made hundreds since Christmas began in the Crafting world (May for me!) but none of them are for me to send.  So, I must try to get myself sorted and get on with it! 

Well this week at Allsorts we have been asked by our lovely Team member Sarah to make a card with the idea based around Milestone Birthdays.

I made this card some time ago for a Friend for a big birthday and I thought it would raise a smile on your faces as well as hers when she received it. 

I hope that you can see the main event on Ethel's gorgeous leg!! the stamps are from the Ethel and Murray range from Creative Expressions and they really are a giggle.

Although there isnt a specific age on the card I think you can gather from the image that she was in later years! 

Today we have a very special guest coming to Let's Create and I have been looking forward to her return for several weeks. The lovely Kathryn Sturrock is coming to teach a workshop on flower making with clay.  I am a student! I hope she is ready for it!! lol I hope to make some fabulous flowers and show you what I have made. I will take some pictures of everyone's work and I am sure we are all going to have a great time.

Whatever you have planned for the weekend enjoy it.

Thankyou, as always, for all of your lovely comments that you leave.  I do feel that it is worth blogging when you lovely people let me know what you think to my creations.

Don't forget to pop over to the Allsorts Challenge Blog and have a peep at the lovely creations from the Design Team.  There are some fab prizes up for grabs as usual to have a go at entering the Challenge.

Must dash and get my seat in the classroom! what a novelty!

Bye for now,

Jo xx

Week 286 - No Design papers allowed!

Good Morning everyone,

Thankyou for popping in this morning - I hope that you are all well and have had a great week.

Last week was busy as ever with our fabulous Let's Create Dabble Day.  It was a fantastic day with lots of fun with wall to wall crafting and cake and tea - what more can we wish for!!

This week at Allsorts we have been asked by our Chief Team Member aka Brenda to show you a project that we have made without using design papers.  

I couldn't decide which one to show you so I have two!

A really quick an easy little number using Tattered Lace embossing folders and Tim Holz Poinsettia die and tag.  The card size is a 7" x 5" and I have embossed the corner of the Holly folder and then coloured it over with distress ink and Treasure Gold wax.  I have used the Holly border folder across the tag too.  The poinsettias were die cut and stamped onto with a music stamp from Sheena and then inked and spritzed.  Candy and vintage ribbon finish off the design.

The second design that I have decided to show you is using an embossing folder from Crafters Companion Vintage range.  I embossed it and then sanded the embossed areas down with a sanding block so that the ink soaked into the paper more and this has highlighted the baubles.  The sentiment is from Stampendous and I have used a little Frantage to embellish the corners. A bit of glossy accents, ribbon and bakers twine bow finish off the project.

I hope that this has inspired you to have a go at the Challenge this week.  Please pop over to the Allsorts Challenge Blog to have a look at the other Team members ideas and all the information about our lovely sponsors this week.

I have a couple of Create and Craft shows next week - Monday at 4pm and 2 shows on Thursday 12oclock and 3pm and this show is free p and p! Both shows will be using Tattered Lace dies. 

Thankyou for popping in and please find a few minutes to leave a comment if you can - I really appreciate hearing what you think to the projects today.

Enjoy a lovely weekend whatever you are doing,

Bye for now

Jo xx

Week 285 - Anything but a card

Good Morning Everyone,

I hope that you are all well and that your week has been busy and happy.

I apologise for not doing a post last week, I was at the NEC and the hotel internet was a little testing!!

I gave up in the end! sorry!

Anyway - onwards to today's post and a fabulous challenge from the Allsorts crew.
Our lovely team member Tracey Mouse has asked us all to make ...........

Anything but a Card.
This is a great theme and as it is so close to the Festive season I hope that we see lots of lovely ideas on the Challenge for ideas for Christmas presents perhaps.
I have decided to show you a plaque that I made for Joanna for the NEC and plaques always make a lovely crafty present and you know that I love making them too.

 This is using one of the oval plaques from Joanna Sheen and we are so pleased to have them in the shop now so that we can do all of our lovely projects. Firstly, I covered the plaque with some Kaiser background 12" x 12". I have used lots of dies on the project. The flowers are the quilled roses from Spellbinders cut out of patterned paper.  The butterfly is the middle of the lattice aperture die from Joanna Sheen which has also been used on the background of the plaque.  The ivy flourish is a mdf shape that is a replica of Joanna's ivy flourish die.  These are such fun and lovely to use. 
I hope that you like my idea and that it  has inspired you to have a go at the Challenge this week.  The team have made some gorgeous projects so please pop over and have a look at these on the Allsorts blog. Thankyou to our generous sponsors for this week. 
I would love it if you left a comment for me and let me know what you think of my project.
Also, enjoy a fabulous weekend.  As always we have a busy one with a workshop day near Lincoln today with a fabulous group of lovely ladies and Sunday is Let's Create Dabble Day in Tattershall and we have 52 lovely crafters having fun all day with our lovely guest Mel Heaton.  Really looking forward to seeing everyone over the weekend.
Next week I am busy on Create and Craft covering the Pick of the Week hours for Tattered Lace. These are all new dies with the Pick of the Week being an amazing Panorama set with fantastic results when they are put together. My first show is Monday at 6pm. I hope that you can join me then.
Must dash now its a bit foggy this morning so need to hit the road.
  Hope to see you again next week,
enjoy a lovely weekend whatever you are doing,
Bye for now,
Jo x 

Week 283 - Allsorts Challenge

Good Morning Everyone!

................................and November already!

Oh my goodness! Time is flying!

Well I have a lot to show you today so keep with me!

Firstly it is Saturday so it is the Allsorts Challenge and today the Team have been asked to make a card using .................

Masculine ideas

 and this is my take on the title ~

  I have used a Pinflair scene as the background and coloured with Gentle Blends. The main focal point is the owl which is one of Joanna Sheen's mdf shapes, I have inked it and then embossed it with bronze embossing powder.  These shapes are stunning and you can find them on Joanna's website.  they are so unusal and can be used for so many different projects but still light enough to put onto a card.  The leaves are from Tim Holtz Tattered Leaves die and I have inked and stained them to give a real Autumn feel.  The branch is also a Tim Holtz die.  Matting and layering the design finished off the card.  I hope that you like it.  The real leaves on our window sill in the shop seem to have joined in with the picture but hope that you can see the card!

We have had a busy week starting with a trip to the Tower of London to see the spectacular Poppy display.  Thousands of people had the same idea - it was so busy but well worth the trip. Here are a few pictures so that you can see the amazing project ~

 

When the display is finished there will be 888,264 poppies representing the lives that were lost in the First World War.  If you have the time before they are taken away after Remembrance Sunday I would highly recommend a visit.  It is truly breathtaking.

Also this week we have had the Children's Halloween craft class which has become a regular activity at Let's Create and these are a few of the pictures we took and also the window at the shop which looks fabulous!

The children choosing their leaf before painting them and making them into ghosts!

Great fun!

Please pop over to the Allsorts Challenge blog to have a look at the other Design Team members projects.

Thankyou very much for popping by and hope that you can leave a comment.

Let me know if you have been to the Tower of London.

Enjoy a lovely weekend and if you are going to the NEC next week pop by Joanna Sheens stand to say hello we will be there!

Bye for now

Jo xx

Week 282 - Allsorts Challenge - Simply Christmas

Good Morning Everybody,

Well it is Saturday and that means another Allsorts Challenge and we have a great Challenge from our lovely Brenda who has asked for projects with the title ~

Simply Christmas

and this is the card that I would like to share with you all today ~

 I have used a combination of embossing folders, dies and stamps.

The background is one of the Christmas Die-sire Create and Card and I have inked in all over with Vintage photo distress ink and then used Treasure Gold over to top to give it the lustre and shine.

The postbox stamp is a Molly Bloom and I have used pro-markers to colour with and then covered the snowy areas in ice diamonds from Pinflair to give it a real Christmas look.

The poinsettias have been cut using a Sue Wilson die from Creative Expressions and the holly die is a Marianne design.

The size of the card is 7" square.

I hope that you can find the time to pop over to the Allsorts Challenge blog to check out all of the design ideas from the Design Team.

Thankyou to our fabulous sponsors this week ~

  Cuddly Buddly

so thank you to them for their generosity.

 I also need to add a little apology as I didnt realise that whilst I was putting projects on my 30 days of Inspiration I repeated a design! whoops and things were going so well!!

So to compensate this is another Christmas project ~

This is another of Sheena's Christmas stamp range.  I made this for a customer who wanted a card making for some very close friends who are keen walkers in the countryside so I thought this fitted the bill nicely.

So, we are straight now! definately 30! and Jean was thrilled to bits to win the blog candy.

Mark and myself are meeting friends and going for the day to London today to have a look at the Poppies at the Tower so I will let you know all about it next week.

Thankyou for popping in and please leave a comment if you have a few minutes.

Enjoy a fabulous weekend and hope to see you next week.

Many thanks

Bye for now

Jo xx

 P.S dont forget to put the clocks back tonight! an extra hour in bed! 

xx

 

 

AND THE WINNER IS ............................................

Hello Everyone,

I have just spent some time going through all of the fabulous comments again and I am so chuffed that you all took your time to comment and some of you were so kind and made so much effort to comment everyday! 

I have really enjoyed blogging everyday and I feel that I really want to do it again!!! I am a bit busy for the next few weeks with shows, NEC, dabble day and workshops but am thinking that I might have another bash a bit later on.

I hope you all think it is a good idea!!??

Until then dont forget to pop back on a Saturday for my regular post.

Well I will stop going on now and announce the winner.

This is the candy that I am giving away ..............

There is stamps, dies, papers, ribbon, cardstock, magazine (with dies!) gems, decoart wreaths, bells.

Everybodies name that has left a comment over the 30 days went into a hat and I asked Kate to pick out a winner and........................

I do hope that ...........................................................................

.......................................................................

..............................................................

.................................................

JEAN!!!!!!!!

is really pleased because she is the winner!!!!!!!

WELL DONE!!!!!!

Please contact me on lets.create@btinternet.com and let me know your details for me to send your lovely goodies!!!

Thankyou to you all, I am so pleased that you enjoyed it as much as I have enjoyed posting.

Please keep in touch even though I wont be able to give away candy every time!! lol x

Pop in on Saturday for the Allsorts blog,

Bye for now

Jo xxx

DAY 30 - Christmas Inspiration - Last Day!

Welcome Everyone!

I feel a little sad today as this is the last day of my 30 days of Christmas Inspiration.

I cannot thankyou all enough for all of the fabulous comments and the feedback.

I have loved to read these everyday and I am going to miss them.

Thankyou also for all of my new followers, welcome the my crazy world and I hope the you enjoy following me.

Today had to be a design that I love (I have enjoyed them all but this one is one of my favs!)

There seems to be a little too much light on the picture but hope that you can still see what is going on with the design.  I have used the Rustic Wreath embossing folder from Spellbinders to emboss the design for the background.  I have then spent quite some time colouring with distress inks - vintage photo and walnut stain.  Then I covered the image in different colours of guilding waxes.  I have scuffed up the edges on both layers to keep the rustic effect.

The reindeer is also a Spellbinder design and I have used guilding flakes on double sided sheets and then cut the design.  It really works well with the intricate cut on the reindeers antlers.

Some organza bronze ribbon and hat pins finished this off a treat.

Well, this is it :( the final blog of my 30 days of inspiration. As I said before I hope that you have enjoyed it and please leave your final comment and I will be back tomorrow to announce the winner of some lovely stuff.

Thankyou a million times for your participation - without your lovely feedback it would be so boring!

I will be back on Saturday with the Allsorts Challenge but, for now, 

Bye for now

Jo xx

DAY 29 - Christmas Inspiration

Hello Everyone,

Firstly, apologies for the lateness of today's post.  We have had a problem with charging the lap top but all sorted now! 

This is the penultimate day! of our Christmas Inspiration and I hope that you are still enjoying it.

Today I would like to share a black and white little number.

This is a  stencil from the Sweet Poppy Range and I have used white matt paste through it to give this fabulous raised effect.  Whilst the paste is still wet I sprinkled white glitter over the design to bling it

up. I also popped some red pearls onto the design which adds that little extra.

Simple matting and layering with a little cord wrapped around the corners finishes the design.

Oh! mustn't forget the bow! 

This would make a quick card to make if you have a lot of cards to make this Christmas.

Thankyou for popping in, I really appreciate you coming to visit and hope that you leave a comment to be in with the almost last chance to win the blog candy.

Hope to see you for the last day tomorrow.

Bye for now

Jo xx

DAY 28 - Christmas Inspiration

Hello Again!

Well its day 28 (where has those dissappeared to !!)

Only 2 more days to inspire you and really trying to get to the 30 days without a blip!!!

Today I would like to share this with you ~

This is the Holly embossing set and I have used the corner part of the set - I have embossed it 4 times and matted it onto some cream card.  I have also highlighted the embossed area with Treasure gold.

I also embossed some craft metal for the centre square and I used the main 8" x 8" folder.

The Poinsettia is the Sue Wilson design and I have cut it in pearl red card stock and pinched the petals together using my tweezers to give it some shape.  I also sprayed them with some mica spray to give them more interest.

We have got the embossing folders in the shop to sell now so I will be making lots more samples to display, I love using them they give such a great embossed image.

A little ribbon and a flourish finishes the design off.

Please leave a comment to be in with a chance to win the Blog Candy at the end of the 30 days.

Thankyou for popping in,

Enjoy a lovely weekend and hope to see you again tomorrow.

Bye for now

Jo xx

WEEK 281 - Embossing

Good Morning Everyone!

I hope everyone is well, Saturday already phew!! what a busy week!!

5 shows on C and C and 3 workshops, lots of prep and sample making!

Its great to be back!! but for all of you that are so lovely to be thinking about me I am taking it easy and pacing myself I promise! xx Mark is watching very closely!! lol 

Today we have 2 posts and the first is for the Allsorts Challenge as it is on a Saturday.

This week the Challenge is to show a design using Embossing.

Now this could be embossing with a embossing folder, parchment embossing or embossing using embossing powders so the choice is vast this week.

I have chosen to show you a design using an embossing folder ~

This is a white on white design using quite a few Tonic products.

the embossing is one of their A4 embossing folders, there is also a border punch, flower punches and the bow die from the Rococo range. 

I hope that you can see the embossing detail as it is really lovely in the flesh!

We have two sponsors this week so there will be two lucky winners, one of you will win a £15 store gift voucher from:

and one of you will win a $20 store gift voucher from:

 

We are so happy for our generous sponsors and they have gorgeous things to choose from!

Please pop over to the Allsorts Challenge to have a peep at the Design Team ideas, as usual, they are fabulous and using all the different variations of embossing too.

There is another post today - dont forget to have a look at Day 28 of my Christmas Inspiration - not a lot of time left to leave your comment!

I hope that you enjoy a lovely weekend,

Bye for now

Jo xx

DAY 27 - Christmas Inspiration

Good Friday morning to you all,

Well, day 28 and still going strong!! I really hope that you are not fed up with me! If you are getting that way not long to go now!!

Todays post is still following the theme with Molly Bloom but it isn't a card again.

It is a hanging plaque which could be attached to the front of a card (would need to be 8 x 8).

I started off with a ring of cardstock with a piece of acetate sandwiched in the middle of it.

I then stamped the cottage and the trees, coloured them with promarkers and twinkled with glossy accents and glitter.

The holly leaves have been cut on my Cricut using the Winter Wonderland cartridge.

They were glittered too, it was quite a glittery affair!  the berries are card candy.

the drift wood sign is another Molly Bloom stand, I added a little organza bow and some bakers twine to this.

The twine was also used to hang it up.

This was a great fun project and we all enjoyed making it in the workshop.

Thank you for popping in again,

Have you left a comment yet? time is running out to grab that blog candy so please leave a comment to be in with the running.

Must dash I am at the studio again today for a 9am and 7pm show.  Might even hit the shops in between shows!! or maybe just chill in the green room!

Bye for now

Jo xx

DAY 26 - Christmas Inspiration

Welcome to Day 26!

Good morning everyone and welcome to the last stretch of my Christmas Inspiration.

today I have a little project that the class will be doing tomorrow! 

This weeks subject is Molly Bloom and anything to do with these lovely stamps are just fabulous in my mind.

This is quite a quick little project using one of my favourite stamps for Christmas.

I have stamped Molly and then coloured in with pro-markers, used Vintage photo distress ink around the edges of a scalloped circle Tonic die.  I have sprinkled chunky white embossing powder, from Stampendous, onto the picture for snow flurries.

the base card has a 6 x 6" card and folded back for a one sided gatefold.

The background paper is a Kaiser and I have used an inverted corner punch to add interest.

Some ribbon and wooden embellishments finish off the design.

I hope that you like it and want to leave me a comment so that I can put you in the Blog Candy draw at the end of 30 days.

Don't forget that even if you dont have a google account or a blog you can still comment by making your comment and choose anonymous - but leave your name in the comment box.

Thankyou for popping in,

hope to see you tomorrow,

Bye for now

Jo xx

DAY 25 - Christmas Inspiration

Good Morning Everyone,

Well, I can't believe that we are on our last 5 days of inspiration and I hope by now that at least one project has inspired you to get cracking with your Christmas projects.  (I am sure that most of you are all done!)

Today we have a card from Tonic and was on the Christmas Craftinator about a month ago.

This is the Rococo mug and I have cut it all in white cardstock and then used my pro-markers to colour all of the different elements and adhered them together.  I really enjoyed making this one it was fun!

I should have opened the card to show how I have folded it back. I stamped a christmas message from Sheena's stamps and embellished around the edge with the branch stamp again from Sheena.  This was stamped using Forest Moss distress ink. The corner is also a Tonic 

This is the Rococo mug and I have cut it all in white cardstock and then used my pro-markers to colour all of the different elements and adhered them together.  I really enjoyed making this one it was fun!

I should have opened the card to show how I have folded it back. I stamped a christmas message from Sheena's stamps and embellished around the edge with the branch stamp again from Sheena.  This was stamped using Forest Moss distress ink. The corner is also a Tonic.

I am back on Ideal World today showing you how fantastic the Bow Maker is! 

Nancy launched the Pick of the Day last night and it is flying!

I am on at 1pm and 4pm!

Thankyou for popping in this morning and dont forget time is running out to put your name in the hat for the lovely blog candy! to qualify just leave a comment on this post. Don't worry if you don't have a blog or you don't have a Google account, just put your comment in and use Anonymous from the choice given, but don't forget to put your name at the bottom of the comment or I won't know if its you if you get chosen at the end of the 30 days!

Must dash now hope to see you tomorrow,

Bye for now

Jo xx 

DAY 24 - Christmas Inspiration

Hello Crafters,

First of all can I say a huge thankyou for all of your good wishes for my return to C and C.  It is such a lovely thought that you all care so much and take the time to drop a comment in and let me know.

You are all very kind xxx

Today I dont have a card but a little project that we did in class.  It is a really great project to use up all of your Christmas ribbon scraps when you have finished all of your cards.

to give you some idea on the size the width at the widest part is 24 cm.

I have cut the circles using my Cricut, cut twice and stuck them together to strengthen the ring.

The ribbons are scraps that have been left over from Christmas projects and they measure about 5" in length.  Just knot them, you don't need to make a bow. The centre has been held in place with some beading wire and decorated with Spellbinders poinsettia die.

I have also used cinnomon sticks, berries and rolled pine cones from the Tim Holtz tattered pine cone die.

I hope you like the post today - something a little different to have a go at.

It is a lovely project to do after all of your cards have been made.  It also makes a lovely present to send to a friend.

Thankyou for making time to pop in today and check the post out, dont forget to leave a comment and be in with a chance at winning the Candy!

Bye for now

Jo xx

DAY 23 - Christmas Inspiration

Good Monday Morning to you all,

Well, I don't know! just where did that weekend go again!! but at long last I am able to tell you my fabulous news!!

I will be returning to your TV screens this week Tuesday and Wednesday to be precise!

I have been asked by the lovely Steph to join the Tattered Lace team to demonstrate on C and C and I am delighted to be asked! 

As you know one of my many passions in craft is die cutting and I am chuffed to bits to be asked to demonstrate for such a very popular company.

My first outing will be on Tuesday at 6pm (unfortunately for those of you that don't have Sky it will need to be watched on your computer) this will be demonstrating the brand new dies from the Starlights collection which is the Craftinator being launched by Nancy tomorrow.

I am back on Wednesday with a 1pm and 4pm show.

I hope that you will be able to watch and are as pleased for me as I am!

Well, back to the matter in hand today.

It is Day 23 of my Christmas Inspiration and my offering today is ~
A little Black and White number!

This is another project made using the Sue Wilson dies and this time it is the Noel Christmas die which is the main focus of this design.  I have cut the die in black and kept the black and white theme throughout.  The icicles are a Spellbinder die and I cut this in both glitter card and black cardstock and offset them to look like a shadow.  The background is a Crafters Companion embossing folder from the vintage range.  I have also used Tattered Lace poinsettia collection to make a little flourish at the bottom right and added a little organza ribbon.  A few little gems and some glossy accents finished the project off.  I love a black and white Christmas card and really enjoyed making this one.

I hope that you have enjoyed looking at it and if you have please leave me a comment.

I have had a few enquiries as to how to leave a comment.  If you are not registered to Google and dont have a blog you can still comment.  Go to the end of the comments list and simply make your comment in the box and after that use Anonymous to post your comment but please make sure you put your name in the comment box after your comment to make sure I know who to get in touch with if you are the lucky winner of the Blog Candy!

I hope that makes sense!!
Hope to see you tomorrow,
Thankyou so much for popping in,
Bye for now
Jo xx 

DAY 22 -Christmas Inspiration

Hello Again Everyone!

Good Morning to you all and thankyou for popping in again.

I would like to firstly say a huge thankyou to everyone that came to Clare Rowlands fabulous demonstration yesterday - as always it was an amazing day with so many popping in to enjoy Clare's unending crafting magic (and the cake and coffee went down well too!)

The inspiration that she gave us all was fabulous and the samples that she displayed were brilliant.

These are just a few of the projects that we so enjoyed looking at ~

I am sure you will agree that all of these are incredible such a clever lady.

We have persuaded her to come back and run a workshop in the New Year so keep an eye out for more details on this.

Now for my Day 22 of Christmas Inspiration for you.

My apologies for the photograph for this one.  The flash has caught the pearl linen cardstock that we have used so it is a little bright but hopefully you can get the idea.

This is the christmas tree die from Sue Wilson's collection and this is one that we did in this weeks workshop so you will recognise this one is you were there.

The halo above the tree is simply embossed and then the tree has been cut and adhered flat onto the cardstock. this was then matted onto some blue glitter card and embellished with blue gems.

The side panel was lovely to make and everyone went home very sparkly after playtime!

We used a new product in the Frantage collection and it is a mix of Mica pieces , glass glitter and very fine gems and the finish was stunning and quite tactile too.

This was matted again onto blue glitter card and then we finished off using the holly Sue Wilson die to add dimension in the corner and a bow on the opposite corner to balance.

I hope you have enjoyed today's inspiration and also Clare's amazing work too.

Thankyou as always for popping in and hope that you enjoy your Sunday - a much needed day off for me with a little parchment sneeked in I think!

Dont forget to leave a comment to be in with a chance to win the blog candy.

Hope to see you tomorrow,

Bye for now

Jo xx

DAY 21 - Christmas Inspiration

Hello Again!

We are now on the last 10 days of the Christmas Inspiration and I have still got lots to share with you.

Today I have a classy little number using Creative Expressions Sue Wilson's designs in the Bauble die and stamp to match up with it.  The stamp has been embossed in gold embossing powder to give it some lift.

 The poinsettia is also from Sue Wilson's collection and the snowflake background is from an embossing folder that came free in the Crafters Companion Inspirations magazine ( this is always a fantastic buy - we have had to order more in at the shop already!)
The stripped paper is vellum and the candy finishes off the top left corner and the middle of the poinsettia.  This project was one that the ladies did in class on Thursday and they all enjoyed it.

Thankyou for popping in and please leave a comment to be in with a chance to win some Candy at the end of the 30 days.
Dont forget to come and see what I post tomorrow.
Until then,
Bye for now
Jo xx

Week 280 - Allsorts Challenge - Cream and Brown

Good Morning Everyone!

Thankyou so much for everyone who has taken the time to comment on my Christmas Inspiration blog posts again this week.  Keep checking them out for the following week - it wont be long now until we reach 30 days and then we can choose a winner of the blog Candy.

Today at Allsorts it is my turn to host the week's Challenge and I have chosen ~

CREAM AND BROWN

and this is what I have chosen to show you ~

as you can see I haven decorated a plaque with various crafty goodies including ~

A vintage picture (sorry but this was in my stash!)

Frantage embossing powder and glitter,

Flowers from the Hobby House,

Organza,

Pearls of strings and to finish string to hang it with.

I have distressed the edges of the pictures and around the edges to give it the vintage look overall.

I hope that you approve!

I love decorating plaques as I am sure you all know by now and especially in this collage way.

Please pop over to the Allsorts Challenge Blog to check out the other team members lovely work and please leave a comment to let us all know what your thoughts are.

Our amazing sponsors this week are:

and

Thankyou to both of them for their generosity.

Today is a busy day at the shop as we are having the last demonstration of this year and the fabulous Clare Rowlands is coming along to do Hobby House and Molly Bloom.

If you are in the area please pop in there will be lots of tea and cake as usual!

Thankyou for spending the time to look at my post and please check out the one following for some more Christmas Inspiration.

Bye for now

Jo xx

DAY 20 - Christmas Inspiration

Good Friday Morning Everyone!

Thankyou for joining me for some more Inspiration and today I have another little number using Sheena's fabulous stamp range.

The stamps used are from the Little Bit Festive range - City Christmas.

Such gorgeous stamps to use and especially when you stamp with Distress Inks ( Faded Jeans) and drag the colour out using a damp paint brush.  I am sure you have all seen Sheena doing this technique. 

I also tried out embossing acetate with the snow embossing folder and painting white gesso all over the acetate.  It worked so well.

I have domed the acetate over the stamped design to give it more interest.

Thankyou for popping in again,

Hope to see you again tomorrow,

Bye for now

Jo xx

DAY 19 - Christmas Inspiration

Hello Crafters!

Well Day 19 of Christmas Inspiration already!

Apparently only 11 weeks until the big day!

Today is a lovely mix of Marianne dies, toppers and lots of glitter and glitz.

The window, tree and branch are all Marianne dies (from last years designs - but still available)

the poinsettia flowers are also Marianne but are the punch and emboss punches. the background in the window is an image from Marianne too, these are perfect for window dies.

The season's greetings is a stencil from Sweet Poppy - I inked through the stencil and then covered it in double sided adhesive paper and covered in glitter.  The background is a combination of Stampendous Frantage glitters and mica and also flock.  These have also been stuck onto double sided sheets.

I really enjoyed making this and hope you like it too.

Thankyou to you all for your fabulous comments, I am really enjoying reading them and appreciate you all very much.  Don't forget to comment today - the blog candy could be yours!

Hope to see you tomorrow,

Bye for now

Jo xx

DAY 18 - Christmas Inspiration

Hello Crafters!

Firstly, I need to apologise for treasing you all yesterday, I'm afraid that the news I have will have to wait a few more days! I promise you will all be in the know when I get the ok to spill the beans!

Today I have another Tonic sample to show you, this was a card design that was shown on the Christmas Craftinator show. (the flash was a little bright on the bauble - sorry!)

I have cut the Christmas Verso die into black glitter card leaving the pattern in the card.

the Rococo bauble die has been cut and embossed onto mirri card and gems placed around the middle of the design.  I have used the Rococo Poinsettia strip in the lower corner.

The flower has been cut in glitter card too to give it a bit of bling!

A few gems finish the design off.

I hope this is another design that inspires you all, I am really enjoying reading all of your comments and really appreciate you all taking the time to leave a comment.

Keep commenting to be in with a chance at the blog candy!!

Hope to see you all again tomorrow,

Bye for now

Jo xx

DAY 17 - Christmas Inspiration

Good Morning,

Welcome to day 17 of my Christmas Inspiration.

Today is a card design using Tattered Lace embossing folders and dies.

 

I have used the snowflake 8" x 8" embossing folder to emboss the background centura pearl cardblank and I have also used it to emboss another piece of card which I have then coloured with Broken China distress ink.  I then covered this piece with double sided adhesive sheet and covered it in the smallest of clear micro beads.  The phtograph doesn't pick this up really well but it really does give a fabulous effect.  I have also embossed a circle with the Winter Wishes embossing folder and popped it into another Tattered Lace die (really sorry I don't have the name of this - but if you are interested please let me know on your comment and I will find out)

An organza bow really finishes it off.

I hope you like my offering for today.

I have some quite exciting news for you all tomorrow so please pop in again and I will be able to share this with you.

Today is a very busy day so must dash,

Please leave a comment and be in with a chance to win the bog candy at the end of my 30 days!

Thankyou for spending the time to look in on my blog,

enjoy your day whatever you are doing and hope to see you tomorrow.

Bye for now

Jo xx

Day 16 - Christmas Inspiration

Good Morning Everyone,

Wow! where did that weekend go??

As I mentioned we were at Inspirations in Preston all weekend demonstrating and teaching and it has been a fabulous weekend meeting lots of lovely people - some that we see on each visit and lots of lovely new crafters who we hope to see when we visit next time.

It was also great to see Nicky Hall, Ruth from Hunkydory and Sarah McCrosson who were demonstrating some goreous crafty goodies.  

Thankyou to Inspirations and looking forward to our next visit.

Well back to Christmas!

Todays little offering is a 6" x 6" card and I have used a lovely set of Woodware stamps that I really love, they have been designed perfectly for them to be used with paper piecing. Similar to the Reindeer a couple of days ago you stamp onto various papers and then cut up and mix and match together.  If you use the same papers for the backing also it looks a really clean image.

the message is also a stamp on this collection, a ribbon bow, faux stitching around the edge and strings of pearls finish the design off.

A neat and quiet contemporary little card which is one of my favourites.

I hope that you like it too and perhaps have a go at the idea.

Thankyou for popping in and I hope that you will leave a comment - dont forget the blog candy that is on offer at the end of the 30 days - we are half way through now!

See you tomorrow,

Bye for now

Jo xx

DAY 15 - Christmas Inspiration

Good Morning Everyone!

I hope that today brings you peace and quiet with lots of relaxation and perhaps a lovely roast Sunday lunch?

Mark and myself are still away and today we are running a workshop at Inspirations in Preston (Hunkydory)

Today I have a card that I really enjoyed making and love the simplicity of it too.

The die cut image is from last years collection from Marianne and if you cut it and leave it in the die you can stencil through it with ink and get some fabulous detail on the skates.

The background at the top is one of Ali Reeves Special touch masks and it has been simply embossed through a machine and inked over.  While the ink is still wet cover with Aurora Sparkle embossing powder and heat to fix it.  If the ink dries quickly just go over it with a Versamark ink so make it sticky again. This gives a lovely sparkly sheen to the card.  A wooden button and bakers twine adds some dimension.

The bottom half of the card has been covered with fabric from Hobby Fun.  A piece of ribbon with text on it through the centre finishes the project.   It is a 6" by 6" card size and is quite flat to post too.

I think I will make some more of this design for friends at Christmas.

If you have time please leave me a comment and you will be entered into the blog candy draw which will be picked at the end of the 30 days Inspiration.

Thankyou and enjoy the rest of your weekend,

Bye for now

Jo xx

DAY 14 - Christmas Inspiration

Hello Again! 

Well 2 posts in one day ! I hope that you stuck with me for Day 14 of Christmas projects and inspiration.

Thankyou to everyone who is taking the time to comment and keep popping in daily.

Now isn't he a cutie! and looking very proud of himself I must say!

This is a Woodware stamp and I have stamped it on the white card and onto several different patterned papers and then cut the pieces up to then adhere to the stamped image (like a paper jigsaw puzzle) this is paper piecing for those who haven't tried this technique before.  This stamp and several other Woodware stamps are perfect for doing this and they have been designed by Francoise Read.

I have added a Christmas greeting, added some faux stitching around the edge and used pearl drops to look like snow and on the ends of his antlers!

This is a great card to make with the Children too - younger ones will need the image stamping and perhaps cutting out but they will love to piece it back together themselves.

I hope that I am still inspiring you with all of Christmas ideas and please pop in tomorrow to have a look at Day 15!

 I am sure you are remembering this now (but just in case you have just found the blog!) dont forget to add a comment to be in with a chance at receiving some fabulous Blog Candy.

Thankyou to everyone for popping in,

Bye for now

Jo xx