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Wednesday 26 December 2012

Woodware Challenge - Just a Note.....

Now that Christmas is nearly over and while the family go for that long walk or sleep in front of the TV, get your coloured pencils out and sit quietly colouring in some stamped images. Pure relaxation!
Here is a taster and something to inspire you.
I've used my Phlox stamp (JGS352) and ordinary coloured pencils, using only three colours. Apply heavy and light pressure when colouring in to create the different shades.
What changes this image from the stamp is the hand drawn border. Draw a very light guide line with a pencil and ruler and then write over it using a fine tipped black pen but don't use a ruler, make the lines wavy.
If you can, write the words underneath using the same black pen.
I have used the same image stamped on the background too.


Wednesday 19 December 2012

A Little Bird Told Me...

A stylish Magenta stamp for this Woodware challenge.
It's called Sweet Sparrow, code M0533.
The background stamp is a Magenta stamp too, Quiet Border I0425.
I have stamped the image once onto turquoise card and then again onto
green to use for the bird.
The bird is then cut out and shaped from the back to create a round look before being stuck over the bird on the turquoise card using silicone glue. Add a turquoise wing - you can cut this from the main image as it's being covered over by the green bird you won't see the hole where the wing used to be!
Add some liquid pearls to the flower petals.


Friday 14 December 2012

Woodware Challenge - Christmas tags....

A stamp set from 2009 JGCL503 Winter Warmers. Stamp lots of them on different coloured papers and spend an evening in front of the telly cutting them out! All you need to add is some glitter glue and ribbon.
Don't forget to leave some space for the name to whom the pressy is for.


Saturday 8 December 2012

Woodware Sketch Challenge

Use the crafty edger to make this pretty frame for any time of year.

To make the same size as my sample here, cut a piece of card suitable for the
crafty edger to 110mm x 130mm.
You don't need the paper holder from the crafty edger, just the
cassette and the cassette holder.
With the cassette in the holder slide the card into the slot and line up the bottom edge of the card to the cassette edge and punch the bottom right corner.
Flip the card over towards you and punch the bottom right corner. Flip the card over from right to left and punch the bottom right corner again and flip once
more to punch the last corner.
Turn the holder over and insert the card again into the top middle and line up by eye, punch. Repeat with the other side. Hopefully you will have a fantastic frame!
Its important to remember to flip the card each time to create
a mirror effect of the design.

Here I have stamped and white embossed a verse from JGCL551 Christmas Verses.
Use a white pen to hand draw the inner frame and the two doves are punched from 840-09 Christmas set. The tartan ribbon is new to Woodware and would look great with my thistle JGS159!


Monday 26 November 2012

Woodware Challenge Christmas Gifts



I was a little stuck for ideas with this Woodware challenge this week, that was until Woodware sent me a selection of gift bags made of craft paper. Rather than make a gift, I'm going to make something to put the gift in!

I loved the bottle gift bag so decided to jazz it up a little with a selection of Woodware punches, punching the shapes from coordinating card using only three or four colours. I've added a little sparkle with glitter glue and have stamped and gold embossed a Christmas message using my JGS156 'Wishing you' clear stamp from Christmas 2011.

I've used more masculine colours for this bottle bag and finished it off with a nice tartan ribbon. Substitute the dark red for a more Christmas red or purple if the pressy is for a sister, girlfriend or your helpful lady next door neighbour.

Tuesday 20 November 2012

Woodware Challenge - Black and White Christmas

My card today is one of last years Christmas stamp sets JGCL528 Rocket Christmas and some Magenta stamps, most of which have been around for a while now but Magenta never date!
Here I have stamped the sections of the tree from the set on the back of some textured card and then cut them out just a little way away from the stamped outline.
Using a selection of Christmas stamps, stamp with black and emboss with clear powder on the shapes. Stamp and emboss the greeting with white powder.
Re-arrange the tree shapes onto a black piece of card, wrap some ribbon round and adhere to base card.


Wednesday 14 November 2012

Woodware Challenge - Cute Christmas

Is this classed as cute? Does it have the ahhhhh factor? It's the closest 'cute' image I have in my stamp collection I think.
The little robins are from my 2009 set JGCL529 Tipsy Tree. There are two robins on the set and here I have arranged them in an acrobatic pile!
Stamped in black, coloured with a marker pen and some glossy accents on the red breast of the robins.
Punch the corners out from the white card with the Woodware inverted corner punch number 820-07.




Thursday 8 November 2012

Woodware sketch number 17

The stamps I have used on the card are JGCL565 Holly Wreath, the bauble from JGS284 Jolly Holly and JGS261 Carol Background.
The card is an A4 piece of cream card folded in half and edged with a gold ink pad. The berries on the gold embossed holly border are red liquid pearls with lots of glitter glue on the coloured bauble which is three dimensional on the card.


Friday 2 November 2012

Woodware Challenge - Frantage Christmas

I think this must be one of my favourite stamps this year.....I keep using it and each time it's different.
Here I have stamped JGS169 Christmas Date onto cream card twice using brown ink, or you could try gold embossing powder instead.
Colour the background and frame of one image and the holly leaves on the second image. Cut out the numbers from the second image and carefully sprinkle with Stampendous shabby white embossing enamel. Do half of each number at a time and hold it with a clip-it tool as you have to heat from underneath!!!! Keep sprinkling the powder on top of the numbers until they are all covered. This takes a little time and careful holding of the number so as not to spill the powder or burn your fingers.
Sprinkle a little on the corners and add some Stampendous shaved ice on top and heat to melt.
Layer up the image and stick to a base card. Cut out the coloured holly leaves and 3D them onto the image. Stick the numbers down using PVA glue. You might have to 'crack' the embossing to lay the numbers flat.
To finish off, punch some berries from red card and make into little dome shapes with an embossing tool and soft mat. Stick these down with silicone glue and add a dash of glitter glue here and there.
The ribbon is optional but I quite like it!
I've stamped the background with a small Magenta stamp and gold ink.


Saturday 27 October 2012

Woodware Cahllenge - Up-cycle and Re-use

When I was hunting through my left over stash drawer - you know, the one where you put all those stamped bits and pieces you don't really want to through away - I came across some bits left over from a card I made years ago.
So I thought I would re use them and make another!
The red and green card is stamped with gold embossing powder and then cut up into wedges. I have used a Stampendous Holly spray, but anything will do. Some plain card is cut up too. Re assemble the wedges turning some upside down to fit and mount onto a base card.
The wave across the card is cut free hand and I have added some snowflakes from gold card using a Woodware punch (815-09 orange size). The peel off greeting makes it a quick finish or you could add your own stamped one, just remember to curve the clear stamp on the block to match the curve of the wave.


Monday 15 October 2012

Woodware Challenge - Monochromatic shades of red

Not only do I like this shade of red, is very much like the Woodware red too, so this is my monochromatic shades of Woodware red card!
I've used my Gerbera single stamp JGS251 which came out last year. The JGS269 Swirly Frame, frames the JGCL555 Hours Fly By sentiment very well.
The Gerber has been stamped in black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I've put two together and shaped the top one then added micro beads
to the centre. Lots of cutting out! 
The frame and wording has been embossed with Stampendous Pomegranate powder which matches the reds of the 'Everyday' paper pack from Woodware that I have used to cover an A5 cream base card.



Tuesday 9 October 2012

Woodware Challenge - Vintage Christmas

This is a simple, classic design and I think it lends itself very nicely to a vintage theme.
The stamp is JGS166 Festive Bird. I have embossed it with gold powder and added some micro beads to the pears using glossy accents to stick them down.
I have stamped the bird once more and embossed it with gold powder. I then cut it out and shaped it from the back to create a round look and stuck it over the bird on the main image with silicone glue.
The peel offs (94176) add another dimension (would have preferred gold peel off swirls but only had black in my stash) and to finish the card off nicely.
To compensate for using the black peel offs, I have drawn gold swirls in with a Krylon pen.


Wednesday 3 October 2012

Woodware Challenge - Sketch 16 october 2012

These days crafters want the latest thing and once used it goes back in the box or on the shelf forgotten and forlorn!
So this week I have picked one of my favourite sets from 2009.
I used the reindeer from this set for the Dreamweaver challenge a few weeks ago as it went so well with the stencil.
A cross stitch Christmas using JGCL530, red ink pad, red card and red glitter glue.
Nice and simple. 


Thursday 27 September 2012

Resist technique

Using one of my new stamps called The Hedgerow, code JGS272 I've created a pretty background to go with my three main panels on this A5 tent fold card. 
I've inked the stamp with Watermark, stamped onto white textured card stock and used clear embossing powder over the top. It's been heated till the powder has melted.
Once cooled I have then used a selection of coloured pigment ink pads in pinks, yellows, greens and a dark red and have used the direct to paper technique all over the card and embossed image.
I then wiped over the card with a kitchen roll or slightly damp wet wipe to remove some of the ink.
Now the fun begins.....heat up an iron onto a cotton setting, place a clean piece of white paper completely over the stamped sheet and iron over the top. The idea is to take away the embossing to reveal the white card underneath. The embossing acts as your resist.
Iron quickly and remove the paper straight away so it does not stick, keep doing this till all the embossing powder had melted and transferred onto the paper.
You can now cut up your card to create anything you like.




Friday 21 September 2012

Orange and brown

This image, from the new Woodware release for Christmas JGS272, is stamped and stuck to Magenta 1" tiles (MINCT) and each tile is then stuck to a piece of brown card before sticking to a pre stamped background using the same image.
I have used a textured card stock and a mixture of brown and orange and a little green ink pads to create the coloured background. The ink pads have been swiped across the card and merged together using a piece of kitchen paper.
The greeting is from JGS273 but you can use the greeting that comes with
JGS272 if you want.
It's a big card - A4 - and quite heavy because of all the tiles but it makes a great picture to frame as a present or just hang it on the wall as it is.


Saturday 15 September 2012

Woodware Challenge - Anything but a stamp

I'm going to show off now.....I've had a quilling lesson!
I have never done quilling before but have always wanted to try it as I think the technique would complement some of my floral punch craft cards. But I have a long way to go yet!
I met up with some girl friends and had a class with the wonderful Eunice.
It was such a relaxing day and this is what we made....a pretty Christmas card with candles and poinsettia flowers. 
As Woodware have a new craft  tool that has a quilling tool with it along with three piercing tools and a craft knife it seemed a good opportunity to try it out. Each tool can be fitted into the pen handle and its brilliant, very comfy to hold and use.
The border peel off is from a Magenta sheet and the greeting is from my bubble tree sheet of peel offs. I've added some Stampendous sparkly dots to give it some festive cheer. And not a stamp in sight!







Wednesday 5 September 2012

Woodware Challenge Sketch 15

Here is the sketch that is this month's challenge on Woodware

and this is my take on it....

I've really gone for red and white this Christmas!
Here I've used one of my new 2012 Christmas background stamps JGS280, white embossing powder, lots of glitter glue and some of the Woodware Felt Fusion FE061 snowflake felt border which I have cut up and stuck around the card (the Felt Fusion is sticky backed).
Sorry the Felt Fusion has been discontinued, but punched snowflakes would work really well.

Tuesday 28 August 2012

Woodware Challenge - Sending you a smile

A bunch of flowers will always bring a smile to your face and these delightful daisy type flowers called Tidy Tips are easy to make. See the floral punch craft book 8 (grey cover) for instructions. 
I've punch the daisies from a Woodware punch 821-01 using white paper and have coloured the yellow in using a Copic marker.
The wording comes from JGCL560 in the Woodware Christmas 2012 stamp release.


Saturday 25 August 2012

Dreamweaver for Christmas Hop with Woodware





All of this week, the Dream Team and the Woodware UK teams are celebrating the release of the new holiday designs from Dreamweaver Stencils. Of course, no celebration is complete without prizes...and there are some fabulous ones for those commenting on both sides of the "pond". 
 
Each team will be providing the opportunity to win four prize packages of stencil designs, perfect for the holidays. Just leave your comments each day on each players' post as well as the Dream It Up! and Woodware UK blogs, and the Dreamweaver and Woodware Facebook pages. Two random commentors  will be chosen from the batch of weekday posts, one each from the DW and WW Facebook pages, and from the big hop on Saturday...from each side of the pond!* That's a total of eight prize packages up for grabs! Here's what you could win:






Still using red here girls! I love the combination of the turquoise with the gold.
I love this Dreamweaver stencil and it can look perfect for Christmas especially when embossed with the gold paste, its really rich and shiny.
The greeting is from my new Woodware set JGCL562 and that is stamped and embossed with gold embossing powder. 
The ribbon is the gold organza RIB11 and I've coloured one of the Dreamweaver hat pins with a red Identi pen. I had to cut the end off the pin to make it shorter but its easy to do with a pair of cutters from hubbies tool box!
I've made the rosette myself from a 12" strip of paper scored every 5mm and folded as a concertina. Glue the end together to form a ring, press down the outer edges and stick to a 1" circle, hold a minute or two and cover the centre with another punched circle adding a large pearl, coloured with a golf leafing pen.


 
Remember to follow along with the challenges on the Dream It Up! and Woodware UK blogs for more prize opportunities, and more crafty inspiration, as well as "liking" DW and WW on Facebook.
 
*Winners selected must be from USA/Canada/UK only.



Wednesday 22 August 2012




All of this week, the Dream Team and the Woodware UK teams are celebrating the release of the new holiday designs fromDreamweaver Stencils. Of course, no celebration is complete without prizes...and there are some fabulous ones for those commenting on both sides of the "pond". 

Each team will be providing the opportunity to win four prize packages of stencil designs, perfect for the holidays. Just leave your comments each day on each players' post as well as theDream It Up! and Woodware UK blogs, and the Dreamweaverand Woodware Facebook pages. Two random commentors  will be chosen from the batch of weekday posts, one each from theDW and WW Facebook pages, and from the big hop on Saturday...from each side of the pond!* That's a total of eight prize packages up for grabs! Here's what you could win:






This wonderful new stencil from Dreamweaver makes such a great background and here I have teamed it with an image from a 2010 Christmas set of mine JGCL530 Cross Stitch Christmas. I think it works a treat!
I have embossed the stencil onto cream card and then used a stencil brush and a red pigment ink pad to apply the colour through the stencil.
The tartan ribbon is new from Woodware and will be available in September.



Don't forget to leave me some holiday cheer as you move on to the other players for today:

Remember to follow along with the challenges on the Dream It Up! and Woodware UK blogs for more prize opportunities, and more crafty inspiration, as well as "liking" DW and WW on Facebook.
*Winners selected must be from USA/Canada/UK only. 


Thursday 16 August 2012

Woodware Challenge - Paper Piecing for Christmas

I love a tag...that's why I designed this little Christmas date JGS169. It's great coloured with Sakura pens or Copics and wonderful to paper piece. 
I've made a tag, distressed it a little and added a running stitch around the edge.
Stamp and white emboss the image on to red and green card and a patterned paper for the numbers. Stamp onto the tag to.
Cut out the red square and stick to the tag. Then cut out the leaves and holly. Cut out the numbers and adhere all to the tag as shown. When cutting out, remember to cut on the outside of the embossed image so you retain the outline.
Finish the tag off with some glitter glue and twine before sticking it onto a covered A6 base card.


Friday 10 August 2012

Woodware Challenge - A colour splash of blue

Here is my take on the use of a small amount of colour. I've used a new set from the Autumn/Christmas range 2012 JGCL559.
Make a base card and cut a piece of black card to fit. Stamp and emboss with white embossing powder several of the three sized flowers from the set. Stamp four extra onto a scrap piece of black card and cut out. 
Wrap a length of blue ribbon around the stamped black card and adhere to base card. Using black foam pads, stick the four cut out flowers on top of the image. Add some blue glitter glue to the dots on the flowers and a blue Elements gem to the centre on the flowers to finish.


Saturday 4 August 2012

Woodware Challenge - Shrink Plastic

Here's one of my 'fridge cards' with a little shrink plastic message, it's a fun alternative to a card. We made similar ones ages ago in Birmingham at the retailer show.

It's a 7cm square piece of card or chip board covered in wadding then covered in paper which has been wrapped around and folded around the back.

If you want to add the delightful cutlery brads (JL172) as I have here you need to put them into the paper before you wrap it around the wadding and card!

Wrap the ribbon around the square attaching a little message on shrink plastic. I've made mine with the 830-04 circle punch (blue) and translucent shrink plastic and wrote the message with a permanent brown pen before shrinking. All the other items can be added after assembly. My plate of bacon and eggs is hand drawn with a little glossy accent on the bacon and egg yolks.

I've cut a 5cm square piece of Woodware's A4 magnetic sheet and stuck it securely using ultra-high bond double sided tape (on the red reels) to keep everything together.



Monday 23 July 2012

Woodware Challenge - Chill out with Zentangle

I've been Zentangling for years...the owl card below is taken from a drawing I did about 30 years ago and I've adapted it to make this great stamp. Each section of the owl has been filled in with fine lines and shapes. The shapes within the owl are great for cutting out for 3D  decoupage. As its all been Zenatangles for you all you have to do is stamp, cut and make up the card.

Already Zentangled owl stamp from Woodware JGCL524 Wose Owl

Now for those who love to use a fine tipped black pen and doodle all day here is a great image with large areas perfect for filling in with Zentangle shapes and patterns.
I take my pre stamped images or lots of blank paper to create my own shapes on the plane or when travelling by train, all I need is a selection of black pens such as Sakura Micron 005, 01, 02, 03 and 05 and a pencil for shading in.
The greeting comes from Woodware JGCL519 Essential Birthdays.

Fill anything you like with Zentangle, this is as stamp from Woodware - JGS255 Clematis

Tuesday 17 July 2012

Woodware Challenge - Grey and Chartreuse

I believe this is the 'pampered stamper's' choice of colour, very nice Pam!
Just love the combination.

I've made the card to fit the stencil.

The second photo shows you the three products I used for this project.....
Dreamweaver stencil LX7015 (brand new)
Floral Punch Craft punch FPC3-01 splat
Floral Punch Craft punch FPC1-01 stamens
The greeting comes from my JGCL519 Essential Birthdays

To make the flowers you need two splat shapes plus a stamen shape for the middle and all these have been punched from yellow card and paper, card for the splat is best.
I have coloured the blobs on the ends of the splat using a yellow marker pan, allow it to dry then place upside down on the moulding mat and use an embossing tool and the 'cup' character technique to create little round bowl shapes. Then turn over and do the same in the middle, simples!
Layer and stick two together and add a stamens punch in the middle which has been given the same colouring and shaping as the splat. You will need to use a very small embossing head for this shape. Finish off with a little gem in the middle of the stamens shape, yellow stars look good.

I've put the stencil through the BigShot machine using the extra mat from Dreamweaver, it worked a treat on the grey card.




Saturday 14 July 2012

Hello from sunny, hot Canada

No photos yet as I don't have the right connection cable to the iPad!! Just to let you all know I'm having a fabulous time here in Jasper in the Rocky Mountains, Canada. The weather is just great and the scenery even better, in fact it's amazing, just takes your breath away. I've seen brown bears, deer, long whiskered squirrels, marmots and chipmunks. Enjoying the posts on the Woodware blog.

Wednesday 11 July 2012

Woodware Challenge - Anything but square - no corners allowed!

One of the stamp images from my JGCL522 Jewel Garden set makes up this pretty round card.
The image is made to look like a brooch, has been gold embossed onto
black card, coloured with pearlescent paints from a USArtQuest palette.
I've then put crackle accents over the green gems and added tiny yellow pearls. 
The black scallop circle is from punch number 840-07 and I've decorated the edge with pearlescent paint too and some small circles left over from a sheet of peel offs. 

Woodware JGCL522 The Jewel Garden

Thursday 5 July 2012

Woodware Challenge Sketch 14 - Marigold

Quite a few punches are needed for this pretty little Marigold - a small heart, orange sized heart, green sized heart, green sized oak leaf, orange sized snowflake and a green sized daisy punch. Instructions are in book 2 (red cover) on page 12. It's very simple to make and looks so realistic.

Marigolds flowers are made from an orange sized Woodware balloon punch

Sunday 1 July 2012

Woodware Challenge - Mercart metal

Let your imagination run wild with Mercart metal!
On my card today I have drawn my own image - keeping it simple- onto paper and then traced the outline onto the metal with a biro.
Using the different teflon tools and a soft and hard surface, I have drawn the image
and embossed from both sides of the metal.
I have used the teflon tool to draw in the 'worm trails' all around the image to give the metal a textured background. It's easy to do....just scribble away all over the metal using a light pressure.

I have used the decorative wheel around the edge which I think leaves a nice border to finish it off.
I have then used a black and green permanent ink with some thinners which I have wiped all over the surface to give it a bit of colour.

The stamp around the edge of the base card is a Magenta stamp 28034-I. 


Saturday 23 June 2012

Woodware Challenge - Purple and Gold

My card today is made with JGS262 Birthday Background.
I've embossed it with gold powder onto Woodware's lovely cream linen card.
I've then coloured in sections of it where there is an outline using
a purple/lilac marker pen.
The little lilac stars add a bit of sparkle and the flower is from the paper flower boxes PF105 with felt brad through the middle from JL181.
Add some ribbon tied in a bow and adhere it to the card with a glue dot.


Tuesday 12 June 2012

Japonica workshop

Travelled down to Japonica in Exmouth last week in the pouring rain to do an all day workshop. Floral Punch Craft in the morning and stamping and heat embossing in the afternoon. 

We made a small spray of carnations using a selection of punches from Woodware and my Daisy Dots stamp set for the afternoon.

I then went on to Japonica, a great craft and gift store, the following day to do an in store demo using my range of frame clear stamps combined with simple flowers and verses.

If you are planning a holiday down in Devon, then this is one shop that must be on your list of things to visit.
Using tools to make the character lines in the carnation petals
The finished card

Thanks to all the ladies who came on my class and made me feel so welcome. Thanks also to Janet and her husband Edmund for having me to stay in their home. I had a great time.
My birthday background with some flowers as
demonstrated in store
A pretty three fold tent card showing one of my
frame sets and more flowers


The lovely Janet hard at work

Monday 11 June 2012

Woodware challenge - A teacher's gift



As I left school some time ago....and as I don't remember giving any of my teachers gifts,
I've come up with a bottle of apple juice! 
My Teacher's Pet, JGCL557 set of stamps came in handy for this project.
I've made a simple tag and decorated it with some of the words and the little girl image from the set.
To make the label for the bottle, I've die cut a shape from a spellbinder die and stamped the apple onto it, colouring it in with marker pens.
I then stamped the words 'apple juice' across the label using Stampendous SSC007 storybook alphabet. I find this alphabet set so useful especially when I don't have the right words for the job!

Tuesday 5 June 2012

Woodware Challenge - Sketch 13 - More metal!




 Right now I'm obsessed with metal embossing! I jut love it and find it very relaxing,
something very nice about drawing onto soft metal and leaving a design behind.
Here is my card for this weeks sketch and I've used a Dreamweaver stencil number LJ859.

I've only used the middle design from the stencil and have cut the metal just big enough to sit over the design and have put it through my BigShot (lazy!).

After I have embossed and trimmed the metal. I have taken one of the wheel tools
and embossed the edges. Then wiped over the metal with permanent black ink and a little
thinners to allow the ink to spread more.
This gives the metal a slightly distressed look.
If you look closely on the card, I have embossed the lower part with
Dreamweaver stencil LJ899

Wednesday 30 May 2012

Woodware Challenge - Invitations

You're getting a 'sneeky peek' at part of a new Christmas stamp set here! The new Woodware Christmas sets and singles come out soon, so keep a look out.
The bell is from the new set......and just to show you that bells are not just for Christmas! They can be teamed up with my JGCL547 and JGCL546 wedding words stamp sets and look great in pastel shades decorated with Card Candi by Craftwork Cards available from Woodware too.


Thursday 24 May 2012

Woodware - Sketch Challenge 12

Trying not to make pink flowers at the moment so have come up with these pretty blue ones for the Woodware sketch challenge this week.
All the flowers are made from paper and use punch shapes from simple daisies to the skirt of a dress!
The petal shapes are edged with pigment ink and I have stuck with three shades of blue and a little cream paper for contrast. They are easy to make and if anybody is visiting Japonica in Exmouth on the 8th and 9th June I can show you how to make them!
The greeting is from my JGCL519 Essential Birthday stamp set.



Tabitha looking cute

Tabitha looking cute
Look, I’ve just caught you another mouse!