On the second day of Christmas...

Happy Friday,

Well I covered all the days yesterday so look back for the second day but I thought it would make a great title! lol

Todays reveal is the Holly Tree elements stamps set, A5 clear stamps.  This was drawn as a Christmas tree entirely made out of positive and negative holly, I loved the tree so much I drew it twice in different sizes!  The tree makes a great stamp just used on its own however, as I have in this card, the sentiments are designed to match the Holly style and can be used underneath.  Here I used the Joy and simply embossed the design on black for a quick yet high impact card.









As with all of my Elements stamp sets I have made sure that there are different elements in the set.  This means that you can make one or all your Christmas cards simply using this one set of stamps.  I have also included a selection of baubles in there to use for small cards or tags or to build up pictures.  Why not decorate the tree with the mini baubles?

The holly border and corner are quite interesting in this set as these work separately or together to create borders or frames and the have been designed so that they can be used in continuing strips.

The next card shows this matched with my paper pack, just to show how the designs all work together.  I love the simple stamped tree element and it lends itself to so many different mediums and stamping techniques.  In this card I have stamped the image with gilding flies so in real life there is a glittering real gold feel to it!


As with all the reveal cards these will appear individually with ingredient lists and descriptions!

All my designs are now available in Julia Watts online craft shop click HERE for the shop.

Another reveal tomorrow,

Enjoy...x

On the first day of Christmas...

Happy Thursday,

My true love sent to me!  Well after what feels like weeks of drawing, testing and sampling my new Christmas ranges of stamps and paper pack are finally available!  I have had a fascination with the song the 12 days of Christmas for years and so my first designed range for Christmas just had to use the song as its starting point!

 I wanted to create a set of stamps and matching paper pack that covered all the 12 days however I wanted it to focus on the Partridge in a pear tree image as I feel its so flexible.  The idea was that whilst it was christmassy (is that a word) it would work for anyone and has elements that would be useful for other occasions.  For the next few days I will be showing a different set each day starting with the 12 days collection.

There are 2 sets in the stamp range, a few of which I have shown here ( I will, over the next few weeks, add descriptions and methods for the cards I am showing) is made using the main image from the Partridge in a pear tree set along with some of Sue's fabulous Festive dies.

The cards at the front are made using the main set as well as the 12 days set, this has 12 individual square stamps one for each verse of the song (and yes I don't think I will ever forget the order of the lords leaping and maids milking etc!) these are sized so that you can stamp each of the smaller days around the main element to make an 8"x8" square.  This means that you can make a 12 days advent calendar with this, something I will be showing nearer the Christmas period!

Finally, for today, there is the matching paper pack.  I designed this to have a selection of patterns and stripes as well as small and large version of the images.

The pack is 48 double sided pages using the classic colours of Rich Red and Brunswick green as it is m,watched to my favourite Christmas colours of foundation card, like Phill Martin I love things to match lol.  The paper pack is great for making your backing layers or use the images to make quick cards just by cutting up the pack.









I hope you like these designs as much as I do, another set tomorrow, the range in full, along with the ribbon and card etc I have used are now available in Julia Watts online shop, click HERE to have a look! 


HERE is the link directly to the stamps!

Enjoy x

Creative Wednesday...

Happy Wednesday,

Its creative expressions design team day and as promised I made a version of the Ornate Noble pierced card from a couple of weeks ago as a Christmas card.

I stated by making a card blank, form coconut white foundation card, by using the largest die in the set.  Next I made a filigree frame using the largest die no1 and no 2 and three together to make a frame with the detail.  Next I cut just a frame using dies 1 and three form coconut white card onto which I had added a

sheet of double sided adhesive.  I slipped the backing off and placed the filigree frame over this leaving the sticky showing through the filigree sections.  I then added iced snow and rubbed of the excess which leaves this glittered white on white finish.

I foam mounted the fame on and using the next die in the set, no 4, i cut out an aperture in the centre which I backed with heat resistant acetate (the heat resistant has the right stability for this).  Next I die cut the let it snow die using the piece of card form the centre of the frame that had the DS adhesive sheet on it,

I removed the protective film and covered the whole sentiment in iced snow.  This was placed over the aperture and a piece of vintage silver foundation card was added on the inside back go the card so It frames and shines through the sentiment.

Finally I added a die cut of the illuminated three die again cut form card with adhesive sheet and covered in iced snow.  I placed PVA pearl dots, using cosmic pearl PVA, on all the junctions of the filigree frame and added a small white seam binding bow and silver dazzler to finish.

Ingredients:
Creative Expressions Craft dies by Sue Wilson
Ornate pierced noble design
let it snow
illuminated tree
Coconut white foundation card
Heat resistant acetate
Creative Expressions double sided adhesive sheets
Iced snow.

If you get chance pop over to the Creative Expressions blog and see what the rest of the team have come up with HERE!
Enjoy...

Something Different...

Happy Tuesday,

Firstly thank you for all the lovely comments yesterday about the Sneak Peak of my new stamp and paper ranges for Christmas.  I can now reveal that they are packaged and will be ready for dispatch from Thursday.  Therefore form Thursday I will share a set (or two) a day along with  a sample (or two) from each set!  I don't want to share them all in detail until I know where and when they are available.

For today's post I am showing something different, still in the Christmas theme, and I hope you will like it!

Creative Expressions have just launched the new range of Christmas MDF and decoupage papers so I have been busy beavering away making samples for the launch last week.  I wanted to share a few of the samples I made with you all especially as for the last couple of weeks the studio has looked like Santa's grotto or workshop with paper glue paint and glitter (and of course Iced Snow) flying everywhere!

First picture is the 3D sleigh, which I covered in the new Craft Consortium papers and shimmer paints.

Next is the Happy Christmas stand up words and holly form the Christmas Grab Bag.

The third piece you may recognise as it is an MDF stand up version of the CE tree die by Sue Wilson.

Finally, for this session I have made loads, is the Storm lantern with classic poinsettia die cut flowers also using my favourite two time ribbon in red (the stocks of this are really low Julia has some 3m lengths left click HERE for more info)

with so much MDF and decoupage I am thinking about setting up a second blog to cover it all, what do you think?





For now I will post a piece every Sunday from next week with more detailed explanations.  I have also decorated some 10 different MDF baubles and tree decorations so there's plenty to go at!

Back tomorrow with the promised Ornate Noble Christmas Card in white.

Enjoy...

New Range Sneak Peak...

Happy Monday,

I am hoping that my New christmas ranges will be available from today so I thought I'd give you a sneak peak!  There are 2 distinct ranges, the first is based on the 12 days of Christmas and starts with 3 stamp sets and a paper pack!  Now as long standing members of the blog family will know I am a serious paper-stroker!  The idea of designing my own pad has been a dream of mine for years and I am so pleased to be able to share the fulfilment with you all.

Therefore, whilst there will be a blog launch later of each of the products I though I would show you a group of the first samples I have made with the paper pack and some of the stamps!

The paper pack is already available in Julia watts online shop, click HERE to take a look, the stamps should be available later in the week.  I will add a link on each day as I reveal them.

More information through the week!

Enjoy x

Simple Sunday...

Happy Sunday,

I had a wonderful time yesterday at Craftstation with the so talented Helen and the friendly and hardworking ladies who attended the workshop!

Quite a simple card today using one of the Expressions dies form Sues collection of phrases.  Sometimes we want to send a card just to say Hello and to let someone know we are thinking of them.  On these occasions then what is better, especially when you don't know what to say, than Hello!

I simply cut the aperture from the hello die (which is a separate die that comes in the pack) on the right hand side of a long piece of white foundation card.  Next I embossed the whole piece using the rambling blossoms A4 embossing folder.  I coloured the opposing corners using summer blue gilding wax which I polished off using a dry wet wipe.

I cut the Hello centre die in aqua card and then foam mounted it over a piece of coconut white card onto which I had added a piece of double sided adhesive sheet, covered in diamond snow and coloured using the gilding wax again.

I simply foam mounted the aperture over this and added a bow and strip of teal seam binding and (hardly visible in the picture) a matching dazzler in the centre.

A few layers of white and aqua and finished, simple but hopefully just right.

Ingredients:
Creative Expressions Craft dies by Sue Wilson
Hello Expressions die
Coconut white & Aqua foundation card
Teal seam binding
Diamond Snow
Summer Blue gilding wax

Enjoy...

Keeping it Simple...

Happy Saturday,

I am running a workshop today at Craftstation in Kirkby in Ashfield, I think its in or near the national forest (my knowledge of geography is terrible!

Today's card is a simple one made just using the poinsettia mini triplet from Sue's festive collection.  This would make a great batch card as its really small!

I cut the triplet, without the outside die, in vintage gold card.  I then cut out the same die in rich red and paper pieced the petals back into the gold.  I added a piece of double sided adhesive behind to hold the petals in pace and added diamond snow to the other areas so that there is a little Christmas Bling!

Finally I made a frame using the outline die in red and gold and added the whole piece to a hand folded coconut white card blank.

Ingredients:
Creative Expressions Craft Dies by Sue Wilson
Poinsettia mini striplet
Rich red, vintage gold & coconut white foundation card
CE double sided adhesive sheet
red berry twinkles

Enjoy...

Snow Fibre is here!!!

Happy Friday,

Well its double today Christmas Friday and the arrival in shops of the snow fibre paper.  Therefore today I am showing a card that uses the paper that proved so popular in this post HERE when I originally showed it.

For today's card I have hand cut the centre section into snow drifts as well as die cutting the paper.  I thought this card would show the beauty and versatility of this new paper.

I stared by die cutting the mini Christmas scene in black card using dies 1, 2 and three.  I then added pearl moon gilding wax over the embossed area that highlights the village scene.  Next I cut die 3 (the outline die from the centre of the scene) form the centre of a piece of the snow fibre paper and mounted the scene above this.  I then added a frame cut in black and trained the paper down so that a border was visible.

The centre section was made by hand cutting a series of snow drifts in the snow fibre paper.  I added three of the winter tress which I cut in the paper and a start from the Christmas Angel 2015 die.  I added all these elements to a piece of black card and hand drew stars using a silver gel pen and shaded snow cap ink around the top to copy a snowy sky.

I have added a close up of this so you can see the detail and layering...







I added the whole piece to an A5 black card blank and finished.  In a smaller size a perfect batch card I think!

The snow paper is available in Julia Watts online craft shop, click HERE to check it out!

Ingredients:
Creative Expressions Craft dies by Sue Wilson
Christmas Mini Scene
Winter Trees
Angel 2015
Snow fibre paper
Black foundation card
Pearl Moon gilding wax.

Enjoy...

Sue's on Create and Craft...

Happy Thursday,

Sue wilson is doing the One Day Wonder on Create and craft today at 4pm and 7pm (remember they are now on freeview channel 36 until late every day) so I thought I would give you a peak of the samples,  The first is one of the stamps to Die for that I designed for her for the Greek Collection that is featuring (along with loads of other stuff)

The first two are featuring the Kaefalonia die and the matching glazed tile which I stamped In perfect medium and heat embossed in Ture White detail embossing powder.  I added a few of the stunning cornflower die cuts to fame the stamped image (one of my faves as you can prob tell from the fact it's first!)

The remainder are samples showing dies form the show to whet your appetites!

Enjoy...

Creative Christmas Wednesday...

Happy Wednesday,

Back on the Christmas Die cutting trail for this months Design Team assignment for Creative Expressions and this week Ive mixed old and new with the classic poinsettia die and the new Shaded poinsettia stamp to match!  I started by stamping the shaded poinsettia in perfect medium onto white velum and heat embossing it with cosmic shimmer bright gold embossing powder (part of the detail range with gives a really fine emboss.  Next I cut out the stamped images using the classic poinsettia die (i know loads of you have this form last year )  I repeated the process until I had 2 sets of each of the flowers and then simply mounted them together using CS dries clear glue.  As this is velum and embossing powder give the glue a minute or so to go off before sticking together then the will adhere with ease.

It was then simply the case of putting together a classic white and gold card to house the poinsettia.  I die cut 2 pieces from the poinsettia mini striplet using the inner and outer die, in vintage gold card.  I matted these onto a larger piece of coconut white card with a thin gold mat around the outside.

To finish the card I added 2 of the snowflake borders in the gold which I attack opposite each other on a larger white mat.  a couple of layers of gold and white and a bow of bakers twine in yellow / gold. white under the poinsettia.

I love the classic simplicity of the gold and white with the detail of the poinsettia, hope you agree!






Ingredients:
Creative Expressions Craft Dies by Sue Wilson
Classic poinsettia
Poinsettia mini striplet
shaded poinsettia stamps to die for
vintage gold and coconut white foundation card.

Enjoy...

Very Late...

Happy Tuesday,

I'm sorry for the late posting we lost our Internet yesterday due to a combination of redecorating the living room and the modem going down!  It's still not up however I have managed to get into CE towers so can post form there!

Today's card is another using the lilac from yesterday however this time I have teamed it with coconut white and made the white more of a feature.  I'm also really sorry but the picture does not show the background properly the light seems to make the gilding wax look patchy which, in real life, it doesn't.

I stated by making the background using the scored lines embossing folder and rubbed pearl moon gilding wax all over it.  I matted this on a few layers of the lilac and white to make a 21 x 21cm card blank.

The central panel is made using the Porto die form Sue's Portuguese collection.  I cut the outside die (die 1) with die 2 and 3 to make the filigree frame in lilac and repeated this to make 2 identical pieces.  Next I removed the filigree die and used just die 1 and 3 to make white frames that were solid.  I adhered the lilac frames on matching white ones then foam mounted them at 90degress to make a square shape.

Next I cut the 4th and 5th dies from a piece of white and mounted the frames above.  I finished with a final lilac layer and added a strip of orchid satin ribbon before adding to the card.  I then stamped my sentiment, from my daffodil elements clear stamp set, and cut it with the smallest of the pierced flags adding a thin lilac border by cutting the medium die in the set.  I popped this in the left hand side of the circle and let it trail out to the side.

Ingredients:
Creative Expressions Craft die by Sue Wilson
Porto
Pierced Flags
Daffodil Elements clear stamps
Lilac & Coconut white foundation card
scored lines embossing folder

Enjoy...

Lilac Monday...

Happy Monday,

I had a fab time in Fleetwood at Crafty Company yesterday I met some faces from the last time I was in the area as well as some new ones and had a brilliant time.  The Lovely Sandra and Keiron were brilliant hosts and have asked me back for a demo day and a workshop day later in the year so contact them if you are interested.

Today's card is one that I made for the demo day to feature the stacked diamond striplet, I love the simplicity of this card's look just 2 colours and the die does (most) of the the work!

I started by cutting a rectangle of lilac card and then cutting the centre piece of the triplet from the top left corner.  I repeated the cut from the bottom right and  foam mounted the whole piece over a larger piece of coconut white foundation card.

To decorate I used 2 of the full pearl corner in white in the opposing corners and 2 in the others with the central pearl flower cut off.

Next I die cut the striplet using the outline die as well i lilac.  I then cut a base for the design using just the outline die in white and mounted the two pieces together.  I added one of the flowers, cut form the pearl corners, in the centre and added the whole piece to a strip of scrap card.

Next I bowed (is that a word?) the cut striplet over the front of the large die cut piece by folding the edges of the strip under and gluing down.  This is a point where hopefully the pictures help!

Finally I added a few mats and layers of lilac and white to finish the card.

Ingredients:
Creative Expressions Craft dies by Sue Wilson
Staked diamond striplet
Pearl corners
Lilac & White foundation card

Enjoy...

Simple Sunday...

Happy Sunday,

I'm demoing at the Craft Company at Fleetwood today from 10am to 4pm pop along if you are in the area (there is a vintage car rally on as well in the town so plenty to do)  Today's card is one that I will be demoing and is the card spotted in the background of the picture for Thursdays card!

This is made using the ornate pierced noble design die used to make the card blank as well as all the layers.  I use a plethora of techniques on this card which makes it a perfect demo card!

If you want to know how to make this one you will need to come and see it in real life, though I may make a Christmas one and list the instructions for that one a week on Wednesday as my design Team entry for Creative Expressions.

Ingredients:
Creative Expressions Craft dies by Sue Wilson
Ornate pierced noble design
Classic folder flower
White seam binding
Cosmic Shimmer PVA pearls
Iced snow

Enjoy...

Saturday Quickie...

Happy Saturday,

Just a quickie today as I mentioned I have a workshop today in Loughborough which is local to me me so it make s nice change not to drive miles!

Todays card Is a more complex version of the card I posted last week click HERE to see the original post.

I did the same technique as I described with the quilted blocks triplet however this time I cut the centre form the piece by hand.  I then threaded the heather seam binding through the die cut piece and added a (sorry ladies) large bow and a small pearl embellishment.

I finished with a sentiment stamped o the smallest pierced take and a white frame to make this 20 x 20cm card blank.

Ingredients:
Creative Expressions Craft Dies by Sue Wilson
Quilted blocks
Pierced Tags
Cobalt & Coconut white foundation card.

Enjoy...