My visit to Wales and Some Scrapbook Layout Inspiration

Afternoon fellow blogging friends!  I hope you are all well and you have had a good start to the beginning of the week.

I had an amazing time at Dandie Crafts and met some wonderful crafters:) I was assisted by my crafting friend Vicky who did an amazing job die cutting extra flowers and flourishes for my afternoon demos:) Thank you everyone who made my trip to Wales a very memorable one and a big thank you to Mandy for your hospitality during my visit.....I hope to meet Debbie on my next visit:) (ummm assuming that I will be invited back)

 

So that was my weekend and I am now back in the craft room covered in glitter as I am prepping for 2 possible Christmas shows this Wednesday......this will not be confirmed until late Tuesday possibly even Wednesday morning! Don't you just love it when all your plans go out of the window ......I was planning on making a start on Septembers shows:) But hey as long as it is crafting I don't care:)

 

Now for todays project....I thought I would share a few of the Heartfelt Creations Cut Mat Create scrapbook layouts. If you watched the shows and have been over onto the Heartfelt Creations blog you will know that the concept of this collection is that you can easily and quickly create a scrapbook layout using the dies. You can use all 4 sets which will allow you to fill your page with photos or as I have done on these layouts use just a few of the mat and layer dies. You also get decorative flourishes in with the die sets.

The 1st set is set 2B, 2nd set is 2A, 3rd set is 1B and the 4th set is 1A

 

For more details on the concept please visit the Heartfelt Creations blog HERE

 

On this first layout I have also used a selection of the stamps that also are part of the Cut Mat Create collection:

• I have chosen the beautiful dusky pink floral paper  for my layout which is from the cut Mat Create paper collection.
• I have used 1B and 1A die sets to create the mats and layers for the photos and I have used the 2B and 2A sets also for the decorative vines/borders and flourishes.
• The stamp sets that I have used are Birds and Blooms and Vines and Blooms. I fussy cut one of the butterflies out and added this to the corner of the stamped sentiment.
• To high light the birds on the border I have added a little stickles glitter.
• The flowers are from the Sweet Lullaby die set.
• To finish off the layout I have added some flower pearls on a string from The Hobby House.
• The 2 beautiful girls in the photos are my daughter Sophie being hugged by her friend Kelly:)

I have used a photo of my son Jordan and his girlfriend Lydia at there school leaving prom:)

•  The dies I have used both the 2 and 1 sets to create the mat and layers for the photos and also for the decorative flourishes/vines and border.
• I have used the border from the Vines and Blooms stamp set to create a frame around the main picture...you can just see it. I stamped it black just to bring the black from Jordan's suit into the layout.
• I have used the flowers from the Sweet Lullaby Die set again in this layout.
• I have also cut out a couple of the sentiments from the papers and added these to my layout as well as adding a little journaling.
• The lilac floral paper is from the Cut Mat Create paper collection.
• To finish off the layout I have added some deep purple and lilac pearls, a little stickles glitter and some cream lace.

On this final layout is my friend Vicky's daughter Abbie who was more than willing to do a little photo shoot in my garden a few weeks ago:)

 

 

 

•  I have distressed the edges of the papers on the layout using a Tim Holtz distress tool.
• The papers are from the Cut Mat Create paper collection.
• So again using both the set 1 and set 2 die sets I have created the photo mats.
• I have again also used the decorative die elements from the die sets.
• The flowers are from the Sweet Lullaby die set.
• I have cut out the 'cherish' sentiment from the paper collection and also added some lace and pearls.
• I have decorated the layout with some cream lace and some flower pearls on string from The Hobby House.
• To finish off I have of course added a little Stickles Glitter:)

Woohooo! finished:)..... I hope I have inspired those of you that are not into scrapbooking to maybe create a layout. Using these dies it is super quick and  I think that matting your photos onto co-ordinating card really does make your layouts look professional. Also don't just think of layouts being in a scrapbook tucked away....I make mine and use them as home décor: They make great presents too:)

 

I will be back tomorrow with a card that I plan to demo on Wednesday.....well that's if the shows go ahead:) I will keep you informed!

 

Take Care x

 

 

Thinking of You Today - Heartfelt Creations Easel Card

A very good evening to you all!  It has been a few days since I last blogged so apologies if you were wondering where I had gone:) I have just had a few family days and basically just chilling with the hubby in the evenings. Today I have been busy finishing prepping for Saturdays demonstration  at Dandie Crafts in Wales....still a little more to do as the sunshine kept calling me out of my log cabin lol. However I thought I had better come and say hello:) and share another Cut Mat Create card as it is of course Heartfelt Creations Wednesday.  So if you haven't already been over and checked out the extremely inspiring blog which is full of new projects that the Design Team have created you will find it HERE 
Now to my card for today....now I know that the Cut Mat Create dies were specifically designed for scrapbooking as myself and Emma Lou showed you on the shows ....they are so much more and although I do have some scrapbook layouts to share still I thought I would choose this butterfly easel creation.

• I have made a simple easel card with a 5 3/4" square base card in white and distressed the edges with Tea Dye Distress Ink.
• I cut a square piece of deep blue script patterned paper from the paper collection and adhered this to the main part of the card. 
• Next I chose the circle panel, cut it out, distress it with Tea Dye ink and adhered this to the card with 3D foam pads.
• I stamped the butterfly stamp from the Summer Glory precut stamp set using Versafine Vintage Sepia ink and coloured it in using a blender pen and Distress inks. I also added the Tea Dye ink to the edges.
• I fussy cut the image out and adhered it to the card at an angle just off centre. I only adhered a little in the centre of the image so that the it is just coming off the page slightly to add a little interest.
• Next I stamped the sentiment which is from the same stamp set and cut it out and adhered to the bottom of the circle with 3D foam pads.
• I next cut another panel of the dark blue script paper which measures 5 1/4" square and adhered it to the bottom part of the card.
• I have then cut a strip of the blue flower patterned paper measuring 5 1/4" x 1" and adhered this to the card to create the stopper so that the easel card stays upright. 
• Next I have added a strip of decorative pearls from the Hobby House to the strip.
• I have die cut 2 of the decorative lacy borders from the Cut Mat Create 2A die set and adhered one to the top of the circle panel and one just underneath the strip on the bottom part of the card. I cut them out in white card and distressed them a little with Tea Dye Distress Ink.
• Next I die cut 2 of the small vine leaves again from the Cut Mat Create 2 A die set and again also in white distressing with the Tea Dye ink. I have adhered these opposite each other on the centre of the strip.
• I next die cut the flowers from the Sweet Lullaby collection in white and also added some Tea Dye too.
• To finish the card I have added a little Stickles glitter and pale blue pearls.

Ummm that was a rather long tutorial for what was actually one of my quicker cards to make.....which took about an hour to create. The longest part being the colouring. However since using the blender pens I really am finding it much quicker to colour an image.
If any of you are going to be coming to Dandie Crafts on Saturday this is one of my planned demos, but I will being creating it with a purple theme rather than the blue:) Talking of which...I must get cracking and finish those demos:)
I hope you all enjoy the rest of this beautiful sunny day:)

Christmas in July with The Hobby House

Afternoon friends...,it is so blooming hot, not that I like to complain:)  Today I have caught up with some paper work and I am now looking forward to spending the weekend with my family....not a bit of craft in sight, honest! I will be back in my craft room on Monday as I have my demo at Dandie Crafts in Wales to prep for:)...this is so exciting! Hopefully it will cool down a tad by then:)
So today I am sharing a Christmas wall decoration using some gorgeous Hobby House products. I have posted this before so some of you may have seen this before:(....sorry it is Christmas again, but it is Christmas in July over at The Hobby House!

• This was a plain wicker heart with a chalk board heart in the centre which I have decorated with some Christmas decorative paper from my stash and a Winter Fairy from Wee Stamps by Sylvia Zet
• All the flowers and charms can be found over on The Hobby House website.
• To finish off I have obviously added some stickles glitter and on the roses to make them look more seasonal I add some PinFlair Snow Dust.

Just a quickie post today ...think I am going to get in a nice cool shower:)

Take Care and I hope you all have a fabulous weekend:)

Blog Candy Winner and a Very Festive Christmas Card

Evening everyone:) I hope you all have a had a good day and got to enjoy a little of this glorious summer weather:)....Me? well had to spend the day in and wait for the boiler man as my boiler broke down! And what a complete nightmare that was as he told me I had a little leak in one of the connectors from shower pump(nothing to do with the boiler)...ok thank you I will get my husband to take a look at it I said:) When he had gone hubby went up stairs to take a look and what was just a little drip earlier was a full blown water leak and was running out of the pipe like a tap.....Obviously it had got knocked whilst the boiler man mended the boiler, but he failed to notice so we now have a big wet patch on the downstairs ceiling lol and a very unhappy hubby:( So I have escaped the house and decided to do a blog post:)

Christmas Create and Craft Show

So did you get to catch the Christmas release shows yesterday? I hope I inspired you all to get cracking on those Christmas cards:)  The shows went very well and I am really enjoying my time in the studio.  I think I have had most of the presenters now...I think I just have Jaquie and Lee to go and I would have had them all.  Please don't ask who is my favorite that would be so wrong, but I do think I am more confident with Leonie and Dawn....I think it may be because they are crafters:) and of course Dean is very nice too:) oh and Dave and Nigel.

Blog Candy Winner
It's time for me to announce another blog candy winner!Drum Roll.................A big CONGRATULATIONS to................CLAI01....if you email me with your choice of Heartfelt Creation stamp and also a die from any collection:) I will get your blog candy sent out to you x

It's a very Festive Christmas Card

So tonight it is toss up between sharing a Cut Mat Create card or one from the Christmas collection??? I think tonight I will share another Christmas card....I know it is only July, but I have so many to share and hopefully I will inspire you to begin yours:) x This card is completely different to the one I shared yesterday...just to show you how versatile stamping can be.

• So for this card I have used the Festive CandleLight precut stamp and the sentiment is from the Dove of Peace precut stamp set.
• I have coloured the images in with Cosmic Shimmer pearlescent mica powder which just gives it a slight shimmer.
• I have heat embossed all of the stamps and used Cosmic Shimmer gold detail embossing powder. 
• I die cut out the sentiment using the Cut Mat Create dies.
• I have added a little Tea Dye Distress ink around the edges of the card and also the  flowers and holly.
• The poinsettia is the Sun Kissed Fleur die and the Poinsettia stamp.
• The holly is also a Heartfelt Creations stamp and holly die.
• I finished off the card by using some Cosmic Shimmer Mica Flakes - Precious Gold

Have I convinced you that you need to make a start on those Christmas cards....or are you one of those crafters that leave them until the last few weeks before Christmas?  I have to confess I do prefer to leave them a little later when I can have Christmas carols playing in the back ground or watch a good Christmas film whilst creating:) However it is nice to know that I have made a good start with them so I won't be rushing around like I was last year making cards for my loved  ones....only my family and very special friends get a handmade Christmas card from me:)

Now I had better say bye for now as I have some emails that I need to reply to and time is ticking:)

Take Care x

Heartfelt Creations Christmas Show Sneak Peek

Hi everyone...I hope you are all had a good Monday:)
Well I promised you all a sneak peek from Tomorrows (Tuesdays) shows....The new Heartfelt Creations Christmas Collection:)
I have really enjoyed creating with this collection....featuring both traditional images and colours! In the paper collection you will find lot's of verses and Christmas sentiments as well as beautiful images which of course all co-ordinate with the stamps.  There are not any dies with this collection, but below you will find the ones that I have used from other collection which again all co-ordinate beautifully with this yet again gorgeous collection.

• The stamp I have used is the Dove of Piece precut stamp
• I have used one of the decorative panels from the papers and cut an aperture out.
• I have cut the image out with the Cut Mat Create dies and matted it on top of some red card again using the Cut Mat Create dies.
• I coloured the stamp using water colour pencils.
• The poinsettias are from the Sun Kissed Fleur collection - Christmas Pointsettias and the Holly is from the Holly Berry stamp set. I have also used the Arianna lace die....these are all going to be available in my shop which is almost ready:)
• Next I cut out the sentiment from the paper collection.
• To finish off the card I have added lot's of Stickles glitter and Cosmic Shimmer Vintage Mica Flakes - Luna Silver Flakes....no Christmas card I make is finished unless I use this...just love it:)

So if you are guessing that tomorrows shows are going to be full of glitter then you won't be far wrong:)....that's if I get to finish off my cards lol:)
The shows are 1pm with Dean and 6pm with Dawn. Looking forward to these shows as I won't be on air for a few weeks...getting ready for another BIG launch in September. I will keep you all informed of the dates....did I say dates lol ummm a little hint on what is to come :)

Take care everyone x

Heartfelt Creations - Butterfly Thank You Card

Hi fellow bloggers......So have you all been doing much crafting lately? I usually find that in the summer months I don't do quite as much as I do in the dark winter months.  So much more going on in the summer and definitely more jobs around the garden need attending too....although mine is looking rather neglected at the moment:(  I am obviously doing a lot more crafting than usual with all the shows I have had just lately and yesterday I got completely thrown in at the deep end lol.....I think it showed in my demos...as normally I spend about 2 weeks making samples and 2 days to prep the demos! Yesterday's demos I only had a few hours to prep, but I hope I still managed to inspire you all. 
My card I would like to share today is another from the Cut Mat Create collection. This is also one of the cards that I demo'd yesterday, but yesterdays I used a different stamp for the background.

• The base card measures 5 3/4" square.
• I have randomly stamped the butterfly stamp from the Birds and Blooms stamp set (I used the small floral stamp from the Everyday Blooms stamp set on the demo card).
• I have inked around the card with Tea Dye Distress ink...if you are stamping the butterflies with a water based ink they may run so make sure they are completely dry before doing this.
• I stamped the butterfly image using VersaFine Sepia ink and coloured it in using distress inks and the blender pen which I have been using on the shows (I am hoping to have these in stock on the website...which I promise will be coming soon) I stamped it twice and fussy cut out the butterfly and added this on top of the one on the main image just along the centre to add some dimension.
• I cut the image out with one of the Cut Mat Create dies - 1B
• The flower is from the Sweet Lullaby Die set and the flourishes are from 1A and 2B
• I have added some tiny pearls to the centre of the tiny flowers on the butterfly image.
• Finally I stamped the sentiment again using VersaFine - Sepia ink and inked the edges with the Tea Dye distress ink, cut it out and added it to the card with some foam pads.
• The flower is from the Sweet Lullaby Die set and the flourishes are from 1A and 2B

That's all from me today now back to my Christmas cards for Tuesdays show....I am thinking lot's of glitter:)
Take Care:) x
(Oh don't forget the blog candy....just click the button in the sidebar and it will take you to the relevant post)

Create and Craft Shows Tomorrow and some Cut Mat Create Inspiration

Evening fellow bloggers!  I hope things are good:)....rain and more rain here in East Anglia:(
I just wanted to hop on and give you all a heads up on 2 Create and Craft shows I will be doing tomorrow...with some great offers on some of the last few months Heartfelt Creations collections, including Celebrate the Journey, Sweet Lullaby, Arianna Blooms and last weeks Cut Mat Create! I only got asked today to do the shows so have just packed my Christmas collection up for a few days so that I can prep some fabulous demo's..... So I know most have you have probably seen the other shows, but this time I will be demoing different cards to give you all lot's of inspiration (that's the plan)!
It is of course the official release for the Cut Mat Create collection so you will find lot's of inspiration over on the Heartfelt Creations blog. I have added a new card using this collection just  below the older collections pictures!
Although you have probably seen these cards before I thought I would share a few tonight to remind you of the collections:)  Celebrate the Journey Collection

 Sweet Lullaby

Arianna Blooms Collection

And of course the new release - Cut Mat Create

• For this card I have used the Summer Song pre cut stamp and coloured it in using water colour pencils, distress inks and Versa magic ink.
• I have used one of the decorative panels from the papers and cut the centre out with the Cut Mat Create dies.
• I have layered the image onto a mat again using the Cut Mat Create dies.
• Next I have die cut a selection of the decorative vines and lace border dies.
• The flower is from the Sweet Lullaby die collection.
• I have adhered all the elements onto the card using some pearls on string and adhesive pearls to embellish........sorry for the quick run down tutorial today:(

Also on the show I will have some gorgeous Creative Expressions products including to name just a few glitter, pearls, embossing powders, and ribbon  so a perfect opportunity for you to stock up:)
Now back to my prepping:) Take Care x

Floral Thank you card and New Blog Candy

Hi everyone:) ....I hope you have all had a good Monday!

Well I made it back from Silverstone in one piece and I have to admit that I really did enjoy myself and would definitely do it again. The atmosphere was amazing and everyone was so friendly:) Not sure why hubby has insisted on watching all the replays on TV though? It must be a man thing:)

I took quite a few photos so the new Heartfelt Collection - Cut Mat Create will definitely be coming in handy especially now I don't have quite so much time to create as may scrapbook layouts as I used too:)

 

So with the weekend over and housework all done I have already began to prep for the Heartfelt Creations Christmas release on Create and Craft next week:)  Christmas is my favourite time of year so I have been itching to play with this collection since I received it a few weeks back:) So sorry it is being released so close to the last release, but you really I going to love it:)

 

I am sharing another card from last Thursdays show using on of the new stamps from the collection as well as the dies and also the beautiful floral paper.

 

• I have used the Summer Song stamp set for the main image which I coloured in using water coloured pencils and distress inks.
• I cut the 6" square floral panel from the paper collection and cut it down to 5 3/4" to fit on my card base. I have used a Martha Stewart decorative punch on both the card base and the paper.
• I distressed the edges of the papers and image a little with Tea Dye distress ink.
• I die cut out the image with die set 1B and matted it onto the co-ordinating die from set 1A. I adhered this to the card at an angle.
• Next I have die cut 2 of the decorative lacy corners from die set 2B and added one at the top and one at the bottom of the image.
• I stamped the sentiment and cut this out with the arrow die from die set 1B and adhered this with foam pads to the card.
• The flowers are from the Sweet Lullaby collection which I have die cut out in the patterned paper. I have used some Pinflair glue and seed beads for the centre of the flowers.
• The flourish vine which I have used is from die set 2A which I have die cut once and cut in half.
• Finally I have added a few seed beads to the centre of the flowers on the image and also a little Stickles glitter.

New Blog Candy

So who wants to win a Heartfelt Creations stamp  and a die of your choice from any Heartfelt Creations collection? All you have to do is leave a comment on this post and you will automatically be in with a chance to win:)  Good luck everyone:) X

 

 

Now for an early night so I can get up nice and early for a fun day in the craft room:) I will be back soon to share some more inspiration....maybe a few scrapbook layouts:)

Take care everyone x

More Inspiration from the new Heartfelt Creation Collection

Hello blogging friends! I hope you are all having a good weekend:)

My Weekend Away

After the very successful shows on Thursday my husband has taken me away for a weekend break for some quality time together:) Now my first reaction was 'oh wow' how thoughtful of him and then he told me that we were going to watch the Gran Prix at Silverstone.....oh yes you can imagine my thoughts lol.  Now, although I do quite like to watch a little racing on the TV and always try and take an interest in his hobby/s....oh yes he has quite a few:), this wasn't quite what I would have in mind for a quite weekend away....however the truth is it has been amazing.....he booked special tickets through Red Bull racing which included a 2 1/2 hour time spent in the hospitality lounge and also a pit walk and guided tour around the Red Bull pit garage:) The best of it was when we got to meet Christine Horner(the Chief Principal), Daniel Recardo and also one of the Torro Rosso drivers!  So this probably would not have been my first choice, but I really have enjoyed myself. Tomorrow of course I am sure is going to also be as exciting:) ....I will post a few pictures on Monday:)

 

We are now in our hotel having an early night, but of course I thought I would take this opportunity to do a quick blog post.....You probably have all been wondering where I have been as I haven't blogged for a few days:) So I thought I had better explain :)

Create and Craft Shows

I hope you all got to see the Create and Craft shows on Thursday.....I can't thank you all enough for your emails and comments of good luck wishes and support x  The big bundle and papers were sell outs and the stamps weren't far behind.  I will be having this collection available soon in my online shop.....it is coming soon I promise, but I have had to put a hold on it with everything that's been going on in my family and also the prepping for the shows...but it will soon be ready to launch and I will let you know the date very soon.  I have another show next week - July 15th which will be the launch of the Heartfelt Creations Christmas collection which I really am looking forward too:) I will try and get a few sneak peeks posted towards the end of the week:)

 

Now for a card....This is one of the cards that I demo'd although the one I demo'd was in pinks. As Emma Lou and I explained this die collection isn't just for scrapbooking....the dies are also perfect for the card maker....I am also hoping that if you watched the shows that you too may be inspired to do a little scrapbooking even if you have never done any before.  I will post some of the layouts that I created for the shows next week.

 

• This card measures 7" x7".
• To give this card a little vintage feel I have inked all the edges with Tea Dye distress inks and also distress the edges of the papers with a Tim Holts distress tool.
• I chose the green and cream patterned paper from the paper collection as my base colour.
• Next I cut one of the panels in lilac and adhered it to the card at an angle.
• I stamped the Classic Rose onto some cream card and coloured it in with water colour pencils and a little tea dye distress ink. I have cut the image out with the Cut Mat Create die set 1B and then matted this onto the perfectly sized set 1A die which I have cut out in lilac card stock.  I have then adhered this to the card at an angle with foam pads.
• I have added a length of Hobby House lace and Hobby House pearls on string.
• Next I have stamped the Sympathy sentiment which is from the Birds and Blooms pre cut stamp set. I die cut this out with die set 2A and adhered it to the card.
• I have used  the daisy flourishes from die set 2B....these really are so dainty and pretty:)
• To finish my card I have added a lilac organza bow to the top of the sentiment with a small pearl in the centre.

This stamp is so detailed and easy to colour and a great size for those cards. I will add a picture of the pink one that I made on the show  sometime next week so that you can see the same design in a different colour.

 

That's all from me tonight as hubby has just reminded me of the time:).....I told him it was going to be a 10 minute job writing my post lol and I think it has been almost an hour:)

 

I will be back on Monday with the launch of a new Blog Candy!!!!

 

Take Care and I hope you all enjoy the rest of your weekend :)

 

 

Cut Mat Create Heartfelt Creations Sneak Peek

Good evening everyone! I hope you are all having a good week.

I would just like to say a big thank you for all your kind comments and emails.  My mum is out of hospital and is now on the mend:) Thank you :) x

So I promised you a sneak peek of the new collection that Emma Lou and I will be bringing to Create and Craft on Thursday....A One Day Wonder, so lot's of demos and inspiration for you all to see:)

This is a card that I have created using the new  Cut Mat Create collection.  This collection includes some beautiful floral stamps and easy to use mat an layer dies which also include some beautiful floral flourishes. Of course there is also a totally gorgeous paper collection in shades of lilacs, purples, blues, greens and pinks...you are going to love this collection:) The Cut Mat Create dies are perfect for your layouts, but as always with Heartfelt Creations you always get more ....and with this collection you also get the stunningly beautiful stamps that co-ordinate with the dies!

• The atamp is HCPC 3618 - Everyday Blooms which I have coloured in using water colour pencils and distress inks.
• I have used the one of the cut mat and create die set - there are 4 sets in this collection.
• The flourishes are also part of the die sets.
• The flowers you will probably remember are from the Sweet Lullaby collection.
• I have used some Pinflair glue and seed beads for the centre of the flowers.

Sorry this is another quick post tonight:( But I will be back tomorrow evening with another sneak peek:)

Take Care everyone x