New Blog Candy and Some Christmas Inspiration

Hello everyone! I hope you are all well:) We have sunshine today so I am hoping that we have summer back:) Apologies for not posting sooner as I had said I would....I just don't know where the time goes and with yesterdays class I just haven't had a spare minute:( Obviously I have had to fit some time in for hubby as I can't imagine with my TV schedule this week we will see much of each other.

Blog Candy

So as promised here is the chalkboard card that I demo'd on the show and if you would like the chance to win this card, a Heartfelt Creations stamp of your choice and some crafting goodies just leave a comment on this post and you will automatically go into the random org draw which I will announce next Sunday:)

This is the sample card that I made and not the actual one that I demo'd and I did this one slightly different which gives it a different chalkboard effect:

• I have taken my black card and dusted over it with an anti static bag which stops any excess embossing powder sticking where you don't want it too.
• Stamp the image with an embossing ink of your choice and add your Cosmic Shimmer detailed embossing powder and gently tap off any excess.
• Heat with your heat embossing tool.
• Now as I just mentioned on this one I have also stamped the image again with some white pigment ink (you can also use a chalk ink) offsetting the stamp slightly giving the letters a shadow.
• I have then added some of the white ink using my finger, rubbing in circular motion. I have added more in places to give it a more realistic look.
• Next I have added some green and red pencil as you can see in the picture and again rubbed a little white ink over it to tone down the colours slightly.
• I have assembled the card as in picture and added some Heartfelt Creation Poinsettias and some of the decorative leave flourishes from the Cut Mat Create  collection. I have also added some of the white ink to the poinsettias to also give these a chalky loo. When stamping the poinsettias I have also used white embossing powder.
• To finish off I have added a little Cosmic Shimmer Mica Flakes to the centre of the poinsettias.

One of my teamies on the Heartfelt Creations Design Team Gini Cagle has done a similar chalkboard technique using just white ink...this is a great technique if you don't have embossing powders and a heat gun, but would like to give this chalkboard card a go:)
Now I also promised to share my Lantern that I made and taught a class of ladies at Sir Stampalot yesterday.  My inspiration for this was from another teamie on the Heatfelt Design Team Joanne Jamieson - Larkin you can find her lantern here and lot's more 3D projects....she is so talented and has some great projects on her blog:)

 Festive Christmas Lantern

•  I made the lantern using a template that I made which was similar to the one that Joanne made. Joanne has a link on her blog to one very similar, but it is smaller that mine. 
• I have used the Festive Background stamp and heat embossed it in gold detailed embossing powder onto heat resistant acetate to create the windows. I die cut out the windows using the Cut Mat Create die from set 2B
• To decorate the lantern I have add some of the Cut Mat Create decorative borders which I have die cut out in black card.
• I have added some black lace around the chimney and also some pearls on string.
• The poinsettias and holly are of course Heartfelt Creation stamps and dies.
• To finish of the lantern I have added some platinum Stickles glitter and lot's of Pinflair snow dust.

I hope you have enjoyed today's festive post...I will be back tomorrow with a Sunflower project which will be on the show:)
By the way I hope you can all join me for my very first 4 Day Deal which kicks off at 8am with Dean:).....It has been a pretty hectic August prepping for these shows, but I have to say I am so loving my job:) x

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

A very Festive Chrismas

A very afternoon to you all....I hope you are all having a great Bank Holiday Monday:)  We have the typical English weather here....rain,rain and more rain:( Yikes! I can't believe that it has been over a week since I last blogged:(  I have been busy in my craft room prepping for the Heartfelt Creations September Collection which I will be launching on Create and Craft next Monday....this will be a 4 Day Deal:) You are going to love this collection and I will begin to give you some Sneak peaks on Thursday!...If you love flowers then this will be a great collection for you:)
So here is my card for today using the Festive Christmas Collection (don't forget I will be on Create and Craft tomorrow at 11am and 2pm)  I know many of you may have already made a start on your Christmas projects! It isn't far away now.....this year has just flown by:(

• For this very festive Christmas card I have used the Festive Notes stamp for the background - you can just about see it underneath the Cosmic Shimmer Iced Crystals.
• I have stamped the main image in red and added a little Cosmic Shimmer Pearlscent   mica powder. This stamp is the O Little Town. I have die cut the image out using the Spellbinder Standard Circles.
• The sentiment stamp is from the Dove of Peace stamp.
• I have layered the elements onto the main card using foam pads.
• The Poinsettia is the Christmas Poinsettia stamp and the co-ordinating Sun Kissed Fleur die set.
• The flourishes are from the Sweet Lullaby die set.
• I have added lot's of the Cosmic Shimmer Iced Crystals to give the card a really festive ice feel:)

Sorry for the rather brief tutorial today....believe it or not I am in the middle of having my dreaded roots done:) Thank goodness my hairdresser works Bank Holidays:)
Take Care x

Some more Christmas Inspiration - Believe

A very good evening to you! I hope you have all had a good weekend:)
Today I am sharing another Christmas card with you using the new Heartfelt Creations Festive Christmas collection that was officially launched last Wednesday.  Just a reminder that I will Create & Craft on 26th August with this collection and as far as I am aware the times are 1pm and 5pm, but I will keep you posted on this.

Believe

• I have used just the Festive Christmas paper pad this card.
• I have chosen one of the 6" square panels and adhered this to a white  7" square card base.
• I have die cut out the Spellbinder 2011 Heirloom Ornament die template in red card stock and adhered this with foam pads to the card.
• Next I have die cut out the Dove image, again from the paper collection using the Spellbinder die template - Stately Circles and adhered it to the centre of the Christmas Ornament.
• To create the Poinsettia I have used the Heartfelt Creations Sun Kissed Fleur die and the Christmas Poinsettia stamp. 
• To create the Holly I have used the Heartfelt Creations Ornamental Add On Die set and the coordinating stamp - Holly Berry.
•  Next I have die cut out the sentiment from the paper pad using the Tags and Luggage die set.
• To finish off  the card I have used some Cosmic Shimmer Mica Flakes, pearls, gems and added a red bow with a Hobby House spacer and brad to the top of the Christmas Ornament.

I just love the warm traditional  feel that this Christmas Collection has and I hope I have inspired you  to maybe start your Christmas cards:)
Take care x

Heartfelt Creations Festive Christmas Release

Happy Wednesday every....the sun is shining here today, not sure that it will last though.

So it is the 2nd Wednesday of the month which only means a new Heartfelt Creations launch. ....You  may have seen me launch this new collection on Create and Craft TV a few weeks ago, but it is now officially the world launch.....which also means if you head on over to the Heartfelt Creations blog HERE you will find lot's of inspiring Christmas creations from the Design Team and also a chance to win the full collection!!! Yes! the full collection including all 6  stamp sets and the gorgeous paper pad:)

Now I have already blogged a few of my cards that I have made using this collection which you can find HERE and HERE but here is today's Festive Christmas inspiration card (sorry it isn't over on the Heartfelt blog today ...I promise I will be back on there next week)

I have chosen this small gatefold card in cream and green...not normally a colour that I would choose for a Christmas card, but I think it is a beautiful combination.

• I have created a gatefold card using a piece of cream card measuring 9" x 5 1/4".
• I stamped each image onto a separate pieces of card and cut them to give about 4mm border. The ink that I have used is Ranger Archival  - Olive
• So I stamped the poinsettia border 4 times. This stamp is from the Festive Candlelight stamp set HCPC 3623.
• I adhered the 2 outer ones with foam pads,cut out the poinsettias, shaped them and adhered them to the outside borders on the card leaving the middle one from the left hand side as I added this after the sentiment.
• I stamped the sentiment from the Dove of Peace stamp set - HCPC 3621 and cut it out and adhered this to the left hand side of the out side of the card. I have then added the poinsettia and also a small flourish in cream card which I have die cut out from the Arianna Blooms collection.
• To finish off the card I have added some Cosmic Shimmer Vintage Mica Flakes and some gems.

This card took about 1 hour to complete and to be honest I think the adding of the gems took longer than actually assembly the card:)

I will be back soon with some more festive inspiration:)
Take care x

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