Tuesday 30 June 2015

Happy Anniversary

Hi Bloggers.

Here's today's card -

I cut the largest die in the Spellbinders Triple Floral Die Set out of Lilac Card. At the emboss stage, I added the next sized die in the same set to create a faux pierced edge. I added some Cream Pearl Corners. I cut the largest die in the Spellbinders 6 x 6 Matting Basics A Die Set and added an 8mm Cream Pearl to each corner.

I cut the largest die in the Spellbinders Labels 46 Decorative Elements Die Set out of Milk Card and inked through the die with Milled Lavender Distress Ink using a Smoothie.

I cut the next sized die in the Labels 46 Decorative Elements Die Set out of Lilac Card and added some 5mm Cream Pearls.

I cut the smallest die in the Decorative Labels 46 Set out of Milk Card. I pressed Clear Perfect Medium into it, added some Phill Martin Cosmic Shimmer Decadent Grape Embossing Powder and heat set. I added more Perfect Medium, more powder and heat set again.

I stamped the sentiment from John Lockwood's Flower Hearts Elements Clear Stamp Set onto Milk Card using Plum Archival. I cut it out using the smallest die in the Spellbinders Labels 44 Die Set and inked through the die with Milled Lavender Distress Ink.

I assembled the card as shown piercing around the edges with my Tim Holtz Ruler.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.

Monday 29 June 2015

Card Giveaway winners

Hi Bloggers.

Thank you all so much for your comments on the posts while I was away on holiday. Without further ado, here are the winners -

Happy Birthday Giveaway 18th June - utilitygirl
Dream Giveaway 19th June - Lynn Dalby
For Someone Special Giveaway 20th June - Susan Barnes
Love Giveaway 21st June - Janet Hampson
Let's Get Together Giveaway 22nd June - Breezes
Cats Leave Pawprints Giveaway 23rd June - Maria Illsley
Vintage Car Giveaway 24th June - June Smith
Happy Birthday to You Giveaway 25th June - nancyd
I think You're so Special Giveaway 26th June - Hazel Young
Thank You Giveaway 27th June - Granny Sue
Choose Joy Giveaway 28th June - Jackie Trinder

Please email me at juliawattscrafts@gmail.com with your address and I'll get them all in the post.

All for now.

Julia

Enjoy your day and lots of news!

Hi Bloggers.

Today's blog post is a bit of a lengthy one with a pile of newsy bits at the end.

Here's today's card -

The background of this one is always a really popular demo. It's a version of Sue's Fire & Ice Technique but with Mica Powder instead of Gilding Flakes.

I started by cutting the Spellbinders Grate Effect Card Creator die (just the decorative inner die, not the outer frame die) out of Coconut White Card. I used the Spellbinders Tool n One on the back of the die cut to remove the 'hairy bits' that you often get around the edges of the design. I placed a piece of Creative Expressions Double Sided Self Adhesive Sheet on the front of the die cut. On the back, I added Phill Martin Cosmic Shimmer Decadent Grape and Decadent Teal Mica Powders, spreading them all over the sticky areas with a Soft Dusting Brush. I removed as much of the excess Mica Powder as possible and then sealed the whole area with another piece of card. I turned the piece over, removed the other backing sheet from the adhesive and added Cosmic Shimmer Diamond Sprinkles all over.

I made a frame out of Coconut White Card using Spellbinders 6 x 6 Matting Basics B. I laid 3 of the dies on my card and ran them through the Grand Calibur with the emboss sandwich first. I then removed the middle die and ran the remaining 2 dies through the Calibur with the cut sandwich. I cut a mat out of Coconut White Card using the largest die in the Spellbinders 6 x 6 Matting Basics A Die Set.

I stamped the sentiment from John Lockwood's Tulip Elements Stamp Set using Jet Black Archival. I added a small piece of  Creative Expressions Double Sided Self Adhesive Sheet ovet the top, peeled back the top backing sheet and rubbed Cosmic Shimmer Diamond Snow all over. I cut it out using the smallest die in the Spellbinders Pierced Delight Die D-Lite Die Set and inked through the die with Seedless Preserves Distress Ink. I cut the largest die in the same set out of Coconut White Card.

I assembled the card as shown, piercing around the edges with my Tim Holtz Ruler and adding a mat of Rich Plum Card.

I am really excited to announce that Phill Martin has asked me to join him on his next Craftathon in Nottingham on Sunday 30th August. When I spoke to Phill yesterday, half of the places had already gone so you need to book early if you'd like to join in the fun. Details below -

I did promise some pics from my holiday so here they are. I'll share the links as Kathryn posts on her blog or you can follow her blog at anytime here.

We stayed at a new hotel in Analipsi in Crete called Insula Alba Resort & Spa. Sounds very posh, doesn't it? Well, it was pretty posh and we were well chuffed when the coach dropped us off there just after midnight. However, the hotel has only been open 3 weeks (I think) and they are having some teething problems as you would expect - none of which actually ruined our holiday. Irritating - yes, but it supplied us with quite a few stories to tell!

Anyway, the view from our room  -

The rooms on the floor below were swim up rooms - an extra £500!

At night -

We could just about see the sea from our balcony -

The hotel from the beach opposite - the pool bar and pool. Our room was behind the block on the left.

Had to have a paddle in the sea on the first day!

On Saturday we went to Knossoss - where the Palace of Minos is and the myth of Theseus & the Minotaur comes from

Then on to Heraklion for lunch and a trip to the Museum to see the bits collected from the Palace.

On Monday we had an early start and caught the ferry to Santorini.






Kathryn wanted to swim in the 'hot spring' water next to the Volcano Island just a short boat ride from Santorini. The water wasn't clear and a bit yellow!

Kathryn's photos are much better than mine and she tooks loads so watch out for them on her blog soon!

Today is the final day of the launch of Sue's Festive Dies on her blog and the last day of 10% discount on the same dies on my website here. Remember to enter FESTIVE in the Coupon Code at checkout to receive your discount. Offer ends midnight today. Free postage on orders £20 or over (UK only).

Tracey Laughton is running something new at Creative Expressions HQ in Kettering. It's called Try it Tuesday and the first one is tomorrow. You can find out more by visiting the Creative Expressions Blog here from 8am today.

Finally, just a reminder that I have a workshop at Creative Expressions on Tuesday July 7th, Yardley Gobion near Milton Keynes on Saturday July 18th and at That's Really Crafty in Loughborough on Monday July 27th. Details are on the workshop page of this blog here.

Well, I think that's about all for now. Be sure to stop by later to see if you've won one of the Giveaway Cards.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.

Sunday 28 June 2015

Choose Joy Giveaway

Hi Bloggers.

Final day of giveaway cards today -

You can read how this card was made here.

Leave a comment below and I'll draw a winner tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.
www.juliawattscrafts.co.uk
 

Saturday 27 June 2015

Thank You Giveaway

Hi Bloggers.

Boy! Quite alot has been going on while I was away! Sue Wilson has started to launch her new Festive Dies on her blog from yesterday till Monday - be sure to check her blog regularly for some peeks at some gorgeous cards with the new dies. I've loaded the dies on to my website. You can find them here. To coincide with Sue's Blog launch, I'm offering 10% discount on the Festive Collection - you need to pop FESTIVE in the Coupon Code box at checkout to receive your discount. Valid till Midnight on Monday 29th June.

Sue is also doing a demo day at Creative Expressions HQ on July 2nd. The details are here on the Creative Expressions Blog. Now, I don't know if there are any tickets left but details on how to book are on the post.

Kathryn & I had a lovely holiday. I'll post a few photos next week. Kathryn's photos are much better than mine and I know she'll do a few posts next week on her own blog so I'll try and give you the links as she does them.

I'm demoing at J&C Creations in Maidstone today 10 till 4. Please stop by if you're in the area.

Here's today's giveaway card -

Please leave a comment below for a chance to win this card and I'll draw a winner on Monday.

You can read how this card was made here.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.
www.juliawattscrafts.co.uk
 

Friday 26 June 2015

I think you're so special giveaway

Hi Bloggers.

I got home from holiday during the early hours of this morning and will be heading down to Maidstone in Kent later for a demo day at J&C Creations tomorrow.

Here's today's giveaway card -

 Please leave a comment below to have a chance at winning this card and I'll do the draw on 29th June.

You can read how this card was made here.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.
www.juliawattscrafts.co.uk

Thursday 25 June 2015

Happy Birthday to You Giveaway

Hi Bloggers.

Here's today's giveaway card -

Just leave a comment below for your chance to win this card and I'll draw a winner June 29th.

You can read how this card was made here.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.
www.juliawattscrafts.co.uk

Wednesday 24 June 2015

Vintage Car Giveaway

Hi Bloggers.

Here's today's card giveaway -

Just leave a comment below for a chance to win this card and I'll do the draw on 29th June.

You can see how this card was made here.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.
www.juliawattscrafts.co.uk
 

Tuesday 23 June 2015

Cats leave paw prints Giveaway

Hi Bloggers.

Here's today's giveaway card -

Just leave a comment below for a chance to win this card and I'll draw a winner on June 29th June.

You can see how this card was made in this post.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.
www.juliawattscrafts.co.uk

Monday 22 June 2015

Let's get togther Giveaway

Hi Bloggers.

Here's today's giveaway card -

Just leave a comment below to win this card and I'll draw a winner on 29th June.

You can read how this card was made here.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.
www.juliawattscrafts.co.uk

Sunday 21 June 2015

Love Giveaway

Hi Bloggers.

Here's today's giveaway card -

You can read how this card was made here.

Leave a comment below to be in with a chance to win it. I'll draw the winner 29th June.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.
www.juliwattscrafts.co.uk

Saturday 20 June 2015

For Someone Special Giveaway

Hi Bloggers.

Here's today's card giveaway -

You can read how this card was made here.

Leave a comment for a chance to win today's card - winner will be drawn 29th June.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.
www.juliawattscrafts.co.uk

Friday 19 June 2015

Dream Giveaway

Hi Bloggers.

Here's today's card giveaway -

You can see how this card was made in this post.

Leave a comment below for a chance to win. Draw will be on 29th June.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.
www.juliawattscrafts.co.uk