Cone and Needles

Continuing the Christmas theme these are a couple of cards that Judi of JudiKins sent me.

This stamps is the JudiKins Cone and Needles stamp.

Harlequin Background

On our website I have created a new SPECIAL OFFER section, this will contain any items that we are overstocked on, at big discounts.

These 2 cards were made by Judi of JudiKins using the Harlequin Background which is currently in our Special Offer section as well as the beautiful Ballerina stamp.

Wreath

I know it is still a little early for Christmas, although I did notice in my local supermarket they already have the Christmas aisle complete with chocolates, biscuits and mince pies! I do love mince pies but I see them as a cold weather food so I am determined to wait until at least November before I buy any.

These are the JudiKins Retro Wreath and Retro Noel.

The top card is stamped and embossed with Twinkle Embossing Powders, the bottom card is stamped with multi-colour dye based inkpads onto glossy card.

Artwork by Lesley

Retro Ornament Border

Did you catch our live show on Friday on Create & Craft TV. This is the card that Vicky was going to make during the show but we ran out of time. The Ornament Border and the Merry Christmas have both been stamped with Blending Blox. Vicky then used the Marvy Xtra Fine Silver Metallic Pen to draw the threads and then the 2 wiggly lines that frame the card.

This card was made by stamping the Ornaments with Versamark, embossing with Sticky Stuff powder and then covering with Mica Powders.

Glam It Up - Shrink Plastic

To create this bracelet we used Translucent Shrink Plastic and a large flower shaped punch.

After punching out 5 flowers I then stamped them all with multi colour Brilliance and Happy Flowers stamp. Don't forget to punch your holes, I used a 3/16" as the hole also shrinks.

This short video shows you what it happens as you heat the shrink plastic but please note we used the small heat gun and not a long nozzled heat gun, if using one of these you need to hold the heat gun further away as the shrink is going to move around a lot.

Glam It Up - Clay Squishers

There are 10 different Clay Squishers to choose from. For this project we used Das Air Dry Clay but you can also use Polymer Clay or Silver Clay.

It is best to put something onto the Squisher like olive oil so that the clay easily releases.

Roll out your clay directly onto the squisher.

Turn it over and peel back the Squisher.

Use a cookie cutter in your desired shape. Pull away the excess to reveal your final shape.

If you are making this into a jewellery piece use a straw to make the hole for the jump ring. Then set aside to dry overnight.

For colour we applied Mica Gloss using Cut n dry.

You can either apply a thin layer to the raised bits only or cover the piece completely . . .

and then use a baby wipe or damp cloth to wipe away the colour from the raised areas.

This piece of clay we placed inside a Patera pendant and surrounded with micro glass beads.

Live on Create & Craft + FREE P&P

This morning at 9am we are live on Create & Craft with some JudiKins Christmas stamps. According to the Create & Craft website we will be working with Leonie

I will post up some artwork on here from Sunday when Glam It Up Week has finished.

Also, until midnight Monday we are offering FREE P&P on all UK orders over £10. Hopefully his will make up for your disappointment at not seeing us at Alexandra Palace this weekend. Instead we will be at the Artisan Show next week.

Glam It Up - Transfers

For this project we used the Nunn Winter Holidays Transfer Sheet as well as some Nunn Jewellery Pieces, the completely flat pieces are Photo Stays.

First you need to choose your images and trim to size.

Drop the image into a small bowl of room temperature water. Let it soak for about a minute. The film-like image will gradually release from the backing paper.

Remove image from water and place on paper/kitchen tower or lint free cloth. Gently dab away any excess water. Slide image away from backing paper.

Apply image face up directly onto your chosen pendant. If necessary, gently shift or press the image into position. Dab lightly to release any air bubbles.

Brush a thin layer of acrylic varnish over dried image. For a high gloss finish coat with Diamond Glaze or DG3.

Glam It Up - Melt Pot

This technique is far easier if you do have a melt pot, and I know there are lots of you out there that have one and never use it.

Start with some Clear Amazing Glaze or UTEE in your melt pot, once this has melted you can then add a regular embossing powder of your choice, or more than one. For this project we chose JudiKins Cabernet Twinkle embossing powder.

We used our heart mould and placed a head pin in the mould before pouring in the molten liquid.
Alternatively you can use an eye pin and place the eye out the bottom of the heart so that you can hang beads.

Once you've filled the mould then leave to cool, it only takes a few minutes.

When you turn out your piece this is what it looks like, you will notice that the back of the piece is glossy while the front has a matt finish.

This is one we made with purple and white.

Glam It Up - Pebble Jewellery

These are JudiKins clear pebbles, available in 2 sizes and different colours. Great for highlighting an image on a card but also brilliant for making jewellery. Vicky started this project by applying the Blending Blox multi coloured inkpad to glossy card.

She then stamped over this background with silver encore ink and the JudiKins Splatter Pattern stamp.

This punch turned out to be the perfect size for the small pebbles. For the large pebble Vicky drew around it and cut it out.

The bails were then glued onto the back.For my pebbles I obviously went with a more purple theme. I created the background with Mica gloss and then stamped the Compass from the Treasures cube.

Glam It Up - Bangles

These are a few different bangles we have decorated. You can paint them with acrylic paint, Mica Gloss, Cosmic Shimmer and then stamp on them with Stazon. One is even gold leafed.

To start you need to cover your bangle with a coat of acrylic paint. This gives it a good base.

Stamp your chosen design on 3 different colours of tissue paper with Archival or Stazon.

Rip these into random shapes and sizes.

Water down some PVA glue in a pot and paint onto the bangle in sections, apply the pieces of tissue paper, overlapping slighty. Coat the top of the tissue paper with the PVA.

Once completed I decided the finished look was a bit too bright so I used some Cut n Dry to apply a thin layer of Mica Gloss Pearl which gave the bangle a nice soft sheen.

For bling I used the small Artoz sticky gems on two of the flat panels.

Glam It Up Week

Next week is our Glam It Up Jewellery Making week. We have created 6 different jewellery projects which will be online from Monday with step by step instructions.


All these pieces will be on display in store for the week and we will be demonstrating some of the techniques.

New Stuff Online

We've been busy adding products to our website this week.

So we now have a selection of Artoz Round Pearl and Gem Stickers as well as some crystal and pearl Snowflakes, crystal Cross and Heart. Find them all here in the New Products Section.

We have also been adding some Stamps by Judith stamps and some more of the reduced Artful Stamper stamps.

We are currently busy preparing for our Glam It Up week next week, we will have a different jewellery project on here every day and different demonstrations in store.

Also next week we will be LIVE on Create & Craft Friday 24th at 9am with Christmas stamps.

And the winner is . . . .

Lynn in Lancashire.
Lynn's blog is Crafty Chaos which you can see here.

Please email me with your contact details Lynn so I can send you your signed Tim Holtz blog candy.

Congratulations

Home Again

We got home about 9pm last night from Harrogate Papercraft Extravaganza show. We have always struggled to find hotels in Harrogate that had available rooms and parking for a van but this time I managed to find us an apartment for the weekend. I've taken some photos so will upload them from my camera tonight but it was gorgeous.

All cream walls with the chimney breasts in a strong colour wall paper. Our room was a pinkish shade of purple and Julie's was a lovely shade of blue/turquoise - sorry, I'm too tired to remember exactly what it was. But next time we go to Harrogate we will definitely try to get the apartment again.

I probably won't achieve too much work today as I'm still really tired from the weekend but we have a lot going on over the next few weeks and months.

Tomorrow (Tueday) is our now regular coffee morning 10am-2pm Lesley is creating her masterpieces in store for you to come and see and have a try yourself. She will also be swapping ATCs if you would like to join her.

All of next week is Glam It Up week, here on the blog we will be showing you step by step jewellery projects and also in store we will be creating pieces - a different project every day.

Exciting news - Friday 24th September @ 9am we will be live on Create & Craft. This show will only be shown upto 3 times within the following 48 hours so make sure you set your sky+/V+, etc.

I'll be back tomorrow with the winner of our Tim Holtz Blog Candy.

Signed Tim Holtz Blog Candy

This post will remain at the top of my blog until Monday 13th September, please scroll down for the latest post. Tim Holtz signed poster from Stampers Anonymous, Tim's book 'A Compendium of Curiosities', Sizzix Alterations Ticket Strip Die and 2 Distressables strips - could all be yours if you :

1. Become a follower of my blog either on Google or via Facebook (networked blogs)

2. Post a comment

3. Post a link on your blog (if you have one)

4. Come back on Tuesday 14th September to see if you are the winner

Blog candy closes on Sunday 12th September - good luck.

1 Stamp 4 Looks

This is the DeNami Christmas Block Design stamp which you can find here.

All artwork by DT - Brenda.