It's Break Time For Awhile!

Well that is it for me for awhile.  I hope you enjoyed the show and the new embossing folders.  They are a blast to work with!  I don't have another show scheduled until Christmas Day and that is a pre-recorded show that I will be doing around the middle of December.  I will be on live on Boxing Day, however, as part of the POTW shows that I will be doing with Jo Channon.  I've just begin working on those samples today, but I am supposed to keep them under wraps for awhile.  That means I will have to periodically post the rest of the samples from the Button Floral shows until I can give you a peek at the ones that I am doing now.  Sorry about that, but rules are rules you know.  I will say, though, that I made two samples today and I am crazy about how they both came out!  So... just to let you know, it's killing me not being to post them!  I'll just say two words about them...new technique, very cool (okay four words!)  All for now, Sue x

The Show Must Go On!

I thought that I would let everyone know that Saturdays show is going on as scheduled.  I am on at noon with Leonie, I am told.  I am very excited about this show as I am premiering some new products for Creative Expressions.  We have added a wonderful new line of embossing folders to our range and I will be showcasing two of the new designs tomorrow.  I'm still working with the button floral stamps designed by Sam Poole, but I think these two new folders look especially lovely with them.  One is the new lattice folder as seen on the sample above.  By the way, did I tell you that they are nice and large and will do an entire background in one go!  No more of this fiddling around with the smaller sized folders.  I have planned most of the demos around some fun new techniques to do with them too!  Just to answer a quick question from one of the followers, if you do not live in England (or don't get the cable channel that it is on) you can watch Create and Craft on your computer.  It can be found at http://www.createandcraft.tv.com/ but you have to remember that the show at noon is live so you will have to figure out what time that would be in the time zone that you live.  If you check the tv schedule on their website, more often than not, they repeat the shows in the evening so they would be easier to watch timewise.  If you are in the States, it is 5 to 8 hours behind England time depending on which coast you are on.  (Does that help Mimi?)    I will try to post more of the samples after the show too as I have a bunch of them!  All for now, Sue x

Button Florals

Button Floral Sample Card

I had a few minutes to spare so I thought I'd put up a pic of one of the samples  from the show on Monday.  It didn't seem to me that many of the samples got a chance to be seen.  This is a really quick easy card using several nestie shapes layered up with black faux nesties behind them and all decorated with my favourite white inksential pen dotting the edges.  I did a boo-boo when I was making this card as I meant to use the thanks a bunch phrase as the stem for the flower so it would mirror the sentiment stamped on the oval nestie, but I grabbed the wrong stem so it's a best wishes to you stem!  Oh well, I had already colored the flower and glued on the button so it stayed.  (Just pretend that you didn't notice,okay!?)  See what happens when I stamp with out my glasses on!  Right now, I am still scheduled for another show on Saturday at noon.  I will keep you updated on any last minute changes to that schedule so check back.  All for now, Sue x

Change Of Plans!!!

Just when I thought it was safe to "ink" in the show times in my diary...  they have changed!  I am still doing one show on Monday the 25th at noon on Create and Craft, but the 3pm show on Ideal World  has been rescheduled.  There is a tentative date set for it on Saturday the 30th at noon on C & C.  Monday's show will still be featuring the Button Floral Stamp sets, with which the two samples shown have been made.  I think that these two are my favourites from all the samples, unfortunately my photo skills (or rather, lack thereof) don't capture the lovely colours in the papers I've used.  I really like how these sets seem to easily adapt to any season or occasion.  So if you weren't a "pink" person (from my previous post), then maybe the soft pastel tones from the card above or the earth tones from the one below will appeal to you.  What do you think?

                                         

I almost forgot, I have finished the ribbon wreath tutorial that I promised eons ago and it has been put up on the Creative Expressions website for anyone that is interested.  You can click on this link http://creativeexpressionsdesigns.wordpress.com/sue-wilsons-ribbon-workshop/

All for now, Sue x

Shades Of Pink

As promised, here is a sneak peek at one of the samples for my upcoming show on Create and Craft on Monday.  This is one of my favourite ones because even if you are not a pink person, it just seems so happy, it makes you want to smile I think.  This sample is also incredibly easy as  the flowers are simply stamped on to three different shades of pink card, embossed with white powder, cut out (I said easy, not fast) and layered up with buttons glued to the centres.  Add a lovely sentiment and a big bow (I do love my ribbon) and you have yourself a card.  The stamp sets that I am using on Mondays show are called the Button Florals designed by Sam Poole.  These stamp sets are a real delight to play with too.  I will try to get a few more samples up on the blog between now and Monday.  What do you think of this one?  All for now, Sue x

The Last of the Vintage Samples

I thought that I would post a few last pics from the Vintage Christmas samples before I wrap them up and start showing some sneak peeks from the next stamp set that I am working on at the moment.   I can't say enough about how nice this set is to stamp and play with.  Sam Poole has done an outstanding job with these and there are just so many things that you can do with them.  They lend themselves to a myriad of stamping techniques with great results.  If you are one who really doesn't go in for strictly traditional styled Christmas cards, then this set is for you.  The fun vintage feel and colours of the samples has made  these a true delight.

The green and brown "Joy" card is from the Vintage Christmas Sleighride stamp set, another fun set in the Vintage Christmas series.  This card was done using Crushed Olive and Forest Moss Distress inks on the swirly background and Coffee archival ink on the music background.  The ribbon is a light olive IRL although it came out quite a bit darker in the picture. (I guess becoming a photographer is out of the question, huh?!)  The centre of the "Joy" is an ornament and it makes a great 3D element for the card too. 

The mauve postcard is all about the layering of elements including the scalloped frame from the set and some new nesties.  The lacey scallops are a brand new nestie design that are quickly becoming one of my favs and a very useful die as well.  There is no end to the fun stuff you can do with it. 

As it stands right now, there haven't been any changes to my next show date.  Dare I say you can ink it in now for Monday Oct 25th.  The first show is at noon and the second one is at 3pm.  They are both using the same stamp sets, but have different products on both of them.  The first one has a premiere of a new product that I am very excited about!  I can hardly wait, I have some really fun techniques to share with you.  I will keep you posted if there any last minute changes.

As for the current blog candy contest, we are over half way to our goal, but I'm itching to give it away, so come on let's get there soooon!  You can increase your chances of winning too if you leave comments on the blog after each post.  All for now, Sue x

More Christmas Pics

I'm back from my weekend demo weekend in Preston and I had a lovely time and met lots of great crafters there too.  Cardcraft Plus is a wonderful shop filled with lots of goodies and it is so large and spacious!  I ended up demoing on Saturday as well as Thursday as Sam Poole took ill so I filled in for her.  I got to see the lovely Lake District while I was up that way.  The weather was about as perfect as you could ask for too.  I really do love seeing waterfalls and the Lake District did not disappoint there.  All in all, a fabulous weekend!  I haven't had a lot of time to make new samples lately so I'm afraid these are part of the Vintage Christmas stamp set from my last Christmas show.  I am loving these birds (same ones from the previous post).  I just think they are such fun to play with.  This is what I call a quickie card.  It is simply stamped in Jet Black Archival ink on cream card and then sponged with Distress inks over the top.  I used Forest Moss, Crushed Olive, Fired Brick, Faded Jeans and Walnut Stain.  After I laid the colour down, I sanded the card to distress it, roughed up the edges and then flicked walnut stain distress ink that I had watered down on to the card.  Matted and layered it and added some metal corners to complete it.  It's not particularly Christmassy, but I think that is what appeals to me most about it! 

I love the romantic, vintage feel to the blue card below.  Also a very simple card to make with only a tiny bit of stamping in faded jeans distress ink (just need to layer with nesties, punches and swirls) to complete the card. 

I am about to start working on samples for my next show.  We were trying to get a two hour slot for it but the best we can do is two shows the same day, one on C & C and one on Ideal World.  They are currently scheduled for Oct.25th at noon on C & C and 3pm the same day on Ideal World.  I will show you some sneak peeks closer to the air date, but I do have some fun stuff planned (I can hardly wait!) I'll let you know if anything changes with those dates so just pencil (not pen) them in for now!  All for now, Sue x

Demo Day on Thursday

I am officially in Christmas mode at the moment so I thought that I would share a few more pics of my cards from the Vintage Christmas Postcard stamp set.  I am heading up north to demo at CardCraft Plus in Preston at their big event this weekend.  I will be there all day on Thursday demoing with this set as well as the
Vintage Wine, Whimsical Florals and the Button Floral stamp sets.  If you are in the area, please stop by.  I guarantee I'll have you making a ribbon wreath like the one in the previous post before you leave!

I will also be showing some sneak peeks at the samples for my next show on Create and Craft.  It will probably be the last one I do before the end of the year too as I have several workshop committments that will be keeping me busy during October and November. 
  As for the blog candy, we are still edging towards that 1200 mark but I really want to give this candy away soon!!  Remember to leave a comment on the blog for an extra entry too.  All for now, Sue x

Christmas Ribbon Wreath Card

One week recovered from the experience of Ally Pally, but I came home with a nasty chest cold that is still hanging in there.  Sorry about taking so long to post, but it has been a combination of the cold and a computer that is acting up again.  It is not letting me load pics the way I usually do.  I have had to play around with it to get it to work, but finally, as I promised the lovely crafters at Ally Pally, here is the ribbon wreath card I was demoing all weekend long.  I am still working on a step by step tutorial for it that I will post a link for as soon as it is finished.  This card shows the faux pearls that were made using Cosmic Shimmer dries white glue.  You need only to make small dots with the dries white glue on a non stick craft mat or other slick surface, let them dry thoroughly (preferably overnight), then dust them with Cosmic Shimmer pearlescent mica powder and spritz with water to set. (Cosmic Shimmer has a binder in it that is activated by the water, whereas other products may not).  Your faux pearls are then ready to add to all your craft projects! 

This card is also one of the cards that we will be making in an upcoming all day workshop that I am holding at the Creative Expressions warehouse in Kettering on Nov.13th and Nov.14th.  There will be multiple projects all with different techniques that we will be doing and they are all based on the Vintage Christmas Postcard Stamp set.  The set of stamps will be given to each person to take home with them as part of the cost of the workshop. If you would like more information about the workshop or to book your space, please email me at sue@particraft.co.uk