Gilded Dolphins

Morning Friends and Crafters. Well I have had a smashing few days. It's been so much fun experimenting with my new collections and making samples for my next visit to Hochanda. It's always exciting and I always love visiting but this time I am even more excited to share the goodies with you. The Dolphin Die is so versatile, it can be used to give so many different looks. Use any of your techniques and experiment, but above all have lots of fun.

You Will Need:

Craftascope Dolphin Stamp Set

Craftascope Dancing Dolphin Die

Craftascope 'Such a Card' Stamp Set

Craftascope 'Bloom & Grow' Stamp Set (only for the card Variation)

Black Card Blank 8 x 6''

Gilding Flakes

Flitter Glue or Similar

Black Card

Phat Foam

Clarity Double Sided Adhesive Sheet

Step 1: Take your card blank, towards the bottom, use the dolphin stamps along with the Flitter Glue and Phat foam to stamp them. Leave the glue to go clear.

Step 2: Use your chosen Gilding Flake to cover the design. Rub away any excess gently with your finger. Finally rub over with a schoochy to remove the finer pieces and burnish to give a beautiful shine.

Step 3: Repeat step 1 with your chosen sentiment. These stamps are high quality and dont need excess pressure. Pressing too hard will only result in a splayed image.

Step 4: Repeat step 2 with your sentiment. When done, edge the card with the Flitter Glue, when dry add the flake . It gives a wonderful deckled edge to the sentiment. Next cover a piece of card with a double sided adhesive sheet, cut to  give a 5 1/2'' square, remove the protective sheet and cover with the gilding flake as before.

Step 5: Cut the dolphin die from black card, then use the outer die to cut and emboss the edge. Layer this onto your gilded background and mount onto your base card. Finally position your sentiment and secure with 3D Glue Gel.

It's been great sharing this project with you today, I do hope you enjoyed using the die. I really would love to see all of the projects and creation you make. If you are not already a member and you use Facebook, It would be great to see you on the 'Craftascope Makes' page, where you can share any of your Crafting projects.

Here is a variation of the card using a different sentiment and just the dolphins stamps. Just a quick reminder, when using flitter glue or similar, please wash immediately or at least put them in water to soak.

I hope to see you all soon, for now Take care and Happy Crafting.

Dolphin Lantern

Morning all, Well as so many of you had asked for measurements for the Dolphin Lantern and I had promised that I would share how I made it. Many of you know how much I love Dolphins and so  it's definitely a special one for me. I am back at Hochanda Next month, I have to say I am very excited to share the next Craftascope Collections with you.

You Will Need:

Craftascope 'Dancing Dolphin' Die Set

Craftascope 'Fancy Flourish' Stencil

Pebeo Dyna Paint 'Blue/Violet

Red Liner or Extra Strong Double Sided Tape

Matt Black Card Stock

Blue Vellum or Parchment

Tacky Glue

Step 1: Cut 4 Pieces of Card to 6 1/2 x 6 3/4''. Then on the longer side score at 1/4''. Centre the dolphin die on your card and cut the design into your card.

Step 2: Cut a mask to cover the dolphin design. Then use the stencil and the Dyna paint to transfer the stencil design to your project. Allow this to dry thoroughly.

Step 3: Use a fine tip applicator to secure the vellum or parchment behind your design. Add strong tape a little Tacky Glue to the tabs and join the panels together.

Step 4: Next cut and score your black card as shown in the photo. These squares will form your lid. Use the same stencil and paint before burnishing the score lines.

Step 5: If you have a small length of chain, add it to the top section of the lid, before securing them together. Pierce a small whole in the centre of the top section, feed through the chain and secure with some 3D Glue gel. Put all the sections together as you would a box base, leaving the tabs to secure them together as in the photo.

Step 6: Here is the finished lantern, which really shows the wonderful Dolphin Design.

Thank you so much for joining me again today and that you enjoyed the tutorial. I've been busy making samples for my next shows on Hochanda as well as finishing designs ready for later in the year. I have so much to share with you over the coming months, it's all very exciting. For now Take care and Happy Crafting.xx

Picture Display Box

Morning Friends and Crafters, I am back again today with another project for you. This wooden box would make a wonderful gift for  loved one. I have had this wooden picture box for a long time, I have been waiting to do something very special with it and this is what I decided on.

You will Need:

Craftascope Petal Dies (to make the  rose inside, visit my youtube channel)

Craftascope "Bloom & Grow" A5 Plus Stamp Set

Craftascope "Flower Orbit Stencil

Pebeo Dyna Paint 'Violet Blue'

Pebeo Black Sand Texture Paste

Pebeo Black Gesso

Archival Black Ink Pad

Amsterdam Acrylics

Fine Tipped Paint Brush

Copier paper (to make masks for the flowers)

Step 1: Remove the glass panel along with the photo backing board. Paint inside and out with Black Gesso. Leave to dry.

Step 2: Measure the aperture to work out the size of the stamped design.

Step 3: Here I used the daisy stamp and leaves . Firstly make masks from the copier paper and cut them out. Stamp your design in the oval shape using the paper masks to ensure no overstamping in your work. Choose a sentiment for your project. Then use Amsterdam Acrylics to paint the design. They really are wonderful to use and give a great effect and finish.

Step 4: Use the stencil to transfer the design to the box, using the Dyna Paint. Leave this to thoroughly dry.

Step 5: Replace the stencil over the design and add the sand texture paste in a few areas to add more texture and dimension. Leave this to dry again. Once it is thoroughly dry, replace the stencil and paint over the  paste with the Dyna Paint.

Step 6: Replace the glass, then position the painted design and then replace the backing board.

Step 7: Line the inside of the box with black crushed velvet. Add a rose, made using the Rose Petal Dies. You can arrange and secure this with a little clear 3D Glue Gel or similar.

I hope you have enjoyed today's project and you will join me again very soon. As always I have a lot more to share and would really love to have your comments. For now take care and Happy Crafting.xxx

Happy Birthday

Morning Friends & Crafters, I hope you got to see my good news yesterday, I have to say I am really looking forward to it and I really hope to see at least some of you there. I have chosen a very simple card to share with you today. We all need a simple card sometimes, I have said it before and I am sure I will say it again sometime.

You will Need:

Craftascope 'Positive Journey' Stamp Set

Craftascope  'Bloom & Grow' Stamp Set

Archival Black Ink Pad

Selection of Amsterdam Acrylics

White Stamping Card Blank 5 x 8''

Copier Paper for Masks and Masking

Fine Tipped Paint Brush

Temporary Spray Adhesive

Step 1: Take you card blank, use copier paper to mask off your card leaving a 2 1/2'' strip, about 1'' from the right of your card. (See Photo)

Step 2: Stamp your daisy (or other chosen flower) onto copier paper and cut out to make the masks. The stamp to fill the space, use the mask you have made to avoid overstamping.

Step 3: Remove all the masks along with the copier paper to reveal the design. Leave to dry thoroughly. When totally dry take a soft, dry cloth to remove any residue.

Step 4: Choose shade that compliment each other. Mix the Amsterdam Acrylics with a little water and paint your design. These are so wonderful to paint with and give a super finish.Add more water to lighten the tone or more paint to deepen it to add shades and highlights to the flowers.

Step 5: Stamp your sentiment onto stamping card, Take the black ink pad and edge the card, do it unevenly for a deckled look then use Tacky Glue to mount onto a black background. To finish your card add the sentiment with 3D Glue Gel.

Try a similar idea on black card, using a white ink pad and metallic pencils from Derwent, they give a superb finish and colour or use Spectrum Noir Metallics. 

It's been great to be back sharing with you again. I do hope you have enjoyed the tutorial and that you will join me again very soon. Take care and Happy Crafting.xx

Have a great Weekend

Hi Friends and Crafters. I hope you all enjoyed the Easter break last weekend. Well it's Easter here in Bulgaria this week. The glorious weather here has made up for the lack of Hot Cross Buns here. Today I thought I would share with you a few card that I made using the goodies I brought to Hochanda a few weeks ago. before I start sharing my tutorials. The first few are made using the beautiful Designer Papers from Clarity, they are stunning to use with many dies and the colours are sublime.

It really has been wonderful to have a few days to myself to recharge my batteries and get everything ready for my next visit to Hochanda to share some more from the Craftascope range.

I have some more good news that I thought I would share with you today. If you haven't already seen, I will be attending the Stamperama show in Stenvenage, it's on the 11th August and it would be lovely to see you there, I hope you will take the time to say hello.

I am planning on bringing some brand new goodies to share at the show before they are released o Hochanda too. I will share more information nearer the time, so please keep a look out.

It's been great being able to share my designs with you on Hochanda and on my Etsy shop, so I would like to take this opportunity to thank you so much for your support. Without it I wouldn't be able to bring the products that I am. For now Take care and Happy Crafting.

20% Discount on all stamps at Hochanda

Hi to all my friends and crafters. This is just a very quick post for you. I am having a few days of rest after getting back home to Bulgaria.  I am just drawing a few things ready for my shows in August. Everything has been made for my May shows and I am really looking forward to sharing the goodies with you.

Hochanda have a wonderful offer this weekend on all of the stamps on their website. Hurry the offer ends Sunday at Midnight or while stock last. If you want or need any of the Craftascope stamps to add to your collection, now is a brilliant time to get hold of them. They are even better value with the discount, I would find it incredibly difficult to reduce the price as low, especially as some already have discounts as well.

Take care and Happy Crafting.xx

Blooming Marvelous Collection

Morning Friends and Crafters. As promised I have now had the chance to upload the Blooming Marvelous collection Launch show with Dave Bradford. I know a lot of people have asked for it, so I thought it would be a good idea to add it here and on my Youtube Channel, so it will still be around after it's removed from the Hochanda Rewind service.

There are a couple of the Rose petal Dies sets still available on my Etsy site, so please do take advantage if you did want them. There are also a small amount of the other items available after selling out. I am doing my best to bring them back to Hochanda, so hopefully I can add them to my launch next month. I do hope you will join me then, for something rather exciting. For now Take care and Happy Crafting.xx

Hi Friends and Crafters

Hi to you all, I have a few days left before I travel back to Bulgaria. As soon as I get back I will be adding my tutorials for you and some more inspiration that will hopefully give you even more ideas. For now I am sharing the second show where I launched the Media Medley Collection on Hochanda. I hope you enjoy watching it.

It takes a while to upload but at least this way it will be available for you even once the rewind edition has finished. I will upload the launch show of the Blooming Marvelous range overnight and hopefull have it ready for you all for tomorrow. For now take care and Happy Crafting.xx