Craftascope News.

Morning Friends and crafters, everything is in full swing here, I will soon be on my way to Hochanda for my Anniversary shows. On November 1st, it will be exactly a year since I brought you my very first collection. There are so many people too thank, Hochanda for giving me the opportunity and taking a chance on Me, Leonie Pujol, for giving her honest opinion and giving me the courage and confidence to produce the collection in the first place.

Most Importantly of all are YOU, My Customers & Friends, who have followed my journey through the first year. Bought and enjoyed the collections I have shared on Hochanda. Shared your wonderful creations and above all given me your Support, Friendship and Trust.

There have been up's and down's along the way, difficult decisions to make and through it all many of you have stayed with me and helped to grow the Craftascope Brand to what it it is today. I can never thank you all enough for that. Whatever happens in the future, I will never forget your Friendship and the support you have shown me at times when things seemed impossible.

Last night I found out that I have been shortlisted for the 'Craft Product of The Year' in the 2019 'Best of Craft Awards' Judged Categories. I had to read it 3 times, in fact I read the first sentence and almost closed the mail thinking it was one of those friendly let down Mails. I am over the moon to have been selected and totally speechless. I love Crafting, It's been in my blood, since I can remember.

For many years, I have tried to help others where possible, It's always been incredibly important to me. I know just how much time, money & disappointments I encountered when I first started out. So I wanted to make a difference for others and I really hope I have.

It's come at a time, when good news has been illusive, so this couldn't be more welcome. To have one of my Favourite Collections 'The Media Medley' shortlisted in these awards is more than I could ever hope for, Many of you will have this collection already and I hope you have been enjoying it as much as I have. With any luck maybe my Anniversary Launch might be in with a chance in the future.

I did a little preview on youtube of whats coming up on Friday. I have been overwhelmed by the amazing samples from my wonderful Design Team. It seem that they have been having a ball with it, I have received a record amount of samples so far, with still more to come. 

I hope you will join me over the weekend, starting Friday at 6pm for the launch of my One Day Special, I have lots of offers planned, a different one every hour, Giveaways and more. I will be on again on Monday, with brand new colours to add the Heat Transfer Paints and more new goodies. Everything will also be on my Craftascope Etsy Store. For now Take care and Happy Crafting.xx

Return to Cherry Tree Lane

After watching Mary Poppins Returns today I am sharing 17 Cherry Tree Lane. I loved the film and the soundtrack, especially 'Lovely London Town' & 'Nowhere to go But Up'. A few of the words, maybe will suit a few of us at sometime: A really feel good film & certainly lifted my spirits, no end.

If your day's up the spout

Well there isn't a doubt

There's nowhere to go but up

And if you don't believe

Just hang on to my sleeve

For there's nowhere to go but up

I Thoroughly enjoyed designing this card and putting it all together. Here is the finished card, along with the tutorial, I do hope you enjoy it. Some of the photos are slightly different as believe it or not all my photos were lost so had to recreate it, but at least I have one for myself this time. lol

You will need:

House Concept Die Set

House Accessories Die Set

Garden Party Die Set

Cottage Stone Embossing Folder

House Brick Embossing Folder

House Accessories Stamps Set

12 x 12 Coordinating Matt Card Pad

12 x 12 Coordinating Patterned Papers

A3 White Centura Pearl 'Hint of Silver' cut to 8 3/4'' x 16'' plus extra for windows etc

Mat Black Card

A4 Sheena Stamping Card

Acetate

Selection of Distress Inks

Shaped Nestie or Similar

Leonie Pujol Kite Stamp from Tangled Tails or similar

Clarity Skyline Mask or Similar

Glossy Accents

Tacky Glue

3D Glue Gel

Step 1: Cut the base section of your house, either overhang the part you dont want to cut or if using a manual machine, secure 2 pieces of thick card over the part you dont want to cut, as soon as you feel the resistance, reverse.

Step 2: Draw lines upwards from the sides of your house to help re position the die (see photo) Position the die lining up the cut line on the die onto your pencil mark. The distance between the bottom and the roof needs to be 5 3/4''. Repeat this cut as in Step 1 to avoid cutting the whole house.

Step 3: Using a craft knife and ruler, cut along your drawn lines to join the 2 dies cut shapes.

Step 4: Leave an extra tab at the top, approximately half inch to secure to the background later.

Step 5: Repeat the first 3 steps to make your second home, This time slightly smaller, also remove the roof section of this one to add variety (see photos). Also cut away the outhouse.

Step 6: Lightly draw a line at 8'' across your card, this will be your scoreline later.. Take a sheet of torn copier paper to create your landscape. Using an applicator of your choice blend Mowed Lawn Distress ink downwards from your mask. Repeat this step, moving your paper sideways also to stagger the hills. Three or 4 levels look great.

Step 7: Take the skyline mask, secure to your card, using black soot, built up your colour lightly, you really want a deep grey tone rather than black. Move the mask and repeat adding dimension to your card. Next Build up the blues for the sky, Shaded Lilac and Blueprint Sketch.

Step 8: Place your smaller house on the card to help position your concept die. Use the notches either side to position on your pencil line and TAPE in place, cut and manipulate the pop up.

Step 9: Use the green card from the pad to create the grass. (Top Tip) cut the card to the required width, lay it against your house, place a ruler either side of the house and draw a feint line for the recess. Next position the card at the back of your card, lay the ruler against the front of the house and this will give you the depth. Cut out and secure to your base  with Tacky glue.

Step 10:Take a sheet of Card the width of your base, emboss using the Cottage Stone folder. Then colour randomly with a mixture of Black Soot, Gathered Twigs, Vintage Photo and Frayed Burlap to give a realistic road, secure in place using Tacky Glue.

Step 11: Emboss the smaller house using the House Brick folder, then select your colour of choice for tinting the brick.

Step 12: Use a Dark Grey alcohol marker to colour the roof section of your main house. Use the brick stamp from the collection to add detail, then colour the bricks, choose 3 or 4 shades for this.

Step 13: Cut the window frames and window inserts from Centura Pearl white, then acetate and a chosen pattern for your wallpaper, using just the outside die. Repeat for the required amount and layer up.

Step 14: Cut the tree from Black and a brown from the coordinating pad. Layer using Tacky glue leaving a thin shadow behind.

Step 15: The fence will need 2 or 3 layers as it is only attached at the back of the house, stage the joins so it doesn't bend using Tacky Glue. Form enough for either side of the house with an inch or so extra to allow securing.

Step 16: Stamp the door in place on the main house, then on a piece of card stamp another to secure in place on the smaller house. Position and secure the windows in place with 3D glue gel for dimension. Add the roof trim and eves.

Step 17: Add the fence, securing behind the house. Then add window boxes, using the grass for foliage. A nice welcome mat looks nice here, cut and stamped onto self adhesive Burlap/Hessian. Position the tree using Tacky Glue and trim.

Step 18: Cut some blossom and leaves from the Garden Accessories set, shape them with a ball tool and add. Use the smallest of the blooms for the window boxes.

Step 19: Use a royalty free image and reduce in size.Position a basic circle die over the image and draw around it. Carefully trim around any bits outside the circle to allow you to position the die. Top Tip: Make sure the die is underneath any parts you dont want cutting, legs, bag etc. (See Photos)

Step 20: To finish your card, add extras of your choice, keeping the perspective with the card. Add some fallen leaves and grass to the scene to make it more realistic and your card is finished. Then you can decorate the outside to match.

I do hope you have enjoyed this revisited  tutorial and finished card, I just loved watching the new (to me) film. Very nostalgic and even made me cry. A real feel good film though, I am sure I will be watching it again and again. Thank you ever so much for joining me and I hope to see you very soon. Take care and Happy Crafting.xx

Simple Dipped Beeswax Candles and a Video.

Welcome to the weekend everyone, I hope you have something wonderful planned. Thank you to everyone who joined me last evening for the Mixed Media Journal video on Youtube, It's always great to chat with you. I'm sharing another video this evening at 7 pm. It's something very different today, I've been making Candles, so I thought it might be good to share with you.

Over the winter, the weather here in Bulgaria can get nasty, I always like to have a stash of Candles on Hand, ready for the power cuts. I love the smell of the beeswax, they also tend to burn a lot nicer than regular candles and also have a positive effect on the atmosphere. It's very cost effective to make you own and great to know you've made them yourself.

There are 2 basic types of Beeswax, I mainly use the Natural Yellow. They also produce a bleached white beeswax as well but sadly along with the colour goes a lot of the beautiful natural aroma. Obviously is you are thinking of colouring the candles then the white would be a better choice, so definitely worth thinking about before deciding on the type of wax you will use. It's very much personal choice but I'd rather have the natural colour and the amazing scent. A little tip if you do use candles a lot, they will burn a lot longer if they are frozen, before use. Here's  the link for the video at 7 pm, you can watch it here, but you can also join in if you view on Youtube.

Thank you to those of you that have taken advantage of the 40% off, on the Etsy store (link at the top of the page), I really hope you enjoy your purchases. If you've not taken a look yet, it's running until midnight on the 17th, some of the items are running low and I can't restock them. There are just over 2 weeks left to get involved with the Giveaway, simply leave your review for any purchase on my Etsy store to be in with a chance of winning my new One Day Special Collection.

Thats all for now, I hope you will join me at 7 pm, it would be great to chat, Take care and Happy Crafting.xx

Finished Mixed Media Journal & Much More

Hi Friends & Crafters, Well quite a lot to share with you today, so I have this blog post and a youtube video tonight at 7 pm, I do hope you will join me. Here I am sharing the finished journal along with a colourful cover made with the Magic Mixed Media Paper along with the Heat Transfer paints.

Before I share the 'How to' I would like to let you know that I have added the final offer to my Etsy Store today. For the next week, you can enjoy 40% off of all orders over 60 GBP. This is a limited offer, running until midnight on the 17th October. There are limited numbers  and once they are gone, they're gone.

For the Journal cover you will need:

Craftascope Floral Companions Dies

Craftascope Heat Transfer Paints by Colourist

Magic Media Paper

Copier Paper

Pokey Tool

Thread

Needle

PVA glue (I recommend Phill's Sentimentally Yours)

Step 1: Measure and cut out the amount of copier paper you will need to cover your journal, being sure to allow 1/2'' for overlapping the edges. Cut the same from the Magic Media Paper.

Step 2: Create strips of copier paper, painted with the Heat Transfer Paints.

Step 3: Cut a selection of leaves from copier paper, painted with the Heat Transfer Paints. Cut at least 5 layers at a time when using thin papers to lessen the damage on your cutting plates.

Step 4: Position and secure a black die cut behind each leaf to create a drop shadow.

Step 5: Secure the strips of paper across the copier paper blank.

Step 6: Arrange the leaves and secure to your design.

Step 7: Place face down onto your Magic Media paper, then transfer your design to the cover.

Step 8:  Use a tool to make holes for your stitching.

Step 9: Stitch using your chosen colour of thread. If you have it available, wax your thread for strength.

Step 10: Here's an alternate design, this time I used scraps (as described in the video).

Here are both finished Journals.

I do hope you will join me later this evening for the Youtube video at 7 pm. It will be nice to chat. I am also going to share some of my new Craftascope goodies with you along with some samples from the Design Team, using previous collection. I have also got some projects and artwork from Friends & Customers to share with you. One of my Crafty friends has painted the most beautiful picture of my Nan, here is a photo, but I will show it in real life too. I just couldn't believe how beautiful it is.

It's been wonderful to receive your beautiful cards and artwork. Here is the link for tonights video, It will play from here, but if you watch on youtube you can join the chat.

Your support has always meant such a great deal to me over the years, since starting my blog. Without you I wouldn't have continued, so I want you to know how grateful I am to each and everyone of you. Take care & Happy Crafting.xxx