You're Such A Joker

Morning friends & Crafters. Here's to a wonderful day for all of us. Touch wood, so far everything seems to be going really well, so it's a far cry from yesterday. Today I am sharing a fun card using my 'Media Medley' collection. I very rarely use red, but for this project I thought it would be the perfect colour, keeping it red and black matching the playing cards.

You Will Need:

Craftascope 'Media Medley' Full Collection or

Craftascope 'ATC Card & Envelope' Die Set

Craftascope 'All The 8's' Media Stencil

Craftascope ' ATC Antics' Media Stamp Set

Craftascope 'Such a Card' Media Stamp Set

Versafine Black Ink Pad

Candied Apple Distress Oxide Ink Pad

Black Fine Liner Pen

Centura Pearl 8 x 8 Card Blank

White Stamping Card 7 3/4" Square & 6" Square

Black Card 7 3/4'' Square Gutted with a 6 1/4" Square Die and then gut this with a 4 3/4" Square Die. This will provide all of  your mats.

Tacky Glue

3D Glue Gel

Step 1: cut 3 cards using the ATC card die. Take one and mask off  approximately 1/4" around the edge. Stamp Xander or your chosen face. Remove the mask and using a ruler and fine liner create a box around the design. Then use stamps to create the King & Queen playing cards. Edge all of the cards with the Candied Apple Distress Oxide.

Step 2: Take the smallest square of stamping card and stencil through. Rotate the stencil and repeat, this time using only the ink remaining on the stencil as you want this to be a lot paler than the first.

Step 3: With the larger piece, stencil through, this time only around the edge as this is all that will be seen. The colour on this layer will need to be strong.

Step 4: Mount your black card centrally and secure with Tacky glue and then add your next layer. Add your black mat behind this and then secure to your base card.

Step 5: To finish your card, add your black center panel. Then use  some 3D Glue Gel to add the card topper. Stamp your sentiment onto white card, cut to size, edge with the same Oxide ink and mat onto black card. Secure these to your card using the Glue Gel.

For this project I decided to leave the face black & white. There are so many variations of this style of card. Why not use a different colour combination to give you a totally different look to suit.

One of the members of my Design Team (Natalie) coloured the Joker for one of her samples on the show, it really would make an amazing topper for a variation of this card.

Brilliant to be with you again today, I hope you have enjoyed the post today and that you will join me again very soon for some more inspiration. I hope you all have the most wonderful day. Take care and Happy Crafting.xx

Let your Spirit Soar

Morning Friends & Crafters, lovely to have your company again. Today I am sharing a card I made with just one set of my stamps along with the Funky Wave stamp from Leonie. As most of you will know my favourite colour, so this was just perfect for me. A wonderful card which could be made to suit anyone and for any occasion.

You Will Need:

Dolphin Stamp Set 1

Funky Wave Stamp from Leonie

Blue Acrylics

White Acrylic or Gesso

Shrink Plastic

Colourblend Pencils

Salty Ocean Distress Oxide

Stayzon Black Ink

Brayer

Black Card

White Card Base

Heat Gun.

Step 1: Start by creating a nice layered background, using a coupe of blue acrylics, Brayer the darkest first and then layer up, adding the white after and build up the layers and texture until you are happy. This gives such a lovely texture for your background.

Step 2: Make copier paper masks for your dolphins and waves. Stamp the waves first, then mask them off. Then arrange your dolphins, remembering to mask off each time, always check the masks as they can slip. Next add your sentiment, when dry use the heat tool to shrink and mount onto black card.

Step 3: From the background piece you have made cut your layers, For the top layer you need a 4'' square, use the 'Love' & 'Compassion' to complete this background. I have used Salty Ocean to stamp the words. Mount this onto black card, leaving a narrow border.

Step 4: Take the next piece of background, this time 5 1/2'' square. Layer this onto a black mat with a narrow border.

Step 5: Layer your project onto a white/silver Centura Pearl base card.

Just a little extra here: If you have not shopped with Hochanda before, here is a voucher code giving you 30% off your first purchase (FEY5JBP7) it can be used for any purchase, feel free to share it.

As you know I love writing my blog and helping as much as I can, well I would really love for you to add you support by adding me as a favourite blog. All you need to do in that section is choose other and add my blog address nickinbarnsley.blogspot It would be great to get a mention even if I dont come anywhere.

Here is the link to add your support for all of the categories. 

https://www.britishcraftawards.com/


Until Tomorrow, Take care and Happy Crafting.xx

Poppy Reflection and Remembrance

Morning Friends and Crafters, this year marks 100 Years since the guns fell silent in 1918, marking the end the 'The First World War'. Today I am sure we will all take the time to remember and reflect on all those who have fought and fallen in times of conflict. Hear is my card for today, as I also remember past members of the Family who never returned.

You Will Need:

Trent Media Stencil

Dolphin Stamp Set 1

Blazing Poppies fro Indigo Blu

Distress Oxide: Salty Ocean, Peacock Feathers and Squeezed Lemonade

Amsterdam Acrylics Red & Green

Red Watercolours

Black Fine Liner

Ruler

Collall Tacky Glue

Archival Black Ink

Versafine Black Ink

Watercolour Card 6 x 9''

Step 1: Create your background using a large acrylic block or a quilting ruler, (something large). Add the Oxides in a diagonal fashion. Lightly spritz the card and the ink, then stamp and drag the block a little and lift. 

Step 2: Cut a rectangle from copier paper and place over your card. Place the stencil over the top and ink through with Versafine black ink.

Step 3: Draw a line around the face with a ruler and black fine liner.

Step 4: Use the ruler and fine liner again to draw a second frame around and colour in with a black marker.

Step 5:Use the inside of the rectangle you cut fro copier paper to mask off the face. Ink up the poppy stamp with Versafine ink, place and stamp as shown.

Step 6: Repeat below, keeping the diagonal composition as shown.

Step 7: Colour the poppies on the card and stamp using 'Reflection' & Memories' again with Versafine Ink.

Step 8: Stamp the poppies again, this time with Archival black ink, you need enough to decoupage your image. Colour these with the red watercolours.

Step 9: Slightly shape the poppies and use Collall 3D glue gel to secure giving them a little more dimension.

Step 10: Mount a black layer onto your base card.

Step 11: Mount your main piece onto your base to finish your card.

Here is the finished project:

Just a little extra here: If you have not shopped with Hochanda before, here is a voucher code giving you 30% off your first purchase (FEY5JBP7) it can be used for any purchase, feel free to share it.

As you know I love writing my blog and helping as much as I can, well I would really love for you to add you support by adding me as a favourite blog. All you need to do in that section is choose other and add my blog address nickinbarnsley.blogspot It would be great to get a mention even if I dont come anywhere.

Here is the link to add your support for all of the categories. 

https://www.britishcraftawards.com/


Until Tomorrow, Take care and Happy Crafting.xx

Swimming in the Moonlight

Morning Friends and Crafters, I'm so pleased you have stopped by today. I am sharing a page I made today, but it would also make a great Birthday card. I hear so many crafters say how difficult it is to make cards for men, much of my collection can be used to make mens cards for all occasions, that are very different from whats available out there. It would also look smashing mounted, framed and hung.

You will need:

Craftascope Dolphin Stamp Set 1

11 x 11'' Black Card

Shaded Lilac Distress Oxide Ink

Stayzon White Ink Pad

Phat Foam

White Gel Pen

White card for mounting or a 12 x 12 Journal

A Little Bit Magical 'Maid of the Sea' 

Square of Copier paper with a basic circle cut out (for the moon)

Torn Copier Paper for the Hills and Mountains

H2O's or Creative Expressions Mica Watercolours

Step 1: Start by placing your moon in the sky, use the shaded Lilac Distress Oxide to add this. Next add the mountains and hills, again with Shaded Lilac. Place the torn paper, then with a smoothie or Phat Foam, blend gently downwards, build up the colour until you are happy with the depth. Using an old hard brush, swipe back and too across the moon to give the illusion of mist and clouds.

Step 2: Take the edge of a ruler or piece of card, tap Shaded Lila onto it and create the shore line (See Photo), build this up until you are happy. Next stamp the dolphins and the rocks with the Stayzon white ink.

Step 3: Use Shaded Lilac and a hard brush or a stencil brush to add sea spray around the rocks.

Step 4: Colour the dolphins with H2o's, Then add some white Stayzon to lighten the mountains, Imagine where the moonlight would fall.

Step 5: Use your white gel pen to add moonlight to the surface of the sea. *Top Tip* Add a little and dab with your finger tip, it makes it look more natural and less like a line. Slowly and gently build this up, also add a little around the rocks.

Step 6: Add a few more details around the mountains with the gel pen and a few stronger ripples on the water. Stamp your chosen sentiment or words, here' Let Your Spirit Soar' onto black card with White Stayzon, then mount onto white before adding to your project. Mount your project onto white card, add to a journal or add a frame.

Step 7: Finally using a black fine liner and your gel pen add a few birds in the sky and in front of the moon.

All of the stamps in my collection have been carefully sized in a way that they will suit Journals or card making. If used with shrink plastic they also make the most wonderful ATC cards. I have made a lot of ATC's using this collection and I hope I get the time to share them during the show, If not I will be sharing everything I have made here for you.

Thank you so much for joining me today, I hope you have enjoyed the tutorial along with the finished project. I would love you to tune in to my first show on Hochanda this Thursday at 4 pm for some more inspiration, demos and as many samples as possible. Another thing, here is a 30% off voucher to use on your first order (anything) from Hochanda, use code FEY5JBP7.

As you know I love writing my blog and helping as much as I can, well I would really love for you to add you support by adding me as a favourite blog. All you need to do in that section is choose other and add my blog address nickinbarnsley.blogspot It would be great to get a mention even if I dont come anywhere.

Here is the link to add your support for all of the categories. 

https://www.britishcraftawards.com/


Until Tomorrow, Take care and Happy Crafting.xx 

Spring 'A Little Bird Told Me'

Morning Friends and Crafters, As most of you know, I don't normally post at the weekends. But today I thought I would add a very simple, but effective card that I made for the Clarity One Day Special launch. It's a fairly short post.

You will Need:

Clarity 'A Little Bird' Stencil

Clarity 'Spring' Stamp

Watercolour Card

Indigo Blu Townhouse Teal

Indigo Blu Pantry White

Indigo Blue Banana Custard

Distress Oxide Blueprint Sketch

Distress Oxide Peacock Feathers

Distress Oxide Mowed Lawn.

Brayer

Sheena Stamping Card

Clear Embossing Powder

Heat Gun

Versamark Black Ink

Yellow Alcohol Marker

Step 1: Start by creating your background using the Indigo Blu Acrylics. Apply layers with your Brayer. It gives a great textured effect. When you come to use this for your layer, it really is a good idea to use a basic die in the centre, so you can use it for another project.

Step 2: On the reverse of your stencil, apply the Distress Oxides. Place this face down on your watercolour card and run through to emboss. Next coat this with clear embossing powder and heat. With Versafine Black ink, stamp the 'Spring'. Add an extra splash of spring colour by colouring the spring with the yellow alcohol marker.

Step 3: To finish your card layer onto your background and then mount on to a black card base.

Thank you for joining me today, I hope you have enjoyed this short tutorial along with the finished card. It would be great for you to join me again very soon to see what I am sharing. The next couple of weeks are going to be very exciting. For now Take care and Happy Crafting.xxx

Spring Harebells 'Treescapes' from Clarity

Morning Friends and Crafters, The lovely Maria is on our screens later today with some super stamps and stencils. The first show is 12 noon, with a second show at 4 pm. I hope you tune in for some excellent demos and lots of inspiration.

You will Need:

Clarity 'Treescape' Stamp

Clarity 'Spring' Stamp

Memento Black Ink

Clarity Club Stencil No 35

Black Fine Liner Water and Copic Proof

Brusho: Lemon, Yellow, Green,

Blue and Green alcohol markers

Drawing Gum

Watercolour Card

Black Soot Distress Oxide

Tacky Glue

Basic Oval Die

Step 1: Secure the stencil to your card and draw round it with a black fine liner.

Step 2: Place the oval over the card and draw around the inside (see photo). Roughly trim out the centre, trim around the flowers, abut 5 mm past the drawn line. The die will cut it out perfectly. Position the die so the flowers are not under the cut line, Run through the machine.

Step 3:Fill in the stencil lines with drawing gum and leave to dry.

Step 4: Spritz the card with water and sprinkle with the Brusho

Step 5: Once dry stamp the spring and remove the Drawing Gum.

Step 6: Take a second piece of card, spritz and colour with the Brusho.

Step 7: When dry stamp the Treescape with the Black Soot Distress Oxide.

Step 8: Trim and mount onto black card with Tacky Glue.

Step 9: Layer a piece of black card onto your base card, after measuring for the right size for your piece.

Step 10: Slide your topper into place underneath one of the flowers, as shown in the photo, you might need to trim along the flower a little more, secure in place with Tacky Glue.

Step 11: Layer the piece onto the base card with Tacky Glue.

Here is the finished card:

Just a little extra here: If you have not shopped with Hochanda before, here is a voucher code giving you 30% off your first purchase (FEY5JBP7) it can be used for any purchase, feel free to share it.

I do hope you have enjoyed the tutorial today along with the finished card. I hope you will join me again very soon to see what else I have to share with you. For now Take care and Happy Crafting.xxx