Back to Basics 2 Landscapes

Morning Friends and Crafters, For those of you who saw my second episode of 'Back to Basics' with Craftascope last night. I really hope you enjoyed it and found it useful & worthwhile. After the show I added a few finishing touches as discussed and added a little sentiment. So here is the end result, do excuse to odd finger print. You can still take a look at the video on my youtube channel and I have added the link to this post to, so pop over and see how it was done.

As I said on the video, I will be adding to the series for as long as I get your requests. So if there is anything you would like to see included in the future shows, then please leave your comments on the comments under the video so I can find them easily.

This weeks 'Natter with Nick' offer ended last night but there are still some really great buys on my Etsy store, some are a little low on stock now, but hopefully you will find what you want to add to your Craftascope Library. I did a second demo on last nights show, I added it as a separate video and you can see it here.

Well I have lots of preparation underway for my first stand at Stamperama in August, not long to go now. I will be sharing lot's of new goodies before visiting Hochanda on the 13th August. Well thats all for no, so Take care and Happy Crafting.xx

NEW 'Back to Basics' with Craftascope and MORE

Hello Friends and Crafters, I do hope you are all well and the weather is getting better for you, I know it was bitterly cold on my last couple of days. Well today I have started a new series of Videos 'Back to Basics with Craftascope'. This was following my Natter with Nick on Wednesday, there were a couple of comments with regard to Masking, subsequently I received a couple of messages about the same thing. It occurred to me that there are so many new crafters and there is very little out there to help, so I though the Back to Basics might be a great idea. This is one of the cards I made in the show.

This is really to test the water and see if anyone does find it useful. I will keep an eye on the messages and comments to see if it's something that crafters would like to see regularly. If it is popular then I am more than happy to continue with the shows. So if there is anything at all that you would like to see, pleased add your comments below the Back to Basics Video on Youtube, so I know that this series is something you want to continue. Here is another card I made during the show today.

The Natter with Nick show was great on Wednesday, it was good too see some of you there and chat. The offer for the show is the wonderful Textures 1 stamps, these are great to add to any collection so if you don't have them. it's a great time to add them to your collection. There is a 5 pound saving on them until Midnight on Sunday (16th June). Here is the link for the Back to Basics Show.

There is also a welcome reduction on my Craftascope 'Blooming Marvelous' Collection, normally 79.95, now only 58.95, but this is only while this stock lasts. It's been a really popular offer and there are literally only a handful left. I know some people have it in their baskets, but if someone buys it you will lose out. I hate to see people who want things lose out, quite a few people missed out on the Retro Banner Stamps and the Rose Petal Dies, so do be quick.

This is the first chance I have had to say a huge thank you to everyone of you who has supported me on my short Craftascope Journey. It really has been terrific to have had so much support from you, I was over the moon that so many of you embraced the One Day Special, I was so proud of my Retro Collection. I've been thrilled to see all of the amazing creations being made and shared by so many, Above is a link for one of the shows with Charlie, if you would like to have a look, some inspiration or simply a refresh. For now take care and Happy Crafting.xx

Happy Birthday to me

Hi Friends and Crafters. Well I want to say a huge Thank You to every one of you for my wonderful Birthday messages, I am really touched and a special thank you to those of you that have sent real cards to me either through Hochanda or to my UK Hub, it's been a real shock and very welcome to have some nice things to open. It really has been very special for me indeed.So a HUGE THANK YOU.... Here is a closer look at the copper tree I made with the Retro Leaves. A really nice piece that would look great on a wall. Tutorial coming soon.

Well, here goes. A lot of people will know that I used to run a Craft Club in my Village, I was kindly offered the Library, which was smashing. It's a lot busier there now and they kept cancelling at the last minute. Anyway to cut a long story short, I have to stop doing it. My aim was to buy a small house in the village and do the craft club there with no having to arrange it months ahead for the odd session.

Quite a few people have said to join one of those fund raiser sites to help raise the money, but I have to say, that I would not feel comfortable doing that. I also didn't want to do a fundraiser for my Birthday as that seems to be a popular choice to. My dream is to get the money together to get this building and get it sorted for the craft club and so I a asking, not for donations as I feel it is like begging, (thats just me). What I a asking is that if you could buy something from my Etsy Store, that way it helps me to save towards the goal and you also get something nice to craft with. I love this t shirt made with the Retro Chaos Stencil, a real winner for any bloke or lady of course.

It also means that you can leave a review to help others decide on any purchase, and you will also be entered into the Huge Giveaway, with a chance to win the full August collection, consisting of 3 Stamp Sheets, 2 Stencils and 2 beautiful dies. A wonderful prize just for leaving a review on the store. Take a look at the Natter with Nick for a few sneek peeks of whats to come. The new Dolphin Die and some wonderful Rose dies and stamps.

I really pray that this does not sound like begging, a lot of you know me well enough to know that is just not me at all. I would hate to think you thought that of me. I am just so passionate about this and really want to make it happen and leave it for the Village after I am gone. I think you in advance for any support you can offer, It would make a huge difference. Take care and Happy Crafting.xxx

A Single Bloom

Morning Everyone, It's a real pleasure to be sharing my first post as part of the 14CraftBar Design Team. I am thrilled as it's a real honour to be part of such a talented team doing something that I really love, anyone who knows me will know that I love Roses. So today I am sharing a Beautiful Single Rose Bloom made with Foamiran from 14CraftBar.

You will need:

021 -Green Foamiran

002 - Ecru Foamiran

Florist Wire

Copper Wire

Green Florist Tape

Glue Gun

Mod Podge Glossy

Oil Pastels Petals: Green, Peach and Pink. Leaves: Dark Green and Deep Red

Leaf Vein Shaper

I have actually done a few sections of video to go with this tutorial,however it was really disappointing as I have a new kitten who was calling for mum, I dont know how to turn the sound off, so I will try again next time.

Step 1: Prepare your petals from squares, rounding off 3 of the corners as shown in the picture. You need 7 - 4 x 4 cm, 7 - 4.5 x 4.5 cm and 12 - 5 x 5 cm.

Step 2: Colour your petals, each of the sized needs green at the base, front and back. Edge the smallest leaves with the pink, then blend pink on the front and back of the petals. For the mid size use very little pink and more peach. For the largest size use a little green and mostly peach.

Step 3: Shape your petals, by concertina folding the top edges and twisting them back and forth, Lightly stretch to give a cupped middle, For the mid and large sizes roll the petal gently outwards.

Step 4: Roll a cone shape and secure to the end of a piece of copper wire. Take the petal and secure around the cone as shown.

Step 5: Repeat on the opposite side as shown.

Step 6: Repeat with all of your smaller petals.

Step 7: Next add your mid size petals, overlapping each over the last. Make sure to secure these slightly loser than before.

Step 8: Cut a selection of leaves from the green Foamiran, also cut a calyx shape.

Step 9: Colour these using dark green oil pastels and areas of red, especially around the edges.

Step 10: Roll a small piece of foil, thread onto the wire and secure at the base of the rose.

Step 11: Add the calyx, secure in place with the glue gun, shape around the foil using a toothpick.

Step 12: Firstly add veins to each leaf using the mold then wire all the leaves and join them to form the classic rose leaf arrangement.

Step 13: Wire the leaves to the stem and cover with florist tape, paint the leaves with glossy Mod Podge or similar.

Step 14: Enjoy your beautiful bloom.

Thank you so much for joining me today. I really hope you enjoyed it and I promise to do a video for the roses in my next post. I would love to have your comments and to hear what you think. For now Take care and Happy Crafting.xx

Powertex, The finished Journal Cover

Hi, Time to share my finished Journal cover. The blank Journal was brought to Hochanda a few weeks ago by Neil Burley and That's Crafty, I have used the larger A4 size here. I have a large Powertex project that I was preparing, but need the weather to warm up, I also thought it might be better to start with a smaller piece. I am really pleased with the results. The photos have not shown it as well as I had hoped, so with this I have included a selection of close ups, so I hope they will help.

To begin with I collected everything together that I was going to use, that way it's not messy at all. Lots of different textures. Here are some Oak Leaves, leaves from my Coconut Palm, these are really interesting. I've also used some Spider Web, Crochet Lace along with lots of scraps of fabric. I collect old coins, so I wanted to include some of those as well.

In addition I used some die cuts for the lettering, these were cut multiple times and layered using Cosmic Shimmer glue.I did the same with some waste circles from Sheena's Time Traveller Collection, (I never throw anything away) these formed the screw heads on the cartouche. The plaque was made from a small spellbinder die which I cut 5 times and layered using the glue to give the thicker look I wanted. Queen Victoria's portrait was moulded from an 1897 Jubilee medal and then filling the mould with paper clay. I took all of the elements and made an initial layout before using my Bronze Powertex.

The scrap fabric roses were made using the same technique, I showed in an earlier video. This time the fabric was soaked in Powertex so no glue was need as it sticks to itself. Once the Powertex was dry, I added some Sand Texture Paste from DecoArt to some areas of the cover.

I wanted the finished piece to look like a sheet of Iron with aged copper embellishments fixed to it. I decided to add some of the Rusty Powder in the areas that would naturally rust. I mixed the Rusty Powder with bronze Powertex along with a little Titanium White to lighten it a little as the Rusty Powder is best used with the lighter Powertex colours.

To finish the project, I dry brushed using Turquoise Powercolor and Colorticx Copper Pigment both mixed with the Powertex easy varnish.

Thank you so much to you all, I hope you have enjoyed this step by step and the finished Journal cover. Take care and Happy Crafting.xxx