Autumn Sunshine

Morning. I have called this card, Autumn Sunshine. It's made using the Big Heart, Entwining Branches from Leonies' Collection of dies. I have also used the leaf stamps from her new stamp collection launched on Hochanda on June 8th.

To start with I cut the die into copier paper to act as a mask and also cut four of them from Cream,Satin Gold,Satin Bronze and Burgundy cardstock.

I cut some cream card to a 7'' square and cut the die out of it. I placed it slightly off centre towards the top left hand corner to allow for the embellishments I was adding later. I took a smaller sheet of velvet white card large enough to fill the mask and still allow for securing to the back of my die cut sheet.

I started creating my landscape with hills and mountains. I used Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge, and Aged Mahogany to achieve this.

I then added some tress, using stamps from Sheena Douglas with Black Archival.

I then placed a circle in the sky, slightly overlapping the mask I had made and blended the sky colour using mostly Scattered Straw Distress Ink, With a little Wild Honey around the edges.

I then peeled off the circle mask and slightly shaded the sun using the smallest amount of Scattered Straw so it wasn't stark white. I secured my die cut aperture to the landscape using Cosmic Shimmer glue. Then layered up my die cuts, each slightly twisted from the last to add dimension, using 3D Glue Gel. I then set these aside.

Next I stamped a selection of leaves and added autumn colours randomly blending to make them more natural looking once cut out. I used Scattered Staw, Wild Honey and Aged Mahogany.

Then cut out the leaves.

I then arranged the leaves around the bottom right hand corner and secured them with 3D Glue Gel.

Lastly I stamped the banner stamp and added the word ''Wonderful'' with black Archival ink. I blended this using the same selection of Distress Inks, keeping it lighter in the centre to give a curved 3D look.

I used 3D Glue Gel to secure the sentiment and finished the card by adding Glossy Accents to the Leaves and sentiment Banner.

Thank you so much for joining me today and seeing the step by step I have included for how I made this card. I hope you have enjoyed it and will visit again soon. Take care and hope to see you tomorrow. xxx

I just found out that they are now taking nominations for the International Craft awards and they have a category for best blog. If you think I deserve a nomination I would be over the moon and extremely chuffed. If you could take a minute or two to nominate, the link is: crafts-beautiful.com/award You could also win a nice prize in the draw. Thank you ever so much xxx

Under The Sea

Morning, The Leonie Pujol Launch shows were brilliant, I do hope you got to see them. If you didn't the shows will be available on catch up Via the Hochanda website for 2 more weeks. Great inspiration for you when your collections arrive. All you have to do is visit the TV guide on the Hochanda Website and select the date of the show. Here is the card I am sharing with you today.

The topper I have made is on a 7'' square of velvet cardstock. I placed the die where I wanted it on my card and in pencil lightly marked the position. 

I then drew my design in pencil, I wanted the fish to be swimming into the heart. When I had finished and was happy with it I went over the design with a Black fine liner which was water and Alcohol resistant. I then cut out using the Funky Heart 'Lovely Bubbles Die'.

The main piece was left in the die and I coloured through the embossed areas with a mixture of Shaded Lilac and Blueprint Sketch Distress Ink.

Next, I masked off my design both pieces of the die cut with Pebeo Drawing Gum. 

When this was dry I replaced back into the die and shaded with Shaded Lilac, Blueprint Sketch and Chipped Sapphire, blending lighter towards the centre. I used very little of the darker blue and only around the edge.

I then took the main piece and using the same inks blended from the outside, again getting lighter towards the centre. I also went slightly darker towards the bottom of the piece.

As I wanted this pece to be under the sea, I decided to darken the bottom even more so I used more of the Chipped Sapphire, blending slowly into my previous colour to avoid a line.

I removed the Drawing Gum and coloured my fish and seaweed with a selection of alcohol markers. I aslo cut some of the extra dies and coloured them while still in the dies with Shade Lilac and Blueprint Sketch. These were to become bubbles under the sea. I did the same with the word Joy.

To assemble the card, I cut a mat 5 mm larger than my design in Navy Blue cardstock. I secured the first (Large) part of my design to the card with Cosmic Shimmer Glue. The replaced each part of the die cuts using the same glue.

Lastly I attached my bubble and the sentiment 'Joy' using 3D Glue Gel and my card is finished. I then matted it onto my base card, which I had distressed around the edges with Shaded Lilac Distress Ink.

I really hope you have enjoyed my first Step by step of the brand new launch of stamps and dies from Leonie. Thank you so much for taking the tie to look, I really appreciate all of your lovely comments and I hope you will be back very soon. More tomorrow.Take care xxx