ATC Journal with Craftacope

Morning Friends and Crafters. I am so excited to share the first Tutorial Post for a project I have made with my first collection (lot's of photos on the blog post). My new collection will be launching exclusively on Hochanda at 4 pm on 1 st November. I do hope you are as excited as I am. It would be great if you would tune in to see the whole collection along with a lot more inspiration and samples. From now and for the next week there will be lot's of inspiration shared, both on here and the Hochanda Blog. But dont worry, I have been busily adding more tutorials for after that as well for anyone who would like some more inspiration or ideas of what else can be done with my Collection. 

You will need:

Craftascope Xander Stencil

Craftascope Trent Stencil

Craftascope Profile Stamp Collection 2

Greyboard cut to sizes in photo 1

Black Card 4 x 15 1/2''

Graphic 45 or your choice of Decorative Papers

Epiphany Round Tool and Covers

Construction Tape

Red liner Tape

Black Ribbon

Brusho

Watercolour Crad

Tacky Glue

3D Glue Gel

Versamark Black Ink Pad

Dusty Concord Distress Ink Pad

Step 1: Cut and arrange your greyboard as shown.

Step 2: Use construction tape to secure the sections together, you need a gap between each piece, the width of the particular board you are using.

Step 3: Your piece should look like this.

Step 4: Create your spine. Score as shown in the photo.

Step 5: Reinforce and fold the spine as shown.

Step 6: Add red liner tape and tacky glue for extra strength to the 1 cm section and join them together. This gives you the spine and extra space to allow for your personal additions. Decorate your journal with Graphic 45 papers or paper of your choice.

Step 7: Create a nice colourful piece of watercolour card with a selection of Brusho. Once completely dry, stencil through your stencils with Versafine black ink. I used just the eye area, making sure it was slightly bigger than the size I needed. Use the Epiphany tool to create the wonderful embellishments for the inside.

Step 8 & 9: Add to your design, here I have used them as buttons for the ATC holders I have added to a couple of my inside pages.

Step 10: Stamp the sentiment on matching paper, trim to size and blend the edges with Dusty Concord Distress ink, choose another colour if you have other colour papers.

Step 11: For the front of your Journal. Stamp the profile stamp on to matching paper and again lightly distress the edges with Dusty Concorde. I have used a sentiment panel on the front as I wanted to keep the word 'STORY' on the second page, but it's entirely up to you.

Thank you ever so much for sharing my exciting news today, I really hope you have enjoyed the tutorial along with the finished project, I have shared with you. Please keep your eyes out on Facebook as there will be a chance for someone to win the whole collection in a Hochanda Giveaway. 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/

I am looking forward to sharing more with you over the week ahead, there is a post on the Hochanda Blog Tomorrow. For now Take care and Happy Crafting

Howl at the Moon

Morning, I am sharing a themed card today, as it's the 2nd of October. Halloween has now become the third biggest 'Event' for UK retailers, behind Christmas and Easter. The spooky night in October has even overtaken Valentines Day. Until recently this was largely associated with our American cousins, but it has been sweeping Britain over the past few years.

Card and Craft sales have been soaring, so now is the time for all craft enthusiasts to get creating. Here is a card I have made for the special night, a little different from what you would typically find. The design could easily be modified for another occasion by changing the colour and embellishments.

You will need:

Matt Black Cardstock

Sheena Stamping Card

Black Distress Ink

Fossilised Amber Distress Ink

Rusty Hinge Distress Ink

Candied Apple Distress Ink

Clarity Landscape Mask and Stencil

Clarity Letterbox Stamps and Masks

Clarity Wee Houses

Bee Crafty Spooky Tree Stamp

Graphic 45 An Eerie Tale 12x12 Pad (or your choice of pad)

Glue,Scissors and Foam on a roll for assembly.

Cut a piece of Sheena Stamping Card to card to measure 7'' square. This is the same size as the clarity mask.

Using the stencil as a guide, stamp the first 3 letterboxes with black Archival ink and add the mask. *Top tip: Work on a piece of copier paper and mark the halfway point to help position the stamping.

Position the next set of 3 letterboxes either side of the first, these will contain the word 'Halloween' later.

Position the inner part of the landscape mask using Stick n Spray, make sure all of your letterboxes are masked.

With all mask in place blend over the card using your Black Soot Distress ink. Clean and remove your masks.

To add further depth to your piece, stamp a tree in the foreground. Here I have used one of the spooky trees.

Position the moon mask and position your outer mask using Stick n Spray.

Starting with the lightest colour(Fossilised Amber), blend around the moon. Then blend to darker with the Rusty Hinge and then Candied Apple.

Tear a piece of copier paper and place over your work, using the darkest colour along with a little black taken from your craft mat, lightly create your landscape.

Next, create your haunted building, here one of the wee houses from Clarity. Use black Versafine to stamp with. Then colour the house with a dark brown Archival marker, using the same pen make a little fence.

Using a small brush and some water add the smallest amount to the windows and doors, lightly blot to remove the colour, this gives  a glowing appearance. Repeat until you are happy.

From the pad, cut out some pumpkins and a sentiment.

To complete the card, layer your design onto a sheet from the same pad with glue. Using foam tape add this to your black 8x8 card base. Then add the embellishments with 3D glue gel.

I hope you like the finished card along with the Tutorial. Another thing, here is a 30% off voucher to use on your first order from Hochanda, use code FEY5JBP7. Take care and Happy Crafting.

'Make Your Own Journal, Final Part

Morning everyone. I want to let you all know that the final part of my 'Make Your Own Journal' Series, has now gone live on the Hochanda Blog. It's your final chance to enter the Giveaway. I have decorated Cover inside and out With Graphic 45, I thought it would be nicer than sending it naked. This is the front cover of the Giveaway Journal:

The Graphic 45 papers are strong enough for you to alter if it's not your cup of tea so dont worry if you want to change it to suit your own style. This is the link for the Hochanda Blog. This is a photo of the Main Journal, inside. The giveaway is not decorated inside, I wanted to leave the decoration for the lucky recipient.

I have some more exciting blog posts coming over the next week, so I hope you will keep your eyes peeled. For now Take care and Happy Crafting.xx

Gilded Lily

Morning, Today I am sharing a card made with the Easel dies, without the lovely intricate inserts. Using some Graphic 45 Papers to decorate. Did you get to see any of the One Day Special, with the Die'sire Easel cards. I't was wonderful seeing all of the samples from the Design Team. I was ever so proud to see my parchment card on screen, I will be sharing the step by step for that later.

For this card you will need:
Floral Easel Create a Card Die Set

12 x 12 Gilded Lily From Graphic 45

Matt Black Card

Ivory Centura Pearl

Lily Die from Sara's Signature Collection

Frame Die from Sara's Signature Collection

Tacky Glue

3D Glue Gel

Distress Inks Tattered Rose and Twisted Citron

Pebeo Metallic foil and adhesive

Step 1: Create your Easel base with folded Ivory Centura Pearl, using  the larger die and the score die. Make sure you overhang the folded edge. At the same time make a mat and secure to the top with tacky glue.

Step 2: Using both dies create a frame for the top section, set aside.

Step 3: Cut 2 larger shapes from the Graphic 45 pad, lay one over your base and cut to fit. Secure this along with the topper piece with tacky glue. You can now add the thin frame to the top section over the patterned paper. This gives a really smart finish.

Step 4: Cut another frame for the base using the same 2 dies. Set aside to secure later.

Step 5: From the gilded lily pad, cut one of the strips and layer onto black card to leave a thin border. Repeat this with the mini topper, which will act as your stopper. Next cut enough petals, stamens and leaves to create 3 lilies for decoration. Colour the leaves with Twisted Citron, tint the edges of the lilies with Tattered Rose.

Step 6: Choose and image to fit behind the frame which has been cut from black matt card. Secure behind with Tacky glue

Step 7: Secure your border strip to you base and trim any excess. Now you can place the thin edge frame. Add the stopper and framed topper with 3D glue gel. To finish your card, arrange the lilies and leaves, with glue gel.

Thank you for taking the time to visit today, I hope you have enjoyed the tutorial today along with the finished card. I do hope that it has given you some inspiration at least. Hope you will visit again soon. If you have any questions or comments please do leave them below I do love to read them. For now Take care and Happy Crafting.xx

Le Cirque

Morning, I have thoroughly enjoyed using the new Kinetic Dies to create these cards. For todays Step by Step I have also used the 'In a Spin' die from Leonie's Mixed Media Collection along with 'Le Cirque' from Graphic 45.

I cut out the 'In a Spin' 4 times and layered together using Tacky Glue. Next I selected images from Le Cirque, cut them to size and secured them in place at the back.

I then cut the base Circle Pop Out card using double sided Black Pearlescent card, along with the 'Thank You' sentiment. I then edged the card base using a Pebeo silver 4Artist marker.

I cut the panels and decorated using a selection of the Graphic 45. I then covered the whole piece using the Crackle Medium from Tonic. Once this was dry, I highlighted the cracks with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink.

I cut the layering panels in the same black card and edged them with the silver. Then layered the decorated panels onto black with Tacky Glue.

I cut a clown from the collection and decoupaged him to give him more depth. I filled the circles with Glossy Accents, giving a domed look. Then I added Pebeo Silver Gilding Wax to texturize the circles. I assembled as in the photos, placing the clown so he was pointing at the sentiment.

Thank you ever so much for taking the time to visit today. I do hope that you have enjoyed the step by step and the finished card. If you do enjoy reading my blog and the things I share then I would love your nomination for best blog in the International Craft Awards, the link is here:
http://www.craftsbeautiful.com/awards/

Take care and Happy Crafting.xx

French Fancy

Hi all. A French Twist today. Here is a step by step for one of the samples I made for the launch of the Kinetic cards by Crafters Companion. I have also used Stamps from Leonie's 'All the Love' set and Graphic 45 Papers.

I cut the circle pop out base using Ivory Centura Pearl 'Hint of Gold'. On the white side, which would become the front,I used the wonderful script stamp from Leonie. I stamped it over the base using Tattered Rose, Victorian Velvet and Antique Linen Distress Inks.The I blended from the outside in using the same inks, keeping it darker on the edges.

I took a sheet of the script paper from the Graphic 45 'Gilded Lily' paper paper pad and cut it out using the inner panels from the dies set.

From another sheet from the same pad I cut my main image using the circle die, this was for the centre. I also fussy cut a sentiment and some flower bouquets.

I layered the panels onto black card before adding it to the centre circle. I shaped the rose and lily bouquets and secured them with Collall 3D glue gel. The assembled the card as shown.

Thank you ever so much for taking the time to visit today. I do hope that you have enjoyed the step by step and the finished card. If you do enjoy reading my blog and the things I share then I would love your nomination for best blog in the International Craft Awards, the link is here: http://www.craftsbeautiful.com/awards/

Take care and Happy Crafting.xx