Woodware Design team Challenge - Summer Fun

Well I've finally completed all my cards for the catalogue... 53 cards! Very pleased with all my hard work.


So back to this week's challenge. Summer fun for me conjured up lots of ideas but I went for a summer palette of colours and applied it to summer clothes. What you might wear to look glam walking along the pier or to a race meeting.


I decided to use black Peel Off's [my favourite as you already know] to make the colours really pop. I limited my colour palette to three colours : blue, yellow and orange.


The Peel off's are: Françoise Collection
98526 Shoes, 98531 handbags, 98528 Hats and Stampendous 90724 Tiny Messages

 I coloured in the hat, shoes and bag on white card then carefully cut them out leaving a small border. I've use a white pen the highlight the images.


The dress was made using a large Woodware punch:
Evening Dress 2 839-28 
I punched it three times from blue, orange and white card and layered up the dresses. I used waste dots from the Peel Off's sheets to create the polka dot effect.


The background is created from squares and rectangles that have had the corners rounded off. It shows how you do not always have to use patterned paper in the background. The card is from the Woodware Recycled range.

I completed the card by using some of the flowers that come as extra on the Peel off's sheets. I also added some ribbon and a nice chunky button.


If you have enjoyed this card why not pop along to the Woodware blog to see what the other design team members have created. Lots of inspiration to be had!

Woodware Design team Challenge - A Touch of Pink

Still busy putting those Christmas cards together!


Anyhow I'm back again for this week's Woodware challenge, which I have enjoyed doing as I like pink... but I'm not a girly girl!


I've used a set that I designed for the Russian Doll trend and also because I have a lovely set of my own given to me by my dad. His work took him out to Russia.


The set is FRCL150 Babushka and I've used the greeting from FRCL154 Salutations.

I coloured the dolls using the Tombow pens, Sakura Clear Glaze and White Gelly Roll pens.


I have used the Glaze pen to make the faces shinny and to highlight the detail.
The white highlights are what bring the colouring to life. I really like this effect.


I punched a scalloped square to make a background for the dolls and I have added gold metals for decoration.






If you have enjoyed this project why not visit the Woodware Blog for other inspiration from the Design team.

Woodware Design team Challenge - Anything But a Card

I'm back! Apologies for a lack of posting but I am extremely busy making over 40 samples for the next Woodware release/catalogue.


This challenge was quite challenging! It's easy just to go along making cards.


So I decided to make a matchbox pinwheel sandwiched between two pieces of the Woodware plain 'Chippies'. I used another one of my favourite sets FRCL162 Fairy Tots to make the topper.

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I made and used a template to cut, fold and glue 4 matchboxes. I used gold 6mm Woodware brads to make little handles. 


I cut covered the two pieces of chipboard with Magenta gingham paper before rounding off the corners and sponging. 


The little birds are stamped directly on the gingham paper.

I have fond memories of collecting matchboxes when I was little to make a similar project at primary school. More people smoked then and plastic lighters weren't an option.


I used the Sakura clear Stardust pen to highlight the colouring. Added some gold 'Metals', Diamond Stickles, white sheer ribbon bow and faux stiching to complete the project.


If you have enjoyed this project why not pop along the Woodware blog to see what the rest of the design team has created,

Woodware Design team Challenge - Sketch

For this week's challenge I decided to use one of my favourite sets;


FRCL193 Patch an Owl


and I've done just that using paper piecing to make up the little owl. I've used the 'Stockholm' paper collection which are stocked by Woodware.

To add detail I've used the mini heart punch to make up a little bow. I've added googly eyes and made some little flowers using a Woodware daisy punch. 


I have drawn quite a lot of faux stitching using a black Sakura Micron pen.I've used the clear Sakura Gelly Roll Glaze pen to highlight the little bit of colouring in I did on the beak and tummy.


The greeting comes in the set along with other owl related wordings.

This picture shows how to cut out the owl for the paper piecing. If your adding googly eyes then you can save time by cutting through the right hand eye as the cut will be covered.
You need to stamp three owls on three different papers. So once you cut them up you can make up 3 owls.

Once all your cutting out is completed you need to stamp your owl on some card to make a base to stick your pieces onto. For sticking the pieces use a glue stick. I always recommend the Tombow glue stick as it does not go lumpy. I only ever use a glue stick for this type of work or for sticking little paper pieces. I do not use it for matting and layering.


Tip: Make sure to spread glue over the whole piece. If you don't do this the edges will lift.


Tip: using a glue stick gives you a little bit of time for moving the paper pieces into place. Instant glues are very tricky to use and you have to be very precise.


If you have enjoyed this card pop along to the Woodware blog during the week to see other designs created with this sketch.

Simple cupcakes

Here is how you do a simple version of a cupcake! 
You use the casing from the Super Large Cupcake punch and punch out a 2" circle and a small 1.5 cm circle for a cherry or chocolate drop.
I then added some faux stitching for a little bit of detail using a Sakura 'Micron' pen and a highlight on chocolate drop using a Woodware white pen.

Here are some variations. 


You can have some fun using up scraps of patterned paper. Polka dot paper works really well.


For another alternative you can also use a 2" scalloped circle.

More Cupcakes

Not more cupcakes I here you say! A little calorie free taster does you no harm...


Well it's difficult not to get carried away once you start punching...


Tomorrow this cupcake takes on a simpler look?


As usual I've added glitter, fluffy stuff and clear glaze to add a bit of fun.                                                                                       

Cupcake heaven

As promised here are some more variations of yesterday's cupcake.


Some tips for sticking very small dot or circles:
You need :
Scissors or poky tool, PVA glue in a bottle with a fine tip applicator and plenty of dots!


 1. Use the fine tip glue applicator to put a tiny dot of glue where the circle is going to go.

 2. Dip the tip of your scissor blade or poky tool into the glue.


3. Gently press the tip of your scissor blade or poky tool down on the circle you want to use. There will be just enough glue to pick it up.


4. Place the dot over the glue dot. Press the dot down with your finger tip to secure.

Have some fun and use items such as Glaze pens, Puffy Stuff and Stickles glitter glue to enhance and decorate your cupcake.


Warning: Don't create whilst hungry as it could make your cravings even worst!


More variations tomorrow...

Woodware Design team Challenge - Birthday Wishes

Apologies for a lack of posts over the last few days but I have been really busy cleaning up the single Woodware Christmas images.


For the 'Birthday Wishes' challenge I though I would showcase the rather large cupcake punch that I have designed  for Woodware.


Below is a picture of the punch and the bits it punches out. As well as the punch I've used my favourite greetings set: FRCL154 Salutations and another punch in the shape of a large tag.

 To make up the cupcake I've used two tops punched from pale yellow and pink card. The casing is punched from craft card. All the bits are sponged. 


I've used the clear Sakura Gelly Roll Glaze pen to highlight the cherry, heart, candles and little sprinkles.


For the candles you need a yellow candle and white candle. Use the yellow one as a base. Chop off the flame from the white candle and stick directly over the yellow candle. Add some detail with a white pen and yellow Glaze pen.

 This the super large Cupcake punch. I like the fact it punches out individual pieces and that when it's made up your cupcake is big enough to be the centre piece of the card.


The code for the punch is Cupcake 840-11

These are the individual pieces punched out of brown card. You do not have to punch every item from the same card each time. You can slide a 5 cm strip across the bottom to punch out just the casing.
It's also easy to punch out different tops individually.

Finally this is my collection of dots that I punched out to decorated the cupcake. You can see a collection of tops and cases ready to go.


Pop back tomorrow to see a selection of cupcakes fresh from my crafting oven!


I think the cupcake looks yummy enough to eat!

Fun with 'Chippies'

For a change I thought I would post a card that uses 'Chippies' as the main focus of the card.
'Chippies' are pre-cut shapes made from Chipboard. I have designed quite a few sheets for Woodware ranging from Butterflies, Swirls, Tags, Alphabets to Bracketed Frames and more besides.
The Chippies are white and you can decorate them in various ways such as with ink, paint, embossing powder or by covering them with paper as I have done with the shapes on this card.
A large nail file and smaller ones are useful to tidy up the edges of the 'Chippies' after you have stuck the paper and cut the shapes out.

DIY too

This is a card we made in a workshop a while back at The Craft Barn. If you don't already know I'm coming back to the barn to do workshops again!
My first one is on Saturday 27th of August. Really looking forwards to it.


I've used Clear Magic set FRCL039 Mr Fix It


The house started life has a rectangle and we cut one end into a point. We used the plank from the set for the border and roof edge. The window is made up of punched squares. The door has a doorknob made from a brad. The big tools are Quickutz dies [Lifestyle crafts]. 


It's quite a different look to my previous DIY card! but some younger men like a more modern look...

Woodware Design team Challenge - Black and white

As I am really into Peel Off's at the moment and I love my new collection I decided to use the following items for the challenge

94088 Large Blooms with Leaves in silver and black

94090 Blooms in black

90724 Tiny Messages in black

I made a square folded card from acetate 14.5cm by 14.5cm.

I've use Magi-film to pick up the waste of two small small blooms and some leaves, which are on  the front of the acetate card.

I used the waste from the silver blooms to fill alternate sections in the petals of the large black blooms. The blooms were constructed on white card and then cut out. I added some 3mm and 5mm pearls.

The back panel is made up of white card and black card. The white card is inside but the black is stuck on the outside making a sandwich with the acetate in the middle. That way you hide the adhesive.

Using a leaf from the Peel off's sheet as a stencil, I have sponged some leaves on the white card with a sponge Dauber and some Brilliance Starlite Silver ink.

Funky flower windows too

I'm really into Peel Off's as you will see from my  Woodware Design challenge card tomorrow. I love black embossing but it has to be done with black powder on black ink to get really good depth and you always get little black specks! So black Peel Off's give you the effect without the specks... so much better.


These are variations on a card I posted back in May coloured on green pearlescent card. This time I've worked on pink pearlescent card.


Both these cards are made using '94091 Funky Flower Windows' black Peel Off's and of course Sakura Glaze pens. I like the simplicity of these cards but you need to make sure you work with clean hands and good card!!

Get well too

This card was made using this set: 
FRCL081 Get Well Soon
'Ted' makes his first appearance on the stamping scene in this set. 
In the set Ted is also in bed with a temperature.... ah..
I love the hot water bottle!


I also used him on his own for a Mother's day card as he is carrying flowers.


I used a Woodware 'Chippy' for the frame which I covered with paper.

Workshop at Authors and Artists

Yesterday was a day spent over at Authors and Artists in Fleet.


I was asked to do a workshop using my new flower  Peel off's and Sakura pens. 


I kept the colour scheme to one colour and black but obviously had variations of the green and purple.I used Gelly Roll Glaze pens and Souffle Pens.


We also tackled picking up the waste of the flower to use as part of the design.

I used a large corner rounder punch on all four corners of this card but punched a single corner on the card above.


Rounding all four corners does change the shape of the card quite a bit.

We used gems, pearls and Metals to decorate the centre of the flowers. 

On the sheets of Peel Off's you get three large blooms, leaves and spare dots and circles. If you use the waste you actually have six flowers to work with.


I always enjoy these workshops as I've been teaching at A & A for over 11 years and it's more like a gathering of good friends!

Away Playing

Today I'm away from my desk teaching a workshop at Authors & Artists in Fleet. You can see the cards that we are going to make on my blog tomorrow. So pop by to take a look!

Lily Pond

This card was shown on the Woodware blog a couple of weeks ago but I didn't showcase it on mine.


It's one of my favourite cards at the moment. I made three with slight variations in the layout and this is the last one I still have...


I've used vellum on the wings to give them a wispy quality.


The water was done using a pale blue Gelly Roll Glaze pen.

Woodware Design team Challenge -A bunch of flowers

 I really enjoyed this challenge. There is a bit of everything I like in terms of techniques;

Paper piecing [flowers], Faux stitching, sponging and colouring.

I've used the following sets:

FRCL134 Flowers and Stems

FRCL129 Garden Greetings

Garden greetings is another of my favourite greeting sets as I do make quite a lot of flower related cards.

The vase is punched using 2'' vase.

The papers are from the 'Bremen' collection of papers stocked by Woodware

I glued the buttons into place before actually stitching them to the card. I do like some threads in my buttons!

The little butterfly is in the greetings set.

The clear Sakura Gelly Roll Glaze pen came out to play once again over the flowers, tiny flower centers, butterfly body and petals.

I used the Sky Blue Brilliance ink pad for the sponging. If you have never tried them use some Sponge Daubers. They are still my preferred option for sponging.

A little detail to show the greeting and shinny glaze on the flowers!

Why not Pop along to the Woodware Blog to see what the other members of the design team have created for 'A bunch of flowers'

Baby too

I made this card at the same time as the previous baby card I posted a few weeks back.


I've used white Peel off's as in bottle, romper suit, pin and tiny words. Sakura Souffle pens for colouring.


The larger letters are die cut but you could always use stickers.


I have to say that working within a square is my favourite card shape as it is so versatile.

Flowers in a vase

I like working with a limited colour scheme. If you pick out your backing paper before you start to colour you can adjust the scheme to match. Much easier than trying to pick out papers later on! This is one of my favourite colour schemes.


I have water coloured the stamped image [FRV011 Round Vase Daises]. I scribbled some brush markers onto a white tile. I then used a fine brush to add water and pick up the colour. The colour from a brush marker is far more intense then that from water colour paints or pencils.

The little tag is made from shrink plastic. I stamped the greeting on the plastic, let it dry and then punched it out. I then punch a hole in the tag - 1/4" before shrinking it with a heat gun. I added some wire which I've twisted around a cocktail stick. Wordings are really sweet when you shrink them.


This was stamped with a wood mounted stamp which I designed approx 6 years ago. If you like it, it is still available and there are two other flower stamps in that style also.

Master Builder

Thought I would show you what I built on Saturday afternoon![and evening].


I did say this blog would be purely for cards but I was so pleased with the results of my hard labour... that I had to share with fellow pen lovers.


You need two A1 sheets of 5 mm foam board approximately [some spare for any mistakes], good strong PVA, craft knife with a nice sharp blade and a long ruler.


Each cubby hole is about 4" by 4" and 15 cm deep. Don't ask me why I mix inches and cms when I work... it just gives a bigger range of measurements... I think!


I cannot take credit for the idea as I saw and spoke to Alexandra Kamann at The Glitter Pot and she had built one. So I had to give it a go. I was fed up with the plastic boxes. In the USA you can get units similar to this... well I didn't want to pay the money to ship + taxes either... so here you are. Please don't count the pens!! Watch out for a ribbon reel holder....