Woodware Design team Challenge - Something for the boys

This is another older design from my collection and another favourite as I drew the design around the time my son was trying to learn how to skateboard. It's a woodmounted stamp:
FRW006 Skateboard Dude


For the greetings I have used words out of these two sets:
FRCL079 Male Relatives
FRCL080 Mixed Greetings


I'm not sure if the wording is up to date as it probably should have the words sick and bad on there!!

I have used paper piecing for the clothes and skateboard. The face, hands and wheels are coloured in. I have added some highlights with my Sakura clear glaze pen.


I used quite muted colours as boys do not always go for bright ones... I used stripy paper for his trousers which I thought was fun!


I've used a Woodware mini punch for the star and added some Nailheads to the corners of the panel.






Why not pop along to the Woodware Blog this week to see what other creations my team mates have put together.

Woodware Design Team Challenge - Inspired by the colours of Autumn

I was not sure if I would enjoy this challenge or not... as although I love the colours of Autumn, I do not often go down that road when I pick colours for my work!  but I surprised myself and really enjoyed it...


I mentioned last week about re-visiting old stamps and the one I have used is one that I designed when I had my license with Stampedous in 2001. It is a favourite of mine and along the years I have used it in lots of different ways [If you like a challenge try paper piecing it- it is a challenge but well worth the effort!] It's very giving and never seems to go out of fashion.
The stamp is:
XXP001 Garden Sampler

I have scored and folded a 14cm square gate folded card. It made a nice change from just mounting the panel on a normal square card.


It's difficult to see the highlights on the colouring but I have used the clear Sakura Gelly Roll Glaze pen to make the detail pop.  


The greeting come from a brand new set called:
FRCL207 Ribbon Banners
the greetings can be stamped on a ribbon banner or used individually as on this card.

In the corners I have used silver 'Metals' which I have coloured orange using a Sakura Identi Pen. The coverage is excellent and of course you can also use the pens on your Peel Off's .


For all the stamping I have used the Coffee Bean Brilliance inkpad. It's a great colour for a more muted effect.

If you have enjoyed this card why not pop along to the Woodware blog to see what the other designers in the team have produced!

Woodware Design Team Challenge - Sugar and Spice

 This week's challenge - Sugar and Spice... lots of possibilities such as baby girl, girly or sweet things? I chose the girly theme and used my set 
FRCL131 Mary and Friends
I have not used this set in ages but the challenges are good at making me re-visit some great sets and stamps!
I enjoyed colouring the little girl with her pals and the greeting from the set is quite appropriate to the image as well as to girls in general and their friends. My trusted Sakura Pens - white and clear glaze have helped to bring the image to life.
The tag has been punched using the blue Woodware Price label punch. I've added some gingham ribbon from Woodware's great ribbon selection.

What I've enjoyed the most about this card is using the Zig Zag border punch:

ZIG ZAG DIAMOND - CRAFTY EDGER CASSETTE CP43-10

The waste is fabulous [as well as the border itself!]. You get lots of little squares - I've used some in the corners of the panel. You get small sections of zig zags which you can stick and link - I did some faux stitching on mine. Great!!

There is more ribbon threaded through the button at the top of the card.

The card shape is A6 but you cut your A4 longways and fold strip in half. It just makes a change from the usual A6 card.

Finally I've used craft card for the strip and matting. I like it because it is quite neutral and goes well in almost any colour scheme. So if you ever get stuck and can find the right coloured card turn to craft card!

Why not pop along to the Woodware blog to see what the other team members are doing for this challenge.

Dove Too

 As promised another version of the 'Patchwork Dove' 

FRS107 Patchwork Dove

This time I've used 6 by 6 pad 'Happy Heart' from 'My Mind's Eye'.
It's available from The Glitterpot.

I've used another greeting from
FRCL207 Ribbon Banners going up the side [This time without the ribbon banner].

The stencil for the gold 3" circle is:LJ 899 Petals background.
I ran it through my Cuttlebug.

What I like about this card is that you do not have to necessarily use Christmas Papers to do the paper piecing. You make the card 'Christmas like' by adding the gold card and the greeting.

The Glitterpot Demo

I wanted to say thank you to all those who came to chat to me at the demo weekend at 'The Glitterpot' on the 3rd of September. 
I had a lovely day and we sold lots of stamps!
I was asked by quite a few of you to post some of my cards on my blog especially the cards made using this beautiful brand new dove stamp.
FRS107 Patchwork Dove

I love my paper piecing at the moment and it is proving very popular with all the lovely 6 by 6 paper pads available. I adore the 'My Minds Eye' pads. I have used the 'Twelve Days of Christmas' pad for this card

I ran the gold 3" Mirri circle through my Cuttlebug with a beautiful Dreamweaver stencil:
LJ 891 Holly swirls

The greeting is from a brand new set also;
FRCL207 Ribbon Banners

You can stamp all the wordings within the set in 4 different ribbon banners. The greetings cover all the most popular ones including birthdays and Christmas.

Pop back tomorrow to see another dove!

Winner of Dreamweaver Blog Hop

BIG drum roll please!!!!...... the winner picked at random from the comments left on my blog is:
Junie Moon - Well done!


Junie can you please contact; Dorothy@woodware.co.uk to give her your details to receive your prize.


Thank you to everyone who left a comment. I was really touched by the really nice comments left on my blog.

Woodware Design Challenge - Sketch

Ted is back! I have designed another set that shows what a big heart Ted has:

FRCL199 Love You Ted

Ted is featured in three different positions with hearts/flowers. The nice thing about this set is that you can use it for lots of occasions such as Valentines, general 'love you', anniversary and birthdays. There are quite a few greetings to choose from within the set. I do like using hearts all year round. 

This is my take on this week's sketch challenge. It's a very simple layout so great for quick and easy cards.

I've used Woodware punches for the tag/sentiment and the 3" oval. The paper is from the 'Oslo' range number: 22260. This range combines really well with lots of different colours. I like it with reds and blues.


For a change I have used Glossy Accents for the hearts and Ted's nose. His blue t-shirt really pops out but also helps the overall effect to work.

 Up close you can see the glossy accent on his nose and the hearts. The LOVE U on the t-shirt is tiny but stamps out beautifully.

I've used the Sakura white pen to add some highlights on Ted and the hearts on the card.

Do pop over to the Woodware Blog to see what the rest of the team has created using this sketch.

Dreamweaver Blog Hop

Welcome to Woodware's first bog hop and giveaway.The Dreamweaver design team is partying with the UK Woodware design team to bring you innovative ways to use our wonderful Dreamweaver stencils and supplies all week long! By the end of the week, you'll have seen stencils used in inspirational ways you just couldn't have imagined, and you'll see that, although our stencils are wonderful for paper crafting, they have SO MANY other uses too! We'll have several posts a day for you, from Monday August 29th to Saturday September 3rd. At the end of our celebration, each designer will randomly select a winner from all blog comments to receive a free Dreamweaver stencil. We look forward to you partying along with us!

Here's my entry for today:
I wanted to show how the Dreamweaver stencils can be beautifully combined with stamped images.


The Dreamweaver stencil I have used is:
LJ840 Peacock Bkg
It's a beautiful stencil and it goes really well with my set:
FRCL205 Proud Peacock
I used my Cuttlebug to run the stencil through with a piece of silver Mirri card. You must use the base plate [A], rubber mat, two B plates and between 4 to 8 sheets of extra card go get the right pressure.I used 5 extra sheets.

I then used the ink from a Black StazOn pad to distress the card and make it look like old metal. You have to work fairly quickly to remove some of it with some kitchen roll. I also used the most tiny amounts of alcohol blending solution with a cotton bud  to remove more ink in more selected areas.

If you wanted more colourful results you could use Alcohol inks instead of the StazOn ink. 

This is such an easy way of using your stencils and very effective. I love it!

I wanted a monochromatic look and I love the combination of  silver, grey and black.

To complete and dress the card I've used white ribbon, Nailheads, Metals and the Sakura Silver Metallic pen. 

You can find all the supplies you need right here:

http://www.woodware.co.uk/ and  http://www.stencilwithstyle.com/

Your next stop along the hop is to LOUISE at http://www.artfullyarticulate.blogspot.com/ 

Woodware Design team Challenge - Funny Folds

My take on this week's challenge 'Funny Folds' was to put together a stepped card [I think that is what you call it!!...]. I found the original template on a blog and changed the measurement to suit [it was originally too small and not wide enough to do much on it].


I love this new set that I have designed for Christmas called FRCL209 'Patch a Bauble'. It follows on from the success of my patchwork designs.
I have taken photos from various angles to show how it folds. It's quite easy to measure and cut without a template.

I have used paper piecing to fill/patch the baubles. I've used what I call the fancy bauble from the set. There are three to choose from. My favourite is the bell shaped bauble.


The paper comes from this 8 by 8 pad:

DAYDREAM ENSEMBLE - 8 X 8 COLLECTION (48) » GCD501

It's not a Christmas pad and with this set you do not necessarily have to use Christmas colours or paper.

In the set there is a holly/berry corner that I have used to stamp the thin side panels on the card. I was taken back at how well it worked to stamp a random background.


I've added some colour to make the detail of the patterns, such as the holly leaves, stand out. There is also a touch of Sakura Clear glaze pen to make the berries and buttons stand out. Extra 'Faux' stitching has been added to compliment the patchwork theme.


Why not visit the Woodware Blog to see what other wonderful projects have been created by the Design team

Woodware Design team Challenge - Two Colours

For this week's challenge we had to choose two colours to work with. I chose pink and green - well I'm not sure if I've followed the brief exactly as I've added gold and you also have black and white in the mix. However from my teaching days I do remember that black and white are not considered colours because you use them to alter colour tones. 
Away from the art lesson! I really enjoyed this challenge and I think it shows.
I've used another favourite stamp; FRP022 Cherry Blossom
It is a wood mounted stamp but there is a smaller variation in a clear set;
FRCL070 Oriental Ladies
I've used the greeting from that set.

The kimono is paper pieced from a scrap of pale green stripy paper. I've shaded over the top with green pens.


For the border I used the Woodware Crafty Edger with the Japanese Fan cassette [love it!]. The flowers are made using these three punches: Cherry 821-82, Grass 1 821-68 and Stamens FPC1-01


I have used lots of Mark Richard bling for decoration: 3mm Nailheads and Gems. I also highlighted some of the coloured detail with the clear Sakura Gelly Roll Glaze pen.


Of course if you know me there has to be a bit of ribbon. I've also used Gold Hat Elastic RIB901 to tie into a knot around the card. It looks like Japanese paper cord.


I start the week off and I hope you will go to the Woodware blog through the week to see what my other team mates have done for this challenge.

Woodware Christmas Stamps

Francoise new Clear Magic Singles are new in stock at Woodware the rest will be here very very soon! 

Woodware Design Team Challenge - Look what I did with my file folders

This week's challenge was very challenging!!!


I'm using the file folders that come in a pack. Each sheet has different size folders on it, die cut ready to go. They are white so my first task was to sponge them with yellow ink to remove the starkness. I then used elements from this set:
FRCL020 Background Textures
to stamp blocks of colour across the folders. For this I used the 'ColorBox Queues '

I have used 6 files in total. I had plans to stick them together a certain way so the all matched at the edges but when I started stamping the  enjoyment took over and the plan disappeared!! [lol]


For the flowers I have used this set:
FRCL134 Flowers and Stems
I stamped using the fading out technique so some of the flowers/textures have been stamped without re-inking. This gives more depth to the stamping.

Finally I have used this set to add greetings at random on some of the pages.
FRCL129 Garden Greetings
which is very appropriate given the flower theme.


To finish off I have punched some butterflies, using my favourite Woodware punch, and sponged them before gluing them into place. I decorated the butterflies with 3mm pearls. 


Not forgetting some ribbon for good measure.
This type of project can go on for ever... and you could add charms, tags etc..




Pop along to Woodware Blog to see other great ideas from the team.

Woodware Design Team Challenge - Sketch

Back again for this week's Woodware Design Team Challenge. I'm on a break for this week... to recover from all those Christmas cards!


The photo shoot for the catalogue went really well and as soon as it's released I'll post some of the cards I made to give you a taster and hopefully excite you to get one!


I find it quite strange working to a sketch as I do my layouts intuitively and I like to go with the flow. Anyhow it gets me thinking in a different way which is always good. 

I've used the following sets:
FRCL162 Fairy Tots
FRCL128 Circular Greetings
The Circular Greetings can be punched out using the 1 1/2" circle punch [Yellow]. I've mounted the circle onto the 2" daisy. There are flowers to use for the middle of the circle in the set but I choose to punch one instead. I've added little ribbon tabs, which I really like.

I've coloured the little fairy tot with Tombow pens. I've also used the Sakura Clear Glaze, Clear Stardust and white pen for those highlights and finishing touches. 


By the way I added the grass and butterfly trail with a black Sakura 'Micron' pen. Those bits are not on the stamps!


I you enjoyed this version of the sketch why not visit the Woodware blog for other ideas from the Woodware design team.

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.

.

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...