Green Butterrfly #127

see... told you I was still playing!... yes more from the Woodware Bubble Butterfly set. 

I've started by using pale green memento inks and lightly rubbed over my card surface.  I darkened the edge with bamboo leaves.  I also stamped the Woodware Viva La Plume stamp in the Bamboo leaves too.  The stamp at the bottom is from Chocolate Baroque stamps in green Versafine. 
My butterfly has been coloured in greens using cosmic shimmer drawing inks and highlighted with flat back gems.

A final dash border around the outside finishes the piece off.

happy crafting

Jane

www.aldridgecrafts.co.uk

From the Heart Butterflies #126

You might detect a little theme over the next couple of days as I'm still playing with my Woodware Bubble Butterflies set.

I've started by stamping my butterflies in black and then using pale yellows and green Memento inks I added colour around the butterflies and then used the same inks to stamp pieces of text from the Woodware Viva La Plume stamp - it doesn't matter if it goes over the butterflies as you'll be adding stronger colours over the top.

I then added colour using a mix of colours from Cosmic Shimmer Drawing Inks - orange, blues, yellow and added a few details of some Marine Stardust pen in some circles too.   I then added some flat back gems to add extra sparkle.

I stamped the from the heart greeting in teal memento and then added a drawn border in black fineliner.

happy crafting

Jane

www.aldridgecrafts.co.uk

Blingy Butterfly #124

 I've scheduled today's post as I'm off at Stamford today providing a craft stall and make & take at a Lacemakers Guild.  This is the project that we'll be making.  This is a lovely little card design that I've used many times as you can adjust it so easily to suit your own stamps.  It works very well too with flowers - and not just stamps but die cut ones too.

I started with cutting a card blank - size it to suit your envelopes (allowing room if you plan to stick your flowers/butterflies off the edge of the card).  I like to make these on a vertical fold card.  I started by stamping my butterfly  - a Woodware set called Bubble Butterflies.  These are such a versatile design and they are also available as a peel-off sticker too!  You can colour the bubbles with whatever you like - Promarkers, Stickles, Liquid Pearls, Sakura Pens or use Large Gems or Card Candii - or a mixture of everything!

Before I decorated it I cut out my butterfly shape.  I then used a mixture of everything to decorate is sticking to my blue, green and red theme.

I stamped the Chocolate Baroque Floral Edges border in Versafine Blue and then the Amazing Greeting (Saluations set from Woodware) in Versafine Green I tied a blue ribbon around the top of my card.

Once dry I stuck my butterfly onto my card. 

here is another variation of the same design....

happy crafting

Jane
www.aldridgecrafts.co.uk

Little Blue Owl #106

I taught a fabulous group of keen crafting ladies at Stradbroke yesterday.  We created mixed media collage panels using a mixture of Cosmic Shimmer Misters, Distress Paints and Stains and a wide range of rubber stamps.

This was the sample I created to show them the finish of the Distress Paints.  I started by created a muted background using pinks and blues and blending them with my cloth.  I then added some pattern detail by adding paint through some masks and once dry I drew around the banner mask with a fineliner pen.

Next I stamped with the woodware viva Le Plume stamp using a blue ink to create some texture in the background. 

Next I stamped my Woodware owl onto the background.  It was very pale so I decided to stamp the owl on a separate piece of card and coloured him by using Distress Inks and applying with a waterbrush to give a watercolour effect.

finally I added my greeting - which is from Kaisercraft.

It's a lovely softly shaded piece - I was really pleased with the finished effect.  I'll be showing a bit of this technique at my demonstration on Saturday in store 10-4 which is to celebrate our 2nd birthday event!

happy crafting

Jane
www.aldridgecrafts.co.uk

Shop for Woodware Stamps
Shop for Distress Inks and Paints

Happy Birthday to us... With a Zentangled stamp..

A big hello to my new visitors who met me at Thetford Sincerely Yours show on Sunday.  this is the last of my show pieces from my demonstration.

This has been created with the Woodware Just for U stamp and some zentangled patterns created with the help of the fab zentangling books we stock (11 different ones available at only £5 each!).  Once stamped i have used quite neat structured patterns in the letters this time and the borders are all hand drawn too!

I didn't get round to making this into a finished piece yet.  Sarah and I have spent the day today reorganising all the craft products in the shop.  The new layout we think is much clearer and brighter with different departments for our product lines... We hope you all like it!  It was the ideal opportunity to rearrange as we unpacked what came back from the show.

It was so nice to have such a busy show and it was lovely to meet crafters lots of our regular customers and lots of new customers too!

I hope you will continue to follow the blog, there's something new posted every day and if you look back over the last few days posts you will find all the show samples, so if you treeated yourself to the stamps you can get some inspiration.

Did you know its our birthday today?  Two years ago today the doors of our store opened.  We'll be celebrating our 2nd birthday event in store on 12th April.. Prize draw, special offers, demonstrations and more!  Hope you can pop in and see us!

Happy crafting

Jane

Www.aldridgecrafts.co.uk 

Thetford Samples

Just as this post goes out the doors will open at Sincerely Yours at Thetford and I'll be busy demonstrating these fab designs all day.  I hope you will be able to visit and see these in person as the photos don't do the vibrant colours justice.  At the top we have used Distress Inks, in the middle fab bright ProMarkers and at the bottom Alcohol Inks combined with the floral borders from Chocolate Baroque.  Loving these stamps from Woodware! 

happy crafting

Jane

www.aldridgecrafts.co.uk

21 with papers

This sample is showing the use of backing papers together with the Woodware 21 stamp.  Another sample for Sunday

When this post goes out I'll be busy setting up my stall!.... almost here!

happy crafting

Jane
www.aldridgecrafts.co.uk

Just for you in Pink and Orange

More samples for this weekend - this time with the Just for U stamp from Woodware.  More playing with layering backgrounds and inks....

More tomorrow!

Jane
www.aldridgecrafts.co.uk

A little zentangling..

More samples for this weekend.  As well as working with the Woodware stamps - I'll also be doing a little zentangling.  We have had a delivery of books 1-10 in the Zentangle workbooks, so if you fancy a go there will be lots of ideas! 

More samples tomorrow..

happy crafting

jane

www.aldridgecrafts.co.uk

Blue 21

This is the first of the samples I've produced for Thetford.  I'll be demonstrating with these fab Woodware clear stamps showing you how to use their bold outline designs together with background stamps, papers and colour. 

These stamps are so versatile - so many things you can do with them.  I'll be showing you more of my samples over the next few days -  hope you like them!

happy crafting

Jane
www.aldridgecrafts.co.uk

Zentangled Monsters

Another outing for my Woodware Monsters stamps again today.  This time with a different slant.  My regulars will know I am partial to a bit of zentangling, and as soon as I saw these stamps I thought they would be an  ideal stamp to zentangle!  I stamped my three monsters in a line and then just started to doodle.  I left the faces clear so that they didn't lose definition.  Then a few dashes at their feet so they had something to stand on. 

Next I hand-drew a deliberately wibbly border (that's a technical term you know!)  I then drew in the lines to colour in alternate squares.  Finally mounting onto black and adding a little black bakers twine to add a little detail to my finished card.  This one is on a 5x7" card blank.  I challenge you all to rummage your stamp collection and find one to zentangle.  Be sure to either email me a pic and I'll post it on the blog, or link to your blog in the comments so I can see your zentangling too!

have fun
Jane

www.aldridgecrafts.co.uk
Shop for Fineliners for Zentangling
 Shop for Woodware Stamps
Shop for Twine

Splash Monsters

Back to our monsters today!  In contrast with the very bright and clean lines of Monday's card, this card uses the same stamps (Woodware Little Monsters) - but in a completely different way!

I first took a Stix2 Masking sheet.  This is an A4 sheet of paper with a plastic protective cover.  You stamp onto the paper side, cut out and remove the plastic sheet to reveal a sticky side.  You can use this fabulous product to create masks using your stamps and dies.  You can create a positive or negative mask - depending on whether you want to mask out the monster or the background around the monster in this case!  I stamped the three monsters and cut them out as neatly as I could.  The big plus with this product, is that you can use it many times before it becomes too battered to use - simply store on the back of your packet of stamps so the masks are always to hand whenever you use the stamps!

I stamped the middle monster onto my white card and then carefully stuck the mask over the top, I then stamped the other two monsters and then stuck on their masks too.  With all my monsters masks I went very splodgy over the top with my Distress Stains - Wild Honey and Broken China - Lots of splashes for great effect!  Then set aside to dry and peel off your masks once dry.  Then mount onto black card and then onto a card where you have edged it with the broken china stain to create a matching border.  Then stamp your greeting and edge with some fineliner lines.

This is such a fun technique to try.. go on and get splodging!

Jane
www.aldridgecrafts.co.uk

Shop for Stix2 masking sheet
Shop for Woodware Stamps
Shop for Distress Stains

Little Monsters!

On such a wintery day I thought I would make a bright and cheery card.  This card is using the Woodware Little Monsters stamp set.  These fun little monsters were stamped and coloured with ProMarkers.

The background papers I found by rummaging through my collection (thought it was about time they were put to use!).

this has been mounted onto an 8x8" card.  You'll be seeing a few cards made with this set - they are a fun one to try different techniques.

have fun crafting!
Jane
www.aldridgecrafts.co.uk
Shop for Woodware Stamps
Shop for Paper pads
shop for ProMarkers

Woodware Rosehip Wreath stamp

Yes... I got a new stamp... can you tell!   One of those stamps that you see and straight away have loads of card ideas.  I had a fab crafting session at the weekend and managed to create these 7 cards.... and I still have more ideas I haven't had a chance to create yet!

We'll be creating a Rosehip Wreath card at this week's Attleborough Craft Club (this Friday 6.15-8.30) as part of the make and take - so if you fancy a dabble, come and join us (call 01953 454976 for info).

If you would like this stamp - click here to find it on our website! - it's a bargain at just £4.05!

Now ... onto the cards...

Silver sparkle embossing powder, watercoloured Stardust in the background, Berries coloured with ProMarkers

Background created with Distress Paints, Embossed in Black, Liquid Pearls for berries

Embossed in Black, Colour added with Promarkers, Accented with Crystal Stickles.  Memory Box Dies used - Precious Snowflakes, Tessatina Border and a little card candi to finish

Embossed in White.  Edged with Brilliance Moonlight White.  Die used is the tessatina Border from Memory Box cut into little squares

Stamped in Plum Archival ink onto an old dictionery page. Accented with gold liquid pearls

Embossed in Silver, Patina Gilding Wax added to the background, Gold liquid pearls on the berries

Stamped in Archival Library Green, Berries coloured with Sakura Glaze Hunters Green

One stamp - so many possibilities!

Did you know we have been nominated for the Best Local Craft Store in East Anglia?  If you would like to vote for us, please visit www.britishcraftawards.com.  Thank you!

happy crafting

Jane
www.aldridgecrafts.co.uk

Such a Hoot!

This is Hoot!  He's a Woodware stamp.  I made this card a little while back so fans of our Facebook page or visitors in store may have already seen him, but as I've just got this little chap back in stock I thought I would give him a bigger audience!  I've coloured him in with Promarkers and cut him out with a Spellbinders Label Die and added a swirly accent with a Memory Box Blooming Vine Die.  The backing papers are an odd sheet of Kaisercraft that I had in my stash.   The greeting is part of the same stamp set.

I'm busy preparing for the Suffolk Papercrafting Show which is at the Leisure Centre at Bury St Edmunds this Sunday and Hoot may just make an appearance! I'll be demonstrating with Black outline Peel-offs and Promarkers and I have some fab bold designs to colour.  So in my next blog I'll share one of the sample cards I have made ready for Sunday.

We've had lots of goodies delivered from Woodware, Wild Rose Studio and Crafty Individuals ready for Sunday... we'll have a big choice of stamps, paper pads, dies and masks as well as loads of Peel-offs and lots of other goodies too!  But don't worry, if you aren't local or can't make the show all the new designs are being uploaded onto the website over the next few days so you won't miss out on the new designs!

happy crafting
Jane

Colourful Butterflies

I've seen quite a few cards around on blogs and on facebook which are using different bright colours in simple designs and really like the effect they give.  So I thought I would create my own version.  I've used two Memory Box Dies - Isabella Butterfly - which is the solid shape butterfly and the matching Pippi Butterfly which cuts out the filigree detail - but is perfectly sized with the Isabella design so the two can be used together to create beautiful layered butterflies.  These are both available on the website along with many other Memory Box designs. 

I cut out five of each butterfly out of white cardstock.  I then used memento dewdrop inks to colour the matching butterflies - the colours I used are Lady Bug, Tangelo, Bahama Blue, Bamboo Leaves and Lilac Posies.  They dry very quickly as they are being applied onto a matt cardstock.  I used a dab of Dries Clear Cosmic Shimmer glue in the centre of the top filigree butterfly and stick onto it's matching base.  I then arranged all five butterflies at different heights and angles onto a piece of white cardstock. The body of the butterfly is coloured with Memento Tuxedo Black and then stuck over the top of each butterfly.   Finally I added a 'Birthday Wishes' greeting using Archival Jet Black in and a stamp from the Woodware Salutations set and then mounted it onto a dark brown cardstock and onto a DL card blank.  You could add a little glitter to the butterflies for some extra bling!

I hope this inspires you to create your own colourful card - if you do - be sure to share your projects either on here - or post to our facebook page here.

happy crafting
Jane

Valentines.. in a hurry!

Seeing the beautiful creations on other fantastic blogs puts my effort to shame... but my excuse is time!.... I just didn't manage to fit in time to make my hubby's valentine's card this weekend - he usually walks the dog on his own Sunday leaving me home alone to be able to make his card... but as our plans changed I didn't have time on my own to make it!  So... revised plan for a quick and easy card I could make before he gets home of work today (said it was a hurry!).  I decided on a little fold-over card that I'd made before with other motifs.  I had a cuttlebug heart die and cut out two hearts out of a nice red shimmery cardstock I had handy.  I then embossed one with a papermania folder rubbed over the top with Versamark and heat embossed it with gold embossing powder.  I then used my Woodware Easy Stitching stamps to stamp a border with Versafine Satin Red.  Finally a Valentine's Day greeting from Woodware Tiny Phrases stamps was stamped in Black onyx Versafine.  I then mounted the two hearts at the top and Voila!... Valentines in a hurry!!  It goes to prove a carefully planned idea can be executed quickly if needed!

Enjoy your valentine's evening

Jane