A quick reminder ........

Hello again ........

Just a quick reminder for all you Sweet Poppy Stencil fans ...... Lucy will be back on our TV screens on Friday this week,  so not much longer to wait.  

The shows will be full of fabulous tips and techniques, along with some amazing demos from Lucy using the brand new release of stencils and a couple of the new stamp sets.

The new stamp sets are gorgeous.  If you love big, bold florals then they will definitely be ones for your wish lists.

Here's a few samples done using the gorgeous Daisies 

There's two different, large floral designs in this stamp set, with two sentiments in there too

Both images are great for colouring, with pens, paints, or pencils, whatever you prefer to use.  But, if you really don't like colouring,  then just stamp the flowers onto coloured papers and cut them out.  Becasue they're such a good size they are easy to fussy cut. 

The daisies make perfect focal points for your cards, but how about using them to create all over designs.

For this card I started in the centre and stamped the image with Versamark ink, and heat embossed in gold

I then used the same stamp to fill in around the edges.  Versamark ink again only this time I dusted over the top of the ink with Perfect Pearl mica powder.   I polished off the excess using a soft cloth

The mica powder sticks to the ink and gives a pretty shimmer to the stamped image.

I stamped the flower again, this time onto a seperate piece of black card, heat embossed in gold and coloured it using pearlescent paints.  It was then fussy cut and attached over the top of the stamped imageds using foam pads to add a touch of dimension

I added a few gold ink splatters onto the background and the sentiment on a strip of black cardstock across the bottom ......

I also used the stamp to add detail to the inside of my card.  How pretty does it look just stamped in black.

Here's the same stamp used with one of the new stencil designs as a background ........

For this one I stenciled the new Damask Backplate design through the circle aperture stencil, and then stamped the flower over the top.

I stamped the whole flower using a black ink but, I heat embossed just the detail on the bottom by carefully sprinkling over some gold embossed powder

I coloured the stamped flower using ZIG Clean Color Brush Markers,  then stamped the flower again onto a scrap of white cardstock, fussy cut it and coloured it with the same pens.  I then attached this over the stamped image using foam pads, slightly offsetting the petals to create a fuller looking flower

A few gemstones and a sentiment add the finishing touches

The second stamp in the set is a gorgeous, large daisy head ...... perfect for your card fronts on it's own 

I simply stamped the flower onto an ink smooshed background, and coloured it with markers.

I did hand draw in a stem 

And I added some natural twine around the bottom, and a Sweet Poppy sentiment from a previously released stamp set

Still with me? ........ don't worry, this is the last one!

Same daisy stamp, stamped off the edge of a square piece of card

A touch of colour added to the petals and the sentiment stamped above.

I then used the same stamp to decorate my background piece.  I took a square of hot pink cardstock, used an ink pad as close to the same colour as I could find (I think it was Versafine Clair - Glamorous), and stamped the daisy all over the card

I love this tone on tone look, especially for backgrounds.

This stamp set is going to become a real favourite I think.   Just think of all the different colours you could use ....... so pretty!!

Don't forget to tune in to Lucy on Friday ......... that's February 18th at 9am and 1pm on The Craft Store TV (Sky channel 673, Freesat 817 & Freeview channel 85) 

There'll be lots more fabulous ideas from the rest of the Design Team using these stamps and more from the Sweet Poppy new release. 

  

Cheerio until next time .....

Sweet Poppy Stencils are back on the TV .........

Happy Wednesday ......

I just wanted to pop by and say, if you're a Sweet Poppy Stencils fan you'll be pleased to know that Lucy is back on Hochanda tomorrow ...... whoo hoo!!!

There are two shows ......... the first one is at 11am, and then again at 3pm.  

There'll be lots of gorgeous stencils, some festive designs, some not.  Lots of fab mediums etc., to use with your stencils, and a whole load of inspiration from Design Team samples and of course live demonstrations from the lovely Lucy herself.

I've been busy playing (oops!) working with some of the stencils, making samples for the shows. 

So, if you have some time to spare and fancy a quick look ..... here we go!  You might want to grab a cuppa, it's a bit of a long post!

 

One of my favourite Sweet Poppy stencils is making it's TV debut this time ....... the gorgeous Teardrop Background

I do love this design ..... it is a great background but, it's so pretty as the focal point too.  

For this card I used washi tape to mask off a strip across my piece of card, placed the stencil over the top and inked through using Autumnal shades of Distress Inks ..... love it!

Oooh .... did I mention that Sweet Poppy now have their own stencil brushes ....... the really popular make up style ones, and they are soooo nice to work with.  Watch out for them on the shows .... you need these!

I stamped a sentiment onto the white strip and added some dry embossed lines top and bottom to highlight the area

I finished off by adding a few gems here and there in matching colours 

Why not change the colours and give the same stencil a more festive look .......

Distress inks again, with a little bit of pen work this time ...... white highlights onto the 'berries'

and a touch of gold around some of the teardrop shapes.

A simple sentiment stamped over the top .....

and to give it a real Christmassy look, some chunky white embossing enamel .... I love this stuff on Christmas cards!

Another of the stencils coming up on the shows is the Absolutely Abstract Back Plate ........ 

I must admit, it took me a while to decide what to do with this one, I haven't done much abstract (I have been watching Eileen Godwin's YouTube videos though, so you might just see a bit more in the near future!)

I used a whole bunch of Distress Inks again through the stencil, blended to create a Galaxy Sky ......

With the stencil still in place, I added a few splatters of water, not much, I didn't want it to leak underneath the stencil.  

I mopped up the excess with a paper towel and you can see that the water reacts with the ink and removes some of the colour too, leaving this lovely speckled look behind. I never get tired of this technique!

I added a spritz of  Perfect Pearls over the top to add some shimmer, and a few splatters of white paint, then I carefully removed the stencil.

Once everything was dry, I stamped my sentiment across the shapes .......... 

And finished with a splattering of gold ink all over the design.

Same stencil, only this time I didn't use the whole design ......

A bit of masking whilst I was inking, to keep the edges of the colours crisp .......

and I drew around each of the shapes using a gold gel pen just to give a different look ...... you can see I've splattered with water again to, gives it a bit more interest I think.

I used the lines of the stencil design as a guide for my sentiments

Last, but not least I have a few more festive makes ....... the beautiful Cross stencil is back.

A cross is perfect for all sorts of occasions, but I gave it a festive feel and used it along with the Christmas Words stencil, which will also be on the show.

I used the words to create the background, and Versamark ink through the stencil and heat embossed the cross in gold.  I then fussy the cross and attached it over the words using foam pads to add a bit of dimension 

A few gold ink splatters and a sentiment .......

and some Christmas holly, cut using the Sweet Poppy Holly die and a little bit of glitter card

Here's the cross again, used a little differently this time .......

Again using Versamark ink and gold embossing powder, and a little bit of masking, I made a decorative frame around one of my large Christmas sentiments.

There's that holly again!

And finally, here are the Christmas Words again ..... used to make a very quick and easy card 

Festive colours of Distress Inks, a pretty ribbon bow and just a touch of Christmas sparkle!

Phew!  That was a long one!

Enjoy the shows tomorrow.

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day.

We're out this evening ...... it's a Wine Down Wednesday Wine Tasting and it's Rioja week!  We're doing the tasting and learning all about Rioja, and then we have a meal ..... 4 courses of delicious food all paired with the perfect wines ..... looking forward to that!  

Cheerio until next time ......

Products used:

Stencils: Teardrop, Absolutely Abstract, Christmas Words, Cross (all from Sweet Poppy Stencils)

Stamps: A7 stamps set - Have a Great Day;  A6 stamp sets Family, Cheers, Joy & Peace (all Sweet Poppy); large sentiment from my stash

Inks: Distress Inks - various colours; Versamark ink; Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Delicata Golden Glitz metallic ink

Others: Gold embossing Powder (WOW!); Crystalina Glitter (Sweet Poppy), Gold and white Gel Pens, white paint, gems

A date for your diary ........

Good morning ...... Happy Friday!

I'm so looking forward to the weekend ....... nothing to do, nowhere to go so, if the weather's good we might just take the van out for a drive, find somewhere nice to park him up and just chill!  We had him washed yesterday so he's all ready to go!

I've been busy this week getting some samples done for the TV.   Lucy and Sweet Poppy Stencils are back on Hochanda next week ....... Tuesday 15th August at 3pm and again at 7pm with some brand new stencil designs (you're going to love them) along with some old favourites and some designs that have not been shown on TV before.
Those eagle-eyed may have already seen the new designs on the website I think they went live earlier in the week.

Here's a quick look at some of the ones that I put in the post yesterday .......
First up the gorgeous ....... Cat Love, how cute are these two!

I've used the stencil on two different card sizes ...... the first one is A5 and the second one is 5x7 inches. 
The stencil is a great size, all it needs is a sentiment.
For both cards I simply inked through the design using black ink .....

And then used Distress inks to colour the backgrounds .....

Adding water and a few ink splatters here and there ......

And finishing off with sentiments .......

Next we have the Owl ...... again a great stencil that can fill the whole card

He he is on a left over background from the last Sweet Poppy TV shows

After inking through the leaf background stencil I noticed that there was quite a bit of ink left on it.  Now you know I don't like to waste inks and paints so, I simply spritzed the stencil with water, laid a piece of white cardstock on top and this was the result ....... not bad! Perfect backdrop for the owl.

A touch of the brand new Distress colour ....... Crackling Campfire around the edges and a few highlights with a Stardust Gel pen ......

Here's another simple design, this time on a tall slim card or DL size ......

Now for one of the brand new designs,  meet Isla .... the Highland Cooo

She is beautiful!  She's been designed by the very talented, Sweet Poppy in house designer Emma Cronin and I just love her. 
Just think of all the possibilities ...... are you a fan of Jennifer Hogwood's McMoos or, maybe you love the McCoos by Steven Brown, well ..... now you can create your own.  Just wait till you see what the rest of the Design Team have done with her ....... we all fell in love I think. 

Well, that's just a few of my samples.  I'll be back tomorrow with a few more and a little bit of a festive feel ........ even Isla's in the Christmas spirit!!

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day, and have a great weekend.

Cheerio until next time .......

Products used:
Stencils: Cat Love, Owl. Isla, Black Daisy (flower on Isla), Fall Backplate (background on the owl) (all stencils by Sweet Poppy)
Inks: Distress Inks - various colours; Versafine Clair - Nocturne, Delicata - Golden Glizt & Silvery Shimmer
Stamps: Friends, Family, Life is a Journey A6 stamp sets (Sweet Poppy); some small sentiments from my stash
Other: Gold embossing powder (WOW!); Stardust Gel Pen;