Christmas In July Blog Hop with Sam Calcott

Hi Everybody,

Today it is the talented Sam Calcott here to share her video with you and you will not be disappointed  with what she has to show you. Don't forget to visit the others as the week moves on as there is the opportunity for you to win some wonderful prizes. 

Welcome to the CraftStash Christmas in July Blog Hop and Giveaway! Find all the details on the CraftStash Blog www.craftstash.co.uk/inspiration

Each day we will release a new video featuring a Christmas themed tutorial from the Exclusive brands and designers at CraftStash! You can shop all the exclusive ranges here

UK - https://www.craftstash.co.uk/exclusive-brands

US - https://www.craftstash.co.uk/exclusive-brands

Friday 1st July Lou Collins 

Saturday 2nd July Sam Calcott  (You are here)

Sunday 3rd July Marta Debicka

Monday 4th July Sasha Reade

Tuesday 5th July Helen Griffin

Wednesday 6th July Sandi Nagel

Thursday 7th July  Sam Calcott

Friday 8th July Christina Griffiths

Saturday 9th July Sheena Douglass

How to Enter

Simply subscribe to this channel and to the CraftStash channel https://www.youtube.com/c/CraftStashCoUktv , watch, like and add a comment on all of the videos before the closing date of July 15th!

There will be prizes everyday including a grand prize of CraftStash vouchers worth £100!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Christmas In July Blog Hop with Lou Collins

Hi Everybody,

Today sees the start of a fabulous week long blog hop and there are prizes to be won everyday to tempt you to join in.  The Friday Freebie has been postponed until later this month so don't worry it will be back soon, but for now enjoy the hop and all the videos the designers have created for you.

Welcome to the CraftStash Christmas in July Blog Hop and Giveaway! Find all the details on the CraftStash Blog www.craftstash.co.uk/inspiration

Each day we will release a new video featuring a Christmas themed tutorial from the Exclusive brands and designers at CraftStash! You can shop all the exclusive ranges here

UK - https://www.craftstash.co.uk/exclusive-brands

US - https://www.craftstash.co.uk/exclusive-brands

       Friday 1st July Lou Collins        (you are here) 

Saturday 2nd July Sam Calcott

Sunday 3rd July Marta Debicka

Monday 4th July Sasha Reade

Tuesday 5th July Helen Griffin

Wednesday 6th July Sandi Nagel

Thursday 7th July Sam Calcott

Friday 8th July Christina Griffiths

Saturday 9th July Sheena Douglass

How to Enter

Simply subscribe to this channel and to the CraftStash channel https://www.youtube.com/c/CraftStashCoUktv , watch, like and add a comment on all of the videos before the closing date of July 15th!

There will be prizes everyday including a grand prize of CraftStash vouchers worth £100!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Card Making Magic & Made to Surprise

Hi Everybody,

Today I have a video with a difference as this is a collaboration with Sam Calcott of Made To Surprise.

Sam and I have completely opposite styles but we have swapped some dies with each other to see what we come up with.

I have used the Creative Cuts that Sam has designed which will leave a beautiful pattern on your cards and although this is not a new technique Sam does make it easier with her dies. 

Enjoy the video and then pop over to Sam's
  Made To Surprise YouTube Channel
to see what she has to offer you, and it sure to be amazing.

Here also is the link to Sams blog Made to Surprise for you to visit 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Altenew Always Sunshine

Hi Everybody,

Todays cards is using the Altenew Craft Your Life kit for May named Always Sunshine 

There are stamps, dies, stencils and a 6x6 3-D embossing folder and the possibilities are endless.

For this card I used the stencils to colour the die cut flowers and an embossing folder for the background. The finished card size is 5x7 and my colour scheme is lilac and white.

I used Distress Oxides to colour the flowers onto a cream card stock, with some blending brushes from Craft Stash. 

Craft Stash has some card and matching envelopes in the large A5 size if you prefer not to fold your own, and these of course can always be trimmed down to the size you want.  

For this card I used only the embossing folder and ran some pale blue cardstock though the machine.

If you spritz the card with a little bit of water first it helps to get a deeper indentation in the card and prevents it from cracking

Alternatively wipe over both sides of the card with a baby wipe and that has the same effect.  

Make sure that the card is dry before moving on to the next step.

And for that all I have done is lightly sweep over the raised areas of the card with white pigment ink.

Both cards would suit any occasion and the bottom less intricate one would even be ok for a male card.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Using Baby Wipes

 Hi Everybody,

This little card was covered a while ago in a background  using Baby Wipes and I did a video on the method as well.

I am adding the link to the video again for those people that are new to my blog.

It can also serve as a refresher if you have forgotten about the idea which can give some lovely results. 

I made several cards and this is just one of them. Vary the colours for a different look to your own designs and use different stamps to for another look 

I have added a piece of parchment behind the oval on this card top give a muted look to the flowers but you could add acetate or turn this into a shaker card if you preferred.

And if you wanted another idea on using really cheap Baby Wipes then here is another video that you may enjoy.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx