Mintylicious......

Good Morning Everyone

It's a little nippy outside so, I've made myself a cuppa and thought I'd show you one of my sample cards that I made using my latest range of stamps and cosmic shimmer products in more detail.

Ingredient List (with links to go get them from my wesbite :-)
8x8 Card Blank
Graceful Butterflies & Dragonflies 8x8 Paper Pad
Graceful Mint Embossing Powder
Graceful Mint Twinkles
Graceful Mint Pearl PVA Glue
Elegant Milestone Birthdays Stamps
More Scribbled Sentiments Stamps
A4 Climbing Vines Embossing Folder
Dies by Sue Wilson French Collection - Provence
Dies by Sue Wilson Finishing Touches - Delicate Daisies (Full Petals)

This is quite an easy card to put together,.. there are just lots of components to create before assembly, but, the pleasure is in the creation of the components and then, when you see it all together, you think,... yep,.. it was worth it! lol

8x8 cards are a great size to work with,.. plenty of space to decorate without being overpowering and not too expensive to post (if you use the right adhesives!.. I try to stick to Cosmic Shimmer acrylic glue and foam pads where possible as some of the glue gels can be heavy if you use lots on your card)

I started, as I always do, by deciding which colour scheme I wanted, with 6 lovely new colours in my Cosmic Shimmer range, that wasn't as easy as I thought! I opted for the Graceful Mint :-)

I die cut several of the delicate daisies from the reverse of a couple of sheets of the mint papers from the Graceful Butterflies & Dragonflies paper pad, ensuring I got two different shades of mint. The tips of some of the flowers were then pushed onto my perfect medium pad, then embossed with the Graceful Mint Lustre Embossing Powder. I didn't pay much attention to how neat they were, as the overall effect was to be random, but how lovely does the pearlescent finish of the embossing powder look on those petals? It was worth the time!


I then cut a piece of white card to 16cm x 16cm and cut an aperture in the centre, the 'frame' was then embossed with the beautiful Climbing Vines embossing folder.

I cut one of the plain shapes from the Provence dies, stamped the sentiment from the Elegany Milestone Birthdays Stamps (black soot distress ink) and then decorated the top, bottom and corners with the Graceful Mint Pearl PVA Glue and put this to one side to allow them to dry.

I created two smaller layers than the card, one with a sheet from the Graceful Butterflies & Dragonflies paper pad and one from plain white card.
I stamped the sentiment from the More Scribbled Sentiments Stamps on all four sides and added a cheeky '50' in each corner lol
The two layers were then stuck onto my card blank.

I cut another piece of paper from the pad, the beautiful lacy mint one, to 16cm x 16cm then, using foam pads, I stuck this together with the embossed frame,.. this is a great way to create interest to frames/apertures too,.. the pretty paper makes a lovely backdrop to the frame. This was then stuck onto the centre of the card.

Now, the fun (and easiest) part, the assembly!
Once the frame and layers are on your card, it really is just a matter of popping the die cut shape with the sentiment onto some foam pads and putting it in the centre of the frame (make sure your pearls have dried, we don't want flat pearls lol)
Then, just arrange your flowers as you wish, I used Cosmic Shimmer Acrylic glue to fix them as it dries quickly and doesn't leave a mess!
The centre of the smaller flowers was then filled with the Graceful Mint Twinkles and the larger ones had a mini dazzler :-)

It probably took me about an hour to do this card, the embossing of the flower petals takes a while to do, but the lustre and pearly finish create a beautiful effect once it's all together.

Anyhoo, I hope you like this card,.. why not try it in one of the other lovely colours in the paper pad and co-ordinating Cosmic Shimmer products :-)

All the goodies I've used are available on my website, just use the links on the ingredient list to take you there and if you treat yourself to one of the paper pads and you'd like me to sign it for you, just email me, I'm happy to! :-)

Happy Crafting!

I'm feeling....... good! :-)

Good Afternoon Everyone,..

OK, I'm the worst blogger ever! lol

It's only because I'm busy designing new crafty loveliness for you :-)

I have to just say thank you to you all too,.. my latest range of Stamps, Paper Pad and Cosmic Shimmer products have been flying off shelves everywhere, to the point that even I have struggled to keep my stock maintained in my own shop! lol

If you've bought your goodies already, I hope you have been making fabulous things with them!

My aim is to bring you great quality products that work well on their own, together, or with all the crafty stash you already have,..

This is why I always give you the Cosmic Shimmer Range in co-ordinating colours to the paper pads,.. and stamp sets that work well on their own or when combined with others (like the Elegant Alphabet & Numbers set,.. perfect on its' own or with the Scribbled Sentiments as it's the same font!) the hard work is done, which means you get to have the fun part, creating great cards and crafty projects without worrying about matching colours and products etc

If you haven't seen the latest range yet (or treated yourself to any), here are a couple of photos with links to the relevant section on my website for you to get them :-)

The Stamps

The Paper Pad & Cosmic Shimmer Range

Anyhoo, enough rattling on,..

I wanted to give you something,.. a freebie,.. a 'Thank You' of sorts, for all your support and for trusting me and my designs enough to spend your hard earned crafty cash on them!

So, here's a lovely 8x8 paper, designed by myself,.. it was meant to be a part of the new Graceful Butterflies & Dragonflies Paper Pad that I launched a few weeks ago, but I decided on a softer colour scheme... but, I also love monochrome so didn't want to waste it!
Feel free to save this paper, print it and use it as much as you want (all I ask is that you don't sell is as a printed sheet and please tell people it's my design (if they ask!)

Happy Crafting!

Time for a cuppa anyone?

Good Afternoon Everyone,..

Now I'm on a Blog Roll (so to speak), I thought I'd share one last sneaky peek of one of my card samples for my shows on Create & Craft tomorrow :-)

It's another biggy! 21cm x 15.5cm :-)

If you know me, you will know that this is the perfect card for me,.. there are tea bags, tea cups and more on here!

This is one of my brand new stamp sets, aptly named 'Time For A Cuppa' and it's a montage set,.. I adore the montage sets because there is so much you can do with them!
Of course, I 'had' to create a background stamp to go with this set too, so I could get my fave tea brand on it :-) lol

I think there is something that just about every tea or coffee lover will like about these stamps!

Anyhoo, here it was I used:-

White cardstock (lots of!)
Creative Expressions A4 Sea Garden Embossing Folder
Sue Wilson Californian Collection Dies (Hollywood and Frames Set A)
Gathered Twigs Distress Ink Pad
Sentimentally Yours Time For A Cuppa Montage Stamps
Sentimentally Yours Tea & Coffee Background Stamp
Sentimentally Yours Baroque Sentiments 2 Stamps
Cosmic Shimmer White Pearl PVA Glue
Cosmic Shimmer Choco Brown Pearl PVA Glue
Square Dazzler
Brown Seam Binding Ribbon
Couple of Pearl Hatpins

Remember, my show times are 8am and 3pm tomorrow.

You can pre order all of my new stamps sets and most of the goodies I have chosen to go with them on my show directly from my website here

Hope you like it, I love this card :-)

Happy Crafting!

I know,.. I know.... I'm a terrible Blogger!, But......

Good Afternoon Everyone

I know,... I've been a terrible Blogger of late,... rest assured, my mate, Julia Watts, reprimanded me severely at Ally Pally last weekend :-)

In my defense, I have been rather busy with designing new stamps,.. and more!

I also have been working hard with Creative Expressions to bring you my own range of co-ordinating Cosmic Shimmer products to go with my Vintage Christmas Paper Pad,..

In early October, you will be able to get Ink Misters, Pearl PVA Glues, Polished Silk Glitters, Gilding Wax, Mica Powders, Twinkles (sparkly glue!) all in perfectly co-ordinating colours,..

Creative Expressions and I have worked so hard to get the colours perfect!, you know I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to matching colours and I wanted the same for all of you too, so you don't have to 'make do' and spend hours searching for products to go with everything!

These new products will (hopefully!) be launching on my 11th October shows on Create & Craft and, yes, I'm a tad excited! lol

Anyhoo, because I've been a naughty Blogger, I'm going to give you a sneaky peek photo of one of my card samples for my shows on Create and Craft next Tuesday, 30th September 8am and 3pm

This is a big card! 21cm x 15.5cm

To make this card, I used.. quite a bit lol

Spellbinders Enchanted Labels 28
Spellbinders Labels 28
Couture Creation Dragonfly Die
Creative Expressions A4 Quilted Flower Embossing Folder
Creative Expressions Micro Glass Beads
Cosmic Shimmer Aurora Twinkles
Evergreen Bough and Peacock Feathers Distress Ink Pads
Cosmic Shimmer Teal Sky Pearl PVA Glue
Sentimentally Yours Dragonfly Montage Stamps (NEW)
Sentimentally Yours Dragonfly Retreat Background Stamp (NEW)
Sentimentally Yours Scribbled Sentiments (NEW)
Lots of white cardstock lol



Happy Crafting!
(Promise I'll be a better Blogger! lol)

Christmas Show Card Samples - One day at a time - Day 5!

Good Morning Everyone

It's a bit of a breezy day here in Nottingham!, but the sun is shining so it's ok :-)

I've got lot's to do between today and tomorrow!

I'm back on Create & Craft on Tuesday at 8am and 2pm, with 'Best Sellers' shows,.. this is a great way for me to bring back some of the stamps we've had on previously, that sold out so quickly I didn't get chance to demo them properly!
It's also a great opportunity for you to grab them whilst they are back :-)

It's also the Great British Craft Festival at Stoneleigh Park in Warwick next weekend, so I'm restocking and making sure I have lot's of lovely stamps and my new Vintage Christmas Paper Pad ready for you!
If last years event is anything to go by, this year will be even better!

I'm on stand A2 'Sentimentally Yours Stamps by Phill Martin' and I will have my sister (Karen) and my friends Lorraine and Tanya helping me out,.. my Auntie Sue will also be helping me on the Sunday so I'm really looking forward to a busy weekend!

Anyway,.. we are on day 5 (already!) of my Christmas Show Card Samples - One day at a time posts,.. I hope you're not bored with them and you are getting some ideas on how to use my new Christmas stamps and papers :-)

So, here is card no.5, a lovely 8x8 card in beautiful deep red tones..

As always, I've popped a list of what I used with links to them on my www if you 'need' to purchase them :-)

8x8 Vintage Christmas Premium Paper Pad
Christmas Sentiments Stamps
Marvellous Squares Dies
Layered Poinsettia Dies
Stardust Stickles
Red Dazzlers
Aged Mahogany Distress Ink Pad
A4 Quilted Flower Embossing Folder

One of the things I love most about my new Vintage Christmas Paper Pad is that it works so well with the distress inks (anybody would think I planned that!) lol

Aged Mahogany and Festive Berries Distress Ink Pads are perfect for the red toned papers!

I hope you like this card,.. It's one of my faves, the detail of the Quilted Flower Embossing Folder really stands out 'in real life'.

Anyhoo, off to get some work done!

Happy Crafting!

Christmas Show Card Samples - One day at a time - Day 4!

Good Morning Everyone

What torrential rain we had here last night! I hope that's not the end of our lovely sunny weather!

We are on Day 4 of my Christmas Show Card Samples!

As promised, here's the fourth card, with a little list of what I used and a link to my www for you to go and get them, should you feel the crafty need!) :-)

This is an 8" x 6" Card, in lovely shades of lilac and purple  :-)

Here's what I used:

A4 Lattice Heart Embossing Folder

Spellbinders Majestic Labels 8 Dies

Lavender Dazzlers

Dusty Concord Distress Ink

Regency Snowflakes Stamps (not many left in stock!)

Frosty Snowflakes Stamps

Christmas Verse Stamps (not many left in stock)

Stardust Stickles

I love lilacs and purples on Christmas cards,.. they work so well with just plain ole white card and a bit of glitter!

The combination of the two styles of snowflake stamps work so well together,.. similar shape, with one being lacy and the other solid... lovely!

Hope you like it :-)

Happy Crafting!

Christmas Show Card Samples - One day at a time - Day 3!

Good Morning Everyone

As promised, here's the third sample card from my Christmas Shows, with a little list of what I used and a link to my www for you to go and get them, should you feel the crafty need!) :-)

This is an 8" x 8" Card, in lovely shades of blue  :-)

Festive Borders Stamps
Vintage Christmas 8x8 Paper Pad
Create a Flake 3 Dies
Christmas Sentiments Stamps (I have a limited stock of these left)
Snowflake Montage Stamps (I have a limited stock of these left)
A4 Lattice Heart Embossing Folder
Faded Jeans Distress Ink Pad
Marvelous Squares Dies

Hope you like it!

Happy Crafting!

Christmas Show Card Samples - One day at a time - Day 2!

Good Afternoon Everyone

As promised, here's the second sample card from my Christmas Shows, with a little list of what I used and a link to my www for you to go and get them, should you feel the crafty need!) :-)

This is an 8" x 7" Card, in lovely Green Tones :-)

Vintage Christmas 8x8 Paper Pad (sold out in 2 days! now back in stock) :-)
Christmas Sentiments Collection Stamps
Bundled Sage Distress Ink Pad
A4 Lattice Heart Embossing Folder
Acrylic Circle (the one I used on air)
Stardust Stickles
Spellbinders Marvellous Squares Dies

I'm not sure if you can see from the photograph, but i've used the Stardust Stickles on the hearts on the embossed border and randomly around the lovely swirly stars on the background paper,.. they just add that extra 'something'!

Hope you like this card, I love green!

Happy Crafting!

Christmas Show Card Samples - One day at a time!

Good Afternoon Everyone

What a wonderful day I had at Create & Craft yesterday!

I'm so pleased you all love my new Christmas Stamps and Vintage Christmas Paper Pad :-)

So, a big thank you from me! I can't wait to see what fabulous cards you all come up with using the stamps and papers :-)

Over the next 3 or 4 days, I'm going to pop one of my sample cards from my shows on here and let you know what I used, I'm more than happy to share my ideas with you and flattered if you copy!

So, here's card no.1,.. a lovely 8x8 in lilac and purple shades.

Here's what I used: (I've linked them all to the relevant section of my website, in case you need to purchase any of the items :-) 

Vintage Christmas Paper Pad

Snowflake Montage Stamps

Christmas Sentiments Collection Stamps

Create a Flake 3 dies

A4 Pinpoint Checkerboard Embossing Folder

Marvellous Squares Dies

Dusty Concord Distress Ink Pad

Acrylic Circle (you may have seen me using this on air)

Hope you like it!

Happy Crafting!

Sentimentally Yours Christmas 2014...

Good Afternoon (nearly evening!)

OK, I've begged and pleaded and bribed and, eventually, got my own way!!
Creative Expressions have (to shut me up I think lol) said it's OK for me to put all my Christmas 2014 products onto my website for you to start buying now.. whoo hoo!!!!

I will make it live at 6:15pm tonight so you can go look (and buy!) 

You can also pre-order my BRAND NEW Christmas product (shipping will start next Wednesday for that, it's so new, I've only just managed to get mine in time for samples!!)

Hope you like everything :-)

My Christmas shows on Create and Craft are next Tuesday, 29th July at 10am and 3pm 

I'll be getting as many demos as I can in!

PS - There are some card samples on
my Pinterest boards - here  
my Sentimentally Yours Facebook page - here

Here's a quick one for you now :-) I will keep adding them too :-)

Triple Bow (Upside down with extra tails!)

Good Morning Everyone



Just a quick post before I leave for the shop,... I promised a youtube video on my triple upside down bows and here it is :-)

My first ever youtube video (next time I know to have the ipad the other way around!!)



I've put it on here as some of you are not on Facebook or Twitter so you can watch it here :-)



Have fun, hope you like it!



I expect to see lots of triple upside down bows on your projects now :-)



Happy Crafting!

Phill

xx

Gilded Dragonfly Meadow

Good Afternoon Everyone

I know, I know,... it's been a while, but I have been really busy! 

Anyhoo, here's todays' post for you... this was a sample card I made for my last shows on Create & Craft, with one of my new stamps, Dragonfly Meadow..

I adore Dragonflies and, dare I say it, probably more than butterflies! (shocking!) lol

This is what I used:
Cream 8x8 Card Blank
Cream Card
Brown Card
Sentimentally Yours Dragonfly Meadow A5 Stamp Set
Cosmic Shimmer Gemstones Gilding Flakes
Cosmic Shimmer Flake & Glitter Glue
Brown Seam Binding Ribbon
Spellbinders Grand Ovals
Walnut Stain Distress Ink
Metal Button


This is what I did:
I won't rattle on about matting and layering as you can see what I did from the photo... 

The card blank was cut with the largest oval die through my Grand Calibur, making sure I overlapped the crease of the card and the bottom of the card to give me a fold and a flat bit so the card stood up! lol

I then did the second largest doe in brown card.

Then the third largest die is cream card and this is the one I used to gild onto.

I used the Cosmic Shimmer flake & Glitter Glue and applied it to my stamp using a piece of cut n dry foam,.. now, I have so many people ask me what the trick is with gilding flakes and it's simple really,... 

Don't use too much glue and don't apply loads of pressure when you stamp it (like you would do with inks)

I, literally, glue the stamp, then just put it onto the card, giving just a very light amount of pressure and remove it straight away.

Then, I just covered the glued impression with the gilding flakes and burnished them into the glue, rubbing off all the excess with my little scrubby sponge :-)

As you'd expect, there's a triple upside down bow made with the brown seam binding ribbon ;-)

The lovely sentiment is part of the Dragonfly Meadow set and I just stamped it onto some left over cream card and snipped the end with my scissors to give it the 'flag' look..I curled the sentiment with my bone folder and used wet glue to stick to the card.

TOP TIP - The cosmic shimmer flake and glitter glue is a little softer than most used for gilding, I would, however, clean the stamp straight away with warm soapy water (I just chucked mine in the sink lol and it washed up lovely)

You'll find most of the products I used on my show on my website here..

Hope you like it :-)

I love gilding flakes and love the overall simplicity and elegance of this card,.. the stamp is doing the hard work here (not me!) ha ha

Happy Crafting!

Create & Craft Shows...

Good Afternoon Everyone...

Just a quick post to remind you that I am back on Create & Craft tomorrow (Wednesday 28th) at 10am and 1pm with some brand new Sentimentally Yours Stamps!!

I'm so excited to be showing you these too, something a little different in one of the sets ;-)

Here's a few sneaky peeks of bits of sample cards I have made using the new stamps..

I will be making 2 cards per show on air so get the emails in for a chance to win one :-)

See you on your telly tomorrow!

White & Cream (with a hint of distress ink) :-)

Good Afternoon Everyone

Forgive me Bloggers,.. it's been 3 days since my last post :-)

I've been busy with ordering extras for the Great British Craft Festival North in Bolton... it's only a couple of weeks away!
I will be doing the VIP workshops on the Friday (30th May) and will be having a stand with my Sentimentally Yours Stamps (and other goodies) on the Saturday and Sunday (31st May and 1st June)

I'm really looking forward to this show,.. it will be the first one I've done with my own range of products so be sure to come and say hello if you're there :-) (and buy my stamps, of course ha ha)

My sister and Aunty Sue have been down to the shop today, to help me with getting everything ready, although it seems there's more to do than we thought!

Anyway, this is another one of my sample cards from my shows on Create & Craft....

This is what I used:
White 8x8 Card Blank
Cream Card
White Card
Sentimentally Yours Circle Frame & Flourish Collection A5 Stamp Set
Creative Expressions A4 Quilted Flower Embossing Folder
White Seam Binding Ribbon
Self Adhesive White Pearls
Spellbinders Gold Majesty Circle Dies
Antique Linen Distress Ink
Small Dazzlers
Flower Embellishments 


This is what I did:
I won't rattle on about matting and layering as you can see what I did from the photo...
The second layer is cream card, with just the corners and centres pierced using my pokey tool.
The third layer is white card, this has been embossed using the Quilted Flower embossing folder through my Grand Calibur.
I then, very lightly, applied the antique linen distress ink over the embossed areas, using a piece of cut n dry foam.
The centre topper was creating using the Gold Majesty Circles dies, the bottom layer is plain cream card, the second layer is white card and this has (surprisingly) been distressed around the edges using the same distress ink.
The  bottom circle has been die cut in cream card.
I stamped the smaller of the 2 circle stamps from my Sentimentally Yours Circle Frame & Flourish Collection stamp set in the same distress ink, cut this out and stamped the sentiment within the guidelines that are on the circle stamp,.. remember, there are lot's of sentiments in the set to choose from, but on this card, I chose the Happy Anniversary for a change.
The circle was given the edge inking treatment using the distress ink and then glittered :-)
I've used foam pads to create different levels of height within the topper.
I finished off with my signature upside down triple bow in white seam binding ribbon, with e small dazzler in the centre.
2 small dazzlers either side of the sentiment circle add a touch of sparkle :-)
The 3 flowers at the bottom are bought ones (I know, I cheated!) lol, but the colour was perfect to go with the card so I couldn't resist!
You'll notice that I haven't glittered the flowers, just left them plain,.. this was intentional as there is glitter on every point on the embossed background... no OTT here ;-)
I love this card, it's a clean (ish), elegant card and the colours are lovely,.. 
TOP TIP - Try this card in other colour ways, but keep them light, like lilac or sky blue... the products are doing all the work and I just put it all together... easy peasy :-)

You'll find most of the products I used on my show on my website here.. 

You'll find the full range of Polished Silk Glitters here..

Hope you like it :-)

Never give up....

Good Morning Everyone

It's a rainy, windy day (so far!) here in Nottingham,.. there'll be no sitting in the garden looking at my lovely new garden centre purchases today! lol

Anyway, this is another one of my sample cards from my shows on Create & Craft....

This is what I used:
Cream 8x8 Card Blank
Cream Card
Teal Card 
Sentimentally Yours Quotes of Inspiration Collection A5 Stamp Set
Creative Expressions A4 Cascading Hearts Embossing Folder
Teal Ribbon
Pearl Embellishment
Self Adhesive Pearls
Spellbinders Blooms Four Dies
Spellbinders Grand Decorative Ovals Dies
Spellbinders Les Papillions Two Dies
Broken China Distress Ink


This is what I did:
I won't rattle on about matting and layering as you can see what I did from the photo...
The second layer is teal card.
The third layer is cream card. I used the Grand Decorative Oval dies to create the centre aperture.
This layer was them embossed using the Cascading Hearts Embossing Folder through my Grand Calibur.
(this layer is on the card with 3d foam pads to give height and dimension) :-)
The centre topper was creating using a smaller die from the grand decorative labels, this meant I would be able to see more of the teal card behind,
I stamped one of the sentiments from my Sentimentally Yours Quotes of Inspiration set, using the broken china distress ink (The flourish in the centre is part of the sentiment,.. snazzy eh :-)
I then die cut lots of the flowers from the blooms four dies and then two butterflies in cream card.
The flowers are stunning aren't they, I love them, it's so easy to shape them like this, I just twisted the petals into themselves using my tweezers.
I've used full round pretend pearls in the centre of my flowers, but normal self adhesive ones would be ok :-)
I finished off with my signature upside down triple bow in teal ribbon.
Popped a pearl embellishment in the centre and job done.. easy peasy :-) 
TOP TIP - I've used cream linen card on my project, if you want to stamp onto linen card with distress inks, use the reverse side, it's smoother, but still has a little texture showing through and you'll get better stamping results

You'll find most of the products I used on my show on my website here.. 

You'll find the full range of Polished Silk Glitters here..

Hope you like it :-)