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Monday 30 April 2012

New stamps from Stampin' Up

The thing that excites me the most about crafting is getting a new stamp set - or better still, LOTS of new stamp sets! And that's exactly what has happened because we have a new mini catalogue for the summer and it is packed with wonderful new sets, not to mention loads of other goodies! I'll tell you more about it tomorrow when it goes live - and you'll be able to access the online catalogue here too.

Today, I've made a card for Masculine Monday made with one of my favourite sets from the new catalogue called The Open Sea.


The set contains five vintage-style images perfect for making layered scenes like this one. I mounted my scene onto a scored card base (I'll have news about that tomorrow!) Come and see a close up:


I sponged in a sky (using my circles-glued-together template for the clouds) and then used the woodgrain background to make the sea. If you look closely you'll see a faint list image in the background and over the top, in darker ink, the compass and globe image. The ship is inked up with a Basic Black marker and stamped using a stamp-a-majig for placement and the card is finished with a sentiment from Petite Pairs and a knot of linen thread.

Here's what you'll need to make today's card:
Stamps: The Open Sea, Petite Pairs, Woodgrain
Ink: Pool Party, Island Indigo, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
Card stock: Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Garden Green
Other: Basic Black marker, handheld punch, linen thread, Simply Scored, stamp-a-majig
I'd be delighted to order any of these items for you and can have them delivered to your address in the UK. I'm committed to providing excellent customer service and am always happy to offer help and advice. To place your order, just send me an email or give me a call on 01280 820593. TODAY IS THE LAST DAY FOR THIS SPECIAL OFFER: add a free pack of designer paper if your order is £45 or more (Offer limited to one pack per qualifying order - click here for details).

I had a lovely time at the Stampin' Up regional training on Saturday meeting old friends and new, learning about the new products and hearing the latest news. The theme of the training was My Way - and it is so true: everyone runs their Stampin' Up business in a unique way to suit their own lifestyle. If you've been thinking about becoming a demonstrator, you can now buy a starter kit for only £99 and choose £130 worth of products to go in it. I'm always happy to talk to you in an honest, no pressure way about joining, so just let me know if you're interested (send me an email or give me a call on 01280 820593.)

Have a happy Monday and don't forget to come back tomorrow to get all the news about the new launch!

Hugs,





Friday 27 April 2012

Simply Soft Christmas?!

Regular readers of my blog will know how much I love the ColourQ challenges - there's something about those colour swatches and inspiration pictures that fires me up! I must admit it took a while to figure something out for this week's though...


... but I wouldn't be beaten! Here's my interpretation:


I went for an emboss/resist background using the wonderful script image from the French Foliage stamp set. Once it was embossed I sponged Coral Calypso and Bravo Burgundy inks over it. The plants are from the wonderful Simply Soft hostess set. (Hostess sets are exclusive sets, available to buy with orders of £150 or more, but members of my Stampers 6 group can also order them during their hostess month - there's only one place left for my group starting in May, so do let me know as soon as possible if you'd like to join.)


Do you like the sentiment? I was rather pleased with it! I cut a half circle out of my main panel with a 1 1/4" circle punch then, using a 1" punch and a spare scrap of card stock, cut another circle to nest inside the space. This one was given the emboss/resist treatment. The 'thanks' sentiment has been cut out with my sharp paper snips and popped up with dimensionals.


Simply Soft is a two step stamping set - you can stamp the plant image and then add the colour to the flowers by lining up a second image and stamping over the top of the first. It gives a lovely soft look but I wanted a more defined look for this image so I just coloured the flowers in with a Pumpkin Pie marker. I liked the bubbles in the inspiration picture, so I added the surprise pop of Pool Party using the splodge image from French Foliage.

While I had everything out, it occurred to me that this design would work for a Christmas card too! Come and have a look:


I used markers for this one: Bravo Burgundy to colour the just plant stems before stamping and adding Pumpkin Pie berries. The Pool Party splodges have been swapped for Pool Party snowflakes some of which have been decorated with rhinestones for a bit of festive bling.


The sentiment has been done in the same way as before but this time I've chosen an easy-to-cut-out image from Contempo Christmas. This card is for the 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown challenge, where the challenge is to use snowflakes on a card, and also Rudolph Day, the lovely Sandra's Christmas challenge.


I would normally add a supply list here so that you can see what you'd need to recreate these cards but this has been a long post and I don't want to completely bore you (apologies if I already have!) So if you have any queries about what I've used, do let me know won't you and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. And if you'd like to place an order, just send me an email or give me a call on 01280 820593. TODAY'S THE LAST DAY  for adding a free pack of designer paper if your order is £45 or more (offer limited to one pack per qualifying order - click here for details).

I'm off to one of Stampin' Up's fabulous regional training sessions tomorrow to learn heaps of new things and meet up with lots of other lovely demonstrators. I'll be back on Monday with a sneak peek of something brand new and gorgeous so don't miss that!

Have a wonderful weekend,




Thursday 26 April 2012

Three minute 2 step bird card

This week, I had my 2 step bird punch out for some leaves - nothing rare in that! - and I found myself looking at the bird. I wondered whether it would make one of the thick, chipboard-style shapes I'm so fond of. I tried it out and found that not only did it work really well but, because of the shape of the bird, it was really fast too - and so, this card makes my three minute Thursday slot this week! Come and see:


The Beyond the Garden papers, which are my favourites from this month's special freebies, make a lovely backdrop for the bird with a quickly sponged plain square in the middle.



I punched out five birds from Whisper White card stock (discarding the wings) and one from Pacific Point card stock (including the wing). I cut an eye in the blue bird with my hand held punch and then stuck them all together with Tombow. It's so easy to do this - if you smooth the tail into place everything else seems to follow. To finish the bird the wing is popped up on a dimensional and I added colour to the eye with a journaler.



Here's a Melon Mambo version using another of the stunning papers...


... and a photo of them both together - wouldn't they make a nice gift set?!

Here's what you'll need to make today's cards:
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Pacific Point/Melon Mambo, Bashful Blue for sponging
Card stock: Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, Pacific Point/Melon Mambo
Other: 2 step bird punch, Beyond the Garden designer paper, journaler, stamp-a-majig
I'd be delighted to order any of these items for you and can have them delivered to your address in the UK. I'm committed to providing excellent customer service and am always happy to offer help and advice. To place your order, just send me an email or give me a call on 01280 820593. And don't forget to add a free pack of designer paper if your order is £45 or more (Offer limited to one pack per qualifying order - click here for details).

We like to spot birds in our family although we're pretty rubbish at it really. My youngest son once went out on a bird-spotting walk with his dad and when he came back he solemnly told me he'd seen a peregrine falcon!

Thanks for visiting me today. I'll be back tomorrow with something that is so far just an idea in my head... Hope to see you then,

Wednesday 25 April 2012

Beyond the Garden gift voucher set

It's my sister's birthday today! Since I won't be able to see her today I thought a voucher for the online fashion emporium ASOS would be easy to post and fun for her to spend - she is a very stylish woman who looks elegant even in jeans and a t-shirt! I bought the voucher online, printed it off and then set about making it look exciting with some of this month's free papers! Come and see:


First a little bag which is a piece of the gorgeous Beyond the Garden designer paper, folded in half, scalloped round the sides and top, and sewed up the sides. The voucher fits exactly in the bag!


I attached a strip of Wild Wasabi card stock to the back of the voucher with Sticky Strip then folded it over...


... and it tucks neatly down between the nesting labels to close. But where did I get those gorgeous nesting labels and that amazing stamp that fits so perfectly? Well, there are exciting things afoot at Stampin' Up and these framelits dies are just one part of it - watch this space for more news!

A pretty gift bag requires a coordinating card so I chose another of the Beyond the Garden papers in similar colours and cut a piece a little smaller than my card base.


And beyond matting it onto Wild Wasbi card stock and adding a sentiment I left it at that. My sister isn't a fan of fussy cards and this paper really is a show-stopper in its own right anyway.


I inked up my sentiment first in versamark, then straight into Melon Mambo ink and stamped it onto the card front before heat embossing with clear embossing powder. This really does make it stand out against the bold pattern.


The remains of the paper I'd used for the gift bag was perfect for lining the envelope for a touch of luxury.


And there we are - a birthday set all easy for posting. And hopefully she has it today!

Here's what you'll need to make today's set:
Stamps: Happiest of Birthdays (hostess set), Afterthoughts (retired) Apothecary Art
Ink: Melon Mambo,
Card stock: Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, Calypso Coral
Other: Markers, Labels Collection framelits, corner rounder, scallop border punch, stamp-a-majig
I'd be delighted to order any of these items for you and can have them delivered to your address in the UK. I'm committed to providing excellent customer service and am always happy to offer help and advice. To place your order, just send me an email or give me a call on 01280 820593. And don't forget to add a free pack of designer paper if your order is £45 or more (Offer limited to one pack per qualifying order - click here for details).

My eldest son's voice has become very manly all of a sudden. "When did your voice get so low?" I asked him. "I dunno," he said. "But I can still go high if I see a puppy: aaaah!"

I shall be back with Three Minute Thursday tomorrow when I'll be showing you a quick card using designer paper and a punch I've fallen in love with all over again! Hope to see you then,


Tuesday 24 April 2012

21st birthday charm card

My weekends have been so busy lately I've not been able to make a card for the excellent Less is More challenge until the week begins! Anyway here I am, late but enthusiastic, with an entry for this week's theme which is Charms:


I suspended my charm from a branch on the Elegant Bouquet embossing folder with a needle and thread and then embellished with a little bakers twine in Calypso Coral. I've always loved the idea of keys for a coming of age card - they symbolise the unlocking of the door into the adult world. I've made a 21st birthday card although in reality, in the UK, 18 seems to be the age that most legal changes happen (you can get married without permission, vote, make legal contracts, purchase alcohol, fireworks, a crossbow - yes really! A crossbow!)


Here's a close up of my key. It's one of a range of charms from the spring mini catalogue (pages 7-8) which not only make fantastic card embellishments but also look wonderful with the customisable jewellery - as in this picture from Stampin' Up:


Aren't they absolutely gorgeous?! They come in elegant brown boxes and make unique gifts but sadly they won't be available after the end of this month so do get in touch soon if you'd like any of them won't you.


I put together this 21st birthday sentiment using my stamp-a-majig and two sentiment stamps - the 'st' was actually taken from the word Christmas! The numbers are die cut using my Timeless Type medium sizzlit dies.

Here's what you'll need to make today's card:
Stamps: Happiest birthday Wishes (hostess set), Petite Pairs (for the 'st')
Ink: Basic Grey
Card stock: Very Vanilla, Calypso Coral
Other: Elegant Bouquet embossing folder, Itty Bitty punch pack, corner rounder, bakers twine in Calypso Coral, Timeless Type junior alphabet dies, Basic Pearls, stamp-a-majig
I'd be delighted to order any of these items for you and can have them delivered to your address in the UK. I'm committed to providing excellent customer service and am always happy to offer help and advice. To place your order, just send me an email or give me a call on 01280 820593. And don't forget to add a free pack of designer paper if your order is £45 or more (Offer limited to one pack per qualifying order - click here for details).

I don't know about you but we get inundated with those overseas sales calls. I got one last night where the guy, who spoke English with a pronounced accent, introduced himself as Harry. "Oh hi Harry," I said. "This isn't a very convenient time to call actually because I'm cooking dinner for my family. Thanks for calling though," I added as I replaced the receiver. "Who was that?" my daughter asked, laughing. "Harry Potter?" I shook my head. "No it was Harry Styles," I said with a straight face. The children all giggled but my husband, who has never even heard of One Direction, said "Who's Harry Styles?"

I'll be back tomorrow to show you a gift set I made for my lovely sister. I hope you can join me!

Hugs,

Monday 23 April 2012

Postage Stamp punch male card

Good morning! It's time to start the week with a male card as usual and today I've been inspired by the Make My Monday challenge with the month's theme of Male Cards and this week featuring Birds or Animals. Come and see:


Yes, I just had to use my Postage Stamp punch again - I love it to bits! (By the way, this punch won't be available after the end of this month so, if you love it as much as I do, don't miss it!) I sponged ink into a mask made by snipping a square out of a post it note and stamped a bird before removing the mask. The Postage Stamp punch was positioned over the inked square and it was cut out. Here's a close up:


You may recognise the layout as being this fabulous sketch at CAS-ual Fridays. I wasn't sure what to make of it at first but there are all sorts of possibilities!



Here's what you'll need to make today's card:
Stamps: Nature Walk, Young Vermillion, Happiest Birthday Wishes (hostess set)
Ink: Early Espresso, Marina Mist, Pool Party, Whisper White craft ink
Card stock: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Early Espresso
Other: Postage Stamp punch, sponge daubers, paper snips, stamp-a-majig
I'd be delighted to order any of these items for you and can have them delivered to your address in the UK. I'm committed to providing excellent customer service and am always happy to offer help and advice. To place your order, just send me an email or give me a call on 01280 820593. And don't forget to add a free pack of designer paper if your order is £45 or more (Offer limited to one pack per qualifying order - click here for details).

My daughter has picked up a new word while reading the Sunday Times Style magazine. I found this out when I suggested that she might feel more in control of her life if she were to tidy her room. "Just look at all your clothes everywhere!" I said. "Oh that's not a mess," she said. "That's my floordrobe!"

Thanks for dropping in today. I shall be back tomorrow with a 21st birthday card so do come and have a look if you have a minute.

Hugs,