Happy Spring!

I spent last weekend helping my friend Bev from Uniko with her stall at the Happy Stampers festival at Port Sunlight. What a fabulous time we had! The other stall holders were very friendly, the people visiting the stall were so enthusiastic and the general atmosphere was fabulous - quite crowded but with none of the pushing and shoving I've experienced at other papercraft shows. Sarah and Lindsey from the Uniko design team were also there to help out, so we managed to talk crafting even while we were 'working'! - it was lovely to meet you both :) I'm hoping that my mojo has been given a good kick up the rear and that I will update my blog more often, but don't hold your breath, LOL!

                             

Some crafty goodies did fall into my basket while I was there but I'll show you how I used them another time. For now, I'll stick with some Stampin' Up retiring products. I've used some of the lovely and bright Cherry on Top DSP as a background for the balloons, with the sentiment stamp from Amazing Birthday inked using markers  for the multi-coloured effect. The balloon strings are silver metallic thread, held in place with a candy dot.

Stamps: Amazing Birthday

Ink: Watermelon Wonder, Crushed Curry, Tip Top Taupe, Cucumber Crush, Bermuda Bay

Cardstock: Whisper White (thick and standard), Tip Top Taupe, Watermelon Wonder, Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay

Other: Tags and Labels Framelits, Balloon Bouquet punch, Silver metallic thread, Candy Dots (brights)

Hooray!

New stamping goodies are in the building!! Quick post with a few cards I've not yet blogged, then off to play LOL!

Products used (all Stampin’ Up! unless otherwise stated):

• Stamps: Wishes Your Way
• Ink: Basic Black
• Cardstock: Marina Mist, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight
• Other: Brights Designer Paper stack, Cloudy Day embossing folder, Pinwheel Sizzlits die, Adorning Accents edgelit, Marina Mist 3/8” striped organdy ribbon, cocktail stick (non-SU!)

Products used (all Stampin’ Up! unless otherwise stated):

• Stamps: Blooming with Kindness
• Ink: Midnight Muse
• Cardstock: Midnight Muse, Very Vanilla, Summer Starfruit
• Other: Print Poetry Designer Paper stack, Honeycomb embossing folder, Beautiful Wings embosslit, Extra Large Oval punch, Gumball Green 3/8” stitched satin ribbon, Pearl jewels, dimensionals.

Another hint of Christmas

Another Christmas card - I'm on a roll LOL! The snowflake image has been embossed with white embossing powder, then cut with the scallop circle punch. The bird has been stamped using Island Indigo on white cardstock, then cut with the 1" circle punch and popped up on dimensionals in the centre of the embossed snowflakes. The rest is pretty self-explanatory, I think! Please get in touch if it's not :) 

Products used (all Stampin' Up!):

• Stamps: Four Seasons (hostess), Wacky Wishes (hostess)
• Ink: Pool Party, Island Indigo, Versamark
• Cardstock: Island Indigo, Whisper White
• Other: Top Note die, 2 3/8" Scallop circle punch, 1" Circle punch, White embossing powder, In-colour 11-13 designer paper, In-colour printed brads, dimensionals.

Halloween

Here's a quick post with a Halloween treat I made. I started making the treats, then realised that I would have no-one to give them to as the boys are at Gran's house and I'm on a late shift so won't see any Trick or Treaters! The original plan was to fill them with some orange-coloured chocolate balls I'd seen in the supermarket but as they won't be used as treats, I've substituted a chocolate drinking straw for demonstration purposes :)

Front

Back

The new skinny cello bags are great for little treats, and the topper can be changed to suit the occasion. 

Hope you have a fab Halloween, back soon!

Products used (all Stampin' Up!):

Stamps: Mixed Medley (hostess A/W)

Ink: Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie

Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black, Whisper White

Other: Two Tags Bigz die, 1 3/4" Scallop circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, 1 1/4" Scallop circle punch, 3/4" circle punch, Cello bags.

A thank you card

Here’s a card made with some products from the summer mini that I didn’t get round to posting. Here’s hoping some of them make it into the NEW annual catalogue, which starts October 1st ;)
Products used (all Stampin’ Up!):

• Stamps: Curly Cute
• Ink: Soft Suede
• Cardstock: Pool Party, Soft Suede, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Poppy Parade
• Other: Fun Flowers Bigz L die, Fancy flower punch, Boho Blossoms punch, Attic Boutique DSP (summer mini), Adorning Accents Edgelits die (summer mini), Circle Fire Rhinestone brads, Whisper White 5/8” satin ribbon.

New goodies

I’ve finally had a chance to use some of the products from the new summer mini, and take some photos!

I created a pretty edge to the card using one of the new edgelit dies and matching embossing folder on blushing bride cardstock. The flower image (from the apothecary art stamp set) has been stamped in black ink on white cardstock, then cut using one of the new framelits dies (labels collection). The flowers were coloured using an aqua painter and several of the pink inks to produce some depth of colour, and green on the leaves. A mat of green designer paper (twitterpated) with a white trim, created using the dotted scallop ribbon border punch, lies under the main image. Black satin ribbon with a tab accent provides another layer. The sentiment has been stamped in black on pear cardstock and trimmed into a banner shape.

Products used (all Stampin’ Up!):

• Stamps: Apothecary Art
• Ink: Basic Black, Blushing Bride, Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Pear Pizzazz, Certainly Celery
• Cardstock: Blushing Bride, Whisper White, Pear Pizzazz
• Other: Labels Collection Framelits dies, Adorning Accents Edgelit dies, Adorning Accents Embossing folders, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, Black 5/8” satin ribbon, Aqua Painter, dimensionals.

Another challenge card

Today's card was inspired by another colour challenge - this time it was the Just add Ink colour challenge 112, to use the following colours:

I've used pink pirouette, crumb cake and chocolate chip inks to stamp several of the images from the spiced paisley set. I also stamped one of the images using versamark, then used heat and powder and dazzling diamonds glitter to add a little sparkle to the background layer. Next I embossed this layer using the square lattice embossing folder to add a bit of texture, and added to a chocolate chip mat and a crumb cake card base.

A strip of chocolate chip cardstock, cut with the lace ribbon border punch, provides a background for the gorgeous lace crochet trim. A double-loop bow of the lace has also been added using an antique brad.The sentiment has been stamped in chocolate chip ink onto an oval of vanilla cardstock, and added to the fabulous vintage-looking frame (cut with one of the tags dies in pink pirouette).

And I thought I was on time to post to the challenge blog! Unfortunately I forgot the time difference between here and Oz ;) Here’s a closer look at the glittered paisley - unfortunately you lose a lot of the glitter when it is embossed.

Products used (all Stampin' Up!):

• Stamps: Spiced Paisley, Sincere Salutations
• Ink: Pink Pirouette, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Versamark
• Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Pink Pirouette, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip
• Other: Lace Ribbon border punch, Lots of Tags Sizzlits die, Extra Large Oval punch, Victoria Crochet trim, Antique brads, Heat and Stick powder, Dazzling Diamonds glitter.

Happy birthday sis!

Here's the card I made for my sister's birthday several weeks ago, using the gorgeous Beau Chateau designer papers. I must admit that I completely ignored these papers in the catalogue but then I saw them 'in the flesh' and they are fabulous! Not sure about the rooster on one of the papers, but the advantage of double sided papers means I don't have to use him ;)

I started with a square cardbase of Natural Ivory cardstock, added the brown DSP, then cut the pink DSP to the right size before tearing one side and inking with soft suede ink. Some vanilla 1/4" grosgrain ribbon has been layered onto a strip of suede cardstock (cut with the dotted scallop ribbon border punch).

I have used a designer frames embossing folder on more of the ivory cardstock, torn round the outside of the frame and inked using soft suede. The sentiment has been stamped with suede ink onto an oval of pink cardstock and added to the inside of the frame.

My sister loved it but in hindsight, I wish I'd added some pearls for a bit more bling!

Thank you

Well, October has been and gone already! Not much crafting for me for various reasons, but I'm hoping to rectify that this month as I need to get cracking on the Christmas cards! Here's one card I made earlier in the month for the members of my Stamper's 6 group - it showcases some of the lovely new products available in the 2011-2012 catalogue. I actually made it in several colourways but this is the one I got a photo of.

Products used (all Stampin' Up!):

• Stamps: Curly Cute
• Ink: Pool Party, Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Wisteria Wonder, Island Indigo
  
• Cardstock: Pool Party, Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Wisteria Wonder, Island Indigo, Whisper White, Basic Black
• Other: Lace Ribbon border punch, 1" Circle punch, Lots of Tags Sizzlits die, Boho Blossoms punch, Extra Large Oval punch, Rhinestone jewels.

Too late!

Wow, the past few weeks have flown by. I had a few cards featuring retiring products that I wanted to post before the new catalogue went live, but I'm last-minute-Larry as usual! Never mind, I'll be ordering new goodies tomorrow and hope they arrive quickly (I have a NEED for a certain new ribbon ;)) As a demonstrator, I could order some new products early, so I may be giving a little teaser over the next few days to whet your appetite! In the meantime, here's a few I made earlier.

Products used (all Stampin' Up!):

• Stamps: Fast and Fabulous (hostess L2), Simply Said
• Ink: Basic Gray, Poppy Parade
  
• Cardstock: Basic Gray, Poppy Parade, Whisper White
• Other: In Colour Designer Paper pack (hostess L1), Large Oval punch, Scalloped Oval punch, White 5/8" Organza ribbon.
  

Products used (all Stampin' Up!):

• Stamps: Kimono Kids
• Ink: Basic Black, Poppy Parade, Baja Breeze
  
• Cardstock: Basic Black, Poppy Parade, Baja Breeze, Whisper White
• Other: Modern Label punch, Lots of Tags Sizzlits die, Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta ribbon.

More retirees.

This card features several products on the last chance list. The Greenhouse Gala designer paper and Afterthoughts stamp set (clear mount) are still available, but the jumbo eyelets have sold out.

The designer paper has been cut with the top note die, cut along the perforated line and stuck to a top note shape cut from pumpkin pie cardstock. This has then been cut in half vertically and added to a card base of chocolate chip. Jumbo eyelets have been added to the baja breeze oval layer, and twill threaded through the holes before being tied together with linen thread. the sentiment has been stamped on pear pizzazz cardstock and added using dimensionals.

Products used (all Stampin' Up!):

• Stamps: Afterthoughts (hostess L1)
  
• Ink: Chocolate Chip
  
• Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzazz
• Other: Greenhouse Gala designer paper, Top Note Die, 1 3/4"circle punch, Extra Large Oval punch, Pewter Jumbo eyelets, 3/8" Twill tape, linen thread.

For Beth

This was made originally for my god-daughter's 21st birthday - I thought the Eiffel Tower was quite appropriate as she was spending a few days in Paris with her fiance. I changed my mind at the last minute (as you do with cards for important people!) and made an alternative. Needless to say, I never got a photo of that one as the glue was still drying when she opened the envelope ;)

The red cardbase has been stamped using black ink and the En Francais background stamp, then a layer of designer paper (with distressed and charcoal-inked edges) added to the left hand side. The tower has been stamped in black on vanilla cardstock, which has then been crumpled and the edges distressed using the fabulous distressing kit. A layer of black cardstock provides a mat for the image. The sentiment has been stamped in black then punched and coloured using a red marker, then popped up on dimensionals.

Products used (all Stampin' Up!):

• Stamps – Artistic Etchings, Oval All, En Francais BG
• Ink – Basic Black, Charcoal
• Cardstock – Red Riding Hood Red, Basic Black , Very Vanilla
• Other – Love Letter DSP, Marvellous Markers, 1¾ Oval punch, Distressing kit, sponge daubers, dimensionals.

Father's Day

I thought I'd show a masculine card, as it's Father's Day.

The front of the soft suede card base has been folded back on itself, then embossed using the square lattice embossing folder. The plane, stamped in suede ink on vanilla cardstock, has been attached to the card front using a chocolate cardstock mat cut in a geometric shape. The letters have been stamped in chocolate ink on vanilla, then cut using a circle punch and arranged above the plane using dimensionals.

The stopwatch and goggles, stamped in suede ink, have been cut/punched and raised on dimensionals too. The inside of the card has a layer of vanilla cardstock with a border stamped in chocolate ink. Here's the card partially open.

Hope you could spend some time with your Dad today!

Products used (all Stampin' Up!):

• Stamps – Plane and Simple, Just Perfect alphabet
• Ink – Early Espresso, Soft Suede
• Cardstock – Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla
• Other – 3/4" Circle punch, Extra Large Oval punch, Square Lattice Embossing folder, dimensionals.

Short and Sweet

The photo doesn't do this card justice - it looks really elegant in real life and is really easy to make! I've used it for thank you cards and birthday cards so far.

A layer of white cardstock, partially embossed with the vintage wallpaper embossing folder, is added to an olive card base. Rose red seam binding, folded into rough pleats, covers where the embossing stops on the cardstock. The sentiment and frame have been stamped in black Stazon, then carefully coloured using a blender pen and rose and olive inks. A punched mat of olive cardstock has been cut along the length then stuck to the sentiment layer so it only shows on 2 sides.

Products used (all Stampin' Up!):

• Stamps – Four Frames, Fresh Cuts
• Ink –Stazon Black, Old Olive, Rose Red
• Cardstock - Old Olive, Whisper White
• Other – Vintage Wallpaper Embossing folder, Decorative Label punch, Blender pen, Rose Red Seam Binding ribbon, Sticky Strip, Mini Glue dots, dimensionals.

Bright butterfly birthday

I saw my first butterfly of the year today, so I thought I'd show you a card with butterflies. I made this earlier in the year when there was snow on the ground - Mother Nature obviously ignored my hopes for some warm weather for quite a long time!

Products used (all Stampin' Up!):

• Stamps - Punch Potpourri (hostess L1), Occasional Quotes (hostess L3)
  
• Ink - Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo, Tempting Turquoise
  
• Cardstock - Whisper White, Melon Mambo
• Other - Scallop Edge Border punch, Butterfly punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, Corner rounder punch, Designer Series Paper Patterns stack (Brights), stamp-a-ma-jig, dimensionals.

A soft wedding card

Pink isn't one of my favourite colours, perhaps because I wasn't really a girly-girl growing up (I swapped my Teeny Tiny Tears doll for some marbles - oh, did I get into trouble for that one!!)

So I'm quite surprised at how often I am drawn to this sort of colour scheme (see here too).

As usual, what you see is what you get. Crumb cake card base with layer of vanilla cardstock, trimmed with scallop trim border punch. Layer of blushing bride designer paper, and pear pizzazz stitched ribbon. The heart stamp is from the level 1 hostess stamp set, Punch Potpourri (contact me to learn how you can get this set FREE!) The flowers and leaves have been coloured using ink and an Aqua Painter, then the image punched out with the full heart punch. A few pearls have been added before the heart is attached to the card using dimensionals. The sentiment, stamped in rose red ink and punched with the word window punch, has then been added to a crumb cake mat, punched with the modern label punch. More pearls have been added before using dimensionals to attach the sentiment.

Products used (all Stampin' Up!):

• Stamps - Punch Potpourri (hostess L1), Special Blessings
  
• Ink - Crumb Cake, Rose Red, Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz
  
• Cardstock - Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla
• Other - In-colour Designer Paper stack, Scallop Trim Border punch, Full Heart punch, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Pear Pizzazz 1/2" stitched poly ribbon, Aqua Painter, Pearls, dimensionals.

Well I must admit that my crafting time has been seriously compromised lately, even though I've got some gorgeous products from the new catalogue. The reason ? This.......

We started fostering a 14 week old deerhound/greyhound cross. Unfortunately, we've got a soft spot for the broken-coated lurchers, so we've been 'forced' to adopt her! We've managed to foster 20+ dogs without succumbing so I suppose we haven't done too bad :) We'd just forgotten in the 13 years since our 'old man' was a pup what little monsters they are. The delightful Betty thinks she's an Andrex puppy and charges round the garden with the loo roll flying whenever she gets an opportunity. Not to mention the apples she's stolen off the tree. Lego, shoes and washing up sponges are also fair game. She takes up a whole 3-seater sofa and she hasn't stopped growing yet. ARE WE MAD? Please don't answer that question on the grounds that I know the answer already. But she is gorgeous and we love her to bits. And yes, she IS on a trampoline in the photo :)

Here's a card I managed to make in 'Betty-down-time'! I recently took part in a ribbon swap with some other demos and needed some Thank You cards. I'm not really a fan of blue but I love the new colour Baja Breeze, used for the card base.



The flower image has been stamped in chocolate ink on white cardstock, trimmed and mounted onto the Baja base. White satin ribbon has been layered onto a piece of chocolate cardstock, the edge of which has been punched with the new Scallop Trim border punch. The chocolate sentiment has been punched with the Scallop Oval punch and mounted onto a Baja Breeze mat made with the new extra large oval punch.

Products used (all Stampin' Up!):

• Stamps: Ornate Flowers, Perfect Punches
  
• Ink: Chocolate Chip
  
• Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
• Other: Scallop Trim border punch, Scallop Oval Extra Large punch, Oval Extra Large punch, white 5/8" satin ribbon.
  

Not much stamping on this one!

The large two step bird punch is fab for creating quick and easy cards like this one. Two different patterns from the To the Nines paper collection have been used to make the bird, with another paper used as an accent. The leaves have been punched from sage cardstock, and the sentiment stamped in chocolate chip ink.


Products used (all Stampin' Up!):

• Stamps: Sincere Salutations
  
• Ink: Chocolate Chip
  
• Cardstock: Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow
  
• Other: To the Nines designer paper, Two step Bird punch.