Simply...

I am simply having so much fun trying out the new goodies that arrived this week . The first two cards were made using the Simply Sketched stamp set...this is a hostess exclusive set and is simply lovely. It has six stamps...three images and three sentiments for Birthday, Sympathy and Thank You cards.

I have used the Happy Birthday Wishes sentiment on both of these cards and as you can probably tell, it fits perfectly inside the oval punch.

The card on the right is the floral image in strawberry slush on strawberry slush Designer series paper.

The card on the left is made using  baked brown sugar, pumpkin pie, chocolate chip and whisper white cardstock. I used a tiny piece of the new chevron ribbon in pumpkin pie. This ribbon has a really soft luxurious feel to it that took me a little by surprise.

 The chevrons on the ribbon and the designer series paper have the added bonus of optical illusion which is great if you ever suffer from wonky eyeballs when making up a card or project. This stuff is very forgiving.


If you would like to know more about how you could get hostess exclusive products please drop me a line



That's it for today...I will be back soon with new projects made with new goodies...Remember if you would like to purchase any of the products used here, please just give me a call or send me an email, its really that simple.

Until next time, take care

Christa   xx

Giggly goodies....

When I very first set eyes on a preview copy of the new annual catalogue my heart was captured by the cute Giggle Greetings stamp set and I knew it would be top of my list...and it was...and it seems only right that the very first cards I make with my new goodies include this wonderful set.

It has four stamped images each with its own cute and funny sentiment.

The birthday card on the right was made using coastal cabana and baked brown sugar from the new in colours selection. I also used the Simply Stars set to form the accent on the top corner.

The card on the left I like to think of an empathy card of encouragement. I used the new in-colours designer series paper  (which I love by the way) in Strawberry Slush  and I also used two of the stamps from the the Tape It stamp set for the additional accents on this card.








I also used Tape It on the card on the right ...but this time I used it  to stamp the background using strawberry slush and baked brown sugar (from the new in colour collection) along with crushed curry (one of the new revamp colours.) I also used an embossed panel of crushed curry matted on to strawberry slush as a base for the 'cheese-cake/cake of cheese'  image. The Happy Birthday banner is from the Hostess set Banner Greetings







Finally for the fourth image in the set I made this cute little card  ...which I plan to send to my niece who just got a new job (a promotion)

For this one I used baked Brown Sugar throughout and I fixed the banner greeting to the card with a new and super cute  candy dots builder brad.


I fell in love with this set the moment I clapped eyes on it and I knew I had to have it...and I was right. These are just my first test cards using this set...I think this will be out on my desk for many months to come...after all we can all use a giggle now and then...



With such a huge variety of gorgeous stamp sets in the new catalogue it can be hard to choose. Do you have a favourite set yet? What is at the top of your wishlist?

I will be back soon with something else mad using my new goodies.

Until next time, take care

Christa   xx

Goody goody Goodies...

Not sure why every minute feels like an hour when you are waiting for a delivery but finally it arrived and I  got my husband to drag the stuff upstairs into the spare room so I could spread it all out on the bed.  I took a quick photo after I had opened the box and checked the list of gorgeous goodies...

I spent around an hour this evening mounting and attaching labels to the seventeen stamp sets, which  gave me time to have a think about how I might use each one.

In the coming days I will share some of the projects I plan to make using the new products. We have painters doing the outside of our house which means I need to stay home for the next couple of days  ... what better way to pass the time than stamping.

Until next time, take care

Christa   xx

Preparing for Mister Brown

I have spent the entire weekend trying to sort through the chaos of my craft room  because I have had confirmation that Mister Brown will be bringing my first full new catty order on Monday ...and I need to make space for new goodies and the fun that goes with them.

No crafting has taken place since Friday evening and I am feeling the withdrawals already.... Thank goodness there will lots of stamping and inkiness when the delivery is unpacked...

On the bright side there has been a big cull of scrappy bits - those pieces of pretty paper or cardstock that aren't quite big enough for a project on their own but that  are too good to throw out and /or will come in handy. I have always been a bit of a meanie refusing to throw away anything until it really does have no possible use...but the reality of the space available to store this stuff  vs the need for space to store the  inbound  new catty goodies meant that common sense simply had to prevail...

So I got a 12 x12 box and filled it until it couldn't hold another single scrap...and then I taped the lid shut and let hubby ditch the rest. Our local recycling crew are going to be stunned to find three bags waiting on the path tomorrow morning...

I have cleaned the desk, the craft mat and have made space for the boxes to sit while I check the contents. Now all that I have to do is wait.... I will have my nose pressed against the window in the morning for sure. I hope he comes early....

Until next time, take care

Christa   xx

My Favourite things....G H and I

G is for ...Giggle Greetings

I just fell in love with this stamp set the moment I saw it. It is cute and funny and can be used with or without the sentiments and can be coloured or not as you choose. I needed a giggly set and this fits the bill perfectly. My set is on its way as I type and the minute it arrives I will be using it for sure...

H is for... Happy Day

Stampin' Up! likes to reward its demonstrators and during a recent promotion I earned this stamp set for free and the sentiments are just great - especially for those just because cards...The other elements are classy and make good focal points and also great backgrounds and borders. I used Happy Day in the making of both these cards

I is for...Inkiness

Lets face it, where would us stampers be without ink?  Ink pads and refills and Illuminate pads to add shimmer and those wonderful new in colours are always high on my list... and lucky me I have the new ink pad storage caddy on its way ...I will be sure to upload a photo of that when  it arrives too. My ink pads are going to love having a proper place to call home and I am going to love having somewhere to keep them all stored so I can see what I have and grab what I need for my project.

So that is ABC (or should I say  the G H and I )  of a few of my favourites for today ...I would love to know what is catching your eye....and I will be back soon with some more thoughts , hints and project ideas inspired by the contents of the new catalogue. As always if you have any questions or would like to know more about any products or promotions please do get in touch 

Until next time, take care

Christa   xx

Continuing with my favourite things D-F

I thought the alphabet might be a fun way of skipping through the new catalogue picking a few of my favourite things to highlight and so here we go.

This section was pretty easy for me to favourite because I love my big shot machine and I use it all the time so anything to do with die cutting or embossing using the big shot is always a big hit with me.

D is for Dies...

as well as the fabulous established dies we have a new kid on the block. In the Spring Summer seasonal we got the Card Base pop 'n Cuts die and the Dress Form pop n' cuts to go with it,... and now we have the label pop 'n cuts die and this coordinates with a new framelits die too. Check out all the die cutting options starting on page 184.

E is for Embossing...

We have four new embossing folders (find them on page 191) all of which coordinate with other products in the catalogue. My current favourite is the Modern Mosaic which I used to make this card ...

I'd love to know, which one will be your favourite? 

F is for Framelits...

Stampin' Up! has added five new sets of Framelits in this catalogue to classic shapes layering sets that will be a staple item in many crafting projects , a new deco label that coordinates with the latest Pop 'n Cuts die and two new sets to coordinate with newly released stamp sets...and these two are offered as bundles with the stamp sets at a discounted price. Framelits can be found starting on page 186.

So that is ABC (or should I say DEF )  of a few of my favourites for today ...I would love to know what is catching your eye....and I will be back soon with some more thoughts , hints and project ideas inspired by the contents of the new catalogue. As always if you have any questions or would like to know more about any products or promotions please do get in touch 

Until next time, take care

Christa   xx

The ABC of a few of my favourite things....

A is for  Alphabets .... 

on page 131 you will find the new ABC-123 Outline Alphabets & Numbers and the coordinating ABC-123 Sketch Alphabets & Numbers...great that you can use either of the sets on their own or use them both together... a super chance for crafting friends or family to club together and get both...

B is for  Bundles ...

Everyone loves to say money and now is the perfect time to bag a bundle...There are no less than 7  great new bundles in this catalogue, each designed to present you with fabulous coordinated products and at a discounted bundle price. Check out Chalk Talk stamps and matching framelits bundle on page 12, ( The framelits in the bundle also coordinate with the Tag It set on page 45 ... and with each   Tag It stamp set  sold,  Stampin' Up! donate £2 to Ronald McDonald House Charities) also Backyard Basics stamp set and framelits on page 79,  Wildflower Meadow background stamp and embossing folder bundle on page 83,  Flower Shop stamp set and matching pansy punch on page 94,  Mosaic Madness  stamp set and punch Bundle on page 123 (there is a fabulous  Modern Mosaic embossing folder that goes with this set too and you will find that on page 191), Six Sided Sampler bundle on page 125 has an 11 piece stamp set and matching hexagon punch, and don't forget to check out the Tag a bag bundles on page 158 for all your packaging needs. 

and Backgrounds ...

There are some fabulous new background stamps including dictionary on page 100 and the fabulous background builder stamp set on page 119 ...

and  Buttons....

and how can we ignore the beautiful revamped button selection on page 168, including the gorgeous  Very Vintage designer buttons  which are fabulous and the thing I love best about them, especially the larger of the two sizes, is that they are lightweight and less bulky than your average fancy button.  On the card on the right I used one of the Very Vintage Buttons with some bakers twine but I also coloured the centre of the button using a marker pen to get a slightly different effect.

C is for colours...

                                                                                                    The staple colour families have had a slight revamp  to include some  favourite shades and a couple of new ones too...

and don't forget of course there are the fabulous new 2013-15 in-colours to enjoy. I used them here to make a quick in colour butterfly sampler

You can find the new in colours and check out the revamped colour family ranges starting on page 139.

and clay... 

You are going to LOVE the new simply pressed clay on page 167. White moulding clay  that simply air dries to make your own embellishments...and there is also  a new a set of buttons and flowers clay moulds to get you started. The clay is great and you can colour it before you press it into the mould by using reinkers and kneading the colour through the clay, or you can choose to make white embellishments and colour them afterwards...you can also stamp into the clay...the possibilities are endless and you will have fun trying out various options - you can even add glitter to the moulds for added sparkle... and the best thing of all, the finished results are light weight and slightly flexible so they are perfect for cards and projects...even those that have the survive the postal system.

 I made the card on the right for a Stampin' Up! friend and the flower was made from the clay  in the flower mould. I made the white flower  and then when it was dry I coloured it with the matching marker and then sponged over the top with the same shade ink.




For the card on the right I used another plain white flower but this time I simply sponged ink over the top leaving white accents and I dotted the centre with a grey marker and then sponged over the toip to blend it slightly.





So that is ABC of a few of my favourites  for today ...I would love to know what is catching your eye....and I will be back soon with some more thoughts , hints and project ideas inspired by the contents of the new catalogue. As always if you have any questions or would like to know more about any products or promotions please do get in touch 

Until next time, take care

Christa   xx

It's here...The New 2013-2014 Catalogue

The brand new filled to bursting with fabulous goodies 2013-2014 Catalogue is HERE!!!

What more do I need to say really?  Follow the link to browse the online version or download it to your pc. It really is chock full of fabulous new products and I am sure you will find loads to spark your creativity.

I will be back later to share my thoughts on some of my favourite new products and to share  a couple of product examples , but for now settle back and enjoy the glorious new catty.

Bye for now

Christa   xx