Big on Birthdays again

I make so many birthday cards through the year and always love a good birthday set and this one really does provide lots of options.

I have already used this particular stamp on the inside of a card but this time decided to make it the focus of a card I was asked to make at the very last minute.

For this card I stamped the greeting and the arch of flowers (which is from the Swan Lake set) using versamark and clear embossing powder. I die cut the numbers and the bow and double embossed them to produce an enamel effect. I grabbed a pre-cut frame (from a pile on my desk left over form another project set) and trimmed it to be half a centimetre shorter than the base  card I had embossed

I was really quite pleased with the end result and the card is already on its way.

I need to make some more cards this evening and plan to use some of the other stamps I have from the recent releases...

Until next time
Cxx

Swan Lake

This was my first attempt with this set..the swans are so beautiful and it has some really nice wording. I used a neutral base and embossed the swans before infilling them with white kraft ink. I used a combination of water-colouring and ink sponging and stamped the floral elements in layers to frame the image.

I have some others ideas for this set which I hope to share soon.
Until next time, take care...
Cxx

Big On Birthdays

I make so many birthday cards throughout the year  and I was delighted to see so many options in the Spring Summer offering...including the Big on Birthdays set which I used to make this card.

It has 12 photopolymer stamps on a birthday related theme and for this card I used the Happy Birthday with the flower burst and the coordinating floral element  for a very quick and easy birthday card.

Until next time, take care
Cxx

Time to Sale-a-Brate once more

Today sees the launch of the new Spring Summer catalogue and  as demonstrators we get to preorder and work with the products before the launch of the catalogue.

I know we say it every time but this really is a fabulous catalogue offering and my wishlist was huge. I was lucky enough to win some stamp sets at our UK event in November but there were still lots I really liked and I fell in love with the Everyday Hero set which is what I used to make this card. I think it is a really fun set and can be used for so many occasions. Its already a firm favourite of mine


And if a new catty wasn't exciting enough, once again its time to sale-a-brate with Stampin' Up!  

For anyone who doesn't know about Sale-a-Bration, from today until 31 March for every £45 worth of products you buy you get to choose one of the fabulous selection of SAB products for free....and the freebie choices include 7 stamp sets, one card kit, 2 lots of fab designer series paper and two accessory options...and there are no limits on how many freebies you can earn. You can see the new catalogue here and SAB freebies here  and can access the 24 hour online store here

If you were ever thinking of joining Stampin' Up! there really is no better time than during Sale-a-bration. Between now and the end of March if you join the team not only do you get the fabulous fully customise-able starter kit  with products to the value of  £130 (plus the business starter pack) but you will also be able to choose ANY two stamps set for free...which is an added value of up to an additional £93! ...  That is £223 worth of product and all you pay is the joining fee of just £99. If you feel this is too good an opportunity to miss or you'd like to know a bit more then please get in touch or if you are ready to join right now you can sign up online here

Well that's it from me for now. I am sure you are keen to take a look at the new catalogue and the SAB freebies. I will back soon with some samples made with new products. If you have any questions or need more information please let me know.
Cxx

On Stage Fun

On Friday I travelled up to Telford with a member of my team to attend the On Stage local event...400 hundred Stampin' Up! demonstrators gathered in the Telford International Centre for a packed event filled with fun.

As always swapping is huge part of any Stampin' Up! event and now that it is over and they have all been swapped  I can share my swap projects ...

I am not a huge fan of production line crafting and so I opted  to make smaller batches in four different designs....all but one involved me getting very inky indeed!

This one proved the most popular and very quickly all of this design were swapped. I used three stamp sets on this shortfall card. Country Livin' for the guitar and boots (which were fussy cut and adhered to the wall) , Hardwood background stamp was used on crumb cake card before I ran it through the big shot in the brick wall embossing folder and finally Vertical Greetings for the Happy Birthday sentiment

Real red, crushed curry  and crumb cake card were used along with crumb cake and chocolate chip ink






 For this simple card I used Love & Affection stamp set with crumb cake and dapper denim cardstock and ink.

I randomly stamped five of the images from the set to make up the patterned background. I also stamped and fussy cut the single flower for the sentiment panels.

By the time I was finished my hands and nails were blue... good job the ink comes off with soap and water!




For this bright card I used one of  the fabulous seasonal decorative masks from the autumn/ winter seasonal catalogue. There are four very different designs in the set and they are such great value and so versatile.

I used whisper white card stock and started by sponging the half circle. Then using a  sponge I added crushed curry ink through the mask.

For the butterfly I used the same mask on a separate sheet of card and this time I used all of the most recent in-colours. Then I stamped the butterfly from the Papillion Pot Pourri set in black ink over the top, punched it out, curled the wings slightly with my bone folder and used a glue dot to fix it to the card front.

I used tempting turquoise for the card base and dapper denim for the mat for the stamped panel. The sentiment is from Happy Happenings and some rhinestones finished the card.




My final card was more die cutting than stamping. I used the detailed floral thinlits die to cut the design out of a whisper white panel and I adhered this to my peekaboo peach base card.
Using the same colour ink, I stamped the random splashes from Awesomely Artistic across the card and I used the bold butterfly thinlits to cut white butterflies to add where they met. I finished it off with a coordinating heart enamel accent. The sentiment is one of my absolute favourites and is from the Bunch Of Blossoms stamp set.


I plan to take photos of the gorgeous swaps I received in return and will share them very soon.
Until next time, Take care
Cxx

C&S Birthday

A very clean and simple card for a child's birthday using balloon builders stamp set and punch, layered letters stamp set to make up her name, along with birthday wording and banner from the Hostess set Time of Year.

Layered Letters is particularly useful when personalising a card with a name and I was very pleased with how this turned out.

Until next time
Cxx

Marquee Messages

As soon as I saw the Marquee Messages set in the catalogue I knew I had to have it...and I love it. It has a good selection of wording options and works well with other sets too making it so versatile. Here I have also used the labeler alphabet set (and the Happy Birthday is from a retired set that I love and still use often...)

For this particular card I initially kept to black and red for the stamping. The I went back in and I used the gold marker pen (which I have just realised seems to have retired when I was not looking ...oops! Mine is still good and I am going to keep using it) and also some dazzling details to add some bling to the design... and then when all that was dry I decided to go back again and stamp some stars into the white space and for that I used crushed curry ink to finish things off ..and I was done! .
Until next time
Cxx

Floral Phrases Anniversary card

I needed to make a card for my brother and his wife for their anniversary this month and I had just taken delivery of this lovely set (with thinlits)  and in minutes I had this very pretty card.

As I was clearing away the little cut outs from the die I spotted the teeny flowers and decided to add them rather than waste them...and I am so glad I did because I really like the way they look. I used a couple of basic pearls in the cut out design and added two hearts from the  in colour enamel shapes pack to finish off the card. I was pleased with the end result.
Until next time
Cxx

The Autumn Winter Seasonal Catalogue is here

In the unlikely event that you missed it, the new Autumn Winter Catalogue has launched and it is filled with great new products to help with all your seasonal crafting... If you don't have a copy and would like one please let me know via the link on my demonstrator website and I will getone in the post too you straight away.

This 55 page catalogue has a fabulous range of new products to suit all tastes and there are lots of bundles where you can save a little money on coordinating products.

Now I will admit I am really not a fan of seeing Christmas cards in summertime but I took part in a team swap this week using products from the new catalogue and so I'm afraid I am about to break my own rule and share a Christmas card... in the first week of September...

For this card I used the gorgeous Merry Medley background stamp (on page 30) and I stamped it onto real red cardstock using versamark and then added clear embossing powder to give it that tone on tone effect. I was really pleased with how crisp the image was and how lush the card felt.

I also embossed the tree using the same method (onto cucumber crush card) and I used an assortment of the metallic threads to wrap the tree. Swirly scribbles thinlits were used to cut the gold  glimmer paper  and I cut the wonky stars from scrap glimmer paper by hand for the top of the tree

I was really pleased with how bright and festive this looked and how good it feels to touch. There are lots of options when using this background stamp and I will highlight some others in weeks to come, but for now I will sign off and get back into my craftroom...I have new goodies to play with

Until next time, take care
Cxx

Perfect Day to be Happy

I really like making these double z fold cards - they are so simple to make and work so well with any number of stamp sets and designs. I made this card to send to a swap buddy and I used the new Foxy Friends stamp set along with the sentiment from the new bunch of blossoms set. I was really pleased with how this came out and how cute and fresh it looks. I hope that it will truly be a smile in an envelope for my swap buddy.
Until next time
Cxx

Quick & Easy with Layered Letters

I have to say I just love this alphabet stamp. It is just perfect for quick an easy cards or when you need to personalise or highlight a message and simply by choosing the right colour combo it works equally well for boys and girls of all ages.

In this particular card I simply chose two colours for my base circles and used archival black ink over the top, The set has circles or oblongs and both fit the letters perfectly and can be linked or stamped separately depending on the project needs.

I have some ideas for some slightly more involved projects using this set so watch out for them soon, but for quick and easy cards, you can't beat layered letters. .
Until next time
Cxx

Mixed Borders

 I recently took part in a team swap to highlight some of the fabulous products in the 2016-17 annual catalogue.  With so many to chose form it was hard to decide which set I was going to use but in the end I opted for Mixed Borders.

I will admit that when I first looked through the catalogue I initially overlooked this little gem, but a second look and I saw the real potential. It comes with a number of  really useful sentiments and the best part is that they fit right into the gap on the border stamps....and lots of other sentiments/wording options can fit there too.  Of course with the stamps being photopolymer it is really easy to see to line them up if you need to extend the length of the border or repeat a pattern. In addition to the border stamps and sentiments there are some other elements that allow you to stamp background patterns, making this a very versatile set indeed.

For the purpose of this swap I chose to make a double z fold card and to work with the new 2016-18 in-colours                                                                                                           In the main photo I used flirty flamingo with the floral border option. For the card on the right I used the same stamp options but in peekaboo peach.                             

           

                             

For the card on the left I opted for emerald envy and used the leaf border and accessories, with the dotted border in between in a complimentary colour.

For all of the cards I used the  matching element stamps in the same colour as the base card to create the background patterns for the front folds and the z fold panel strip and the punched butterfly.


I finished it off with a wink of Stella  and some basic pearls on the butterfly for that added bit of bling.

Well that's it for now. Until next time
Cxx

Thinking of You

This was a cute card I made for a friend to cheer her as she deals with some health issues. I used the swirly scribbles dies and the oh so cute frog from the Love you Lots stamp set (which is a Hostess set available with a qualifying order.)

My friend loved her card and it is so nice to be able to send a smile and a hug in an envelope. If you know someone who could use a smile or a hug (or both) why not make and send them a card today... it  could just make their day...

Until next time

Cxx

Marquee Messages - simple

Very quick and simple card today made using the new Marquee Messages stamp set. This set has so many possibilities and I have seen some lovely examples, but I needed to make a card in a hurry and this was the end result. For the background and the focal image I used only the stamps in the set onto the base card and then I stamped another image onto green card and cut that out and popped it up on dimensionals to give it a little depth. I added a little glitter as a finishing touch and it was good to go... I will be using this set a lot in the coming months and will share some of the other options it provides.

But for now this is it...

Take care

Cxx

Time of Year- Birthday

I have been so busy playing around with my newly delivered goodies from the new catalogue  and then I got a call to ask me if I could make a quick birthday card for a male recipient.... and as the new hostess set Time of Year was sitting on my desk it seemed silly not to use it... I only had a few minutes to make this card and so I quickly stamped the wording using dapper denim ink (my new favourite colour)  and I ink edged the edges of the panel with my sponge but I felt it needed a little something to brighten it up...so the next set on my desk was the new mixed borders and I realised I could  easily use that set to make a border around my wording (it comes with its own wording options too so it was a bonus that I could use it here too). I chose a red shade to lift it and then I spotted some of my retired designer series paper that would work perfectly... and within minutes was card was done, addressed and on its way...

While it is lovely to be able to spend a long time carefully designing and building a beautiful card with lots of details, sometimes it is just as much fun to rise the challenge and make something quickly that will still show someone that you remembered them...and of course if you don't tell them how long it took you, they won't know ...they will just be delighted that you made the effort to make something for them.

Until next time
Cxx

You are Totally Awesome

We all need to be told that we are awesome and I made this card for someone pretty special to do just that.

It uses two of the new in-colours (dapper denim & sweet sugarplum) the new swirly dies and the butterfly punches. I love the simplicity of this one and it says exactly what I need it to say...
Until next time
Cxx

PS.  My second batch of new catalogue goodies (first lot was on limited pre-order) are on their way to me as I type and I cannot wait to start using them. I am tracking delivery on line and they will be with me on Monday...so watch this space!

Balloon Builder Birthday

Today I am sharing this birthday card and sending up some balloons in the new in-colours...

The new catalogue launch is just one day away and I am still adjusting my wish list ...and when I say adjusting I guess I mean growing , because there are so many wonderful things in this new catalogue it just so hard to choose what to get first.

Would love to know what is on your wish list... and please don't forget,  if you need a copy of the new catalogue please do drop me a line.

Until next time

Cxx

Rose Wonder in colour

I wanted to make a couple of cards to show off the fabulous new in-colours for 2016-2018...they are so pretty and I am already in love ...

It started with the idea of making five cards the same design but in each of the five new in-colours, only as I began making them, it sort of morphed into five cards on a general theme, each with a slight difference.

But you can still see the gorgeous colours...clockwise from the top left is Dapper Denim, then Peekaboo Peach, below that is Flirty Flamingo, then Emerald Envy and finally Sweet SugarPlum.

Each of these cards was made using Rose Garden Thinlits  with a combination of  sentiments and elements from other stamp sets. However I will be returning to the emerald envy version as this one was very different to the others and a lot of fun to make using the negative shape.

But that is for another day...this was just to highlight the gorgeous colours.
Until next time
Cxx

All Stacked up...

Today I was playing around in my craft room and decided to make this fun card for my niece's birthday. I used the Sprinkles of Life stamp set along with the new swirly scribbles thinlits from the upcoming new 2016 catalogue.

I used the thinlits to cut out two of the long swirly dies and I transferred the cutouts from the watermelon wonder card to infill the swirls I cut in mint macaron. One other thing I really love about this particular die, apart from the infill option, is that it leaves a gorgeous wavy cut on the card... and I used this at the bottom of my design and lined up the mint die cut against it.

There are 9 dies in the set and all of them provide versatile options. It also coordinates with the swirly bird stamp set too.

This was a fun card to make and while my initial aim was to showcase the stamp set,  I know there will lots more to come using these thinlits.

Until next time

Cxx

Sunshine

Sun was  beating down for a few days last week and it seems to brighten everyone's mood, so when looking at Kinda Eclectic last evening I thought why not use it as a sun peeking over the greenery...maybe it will tempt the real sun out from  behind the rain clouds we have this week!

 I inked approx half the rays stamp and stamped it centrally and then stamped the green leaves many many times in first second and third generation stamping using mossy meadow ink (which is one of my favourites ever and I am sad it is retiring but have stocked up on reinker so will continue to use it as long as I can) until I had the level of coverage I was looking for. I sponged the sky and around the edges of the card. I decided for this card I preferred the butterflies from Papillon PotPourri and so stamped and punched those and added them to the card.  There is no sentiment as yet because this will go into my card box until I need it and I can add it later.

So a simple all occasions card from me for today... More soon.
Until next time
Cxx