I Love Lace

I will admit that I overlooked it on my excited forays through the new annual  catalogue, but once the new stuff excitement settled a bit, I  realised  had to have it...and now its here. I Love Lace...
Its the gorgeous new lace background stamp on page 175.

It arrived in the same package as my new blendabilities  and I spent a very happy hour colouring blended bloom images  in each of the blendies colours - and two flowers I coloured in combinations just to see what would happen..and because I can!

Once I had coloured and cut out the blooms it made sense to use them right away and as the matching ink colours were right there on my desk I grabbed I Love Lace and set to work. Just minutes later and I had this cute little card completed.

The base card is baked brown sugar, the ink and blendies used were calypso coral. I used the owl punch and a scrap of gumball green card off my desk  for the leaves and  stamped the sentiment from Flower patch set in Mossy Meadow. The bloom itself is popped up on dimensionals. I kept this very simple but you could of course add other elements to bling it up if you wanted...and because you can!

 I chose to get this stamp in wood mount because I personally find background stamps are easier to work with in wood - I often lay the block stamp side up and place the card on the stamp and apply even pressure to the whole stamp using a brayer or sometimes I use the flat edge of my metal non slip ruler. It gets pretty much perfect results every time... and when I do take stamp to card, I find having the wood block gives me a solid base to apply the right amount of pressure needed to make sure the whole image comes out cleanly with no blurring.

I just know that this lace background stamp is going to prove really versatile and I expect to be using it in a lot of projects over the coming weeks.

Until next time, take care


Christa   xx

ILWS Blog Hop

Its that time again...when a group of us demos get together for a little blog hop...this time to celebrate some of the fabulous products in the new annual catalogue.

The hop starts with Laura and if you are following along in order you should have arrived here from Sarah's. If you get lost along the way there is a full list of links at the end of this post.

I have been sharing projects almost every day since the catalogue was launched because I have been trying out as many fabulous new products as I can...and my favourites are probably obvious, but this hop I wanted to share something a little different  from my recent shares...


A couple of weeks ago I  went on a one day jewellery workshop and came away with some really pretty pieces of beaded jewellery which I plan to gift to someone special, so I thought I would start with a gift box.

 I began with a kraft gift box and the new TYPESET designer series paper. This is amazing! It is intentionally thinner than the usual papers and has almost a silky feel. I choose the plain text option because I wanted to stamp over it and colour with blendabilities. 




The four sides and the top I covered with the typeset designer paper which was stamped using the amazing Bloom With Hope hostess set, coloured and sponge inked. 

On the lid I added crystal effects to the centre of the stamped flowers.

 I added a stamped panel to the inside of the lid but because of the shape of the box flaps I decided to stamp direct to the card and then sponge ink over. 








I chose blackberry bliss and lost lagoon blendabilities because the beads I used in the jewellery workshop were in a similar colour palette and being a Stampin' Up! demo I love to colour coordinate everything...and because they are my current favourite colours of course!







I really went to town on the box and left no area untouched. I lined the bottom of the box with blackberry bliss cardstock and I used the same on the base of the box and as a mat on the lid. 

But of course no gift would be complete with a card to go with it and I used a blackberry bliss base with the typeset paper stamped and coloured to match the box. I added a band of blackberry bliss stain ribbon and I made a little detachable flower brooch in the same style and I sealed it with crystal effects - because I put it on really thick for an enamel effect it took ages to dry and I was a little concerned it might not be dry in time to add it to the card.

  

A little blackberry bliss ink goes a very long way and so while it was on my desk - and my fingers -  I decided to make another card. Again with a blackberry bliss base but this time I used the Choose Happiness stamp set and stamped it randomly onto a piece of kraft card I added some more of that gorgeous ribbon and made a faux buckle and added a rhinestone. I stamped the greeting onto kraft card, punched it and sponged the edges before popping it onto a blackberry bliss punched scallop circle using dimensionals.

 




As a complete contrast I used the Choose Happiness stamp set in a similar fashion but in neutral tones. For this card I used a crumb cake card base. I stamped the flower image with crumb cake ink onto whisper white and embossed it with clear embossing powder. Once that was dry I went back in with a crumb cake marker and I highlighted a couple of areas and added more clear embossing powder to give a little more depth. I made a banner with kraft card, burlap ribbon and chevron ribbon and added a candy dot brad. I stamped the greeting in white ink onto kraft paper and I heat embossed it. I went over the whole thing with baked brown sugar ink for an emboss resist effect. I cut the panel using the framelits labels dies and popped it up with dimensionals.


That's it from me for now.... The next stop on the hop is Jo's blog where she has something fabulous to share with you.

Thanks so much for dropping by, enjoy the rest of the hop.


Christa   xx

Full hop list...just in case

1. Laura Mackie - www.lauramackie.co.uk
2. Sarah Keerie - www.esellek.com
3. Christa - http://serendipity-stamping.blogspot.co.uk/  YOU ARE HERE
4. Jo - www.jo-joscraftyblog.blogspot.co.uk
5. Sandra Roberts - www.kraftybiker.blogspot.com
6. Janneke - http://jannekedejong70.blogspot.nl/
7. Lorraine - http://www.thestampingrove.co.uk

Keeping it simple

I know I've  already said how much  I love the Kinda Eclectic stamp set....well I love it again today... and since it was on my desk already I decided to use it to make this really quick and simple birthday card.

I used the ray stamp from the set in a variety of colours, teaming it with the Happy Birthday greeting from Sassy Salutations set onto whisper white cardstock. I sponged the edges with some blackberry bliss ink, adhered the whisper white panel to a blackberry bliss card base and added a couple of basic rhinestones for a little glitz.

 It really did take just a few minutes to put this card together and I love that this is just another of the many ways to use this fabulous new set... and I am certain there will lots more to follow.

I am taking part in a blog hop on Saturday and I hope that you will join us

Until next time, take care


Christa   xx

A Little Kindness

I really LOVE the Kinda Eclectic stamp set and so when I signed up for a swap it was an obvious choice

For this one I masked off a central space before layering up the leaves and the rays stamps from the set. Then I removed the mask and stamped the sentiment into that central space.

I decided I wanted to use all of the latest in-colours on this card and with the addition of sponged edges and the punched butterfly I did it.

I added a few of the really cute sequins just to finish it off. As the card base is blackberry bliss I included a panel inside which I stamped and sponge inked to match.

Until next time, take care


Christa   xx

Happy Birthday Sunshine

Today is my sister-in-law's birthday and this is her bright and sunny card, which I felt was rather appropriate for the middle of a heatwave. It was made in consultation with her brother - my husband ...I will make a crafter out of him yet or I'll die trying!

I used Kinda Eclectic and Ray of Sunshine stamp sets for this one along with the banner , butterfly  and circle punches and then added rhinestones for a little birthday bling.

I hope that when she opens it it will make her smile

Until,next time, take care


Christa   xx

Love you...

 I am loving the new masks and today I played around with the hearts mask using strawberry slush ink onto very vanilla cardstock.
When I looked at the placement of the mask I noticed that the hearts are graduated in size and density and so I decided that I would try for an Ombre effect with my sponging.

I loaded up my sponge and started at the bottom and worked my way up to the top. Then I went back over the bottom section until I had the kind of coverage I wanted. I think it worked out okay.

I used pictogram punches stamp set (for the sentiment and the vase image) the new and rather beautiful Venetian Crochet trim, labels framelits & chalk talk framelits and the project life corner rounder punch.

For the 'flowers' to top the stamped stems I used punched hearts from another project where I had used the hearts border punch...I do so love that the punch outs are usable and I have popped the punch outs into little baggies ready for when I need a teeny heart or two.

To finish the card I ink all the edges and in the card above I added three mini pearls to the heart flowers...but in the card on the left I  went on to add a large pearl to the centre of the heart in the sentiment panel as well.

I am melting in this heatwave - it was a steamy 38C in my craftroom today and I could not spend long in there at all. It was like a sauna.

The thunder is crashing about now but there is no relief from the 84% humidity as yet... I am hoping for cooler times ahead.

until next time, take care

Christa   xx

You're a Star

I have been working on a few projects which I can't actually share just yet - they need to get to where they are going first otherwise the surprise might be spoiled....

but yesterday I heard news that a special little boy did a really good job taking the lead role in his school play...which this time happened to be a musical and according to his sister he absolutely nailed it...

So I wanted to send him a quick card to let him know that although we couldn't be there to see him perform, we know what a little star he is...

and with that in mind out came the new stars mask... and I was totally amazed at how easy it as to use. Just a few minutes with a sponge and some ink and I had covered an entire A4 sheet in random stars. The You're a Star stamp form pictogram punches and one of the cute sequins were all it took to make this quick and easy card which will hopefully put a smile on someone's face.

Until next time, take care


Christa   xx

Rock Star

A really quick card from me today using the You Rock single stamp .

I almost always end up falling in love with all the single stamps in each catalogue but this year this particular one really called out to me... I just love the humorous possibilities

I stamped a kraft card base with the hardwood background stamp using baked brown sugar ink and used the same colour marker for the rocking chair. I took the crushed curry from the image mat and used that shade of ink to stamp the word star (from the pictogram punches set...more from that one very soon)  and I cut the word STAR out using the project life framelits. I inked the edges and added a punched star from gold glitter card and used a glue dot to secure that over the stamped star... Then I just popped the image and the word panel onto the kraft base with dimensionals and job done.

Until next time, take care

Christa   xx

Blooming...

I was asked to make a daughter birthday card and since I am still working my way through the new products I was delighted to find that the Bloom with Hope  (Hostess stamp set) comes with a Happy Birthday greeting too.

I used blackberry bliss and white for this dramatic card.  I chose one of the floral images and I used direct to stamp markers and blender pen on each image which I then cut by hand. I ink edged a couple of the flower and the rest I cut with a white edge so they would stand out against the  blackberry background.  I used labels framelits in white and blackberry and I used white gel pen for the faux stitching. I then arranged the flowers into a bouquet, (which was the tricky part for me because I have always been rubbish at any kind of flower arranging) with the background flowers  flat to the card and the front flowers  popped on dimensionals.

I layered blackberry bliss stitched  satin ribbon over a wider whisper white satin ribbon and secured them behind before adhering the embossed panel to a scalloped card front. I added a tiny bit of sparkle to the front flowers and popped on some pearls to finish it off.

That's it from me for now, Until next time, take care.


Christa   xx

About the label

No, this is not a post about labels - although with this stamp set it could easily be....so watch this space for a post that is really about labels coming soon...

The stamp set I am trying out today is called About the Label and it is a really cute set with a bag, an envelope and a jar stamps and lots of teeny labels to go with them. The labels come in three shapes and there is a handy little labels punch set to go with this and make my life (and yours) so much easier.  The bag , envelope and jar need to be hand cut but they are  simple shapes and quick and easy  to do.

This is really a multi product card and it gave me a chance to try out lots of my goodies on one project. For this card I cut some 12x12 kraft card and I used one of the stars from the new pictogram punches set to randomly stamp a background. I used the project life corner rounder punch which gives a slightly rounder edge than the normal corner punch and I sponged the edges with blackberry bliss ink. I stamped the images and mini labels using the blackberry bliss ink and I cut and punched them all out. I took a strip of crushed curry cardstock and used the (sadly  retired) scallop edge punch on both sides. I am so sorry to see it go but I own it so I'll use it.  I cut a piece of rich razzleberry card and used the new hearts border punch along the top. I LOVE this heart punch not only because it is so cute but also because when you punch it gives you hearts instead of waste and you can use these cute little hearts on your projects. Once I had adhered the layers of card to the card front I adhered the bags and envelope and popped the labels on with dimensionals....and the card is done.

If you have any questions about any of the products mentioned or you would like to order products or maybe join the Stampin' Up! team then  please do get in touch

Until next time, take care

Christa   xx

Choose Happiness

Today's card is made with the Choose Happiness stamp set. This set is really versatile and has lots of elements that work well together (obviously) and also works brilliantly with stamps from other sets too of course.
Here I have paired up the leaves and the sentiment with butterflies from the papillion pot pourri set.

I stamped the leaves with mossy meadow ink (one of the new in-colours) and used the blender pen to pull the colour to shade the leaves.  The butterflies I stamped onto vellum with memento black ink and coloured them with "blendies". I used the pumpkin pie and the rich razzleberry sets to get the detailed shading and I popped the butterflies on with glue dots.

The base of the card was made with the new 12x12 kraft cardstock - I can't tell you how happy I am we finally have this in the catalogue. Kraft card is just so useful for all manner of projects and will definitely be a staple in my craft room.  There were a few other kraft items new in this catalogue, expect to see them appear here soon .

Until next time, take care

Christa   xx

You Light up my Life

 I am still working my through the box of goodies I took delivery of the other day and so far just about everything becomes a new favourite as soon as I start using it...

So today's new favourite is the Today & Everyday stamp set...which is perfect for using with the new blendabilities ( blendabilities are already firmly established in most favoured products and  shall henceforth be known as blendies )  It is also a  great set for colouring with the regular marvellous markers and for watercolour techniques and embossing too. The set has three images and sentiments but it was this one that really caught my eye today...watch for the others coming soon!


                                                                          For the card above I  first embossed the base card. I stamped the image onto whisper white and coloured it with blendies, then die cut it using labels framelits. I also cut a frame form a piece of blackberry bliss card (using  the  labels framelits in next size up and next size down from the image size) With the paper piercing template and tool I pierced two lines around the edge of the cut frame and mounted it onto the image panel using  dimensionals.


The second card is on a  kraft base with  a strip of ink edged DSP The image was coloured with blendies as before, the  panel was plain cut and paper pierced around the edges and double matted onto coordinating card stock.

So one versatile stamp and two simple but very different card designs for today.

I will be back soon with more of my (many) favourite things

Until next time, take care

Christa   xx

Sunshine

I needed a quick card to pop in with a package I was sending off. I really wanted to use the sentiment from the new Ray of Sunshine stamp set but because I was in a hurry I didn't feel I had time to build the sunshine images that are in that set...so I grabbed Kinda Eclectic and used the fabulous rays and leaves from that set along with the sunshine set I already had in mind.

One of the things I have always loved about Stampin' Up! products is the colour coordination across the range of products...but it is not just the colours that are so versatile, the stamp sets are too and so many work really well in combination with other completely unrelated sets.

I have had workmen in the house from dawn to dusk all week so I am really tired, but hope to get some stamping time later and will aim to make some sparkly new samples to share in the coming days

Until next time, take care

Christa   xx

A Little Kindness

I spent a happy evening yesterday sitting in front of the telly watching football and mounting my new stamp sets.  It was the World Cup game Holland vs Costa Rica - which only really got going in the last 15 minutes and then through extra  time and penalty shoot out it was real nail biting stuff...and when I put a sticker on wonky I decided to stop.

Finished the task of adding all the stickers today during the last set of the men's final at Wimbledon... which was not as exciting as the footy.

So anyway that was quite enough sport for one weekend and this evening I decided it was time to get inky and stamp...

But  with so many lovely new stamp sets, where to start? I decided the only way was to close my eyes, put my hand in the box and pull out a set and work with that... so Kinda Eclectic it is...

This is a fabulous new set and for my first sample I decided NOT to use the most blindingly obvious stamp in the set. Instead I went for the leaves, the larger of the two butterflies and the sentiment...and I have to say those leaves are my absolute favourites ever. They are just beautiful and will work perfectly with any of the floral stamp sets I own.  I have of course stamped the other elements in the set and these will feature in another project very soon...but for now its a quick and simple Kindness card from me.

Until next time, take care

Christa   xx

Good things come to she who waits...

Finally the wait is over and the lovely UPS driver came with my goodies ...and if you are one of the people who placed an order with me this week then your goodies are in here too -  and they will be on their way to you without delay.

So far all I have done is opened the boxes to check the contents - well okay I did admire things as I took them out of the box, I mean who could resist? Even my non crafting husband  sidled up and took a peek in the box to see what was inside!

I was especially extra happy with one or two things I discovered as I went through everything in the boxes... and as I explore properly I will be back to share my thoughts...and hopefully some samples will follow shortly...because it seems rather rude not to stamp and share.

But for now I am off to explore further.

Until next time, take care

Christa   xx

Busy waiting...

Today I am waiting for UPS to deliver my parcel and there are only many hours I can sit staring out of the window hoping to see a brown truck,  so  I decided to keep myself busy with one of my favourite new products from the new catalogue... The Blendabilities alcohol markers.

I was lucky enough to win a set of the Pumpkin Pie markers at the UK regional event in May and I have had plenty of time to play with them -mainly  using the Blended Bloom stamp (also in the new catalogue and also part of my prize)...  Blendabilities come in sets of three pens - a light , medium and dark shade of the set colour and you simply use them to create the blended effect you need.

Now there is this whole alcohol marker debate about whether you should start with the lightest shade and work in darker shades or start with the darker shades and work lighter...and the truth is it really doesn't matter. There is no right or wrong way...You just have to find the way that works best for you.

So previously I was concentrating on finding out which method worked best for me...  and then I started to wonder  what would happen if I used pens from two completely different sets? Would I be able to blend them or would the result be like a horrid muddy puddle (gasp!)

Happy to report that there was no muddy puddle...I used the flower shop and papillion pot pourri stamp sets to test this out and I used the coastal cabana and the rich razzleberry marker sets combined on both the flowers and the butterflies. Once they were all coloured, I punched them out and used them to make this project using the same colours of card and adding the banner framelits with the  sentiment from Perfect pennants and stamp set.


                                                                                                                                                                                       So the key points about the new Blendabilities

• They come in sets of three shades of selected Stampin' Up! colours  (plus a skin tones set too)
• They are double ended with a pen at one end and a brush at the other
• They are square so they won't roll all over the place
• There is also a colour lifter pen to help push colour around
• They are to really easy to use
• The caps are deliberately tight to stop the alcohol pens from drying out - always push them back on until you hear the click. 

I am sure once you try these you will love them. ..I know I do.

Until next time, take care

Christa   xx

Its here....

 Stampin' Up! fans the new catalogue is HERE and it is filled with lots of fabulous new products and project ideas.

I love the new cover design and there is a new layout inside too...all designed to make things easier for you to find exactly what you need ...whether that is inspiration and ideas or lots of new products.

In the next few days I will be sharing some of my favourite things from the new catalogue and some new projects too, but  am sure you just want to put your feet up ad dive into the pages and  start building your wishlist.

You can download the new catalogue using the link above, but if you would like a hard copy sent to you in the post  please get in touch.

As always if you have any questions about any of the new catalogue products, any upcoming promotions, if you're thinking of joining as a  demonstrator or if you have a general query please drop me a line  and I will do my best to help.

Enjoy your first visit with the new catalogue,

Until next time, take care

Christa   xx