Christmas Robin

I've just returned from the Stampin' Up! Annual European Convention in Manchester.  It was amazing,  there were around 700 demonstrators from 5 countries and we spent 2 days enjoying demonstrations from our top crafters, business sessions and technique classes. 
The classes plus display boards inspired me to build my business and engage with my customers as much as I can.  To this end I have started to publish a monthly newsletter and aim to post on my blog at least once a week.
Today I am sharing a card that I made at my Christmas workshop earlier this month. 
The card is a side step fold, and uses papers from the season of style dsp stack along with the wishing you stamp set, both from the seasonal catalogue.  Our inks are cherry cobbler and old olive.
The cutie Robin made using the ever versatile owl builder punch - is there anything it can't be used for!

O Holy Night

This is another of the cards the ladies made at my Christmas stamp a stack class.

It uses the main stamp from the "O holy night" set.  I fell in love with this set the moment I first saw it in the seasonal catalogue.  It uses the lyrics of traditional carols alongside festive sentiments in a really modern style.  The perfect combination!

I have used the winter frost dsp stack as my colour inspiration,  taking smoky slate as my cardbase, island indigo for the mat and stamped in coastal cabana and island indigo inks. 

I have finished it off with a small rhinestone and a couple of strips of the silver glimmer paper.  This is fantastic value at £4.50 for 5 12"x12" sheets.  It is super sparkly,  doesn't leave a trail of glitter every time you touch it and a little bit goes a long way!

Getting festive

Good morning! After an early awakening by the little boy I thought I would do a quick post about the cards we made at my Christmas stamp a stack class.
I had 14 lovely ladies stamping the night away.  We made 4 different designs of card,  making a total of 12 cards to kick start the festive feeling.  Homemade gingerbread men provided much needed fuel for the marathon session!

This card uses the gorgeous Joyful Christmas stamps - I love the poinsettia and have seen some amazing projects which use it - both cards and 3D items.  It's just beautiful stamped in cherry cobbler ink on a very vanilla mat.  The leaves are I  gumball green and the sentiment has been coloured with the coordinating stampin write markers.
All this has been mounted on a gumball green mat and cherry cobbler card base.
I just added a little sparkle with a few basic rhinestones.

Who wouldn't love to receive this card? it would definitely have pride of place on my mantle piece - if I had one!

As usual you can buy all the supplies for this project by visiting my online store - go to the stampin' supplies tab at the top.

Visit my store for details of current offers - 25% off 25 stamp sets until tomorrow and a special christmas offer starting on the 29th!

Feeling chilly

Here's a little sneak peek at a project that I have been making.

I love my owl builder punch. It was the first item on my wishlist and I have never regretted buying it.  These cute little penguins are so simple to make using the punch and just a few snips with your scissors - but don't they look amazing.

I used hand torn strips of whisper white cardstock distressed along the torn edge with island indigo ink and a dauber to make a snowy landscape.

Get in touch with me if you would likely to join us at our Christmas workshop and have a go at making your own!  

Christmas workshop

Just a very quick post today.   We have just come home from an amazing family holiday in Florida so crafting has definitely been on the back burner this month.  But more about that in a minute - our Christmas workshop booking closes soon and we have a couple of places available so if you wanted to come you need to book asap.  Check the events page or email me to find out more.

Back to my holiday!  

I did manage to sneak into Michaels a couple of times - it was brilliant but Halloween is such a big holiday for the USA and Christmas supplies were not really available. I would have loved some festive papers. 

I did accidentally buy a couple of items - a gorgeous Halloween wreath kit and a complete scrapbook kit.
The scrapbook was my husband's idea - not that he realised that was what he was describing.  I have no idea at all how to make one so I bought a kit to get me started.  I'm looking forward to picking out the photos we are going to use and we've kept tickets,  maps etc to include.  We are making it for our little boy to remind him of all the fun we had.

Chalk Talk and Flower Shop

I absolutely adore chalk talk and love the coordinating framelit dies that come as part of the chalk talk bundle.  It's a great deal too, with a 15% saving when purchased together.

I made this gorgeous anniversary card for a friend.

It has a crumbcake cardstock base, with a layer of wisteria wonder dsp on top.

I used wisteria wonder and elegant eggplant ink to stamp my own background using a stamp from the flower shop set on some very vanilla cardstock.  Isn't it beautiful!

I then stamped one of the chalk talk stamps in white craft ink on a scrap of wisteria wonder card and topped it with another stamped in crumbcake on very vanilla card.

A little piece of the crumbcake seam binding ribbon tied in a bow just finished it off.

Gorgeous, if I don't say so myself!

More Polka Dot Pieces

Preparations are already underway for the christmas craft stall in aid of the Yorkshire Cancer Centre.  But in the interests of not depressing anybody reading this, I am not going to post festive pictures just yet!

Instead, I have got a lovely card I made using the largest flower from the Polka Dot Pieces stamp set.  My design was inspired by a project I saw on Brandy Cox's Website  I used a circular framelit to cut a hole out of my So Saffron Cardbase and Whisper White cardfront.  To do this I tacked them together with snail adhesive.

I stamped the large flower onto some white card using coastal cabana ink and punched it out with the large scallop circle punch.  I made two of these flowers.  I gave them a little sparkle with some dazzling details.

I then took a length of coordinating thread (you could use fishing line) and glued my two flowers back to back with the thread through the centre.  I fixed either end of the thread to my cardbase with dimensionals - pulling it tight so my flower hung in the centre of the hole.

The front is stamped with the sentiment from the same set in night of navy ink and fixed in place with dimensionals.

Christmas is coming early this year

I have signed up to hold a craft stall in our hospital to raise money for the Yorkshire Cancer Centre.   It isn't until November but I am already starting to panic that I won't be able to make enough cards etc.

Fortunately,  I am not doing it alone - my good friend and fellow SU demo Anita is on board too.

So I have been playing with some Christmas design ideas.  I have requested to borrow some retired Christmas stamp sets from other demonstrators to get me started as the new autumn/winter seasonal catalogue has not been released yet!

My first project uses cardstock in cherry cobbler, gumball green and crumb cake.   Cherry cobbler and gumball green ink, woodgrain stamp, scallop circle and circle punches.

Polka dot pieces class

I had such a lovely day yesterday teaching 14 lovely ladies at the summer papercraft workshop I ran with Kylie Henshaw

We used the lovely new Polka Dot Pieces stamp set.  Each of our crafters received their own set to use and take home.

We made 3 beautiful cards and a simple 2, 4, 6, 8 box.  It was great to see all the ladies enjoying themselves and putting their own creative twist on our designs.

If you would like to join us next time look at my event's page and visit Kylie's blog for her class dates.

Simply sketched

I have been playing with the latest in colours and the gorgeous exclusive hostess stamp sets - simply sketched.

This beautiful set is only available to our hostesses when their workshop order exceeds £150.  To make your hostess benefits go even further, these exclusive sets are also discounted.  This set has a retail value of £18.95 but only costs you £13!  WOW!

The 3 images are just lovely and the sentiments make it a really versatile set.  You could really make a card for pretty much anybody - or a beautiful home decor project.

I made a little set of thank you cards which I plan to make matching box for later.  I used very vanilla cardstock and the five new colours for 2013-15.  Baked brown sugar,  strawberry slush, pistachio pudding, crisp cantaloupe and coastal cabana.

A little birthday something

I got my new in colour bundle of ink and cardstock and I could not wait to make something.
It is my (almost) ) sister-in-law's birthday and I decided to make her my guinea-pig!

The colours are crisp cantaloupe and very vanilla for the cardstock.   Then I've used crisp cantaloupe,  strawberry slush,  pistachio pudding and baked brown sugar inks.
I've teamed this up with the ever popular papillon potpourri stamp set and coordinating elegant butterfly punch.   My lovely "L" was cut with the alphabet bigz die and the edges distressed using a sponge dauber and some baked brown sugar ink.
I've added a little bling with pearls and rhinestones - it is for a birthday after all!  Then I just popped it all into a picture frame minus the glass. Voilà!

More summer crafting

I had a lovely afternoon yesterday,  hosting a workshop for a few of my female relatives.   They were all new to stamping, but they all did really well and made some beautiful cards and a little purse each.
It did get a bit messy and next time I will definitely pack some wet wipes!
Here's another of the projects we made - it uses the imminently retiring stamp set "up, up & away".  Also leaving us are the pool party dsp & lucky limeade ink.
Island indigo, pool party & new smoky slate inks & whisper white cardstock are here for the year as is the cloudy embossing folder & modern label punch.  Phew!

Summer craft projects

Just back from a lovely holiday with the family, took my Stampin' Up! catalogues and sat in the sunshine.  I am hosting a class at the weekend so I am spending this week designing projects and preparing supplies.

The first card that we will be creating uses the gorgeous (soon to be retired) summer smooches designer series paper.  It is so pretty and needed very little embellishment.  I used some old olive, real red and whisper white cardstock.  Ink in real red.  The butterfly stamp is from the papillon potpourri set.

I finished it off with a few spots of dazzling details and a couple of rhinestones.

I think it looks fab and I hope my class enjoy making it!

Retirement lists are here!

It's almost time for the new stampin' up! annual catalogue but the excitement is mixed with s little sadness.  To make room for all the new lovely products some old ones must retire.  Luckily for you, they are available until the July 1st so if there is still time to buy your favourites.  But don't wait too long - availability is limited.   Some of the products are discounted - by up to 50%.
Email me to check availability and place an order!

Check out the retiring stamp list here and the accessories here

Welcome to your new nest

A friend of mine is moving house soon (fingers' crossed) & asked if I would create a card for her to leave in the house for the new owners.

I was sure I had seen a card which used the largest flower from the betsys blossoms stamp set to create a nest.  I can't find it now though to credit it.

I used a whisper white cardstock base, the branch is crumb cake cardstock with the woodgrain stamped in crumb cake ink.  I distressed the edges with a sponge dauber and crumb cake ink.

I stamped the stem/leaves in old olive on matching cardstock and cut them out.  The flowers are all stamped in melon mambo ink on crumb cake cardstock and snipped out.  The nest is early espresso ink on chocolate chip cardstock and the bird is rich razzleberry ink on crumb cake cardstock.

Patterned party

Wow! I have been making a lot of cards these last couple of weeks.   Unfortunately,  I haven't had much time to photograph or post about them.

I have been playing with the patterned party stamp set this weekend.   I love the bunting and gift elements.  It's a really versatile set, I think you can make great cards for both adults and children with it.

I used the bright collection designer paper stack and ink pads, with whisper white cardstock for the bases.  The stamp set is patterned party with the happy birthday sentiment from create a cupcake on card 4.

Card 1 - pacific point dsp & ink, daffodil delight ink.
Card 2 - old olive dsp & ink, pacific point ink.
Card 3 - daffodil delight dsp & ink, melon mambo ink.
Card 4 - real red dsp & ink, daffodil delight ink.
Card 5 - pacific point dsp,  daffodil delight ink & tempting turquoise ink.

Twit-twoo!

I'm  planning on making a few Father's Day cards to sell to my friends and colleagues.  I really love the owl builder punch and how versatile (and adorable) owls are.

I'm not 100% sure of the overtaking design yet,  but I did make a start on the owls.  You do need a few different colours of cardstock - but it's a great way to use up scraps as you don't need much for each owl.

I used chocolate chip for the body;  crumb cake, whisper white & basic black for the eyes and designer papers for the little vests (floral district & brights collection dsp)

I'll post the finished items when they're complete.

Hello Baby!

I made a lovely card for friends who have just had a baby girl (I forgot to photograph it).  When I was showing it to my friends at work, one of them asked me to make a card for a baby boy.

I had found this really cute card on pinterest, so I visited the blog it came from and completely cased it, as is the SU way!  It's not absolutely identical,  but I win no prizes for originality!

I am so pleased with the results that I plan on making a stack of these in various colours to have at hand for new arrivals.

 

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Whisper White

Paper: Pool Party Designer Series

Stamp: Two by Two

Ink: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Tempting Turquoise, Lucky Limeade

Other: Cupcake Builder Punch, Polka Dot Embossing Folder, Pool Party Satin Ribbon.

Father's Day is approaching

I made my dad's card at my first stampin' up! class with Kylie (the class that started this whole crafty chapter)

I was inspired by a swap that I received from my SU-Mama (the very same Kylie Henshaw) and used the "a fitting occasion" and "teeny tiny sentiments" stamps, cardstock in whisper white,  Pacific point and real red (and the coordinating inks).
Add a scalloped square, modern label punch & polka dot embossing folder and voila!

Wedding cards

I've been making a couple of wedding cards for friends this week.   Both asked for colours to coordinate with the invitations they had received.

I used the love and laughter stamp set - one of my favourites at the moment.  I love to use it with whisper white ink on crumb cake cardstock.

The first uses
Whisper white and crumb cake cardstock
Whisper white and lucky limeade ink
Rhinestones

The second skips the limeade ink and has an extra embellishment in the form of an antique brad and flower trim.

Maths and crafts

I spent the weekend measuring cards and samples.   I decided that it would be a good idea to take note of measurements for different layouts.  Kylie, my upline, made me a gorgeous notebook which I am slowly filling with sketches.

It doesn't seem like much fun but it has made setting up a lot easier so I can spend my time stamping & embellishing.

I followed on from this by cutting and scoring 50 card bases.  I mainly chose whisper white and crumb cake,  but threw in a few sheets of coloured cardstock for good measure.

Stealth Crafting

This week has been manic, I had a huge Stampin' Up!  order to place but before I decided to review the list of retiring products to make sure I didn't miss out on anything that I really love!  This took me days of deliberating, so I haven't had much opportunity to create.

This morning my opportunity presented itself, whilst my husband was having a lie-in and the little boy was napping, so I got stuck into my craft boxes.

I wanted to use my elegant butterfly punch (I don't feel like I've given it much love) and floral district designer series paper.  I thought that I would keep it simple and make a few cards to take into work to sell.

Cardstock: whisper white
Paper: Floral District
Other: elegant butterfly punch, rhinestones, ribbon and buttons  (tangerine tango and tempting turquoise)

paper: floral district

Ink: melon mambo and rich razzleberry.

Cardstock: whisper white, daffodil delight.

Stamps: create a cupcake, betsy's blossoms.

Other: pearl embellishments.

Cardstock: whisper white, rich razzleberry

Paper: floral distict

Ink: daffodil delight

Other: ribbon in daffodil delight, pearl embellishments.

Cardstock: whisper white, old olive, daffodil delight
Paper: floral district
Ink: tangerine tango
Other: ribbon in tangerine tango, mini brads.

Craft and Cake? Does it get any better than this?

 



I really wanted to share Stampin' Up! with others, so with the help of my upline Kylie Henshaw (www.hellostamper.blogspot.co.uk), I will be holding a summer 'stamp camp'/ workshop on Saturday July 20th from 13:30 - 16:30 at St. Mary's Church Hall, Selby Road, Leeds, LS15 0AA.

 

 

We will be showcasing a stamp set (not sure which one yet as the new catalogue is released on July 1st) and some of the fantastic products available from Stampin' Up!  We will be using them to create four beautiful projects which we hope will inspire you to get stampin'

 

The cost of the workshop is £25 per person, this will include all materials, cake, refreshments and your very own set of the featured stamps to take home, so that you can recreate your projects again and again.

 

See the events/workshop page for further details, to submit an enquiry or book your place online.

 

 

Super-craft Sunday

Today I was fortunate enough to find myself with a couple of hours free.  My little boy was napping and my husband was out running.   I couldn't make up my mind about what kind of card to make so I decided to make three!

I like to keep things tidy as I don't have a great deal of room to work in so I prepared things like a workshop.   I cut all my cardstock pieces for each project and put it into a plastic box.I added the stamp sets, ink and emembellishments and stacked them up out of the way.  I then tidied up and got out my dimensionals, glue, snail adhesive & paper snips.

Then I made a cup of tea and got stuck in....

Cardstock: crumbcake, whisper white.
Ink: crumbcake,  rich razzleberry
Stamps: betsy's blossoms

Cardstock: crumbcake,  whisper white
Ink: whisper white,  crumbcake
Stamps: love and laughter
Other: rhinestones,  daffodil delight ribbon

Cardstock: whisper white,  tangerine tango
Designer series paper: floral district
Ink: rich razzleberry, whisper white
Stamps: a fitting occasion,  sweet essentials
Other: tempting turquoise ribbon, 1" circular punch.