Friday 28 January 2011

Three Little Cards

Hello Everyone

Just a quick post today showing three little cards I made with the Bliss stamp set - I know, more Bliss from Elizabeth. Can't keep it off my craft desk!

I am following my new year's resolution to use my DSP, so here I am parting with some from the beautiful Elegant Soiree paper. Isn't it lovely?


I inked the edges with Crumb Cake ink and stamped the images in Night of Navy and Marina Mist. The paper interior is punched with the Scallop Trim Corner Punch from Stampin' Up!

Back in a couple of days with more..

Wednesday 26 January 2011

Bliss in Black and Blue

Hello Everyone

Having used all the SaleABration stamps that you can recieve FREE during January and February, I have to confess to a favourite...

I just LOVE Bliss. It is such a versatile stamp set, you can make it bold, distressed, soft and subtle and it is suitable for any occasion.

Here is my latest creation with this beautiful set


The base card is Bashful Blue and I used the same ink for the background stamping. The butterfly was stamped in black Stazon ink and I used black satin ribbon for the embellishment. The sentiment comes from 'So Happy for You', another of the SAB sets.

I hope you like this project.

Monday 24 January 2011

Buttons and Hearts

Hello Everyone

Today I am sharing a little gift I made for some special people at Christmas time. My inspiration was a heart that I bought from Michelle and Jane, (they of the shabby chic altered box a few posts down).

I made my hearts with jewellery wire and Stampin' Up ribbon and made some cute card packaging to give them in.


I used buttons from my family button tin, which means some of those buttons were on my childhood clothes, some on my Mum's, some from my Grandmothers and a few from my Great Grandmother.

Here they are all hung out...


...and here are the matching packages made with Stampin' Up! designer paper and punches...




Back in a couple of days with more SaleABration projects. Hope you liked the hearts.

Saturday 22 January 2011

SaleABration Classes

Hello Everyone

Would you like to come along and learn how to make some sweet SaleABration cards? This is one of the projects I am going to be teaching at my February classes.

If you are in the Southampton area, contact me to book a space. I charge £10 for 3 projects, including 1 3D project and one technique project.

This month we are making a cute box for our 3D project and three sweet cards to go inside using the SaleABration stamp sets.

For the cards we will be using Punch Bunch, (the scallop circle flower, owl and happy birthday square come from that set), Bliss, (the middle card images are all from this set) and I used So Happy For You, (for sentiments and that cute little butterfly on the first card). Of course we decorate our envelopes too!



The box was one I made some years ago, re-designed to fit these cards. I used so many different stamps decorating this box I don't know where to start! Confetti, Notably Ornate and Vintage Vogue all had an outing!


The box swivels to open and would make a great gift box for a little present.

And talking of presents - check back a couple of days to see what I made with that Pom Pom trim Anne Marie sent me at Christmas!

Thursday 20 January 2011

Bliss done differently!

Hello Everyone

Well after a pretty-pretty card done with the beautiful Bliss stamp set a couple of days ago, today I am going to share something completely different! What I love about stamping is that the same stamps can create such diverse projects.

This time I played with my Distressing Essentials Kit from Stampin' Up! This kit contains a whole lot of tools to make distressing your projects a breeze - even for a neat freak like me! LOL

This is a pic of the kit from the catalogue. As you can see you get four colours of waterbased distressing ink. Now this ink dries slower than our regular ink, which allows you time to work with the colours.

It also comes with a sanding block, 4 files of different sizes and a rubber applicator - which I love as a tool.

To create the blue background piece, I first took a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock and screwed it up - Yes Me - I did that! LOL

After taking a deep breath and flattening the card out, I applied the Tea Stain and then theBlue ink with the applicator. I also gave a little spritz of water to allow the colours to spread a little and allowed the piece to dry.



I then used the Tea Stain and Mahogony inks to age the piece of Newsprint designer paper along with some small pieces of Very Vanilla cardstock.

I stamped images from the Bliss stamp set in Charcoal, Blue and Mahogony ink. I coloured an oval punched piece with Charcoal ink too.

The images were torn out, and the  Bliss sentiment piece was curled using the round precision file from the kit. I finished with adhesive peals and ribbon.

At just £14.95 I think this kit is great value - you get so much to play with. I am planning some vintage scrapbook pages now to go with some family photos of my Grandparents and Great Grandparents.

My class ladies know I am right out of my comfort zone here - but I am pretty pleased with how this card turned out.

Any feedback or suggestions appreciated - I know I have a lot to learn about getting distressed! LOL

Tuesday 18 January 2011

Bliss SaleABration CASE

Hello Everyone

I saw a card on Splitcoast Stampers made with the beautiful Bliss stamp set, that you can get FREE during SaleABration. I just loved it so pasted a copy into my inspriation file. I usually paste the link, but for some reason forgot. Now I have searched and searched SCS and the card is gone! So if you recognise any elements here, let me know so I can give proper credit.

I made a few changes to the design, but I loved the original so much, it is very similar.


I embossed the Bliss background image using white embossing powder on to Crumb Cake cardstock. The other colours I chose are Pink Pirouette, Rose Red and Whisper White. I used the Eyelet Border punch and three tiny Adhesive Pearls, (you get loads in the pack from Stampin' Up!) I finished with the oh-so-pretty Organza Ribbon.

Back in a couple of days with a completely different project using this same stamp set. Hope this design inspires you as much as it inspired me.

Sunday 16 January 2011

SaleABration Stamping!

Hello Everyone

Well my FREE SaleABration stamp sets arrived and I have been creating in my craft room! Over the next few posts I will share some of my projects.

Today I am showing one of the stamps from the Punch Bunch stamp set. Each of these stamps goes with a punch you can get from Stampin' Up! - except for this one - the Owl. But don't panic - I can reveal that we will be getting the matching punch later in the spring. Yay!



To create this card I stamped the owl in Early Espresso ink and coloured his eyes with the Peach Parfait marker. The tree is made from a strip of designer paper from the Woodland Walk set.

I used my new Stampin' Up! Distressing Essentials Kit to give the clean looking woodgrain an aged look. (More about this kit soon!)  I punched a hole in the 'tree' with the 13/8" circle punch and let the owl peep through. Finally I used the 2 step bird punch to make the leaves. 

If you would like your very own FREE SaleABration stamp set, contact me to book a workshop or place an order.  

Saturday 15 January 2011

My Dresser Cards

Hello Everyone

I have seen a number of these dresser cards online. I got my instructions from the wonderful Jackie Topa who's blog is well worth a visit.

The one we made was a football, (soccer), card for the boys. I decided to make it a male card as it is while since we did one in class and I try to do non-girly stuff sometimes! LOL


I used the retired Just Soccer stamp set - although I could have used the similar current version called Goal. The background is stamped with the large Sanded background stamp, the pennant flag is from Party This Way and the designer paper is from Woodland Walk. Our local team Southampton plays in red and white stripes so this ribbon is perfect - although I offered an alternative colour for those whose men folk foolishly support someone else. :)

Now if you want to see a more cutesy version of this card, this is the one I made first...


...OK how cute is that? It was made especially for my lovely downline and friend Nina and her family to celebrate the birth of her second little girl Isabel. The baby-grows are from a wheel called Baby Tees. It went with a little gift set...






...and yes I did spell Isabel's name wrongly! Here is a close up of the paper booties..



...love those self adhesive pearls!

Well that was a lot for one post - give me time to breathe and I will be back with more soon.

Wednesday 12 January 2011

Hopeful Thoughts Card

Hello Everyone

This next card is one of those simple-but-effective cards. (Our other projects for class this month are a bit more complex, so I needed a quicker one too).

I love this colour combination of Real Red, Certainly Celery and Whisper White. I am loving the Scallop Trim Border on this card.

It is made with two stamp sets, Hopeful Thoughts, (aka Praying for You over the water), and Confetti which is the flower background stamp.

I have the Confetti in clear mount, which is great for speedy placement of all those little flowers.

Back in a couple of days with the 'more complex' card!

Monday 10 January 2011

January Class Project & Crafting with Mia

Hello Everyone

Today's project is one of those I am teaching at my classes this month. It is always nice to make a calendar of some sort in January. This year I am making this cute one that folds into a little book.


The calendar pages are stamped using the Sweet Summer SaleABration set. It is very delicate and we are using the Subtles inks so that the dates are still clearly visible.

This is the outside with a belly band closure. This is stamped with the little flower from a oh-so-cute stamp set called Funky Four.


Another photo of the inside shows more of the stamps I have used. The tree is also from Funky Four and the little bird is from Sweet Summer.


The last picture is the back - or is it the front? Both are so pretty I can't decide LOL! Another Funky Four image.


I thought I would also share some photos of a crafty afternoon I had with my niece Mia. As I have said before she is my family crafting buddy and we love to create together.

She always has great ideas and arrived saying she wanted to make a 3D vase of flowers. It had to be a paper vase and had to be a proper vase shape. Here is what we came up with...



Here is a close up of the vase and flowers...the vase is stamped with Sweet Summer one of the SaleABration sets. We made it with a single sheet of whisper white cardstock. Stamped all over and then cut into 1" strips. We layed them across one another in a rough circle and secured them with a brad. Then we popped a cotton bud, (q-tip), holder inside while we held the strips up and tied with a ribbon. I made the pink flower, Mia made the purple one and we did half the blue one each.



We also made two cute boxes. Mia made hers for my DH Mike, she hand drew that guitar, which I couldn't do - so I used Just Believe stamps to make the box for my sister and Mia's mummy.


Mia had brought a diary without a cover, so we made a cover and a matching pen box to go with it. (Pic a bit blurry - sorry about that).



And finally we made some thank you cards for Mia to send out for her Christmas presents. How is that for a busy afternoon?





Do leave a message and let Mia know what you think.  Back in a couple of days with another class project. 

Saturday 8 January 2011

Tea and Biscuits and an International Crafty Gift

Hello Everyone

Today I am sharing a project we did during my December classes. It was Christmas so we had to have a bit of chocolate - so I decided to do a tea and chocolate biscuits gift pack.



We used the fabulous stamp set called Just Believe and used the marker to stamp technique to create the coloured image. I LOVE that soft wide striped ribbon and it finished the gift bag beautifully.


Inside we attached a little bag of chocolate biscuits, (this is my sample one and the the biscuits are already gone - it is filled with tissue for the photo LOL).

At the top is a tea bag holder stamped with another stamp from the Just Believe set and punched with the fabulous Scallop Trim Border punch.



Oh - and by the way - we don't always get our tea from Harrods. My lovely niece Sophie works there and we get little gifts from the food hall from time to time :)

Now I sent one of these to my online friend Anne-Marie, who has a lovely blog...and look what she sent to me!


What a beautiful card. I love all the layers there. Would you like a close up of the goodies in the bag?


As well as the delicious Ghairadelli chocolates, (all gone - back on weightwatchers points now LOL), there was this exciting little gift. Around the dolly peg is a length of fabulous pom pom trim. If you are reading this in the U.S. you can find it in the holiday mini and I am sure Anne Marie would love to sell you some! It is not yet available in the UK - but keep checking back, you never know what we may get. I am going to think up a very special project to use it on. Thank you Anne Marie. X



Back soon with more projects.

Thursday 6 January 2011

Hand Made Cards and Gifts and an Altered Jewellery Box

Hello Everyone

Today I am sharing some of the WONDERFUL hand made cards and giftsI had from my lovely crafting friends this Christmas. There is so much to see here - let me take you through these projects. First photo from left to right thank you to...
  • Sara- for the fabby bauble card - how sparkly is that? Love that special fold too.
  • Yvonne, Elaine & Laura for the fabric bauble Christmas decoration  - they are the MOST talented ladies!
  • Rachel - two beautiful matching projects - tag and card, (Santa on the tag lying down)
  • And in between them - Sophie - my lovely niece who made a card with dried bayleaves and gold leaf  - wow!
  • That sweet little red tree gift card came from Jennifer along with the beautiful basket of flowers. The message brought tears to my eyes. She is a very special person who has been very poorly recently.
  • Elaine - a beautiful card made with one of the level 3 hostess sets. Just stunning - she had a great style, (and I don't have that set - so now I can show you all how wonderful it is!)
  • Over on the right is a lovely card by Jan, (see her decorated gift bag on the following photo). This card is a great adaptation of one we made at a recent class - I wouldn't have thought of it as a Christmas card - but it really works doesn't it?


 So now for photo number two...once again going from left to right...
  • A beautiful Cream Christmas Creation by Jan O - we did a similar card in blue and I LOVE this version.
  • Thank you Vera, (aka Auntie V), for the Bird on a Branch card. I was SO sorry when this stamp set retired last year so it was lovely the bird came to visit me at Christmas!
  • Jan S - what a beautifully decorated gift bag! I love all the little stars.
  • The blue snowflake card is from Helen - it has dazzling diamonds too - but they didn't show so well in this photo
  • Wendy's creation is amazing. Each panel is hand stitched - what a talent.
  • How cute is that skating penguin? He is wearing sparkly skates too - thank to Jenny for this one.
  • On the far right is SUCH a pretty snowflake card from Sara - love the colours.


Thank you again to each and every one of you talented ladies. XXX

I am also sharing a little altered Jewellery Box. I bought this sweet box at a Christmas fair from Michelle and Jane who sell wonderful Shabby Chic goodies.

It was sweet as it was- but I had to have a play with it and decorate it up using some Stampin' Up! goodies.


I used Elegant Soiree designer paper and taffeta ribbon in Marina Mist and punched tiny hearts in Baja Breeze and Very Vanilla cardstock. I also added adhesive pearls under the bows, (I must have done that after I took the photos! LOL)

When you close the top down it looks like this. I stamped the hearts using the Punch Potpourri heart which is one of the sets you can recieve FREE for hosting a Stampin' Up! workshop.



I also used the designer paper inside the little drawers...


How cute is that???

OK - back soon with more projects. Hope you liked todays offerings.

Tuesday 4 January 2011

Ready for another SaleABration card?

Hello Everyone

Another card made with Sweet Summer.

This time I used the ornament punch, (with the point trimmed off), to create a vase to display the stamped flowers. I daubed the edges with Night of Navy ink and the centre with Platinum shimmer paint to give some dimension.


The colour combination comes from the Color Coach, which is a great tool for coming up with winning combinations. I wouldn't normally have put Pretty in Pink, Night of Navy and Old Olive together - but it works doesn't it?

Here is another card I made using the same punch for vases...



This time I trimmed one ornament straight down the sides and used an image from the Tiny Tags stamp set to embellish the vases. The flowers in this case are from a hostess set called Silhouette Sentiments, which you can receive FREE if you host a workshop.

I will be back soon with some non-SAB projects, while I wait impatiently for my new stamps to arrive :)

Sunday 2 January 2011

Another SaleABration Card

Hello Everyone

I am back with another SaleABration card featuring the Sweet Summer stamp set, (I am eagerly waiting for my other FREE sets to arrive - let me know if you want free stamps too!)



I used the emboss resist technique. I started by stamping the foliage in Garden Green ink. Next I stamped the flower images in versamark and heat embossed them with white embossing powder.

I used daubers and a mixture of Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Tangerine Tango and Certainly Celery ink to apply colour over the embossed images. Here is a close up...



I do hope you like today's card. Back in a couple of days with another one :)