Simply Stampin' Sketch Week

Good morning!

Sorry I'm a day late posting what a nightmare! I had actually made my card last Sunday, I made one liked it so much that I made another matching one to keep in my stash, this card will be winging it's way to a friend later this week, (I hope she won't mind too much my posting it before the big day!) I completely forgot to take a photo of it before the challenge, and you can't take a photo in the dark!!

Anyway that enough of me babbling on! So as you have probably already seen this weeks Simply Stampin' challenge is a sketch and a great one I might add!!! (well done the amazing Kirei, for another blinder!) here it is

See what I mean, very versatile!

I decided to use some of the fabulous Candlelight Christmas DSP to make a non-christmas birthday card, I wanted to use the velvet window sheet (completely gorgeous, but a pain to photograph) I have used a teacup as my focal point for the oval element hope you like it!

I can't wait to see how you do with this one, don't forget to check out the rest of the DT's cards they are amazing!!!
Keep Craftin' xx

Simply Stampin Challenge

Good morning crafters,

It's time for a brand new challenge over at Simply Stampin' this week we are asking you to DIY DSP so just to be clear we want you to make you very own Designer Series Paper, and use it in a project.

I am still trying to get ahead for Christmas, so for my DSP I went with my fav new Christmas stamp set Watercolour Winter, It's a very versatile set, so it's perfect for this type of challenge.

I started off by choosing my stamps, I decided to go with the 2 step poinsettias, I was planning to just use the outline image but then change my mind and decided to alternate the block image and the outline. here is how my DSP turned out.

I started to make my card and then decided, I'd make a matching card and tag set, plus I still have plenty of my DSP left over to make something else!!

I teamed Real Red, Whisper White, and the Champagne Glimmer paper for real added glamour, and the great thing about it is you only need to use alittle for that great wow effect!

I wanted my DSP to be the main focus of the card and tag so I've tried to keep them pretty simple, I hope you like them, and that myself and the rest of the DT have inspired you to create your very own DSP and join in the challenge with us!

Can't wait to see you designs, xx

Anything But A Christmas Card!

Good evening,

I've had a VERY lazy Sunday, so I thought that I had better remedy that and make something to share with you. I am (trying) to get all my Christmas prep done early this year,  I have around a quarter of my Christmas cards already made this year, so I am quite proud of myself, still a long way to go, but far better than my efforts at this point every other year.

I can't take all the credit for my early Christmas prep this year though it's largely done to a Christmas challenge I found at the beginning of the year, 52 Christmas card throwdown a weekly Christmas challenge blog that has been inspiring me to pull my finger out and get my butt in gear. I don't get my cards finished in time every week to enter the challenge, but I tend to start something and finish it off later.

This week the ladies are challenging us to make anything but a card, tag or ATC, now a first I thought eeek! Talk about throwing a spanner in the getting the cards done early this year, but then I remembered that I had great fun making Christmas pudding gift bags with yummy homemade choc fudge inside to give to friends that had helped me out through the year, see the post here.

I want to do the same thing this year, so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to make something cute to put a little something in!

Here's what I came up with

It's a sweet little Christmas cup made from Crumb Cake CS, decorated in Old Olive and Cherry Cobbler using my new favourite stamps Watercolour Winter. I also added edging with my scallop trim punch and stamped Merry from Tiny Tags, I also added two Tiny Tags using the Jewellery Tag Punch in each of the festive colours!

I have also discovered that I can enter this Chrsitmas 3d project for Dynamic duos as the challenge this week is Cherry Cobbler and our choice of another colour and as my Cardstock cup is Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive I fit right in! Don't you love it when that happens?!


I'm thinking of doing a tutorial of how to make these little CS cups so If you'd like to know howto make your own them leave me a comment and I'll take step by step photos as I make up a few more of these cuties!

Hope you've enjoyed visiting my little crafty corner, xx

Simply Stampin' Sketch Week

Good morning,

It's Saturday, and it's time for another challenge at Simply Stampin' this week it's back to the good old sketch, and as always we have a great one for you!

I've stuck to the sketch, using a circular stamp repeated and inked in the different colours, Lucky Limeade, Rich Razzleberry and Night of Navy. I was still on a stitch high when I made this card so I decided to hand stitch grid lines around the circular elements. I added a sentiment from Up, up and away, and a clear button tied with linen thread.

I'm excited to see how you get on with this layout! Happy stampin' xx

Simply Stampin Challenge Theme Week!

Good morning stampers,

This week over at Simply Stampin' it's time for another theme week challenge so we are challenging you to

Faux or Sew! 

That's right we want to see stitching on your projects so whether you want to faux sew, hand sew or get your sewing machine out it's up to you!

For my card I decided to combine faux sewing with hand sewing, here's it is, 

It's another Christmas offering from me, I started with a Night of navy base, and layered with Soft Suede, and Marina Mist, I like to paper pierce holes when I faux stitch I always think this gives you a more real stitched look, so around the edge is my faux stitching with my Night of Navy marker pen. I stamped the background with my Serene snowflakes, in Soft suede, then wrapped some retiring satin Marina mist ribbon around before cutting a Top Note with my Big shot machine and embossing with the new Lacy Brocade embossing folder, I inked the edges with Night of navy, next I stamped the mug, steam and gingerbread man from Scentsational Season, I hand stitched over the snowflake design on the mugs, if you look closely hopefully you'll be able to see it!!
And finished the whole thing off with a sentiment from the Contempo Christmas set.

I hope you'll enjoy stitching along with us this week and don't forget to check out the rest of the DT's offerings for even more inspiration!

Happy stampin', xx

Watercolour Winter

Good morning,

I'm sharing another of my Christmas cards with you today, this one features the brand new Watercolour Winter stamp set which I am just in LOVE with!!

This card has a distressed feel to it,

As you can see I've using another of the gorgeous Candlelight Christmas DSP's for this card this one is my favourite in the whole pack in fact I would have been happy with just 12 of this one, the large snowflakes are so beautiful!

I started I started with the central layer, and sponged a layer of Sahara Sand to begin with, followed by More Mustard, next Pumpkin Pie (Very sparingly with this colour!) staying closer to the egdes with each sponged colour layer and lastly finished the edges with Early Espresso. I then stamped the sentiment from Delightful Dozen in Early Espresso before edging it with the fabulous holly branch from the Watercolour Christmas set. I glittered each holly berry with dazzling diamonds to give it a frosted look.

I finished the card off with some more of that yummy Tulle ribbon this time in Crumb Cake with an Antique Brad to add some more glamour!

Hope you like this one, xx

Christmas Shopping!

Good morning,

I'm trying to get a few Christmas cards done a week so that I'm not panicking at the last minute like every other year so I thought what better place to start than the 52CCT?! the challenge for this week is Gifts of the Season. I had an idea to make little gift bags, you know what you buy things in those big dept stores and they wrap them all nicely in brightly coloured tissue paper so they look all fancy? well that's how I wanted my gift bags to look, and I think I've managed it.

I started the card with a white base and added a small Cherry Cobbler layer followed by another White layer, I stamped my greeting in Cherry Cobbler from the Contempo Christmas set, for the gift bags I used some of the brand new Candlelight Christmas DSP, I pierced holes near the top and threaded Linen thread through for the handles and added some of the gorgeous Cherry  Cobbler Tulle ribbon to get the fancy tissue paper effect I was after.

I hope you like them, I'm quite pleased with how they turned out, xx

Simply Stampin Colour Challenge

Good morning stampers,

It's time for another challenge over at Simply Stampin' and this week we have a colour challenge for you, combining a few of the in-colours that will be leaving us very very soon, so why not join us this week, it's a great chance to use up any of the in-colour CS or DSP you have that needs to be used!!

Here's the colours

I would never have thought of putting these colours together, but that's what's so good about joining in these challenges!!

Here's my take

I have used one of the many retiring sets for this card, called Cottage garden, I stamped the colour panels with the cluster of small flower in Whisper white ink, and then set to work using the colours and the rock and roll technique with one of the larger flowers, I used glossy accents and glitter on the flowers to add extra sparkle, and some in-colour glimmer brads for the centres.

I'm not sure if you can see the paper piercing I did in each corner of the centre white panel which is mounted on Concord Crush CS.

I'd love to come visit you and see how you take on this weeks colours!!!

Happy craftin'

Simply Stampin Sketch Week

Good morning!

I can't believe it's been a who;e week since I lasted posted, that has just flown by!!! Thank you for all the messages I had last week about my baby news, it's so exciting to finally share it with everyone!

So onto this weeks challenge, which is a sketch

I am trying to use up some of my DSP stash before everything retires, I don't know about you but I buy all the new DSP each year, stroke it for months not wanting to use too much of it up then find myself using it like mad in September, please tell me I'm not alone in this DSP fetish, next year I will have to use it up all year instead of saving it, I still have paper from the previous years that I didn't want to use all of!

Anyway getting back to this weeks card, I had an idea to make a sort of envelope pocket out of the Top Note now I'm sure many other people have probably already done this but I was quite proud of myself with how this baby turned out.

Here's my card

I decided not to add the greeting to the bottom corner of my card instead I've hidden it inside the top note pocket!

You can really see the whole Top note shape when it's opened out like this, Hope you like my card and that maybe I've inspired you to give the challenge a go this week! Can't wait to see what you come up with!!

Happy Stampin'

Simply Stampin' Baby Baby!

Good morning,

Yes that's right I'm back in action (I think!!) and my crafty conservatory is all sorted out!

This week's challenge over at Simply Stampin' is a theme challenge, and the theme is Baby Baby!

I had no idea when me and Kirei came up with these challenges at the beginning of the year that by the time this one came arouind I would be 5 months pregnant expecting mine and my boyfriends first baby, this may explain why I have been dipping in and out of challenges for a while!

I had my scan just over a week ago and we found out that we are having a little girl so I had to make my card in pinks!

I didn't want to go over board on the pink so I have kept my card pretty CAS, hope you like it!

I started with a Crumb Cake base, matted with Pretty in Pink with Whisper White over the top, I spritzed the left hand side of my card with my Pretty in Pink marker pen, and ruffled some Crumb Cake seam binding to go over the top, then I die cut the scalloped heart in Crumb Cake using the heart embosslit, and punched a Whisper white heart with my full heart punch, stamped with A to Z in Pretty in Pink, I wanted to add a splash of bright pink so I topped this off with a bright button. The congratulations greeting also stamped in Pretty in Pink is from the Delightful Dozen set, oh so useful!

Well I hope this has inspired you to get making baby crafts!! Don't forget to check out the rest of the design teams projects!

Happy stampin'

Chaos!!!

Good morning all you crafty people out there,

Well we are all moved and most of the boxes are unpacked but my crafty stash is still mostly packed up waiting for me. My boyfriend has realised how my stash I have (he had to shift all the boxes!!) even I didn't realised I had this much and now he thinks I am completely crazy.......I had an idea this was the case already but I kinda have to agree with him looking at all the stash I seem to have collected!!

I have been given the conservatory as my new craft space, as my spare room will become a nursery in January, and I really don't know where to begin! Every time I go in to sort it out I end up leaving the room again with having done very much at all, if anything.

I decided to share a few pics with you after checking out Victoria's immaculate perfectly organised space, and feeling complete shame at my lack of motivation!!

There is so much stuff that I can't fit it all in one photo!!

The only bit I have really organised is the small area on the desk with my birthday book, a small purple box with a few SU! dies stashed inside, and some baby wipes. Not much to shout about.

Now, you maybe fooled into thinking that there is some organisation going on here I have lots of large plastic storage boxes, but the stuff in then was moved here like that and really everything needs to come out be sorted and then put back in boxes so that each box contains similar things instead of a mish-mash like they are at the moment!

I need help so if any crafty friends are free this weekend and would like to generously offer their time to my messy craft room cause let me know!

Simply Stampin' Sketch Challenge

Good morning stampers,

This week over at Simply Stampin' it's sketch week, and we have a great one for you this week!

Today is my nephew Bailey's birthday, Happy birthday Bailey!! so I decided to use this sketch to make his birthday card, I wanted to make a fun bright coloured card, hope he likes it!

I started with the happy birthday builder wheel which I took off the wheel and mounted so I could use it as a stamp (I find it easier this way) and stamped it over the background in Tempting turquoise, Lucky limeade and Cherry Cobbler. I mounted this onto Cherry Cobbler CS, I used a piece of Tempting turquoise DSP with my scallop border punch for the banner strip, then cut a circle and run it through the Big Shot with my Polka dot embossing folder to echo the DSP. Next I watercoloured the car from the Need for speed stamp set in Tempting turquoise and popped it up onto my polka dot background. As I'd already added a sentiment over my background I decided to punch a scallop circle from Cherry cobbler CS and with my bakers twine create something a little different which I finished off with a button.

I can't wait to see what you come up with for this sketch!

I'm moving next week so I doubt my desk will be unpacked in time for next weeks challenge but I hope you'll pop back to see me again soon.

Happy crafting, xx

Vintage Simply Stampin'

Good morning!

It time for another challenge over at Simply Stampin and as you can tell from my title this week is vintage week. When I think of vintage I always think of distressing, so I knew I wanted to do some distressing which in my case always involves my spritzer tool, I love the light speckled effect you get on the paper with this tool, so that's where I started.

This card will be my mum's birthday card, it's not her birthday until the end of the month, but she is a complete techno-phobe so I'm pretty safe putting this up now.

I used quite a lot of different stamp sets on this card, I wanted to make a vintage style post card for my topper, so I started with the post card stamp from my christmas Winter Post set (love this stamp set so much!!) and added the sentiment meant for mothers day from my Delightful Dozen set, it may be for mothers day but works perfectly for my mum's birthday card!

Next I pulled out my mum's fav stamp set of all Baroque Motifs, she loves the swirl so I wanted to use that along with the the small flower from the same set. I also used the ink splatter from the French Foliage set another go to stamp for a vintage card.

I'd love to see what you come up with for this weeks challenge,
Happy stampin'

Simply Stampin Sketch Challenge

Good morning,

I hope that everyone is not too wet from all the rain we are having I never mind the rain it's a great excuse to sit indoors and make cards!

Now onto this weeks Simply Stampin' challenge which of course as I have already mentioned in my title is a sketch, I'm sure you will all love this one!

I really love sketches, especially neutral ones like this one, there's so much you can do with it!

Here's what I came up with for it

Now this card may look simple but there were a lot of different techniques that went into it.

I started off by using my crimper to give the Sahara Sand layer texture, I also spritzed it with my Blushing Bride marker pen, Next I cut sections of Blushing Bride and Basic Grey CS, I used a sponge dauber and some champagne shimmer paint to give it a bit of sparkle, before using my mat pack to punch holes around the edges for my faux stitching. Next I cut a tag out of Sahara Sand CS, and sponged Sahara Sand and Blushing Bride ink around the edges again adding faux stitching around the tag to tie it all in together and stamped the Young Vermilion Bird stamp in Basic Grey ink. Finally I added three different ribbon  strips to the top of the tag.

I hope you like what I've done, and that maybe I've inspired you to join in the challenge! Don't forget to check out this weeks fab inspiration for the Design Team and this months Guest Designer Lynne Fahey!

Before I go I have to say happy birthday to my partner in crime at Simply Stampin' Kirei, I hope you are have a brilliant birthday!! and I'll be back later to share the card I made for Kirei with the rest of you!

Happy stamping,  xx

Simply Stampin Challenge

Good morning,

You may have noticed that I was absent from last weeks challenge, I had a sinus infection and was feeling very sorry for myself, but I'm feeling much better now - Thank god!

So back to this weeks Simply Stampin' Challenge, this week we are challenging you to come up with a

Clean & Simple

project, now I know for some of you this insist much of a challenge, (have you seen Amanda from the DT teams cards they are always amazing!) but for people like me they are very tricky indeed, I find it really hard to get the right balance between a simple card but one that still has enough details so that it doesn't look half finished.

Although my card looks simple quite a lot of details have gone into it, 

I started off with a Crumb Cake base, used my spritzer my Not Quite Navy marker to add some texture to the background. I used some DSP from the Simply Scrappin kit Country Club, a scrap of torn First Edition DSP, then I added a scalloped border in Pool Party CS. Next I inked up a flower from Mixed Bunch,in So Saffron and sponged the edges of the stamp with Pool Party before stamping it onto Vanilla card and punching out with the co-ordinating punch (love these too products they make card making quick!) I wanted some more dimension so I dug out a retired jumbo button from last years mini.

I still felt it needed alittle more (see what I mean about finding the right balance for CAS) so I used my Boho Blossoms punch to add some flowers in So Saffron with pearl centres for the glam look.

What do you think? Too much?

I'd love you to show me how it's really done, so join in this weeks challenge, and show me you're take on the challenge! xx

Simply Stampin Sketch Week

Good morning,

This week over at Simply Stampin' we have a fabulous sketch for you to use to make a card or scrapbook page, I can't wait to see what you come up with for it.

I wanted to make a clean card, so I went for Whisper White and Pool Party with a little touch of black and So Saffron, Hope you like it.

I used the polka dot embossing folder and the daisies die for this card, as well as the get well greeting from Delightful Dozen. The DSP is from Domestic Goddess, I think it works really well with the daisies, and the final touch is a little faux stitching.

I hope this card has inspired you to join in the challenge, if you need a little more inspiration please pop over and check out the rest of the DT's entries!

Happy stampin, xx

Simply Stampin Regal Theme

Good morning,

You may have realised I'm a little late posting this weeks Simply Stampin' design team entry, I have had technical difficulties, my internet connection doesn't seem to like adverse weather conditions at the best of times so I don't know if it was all the wind we had here, but I could barely get a connection at all, and when I get it was beyond slow!

It's still not great today, but apparently the provider is looking into it, what ever that means?!

Anyway back to this weeks challenge which continuing the jubilee celebrations is Regally Royal.


I decided to use up some Twitterpatted scraps for my background, I cut strips in different widths and stuck them at an angle onto a background and matted this onto Basic Grey CS, and topped the whole thing off with a crown.

I can't wait to see your take on this weeks challenge, I really love how all the Design team have gone for completely different variations on the same theme!

Happy stampin, xx

Simply Stampin Challenge Colour Week

Good morning,

This week it's time for another colour combo over at Simply Stampin', we are stretching you again this week with a toughie, but I'm confident that after the last colour combo you guys can handle anything!!! So here we go.

I had a birthday card to make for my boyfriends nephew who turned 9 on thursday so I used my Make a monster set to make a batch of colourful monsters, and Charlie really liked it, yay!

Although when I looked at this weeks colours I wanted to run away and hide I actually really like how this card turned out, why not give it a go? You might surprise yourself too!

Also don't forget as it's the first Saturday of the month it's guest designer week, so pop over to the challenge and check out her fab work! xx

Good morning,

It's time for another challenge over at Simply Stampin' and this week it's back to the sketch round. Now lately the challenges have been a little puzzling for me, and this sketch was no different, it took me ages to come up with something. Take a look at this week's sketch

I decided to go for a CAS card, well as CAS as it gets for me. So for the grid I embossed lines onto one of the gorgeous new DSP's Twitterpatted, it's so pretty and feminine, and also has some great geometric shapes in there for men's cards! I backed this onto Island Indigo CS. I chose to use one of the stamps from the Apothecary Art set, which is fab for colouring in, I used my Rich Razzleberry, and Baja Breeze, markers for this.

Make sure you check out what the rest of the DT have come up with using this sketch, I can't wait to visit you and see how you've used it! xx