Happy Birthday to Ruth

Good morning,

This morning I want to share a birthday card with you that I made for my good friend and fellow DT-er on the simply stampin challenge Ruth, now Ruth's birthday was over Easter so I have been waiting an age to show you but I'm afraid as I'd used new products from the summer mini on it (yep, that's right us demo's get our hands on goodies a whole month early!) I had to wait to show you!

I used the brand new punch that co-ordinates with the mixed bunch stamps, isn't it yummy!? It's hard to see in this picture but I stamped in Pool Party with one of the flower stamps, I also stitched the card, I love doing this but rarely do as it's quite time consuming, but Ruth is definitely worth it.

Hope you like it as much a Ruth did.

Simply Stampin Colour Challenge

Good morning,

I loved what you did with last weeks sketch, it's great to see different creative spins on the same layout, but over at Simply Stampin' this week we have a colour challenge ready for you to sink your teeth into, it's gorgeously girly and I know you're just going to love it!

See what I mean, yummy!!

Well here's what I came up with using this beautiful combo,

First of all I heated embossed the medallion stamp in Wisteria Wonder I've added a little glitter to my embossing powder for extra glitz! Then I sponged through the pattern with Melon Mambo, I made a rosette using the Cheerful Treat DSP, topped off with layers of Wisteria Wonder, Pretty in Pink, and an antique brad. Added my sentiment (this was another commissioned card) and a few butterflies from the Beautiful Wings Embosslits.

I hope you have as much fun with this combo as I did, I can't wait to see what you come up with!!

Happy crafting, xx

Gifts for Friends

Good morning,

As you may have already read previously on my blog, each year I like to make at least one batch of Christmas presents, (scroll down to see my festive fudge bags) but I did want to make one special present for a dear friend of mine who I met through her fabulous blog, she also happens to be one of my fellow DT members at Simply Stampin' too. Her name is Ruth and you can check out her amazing blog by clicking here, I have received so many wonderful gifts throughout the year, that I wanted to make her something that no one else would have. So I decided to cover a notebook for her.

Every crafter needs to make notes and jot down websites they have seen something inspiring on, so I thought it would make a useful gift! The colours are much brighter IRL, this photo was taken at night before I rushed off to the post office to make sure she got it well before the big day, I'm sure that I'm safe posting it now.

Why not decorate one for yourself? xx

Recycled Embellishment

Hello there!

Every so often my fabulous friend Ruth sends me some 'happy mail' and she always takes the time to decorate the envelope of the card (and usually makes me a gorgeous gift, I'm sooo lucky!) just as beautifully as the card itself. It was my birthday a few weeks ago and Ruth sent me the most beautiful birthday card with gorgeously decorated envelope! I always keep my hand made cards on the wall in my craft room, they really brighten the place up on a gloomy day. I felt silly keeping the envelope but didn't want to throw it away, so I decided to recycle it, I hope Ruth doesn't mind.

Do you see the cute little birdie holding the little happy birthday banner? That was the embellishment Ruth had lovingly made for the envelope of my card, I'm sure you'll agree that I could not throw that in the bin! I've pulled out a set that I haven't used for ages Circle Circus, and got inking with the new in-colours minus Calypso Coral and added in Melon Mambo. What do you think? I do hope Ruth will approve!

Don't forget to check out this weeks Simply Stampin' 'Leafy' theme challenge! xx

Simply Stampin' sketch week

Hiya,

Last week I was uploading my Simply Stampin' challenge entry at the very last minute and I'm not quite sure I made it in time. So this week I wanted to make sure that I wasn't trying to get it on in the last 10 mins before closing.

Sketch week is here again, and here is the sketch we've been set to work with,

I love that they've kept it simple so it gives a lot of scope to do your own thing with.

I decided that I wasn't using my Springtime Vintage DSP nearly enough so I thought I would choose a paper and work my colour scheme around it.

I have used the ruffled ribbon as one of my elements (not sure if I like it still though, maybe needs a little tweaking) and an embossed butterfly for the other, whilst making use of my eyelet border punch for the horizontal layers.

I love the Curly Cute greeting set, so went with Happy Birthday for my greeting. I love that SU! products all colour co-ordinate it made it very easy to put out the same colours to layer up with and ribbon matching too.

I hope the girls like my entry and that you do to.

Happy stampin' xx

Butterflies are Back

Good morning!

Well the butterflies are well and truly back in my repertoire, I was hoping to enter this card as a second entry to the Less is More challenge however I think it is definitely more rather than less.
It does however fit into this weeks Simply Stampin' challenge. This week its a colour challenge, which is one of my favourites as I always seem to stick to the same colour palette, so these challenges help me to explore other colour ways. Here are the colours

A while a go I purchased the Greenhouse Gala DSP which feature a few of the colours in this week's challenge, Sarah-Jane one of the DT over on the blog had also used paper from this DSP on her card (it's gorgeous! click on her name to go to her blog) So here is my card

I also used the same DSP to decorate the inside of my card, I don't normally do this, but I'm using this card for a friend at work's 50th birthday at the beginning of June so I wanted to make it a bit more special.

I will also be entering this card into a new challenge blog called Crafting For All Seasons, it's the very first challenge for this new blog and the theme this week is 'anything goes'. So it's a great one to start with for any new challengers who want to have a go.

Hope you have a good weekend! I have a lot of cards to make so I may well see you again before today is over.

Tempting Turquoise Butterflies

Good Afternoon,

Well I vowed to give the butterfly embosslit die a rest and use all of my neglected stash. I have been forced (thank you lovely LIM ladies!!) to crack out the butterflies and give them a run through my Big Shot, I really needed my arm twisting! Hee hee.

So as you've guessed from my ramblings this week's challenge over at Less is More is butterfly/butterflies. I knew that I wanted to use one bright colour, so I looked in my scraps bag and found a gorgeous piece of Tempting Turquoise that was begging to be used. That's the great thing about the embosslits folders they are so dinky that they are just perfect for using up all those scraps that we just can't part with!

So here is my card

I have used the four smaller butterflies for fluttering over one side of my card and the largest to decorate the envelope. I  also used a piece of the card stock as a mat. Hopefully you can also see that I have gone around the inner edge of the white CS with glue and glitter to add some sparkle ( I just can't help myself!) I really would have liked to have stamped my sentiment in the same colour ink, but I'm still adding to my ink collection and this is one of the colours that I don't yet own. So I've used Night of Navy rather than black to that it doesn't look so stark.

I love this challenge so much I can see me entering again so be sure to check back for another card.

CASE'd myself

Hello,

Another beautiful day here. It's weird to think that the weekends are longer than the working week this week!

Today's card is CASE'd from my triple combo earlier this weekend. My sister had asked me to make to card for 'Rosalind' and I liked the thought of the butterflies fluttering through grasses, that I had done in this card so I thought that I would use the same concept but use different colours this time.

I've also tried to be brave and use colours out of my comfort zone that I would not usually use, orange and yellow both scare me!
I'm pleased with the result, although getting the name central was very tricky! Thank god for my Stamp-a-ma-jig, that's all I can say!

The recipe for today's card
Stamps, Broadsheet alphabet, pocket silhouettes
Paper, Springtime Vintage DSP, Certainly celery CS, Very vanilla CS, Pumpkin pie CS
Ink, Certainly celery, More mustard, Old olive
Accessories, Beautiful wings embosslits, sponge dauber

Enjoy the last of the holiday
xx

Triple Challenge Combo

Good afternoon,

Just quickly popped on to post my card which combines three challenges (my most so far!) before we have a BBQ, very impressed that the first one of the year is so early. Isn't the weather just glorious?!

Well on to my card

As I said I'll be entering this one into three challenges, Less is More, which this week challenged us to 'off centre' which after lasts weeks acetate challenge was a welcome relief, thanks ladies. I actually enjoyed last weeks challenge after all my huffing and puffing!

The colours have been taken from Colour Throwdown, which this week let us choose one colour to mix into the combo

I have used Night of Navy, Whisper White and added Old Olive as my guest colour, I was going to go with Rich Razzleberry but I wanted my card to have a more neutral feel to it.

Lastly the sketch used fitted perfectly with the Less is More - off centre, which is from the Simply Stampin' challenge blog, I do love a good sketch, and here it is

The recipe

Stamps, Curly cute, Pocket silhouettes

Paper, Whisper white CS, Night of navy CS, Old olive CS

Ink, Old olive, whisper white

Accessories, Beautiful wings embosslit, 1/4" grosgrain ribbon whisper white, Jumbo eyelets, Designer buttons brights.

Thanks for stopping by.

First party night nerves

Good afternoon!!

Yesterday I held my first real Stampin' up! party, I was incredibly nervous, but luckily it was with my friends as guests, and they were very kind to me.

I planned two make and takes, a side stepper card, and a bookmark, both using (you guessed it) products from the mini.

The side stepper card used the Sew lovely set, I love this set even though I'm not a sewer, I think the dress makers form is fab, and I love the bright colours of the co-ordinating paper pack.

The bookmark uses the elegance wheel, and Beautiful wings embosslit, this little guy is definitely my favourite item in the whole of the catalogue!!

Here are some close ups



This card fits an A6 card sized envelope, you can find measurements for the A5 size here or if you would like the measurements for this size please email me via the 'contact me' tab at the top of my blog.

Here's a side view



There are highlights of dazzling diamonds glitter down the wheeled section, don't think they are visible in this picture, but trust me they are beautifully sparkly.

Now that I have done my first proper party, I'm sure I will not be as nervous in the future, fingers crossed, and I'm told that all the girlie's were happy with what they made and took home with them.

If you would like to make these projects you will need

Card -

Stamps Sew Lovely, Occasional greetings

Paper, Whisper white CS, Regal rose CS, brights designer series stack

Ink, Daffodil delight, Pumpkin pie, Melon mambo, Chocolate chip

Accessories, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Bitty buttons, corner punch

Bookmark

Stamps, elegance wheel,

Paper, Very vanilla CS, Marina mist CS, Chocolate chip CS

Ink, Marina Mist

Accessories, scallop circle punch, white gel pen, chocolate chip satin ribbon (retired but early espresso would look just as good), Beautiful wings embosslit, jumbo eyelets, 2-way glue pen, dazzling diamonds glitter.

If you would like to place an order or would like to host a party of your own please contact me.

Happy stampin'

xx

more new products!!

Hello!

I was awake half the night last night worrying about my first real Stampin' up party as a demo. It dawned on me at 4am that I was completely unprepared, and the party is Wednesday, eek!

I had an idea of what I wanted to do, but then the mini came along and changed my mind several times when I was deciding what set to buy. I've decided that my make and takes will be a bookmark and a card,(I'll post these Thursday in case any of the girls check my blog before then), I'm still getting all my kit together and I don't have full packs of paper yet, so this morning panic set in as I tried to figure out what I had enough of to make the projects with.

I think that I'm getting there now, but I need to put some samples together quickly for the table, so my guests can have a look while waiting for everyone to arrive.

Here's one of the cards that I put together this afternoon, what do you think?

It uses a few new products, the Strength and hope stamp set, this set is not only beautiful but when you buy it you are doing your bit for charity as Stampin' up donate £1 every time a set is bought. I've also used the gorgeous new seam binding ribbon, which I've ruffled, and the Springtime Vintage papers, also of course I've used the Beautiful Wings embosslits die, I can't seem to make anything without adding a tiny butterfly to it!

Here's the recipe
Stamps, Strength and Hope,
Paper, Baja breeze CS, Certainly celery CS, Crumb cake CS, Very vanilla CS, Springtime Vintage paper pack
Ink, Pear Pizazz,
Accessories, square punch, scallop square punch, scallop trim border punch, seam binding pear pizazz ribbon, Beautiful wings embosslits die.

I hope everything goes ok Wednesday, the girlies will have to be gentle with me!! Wish me luck xx

Less is more colour challenge

My second post today I'm on a challenge roll!

This card is for the Less is More, touch of red colour challenge.
I'm still getting used to this challenge, less is more definitely doesn't come naturally to me, but I'm having fun trying it out.

Here is my entry for this week

Again it uses the Beautiful Wings embosslits die, I really love the dimension that you get with this piece of kit.
As I mentioned I Find Less is more quite challenging, once I had finished this card, I wasn't completely happy with it is I went back and added a little more, I'm not sure if it would still qualify now but I'm happier with it this way.

What do you think? There is still quite a lot of white space so fingers crossed it's still ok for the challenge.

Here's the recipe

Stamps, Friendly Words Jumbo wheel, Because I care,

Paper, Basic black CS, Real red CS, shimmery white CS

Ink, Basic black

Accessories, Beautiful wings embosslits die, rhinestones

Enjoy the rest of the weekend xx

Simply Stampin' challenge 1

Good Morning!

Happy Mother's day!!

It's a bit grey here, so it's the perfect excuse to shut yourself away and lose yourself in a bit of crafting.
I never need an excuse to get a bit crafty, I like to think of Sunday's as my craft day. At the moment I seem to have more cards to make than Sunday's to make them in, but never fear, I've got next week off work, so I can get crafty then, I also have my first real workshop this Wednesday! Wish me luck, I'm a little bit nervous, but it's with friends so I'm sure they'll be gentle with me.

I was getting a bit bored of my blog background so I decided it was time for a change. What do you think?
It took a bit of jigging around but I'm quite happy with it.

Now onto a card, I was looking through my favourites (all other crafty blogs, hee hee) and stumbled across a link for a new challenge blog called Simply Stampin'. As I still needed to make my boyfriend's mum a Mothers day card I thought I'd give the sketch challenge a go.



This card uses a brand new product from the mini the gorgeous Beautiful Wings Embosslit, it's great value at just £10.50, this little beauty not only cuts out the cutest little butterflies but it embosses them at the same time!! I've teamed them with the Elegant soiree papers, love these, they are all my favourites colours in one pretty pack.

Here's the recipe
Stamps, Occasional greetings
Papers, Chocolate chip CS, Marina mist CS, Elegant soiree paper pack
Ink, Chocolate chip
Accessories, Beautiful wings Embosslits, rhinestones, Marina mist satin ribbon, scallop circle punch, scallop trim border punch, white gel pen.

Don't forget if you place an order with me before 7th April you'll get 10% off so you could get your hands on these gorgeous butterflies for just £9.45!

Happy stampin'