Front and back cover of 40th Star card

I am really pleased with the cover on this card. The circle and 40 were cut using George cricut cartridge. Numbers were covered with Glamour Dust for the all important sparkle. Base card stamped with Banana Frog flower stamp using Versamark ink pad. Ribbon attached with dst and PM flower brads. This card took me all evening yesterday, but worth the work, the lady who ordered it was very pleased, and I know Sarah will love it!

40th birthday - Star card

I have recently had a star card ordered for a 40th birthday, for someone I have known for years. She is a fun loving girl who loves pink and hits the big 40 on Thursday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH.

The pink cardstock from stash - this style card uses loads, but still didn't make much of a dent in my pile of card!! I used George & Basic Shapes & Beyond Birthdays cricut cartridges to cut the letters, numbers and various greetings. I have used a Versamark inkpad throughout to give a watermark effect background.





I used Hero Arts cup cakes clear stamps, coloured with Promarkers and added Glossy Accents and Glamour dust for a bit of sparkle on this page.



Greeting from the internet (can't remember website) printed onto vellum and attached with PM brads.



My Hanna stamps got another inking, I love using the stamps from this set, handbags stamped onto background with Versamark ink pad.



The flowers stamped on the left pages are from a Banana Frog set and the swirls on the right pages are from a freebie from Cardmaking & Papercraft February issue.

Love is in the air....

There are a lots of firsts in the making of this card...
I went to The Range yesterday to get some bits for the house and just by chance they had a DoCrafts demo, how lucky was that! So I had to stop and have a little look. I was pleased I did, as the demonstrator had the following style card on display. I have seen this card on the front cover of a crafting magazine recently, and drawn a sketch intending to work out how to do it, but no need now, saved me a job!




I have used Whisper White and Real Red cardstock and Real Red ink from SU! I love the fact that the inks match perfectly with the cardstock. The stamps are a freebie from Cardmaking & Papercrafts February issue. They were crying out to be inked up, there are another 3 more stamps in the set, a larger flower, some swirls and a pair of lovebirds, will be inking those up soon. I used a waterbrush to colour the flowers, drawing ink in from the image and on the lid of the ink pad. Just realised I haven't coloured the centres in yellow, will have another look in the morning, may just leave it alone, as generally mess things up completely when I have a fiddle LOL.

Have been trying to sort out my blog tonight, added a link to the SU! catalogue, so if anyone would like to place an order or book a workshop, email me for more info.
Haven't managed to sort out the template from Cutest Blog on the Blog, so reverted to previous one, it seems a bit boring after the other one I had but better than the black one of late!

Had better be off to bed now, or won't be fit for anything tomorrow!

Been Baking!!

Anyone who knows me, knows that this doesn't happen very often!!
I was inspired by the trend for cupcakes, they are everywhere these days. I was on Julie's Japes , check out this fab blog, reading an item about her recent cupcake class - she had a picture of a book I just had to have, so the postman delivered my copy yesterday and I had to try out one of the recipes today.

I like Cherry and Coconut cake so thought I would make one of those at the same time, this one had just come out of the oven when I took the picture, shame you can't smell it!

I have made a couple of cards this week, one for my youngest son who has gone to a party this evening, but forgot to photograph it before it went :-(
Been having a blitz on my craft space this week, sorting through stuff, still have a long way to go! Sorting through old magazines, making templates of items that I think I am likely to use.....
Hoping to clear some space so that I can get my SU! stuff out to play with.
Just realised the pictures are the wrong way round, but my chinese has just arrived so not gonna hang around to sort it out!

Papertake Weekly and Cute Card Thursday challenges

Update on post below, here is the card and the candle, I was really pleased with the way the candle turned out. I must remember to use strong colours next time as they appear paler on the candle. Will be making more of these. Have also realised that this qualifies for the CCT challenge of 'have a giggle' this week.




It's a friend's birthday this week so thought I would make her a card using the sketch on Papertake Weekly. I knew which stamp I was going to use, one of my favourites, the Dolly Mama stamps from Stamps Happen - 'I used to burn the candle at both ends.... now I can't find the matches! I am also planning to put the same image on a candle, not tried that yet, but have the candle and tissue paper ready and waiting - have this awful feeling I am going to end up with a pool of melted wax - too late to try it tonight, so wish me luck for tomorrow...

I coloured the image with my SU watercolour crayons, really like using these, can feel a spend coming on! I wanted to use vibrant colours as I am going to use the same colours for the candle and I didn't think pale colours would show that well.

Found this gorgeous handmade paper in my stash, its quite thick with gold bits on that look a bit like embossing altho its not, there are quite a few other colours in my stash, how could I forget lovely paper like this (prob didn't forget, just didn't want to cut it up LOL!). Just looked at the preview and the photo doesn't really show the paper off in its full glory, you'll just have to trust me on this one.

Sketch and Stash Challenge 1

Two posts in one day!! I discovered this new challenge, Sketch & Stash. It is a great sketch and you can rotate it, re size the elements and add extra bits and bobs if you need to! You are asked to use new stash or stash that you have had for a while and not used - got plenty of that ....



I had to make an 18th birthday card for one of my daughter's friends so thought I would 'kill 2 birds with 1 stone' as the saying goes. I decided to use one of the Rubber Romance stamps I bought ages ago and only used a couple of times. I coloured the image with a combination of Promarkers (flesh colour and hair) Marvys (middle bag and hat band - was the only one I could find to match the burgundy colour in the background paper but needn't have searched so long and hard as when I added the Glossy Accents it turned it red!) and SU! watercolour crayons (pink bags), which are new, well had since before Christmas. The BP is from the All Dressed Up stack from DCWV, which I bought ages ago from The Range, only used one sheet as couldn't bear to cut the lovely designs up, but decided to be very brave today!
Ribbon & flower - Poppicrafts, sentiment stamp - Rubber Romance.

I wasn't sure if my daughter or her friend would like it but Ellie thought it was 'cool' and that Ash would love it. Phew....

More SU training projects

What a beautiful day it is today, I always feel much happier when the sun is out. Just been for a drive along the beach, I know it should be a walk but ...... its almost like a summers day if you are out of the wind!
Still feeling a bit sore today, but suppose that's to be expected, I must have had about 10 injections this week! Swelling is going down, I almost look normal - well as good as it gets - ha ha...

Here as promised are some more of the projects we completed at training last month, the first is by Elaine. I often struggle for male cards, unless they like sport.


It uses Brilliant Blue, Glorious Green, Real Red and Whisper White cardstock, Real Red grosgrain ribbon, Brilliant Blue and Glorious Green ink. I just love the way all the SU! items are available in the same colour. The stamps used are all from the Starring You set. Star shapes are cut with a Sizzix die.


I just love the movement when you open this card up, its so different from anything else I have seen. Have a feeling this will be a regular make of mine. Sorry just realised I forgot to turn the photo round, you'll have to lie down to see it properly!


The next make is a post it note booklet using Tempting Turquoise cardstock, Brilliant Blue and Pink Passion ink, Tempting Turquoise and Whisper White grosgrain ribbon decorate the book ring
The cardstock has been decorated using stamps from the Polka Dot Punches set, - available free when you spend £45, host a party with sales of £300 or become a demonstrator - for more information please contact me.
The cardstock and post it notes have been hole punched with a Crop-a-dile, the bookring then put through the holes and decorated with ribbon. These are so handy as you can clip them to your keys so you always have notepaper to hand.

I still have some more projects to post, but have some cards I need to make for this week, so had better get those made first.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend and the sunshine.....

I lost 3.5lb and a tooth yesterday! + SU training

Haven't felt much like blogging for the last few days, blooming teeth playing up again. I've been to the dentist 4 times already this year!! After 2 courses of antibiotics, abscess drained, and root canal treatment I looked like I had a golf ball in my cheek yesterday, so back to the dentist AGAIN to have the wretched tooth out! I am finally pain free, just a bit tender.
On the plus side, when I went to WW yesterday, I had lost 3.5lbs, probably put it all back on this week when I can eat again LOL. Am beginning to think I have lost too much as never had problems like this when I was heavier - have lost 2.5 stone since I started in July - perhaps I'm not meant to be a skinny gal!

Hoping to feel up to some cardmaking tomorrow, have done some blog hopping today and thought it was about time I showed some of the items we made at the SU team training back in December. Everyone who attended took a project (except me cos I had only just got my kit) and enough materials for everyone attending to make one. As a result we came away with quite a few projects. Here are some below, will post the others over the weekend.



This gorgeous card was by Hayley using the Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel and Very Vanilla cardstock, Ruby Red stampin write marker Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, metallic eyelets, Canvas background stamp, greeting from Stem Sayings set and bloom from Botanical Blooms set, available during January and February as part of the Sale-A-Bration promotion. There are four sets on offer and you can earn them in the following ways:-

Customers - For every £45 you spend, you can choose a free Sale-A-Bration set
Hostesses - When you host a workshop with at least £300 worth of sales. Don't forget if you spend £45 at your party you will be entitled to another free set.
Recruits - Become a demonstrator during Sale-A-Bration and select any set (to the value of £38.95) from the catalogue free of charge.

For further details, to book a workshop or place an order please contact me via email.




This next card was by Amanda, my SU granny. It was made using a brayer, a technique I had never tried and didn't think I was going to like, but hey, guess what's gonna be on my next order....
The image was stamped onto Whisper White cardstock using Staz On black ink, then stamped again onto scrap paper. We then cut along the ground level and masked off the bottom half of the original stamped image. We then brayered More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie and Really Rust ink over the upper half of the original image. Greeting stamped at the bottom in More Mustand, greeting from Occasional Greeting set, tree stamp from Lovely As A Tree set. Textured cardstock mat in Not Quite Navy and base card in More Mustard textured cardstock, finished off with More Mustard grosgrain ribbon. I really like the Autumnal coloured used here, think I am going to try this will blue inks - must add those to my wish list!



The final one for today is a Thank You bag by Helen. This is made from a C6 envelope that has been sealed, cut 1" along the short edge, stamp on both sides of the envelope, (we used a stamp from the Pocket Silhouette set and Real Red ink) score 1cm (can be wider) along the other 3 edges and fold in both directions, use a bone folder to ensure nice crips folds. Stick the triangles on the bottom of the envelope down with DST. Using the scalloped border punch, punch across the open end of the envelope and fold over approx 1". Punch holes using a Crop-A-Dile, thread with Whisper White grosgrain ribbon. Make a Thank You tag using thank U stamp from True Friends set and SU tag and small tag punches, thread with Linen thread and attach to ribbon.

Phew, what a long post that turned out to be! Gonna go and have a lie down now...

Ismaki challenge 09/002

Have tried to sort out my blog tonight without any success as you can see! Any suggestions gratefully received...



I had hoped to join in the Ismaki challenge last week but ran out of time! I have saved the sketch and will try it later. This is the first time I have joined in this challenge and I really enjoyed making this card. I coloured 'Charlie with Snowballs' from WOJ with my Promarkers. The papers I used are from the Basic Grey Wassail paper stack and inked the edges with a brown chalk ink pad, I lurve working with these autumnal colours. Have just noticed the card looks a bit washed out in the photo, it is a lot more colourful IRL. Sentiment and punches as usual, Cuddly Buddly and SU! Nearly forgot the stickles used to highlight the snowballs!

Had better head off to bed now, busy day tomorrow - again!

Clearing up Christmas

I spent some time clearing the work surface in my craft room, finishing off cards, using up some scraps or images I have coloured. There were Christmas bits and pieces all over the place, so as well as clearing up this Christmas I guess it could be considered as getting ready for next Christmas!! Here are a couple of the cards and a tag I made, I did make some other very quick and simple tags.

This first card is one I made using the Morning Star medallion stamp from Creative Expressions. I stamped, cut out , glued and glittered 6 layers using 3 different coloured pearlescent card. I glittered them using crystal glitter and layered them up with 3d foam pads. The card base and layers were cut from the same cardstock, available in huge sheets from The Range.



The next one uses a Father Christmas stamp, from Creative Expressions, stamped onto acetate using Staz On and glittered on the reverse using Art Institute glitter and glue. I used a gold pom-pom I discovered in my stash, not sure where this came from but it finished off Santa's hat. This was mounted onto paper from Christmas stack from DCWV and finished off with bit of card from scraps, finished off with Scalloped border punch from SU!, peel off greeting and stars from Papermania.



This is one of the gift tags I made using another stamp from Creative Expressions, this one is 'Small Snowy Tree' stamped onto acetate onto acetate and decorated as the card above. The tag was punched using a large Sizzix tag die and I added some thin tinsel to finish.

Double Pocket Gift Card Holder

Back to the dentist again yesterday, another lot of antibiotics but still not right! I really hope it settles down soon, my appointment for root filling etc isn't until 16 Feb, don't fancy waiting till then, almost wishing I had said take the wretched tooth out when I went last Tuesday at least it would be feeling better by now!

In the hope of taking my mind off my toothache I shut myself away in my craft room to play. It was snug altho a bit noisy as I had the washing machine and tumble dryer going most of the day.....



I discovered this tutorial recently and thought I would give it a go! Its something a bit different from the usual card that gift cards go in, and made from one piece of double sided paper 20cm x 15cm. I made the first one with some Dovecraft Christmas paper which I still haven't packed away, and then tried another with some DCWV paper.

Of course the good old SU scalloped circle punch had to put in an appearance on the Xmas card holder along with a Cuddly Buddly sentiment and the SU tag punch and a sentiment stamp from one of the sets which is a level 1 hostess gift (£150 worth of sales) and some flowers from Poppicrafts on the pink one.

I think they are really quite cute. One pocket is to put the gift tag in and the other for the gift card, think I will be making more of these, as quite often send money/cheques for rellies who live away.

Blog Candy win from The Craft Barn and Cute Card Thursday challenge 42

The challenge over at Cute Card Thursday this week is

'This week we would like to see you use something you got for Christmas on your cards (if you didn't get anything suitable for Christmas then you can use something that you bought yourself over the holidays)!'

I was lucky enough to win blog candy from The Craft Barn the week before Christmas but not had the time to play with the stamp that I won so thought I would use this opportunity to ink it up! The stamp is 'Cowboy Dan' from the Kadoodle range, www.kadoodlestamps.com or available from The Craft Barn.

I paper pieced the image with scraps from stash, colouring a few areas with PMs. I used a cream base card from stash and used a dauber to add some colour from a chalk ink pad, I quite like the effect, thought it looked a bit like hide. After taking the first 2 photos had a flash of inspiration, I remember having some yarn left over from knitting the fluffy scarves a while back and thought it would be good to add detail and look like a piece of rope - not so sure now, what do you think?

SU punches were back in use again, the tab punch at the top, may add some detail there as it looks a bit plain, circle and scalloped circle for sentiment which is from Scrappy Cat.