Second Stampin Up! workshop

It was my 2nd SU! workshop last night. It was a great workshop, I hope everyone enjoyed themselves, they seemed to and I enjoyed it. There were 13 people there, so it was a busy one. As there were so many guests, of varying crafting experience, I decided to do 3 different make and takes, it also meant that we weren't squashing too many people round the table at once.

This was the first card we made, using Very Vanilla cardstock, cut in half along the length of a piece of A4 and randomly stamped over in with one of the stamps from the Polka Dot Punch set using Perfect Plum and Pale Plum ink. The sentiment was stamped in a space, using one of the stamps from the Best Yet Hostess set with Certainly Celery ink. We stamped 3 of the images on cardstock in the above coloured inks on the corresponding coloured cardstock, then punched them out using the 5 petal flower punch. The images were then layered up, with the green layer being cut into 3 pieces to represent leaves, and added to the card base using Snail adhesive.



The second make and take also used Very Vanilla cardstock for the base card, again cut lengthways from A4 card and then folded back on itself to make a Z fold card. One of the stamps from the Lovely As A Tree set was inked up using Close to Cocoa and Old Olive ink pads and various Stampin Write Markers. I enjoyed experimenting with this card, each one came out very different. The stamped image was then mounted onto Old Olive and then Close to Cocoa cardstock. Thank you, from the Wonderful Words set was stamped along the edge on the right side of the card.



The final make and take was on Very Vanilla cardstock, cut across the width of A4 card. I love the image used on this card, which is from the Summer By The Sea set, stamped in Close to Cocoa ink onto Close to Cocoa card. The image was coloured using Stampin Pastels, they really bring the card to life, although the card looks just as good when the image is left uncoloured. The stamped image was then layered onto Bashful Blue card, which was punched using the Scalloped Border punch along the left side. The sentiment is from the same set as the image, stamped onto Close to Cocoa card, punched using Small Tag punch, a large tag was punched from Bashful Blue, then a hole punched using Crop a dile, and threaded with Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon and stuck to the card using dimensionals.



Stephanie, thanks for hosting the party, I had a great time, hope everyone enjoyed themselves. I will be in touch.

My post today!

I had lots of post today, some boring, banking, insurance stuff but I also had 2 nice pieces of post. The first was a Thank You card and a swap from Amanda, my SU! team leader. I recently sent a template for the card that has 3 squares on the front of it. I really like the design of these cards and they are so simple to make, they always go down well. Just remembered the pictures come out in reverse order when you post more than one....



This is the inside of the card which is perforated in the middle of the back piece, so the right panel can be detached and used as a bookmark. The perforations are made using a blade on the cutter tool from the SU! catalogue



Here is the front of the bookmark card, I love the colours Amanda has used here. Both stamp sets used to make this card were on my list to buy at one point earlier on this week, but never actually made it to the online order! Guess they will have to be top of the list for my next order, or add to the order at the party I am doing this week.



This is the Thank You card, another temptation, the flower is from the Accents and Elements kit, another item on my neverending list!

My second piece of post was an A6 sheet of unmounted rubber stamps. I was sent these as I had a card published in the October issue of Cardmaking and Papercraft. They were going to put another card in the March issue, but haven't seen it yet, will have to get my hands on a copy! I haven't taken a picture of this as I don't think the details would show up, so will have a play over the weekend and post pictures of what I have made using them.

Making Cards - March issue

I bought a copy of Making Cards in January, after seeing a copy at SU! team training in December. My SU! granny, Amanda, had 3 articles in there, one of which was about a pop up card. Well this was one idea that had to be tried out. I made several cards using this design, and they are always well received. I thought I would send one into the magazine and was delighted when they contacted me to say they would like to publish it in the March issue. So if you get this magazine, my card is on the top left of P53. I am so excited, am off to make some more cards to send in!!




Recipe
Cardstock - stash
Cowboy Dan - Kaboodle Stamps
Promarkers
Scallop circle, circle and tab punches - Stampin Up!
Sentiment stamp - Pink Cat
Fibres - stash

3D Something challenge

When I saw the challenge on Stamp Somthing today, I knew exactly what I was going to make - I was going to make it for last week's challenge but never got round to making it. I discovered the basket idea recently while blog hopping, sorry can't remember which blog it was on.

The challenge is :-

Are you ready for this week's challenge? Our design team member Alex is hosting this week and would like for everyone to create a 3D Something! Now, you can create anything you wish that has some 3 dimensional aspect to it. So, it can be an altered item or a box or bag you created or you can think in 3D with a fun card design or scrap book page! The possibilities are endless! Have fun!



I was looking for an idea to give little easter gifts, when I discovered this - problem solved! I used Creme Eggs, which Mum bought me last month as she knows I lurve Creme Eggs. How come they have lasted so long you may ask??? Well she bought them for me on the way back from the dentist when I had just had my tooth taken out! She told me I had to eat them all myself, as I needed fattening up, I was only having these problems because there's no fat on me!! Well didn't want to be bad and not do as I was told, so hid them until I felt more like eating them and forgot all about them, until I discovered them this week, hidden safely, not disclosing where as anyone who knows me will know where my secret sweetie stash is LOL and no Sis, it's not in the ironing pile anymore!!

Using 15cm square piece of cardstock, score at 5cm and 10cm horizontally and vertically, then diagonally, omitting the middle section. Using a bone folder, score and mountain fold the diagonal score lines and valley fold the horizontal and vertical lines. I randomly stamped the cardstock with a couple of the stamps from the Seeing Spots stamp set using a Versamark ink pad. Using my Crop-a-dile I punched holes in the folded in pieces and tied up tightly with cord to bring the points together. I used Snail adhesive to stick ribbon to the bottom section of the basket. Tissue paper was put through the paper shredder to try and make it look a bit like a nest - don't think that was very successful, I need a finer shredder and think tissue paper needs to be yellow. I tied both pieces of ribbon together and added a double layer tag that was stamped with 'A Little Yummy for your Tummy' stamp from the Yummy stamp set. I added an eyelet threaded with some green cord and tied it to the ribbon handles.

Recipe
Cardstock - stash
Versamark ink pad
Seeing Spots stamp set, Yummy stamp set, Tag punch, small tag punch and Snail adhesive - Stampin Up!
Tissue paper, put through paper shredder - stash
Ribbon - stash.

Got a feeling these eggs won't be hanging around for long now. You could also use Mini Creme Eggs or Mini Eggs in these baskets, not that they would last any longer....

Lovely relaxing day

I've had a lovely day today, just noticed the time, so perhaps I should say yesterday! Had a pub lunch with a friend - Crispy Duck and Cucumber Club sandwich and chips which are just the best I have ever tasted and a glass of wine, hey I could get used to this! and caught up with another friend for coffee later on in the day!

It wasn't all R & R tho as I had to go and choose some tiles for the kitchen, extension has only been finished about 15 months and I feel it is time we added the finishing touches, got new blinds on order, so we are getting there. Waiting for carpet man to come and measure up for the lounge carpet, got to get a wiggle on as new suite being delivered next week eek... Just hallway to do and that will be the downstairs finished, don't know about you but I really hate decorating hall stairs and landing, so much so that it hasn't been done since before my youngest was born, and he's 13, so it's long overdue :-(

Haven't managed to get much crafting done over the last couple of days, too much blog hopping! Anyway thought I should make at least one card today and here it is....



This one qualifies for the Cute Card Thursday challenge 48 which is

"Signs of Spring"
This could be interpreted through your image, an embellishment or even your colour-scheme.
I decided to use these papers from a HOTP Citrus pad I have had for ages. These colours always remind me of the spring and the feathers remind me of the cute little ducklings we will see soon - okay I know they won't be blue!
I have used the sketch from this week's Sketch Saturday challenge - hey 2 in 1, haven't managed that for ages.

Recipe
Image - Hanglar - I won in blog candy from Heidi, ages ago.
Watercolour pencils
Scallop circle punch - Stampin Up!
Sentiment stamp - Cuddly Buddly
Blooms - Poppicrafts
Brad & Heart gem - Papermania

My first Stampin Up! workshop

It was my first SU! workshop on Monday evening. Boy did I have creative block trying to think up a demo card. If you are a follower of my blog you will know that one of my favourite techniques is medallion stamping, so I really struggled to come up with a 10 minute make and take. I kept changing my mind as to which stamp set to use, then what colour cardstock and ink to use, then all of a sudden the design above appeared in my head, and luckily enough on the crafting mat before me !!

It went down well with my friends who came along to support me and buy some craft goodies. A big thank you to Stacey, who I met for the first time on Monday. I met Stacey through the wonderful world of blogging, why not check out her blog, she makes some fantastic cards.

I shall be watching out for the DHL man towards the end of the week, you know what its like, when you have ordered new stuff you want it right away. Delivery is usually rather speedy, even though it comes from Germany. I did very well, managed to get a couple of free stamp sets plus free items due to the level of sales, so if you fancy earning yourself some freebies why not host a party?

I used the Polka Dot Punch set which is only available until the end of the month. To get your hands on a set of these stamps, all you need to do is purchase goods to the value of £45, host a workshop with sales of £300 or become a demonstrator and they will be yours free of charge. Contact me for further details but be quick as the end of the month will be here before you know it!

Recipe
CS - Whisper White, Ink and brad - Pretty in Pink.
CS - Very Vanilla, Ink and brad - Certainly Celery.
Wonderful words stamp used on both cards.

Been Shopping.....Ribbon, Paper & Pen Shares

Look at all these lovely SU! goodies that arrived this morning - I even had to go into work on my day off to collect them! All those rubber stamps just crying out to be inked... can you hear them?
I had to increase my stash didn't I? I'm having a workshop at home on Monday and have got one booked for the week after, so had to have some more goodies for people to 'stroke' and for me to make samples. I also had to take advantage of the Sale A Bration promotion, which finishes at the end of February, got 3 sets with this order, should get the final one next week.

Every time I look through the catalogue my wish list grows...... I want one of everything ;-) If you would like to increase your SU! stash why not join one of the shares I am setting up?

RIBBON SHARE

1.5m x 11 colours - 1/4" grosgrain ribbon
1.5m x 8 colours - 5/8" grosgrain ribbon
1m x 3 colours - 1" double stitched grosgrain ribbon
1m x 8 colours - taffeta ribbon.
I need 8 people to take part in this ribbon share, cost is £21 for the ribbon in the above list.
If we can organise this before the end of February it will qualify for 3 of the SAB sets which I will draw at random, 3 lucky people will get a free set of stamps.

PAPER SHARE

If like me you find it hard to choose which set of paper you would like, why not have a sheet of each design - take part in this paper scheme and you will have!

84 6" x 6" sheets of designer papers (1 of each)
The cost for all these scrumptious papers is only £16 for delivery to your door.
As above, this will also qualify for 3 of the SAB sets if we can organise before the end of February, which I will again draw at random.

STAMPIN' WRITE MARKER SHARE

Who would't like to own these double ended stampin' write markers. Now you can buy the sets individually but if you buy the complete set you receive a storage case, which stores them horizontally, which ensures both ends are evenly inked.
I need 3 people to participate in this share, (1 person already signed up) who are prepared to pay £26.50 per month for 4 months. At the end of this share everyone will end up with the entire set and the storage case.
If we can set this up before the end of February it will qualify for 3 of the SAB sets which I will draw at random.

If you would like to take part in any of the above schemes please contact me as soon as possible - to ensure we can take advantage of the Sale A Bration promotion.

Hoping to hear from you soon.

Cute Card Thursday - challenge 47 Music & Dance

This is the first CCT challenge I have managed for quite a while.

We would love to see your creations with a music or dance theme this week. Think instruments, song titles, dancing, musical notes etc. I can't wait to see what you all come up with - have fun!!

I use this stamp regularly as it makes a great card for a man. I seem to have to make quite a few of these, as several of my daughter's friends are in bands. The image is a Sugar Nelly stamp 'Rockstar' from Funky Kits, coloured with Promarkers. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE can anyone give me some hints and tips on how to colour the cheeks without making them seem like they have slapped cheek!! I keep trying and just end up ditching the images.... Glossy accents added to the guitar, its becoming customary now LOL......Image mounted onto navy cardstock that has been put through a CB embossing folder and highlighted with a white ink pad. Star brads from stash.
The main card is made from a piece of A4 card cut in half length ways, then scored at 2cm, 4cm and then half the length of the remaining piece IYSWIM? Sentiment from Hero Arts Anytime Message set, which contains lots of really nice words, think these will become regulars on my cards...

Stampin Up!

I have taken the plunge and organised my first Stampin Up! workshop which I am going to do at home to my friends - not sure if its more nerve wracking demonstrating to people you know or strangers for your first workshop....
Anyway its all set for next Monday night, so thought I had better get a move on and make some demonstration cards and order some more goodies. I have used my SU! stash, but not made cards or projects entirely from SU! products, so here's my first, got a feeling I am going to be busy this next week LOL...
If anyone would like to place an order, please email me and help me make my launch workshop a bumper one. Anyone spending over £45 receives a free Sale A Bration stamp set, from a choice of 4, they are all lovely, so why stop at one set!

I stamped the truck from the Loads of Love stamp set using black Stazon ink, then using the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to ensure they were correctly positioned I stamped the pile of hearts with Pixie Pink ink and coloured the image in with Bold Brights watercolour crayons and an Aquabrush. Main image then layered onto Brilliant Blue card and stuck to Whisper White base card which has been cut to 30cm x 10cm folded into a Z shape. Left side of card stamped with Brilliant blue ink and Polka Dot background stamp, scallop border punch used along left edge and trimmed with strip of BB card. Loads of love text from same set stamped in Pixie Pink onto Whisper White card and punched using round punch, then punched sclloped circle from Brilliant Blue card.

Snow bound!!

Not really but school was closed yesterday due to the weather so I had an unexpected day off!! No prizes for guessing how I spent the day - well most of it, I did have a little tidy round in the morning, watched 'Wanted Down Under' then disappeared into my craft room, with a mug of tea and watched the snow fall. It was great, I was snug as a bug with the little radiator under the work surface. I had a few cards to make and thought I should continue the great clear up...... apart from coming out for dinner I was in there until about half eleven last night!

The first card I made was for a very good friend's daughter who is 7 today - Happy Birthday Elizabeth, hope you have had a lovely birthday.



I really enjoy making these cards, they are really simple to make and I think very effective. Card stock from Paper Mill, stamped with Versamark ink pad and Polka Dot background stamp from SU. The image is Emmy with Basket from Funky Kits coloured with SU watercolour crayons and waterbrush, highlighted with Sakura gelly roll pens and a button from stash. The large scalloped shape is cut with Accent Essentials cricut cartridge, pierced on each petal and finished off with ribbon from stash. The scalloped shapes on each end are my favourite SU punches - greeting from Cuddly Buddly and peel off coloured with markers.



I have had this 'Dress Up Maggie image on my worktop for ages. Coloured with Marvys, I used Liquid Pearls for the necklace, was a bit disappointed as the 'beads' merged into each other, and Glamour Dust added for that little bit of dazzle. I used the same style card as above, as these are very popular.



I have had these borders inked up and ready to go for some time, I just needed to put it together with the other components and thought I should do it before the bits get damaged. I bought these shapes at Newbury back in July last year from Craftwork Cards. I cut the acetate card in half, so get twice as many from the pack I bought - love a bargain!! and some Bazzil Bling (another Newbury purchase). Borders inked up with Dew Drop ink pad and finished off with a bit of Glamour Dust. Paper from a DCWV stack has been added to the back of the window on the front to hide the dst. Greeting circle also from Craftwork Cards.




I decided to make a slight variation to the card above and make a suspended greeting using my fav punches from SU and greeting stamp from Cuddly Buddly - just noticed that it's not too clear in the picture, I was tired when I took these photos last night. I background stamped the base card with Versamark using swirl stamp - freebie last month from Cardmaking & Papercraft. The scalloped shape around the square aperture on the front of the card is cut using my SU scallop border punch, the paper is K & Co, one of quite a few lovely ones I discovered in a pile of papers I bought ages ago!



The final card here is one for a football fan - got 3 of them in this house.... I usually end up making quite a few football cards throughout the course of the year, so thought I would get one step ahead of the game - ;-) sorry couldn't resist that! and get at least one football card in my basket. Can't remember where I got the images from, had them for ages, patterned paper is from K & Co, I think, and greeting is a Whispers stamp.

Its my normal day off tomorrow, hoping to get a couple of cards made, maybe even take part in a few challenges, haven't done any for ages, been busy with challenges set by myself ..... then am off to Heathrow in the afternoon to drop Mum off, lucky lady is off to New Zealand for 4 months - if I don't blog for a while, guess where I'll be?
Have just seen the weather forecast for tomorrow, glad I'm not driving - may just get on that plane

Absent but not idle this week!

I've not managed much blogging this week, but I haven't been idle!



I was asked for the measurements to make the card above, so I made a template and decorated it with some of my SU! supplies. I used Whisper White and Pixie Pink card stock, Pixie Pink ink pad, stamps from the Seeing Spots set, circle and scallop circle punches. Think I will be making a few more of these cards, they are so easy to make and look really effective.



Here is the card I made for me to give to my friend Sarah on Thursday. Bazzill Bling card used for base card, with aperture cut to display DCWV card stock, from Glitter stack. Numbers cut from George cricut cartridge and bling added with Glamour Dust. Flowers from Craftime.

I've spent quite a bit of time blog hopping this weekend and watching programmes recorded from the series of Wanted Down Under, something we thought about a few years back! Have to satisfy myself with another holiday there, sometime soon hopefully!

I finally packed away my Christmas crafting goodies, so got a bit more space in my craft room for the moment - not sure how long it will take me to fill it - not long I am sure!

Also taken the plunge and had my hair cut short, not had it this short for about 10 years but really pleased with it, although its a little chilly round the neck!!