Coffee and Friends...

Good morning!

How are you? We had a fun day at Knowsley Safari Park yesterday, me playing with my new camera and Keiran and his cousin Sophie being ever willing subjects! Then Sophie stayed over so all in all a fun day!

Anyway, today is my friend Chelsey's birthday and hopefully her card has arrived so I'm going to share it here!

I have used almost entirely MDS for this card...though I must admit, it doesn't look digital!

I used Perfect Blend for my card and printed it twice, once with plain cups and once after adding some DSP into the band across the cups. I cut the bands out and glued using Tombow. The sentiment was printed directly onto the Naturals White card blank and I used a piece of the packaging from my Stampin' Up! parcels as the background...kind of looks like a coffee bean bag doesn't it?

Stampin' Up! supplies used

please click on the pictures to order direct from my online shop.

I used the sketch at CAS(E) This Sketch for my inspiration...

I'm also entering into the challenge at Addicted to CAS which is Coffee.

I'm off to take our current holiday dog out for a walk with Keiran and Sophie now before Sophie goes home, then I might try a bit of baking!

Have a lovely Tuesday!

My first inspiration/memory tin

Good morning!

Have you had a good weekend? I had a very productive one, designing 4 wedding invitations, a birthday card and an inspiration tin! So today I'm going to show you the latter one as the birthday one needs to arrive with it's recipient before I share!

I up-cycled a baby milk tin using some of the gorgeous free Sale-a-Bration papers, the free Banner Blast stamps and matching punch and the Spiral Flower Originals die.

I added a circle of paper to the top of the tin and topped it with my rolled roses.

I decorated the peg with some DSP paper and added some punched notelets, using the Artisan Label punch, for writing an inspirational message on.

The idea behind my tin is every time something good happens to you, you write a little note about it and pop it in the tin. Then when you're feeling a little down, or need a pick me up, you open it and hopefully the little notes will remind you that life is actually not as bad as you think!

Another take on the tin is as a baby memory tin, except that it could be for 'Baby's Firsts'...first tooth, first word, first steps etc. I plan to make a few of those in the not too distant future!

Stampin' Up! products used

The Sale-a-Bration items are free with each purchase of £45!! If you would like to place an order with me, you can visit my online shop or contact me directly to place your order.

Today is the first day of half term and I am really looking forward to spending some quality time with Keiran...baking, swimming, cinema, Knowsley Safari Park....it's gonna be a busy week!

Have a lovely Monday!

A bit of watercolouring

Hello everyone.

I have a card that is a little bit different today, in that I have tried a technique I haven't used before.

I used a watercolour 'wash' for the background by simply using Garden Green ink and Aqua Painters. As the pens hold the water in them they are great for creating this effect as they let a fair bit of water through the brush. Once the panel had dried I embossed it using the Stripes EF and the sanded it using a sanding block.

The stamped panel is from Best of Sale-a-Bration and I coloured the stamp up with Garden Green, Summer Starfruit and Smoky Slate before stamping and cutting out. The strip of DSP is Summer Starfruit and I finished with some Smoky Slaky Chevron ribbon and Whisper White baker's twine.

I am entering my card into the following challenges...

Retro Sketches - #96

Dynamic Duos - #85

Products used

Please click on the pictures to buy direct from my online store,

Have a great Tuesday!

Handmade Christmas decor!

Good morning!

Wow that was a storm last night wasn't it?! It got so bad that Keiran got frightened and had to sleep in my room bless him! I hope you are all safe and there hasn't been too much damage near you.

Whilst the storm was raging, I was doing what crafters do best....craft! And here is what I made!

I have been playing with the Milk Carton Bigz Die. This is an idea I have had for a while, but not had chance to finish it! 

I have used the Typset Alphabet Bigz to create the lettering, and each battery operated candle is covered with the lovely new gold washi tape from the upcoming Spring/Summer catalogue.

Here is the full garland...

It is all fastened together using Cherry Cobbler baker's twine and I have added a Frosted Finishes embellishment in between each letter. 

Isn't it lovely? And it is easy to turn the candles on and off through the holes in the sides, which were created using the 2nd smallest die from the Circles Collection Framelits.

   

 

Click on the images to buy directly from my shop.

I have a few challenges I would like to enter this into...

SUO Challenges - Last Minute Christmas Need

A Gem Of A Challenge - Anything Goes

Addicted To Stamps and More - Anything Goes

Challenges For Everybody - Anything Goes

Sir Stampalot - Free and Easy

Divas By Design - Anything Goes

Love To Create - Anything Goes

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes

Crafty Boots - Christmas

Just For Fun - Merry Christmas

I'm off on the school run now...see you tomorrow! :)

Beyond the comfort zone!

Good morning!

As I promised yesterday, here is the card that pushed me so far out of my comfort zone that I actually enjoyed it!

 I was asked to make a card with 'sewing' things on it, so here it is...

Most of you who know me know that I am very much a CAS gal these days, so this card kind of came as a shock to me when I'd finished it! I just kept adding all sorts of things to it, but the more I added, the more it came together!

I used the Dress Up Framelits for the mannequin and partially embossed it using a retired EF. The papers are Sweater Weather from the Seasonal Catalogue which I chose for their fabricky (it is a word, honest!) look. The tape measure is the Measuring Stick Wheel Builder wheel.

 I distressed all the edges with the Distressing Tool and Baked Brown Sugar ink, applied with the Foam Sponges. I also distressed the Pool Party Seam Binding by dabbing with BBS ink, spraying with water and scrunching up then allowing to dry before opening out. I finished with a Crochet Trim, Naturals Designer Button, pearlised pins and Pool Party Baker's Twine bundle, and some scattered pearls. 

Like I said, there's a lot on this card, but I think I like it! I just hope my customer does!

Supplies

Designer Series Paper - Sweater Weather

Framelits - Dress Up

Ink - Baked Brown Sugar, Coastal Cabana

Stampin' Around Wheel - Measuring Stick

Ribbon, etc - Pool Party Seam Binding, Crochet Trim, Baker's Twine, Naturals Designer Buttons

If you would like to purchase any of the products I have used here, please do visit my online store where you can also be entered into this month's Mystery Hostess club for your chance to win this month's hostess freebies!

Alternatively, please feel free to contact me with your order, or any queries you may have. 

Challenges

The Shabby Tea Room - #187

Sentimental Sundays - Happy Birthday including Doily, Pearls and Ribbon/Lace

Dream Valley - Buttons

My Time To Craft - Shabby Chic or Vintage

Please do let me know what you think of my effort at Shabby Chic...is it chic or is it just shabby??

Sparkly Snowflake

Hello!

Have you had a nice weekend? I won't say the 'M' word...I'll just get on with today's post! ;)

I hope you don't mind, but I have made another 'Tealight Easel card'...I have a feeling I shall be making many of these for my upcoming Christmas markets! 

I have used the very lovely Winter Frost designer paper from the new seasonal catalogue. It's so cool and elegant don't you think?

I made a snowflake using the Festive Flurry Framelits and the ever sparkly Silver Glimmer paper...it's so sparkly it sparkles in the pictures! I have had so many orders for this and I can't blame them! Not only is it so sparkly but the glitter just does not come off! So you don't end up with an envelope (instead of a card) full of glitter!

Again, I have used the stunning candles from Asda...they really match the Stampin' Up colours so well!

I finished the card with a little Designer Faceted Button and some Pool Party Baker's Twine as a closure for the little card/box.

If you would like to see how to make a similar card to this, please check out my original easel card here

If you would like to order any of the items used here, please do so by visiting my online store. Don't forget to use this week's Mystery Hostess Code

MAXYUMSP

to give you the chance of winning this week's hostess rewards!

(for more information, click on the Hostess Codes tab)

Alternatively, please do contact me for more information about products, details of workshops in your area, Stampers 6 clubs or becoming a Demonstrator.

Challenges

Freshly Made Sketches - #102

Just Add Ink - #181

Crafty Cardmakers - Christmas Snow and Ice

Sparkles Christmas Challenges - Non Traditional Colours

Winter Wonderland - Candles

Thank you for joining me today and have a lovely M... oops, nearly said it! 

Partial Embossing using an Embossing Folder

Good morning!

And another bright and sunny one it is too!

Here is one of the cards I made at Jen's yesterday afternoon whilst there with Vicky too.

I decided I needed to try my hand at a male anniversary/valentine card as I have none in my box! Can you see how the card has been partially embossed? I did this popping my card blank into my Argyle EF and taping it shut so the card doesn't move. I then taped a strip of double thickness chipboard across the outside of the EF, where I wanted embossing. With the chipboard side down, I ran it through my bigshot missing the bottom clear plate. I repeated this step further down the card to create another strip.

The word 'love' is stamped onto the card blank using my brand new Morning Post stamp set, and I cut out the 'O' and popped it up for dimension! The button is made from the fabby Simply Pressed Clay...it has added no weight to my card at all! The hearts were sadly retired a while ago.

Supplies

Stamp - Morning Post

Ink - Real Red, Island Indigo

Embossing - Argyle EF

Other - Simply Pressed Clay & Moulds, Island Indigo Baker's Twine

If you would like to order these sentiments, any of the products I have used, or any of the other fabulous new products, please do contact me and I will be very happy to place your order for you.

Please click on the catalogue link on my sidebar to browse the yummy new catalogue, or for £4.95 inc. p&p I can send you your very own copy to drool over and write your wishlist in!

Challenges

Sketchbook Saturday - #100

One Stop Crafts - Anything Goes

Totally Papercrafts - Let's Hear It For The Boys

4 Crafty Chicks - Dry Embossing

Right I have to go now! I am running the Race For Life at 11...I would love it if you would sponsor me!

SPONSOR ME

Thank you if you already have sponsored me...it is a very worthy cause and it will be greatly appreciated!

Do come back tomorrow and I'll let you know how I got on, plus I have different of using the Simply Pressed Clay to show you!

Have a great Sunday!