Tulips from....

Erm, well Bolton actually! They were inspired by my recent trip to Holland though! That and the challenge over at Less Is More this week which is...

Use a Rubber Stamp

and watercolouring!

So I dug out my Watercolour Paper and Aqua Painters and got to work...not quite a Van Gogh!

I used the tulip from the Backyard Basics set, and cut it out with the matching die. They really do make life easy! The embossing folder is Stylish Stripes from the new seasonal catalogue. Can you see the paper pierced corners? I've seen it around quite a bit lately and thought it would work well here.

The sentiment is from the hostess set Express Yourself.

Other Challenges

CAS(E) This Sketch - #43

Colour Throwdown - #257

Thanks for popping by...it's nice to be here on a Saturday morning!

A Tealight Candle Card for a Calm Christmas

Good morning Sketch Saturday fans! 

It is Saturday morning, so it must must be time for a new sketch! 

Here is my card for you to see, and this one is rather special...

I really enjoyed making this...it is something I have been meaning to try for a while! 

Supplies

Stamp - Calm Christmas

Ink - Smoky Slate, Encore Silver

Designer Paper - Winter Frost

Embossing - Pretty Print EF

Other - Silver Ribbon

Here is the template which I found online...

I altered the measurements slightly, by accident actually, but they work better for me!

So the sketch... (almost forgot!)

Challenges
Totally Gorjuss - Texture

So what are you going to create??

See you soon!

Joyful Snowflakes!

Hello!
How are you? I had a very relaxed day yesterday, not really doing much apart from crafting, while Keiran built lego left from his birthday in April! He did really well too!

Here is one of the cards I managed to make...

I used the lovely new Festive Flurry stamp set and used my Stampin' Write Markers to ink up my stamp. One thing I love about the markers is that you can pick out different parts to a stamp and give a really unique look each time. I used Marina Mist and Night of Navy for this stamp.

Here's a closer look...

Don't the snowflakes look lovely in two colours? And the sparkle? Well after I stamped them in ink, I used Versamark and my Stamp-a-ma-jig to re-stamp over the snowflakes, covered in Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, then heat embossed. Don't they sparkle beautifully?! I finished with my sentiment from Joyful Christmas.

Supplies

Cardstock - Night Of Navy, Whisper White

Stamps - Festive Flurry, Joyful Christmas

Ink - Marina Mist, Night Of Navy

Embossing - Versamark, Iridescent Ice

Other - Stamp-a-ma-jig

Have you had a browse of the brand new Seasonal Catalogue yet? No?!! Well then why not pop over to my sidebar and click on the image to be taken to a flipbook of wonderfulness! (it is a word, honest!) And if you would like a 'hard' copy, please do contact me and I will pop one in the post for you :)

Challenges

Colours and Sketches - #40 (the double!)

2 Sisters - Square Cards

Well, thanks for stopping by...don't forget to say hi and let me know you've been :)

New Seasonal Catalogue!

Good morning!

Yay...I'm back in the morning!!

And what an exciting morning! Today is the launch of the brand new Autumn/Winter catalogue!! 

Drum roll please................

Isn't it lurverly?! And that's just the cover! If you click on the image, you can have a lovely browse too!

However, if you're like me, you'll want to scribble in it, write down ideas and mark the lush items you want to order! So to order your 'hard copy' please do contact me!

So now on to a card I made to showcase a few of the lovely new items...

I have used the lovely new Season Of Style DSP, and Christmas Collectibles stamp set and matching Ornament Punch, which can be purchased as a bundle saving you 15%!! 

I stamped the bauble in the newly available gold Encore ink pad (also available in silver), and added a Cherry Cobbler Candy Dot and an Old Olive Taffeta ribbon bow. The sentiment is from Joyful Christmas, stamped in Old Olive.

There are lots of gorgeous products now available - Halloween, thanksgiving and Christmas - the whole Autumn/Winter season covered in one lush catalogue! :)

There are also a few items still available from last year's seasonal products too, and they can be found here. 

Challenges

Fab Friday - #25

Winter Wonderland - Red & Green Must Be Seen

I hope you enjoy looking through the catalogue, and if you would like to view any other samples I have made with the new Christmas products, please just search 'Christmas' in my sidebar.

I'm off to entertain my wonderful 5yr old son for the day now...these holidays are going so fast!

Washi Tape for Less Is More, finally!

Good evening!

Gosh I can't get used to blogging at night! I hope to be back into my regular morning posting as of tomorrow.

But for tonight I have for you my entry into this week's Less Is More challenge, which is to use Washi Tape. I've actually made 2 cards, but I'm not sure how happy I am with the first one yet, so I am posting the second one...

I have used a Crushed Curry card blank and some of the Washi from the Gingham Garden set. The butterfly is created by placing strips of Washi onto card, then punching the butterfly out using the Elegant Butterfly punch. 

The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Sentiments stamped in Strawberry Slush. I finished with a Strawberry Slush doodled border and a Crushed Curry Candy Dot...the first one I have used!

Can you just about make out the slight shimmer of the butterfly? That's from the lush Washi Tape!

Supplies

Cardstock - Crushed Curry, Whisper White

Stamp - Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Papillon Potpourri

Punch - Elegant Butterfly

Ink - Strawberry Slush

Other - Gingham Garden Washi Tape, Candy Dots

If you would like to get your hands on some of these gorgeous products, or get yourself a catalogue to peruse, please do contact me - I am very happy to help with any queries you may have! 

I am also entering my card into the challenge at

CAS(E) This Sketch

Right-ho...time for a cuppa!

Ooh but not before I tell you some exciting news! Tomorrow (yes TOMORROW!!) is the release day of the brand new seasonal catalogue!! So do pop back then and I will show you something using some new products, plus you'll be able to view the digital version of the catalogue from my sidebar!!

See you then!

Heartfelt Sympathy

Hello!! How are you all, my lovely followers? I am hopefully back in the world of blog after a lovely few days break. I took Keiran camping last weekend, then we went to Bolton's Food Festival on Monday, and today we have walked for miles and finished off with a lovely Indian meal, slightly spoiled by the entire lot of drivers from our local cab firm having a row in the very beautiful restaurant! Still, we got our meal free! ;)

So once Keiran went to bed, I decided to fit in some much needed crafting, and came up with this...

I have used the gorgeous Hostess only set, Simply Sketched and stamped it in Calypso Coral, then filled with Crisp Cantaloupe.

The embossed panel is created using the new Pretty Print EF from the upcoming Seasonal catalogue (available to order from as of 29th August...not long now!) I gently coloured the edges with Crisp Cantaloupe using a Sponge Dauber, as I also did on the main panel. I finished with a butterfly from Papillon Potpourri.

Supplies

Cardstock - Whisper White, Calypso Coral

Stamp - Simply Sketched

Ink - Calypso Coral, Crisp Cantaloupe

Embossing - Pretty Print EF

Punch - Bitty Butterfly

Other - Sponge Dauber, Stamp-a-ma-jig

If you would like to get your hands on any of the Hostess sets, or any of the new upcoming products, please do contact me for details of how!

Challenges

Colours and Sketches - #39

Dynamic Duos - #67

Anything Goes - In The Garden (add some butterflies)

Partytime Tuesdays - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for bearing with me recently. I hope I will be a little more on the ball again now!

A Calm Christmas

Hello!

I feel like I'm being such a bad blogger at the moment...life just seems to be so very busy with work and having fun days out, etc! I am off to camp later today so I'll be MIA again for a couple of days, but hopefully, I will get back to normal soon!

For now though, here is a very serene Christmas card...

I have used the very peaceful Calm Christmas stamp set from the new Autumn/Winter catalogue...isn't it lovely?? I have stamped it in Soft Sky and fussy cut it out.

The embossing is Fancy Fan and one of the folders, also from the new seasonal catalogue called Pretty Print. The sentiment is from the same stamp set.

If you would like a copy of the new Seasonal Catalogue, please do contact me. I am also here to place your order for all these lovely goodies!

Challenges

Create With Connie and Mary - #265

Thanks for stopping by and I will be back in a couple of days! :)

A Partial Cut Framelit Christmas Card!

Hello!

I'm here to show you the other card I made on Monday night, this time using one of the sets from the carry over items from last year's seasonal catalogue.

As much as this looks like the bauble is white, it's not...I have heat embossed it on Basic Black card with Pool Party Embossing Powder, then Iridescent Ice to give it some sparkle, not that I can get it to show on the photos!

I did some light embossing on the right of the inside of the card by just rubbing the card between the Mosaic EF, rather than running it through the Bigshot.

So are you wondering how I created the partial cut bauble in the card? You can find a great tutorial by Paula here, that will work with pretty much any framelit!

Supplies

Stamps - Ornament Keepsakes, Petite Pairs

Dies - Holiday Ornaments

Embossing - Pool Party EP, Mosaic EF

If you would like to order any of the beautiful new products from the new annual, or upcoming seasonal catalogues, please do contact me and I will be very happy to help!

Challenges

Dynamic Duos - #66

Divas By Design - Christmas In August

Totally Gorjuss - Die Cuts and Punches

Love To Create - Fancy Folds

Crafty Boots - Christmas In August

I'm off to Knowsley Safari Park again today, for the second time in 3 weeks! It's because if you visit this week, you can get a yearly pas for half price! So, not one to miss a great deal, that is what we are doing! 

I hope you have a fab Wednesday and hopefully I will be back in time to make something to show you tomorrow! :)

A Wheely Nice Card!

Hello!

How have you been? I've had a lovely week away staying with our really good friends in Alkmaar, Holland. We had such a good time, and I really didn't want to come home!

But here I am, and I finally got into my craft room tonight and made 2, yes 2! cards. Here is the first one...my entry into this week's Less Is More challenge of

ROUND AND ROUND

I have used one of my favourite of the last Sale-a-Bration stamp sets. I stamped the Penny Farthing in Basic Black onto Whisper White cardstock. I made a frame layer and pierced round the edge with my Paper Piercing Essentials Pack.

I finished with a sentiment from the fab new Hostess stamp set Express Yourself.

If you would like to get your hands on any of the Hostess sets please do contact me for details of how!

I'm off to work now...the downside of the end of a holiday!

Have a lovely Tuesday :)

Thank You!

Good morning!

Ok, so it is Saturday morning and I haven't made a card for Less Is More! There is a very good reason for this...I have been on holiday this week, and we come back later so I will have to make my card tomorrow! 

I have made a card for you to see though....

This is the little Thank you card I made for the members of my Stampers 6 club this month.

I used one of the smaller Labels Collection Framelits to cut the card shape, then stamped it with the flourish from Happy Day, the sentiment from Express Yourself, and the butterfly from the gorgeous Best Of Butterflies. I used Basic Gray, Crushed Curry and Coastal Cabana inks...a lovely combination I think!

Supplies

Stamps - Happy Day, Express Yourself, Best Of Butterflies

Ink - Basic Gray, Crushed Curry, Coastal Cabana

Dies - Labels Collection Framelits

If you would like to order any of these lovely Stampin' Up! products, please do contact me...I would be very pleased to help!

Thanks for stopping by today and see you with my LIM card sometime tomorrow or Monday!

A Happy Couple

Hi there!

Well, here is the last of the wedding cards for now...I love getting these commissions...to know that is years to come the happy couple will look through their memory box from their wedding and find this card again...I hope they love it!

This one is, again, using some of the retired products, but although they are retired, they are definitely not out of date!

Challenges

Seems a Little Sketchy - #45

Hopefully I will be back tomorrow!

Have a lovely day :)

An Elegant Wedding

Hello again!

As promised, here is another wedding commission...

That stunningly elegant paper is from the new Modern Medley Designer Series paper collection...isn't it beautiful?

This is a very quick post for today as I am going out for the day. I hope you have a lovely Thursday!

Two Hearts

Good morning!

Here is one of the commission cards I made last week, that I think I am ok to show you now!

I kept it quite simple and elegant, again using up some retired Designer Paper. I also used the Lacy Brocade EF, hearts from I{Heart}Hearts and a computer generated sentiment.

I am entering this into the challenge at Deconstructed Sketch #112

I shall be back tomorrow with another of the commission cards!