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Thursday 30 September 2010

Three Minute Thursday - using Autumn Days

It's just as well it's Three Minute Thursday today because I've got my catalogue launch party later this evening and there's lots to be done to prepare for my lovely guests! By the way, if you are in the Buckingham area and would like to pop in to see the new catalogue with all its lovely new products, do email me for directions - I'd love to see you! I've been busy decorating the house with samples and you're sure to find plenty of inspiration.

Talking of inspiration, it's a glorious Autumn day here in Buckingham and that's what inspired today's card.


This is a very speedy little number but the bow gives it a bit of something special.

Here's how to make this card:

  • Cut a piece of Very Vanilla card stock 7.5cm x 8cm.
  • Stamp a bouquet of Autumn foliage onto it.
  • Use a stamp-a-majig to position a sentiment.
  • Use a 1/8" handheld punch to pierce two holes either side of the bouquet.
  • Thread ribbon through and tie in a bow.
  • Mount onto a 9cm square Chocolate Chip card base.

Supplies
Stamps: Autumn Days, Trendy Trees (sentiment)
Ink: Old Olive, More Mustard, Real Red
Card stock: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Other: 1/8" handheld punch, Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon

Hope this inspires you to come up with a bouquet of thanks for someone! Now, I'm off to scrub the house from top to bottom!
See you tomorrow




PS Please don't forget that today is your last chance to order from the Last Chance List, from the 2009/10 catalogue and from the mini catalogue!

Wednesday 29 September 2010

Hung Up on the Holidays Christmas card

Woohoo! I am a winner! Can you believe it? I never win anything but I won something very special yesterday! It was a Golden Ticket to go to the Stampin' Up Convention for European demonstrators! I've known about this event for a long time but put it to the back of mind knowing there was no way I'd be able to go but now...! I'm so excited!

Anyway, thank you for listening to me witter on for a bit! If you're still with me, come and see the Christmas card I've made for today:


This is a one sheet wonder - meaning that I stamped the design over an A4 sheet of card stock and cut it up to make lots of cards. I used the sweet Christmas set Hung Up on the Holidays which is being retired this year. I love this set and have found it to be quite a hard worker! That star, for example, has seen plenty of action all through the year and there is also a useful little 'hanging thread' image in the set. It is available, along with all the other items on the Last Chance List, until the 30th September! Do check the Last Chance List here for last minute bargains and click here to email me your order. If you're finding it difficult to work out the Last Chance List, give me a call on 01280 820593 and I'll be happy to help you.

But now - here's how to make today's card:

  • Stamp an A4 piece of Whisper White card with a random design. Cut off a 6.5cm x9cm piece.
  • Take a piece of Pink Passion card stock 14cm x 7cm and scallop the bottom with the scallop border punch. Mount the stamped panel onto this.
  • Cut a 1cm strip of Real Red card stock and wrap it around the Pink Passion card stock. Stamp a sentiment onto a scrap of Whisper White, cut it out with the Oval punch and attach it to the strip using dimensionals.
  • Knot a piece of satin ribbon round the bottom of the stamped panel, above the sentiment, and mount onto a Real Red card blank.

Supplies
Stamps: Hung Up on the Holidays, Loads of Love
Ink: Real Red, Old Olive, Pink Passion, Creamy Caramel
Card stock: Real Red, Pink Passion, Whisper White
Other: Old Olive satin ribbon, Oval punch

I do realise that I seem to be posting lots of Christmas cards when it's only September! But it's perfect weather for making them and if you start now, you'll have one less thing to do when it comes round to December!

And talking of saving time - it's Three Minute Thursday here tomorrow! Don't forget to pop in and see the speedy card I'll be making then.
Have a good evening!

Tuesday 28 September 2010

Vintage Vogue thank you

I've always had a bit of a bee in my bonnet about vintage fabrics and am constantly trying to recreate the feel of them with stamps and ink. Here's a thank you card I made with a fabric in mind:


I think I'm feeling wistful for summer with this colour scheme which reminds me of hot nasturtiums tumbling over a sunbaked Cotswold stone wall...

Here's how to make this card:

  • Cut a piece of Whisper White card stock 11cm square. Make a grid pattern on it using the Fiskars trimmer and scoring blade. Sponge So Saffron ink over this to give a shabby chic look.
  • Use the grid pattern as a rough guide to stamp flowers in. Don't use a stamp-a-majig for this as you want the flowers to look slightly haphazard but still in a square shape! Add leaves.
  • Stamp the flower centres accurately using a stamp-a-majig this time.
  • Use the stamp-a-majig again to stamp the sentiment.
  • Mount the panel onto a 12cm square Very Vanilla card base.

Supplies
Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Season of Joy, Pocket Silhouettes (for the sentiment)
Ink: So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Always Artichoke
Card stock: Whisper White, Very Vanilla

I can't get over the many different looks you can get with Vintage Vogue! What a fabulous set! (To see more cards I've made with Vintage Vogue take a look at my index on the side bar to the right.)

Now, don't forget that there are only a couple of days left to take advantage of the bargains on the Last Chance List! Many items are now half price with others at 25% off so it really is well worth a look. Check the updated Last Chance List here and click here to email me your order. Remember, if your order is £30 or over, you will get a brand new Idea Book and Catalogue - bursting at the seams with fabulous ideas and inspiration! - sent to you absolutely free!

Thanks for visiting me today!
Hope to see you again tomorrow.

Monday 27 September 2010

Christmas card using Punches Three

One of my most used hostess sets of this year has been Punches Three. I love the way the images can be punched out - and my favourite image can be cut further to create an ornate tag. Of course, hostess sets are only available as a thank you to the hostess of a qualifying party and if you haven't booked your party already, it's going to be a little bit late to get your hands on this particular set! But the new hostess sets available from 1st October are even more desirable so it's well worth booking a date for your next party now! (Click here to email me for more information.)

Here's a classic Christmas card I made using Punches Three and the oh-so-useful Solid Stripes background stamp.


The tag is ornate enough to be focal point of the card, emphasised by the large satin bow.
Here's how to make this card:

  • Cut a piece of Very Vanilla card stock 7.5cm wide x 8cm high. Take the Solid Stripes background stamp and colour it directly with markers. Huff on the stamp and press onto the card stock.
  • Mount this panel onto a piece of Real Red card stock cut 8cm wide x 8.5cm high.
  • Cut a piece of Very Vanilla card stock 8.5cm wide and 12cm high. Scallop the bottom with the scallop border punch. Mount the striped panel onto this.
  • Use Snail to attach a length of Old Olive satin ribbon to the striped panel, folding it neatly over the top and securing at the back. Snip an inverted V in the tail of the ribbon with very sharp scissors. (I keep a pair specifically to use with ribbon.)
  • Stamp the tag twice on a spare piece of Very Vanilla card stock, once in Chocolate Chip and once in Real Red. Cut both out with the scallop square punch. Snip the pattern off the Chocolate Chip image leaving the ornate tag shape. Pierce a hole in the sides of this one, using the stamped star as a guide, and add a gold brad to each side, bending the pins back so they're not visible.
  • Using dimensionals, attach the Real Red square to the striped panel on top of the ribbon. Add the ornate tag to the top of this using more dimensionals.
  • Adhere the panel to a Very Vanilla card base and finish with a large bow attached with Sticky Strip.
Supplies
Stamps: Solid Stripes, Punches Three
Ink: Real Red, Chocolate Chip
Card stock: Very Vanilla, Real Red
Other: Scallop square and scallop border punches, Old Olive satin ribbon, gold brads

So I spent the weekend making samples for my catalogue launch party on Thursday evening and using all the new colours with some of the new stamps and designer papers. Here's something I've learned this weekend: never under-estimate the fun value of new colours! I had a ball!

Hope your weekend was fun too!
See you soon

Friday 24 September 2010

Christmas card using Loads of Love

YAY! It's Friday! And I'm doubly happy today because I get my youngest son back! He's been away on a school field trip and I have been missing him. Of course he will have had no sleep whatsoever due to extreme excitement, and will be very grumpy when he gets home, so I may have to wait until tomorrow for the full report on his trip!

The weather here has returned to winter mode today, so I'm showing you another Christmas card I made using Loads of Love which will retire in less than a week! The set been reduced by an amazing 50% so it's now only £9.48, and you can also get the accessories set half price at £7.98. There are many other bargains to be had so do click here to have a look at the updated Last Chance List. If you'd like to make an order, or have any questions, I'm always happy to help - just drop me an email here. (Don't forget that I'll send you a new Idea Book and Catalogue when you spend over £30 with me during September!)

Here's the card:


And here's how to make it:

  • Cut a piece of Whisper White card stock 10.5cm wide x 7cm high.
  • Tear a piece of scrap paper and use as a mask for the snow. Sponge the rest of the card stock with Bashful Blue ink (adding just a touch of Creamy Caramel ink near the horizon if you like.)
  • Take the mask away and stamp the trees in Always Artichoke. Stamp some of the trees off to vary the colour. Cut the panel into three pieces 3.5cm wide x 7cm high.
  • Cut a piece of Bashful Blue card stock 12.5cm x 8cm. Tie a piece of Real Red gingham ribbon around it and finish with a bow. Tuck one of the three panels under the bow and secure with glue. Add the other two panels over the top of the ribbon.
  • Mount the resulting single panel onto a 13cm x 8.5cm piece of Always Artichoke card stock and then onto a Whisper White card blank. 
  • Stamp the sentiment onto a spare piece of Whisper White card stock and cut out with an oval punch. Sponge the edges with Bashful Blue ink for extra definition and fix to the card front.
  • Dot snowflakes onto the trees using the thin end of a versamark pen. Sprinkle with Heat and Stick powder and heat until tacky. Sprinkle with Dazzling Diamonds glitter and heat again briefly to set.

Supplies
Stamps: Loads of Love
Ink: Always Artichoke, Real Red, Bashful Blue, Creamy Caramel (optional)
Card stock: Whisper White, Always Artichoke, Bashful Blue
Other: Real Red gingham ribbon, versamark pen, Heat and Stick powder, Dazzling Diamonds glitter

While we're here talking about Loads of Love, I thought I'd quickly show you another card I made using the tree from this set and the presents stamp from the accessories set.


I should think anyone would be excited to see that great pile of prezzies under the tree! The sentiment has been added with tags - the Tiny Tags stamp set and punch are really useful for this kind of thing.

Hope you've enjoyed browsing here today and I hope to see you again soon.
Have a wonderful weekend!

Thursday 23 September 2010

Three Minute Thursday - using Simply Scrappin' kits

Hello! It seems only two minutes ago that it was last Thursday but unless I've discovered a way of time travelling I'm sure it has only been a week! Life is pretty hectic for many of us and that's why I devised Three Minute Thursday - it's for people who love making beautiful cards but who don't have the time or inclination to spend hours doing it.

Today I'm showing you the ultimate in speed card-making - the Simply Scrappin' kit. These kits are intended for scrapbooking and contain card stock, patterned paper and seld-adhesive die cuts - all perfectly colour and style coordinated. Take a look at these three note cards:


These little cards took well under three minutes. Once I'd cut the 9cm card blanks using one of the beautiful textured sheets of card stock provided in the kit, it was just a matter of having fun layering the self-adhesive images onto the card fronts. I decided to use dimensionals for some of them and added a few rhinestones from my stash.

It was such fun that I got a bit carried away! Here are a couple of other cards I made with the kit:


This one had a few more layers but still took only a little over three minutes. Then I got to thinking that the cards were pretty girlie and there was no reason for the guys to miss out...


Just look at this owl! Isn't he just the cutest little chap?!

Today I've been having all this fun with the Petal Party Simply Scrappin' kit, which is on the Last Chance List at 25% off. It's now only £11.63 and you get heaps in the kit - the cards I made today barely made a dent in mine! The Simply Scrappin' kits make great presents too and are perfect for making party invitations - in fact, children would love to make their own! Do check the Last Chance List here for some last-minute bargains and email me if I can help in any way.

Thank you for joining me here today. I really appreciate your visits and your comments - I read each and every one of them and I'm always interested in what you have to say.
I'll be back tomorrow with another creation (I'm not quite sure what yet!) and hope to see you here again soon.

Wednesday 22 September 2010

Coordinated gift set using designer paper and striped ribbon

Regular readers of this blog will know how much I love a coordinated gift and card set. I have been trying to deliver this particular set to my lovely friend for a week now but life has just kept getting in the way! Finally, I managed to present it to her yesterday evening so I think it's safe to post it here now!


This is one of my favourite papers in the Sweet Pea designer paper stack - although let's face it I have a lot of favourites in this set! It's a very bold colour and pattern and works beautifully with the graphic black and white striped wide grosgrain ribbon. Here's a close-up of the card:


Don't you just love these layered circle flowers? So simple but so effective in a bold paper like this one. I don't know if you can see properly but the centres are circles of Basic Black card stock with a black brad  through the middle. The leaves are stickers left over from a Petal Party Simply Scrappin' kit.

Here's how to make this card:

  • Cut a Crumb Cake card base and cut designer paper to fit the front. Use Snail to adhere the ribbon to the designer paper, folding the ends neatly over the back of the paper, then glue the dp to the card front.
  • Cut one 1 3/4" circle, two 1 3/8" circles and two 1" circles out of the same dp using punches. Cut two 1/2" circles from Basic Black card stock. Make the large flower by layering the large, medium and small dp circles, add a black circle, pierce through the whole lot and secure with a black brad. Use the remaining circles to make the smaller flower.
  • Add the leaves (TIP: I fix these onto the ribbon with Sticky Strip. If I were advertising this miraculous tape I would use the tag line 'Sticky Strip - for complete and utter confidence'!)
  • Stamp the sentiment onto a piece of Very Vanilla card stock. Cut out with the word window punch and attach to the card front.

Supplies
Stamps: Happy Moments (retired)
Ink: Basic Black
Card stock: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla
Other: Circle and word window punches, wide striped grosgrain ribbon, black brads, leaves from Petal Party Simply Scrappin' kit

It suddenly occurred to me that you might want to know the dimensions of the matching box but I forgot to record the measurements! Anyway, all you need to know is that it is super easy to make boxes of any size if you have a Fiskers trimmer with a scoring blade. I've tried scoring gadgets but have never found anything easier than my trimmer and I love items in my craft space that do more than one job!

I know this is becoming my mantra, but I do highly recommend that you check the Last Chance List here for bargains - items on the list are available only until the end of this month. Some items are sold out now but you can still get the Sweet Pea designer stack half price at only £9.75, the Petal Party Simply Scrappin' kit at a 25% discount at £11.63 and circle punches from just £1.98. Click here to email me with your order or to make an enquiry.

Thank you for dropping in today. Tomorrow is Three Minute Thursday so I'll be here with a card that's taken only a few minutes to rustle up. Do join me!

Tuesday 21 September 2010

Lovely as a Tree - autumn birthday

We are basking in glorious autumn sunshine in Buckingham today! I love this time of the year when it's warm enough to wander about outside without a coat but there is a slight sharpness in the air. I'm lucky enough to work in a room with French doors which open onto my garden; but there is another window in the room which looks out onto a huge, old oak tree. That's what inspired the autumnal birthday card I'm showing you today.


Aren't the colours delicious? I can't tell you how difficult it is for me not to show you cards made with all the new colours but demonstrators are asked to keep it all under wraps until 1st October! Oh, by the way, if you have already placed an order with me for £30 or more in September, YOUR NEW CATALOGUE IS ON ITS WAY!!! Happy browsing! (If you'd like a free 2010/2011 Ideas Book and Catalogue, check the top of my blog for details of how to get one!)

Here's how to make today's card:
  • Cut a piece of Very Vanilla card stock 7cm wide x 7.5cm high. Colour the oak tree stamp with markers and stamp onto the card stock. Pierce a frame around the edge of the panel.
  • Cut a piece of Old Olive designer paper 9cm wide x 11.5cm high. Cut a contrasting piece 9cm wide x 5cm high and trim two 1/2 cm strips off the 5cm height. Attach the larger piece to the Old Olive dp and add the strips to the top and bottom, leaving a slight gap.
  • Adhere the designer paper panel to a Bravo Burgundy card blank and add the tree panel on top. 
  • Make bunting by stamping some scrap Very Vanilla card stock with the foliage image from Tiny Tags. Cut out with the star punch and snip the triangles off the star (thanks for that tip Monica!) Draw a line across the top of the Old Olive dp with the thin end of a Chocolate Chip marker. Glue the bunting to the line.
  • Stamp a sentiment onto a piece of Very Vanilla card stock. Cut out and mount on a slightly larger piece of Bravo Burgundy. (TIP: I used the bottom of my tag punches which takes the guess work out of cutting and gives a neat look.) Attach the sentiment to the card front.

Supplies
Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, Tiny Tags, Vintage Labels (retired)
Ink: Bravo Burgundy
Card stock: Bravo Burgundy, Very Vanilla
Other: Papers from the Sweet Pea designer paper stack, markers, star and tag punches, paper piercer

By the way, it's worth mentioning that the Sweet Pea designer paper stack from the mini catalogue is on the Last Chance List. It used to be £19.50 for 48 sheets of quality double-sided designer paper - and I thought that was a bargain! The price has now been slashed to £9.75 - that's 20p per 12"x12" sheet! It's almost rude not to!!! Check the Last Chance List here - and hurry to avoid disappointment as items are selling out on a daily basis now. Click here to send me an email when you're ready to order and I'll get straight onto it for you.

There'll be more crafting fun here tomorrow.
Do come back and join me!



Monday 20 September 2010

Nature's Nest thank you

Good morning! Today, I'm saying farewell to another Stampin' Up favourite colour - Taken With Teal. I am an enormous fan of the Colour Renovation, and can't wait to start using all the delicious new hues, but of course we all have favourites that will be bowing out at the end of the month. I urge you to check the Last Chance List here for yours as Stampin' Up have added new discounts and there are some absolutely unbelievable bargains up for grabs!  When you've made up your mind, just send me an email - I'm always happy to help.

Here's the card I made today:


I used my new best friend the En Français background stamp on the Taken With Teal layer. I ADORE this stamp and can't believe it took me so long to get it - you'll be seeing quite a lot of it I think! I thought it worked really well with the feather image from Nature's nest that always reminds me of a quill!

Here's how to make this card:

  • To make the card blank, cut a sheet of A4 Whisper White in half lengthwise and score it at 1.5 and 2cm to make a decorative embossed double line. Now score and fold the card stock in half. Tear the front of the card diagonally from the double line to the top of the fold.
  • Cut an A6 piece of Taken With Teal and round the top righthand corner. Ink up the background stamp with Taken With Teal ink and press the card stock down onto it. Glue this inside the torn card front.
  • Use a stamp-a-majig to stamp the feather twice. Add a sentiment and a swirl to the design and finish with a small button tied with linen thread.

Supplies
Stamps: Nature's Nest, Season of Joy, Sincere Salutations
Ink: Taken With Teal, Glorious Green, Night of Navy
Card stock: Whisper White, Taken With Teal
Other: Corner rounder, button from the Playground assortment, linen thread

Hope you all had a great weekend. Do you find that sometimes you need another weekend to get over the weekend?! Sometimes I feel there's a lot to be said for simplifying life...

Thank you so much for dropping in today. I have loads to show you throughout the coming week so do come back and visit again.
Have a good week!

Friday 17 September 2010

Vintage Vogue thank you

People really appreciate a hand-stamped thank you and I like to have a stash of them so that I'm prepared at all times. Here's one I made with the Vintage Vogue stamp set:


This set first made its appearance in the summer mini catalogue and has been so popular that it will definitely be carrying over to the new catalogue (OUT SOON! See the top of my blog for details on how to get your copy!) I absolutely adore this set and of course it's not just for vintage-style cards. I'm using the classic Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry colour combination today.

Here's how to make this card:

  • Cut a piece of Crumb Cake card stock 6cm square. Stamp it with foliage and a large flower. Sponge the edges of the card stock with Whisper White craft ink.
  • On a separate scrap of Crumb Cake card stock, stamp another large flower and a small one. Cut them out and attach them to the square with rhinestone brads.
  • Cut a piece of Old Olive card stock 7cm x 8cm and tear it on the diagonal. Attach a loop of ribbon to the front, letting the length of the ribbon fall slightly further than the edge of the card stock. Mount the floral panel on top.
  • Ink up the En Français background stamp with versamark ink. Cut a 9cm square card blank and press it down onto the stamp (this is often the best way of using a background stamp.) Sponge the edges with Whisper White craft ink and add the floral panel.
  • Stamp a sentiment on another scrap of Crumb Cake card stock, cut out using the word window punch and sponge the edges. Attach to the front of the card.

Supplies
Stamps: Vintage Vogue, En Français, Occasional Greetings
Ink: Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White craft ink, versamark
Card stock: Old Olive, Crumb Cake
Other: Rich Razzleberry grosgrain ribbon, Clear rhinestone brads

I'm off to a big Stampin' Up training event later so I've got a few bits and pieces to prepare for that. Demonstrators will be coming from all over the country and we always get very excited when we get together. It's always lovely to chat to people that share our passion!

Whatever you have lined up for the weekend, I hope you have a wonderful time.
See you very soon.




PS STOP PRESS! Stampin' Up have just announced further discounts on the Last Chance List! Some of these prices are just totally unbelievable now! Check the Last Chance List here for your chance to bag a bargain!

Thursday 16 September 2010

Three Minute Thursday - using Baroque Motifs and silk flowers

Hello! Welcome to Three Minute Thursday where I pass on my ideas for making swift cards each week. Today I've come over all neutral!


I rather like this colour combination - Black, White and Crumb Cake (oh yum - don't you love the new name for Kraft!) with just a touch of sparkle. The flowers and brads are from the Pretties kit, which is only available until the end of September. It's NOW ONLY £11.63! and is SO worth it as it's crammed with silk flowers, rhinestone brads, pearls in different sizes, crystal beads, pins and all sorts of gorgeousness. It's like the Magic Porridge Pot (remember the fairy story?) of the crafting world as it just seems to last for ever - I've had mine for over a year, use it all the time and it still has heaps in it! If you'd like to order it - or anything else for that matter! - just email me, or phone me on 01280 820593.

Here's how to make this card:

  • Cut a 9cm square card base from Crumb Cake card stock.
  • Ink up a background stamp with Basic Black ink and stamp directly onto the card base.
  • Stamp a sentiment in Basic Black using a Stamp-a-majig for placement.
  • Layer up some silk flowers from the Pretties kit and secure with a clear rhinestone brad.
  • Attach to the card with dimensionals.

Supplies
Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Occasional Greetings
Ink: Basic Black
Card stock: Kraft (soon to be known as Crumb Cake!)
Other: Silk flowers and rhinestone brads from the Pretties Kit

Here's another one with a slightly different combination of flowers:


You could make a set of these using the same colours but different background stamps... Oooh! I've inspired myself now! Sadly I don't have the time to rustle them up now as duty calls but they will be appearing on this blog soon!

Thank you for visiting me here today. I really appreciate you taking the time to have a  look at my  projects and I love to hear what you think so do leave a comment if you have a minute!
I'll be back with some colour tomorrow.
Hope to see you then!

Wednesday 15 September 2010

One of a Kind in autumnal colours

I've got more cards using One of a Kind to show you today. If you're looking for a floral stamp set with two great sentiments and some other useful decorative elements thrown in, this could be just the set for you. (You'll find it here on the Last Chance List at £17.95 for a set of six, but remember, it's only available until 30th September. If you'd like to make an order, do give me a call on 01280 820593 or click here to email me - I'll be glad to help!)

I bought One of a Kind because I wanted small flowers and these matched my trusty Boho Blossoms punch, because I loved the 'for you' stamp for gift tags, because I adored the brackets and the decorative dotted line... oh and because I was desperate to paper-piece that large flower!


And here it is paper-pieced three times! I decided to use the Patterns designer paper to make my flowers and I think it works rather well. The Patterns paper comes in many different colours and is so useful - I like to have a pack of each colour to hand for gift wrap and bags, scrapbooking and card projects. And guess what? Yes, it's on the Last Chance List!

Here's how to make this card:

  • Stamp the flower six times using Chocolate Chip ink on Patterns dp in So Saffron. Cut three full flowers out, then cut out the middles of the remaining three. Glue together. Cut three circles from Chocolate Chip Patterns dp with a 1/2" circle punch and glue them to the centres of the flowers.
  • Cut a 6.25cm x 14.75cm piece of Very Vanilla card stock and stamp the flower three times on it in Chocolate Chip ink. Using a stamp-a-majig makes this easy. Attach the paper-pieced flowers to the stamped flowers with dimensionals.
  • Cut a 7cm x14.75cm piece of Chocolate Chip Patterns dp then trim 1/2 cm off the long side. Glue the large piece onto a Really Rust card base, then attach the strip just below it.
  • Adhere the Very Vanilla panel to the dp.

Supplies
Stamps: One of a Kind
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Card stock: Really Rust, Very Vanilla
Other: Patterns designer paper, 1/2" circle punch

Would you like to see another couple of cards I made with this set?


This one was made with all sorts of gorgeous stamps (see which ones you can recognise!) and the One of a Kind flowers make a great focal point in Brilliant Blue.


Here's a simple card using one of the sentiments. I love to emphasise this sentiment with lots of same-coloured images and just the one picked out in a different colour.

I hope you've enjoyed our little wander through One of a Kind land! Thank you so much for popping in.
Tomorrow is Three Minute Thursday so if you're looking for ideas for quick cards, do come back and join me for that.
See you then!

Tuesday 14 September 2010

One of a Kind in purples

If there's one colour that I neglect it has to be purple - it just never springs straight into my mind! But today I'm going to correct that with not just one but TWO cards in purples and lilacs! Have you picked yourself up off the floor? Excellent! Here's the first:


I'm using One of a Kind today - another set on the Last Chance List so only available until the end of September. The Pale Plum and Lavender Lace card stock and ink are also retiring this year so if these colours are your favourites - now is the time to stock up! Check out the Last Chance List here. and click here to email me if you'd like to make an order.

Here's how to make this card:
  • Cut a piece of Whisper White card stock 13.5cm x 6cm
  • Using markers, ink up the flower stamp with different purples and make a random flower pattern (don't forget to stamp some of the flowers half-off the paper). A stamp-a-majig makes positioning easy.
  • Mount the panel onto a 14cm x 6.5cm piece of Chocolate Chip Patterns designer. Add centres to some of the flowers using circles punched from Old Olive Patterns dp with a 1/4" circle punch.
  • Staple a piece of Old Olive grosgrain ribbon to the back of the panel and attach it to a Pale Plum card blank.
  • Stamp a sentiment onto scraps of Whisper White card stock with alphabet stamps. Cut the letters out and glue them to the card front.

Supplies
Stamps: One of a kind, Schoolbook Serif
Ink: Old Olive
Card stock: Pale Plum, Whisper White
Other: Patterns designer paper, Soft Subtles markers, Old Olive grosgrain ribbon, 1/4" circle punch

Here's another purple card using One of a Kind that I made a while ago:



This one uses Pale Plum again, this time with Elegant Eggplant. I love the that little dotted border stamp which is part of the One of a Kind set. And look at the big flower - perfect for paper piecing!

Well I could stay here rambling on all day but I have a feeling none of you would ever come back!
I have more cards to inspire you using this versatile set so do come back tomorrow and see!

Monday 13 September 2010

FTL 170 - using Autumn Splendor

Good morning! Today, I thought it was high time I made a card for the FTL sketch over at Clean and Simple stamping. So here's the FTL 170 sketch:


And here's my version (using my beloved Autumn Splendor stamping set):


I adored using this set in the summer with my favourite green inks and I love it with autumn colours too - I can already picture the autumn scrapbook spread I'm going to make with it later on in the year.

Here's how to make this card:

  • Cut a piece of Chocolate Chip card stock in half lengthwise, score and fold to make a card blank.
  • Cut a 10.5cm x 5cm (4 1/8" x 2") piece of So Saffron card stock and scallop the top and bottom edges with the scallop border punch. Cut in half so you get two scalloped borders.
  • Cut a 10.5cm x 6.25cm (4 1/8" x 2 1/2") piece of striped designer paper and glue the scallops to the back of the dp so that you can see it at the top and bottom. Attach to the card base.
  • Stamp three oak leaves onto Very Vanilla card stock and cut them out with paper snips. Mount these onto a 7.5cm x 6.25cm (3" x 2 1/2") piece of Very Vanilla card stock.
  • Stamp the letters onto Very Vanilla card stock, cut out with paper snips and adhere to card front.

Supplies
Stamps: Autumn Splendor, Schoolbook Serif alphabet
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron
Card stock: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Other: Scallop border punch, Sweet Pea designer paper

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend. I had a great time on Saturday working the refreshments stall at my son's Scout Centenary fair alongside some lovely ladies (thanks for a fun afternoon girls!) and on Sunday we went to a duck race in a local village organised by my amazing friend who I swear is ACTUALLY super woman!

Tomorrow I'll be taking a walk down memory lane with another of my favourite retiring sets.
Hope you can join me!

Friday 10 September 2010

Vintage Vogue coordinated gift set

If the weather where you are is the same kind of grey as we're having today, today's post is sure to cheer you up! I made this bright card for a lovely friend of mine to celebrate her birthday and decorated a matching gift box to wrap her gift. Inside the card I wrote 'this card reminds me of you: bright, positive and just a bit dotty... ' Luckily, she has a good sense of humour as well!


The Vintage Vogue stamp set I used to stamp the focal panel is perfect for those beautiful, distressed, vintage cards that are so popular at the moment but, as you can see, works just as well for a more contemporary card. Here's a close-up of the card:


And here's how to make it:

  • Cut a Melon Mambo card blank and stamp it with the Dot Dot Dot background stamp and Whisper White craft ink (I used a stamp-a-majig to position the stamp.) Sponge the edges of the card blank with the ink.
  • Cut a piece of Whisper White card stock 7cm x 11cm and stamp a design using the Vintage Vogue flowers and leaf. Decorate the centres of the Melon Mambo flowers with felt.
  • Mount the panel onto a piece of Taken With Teal card stock 7.5cm x 11.5cm, then onto the dotty card blank.
  • Finish with Melon Mambo polka dot ribbon tied into a bow and adhere to the card with Sticky Strip.

Supplies
Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Dot Dot Dot
Ink: Melon Mambo, Taken With Teal, Old Olive, Whisper White craft ink
Card stock: Melon Mambo, Taken With Teal, Whisper White
Other: Sweet Pea felt pieces, Melon Mambo polka dot ribbon

Vintage Vogue is not on the Last Chance List so it will carry over into the new Idea Book and Catalogue launching on 1st October (see the top of my blog for information on how to get your copy). But that yummy polka dot ribbon will not be available after the end of September, or those fabulous felt embellishments and the Taken With Teal card stock and ink will be retiring too. Click here to take a look at the Last Chance List and if you see something you'd like, give me a call on 01280 820593 or click here to send me an email - I'll be happy to help!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Thursday 9 September 2010

Three Minute Thursday - using the Neighborhood wheel

Welcome to another Three Minute Thursday, my weekly series for crafters that like their cards to be speedy! Today I'm using my gorgeous new Neighborhood jumbo wheel - ideal for fast cards and loads of other projects too.

When I timed today's card, it actually came in at four minutes but if you prepared your card blanks in advance, you could easily shave a minute off that time. Here's what I came up with:


The houses remind me of those lovely ice-cream coloured ones you see in harbours in Devon and Cornwall.

Here's how to make this card:

  • Cut a 9cm square Whisper White card blank.
  • Ink the wheel up with Basic Grey and run it across the middle of the card blank.
  • Sponge some Bashful Blue ink at the top and some Certainly Celery at the bottom.
  • Now colour in the image using markers. Be quite slap-dash as the 'naive' colouring goes well with this style of stamp.
  • Stamp a sentiment using a stamp-a-majig for placement.
  • Punch a 1/8" hole and knot a piece of striped grosgrain ribbon through it. 

Supplies
Stamps: Basic Phrases
Ink: Basic Grey, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery
Card stock: Whisper White
Other: Soft Subtles markers, Close to Cocoa marker, So Saffron striped grosgrain ribbon, 1/8" punch

Here's a closer view:


And (because I'm Mrs Photography today!) from the side:


Don't worry - I managed to restrain myself from taking photos of the back, underneath etc...!

You may be wondering if the Neighborhood wheel is on the Last Chance List... well no, it isn't. But there are lots of other wheels on the list - including my favourite It's Beautiful wheel - so if you want them, you'll need to get them soon because at the end of September they'll be gone for good! Click here to have a look at the Last Chance List and if you'd like to order anything, give me a call on 01280 820593 or click here to send me an email.

By the way, I do apologise to anyone that visited my blog last Thursday only to find this gift card holder that took considerably longer than three minutes! Sorry about that - I'd just returned from a camping trip in Somerset and I think I was suffering from car-lag and lack of sleep!

Hope you're having a happy Thursday.
I have a lovely bright card to show you tomorrow.
Hope to see you then!

Wednesday 8 September 2010

Seeing Spots thank you

I've been having a look at the stamp sets on the Last Chance List this week and the set I'm using today is very close to my heart - Seeing Spots. It was the first ever set that I bought at my first ever Stampin' Up party! That was couple of years ago - a friend invited me to her party and, although it really didn't sound like my kind of thing at all, I went along to be sociable. Well, what can I say? A couple of years later here I am, a Stampin' Up demonstrator, enjoying a creative life making cards and other crafting projects every day, helping others to be creative too and loving every minute of it!

If you were thinking of signing up to be a demonstrator too, I cannot recommend it highly enough. Some people sign to get the discount on their Stampin' Up supplies and others are keen to build a successful business. I'd love for you to join my team whatever your reason, and would offer as much support as you want. If you're interested, give me a call on 01280 820593 or click here to drop me an email and we'll have a no-pressure chat.

Anyway, I digress! Here's a card I made to add to my much-raided stash of thank you cards.


Here's how to make this card:
  • Cut a piece of Ballet Blue card stock 5.5cm x 11.5cm. Stamp a design on the bottom and right using the flower stamp and versamark ink.
  • Tie a piece of silver elastic thread round it several times and tie in a bow.
  • Stamp the encircled flower image onto a scrap of Whisper White card stock using Ballet Blue ink. Cut it out using a 1 1/4" circle punch, pierce the centre and add a Pumpkin Pie brad. Mount the flower onto a metal edge tag.
  • Using the Boho Blossoms punch and scraps of coloured card stock, cut out three flowers and decorate them with coloured and silver brads. Arrange the embellishments onto the blue panel and attach them.
  • Mount the blue panel onto a piece of dp cut to 6cm x 12cm, then onto a coordinating piece cut to 8cm x 13.5cm. Mount this onto a Close to Cocoa card blank and finish with a sentiment.

Supplies
Stamps: Seeing Spots, Basic Phrases
Ink: Ballet Blue, Summer Sun, versamark
Card stock: Close to Cocoa, Ballet Blue, scraps of Whisper White, Summer Sun and Pumpkin Pie
Other: Metal edged tag, brads, Silver elastic thread, Sweet Pea designer paper stack

Now come and have a little wander down memory lane with me!


This was when I discovered that I could make seed-head type flowers with this set!


And this was a coordinating set we made at one of my card classes. Look how beautifully the sentiment from the set punches out with the 1 1/4" punch and nests perfectly in the scallop circle punch to make a tag.



Seeing Spots works brilliantly for masculine cards too...


... and these were made for my twelve year old son to write thank you messages after his birthday.

I thoroughly enjoyed making all of these cards and I really don't think I want to part with this set! It's on the Last Chance List at a hefty 25% discount and at only £10.46 for a set of six stamps how can you do without it?! Those metal edged tags are fun too - and only 2.95 per pack!

Thanks for popping in to visit me today. Do leave me a comment if you'd like to - I love to hear what you think. And if you have a moment tomorrow, come and join me for Three Minute Thursday!
See you then.