Russian Doll card with Stampin' Up's Curvy Keepsake Box

I'm still buzzing after the Stampin' Up Convention last weekend! As well as learning lots and being inspired creatively, my favourite thing is catching up with all my Stampin' Up friends and making new ones. One of the things I love about this company is that you really feel a sense of belonging and everyone is so friendly and supportive.

When we all get together, we like to share ideas so we make things to swap with each other. I've been so excited about the Curvy Keepsake Box thinlits die so I decided to show another use for it that I dreamt up! Come and see:

Chop off the rounded section and you have the perfect shape for a Russian doll! I used the negative as a mask to sponge and stamp into. The stamp set I've used is Endless Wishes, a clear photopolymer stamp set with snowflakes and gorgeous sentiments for you to mix and match.

Doesn't she look serene? (I wish I knew her secret!) Her face is a circle coloured with skin tone blendabilities and markers and I added a bakers twine bow underneath her chin to draw her cloak tightly closed and keep those winter draughts out!

Do you like this frosty little detail? I love sponging Whisper White craft ink onto Crumb Cake card stock and here I went over the sponging with my Stampin' Chalk marker and a ruler. Snowflakes were stamped over the top to add extra layering without bulk.

This is such a fun project and so easy to make - and the best thing is that you can create heaps and heaps of other fab projects with that wonderful die! Need inspiration? Click here to see what I've been making with it!

BUY THE SUPPLIES TO MAKE THIS CARD NOW!
(Click on any item to be transported to my online shop!) 

Endless Wishes Photopolymer Stamp Set ...	Curvy Keepsake Box Thinlits Dies £29.95	Crumb Cake A4 Card Stock £6.25	Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad £6.95
White Stampin Chalk Marker £3.25	Stampin' Blendabilities™ Markers Skin Tone Assortment £20.95	Coastal Cabana Classic Stampin' Pad £4.95	Lost Lagoon Classic Stampin' Pad £4.95

My shop is open 24/7 so you can buy Stampin' Up products from me any time, day or night.

If you have any queries, or prefer to speak to me, I'm happy to help.

You can contact me by email or phone on 01280 820593.

I imagine my Russian doll hadn't just returned from Brussels to find the house looking like a hurricane had passed through it! "Why is the house in such a mess?" I asked. "It isn't!" said my youngest son and "It looks fine to me!" said my eldest. My husband gathered up the newspapers that were spread out all over the coffee table, wandered about with them for a bit, then put them down on the dresser before disappearing with the air of someone who has discharged his duties!

See you tomorrow,

Yet another great way to use Stampin' Up's Curvy Keepsake Box die!

It's always handy to have a box die - especially when it's as versatile as Stampin' Up's Curvy Keepsake Box thinlits die! As well as making gorgeous, unusual boxes for edible treats or small gifts (like this one or this one), you can make cards using part of the die (like this) or using the die as a mask (like this.) Now I've come up with another idea for using it - come and see:

Isn't this fun? I made this card to send to my daughter at uni (just in case she forgets how much I love her!) but you could easily make it say 'thanks a ton' or use it as a valentine or anniversary card instead.  I find the Day to Day Project Life stamp set (which features days of the week, months, numbers etc) is brilliant for random words like the 1 TON here.

I cut off part of the die to make the weight. Using Naturals white card stock and sponging with Smoky Slate ink really adds to the rough, heavy metal look! I love the contrast between that and the shiny sequins in those pretty colours. I am a huge fan of these in-colour sequins - I've used them again and again and still they go on like the magic porridge pot!

BUY THE SUPPLIES TO MAKE THIS CARD NOW!
(Click on each item to find it quickly in my online shop) 

Curvy Keepsake Box Thinlits Dies £29.95	Very Vanilla A4 Card Stock £7.50	2013-2015 In Color Sequin Assortment £4.50	Good Greetings Wood-Mount Stamp Set Free with qualifying order
Project Life Day To Day Photopolymer Stamp Set £22.95	Naturals White A4 Card Stock £6.75	Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad £4.95	Lost Lagoon Classic Stampin' Pad £4.95

My shop is open 24/7 so you can buy Stampin' Up products from me any time, day or night.

If you have any queries, or prefer to speak to me, I'm happy to help.

You can contact me by email or phone on 01280 820593.

I am so excited today because my lovely girl is coming home today! I'm meeting her from the station and we plan to spend the day catching up together - and there may or may not be unrestrained shopping and lunching involved!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I'll be back on Monday with lots more crafting ideas - hope to see you then!

Want free or reduced price Stampin' Up products?

WOW, WOW, WOW! Hold onto your ears because it's special offer time at Stampin' Up - and oh my goodness, what a lot of very special offers there are!

OFFER NUMBER ONE

JOIN STAMPIN' UP AND GET FREE DSP FOR 6 MONTHS!
When you join Stampin' Up you get an amazing deal already - your starter kit costs £99 and you get to choose whatever Stampin' Up products you want to go in it worth up to £130, PLUS you get free stationery, catalogues and delivery, On top of all that, between now and 24th October, you'll get a free pack of designer paper EVERY month for 6 months! How's that for the gift that keeps giving?!
(Speciality papers and stacks are not included.)

• If you've decided to start a Stampin' Up direct sales business, it couldn't be a better time as you'll have a full twelve months to earn Stampin' Up's generous cash and product bonuses and will be launching your business at a busy time when everyone is thinking about Christmas cards and gift wrapping.

• If you prefer to be a hobby demonstrator, you'll enjoy free and discounted goodies as well as the social benefits - and if you join now you'll have until March/April to make your first minimums.

Curvy Keepsake Box made with Color Me Autumn designer papers from Stampin' Up

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT BECOMING A STAMPIN' UP DEMONSTRATOR
I am always here to answer any questions you have about joining Stampin' Up and would never pressurise you into joining if you don't feel it's right for you. Give me a call on 01280 820593 if you want to chat, or ask your questions via email if you prefer, or click here to read more information.

OFFER NUMBER TWO

GET STAMPIN' UP PRODUCTS AT A DISCOUNT!
To tie in with World Cardmaking Day on Saturday 4th October, Stampin' Up is cutting the cost of basic supplies like A4 card stock, full-size ink pads, envelopes and adhesive. You'll get selected items at 15% discount this week from 1-6 Oct.

Not content with that, selected stamp sets will be available at a whopping 20% discount too - including one of my own favourites, Choose Happiness!

Card made with Choose Happiness and the fab Stampin' Up blendabilities

Don't miss out! These discounts are only available for one week, between 1-6 October 2014!

Click here to see the full list of discounted items

OFFER NUMBER THREE

GET A FREE STAMPIN' UP STAMP SET!
Don't forget that until the end of October, you can earn the Good Greetings sentiment stamp set free with orders of £200 or more!

This offer applies to individual OR group orders so why not show your catalogue to your friends and family? Even if they're not crafters, they'd probably be keen to order Christmas wrapping paper and tags from the Stampin' Up autumn/winter catalogue and there are lots of gift wrapping ideas to inspire them too!

BUY THE SUPPLIES TO MAKE TODAYS PROJECTS NOW!
(Click on each item to find it quickly in my online shop) 

Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad £4.95 now £4.21	Mossy Meadow Classic Stampin' Pad £4.95 now £4.21	Choose Happiness Wood-Mount Stamp Set £21.95 now £17.56	Curvy Keepsake Box Thinlits Dies £29.95
Color Me Autumn Designer Series Paper £9.95	Stampin' Blendabilities™ Markers Pumpkin Pie Assortment £10.95	Stampin' Blendabilities™ Markers Daffodil Delight Assortment £10.95	Very Vanilla A4 Card Stock £7.50

My shop is open 24/7 so you can buy Stampin' Up supplies any time, day or night.

If you have any queries, or prefer to speak to me, I'm happy to help.

You can contact me by email or phone on 01280 820593.

Phew! So many offers and so much excitement in one day - you may need a lie down (with your Stampin' Up catalogues and a glass of champagne er... I mean a nice cup of tea!)

A special gift set using Four Feathers from Stampin' Up

The beautiful Four Feathers set in the autumn/winter Stampin' Up catalogue was the perfect choice for making something special for a friend who was celebrating a milestone birthday last week. Come and see:

I went for creamy Vanilla card stock, deeply embossed and decorated with gold and cream feathers, all tied up with crinkled, multi-stranded twine in gorgeous Old Olive for a splash of colour.

The Modern Mosaic embossing folder adds a subtle bit of interest but keeps the card nice and clean and uncluttered looking.

Oh I'm in love with these feathers! They have coordinating framelits which make short work of cutting out the stamped images - and if you buy the stamp set and dies together in a bundle you save 15% off the rrp. Bargain!

The feather and twine embellishment adds a nice bit of dimension but not so much that the card didn't fit into an envelope. That twine is unravelled from the two-tone trim - so many different ways to use that gorgeous trim!

So it's a milestone birthday? Well, whatever the number, there's only one thing to do - celebrate!!! So we did! This lovely sentiment comes from a set called, appropriately, And Many More!

It's so easy to make the Curvy Keepsake Box - you just run the die twice through the big shot and fold the scorelines, put the two pieces together and hey presto! I embossed mine before putting it together but even with that extra step it's very quick and easy. The box is the perfect size for sweet treats or a special piece of jewellery but it has loads of other uses too! Click here for some ideas and definitely watch this space for more!

BUY THE SUPPLIES TO MAKE THIS PROJECT NOW!
(Click on each item to find it quickly in my online shop) 

Curvy Keepsake Box Thinlits Dies £29.95	Four Feathers Wood-Mount Stamp Set £12.95	Feathers Framelits Dies £11.95
Natural Old Olive Two-Tone Trim £4.50	Modern Mosaic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder £7.50	And Many More Wood-Mount Stamp Set £32.95
Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder £3.95	Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder £3.95	Versamark Pad £6.75

My shop is open 24/7 so you can buy Stampin' Up products any time, day or night.

If you have any queries, or prefer to speak to me, I'm happy to help.

You can contact me by email or phone on 01280 820593.

Much to the horror of coffee fans like my husband, I make my coffee with decaffeinated coffee beans and then dilute it so that it really is coffee-flavoured water. My youngest son has taken to drinking a cup of this at breakfast time too. "I'm so glad I like coffee," he said yesterday, sipping his drink. "Why?" I asked. "Because," he said, "when you're an adult you're expected to drink some kind of hot beverage other than hot chocolate with marsh mallows and whipped cream!" I immediately imagined him as an adult, in some high powered meeting being presented with something that looks like this:

See you tomorrow when I'll be using those gorgeous Four Feather stamps for another special project as part of Stampin' Up's Artisan Design Team blog hop. Don't miss it!