Kindness Matters with borders

After another hectic week, I've finally had time to make a card for two of my favourite challenges. There's another glorious colour palette at the ColourQ and the theme at One Layer Wednesday, hosted by Heather this week, is Borders. Come and see what I've been up to:

This card was great fun to make but a demon to photograph! I began by using my stamp-a-majig to position a row of these beautiful butterflies from Stampin' Up's Kindness Matters set (it's one stamp with a row of three butterflies to make life easier.) These were coloured using markers, then covered with versamark ink and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.

I masked off the bottom half of the butterflies and sponged Midnight Muse ink gently over the top of the card base - it's best to polish the butterflies with a tissue to wipe excess ink off. The Chamomile wheel added a little texture and I added the Mustard lines with a ruler and marker and some linen thread for added dimension.

I love the three useful sentiments in the Made for You set and this one made my day by fitting neatly into the recess between the larger butterflies!

Here's what you'll need to make this card
Stamps: Kindness Matters, Made For You, Chamomile Wheel
Ink: Basic Grey, Midnight Muse
Card stock: Naturals Ivory
Other: Markers, versamark inkpad, clear embossing powder, heat tool, linen thread, stamp-a-majig

You can order from my online shop any time, day or night, but if you have any queries, I'm always happy to help. You can contact me by email or phone on 01280 820593.

• Get more for your money this month: Place an order for £250 and choose £65 worth of products free! Or join SU and get £155 worth of products for just £99! Offers end 30th May 2013

You may have noticed that my blog has had a smart (hopefully) new makeover - do let me know what you think! My new online shop made a little blog maintenance necessary and I suddenly realised that everything was looking a little tired and dated - a bit like me! Tired that is, not dated (well not unless I play my cards right with hubby later LOL!)

My children will finish school for half term today so there'll be hats thrown in the air and dancing in the streets of Buckingham later on. Enjoy your weekend!

Mixing chevrons with butterflies

I often find the Dynamic Duos colour challenges quite er... challenging! But that really is the point of a challenge - to push you creatively. This week's Daffodil Delight and Baja Breeze combination certainly pushed me - come and see what you think:

It seemed the perfect opportunity to bring out this zingy chevron paper from Stampin' Up's  Sunshine and Sprinkles range. I rather liked the contrast between the edgy paper and these traditional butterflies from the Kindness Matters stamp set. They're stamped in Baja Breeze ink and are given a bit of extra colour using a blender pen and definition with a marker.

And then I cut them all out - I know you'll think I'm quite mad but it was very peaceful sitting in the sunshine with some stamped images and my lovely sharp paper snips!

The sentiment from Curly Cute was inked up with versamark and then Baja Breeze ink before heat embossing with clear embossing powder.

This is the colour palette I was working from today (right) and I must say, it's grown on me! I'm also linking to Make My Monday, where the lovely Suzi B has chosen the theme 'Anything that Flies'.

Here's what you'll need to make this card
Stamps: Kindness Matters, Curly Cute
Ink: Baja Breeze
Card stock: Whisper White, Naturals Ivory
Other: Sunshine and Sprinkles designer paper, Baja Breeze marker, blender pen, versamark, clear embossing powder, heat tool, stamp-a-majig
I CAN ORDER STAMPIN' UP ITEMS FOR YOU AND HAVE THEM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR ADDRESS IN THE UK. I'M COMMITTED TO PROVIDING EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND AM ALWAYS HAPPY TO OFFER HELP AND ADVICE. TO FIND OUT MORE OR TO PLACE YOUR ORDER, JUST SEND ME AN EMAIL OR GIVE ME A CALL ON 01280 820593.
• Get more for your money - place an order for £250 and choose £65 worth of products free! Or join SU and get £155 worth of products for just £99! Offers end 30th May 2013

Yesterday morning, there was cry from my daughter's room: "Help me Mummy! I'm at the crossroads of destiny!" I wandered in. "What's the matter?" I asked. "Should I wear tights or not?" she fretted, rooting about in the tights drawer. "I wouldn't," I said. "It'll be hot today." She dived into her wardrobe. "And what shoes should I wear?" We sorted the shoes. On her way out of the front door, she stopped and turned back. "Or should I wear socks?" she said. "Just go to school!" I said. "Never mind the crossroads - this is more like the Spaghetti Junction of destiny!" The funny thing is that I had a vision of her being a feisty three-year-old, with a very clear idea of what she wanted to wear and no intention of letting me get involved!

It's Three Minute Thursday here tomorrow and I'll be back with a fast card. Do come and join me!

When Kindness Matters

I love stamping! New stamps are the thing that makes my heart beat faster and as a Stampin' Up demonstrator, I have an almost unlimited supply. In fact my biggest problem is finding the time to play with them all as much as I want to! The stamp set I'm using today is definitely one that I'd like to spend more time with. Come and see:

These butterflies are beautifully detailed and a joy to colour! They come from the Kindness Matters stamp set from the annual catalogue.

I used inks and a blender pen to give a slightly translucent look, then added a touch of glitter to add to the delicate look. The shadows are marked in with a Sahara Sand Watercolour Wonder crayon and I'm really pleased with how subtle it is.

The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes  and I added a line of piercing either side to prevent the butterflies from seeming top heavy.

Here's what you'll need to make this card

Stamps: Kindness Matters, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Marina Mist, Certainly Celery, Baja Breeze, Stazon black

Card stock: Whisper White

Other: Markers, Neutrals Watercolour Wonder crayons, stamp-a-majig, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Essentials paper piercing templates (Sale-a-bration freebie)

I'D BE DELIGHTED TO ORDER ANY OF THESE ITEMS FOR YOU AND HAVE THEM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR ADDRESS IN THE UK. I'M COMMITTED TO PROVIDING EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND AM ALWAYS HAPPY TO OFFER HELP AND ADVICE. TO PLACE YOUR ORDER, JUST SEND ME AN EMAIL OR GIVE ME A CALL ON 01280 820593.

• DON'T FORGET TO ADD ONE OF THESE FREE SALE-A-BRATION ITEMS FOR EVERY £45 YOU SPEND

At the weekend, my daughter announced that part of her art project would involve observational drawing of a spider so yesterday (in preference to pulling one out from behind the furniture - aargh!) we took a trip to the Natural History Museum at Tring where the spiders are safely preserved behind glass. A narrow escape I feel... but who knows what the rest of half term will bring?!

See you tomorrow,