Sale-a-bration!

Good afternoon,

If you are a Stampin' up! fan then you have probably been holding on waiting for Sale-a-bration to begin, I know I have, and this year will not disappoint as you can not only get FREE stamps but there's free Designer Series Paper to choose from as well!

For those of you who don't know sale-a-bration is a very special promotion when for every £45 you spend on Stampin' Up! products, you can choose a limited edition gift FREE!

This year I have decided to offer my customers an extra special treat, each customers who places and order of £45 or more with me will receive everything needed to create this fab covered notebook!

I have use my favourite new product from the mini catalogue the Spice Cake DSP to cover the notebook as well as Everything Eleanor and Broadsheet Alphabet to personalise it. Here's a close up

I'm always making notes, but it's nice to have a hand crafted notebook to write in!

Hope you'll pop back and visit me soon, xx

Simply Stampin' Colour Challenge

Happy Saturday,

This week over at Simply Stampin' it's colour time. I love this weeks colour's they are really spring fresh. I have used the colours to make a birthday card for my dear friend, her birthday isn't until the middle of the month but hopefully she'll be too busy to check out my blog, did I really just say that?!

I have taken inspiration for my card from a blog that I stalk regularly called Crafting Clare's Paper Moments she made this beautiful card which I have incorporated into my card design. I loved the musical notes paired with elegant florals!

So what do you think? Why don't you give this colour challenge a go? Don't worry if you don't have the exact colours, just use similar ones, as long as you use one SU! Stamp, patterned paper, or sentiment you will be eligible for a Top 3 spot. Can't wait to see you there!

Have a fab weekend, xx

Gifts for Friends

Good morning,

As you may have already read previously on my blog, each year I like to make at least one batch of Christmas presents, (scroll down to see my festive fudge bags) but I did want to make one special present for a dear friend of mine who I met through her fabulous blog, she also happens to be one of my fellow DT members at Simply Stampin' too. Her name is Ruth and you can check out her amazing blog by clicking here, I have received so many wonderful gifts throughout the year, that I wanted to make her something that no one else would have. So I decided to cover a notebook for her.

Every crafter needs to make notes and jot down websites they have seen something inspiring on, so I thought it would make a useful gift! The colours are much brighter IRL, this photo was taken at night before I rushed off to the post office to make sure she got it well before the big day, I'm sure that I'm safe posting it now.

Why not decorate one for yourself? xx

Simply Stampin' Sketch Week

Good Morning!

We had a fabulous response to the 'Leafy' challenge last week, it was great to see so many of you joining us, I hope that you will enjoy this weeks Simply Stampin' challenge just as much! This week we have a sketch for you.

I have made my card for a friend at work, Margaret. Who will be celebrating her birthday on Monday, she already has the card because she's taking a well deserved week off, enjoy it Margaret! When I make cards for birthdays I like to monogram them and the Broadsheet Alphabet is perfect for the job.

As you can see I have changed the sketch slightly going for a square card blank, and adding the monogram 'M' for extra detail, I can't wait to visit you and see what you come up with, but if you need a little more inspiration why not check out what the rest of the DT have come up with!

Looking forward to seeing your sketch creations! xx

Calypso Coral Cupcakes

Good morning,

After a horrible day at work yesterday and a walk-a-bout cat I was so glad that I had booked today off as holiday a while back. Not only is the weather lovely, but I'm planning to spend the day crafting and possibly watch the king's speech later, just what I need!

I'm hoping that this won't be my only card I get completed today, I have been looking at the finale Viva sketch I still had to complete to enter the months competition for some time, but nothing was coming to me. So while I was looking at some challenges this weeks Color Throwdown combo jumped out at me, it contains 3 in-colours 2 of them brand new ones available to you from Saturday!

I wasn't sure that Poppy Parade and Calypso Coral would go together but actually I think they are a great match, they layer together perfectly. I didn't want to go too over the top with the Chocolate Chip so I just stuck to stamping and inking edges with it. I have added Dazzling diamond glitter to the cupcake frosting, a girl can't have a cupcake without glitter. This card is for my niece Beth, whose birthday is early next month, so I have added a monogram to the tag which I rubbed over with Champagne mist shimmer paint, looks lovely IRL.

Here's the sketch the Viva La Verve sketch that I was working from, as you can see I have swapped that flower element for you a bow tied with Poppy Parade ribbon.

Why not give it ago yourself, xx

On a Viva la Verve Roll!

Goodness me, if you've popped back from the earlier posts of today, great to see you again, if this is your first visit, hello!

My mojo has well and truly been restored, I'm onto sketch number 3 of this months Viva la Verve sketch challenge, and this one deserved to be a very special card, it's so pretty! My niece will be sweet sixteen next month so this will be her card. Here's the sketch

I went ultra girly with this giant 8x8 inch card, well you're only sweet sixteen once! I love the multiple layers, and knew I had to get my Sweet and Sour DSP out for this one, shield your eyes this ones very bright and colourful!

The colour combo I've used for this one is Elegant Eggplant, Pumpkin Pie and Rose Red. I love to make personalised cards, hopefully this will be a card that she keeps for a long time to come.

I'll be back with one last card today, hope to see you then, xx

Viva la Verve Part 2

Hi there,

I'm back with the next Viva la Verve sketch of the month. I decided that this sketch would be perfect for a wedding card my mum has asked me to make for a wedding she is going to the beginning of next month. She asked for a monochrome card, and I couldn't resist a bit (well maybe quite a lot) of sparkle for this one.

Because this sketch was so wonderfully simple it meant I could really go to town with the stamped and glittered background, without over-powering the finished card, I haven't got an oval die........yet, so I've substituted with a rectangle.

See what I mean about the sparkles?! there are also a couple of rhinestones on the letters, and I teamed it with a strip of polka dot DSP finished with some black satin ribbon.

Really enjoyed making this one, I'm on a roll now, next sketch to follow later, xx

Mojo Monday

Good evening,

It's Monday again, doesn't it roll around quickly! I have decided to hid away in my craft room for a little while this afternoon and join in with this weeks Mojo Monday sketch. I have a few birthdays coming up so I need some inspiration and this was just the ticket.

I have changed the ribbon and bow for some bunting (I've been dying to get this set inked up!) and again have taken the opportunity to use some more of my DSP (Greenhouse Gala) I like to make monogram cards for my friends at work so this one will be for my friend Steph. I have used my trusty Colour Coach again for the colour combo, really loving this handy tool.

So anyway, enough of my babbling, here is the card

I'm really pleased with this one. I can be my own worst enemy when critiquing my own work, I think we all are, it's about time we gave ourselves a pat on the back, when we like a creation!

Enjoy the rest of your week! xx

Broadsheet Anniversary

Hello!

I love my Broadsheet Alphabet set, any excuse to get it inked up and I'm there. So when my friend Gill asked me to make her son and daughter-in-law an anniversary card I knew exactly what I was going to do.

I pulled out my retired Mr and Mrs set and my Broadsheet alpha, not forgetting (of course) the fail safe Baroque motifs set and the card practically made itself!
Just a touch of glitter, some punched and shimmer painted Boho Blossoms, with a band of beautiful striped grosgrain ribbon and this is what I came up with.

I'm loving monochrome at the mo, its so sophisticated and elegant. Thankfully Gill liked it to, so this card will be winging it's way to the happy couple this weekend.

Happy crafting xx

So Many Birthdays!

Hello!

I hope that everyone is enjoying the bank holiday weekend!

I have so many birthdays this month it is unbelieveable! Two people at work are the big 50 next week (you know who you are!), two of my sister's birthdays are Thursday and Friday, I have several orders for birthday cards including the dreaded men's cards, as well as father's day. Thank god for challenges to inspire me!

This card is for one of the 50th birthdays next week, I don't always like to put ages on the cards, so I haven't with either of these. I have used the Sweet Sunday sketch for my layout inspiration,

and the colour pallette from CR84FN challenge blog, this is a new one for me but I liked the inspiration photograph, so I'm sure this will become one of my regulars.

I have chosen to use Baja breeze, So Saffron, and Crumb Cake (formally known as Kraft) I thought that it would be hard to make these colour's feminine but blue is Karen's favourite colour so I thought this pallette would be perfect for her.

I really like the Springtime Vintage DSP which just so happens to but in the same colours, so it all worked out great! The Saffrom backing paper is from the Nursery suite DSP, so it just goes to show that these papers are not just for baby cards they co-ordinate well with other paper packs too.

I will also be entering this card into the Simply Stampin' challenge which this week is Floral Frenzy, if you look closely you'll see that not only have I used a floral backing paper, but I have stamped a cute floral image from the Timy Tags set around the 'K', as well as making my own flower from the scallop circle punch.

Thanks for stopping by, xx

CASE'd myself

Hello,

Another beautiful day here. It's weird to think that the weekends are longer than the working week this week!

Today's card is CASE'd from my triple combo earlier this weekend. My sister had asked me to make to card for 'Rosalind' and I liked the thought of the butterflies fluttering through grasses, that I had done in this card so I thought that I would use the same concept but use different colours this time.

I've also tried to be brave and use colours out of my comfort zone that I would not usually use, orange and yellow both scare me!
I'm pleased with the result, although getting the name central was very tricky! Thank god for my Stamp-a-ma-jig, that's all I can say!

The recipe for today's card
Stamps, Broadsheet alphabet, pocket silhouettes
Paper, Springtime Vintage DSP, Certainly celery CS, Very vanilla CS, Pumpkin pie CS
Ink, Certainly celery, More mustard, Old olive
Accessories, Beautiful wings embosslits, sponge dauber

Enjoy the last of the holiday
xx

what's the DL?

Well hello there!

I always seem to be making A5 or square cards so I thought that I'd make a long thin card today (DL card), I had been asked to make a card with Victoria on the front, and was a little worried that it wouldn't fit so a long card was the answer to my problem. I was also asked that the card have a 1920's feel, now I wasn't quite sure what that meant be I thought decadent and lavish, I hope I got it right.

I used the flourish from the now retired Bliss set and my stamp-a-ma-jig ( I don't know where I would be without this nifty piece of equipment) to create the background paper, which is choc chip ink stamped onto Rich razzleberry CS. With my much loved Broadsheet alphabet set.

Here's the recipe
Stamps, Bliss (retired SAB) Broadsheet alphabet
Paper, Whisper white CS, Basic black CS, Rich razzleberry CS,
Ink, Rich razzleberry, Chocolate chip
Accessories, basic rhinestones, Stamp-a-ma-jig, and ribbon (from my pre-SU stash)

I hope this fits the bill.
Have fun and get inky xx

Theo and friends

I love the Fox and friends set in the current catalogue, it's so cute! I think the owl is my favourite cute little character, but they are all so cute it's a close call.
When my sister asked me a make a card for a little boy called Theo who will be turning 1 in march I knew exactly which stamp set I wanted to use.

I teamed the fab Fox and friends, with the Broadsheet alphabet to make it personalised, this set is great for monograms.
Marina Mist is one of my favourite colours so I got to use all my favourite things for this card!
As well as my new punch, the scallop trim border punch which I love, love, love!!

Here's the recipe,
Stamps, Fox and friends, Broadsheet alphabet
Card stock, Marina Mist, Very Vanilla, Early Espresso
Ink, Marina Mist, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip.
Accessories, Scallop circle punch, Scallop trim border punch, Marina Mist satin ribbon, Basic rhinestone, White gel pen, Sponge dauber (for inking around edge of panel)

Have a great (if not a little wet) weekend xx

Mum's the word

Hi there,
My friend Saffron asked me to make a few cards for her, one that she needed rather quickly was for her mum. She asked for a stylish, but modern card. This is what I came up with.

 I love the images from the Artistic etchings stamp set, and I think they are exactly right for the brief of stylish yet modern. Especially when stamped in a gorgeous deep red, like Cherry Cobbler. Don't you just love the names of the colours? I could just sit down to a yummy cherry pud with custard poured all over the top!
Anyway before I start to dribble.

Here's the recipe,
Stamps, Artistic Etchings, Broadsheet Alphabet
Paper, Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla
Ink, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories, Scallop trim border punch, stamp-a-ma-jig, (gems from my stash)

Hope that's wet your appetite!

Marina, marina, marina!

Hi there,

Today's card is for a very good friend of mine, her birthday is on Monday and for once I'm prepared in advance and have her card all ready for her, hopefully she isn't checking my blog before then!

Its uses my brand new Broadsheet Alphabet set, which I think is one of my most useful sets, I used to spend a fortune on alphabet stickers to personalise cards and now I won't have to spend another penny on them, Yay!

So it here is

 I hope that she will like it!

As the title for this post suggests I used a lot of marina mist in this card,
Here's what was used to make it -

Stamps - Broadsheet Alphabet, Tiny Tags
Paper - Very Vanilla, Marina Mist, Blueberry Paper Pack
Marina Mist Ink, Marina Mist satin ribbon,Marina Mist marker (for doodling around scallop) Designer Buttons (brights) Scallop Circle Punch, Tag Punch

Happy Birthday for Monday Angela!

Bye for now