A little bit of Brussels!

Helllooo!

I realised yesterday that I haven't really shared a lot from my trip to Brussels earlier this month. I think much of the reason is because I, sadly, lost a lot of my photos. Somehow, my memory card got corrupted...it's a good job convention is in Brussels again next year then! I will share a few of the photos I do have at the end of my post.

Luckily, I do have photos of the beautiful pillow gift I gave to my lovely convention roomie, Paula! What do you think of this?

Yes, I played with the fabulous Curvy Keepsakes die again...sorry but I just can't resist! I used the stunning I Love Lace stamp in Silver Encore ink, and added some lovely Silver Glimmer Paper leaves, punched from the Bird Builder punch.

I finished with a couple of little flowers from the Pictogram Punches, and a couple of Rhinestones Basic Jewels. Can you see the candle inside? Don't worry, it's not a naked flame! It is a battery powered candle! I created some handmade Washi Tape to go round it using masking tape. I simply stamped the I Love Lace stamp onto the masking tape...it looks really effective and just finishes the candle nicely.

Oooh almost forgot! Can you see a little something else in there??

There was a beautiful Swarovski Crystal bracelet inside!

Ok, so, as promised, here are a few of my favourite pictures from Brussels...

First, the very beautiful square at night...

This fella was carved from pure chocolate!

Some veeerrrrry expensive chocolates!

Le Mannequin Pis...(yes...it's a little boy weeing!) (and I do mean little!)

Some of Pierre Marcolini's stunning chocolates and Macaroons...

 The very lovely Shelli being presented with all our birthday cards, especially made for her!

And finally, some of the lovely ladies who I enjoyed spending Sunday morning with...Tanya Paula, Shelley and Lisa...

We had the most wonderful time, (and a LOT of chocolate!) and I can't wait to do it all again next year!

Have a lovely Friday!

Brrrrummy Birthday!

Good morning!

It is time for our latest challenge at CAS-Colours and Sketches, and this week, as it's the 5th week, it's the double! Yup! A colour combo and a sketch!

So here is Jacqueline's challenge for you...

I was initially a little stuck with the sketch, but then in a flash of inspiration I came up with this...

I have used a retired stamp for the dune buggy, but the rest of the products are current. I stamped the chevrons from Work Of Art, in Chocolate Chip, onto a couple of Essentials Wooden Elements...don't you think they look like tyre tracks?

The sentiment is from Remembering Your Birthday, and I attached the ribbon with staples.

So after an initial struggle, I am quite pleased with my card!

We're looking forward to seeing your cards this week...go on...push yourself out of your comfort zone!

Manly Electic!

Hello!
First of all, a very warm welcome to Rachel, my newest follower! Do pop on over to her blog...she is new to blogging so I'm sure she'd love you to visit!

Well how have you been?? It's been a very busy week since I got back from my holiday, what with washing, housework, and the day job!

Anyway, I managed to have a day of crafting and decorating candles today, to put on a stall I am doing towards the end of November, so I shall share some of those over the next week or so.

Today though, I thought I would share with you another card I made whilst on holiday in the caravan. This one is a little more manly, but still uses the Kinda Eclectic stamp set.

I inked up the stamp with Chocolate Chip and Soft Suede Stampin' Write markers and stamped onto my square panel. I then added the four chevrons from the Essentials Wooden Elements.

I inked the edges of my panel with the Chocolate Chip pen, to give an illusion of shadow. I didn't want to raise the panel on dimensionals as I figured there was already enough dimension thanks to the wooden elements!

I made this card just to show that although the stamp set initially looks girly, it doesn't have to be used that way!

I really enjoyed challenging myself to use just one stamp set as it encouraged me to really try and get the most out of it. Why not try it yourself and see how many cards you can make with just one stamp set?

Have a lovely Wednesday...we're off to Sealife, Manchester!

More Kinda Eclectic

Hi everyone!

As I promised yesterday, here is another card I have made using the Kinda Eclectic stamp set.

First of all, I stamped the leaves in Mossy Meadow, stamping off in between each stamping, to give some depth to the colour. I then added a Bermuda Bay butterfly, for which I used the Elegant Butterfly Punch to punch out.

The split sunburst was created by placing a piece of card onto my card blank, then stamping onto the card front, then when the spare card was taken away, there was room for the sentiment!

I finished with a few gems and there it is!

So last night we went to play on the 2p machines and discovered that we could also win prize tickets, which got Keiran very excited! Guess where we're off to now?? ;)

Enjoy the rest of your evening!

Lizy xx

It's Kinda Eclectic!

Hello everyone!

Well, although I am back from convention, I am not at home...I am on holiday with my two lovely men at Haven in Filey, N. Yorkshire! It is very blustery today, but we had a lovely day in Scarborough...I haven't been there since I was a little girl! It was very sunny, if windy, and we had a really nice day.

By the way, would you like to see what lovely goodies we each got from convention??

Ok....here you go....

Sooooo much lovely stash!! 

So, we came back to the caravan, and while Mike cooked tea, (yup...I had tea cooked for me!), I had a little bit of a crafting session!

Here is one of the cards I have made, using only items I got from convention! 

I have only brought this one stamp set with me as I wanted to see what I could do with just the one set! I used each of the 2014/16 In Colours, some Linen Thread, an embellishment from the Essentials Wooden Elements, Bitty Butterfly Punch and my Stampin' Write Markers and Watercolor Pen.

I coloured the wooden embellishement using Hello Honey ink and my Watercolor Pen, so it matched the sun element of the stamp set. 

I then picked out the different words in the sentiment using Lost Lagoon, Blackberry Bliss and Mossy Meadow, to reflect sky, the butterfly and grass. 

I did actually make 4 cards today...pop back tomorrow to see another version using the same stamp set!

Before i go, here is a very windswept photo of the three of us on Scarborough Promenade!

I think we're off to play on 2p machines now...have a good evening! 

Lizy xx

Happy Birthday Shelli!!

Good morning Sketchy fans! 

It's time for our new challenge at Sketch Saturday, and this week Debra has designed our sketch...

As this post goes live, I shall be at the Stampin' Up! Convention in Brussels! It is Stampin' Up! founder Shelli's birthday this week so we were asked to design a card for her if we wanted to, and, all being well, they were all presented to her yesterday! 

So here is the card I made...

I started off with some DSP from the Back To Black paper stack and once I decided to use this sentiment from Feel Goods, I thought Daffodil Delight would brighten the card and give a lovely contrast.

I inked the stamp with Stampin' Write Markers so that I could highlight the word 'sunshine' in Daffodil Delight. I finished with some Basic Black Chevron Ribbon, Daffodil Delight Seam Binding, a stamped and punched flower from Petite Petals and a Rhinestone coloured with a black marker pen.

I chose this particular sentiment as, thanks to Shelli and Stampin' Up!, there are a lot of happy Demos and customers out there, and Shelli is one shining example of positivity! 

Happy Birthday Shelli!

Have a lovely weekend and hopefully I will be back with convention news on Monday!

Convention Swaps 2014

Hello!!

Well I am at convention, and I have no doubt that I shall be doing a lot of swapping today! For those of your that don't know, we Demos make little sample items using current products, when we meet up we swap them...it gives us the chance to see products we may not have, give inspiration for ways to use products we do have, and most of all, meet, chat, and catch up!

So today I am going to show you my swaps! I made 2 different types using almost all the same products...

The little box is made using the fabulous Curvy Keepsake Thinlit die, and I decorated it using the I Love Lace stamp in Gold Encore Ink. I used Champagne Glimmer Paper and the Bird Builder Punch for the leaves, and Pictogram Punches stamp set Cherry Cobbler Ink and Itty Bitty Punches for the flowers. 

I used the same for the little 10cm x 10cm card, but also used our new Kraft cardstock for the base and the sentiment panel. The sentiment is from Lots of Thanks.

Did you spot the lovely Washi Tape on the candle?? Here is a close up...

Ok...I have a confession to make...this isn't Stampin' Up! Washi Tape. In fact, it isn't even Washi Tape! It is masking tape, and once I wrapped it round the candle, I rolled it over the I Love Lace stamp! Isn't it effective?! 

So tomorrow, I will be sharing a birthday card for a very special lady...do pop by for a peek!

Stippled Birthday Blossoms

Good morning!

Today it is colour challenge day at CAS - Colours and Sketches, and Jacqueline has some lovely autumnal colours for you...

I did a bit of 'random stamping' for my card (it's a technical term, honest!)

I used the Mossy Meadow to randomly stamp the leaves from the Stippled Blossoms stamp set.

I stamped the '2 step stamp' flowers first in Crisp Cantaloupe, then used the darker Calypso Coral for the highlighted areas, using my Stamp-a-ma-jig for perfect placement. The light flower was created by stamping each stamp again before re-inking. I do love these flowers...they are so effective with very little effort! The sentiment is from Remembering Your Birthday and is stamped in Calypso Coral.

As this post goes live, I shall be at the airport waiting for my flight to Brussels for the Stampin' Up! convention...the highlight of my Stampin' Up! year! Keep an eye out over the weekend for pictures of my swaps and a very special birthday card!

Convention is almost here!

Good morning!

Yes, I know...I have been a bit MIA this week. I am sorry...I have had so much to do that I'm afraid blogging and crafting have taken a bit of a back step. There is a very good reason...I am very excited about an upcoming event...

CONVENTION!!!!

Yes, this time tomorrow I shall be on my way to the airport to catch my flight to Brussels, where I shall be meeting up with Paula and lots and lots of other Stampin' Up! Demos for our annual convention! And I can't wait!

We each get a bag when we arrive, with free stamp sets, a lanyard, a pen, and maybe other goodies too, but as they are all the same, we each make a tag for our bags so we don't get them mixed up!

Here is mine...

I like to keep things simple, as you know, so I also kept my tag simple. I started by printing my name out from MDS onto Very Vanilla cardstock.

I then used the Bird Builder punch to add some leaves punched from super sparkly Champagne Glimmer Paper, and finished with some flowers from Pictogram Punches stamped in Cherry Cobbler and punch with the cute matching punch from itty Bitty Accents. I mounted the whole panel onto a piece of our new Kraft cardstock.

Here is what I used...

Convention is a fun time for all demos, hobby and business, whatever level!

How would you fancy coming to Brussels for convention 2015?? Well now is the perfect opportunity for you become eligible to attend! Simply join Stampin' Up!, either as a Hobby Demo or a Business Demo. 

As an active Demonstrator you get to attend all Stampin' Up! events, giving you the chance to meet so many wonderful people from fellow demos to the Stampin' Up! team. 

And now is an even more perfect time to join!

If you join before 24th October you get a FREE Designer Paper Stack EVERY month for 6 months!!  

So if you would like to join the fun, simply click here and become a part of the wonderful Stampin' Up! team, and my team of lovely t'Inkerbelles!

Keep popping back over the weekend to see the swaps I made and hopefully to hear any news, plus see what we have been getting up to!

Pictogram Thank You

Hello!!

It's our new challenge over at CAS-Colours and Sketches this week, and it is sketch week...

So I made my card in the 15 minutes I had spare yesterday lol! How is life sooooo busy??

Anyway, here is my card...

I happened to have this strip of  Moonlight DSP laying on my desk so I based my design on that! 

I stamped a few little flowers from Pictogram Punches, in Blackberry Bliss, and punched them using the matching punch from the Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack. The sentiment is from Lots of Thanks. I finished with a strip of Watercolour Wonder Washi Tape.

Here is what I used...

I think this is quite a fun sketch...what are you going to make with it? We look forward to seeing you creations!

Brrrrruuuuummm!!!!

Hello everyone!

Monday was my lovely fella Mike's Birthday, so obviously, I had to make him a card! He loves motorbikes, and even has one...no idea what make it is but it's red. So guess what I put on his card??

It had to be a red bike right?! I got this wonderful image from MDS, resized it to the size I needed and printed. I then coloured it using my Cherry Cobbler Blendabilities. 

I stamped the sentiment from Remembering Your Birthday, which I coloured using Cherry Cobbler and Basic Black Stampin' Write Markers. I alternated the colours mainly because I couldn't decide what colour to do it! I threaded Black Chevron ribbon through the sentiment panel.

I actually didn't leave this card to the last minute to make, for a change! In fact, I almost had a moment where Mike saw it on my desk a few days before...ooops!

I'm linking my card up to the challenge at SU-per Challenges this week...

Keiran also wanted to make a card, and when he does I let him loose on my old stash of retired SU and non-SU stamps. This is what he made...

Didn't he do a great job?? It is entirely his own design and he stamped it all himself!

I'm off to the gym now...working on next year's bikini body lol!