A suspended star....but how??

Hi everyone!

It's time for another new challenge over at CAS-Colours and Sketches and for the month of December we are revisiting some old challenges. This week we are inviting you to create a card using any of our past colour challenges. You can find these in the archives at the top of the challenge page. The only other stipulation is that it must be a Christmas card.

I have decided to use the colours I chose 3 weeks ago, from challenge #99

So here is what I made...

I wanted to do something different this time, so I decided to die cut the star from the card blank as I wanted to 'suspend' a stamped star in the middle. I then paper pierced around the star using the Eclectic Paper Piercing Pack. 

I stamped, heat embossed in gold, and die cut a star from the Many Merry Stars stamp set, and stamped the sentiment onto Vellum Cardstock before cutting it out with my super sharp Paper Snips.

So I bet you're wondering how I suspended the star??? Nope, not acetate! I simply attached the star to the sentiment with Tombow Glue (which is invisible when dry...yay!) I then simply attached either side of the sentiment to either side of the star, again using Tombow. Doesn't it look fab?!

I think I might make a few more of these for my nearest and dearest friends this year as I really enjoyed making it and totally love how it came out! :)

We're looking forward to seeing your entries this week...hopefully it will help you with your last minute Christmas cards!

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!

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!

Pinkies Autumn/Winter 2014 blog hop!

Thank you for joining us on another Pinkies Blog Hop! We're showcasing lots of gorgeous projects 

using products from the new Stampin' Up!® Autumn/Winter Catalogue. Simply use the buttons at the 

end of each post to keep hopping!

Hi everyone!

Did you come from Kim's blog? Wasn't her project gorgeous?

I bought so many products from this gorgeous new catalogue that it was a tough decision what to use for this blog hop! I eventually decided that I wanted to use the Bright and Beautiful stamp set and matching Framelits.

I decided to try something a bit special, so this is what I came up with...

I always make some sort of Christmas decoration for my home every year, so this is where the idea came from. I used Champagne Glimmer Paper for the hollow part of the star, and die cut 6 of them using the largest of the Star Framelits. I then heat embossed 6 of the medium star stamp in Gold Stampin' Emboss and die cut them with the matching Framelit. Each of the stars were then stuck together, and the centre one was hung in the middle using invisible thread. I finished with Rhinestone Basics Jewels, coloured using the darkest Cherry Cobbler Blendie.

I made a matching box out of our new 12x12in Kraft cardstock and decorated it with matching stars and Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding. 

I also decided to make a matching card as I love this set so much! A Cherry Cobbler card blank, a layer that I inked with matching ink, and lots of stars. 

The word Noel is die cut from Very Vanilla using the Wondrous Wreath Framelits.

That Champagne Glimmer Paper is so super sparkly...I just can't get it to show properly in a photo!

I hope you enjoyed my projects today and that they have helped to inspired you!

It's time for you to move on to the next wonderful Pinkie on the blog hop, our very lovely Michelle! She has made something really beautiful for you to see!

I hope you have a wonderful Saturday and enjoy the rest of the hop!

A Christmas star!

Good morning Sketchers! 

It is my DT week over at Sketch Saturday this week, so not only have I designed our sketch, but I have also donated the prize!

This is what you could win!

So here is this week's sketch...

As you know, I like quite clean and simple cards, so the sketch, and my card, reflect that. 

I used the lovely Bright & Beautiful stamp set and matching Stars Framelits, teamed with Champagne Glimmer Paper. That paper really is sparkly, honestly!

The word 'Noel' is die cut from the Wondrous Wreath Framelits set and finishes the card nicely I think. I inked the Cherry Cobbler cardstock with matching ink to give some depth. I finished by colouring a Basic Rhinestone with a Cherry Cobbler Blendabilities pen.

This card is actually just one part of a larger project I have made, the rest of which you can see here. It is a beautiful 3D hanging Christmas decoration and matching box using the same Bright & Beautiful bundle...it really is stunning so do go have a look...here is a little sneak peek!

Enjoy the sketch and I will see you tomorrow!

A Christmas stamp is for other cards, not just for Christmas!

Good morning!

How is your week going? Since Keiran went back to school on Tuesday, things seem to have calmed down and got back into a routine here. I have managed to blog every day and even managed to get some crafting in too! 

Keiran is in Year 2 now and has told me that the teacher really makes them work! Must be a bit of a shock from all that playing over the last two years!

Anyway, here is one of the cards I manage to make this week...

Now I wonder....can you guess the stamp sets I used? Of course, there is the old faithful Dictionary background stamp, which is perfect for creating backgrounds like this.

I then used Wondrous Wreath for the flowers, stamping in Cherry Cobbler and die cutting them using the matching framelit...see, a Christmas stamp isn't just for Christmas! 

I added the sentiment using the lovely Good Greetings Hostess set, FREE when you spend, or host a party with sales of £200 or more! Here is a reminder of that wonderful set, which comes in clear mount or wood mount.

These are really lovely sized sentiments that fit brilliantly onto your A6 and 6x6in cards. 

Here is what I used for this card...

Wonderous Wreath Photopolymer Bundle

£37.25

Dictionary

£15.95

Good Greetings Clear-Mount Stamp Set

£15.00

Very Vanilla A4 Card Stock

£7.50

Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad

£4.95

Gold Sequin Trim

£4.50

1" Square Punch

£14.25

If you would like to order any of these products, just click on the pictures above, or you can use my online shop link over on my sidebar >>>>>

Or if you like, you can contact me for a chat and I can place your order for you!

One thing I love about being a demo is that I can fit it in around all the other craziness in my life! I am a single Mum to a wonderful 6 year old who has a lot of after school activities, I have a job, a new man to find time for, and yet I can still hold craft classes, craft, and run my Stampin' Up! business around all of that! It is a fun way to earn extra money to go towards more crafty goodies, a better craft room, or even extra money to go towards Christmas!

If you, or someone you know, would be interested in a wonderful opportunity to earn extra money doing something you love, please do contact me for more information. You can also find out more here.

Tomorrow is a bit of a special blog post as it is the famous Pinkie Blog Hop! Do come by and see all the inspired projects using products from the Autumn/Winter catalogue. I look forward to seeing you then!

Hello Love!

Hello everyone!

Wow! School holidays really do mess with blogging! And I haven't even had Keiran this week as he's with his Dad! I have, however, taken the opportunity to work some overtime, and spend some quality 1-2-1 time with my man, which has been wonderful!

I have managed to make my card for this week's challenge at CAS-Colours and Sketches thought, and this month is Jacqueline's turn to set our challenges. Here is the first...

Now I must admit, I have kind of let my heart rule this one! I made this card entirely with my Mike in mind (please don't puke lol!!!)

I really love these colours together...they make for a manly card! I have used the lovely Hostess set, Hello Love, and I coloured it using my Stampin' Write Markers. I coloured the background cloud in Night of Navy, stamped off once, then coloured the rest of the stamp before stamping onto my Very Vanilla cardstock. 

I embossed a strip of hearts across my Cherry Cobbler cardstock using a retired border EF, then layered it all onto a Night Of Navy card blank. The solid hearts were then filled with Crystal Effects for some dimension. The whole card is a very cute 10cm square.

I love this cute card and sometime soon it will find it's way to Mike's with a suitable soppy message inside I'm sure! ;)

Have a fantastic Thursday!

Happy Easter and Happy Retirement!

Hello and Happy Easter! 

Today is a very important day in the Christian calendar...the day of  Jesus' resurrection. I would like to think that somehow, today is a new start for all humanity and that all evils cease. 

I don't have an Easter project today but I do have a card that I would like to enter into the Freshly Made Sketches this week.

I used Clockworks stamped in Crumb Cake and Cherry Cobbler. I also inked the edges of the Crumb Cake cardstock, the watch and the sentiment, which is from Teeny Tiny Sentiments.

I finished with staples (for a manly feel!) and a Candy Dot for the centre of the watch, which I popped up on dimensionals.

Stampin' Up! supplies used

 

Please click on the pictures to find the items quickly in my online shop.

I hope you enjoy your Easter day and maybe you could find a moment to reflect on what today is really all about.