A pretty, retired notebook.

Hi everyone! 

I was so chuffed to see so many visits my blog yesterday...it's lovely to know that so many people like to see my creations...I am flattered!

Ok so today, I have an altered notebook for you...

I removed the rather un-inspiring covers and added new ones, after decorating the front one with flowers from the Secret Garden stamp set, stamped in Pool Party and Basic Gray.

I also used the matching Framelits to cut out and layer one flower, which I coloured using my blender pen. The Smoky Slate banner is stamped with En Francais. I tied Pool Party Seam Binding around the spirals to make it super girly!

Sadly, both these stamps, the Framelits and the Seam Binding are on the retiring list, which you can find here, so if they're on your wishlist, then now would be the time to get them! I for one will be very sad to see them go.

Here is what I used...

Secret Garden Framelits Dies

£20.95

Secret Garden Clear-Mount Stamp Set

£17.95

Pool Party 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon

£6.25

Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad

£4.95

Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad

£4.95

Blender Pens

£8.95

So what are you up to today? I shall be working, then getting on with more card orders...busy, busy! :)

Have a lovely day!

Stampin' Framed with heat embossed frame.

Hi everyone!

This is a quick post today as I have a doc's appointment and then I really need to get out into the garden to finish painting the fence and do a lot of weeding!

So today's project is a Stampin' Framed using the Best of Butterflies set. 

I stamped them in Versamark then heat embossed them in Pool Party and Early Espresso Stampin' Emboss Powder. I then cut each one out, so the whole thing didn't look too flat.

I used Naturals White card for the background on this one as I thought it looked good with these natural looking butterflies.

I finished by gently heat embossing a butterfly onto the frame using clear Stampin' Emboss Powder.

Can you see it? I think it finishes the frame nicely :)

If you would like to order any of the current products please visit my online shop...the link is over on the right >>>>

I'm off now...I hope you get to enjoy some of the sun today!

Vintage Stampin' Framed

Hello everyone!

I hope you're not bored of my Stampin' Framed yet, because I have another one for you today! This one has a vintage feel to it...

For this one I dug out one of my favourite retired stamps, Elements of Style. When I say retired, I mean retired as a 'real' stamp...it is still available on MDS, for only £2.95! That's the great thing about MDS...nothing retires! I stamped the background by inking up En Francis using a sponge, so I could get a slightly distressed feel to the stamping. I also stamped it off before I stamped it here...that gives a softer print.

I then over stamped the flowers from Elements of Style, in Pool Party ink (after also stamping off first). The little Hummingbird is also stamped in Pool Party, and the sentiment in Soft Suede. I inked all my edges to give an even more distressed, vintage feel, even on the Pool Party mount. I finished with 3 tiny nail art pearls on the sentiment, which I think you can just about see!

As much as I love making these, I really do need to figure out how to photograph them without getting shadows and reflections!

Stampin' Up supplies I used

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

If you would like to try MDS, you can try it free for one month by clicking the link below. I am also happy to help with any queries you have on using it. :)

I had a little visit to Ikea this weekend to finish spending the gift card they so kindly gave me after I got stuck in the lift...needless to say, I didn't use the lift! I did get some more frames though, so I should be busy for a while ;)

Anyway, have a lovely Monday and see you tomorrow!

An altered tablet cover

Hi everyone!

Did you have a nice day yesterday? I went on the local Mayday walk with Keiran and my parents and tried a little pond dipping and maypole dancing...it was fun!

Today I have something a little different to show. I recently got a new tablet and so needed a cover. I looked around but I couldn't find any I really liked, so I decorated my own!

I used Flowering Flourishes and heat embossed it using Pool Party Stampin' Emboss.

While it was still heated, I added Iridescent Ice Stampin' Emboss for a little sparkle. I finished with some bling! 

What do you think? I do have one tip for this...make sure your heat tool is properly hot before you emboss, then it is in contact with your case for as little time as possible.

Stampin' Up! products I used

Please click on the pictures to order directly from my online shop

I love making things my own....so much more fun than buying off the shelf!

Have a great Tuesday! :)

Frugal Friday reminder

Hello everyone and happy Bank Holiday Monday to all of you in the UK!

So how many of you are planning on a crafty day today? Well here's a thought...why not have a look around your craft desk and show me what's there? As may know, I am running a challenge on here called Frugal Friday, so I thought I would take the opportunity to remind you about it.

I took this photo last week to show you all the little bits on my desk that I plan to use up.

So here is another card I made from it...

The strip of DSP is from the Sale-a-Bration promotion, the butterflies are Papillon Potpourri and Beautiful Wings Embosslits, and the coloured panel is die cut from Pool Party card.

The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Sentiments and I stamped it on Bermuda Bay (had to get some in somewhere!) The stamped butterfly is Daffodil Delight.

It really is incredible how much of those teeny, tiny, seemingly useless bits you can use up! Go on, give it a go and link it up here!

If you would like to order any of the current items I have used, or would like to try MDS, please do click on my shop logo over on the right >>>>>>>>

Alternatively, you can contact me and I will be more than happy to place your order for you!

Have a lovely day and I shall see you tomorrow (if I can drag myself up after watching the premiere 2 episodes of 24 at 1am tonight...too excited...I love Jack Bauer!!)

3 shades of...

Hello again everyone!

*If you are looking for my Sketch Saturday DT post, please scroll down.*

Yes, I know...my SS DT post said I am off to do a park run...well Keiran has decided he doesn't want to and as today is really his day I have let him off, on the condition he lets me rake the moss out of my grass!

Anyway, the reason I'm back is to enter the Less Is More challenge this week, which is a colour challenge.

3 colours or 3 shades of the same colour.

So I have gone for 3 shades of the same colour...

I have chosen Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana and Pool Party...don't they look good together?

The stamp set is Oh, Hello and I used my Stampin' Write Markers to colour different parts of my stamps before stamping. The arrow section was stamped twice...once onto the card and once on spare card and cut out before popping up on Dimensionals. I then finished with a button from the Subtles collection and Pool Party Bakers Twine. Oh and I drew 3 lines below it all, one in each shade.

Well I guess it's time to get in the garden and get that perfect lawn growing!

Oooh and don't forget to enter my Frugal Friday challenge...what can you make with the bits on your desk??

Have a lovely Saturday!

A Happy Valentine!

Hellloooo!

How are you? 

I had quite a productive evening yesterday, making some commissions, and a card to show you today. The commissions will be revealed at some point next week.

Here is today's card...

This card has gone quite out of my comfort zone...Designer Series Paper & coloured card blank...not something I use a lot of, but I think I like it!

The DSP is the lovely Fresh Prints and I die cut the strip in the middle and added a die cut heart from another design, all mounted on a strip of Pool Party cardstock. I added a Candy Dot and a sentiment from Teeny Tiny Sentiments.

Stampin' Up! supplies used

Please click on the pictures above to buy direct from my online store.

I am entering my card into a couple of challenges...

CAS(E) This Sketch - #62

Dynamic Duos - #88

I had a fantastic workout yesterday...I needed a shake up at the gym so I booked in with one of the instructors and boy do I know it! I may never walk normally again! On the upside, I don't need to run any more...just cycle lol!

You have a fabby day and I'll see you tomorrow!

Look, no stamping!!

Good afternoon! 

Yes I am a bit late today...I was out with the PTA last night and got in very late and quite drunk! My alarm went off at 8am, but I really wasn't ready to get up so I had a lazy morning!

As you know, I had a craft room revolution yesterday, gutting it and changing it to add more space and storage. 

It started off like this...

As you can see, it's a bit short on useful storage and a bit messy!

So I emptied it...

And this is how it looks now...

I have much more storage, and I even sorted out some more stuff and had a bit more of a clearout! It was almost worth getting stuck in the Ikea lift for!

So, during the sort out, I found lots of little bits that need using up, mainly die cuts, so I have set myself a challenge this week to use them up! So here is the first card using up a card blank, a strip of Pool Party card and some die cut butterflies...

 I embossed a line of crosses from one of the Needlepoint EFs.

As the butterflies were cut from Core'dinations card, I added some interest to them by sanding the edges and the embossed parts.

I am entering my card into the challenge at CAS(E) This Sketch

Stampin' Up! supplies used

Please click on the pictures to buy direct from my online store.

*Only 1 place left!*

I am starting a brand new Stampers 6 club on the 30th January, details of which can be found here. If you join you will have 3 months' opportunity to enjoy the benefits of the Sale-a-Bration promotion, and with the brand new Spring/Summer catalogue released at the same time, I'm sure you will get yourself some wonderful products for free! Please contact me for more details and to join.

Thanks for stopping by today and hope you have a fab Sunday! :)