Friday 30 September 2011

Last chance..

Morning all,

Today is the last day that you can order from the 2010/2011 Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalogue and the 2011 Summer Mini as the new Idea Book & Catalogue comes out tomorrow.  There are so many great things that are being retired that I would hate for you to miss something so click HERE  to for your last chance to see whats on the retirement list and if it is still in stock.  If you do want anything, please contact me on my email address that's listed on the left, I will be keeping an eye on it all through the day.

Lots to share with you tomorrow regarding the launch of the new Catalogue, including the new Hostess Benefits scheme



It's so exciting and you are going to love all the new goodies in the catalogue, I've been playing with a few and it's great. 

<--  Here's a little sneak peek for ya!





That's one of the many great things about being a demonstrator, you get to see and buy from the new catalogues before they are launched ~ yay!  If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a demonstrator, please get in contact, also via the email address on the left, trust me, it's great fun and not scary at all lol!

Until tomorrow, take care xx

Thursday 29 September 2011

Hello card

Hello there, hope this post finds you well :o)

Just a quick post today, just wanted to share with you a card I made for my new Stampin' Up! sister Hannah.



I made it using the very georgous DSP called "Springtime Vintage".  The frame around the 'Hello' is from the "Sew Lovely" stamp set, which has great images of a sewing based nature, which is so fashionable at the moment and the 'Hello' is from the stamp set called "Hello you" which is very affordable at only £8.95.  The sad thing is that all of these are on the retirement list, which means that they will no longer be available from 1st Oct, yes, that's right, available just until the end of tomorrow!  If you 'NEED' these or any items on the retirement list, then please contact me ASAP, I would hate for you to be disapointed.  The most up to date retirement list status can be found HERE

take care, chat again soon ... xx

 
Project Ingredients

Stamp Sets : "Sew Lovely" & "Hello You"
Card stock : "Baja Breeze" & "Whisper White" Cardstock.
Accessories : 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon in "Baja Breeze, "Springtime Vintage" DSP (** RETIRING **), 
Colour : "Rose Red" Classic ink pad & StazOn Ink
Tools : SNAIL Adhesive
 

 

Wednesday 28 September 2011

Box Tutorial

Hello again,

As promised, below is my tutorial for the box I shared a couple of weeks ago.  This box is slightly different as the sides are not adhered together, which I like as it means you can easily put a little secret message on the inside bottom of the box that just the recipient will see when that take out the goodies.

Please note that the sizes of this project give you the largest size box from 1 sheet of A4.

Items Needed 

* 1 x sheet of A4 cardstock ~ I used "Naturals Ivory" as I think it has a nice weight for a box
* Ruler
* Pencil
* Adhesive ~ I used Tombow Mono Multi Glue, good a strong
* Bone Folder
* Scissors
* Fiskers Paper Trimmer ~ I used mine to make cutting and scoring easier, but you can manage without if you have the other tools.

Step by Step tutorial

Step 1

Cut your A4 sheet into 2 pieces 
1 at 210 x 200 mm, (Shown), this is the box body
1 at 95 x 105 mm, (not shown), this is the lid

Step 2

Take your box body piece and along the 210 edge, score at 70 and 140mm
Turn and score along your 200 edge at 70 and 130 mm
Burnish all score lines with your bonefolder


Step 3 

Using your pencil and ruler, make a mark 20mm to the left of your 1st score line and 20mm to the right of your 2nd score line, turn the cardstock one turn to the left and repeat until all side have been marked. 

 

Step 4

Using your ruler, join up the top, left hand mark to the bottom left hand mark, repeat for the right hand make, turn the page 1 turn and repeat.  You will notice that the marks intersect in the corners. 

These corners need to be cut off. (see illustration for Step 5)


Step 5

(Showing the corners cut off)

Taking your ruler and bone folder, score from the corner of the cut section to the corner of the scored section ~ see illustration. Using your bonefolder, burnish these score lines - This is a bit tricky.



Scored and ready to go.  No are now on to the lid.



Step 6

Take your lid piece of cardstock and Score all 4 sides at 15 mm and burnish your scorelines.



Step 7

With your scissors, snip on 1 of the corner score lines up to where the score lines intersect ~ see illustration


 
Step 8

Where you made your cut, cut an additional small diagonal line cut.  I find this makes it easier to make neat lid edges when gluing together.




Step 9

Glue the outside section of the small cut corner piece to the inside of the lid side ~ see illustration.  I use small pegs to hold everything together whilst the glue is drying but you could used paper clips.  
I prefer glue rather that sticky strip as it gives you a little time to get the edges joined neatly and the Tombow is very strong.


   
Step 10

Push the cut edges of your box inwards and pop on the lid


 
The lid is strong enough to keep the box closed on it's own.  Now, have fun and decorate as you wish




As a reminder, here is the one I shared a couple of weeks ago.



Hope you've been able to follow the tutorial ok as it's the first one I've written.  I have written lots of training materials and specification documents but only for technical things never crafty ones, so it's a bit scary.  If there is anything that you would like clarified or thing a few more pictures would be helpful, please do not hesitate to let me know, my goal here is to make this an easy to follow tutorial that everyone could copy so happy to change things a bit until it is.

Hopefully this was helpful, take care ... xx


Project Ingredients

Card stock : "Naturals Ivory" Cardstock.
Tools : Paper trimmer; "Paper Snips", Bone folder, Tombow Mono Multi glue, scissors. Oh, and a pencil.
 

Tuesday 27 September 2011

Countdown to Christmas ~ Wk 6

Hi there,

Sorry for not blogging for a while, a combination of sickness and injury within my household through out my schedule, the good thing is that I've been working on a few projects that I will be sharing with you over the next few days and I've got the tutorial for the box I shared HERE

This week my countdown to Christmas share is a few little fun items and, after all, it's the little things that really help make Christmas special.



It's a little box made using the Petal Card punch and as you can see from the photo, it's just big enough for a Lindor chocolate - yum!  I've only made one but I will make more nearer the time and hang them on the tree.  Unfortunately, I used 'Jolly Holiday' Designer Series Paper, (DSP), which has now sold out  :o(
I'm really going to miss this paper but the new collection comes out on Saturday - yay!

The next little item I'm sharing today is another little treat holder, whilst it's still small it's defiantly bigger then the first item!



For this one I didn't use Christmas paper at all, but the 'Celebrations' DSP as I wanted to show that you don't have to have specific Christmas paper to make something Christmasy, you just have to add a few Christmasy touches.


Here I have stamped snow flakes and a 'Merry Christmas' sentiment onto a label and no one would notice it's not Christmas paper, I also used the Crimper, (which was a present from my son for my birthday),  on each end to give it a more finished look.

... and the little goodie that is hiding inside this little treat package ...

Mint chocolate - YUM!

Hope you like these little treat ideas, please pop back tomorrow when I will post my box tutorial.

Until then, ....  xx
 

Project Ingredients

Stamp Sets : "Every Little Bit" & "Contempo Christmas"
Card stock : "Very Vanilla" Cardstock.
Accessories : 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon in "Old Olive ( ** RETIRING **), 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon in "Real Red" & "Old Olive, "Jolly Holidays" DSP (** SOLD OUT **), "Celebrations DSP (** RETIRING **), "Dazzling Diamonds" glitter
Colour : "Real Red" & "Bashful Blue" Classic ink pads
Tools : SNAIL Adhesive; 2-way glue pen, Sticky Strip, "Petal Card" punch & Crimper
 

Saturday 17 September 2011

Count down to Christmas ~ Wk 5

Hi there, sorry to be so late in blogging today, I've been to a craft show at Epsom Downs today with a friend, which was fun.

My Christmas share for this week is a card that I CASE'd from Alisa Tilsner, but with just a few little tweaks.  The reason I like this card is that it's not using Christmas themed paper but just some in appropriate colours, so it just goes to show how you can stretch your crafty stash.

As you can see, it's a very simply design that would lend itself to any paper you have as long as the design is not obviously flowery and you Christmasy it up with a little glitter and appropriate wording.

Glitter around the sentiment frame

Hope you like it, take care..... xx

 

Project Ingredients

Stamp Sets : "Welcome Christmas"
Card stock : "Riding Hood Red" & "Very Vanilla" Cardstock.
Accessories : "Dazzling Diamonds" glitter & "Very Vanilla" 5/8" satin ribbon
Colour : "Riding Hood Red" marker pen
Tools : SNAIL Adhesive, dimensional adhesive & 2-way glue pen.
 

Friday 16 September 2011

A very girlie gift for a grown-up girlie

Hello there,

Hope you are having a good day.  Today I am going to share with you a little gift I made for my ex-MIL's birthday.  Yes I know it sounds strange to send gifts to an "ex" in-law, but I've always got on really well with her as she is lovely and she is my son's Granny afterall, though I don't think she will every forgive me for making her a Gran before she was 40 - lol!

A little girlie bag...

... with treats for a grown up girlie!

I also made a post it note holder with her initial on and a card, but I was in such a rush to make sure I got to the post box that there wasn't enough time to photograph those items but they all co-ordinated.
I didn't make them too fussy as she lives very close to her 2 very little grandaughters and I didn't want there to be lots of glitter etc in case they got hold of them.
They arrived in time, thank goodness and she liked her gifts, which is the main thing.

Back tomorrow with another idea in my "Countdown to Christmas" series, until then, have a great day... xxx

Project Ingredients

Stamp Sets : "Bliss" - (RETIRED Sale-a-bration set)
Card stock : "Blushing Bride"
Accessories : "Blushing Bride" 1/2" Stitched-Poly ribbon; "Sweet Stitches" big buttons collection (** RETIRING **)
Colour : "Blushing Bride" Ink pads 
Tools : SNAIL Adhesive, Glue dots, Big Shot Machine, "Top Note" die and a bit of "Velcro" from local craft shop.

Thursday 15 September 2011

Beautiful card I've received

Hello,

Just a really quick post today as I've got a lot on  but I wanted to share with you a card I was lucky enough to receive from the very lovely and talented Sarah-Jane, who I am very fortunate to have as my upline.

This is the card she gave to me for my birthday this week.


Ooo - Look at all that glass glitter

Shiny - that's the joy of Crystal Effects

To see more details on this card, please visit Sarah-Jane's blog HERE

Got to go, so much to do today, chat again tomorrow... xx

Wednesday 14 September 2011

More birthday card inspiration.

Hello there, well, I had a lovely day yesterday shame you have to injure being a year older to have a special day - lol!

Anyway, I would like to share with you the other 2 cards I made after being inspired by my birthday card from Stampin' Up!

As you can see, it's basically the same as yesterdays only I just stepped it up a little bit by using the "Elegant Bouquet" embossing folder and running the "Whisper White" card stock through the Big Shot.  This helps add some interest to the top right hand corner that seemed a bit empty on my first card.

My second card is basically the same again, only this time I added a gift parcel and thread with a button and changed the placement of the sentiment, all of which, along with the colour palette, gives it a more mascaline feel I think.


I don't have anyone to give these cards to, I was just playing which sometimes is all you want to do rather than have the presure of wanting to create something perfect so that it's good enough for recipient.

Another thing, I've had a comment and a couple of messages about doing a tutorial for the box I showed you earlier in the week, from my "Countdown to Christmas series.  The current plan is to have one ready to publish on Sunday, so stay tuned.

That's all from me, hope you have a fabulous day....xx


Project Ingredients

Stamp Sets : "Curly Cute", "Playful Pieces" Hostess set (** RETIRING **)
Card stock : "Naturals Ivory", "Soft Suede", "Tangerine Tango" & "Whisper White" Cardstock.
Accessories : Clear embossing powder, "Sweet Stitches" DSP (** RETIRING **) & "Elegant Soiree" DSP (** RETIRING **), Flower Button from "Neutrals" collection. & Linen Thread. 
Colour : "Tangerine Tango", "Melon Manbo", "Soft Suede", & "Baja Breeze" Ink pads
Tools : SNAIL Adhesive, heat tool & Glue dots

Tuesday 13 September 2011

Happy Birthday to me!

Yep, today is my birthday, I won't tell you the number, I don't mind saying it out load it just looks really depressing to see it written down - lol!

There are many great things about being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, but one of them is they send you a birthday card and give you extra discount on any item in the catalogue - yay!

Stampin' Up! birthday card
It's a lovely little card which I found inspiring and I ended up making three cards based on it, one of which I will share with you today and I'll share the others over the next few days.

This was the first card I came up with




I cut out a scallop border and used this as a mask to sponge over some "Perfect Plum" ink to leave the impression of a scalloped border on the "Whisper White" card stock.  I then stamped Happy Birthday with "Rose Red" ink and, once completely dry, ink over again with versamark and used clear embossing powder to heat emboss with.  I used the "Stamp-a-ma-jig" to make sure I got perfect alignment on the Happy Birthday.  I made the faux ribbon using "Springtime Vintage" DSP, which is just gorgeous and will be missed by many when it retires at the end of the month.

I hope you like it, I'm just off as my son is cooking me breakfast and is treating me to afternoon tea at Patisserie Valerie, diet starts tomorrow - lol!


 

Project Ingredients

Stamp Sets : "Curly Cute"
Card stock : "Naturals Ivory", "Rose Red" & "Whisper White" Cardstock.
Accessories : Clear embossing powder, "Springtime Vintage" DSP (** RETIRING **)
Colour : "Rose Red" & "Perfect Plum" Ink pads
Tools : SNAIL Adhesive, heat tool & Glue dots
 

Monday 12 September 2011

Count down to Christmas ~ Wk 4 (& 1/2)

Hello,

So sorry not to have posted for the last couple of days, I thought I'd set up some auto posts whilst I was visiting my lovely Stampin' Up! upline Sarah-Jane, but I hadn't set them up properly ~ D'oh!  Oh well, better late then never.
I had a wonderful time at Sarah-Jane's, we were playing with some of the new products that will be available from 1st October. As Stampin' Up! demonstrators we are privileged to be able to get our hands on products early and they are fab and I can't wait to be able to share them with you.

Anyway, onto today's project, and it's the delayed Xmas project


As you can see, it's a box, just for a change from my usual cards.

The ribbon is wrapped around a belly band, what do you mean, you don't know how I did the belly band - you'll have to come back on 1st October to find out ;o) 

 .. and when you take off the lid,

the four sides actually open up to reveal the goodies inside. I was inspired by a box of fudge I got from Sainsbury's, the fudge was awful but, like all good crafters, I wanted to re-make the box.
Inside this box are 8 little Lindor chocolate balls, (yum, yum!), they fit perfectly and are just enough to make a decent size gift or stocking filler, oh, and underneath the goodies is one final little message.





As a little extra detail I also heat embossed using clear embossing powder on the DSP on the sides of the box.



Many of the products I used on this box are on Stampin' Up's retirement list, (see below for which ones), which means that come 1st Oct they will no longer be available which is a shame as I love all of them, but room needs to be made for all the lovely need goodies, one of which you've got a sneak-peek of on this project  :o)
If you would like any of the products on the retirement list, please contact me as soon as possible as things do sell out before the 30th Sept and I wouldn't want you to miss out before they are gone forever.  Of if you would like more information on how to become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator so that you too could get your hands on new products before the catalogues are published, then please drop me a line at the email address detailed in the left hand panel, you know how I love to chat!

I hope you like todays project, I love reading all your comments, so please don't be shy about leaving a comment, until next time, take care xxx

 
Project Ingredients

Stamp Sets : "So Swirly" Jumbo wheel (** RETIRING **), "Afterthoughts" Level 1 Hostess Stamp Set (** RETIRING **), & "Dasher"
Card stock : "Naturals Ivory", "Cherry Cobbler", "Very Vanilla" & "Old Olive" Cardstock.
Accessories : 3/8" "Very Vanilla" Taffeta Ribbon (** RETIRING **), Clear embossing powder, "Jolly Holidays" DSP (** RETIRING **), "Dazzling Diamonds" glitter
Colour : "StazOn ink; "Old Olive" marker pen
Tools : Stampin' Dimensionals SNAIL Adhesive; 2-way glue pen, 1 3/4" Scallop circle punch, 1 3/8" Circle punch, & XXXX (?? revealed on 1st October!)

Thursday 8 September 2011

Goodbye - gone forever :o(

Quick post just to let you know that Stampin' Up! has sold out of the following items and therefore they are not available anymore :o(

Choo Choo Stamp Set
Sense of Time Stamp Set
2010-2012 In Colour Classic Ink Refils
Riding Hood Red 12"x12" Card stock
Jolly Holiday DSP
Silver Elastic Cord
Antique Brass Jumbo Eyelets
Pewter Jumbo Eyelets
Star Punch
Afterthoughts (w) Hostess Set
Cute by the Inch (w) Hostess Set

 If you want to get anything from the retirement list, please contact me as soon as possible, as you don't want to miss out.

Thanks, and have a wonderful day ... xx


Wednesday 7 September 2011

Having another go ... and what I found on my desk this morning!

Hello everyone,

Is it just me or did autumn make an appearence yesterday?

Anyway, today's share is just me having another go at the card I shared on Monday, see HERE, except this time I did a blue colour scheme instead of the pink.

I also changed the orientation slightly by having the ribbon on the left of the main image rather than below as in the original card. Redoing a card you've done before and just changing it a little bit is a great thing to do when you are feeling like your crafting mojo has deserted you.

Oh, and on a completly unrelated note, this is what I discovered on my crafting desk this morning.


This is my cat, Cat, (named by my son and after the cat in Red Dwarf), she loves to sleep here as the sun beems through the window, but she doesn't like the sun in her eyes so she covers them up with her paw and goes to sleep like that.  Very cute, but really annoying as that Stampin' Up! grid paper you can see under her is meant for my stamping not her sleeping! lol

Until next time  ... xx
 

Project Ingredients

Stamp Sets :  "Nature Walk" &; "Always Elegant" - for the sentiment
Card stock : "Marina Mist" &; Watercolour paper - for the main image
Accessories : 5/8" Organza ribbon in "Whisper White; DSP patterns stack in "Subtles" - for the "Marina Mist" patterned paper
Colour : "StazOn ink; "Marina Mist", "Always Artichoke & "Sahara Sand" marker pens
Tools : Stampin' Dimensionals SNAIL Adhesive; Blender Pen