Mini Blog Hop!!

Ooooh, you are in for a real treat today - its the Mini Blog Hop!!!

There are three groups (each with 15 ladies) from the In Love With Stamping forum posting examples of projects made using the stamp sets, papers and products from the new Mini Catalogue.

If you have come here from Dawns blog, I hope you enjoyed looking at her gorgeous creations and that you have a cuppa handy to carry on through all the sites in this loop. 

I have made two projects using an absolutely stunning set called Vintage Vogue.

The first is a scrap book page with photos of me and my DH.  The first photo was taken the year before we were married (its our 24th wedding anniversary soon - where did that go?!!!)  and the second was taken about 10 years ago.

I used the Very Vintage wheel inked with Versamark to do the background, and inked the edges with Old Olive using a sponge dauber.  You can see the detail a bit better in the next photo.

The photos were stuck onto Old Olive card and the border stamp was lined up using the Stamp-A-Ma-Gig to outline each photo.  This was then cut out close to the outer edge, the edges distressed, inked with a sponge dauber and raised on dimensionals on to the background.

To give the background a bit more interest I stamped the 'Friends' and flourish images, little leaves and 'Love' from the Wonderful Words stamp set.

Another 'Friends' stamp image and some flowers were stamped in Old Olive ink and the 'F' and flowers were cut out -the flowers were secured with brads. The twill tape was inked using Old Olive and threaded through jumbo eyelets.

Recipe;
Cardstock - Old Olive
Ink - Versamark, Old Olive
Stamps - Vintage Vogue, Very Vintage Wheel and Wonderful Words
Accessories - Sponge dauber, twill tape, Jumbo eyelets, brads.

My second project is a card made for my Mums birthday yesterday.  My Mums sister asked me to make a card and I used photo of my Mum and her sisters when they were little. 

I used the Just Perfect alphabet set (and my Stamp-A-Ma-Gig) to stamp the word 'sisters' above the 'Friends' stamp image (both in Night of Navy ink).  Then stamped the 'Friends' image again in So Saffron ink and just cut out the F.  This was mounted directly above the first image using dimensionals.

I made a frame for the photo using So Saffron Designer Series Paper and inked the edges.  I wasnt happy with the corners of the frame so stamped the  border image onto So Saffron card and used a scalloped Square punch to cut out triangular corners.  These were then glued on to each frame corner.

The flower was stamped using the 'Rock and Roll' technique and secured using a brad and dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by - its over to visit Theresa now for more inspiration!

Recipe
Cardsock - Bordering Blue, Whisper White, So Saffron
Ink - Night of Navy, So Saffron
Designer Series Paper - So Saffron
Stamps - Vintage Vogue
Hope your having a great weekend?

Jan
X

Perfect Pairs Promotion

Here is the March Stampin' Up! promotion.  It will stay at the top of my blog this month, so please scroll down for newer posts.

Get 20% off selected punches when you buy the co-ordinating stamp set.

This also includes the brand new Full Heart Punch!!! This punch is only available this month, and wont be available again until the release of the 2010 - 2011 Idea Book and Catalogue.

The Full Heart punch is guaranteed to be popular, so dont delay in placing your order!

If you have any questions or would like to take part in the promotion, please contact me ASAP!

Open House - This Saturday!!

I am having an open house this Saturday between 10am and 12 noon.

No cost - just bring yourself and some friends for a couple of hours looking through the new Mini Catalogue and stroking the GORGEOUS new papers, new products and stamp sets, ooooh, heaven!

Theres a make & take and lots of goodies (including chocolate of course).

Email me for directions if you fancy coming over for a play.

Baby Feet

One of the guys at work became a dad last week and I was asked to make a new baby card - just in time as I had only recieved this stamp set on Friday (I dont normally do baby or childrens cards!!!).

I made the baby feet a couple of years ago and they have been sitting in my stash ever since.  They were made out of flesh coloured fimo and are just stuck onto the card front using Chrystal Effects.

The Nursery Necessities stamp set is really cute and has a star (which also fits the star punch perfectly) and a coordinating stamp wheel.  I used the wheel to do the lettering at the bottom of the card

The lettering at the bottom of the card is made with the Nursery Letters stamp wheel, inked with Versamark and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.

Recipe;

Stamp sets Nursery Necessities, Nursery Letters

Cardstock - Pretty in Pink, Rose Red & Whisper White

Ink - Versamark, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red

Designer Series Paper (DSP) - Rose Red

Accessories - Rose Red Ribbon, clear embossing powder, Stamp-a-ma-jig (to line up the sentiment and the elephant), 1" circle punch (used on each corner of the DSP).

Non SU - Fimo baby feet, die cut circle shapes

Thanks for calling, bob bck over on Sunday after about 10am for a real treat - we have another Blog Hop planned- so you will get lots of ideas and inspiration from some incredible ladies.

See you Sunday!!!
Jan
X

Rose Red Ruff

Hi everyone.

I went to the Harrogate Papercraft Show yesterday morning with my friend Kath, and had a brill time looking at all the goodies on show - and spying on different techniques - I must be a true crafter (tee hee).

I did see one idea which got the old grey cells working overtime and the first thing I did when I got home was play, and here is the result...

Not sure if you can see but the flowers have a very subtle sparkle to them?  Sorry but I cant tell you yet how I did this (its absolutely tip top secret, if I told you - I would have to kill you!)  But if you bob back in April you will find out!!!

The card needed to be made A4 as the large flower is quite big!!!

Here are the instructions using two punched Scalloped Circles (like the one at the bottom of the card).

Punch out two Scallop Circles.

Score straight across the shape between each scallop (dotted lines on picture) - all the scores will cross at the centre.  Make 1 cut from the outside (straight line on picture), into the centre.  I then inked all around the edges using a dauber and ink pad - its easier to do this now before folding the shapes!

Concertina fold all the way around the circle.  Do this for two punched circles and glue them together (not sure if you can see, but I have written 'glue' on the two scallops at each side of the cut line? 

I then repeated this using two punched shapes from the larger flower from the Boho Blossoms Punch and used a Rhinestone Brad through the centre - this is very fiddly as the shape is quite small.

It may help to glue the large circle onto a piece of card to space all the scallops neatly before building up further layers. 

I used exactly the same method to make the larger circle, but used die cut shapes instead as I wanted a bigger flower.  Scoring this was quite difficult as the petal shapes are not even, but it doesnt really matter as I think it added to the effect.

The only problem now is I have to make a box for the card - its too deep for the envelope - its a hard life!!

Recipe;

Cardstock - Regal Rose, Whisper White

Designer Series Paper - Rose Red

Stamp Set - Curvy Verses (two different ones used)

Accessories - Rhinestone Brad, Rose Red Ribbon

Punches - Scalloped Circle, Eyelet Border

Non SU - Die cut flower shapes (large flower)

Brayered Fathers Day Card

Hello!

I will be having a Mini Catalogue Launch Party on Saturday 27th March from 10am to 12 noon.  So if you fancy coming over to see the totally gorgeous NEWstamp sets, punches, paints and other products - email me to let me know.  I would hate not to have enough chocolate or sticky buns to go around - LOL.

We will be doing a little project (for you to keep) and there will be a door prize too!  Dont be shy - come over for a play - I PROMISE I WONT BITE!!!

I have been trying to master the art of brayering for a while and after being shown by lovely lady called Debbie, from Batley, how she does it I had a go the other day and was quite chuffed at how it turned out.

Unfortunately, its been done on a coated card, but I am adamant that I will learn how to do it on Whisper White card soon.  Especially as I have set myself a challenge on doing a class soon ;-)

Recipe;
Cardstock - Only Orange, Very Vanilla (for the sentiment)
Ink - Bashful Blue, Brilliant Blue, Black StazOn
Stamp set - Lovely as a Tree
Accessories - Pumpkin Pie Striped Crossgrain Ribbon, Brayer
Non SU - White coated card

I just had to show you this photo of our cat, Mrs Miggins, on her new toy. She has had a really old cheap scratch post for ages and has just about demolished it so I went to a big pet shop at the weekend and bought her a proper activity centre.

We werent convinced that she would like it but after a few rubs on the posts with some catnip she fell in love. Here she is relaxing...

She was laid like this for ages (obviously too tired to unhook her claw from the ball)  just watching as I cooked the tea!!!  Mind you, we were having chicken for tea so looking cute may have just been a cunning plan.

Thanks for stopping by!

Jan

x

Beer Mat Mini Book & Sneek Peek...

Oh, my word - what an amazing day we had at the Sheffield Experience Event in Sheffield on Thursday!!!

26 demonstrators in one room, all sharing ideas, projects and totally inspiring each other.  I bet the people at the hotel didnt know what had hit them - LOL.

Here is the item I made for the Demonstrators Choice held at the event.  It is a little mini book which can be decorated with photographs and other small momentos.  Its made using beer mats - yes thats right - BEER MATS so its only about 4" square and is so nice to carry in your handbag.

The photo was a little difficult to take as the front cover is a window sheet from the Night and Day Speciality Designer Series Paper (DSP).

I cant believe I actually managed to use this paper - it is brand new and you can order it from 1st April, but SU Demonstrators get to see (and use) new products early! I love getting to see all the new items before everyone else - its one of the best things about being a demonstrator.

There are 9 beer mats with each side covered with a piece of DSP.  A window sheet was used on the front to protect the paper and the butterfly was made using two small strips of striped black crossgrain ribbon, gathered and secured by twisting craft wire around the centre.

Then I fastened them together and put a teardrop chrystal in the centre to make the body. 

The butterfly was secured to the front of the mini book using punched out cardstock using the butterfly punch and Chrystal Effects.

Although I didnt win anything for the project (I never do, so I didnt get too excited about that) but the other ladies projects were out of this world.

Thank you all ladies for one of the best days I have ever had!

Jan

Business Card Holders and instructions!

I have had a scabby looking plastic business card holder in my handbag for ages.  I cant remember where I bought if from but I never actually got it out of my bag as it just didnt look very nice - I just rummaged around and got cards out without people being able to see it - LOL

Anyway, I was thinking about what I could make for the Sheffield Experient Event other day, picked up the holder and had one of those inspirational moments and thought - I can make this!

So here they are...

There are about 30 of us going so I made them in a selection of colours.  They are really easy to make

Take a piece of cardstock measuring 12cm x 21cm (you will get two holders out of one A4 sheet).

Score 1.5cm in from the long edge. Turn and then measure and score along the short edge at 6cm, 7.5cm, 13.5cm and 15cm. Using a bone folder, crease all score lines in the same direction.

Decide which end is going to be the outer flap of the holder and cut way the flap sides – cut past the first score line up to the second. Snip along the score lines (from the long edge of the cardstock to the score line).

Use either wet glue (Tombow) or Sticky Strip to adhere the flaps. Stick flap a to flap b first, then stick flap c over the top – this gives a better finish to the box when looking at it from the front.

Decorate as required. See, told you it was easy!

Recipe:

Cardstock – More Mustard, Chocolate Chip, Pixie Pink & Whisper White
Ink – More Mustard, Chocolate Chip, Pixie Pink
Stamp Set – Darling Dots
Punches Used
– Small Tag to shape outer flap
– 1” Circle, 1¼” Circle
– Word Window – to hold flap in place
– ¼” Square


If you have any problems making yours let me know.
Thanks
Jan
X

Cutie Pies

Well, tomorrow is the Stampin Up! Experience Event in Sheffield and I am soooo excited.  My lovely crafting friends will also be coming for a play and we will be with the most amazing SU Demonstrators from all over the country.

Unfortunately, my hubby will have to fend for himself for tea but I am sure he will manage!!!

Anyway, here is another card using the Forever Friends stamp set, which I love.  It came out originally in the mini catalogue, early last year and made it into the main catalogue in September 2009.

The tree was inked up with markers direct to stamp using Chocolate Chip and Old Olive.  This allows you to stamp one image in different colours and looks really effective.  The rabbit and owl were stamped in Chocolate Chip ink onto Whisper White card, cut out and then mounted on the tree using dimensionals. 

Recipe

Carstock - Ruby Red, Creamy Caramel & Whisper White

Ink - Chocolate Chip, Old Olive

Accessories - Small Tag and Tag punch, Chocolate Chip ribbon, buckle (Hodgepodge Hardware).

Non SU - Die cutter & embossing folder.

Thank you for stopping by.
Jan
X

Craft Fair, Felkirk Church

Hello!

Well, the craft fair went really well, I had a ball!  Lots of lovely people to talk about crafting - heaven...

Sorry for the quality of the photo of the stand, I forgot my camera and had to take the pic using my phone.

The fair was really quiet in the afternoon but I got the chance to work through some of my swaps for the Sheffield Experience Event on Thursday.  The event is now fully booked - the response has been overwhelming and unfortunatly some people will be disappointed as they wont be able to go.

Thank you to my Mum, Auntie Val, Kath, Kaz, Kim & Anne for travelling to the craft fair - it was lovely to see you all!!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, I am off for a bottle of Baileys (yes, a bottle!).
Jan
X

Quick Post

Hi everyone, a quick post today as I am getting everything ready for the craft fair at Felkirk, tomorrow.

I cant believe how quickly its come round, but I am really looking forward to it now.

I have made a few Mothers Day cards and gift boxes for the fair and you can see them in earlier posts by scrolling down.  This is a much more simple design and the stamp image from the Baroque Motifs set is lovely.

The flowers were punched from Pretty in Pink cardstock and I used a drop of Tombow glue in the centre with Rose Pink glitter.

Recipe:

Cardstock - Whisper White & Pretty in Pink.

Ink - Pretty in Pink

Accessories - Regal Rose ribbon, Rose Red Stampin' Glitter, Boho Blossoms Punch.

Thanks for taking the time to visit today, and if you get the chance to bob over to the craft fair to say hello, please do!!

Have a brilliant weekend

Jan

X