Christmas SWU Challenge.

Today's challenge over at Stamp With Us is a themed one - 'Christmas'. I took this opportunity to make some extra special diorama Christmas cards. As you can see the star dangles freely, what you can't see from the picture is that it's smothered in dazzling diamonds. It doesn't look like it but the whole card does fold flat so you can send it in the post :O)




Recipe -

Stamps: Season of Joy, Spotlight on Christmas, Seasonal Wishes, Snowburst
Cardstock: Bashful Blue Textured & smooth, Very Vanilla
Mediums- Bashful Blue, Brocade Blue, Ballet Blue, Versomark
Tools - Paper cutter and scorer, Sticky Strip, Snail adhesive, 2-way glue pen, Heat & Stick powder, Dazzling Diamonds, White Stampin Emboss Powder/4", Star punch, 1-1/4" punch, Nestabilities.

To see the rest of the DT samples and for details on how to enter the challenge head over to the Stamp With Us blog. Thank you for visiting me today :O)

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Sale-A-Bration.

Receive a free Sale-A-Bration stamp set for every £45 purchase you make from the current Idea Book & Catalogue, there are four fantastic sets to choose from.

The Sale-A-Bration promotion is running 30 December - 28th February 2010, so you have plenty of time to collect all four!

The only problem will be which set to chose first ....



Good Neighbours - a fun set of 10 stamps.



Happy Moments - All occassion set, a set of 7, including 3 sentiments.

Vintage Labels - a set of 6 stamps, with 3 frames and 3 sentiments (the ornate circle matches the 1" circle and the scallop circle punches)


Whimsical Words - a set of 6 fabulous sentiments



Contact me now to place an order
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Stampin' Up's Sale-A-Bration Starts Soon ...

A late Christmas present from Stampin Up! .... thats how I see it anyway :O)

Receive a free Sale-A-Bration stamp set for every £45 purchase you make from the current Idea Book & Catalogue, there are four fantastic sets to choose from.

The Sale-A-Bration promotion is running 30 December - 28th February 2010, so you have plenty of time to collect all four!

You don’t have to hold a workshop to make use of this promotion, I place orders all the time and you can add items to one anytime, but I do plan to place an order promptly on the 30th December for my first SAB stamp set (or two). Contact me for more details...

Click on the brochure below to see the fabulous Sale-A-Bration stamp sets ...


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Mini Christmas Thank Yous.

I had a couple of thank you's to make this week, and as its Christmas ..... I thought I'd combine the two, and what better stamp set to use than Season of Joy, I love that little flower from this set :O)


Stamps: Season of Joy, Baroque Motifs, (Be Merry - SU retired)
Cardstock: Old Olive, Real Red, Pink Passion, Whisper White
Mediums- Real Red, Versomark
Embellishments: 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, real red, very vanilla, certainly celery
Tools - Paper cutter and scorer, Paper snips, Sticky Strip, Snail adhesive, White Stampin Emboss Powder






There's a little choccie treat or two in each of pillows.

I met up with my SU Mum, Monica on Friday for the first time. We had a fantastic few hours together, lots of laughs, and I think we were very restrained with our shopping


I wish we could meet up more often but the 4.5 hour drive is a huge obstacle, maybe I'll get get back up that way in the Spring :O)


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Swaps.

Remember that sneak peak I gave you back in October .... You know the one of the Christmas Card Swap over on ILWS. Well the cards are on their way back to us, so I can now reveal my cards as everyone in the swap should have received theirs by now :O)


As soon as I saw this stamp set in the new catalogue (way back in October) I knew that I HAD to have it, and I knew I had to create one of these Gap cards with it!


Recipe.

Stamps: Spotlight on Christmas
Cardstock: Old Olive, Real Red, Whisper White
DSP: Merry Moments
Mediums- Real Red, Summer Sun, Old Olive
Tools - Paper cutter and scorer, 2-way glue pen, Snail adhesive, Punches: Scallop Edge, Scallop Oval, Large Oval, Star, 5-petal flower, 1-3/8 & 1-3/4 Circle.

We only created card fronts for the card swap, the card looks sooo much better with a back, but I can't for the life of me find my sample, will have to make another and photograph it to show you.

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Christmas Jingle Planner.

My Stampin Up Mum Monica, sent out a tongue in cheek request on her blog Tuesday last week for a Christmas planner for her handbag, as she wasn't happy with her old method of lots of bits of paper, and lists on top of lists. So I set to work and made her this one:



and the inside

Recipe:

Cardstock - Real Red, Whisper White
DSP: Christmas Jingle (Kit) , Merry Moments
Mediums- Real Red
Embellishments - Red Gems (stash)
Tools - Paper cutter and scorer, Stampin dimensionals, Sticky strip, Snail adhesive.

I had to steal the photos from Monica's blog as I forgot to take pics before I put it in the post!

I've been talking/emailing Monica for almost 2 years and I really can't believe that I'm finally going to meet her in person on Friday - Can't wait




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SWU Recipe Challenge.

This is the card I made for the Stamp With Us challenge this week.



The challenge is the last ever recipe challenge and is to include: 3 x brads, 2 x patterned papers, 1 x stamp.

Recipe: (All items Stampin Up)
Stamps - Whimsical Wings
Cardstock - Pixie Pink, Whisper White, Ballet Blue
DSP: Kaleidoscope, Sweet Always
Mediums- Ballet Blue, Close to Cocoa, Pixie Pink, Certainly Celery Stampin' write markers
Embellishments - Vintage Brads
Tools - Paper cutter and scorer, Eyelet border punch, word window punch, Mat pack and paper piercing tool, Snail adhesive.

Now I have to find some time to go finish off some Christmas Cards, only another 50 or so to go ....



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Bling!

The challenge on A Passion for Papertrey this time round is bling up our projects. I was already making some notebooks as Thank You/Stocking Filler Christmas presents for family and friends, so thought I'd incorporate bling into one or two of them .... hmmm ....... I really struggled adding the bling ...

I've made several of these notebooks, I love them, can't stop making them now :O)

The first one is a straight copy from one Lisa Johnson made a few months ago - isn't it gorgeous! The second I just started playing - maybe I'm getting a bit more of my mind back again (maybe)


Notebook 1
Stamps - Giga Guide Lines, Take Note
Cardstock - Basic Black, Basic Grey,
Pattern Paper- From Chocolate Remix
Mediums- Versofine Black
Embellishments - True black swiss dot satin ribbon (reversed), Diamontes from stash
Tools - Paper Cutter and scorer, Snail Adhesive, stampin' dimensionals, nestability scallop die, nestability circle die.




Notebook 2
Stamps - Take Note
Cardstock - Night of Navy, Bracade Blue
Mediums- Brocade Blue, Bordering Blue, Versomark
Embellishments - 5/8" Brocade Blue & 1/4 Night of Navy grosgrain ribbon, Silver elastic cord, Diamontes from stash.
Tools - Paper Cutter and scorer, Snail adhesive, Eyelet border punch, stampin' dimensionals, nestability scallop die, nestability circle die.

Inspired by the Catty Swap.

I really struggled to find something to post about this week as I haven't been anywhere near my craft room since the flu hit me a fortnight ago! I'm still down with it, going back to the Doc this afternoon in the hope that he can give me some sort of miracle drug that will give me head back!!

These are the card fronts DH will put in the post this afternoon for me,


they are part of the Inspired by the Catty Swap being held over on In Love with Stamping. We each got to choose one of the many card samples in the Stampin Up Catalogue and then CASE it, we could change the colours etc, but had to stick to the same layout etc. I chose the card on page 20, using Silent Night. Luckily I'd done almost all the work a couple of weeks ago otherwise there is no way I'd have met the deadline (I swear I've got tissues stuffed in my head at the moment).


Recipe

Stamps - Silent Night
Cardstock - Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue, Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla
Mediums- Chocolate Chip
Embellishments - Chocolate Chip 1/4" grosgrain ribbon.
Tools - Stamp-a-ma-Jig, Paper Cutter and scorer, 3/4 Circle Punch, Snail Adhesive.

While I was recreating these I also had a few ideas make them better, will post them when I've finished them off - sometime next week ... I hope :O)

Passion for Papertrey challenge 17

The Passion for Papertrey Challenge 17 - Think Christmas - well it took me over a week to complete this card! I can't belive how ill I've been, I picked up a sickness bug last week which I managed to get rid of for the weekend, went away for the weekend, probably wasn't a good idea although it was a great weekend, but then on Sunday afternoon I started with the sniffles, which on Monday turned into something more. I've had something close to flu all week, my energy levels are pretty close to zero, every muscle in my body aches, I am sooo tired, I can't stop coughing - but all I can think about is ... getting back into my craft room .... how sad am I LOL

Anyway back to the card ...

As soon as this challenge was posted I knew that I had to play with my new PTI stash (as soon as it arrived) .... Holiday Button Bits IS BRILLIANT :O)



Recipe

Stamps - Holiday Button Bits (PTI)
Cardstock - White linen from stash, whisper white (SU), pure poppy (PTI)
DSP - Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin Pack (SU)
Mediums- Green Galore, Real Red (SU)
Embellishments - Real Red 5/8" grosgrain ribbon(SU), pure poppy buttons, rustic jute twine (PTI),
Tools - Paper cutter and scorer, paper piercer, stampin' dimensionals, nestability scallop die, nestability circle die, ,

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PTI Christmas ATC Swap

Did you miss out on the PTI ATC swap we did at the end of August on A Passion for Papertrey, well they're doing another one ...

-The swap is Christmas themed, and all ATCs must use Papertrey Ink stamps. Products from other companies can be used for card, ribbon etc.

-You have until midnight GMT on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 to sign up for the swap, and then until the 28th to actually complete the ATCs.

See here for full details

Talking about swaps, I recently signed up to the Cybercrop on UKScrappers which will be taking place over the weekend of Friday 13th - Sunday 15th November in an attempt to get me using up some of my stash and perhaps actually making a layout or six or ten ..... One of the pre-crop swaps is to put together a “pot of gold” for your swappee. The pot needed to include something like 10 buttons, 10 eyelets, 10 lengths of ribbon, etc The aim was to fill a decorated/altered, small gift bag/small tub (or something similar).... I didn't have anything of the like so I used a Lauren Meader template 'Tucked Away'




What do you think .........

Did anybody else love Craig Revel Horwood's poppy on Strictly? I can't afford a Swarovski Crystal one, so I thought I'd have a play with one I bought already this year with a few of my craft supplies, what do you think ...




Recipe:

Stampin Up Heat & Stick Powder, Fine Glitter

Still no crafting, been unwell, I managed to pick up one of those awful sickness bugs but I've got to get better for the weekend, we're off to France for Remembrance Weekend

But I have been cheered up - The lovely Aimes has awarded me a blog award, if you haven't already seen Aimes' work, please pop over and have a look, she has some fab ideas, espeically on how to give a gift of money in some inspirational ways ....

As with most awards, it comes attached with rules ....

Pass this award on to five people, post on their blog to let them know you left this award, and then answer a list of questions in ONE word.

1. Where is your cell phone? sofa
2. Your hair? down
3. Your mother? always there
4. Your father? Lanzarote
5. Your favorite food? Bangers & Mash
6. Your dream last night? That requires sleep right ....
7. Your favorite drink? Green tea
8. Your dream/goal? Not to have to work full time
9. What room are you in? Lounge
10. Your hobby? Crafting
11. Your fear? Spiders
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Spain
13. Where were you last night? Bed
14. Something that you aren't? Fit
15. Muffins? Yuk
16. Wish list item? PTI
17. Where did you grow up? Germany
18. Last thing you did? Drive home from work
19. What are you wearing? Pyjamas
20. Your TV? On
21. Your Pets? 5 cats and a dog
22. Friends? lots
23. Your life? busy
24. Your mood? Poorly
25. Missing Someone? Yes, daughter
26. vehicle? MX5
27. Something your not wearing? undies
28. Your favorite store? department
29. Your favorite color? Pink
30. When was the last time you laughed? Yesterday?
31. Last time you cried? Can't remember
32. Your best friend? Mick, my husband
33. One place that I go to over and over? Work
34. Facebook? Yes
35. Favorite place to eat? Italian

I guess anyone who has bothered to read this has learned something about me, I'm now going to pass this onto some women whose work I really love Kate Monica, Clare, Steph,

Pay It Forward

My friend Siobhan has started something over on her blog which I've decided to take part in because I think it sounds like a FABULOUS idea, see what you think .....

1.Everyone who leaves a comment on any blog post this month will go into a draw. On the last day of the month I will randomly choose three names for whom I will make a little handmade ‘something’. It will be a surprise and it will arrive on your doorstep when you least expect it!

2. I will have 365 days to do it in (although I will endeavour to complete it in time for Christmas). So what's the catch? To get a handmade gift from me, you have to play too. This means YOU have to pledge to send a little handmade something to three readers of your blog. It doesn't have to be scrapbooky or cardy - just handmade.

3. You must have a blog. (obviously!)

4. BEFORE you comment here, you must post about your Pay It Forward on your blog to keep the fun going, and display the Pay It Forward button.

I will include anyone who follows the above rules. Remember - you got a full year so plenty of time to actually do the PIF ...

While I've got you, Siobhan made me aware of this charity and I wondered if anyone reading would be willing to to join?

Post Pals is an organisation that arranges for cards, letters and even gifts to be sent to seriously ill children.

I have committed to send a card to each of the featured post pals, and am sending a mini-kit of stash to them to create their own cards or other works of art ....

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Valentines Christmas Mega-Workshop

I know I haven't posted many cards lately, that would be because I haven't managed to get into the craft room for over a week!!!

I did manage to get some crafting in though ... I attended Valentines (Clare & Sharnie's) Christmas Mega-Workshop on Saturday (Halloween ), and what a fantastic day it was!

The workshop included 20 cards, 10 tags, a Christmas wreath & tree decorations, lunch, nibbles, wine, tea, coffee we couldn't have wished for better hosts - huge thank you to Gaynor, Clare's mum for the fantastic venue - What a value packed day

My favourite card of the day .....

In the close up shot you can see how those dazzling diamonds glitter ....


and a quick shot of our demonstrators, don't they look like QVC presenters ...

Christmas Extravaganza

Stampin Up have come up with another way to help us crafters ... They've created a Christmas Gift Giving Guide ......


To help you make your Christmas cards, create gifts for friends, gifts for neighbours, stocking fillers or find the perfect presents for crafters, all of course perfectly colour coordinated. Check out the Gift List with loads of great gift suggestions, or ideas to make things to give as gifts.

Even more good news, from the 1st November until 29th December, when you spend £45 on products featured in the guide, you’ll receive a FREE Tag Punch or Small Tag Punch worth £12.50! And there’s no limit to the number of free punches you can earn – you’ll get one for every £45 you spend on items from the Gift-Giving Guide. That’s the important bit – only items in the Gift-Giving Guide will qualify you for a free punch.

(There are No Restrictions on free punches, 1 punch per £45 spent).

Stamp sets
Spotlight on Christmas - £18.95 (p22)
Fresh Cuts - £18.95 (p53)
Circle Circus - £23.95 (p55)
Starring You - £11.95 (p77)
Wow Flowers - £10.95 (p77)

Simply Scrappin’® kits and Card Elements
Rock Star Simply Sent Card Elements - £12.50 (p77)
Flower Power Simply Sent Card Elements - £12.50 (p77)
Sunny Day - £15.50 (p78)
Christmas Jingle - £15.50 (p79)
Petal Party - £15.50 (p79)
Love Stories - £15.50 (p79)

Cardstock
Whisper White A4 card stock - £5.50 (p71)
Real Red A4 card stock - £4.50 (p72)
Old Olive A4 card stock - £4.50 (p72)
Bold Brights A4 card stock - £6.75 (p72)
Fresh-Cut Notes - £6.95 (p80)

Ribbon
Old Olive 5/8" grosgrain ribbon - £6.25 (p87)
Real Red 5/8" grosgrain ribbon - £6.25 (p87)

Accessories
Latte Designer buttons - £6.50 (p83)
Playground Designer buttons - £6.50 (p83)

Tools
Bold Brights Stampin’ Write markers - £24.95 (p72)
Spiral punch - £8.50 (p88)
Cutter Kit - £13.25 (p90)

Miscellaneous
Medium flat cellophane bags - £3.25 (p80)
On Board 12.7 x 12.7 cm (5”) Art Journal - £5.50 (p82)


Wow! What a fantastic selection! AND I am offering FREE postage on all orders over £45 as well! Contact me to place your order today ....

Christmas Cards

and the Christmas cards are even better ....

The first is very similar to a card we made a few months ago using SU star punches, this time we used a new sizzix die, isn't it just GORGEOUS .....




The NOEL is a diecut and cut from K&CO Christmas Cheer Holly Glittered paper (stiffened behind with green card). See the gorgeous snowflakes embossed cardstock, so much nicer than swiss dots for snow effect. Love that holly ...

and the last card we made my favourite of the day ...

The snowflake dangles freely and the whole card folds flat so you can send it in the post - Its a fabulous card for your nearest and dearest at Christmas time

More My Minds Eye/PennyLane paper, punch holes following the pattern on the card and it looks fantastic. Sorry people I took the last few sheets from the shelf.

From Paula's class, I dawdled for a few hours then attended Clair's Stampin Up class - will post the photos tomorrow

A day of classes

I spent most of the day yesterday at The Glitter Pot attending one of Paula Pascual's classes - As many of you will know I love Paula's classes - I originally started attending them to get to know the workings of my BigShot better, I do now, or at least I'm not scared of it anymore LOL. But now I attend them because I love Paula's work ....

I love this lace effect card - you could create the same effect from punches ...






Isn't the cardstock to die for ..... its My Minds Eye/PennyLane

More cards to come later, some gorgeous Christmas ones ....

Another few Thank You's ...

A couple of Thank You's ...

You'll recognise the cards, I've used the design before but this time I've used some gorgeous autumnal colours, Both with a co-ordinated gift -

First is a little thank you for Debbi for organising the Christmas card swap on ILWS



The second is for Monica my SU Mom, she is the BESTest - That ribbon looked fab stamped up ...



Stamps - Circle Circus
Cardstock - Kraft, Real Red, Creamy Caramel, Whisper White
Mediums- Real Red stampin' pad, Basic Black, Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip, VersoMark
Embellishments - White 5/8" grosgrain ribbon.
Tools - Paper Cutter and scorer, Scallop Edge Punch.

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Another Challenge completed :O)

Spent a couple of hours in the craft room yesterday, finished another challenge and half way through another swap but that's another post .... The challenge was set by Stamp with Us and is a Recipe, the Recipe ...
3 patterned papers, 3 brads, 3 coloured cards and 3 different stamps

Here's my submission:



Recipe: (All Stampin Up unless stated)

Stamps - Baroque Motifs, Wonderful Words (Retired)
Cardstock - Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue
DSP - Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue
Mediums- Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink
Embellishments - Pretty in Pink 3/8" Taffeta ribbon. Pretty in Pink brads, diamontes (stash)
Tools - Paper Cutter and scorer. Paper piercer, Scallop Circle punch, 1-3/8 circle punch, 1-1/4 circle punch, Paper snips, Stampin' Dimensionals, Stamp-a-ma-jig.

I CASed a card I saw on the web a while ago, used a different stamp set and DSP but used all the same colours and layout, I sketched it at the time, I thought it was a Silke Ledlow but I've been back through her blog to pass the credit on and can't find it now!

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