Wednesday 30 September 2009

Stampin Up Blog Hop

The fantastic new Stampin’ Up! 2009–2010 Idea Book & Catalogue is available from midnight tonight Smiley from millan.net and today three lucky crafting bloggers received boxes full of brand new Stampin' Up! goodies from the new Idea Book & Catalogue, they were under strict instructions not to open the boxes until 6pm, they then had from 6pm until midnight to create as many projects as they would like to showcase on their blogs!

At midnight we get to see what they've created, AND what some of the new goodies are ...

Those lucky, lucky bloggers are:

Jenny Cocks

Lousette Ashton


Suzanne Torr


Come along for a first peek of these stamps and products, or simply come along because there are prizes to be had - each have 2 prizes to give away, generously donated by Stampin' Up!, each prize consisting of an SU stamp set, a punch and an ink pad.

I'll see you there ....


If anyone wants a copy of the new Stampin’ Up! 2009–2010 Idea Book & Catalogue I'm still offering it at the reduced price of £3.00 plus P&P, contact me for more details.

Millan.net Millan.net Millan.net

Saturday 26 September 2009

Another Little Thank You

I know I said I'd put Circle Circus down and play with another stamp set, but I couldn't, I've been dreaming about cards I can make with this set!! This is a quick one, taken from a sketch I found on the web a couple of weeks ago which I kept for future use - as you do ... Anyway here's the card:




Recipe:

Stamps - Circle Circus, 'Thanks a Bunch' on Envelope - Floral Frenzy (PTI)
Cardstock - Sahara Sand, Tempting Turquoise, Yoyo Yellow, Basic Black, Whisper White
Mediums-
Tempting Turquoise, Yoyo Yellow stampin' pad, Black Staz On
Embellishments - Circle Fire Rhinestone Brad, Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon.
Tools - Paper Cutter and scorer. Paper Piercer, Punches Scallop Circle and 1-3/8" Circle. Stampin' Dimensionals, Paper snips.


Everything was going smoothly until I realised I didn't have matching ribbon!! So I used SU WW Taffeta ribbon, and coloured my own by dragging it accross my tempting turquoise stampin' pad, took off the excess with some tissue, left it to dry and hey presto, colour matched ribbon :O)


What do you think, I love how it turned out.

Friday 25 September 2009

Fab Workshop

I attended Valentine's workshop last night, run by the wonderful Clare, had a fabulous time and made some fantastic cards:


We used a stamp set that I don't own {shock} 'A Rose is a Rose' its a 2-step stamp which means you stamp the base layer, then stamp the definition which really makes the image 'ping' - You have to have a stamp-a-ma-jig to do this. Needless to say this stamp set is now on on my wish list for Christmas!


Recipe: (All Stampin Up unless otherwise stated)

Stamps - A Rose is a Rose (111560), Best Yet (Hostess gift level 1)
Cardstock - Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Whisper White
Mediums- Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Mellow Moss, Chocolate Chip
Embellishments - Chocolate Chip 1/4" grosgrain ribbon
Tools - Paper Cutter and scorer,Paper Snips, Sticky Strip
, Stampin' Dimensionals

Recipe: (All Stampin Up unless otherwise stated)

Stamps - A Rose is a Rose (111560), Circle of Friendship (107137)
Cardstock - Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper - Patterns DSP Rose Red
Mediums- Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Mellow Moss

Embellishments - Certainly Celery 1/4" grosgrain ribbon
Tools - Scallop Circle punch, 1-3/8 circle punch, 1-1/4 circle punch, 1" circle punch, Paper Cutter and scorer, Paper Piercer, Paper Snips, Sticky Strip
, Stampin' Dimensionals


Recipe: (All Stampin Up unless otherwise stated)

Stamps - A Rose is a Rose (111560), Circle of Friendship (107137), Polka Dot background (109276)
Cardstock - Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper - Summer Picnic
Mediums- Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Mellow Moss

Embellishments - Certainly Celery polly twill ribbon (August SU promotion)

Tools - Scallop Edge, Scallop Circle punch, 1-3/8 circle punch, 1-1/4 circle punch, 1" circle punch, Paper Cutter and scorer, Paper Piercer, Paper Snips, Sticky Strip
, Stampin' Dimensionals

Clare's workshops are always fun, if you're in the Sussex area (Saltdean, Nr Brighton) on 7th November, Clare has a Christmas Mega-Workshop it looks like its going to be a great day.

No crafting for me for at least the next 24 hours DH is taking me up to town, I believe thats the 'posh' way of saying London .... LOL

Monday 21 September 2009

A Little Thank You

So I spent a whole day in the craft room yesterday, I really did need to catch up on some projects and I think I'm almost there :O)

This one is safe to post because I know the recipient is out of the country and won't see it until they hit the doormat when they get home ...





Box Recipe: (All Stampin Up unless otherwise stated)

Stamps - Circle Circus
Cardstock - Sahara Sand, Real Red
Mediums- Real Red stampin' pad, VersoMark
Embellishments - Real Red 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Linen Thread, Medium Window Sheet
Tools - Paper Cutter and scorer. Punches Scallop Edge, Scallop Circle and 1-3/8" Circle. Sticky Strip

Card Recipe:

Stamps - Circle Circus
Cardstock - Sahara Sand, Real Red, Basic Black, Whisper White
Mediums- Real Red stampin' pad, Black Staz On, VersoMark
Embellishments - Circle Fire Rhinestone Brad
Tools - Paper Cutter and scorer. Punches Scallop Edge, Scallop Circle and 1-3/8" Circle. Stampin' Dimensionals, Paper snips.


Wow those paper snips made quick work of cutting out the detail on that circle.

I really must take this set of stamps off my desk now and play with some of the others ...



Sunday 20 September 2009

Second Update in one day!

And another challenge completed ...

Got the Stamp with Us challenge completed early this week :O)

The challenge is a Recipe this week and the recipe is NOT to use any patterned paper, to use 2 ribbons and 2 stamps.

Here's what I came up with


Recipe: (SUO)

Stamps: Circle Circus
Cardstock: Kraft, Real Red, Old Olive, Whisper White
Marvelous Markers: Old Oliver, Real Red, Summer Sun
Ribbon: Chocolate Chip double Stitched, Real Red
Supplies: Vintage Brads


Did I meet all the critera?

No patterned paper - check, I created my own using the two stamps we were allowed to use. I just stamped repeatedly all over the cardstock using a versomark pad.

Use 2 ribbons, I used a red ribbon separating the two different cardstock bases and the chocolate chip tree base.

Use 2 stamps, this was the hardest. The tree is made up of 2 stamps AND the cardstock base were both stamped up using only those 2 stamps.

I can't take the credit for the design, that has to go to the great Nicole Heady, isn't that new set gorgeous, I couldn't afford a PTI order this month so thought I'd have a play with some new stamps that I do have - not bad for a first attempt (note - long fingernails, very small stamps and a stamp-a-ma-jig don't mix LOL)

Now I really do have to go do some of the dreaded housework ....

Another Challenge completed :O)

I managed to sneak another hour in the craft room this morning, okay it was more than an hour, in fact I'm still in here - shhhh don't tell - my HW is really suffering ...

Another of my great loves is PTI and it is becoming hugely addictive ... Kate, Aimes, Steph it is ALL your fault .... LOL

The challenge set over on A Passion for Papertrey was 'Cherished Colour' - create a card using our favour colour, I struggled for a while because my favourite colour is pink, but is it pink, I always say its pink but I love all the other colours too .... anyway my order arrived and now my favourite colour is .... PURE POPPY ... I LOVE IT, can't get enough of it, cetainly didn't order enought of it LOL. Here's my card


Recipe: (All PTI unless stated)

Stamps - Every Day Button Bits, Circle Circus (SU)
Cardstock - Kraft, Pure Poppy, Stampers Select White
Ink - Old Olive, Real Red, VersoMark (SU)
Buttons - Pure Poppy
Ribbon - 5/8" Pure Poppy Swiss Dot Satin


Hope you like it. I am going to be using this colour an awful lot over the next few weeks/months, especially with the Christmas season coming up.

Saturday 19 September 2009

Stamp with Us Colour Challenge

I haven't had a chance to take part in a Stamp with Us challenge for a few weeks so I was really pleased to find I had a few hours to play this morning :O) the challenge set this week was a colour challenge, with a fantastic picture set as colour inspiration, here is my interpretation:


and the colour inspirational picture:



Recipe: (SUO)

Stamps: Circle Circus (New 2009/10), Best Yet (2008/2009 hostess level 1)
Cardstock: Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise
Stampin' Markers: Pink Passion, Pixie Pink, Green Galore, Only Orange, Tempting Turquoise, Bashful Blue, Rose Red, Yoyo Yellow, Certainly Celery.
Ribbon: Pretty in Pink Taffeta 9.52mm.


This project was made so much easier by using the stamp-a-ma-jig and a paper-piercing template and Paper-piercing tool.

I really enjoyed my few hours in the craft room, hope I manage another hour or two tomorrow :O)

Wednesday 16 September 2009

Colour Challenge 264

ILWS Colour Challenge - 264

Lovely Lilac

Almost Amethyst

Bashful Blue

Close to Cocoa

More Mustard

Colour substitutes can be used if you don't have or use Stampin Up markers, ink or cardstock.

Please come on over and join me and take part in this challenge - remember to quote ILWSCC264 when uploading your card/layout/project.

Here are the cards I made


Recipe (All supplies are Stampin Up)

Stamps: Good Friend
Cardstock: Almost Amethyst, Lovely Lilac, Whisper White
DSP: I made my own 'One Sheet Wonder'
Markers: Almost Amethyst, Lovely Lilac, Close to Cocoa, More Mustard, Bashful Blue
Supplies: Versomark



Recipe (All supplies are Stampin Up)

Stamps: Good Friend
Cardstock: Almost Amethyst, Lovely Lilac, More Mustard, Whisper White
DSP: I made my own 'One Sheet Wonder'
Markers: Almost Amethyst, Lovely Lilac, Close to Cocoa, More Mustard, Bashful Blue



Tuesday 15 September 2009

Blog Award

The lovely Siobhan awarded me a fabulous award the other day, and I shamelessly have only just found the time to post it ...


The rules for the award are that I have to list 5 things I am addicted to, and pass on it on to another 5 fab bloggers so here goes:

I am addicted to:

1. Stampin' Up and PTI

2. Cardmaking, well thats a given seeing #1

3. The Internet, who can live without Blog-hopping, ILWS, UKS, Splitcoaststampers etc

4. Motorbiking, used to be #1, but I sold my bike last year - I miss my bike

5. My family ...

and now the really difficult bit, 5 bloggers ... there are so many fabulous bloggers out there it was really dificult to come up with only 5 names, so the 5 I'm going to pass this award on to are:

1. Monica

2. Kate

3. Steph

4. Aimes

5. Jenny

Please be sure to visit each of their blogs, they each have their own style and they all have some fabulous work.

I'll be back tomorrow with the ILWS colour challenge and another sneek peak.

Saturday 12 September 2009

Sneak Peek

As a few of you will already know the new Stampin Up catalogue is out on October 1st Smiley from millan.net and as a demo I get to pre-order a few of the new stamp sets. Well, my order arrived this week and I've been having some fun playing today. Over the next couple of weeks I will upload more cards and 3D projects to give you a few more sneek peeks ...


Recipe: (All products used are Stampin Up)

Stamps: Circle Circus, Whimsy Wheel
Cardstock: Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip, Pixie Pink, Green Galore, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White
Ink: Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip, Pixie Pink, Green Galore, Tempting Turquoise
Supplies: Very Vanilla 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, 2.5cm Circle Holder from Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware (111325)


If you want a copy of the new catalogue please get in contact and I will endeavour to get one to you for the 1st October launch. I promise there are some fantastic new stamps and supplies, something to suit everyone, so start saving your pennies ...

Have a great weekend.

Friday 11 September 2009

Friendly Workshop


I attended Valentine's Workshop last night, we were stamping with Forest Friends - I have to say that Forest Friends was not my favourite set when it first came out, in fact I bought it, played with it, couldn't get on with it and passed it on to my SU mommy (Hi Monica) who had a home for it. I think that perhaps my mojo had left me then because now ... I love it!

These are the projects we completed last night:


The first card we made only took us and hour and 10 minutes, well there are other things to discuss when you meet up with fellow crafters ....


Recipe (All supplies Stampin Up)

Stamps - Forest Friends (113748), Oval All (113790)
Cardstock - Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Barely Banana, Whisper White
Ink - Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Blush Blossom
Stamps - Scallop Oval (115429), Large Oval (115156)
Supplies - Gold Brads


The second card and a new (to me anyway) technique, well two techniques .... The reflection and the water ..



Recipe (All supplies Stampin Up)

Stamps - Forest Friends (113748), Frames with a Flourish (113496), Sincere Salutations (105156)

Cardstock - Creamy Caramel, Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Barely Banana, Whisper White
Ink - Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Blush Blossom, Brocade Blue
Stamps - Scallop Edge (113654)
Supplies - Latte Designer Buttons, 5/8" So Saffron grosgrain ribbon.


And at 10.05! we just had time to make the cute little bookmark ...

Recipe (All supplies Stampin Up)

Stamps - Forest Friends (113748), Frames with a Flourish (113496)

Cardstock - Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Whisper White
Ink - Chocolate Chip, Blush Blossom
Punch - Scallop Square (113653)
Supplies - 5/8" So Saffron grosgrain ribbon.


I had a great time, big thank you to Clare and Sharnie for designing the class, all the projects were fab Smiley from millan.net - I'm looking forward to the next one already - Rose is a rose.

Clare, I've got my thinking cap on for the challenge you set us. I've been playing all afternoon ...

Wednesday 9 September 2009

Loads of cards and proud Mummy

Pictures of the cards I made at Paula's workshop at the Glitterpot before I went on holiday ...



Stamp - Hero Arts - Flower Wood Background
Cardstock - Craftwork Wrap Cards x 3
Ink - Green
Supplies - Crystal Embossing Powder, In Circle from Craftwork.



Cardstock & Acetate Scallop Circle, Craftwork Cards
DSP - Pebbles Ink
Punch - Fiskars
Nestabilities - Flowers
Supplies -
In Circle from Craftwork


Cardstock - Scallop Square from Craftwork Cards
DSP - Pebbles Ink
Punches - Stampin Up Stars (Could also use Sizzix die)
Supplies - In Circle & Card Candy from Craftwork




Stamp - Penny Black
Ink -

DSP - Pebbles Ink
Cardstock - Scallop Square from Craftwork Cards
Supplies - In Circle & Card Candy from Craftwork

and pictures of my daughter who passed out at RAF Halton yesterday ...







I am sooooooo very, very proud of her ...

Sunday 6 September 2009

CAS Challenge

Didn't think I'd have time to take part in this challenge but I got up early this morning and made this little number, it was so quick and easy I think I'll make a whole set of them.

The challenge was set over on A Passion for Papertrey a few weeks ago and finishes tomorrow morning and I forgot to pack any of my PTI stash when I went on holiday so this was my first chance to take part. For those who don't know CAS stands for: Clean and Simple - there is a more detailed description of CAS here on Splitcoaststampers.


Recipe (All products used are PTI unless stated)

Stamps: Floral Frenzy
Cardstock: Spring Moss, Sweet Blush
Patterned Paper: Bitty Dots Basic
Ribbon: Spring Moss
Ink: Old Olive (SU)


Will be back later with some photos of my hols, won't bore you with them all I promise, some photos of some cards I made during my hols and before I left. News about some last chance offers from Stampin Up ...