Happy Birthday

Hi Guys

Here is a birthday card which is soo simple but very cute.  I've used Crumb Cake and stamped the flower from Schoolbook Serif in Versamark.  The flower is Real Red CS punched using the large flower punch, I've added Pretty in Pink DSP in the middle and the small flower is the smallest flower from the boho blossoms punch in Crumb Cake with a diamante sparkle.  Real Red grosgrain ribbon wrapped around the bottom above the sentiment finishes it off.

Thursday Things

Hey Guys

Its a very dull, wet morning here in Mortimer so not very inspiring at all.  My daughters have finished up for Easter holidays so we will be heading into town later today which will be lovely.  Conal doesn't finish until the 8th so it will be nice to have a week with just the girlies.

Am off to the hairdresssers this morning, haven't been in several months and my hair is taking on a straw like quality.  The continual straightening is catching up with me, boo!

The card I have today is one from the Catalogue although I have changed it a little and used different colours (its right at the beginning but cant remember the page).

The colours are Marina Mist & Bashful Blue.  The Bashful Blue circles are 1 3/8 and the Marina Mist circles are 1 1/4, the smaller circles are raised using dimentionals.  The top flower is from Vintage Vogue and is stamped in Crumb Cake on Whisper White card.  The little heart was stamped with the heart from Punch Potpourri and punched out using the little heart punch.  A strip of matching DSP is placed along the bottom and some linen thread is wrapped around it with a sentiment.  For you is part of the Just For You stamp from Just Believe.

Here it is a little bit closer.

Brayered Mothers Day Card

Hi Stampers

Been watching Dawn on youtube, can you tell?  ;O)  So this is a brayered effect for a mothers day.  The first few I did I used Whisper White CS and sponge daubered it with More Mustard & Pumpkin Pie.  I then stamped out a circle on a post it note and popped it on to the card  so I could use the brayer.  I used the brayer over the top in Grey and then Whisper White.  The effect is that of  a dusky eveming when the sun is bright. Love this effect

More Mothers Day

Hi Guys

Am still going with the Mothers Day cards and enjoying looking through all of the blogs that I follow for inspiration.  I cannot believe how talented people are, I hop from blog to blog then I cant remember where I saw a card I wanted to make because I'm about three blogs past it!  It is a fantastic way to spend time but very addictive and I have to seriously monitor the amount of time I spend doing it.  Ah, all in good fun.

This next card is my own creation and its very simple just stamping images from Artistic Etchings randomly around the card.  I have used Early Espresso for the letters which are Broadsheet Alphabet and matching cardstock.  The circle is stamped in Baja Breeze and the 2 corners of CS are Baja Breeze also.  The other items are stamped in Chocolate Chip and some are stamped off too which gives a bit of depth.  I've then used the sponge daubers with Chocolate Chip ink to give an aged effect. 

It was my daughter Megans 15th Birthday yesterday and so I made some cards for the little miss and also some cupcakes ;o)  The cards were easy - the cupcakes, not so much!  By the time I had finished icing and decorating them the kitchen was like a bomb site, you would have been forgiven for thinking I had asked my 5 year old to do it!!  It was worth it in the end and they looked fab on the cute cake stand which I got in Sainsburys, they really do think of everything these days.

And of course I made the cards too.  This one was created using Basic Black, Melon Mambo & Whisper White CS,  the Ornament Punch was used for the vase and the Boho Blossoms Punch for the flowers.  The flowers are punched out in Melon Mambo & Real Red CS after being stamped in the Craft White Ink in the Punch Potourri Hostess Set.  The sentiment is from a US Stampin Up set called Wonderful Favourites.

The colours here are very similar with Melon Mambo & Whisper White CS again but this time I've added in Pumpkin Pie for the accent flowers and some little pearls to make it even more girly.  The background flowers are stamped in Old Olive Ink from the Just Believe set and are topped with the 2 smaller flowers from the Boho Blossoms punch.  I think they turned out very nicely.

Tuesday Mothers Day Card!

Good Morning people

In the run up to Mothering Sunday, woohoo, also known as a day of pampering for me.  Well actually, a day of breakfast in bed, the other stuff still has to be done, I just get to have breakfast in bed before I do it ;o) - I have been making Mothers Day cards.  Here is the first one, it is very simple, using an embossing folder with the Sizzix Big Shot on Very Vanilla CS and layering it on Certainly Celery and Night of Navy CS.

 I have used Certainly Celery Satin ribbon which is completely gorgeous and very possibly my new favourite ribbon.   The sentiment from Occasional Greetings is stamped in Night of Navy Ink and layered on matching CS.
I think this is perfect for a Mothers Day card but I'll be doing several in the next few days.

See ya
Stacex

Monochrome effect

Hi Guys

Have been doodling with black and white, well minimalist really, but lets go monochrome for effect ;O)
Have done a few of these cards as I always think they are fantastic when you need a card quickly and it doesn't get more versatile than this.

Basic Black Ink, Basic Black CS and Whisper White CS, that is all!

Baby mode

Hi there

Continuing the baby theme I have a step card for a little boy.  I have seen several of these, have no idea who to credit but it is such a lovely way to make a card.  Have used my son Conals details as was using it as a sample to show my friends. 

Card is Bashful Blue and Whisper White with Crumb Cake

I love this card

Saturday Blogging

Hi Guys

Just a quickie today, am off into London with my 2 daughters, we are going to have lunch, look at the shops and then fwe are seeing The Script at the O2 tonight, soo excited.  To top it off we are staying in a nice hotel and having breakfast before my lovely hubby comes to pick us up.  Chris (hubby) and Conal are going to have a boys night in, aw!

I have been crafting like mad and am thoroughly enjoying all of my Stampin Up supplies!  Am still in baby mode as lots of people I know are expecting little bundles over the next few months.  This card is a colour variation of one I posted a few months ago.  Did a boy one so here is the girly version.

And here is the four I made all together, very cute!  Colour used are Pretty in Pink & So Saffron with Whisper White.  Ribbon is White Grosgrain & have edged it with the piercing tool.

Alright guys am off for my little trip.

See you soon

Stacex



Thursday Male Card

Hi Guys

Here is another male card, I'm making a real effort to do more male cards and I loved this one as soon as I saw it on a blog by Sue Bendinsky.  Mine isn't as good as hers as I don't have the Owl Punch yet (ooh cant wait till April) to make the balls smaller than the 3/4 circle (which is the smallest I had). I still think I get away with it tho & you can definately tell what it is.

The sentiment is from Cheers for You and the circles are 1" and 1 1/4" circles.  I've used Chocolate Chip, Garden Green & Basic Black CS although there are balls using Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red & Night of Navy.  I totally love this card & just incase people weren't sure I've done a little cue using black card coloured at the top with my white pro marker pen (as chalk)!

Here is one a little closer ;o)

Wednesday Punches

Hi Guys

Just a very quick one today, have lots and lots on.  This card is super versatile and can be used for anything from Happy Birthday to Get Well Soon and it is so quick and easy.  I have used Delightful Decorations for the vase design, punched in out with the Decoration punch then cut off the bottom to make a vase.  The flowers are made first by stamping the Punch Potpourri set and punching out using the Boho Blossoms Punch.  For the background I have used a stamp from the Sale-a-bration set Sweet Summer in Certainly Celery.  CS used is Whisper White, Basic Black and Certainly Celery.

Alrighty, have a great Wednesday
Stacex

Tuesday Male Card

Hi Stampers

Well I think this is definately an original, its difficult when you look at so many blogs and magazines to have an original idea, well for me anyway but I think this may actually be one!  Its a male card and I got the idea when Juanita and I were doing the his & hers 40th cards. 

Its a tri-fold card and the front page has the Happy Birthday sentiment, the second page has the 40 and a couple of beer mugs and the third page is for your personal message.  When it is closed it is tied with the Night of Navy satin ribbon, so cute.

I think the sentiment here which is from the Level 1 Hostess Set Afterthoughts, shows just how good SU products are, even though the words are tiny, they are so clear.  I have used the Baja Breeze DS paper layered on the Night of Navy CS.

A couple of beer mugs from Cheers To You set, coloured with my Marker pens and cut out.  The numbers are stamped in Night of Navy ink using Schoolbook Serif Numbers set which is my new favourite, not sure how I survived without it! 

Little bit closer for you ;o)

Rightyho I'm off, feeling very smug and pleased with myself!

Have a great Tuesday

Stacex

Monday and March Frenzy!

Hi Guys

As the Neighbourhood jumbo wheel is discounted during March Frenzy I thought I would get it out and have a play.  This normally costs £8.50 but is reduced to £5.95 for the month of March, a real bargain!  This is a wonderfully versatile stamp which can be used for New Home cards, invitations or backgrounds, the list is endless!

I have used it here as a background stamp, with Loads of Love as the main stamp for this sort of, hope you feel better/get well soon card.

The Neighbourhood wheel is coloured in very pale, light colours so that the hearts are the main focus.  Obviously I used the stamp-a-ma-gig to have the little man sit properly in the truck but the hearts I stamped separately then cut out and put in the back of the truck.

The Neighbourhood jumbo wheel is all on its own in this card with one of the houses picked out as a focal point.  I like Tempting Turquoise and Basic Black together and think this works quite well although I have swithered a lot as to whether to add something, some cards are just like that though aren't they?  This is for a New House and so have stamped Congratulations in the Craft White Ink and layered it on an oval punch, scalloped oval punch and lastly the extra large oval punch! Phew that was a mouthful.

Have a great day

Stacex

Serene Sympathy

Hi Guys

I was thinking to myself how I rarely make sympathy cards because they make me feel a bit sad but have come to realise that I'd rather make them in advance for my box.  Its certainly easier than to try and make one for someone in particular.  I like simple and understated designs for sympathy and even get well cards so here are a couple I put together.  They are similar in that the main design is the same, its just applied in different ways.

Both cards use Night of Navy satin ribbon and the flowers are coloured using Tempting Turquoise, Baja Breeze & Not Quite Navy with Night of Navy as the outline colour.  Very simple but effective too.

Saturday Embossing Resist Technique

Hey Guys

Have been playing about with my heat gun which has been gathering dust for far too long.  I hate when things fall by the way side as new favourites appear and always try to make sure I get around to using everything.  This card was made using the emboss resist technique.  I have sponged several colours of ink over and embossed image and it really does make such a pretty effect.

I used Cherry Cobbler and Very Vanilla CS then embossed part of the French Script stamp in white embossing powder.  I stamped the flower images from Just Believe in Chocolate Chip Ink then used sponge daubers to go over the whole card first in More Mustard then Chocolate Chip and finally in Early Espresso.
A quick knot in some Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon and a stamped sentiment from Occasional Greetings pulled it all together.  The sentiment is raised on dimensionals and with some brads and twine for additional elements.

TGIF - at last

Hi Guys

Had a stamping morning with my friend Yvette who cant make the Wednesday evening class so we do the same class on a Friday morning, she brings her little man who is just adorable and sooo well behaved, aw.  It was lovely to have some crafting time and great for Yvette as she had an order to collect too. 

Funnily enough I was just telling her how the UPS guy is my favourite man because he brings me Stampin Up goodies, then the doorbell rang and, you wont believe me but it was him!!  What are the chances, Yvette told him he was my favourite chap and to be honest he looked a little afraid, haha.

I kept crafting for a little bit after Yvette left and I wanted to show you this cute Easter card.

So here is my first Easter bunny although I'm sure there will be more where he came from!  I have used Chocolate Chip, So Saffron & Tempting Turquoise CS the paper piercing tool adds a nice touch to the scalloped edge and I've used Very Vanilla grosgrain ribbon.  All of the bunnies bits are edged with Chocolate Chip Ink.

Have a great Friday
Stacex

40th Crafty Night

Hi Stampers

Last night Juanita, my lovely downline, came round and she needed two 40th birthday cards for her friends who are not only husband and wife but whose birthdays are only one day apart!  We set about looking for cards and Juanita came up with the idea of "his and hers", essentially the same card but one male and one female.  Here is what we came up with.  We used the set Cheers to You and Whimsy jumbo wheel and schoolbook serif numbers.

The colours used were Not Quite Navy, Very Vanilla & Pumpkin Pie CS, the background was coloured using the marker pen in Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie & Not Quite Navy.  Isn't it great?  Juanita did the boys one and I did the girls one ;o)

An inside view, just finishes it off, don't you think?

Here is the girly one, the same stamp sets are used only the colour palette is different.  Here we used Melon Mambo, Whisper White & Pumpkin Pie CS and the markers to colour the background circles were Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive.

And a peek at the inside of this one, aw!

I think that was a great nights work and to be fair we did fit in a good dollop of chit chat and gossip.
Thanks Juanita & I'm sure Jon & Sal will love their bespoke cards.

See ya
Stacex

Tuesday

Hi Guys

This little one I made this morning and it was inspired by a card by my best friend Gill (who is craft crazy) made for my son Conal (who is also Gill's Godson).  Conal's card was primarily a blue theme but I loved the way the Stamp-a-ma-gig made it look as though the truck really is full of pressies and that someone really is driving!  I used Gills idea of crystal effects on the wheels and windows and think it looks great.

I've used Real Red and Early Espresso with Whisper White and some Early Espresso Grosgrain Ribbon to finish it off.  Love it!

I'm off now
Have a Happy Wednesday
Stacex

Matchbox but cute!

Hi Guys

It is sunny again today- I love it! 

One of the lovely things about going to events is that you get swaps, sometimes lots of them!  These are usually very inspirational and this box is based on one of the swaps I received at the Hounslow Regional training.  There weren't any details on it so unfortunately I cant credit the person who made it.  It was I think so saffron and baja breeze?  Here is my take on it.

I have used Night Of Navy & Whisper White CS  and Certainly Celery Grosgrain Ribbon.  The border is from Just Believe and have used the pens to colour it in corresponding colours.  The sentiment is from Silhouette Sentiments a Level 1 hostess set.  The frame has been cut out and raised using dimensionals.  Have used some diamante to add another element, and there you have it.

Another picture showing it open, just like a very cute matchbox.  The measurements are 5.5x5.5x2.5cm so just big enough to pop a little treat inside.  What better way to say thank you!

Have a band rehearsal tonight and we are filming to put new demo videos onto the band website, if they aren't too horrendous will show you the finished article.

Have a great day!
Stacex

Happy Monday

Hi Guys

Its Monday and I don't even care, the sun is shining and its easy to convince myself it is summer, well close to it anyway.  Its still a little bit on the chilly side when you are wearing pumps on your bare feet but I don't think it'll be long...

I realise I forgot to put up the card I took at my swap for Michelles Reward Day but this one is very similar.  I was having a ball with the Level 2 Hostess set Fast and Fabulous, and fabulous it most certainly is!  The idea for this card was inspired by some lovely cards my friend & downline Juanita did with the same set.  Juanita was very adventurous on the colour front using oranges and reds which looked amazing.  I have gone for Night of Navy & Baja Breeze CS with Whisper White and the corresponding ink colours.  Have used my Stamp-a-ma-gig as this is a Two Step Stampin set.  I was very pleased with the result.

This next card was made after looking at Vicki's blog (Crafting Clare), I think she had used the design for gift wrap and it was gorgeous!  So all credit to Vicki on this one, but so cute and lovely.  The set is the same one as used above.  The flowers have all been stamped in different colours, either Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze or Tempting Turquoise with the Night of Navy over stamped.  Love it!

See you soon
Stacex

Stamping Reward Day

My blogs are a little bit out of order here as I'm now going to tell you about the Reward Day on 6th March in Bicester that my lovely upline Michelle Last organised for everyone in her team who promoted in November, or it could have been December?   Anyway it was a big thank you and Michelle provided all the materials for our make and take and a wonderful lunch where I'm afraid to say, I ate my body weight ;o)  I had a fantastic day and it was so good to catch up with some of the other demos and of course meet new ones! 

We made this gorgeous album below, the colours are just lush together and the beautiful flowers, oh just love them. Cant take any credit as I copied Michelles design but I totally love it.  The ladies from the class loved it too.  I have a friend who is due to have a baby in July and another who is due her baby in May and am thinking of doing baby versions of these!

The cardstock was Soft Suede & Baja Breeze and the Designer Papers used were Elegant Soire.  The Flower on the front is the Flower Accent a la carte stamp and the ribbon is the Striped Grosgrain Ribbon in Early Espressso.  This is the front - hmm perhaps I should have tied the ribbon?

This is the first part of it opened out, another bit to go, sooo cute.

And here is the full thing opened out, not flat though as I don't think I'd fit it in the picture.  Love it!

Hope you all enjoyed having a look.
See you soon
Stacex

Time Flies

Good Morning!
I cant believe it has been 2 weeks since I posted, oh dear.  I need to be a little bit more organised but I have been crafting, yes indeedy I have been crafting.

I had my Wednesday card class with "The Usual Suspects" haha, what a bunch!  Craft nights feel more like a girls night out (sans the vino, of course) with all the laughing and shenanigans!  We had a new lady join us too and it was great how she slotted right in with the others ;o)  What a rowdy bunch they are!!  All joking aside they did work very hard and produce some lovely items.  So here are some pictures of what we created.


These are cute little sour cream containers (not sure if there is an actual name for them).  The ladies chose Blushing Bride & Concord Crush from the In Colours Designer Paper Series and as you can see, its gorgeous.  This clever bunch also added their own flavour making them their own.   Now I have the memory of a goldfish but I think from left to right these belong to Karen, Ginny, Becky & Louise (please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong).

Here are the cards - we made a collage of them!  Am very pleased with the picture as they were all in their cellophane bags but still turned out great. There is a tiny bit of shadow but as I was perched on a chair and trying to twist to avoid having a big shadow - I'm obviously not that supple haha.  These cards certainly used a lot of punches but I'll think you'll agree it was worth it ;o)