Thank you!

When Stampin' Up released their latest catalogue the 1 stamp that I knew I 'NEEEDED' was the Awesomely Artistic set - which is totally up my street!!

Anyway, I ordered it as soon as I could and it took longer than normal to arrive due to increased orders and excitement at the new catalogue.  As soon as my order arrived I opened it as quickly as I could.... to find that the wrong stamp set was sent.  I was soooo disappointed!!

I mentioned this on Facebook and one of my Stampin' Up friends contacted me to say that she had a new set that she was not going to use until after her holiday and so would send it to me and then I could send her my copy when it arrived!  How kind is that!!  It made me so happy and I received it the next day.

To say thank you I bought her some chocolates and made her a card and envelope.

I used the new in-colours and made a card using the You've Got This stamp set which I coloured in using ink and a water brush.

I then created an envelope using the Treat Bag framelits and banner punch.

I hope Kerry liked them!

I gave this to Kerry on one of our team training days.  As part of team training we all create 'something' to swap - and swapping is so much fun.

Here is the swap that I made for the training using the wonderful Awesomely Artistic set....

I stamped the Taupe background using the same colour ink.

I embossed then tore a mint macron panel and added a strip on dsp which had string wrapped around it and tied in a bow.

I stamped the label and cut it out.

The dragonflies were stamped then cut out then added to the card front.

The greeting was die cut.

I added silver string and sequins to finish.

I really do totally love this stamp set!!  In fact, here is another version made...

I know that I will get so much use out of these stamp sets - don't think I will ever get bored of them!!
Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Birthday Baby!

A colleague's baby has just turned 1 - I have absolutely no idea where the last year has gone!

Here is the card that I made for him....

I covered a card blank using retired Stampin' Up paper.

I then die cut starburst frames using co-ordinating colours. 

The image is from the Stampin' Up Zoo Babies set - soooo cute!!  This was stamped onto a white starburst frame.

I created a bow using the bow builder punch and added a die cut '1' to finish.

Simple - yet pretty!! LOL!!
Thanks for looking.

Many Happy Returns Part 2!

I'm back again to share cards made for male friends and family.

This first card was for my brother, Ed.

The card blank was already patterned and so I did not change this.

I stamped the Stampotique image onto a journalling card and then coloured it using alcohol markers.

I edged this with walnut stain ink.

I finished with a greeting.

This next card was for my dear dad.

The background was a gelli print background that I made sometime ago in a batch.

The Unity image was stamped and coloured before being mounted onto the card.

I added Taupe ribbon and a bow.

I love the sentiment stamp - I found it at he Stamp Attic and knew I had to buy it.  The sentiment was stamped and then mounted to the card to finish.

Lastly is the card that I made for our nephew, James, who has just turned 15!  When did that happen??!!
I covered a card blank using cogs paper.

I embossed metal and covered the embossed image in black paint which I then rubbed off to distress it.

I die cut deco labels in black and brown cards.

The image was stamped onto a journalling card.  It was coloured using alcohol markers then mounted.

The cogs were die cut and mounted to finish.

All very different and I loved creating each of them!

Thanks for looking....

Many Happy Returns

It's time to share more birthday cards with you.... this time of year is certainly busy for birthdays!!

In this post I am showing cards that I have made for female friends and family.

This first card is for my friend Sophie. 

I started by covering a card blank using patterned paper from Stampin' Up.  These pads are now 6x6" which I am delighted with - I am so pleased that they have made this change.

I then die cut a window frame and embossed it.

The cup cake was created using the Sprinkles of Life stamp set and co-ordinating tree punch.... This is where I need to digress.... The stamp set is amazing!! It can be used for cupcakes, clouds, trees and whatever your imagination allows!!  What makes it even better is that Stampin' Up donate £2 to charity for every set sold!!  Then there is the punch - what is not to love about this punch?!

Anyway!!  I stamped, coloured then punched the image before mounting it to the window frame.

I added Mint Macaron ribbon and created a knotted bow and stamped sentiment to finish.

 

 

This card was for my sister, Laura. 

 

I used the same papers as I used in Sophie's card.  This time I used the Build A Birthday stamp set, which is really fun to use!

 

I tied a lovely bow using Cucumber Crush lace ribbon.  I love this ribbon - it's so soft and beautiful.

This final card was for one of my colleagues, Sam. 

I am sure you are sick of seeing this stamp but I just can't stop using it!

The papers this time are from the in-colour DSP stack.  Now, since I joined Stampin' Up in 2012 I have not bought these stacks.  I received a set in my starter kit in the beginning. I was never really a fan of the DSP - the patterns were ok - but never really my 'thing'.  They have changed this year though....and I LOVE them!!

Back to my blog post!!! 

All recipients liked their cards and I certainly enjoyed making them.

Thanks for looking.

Good Luck In Your New Job

A friend recently decided on a change of career and so I made a card to wish her luck.

I covered a card blank using patterned paper.

The image was stamped onto card stock and then coloured using alcohol inks.

A frame was created scraps from a previous project that had been embossed.

Delightful Dijon lace ribbon was added and a bow tied.

A good luck greeting was stamped to finish the card.

Kelly loved her card......  The image is certainly one of my favourite images at the moment!!

Thanks for looking.

Baby Congratulations

Recently one of my colleagues announced that she was expecting her first baby.

I don't get the opportunity to make many baby themed cards so  I couldn't wait to get started!!

I decorated a card blank with patterned paper.

I stamped onto a green panel with the cutest safety pin stamp. I added a punched border to both sides of the panel.

I die cut 2 star burst frames.

The pram was stamped and then die cut using the corresponding die.  It was then mounted onto the star burst frames.

A bow was tied using Daffodil Delight seam binding and a sentiment die cut to finish.

It's always lovely to make baby cards.... and look forward to making another when the baby is born.

Thanks for looking....

Thankful For Friends

I wanted to send a card to friends to say hi!   I was able to use some of the amazing new Stampin' Up products and so got a bit carried away and decided to make an envelope too!

The card was case'd and altered slightly from a card that I saw on Pinterest.

 

 

The envelopes were made using the Stampin' Up Treat Bag Framelits (which I adore!!).  I used the gorgeous Bohemian papers. I thought that these would be too bold for me at first but I have totally fallen in love with them.

 

I used the new Banner punch (you need this) to create different coloured banner and decorated with washi tape and other ribbons.

 

 

As I copied the card from Pinterest I won't say how I made it - but you can see that it's fairly self explanatory!

 

They certainly brought a smile to the recipients faces :)

 

Thanks for looking!

Birthday Boys!!

There have been quite a few male birthdays over the last 2 months so I thought that I would share them with you.

I love the Tim Holtz Robot Blueprints stamps - they are so fun!!

 

 

For the first card I decorated a card blank with patterned paper.

 

I die cut a Window Frame die them stamped the robot  onto it.

 

I coloured the robot in with alcohol markers then mounted it onto the card blank.

 

I stamped a birthday greeting to finish.



This card is for s lightly older boy.

I decorated a card blank with patterned paper.

I die cut labels in silver mirri card and grey card.

The robot was stamped onto the grey card and then mounted onto the card blank.

I cut a washi label shape onto the same card stocks and then stamped a birthday greeting.

I die cut a 'happy' die in silver mirri and grey card stock and then glued them together and off set them slightly before mounting to the card.

I had great fun making these cards - and I hope you like them too!!

Thanks for looking...............

Going Out With A Bang!

You will have seen that The Stamp Attic closed it's doors at the end of May so that Wendy and Colin could enjoy their retirement.

So.... I made sure that I attended the last 2 workshops there!!  And an even bigger plus was that the workshops were with the fabulous Kate Crane!

I won't share how we made the projects but I thought I would share my makes!

The Saturday workshop was based on drift wood.  I didn't have a clue on what to expect - but wow!!

Kate really encouraged me to push my fears of drawing and scribbling ..... and I am so pleased that she did!!!

The Sunday workshop was based on journalling techniques.

We tried lots of different techniques..... and I used a sewing machine!!!  Though admittedly I kept breaking it and Penny and another lady had to help me out!! LOL!

It was a fabulous way to end the era of workshops at the Stamp Attic.  I had a totally fabulous weekend. Thank you to Kate and Wendy for making it an amazing experience!

Rebel Stampers ATC Swap

I'm a bit behind with my ATC swap posts so I thought I had better catch up!

Through The Window

I coloured an atc with shabby shutters and broken china distress inks.

I stamped a Paper Artsy stamp to look like a garden.

I created a simple window frame using brown card stock and then cut curtains using patterned papers

Spring Card

 

I created an atc card (mini card).  I coloured the card using shabby shutters and broken china inks. 

 

I stamped a Paper Artsy stamp in dye ink and then coloured it with alcohol markers. 

 

To finish I stamped a Spring greeting

 

 

Craft Stamper ATC

 

 

I covered an atc using the gorgeous Prima Time Traveller papers (I may have gone a bit crazy and bought loads of this last year when it was released).

 

I stamped the image with dye ink and then coloured using alcohol markers.

 

I mounted onto dark card and onto the atc.

 

I stamped and mounted a Paper Artsy greeting.

 

To finish I added 2 decorative pins.

 

 

Pink and Green

I stamped various Paper Artsy images in pink and green inks.

The flower was stamped in dye ink and coloured with alcohol markers, cut out and mounted to the atc.

To finish I added a stamped quote.

Craft Stamper

I will be honest and say that I struggled with this stamp as it really didn't appeal to me. 

When I looked at  it though it reminded me of retro and days gone by.

I covered an atc with patterned paper.

The image was stamped and coloured, then mounted onto the atc.

To finish I wrapped small cotton reels with twine and added them to the atc.

.......So..... that's what I have been doing over the last few months!! 

Thanks for looking.....