Customer Workshop

Morning,

I thought I'd share the projects I made at a customer workshop last month.  Ama kindly held a workshop at her home, and invited a few friends and family along for an evening of crafting.  There was a few non crafters, but they enjoyed it still, and did a great job at the make and take card, which is shown below.  We used the Scentscational Season stamp set and matching Holiday Collection Framelits dies, and Curly Cute was used for the Seasons Greetings sentiment.  Ama has a few pieces of the Emma Bridgewater pottery, so this card was perfect with the stars.

I also showed Ama and her guests how easy it was to make a little gift holder, using the Labels Collection Framelits dies.  I used the Be of Good Cheer papers on this gift.  As a thankyou for hosting the workshop, I gave this to Ama, and inside it contained lots of ribbons and buttons for her to use on her own cards and projects. 

I also showed them how easy it was to make an envelope using the Simply Scored Board, and a sheet of Designer Paper Series.  They really do look good, and they are so much nicer than a plain envelope.

Ama is a great baker, and she always puts on a good spread!  Her cakes were delicious.

We all had a nice evening, and Ama received some great benefits for hosting the workshop.  She earned £40 of free products, and chose some lovely items.  If you'd like to host a workshop, please let me know.  I have a few spaces available before Christmas, it could be a great opportunity to get some gifts if you have crafty friends, or to buy products to make Christmas cards, it's not too late still!  Don't forget the fantastic offer is still on for the free set of ink pads, available when workshop sales reach £325.  That's in addition to the £50 you'd have to spend on products from the Catalogues, and a half price item. 

Swaps for team training

I've mentioned the team training day I attended on Saturday in a few previous posts. The first part of the day while everyone is arriving and finding a seat and getting a cuppa, is doing swaps. Everyone has to bring a card front or a project using current products. It can be a bit mad, trying to remember who has swapped with who, and I always manage to leave with a few extra that I didn't give away.

I used the set Watercolor Winter, which I had won in a raffle at the Christmas Stamp-a-stack. I used a Crumb Cake card blank, and stamped on the bottom right corner with Cherry Cobbler ink using the Curly Cute stamp set. A strip of Cherry Cobbler card stock was punched using the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border. The holly outline was stamped in Always Artichoke onto Very Vanilla around the edges, and then using the markers, Cherry Cobbler and Gumball Green, the image was coloured in and stamped on top of the outline. I did try to use the Stamp-a-ma-jig to line up the images, but this took too long, so I had to just use a steady hand to line it up. I like how it doesn't matter if its not exactly in line, and I like the scribbled effect the leaves give.

Everyone at the training day seemed to like them, and I've started to make a few more to add to my cards for sale box.

Stamp-a-stack Christmas 2 - Ornament Keepsakes

This is the second card from the Christmas Stamp-a-stack. It's another card that has products that can be purchased in a bundle, saving 15% when the dies and the stamp set is bought together. The set, called Ornament Keepsakes has been popular so far, and one of the main reasons for this is that it's used to create the stunning decoration on the front of the catalogue. There's 9 stamps and 8 matching dies in this set.

The stamp set

Framelits Dies and details of the bundle

 

For this card, the Festival Of Prints DSP Stack was used again for the background paper, with a card blank of Baja Breeze. The baubles were stamped in Baja Breeze and Early Espresso onto Very Vanilla card. Bows were tied and attached to the tops with the Crumb Cake Taffeta ribbon. The sentiment is from Curly Cute, one of my most used sets!

 

 

 

 

Craft Decathlon - Wow card!

I think you'll all agree with me, this is a special card! I first made this at the Craft Decathlon class, and then I made it with my card class that I hold on the last Tuesday of every month at Dock Street Market, Leeds. It went down really well, and I'd like to do more 'Wow' projects with them in the future.

A 12"x12" Whisper White card stock was scored at 3" and 9" on both sides, and then diagonally at 3", 6" and 9" on all four sides, using the Simply Scored board. I'm not even going to try to explain how the folds go, it's hard enough explaining it in a class! A range of different papers from the Sweet Shop DSP were cut into squares, and then in diagonal halves. In the centre of the card, a square of Lucky Limeade and Whisper White were placed, and Congratulations from Curly Cute was stamped. Bunting flags were punched using the Petite Pennants Builder punch.

To keep the card closed, a band was made using a strip of 12"x 1.5" card, with a strip of the Sweet Shop papers. Ruffled Ribbon in Pool Party was placed under the strip, so that the band could be tied in a bow. A flower was stamped in Pool Party with a flower stamp from Mixed Bunch, and punched with the Blossom punch. Another flower was punched from the Sweet Shop papers and placed behind and a Jelly Bean brad placed through the centre.

I'm looking forward to the next special occasion where I can make this card. I made another one a week later at the team training event, in Christmas colours. I'll save that one for another blog post.

 

 

 

 

On yer bike!

When I saw the Summer Mini Catalogue for the first time, I knew I had to have the Pedal Presents stamp set. I loved it. You may have seen me post on here a few times that I've been out on my bike. I don't go out much, it's a bit of a hassle getting it up out of the basement, but when I do go out I always regret not going out more. There's a few too many hills round these parts for my liking too, it was much flatter where I grew up in Cambridgeshire!

There's a few of my colleagues from work who enjoy cycling too, so every now and again we go out on rides after work, the odd weekend ride, and even a night ride along the canal to Bingley and back to Leeds. One of my now retired colleagues set himself the challenge of riding the End to End ride, a whopping 1,100 miles from John O'Groats to Lands End over 3 weeks. Amazing! As a well done to him, and to give him a bit of sponsor money for his efforts (which went to RNLI for lifeguards and rescue at sea, and Sparks, funding medical research into health conditions affecting babies) I made this card.

 



I used Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla and Soft Suede card stock, and used the Labels Collection Framelit Dies to cut out around the bike and the border. I coloured the balloons in with Daffodil Delight, Real Red and Pacific Point markers, and used the Curly Cute stamp set for the Congratulations sentiment.

 

Card Stock / Papers - Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake

Stamp Sets - Pedal Presents, Curly Cute

Embellishments -

Tools - Big Shot, Labels Collection Framelit Dies

Inks / Markers - Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point, Basic Grey

Birthday balloons

I've recently moved into a new office at work, and I've been chatting away to my colleagues about my hobbies and interests. At the recent regional training event in Leeds, one of the key messages that came across was to share Stampin' Up! as much as we could, with everyone. Sometimes us crafty folk are shy about talking about our passions, for fear of looking silly, but when it's something we love, why not share it with the world. Enthusiasm is catching, and every Stampin' Up! demonstrator was once hooked because of someone sharing what they love.

As a result of talking about my cards, a colleague asked me to make a card for her Mum for her 65th birthday. I love being asked to make custom cards, it's very flattering, and I love making things to make people smile. The only specification she asked for was something bright and colourful, and perhaps with balloons.

This is what I came up with.

I used the same layout as I'd used for one of my Jubilee class cards, with the crowns from Artistic Etchings. This time, I used the stamp set Party This Way, with the 2011-12 In Colours. I used Pool Party for the card blank, with panels of Whisper White stamped with the in colour inks using the balloon stamp. Inside the card I put numbers cut with the Big Shot and the Bigz Alphabet Simple Numbers dies. The sentiment is from Curly Cute.

She was really pleased with the card, as was her Mum. I do like a satisfied customer! In fact, her Mum liked it do much she wouldn't even let her write in it!

If you've got a special occasion that you need a nice card for, please get in touch. I'd love to help you out!

 

 

 

The inside of the card

The back of the card

Stamp-a-stack cards - Retired products

Hello,

I was going to stretch this post out into three posts, but changed my mind, as I have so many things to post at the moment, so I'll do three cards in this one.  The last Stamp-a-stack class I attended was just before the end of the Spring Mini Catalogue, so three of the cards featured products that were due to retire shortly.  They are no longer available, but luckily we've now got the Summer Mini Catalogue to get excited about.

The first card features the papers Berry Blossoms.  These were nice bold papers, and I like the layout and design of this card.  Various strips of paper were cut into strips, and cut into the flag shapes.  The sentiment is from Curly Cute, and the ribbon is the Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon. Flowers were stamped onto the Wisteria Wonder card stock from the Fruit & Flowers stamp set, also from the Spring Mini Catalogue. 

I'll be using this layout again, it could be done with any of Stampin' Up!'s Designer Paper Series.

Papers / Card Stock - Wisteria Wonder, Calypso Coral, Whisper White, Berry Blossoms

Stamp Sets - Curly Cute

Embellishments - Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon

Tools - Paper Cutter

Inks / Markers - Lucky Limeade, Wisteria Wonder

The second card uses papers from Spice Cake, with the colour combo of Crumb Cake, More Mustard and Pool Party.  The Postage Stamp punch was used to cut out the squares of papers, and the new Simpy Scored tool was used to made the Flower which is made from two pieces cut with the Large Scallop Circle Punch. The sentiment is from Happiest Birthday Wishes, one of the hostess sets.

Papers / Card Stock - Crumb Cake, Pool Party, Spice Cake Designer Series Paper

Stamp Set - Happiest Birthday Wishes (Hostess set)

Embellishments - Scallop Dots Ribbon, Antique Brad

Tools - Simply Scored, Large Scallop Circle Punch

Inks / Markers - Early Espresso

The third card features the stamp set Borderlines.  I must admit to having this set, and not using it very much! I must use it to make a few cards to sell, to get value from it.  Soft Suede and Pool Party inks were used, and the Owl punch was made to use the owl, with Spice Cake papers being used for his chest.  The sentiment is from Happiest Birthday Wishes.  Linen thread was tied around the end of the card for an extra feature.

Papers / Card Stock - Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Pool Party, Spice Cake

Stamp Sets - Borderlines, Happiest Birthday Wishes

Embellishments - Linen Thread

Tools - Stamp-a-ma-jig, Owl Punch

Inks / Markers - Soft Suede, Pool Party



Happy Birthday Mum

Morning,

Happy Birthday Mum! I hope you're reading this, and like your card. 

My Mum has been eyeing up every card I've posted on my blog for the last couple of months! I keep telling her she'll have one that won't have been seen before, else it won't be a surprise!

You might recognise these cards, I've done a couple of versions of it before.  I made it at a Stamp-a-stack class that I attended, then made baby cards using the same design.  It was one that I have used at two card classes, in Leeds and Bradford. 

Both cards used various strips of paper from the subtles paper stack.  The were cut into 3cm lengths, and cut into the flag shapes.  The letters were stamped using the Just Perfect Alphabet stamp set, ad punched with the 3/4" Circle Punch.  The Square Lattice embossing folder was used to partially emboss the bottom section of the card.  Curly Cute was used the stamp the Happy Birthday sentiment, in the first card using the Rose Red marker to only colour half the sentiment, and in the second card, the ink pad was used to colour the whole stamp.

Papers / Card Stock - Subtles Paper Stack, Whisper White, Crumb Cake

Stamp Sets - Just Perfect Alphabet, Create A Cupcake, Curly Cute

Embellishments - Linen Thread

Tools - Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing Folder

Inks / Markers - Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, So Saffron, Marina Mist, Certainly Celery

Greenhouse Garden

Today I'm sharing another card that I made at the recent card class in Bradford.  My former upline, Gemma, was selling some of her Stampin' Up! stock, as she's no longer a demonstrator, and doesn't find much time to craft.  So I jumped at the chance to buy her goodies, and Greenhouse Garden was one of the sets I'd had my eye on and she was selling.  It's a Two Step Stampin' set, which means there are stamps in the set that are meant to be layered, or each stamp should be used in conjunction with the other stamps in the set.  The Stamp-a-ma-jig is definitely needed for these sets, and for anyone that's not used one before, it's a tool to help line up stamps so they are perfectly straight, or for set like Greenhouse Garden that layer on top of each other.

For this card, I used Crumb Cake and Pool Party card stock, with papers from the First Edition Speciality papers, cut using the Top Note Die.  I'd seen a few cards on line where images had been stamped onto this set, and was keen to try it myself.  The flowers were stamped with Pool Party, and Island Indigo for the centre of the flowers.  The stalks were stamped in Lucky Limeade.  I used the Colour Spritzer Tool to make the splatters of ink effect, a tool which I don't use enough.  I had one of these as a child, and was pleased to try it out again. The sentiment is from Curly Cute.  The card I brought along to the class to use as the example had the sentiment stamped onto the First Edition papers, but when I was demonstrating the card to the class, I decided to alter it so the Top Note layer was slightly to the right, and stamped the sentiment onto the Pool Party. 

As with most of my cards, I'm looking forward to trying this card again, in different colours and layouts.  Does anyone who has this stamp set have good colour combinations for the flowers I should try?



Papers / Card Stock - Crumb Cake, Pool Party, First Edition Speciality Papers

Stamp Sets - Greenhouse Garden, Curly Cute

Embellishments -

Tools - Colour Spritzer Tool, Big Shot, Top Note Die, Stamp-a-ma-jig

Inks / Markers - Pool Party, Island Indigo

Good Chemistry

This is a card that my sister asked me to make for her friend, they are both chemistry PhD students, so she asked for something related to chemistry.  I had recently found a template on Pinterest that I thought would be perfect.  I used the Sale-a-bration papers Everyday Enchantment for the liquid in the flask, and used the sponge daubers with crumb cake ink around the edge of the flask and the card.  The Curly Cute Stamp Set was used for the Happy Birthday sentiment.  I hope they were both pleased with the card.

I added numbers to the neck of the flask, using Pool Party cardstock.

For the inside of the card, I decorated Very Vanilla cardstock with stamps from Party This Way in Crumb cake ink.

On the back of the card, I added a stamp from the Creatively Yours set. 

Card / Paper - Crumb Cake, Pool Party, Whisper White textured card stock, Very Vanilla, Everyday Enchantment DSP (Sale-a-bration)

Stamp Sets - Party This Way, Curly Cute

Embellishments -

Tools - Big Shot, number dies (non-SU)

Inks / Markers - Crumb Cake

Don't forget Sale-a-bration is only available until the end of March, so don't delay in placing your orders with me to get hold of your free stamp sets or papers for every £45 you spend.

Everything Eleanor

This is another overdue post, I think that's me up to date with these now! Today I'm sharing another card and gift bag that we made at one of Julie Kettlewell's team training sessions.  We used the Everything Eleanor stamp set, which I really like.  I've seen it used in so many different ways, and each of the stamps can be used on their own, or together like in the cards below.  The colour combo for this card is Peach Parfait, one of the In Colours for 2010-2012, with Soft Suede and Saraha Sand. The Thank You sentiment is from Curly Cute, one of the sentiment sets I couldn't do without!

We made a second card, to demonstrate how easy it is to give the card a bit of extra something, by just adding a few Rhinestone Pearls and a bit of ribbon.

This is the little gift bag we made, using the Scallop Envelope die. It was really easy to make, and didn't take long.

Card / Paper - Peach Parfait, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla

Stamp Sets - Everything Eleanor, Curly Cute

Embellishments - Rhinestone Pearls, Crumb Cake 1cm Taffeta Ribbon, Very Vanilla 1cm Taffeta Ribbon (retired)

Tools - Big Shot, Scallop Envelope Die, Eyelet Border Punch

Inks / Markers - Peach Parfait, Soft Suede, Sahara Sand

Happy Birthday Owl

Here's a card I made a while ago at one of Julie Kettlewell's team training sessions.  It's a very quick an easy card, there's not much stamping to be done, and just assembling the owl takes a little time.  We cut out a Top Note die shape in Crumb Cake, then embossed it with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder.  The leaves are from the Little leaves die, and the owl was punched with the Owl Builder Punch.  The sentiment is from Curly Cute.

Card / Papers - Regal Rose, Crumb Cake, Certainly Celery, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Springtime

                       Vintage DSP (retired)

Stamp Sets - Curly Cute

Embellishments - N/A

Tools - Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Top Note Die, Little Leaves die,

           Owl Builder Punch

Inks / Markers - Early Espresso 

At the training session, we also made this little gift bag, using the Scallop Envelope die. I love making things from items that are different to the obvious way to use them.  The papers are from the retired Springtime Vintage DSP.  The handle was created by punching out a shape with the Word Window Punch, clever eh!

Card / Papers - Regal Rose, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Springtime Vintage DSP (retired)

Stamp Sets - N/A

Embellishments - Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding Ribbon

Tools - Big Shot, Owl Builder Punch, 1-3/8" (3.5cm) Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Scallop Envelope Die,  Word Window Punch

Inks / Markers - N/A

Christmas Owl Cards

Hello,

What a lovely evening I had on Wednesday demonstrating at a Stampin' Up! workshop at my friend Ama's house.  There were three ladies who are already customers, and two who had not been to one of my workshops before, but have heard me on numerous occasions raving about the products at craft club and had seen my creations at the Craft Garden for Light Night.  One of the best bits of being a demonstrator is being able to share my excitement and enthusiasm about all of the products, and seeing other people excited too is amazing (and slightly reassuring it's not just me that wants everything in the catalogue!)  Ama made us all tasty cupcakes and chocolate cake so we were all stuffed by the end of the evening.  I meant to take a picture of them to share, but we started eating them too quickly!

Here's a picture of me in action!

As a thank you to Ama for inviting us all over for an evening of crafty fun, I thought I'd try out my new Mini Milk Carton die, which I bought with some birthday money. Seeing as Ama would be having all the fun, I decided to make a present for her little doggie Ozzie.  I covered the Crumb Cake milk carton with a strip of Designer Paper, and then stamped a dog from the All My Family stamp set (which was sneakily bought from my Stampin' Up! mummy Gemma by my friends as another birthday gift!) onto Crumb Cake and punched it out using the large Oval punch.  I filled the carton with doggie treats, and then used a clip from the Clips Assortment set and finished it off with a bit of Crumb Cake Seam Binding Ribbon.  As you can see on this picture, Ozzie sniffed out that there was a present for him in the box, and he nearly gave the game away as I wanted to wait until everyone was there before giving the gift to the Ama.

Here's the mini milk carton - isn't it cute!

Below are some of the cards we made for the Make and Take, the guests loved it and had a great time making it.  I was really pleased with their cards as they moved things around so they were different to mine.  I'll certainly be using their designs for this card again. The cardstock is Cherry Cobbler, with Crumb Cake cut with the Top Note die.  This was then stamped with Chocolate Chip ink using the Woodgrain background stamp.  I was so pleased when this came into the new catalogue, it's perfect for using with the Owl punch and so much more. The border is Cherry Cobbler from the Regals Collection Designer Paper Stack, with a strip of Old Olive punched with the Scallop Border punch.  The owl itself was punched using Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, and Crumb Cake, with a leaf cut from Old Olive using the Bird Builder Punch.  The sentiment is from Contempo Christmas stamp set, in Chocolate Chip ink.  The belt of the owl is Basic Black 1/8" (3.2mm) Taffeta Ribbon, finished with a Rhinestone Jewel.

Here's a few other Christmas Owl cards I made, when I was deciding what to do for the Make and Take project. The first is a simpler version of the one above, with Old Olive cardstock. The second one uses the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder instead of the wood stamp, and has been inked using the sponge daubers on the raised areas.  Curly Cute has been used on these cards for the sentiment.

If you'd like to make any of these items, and would like to host your own Stampin' Up! workshop from the comfort of your own home, please contact me.