Diamonds are forever!

Hi there!

Hope you survived the christmas, and are feeling relaxed?!

here's a few more ideas with the Bird punch....

it can be used for so many occasions...

so feel free to adapt them to suit...
Oh, and I would like to thank Joanne Gelnar of Mainly Flowers, for the fab method of punching the robin!

And here's one alongside the one I made for Mum and Dad's

DIAMOND wedding anniversary!

Many congrats to them !!!

Mum had a chrysanthemum bouquet when she married, so the flower is meant to represent that,

and there's a sparkly "diamond" in the centre, that doesn't really show up in the photo... 

xmas robin

Tried to be clever with this one.....(well, I thought so at the time!)

Used Beautiful Season stamp, and overlaid the punched robin, thereby using the "feet" of the stamp.

Hope you can see what I mean!



Some Christmas Robins

Hi folks!

It's been a while since I was here, due to building work chaos, and life, of course!

I meant to post these as inspiration for your xmas cards.......oh well, you may have some last minute ones to make, or you may get some ideas from them at least !

I always intend to start making them early, but usually end up rushing.....maybe I'll start next year's now....yeah right!

Maybe when I get my "new" craftroom......watch this space!

Christmas Carols!

I liked this card so much, I made it twice!

One for Carol and one for Carole!

I hope they enjoyed them!

Now....back to my Christmas cards.......

Fore!

Yet another golfer .......but then that's why I bought this stamp set, because it's soooo useful, and you have to get your moneys worth!

Stampin' Up! papers of course.........one of my fave techniques is paper piecing........that's what I love about stamping........so much you can do with them!

Jim & Pauline

Wanted to make my  aunt and uncle cards for their birthdays, which are on consecutive days,

 hence I like to do similar ones, so as not to show favouritism !, 

because I love them both loads!

simple, but sweet I thought!

I like the effect of the embossing folders, and wonder how I ever managed without my Bigshot!

little bird.....

Made this for a friend, using my luurvly new background stamp, en francais, and swirls from my christmas one, season of joy, layering up with the oh- so- useful bird and label punches, tweet, tweet!

Christmas ideas

Hi there....

just a quick post to share a couple more christmas card ideas...

quick and easy, with a bit of big shot embossing, matting and layering, and the odd bit of 3d....

love this stamp set.....just need a bit more time to play.....as ever...

see you back here soon

lots of love.....x

Happy Birthday Liz!

I enjoyed doing this one, and wanted to try more unusual colours......

attempted distressed, vintage look, but think "needs more practise"!

did enjoy the die cut flowers, layering labels, but most of all the stamping.....especially the french script background, which will definitely be worth the investment!

If only  postage hadn't gone up so much, because I would so  love to stick on more  accessories, and add more dimension, but having to watch the pennies!

Thanks for dropping by!



For Papa Tom

OMG I had so much fun with this!...........You probably think "OMG what a mess"! but trust me, have a go.......you don't have to go over the top, like I have done, .........as usual!!

 I used my well-worn stamp set, some Stampin'Up! papers, big shot embossed "wallpaper"....very apt!, 

SU stamps, and lots of inky, scrunching, tearing,  grungy goings on!

including the spritz tool, (which I am loving, but can't stop spritzing anything that doesn't move!)

and here's a peek inside too.....

I ripped a hole in the DSP, in which to stamp the greeting!

then added ink splodges etc!

I just hope he sees the funny side of this on Tuesday!

Which happens to be the same BirthDAY as my first SU downline friend Liz whoop whoop!!!

But I won't show you her card yet, coz she may be looking!!!! 

Welcome to the Stampin' Up! madness Liz!

I hope you are having lots of fun!

For everyone else, I hope this makes you laugh! 

Xmas Duo

Knowing how you are probably making your Christmas cards (if you haven't done already!), 

I wanted to share some inspiration using the fabulous Stampin' Up! products....

I have to say, I'm a lover of the traditional colours for Christmas...

the Season of Joy stamp set is so versatile, I shall probably bore you to tears with ideas!

I've used some snippets of  holly berry papers here...

But just to prove I can do "modern"!

here's using the new "in colours"

To get the multi coloured effect, just use the stampin' write markers to ink the stamp....

hope you enjoy.....

Masking technique

Hi everyone, I saw this technique recently, and wanted to share it with you.....

Ally from Stamps Away has come up with another great idea...

using a punch,..... create a mask with the punched shape, and the "waste"...

Alternate covering your work with the aperture, and shape, to ink up a connecting background pattern...

You can then continue, by stamping or stenciling over the background images, by using the same masks...

I only managed a very quick (not very well executed) "aide memoire" for now,

but will be happy to share in more detail when time allows.....

Free Gift!

Have a "Virtual" Workshop and earn Free Gifts!

You and your friends can gather up an order for £300 and get some extra free gifts!

See the Website for full details....

For Jane

Hi everyone, another card to share....

...using the fun flowers die........sorry the colour doesn't seem quite right......and a stamp I've wanted since I started with Stampin'Up!.....en francais....the most fab background ever..... IMHO!.....

I like layering tags too...

The "ribbon" on the flower was another happy accident, ....just strips of paper.....and where they splayed they stayed!

Stamps are for life, not just for Christmas!

Hello there, I wanted to share some simple Thankyou cards I made recently.

I used the Season of Joy stamp set, which just shows that you can use sets for all sorts of occasions.

I am now very much in love with the new "In Colours"......wisteria wonder being my absolute fave.

I have to thank one of the Stampin Stars team for the idea (sorry but couldn't find your name :-( ). 

They are all slightly different ( well, it'd get boring otherwise! ), and the one that is the wrong way up ( your test for today! ), was a happy accident......I glued the flower group together, then dropped them! So they stayed where they fell......and I liked it!

Everyone got a bit of ribbon and a fab button too.

Something old, something new....

............borrowed and blue!

Didn't have much time to make this one either......building work imminent!

Anyhow, I used last cattie's dsp paper and retired hostess stamp,  my newly delivered timeless alphabet set (awesome!),borrowed the pennant punch, and used lots of blue for a boy!

He's a clever boy, and so are his mum and dad, so I thought they'd like the "sum"!

Thanks for looking x

New Cattie swap!

Now that the new catlogue has been launched I can show you the card I made for a swap I entered with some other lovely talented ladies. I do hope they liked theirs, because I had some real works of art in exchange!

I used the new stamp set "Beautiful Season", and my current favourite colour Cherry Cobbler, with some vellum I embossed, Chocolate Chip Scallop Dots Ribbon, two of the Lbel Punches, and a Rhinestone!

Sorry there's so many posts at once, but September was so busy I've not been on here, or had time to play much !

Happy Birthday Caroline!

Ok so it's a day early, but hopefully she won't see this post teehee. Just wanted to share this one before I get stuck into Christmas cards! Eeeeek!

Ok, so it's using retired springtime vintage design series paper, but it's just her cup of tea, and I had some left,

and it's also using a stamp set that retired, but I couldn't bring myself to offer it for sale because I still love it too much! Can you see the ickle pearls? They are just sooo scrummily cute!

Promise I'll be back with some of the new catalogue goodies! 

My Launch Party!

I would like to thank everyone who came to my very first new catalogue launch party, I had a fabulous day, and hope that you enjoyed it too! It was very hot, and very busy, but at least some of you were able to relax in the garden with ice cold drinks and biscuits, under the shade of the brollies, whilst browsing through the brand new 2011-2012 Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalogue.

(The calm before the Stampin' Up!)

I apologise for taxing your brains in the heat, filling in your entries to the "Scavenger Hunt"!

I have great pleasure in announcing that the winner of a gorgeous wooden stamp set is.....

WHOOP! WHOOP!WHOOP! 

Louise from Ashford!!!!

Congratulations in being the only person to answer all the questions correctly!

I promise, if I do one next year, I'll try and make it much easier, but thanks for having a go, and I'm just sorry there could only be one winner!

Be part of the "In Color" crowd

The new Stampin' Up! Ideas Book & Catalogue is here! with some amazing new deals!

Join Stampin Up during October and you will get some fantastic FREE products in addition to the exceptional value of the Starter Kit.

For just £119 the starter kit contains products valued at £240 but during October you can have a FREE "In Colour Bundle" added to your Starter Kit from Stampin' Up!

This contains 5 In Colour Ink pads and a selection of card stock (rrp £27.95)

Mum-in Laws''s Birthday

OOooerrrr............my dear beloved photographed this one, because I forgot!..........and I hope you believe me, that it really did look better in the flesh!

I did an 8"x8", because it was (sssshhhhh) a big birthday......and it was pink!...and I'm not sure you can even see the butterflies............or the pearls..............oh well, never mind......you know what they say...if you want something done.......bless him, I love him to bits really!
If you are still reading.....it's using the Springtime Vintage papers! THAT ARE RETIRING TONIGHT SOB SOB!

Happy Birthday Oliver!

Amongst all the madness, I just about managed to make Oliver a card........I soooo nearly succumbed to buying one, but I had stern words with myself, and managed to make a quick card for him, and luckily because he's only one, he won't mind if it's a bit naff!

Thank goodness for Stampin' Up! Papers 

which provided the inspiration! 

ooooooo my SU parcels are here!

I am sooooo excited! Mr UPS was here when I got home......he was just leaving me a note, (such a nice man!) and handed me THREE parcels of Stampin' Up! goodies! wooohoooo!
Not had chance to even open them yet though! Can't wait to unpack them tomorrow! Sooooo want to see the new Idea Book & Catalogue!x

LAST CHANCE LIST!!!!

Sell outs..........
"Sense of Time"
Riding Hood Red Card stock
Jumbo Eyelets

LAST CHANCE LIST!!!!

With the NEW Idea Book & Catalogue due out soon, a lot of Products in the current Catalogue are due to Retire!!!!!!!!!

I'm sad to see some of my favourite sets go but it's also great news that there are discounts of up to 40% on SOME of the sets and accessories too.

But don't wait too long!!!!!!  Orders are only possible whilst stocks last!!!!!!

Don't forget also that most products in the Mini Catalogue AND these retiring items WILL NO LONGER BE AVAILABLE TO BUY AFTER 30TH SEPTEMBER.

So if there is something that you had your eye on, then be sure to order it before it goes out of stock, or goes off sale completely.

Go here for a pdf of the Retirement List: 

http://204.228.150.61/docs/lastchance/en-GB/Availability_en-GB.pdf

I am placing orders all of the time and can accept payment by Paypal Gift,  Cheque, Visa or Mastercard.  P&P is a flat rate of £4.95 whatever the value of your order.

Pillow boxes

Hi there!
I had a lovely Workshop recently with about 16 people!
It was a bit manic, but great fun!
I thought you might like to see some of the make n takes made using 2 Pillow Boxes stuck together, (learnt this from Kim at SimplyFairies) and the Four Frames stamp set, and the Decorative Label Punch, finished off with some of that lovely Satin Ribbon.....

Are you bored yet?!

Here's yet another with my trusty Papermania stamp............this time with a bit of paper-piecing instead of colouring in.................with, yes, you guessed it....SU papers!...........I was actually able to line up the squared paper with the stamp to make his tank-top! (expect golfers call it something posh like sleeveless
 jumper or something?!)

Fore Alan!

Here's the little easel card I may for my beloved, with a combination of SU papers and Top Note Die, Papermania stamps, and a charm I bought ages ago......(that I will no doubt sneak back into my stash, as I hate to waste anything!)

Ruffle that Ribbon!

Hi there! My Mum is on the mend, so I have got chance to catch up on a few things...............

My upline Sarah taught me ribbon ruffling and I am now obsessed with it! Check out her fantastic new website stampingobsession.com  for details...........and don't make my mistake of cutting the ribbon first!.....I found a thread....pulled.....and it just came right out! doh!
Anyway, I am loving the Ribbon, the Pearls, the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder,.........oh lets face it I love it all!

(Sadly I made these for two lovely friends, who lost a dear Parent recently..............hope they don't mind me sharing with you..........)

I also had a lovely day with one of my dear friends, Caroline, and I even managed to get her hooked too!
She made this beautiful card below, and it's one of her first creations! Well done Caro! She's not that into cardmaking, but I'm working on her! ( poor girl!)

Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Springtime Vintage Paper, Simply Said stamp, yummy!
Then I did one with the Top Note die too..........told you I was obsessed!

Wedding

I was very honoured to be asked to make a wedding card for a friend. It meant such a lot to me to be asked, so much so, that I made 3, so that she could choose! Sadly her Husband had died, and he would have made a card for this special occasion, so I felt I was making it on his behalf.

You probably can't see the gems and pearls too well, but I have to say, they really add a superb finishing touch to any project.........I also used the confetti cardstock, which is particularly lush for weddings!
Thanks for popping by x

Special Offer for August

There's a wonderful special offer during August! Free gift for orders of £75.............must dash because I need to place an order.........I MUST get this! 

Monogram

Hiya, sorry I've not been here much lately.......this time it's Mum's turn to be very poorly.......she's in Hospital still, but at lasts seems to be improving.......Get Well Soon Mum!
Anyway I thought I'd show you a very simple masculine stamp idea I did for my beloved's Nephew........

Hope to be back very soon! lots of love! Have Fun! x

Swaps

Had a wonderful day yesterday at Natalie O'Shea's Stampin' Stars Training day!, and it was lovely to see my upline Sarah too! We got LOADS of inspiration and ideas, and I managed to make some "swaps" for the other team members........it's a lovely way to share ideas with each other, and gives us more examples to show friends and customers.... (especially as we don't have ALL the stamp sets!...yet lol!)........Great to spend a day playing, in good company, with plenty of coffee cake and biscuits! Bliss!
Here's a pic of my swaps in case you fancy a nosy.......hope to be more up to the standard of the others next time! Check out SimplyFairies blog if you get chance....her's were awesome! (So were everyone elses of course!)

Happy Birthday Edward!

Sorry if you end up bored with this stamp from "Papermania", but it's one of my faves for men at the mo!....and, like before I wanted to try an unusual colour combo using the Stampin' Up! color coach

Happy Birthday Glynis

Here's one I made for my beloved's sister......she loves shopping, but rarely has anything to spend on herself, so we would have loved to have been able to fill these bags with real goodies!

  

Happy Birthday Martin!

Was inspired by a bog-hop on ILWS (see right for link!)
To use the Stampin' Up "colour coach".............

So firstly picked "night of navy", then turned it over.....

...to choose co-ordinating "pumpkin pie" and "cherry cobbler"
Not sure it's may favourite combination!......but it was good fun, and hopefully Martin liked his card!

First Workshop

Well! Had my first proper workshop yesterday and it was brilliant fun! Lovely hostess Loo managed to get her free gift and free spends too! which was bloomin' maaarvelous!

here's a pic of the sample .....and my beloved's.....I made him "road test" the make and take....bless him!....he enjoyed doing it though!............
and this is what some of the ladies made!..........I like theirs better than mine!

We used polka dot embossing for the background, and "flight of the butterfly"
We also made a Pouch, using the paper packing material that Stampin'Up! puts in their parcels, as I am HUGELY into recycling! (I have so much of the brown paper, that I must find more ways of using it!)
I also made a little basket as a gift for my hostess......full of choccies of course!.........so feel free to contact me if you'd like to hold a fun workshop too! TFL!

wedded bliss

sneaky peek of my first commissioned wedding card.........can't show it all as it will spoil their surprise!

Welcome!

We would like to welcome a new member to the Family! He's a 12 year old ginger tom called Jerry, and he's settled in really well. We managed to keep him in for a week, but then had to let him explore his new home. He's already seen off one of next door's cats, so has firmly taken control of his patch. Intruders beware!