A final farewell to the For Father stamp set and sneak peek 8

Hi to you all from Cardiff today. This is a card for a male friend who's birthday is next week. I kept the design simple because I couldn't lug too much crafting stuff with me. I've used the For Father set which retires tomorrow (aah) - so last, last chance to buy it and with 50% off.

Recipe

Stamp sets: For Father, Sincere Salutations

Cardstock: Not Quite Navy, Really Rust, Whisper White

Ink: Not Quite Navy, SU Markers

Other: Crafters Toolkit

Today's sneak peek 8 is from the very festive, Christmas Jingle, Scrappin' Kit.

Don't forget that tomorrow is the very last day to get items on the retired list and Thursday the new catalogue launches!!!!

Right back to the hotel now to complete my assignment and do some revision for the test in the morning, the tutors are slave drivers :-(

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx

SWU sketch challenge and sneak peek 7

Welcome to another Stamp With Us challenge. This week it's a sketch:

Now I almost always use stamps and technically I still have here (for the sentiment) but I thought I'd push a little outside my comfort zone and I've used a rub-on for my main image:

Recipe

Stamp set: Fresh Cuts

Cardstock: So Saffron, More Mustard

DSP: Haiku

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Rub-ons: Hidden Garden Blossoms

Other: Pretties Kit, Crafters toolkit

Non-SU: Cuttlebug embossing folder

I used the groove of my paper cutter and my bone folder to create the embossed square around the main image. The Haiku DSP is only available until Wednesday 30 September (but we have some fantastic new papers arriving in the 2009-10 catalogue on Thursday).

This weekend's a bit of a whirlwind for me. This afternoon I'm off to Cardiff for a week's training so poor DH is left at the ranch looking after Bess on his own. Yesterday was our wedding anniversary so I'm glad I was still at home for that. Today's sneak peek is the anniversary card that I made for him:

I'm feeling quite smug actually. I finished the card on Thursday evening, over a day ahead of schedule. Usually he's doing well if I make it on the day, lol.

Yesterday I was also out for a while delivering a workshop to a lovely bunch of ladies who already meet regularly for a crafting session and donate the money left out of the room hire kitty to the Air Ambulance Service. As usual my workshop overran and we had to rush the make and take a little. The ladies were pretty impressed with the quality of the punches and the DSP's and scrapping kits particularly. Scandinavian Season went down a storm especially with the different looks you can give it with the Dazzling Diamonds. The wheel guide for the Stampin' Around wheels even convinced some of them they'd be able to stamp in a straight line. Hmm, wonder why I overran ...

Looking forward to seeing you again soon ladies.

Please hop along and see what my fellow DT members have created with this week's challenge. Right now I'm off to go and check out any of your entries for last week's challenge that I didn't get to yet.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Sara xx

A magic birthday card for a little boy and sneak peek 6

Today's card is a magical card created for my friend's little boy. The instructions are taken from Splitcoaststampers but I altered the sizing a little to use A4 size cardstock. Unfortunately I didn't make a note of the new dimensions but I'm sure that I'll make this card again and when I do I promise to include them in the blog post. In the meantime you could always trim some 12"x12" to the US dimensions.

This card gave me an excellent excuse to use the For Father set before it retires, as the little dog is super cute to colour in. This set is still available to order (as at 12:48 on 25/9/09) and has a 50% discount. After 30 September 2009 it disappears from our catalogue.

Recipe

Stamp sets: For Father, Fun and Fast Notes, Occasional Greetings

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Close to Cocoa, More Mustard, Chocolate Chip

Ink: Versamark, Black Stazon, SU Watercolour Crayons

Other: Eyelet, Medium Window Sheet (sneak peek!)

Taffeta Ribbon: Chocolate Chip

Non-SU: Nestabilities

The stars on the front are stamped in Versamark. It's a really fun card and all the adults have asked how it works but of course a magician never reveals their secrets!

The sneak peek Medium Window Sheet is the acetate used in the slider. Pop back on Sunday to see how I've used this to make sneak peek 7, my anniversary card to DH.

Here is today's sneak peek 6 from the serene Garden Dream set. I had to photograph this quickly at lunchtime because a colleague spotted it and snapped it up from me to send to a friend.

Hope you have a great weekend.

Sara xx

A blog award and admitting my addictions

A huge thank you to my crafting friend and fellow DT member, Kate, for nominating me for this blog award:

The rules of the award are that I have to share 5 things that I am addicted to and then pass on the award to 5 other blogs that I love:

Hmmm, only 5 addictions from so many, lol. Well here are the top 5:

1) Crafting (of course). Mainly stamping and papercrafts but also beading and cross-stitch if I ever have the time.

2) Chocolate. This is a biggy and is only kept under moderate control because of number 1. Well, I don't want sticky marks or chocolately fingerprints spoiling my work.

3) Holidays abroad. I'm so ready for my next fix. I just wish I had more money and more leave to be able to indulge this one more often.

4) Internet browsing. I don't want to know how much time I spend on here. I'm so addicted that I got mobile broadband so that I can use my laptop while I enjoy a coffee at lunchtime. Sad I know :-)

5) Learning. I'm addicted to learning. At the work end of the scale, I'm retraining to be an auditor (first lot of exams in November). At the fun end of the scale I love learning new craft techniques and then sharing them with others (don't worry I don't try to pass on the audit techniques, lol).

And now to pass on the award to 5 fabulous bloggers:

1) Clare

2) Teri

3) Yvonne

4) Elizabeth

5) Emma

Please go check out their blogs. They are definitely all fabulous.

Sara xx

Sketch Saturday challenge using Season of Joy and sneak peek 5

Uh-oh back to the christmas cards but then it creeps up on you unawares if you're not careful you know. Today's card with recipe uses the Sketch Saturday: sketch 69:

And this is my card:

Recipe

Stamp set: Season of Joy

Cardstock: Real Red, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip (textured), Whisper White

DSP: Holiday Treasures

Ink: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Summer Sun, Versamark, Certainly Celery

Punch: Boho Blossoms (medium flower)

Other: Clear EP

Non-SU: Nestabilities

I used resist embossing for the central tree. Versamark was applied to the stamp first, then the inks for the tree trunk, tree and star. The image was stamped out, covered with clear embossing powder and heat embossed. Certainly Celery was sponged over the image and any excess wiped off the embossed area. The dinky poinsettias were made with the medium flower from the Boho Blossoms punch. The Old Olive layer was left flat. The Real Red flower was snipped between each petal and shaped.

The inside was stamped with the sentiment from the Season of Joy set and trimmed with more DSP.

Today's sneak peek 5 is the aptly named Circle Circus. This is just so much fun to use with punches.

I will be supplying full recipes for all the sneak peeks in October.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx

Bookmark card for Stamp With Us recipe challenge and sneak peek 4

I hope that you're having a great weekend. I'm having a terrific few days crafting, it's so lovely to have a little time to indulge my passion :-)

It's Sunday and so it must be Stamp With Us challenge day. Today's challenge is to use this recipe:

No patterned papers

2 x ribbon

2 different stamps

Recipe

Stamp sets: Mr & Mrs, Forever Flowers

Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Certainly Celery

Ink: Regal Rose, Mellow Moss, Versamark

Punches: Scallop Circle, 1-1/4" Circle, 1/8" Circle

Gingham Ribbon: Light Pink, Moss

Other: White EP, Pewter Jumbo Eyelet

I stamped the main image using markers direct to stamp. I also created the pink background by the same method originally, but found the ink flooded the detailed design (see the flowers at the top of the card) and so switched to my Stampin' Spot which gave a much cleaner result (compare with the flowers in the lower half of the card). The bookmark is stamped using versamark on the standard wheel, Forever Flowers. It was then heat embossed with white powder. The bookmark is perforated so that it can be torn off to use.

Please take a look at the designs submitted by my fellow Design Team members over at Stamp With Us and I hope to see and comment on your own entries to this challenge.

Here, sneak peek 4 uses the great new christmas set - Tree Trimmings. This is adapted from a card by Sherry Roth over at Stamped Treasures.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Sara xx

A birthday card for my Dad that includes sneak peek 3

Tomorrow's my Dad's birthday. He and my Mum are hoping to go out for the day if the weather's good so I took his card and presents round this evening. I couldn't resist using a few sneak peek stamps on his card.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Loads of Love, Loads of Love Accessories, Sincere Salutations

Cardstock: Old Olive, Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Basic Gray, Whisper White

Ink: Stazon Black, Versamark, Old Olive, Not Quite Navy, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Taken with Teal, SU Watercolour Crayons

Punches: Scallop Oval, Large Oval

Other: Gold EP, Pewter Jumbo Eyelets

Non-SU: White shrink plastic

I also sneaked you a peek at a couple of stamps from the sweet Autumn Days (and that might even be a new Designer Series Paper in the background there)!

It's a bit of a standing joke in our family that the pheasants actually lie in wait, to run out in front of our car. The pheasant stamp was only a bit smaller than the car and wouldn't have looked correct proportionally so I stamped it onto shrink plastic and shrunk it to fit. I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to place me, DH and Bess in the car, lol.

Glad to say that he liked it :-)

Sara xx

A sympathy card and sneak peek 2 from the new catalogue

No jaunty angle shot from me today because this is a sympathy card that I had to make to send to a close friend who lost her husband recently. I almost didn't post it on here at all but I know how difficult these cards can be to make and thought it worth sharing for that reason.

Recipe

Stamp set: Garden Whimsy

Cardstock: Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant

Ink: Versamark

Other: White EP

Punch: Corner Rounder

Narrow grosgrain ribbon: Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White

To finish on a lighter note - here is sneak peek 2. A children's birthday card using the fun Animal Stories stamp set. Can't wait to share all the new goodies with you on 1 October.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx

SWU colour challenge and my first sneak peek for you from the new catty

Hope you're having a restful Sunday. I'm a little late posting today because I've been working at the Barnsley Craft Fair today, sharing a stand with JJ. We've had a good day, chatted with some lovely crafters and even sold some items too, lol - bonus!

Anyway, on to today's challenge at Stamp With Us. This week's challenge is a colour one, based on this picture:

I decided to give my Soft Summer stamp set an airing before we lose the Mini Catalogue at the end of September. As well as taking the colours from the picture I also decided to follow the idea of "quilting".

Recipe

Stamp sets: Soft Summer, Best Yet

Cardstock: Pink Passion, Pixie Pink, Green Galore, Only Orange, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White

Ink: Pink Passion, Pixie Pink, Green Galore, Only Orange, Tempting Turquoise, Versamark, Signo White Gel Pen

Other: White EP, Crafter's toolkit

I stamped elements from the set with colours on white card and Versamark on coloured card, which was then heat embossed with white powder. Faux stitching was added around each piece of quilt.

Recipe (inside)

Stamp sets: Soft Summer, Sincere Salutations

Cardstock: Whisper White

Ink: Pink Passion, Pixie Pink

The central image is stamped in Pink Passion, the others are in Pixie Pink which is then stamped off.

Please go take a look at the rest of the DT's bright and breezy creations. And a very Happy Birthday to Zoe, my team mate!

Now - on to my first sneak peek for you from the new catalogue. I'll repost with full recipes after the 1 October catalogue launch date but for now I can tell you that this is from the delicious Whimsical Wings set.

Thanks for stopping by. More sneak peeks to come ...

Sara xx

Which cupcake hides the birthday message?

As promised - not a christmas stamp in sight today. :-)

I made this card for my friend Rachel, whose birthday was last week. Now I know that she's back from holiday and has opened it, I can share it with you.

Recipe (outside)

Stamp set: Crazy for Cupcakes

Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White

DSP: More Mustard

Ink: Black Stazon, SU Markers

Punches: Round Tab, Scallop Edge

Other: Circle Fire Rhinestone Brad

Non-SU: Nestabilities, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Prima flower

The design instructions for the card are from Jenny over at Stamping Moments. I like her idea for a flip card that can stand on it's own.

Recipe (hidden message)

Stamp sets: Cause for Celebration, Crazy for Cupcakes

Cardstock: Whisper White

Ink: Basic Black, Regal Rose

Recipe (Inside)

Stamp sets: Crazy for Cupcakes, Curvy Verses

Cardstock: Whisper White

Ink: Regal Rose, Basic Black

DSP: More Mustard, Tea Party

I was really pleased that Rachel's young son had really enjoyed playing with the card to find the hidden message (I did include a note inside to tell her how to find it - how much of a waste would it have been otherwise, lol).

Have a great weekend.

Sara xx

A pink duo to match my pink christmas cards

Similar to the purple set I made some weeks back I've made a couple of pink 3d items to go with the pink christmas cards I've been sharing with you.

I've got a few friends who love pink so I think I may be making some duplicate sets over the coming weeks.

Recipe (Box in a Bag)

Stamp set: Scandinavian Season

Textured Cradstock: Whisper White

Cardstock: Pretty In Pink, Whisper White

DSP: Tea Party

Ink: Versamark, Regal Rose

Other: Gold EP, Dazzling Diamonds, Gold Elastic Cord, Gold Eyelets

Gingham Ribbon: Pink

Punches: Scallop Edge, Round Tab

The box in a bag is also from Splitcoaststampers here. Faux stitching on the base and the closure were added with a Regal Rose marker. Snowflake decorations and the star tag were made with Versamark ink and gold EP, heat embossed. The tag was embellished with Dazzling Diamonds and the Regal Rose marker.

Recipe (Post-it holder)

Stamp set: Scandinavian Season

Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose

DSP: Tea Party

Ink: Versamark, Regal Rose

Other: Gold EP, Dazzling Diamonds

Striped Grosgrain Ribbon: Pretty in Pink

Punches: Scallop Edge

Non-SU: Chipboard, Bind-it-all, Post-it pad

My Post-it note holder is made with two pieces of chipboard, 9cm x 8.5cm covered with DSP and cardstock and corner rounded.

I'll give you another break from the christmas sets over the next few posts - promise. I may even have a few sneak peeks from the new catalogue coming up soon so please come back soon.

Sara xx

Whoever heard of pink snow in September

Another card ready for the craft market on Sunday. For this one I played along with the sketch challenge on Stamps and Smiles:

Still in my pink phase, I created this:

Recipe

Stamp sets: Scandinavian Season, A Tree for all Seasons, Seasonal Wishes

Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Rose Red

Ink: Versamark, Regal Rose

Punches: Scallop Circle, 1-3/8" Circle

Taffeta Ribbon: Whisper White

Other: White EP, Heat and Stick Powder, Dazzling Diamonds, Soft Subtle Brads

Non-SU: Acetate

The winter tree was stamped with Versamark and then heat embossed with white EP. Faint sparkly snowflakes are stamped with Versamark, covered with Heat and Stick powder, heat embossed, covered with Dazzling Diamonds and then heated again to set. Pink snowflakes are done as the faint sparkly snowflakes but Regal Rose was added to the stamp after the Versamark. White snowflakes were stamped with Versamark on acetate and heat embossed with white powder. The white snowflakes were attached with Pretty in Pink brads.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx

A lucky money tree for the good luck theme challenge at SWU

Our challenge today on Stamp With Us is the theme Good Luck. I have a good luck sentiment in my stamp box but couldn't really think of any "lucky" image stamps. Searching through all my stamps I decided I could create a "money tree" - that's surely got to be lucky! I used sparkling glitter on the branches and leaves to represent the shiny coins. Bit of a stretch? Possibly.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Forest Friends, Sincere Salutations

Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White

Ink: Always Artichoke, Versamark, White Signo Gel Pen

Ribbon: Chocolate Chip Double Stitched, Certainly Celery Twill

Other: Heat and Stick powder, Dazzling Diamonds, Hodgepodge, Circle Ice Rhinestone Brads, Crafter's Toolkit

The "money tree" was made by inking just the crown of the tree with Versamark and then inking with Always Artichoke all over and stamping onto Whisper White card. I sprinkled Heat and Stick powder over and that just sticks to the areas that were Versamarked. The powder is heated gently, glitter added to what is essentially warm glue and then gently heated again to set the glitter. I paper pierced the Chocolate Chip mat using my Crafter's Toolkit and added faux stitching with my White Signo gel pen to co-ordinate with the double stitched ribbon. The Certainly Celery twill ribbon is from last month's special offer ribbon bundle but you could switch with Old Olive if you missed out on it. Rhinestone brads have been used to attach the Hodgepodge and look rather more sparkly IRL.

Please stop by the rest of the DT creations, they've come at this challenge from totally different directions. And I really hope that you'll have a go at this one (so I can steal your ideas for future good luck cards lol). I do stop by every entry that gets linked.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Sara xx

A photo wallet of my little staffie Bess

I'm hoping to make some blank Christmas photo wallets for the craft market at Barnsley on the 16th September. As I haven't made one before I thought I'd have a trial run by making one to show my little puppy dog Bess.

It was a great way to use up some colours that are sometimes a little bright for cardmaking. They suit her personality and pick up the bright green of Dad's lawn and the turquoise of the toy she destroyed LOL (see photos further down).

Recipe

Stamp sets: Frames with a Flourish, Garden Whimsy, Fresh Cuts, One of a Kind

Textured Cardstock: Green Galore, Gable Green, Tempting Turquoise

Plain Cardstock: Gable Green, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White

DSP: Rainbow Sherbet

Ink: Gable Green, Tempting Turquoise

Punches: Scallop Circle, Scallop Edge, 1-3/8" Circle, Corner Rounder

The design is from Splitcoaststampers here. I've added my photos of Bess and now just need to add a little journaling to complete the Wallet.

I'm really pleased with how this turned out and it's so less daunting than a full scrapbook so hope to make a few more of these.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx