A branch full of birds for the Mojo Monday challenge

Would you believe that this is the sixth card I've made today! What a fantastic bank holiday.

I got up early this morning and left DH in bed to sneak a little extra crafting in. After brunch we went out on our bikes. It's the first time I've been cycling in over two years so we took it pretty gentle today, just a short 4-1/2 mile round trip on the Trans Pennine Trail. Feeling OK at the moment, not sure yet though whether the legs will complain tomorrow, lol.

Then this afternoon I've done a bit more crafting and played along with the Mojo Monday challenge, which being the last Monday of the month, is a choice of round or square.

I opted for square this time:

Recipe

Stamp set: Queue Up

Cardstock: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White

Ink: Black Stazon, SU Markers

DSP: Tall Tales

Punches: Scallop Edge, Extra Large Two-Step Bird

The birds were stamped in Black Stazon and coloured with SU Markers. This layer was matted onto Chocolate Chip and then a scallop edged layer of So Saffron that I created using the Scallop Edge punch. A bit fiddly and I sort of wish I'd "cheated" and stuck a few Scallop Squares together instead. The branches were adhered with Tombow and the bird was popped up on a dimensional.

And where are the other cards I made today? Well they're my DT samples for the In Love With Stamping September challenges so you'll have to pop back for those ;-)

Sara xx

Thinking of becoming a demo? Come along to the Stampettes training on Thursday 9 September

Have you been thinking about becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator but keep putting it off because it seems a bit daunting?

Then why not come along to the next Stampette's training evening on Thursday 9 September at 7pm.

The training starts in a similar way to a regular SU workshop. I'll demo a technique and there'll be a make and take. Then we'll move on to discussing business techniques, ways of finding new customers, how to provide excellent service to our existing customers and of course how we can make the most of the new catalogue.

You'll get to take part in the crafting, see the sort of support I provide to my team and can ask any questions you like. You're welcome to stay for as long or as short a time as you like. Not interested in the business side, just want to be a hobby demo and get a discount on products? No problem, just stay for the crafting portion of the training.

At the moment my team is just the one very talented and accomplished downline, Jan. My goal for 2010-11 is to achieve our annual incentive trip (I can tell you more about that too at the training). To do that I need to grow my team and help them to achieve their own goals, whether that's as a hobby demo (just buying for themselves and a few friends) or as a business demo (running their own part time business with hours that fit around their family and other commitments).

This is a great time to join up as a demo. We have all the excitement of the Last Chance List in September, the new catalogue in October and Convention in London in November.

If you'd like to come along then please email me at sarastamper123@gmail.com and I'll send you directions. Too far to travel but still interested? Please get in touch and we can work out another way of going through things together, either telephone, by video over the internet, or if I'm travelling in your area, then a face to face meeting.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Sara xx

Loads of Love at Christmas time

Don't you just love long weekends? Time to sleep in and extra time to craft, what more could a girl ask for?

Well ... perhaps the same thing every week ;-) Greedy aren't I?

I enjoyed a fun pub quiz (virtual) last night over at In Love With Stamping. Thanks to Emma for organising it. I showed my ignorance completely but it was great fun, with fast and furious questions and hitting the refresh button on my computer every few seconds to try to get the next question as quickly as possible. Look out for the next one.

I'm posting now and then I'm off out to take Bess to her socialisation class. Hope the weather is better where you are, I think we're going to get a bit wet today. Should make for an interesting drive back from the class, lol.

For this card I decided to dust off my Loads of Love set while I've got time for a bit of colouring. This set is reduced from £18.95 to £15.16 but there's only a few more days to take advantage of the two-step stamping discount offer. Email me at sarastamper123@gmail.com to order now.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Loads of Love, Loads of Love Accessories, Time for a Tree

Cardstock: Old Olive, Whisper White

Ink: Basic Black, SU Markers, Versamark

DSP: Merry Moments

Other: White EP

An Old Olive side stair step card was backed with Merry Moments DSP for the base. The trees were coloured direct to stamp with markers, stamped out and then "washed over" with an aqua painter. These were cut out and adhered to the back step. Time for a Tree was wheeled onto Whisper White card with Basic Black ink and the truck, people and presents were stamped using the stamp-a-ma-jig for placement. These were all coloured using the markers and blender pens for shading. The truck was cut out and adhered to the middle step and the row of cars was cut out and adhered to the front step. Using Versamark, the sentiment was stamped onto Old Olive card and heat embossed with White EP. This was cut around and popped up on dimensionals on the side panel.

Here's the side view:

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Sara xx

Bird on a Branch stamp is also for Christmas

As I only got my Bird on a Branch set recently, I decided to try a Christmas card with it to see how well it works year round. The sandy speckle stamp made me think of snow so I used that as my starting point.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Bird on a Branch, Season of Joy (sentiment)

Cardstock: Not Quite Navy, Whisper White, Bordering Blue

Ink: Craft Whisper White, Basic Black, White Gel Pen

Punch: Eyelet Border

Satin Ribbon: Whisper White

Other: White EP

I stamped the bare branch and the bird in Basic Black on Bordering Blue card and then stamped around them with Craft Whisper White. I left the Craft ink to dry as I wanted a more subtle, less contrasty effect and then I drew snow onto the branch with the White Gel Pen. This was matted onto a layer of Whisper White punched with the Eyelet Border and popped up on dimensionals. The sentiment was stamped in Craft Whisper White but this time was heat embossed with White EP. White Satin Ribbon was tied around the card front.

If you'd like to get hold of the Bird on a Branch set at a discount, reduced from £14.95 to £11.96, then email me at sarastamper123@gmail.com soon. This offer ends on 31 August 2010.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx

Autumnal trendy trees using the baby wipe technique for the MojoMonday challenge

Even though I'm back studying again this week, I've managed to squeeze in some time for the MojoMonday challenge. Here's this week's sketch:

For this one, I decided to get my reinkers out for a play and combined them with the Trendy Trees (check out the discount offer here).

Recipe

Stamp set: Trendy Trees

Cardstock: So Saffron, Soft Suede, Ruby Red, Whisper White

Ink: Soft Suede

Reinkers: Ruby Red, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron

Punch: Word Window

Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon: Soft Suede

Other: Brads (Earth Elements), Designer Button (Playground), Linen Thread

The tree trunks were stamped onto Whisper White card with Soft Suede. I dripped 2-3 drops of each reinker onto a couple of folded baby wipes to create my own mini ink pad and stamped the tree tops using my stamp-a-ma-jig to get the alignment right. The same mini ink pad was used to stamp the sentiment which was then punched out with the Word Window. I used the button and linen thread tied around folded ribbon to create a "bow". The brads were added using the mat pack to get even spacing. All the rest is matting and layering.

I made good use of the multi-coloured "ink pad", so you might see a few more variations on this card over the next few days. Right now though, I'm planning a Christmas card for the next post.

Please stop by again soon.

Sara xx

Vintage Vogue roses for my Mums Birthday

Yesterday was my Mum's birthday and so DH and I went out and had a lovely family lunch with my Mum, Dad, brother and SIL - and no arguments, lol. Not bad for a family get together.

Anyway, now I get to show you the card I made for Mum. I went with a tri-shutter card (instructions here on Splitcoaststampers) and I've got lots of pix so that I can show you the different angles. Here it is folded flat.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Vintage Vogue, Baroque Motifs

Textured Cardstock: Very Vanilla

Plain Cardstock: Kraft, Very Vanilla

Ink: Brocade Blue, Soft Suede

DSP: Bella Bleu

Other: Circle Ice Rhinestone Brads, Dazzling Diamonds

Non-SU: Nestabilities

My Mum likes cards to say who they're for and so I made my own computer generated sentiment (I used the Zapfino font) for the front and printed it onto Very Vanilla card - best of both worlds. Unfortunately I got a smudge of blue ink on there (need to make sure computer ink is fully dry), hence the rhinestone (this, and the smaller one inside were centres pushed out from the rhinestone brads and attached with glue dots). For the background leaves, I inked with Soft Suede and stamped off to get the paler fronds to tone with the Kraft frame.

Mum also likes verses and so back to the computer again for the centre panel (Comic Sans font here, Zapfino is a bit fancy for a block of text). Most of the panels are Bella Bleu DSP matted onto the Textured Very Vanilla card blank. The floral panels centre top and bottom are Vintage Vogue stamped in Brocade Blue onto plain Very Vanilla card and matted and layered onto Kraft. For the back panel I used one of the Baroque Motifs, stamped three times in Brocade Blue onto Kraft card, cut out and finished with a small Circle Ice Rhinestone Brad in the centre and popped up on dimensionals.

The flowers were created using Marlene's tutorial here. To bling them up a little I used a two-way glue pen on the edges of the petals and dipped them in Dazzling Diamonds. I used Tombow to adhere them to each other and to the card front.

I created a box for the card (sorry forgot to photograph that) as it wouldn't survive in an envelope.

She loved it. And SIL commented that I'm getting good at this crafting lark, lol.

Hope you like it too.

Sara xx

I spy with my little magnifying glass ...

I had a great day out with my Mum yesterday. Her birthday's actually tomorrow but it's an annual tradition that I take a day off work sometime close to it and we go out for the day together. Yesterday we went out to Matlock Bath and the Heights of Abraham. Mum's always wanted to up in the cable car but Dad's not keen on the idea, so it made it the perfect choice for a mother/daughter day out. We didn't go down the caverns, as they warned that you needed to be of average fitness and mobility and Mum thought it might be a bit much for her. Instead we had a pleasant lunch up at the top looking out over the valley. There are some fantastic views from up there. I took a few pix but unfortunately it was a rather grey day so they don't really do the views justice. I'm still going to see whether I've got enough to do a bit of scrapbooking though.

I can't share Mum's card with you until after her birthday but here's another one that I'm preparing ahead, ready for the birthday of my friend's son. It uses a combination of stamp sets to create a small garden scene that's viewed through the "magnifying glass".

One of the stamp sets used is Something Sweet, currently on offer and reduced from £23.95 to £19.16. Please email me to order.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Something Sweet, Touch of Nature, Garden Whimsy, Happy Moments (sentiment)

Cardstock: Mellow Moss, Very Vanilla

Ink: Mellow Moss, Close to Cocoa, Soft Suede, SU Markers

Punches: Round Tab, 1-3/4" Circle, Scallop Oval, Word Window

Taffeta Ribbon: Mellow Moss

Other: Brass Jumbo Eyelet, Sweet Treat Cup

Non-SU: Jelly spider

First I trimmed a little off the front edge of a standard landscape A6 card so that my bookmark closure wouldn't extend beyond the card. A card front layer and a bookmark strip of Very Vanilla card was stamped randomly with the fern leaf from the Touch of Nature set using Mellow Moss. The 1-3/4" Circle was punched from the card front and this was used as a template for where to punch the stamped layer. The Sweet Treat Cup was adhered in place behind the stamped layer with glue dots and the adhesive backing left in place (otherwise it will stick to the slider). Narrow strips of card were adhered to the long edges of the stamped layer to create the ever so slight gap for the slider to move up and down more easily to get at the sweets. Sticky Strip was added to the sides and bottom of the back of this stamped and bordered layer (none in the centre or the top) and it was adhered to the card front, lining up the punched circle and the Sweet Treat Cup.

The slider bookmark closure was finished with a punched Round Tab of Mellow Moss, folded over and held in place with an eyelet and ribbon. The jelly spider was added to the cup and the slider slid into place between the stamped layer and the card front to hold it there.
The snail was stamped in Soft Suede and the magnifying glass handle in Close to Cocoa on Very Vanilla card. The ladybird and the butterfly were inked direct to stamp using markers and stamped onto Very Vanilla card. All were cut out and popped up on dimensionals.

A Scallop Oval of Mellow Moss was punch and the top and bottom trimmed off, leaving 3 scallops at each side. The sentiment was stamped in Close To Cocoa onto Very Vanilla and punch out with the Word Window. This was adhered direct to the trimmed Scallop Oval and the whole was popped up on dimensionals.

Recipe (Inside)

Stamp sets: Something Sweet, Garden Whimsy

Cardstock: Very Vanilla

Ink: Garden Green, Close to Cocoa

Little bugs were stamped onto the exposed edge of the card back and the insert.

A bit fiddly but worth the effort I think.

Of course I had to eat the spider on the card in the photo. I won't be sending the card for a few weeks so I'll need to buy a fresh sweet nearer the time, I can't send him a stale one now can I? ;-)

Sara xx

A bright coloured bird on a branch

Feeling a lot better today, the cold's finally clearing and so it's back to work for me.

Thanks very much for the congratulations I've received. I'm sure that the good news yesterday helped me shake off the lurgy.

My other good news yesterday was the arrival of another SU order. In with it was the Bird on a Branch set that I'd bought myself while it's on offer this month (reduced from £14.95 to £11.96, please email me if you'd like to order). This set didn't jump out at me when I saw it in the Mini catalogue but I've spotted such gorgeous samples on other blogs, that the offer was more than enough to tempt me.

I kept it clean and simple for today's card.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Bird on a Branch, Occasional Greetings (sentiment)

Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Basic Black, Whisper White

Ink: Melon Mambo, Basic Black

Punch: Eyelet Border

Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon: Melon Mambo

All very simple: stamping, matting and layering, with the bird cut out and popped up on a dimensional.

More two step stamping coming soon.

Sara xx

Yippee!! Had to share the good news!

Hi folks

Just a very quick post to share some good news. I've passed both of my June audit exams! That's four down now and just another one to go to get my diploma, followed by another four for the advanced diploma ...

Sara xx

Sweet pea felt flowers for the Mojo Monday challenge

I'm off work with the lurgy at the moment and my brain is rather fuzzy (DH would say no change there, lol). I've ended up making a couple of mistakes with my card today but I figured I'd go ahead and share it anyway.

The MojoMonday challenge this week is this:

And here's my card:

Recipe

Stamp sets: A Flower for all Seasons, Sincere Salutations (sentiment)

Cardstock: Pretty in pink, Rich Razzleberry, Very Vanilla, Old Olive

Ink: Black Stazon, SU Markers, Regal Rose

DSP: Sweet Pea

Punch: Scallop Edge

Satin Ribbon: Old Olive

Polka-dot Grosgrain Ribbon: Rich Razzleberry

Other: Sweet Pea Stitched Felt, Latte Designer Button, Gold Elastic Cord

Non-SU: Die cut shapes

I stamped the flower with Black Stazon on Very Vanilla card. The colouring was done by scribbling with my markers on my stamp-a-ma-jig sheet and mixing and picking up the colours with my Blender pen. The bow is just folded ribbon, it's the tied on button on the middle that actually makes it into a bow - super easy. As the card's already fairly busy I turned the polka-dot ribbon over to use the plain side - two ribbons in one, what great value.

The mistakes? Well, I changed my mind about the colours part way through and so I'd already stamped the sentiment in Regal Rose before I decided to use Rich Razzleberry as a main colour. And the layout isn't quite right, I'm still not happy with the empty space at the bottom of the card. I think I'll have to add something else there.

Sorry if I'm not making sense. Hope that I'll be back to normal again soon - I need to be cos I'm taking my Mum out for her birthday on Friday.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx

A cat card that I prepared earlier for Jan's birthday

I do hope that you're feeling better than me today. I've caught a rotten cold and combined with sinus problems, I'm feeling really poorly and sorry for myself at the moment. Not sure how much crafting I'll do today (I'm always worried that I might pass on the germs through the card - is that silly?) but at least I'll be able to surf and pick up some inspiration.

For now, here's "one I made earlier".

Jan's hubby Ian commissioned me to make a card for him to give to her on her birthday. I checked whether he had any preference for colours and/or images and he asked for cats and for her favourite colour, orange.

Now we don't have many cat images in the current catalogue (which is a shame) but I make cards for a local pet charity occasionally and have a few non-SU cat and dog stamps that I use for those.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Loads of Love (sentiment inside), Vintage Labels (sentiment)

Cardstock: Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Very Vanilla

Ink: Versamark, Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust

Punches: Scallop Oval, Large Oval, 1/2" Circle

Other: Gold EP, Black Brads (collection), Pumpkin Pie Brads (Earth Elements collection)

Non-SU: Cat stamp (Paper Artsy), paw print stamp (old from stash), Wire flower (stash)

I started with a standard A6 easel card blank in Basic Black. For the central image I cut a piece chipboard to size, inked it with Versamark and heat embossed with Gold EP four times to build up a good deep layer. While the EP was still hot and molten I stamped into it with the cat stamp inked up with Versamark (so that it will come away easily from the EP). Once cold I punched holes into each corner with the Crop-a-dile and matted onto Basic Black card with Black Brads. The Pumpkin Pie card front was stamped with the little paw prints in Basic black and then the edges were sponged with Pumpkin Pie and Really Rust ink. The wire flower was added with a black brad and the cat image was popped up on dimensionals. The card front was adhered to the bottom half of the easel front. The Happy Birthday sentiment was stamped in Basic Black on Pumpkin Pie and paw prints stamped on either side. This was punched out with the Large Oval, sponged as for the card front and matted onto a Basic Black Scallop Oval. The sentiment was popped up on dimensionals on the top left corner of the card front.

Inside I simply stamped the Loads of Love sentiment and created a stopper bar for the easel card by matting Pumpkin Pie and Basic Black strips of card, decorated with brads and popped up on dimensionals.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Sara xx

Greenhouse Garden One Sheet Wonder class - 11 September

My next class uses one of the August offer sets so I just thought I'd post it here as well as over at my Classes and Events page.

Duration: 2hrs

Level: Beginner

Cost: £10 if booked in advance (£12.50 on the day)

Time: 1pm - 3pm

Date: Saturday 11 September

Place: Tankersley Welfare Hall

In this class we'll create 8 beautiful cards for all occasions (design courtesy of Stamp With Us). All the toppers are made from a single stamped A4 sheet. You'll learn the two-step stamping technique and receive a cutting plan that you can then reuse at home with your own stamps. All materials and refreshments included.

Book the class and order the stamp set together as a bundle before 30 August and save over £6 on regular prices (including postage)! Pay just £28 for your class and the Greenhouse Garden stamp set and I'll bring your stamps along to the class. Click here and check out the Buy Now buttons on the right hand side menu to book securely online through Paypal or email me if you'd like to pay on the day.

Please note the stamp set and class bundle price is exclusive to orders and bookings placed through me.

A sweet and happy birthday to Jan

Happy Birthday Jan!!!

Today is my fabulous downline, Jan's birthday. I'm not giving her age away but it certainly isn't what her hubby Ian was trying to make it this year! Doesn't he know you always subtract rather than add if you want to stay in our good books? I'm sure that must be in the hubby manual somewhere, lol.

I hope you've had a fantastic day Jan and that you enjoyed your pampering and got to see the lions.

This was the card that I made to celebrate her day. (I got a text from her so I know she's seen it and it's safe to post).

Recipe

Stamp sets: Something Sweet, Flight of the Butterfly, Vintage Labels (sentiment)

Cardstock: Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White

Ink: Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Lovely Lilac

Punches: Round Tab, 1-3/4" Circle, Eyelet Border

Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon: Pumpkin Pie

Other: Metallic Eyelet, Sweet Treat Cup, Lime and Orange Tic Tacs

Something Sweet is on offer 1-31 August 2010, reduced from £23.95 to £19.16. Email me if you'd like to place an order.

For the flower I stamped the large circle from the Something Sweet set, up near the top of the Whisper White card. This circle gets punched out but it helps to have something to line the petals up to. Using the stamp-a-ma-jig, I then stamped the petals in Pumpkin Pie all around the circle, leaving about a 2mm gap from it. The leaves were stamped in Old Olive, varying the angle to create a "stem". Using the smallest butterfly from the Flight of the Butterfly set, I stamped in Lovely Lilac, one direct to the card front and one on a piece of scrap Whisper White which was then cut out. Again using the stamp-a-ma-jig, I stamped the Happy Birthday sentiment from the Vintage Labels set (one of the Sale-a-bration freebies at the beginning of the year), repeatedly in Pumpkin Pie. I then used a craft knife to cut around the tip of each petal and leaf and curled them slightly to create some dimension.

With everything stamped on the card front I then punched out the centre of the flower with the 1-3/4" Circle and used this as a positioning template for punching out the same circle from the Old Olive card blank. The Sweet Treat Cup was adhered in place with glue dots and the adhesive backing left in place (otherwise it will stick to the slider). Narrow strips of Pumpkin Pie card were punched with the Eyelet Border punch and adhered behind the Whisper White card. This provides decoration but also helps to create the ever so slight gap for the slider to move up and down more easily to get at the sweets. Sticky Strip was added to the sides and bottom of the back of this stamped and bordered layer (none in the centre or the top) and it was adhered to the card front, lining up the punched circle and the Sweet Treat Cup.

The slider closure was made using a wide strip of Pumpkin Pie card topped with a punched Round Tab of Old Olive, folded over and held in place with an eyelet and ribbon. Sweets were added to the cup and the slider slid into place between the stamped layer and the card front to hold them there. A strip of Old Olive card was snipped to make grass and adhered to the bottom of the card front. The additional butterfly and the Pumpkin Pie bow were added with glue dots.

For the insert the sentiment (also from the Something Sweet set) was stamped in Pumpkin Pie and a couple more Lovely Lilac butterflies added to the corners.

Have a great weekend everybody.

Sara xx

Greenhouse Garden set and Waterfall card tutorials by email

Today's creation uses another of the two- step stamp sets currently on offer with 20% off the regular price. The Greenhouse Garden set is reduced from £22.95 to £18.36 (offer valid 1-31 August 2010). Please email me if you'd like to order it.

The card layout and the gift bag design are identical to those we used at the recent Summer Stamptacular event.

I've been asked by a few people who couldn't attend the Summer Stamptacular, whether the tutorials are available for purchase by email and so I've put the tutorial for this set and the waterfall card together as a mini tutorial bundle, available for purchase using the "Greenhouse Garden Mini Bundle" Buy Now button on the right hand side menu. Click here to see the cards.

If you'd like to make this version using the purchased instructions then you'll need to make the following substitutions:

Regal Rose cardstock/ink = Chocolate Chip cardstock/ink

Regal Rose ink (for stamping down back of card) = Tempting Turquoise ink

Pretty in Pink cardstock/ink = Bashful Blue cardstock/ink

Tea Party DSP = Sweet Pea DSP Stack (available while stocks last but no later than 30 September 2010)

Whisper White Satin Ribbon = Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon

Dazzling Diamonds = mix of Turquoise (Fine Cosmo glitter set) and Dazzling Diamonds

For each flower I inked the base flower with Bashful Blue and then used a sponge dauber to add Tempting Turquoise around the edges of the petals (this gives a softer look than the rock 'n' roll technique which is another option). This was stamped onto Whisper White card and then the detail stamped with Chocolate Chip ink.

Extra flowers were added to the opposite corner of the bag and a large flower stamped and an eyelet and elastic cord added as a gift tag. The handle tabs weren't stamped but Jumbo Brads were added instead.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx

Birthday, wedding or anniversary card in Kraft, Vanilla and Gold

It was my friend's birthday last Friday and this is the card that I made for her (she should have received it by now so I think I'm safe to show it). As I was preparing the pix for this blogpost though, I started thinking that it would work equally well as a wedding or anniversary card. What do you think?

Recipe

Stamp set: Tiny Tags

Cardstock: Kraft, Very Vanilla

Ink: Versamark

DSP: Bridesmaid

Punches: 5-Petal Flower, Medium Jewelry Tag, Boho Blossoms

Other: Gold EP, Gold Elastic Cord, Cream Halfback Pearl (Pretties Kit)

The card blank is Kraft (soon to be renamed Crumb Cake) and this was matted with a layer of Very Vanilla and another layer of Kraft. I punched two 5-Petal Flowers from the Bridesmaid DSP and pencilled around one of them to work out where to stamp the larger flower spray from the Tiny Tags stamp set. This was stamped three times in Versamark and heat embossed with Gold EP. The pencil marks were erased and the flower added using glue dots, with a medium sized Kraft Boho Blossom and a halfback pearl to finish the centre. The heart and the love sentiment from the same stamp set were stamped in Versamark onto Very Vanilla card, heat embossed with Gold EP and punched out with the Medium Jewelry Tag. They were then threaded onto some Gold Elastic Cord. A strip of Bridesmaid DSP was strengthened with scrap card (to prevent the cord from buckling it), wrapped with the gold cord (secured in place on the reverse with Sticky Strip) and popped up on dimensionals. The tags were popped up on half dimensionals and arranged in place.

Here's a close up to show the gold embossing:

The Tiny Tags set is one of the two-step Stampin' sets that we have on offer this month and is reduced from £18.95 to £15.16 (offer valid 1-31 August 2010). Please email me if you'd like to order.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Sara xx

Helping Hudson - Tutorial bundles update

On Sunday I told you all about the Helping Hudson event (details here). Well I've received my tutorial bundles now (an easy download process by the way) - all 6 plus the bonus one, so I can now give you a heads up on how they match across to our SU materials.

Bundle 1 - Christmas

6 of the projects use stamp (set)s we don't have but they are very easily substituted with ones we do.

3 of the projects use the Big Shot with dies but again I think you could still use the ideas quite easily and create your own templates. One of these could be created as a smaller version using the scallop circle punch.

This bundle has some great techniques and templates that you could use for other projects.

Bundle 2 - Masculine

4 of the projects use stamp (set)s we don't have but they are easily substituted with ones we do or with choice of DSP.

This bundle has some great techniques and templates that you could use for other projects.

Bundle 3 - Punch Art

8 of the projects use punches that we don't (yet) have in the UK (roll on October when we hopefully might get a few new ones!). However with a little creativity/swapping for punches we do have, you can still make many of the projects.

Bundle 4 - Kids Birthdays

4 of the projects (and some of the pictured variations) use stamp (set)s we don't have but they are very easily substituted with ones we do.

3 projects of the projects use the Big Shot with dies but again, you could still use the ideas quite easily and create your own templates.

This bundle has some fabulous templates that you could use for other projects.

Bundle 5 - Scrapbooking

5 of the projects use stamp (set)s we don't have but they are very easily substituted with ones we do.

3 of the projects use the Big Shot with dies but again I think you could still use the ideas quite easily and create your own templates.

This bundle has great techniques and a template that you could use for other projects.

Bundle 6 - Bags, Boxes and Gifts

6 or so of the projects (and some of the pictured variations) use stamp (set)s we don't have but they are very easily substituted with ones we do.

3 of the projects use the Big Shot with dies but again I think you could still use the ideas quite easily and create your own templates.

This bundle has some great techniques and templates that you could use for other projects.

Bonus Bundle - free when you buy 4 or more bundles

A set of great techniques to be used with any stamp sets.

Here's hoping you can support the cause. Click here to buy your bundles.

Thanks

Sara xx

Scrapbooking for the August sketch challenge at ILWS - take 2

And today I'm back around to the August ILWS sketch challenge which, if you remember was this:

The first time around I used it for a card but as soon as I saw it I knew it would be a great layout for a single photo scrapbook page. I made a 6" x 6" size using a photo I've used before. It has limited colours that are easy to pick out in my card and paper choices. I will have to take some new pix of Bess - the trouble is that whenever we're out with her we have our hands full enough without trying to manage a camera too, lol.

Recipe

Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise

DSP: Groom, Kaleidoscope

Punch: Corner Rounder

The base page is a piece of 6" x 6" Groom DSP. A wide strip of Kaleidoscope DSP was matted onto Tempting Turquoise and adhered direct to the base page. I cut strips of one sheet of DSP and then adhered these to some Whisper White card, turning the DSP over for alternate strips. This was then trimmed to shape following the lines of the strips and then matted onto more Tempting Turquoise card. This was popped up on dimensionals on the left side of the page. The photo was cropped, the corner rounder punch used on the corners and then matted onto Tempting Turquoise, also with the corners punched. The left side of the photo was adhered direct to the alternated strips and the right side of the photo popped up on dimensionals so that the same height was retained throughout.

Have a great weekend.

Sara xx

August technique challenge with cling film and shimmer paint

Today is my FIL's birthday and for his card I used the August technique challenge from over at ILWS:

Plastic Wrap - cut yourself a length of saran wrap (cling film in our house). Crumble it up, dab onto the ink pad, press on paper - easy!!!

Recipe

Stamp sets: Trendy Trees, Happy Moments (sentiment)

Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White

Ink: Basic Black, Versamark, Frost White Shimmer Paint

Punch: Word Window

Other: Gold EP

Non-SU: Silver cardstock, cling film

The cling film was crumpled up, dipped in Frost White Shimmer Paint, blotted to remove excess and then dabbed along the top and bottom of the Basic Black card blank and left to dry. Using a sponge dauber I inked the tree foliage stamps with the Shimmer Paint and stamped them onto a strip of Basic Black. I used the stamp-a-ma-jig to position the trees and used the heat tool to dry the paint in between each stamping so as not to smudge the ink with the jig. The tree trunks were then stamped and heat embossed with Gold EP, again one at a time to avoid smudging. This was then matted direct onto some silver card and then onto the card front. A Whisper White insert was adhered to the inside. Using the Word Window I punched an aperture in the bottom right front of the card, pencilled in the window on the insert and used the stamp-a-ma-jig to position the sentiment before erasing the pencil marks.

Don't forget that we have 20% off this Trendy Trees set at the moment (along with a selection of other two-step stampin' sets). See here for more details and email me to order yours.

MIL and FIL are here for tea tonight so I'm off now to tuck into our fish and chip supper, followed by Pavlova (can you put candles on Pavlova?) and a friendly game of darts on the board they bought DH for his birthday.

I'll be back with the last of my ILWS challenge samples tomorrow.

Sara xx

PS. My Helping Hudson tutorial bundles have arrived so I'll check through those and let you know how many use UK catty supplies, just as soon as I can.

August colour challenge at ILWS - take 2

Yesterday I shared my first sample for the colour challenge this month over at ILWS which uses:

• Basic Gray
• So Saffron
• Certainly Celery
• Whisper White

Today I have a different card using the same colour combo ... and I just couldn't resist using my Vintage Vogue set, I knew it would look great in these colours:

Recipe

Stamp sets: Vintage Vogue, Very Vintage, Tiny Tags

Textured Cardstock: Basic Gray

Plain Cardstock: So Saffron, Whisper White

Ink: So Saffron, Basic Gray, Certainly Celery

Punches: Eyelet Border, Medium Jewelry Tag, 1/4" Circle

Brads: Certainly Celery (Soft Subtles), So Saffron (Rich Regals)

Throughout, I stamped the Basic Gray ink off once each time to get a softer shade of grey. First I used the Very Vintage wheel to stamp the background in Basic Gray onto So Saffron card. I stamped the butterfly area of the image again onto a scrap of So Saffron and cut it out to use later. The edges of the background were punched with the Eyelet Border and then this layer was adhered direct to a layer of Textured Basic Gray card. The Tiny Tags were stamped, punched and added to the corners with Certainly Celery Brads. For the flowers I used the rock and roll technique. I inked the stamp up first with So Saffron and the rolled the edges of the stamp in Basic Gray and stamped onto Whisper White card. The leaves were simply stamped with Certainly Celery ink. Each flower was cut out with a narrow margin, shaped and in the centre a 1/4" Circle of punched Textured Basic Gray card added with a So Saffron brad. These were popped up on dimensionals. The leaves were also cut out with a narrow margin, shaped a little at the end and added on glue dots. Finally a rolled up glue dot was added to the spine of the butterfly and lined up over the one on the background.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx

August colour challenge at ILWS

Our colour challenge this month over at ILWS is to use:

• Basic Gray
• So Saffron
• Certainly Celery
• Whisper White

I love this colour combo and I'm so pleased that Basic Gray will be a core colour in a couple of months time. Then I'll be able to buy it in single colour packs not just mixed neutrals packs :-)

Recipe

Stamp sets: Trendy Trees, Happy Moments (sentiment)

Textured Cardstock: Basic Gray

Plain Cardstock: So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Whisper White

Ink: So Saffron, Basic Gray

Punches: 1-3/8" Circle, 1-1/4" Circle, Word Window

Wide Grosgrain Ribbon: So Saffron

Taffeta Ribbon: Basic Gray

Brads: Certainly Celery (Soft Subtles), So Saffron (Rich Regals)

I marked the centres for the circles on both the Gray and Celery layers and punched with the 1-3/8" Circle on the Gray and the 1-1/4" Circle on the Celery. These layers were then matted. I marked the circle apertures onto the Whisper White layer with a pencil and then used the stamp-a-ma-jig to stamp the tree tops in Saffron and the trunks in Basic Gray (stamping the Gray off first each time to get a paler shade of grey). So Saffron brads were pushed through each of the top corners and So Saffron ribbon was wrapped around the lower portion of the grey layer. (This ribbon was a freebie last August with purchase and has lasted me ages - it's well worth snapping these up when they're there). Snail was applied across the centre of the So Saffron ribbon and then Basic Gray taffeta ribbon was pleated over the top, leaving a flat patch in the centre where a ribbon knot was attached with a glue dot. This grey layer was popped up on dimensionals onto the So Saffron card blank. Finally the sentiment was stamped onto Whisper White card and punched out with the Word Window punch. The same punch was used on Certainly Celery card, snipped in the middle and adhered behind either end of the sentiment. So Saffron brads were added for decoration and the sentiment popped up on dimensionals on the card front.

Tomorrow I'll be using the same colour combo for a different look and on Thursday the same stamp set in a different colour combo.

Sara xx