Glittery baubles in the window

The different size Tag punches are ideal for making a frame within a frame and so I combined them with the Medium Window sheet to make a window card. Don't forget that you can still get either of the Tag punches (or even both) when you order from the Christmas Gift-giving Guide here. Just drop me an email to place an order.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Tree Trimmings, Best Yet (retired)

Cardstock: Lovely Lilac, Almost Amethyst

DSP: Tea Party

Ink: Versamark, White Craft

Punches: Tag, Small Tag, Eyelet Border, Large Oval, Scallop Oval

Other: Medium Window Sheet, Heat & Stick Powder, White EP, Dazzling Diamonds

I punched the larger Tag windows first of all, spacing them evenly. Then with a strip of the Almost Amethyst lightly tacked in place behind I punched with the Small Tag to create the frames. Medium Window Sheet was sandwiched between the two cardstock layers (stuck permanently this time) and I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to position the Tree Trimming baubles in each window. This view shows the windows a little more clearly.

In Love With Stamping have another Prize Patrol for those playing along with their Explosion Card tutorial and uploading their entry. Details of the tutorial and how to enter are here and the deadline is midnight on Friday 11 December. Unfortunately I can't play along this time as I'm in Plymouth and only have a very few crafting materials with me but good luck with your entries.

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

A girlie pink and gold christmas card

Don't you just love bank holidays? I do! Apologies to anyone out there who has to work today but for me it's a chance to do some crafting, after a busy weekend that didn't leave any time spare.

And being a bank holiday Monday ... I popped over to MojoMonday for this week's sketch:

I decided to go back to my Christmas card making ready for the craft market and went for a very girlie pink and gold concoction with a bit of bling thrown in.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Scandinavian Season, Best Yet

Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Whisper White

Ink: Versamark, Markers (Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose)

Wide Grosgrain Ribbon: Regal Rose

Striped Grosgrain Ribbon: Pretty in Pink

Other: Gold brads, Fire Circle Rhinestone Brad, Gold EP, Dazzling Diamonds

Non-SU: Nesties, Cuttlebug embossing folder

I coloured with Pretty in Pink marker behind the Dazzling Diamonds. The glitter is fine enough to let the background colour shine through and yet still give the sparkly effect.

The sentiment is from Best Yet (a set of six sentiments), a level 1 hostess set that will only be available until the end of September. After that it will be gone, so if you'd like to get your hands on a set please contact me to book a workshop.

Enjoy what's left of the holiday.

Sara xx

I'm dreaming of a purple Christmas

I'm doing my best to make sure that Christmas doesn't creep up on me this year and that I get a few xmas cards made each month. Although I enjoy the traditional colours for some of my cards I really love using blues and purples as well.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Scandinavian Season, Best Yet

Cardstock: Almost Amethyst, Lovely Lilac, Whisper White

Ink: Versamark

Embossing Powders: Silver, White

Rhinestone Brads: Lilac

Stampin' Write Markers: Almost Amethyst

Punches: Scallop Oval, Large Oval

Other: Dazzling Diamonds

Non-SU: Nesties

The card blank was stamped with snowflakes and heat embossed with white powder for the background. The sentiment and tree were heat embossed with silver EP and a section of the tree picked out with markers. A separate section was picked out with Tombow adhesive and sprinkled with Dazzling Diamonds. I'm not sure that you can see the bling factor too well but I've tried to show different angles to pick it up.

I'm working on a few boxes and bags now to go with the card.

Sara xx

This sweet little box didn't make the cut this time round

A bit shorter post today. Sunday's origami box was a bit of a mammoth blog but I hope you liked it.

Due to popular demand I've added a short notice Boxes and Bags class to my schedule on the 1 July (places still available - email me to book or for more information). I've been testing out a few new designs for the class and this one didn't make the cut.

I got the design from over at Splitcoaststampers and believe me, it is a sweet little box, nothing major wrong with it - but I think it's too fiddly for whoever you give it to (who may not be a patient crafter) to get the ribboned lid on and off. I'm going to try it again with eyelets and taffeta ribbon and hopefully it should slide easier then. Failing that then I may have to rethink the lid design altogether.

Recipe

Stamp set: Best Yet

Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue, Whisper White

DSP: Washington Apple

Ink: Ruby Red

Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon: Pumpkin Pie

Punches: Scallop Edge, Scallop Circle, 1-3/8" Circle, 1-1/4" Circle

Non-SU: Acetate

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx

A Scandinavian Christmas card on Good Friday

A little late in the week but this is my entry to the Mojo Monday sketch challenge.

I loved this layout - will have to save it for future cards. It was also a great excuse to break in one of my new stamp sets and try one of the new Designer Series Papers (DSP).

This is the sketch to be followed.

I decided to use just three of the colours from the Ski Slope DSP for my colour scheme and started with Chocolate Chip card for my blank. The two different strips of the blue Ski Slope papers were strengthened with some plain card behind them to better support the ribbon and brads. Using Versamark ink and silver embossing powder I stamped the snowflake and tree from the Scandinavian Season set onto Chocolate Chip card. The sentiment is from the Best Yet set (a Level 1 hostess gift). These were all matted onto Real Red card.

Real Red narrow grosgrain ribbon with a faux bow was wrapped around one of the Ski Slope papers and the other had a trio of medium, red, rhinestone brads from the Circle Fire set, added to it. The DSP strips were stuck flat to the card and the embossed elements were all raised on dimensionals.

A good fun challenge and another Christmas card ready to reduce the panic when November rolls around.

Hope you're having a lovely holiday.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx