Handbags and pearls for a girlie birthday card

Todays card is made using a new stamp set that I've bought specially for the Summer Stamptacular on 24 July. We still have a few places left if you'd like to book (click here and use the Buy Now button(s) or email me for alternate payment options) but we'll need to close the guaranteed bookings no later than next Sunday, 18th July to ensure that we can get all materials delivered and prepared in time. (After the 18th you'll be counting on cancellations to get a spot).

I decided to have a play with the set to test it out, lol. I remembered seeing some little handbags like these over at ILWS and have to thank Maggie and Joanne for their inspiration.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Totally Tabs, Vintage Labels (sentiment)

Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Not Quite Navy

Ink: Not Quite Navy, Versamark

DSP: Bashful Blue Patterns, Bride

Punches: Round Tab, 1-3/4" Circle, 1" Circle, 3/4" Circle, Word Window, Full Heart, Scallop Edge

Other: Small Halfback Pearls (Pretties Kit), White EP

The card blank is Bashful Blue and the handbags were made by stamping with Not Quite Navy ink (centre bag is Verasmark and heat embossed with White EP) onto Bashful Blue Patterns DSP, then punching out with the Round Tab. This was folded in half and a handle added by punching Not Quite Navy card first with the 3/4" Circle then centring and punching with the 1" Circle. A different "flap" was added to each bag using the Word Window, Full Heart (pointed base) and 1" Circle trimmed to size and finished with small halfback Pearls as "clasps". The aperture was made by punching a Scallop Edge to one long edge of Not Quite Navy, then using the 1-3/4" Circle punch pushed all the way against the Scallop Edge and a fraction in from each side and then in the centre. Bride DSP was added direct to a Scallop Edged mat of Bashful Blue Patterns and then the aperture was popped up on dimensionals. The handbags were placed through the centre of each aperture.

The sentiment was stamped to one side along the bottom and then the offcut from a Not Quite Navy Scallop Edge was trimmed to size and Tombowed in place around the sentiment. Strips of Bride were cut to a similar size and added to the aperture.

A fun card for any handbag loving girlie that can be personalised by choosing their favourite colour.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx

Bunches of flowers for a girlie birthday card

A long day for me yesterday. I did make it to Birkenhead but we got stuck in traffic on the M62 so we had to reschedule meetings to the end of the afternoon. Tired already and there's still so much week to go :-( never mind, I'll have to craft to take my mind off it :-)

I'm rushing through another card using the free Sale-a-bration sets before they disappear at the weekend. There's still time to email me and order if you haven't got yours yet.

I've combined the Happy Moments with the Vintage Labels for this birthday card:

Recipe

Stamp sets: Happy Moments, Vintage Labels

Cardstock: Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White

Ink: Black Stazon, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, SU Markers (Old Olive, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose)

Punch: Scallop Circle

Wide Grosgrain Ribbon: Regal Rose

I stamped the flowers in Black Stazon on the white card and coloured them with SU markers. The pink background was made by stamping with Pretty in Pink ink on Pretty in Pink card but you could get the same sort of watermark effect by using Versamark. The scallop circle frame was stamped with Regal Rose and then the sentiment popped in the centre using the stamp-a-ma-jig. The whole was stamped out with the Scallop Circle punch and matted onto a Regal Rose Scallop Circle. Some ribbon to finish and that's the front done.

If you don't have a stamp-a-ma-jig then (you're missing out, lol) you could always stamp the sentiment separately, punch it out with a smaller circle punch and mat it onto the scallop.

For the inside I stamped the bunch of flowers again lightly in Pretty in Pink and used the sentiment from the Crazy for Cupcakes set.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx

Some projects from last nights workshop

Last night's workshop was great fun as usual, though it was a bit hairy getting home afterwards. It had started snowing a little before the end and there was a light covering when we came out. The closer I got to home, the thicker the snow and there's a steep road to go down on the last mile. I'm not sure who was most worried, me or the car in front that was going even slower than I would have preferred to do. Anyhow, I got home safe and the workshop was well worth it, I just love getting together with other crafters.

If you've stopped by for a look ladies then - Hi, nice to see you here! *waves* Please leave me a comment so that I know you were here.

Here are a couple of the projects we covered.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Greenhouse Garden, Occasional Greetings

Cardstock: Regal Rose (plain and textured), Chocolate Chip, Whisper White

Ink: Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip

Punches: Eyelet Border, 1-1/4" Circle, 1-3/8" Circle

Wide Grosgrain Ribbon: Regal Rose

Other: Pretties Kit

I used the stamp-a-ma-jig to line the flower detail up within the solid flower stamps. A piece of ribbon is wrapped around the chocolate border and then a shorter piece of ribbon tied around the first. The textured card and the halfback pearls (which I nearly forgot to add, lol) give the card a luxury feel.

This little Easter basket was the make and take that everyone had a go at. I had wondered if it was too early in the year to share it but I was assured that it was ideal timing.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Vintage Labels, Forest Friends, Occasional Greetings

Cardstock: So Saffron, Almost Amethyst, Whisper White

DSP: Tea Party

Ink: Perfect Plum

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

Vintage labels was used to decorate the scallop background. The Easter bunny is on one side of the basket and on the other, is the sentiment Easter Wishes from the Occasional Greetings set.

The snow's melted here now, thank goodness.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Sara xx

A vintage male birthday (that's vintage labels stamps - not a vintage male, heehee)

What's that I hear you say, just like buses, no sign of any hardware and then a bunch at once? Lol! I know, I know, I really should use them all more often. I had a card to make for a male friend and figured the Vintage Labels would be ideal. This particular one is not too fussy and teamed with some DSP and hardware, it isn't too plain either.

Recipe

Stamp set: Vintage Labels

Cardstock: Glorious Green, Whisper White

DSP: Groom, Kaleidoscope

Ink: Basic Black, Glorious Green

Other: Hodgepodge Hardware, Clips Assortment, Silver Brads

I used the stamp-a-ma-jig to position the text centrally within the frame. The layers of Groom DSP are raised on dimensionals both for interest and to give room for the hardware to lie flat on the reverse.

I've reversed the text and frame colours for the inside of the card.

Have a great weekend.

Sara xx

February sketch challenge at In Love With Stamping

Regular readers may know that I recently joined the Design Team over at In Love With Stamping. The introduction of a Design Team was part of some exciting new changes to the site, including swapping to monthly challenges and the start of a quarterly Crafters Cup challenge (next one is in April).

Our first set of monthly challenges have gone live today and I'll be showcasing my own samples for these challenges every day this week (if you just can't wait, then you can head over to ILWS right now, but please come back, pretty please?).

First up we have a sketch challenge:

Now I also happen to be the first new DT member in line to provide a tutorial (we'll be taking it in turns to make sure there's at least one new tutorial on the forum for you every month). Mine is a pocket tissue pack holder and I combined it with the sketch challenge:

Recipe:

Stamp sets: Bella Toile, Vintage Labels

Cardstock: Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla

DSP: Bella Bleu

Ink: Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel

Punches: Scallop Circle, 3/4" Circle

Other: Filigree Brad

Just click here to be taken to the tutorial.

Here you can see the tissue pack inside:

I hope you feel inspired to have a go at the challenge or the tutorial, or both! If you do have a go then please share your piccie with us in the gallery at ILWS so that we can see what you've made and leave you a nice comment.

Have fun.

Sara xx

Join us on a bloghop featuring the Sale-a-bration stamp sets

Hi and welcome to our Sale-a-bration bloghop.

If you're starting here then grab a cuppa and make yourself comfy cos we've got lots to share with you ;-) There are 15 blogs to visit in this loop and 15 to visit in loop 2. You'll know when you've completed a loop when you end up back where you started.

If you've joined me from Debbi's Taylor-made Cards (aren't her bloghop creations marvelous), then welcome and thanks for stopping by on your way through our bloghop wonderland.

Don't forget that you get one of four exclusive, free, Sale-a-bration stamp sets with every £45 purchase. With no limit on how many you can get, this is the best possible time to treat yourself to that new stamp set you've had your eye on, or simply stock up on the essentials; cardstock, adhesive, inks etc. Just email me to place an order.

You may wish to consider supporting the Haitian Disaster Relief by adding the Greenhouse Garden set to your Sale-a-bration order. From now until 28 February, 2010, £1 from every Greenhouse Garden stamp set will be donated to the American Red Cross International Response Fund. The Red Cross is already well established on Haiti and this money will be used to provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to those in need.

Now, on to the crafting ...

Recipe

Stamp sets: Happy Moments, Oval All

Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, More Mustard, Whisper White

Ink: Black Stazon, Taken with Teal, Markers

DSP: Tea Party

Punches: Scallop Oval, Large Oval

Other: Gold Elastic Cord

For this card I stamped the stack of presents and then folded the card at the base before cutting them out. The elastic cord was wrapped around and then tied shut. This allows the present stack to be opened up for a tiny hidden message.

Next I put together a simple set of cards to showcase the Vintage Labels and show just how easy it is to make quick cards with them. Each frame is matched with a sentiment from the same free Sale-a-bration set and a different jumbo wheel used to create the background.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Vintage Labels, Whimsy, It's Beautiful, Leaves a la Carte

Cardstock: Whisper White, Brocade Blue, Bashful Blue, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Old Olive, Certainly Celery

Ink: Brocade Blue, Bashful Blue, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Old Olive, Certainly Celery

Punches: Scallop Circle, Eyelet Border, Scallop Edge

Striped Grosgrain Ribbon: Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, Old Olive

And finally from me, here's a card using the Good Neighbors set:

Recipe

Stamp set: Good Neighbors

Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke, Old Olive

Ink: Old Olive, Versamark, Markers

Wide Grosgrain Ribbon: Old Olive

Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon: Certainly Celery

Punch: Scallop Edge

Other: White EP, Small Circle Metal Edge Tag

I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig to position all the separate elements, houses, roofs, trees and clouds. The background is all stamped in Old Olive on Certainly Celery card. I then used markers (Close to Cocoa, Really Rust and Ruby Red) to stamp onto the Metal Edge Tag (a little fiddly but works as long as you don't nudge the Tag). The sentiment was borrowed from the Vintage Labels set, stamped in Versamark and heat embossed with White embossing powder.

Thanks for visiting and now I'll pass you on to ...

... Victoria over at Blue Jelly Stampin' where you're in for a real treat.

See you again soon I hope.

Sara xx

On the road again but time for another card

Hello from Hastings! I went to work yesterday only to find that I was needed urgently to fill in for a colleague, so it was a quick dash home to pack, then hop on a train down country and here I am. It's such an exciting life being an auditor, lol. Bit of a shame that all I get to see of this bit of the country is the inside of the office and the inside of a hotel room (see it's not such a glamorous life after all).

We didn't finish until rather late tonight and I expect another long day tomorrow but I thought I'd steal five minutes or so to share this card that I made on Sunday evening.

For my last SU order I decided to stray from my usual menu of stamps, DSPs and inks and popped the Circle Metal Edge Tags in my basket. Then ... what do you do with them? Well the Flower for All Seasons stamps fit perfectly within them so I decided to make them the focus of this card.

Recipe

Stamp sets: A Flower for all Seasons, Vintage Labels (SAB)

Cardstock: Pink Passion, Pixie Pink

Ink: Black Stazon, Pink Passion, Markers

Punches: Corner Rounder

Gingham Ribbon: Light Pink

Other: Circle Metal Edge Tag

The flower image is stamped directly onto the Metal Tag with Black Stazon and coloured with markers. I used the circle image and the sentiment from the Vintage Labels set and used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to position them. A little gingham bow just finishes the card and balances it out.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx

A sketch challenge at Stamp With Us and news of the online class

I loved your entries to our last Stamp With Us challenge. The colour inspiration wasn't amongst my favourites ... until now. The results with that colour combo were stunning.

This next fortnight's challenge is a sketch and this is a great one that I'm sure I'll reuse again in the future:

I can't stop using my new (and free!) Sale-a-bration stamps but I've used just one of them as an accent today instead of making it the focal point:

Recipe

Stamp sets: On a Pedestal, Circle of Friendship, Vintage Labels (SAB)

Cardstock: Close to Cocoa, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White

DSP: Spiced Cider, Tea Party

Ink: Regal Rose, Creamy Caramel, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Old Olive

Punches: Scallop Circle, 1" Circle

Other: Dazzling Diamonds, Soft Subtles Brads, Circle Fire Rhinestone Brads, Antique Brass Jumbo Eyelets, Mat Pack, Piercing Tool

The cake is "iced" with Dazzling Diamonds. Can you believe, I think this is its first time out since the Christmas cards, lol. I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to make sure the cake sat in the middle of the stand and the cherry sat on the top. The vintage label was stamped and punched with the scallop circle punch. I snipped between each scallop and shaped them for some extra dimension.

If you haven't been over to SWU in a week or so then you may have missed the announcement that the next Stamp With Us online class will start on Sunday 31 January. These classes are jam packed with tutorials and tips from the team and inspiration from both the team and participants alike. I'm looking forward to meeting up with new and existing friends and hope to see you there.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Sara xx