April chalks challenge at In Love With Stamping

Well today's my Open Day, so if you're in the area (North Sheffield/Barnsley - just email me for directions) then please pop in any time 1pm-4pm and say hello.

One of the demonstrations I'll be doing today is a colour variation on this card that I made for the In Love With Stamping chalks challenge.

Recipe

Stamp set: Vintage Vogue

Cardstock: Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla

Ink: Craft Whisper White, Versamark, Stampin' Pastels

Taffeta Ribbon: Kraft

Punch: Eyelet Border

Other: Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint

The card base is Creamy Caramel cut to a standard A6 portrait card and then the front is folded back on itself to create a z-fold. Two panels of Chocolate Chip card were cut to 1-3/4" x 5-1/2". One was stamped with the edge stamp from the Vintage Vogue set, in Craft Whisper White ink and the other with the vine stamp, using the stamp-a-ma-jig for placement. Creamy caramel chalk was pounced (tapped) with sponge daubers onto the Craft ink. The chalk "sticks" to the Craft ink and the base white of the Craft ink allows the lighter colour chalk to show up on dark card. Excess chalk was blown off and then the image brushed very lightly with a dry paintbrush. The edges of the panels were dusted with the chalk using the dauber in a circular motion and avoiding rubbing the already stamped images.

The Friends stamp was stamped in Versamark onto Very Vanilla card, Chocolate Chip chalk pounced onto it and then the edges dusted. This was stuck flat to Creamy Caramel card.

A small strip of Very Vanilla card was punched at one end with the Eyelet punch and dusted with Chocolate Chip chalk. Champagne Mist Shimmer paint was rubbed over the top of the chalk using a sponge dauber dipped into the lid of the painted and applied in the same way as dusting the chalk. Kraft taffeta ribbon was wrapped around and secured behind with Sticky Strip and a small bow attached with a glue dot.

The Friends topper was raised on dimensionals and the whole piece added to the card base using dimensionals down just one side.

Hairspray can be used to seal the chalks in place and stop them rubbing off.

Not very easy to see it in the photos but there is a beautiful sheen from the champagne mist shimmer paint.

And don't forget that tonight is the Cup Challenge over at In Love With Stamping. Registration is 5pm-7pm and there'll be a thread here to sign up when it opens, then the first challenge will go up at 7pm. I'm on the organising committee tonight so I won't be playing along but will be there to help with any questions and to cheer you all on.

Hope to see you IRL this afternoon or virtually tonight ;-)

Sara xx

April recipe challenge at In Love With Stamping

I hope that you're having a restful Good Friday and making the most of our long weekend.

Hopefully you might find time to join in the monthly challenges we have for you over at In Love With Stamping. There are four in total and the one I'm sharing with you today is the Recipe challenge. The recipe is two brads, two buttons and only one image stamp.

This year's Mini Catalogue has introduced single stamps for the first time and this butterfly stamp has fabulous detail.

I chose it for my one image stamp and decided to combine it with one of our three new shimmer paints for maximum effect:

Recipe

Stamp set: All a Flutter

Cardstock: Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise

Ink: Versamark, Taken with Teal

DSP: Pink Flamingo

Other: White EP, Frost White Shimmer Paint, Latte Designer Buttons, Filigree Brads, Circle Ice Brads, Silver Elastic Cord

The card base is Basic Black card cut to a 5" square. A 4-1/2" square of the turquoise flower paper from the Pink Flamingo collection was stuck flat to the base.

The butterfly was stamped in Versamark on a 2-1/5" square of Basic Black card and heat embossed with White EP. A drop of Taken with Teal ink was put on some scrap acetate (or an old tile or similar) and an aquapainter loaded with Frost White Shimmer paint, painted onto the scrap next to it. The two were mixed little by little on the acetate to get the desired depth of colour. This mixture was then painted onto the butterfly. If done carefully, it will pool between the embossed lines. After allowing to dry (if painted on thinly then this is about the same amount of time as drying Versamark ink), this was stuck onto a 2-3/4" square of Tempting Turquoise card and stuck to the centre of the card with dimensionals.

Silver elastic cord was threaded and tied to the two white flower buttons from the Latte Designer collection and they were added to the card with glue dots.

The small filigree flower brad outers were added to the opposite corner with small turquoise brads from the Circle Ice collection.

Now I'm off to prepare for tomorrow's open day.

Sara xx

April sketch challenge at In Love With Stamping

How many days without blogging? I know, I know, 'my bad? In my defence I've been sooo busy.

On Monday night I delivered downline training and we covered brayering techniques (I'll show more of that soon). Then I've been making my DT samples for In Love With Stamping and uploading those. And last night I'd promised I'd go to the pictures with DH before our cinema vouchers ran out (then we got there and realised they'd expired on Tuesday) - we saw Alice 3D. Vintage Tim Burton; rich visual images but slightly disturbing (Matt Lucas as the twins and Helena Bonham Carter as the bobble headed Red Queen).

I will make it up to you over the next few days though I promise, as I share my challenge samples using more new products from the new Mini Catalogue which goes live today!

One of our April challenges over at In Love With Stamping is a sketch challenge using this layout:

I used the a little of the new Night & Day DSP which is all black and white double sided papers and two sheets of patterned acetate - lush. I also used the lovely new Vintage Vogue stamp set which has already become a favourite of mine. The set of 8 stamps includes a border, sentiments and motifs - just gorgeous.

And here's the card I made:

Recipe

Stamp set: Vintage Vogue

Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White

Ink: Versamark

DSP: Bride, Groom, Night & Day Specialty

Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon: Whisper White

Other: White EP, Black EP

Non-SU: Die-cut circles

I stamped the Friends in Versamark on Whisper White card and heat embossed with Black EP. Using my stamp-a-ma-jig I stamped the sentiment in Versamark direct onto the DSP and heat embossed with White EP. The bow was made by adding a flat loop onto a strip of ribbon and then wrapping the layers with a teeny tiny piece of ribbon, all secured with glue dots and then wrapped around the Groom DSP.

Don't forget that you can come along and see the new products up close at my Open Day on Saturday afternoon 1pm-4pm, just email me for directions.

And on Saturday evening we're having our quarterly Cup Challenge at In Love With Stamping. Full details are here but basically you register online 5pm-7pm and you're automatically assigned to a team. Team mates can then chat within the forum and get to know one another. The first challenge is posted at 7pm with another each hour until 10pm and from 7pm until midnight you get to make your item(s), photograph them and upload them to the challenge gallery. Hope you get to play along.

Am I forgiven yet?

Sara xx

Take a stroll through our bloghop to get a look at the new products

Hello and welcome to our Stampin' Up! bloghop.

If you're already on your journey then you'll have joined me from Zoe. Didn't you just love what she's done, I know I did. (If you haven't been there yet, then don't worry the link at the end of the post will pass you you to the next person in the loop, and then the next and the next until you get round to Zoe and eventually back to me. Then you'll know you've been around the full bloghop - though we have another 2 loops if you've got the stamina!)

My first card uses the new sweet treat cups and can be packaged to send through the post in a specially designed padded envelope (that was the answer to Wednesday's pop quiz, lol, did you spot what they were?).

I took my inspiration from the very clever Becky over at Inking Idaho and adapted her design.

Recipe

Stamp set: Something Sweet, Happy Moments (sentiment inside)

Cardstock: Almost Amethyst, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White

Ink: Almost Amethyst, Elegant Eggplant

Punches: 1-3/4" Circle, Round Tab, Scallop Oval, Large Oval, 1/2" Circle

Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon: Elegant Eggplant

Other: White Eyelet, Silver Brad

Non-SU: Small chocolate beans

This is a narrow card (15cm x 7.5cm) so that you can pull the ribboned tab up and release the chocolate out of the back of the card without having to pull the card to pieces. I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to make sure that all the parts of the gumball machine lined up properly.

Although ideal for sweets, these treat cups can be filled with all sorts of fun and sentimental items. I'll be showing you more ideas over the next few weeks or so.

This second card is really quick and easy.

Recipe

Stamp set: I {Heart} Hearts, Whimsical Words

Cardstock: Kraft, Real Red, Whisper White

Ink: Real Red

Punches: Heart to Heart, Small Heart

I punched the hearts trio in the bottom corner of the card. Using the new trio of hearts in the I {Heart} Hearts set I stamped it in Real Red, punched it and used the aperture to place the hearts against the back of the card. I stamped the dinky heart from the set and used the new Small Heart punch. I've always loved our SU punches as they're so great for cardstock but these new punches are even better as they now fold flat for easier storage - brilliant! The sentiment is from one of our recent Sale-a-bration sets.

If you're new to my blog and you like what you've seen, then please take a moment to become a follower (see lower down the right hand side column) or bookmark me so that you can find me again in the future.

Like what you've seen and want to place an order? As a special offer to celebrate the launch of the Mini Catalogue, I'm offering free postage on all orders over £45 placed with me by 10pm Easter Monday (5 April). Email me to place your order. If you're in the Sheffield/Barnsley area you can also drop into my Open Day on Saturday 3 April, any time 1pm-4pm for demos, make and takes, refreshments and more. Email me for directions.

Thanks for visiting and now I'll pass you on to Linda who has more amazing creations in store.

See you again soon I hope.

Sara xx

Stamp With Us colour inspiration challenge

I loved all your entries to meet the male cards challenge last time around.

Our challenge this week over at Stamp With Us is a colour challenge using this image as our inspiration:

I took my colours from the tulips and then used the Spring stamp from the Flower for all Seasons as that includes some tulips! I decided to make a gift box and a small square card.

Nice and bright and cheery for Spring I think - hope you agree.

Recipe

Stamp sets: A Flower for all Seasons, Happy Moments

Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Pixie Pink, Whisper White

DSP: Kaleidoscope

Ink: Black Stazon, Markers, Pink Passion

Punches: Tag, Small Tag, Word Window

Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon: Pumpkin Pie

Other: White Eyelet

I used a blend of Pumpkin Pie and Pixie Pink markers to colour the tulips to mirror the inspiration photo and the Kaleidoscope DSP. The aperture created by the Word Window punch was marked in pencil on the Pixie Pink card behind it. I then stamped the sentiment in Pink Passion ink and then erased the pencil marks.

Recipe

Stamp sets: A Flower for all Seasons

Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Pixie Pink, Whisper White

DSP: Kaleidoscope

Ink: Black Stazon, Markers

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

Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon: Pumpkin Pie

For this matching gift box I covered the flap in the same DSP, punched some holes with the Crop-a-dile and threaded with ribbon to close. I coloured an identical image to that on the front of the card, punched with the Circle punch and raised on dimensionals.

Can't wait to see what you create for this challenge.

Later this morning I'll be taking part in a bloghop to showcase the new products in our Mini Catalogue. You'll be able to see it here, any time after 10am. Hope you get chance to check it out.

Sara xx

A reminder of the bloghop and a teeny tiny sneak peek

Just a quick reminder that we're having a bloghop tomorrow, showcasing lots of new goodies from the new Mini Catalogue.

If you're new to bloghopping then believe me it's simple, painless and highly addictive! You can start anywhere on the circuit (such as here at my blog) and somewhere in the post (usually towards the end) you will be given the link to the next person in the loop and then the next and so on until you get back to where you started. There will be 15 blogs in the loop that I'm in tomorrow. We had so much fun last time that in fact there will be 3 loops altogether so if you have a large coffee pot to keep you going, you could visit all of them

Everything should be in place from 10am so please drop by any time after then and I'll start you on your journey.

Now here's your teeny, tiny sneak peek of what I've got in store for you (two separate cards). (In an Aussie accent:) Can you guess what it is yet?

Tomorrow's also the day for a new challenge over at Stamp With Us so I'll be posting twice tomorrow. I'll be putting that post on at around 8am.

Don't forget that clocks go forward tonight. We'll lose an hour's crafting time :-( but I'm sure the lighter nights will be worth it.

Have a great weekend, I'm off now to the Craft Group at St. Saviours.

Sara xx

A Baroque card on the masculine side

The Rocky Horror Show was so much fun! For anyone who's never been, then it's not for the faint hearted and you might want to think twice about taking granny. The main costumes are basque and stockings, for girls and guys alike. Fans of the show go dressed as the characters which meant that the audience were nearly as interesting as the show. Dawn - I almost regretted being such a coward, there was a great turnout of obvious Rocky Horror fans and it did add to the fun. I was sat next to a guy in stockings and high heels - which was OK until he stood up to do the Timewarp. The theatre seating is pretty cosy to start with and his stockinged thighs got a little close at times, lol. Mark Curry (Junior Showtime presenter for those of us old enough to remember) was the narrator and cracked up quite a few times at some of the comebacks from the crowd. Frank was played by David Bedella and he played it with just the right amount of lascivious glee. What we were really impressed with was how well the guys moved and danced in their high heels - makes you wonder what preparation they had to do for the role, lol. The show's touring to Darlington, Southsea and Nottingham in May and Oxford, Edinburgh and Aberdeen in June, if you want to catch it.

Anyhoo - on now to the crafting and if today's card looks a little familiar that's because it's made to match the lady's card I made on Monday (scroll down to see or click here for the full post and recipe). I always show DH my cards to get his reaction and when I showed him Monday's he said it would make a great man's card if it didn't have the embellishments (yes - I've got him talking embellishments, embossing and brads, lol). Well, I took that as a bit of a challenge and came up with this:

Recipe

Stamp set: Baroque Motifs

Cardstock: Kraft, Not Quite Navy, Vanilla

DSP: Bella Bleu

Ink: Not Quite Navy

Taffeta Ribbon: Kraft

Other: Silver Brads, Not Quite Navy Brads (Earth Elements)

The square motif was stamped three times and then cut out leaving a narrower border than on the lady's card so that I could cut out the teardrops in the centre of each side. This gives a more squared off, hopefully more masculine look. I opened the split pins of the Silver Brads to trap the ribbon, then pushed them back together to go through the hole, before opening again at the back of the card layer. The rest is matting and layering.

Here's the lady's card from Monday. A His and Hers matching set perhaps? Be quite nice for a couple whose birthdays are close together.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx

Arriving soon!

Our new Mini Catalogue will be open for orders from Thursday 1 April - and no, that's not an April Fool's joke!

One of the many advantages of being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator is that we get to order new items ahead of everyone else and I've been playing with my shiny new toys, sorry, that should read, "refining my crafting techniques" lol and I just can't wait to share the new products with you. Any idea what these are for? I'll be showing you how I've used them very soon.

The Mini Catalogue has some great new fun items, beautiful distressed and vintage looks and some new, single stamps, to mention just a few.

A virtual look

As a special preview, we're having a blog hop on Sunday 28th March. If you pop back here on Sunday then you'll be able to see what I've created with the new goodies and then I'll send you on your way around a bunch of my crafting friends so you'll get a great look at a variety of the new products. Then just carry on back around to me to place your order and I'll send it through straight away on Thursday morning.

A real life look

Want to stroke the new papers, ink the rubber? I'm having an Open House 1pm - 4pm on Saturday 3 April. If you're in the area (North Sheffield/Barnsley) then drop by any time that afternoon for demos, make and takes, refreshments, prize draws and more! Email me for directions.

Off now to get ready for the theatre. I'm going with my Mum and a friend to see the Rocky Horror Show at the Lyceum tonight. Before you ask - we're not getting dressed up, I bottled it, lol.

Stop by tomorrow for another card and to hear how the show was.

Sara xx

A Baroque card with feminine touches

I can't believe I waited so long to get this stamp set - it's so versatile but always elegant I think. After choosing the square motif for the focus, I wasn't sure where to put the sentiment on this card and then decided - why does it have to have one on the front anyway?

This way, I can add a suitable insert when I know the occasion it's for.

Recipe

Stamp set: Baroque Motifs

Cardstock: Kraft, Not Quite Navy, Very Vanilla

DSP: Bella Bleu

Ink: Not Quite Navy

Taffeta Ribbon: Kraft

Punch: Eyelet Border

Other: Pretties Kit

I stamped the motif onto Very Vanilla cardstock with Not Quite Navy ink and then cut it out leaving a reasonable border. Holding it against the Kraft cardstock I then cut around again leaving a border (you may want to use a temporary adhesive to hold it on place if you're worried about it slipping). The edges of the Kraft layer were lightly sponged with the Not Quite Navy ink before layering with dimensionals. Pretties elements give a feminine edge to the card.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx

A mans birthday card with candles

Home again! I feel pretty pleased with what (I think) I've taken in over the week's training. The exams aren't until June which could either be a good thing or bad. Plenty of time for revision ... or for it all to fall out of my head again, lol.

I'm glad to be back though and able to get crafting again :-)

As you may have spotted from my post last Sunday, our challenge over at Stamp With Us is male cards. It's always good to have a stock of male cards in for when birthdays etc. roll around and as I loved my team mate Natalie's sample, I thought I'd do a variation using the same stamp. This is one of my favourite stamp sets - the candles used here are just 1 stamp in the set of 6. I had placed a bumper order after Christmas to get it (it's a level 3 hostess set which means you get it free when you have a workshop/customer order of £500 or more) but I haven't had chance to play with it much yet.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Queue Up, Occasional Greetings

Cardstock: Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, Really Rust

Ink: Versamark, Versamarker, Not Quite Navy

Other: Silver EP

I stamped the candles 3 times with Versamark ink. The first was left to dry to provide the bottom watermark effect. I added heat embossed the second with silver EP to create the middle line of candles. for the top line I used my Versamarker to "colour in" all the flames and various spots and stripes before added the silver EP and heat embossing again. You need to work reasonably quickly with this last one but the Versamark is fairly slow drying - just don't leave it and come back again ;-)

I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to position the sentiment and then everything was matted and layered.

Have a great weekend.

Sara xx