Challenge no. 3 - Secret Crafter

Last one today. This one is for the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge which is on the theme of:

Christmas Trees

Again I've stuck to the same stamp set and colours that I used earlier:

Recipe

Stamp set: Season of Joy

Cardstock: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Very Vanilla

DSP: Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin' Kit

Ink: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Real Red

Punches: Eyelet Edge, Scallop Oval, Large Oval

Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon: Real Red

Other: Fine Galaxy Glitter

Non-SU: Nestabilities

An easel card for my last one today and I used the Fine Galaxy Glitter to trim my tree and finish my poinsettias.

Sorry for the poor colours on today's cards. It's been dismal weather today and I still haven't figured out the best way to shoot indoors. I'll keep trying.

Please remember to stop back on Tuesday for my blogoversary candy.

Sara xx

Challenge no. 2 - Sweet Stampin

For my second challenge today I went over to the Colour Challenge at Sweet Stampin.

These are the colours to use (which I'm using for all my cards today):

This is the card I made with them:

Recipe

Stamp set: Season of Joy

Cardstock: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Very Vanilla

DSP: I Wish Simply Scrappin' Kit (retired)

Ink: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Real Red

Punches: Eyelet Edge, Scallop Oval, Large Oval

Non-SU: Nestabilities

I edged the inside of the card with Real Red to show off the lacy edge.

See you later.

Sara xx

A crafting day to complete some challenges - sketch saturday

There's no new challenge today over at Stamp With Us, instead there's an extra week to complete last week's challenge and enter the DT call.

I'm using my time today to enter some other challenges and stock up some more christmas cards. For each challenge I'll stick to the same colours and the same stamp set.

My first stop is Sketch Saturday and this is the sketch:

I've turned it on it's side:

Recipe

Stamp Set: Season of Joy

Cardstock: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Very Vanilla

DSP: I Wish Simply Scrappin' Kit (retired)

Ink: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Real Red

Punches: Scallop Edge, Corner Rounder, 1/4" Circle

I'll post the others as I get them done.

Guess I may have to fit in a little housework in between ;-)

Hope you're having a good weekend.

Sara xx

Ribbon weaving to create a holiday wreath

I got my parcel from my neighbour yesterday teatime, so sweet of her to take it it in for me. I'm now the proud owner of a full set of SU punches, I have every one now. I also got some more ribbons to add to my collection and I've used some of them on this project here.

Recipe

Stamp set: Punches 3 (hostess level 1)

Cardstock: Old Olive, Real Red, Whisper White

DSP: I Wish Simply Scrappin' Kit (retired)

Ink: Old Olive, Real Red

Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon: Always Artichoke, Real Red

Punches: Square Scallop, Corner Rounder

Other: Bold Brights Brads

I found the instructions for the wreath here. To make this one, which is approx. 6cm across, I used 1.5m of the Artichoke ribbon and I was left with a 20cm piece at one of the ends afterwards.

I guess you'll have to wait and see what else I got in my order, lol.

Next week is my first blogoversary (gosh a whole year blogging already) and in time honoured tradition I'll be offering candy, so please stop by again soon.

Have a great weekend.

Sara xx

Exams are over so I'm into guilt free crafting time

Well this morning's exam went a little better than Tuesday's. I (think I've) answered 2 questions well, 1 question OK and 2 questions not very well but hopefully that will be enough to get me a pass and after Tuesday's fiasco I'd be happy with that.

Thanks for all your kind comments. They really cheered me up when I was at a low ebb.

Anyway what this all means for me now is that I can put the study books away until January (when I have to start on the next couple of subjects) and enjoy weeks of guilt free crafting (forgetting all the housework of course, lol). I placed another SU order for myself at the weekend so that it would be delivered today. Unfortunately it was delivered whilst I was at the exam, a kind neighbour has taken it for me and is now out herself. So now I'm itching to get at my new goodies and having to content myself with what I've already got (I'm so hard done to you know, lol).

Recipe:

Stamp sets: Tree Trimmings. Autumn Days, Occasional Greetings

Cardstock: Old Olive, Whisper White

DSP: I Wish Simply Scrappin' Kit (retired)

Ink: Real Red, Old Olive, SU Markers

Punches: Corner Rounder, Eyelet Border

Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon: Real Red

I used the stamp-a-ma-jig to position the sprigs of fir tree in the top corners, the baubles below them and the sentiment. The middle bauble is raised on dimensionals.

Now I'm going to have a play at a new technique (if it works then I'll show you the results tomorrow) and then it's off to the vets for Bess's stitches taken out.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx

A black and white card for a black mood

No, your monitor hasn't gone wrong. I just decided to make a black and white card to match my mood. I sat my exam this morning, took one look at the questions and could see that half the syllabus was missing from the question paper - the half that I had revised and knew pretty well. So many of the questions (we only had to answer 5 after all) were from the same area. Not fair! OK - sulk over, rant over. Here's the quick card I made to calm myself down again. Good I think for a man's card?

Recipe

Stamp sets: Scandinavian Season, Spotlight on Christmas

Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White

Ink: Versamark

Punches: Tag, Small Tag

Striped Grosgrain Ribbon: Basic Black

Other: White EP, Hodgepodge brads

Now back to hit the books ready for Thursday.

Hope your week's turning out better than mine. :-)

Sara xx

Stamp with us DT call and news of other changes

First, today's Stamp With Us challenge. This week it's a recipe:

• 3 brads
• 2 patterned papers
• 1 stamp

What - only 1 stamp! I figured I'd better make it count so I went for the Deck the Halls one from Season of Joy.

Recipe

Stamp set: Season of Joy

Cardstock: Old Olive, Real Red, Whisper White

DSP: Old Olive Patterns

Ink: Old Olive, Real Red, Craft White

Brads: Rich Regals

Punches: Scallop Edge, 1/2" Circle

Other: Mat pack, Piercing tool, Crop-a-dile

The 2 patterned papers were used to create the background panels. After stamping the full stamp in Old Olive, I stamped the little flowers again in Real Red and used my 3 brads to attach them to the main panel. I stamped the central portion of the stamp onto Old Olive card using Craft White and then cut out the accents and popped them up on dimensionals. The red mat was punched, pierced and finally embossed using my Crop-a-dile to create the spots in each scallop.

And now for some news ...

As you may have already spotted, the lovely Steph has unfortunately had to drop out of the DT and this means we have a spot open. If you'd like to join me and the others on the Stamp With Us Design Team then you need to enter this challenge and put DT after your name when you upload your entry via Mr Linky. The winner will be announced on Sunday 6 December so you have extended time for this.

Which brings me to the next change over at Stamp With Us. The challenges are going fortnightly. This gives the DT and you, more time to join in. Of course, if you have enough time, you could always enter twice!

And finally, on changes, we will be dropping the Recipe challenge after the DT call. Instead we will rotate the Sketch, Theme and Colour challenges every 6 weeks. The recipe challenge seems to have been the hardest for everyone and so following the vote with your feet, we're getting rid.

Please go check out the designs by the rest of the Design Team and I look forward to seeing all your entries, whether for the DT call or not.

A quick update now on classes. Yesterday's Creative Christmas class was a real giggle. Thanks ladies - I had a blast. Unfortunately we got so engrossed that I forgot to take pix to show here. It's funny though how no-one reminded me after I had mentioned it ... lol (I think they may be a bit camera shy).

We made four different colour versions of the Silent Night card here and we also made an easel card, a triangle box and a tri-shutter card. One of the ladies hadn't crafted before but she completed the whole lot with totally professional results. I think I've got another crafting convert!

Next classes will be in the new year. I'll post dates soon but email me if you have a preference over dates or what you'd like to try and I'll see if I can work it into the schedule.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Sara xx

Gold and silver trees suitable for mens christmas cards

At the craft fair on Saturday I sold all but two of my christmas cards and now I've realised that I've got a whole bunch more that I need to make to give to friends and family next month, lol. For today's post I've made two similar christmas cards, one silver, one gold. I think that they'll make good men's cards. What do you think? Are they too blingy for men?

Recipe

Stamp set: Scandinavian Season

Cardstock: Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise

Ink: Versamark

Other: Silver EP, Silver Brads, Silver Elastic Cord, Fine Cosmo Glitter, Circle Ice Rhinestone Brad

The tree is stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with silver powder. I used the 2-way glue pen to pick out part of the design and covered with the Turquoise glitter from the Fine Cosmo set. Silver elastic cord was wrapped around the lower portion of the mat for added interest and to balance the layout.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Scandinavian Wheel, Season of Joy

Cardstock: Whisper White

Ink: Not Quite Navy

To provide some white space to write the card, I added an insert to the back page.

Recipe

Stamp set: Scandinavian Season

Cardstock: Basic Black

Ink: Versamark

Other: Gold EP, Gold Brads, Gold Elastic Cord

Punch: Corner Rounder

Non-SU: Gold Mirri Card

The only variation here in addition to the colours is that I left off any glitter and rounded all the corners.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Scandinavian Wheel, Season of Joy

Cardstock: Whisper White

Ink: Versamark

Other: Gold EP

Punch: Corner Rounder

Well, that's another two down but quite a ways to go yet. Are you bored with all the Christmas cards? Let me know if you'd like to see something different for a change.

Sara xx

Tree gifts or table favours for Christmas

I only had time to make a few of these for the craft fair on Saturday and they all got snapped up early on but I think I need to make a few more to set out as table favours at our own Christmas dinner. Each of these holds 3 wrapped chocolates.

The design for them is from a tutorial over at Splitcoaststampers.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Season of Joy, Tree Trimmings

Cardstock: Old Olive, Real Red, Whisper White

Ink: Real Red, Craft White

DSP: Ski Slope (retired)

Punches: 5-petal flower, 1/2" Circle, Tag, Small Tag, Crop-a-dile

Other: Gold Elastic Cord

The only stamp I used from the Season of Joy set was the very dinky flower for the centre of my punched ones. I used the new Craft White ink to stamp the little bauble on the tag. I recommend cleaning your stamp as soon as you've used it, otherwise I found that my inkpad went a little pink when I stamped again. The Small Tag punched from Whisper White is on the reverse of the tag to allow for a message or place name if using as table favours.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx

Banana and chocolate butterfly for the Stamp With Us challenge

Wayhay, we're back to normal again over at Stamp With Us, so we have a new challenge for you this week. It's a colour theme and this is our colour inspiration.

Crikey, this looked a bit intimidating to start with but on the other hand it pushed me away from Christmas cards which is all I seem to be making at the moment. I decided that the Tea and Crumpets paper would work well for this colour combo and so here's what I came up with.

Recipe

Stamp set: Flight of the Butterfly

Cardstock: Barely Banana, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Card Vellum

DSP: Tea and Crumpets

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red

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

Other: Gold Elastic Cord

The plain butterfly was stamped in Ruby Red and punched with the Circle punch. I then stamped the flower butterfly in the same ink onto the vellum cardstock. This vellum is so lush, it's quite heavy but it's still best to score it with a bone folder rather than the black scoring blade on the Paper Cutter. I cut my first attempt in half, so I hope you gain from my mistake, lol. Gold elastic cord was wrapped around and tied so the ends make the butterfly antenna, which also picks up the gold buckles in the shoes of the colour theme.

Bess has bounced back from her op pretty well, she keeps crying but we're learning that she's just milking the attention because she's suddenly alright again when she gets it. She has more energy than we hoped, we thought the injections on Friday would knock her back for longer than they have. We're not allowed to take her for a walk for 5 days and have to stop her jumping or moving around too much. Hmm, an active 3 year old Staffie ... not moving around or jumping ... not quite sure how that's going to work.

Yesterday's craft fair went very well despite the awful weather later in the afternoon. JJ and I had lots of visitors throughout the day, sold plenty and persuaded a few to come along to our classes. Hi and thanks to everyone who stopped by.

Jan and I also picked up a commission each for more work while we were there. I'm now going to be working on a dozen Christmas boxes to hold handmade chocolates for a lady who actually turned out to be local to me. Yummy.

Back to the revision now since I got a day off yesterday.

Looking forward to seeing your entries to the Stamp With Us challenge this week and please pop along and check out the rest of the Design Team creations.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Sara xx

A red easel card and matching gift bag and Bess in her high vis coat

I've been meaning to make one of these easel cards for ages and now that I've got around to it I'm loving them. They're so easy to do but they have that bit of a wow factor. I'm still stockpiling for the craft fair tomorrow and so I made a matching gift bag to go with the card again.

Can you see the little tag on the bag? Guess what I got free with my last order? I spent two lots of £45 from the gift giving guide and so I got both of the Tag punches free. Details are here or at the top of the right hand menu just under the blinkie and the offer is on right through to 29 December 2009. It certainly makes short work of little gift tags.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Season of Joy, Spotlight on Christmas, A Tree for all Seasons

Cardstock: Real Red, Very Vanilla

Ink: Real Red

DSP: I Wish Scrappin' Kit (retired)

Punches: Scallop Circle, 1-3/8" Circle, 1-1/4" Circle, 1/2" Circle, Scallop Oval, Large Oval, Eyelet Border

I cut an A4 sheet of card in half lengthways to get a piece that measured 29.7cm x 10.5cm. I then scored the card at 14.9cm and 22.3cm. The card front is only stuck down to the bottom quarter panel and a raised sentiment has been placed approximately halfway down the inside of the card to act as a stopper to stand the front against.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Spotlight on Christmas

Cardstock: Real Red, Very Vanilla (plain), Very Vanilla (textured)

Ink: Real Red

DSP: I Wish Scrappin' Kit (retired)

Punches: Eyelet Border, 5-petal flower, Tag, Small Tag, Round Tab

Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon: Real Red

Other: Gold Brads, Pewter Eyelets, Gold Elastic Cord

The instructions for the bag are from Splitcoaststampers here. I used textured Vanilla card for the trim around the base, the flowers and the Tab fastening, for the luxury feel it adds. I used plain Vanilla card for the front and back of the tag, so that the stamped image would show clearly and to make it easier to write on.

We're just about to go and pick up Bess from the vets so I just thought I'd leave you with a pic of her in her high visibility coat that I make her wear when we go for a walk on these dark mornings. Isn't she cute?

Have a great weekend.

Sara xx

Another christmas duo and an impending op for Bess, ssh don't tell her

Finally ... a brighter day and so chance to take some pics of the card and bag I made on Sunday. I still have some of last year's christmas scrappin' kit left (they go a long way - excellent value) so I'm using those up before I do any more with the new Christmas Jingle kit. I missed my regular dose of Stamp With Us challenge on last week (the DT had a week off for the SU convention) and so I'm also entering these for the ongoing Christmas theme challenge - normal service is resumed this Sunday.

This duo is bound for the Christmas Fair at Felkirk on Saturday, so if you're in the area then please stop by and say "Hi" to JJ and I.

Hubby and I started our christmas shopping last night and picked up a few family gifts. I'm hoping that getting started a bit earlier might mean that I get to be a bit more imaginative with some of the wrapping. Please, please don't rub things in by telling me that you're all shopped up and wrapped already, lol.

While we were shopping we also got a high visibility coat for Bess (our Staffie) to keep her safe when I walk her on these dark mornings. She looks soooo cute in it. I'll try to get a pic to show you. Ssh, don't tell her, but she's being taken to be spayed on Friday so she may not be speaking to us this weekend.

Anyway, onto the recipes.

Recipe

Stamp set: Scandinavian Season, Season of Joy

Cardstock: Old Olive, Real Red, Whisper White

DSP: I Wish Simply Scrappin' kit (retired)

Ink: Versamark, Real Red

Punch: Corner Rounder, Scallop Oval, Large Oval

Wide Grosgrain Ribbon: Old Olive

Other: Gold EP, Gold Brad, Fine Cosmo glitter (celery)

Non-SU: Die Cut mats

Recipe

Stamp sets: Punches 3 (hostess), Polka Dot Punches (retired)

Cardstock: Old Olive, Real Red, Whisper White

DSP: I Wish Simply Scrappin' kit (retired)

Ink: Old Olive, Real Red

Punches: Round Tab, Square Scallop, Eyelet Border, 5-petal

Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon: Real Red

Other: Gold Brads, Gold Eyelets, Gold Elastic Cord

If you have any tips on nursing Bess after her op then please drop me a comment.

Thanks

Sara xx

A quick reminder about the low price starter kit

Earlier today I sent out the email invitations to my downlines to mark the date of my Cringle Mingle and it reminded me, to remind you, that the low price starter kit is still available for a few more days.

My Cringle Mingle is one way for me to say thank you to my downlines, hostesses and top customers. It's an informal crafting get together where we can have a play with the latest products, have a chat, some mince pies and drinks and just get away from the hustle and bustle of xmas shopping. You're not too late to come along and join us if you'd like to become one of my Stampettes.

If you join up by 13 November you can become a Stampin' Up demonstrator for just £125 instead of £139. More details about the benefits and the offer are here and you can email me at sarastamper123@gmail.com if you have questions or to join.

Hope to see you at the Cringle Mingle :-)

It's going to be a chocolate christmas

A late post from tonight as I've been busy revising since I got in from work. Saturday was also busy as anticipated but I got my MIL crafting again and so I was able to enter this sweetie box for the ILWS challenge.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Season of Joy, Scandinavian Season

Cardstock: Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White Craft

DSP: Chocolate Chip

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

Narrow Grosgrain ribbon: Chocolate Chip

Other: Medium Window Sheet

Non-SU: Die cut window

I die cut a window from the top of the box and put a medium window sheet behind it so that the recipient will be able to see the sweeties straight away. I also made a chocolate version of my quick card to go with the box.

Recipe

Stamp set: Silent Night

Cardstock: Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Punch: Eyelet Border

Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon: Chocolate Chip

Other: Dazzling Diamonds

Meanwhile my MIL was making a version of the box herself. She was originally going to have a butterfly on the lid as well but decided she liked the flowers so much she'd just stick with those. As there was no room for a sentiment she added a tag to add a message to the sender. She's really taken to crafting and I'm really proud of her results.

I made a few more items on Sunday but haven't had chance to photograph those yet. I promise to get them blogged over the next few days.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx

A baby card to welcome a little girl

While I've been away from work for so long, one of my friends has given birth to a baby daughter, Isobel. I can't wait for my friend to bring her in to see us, I don't even seem to make them cry so much these days, lol (the babies that is, rather than the friends, haha). Here's the card I made for her.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Animal Stories, Curvy Verses (Inside)

Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Whisper White

Ink: Pretty in Pink, Rose Red

DSP: Tea & Crumpets

Punches: Eyelet Border, Heart to Heart

Gingham Ribbon: Light Pink

The next view shows a bit better how the card front folds back on itself and the verse inside.

We've got company today, I need to do housework and keep up the revision of the last few days but I'm also hoping to find some time to play along with the Cinderella's Ball challenges over at ILWS. For those of us Cinderella's that couldn't go along to the SU! convention in Germany, they're hosting a series of challenges, together with prizes. They're open to both demos and customers and you don't have to enter every challenge to be in with the chance of winning a prize, so well worth popping along there today.

Have a great weekend.

Sara xx

Last weekends workshop with the St Saviours group

On Saturday I did another workshop with the lovely bunch of ladies at St Saviours. Yes, honest, I really enjoy crafting with you all, lol. (So funny - I was asked whether I really wanted to be there - of course I do, you're a fantastic group!).

The emphasis was definitely on quick this time (I overran in a big way last time). I started off with this quick card.

Recipe

Stamp set: Silent Night

Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White

Ink: Not Quite Navy

Taffeta Ribbon: Bashful Blue

Punch: Eyelet Border

Other: Dazzling Diamonds, 2-way Glue Pen

Not so easy to see from this pic but the glue pen and glitter were used to add snow to the roof and trees. The sentiment from the set has been stamped in the same Not Quite Navy ink on the inside of the card.

Recipe

Stamp Set: Scandinavian Season

Cardstock: Glorious Green, Real Red, Whisper White

Ink: Real Red, Glorious Green, Craft White

Narrow grosgrain ribbon: Real Red

Other: Dazzling Diamonds

Quite a few of the ladies had bought the Scandinavian Season at the last workshop I did with them and so I showed them this really quick box to make with the same set this time around.

Then we all had a go at making this chocolate christmas tree ornament. This is similar to the ones I made last year shown here. And they really are as cheerful as they all look here! See you in a few weeks ladies.

I had a little time left so I made the same card I started with, in a different colourway.

Recipe

Stamp set: Silent Night

Cardstock: Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Whisper White

Ink: Perfect Plum

Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon: Elegant Eggplant

Punch: Eyelet Border

Other: Dazzling Diamonds, 2-way Glue Pen

The next meeting of the St Saviours craft group will be on Saturday 28 November if you'd like to come along. All are welcome.

Sara xx

A combination 40th birthday and Halloween card for my little bruv

My little brother is a Halloween babe and this year was a milestone birthday for him so for once I made a Halloween themed card for him.

Recipe

Stamp set: Golden Oldies (retired)

Cardstock: Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Whisper White, Old Olive

Ink: Basic Black, Really Rust, Signo White gel pen, Stampin' Write Markers

Punches: Large Oval, Round Tab, Square Scallop, Scallop Edge, 1/2" Circle

Other: Fire Rhinestone brad, Crystal Effects, Black Stampin' Glitter

Non-SU: die-cut shapes and numbers

I used the same card design as here but doubled the size. The pumpkins are the same as I made for the choc box here and I drew faces onto them with a Basic Black marker. I cut the Scallop Squares in half and trimmed them to make the bats. The black goo border is Crystal Effects with black glitter sprinkled over. I pulled my Golden Oldies set out of retirement for the hidden fun message.

We had a surprise birthday party for him on Sunday night and miracle of miracles, it really was a surprise to him. He hasn't mentioned yet whether he found the hidden message, lol.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx

Order from the gift giving guide to get a free tag punch

Stampin' Up! have a great offer for Christmas. Spend £45 on products from this gift giving guide (click here to download a larger version) and get a free Tag or Small Tag craft punch.

How perfect is that. You get to order presents for crafting friends and get a just the right gift for yourself to help with all those christmas presents that will need labelling.

Email me at sarastamper123@gmail.com to place your order or ask any questions about the offer.