A spectacular Stamptacular

Finally catching up again. I took Bess to her socialisation class this morning, then went visiting my parents and then DH and I have been to the cinema to see Inception (fantastic film, lots of layers to it, if you enjoyed Memento (same Director) then I think you'll enjoy this one too though there's more action and special effects in it). The film was my little treat after all the preparation for yesterday's big event.

My amazing downline Jan and I held our full day Summer Stamptacular and it really was a fantastic day with such a lovely bunch of ladies.

We set everything out in advance for them with little nameplates and bottled water with choccie in the hanger. Then when they came in we gave them each a goodie bag that included the Tree for All Seasons stamp set and a decorated notebook.

Our first project was a boxed set of all occasion cards, with one for each season:

The boxed set

Spring

Summer

Autumn

Winter

After lunch they worked on Jan's project of a scrapbook in a box. I don't have pix of the finished project so I'll steal them from Jan's blog just as soon as she's posted them. Here are the ladies though, don't let the big smiles fool you - we worked them all very hard.

Our final project for the day was a matching card and gift bag

The bag's big enough to take a set of A6 cards and envelopes.

There was also a bonus waterfall card project that I'd prepared just in case we ran out of things to do, lol. We didn't get time to make it, but they all took the instructions and materials home to finish as homework ;-)

Jan and I so enjoyed the day that we're already talking about organising another, though I think we'll catch our breath first, lol. I'll post details when we decide on a date.

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

Whoever heard of pink snow in September

Another card ready for the craft market on Sunday. For this one I played along with the sketch challenge on Stamps and Smiles:

Still in my pink phase, I created this:

Recipe

Stamp sets: Scandinavian Season, A Tree for all Seasons, Seasonal Wishes

Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Rose Red

Ink: Versamark, Regal Rose

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

Taffeta Ribbon: Whisper White

Other: White EP, Heat and Stick Powder, Dazzling Diamonds, Soft Subtle Brads

Non-SU: Acetate

The winter tree was stamped with Versamark and then heat embossed with white EP. Faint sparkly snowflakes are stamped with Versamark, covered with Heat and Stick powder, heat embossed, covered with Dazzling Diamonds and then heated again to set. Pink snowflakes are done as the faint sparkly snowflakes but Regal Rose was added to the stamp after the Versamark. White snowflakes were stamped with Versamark on acetate and heat embossed with white powder. The white snowflakes were attached with Pretty in Pink brads.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx

Boxes and bags class with new Washington Apple papers

These are the items that we made at last night's Boxes and Bags class. It was another craft packed evening that went on a little past scheduled time but then it may have been a stretch on my part to think that we'd complete all these in just two hours, lol. 

Not taking them in any particular order, I'll just give "recipe" details for each.

Stamp set: A Tree for all Seasons

Cardstock: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red

Ink: Basic Gray, Markers

Punches: Scallop Edge, 1" circle

Stamp set: Summer by the Sea

Cardstock: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Not Quite Navy, Certainly Celery

Ink: Not Quite Navy

Punches: Scallop Edge, Corner Rounder

Ribbon: Narrow grosgrain Certainly Celery

Cardstock: Ruby Red, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron

DSP: Washington Apple

Ink: White Signo gel pen

Punches: Scallop Edge, Round Tab, Boho Blossoms

Ribbon: Narrow grosgrain Pumpkin Pie

All templates were taken from Splitcoaststampers.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you have a great weekend.

Sara xx