Birthday card using a new stamp set from the mini catalogue

OK - I promised the other day to share with you the cards that we made at training last week, just as soon as I knew that I wouldn't spoil the surprise for others. Well it looks safe to share now.

This one's a birthday card using the deer from the new Forest Friends set out of the mini catalogue. First, "Bambi" was stamped using chocolate Chip ink on Whisper White card.  The reflection is made by stamping again onto the plastic sheet that comes with the stamp-a-ma-jig and turning it over and pressing the image down onto the card. The ink pools a little on the plastic but that helps give it a watery effect. 

Grass was added with an Old Olive marker using a piece of torn card to get the uneven effect. A Bashful Blue water colour crayon was scribbled around the reflection and then softened out with an aqua painter. The image was mounted onto Old Olive card and a semi-circle punched out with a 3/4" circle punch. A piece of So Saffron card was trimmed with the scallop edge punch and matted behind the Old Olive. So Saffron striped ribbon was tied across Chocolate Chip card and the reflected deer image added over the top with dimensionals.

Finally this was all added to a Bashful Blue card blank stamped with the Happy Birthday sentiment from the Occasional Greetings set in Chocolate Chip ink.

In the bottom left corner I've included a sneak peek at one of the other cards we made. I'll give details later in the week.

Keep Stampin'

Sara xx

I've been tagged and here's my photo

I've been tagged by Heather. The instructions are to got to the fourth folder and post the fourth picture, then tag four more people.

Here's my pic - it's the Valetta skyline in Malta taken from the Sliema side of the harbour. 

I tag:

Alex

Julie

Kate

Hayley

Making note cards instead of using post-it notes

I've got into the habit (mainly from my day job I think, where it's general office practice) of using large Post-it notes to jot a note to friends when I'm sending them something through the post. It only really struck me a few days ago that it would be much more personal to make a quick note card to use instead. I hope to make a little set of notelets over the next week to have on hand but meanwhile here's one I made to send out yesterday.

I started with a Love Note in Very Vanilla. These are ready scored mini cards complete with envelopes but if you don't need envelopes (perhaps because it will be enclosed in a larger envelope or package) then it's very easy to cut and score your own from basic card stock. I coloured the hedgehog from the Fun and Fast Notes stamp set using markers direct to the stamp. I then stamped the image again onto a post-it note (they still have their uses you see) and cut roughly around it to create a mask. Covering the original stamped image with the mask I then stamped over the top with the Friendly background stamp using Basic Gray ink. Peel away the post-it mask and your image is now framed. Finally I added a small strip of Chocolate Chip narrow grosgrain ribbon along the bottom.

Much nicer than a simple yellow sticky I think.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx

A set of swap cards from the talented ladies at training night

On Monday night I went to a training event for Stampin' Up! demonstrators and what a fabulous night it was. Such a brilliant bunch of ladies, with so much enthusiasm, inspiration, generosity and just plain fun. Of course the night involved plenty of stamping too. I can't wait to share the cards I made with you but the training team are going around the country to other cities and I don't want to spoil any surprise for other demos. I'll post them on here as soon as I can but in the meanwhile I thought I'd share a pic of the swaps I received from some of the other demos. Some of the swaps are made with goodies and stash from the new mini catalogue. You'll love these new products and it's less than a week now until you can get your hands on them. Don't forget my offer of free postage on pre-orders placed with me during March.

Training events like the one on Monday are just one of the ways in which Stampin' Up! supports it's demonstrators. We were given lots of hints and tips for growing our businesses as well as time for networking/chatting/gossiping and the all important crafting, with make and takes for everyone. Why not join us ready for the next one?

Keep stampin'

Sara xx

Quick craft tip - inking tip no. 4

For inked images that won't run when watercolouring, use Stazon ink. This is a fast drying solvent ink (use in a well ventilated area).

Elegant Mothers Day card dressed up with Pretties Kit

Now that I've given my Mum her Mother's Day card, I can share it with you. This is another large card using a full A4 sheet folded in half.

I used Mellow Moss for the card blank and used the corner rounder punch on all corners. Using the From the Garden stamp (a Level 1 hostess gift) I stamped the image using Versamark ink onto both Always Artichoke card and also onto vellum paper. Both images were heat embossed with gold embossing powder. These were cut out and paper 

pieced onto Very Vanilla card. This was then matted onto Always Artichoke card and then onto the card blank. All corners were rounded with the corner rounder punch.

Using the Happy Mother's Day sentiment from the Occasional Greetings stamp set I stamped with versamark ink onto Very Vanilla card. Gold embossing powder was added and then heat set. A hat pin decorated with vanilla pearls and crystals was added to the sentiment. Very Vanilla taffeta ribbon was tied in a bow to the end of the pin. The sentiment was matted onto Always Artichoke card with dimensionals and added to the card front, again with dimensionals. The corner rounder punch was used again on all corners.

Finally, for the inside I printed a verse directly onto Very Vanilla card. I trimmed this to fit inside, again corner rounding. Using 

Mellow Moss ink and the Forever 

Flowers Stampin' Around wheel, I stamped a border at the edge of the verse.

Hope that you've all had a great Mother's Day.

Keep Stampin'

Sara xx

Earth Mother's Day card using gatefold design

Another very busy week for my day job - I've been busy travelling around the country, more than planned, so sorry for the lack of blog entries this week. I've just made my Mother-in-law's Mother's Day card this morning so I thought I'd share it with you.

I've used mainly tones from the Earth Elements family and I started with a card blank of Old Olive, using a sheet of A4 card folded in a gatefold design. Each half of the card front was matted with Pumpkin Pie card and one of the Haiku Designer Series Papers. Using the Happy Mother's Day sentiment from the Occasional Greetings stamp set, I stamped with Really Rust ink onto Whisper White card. I matted this onto So Saffron card and added a faux bow of Pumpkin Pie narrow grosgrain ribbon. I call this a faux bow because it is not tied, just pieces of ribbon, wrapped and stuck. The ribbon is secured with a medium rhinestone brad from the Circle Fire collection. This was matted onto Pumpkin Pie card with dimensionals. The whole was added to the left hand front of the card, again with dimensionals.

Using More Mustard ink, I stamped the trio 

of flowers from the One of a Kind stamp set onto So Saffron card and punched them out with the Boho Blossoms punch. Using just the largest flowers (and stashing the others to use elsewhere) I added brads to the centre from the Earth Elements collection. The flowers were added to opposite corners of the card with dimensionals, doubling them up for extra height on the central one.

I added an insert to the card with Very Vanilla card. The bottom of the insert was stamped with the same trio of flowers from the One of a Kind set, using So Saffron ink.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx

Quick craft tip - using punches tip no. 5

Use your punches to create stencils. Punch the design out of cardstock or for easier positioning, out of acetate. Position the stencil over your work and sponge lightly, building the colour slowly.

A card in spring colours to welcome my downline

I mentioned the other day that Julie is the first Stampette to join my little team. Before dashing down to London for a few days, for the work that is my day job, I made a card to welcome Julie (I also posted her a birthday card, but that was from my dwindling stock of cards that I've already blogged). I chose Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue and Lovely Lilac for all the elements, as I think they make such a cheerful spring colour combo.

I started with Lovely Lilac card as my base and matted Certainly Celery card and Bashful Blue, Patterns Designer Series Paper onto it. Using markers I stamped the leafy flower from the True Friend stamp set onto Whisper White card. I added a medium, blue rhinestone brad from the Circle Ice collection to the centre of the flower and matted onto Lovely Lilac card. Using Certainly Celery narrow grosgrain ribbon, I tied a small bow and stuck it below the main image using a glue dot. Finally I stamped the trio of flowers from the One of a Kind stamp set three times, using Lovely Lilac ink on Lovely Lilac card. I used the Boho Blossoms punch to punch them out. I added Certainly Celery brads from the Soft Subtles collection to the centre of each of the largest flowers and attached them to the card with dimensionals (saving the other flowers for a future project - waste not, want not).

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a great weekend.

Sara xx

An extra 10% off the starter kit price 12th-25th March

I've mentioned the benefits of becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator before and now for a very limited time, there's an extra discount on the starter kit price. Instead of paying £139 to get £240 of products (a fantastic bargain to start with), if you join up any time 12th-25th March then you only pay £125 - that's almost half price.

This offer applies whether you want to become a demonstrator to run a business or just to get great discounts for yourself and your crafting friends.

What better time to join my team of Stampettes! Don't forget that I'm currently offering an extra stamp set in addition to the starter kit, if you join through me.

Email me at sarastamper123@gmail.com to sign up or ask any questions.

Sara xx