Blog candy to celebrate my first blogoversary

This post will remain at the top until the blog candy is drawn. Please scroll down to see new posts.

Wow! 1 December already. Today's my blogoversary. It's a year since I became a Stampin' Up! demo and started this blog and so it seems only fair to celebrate this grand occasion with some candy.

Here's what's up for grabs:

It includes:

• Washington Apple Designer Series Papers
• Botanical Blooms stamp set
• Polka Dot Punches stamp set
• Tag punch
• Fire Circle Rhinestone Brads

All are brand new and unopened, good for gifting if you have them already.

To be in with a chance of winning this candy you need to:

• Leave me a comment letting me know which is your favourite Stampin' Up product (eg. which stamp set, DSP etc); and
• Put a link on your own blog to tell people about my candy; and
• Become a follower (if you aren't already)

As this is a heavy little package of goodies I can only deliver within the UK.

I'll draw the winner after 9pm on Sunday 20 December.

Best of luck

Sara xx

A christmas place setting for the SWU challenge

Thanks to everyone for their get well wishes and suggestions. I'm using a blend of oils in my burner and I'm going to steam my head again today :-) I had to resort to strong painkillers on Friday, it was either that or put my head in a vice to relieve the pain - anyone who's had a sinus infection will be able to relate, I'm sure. The painkillers are now being phased out again though, I'm able to wait a little longer between them now, so I guess the antibiotics are having an effect.

I still haven't got a great deal of crafting done, mainly gift tags for the presents. How come every year I forget just how long it takes to wrap presents? Of course this year I also had Bess helping - sticking her nose against the cellotape, walking across the wrapping paper, trying to lick the gifts (and I can just hear you out there saying "yes you do that too" to your moggy/doggy, lol).

The other bit of crafting I did get done was for today's new challenge over at Stamp With Us, it's on the theme of

Christmas

and I made the table settings for Christmas Day to match my existing burgundy and gold tableware.

Recipe (Place Card)

Stamp set: Baroque Border

Cardstock: Bravo Burgundy textured

Ink: Versamark

Punch: Scallop Edge

Other Gold EP

I loaded a blank wheel cartridge with Versamark ink which I rolled along one edge of the place card and heat embossed with gold embossing powder. The name setting is written freehand with my Versamark pen and heat embossed again with gold powder. If you're not confident of your handwriting then you can always print the cards on a computer and trace over the printing with the Versamarker, once heated the gold embossing with hide the original printing.

Recipe (Napkin Ring)

Stamp set: Baroque Border

Cardstock: Bravo Burgundy textured

Ink: Versamark

Punch: Scallop Edge

Other Gold EP

The centre design was again made with the Baroque Border wheel but I added a gold line either side by drawing my Versamarker against the wheel guide at the edge of the card.

Recipe (Mini choc box)

Stamp set: Baroque Border

Cardstock: Bravo Burgundy textured

Ink: Versamark

Punch: 1/2" Circle

Other Gold EP

This little box holds a couple of Ferrero Rocher chocs (well, I've got to spoil the family haven't I). It's a twist/squish box that I found over at Splitcoaststampers that I've scaled down to fit my chocolates. I'll post the dimensions and a tutorial in a few days, just as soon as I'm feeling a little better.

I hope that you'll play along with our challenge - I'm sure that you can find one more Christmas item that you need to make; a last minute card, a tree decoration or a tag. And please hop along and see the beautiful creations made by the rest of the Design Team, including our new Team members, they're truly gorgeous (the projects and the team members).

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Sara xx

Oh and don't forget my blog candy draw closes at 9pm tonight!

The most fantastic time of the year

Yes we've almost reached the most fantastic time of the year - no, not Christmas but Sale-A-Bration. Am I sad? Well perhaps, but I'm also a canny crafter and this is a brilliant offer, running a little bit earlier this year, from 30 December 2009 - 28 February 2010.

Here's what you can get during Sale-A-Bration:

• Customers - get an exclusive, free Sale-A-Bration set for 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, glues, inks etc. See my own special offers linked with Sale-A-Bration here. Email me to order
• Hostesses - get an exclusive, free Sale-A-Bration set with a £300 or more workshop. This is in addition to the regular hostess benefits and in addition to any Sale-A-Bration set you may earn as a Customer. Email me to book a date.
• New Demo Recruits - get any retail stamp set (a Value up to £38.95) from the current catalogue when they sign up during the promotion. Find out more about becoming a demo here.

Here's what the Sale-A-Bration sets look like:

Happy Moments - a great little set for occasions. A set of 7, including 3 sentiments.

Whimsical Words - a set of 6 sentiments that will come in handy week after week

Vintage Labels - a set of 6 stamps, with 3 frames and 3 sentiments (the ornate circle matches the 1" Circle and the Scallop Circle punches)

Good Neighbours - a fun set of 10 stamps for building your own scenes.

Aren't these fantastic sets and especially for free.

Email me to place your order now.

Sara xx

The dreaded lurgy and a heating breakdown but a couple of bright spots to balance it out

It's a bit of bleak week so far but I'm hopeful that things are picking up.

On Tuesday night I started with the dreaded lurgy. Trouble is, it's on top of sinusitis and so I'm in a lot of pain with it and had to miss our Christmas meal at work yesterday. I also feel too poorly to craft, which is never a good sign but I'm just back from the doctors and have some antibiotics to take care of that.

Then last night our central heating broke down. Thank goodness we have a Homecare agreement - I reported it first thing this morning and the engineer is working on that one right now.

On the plus side the lovely (and very funny) Suzie Q nominated me for this award:

Thanks Suzie pet, so sweet of you to think of me (or was it thought association). Her facts were hilarious, don't think I'll be able to top those.

There are a few rules that have to be followed with this award and here they are.

1. Copy this award to your blog

2. Link to the person who gave you this award
3. Identify 7 interesting facts about yourself

4. Choose 7 other bloggers to pass this award on to

5. Link to their blogs

6. Leave them a comment to let them know about this award

So, 7 interesting facts ...

1) I'm a PADI Advanced Scuba diver and did my training in the Red Sea (much clearer and warmer than Stoney Cove though I've dived there too). I've been on wreck dives and also done night dives with scorpion fish following my torch. It has been a few years now though since my last dive (I have problems clearing my ears these days).

2) I've eaten Alpaca and frogs legs (separately, not at the same sitting). But I won't eat anything that tastes mouldy or slimey, so that's mushrooms, shellfish and blue cheese out the window.

3) I share my birthday with Elizabeth Hurley but she's a year older than me. You can tell can't you?

4) I married my current husband (keep him on his toes) on the island of Hawaii, at sunset. I'm planning to go back for our tenth wedding anniversary in a few years time - with or without him. (Bless him, he's a sweetie really - let's me buy lots of crafting goodies).

5) I've been down a salt mine. When we visited friends in Poland we went down the mine at Wieliczka and saw all the little statues and carvings that the miners made to entertain themselves on their rest breaks.

6) I've swum with dolphins. We swam with dolphins at the Dolphin Research Centre in the Florida Keys. A great place that rescues injured or retired dolphins (retired as in used to work in dolphin shows).

7) I've robbed a bank ... OK maybe I haven't done that, but perhaps I need to, to fund the next lot of interesting facts and my crafting habit.

I'm passing this award on to:

JJ

Dawn

Ali

Hayley

Alex

Elizabeth

Victoria

There you go ladies. Can't wait to read all your interesting facts.

The other bright spot on the horizon is that we have Sale-a-bration on the way. Free stamps! There'll be a chance to get hold of exclusive free stamp sets from 30 December 2009 through to 28 Feb 2010. I'll be back later with full details and a few special bundles to help you get the most out of this offer.

Sara xx

A suspension card in four different colour-ways

I like to make something a little special for my closest friends at work but I'm fast running out of time, so to make it a little easier I went for the same design but made it in different colour combinations. It goes a bit quicker when you're putting the same elements onto each card. The suspension apertures are made by laying the thread (nylon beading thread in this case) across the apertures and then sandwiching it between layers of cardstock and/or DSP.

The basic recipe is as follows:

Basic Recipe

Stamp set: Scandinavian

Cardstock: Pale base, darker feature (as detailed below), Whisper White/Very Vanilla

DSP: To match cardstock (as detailed below)

Ink: Versamark, to match darker cardstock (for inside)

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

Other: White EP, Dazzling Diamonds, Rhinestone Brads

For the card front the tree and snowflake are stamped in Versamark and heat embossed with white embossing powder. The framed tree is mounted on dimensionals.

Blue variation

Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Not Quite Navy

DSP: Ski Slope (retired)

Purple variation

Cardstock: Lovely Lilac, Almost Amethyst

DSP: Tea Party

Pink variation

Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Rose Red

DSP: Tea Party

Chocolate variation

Cardstock: Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip

DSP: Bella Bleu

On the inside the snowflake is stamped onto White/Vanilla card with ink to match the darker cardstock.

Which one's your favourite colour combo?

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx

Cringle Mingle card candy and a nite light holder

Yesterday was my Cringle Mingle for my downlines and hostesses and as I'd been in Plymouth all week I was still rushing around at the last minute trying to finish things up as they were walking in the door. I therefore didn't get any pix of what I'd prepared for them (sorry about that). Each guest got a sheet of card candy, a little box of chocolates and a package of snowman soup. Luckily I'd made extra card candy for hostess gifts in the new year so I can at least show you that, lol. I got the idea for this from some of the demos that went to convention and did a card candy swap.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Darling Dots (hostess level 1), Fun and Fast Notes (for sentiments)

Cardstock: Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Ruby Red, Whisper White

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Ruby Red, Old Olive

Punches: Eyelet Border, Scallop Circle, 1-3/8" Circle, 1-1/4" Circle, Word Window, Large Star, Tag, Small Tag

Other: Gold Elastic Cord, Buttons, Gold Brads, Fine Galaxy Glitter

We had an open crafting session with everyone doing their own thing but one project that we did all have a go at together, was to make a nite light holder, following this tutorial over at ILWS. Here's mine.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Season of Joy, Scandinavian Season

Cardstock: Old Olive, Vellum

DSP: Holiday Treasures (retired)

Ink: Old Olive, Versamark

Punch: Eyelet Border

Other: White EP, Battery Tea Light

The battery operated tea light ensures that I won't burn the house down.

Now back to christmas card duty ...

Sara xx

Glittery baubles in the window

The different size Tag punches are ideal for making a frame within a frame and so I combined them with the Medium Window sheet to make a window card. Don't forget that you can still get either of the Tag punches (or even both) when you order from the Christmas Gift-giving Guide here. Just drop me an email to place an order.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Tree Trimmings, Best Yet (retired)

Cardstock: Lovely Lilac, Almost Amethyst

DSP: Tea Party

Ink: Versamark, White Craft

Punches: Tag, Small Tag, Eyelet Border, Large Oval, Scallop Oval

Other: Medium Window Sheet, Heat & Stick Powder, White EP, Dazzling Diamonds

I punched the larger Tag windows first of all, spacing them evenly. Then with a strip of the Almost Amethyst lightly tacked in place behind I punched with the Small Tag to create the frames. Medium Window Sheet was sandwiched between the two cardstock layers (stuck permanently this time) and I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to position the Tree Trimming baubles in each window. This view shows the windows a little more clearly.

In Love With Stamping have another Prize Patrol for those playing along with their Explosion Card tutorial and uploading their entry. Details of the tutorial and how to enter are here and the deadline is midnight on Friday 11 December. Unfortunately I can't play along this time as I'm in Plymouth and only have a very few crafting materials with me but good luck with your entries.

Sara xx

A successful shopping trip and another challenge fulfilled

Yesterday's shopping trip went quite well. I found a lovely glass dish for one of my relatives (I doubt that she visits my blog but I'll still not say which one just to be on the safe side). It's in the shape of a leaf and so DH suggested filling it with a selection of nuts and a nutcracker. I thought he did great with that brainwave. The dish wasn't packaged in any way and so I'll need to make a box to give it in. Oh what a chore, lol.

When I got back home I managed to sneak in a little bit of crafting and I've played along with the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge which was on the theme of a matching set (which you may have noticed by now, I love to do anyway). Here's what I came up with:

A pyramid card and a matching french fries box.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Season of Joy, Polka Dot

Cardstock: Not Quite Navy, Sage Shadow, Whisper White

Ink: Versamark, Sage Shadow

Other: Clear EP, White EP, Filigree Brad, Circle Ice Rhinestone Brad

I used the Polka Dot background stamp with Versamark to stamp two sides of the pyramid and heat embossed with White EP. You can't tell from the photos but the trees are glossy. To get this effect I first added Versamark to the stamp, followed immediately by Sage Shadow ink, before stamping out both layers of ink together onto Whisper White card and heat embossing with Clear EP. A Filigree Brad with a Rhinestone Brad centre, top off the tree.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Season of Joy, Polka Dot, Spotlight on Christmas

Cardstock: Not Quite Navy, Sage Shadow, Whisper White

Ink: Versamark, Sage Shadow, Not Quite Navy, White Stazon

Punch: Word Window

Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon: Very Vanilla

Other: Clear EP, White EP, Small Flat Cellophane Bag

Non-SU: French Fries die cut

The french fries box was made in a similar way to the card with the addition of the Christmas sentiment, selectively inked from the Spotlight on Christmas oval stamp. This was punched out with the Word Window and trimmed to make a mini banner. I stamped a Small Cellophane bag with the snowflake from the Season of Joy set, in White Stazon, before filling with choccies and tying with ribbon.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx

Welcome to my new DT team mates and a new SWU challenge

Yesterday was my first christmas meal out. We went to a lovely local hotel that also has a spa and the meal was followed by a massage - very mellowing. I also received my first christmas present and I've only just started my christmas shopping, eek, better get a move on! It's another busy week this week, I'll be in Plymouth from Monday to Friday for work, followed by the Cringle Mingle for my downlines and hostesses on Saturday, so I'm squeezing in shopping today. Hmm that might be a tall order.

Enough of the wittering I can hear you say and onto the crafting. Ok then, we have a new challenge today over at Stamp With Us and I have some new team mates on the Design Team, so a very big welcome to Nicci, Rosie Stephanie and Dawn. Gonna love working with you guys, your entries were fantastic and I loved browsing your blogs.

For this fortnight's challenge at SWU we have this sketch:

Well I finally broke the seal on my Bella Bleu papers, instead of just stroking them through the plastic wrap lol and I'm so glad I have. They're gorgeous and I'm going to want to order more of them anyway so I may as well start using this pack up. I loved making this card and plan to do another version of this today, when I get back from the shopping, using Not Quite Navy and the paper you can see in the background - should work well I think.

Recipe

Stamp set: Silent Night

Cardstock: Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla

DSP: Bella Bleu

Ink: Craft White

Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon: Very Vanilla

Punches: Boho Blossoms, 1-1/4" Circle

Other: Earth Elements Button, Dazzling Diamonds, Gold Elastic Cord, Gold Brads

Non-SU: Nestabilities

I stamped the image with Craft White ink and then used an aquapainter with the same ink to colour the church roof and foreground. I'm not quite used to this ink yet even though I used to use pigment inks all the time before I found SU. I added my Dazzling Diamonds before the ink had dried and so it stuck wherever there was ink. It's a lovely effect but I would have been better to use Heat and Stick powder in between to "fix" the glitter and stop it shedding. Another method would be to heat the craft ink gently to fix it and then use my 2-way glue pen to add glitter just at the spots I wanted it. At least I've learned for the next version.

Don't forget that you have a fortnight to enter this challenge so even with all your christmas festivities and jobs to do, I hope that you'll be able to find time to join us.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Off to the shops now for me.

Sara xx

A silver and not quite navy bauble card

Dreamboats and petticoats was a great night out on Wednesday. If you like the music of Roy Orbison and that era (ie. fairly early Roy) then you'll probably enjoy this show. The guy that played Bobby, the male lead, was quite a slight guy but what a voice!

We took Bess to the vets last night for the first shot of her vaccine. This is to desensitise her for her allergies to fleas, cats, dust mites and grass. She'll need a shot every two weeks to start, then extending to three and then four. The vet showed us how to inject her, so that in future we may be able to give her the vaccine at home. We'll go back for the next shot just so the vet can see that we do it right. Her allergy hasn't flared up for a good 6 weeks now (as the grass pollen isn't a problem at this time of year) but hopefully the vaccine will keep her rash free for quite some time even when the weather turns better in the Spring. Fingers crossed.

Anyhow, onto today's card:

Recipe

Stamp sets: Tree Trimmings, Season of Joy

Cardstock: Not Quite Navy, Whisper White

DSP: Ski Slope (retired)

Ink: Not Quite Navy, Versamark

Punches: Corner Rounder, Large Oval

Other: Stampin' Pastels, Silver EP, Earth Elements Brad, Silver Elastic Cord

Non-SU: Nestabilities

I cut the large oval aperture using my Nesties and punched the sentiment aperture with my large oval punch. The background card was sponged with Not Quite Navy and Night of Navy chalk. This bauble is popped up on a dimensional but you could leave it free swinging.

Have a great weekend everyone and don't forget to enter for my blog candy.

Sara xx