Off Duty!

Ok, Im off duty for a while now...

My wonderful husband arranged for the kids and I to go away for a few days while the kitchen fitters are in! (I think for his own sanity as much as anything!) We are off to SUNNY! Great Yarmouth... in a caravan... Brrrrrrr!....

Yes, the thermal underwear is packed!!!

This photo was taken today! (Its supposed to be mickey mouse!) Hard to believe its Easter Sunday...

See you all in a few days,

Happy Easter.
Stay warm!

C xx

All I want for Christmas...

... Is my two front teeth!

Just had to share this one with you... Happy to say the teeth are now sprouting and apples are back on the menu!

Recipe;
Stamps: Seeing Spots, Welcoming words
Card: Whisper White, Barely Banana, Mellow Moss, Bashful Blue
Ink: VersaMark, Mellow Moss
Seasonings: 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon in Certainly Celery, 1/2", 1 1/4" and 1 1/3" Circle Punch

Pretty simple layout again... Those of you who know me will understand I dont do FUSSY!!!
Stamp the Barely Banana with VersaMark for that BRILL watermark effect.

The Punches make life sooooooo much easier... Guys who attended my first workshop will know, trying to cut those circles by hand SUCKS! The punches are sized perfectly for this set, glad I got them I can tell you...

Thanks for looking,
Enjoy...

C xx

Watercolour Effects...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this set, this is only2 of the stamps (there are 6 in total including 2 with sentiments - FAB!)

Recipe;
Stamps: Summer by the Sea
Card: Whisper white. Boy = Love Notes (Whisper White), Brocade Blue. Girl = Almost Amethyst, Perfect Plum, Lavendar Lace.
Ink: Boy = Night of Navy. Girl = Perfect Plum
Seasonings: Girl = Stampin Pastels, VersaMark Ink Pad, Both = blender pens.

The girl card is made by stamping a background stamp (I used a USA Stampin Up! background stamp, sorry guys... Fingers crossed it makes it into the new catalogue in October!) onto your card base with VersaMark Ink then dabbing with the Stampin Pastels (Chalks)

The boy image is stamped onto some watercolour paper that was given to me. It gives a more smudged look when you use the blender pens & pastels... The girl image is stamped onto Whisper White and colour added the same way. Not sure which I like the best!...

Thanks for Looking...
Enjoy!

C xx

Roses in Winter

I wanted to show you the versatility of SU stamps with these projects, both using the same set and inks...

Recipe;

Stamps: Roses in Winter, Cheeer & Wishes

Card: Whisper White, Scrap page = Pretty in Pink, Mellow Moss, Almost Amethyst,

Card = Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Blush Blossom

Ink: Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Pretty in Pink, Blush Blossom, Mellow Moss, Certainly Celery

This is a Fabulous set for beginners as you can stamp completely at random and the results are amazing! This is also part of the Definately Decorative range of 2 step stamps and can be used on walls, furiture, accesories etc. Just use the appropriate paint for a fab look.

A tree for all seasons

Bargain Stamp Set!!!

I love this set as you can either use all 4 stamps together (As above) or each one alone... The set is only £12.95!!! (see page 44 in the catalogue)

Recipe;

Stamps: A Tree For All Seasons, Cheer & Wishes

Ink: Basic Black, Mellow Moss

Cardstock: Whisper White, Close to Cocoa, Mellow Moss

Seasoning: Twill Tape

- I made a card blank from Close to Cocoa card sized 12" x 4 3/4". Folded along the shorter side, this makes an interesting gate-fold I think...

- I then used the Stamp-a-ma-jig to position and stamp each image onto Whisper White using Mellow Moss ink. Each square of white measures approx 1 3/4". These are mounted onto a square of Mellow Moss card and the edges of this are slightly distressed.

- Stamp your greeting onto the Twill Tape with Basic Black. Prick along one edge of a strip of Mellow Moss and wrap the Tape around this...

- Assemble as shown.

FYI... Im going to attempt this card using the pastels and VersaMark ink pad to see what effects I can achieve... Stay posted for the results, could be interesting!!!

Thanks for Looking...

Enjoy,

C xx

Im a Scrapper Too!!!

Heres a quick page of my little monsters! This was a project for my first (Official) workshop... Everyone brought a photo and I pre-cut various colourschemes that we were able to match to each person.

Recipe;

Stamps: Little Pieces

Card: Tempting Turquoise, Pink Passion

Ink: Versamark, black Journaler and White Gel Pen.

Seasonings: Eyelets, 1/2" circle punch

- Cut an 8x8" square of your chosen colour (Pink passion), then cut part of a circle from another piece of card measuring 7x7"... You can use a plate or whatever cutting system you have...

- Stamp onto the circle with the Versamark Pad and the Little Pieces stamp set. In the top left corner of your base card stamp the heart with Versamark and stamp your word. Punch out the hearts with the 1/2" circle punch (PERFECT size for this stamp set) and cut out your word. This area will not be seen once you stick your circle onto the base card... Nifty huh?

- Assemble as shown. Add a strip of your contrast card at the bottom, add eyelets if desired and add 'stitching' detail with a white gel pen... Add your journaling and Poof! Another project done!

Thanks for looking!

Enjoy,

C xx

Baby Card

A really simple card that can be adapted for boy/girl, pre-baby/post baby or even birthday!

Recipe;

Stamps: Year After Year, Cheer & Wishes

Card: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Barely Banana

Ink: Mellow Moss, Barely Banana

Seasonings: 1/4" White Grosgrain Ribbon, Blender Pens, 1/2" circle punch.

- Make a card blank from whisper white (9cm x 18cm folded to give 9cm square). Stamp the elephant onto another piece of whisper white with Mellow Moss. Use Blender pens and a dab of Barely Banana ink to colour in... (Tip: with the ink pad closed squeeze the lid gently onto the pad inside. When you open your pad the inside of the lid has picked up a little ink and can be used as your palette for colouring!)

-Trim to size and knock off the corners with the 1/2" punch. (Tip: turn your punch upside down and use the markings on the cutting edge to line up your paper.)

-Trim a piece of Barely Banana to size and (if needed using a Stamp-a-ma-jig) stamp congratulations.

- Trim a pice of Certainly Celery card to 8cm square and trim the edges with the circle punch as before. Wrap a pice of ribbon around the Celery card and glue this to the front of your card blank.

Assemble the other elements as shown, tie a cute bow and stick down.

Thanks for looking!

Enjoy...

C xx

First Workshop Card!

A very tentative start and an awful photo but its a start!

My first demo was a week before mothers day and this was my first project... luckily I had another one as backup as most guests needed 2 cards... it turned into a bit of a 'ladies that do lunch" event but was lots of fun. Thanks to all who came along and supported me.

Recipe;
Stamps: Year after Year, Little Pieces
Inks: Pretty in Pink, Stampin Pastels
Card: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Apricot Appeal, Almost Amethyst
Extras: White Grosgrain Ribbon, Blender Pens, 1/2" circle punch

Method doesnt really need too much explaining... I made a card blank from 1/2 sheet A4 whisper white card (fold in half) then stamped flower from Little Pieces onto Apricot. I stamped the large flower onto whisper white and coloured in with the blender pens and the pastels. The corners were trimmed with the 1/2" circle punch. Add ribbon and assemble as shown.

Enjoy...
More samples to come...
C xx