Exciting stuff!!

(KEEP SCROLLING DOWN FOR NEWER POSTS!!)

Yes you heard it right!!  20% off select products from Stampin' Up!

from October 19 thru December 16th!!

This is a promotion after my own heart.... I LOVE making boxes and packaging at Christmas-time.  These Bundles are truly a great deal... All you have to do is decide which one(s) you want to snag!!

Heres the details a little closer...

Vintage Christmas Card Bundle (Mini catty):

Bells & Boughs set (p.19) and Deck the Halls Designer Series Paper (p. 18)       

Wood-mount: 124067 $23.92

Clear Mount: 124068 $19.92

Contempo Christmas Card Bundle (Main catty):

Contempo Christmas set (p. 45) and Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper (p. 174)

Wood-mount: 124071 $20.72

Clear-mount: 124072 $17.52

Tags Till Christmas Bundle 1 (Mini catty):

Tags Till Christmas set (p. 24) and Decorative Label Punch (p. 25)

Wood-mount: 124077 $38.32

Clear-mount: 124078 $31.92

Tags Till Christmas Bundle 2

Tags Till Christmas set (mini catty p.24) and Ornament Punch (main catty p. 203)

Wood-mount: 124478 $38.32

Clear-mount: 124477 $31.92

Gift Packaging Bundle

Gifted set (main catty p. 30) and Mini Lunch Sacks (mini catty p. 13)

Wood-mount: 124083 $26.32

Clear-mount: 124084 $19.92

Simply Adorned Gift Bundle (main catty)

Charming set (p. 130), Simply Adorned 1" x 1 1/4" charm (p. 189) and

Simply Adorned 24" Chain (p. 189)

124076 $39.88

Frame Gift Bundle (mini catty)

Definately Decorative Chunky Frame (p. 9) and Small Chocolate Chip Dotted Flourish

Decor Elements (p. 23)

Wood-mount: 124075 $19.92

Its worth noting also that the Bells & Boughs and Tags Till Christmas stamp sets are also available in Spanish.  The Contempo Christmas, Tags Till Christmas and Gifted stamp sets are available in French too!! 

If you would like to order these just follow the link on the Right-hand side of the page to my Stampin' Up! Website or you can leave me a comment with your email address if you have questions...

Hmmmm.... decisions, decisions!.....

Busy Busy Bee!

Well, Ive been as busy as a bee for the last few days...  We had a lovely Thanksgiving Holiday here... Although Hubs was working the night shift he was able to join us at the table for a scrum-diddly-umptious knees up at a friends house!   Since then we have resisted the urge to put up our Christmas Decorations (Unlike many, many in town!!) as I object to doing this before December 1st!!

Ive been really busy in the craft room!!  Making lots of things I cant share just yet... a couple of birthday cards for people I know read this!!  Hi Mom, Hi Mum!! a lovely Christmas Box project for my next club meeting, and a little something for my lovely girlies!!

I CAN share an ongoing home decor project with you.  I went to the local craft shop the other day (Yes, Im allowed to visit once in a while!!) and picked up some styrofoam cones in 3 different sizes.  So far Ive decorated 2... Not decided what approach to use for the third one, but I will, eventually get it finished!   So here you go.  I think the photos are pretty self-explanatory!...

So, I started with strips of double sided patterned paper (this is old Christmas DSP from SU UK) and cut strips 6" x 3/4".  These were looped over and just pinned onto the form.  I didnt want to use any glue as these will not last till next year without some serious squishing, so I thought it would be nice to be able to change the paper & color scheme each year!

Can you see how I just made some pen marks to keep myself on a straight line for each layer?

And heres the finished tree... Aint she pretty!?  Not a dab of glue in sight!!

The next one was a bigger cone, and took soooooo much longer to do...

I punched out loads and loads of Scalloped Circles and cut them in half... I think it took 2 sheets of A4 cardstock to cover the base.

I love the way it looks like an evergreen...  although my son said it looked like dragon scales! Thanks son!

Next I used the 5 petal flower punch on Cherry Cobbler, Real Red and Bravo Burgundy cardstock...  scrunched up the flowers and randomly layered 3 together with a little burgundy flower in the centre.  I found some old green DSP hiding in the corner and punched one for the back.  I used my crop-o-dile to punch a hole through the centre of all the layers and threaded a silver sequin onto a pearl topped pin, using the pin to attach the flowers. 

It still looked a bit naked to me so rather than make another dozen or so flowers (!) I just added some more sequins & pins in the gaps.... 

So, whadya think??

Not sure when I will get around to number 3, but I'll let ya know!!

Off to clean up the mess! 

TTFN,

C xx

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just popped in to wish those who celebrate a Happy Thanksgiving Day today. 

If you dont celebrate, its a great opportunity to stop for a second and think about what you are grateful for in your life. As hard as you may think you have it, theres nearly always someone worse off than you and ALWAYS something to be thankful for...

Back soon, Im off to friends to gobble some turkey!!  NOM NOM NOM!!
TTFN
C xx

ANOTHER SALE!!!

You have to check out my Stampin Up Web Page for some more OUTSTANDING offers... limited time only till November 30th.... Many products at 30, 40 and even 50% discounts.... Online purchase only.... DONT MISS OUT! 

Heres the link... http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/carolynneh/promotions to ALL the spectacular offers SU is having at the moment....  PHEW!!
C xx

November Club Projects.

This month we made a 3D ornament card for Christmas, to take advantage of the Christmas Bundles available at the moment (see above) and a cute thanksgiving turkey using the scallop circle punch. 

I must state that I did not design or come up with the idea for either of these.... I love blog-hopping and perusing peoples ideas and inspiration...  Unfortunately I didnt make a note of the ladies who originally designed these projects or I would link to them and say thank you...

If it was you please let me know and I will give you the credit you deserve!!

 3D Ornament Card

1. Cut a standard size card base from Cherry Cobbler cardstock (8 ½” x 5 ½”), score and fold in half at 4 ¼”.

2. Cut a layer (#1) of Shimmery White card to 4” x 5 1/4”. Stamp greeting at bottom centre of card. Using the pricking guide & mats, prick a pattern into each corner.

3. Glue white layer onto card base. Put aside.

4. Cut another layer (#2) from Shimmery White cardstock to 2 ¼” x 3 ½”.

5. Cut a mat from Crumb Cake card to 2 ½” x 3 ¾”.

6. Stamp the ornament onto the white layer (#2) in Crumb Cake ink towards the top.

7. Using sticky tape - stick a piece of twine in the middle of the stamped image, fold over the top edge and stick with tape on the back.

8. Using scrap pieces of Shimmery white card stamp the ornament once in Crumb Cake ink, and twice in Cherry Cobbler ink. Using the Ornament Punch upside down, position the stamped image and punch out. Fold the punch-outs in half vertically and glue back to back, making sure the Crumb Cake color is in the centre. Using Stampin Dimensionals adhere the 3D ornament over the stamped image on the card.

9. Glue this layer (#2) onto the Crumb Cake mat. Tie Cherry Cobbler seam binding around bottom and fasten in a knot. Use Dimensionals again to glue to the front of the card.

10. Add rhinestones or pearls for added effect.

Thanksgiving Turkey


1. Make the turkey by punching 2 scallop circles from More Mustard card. Cut one as shown for the body. Cut the second one straight across keeping 7 “bumps” to use for a tail piece. Punch three more scallop circles (I’ve used Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy and Cajun Craze) Cut two of these straight across keeping 7 “bumps” and one to 6 “bumps” for tail pieces..

2. Punch one large flower from So Saffron card and cut down for feet and beak. Punch one small flower in Real Red and trim down for the “dangly” bit!!

3. Assemble turkey as shown. Draw 2 eyes with Black or Early Espresso Marker.

4. Use some patterned paper across the bottom of a 4” x 2 ½” piece of Whisper White card and glue your turkey onto it. You can fold this over and use for a nameplate at your thanksgiving table or add a greeting and make into a card.

Hope you enjoy! 

TTFN
C xx

Great week!

Im soooooo excited!  I now have 2 lovely ladies who have taken advantage of the AMAZING offer for the starter kits at 50 percent discount...  You still have a few days left so call me if you dont want to miss out! 

I also have a few more Operation Write Home cards to share and this months Club projects so...

Operation Write Home "people cards"!

As before, images were all colored with the Stampin' Up! Marvelous Markers...

Arent they fun!  Im working on some very famous characters at the moment so come back soon!

Club projects to follow in another post!

TTFN

C xx

Random Cards!

I wanted to share with you a few of the cards that are wending their merry way to distant hot climbs as we speak!  Im only showing cards that I made for Operation Write Home as I dont have permissions to show any others....

Arent they fun?... The Background papers, inks, punches and ribbons are all Stampin' Up!

More to come another day!

Comments please....!

TTFN

C xx

October Class projects....

Heres the projects our group did this month...  The theme was "getting the most from your inks".  I gave everyone a sheet of paper, divided into sections and instructed them how to use different techniques in each space... we did stamping off, rock n roll, wheels, markers and 2-step stamping.  Consider them all edumatated!!

Then we used the stamping off technique to make this Christmas Card using the Lovely as a Tree stamp set...

You cant really see the sparkle here, but on the centre tree we used some wet glue (tombow Multi) and Dazzling Diamonds glitter.  BLINGIN!!

I made the girlies a little thank you gift...

And inside were these little pots of Halloween Hand Sanitizer from Bath & Body Works... There was an orange bottle too, called Candy Corn!  Arent they cute?

I used some Basic Grey cardstock, Basic Black ink, the Wicked Cool stamps and some of the Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz, along with the Rich Razzleberry 1/8" taffetta ribbon and some punches.

I found this idea from a lovely lady called Kimberly Van Diepen...(Instructions and VIDEO HERE).  You should take a look at her blog HERE. She is amazingly talented and generous with her designs too!!

Lastly as a quick project I had pre-cut all the pieces for this 8x8" scrapbook page, and told them to go for it and see what layouts they could come up with.... Everyone's was different!!  Fabulous!!

Instructions:

Christmas Card

1. Cut your Crumb Cake card base (8 ½” x 5 ½”), score and fold at 4 ¼” to make a standard size card.
2. Cut a piece of Early Espresso card to 4 ¼” x 5 ½”. Use the scallop edge punch along one long edge. Put aside.
3. Cut a piece of Very Vanilla card to 3 ¾” x 5 ½”. Using the Night of Navy Ink, stamp the main tree image about 1/3 of the way along the vanilla card (on the left side). Immediately (without re-inking) stamp again on either side of the main tree, slightly overlapping the first image. The second and third tree will be lighter in color and look like they are in the background…
4. Stamp your greeting on the right side using the stamp-a-ma-jig and Early Espresso ink.
5. Glue the Vanilla to the Espresso card stock.
6. Tie the Vanilla ribbon around and tie into a knot below the main (darkest) tree.
7. Glue to main card.
8. Use wet glue to add highlights on main tree image, add glitter and set aside to dry.

Spooky Scrapbook Page

1. Cut a piece of Old Olive cardstock to 8” x 8”.
2. Cut your “Wicked Cool” patterned paper to 4” x 8”.
3. Cut a Basic Black photo mount to 4 ¼” x 6 ¼”. (for a standard 4x6 photo)
4. Cut a piece of Tangerine Tango card to 1 ¼” x 4 “ for your title.
5. Use the Curly Label Punch on some Rich Razzleberry card. Fold the punch out in half. Cut one large tag from the large tag punch also in Rich Razzleberry.
6. Using some Old Olive ink, & stamping off once, stamp the witches hat (from the Wicked Fun set) onto white card. Using Basic Black ink, stamp “spooky” over the top… Center the image in the window of the large tag punch and punch out.
7. Assemble the tags on top of each other, slightly offset. Add a brad. Wrap ribbon around the photo mount, add tag. Assemble page as shown.

Hope you enjoy!!

TTFN

C xx

Operation Write Home....

So I know you are all curious to see the cards from my all-day Operation Write Home card Party... So here goes.. 

107 Cards!

I offered 4 kits for those inexperienced card-makers.  Everything was pre-cut and I typed up instructions for each card.  I had all 4 kits at one table, one kit per seat, and the ladies had great fun rotating around... Was a bit like musical chairs at one point!!...

These are the finished Kits!!

These cards were donation by 2 lovely ladies... The blue cards (at the top) were illustrated and watercolored by a HUGELY talented lady!...  Thank you girls!! 

These cards were "free-styled"...  (alot are mine... I seem to have got the coloring bug!!)

So, yesterday I spent the day coloring a whole village of people!! 

16 more cards to add to the pile once I finish!! 



I would like to thank everybody who came along to help, made donations or dropped cards off.  This was a huge success and lots of fun too!  YOU ROCK!!

Back tomorrow with those Class Projects I promised....

TTFN

C xx

Fun Times!!

Well, I think Ive finally recovered from my 12 hour stint on friday!!  Operation Write home was a HUGE success!  I had 10 people either show up or drop by and donate cards and we made a grand total of 107 cards for the troops in one day!!  (Oh and a cash donation of $60!!) 

Now, Im not mailing the box out till Friday, as I have a few card fronts given to me by my friend and Upline and I have to mount those onto a card base and then stamp the OWH logo on the back of all the wonderful cards....  SO!!  If you have any spare cards laying around that you arent going to use....  Leave me a comment with your email and I'll give you my address to send them too!

I will take some photos of the cards before I mail them out so you can see the AMAZING work the girls did!!...

Thank you again to everyone who helped make such a difference for the boys and girls who risk their lives for our freedom on a daily basis. 

C xx

Whats been keeping me busy...?

You may well ask?  Where have I been?  Well, this is a pet project Ive organised for next week.  Im really excited to be supporting this organisation.  I have a friend who's husband used their cards while in Iraq and she really loved recieving them. 

The concept is simple.  Please take a minute to visit their website and if you can make a donation.   If you want to just send me some of those extra cards you have in your stash, please email me or leave me a message... Im more than happy to pass them along.

Normal service should resume shortly, I have a couple of cute class projects and instructions to share next week so stay toooned!!

TTFN
C xx

Being Wicked!!

Well, my first official Stamping Class was last week and I promised to share our projects with you...  To start with I handed everyone an instruction sheet which also had a chart on it.  This had some of the standard card sizes on it, what size card you need to start with, where you score, and how to make a gatefold card in each size too.  I then had the ladies cut a few of these and write the sizes on them.  I think it was quite helpful to actually see and cut these themselves (it also helped them "get to know" their paper trimmers). I hope so anyway. 

So from that we moved on to our project which was a standard A2 gatefold card...This was based on a card in the SU catalog, but I adjusted it to the standard size.  Here's the instructions...

1. Cut your Rich Razzleberry* cardstock to (A2)

8 ½ x 5 ½” . Score at 2 1/8” and 6 3/8” to make a gatefold card.

2. Use the “Bat” stamp randomly all over the (folded) card front with VersaMark Ink. Stamp the “Cobweb” in white craft ink on 2 opposite corners. Set aside to dry.

3. Cut 2 pieces of white card (small) 1 ¾” x 2” and (medium) 1 7/8” x 2 ¾”.
Cut 2 pieces of black card (small) 2” x 2 7/8” and (Large) 3” x 3 ¾”.
Cut 1 piece of patterned paper to 2 ¾” x 3 ½".

*If your card base is a dark color you will need an insert of white card cut to
3 ¾” x 5”.

4. Use Black ink to stamp your candlestick onto the SMALL white panel. Then using the stamp-a-ma-jig, stamp your greeting onto the bottom of the MEDIUM white panel with Black ink. Set aside to dry.

5. Glue the patterned paper onto the LARGE black panel.
Paying attention to how the card opens(!) put glue on back of ONE HALF of the LARGE black panel. Glue into place on card front.

6. Once ink is dry, glue MEDIUM white panel onto SMALL black panel. Use dimensionals to attach SMALL white on top of this and add Rhinestone.

7. For the button, cut a small sliver of black card, thread through the holes and tie like thread. Stick to card with a dimensional.

8. Stick liner to inside… decorate if wanted. Decorate envelope.

And heres the Supplies you will need...
Wicked Cool stamp set.  Wicked Fun Designer Series Paper. Rich Razzleberry, Basic Black and Whisper White cardstock. Basic Black Classic Ink.  White Craft Ink.  VersaMark Ink.  Brights Buttons. Rhinestones.  Dimensionals.

Hope you likey!

Enjoy...
C xx

New look blog! New Projects!!

Woo Hoo!!
I think Im almost there tweaking the blog... Bear with me as there might still be a few little gremlins hiding out somewhere.  If anything goes awry while youre visiting, please let me know so I can fix it!

Im so excited to be starting a new Stamping Club next week with some of my favourite ladies.  I hope to teach them some basic stuff as well as the fun bits!  So heres a few little packages of "Card Candy" Ive been creating for the last couple of days.  Each hostess will get to choose one as a little thank you.  (And there will be new ones added so hopefully we wont come to blows over who wants what!  Although...  with this bunch...  its possible!)

Fun Huh?  
I actually really enjoyed making these little treats, something I will be doing alot more of I think!  Let me know what you think & which is your favourite...
Please also feel free to give some some ideas what Im missing on my new-look blog!  Thanks for visiting!

TTFN
C xx

Under Construction!

Or should I say having a makeover!!!  Bear with me for a couple of days... Its time for a good old re-vamp-a-roonie in blog city.... in a few days it will all make sense.  I hope.
Luvs ya!!

Back soon

When the kids go back to school and I get a spare minute to myself I will have a new post for you!!  Honest!
C xx

Its here!!!

WOO HOOOOO!!

C'mon now... You all knew didnt you...?

My exciting news was that I signed up as a US Stampin' Up! Demonstrator!!

It was only a matter of time really wasnt it!?  I must admit although its been lovely to have a break for the last year its actually nicer to now have a purpose again...  just as before (When I was a demo in the UK) if all I do is break even and get my products at a discount then Im happy!!   If I happen to make friends, have fun and share my love of all things crafty.... BONUS!!

The box came about 15 minutes ago, my lovely hubby lugged it inside for me.  I promptly then said it had to go back on the doorstep so I could take a photo of it!  Sad huh?

Needless to say things will change a little here... (But not too much!)  I will have to add some links to SU & Abide by all the legal stuff but I still aim to add some tutorials and some projects... maybe blogging a little more regularly now too!  (If youre wondering what ever happened to the video... The SD memory card broke on me and I havnt replaced it yet... Im working on it ! Promise!!)

So, heres to a happy and productive blogger !!!  CHEERS!!

TTFN

C xx

V. V. Exciting news....

OK, I hate to keep you all in suspense (or suspenders!)  but I have some extremely exciting news I will share with you this week.... Im just waiting for an email to confirm it then I will tell you all!!

Some of you may already know, and some may guess.... Lets make it interesting.. Leave your thoughts in my comments box & lets see the funniest/weirdest answer... coz you are a funny and weird bunch!

Luvs ya!

C xx

Recital...

For those that have been following along... The recital is over!  YAY!  As happy as I am to lend a hand backstage when needed and support the girls on the day, its always nice when its over...!  I must admit this recital was lovely, stress-free and happy for all involved.  It was only one performance and free to attend.  All those in the audience were friends and family who were just as proud as punch of their little dancers... All the girls behaved beautifully and looked so pretty in their outfits...  It made for a wonderful atmosphere of support and smiles... 

I wanted to share the card that accompanied flowers and gift for the wonderful Ms Jennifer, the amazing woman that runs the school and managed such a wonderful morning...

I love this set from SU!.. I have used it before but I love the sentiment so much and it really does sum up Ms Jennifer...  I embossed the outline image with clear powder over black ink and then coloured with markers and blender pens... Adding a little glitter for a touch of bling.

The background was stamped with versamark and again embossed with some clear powder... (Remembering the old formula for cardmaking... B L T...  Background Layering and Texture...)

On the inside of the card I glued some punched hearts that I covered in glitter... all 3 girls in the senior class signed the card and I hope she liked it!...

OK Proud Mummy moment... Heres Abbi in her recital outfits...

Ballet solo.

Group Tap.

Group Ballet.

Abbi and Ms Jennifer.

A good time was had by all!

C xx