Another Sale-A-Bration card

Well it's New Year's Eve already, this year has gone so fast, I can't believe Zac has turned two and Blake is nearly six months already. I started my first blog earlier this year and have been so lucky to now be on several design teams, to have won some challenges and some candy and now here I am a Stampin' Up! demonstrator!! Who knew?

I've made another card here using one of the fab sets of stamps you can get for FREE during Sale-A-Bration, you can see the all the details here. Get these stamps now as once they're gone - they're gone!

I'm joining in with these challenges:

• Mojo Monday - Sketch
• Rosie D's - Free theme
  

I used a sentiment stamp from the Whimsical Words Stamp set. I love black, white and red together although this photo is a little dull and doesn't show how birght the real red card is. I made the scalloped rectangle using the scalloped border punch to match the scalloped circle punch. The hearts are punched too!

Well all that's left is to wish you all a Happy 2010, have a great night whatever you do - mine is going to be spent snuggled up on the sofa with hubby, hoping the boys sleep through!

Happy New Year

Right, time to get back into some challenges and get back in my craft room too! I have quite a few New Years cards to make and this is my second one:

I'm joining in with these challenges:

• Stamp with fun - Happy New Year
• Sweet Stampin - Sketch
  
• My Time to Craft - Anything goes
• Everybody Art - Happy New Year
• Simon Says - Party
• Stampavie - Happy New Year
• Cute Card Thursday - Happy New Year
• Our Creative Corner - Celebrate with food or drink
• Lili of the Valley - A New Year card
  

I used Kraft card for the base and layered up with pixie pink, tempting turquoise and DP and borders from Petal Party scrap kit. The image stamp is from Cheers to You, shaded with matching inks using an aqua brush. Had to use my Stamp-a-maj-ig again to help me line up all the glasses to make the background paper. Added some dots to the border with the white gel pen and printed the sentiment before layering up with various punches - love the effect.

Finally, my January classes are booking up fast and now only 4 places left in my Stampers 10 club too. Check out the drop down menu across the top for more details.

Thanks

Stamp sets for free - easy as 1,2,3!

This post will remain at the top for a few weeks, please scroll down to see other posts - thanks

Yes that's right - you can get stamp sets for free!

Do you want to get your stampin' fingers on these four fab sets of limited edition stamps?

This fantastic Sale-A-Bration offer runs from 30 December 2009 - 28 February 2010

Stamps for free, easy as 1,2,3

1. Simply shop - grab one of these gorgeous sets of stamps for free with every product purchase of £45. There's no limit to how many sets you can have whilst the offer is running. Splurge on some goodies you've been after for a while or take the opportunity to stock up on basics and tools - it's up to you. Just place your order with me here. 
2. Hostess with the mostess - in addition to the usual hostess benefits you can get a Sale-A-Bration stamp set of your choice if you host a party with product sales of £300 or more, this is in addition to the sets you can get by spending £45 on products yourself. Email me now to book  your party.
   
3. Join Team Jelly - If you fancy yourself as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and sign up to join Team Jelly during Sale-A-Bration, you can choose a free stamp set up to the value of £38.95 from the current catalogue! Email me for more information.

The goods....

 Whimsical Words - a set of six sentiment stamps that can be used all year round. Fabulous for adding those finishing touches to your creations.

Vintage Labels - a stunning set of six stamps including frames and sentiments. The ornate circle co-ordinates with the 1" circle punch and the scallop circle punch. Several other stamps from the catalogue fit inside these frames too, so great for combining.

 

Good Neighbours - 10 great stamps ideal for creating scenes, borders or features. These would look great combined with the Trendy Trees stamp set.

 

Happy Moments - four images and three sentiments. Build a tower of presents with this versatile set or layer up the cake!

 

Tempted? Email me now to place your order or to hear more about joining Team Jelly. Remember this amazing offer is only available until 28 February 2010, once they're gone - they're gone!

Click here to see samples made using these stamps.

Papertake GDT spot and Stampers 10 update

I'm thrilled to be a GDT member over at Papertake for the next four weeks. Dawny has set a fab sketch challenge and this is my creation. I'm joining in with these challenges:

• C.R.A.F.T - Thank you
• Winter Wonderland - Thank you

I used Trendy Trees stamp set and Funky Forest wheel. I couldn't have created the patterned papers without the use of my Stamp-a-ma-jig though! Glad I bought myself one as it gives you so many options for making your own papers.

January Class Update

I am now taking bookings for my January classes - details here.

Club Update

Only 5 places left in my Jan Stampers 10 Club - details here.



Project Recipe: 
Card - chocolate chip, gable green, mellow moss
Inks - chocloate chip, old olive, certainly celery
Stamps - Trendy Trees, Funky Forest
Tools - Stamp-a-maj-ig, paper trimmer

Hidden snowflake acetate card

Have you ever made a card you loved so much yourself you didn't want to give it away? Well I hadn't until now! This is my creation for this weeks challenge at Die Cut Dreams which is 'a hidden snowflake'.



I've never used white Stazon on acetate before and was nervous about making this as the medallion stamp is huge! Here's a close up:



I'm joining in with these challenges:

• Stamp with fun - Sketch (flipped on it's side)
• Crafty Angels - Use a technique you've never tried (stamping with Stazon on acetate)
• Tuesday Morning sketches - A tag, lots of glitter and a hidden message (gutted as I'm too late to enter this now)
• Stamp Something - Holiday somethings
• Fun with shapes - White and a little bit of colour
• Totally gorjuss - A tag (my card has a tag on it!)
• Our Creative Corner - Let it snow
• One Stop Crafts - Recycled (my acetate is an old box lid!)
• Sweet Stampin - Use at least 2 punches
• Stamp with us - Christmas
• The Chorrosive Challenge - Blingy
  

You can see above my hidden message and snowflake on the back of the medallion stamp. I made the card base out of an old acetate box lid as I didn't have any myself and had this idea for the card in my head. I'll be placing an order for some window sheets now as want to make more like this. I've had this medallion stamp for a while and not inked it up and boy am I pleased with the result. I was so worried I'd slip with the ink and it'd be ruined! I had to use the brayer to get a good even coverage of ink - worth investing if you don't have one already.

Once it dried I went around the edges of the image with a glue pen and sprinkled with glitter - very time consuming! I punched a hole through the centre and attached a gorgeous filigree brad through the centre for decoration and to secure the card on the reverse.

The ribbon is from my stash and looped through a Hodge Podge ribbon slider with a little tag hanging off, I used a snowflake stamp and some circle punched to layer up and hung if with some silver elastic thread.

Project Recipe:
Medallion stamp, white Stazon, filigree brad, bordering blue card, Season of Joy stamp set & circle punches.

Happy New Cheer

Over at Cupcake Crafts we have a two week challenge for you and the theme is 'Celebration'. You can make any card or project as long as celebration is involved...the choice is yours! The Design Team have created some fabby stuff so take a look and pop by their blogs too over Christmas.

I made a New Year card for my Mum as I didn't post a Christmas card to Spain in time (oops!).



I'm going to join these challenges:

• Sketch and Stash - Sketch (new stamp used)
• Cute Card Thursday - Aperture card
• Colour Create - Pink, burgundy and ivory and roses (I made rose wine!)
• Get Sketchy - Use your favourite colour - mine's pink
• Stampin' B's - Use a beverage
• Daring Cardmakers - New beginnings
• Winter Wonderland - Happy New Year
  

The stamp is from Cheers to You set and I coloured it using a Pixie Pink ink pad and a water brush! I printed the sentiments on the stars on the PC on the same card. The border was punched using the scallop border punch and I cut the aperture and frame with nesties.

Christmas 3 step card

Usually I love snow but not today as it's stopped us from travelling to a Christening. So I'm crafting instead which is lovely but it's not the same!

I made my first three step card:



And I'm joining these challenges:

• Project Tuesday - 3 step card (woo-hoo I'm featured this week!)
• Sassy Designs by Susie - A touch of gold
• Crafty Catz - Fairytale of New York (the song makes me think of Christmas)
• Hand Full of Stamps - All about red

Not usually a fan of gold but I know someone who is and I hope this hits the mark for them. I used the tree from Season of Joy and a sentiment from Punches Three (hostess level one set). A spot of gold heat embossing over Versamark stamping, followed by some cutting out, layering on to real red and more cutting out and almost there. Added some real red ribbon and a button and I'm done.

Candles gift bag

Here's my DT creation for the latest challenge at Creative Card Crew. Our theme is 'Anything goes'. That's right you can submit any project you like and you have until 4th January to do so. We're also sad to say goodbye to Nicola at Creative Card Crew, Nicola makes fab creations so I'm sure you'll be a regular visitor to her blog.

So after saying goodbye we're looking to say hello to two new DT members. To be in with a chance to join our team all you need to do is submit your entry on the Creative Card Crew blog and pop DT next to your name! Good luck.



I'm popping mine in for this weeks challenge at Stamp with fun which is 'little gifts'.

I stamped up these candles to make a cute Christmas gift for a friend. Yes they're made with Stampin' Up products!

I'll be setting up some virtual hostess Stampin' Up groups starting in January where you commit spending £15 a month for 10 months and get to be a virtual hostess on your month by receiving a free stamp set and some £s to spend on SU goodies from the catalogue too. If you're interested, please get in touch sooner rather than later before all the spaces are taken!

Present in a hurry

I've had a fab day, I've been to a friends graduation party. I couldn't turn up without a little something so I took these:



Talk about make it in a hurry!



Sorry about the quality of the photos, I was in such a rush to go out and I had forgotten to take the pics!



I used Darling Dots stamps, these are a hostess level one set and I love 'em! I printed the sentiment myself as don't have a congratulations stamp yet - I looked and couldn't believe I don't have one! I added faux stitching with a white gel pen to match the stars.

Hubby came to pick me up from the party with the boys and all the way home Zac was shrieking with excitement at all the Christmas lights, we're going to sort out our decorations this week before we blink and miss Christmas!

Project Recipe:

Stamps - Darling Dots
Inks and card - Lovely Lilac, Tempting Turquoise
Accessories - Word window punch, oval punch, scalloped oval punch, white gel pen

Christmas Cheer

This week at Paperplay our theme is to 'be inspired by the movies or a book'. I chose Cocktail!



I'm joining in with these challenges:

• Stampin' for the weekend - Mistletoe and wine
• Stamp with us - Sketch

I've been using my Stampin' Up stash again! This time Kraft card, with papers from Christmas Jingle scrap kit and stamps from Cheers to you and Circle of friendship. I stamped in Versamark and embossed with gold embossing powders.

I love a cocktail at Christmas. Off to a bad start today, my paper trimmer is cutting all fuzzy and it doesn't seem to matter how many times I try to realign the blade, it ain't happening for me...grrrrrr.

Speedy Christmas card

I won a challenge and my prize is a GDT spot and setting the challenge! So this week the challenge is 'jingle all the way' and you have my sketch to follow too and it's nice and simple - a bit like me!



I made my card using Kraft for the base and elements from the Stampin' Up Christmas Jingle scrap kit along with Season of Joy stamp set and Real Red ink. Can't tell you how quick and easy this card was to put together other than it took me less than 2 minutes! The most complicated bit was stamping the image twice and punching out the snowflake to raise on 3-D foam!

Silver embossed whisical wings

This week at Creative Card Crew our challenge is 'use silver or gold'. Up to you so a nice open theme there. Have a look at the other DT creations - they're a bit fab.



I'm also entering my card for these challenges:

• My Time to Craft - Christmas foliage
• Truly Scrumptious - Sketch
• Cute Card Thursday - Swirly girly
• Colour Create - Lilac, aqua, black and white
• Our Creative Corner - 12 days of Christmas (hope this can pass as a turtle dove!!)
• Allsorts - Purple
• Saturday Spotlight - Christmas flowers
• Sweet Stampin' - Feathered friends
  

I've used all Stampin' Up products again - because they're all new to me and fun to play with! I used Whimsical Wings Hostess set and did some embossing with silver powder and versamark. I made the card Christmas by adding a Christmas sentiment which I also embossed in silver. Had to stamp the envelope to match!

Project recipe:

• Stamps - Whimsical Wings, Season of joy, Circle of friendship
• Papers and card - basic black, orchid opulence, whisper white, Pink Flamingo
  
• Accessories - Hodge Podge hardware, circle punch, eyelet border punch, silver embossing powder
• Inks - Basic Black, Versamark
  

A card, a candle and a tag

This is my DT project for Die Cut Dreams Challenge this week. Our challenge is 'Sage and Onion Stuffing Colour Combo' and the prize this week is a two week Guest Design Team spot and I'm the judge this time!! So get your entries in and check out the fab creations by the rest of the Design Team here.



I'm entering this for these challenges:

• Cupcake Crafts - Christmas Carol / Song (We wish you a Merry Christmas)
• Creative Inspirations - Christmas card and tag set (I added a candle too!)
• Three Clovers - Make a gift
• Secret Crafter - Matching set
• Pile it on - Tinsel town / use glitter (glitter ribbon)
• Stamptacular - Let is shine (can't win as entered more than one challenge)
  

I used all Stampin' Up! products for the card and a few extras on the candle. The candle was so easy to make, cut out a piece of white tissue paper, stamp your images and then heat set onto a candle using a piece of greaseproof paper. The ribbon is from my stash and has so much sparkle and glitter on it - goes so well with the Old Olive. I thought stamping the envelope to match was a cute touch.

And now for my news.....after being Guest Designer at Cupcake Crafts Challenge for November, I've been invited to join the team permanently. I said yes!! So I'll be there from next week.

Project Recipe:

• Christmas Jingle Scrap Kit
• Inks - Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Craft White
• Stamps - Season of Joy, Tags for All
• Linen thread
• Scallop border punch
• Eyelets - metallics
  

Crazy for Cupcakes and a speedy challenge

Caardvarks have a cute 24 hour challenge on to make a card following a colour combo and here's my card:



I used all Stampin' Up products for this one after I'd unpacked all my goodies and decorated the envelope to match too.

Recipe: Card stock - Tempting Turquoise, Taken with Teal, Pixie Pink, Orchid Opulence, Barely Banana, Green Galore. Image and sentiment - Crazy for Cupcakes. Oval, Scalloped Oval and Word Window punches.

My workspace - what a mess!

Here's a photo of how my desk looked first thing this morning...oh dear me. I was so excited about my first order arriving I hadn't thought to have a good tidy up to create some space!



And here is is all tidied away and sorted out. Well this bit of it anyway!



Join in the fun over at Stamping Ground with What's on your workdesk Wednesday.

Gift Card Holder

This is my GDT creation for Cupcake Crafts Challenge where we challenge you to make a gift card holder.

I followed a tutorial off Splitcoaststampers for this. I didn't have any money envelopes, so made my own. View of the inside - you'll notice a lack of gift card in mine as I don't have one!

And the stamped card that also fits inside:

All products are by Stampin' Up except the ribbon and glitter gem. I used Pink Passion and Only Orange card stock which I stamped with Baroque Motifs stamp sets. I used a Versamark ink pad on the outside and went over the images with Stampin Pastels in orange using a cotton ball!

Love notes

This was my first ever Stampin' Up! project. I wanted to use items purely out of the starter kit which was actually really good fun and took me right back to basics. I even have ink all over my fingers (and there was some on the kitchen floor where I was working but I've cleaned that off now!).

I made 4 sets of little cards using the Love Notes card and envelopes. These are in Pixie Pink.

and here in Green Galore

 

In Tempting Turquoise
 

And finally in Lovely Lilac

 

I used stamps from A Beautiful Thing and Baroque Motifs and created the background patterned paper using the It's Beautiful roller wheel. I used the same wheel to decorate the envelopes to match.

Great fun.