One Card Three Ways

this week over at Less is More, Mandi and Chrissie have challenged us LIMettes to create a one layer card using the sentiment as the main focal poimt. Hmm - I had planned on making four cards here but ended up with just three. I'll share and then explain!

 

So I have used the Engraved Greetings Happy Birthday stamp which I decided would be enough for this challenge on it's own. First I stamped in Versamark on to Tempting Turquoise card and embossed with black embossing powder. Next the Melon Mambo card made in the same way with white embossing powder. For my third card I used Versamark on the stamp and then half Tempting Turquoise, half Melon Mambo and embossed with clear powder. Here's the turquoise one with a couple of self adhesive rhinestone gems for that finishing touch!

 

 

Next the Melon Mambo version:

 

 

Now if you're wondering what happened to card number four, this is the story of it's failure to be. I decided it needed to be on Basic Black card and needed to be a pink or turquoise image not white - that would have been too easy and looked the same as the Turquoise fella. So I tried these methods:

1. Versamark and chalk - messy and not neat enough for me
2. Versamark, whisper white and tempting turquoise - just looked white!
3. Versamark, heat and stick powder, blue glitter - image not clearly defined
4. Mixing Whisper White reinker with turquoise reinker, daubing onto stamp - nope, didn't work either
5. Stamping Whisper White. Drying. Waiting. Carefullt lining up Stamp-ma-jig and over stamping in Turquoise - looked gray
6. Rumaged through my none SU stash to find my cosmic shimmer embossing powder that I knew would do the job only to find I no longer own them!
7. Gave up!

So I tried but after trying some more, decided to give in before I ruined any more black card. If anyone masters getting a stamped image to stamp brightly in pink on to black card - using only Stampin' Up! products - please, please share the secret of your success with me! I can colour images no problem but stamping just isn't working for me.

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Itty Bitty Cupcakes

Ooh I've had a lovely day in sunny Pudsey! I went to Jules' team training with my downline Tracy and had a ball. I also drove on the motorway for the first time ever and overcame a fear I've had for many years. Tracy and Julie kept me calm on the way - thanks girls.

As is the norm at any training we all swap and here are mine:

 

I've used Early Espresso for the base layered with Pink Pirouette after embossing with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder - expect to see me using embossing folders a lot! Next there's a strip of Early Espresso DSP to match in the dots and a fun flower in Melon Mambo cut using the Big Shot (have to be careful when we type this don't we ladies?), The two circles have been punched and the sentiment is from Occasional Phrases. Finally, three cupcakes from Itty Bitty Bits and the co-ordinating punch.:

Jules organised a fab day, laid on a great lunch and just check out pudding:

 

 

I have lots more to share with you but haven't had chance to take photos yet. Thanks to everyone who swapped with me and shared tips, ideas and products!!!

Curry and wine time now.
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3-D Box Frame

Look away Louise- this is Grace's present and you haven't got it yet!!

So warning to Louise over with, let's proceed. I'm running a class next Saturday (16th April) the cost is £15 and everyone attending will get to make their own 3-D box frame, in their own choice of colours and theme. I made this one for my downline Louise's new baby girl Grace. I know her nursery is decorated in the Zeddy and Parsnip stuff from Mamas and Papas so I tried my best to create a frame to match:

 

 

The frame isn't from Stampin' Up! but it's lovely and chunky and can be left natural or painted. The back of the box frame is about an inch away from the glass so there's lots of room for layering up! I took another photo of the picture out of the frame so you can see it better:

 

I've used so many different things to create this picture! My colours are So Saffron, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede and Very vanilla. I've used so many things from the new mini catalogue including buttons, bevelled window panes, Little Additions stamp set, embossing folders, punches and embosslits dies. Here's a close up:

Now we don't have a small zebra in our catalogue or a rabbit that looks like Parsnip so I masked off bits of a little dog and cat from Every Little Bit and then drew in other bits to make them! Here you can see my attempt at Zeddy!

I love the beveled window pain with the paper pieced bib in it. You get so many in a packet and I'm going to enjoy using them.

If you'd like to come along to this class, please get in touch asap with your colour choices. The class is at 10.30 on Saturday 16th April. Cost is £15 which includes your frame to hold your 6"x6" creation. I'll be joining in and making a brght pink and white picture for my kitchen!

Here's an example of one I've made previously:

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Fruity Butterfly

Well it was very sunny earlier but now it seems not so. I'm trying to get myself healthy again and have dusted off my juice machine and am drinking fresh juices every morning. So here's a fruity creation to match:

 

I was very much inspired by a gorgeous Birthday card I received from my friend Susie and had to have a go at making something similar. I've used Melon Mambo and cut a Top Note die and folded in half to make my card base. Next I added a strip of Basic Black narrow grosgrain ribbon and a sentiment from Thank You Kindly. The large Daffodil Delight flower is die cut with the Fun Flowers die and then popped back through the Big Shot using the Square Lattice embossing folder. I decorated a piece of Whisper White scrap card with matching colours and the orange from Tart and Tangy. This and the black flat butterfly have been die cut too. The pearls started off as pearls but I daubed black Stayzon ink to transform them.

 

 

I can't stop as Blake is snoring away and Zac is attempting to prod him and to be honest - I like the quiet!!

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Double trouble

Still feeling rhubard today so in a vain attempt to make me feel healthy I cleaned off my juicer and made myself a fresh apple and grape juice, plus I've bought some seabass for dinner tonight. Just need to figure out how to cook it! So still not in the right place to get crafting here's another of my makes from the weekend:

See I've even thrown in a bit of stamping on this too! I've used Melon Mambo card for my base (it's a 5" square card) and layered with Basic Black and then a layer of Pink Pirouette which has been embossed in the Big Shot using the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder. The larger flowe is die cut using the Fun Flowers die, layered up with a black circle using the 1 3/4" punch and then a stamped image from Just Believe punched out using the 1 3/8" circle punch. The yummy, yummy foliage is die cut using the Little Leaves Sizzlits die. I've layered it all up on dimensionals so will need to make a box to post this one in:

I've not shared any photos of the monkeys for a couple of days so here they are yesterday out in and on the buggy with Granny:

Why walk when you can climb on top? Time to sell the double buggy!!

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Pillow Box Purse

Ow - my throat hurts! I'm eating some crisps as the moment as Dr told me it would hlep - help it to hurt yes it does! Anyway, yesterday I promised to show you a cute little purse made using the pillow box die. I have to confess the design is not mine, I cased it blatently from Mary Fish. Here's my version:

I've used the Springtime Vintage papers again and teamed them up with Wild Wasabi card and some Rose Red Seam Binding ribbon. Here's the purse:

Isn't it cute? It's the Pillow Box die along with the Top Note Die with the handle punched using the smallest oval punch. The flower is made using the five petal flower punch and finished off with a filigree brad. I made the matching card using the Top Note die too:

Blake is at his Grandparents today, last I heard he was digging up wiggly worms and throwing them in the compost. Hope he doesn't bring any home for Mummy! I'll have his bath filled and ready to give him a good dunking when he gets home. Zac is sitting in his latest car - made from a big box that arrived for me today which had some yummy wine and gorgeous flowers in as a Birthday pressie from myu Stampin' Up! Mummy Steph!

Check out the playdoh handbrake!
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Pillow Talk

I am sooo loving my new Sizzix Big Shot - what a fabulous toy! I will try to make something this week without using it but I can't promise. Yesterday I had all day to craft - the best mother's day gift I could have been given I think. So I made these:

 

 

Aren't they pretty? I've used papers from the Springtime Vintage pack, shades of Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzaz and River Rock, such a lovely combo. My little cards are made using Pear Pizzaz card with a layer of the pretty paper, it shows both sides of the same sheet here. Then I die cut the little boxes using the Pillow Box die.

On the first card I've used some of the very delicate Baja Breeze Seam Binding ribbon, it's so lovely to use. I've teamed it up with a frame from Four Frames stamped in Pear Pizzaz and then stamped the sentiment stamp from Oval All in Baja Breeze, colouring in the detail in Pear Pizzaz and adding a large Self Adhesive Pearl.

For my second card, I reversed the paper and unforunately I don't yet have the Pear Pizzaz Seam Binding ribbon so I used some Certainly Celery Tafetta instead. The frame is punched out using the new Decorative Label Punch.

I die cut the two boxes from the same paper and then punched the oval aperture using the large oval punch, popped a piece of Window Sheet behind and made a frame using the large oval and scalloped oval punches.

I've finished them off with some Baja Breeze ribbon and a large Springtime Vintage Button. Back tomorrow with a very cute little purse!

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Vintage Tea And Some Posh Nosh

Oooh I'm having a lush Mother's Day today. Doing as I please.....crafting! I enjoyedthe last Embellish challenge I joined in with so much that I had to have ago at their latest one too, even though the colours aren't very me at all. Another stipulation is to use fancy trim:

I've used some of the gorgeous new mini catty stuff - Springtime Vintage DSP, the fabulous Four Frames and Itty Bitty Bits Stamps, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder and a Big Designer Button! My colours are River Rock, Always Artichoke and Certainly Celery. I always, always take poor photos of green shades. I have no idea why!

Once I'd stamped the frames, I cut them in half to make some bunting and stuck them down on dimensionals for lift. I didn't have any of the new seam binding ribbon in Pear Pizzaz which would have looked fab, so I dyed some of the White Organza Ribbon using my River Rock ink pad and once dry, pulled a thread through the centre to ruffle it up. To make my matching thread for the bunting and to attach the button, I cut down the edge of the ribbon as neatly as I could! So cute that the Itty Bitty stamp set have matching punches!

So on to my quite posh lunch out yesterday! The rain stopped - hurrah! My friends took pleasure in planting a massive silver and pink helium balloon on our table with '40' on for the whole world to see (it was more embarassing taking it shopping and then home on the bus with me afterwards to be honest!).

The company was fab and the food was delish. Have to share.......

 

Not convinced I'll be taking tiles off my roof and varnishing them to make plates just yet though. I don't do fish as a rule, I'm allergic to shell fish and anything tasting vaguely fishy generally makes me turn my nose up. But given a choice of fish or brocolli soup, I opted for the fish. Twas OK but couldn't eat a whole one. Next up yummy steak, mash, spring greens and mushroom puree followed by vanilla panacotta with berries and sorbet. The far right pud wasn't mine but it looks yummy doesn't it?

And to help celebrate....

 

 

Ladies wot lunch wouldn't be complete without cocktails would it? Can you guess which is mine? Left to right: negroni, singapore sling and a cosmo.

Well I'm off to play with more goodies from the mini - if you feel tempted to purchase or to have a party or a play, please get in touch and I'll be happy to help.

Hugs

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Who Ordered Rain?

Seriously it has to stop raining, I'm off out celebrating my 40th later with some girlfriends and I've got a new dress to wear that doesn't go with rain! It goes with sunshine and spring! Anyway, it's time for a new challenge over at Less is More and this week the theme is to use 'a touch of red'. So, taken in the dull conservatoire...

I've used Basic Black card and Whisper White and then used the fabby new Beautiful Butterflies Sizzix Die from the mini catalogue teamed up with some Real Red DSP and the sentiment from Butterfly Prints. I inked it up with Basic Black and Real Red Markers.

Lots of you have been asking, well demanding to know what time I get up on a Saturday. Well the day of the week makes no odds really, Zac wakes up every morning at exactly two minutes past six, demanding to be taken to the toilet and Blake wakes us up at random intervals during the night and usually at around 5.30am demanding to just get up and play! So when Hubby is home, I get a spot of early morning crafting in! Then promprtly pass out again!

Hop over and join in, tis a fabulous challenge.

Hugs
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Big Mini Announcement

Oh my word - are you ready for this? You can order from the new mini catalogue from today:

This is the best mini EVER. You can view the mini catalogue online HERE or by clicking on the photo in my left hand side bar or you can request a mini catalogue from me. My favourite thing in it so far is...........

Oh yes - it's the Big Shot with 23 dies (17 of them are exclusive to Stampin' Up!), we also have embossing folders and can add texture to our projects - doesn't get mroe exciting than this!!!!

Now I had to hold off unwrapping mine and all my mini goodies because if I'd opened them all when I got them I wouldn't have been able to use my other stash due to the excitement and then I wouldn't have blogged! So yesterday I had a play and made these:

I know I'm usually clean and simple at heart but I just had to go for it and have a play! This is actually a box of flowers:

And a card box to match:

And the contents of the box with everything else:

 

If you'd like to make this set (with your choice of sentiment) please get in touch to book your place in my class on Saturday 23rd April at 10.30am or at 1.30pm. Class costs £15 and includes everything you need to make these projects and a mini catalogue along with a few other surprises too. So book your place ASAP and come along and try out the Big Shot for yourself. Anyone who buys the Big Shot can attend the class for free - but you need to order your Big Shot from me at the time of booking your class place.

PLUS - an offer from me: If you buy a Big Shot from me in April or May and have an extra £10 product spend on me!!!

If you can't make my class, why not book a party or come along to my Big Shot and mini Demonstration event on Sunday 8th May at the Old People's Welfare Centre in Arnold?

Back tomorrow with more mini madness!

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