My little shelf of love

This isn't so much of a Stampin' Up! post but it's  a crafty post so it serves it's purpose here on my blog. I've been busy doing some sewing recently and thought I'd share with you why. Whilst Stampin' Up! no longer supplies fabric, fabric is one of my favourite things. I studied textile design at university and will always have a relationship and be drawn to patterns and colours and textures, it's probably the reason I love Stampin' Up! too.

So I've had a few days happily sat at my sewing machine, listening to it whir and enjoying feeding fabric through and creating some lovely stuff to sell in our local craft centre.

 

hope you likey

hugs

Victoria

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Stampin' Up! using up the old stash

Ha - bet you thought I'd disappeared didn't you? Nope just being playing nurse Rogers again. This time to Zac who came down with slapped cheek syndrome (Parvo Virus). We first thought he may have scarlet fever as it's doing the rounds here but after a few phone calls over the weekend and then a trip to our GP, his diagnosis was confirmed. I never knew slapped cheek meant a rash over most of the body, but he's doing much better and has returned to school today - hopefully he'll last the day!

So today I'm going to share with you some magnets I made for a shelf I have in our local craft shop. they feature the Owl Builder Punch and the design is courtesy of my friend Jo.

I've used up lots of retired Stampin' Up! papers here as I like to put my stash to good use. 

I made the tags using our fabulous new Tag Topper Punches, LOVE them.

Fingers crossed I get a bit of me time to do some crafty catching up now.

Hugs

Victoria

x

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Stampin' Up! Epic Fail Friday #1

Morning crafters.

 I've decided to share something different with you today because in the 5 years I've been a Stampin' Up! demonstrator I am constantly (and gratefully) complimented for my creativity. I've been called all manor of things from the Crumb Cake Queen (thanks Vicky) to Jellicious (thanks Louise) and received loads of comments on how my projects always turn out to look so clean and neat.

Well, it's time to man up and admit that actually I make just as many mistakes as the next person, I'm just incredibly selective over what I share on my blog as it's not just a place to inspire and enjoy but also a place I use to advertise my Stampin' Up! business!

It's going to be different on Fridays from now on as I start to share......Stampin' Up! Epic Fails. They are all honest failures, not staged or anything. Some things I'm just not so good at, but when I saw my lovely friend Cal demonstrating a new product at Stampin' Up! convention I was determined to recreate some of the lush projects she shared. My bad. Let me introduce you to my first attempts with the Spiral Flower Die.

So in my excitement, the first thing I did was tear open the packaging, die cut some flowers and start making. I discovered that me and hot glue guns are not a match made in heaven. Don't you think the top right one would make a good pine cone though?

As you can see below, a previous burn on my wrist from said hot glue gun. MANY die cuts of the flower and yet no real success in putting a flower together. So I took a bit of time out and watched a few videos, but still I continued to fail. I did pretty well at curling the flowers but my real issue came in sticking them together.  Oh and I discovered I am an expert at tearing paper when I don't mean to.

I always hear in crafting there are no mistakes, just 'happy accidents' so I persevere - I'm no quitter. 

My plan was to create a cute box with one of our Kraft boxes with a beautiful bouquet of paper roses to give as gift to be kept forever. Happy accident or Epic Fail? Let me know what you think .....

Please be brave, please visit my facebook page and share your Epic Fail Stampin' Up! projects too. Next week I'll share another of mine (no burns this time) where I tried to recreate a project from Pinterest. Ahem. If you're lucky - or unlucky (!) I'll share your Epic Fail here next Friday too.

Hugs

Victoria

x

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Stampin' Up! Hip Hip Hooray

Wow - when Stampin' Up! do a kit, they really do a perfect kit. I have to say I'm a huge fan of kits now and this one is THE best value for money I have seen so far.

In the kit you get an amazing:

1. 20 card blanks
2. 20 envelopes
3. Self adhesive die cut embellishments
4. Clips
5. Twine
6. Three piece stamp set Hip Hip Hooray
7. Basic Gray ink spot
8. Clear mount block
9. Stampin' Dimensionals

AND you also get a full colour photo brochure with 20 card designs in so you don't even have to design anything yourself. Loads of stuff, you don't need a single thing to add to this kit, it really is all included. I know - it's going to be expensive right?

 Nope it's £17.95

Want to see some card designs to inspire you?

I've a new Virtual Party Club starting this month so this could be your first order! If you can't wait and want it right now, please visit my Stampin' Up! shop.

How exciting - can't wait to get mine now.

Hugs

Victoria

x

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Stampin' Up! Another Great Year

Ooh I've been so busy today but not quite ready to share my exciting news just yet so instead I'll share one of my latest creation with you instead!

It's a larger card than the ones I normally make so not sure I've got the balance quite right! I've been playing with embossing powders and different colours of card to create this one. The stamp set is another new one - Another Great Year and I've stamped and embossed it three times with a little cutting out to create this effect.

The banners are quickly made using our new Banner Punch - which by the way you can earn for FREE with a spend of £45 with me on Stampin' Up! products during our Sale-a-Bration promotion. I know you'll probably ask how I stuck down the bakers twine so I made a thin line with Tombow glue and left it to one side for 5 minutes to allow the glue to change from wet to tacky and then placed the bakers twine in place, this way the twine doesn't absorb the glue and move around, it just sticks straight in place where you need it.

Right got to dash, painting to do in the new conservatory - cannot wait for the boys to have their playroom!

Hugs

Victoria

x

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Stampin' Up! Petal Parade with Spiral Flower Die

I braved it today and let myself loose with a hot glue gun, last time I did that I burnt my wrist so I was extra careful today and am pleased to report - zero accidents!

I decorated up a note book for my project today, it's a gift for a friend:

It's the same colour combo I used a few posts ago, Wisteria Wonder, Coastal Cabana and Pear Pizazz. The stamp set is one of Stampin' Up! Sale-a-Bration freebies which can be yours with a spend of £45 or more with me. I cased the stamp layout from a card my lovely friend Jo made and added a banner out of the Heartfelt Banner Kit (another Sale-a-Bration freebie). Then I got the glue gun out........to make the cute flower I used our Spiral Flower Die and then popped a Subtles button in the centre. 

Here are some close ups:

To see how to use this die, watch this fabulous video from Stampin' Up!

 

 

I had planned to write more today but Blake wasn't at all well yesterday and whilst his temperature seems to have gone down he's really tired after school so I'm off for a snuggle up with him.

Hugs

Victoria

x

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Stampin' Up! Sweet Sorbet and Perfect Pennants

At last we have a lovely sunny day and I've actually got the washing hanging outside to dry! The boys have gone to Granny's for a sleepover, The Spark has been painting in the conservatoire and it won't be too much longer now until the boys can claim it as their playroom. I can't wait to set it all out with their toys and make it perfect for them.

Meanwhile, I popped up to the room of craft and had a play with the Sale-A-Bration Sweet Sorbet Accessories Kit - yours for FREE when you spend £45 with me on Stampin' Up! products during the promotion.

This was so easy to make and really quick too which is a bonus. I made a card base and a layer with Baked Brown Sugar and then wrapped some of the Crisp Cantaloupe  Twine around. The oval is a die cut self adhesive piece from the Celebration Basics Add-On Kit in the new Stampin' Up! seasonal catalogue. I've added the cork with Dimensionals (even though they are self adhesive) and popped Candy Dots in the centre. My sentiment is stamped in Calypso Coral onto Whisper White and it's from another new stamp set Perfect Pennants.

Want to see close up detail of these fabulous cork flowers?

I'm sure since I got my new computer my photos look darker to me - can you tell the difference? I'd love to know what you think.

Hugs

Victoria

x

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Stampin' Up! Life in the Forest On Film

We're having a very animal time in the house of jelly today. The boys have set up a play pet shop downstairs and we've even made pom pom ball and pipe cleaner spiders and parrots out of coloured feathers and cardboard tubes. To top it we're about to watch Turbo. So it seemed right that whilst the boys did their sticking and colouring I did some animal craft too.

When I first saw this stamp set I wasn't sure about it but now I'm absolutely in love with it - Life in the Forest. I think the outlined images give us lots of scope for colouring, paper piecing etc. I've taken a break from my usual neutral card base and opted for Coastal Cabana stamped with the new Hardwood background stamp - isn't it gorgeous? 

Zac insisted that if I was nipping upstairs to the Room of Craft to update my blog that I'd put a photo of him with his creations on too:

I feel we'll be making more of these fellas later!

Hugs

Victoria

x

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Stampin' Up! Word Bubbles meets On Film

Cor it's Thursday already, this half term is really flying by. The boys and I have done so much and I'm enjoying every minute. We've been to a theme park, watched the Lego Movie in 3D, went to visit my Mum in her new home in Bollington, today they are having a few hours with their other Granny whilst I tidy up a bit and then we still have tomorrow and the whole weekend left.

So I printed off a few of the photos from the theme park visit and actually made a scrap layout.

 

I let the photos choose my colours: Pear Pizazz, Night of Navy, Crumb Cake and Marina Mist. Zac is doing the assault course on these photos, he absolutely loved the giant skateboard even though he was determined it was a surf board. He rocked it from side to side to keep his balance.

I've used a mix of Framelits on here. Word Bubbles, Banners and On Film but I think they go together really well. Stampin' Up! products do that and make creating so easy.

I've used a mix of stamp sets too: Just Sayin' Says it All and Gorgeous Grunge. Love the effect of them together too.

You may have noticed Zac is wearing his underpants over his trousers, let me tell you it wasn't by mistake. we all wore them that way! It was Superhero day at the park and if we all rocked up with our pants on the outside (superhero style) we got free tickets to another theme park. You want to see me in mine?

And here are Zac and Blake rocking the superhero look before we set off:

Great fun!

hugs

Victoria

xxx

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Stampin' Up! See Ya later Meets Petite Petals

Day one of half term and I'm still here! We had a fab family day yesterday and got up nice and early to get into the city centre to go and see the Lego Movie in 3D. I think there's a chance The Spark and I enjoyed it more than the boys, if you love Lego you'll love this film. So onto the crafting 'cos that's why you visit....

I got to play with the Sale-a-Bration stamp set See Ya later and mixed it up with Petite petals, Flower Shop and Summer Silhouettes. Who says you have to stick to one stamp set? Here's how it turned out:

I've used Baked Brown Sugar for the base and other colours Bermuda Bay, Wild Wasabi and Perfect Plum. I wrapped the Bermuda Bay Taffeta ribbon around the card layer, making three loops round two fingers before tying a knot - then you can can snip to create all the different lengths. Colour the image with Markers and stamp onto Whisper White card and die cut with a Labels Collection Framelit. I stuck that down with Dimensionals so it didn't scrunch up over all that ribbon!.

Next I stamped and punched my flowers and the leaf stem from Summer Silhouettes, all finished with some Candy Dots. I'm loving these colours together. Must make a note of them on the back of my Colour Coach.

I took a few photos of the boys and The Spark whilst we at the cinema, obviously they are a little dark because that's how it is in the cinema:

The boys were thrilled there was a Lego stand and a competition to join in with. Don't they look total dudes in their 3D glasses? Oh and can you see how handy the Stampin' Up! Chevron Bags came in for sharing out the popcorn? Didn't feel the need to decorate them, just put them to good use!

Back tomorrow with more.

Hugs

Victoria

x

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