A score of owls

Hello everyone.
Today my good friend Michelle came to see me and she was admiring the many owl projects that I have made.
She has a problem with her hands at the moment and cannot cope with punches, so I sat and punched her the component parts and she merrily sat and built 20 little owls.  She loves them!!

Another Sneak Peek!

Well not much longer to go - the Summer Mini catalogue launches on Tuesday, so only one more day to wait.
Just to whet your appetite here is another sample that I have made.
I have used the colour combo of Black, Gold and Cream, cut the frames using the Framelits die, stamped and embossed the flowers from Mixed Bunch in gold embossing powder, then cut them out this time instead of punching - for a bit more detail.
I have punched out the little leaves with the Bird Builder Punch. The spiral flowers were made with gold card.
Modern label punch used to stamp and emboss sentiment on.

I nearly forgot to post this! We have a problem with the central heating, and in the turmoil, I almost forgot that I had not published this post - so here it is!!

Beyond the garden and further!

Afternoon Everyone - another dull and rainy day, so I wanted to make a cheerful, brightly coloured card, that had to be quick - so I reached for the Orange papers out of the Beyond the Garden DSP.
The card-stock was Tangerine Tango, and I didn't have any ribbon in this colour, so delved into my stash and found some that I thought coordinated quite well. A little knot-less bow with a green Glitter brad in the centre, a Hello sentiment in the corner and voila - I feel better already!

Viva Vintage Vogue

Last Nights Crafting ladies made this card using the ever popular Vintage Vogue stamp-set.
It was cased from a swap that I received from my SU sister Jill Jones (but I can't remember the occasion when we swapped).
One of my ladies found it amongst my card samples and asked if we could make it.
This is my version of it.
The Colour combo is Night of navy, Bashful Blue and Whisper White.
For the large flower centre I have used some Stampin Glitter in (retired) Baja Breeze, which I think compliments the card, and for the little flowers I have coloured some Basic Rhinestones with a Night of Navy marker.

Something New

Yesterday I used something old - two stampsets that would not be available after next Monday.
Today I will show you something new - a stampset and a Die that will not be available until next Tuesday 1st May.
The die is fabulous, it is a nesting die, so you can use a frame in a frame in a frame etc. - as you can see from this card.
I have stamped the image from a brand new Stamp-set - Bordering on Romance, onto a small frame of Whisper white.
Then this is layered onto a larger frame cut from Bashful Blue, this is turn is layered onto another frame of Whisper White.
There are 6 frames in all in this set of Dies, so you can on for a long time!!
I layered all three on top of a mat of So Saffron card-stock and layered this again onto a base card of Whisper White.
The image was coloured using blender pens and So Saffron and Pear Pizzazz inkpads, with a touch of Pumpkin Pie in the centres.
A tiny gold Embosslit Butterfly was added for he finishing touches!
A simple bow was added to a length of Whisper White 5/5" Satin Ribbon.
(No bling added on this one - I must be sickening for something!!)

Make and takes

This evening Chris (sis-in-law)is doing a workshop and I am going along to help her.
I have done a couple of make and takes for the ladies to choose from.
They have to be quick and easy, so here they are.

This one uses the Fruit and Flowers stamp-set which will no longer be available after April

And this one uses the Spiced Paisley stamp-set which will also not be available after April.

Last chance for Spice Cake ...........

Why has it taken me all this time to decide to use the Perfect Postage Stamp-set that this little balloon bearing bunny has come from? The fact that it will no longer be available after next Tuesday (31st April) has prompted me to use it.
As will be the fate of the Blossom Party Die, Spice Cake DSP, and Borderlines!
Also my SU sister Sarah-Jane has made this card and I just had to case it!!
Colour Combo is Pool Party, Soft Suede, More Mustard and Very Vanilla.
Enjoy whilst you can - and if you would like to order any of these items (or anything else for that matter) - let me know by Saturday evening at the latest - that will be my last order date this month

New look - same old blog

Today I have spent some time with one of my crafting ladies (Eileen) helping her to build her first blog.
Consequently I thought that I might play around with my blog and change it's appearance.
So if you happen to browse along and see that it looks different, don't worry, I am just trialling different backgrounds.
Right - I had better find the card that I meant to post today - see you later!!

You are loved

Another stamp set that we wont see after April is You Are Loved, and the matching Wheel - Love Blossoms.
Here's a card that I have made for a friend, just to let her know that we care.
I have inked the stamps with Versamark and embossed with Silver Embossing Powder. The sentiment is stamped in Basic Grey.

Come and get your cup cakes!

Well after the end of April we will no longer be able to buy the Cup cake stamps or the matching punch, so if you want to be able to make this pop-up card, you had better get your skates on and let me have your order before Saturday.
I have cased this card from julie and have used mainly punched pieces, but have done some stamping as well.
Colour Combo is Pink Pirouette and Pool Party with Whisper White.
I know that Liz would like to make this card, so we will be making this in a Tuesday Class soon.

Here's the front

The middle before decorating

The middle decorated

And the middle close up

Apologies for the poor quality of the photos, but its been a dull day all day today!!

I have entered this in Crafty bloggers Network Challenge no 19

Training Swaps

Today its our Training Day at Pudsey with SU mummy Julie.
There will be 29 of us there - I am taking Chris (sis-in-law) and her SU daughter Julia.
We are all taking swaps, so you can guess how busy I have been making these.
Here are mine.
I easily get bored, so I made 10 in each colour - I used the In Colours Wisteria Wonder, Calypso Coral and Pool Party.
I used the Scallop Edge Border and Scallop Trim border punches with the coloured card-stock, Whisper White and DSP to make the "frills" at the top.
The flowers from the Summer Mini stamp-set (Mixed Bunch) were stamped and embossed using Versamark and White Embossing powder.
Then they were punched out using the new Blossom punch.
I put a coordinating Designer Printed Brad in the centre of each flower and raised them on dimensionals.
To finish off I stamped a sentiment from Its Your Day in coordinating ink.
No bling necessary today - clean and simple - and I love them - hope everyone else will!!

I shall keep these three for myself!!

Another Summer Mini Sneaky Peek

Hi everyone - I am a little earlier with my posting today - just got back from lunch with my friend Jackie, so I need to sit down and let lunch settle!! I have made a little thank you card today and I have once again used one of the new stamp-sets and punches (the same one that I used the day before yesterday), but the colour combo is Calypso Coral and Very Vanilla. I stamped all over the Calypso Coral mat with Calypso Coral Ink, then used the scrap cardstock from a previously punched flower to make a raised frame for the other stamped flower. Added a sentiment from Just Believe, a few Basic Pearls and there you have it - a quick (if somewhat faffy!) thank you card.

Beyond the Garden

Today I have used the Beyond the Garden DSP (which is free with a purchase of £45 or more) and inspired by a card made by my Stampin' Up! mummy Julie , I have come up with this version and made it into a "thinking of you" card- which is suitable for so many occasions.
Colour Combo is Pacific Point, Lucky Lemonade and White.
Sentiment is from You are loved stampset, the Modern Label Punch (modified)was used for behind the sentiment, and an In Colour Designer Printed brad used for the knot-less bow. Usual obligatory bling - basic pearls.

Two more sneak peeks

Here is a card that I have made for Barry's cousin Josie who is 70 next week.
Chris (Sis-in-law) and I have been up to Leeds today with Josie to meet up with 2 other cousins for our Cousins' Day.
We all took Josie her pressies and made her open them whilst we were there, but she is saving her cards to open next week.
I am safe in posting this card as Josie doesn't do blogs or crafts!
The Colour combo is Night of Navy and Whisper White.
Two new items are featured that will be coming along in the Summer Mini - another new stamp-set and Framelits Dies!!
I have stamped with Versamark and White embossing powder on the Night of Navy card-stock, then cut out using the Framelits Die. I stamped the Happiest birthday sentiment and used embossing powder again.
I printed the personalised sentiment on the computer, trying to match up the style of the sentiment in the stampset.
I really enjoyed making this and hope that she likes it too.

Summer Mini - sneak peek

Hi folks. Just a reminder that there are only two more weeks left for you to purchase any of the goodies in the Spring Mini - because the Summer Mini is just around the corner and will launch on 1st May!!
In case you were wondering what is in store - here is a sneak peek of a stamp-set and a punch that is featured in the Summer Mini.
Colour Combo Wisteria Winder and Whisper White - other items include DSP from the In Colour Stack, Modern Label punch and sentiment from Its Your Day - plus obligatory bling - Basic Pearls.
Enjoy!!

Creative Elements

Today I am making use of the Creative Elements stamp-set and an unusual colour combo of Basic Grey, Calypso Coral and Very Vanilla.
The grey cardstock was embossed using the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder.
A little bit of punched Lace Ribbon Border in Calypso Coral and a little bit of bling and voila.
I have cased this card from Papercrafts by Patti but the creator is Leena Girsa, whom I thank very much.

CAS You are loved birthday card

Another stampset that we won't be able to buy after the end of the month is You are loved - which has become another of my favourites. Here is a really clean and simple card - colour combo is Sahara Sand and Whisper White. The Textured Impressions Designer frames embossing folder has been used to make the oval frame.
The birthday greeting is a sneak peek of a sentiment in a new stamp-set that will be available when the Summer Mini Catalogue is launched on 1st May. You will get a few more sneak peeks over the next couple of weeks.
The butterflies are cut using the Beautiful Wings embosslit, and compulsory bling of basic Pearl used to define butterflies heads and bodies.

Laura's Cup Cake Shoppe

Laura has only recently joined my Wednesday Craft Class and therefore missed the Cup Cake Shoppe class, so this week she made this one, whilst the other ladies made a different project.

Wife's birthday card

Hello everyone. I was asked to make a birthday card for a friends wife (her birthday is tomorrow0 and this is what I came up with.
Can you believe there is no stamping on it at all?
I have used Stampin Up Cherry Cobbler and Very Vanilla cardstock with dies and punches to make the trellis square and leaves. The flowers and butterfly embellishment were from my stash.
Happy Birthday Liz - have a great day!

Matt's birthday card

Tomorrow it will be my neice's partner, Matt's birthday.
I have said before that I am making the most o papers that will not be available after the end of this month - and Spice Cake is one of them.
I have used my square punch to make 8 squares in DSP and I matted these onto a layer o Early Espresso cardstock onto a 6x6 Very Vanilla square card.
In the Centre I stamped Happy Birthday onto a Scalloped Square in Crumb Cake.
I finished it off with 2 L shaped pieces for the top left and bottom right hand corners.
No bling for this bloke!!

Easter Blossoms flower

Hello everyone. Today my friend Lisa has been her to spend some time crafting and we have had a lovely time. Here is the flower that Lisa made, using the Ornament punch and the Easter blossoms stampset. The colour combo is Basic Gray, Whisper White and Pretty in Pink.
I think it's fabulous!

Faith in Nature

Today I made a birthday card for my good friend and crafter Liz H, whose birthday is on Saturday. Liz's favourite place to be is in the garden so I thought that this stamp-set - Faith in Nature - was quite appropriate.
I have used Ivory, Soft Suede and Crumb Cake for the colour combo of this card, plus I have used the Tea Stain ink-pad from the Distressing kit. The background is the En Francais stamp, and the Square Lattice folder was used on the Ivory card and then rubbed with the Soft Suede pad to enhance the pattern.
Obligatory bling today is Basic Pearls!

Happy Anniversary

A friend asked me if I would make an Anniversary card for his wife - this is what I came up with.
Whisper White and Silver cardstock were used, Silver embossing powder with Versamark ink to stamp and emboss the roses from You are Loved. Designer Frames embossing folder used for the Silver frame . The sentiment was produced on the computer then punche using the large Oval punch. Itty Bitty flower punch used for tiny flowers.
Basic Rhinestones for flowere centres. Hope that she likes it!!

Cheerful Treat Card

When I had finished my pop up box card the other day, I was left with a strip of the Cheerful Treat DSP, so I decided that I would make a card with this.
I used Concord Crush card stock for the base card, and layered a piece of Whisper White on top of the strip of Cheerful Treat DSP which I had scalloped using the Scallop Trim Border.
I then made a feature panel of the flower spray from Charming, stamped in Concord Crush on Whisper White and layered this on a piece of Concord Crush.
A band of Concord Crush Stitched Poly ribbon was placed across the middle of the card with a flat Julie bow on the right hand side.
Sentiment from Sincere Salutations.
Compulsory bling of Basic Rhinestones added and voila!
Who would have thought this card could have been made from such a small scrap of DSP - it just goes to show!!

Hello Spice cake

This is a little Hello Card using the Spice Cake DSP.
It is only available until the end of April and then it will be gone, so I am making the most of it, using it whenever I can. I have cased this idea from a card by my SU sister Sally-Jo
I have used the Postage Stamp punch and the Lace Ribbon Border Punch.
Soft Suede cardstock stamped in Soft Suede with Paisley Petals Stamp set.
The Hello is stamped onto one of the Two Tags dies. Finished off with a Chantilly Crochet Trim bow.

Happy Birthday Karyn

Today is my Stampin' Up! sister Karyn's birthday.
For her card I have used Crumb Cake and Whisper White cardstock.
I have cut out the white with the Top Note Die and stamped both Crumb and White with Crumb Cake ink using the You are loved stamp-set.(Don't you just love it?)
The sentiment is from Sincere Salutations and the butterflies are cut with the Beautiful Wings embosslit. Obligatory bling today is Basic Pearls.

SJ's pop up card tutorial

Hello everyone. Yesterday was my weekly crafting get together with sis-in-law Chris. I was a little uncertain whether to go or not because of the snow, but I am so glad that I did go.
One of my Stampin' Up! sisters (Sarah Jane) had done a box style pop up card and had kindly done a tutorial on her blog here
So Chris and I set to and made for ourselves. The result was pretty good - so thanks SJ for that! Much appreciated (let us know what you think of our efforts SJ).
We used the Hostess DSP Cheerful Treats, The four frames stampset and matching Decorative Label punch, plus the large scallop circle punch

Here is the card open with it's pop up greeting






















and here it is closed with its belly band round it.

Berry Blossom birthday

Yesterday was one of my swimming friends, Sue's birthday, so I made this card for her.
Once again it uses the DSP which is one of four which are featured in April's special offer.
See sticky post above for details.
I have used 3 different patterns from this set of papers, and simply added a couple of Basic Rhinestones and 3 butterflies die cut using the Beautiful Wings Sizzlit.

Mini Milk Cartons

Today I have given my crafting class ladies a little Mini Milk Carton (complete with cream egg inside!)and a matching Easter card.
I have used the Mini Milk Carton Die to cut out these sweet little boxes, a mini bulldog clip from the Clips assortment, the little chick was a non SU digi stamp which I coloured in using Stampin' Write markers and then cut out using the Curly Label punch.
The ladies thought that they were delightful!



And close up

Berry Blossom Get Well Soon

One of my ex work colleagues has recently suffered a stroke and is expecting to come home from hospital this week, so here is the card that I have made her to cheer her up.
I have used the Berry Blossoms DSP (you can get this for free during April - see post at top of page for details)Coral Calypso card embossed using the Square Lattice folder. Flowers punched with the Itty Bitty flower punch in Coral Calypso and Wisteria Wonder and the leaves in Lucky Limeade using the Bird Builder punch.
The oval is made using the Designer Frames embossing folder.
I have used the Stamp-a-ma-jig to split up the Get Well Soon sentiment from the Hopeful Thoughts stamp-set. Instead of the usual bling I have used Dazzling Diamonds glitter for the flower centres.

Black on Black

Well after my attempt at White on White, I wondered what Black on Black would look like.
I realized that I would have to rely on different textures, so did some embossing with the Square Lattice and Perfect Polka Dots embossing folders. Then made the oval frame with the Designer frames embossing folder. One Lace Ribbon border punched and one Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punched. One spiral flower and two fringed flowers to decorate the oval, along with a couple of leaves punched from the Bird Builder punch.
A couple of black stamens for the centre of the fringed flowers and voila!



I have really left this too late to photograph, as this photo looks positively gray - it really does look better in its natural state of black - honest!!